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 19: My Fair Lady
Somehow, Kouga had managed to convince Kagome that his arm was not going to fall off.
Somehow, Kagome had managed to convince Kouga that he was better off going home to his pack. Alone.
Kagome and Inuyasha stood watching Kouga run off into the distance. Kagome watched to make sure he did not come back, that he did not aggravate his injury. Inuyasha watched to make sure he did not come back, period.
Sufficiently satisfied that Kouga would not keel over from the injury she had given him, Kagome turned and headed slowly back to the village, the evening light quickly fading into night. She blushed as Inuyasha pushed past her, his scent, this time less bludgeoning, was still just as enticing.
Inuyasha snubbed Kagome, unforgiving that she had taken so long to pull away.
As they walked in chilly silence. Kagome was left to ponder the sudden change in her awareness, because she was pretty sure that Inuyasha had not changed his scent.
'I wonder why I never noticed before,' she thought with a blush. A thought struck her suddenly, making her stop. 'Is that why I was so comfortable snuggling into him in the tree?' Kagome's blush deepened as Inuyasha turned to glare her into hurrying up. Wanting to get those accusing eyes off of her, Kagome quickly caught up.
The pain she had inflicted on Inuyasha's pride was obvious. She had betrayed him in that kiss, allowing his rival to touch her the way no one had before.
Again Kagome halted. As Inuyasha again turned to spur her on, Kagome met his gaze fully.
"Why didn't you stop him sooner?" she asked, perplexed by the sudden realization.
Inuyasha winced. "I couldn't," he glowered at her with the admission.
Kagome huffed in disbelief and crossed her arms. "You seemed pretty capable to me."
He glared back at her. "Only after you gave me permission."
"Permission?" Kagome was confused, and it showed.
"Despite the fact that I know you were raised human, that you couldn't possibly know of demon customs, I couldn't interrupt." Kagome stared blankly. "Demons, or at least the ones with honour, cannot interfere with a woman when she's," he paused, looking for the right word. At a loss he continued. "When she's with a potential mate, in, you know," he glanced away, a flicker of red, unnoticeable by humans, graced his golden eyes. "that way." He looked back and held her gaze. "The way you were with him." Kagome looked away, Inuyasha's eyes were intensely accusing, red tinges held on the periphery.
Kagome, her gaze still averted from his accusing stare, whispered to him. "I still don't know what you mean by permission."
"You said stop." he whispered. Kagome looked up at him, his words sounding clearly in her soul. "You weren't choosing him as a mate, so you gave your permission for another to defend you." Inuyasha turned away, leaving an unsaid 'for me to defend you.'
He stalked off, leaving Kagome to follow or to spend the night alone in the woods.
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Kagome lazily stood from her sleeping mat, stretching high and wide. The dawn had yet to break, yet she had been unable to go back to sleep. She had too much excitement and had had just enough sleep to keep her energized.
Kagome glared enviously at the sleeping forms of Inuyasha and Kaede as she slipped quietly from the old woman's home.
'I'm going to have to do something to wear myself out, or I'm not going to sleep at all!' Kagome thought as she walked the familiar country road of the village. Stepping from the path, Kagome headed towards the forest, where one of the numerous hot springs called to her.
She made her way along a small, well worn foot path towards one of the smaller, warmer springs. Smiling in anticipation, Kagome shook her hair lightly, letting the silver locks flick to and fro in the light breeze.
'This place is always so calm,' she thought to herself as she approached the protective bank of the spring.
The breeze shifted alerting Kagome to another presence, a distinctly demon presence. As if sensing that it was discovered, the creature burst from the bushes to Kagome's left. Dodging easily, Kagome grinned, despite herself.
'I guess I'll be getting a workout after all.'
The creature, an ugly green lizard of some sort, pounced on Kagome, or more accurately, where Kagome had been. For Kagome was too quick, and easily evaded the sluggish attack. Kagome felt a sense of amusement as she thought of Kami trying to keep her occupied until the next night, why else would he throw such an easy target at her?
Then Kagome noticed something odd about the creature attacking her. He was covered in blood. Human blood.
All pretense of taking her time gone, Kagome launched herself towards the creature and easily shredded it with her claws. A faint sizzling of burning flesh made Kagome keenly aware of her rages interesting manifestation. Her claws were still emanating a blue mist as she stepped past the mangled carcass and came to a halt at the edge of the spring.
The pristine surface of the spring was marred by the body of a young girl, floating face down in the still water. The pool was tinged with red, the life blood of the girl having long since merged with the water. Heedless of the mess that would get on her clothing, Kagome leaped to the girl, only to confirm the inevitable.
The girl was dead.
Kagome felt her blood run cold as she pulled the body gently onto the bank opposite to where she had left the demon corpse. Spying a colourful cloth out of the corner of her eye, Kagome realized that the girl had been bathing, just as she had intended. Picking up the simple dress, Kagome shakily spread the dress out.
Pulling the garment reverently over the girls body, Kagome felt a tear fall down her cheek. Brushing the girl's hair carefully out of her face, Kagome cradled her softly.
'If only I had gotten here sooner!' A sob escaped her.
Picking up the girl Kagome laid the girl's head on her shoulder and carried her like a small child who had fallen asleep in her parent's arms. The somewhat awkward position, made the journey slow, but it seemed to Kagome that to carry her any other way would be irreverent, disrespectful even.
Kagome exited the trees just as the sun bathed it's dawning rays onto the village. The silence of morning was broken by a shriek. A woman, as old as Kagome's mother run up to Kagome and started wailing incoherently at the sight of the girl on Kagome's shoulder.
Roused by the commotion, a man, who Kagome recognized as the woman's husband, ran from the hut towards his grieving wife. He stopped short of Kagome and reached a tentative, disbelieving hand towards the girl.
His daughter.
"Anike," Kagome whispered as she remembered her name.
Yanking his hand away, the man stared at her, his eyes widening with fear and accusation.
"What did you do to her?" he whispered.
His wife renewed her heartbroken wails.
"Me?" Kagome was taken aback. "I didn't do this!"
'How could they think that I...' she could not even think the words, let alone commit such a heinous act against an innocent young woman.
Yet the man still stared.
Pushing roughly past him, Kagome marched purposefully towards their hut. She entered the small home and searched for somewhere to place the girl. Seeing a neatly made sleeping pallet, Kagome carefully laid the girl down. Straightening the girls hair and clothing, Kagome said a short prayer for her soul.
Rising hesitantly, Kagome left the hut. The couple stood where she had left them, only the husband was clutching his wife as he joined her mournful calls. Turning away from the couple, Kagome did the only thing she could, she walked back to Kaede's hut.
Kagome entered the hut and was startled to see Inuyasha leap from the floor.
"Kagome!" he yelled sharply.
It was then that she realized her appearance. Her hands were covered in the demon's blood and her hair was tinged red at the tips from where it had fallen into the blood-stained water.
A lead weight suddenly pulling on her soul, Kagome sat heavily on the wooden floor. Through tear-stained eyes, she proceeded to tell him what had happened.
He nodded knowingly and crouched in front of her. Reaching a hand to her face, Inuyasha wiped a tear delicately from her cheek.
"The best thing you can do now is to wash your hands," he said with compassion.
Kagome was confused. Sensing this, Inuyasha continued.
"They'll never believe a hanyou with blood on her hands. Trust me." Inuyasha grimaced, his eyes clouding over with unspoken memories. "They can't tell the difference between demon and human blood."
Kagome sniffled and nodded. Taking his hand, Kagome rose. Leaving the hut, hand in hand, the pair walked towards the morning glow.
End of Chapter
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