Love of Friends
Chapter 13: Tattling Talgi!
Cricket #13: I am the host of this chapter! As BC's right hand cricket, I get some face time now and then. But my appearances are short, so she said I can run the show today. (Evil grin)
BC: Just don't run wild with your duties, 13. Remember, I don't own Ear-boy and the Scrappy-squad. Don't damage them.
Cricket #13: I won't, promise. Hey Boss... by the way, got you a present. (Tosses box of Pocky into next room)
BC: (Chases after Pocky) POCKY! (Door slams shut behind)
Cricket #13: That should do it... BC's recently fallen in love with the stuff. Almost as much as Ramen. Now readers, I reveal to you, my secret plan! (Pulls cord, curtain falls off TV revealing PLP, QJP, and Baka-chan traveling through a dank tunnel) They're trapped within BC's Maze of Doom! Of course I can't kill them... but I can cause mayhem! Now let's check in on them, shall we? (Hops on control to turn up volume)
(In Maze of Doom)
PLP: 13 said BC wanted to show us something down here, right?
Baka-chan: Yeah, but who cares?
QJP: (Smacks Baka-chan in the arm)
Baka-chan: Ow!
QJP: Then be nice.
PLP: At least we haven't seen any APFC.
Baka-chan: They probably heard QJP was on her way.
QJP: (Puts on bib that says "APFC is finger-lickin' good!")
Baka-chan: Glad I'm not an Annoying Purple Fuzzy Chicken...
PLP: Why does BC have a Maze of Doom anyway?
QJP: To store torture devices, keep the APFC from pecking everything, and keep excess Ramen.
PLP: She must have a map or something, because I'm all ready lost.
Baka-chan: Probably. I'm surprised she can even find her way to the kitchen.
(PLP and QJP do a double-whammy hit on Baka-chan)
Baka-chan: (Rubs both sides of his head) What was that for?
Cricket #13: Now then, neither I nor BC own Inuyasha or the characters. Though Talgi, of course, is the Boss's creation. Now... enjoy chapter 13! Review, or feel the wrath of the Cricket Army!
Kagome and Sango were sitting by the fire. When the bushes rustle with the approach of someone, they halt their conversation and look up. Talgi was leading two very familiar, very damaged, guys. She sets them by the fire, and Kagome and Sango stand up.
"Talgi? What..."
"Come with me." The half-demon turns swiftly, and walks out of the clearing. The girls look to each other for a moment, then follow.
Shippo carefully walks into the camp, trying to balance the large bucket of water he was carrying. Kilala was trotting at his heels. He spots Inuyasha and Miroku, and almost drops the water. He's about to run forward, but stops. Shippo thought they were seriously hurt, but he couldn't smell much blood. Something was wrong. He whispers to Kilala to wait there, and follows after the disappearing girls.
Slowly they were traveling out of hearing distance of camp. Kagome couldn't wait much longer. She reaches forward and grabs Talgi by the shoulder, stopping her from walking farther. "Talgi, what did you do to them?"
"Well... You two gave me a number of choices."
"Yes, but those two almost look half dead!"
"That's not my fault." Talgi folds her arms up behind her head and slowly walks past Kagome and Sango. This was going smoothly... that is till someone started shouting to them.
"Talgi! Kagome! Sango! Inuyasha and Miroku, they're...!"
Talgi leaps forward and covers the kitsune's mouth. She nervously laughs, "Yep. Don't you worry Shippo. We know they're hurt. They'll be fine."
"Fine? They don't look fine!" Kagome was starting to look just a bit angry. Sango too…
"Were you trying to kill them?"
Talgi stands up, waving her arms to the enraged girls. "Wait a minute! Don't get mad at me! I was trying to do those guys a favor. I was chasing after them, and had them cornered by a cliff! The land gave way, and they went sliding down. Miroku was pretty lucky that Inuyasha broke his fall..."
Kagome folded her arms in front of her. "If those two fell down a cliff, why are you pretending to have beaten them?"
"Do you know how embarrassing it is to be captured because you fell down a cliff? Actually, Miroku wasn't too bad with it. But Inuyasha kept on trying to fight me."
"That does sound like Inuyasha."
"I guess you're right about that Sango. Guess we better go back and administer first-aid." They start to walk back to camp, but Talgi steps out in front of them.
"Wait a minute. You sure you want to do that?"
"Well, of course we are."
"Neither of you managed to punish them. Instead you sent me after them, and I didn't even do much to them. They did it to themselves. Even if they are hurt, that's not much punishment. So, there's not going to be even a slight chance that one of you may snap, and make their injuries worse?"
Kagome opens her mouth to say something, but stops and hangs her head. "You may have a point there..."
"Besides, I feel kind of bad those two got that hurt. Me and Shippo will take care of them. I'll even make a special... demon salve for Miroku, so that his worst wounds will be nothing more then scratches by tomorrow. Ok?"
"I guess we leave the bandaging to you."
"My back-pack is still back at camp. Shippo will show you what to use from my first-aid kit. I guess Sango and I can keep ourselves busy until you're done." Kagome and Sango turn, and walk away.
Shippo waits a moment before turning to Talgi with his eyebrow raised. "Demon salve?"
"I know, but I was put on the spot! I had to think of something."
"But a demon salve? Why are you even helping those two anyway?"
"It's my fault they got in trouble."
"No it's not."
"Ok, so it's not. But it doesn't take much to see something between those four! And I doubt something like this puts Miroku and Inuyasha into Sango and Kagome's good graces."
"It doesn't... but this isn't the first time it's happened."
"And yet the still act like mates!" Talgi sighs and sits down, setting her head on her hand. "I thought Kagome and Sango were lying to me before. That's why I wanted to check with Inuyasha and Miroku, but they denied it too. Maybe I'm just crazy, maybe I'm imagining things. It's not like I have any experience with this kind of thing."
"You're not crazy. My mom and dad told me lots of stories before they died. Some of them were about them being younger, and had first met. It's the same sort of stuff!" He hits his fist against his hand. "It's the same thing... I just know it."
"Hey Shippo… what would you say to partnering up? It sounds like you could use the help, and I'm sure it would be a lot more fun with two."
Shippo grins, "Sounds good to me."
"Good, then let's go and clean up Miroku and Inuyasha." Shippo climbs up to Talgi's shoulder, and she runs back to camp.
Talgi skids to a halt, kicking up dust, and Inuyasha looks up from the fire. "What took you so long?"
"I had to convince Kagome and Sango to let me bandage you two."
"We can bandage ourselves Talgi. So there's no need."
Shippo hops off her shoulder, "Oh, you two aren't still mad are you? It was for your own good. I feel bad about attacking you! How about after you two get 'better', I give you a chance to get even with me? I really was just making it believable for Kagome and Sango."
"Feh. What did you tell them happened, anyway?"
"I told them you fell down a cliff."
"What?"
"I had to; otherwise they'd have beaten me. They thought I had tried to kill you!"
"Captured by falling down a cliff…" Miroku sighs, "I'm glad I survived."
"That's because Inuyasha broke your fall!"
"I did what?"
"Look, they believed everything! I even manage to explain why Miroku will have nothing but scratches tomorrow."
"What did you say?" Miroku was going to be sure he knew this story inside out. That way if he was asked anything, he could answer along with Talgi's story.
"That I... was going to use a demon salve."
"A demon salve?"
"I know! I know..."
"Sorry to interrupt but I must ask, do either of you remember the human here? Does someone want to inform me of what you are talking about?"
"Monk, as far as anyone knows, there's no such thing as a demon salve. It's made up!"
Talgi hangs her head slightly, "I had to tell them something!"
"What's so unbelievable about a demon salve?"
"Miroku, demons heal faster then humans! Most of the time they don't even use bandages… unless it's a severe wound. Why would they bother making a demon salve?"
"Ok! I know how stupid it sounds! But right now, me and Shippo need to bandage you guys up before Kagome and Sango come back."
"Why is the runt here? It's not like you really need his help. He's just going to tell Kagome and Sango what you did."
"Shippo wouldn't do that!"
"He better not... for his sake."
Talgi growls, "Inuyasha! He's trying to help you, can't you at least be a little grateful?"
"Feh."
"I'm not going to tell Kagome and Sango." Shippo walks over to the bucket he had left behind, and carries it by the fire. Kilala follows him. "Though if you're going to be mean, I don't see why I should help." He sets it down, and some of the water sloshes out.
"Because I need your help. I need all the fox demon help I can get to make this believable to Kagome and Sango"
Shippo smiles, "Well… then I guess I can help you with them. It's important to help out family." He walks over to Kagome's backpack and starts rummaging through it. Soon he's found the first-aid kit and hands the white box over to Talgi.
"What the…?" Talgi turns it and looks at all of the sides, "What is this thing?"
"It's called a first-aid kit." Shippo pulls open the box, "See? It's got all sorts of healing supplies in it."
"Bandages and..." Talgi carefully twists open a tube, and cringes at the smell. "Ugh... and some weird ointments. All of this is medicine?"
"Yep, this too." Shippo rummages through the first-aid kit before holding out a box of band-aids. "They're bandages that stick to your skin."
"With all this, we should be able to fool Kagome and Sango!" She takes a cloth out of the first-aid kit and dunks it in the water. Talgi then starts to clean blood and juice off of Inuyasha's face, as Shippo works on Miroku. The work goes slow, because each separate 'wound' is washed, dried, and then bandaged.
"What is taking you so long?"
"Inuyasha, Kagome and Sango already saw you and Miroku. We don't know how good of a look they gave you two. They'll think it funny if you have a bandage where there was no wound. Besides, if they come to check on you, blood will be a good sign that you are still being bandaged."
"Well can't you hurry up?"
Talgi pushes up his sleeves, one at a time, and completely wraps up his arms. "There. Just don't complain to me if you wake up sticky." She dusts off her hands and walks over to Shippo still bandaging Miroku. "Do you have much more to do?"
Shippo stands on Miroku's knee and tries to shakily place the band-aid on his face. Once it's on, he stands back to look at his handiwork. "I think so..."
"Good. I'll be back in awhile. Good luck with meeting Kagome and Sango. Just so you know Shippo, Miroku's ankle is hurt, and Inuyasha's ribs. I'll try to not be too long. See you in a bit."
An hour and so had passed, and when Talgi didn't show up before the food was done, Shippo volunteered to find her. Carefully he peers past trees, he didn't want to accidently miss her. Soon the path opens up to a stream. In the middle of it, waist deep, is Talgi holding out her shirt to let the current run through. Her back was to him.
"Oh! There you are Talgi... what are you doing?"
She glances over a bare shoulder and smiles, "I figured if I washed up, it might be good to wash out my clothes too." Talgi puts the sopping shirt back on and slowly walks back to the shore. "It's the demon cloth. My clothes may be able to repair any damage, but blood just soaks in." She frowns and grabs her sheath.
"Why where you so covered in blood anyway?"
Talgi opens and closes her mouth, unsure of what to say. She then breaks out with a small smile. "It's nothing to worry about. Um, why did you come and find me?"
"The food's done."
"That's good to hear." She bends down slightly, "Want a ride back to camp?"
Any questions left disappear as he gleefully shakes his head. He scrambles up, and Talgi takes off.
Talgi slows, and then trots into camp. Kagome was just placing down a bowl for her and Shippo. It was unbelievable how hungry she felt! But with Miroku and Inuyasha's escapade, no one had gotten any lunch.
She plops down, and Shippo just about leaps for his own bowl. Soon they were attacking their dinner, very ferociously. She pauses, remembering she had something to ask. Neatly she lays down her bowl, and then clears her throat nervously. "Miroku, Inuyasha... what do you two think of me traveling with all of you. I'm sure Shippo would agree, Kagome's the one that asked me, and I was sure Sango didn't mind. I might be wrong, but I don't have any idea what you two think."
Miroku and Inuyasha glance at each other, then the monk solemnly sets his bowl to the ground. Inuyasha glares at Talgi. "Well, what do you want?"
Talgi tilts her head to the side, "What?"
"You know, or you want to know, what we think of you joining. But it's up to you. We plan to kill Naraku. If you don't like the idea, we're not going to force you. But he's strong... we can be killed at any time, but we have reasons, and you don't."
"It's good to hear you have reasons. But if you plan to kill Naraku, it's not my business. I only spoke with him for a short time, so it's not like I care what happens to him. And if you do start to fight with him, I didn't plan to just let myself get killed."
"So you mean to stay with us then?" asks Miroku, his eyebrow raised with the question.
"There are worse things I could do. Maybe I can even help out with demons now and then."
"Don't say we didn't warn you." Inuyasha looks back down to his bowl and continues eating.
"I'm glad you did."
"So you're really gonna stay with us Talgi?"
She scratches behind her ear, "Well, it's not like I have anything better to do Shippo."
"Good... now there's someone else to stop Inuyasha from picking on me all the time."
"Why you little..."
"Try fighting someone your own size!"
"Like you Talgi? You're shorter then me!"
"Inuyasha, just Sit."
Right on cue, Inuyasha falls flat on his face.
Cricket 13: Wonderful... let's check on the others now, shall we? (Hops on remote. Goes through various tunnels trying to find PLP, QJP, and Baka-chan.) Where'd they go?
QJP: Looking for us?
PLP: (Drops large yarn ball nearby.)
Cricket 13: Uh-oh...
BC: (Door opens up) Hi guys! I miss anything?
Baka-chan: Yeah, the death of Cricket 13!
BC: Huh?
QJP: He trapped us in your maze of doom.
BC: How'd you guys get out? I usually have enough trouble when I have a map.
Baka-chan: See what I... (He notices QJP's death glare and decides to shut-up.)
PLP: The other day, you told me about that Greek myth...
BC: Which one?
PLP: I don't know. You were hyper on sugar and rambling, the only thing I caught was using a ball of yarn to get out of a maze.
BC: I think it's twine in the myth...
PLP: That's what I said.
BC: Sure! That works... um, so you guys found my collection, aye?
Baka-chan: The yarn balls filled a whole room! We had to run into it eventually! Why do you even have a yarn ball collection?
BC: It's not my fault... (Puts tips of pointer fingers together.) I'm skittish, I bat at things, I love milk, and I like yarn balls. What more do want from me?
QJP: The yarn probably saved our lives!
BC: That's good at least...
PLP Where'd Cricket 13 go?
QJP: He got away?
BC: Umm, please make sure to review! On to reviewer responses!
QJP: (Sighs) QJP...
QJP's actual review: You already reviewed this chapter because you don't pay attention to me. Oh well, you gave me another review, so it's ok! And praise, that's a good thing too. Even if I've told you most of what happens.
MyMotherToldMeNo: Don't worry about not writing reviews for the other chapters. You read and that's the important part. I'm just glad to get any reviews.
PLP: I hate your computer too, and Talgi was supposed to be at least a bit funny. And yes, I have sliced my fingers on grass before. It's easier to do then a paper-cut. So don't call me a weirdo!
Peteh8ter: I hope this was fast enough for you, I had my Birthday April 6 and MEAP (Fancy test the state of Michigan puts poor innocent students through). Thanks for calling it interesting! And personally Inu/Kag and Mir/San is the only way to go. Rarely do I even read other pairings. But point is, Inuyasha and Kagome are just meant to be.
BC, over and out.