DIAMOND DOGS
Wolf
Kagome's eyes snapped open. How long had she blacked out for? They had to get out of here! As far as she could tell from her watch, it hadn't been more than ten minutes. But that was still plenty enough time for a new gang of youkai to search her out. She doubted she could pull off that stunt a second time…
The young man she'd rescued was still attached to the drain grating, alternately trying to kick the knot undone or untie it by lying over the chain so his shackled hands could reach. Leaping up to help him, she stumbled from a head-rush and tried again more slowly. He was growling in the back of his throat, unable to voice a complaint at each failed attempt. The mask completely muffled him.
"Hey, let me get a look at it…let me help," said the girl uncertainly. Thankfully he obediently rolled away, allowing her to reach down and yank at the chain with more agile fingers. However, a knot tied by a youkai was hard to undo. "Does it unclip from the other end?" she asked, giving up.
He held out his wrists as far as possible, which was only a few inches. The handcuffs were fused together and a short chain passing round the back of his neck kept them close to his chest. Kneeling next to him and leaning over to look, she felt more than a little embarrassed. But getting out of the District was currently more important than personal space. Kagome inspected them carefully and unscrewed a series of heavy clasps. A fleeting look of relief softened his eyes as the heavy leash clattered onto the pavement. He sat up and crossed his legs, prompting her to concentrate on the manacles by rattling his fists.
Impatient was too tame a word. The boy was tapping his foot and staring madly at her busy hands, tugging his own out of her grasp every time she started to make a mistake. More complex than expected, the fetters were latched together with rivets, buttons, and nuts and bolts. Eventually she muddled her way through, glancing every now and then at the surrounding alleyways for fear of approaching youkai. He raised his hands back over his shoulders and carefully lifted the short chain over his head. His long black hair was tangled up in the links, and he had to tug himself free.
"Um, I don't know how the cuffs come off your wrists, but I can help with the mask if you like? We've got to hurry up." Kagome flitted around him, not wanting to be rude but not daring to waste any more time. The boy reached up and tugged at the straps and belt-like clasps keeping the mask on his head. She kept diving in to help at odd moments, making him jump. At last he pulled it off, and she saw his whole face.
He was handsome enough, but there was something a little unreal in the flawless skin and even features; almost as though he hadn't grown into them. It was similar to the way super-healing youkai never had pockmarks or greasy skin. Since there wasn't the faintest hint of a demonic aura around him, Kagome ignored the faint misgiving and listened to his first words.
With nary a 'thank you', he turned his back on her and began walking down the alley; chain clinking with each step and the mask held loosely in one hand.
"Hey! You could at least say thank you; I rescued you from those youkai and helped you get the manacles and mask off! Aren't you in the least bit grateful? You – "
"You should stop yelling," he interrupted in a quiet, medium-tone voice. "I bet you can't do that weird trick again; and if their friends decide to come after us I don't have the power to hold off a fucking Diamond Dog! If they hadn't been in a playful mood you'd be dead already!"
Kagome harrumphed, keeping pace with the teenager's quick strides. "You should be more respectful to a miko, especially one who just saved your life!"
"You're an irritating wench," he snapped back.
"If you're going to insult me, at least use a less archaic word…"
They continued in silence, fast travel punctuated by the miko's waves of exhaustion. Weaving through backstreets and every so often risking a more main pathway, they took the most direct path through the District whilst avoiding all signs of youkai presence. Kagome spent the time grumbling mentally about her companion's attitude.
"What's your name?" she asked suddenly.
"Does it matter?"
"It would be nice!" she said, getting cross.
His answer was abrupt. "Inuyasha."
"Oh." Nothing more was said for a few minutes. "I suppose that's why they picked on you?"
One of many reasons, he thought; but only scowled in reply. As he walked he rolled his arms and shoulders, working out the kinks that had accumulated whilst he was trussed up. She noticed that he squinted a lot, peering down the yellow-lighted streets as if he needed glasses. And he was extremely edgy. Well, that was understandable. So was she.
Never mind if he's a bit off. Just concentrate on getting out of here.
(-)(-)(-)
A tornado tore up the passageway, ten feet tall and scraping the buildings on either side at its widest point. The swirling green clouds darted towards the two humans before they could even begin to retreat, suddenly stopping dead and falling into a shower of dust. In the midst of the millions of motes, a youkai crossed his arms over his chest and eyed the pair slowly up and down.
He was dressed in short furs, straight black hair in a ponytail and a brown wolf-tail flicking back and forth behind him. His eyes were bright sky blue.
"Interesting. A pretty, defenceless miko running through the District on a Saturday night, and a bush-haired human with very bad dress sense." He leered at her.
"Says the wimp still dressing like a caveman?" retorted Inuyasha, looking at the wolf carelessly. I-couldn't-care-less-whether-you-live-or-die-ly.
Kouga glared at him, taking in the coarse black hair, un-pointed ears and fangless teeth with a condescending expression. But when his eyes fell on the shackled arms and the ornate mask dangling by its straps from the human's hand; all of the colour drained out of his face.
"You? What are you doing off your leash, puppy?"
"You wanna make something of it? Wanna find out, mangy wolf?!" The boy grinned savagely and spread his fingers, as if they had the power to take the youkai down.
The man faltered, indecisive. He could attack and win, but there were consequences…
"I don't have the time to waste on some dog turd! I have better things to do than dirty my hands with a filthy human's blood."
"Yeah," agreed a youkai with a thin white Mohawk approaching from behind; "Like avoiding Ayame…"
"What, she's here? Let's go, guys! Later, dog breath!"
"Later, wimp;" muttered Inuyasha, so quietly only Kouga could hear. The wolves left in an instant cloud of dust. When it cleared he realised that the girl had backed away from him, staring wide-eyed at his chains and muzzle.
"I've made a mistake, haven't I? I've made a terrible mistake…" breathed Kagome, really taking in her travelling companion. Aside from the human aura he could be mistaken for a youkai – the old-fashioned clothes, indestructible attitude and the way that wolf had recognised him – why hadn't she realised sooner? Some miko she was turning out to be!
"Who are you, really?" she challenged, settling for an angry expression in the absence of her weaponry.
"I'm Inuyasha, 'really'." The question you should be asking is 'what'.
"That wolf-guy, he knew you! What do you have to do with the Diamond Dogs?"
"Bullshit," replied the man easily. "If he mistook me for someone else, who am I not to take advantage of that? Are we going or what?"
"Can you prove it?"
"Do I look like a youkai, you idiot?! The gang dressed me up because their berserker was, er, indisposed. They thought it was funny to make people think a human was their monster."
"Well, it's been useful enough for us," said Kagome, conceding defeat. "Let's go."
He sneered at her back. What a stupid girl. She had no idea…
(-)
(-)
(-)
Much love to reviewers! Sorry I'm a slow updater, but multiple stories/college beckons etc. Um, they were meant to escape the district this chapter but it struck me that 'She had no idea…' was a nice place to end.
I've wandered away from the mood I was in for this but I won't be abandoning it, promise.