Love of Friends

Chapter 12: Bubbleing to a boil

BC: (Skips around) Yes, yes yes! Yay, yay, yay! (Trips over a chair. Hits head into a wall.) Owwie!

QJP: BC?

PLP: What are you doing?

Talgi: You're really too hyper for your own good.

BC: I'm not being hyper! Okay, maybe I am. But I have a reason! I got a review, a review from someone that's never reviewed for me before! Thank you The Myth Keeper! Yay. Sooo happy!

PLP: I'm just gonna hide your candy now...

BC: Don't even try it! (Growls)

QJP: Shouldn't have done that...

PLP: Can I have some?

BC: Oh, sure! (Holds out bag)

PLP: (Takes bag and runs)

BC: Give that back! (Runs after PLP)

Baka-chan: PLP stole BC's candy... My money's on BC.

QJP: BC's right, you are always hanging around.

Talgi: BC may not own the rights to Inuyasha but...

BC: (Slams sledgehammer behind PLP) Gimme back my candy!

PLP: Never!

Talgi: She owns the story. And me... sorta. You know what? Just read, it might be good to review too... that should keep her from getting sledgehammer-happy.

Talgi had split off from the others and was sitting on a rock. The decision had been made for a rest, not to mention Talgi had yet to make a decision of her own. She was still thinking on if she should join up with the others. Later she'd have to ask the least happy about her presence, what they thought. Absentmindedly she grabs at a strip of leather hanging around her neck, and pulls out a small pouch from her shirt. Wrapping her hand about it, Talgi can feel the objects inside. She could smell inside it too. Her mind slowly drifts into memories...

"What's that Talgi?"

Quickly she drops the pouch and turns to the person. "Oh, it's nothing Kagome. Just some things, you know?"

"Oh..." Kagome crouches down by Talgi. She was acting distracted. She was looking at the ground and her hand was on the back of her head. "Um, yeah. I can understand that..."

"Kagome, was there something you wanted?"

"Well..." Kagome looks up from the ground. "It took me a while, but I finally got Inuyasha to tell me his problem... with you. I was talking with Sango… we were planning anyway but, we were wondering if, maybe, you'd like to go and take a bath with us and Shippo."

"Uh, sure I guess..." She had expected Kagome to want an explanation, not come with an invitation. "When were you planning to go?"

"Right now actually. So I guess we better go, Sango and Shippo are waiting." Kagome stands up, Talgi following, and they head back to camp. Talgi looks around, no sign of Inuyasha and Miroku. She spots Sango leaning against a tree talking with Shippo.

As soon as the fox heard footsteps, he looks up, wide grin on his face. "Talgi! You're gonna come!"

Shippo runs up to Talgi's shoulder, causing her to laugh. "Yeah, I could probably use a bath."

"It's going to be lots of fun!"

The four head out. Talgi and Shippo are busy chattering away and as Kagome and Sango head straight down the path, Talgi takes a turn off it. It takes Shippo a moment to realize that Kagome and Sango weren't walking in front of them anymore. "Wait Talgi! Where are you going?"

"To go take a bath... Hey! What happened to the others?"

"Kagome! Sango! Where'd you go?"

"Shippo? Where are you?"

"Over here!"

Talgi backtracks done the path, almost bumping into Kagome and Sango. They too had turned back to figure out what was going on. "What are you doing? The stream's this way!"

"Stream? Talgi, we're not going to a stream."

"But, Kagome said we were going to take a bath!"

"We are!"

"Oh. So are we going to a lake instead?"

Kagome and Sango smile and each one grabs a hold on to one of Talgi's hands. "If you don't know, you're going to have to just wait and see."

"This is going to be so fun!"

The two humans drag Talgi away, Shippo latched onto her shoulder. Sango and Kagome were mostly blocking her vision, but when they walked into the humid and stony clearing, Talgi didn't need it. When they let go, she blinks and looks at all the steam surrounding them. "Huh? Why are we at a hot spring?"

"Oh good, so you do know what a hot spring is!"

"Yeah... is this where we're taking the bath?"

"Yes. You have to admit, it's a lot warmer then a stream."

"I guess so..."

Shippo quickly shucks off his clothes, "Let's go!" and hops into the water.

Talgi shrugs, "Whatever you say."

The three girls were relaxing in the water as Shippo happily paddles around. Talgi ducks down, her nose just barely above the water's surface, and lunges at Shippo. They're splashing, yelling, and laughing. When the two notice a strange silence coming from the two humans, they slowly look up. Kagome and Sango were blinking in slight shock.

Talgi and Shippo move back and ready themselves to be yelled at, when the girls burst into laughter. Soon they were joining in. Talgi stops abruptly. Her ears twitch at some small sound. Sango's the first to notice.

"What is it?"

"Nothing... I think." Her ears twitch again, and she lowers her voice. "Wait here." Carefully, Talgi sneaks out of the water. While crouching behind a large rock, she quickly puts her clothes back on. Grabbing her sword, she makes her way to some bushes and boulders behind Sango and Kagome.

"We should pretend we haven't noticed anything." Whispers Sango.

"Right..." Whispers back Kagome. "So Sango! What do you think we should have for dinner?"

"I don't know, any ideas?"

" Lots of them! We could have Ramen, or stew..."

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" She couldn't be seen, but that was undoubtedly Talgi.

Sango and Kagome quickly grab towels and stand up.

"Sango, what do you think is going on?"

"I have no idea, but it doesn't sound very good."

Hearing the commotion, who but Inuyasha and Miroku walk up from the other side of the clearing. The two are quite stunned to see the girls... and that much leg. Miroku has a very large grin on his face and Inuyasha's eyes have widened considerably.

"Miroku, we should go before we're seen."

"I do not think so Inuyasha. What if they need our help?"

"With what, holding up their towels?"

"Precisely."

"Lech."

Talgi had been listening to someone else, there was an unintelligible mumble before Talgi yells again.

"Your what? Get out of here, you idiot! I'd have thought you had learned not to annoy me!"

Kagome looks down hopefully to the small Kitsune. "Shippo, can you hear who the other person is?"

He shakes his head to each side. "I can barely hear anything, I've got water in my ears."

Another mumble, and Talgi lets out a menacing growl. The others watch as Talgi hops up on top of a boulder, and springs up into the air, spinning. "Rolling haunch kick!" She lands heavily with a loud thud. For a moment, branches rustle from some unknown breeze. Talgi walks out into view, dusting off her hands. "That takes care of that idiot." She gives a smile to the three still in the hot spring. Looking up above Shippo's head and just between Kagome and Sango, Talgi spots Inuyasha and Miroku. She points to them, "Hey, how long have those two been there?"

Kagome and Sango turn around, time seems to slow as the four look to each other. Then it's broken as the girl's scream and Inuyasha and Miroku high tail it out of there.

Miroku was running for all his worth, Inuyasha was easily keeping up with him. After they had put some distance between the hot springs, and themselves, they stop and take a break.

"Do you think we're in the clear, Inuyasha?"

"They weren't exactly clothed monk! I don't think they're going to run after us right away."

"You are most likely right. Though I wouldn't mind seeing Sango run after us like that..."

"It's that kind of thing that got us into this mess!"

"Inuyasha, I didn't exactly see you leave until we had been spotted. If you were so worried, you could have left me."

"Er... Shut up monk!"

Miroku laughs lightly till he spots something strange. A cloud of dust was above the path back the way they had came. "What is that?"

Inuyasha watches the dust, soon he can see the figure causing it. "It's Talgi!"

"You don't think Kagome and Sango sent her after us, do you?"

"I'd believe it!"

"What are we to do?"

"I'll fight her, that's what!"

Miroku narrows his eyes to the hanyou, "Oh, yes. That will please Kagome..."

"You're the one that got us here, what do you think we should do?"

"It's simple. I purpose we... Run!" After saying this, Miroku turns and continues to run down the path.

Inuyasha looks back and forth between the two, and then runs after the monk. It's not too long before he catches up with him. "I could have taken her, you know!"

"That not why I made my suggestion! All she would have to do is tie us up with that rope again. Then we'd become easy prey for Kagome and Sango's wrath. This is our only choice."

"Well, we can't run forever."

"We don't have to; we only need to lose her!"

"If we're going to lose her, we have to go faster." Inuyasha hops over Miroku, and speeds down the path.

"Inuyasha! You can't just leave me behind!"

He stops swiftly and turns upon the monk, "If you don't want to be left, go faster."

"I am merely human; this is as fast as I go!"

"Dxxx it monk!" Inuyasha runs up to Miroku and lifts him up above his head. Then he sets off again, running as fast as possible.

With each step Miroku bounces wildly. "What are you doing Inuyasha?"

"Saving your axx!"

"Oh. And I was afraid you were trying to kill me." He glances back, Talgi was quite a bit closer then the last time he had checked. "She's catching up!"

Inuyasha turns to look, "Dxxx, she is!"

When Miroku looks back down the path, the monk notices an impending danger to his person. "Branch!" Inuyasha drops him just before smacking into the branch, and then trips over him. A lot of dust gets kicked up. After it's settled, Miroku pushes himself off the ground. Talgi was standing nearby, patiently waiting for one of them to move.

"Hey guys."

Inuyasha jumps up, "Wait a minute! Before you start yelling or whatever, there's something I want to say... All I was doing was going for a walk. Miroku was the one spying."

"I was not spying! As you know, we both heard yelling, so we went to investigate. It wasn't till after that we found out it was the hot spring!"

"You can calm down. I don't plan to do anything to you."

"You don't?"

"Nope, but then I wasn't in the hot spring when you two came peeping." Talgi sits down, shaking her head. "If it wasn't for that idiot, you two would probably have never even known the hot springs were there."

"Who were you fighting with?"

"And what was with the name of your attack? Rolling haunch kick or something, right?" scoffs Inuyasha.

"I've done that attack for years; when it was named, I couldn't just refuse it! When someone helps you practice it like they did, you can't. And unless you want me to go through with a couple of Sango and Kagome's suggestions, you'll knock it off! I'm willing to help get you two out of the trouble you're in, remember that."

"Please Talgi, ignore Inuyasha. He has trouble accepting help."

"Watch it monk!"

Miroku chooses to ignore Inuyasha's comment, "So, who were you fighting with? It sounded like you knew them."

"Yeah. It was this wolf demon named Kouga..."

"Kouga? He was spying on Kagome? I'm gonna kill that wimpy wolf..." Inuyasha was cracking his knuckles, and from his face, imaging multiple ways of demolishing Kouga.

"Does he know Kouga?"

"They've met."

"Which way did he go? I'll pulverize him!"

"It sounds like more then they've just met."

"The story is this; Kouga kidnaped Kagome. He decided that he would marry her after he found out she could find the jewel shards. Then later, he decided he had truly fallen in love with her. Now he calls Kagome his 'woman'."

"No wonder Inuyasha's in such a jealous rage."

"I am not jealous!"

"Hey, look! What's Kouga doing here?"

"Where?" Inuyasha quickly turns from Talgi, and searches for Kouga.

"Oh sure. You're not jealous."

"I'm not! I just... hate Kouga!"

"Well, my question from the other day's been answered. Now what about you Miroku?"

"Uh... wouldn't it be more productive to think of a plan?"

"Ok fine. You don't need to answer. And I guess you're right. We should think of something." Talgi scratches at her head, trying to think. Inuyasha sits, after calming down some. Miroku follows suit. All three are trying to think of a plan. After a moment, Talgi sharply lifts her head. She stands and heads for the trees. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

"Chasing down you two has made me thirsty. I'm going to see if there's a stream nearby. If you don't want me to chase you, and make you stay in one spot, don't move from here. I'd also suggest you two concentrate and put your heads together. Because from what Kagome and Sango were ready to do to you two, I don't want to anger them. I'm worried enough about what they'd do if they found out I was trying to help you!"

After Talgi's left, Miroku sighs. "Have you thought of anything yet Inuyasha?"

"What's the point? She's probably going to just tie us up and hand us over anyway."

"She's had plenty of opportunity. If that was her plan, wouldn't she of acted on it by now?"

"If you want to chance it, go ahead. But I'm not. Hm?" Inuyasha stands up, and looks the way Talgi had gone. Something was running toward them.

Talgi jumps through the tree line, tripping, and lands heavily on the ground. Miroku and Inuyasha spring into action. Carefully the monk turns Talgi over. She was panting heavily and clutching one of her wrists. She was covered in smudges of dirt. Blood was matted into her hair and there was a trickle from her mouth. She seemed to be in bade shape.

"What happened to you?"

"I was... ambushed. By a demon. I didn't even get a chance to draw my sword." Talgi groans and goes into a fit of coughing. She turns slightly so she can spit out blood. "I'm fine."

"That's what Inuyasha would say too."

"We should go and find this demon. It may have a jewel shard."

Talgi starts coughing again. Slowly it turns into a wheeze and then, she starts laughing. She sits up, startling the other two. "You won't need to do that."

"Wha...?"

"Oh come on Inuyasha. Doesn't something seem wrong?"

"Yeah, and I'll tell you what's wrong. You just got beaten, and now you're laughing. That wrong enough for you?"

Talgi looks around, searching, and then wipes the blood trickle off her face. She thrusts her and right under Inuyasha's nose. "Oh for...smell!"

Quickly he takes a step back. His face turns to disgust, blood not exactly being one of his favorite scents. But something wasn't right. Inuyasha leans forward and sniffs at her hand. Carefully, he touches the blood and then, tastes it.

"Inuyasha? What are you doing?"

"It's not blood..."

"Excuse me?"

"It's not blood. It's… what is it?"

Talgi smiles, and walks away. When she returns, her head is completely soaked. There's not a scratch on her. Talgi was holding something up against herself, with some difficulty. She was trying not to drop anything. She hands Inuyasha one of the berries she was holding. He squeezes it, and juice comes out. It surprised him. The juice looked like blood.

"My friends and I, used to use these for our games. Pretending just isn't the same as seeing blood running down someone's face that had just managed to survive a fight against a thousand demons. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner." She grins widely, "I was the best at tricking others. I even managed to make a group of human children think my arm had been ripped off by one of my friends. They screamed so loudly, I thought I'd go deaf!"

"Will this scheme of yours even work?"

"Well Miroku, people believe what the see. Inuyasha thought it was blood, even with his demon senses."

"What was I supposed to think? You were spitting out blood and talking about a demon!"

"The idea was to fool you. So what do you think of my plan?"

"We don't really have another choice."

"There has to be something better!"

"Ok Inuyasha. Any ideas?"

"Uh…"

"Then we continue with Talgi's idea."

A few moments pass, and soon Talgi is viewing her handiwork. Miroku and Inuyasha each had a variety of gashes on their faces. But while Miroku had a bloody nose, Inuyasha had a mouth full of blood with a trickle coming from the corner. She also puts some dirt smudges on them. They were looking pretty good, but something was bothering her. Talgi draws her sword partially out of the sheath. Inuyasha interrupts her.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"You guys are going to need a few actual wounds. Kagome and Sango might become suspicious if you don't. If one of your bandages slip, it could get us all in trouble."

"You're going to use that thing?"

"I must admit. I too am a bit nervous at the thought." Miroku clears his throat. "I mean, it did burn Shippo, and he's full fox demon."

"I wasn't going to use the fox fire! Just the blade itself! I didn't think I'd have to explain this..." She pushes the sword into the sheath and grabs hold of her head. "I guess a sword isn't really a good idea, too big of a cut. So what can we do?" Down by her feet, were some long blades of grass. Talgi reaches down and carefully rips one off. Twiddling it between her fingers, she starts to walk around. She stops in front of Inuyasha and without warning, uses the piece of grass to slice at his cheek.

"What the hxxx?" Inuyasha clutches his face and jumps back.

"Perfect."

"Did I just miss something?"

Inuyasha removes his hand and looks at it. "I'm bleeding! Dxxx it Talgi!"

"Inuyasha, it's a lot better then the alternative. I could really beat you if you want."

"Well next time warn me if you plan to cut me!"

Miroku leans in to look at the scratch. "Who knew something as simple as a blade of grass could leave a mark! Well, unless a demon were able to transform such things into weapons."

"I didn't do anything to it. It was the grass itself."

((BC: Note, you can actually cut skin with those big blades of grass that usually grow along fences. I used to have cuts on my hands all the time! When I'm bored, I just sorta like to pull up grass.

Baka-chan: You didn't learn from your mistakes?

BC: Oh sure I did! I don't get cut so often now!

Baka-chan: Never mind...

QJP: Don't even try to understand her.))

"I see."

Talgi adds a few more slashes to Inuyasha. She turns to Miroku. "Your turn monk."

"I feel so lucky..." He winces as Talgi slices at his face. "Maybe we should have just let you attack us."

"Sorry Miroku... there. That's the last one."

"Why are the small injuries the most troublesome?"

"I know what you mean, they sting."

"Suck it up Miroku! Now let's head back to camp."

"You two first. This way I can keep an eye on my prisoners."

"Whatever. Let's just go"

The three weren't too far from camp now, but still out of hearing distance. Talgi stops Miroku and Inuyasha for a moment. "If Kagome and Sango are to believe you're hurt, I've got to see you pretend you're hurt."

"What are you talking about?"

"They won't believe you're hurt unless you act hurt."

"Oh. Uh... ow. My ribs."

Talgi raises an eyebrow, "What about you Miroku?"

He grabs onto his stomach. "Oh, the pain! It's horrible!"

"Uh oh..."

"Well sorry if I'm not up to your half fox standards!"

"I didn't do that bad."

"Miroku, you did better then Inuyasha. But it wasn't very believable."

"It's worked for me before."

"Yeah, but it was while trying to steal from someone!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Inuyasha."

"Look guys, it's simple. I'll take care of it. So how well can you two walk like you're hurt?"

"I'm not going to do that!"

Talgi sighs, "Then we do this the hard way." She rushes towards Inuyasha and hits her fist into his stomach.

"Gah! What are you doing?"

She then stomps on Miroku's foot. "Ow! Talgi?"

"I'm really sorry about that guys. It's for your own good. And now I won't have to lie, because I might not have done all of this, but I did something. Now we should hurry before the pain wears off." She grabs hold of each of their sleeves. "Come on."

BC: I got another one! This time from Sara! In fact, I'm gonna do some reviewer responses! I'm going to do them from now on! Umm… Yay! Nothing could make me happier right now.

QJP: BC, what about your candy?

BC: What candy? Do you have candy?

QJP: Uhh...

BC: Kidding. I can't find PLP to get it back... she hid from me.

Baka-chan: You think it might have been because of the sledgehammer?

PLP: I'm back!

BC: It's not fair that you took my candy... (Ears droop slightly)

PLP: Oh, fine then! (Passes back candy-bag)

BC: Yes! Works every time...

PLP: (Eyes narrow) What was that?

BC: Ahhh, on to the reviewer responses!

PLP: B...C...!

BC: I said nothing! Nope! I'm just gonna leave now, see ya! (Runs)

PLP: (Chases BC)

BC: Remember to review!

QJP: (Eats Ramen) Dinner, and a show...

Baka-chan: Where's mine?

QJP: Make your own.

BC: Bye!

QJP: That is why I said that. You boss Baka-chan around more then... well, a boss. And I know you think it's fun! This a soon enough update?

The Myth Keeper: Hee, I like the party blowers too... but they didn't need to steal my door! At least they didn't steal my candy. Then they'd be in big trouble. Here's your updatedness. I'm happy you like my story, yours are pretty good too!

Sara: Ooh! Well written, that's always good to hear... You think the plot's cool? Yay! Glad you liked it, and thank you for reviewing!

PLP: Is it really your first review? Huh... What are you crying for? You and QJP have more then 36 put together! I'm the one that should be crying. Nee...

the unconscious pervert: Lookie lookie! It's Baka-chan! Bout time for your review... and of course Inuyasha can smile. Haven't you ever seen that one episode? Granted he pulverized Myoga right after but... not the point. It's proof!

BC, over and out.