Small introduction
"Tell me what Mt. Hakurei does,"
"Yes, Lady Kikyo," Ivy bowed her head and did as she was told. Ivy was now Kikyo's Apprentice. She was in fact a half Demon; a Dog Demon Father, and a human mother. At least that's what she believes. She was told she was a half Demon a long time ago by someone she really cared about, and her mom had died when she was too young to remember if she was even a demon. Also, she had never met her father. Ivy's silver hair covered her face as she looked towards the ground. "It turns pure to impure, and impure to pure. Good to evil, evil to good..."
"That's good," Kikyo said, and then stopped. She looked at her surroundings. What a sight to see! Mt Hakurei. Ivy was stunned by its incomprehensible beauty. How could something so Beautiful make pure, impure and good, evil? It just couldn't make since to Ivy! Mt. Hakurei, after 300 long years, has reappeared. Kikyo wanted Ivy to learn as much about the place as possible. There was a very, very high chance that Naraku was behind it, for he was behind the first one. So they began to study the past Mt. Hakurei. Ivy couldn't think about it much longer, for her teacher fell to the ground in pain. Kikyo's soul collectors swarmed around her.
"Lady Kikyo!" Ivy screamed as she ran to her teacher's side. Ivy's brother, Kinu, was next to her, licking Kikyo's Hand. Kikyo smiled as she petted the small dog demon's fur.
"I have just weakened over the years. 300 years can do a number on a Miko. Even one like me. I will be fine, Ivy,"
"That's good," Ivy said in the same tone Kikyo had used before in order to make her laugh. Kikyo's smile seemed to mean success.
She stood, brushed herself off, and asked, "What are the Names of the Band of Seven?"
Ivy smiled, "Kyokotsu, Mukotsu, Jakotsu, Ginkotsu, Suikotsu, Renkotsu, and my favorite, Bankotsu,"
Kikyo smiled, "You always did like Bankotsu's story the best," Ivy returned the smiled and followed Kikyo closer to Mt. Hakurei. "Tell me, is Kinu your real brother?" Ivy gave Kikyo a questionable look. Kikyo merely smiled in return. "We've known each other for years. After a while, when we grew to trust each other, we've never asked questions to each other. I always wondered what your connection was to that full demon. You called him your brother before, but…,"
Ivy looked at Kinu, who was next to her at the moment. He was a small, white puppy, with eyes that were bluer than the sea. His ears were pointed, and his slightly fluffy tail curled upwards as it wagged continuously. Ivy smiled at him. "Yes and no. Actually, I could call him my son, but that would be weird, so I called him my brother. I wasn't going to call him my pet," Ivy rolled her eyes.
"You think of him as your son?" Kikyo looked around. The barrier around Mt. Hakurei was weaker than the time 300 years ago. At least that was what Lady Kikyo had told Ivy and Kinu. It was strange; Kinu and Ivy didn't feel the barrier at all.
"Yeah, I do. He is younger than me by a lot. And if anything happened to him, I would just die!" Ivy sniffed the air, "Nothing is here, don't be so worried. Anyway, if anything happened to me, Kinu wouldn't know what to do with himself,"
"Yep," Kinu barked. Kikyo could only guess what he said. He spoke in his dog language, the language he was raised on as a pup. Later he learned how to communicate with humans, but that was impossible in the form he was in at the moment.
Kikyo nodded absentmindedly. "Naraku must have been really weakened by his last Battle with Sesshoumaru. His barrier is pathetic,"
"But you're still hurt by it?" Ivy asked as she pointed out Kikyo's limp.
"Yes, but you, a half demon, are not affected at all. Kinu is a full demon; he's not even fazed," Kikyo's sigh was heavy.
Ivy looked at Kinu. She came up with only one explanation. "I guess Kinu and I are just Awesome then,"
Kikyo sighed. "Yes, awesome indeed," Comments like those were normal after about 300 years of working together. Kikyo learned to live with them with a smile, because that was the purpose of the comments.
Ivy looked around, and saw how the sun was winking goodbye over the horizon. "Lady Kikyo, let's rest for the night,"
Kikyo sighed again. She had been doing that a lot lately. She had built years of stress as her body became weaker and weaker. Her soul collectors rarely appeared anymore, only to bring at least one soul to keep her alive for a while. Her cold heart had softened after the loss of allies 300 years before. She no longer wished to steal the souls of young maidens, but she merely took the souls of those who had long, full lives. For that, she suffered. "Yes, your right," Kikyo said, and they started to make camp. They were low on food, but they had medicine to spare. Ivy handed Kinu a container and sent him to the river for water. She laid out pallets and helped Kikyo Down.
"Lady Kikyo," Ivy began. "I think you're powers are fading even faster,"
Kikyo laid her head down and closed her eyes. "One can only hope that is not true," and then she was asleep as her head fell to the pallet.
Kinu returned. He sat the water next to Ivy, and she helped herself to the cool liquid. She pulled the container from her lips. "Kinu, do you think we shall see Inuyasha tomorrow?" Ivy said, specifically speaking in dog demon.
Kinu laughed lightly. "You're kidding, right? You know he doesn't stray too far from the village,"
Ivy smiled. "I suppose your right," she giggled lightly. "How about Koga?"
Kinu shrugged. "I figured he would be helping Inuyasha out around the village. But if not, maybe we'll see him soon,"
"Yes," Ivy muttered under her breath. A smile crept to her face. "So do you think that he will marry Ayame?"
"I sure hope he does!" Kinu cried excitedly. "They are so cute together it's crazy!"
Ivy began to giggle quietly to herself. Her mind began to wonder though her life as it was. They would sometimes go to Jewel Village to meet Inuyasha. He would invite them in for tea, to which they never refused. Shippo would act out something amazing that had happened to him at the village while they were away on their search for Naraku. Kirara would giggle and cuddle into Kinu. She may even tell her own story of her past adventures as a protector to the most powerful being of this world...
And Koga may be there; he may walk into the house, seeming exhausted from working so hard to help the village. Inuyasha would offer in some tea, to which Koga never refused as well. He would sit there quietly -as if he had no story to tell- until Inuyasha would nudge his arm and say 'Remember that time-' and it was all fun and games after that. Ayame would enter next, a slight blush on her face when she would address Koga. Ivy would always giggle at that moment...
The only one that she never saw at the village was Sesshoumaru. he was always accompanied by Jaken, who was always yapping away and complaining. Sesshoumaru would seem like the type to strike you down on sight, but he wasn't really. Ivy knew he wasn't as cold and ruthless as he might seem. His eyes were the gateway to his soul. In them, you could read his emotions. She knew that not everyone could, for they couldn't see them the way she saw them. She could read his golden eyes as if he were telling her how he felt. for that, she felt special.
Ivy smiled slightly as she sipped her water from the container. 'We see him every month,' She thought silently to herself. After this thought, she looked towards the sky. "Oh, Kinu…"
"Yes?"
"Look at the moon,"
And Kinu did. He looked up at the moon's full shape and sighed. "We will die without food,"
"I wish I had a bow and arrows of my own. Then, Lady Kikyo wouldn't mind me going hunting on this night,"
"I can go catch some fish?" Kinu suggested. Ivy could only shake her head. "Then, what?"
"We wait for the moon to start changing," Ivy closed her eyes, and her silver hair turned raven black.
~Many Days Later~
'Night and day, night and day, but tonight is finally here!' Ivy ran her fingers through her silver hair, and played with her dog-like ears. She couldn't stop herself from making sure she looked presentable. He was a lord, after all, and today he would come to visit. She straightened her kimono; a white kimono with blue swirls coming up the sides and down her arms. It complemented her light green eyes, allowing them to be most noticeable. She had tried other colors, but blue had suited her. It also reminded her of the fire that her brother was able to create, which engulfs him whenever he pleases.
Ivy began petting Kinu's fur, twisting her claws in it as she continued fidgeting around. The small dog demon looked up at her, "Something wrong?"
"Absolutely nothing is wrong, my dear brother," Ivy stated in a too-happy tone. Kinu could see right through her and gave her a look that said 'yeah right,' Ivy giggled. "Okay, okay," she again spun a lock of hair with her claw as she finished her sentence. "It's just…Tonight is the night of the crescent moon!"
Kinu's eyes lit up. "We get to see Lord Sesshoumaru?" He asked, Excitement in his voice. Ivy nodded with excitement. Yes, she was excited as well, but she was also nervous. She felt that when in the presences of someone of Lord Sesshoumaru's rank, once must be properly presented. She felt dirty and sweaty, and not fit to be seen. But still, Kinu barked with happiness. He did not care about such ranks; he just loved seeing fellow dog demons. Also, Sesshoumaru was one of the few that could understand him.
"What are you two talking about?" Kikyo asked, taking a small break from mixing herbs.
Kinu, whom forgot Kikyo couldn't understand him, barked loudly, "The Crescent moon, Lady Kikyo! Lord Sesshoumaru is coming! We won't starve anymore!"
Giggling, Ivy translated. "He said 'The Crescent moon, Lady Kikyo! Lord Sesshoumaru is coming!'" she left out the starving part on purpose. They told Kikyo that they could last long without food, which was true. But after months of traveling, and letting Kikyo eat first to help her strength, they were both pretty hungry.
Kikyo frowned. "How do you know he's coming tonight? You could be getting your hopes up for nothing," Kikyo didn't like Sesshoumaru very much for obvious reasons. Every time Sesshoumaru sees Inuyasha by the well, he will attack him. Ivy said it was because it was Inuyasha's fault for letting Rin fall down the well with Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and even worse, Kohaku. They went to the future and never came back. 'It wasn't Inuyasha's fault!' Kikyo thought. 'Naraku made them fall, not Inuyasha!'
It made Kikyo mad how quickly Ivy believed Sesshoumaru's story the first time she heard it. They say that it was Inuyasha's fault because he didn't catch them as they fell. Then, he told Sesshoumaru not to worry about it, because either they would come back or he would get them. Well, they never came back, and Inuyasha couldn't go get them. Something wouldn't let him.
But Kikyo knew Ivy believed Inuyasha's side of the story as well. She cared for Inuyasha, and he cared for her as well. She called Inuyasha 'the gentlest creature of this world' because he had showed her all the simple wonders of being kind. About Sesshoumaru's side of the story; She was just the type of girl to agree with people so that she could be liked. She was still a brat when she wanted to be, but she had earned Kikyo's respect over the years. And to Inuyasha, Ivy reminded him of his friends. She could be very smart, like Miroku; very careful like Sango; and most of all, very, very kind, just like Kagome. But to Kikyo, Ivy was her newest rival. Not rival in love -for neither were interested in being Inuyasha's mate- but Ivy's half demon body took well to become a priestess. She was beginning to surpass Kikyo, though Kikyo would never admit such a thing.
Kikyo's mind wandered far off; towards Ivy's earlier years. She had told Kikyo how she had been tortured by the village she was born in. The people she grew up around all betrayed her after she grew to the age where her powers were becoming stronger. Out of fear, they hired a priest to capture her and seal off her demon power. They then used her as a weapon against all who opposed them. When she disobeyed, she was beaten. If she hadn't attracted the attention of a certain boy, who pitied her and soon fell in love, she could be dead at this very moment. Every time Kikyo remembered her story, she was reminded of how lucky one could be. Not everyone could get away. Maybe in this way, she resembled Kohaku, though it was only Kikyo who saw that resemblance…
Ivy sighed, bringing Kikyo back into reality. "Lady Kikyo, He finds us on every crescent moon, asks us about Naraku's whereabouts, and we exchange herbs for food and other junk,"
Kikyo blinked a few times before she remembered what they had been talking about. "But you are excited because…" Kikyo let the sentence trail on. Ivy did nothing but blush.
"Oh, she's just madly in love with Lord Sesshoumaru," Kinu said in a nonchalant tone. He started chuckling evilly.
Ivy turned to Kinu, her face reddened as the blood raced to her face. "No, I'm not! Get over here, you-!" Kinu laughed harder and started to run to the edge of the clearing, sure that she would give chase, but she didn't. All she noticed was the sun setting, the moon rising, and Lord Sesshoumaru standing right behind her.
And she knew he heard every word Kinu said.
This felt like a talky chapter :/ but I like it! Please Review, guys, I love reviews :)