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Chapter 6: Not Again!

Later in the morning, Inuyasha disappeared with the excuse of going shard-hunting. Kagome was left alone with Kaede while Shippo napped and the others went about their own business. Not hide nor hair was seen of Ginnezu, and Kagome suspected she was out looking for Inuyasha. Kagome was quickly becoming bored, so she dug through her pack to try and find something entertaining to do. Homework was out of the question--it was dull enough already, so there was no need to make the situation worse.

She settled on a book she had borrowed from Sota that very morning. It was entitled "Your Dog" and she was certain she could learn something about the nature of her half dog-demon companion. Perhaps by knowing him better, she could be around him without making him so angry. But she'd better not let him see the book; he'd probably think she was making fun of him.

Ginnezu was resting Inuyasha-style high in a big old tree, a rather petulant, grumbling look on her face as her claws dug furrows in the wood where she sat. She had lost track of her prey yet again; the half-breed she sought had far outrun her and she'd lost his scent at the river.

"The little jerk doesn't even know I'm tracking him, and he can still give me the slip!" she growled. "What does that say about your Mighty-Hunter skills, Gin-girl? I've been a pampered house-pet too long, that's what."

She snorted to herself and laid back against the trunk, her feet dangling. "I am such a dope. Why did I let Daddy talk me into this?"

A slow smile spread across her face. You know very well why, don't you, Gin-girl? This is the only way I can cement my position as Daddy's successor. I'm only a Silver, so this is the only way to keep me and my family on top. The Clan Daimyos want the White Dogs back in power? Well, that's what they'll get--only Daddy and I will be pulling all the strings!

Ginnezu sighed. Her father was far more concerned with keeping power than she was; Ginnezu merely liked the attention and adulation that came from being the Western Lord-Regent's only daughter. And being in charge was fun; she was only just beginning to learn what that kind of power meant. She enjoyed its rewards, though.

Her father's plans had been wonderfully simple--at least part of them: Bring Inuyasha back and they would set him up as a figurehead Great Demon, letting them pull power from behind. She could even marry him if she felt like it. And half-demons didn't live as long as true demons, so when he died of old age in a couple of centuries, she and possibly her father would still be going strong.

Ginnezu's face turned to a frown. Her father had also issued a second part to his command, which had been more of an ultimatum, really. She was to come back with Inuyasha as her puppet--or come back pregnant with his pup.

The second option was actually more attractive to her father than to Ginnezu herself. A child of the White Dog Lords, snow-white as all of them and acknowleged by the Daimyos, raised as a Silver and trained to be Ginpatsu's heir. Ginnezu didn't really relish the idea of motherhood this early in her life, but her father had been adamant; if she couldn't hook Inuyasha they would still have another out. So what if he had some human in him? Lord Seibunishi had been quite clear on his intentions for his successor, and the Clan Daimyos had sworn and witnessed that their leader's will would be carried out.

All of the Dog Clans had heard of Inuyasha's recent exploits--for a half-breed, he was frighteningly powerful even while being so young. In a way, many of the Daimyos were afraid of him. While he was a White Dog, he was half human, and because of that he could turn on them--and as the offspring of the most powerful White Dog in history, possibly destroy them all. Ginnezu highly doubted he could or would, perhaps unless they did something to anger him. He was just a kid.

But in a century or so, when he reaches his prime, she mused, he'll be one hell of a demon. Half-breed or not, he's going to be magnificent... A dreamy smile graced her features. She was only a young demon, after all--far older than Inuyasha, but still very young for a dog-demon. She had not yet passed her first century, being only ninety-seven.

He looks so young, she thought, not unkindly. He is so young. It's probably because the rumor is true--he was trapped in ageless sleep by a priestess. Daddy was counting on that, too; he hasn't yet truly reached the age of sixty--he hasn't come of age yet, according to the Clan Law. But when he's all grown up, nobody could stand in his way. He'll be amazing. He's already cute...he's going to be gorgeous, more handsome than that stuck-up snot Sesshomaru. The ears are a nice touch...

Don't be silly, Gin-girl! You're not supposed to get attached. Ginnezu giggled smugly to herself. I may not feel anything for him, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a cute boy. A little boy Inuyasha might be, but when she'd hugged him, she'd found that there was definitely a man under that all-encompassing Fire-Rat clothing of his. A not-quite-grown man, yes, but she'd gotten a good feel of a strong body and lean muscles. He would grow into himself eventually, and be quite a dog-demon. Sure he's just a kid. This might be Daddy's idea, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy him. And I will enjoy him, whether I win him or not! He's so very shy, and he doesn't like to be touched. Hm...someone must have hurt him badly, for him to dislike contact so much. Probably Sesshomaru, from what I've heard. But that doesn't really matter, does it? I can work around that, once I can get him to trust me. Mm...any time now, very soon, he won't be able to say no to me...

Wait a second... A sudden flash of memory made her frown. The human girl Inuyasha was with--is she...his?

Kagome gasped and blushed, staring at the page and the words she read there. She couldn't believe what she was reading, and yet there it was. Other parts of the book had been accurate to her experiences with Inuyasha, but this...! She tried reading it again, to see if she'd gotten it wrong.

"...A bite to the top of the nose is a dominance ritual among most canid species. It demonstrates a dominant animal's superiority over the weaker animal. With an enemy, this is a way of debasing the defeated foe. Among packs of friends, this is a way of greeting those of lesser status and establishing the 'barking order.' It is reciprocated by allowing the superior to perform the ritual, as a demonstration of trust, or a return bite or nose to the chin of the superior, acknowleging his dominance and expressing acceptance. A bite from a male to a female is also a demonstration of dominance, as well as a way of laying claim or expressing posession. A gentle bite to the nose of a female is an expression of affection as well as posession, with the female also performing the reciprocation. The male may apply his teeth to the back of her neck and withers as added expressions of affection or as a precursor to mating--"

Kagome clapped the book shut and stuffed it in her pack, her face burning. If what the book said was true, when Inuyasha had bitten her yesterday he had been...trying to dominate her? He did it to stop me, she thought, somewhat dazed. He was ordering me to listen to him...to obey him...in dog language! But...he was so scared of what he did...he probably didn't even know! Was it...an instinct? And the other part--the male-to-female part--was the most disturbing. Laying claim? Posession? Even...affection? Well, he sure hadn't done it gently...or had he? He didn't hurt me. He didn't even break the skin. He could have easily...but he didn't. She rubbed her nose almost unconsciously. What does it mean?

Ginnezu was scowling furiously. She didn't like where her thoughts were taking her. What if that human girl really was...? "Uh-oh. This isn't good."

If Inuyasha had already taken a mate, even at his age... If that's the case, no wonder he jumped away so fast! If he's bonded to the human female, there's no way I can get him. No way in Hell... Damn! Ginnezu sat up, her face suddenly anxious. "She could screw everything up!" she hissed to herself. I'll have to see if she belongs to him. And if she does, I'll have to do something about her. No need to be hasty, if she isn't his mate. If she's just his little friend then I won't concern myself with her. But if I kill her, and he is bonded to her, he'll rip me to shreds in an instant...unless...

Reaching to her throat, she touched her Amplifier Amulet. In the pouch on her belt were several small jewels of various colors and powers, which when set into the locket of the amulet would cause various effects to surround her--like the green Stealth Jewel she'd been using to mask her demon scent and aura while she was tracking him. She could be...discreet when she needed to be.

A wicked smile spread across her face, similar to the one she'd graced Kagome with earlier. ...Unless he never, ever finds out it was me!

Kagome was sitting in front of Kaede's house on the little porch, her knees tucked up and her arms around them, resting her chin and thinking. The book about dogs had only served to disturb her, not alleviate her boredom. So she sat and contemplated the events of the previous adventure, trying to glean meaning from Inuyasha's strange action. There wasn't much she could do, anyway, with him out and the others off doing their own things. Even Shippo was absent, trooping around the woods somewhere in his fox form, enjoying the morning air.

She felt the tingling, dangerous, electric thrill of a demon aura. A shadow passing the porch grabbed her attention. She looked up...and there she was.

"Ginnezu!" she gasped, feeling a shiver of fear. Oh, no...where's Inuyasha?

"Hello...Kagome, was it?" Ginnezu said cheerfully, sitting on the edge of the porch and curling her silky, silvery tail around her. Her dark amber eyes were pleasant and bright, and not a hint of her previous malice showed. "What are you doing out here all by your lonesome?"

"Oh, uh, nothing much," Kagome replied, trying to get a handle on her racing heart. To have a demon--a real, live, full-blooded demon--sitting within three feet of her was absolutely terrifying. Ginnezu could shred her to ribbons before she could cry out. Probably the only thing keeping her from me is the knowlege that Inuyasha could be nearby... But she could feel him nowhere near, and undoubtedly Ginnezu knew it.

"This is a nice day, isn't it?" Ginnezu remarked politely.

"Um, yeah, it is." Kagome swallowed. The aura made her shiver, but Ginnezu's face was...so innocent and happy, smiling at her like that. Had she been wrong before? Had she simply...imagined that snarl? Those horrible eyes? That smug expression? She searched for it, but could find no trace now.

"Where did Inuyasha go?"

"I don't know, exactly," Kagome replied honestly. She added an addendum just in case. "But he'll be back soon."

"I'm sure he will." Ginnezu leaned back on her hands, a girlish smile on her face. "So, Kagome, do you like him?"

"What? I don't--what do you mean, 'like him?'"

Ginnezu giggled. "Inuyasha! Do you like him? You know...are you two...?" A gesture of closeness.

Kagome gaped. "No! Not at all! Why would I like an insensitive, annoying, dog-breathed, overbearing--?"

Ginnezu's face darkened a little. "Kagome, you should watch how you speak about the Mashiro-Inu. That's very disrespectful."

"Sorry," Kagome said, blushing with a wince. It probably wasn't a good idea to insult Inuyasha in front of Ginnezu--after all, she regarded him as someone special. Shouldn't you? asked an accusing voice inside her.

"Well, that's good, anyway," Ginnezu sighed.

"What is?"

"If you two aren't together, that means I can have him."

"What?" Kagome's jaw dropped yet again.

"He's absolutely amazing!" Ginnezu bubbled on. "I couldn't believe how handsome he is! I've only heard of him in stories, you know, just rumors, but to meet him in person is such an honor! And the chance he might have me..." Ginnezu's starry eyes stared off into space as she sighed deeply. "It's every she-demon's dream to find a man like him."

"Uh..." Kagome struggled for mental purchase. "Ginnezu, are you sure you...know what you'd be getting into...?" A strange, sick feeling had settled in the bottom of her stomach.

"Oh, that's only for a human girl like you to worry about," Ginnezu replied absently. "We're dog-demons, you know--naturally compatible. It's against nature for him to choose a human. I'm sorry--it must have been terribly rude of me to even ask you if you two were together! The very idea!" She laughed politely behind one hand.

Kagome had no answer, and could not reply--she couldn't even speak. Ginnezu had just tossed her off and insulted her--while declaring she was after Inuyasha, even! But the other girl obviously knew more about dog-demons than Kagome did, and her words rang with a kind of twisted truth. The sick feeling in Kagome's stomach erupted into butterflies and a strange not-quite-fear. Something inside her wrenched when she imagined Ginnezu at Inuyasha's side.

Yet if Ginnezu, being a dog-demon herself, knew so much about them...would she know more than that silly book? Of course she would! She could lay Kagome's doubts to rest. "Ginnezu...can I ask you a question?"

Ginnezu looked at her. "Certainly."

"Can you tell me a little about your people's customs? I'm...really not asking for any reason, but...I was curious."

Ginnezu regarded her for several seconds. "I'm sure it couldn't hurt," she replied sweetly. "Ask me."

"What does it mean when someone...bites someone else?"

Ginnezu cocked an eyebrow. "A bite? Hm...that's a little broad..."

Kagome swallowed her pride, looked down at the porch wood, and let it all out. "How about...when a boy bites a girl...right here?" She touched her nose briefly, then dared a glance at Ginnezu. The female dog-demon's face was frozen in a mask that had slipped just a millimeter.

"And...how did you find out about that?" Ginnezu asked, her tone just this side of forced.

"Um..." Kagome hesitated; it was a rather embarassing subject, and she'd promised Inuyasha...

"How did you know?" Ginnezu demanded, her voice just a bit sharper.

"Well..." Kagome swallowed hard, fighting for the right words. "Inuyasha--"

"He bit you there? Right there and nowhere else? Without any blood?" Ginnezu's words were becoming abrupt.

"Yes," Kagome said miserably, not looking up. It was probably a blessing that she did not; Ginnezu's face was terrible in that moment.

The dog-demon did not speak for a long time. Finally, she stood up. "It means nothing," she said, her voice unusually cold. Then she simply walked away, her footsteps rapid and regular. Kagome was left sitting on the porch staring after her, more confused than ever before.

Inuyasha arrived promptly in time for lunch--far be it from him to miss a free meal. He came bearing news of a completely new demon to the south, one who was not harming people but instead eating every horse and ox it came across. The villagers in those areas were losing an important part of their farms. While he wasn't sure if a shard was involved, it was suspicious enough to check out. Ginnezu invited herself to the meal, plopping down next to Inuyasha, giggling and babbling cheerfully at him while he merely grunted in reply to her chatter.

At least he was making attempts to be civilized in front of the "Lady," Kagome noted with a sour feeling. He was actually eating with some decorum, sitting up straight and not gulping his food. Ginnezu inched closer to him during the course of the meal, further upsetting Kagome, but was denied her final snuggle with the half-demon when he finished his food and got up.

Kagome found herself losing her fear of Ginnezu, replacing it with annoyance and anger. The female dog-demon was such a tramp! Throwing herself at Inuyasha like that--she knew what the other girl was doing. All those suggestive glances, batting her eyes, with her hips swaying as she followed him about, her sparkling smile reserved only for him. It was scandalous! And Inuyasha wasn't doing anything about it; either he was oblivious, or he was privately enjoying it.

The latter thought made Kagome absolutely fume, but she didn't know why.

"Okay--Kagome, let's go," Inuyasha finally announced, spotting the moment Kagome was finished with her food.

Ginnezu paused her attempts, actually looking surprised. She thought she'd been holding the half-demon's attention, but he'd been tuned to the schoolgirl all along!

"I'm coming," Kagome grumbled, shambling out the door, carrying her pack. She fetched her bike from behind Kaede's hut, and when she returned, Inuyasha and Ginnezu were having a conversation.

"Ginnezu, you're staying here," Inuyasha ordered. "I'm not allowing you near a demon fight."

"Oh, Mashiro-Inu!" Ginnezu gushed. "I'm so flattered by your concern! But you needn't worry--Daddy made sure I was trained--"

"It isn't for your sake," Inuyasha growled. "I don't trust you not to make my life difficult during a battle with another demon. And I'm not going to leave you standing next to Kagome when I'm occupied in a fight. It's bad enough you bothered her today."

"But, Inuyasha, darling--"

"No, Ginnezu."

Ginnezu drew back, a hurt expression on her face, her eyes brimming. "How could you not trust me? I would never lie to you, dearest!"

"What proof can you give me, demon?" Inuyasha snorted, turning to walk away. Kagome followed him, pushing her bike, her spirits uplifted.

"I swear to you!" Ginnezu cried. "I swear to you on the name and honor of my father I will not harm a single one of your human friends!"

Inuyasha paused. After a moment, he glanced back at her. "Good. Then I can trust you to stay here, too."

"Inu--"

"Think of it as a test, Ginnezu," Inuyasha said with a mocking smile and a wink. "See you around."

Following Inuyasha away, Kagome turned and smiled pleasantly at Ginnezu, waving to her. She had meant nothing bad by it, but was chilled yet again by the horrible, menacing glare on the demon girl's face.

Kagome turned and quickly caught up to Inuyasha. I wasn't mistaken! she thought, frightened once more. There is something bad about her!

Ginnezu glared at anyone who looked her way. Most of the humans in the village scurried away and kept their distance from the silver dog-demon who sat on Kaede's roof. The girl's expression was positively thunderous--and with her silvery hair, she did look like a thundercloud. One with a nasty lightning strike.

How dare he just brush me off like that? she fumed. Me, a daughter of the Silver Dog Clan--the daughter of Lord Ginpatsu himself! He may be a White whelp but he's still my junior and a half-breed! He should have some respect!

Her dark thoughts turned to Kagome, and the questions the little schoolgirl had asked. So, he marked her, did he? Clueless pup--taking ownership by instinct alone! They may not be an item, or even know it themselves, but...it's started. Inuyasha has already begun to claim her. From what I know, they don't get along, but mere squabbles can't stop what has begun. Like a fire, once the spark is set it will not stop until everything is consumed. And all my dreams go up in smoke! She snarled aloud.

I won't let her have him. I'll have to separate them somehow... For long minutes, she lost herself in thought. An idea came to her, to put something compelling in Inuyasha's thoughts, something that would distract him from the "shards" and the human girl.

The full moon is coming--and with it the Howl-Gathering, she realized. I can bring him to that! Among other dog-demons, he'll quickly forget about sweet little Kagome, and I'll be there with him... A sly grin spread across her features, one that greatly alarmed passersby. And my time is coming soon. Soon he won't resist me at all...

Kagome rode her bicycle in silence. Inuyasha loped along before her, leading the way, sometimes vanishing briefly into the underbrush to check out a scent or a clue. They didn't talk; it was business, after all. Kagome was so deep within herself that she nearly ran over Inuyasha when he stopped, hitting the brakes with a tooth-jarring screeeech! that made the dog-demon wince.

"Jeeze, Kagome, watch it!" he growled, hopping slightly to the left to avoid her front tire. "Have you forgotten how to ride that contraption or something?"

"No," Kagome grumbled, dismounting the bike and checking on the smoking brakes. "I may have just ruined it, though."

"S'not my fault."

"No. I wasn't paying attention."

Inuyasha shot her a look, as if surprised she wasn't blaming him. "That's dangerous in demon country."

"I know, I know. Well, did you find something?"

"This is the spot where the last cow was eaten," he replied, pointing to the pile of crumbled bones and hide in the center of the woodsy clearing. It looked as thought something large had mowed through the corpse like a weed-eater, taking all the edible flesh and leaving broken bones and torn skin.

"Ugh..." Kagome shivered. "This is probably going to be one disgusting demon."

"What's wrong with it?" Inuyasha asked curiously. "I catch deer all the time."

Kagome blinked wide-eyed at him. "So you leave the deer corpses lying all over the woods chewed to pieces like this?"

"Well, no...I bury them."

"You're at least decent about it," Kagome said. "This demon's probably gross and gluttonous."

Inuyasha sniffed. "It smells like something dirty...and like that snake." He looked slightly pensive. "I thought I killed it."

"You mean Sango killed it. You just hacked off its tail."

"I killed it first! And it wouldn't have stayed dead if I hadn't cut off the tail!" The half-demon glared at her, then strode towards the dead cow's bones. The clearing seemed remarkably still--there were no cicadas, no birds. Even the breeze was gone. Only the stench of the bones remained in Kagome's nose.

Then she got a feeling. "Inuyasha..." she whispered. He paused, one ear tilting slightly back toward her. "Something's here."

"Close?" Inuyasha asked softly.

"I don't know."

Inuyasha suddenly twitched, ears cocked alertly. "I sense it now. It's coming."

"Yoouuu...murdererrrr!" cried a raspy, gravelly voice from the forest. It echoed through the trees, and they could not tell where it came from. The putrid aura was everywhere.

"Who are you?" Inuyasha demanded, drawing the Tetsusaiga.

"I am the servant of my mistress, entrusted with a shard of the Jewel, and I am he who seeks revenge!" the voice shouted. "Revenge for my mistress, Karasuhebi!"

"Great...another snake," Inuyasha grumped. "Stay out of this one, Kagome."

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

Inuyasha sniffed the air and advanced. "Show yourself, demon!"

Wait a second, Kagome thought, eyes narrowing. Don't snakes swallow their prey whole? If that's so, then why is this cow...? She gasped aloud. "Inuyasha, it's not a snake!"

"Eh?" The dog-demon turned to look at her, then froze, his eyes growing wide and his jaw hanging slack.

Kagome froze as well when the puff of hot breath ruffled her hair and blouse. She began to shake, her breath coming in gasps. When she finally turned, she nearly fainted when she stood nose to nose with the ugliest...foulest...biggest rat she'd ever seen. "Eeep!"

To be continued...