A/N: Well, hello! This one-shot is a result from my horrible writer's block. I'm just happy I was able to scribble something on a page after so long. So, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy! It's short and sweet, an easy read, but I hope that it starts to make people think. Thank you for reading!
Young Kaede gazed from the outside of the dark cave. This was where he was supposed to be? Her elder sister did say that he was unable to move though. Kaede was willing to help her sister with anything she requested. She had always looked up to Kikyo with admiration.
A bucket of water bounced against Kaede's leg as she walked closer to the cave. Oddly, something put the young girl on edge about this place, but she ignored it and continued on.
Upon hearing the young one's footsteps, the immobile Oni Gumo forced his voice to let out one word. "Kikyo?"
"My older sister, Kikyo, is away right now. My name is Kaede." She said as she set herself down next to him. "I will be taking care of you until she returns."
And with that, Kaede continued her work in silence. She checked up on him a few times in the day, but it wasn't until the next morning that the bandit shared a few thoughts with her.
"Yo, brat." Oni Gumo's deep, scratched, voice croaked.
Kaede continued wetting a rag, not bothering to look at him. "My name is Kaede."
The bandit ignored her. "Your sis has something called Shikon no Tama, doesn't she?"
She tensed and turned to him. "How do you know about it?"
"All the bad guys are after it." Oni Gumo replied.
"And that includes you?"
Oni Gumo's one eye stared straight at Kaede, "I heard it becomes more evil the more it absorbs blood laced with hatred. How nice…"
Kaede didn't enjoy being in this man's presence. Did he speak like that with her older sister as well?
The girl returned to her work. "My sister is purifying it," She stated, "It will never become evil."
"Kikyo always looks so composed." The bandit continued. "I'd love to see that woman get all… shaken up. I get shivers just thinking about it."
Fifty years later, looking back on it, Kaede wonders what may have happened if she had disobeyed her older sister. She could've heard the man's words and simply left him there to die. He would have never become Naraku. Her sister might have wed InuYasha.
InuYasha would've become human, but only now does Kaede know that that wasn't "the only correct wish". As such, would something have gone wrong anyways? Perhaps if Naraku had not been born, there would have been an even fiercer enemy for them to face.
Or maybe things would be happy. Kaede may have been able to live out a joyful life with her sister and possible brother in-law. Miroku's family would have never been cursed with the wind tunnel. He would've been able to live happily with his father. Sango's family wouldn't have been slain. She could still be living with her old companions and the people she has always cared for. Young Shippo's father was murdered by the Thunder Brothers who had been seeking the shards of the Shikon No Tama. If the jewel had never shattered, he would still be with his father.
And that's right. If the jewel had never been burned with Kikyo, then Kagome would have never been born. She wouldn't have been alive to fall down the well, to shatter the jewel, to bring so many people together that would have never crossed paths if it wasn't for her.
Putting deep thought into it all, Kaede realizes that the tragedies cause by Naraku were devastating, and if she had known fifty years ago what was to come, she would be sure to make sure Oni Gumo did not live. But through even the worst of situations there comes a light, and in these tragedies, Kagome is light that shone brightest through the dark.