Chapter Two: Sight
Inuyasha swung the Tetsusaiga wildly, but to no avail. The moth demon darted wildly around, his wiriness overwhelming the party. This fight was rather trivial. You know, the usual bullcrap. They wanted to pass over a bridge, he didn't want to let them. The troll was a moth. He struck a blow on Sango and a trickle of blood started to flow. Mitsoki motioned to Kagome, miming shooting an arrow. Instantly, Kagome pulled out her bow and aimed. The moth demon looked over instantly. "You've tried this before and it didn't work. Why are you trying the same thing over again and expecting a different result? I believe that's the definition of insanity," he laughed, never losing sight of Kagome.
"Make them watch the other hand," whispered Mitsoki to himself, "Slip the rabbit into the hat with this hand," he continued, sneaking up behind the moth demon as Kagome shot back a wink ever so subtly, "Then pull the rabbit out!" Mitsoki got down low and pulled the demon's legs back. The demon fell forward and his chin hit the ground hard. One of his teeth fragmented into the roof of his mouth. Mitsoki wasn't done. He wrapped the demon's right leg around his own and fell forward, onto the demon. He reached forward and grabbed the demon's face. He pulled back until the demon screamed in agony, then he eased up a tiny bit. The demon tried to get out but Mitsoki pulled again until the demon relaxed his efforts and lay submissively.
Mitsoki spoke, "Okay, listen to me and listen now. I can just say the word and you're dead, but I don't want to do that. I know that you probably have a life too. I know that you probably have friends and family you'd like to properly say goodbye to; maybe a girlfriend that you want to see one more time, maybe a boyfriend, I'm not judging. I know that you have things to do. Enemies you want to confront, events to go to, deals to finalize and dreams to live out, and dying would really screw up your plans. You have hundreds, maybe thousands of years ahead of you that I know you don't want cut short, any more than we want to cut them short. Do you understand?" The demon nodded in Mitsoki's hands (where his head was) and Mitsoki released the hold. The demon rose to his feet and stood at the side of the bridge. Mitsoki and company passed, their eyes constantly on the moth demon.
Some time later, Inuyasha spoke, "I would've just killed him."
"Many people would. People just don't truly understand life," responded Mitsoki.
"You know, I've never seen it the way you just described back there," said Sango, "I'm starting to reconsider my line of work."
"Don't. That was a rare occurrence. If you had tried that with most other enemies, they would have merely attacked you again once you let them up," Mitsoki answered, "You just have to discern the truly evil from the malevolent."
A few hours later, the group stopped to eat by a river. They caught some fish (except Mitsoki, vegetarian, remember?). Miroku roasted them on the fire while Mitsoki whipped up a lentil and bean curry for himself and those willing to take a walk on the green side. Within ten minutes, they were both ready. Everyone tried the lentil and bean curry. Inuyasha, as usual, found it too spicy. When he vocalized his opinion rather openly, he was met with a loud "sit!" Even before Inuyasha's head hit the ground, Mitsoki stood up con fuoco (a musical term which, in Italian, means "with fire"). "What are you doing?" he asked.
"He was being inconsiderate," said Kagome.
"That's no reason to break his neck!" said Mitsoki.
"What do you mean?" asked Kagome.
"Didn't you learn anything before? You don't seem to realize how much you're hurting him. When his head crashes into the ground, it causes serious pressure on his neck, shoulder and spine. Not to mention the chance of crushing his skull. One of these days, you're going to kill him. Look at how close you already came. You're smarter than that, I know you are," Mitsoki lectured.
"I guess I never thought of that. He never complained," defended Kagome.
"Did that not occur to you as the sort of thing someone like him would keep to themselves?" asked Mitsoki rhetorically.
"I guess it didn't," answered Kagome.
"Well, if you have any shred of compassion in your body, let it occur to you now," said Mitsoki, "look, he's still lying there."
"I could get up any time now," said Inuyasha.
"He's lying, you know. How do you do it anyways, make him fall by saying 'sit'?" asked Mitsoki.
"See those beads around his neck?" asked Kagome.
"Yes," answered Mitsoki.
"They do it," answered Kagome.
"Well take them off," recommended Mitsoki.
"No!" said Kagome.
"Come on. If you really care about him, you'll take the beads off," argued Mitsoki.
"How about I just use more discretion?" proposed Kagome.
"Don't act like I haven't heard that one before," said Mitsoki, "The only safe thing to do is take them off."
"But I'm scared he may do something irrational if I'm not able to do it," explained Kagome.
"There's a reason we don't kill people for stealing produce," said Mitsoki.
"Fine, I'm out of arguments," said Kagome, removing the beads. An era was over.
"Why didn't he ever do it himself?" asked Mitsoki.
"He couldn't," answered Kagome. (Author's notes: I apologize if it's actually no one can take them off, it was my understanding that only he couldn't take them off)
Inuyasha rose now. He would later privately thank Mitsoki, but he just felt awkward doing it then. Mitsoki understood.
After what seemed like an eternity of sitting, eating silently, Mitsoki broke the silence, "I can try making dishes that aren't spicy in the future."
"Okay. That would've been good if it didn't burn so much. Instead, it was crap," said Inuyasha.
"Sit!" Kagome yelled. Nothing happened. Inuyasha laughed. What seemed like an eternity of walking on pins and needles was over. He was never very good at it. He kept laughing for at least five minutes. He laughed with relief and he laughed with intensity.
"Old habits die hard, huh?" said Mitsoki. After they were finished eating, they set up camp. Mitsoki set up a makeshift bathroom facility because he knew that the curry would catch up with everyone soon. It did. Indo-vegetarian is great going in but not so great coming out. Mitsoki was starting to regret not building two makeshift latrines. He was unaffected, being used to it. He just went to bed, a full three hours before anyone else even got drowsy (cats need a lot more sleep). An eventful day was over, but an eventful journey had just began.
Author's notes, again: The Ship Song. What a great duet of two fantastic voices. I should explain, I always listen to music when I write. Now I'm listening to the acoustic version of Joey. Whoever can tell me what CD I'm listening to gets a special mention in my next chapter. Oh, by the way, if the person who flamed the original version of this story is reading, I'd love to get your comments. Why? You're my toughest critic, next to myself.