Disclaimer: Apart from merchandise with his logo, I do not own Inu-Yasha.

Author's Note: After finding myself hooked on them, I've decided to start my own little ficlet corner (600 words or less in each installment) for my baby ideas that I don't have time to nurse into full blown plot lines. (; They will have no rhyme or reason or order- some may be AU, others not. I just felt like this would be fun to try. (:

Please enjoy!

"DREAMCATCHER"

He twirled the woven band slowly, clawed fingers pinching the end of the leather cord that kept it suspended. One of the feathers sewn upon it tickled his nose.

"And what the hell is this?" he questioned with a soft growl, curiosity peaking as he glared at the delicate glass beads braided through the colored thread. Snapping his gaze upon the girl beside him, he snorted at her evident amusement. What was so funny?

"It's a dreamcatcher," she explained, taking the necklace and looping it around his neck. "Usually they dangle above you when you sleep, but since we're always outside. . . I decided to go for the jewelry variety."

Upon hearing the j-word, the boy flinched. He already got enough "friendly" grief from Shippo about his rosary. . . he need no more. A wiggle match began between the pair- Inu raging against Kagome's surprisingly strong grasp, trying to fight the dreamcatcher off. At once the girl's smile became a cold frown. "Inu-Yasha. . ."

The hanyou caught the hint and huffed indignantly, but fell silent all the same. He didn't feel like having his bones crushed today, thanks.

"Keh! I don't see why I have to wear it!" he snarled, tugging on the decorative hoop with an air of utmost disgust. "What does it do? It's not another subduing spell, is it?"

"Of course not!" Kagome laughed, happy grin back in place. She helped him tuck the delicate charm beneath his outer kimono, humming perkily. "Well, not for you, anyway. It subdues bad dreams and the like. All of your nightmares become snared in the design and caught in the string work. Native Americans in the United States used to make them."

He cocked his head, face blank.

Blink blink.

"U-knitted what?"

"Um. . . never mind," she chuckled, shaking her head at her own stupidity. "But anyway. . . I just noticed that you seem to be having trouble sleeping lately. . . what with you spending all night leaning over me. . ."

"I do not!" he defended automatically, still embarrassed over being caught and pummeled the previous evening. The futuristic young woman simply rolled her eyes.

"Of course you weren't."

"And I don't need your stupid dohicky!"

"Of course you don't."

"Damn straight! At least yo- wait. . . are you patronizing me?"

"Of course."

Inu-Yasha bared his teeth half-heartedly at Kagome's back as she turned away, but at the same time couldn't help but feel a bit grateful. Could this whats-it actually help him? All of the other things the wench had brought back to Sengoku Jidai had worked. . .

Yes. . .

Perhaps with this dorky scrap of wasted yarn he'd finally be able to free himself of the nightmares. . .

. . . And face Kagome as Kagome again.

(Note: This is a purely fictional scene that takes place no where in the series, but I imagined it happening sometime after Inu-Yasha dreams of Kikyo in manga five.)