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 20: By the Light of the Moon
Kagome and Inuyasha spent most of the day away from the village. The had returned only long enough to explain what had happened to Kaede, who promised to calm the villagers fears. They had left the village, leaving the old woman to her duties.
Despite his temporary kindness towards Kagome, Inuyasha had still been angry about the previous day. In a huff, he had stalked off when she had sheepishly tried to apologize.
Annoyed, but understanding, Kagome remained near a small stream, sitting in a high branch, her purple-clad legs dangling carelessly from its limb.
Alone once more, Kagome thought about the poor girl she had recovered. She felt her blood run cold as she thought of what would have happened if that had been her, if she had been human. She had been in that situation often enough; bathing alone, far from her friends. Kagome shivered, despite the comfortable temperature of the early evening air.
She crossed her arms and was gently reminded of yet another painful topic.
"Stay," she whispered, letting the word roll off of her tongue as if she had never spoken it before.
Knowing Inuyasha wouldn't be around, he had, after all, been quite annoyed, Kagome took off her cloak and shirt and carefully unwrapped the cursed wound. As Myoga had described, on the third day, today, the wound was healing nicely.
'What a shame I have to open it again,' Kagome thought with a grimace.
Taking her knife, she shakily removed it from its scabbard. Taking a deep breath, Kagome steadied her hand. Her five day experience had made her keenly aware of the importance of making a single, clean cut. She would not have to do this a second time.
With a sharp intake of breath, Kagome reopened her wound. It bloodlessly throbbed, causing her to pant lightly. Calming her nerves, Kagome quickly re-wrapped her chest, shielding the wound once more from the world. Replacing her shirt a cloak, Kagome let her thoughts drift.
Kagome reflected on her new battle ability, her blue-tinged claws. She had come to realize that it was her miko energy, she had felt it as it leaked out. Like a scorching venom, it was quite effective. Looking at her hands Kagome tried, halfheartedly, to make the energy return. She focused her thoughts on her hand, imagining what they would look like, just as they had when she had killed the demon that morning. As they had when she had hurt Kouga.
Kagome glanced away from her hands and blushed. Thinking about Kouga, she thought of his intoxicating scent. Thinking of Kouga's scent made her think about Inuyasha's scent.
She blushed deeper.
Kagome took a deep breath as she leaned against the tree trunk, her silver hair cascading downwards like a creeping plant.
She thought of Inuyasha, of his scent, of her desire for him. She knew she loved him, but now, with her new form, she was not sure he could feel the same about her. She was, after all, the embodiment of everything he said he hated. Yet here he was by her side, or at least within earshot, protecting her, guiding her, as he would do for family.
'As he would do for a mate.' Kagome turned a pure crimson at the thought. Closing her eyes, she allowed her daydream to continue. 'What was it Myoga said? One marks the other?" Kagome thought of holding Inuyasha close, of letting his teeth graze her neck, and she shivered in anticipation.
The evening was getting cold. Opening her eyes, Kagome looked to the distant setting sun.
'One more night,' she sighed.
Again she shivered. It was very cold. Leaping from the tree, Kagome smelled the air, trying to get an indication of where Inuyasha could have gone. As the sun disappeared, Kagome was left even colder. A wave chilled her entire body, as if without the sun, she had no warmth whatsoever.
Kagome was overcome with weakness. Falling hard on her bottom, she let out a meek squeal as she saw the impossible.
Her hair was turning black.
She watched in mute fascination as the colour bled upwards, starting at the tips. In a matter of seconds she felt her entire being revert to her human state.
One night early.
Blinking, Kagome did the only thing she could think of.
Kagome screamed.
- - - - - - - - - -
Inuyasha wandered aimlessly about, trying not to let his thoughts dwell on Kagome, or more specifically, on Kagome and Kouga. She had really hurt him this time, making him idly wonder if this was how she felt when he had been with Kikyo.
He shook his head. 'No, Kikyo was different. I loved her long before I even met Kagome,' he tried to convince himself. Tried, and failed.
His thoughts were interrupted with a piercing shriek.
"Kagome!" He ran towards the sound, moving with skill between the randomly placed trees and underbrush.
He came upon her, sitting in the dirt, and stopped short.
She was human.
He could smell it, as well as see it. There was no mistaking it, She was completely, totally, utterly human.
With startled, wide eyes, Kagome gazed at him, making him shiver with un-admitted desire.
"Could you...?" she whispered, motioning to his back as she stood.
Nodding, Inuyasha let the shock fall to the wayside. They had some convincing to do on the other side before the morning came to claim her as a half demon once more.
Inuyasha turned around and crouched, letting her climb on his back. He shivered in a way that had nothing to do with the cold. He had missed this feeling, holding her close, her bare legs clasped within his hands.
He furrowed his brow. Her legs were covered in a very unique, very foreign cloth. What would her family think if she showed up like that? Instead of heading toward the well, he headed toward Kaede's hut.
"This isn't the right way," Kagome's confused voice whispered in his ear.
"You need to wear your clothes," he voiced his concern. "They won't understand why you're wearing clothes like mine."
Inuyasha felt as Kagome nodded her head and pulled closer to his body.
'Ah, what a feeling!' his body screamed.
Making it easily to the old woman's hut, Inuyasha let Kagome rush inside to change. She returned mere seconds later, her clothing slightly askew, but very modern. She still had her knife with her, and was carefully tucking it in her skirt pocket.
Letting her climb back on, Inuyasha grasped her legs, feeling the silky skin clasped in his hands. He let out an inaudible groan and thanked Kami that she was no longer a half demon. She would have definitely heard that.
Racing towards the well, they reached it in record time. Dropping her gently to the grass, Kagome walked hesitantly to the well's edge.
"I need to do this alone," she whispered.
Eyes narrowing in distaste, Inuyasha crossed his arms and sat in the grass.
"Fine," he barked. "Go."
She looked startled, as if she had been expecting him to argue. But he knew how important family was to her.
Kagome took a shaky breath and jumped into the well.
Inuyasha heard a solid thump as she reached the bottom.
"Inuyasha?" she called weakly from the depths of the well.
He stood up and leaned over the edge, peering at her with demon vision.
"I don't have the jewel."
Kagome climbed up and nearly collapsed into Inuyasha's arms, sobbing into his cloak. He put an arm around her shoulder and picked her up.
He had never needed the jewel, after all.
Jumping into the well, they felt as the familiar glow engulfed them, marking the transition from one side to the other. Leaping easily out of the well, Kagome ripped herself from his grasp. He sighed with discontent as her body left his.
Kagome broke into a run, and her voice escaped her form, high pitched and strained to his sensitive ears.
"Momma?!"
Within seconds, a form graced the doorway, her hands clasping a dish towel in anticipation. Seeing her daughter, her eyes went wide as she, too, broke out in a run. Meeting her almost half way, Kagome's mother clasped her daughter tightly, sobs escaping the pair as they just held each other, never wanting to let go.
Inuyasha saw as she pulled her daughter slightly away from her body, a look of concern overwhelming her normally calm features.
"Where were you?" she whispered. "You said you were going to face a strong enemy." Her voice became heavy and slurred with grief. "We thought you were dead."
Renewed tears flowed from both of their faces as they fell back into their embrace.
Inuyasha stood uncomfortably in the shadows of the well house. Turning towards the ever-familiar God Tree, he made his way over.
'I can spend the night here,' he thought, looking into the sturdy branches. 'She'll need the night with her family.'
He was startled out of his thoughts as he felt a tiny hand lightly brush his shoulder.
Turning quickly to the source, he saw Kagome, her face still fresh with tears.
"Come on," she motioned. "My family's waiting."
- - - - - - - - - -
Kagome had spent the night awake, enjoying the presence of her family. They had all stayed up for the night, having been told that Kagome would be returning for a month and that she would have to leave before dawn.
At least it was the summer. There were no classes to miss, in what would soon be Kagome's last year of school. Her mother didn't protest, at least, not vocally.
Tears once again gracing their faces, Kagome embraced her heartbroken mother. Pulling away, Kagome headed towards the well where Inuyasha stood waiting.
"Ready," he asked her quietly.
She nodded.
Grasping his arm about her waist, Inuyasha leaped through the well, the ever-familiar glow engulfing them.
In a single bound they were beneath the stars on the other side of the well. The moon, its final sliver mocking him, cast its dim light over the pair.
Kagome collapsed into Inuyasha's chest, her tears seeping their way through to his skin. Clasping his other arm about her, Inuyasha jumped to the God Tree, sitting them both in its branches.
His arms around her, Inuyasha could feel as she succumbed to exhaustion. Caressing her sleeping form, he soon joined her, a fleeting thought making its way into his head.
'If only we could have been human together...'
End of Chapter
- - - - - - - - - -