Chapter 2
Battles
Afternoon sun was high in the sky as the group journeyed through the forest. A slight breezed played through the leaves making a pleasant day for walking. Inu Yasha and Miroku led the small party, followed by Aiame with Shippo on her shoulder. Kagome and Sango were last talking to each other in low voices. It was evident that Sango was still angry at Miroku and he was doing his best to stay out of her way.
"You certainly have made some interesting friends, Shippo. Who did you meet first?" asked Aiame smiling at her nephew. Looking at him she was reminded of her brother when he was small. It brought back pleasant memories of her youth.
"I met Kagome and Inu Yasha right after Papa was murdered. They helped me get revenge on the Thunder Brothers," he answered happy to be the center of her attention.
"You are a good son," she said kindly and Shippo blushed at the compliment. "I'm sure your father is proud of you. I only wish that I could've helped you as well. And then who did you meet next?" she inquired.
"Miroku," answered Shippo.
Miroku turned at the sound of his name. Aiame smiled at him when he glanced back. He grinned in response and slowed his step so he was walking beside them.
"Inu Yasha tried to kill him," Shippo stated simply.
"It was a misunderstanding," explained 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," Aiame mused.
"What do you mean?" asked Inu Yasha stopping up in front of them. He'd been listening to their conversation as well.
"Naturally, you would both want to protect her," explained Aiame as if it should be obvious to anyone.
"Of course!" agreed Miroku.
"Right!" said Inu Yasha satisfied and he continued leading them along.
"And then how did you meet Sango?" asked Aiame.
"It was another misunderstanding," said Shippo. "She tried to kill Inu Yasha."
Aiame laughed musically much to Sango's irritation.
"What's so funny?" Sango demanded.
"Well it's totally ridiculous! Did you really imagine that you could kill Inu Yasha, Sango?" she asked her incredulously.
"I was one of the top demon exterminators in our village," answered Sango defending herself.
Aiame narrowed her eyes at her. "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?" Aiame asked snidely. "So in your opinion Inu Yasha, Shippo and I should be exterminated for no reason?"
Miroku realized things were becoming a little too heated between the two women. He stood 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," Aiame agreed smiling at him sweetly. She bowed politely to Sango. "Sango, I apologize."
"Fine!" said Sango curtly although she didn't believe for one second that Aiame regretted her words at all.
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 amazed.
"Yes, we've managed to collect quite a few," answered Shippo.
Aiame stopped walking. "You have jewel shards! They're so valuable! she exclaimed in awe. "Every demon under the sun will be after them! Isn't that dangerous?"
"Bring them on! That's what I say!" said Inu Yasha with enthusiasm.
"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," she said smiling at Miroku coyly. "And in return I will serve my protector." He returned the smile.
This exchange was noticed by Sango and she continued fuming.
"Well," said Inu Yasha. "A woman who knows her place!"
"What!" exclaimed Kagome shocked. "What do you mean by that?" She asked indignantly.
"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 as if he didn't know why she would question that. "It's what a woman's supposed to do!"
"Says who?" demanded Kagome.
"Inu Yasha..." warned Miroku, seeing Inu Yasha was going to get himself into major trouble.
Sango immediately turned on him angrily. She was just looking for a reason to start a fight with him. "Is that what you think too, monk?" she asked bitterly.
Miroku held up his hands in protest. "Now Sango," he said smoothly, knowing he was in dangerous waters himself. "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 putting an end to their bickering.
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 Tessaiga. 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 looking frightened. She grasped Miroku's arm.
"Now don't worry!" Miroku assured her patting her hand. "You stay here with Shippo."
"Awww! 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 with his staff in hand. Kagome followed.
"Yes. Just hide here," Sango said to Aiame acidly before joining them.
Aiame watched her leave through narrowed eyes. She stood 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 gigantic bull with dangerous looking horns and red glowing eyes burst forth from the other side of the clearing. It smashed everything in its path. A stream of fire shot 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 shook it threateningly then it 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 enjoying himself immensely.
"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!'
Inu Yasha 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 just 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 sitting back relieved.
"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. He too had noticed the miserable expression on Sango's face.
"Yeah," agreed Shippo always willing to irritate Inu Yasha. "Your head is like granite - you'll be back to normal in no time." He easily dodged a half hearted swipe that was aimed and him. Then he ran to join Miroku as he went 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 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.
Author's Notes
I would like to thank everyone who is reading this story and in particular:
NefCanuck: Aiame will be a constant sourse of trouble - not only to Sango but to everyone in this fic.
inuzrule: lol! You guessed it! My pen name does come from Red Dwarf. When I was picking a name out I was in a hurry and knew all the best Inuyasha names would be gone so I took something totally unrelated. While I like David Lister and think he would be fun to party with I don't think any romantic entanglements could be considered until he was the last man in the universe! Like Kristine I feel sometimes like I'm the only sane person in the galaxy! Thank you too for your comments and putting me on your alerts!
Jay Alpha: I agree with you! Miroku is my favourite bishie in Inuyasha! He's good but not too good. I think his flaws make him very interesting and fun! Thanks for putting me on your alerts!
Daughter of Dark: Thank you for your kind words and for putting me on your alerts.