Chapter Six
Running with the Wolves
Kagome dismissed Inuyasha, telling him to go make sure Kouga was behaving himself. Maybe if they started fighting then it would buy her more time with her scheming with Ayame.
'I still can't believe I agreed to this! Sure, I want Kouga off my back, but this? Really?'
Ayame was staring at Kagome, she had the perfect look of attention. Kagome raised an eyebrow at the caramel haired beauty.
"You don't do this, do you? Trick people?" Ayame asked.
"I try my best to be honest, actually."
"Wow. That must be horrible. Look, maybe I should come up with the plan. You just execute."
Kagome nodded. "Fine by me. What is your idea?"
"Well," Ayame smoothed out her wolf pelt around her waist, "First, I think you need to tell Kouga that I'm horribly sick. Tell him I might die."
"I'm a terrible liar." She chewed at her bottom lip.
Ayame snorted. "It wont matter, Kouga isn't observant. Then tell him to go somewhere to get me an antidote. When he returns with it, 'heal' me. If he agrees, that will prove his love for me."
"I'm impressed. You are very good at this."
Her wolfish smile was smug. "Trust me, I've been trying for years to manipulate Kouga."
"Well, this plan is seemingly easy enough."
Sango appeared at the door. "Sorry to interrupt."
Kagome and Ayame looked wide-eyed at the door.
"Shit." Ayame cursed.
Kagome smacked her head. "Uh, Sango. Can you keep a secret?"
Sango entered and looked suspiciously down at the wolf princess. "Sure. What are you two up to?"
Ayame narrowed her eyes at the demon slayer. "How do I know you can be trusted."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Ayame, I don't know how to tell you this but Kouga isn't exactly wanted around here. She wants him gone just as much as I do."
"Fine." Ayame grumbled. "Tell her the plan."
"What exactly is going on here?" Sango asked skeptically.
"I am devising a plan to make Kouga realize his love for me."
"So you came all the way here to do that?" Sango asked increduously.
"Well, not exactly. I came here to exterminate my competition. She convinced me though that she wasn't in love with him."
"Okay... so what are you guys planning?"
"Well, Ayame thought we should have Kouga prove his love by fetching up an antidote far away and bringing it back for Ayame.."
Sango nodded. "I think you should take it a step further."
"What do you mean? My plan is brilliant."
"Sure, but not fool-proof. The fact is that Kouga loves Kagome. You aren't going to convince him after he does one thing that he is meant for you."
Kagome sighed as Ayame's face got bright red.
"He doesn't love her!"
"Yeah he does, don't kid yourself."
Ayame looked like she might hit Sango, but somewhere beyond her flaring temper she found her cool.
"Okay, find. Say he does love Kagome. He loves me too. He already brought me across the country. He only loves her more because he thinks she loves him back."
Sango shot Kagome a funny look. "That wolf is seriously-"
"I know, I know. Delusional… yeah, yeah, heard it before. So what do you think we should do, Slayer? Since you seem to know so much." There was a major hint of sarcasm in Ayame's voice.
Said slayer rolled her chocolate brown eyes. "If you wont appreciate me, I don't have to help."
"Sango, please. We are kind of in a hurry." Kagome interjected before the two started a brawl.
Sango raised an eyebrow at Ayame.
"Yes, please, do continue." Ayame said in a slightly mocking tone.
Sango ignored the jibe to keep from exhausting an already tired looking Kagome. "I think you need to also prove to Kouga that you want him."
Ayame snorted. "You think I haven't done that? Wow, that's brilliant."
Sango shook her head. "That's not entirely what I meant."
"Then please enlighten me."
"Kouga needs to see that Kagome is in love with someone else. When he sees it for himself then you step in and comfort him. Show him you are there for you and viola! He will appreciate your loyalty and make you his mate." Sango said with a smile.
Kagome smiled as well. "That makes sense. Great thinking, Sango."
"Thanks."
"So, how are we going to show Kouga that Kagome is in love with someone else?"
"Oh." Kagome blushed, she turned to Sango. "Yeah, how does that work?"
Sango's face scrunched up in concentration. "Well, I doubt Inuyasha would agree to do anything romantic. I could ask Miroku though. We could stage something."
"Hm, I have to hand it to you, Slayer. You did help." Ayame admitted.
"Thanks. I hope it works."
The three girls shared a smile and planned the finishing details to their plot.
The original gang were all seated around the fire pit in Kaede's hut. The old priestess was stirring the fire beneath the iron soup pot with a wooden stick. All were talking except Kaede who was unusually stoic. Sparks emitted, the fire light played patterns on the chatty crowd.
"So, what do you think, Kaede? When's the earliest me and Miroku can be wed?" Sango asked leaning closer to the fire to see Kaede better through the smoke rising from the pot.
Kaede started at her name. She looked up blankly, and set down the wooden prodder. "Oh, well I will have to talk with the village clansmen, but I think I could get ye at the top of the list for marrying."
Sango smiled at Kaede and then Miroku. "This is great. It should be fairly soon then, a few weeks you'd say?"
Kaede nodded. "Aye, a few weeks." She lapsed back into her reserved state.
Kagome looked at her and tentatively reached out a hand to gently touch Kaede's arm. "You okay, Kaede?"
Kaede looked up and smiled at Kagome. "Aye, just thinking of a time long ago. The date is approaching for the anniversary of my sister Kikyou's birth."
"Oh." Kagome sat back and folded her hands in her lap.
They had told Kaede of Kikyou's passing and the old woman seemed to take it well. She was solemn sometimes but everyone just let her think in piece.
"I can finally celebrate her life this year." Kaede explained, her good eye was sparkling with a clear tear.
Miroku bowed his head over his hands clasped in prayer. "Kikyou-sama."
The group did the same, respecting the fallen spiritual priestess. Inuyasha looked uncomfortable and did not do it along with the rest.
"When is Kikyou's birthday?" Kagome asked dishing out the soup.
"The fifth day of the sixth month."
Kagome nodded, acting interested. "So that's next week. She would have been…?"
"Seventy-five."
"Wow."
Kaede nodded. Inuyasha abruptly stood and exited the hut, not touching the soup that was placed before him. Sango looked at Kagome to gage her reaction. Kagome's face showed nothing, she just lifted her own bowl to her lips and took a sip.
No one mentioned anything else about Kikyou the rest of dinner.
Kagome looped her arm through Sango's as they marched through the early evening, heading to Ayame and Kouga's hut. Sango was humming softly and Kagome had her head leaned on Sango's shoulder.
"Do you think he will be convinced?" Kagome finally asked after a few minutes.
"I think so. Kouga tends to listen to you nicely."
Kagome shook her head. "I don't know, I just feel like this is way over my head. I'm not so devious normally."
Sango laughed. "And that is why everyone loves you, Kagome. You are the most trustworthy person. But you know you have to do this. You, me, no one wants Kouga lingering around anymore."
Kagome smiled at her best friend. "Thanks, and you're right. We need to get him out of here. I just cant believe I was able to be bullied into this." Kagome chuckled. "Ayame actually threaten me to make Kouga stop loving me. How strange is that?"
The demon slayer chuckled as well. "Yeah, life can be pretty strange sometimes. But put your game face on, we have some convincing to do."
Kagome nodded. "Yep, we are about to run with the wolves now."
The two knocked at the door and proceeded into the small hut. Ayame was pretending impressively to be in great agony. Kouga was sitting helplessly staring at her with sad green eyes. He looked relieved when Kagome entered.
"How's she doing?" Sango asked sitting beside Ayame's head.
"She is in a lot of pain. I don't know what to do."
Kagome smiled at the sullen demon prince. "I actually came up with a cure for Ayame. And it is something that can be found here in Japan."
Kouga's eyes lit up and he moved closer to Kagome. "That's great, I am so happy to have such a smart woman in my life."
Sango was sure she heard Ayame growl. Kagome laughed nervously.
"Right. Anyways, this flower is grown in the mountains of the Southern Domain. It's very rare, but I know how to cook it to make her better again. If I don't get this flower, well, I don't know how much longer she has…" Kagome looked down at Ayame.
The girls waited what felt like a small eternity for Kouga's reaction. The plan all came down to what he said next.
"I'll do it." Kouga said nodding and casting a look at Ayame. "Just tell me what it looks like and where to find it exactly."
Kagome felt her face fall. She quickly recovered and played it off by running a hand through her hair.
"Oh sure, it's called the Star Flower. It's blue and has five petals. In the center it is purple. You can find it on the top of the highest mountain of the Southern Domain."
"Its about a week's journey." Sango added.
"I'll leave immediately then." Kouga stood up, looking solemnly at Ayame.
Ayame turned over to look at him. "Thank you, Kouga." Her voice sounded crackly.
He nodded and smirked. "I promised I would take care of you." And then he was gone.
"Wow. Just wow." Kagome said looking over at Sango.
"I am impressed." Ayame said. "That last part about how you weren't sure how much longer I would last. You really milked him. I liked it."
Kagome laughed. "I was desperate. And you were great too, the moaning was beautiful."
"All of it was brilliant." Sango added. "I'm happy you really don't do this kind of thing a lot, Kagome. It's scary how well you can act."
"You think so? I was that convincing?"
"Yep!" Ayame agreed. "So then all we have to do is prepare for Kouga's arrival? Have you talked to your friend?"
Sango nodded her head. "Yeah, I talked to him before dinner. He doesn't mind at all. In fact he seemed only to easily convinced…"
Kagome smiled. "That's Miroku for you."
Ayame sat up and stretched. " Good and well, since my cover won't be blown, I'm going to go hunting. Good work tonight, girls."
Sango and Kagome follow Ayame out and head back for their huts.
"You know what I was thinking? It's kind of random." Kagome began.
"Hmm?"
"I want to move out of Kaede's. I want to find a place of my own."
"I think that's a good idea. Any idea where?"
"Some where in the village, of course. I was thinking about asking some of the men in the village to construct one for me. I think I want one closer to the well, on the outskirts."
"I couldn't think of a more fitting place for you."
Kagome smiled and squeezed Sango; they were outside Sango's hut. "Good night, see you tomorrow."
"Night, Kagome."
As Kagome strolled off by herself towards Kaede's she was completely unaware of the demon in red following above her in the cover of the trees. She was also unaware that he had heard her and Sango's entire conversation back from the Ayame's hut.
Kagome entered Kaede's hut.
Inuyasha took off for the well.
Hello, hello!
I have returned from a nice getaway to Hollywood. It was great. I'm sorry I wasn't better at updating! I was so optimistic too!
Anyways, here is the next installment and I have decided to upload again tomorrow for sure since it will be the two year anniversary of Netsuai. Makes me feel so ridiculous for being so untimely. Ah, whatcha going to do? But, it is my gift to you! Two updates in two days! Not bad!
So what do you think about Kagome being so scheme-ish? And Inuyasha lingering at the end? :) Let me know!
hugsLovingMyKitsune
