Chapter 3

True Intentions

Sango and Kagome walked back over to where Inu Yasha was making his recovery. He was sitting up. Aiame was looking at him doubtfully holding the medicine bottle.

"He drank all of it," she said handing the bottle back to Kagome.

"Why haven't you ever given me that stuff before?" he asked licking his lips. "It's good!'

"Inu-Yasha!" exclaimed Kagome shocked. "You weren't supposed to take all of it!"

"Hey! My head really hurts!" he said defensively.

"Yes," agreed Miroku walking up to them. "Sango's attacks are formidable," he said sounding quite proud of her. "Now if I might trouble you, Lady Kagome to come and retrieve the jewel shard. I'll clean things up so we can make camp for the night."

"OK, I'll be right there," she said putting the extra bandages and antiseptic back into her backpack. It was then that she happened to read the label on the empty bottle in her hand. "Oh! No!' she exclaimed.

"What's the matter?" Sango asked alarmed at the tone of Kagome's voice.

"I gave Inu Yasha the wrong medicine!" she exclaimed. "I meant to give him liquid pain killer but this is really powerful stuff for allergies. A friend of mine from home gave it to me because Grandpa told him I had a bad case of hay fever. The bottles look so much the same!"

Kagome shoved the bottle into her knapsack and looked into Inu Yasha's eyes. "How do you feel?" she asked him. He looked quite endearing with the bandage wrapped around his forehead.

"I don't know - my head still hurts," he complained. "Maybe you should give me the other stuff." He reached for her backpack.

"No way!" she said pulling it away from him. "You've had enough!" She hoped the medicine wouldn't hurt him. He did have a strong constitution being half-demon but even Inu Yasha's body had its limits.

"Lady Kagome!" Miroku called reminding her there was still a jewel shard to retrieve.

"Coming!" she answered. She decided to take her backpack with her as a precaution. She didn't trust Inu Yasha not to help himself to more medicine and she knew mixing them would not be a good idea.

Aiame watched attentively as Kagome picked the shard out of the corpse's neck. It glinted in her hand. She put it into a small jar with several others placing it carefully into her backpack.

Aiame couldn't believe it! There were so many! Immediately her mind was flooded with ideas. It was true she herself had no use for them but there were a lot of powerful demons that did. What would they do for her to get one? The possibilities were endless.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the clearing became a hub of activity. Everyone pitched in to set up camp. When Miroku used his wind tunnel to get rid of the monster's remains, Aiame made quit a fuss over him. Too much for Sango's liking but she squashed her anger by remembering how Aiame had saved Inu Yasha from her out of control boomerang.

Miroku informed Aiame of his family's curse but stopped short of asking her to bear his child at a warning look from Kagome. Sango was grateful for that at least and did her best to be friendly toward the kitsune the rest of the evening.

After the firewood had been gathered and a hot meal made they were all able to relax.

Miroku leaned back with his tea in hand, satisfied. "Lady Aiame, we really must thank you. You probably saved Inu Yasha's life," he said.

"She saved my life?" Inu Yasha asked puzzled.

Kagome looked at him with concern. He had been uncharacteristically quiet over supper. "Don't you remember getting hit with Sango's boomerang?" she asked gently.

"Oh yeah," he touched his bandaged head. "Thanks," he added as an after thought to Aiame.

"Well, its not that I'm helpless," Aiame said stressing the last word as she looked at Sango. "I just find battles boring. Besides, as today proves, you're never sure how things are going to go."

"We're all grateful for your quick thinking," said Sango swallowing her pride. "I'm sorry that I gave you such a hard time earlier."

"It's very lucky you were with us. Thank you!" said Kagome.

"Thanks Aunt Aiame! I guess papa was wrong about you after all," chimed in Shippo. He went over to her and giving her a hug.

Aiame looked at him surprised for a moment and then hugged him back. "I'm truly touched by all of this gratitude," she said.

"I only wish there was something we could give you to show our appreciation," said Miroku.

Aiame laughed, "I'm afraid the only think I would appreciate right now is a bath." She looked down at her clothes covered in dirt and Inu Yasha's dried blood.

"Oh!" exclaimed Shippo. "I forgot! I found some hot springs while I was collecting firewood. They're just west of here - a whole bunch of them!"

"It appears you get your wish then," said Miroku poking the fire with a long stick.

"Mine, too," sighed Kagome.

"I'm glad," said Aiame. "Being covered in dirt and smelling of blood is so unattractive."

Miroku looked down disapproving at his own spattered robes. Being kitsune he thought she probably did have heightened senses.

"I like how you smell," said Inu Yasha unexpectedly leaning against Kagome. He closed his eyes and sighed, "Could you scratch my ears?"

The small group looked at him in amazement. It was very unlike Inu Yasha to be so affectionate in public. Kagome looked her friends and shrugged. She reached through his silky white hair and rubbed one of his velvety ears. "Don't go to sleep though, OK?" she said gently. "We still want to be sure you don't have a concussion."

"Mmmm..." he murmured in agreement.

Miroku stood up and laughed, "I must say that bump on the head has really improved his temperament." He looked down again at his own dirty attire. "I think I'll go stretch my legs," he added. He picked up his staff and headed west into the woods.

After Shippo helped them clean up from supper, the women got ready to head out to the hot springs. Inu Yasha lounged watching the fire listlessly.

"I wonder where Miroku went. He's been gone a while," said Kagome looking off into the forest.

"Perhaps he went to meditate," suggested Aiame.

Sango snorted. "More likely he's hiding down at the hot springs waiting for us to come down," she said.

"Miroku really isn't the most devout monk," Kagome explained to Aiame when she gave Sango a funny look.

"He spies on us every chance he gets!" Sango said hotly. Aiame raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sure he'll be back soon." Kagome assured her. "Shippo, will you be able to keep an eye on Inu Yasha if we go down to the hot springs?"

"Keep an eye on me? What do you mean?" asked Inu Yasha breaking out of his dozing state for a moment.

"You know, in case you need anything," answered Kagome. "We'll get going so we're back before dark."

"Yeah! Yeah! We'll be fine," Shippo said waving them off.

The three women took their things and headed into the forest.

"So what will we do once Inu Yasha is fully recovered?" asked Aiame as they walked along.

"We'll keep looking for jewel shards," said Kagome.

Aiame walked silently along contemplating her answer as Sango and Kagome laughed and chatted. What a mundane existence they had! Blood and battles! Feh! How boring! But then none of them seemed too bright.

She'd almost laughed when they were thanking her for helping Inu Yasha! It was because of her he'd been hurt. She'd turned herself into the rock that had tripped Sango and none of them had a clue! Didn't Sango wonder where the rock had come from? Didn't anyone wonder how she'd gotten to Inu Yasha so fast? Didn't Shippo know kitsune magic when he saw it?

The whole thing had worked out perfectly! Everyone blamed Sango for the accident, even Sango herself! Aiame had come out the heroine. It served Sango right for being so rude to her. But now Aiame could see things getting very dull very fast. The monk had been amusing to begin with but even he was beginning to bore her. She sighed.

When they got to the hot springs, Kagome and Sango set their packs down and started going through them to find their extra clothes. As she undressed, Aiame eyed Kagome when she took the small jar of shards out to rummage around.

Sango looked around nervously. "I'd feel better if I knew that monk was back at camp," she said.

Aiame was about to step into the water when she got an idea. But it was now or never if she wanted to pull it off.

They heard Shippo's voice calling in the distance, "Kagome! Sango! Come quick!"

Immediately Sango and Kagome stood up and looked in the direction of the sound. "Oh no something must be wrong with Inu Yasha!" exclaimed Kagome.

The two of them started back towards camp. Aiame rushed over to her clothes. "Stay here and watch our things," Kagome called back to her. "We'll be right back!'

Aiame watched them hurry away. Then she quickly dressed smiling to herself. They really were far too trusting. Another trick that worked so easily! She realized though that she wouldn't have much time though before they saw it for the deceit it was. She had to make as much distance as she could in the shortest possible time.

She thought about making a decoy backpack to confuse them further, but she remembered that Miroku had said Kagome could sense the shards. Aiame picked up the backpack and headed deeper into the hot springs.

Author's notes

Again I want to thank everybody for reading this, especially:

NefCanuck: You were right in your suspicions! It was so NOT Sango's fault! You make a good point, I don't know if Kagome would be as forgiving if the situation was reversed.

inuzrule: Oh no! Not Herman!(starts typing madly on computer while looking fearfully over shoulder) I DO so love the Cat too. He behaves just like a cat in spite of the 6 million years off evolution! lol! Mr. Flibbles! I remember that too! lol! That show has so many great moments!