Love Knot
Chrysolite Heart
A/N: Ok, well this was originally going to be a Kagome & Inuyasha story but I suddenly felt that the things that happen in the story are more suited to Kikyou so this is now officially an Inuyasha & Kikyou story. There will be two parts to the story, what you read here is only the prologue though to see if you guys like it. Enjoy! (And no, I don't own Inuyasha)
Part 1: Prologue
18-year old Kikyou Yamasaki watched as her mother led out a young 5-year old crying girl into the car. That young crying girl was her sister, Kaede. Kaede sobbed as she got into the car's backseat, Kikyou was sitting in the front. She glanced at her sister in the rearview mirror. Then she looked towards the back of the car where her mother was loading Kaede's things into the trunk.
"Daddy, I want Daddy!" Kaede wailed. Kikyou looked back to the bright sunny road in front of her. Kikyou rolled her eyes. Even if Kaede called, 'Daddy' would no longer come back.
Kikyou and Kaede's mother and father had divorced two years ago when Kikyou had been 16 and Kaede had only been 3. Their father had taken Kaede to live with him and Kikyou had stayed with her mother. Just about a week ago their father had gotten into an accident, it wasn't the first time that had happened but this time he lost his life. With no one to take care of Kaede, the 5-year old girl was now coming home with them.
Kikyou sighed as her mother got into the car beside her and started the engine.
"Don't cry Kaede, Daddy's not coming back," her mother soothed. Kikyou looked out the window.
"Hush Kaede," Kikyou said when the girl continued to cry. Kaede stifled her cries at her sister's order. Since the time Kaede had been born Kikyou had always played the role of a kind, caring and nice older sister and Kaede really looked up to her.
"Ok, let's go home now," Kikyou's mother decided. Kikyou nodded in agreement, Kaede didn't say anything.
"Mommy," Kaede's voice came from the back as she buckled up her seatbelt. Kikyou's mother raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, dear?" she asked.
"Promise you'll never leave us, ok?" Kaede demanded. Kikyou waited to hear her mother's reply.
"Yes of course dear, I'll always be here," the woman replied and with that set off on the road back home.
1 year later
Kikyou hugged her younger sister desperately. Everyone was dressed in black except for her and Kaede who were dressed in white. They sat on their knees, tears streaming down their faces.
"Mommy lied!" Kaede cried. Kikyou hushed the now 6-year old girl and held her close to her body. She was shaking herself, she watched as the priest mumbles his last prayers, hardly registering the words as her mother's coffin was lowered into the ground.
Kikyou and Kaede's mother had gotten cancer during the past year. The doctors had tried everything they could to save her but it was in vain. Every day, every week, every month she got worse until one day she couldn't handle it anymore. 19-year old Kikyou let her tears fall freely when roses were tossed onto the golden coffin. She held her own to her heart and then tossed it down with the others as well.
"Good-bye mother, I'll keep my promise," Kikyou whispered, leaning her head against Kaede's.
Flashback
"Kikyou…" her mother's voice croaked. Kikyou, eyes filled with tears, knelt beside her mother's bed, not knowing this would be the last time she heard her mother's voice.
"Yes mother?" Kikyou asked. Her mother managed a small, painful smile.
"I want you to promise me something," the woman said. Kikyou nodded her head furiously.
"Anything," Kikyou replied confidently.
"When I'm gone, take care of Kaede well," her mother pleaded. Kikyou felt a tear streak down her face.
"What do you mean when you're gone, you won't die!" Kikyou argued but deep down she knew it was a lie.
"Promise?" her mother rasped. Kikyou sniffled and took her mother's hand in hers.
"I promise," she confirmed. She watched in shock, yet somehow knowing this was the time, as her mother's eyes flickered shut and her head drooped down onto the pillow she was lying against, every form of life leaving her still body.
End of Flashback
Several days after the funeral, Kikyou sat at the kitchen table, dehydrated.
"Kikyou, there's no more cereal!" Kaede complained. Kikyou looked to her younger sister. She sighed.
"I'm sorry Kaede, I still haven't been able to find a job yet, people don't hire girls like me who've just finished high school," Kikyou replied. This silenced Kaede.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be complaining," Kaede apologized. Kikyou smiled, even for a 6-year old Kaede was incredibly smart.
"I'll go out looking for a job again today, but first we need to get you to school," Kikyou decided. Kaede nodded. They packed Kaede's things and Kikyou walked Kaede to her school, which luckily was close by. She waved her younger sister off.
"Bye sis!" Kaede called.
"Have fun!" Kikyou called back with a forced cheerful smile and a wave. When Kaede was inside the brick building Kikyou turned around and stared at the busy streets. People walking around, cars zooming by, people riding bikes, toddlers and children chasing each other around, they all looked so happy. Kikyou sighed. She looked at the many stores that lined the street, she had been to every single one and they were all either not in need of extra hands or didn't want to hire her. There was only one place left to go. She walked towards it, rereading its name over and over again in her mind. 'Tokyo's Midnight Bar'.
"So all I have to do is go around and serve drinks to customers?" Kikyou confirmed with the manager after the manager had taken a look over Kikyou. The older, bald-headed man gave her a toothy grin, his front tooth was missing.
"Well as a barmaid you'll of course also have to dance and drink with them," the man added. Kikyou raised an eyebrow. Well that didn't seem too bad yet. She stared down at the agreement paper in front of her and the pen. She had a feeling this wasn't all.
"Anything else?" she continued to question.
"And of course if any of the men want you to come home with them then well…" the man trailed off. Kikyou held her breath, she knew what he meant. "Let's just say the customer is always right, hm?"
Kikyou gulped. She stared down at the paper that still lay in front of her. The man picked up the pen for her and tapped on the line that she needed to sign. "What do you say? We pay pretty well and it's not easy to find a job around here," the man reasoned. Kikyou wanted to get up and storm off but two things popped into her mind. Kaede's youthful face, the child needed someone to support her and Kikyou was the only one left. And then her mother's last words: "When I'm gone, take care of Kaede well…" With a shaky hand Kikyou reached out and took the pen from the man's hand. She closed her eyes and signed:
Kikyou Yamasaki
A/N:
Like the start? Inuyasha will be coming in the next chapter, like I said this is only the prologue. If you liked it and think I should continue, review please!