Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

The Beauty Within The Beast

Chapter 1:

Kagome Fetches A Pail Of Water

It had been a rather relaxing day. Kagome yawned as she stretched out her arms, cuddling closer to Shippou as they watched the clouds float above them. She pointed out various odd shaped clouds to him, mentioning when their wispy forms represented an animal or object. The kitsune cooed and awed in wonder, trying to cloud hunt as well. After a few minutes of searching, Shippou exclaimed, "I found one that looks like Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha, who presently sat rigid near an oak tree, opened one of his eyes and glanced upward. He scowled when he saw no such cloud. "I don't see it, Shippou."

"Right there!" He pointed happily towards the sky. "That cloud right there!"

Inuyasha searched in the direction Shippou was pointing, but all he found was a slightly disheveled cloud. Angling his head to get a better look, Inuyasha's scowl deepened when he realized what the cloud truly represented. "That's not me, you dope! It looks more like that brainless wolf Kouga."

Miroku and Sango, who were feasting on the goodies Kagome had recently brought back from her last visit home, gazed up at the sky as well. Miroku grinned as he noticed the similarity between the cloud and Kouga. "Does it offend you to hear that you share a resemblance with Kouga?" He asked Inuyasha with a grin.

Inuyasha crossed his arms and huffed, "You're damn right it does!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome chided, glaring over at him. "Kouga is a good friend. Don't insult him."

"Feh." He muttered, allowing his eyes to slip shut.

"Wow, Kagome!" Sango muttered, distracting her attention off of the moody mutt. "These crackers you brought along are setting my mouth on fire! Is this normal?"

"They're chips, Sango," Kagome corrected her. She smiled as she added, "Spicy Barbeque flavored, as a matter of fact. You don't like them?"

"I do. The power of their taste merely surprised me. Perhaps a drink of water will replenish my mouth." Sango dipped her ladle eagerly into the pail of fresh water they had carried from the river nearby. She brought it to her lips, only to find that there was barely any water in her scoop. Frowning, she muttered, "The water is gone!"

Miroku peered into the bucket and replied, "Seems so." They both turned their gaze onto Inuyasha, and stared blankly. When he didn't acknowledge them, Sango coughed loudly.

"Someone should go fetch more," Sango offered.

Miroku nodded. "Yes, someone should." They waited patiently till Inuyasha cocked his head in their direction.

He opened his golden eyes to find the group staring expectantly at him. Inuyasha furrowed his brows and shouted, "Not me!"

"Yes you." Sango replied.

"Sango has a point, Inuyasha." Miroku added.

Inuyasha shook his head and growled, "No. I need to rest!"

"You've been resting all day!" Shippou declared.

Inuyasha's eyes flashed. "You have too, you little brat! Why don't you go get the water?"

"Inuyasha, is it really that big of a deal to go and collect some water?" Kagome asked him softly.

"Yes!" He shot back. "I'm comfortable."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "No, you're just lazy."

"Am not!" He replied with a growl. Looking her over careful, he folded his arms and huffed, "You go get it. You're not doing anything either!"

Without a word, Kagome stood swiftly and walked towards Sango. She ignored her friend's sympathetic stare as she reached down for the pail. Grabbing it roughly, she turned in the direction of the river. Inuyasha grinned and leaned back against the tree, enjoying his triumph. But just as she began to trod down the hill that the group had chosen to encamp, she muttered, "Sit!"

When the harsh howl erupted from Inuyasha's throat, Kagome grinned and continued on, hurrying down the clearing and into the small wood. She passed through the forest hurriedly, eager to retrieve the water and return to her friends. Kagome eyed her surroundings cautiously; on the look out for demons. There were no signs of potential threats, and as Kagome made her way out of the forest and towards the flowing river, she sighed with relief. She would've defended herself if she had to, but she most likely would have failed miserably at it. It seemed as if she were always getting kidnapped. Especially by Kouga. She rolled her eyes at the thought.

Dropping down onto her knees near the river bank, Kagome dipped her hands into the calm stream. She enjoyed the soft, cool water as it lapped at her hands. Smiling, she reached for the bucket.

'Once I fill it, I can go back,' she thought to herself. 'And is Inuyasha going to get an earful!'

Kagome dipped the pail into the river and began to fill it.

"It seems as if Inuyasha's miko is all alone." Naraku whispered. The two of them hid at the edge of the forest, watching as Kagome gingerly filled a bucket of water. "She's completely defenseless. Inuyasha and the others are resting on a hill, over there." Naraku pointed through the forest, and past the clearing Kagome had just treaded, Kagura caught sight of Inuyasha's red kimono.

"I see. They will not hear her screams?"

Naraku grinned. "Not after I put up this barrier." He placed his hands up swiftly, and a purple light emitted, shrouding the small river with a transparent barrier; Kagome trapped inside it unknowingly.

Kagura nodded. "You wish me to attack her?"

"No." He replied. Using his right hand, Kagura watched in amazement as a large eel-like demon emerged. It's eyes were bright red, and the demon had long, sharp fangs. It ignored Kagura and it's creator as it slid slowly into the stream. Kagome did not notice it, as she was in a hurry; almost finished with filling the pail.

"So what do you require of me?" She asked him curiously.

"Go to Inuyasha, distract him. Keep him from coming after Kagome." He ordered.

"I will do as you please." Kagura gazed over at Kagome curiously. "And what of the girl?"

Naraku grinned once more. He wandered backwards into the darkness until he was no longer visible. "She will drown," his voice whispered before he vanished.

Kagome sighed as she lifted the heavy pail out of the water and onto the river bank. She sat down with a huff and gazed lazily at the serene river. She loved to be by the water. There was something about it that calmed her, eased her troubles away. Kagome took off both of her shoes inched closer to the edge of the grass. Dipping both feet in, she smiled as she kicked them gently against the soft current.

She could not have foreseen what happened next. All of a sudden, something large and slimy wrapped around her ankle, dragging her into the river. She gasped, shock taking hold over her as she fell underwater. Her eyes blinked as she searched for the culprit that held her under. A small, bubbled scream erupted from her as she noticed the huge eel demon that had wrapped itself around her leg. The demon's eyes flashed a bloody red and it gave her a glimpse of it's massive fangs. Kagome almost fainted from fear.

But she would not go down so easily. Giving the demon a sharp kick with her free leg, Kagome swam up to the surface, lifting her mouth into the warm summer air. Relieved for oxygen, she inhaled deeply and screamed, "Help me! Someone, please help me!"

Fright took hold over as she continued to fight against the strong hold of the demon as it wrapped tighter around her ankle, gaining more hold over her. "Inuyasha!" She yearned for him to save her, and he was only a few feet away. Kagome's eyes began to tear as she realized how close to death she was. Why did he not sense her distress? Kagome's shrill voice caught the attention of a dog demon, but it was not Inuyasha who eventually came to her rescue.

As she thrashed about in the river, searching for a means of escape, she felt the fangs of the eel pierce her flesh. "Ah!" She screamed, her leg throbbing with pain. The pain was too much for Kagome to bear. The eel successfully brought her down further, and her head bobbed under the water once more. The darkness of the lake swallowed her whole, and just as she neared unconsciousness, a flash of silver ignited in front of her. She felt a pair of strong hands pull her out of the water, and as she stared up into the golden eyes of her savior, Kagome blacked out.

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter and would like me to write another, please review!