Chapter 4
Chance Meetings
Making her way through the maze of hot springs wasn't easy going for Aiame. The rocky ground was slippery and there were bushes everywhere. It was awkward carrying the bulky backpack. Suddenly one of the straps snagged itself on a branch. She lost her balance and fell into one of the hot springs.
As the water closed over her head, she felt a pair of strong hands grab her and pull her to the surface. Sputtering and coughing she found herself face to face with Miroku chest deep in the heated pool. Over his shoulder she could see his robes drying over some branches. Obviously he had come for a bath as well.
"Aiame!" he exclaimed surprised. Again he silently thanked Buddha for throwing them together. As she pushed the dripping hair back from her face he allowed his eyes to wander down her form, pleased to see the way the material clung to every curve.
"Miroku!" she answered, her mind working furiously. She remembered the conversation she'd had earlier in the evening with Sango and Kagome.
"I'm sorry," Aiame said lowering her eyes and doing her best to look repentant. "I came here to spy on you. I'm very ashamed of myself."
Miroku arched one eyebrow. "I understand," he said. "We all have our weaknesses." Now was not the time to be harsh with the poor girl besides what kind of a monk would he be if he wasn't forgiving?
Aiame looked up at him through her eyelashes and pouted slightly. "You won't tell anyone, will you?" she asked.
"No," he assured her putting his hands on her shoulders. "It will be our secret. Aiame, I'd like to ask you something." Miroku began.
Just then they heard faint voices calling, "Aiame! Where are you? Aiame!" The voices belonged to Kagome and Sango.
"I'd better be getting back," Aiame said quickly recovering herself. She climbed back up the bank and turned back to him one last time. "Please forgive me," she said and then disappeared into the trees.
She hurried back to where the backpack hung on the branch and retrieved it. She cursed her bad luck since now her clothes were totally soaked and she'd lost a lot of precious time. She decided to take a more direct route back into the forest.
Aiame was pretty sure the women wouldn't come after her by themselves. It might take them a while to find Miroku. Perhaps her luck hadn't totally run out. She kept looking behind her nervously to see if there was any sign of pursuit.
Then suddenly it was as if she walked into a tree.
Aiame looked up to see a pair of golden eyes looking down at her. She tried to take a step back but the backpack was in the iron grip of the demon standing in front of her. He was impeccable in his white clothes and shining armour and he had a large fluffy boa over his right shoulder.
Obviously he was of noble birth and not to be trifled with, but then where was the fun in that.
"My! My! Aren't you a pretty one?" Aiame said smiling up at him like a cat who'd come upon a mouse.
"Who are you?" the tall demon asked keeping his grip firmly on her prize. His face was very handsome with two rose coloured stripes on either cheek and a blue crescent moon on his forehead.
"Curious, too I see. I'm sorry. I don't have time to chat," Aiame answered. It would be fun to stay and play but she already had plans. She tried to pull the yellow pack out of his grasp but he held it secure.
"Not until you've answered my questions," he insisted calmly. His gaze was intense but unreadable.
"Fine!" she said in a clipped tone. "My name is Aiame. Anything else?"
"Are you one of Naraku's lackey's?" he asked.
"I'm no one's lackey!" she snapped at the insulting tone of his voice. She was losing her patience with this arrogant demon. She couldn't be wasting time talking to him. They'd catch up to her any minute. "I've never heard of this Naraku! I've answered your questions. Now give me what's mine!"
"This," he said indicating the backpack. "Belongs to that human girl Inu-Yasha has tagging along behind him and your clothes are covered in his blood."
The gears in Aiame's mind whirred into action. Ah, she thought to herself this has something to do with Inu-Yasha. Though what role this fellow Naraku played who knew. Given this demon's attitude he didn't seem fond of either one of them. Was he after the shards as well? She decided to bluff her way through.
"That's right, I've battled them and now the spoils are mine. Let me pass." Aiame said coldly drawing herself up to her full height.
Cold yellow eyes ran up and down her body scornfully. "You have no weapon," he stated simply. "How is it you, a mere kitsune battled Inu Yasha?"
Aiame looked at him with slanted eyes. "Mine are weapons you do not see," she said with menace in her voice. "Now let me pass or things will go badly for you."
"I think I'll take my chances," he said with an amused tone.
Aiame shrugged and gave him a smile. It was too late to make a get away now anyway. Suddenly she started screaming and beating on him.
He raised both his eyebrows and stood there looking at her surprised. She wasn't hurting him at all. In fact she didn't even seem to be trying to. All she was doing was making a lot of noise.
A moment later Inu Yasha came crashing through the trees, a little unsteady on his feet. His bandages were off exposing the ugly gash on his forehead. He looked a bit dazed.
"Sesshomaru!" he snarled. "I might've known it was you!"
Out of the trees came Kagome and Miroku with Shippo on his shoulder. Sango followed with Kirara behind her.
"Aunt Aiame!" exclaimed Shippo.
Aiame turned to them breathlessly, looking relieved.
"Thank the stars you've come to rescue me!" she exclaimed dramatically putting her hand to her throat. "Inu Yasha! Miroku! This is the lecherous beast who was chasing me before. Now he's not only trying to kidnap me but make off with your jewel shards as well."
Aiame gave the backpack a tug for emphasis. Sesshomaru stood there stoically looking at them. Miroku and Inu-Yasha wore expressions of outrage. Kagome and Sango seemed rather doubtful.
"This is a new low even for you, Sesshomaru!" Inu-Yasha yelled drawing the Tetsusaiga. Immediately the sword transformed.
"And you brother - do you believe the lies of a common thief so easily?" Sesshomaru asked disdainfully.
Aiame turned to look at him and thought, "Brother?" Now that she saw them together she could see the resemblance. She wondered for a moment if she'd miscalculated and would be exposed.
"Let's see... you've got the girl and you've got the shards. Yeah, I think I believe it," said Inu Yasha swaying a bit on his feet.
"Humph!' scoffed Sesshomaru. He ripped the bag from Aiame effortlessly and tossed it over to the group. She tried to grab it as it flew through the air but missed and it landed at Inu Yasha's feet. Aiame cried out in rage and bit down on Sesshomaru's arm instead. He growled raising his lip in a snarl.
"It looks like she can defend herself after all," Sango said to Kagome a little in awe that anyone would bite Sesshomaru.
"Aiame! Get out of the way and I'll finish him off," boasted Inu Yasha.
Sesshomaru grabbed Aiame around the waist. "I don't think so," he retorted. "You have your precious shards but I have a score to settle with this one."
Before anyone else could do or say anything, Sesshomaru leapt away carrying Aiame kicking and screaming.
"Help! Save me!" she cried.
"Dammit!" Inu Yasha yelled in frustration, slamming his sword into the ground. "The coward! Why won't he fight me!"
"We have to go after her," Miroku said anxiously.
"Just a minute," Sango said trying to be reasonable. "Doesn't this whole thing seem a bit suspicious? Aiame and the backpack both go missing at the same time..."
"...ah...that's not exactly true..," Miroku began.
The rest of the group looked at him. Inu Yasha sheathed the Tetsusaiga which had transformed back into its dormant state.
"You said the backpack was gone when you got back to the hot springs," Miroku began. Sang and Kagome nodded. "But I was talking to Aiame when we heard the two of you calling for her" he continued.
"Talking?" Sango asked suspiciously.
"Yes," Miroku hurried on, avoiding eye contact. "And she definitely didn't have the backpack them."
"You're sure?" Inu Yasha asked him.
Kagome rolled her eyes and Sango gave him a black look.
"Yes," Miroku assured them. "It may be possible that she was returning to the two of you when she ran into Sesshomaru stealing the backpack. He may have taken advantage of the situation."
"The whole situation still seems a bit odd," Kagome said. "Sesshomaru has never shown an interest in the jewel shards before or women either for that matter."
"Ah yes, but we must remember that Sesshomaru despises humans. Aiame is a demon and there is no way of telling how he would react to a female of his own kind," Miroku reasoned.
"Do you really think Aunt Aiame is in danger?" Shippo asked worried.
"Nothing is beneath Sesshomaru!" Inu Yasha answered angrily.
"Inu Yasha! You're scaring Shippo!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Don't worry! Everything will be OK," Sango said. "Kirara!" The faithful cat-demon came over and transformed into its large flying form.
"It'll be faster if I go by myself!" Inu Yasha said starting to run in the direction Sesshomaru had gone.
"No!" yelled Miroku. He leapt through the air and caught hold of Inu Yasha's robes as he ran by. He managed to climb onto his back as they bounded away and hoped the others would catch up soon.
Author's Notes
I would once again like to extend my gratitude to everyone reading this little fic especially:
Daughter of Dark: Double thanks to you since I missed you last chapter!
NefCanuck: You're pretty preceptive! How did you know Sesshomaru would be showing up? (covers paper with arm) No peeking! lol!
inuzrule: I'm not sure Aiame knows herself what she wants except she likes making trouble and doesn't seem to like Sango very much. (leaves bag of oreos next to cage) We all want Herman to be happy.