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

A Little Bit of Doubt

They walked past the last weedy patch where a hut had burned down, with Suriya and Hajime still talking.

They continued to walk past the poles marking the edge of the village wards, and still Suriya and Hajime were talking.

They were under the canopy of the first of the mature trees in what was already being referred to as "Inuyasha's forest", and still they were talking.

Kaede bore her annoyance as long as she could. "I thought he was only coming to the edge of the forest," she interrupted.

Hajime and Suriya both turned. "I didn't hear Suriya-sama asking me to turn back," he said silkily. "Did you?"

She glowered. "I consider her interruption rude," said Suriya, giving Kaede a glance, "but we are past the wards, and I can definitely feel youkai about." She shifted her grip on her naginata. "Since you are unarmed, Hajime-san, it would be wiser to you to return."

"But, it is safe enough to take a child."

"Kaede is not a 'child,'" corrected Suriya. "She has her bow, and knows the where the hanyo is sealed."

He snorted. "Father did tell you she tried to keep the men from taking that thing down and killing it?"

"They would have failed, Hajime-san. Someone could have been hurt in the effort: she was wise to intervene."

"Wise?" His sneer was obvious. "She defends a killer, and you think she's 'wise'?"

"I wasn't defending him!" snapped Kaede. "Kikyo-ane-sama sealed him for her own reasons, and I was just telling everyone, they should just leave!"

"Yeah, and why did she seal him instead of kill him?" he jeered. "Too soft-hearted to kill her lover, even after he'd betrayed her?"

"They weren't lovers!"

"Oh? She sure acted like a lover when she saw him fall from the tree, that time."

"They were friends!"

"Friends?" he sneered. "With a hanyo?"

"Yes!" Kaede glared up at him. "Inuyasha may be half youkai, but he's half-human, too! I don't understand why he turned on Kikyo, but before then, he was good! He worked with Kikyo! He saved her life!"

"Good?" he scoffed. "You're crazy, little girl!"

"He was a better man than you are!"

"You little—bitch!" He stepped forward, face flushing red. "I—"

The naginata snapped down between them. "Enough, both of you," command Suriya. "Hajime-san, please leave."

"Not before I give that little bitch the back of my hand—"

"Hajime." Suriya's voice was cold. "Kaede is my responsibility. Go."

He glared, but the staring match was short. Snarling, Hajime stalked away.

Hands fisted, Kaede stared at the ground. She wasn't crazy! She didn't know why Inuyasha had turned on Kikyo. She knew she should hate him. Yet one little part remembered his good deeds, remembered how he'd saved her life—that little part doubted: it didn't believe what everyone else knew! Maybe that bit of her was a little crazy, but she didn't care!

Author's Note: This was written for the I-B-4-Y LiveJournal community, for the prompt "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." The original was posted on October 5, 2011. It took first place. (10/23/2011)