| Inu by Leloi “Good puppy,” Kagome cooed as she gave the stray dog a vigorous scratch on his cheeks and base of the ears. The dog closed his eyes in canine bliss, overjoyed with the knowledgeable human female who attended him. Inuyasha glared at them and gave a slight growl. The stray regarded Inuyasha and slowly backed away with his tail between his legs. Kagome watched the poor dog retreat. Annoyed, she turned to her friend. “That was uncalled for.” “What?” “I heard you growl at him.” “He was having thoughts…” “It’s just a dog.” Inuyasha made a face as if he had received a mortal blow. “You bitch!” The hanyou snarled, turned and walked away. “What did I say?” Kagome called after him. Inuyasha turned around and stormed back to her. “Do you have any idea why I’m so mad right now?” “No.” Frowning at her, he pointed to the ears atop his head. “I’m just a dog!” Kagome stared at him for a few moments with her mouth opening and closing. “I… I didn’t think of that.” Inuyasha scowled. “Well maybe you should have.” “I’m sorry.” The girl breathed. “Next time I’ll let him have you…” Inuyasha growled and turned to stomp away. “Wait!” Kagome raced after him. But it was too late. The dog demon left her to return to his time through the well. Kagome gave the stray dog an appraising look. “Come on, doggie…” The girl patted her thigh. The dog barked and pranced to her, following her into the house. Kagome found some leftovers and fed the malnourished beast. Patting his back, she noticed all the dust. “I think you need a bath.” Leading the dog into the backyard, she hosed him down. The dull gray and brown dirt washed away to reveal a white coat. The dog shook all the water out of his coat, drenching Kagome. Kagome laughed and toweled him off before leading him back inside. “It’s my turn now, doggie.” Kagome remarked on her way to the furoba. Returning a short while later, she was wrapped in a robe with her hair in a towel. The dog walked with her to her room and she shut the door behind them. “You are such a good doggie… I wonder if mom will let me keep you.” Kagome sat on her bed and absently toweled her hair. The dog sat, staring at her with almost gold eyes. He stood and took a few steps forward before sitting back down again, whimpering softly. The girl eyed the dog. “What is it, boy?” The dog stood, wagging his tail in a friendly way and he took the last few steps to Kagome. His tongue lapped at her exposed knee. Kagome pat his head, smiling at the friendly gesture. Pushing his nose under her robe, he licked her thigh, trying to push his snout to someplace deeper… a place only she had touched. Kagome opened her eyes wide and tried to push his head away. “No! No! Bad dog!” The dog ignored her pushes and continued to lick. A flash of red and white entered the room and knocked the dog back on the ground. Inuyasha stood, growling over the canine, baring his teeth. The dog growled back. “She is MINE!” Inuyasha seethed. His body pushed back so he was practically sitting on her lap as his hand tried to push her further back on the bed. Kagome stared up at him. His hand vaguely touched her body, trying to get her to move. Occasionally it touched bare skin, sending shivers through her body. Someone was growling. The girl noticed Inuyasha staring intently at the dog before him. The dog looked ready to strike, baring his teeth at the dog demon that dared to touch the woman he wanted to claim… the woman who had been nice to him. The dog pounced, ready to bite and rip apart. Inuyasha pushed himself off of Kagome and met the dog in mid flight. The hanyou was larger and easily knocked the snarling animal to the ground. “Yield!” Kagome sat up and pulled her robe closed. “Inuyasha!” The dog seemed to go limp and he stared up at Inuyasha in curiosity. “Are you really Inuyasha?” His body changed until a young man around Inuyasha’s age with short white hair and dog ears lay below the dog demon. Inuyasha looked suspicious. “Yeah. What’s it to you?” “You’re… my grandfather.” Inuyasha pushed himself off of the other dog demon. “No way!” Agitated, he turned to stare at Kagome. “He’s lying. I don’t have any children, much less grandchildren.” Kagome stared at him with an odd look on her face. “I don’t…” Inuyasha stared at the other dog demon. “Tell her the truth.” The dog demon shrugged. “You fathered my mother. Later she was taken by a full blooded dog demon and had me.” “What is your name?” Kagome asked quietly. The dog demon smiled and moved a little towards her, despite the look of anger in Inuyasha’s eyes. “Inuyasha. My mother named me after her father. But she always called me Inu-kun.” Kagome went pale and looked down at her knees. “Now look here, you… you… whoever you are. I am NOT your grandfather,” Inuyasha growled. “But my mother said…” Inu-kun answered. “Curse your mother. Where is she?” “She… died… a few centuries ago. She was only a quarter demon so her lifespan…” “Quarter demon?” Kagome asked, cocking her head to the side. “Inuyasha’s half demon so that means…” Inu-kun nodded. My mother’s mother was human. I don’t know much about her because mother barely knew her. She died when mother was still young. My grandfather followed her soon after. “But I’m alive…” Inuyasha growled. “Yes… I see that.” Inu-kun replied, frowning slightly before turning to regard Kagome. “I’ve been alone for a long time now. Your scratches caught me by surprise. I never wanted to be owned so much in my life. Who are you, my dear lady? And how is it you know my grandfather?” “I am NOT your grandfather!” Inuyasha protested. “My name is Kagome and I’m helping your gra-… Inuyasha find something.” Kagome smiled warmly at Inu-kun. The younger dog demon smiled back moving a bit closer until his head rested on her thigh. “That’s rather nice of you. May I stay with you always, my lady?” His gold eyes flashed on her pleadingly. The girl smiled and hugged him closely, ignoring the growls coming from Inuyasha. “What are you DOING?” Inuyasha snarled. “Oh, be nice. He IS your grandson.” The girl retorted allowing Inu-kun to snuggle against her. “We don’t know that. I don’t have a mate and I definitely don’t have any children. This could all be a trick.” “A trick, Inuyasha? He doesn’t have that vibe I get from one of Naraku’s minions. In fact, he feels… familiar in a good way. Like you… I believe he IS your future grandson.” Inu-kun stuck his tongue out at his grandfather and hugged Kagome. “Well… that may be… but stop drooling all over her!” Inuyasha growled, placing his hand on Inu-kun’s shoulder. The younger hanyou turned and growled back at him. Kagome looked between the two nearly identical hanyou before resting her gaze on Inu-kun. “Inu-kun… I think what Inuyasha means is… I’m barely even dressed… And…” Inu-kun raised an eyebrow. “What? Your saying he already mated you? That you’re my grandmother?” Kagome blushed and shook her head. “I’m not… it’s just…” “I told you both before, I’m not mated… but I won’t stand for her to be pawed over. Her life belongs to me and no one else.” Inuyasha grumped, sitting down beside the two. “What a wimp you are. I was always told that my grandfather was tough. He could kill a thousand demons with one stroke of his sword.” Inu-kun stated, staring at the other demon. Flabbergasted, Inuyasha sat there, opening and closing his mouth. “Now listen here, you little runt…” “Inu-kun, could you excuse us for a moment?” The girl’s words were sweet. “Yeah, sure.” The younger hanyou slipped off the bed and left the room. “I can’t believe you’re taking HIS side!” Inuyasha’s words dripped with anger after he made certain the other was gone. “Inuyasha, he’s your grandson… your blood. At some point you have a daughter and she thinks well enough of you to name her child after you.” “But that isn’t NOW!” Inuyasha spit out. Kagome shrugged and tightened her robe around herself. “You should still be nice to him. Think of your future daughter…” “He said she was a quarter demon… and my mate is… human.” Kagome looked away. Thinking of Inuyasha’s future mate weighed heavily on her heart. “And that my mate dies before me…” His voice was soft and a bit broken with emotion. “But those with demon blood live a long time… Her childhood could have lasted decades.” “Or not.” Kagome whispered. “Shut up!” Kagome stood and went to her closet, looking for something to wear. “May I come back in, grandfather?” Inu-kun called through the door. “My lady?” “Not yet!” Clothing from Kagome’s closet made a pile on the floor. “Look away, Inuyasha.” Inuyasha made a face but obeyed. “Not like I want to see you naked…” And yet his eyes stole a glance at her before she was done changing. “Done. Inu-kun, you can come back in.” Kagome called to the door before she sat back down on the bed near Inuyasha. Inu-kun entered the room and sat down beside Kagome, gazing adoringly at her. “If you were my mate, I would love to see you naked.” The young hanyou scooted closer to her. “Touch her and I swear I’ll break your bones for you.” Inuyasha growled. “That’s not fair. Do you know how long I’ve been alone? You eventually find a mate, grandfather… Why can’t I?” Inu-kun stared back at Inuyasha. Kagome glanced helplessly between the two, stuck in the middle. “I told you… Kagome is off limits. To you… and to any other youkai or hanyou that wants her. She owes me life debt.” “Life debt?” Inu-kun breathed, looking away. “Yes, life debt. And I’ll collect in whatever way I see fit.” “What is life debt?” Kagome asked, staring up at Inuyasha. “It’s…” “It’s when he’s saved your life and so your life belongs to him. Alive or dead, he owns you.” Inu-kun offered helpfully. “I see…” Kagome stared at her knees. “It isn’t like THAT!” Inuyasha cried defensively. “Then what is it like, grandfather?” Inu-kun asked, gazing at the other hanyou with wide, golden eyes. “I know my mother was in life debt to the demon that fathered me. He could have killed her, but he chose to have her serve his bed. She wasn’t even his first wife… just a concubine. Is my lady to be your concubine, grandfather?” Kagome blushed and got up hastily from the bed, not wanting to be a part of the conversation. Inuyasha’s cheeks went red and his body shook with repressed anger. “I have no mate… I’ll have no concubine. What I do with her life debt is up to me and me alone.” “If you plan to kill her, may I have her instead?” Inu-kun asked with hopeful eyes. “NO!” Inuyasha barked. “Insolent little whelp!” Quickly the hanyou drew his sword and it blazed to life. “Osuwari!” Kagome called over her shoulder. Inuyasha made a large, moaning pile on the floor. “You… bitch…” “Inu-kun… I think what your grandfather means is… he also has a life debt to me.” “Liar!” Inuyasha cursed from the ground. “I’ve gotten him out of many bad situations, therefore our life debt is mutual. He owns my life and I own his. Right, Inuyasha?” Kagome glanced at her struggling companion. Inuyasha righted himself and stared at the girl a moment before looking to his future grandson. “She has saved me…” “See? And he doesn’t exactly OWN me. I choose to be with him. We’re… friends.” The younger hanyou stared at her with sad eyes. “But… can’t we be friends too?” “Of course we can.” Kagome smiled. Inu-kun smiled back and seemed relieved as he thought on this. Suddenly he looked puzzled at Inuyasha. “How is it you’re able to be in this time if you are dead?” “I… I’m not from this time. I come here to bring Kagome back to my time.” Inuyasha answered. “Is my grandmother from your time?” “I don’t have a mate yet…” Inuyasha shook his head. “I told you.” “Do you know who my grandmother is?” The hanyou bowed his head and blinked at Kagome’s floor. “I think I know.” “So… Inu-kun… do you live around here?” Kagome broke into the conversation. “Not far from here.” Inu-kun replied. “In fact my mother’s house used to be right here. She lived there with her father. She showed me your grave, grandfather.” Inuyasha stared at the other hanyou. “My grave?” “Once… When I was a child. You want to see?” Inu-kun asked, standing up. “Not really.” “It’s right next to grandmother’s…” “Was your grandmother a miko?” Kagome asked quietly. “Yes. How did you know?” Inu-kun replied in delight. Inuyasha glanced at Kagome before looking away. “I just know.” The girl whispered. “She was powerful.” Inu-kun remarked in awe. “I wish I could have known her.” “I’m sure…” Kagome breathed. “Whelp, does my mate’s grave have her name on it?” Inuyasha asked quietly. “Yes. But I don’t remember what it said. It was too long ago. Something starting with ‘ki’ or ‘ka.’ The handwriting is bad.” “I’d like to see it.” Inuyasha replied hurriedly, going to the window. “Now?” Puzzlement filled Inu-kun’s face. “Now. Kagome, stay here… I’ll be right back. I promise not to hurt the idiot.” Kagome nodded and watched the two leave. Suddenly her room seemed so much emptier. Why did Inuyasha have to go and see what she already knew? That Kikyou… True to Inuyasha’s word, both hanyou returned shortly. Inu-kun grinned in self-satisfaction. Inuyasha held a grimmer façade. “All those years and I still knew EXACTLY where it was.” Inu-kun confided to Kagome as he sat on her bed. “It’s out of the way, but it’s still in tact if you want to go see it.” “Kagome, we should get going. The others are waiting for us.” Inuyasha managed. “Hurry up and get your stuff.” “I guess I’ll see you guys later. Are you sure I can’t come along?” Inu-kun begged. “No! Go home.” Inuyasha replied shortly, a bit distracted from his thoughts. Inu-kun seemed to cower for a moment. Quietly he stood and embraced Kagome, lightly licking her face. “I don’t know what he’s so bummed about. The handwriting on that grave is impossible to read. But… Come back soon, my lady. We’ll go out.” Kagome gave him a half smile. “As friends! You give good ear scratchies.” Inu-kun laughed, turning into a dog. Quickly he jumped out of the window and disappeared. Kagome stood at the window, watching him go. “You found your mate’s grave.” Slowly she turned to stare at him. “Yes.” His eyes didn’t meet hers. “It was… my handwriting. My… own hand.” “I’m sorry you’re going to lose her.” Kagome whispered, gathering her things. “Coming from you… almost makes me feel better.” “Does it?” Quickly his hand caught hers. “Yes. It does. I’m sorry… in advance. Anything that happens… I’m sorry.” “You don’t have to say that. I understand.” Kagome stared nervously at their clasped hands. “Do you even want to know who’s grave it is?” “That’s ok. I know. I know how much she means to you. I mean… you’ve loved her for years right?” Kagome’s words were nervous as she pulled away from him. “Years?” “It’s Kikyou’s grave. I know it is.” The hanyou stared at her, pain deep in his eyes as he blinked to hide his emotion. Finally he gathered his thoughts. “It’s yours.” Part Two Back to the Gallery |