In the Beholders Eye

Written By Sarga

May/June 2006

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters, I'm just taking a theme and running with it...

Chapter 3: A Heartfelt Wish Come True

It had been five days since the deaths of Naraku and Kikyo. Kagome had taken three days to purify the Shikon jewel, it's core having been tainted from the months it was with Naraku. Inuyasha had take two days to get a hold of the fully restored jewel without anyone noticing. Now that he had it, he didn't know what to do.

Inuyasha stood beneath the trees, sun breaking through the leaves. He crouched low and reached into his pocket, grasping the source of their four year journey.

Inuyasha gazed at the powerful Shikon jewel in his hand. Even his hanyou body could sense the power coming from the completed stone. Now that it was whole, Kagome would be free to return to her time. He felt a pang in his heart as he realized that Kagome would be leaving soon.

"I wish she could feel the way I feel," he mumbled absentmindedly.

With a jolt, he realized what he had done. He clutched the jewel in his hand and hastily stood up, his eyes darting to the clearing where Kagome stood watching Shippo play in the grass. With a wave of relief he saw that she hadn't changed position or made any indication that his wish had taken effect.

Inuyasha sat back down in the grass, calming himself. His impulsive wish hadn't been granted. 'But I meant it...Why didn't it work?' He realized with shock, his relief being replaced by a longing.

Inuyasha opened his had to look at the jewel once more. 'Is this...what I want?' He gazed at it's purity, and thought of the woman who had made it that way. 'I do want this! I do love her!' with his sudden realization, Inuyasha wished with all of his might. "I wish Kagome would feel about me the way I feel about her."

He stood up, not daring to breath, not daring to throw off the wish one bit. He looked towards Kagome, who still had not changed her position. She suddenly let out a gleeful laugh as the playful demon child at her feet chased a butterfly. Slowly Inuyasha moved from the wooded area and into the clearing.

"Hey Inuyasha, you should come play too!" Shippo ran up to the hanyou and pulled at his hand.

Inuyasha batted him away. "Get off'a me kid!" he growled looking hopefully towards Kagome.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled at him. "Leave him alone, he only wants to play!" She glared at him the same as usual and he knew the wish hadn't worked. Growling in disgust, Inuyasha jumped to the nearest tree, as he always did when scolded by Kagome.

Safely in the trees once more, Inuyasha settled back on a branch, feet dangling. Once again, he peered into his hand. He clutched the jewel, clamped his eyes shut and nearly shouted "I wish Kagome would feel just like me!"

He opened his eyes to a scream as Kagome fell to her knees, clutching her head.

'Damn it!' Inuyasha jumped from his perch and leaped to Kagome's side. She screamed in pain as Inuyasha saw the impossible. There, right before his eyes, Kagome's ears were disintegrating. She clawed at them desperately in pain, leaving bloody welts with her unusually long, unusually sharp fingernails. Her hands dropped to the ground as she leaned forward on her knees, panting with obvious exertion.

"Ka...Kagome?" he tentatively reached for her shoulder. He yanked his hand back when she let out another shriek of pure torture.

Once again her hands went to her head, only this time they went higher. Inuyasha heard a ripping sound quickly followed by a blood-curdling wail from the suffering miko. In another shocking transformation, Inuyasha saw as two small, furry ears protruded from her head. They grew up and out until they were the same size and shape as Inuyasha's.

Then it hit him, 'I wished for her to feel just like me!' He scooped up Kagome, not hearing the whimpers from Shippo as he snapped out of his fearful trance. Racing as fast as his half-demon legs could carry him, he leaped from tree to tree heading for Kaede's hut. Kagome's scent was changing, becoming more demonic.

As he ran with Kagome in his arms he saw the tips of her hair drain of colour. Silver slowly crept up her hair like water seeping up a piece of cloth. Her fingers dug painfully into his arms, and he clutched her tighter to his chest. Trees blurred by as they sped faster than he had ever gone before.

As the miko's frame shuddered unconsciously in his arms Inuyasha hoped against hope that there was something he could do to stop this.

End of Chapter

Happy Reading! Reviews are always welcome.

- Sarga