With a wicked grin, Demon Inuyasha touched the edge of the sword blade so that an electric current ran throughout the half on his side of the door, transforming it. Concentrating, he forced the power backwards so that the entire blade transformed.
"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" screamed Shippo. "There's no way you can break through Miroku's spell scrolls, you tried that already!"
"I don't have to break through," the demon shouted happily. "I just have to neutralize them!" With a board-shattering crash, Inuyasha leapt out of the hut's ceiling clearing any barrier's Miroku had made. Then he came down to the ground and bopped Shippo on the head so that he blacked out.
"Sorry about that pup," said Demon Inuyasha rearranging Shippo and tucking him into the front of his shirt. "But I don't want you giving the others advance warning." Demon Inuyasha leaned down to retrieved the sword from the door. It gave an angry crackle as he touched it.
"Damn," said Demon Inuyasha as he looked at his smoking fingers. "It allowed some of the Great Dog Demon's power in but I can't retrieve it. I had better not touch that sword again or else I will not have enough power to sustain this material form." He looked at his hand deeply engrossed in thought. After a while, demon Inuyasha began running, no flying across the land with Shippo tucked in his front.
"We'll see who orders who," he said with an amused fang exposed.
The embers of the fire spit and Miroku turned over in his sleep, his hand stretching out reflexively for Sango's butt which remained sadly out of reach. He sighed mournfully.
Also on reflex, Sango made odd waving motions in the air. "Miroku stop," she muttered before turning over and falling back into the traceless regions of her dreams.
The night fell into silence once more and all would have been well except that old Lady Kaede sat up from her bedroll.
"An enormous malevolent youkai approaches," she said slightly terrified. Miroku sat up as well fumbling upright and eyes widening in fear.
"Oh no, I recognize this aura," he said horrified.
Sango, Kilala, and Miroku ran out of the hut followed by Kaede as a red cloud gathered upon the horizon bringing brilliancy to the night.
"Is it Naraku?" said Sango holding out her weapon. Miroku shook his head.
"Unfortunately we are not so lucky," said he.
The night air around them became charged with tension as the trees quaked with the sudden violent breeze. A snapping of bows sent twigs and old gray branches hailing at the humans' feet as the winds began whip upwards, stirring, stirring in a circular motion as if some cyclone were approaching. The skyline began to bled with red and with little lights dancing as if they were fireflies and then the entireatmosphere was washed with a thick sheet of grey, turning all into monotone as if it were merely night again albeit with an unpleasant chill. A twig snapped, the roar descended, and Sango and Miroku were left with nothing but a harsh absence of sound in their mute ears. The silence reverberated, harrowing them to their bone.
"Miroku," whispered Sango standing back to back with Miroku and looking anxiously around the circle into the sightless depths of the night. "Where did he go?"
"I do not know," said Miroku barely a whisper, slightly more than a breath. His staff held out in front of him, he felt his chest growing heavier and heavier from this oppressive air and the anxiety of waiting for some unknown doom.
A beam of moonlight, silvery in its hue winked into being. Footsteps echoed through the night, rhythmic in their beating. Slowly and poetically, with the elegance as the drifting tendrils of mist, a form began to be discerned in the darkness. The outline of drooping cloths, the outward folds of Inuyasha's hakama began to emerge to their vision. Everyone held their breath, uncertain whether this being was friend or foe and knowing with a certainty that it was unlikely they could kill their former or current comrade.
Slowly, the crimson glowing eyes, which had strangely began absent until now, lifted up so that they were revealed from the moonlit curtain. They became lamps, boring into the guilt he saw before him.
"Oie. Miroku, Sango, you didn't think of betraying me did you?" said the demon chillingly. He could smell their primal terror and it hurt him.
"Because pack members should know their place," he finished somewhat as a comedown. Sango lowered her weapon half a notch to show that she was not looking for a battle. The demon nodded.
"Good bitch," said Demon Inuyasha sternly yet more softly than before. "You should know better than to fight your packleader. However, your insolence can not go unpunished."
"Punished?" yelled out Sango. "Punished how?"
A sudden blur leapt at her, and Sango scrambled back as a hanyou sailed overhead. The demon-slayer reached back into her shoulder-pad in tune to the cry of, "Sango!" Desperate, she pulled out a handful of poison powder pellets but before she could throw them, a hand clasped around hers and pulled them away. Strangely, the hand was gentle though her eyes kept fixated on their terrifyingly long and sharp claws.
"Sango," a gruff voice sounded above her as she was forced down upon the ground. Sango squeezed her eyes shut as she felt jagged fangs graze the nape of her neck. She prepared herself to have her throat torn out.
"Do you surrender?" came the gruff voice above her leaving a blast of breath on her neck.
"What?" she muttered too confused and terrified too think straight anymore.
"Do you surrender, bitch?" Said Demon Inuyasha. "Do you submit to your leader?" he said losing patience.
"Yes," she trembled out.
"Then act like it," said Demon Inuyasha fastening his jaws around her throat gently and tossling her back and forth. He released leaving tiny pinpricks in her skin. He stood up on his feet and stood looking down, arms crossed.
"Beg," he said sternly. Miroku was watching all this dumbfoundly.
Uncertain, Sango shuffled forward onto her hands and knees and bowed before him.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha-sama," she said daring to look up after a while.
"And?" said Demon Inuyasha expecting something more.
A trembling hand held itself up and Shippo came creeping forward out of the front of Inuyasha's robe. "Here Sango," he squeaked out. "I'll show you how."
The tiny fox kneeled down on the ground struggling between his pride and fear. "I apologize," he said bowing. Then the tiny kitsune moved forward and crawled up Inuyasha's robes, getting a helpful boost as he did so. Sticking out his tongue as minutely as possible, Shippo gave Inuyasha the tiniest of licks on the chin. He bowed his head again.
"I submit to the elder," said Shippo before retreating and hiding himself behind Sango's form.
"Nani!" Sango shouted. "He wants me to lick him? But that's obscene!"
"Not to a youkai," muttered Shippo. "To him, it just means you're being subservient, like a puppy or a lower packmember. We only do it when we've been really naughty. It's like groveling."
"So Inuyasha wants me to grovel then does he?" thought Sango. "Figures."
"Oie! Bitch, I'm waiting!" shouted Demon Inuyasha hotly.
"I apologize," said Sango quickly. She shuffled forward as quickly as she possibly could, shot out a tongue and pressed to Inuyasha's cheek, then she ran away as fast as she could into Kaede's hut, slamming the shade down behind her.
"How about you?" said Demon Inuyasha turning to Miroku. Miroku turned about three shades of gray.
"Surely that is not necessary," he cried out waving a hand out nervously. Demon Inuyasha narrowed him eyes and launched himself onto Miroku so that his fangs were on his exposed neck.
"Gah, I surrender, I surrender!" shouted out Miroku squirming to get free. Demon Inuyasha removed his four sets of claws from around Miroku chest and the monk out breathed a sigh of relief. The two men stood up.
"So, err," said Miroku laughing nervously and almost hysterically.
A wicked grin lit up on Demon Inuyasha's face. "You know, I was going to let you off the hook but I think I won't after all."
Three hours later Inuyasha was seated in a makeshift chair modeled after the one in Kagome's room. He kept his feet propped up on a certain someone as they endeavored to scrub the floor of Kaede's hut.
"Aw, can I be done already!" moaned Miroku.
"Keep scrubbing you," said Demon Inuyasha while Shippo played quietly with his toys in the corner.
"Um, your food packleader," said Sango blushing and handing him a dish of baked fish and rice.
"Good girl, Sango," said Demon Inuyasha crunching into the fish and setting down the rest of the food dish in front of Miroku.
"Here letcher, you can have the rest," he said off-handedly.
"Dogs," muttered Miroku.
"Damn right," growled demon Inuyasha before clunking him on the head. Night passed by slowly in the Warring States Era.
A bright yellow backback glittered in the last rays of sunshine on a modern day street. Numerous cars past horns blaring, wheels roaring, and brakes grinding. But all was perfectly oblivious to a certain pair of someones who walked home hand in hand coming home late after school.
"Say Inuyasha," said Kagome pointing a hand up at a bakery shop window. "Maybe we could stop here to eat. Since you're human you can try some of that chocolate stuff I never let you have."
"Because you said it was poisonous?"
"To dogs it is," said Kagome shrugging. She pushed open the shop door and a tiny metallic bell rang.
"We're closing in five minutes dear," said the woman at the counter. "Can I get you anything."
"Yes please," said Kagome. "Two muffins to go, one chocolate and one blueberry."
Kagome handed the woman some money, took her little paper bag, and returned to the sidewalk where Inuyasha was waiting.
"Here you go," she said brightly handing her former hanyou a chocolate flavored chocolate chip muffin. He sniffed it habitually.
"Smells really weird," said Inuyasha biting into it. "Um, wow, that's strong but it's really good," he said stuffing the whole thing in his mouth and licking his fingers.
The two walked along, Kagome nibbling on her muffin gently. After a while she offered it out to her companion.
"Here, Inuyasha, I'm done with mine, you can have the rest."
"Um, sure," said Inuyasha. Instead of taking it with his hands he ate it out of Kagome's fingers and licked them gently.
"Inuyasha," she said her eyes shimmering as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her sweetly. His tongue made it into her mouth and she returned the favor.
"You taste like blueberries," said Inuyasha murmuring.
"You too," said Kagome battling with him for air and words.
Finally the two let go and looked up at each other their eyes simmering. Their hands rejoined and they walked the rest of the weary silently, each intermingled with their thoughts.
When the front door to Kagome's house finally creaked open with a rattling bang, they found a note on the fridge. "Out visiting cousin," read the letter. "Have a nice weekend."
Human Inuyasha and Kagome took look one look at each other then ran up the stairs laughing. They both knew what they wanted. Inuyasha caught Kagome up by the waist halfway up the stairs and they both fell down. After a couple maddening, passionate kisses Kagome scrambled up on her feet and bolted inside her room. She slammed the door shut in his face and giggled hysterically.
"Kagome, let me in!" called out Inuyasha pounding on it.
"No!" said Kagome mischievously. She opened the door a crack and pressed against the door as he fought to enter, finally forcing the door open. Abandoning the door and fleeing, Kagome ran over to her bed and leapt on it just as Inuyasha entered. He eyes were wide with a bold sensual glare as she crouched there like a cat about to pounce.
"Kags," murmured Inuyasha gently and setting himself down at the opposite end of the bed. He leaned over and Kagome scooted into his arms, seating herself upon his lap. He kissed her. Searingly he kissed her and then he pushed her down beneath him. Kagome panted, hot and heavy was her breath but she pulled herself out from under him and pulled something out from underneath her bed.
"Here," she said pressing something into Inuyasha's hand. "Yuka gave it me. I'll say yes if you use this."
Their hands clasped together around the object and Kagome was lowered onto the bed. She reached up above her and was just loosening the clasps on Inuyasha's belt, panting wantfully when suddenly the door flew open with a loud echoing bang.
The lover above her was abruptly lifted and tossed against the wall like a dog's chew toy.
"You," said Demon Inuyasha his eyes glaring. "How dare you, both of you! I told you I was your mate! How dare you go fucking without me!"
"As if I could fuck both of you at once," thought Kagome. "Wait a minute, what was I thinking! No matter."
"Inuyasha!" shouted Kagome glaring at the intruding demon. "How dare you say that to me! Sit, sit, sit boy!" she cried sending Inuyasha's Demon side crashing down, no not just to the floor but through it to the first floor where she could hear the shattering of tiles below.
"Ah man," thought Kagome. "Mama's gonna be mad about her new remodeling job."
An angry, sulking trio reentered the feudal era through the Bone Eater's Well. No body would look at each other and Kaede's humble abode soon came into few, strangely looking more up kept than Kagome had ever remembered seeing. The grass was all mown, the door was replaced, and there were even patches of flowers planted here and there.
"I'm back," stated Kagome mournfully looking at Miroku who waslain out on the floor being fanned by Sango. He scooted forward on his knees.
"Oh thank goodness Kagome-sama," he said woefully. "Demon Inuyasha, I meant the pack-leader has been working me death."
"Oh?" said Kagome curiously folding her arms. "I thought you said you would take care of him? And here he came in breaking in on my… err entertainment."
"I'm so sorry Kagome-sama," said a very humble Miroku.
"It's all right Miroku, really it is," she said smiling with perfect understanding. "Sit boy!"
Kagome looked around her. Everything seemed pretty normal otherwise. "Wait a minute, where's the Tetsusiaga?"
"Out there," said Shippo trembling holding out a finger. Kagome followed his lead and found it laying on the grass outside the vacant hut.
"How did it get out here?" she wondered out loud. Shippo opened his mouth as if to answer, but he hid behind Kagome's shoulder as Demon Inuyasha held up a threatening fist. Miroku kneeled on the grass examining his spell scrolls.
"So this is how he managed to free himself," thought Miroku curiously peeling one of the scrolls off. "It is half-saturated with demon aura negating its effects. No wonder he could break through the roof. I don't know who this new Inuyasha really is, but he is very clever and very dangerous." He looked over at Demon Inuyasha.
"You got a problem with me?" said Demon Inuyasha roughly being more reserved now that Kagome was around again.
"Not at all," said Miroku forcing a smile.
They ate their dinner quietly and when the night began to turn chill, Demon Inuyasha and Human Inuyasha both tried to feed the spitting fire.
"Let me do it," said Human Inuyasha.
"No me," said Demon Inuyasha glaring.
"Kagome!" whined Human Inuyasha.
"Sit boy!" said Kagome.
"Gotta thank Shippo for teaching me that one," thought Human Inuyasha.
"I'll remember this," thought Demon Inuyasha growling into the planks of the floor.
"Everyone, it's time to sleep," said Kagome unrolling her blankets. She handed one to Human Inuyasha.
"Hey, how come I don't get one," said Demon Inuyasha pouting. "Although I know how you could make it up to me." He pulled Kagome against his chest and settled them back against the wall.
"Hey!" shouted Human Inuyasha livid.
"It's all right," said Kagome mumbling and waving dismissively. She didn't actually feel like arguing wrapped as she was in the warm, strong, and woodsy smelling arms of her former hanyou's other half. He was upset after all wasn't he? There was no harm in being sensitive to his feelings. Kagome found the tight clasp around her soporific and soon she was falling into the depth of dreams where little dog eared children played.
The night played onwards unable to prevent itself, or stage its waning. It droned onwards and within its recesses the sound of silence p1ayed heavy on the ears a certain demon. He looked down at the sleeping angel in his arms breathing in her soft, mellowing smell.
"Don't worry Kagome," he whispered. "I have a plan to win you back, a plan that involves…"
"Kikyo."
The archer stayed her bow, staring at the figure before her. Its eyes were glazed red and it was wearing the tell-tale red robe of her former lover. Yet it had a decidedly demon aura.
"Who are you," the stoic priestess demanded pulling her arrow back just a little bit tighter.
"Don't be so judgemental Kikyo," came the silky voice of Demon Inuyasha. "I have come bearing good news for you, and a plan beneficial to both of us."
"What do you mean?" said Kikyo loosening the slack.
The demon before her smiled. "The one you loved so much has turned human. If you bring yourself before him, I will make sure that Kagome stays out of your way."
"Are you planning to kill her?" asked Kikyo.
"Quite the opposite," said Demon Inuyasha. "I merely want to see that I want the one I love is with me."
"Hm," said Kikyo. "You sound an awful lot like Naraku."
"More than you will ever know," said Demon Inuyasha grinning. "But then I wouldn't be learning anything if I didn't take a page out of his book." Then he vanished without a trace.
Kagome stayed the weekend, to protect her friends from authoritarianism more than anything. It seemed that after his initial fun bossing around Miroku and putting everyone in their "place", Demon Inuyasha became a lot more laid back. Almost disturbingly so because he didn't complain about going after Naraku. Even worse, he made no objections when Kagome decided to disappear down the well to return to school, provided that his human counterpart didn't go with her to prevent "scenes" from happening again.
"Goodbye everybody!" said Kagome waving a hand cheerfully. She hopped down the well and disappeared.
"Oh well," said Human Inuyasha walking towards the woods. "Might as well go for a walk."
"You do that," thought Demon Inuyasha happily seeing a soul catcher out of the corner of his eye. He ran down to the river and grabbed a cloth-bundle he had buried beneath a boulder.
The clock at just twitched onto 8:33 as Kagome flicked her pencil around cheerlessly. The professor before her droned on and on about dozens of dates and facts she would have to memorize for next weeks history test. Kagome sighed and motioned her head so that she could look out the window. She immediately wished she hadn't
Floating outside her window was a large cat like Kilala, even cuter if that was possible. It had a large bow tied on it and a bell collar like one she had once affixed to her feline friend. Even worse Inuyasha was riding on it, whom had somehow managed to get a hold of his firerat robes.
Kagome quickly whirled her head back around so that she was facing the teacher. Then she snuck a glance to the window again and found the demonwas grinning an enormously goofy grin. Kagome was just about to sit him when she heard a ruler slap.
"Kagome," said the professor at the front of the room rapping the table. "Pay attention please."
Kagome was looking back at the front sweating like bullets when the clock at the head of the classroom was smashed out. In fact, the chalkboard disappeared too, as well the overhead projector. Instead of a back wall, her classroom now had a large gaping hole and a collapsed ceiling. Afigure flew out of the rubble riding a demon cat. He leapt down from his mighty steed and her teacher fell down in fright.
"Kagome Higurashi," the figure bellowed out. "Please come to the front."
"Yes?" said Kagome nervously stumbling to her feet. She hurried up to him and hissed at him, "what are you doing?"
Demon Inuyasha kneeled before her clasping her hands in his own.
"Kagome Higurashi," he uttered, "I, Inuyasha of the Dog Demon Clan, ask you, Kagome of the Higurashi Clan, to be my mate."
"What!" Kagome cried. "I love you Inuyasha, I really do, but…"
Demon Inuyasha stood up and led her hand to the demon cat. "I, Inuyasha, bring you three gifts my love. The first is a demon cat to be your servant and companion. The second," he said digging into his haori, "is a magical dagger which I had Totosai make from my tooth. It will protect you no matter where I am. The third gift I offer you," he said swooping down for a kiss, "is immortality. Become my mate and I will bestow these gifts on you."
Kagome turned ashen. Here was what she had hoped for beyond her wildest dreams and yet it was all like some sick fairy tale.
"I'm sorry Inuyasha," she said tearing up. "I just can't do that to either of you. I can't choose one or the other. I'm so sorry!" she cried running out of the room.
Back in the Feudal Era, Human Inuyasha walked quietly along a riverbank, oblivious to any care in the world and those who were stealthily observing him. He picked up a stone and tossed in the river and listened to it sink deep into the waters below. Deciding upon a place to fish, he pulled a reel out of a basket and went about trying to figure out how to put it together. Before he could make any progress however, he heard a weird whistling sound that even he could recognize. He looked up, and there upon the shoreline, looking as beautiful as ever was someone he remembered.
"Kikyo," he murmured.