Chapter Two

Crickets chirped and the sound of river water trickling over small rocks and pebbles became noticeable. The area was blurred, a large smudge of color with a strange, human-like figure just above. As the picture cleared, the golden eyes of a silver-haired half-demon with the ears of a dog became known.
"Kikyou...are you all right?" He said gently.
Kikyou blinked several times, trying to remember exactly what had happened to her before now. She tried to sit up quickly but the dizziness over came her again and she fell limp.
"Be careful. Don't over do it."
Kikyou sat up and placed her left hand on her head to stop the spinning.
"I apologize for this, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha smiled and stood up, keeping a strong grip on Kikyou to lift her to her feet.
"Don't worry about it. You need rest."
Kikyou looked at Inuyasha in confusion.
"Why do you and the villagers say that I need rest? What happened to me?"
"Well...that's what I wanted to talk to you about. You see..." Inuyasha spoke but was interrupted by the shriek of an inhuman beast in the distance.

Kikyou's gaze quickly turned to the direction of the cry and Inuyasha began to growl. It was then that Inuyasha realized something that made his insides churn. Kikyou had the jewel with her!

"Damn!" Inuyasha snarled, positioning himself in front of her, crouched and ready.

Kikyou, now completely lost, reached back for her arrows only to find that there were none in her quiver. Her bow was missing as well. She looked around frantically to see her bow was lying on the ground several feet in front of Inuyasha and that her arrows were scattered along the ground. She stopped for a minute, her arrows scattered across the ground was an understandable thing, and she had blacked out. She looked at her bow, lying on the ground in an awkward position, as if it had fallen off because she had been moved...

"INUYASHA!!" Kikyou screamed as she felt someone, or something, grab her arms and hold them tightly behind her back.

Inuyasha spun around to feel the blunt force of an unseen object hit him, knocking him back several feet and then sent smashing into a tree.

Kikyou struggled to free herself from the grip of what appeared to be nothing but failing miserably with each movement she made.

"Inuya...sha!! Leave me!!" Kikyou cried, straining against the constricting force restraining her and slowly raising her from the ground.

Inuyasha forced his way back to his feet, his eyes filled with rage and pure hatred for the creature that had struck him.

"Show yourself!" Inuyasha's golden eyes scanned frantically for any sign of movement. Then, for only a spilt second, he caught a glimpse of a blur pass to his right. He slashed, hitting air. He stood for a moment, when he felt the creature's presence behind him. "Damn coward!!!" Inuyasha leapt into the air, his ankle being badly scratched then air dashed back down. "SANKON TESSO!!!"

Bright orange streaks of light cut through the darkness of the forest, and struck the unseen life form. Blood splattered onto Inuyasha's face and gi as he landed on the forest floor, his left ankle wounded from the beast's attack. The creature let out a strange, gurgling wail, like a cat drowning in a river. Inuyasha held his ears, wincing in pain as the screeching continued. Kikyou clenched her teeth, hoping against hope for a miracle to stop the horrible sound.

Just then, a bright pink light emerged from Kikyou's chest. Kikyou cracked open her left eye to see the light growing brighter and brighter. Her eyes widened and she quickly glanced over to Inuyasha, who was on his knees, scratching frantically at his sensitive ears. Seeing his suffering was raising the rage she had held in throughout her life. She was not to show emotion for they could be taken advantage of, but, she loved Inuyasha and this was far too much to take without a fight.

"Unhand me, demon!!" She shouted, the light tearing the air around her and cutting her binds. Blood splattered everywhere, staining her gi with what looked to be blue paste. Inuyasha glanced up and slowly released his ears to find out that the noise had stopped.

The creature was now visible. A water demon had finally fallen to the temptation of the Shikon no Tama and was going to meet the same fate as all other demons that had tried to take it from Kikyou.

Inuyasha grinned and flexed his fingers, his sharp claws gleaming in the dawn light. The creature began to flee as Kikyou fell to her knees. Inuyasha let out a laugh and leapt into the air, drawing back his right hand. "Hmph! Nice try...but no one can defeat me!" Inuyasha air dashed at an angle and waited until he was practically on top of the demon before unleashing his attack. "It's OVER! SANKON TESSO!!!"

Inuyasha's attack tore through the watery flesh of the demon. It let out a scream, shattering the silence of the morning and knocking Inuyasha back, then fell into a puddle of its own fluid.

Inuyasha landed on the ground and limped to Kikyou with concern in his eyes. Kikyou looked over at him as he drew near and smiled.

Inuyasha smiled back and held out his left hand.

"Are you all right?"

Kikyou took his hand and allowed him to help her to her feet and smiled.

"Yes...I thank you." The two stood there in the morning light for a few minutes, gazing into each other's eyes. Then, Kikyou realized what was happening and snapped her hand away nervously. "My apologies."

"No...don't be." Inuyasha said softly, his voice cracking slightly.

Kikyou looked at him, blush slightly covering her cheeks.

"Inu...Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha leaned in close to Kikyou, his face turning red and his heart beating quickly. He was going to swallow his fear and do it! He was determined! He neared her lips, the very lips that he had wanted to kiss since he befriended her.

"Lady Kikyou?" A male voice said in a questionable tone.

Inuyasha pulled away just as a man walked up. Kikyou cleared her throat and fixed her hair.

"Yes. I am Lady Kikyou. May I assist you?"

The man bowed respectfully with a smile then glanced over to Inuyasha and began to examine him.

"You gotta problem?"

"Inuyasha!" Kikyou whispered sharply, glaring over at him.

"Oh no, not a problem. Just thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Age is taking its hold and I heard about the..."

Inuyasha coughed, distracting Kikyou and the man's attention.

"What is it, Inuyasha?"

"Nothing. We need to head back to the village. That sister of yours will be upset if you aren't there."

Inuyasha grabbed Kikyou's hand and pulled her onto his back and leapt into the air toward the village, leaving the old man behind. Kikyou was completely confused now, and annoyance was beginning to settle in. Why would no one tell her what "accident" she was involved with?

Inuyasha rushed back to the village and set Kikyou down in front of her hut with a smile on his face. Kikyou did not smile back, but gave him a stern look that sent chills down Inuyasha's spine.

"Listen...Kikyou...meet me tonight at the peer. We can talk then." Inuyasha said softly, his voice hinting reluctance and-to Kikyou's surprise-fear.

Kikyou nodded and gave Inuyasha a smile to ease his worry.

"I shall meet you just after sundown."

"All right..." Inuyasha spoke softly and dashed off.

Kikyou looked up at the sky and gave a determined nod.

"Finally...I shall finally discover what everyone is hiding from me."

"SISTER!!!" Kaede's familiar voice rang out over the late morning silence and Kikyou soon felt her self being forced to the ground in an embrace.

"Sister Kaede!" Kikyou blurted out in surprise as she looked down at her young sister.

"Where were you? You went away! You said it was dangerous outside at night and you went without telling me! I was so frightened!"
Kikyou stood up and pried Kaede from her waist then gave her young sister an odd look.
"Why were you frightened? You should know that I shall never leave you alone."
Kaede looked away for a moment then turned to Kikyou with a beaming smile that further increased Kikyou's suspicions about the secret being kept from her.
"Come, big sister, you promised you would help me with the Sacred Water Rite today." Kaede pulled on Kikyou's arm.
Kikyou sighed and followed.
"I suppose I may have...but..." Kikyou began to think to herself.
But why do I not remember this?