Author's Note: Hiya again minna-san! I finally found some time to write, and my muse has returned for a short time on this story…Inspiration is a good thing…I hope you guys are enjoying this strange fic. of mine, even if you don't review!

Disclaimer: Only because I don't want to get flamed for not including this, I do not own InuYasha…I think this is common knowledge cuz we ARE on Fan Fiction writing about already published works….but whatever.

Dedications: I would like to dedicate this chapter to two people. First off, Valese for being my sounding board on this chapter! It's so nice to be able to share ideas with you…Thanks for the help, as your opinions always help improve my writing! Big hugs! And also to GoldAngel2 for being my first reviewer! I love hearing from you and it's so nice to have a 'mentor' of sorts! Thanks again!


"Life's Little Imperfections"

By: LadySword04

December 2004


Previously on LLI:

It's just those stupid ears that have to go first.

Maybe if I were to cut them off my problems would be somewhat solved for the time being. Yeah, that would work! They'd be no trouble at all. They don't have a great blood supply so I wouldn't bleed too much, and my massive amount of hair would more than cover whatever pieces are left behind. I have nothing to worry about.

All I have to do now is find something sharp enough to cut them off cleanly. Sango's sword would work nicely. She slays demons all the time, so I highly doubt that getting a little of my blood on her sword would be a problem. Plus, her sword doesn't have a barrier around it so anyone can wield her weapon. I just have to take it from her when she is sleeping or would not miss it otherwise.

Maybe tonight when she's asleep would be a good time to do just that. Yeah, then I can take it, cut my ears off, and if I make a sound, no one will notice. That's just what I am going to do. If only the sun would set faster!


Chapter Two: Testing the Strength of a Hanyou's Resolve

(Normal POV)

Dinner that night in Kaede's hut was a quiet occasion even though the storm had finally arrived, raged, then blown itself out, thus allowing the group to see the last of the fading sunlight before night befell them. Inside the hut, the company ate their meal in silence.

Sango, Miroku, and Shippo were still peeved at the hanyou, and his mouth for forcing their good friend, Kagome to leave yet again, and the said hanyou had had enough of their demands to go apologize and bring her back. Little did they know that she had started it by bringing up a certain okami youkai named Koga and why his actions towards her angered InuYasha.

One has to give her credit though; InuYasha did slink off to be with Kikyo that night and Kagome witnessed everything. Who could blame her for being irate that he would get angry at her if Koga so much as flattered her when there he was busy hugging and professing his love to Kikyo before her very eyes?

Sango was sitting with Kirara in her lap as she sipped her soup all the while eyeing the houshi to make sure he did not try anything. Before dinner he had yet again groped her and received a few good whacks to the head with the boomerang bone for his inappropriate conduct. Needless to say, for good measure and because Sango had demanded it, Miroku was a good six feet away from the slayer.

Kaede had finished her meal and occupied herself with going over her supply of herbs while she waited for the others to finish so she could wash the dishes. InuYasha however had wolfed his meal down with gusto in an attempt to get away from the angry glares and tension in the room. He instead chose to go outside and use this time to sit in the shelter of the God Tree to think while he waited for everyone to call it a night and go to sleep.

'Just a few more hours and then I can finally start my transformation. After that, all I have to do is acquire territory and have Myoga create whatever papers I will need to rule my lands. I just have to get a territory close to my forest so I can keep an eye on everything. Come to think of it, I guess I need to stage a death for myself so no one will know that I am not who I say I am. If they know InuYasha is dead, then they won't compare me to him or mistake me for being him. In a way, InuYasha will be dead, for I am going to give myself a new name as well. Myoga just has to think up one for me so it's believable. And after that, I just have to dress differently and change my scent. Though I wonder what the hell I'm gonna' do with these prayer beads…they shouldn't be too hard to hide right?'

With that, he silently jumped down from the tree and headed over to the hut to see if his friends had fallen asleep yet.

'Musta' been up there longer than I thought; they're breathing is even with sleep. This is too perfect. I just gotta' get her sword.'

With that, InuYasha crept as if on padded paws over to Sango's form. Luckily for our favorite hanyou, Kirara and Shippo had been playing tag inside the hut after dinner and had fallen asleep where they landed in the far corner by Kaede.

When he arrived at her pallet, he began to kneel down until Sango inhaled sharply. InuYasha responded by halting his movements until she rolled over and fell back into the rhythm of slumber once more. This time though, when she moved, Sango ended up covering her sword with one hand before moving it closer to herself in her sleep.

'Damn it! Just when I get close, she has to make life harder! Curse her!'

However, being a determined and persistent being, InuYasha simply would not allow his goal elude him this night. He would get that sword and would not wake the slayer in the process if it killed him.

When he was satisfied that Sango had fallen asleep once more, InuYasha resumed his kneeling, and ended up looking very much like a dog with sleeves all around him as he crouched down. Finding his balance and moving to a true kneeling position, he reached out for the hilt and slowly wrapped his fingers around it tightly. Seeing that Sango had yet to change the rhythm of her breathing, he boldly put a hand on the sheath to prevent it from moving, and started to take the sword from the saya.

'This is going great! I've just about got it, and she's not waking up! Just a little bit. . ."

Just as the sword was three quarters out of the sheath, Sango's eyes snapped open and she whipped her boomerang bone in his direction before she realized she was not under attack. InuYasha narrowly dodged her swing but in the process lost his balance and fell backwards as he flung his arms and released her sword; which quite nicely made a home for itself on Kaede's wall a mere two feet above a sleeping Miroku's head. Miroku however, woke up a few seconds later and noticed what was going on before he bellowed in agitation at being disturbed, "What in the name of Kami is going on in here?"

To that Sango countered, "I'd like an explanation as well. What is the meaning of this? What were you doing leaning over me and trying to take my sword? I want an answer, and I want one now!" Noticing the flames around her and the scary look on her face, InuYasha backed away in fear before finding his voice once more.

"Feh! Like I have to answer you! It's none of your business."

"I think it concerns me if you attempt to steal my sword in the night for no reason while leaning over me, let alone disturb my sleep! I will have my answers NOW!" She roared.

To her last comments, InuYasha merely gave another "Keh" before he rushed out of the hut and into the branches of the tree that afforded him some form of sanctuary for the rest of the night.

In the mean time, Sango and Miroku shared worried glances. Both knew something was terribly wrong with their friend and both agreed to find out tomorrow by any means necessary.

"What in the world would he want with my sword? I just don't get it! I don't think he was going to kill me, but what use could he have for my sword when there is nothing wrong with his?" Sango asked Miroku as he was staring after his obviously troubled friend.

"I have no answers to your questions my dear Sango. He's not human tonight so he shouldn't need your sword. This is puzzling indeed. Come, we still have a few hours before sunrise; let's get back to sleep and not worry ourselves until the morning. I don't think he will try that again tonight. I will ask him what is troubling him so much myself after breakfast. Actually, Kagome is due back tomorrow or the day after if she's late again. Maybe she can get him to talk to her."

"That sounds like a good idea. Even if you can't get him to talk to you, Kagome has a way of getting certain things out of him. If the problem is as serious as it appears to be he will either deny it altogether even to her, or maybe feel the need to tell her something. We just have to fill her in on what happened and see if she can pester an answer out of him."

With that, the houshi and taijiya went back to sleep, this time though, Sango brought Kirara and Shippo with her.

Up in his tree, InuYasha was sulking. 'Looks like I won't be trying that again for the rest of tonight. Sango's probably gonna' be even more cautious with her sword now and tomorrow night, and no doubt those two will bug me about the incident in the morning. Great, just great! Kirara is probably gonna' be there too when she sleeps, and gettin' past that cat is not gonna be easy.

Knowing her she'd wake Sango up. . .unless I can get somethin' to distract her with. . .wait! What was that stuff that when it was burning it made her all happy and she refused to leave it?

It was some sort of leaf. I know it began with the word cat, and the other letter was 'n.' Cat nap. . .no. . .cat. . .nip. . .that's it! I just have to find some and give it to her then I can work on getting the sword! Perfect! That sword's as good as mine tomorrow night!' he thought triumphantly.

With that last thought, he leaned back against the trunk of the God Tree and closed his eyes. Even though he didn't intend on falling asleep, the land of dreams beckoned and he answered the call. Besides, tomorrow would be rather trying to say the least; he would need all the rest he could get if he was going to live through the interrogations of his friends when they all pounced on him.


Owari for now!

Personal Review Replies:

GoldAngel2: Thank-you very much! You're lucky to have seen the later episodes. I own the first season box set and I'm waiting for the second one to come out next year. Though I have seen random episodes from 28 to I think 62 on Adult Swim. I went out and bought the first movie, and on the 28th I can go get the second movie…I'm looking forward to watching it and I bet you are too! I can't wait to see them though! Wait, he thinks she dies?!? Now I Really want to see what happened! Thanks so much for putting me on your favorites list to keep tabs on this story. . .it means a lot to me! I hope to see ya' next chapter!


Author's End Notes: Again, sorry for the short chapters, but this seemed to be like a good place to end, and I want something for the next chapter. Next time, IY faces Sango and Miroku as they begin their interrogations, another attempt to get the sword, and our favorite Miko might poke her head in for a bit as well.

Leave a review for me would ya? My writing style has changed, and I feel like something's missing…any suggestions? Let me know!

Until next time!

LadySword04