Hot Springs
Inuyasha rushed through the thick grass, Ayame on his back. The storm was moving nearer and was almost above them. Soon they were at the village. Inuyasha ran into their hut. Both were laughing. Inuyasha set Ayame down. She smoothed back her sopping wet hair, and examined her clothes that were plastered to her skin.
"I'll go get a change of clothes from Doctor Kameko, okay?" Inuyasha offered.
"A change of clothes? I'm going to the hot springs!" Ayame replied.
"That's not a bad idea, I'll go after you."
Inuyasha watched her as she ran in the rain to the hot springs. She ran past a few huts, one in which was Sango's and Kagome's. Sango had been subjected into hearing everything that Kagome had seen between Ayame and Inuyasha and was quite tired of her gossip. She did like Ayame, and wished to be with her more.
Sango saw Ayame run across the village.
"Where is she going in a storm like this?" She wondered. Sango wanted to see what she was up to, and possibly go with her. She was tired of sitting around all day. She peered at Kagome whom had fallen asleep. 'She won't know,' Sango thought. She ran out side the hut and waved down Ayame.
"Ayame!" She called. Ayame stopped, turned around and ran to her.
"Hey Sango," Ayame greeted her.
"I see you're feeling better,"
"I am,"
"Where are you off to?" Sango said, trying to shade her head from the rain with part of her kimono.
"To the hot springs," Ayame answered.
"Really? Would you mind if I joined you?" Sango asked as her face lit up.
"Not at all! Come on!" Ayame replied.
Once they were at the hot springs, Ayame tore off her clothing and jumped in. She enjoyed the feel of the hot waters after being in the cold rain. Sango was now as drenched as Ayame was. She undressed and slipped into the steamy waters, enjoying every moment of it.
Inuyasha, whom was back at the hut, sat near a small fire. He leaned against a wall of the hut and looked out the door at the rain, which kept its steady fall. The corners of his mouth crept into a pleasurable grin as he remembered the moment in the rain that happened not too long ago. He reflected back to the look in her eyes as he had held her. Inuyasha closed his eyes and pictured it. It would be one of those memories time could not erase. He remembered the feel of her body against his. He rested his head on the wall and sighed pleasurably. He replayed the moment over and over in his mind. Stretching, he fell to sleep to the soft pitter-patter of the rain…
Ayame dipped her head under the steaming hot waters.
"This is so nice," she said finding a rock to sit on.
"Yep," Sango agreed. When silence began to thicken the air, Sango found a topic to start a conversation. "So, about you and Inuyasha," Sango said turning to her. "How far are you into your relationship?" she asked with a sly smile.
"Relationship?" Ayame blushed at the word, "We don't have a relationship."
"Oh come on!" Sango teased, "I've heard EVERYTHING from Kagome."
Ayame's eyes became wide, "How many times has she spied on us?"
"Hmmm…I'm not sure, but she tells me you and Inuyasha were sleeping in the same bed!"
Ayame became as red as a tomato.
"Well, I guess you weren't injured enough to stop you two!" Sango said winking.
"Nothing happened, Okay?" Ayame finally said. "He was just lying with me because I kept having nightmares."
"Ayame," Sango said, "I'm going to let you in on something. I have never seen Inuyasha cry like he did when he found you injured. He has never done that many favors for someone when they were hurt. And usually he's very pushy, grouchy, and on the go. But now, he's the total opposite. He stays with you all the time. He is never like that to anyone. Not even Kagome. Ayame, he loves you."
Ayame was surprised at Sango's words, especially her last ones. "He-he loves me?" she repeated.
Sango nodded. "Believe me, I know."
"I came to realize that he liked me, but I never suspected love." Ayame said, looking at her reflection.
"Well, do you love him back?"
Ayame looked at Sango, but then slowly turned back to her reflection. "I- I can't love him."
"Why not?" Sango asked.
"Well, right before my grandfather died, he told me to marry a strong warrior, and I vowed to do so." Ayame explained.
"Oh, I see." Sango said looking at her reflection. "But if anything changes, Inuyasha's a pretty good guy. Plus, what he has for you is very rare. So don't pass it up too quick."
With those words, Sango got out, dressed, and left back to the village…
Later on, when Ayame was finished bathing, she put on her soaking wet clothes and ran back to the village. Once she got in the hut, she found Inuyasha asleep next to the dwindling flame of the fire. A soft smile came upon Ayame's face as she watched him.
Ayame, he loves you…
The words seemed to echo in her mind. Soon, she shook herself from her thoughts and gently woke him.
"Inuyasha," she said in a soft tone, "Inuyasha," she repeated. His eyes opened slowly, until they were slits. Then he opened them fully to see Ayame.
"Oh, sorry." He said, sitting up.
"Don't be," she replied, "Listen, you go to the hot springs, and I'll get us some new clothes, okay?" Inuyasha agreed and left. Miroku whom had heard where Sango went and decided to go himself soon accompanied him.
"Hello Inuyasha," Miroku said as he got in as well.
"How's it goin' Miroku? I haven't talked to you since we got here." Inuyasha replied.
"Well, I haven't seen many young women in the village, so I've been lying low."
"That figures," Inuyasha said.
"Well you have seemed quite busy yourself, tending to Ayame and all." Miroku said with a sly smile.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Inuyasha said, his cheeks turning red.
"Inuyasha, I know you have something for Ayame, and don't try to deny it."
Inuyasha's cheeks were crimson now.
'Great, now Miroku knows!' Inuyasha thought. He quickly turned away.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Miroku chuckled, "But I just want to know, how strong are your feelings for her?"
"I- I lover her," Inuyasha said, his gaze somewhere distant.
"Really? Does she love you back?" he asked, seeming surprised.
"I don't know," Inuyasha replied, still that burden of the possibility of a one sided love weighed upon him.
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Miroku said wisely.
"And what's that?" Inuyasha said, interested.
"Grab her ass," Miroku said calmly.
Inuyasha jumped, "WA?"
"If she resists, then she doesn't feel the same, but if she giggles, then you're in for a treat."
"I'm not gonna grope her! I'm not a sick bastard like you!" Inuyasha yelled at him.
"It's the only way," Miroku replied.
"Yeah, the only way for a lecher like you!" Inuyasha yelled behind him as he redressed and went back to the village.
Miroku sighed, "I tried to help."