DISCLAIMER: Inuyasha and all of the canon characters featured in this fanfic are the property of Takahashi Rumiko, Sunrise, Viz and all other respective copyright owners. I do not lay claim to these characters in any way, shape or form.
Chapter 22
"Wha- who are you?" the girl demanded.
Kagome didn't reply. She gaped down at the kid couldn't be any older than Souta. She was still a firebender. She'd best guard her tongue.
The girl's fists flared up. She fixed her with a scowl. "Hands up. Now."
Kagome didn't move.
"I said hands up, lady!" She raised a burning fist.
Kagome held out both palms. The girl kept her hand high. The flames stayed steady. She stared her down for a few moments.
"How'd you get up there, anyway?"
The less said about that, the better. She opted for a half-truth. "The tree let me stay."
"The tree?" Her scowl deepened. Her fist flared brighter. "That doesn't-"
"Kagome?"
The kid's head snapped round. Shippou stood motionless before the tree. He clutched a large gourd in both hands. His eyes were round as coins. They narrowed as they homed in on the girl.
"Is she-"
"Ugh, Shippou. Can't you- wait." The girl gave a pause. "You know each other?"
He nodded. "Yeah. She's-"
"Wait." Kagome waved him down. Better get a word in before things really got out of hand. "You know each other?"
The girl's gaze shifted back to her. "Tch. What's it to you?"
Shippou cleared his throat. "Well, she's-"
"He said I could stay here." She gave him a warning glance. Letting her name slip was bad enough already. "Right, Shippou?"
He took the hint. "Uh, yeah. I sure did."
"Oh?" The girl didn't lower her hand. "Like you're the boss of this place."
"Tch." Shippou bared his tiny fangs. "You shouldn't even-"
"The tree said so too," Kagome reminded them.
"How? It's not like it can talk!" the girl protested. Her eyes avoided Kagome's.
A swift breeze whistled past her. The girl's flames flickered. She glanced up at the tree.
"Wha-"
The branches rustled overhead. The girl's cheeks pinked. She still avoided Kagome's gaze.
"Really?"
Shippou gave a nod. The girl deflated with a sigh.
"Ugh, fine." She lowered her fist. Her flames snuffed out like a lamp.
Kagome's shoulders eased a fraction. She lowered her hands to her lap. The girl kept her fists tight. At least they weren't on fire any more. She tried to catch her eye again.
"So-"
"So, how'd she get here?" The girl turned to Shippou.
"Well, that's kind of a long story."
"How long?" she demanded.
Kagome cleared her throat. "It's okay. I can explain."
"You better."
"Well." Kagome peered down at the forest floor. "I could do with getting down first. If you don't mind."
"Oh." Shippou started. He took in the distance with a nod. A slow grin spread over his face. "Right."
He clapped his hands burst from between them. She coughed and shielded her face. The smoke cleared to reveal a large pink... bubble?
Two round eyes popped open. They were joined by a goofy grin. "Hop on."
"Um... " Kagome sized up Shippou's transformation. It wasn't exactly what you'd call substantial. "Are you sure?"
"Sure am. I've carried a whole platypus bear like this." The bubble puffed up with pride. The girl rolled her eyes.
"Well... "
The tree gave another rustle. Kagome glanced up at it before swallowing her doubts. The girl tapped her foot. She breathed a small sigh. She wasn't going to wait for Inuyasha to show up, at any rate. She gave Shippou a nod.
"Okay. Here goes."
Shippou rose at a surprising speed. He stopped level with the branch. She reached out a nervous hand. She gasped as her fingers met solid flesh.
"How?"
"Come on." A sweat drop trickled down Shippou's face. If you could call it that. "I can't stay like this for too long," he admitted.
She swallowed again and took the plunge. It was like landing on a huge steamed bun. She couldn't help but gasp.
"See? What'd I tell you?" he beamed.
"Th-thanks." She still kept her eyes off the ground.
"Ugh. Just hurry up already," the girl grumbled. She waited with folded arms as Shippou descended.
Kagome slid off him with another mumbled thanks. Shippou sighed in relief. The bubble popped to reveal his usual form. The girl didn't even start. She lifted her chin to meet Kagome's gaze.
"Well?"
"Sorry." Kagome dusted herself down hastily. The girl stared at her in expectation. "Um, I didn't catch your name?"
"It's Mayu."
"Nice to meet you, Mayu. I'm Kagome." She dipped her head in a bow.
"Tch. I know." Mayu didn't return the bow. She looked her up and down. She remained thoroughly unimpressed. "You're not from round here, are you?"
"I'm not." There was little point in lying about that. She scrambled for a cover story. "I'm - I was shipwrecked. Shippou and the Spirit Tree let me shelter here." At least the last part was true.
"You're a sailor?" Her frown didn't budge.
"A trader." Mayu's eyes narrowed. Kagome cleared her throat. "Well, my family are. We were travelling to Omashu before the storm hit."
"Storm?"
"We were still quite a way from the shore," Kagome hurried on before Mayu could voice any more objections. "I- I'm not sure how I made it here but I can't be the only one. My family-" She choked back a genuine sob. They had to be alive. They had to.
Shippou patted her knee. She gave him a grateful glance. She still had hope. However small it was. She swallowed and continued.
"Please. I-I need to find them."
Mayu's mouth twitched. "Tch. What makes you so sure they're here?" Her voice was scornful as ever. Her eyes were almost pained.
"I-I'm not," she admitted. Tears still tugged at her eyes. "But I have to try. I can't just sit here and-"
"Need a guide? I'll go," Shippou offered.
"Shippou... " Kagome hovered between hope and worry. "But what about-"
"Don't worry, the Spirit Tree's pretty good at taking care of things."
"But, well, I don't mean to be rude but... " She pointed towards his tail.
"Oh, no worries." He disappeared in a puff of smoke. A remarkably dull-looking boy appeared as it drifted away. "They never suspect a thing."
"Oh." She sized him up. If it wasn't for his voice, she'd be none the wiser. "I guess not."
"Whatever." Mayu gave a yawn. "Just make your minds up. I have to get back before sundown." She tramped off to continue her practice without another word.
"Sure, sure." Shippou watched her go with a faint smirk.
Kagome shook her head. Whatever Mayu's problem was, she'd come here for a reason. At least Shippou had a little more luck with her than she did. A smile tugged at her lips.
"I thought you didn't like firebenders?"
He gave a shrug. "Eh, she's just a kid."
"Tch, like you aren't," Mayu shot back over her shoulder.
Shippou crossed his arms in a huff. "I'm still older than-"
Kagome cleared her throat. "How far is your village, Mayu?"
"About ten li." She carried on walking. "You'll see it soon enough."
"Thanks."
Mayu didn't reply. Kagome turned back to Shippou with a shrug.
"Something I said?"
"Eh, she's not a people person," Shippou replied. "She'll come round once she's let off some heat."
"I see."
A familiar scowl came to mind. She shook her head. What was she waiting for? She'd already saved Inuyasha more than once. It wasn't as though she owed him anything.
Though he'd saved her too. More than once. He'd put his life on the line for her. Her stomach quivered. Could she really leave him alone?
Then again, he was the one who left her. He wasn't exactly doing this for her sake, either. She was the Avatar. Even if he was ten times the bender she was, he still needed her more than she needed him.
The realisation stopped her breath. Of course he needed her. So he could sell her to a coven of bloodbenders. Or the highest bidder. He probably wasn't fussy.
The battle before the Goshinboku came back to her, the memory as sharp as smoke. She stifled a shudder. Akitoki's burns would forever be seared into her mind. She didn't owe him anything.
No, Inuyasha would be fine. Besides, it wasn't like she needed him now. If a child could make it through the forest by day then so could she, especially with a spirit by her side. Even if said child had nearly a decade's bending on her. At least she had a plan.
"Okay. I'll get packed." Not that there was much of that to do.
"Sure. She'll catch up soon enough."
Shippou nodded towards Mayu, who was hurling fireballs over one of the shrine gates. Her little fists burned like braziers. Her scowl was deeper than ever. Good job they had a waterbender on site.
Shippou tugged at Kagome's trousers. He reached up to offer her the gourd. She took it with a smile.
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
Catching the scent was easy enough. It stood out like a flare once he cleared the river. He scrambled up the slope in a matter of moments. Not that he needed to rush at this hour. Stupid girl. An hour or two up there wouldn't do her any harm.
The clearing was as empty as the sky. Shattered branches and singed earth were the only signs of last night's battle. At least it'd scared off any potential thieves. Their stuff was still lying there, even if it was covered in mud and pine needles.
He sniffed the air again. Nothing but pine and dirt and water. He still scanned the clearing before dashing over to their supplies. He took another glance over his shoulder before he began to dig through it.
The gourds were bone dry. The local pests had made off with the food. The cloth was little more than rags. At least the rope was still there. That wasn't all: Kagome's bag had somehow got through the night in one piece. Might as well take that too.
He reached for the bag. Itwhisked away from his hand. He snatched at empty space. A soft giggle came from the branches above.
His head snapped up. The bag dangled from a long wire. Shit. He took another sniff. There wasn't a trace of a scent. That could only mean one thing. His face settled into a scowl.
"Damn it, Yura."
There was another giggle. The bag whipped up into the branches. Yura stepped into the light with a smirk. Still waltzing around in that skimpy qipao in this weather. All that black should've made her stick out like a flag. His skin bristled. She definitely had company.
Yura's smirk split into a grin. "Well, what have we here?"She held the bag up for closer inspection.
"I found it first," he grumbled.
"Oh? I don't think the boss will be too particular about the details. Though if you're feeling talkative... " She dangled the bag like bait.
"Keh. You wish." Whatever spirit had been hiding her must have had its job cut out. She was about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
"Oh, admit it, you missed me," she giggled.
"Yeah. Like a hole in the head."
"Aw, you meanie," Yura pouted. "And here I was looking forward to one of our little chats."
"Keh." He pointed to the bag. "You want answers, you hand it over."
"Oh?" Yura waved the bag tauntingly. "I don't think you're in a position to-"
A low growl came from the undergrowth. Yura heaved a sigh.
"Oh, you're no fun, Kirara."
The brushwood parted. A large nekomata padded into the light. Her creamy fur was dappled with winter sun. Her markings stood out like ash. Flames licked at her paws. They didn't even singe the leaves below.
She rumbled a greeting at Inuyasha. He nodded in reply. No shit he hadn't spotted Yura. Even a flesh and blood cat was as blatant as a badgermole compared to her. Still, she wasn't so bad, as spirits went. Shame that whenever she showed up-
"Yura." A woman's voice came from above, low and impatient. "Don't make this take any longer than it has to."
"Ugh. You're no fun either," Yura pouted.
"The sooner we're done-"
"I know, I know." Yura's face was anything but convinced. "Business first."
"Keh. Just tell her to hand it over, Sango," Inuyasha muttered.
"It?"
The branches gave a faint rustle. A young woman emerged from the shadows. Her clothes were dull as mud: drab brown and fern green without a stitch of decoration. Her face was shielded by a half mask. Her dark hair was pulled high in a sensible ponytail. If it wasn't for her all-too-familiar scent she'd have blended in like a leaf.
She cast Inuyasha a cursory glance. Neither of them was in the mood for hellos. She turned to Yura. Her gaze caught the bag.
"What's this?"
"Eh, not my style." Yura still kept tight hold of it.
Kirara gave a skeptical yowl. Sango's stare narrowed. "Water Tribe. They're a rare sight around these parts." She turned back to Inuyasha. "How did you find this?"
He pointed to his nose. "Keh. Like I need to spell it out?"
Sango couldn't keep the shock from her face. "You know- this is the Avatar's?"
"You don't say."
There was little point in lying. The woman was as relentless as a tide once she set her mind on something. Damn her. He'd have been better off running into Kagura and company again.
Sango's face settled back into stone. "Where is she?"
Good question. Getting into the shrine had been easy enough but getting her out of it... He almost punched himself. What the fuck had he been thinking? If the tree didn't let him back in, he'd have to literally starve her out. Fat chance of that with that damn fox hanging round her ankles.
Of course, there was an even fatter chance of getting back into the shrine with two Spiders in tow. Of all the times for help to show up. He'd have to keep them off her trail for now. Damn her. His claws pricked his palms as he fought to keep his face straight.
"What about her?"
Sango's stare sharpened. "Don't tell me you lost her already."
He suppressed a snort. That'd honestly make things easier. The less they knew the better.
"Keh. Who knows?"
Sango's frown stayed fixed. "You found her bag."
"Course I did. Even you'd catch a reek like hers."
"Ooh." Yura mimed a swiping paw. They both ignored her.
"Kirara caught her trail," Sango continued. "But it ends here. Why?"
Why? Why make his life any harder? His brows bristled. Owning up might be easier but...
It wasn't that simple. Kagome was no friend of his but she'd still risked her life for him. She'd had the perfect chance to slip away and she'd stopped to save his sorry arse. She'd stood up for him in those damned cells. At the shrine too. Why? It wasn't like she owed him for saving her.
"Any ideas, Inuyasha?" Yura prompted.
Kirara tilted her head to the side.
His fingers twitched into curls. Damn her. He didn't owe the Avatar shit. But he wasn't about to hang his hopes on this lot either. He relaxed his fists and shook his head.
"Beats me. You're the ninjas."
"Really? You still think that's- ugh." Sango shook her head. "We don't have time for this."
"On that I'll agree," said Yura. She stretched with a sigh. "Looks like business is done for the day."
"Try telling that to Hiten," Sango muttered.
"Hiten?" Inuyasha's ears pricked up. These three were one thing but...
"Oh yes." Yura's smile was a knife. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of catching up to do."
Constructive criticism is very welcome!
I update once a month.
