Kikyo

He never understood her way of life. She was young and beautiful; however, her pronominal life was destined to be exploited to serve all needs but her own.

It was a waste, truly.

He remembered his first encounter with the virgin beauty fell upon a full moon deep in The Forest of Inuyasha, named after its fearsome inhabitant but the origin of said name would be of a later tale. Forged in the heat of battle she passionately fought in the rain; her opponent, or rather opponents- vile demons in heat of the Shikon Jewel. She was always one to bite more than she could chew; but she would never complain nor regret. As protector of the stone, she ruthlessly annihilated any threat, even if it killed her.

He watched her in battle from a tree top where he hid amongst the vegetation's overgrown branches. Luckily for him, he was a sight for sore eyes that would only come once a month. His once silver hair draped around his frame burning a deep charcoal. His claws shortened, his fangs aligned in perfect proportion with the rest of his teeth and his honey eyes serenaded milk chocolate. He didn't look like a demon though his personal brand said otherwise.

Watching her fight was serine. She elegantly maneuvered her body, using her whole frame as a weapon, turning the battle into a ferocious dance. Her ebony hair was tied back as usual; loose strands cradled her oval face as she pranced on her toes. Her grunts and moans excruciated not as pain but as an unusual somatic pleasure.

She craved tainted blood.

He found her mused expression intriguing as she perverlsy smirked now and then followed by a low chuckle every time she knocked another demon down; she seemed to be enjoying the struggle. He knew war could be a wave of seismic excitement; but he never thought the priestess would find abnormal stimulation from death. Perhaps she wasn't as absolvent as her appearance led to believe.

Exhausted, she prevailed in combat though her duty was not fulfilled. She panted and wearily looked around; trying to blot out her pain that finally registered. Without a second thought she glanced up at a particular tree and aimed her final arrow at the unknown target. She knew she was being watched and perhaps the curious observer would like to take home a souvenir.

"Show yourself." Her command was sour; he never took orders, however, he did find himself balancing himself down the tree and walking up to her like a helpless child.

She never took her eyes off him; nor did she retract her aim. He didn't look like a threat but he felt like one; no doubt her miko abilities allowed her to permeate through appearances, he reeked of demon blood.

"Stay out of my way if you want to live." Her announcement was more of a warning than a condemtion. She could have easily executed him right there and then but she chose not to; she would not fight unless provoked.

The rain fell harder and thicker, matting his hair to his face, causing his crimson Fire Rat robe to churn into a deep shade of burgundy as it washed away the prudent blotches of dirt and mud from her body, leaving only scratches and bruises in its place. She furrowed her eyebrows and locked her glare; if in the case he induced a challenge her spirit was prepared to fight but her body resisted. Without desire of permitting him to ravage her in such a feeble state, she decided to take her leave, her body in need of much recovery.

However, her grand exit was not as monolithic as he or she expected. Her mind was faint and her body tenuous; not even a single step did she take before she collapsed under her own weight. She descended, headfirst, crashing down on the once solid dirt puddle of mud. He blankly stared at her for a couple of seconds; there was something so exquisitely elicit about watching her slowly die. It excited him.

And then it occurred to him. With the priestess unconscious he could easily take the Shikon Jewel for himself.

He crept closer to her with delicacy, not wanting to wake the sleeping beauty. He gently turned her on her back and caressed her slender neck in hopes of retrieving the precious jewel she wore as decor but found nothing. He rummaged through her kimono and even as there were no signs of the stone he didn't feel disappointed. Perhaps he was using the artifact as an excuse to touch her.

The earth began to rumble and lightning tore through the sky; it was time to leave. He ascended her in his arms, bridal style, and walked toward her village; leaving her sprawled before the town's Shinto shrine for the villagers to handle the morning after. He resented leaving her like that; all he wanted to do was hold her but he doubted she shared the same expectations and disappeared into the woods.

He faced her again after that night. Reconciled with his hanyou abilities once more, he decided to pay the miko a little visit; the matter of the Shikon Jewel was yet to be discussed. He raided her town but she was not present. He savaged the woods but the day was clean from battle. He traveled across the meadows; emptiness was its only inhabitant.

He had tried to sniff her out but her scent was faint. That night he hadn't been able to pick up her odor with a mere human nose. Giving up on his search, he tried a serendipital approach. He carelessly roamed around making blind turns here and there hoping he'd run into her. After a good ten minutes of 'Not looking for her' he grew weary; he was never a patient being.

"Where the hell is she?" He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed; he would not take another step.

"Are you looking for the priestess?" He felt a small tug on his sleeve and looked down.

A young girl with jet black hair and brown eyes draped with a veil stared at him. She wore a light orange child-size kimono patterned with blue flowers. Her eyes were blank; she had no spirit. She was neither friendly nor threatening and he knew she wasn't human.

"Yes."

The girl nodded and pointed beyond a small hill north of the village. "There, in the hot springs."

"How do you know she-" He twirled around searching for the unknown child but she was gone. He dismissed the mysterious being and traveled north.

The air was overwhelmingly musk. Beads of sweat gathered around his brow as he made his way toward the hot spring; maybe he would enjoy a relaxing bath after battling the miko. He reached a dead end atop a small cliff. Walking toward the edge he peered below and to his wondrous surprise he spotted the priestess bathing at the center of a decollated hot spring.

A faint blush crept along his cheeks and he decided to let her finish her routine before the fight. He turned away but unknowingly found himself looking back. She was slender yet built; her bruised skin had healed and glowed a healthy porcelain tone. Her lustrous ebony hair was no longer restrained by that tenuous ribbon anymore as it gracefully ran down her back and pooled around her body like an aquatic halo.

His eyes widened as she swooned a small bucket filling it with water and pouring it over her head. The hot liquid enveloped her entire frame, beads of the substance trailing around her curves as she bent down for more. He never recalled ever seeing a nude woman before and a miraculous sight it was! She was not only pure at heart but gorgeous in physique. A little unfair one might think, there had to be a catch.

And then he spotted something at shore that caught his eye. The strange little girl he had encountered nonchalantly waved at the priestess and this time she was not alone. Beside her stood yet another mysterious child; an almost duplicate. She too bore the same black hair and lifeless eyes. The only difference between the two were their kimonos. While one wore decor of blue flora, the other sported red flowers. They stood side by side carrying the priestess' robes.

The young miko waddled her way out of the stream while he took the opportunity to get closer, expertly pouncing off the cliff making a gentle landing and taking cover behind a large stone.

"Will you be needing anything else Priestess Kikyo?" His dog ears pirked as one of the girls spoke. He smirked, so her name was Kikyo.

"No, thank you."

He watched the young miko dress herself and while preparing himself for battle, his nails already slithering out into rough claws when he noticed one of the little girls staring in his direction. Her pedestial was firm and her gaze was penetrating but she made no sign of denouncing his hide away. Still, he backed away toward secure ground where the miko would not see him.

She finished grooming and retreated her artillery from one of the girls when she too looked into his direction. He flinched and ducked for cover; not knowing what exactly he feared. He remained hidden for a couple of seconds more and when he decided to confront her she was gone. He walked to the spot she had bathed and inhaled deeply, distinguishing her scent.

Peaches.

Cautiously looking around he galloped to the top of the cliff and sniffed the air when he heard a noise from below. He peered down and saw the young priestess looking up at him. Her monotone expression showed no emotion and she merely narrowed her eyes before walking away. The young girls ensued her lead, mysteriously disappearing along the trail. He frowned and his face heated up once more as he watched her leave.

It was truly a waste.

TBC