InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Cats and Dogs ❯ Rion ( Chapter 7 )

Quite a few hours into their trek along the well-beaten path towards the first town they would visit the gang paused as some bushes on the left side rustled irregularly. Fia tensed and Inu Yasha's hand hovered on the hilt of his sword. However, no one had time to react as a huge black shadow streaked out of the bushes right at Neko, bowling him over.

"Got you!" The black thing grinned triumphantly, then blinked and studied the dazed anthro.

"Rion…?"

Inu Yasha was the first to recover. He drew the Tetsusaiga suddenly and placed the blade at the black form's furry throat. Shocked and scared emerald pools turned to his. It was then he realized the shadow was not that but another anthro, covered in the darkest black fur from head to toe. In fact, the anthro was a she-cat, a female that smelled strongly of fear and another scent, more masculine. The half demon growled and pressed the blade tighter to her neck, issuing a whimper from the intruding anthro.

"What are you doing, woman? And answer quick."

The dark anthro began to wave her claw-like hands around wildly, making grunting, purring, and whimpering sounds all at once. Only the demons and Neko looked as if they understood what she said. Shippo blushed suddenly and Neko broke in hurriedly.

"Let's not go into detail about that…"

The female only grunted something and began to speak again in her unusual language. Again, her conversation was interrupted, this time by Inu Yasha, who had lowered and sheathed his sword by then.

"Oh, so you only speak a few words in the common language?"

She nodded but before she could continue a white, black striped tiger anthro padded out of the bushes; this one was larger than the black one and definitely male. Neko and Inu Yasha both realized that his scent had to be the one on the unnamed female. From what she had told them she was being chased. They figured she must have been running from the male standing before them. The two boys stood protectively in front of her, ready to attack if the other male got too close.

Before anyone could move a muscle the black anthro gave a short happy squeal and pounced the male. The two rolled along the ground for a moment, and then stopped, the black female perched on top of the white male. He purred happily and tilted his head up to nuzzle against the side of her cheek.

"Lana… Where `av you been? I was beginning to worry."

Lana responded in a series of cat-like noises, the tiger anthro nodded, listening, once in a while he would turn his jade hued eyes towards Inu Yasha and the others, then nod again at Lana. After five or so minutes of conversation the white tiger seemed to have all the information and spoke, his voice held a slight accent to it, as if he might not have been a native of RhyDin.

"I zee. But why did you not pounce that boy, he looks more like me. Don't you think? What do you mean he zmells like a demon? Lana… have you been getting into ze cat nip again?"

Lana growled and pointed a clawed finger at Inu Yasha and then Shippo, blazing emerald pools narrowed at the tiger and she crossed her arms over her chest petulantly. He switched languages and began to argue more hurriedly with Lana, her eyes narrowed further and she raised a hand threateningly, as if she might claw him if he didn't listen to her. The male tensed and responded, she relaxed and allowed him to get up. Kagome finally couldn't keep quiet any longer.

"Now what the heck is going on here?" She glared at Inu Yasha and Neko. "I know you two understand SOMETHING they're saying! So fill us in already!"

The white anthro cleared his throat. "Erm… I'll explain that mizz." Kagome huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. Her foot tapped against the ground as she waited for his answer.

The tiger waited a moment until he was sure he had everyone's attention, then sat on his haunches and began his speech.

"First of all I am Rion, and I apologize for any harm Lana `as caused you. Lana iz not so well educated in your language. She only knows the few words I `ave taught her. We were…" Rion paused; his jade pools wandered over the two children there, "…Playing a game of tag, and she lost track of me. She zays she followed my scent till she picked up hiz scent." He nodded toward Neko before continuing "Lana closes `er eyes when she comes near `er prey so they can no' see her eyes. She pounzed you thinking you were I." He finished, gathering himself back onto all four paws again. Neko whispered to Fia that while all anthros could stand on two paws, the wilder ones preferred being on all fours.

Everyone seemed to settle down after the explanation… except Inu Yasha, still a bit antsy for a fight, paranoid because there had been no fights thus far. Fia cleared her throat.

"Erm… well… Now that that is settled, we're very sorry if we scared your Lana, but we must keep going. It doesn't look like we'll make it to the nearest inn before nightfall. We need to hurry while we can. Come on guys, let's go."

The white tiger's ears perked and swiveled in her direction.

"You need a place to stay for the night? Stay with us. We would love to have company. Our house iz too small for the two of us."

Fia stuttered "W-well… I don't know."

She glanced at Neko, then J. The dog demon could sense it. They were communicating with each other again. He didn't know how but he knew… somehow… it wasn't just simple understanding. Dammit! If he could only figure out what the hell they were talking about! He needed to talk to Kagome soon. Something wasn't right. He had to talk to her alone… No one else should know if he was mistaken. The less people knew he had goofed in some way the less it would take down his pride.

"I think it sounds like a good offer, Fia…" Neko began, J shot him a look that said to be quiet, which irritated Neko to no ends, and the two began a glaring contest.

Kagome groaned and pressed her fingers to her forehead, her eyes closed. Miroku had seconded Neko while Sango sided with J. Inu Yasha took no sides, his arms crossed, turned away from the group, his ears perked and turned towards them to pick up the answer, then he would react. Neko had broken the staring contest when Fia touched his shoulder, which caused J to laugh and then dodge as the angry anthro threw a punch his way. Inu Yasha seemed to enjoy this and cheered Neko on, Shippo snorted and was instantly tossed into the air. Shippo came hurtling back to earth only to be caught by the tail by Miroku. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"Excuse me but… Shouldn't we see what Miss Fia thinks of all this? She is our guide on this quest…"

Everyone paused and looked to the dark haired woman. She smiled appreciatively to him and turned to Rion.

"Since it is so late, we probably won't make it to the next town before midnight, so… I accept your offer."

The white tiger smiled, not an all too pleasant thing when one had fangs but the smile was still was genuine. He nodded and spoke to Lana again, the dark anthro cat hissed and took off in another direction. Rion sighed and shook his head, then turned to the others with a smile.

"Follow me. We live juzt a little east from zee road…"

~*~

It was hard to keep up with the anthros, much more accustomed to dodging trees with far better reflexes to boot. The humans of the group got exhausted often, including Fia, who had seemed entirely perky up until then. Neko had started to grow agitated by this and urged them to move on faster. Soon, Fia had begun to lag so much that even Kagome grew worried. She stayed behind to help the taller woman along.

By nightfall the trees suddenly opened up to an expansive beach, along that was a house, the only one around for miles it seemed. The tiger headed towards it. Neko was forced to carry Fia and an exhausted Shippo had come along for the ride, sleeping in her lap. By that time, J had begun to exhibit the same symptoms of extreme fatigue Fia had and had to be carried on Inu Yasha's back.

Once inside Rion split up the group into different rooms. He apologized for only having enough room for each people to sleep in by twos. Somehow… he managed to place everyone with just the right (or possibly wrong) partner. Inu Yasha was given a room with Kagome, Sango and Miroku were paired up, Fia and Neko got their own room, finally J and Shippo were given a smaller room. Neko wouldn't say a thing; he rushed off to their room. Miroku made a comment about his eagerness with a tired woman and Sango smacked him upside the head. Rion told them that dinner would be made soon and asked them to enjoy their rooms with an almost… feral gleam in his jade eyes.

Reluctantly, each pair headed off to their rooms and closed the doors in turn. The white tiger chuckled and headed down the hall to the kitchen.

"Ah… young love…"