Chapter Four: Dog-Demons

"Don't worry, Inu-Yasha. This is only temporary." The female demon said softly while stroking him.

Inu-Yasha turned back to Kagome. Kagome could tell that Inu-Yasha was a little embarrassed with the whole situation. After all, he couldn't change back when he wanted to; he had no control. He lowered his head, drooping his ears. The pup let out a small whimper as his eyes caught Kagome's.

Kagome smiled. "Well…I think you're cute. You know how much I like your ears."

Inu-Yasha growled briefly at the comment. He then sat and stuck his nose up.

"Inu-Yasha, why can't you just accept the fact that I like your ears?"

Inu-Yasha growled again.

"Fine then that's the last time I pay you a compliment!"

Inu-Yasha growled louder as if he didn't want her say in the first place. Somehow Kagome got the jest of that growl and was stunned.

"Inu-Yasha! That was uncalled for! …Sit."

Inu-Yasha fell to the ground. He continued to growl…Damn I forgot about this stupid thing. With that thought, Inu-Yasha began to knaw on the rosary.

"Now Inu-Yasha you know that that thing won't come off that way."

Inu-Yasha briefly growled at her showing his enlarged and quite sharp canine teeth before lying down in the soft grass with his back to her.

"Oh Inu-Yasha, I'm sorry."

Inu-Yasha huffed.

"Kiame…" Kagome asked to be sure that was her name.

"Yes young miko?"

Kagome was a bit startled that she knew she was a miko but in any case was glad that they were at least on speaking terms.

"Kiame…This isn't permanent, is it?"

"Course not young miko."

"My name's Kagome."

"A strange name…"

Kagome met the accusation with a smile.

Inu-Yasha growled briefly breaking the moment and reminding Kagome of his current condition.

Inu-Yasha's brief growl at Kagome suddenly changed into a full-fledged roar that was angered not simply annoyed.

"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome whispered.

Inu-Yasha stood up and raced toward Kagome. When Inu-Yasha entered the shadows in the moonlight, he transformed back into his human-demon form. Though Inu-Yasha stood on two legs now instead of four he didn't slow his pacing.

Sango and Miroku stepped up from their places in the shadows to protect Kagome. Raising their weapons, they were unsure if this was what Inu-Yasha meant by 'if I lose control…' The female dog demon lowered her stance to a defensive one and while on hunched over growling a deep warning. Miroku and Sango hesitated slightly ready to release their weapons and take Inu-Yasha down if he didn't stop.

Inu-Yasha slid to a stop next to Kiame who was slightly in front of Kagome. With his back to Kagome, Miroku, and Sango, Inu-Yasha froze lowering his growl to a dull hum. Dust clouded the air making the enemy even less visible. Surrounded by Miroku, Sango, and Kirara, Kagome couldn't help but wonder why Inu-Yasha suddenly looked on edge.

Inu-Yasha now stood frozen next to Kiame, both in a defensive stance and both in their human-demon forms. Inu-Yasha reached for the Tetsusaiga. When he touched it, a blast of energy repelled his hand. He stared at the Tetsusaiga for just a moment before realizing that demons can't touch the Tetsusaiga. Instead of trying to grab a hold of the Tetsusaiga, Inu-Yasha simply readied his claws. After all, his claws were more dangerous now…and he didn't have the time to play with his sword if it was going to reject him.

A short time passed where Inu-Yasha and Kiame just growled into the night. Through the light dust and the early morning fog, a figure began to emerge. The figure was tall and thin. Kagome was wondering who this figure was and how it could send such a tense change through Inu-Yasha.

Sango clutched her boomerang tighter as she recognized the figure. Miroku dropped his guard a little realizing that this demon was too smart to fight them and too strong to care. Kirara began growling at him moving closer to Sango so that she would be ready for battle if Sango asked it of her.

The figure moved closer halting only a few feet from Inu-Yasha and Kiame. "Inu-Yasha…" The demon began unsure of what he was seeing but carried a tone unchanging.

"Sesshoumaru." Inu-Yasha growled out.

He glared at the demon next to Inu-Yasha.

She smirked before answering his look. "Brother."

Miroku and Sango stood in shock both thinking the same thing… Did she call him, brother? That would make her Inu-Yasha's…

Sesshoumaru stared at Kiame with a condescending look. "Do not address me so informally, hanyou."

This is where Kiame opened her big mouth and showed that she was just as loose-lipped and stupidly brave as Inu-Yasha was. "I realize that curiosity brought you here, but you are not wanted and I must ask you to leave."

"Do not proceed to tell me where I can and cannot travel hanyou or I will finish what I started years ago."

Kiame jumped at the chance to fight Sesshoumaru but Inu-Yasha beat her to it.

"You're here for me." Inu-Yasha blurted out. "You want to know if I'm as strong as I look, don't you? Well, Let me save you the trouble… I am." Inu-Yasha smirked as he cracked his knuckles. Sesshoumaru stared Inu-Yasha down.

"Sesshoumaru," Kiame barked out, "I don't take well to threats so why don't you finish what you started. I'm stronger now and more than a match for you. I won't go down easy."

Sesshoumaru grabbed his demonic sword and took a swing at Kiame. Kiame stabbed her one of her daggers in the ground then waited for the impact. Inu-Yasha disappeared from sight.

The blast rolled right through where they had been standing. Kirara grabbed a hold of the back of Kagome's shirt in her teeth and soared out of harm's way. Sango blocked the blast with her boomerang and Miroku erected a barrier with his staff. When the blast died, the two humans made a run for it.

Kiame stood there smiling, unaffected by the attack. Sesshoumaru stood there for a moment. So she figured out how to erect a barrier

Sesshoumaru suddenly spun off to the side to end up face to face with Inu-Yasha. So he's faster now, is he?

Sesshoumaru caught Inu-Yasha by the throat and threw him at Kiame.

Either Kiame would drop the barrier and Inu-Yasha would fall into her or she would leave the barrier up and Inu-Yasha would smash into it. Either way Inu-Yasha would be taken out of the picture.

When Inu-Yasha fell into the bright shine of the moonlight that now surrounded Kiame since Sesshoumaru's attack had cleared the trees, Inu-Yasha transformed. All that was seen was a white streak that bound off the barrier and darted into the woods. Kiame stood there and reclaimed her dagger consequently lowering the barrier as well. Unfazed by Sesshoumaru's threat, Kiame was wondering how long it would take Inu-Yasha to return.

As if on que the white streak appeared out of nowhere. Inu-Yasha's black legs disappeared into the darkness of the night leaving only a moving white bolt from his body. The white streak circled around sporadically. Inu-Yasha continued to appear and disappear using the debris from Sesshoumaru's earlier attack for cover. Sesshoumaru followed Inu-Yasha closely with his eyes. Losing sight of Inu-Yasha was getting annoying; Inu-Yasha's new body was built for battling like this.

When Sesshoumaru finally lost sight of Inu-Yasha behind a single tree, Inu-Yasha reversed directions and leapt at Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru heard Inu-Yasha coming but was too slow on the uptake to dodge out of the way. Sideswiping the right side of Sesshoumaru's neck with his fangs, Inu-Yasha had claimed his first hit.

Blood ran down Sesshoumaru's fur as Inu-Yasha slid across the ground with his fangs dripping. Wind picked up Sesshoumaru's hair and his glowed red as he growled.

Sesshoumaru was so big compared to Inu-Yasha that he looked almost as if he could step on Inu-Yasha and squish him like a bug. Inu-Yasha was only a fourth the size Sesshoumaru was since the black underscore to Inu-Yasha's tail made Inu-Yasha appear smaller than he actually was. He was just as quick as his elder brother; course a three-legged Sesshoumaru did even the odds a little.

Kiame transformed as well. She knew that Inu-Yasha would need her help. One of the reasons that the hanyou order she had put together was so successful at surviving was that they always traveled in groups.

Kiame was a beautiful dog. She was a little bigger than Inu-Yasha, but still nowhere near the size of Sesshoumaru. Her dimensions showed her as being somewhat older than Inu-Yasha. You could tell that when they were all adults she would be nowhere near the size of the other two. Kiame was an almost iridescent silvery white that sparkled in the moonlight and her eyes contained their same violet luster. Kagome noticed that a small gem hung around her neck and wondered if that was the same jewel that she had used to transform Inu-Yasha.

Inu-Yasha took no notice of Kiame's transformation; he was too focused on Sesshoumaru. The snarling grew the longer they stared at each other.

Kiame barked in a vicious manner. Sesshoumaru snapped at her. In that second, Inu-Yasha attacked him again.

Sesshoumaru slapped Inu-Yasha down with his tail then pinned the pup to the ground under his front paw.

Inu-Yasha struggled and whined. He bit Sesshoumaru's paw several times doing very little damage almost as if he were teething and needed something to knaw on.

Sesshoumaru decided he'd had enough and drew back his lips to show his teeth.

Inu-Yasha continued as if he could find a nerve and escape but Sesshoumaru lowered his head and clamped down his teeth.

Kagome saw Sesshoumaru's teeth clamp down. She thought that Sesshoumaru was going to bite Inu-Yasha's head off. The minute Sesshoumaru's teeth sunk into Inu-Yasha's neck, Inu-Yasha let out a sharp yelp that echoed through Kagome's mind.

Sesshoumaru moved his paw and lifted Inu-Yasha from the ground by the back of the neck. Inu-Yasha struggled futilely through the hold Sesshoumaru had on him. Sesshoumaru simply let Inu-Yasha struggle till Inu-Yasha was too tired to continue.

After a short while, Inu-Yasha went limp all except his tail, which curled up under him. Kagome would have thought the image was funny had she not known that Sesshoumaru was mere inches from sinking his teeth into Inu-Yasha's spin consequently snapping Inu-Yasha's neck in two.

Sesshoumaru snarled at Kiame rolling back his lips to show his fangs.

Kagome gasped. She didn't know what to do.

Inu-Yasha remained perfectly still.

Kiame lie down with her eyes focused on Sesshoumaru's teeth; Kiame was ready to pounce the second Sesshoumaru gave a little ease in his stance.

"SIT!" Kagome barked out over Sesshoumaru's snarl.

The rosary instantly pulled Inu-Yasha to the ground ripping him from Sesshoumaru's teeth.

When Inu-Yasha hit the ground slightly on his side, he didn't move.

A little stunned Sesshoumaru took a moment to glance down at Inu-Yasha then glare at the others.

Blood began to pool around Inu-Yasha's puppy form.

Kagome wanted to run to Inu-Yasha's side, where she belonged, but Kiame hadn't moved when Inu-Yasha fell almost as if she were waiting for Sesshoumaru to move first. Kagome began to wonder if Sesshoumaru had actually intended to hurt Inu-Yasha. After all, no blood stained Sesshoumaru's fangs before she enforced the sit.

Kiame growled as she leapt at Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru bounced back from the lifeless mass at his feet.

Kiame landed between Inu-Yasha and Sesshoumaru where she fluffed her fur and somehow nearly doubled her size. Though still not as large as Sesshoumaru she showed that she was not about to back down.

With Kiame facing off against Sesshoumaru, Kagome knew that Sesshoumaru was too busy to care about the injured pup so she ran to him.

Inu-Yasha was still out cold. Blood covered nearly half of him; the entire lowered side of Inu-Yasha, the back of his neck, and all of his paws were soaked in his blood.

Sesshoumaru transformed back into his human form. Kiame followed his lead.

"What's wrong…" Kiame questioned, "…afraid to fight me?"

Sesshoumaru turned his back to her. "I have no desire to fight you."

Kiame would have pushed the issue had Inu-Yasha not been hurt so badly.

"Then I suggest you leave." Kiame stated.

Sesshoumaru knew they had been surrounded. Shadows bound in circles around them. He figured it was their 'friends' that had gotten way too curious for their own good. They were lucky he had no interest in pursuing this further; he would kill Inu-Yasha eventually, but not today.

Kagome placed Inu-Yasha's head in her lap then stroked his fur in a reassuring way. Sango and Miroku found cloth and bandaged the wound on Inu-Yasha's neck. When they pulled the cloth tight, Inu-Yasha whimpered then rolled up onto all fours. He appeared a bit dazed.

Sesshoumaru concluded that Inu-Yasha had been punished enough for today; what Sesshoumaru found most amusing was that the girl Inu-Yasha insists upon protecting had done it to him. Sesshoumaru then disappeared into the darkness as mysteriously as he had appeared. Before anyone knew it, Inu-Yasha growled and bound after him.

They group slowly followed. Their fastest speed was no match for Inu-Yasha in his demon pup form at full speed; even Kirara couldn't keep up with him. Soon Inu-Yasha was gone.

A roar echoed through the morning haze.

Inu-Yasha thought a second, either he could go after Sesshoumaru or kill the other demon.

A sharp scream followed the roar so Inu-Yasha diverted his course.

Sesshoumaru would come back when he got board fighting demons that were no match for him. Inu-Yasha reassured himself.

Inu-Yasha tracked the roar down. It had come from a fairly small village that was well hidden from the normal road. A large demon roared again as he swiped down at the humans below him.

Inu-Yasha flew through the street hoping he could get there in time. He bound under the already started attack.

As a white streak, no one took notice of his presence. Debris filled the air. The demon roared proudly as nothing was left behind.

A white streak flew out of one of the untouched alleys not directly in the path. The streak flew right through the demon and stopped on the other side.

The demon turned slowly staring at the white creature that had just injured him.

The creature was obviously hurt as well; it fell sideways catching itself and standing back up. The small dog creature growled loudly showing its teeth.

The large demon fell over. Once it hit the ground, it disappeared in demonic dust.

With a small whimper, the small white creature collapsed as well lying slightly on its side.

Sunlight began to overtake the land. Once the sunlight hit the creature, it transformed. The large black paws changed into hands and feet. The bloody white coat became black and red. But with all the changes, it did not change size. It was already the size of an average human.

After a while the people got curious about the red and black lump that lay in the street. Blood pooled around the lifeless figure. Draped by black hair, most of the injuries were hidden. The red robe that was worn was tattered and torn.

Slowly the villagers crept toward the figure. After a while, a hand began to flinch against in the soft dirt.

"Don't touch it." A warrior of the village barked out. "It's a demon."

The beaten figure slowly moved its arm enough stabilize itself as it lifted its head from the ground. Looking up into the blurry faces of the village people, it then slowly lowered its head back to the ground resuming its deep slumber.

With the warrior's order, the villagers stepped around the fallen figure, ignoring it completely.