Story time!

Fantastic day? Yes. Gorgeous lands? Yes. Lovely people dying to meet me? Shirokiba snorted at that. The kind Lord must be losing it. Shirokiba had been in his father's best friend's lands for two weeks and had not moved from his room since he had arrived. Inutashio had had important business to attend to and had no time for the young pup so he had nothing to say about it. But finally, the young Lord was not busy and had realized the pup hadn't come out except for meals and bathing. At hearing such a ridiculous thing, Inutashio had insisted that he go out and introduce himself. Shirokiba, who could feel the stares from every corner of the castle, did not find it such a great ideal. Inutashio, who seemed not to have notice the stares the boy was getting but able to read the pups mind, had decided to disagree with him and said " I think it's a splendid ideal! And I won't take no for an answer! I won't allow you to sit in this room when you could be outside!" he sighed and then chuckled "Someone should get to enjoy the outdoors. Besides it's a fantastic day, the lands are gorgeous and there are tons of lovely people who are probably dying to meet you!" he smiled at the pup and went back to doing his work.

So forced to leave what little comfort he had at the castle, Shirokiba was thrust into the world of Inu demons. It took him awhile to get used to how the small Whites village was set up and then he took in the roads that would lead him back to the castle if his little journey should fail and he need a quick escape. The dog demons just didn't take well with wolf demons. And though he was an exception, in that he was only half and their beloved Lord had taken him in, they still did not like him. But still, the Lord wanted to send him on this expedition for friends and so he would try his hardest.

It hadn't taken him long to find a group of kids his age,or his height anyway, and as soon as he had found him was a soon as they deserted him with the looks on their faces that made them look like they had just smelt the worst case of rotten eggs. Even children knew what he was and were disgusted by him.He walked around for an hour,asking a total of seven groups of children if he could play with them. All had the same answer. When had almost given up hope he ran into another group of children and asked the tired question again. They looked him for a minute and Shirokiba prepared himself for another disgusted look when suddenly the group hullded up and stated talking rapidly in barks yips and whines, what Shirokiba had to understand was inuyoukai talk.After a heated discussion, or what seemed to be with all the yips and barks, they turned to Shirokiba, looked him over once and left. All of them but one. The lone inu continued looking at him for a while then turned to his friends who had merely walked a bit away from the two and watched on. The dog turned back to Shirokiba and then back to his friends. After a bit of this the boy gave up and walked back over to his friends. The group soon left.

Yes what a wonderful day this is turning out to be. Shirokiba thought to himself as he finally reached the boundaries of the white village. It was heavily forested here and he sat under one large tree and curled up. He would have went down the mountain, adventuring, but he didn't know how long he could follow the path till he reached black territory. Besides, the path was along a rocky cliff that if you fell you would still be on the path…but in a broken heap 50 feet below from where you started at. Shirokiba looked around at his settings and suddenly noticed three people that he hadn't noticed before. Two of them were girls, huddled close and whispering to each other, a good distance away from the third child and the path that went down the mountain. The third was on the path shoving what looked liked a giant gray boulder. All three his age. Shirokiba slowly got to his feet and went over to where the girls where and once he was right behind them and said "Who is that and what's he doing?" Shirokiba didn't notice their flinches and stared straight at the little boy who continued pushing his burden acting like he couldn't hear the conversation that was obviously about him.The girls were now talking to him and Shirokiba started paying them attention.

"What do you mean 'Who is that!'" said the girl to his right. She had long white/silver hair just like everyone else there but she had tied it back with a small hairbow. Her friend standing right next to her replied next but in more hushed tones than her friend.

"That's the Lord's son!" though her voice was soft, it was forceful too. Her hair too, like her friend's, was tied back but instead of just a ponytail it was a braid that seemed to move every time she opened her mouth.

"T-the Lord's son! But how!" this was a shock for Shirokiba. He had spent two whole weeks in the castle and not once had he seen a child enter that place. How could Inutashio have a son?

"Shh! Shut up!" said the first girl and covered his mouth.

"Nami what's the point? He can hear us anyway." said the second girl to her friend. Nami as she was called withdrew her hand and sighed "You're right…"

They all turned to look at the Lord of the Western Land's son as he struggled trying to push the massive thing. Shirokiba was about to ask again 'What he was doing' and why no one was helping him but then something happened that made fear rise in Shirokiba.

First they were all just standing around starring at the youth and then there was the sound of crumbling rock, the look of terror on the boy's face and suddenly Shirokiba was standing, legs spread as to hold himself, next to the edge of the cliff holding onto one small clawed hand as Inutashio's son gripped to his hand as if it was his life support. And it was. Apparently the boy had tired rope around his waist and then around the boulder. Granted it was probably if he ever wanted to pull it.

For a while Inutashio's son gripped to Shirokiba's hand but then soon he relaxed and became dead weight. Shirokiba figured he had probably fainted. But then to his surprise and that of the two girls who where clinging to Shirokiba to help him steady himself, the sliver haired youth spoke. "W-why? Why did you save me?" his voice was cracked and raspy. Shirokiba looked down at him. "What did you want me to do? Watch you fall? Besides if it weren't for me the fall would have killed you." Shirokiba looked over the side of the cliff where the remains of the boulder where.The insides of it had turned out to be hollow then refilled with jewels. He would question later for now the boy spoke again and this time if Shirokiba hadn't had sensitive hearing he would have missed it. "I wish it had."

Shirokiba could only stare dumbfounded at him. Why would anyone want to die at such an early age? Especially one of royal heritage who probably had everything he wanted.But then why was he pushing the boulder in the first place?

"Um I-I don't mean to be rude but could we please pick him up?" It was the girl with the braid "It's quite hard to keep this grip." Shirokiba came to the realization that he was indeed only being held up by the two girls behind him and that the Lord's son was dangling from his hand. They heaved him up and once they had, he gained his balance and started heading back the way he had originally came from. Shirokiba stood and went over to him, grabbing hold of his arm so he would hear him when he spoke "Hey don't we get a thank you? Anything?" the half wolf released his grip and dog youth turned and looked at him with a completely different look than he had received al day. It looked like he was blaming him for foiling a master plan of his. Like he had been planning the whole thing. Except for the saving part. But he also had in his eyes what looked like a small thank you. Shirokiba looked back him with a look that said very clearly that he was smug that he had foiled his plans and would do it again if he had to. The inu looked away and started walking again but this time Shirokiba didn't stop him. He had a feeling they would be meeting again.

Now how was THAT for a chapter! Was that long enough for you people! It had better be cause they ain't getting any longer! Now I have carpel tunnel T-T REVIEW NOW!

Ninmu Kanryou