Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha (sadly).
Chapter One:
Leaves scattered in the forest as a whirlwind hurled through, clearing a path in its wake. After a couple of kilometers, it came to a halt in a clearing. A young wolf demon stood in its wake, clad in white furs with long auburn hair tied up in pigtails. A single Shobu flower crowned her head. She sniffed the air, her nose searching for a farmiliar scent, lost among the myriad of forest smells. However, there was one smell that stood out. Was that…?
"The hanyou…" she narrowed her eyes, and, after a moment's hesitation, sped off.
Inuyasha, she thought. If he was near, that meant that human girl Kagome would be too. And, (here her heart twinged slightly) if Kagome was near, then Kouga surely wouldn't be far away.
The tribes were at war again. Her grandfather, leader of the pack, had died suddenly. At his side until his last breath, he had begged Ayame in a final wish to go down once again from the mountain and persuade Koga to marry her and become leader of the two tribes. Ayame's heart was bitter at this; still freshly wounded from the stinging rejection Koga had left her with at their last encounter. A growl escaped her throat as she recalled the visit, Kouga still stubbornly insisting that Kagome was his woman. Fool, she cursed. Kagome would never be his. Anyone could see that she was in love with that hanyou.
"Wait. Do you smell that?" Inuyasha stopped.
"What is it, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, halting with the rest of them. They all looked inquiringly at the hanyou, and Kirara sniffed the air as well.
"There's a youkai heading this way," he said, drawing his Tetsusaiga. "And fast," he added thoughtfully, looking slightly puzzled.
"Is something wrong?" Sango asked, following his lead and taking out Hiraikotsu.
"Smells… farmilar," Inuyasha growled, brandishing his sword menacingly.
Before anyone else could question him further, the bushes around them began to stir with a powerful wind, and within moments a young wolf demoness was standing in their midst.
"Kagome! Where is Koga?" The demoness demanded immediately, slender hand on her hip.
"Ayame? What are you doing here?" asked Kagome, gaping in surprise.
"I've come to get Koga," she declared impatiently. "Where is he?"
"If you're looking for that mangy wolf, he's not around here," Inuyasha butted in, snarling. The rest of the group exchanged glances. Any mention of Koga around Inuyasha was sure to get him angry. Ayame's stance weakened slightly.
"He's not?" she said, sounding disappointed.
"No," growled Inuyasha again. Ayame looked lost for a moment, but then directed her question again at Kagome.
"Do you know where he is?" she demanded.
"No she doesn't!" Inuyasha interrupted again.
"Inuyasha, stop being so rude!" Kagome crossed her arms defiantly. Inuyasha did the same and turned away with a skeptical sniff. Kagome turned to Ayame.
"Last we I heard he was heading in search of Naraku. We're going that direction, too." Kagome paused, glaring at Inuyasha's back. "You're welcome to come too. We can look for him together."
"There is no way in hell we are going looking for that fleabag!" exploded Inuyasha, spinning to face them. Kagome stubbornly ignored his outburst, continuing,
"I'm sure it won't take long to find him if we all look together."
"What!" Inuyasha sputtered. Ayame eyed Kagome deliberately as she and Inuyasha began to argue hotly. What was it about her that Koga liked so well? But, more importantly, why was she offering to help find him?
"INUYASHA, SIT!" Kagome finally yelled in frustration, causing the hanyou to crash to the ground face-first. Still eyeing the flushed human girl warily, Ayame decided she would trust her for now.
"I accept," she suddenly announced to Kagome, who looked a little surprised for a moment, but then nodded. The rest of the group exchanged amused glances as on the ground, Inuyasha's face fell.
The group, now with the addition of a new member, continued on through the forest. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo tried hopelessly to create animated conversation, but Inuyasha and Kagome's stubborn efforts to ignore each other prevailed.
That night they sat around a campfire with the begrudging pair eventually warming up to conversation again.
"So, Ayame, what brings you to seek Koga?" Sango asked conversationally as Inuyasha noisily devoured a bowl of ramen. For a moment there was only the noise of Inuyasha eating.
"My grandfather, leader of the white wolf clan, has died," Ayame said abruptly, "His final wish was that I again find Koga and marry him."
"I'm sorry about your grandfather," Kagome said quietly. Ayame flashed her a look. Perhaps she really was an ally, and not quite such a rival in love after all. Sango murmured her condolences.
"I heard there was a war," said Miroku thoughtfully, staring into the distance. "I take it it does not go well."
"No," said Ayame bitterly, "My grandfather was only one among many who died. That is why I must find Koga." At this her eyes shone with a strange hard light. "We need his strength and numbers, before more are sacrificed," she said simply. An unseen look was swiftly exchanged between Kagome and Sango. So it was for the good of her people she sought to marry Koga, and not her own ambition. Surely, though, it was not all for her tribe?
"How many?" asked Inuyasha suddenly, looking up from his food.
"What?" asked Kagome, surprised.
"How many demons are attacking?" he repeated, looking to Ayame, whose eyes clouded over with recollection,
"I do not know exactly. But many. Far too many for us to attack." For a moment, their eyes met in recognition of what so many demons could do. Ayame's eyes spoke of scarlet visions of bloodshed and battlefields of her slain brethren. For a moment, they burned, before she looked away. A solemn silence enveloped them for a few moments, and the fire crackled up into the deep, starry night sky.
"Well, I'm going to bed," Miroku said as he scraped his dish and stood up.
"Me too," Sango and Kagome quickly rose as well. Inuyasha gobbled the rest of his food down and got up, but Ayame stayed staring into the fire for a long time afterwards.
(the next day)
"Kagoooooooooome!" Shippo called. The rest of the group joined in, calling Kagome's name as they walked.
"Kagome, where are you?"
"Damn! Where could she have gone to?" Inuyasha muttered aloud as they searched. That morning they had woken up and Kagome was missing. For a while they waited around for her to return, but by noon they decided something must be wrong and went looking for her.
"Maybe she just wandered off and got lost?" suggested Sango, not sounding convinced.
"Maybe," Miroku humoured her, inching closer.
"Don't even think about it, monk!" Sango warned dangerously. Miroku looked sheepish and maintained his distance. Ayame smiled secretly. There was another pair as fiery as Kagome and Inuyasha.
"Grr, this is stupid! I'm going off to look for her!" Inuyasha snapped as he turned and sped off along the path, leaving the group behind.
"Should we split up and look for her?" suggested Shippo after he had disappeared.
"Good idea," said Miroku eagerly, "I'll go with Sango, and-"
"Oh no you don't!" Sango said furiously, "We're splitting up to look for her. I'll go with Kirara. Miroku can go with Shippo, and Ayame…" she trailed off, turning to her doubtfully.
"I'm fine alone," Ayame assured her quickly. Sango gave her an appraising look. She was a demon, after all.
"Fine. And Ayame will go alone," she decided. Thus the troupe went their separate ways.
(earlier)
That night, Kagome couldn't sleep. She quietly got up without waking the rest of the group to go for a walk in the dark forest. Her thoughts raced as she slipped through the patches of moonlight. Ayame was searching for Koga… to marry him. Not that I care, Kagome told herself quickly. Ayame needs Koga to save her people. She hummed thoughtfully as her pace slowed. Will Koga marry her this time? Or would he refuse her once more? …Because of her, Kagome? An awful thought stopped her in her tracks. Will it be my fault if Koga refuses to help Ayame and all her people die?
Just then, Kagome whirled at the sound of foilage crackling beneath another set of feet. A strong hand clamped itself over her mouth, and a farmiliar voice said,
"Don't scream. It's me."
