Chapter 1 - The Spell *Sit, Boy!* (The Puppy Love Challenge)
"Absolutely not," Sesshoumaru said with finality. "I will do no such thing."
"Is that so, my son?" a beautiful demoness replied in a condescending tone. "Need I remind you, Sesshoumaru, that until you take a mate or I step down, you are Lord in name only? You shall do as you are told."
"Your mind must be going soft with age, Mother, if you believe for a moment that I will allow you to dictate something of such importance to me. I will not simply obey."
She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes, which held dark warning. "My dear boy, if you are going to behave like a child, I have no problem treating you like one. I think that perhaps you need a time out." The Lady of the West lowered her head and began chanting softly, the words unrecognizable, but their purpose obvious to her son.
Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, and he did something that he had never done before in his adult life; he turned tail and ran. The taiyoukai didn't make it more than three steps down the hall before his limbs felt like lead, and he fell to his hands and knees. Though he tried to rise, he found it impossible. He craned his neck to look behind him and saw his mother walking slowly towards him, still chanting.
It was then that he did something else he had never done before. He begged. "Mother, please, do not do this. I am certain that we can come to some agreement. Please, Mother, anything but th..." His voice failed him. As he tried once more to speak, all that came out were guttural growls and yips. His head fell forward, lowering in resignation, and he watched as his hands changed, sprouting fur while his fingers shortened, claws shifting, to become paws. The pain was excruciating, but he managed to keep quiet, refusing to lose even more of his dignity. When the transformation was complete, Sesshoumaru mentally sighed in relief. At least the agony was over, though he knew the problems were just beginning.
The Lady of the West circled her son at a lazy pace, as if evaluating her work. She clicked her tongue in disapproval. "No, no, this won't do. We can't have people knowing who you really are," she said as she noticed the crescent moon just above his eyes. She reached towards him, and Sesshoumaru snapped at her hand, trying to bite her. She moved much faster than he was capable of at the moment, easily evading his teeth. She smacked his nose, and he let out a yip of surprised pain. "You should know better, Sesshoumaru." She reached towards him again and ran her thumb over the marking that proclaimed him heir to the West. When she pulled back, it had disappeared. "That's better."
She studied him for several more long moments before nodding. "I think I'll leave the stripes. They are common enough that they will not serve to identify you. Now," she snapped her fingers, and a male who had been watching the entire exchange with barely veiled glee rushed to her side. "Tsukiko, escort my son off the palace grounds. I think it is time that he realize just how spoiled he really is. Perhaps fending for himself for while will adjust his attitude.” To Sesshoumaru she said, “Do not come back, my son, until you have learned your lesson." The Lady of the West then turned and walked away, leaving her now mortal canine son alone with her most favored concubine.