Friend

Hakudoshi had instructed Ai where to go and where he would be. He knew he needed to stay close for her to use her magic but knew he needed to stay hidden from Inuyasha's nose. She couldn't help but wonder who this Inuyasha was and why her master disliked him so.

She didn't have to look long before she managed to stumble onto the group. She gulped once before stepping out of the bushes, bloody and wounded (an illusion). She stumbled out of the bushes falling to the ground. She heard a feminine gasp, softly, from where they were. Then, she soon was surrounded by many people. Four humans, a demon, and a half breed.

"Oh no!" a female cried kneeling down next to her, "Shippo go get some water, Inuyasha get my bag, Muroku, Sango help me move her." Ai knew Hakudoshi was smiling from where he was. They had taken the bait so easily.

"Just leave her," came a rougher male voice. Ai's ear twitched, annoyed. Who ever it was would actually leave a helpless girl to die? "She's half dead anyways."

"Inuyasha! Sit boy!" the feminine voice said again. All Ai could hear was a loud thud noise and a groan from this Inuyasha person; her target. She needed to make her move!

"I-I-Inuyasha?" She questioned weakly searching for the person. Her eyes rested on a dog eared demon wearing a red kimono with long silver hair and piercing golden eyes. He sat on the ground, fuming, angry. Ai found herself smiling childishly. He acted like a kid. "A-are you the half demon that the stories speak of?" she asked weakly. Keeping this act up was going to be hard, she knew.

"Stories?"

"The half demon with the giant sword that slays demons with humans searching for the shikon jewel shards?" His face turn a light shade of pink as he scratched his cheek. "You're a legend to us half breeds."

"Half breed? You're a half breed?" the younger demon asked, astonished. "You sure don't smell it." He said sniffing her. Ai frowned glaring at him.

"I disguise my scent well, but last night…was the night that I lo- that I was careless and a group of demons attacked me. I stood little chance but I managed to escape…I've been running ever since, fearing that they'd find me before I had a chance to heal…" she trailed off diverting her gaze nervous. There were so many holes in that false story, she couldn't help but wonder if they'd see threw it.

"Oh you poor, poor, beautiful girl. Allow me to help you recover," said a the male human taking her from a human girl- who was helping lead her to their camp site- carrying her bridal style over, thwack was all she heard before Ai fell to the ground, roughly. Before she knew it the human male was being drug away by one of the human females as she muttered things about a perverted monk.

"Sorry about our friend, he has no manners," the other human female explained, "Now let's get them wounds cleaned u-," she stopped mid sentence as she pulled one of Ai's sleeves up finding no wounds were the holes were.

"I'm a fast healer…it just takes more energy then I wish to use," Ai explained. "What your seeing is the blood from the wounds….I guess this kimono is ruined. Thank you for your concern but I better be on my way…" Ai staggered to her feet heading towards the woods but stumbled a few feet away from the woods.

"Pssh," she heard a voice before she was picked back up. "You might as well stay till your better." They explained. Ai blushed nodding. It was the half demon, Inuyasha, who was carrying her.

"Wow, Inuyasha, your normally against people sticking with us," the female giggled as he set her down next to her. Inuyasha rolled his eyes turning his back to both them.

"Don't think to hard on it," Inuyasha said, "I'd just rather not have her death on my shoulders." He then, walked away from them sitting down. Ai couldn't help but stare at him. She handed come across another half demon in many, many years, she couldn't help but share a connection with him.

"May I see your legendary sword?"Ai asked meekly. Inuyasha stared at her confused before nodding before he stood once again and drew his sword. Ai's eyes light up. It was just as Hakudoshi explained. "Wow!" She muttered going over to it, and touched it. "Your father must have been a great demon. I have heard rumors of him but never had the pleasure of meeting him myself…"

"My old man died a long time ago."

"I know this; I was alive during that time. I'm much older then you think," Ai explained going back to her place. She knew Hakudoshi was watching and wouldn't be happy that she just walked away but she had her own plans. "How old I am…I don't remember but many years…"

"What are you?" the human girl asked. Ai finally noticed how strangely she was dressed. A tiny skirt? That wasn't normal clothing for a female human, "Oh! My names Kagome, that's Shippo, you know Inuyasha obviously, and Sango and Miroku." Ai nodded slowly looking from one to the other, ignoring the little demon.

"My name is Ai, I am a nine tailed kitsune….half demon..," Ai explained flickering her tails. "My father was a great kitsune which most the legions come from….he fell in love with a human female many years ago…She's long since dead along with him…"

After Ai had introduced herself the other two humans this Kagome girl spoke of returned to them. The human male didn't ask his perverted questions anymore and stuck close to Inuyasha. Ai, assumed, for protection against the human female Sango.

The sun began to sink below the horizon, slowly. How time had flew by talking with the humans, half demon, and young one tailed fox demon. But even with time flying by, Ai couldn't help but be distracted by the nagging feeling of Hakudoshi watching in the shadows, hearing all they spoke about.

"Ai, did you hear?" Kagome asked. Ai shock her head coming back into the conversation, embarrassed that she was daydreaming. "I asked if you'd like to join us in the hot springs?"

Ai tilt her head to the side, ears flicked confused as she asked, "Hot springs...with them?" She flung her index finger towards the half demon and human male. Kagome laughed shaking her head no, grabbing one of her arms and dragging her off.

"No, no. They'll wait here. Just us and Shippo," Kagome explained, still smiling. Ai didn't get a word in before they were on their way. The young fox jumped onto Kagome's shoulder while the other female carried the feline demon in her arms. The wind blew lightly; her hair blew softly with it. A faint scent caught her attention. Her young master was close. He was watching them, listening to them. Ai felt herself gulp nervously.

"Here we are," Sango said pushing the pushes aside allowing Ai to go first- which she did, reluctantly- then Kagome and herself. Both girls and the young fox demon striped clothes fairly quickly before diving in, Ai on the other hand wasn't so eager. With her master watching from where ever he was, she didn't want him to see her nude…again.

"Are you coming Ai?" Shippo asked swimming over to her. Ai nodded slowly as she removed her clothes slowly. First her bottom, then, even slower, her top before quickly jumping into the water, hoping her aster didn't see her…to much.

"Refreshing isn't it?" Kagome asked kindly sinking under the water. Slowly Ai nodded a yes in agreement. It in fact felt nice, rejuvenating even.

"It is very much so," Ai said softly as she, too, sunk into the water more-leaving only her eyes and up visible, "thank you for inviting me, this was is very nice."

Kagome, smiling brightly, chimed, "What are friends for!" Ai frowned.

"Friend?"

"Yeah! We're all friends here!" Shippo exclaimed swimming towards her, a large playful smile spread across his little face. "Right?"

Ai was hesitant to answer, her uncertainness apparent to the others. She knew Hakudoshi would want her to answer yes without thought but somehow she couldn't bring herself to say it so carelessly. "Yes," she finally utter out softly, smiling just as softly. "Friends..."