Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.


The Basket Weaver

Her feet yet unsure in tabi and straw sandals, more eager than careful to reach an herbal plant she spotted, Kagome paid insufficient attention to the ground and paid the price. She yelped as she landed on her gathering basket, as it crunched and cracked, sending some few splintered ends into her clothes. Biting her lip and blinking back tears, she rolled off the ruined basket and sat up.

Inuyasha was supposedly on the far side of the village, repairing a hut, but she wasn't surprised when he leaped into view before she had pulled out more than one splintered reed. "Kagome! Are you okay?"

"I fell on the basket." Forlornly, she lifted it. "What am I going to tell Chikako? She just gave them to me a week ago!" Kagome had been surprised and touched at the gifts that had appeared in her new house, despite the unease and even disapproval of her marriage.

Inuyasha took the basket, his expression odd. "She ... doesn't have to know."

She blinked. "I'll have to replace it—she's the basket weaver—how is she not going to know?"

Red rose up his face, as he looked away, his left ear twitching madly. "'Cause ... um... I'll replace it."

"You?" She stared at him. "You can make baskets?"

His blush darkened. "I taught myself as a kid—needed a way to carry and store stuff. Kaede found out; made arrangements with Chikako. I make them, Kaede blesses them, Chikako sells them to the traders who don't know I made them, and I get a bit of money." He gave her an apprehensive look across his hunched shoulders.

"You don't ... mind, do you?"

She stared, then laughed delightedly. "That's wonderful, Inuyasha! You'll teach me, won't you?"

He looked at her, ears perking, shy smile developing. "You want ... keh!"


Author's Note: This drabble was written for the prompt 'Basket', for the "At First Tweak" community on LiveJournal. It was originally posted on July 29th, 2012. (01/24/2013).