Anything

Chapter Fourteen: Sesshomaru`s New Pet

Another body went flying into the wall.

The D 82nd Infantry Division watched the proceedings with awe. Lord Sesshomaru was in top form as he challenged each member of his strongest unit. They fought hard and some were a challenge for the lord but none lasted long. It did not help that despite their training the company was distracted.

During the annual meeting of the Lords it was unheard of for Sesshomaru to train with is men, but he had come in that morning looking for a fight. They were happy to oblige him, but none could understand why Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands was fighting his strongest Company with a…puppy on his shoulder.

Sesshomaru turned shifting his body away from incoming claws. He dodged to the left, to the right, and center. He slashed down, claws raking flesh. The scent of blood reached his nose. He shifted again and slashed. Another opponent defeated. He called another forth.

It was tiresome, but that was what he wanted. Sesshomaru had woken that morning in disarray and his best Company was in particularly bad form. He imagined it didn`t help that he defeated each opponent without removing Conway, his two-toned animus, from his shoulder.

It had been a long morning already, but as Sesshomaru heard a crash outside followed by the scent of fox, he knew it would only get longer.

***

Kagome sat in the garden again feeling confused.

"He meant it you know, he`s not the type to joke," Licens offered, her older voice soothing.

Kagome nodded. "I know I`m just confused, I never thought past wanting to see him, and last night was so strange."

Licens chuckled, "A spark of interest between the two of you is not strange. You fought the world for him Kagome, that's not just friendship. Now calm yourself and think of something else. You're making my fur stick up."

"I know, I know. I shouldn`t worry, there just isn`t much to do around here with Sesshomaru training," she muttered.

"Perhaps you could try the animagus form again?" Licens suggested.

Kagome beamed, "Great idea!" She closed her eyes and concentrated again, remembering the feeling of soft fur covering her body, the feeling of grass and dirt beneath her paws. The world shifted beyond her closed eyes. She could feel her body changing.

She blinked against the bright sunlight, surprised at the clarity of the world with her new eyes. She padded over to the Koi pond and felt the urge to preen. Her fur was the same glossy black as before and her tails flickered lazily behind her. She twitched her ears and shook her head, amazed that the image in the water moved with her. "I can`t believe it worked."

"Of course silly, magic is magic no matter where you are. You always had the ability you just needed a push in the right direction," Licens teased. The pup was actually a smaller than Kagome, only coming up to her shoulders. The pup nipped at one of her tails before taking off into the garden. "Tag your it!"

Kagome chased after her, feeling silly and light hearted. They sprinted through the garden, dodging flowers and ducking under bushes. Kagome wonder if this was what it felt like to be a demon, this sense of freedom and wildness.

It did not take long for them to circle the gardens and Licens was quick to expand their game. The little animus slipped inside with Kagome quick on her paws. They yipped and barked as they ran so it was no surprise when a servant came to investigate the commotion.

The servant was a small rabbit youkai and she astonished to see a nine tailed fox running about the castle. "Vermin, vermin!" she shrieked, batting her broom at the two creatures. "How dare a thief enter the House of the Moon!"

Other servants heard her cry and came to help chase the fox. Nine-tailed foxes were one of the rarest of magical creatures, seen even less frequently than unicorns, and it was known through out the land that nine-tailed foxes snuck into rich houses and stole their most valuable, magical artifacts. The servants were not pleased.

Kagome yipped as she tried to avoid the array of brooms and knives that were being thrown at her. The servants were persistent and fast. She was quickly driven out into the main courtyard of the mansion. It was by the grace of the kami that she scented Sesshomaru. She recognized the scent instantly and made for it and what she hopped was safety.

***

Inutaisho sat in the study with the other Lords. They were relaxing with warm tea and enjoying a moment of peace away from the world of politics. They spoke of their children and their mates and exchanged stories from the past. He was pleased even though Sesshomaru had decided to train instead of building a stronger alliance with the older Lords. He sighed.

"What is it Inu, you look as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. A strange posture for a retired demon," the Lord of the South asked. The lord was old even beyond Inutaisho`s years and he treated everyone as if they were his grand pups.

Inu chuckled and shook his head. "I am simply thinking of my son, he has been strange as of late," he answered, thinking of the scene he had witnessed the night before. He had never seen his son all that interested in a female but he had never thought it could be for preference reasons.

The lord nodded in understanding and opened his mouth to respond when a crash sounded from across the hall. The lords rose together and went to the door, each curious.

"What is the meaning of this?" Inu asked as he saw two servants run down the hall with brooms in their hands.

They paused and turned to face their lord with a deep bow. "Lord Inutaisho we are sorry about the mess, but a nine-tailed fox was spotted in the halls this morning with a pup."

"A fox? Where is it?" he asked curious, for he had never seen one.

"We just chased the creatures outside," they responded.

"It has been a very long time since I have seen a fox, and never have I seen one with a pup. They are usually careful to stay close to the den," the southern lord murmured.

"Come them my friends, let us see this rarity," Inutaisho said.

The lords nodded in agreement and in a flash they appeared in front of the training grounds in time to see a most curious sight.

***

Sesshomaru watched the gate that separated the training grounds from the castle. The door burst open and revealed a beautiful black, nine-tailed fox followed closely by a small pup he recognized as Licens. It was not hard to put 2 and 2 together. The fox smelled like Kagome without her scent masking smell. Pure and feminine, like a spring rain. The fox also bore the jewel encrusted collar with the teal crescent moon.

He did not know how it happened, but he knew the fox was Kagome. Really it was no surprise only someone like her could bring about so much trouble in a single morning. He sighed in frustration, but as the fox leapt a few feet away from him he easily swept her up into his arms. "You should be more careful, Kagome," he whispered in her ear before turning to face... his father.

It was hard to guess what Inutaisho was feeling. He looked rather blank, staring at the nine-tailed fox resting so easily in his son`s hands. It was unheard of for a fox to ever allow itself to be captured, but now that the fox was no longer running away Inutaisho noticed the jeweled collar on its neck. "Sesshomaru?" He questioned with a raised brow.

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to sigh. "I found her on my journey, father," he stated, leaving no room for argument.

Inutaisho was pretty certain his son was lying, but he did not wish to imply such a thing in front of the other lords. He would let the matter drop... for now.

"They are said to have humanoid forms like demons, has the little vixen caught your interest?" Lord Ryuuzaki chuckled. He always enjoyed teasing the young lord.

Sesshomaru scoffed, the idea silly. "You think so Sessho, I mean you were kissing the little vixen last night. I think she caught your interest well enough," Conway teased.

Kagome nuzzled against Sesshomaru`s chest, worried about the way the demon lords were looking at her. The servants had scarred her when they had chased after her and her heart was still beating frantically.

"Hey Gome I have an idea. It will take a bit of magical concentration but it will put those demon lords in their place. Don`t worry I`ll help. Now listen..." Licens preened.

"You must explain how you tamed her Lord Sesshomaru I am most curious," the Lord of the South, Suzaku, questioned. He had always been intrigued by rare magical creatures.

Sesshomaru opened his mouth ready to invent the quickest lie of his life when the bundle in his arms actually grew heavy with magic. There was a spark of magical white fire before the forms in his arms shifted. Kagome, following Licens detailed instructions, transformed. She stood at Sesshomaru`s side, his arm now around her shoulders.

Her hair was much longer flowing darkly around her pale form. She wasn`t sure how she had changed her clothes but somehow her layered haori and hakama had turned into a thin silk that showed a bit more than she wanted too. The layers where in shades of blue that hugged her lithe form. Basically her form was the same as usual but she had used her magic to make her ears pointed like Sesshomaru`s and she had left her nine fox tails. It was a strange weight on her back now that the tails were larger and each one seemed to have a mind of its one. Two of the tails wrapped around Sesshomaru`s legs and two more around his waist while the rest flicked lazily at their feet.

Licens stood at their side in her battle form. She stood about five feet tall at the hunches with her wing span reaching twenty feet. Her two tails flicked behind almost teasingly. She looked more fox like now then usual. Her muzzle was shorter and her ears a little longer. Her fur flowed thick around her, dark and shimmering like the night sky.

Sesshomaru resisted the urge to stare or make any noticeable facial expressions. The women at his side was still Kagome, he could tell by her size and shape, but with her longer hair and the breathtaking outfit he realized just how much of a women his friend had become. He could not even imagine how she had pulled off the transformation, but judging by the smug look on Licen`s muzzle he assumed that the animus had something to do with it. Inwardly he resisted the urge to smirk as well. It was a good idea though he had a feeling it would cause trouble in the future.

"Sesshomaru?" Inu questioned. He tried not to be aroused by the woman that stood so possessively at his son`s side, but a vixen she was. Her form was petite, but gorgeous. "How could he have tamed this beauty, but spend his nights with the samurai?" Now Inu truly worried for his son.

Kagome tried to play the role of 9-tailed vixen, but it was a little difficult. She nuzzled against Sesshomaru`s shoulder and turned a brilliant eye on the demon lords. "Sesshomaru has not tamed me, nor will any male. I merely view him and his young samurai as friend." She nuzzled against Sesshomaru`s ear as she had seen Inu do with Sakura before. "Where is your pet?" She tried to purr and a gentle thrumming came from her chest.

Sesshomaru wondered what she was up to. "He is in the gardens," he answered.

Kagome nodded as she slipped from his side. "Then I will find him, I need him to watch the kit for a time," She remarked as her magic swirled around her once more. In a flash of fox fire she returned to her animagus form and Licens shrunk to her regular form. Together they shot of back to the gardens and safety.

Suzaku watched her go in awe. He had herd rumors of the humanoid form, but he had never thought it existed. The woman had been quite beautiful. Her image fitting for a vixen. What she had said surprised him even more. She claimed Lord Sesshomaru and his pet as friend, even allowing the young human the right to watch her kit. The kit was obviously old enough to be without its mother with two tails and a larger battle form, but still for her to intrust it to anyone was a great honor. Once more Suzaku wondered who the human really was that stayed at Sesshomaru`s side.

***

Kagome sighed as she returned to her true form. She was glad that her clothes had transformed back. It would have been hard to explain that. She sighed. "Licens that had been dangerous, if I had not transformed right it would have been disastrous."

Licens huffed as she looked up at Kagome. "You agreed to it and trust me it will look good for Sessho in the future. The other lords will be interested if not impressed by his new 'friend'."

"Well they are going to forget all about me, because they are never going to see me like that again," Kagome huffed as she sat down on the bench she had met Sesshomaru at the day before.

Licens shook her head, flicking her ears. "No they have to see you again every once in awhile," Licens insisted. She refused to tell Kagome, but Licens had seen Inu, Sakura, and Izayoi in the gardens. She knew what they would think after seeing Sesshomaru kiss who they thought was a man. If she could get Kagome the nine-tailed fox in a compromising position with Sesshomaru, however, she could reverse the problem without revealing Kai. Oh how confusing.

Kagome shook her head, "Yeah right." A shiver ran down her spine as she spoke and she turned to the entrance of the garden knowing Sesshomaru was coming.

The animus huffed, but said no more. She was Kagome`s soul, if she had to she could force the change. After all she was even closer to the magic than Kagome was.

Sesshomaru walked over to the bench and took a seat beside Kagome. "Would you care to explain?" he asked. He did not sound angry, but he rarely sounded anything other than bored.

Kagome sighed. "At Hogwarts they taught me how to use an animagus form. Its supposed to be the animal form that suites our personality the best. Mine is a nine-tailed fox. I was just testing to see if I could still do it, I didn`t expect to get chased about the castle. I`m sorry if I caused you trouble." She tried not to cry, she had never wanted to cause her friend trouble.

Sesshomaru shook his head. "There will perhaps be a few questions to answer, but the other Lords seemed to believe your ruse," he assured. Though he would not admit it, he was pleased by the turn of events. The lords would be impressed by the wily vixen she had pretended to be. Though he was curious how much acting was really involved.

Conway jumped from his shoulder and glided lazily down. "Such excitement today Licens. Sesshomaru was right when he said things would be more exciting with Kagome around," he teased.

Licens walked over to him and nudged his side. "He said that?"

Conway nuzzled her ear as they curled up together. "In less words," he murmured.

Kagome cooed as she watched the two pups curl up like cats in front of their feet. They were always so cute together, even if she tried to ignore the fact that they were supposedly the physical manifestations of their souls.

"Is there anything else you would care to tell this Sesshomaru?" he asked as he looked at Kagome. His golden orbs were unusually piercing.

Briefly Kagome thought of the giant silver dog that had been her patronus charm, but decided against it. Honestly it wasn`t like she would ever have to use it. "No, I`m sorry I didn`t tell you before I just didn`t realize that I would be able to use magic here?"

"Do not fret," Sesshomaru murmured as he tilted her bowed head up to look him in the eye. He was surprised to note how strange her eyes were. He had noticed their bright color as a boy, but he appreciated them more now as a male. She had the eyes of a demon, almost unnaturally blue and shimmering with power. Not for the first time he wondered if she had any spiritual powers. Her scent and aura where pleasing and healing, but he had never seen any sign of her powers. Usually mikos would wield their power in conjunction with their weapon of choice, but he had never seen such from her.

Kagome blushed prettily, embarrassed by his heated gaze. She turned her head away, her blush stretching down her neck. "I won`t, I promise." She stood quickly, her voice high in nervousness, "Sooooo, lets go inside its getting dark."

Sesshomaru grunted in agreement as he stood and gazed at the sky. He had trained longer than he had thought. The sky was already turning dark, and he could scent the night creatures stirring in the woods around them.

Together they retired to his room after munching on a light fair of fruits and cheeses. Kagome snuggled easily into his massive bed, exhausted from the amount of magic she had used in the day. Sesshomaru entered the bed after her, but had no intentions of sleeping. He was only slightly tired and still had work to finish before the coming day, but as he curled against Kagome`s warm side and breathed in her soothing scent he was soon sleeping peacefully beside her.

Licen`s and Conway snickered as they watched the two sleep. "Now I can convince Inutaisho of his son`s true interests," Licens smirked as she drew her magic tightly around her. It was hard to force the magic when Kagome was asleep, but with a helpful push from Conway the magic snapped and the beautiful vixen from before replaced Kai.