Chapter 5

Mistress of Trickery

As Sesshomaru and Aiame flew over the forest on his two-headed dragon, the wind whipped their hair behind them. He looked intently down at her in his arm. She noticed and knit her eyebrows puzzled.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"You're not kicking and screaming any more," he observed matter-of –fact.

"I could continue if you like," she offered.

"You're not afraid of me?" Sesshomaru asked curious.

Aiame laughed. It was amusing to her to think that she could afraid of any male. "Terrified," she said sarcastically.

Sesshomaru landed the beast lightly in a clearing in the forest and he dismounted with his arm still around her waist. He released her but stayed within easy reach.

"So how did you come to meet my brother, Inu Yasha?" he asked her.

"I first met up with that young monk, Miroku, in the forest so I decided to have a bit of sport," Aiame began. "The next thing I knew there was my nephew Shippo and the rest of them trying to spoil my fun. I hung around for a while to see what I could get out of them."

And it would've been a lot," she said shaking her finger under his nose. "If it wasn't for you interfering!"

Sesshomaru brushed her hand away from his face impatiently and Aiame noticed the bite on his arm was still bleeding.

"Oh, no! We'd better stop this bleeding and maybe double back or that brother of yours will sniff us out for sure!" she said as she started ripping a strip of cloth off the bottom of her shirt.

"You don't want them to rescue you?" Sesshomaru asked surprised that she would be planning on evading Inu Yasha and his friends.

"Rescue me?" laughed Aiame as she started binding up the wound. "It was you who rescued me! I think I should've died of boredom if I'd stayed any longer."

"Tell me about the battle," he prompted as he allowed her to work on his arm.

"Battle?" she asked thinking for a moment. Then she realized to what he was referring. "Oh yes the battle. A battle of wits which they were losing badly. Not entirely their fault I suppose being human. Inu Yasha wasn't entirely immune to my charms and Shippo I suppose is just young. There. I suppose that will do."

She surveyed the job she'd done on the bandage.

"But Inu Yasha's blood on your clothes..." Sesshomaru said momentarily confused.

"Oh, that. Well, I did injure him," Aiame admitted giving him a sly smile. "They were fighting some sort of a cow thing and I sent Sango's boomerang flying. Almost took his head off. Of course they didn't know it was me - they blamed Sango. That was the best part. What a despicable woman! - petty, suspicious and jealous."

"How did you get the jewel shards?" Sesshomaru asked her. He had to admit he found this female's gall to amazing.

Aiame shrugged. "I took them when no one was looking. It seemed like a good idea at the time," she said. Then she widened her smile slyly. "Of course they think it was you who took them."

Sesshomaru grabbed her arm in his steely grip. "That's right!" he said menacingly. He would no allow her to take him so lightly. "I still owe you for that and this bite on my arm."

Aiame looked surprised. "What? You're going to hold that against me?" she asked pouting. "I was defending myself!"

"What was it you said?" he asked taking a step closer to her. "That I was a lecherous beast who'd been chasing you."

He loomed over her threateningly. "If I am to be punished for a crime - then perhaps I should commit it."

Rather than cower in fear as Sesshomaru expected she smiled coyly as she looked up at him through lowered lashes. "Why Sesshomaru!" Aiame exclaimed.

"If you find me desirable," she said pressing in close to him and putting her arms around his neck. "And wish to make me your own..." She brought her face up to his, "... I would not fight you..."

She closed her eyes and kissed him before he had time to react. Her lips were warm and soft and the sensation was not unpleasant. After a moment he closed his too breathing in the scent of her. They kissed long and full. After they broke apart, they both opened their eyes and looked at each other solemnly.

Then Aiame looked over Sesshomaru's shoulder and gasped. Sesshomaru whipped around in the blink of an eye and found himself facing Inu Yasha. How could he have become so distracted as to allow his brother to sneak up on him like that! Anger surged through him.

"Taste my poison talons, brother!" Sesshomaru cried as he slashed at him with his claws. Inu Yasha turned into smoke and disappeared.

Confused, Sesshomaru turned around but found himself alone.

Aiame's voice came out out of nowhere. "As I said, I wouldn't fight you. I wouldn't have to - you're so easily distracted," she laughed musically.

Sesshomaru stood there for a moment surprised, and then started to chuckle. "I can see I underestimated you," he said.

A nearby bush reformed itself into Aiame. She walked over to him smiling. "Everyone does," she said.

"I will try not to make that mistake in the future," Sesshomaru said. "In fact, perhaps you would be interested in helping me get the better of Inu Yasha. It may be amusing."

"What do you have in mind?" Aiame asked.

Inu Yasha and Miroku landed in another clearing. Miroku climbed off his back to stretch his legs while Inu Yasha sniffed around. "The blood trail ends here," he said. "It's pretty fresh though they can't be far off."

To Miroku it seemed like they were traveling in circles. "Maybe we should just wait here for the others," he suggested.

"Wait if you want, I'm going to find them," Inu Yasha said impatiently.

"I'm coming," Miroku said quickly climbing back on. Inu Yasha bounded off again. It wasn't long before Miroku spotted them in a large clearing. "There they are!" he shouted.

Inu Yasha hit the ground hard and Miroku fell off. He got up to see Aiame tied to a tree. She hung there limply, looking very beat up. Her clothes were in even worse shape then they had been, dirty and torn. She had nasty scratches across her neck and down her shoulder which was exposed.

Sesshomaru stood next to her. "Taking your time as usual, I see," he taunted. He ran a talon along the side of Aiame's neck. She flinched. "But I suppose carrying humans around like the ass you are might slow you down some."

"What have you done to Aiame!" Inu Yasha demanded.

"Inu Yasha..." whimpered Aiame opening her eyes, one of which was badly swollen.

"You know me, brother. I pay back even the smallest hurt," answered Sesshomaru giving Aiame another poke. She winced.

"You monster!" shouted Miroku enraged, taking a step forward hands clenched at his sides.

"Bastard!" Inu Yasha spat, flexing his claws. "You'll pay a hundred times the pain you've caused Aiame - unless of course you're planning to run away again!"

"Run away? I didn't run away!" scoffed Sesshomaru. "I simply wish to fight you - without all of these interfering humans." He gave Miroku a dark look.

"If it's a fight you want, I'm always up for that!" Inu Yasha said. "Miroku will stay out of it!"

"Inu Yasha! I don't think this is wise," cautioned Miroku, smelling a trap.

"Taking orders from humans now? And I didn't think you could get any more pathetic!" Sesshomaru mocked.

Inu Yasha approached Miroku threateningly. "Don't make me hurt you, monk. Give me your word, you won't interfere!"

Unsure whether Inu Yasha had totally regained his senses, Miroku put up his hands in surrender. "Alright! Fine! I give my word!" he said hoping the others would show up soon.

"Alright, now that's settled, let's make this interesting," suggested Sesshomaru. He raised Aiame's chin on the point of one of his talons. "I will wager this wilting flower against the Tetsusaiga."

"What?" Inu Yasha asked enraged.

"Afraid of losing?" Sesshomaru taunted.

"No way!" replied Inu Yasha.

"Then just put the Tetsusaiga here next to Aiame and we'll settle once and for all which of us is the stronger," said Sesshomaru.

"Inu Yasha! No!" shouted Miroku.

"Your friend doesn't seem to have much faith in your abilities," Sesshomaru said with a smirk.

Inu Yasha turned on Miroku angrily. "I thought you said you'd stay out of this!" he shouted. "It's time somebody taught this loser a lesson and I'm just the guy to do it." He strode up to Sesshomaru, unstrapped the Tetsusaiga and put it at Aiame's feet. "There! Are you satisfied now or do you have another excuse for not fighting me?"

Sesshomaru walked to the middle of the clearing and turned to face Inu Yasha. He flexed his talons. "Your move, little brother!"

Miroku watched as Inu Yasha ran at Sesshomaru and tried to slash him. Sesshomaru dodged him easily. He tried twice more but it was obvious Inu Yasha was in no condition to be fighting. He lost his balance on the third run swearing loudly. This was bad and Sesshomaru hadn't even made a move yet. Inu Yasha was dead if the others didn't make it here soon.

Where were they?

Maybe he could free Aiame now that Sesshomaru was distracted. Miroku looked over to the tree where she had been bound. Both Aiame and the Tetsusaiga were gone! Surprised Miroku looked around and saw her slipping quietly away into the forest with a bundle in her arms.

Author's Notes

More reviews - you guys are awesome! I love that people are still reading this. It's very encouraging.

inuzrule: Yes, Sesshomaru is a great character! He's perfect and he knows it! lol! Mr Flibbles! I'd probably rather spend a week with him than a day with Rimmer! lol! Hope he likes this chappie!

Daughter of Dark: Yes she bit him! But who hasn't wanted to! lol! I have to admit I envy her too.