Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.

Ambush

They didn't sense the youki during the night, but it impinged on their senses shortly before sun high. "We've got to find out what this is, and take it down," muttered Hakkaku, with a scowl, as he glanced up through the trees in the direction of the skyborne, invisible source.

"But, how?" wondered Ginta. "It's up there; we're down here. How do we get to it?"

They exchanged puzzled glances. "We'll have to lure it to us," said Hakkaku.

"Yeah!" Ginta brightened momentarily, then frowned. "But, how? It's up there, we're down here, and it's not going to come down here, where we can ambush it."

"Ambush is what we need to do. But, it's not going to come down, unless…"

"Hey!" Ginta grinned. "How about we play dead?"

"Um… but if we play dead, how do we ambush it?"

"Um… maybe if just one of us played dead? While the other hid?"

"Yeah that would do it." Hakkaku nodded vigorously. "I'll play the dead youkai."

"Hey! It was my idea! I'll do it!"

"I'm quicker! I'll do it!"

"No, I'll do it! My nose is better!"

"You don't need a nose! I'm smarter, I'll do it!"

"You don't need to be smart to play dead! I'll do it!"

"No, I will!"

"I will!"

And so it went.

… … …

Kohaku was feeling frustrated at his inability to make contact with the wolf youkai. Kirara usually managed to get some sort of indication of their approximate area during the daytime. But, she was reluctant to fly and night, and they both had to hunt and rest. But, the youkai were obviously moving at night, and never in the same direction twice. And they were apparently staying under cover during the day, so it was possible that they didn't realize who was searching for them.

He was wondering if he should give up on his idea, of asking them to train with them. He wasn't learning anything this way, or helping to protect anyone.

Kirara gave a little rumble, slowing. "What is it?" he asked, leaning forward, his gaze following the direction of her ears. Not too far away, on a rocky outcrop near the top of the next mountain was a prone figure. Kohaku squinted, trying to make out the details. "Does that look like Ginta?"

She gave her left ear a double-flick, which was her new signal for 'yes.' Kohaku couldn't remember her using her ears before for communication, and wondered where she'd gotten the idea from. "Where's the other one—Hakkaku?" he wondered. "And the wolves?"

A long whine suggested that she didn't know. Kohaku frowned. "Does this feel like a setup?" he asked. "We're been searching for days, and suddenly one of them appears, apparently injured? Without the other?"

Kirara indicated her agreement. "So, Hakkaku and the wolves are probably waiting in ambush. The question is, will they attack, when they see that it's us? I mean, they did help us out, before?"

She meowed her own uncertainty.

Leaning forward, Kohaku studied the scene. It just felt fake.

"Let's go down, Kirara," he said, pulling his weapon from his belt as a precaution. "Hover just above tree-level. I doubt even those two four-footed wolves can climb trees, and Hakkaku never had any sort of long-range weapon that could threaten you, did he?"

No.

… … …

Hakkaku reminded himself to keep his eyes on the sky, despite his annoyance. Ginta had cheated. They had eventually, agreed that the first one to touch a specific tree next to the clearing they'd spotted would get to play the 'dead' youkai. He had clearly won the race, slapping the tree, then plowing to a stop and looking over his shoulder to smirk at the slower wolf.

But Ginta hadn't stopped, leaping out into the open, tearing one arm open with his claws even as he fell forward. Stupid! Hakkaku had been forced to stay back, to be the ambusher. Though maybe that wasn't too bad of a role—Kouga would be really impressed if he were the one who brought down a dangerous, flying youkai. He smirked to himself, realizing that he was in the better role than Ginta. Hah! Outsmarted!

The youki shifted, rapidly growing in strength. Snapping his head up, Hakkaku sniffed, trying to catch a hint of what the youkai was. He couldn't smell anything, the wind was wrong, no, wait—neko? He sniffed again, and caught hints of—human?

A roar overhead caused him to jump. The wolves both yipped in surprise and leaped backwards, which was bad enough, but from the corner of his eye, Hakkaku saw Ginta twitch as well.

So much for playing dead.

The smell of fire-edge neko and human became stronger, and Kirara dropped into view, her flames flaring high as she abruptly slowed to a hover. As the flames dropped to normal, Hakkaku could see the human boy leaning forward. Kirara looked in his direction, and dropped her jaw in what was clearly a feline grin.

"Hi, Ginta," said the human, peering down at youkai who was trying to pretend to be dead, again. "You might as well sit up and take care of that arm—you weren't convincing from high up, let alone tree-level. And Hakkaku might as well come out, too."

Ah, deer balls. Hakkaku saw Ginta sit up, looking crestfallen, and made himself step into the open, his mohawk drooping.

Kouga was so going to be disgusted at their failure.

Author's Note: This was originally posted to the Inuyasha Fanfiction community on LiveJournal, for the prompt "Play Dead." It was originally posted on December 11, 2011. It won the contest. (01/09/2012)