Akai giggled and playfully splashed the warm water at Kikyo and the other demon women of the clan, laughing more as they shrieked and splashed right back, laughing the whole while. The six of them relaxed in the hot spring every couple of days. It had become almost annual; just the girls, their own time to unwind and wash away their troubles.
As the sun began to set that evening, Kikyo was the last to emerge from the spring. She carefully dried off and dressed herself in the furs Koga had given her. She took a seat on an overturned tree beside the spring and picked up a bandage from its resting place upon the hollowing log. Before bandaging her ankle once again, she ran her fingers all around it, gently poking and applying pressure to it. A slight smile formed on her lips – it was no longer injured. The smile lasted briefly before fading away, just as all her others did. She was no longer injured; she could leave at any time. She should have been overjoyed from this, though all she could feel was emptiness.
A sigh escaped her as she placed the bandage down once again and reached up, tugging off the sash that held her hair in a mess atop her head. Her long ebony tresses trailed down her back as it was set free, illuminant beneath the setting sun ahead. She stood and turned to head back to the wolves' camp, slowly walking along the worn path through the woods.
She knew that she was becoming too attached to the clan, which only meant she would have to leave even sooner – without saying farewell. Halfway down the path she had made up her mind; she would depart early in the morning, just before dawn so that no one would see. Lost in thought, of the present, past, and future, she was entirely unaware that Koga had appeared at her side and began to walk along with her in an even stride.
He stared over at her as they walked, studying her carefully before speaking, "Kikyo?" he said, suddenly catching her attention. Her thoughts dimmed down as her mind was brought back to the present and she turned her head to look at him, blinking, as if confused. He simply flashed her a warm smile, but was rewarded with a dull, blank gaze. "Are you alright?" he questioned, worried.
She smiled faintly and gave him a slight nod, "Of course." she assured, "I'm fine."
He nodded in return and smiled again, gently taking her hand in his.
"What is it?" she asked, watching him closely.
"Nothing, but…do you think we could talk once we get back to the caves?"
She nodded to him again and set her gaze upon the ground, her voice soft, "As you wish."
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Back at the caves, Koga lead her up towards the waterfall. Kikyo looked all around in search of the clan, but no one was there. The camp was entirely empty as far as she could see, except for the two of them. Usually the children were being fed dinner around the large fire in the center of camp, the rest of the clan partaking in their share of the food while talking amongst themselves or dancing off to the side to the music another would play on some sort of wooden, makeshift flute. But there was no one; no fire, no people, no food, nor any music. The camp appeared to be deserted.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked vaguely, not really seeming interested or even paying attention.
She stopped and tugged her hand away, gesturing out towards the desolate ground below the cliff where they stood, "Where is the clan?"
He grinned and shook his head, taking a seat on the edge and tugging her down beside him, "Don't worry about it," he told her, "I sent them in for the night."
"Why?" she questioned.
"So we could talk." he explained, as if it should have been plainly obvious.
"What is it that you want to talk about, then? Sending the entire clan to bed like a bunch of children seems a bit much just for a little chat between the two of us."
"Does that really matter?"
"It should."
"I'm their Lord, their leader, they do whatever I tell them, no questions asked."
"So you're their dictator now?" she remarked sharply in a bitter tone.
He didn't respond to her, but merely sat and watched, his expression almost seeming hurt. Her face softened a bit as she saw his sudden change. A sigh escaped her and she hooked her arm around his, her head coming to a rest against his shoulder, "I'm sorry." she apologized, "What did you wish to talk about?"
"I know that your ankle is well again, and you have no reason to stay now that you're healed." he began, "But the clan and I, we would like you to stay here with us, truly become one of us; part of the clan."
Slowly she released his arm and lifted her head, "Why? I have no purpose here."
"Kikyo, you have a huge purpose here. We're offering you a home, with a family willing to protect you at any cost." he reasoned, placing his hand on the small of her back.
"But why? I've done nothing to deserve kindness from any of you."
His hand slid up along her spine and came to a rest just beneath her chin. His stunning blue eyes gazed directly into hers as his thumb gently stroked her smooth skin along her jaw.
"I'm not quite sure what it is exactly that you think or feel, but other these weeks that you've been with us, I know for sure that I would do anything for you. I don't think I can just let you walk out of our lives – my life—I won't force you to stay with us if you truly do wish to go, because that decision is yours and yours alone. But I would love for you to stay, if not for anything, then for my sake." he paused, "If you do choose to stay, I have just one more favor to ask of you; be my mate, Kikyo?" he asked, his voice almost pleading.
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The following night, after the women returned from the spring, two of then escorted Kikyo up to the main cave and began her preparations for that evening. They gently ran flowers along her skin, leaving a sweet fragrance lingering there. Next, they decorated her long hair with smaller, white and purple flowers, creating a sort of circlet around the crown of her head and small trails down throughout her hair.
They dressed her in a long silk gown and adorned her neck with a strand of glistening stones, each of a vibrant color and polished until they were as smooth as the silk that hung over her body; giving them the resemblance of tiny gems. She glanced down into the pool of water surrounded by stone near the back of the "room" and stood there, admiring her reflection for the first time since her days with InuYasha, so long ago.
"Is anything the matter, Lady Kikyo?" asked Ewen, one of the demon women in the clan. She was slightly taller tan the other demon with her, Hana; but overall, all the women in the clan looked very much alike, each with their own defining beauty.
"No," Kikyo replied, "I'm just a little nervous I suppose. And this dress…" she smiled, running her hands down her sides, taking in the feel of the material beneath her fingertips.
"It is tradition for the Lady of the clan to wear a garment of silk to the ceremony. It symbolizes the smooth skin that must be broken, the purity of the Lady's heart and soul, and shows a position of respect and authority through its elegance." Hana told her, butting in.
"Now, if you'll excuse us, m'lady. The Lord will be along at any moment." Ewen said, giving a quick curtsy and tugging Hana out of the room along with her.
Kikyo looked all around the room before taking a seat upon a bed of furs in the corner. A few lit torches sitting upon the walls were the only source of light in the dim room. She recognized the room suddenly, though it was much brighter when she had been there last. It was the place where she had slept when she was first brought there almost a month before. Koga had given up his bed to a complete stranger, injured by his children as they hunted. She could have been their next meal, but he spared her. The demons whom she thought to be vile, vicious creatures as unholy as herself, they were kinder to her than any human she'd ever known or come across. They gave her a home, they accepted her and wanted her with them, and she was only moment away from eternally bonding herself to them – to their Lord.
Her rampaging thoughts were silenced as she looked up and saw Koga standing before her, wearing a traditional red and black silken robe around his waist; his typical charming smile looking down at her warmly in admiration.
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AN: Well, that didn't take so long. Yay for extra time after my final, and yay for boredom. XD Now, after two hours of typing, my hand in entirely cramped, I feel as if I'm falling asleep where I stand..er..sit. o.O; And you'd better like this chapter, though I did end it at somewhat of a cliffhanger. Hehe. :) Hate me later. Because I already have the next chapter done...but I won't update until I can feel my hand again...or better yet...when I can't. x..x Enjoy! R&R!
--Sagittarian's Bow