DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi. I'm just taking him out for a walk. Enjoy!

Rite of Passage
Part of the Reflections series

He didn't think she could do it. She was a weak little girl, one who – from what she had told him – had never even seen a yokai before she fell into the Bone Eater's Well. There was no way, in his mind, she'd be able to kill a yokai – especially one with Yura's strength. And yet, Inuyasha had been forced to let her tag along on this important mission just because she could see the Shikon no Tama. Even more, he had been forced to put up with her weak attempts to "help" him which only served to anger Yura even more and nearly purify Inuyasha himself.

Sure, when she figured out how to defeat the hairball Yura sent through the well, Inuyasha was mildly impressed. And when she retrieved the bow and arrows from the camp of the massacred human soldiers without even flinching, the hanyo had even admitted – albeit to himself – that she had guts. But…kill a yokai? It simply wasn't in her nature. She was too weak, too innocent, too…kind…to hurt anyone or anything, regardless of how evil it was.

And yet…

Inuyasha stared in awe as Yura's empty clothing fluttered to the ground. Beside him, he heard the girl give a weak sigh of relief. The clank of metal hitting bone told him that the hair-oni's sword, unable to remain suspended without the support of the enchanted hair, had ceased its assault on the wench and dropped to the skull-covered ground.

It was over. And it was all her doing.

Looking over at the girl, Inuyasha noticed that she was still frozen in mid-motion, her body not registering that the threat had been annihilated. Her hands were clenched tight over an arrow that was still embedded in the comb that had held Yura's soul. This little girl had actually slain a yokai…and one that had given him trouble, at that! His wounds and his pride began to sting a bit at that thought.

Of course, this was soon placed by a newfound admiration and respect for this girl…Kagome. He had to admit, he had been skeptical (all right, so he had been in flat-out denial) when Kaede-babaa had told him to work with this girl. Now…well, maybe – just maybe, mind you – they had a chance.

Inuyasha's stunned mind registered that the wench had done her job (finally) and located the stolen shard. She was strong. She had won his respect, the respect of someone who had fought for his life time and time again; and such a feat deserved a reward.

Somehow, deep in the dark depths of his mind, he just knew he would regret saying this; but at the same time he knew it had to be said.

"Let's go, Kagome."

Well. That wasn't so bad. The girl's name sounded almost…nice…when he said it. Maybe he'd say it more often.

Thanks for reading! This story is short, but deep. I was just reading over the Inuyasha manga, and I was hit by inspiration while reading over the final pages of Chapter 11 (the ending of the battle with Yura). I hope I kept everyone in-character…for the manga, at least.

JAPANESE GLOSSARY

Yokai – mythological, usually superhuman being (usually translated "demon" in English)
Shikon no Tama – the jewel that Kagome split into teeny tiny shards (translated "Jewel of the Four Souls" or simply "Shikon Jewel" in English)
Oni – a class of yokai that includes Yura of the Hair and the yokai-witch Urasue who revived Kikyo
-babaa – a rude designation for an elderly woman, meaning something like "old lady" (Inuyasha calls Kaede "Kaede-babaa" in the manga, while Kagome uses the more polite "Kaede-baa-chan" which means something like "Grandma Kaede")

The name "Rite of Passage" comes from the idea that Kagome has earned Inuyasha's respect by her ability to kill a yokai (namely, Yura), and he shows that by using her name.