Talons
Eri was looking at her polished talons in satisfaction, the manicure was worth every penny and she was busy showing them off to the others. All were suitably impressed and said that they looked lethal. Eri said that that was partly the point; they were great defensive weapons if she ever got into trouble.
Kagome thought how different the points of view from a human girl and a hanyou, whose claws had been stained with blood and were truly deadly. She had seen them red with the gore of bandits, she had heard his unbidden lament as he denied he cared; she had seen his shame in knowing how easy it is to injure and maim.
Kagome saw how easy it was for him to channel youki through his fingers and out in golden arcs of power, frightening to many and unforgiving to those who fall. And yet to a friend they were safe protection, fully under the hanyou's control; and gentle, when the kit needed comfort and they worked to soothe and pet his hair at night when all others were asleep.
Yet once a month his fingernails are blunt and square, a human's hands and he despairs of his weakness, feeling useless. To Kagome they are all just an intrinsic part of Inuyasha, and she is safe when his arms are round her whether he has nails or claws and then she giggles and wonders what he would make of the lurid coloured polish that Eri wears.
Iyfic challenge; prompt Fingernails;250 words max