A/N: Okay, first chapter, yay! Yes, it is short, I know
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Yesterday's Feelings
Chapter 1: Close My Eyes And…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kaede was not like other normal girls her age, not only was she the precious little sister of the young village miko, she didn't get out and play much, because she was helping her sister. But there were times when she was left alone, so she could play, while her sister was an apprentice.
When she did play, she felt a little estranged from the other children, not knowing their games as well as they did. But they accepted her and invited her into their games nonetheless.
"Kaede-chan," one girl, Yumiko, spoke up suddenly.
"Ah?" Kaede asked, turning to the smaller girl.
"Is Miko-sama a very strong Miko?" she asked. "Chichi-ue, and okaa-san say she is," she added.
"Hai, Kikyou-onee-sama is a very strong miko," Kaede agreed.
A figure approaching over the hill, just as the sun was setting gave Kaede the clue it was time to go home, to eat. "Kaede, come," Kikyou called in her blessed calm voice.
Kaede ran up to her elder sister. "How was your day, onee-sama?" she asked, smiling.
"It was good," she replied calmly. "The same, mostly," she added as they walked into their hut. They sat down across from each other, not talking for a moment. "Kaede, would you like to learn how to cook?" she asked.
"Hai, onee-sama!" she answered, straightening her back. Over the course of dusk to well into the night when Kaede's eyes were beginning to get bleary, Kikyou instructed her on the proper way to make the stew she had been taught by their mother to make.
Kikyou handed Kaede the bowl; Kaede gave a slight bow of her head and accepted the bowl and chopsticks. When she finished, Kikyou cleared her throat to speak.
"You can try to make it tomorrow, if you'd like," she told her younger sister.
Kaede nodded. "I can try to make it as well as you do, Kikyou-onee-sama," she agreed. "I'm going to go to sleep now," she added.
"Rest well, Kaede," Kikyou replied nodding, watching her sister unroll the small mat she slept on.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning, Kikyou's attention was with a man, who claimed his wife and daughter had fallen ill, Kaede looked toward the forest. The forest that was supposed to be crawling with youkai, and even a hanyou was rumored to live there.
She put the sling of arrows she was holding for her sister down and wandered towards the forest, curious to know more of the stories it told.
"Kaede!" Kikyou's voice interrupted her thoughts sharply.
She turned to her sister, hanging her head she walked back over. "Gomen-ne, Kikyou-onee-sama," she muttered sadly.
"It isn't your fault, but too many children have lost their heads going in there," she whispered, then she straightened up and, regaining her perfect composure, continued talking to the stuttering, worked up man in front of her.
'Kikyou-onee-sama…is perfect,' Kaede thought, admiring her sister from her position at the young woman's side.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N: Well?
