Better Days

The Tale Of A Tragic Camaraderie

Chapter II

Kikyou And Mighty Kaede

Note: Despite this entire story being a work of drama, this chapter contains comic mischief. I thought it was only fair to let you know.

"Achoo!!"

"Bless you."

"That was nice of you to say that."

"I don't know." Kaede intoned dubiously. "It looks like your condition is getting worse. Maybe you shouldn't try to move so much."

"Don't be so frank about it, Kaede." Kikyou admonished which was followed by another sneeze. "Excuse me. Well, at least the fever and the headache's no longer a bother. It's just a minor sinus but at least there's less to worry about."

"Still, I don't want you to get out of your futon." Kaede admonished firmly. "That autumn air is definitely going to put you back in your place and then you'll have to worry about a fever all over again."

"Don't be ridiculous. Despite my frame, I am a potent woman."

"Yeah, yeah! I get it you said that line so much sister, it could be considered a mantra." Kaede scoffed, rolling her eyes. Kikyou noticed her younger sister's gesture with hidden perusal and found it funny how the child resembled their late mother so much-- bother in manner and appearance. The little nine year old caught on to this and curiosity ensnared her. "Why are you looking at me like that for? You're looking at me like I'm a lad."

At that accusation, Kikyou blushed. "Ah, nothing of that sort. I was just striding down memory passage."

The child grinned devilishly. "Could it be Toshimitsu that you were thinking about? Because the villagers did used to say that he looks a lot like us to a point we could be siblings."

"Toshimitsu!?" Kikyou dumped out, her face deep crimson at the unexpected taunt. "His family are close friends of our parents." She excused, even though it was true. "Besides... he is in love with Satsuki... and they are to be married in the spring." Her face was sad but it went by unnoticed by her sister.

"But I always did thought that you had a crush on him though." Kaede said. "Like all those time when he say's hey to you and you always hesitate to return his greetings because you're so busy blushing."

"Kaede! That's enough! End of conversation!" Kikyou dismissed, but she couldn't help but giggle at those memories. "Anyway, I'm going outside." She proceeds to rise from her futon.

"No!" The little girl refused the elder sibling's freedom. "You're not going anywhere, young lady! Not until I say so! I promised that I'm going to take care of you while you are ill and you are going to stay here while I do so!"

Kikyou frowned. "But--but! Aww... As you wish, Kaede..." She ceased her argument and returned to lay in her futon. Guess she will have to go along with it but she failed to suppress the girlish chuckled that escaped her. Kaede was just so adorable while acting all too concerned and responsible for her health.

"Hey! You're laughing again!" Kaede noticed.

"It's nothing, Kaede."

The little tyke huffed imperiously. "I thought so."

"Go away-- PLEASE?!"

"I refuse. It is my duty to assist you two lovely damsels just in case you encounter any sort of hardships on your way to see this... Kikyou." Miyatsu insisted.

"Miyatsu, we appreciate your concern but we do not need you to travel along with us." Yumeji chided just before frowning indignantly. "And you have one more time to put your hand on my--"

"We're here." Tsubaki informed. "This is her home village."

Shoving Miyatsu away from her, Yumeji smiled with relief. "It's about time because I'm agitated by Miyatsu's actions." She turned to face the aforementioned man. "Now you can leave us. We'll be safe and sound in this village. I'm sure that there are some other women that you're willing to pursue."

"Unfortunately that's not the case." Miyatsu replied much to Yumeji's ire. "But I have to admit I've never seen such luscious scenery as the one before me." They stood atop a verdant mount that towers over the seemingly valley of a village. The parish was lush with life-- both aged and young and it held tremendous vegetation despite the cool autumn climate. Countless throughway could be seen as they overpass the several ponds just outside the civilization. "Considering this, I do wonder how does this Kikyou-sama lool like."

Yumeji immediately made an excuse. "She's not your type."

The monk arched a brow. "Oh? Is that so? Maybe she's an elder or perhaps a little too portly?"

"Umm... perhaps." She lied again.

"Ugh-- I mean, how unfortunate." Miyatsu stammered. "Maybe I should get going?"

Tsubaki caught onto who they were talking about. With a frown she said, "No she isn't. She's only a few months older than I am, a bit taller than I am and she's on the slender side." To this, Yumeji slapped her face in defeat which made her realized her plan to dissuade Miyatsu. "Oh my! I'm so sorry!"

"Too late for that now..." Yumeji muttered in defeat. It was a clear sign that she was very close to keeping the bothersome monk at bay. Twiddling her long braid in frustration she tried to devise another scheme to daunt him. "Miyatsu, you are not her type."

"We do not know that as of yet." Miyatsu considered. "I'm pretty much anxious to meet her now."

"I think that she is seeing someone, Miyatsu-sama." Tsubaki informed, which brought an huge smile to Yumeji's face. "Come. Maybe we can catch her during a time of leisure."

The priestess and the monk followed suit of the aforementioned woman's orders and descended the mount behind her towards the village.

"Mama... I told you... that I... hated... miso soup..."

On the futon opposite the snoring child, Kikyou immediately shot up into sitting position. The little tyke exerted some much of her energy in an effort to nurse her big sister back to good health. She smiled while she scrutinized the child snoring on the floor with her mouth wide open. It was indeed a funny sight and she decided to cover her up in a sheet so she won't be getting ill anytime soon.

'You tried, Kaede.' Kikyou thought with a smirk. 'But like I said before, a mere illness won't hold me down for long.' She carefully made a quiet pace to the shudders. Judging from the mixture of scarlet and lavender outside, it was nearly sunset. With a quick glance back at the sleeping girl, she stepped out the door.

Everything went well... but a strong fist somehow caught her by the fabric of her blouse. Kikyou feared the outcome. "Going somewhere...?"

Kikyou chuckled apprehensively. "Ah... I was just going out for a quick leak. You know how my bladder is sometimes... heh heh heh..." She could sense the near tangible heat emitting from the younger sibling's glare.

Her tuition proved correct too. Even the most hideous of demons couldn't compare to the upcoming wrath of mighty Kaede. "Fine then... I'll come and keep an eye on you..."

"Kaede!!"

Several minutes later, after going through a lecture from Kaede, Kikyou was relieved that the brat had fallen asleep again. She rose once again from her futon and took extra caution not to awaken Kaede. She skulked through the hut as if she was a ninja during espionage. Just as she was outward bound...

"Kikyou..."

The seventeen year old priestess gasped and painfully swiveled her sight back to the girl on the floor. Big surprise that Kaede was still asleep. Fortunately she was sleep talking.

"...What is the meaning behind the old saying, 'Birds and Bees'?"

She thanked the gods for doing her a huge favor. Gathering her quiver, bow, and her courage as well, she bolted out the exit.

She ran from the hut as if Mephistopheles himself was after her and made it into the middle of the village. "My. That was close." She signed in relief. "For a moment there I thought that she was wake." She began her patrol of the village but a strange sound caught her attention.

"Meow... meow... me- Oww! Help! I'm being attacked by demons!" Was the sound. Funny thing was, it sounded like a cat but she knew that cats were incapable of speech. Her suspicions aroused, she brandished her bow and arrows and slowly made her way to the darkened street from hence the sound/plea came from.

"It's high time that you shall pay for your crimes, demon!!" Kikyou declared as she leaped into the darkness. But what she encountered was not a demon-- nor a cat for that matter. Face red with embarrassment, Kikyou said, "Aw phooey..."

"Got cha!" Kaede declared as she lifted her sister overhead and carry her back to the hut.

Damn, the kid sure was energetic.

Once again, being scolded by her little sister she fell asleep again. Kikyou grew annoyed as she mulled over the previous outcomes. This time, she loomed over the little girl and snapped her fingers in her face just to make absolutely sure that she was deep asleep. After several moments of doing this, she confirmed that Kaede was indeed dead to the world.

'It's about time.' She thought in irritation. This time she headed towards the exit without looking back.

But...

THOCK!!!

"What is the meaning of this!?" Kikyou beseeched indignantly. The sleeves of her robes were apprehended onto the wall by a pair of arrows. Suspended in air with her feet dangling she processed who was behind the misfortune.

Kaede was on her feet with an bow in her hands and upon her face was a mask of determination and her lips were curved in a sneer. "You're up again." She said in a menacing tone. "I guess that you have to pee again."

"Just let me down." Kikyou commanded. "And when have you became such an articulate archer?"

Kaede considered that. With an innocent look on her face she said, "I guess that I inherited this influence from you, sister. It was bound to happen."

"Aw phooey..."

"Sister, I'm afraid that I have to restrain you." Kaede inform as she held a lasso in her hands.

"Mama... tell the boogie man to leave me alone..." Kaede snored. "He's... scaring me..."

'Che. He should be more afraid of you.' Kikyou mentally scoffed as she squirmed in her futon. Her wrists were bounded together behind her back and her feet was tied as well. The girl made sure that Kikyou wouldn't try to escape this time. But Kikyou had a plan on her own.

She can use the arrows to free herself.

She quietly fidgeted her way towards the quiver with the arrows set in it by the door. She used the wall to posture herself up straight with her back towards the wall and began grinding the rope against the shaft of the arrows... being plenty mindful not to cut herself.

'Sister... you'll see that you cannot stop me for long.' She thought in annoyance. 'However I do need to take a visit to the hot springs." Eventually she was free from her bindings and she sprinted towards her destination.

The hot springs.

Kaede wouldn't know what hit her.

END OF CHAPTER II

Will Kikyou make it to the hot springs? Or will Kaede catch her slipping once again? Kikyou... she's definitely a cool character to me but that doesn't mean that I won't let her go through comic mischief. Just so you know that I'm definitely not bashing the poor girl. Anyway, here's my responses.

Banana Rum: Hey, that's a mighty cool name. I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the story. Better Days is definitely fun to write and I appreciate your criticism. I did say that this piece is canon but I also said that there are elements of AU intact. Here's a short rundown of the characters so far.

Kikyou: Our beloved heroine of this story. A mighty priestess and soon to be protector of the Shikon no Tama. She is seventeen years of age and pretty soon her life will become more difficult.

Tsubaki: A priestess of seventeen years of age. Beautiful and loyal to her duties and said to be just as or even more powerful than Kikyou. She travels around with her companion, Yumeji, a comrade in her duties and long time friend of hers.

Yumeji: A brunette priestess of sixteen years. Her and Tsubaki was trained together under the same priest at a far away shrine. Intelligent and mild-mannered, she is very vulnerable to the lustful antics of monk Miyatsu. Thus she always seems so angry and annoyed around him. It was said that she was very close to the said monk once though...

Haruna: An expert demon slayer only at seventeen years of age. Physically powerful and defiant but still civilized, she ponders heavily about the purpose of the Sacred Jewel. But her clan soon decides to relinquish the jewel to a certain priestess in order for her to purify it...

Miyatsu: A roving monk and a bona fide lady-killer. Whenever he sees an attractive young woman with an ample derriere, he either gropes her and proposes to marry her. However, for some strange reason, Yumeji always warns him that his hand is going to be his downfall someday...

Guess that clears the confusion a little. Until next chapter.