“What is it?” Kagome asked, frowning at the strangeness of the request.
It wasn’t like the guard captain to barge in on her like this. An orderly man himself, he was unerringly respectful of her schedule. Knowing this, she couldn’t help but feel the beginnings of unease take root in her mind.
“It would be better I think, my lady, if you’d come with me and judge for yourself.”
His reticence on the subject didn’t make Kagome feel any less apprehensive. Warily, she followed after him, as he led her outside the main hall, past a few more buildings and courtyards, toward the palace stables. With each passing step, Kagome’s trepidation grew. Her panicked thoughts flew at once to Yahiko. He did practice horseback riding sometimes in the mornings. Had he had an accident? Was he hurt? Could he be—
But Kagome shook her head, not allowing herself to voice the thought. Unconsciously, she increased her pace, outstripping the captain who was supposed to be leading her. Hitching up the train of her formal dress, she was practically sprinting by the time she reached the stables. But as the huddle of grim-faced, muttering guards drew back at her approach, it wasn’t Yahiko she saw in their midst.
It was Ikiryou.
Bloodied, muzzled and bound up tight in heavy rope to one of the horse stalls, he whimpered pitifully as she ran to him. Kagome’s heart and jaw both clenched. Dropping to her knees in the dirt before him, she ripped off the wet, rust-colored rag that was cutting into his snout and pulled him to her chest, stroking his head as he yowled.
Kagome’s eyes flashed to the guards in seething rage. “What’s the meaning of this?” she demanded. Rising to her feet again in a fury, she slashed out with her hand. “Cut him loose right now!”
Having flinched back at the force of her temper, the guards looked palely and silently between themselves, in clear hesitation. Before Kagome could lay into them further, their captain stepped forward.
“Kagome-sama, please—there is more you must see.”
Kagome’s eyes snapped toward him. Fuming as she was, she reluctantly followed him around the side of the stables. In the little yard behind them was a scene of bloody horror. A young stable-boy knelt crying in the midst of the gore, which streaked him red and black like the withered grass. Kagome froze at the sight.
It was another dog, a sleek dark hound, that lay dead and torn in the trampled grass. Pale blue eyes stared up wide and glassy from a sweet face that was so eerily still. The boy’s red-crusted hands were pressed to the dog’s stiff, shredded flank. As Kagome’s and the captain’s shadows fell over him, he raised his wet grimy face to her. His eyes swam with helpless tears.
“S-she was a good girl, milady,” he sobbed out. “She didn’t bark ‘less there was a reason. And she never bit no one, not ever…”
Swallowing dryly, Kagome turned away, pressing the back of her hand to her lips.
“S-she was good…she was…”
“Enough, boy,” the guard captain said. As the boy fell to quietly sniffling, the captain turned to Kagome, his voice low. “When my men heard the bitch yelping, they tried to pull him off her, my lady. That’s when he bit at them, and they bound him up. They didn’t know what else to do—they said he had a crazed look about him and wouldn’t stop snarling and snapping, trying to get back to her. Even after she was stone-dead, he still was yanking at the ropes like mad.”
Kagome looked toward the front of the stables. Soft and sane, Ikiryou’s golden eyes met hers as he whined, miserable at being so restrained. It seemed impossible for her to reconcile this image with the one that lay behind her.
“Will you give the word, my lady?” the captain of the guard pressed her. “I know he is your dog, but he’s a danger. This isn’t the first such attack, only the first we’ve witnessed.”
Kagome glanced at him in alarm. His hand was at the hilt of his sword.
“No!” she said, her voice high and sharp. “You’re not to hurt him!”
But the scent of copper weighed in her lungs, and the sound of the boy’s muffled crying oppressed her ears. Sorrowfully, she looked upon Ikiryou a moment more, before turning back to the captain.
“Just kennel him for now,” she said.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
oh, I love this chapter. How hilarious is it that Kagome is utterly incapable of being mean to dog (like, canis familiaris dog, not demon dog) -Sesshoumaru? She’s literally over here like “baby boy, baby” after her dog JUST humped dog-Kagome to death. and then when Sesshomaru shows up with his shitty little bouquet of flowers and shitty little box of chocolates, straightens his bowtie, coughs, and says “hi,” she’s (justifiably) like “BEAT IT, you TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DEMON.” I love you and your cognitive dissonance, Kagome
it also greatly amuses me to think of Sesshoumaru clucking sympathetically at Ikiryou like “damn, dude, been there! I’d feel for you if my .02 feelings weren’t already occupied with anger at my Dad and my not-wife!”
This is perfect 😂
Seriously though I’m starting to wonder if this is some mad dog disease that’s infected Sesshoumaru and Ikiryou both
Haha it’s going around XD
Thanks for sharing!! <3
Hahahaha this is on point 😄
What did hirokins father say about ah-un when it hatched? I wonder if that was a reference to his extreme personalities, or if it was hinting at something more…
And how does this pup factor in?
“A duality of nature” 😉
Glad you enjoyed this scene, susie!! <3
Kagome is full of frustrating double-standards, isn’t she? XD
Thanks so much for sharing, Puff!! Loved hearing your take <3
Oh boy—perhaps it’s time Ikiryou was fixed. I feel that this attack was a foreboding sign. In many ways, Ikiryou’s experiences with Kagome parallel Sesshoumaru’s—he was violent, a killer, and she tamed him and grew increasingly fond of and dependent on him. If Ikiryou is losing control and attacking a female maliciously (was he trying to mate with her?) , it could be an indicator that all is not well with Sesshoumaru’s mental state either. The description of Ikiryou trying to get back to her savagely despite her death is eerily reminiscent of That Night. The question is, even if she wanted to, would Kagome’s weakened state allow her to check Sesshoumaru as she has in the past?
“In many ways, Ikiryou’s experiences with Kagome parallel Sesshoumaru’s—he was violent, a killer, and she tamed him and grew increasingly fond of and dependent on him” – as always, Alex, you hit the nail right on the head! <3
Love hearing your thoughts and questions!! Hope your week is off to a great start <3
The parallel of this to chapter 4 of “That Night” *chefs kiss* Love it, Char!
Also, maybe some foreshadow among it? Sesshomaru can only wait for so long… and I wonder if he’s actually even waiting or if he’s plotting.
“The parallel of this to chapter 4 of “That Night” *chefs kiss* Love it, Char!” – thank you so much, my friend! Glad you enjoyed that nod to the side-stories 😉
Hope you enjoy the next part!! <3
I love that kagome loves this dog so much but considers so many people beneath her. I think it’s supposed to be a tyrannical personality trait..? Could be very wrong, my source is the sopranos. My brain is tired I don’t know why that’s the connection it chose to make but it did.
It was a good touch though. They kept emphasizing the mob boss’s tender relationship to animals as though it should humanize him, while slyly pointing out that “yeah, he loves ducks and dogs, but look at how he values his fellow *human beings.*”
So tragic. Dogs weren’t getting ‘fixed’ back in those days so she probably went into heat and made Ikiryou crazy. I’ve seen a dog in real life tragically try to jump a fence to get to a female in heat and it impaled itself. Dogs have instincts that they can’t ignore. I can only imagine how powerful the instinct is for Sesshoumaru. Poor dog. Poor Ikiryou.
“I’ve seen a dog in real life tragically try to jump a fence to get to a female in heat and it impaled itself.” – 😰 oh no, how sad…poor doggy 💔
“I think it’s supposed to be a tyrannical personality trait..? Could be very wrong, my source is the sopranos.” – I’ll just say that the Sopranos is my favorite show of all time 😉
So glad you enjoyed this scene! Absolutely loved hearing your thoughts <3
Love the parallels to “That Night”. Could be seen as a catalyst to trigger her memory of her demise at the hands of her ‘mate’ or a wake up call that no matter her efforts, certain beasts cannot be rehabilitated. And thus, beyond her “control”. Maybe Sesshomaru has relapsed. Only you know the answers. I’m sure I’m not alone in my eager anticipation of your next installment.
Hironkin’s got nothing on us thirsty beeches.
🤣🤣🤣 thank you, Mary!! I’ll try not keep ya hanging too long 😉
“Could be seen as a catalyst to trigger her memory of her demise at the hands of her ‘mate’ or a wake up call that no matter her efforts, certain beasts cannot be rehabilitated. And thus, beyond her “control”. ” – 😉 😉
So glad you enjoyed the allusions to That Night as well! Thanks for sharing <3
All the canides around Kagome are going crazy! But what possessed the poor Ikiryou?
At some point somebody was saying in the comments that he might be Inuyasha reincarnation but I kinda doubt that. I’m more inclined to think that he is somehow closer to Sesshomaru.
I don’t remember the details exactly but hadn’t he been intolerant to people around Kagome but submissive when Sesshomaru showed up at her house? It might have recognised the difference in power but I believe is a bit more than that.
So many questions!
Love hearing your thoughts and theories on Ikiryou, Elle! These poor crazy dogs XD
Thanks for sharing!! <3