PSA: Don't try any of this at home! Unless you're a trained professional or a Miko with "Great Spiritual Powers", please don't try to catch, pet, or otherwise handle a feral/stray dog on your own! Especially one as big as Inuyasha! (kind of a joke, kind of for serious here...)

Forever Home - The Stray

~Kitty

Forever home: a phrase used by shelters to describe a loving family where an abandoned pet can be adopted and live out the rest of his days. It's a safe place, where he can feel comforted, secure, and loved.

"The hand descended. Nearer and nearer it came. It touched the ends of his upstanding hair. He shrank down under it. It followed down after him, pressing more closely against him. Shrinking, almost shivering. He still managed to hold himself together. It was a torment, this hand that touched him and violated his instinct. He could not forget in a day all the evil that had been wrought him at the hands of men."

― Jack London, White Fang

Chapter 1: A Place of Chains, and Walls, and Slamming Doors

The din was palpable when she entered the kennel. Loud, barking dogs leapt up against the fence with their tails wagging agitatedly. Some hunkered down in the very back of their pens, trying to make themselves as small as possible. Still others, seemingly resigned to their fates, pretended to sleep despite the echoing chaos. The light in the warehouse like space was dim and the harsh brightness from the entrance doorway cast long, jittery shadows across the pavement.

"This way, Kagome." The gruff officer led her to the very end of the corridor, where the most desperate cases were kept. The slight young woman continued to follow the older man as he brought her deeper into the noisy space, filled with the smells of bleach and metal, and unavoidably, animal urine and feces.

"These here are the ones on death row next week," he said, his speech slurring as he tried to work around the limpness of his lips. It had been a dog attack that caused the nerves in his face to struggle with words. She smiled at him.

"Thanks, Jeb," she said, before angling her head to glance at the dogs.

The image was truly pitiful. One with a mangled leg, broken then healed at an odd angle. He happily wagged his tail and came forward to investigate the newcomer. The visitor knelt down beside the curious little dog, careful to face sideways and not make eye contact. The little dog had been white once, but was now a little brown mop of matted, dirty fur. He was in severe need of a trim, his overgrown fur blocking his vision and long, twisted nails hampering his teetering steps. He pushed his small, dirty nose between the bars of the gate, small pink tongue flickering out desperately. Jeb spoke up.

"This one's a Maltese rescue from a hoarder. Most were in such bad condition they had to be put down right away. The healthier ones were adopted quickly enough. This little guy is the last. He's got some dental work ahead of him and will probably need a lot of care…"

"And therefore less desirable as a pet," the girl finished for him. Jeb made a grunting noise of agreement, then motioned to the next kennel.

"This guy is a special case-," Jeb started. He was cut off by a low, warning snarl. Kagome peeked meekly into the dark enclosure. The light had been covered to offer some feeling of a den but the animal within was obviously not impressed.

"Well, he sounds like a big boy," the girl said back, softly, almost a whisper.

She'd positioned herself sideways, refusing to meet him head on. The man wasn't so wise, and faced the entirety of his bulk towards the vicious show of teeth, one hand on each hip. The dog's mind suddenly jumped to a conclusion. It was unconscious, purely instinct. He hated this man. The giant, towering figure with the deep voice and confrontational posture. He wanted to tear the face off of him. So ignoring the limp in his back paw and the pain he felt when his slashed face met the chain link fence, he lunged at the threatening man, determined to eliminate the uncomfortable presence.

Both Kagome and Jeb jumped at the sudden attack. Standing on his hind legs, mean eyes narrowed, a magnificent animal stared them down. Despite the ribs that stuck out from his raggedy coat, the dog stood powerfully, his lips pulled back to show a full set of white, pearly teeth. On his back legs, the dog stood eye to eye with Kagome, his height accentuated by the fur of his mane, fluffed out in an attempt at size. Kagome forgot herself for a moment, staring wide-eyed into the golden irises. But then the moment passed and Kagome was able to take a better look at the rest of the animal.

He was frighteningly skinny, she swore she could almost see his spine through his stomach. There was a matted thatch of dark, crusty blood on his hindquarters, and from the stiffness in his movements, she guessed the old injury still bothered him. She was incredibly thankful for the strong chain-linking that separated her from this wild animal and it made her brave enough to step forward to meet his challenge.

Before Jeb could stop her, she stepped right up to him, close enough for her to breathe onto his muzzle. The whiskers behind his nose twitched as he made an olfactory investigation of her and the viciousness slowly left his snarl, making it sound more akin to the grumbling from a cranky old man. Energy seemed to drain from his initial lunge and he returned to all fours, eyeing the pair of humans suspiciously.

"He's really unpredictable," Jeb stated, a wry smirk lighting up an otherwise grim face.

"How long does he have?" Kagome asked, stepping back and turning to the man. Jeb blinked at her, was she really considering taking this dog?

"His deadline is in four days. Maybe sooner if we suddenly get more dogs."

Kagome nodded that she'd heard, mentally making notes for what needed to be done. Four days was not a lot of time, and if anything, what this dog needed was time, and patience.

"I can't take him right away, he needs to go straight into foster but nobody's available to take anymore right now," Kagome said softly, noting how the crouched figure listened to her voice. His ears seemed to follow the rise and fall of her sentence, as if trying to comprehend.

Jeb grunted in acknowledgement, then asked, "Which can you take today, then?"

Kagome turned to regard the other dogs they'd just passed. "I can take the Maltese, the blind one, and the irritable bowel one," she said, "Can I have them brought out to the yard?"

Jeb nodded and started back down the corridor, his sudden movement drawing a snarl from the mangy mutt before them. Kagome waved the officer away when he turned.

"I'll join you in a few minutes," she said. Nodding, Jeb proceeded to bring out the requested dogs and allowed Kagome a some time alone with the special case.

"Hi there," Kagome said softly. She crouched down sideways to the kennel. A snarl arose from the dark space within but it was a bark without bite. She sensed somewhere that this dog didn't mean it when he growled at her.

"Been through some hard times, haven't you, boy?" she continued, keeping her voice low and smooth. She didn't make eye contact, hardly turning her head to watch the dog out of the corner of her eye. She contemplated him askance for a brief silence before speaking again.

"Four days isn't a lot of time," she said, almost a breathy whisper, "I don't know if we can find a foster home for you in four days…"

Golden eyes watched her warily from the shadows. She could faintly make out the tense form of the dog's crouch. He was a coiled spring, ready to fire.

"You sure are beautiful though," she told him. The dog lifted his head as if surprised by the compliment. Kagome giggled.

"Somewhere under all those mats and all that dirt, I'm sure there's a beauty waiting to be uncovered," she said.

The dog snorted loudly, as if to respond, before turning purposefully to point his derriere at her. Kagome laughed out loud at the behavior. Shaking her head, she stood, noting that Jeb had returned to fetch her.

"You've got some personality, I'll give you that," she said, "See you tomorrow ol'boy."

A moment after the girl disappeared from the side of the kennel, the large dirty dog rose to watch her go. There wasn't much he could see from the kennel door, and his muzzle prevented him from craning his neck far enough to peer around the cement wall. He snorted in disgust, returned to the dark interior of his cell, and grumbled to himself the rest of the night.

…

Bright, warm light flooded the homey space as its owner stumbled through the doorway. The patter of happy feet jumped excitedly up to the returning human and Kagome smiled warmly at the little mottle-coated pup she shared her apartment with.

"Hey Shippou," she greeted wearily, slapping the wall near the door where Shippou's leash was hung. "Ready to go potty?"

The small red-speckled dog made a huge show of sniffing her carefully up and down, as far as he could push his little black nose, curiously learning about the new dogs she'd helped bring into the rescue that day. A few sniffs in, a new scent caused him to sneeze. Shippou briefly froze in fright, his full bladder nearly emptying itself onto Kagome's colorful entryway rug. The girl didn't seem to notice, fumbling with the leash until she found the clasp at the end. Taking advantage of Shippou's brief pause, she clipped the leash on and turned to head back out.

"Awright, let's go!" Kagome said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice as she followed the excited pup out to relieve himself.

When they returned to her little sanctuary, Shippou began hopping about in front of her, eager for his dinner and chance to play with his master. Kagome ignored the attention and heaved a sigh as she tugged her shirt over her head, piling it softly onto Shippou as he scuttled around her feet.

"Shower first, then dinner for us," Kagome said to him.

She unbuckled her jeans and used her feet to slide them off her hips, leaving them with her shirt in the entrance hall. Bra came off next, followed by her underwear, leaving a trail of clothes in her wake as she toddled to the bathroom. Dinner was going to be another pleasant microwave meal and all she could think about was a hot shower to get the dust and fur out of her hair.

"Ahhh…" Kagome sighed as she felt the hot water sliding over her skin and the heat penetrating into her back. It had been a long day, full of animals in need. However the one creature her mind kept wandering back to was the scrappy white dog at the animal control center. There was a sentience she felt when she'd looked into his eyes and she desperately wanted to help him.

Kagome stood there for a long time, feeling the steamy water loosen the knots and tension in her back. She needed a foster home for the white dog, a place with a lot of space and gentle caretakers. Patient, well trained caretakers. People like that came in short supply and currently all the foster volunteers she knew were filled with recovering animals and couldn't possibly commit to such a desperate case like this one. When waiting for a brilliant idea failed to yield a solution to her problem, Kagome switched off the water and shrugged into her soft fluffy robe, toweled off her hair, and hurried to answer the desperate whines of her little hungry pup.

"Yeah, I'm hungry, too, Shippou," she said with a smile. Feeling a little indulgent, she put a dollop of peanut butter on top of his kibble before serving it to her excited companion.

…

Kagome returned the very next day. She arrived at the beginning of feeding time and assisted the animal control staff to dole out generous helpings of kibble. The excited dogs yipped and barked frantically for attention, eager to be the first served.

"How are the dogs you took yesterday?" Jeb asked her. He hauled a large sack of dog food over his shoulder, slicing it open to pour into the barrel they used to scoop the dry pellets from.

"The Maltese's teeth were worse than we thought," Kagome replied, "The vet said they might need to remove all of them. Poor guy will probably be on a special wet food all his life."

Jeb grunted acknowledgment. It wasn't unusual for hoarder rescues to have dogs in this condition. With so many more dogs than a single person can care for, they easily become neglected and develop many health problems. Kagome continued.

"The blind one cleans up real nice, he has the most beautiful ticking on his coat," she said. They were getting closer to the end of the corridor, where a suspicious, grumpy dog was sniffing the air vigorously, caught in a dilemma of whether to be hostile or join the other dogs as they rejoiced in the feeding. "And the one with the sensitive stomach…"

Jeb didn't notice the change in her voice, but he felt it, and it calmed him as he nervously turned his attention to the last kennel.

"I can feed him, Jeb," Kagome offered. She held out her hand for the full metal bowl he was holding. Jeb looked at her for a breath. He liked and respected this young woman, honest he did, but sometimes he was sure there was a screw or two loose in that head.

"We usually just toss the kibble into the cell," Jeb said, "he snaps at hands and bodies when they enter his kennel."

"He won't bite me," Kagome said, "I promise, I won't let him."

An angry growl emanated from the last kennel, as if daring her to uphold her promise. Jeb looked doubtfully in the animal's direction. Kagome stepped forward to take the bowl.

"Go ahead and finish cleaning up, I can let myself out when I'm done."

Now, with food in her hands, the dog's attention was completely hers. He faced a difficult dilemma. He wanted the food, but he wanted the girl to disappear. He alternated between sniffing curiously and growling angrily. Until now, she'd been careful to keep her body sideways to the kennel, always keeping her eyes averted. Now, slowly, she turned to face him, subtly shifting her body language to one of confident authority. The dog growled angrily, sensing the change in her intent. It took several minutes for the renewed snarls to abate in their ferocity. Kagome took a long, deep breath and let it go, then slowly opened the door to the enclosure.

It was a minimalistic space. A drain, a raised sleeping platform, a trough in the wall for water. It was small, and cement, and soaked in decades of urine, and bleach. As unmanageable as he'd proven himself to be, the cleaning staff had been unable to keep his cage clear of mess, and the foul stench added to his agitation. But it was a space he'd become familiar with in a short period of time and he angrily demanded the unwelcome guest to leave. She stood just inside the door, it clicked shut behind her. Her eyes sought out his and then the real gauntlet was thrown.

He snarled, he snapped, he growled, all from the far corner of the space. Minutes ticked by, adding up slowly. It was over an hour and a half before the churning in his stomach brought out the first whine in his throat. It disgusted him, the very thought that this small human woman would dare challenge him in this way, to ask for his surrender. And further, he was disgusted with himself, for that pathetic sound that emerged from his throat as his hunger began to get the better of him.

More minutes ticked by.

They were surrounded by the sound of slumbering dogs and still, their battle raged. Despite her small, soft body, the force behind her eyes kept the wild dog at bay. There was something in their eye contact, an interaction that managed to root him with all four paws on the ground, not daring to make real contact and draw blood. The growling gave way to a low, barely audible grumble. He lay himself on the floor, spent from his rage. Softly, but confidently, Kagome stepped toward him. He lifted a lip and growled again. Kagome stopped and held perfectly still. He dropped his head to his paws, still grumbling from the injustice of it all. Kagome began to approach him again. This time, he did not react with a show of teeth. He simply watched her. She crouched before him, the bowl of food now within lunging distance and he briefly entertained the thought of body slamming her to ground in order to eat. Before the thought gained much traction, Kagome reached into the bowl and gently scattered some kibble onto the ground in front of him.

He leapt up and began to inhale the small handful. It was gone in a few seconds. Now his hunger was well and truly awakened and him mind was meek. Maintaining his distance, still suspicious of her intentions, the dog began to sniff the air around her, nose up, ears back, and leaning toward her though the rest of his body stayed rooted. Kagome smiled and scattered another handful of kibble to the floor. It was gone in the same short time the first handful was consumed. The dog looked up expectantly for more. This time, Kagome took a handful of kibble, and held it outstretched in her hand. The beginnings of a growl vibrated in his throat, unable to be squelched before she heard it. Immediately, the offered hand was closed and access to the meager food was denied. A full throated snarl rose out of him and he glared at her. Their eyes held each other's before he glanced back down at the offered hand. He sat and stared longingly at the small closed fist. To his surprise, the hand opened and extended further towards him. His salivating dripped to the ground as his mouth hung open, panting. Licking his lips, he whined. Finally, a tentative paw lifted, then returned to the ground, then lifted again. Finally, he took a wary step towards her. Nothing happened. Another step. When his jaws were directly above her hand, he glanced up at her again. Silent, steadfast, calm. There was no aggression in her stance and despite the numbness developing in her legs, Kagome held perfectly still, waiting for the dog to trust her enough to eat from her hand.

He took a tiny nibble. No reaction. The smell in his nose, the taste in his mouth, the fundamental urges could not be repressed any longer and he gobbled up the small amount of food. Licking his chops, he looked at her again. This time, her face changed. A bright smile pulled the edges of her lips. She offered another handful, and another. It took time, but eventually he was sated, exhausted, and could think of nothing but to lay down and watch her sleepily from a corner.

"We have a ways to go yet, little guy," Kagome said to him, her soft voice lulling him further. What was meant to be a snort at her 'little guy' comment came out as a tired sigh. "But no matter what they say, you are definitely not beyond hope."

She began to inch backwards slowly. Partially from the returning blood to her feeding arm and feet, and partially not to startle the finally calm creature, she stayed low to the ground and moved as quietly as possible. When she was finally on the other side of the door, she stood slowly, and turned sideways again.

"What shall we call you?" she mused softly to him, "You remind me of White Fang. Would you like to be White Fang?"

A derisive snort was her answer and she couldn't hold back a chortle.

"Ok, not White Fang, we'll think of something else."

The dog seemed to mumble to himself and sighed. Kagome smiled again. His ear twitched toward her when she heaved a sigh. "See you tomorrow buddy."

…

In the quiet following Kagome's departure, the dog she left behind lifted his head to take in his surroundings one more time. He sniffed, and he listened, and he thought. But he thought like no other dog. He pondered the girl that just left him, with more sophistication in his analysis than any other dog can ponder. He reflected on her scent, the little indicators that belied who she was and where she came from. He puzzled over the way she was able to communicate with his subconscious, with the slightest turn of her head. He was impressed with her, though he was reluctant to admit it. Because his senses were stronger than any other dog, his intelligence greater. He knew she had been afraid of him. The pounding heart inside her chest betrayed that. But her body language had no fear when she entered the enclosure.

'Girl's crazy but she's got balls…'

Full, and with her lingering scent in his nostrils, the strange dog fell into a deep, deep sleep.

…

Kagome returned to the Animal Control Center in chaos. Snarls, yelling, chains clattering. Surprised, Kagome stepped up to the front desk to ask what was going on.

"That crazy aggressive dog is going to be put down," the receptionist said, shrugging.

"What?!" Kagome cried. She rushed into the kennel room, ignoring the protests from the front desk. The sight she came upon was not a pretty one. An angry, snarling mass of fur darted about at the end of a catch pole. Kagome's stomach dropped out when she saw a man aim a rifle like object at the dog. Without thinking she ran out in front of the firearm, arms spread open.

"Wait!"

The man was so startled, he stumbled backwards as he attempted to redirect the point of the weapon.

"Jesus, Kagome!" Jeb yelled, stepping up to her. She whirled around to see an angry familiar figure.

"I thought he had a couple days left!" Kagome cried into his face.

"Puppy mill raid," Jeb snapped, dragging her away. She protested when she saw the point of the gun re-aimed at the scruffy animal.

"It's a tranquilizer," the man said, his hand now painfully tight on her arm, "I know you want to save that mutt, so we were going to put him under, then call you."

Kagome calmed as she heard his gruff explanation. A sharp snapping sound followed by an outraged howl echoed through the room. Both Jeb and Kagome turned to watch the large white dog carefully as his thrashing slowly grew weaker and finally, the great beast was asleep. Jeb let go of Kagome then, apologizing when he saw her rub her arm.

"I'm the one who should apologize," Kagome said, sheepishly. Jeb just sighed and shook his head.

"Seriously, Kagome," he groaned, "Have a little regard for yourself, why don't you."

Kagome's gaze was on the slumbering mass of fur. Absently, she made a noise of agreement, but moved toward the creature, kneeling down to stroke his large, heavy head. Her fingers carefully avoided the angry, puffy slash that marred his muzzle.

"Could I borrow the bathtub in the back?" Kagome asked, a frenzy beginning to form in her mind. There was so much to do! There still wasn't any space for him among the fosters she knew about. Plus, she was beginning to develop a personal interest in this dog's well-being. But where could she keep such a large animal?

Jeb just sighed, once Kagome got it into her head, it was difficult to distract her focus. He moved forward to help her lift the heavy canine onto a cart another volunteer supplied.

"Sure," Jeb answered her earlier question, "I'll help you get this mongrel clean. I bet he's really handsome under all that dirt."

"Mmhmm," Kagome mused, wiping some developing perspiration from her forehead. Despite his skinniness, the large dog was still very heavy.

"You have nowhere to put him," Jeb said suddenly. It wasn't even a question. Kagome gave him a guilty lopsided smile.

"Yeah…" she admitted.

"You go make whatever arrangements you need," Jeb said, sighing. He ran a rough hand through his balding hair. "I'll clean the mutt. I can also have the vet take a quick look at those cuts."

She gave him an appreciative smile before pulling out her phone. While Jeb wheeled the slumbering dog to the back, she quickly located the number she needed and had the phone ringing.

"Kagome, dear," a voice at the other end answered.

"Hi mama," Kagome said, wandering over to the front of another kennel. "Could I borrow your garage tonight?"

The lean, hard-muscled body of a large grey pitbull lumbered over to sniff her offered hand. She bit back a giggle as the friendly giant gave her a slobbery lick.

"You've taken on another hopeless case, haven't you," her mother asked, voice wavering between pride and exasperation. At this, Kagome did laugh.

"You know me," she answered, "I just can't leave well enough alone."

"No, you never can. What do you need me to prepare?"

Kagome smiled, relaxing as she filled in the older woman. When she finished, there was a pensive silence on the line.

"Kagome," her mother began, breaking the silence, "Are you sure you can handle this one? I know you've helped many ferals before, but none this size."

"I know," she tried to soothe her mother, "And I know, at least for the near term, he can't stay in here. I'm going to call Sango right after this."

Mrs. Higurashi made a noise of approval. That was probably the best way forward from here.

"I'll go get some ingredients for dinner tonight." Kagome's eyes lit up at the promise of her mother's cooking. "Any requests?"

"You know what I like."

"Alright, honey. I love you."

Kagome smiled warmly, squeezing her hand through the chain-linking to scratch the scarred blue-grey head. Her fingers crept further, gently massaging the clipped, torn ears.

"I love you, too, mama. See you tonight."

Kagome's next phone call was quick. It was a new year and Sango was busy preparing for the spring chaos. She had only one critical question for Kagome: "Will he hurt my cows?"

"Honestly, I don't know," Kagome answered reluctantly, "But I'll take precautions and keep him secure until I'm more sure of him."

Sango grunted then said, "Ok, I trust you."

After hanging up, Kagome felt a little guilty for adding to her best friend's full plate. Regardless, there was a life on the line here, and that's the bottom line.

…

He came aware of himself slowly, groggily. It was the disoriented recovery of a sedated slumber. At first, his skull complained loudly against rousing, reentering the painful reality from which the drugs had given temporary respite. He groaned softly to himself as he tried to cope with the splitting pain in his head. The first of his senses to recover was smell. It jolted him. Rather than the rotting stench of his own waste, he smelled the pungent, artificial scent of shampoo. He groaned again, attempting to shift his weight off a numb leg. And then sound began to return to him. Gone were the quips and howls of the noisy shelter. His mind struggled to comprehend what had happened to him.

Suddenly, his body lurched upward and he realized he was moving. Cracking a golden eye open, he realized his settings had changed dramatically. He was lying on a soft, thick towel, inside a dark enclosure. When his driver swerved abruptly, he started to growl, protesting the change in acceleration that slid his stiff body to press against the side of the metal crate.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," he heard a female voice say and he recognized the scent drifting in through the air holes of the dark, sturdy crate. His growl grew louder.

"Yeah," Kagome said sympathetically, "I'm sure it can't be that comfortable in there. Let me just grab some stuff from my apartment and we can get you somewhere more comfortable."

She slowed her vehicle to a halt and the dog in her backseat increased the volume of his complaints. Kagome rushed to the back of her little hatchback, where her new ward was held. The sounds emanating from the crate changed to snarling threats when its occupants realized just how near she was. The girl took a deep breath, held it, then slowly let it out. She listened carefully to the snarls as they continued to vibrate forth from the metal box. She repeated her deep breathing several more times, trying to will some calmess into the animal within. It took many minutes, but slowly, she began to note a change in tone. She took another long, deep breath.

"Easy, boy," she said as soothingly as she could, "Will you let me take that chain off you?"

Her voice caught his attention and he stood up stiffly inside the crate. His mind was still shaking off the after affects of the tranquilizer and he groaned internally as the pounding in his head increased in reaction to his movements. The heavy metal chain she was referring to pulled him downward, pinching his skin and tugging his fur. He would be very happy to be rid of it.

Kagome was surprised when he stepped forward to press his neck against the door. "Hmm," she muttered to herself, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it's as if you understand english."

The dog snorted from inside the crate and Kagome smiled, carefully sliding the metal door open a small crack, just small enough to slip her hand inside, to gently unclip the chain. It fell to the floor with a heavy clang, taking a few tufts of his fur with it, and startled the dog back into his normal, irate self, his growl returning in full force.

"Oh come now," Kagome cooed to him, "Doesn't that feel a little better?"

The white dog pressed himself to the other side of the uncomfortable metal crate, giving Kagome enough confidence to smoothly reach in to pull out the clanking metal chain. She tried her best not to disturb him, but the abrasive sound of metal on metal couldn't be avoided and the next time he growled, there was a whine of pain as his ears rang with the harsh noise.

"Sorry buddy," she said, continuing to keep her voice low, "I'm sure that sedative left a massive headache, didn't it?"

She stepped out of the car and tried to close the door as gently as she could. It still contributed to the pounding in his head in a very negative way and he let her know with particularly nasty snarl.

"Sit tight for a bit, yeah?" Kagome said, "I'll be right back."

The dog inside huffed a little as the girl left the car. The windows were open a crack and he listened curiously to the noises outside, the pounding in his head abating slightly. Inhaling deeply, he recognized the scent of clean fresh water, and it awoke his thirst. Wearily lifting his heavy head, he glanced around. The metal box he found himself in had a little line of air holes along the top. Curious scents tickled his nose, smells he hadn't smelled for a very long time. But first, water. His eyes lit upon a small, shallow bowl screwed tightly to the wall of the crate. Licking his lips, wincing at the chapping on his nose, he hauled himself forward to take a sip.

Lapping at the water messily, it took several minutes to satisfy his thirst. Water dripped down his chin, soaking into the towel he rested on. It was cool, and felt good against his body. The water helped ease his headache and he took a greater interest in his surroundings. He was definitely in that girl's car. Her scent was everywhere, there was no escaping it. And mixed into it was the refreshing scent of grass, and pine, and mountains. It helped him relax, recognizing the smells of freedom. From his captive state, his mind briefly relived the memory of what it had been like to roam the open plains, dark forests, and rocky cliffs. The daydream was so real, almost oversaturated with color and smells. He was just beginning to doze off again when the car door opened abruptly.

"Hey, bud," Kagome greeted the grumpy dog. Inside the crate, a dour grumble could be heard, unhappy over the rude intrusion to his reverie.

"Ok, Shippou, up-up!"

A little yip came from the open door and the smell of fox spirit wafted into the crate. That surprised him. First that it was there, and then that he recognized it in the first place. Had it been centuries since he last encountered a kitsune? The curiosity was strong enough to bring him into a standing position, craning his head to peak out of the air-holes of his cage.

The little red speckled face was staring, wide-eyed right back at him. If he weren't nursing a pounding headache, he might have found amusement in the "shitting his pants" expression the kitsune had on.

"What's wrong with you Shippou?" Kagome asked, mildly surprised by her pet dog's reaction to the crate's occupants. "You see my rescue pups all the time."

She gave her pup a little nudge in the butt to get the rest of her stuff into the car. Poor Shippou's fur stood electrified out from his little body. The shape inside the box snorted, before settling himself back down. The kitsune, still rigid with fright, dashed to the front passenger seat, and huddled down in the foot well. Kagome eyed her little dog curiously, debating how much concern she ought to have over Shippou's bizarre behavior and reached over to give little red dog a gentle scratch before turning the ignition on. It was at least two and a half hours to get to her mother's house. The young woman sighed. At least she'd have a nice soak in the bathtub tonight. Pulling out onto the street, Kagome tried her best to keep the ride smooth, and began to head east, to her childhood home.

The dark shape inside the metal crate dozed lightly in and out throughout the drive. Kagome kept the windows cracked open, hoping to stimulate his sense of smell as the terrain raced by. He noted when the scent of gas and concrete began to give way to foliage and dirt road. But he didn't really pay it much heed. After all, he was still stuck, in a box, and very much out of control of his immediate fate. He heaved a great sigh, ignoring the nervous energy radiating off the little disguised kitsune in the front seat, even ignoring the soft, warm scent of the girl taking him to god knows where. He didn't know how much time had gone by but gradually, the rocking motion of the car finally lulled him into a fitful slumber.

…

It was dark and he was very, very cold. It would be his first new moon without his mother and his little heart pounded in terror as he tried to get the tree to absorb his body. The metal around his neck clinked traitorously when he shifted and he struggled to hold up the heavy chains in his arms. He'd used the last of his waning demon strength to tear the steel bindings from the wall before making a desperate dash to the woods. His mother had told him to never reveal his human night to anyone. He had to obey his mother. Torchlight glinted off the nearby leaves and foliage. Angry voices rose and fell.

"Find the demon half breed." "Kill it."

The little boy stopped breathing, afraid that even the smallest sound would give away his position. He trembled and tried to ignore the stinging around his neck where the hard cuff bit into his flesh. He was holding back sobs, thinking of his mother's arms so hard he could almost feel them. Around him, the very air he breathed seemed to mock him. There was an eruption of screams in the distance, thrashing, racing footsteps, and then silence. Such a cold, terrifying silence. Chancing a peak, he poked his little dark-haired head out from his hiding place within the roots of the old tree. Before him, dazzling in the moonless night, a tall, silver-haired man stood regally staring down at him, his expression neutral but his eyes very, very cold.

"Disgraceful…"

The deep baritone of the stranger's voice vibrated through him and the little figure cowered before the unearthly figure. Suddenly, he was in the air, for the demon grabbed him, roughly, by the chains around his neck and lifted him up to inspect the trembling child. Weak hands clutched at the hard metal that scraped against his jaw bone. He couldn't hold back the whimper and the golden eyed man's face distorted briefly with a venomous hatred that shot through the his small, terrified heart like cold lightening. The man's eyes flashed with a fleeting emotion before the child found himself in flying through the air as the demon flung him into the nearby river.

…

He jolted awake, all his muscles tense as his mind found its way back from his dark, gloomy dreams. The car came to a halt and the ignition turned off. There were voices, soft and light, coming from outside the vehicle. The trunk door opened and a waft of air blew in.

Green.

He took a deep whiff. Green and moist and sweet and fresh. Unconsciously his body began to relax, forgetting the stress his dreams had brought. Plus, there was something delicious in the scents he picked up and his nose quivered as he tried to identify this smell.

"... he's in the back," that annoying girl's voice said. She placed a hand on the crate and was rewarded with a growl.

"Easy there," she cooed, trying to find the dark shape in the glow of the porch light. It had taken double the time she's expected to get to the house, fighting with traffic the entire way. Kagome was very glad to finally be out of the car.

"He certainly sounds like a big boy," an older woman's voice responded. He took a moment to take stock of the new presence. Like Kagome's, the aura around the stranger was oddly calming, relaxed, and confident. Something in the new voice penetrated his usual barriers and somehow managed to make him calm despite himself.

"Why don't you back the car into the garage," it was suggesting, "I'm sure he'd like to get out and stretch his legs."

The dog inside the crate shifted, startling both women. Then Kagome laughed when she saw a dark, wet nose pressed up against one of the air holes, breathing little wisps of condensing steam into the cool nighttime air.

"Ok, mama," Kagome said, "Could you maybe take Shippou inside then?"

In a few moments more, he found himself cut off from the tantalizing smells as Kagome closed the garage door, trapping him inside yet another enclosure. He growled grumpily as the trunk was opened again.

"Easy there, grumpy dog," Kagome said. Being back in the familiar, safe setting of her mother's house, a new lightness had entered her voice. The dog her attention was fixed on seemed to note the new happiness in her tone and responded unconsciously.

"I promise," the girl continued, "You will feel grass underneath your paws tonight."

That perked him up drastically. In fact, he stopped growling completely. Kagome ignored her surprise, focusing instead on making sure there was nothing unsafe in the garage before opening up the crate. Then, she took a small step back and waited.

The dog sniffed warily, pressing his sore body against the back of the crate. The scents in the garage were new to him, filled with rubber, and dust, and smelled nothing like the grass he was promised. Kagome sighed, she hoped she didn't need to get in there to prod him out. Just as she moved forward again to encourage him, the door to the main house opened, slicing the dark garage with a bright yellow sliver of light, and startling the dog further. He let out a nasty snarl, pulling his lips back so hard his face hurt.

"Kagome, dear," her mother called. The girl sighed, turning to the older woman.

The woman in the doorway held out a bowl with the most tantalizing smells floating from it. Kagome gratefully went to receive the bowl, pleased to feel that it was warm, but not too hot. She glanced up playfully at her mother.

"I learn from my mistakes," Mrs. Higurashi said slyly, knowing what her daughter was thinking.

Kagome just rolled her eyes, "Temperature seems to be perfect. Thanks, mama."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled, "Don't be long dear, and please be careful." The older woman glanced over at the crate with some concern.

Kagome grunted, attention already switching back to the now furiously sniffing creature in the box in her car. After her mother shut the door and they were back in the quiet, darkness of the simple garage, Kagome spoke once more.

"Hey, grumpy boy, I got something for ya."

Kagome pulled out a pillow stashed in the corner where all her dog rescue supplies were kept and got comfortable. Then, she waited.

Minutes crawled by. Kagome took a deep breath and let it out. She ignored her phone when it buzzed, probably her mother wondering if she was coming in to dinner soon.

"You're dinner's getting cold," Kagome said softly, careful to keep her tone as neutral as possible.

Finally, a soft scuffling sound came from inside the crate, the sound of a great body standing up. A moment later, she saw a large white head peak curiously from the back of her car. Quickly averting her eyes, the girl began to stir the warm bowl in her hands, hoping the disturbance released more smells from the thick broth. It was certainly making her hungry for her mother's cooking. The scarred muzzle twitched frantically, scenting the rich soup.

"You hungry, big guy?" she asked gently. He snorted, but couldn't suppress the whine. It was oddly reminiscent of another feeding with this frustrating girl. The white dog hopped off the car gingerly, stumbling briefly when his sore leg buckled under his weight. Kagome's brow creased in concern but continued to avoid eye contact. Keeping his head down and ears pinned back, he took a wary step towards her. He wasn't growling this time, and the girl took that to be some improvement. He sidled closer to her, taking a few steps forward then moving sideways, trying to show off his great bulk while keeping his narrowed eyes fixed on her.

Kagome kept stirring the soup, fishing out a nice juicy chunk of chicken and placing it on the ground near her. Now all his attention was entirely focused on that innocent little morsel. But is was practically underneath this infuriating girl! He lifted his lips to protest the food placement.

"Aw c'mon, boy," Kagome murmured, "you did so well yesterday."

The great dog snorted again and crept a little closer. As he got closer, the girl lifted her hand, offering it to the dog for a sniff.

The movement of her hand drew a suspicious growl and she hesitated for the briefest moment, before taking a measured breath and holding it, willing her hand to hang in front of her, loose, and trusting.

Her risk was eventually rewarded. A suspicious nose slowly approached. She kept her eyes unfocused, gazing in the general direction of her hand. With his nose hovering over her fingers, the white dog glanced upward, toward her face. Kagome held perfectly still, caught inside the golden stare. They assessed her with curiosity and suspicion. She returned the stare neutrally, trying to convey self confidence despite her nervousness. He regarded her a moment more before dipping his head, allowing his whiskers to lightly touch her fingertips. She could feel his warm, moist breath as he sniffed her hand, then the pale figure stepped back and returned his gaze to the chicken on the ground. She withdrew her hand and the shaggy white dog bent down, lapping up the meat before lifting back up to stare into her eyes again.

She knew she'd gotten to him when she met his gaze. There was an openness there that wasn't there before. Slowly, oh so slowly, she shifted to offer the rest of the bowl to him. He hesitated for a breath, something changing in the way he stared at her, before lowering his head once again to devour the chicken soup resting in her hands. For a minute or two, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of rapid slurping. Then, with a little burp, the large white dog stood back and sat before her, again assessing her quietly. Moving the empty bowl to the side, she shifted forward, hand raised.

The pure white creature leaned away, unsure about the hand approaching him. Kagome kept her arm somewhat low, reaching for his chin. She stopped a few inches away from him, looking into his face as if asking for permission. There was another pause, each regarding the other seriously, measuring. Finally, the dog shifted forward, until his chin lightly rested on her fingertips. Her hand twitched, excitement buzzing through her body. This is enough, she told herself, don't push him too fast. With great reluctance, she lowered her hand carefully, then shifted her weight again, to bring herself to stand.

The dog watched her closely, body loose, but still wary. Now that he was clean, the creature was truly an impressive sight. The soft pale coat was more silver than plain white, and despite the injuries and skinniness in his thin waist, Kagome saw powerful muscles and large sturdy paws. Briefly, she pondered whether or not he might be part wolf.

"You probably want to relieve yourself, don't you boy?" she said softly, trying to radiate calm.

The dog snorted, as if to say, 'what do you think?'

The human girl moved slowly to the door and opened it. Then she stepped through it. And then he was alone.

The dog blinked in confusion for the briefest of moments before the scent of grass and open air finally registered in his senses. With almost a gleeful yelp, he barreled out the door and froze.

How long had it been since he felt the tickle of grass beneath his feet? He inhaled deeply, his eyes screwed shut and held back a whine as he savored the smells and sounds of being outdoors. A giggle alerted him that he wasn't alone and he turned to stare at the girl who'd brought him here.

"I'll let you enjoy," she said with a laugh.

The slender girl moved to close the garage door from which he'd emerged, then disappeared inside the house and left the white dog alone in the spacious yard. After making an investigative tour of the high walled space, he relieved himself in a corner and looked up at the tall, brick wall surrounding him. Even without the sore, injured leg, he doubted he'd be able to jump that height. Not in this form at least. He looked down at his front paws in disappointment. His new surroundings were an improvement, certainly, but it was not freedom. He sighed to himself, and then laid down on a soft blanket he'd located near the porch and shut his eyes and sighed a great, wistful sigh.

…

Later on that night, Kagome and her mother came out to admire the great white dog. She carried Shippou in her arms, still rather surprised by how fearful the little red dog was in the larger white one.

Kagome sighed, "He sure is something."

"That he is," her mama breathed, "There's something surreal about him."

Kagome agreed, then open her mouth in a jaw cracking yawn. The older woman smiled warmly, "Why don't you go take that bath and get to bed."

Kagome nodded absently, her exhausted brain only able to follow orders at the moment, and soon she was upstairs struggling to stay awake as she soaked the long uncomfortable drive away.

Mrs. Higurashi continued to watch the dog for many more moments. After some time, he lifted his head to return her stare. They regarded each other for a long time, calmly, without judgment. Then the human woman knelt and offered her hand.

The dog looked down at the offer for a breath, then decided he was too comfortable to get up. Rolling back down on his side, and let himself fade into sleep again, ignoring the human as she murmured something to him under her breath.

"You're not in the form you're meant to be in," the woman said, "and you haven't been for a long time…"

A look of concern briefly appeared on the woman's face as she continued to observe the great white dog. She could sense that his appearance meant changes for her daughter, and while she worried for her daughter's safety, she also knew that the thing she'd been preventing could not be held back much longer. This creature's presence was proof of that. She pondered on it for a moment more before turning back into the house.

A/N: Hi all! Thanks for giving this fic a shot! I'm sorry about the length of the first chapter… didn't mean for it to be this long… Anyways, despite how long and dense this story became, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks so much for reading!

*** Are you considering a dog in your life? Please check out the adoptable dogs in your area before going to a petstore! And please, please make sure to do your homework before bringing home a furbaby. So many pups get tossed out as soon as they hit their troubled teens (5 months - 1.5/2 years) because their owners weren't prepared and didn't raise them properly. Many high kill shelters will only keep the animal for 4 days before euthanizing it - they are that crowded. Also, there are some puppy mills masquerading as animal shelters so double check and ask a lot of questions beforehand. A puppy mill is basically a puppy factory where the breeding animals are kept in tiny cages and puppies often have health issues that are discovered too late. ***