InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Curse of the Wolf ❯ Dog Fights ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter 13: Dog Fights

 

Four hundred and twenty five days. It had been over one year since Kouga took off and disappeared from the face of the earth. Ginta and Hakkaku had returned to their pack after searching all of their territory for the missing ookami, leaving the group back to its original members.

 

Kagome had been inconsolable at first, blaming herself for the wolf's leaving, Inuyasha was worse, sulking around miserably, barely speaking to anyone knowing that he was the one to blame and not the miko.

 

The group had searched everywhere they could think of for months but nobody they ran into had seen the dark haired wolf prince. They had even asked Sesshoumaru when they ran across him and his little group. The demon lord had told them that the whereabouts of the wolf demon were none of his concern, in his own disdainful way telling them he hadn't seen him. He had looked at his younger brother with his normal contempt and some curiosity as to why the hanyou would even care before deciding that wasn't his concern either.

 

After awhile, everything began to go back to normal. The group of friends went back to trying to collect what shards they could and tracking down the elusive spider demon, all of them holding out hope that they would come across their wolf friend at some point.

 

But there were a few differences, Inuyasha was more serious and seemed to be closing himself off from everyone. He had a hard time accepting that the wolf, his wolf, was gone and he could tell no one of the secret ache in his heart. A distance had appeared between the hanyou and Kagome. He never argued with her about going home and she never sat him anymore. She had no need; he didn't get angry unless he was battling a demon. In fact he rarely showed any kind of emotion, beginning to act more like his elder brother every day. His viciousness in dispatching the demons they encountered bothered Miroku, he had not seen the hanyou behave with such blood lust except when he had been in his demon form and he worried for his friend.

 

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Miroku was the first person to come across the wolf for the first time and he didn't even realize it. The group had stopped in a village to purchase some supplies after following a lead to where they thought Naraku could be hiding. Miroku had found a fairly rich house that he had “exorcised” in exchange for lodging. While there the man of the household told the monk he was going to the fights and invited Miroku to join him. Miroku not wanting to offend his host agreed and the two of them left, leaving the girls and Shippou in the care of the hanyou.

 

“What fights are these that we're going to see,” Miroku asked his host.

 

“Dog fights, they're quite exciting and there's a fellow who has a tame wolf, it's never been beat.”

 

Miroku's gut churned, he did not want to watch men pit poor animals against each other and watch them fight to the death. “I'm not sure if this is my thing,” he told the older man.

 

“Nonsense, its just good fun; don't be a prude monk and besides, they'll be sake and betting, you may make some money. And I certainly don't believe your pious act; I've seen the way you look at women.” The man laughed at the uncomfortable look on the monks face and put his arm around the purple clad shoulder. “Surely a man such as yourself is not afraid of a little blood.”

 

“Of course not,” returned Miroku and against his better judgement went with the man behind some buildings. At the end of the alley there had been dug a pit with rope encircling it to prevent the watchers from falling in. There were steps leading down at one end and this is where the men with their animals were going.

 

Many of the dogs were large mutts with huge flat heads and large square jaws. Some were squat but muscular, others had long snouts and lithe bodies and most had muzzles. As they walked by the crowd to get to the stairs the animals were snarling and froth was foaming out of their mouths, their eyes crazed. They all knew what they were here to do.

 

Suddenly Miroku heard the crowd begin to chant, “Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue,” and loud cheers went up as a tall, thinish man walked by with a large black wolf. Miroku noticed that the wolf was not on a leash and he wasn't muzzled, instead walking calmly beside his master showing neither fear nor anger.

 

The monk had to admit he was a beautiful creature, black with a reddish gold face mask and neck ruff. He was surprised when the creature looked right at him and stopped, staring at the monk in a most familiar way. The man at his side frowned and reached down, putting his hand on the animals head before it looked up and again followed its master, taking one look back over its shoulder at him.

 

He understood why the animals name was Blue. It was because of the piercing eyes of the same color that had regarded him almost intelligently. Miroku felt a quiver go up his spine and got closer to the rope to watch as the pair descended the stairs.

 

“Who is that?” he asked a gentleman that was standing beside him.

 

“That's Satori-sama and his wolf, Blue. They're undefeated champions of the fight ring. They say he captured it with his houshi magic and tamed it.”

 

Miroku looked at the tall man with the wolf in surprise. A monk, I've never heard of him before. Perhaps I will speak to him after the match.

 

The first few matches were with some of the smaller animals and Miroku got a bit queasy watching as the animals tore each other to bits with the cheers of the appreciative crowd ringing in his ears. The fights moved on to the larger animals but still the wolf didn't participate. Finally all went still as the man stepped into the ring with the wolf at his side. Men were betting all around Miroku but he couldn't figure out what the wolf was supposed to fight until he saw men dragging out a rather large bull demon, its eyes red, foam flying out of its nostrils and mouth. He could see the creature had ofudas on it, probably to aid in its control and he shivered at the absolute hatred he felt from the demon below. Miroku couldn't believe that the wolf, although the largest he had seen, would be able to prevail against such an enemy. Although from the sound of the betting going on around him some did.

 

He watched as the demon bull was released from its chains and the wolf attacked. It was a huge battle, blood flying out of both combatants as the wolf bit and the bull used its massive horns. At one point the bull had the wolf to the ground; one of his large horns impaling the canine's shoulder causing Miroku to look away, sure the animal would be crushed to death. The wolf snarled and snapped and managed to break free, grabbing the bull by the nose and holding on as the immense animal shook his head back and forth trying to loosen the grip of the wolf. Finally the large creature collapsed, dead from asphyxiation.

 

Cheers went up, money was exchanged and the thin monk came to the ring and picked up his battered wolf that lay panting in a pool of blood. Miroku tried to get to him to speak to him but the crowd pushed him back and he soon lost sight of the man. As more people drifted off his host caught sight of him and went to him.

 

“Quite something wasn't it,” he chatted excitedly. “That creature can take on anything. I made a few dollars with my betting too,” he laughed, clapping Miroku on the back as they made their way back to his home.

 

Miroku felt a bit ill. How could anybody pit that poor creature against such things? It's a wonder it was able to defeat it. I hope it's alright.

 

The man was still going on and on about the greatness of Satori and his wolf when they entered the estate. Inuyasha looked up when they walked in. “How was it?” he asked.

 

Their host happily went into great detail about the fights and the wolf. Inuyasha at first was disgusted but then his ears perked up as the man told him of the large, blue eyed wolf.

 

“Blue eyes, you're sure it had blue eyes?” he questioned breathlessly.

 

“I saw them as well,” Miroku confirmed after the older man replied in the affirmative.

 

“Where were they? Tell me,” he demanded grabbing their host's kimono and shaking him slightly.

 

“Inuyasha, why are you so worked up?” Miroku asked in confusion.

 

“They're gone now, probably off to the next fights,” the man stated, fear beginning to show in his eyes at the actions of the demented hanyou.

 

“That poor creature didn't look like it would be able to fight again,” Miroku said in shock, remembering how the bull had gored it and remembering all the blood.

 

Inuyasha was almost yelling in frustration, “Where, where will they go next?”

 

The man told him and then Inuyasha released him to fall in a heap on the floor at his feet. “Come on we're leaving now,” he ordered. He went to the room the girls and Shippou were getting ready to settle down in, yelling at them to get their stuff and come on.

 

“Inuyasha, what's wrong with you? Why do you want to see this man so much? What's going on?” Miroku asked his friend.

 

“It's not the man, stupid, it's the wolf. That wolf is Kouga.”