Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Prompt: Inuyasha's first transformation into a full youkai

Context: Chapter 10

Brief note: This drabble series is based off of missing moments from Early Crossing that just wouldn't leave me alone! Also, props to anyone who recognizes the quote in the summary. :) Happy reading!

Inner Demons

Kagome

A full moon blazes brightly through the star-studded sky, illuminating the forest and drawing Kagome's attention from where she sits beneath the trees. Her eyes trace the nightscape reverentially before returning to the sleeping form beside her.

His face is dirty, long silver hair riddled with tangles and fire-rat haori ripped in several places, revealing bandages soaked with already-dried blood. She reaches out an unsteady hand to rest on his cheek, trying to reassure herself that he is indeed still with her. The steady rise and fall of his chest is all that comforts her as she is drenched in memories.

Their only warning had been a quick surge of youki before the demons had emerged from hiding within the trees, lunging for Kagome, intent on obtaining the Shikon no Tama- just like every adversary they'd encountered over the past months.

Kagome had initially been confident in their abilities to dispatch the dozen or so feline youkai. After all, besides her strengthening miko powers, Inuyasha had proven himself more than capable with the Tetsusaiga at his hip since he had first used it to protect her.

She had grown to feel secure seeing the sword in his hands. And at first, her confidence had been justified.

However, the tide had turned when one of the now-desperate cats caught him off guard, teeth sinking deep into the flesh of his forearm and forcing him to release the fang of his father.

She recalls the rest with pain, brushing a stray strand of hair away from his face.

She had run out of arrows, forced to fight with raw power alone, something incredibly unwieldy, especially at a distance. And their enemies were cunning, keeping Inuyasha far away from the weapon that had felled so many of their companions. They'd been exhausted, unable to gain an edge over their assailants. And defeat had seemed inevitable when Inuyasha, bleeding freely from several deep wounds, was a hair too slow in reaching out to block a forceful swipe to Kagome's midsection.

She remembers the sinister bite of razor-sharp claws slicing easy and deep through her belly and the cry of pure agony leaving her lips, each beat of her heart screaming too late, too late, too late. She remembers the glowing green eyes of the feline taking vengeful satisfaction in her pain before a pink blast enveloped its form. She remembers collapsing to the ground, defenseless, overcome, waiting for death.

But most of all, she remembers the anguished cry of her hanyou as he'd seen his failure manifested in the scent of her blood. "Inuyasha," she had choked out in horror as youki pulsed, and before her eyes, his fangs had lengthened and jagged purple stripes had appeared high on his cheekbones. The golden gaze she had grown up with, those familiar amber eyes that had come to symbolize safety and affection in her mind, had disappeared.

Taking their place were sadistic blood-red irises, smirking as their owner's claws violently butchered the enemy.

Author's Note: As I'd mentioned when I finished Early Crossing, I've decided to start a drabble series capturing moments of that story that I just didn't get to include, whether for pacing or want of time or just forgetfulness. So here we are! Each one will come as part of a pair, 500 words in Kagome's perspective and 500 in Inuyasha's, respectively.

I am also taking prompt suggestions! I have several in mind, but I welcome suggestions, so if you're interested just drop me a review!

Hope you enjoy this little project!

-Lady E