“Y-your grandpa?” Kagome stammered apologetically. “You mean, you guys just change into regular wolves? When Sesshoumaru transforms, he turns into this huge, scary, poison-mouthed dog-monster.”
The inu daiyoukai glared.
“Regular wolves,” Ayame returned hotly, her auburn brow twitching at the perceived slight. “You should show some respect, human—my gramps here is the Elder of all the wolf youkai tribes.”
“S-sure,” Kagome agreed, glancing over at the elder wolf curiously. “Er…just how old is he?”
“…About two thousand or so,” the demoness answered, inspecting her claws.
Kagome gaped. “Two thousand…YEARS?!”
“I can speak for myself, you know,” Ayame’s grandfather grumbled, padding forward. “Tell me, miko, why have you come to us?”
“Well, we came here looking for Kouga-kun, actually,” Kagome replied. “We were hoping he would fight with us against our common enemy, Naraku–but I understand he’s already helping you guys out here?”
“That is correct,” the old wolf nodded somberly. “Our sacred mountain has been overrun by our own undead brethren.”
“Your brethren?” Kagome frowned, as Ayame looked away grimly.
“About a week ago, a mysterious wind tore through our lands, killing a large number of our kin,” the wolf demoness said, “but almost as soon as our brothers died, they rose up again and turned against us–along with anyone else they happened to kill. In the end, the few of us who were left had no choice but to flee. That’s why I went to Kouga-kun for help.”
“It’s all that bitch Kagura’s doing, I’m sure of it,” Kouga growled as he stormed over, flicking the last flakes of dried blood from his healed nose.
“It does sound like her style,” Kagome conceded. “But what about that barrier around the mountain—I’m assuming you guys didn’t place it?”
“The barrier arose shortly after we abandoned our home,” the wolf elder explained. “By the time young Kouga arrived, we were sealed out completely.”
“I see…” Kagome said, her eyes glittering with purpose. “Then, we’ll just have to find a way to bring it down.”
The elder wolf blinked, Ayame and Kouga as well. “…You will aid us, miko?”
“Of course–”
“No.”
Starting, Kagome turned to find Sesshoumaru standing at her shoulder, his expression coolly forbidding. As her face fell, he hauled her up by the collar and pushed her behind him, Kouga’s expression souring at the sight.
“We are not here to assist you in this fight,” the inu daiyoukai stated. “Our battle is with Naraku.”
“But, Sesshoumaru,” Kagome pressed, gripping his sleeve, “I know we don’t sense his youki, but what if Naraku really is behind all this?”
Golden eyes slanted back at her. “Mere speculation. All we know for certain,” Sesshoumaru said, his gaze settling darkly on Kouga, “is that this wolf possesses shards of the Sacred Jewel.”
Kouga stiffened, his eyes sharpening. “What are you angling at, dog?”
“Join with us,” Sesshoumaru said as he advanced, dragging Kagome along with him, “or surrender your shards.”
“Sesshoumaru!” the miko gasped, releasing him.
“Are you threatening me?” Kouga growled, lips pulling back from his fangs as the other wolves around them bared their teeth as well. “Because I don’t respond well to threats.”
“Hold on, you two,” Kagome bit out, her bow smacking Kouga in the chin as she wedged between them, facing Sesshoumaru with her fists clenched at her sides. Why she always found herself sandwiched between two or more feuding demons would never cease to amaze her… “If you’ll both stop acting so macho for a minute, I think we can come to a compromise here.”
“‘Macho’?” Ginta asked in confusion, looking over at Hakkaku, who shrugged.
Sesshoumaru stared at her in silent demand, a little of the wind going out of Kagome’s sails.
“It’s another term from the movies,” she explained, a blush creeping across her cheeks as his eyes simmered in recognition at that last word, sending her perverted mouth running off the rails. “…Maybe I can tell you more about it, later…”
“Hn,” Sesshoumaru nodded, schooling his gaze.
“I think they’re speaking in code,” Ayame remarked to her grandfather in suspicion.
“Anyway,” the miko blustered on, turning to Kouga, “if we help you and your fellow wolves reclaim the mountain, will you agree to fight with us against Naraku?”
Rubbing his still-smarting chin, the wolf prince took a moment to consider. “I suppose that’s only fair…especially if it’s for you, Kagome-chan.”
Rolling her eyes, she turned back to Sesshoumaru with a confident smile. “So, how does that sound to you?”
“Untenable,” the daiyoukai replied, Kagome deflating visibly at the decisiveness in his tone. “We have no means of bringing down such a barrier. Until it dispels, we would be at a stalemate–idle and vulnerable, allowing our true enemies the luxury to move against us.”
“But that’s just it,” Kagome said softly, holding his gaze. “I think we do have a means of destroying that barrier. Or rather, you do.”
His eyes followed hers down, to the battered sword at his side.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Your updates are the highlights of my days~!! And I’m glad Sesshoumaru at least considers Kagome’s ideas, even if he’s expectant of getting his way.
Also love his reaction to how Kagome described his demon dog form…you’d think he’d be distantly flattered to hear that he’s at the least intimidating!
aw thanks so much – so happy to hear that! <3 and i agree – Sess DOES like to be intimidating lol
thanks for sharing! <3
The MACHO word, though, and from a movie?! Hahaha surely Kagome will do a lot of explaining to Sesshoumaru and Ayame being suspicious at the background 😁😄
hahaha glad you liked! thanks, girl!! <3