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Itty Bitty Pretty One

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In one sudden, abrupt motion, Inuyasha pulled away from Kagome and immediately pulled his hair forward to inspect.

"Still black," he groaned in a disappointed voice before his hand moved to touch the top of his head. There in the mass of ebony hair were two pointed dog ears. Laughing in a slightly manic way, Inuyasha continued to fondle the ears atop his head as he bounced uncharacteristically on the bed. In all honesty, he looked absolutely insane.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked apprehensively as she watched him pat his head repeatedly, "Are you alright?"

"My ears are back!" he exclaimed proudly as he bent his head for Kagome to inspect them. As she stared nervously at the top of his very normal, human looking head, she grimaced and sighed, "They're not there. I don't see them."

"No, no, they're there. I feel them," Inuyasha giggled in a half-crazed manner as his fingers traced thin air, "See, they're there."

"No, no they're not," Kagome insisted in a small, somewhat scared voice as she reached up to still his hands, "Inuyasha, they're not there."

"What are you talking about?" he asked her skeptically, "They are there. I feel them. I know they're there!"

"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered quietly in a freightened tone, "Go look in the mirror. They're not there."

Quickly getting to his feet in an exasperated manner, he moved to look into the mirror. There he stood – white hair, dog ears, golden eyes.

"I'm back to myself," he gasped excitedly, "Kagome! Kagome, look at me. I'm…"

"Stop," Kagome beseeched him, "Please stop. This isn't funny."

"Stop fucking around," Inuyasha spat back angrily as he marched over to her, "I'm normal. Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not," Kagome squeaked as she stared up into his irate visage. For a moment, there was a tense silence before he gripped her arm tightly and pulled her to her feet, "Inuyasha, please. Stop. You're hurting me."

"Look," he hissed as he dragged her towards the mirror, "Just…just fucking look!"

As her horrified blue eyes stared at his human visage, she trembled slightly and shook her head, "You're still human."

Unable to take any more of this game, Inuyasha did something he never thought he'd do. Not in a million years. Never. He struck her.

"NO!" he gasped as he sat bolt upright in bed – his heart racing a mile a minute as he glanced around the quiet bedroom in bewilderment. It was a dream. Only a dream. Panting heavily, he shakily reached up to feel the top of his head and much to his mixed disappointment/relief, he noted there were no dog ears to be found.

Glancing down at the still sleeping girl, he swallowed thickly as he reached over to brush a stray hair from her face. The first portion of the dream was a true line of events. They hadn't gone all the way but they had…experimented a little. Shivering slightly at the memory of her hands on his body, he fought back tears as he recalled the rest of the dream. It was so real. So real. The feel of his claws tearing through her flesh. The utter betrayal in her eyes as she fell back onto the carpeted floor. The scent of her blood assaulting his nose. Closing his eyes, he tried to purge it all from his mind. It would never happen. He'd never hurt her. Never. It was only a dream. Merely a dream. Nothing more.

Sliding back into a comfortable position on the bed, Inuyasha reached over the shaking hands to draw her closer – unintentionally waking her up in the process.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome grumbled sleepily, "What time is it?"

"Early," he replied hoarsely, "I didn't mean to wake you. Just…just can I hold you?"

"Yeah," she slurred as she cuddled closer still and closed her eyes, "This is nice."

Nodding gently, he rested his chin atop her head as he squeezed her lightly. He'd never hurt her. Never. It was just a nightmare. Just a nightmare. She was safe. She was unharmed. She was his.

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Emi's clothes and hair, slick with perspiration, clung to her skin. Sweat rolled down her skin in thick, salty beads. She could feel her heart throbbing inside her chest but still she pushed herself faster still. This was her fault. Entirely her fault. If she'd just actually thought for a moment instead of acting impulsively and trusting a stranger this would never have happened. Now whatever the hell was in those vials was in the hands of an enemy. God, she was so stupid. So, so stupid. But hopefully there was still time to make it right.

As she burst through the treeline and rushed towards the village, she kept a sharp eye out for the strange woman who could fly through the air. At the very least, she could serve as their protector. Shrink the woman down to size and crush those vials before their vile contents could be distributed. There was something to be said for that. She could still make up for her lack of judgment.

"Hey!" Emi called out as she burst into the hut where the old miko lived, "I've got news. Wake up! Wake up!"

"What on earth?" Kaede grumbled tiredly as she blinked at the strange girl, "Child, do ye realize what time it is?"

"There's no time to explain," Emi rasped as she struggled to catch her breath, "Where are the others?"

"By the bone-eaters well," Kaede whispered back, "What ails ye?"

"I'll be back but I've got to warn them," Emi clipped back as she rushed out of the hut and into the forest. She didn't get very far. In a flash, a strong clawed hand managed to catch her mid stride – knocking the air from her lungs and send her plummeting painfully to the ground.

"What business do you have here?" came a stoic, emotionless voice from the tall silver haired man that towered above her.

"Got…to…warn…" Emi tried to gasp out in between great heaving breaths, "Potion…bad…trick…"

"A potion you say?" Sesshomaru asked quietly as he narrowed his amber eyes, "Who were you intending to warn?"

"Inuyasha," Emi managed to huff, "Not that its any of your business. I need to speak with him right away."

"He isn't here," the daiyoukai replied, "This Sesshomaru is awaiting the half-breed as well."

"That's just it," Emi clipped back angrily as she stumbled to her feet and tried to move past him, "He's human right now. Wherever he is, he's in danger. This woman who flew on a feather got these potions and I think she's going to try to use them."

"He's human?" Sesshomaru asked – amusement subtly flooding his tone as he glanced in the direction of the well, "So it is true then."

Smacking herself mentally, Emi felt her insides crumple up and die as she watched a sadistic grin grow over the demon's face. This…this right here is why she was a terrible person. Always saying the wrong things and doing stupid shit. She didn't know this demon from Adam and yet she'd spilled out a secret that probably should never have been shared. Well, fuck.

"Who are you?" Emi asked miserably as she idly played with her hands, "I mean, are you an enemy or…"

"This Sesshomaru would consider it dishonorable to fight with one unable to fight back," he replied quietly, "This Sesshomaru will be the only one to kill Inuyasha but in this form, the victory would be lacking."

"Oh," Emi replied in a small voice as she wished the earth would rise up to swallow her whole, "Well, uh, that's…uh…"

"You say the woman flew on a feather?" he asked quietly as he turned his gaze to look upon the terrified looking girl once more, "And that she was after some type of potion?"

Nodding, Emi sighed shakily as she cowered like a dog about to be hit with a newspaper, "Yeah. Uh, she…she wanted me to deliver it but I realized it was a trap too late so I, uh, came to warn them."

"Very well," Sesshomaru answered in an apathetic voice as he moved aside, "You may pass."

"Thanks?" Emi chuckled nervously as she quickly moved past him – grimacing as she went. Great, just great. God, she sucked so much.