I do not own Inuyasha or its characters. Hope you like!
Chapter One
"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous and it pricks like a thorn."
-Romeo & Juliet
She had been certain she would die
Please Kami-sama…Just let me die…I am no longer fit to service you because of this…of this pain…
But Kami had no time to pay attention to his ever faithful, ever watchful, servant. Not now, nor ever. She supposed it was fair…After all she had given her heart to someone else. She was a cheater. She had betrayed the village and her god, her powers and naturally she was betrayed.
Yes. She had been betrayed. And now she could barely breathe, her eyes not wanting to open but her shoulder stung as her breathing deepened, bringing her more to the surface of consciousness and accepting that she was in fact alive.
"Oneesama!" the soft voice came out with relief, with fear, with love. She felt the small hand smooth back her hair out of her eyes as if not even meaning to. She must have been taking care of her the entire time…
"How long have I been asleep?" the words rang false in her ears because such a mundane question didn't belong here, now.
"Almost a day," Kaede responded softly, her words were thick.
Kikyou looked up at her, "Oh Kaede…" she said softly. There were tears in her sister's eyes. Her hair was a wayward mess, blood on her kimono which she hadn't even bothered to wash out. Dirt was smudged on her knees. The younger girl stared down at her face, as if it was the only thing holding her to the world.
Kikyou started to reach tenderly for her face, but a lance of pain went through her shoulder, making her stop. "I'm so sorry," she said apologetically to her younger sister.
I'm so sorry I made this terrible mistake…I'm so sorry that I nearly left you alone…because of a silly whim.
Kaede leaned forward, delicately kissing her forehead, careful not to hurt her. "I'm so happy you're okay…" she said quietly.
Kikyou wondered if she was happy. It was a selfish passing thought…
The priestess had never thought highly of herself. It was only her status as priestess that gave her any hope. She didn't feel human. She was given deference and treated with respect, she was also seen as the pillar of their society and so no one had ever asked is she was okay…
No one had ever rescued her…She had never laid down her head…And Inuyasha had brought her that reprieve.
She felt like she knew him. She had felt something so real…She had felt light headed around him, enough to make her smile. It was dizzying and she liked being swept off her feet for once. But this time instead of being swept up the ground had dropped out from underneath of her.
"Kaede, have you checked on Onigumo?" she had whispered quietly that evening.
Kaede nodded. "Yes…a few minutes before you woke up…I think the cave caught fire…He's not there."
Kikyou's eyes widened in shock, then they looked sadly at the ceiling. "More unfortunate circumstances…" There was a long silence and Kaede knew what she would say next and felt her heart flutter knowing how much it would hurt her older sister.
It did. Her sister swallowed and finally spoke in a voice far too nonchalant for the situation, "And the hanyou?"
Kaede looked down at her blanket. "He's still pinned to the tree…"
The miko frowned in response, "I...thought I used a purifying arrow instead of a sealing arrow…" She sighed. "I suppose I will have to attend to that later."
And her sister could see the pain in those dark eyes that stared out the door in the direction of the sacred tree.
(Looking for a beta if anyone wants to help out.)