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 7: A Battle of a Will

Kagome awoke feeling groggy and overwhelmed. Putting her hand to her head, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. At the feel of her unusually soft skin she pulled her hands away. Staring in disbelief, Kagome saw that her hands had returned to normal, her fingers delicate and human. Running them through her hair she barely dared to believe the sight that lay before her; her long black hair fully returned to it's former human glory.

Wondering why Inuyasha was not nearby Kagome took a survey of her surroundings. She lay in a dimly lit cave, a bright source of light coming from behind her. Standing, Kagome turned towards the light and saw the daylight pour in from the mouth of the cave. The blindingly bright light obscured what lay beyond.

Walking towards the opening of the cave, Kagome froze. There, blocking her path, was a human-sized dog. Its grey fur stood on edge, indicating a readiness to battle. It drew near, fangs bared, saliva dripping down its chin. The dog's red eyes locked with hers as it stood on its hind legs. In a flash the dog was replaced with a more human creature, eerily similar to herself.

"Why have you called me, human?" the dog-turned-human spat the last word, growling in rage.

"I...I didn't..." Kagome began, backing up.

"Nonsense!" She barked, stepping forward to keep the distance from increasing. "I have come. Why have you called me?!"

"I...Where am I?" She looked about her distractedly, wondering where Inuyasha could be and why this demon felt so familiar.

"You have called me, and I have come. WHY HAVE YOU CALLED ME?" It roared, still keeping the distance from changing.

In a panic, Kagome turned and fled into the darkness. She ran until she couldn't see any hint of the light behind her. As she calmed down, Kagome slowed herself. The darkness had her completely engulfed. Not knowing who the demon was, or, for that matter, where she could be, Kagome collapsed in a heap of tears.

"Pathetic human," the demon's voice, so familiar yet so foreign came from the darkness as if Kagome had not moved at all. "Do you not know yourself?"

"What?" Kagome mumbled, tears drying in fear. "Myself?"

With a wave of relief, Kagome thought of where she could be. "I'm having a dream..." she whispered.

"No, human," the voice spat as if it were speaking a disgusting, vile word. "You are not dreaming. You are inside yourself. NOW WHY DID YOU CALL ME!?"

With a sickening jolt, Kagome realized she had called the demon. 'My demon half! I called her out when I got mad at Inuyasha.' Finding her voice she spoke. "I called you to fight," she ventured.

Growling, the disembodied voice spoke with venom. "You would have me kill our only kin? Do you not know that I would tear him apart, the same as I did of that vile reptile?"

Kagome squealed as she felt a furry hand graze her cheek.

Hearing a gentle whisper, Kagome was floored by what she heard.

"Do you not know that I have no say in the world? You are my anchor, without your guidance, your control, I will take over without knowing the reality in which I am based. Such it is for all half-demons. I cannot fully venture into your world, you have not the strength of body. You cannot fully hide behind my strength, I have not the purpose." Kagome blinked, trying to see her new half in the blinding darkness. "Don't you see, human," the word was spoken gently this time. "We need each other."

- - - - - - - - - -

Miroku and Sango sat across from each other, Sango not wanting to be groped, and Miroku tired of chasing her around the fire.

Sango let out a sorrowful sigh. In their last battle Naraku had again used Kohaku to try and kill her. Upon Kohaku's failing, Naraku had torn the jewel shard from the boy's back, causing him to perish within minutes. The pain of the moment was still fresh when she had been faced with the betrayal of another half-demon, one she had considered a friend. "Damned demon!" she spat out.

Miroku looked up, startled. He didn't know what to believe about the situation. 'Surely Inuyasha wouldn't have done this to Kagome on purpose...' he debated with himself.

As if sensing his conflict, Shippo laid a hand on the monks knee. "I'm sure he just wanted her to stay with us. If she's a demon, she can't go back to her time, there are no demons there."

"That would make sense," Miroku responded. "He did say the stone had twisted his wish." He pulled out the gem, initially surprised that they had left it so suddenly one week earlier. "He may have wished for her to have a reason to stay."

"Selfish bastard!" Sango spat as she rose in anger and stomped off into the trees.

"Poor Sango," whispered Shippo. "First she looses her brother, then Kagome,"

"Kagome's not dead, Shippo."

"No, but she's not the same any more. If she's like Inuyasha, then she won't be so happy any more, she'll be all moody and mean." Shippo shuddered at the thought of her former defender joining Inuyasha in aggression.

Nodding at the discerning insight, the monk silently agreed with the tiny fox demon. Standing, Miroku looked into the forest, to where Sango had left.

"I'll go see if there's anything I can do for Sango," he mumbled as he walked into the trees.

"At least I still have you, Kilala" the fox muttered as he rubbed her fur.

Walking past the brush that surrounded their campsite, Miroku came upon Sango sitting against a tree. Sobbing, Sango heard a twig snap beneath Miroku's feet and quickly wiped her eyes of tears.

"Hi Miroku," she said weakly, trying, unsuccessfully to place a smile on her face.

"Hi Sango" he replied, sitting next to her. Sango's body tensed, expecting Miroku's wandering hand to invade her personal space. When he left her alone, she eased up, leaning towards the monk's shoulder.

"What was he thinking!" She asked. "If he wanted her to stay, he could have wished for the well to close up, he could have wished for Kagome to want to stay here, he could have wished a million other things that would have left Kagome as her wonderful HUMAN self." Sango shed another tear.

"It'll be okay Sango. We have clear directions to the monk who has the story and with any luck we'll be there within the week." He timidly took her chin in his hand and wiped away her tears. "And besides..." His musings were interrupted with a resounding SLAP, his offending hand still hovering near Sango's body.

"MIROKU!" Sango stormed off, leaving the monk to dreamily coddle his reddened cheek.

End of Chapter

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