Bleed

...OOO...

"Just one more," Kikyo urged encouragingly. The woman strained and grunted, pushing with all her might, and finally...

"It's a boy," Kikyo announced proudly, cleaning the baby and delivering him to the awaiting arms of his mother.

His father stumbled into the room expectantly.

"A boy," his wife smiled in answer to his questioning eyes.

Giving a loud 'whoop' of joy, he went and knelt lovingly beside her to take a peek at his newborn son.

Kikyo rose to leave.

"Priestess." The mother held her back. "Thank you."

She only gave her a small smile in return. On her way out, she was almost once again bowled over by the now elder brother who rushed in to meet the new arrival.

From the doorway she watched them- so happy, so full of excitement, of hope for the future... so content.

Turning away she caught Sesshomaru staring at her laconically, but she ignored him and went to the nearby fountain to wash off the blood.

"Are births always so... disgusting?" he asked. This had been his first time witnessing one, and his curiosity got the better of him.

She laughed in answer, "Yes. Always. Human or demon."

"Excuse me, priestess," a young village girl- about sixteen- interrupted them, bowing respectfully first to Kikyo and then to Sesshomaru though she was unsure how to address him. "We have prepared rooms for you at the house of the village elder. They are not much, but we hope you will accept our gratitude and hospitality and stay the night."

"Thank you," Kikyo spoke, "but-"

"We will stay," Sesshomaru cut her off firmly. He didn't know why, but he didn't question it too much.

Bowing once again, the girl led them to the far side of the village to a modest but large house with a garden and pond in the back. There they were greeted by a wizened elderly man who invited them to dinner, but Kikyo declined and this time Sesshomaru did not interject. He did not desire to dine with mortals.

They were left alone to themselves in their own corner of rooms, and she was standing out on the balcony watching the dancing fireflies below her when he came out to join her.

For a while they simply stood in comfortable silence.

Then, staring off into the darkness, he remarked, "It sounded painful."

"Hm?" she asked, tilting her head a little to see him.

"Birthing," he replied, taking up their interrupted conversation. "It sounded painful."

"I suppose it is," she smiled softly, her gaze returning to the fireflies. "But most things worth having can usually only be obtained after hard labor."

At this he stared at her and said, "I pity women then."

"I envy them," she answered softly, her eyes meeting his.

"Do you miss life?" he asked sincerely, though not sure where the question came from.

"Hm," she sighed. "I wouldn't know- I've never been alive."

At this his eyebrow arched questioningly and she explained, "Before, my body was free to feel, but my duty as guardian of the Shikon Jewel forbade my emotions. Now I am free to love or hate, but my body is nothing more than a cold shell... Inuyasha awakened my desire to live once- that was the closest I've ever felt to truly being alive... but it was only a dream- a dream which cost me my existence when we tried to realize it..." she paused thoughtfully. "Maybe I was never meant for life, or death... just this... in-between."

"You pity yourself too much," he replied.

"Perhaps you're right. I try not to dwell on what I know cannot be, but I cannot help but feel that if only my body were truly my own, then I would be free... If only I could feel the cool of the wind in my hair, the warmth of the sun on my face..." her voice trailed as she stared deeply into his eyes, seeing but not seeing, seduced into a trance by her own words, "or the tenderness of a kiss upon my lips..."

Her face inched closer to his.

At first he was startled by her actions, but when he realized what she was doing he found himself unable- no, unwilling to move. And so she came closer, her irrelevant breath tickling his skin as she sighed softly...

A sigh which ruptured the spell.

Reason flooded back into her eyes as she quickly pulled away.

"Excuse me," she stammered. "I must go." And without waiting for a reply, she fled into her room, her hand flying to her lips.

What did I do? she thought, horrified by what had almost occurred. Did I just almost kiss him?

Outside in the veranda, the same question flashed through a stupefied Sesshomaru's mind.

Frowning visibly, he reflected on what had almost taken place.

Did I jut allow her to almost... he could not finish the thought. It was too much for him.

"He he he." The sound caused Sesshomaru to spin around.

"I'm sorry," the old man chuckled in apology, stepping out from the corner. "I came to bid you both a good night, but I see I have intruded..."

"Don't be a fool," Sesshomaru huffed, looking away. "I have no such interests in humans."

"Ah," the elder remarked. "A demon prince- so I suspected... I will not ask as to why you travel in company with the priestess- I'm sure you have reason enough. However I wished to warn you not to wander into the forest at night. A demon has been lurking there as of late."

"We are quite capable," he answered haughtily.

"I am sure you are," he agreed amiably. "Nevertheless, I thought it only best to inform-"

But he was cut off by the village girl- the same one who had escorted them earlier- frantically crying, "Elder, elder!"

"What is it, Izumi?" he asked, calling down to her.

"It's Hikaru, elder," she replied, panting as she took mouthfuls of air. "His parents sent him out for some water for the baby, but he has not yet returned and there is no sign of him anywhere in the village."

"He is the third one this week," the old man mumbled to himself.

"What is going on?"

They turned to see Kikyo who, upon hearing the ruckus, had returned to investigate.

After informing her, they implored, "Please, priestess. Is there nothing you can do?"

Retrieving her bow and arrows, she resolved, "Take me to the place."

They led her to the edge of the forest, but halted.

"This is as far as we dare to go. Please save the boy."

Inside the forest Kikyo searched for the demon with Sesshomaru trailing unconcernedly behind her.

"Must you do this?" he asked, slightly aggravated by the distraction.

"Do you think I can just stand by and do nothing?" she retorted, exasperated that she could not get a fix on the demon. Whatever it was, it did not exude much aura...

"Pathetic humans," he scoffed. "Always in need of others to fix their problems. How weak."

"The gods," she replied, maintaining her calm once again, "did not see it fit to bless us with the same capabilities as you. Yes, we are weak, but we can only rely upon one another for the help and support to make us strong."

"And you?" he chided mockingly. "Who do you turn to for such vital needs?"

She could not answer, but she didn't have to as a terrified scream rent the forest air.

They ran quickly to the sound to find the boy frozen in fright before a towering demon with the body of a mantis and the head of a woman, one long sickle-like arm raised and ready to strike.

Before Sesshomaru could stop her, Kikyo threw herself on to the boy, shielding him with her own body even as the claw came crashing down, tearing away at her flesh.

Sesshomaru unsheathed Tokijen as the mantis woman lunged at Kikyo, knowing he would be too late.

But Kikyo, hugging the boy to her with one arm, shot out the other as if to halt the impending demon.

It never had a chance. A beam of light flashed from her palm, engulfing the monster and dissipating it to dust.

Kikyo sank to her knees in exhaustion, letting go of the boy to grip at her wounded side and abdomen.

Recovering from his shock, the boy cried, "Priestess, priestess! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she assured, smiling weakly through the seething pain that racked her body as her soul energy escaped through the opening. "Are you hurt?"

"No, priestess, I-" The boy froze, his eyes widening as he stared at her injury. "Priestess," he whispered. "You do not bleed..."

...OOO...