InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kitsune Kisses ❯ Battles ( Chapter 2 )

 

Chapter 2

Battles

 

Afternoon was approaching as the group scouted out the forest. Inu-Yasha and Miroku walked ahead then Aiame with Shippo on her shoulder. Kagome and Sango followed talking in low voices. Sango was still mad at Miroku and he was trying to stay out of her way.

"You certainly have made some interesting friends, Shippo. Who did you meet first?," said Aiame.

"I met Kagome and Inu-Yasha right after Papa was murdered. They helped me get revenge on the Thunder Brothers," he answered.

"You are a good son. I'm sure your father is proud of you. I only wish that I could've been there as well. And then who?" she inquired.

"Miroku," answered Shippo.

Miroku turned at the sound of his name. Aiame smiled at him. He slowed his step so he was walking beside them.

"Inu-Yasha tried to kill him," Shipppo stated simply.

"It was a misunderstanding," said Miroku.

"No doubt about love and jealousy," smiled Aiame knowingly.

"Something like that," admitted Miroku.

"It's easy to see something like that happening between two handsome hot-blooded men when there's a beautiful maiden about," mused Aiame.

"What do you mean?" asked Inu-Yasha stopping up in front of them.

"Naturally, you would both want to protect her," explained Aiame.

"Of course!" agreed Miroku.

"Right!" said Inu-Yasha satisfied. He continued along in front of them.

"And then how did you meet Sango?" asked Aiame.

"It was another misunderstanding," said Shippo. "She tried to kill Inu-Yasha."

Aiame laughed. "Ridiculous! Did you really imagine that you could kill Inu-Yasha, Sango?" she asked her.

"I was one of the top demon exterminators in our village," answered Sango.

Aiame narrowed her eyes. "Demon exterminators! Feh!" she sneered. "Top of a poor profession! Going around killing innocent demons!"

"Innocent demons?!" exclaimed Sango hotly. "We never killed any innocent demons! If there even is such a thing!"

"Oh? questioned Aiame. "So in your opinion Inu-Yasha, Shippo and I should be exterminated for no reason?"

Miroku came between Sango and Aiame with his hands raised. Sango gave him a dirty look but he pretended not to notice.

"Please," he said. "As Shippo said, it was a misunderstanding. No one harbours any ill will towards Sango. Nor will you, Aiame when you get to know her better."

"You're right, Miroku," said Aiame. She bowed politely to Sango. "Sango, I apologize."

"Fine!" said Sango curtly.

For a few minutes the company traveled in an uncomfortable silence.

"So," Aiame said to Kagome. "I don't understand. Why exactly are we wandering around in this forest? Wouldn't it be better to travel on the road?"

"We're looking for a demon that's been going crazy somewhere around here," answered Kagome.

"We suspect it may have a jewel shard," added Miroku.

"Jewel shard? You mean the Shikon Jewel?" asked Aiame incredulous.

"Yes, we've managed to collect quite a few," answered Shippo.

Aiame stopped walking. "You have jewel shards! They're so valuable! She exclaimed. "Every demon under the sun will be after them! Isn't that dangerous?"

"Bring them on! That's what I say!" said Inu-Yasha.

"You wouldn't be one of those demons after them, would you?" asked Sango.

Aiame laughed as she started walking again.

"Me? Go up against the great Inu-Yasha? I am not so foolish. I have no use for jewel shards or fighting either. My only wish is to be protected and in return I will serve my protector," she said smiling at Miroku.

He returned the smile. Sango noticed this and started fuming again.

"Well," said Inu-Yasha. "A woman who knows her place!"

"What?!" exclaimed Kagome. "What do you mean by that?"

"That it's a man's place to protect a woman and a woman should let the man do the protecting!" said Inu-Yasha.

"I suppose you think we should serve you, too!" accused Kagome.

"Well...yeah," Inu-Yasha admitted a bit confused. "It's what a woman's supposed to do!"

"Says who?" demanded Kagome.

"Inu-Yasha..." warned Miroku, seeing he was going to get himself into more trouble.

Sango turned on him angrily, "Is that what you think too, monk?"

Miroku held up his hands in protest. "Now Sango," he said,” You know that I think both you and Kagome are perfect the way you are!"

Sango gave Aiame a dark look. "Well, not all women are helpless!" she muttered.

"Did you hear that?" asked Shippo suddenly.

They all stopped for a moment and listened. In the distance they heard a bellow.

"It must be the demon we're looking for!" exclaimed Shippo.

"Alright! It's about time we had some action!" said Inu-Yasha, drawing the Tetsusaiga. Immediately the sword transformed and he ran forward. The others followed him into a large clearing.

"Kagome, can you sense a shard?" asked Miroku.

"Yes" she replied. "And it's coming this way fast!"

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Aiame.

"Now don't worry!" Miroku assured her. "You stay here with Shippo."

"Aww! But you might need me!" Shippo complained jumping to the ground.

"It's best if you stay and look after your aunt," advised the monk. "Come on. Let's go!"

He ran after Inu-Yasha staff in hand. Kagome followed.

"Yes. Just hide here," Sango said to Aiame acidly before joining them.

Aiame watched her leave through narrowed eyes standing behind Shippo.

"Come Shippo" she said. "Let's go further back into the trees."

Shippo shook his head. "No," he said. "I want to stay where I can see. They may need my help."

Aiame stepped back into the forest behind him and vanished.

 

A huge demon burst forth from the other side of the clearing, smashing everything in its path. It had the appearance of a gigantic bull with dangerous looking horns and red glowing eyes. It breathed a stream of fire from its nostrils and the bushes in front of it immediately disintegrated into ash. It spotted Inu-Yasha immediately as he was nearest and dressed in red. It lowered its head and charged trying to gore him. Inu-Yasha easily jumped aside slashing the demon's shoulder as he passed. It bellowed in pain and rage past Miroku spraying him with black blood.

"You've gotta be faster than that!" taunted Inu-Yasha.

"Kagome!" shouted Miroku. "Where is the jewel shard?"

"On the right side of its neck!" she answered.

The bull demon snorted out another stream of fire and turned to charge again.

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango shouted as she ran forward with her huge weapon. She spun and was about to release it when a large rock rolled into her path. She fell forward letting go of the oversize boomerang sending it spinning directly at Inu-Yasha.

Kagome saw it heading his way and yelled, "Inu-Yasha!'

He turned in time to see it hurtling towards him and took a step back to avoid it. It wasn't quite far enough. The weapon clipped him in the forehead, sending him flying backward.

The enemy immediately saw its advantage and ran forward to trample him. Miroku ran toward the beast but was too far away. Kagome fumbled trying to put an arrow in her bow. Sango pulled herself out of the dirt in time to see Aiame throwing herself on top of Inu-Yasha.

"Foxfire!" Aiame yelled enveloping the two of them in a protective bubble of blue flames.

The bull demon veered past them bellowing as Kagome fired her arrow. It hit the monster squarely between the eyes. Its front legs crumpled and it somersaulted onto its back, showering Aiame and Inu-Yasha with dirt and blood.

 

The others all quickly ran over as Aiame got up and sat by Inu-Yasha. He lay holding his forehead as blood leaked from between his fingers. Kagome knelt down next to him worried.

"Inu-Yasha! Are you alright?" she asked.

Inu-Yasha groaned and opened one eye. It took a moment for his eyes to come into focus. He saw a ring of concerned faces looking down at him. He spotted Sango.

"Sango! What in the nine hells were you doing? You almost took my head off!" he complained.

"He's fine!" said Miroku.

"I'm sorry!" apologized Sango. "I tripped and it just went out of control."

"If Kagome hadn't yelled...” said Shippo.

"It was lucky Aiame got to Inu-Yasha with her foxfire as well," said Miroku.

"Oh well, it's a lucky thing everyone's OK!" said Kagome with forced cheerfulness, seeing the depressed look on Sango's face.

"OK? You call this OK?!" Inu-Yasha said, trying to sit up. He groaned and lay down again.

"Just give yourself a minute. Here let me help you,” said Aiame cleaning his bloody face with her sleeves.

"What Kagome means it that it's fortunate you didn't damage anything important," said Miroku noticing the miserable expression on Sango's face.

"Yeah," agreed Shippo. "Your head is like granite - you'll be back to normal in no time."

Shippo and Miroku walked off to look over the dead demon. Kagome took off her backpack. Sango wandered away. Kagome watched her as she dug through her pack to find the first aid kit. She hurriedly took out bandages and medicine bottle and handed them to Aiame.

"Use these bandages and give him a good swallow of this to help with his headache," said Kagome.

 

She got up and went over to Sango while behind her Inu-Yasha loudly protested Aiame's efforts. Sango stood looking off into the trees as Kagome approached showing no sign she knew she was there.

"Sango?" Kagome asked gently.

Sango wouldn't look at her as she replied, "I almost killed him, Kagome. I almost killed Inu-Yasha."

"Sango.."

"What if I had? Would you ever have forgiven me? Could I ever have forgiven myself?" Sango asked turning to her, tears shining on her face.

"It's battle, Sango. You just do your best. That's all you can do. Accidents can happen anytime. It's no one's fault. Please, don't blame yourself," said Kagome putting her hand on Sango's shoulder.

"I know I shouldn't but I can't help it. I've already lost so much - so many people! I don't think I could handle losing any of you and if it was because of me..." said Sango breaking off into a sob.

Kagome hugged her as she wept on her shoulder. Tears welled up in her own eyes. After a few minutes they broke apart. Sango wiped her eyes.

"Feel better now?" Kagome asked her.

Sango nodded and the two of them walked back to camp.