Chapter Six Moving Forward

"Sister, sister! Come quick!!" Kaede's voice rang out in the morning hours, pulling Kikyou from her sleep.

"Kaede?" Kikyou muttered sleepily.

Kikyou moved from her bed and into the main hall of the shrine to see a man in traveler's garbs, standing just outside the door. Kaede was persistently insisting that he come inside but the man continued to refuse. Kikyou cleared her throat, which caught Kaede's attention. Kikyou moved into the doorway, putting on her shoes, and then walked to the man. He bowed and Kikyou did the same out of respect.

"Lady Kikyou, I was traveling through the field to the south of the river and found a man, unconscious, near a cave. I think he is not from around here." The man spoke calmly, adjusting the pack on his back.

Kikyou nodded.

"I see. Take me to him." She spoke seriously, grabbing her bow and new quiver, since she had lost her old one in the river.

The man did as he was told and quickly led the way. Kikyou glanced all around her for any sign of Inuyasha but, sadly, she saw none. It was then that her eyes fell upon an old cave ahead of them. She could sense something being emitted from it but she could not tell what.

"He's in there, priestess…I put him there to shield him from the sun."

"Thank you, I shall take care of him from here." Kikyou bowed to the man and watched as he walked off toward the village.

Kikyou entered the cave. The air was thick with mildew and decay as well as the smell of water dripping from somewhere. She walked to the back and saw the form of a man, lying on his back. The moans were horrid and caused her stomach to tighten but she continued on anyway.

"Lie still…I am the miko from the neighboring village. I was sent for to take care of you. Can you speak?" She asked warmly, pulling some bandages from her gi. "If you can, I want you to tell me your name, so I know what to call you."

There was a moment of groans as she began to wrap him up then a word became audible.

"On…i…gu…mo…" The man strained, gasping for breath.

Kikyou looked into his lidless brown eyes and smiled gently.

"Onigumo is your name?" She watched as his muscles twitched a slight nod. "My name is Kikyou."

She finished bandaging his wounds and stood up. Wiping her brow, she looked at him with a smile.

"I will return. I must fetch water and herbs to treat you. Please, hold on." Kikyou dashed out of the cave and back to the village.

She recruited a few men to carry buckets of water to the cave then had her sister's help with the gathering of herbs. She knew not how much time was left in the man so she had to hurry.

"Sister!" Kaede shouted, trying to get Kikyou's attention. "We shall take care of it, you go gather whatever other items you may need."

Kikyou looked into her sister's young eyes and could not help but smile. Kaede took this as an 'all right' and took off toward the other helpers. Kikyou sighed and took off toward the fields, she had to gather more herbs from this region for the earth was much richer. She went down the stone steps and across the fields, then into the forest toward the meadow. She heard a noise from behind and grabbed around six arrows. She spun around, knocking all six at a time, and fired.

"GET ME DOWN!" Inuyasha's familiar voice rang out.

Kikyou looked up at him and smiled.

"Still trying to get the jewel?"

"Yeah…and trying to do you in!" He snorted, turning his head away.

Kikyou smiled and walked down the path, rays of yellow and green light hitting her gi as she went. Inuyasha watched her for a moment and sat completely silent. Then he forced himself from the tree.

"What is wrong with me?" He whispered, gazing at Kikyou's shrinking form.

Kikyou continued her normal routine, not caring that Inuyasha was always around. She taught the children about herbs, took care of the workers in the fields, and made constant trips to the cave to treat Onigumo of his horrible burns. Soon fall was upon them and the men were preparing for the harvest and the winter months.

"Sister, could we have another lesson?" Kaede stated quickly hopping from a stool.

"All right, little sister, gather the children." Kikyou said with a smile, stroking her sister's hair.

Kaede giggled and rushed out of the hut. Kikyou smiled and shook her head as she watched Kaede gather the children.

"You are growing far too fast, little sister."

Kikyou walked into the streets, quiver on her back and bow on her shoulder, and carefully led the children through the field and into the meadow. The leaves were an amazing shade of red this day and the children were enjoying the freedom of Kikyou's lessons. Kaede  pulled Kikyou into a game of chase and the meadow was soon filled with laughter.

High in a nearby tree, hidden by the red of the leaves, Inuyasha stood. One hand placed against the tree, he watched Kikyou and the children. The side of him that suspected a trap was muffled and now, pure confusion held him.

"Kikyou, huh?" He said to himself.

The day wore on and soon night fell unto the village. The children were tucked into their beds and Kaede followed suite. Kikyou sat in the hut, pressed against the wall facing the door. She sat in silence for a moment, then slowly drifted into an uneasy slumber.

"Sister Kikyou?" Kaede's voice woke her.

"Kaede, what are you doing out of bed?"

"I…am unable sleep."

Kikyou smiled and raised one arm, allowing Kaede to slip in beside her. Kaede smiled sleepily at Kikyou and gently nuzzled.

"Sister Kikyou, what happened to our parents?"

Kikyou looked up for a moment and took a deep breath.

"They died…a long time ago."

Kaede shifted her weight and looked up at her sister.

"How?"

A heavy weight fell into Kikyou's stomach. She had not the heart to say how their mother died. As for their father, she felt it would bring a prejudice upon her sister toward certain creatures. Of course, she thought to herself, as she gazed back to Kaede, with as much as she has seen, she may already have that.

"Father died because of a human." Kikyou sighed, keeping herself together.

"A human? Was it…the war?"

"Yes, Kaede. Father died during the wars." Kikyou stated calmly.

Kaede sat for a moment.

"What about mother? How did she die? Was father here?"

Kikyou gazed into her sister's anxious brown eyes and could not help but feel saddened. She stroked her sister's hair, moving the bangs from her eyes, then placed her hand on her cheek.

"Mother died…after giving birth to you, little sister." Kaede jumped and began to shiver, tears filled her eyes as she looked up at Kikyou. "Father was not here, the village elder delivered you. I remember, I was the one that ran to get him." Kikyou lightened her tone in an attempt to cheer up her sister but to no avail. "Listen to me, Kaede, you were a beautiful baby and Mother adored you. Unfortunately, she was weak from an illness and she…" Kikyou glanced down to her sister who was quietly weeping into her gi. "she died. Kaede, she did ask that you be brought up to be strong." Kikyou lifted Kaede's head. "I have done all I can to fulfill that wish…you must work on it now."

"A-alone?" Kaede whimpered, wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"No, Sister Kaede…not alone." Kikyou held her sister close. "Never alone."

"You won't…leave me?" Kaede sniffed.

"I shall never leave you alone. Never."

Kaede looked up to her sister.

"Promise?"

Kikyou smiled and stroked Kaede's head gently.

"I promise."

Kaede drifted into a peaceful slumber and Kikyou soon followed. She felt sorry that her sister never knew their parents but it was not their fault. All she could do was comfort her sister and raise her to be strong.