Better Days

The Tale Of A Tragic Camaraderie

Chapter III

Reunion

The young priestess surveyed the surroundings, keeping a mindful eye of lechers, Peeping Toms, or her over protective younger sister for that matter. After several moments of doing this she was relieved that there wasn't anybody around. It was only her, the comforting autumn night air and the soothing prowess of the hot springs before her eyes. She sighed in respite, a confirmation that the coast was clear. She was left alone to enjoy her soak. 'Ah, free at last.'

Kikyou untied the ribbon in her hair which allowed the obsidian tresses to spread across her shoulders. Subsequent to doing that, she proceeded to remove her dark red hakama but while doing so she caught a glimpse of her reflection. With the white blouse still on (which almost looks like a yukata now due to it's length), she was dazed at the sight of her image among the clear surface. It was odd though, due to the fact that her own physique was nearly unfamiliar to her but at the same time it was guiltily fascinating. Giving in to her conscience, she forced herself to give her appearance further perusal.

She needed to question her sexuality... even if it was... moot because of her duties.

She accepted that her face held a cool kind of beauty. With her long tresses free from their binding, it only enhance her beauty and her naturally sad brown eyes glimmered seductively in the moonlight. A tiny smirk of admiration formed on her features-- she really like what she saw, her moon face alone was lovely, and she was now deeply aware of that. Soon enough, she sat on the shore while allowing her feet to soak in the springs. The warmth of the water caused her to blush but it wasn't the only factor for her discoloration.

She was compelled further to survey herself as she glanced at her legs. The white blouse covered her entire torso down to her mid thighs. She was unconsciously tempted to smooth her hands against the flawless planes of her legs, but she was afraid. She knew that later on she would regret it. The regret so biting that it caused her to reminisce what a slightly older miko once told her.

"At times, your very skin is your sin..."

Ironically, the seventeen year old laughed at herself. Her entire form was svelte and moderately tall. Often noticeably, the cambers of her chest and hips can be easily deciphered underneath her robes. Those graceful curvatures were another benefit to her femininity and her long slender legs were accented by her well toned broad thighs. Due to these factors, she was flattered by many a futile attempt at courtship by many young men. She sighed sadly... her duties were definitely a double edged sword.

'Well... I guess that I'll proceed to soak for some moments.'

She rose to her feet and moved forward, but something peculiar was sensed beneath her feet...

SWISH!!

"Not again!" She exclaimed with annoyance in her tone. The net that ensnared her had to be her younger sister's doing. How clairvoyant of her; taking the initiative to set a trap in the warm body of water. The hot springs proved to be perfect bait. She wondered if the little brat was possessed by a demon or something. "She's going to hear from me once I get out of here."

The "demon" child emerged into her view from the forest shrubbery. With sleep evident in her face and tone, she said, "Sister, why did you ran off again...?"

"Sister..." Kikyou began in a mock voice of her baby sister, "are you somehow possessed by the powers of a baleful demon?" Her eyes narrowed at the child in deep suspicion. Then a second later her eyes promised mischief to the nine year old girl. "I've let you gotten away with murder, Kaede." She grounded menacingly.

Kaede yawned, not from lethargy but of mockery. "I can almost say the same for you, big sister. I told you that you shouldn't leave the hut because of your illness." She brandished the bow strapped on her back and drew the string to nock with an arrow. "Hold still," she commanded, "I'm going to release you from that net."

Kikyou baulked, completely mistrusting the child's aim. "Now hold on a mom--"

TWANG!!

Kikyou was immediately superimposed in the hot springs. Rising back to the surface, she concluded, "ment..."

Kaede laugh in mirth at her sister, at how humorous and novel it was to see Kikyou going through comic mischief. "Ha! Serves you right! That's just what you get for sneaking out on me." While she continues to guffaw at her sister, something unnoticed went by her...

That bow that she held was missing... "Kaede?"

The completely serious tone in her elder sister's voice snapped her out of her humor. Feeling something 'terrible' was impending on her, Kaede nervously gazed up at her sister's towering form. "Yes... Kikyou?"

The miko stood before her, the bow tapping lightly on her shoulder with one hand and her other balled into a fist at her hip. Kikyou wasn't glaring at her nor glowering, but on her face was an unnervingly calm expression. "Kaede, what did I told you about using the bow and arrows?"

"That they're not intended for horseplay?" Kaede gulped nervously as a response.

Kikyou remained... focused on her. "Now... remember that old western folklore about the young man that placed an apple on his head for target practicing...?"

Kaede definitely didn't like where this was going.

(Scenario)

"Ugh! Let me go!!" Kaede demanded, struggling under the grip of Kikyou's arm.

"No can do." Kikyou chided. "This is punishment for using such a dangerous weapon."

The tyke tried to get smart, "Aren't they all?"

"Very funny..." Kikyou drawled.

"Aw! Sis, you're making me look like a baby!" Kaede griped with embarrassment. She was tucked underneath Kikyou's arm as she carried her back into the village. Obviously, Kaede didn't like this not one bit. "C'mon, I've learned my lesson."

Kikyou smirked. "You speak truthfully, Kaede?"

The girl managed to thump her chest with a solemn gesture. "Sister's honor." She responded.

"Accepted." Kikyou dismissed as she placed Kaede back on her feet. "Anyway, we're home."

Kaede grumbled, "I see that you are feeling better..."

"I've told you so in the first place, Kaede." Kikyou retorted. "The body aches and the fever are long gone. I'm feeling better than what I felt during the last three days."

Kaede rolled her eyes. "You know, influenza has a way of misleading it's victims to thinking that they have recovered in such short time." The elder sister frowned at that, "Well you know that it is all too true, big sister."

"Besides," a new but familiar voice quipped into the fray, "it's pretty typical during this time of year. Really Kikyou, I never knew that you were the type of person to let her guard down."

Kikyou recognized the voice as the woman finally came into view. "Tsubaki, it has been a while. Is it not?"

"Hello Kikyou," Tsubaki greeted. "It has been well over a year since we have last seen you."

Kikyou overlooked Tsubaki to see who she is referring to. "Why, hello there Yumeji-chan. It is really good to see you again."

The portly brunette replied with a bow. "Likewise. I see that little Kaede has become more... mischievous since we've last met."

The aforementioned girl bellowed indignantly. "Hey! What do you mean by that, Yumeji? I've always have been a well behaved person-- as pristine as the white snow." The girl then displayed a burlesque expression; her brown eyes dilated almost to the entire width of the entire ovals as stars decorated them. A Cheshire Cattish grin formed onto her moon face and above her head was a brilliantly gold halo. "Yumeji, you dare to accuse sweet little me of such blasphemy?"

The youngest of the teen priestesses was crossed by a look of consternation. "Cute..."

"On the outside..." Kikyou commented, which Kaede didn't quite catch.

Kaede grimaced right before she released a sneeze. "Achoo! Somebody's going to pay for that."

"And speaking of mischievous, where's Miyatsu?" Yumeji wondered.

Speak of the devil and surely, he will appear. Immediately after the priestess mentioned his name, the said monk appeared seemingly out of nowhere behind Kikyou. "How do you do, miss?" He greeted. Kikyou gasped at his sudden intrusion and shortly, that bad cough she had at the start of her illness returned, only this time worse than before.

"Miyatsu!"

"Man, you're worse than a delinquent!" Yumeji admonished.

"You see, big sister?" Kaede chided at Kikyou. "If it weren't for you trying to leave without my permission you wouldn't have been sick again."

Kikyou tried to respond to Kaede by rebuke but it seems she couldn't bring it out. Instead, she was coughing roughly and she helpless support her weight against the wall of the hut. Tsubaki, after a split second, realized that Kikyou's condition grew critical by the moment. "Oh my g- Ouick! We must help her inside!" She commanded. "Kaede do you have anything inside that'll ease her coughing?"

"Yes, I have something that can help." Kaede replied before her expression grew dark. "But U still say that it is all her fault." She helped Tsubaki to carry her sister inside the hut soon after, Yumeji bopped Miyatsu on the back of his head before entering the hut.

"Miuatsu, you know better than that." She scolded the monk. "You know that I wonder about your sanity sometimes?"

The monk looked stunned and feigned a look of innocence. "Dear Yumeji, please, that reaction wasn't at all intended." He tried to defend.

"Sure..." She muttered sarcastically. "C'mon, let's help them out." Miyatsu followed her, a little too intently for her taste. Deeply preoccupied with watching the sway of her hips and reaching out to grope her, he received an all too familiar pang on his face. "What did I told you about that... houshi?"

END OF CHAPTER III

That should do for now. Big thanks for those who took time to check this piece out and reviewing. Don't worry, I'm in no hurry to search for an editor as of yet, because I knew they have work of their own. So big shout outs to Kenchi and Banana Rum for the suggestion. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...

Canon: Meaning of the norm, so therefore it means many or all elements of the story aren't out-of-character.

AU: Alternate universe. Sort of like the anime series "Magical Project S/Pretty Sammy" is to "Tenchi Muyo!". In a sense, it's safe to say that alternate universes are spin-offs.

OOC: Literally, out-of-character. Meaning when a particular character isn't himself/herself even in the least. For instance, an Inuyasha fiction in which he is all polite and courteous and never loses his temper or combative. Hmm... something like that.

Hope that helps out.