(A/N: This chapter is so sad. I don't want to ruin it for you, so please read before I give it away.
Disclaimer: Who? Me? I don't own anything.
Chapter 6: A Tragic Loss
Kaede was in bad shape. Onigumo had cut her deeply. Had she been a demon or a half-demon, she would have healed in a few hours. But she was an old woman, and she didn't have the ability to heal as such superior beings did.
"Lady Kaede, how are you?" Kikyou asked in concern.
The old priestess struggled to speak. "I am not at my best, but I still have life within me."
"And we're going to keep it that way." Kaori insisted, dressing the wound.
Kaede smiled. "I appreciate the concern, but my wound runs deep. I fear that this was my final battle."
Kikyou slammed her fist into the wall. "Damn it, don't talk like that!"
"Kikyou, please, language." Souten said, laying a wet rag over the old woman's head.
Toriyasu was sitting by the foot of Kaede's bed crying. "She's going to be ok. Right mommy?"
Souten flinched, torn between lying to her son and telling him the hard truth.
Rin grabbed Kaede's hand. "Aiko, why don't you and Toriyasu go outside."
"Yes, Sakura you go with them." Ayame said.
"But… what about-"
Kaede suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, making the younger children cry out. Shin took charge of the situation. "Alright you three, you heard your parents. Out."
He led them outside as the adults and older children remained by the priestess' side. Kikyou tossed a bunch of her mother's First Aid stuff around, looking for something, anything, to help. The stomach wound could be sewn shut, but Kaede's insides were damaged as well.
"Damn, I wish mother was here!" she cried. "Or at least father. Then he could go to the future and grandmother or Uncle Souta and Aunt Hitomi could tell him some way to help."
Kaede turned to the half-demon. "Kikyou, do not be pained by my state. I am old; I have lived my life. It is your mother who yeh should worry about."
Kikyou turned away. "I am worried, but-"
Shin suddenly burst into the room. "We've got a problem out here!" he cried urgently.
"Is it Onigumo?" Kikyou demanded.
Shin shook his head. "Not unless he turned into a woman. It's a female I smell."
Everyone, save Kaede, rushed outside. Approaching the village was a tornado that slithered horizontally across the sky like a snake swimming through water. When the tornado was over their heads, the beginning point came down, coming to a rest in front of them, blowing up a vast amount of dust. The tornado became smaller until it was the size of a person before it dispersed revealing…
"Linca." Kikyou hissed. "What are you doing here?"
The Princess of the Western Lands barely glanced at her. "I have come to see my sister." Her eyes settled on Rin. "Are you well, Rin?"
Her answer was to have the human rush forward and embrace her, quickly followed by Aiko who did the same.
"I take it you are well." Said Linca emotionlessly, not minding the hugs, yet not returning them either.
"I've missed you, sister." Said Rin. "How are Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagura?"
"They are well. As I can see you are. Or most of you." She sniffed the air. "I smell lots of blood, and death. I also smell traces of a demon and I notice that your husband is not present, as well as several others."
Rin hung her head. "We were attacked by a demon. He took Kagome away."
Linca raised a silver eyebrow. "And for what reason would a demon take her?" she asked, more out of curiosity than concern. Before she received an answer, the sound and smell of Kaede coughing up more blood caught her attention. Her eyes turned to the hut. "That is the old priestess, Kaede, is it not?"
Rin nodded. "Yes, she was hurt fighting Onigumo."
Linca's eyes narrowed. "Onigumo?" she repeated.
Without waiting for a response, she made her way over to the hut. Ico and Kaori moved to block her path.
"Didn't you hear your sister?" Ico snapped. "Lady Kaede is hurt."
Linca's face displayed no emotion. "Move." She ordered in a dangerous voice.
"Listen up, you bitch!" Kikyou cried. "Kaede can't deal with you right now. Why don't you go back to your castle?"
Linca moved quickly. Her hand was suddenly wrapped around Kikyou's neck, lifting her off the ground.
"Be careful how you speak to me, cousin." She hissed.
Kikyou struggled to get free. "Damn it, let me go!"
"Lady Linca, please set Kikyou down."
Kaede came stumbling out of the hut, leaning against the outer wall to support herself.
"Lady Kaede, you should not be outside!" Souten cried.
Kaede held up her hand to silence the thunder-demon. "I must speak, Souten, while I still am able to." She turned to Linca. "I will tell yeh what yeh wish to know about Onigumo if yeh put Kikyou down."
Linca held Kikyou for a few seconds longer before simply dropping her cousin. "Very well, priestess. Tell me what you know."
"Linca please." Rin begged. "Lady Kaede is gravely wounded. She could die. Can't you fetch Lord Sesshomaru to help her with Tenseiga?"
Linca regarded Rin for a moment, then turned back to Kaede. "Death already surrounds her. She is close to death. Mother and Father are away on business. I would not be able to reach them in time. The demons of the underworld will have removed her soul before I returned and she would pass onto the next life; unable to be revived."
Kikyou growled. "How can you talk like it is no big deal?"
"Death is natural for all living things." Linca replied. "Besides, her life span was nearing an end anyway. But while you are alive, tell me of Onigumo."
Kikyou made a move towards her. "Why you-"
"Let me speak." Kaede interrupted. "If death is indeed close, then I shall do what I can while I live." She turned to Linca. "The story begins over 70 years ago. When my sister found the bandit, Onigumo. Broken and burned his body was. My sister tended to him, kept him alive. Eventually Onigumo came to desire her. So one day he summoned an army of demons. He offered them his body and soul in exchange for mobility. He received it, but not the way he wanted. He and all the demons fused together and a new demon was born."
Linca's eyes narrowed. "Naraku." She seethed.
Kaede nodded. "Aye, him. Naraku sought the Shikon Jewel. He wanted it to be tainted by malice. So he deceived my sister and Inuyasha by disguising himself as them and making them think they betrayed each other. As a result, my sister was killed and Inuyasha was sealed to the Scared Tree for 50 years. As her dying wish, my sister asked that the Shikon Jewel be cremated with her body so that she may take it with her to the afterlife. What she did not expect was that the Shikon Jewel could not be destroyed so easily. So 500 hundred years later, she was reincarnated as Kagome so the Jewel could be unleashed again."
"You are trying my patience." Linca said coldly. "I did not ask for the origin of my aunt, nor of my uncle's past. I asked about Onigumo. All you have told me thus far is that he is the reason Naraku was born."
Instead of replying, Kaede coughed, covering her mouth with her hand. When she pulled it away, she saw that it was covered with blood.
"Lady Kaede!" Kaori cried.
Kaede held up a hand to silence her. "Forgive me, I have indeed gotten off topic. Though Onigumo was devoured, his soul did not depart. He remained trapped within Naraku's body. Naraku's heart remained human, that of Onigumo. To remove this weakness, he removed Onigumo from his body. Onigumo came back to life, only now he was a demon rather than a human. Eventually, Naraku realized that he released Onigumo too soon and he absorbed him again.
"After Naraku was destroyed, we assumed Onigumo died with him. We were wrong. It had taken him years to gain his strength back and regenerate his body, but finally he has done so. Even after all this time, he lusts for my sister still. So he came here for her. Since my sister no longer exists, he has taken Kagome instead. Inuyasha and the others have gone after-"
Linca held up a hand to stop her. "You have obviously told me all you can. I have no intention of listening to you further." She turned and began walking away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Kikyou demanded.
Linca stopped. "I am going after this Onigumo."
The others, save Rin and Aiko, were surprised to say the least.
"You're going to help my mother?" Kikyou asked, in shock.
Linca turned to her. "You do not listen well. I said that I am going after Onigumo. The fact that your mother is his hostage has nothing to do with this."
"Then why are you going?"
"Because this Onigumo is a disgrace. Not only does he disrespect a demon's right to a mate, but he also insults my family."
"What are you talking about?" Toriyasu asked.
"As despicable as you half-breeds are, you are still blood. And this demon taking my uncle's mate for himself is inexcusable. Also he came to where my sister and niece reside with the intent to harm. He has not only disrespected my family, but has threaten it as well. This act will not go unpunished. I may be saving your mother, Kikyou, but that is not my intention for slaying Onigumo. Do not expect me to bring her back. Once Onigumo is dead, I shall return home. Your mother can deal with her own problems."
A mighty wind picked up as a tornado appeared around Linca. It elongated and took flight, slithering through the air like a snake in the direction Onigumo had gone in.
Kikyou growled. "That miserable selfish bitch."
Rin chuckled. "Kikyou, you're a lot like your father. Linca actually said that she considers you family, enough to decide that what Onigumo has done is an insult to her, Lord Sesshomaru, and Lady Kagura. She's just trying to hide that she cares. Lord Sesshomaru was the same way. She knows that your father is looking for your mother and is certain to find her. So once Onigumo is destroyed, she should be fine until your father finds her."
The others stared at her with open shock.
"Wow Rin, you're as wise a Lady Kaede at times." Ico commented.
Rin giggled. "Hear that, lady Kaede? I'm as wise as you." There was no reply. "Lady Kaede?" They all turned to the old priestess, fearing the worst. "Oh no! No, please!"
Lady Kaede lay against the hut with her eyes closed, no longer among the living.
(A/N: Don't hate me! I really liked Kaede and didn't want to kill her off, but I did, sorry. ANhyway, now Linca has gone after Onigumo. I love her character too. With the personality of Sesshomaru and the temper of Kagura, she's not someone you want to mess with. Stay tuned for more.)