Notes: Hey, here's the second chapter. Sorry for taking so long, I was trying to think of a way to present this chapter. I looked over it plenty of times to see if I could add anything, but this it is. I guess simple will have to do, huh?Hope you like. Looks like Kaede has some problems. LOL.

Midnight was close at hand. Millions of stars studded the amethyst sky. There was no breeze, hardly any movement or noise at all in the village. Only the chirping from the crickets welcomed her and Kikyo gladly accepted it. The miko made her way home, which was near the elaborate Shinto shrine, where when she wasn't out in hot pursuit of Yokai, she was doing jobs for the priests and helping around the village. Her zori sandals scuffled against the ground; Kikyo dragged herself, her body cried out in intense agony and hunger.

Kikyo knew that her little sister Kaede would give her warm reception and that's just what she did when Kikyo slid open the door to their medium-sized minka home. At least that's what Kikyo thought.

"Big sister!" A little girl's voice rang out, "I missed you!"

Kikyo smiled softly, pulling off her zori sandals in the dusty doma area, before stepping up into the main part of the home, the hearth or irori. It was a small room when compared to the rest of the house, but it was large enough to fit a tiny group of villagers therein. It's wooden floors where polished and a few scrolls hung from the walls of the room splashed with black, graceful symbols, all of them meaning something important. In the center of the room was a wooden-rimmed square surrounded by tatami mats. The square sunk into the floor about half a yard and from it burned a bright fire. Hanging above the fire was a small pot, which contained noodles.

The smell of food drifted in the air making Kikyo's mouth water. A girl of young age ran forward with her arms open. Kikyo knelt and embraced her sister happily, stroking her black hair gently. But when Kaede peered up, her look was not what was expected. She wore a sad frown on her small face, her eyes leaked with loneliness. "Sister, why were you gone nearly all night?"

Kaede knew what her big sister was going to say. She said it all the time. Just as Kikyo opened her mouth, Kaede repeated them, miming the words with her lips and sarcastic facial expression. Though Kaede respected her sister a great deal, she only wished that Kikyo would just try and stay with her more. "Kaede, you know that I have a duty to perform."

Kikyo sighed, as she watched her younger sister mouth her words. Kikyo stood up, rubbing her eyes, "Come let us eat and forget our troubles."

Kaede scowled at this and turned to watch her sister stir the food. "You always say that but you never do anything about it."

Kikyo's face saddened, "I am…truly sorry." Kaede shook her head, kneeling at the low, roughly built table without a word. When the Udon noodles were ready they ate without a sound, merely staring at each other from time to time in acknowledgment. When Kaede was finished eating, Kikyo took both of their bowls and set to work in washing them outside in a wooden wash pan.

After completing that task Kikyo placed the bowls away and readied the futons for bed.

Kaede laid on hers, pulling the blanket up to her neck, all the while watching her sister stuff new arrows into her quiver. Placing her bow and quiver by her futon, Kikyo slid into it, her back facing Kaede. "Sister…" Kaede mumbled, staring at her sister's back. A hum was the only reply Kikyo gave her. "I love you." Kaede added, unfazed by Kikyo's lack of response. A nod and nothing more answered Kaede's affectionate statement.

Kaede used to be hurt by this nonchalant reaction, but she knew that every morning when she woke up and Kikyo would be elsewhere preparing to leave, Kaede would find her pillow moist with tears.

"Kaede, stay out of trouble, okay?" Kikyo asked, as she made ready to leave. Kaede nodded solemnly, wishing for something more. "I know how those boys like to pick on you." Kikyo added, sighing.

"The girls too." Kaede said back, "They said I was too different. Well, like I care!"

Kaede watched as her older sister's face twisted into a look of shock. "Don't say that. Go out there and have fun! Don't waste your life away."

Kaede looked down at the wooden floor, "Big sister, I've already tried. I might as well go on to something else. Your never here and they're never there."

Kikyo sighed, slinging her quiver unto her back and grabbing her bow. "We'll talk about this later." She watched on sadly, as Kaede quietly drifted back into her room. She thought about it and then added, "…At lunch."

Kaede rotated around her face lit with excitement, "Really?" Kikyo nodded, which made Kaede hop with joy. Kikyo smiled, "Also, get some of those lovely flowers you always pick from that field."

Kaede shook her head in return, her face bubbled with happiness. She raced forward and hugged her sister tightly around the waist, "Hurry back."

"I will." Kikyo answered, turning around. She gave one last look and smile before walking out the door.

Halfway through the day already, which Kaede happily spent playing around and doing a few chores in the village, she made her way down from the lush grassy field that sat on a couple of gently sloping hills. In her hands she carried beautiful flowers of all shade and type. She was hurrying to get back to the village so that she could eat with her sister and maybe get in a conversation or two. Finally, at last! After so long she would have a decent one-to-one chat with Kikyo!

Of course there is never a day without its conflicts. It just so happened that on her way home she decided to take a shortcut through a pathway hardly used by the crowds that bustled loudly; conducting business on the main roads. Nearly home Kaede bumped into a rowdy, wild looking bunch of men. They were all dressed in dirty kimonos, ruffled and torn. "Excuse me!" She called, eyeing them.

The whole drunk bunch of them just laughed at her plea. "Aw, what a cute little girl." One of them said roughly, handling the hilt of his sword, "Where are you going and without a word of apology?"

Kaede bowed her head, "I'm sorry. I'm just on my way home to eat with my sister. Please let me through."

But they did not, instead there came a wild cheer among the men, as the man, whom Kaede figured was their leader, asked, "Oh really? Is she pretty? Is she alone?"

The gang's leader loomed over her, causing an intimidating feeling. "I…uh…" Were the only words Kaede could utter. The leader grabbed her by the back of her brightly colored kimono and lifted her into the air, "Take us to her!" He declared, laughing, "Or suffer little girl." He pulled out his sword menacingly, holding it to her throat. Kaede held her breath. What a stupid decision to come back here! Now no one would see her or even hear her scream, but then again her sister was a powerful woman. She could take care of them!

Before Kaede could even agree, someone screamed out a threat.

"You there! Put the girl down!"

The leader looked over Kaede's head to see a young man wearing a white fox mask strode briskly towards his group. "Ha! Make me little man!" He mocked. Just as soon as he said those words, a whoosh of wind swept by and Kaede found herself on the ground looking up, the leader grasping his arm that only before had gripped her. There before him stood her hero, his arm outstretched.

The leader cast a look of shock before telling his men, "Let's get the hell out of here! That man's inhuman!" With that, the gang ran away with their master, leaving Kaede alone with her white-masked savior.

"Uh…thank you." Kaede muttered, standing up and dusting herself off.

The man turned around to face her, "Are you hurt?" His voice sounded as if he was concerned, but there was a bit of tension laced with it, as if he couldn't quite comprehend the emotion, almost confused about it.

"No." Kaede responded, as her face twisted in confusion, "What did you do?"

The man seemed humored by her remark. A chuckle sounded from him, "Oh, just a simple technique."

Kaede cocked her head, grinning, "It didn't seem very simple to me. They said you were inhuman." To this statement she paused, peering up at him.

The man turned around, "Don't listen to their foolishness." But he quickly knocked off the subject by asking, "Where were you heading? I shall follow you if you'd like. I have an errand to run here anyway."

Kaede shook her head vigorously, "Sure! I would love company!" She then jerked back hoping she didn't embarrass her rescuer with her sudden explosion. When he did nothing, she nodded shyly and answered, "Oh. I was going to my house to eat with my sister. Our house is by the Shinto shrine."

The man seemed taken aback by his surprised movements, but he stated, "Why…that's where I was heading."

Before Kaede could ask why, the man started forward, waving his hand at her, "Come. Come." Shrugging, Kaede raced after him, but as she followed from behind she felt something particular about him that tore at her curiosity. What was his errand at the Shinto Shrine? Did he want a blessing? Or something more?