Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters that are with it. They come from the wonderful imagination of Rumiko Takahashi. I do own Nidoriko and other characters that are not a part of that wonderful anime and manga. I am just a penniless fan fiction writer borrowing Ms. Takahashi's characters and putting them within my own twisted little world. All I own is a stick of gum and a nickel. Please don't sue. You can have the nickel though. Thank you.

WARNING: Lime Alert! Chapter describes slight nudity and adult situations. I strongly recommend this chapter for readers fourteen and up. If you do not care for nudity or anything like that, then I suggest that you press the little 'x' button in the upper right corner or the back button. Other than that, I don't think that this is too bad, but I rather be safe than sorry. I hope that this won't take away from enjoying this fic. Thanks again.

Eternity's Passing: Kaede's Tale

Chapter Five: Awakening

When Kaede had finally awoken, the mid day sun was shining brightly and the village was bustling about as usual. Shocked that everyone had let her sleep for so long, she had quickly sat up and tried to get up. Before she could possibly make one of the biggest mistakes in her life, a familiar voice warned her,

"I would not be so hasty to rise from bed, Kaede." The priestess looked at the speaker then at her bandaged and splinted foot.

"Thank you, Nidori, but someone should have woken me up this morning." She grumbled. The older woman shrugged, but smiled warmly.

"I knew that you would have wished it, but that young man had shared with me the details of your outing last night. He thought that it would have been best if you had gotten all the rest that you could. Knowing you and your ways, I couldn't help but agree." Nidoriko sipped her tea that she had been drinking then set it down in its tray. "I am very glad that he had been there to your rescue. Life would have been very dull around here without you in it."

So focused she was on remembering the previous night's events, Kaede had let the light sarcasm slide. She could not help the chill that had gone through her after thinking about how close to death she was. Looking down at her lap, she noticed that she was wearing a clean yukata and almost panicked.

"Who...?" she managed to say before Nidoriko answered.

"Don't worry, Kaede. Amika and her sister, Yumiko had washed and dressed you. That young man of yours had asked them to take care of everything, knowing that you would not wish for him to do it himself. He had even asked me to stay with you until you awaken so I can inform him of any changes. Finally, someone who trusts my capabilities despite my lack of sight."

Nidoriko could not help, but notice the priestess' lack of denial of Raiken being her 'young man'. Of course, she had thought, Kaede could have other things going on in her mind. According to Raiken, the demon was very close to having the young woman's head and she seemed pretty shaken up afterwards. Then there was that injured ankle of hers. While it may slow her down for awhile, Kaede will not lighten her responsibilities. Meaning she would not like what the two had agreed on.

"Where's my hakama? Since I have slept much longer than I intended, there is much that must be done." The priestess found her red hakama and was about to dress herself until Nidoriko snatched them away from her.

"Now, now, what did I say about being hasty?"

"But the villagers..." Kaede began.

"They will be fine without their priestess for one day. Now, Raiken has made your rounds for you. Tetsuya has been doing fine thanks to your diligent care yesterday. Old Shinji had hurt his back sometime this morning, but you could tend to that tomorrow if one day of rest does not help. Raiken and Hiroshi had volunteered to do his work. Everyone else is fine and is looking out for each other and if they ever need their healer, then they will come to you. Other than that, today is your day. Enjoy it while you can."

"But..."

"Kaede, I am older and bigger than you. You will not win." Nidoriko said as she gingerly sat back down in her spot. Kaede had sighed, knowing that she was defeated in the battle of wills. Hiroshi had walked in, his appearance haggard, and plopped down beside Nidoriko. The older woman had sensed his presence and offered him a jug of water, which he accepted gladly and drank thirstily from it.

"Thank you, Miss Nidoriko." He said after finally finishing the entire jug. Kaede couldn't help but marvel that all that water was just consumed by a single boy.

"You're welcome, Hiroshi. Have you and Raiken finished already?" Nidoriko inquired curiously.

"No, I'm afraid not. I suppose I was more of a hindrance than help, because Raiken had told me that I could come and help you. He seemed to be better off on his own."

Kaede could imagine that on a warm day such as this, that he would be thirsty.

"Do you think Raiken could use some water, Hiroshi?" she asked the boy. Hiroshi then began to blush and looked down at his lap, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"I don't think he needs any more... I mean some of the women of the village seem to be more than happy to take care of anything that he may need."

Nidoriko had felt heat radiating from where Kaede was sitting. If she had her sight, she would probably have seen the look of fury on the priestess' face. This was becoming quite amusing, really. She decided that maybe some fresh air would do her friend some good.

Kaede had been so relieved to leave her hut, she forgot all about the village women flirting with Raiken. Hiroshi had accompanied her to a stream that was just outside the village in the forest before she ordered him to return home. The poor boy was very reluctant to leave for he feared what Nidoriko would have thought. Actually he seemed to be confused of who he should be more afraid of. Since he was in striking distance, he decided to take his chances with Nidoriko and left Kaede alone. She could be quite intimidating when she was set on having her way. Finally alone, she took advantage of her surroundings. She shed her clothing and removed the bandages and splint so they would not get soaked. The stream was right at the foot of a cliff where water poured over the side from another stream, which was one of the area's best features, along with the vegetation that offered plenty of privacy. It was one of the reasons that the stream was her favorite bathing spot. Using the rocky face of the cliff for support, she moved under the waterfall so it would flow over her entire body. The cold water was very invigorating, and soothing after staying in such a stuffy hut all day. Days had been growing warmer with summer coming soon. Reaching into a secret niche in the cliff, she found a jar with a special cream made from select flora that she favored for their scents. Herbs were mixed in to make her bathing a soothing experience as well as to help lift her spirits. She certainly needed it after having to deal with her injury.

Thinking of her injury of course had brought to her mind the image of a young man with storm gray eyes, Raiken. This of course brought to her mind Hiroshi's remark of the village women doting upon said young man. Suddenly her agitation returned. Why should the thought of him being popular with the girls bother her so much? It wasn't as if she liked him or anything, or did she? Memories of the previous night had taken over her mind in fragments. The things that stood out at that moment was her fear, his gallantry, her fear, his strength, and the way his voice calmed everything afterwards. She had actually enjoyed being in his arms as he carried her back to the village for she felt safe for the first time in a long while. How warm had she felt when he held her in her hut as she had grown chilled. Normally she would have scolded him for being so bold, but she had been too chilled and tired to care. Yet, she still remembered the beating of his heart. Okay, so maybe she did like him a little, but surely not enough as to bother her when the village women decided to show their affections. Shaking her head and dismissing her feelings as annoyance that she could not perform her duties for a day. She focused on enjoying her bath, allowing the herbal concoction invade her senses.

Raiken had long finished his work for the man who had hurt his back earlier that day. The task had involved him plowing a large field with a heavy plow under the hot sun. He would have surely died from thirst had it not been for the young women making sure he had drank plenty of water. The man wasn't even sure if he would have made it were it not for the thought of the lovely priestess that was safely tucked away in her hut. He had felt pretty sure that she would be unhappy with Nidoriko as her guard and the plans that they had laid out for the day. From what he had learned about Kaede, she was very devoted to her duties and had no wish for someone to tell her how to go about them. She had reveled being in control of her life despite being a woman, her title giving her a status that was almost as high as a nobleman. Everyone was to defer to her, count on her for her knowledge in healing. Kaede was humble despite her status, but she was not afraid to unleash her temper on those who stand in her way. That seemed to be when Raiken would admire her the most, for she could be quite attractive when her cheeks turn pink and he could almost swear that he could see flames within that good eye of hers. Then there was when she was asleep. Her mouth would form in a small pout, her hand slightly curled in a small fist, then the cute gentle murmurings in her sleep. Yes, he liked the priestess. The previous night's events had shown him that. He loved how she snuggled into his chest, murmuring his name in her sleep. Surely if he ever told her of that little detail she would fly into that famous temper of hers and deny any accounts of it. Now he looked forward to seeing her, but he had not wanted to enter her hut caked in dirt and sweat as he was, so he decided to find a stream to wash off in.

There was a spot where he could dive in and get a majority of the grime off. He kept his clothing on, save for his haori which he had long removed back when he finished his work in the field. Coming up out of the water, he flipped his hair back from his face and enjoyed the feeling of the cool air hitting his wet face. For awhile he just stood in that spot of the stream letting the current brush past him carrying the dirt away with it. A small sound had broken the small quiet around the stream and as he strained to listen over the bird noises and the small sounds the water made as it flowed past him. The sound was very reminiscent of a woman singing. Curious, Raiken decided to move up stream to find the source. As he moved, the water had become a bit shallow and came to his hips as he found the source of the sound.

Standing under the small waterfall was the young priestess that had been in his mind all day. Had he not noticed the eye patch that she kept on, he would have mistaken her as a celestial maiden sent down to tempt him with her divine beauty. The one other thing that kept him from confusing her identity was that while her singing was kind of pleasant, it was a bit off. As much as he knew of celestial maidens and goddesses, he was pretty sure that they would not sing with one note a bit higher than it should be. Raiken just stood there transfixed on what was before him. Kaede was unclothed before him even if it was with her back to him. There was also the fact that she probably had no idea that he was there, as preoccupied as she seemed. Her long black hair clung to her form giving him a good idea of how slim she was without the slightly baggy clothing she had worn. The sunlight was filtered through the trees and the spots on her body that it hit glistened. She had moved to dip her fingers into a jar to retrieve a creamy like substance in which she applied to her hair, the movement giving him a good view of her profile. When she had lifted her arms to massage the cream into her hair, he had a small view of her breasts which weren't too small or too big. While she was washing her hair, it also gave him a chance to see her back and gentle curve of her buttocks. If it weren't for her missing eye, she could have been classified as perfect. At least in his mind, she was.

"Perfect" he barely whispered.

Kaede had heard it and abruptly turned around to see what or who was intruding upon her bath. When she had discovered that it was Raiken she paused taken in his soaked form. Wet strands of dark hair fell over his face where drops of water fell to his shoulders. The droplets then formed to rivulets that slid down his naked chest where her gaze studied the planes that his muscles formed. While he did not possess the bulk as most muscular men had, his slender frame still showed a strength that she knew from experience was there. She managed to lift her gaze upwards and found that he was studying her intently with his eyes, which were almost as gray as the storm forming within her. Her stomach felt funny as if butterflies somehow appeared there and were trying to get out by fluttering with all their might. His gaze was heated and it was affecting her as well. Never mind that the water was cool, for she was only aware of how warm she suddenly felt. An eternity seemed to pass until Raiken was suddenly right in front of her in just a few strides, his right hand reaching her face to allow his thumb to caress her cheek and lips that were parted in a small yet breathy gasp. His left hand went around to her lower back as he pulled her body close to his before he dipped his head and taken her mouth in a deep kiss.

For a moment, Kaede was too stunned to react. Her guard had been down and he had completely invaded her senses along with other feelings. His kiss was hard and demanding while at the same time it was passionate and wonderful. She finally wrapped her arms around his waist pulling him closer to her as she responded to his kiss. Any kisses that she had received prior to the one they were sharing were merely friendly kisses on the cheek. None of them ever invoked the feelings that she had felt there in his arms. They were both sensitive to the touch, for they were painfully aware of how the other felt. She had felt every hardened plane of his chest, the steel like hold he had on her with his arm. He could feel her soft form pressing closer to his body, eager to receive his kiss. They both wanted fulfillment, needed it. Yet as his hand trailed from her face to her breast, Kaede's mind seemed to speak against what her heart and body wanted.

This is not right! The tiny voice in her head protested. Yet it felt as if it were right, her heart seemed to disagree.

You are a priestess. It is not proper for you to be all over a man that you barely know. Her mind tried to reason, yet her body said that even priestesses should be allowed pleasure too.

He is a patient! Her heart and body both proclaimed that he was, but now he's just wonderful.

What if Hiroshi alerts your whereabouts to Tanosuke and he arrives with a search party? What if they see the respectable Lady Kaede naked in the arms of a stranger? Would this all be wonderful then? Well, so much for your good reputation.

That thought had been sobering enough. She quickly released her hold on Raiken and yanked herself out of his arms. The priestess couldn't help the emptiness that crept within her, but her mind's reasoning had won out.

"I'm sorry, but I can't… we can't do this." She managed to speak, though she was still trying to catch her breath. Her heart beat drummed in her ears so loudly, she wondered if it could be heard throughout the forest. When her senses fully came back to her, she noticed the aching look that he had been giving her. It was as if she yanked his heart out and stomped on it. Well, not much can be done for it. She was a priestess, to be caught as she was would have caused people to be wary of her. They would wonder if they could trust her with personal complaints. It was best if they had not continued, no matter how much her body wanted to. Raiken stood there, looking at her for a few moments before sighing in defeat.

"Fine, then we will not speak of this. I will leave you alone in peace. Forgive me for my boldness, Lady Priestess."

Despite that he had not spoken in malice, the last sentence had stung. She had finally admitted to herself that she liked it when he called her by her name. It was apparent that she had hurt him with her rejection, but her duties had to take priority in her life. But still…

"Rai…" she began, but he held up a hand to cut off whatever she had to say.

"Don't worry, I understand. It's just that it hurts to be around you like this and not… Never mind, I'll just be on my way, my lady." He stated before walking away. Kaede couldn't help but feel as if a part of her had just been ripped away from her. Eventually she managed to hobble over to her clothing and dressed before someone came for her. As she had thought, Tanosuke and two village men had came to retrieve her. Tanosuke had given her a questioning look before she realized that her lips and around were red and swollen from the kiss. Giving him a look of indignation in return she hobbled on her crutch with the three men following her. Let him come up with his own conclusions, she thought before they made their way back to her village. When she finally reached her hut, Nidoriko was there. She knew that Nidoriko suspected something, but she did not care. She sat down on her futon and picked up the cup she had drunk from earlier.

"Nidoriko, the bath was exactly what I needed. Now may I have more of that delicious tea?"

Note: Umm… There you go my first lime scene ever. I'm not sure if there will be more like this in the fic. I had been pretty shy writing this one, but oh well. I hope that this hasn't been too bad. I mean it's my first time writing this kind of stuff, so give me a break. The ending may be a bit lame, but as you could tell, I was kind of in a hurry to get it over with. Just kindly let me know some things I could fix and I will be happy to go back and fix it once I get a chance. The point of this fanfic was to portray a least written about character in a way that no one has ever seen her before. I hope that I am doing a great job of it.

These first few chapters will contain her and Raiken, but I plan on doing various things. I mean she does have her entire life ahead of her so this may be a long fic. I'm hoping that it will get better as I go. For the record, no matter how insecure I feel about this fic, I really like it. I just ask the readers to be polite in their reviews. I'm a sensitive person, so be nice please. Thanks for reading this and I thank those who read the previous chapters and left their reviews. Jul-chan