Chapter Nine Forbidden Love

            The next day brought sun and a surprise to Kikyou's ears. Several villagers were shouting and she and Kaede quickly rushed to see what was going on. There, in a semi-circle, a group of men armed with gardening tools and small swords stood as a demon with silvery hair and a flaming red gi walked up. One man was shouting that he was the one that saved Kikyou but the others did not listen. Kikyou smiled at seeing him and Kaede looked to the demon, to Kikyou, then to the demon again and gave a gasp.

            "Sister Kikyou! Did you…" Kaede began but Kikyou covered her sister's mouth.

            "Go home…I shall deal with this." She said with a smile and walked down the steps to the villagers and pushed her way through. Kaede crossed her arms and did as she was told.

            "Lady Kikyou! This demon has walked up stating that he was invited by you…is that true?" One man asked while the others looked to her.

            "Leave him be…he is no threat to us. I did invite him…now let him be." She stated clearly, the villager's eyes were wide as they walked to the fields.

            Inuyasha looked to Kikyou with a question in his expression. Kikyou gave him a smile and held out her hand.

            "Welcome, Inuyasha."

            He walked up the stairs and looked around. Kikyou walked ahead of him and he quickly followed. The day went by quickly. Inuyasha found it somewhat difficult to leave the village when the sun set each day. The days went on and Inuyasha became a well-known person of the village. Kaede had grown used to him popping up when least expected and would occasionally ask him if he wanted some tea. He would refuse most times but he accepted other times and Kaede would laugh at how he would sniff the tea before drinking.

            "I did not poison it, Inuyasha-san." She laughed as Inuyasha drank his tea.

            One afternoon, he joined Kaede for tea. When the sun was beginning to set, he thanked her for the tea and walked outside, smelling the air for Kikyou. She had been gone all day and he had not seen any sign of her. He walked along the village and caught her scent.

            He followed it carefully and found his way to the pier. Kikyou seemed to have just arrived and he made his way over.

            "Kikyou?" He said softly.

            She turned to him with a smile and bowed, a signal that he could go closer. She prepared to set her bow and quiver down into the boat when Inuyasha stopped her and grabbed one of the poles.

            "Inuyasha…I need to talk to you…" She said seriously.

            "All right." He held the boat steady as Kikyou sat down and jumped in after her, careful not to tip it. He pushed off with one foot and moved the boat along with the pole while the sun turned the sky a warm orange.

            Kikyou looked up to Inuyasha and smiled.

            "You…have been a big help around the village these past few days. I thank you for being so kind to Kaede and the others." She said as she lowered her head.

            "I've enjoyed my time in the village…I've never been able to walk down a street and be looked at like a normal person…you know, because of these." He said, pointing to his ears that twitched again.

            "Yes, about you being in the village…I have to tell you something." She said. Inuyasha looked up at the darkening sky and turned the boat back toward the dock.

            "What is it? You don't want me around?" He said calmly.

            "No, it is not that." She replied quickly, messing with the string on her bow.

            "Then what? You can tell me."

            She gulped. A knot had formed in her throat and an iron weight had fallen into the pit of her stomach. She tried to relieve the pressure by sighing but the boat hit the dock and jolted her from her thoughts. Inuyasha was first out and he held out a hand for Kikyou but she refused to take it, pushing herself onto the dock by the end post. She straightened her gi and began to walk toward Inuyasha.

            Suddenly, the corner of her left shoe broke with a snap and Kikyou found herself falling forward. With both her bow and quiver held tightly in her right hand, the world slowing down before her, she thought for certain she would fall into the water. She fell, instead of the fate she had predicted, onto Inuyasha who held her up and away with the boating pole he held in his hands.

            She caught her balance quickly and took a small moment to take everything in. She had fallen, Inuyasha could have attacked her but, instead, he caught her. She looked up at him; his golden eyes gleamed back at her with a foreign gentleness that she had never seen in his eyes before. The orange and red sky and sound of the gentle breeze as it rustled the leaves stole them away. Was she dreaming again?

            She leaned in slightly. Inuyasha did so as well and his lips pressed gently against hers. Warmth surged through Inuyasha and a strange warmth, which he had never felt before, passed over his body. Feeling Kikyou's lips to his, holding her, all of it. He wanted this feeling to last forever. Kikyou slowly pulled away, her face flushed, and gazed into his golden eyes, searching for an answer to the feelings in her heart.

            Inuyasha held her for a moment longer, taking in the sweet smell of her soft hair. Kikyou reluctantly pulled away and walked toward the village. Inuyasha felt the warmth leave him slowly and he followed.

            "Kikyou?" Inuyasha muttered nervously. "Did you…feel anything?"

            Kikyou smiled and looked to him, one hand on the door to her hut.

            "Did you, Inuyasha?" She said calmly, hiding her embarrassment as she placed her equipment against the hut.

            "Well…yes…I did." He turned his head away.

            "Oh…Inuyasha…" She stepped down the step and turned his face to hers, the pale light of the full moon beaming upon them.

            Inuyasha gazed into her eyes, the light of the moon giving her a tranquil look. There was a long pause, the two gazed into one another's eyes, both fishing for answers to the questions that they could not put into words. Inuyasha leaned closer and pressed his forehead to hers, tears swelling in her eyes.

            "Don't cry, Kikyou." He said, kissing the tears from her cheeks, "I hate it when you cry."

            She looked at him and smiled softly.

            "Inuyasha…" She said in a whisper. Inuyasha leaned in and kissed her and the warmth rushed through him once more, revitalizing him.

            Kaede peeked quietly through a window to see her sister kissing Inuyasha and a small smile crossed her lips. She watched them pull away and slowly tear apart from each other's grip. Kaede rushed back from the window and dived into her covers, covering her head as fast as she could.

            Kikyou slowly opened the door and shut it, listening for Kaede's motions to lead her through. Her face was warm from the blood rushing to her cheeks but she paid it no mind. No one had seen her. She laid herself down and covered up and drifted into a dream world, not knowing her sister had watched them.

            The land was sunny and the meadow was filled with freshly blossomed flowers. She had her bow over her shoulder and quiver on her back and she walked along the meadow alone. She looked around and smiled at the spring day when Inuyasha walked out from the forest. She watched as he came over to her, a gentle expression on his face, and held her. The warmth enveloped her and she wrapped her arms around him.

            "Kikyou…I love you…" He said softly, one hand stroking her hair.

            "I…love you, Inuyasha." She heard herself say, her heart beating quickly and her stomach tightening.

            Sunlight peered in from outside and awoke Kikyou from her slumber. Kaede stood at Kikyou's feet and stared at her older sister with a sly smile on her face. Kikyou rubbed her eyes wearily and sat up.

            "Oh, big sister," Kaede said teasingly as she put her arms on her hips, "I have a question."

            "Then ask, Kaede, you know you do not have to ask permission from me to speak." Kikyou stated sleepily as she walked to the bowl of water and began to wash her face.

            "What is between you and Inuyasha?" Kikyou coughed from inhaling water and she turned to Kaede's smiling face.

            "What do you mean?" She coughed, wiping her face on a rag.

            "You know what I mean, Sister Kikyou. I saw you." Kaede continued. "You and him in front of the door." Kikyou stood up and walked by Kaede as she gathered her things, "You told me that people only do that when they love each other."

            "Do what, Kaede?" Kikyou stated quickly, trying to get through the subject.

            "You kissed him, big sister. You told me that people kiss when they love each other." Kaede followed on Kikyou's heels. "Does that mean you two love each other?" Kikyou did not reply but continued on with the gathering of her things. "Sister Kikyou!"

            "Ye…what is it, Kaede?" She quickly caught herself upon remembering what her sister had asked.

            "Do you and Inuyasha love each other?"

            Kikyou let out an annoyed breath and looked at her sister.

            "I do not know."     

            Kaede screwed up her face but could not argue. She got an answer out of Kikyou, although it was not what she wanted to hear. She watched as Kikyou hurried out of the house and into the village to see if anyone needed her. House to house and to the fields, no one needed her. Everything was at peace for the first time in a while. There was not a sign of a demon for miles, no one was ill, the herb supply was well, and Onigumo was fine until later that evening so that left Kikyou with nothing to do.

            Kikyou returned home to see Kaede on the steps. She took a deep breath and sat next to Kaede. The two passed glances and remained silent. Kaede gave her sister a small smile and Kikyou leaned back against the hut.

            "Why won't you tell me?" Kaede asked.

            "Tell you what, little sister?" Kaede passed her sister an annoyed look and then tucked her arms in her sleeves and began to imitate Inuyasha. "Oh…about Inuyasha."

            "Yes. About Inuyasha." Kaede pounced on her sister and looked up at her. "Do not hide things from me…"

            Kikyou sat in silence when a sudden thought came to mind. Years ago, when she was first given the Shikon no Tama and it had been taken by the Carrion crow, Kaede vanished then reappeared to call her from Inuyasha. She gave her sister a sly look and a gentle smile then cleared her throat.

            "You ask me not to hide things but would you mind not hiding things from me?" Kaede cocked her head to one side in confusion. "That night when I brought Shin…where did you disappear to?"

            Kaede looked at her for a moment, confused, then it hit her.

            "Uh…well…nowhere." Kaede stood up and tried to walk away but Kikyou put one hand on her shoulder.

            "Kaede…"

            She cringed. She knew that by the tone of Kikyou's voice she was not too happy about Kaede keeping a secret.

            "Uh…we're even…nothing wrong with a secret…right?" She said to her sister, looking back with a nervous smile.

            Kikyou nodded and gave a smile, releasing Kaede and allowing her to rush into the hut and get ready for dinner. Kikyou looked to the forest, seeing the small red dot that rested upon a high tree limb. She thought about going to see him but chose not to when a couple of village men passed.

            "Sister Kikyou! Help me, please!!" Kaede shouted from the back of the hut, pulling Kikyou from thought.

            "I am there, little Kaede." She replied calmly as she rose to her feet, dusting herself off, and then entering the hut.

            "Can you help me roll the rice balls? It's getting messy." Kaede said innocently as she struggled with her sleeves.

            Kikyou gave a laugh and walked behind Kaede and helped her tied the sash.

            "Take things one step at a time…there is no rush."

            "I know," Kaede said quickly, rushing to the vegetables, "I just want to have it perfect…for Mother…"

            Kikyou smiled softly and wrapped her arms gently around Kaede.

            "Kaede…you need not worry over such things…you are strong and Mother is proud of you…I know it."