Disclaimer- I do not own Inu-Yasha in any way, shape, or form.
Unforgotten
Chapter 2: Separation
I longed to breathe in his scent once more. To hear his gentle respirations. To feel his strong arms around me again. Warm… Inu-Yasha… he has such a good heart… always hiding because of his pain… he didn't deserve that… doesn't deserve the rejection he faces because of what he is… I want to help him.
I wanted so badly to comfort him. I think… being apart for so long… has made me love him more. That last time that I saw him…
FLASHBACK
We stood there holding each other as the wind brushed past us gently. It was only for a few moments. But for me… those moments were hours... Hours that I wish could have lasted forever.
Long and yet so brief.
"Kikyou," Inu-Yasha said, breaking the gentle silence. I said nothing, looking up at him. He looks sad… almost like he has to tell me something that hurts him. I could tell my silence made him uneasy, that he needed my support.
"Yes?" I asked softly, not wanting the overpowering silence to consume us again.
"I have to… tell you… something…" he said, his eyes searching mine for a reaction. I blinked.
"I'm listening." I was careful and tried to make my heart strong enough for whatever it was he had to tell me. Don't let it be anything bad, please…
"I'm leaving."
I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. I fought the tears burning their way into my eyes. My entire world had been made wonderful and then destroyed within a matter of minutes. I put on a gentle smile, masking my pain, reassuring him, and myself, desperately wanting it all to be alright.
"When are you leaving?" I asked, no hint of pain in my voice. Hide it, hide it… hide all the pain or else it will be used against you…
"Soon."
"How soon?" I asked as my heart filled with dread. I don't want to see him leave...
"In a day or so," he said, taking a step, moving away from me. Soon he'll be too far... too far away to reach... always in my dreams happiness is just out of my reach... my heart is telling me to take a chance... to grasp the right moment... but there isn't one...
I cleared my throat as I felt my eyes fill with tears. I turned, my back to him, wiping them away. Don't cry... I can't let myself cry... demons will use my emotions against me... I must remember what the demon slayers told me... the story of the shikon no tama... the priestess Midoriko... I must remember what happened so many years ago...
"When are you coming back?" I asked, my voice soft from the powerful emotions coursing through me.
"I'm not sure... I don't know if I can come back, Kikyou."
No matter what I do, inside my heart... there are only things about you...
"What.. why..?" I could feel my heart throbbing with pain and knew he must have heard the sadness in my voice.
"There's something that I have to do.. that's all," Inu-Yasha said, staring off towards the setting sun.
"You can tell me what it is, Inu-Yasha," I said quietly. He nodded silently. He knows that I will always be here for him... oh, why do I love him so much...
The pain building inside my heart was becoming unbearable. I wanted so badly to ask why. Why he was leaving... why he didn't know if he could return. He knows that I will always welcome him with open arms, doesn't he?
I cleared my throat again, trying to subdue the lump that had formed in it. A lump that made it difficult to speak without tears coming to my eyes.
"Where are you going?" I finally managed to ask.
"I'm not sure..." he said, staring at the ground. If you don't know then why are you going! I could feel my heart screaming. "It's just something that I have to do."
I nodded, understanding, but, at the same time, not wanting to understand. I wish I knew how to be selfish... even just a little bit.
"I understand. Make sure you take care of yourself, Inu-Yasha." He looked at me, surprised, but nodded as understanding filled his eyes. Why do I feel so much for him..? Never mind... I know why...
"Ja ne, Kikyou," Inu-Yasha said, stepping towards me.
"Good-bye," I whispered, willing myself not to cry just as he embraced me. My eyes widened as I looked up and studied his expression. No longer mischievous and indifferent... serious and concerned... for me...? Of course... he must have feelings for me too...
He let go gently and as he began walking away, my heart started to pound. I want to run to him and beg him to stay... I ignored the tears slipping down my cheeks and smiled as happily as I could. Watching him leave like this... it hurts... the sun is setting on our time together... but when will it set on our time apart?
END FLASHBACK
Why, why does it hurt so much? Just because Inu-Yasha is gone doesn't mean I can't be happy... I wish I knew what was right... what to feel while this absence eats away at my heart... what should I do? Without a single glance back, that is how I will continue from this point. Enough of this nonsense! I don't have time to be depressed. The village depends on me and my strength and I won't abandon them. I can't dwell any longer on these feelings of loneliness. I have Kaede depending on me and I must protect the shikon no tama. I am its guardian, nothing can interfere with my duty.
I moved towards the opening of my home, opening the flap and gazing upwards at the stars. So beautiful... everything is peaceful... I walked towards my shrine and smiled when I saw the Chinese bellflowers in the vases by the door. The children must have brought them... how sweet of them. I'll have to thank them.
I entered the shrine and noticed how unusually dark it was inside. Strange... I readied my bow and held my arrow ready, waiting for the demon to show itself. I felt its presence, its horrible presence. This one is strong... I wonder...
The demon's presence shifted and then disappeared completely. I lowered my bow and arrow, placing the arrow in its quiver and the bow over my shoulder, I walked towards the lamps, lighting them with a pair of stones. Whoever doused the shrine's fire is the same person who allowed a demon to enter the shrine... there is a traitor lurking somewhere nearby...
I managed to start the shrine's fire and set down my bow and arrows on the floor. I kneeled before the fire, my hands together in prayer. Shortly afterwards I stood, making sure the shikon no tama was safe, I went out and into the forest.
Carrying a large basket, I followed the small stream deeper and deeper into the forest, gathering herbs that could only be used if collected at night. I looked down and saw something glinting in the clear water. Nani... I bent down and studied it carefully. The light of the crescent moon reflected in the water must be what is causing the glint... I watched it for a long moment, the sound of the water flowing easing my tense nerves. I reached my hand into the stream and touched upon the glinting object. I tugged and it was released easily into my hand. I pulled my hand out of the water and looked at the object in my hand; hard like a stone, but smooth like a jewel... The rich green of the object was captivating. It's beautiful... I wonder if it has healing properties... already it makes me feel calm... such a deep forest green...
I placed it in my basket of herbs and continued walking, gathering more herbs and finally turning back, following my path out of the forest and into the villages, to my home. Not noticing the wind's rustling sound of warning.
Crystal Shards. Millions of them. Everywhere, sparkling, glittering. Shards of hopes and dreams... I could see them, being recklessly strewn about, everywhere, they were everywhere. The glitter was becoming overpowering, my memories hidden in the delicate, powerful shards.
What's going on... why am I seeing all of these memories? The white abyss surrounding me became plagued by more and more shards of crystal. These shards... where are they all coming from? Why do they show my memories..? They must reflect the emotions that plague my heart... I looked down and saw nothing beneath my feet, but air. Am I floating? The swirling, brilliant and revealing white light causing prisms of color to form, flowing over my entire body. How is it possible... but... this white light... must be... my soul...
I looked down again to see myself reflected in a shining silver pool of water directly beneath my feet. My white yukata... I only wear this during purification... The prisms dissipated and once again the white light engulfed me and I unconsciously held out my palm as a single pale yellow shard slowly floated down towards it. Yellow symbolizes happiness, doesn't it? As I gazed intently at the shard I felt myself being drawn into it. Oh... this won't be very pleasant...
I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dim light of the small room. Where am I..? I stood and saw a much younger version of myself in the corner. Nani... I seemed unaware of my presence and I saw how my eyes lit up when I heard an all too familiar sound of sandals on dirt. Papa... I turned to see my father in the doorway.
"Papa!" I said happily, running into his open arms.
"Oyasumi Kikyou, you should be sleeping," my father said, holding me tightly.
"But I couldn't sleep so I waited up for you instead," I said, smiling at him. Oh my... I can't watch this... Papa... I felt my heart screaming. Tears formed in my eyes and fell unchecked down my face, streaming down like rain. I want the tears to form a river... a river of sorrow...
"Papa, can you put me to bed?"
"Of course."
"And tell me a story?"
My father chuckled in his gentle way. It makes my heart ache to see this... yellow is supposed to symbolize happiness... but maybe because it is such a pale yellow.. the happiness is bittersweet... oh, Papa, I miss you... I'm glad though, no matter how much it hurts, that I am able to see you in this way once more...
"Yes, always a story for my daughter. Which one would you like to hear tonight?" he asked.
"The story of the bamboo cutter and Princess Kaguya!" I said happily. I gently brushed away the tears and smiled. I know myself too well... that tale... I feel almost as though it parallels my experience, except... mother didn't live very long...
I blinked and the room slowly faded just as my father began speaking in his deep and gentle voice. Papa... I blinked again and realized I was again floating in the white abyss. I sighed softly as the shard of memory slowly left my palm and another one fell into its place. A red shard... I wonder what will happen now... I stared into the red shard, curious about what it would reveal to me. Again I felt myself drawn in, being surrounded by the deep crimson red.
I opened my eyes only to see that everything around me was the same deep red. The sky, the ground, the trees. Fire... what's happening now..? I looked around and realized there were piles of dead men around me. This can't be... I heard a horse and quickly looked in the direction of its whinny. Papa...
My father sitting on his great black horse reared it again and yelled his war cry. Not this war... I don't want to experience this again.. Papa, please... I looked over towards the hut where I had lived as a child and surely enough I was standing there and stared out towards my father. Don't run out... don't distract him.. I can't bear to watch this... not again...
I watched as the young man who had been like an older brother to me was killed brutally and mercilessly by the horde of demons attacking the village. Sensei... I watched and watched the countless men, innocent children and young women attacked by the vile demons and saw the look on my young face streaming with tears and eyes frozen in horror. Why do I have to relive this experience..? What will I learn..? And at what price..?
I looked towards the place I remembered my father being and watched as he fought bravely alongside the other men. Why did they all have to die... everyone except mother, Kaede, and I, they all disappeared without a single trace and mother had to fend for all three of us.. why did it come to this final battle... that my father died..? I watched as they were slowly advanced upon and encircled by the demons.
"Don't give in a single inch to these monsters! Stand your ground!" I blinked back tears and saw the awed look on my young face, ensnared and bewitched by the intensity of the battle. Oh... how I wish I hadn't seen this...
The horse my father was riding reared violently and threw him off. Papa... It ran away only to be caught by a demon and devoured. My father drew his katana and held it in front of him as the demons slowly walked towards him. Cruel, horrible creatures... I will hate you until my death for what you did to my father... He swung at them and knocked a few demons away and killed one but it wasn't enough.
"Papa!!" I screamed desperately, struggling to break free from my gentle, loving mother's grasp. I broke free and ran towards him. He looked up and was distracted from his fight. One snuck up behind him, and a single blade killed my father straight through his chest from behind. His dying words... He reached out his hand towards the young me.
"Ki-Kikyou..." he managed before his entire body went limp.
"Papa! Papa, no!!" I screamed, the tears coursing down the pale cheeks and red lips. The demons all turned to me and began advancing upon my young self. How did I survive... when even Papa couldn't..? The young me screamed louder and louder and cried harder and harder and suddenly was illuminated by a bright purple light. I survived... by using my spiritual energy...
"Kikyou!" my mother cried and rushed to me with Kaede in her arms. She grabbed me and ran off carrying the both of us into the woods, with a bow and arrows to defend us and all of her love as a mother.
The vision slowly faded and I wiped the tears from my eyes as the blinding white light surrounded me again. I waited for my eyes to adjust to the brightness and saw the same pale yellow shard floating just above me. I can reach out and touch it... wait... why does it seem to be larger..? I let the red shard leave my hand and watched as all of the red colored shards followed and joined with it. That's what must have happened... the other yellow shards joined with it...
My fingers beginning to become numb, I rubbed my hand gently as I watched the red shard ascend and join the yellow and saw every red shard around me follow. So that is how it was done... what magic is this? I held out my palm again and an orange shard fell into it. Orange... such a brilliant color... The orange shard enveloped me in another memory.
"Hold still, Kikyou." I gasped when I heard my mother's voice and turned and watched as she combed my hair.
"Yes Mama," I said respectfully.
"Kikyou, I must tell you something. Now that you are to become a priestess and develop your healing powers, you must understand that you cannot fully trust everyone you meet though you must do everything in your power to heal them. Don't say much about yourself. You must be strong and never waver. If you do a demon will use it against you. Remember to be loyal first to your duty and then yourself. There," my mother said, pulling out the last knot and embracing me, "I know that you will make me very proud Kikyou." I blinked back tears as I watched the gentle scene unfolding. Mother... I miss you as well...
The memory faded and the orange shard flew towards the other shards, all of the other orange shards following it. What is the purpose of this? To cause me pain? Whoever is doing this must be trying to get me to lower my defenses.. I shook my head slightly. I won't allow myself to be consumed by these memories.. I won't give them that satisfaction.
I looked up at what the shards had begun to form. It looks like a flame... a slowly burning flame... the scent of something burning.. I remember it well... Another shard floated into my hand. The color this time... such a deep yellow... I closed my eyes as the yellow slowly absorbed me into its memory.
I opened my eyes and found myself standing in the middle of a field. What...
"Try again Kikyou!" I heard a familiar voice say. I looked towards the sound of the voice and saw a beautiful somewhat aged woman and a fourteen-year-old version of myself. Haruda-sensei... the one who taught me to instill my energy into my hama no ya... and how to shoot without missing my target.
"Yes Haruda-sensei," I said, aiming the arrow, a look of concentration on my face.
"Now, hold the bow steady."
"Yes," I said, tightening my grip on the bow and straightening my aim.
"Close your eyes for a moment and visualize it. Visualize you hitting your mark before letting go of the arrow." I nodded and closed my eyes as told. "Make sure you become one with your arrow. That is the only way to hit your mark. Now, with your eyes still closed release the arrow and let it fly with your spirit." Haruda studied my face with a pleased expression. I blinked as I slowly took it in. Haruda was proud of me even when she first met me...
I released the bow with eyes still closed and it hit the bull's eye. I opened my eyes and smiled, satisfied. "Arigatou gozaimasu sensei," I said bowing. Haruda bowed slightly as well.
"You're welcome Kikyou. Come back tomorrow and tell Kaede I said hello," Haruda said with a slight smile.
"Yes, I will sensei, thank you for teaching me, goodbye." I ran off towards the setting sun. Haruda sighed.
"She is the most powerful girl training to be a priestess I have ever met. She could be the one destined to purify the shikon no tama." What..? Haruda-sensei... she knew all along what I was destined for...
The memory faded and the white light surrounded me yet again, the shard left me and was joined by all other yellow shards and a green shard gently falling into my outstretched hand. The shards seem so delicate... but if I were to hold one tightly it would cut open my skin... almost like a poisonous flower... beautiful, but if you eat one.. it will kill you...With the green shard in my hand I felt at ease again. My thoughts drifted and the shard swallowed me into its warp between time and space into another of my memories.
I opened my eyes and found myself standing on top of a hill. I watched as my mother and I climbed the hill I was standing on. Mother… she taught me the healing properties of all the herbs she could… and of poison as well… I wasn't as close to mama as I was to papa... but I did love her just as much... still love them both... mama and I always collected herbs together... even when I was young...
I watched as my mother told me how to remove the herbs with their roots.
"I have to dig them out?"
"Yes Kikyou, with that small shovel I gave you. Be careful to dig around the herb that way you don't cut the roots," my mother said, watching every move I made and smiling as I removed the herb perfectly. Mama... you taught me everything you could... and that was a lot... I smiled as tears of happiness blurred my vision and watched as my mother and I continued gathering herbs throughout the entire afternoon and watched them as they stared into the sunset together, my mother with her arms around me.
The memory faded and I saw a light blue shard in my hand in place of the green. I stared at it intensely, wondering what would happen. When will this be over..? Reliving the past... it's painful... The pale blue absorbed me and I waited for what was to come.
I heard running water and looked around myself to see that I was at a stream near the village. Something feels different... The small waterfall's steady rhythm calmed me and I heard laughter from nearby. I looked towards the sound and saw myself only two years younger than what I was. I could see my sixteen year old self bathing in the stream with other girls and young women from the village. Oh... I remember this... The girls talked and laughed but I was silent, minding my own business with a gentle expression on my face.
"Hey, Kikyou," one girl snickered as she called me.
"Yes?"
"Why don't you laugh and talk like normal girls? Do you think you're too good for us?" I said nothing and continued bathing. I felt so left out... but I stayed even though they continued to tease me... I didn't want to leave... I wanted to fit in... to be an ordinary girl just like them... I still want that sometimes...
I watched as I simply smiled sadly, knowing that I wouldn't fit in, knowing that I probably never would, no matter how badly I wanted to. The girls continued talking about silly things and laughing about their small misadventures while I secluded myself more and more. I finally stood and walked out of the stream, dressing and leaving them. I watched myself walk towards the village, to take care of Kaede. I sighed as I watched myself go, leaving behind the girls and accepting my duty as a priestess. Accepting my inescapable feelings of loneliness.
The girls, the stream, and the village vanished as I found myself once again floating in the white abyss. I looked around, only to realize there was nothing to see. I watched as the pale blue shard left my hand and joined the others. As a deep ocean blue shard made its way towards my hand I felt a tear slip down my cheek and brushed it away softly. I wonder... these memories seem to be in a certain order... the next one must be... the time Inu-Yasha and I first met... I held back as the deep blue absorbed me into its depths.
I saw myself walking through the forest close to the village, bow in hand and arrows ready. I stiffened slightly feeling the presence of something closeby. Inu-Yasha... I turned quickly and pinned a silver haired hanyou to a tree. I pulled my arrow back against the bow, hearing its stretch and paused. My eyes widened a fraction but the hanyou didn't notice. He gulped when he saw me standing there still, able to fire the finishing shot at any moment but doing nothing, merely watching him. He's half human... I couldn't kill him...
I lowered my aim and placed my arrow back in its quiver, turned and began walking away. The hanyou stared after me in confusion.
"A- aren't you going to kill me?" he asked in slight surprise. I turned to face him sharply.
"Tell me what your name is," I said simply, staring at him piercingly.
"Inu-Yasha. Heh. I guess now the great priestess Kikyou will walk away. Do you even care that I'm after the jewel?!" I stared at him icily.
"Do not come after the jewel again," I said and walked away without looking back.
Inu-Yasha watched me with bewilderment as Kaede ran up to me.
"Sister! Come quickly, Haruda-san's daughter has been possessed by something!" My eyes widened a fraction again, but I was not surprised.
"I expected something like this would happen," I said and followed Kaede to Haruda's home.
The blue surrounded me again but I did not find myself again in the center of the white nothingness. Instead I found myself inside of my home and blinked. Am I really home? I saw myself walk in and realized I was not, that I was still inside of the shard.
"Kaede, bring in the herbs, please," I said, kneeling next to the pot where there was stew simmering. Kaede walked in smiling and handed me the herbs. I ground them slightly and added them to the stew, stirred it and served Kaede and myself a bowl.
"Sister, may I ask you something?" Kaede questioned, giving me a curious look.
"Go ahead," I said smiling slightly.
"Who was that man you pinned to the tree?" I closed my eyes and sipped the stew slowly.
"He was a hanyou." Kaede's eyes widened.
"But I saw you talking to him, so he can't be a demon, can he?"
"A half demon, yes," I said, setting down my stew.
"Half demon..." Kaede said softly, "But then.. what's the other half?"
"Human," I said, without batting an eye.
"So, if he's half demon and half human he's a hanyou?" I nodded and continued eating. "What's his name?"
"Inu-Yasha," I replied as a slight feeling of shyness overcame me.
"Onee-sama, why are your cheeks turning pink?"
"The steam from the stew."
"Well, can I ask a favor sister?"
"Of course."
"Don't hurt him unless he tries to hurt you, okay?"
I smiled and nodded. "I have no intention of doing so Kaede," I said embracing her and smoothed her hair, "Would you like me to tell you a story tonight?" Kaede nodded and yawned. "Well, which one would you like?" I asked.
"The one about the priestess Midoriko," she said tiredly. I smiled sadly and laid Kaede in her bed.
"Alright then." The room began slipping away from me as I heard my own voice beginning to tell the legend of the jewel of four souls.
The whiteness surrounded me again and I blinked as I found myself staring at the shard now in my hand. Purple... the color purple... almost like the shikon no tama... The purple absorbed me into yet another memory.
I opened my eyes to see myself walking towards the center of the village where three men dressed in clothes of combat stood waiting for me. I stopped when I reached them and they bowed deeply. I bowed also and waited.
"Priestess Kikyou," the leader said while looking at me, "We have in our possession something very powerful. You may have heard of it, you may not have. We wish to discuss this matter with you in private." I nodded.
"Come this way. You will be able to discuss this matter with me inside my shrine. You need not worry about interruptions."
I led them inside and motioned for them to be seated and sat down myself. There was silence in the room as I waited for what they had come to tell me. The leader spoke first.
"My name is Koeru."
"I am Naota," said the man on his left.
"And I am Bakuro," said the man on his right.
"We are members of the demon slayers tribe," Koeru said, "And we have come to ask a great favor of you, Lady Kikyou." I studied them carefully.
"I will listen to what you have to ask. Please continue Koeru."
"We have heard many stories about your purity and wisdom, Lady Kikyou. So many in fact that we had to verify if they were true. I understand now simply by meeting you that all of the stories are true. Those stories are what have drawn us to you," Koeru stated.
"Lady Kikyou," Naota began, "Do you know the story of the shikon no tama?" I blinked in slight surprise.
"No, I don't believe so. However, I have heard of the shikon no tama and that it is a jewel that possesses great power." Naota nodded.
"You have not been mislead, Lady Kikyou. It is indeed a jewel of great power and also of a great evil," Bakuro said, "The demon slayers came upon it centuries ago and before it was given into our care it was held by those who had known the priestess Midoriko."
"Perhaps it would be best," Koeru said, "If we told you the story of how the shikon no tama came into being." I nodded and listened attentively.
"There was once a priestess named Midoriko, who was also a general in an army. Midoriko was a kind priestess who lived a few hundred years ago. Midoriko had enough spiritual power inside of her to destroy ten demons at once. Another skill she had was her ability to remove the soul from a demon and purify it, allowing it an easy passing. Her duty was to protect humans from demons. She also had extraordinary powers of purity and was targeted frequently by demons because they considered her a threat. One day a man fell in love with the powerful priestess and she too with him. The demons noticed this weakness and saw this as their chance to destroy her. They corrupted the man's heart, making him turn his love for Midoriko into hate. He attacked Midoriko, which was the start of a war. The battle raged on for seven days and nights, Midoriko was nearly killed. She gathered up all the power that was left and sealed the demons into her heart, causing a jewel to form from her body, which became known as the Shikon no Tama. It is said that inside the jewel, the battle still rages on. Depending on the soul of the person carrying it, the strength of each fighting party increases. However, if a demon were to possess the shikon no tama, then it would become fully evil."
"The jewel is balanced containing the power of both good and evil. The demons know this and are attracted to the purple jewel. If a demon obtained the jewel it would increase their power and make them invincible. Because of such a strong threat the jewel was passed down from generation to generation by the humans that had fought alongside Midoriko. It eventually ended up in our hands, the demon slayers tribe. We have kept the jewel safe for many, many years, until now that the threat of demons has become too much to handle. It has been decided that in order to keep the jewel safe, it has to be in the hands of someone who can keep it pure and has strong spiritual powers, and so, you, Lady Kikyou, have been chosen to be it's protector," Bakuro said, "Only of course if you wish to accept this responsibility."
"We have asked this of you because we believe that you have the power to purify the shikon no tama, which has been corrupted for so long," Naota added.
I took a deep steadying breath and looked at them. "I accept," I said and, waiting for their reaction, I shifted my position on the floor. Koeru untied the small pouch hanging to his belt and emptied its contents into his hand. He handed me a small and round pale purple jewel on a necklace and I took it in my hands carefully. "So this is the shikon no tama."
"Yes," Naota answered, "Though I believe there is one thing we have not told you about the jewel."
"I'm listening."
"With your duty now as the jewel's protector no feelings of hatred or love can be displayed. You cannot show any feelings, for demons would use it against you. Also, the name Jewel of the Four Souls refers to the four powers controlling the shikon no tama. Armi Tama, Fushigi Tama, Nikimi Tama, and Sakimi Tama. They form what is our spirit, and they are controlled by the soul of whoever possesses it. It is now controlled by your soul."
"I understand," I said as the shrine slowly slipped out of my vision and I once again found myself floating in the middle of the abyss. The purple shard left my hand and joined the other shards. What... the shards... they've formed a crystal heart... almost like a diamond...
A dream... The sun's rays gently warmed me as I sat up and slid on my sandals.
"Ohayo onee-sama!" Kaede said cheerfully as she walked in. I smiled.
"Good morning, Kaede." I stood, yawned and stretched. "How long have you been awake?" I asked as Kaede handed me my herb basket.
"Since the sun came up. Well, a little before then, actually," she said with a sheepish smile.
I nodded. "Any news in the village this morning Kaede?" I asked. This feeling I'm getting... what is it that is making me uncomfortable?
"Not much, just that there was a rock slide near the cliff."
"The cliff?"
"Yes. They said there's an injured man down there, in the cave."
"I see. Would you like to come with me to see him?" Kaede's eyes brightened as she smiled.
"Of course I would."
"Get ready then, and help me collect my things."
We sat down to breakfast and finished eating quickly. I checked on the safety of the shikon no tama and gathered all my medicinal herbs and rolls of bandages.
"My bow and arrows," I said, holding my basketful of herbs against my stomach.
"Here." I placed my basket on the floor and slung my quiver over my shoulder, bow in hand, I picked up my basket.
"Ready?"
"Yes."
"Let's go."
We made our way carefully towards the cave over the grass and as we approached it Kaede grabbed at my sleeve. I looked at her questioningly.
"I have a bad feeling," Kaede whispered.
"It will be alright Kaede. I promise, I will never let anything bad happen to you, okay?" Kaede nodded and I smiled at her. "Don't be afraid Kaede."
I peered into the cave through a fallen log. "Hello? Is anyone down here?" I heard a muffled groan and moved the log aside, going into the cave. I stopped after only a few steps in front of a badly injured man.
"Hello," I said again, kneeling beside him, "My name is Kikyou. I am a priestess and I am here to help you. Can you speak?"
"Yes," he said in an extremely weak voice.
"Alright. Kaede, bring me water please."
"Yes sister," she answered, running off. I studied him carefully. He's been very badly injured... I will have to do all that I can for him...
Kaede returned with the water and I thanked her for it. I bathed him and sprinkled herbs into his wounds, then bandaged them well. The bandages covered him from head to toe.
Why is it that even now... all I can think about is you... Inu-Yasha...
There are times when I wonder...
Could things have been different?