Opaline by Aviel

The Fox and the Hound

Disclaimer: Though it saddens me to say it, I don’t own anything relating to Takahashi-sensei’s Inuyasha. However, the plot of this drabble series does belong to me as well as any OCs that may show up along the way.

A/N: Any thoughts? :)

Chapter 5: The Fox and the Hound

The daiyoukai trekked after his target, trailing behind her with fluid grace. He followed her silently and, at times, kept his nose pointed in the air to keep tabs on the men some distance away from them. Sesshoumaru wasn’t foolish enough to travel directly after the girl, in case he inadvertently gave away his location, but chose to take another path diagonal from her. That way, he could be close without having to be too close. And the female – or the other humans for that matter – would be none the wiser to this fact.

As the predator he was, he would make sure to be a few steps ahead of them – just a bit out of their reach. Not that he’d ever give them the satisfaction of getting their grimy hands onto him, that is. He would always be far superior on any given day.

Or that’s what he had believed.

Sesshoumaru snorted and rolled his shoulders, dropping his body into a low crouch. He ignored the weight of the sword that was strapped onto his back and waited for the girl to continue on toward her destination. But as the seconds ticked by, Sesshoumaru soon realized that they had already arrived.

The female was motionless as she stood beside a massive tree. Her form was easily dwarfed by said tree and its large branches and leaves created a natural canopy above her head, sparing her from the blazing heat of the afternoon sun. From the inu-youkai’s vantage point, her body was tense and appeared ready to bolt at a moment’s notice, like a frightened hare in the face of a potential threat.

He decided then that it was…fortunate she hadn’t noticed him, for he had yet to sate his curiosity. And Sesshoumaru was never one to let a perfectly good opportunity slip through his claws. After all, he was most dangerous when his interest was piqued.

His crimson orbs took on a strange glint.

Oh, yes… He was very interested indeed.

. . .

Kagome stuck a hand in her satchel, fingers gliding over the contents within it. After rummaging around for a moment, she pulled out a small bundle and undid the tie around the sandalwood-colored cloth. Cradling her precious parcel in her hand, she parted her lips and yipped.

Sesshoumaru’s eyes narrowed, and his ears perked up, startled by the unusual noise. He certainly wasn’t expecting for such a sound to come from the little human’s mouth. It was quite odd to say the least. And…different. She was nothing more than a human child – a mere pup in his eyes. So he wondered where she had learned such behavior from.

Or rather, who taught her the language of canine youkai?

The girl’s high-pitched whines held a sly, almost seductive accent to them, which, he mused to himself, sounded wrong coming from one so young and seemingly innocent. While he didn’t know her, there was an underlying sense of shyness immersed within her dulcet tones. From what Sesshoumaru understood, the female spoke the tongue of the kitsune. It was neither as refined as that of his kin nor carried the gruffness of the wolves, but she managed to send her message across well.

And another must have thought the same, for a red fox suddenly appeared before the human, circled around her twice, and butted her hip excitedly.

A smile broke across her face and she laughed. “I missed you, too!” She patted her curious companion’s head, somehow keeping the treat in her other hand away from him. She had brought an assortment of his favorite wild berries.

“Shippou, you naughty boy! You have to be patient!” she scolded him halfheartedly. “Fine. I’ll give you one, but let’s share the rest in the den, okay?” She tossed him a raspberry, amazed when he snatched it out of the air.

“We should go. I have so much to tell you.”

Giving the forest one last cautious glance, Kagome went toward the direction from whence Shippou came, the fox following dutifully at her heels and Sesshoumaru slinking along behind them.

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Original Posting Date: August 26, 2012

Prompt: For Phae’s Word Prompts, Voyage

Words: 685