Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Title: Quite the Pair
Kagome and Inuyasha, both transformed into dogs, looked at each other in shock. However, both of them quickly began to shake it off. After all, odd transformations were just an occupational hazard that came with their day-to-day battles in feudal Japan.
"Inuyasha," said Kagome, "what are we going to do?"
"Ah, well first we should get out of these woods. Maybe something happened to Miroku and Sango as well."
"Oh no, maybe something happened to Shippo!"
"Keh. I wouldn't worry about that."
Kagome spoke sternly. "Inuyasha, you don't have to wag your tail about it."
"Hmm?" Inuyasha watched his tail wag with an odd fascination.
"I never had a tail before. I always wondered about it. I even envied that the runt has one."
"Is that why you're so mean to him?"
"Not particularly." Inuyasha continued to watch his tail wag. Kagome could see it coming, and began a warning.
"Inuyasha, don't…"
It was too late however. Inuyasha started chasing his tail around and around in circles. Kagome instantaneously was annoyed by his antics.
"Inuyasha, sit!" At her command, Inuyasha was promptly sat on his rump again. Kagome trotted off and called back to him wearily.
"Let's go."
The two made their way out of the forest, Kagome sniffing around interestedly like a puppy. Inuyasha sniffed too, but knowing what he is scenting for. He moved up to lead the way.
"Come on Kagome."
Inuyasha and Kagome made their way back to the campfire. Miroku, Songo, Shippo, and Kirara were indeed there. They stood looking at the approaching pair. However, Inuyasha and Kagome could quickly tell that something was not right. Their friends seemed… unfriendly. Miroku raised a hand to point at them.
"Songo-chan, the dogs are back," said Miroku.
"But where are Kagome and Inuyasha?" asked Songo.
Inuyasha barked dog-language at them. In his head he was speaking, but it came out in canine utterances impossible for Miroku or Songo to understand.
"Idiot, we're right here!" barked Inuyasha.
Alarmed, Kagome turned to him with a whine. "Inuyasha! We're dogs! I don't think they can hear us!"
"I know that, baka (idiot)!" grumbled back Inuyasha from the back of his throat. Irritated, he used a tooth to pull at Kagome's ear.
"Ow!" yipped Kagome in annoyance. She reached up and pulled Inuyasha's ear in response.
"Hey!" put in Inuyasha. The two growled at one other. In a moment, however, Kagome turned serious and dropped her growl. "Inuyasha, what are we going to do?" she asked.
"Heh," said Inuyasha ears flattened slightly. "Hit the monk fifty, no a hundred times to get him to listen."
"Inuyasha! Wait, what if we try to lead them into the woods like the phantom dogs did? We can show them what happened."
"Keh. Like they'd be stupid enough to go in the woods again. Two of us disappeared the last time, why risk it? Hey!" But Kagome wasn't listening. She was walking her four paws towards Songo and Miroku. Songo and Miroku were watching her approach warily.
Songo put a discrete hand up and leaned towards Miroku before commenting under her breath. "Miroku, these dogs don't seem normal to me anymore. It looked like they were having a real conversation over there. Plus, they're trying to lead us away again with the same trick."
"And Kagome and Inuyasha haven't returned yet," Miroku murmured in reply.
Kagome heard what they were saying but barked anyway. "Songo-chan! It's me!"
"Pah, you're wasting your time Kagome," said Inuyasha calmly. Inuyasha trotted up before Miroku. He stood in front of Kagome and nudged her up. He looked into Miroku's eyes.
"Kagome," said Inuyasha, "say sit."
"What?" said Kagome shocked.
"Say sit damn it! It's not like I want to! But it might be our only chance to break this!"
"Al-right-, Inuyasha," put in Kagome reluctantly. "Sit!"
The sit command went off, but the result was not helpful. Miroku looked up, anticipating battle. "Interesting. Songo, I just felt a pulse of spiritual energy go off. It was somewhat hidden, but indeed present. These are no ordinary dogs after all." Miroku and Songo prepared their weapons and look raring to go after the pair.
Inuyasha stuttered. "Sh..shhitt! Run Kagome!" Inuyasha nudged Kagome with his nose and they began running.
Songo shouted ready to pursue them. "Miroku!
"Don't worry Songo! I've got it." Miroku ran towards them with his staff.
"Kagome!" yelled out Inuyasha in a panic.
Inuyasha pushed Kagome along at a faster pace than she could run with his nose. After they had gone out of striking range, he whirled around and bared his fangs at Miroku.
"Damn it monk," growled Inuyasha at this strange twist of events. "I won't let you hurt Kagome! Iron-Reaver-Soul-Stealer!" Inuyasha raked the ground in front of the monk. His attack indeed seemed to go off. Miroku sat up out of the dust just in time to see the white dog disappear after the black one.
"Inuyasha? No wonder those amber eyes seemed so familiar."
Inuyasha and Kagome stopped running after a while somewhere up on the mountain. Inuyasha sniffed around on the mountainside, looking for something.
Kagome wailed slightly. "Inuyasha, what are we going to do! We can't stay like this forever!"
"Stop whining, bitch," said Inuyasha unheatedly. "We're going to find out whoever did this to us. Just wait until I get my claws on him." Inuyasha kept sniffing.
"Right," said Inuyasha determinedly. "I've got Kouga's scent. We'll just follow him until we rip the truth out of him."
"Inuyasha," said Kagome, trying to get him to reason, "that will never work! Besides, we'd only be walking into a lair of wolves! You don't have the Tetsaiga anymore, Inuyasha!"
Inuyasha stopped. "You're right Kagome. I feel that it's still with me, that it's controlling my demon spirit. But obviously, I can't get my hands on it anymore." Inuyasha sat down to think.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha broke out. "This situation is getting out of hand! And it won't be long before the rain." He rose.
"Come on Kagome."
The two trotted up the mountainside, Inuyasha sniffing here and there. They moved swiftly, but indeed the rain began to come down.
"Damn!" said Inuyasha moodily. "I lost the scent!" He barked to Kagome. "Come on, Kagome!"
Inuyasha lead them to a sheltered spot beneath the trees. He encouraged Kagome to curl up next to him.
"Oh, I'll never be able to study for that geometry test now!" said Kagome anxiously.
"Stop whining!" reprimanded Inuyasha. "As if that matters now."
"You're right," said Kagome sadly. "I'll probably never be able to go to school again. Or even go home again!" Kagome's ears drooped dejectedly.
"Stop that!" said Inuyasha concerned. "Things will turn out all right Kagome! Don't worry about it." Inuyasha gave Kagome a lick of reassurance. The two took to dozing uneasily.
Elsewhere, Kouga stood at the tribal counsel before the chief elder of the Youkai Clan of the White Wolves. Ayami and her set of pure white wolf underlings stood to his right. All the humanoid wolves there were down on one knee, with a head bowed in respect. The ancient village elder was speaking.
"You see," spoke the ancient elder, "we no longer have the power to fight back the tides of these youkai warriors. We must rely on the strength of you youth of the distant lands."
Kouga spoke, pointing a finger to himself. "Don't worry about it, whatever it is, I'm man enough."
The elder spoke warningly. "Our enemy is elusive, and brings about confusion to keep us from recognizing even our allies. Their sorcery is strong, so beware, young one."
"Don't worry about it, elder," responded Kouga respectfully, "I will not fail.
To be continued.
