How to train your Inu! by SSI-Invasion

Stay

A/N: Finally! The second chapter has arrived. I am, usually, a very slow person but this time I wanted to make something for this story, considering that I have started yet another one, though I know that I still have about three others to continue, not to mention other fandoms. Keh, I will do them some other time. Right now I have this one to do, so please enjoy!

This is for Aubrey Simone's "Training Challenge".

Prompt: Stay

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STAY!

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Carrying two quite large sheep back into a forest had never seem so hard as it was right now. Trying desperately not to lose any of them, her mind focusing on her task, her eyes moved franticly from tree to tree, spying the silent wood as if someone or some thing would jump her and eat whatever she carried. Not that it wasn't entirely impossible for it to happen but that she knew that some creature, probably a boar demon would jump her and shred her to peaces along side her animals.

'Well, they are scared for a reason.' She thought, pulling the twin rope harder as she climbed a fallen tree, her body moving swiftly from position to position. 'They will be eaten in a short while, not to mention that they can probably feel him from this distance.' Her mind supplied as she came to a dead stop, her eyes raising from the ground to watch the sky.

A navy blue with small white dots greeted her. No birds chirped in that part of the forest, but she was used with the silence that it provided. She had lived amongst these trees for as long as she had remembered and even named them, just to feel a little more wanted. The woods were her family, not the villagers that always asked the impossible from her. And what was wrong if she was more interested in the mechanical part of the world, like weapons and artillery? She loved mystery and what it brought with it. Why couldn't her people understand that she wanted to see for herself what these demons did? Why did they only want to kill creatures that they couldn't understand? Wasn't that the same attitude they had developed towards mikos at the very beginning?

Shaking her head, knowing full well that, if she was ever discovered in these woods, if she was ever found feeding and nurturing a demon, and a Moon Dog at that, she will probably be killed. Humans never tried to understand what was beyond their tiny world. And what was worse was that she was always compared with Kikyo, with her former teacher, the same woman that had been by her side when she had tried to learn the craft of being a priestess. Not that Kaede, her old caretaker, didn't do a great job, but that the younger woman really wanted to teacher her, herself.

'And to make the villagers believe I have to talent what-so-ever... Not to mention the fact that she had been the one that had instructed me to go after that youkai that time to kill it... She had failed to tell me that it was much stronger than me and that there were people there who already tried to win the fight...' her anger flared as she tugged the animals harder behind her.

Closing her eyes and inhaling sharply, the mahogany haired beauty started walking again. She had always been a pariah for her village, never wanted, never trusted. All she was good at, in their eyes, was at making useless things and destroying with them a part of the village.

'Not that I captured a white Dog... Nooooo! But why do I care? They never listen anyway!' she bit her lip, stretching her powers curiously, careful not to alert any unwanted visitors about her presence.

Pulling on the rope as she reached the small clearing where her companion awaited, Kagome stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening again. No matter how many times she would see him, he would always surprise her. White fur that glittered in the sun, golden orbs, empty of any specific feeling, watching the same sky that she had previously contemplated, huge paws digging slowly into the soil, he was truly a magnificent creature. Gulping down her feelings when she heard the sheep cry out in terror at the sight of him, Kagome hurried with them down her path, hissing when the agitated animals started trashing in her arms. Why couldn't sheep just be sheep and stay dumb even when facing danger? It would make everything less painful. At least, for her. She really didn't like scraped knees and bloody palms.

Groaning in frustration as she finally reached her destination, his monotonous gaze fixed on her, his apathy adding to her nervousness yet another brick, the blue eyed girl just stood there, watching as the great dog lowered his muzzle to inspect the offerings. A small puff, like he had just ridiculed her attempts at giving him food, met her ears as he slumped back down, not bothering with the two animals.

"What? Aren't you going to eat?" the puzzled girl asked, moving her hand from him to her offering and back at him, not understanding.

A curt shake, something like dismissal, was her only response. So all her trouble in bringing these creatures here was for nothing? Was this dog too prideful to just dig in? Did he want some special treatment or something. Grabbing her forgotten bag off of one of the sheep's back, Kagome dug in it till she found the roll of bandage that she had brought with her in hopes that this demon would just let her wrap up his wounds. Shaking with anger, she showed the small white cloth to him.

"I can't heal you if you have an empty stomach! You need to eat!" she tried to reason with him.

Any normal being would have never tried talking with that majestic creature but run away in fear for his or her life. But not Kagome! Her parents once told her that there was more to them than met the eye. More about their way of thinking and behaving, something that made them superior to anime son of man.

'Yeah, dad. Maybe that's why you and mom are dead right now... have you ever thought what your believes would bring?' her hurt soul chimed in, adding to her hurt feelings even more fuel to start her temper.

Another shake and a snort met her ears as the tai turned his face away from the small onna before him. Why was he so damn stubborn? Why couldn't he just chew these two up and spit out the bones?

"You can't get up, not can you!" she whispered, her eyes widening as she scanned his huge body.

Though his wounds were closed, no blood on his perfect mane, there was that light pulse that came from the places her daggers had hit that made her worry. As if he was fighting an infection. Maybe that was why he refused.

'Who would have thought that you would be such a prideful creature?' she giggled, kneeling down and turning her bag upside down in search for one of her trusty daggers.

"You know, you could have told me that you can't move. I wouldn't have felt so hurt by that indifferent aura you have. " she beamed at him, fisting the dagger and preparing herself mentally for what she was about to do.

Rude or not, she was responsible for him. She didn't care if he acted spoiled. She was used to catering to everyone's wishes just because they felt superior. But taking a life... That was still something she wasn't used to. Demons and villagers could do it easily, but she couldn't. Gulping down, feeling her mouth dry further, the brunette tried to concentrate on killing the two beasts without taking too much time. She hated seeing blood on her hands.

'Maybe that's why I'm a failure as a miko... And maybe that is why my parents left me and were killed... Jinkoku-san always told me that they left the village to prove them that there was a reason for the youkai invasion... and that they came back in pieces... they were hated after that because the demons came in even larger numbers to prey off the village... I don't know what to think anymore...' she thought as she tried to steady her arm, the dagger dangling dangerously in her hand.

Tears ran down her face as she closed her eyes, praying to Amaterasu to give her power. She truly wanted to make her new friend better. She had seen no evil in his eyes, only regret and sorrow, like he had been robbed of something precious and was just wondering around in search for that. Maybe he desired something he couldn't have or maybe he was just trying to protect something, either way, Kagome had seen a part of herself in his soul.

'Way to go, little priestess! Just use your powers to read into demon souls... like that proved to be of any good!' an evil voice inside her, her sarcastic side, snarled at her indecision and wishes.

Inhaling sharply, Kagome closed her eyes tightly and threw all her body weight forward, cringing in preparation of the warm feeling of blood and flesh. But she met nothing. No blood, no sheep, no nothing. Cracking one eye open to look around, she saw only the two dead bodies of said animals lying strangely close to the dogs front legs, his aloof and cold demeanor saying nothing.

"You... how... when?...Youuuuu..." she tried to understand, her eyes moving from the spot she had left the two animals to him, then to their dead bodies and then back to his bored gaze.

Pointing the dagger at his muzzle, Kagome almost screamed when snarled at her, his lips turning upwards, his great white teeth shinning red from the crimson substance in the morning light. Shivering, remembering that he hated to be threatened and that, even hurt as he was, he could easily kill her, Kagome dropped her threatening knife and bowed to him. He was such a strange creature. Moody and very convincing when he wanted something, not to mention hard to read and very unpredictable, this dog was throwing away any and all logical thought out of her mind. He surely wasn't like Kikyo and Kaede had told her.

"Ok, Ok, I get it! I won't do that anymore... But why did you... you told me that you couldn't move!" she pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

A snarl met her ears as his black, wet snout pointed to his back legs. A deep gash was healing there, slowly. Eyes widening in shock, Kagome opened her mouth to say something. He couldn't move because of a serious wound like that? She could even see the bone there! But she wasn't the one that made that, so who was it? It surely looked like a miko's blast of fire, but when? She was sure that she had searched his entire body for foreign objects. Did she miss that one?

"Do you want me to check it? I could make it heal faster..." she tried to reason with the Great Dog.

A puff of air was her response as he turned his head towards his given lunch. By the look in his eyes, he wasn't quite thrilled to just munch on the fresh, uncooked meat, as if he had been used to another type of cooking in his, probably, long life. Tapping her bottom lip as she walked to his back legs, her azure eyes trained on the wound that made her stomach churn, she came up with a great plan. She will train him in being more polite to her kind. Sure, he could easily murder and devour anyone without a second thought but, if he was all that, then why hadn't he already done her? Why didn't he kill her?

That meant that he wasn't as savage, as brutal and instinctual like the rest of the lower class demons. So, her parents were right! He could prove them, to all, that demons could live amongst humans.

'Not as pets... no... For some reason, I don't think he would take it lightly if I would propose that to him.' She giggled as she summoned up her unsteady reiki.

There were so many things that she could do with her powers, one of them being collecting any other type of reiki that she could find and make it her own. With that in mind, Kagome, the young trainee priestess, chanted some old song to stabilize her powers. It didn't take long for her to realize that she had never met that power before, like it had been there for a long time, a constant reminder for something. Stealing a glance at the bored tai that watched the sky, Kagome felt his body jerk when she pulled at the string of unfamiliar power. A low growl shook the earth as she instantly jumped, her hands fisting and petting his fur gently.

"I'm sorry! But I had to! It wouldn't come to me otherwise... " she tried to reason when met with his fierce, red stare.

Growling one more time as he inspected the progress she had made, the tai glared at the small girl down his aristocratic like muzzle. If he had been a human, then Kagome guessed that he would might as well be a diplomat, someone that had enough power to rule all of Nippon. She knew that he had the style and the spirit to do it.

As time flew passed them, with her either skinning the two sheep, preparing the fire or trying to heal him, not that he made the job any easier with all his growls and kicks when she wasn't doing something right, Kagome realized that she had disappeared from the village for at least have a day. Now, no one care enough to check, but she guessed that they would still wonder. Playing with a stick in the freshly made fire, sniffing the prepared food with greed, her stomach growling in protest, the mahogany haired miko turned around to look at the vigilant taiyoukai.

What was he thinking? Was he like that because of her, or did he feel something around them? Either way, she was feeling strangely at ease with him around.

"You know!" she chirped all of a sudden, making the annoyed tai turn his head in her direction, in pure curiosity. "I never gave you a name! I wonder what your name should be!" she beamed, tapping her lips with a finger.

A warning growl passed his massive chest as his eyes narrowed dangerously. Was she playing with fire again? He had already kicked her in the water a few times when she had tried to climb up his leg to see if his wound had closed completely and if the others were already healing. Feeling his youki enveloping her small frame, Kagome turned around and sat with her legs crossed in front of her, her wet clothes drying in the back from the fire. He had been completely rude to her, throwing her away like that, like some oversize pest, but she hadn't taken it to heart. He had a reason for it, she just knew it.

'He sure is behaving like most of the men I have seen... well... a little more dignified, but like a man non the less! Maybe I was invading his personal space?' she wondered, seeing that he was, like always, not responding to anything she did or said.

"Should I name you... Fluffy? It's a fitting name, you know?" she tested, closing one eye, but not missing the murderous glare and the wonderful, probably deadly, show of his canines flashing her way.

Giggling when he raised his paw only to bring it down right in front of her, making her tumble a bit backwards, the tai stared her down, making her understand that this wasn't funny. Jumping up from her position on the ground, her stomach aching and tears of joy rolling down her face, Kagome tried to steady her racing heartbeat. All jokes aside, he would surely kill her if she would make fun of him one more time.

"The... then what should I call you? You must have a name..." she tried to coax his answer out.

'Come to think of it... I never heard an youkai talk before... How am I supposed to know what he tells me? Stupid, stupid Kagome!' she berated herself, cursing her slow mind.

"Sesshomaru. " a deep rumble resonated through the clearing, the smooth surface of the water gently jiggering.

"Wh-what?" she gasped, clasping her hands on her ears, her eyes squinting.

Did he talk? He really did say something! But what was it?

"This one shall not repeat himself, onna." The rough grumbling, thundering voice made her squeal at first.

"But... I don't understand much of what you are saying... Can you repeat?" she tried again, not believing her ears, even if her full stomach that captured the sounds pretty well could testify otherwise.

But no sound came from the stoic presence as she watched her. If she didn't know better, she would have sworn that he had raised a brow at her incompetence in understanding him. But that was ridiculous. Dogs didn't have eyebrows. Did they?

"I am sorry... Sesshomaru... right?" she tried to pronounce the heavy name as she felt it roll around on her tongue.

A curt nod was what she received for her tries. Whispering his name a couple of times, Kagome smiled back at him. Another mystery unraveled! Taiyoukai could talk, though it was very painful for human ears to understand and keep up with the low baritone, she could still make out most of the gruff sounds he made.

"What a weird name for a dog... It sounds like a sneeze... And it's nasty!" she pondered, not realizing that she had talked out loud until she felt his muzzle pushing her down, his scorching breath fanning in her face, robbing her from the air she needed.

"Do not mock this one, you impudent child." His growl shook the grown and almost knocked her into oblivion if she wasn't so damn stubborn as to put him in his place.

Raising her hand before she even realized what she was doing, Kagome slapped the wet nose that presented itself before her with force, a part of her relishing on the wet and satisfied sound that it made.

"Stay!" she yelled, swallowing down her fear when her brain caught up with her actions.

Puzzled, the demon dog raised his head, his fluffy ears hallowing her small frame. His eyes widening minutely, Sesshomaru watched her squirm her way from under him and to her bottom, shaking with what seemed like fright. How come such a small and impossibly powerless human, even with her miko powers, dared to do something like that to the grand him? He couldn't believe her courage, though it was foolish.

Shaking madly as she watched him sit on his belly, his eyes fixed on her and nothing else, Kagome thought about her next move. What could she do to make him understand that all she wanted was to befriend him? She obviously had to... 'train' him on some aspect on human-demon relationship, though she knew nothing about that herself, but she just wanted to know more about him. She was genuinely concerned about him and his welfare.

"S-stay!" she almost pleaded, her order diminishing as she realized that he had gotten up from before her, ready to walk away.

"Please... Don't leave yet! Stay!" she screamed the last part, tears falling from her eyes.

This was strange. In all her life she would have never thought that she would be pleading, almost ordering a demon to keep her company, to be beside her. It was risky and probably deadly, but she wanted him there. She wanted to see him every morning. She wanted to heal him, wanted to train him. He was a dog after all.

A snarl rumbled in the slowly fading day as she jumped to see if he was still there. Panicking when she was met with only the forest, his form and youki completely gone, Kagome ran for the trees, her eyes watering once more. She didn't dare to call for him. Not out of fright but because she dreaded the moment when only silence will met her ears.

Before she could venture further into the dangerous woods, something caught her by the collar of her kimono, yanking her back into the clearing. Screaming as she flew back into the lake, the young miko gurgled out of the water just in time to see a shadow appear next to the biggest tree she had ever seen. A shadow with silver lining, with long hair, a shadow in the form of a man.

"Did you not pleaded this Sesshomaru to stay?" the creature chanted, taking one step into the clearing, his amused tone making Kagome blush.

But before she could say anything, her mouth went completely dry at what she just saw.

'Amaterasu, you awfully tricky Goddess, why did you like to play games such as these? Do you like to see maidens like me in this kind of situation?' thought Kagome, her face so red that it could easily be confused with a cherry, as she went under the water.

What a confusing day it had been. Enlightening but confusing non the less.

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A/N: So? What do you think? Is it worth it? I planned to depart from the main idea of the story once I got to the second chapter anyway but because I loved the main idea of the story, I used it. Maybe that's why you guys told me that it was better to do something original. I just wanted to do something new for a change, something I never did before! XD heh

Don't know if you do like the turn this story has taken, but please tell me what you like and dislike about it.

Thank you for reading!