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 17: Wide Eyed

They had been about to leave when Totosai nearly attacked them, a great feat for an old man verses two spry young hanyous.

"Kagome!" he yelled, even though he was a foot from her. "You can't forget this!" He waved about a delicate looking bow with a silver string. Brandishing it like a toy sword.

Startled, she scrunched her nose in confusion. "Forget? I didn't bring a bow with me..."

Totosai looked at Inuyasha with disgust. "You didn't tell her?"

"Tell her what?" Inuyasha retorted.

"The bow, boy, the bow!" He punctuated his sentence by jabbing Inuyasha with the bow.

Grabbing the bow, Inuyasha thrust it towards Kagome.

"Here, he made you a bow with your hair," he said sarcastically. Turning back to Totosai, "You happy now, old man?" he asked halfheartedly, folding his arms across his chest with a scowl.

Kagome slapped her neck at a sudden pinch. Myoga fell to the ground heavily, the object he had been holding falling with him.

Leaning over the flea and ignoring him completely, Kagome picked up the wooden scabbard. Twisting and turning it in her hands, Kagome examined the fine crafting. Along the length of the small scabbard was the blade's name, burned into the wood. Taking her dagger carefully off of her waist, Kagome placed it inside it's new home. In her scabbard, the blade sat nicely on Kagome's hip. She felt much more comfortable knowing the blade would not be exposed, that it would still cut clean and sharp.

"The scabbard is made from sacred wood. It will disguise any magic that the blade contains, protecting it's secrecy," Myoga told knowingly. He looked at Kagome, an unspoken understanding flashing between them. This scabbard would hide the curse.

Thanking him, the pair set out.

Moving at a pace that would have tired out the human Kagome, Inuyasha and Kagome traveled towards Kaede and the well. She hadn't realized how far she had traveled in the first few hours of her transformation. She thought back to those first few hours. It had been, simply, overwhelming.

Shaking her head to clear the thoughts, Kagome looked towards the pink, orange, and purple evening horizon. Even in her new hanyou form, Kagome was not completely comfortable traveling at night.

"Here looks like a good place to rest for the night." Kagome nodded towards a tall tree with sturdy branches. In that first week she had come to realize what Inuyasha found so appealing about the high vantage point. It was harder to be found by an enemy, easier to spot one, and, well, just so darned cozy.

With a bright smirk, she looked to the hanyou to her left.

"Race ya!" she chirped.

And they were off!

Having known that she was about to start a race, Kagome got a few steps ahead of him and easily reached the tree before Inuyasha. But the many years of practice had left Inuyasha at an advantage once he reached the tree itself. He easily scaled the lower branches and reached a high, sturdy branch well before Kagome.

"Ha!" he gloated, standing triumphant on the branch, arms on his hips and a smile on his face.

Making a little grunt to emphasize the effort she was still exerting, Kagome slid up to the branch and sat at his feet. Placing his back to the trunk of the tree, Inuyasha slid down and faced her, his smile still wide.

"So what do I win?" he asked lightly.

Playing the role of a slightly self involved diva, Kagome responded. "Why, a night in my splendid company, of course!" She batted her eyelashes then rolled her eyes, laughing at herself. She didn't notice as Inuyasha's face gained a distinct similarity to the colour of his fire rat cloak.

Closing his eyes, he turned his body slightly.

"I'm going to sleep," he yawned feebly at her.

He nearly jumped when he felt her crawl up to him and snuggle gently against his chest. He was starting to blend in quite nicely with his cloak.

"G'night, Inuyasha," she yawned back at him, with a little more sincerity than he had mustered.

Hoping against hope that she would not get offended, he oh-so-casually draped his arm protectively over her shoulder.

"G'night, Kagome," he sighed to the sleeping beauty in his arms.

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They made record time, reaching the village just in time for most of the village to be eating their noontime meals. Kaede was no exception and she smiled warmly at the pair as they approached.

"I see ye be a bit calmer, Kagome," she greeted, hugging the girl. "And I see ye have been busy." Kaede pointed to the dagger at her belt and the bow at her back.

"Totosai made them for me. The dagger's like Inuyasha sword, it'll keep me from turning into a full demon when I get angry." Kagome explained. She handed the woman the dagger and scabbard.

Sliding the blade out of its sheath, the old woman gasped and nearly dropped it. Shoving the blade quickly into the magical scabbard, Kaede looked to Kagome in shock.

"Kagome, Totosai's been possessed, this blades been..."

Kagome cringed. She had forgotten that the old woman was still a miko.

"I know. No worries!" She took the blade back with a faked cheeriness. With her wide, insistent eyes Kagome tried to convey that Kaede shouldn't say any more.

Taking the hint, Kaede narrowed her eye warily.

"What do you know, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked in confusion.

Panicked, Kagome grasped the first thing she could think of. "The blade's been enchanted," she wasn't exactly lying. "Kaede could sense the demon suppression when she looked at the blade. It's a powerful magic, so she was just shocked, weren't you Kaede."

Eye narrowing to a mere slit, Kaede responded. "Aye."

But that was good enough for Inuyasha.

"What's for lunch?" he asked, patting his belly. "I'm starved!"

Pushing into the hut, Inuyasha left the old woman to eye the hanyou miko before her.

Kagome motioned for the woman to follow. Inuyasha's hearing was good, but they would be able to talk freely a little further away, voices disguised amongst the town's people.

Slowly walking up the country road, Kagome was eyed warily by the villagers and the old miko alike. When she felt she was far enough away, Kagome turned to Kaede. Lightly lifting her necklace into view, Kaede's eyes went wide.

"So you know about the curse," Kagome whispered nervously.

"Aye," was the simple response. "Why did ye do it child?" Kaede asked, her emotion clearly voiced.

"Why did you do it to Inuyasha?" Kagome replied quietly.

Realization dawned on Kaede. She nodded her head and patted Kagome's arm gently and turned back towards her home.

"Come child. Inuyasha will soon eat our share too."

End of Chapter

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Don't worry, there's more action soon, I promise!

-Sarga