Chapter Four

Demon Revealed by

Shadows

Days went by with the slow drift of clouds and north winds that chilled the air and all the wind touched. Kikyou wore her poncho and hat made from woven straw and continued her normal routine, while also keeping Kaede indoors out of fear that her sister may catch a chill or worse. Kikyou moved from house to house, checking for those who were in need of aid. It was not until noon that she found her way back to the shrine and to the Shikon no Tama.

Kikyou sat down on the shrine steps and sighed heavily, her warm breath turning into steam as it touched the icy air. Closing her eyes and relaxing her body, she drifted into a state of meditation.

Darkness was all that was before her. A completely blank darkness that came as naturally as night or day. Kikyou looked into the darkness, finding peace within it, and began to doze. Just as she did so, a strange shape emerged. The form had a long body, with thousands of leg-like shapes protruding from it. She strained her eyes to see the creature in greater detail, but just as quickly as it came, the vision vanished.

Kikyou opened her eyes and shook her head slightly.

"Surely rest is all that I require. Whatever creature that may have been…I hope it is no threat."

She stood up from the step and entered the shrine, greeting her sister happily as she removed her poncho, hat, and shoes.

"Sister Kaede, I need rest. You are to take care of things around the shrine. Should a villager call for me," she looked at her sister seriously, "come and tell me. Do not take matters into your own hands."

"All right, big sister. Rest well."

Kikyou nodded to her sister and went to her sleeping quarters, where she quickly fell asleep beneath several layers of quilts.

Kikyou dreamt of the forest. She was walking through it like she did almost everyday only it was different somehow. She walked along the grassy path; the wind rustled the branches and sent a chill up her spine. Her bow and the weight of the quiver on her back gave her comfort as she treaded along through the dark forest.

            A loud and long rustle came from behind her. She spun around, sliding her bow from around her left arm. She silently drew an arrow from the quiver and knocked it. Eyes darting left to right, scanning the surrounding darkness for any sign of life.

            "I told you to stay out." A familiar voice echoed.

Kikyou spun around, arrow drawn back and ready to strike.

            "Show yourself!" Kikyou shouted, her voice trailing into the darkness as the loud rustling came again.

            "This is my forest, get out! Or do you desire to feel the caress of my claws?" the voice stated again.

            "Show yourself, demon. I shall give you the chance to leave alive if you show yourself to me now."

            "Get out! Stupid wench! This forest is mine and mine alone! Get lost or die!"

            Kikyou could feel the dull pressure of anger rising within her. She loosened her hold on the arrow and slowly relaxed the string. Taking another look around, Kikyou began to walk toward the exit of the forest when, suddenly, something huge lunged out from the shadows and grabbed Kikyou by the throat and slammed her against a nearby tree. Kikyou strained to open her eyes but everything was black.

            "Sister Kikyou!!" Kaede's voice rang out over the hissing of the creature and Kikyou jolted, now wide-awake and sitting up.

The room was empty and no light came from the window. She quickly jumped from beneath the covers and rushed out of her room into the main hall to see that the door had been left wide open. She walked to the door only to be met by a man.

"Lady Kikyou, my apologies," the man stated, his voice weak and distant as he bowed to her.

"What troubles you, sir?" Kikyou asked with noted concern in her voice.

There was a strange pause, the man did not move. Kikyou placed one hand on his shoulder and lightly shook him. Suddenly, the man fell over, exposing a huge hole in his abdomen. Blood poured from the wound and coated the steps of the shrine. Kikyou jumped back in surprise and looked around in haste for help. A strange, dull roar flowed on the breeze. Kikyou stood still and tilted her head to listen.

"People!" she dashed into the shrine and grabbed her bow and quiver and set off down the stairs, into the village streets, and toward the noise.

As she ran, she tied the quiver as tight as her rushed motions would allow, to her back then strung her bow carefully, jumping over a tipped bucket and skipping steps as she went toward the forest edge near the fields. Her heart pounded in her ears, Kikyou could hardly hear the screams but the numerous bodies on the ground told her that she was close. One man stirred and Kikyou rushed to his side and turned him over, revealing a large gash from his left shoulder to the top of his waistline, cutting through the sash that made up his belt.

"What creature did this? You must tell me!" Kikyou stated quickly in-between gasps.

"Centi…centi…" the man hissed, blood trailing down the sides of his mouth. Kikyou leaned closer but the life had expired from the man's eyes.

Filled with anger, she stood up and stared at the forest coldly. Suddenly, a woman shrieked. Kikyou made haste in the woman's direction to see her curled in a ball, weeping uncontrollably.

"My boy! It took my baby boy!!" she shrieked repeatedly, rocking herself.

Kikyou felt a knot form in her chest and quickly turned to the village. It was then that an idea struck her. She dashed back to the village, passing several armed men as she went. Turning hard into the shrine she bounded toward the center room and the Shikon no Tama. The door flew open as Kikyou entered and, as she placed the jewel around her neck, a voice came from the right.

"Sister?"

Kikyou made it to the door before replying.

"Kaede, I ask that you stay here. I hold the jewel and I shall lead whatever has attacked away from here." She turned to her sister's tearful face and smiled. "I shall return."

With that, Kikyou bounded for the forest, bow in hand and light fading. An uproar from the villagers told her that they were about to take matters into their own hands and that she had little time to lose.

"Demon!! I know that you are here! Show yourself!" Kikyou shouted as she ran deeper into the forest, removing herself from the path and narrowly avoiding trees. "DEMON!!!"

She stopped in a small, heavily wooded area; panting and checking her quiver to be sure it remained. Snow was beginning to fall; the flakes drifted by her eyes slowly as if they were feathers. She caught her breath and stood there in silence, a loud rustling caught her attention. Something large was heading toward her and was moving quickly.

The noise died. Kikyou walked a few steps then stepped up onto a fallen tree to look around. All was silent as she strained to listen for any sounds. The ground shifted slightly, just hard enough to be noticed. Kikyou stood completely still and glanced down to her feet at the segmented tree trunk. She stared at it for a moment, eyes slowly moving along the misshapen branches that protruded from each segment.

She leapt into the air just as the coils beneath her jolted. She drew her hand back, quickly grabbing an arrow from the slightly loose quiver, and knocked it. She landed and drew the string back and fired into the air, the pink aura of the arrowhead lit the clearing just enough to make out the nude upper body of a female rushing toward her with the lower body of an insect. Kikyou jumped to one side, the creature lunged through a patch of trees and hissed in rage.

Wood bits flew and chunks bounced off of Kikyou's robes. She stood for a moment when the creature shot up from the rubble of the fallen trees and dove at her. Kikyou jumped back but slipped on the newly fallen snow. Kikyou could feel the monster's cold hands grabbing her. The next thing Kikyou knew, she hit a tree with so much force that she could hear the wood crack beneath her as the creature pressed her against the tree, one hand holding her throat while the other five held her body.

She strained for breath, her left hand clutching onto the creature's arm.

"The jewel is near…I can feel it!" the monster hissed.

Kikyou tilted her head to the left when the creature's head moved strangely close to hers. Kikyou scowled and attempted to squirm free but the creature kept a strong hold on her. She freed her right hand and began an attempt to pry the monster's hands from her neck but her struggle came to no avail as the demon tightened its grip.

"I can feel it. You hold the Shikon no Tama on you…give it to me…"

Kikyou took in as deep, wheezing breath, as deep as her strangler would allow, and turned her head to the demon.

"Aye. I hold…the Shikon…no Tama," Kikyou heaved, "but it shall not fall into your hands…nor shall I allow it to fall into the hands of any other demon!"

Kikyou pressed her right hand into the demon's face. The creature let out a fiendish scream that shattered the silence of the night. A bright pink light came from her palm and burned the demon's flesh, forcing her to release her hold on Kikyou and causing her to fall to the ground with a distinct thud.

Kikyou took advantage of the demon's temporary blindness and dashed past her from beneath the many legs that lashed out, searching frantically for her. Kikyou rushed onto the path and passed a set of travelers.

"Fair travelers, I beseech you! Find shelter at once if you value your lives!" Kikyou shouted as she dashed past them. The travelers watched Kikyou as she dashed down the forest path and moved deeper into the forest. The demon lashed out from the small clearing, flailing wildly as she tramped through the travelers and after Kikyou and the Shikon no Tama.

"THE JEWEL!!" she screeched, uprooting the earth as her many legs tore after Kikyou.

The chilled air stung her face as she dashed through the forest and then dove down a hill close to a stream. The demon made no hesitation in diving after her but did not expect Kikyou to have drawn an arrow. The arrow flew, lighting the night and severing the first arm on the demon's right side. The demon screeched and tumbled down the hill. Kikyou attempted to dart to the side but one arm grabbed Kikyou's gi as the demon tumbled, taking her along for the ride.

The two tumbled and landed in the spring with a splash. Kikyou jumped up from beneath the water and swam toward shore, making it to the shallows just as the demon resurfaced. Kikyou fought with the water and pushed herself back onto land to realize that her quiver was nowhere to be found. Bow still in hand, only without a string, she dashed along the shoreline and into a line of forestry. She lashed her way through the heavy brush and thorn-covered vines, to a small clearing.

Suddenly, the demon lashed out, into the clearing and stood ready to strike.

"THE JEWEL!!! GIVE ME THE JEWEL!!"

The demon lunged at the semi-defenseless Kikyou with amazing speed. Kikyou readied herself for a counter when a voice rang out over the battle cry of the demon.

"SANKON TESSO!!!" Streaks of orange flew by, slicing several legs off of the demon. A red blur shot out from the forest and slammed the creature to the ground.

"Foolish, half-demon!" the creature shrieked, rising from the ground and turning to face her attacker. "You will die!"

"Hmph! Like to see you try, Mistress Centipede," he gloated. "I kill demons like you for fun."

"You're Inuyasha…that stupid half-breed." Mistress Centipede scowled.

"Yeah, well I'm tired of hearing your voice so…," Inuyasha leapt into the air and kicked off, "Die!! SANKON TESSO!!!"

The streaks flew from his claws. He charged through her, his claws cutting the air as he sliced through Mistress Centipede, cutting her to bits.

Inuyasha stood as the remains of Mistress Centipede fell to the ground. Kikyou stood in silence, Inuyasha glared at her.

"You going to hand over the jewel now?" He turned to her. "Or do I need to take it from you…personally?"

She glared at him, her gaze cold as the snow that fell. Inuyasha smirked, showing his fangs, his ears twitching slightly as the wind passed over them. Kikyou keep a tight hold on her bow and straightened her stature as she continued to stare at him.

"Inuyasha, was it?" she asked coldly.

"What's it to you, priestess?" he snapped, "I don't care to be on a name basis with you! All I want is that jewel that is around your neck!" He paused then opened his right hand with a grin. "I'll take that jewel now…from the source!!"

He lunged at Kikyou with his claws ready to strike. Kikyou tried to jump away but he was too close. Inuyasha turned his hand and orange streaks began to follow. Kikyou ducked just as he let his attack fly, then dashed forward, bow held tightly in her hands, and rammed the bow into his ribs. She kicked off and followed the half-demon to the ground, her bow wedged against his throat.

He grasped the bow and pushed against Kikyou's weight. The two continued to push against the bow until Inuyasha placed his feet against Kikyou's stomach. She tried to get away, but it was too late. Inuyasha rolled onto his shoulder blades and kicked Kikyou off toward the forest edge. Bow still in hand, Kikyou landed on her back and proceeded to roll, forcing her to her feet and enabling to dash through the think brush ahead of Inuyasha.

As Kikyou fought her way away from Inuyasha, she failed to notice how uneven the hill had been during the battle with Mistress Centipede, and stumbled up it. Inuyasha emerged along the shoreline and dashed up after her. Kikyou made it up in time and ducked into the forest. Inuyasha did the same, eyes burning with anxiousness.

Suddenly, he leapt into the air, shouting 'sankon tesso' as he rose. The attack slashed across her bow, just cutting the left sleeve of her gi. Kikyou toppled to the right near a tree. Kikyou tried to move but Inuyasha was right on top of her.

"Good-bye, priestess," he laughed, raising one hand to strike her down.

"Lady Kikyou!!!" Several male voices rang out, stopping Inuyasha's actions.

"The villagers," Kikyou muttered quickly. "Inuyasha, please leave here. I do not wish to see you captured by the villagers."

Inuyasha looked at her with a smug look on his face.

"Them? Catch me? That would be new."

Kikyou squirmed free, having his attention drawn away, and stood up. She watched as his ears twitched, trying to listen for he villagers. Kikyou heard their cries again and dashed after them, Inuyasha tried to grab her but only tore her gi more.

"He went that way!! I just missed him!" She shouted to the rows of torches that lit the path. "I am all right, but the demon has moved to the west. Hurry! Before he strikes again!"

The villagers shouted words to her but none could be deciphered. Kikyou watched as her lie went into motion and the torches dashed to the west. She sighed then turned around to see Inuyasha staring her in the face. She jumped, but did not flee.

"Why did you do that? To save them?" Inuyasha asked scornfully.

"No," Kikyou replied in a melancholy tone, "to repay my debt."

Inuyasha looked at her in confusion. Kikyou paid him no mind and walked onto the path. Part of Inuyasha wanted to strike her down right then. His right hand throbbed for her blood to coat the ground and that the jewel that dangled from her neck be his. He watched as Kikyou walked off, her figure slowly vanishing in the shadows of the forest. What is stopping me, he thought?

He turned away and looked down at the blood specks from Mistress Centipede began to glow a faint blue and vanish. He walked to an old tree that overlooked the village and sat upon his favorite branch near the top and watched the torches slowly return to the village and fade. Kikyou had helped him and, for the first time in his life, had treated him as an equal and not a filthy half-breed.

"A trap…she wants me dead…," he muttered to himself as he closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.