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Chapter 26: A Brother's Love

As Ginnezu sat comfortably on Kaede's roof, her usual sunning spot, she gradually became aware of two coldly demonic presences nearby. At first, she hadn't noticed--she was too sleepy and complacent. Stupid of her.

When the presences finally registered and the scents seemed to spring into her nostrils, her heart thump-thumped in her chest as she slowly opened her eyes, trying not to let her inner startlement show--though she knew the two perched near her could hear her heartbeat perfectly well.

Now what are they doing back so early...? she wondered as she turned her head one way, seeing Shirokiba crouched on the edge of the roof, staring icily at her. She turned her head the other way and was even more startled to see Inuyasha grinning at her, his eyes hard like orbs of yellow jewel. Oh, great... This does not bode well.

"Can I help you?" Ginnezu asked as she sat up, sounding annoyed.

"Indeed, lady, you can," Shirokiba replied. Inuyasha chuckled softly to himself, further alarming her. It was a throaty, hungry sound, like the panting cackle of a jackal.

"Well, what is it?" she asked impatiently, sitting up. "I was enjoying my rest, until you interrupted."

"Would you be so kind as to tell us about those Black Dogs that attacked my brother?" the wolf-dog said evenly.

For a moment, Ginnezu floundered. How could they know that the Dogs had been of that Clan? How could they have made the connection to her? Clearing her throat, she stood up, but it didn't ease the threatened feeling she had, boxed in between two barely contained half-Dogs. "I have nothing to do with the Black Clan."

Inuyasha snorted. "I'll bet. They're your Clan's allies, Ginnezu. You sent them to do your dirty work."

"I had nothing to do with them!" she protested again, looking honestly at both of them. "Why would I need to attack your little brother, Shirokiba? I am only here for Lord Inuyasha, nothing more."

"You sent them, didn't you?" Shirokiba demanded, also standing.

Inuyasha was already on his feet. "You wanted Shirokiba and Kouga out of the way for something. Tell me the truth, Ginnezu!"

Ginnezu let a few artful tears brim in her eyes. "How could you suspect me of such a horrendous thing? I don't have the authority to order the Blacks to do anything, and besides, I would never do something so underhanded!"

"Hah!" Inuyasha spat.

"I could never--oh!"

"What?" Inuyasha barked.

"It...it must have been Daddy..."

"Lord Ginpatsu?" Shirokiba said in disbelief.

"My father must have sent them to watch me--but they attacked your poor brother..."

"Ginpatsu would never do something like that," Shirokiba began, but his voice had lost some of its conviction. "You're trying to cover your scent, lady."

"I swear I am not!" Ginnezu cried. "The Black Clan doesn't take orders from just anyone, you know! It must have been my father! He could have sent them as spies, bodyguards--any number of things!"

Inuyasha's steam seemed to be failing in the face of Shirokiba's hesitance. "But...!"

Shirokiba snarled softly to himself. At this rate, their argument was going to melt; he should have known she'd cover her tracks well if she'd plotted this. So well, in fact, that she'd have an out even in the event of discovery. And the idea that Lord Ginpatsu had sent them was not entirely implausible, either. Old Man Silver was just as crafty, if not more so, than his young daughter.

"Damn it all," Inuyasha growled, equally disgusted. "What the hell is going on here then?"

Ginnezu managed to dry her tears. "It must have been my father," she said with a cute sniffle. "I'd never do something so horrendous!"

"Aw, crap." Inuyasha flattened his ears in irritation and confusion, a frustrated half-snarl on his face as he whirled and paced away over the roof.

"Lady, you're on borrowed time," Shirokiba stated flatly as he turned to hurry after the younger demon. On the other end of the roof, Inuyasha and the wolf-dog held an impromptu council.

"This claws our whole idea to pieces," the half-demon grumped quietly. "It was supposed to be simple, Shirokiba."

"She's a wily creature, mutt. There's no way she'd let herself get tripped up so easily."

"She did trip. She's just really good at hiding it."

Shirokiba snorted a bit at that. "That's the whole point. We didn't catch her tripping, so we're going to have to catch her with the results."

Inuyasha grinned, glancing at the female dog-demon who was pointedly ignoring them. "We'll wait until she has to brush the dust off her knees."

"Shirokiba!" called Sango's voice from below. "Kaede says you'd better come down here!"

The wolf-dog's eyes widened. "Kouga!" he hissed, doing a somersault off the roof. Inuyasha leaned down to watch him dart up to Sango. "What's happened?" he demanded.

"Kaede wasn't expecting Kouga to wake up so soon," Sango replied, startled a bit at the wolf-dog's sudden descent. "She needs your help."

"He's up?" Inuyasha asked darkly, peering down at them, his hair falling about like a pale curtain. No one answered him as Sango led Shirokiba into the hut. Snorting in annoyance, he dropped off the roof and went in as well.

In the corner, Kouga the wolf-demon was stirring vaguely, healing much quicker than even Inuyasha had expected. Sango stood aside to let Shirokiba approach the rough futon and the priestess that attended it. The humans might not be able to see it, but Inuyasha could tell that his mentor was unsettled and nervous about something.

Probably that "talk" he wants to have with the wimpy-wolf, he thought grouchily, remembering what that would entail. I dunno why he insisted on that. It's not any of his business.

Shirokiba knealt near Kouga's side, looking to Kaede for instruction. The old priestess nodded in greeting to him, then rose to let him take her place. "He is a strong lad, Shirokiba," she said in her gruff way. "He will be healed in only a few days. As it is, he will wake very soon." With that, she tucked her hands into her sleeves and sedately left the room.

"I'll leave you two alone for a while," Sango said, smiling at Shirokiba before heading out as well.

That left Inuyasha standing uncomfortably in the corner across from the two brothers. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, trying to affect an air of boredom but only managing to look sulky and impatient.

Shirokiba ignored the young dog-demon's discomfort, reaching out to touch Kouga's arm, surprisingly gentle. "Hang in there, cub..." he whispered, half to himself, as always using his old, half-mocking, affectionate name for his baby brother...or rather, for the chubby little blue-eyed Wolf cub Kouga had once been.

At his brother's kind, soft tones, Kouga's jerky movements slowed, and his eyes fluttered slightly open. "Nn... Big...brother...?" he groaned softly, recognizing the elder wolf-dog's voice.

Surprised, Shirokiba leaned closer. "Kouga! Am I glad you're awake! You gave me a scare with this stunt you pulled."

Kouga chuckled shortly, painfully, coughing. "Did you think you could get rid of me that easily?"

I wish, thought Inuyasha unkindly from the corner.

"I'm just glad you're in one piece," Shirokiba replied. "What happened?"

Shadows seemed to grow across the Wolf's face. "Demons," he rasped, his face taking on a dazed look. "Dogs. I haven't...I've never..."

"I've told you about this, haven't I, cub?" Shirokiba said softly. "You've never fought anything like them before, eh?"

"'Cept you," Kouga snorted before falling back into his somber state.

"Let this be a lesson to you, Kouga," the wolf-dog went on. "Don't tangle with the dog-demons."

Kouga "hmphed" disdainfully. "I can handle myself."

"I know you can. But you're lucky to be alive after an attack like that! Five Black Dogs used you as a chew toy, you lunkhead. I hope you've learned that you can't take on a grown dog-demon like that."

"I didn't take them on." Kouga frowned and turned his head away. "They just got the jump on me..."

"Well, all that aside, what happened?" Shirokiba asked again, gently. "Did you see who they were?"

"Not really," Kouga confessed raspily. "They were all in their true forms...just big black...shadows coming out of the woods at me..." He took a breath. "I've never seen demons so terrible before. Even I couldn't outrun them...and they pulled me down. They just kept biting and slashing and laughing..." The young Wolf's fangs bared as he fought his anger over the Dogs' mockery. "Laughing...like I was so easy to kill..."

Shirokiba sighed. "To them, you are. If they had wanted you dead, you would be."

With a grunt, Kouga mustered his strength and sat up, swaying slightly. Quickly Shirokiba reached to steady him, but the Wolf shrugged off his helpful hands. "I'm not a cub, brother, no matter how often you call me that," he growled softly, a little resentfully. "I can take those Dogs. They won't get the drop on me next time."

Shirokiba shook his head with a gentle chuckle. "I'm sure."

"Sneaky bastards..." Kouga snarled roughly. "Coming at me from cover, five-to-one odds...reminds me why I hate those lousy, tame-brained, self-centered dog-demons." He blinked. "Sorry, Shirokiba."

Shirokiba was actually laughing softly, but a low snort behind him made Kouga start. His eyes traced past Shirokiba to Inuyasha, standing across the room. Shirokiba seemed to notice the half-demon then as well.

"Don't look at me," Inuyasha grumped sullenly. "I'm just a lousy, tame-brained, self-centered dog-demon."

Shirokiba laughed aloud. "Come on, now, mutt. I'm sure he didn't mean you."

"He's damn right I did," Kouga retorted, eyes flashing. "He's just like all the other Dogs."

"Care to prove your point?" Inuyasha growled, flexing his claws.

"That's enough!" Shirokiba snapped, startling both of them into silence. "I will not have this fighting, especially not here and now. Inuyasha, take it outside."

"But--!"

"Kouga and I need to talk." His eyes pinned Inuyasha coolly. "You: Out. Now."

The young dog-demon bristled visibly, face pinched with anger at the Wolf, but he turned on his heel and stomped out the door with a low snarl.

"Don't you have a deerskin to take care of, mutt?" the wolf-dog called after him.

Outside the door, Inuyasha paused, remembering the project he'd been called away from. Oh, crap! Some damn animal's dragged it off by now! Darting off of Kaede's porch, he hit the ground running and scampered in the direction of the pelt he'd left in the woods, the Wolf's problems forgotten as he recalled the importance of his work.

Back in Kaede's hut, Kouga was laughing at Inuyasha's forced exit. "Did you see the look on his face when you ordered him out?" the Wolf chuckled. "Damn, I wish I could do that. Be nice to see that Dog grovel for me, too."

Shirokiba glanced at him sharply, cutting off his humor. "Inuyasha does not grovel for me. He respects me. Well...as much as he respects anyone." Kouga grumbled, while Shirokiba's face became set and sad. "Cub...you and I have something we need to discuss."

Kouga sighed sullenly and slouched--wincing a little as his irritable motion caused his broken ribs to twinge painfully. "Hmph. Now what? Are you going to tell me off for calling your precious pup names?" he growled.

"No," the wolf-dog replied softly. "It's about the girl. Kagome."

Kouga glared sharply at his older brother. "It's none of your business, Shirokiba."

"I know. And I know that, under ordinary circumstances, I should just let you and Inuyasha resolve it on your own, however unpleasantly you might do so. But...it's become much too big for that--much too important."

The Wolf snorted. "Are you telling me to lay off 'cause he's a White Dog and a white Wolf at the same time? Or is it just that he's more important to you than me--your own brother!"

Shirokiba abruptly snarled at him, eyes bright as that stinging barb struck home. Kouga felt a shiver run up his sore spine, reminded of the awful power of the Black Dogs he'd faced--power that his Gray half-brother shared quite a bit of. "Don't," the wolf-dog warned, his voice rumbling dangerously. "If you weren't in such bad shape I'd knock you through the wall for speaking like that. Don't you ever say something like that to me again. Why can't you understand that you and Inuyasha are equally important to me? I want what's best for the two of you. I'm not trying to run your lives, but I'm trying to keep you from getting hurt. I care about you both too much to let that happen."

"Then don't get in my way," Kouga growled, trying to regain his composure. "I can get what I want on my own."

"Don't be stupid," Shirokiba snapped. "Listen to me: That girl belongs to Inuyasha. If you step between them, the consequences will be worse than when those Dogs chewed on you."

Kouga glared at his brother. "I love her, Shirokiba. Nothing's going to keep me from her--not you, and not him. When the time is right, she'll finally come to me."

"You stupid cub!" the wolf-dog snarled. "Are you blind? Haven't you seen what's been going on between them? She'll never run with you! Kagome is his, both in their hearts and by every law in our Pack! He's claimed her, dammit--Kouga, he marked her! He marked her and she accepted him! You can never have her!"

Kouga's eyes went wide, shocked into slack-jawed silence. For a moment, he simply gaped, his mouth working, trying to gather his wits enough to speak. Finally, his throat opened and his fangs were bared, a deep growl of rage and frustration welling up in his chest. "No. No. He didn't..."

"Kouga...cub...they both told me--alone, without the other there, they both confessed. It's a line you can't cross. Please, little brother, just walk away--"

"No!" Kouga roared, rising in a burst of strength and tottering feebly on his scored legs, forgetting that he was hardly dressed. "How dare he! That bastard Dog! He knew she was mine by right and he still dared to touch her! I'll kill him! I'll tear him into so many pieces--!"

Shirokiba jumped up beside him, cuffing him upside the head--gently, not hard enough to knock him over but just enough to make him stumble against the wall, cutting off his enraged tirade.

"That's enough," the wolf-dog said coldly, blue-gold eyes hard and bright with anger. "You're being so stupidly selfish it's making me sick! I know you care for her--Kouga, believe me, I understand. But Inuyasha loved her first, and claimed her first...please, don't break the laws--don't break their bond--for your own wants. Kagome...loves him, not you. If you love her, let her be happy. Let her have what she wants, not what you desire."

Kouga leaned against the wall, weakened, several wounds reopened from his rough and premature movement. Aching both in body and spirit, he bared his fangs silently and vowed vengeance for this evil. "You're wrong..." he choked, half-incoherent, in sorrowful rage. "She doesn't...must have been unwilling...she can't...he'll never love her...I always..."

"Kouga, please don't do something foolish because of this," Shirokiba said softly, coming close to him. His entire demeanor was pleading and sad. "Please, please let her go. If this goes further, it will only hurt all three of you worse, and if you try to take her I think...I think Inuyasha would kill you. I don't want to lose either of you. Little brother, I'm begging you, don't..." He reached out to touch the young Wolf's shoulder.

"Get away from me!" Kouga snarled, striking Shirokiba's hand away even as he leaned against the wall. His eyes bored into the wolf-dog's with an intensity born of hatred and betrayal. "You...you're not my brother," he growled, low and breathless.

Shirokiba jerked in startled pain, his breath caught. "Kouga--"

"Get out!" Kouga howled, eyes closed tight as he pressed his head to the wall in anguish and rage. He pounded a fist against the wall, cracking one of the planks. "Get out!"

Shirokiba backed away, his face twisting in sorrow. He swallowed hard, almost speaking, then stopped when he heard the thick gasps coming from the young Wolf's taut form. With a quavering breath, he lowered his head in sad defeat, turning to leave the hut. One last glance back, and he was gone.

When the wolf-dog's footsteps disappeared entirely from his ears, Kouga finally raised his head. Eyes bright with unshed tears, his long white fangs were bared fiercely in a face terrifying to behold. Gazing out the door after the vanished demon, his blue eyes narrowed in focused rage. "Inuyasha...you Dog..." he rasped, his voice barely more than a snarl. "For this...I'll kill you."

Out in the woods on his trusty log, Inuyasha continued to scrape the deerskin with the fleshing tool Shirokiba had brought him earlier. Luckily, his prize had not been molested during the hours he'd been gone, so was none the worse for his absence. As he worked, his nose tickled and he sneezed, a short doglike snort.

"Bah, they are talking about me," he grumbled, scratching his nose irritably. Looking down at his handiwork, he let out a smug, satisfactory smile. It was coming along well; once he'd finished cleaning it, he could take it to the village tanner. He had no money, so perhaps he could pay for the hide with another kill. Maybe the tanner would work for some fresh venison and a deer pelt of his own.

His smile breaking into a grin, Inuyasha set to work again. It felt good to be industrious, to work with his hands. And the surprise he had in store with this hide--he just couldn't wait!

To be continued...