Insert Standard Disclaimer here
"Cat's Eye"
Inuyasha's body spasmed as his mind wrenched itself back to the surface, from the pitch-black depths of the nightmare. His eyelids fluttered open. …Red eyes?
"Meeeeeroooow!"
"GAAAAAGH!" His fist instinctively swiped through empty air. "Get off of me, you damn cat!"
The tawny feline – which had been staring him in the face while crouching on his stomach – gracefully dodged the poorly aimed punch and alighted atop his forehead. It promptly began licking his face with its tiny pink tongue.
"I said, get off!" Inuyasha seized the cat by the scruff of its neck, sat up, and dangled the four-legged pest at arm's reach. Two tails… that's odd.
"Oh hoh hoh! It seems my little partner has found a new friend!"
Inuyasha craned his stiff neck back and stared at the upside-down man. He had short hair tied back in a top-knot, and a scar running cross-wise through his left eyebrow. He appeared to be in his late twenties, and wore an ordinary gray robe.
"Who the hell are you?"
"For the moment, all you need know is that I'm the owner of that little kitty. Kilala seems to have taken a liking to you, Mr. Half-Demon."
"I have a name," he replied sulkily as he stood up and stretched. The vision from which he had just awakened had left him shaken, and that made him crankier than usual.
"I'm sure your parents gave you a fine name," the man replied as a genuine smile spread across his broad, handsome face. "But you haven't given it to me yet, Mr. Half-Demon. And would you mind releasing my friend there?"
Inuyasha let the squirming feline loose. It quickly hopped onto the man's shoulder, where it mewed happily. "Why should I tell you my name when you haven't given yours?" Inuyasha countered.
"A point well taken! But I'm afraid I never give out my true name… for someone in my profession, it's often quite hazardous to do so. But perhaps you may know me by my alias, Kotsu?"
"… Never heard of ya."
"…"
"Should I have?"
The man stroked his chin. "And here I thought I was the most famous demon-slayer in these parts… I must do something to rectify this!"
Inuyasha looked the fellow over incredulously. "You say you're a demon-slayer?" He looks like an ordinary mortal, maybe a bit taller than most… but I don't think he could even slay a determined evil chicken, let alone a cutthroat demon.
The man laughed. "Perhaps it's best that you haven't heard of me. There is a long list of demons that have learned my name, and died quickly by my hand."
Inuyasha instantly took a defensive stance. "Am I to assume that I'm next on that list?"
"Not unless you force me to add your name – which I can't since you still haven't given it to me."
This guy tries to be funny even when he's being serious…"It's Inuyasha."
"A very fitting name, judging by your distinctive ears… may I, Inuyasha?" He stretched his free hand out.
"NO."
"Fair enough." The hand quickly retreated.
Inuyasha barely restrained himself from ripping the man to pieces. What is it with people wanting to touch my ears?? "So, why are you here, then, if not to slay me?"
"Kilala and I are here, by permission of the monks, for the sole purpose of resting the night in the safety of this shrine. I assume that since you have been neither expelled nor exorcised that you are here for the same reason."
"Yes. So, why did you wake me up, then?"
"Oh, that was Kilala, not me. She has a mind of her own, you know." He laughed heartily as he scratched behind her ears; she purred contentedly and rubbed against his stubbly cheek.
"I don't like cats."
"I'm sorry to hear that. But she likes you. We'd no sooner walked through the gate than she spotted you; she's been perched on your chest ever since, until you woke up screaming."
"I screamed because she startled me," Inuyasha corrected him.
"That's not what she says. Though I wasn't here, and Kilala here is known to stretch the truth, isn't that right?"
"Purrrr…"
This guy is nuts! "She talks?"
"She can't really talk talk, like you and I do… but I can understand her quite well. We've worked together for a long time."
"And just how does she help you in your work? She doesn't look like she could slay a demon."
"Well, not all demons are tough to kill… though some are tough to get to, if you know what I mean."
"I'm afraid I don't."
"Rats."
"Well, how was I supposed to know?"
"I didn't expect you to know. That's why I told you."
"Told me what?"
"The kind of demons she specializes in killing."
"When did you tell me that?"
"Just now."
"Huh?"
"Let me put it to you this way: we don't just slay demons that kill people, we also kill the pests… the vermin, if you will. Like rats."
"Oh." Duh… cats and mice. Just talking to this guy has my head going in circles!
"She does tackle bigger foes, when the need arises… but hopefully, you'll never have to see her in action that intense."
"Should I be scared?"
"I would be."
"Right." When cats fly…
"Ah, there you are, Kotsu! I was afraid you'd gotten yourself lost on the way back from the privy!"
"I was just checking on Kilala, master Mushin. Oh, who's this fellow with you?"
"This is master Miatsu, Inuyasha's traveling companion."
"A pleasure, sir!" "The pleasure is all mine!" The two exchanged bows.
"Wait a second… did you tell him who I was?" Inuyasha interrogated Mushin.
"Of course! Why wouldn't I tell him who it was that drew his faithful companion away so effortlessly?"
Inuyasha seized Kotsu's collar. "You rat-bastard! You knew who I was already! What was up with all that 'Mr. Half-Demon' stuff?"
"Would you have felt more or less trusting towards me if I had revealed that fact?"
"Less," Inuyasha admitted.
"I rest my case."
Mushin laid an arm across each of their shoulders. "Please, gentlemen, this is a place of peace… so STOP FIGHTING!!" He quickly thrusted their heads together; the loud CRACK echoed from the walls of the sanctuary.
"Was that really necessary?" Miatsu whispered to Mushin as Inuyasha and Kotsu rubbed the smarting bumps sprouting from their foreheads.
"Probably not… but it worked!"
xxxxx
The next morning, Mushin checked Miatsu's wound and pronounced that there was nothing more he could do to speed the healing process.
"It's about time," Inuyasha snapped. "We need to get moving. Every day, Naraku's getting more Jewel shards!"
"Inuyasha, the women are coming here to meet us," Miatsu reminded him.
"The women?" Kotsu broke in.
"Then we'll meet them halfway. Hurry up!" Without a word of farewell to either Mushin or Kotsu, Inuyasha strode out the front gate.
Miatsu sighed. "My apologies. We've been trying to get him to be more polite, but it's just not his style." It's a good thing I thanked the other monks yesterday…
Mushin laughed heartily. "It's no trouble. Just take care of yourself, ok? And make sure not to take off those beads for another six days!"
"Right." Miatsu clasped hands with his friend, and then bowed to Kotsu. "Farewell to you, demon-slayer. Buddha's blessing go with you."
"I aim to do just that, my friend."
Huh? Whatever…
Miatsu joined Inuyasha outside the gate. "Well, shall we?"
"Feh."
They had only gone halfway up the hill when Miatsu casually remarked, "So, Inuyasha, where exactly are the women?"
"Umm…"
"Now do you see my point?"
"What point? We just need to head in a straight line to where we left them, and I'll be able to sniff them out."
Miatsu smiled. As usual, he charges ahead without thinking, trusting on his demon powers to save the day… I wish I could have that kind of self-confidence.
"All right."
xxxxx
As midday neared, Inuyasha fidgeted nervously while walking. What's his game? Why doesn't he say something? It's creeping me out!
"Something the matter, Inuyasha?" Miatsu asked.
Inuyasha silently pointed at the lone figure following them at a respectable distance.
"Kotsu? Is that you?"
"Hai, it's me." He grinned. "And Kilala, of course."
I didn't sense him following us at all… Miatsu took note of the strange parcel slung across the demon-slayer's back. It was fairly narrow, and not quite as tall as the man himself, but the green cloth wrapped around it obscured its exact shape. "Might I ask why you are following us, Kotsu?"
"Inuyasha mentioned something about 'the women', and I decided I could fit a side trip into my itinerary."
Inuyasha ground to a halt and spun on his heel. "You're not going to lay one hand on them, you filthy…"
"Easy, easy, it was just a joke! To be honest, I'm not really following you. I just happen to be headed in the exact same direction as you, for some strange reason."
"You do realize there's a giant canyon a few miles from here?" Miatsu inquired.
"Really? Feh. Don't expect me to carry you across." Inuyasha smirked at Kotsu.
"I had no intention of asking you for such a favor."
"So, why didn't you join us before now?"
"You never asked me to," he replied.
Makes sense. "Would you like to?" Miatsu invited.
"Of course." He grinned.
Baka… "Just don't slow us down, Kotsu." Inuyasha stomped off.
"He's really quite good-natured," Miatsu assured Kotsu as they followed after the hanyou.
"I know… Kilala says so, and that's good enough for me."
Miatsu smiled and reached out to pet the twin-tailed cat. Suddenly, her hair bristled and she began growling deep in her throat. Miatsu quickly withdrew his hand.
Kotsu tapped Kilala's nose chidingly. "Now, now, girl, he's a good man, too. Even if he is a monk."
"Mreow…" Kilala wasn't entirely convinced… but she allowed Miatsu to pet her.
xxxxx
The quartet halted only for a hasty break for lunch and water. Shortly after they had resumed their journey, a thunderous tumult came howling through the forest towards them. Inuyasha's ears instinctively flattened to try to block out some of the noise, but the others had no time to cover their ears.
"What was that?" Kotsu yelled once the flood of sound had rolled past.
"Never mind that, what's that?" Miatsu pointed to a roiling wave of dust surging towards them through the trees.
"Cover your nose and mouth!" Kotsu warned them. From somewhere in his traveling clothes, he produced a face mask. He tucked Kilala beneath his robe as he ran for shelter. Miatsu also ducked behind a tree as the dust and air flew by at a terrific speed, but Inuyasha wasn't so lucky, and caught the brunt of the dust cloud.
No sooner had it begun, but it was over. Only a light haze of dust remained, slowly settling to the forest floor.
"Koff, koff… everybody ok?" Inuyasha cried hoarsely.
"We're fine, Inuyasha," Kotsu reported as he appeared from behind the tree. The mask muffled his voice a bit, but his words were clear enough.
"Me, too." Miatsu stepped out from his shelter.
"Damn… what was that?"
"What?" Miatsu and Kotsu both shouted.
Crap. The noise must've deafened them for a while. "I said, what was that? I don't sense a demon around."
"Maybe a rockslide?" Kotsu yelled.
Miatsu shook his head. "I sense some magic at work up ahead," he hollered back. "We'd best check it out." Miatsu took off at a run.
"Right with you," Kotsu bellowed as he followed.
"Hey, wait for me!" Still coughing, Inuyasha staggered to his feet and tailed them at full speed. Unfortunately, his eyes were still half-blinded with dust, and he collided with tree after tree.
All three men emerged from the treeline just in time to see a giant shikigami disintegrate into mist.
Kotsu's eyes fixated on Risa, who knelt near the edge of the cliff. It can't be…
Miatsu spotted Kaede, who was shouting something. What did she say?
Inuyasha heard Kaede scream: "She's still over the cliff!" But he could already see the woman as she began to fall. His feet began to propel his body forward before his mind had time to grasp the situation.
The other two men followed the gaze of the two girls and saw her, too.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
xxxxx
What can I do? I have nothing to throw to her, and even if I jumped out to save her, there's no way either of us would survive the fall. What can I do? Miatsu's arms and legs pumped as he ran forward. His right hand popped in and out of his peripheral vision. I could…! But… if I open it now… His mind was filled with the terror he'd felt the other night, when the void seemed as if it would devour his very being. Will I never get to experience the joy of seeing my children grow up? Will I never know the pleasure of coming home to a faithful wife? He saw Tsubaki's mouth opening slowly into a scream and knew what he had to do.
To hell with the consequences! I won't let someone else die because of my curse… I'll use the wind from my cursed hand to save her! He slowly slid to a halt and thrust his right arm forward. He grasped the beads with his left hand and began to pull; but just as the beads were about to come free, he felt a hand close fast around his wrist, holding the last few beads in place. He stared in shock. Kotsu! Why did you stop me…?
xxxxx
Inuyasha's bare feet slammed into the dirt as his mind raced to catch up.
Miatsu said this canyon was a death trap.
Yes. It's one of the deepest on this island.
The bottom is lined with razor-sharp rocks.
You won't reach her in time.
His step faltered.
I'll make it!
Even if you reach her, how will you get back?
He regained his balance.
I'll get to the other side!
You won't make it!
… I have to try!!
His right leg compressed and released as his left stretched out into open sky.
I refuse… to let another woman die!!
"Tsubaki! No!!"
A/N: The title of this chapter is borrowed from the anime/manga series of the same name. I've never read or seen it myself (though it sounds interesting, reminds me of DNAngel), but it is apparently a favorite of Yuko Ichihara, the Time-Space Witch from Tsubasa and xxxHolic. Quick shameless prop: Read my one-shot crossover, "Chance Encounter", which features Yuko plus other anime characters.
I'm sorry it's taken so long to get back to the women; I've been rather busy. In case you missed it, the end of this chapter coincides with the end of Chapter 28: "Girl Time". Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion in the next chapter!
