So, this is a new series ive started and a lot is gonna come from it-im going to s=write about how lots of the main character's lives are affected from this one little plot twist-it basically changes the lives of everyone. So, that's what's in the future. Sometimes, I get a little bored of a story and take f…o…r…e…v…e…r… to finish a story. So, if you like the story and want it to continue, leaving a comment seriously gives me a huge boost to keep on writing. It already happened on my first story, so big thanks again to Kayla Rachelle for getting my butt in gear! Also, if you don't wanna comment, jut adding it to your favorites is a HUGE boost for me. So, thanks to jaybird200 for being my first subscriber! Alright so sorry for taking up so much of the story with this, but I thought it needed to be said. Enjoy!

Kikyo hustled back to her hut, hoping to get her salves in time to check on Onigumo. Kaede was waiting there, the medicines already in hand. Kikyo shot a grateful glance at her little sister, then they were off. On the way, Kaede was holding something in, and finally she could bear it no more.

"Sister, do you know that Onigumo is in love with you? You have to know! Even if he can't speak, just the way he watches you!" Kaede was amazed to see that her sister did not deny this, but rather blushed.

"I was not yet sure, Kaede, but thank you for the information," Kikyo answered softly with a smile. She knew so little about this man, only that he was a criminal. However, soon enough he would be well enough to speak, and she wondered every night what he would say. Kikyo knew she should not be hoping for his affections, if not because she was a priestess then at least because she was with Inuyasha. Well, sort of. They had walked together only a couple of times, but it was obviously for romantic reasons.

However, when Kikyo would lie down at night, it was not Inuyasha's face she saw, but a fictional face of Onigumo. She assumed this was only because she was close to her patients, and never told anyone. Her heart sped up as she walked slowly to avoid suspicion. Only a little longer before they arrived.

Kikyo and Kaede entered the cave, both a little tired from the long walk. Kaede took her time getting out the salves as Kikyo examined her patient. As she finally began checking the bruns on his face, she saw his lips begin to move for the first time, "Ki-Kik-Kikyo," a raspy voice emerged.

Kikyo stepped back, amazed that he had spoken so soon, and overjoyed that it had been her name he spoke! That was when she knew-she would never love Inuyasha. Something in this man brought her to him. She finally smiled back saying, "Onigumo, my you are healing quickly. I didn't think you would be speaking for at least another week. She saw that he tried to smile, then grimaced in pain. Kaede was finally done, and brought over the proper medicines for Onigumo's wounds, giving them to Kikyo to apply to the man's tortured body.

As Kikyo worked on the man's legs, she noticed something amazing. Onigumo's hair was growing back! "Onigumo!" she cried, then continued when she saw him glance towards her, "Your hair is growing back!" If anything, he only seemed more confused, as did Kaede. Only Kikyo understood. "If your hair is growing back, that means that your skin is healing! You may make a full recovery!" Kikyo could almost jump for joy. She was so sure that Onigumo would be trapped in this cave forever. However, she managed to stay under control-if only just.

Kaede eventually left, claiming exhaustion. A few hours later, long after the darkest part of the night, Kikyo stood wearily, her bones aching. "There, Onigumo. That's all I can do, for now. I will return tomorrow, and see how you're doing." All she received was a weak smile. Onigumo had been speaking almost all night, and she had asked him to relax and let his entire face heal.

That night, Kikyo couldn't stop thinking about how Onigumo would someday be better, and she wondered what he would do. He was, after all, a convicted criminal, and he couldn't just go back to his old life. These thoughts kept her occupied until the early hours of the morning, when she finally slept peacefully.

Onigumo, on the other hand, could not rest. You see, the night before, he was given a chance. A chance at something he considered utter fantasy. He was visited in one of his plagued dreams by an entity. This entity promised him his most secret desire-the lady Kikyo. It would give him the body he had lost, and allow him to finally leave this damned cave with her. Of course, he had accepted. How else was he going to get Kikyo's love?

So, that day, he had felt his body healing itself, the burns slowly dissipating from his skin. His lungs expanded fully for the first time in months, and, as the air flew through his body, he knew he would be able to speak. When Kikyo arrived only moments later, he had already decided what his first word would be.

Now, Onigumo could only hope he had made the right choice, and that Kikyo would accept his decision. If things went well, that is. He knew that this entity would eventually want something in return, and he feared what it may be.

Over the next few days, Kikyo dropped all else to be by Onigumo's side during his healing process. Little did she know, he was only pretending to heal slowly, to avoid suspicion. Kikyo grew close to him, talking every day, and forgot about Inuyasha entirely.

One night, though, Inuyasha came to her home. He had been worried when she did not show up for their meeting. He peeked in through her window, and was astonished to see her humming as she got comfortable in her bed.

"Kikyo?" he asked softly.

She jumped. Inuyasha's was the last voice she expected to hear, "Oh, Inuyasha, I…I,"

"Save it," he waved her words away, "I know what this is about. You reek of that Onigumo guys stench. Well, have fun with him." Inuyasha turned to leave, but Kikyo started to talk, "Don't worry Priestess, I won't go after the jewel. I got better things to do than hang around hoping you'll forget about the jewel because of your love with a criminal." And Inuyasha sped away, leaving a trail of dust.

Despite her sorrow at causing Inuyasha pain, Kikyo was also uplifted by the fact that now she was free to return Onigumo's affections, no matter where it may lead. She rested peacefully again, ready to wake up and rush to Onigumo's side.

That morning, as Onigumo watched the sun rise after another sleepless night, he felt a presence within him. It was pulsing, as though it were trying to consume his self. He stood, hoping to dispel the odd sensation, but it only got worse. The surging power began to overcome him, and he experienced waves of blackness in his vision and mind.

All of a sudden, Onigumo was somewhere else, in a dark room with no ceiling, but walls that went on forever. He could feel the pulsing on the outside of the room, but it was slowly subsiding. Then, the voice.

"Hello, Onigumo." He imidietely recognized the entity's voice from his dreams, "I must say, your body is healing quite nicely. Did you enjoy your time with Kikyo?" The voice was low and clear, resounding off the walls of the room.

"What do you want of me?" he cried, hopeless.

"Isn't it obvious? I've already taken it. I needed a body."

As Onigumo processed what he had heard, he began to see through his own eyes, and felt his body on him like a weight. The voice receded, laughing and promising to return soon.

Onigumo walked to the nearby stream, hoping to clear his head. As he washed his face, he heard a loud gasp from inside the cave. Kikyo! He sprinted back, hoping the entity hadn't gotten her.

When he arrived, she only stared at him.

"You're…you're better?" she asked, confused by his quick recovery.

Kikyo could only stare, amazed by what had just occurred. She had walked to Onigumo's cave, but he hadn't been there. Now, he was standing before her, completely healed. Not only had he just been running, but…all of his injuries were gone. All of them. She had never before seen the Onigumo now standing before her. The man she saw now had a dark complexion, with smooth, almost boyish features. His hair was long and straight, barely brushing his shoulders, and dark as coal. She could not imagine this man as the criminal she had heard Onigumo was.

As Kikyo took all of this in, she realized that this transformation was not natural. Onigumo had done something to heal himself, and it was more than likely something evil. She stood straight and confident, hands ready to grab her bow as she said, "Onigumo, how did you do this?"

He looked confused, and she grabbed one of his hands, holding it up before his face, "Look! Look at your hand! No burns! No skin discoloration! They are absolutely perfect!" she spat the words at him, and he knew she was accusing him, not complimenting him. That was when he noticed. His body had been completely restored. Every trait and characteristic, recreated perfectly. He shook his head, marveling at how the hair swished into his face.

Finally, though, he remembered what Kikyo had asked. What had he done? If only he knew. He decided to tell her about the entity, but couldn't get the words out. Ah, it murmered, You are wanting to tell on me? I'm surprised, Onigumo. And after all I've done for you, it sighed, Well, this just won't do. Can't have the lovely priestess shooting her arrows at us, now can we?

Onigumo balked, 'Now how would that hurt me?' He asked. For, by now, he had surmised that the entity had been a demon, and he had accidentally given away his body.

Oh, you still don't know? The creature sounded delighted, Well, we are one Onigumo. I cannot take your body from you. Then how would you earn Kikyo's love? That was the deal. I join you and, in exchange, you have the means to make the priestess yours. And now that we are fused, you and I are half and half-a hanyou.

Onigumo could feel the monster's sinister disposition leaking into his own, and the evil began to take over once more. He fought against it as the walls began to rise up around him. He only managed to say, "Kikyo, it's a-" before he was locked away, unable to know what the demon was saying.

Kikyo waited for an answer, growing more anxious with each passing second. It seemed Onigumo was not even seeing her. What if he had not given up being a criminal? What if, now that he had a body, he would kill again! She quickly drew her bow and aimed at his heart while he stared vacantly over her shoulder. She repeated herself, "Onigumo, you will answer, or I will shoot now!" The words came out strong, but Kikyo didn't think she could do it. He was finally better! They could have been together! She closed her eyes, counting to three, and hoping he would reply quickly.

One…..

Two…..

Three…..Kikyo opened her eyes, and watched her target, the heart. She refused to glance at his face again. Those eyes-the same eyes which she had been staring into all of these months, would unnerve her. As she pulled back, he finally spoke.

"No, Kikyo! Wait!" She brought the arrow back carefully. Even his voice was better. It was soft and smooth, and glided through the words like water. "Listen," he took a step closer, "I was visited by a priest last night. He was a traveler, and had heard of my condition. Kikyo, this man had spent his entire life devoted to healing burns, and this study had led him to me! He asked to use me as a test subject, for he had never had the chance to help someone recover who was so badly burned. He was amazed at how well you had cared for me," another step, now they were only two feet apart, "His new medicine, It healed me! Kikyo, it worked!" He began to take another step, but she stuck the tip of her bow against his chest, stopping him.

All this time, a smooth, confidant smile had been plastered on Onigumo's face. It set Kikyo on edge, and she wasn't sure she trusted this story, "And what of your hair?" she asked last she had seen, it was growing together, but was only an inch or so long. His eyes flinched slightly, and the smile wavered just a bit, and Kikyo notched an arrow.

He waved his hands, "No, no, no! No, Kikyo!" he sighed, "It's-it's fake. I wanted to show you how I had looked before." With that, he promptly took off the hair and handed it to her.

Kikyo was amazed. The "hair" he handed her no longer looked like hair. As she felt it, she saw it was only flower's stems shredded and dipped in ink. She wondered how it could ever have looked so real, and then decided it must have been the lighting in the cave. "And the voice?" she asked, but lowered her bow.

"Medicated tea," he answered easily. This story was sounding more and more plausible by the minute.

"But, what of the monk? Why did he not stay and share his medicines?" this was a big hole in his tale.

"To be honest, I know not why he left so suddenly. After spreading his salves, he left without a word. I feel as though he wasn't quite alright in his mind."

Kikyo nodded. She had heard of many scholars who had begun to specialize in something, but had ended up insane. He smiled even more when she put her bow on the floor. "Come, let me see how well this scholar treated your wounds.

As Onigumo waited, trapped, he was able to see everything the demon was making him do. The lies, the steps, the confident smile-it was all the demon. He only wished he could have told Kikyo the truth, before this thing had taken him over. He watched as his body laid down, and removed his shirt. Kikyo began to feel down his back, and he felt control slowly shifting back to him.