Disclaimer:
Turtlequeen2: For the first time in a while, I have returned with another one of my many brain children!
Kikyou: And we should rejoice, why?
Turtlequeen2: Relax! This is the first time that I write you more than anyone else! …Hopefully I don't screw it up.
Kikyou: Somehow I feel even less relaxed than before…
Turtlequeen2: I will attempt what no one has ever tried before. I have dared to make an alternate reality in which Kikyou knew Onigumo before he was pushed off of that cliff and half burned to death! In that fashion, there is more backdrop to why many things are the way they are.
Kikyou: Turtlequeen2 does not own any character from the Inuyasha series. The respected, Rumiko Takahashi, has that honor.
WARNING: THERE IS A LIME BELOW! (Lime would mean fan fiction with lightly detailed sexual content)
Prologue
The Forbidden Romance of Long Ago
Why?
Why?
Why did she return to his embrace after all of this time? Why did she continue with this taboo? She knew it was wrong for them to be together, but she was too blinded by love to give much thought to her actions.
This one word, "why," flashed through her mind many times during their numerous escapades.
The dark of the night barely showed the two beings melting into one another. Black tresses intermingled and their hot, erratic breath fanned each other's faces. Skin touching fevered skin, mingling together in the frantic-like pace of an allegro.
Why did she writhe at his touch? Why did she enjoy laying beneath him? Why did she love their passionate nights under the moonlight? Why did she take pleasure in their forbidden romance, driven by lust and sin?
Most importantly, why did she love this man, who was supposed to be her sworn enemy?
--
A long time before the fabled Inuyasha-Tachi was formed—even before Naraku's formation—the Sengoku Jidai played by a different rhythm. After the Great Midoriko-sama's last battle, the cursed Shikon no Tama was formed, thus causing new chaos to form between humans and youkai all over the Japanese countryside. The powerful beast Midoriko battled was now imprisoned alongside her soul within the Jewel, but the war between the demons and humans was just reaching its peak. Daily raids occurred upon many villages, regardless of whom was attacking them.
These pillagers could have been merciless youkai or other inhuman beasts. There was also the possibility of them being humans like the rest of the victims. The only exception is that these robbing humans were known to be ruthless and sometimes worse than demons. They came to be known as bandits. On top of all of this, the Japanese government was being reformed, causing many uprisings to occur. Since all of this violence took place during this time, the period was given the name, "The Era of the Warring States."
Our story begins at the early years of this time period…
54 Years Before Inuyasha-Tachi Period
Cold brown eyes narrowed at the target before her. Her long black hair, pulled back by a white ribbon, blew about her lithe form. Two lone strands of her tresses hung below both sides of her ears. Her priestess outfit consisting of a white haori and red hakama, flowed around her body in the strong wind. Her worn out zouri were planted firmly on the dirt path.
She quickly drew back her bow string with the arrow on it. She concentrated her energy and finally released the arrow with fast precision, the tip of the arrowhead surrounded in purifying pink light as it sailed towards a youkai flying overhead. When the arrow hit, the demon gave a piercing shriek before disintegrating into dust. It was the fifth demon she spotted flying overhead the village she was entrusted to protect.
"Kikyou-onee-sama!" came the sudden shout of a young child, running up to the miko. "That was amazing!"
The woman, now known as Kikyou, looked down at her younger sister, smiling kindly. "Thank you, Kaede," she replied warmly. "One must be strong if they are to protect."
Kaede nodded, taking in the statement said by the younger woman she admired. The child was hardly at the age of maturity. She was only nine years old at the time. Her hair was pulled back in the similar fashion as her sister's. Her eyes were a sparkly, deep brown color. She wore a simple tan yukata with plain wooden sandals on her feet.
"I hope that I can be as good as you some day!" the girl exclaimed in a smile.
Kikyou gave a small laugh. Sometimes Kaede amused a part of her at how she admonished her, but at most other times, another part of her felt sad. It was saddening because it meant that even her sister could not treat her like a normal human being. Then again, she was not one in a sense. She was a powerful miko and the protectoress of the village. She could not do things that a normal woman did at her age. She had not the time nor the luxury to do so.
Kikyou always put on a calm face and a small smile in front of her peers. However, her eyes never sparkled. Her eyes always gave off sorrow. One weakness given off by her would cost her life and the lives of countless others. She was born pure and could never become tainted by love or any other worldly sin.
The miko looked down at her sister and gave her a small affectionate pat on the head. "Why don't you go back to the hut and wait for me there? I'll be home after I gather a few herbs."
"All right!" Kaede replied, running off towards the direction of their hut.
Kikyou smiled at the actions of her little sister. After she was sure that she was alone, she left for the fields. The reason she wanted to be alone was to have time to think by herself.
She breathed in deep once she arrived at the fields full of plants and flowers. She grinned slightly as she bent down to pick one of the herbs. She let her bow drop onto the grass next to her.
However, her moment of peace was but a limited one. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed and her body stiffened up. She sensed someone or something watching her.
"Come out of hiding! This is my only warning!" she stated, grabbing a hold of her bow.
Right after she said this, a carrion crow-youkai flew out of the nearest tree, headed straight towards her! She swiftly plucked an arrow into her bow and released it. The purifying light surrounded the arrow tip as it hit the demon. Er…it was more like, as the arrow sliced through the side of the bird, injuring it enough to destroy it.
However, after killing the youkai, the arrow kept sailing through the field since the attack was not a direct hit. It seemed like she over-estimated her aiming ability.
"Damn it!" she murmured to herself. She may have been the best archer in the land, but she was not perfect.
To her horror, a shout of pain was heard from far off. The miko realized that her arrow must have hit someone and her eyes widened slightly in alarm. She immediately took to running in the direction of the voice.
Once she arrived at the site, she saw a man clutching at his shoulder. His breathing was ragged. Blood was dripping onto the hand he was using to hold his injury. The arrow was still embedded in it. His clothing his was in tatters. Kikyou was sure that the ripped clothing had something to do with what happened before he came within Musashi's Domain.
"Oh, Kami-sama! Please, forgive me!" she shouted in a panic. This never happened to her before! Why had her arrow been this off track?!
"You…shot this arrow…?" he managed to rasp out between clenched teeth.
She nodded her head and rushed over towards him. "Please allow me to help you! I wish to atone to what damage I have caused!" she pleaded with a slightly bowed head in guilt.
"Hmm…so…you're a miko?" he asked once he got a good look at her and noticed her attire.
"Yes," she replied faintly. "I know that what I did was inexcusable as such."
He let out a small laugh. "You're foolish, Miko. Do you…know what…I am? If you help me…you'd be helping…your enemy…"
"'Enemy'?" she echoed in confusion. His clothes were tattered beyond recognition so she would have not been able to tell even if she wanted to know. She had not the faintest clue of what he was talking about.
"You must…be a very…innocent maiden…" he chuckled, the amusement clearly sketched on his face even through his grimace.
"What nonsense are you speaking of?" she demanded, beginning to get irate because she did not understand what he was trying to tell her.
Unfortunately, he did not get a chance to respond because he passed out on the ground from exhaustion and blood loss.
Kikyou let out a small gasp of surprise. "Oh, no! He's dying!" she exclaimed. It did not matter to her if she did not know who he was. All she knew was that she was indebted to him and that she needed to get him help before he died.
Several Days Later
Dark, coal-colored eyes were revealed as the man awoke once more. He turned his head to find himself inside a small hut of some kind. A small groan escaped his lips as a sudden wave of pain hit him in his shoulder and head.
He looked down to find his body under covers. 'Where am I?' he wondered to himself.
The man then heard a bamboo flap open up. It showed him the familiar face he saw only yesterday. A small scowl crossed his face at the sight of her. 'That wench again? She really was serious when she said she wanted to tend to my wounds! Doesn't she know what I am?'
"I see that you are finally awake," she commented with a slight smile, not even taking notice to his facial expression. In her hands were a pail of water, a small bowl of medicinal herbs, and a cloth.
She bent on her knees before him, pulling back the covers. She turned her head towards the flap. "Kaede, you may come in now. I require the wraps for this man's injuries. You needn't be frightened," she called out.
Hesitantly, her younger sibling pulled back the flap and came into the hut.
"Please hand me a few of those wraps, Kaede," Kikyou instructed in a gentle tone.
"Yes, onee-sama," Kaede said, obediently doing what she was told.
"Thank you," the elder miko replied. She took the dressing and pulled back the covers.
The man looked down at his body and saw that he was bandaged up. 'This wench is very persistent…' he observed, staring back up at her as she began to apply the herbs to his skin.
He clenched his teeth from the sudden burning sensation he felt caused by the herbs being placed on his wounds.
Kikyou saw the grimace on his face and murmured, "My apologies. The pain will be but for a moment."
After a half-hour, she was finally able to get his injuries dressed. Kaede had to help hold him down since he kept squirming from the pain.
Soon after, Kaede announced, "I'll go retrieve more herbs for you, onee-sama!" She promptly exited the hut once she saw her sister nod at her.
The miko turned back to the injured man and gave him a small smile. "So, are you feeling better?"
In response, he gave a small groan. He then forced himself to form words in order to speak. "You…Miko…" he then called out.
"Yes?" she inquired.
"Why did…you help me..?" he demanded in a rasp.
A small frown formed on her face. "This again?" she sighed. Before he had a chance to reply, she continued. "Like I've said before: it is my duty as a miko to help those in need. I also need to atone to what injuries I have inflicted upon you."
He nodded, trying to let her words sink in. He then gave a small laugh. "Miko, surely…you know that…these wounds weren't just…caused by you…alone…"
"I am aware of that, sir," she responded sagely. "I was going to ask you about them once you had woken up. Would you mind telling me, nevertheless?"
He took in a deep, shaky breath. He thought that it would eventually come down to this. He had a hunch that once she found out what he was, that she would throw him out into the street and possibly even try to kill him. "The other bandits in my clan cast me out," he bit out, a small glimmer of fury shining in his eyes as he said those words. "They inflicted these wounds upon me and left me to die out there in the forest."
He shut his eyes, waiting for a scream or another type of reaction that he half-expected.
Kikyou's eyes widened slightly. Did that mean…?! "You're a bandit!" she half-exclaimed in shock.
He opened his eyes and nodded. 'Technically, I used to be one…' he thought to himself.
"Wait…" she gasped. "I should have known from the brand on your back…"she thought out loud. "And you just said that you had your own clan…" Her eyes widened again. "Tell me, you wouldn't happen to be Onigumo, would you?"
He gave a bitter smile. "So, you…have heard…of me…"
"How could I not have?" she replied. "You're known as one of the most ruthless bandit leaders on the countryside!"
"Used to be known as…you mean…" he corrected. He looked at her overall facial expression and was quite surprised. She wore a mask of astonishment. She knew these things about him and yet had not done anything to harm him yet!
Another moment of awkward silence passed by the pair until the man now known as Onigumo decided to bring up the matter. "Miko, why…have you not…done anything…to harm me yet?" he demanded in a tone of frustration.
Kikyou raised her eyebrow. "You expect me to throw an injured man out onto the road?"
His eyes widened in the slightest bit. "Do you…take me to be a…fool…?" he nearly all but snarled.
She shook her head. "No, Onigumo," she replied. "I know that you are a very clever man. Underestimating you would be a mistake."
"Oh…?" he trailed off in a calmer voice of curiosity.
"I am not as cold as to put a miserable man out into the ruthless night when he is wounded," she explained.
He let out another guffaw. His eyes glimmered with amusement. "What is…your name…Miko?" he then asked.
"…Kikyou," she said with uncertainty underlining her voice. She was unsure whether or not to tell him.
"You are…foolish…Kikyou…" he stated in a smirk.
Her eyes narrowed slightly out of annoyance. "You wanted my name just so you could insult me?" she demanded in irritation.
"No…" he began. "However, you are one…for wanting…to still help me…"
"I desire to help you to become healthy for the purpose of you not having to suffer a pathetic death in the woods. You should know that the youkai would easily take your life because you possess a strong smell of blood," she stated coldly, defending herself.
He only replied with a chuckle of amusement. The girl was an entertaining sight to behold.
"What's so funny now?" she demanded.
"You may be foolish…but you are…amusing…" he admitted. "To think that…a miko…would care for…me…" He let out another laugh.
"I do not care for you," she spat back in anger and frustration. To think that a bandit was mocking her! "Would you prefer to sleep outside?"
Onigumo only laughed more. "You are not…very convincing…."
Kikyou's eyes narrowed even more so.
"You just told me that you wish to care for me and yet you threaten to throw me out into these so-called 'ruthless woods'?" he explained while chuckling. "Here I thought miko to be honest…"
Kikyou was beginning to lose her patience with the man. People like these made it hard for her to uphold her pure composure. She heaved a large sigh, hoping that it would calm her nerves. "You should get some more rest, nevertheless…" she finally said.
"Yes, that would be most pleasing…" he commented, actually agreeing with her for once.
When he finally closed his eyes for rest, Kikyou let out a subtle sigh of relief. This man would be hard to handle.
Several Weeks Later
It had been a while since Onigumo had first been taken under Kikyou's care and the villagers were growing curious about who he was when the miko would not let them into her hut for treatments like she had used to.
Kikyou did not want to admit that she was keeping a bandit under her care so to merely tell them that a man with an extremely contagious disease felt more appropriate to say. She did not like deceiving her villagers, but it had to be done or the man would have to risk being murdered.
The weeks were hard on both Onigumo and Kikyou. The two had had numerous fights and times where they could not even stand being next to each other.
The ex-bandit leader had just recently gotten the ability to stand and walk around, but in order to step out of the hut, he had to wear plain kimono like a normal villager would wear. The first time he walked outside, he was blinded by the bright sun flashing in his eyes since he had not seen it in such a long while.
Today, before he had the chance to stroll around the village, Kikyou stopped him. "Onigumo," she murmured, catching his attention.
"Yes, Kikyou-sama?" he questioned, mocking her title and causing the woman's eyes to narrow ever slightly.
Trying her best not to grit her teeth, she answered, "So villagers don't question who you are, we should make up a name for you to tell them. A new identity, if you will…"
"'A new identity'?" he echoed in a surprised tone. "And what do you suggest?"
"Kaemon." She smiled in an innocent fashion.
"'Joyful'?" he murmured, his eyes narrowing. "Since when am I joyful?"
To this, Kikyou gave a small laugh. "It's called irony, Onigumo," she explained.
"I don't care if it's amusing to you. I will not take such a idiotic name," the man said in a near growl.
Kikyou still kept her smile in place. "Okay, then…how about…" she trailed off, trying to think up names that would suit him. "Kiyoshi?"
"'Pure'?" he replied, his eyebrow raising slightly. Smirking more to himself, he thought about how amusing it was. Him, who was the leader of a pack of bandits would be called "pure." Giving her a nod, he said, "I like that name. I shall take it."
"Good," she answered. "Now, you are suitable for doing whatever humane activity you please." Before leaving the hut ahead of him, she turned back. "And I mean good activities. I do not want you looting villagers."
Shaking his head at the audacity of the woman, he followed behind her. It was not as if he was well enough to perform major crime in the first place. It still harmed him to stand for long periods of time, not to mention that his torso was still wrapped in dressings. The only reason that Onigumo wanted to be outside was to be away from that small place for as long as possible. He hated to be placed in closed spaces for longer than was needed. Finally realizing that Kikyou was heading the village to perform her normal miko duties, he turned in the other direction and headed towards the river that ran alongside the lands.
"Sir!" one man who had the appearance of a peasant farmer called out.
Whirling around slowly so as not to invoke pain, Onigumo glanced at the man. "What is it that you want?" he asked cautiously.
"Well, I noticed that you walked out of Kikyou-sama's hut and I wanted to know if you were that man that she was tending to for the past few weeks," he explained.
"You sure are a curious man," Onigumo commented. "Despite that, the answer is yes. Kikyou-sama only let me out recently because my illness has been getting better." He really hated being civil with weaklings, but in order to be completely healed, he had to endure Kikyou's care and he knew that she would not tolerate him killing off her villagers.
"Please forgive me for my questionings. My name is Toshiro," the man muttered, bowing his head slightly.
Bowing in the slightest bit, Onigumo replied, "And my name is Kiyoshi. Now if you would excuse me, I am going to rest by the river."
"Yes, sorry again for the intrusion," Toshiro said.
"It is quite alright," the ex-bandit answered, turning to walk to where was planning to go in the first place. When he arrived at the river, he reclined against the grassy bank. With his arms crossed behind his head, he idly watched the clouds pass overhead him and thought about what he was going to do once he was free from the care of the miko wench.
Would he start another group of bandits and resume his previous lifestyle? The prospect seemed promising, but it was mainly because that was all he knew in life. Looting and killing was what he was made to breathe for.
His thoughts went back to Kikyou. The woman was nearly his polar opposite. She was the pure one; protecting her village and killing demons. He, on the other hand, cared only for his own life. He was tainted and cared little of what others thought of him. Maybe that was why he loathed her?
He found his eyes closing and drifted into sleep.
A couple of hours later, a chuckle woke up the slumbering man.
Onigumo's eyes opened to see Kikyou standing above him.
"Of all of the things I would imagine a bandit doing; it was never relaxing by a river," she laughed.
The man's eyes narrowed as he sat up. His pride as a bandit was stung. "And are you saying that I'm weak for doing so?" he demanded.
Her amusement wavered slightly. "No, not at all," she assured him, taking a seat by his side. "I believe that everyone should get some type of peace. Surely, as a bandit, you had the slightest bit of a break?"
He snorted rudely, not at all comfortable with her sitting beside him. "Taking a vacation is unheard of. If we take time off to enjoy our spoils, it's very rare. We are wanderers; never having a home to call ours. We take over lands occasionally, but never have the time to enjoy them. We enjoy just existing and striking fear into the hearts of weak humans…"
Kikyou's lips rose into a smirk. "That is amusing, considering that many youkai consider you all to be the 'weak humans' that you speak of," she pointed out.
"Yeah, well, we've taken out our share of youkai when it's needed to be done," he replied.
"Ah, that would be a nice proof of strength, right?" she responded. Inwardly, she had no idea why she was making conversation with such a person, but his lifestyle made her curious. She did not know how the other half lived. To her, bandits were almost the same as demons.
Onigumo was puzzled on why Kikyou was so talkative all of the sudden. Was she that bored? "So, I'd assume that you'd have many breaks while your villagers worship you?" he asked smugly.
Kikyou's eyes widened slightly. Worship? Was that not the term that she usually wanted to avoid when she thought of the people she protected? It had always been something she thought of. She never desired to be worshiped. She wanted to be a normal woman like the rest of the village women. Steadying her emotional expression, she answered, "I never get any breaks in between tending the sick and protecting this village."
The ex-bandit noticed her emotions being exposed and smirked with new confidence. "What bothers you, miko? You dislike being followed around like a goddess?"
Kikyou huffed. "I would hardly believe myself to be held in that role."
"Really? It's an envious quality, I'd say. I had enjoyed the subjects that I had over the years. The more I had, the more important I felt."
"That's the typical weakness of humans. Many desire the power of a god. I bear no such desire," she replied sternly.
The smirk remained on his face. "Perhaps… but regardless of it being wanted or not, you have it. I'd say that you'd have to betray their trust before anything changes…"
"I would never think to do such a thing," Kikyou replied quickly.
"Then, you are stuck in your situation. Hell, I'd enjoy it if I were you…" he laughed. "Sure, it must be hard protecting a village, but you're always well liked."
Kikyou's eyes narrowed as if remembering a bad memory. "It is not a quality I desire after seeing that my very own sister doesn't treat me as an equal. Similar to you, I had never had the pristine life of a normal human. If I was not training to become a miko, I was tending the sick or watching over my sister. I'm like a porcelain doll that only needs to be pushed so far before shattering," she explained in a hushed tone as if telling a deep, dark secret.
He nodded, beginning to understand what she was meant. He had never experienced "worship" quite as thoroughly as her. It was to be expected that a person always wanted what was on the other side. "As much as I'd like to hear more, I would like to retire to the hut. It is getting cold outside," Onigumo commented, rising up with much difficulty. Kikyou offered her assistance, but he pushed her kindness aside for his own pride.
After the two began to get settled in the hut, an awkward silence settled between the two after learning a bit more about each other. They were so different, but secretly, very alike.
Onigumo debated whether or not to expose his dark past but decided against it at the moment. The last thing he needed was to develop a connection to a miko he would eventually break free from.
Several Months Later
By the middle of the summer, Onigumo had made a full recovery. As a human, he healed faster than normal. It had more to do with his hard lifestyle fortifying his body than anything else.
The ex-bandit hated to admit it, but he had grown used to his lazy lifestyle. It was very unlike his usual frantic pace, but it was not at all unpleasant. It was worthwhile to live with a bit of peace. It was the first time in his life where he could actually say such words.
And then came Kikyou. He had gotten used to her company, whether or not it was annoying. The more they talked, the more the two discovered how much wit and banter they could exchange. It was beginning to become a game to the two of them.
His dark eyes clouded over until Kikyou walked into the hut, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Kiyoshi," came her fluttery voice.
"What is it?" he demanded in an annoyed tone. He was relaxing just fine until she came in. He was used to his new name and so answered to it on impulse.
"Could you help me carry in herbs from the field?" she asked in a calm manner, beginning to walk out of the hut before even hearing his answer.
He let out an irritated huff of air. "Aren't miko supposed to be polite? You should wait for a response when you ask a question!" Nevertheless, he followed the woman out to the fields. It was not the first time and surely not the last time he would have to do something for her.
Once they had arrived, Kikyou turned to face him. "Onigumo… how do you like it here?" Her tone was hushed as if she was nervous.
Kikyou being nervous? The thought made Onigumo nearly laugh. "Why the sudden question?" he shot back, sounding suspicious.
She gave him a small smile. "It's foolish of me, really." She bent down in the yellow-and-green-patched field to gather a few herbs and placed them within a large reed basket that she brought with her.
"Why? Spit it out, woman!" He really hated it when people were indirect with things.
"Seeing as you are healed from the injuries that were inflicted on you, I wonder where you will go."
"Yes," he murmured, beginning to realize what she was talking about. "I wonder about the same thing."
"I want to know why you have so much trouble making a decision that should be obvious to you by now. I assumed that you'd be ready to go back to your bandit lifestyle with little hesitation…" she commented.
"Perhaps that was my original intention…" he said, picking up herbs and dropping them in the same basket. "But, as much as I hate to admit it, this village's lack of violence has begun to poison me."
"'Poison'?" she laughed. "That is a nice way to word it, I would guess…" Her expression then turned serious. "Onigumo… have you considered staying here?"
A small smirk crossed his face. "I hesitated because I thought that you would have killed me if I thought about it. Usually, a miko would never want a bandit around." He said this in a joking manner.
She wanted to roll her eyes. That again? "As I've told you before, so long as you do not desire that type of life anymore, you are no longer considered a bandit and are, therefore, fit to live a normal life."
The man nodded. "True… you do always say that same drabble over and over." His expression began to lack his amused air. "It makes me wonder if I'll have to become like those boring villagers. That thought scares me…"
"Why?" she pondered. She longed to become like her villagers. They were free to love and express emotions without having to worry about getting killed for doing so.
"I was born to be an outsider. I do not do well with conformity. Not to mention… I cannot promise that I'll stay this meek and mild." He chuckled at her bewildered countenance. "Don't worry. I wouldn't attack your village… They haven't done anything to anger me."
Calming a bit, Kikyou sighed. "I wouldn't ask you to change your personality as it is now. So long as you present yourself as civilized, you will be accepted here."
"Well, that's nice to know even though I've lived here for a while now…" Onigumi laughed. "I'll have to think about it for a while longer. I wouldn't know if you would enjoy my company for longer than necessary." The woman's eyes burned into his own eyes, making his expression falter. It was unlike him. Something was bothering him besides the fact that he was deciding on what his future life would be.
Kikyou picked up on it immediately. "Onigumo," she began, using his true name for the first time in a while. "Why must you make up excuses? From what I can tell, you enjoy it here. Whether or not you want to admit it, you like the life you have gained. This is your second chance at a new start in life and you're considering on throwing it away." She stopped gathering herbs to concentrate solely on him. "Why?"
For the first time in their relationship, he shot her an angry glare. "Nothing gets past you, does it?" he asked in a rhetorical sense. It was as if he were enraged about the fact that she found him out. "Are you sure that you aren't this earnest because you only want my company? I'm the only person that knows about the lonely side of you, Kikyou. We both know this. Are you that desperate for companionship that you'd seek it from even your worst enemies? ...I guess even miko can be selfish."
His words cut through her like a knife. Though, as much as she hated to admit it, some of his words rang true. She longed for someone who was like her; someone who could understand her. Though, he was not what she expected, he was similar to her in many ways. He was the only one who knew her inner struggles. She had foolishly told him some of her darkest thoughts when she knew that he could have used it against her at any given moment. Despite knowing that he was a bandit, Kikyou had placed her trust in him.
Kikyou's head hung low. "Please forgive me, Onigumo. I must look pathetic to you." Looking back up at him, her eyes shown with guilt and shame. It was hard not to reveal emotions to him after he knew so much about her.
"Kikyou…" the man murmured, nearly feeling bad for what he had said. At the same time, however, he knew that he had to tell her. It had been bothering him for quite a while. He knew that Kikyou wanted him to stay because she wanted someone to share her experiences with. His expression softened slightly, showing a side of him that neither of them knew before.
"Forget what I desire of you. Please decide for yourself. However, please also keep in mind that you should choose your path based on what your instincts tell you," she advised.
He was speechless. Why was she being so mellow towards him? Where was her confidence? The sight of her showing her weakness was bothersome. "I hope that you've gathered enough herbs," he said, turning away from her. "I want to go and rest for a while." He left the fields before she could say anything more.
Kikyou watched him leave, not bothering to go after him. What could she do? It was all up to him. Though, when did it get to the point to where she wanted… no, needed him to stay with her? Shaking her head, she picked up her herbs and walked herself over to the bank of the river.
She sat down and clutched her knees to her chest. A sitting posture that was unethical for a miko. "I have given refuge to a bandit. Why did I do something so foolish? What was I hoping for?" All of these words were a whisper on her lips. She did not want any villager to hear of her problems, nor find out about "Kiyoshi's" true identity. "I merely helped a man in need. Was that my true intent?"
The woman would have used more of her thinking time if she was not interrupted. "Kikyou-sama!" came a cry from a villager.
A young man ran towards her, causing the miko to quickly rise up and pick up her basket. "What is it, Mamoru?" she questioned calmly.
"It's my wife, Sachiko! She is going to have our child!" he declared.
Kikyou's expression instantly changed into one of surprise. "Let us hurry!" she cried, rushing to follow after him. Her job was never finished.
The Next Day
After Kikyou helped deliver Sachiko and Mamoru's baby, she returned to the hut to find that Onigumo did truly go to sleep. By that time, the sun had already gone down.
Kikyou awoke before the sun rose to begin preparing for the day ahead of her and to search the area for any threats. After several hours passed and knowing that nothing out of the ordinary was happening, she returned to the hut, expecting to see the ex-bandit resting in his same spot. However, to her surprise, he was not there!
Of course, her first instinct was to think that he had already left the village. The possibility of it was nearly heart-wrenching for her even if she already predicted it to happen the night before. Letting out a sigh, she tried to gather herself before going off into a frenzy and calling out a meaningless search party. "Perhaps, this is the work of the Gods telling me that a bandit and a miko were not suited to become companions…" she mumbled.
Gathering some herbs into a basket, she walked outside of the hut, ready for the day's work of caring for the sick. Before she could get very far, children surrounded her, laughing.
Kikyou paused, kneeling down to be at face-level with the children. She always had a weakness for innocent kids and their carefree attitudes. While the rest of the world was in chaos, they could continue to never change, offering a temporary peace. Smiling, her current worries were placed to rest for the moment. "What is it, Houko?" she asked to the girl directly in front of her.
The black-haired girl laughed and tugged on her haori sleeve. "Kikyou-sama! Kiyoshi-san is in the village playing with our friends! He's so funny!"
Kikyou's eyes widened at that new bit of information. Wait… Onigumo playing with…children? She could not fathom the possibility. In all of the time he had been in the village, she had never seen him interacting with children. Rising to her feet, she implored, "Could you take me to him?"
Houko nodded and ran forward with the rest of her group.
Kikyou followed behind at a leisurely pace, careful not to make the appearance of desperation. She gripped her basket tightly. Once she saw Onigumo, she let out a small chuckle.
The ex-bandit was caught in a forced position. He was surrounded by boys and girls. Half of them grabbed onto one side of his kimono and the other half gripped onto his other side. He was turned into a human tug-of-war rope. The irritation on his face was evident, but he only maintained his calm because he promised Kikyou that he would not harm any of the villagers. He stopped resisting when he heard Kikyou's laughter. Looking up, he could see her happy expression. It was a rarity to see as of late.
"K-Kikyou-sama," he bit out, the honorific clearly not meant in a serious manner. "Could you please get these children off of me?"
The miko nodded, still laughing. "Children, please leave Kiyoshi-san alone," she told them. "I do not believe that he wants to be bothered at the moment."
A collection of disappointed sighs and "aww's" rang through the young crowd. Instantly, Onigumo was freed from their grip as the children ran off to play somewhere else.
"So, how did you end up in such a position?" she asked in a joking tone.
He wanted to roll his eyes. "I was taking a walk to gather up my thoughts and those demons you call children decided to ambush me!" His exclamation of irritation only served to amuse her even more.
"Please be patient with them, Kiyoshi," she chided. "They are young. They have much to learn, after all." She knew that he was not in the mood to be admonished so she walked past him. "If you can excuse me, I have to attend to my daily errands."
"If you must. I will go back to the hut," he answered, turning to walk in the opposite direction.
Kikyou continued making her way to the places that she needed to go, thinking about what Onigumo's possible decision would be all the while. Throughout the day, she was happy that he did not leave like she had predicted.
--
By sunset, her usual day's work was finished and Kikyou began her walk back towards her hut. However, she did not see the ex-bandit in the hut again. Sitting down and stoking the fire for dinner was her sister.
"Kaede," she called, placing down the materials she carried. "Where is Kiyoshi?"
"He left only moments ago," her younger sister replied. "Is something the matter?"
Kikyou said nothing, rushing outside of the hut only to see the man taking the path towards the forest. She paced a few ways past the edge of the village but stopped herself.
Did that mean that he was leaving the village once and for all? Why could he not tell her instead of just walking off like a coward? The thought enraged her, but she stood on the path, not knowing whether or not to follow. She knew that leaving the village would be taking a risk. She also did not want to make herself look like a desperate fool. If only for her pride, she would not chase after a man. She was a miko. She was not a normal woman. She could not be allowed the simple pleasures of normal emotion. She could not allow herself the joy of expressing sadness at the departure of such a man.
The more she told herself these things, she more like her old self she became. Although, there was something slightly different with that realization. Her hands became tight fists. Why did she believe that she finally found a friend in someone? Someone that understood her struggles. What a foolish notion! Bandits were wanderers. They never could find true happiness staying in one place.
She paused in her silent fury when she felt her cheek get wet. Was it raining? Looking up into the sky, she found that there were no clouds in the sky. Another drop of wetness slipped down her cheeks. What was this?
It was at this time that the man in question decided to turn around to look back at the village he was walking away from. There, at the end of the path, stood a beautiful woman. Upon her face rested emotions so great that they were nearly contagious. "K-Kikyou…?" he murmured aloud. Completely facing her, he ran back in her direction. "Kikyou!" he shouted, finally catching her attention. After nearing her, he noticed that she was …crying? And yet, he never saw anything with such beauty in his life.
Kikyou stood rigid, not even expecting him to face her. More tears fell at that thought. Many of the tears came from anger. Many more at humiliation. How could a miko succumb to such weak circumstances? She had not shown tears since her parent's death several years back. When he faced her, he viewed her at her weakest point. She felt so pathetic. "Don't look at me," she murmured in a shaky voice that was lined with strong feelings. It was a mixture of rage and sadness that managed to seep through her failing doll mask. She could feel her porcelain skin cracking with emotion. Never before had a person caused so much of her undoing.
He refused to listen to her words. He felt guilt stab through him though he did not understand why. Several months ago, he would have laughed at such a sight. A bandit causing one of the strongest of miko to cry. It was quite a sight to behold. And yet… to see this woman. Kikyou. It was completely different to him. Unlike everyone else, he had seen her as a woman and now he was seeing her at her lowest point. It was special to him. "Kikyou," he said in a stern voice. Gripping her shoulders, he forced her to fix attention to him. "Don't feel ashamed for shedding tears. Even the strongest men do such at times. Yes, you are a miko. However, you are also a woman."
She let out a bitter laugh, pushing him back. Wiping her face with her right sleeve, her eyes turned cold. "Onigumo. Do you find me pathetic or weak? As I told you yesterday, if you planned to leave, you should have notified me. Instead, you played the part of a coward and prepared to walk out without giving anyone an idea of where you were going." The tone that was heard was similar to when he first met her.
"Kikyou, why do you care so much if I left?" he asked in a hushed voice that he was not used to using. "More than anyone else in this village, I want your reasoning."
"I…" She was at a loss for words. What could she say that would get him to stay? She wanted to be friends with him? What would that do for a bandit?
His eyes narrowed and he let out a sigh. "Fine!" he growled, feeling hidden anger surface from within him. "You want to know why I was prepared to walk out?" He did not wait for her answer. "It's because I'm petrified of living a new life of peace!" Calming himself, he continued his confession.
"Ever since I was a small child, all I knew was the value of money, women, and status! Before that, my father murdered my mother and all of the siblings in front of me. The only reason I was spared was because I was the only boy my mother birthed. He called me suitable enough to continue on the tradition of being a bandit in the Onigumo Clan. When I was seven, I killed my first victim. I rejoiced in the color of blood. I learned to laugh at the sight of slaughter.
Through the years, I rose up in the ranks. I even managed to kill my father with my own hands. Then, once I finally reached the highest point in my life, it was stripped away from me. My own clan mutinied and nearly killed me. I ran for miles in search of refuge like an escaped animal."
His expression was strained. This was what he was afraid to tell her. To learn that he was such a monster and that he enjoyed it must have hurt her or even frightened her. He was not finished though. "Then, you discovered me and saved me from certain death for a reason only known to you. After spending a few months here, I was forced to recognize that this life was better than what I had always known. Discovering something new is a terrifying prospect."
Kikyou was taken aback. There was no wonder why this man could understand her so well. Was he afraid that she would run away from him if she found out? "…Onigumo, I never knew."
"No, you did not," he agreed. "So, now you understand why it is not as easy a choice as you could imagine. Honestly, I was going to leave, but when I turned around, I saw the main reason I faltered in the first place. It was not because of the peaceful life quite as much as it was for one person. It was because of you." Knowing that she was not intimidated by him said something about her bravery in his opinion.
Her eyes widened. What was he saying? Never before had someone said words like these to her. She felt an odd pull at her chest. "W-what are you trying to say?" she demanded, trying her hardest to compose herself.
"I honestly do not know since that was the first time I had the urge to tell someone about my life," he confessed. Sucking in a deep breath, he forced a smirk to overcome his features. "Kikyou, you are unlike anyone I have ever met before. That has little to do with you being a miko. The mere fact that you are able to stand there and listen to my story without any negative reaction tells me everything I need to know." Nodding his head, he said, "I have made my final decision. Seeing that you will be able to help me get used to such a change…I choose to remain here, if you would allow it."
"O-Onigumo, you don't have to do it for my sake. If I knew of your situation sooner…"
He shook his head. "No, it is for me and for you."
Her head hung down and her shoulders shook.
When she looked back up at him, he saw more tears fall from her eyes. It was unsettling to him. To see such a strong and prideful woman shedding tears for God knows what was like witnessing a giant temple burning down to ashes. It began to bother him.
Before either could fully grasp what was happening, he gripped onto her haori, pulling her closer to him. To prevent any more words from forming, he silenced Kikyou's gasp with a mind-shattering kiss.
The miko was too shocked to comprehend what was going on. All she knew was that it felt right to her and for the first time in her life, she pursued something that the woman in her desired. Closing her eyes, she melted against his lips and returned the gesture, igniting a flame within the two of them that would be hard to extinguish.
Of course, those know of the romance of the miko and the inu-hanyou that formed the history of fifty years in the Sengoku Jidai.
How did that come to be when the bond between supposed enemies was created? This one question remained on the mind of very few. For the birth of this sacrilegious relationship was the century's greatest kept secret.
A/N: Well… I hope you all liked the start of this new story! I hope that this fic gets good support since there aren't many Kikyou/Naraku or Kikyou/Onigumo stories out there that are of good quality.
However, I know the characters of Onigumo and Kikyou are going to be brought into speculation. I have a few words to say in defense of myself.
One thing is that no one knows Onigumo's personality in the first place. Sure, he is assumed to be like Naraku, but what was he like before he was burned half to death and met Kikyou?
Another thing would be that I know that Kikyou seems soft in this prologue. Trust me, I know her character well enough not to make this fic very "OOC." No one knows Kikyou before she got entrusted with the Shikon no Tama. She could have been a bit softer since she had less responsibility.
Since this is an alternate reality where Onigumo and Kikyou knew each other before Onigumo was injured, I have creative license. So, I hope it is appreciated.
And yes, this will eventually become a Kikyou/NARAKU story.
Translations:
Kami-sama - God
Miko - Priestess
Onee-sama - An honorable way to address an older sister
Inu-hanyou - Dog half-demon
Youkai - Demon
Please read and review!
Ja ne!