The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Two: Snow Storms of Sorrow Part One)
Kikyou had woken sometime before dawn, like she always had. She sat over her legs, with her heels at her behind. The teenaged woman delicately held onto a cup of steaming tea, as stern pair of auburn eyes stared outside the window as cold breeze sneaked in, making it clear that winter was nearing, and quickly. Slight rustling to her right caught her attention, turning her head with a small smile surfacing.
"Good morning, Kaede"
"Good morning, Onee-san" she mumbled out in a sleepy state, pushing herself in a sitting position.
Kikyou stared at the young girl a while longer, before glancing out the window once more. A stern stare outside for a time before her eyes narrowed in the slightest.
'something is amiss...' the priestess thought.
"Onee-san?" she asked, with a curious glance.
Being snapped from her thoughts, Kikyou turned her gaze to her younger sister. A small smile surfacing again, to the only sibling she had left.
"Do not worry, Kaede... I will just be outside" she spoke softly, placing the cup on the floor board and moving to stand.
Kaede just watched with a silent yet worried gaze, but said nothing. The priestess stepped over to the door once she'd put on her rice sandals, with one last glance to her sister promising to return soon, Kikyou stepped outside. Auburn eyes glanced about the area, though she was met with nothing but a silent breeze. The children were all inside, as were the adults. She narrowed her eyes slightly as a noise was caught by her ears. Heavy galloping, was fast approaching.
Turning her head to the right, she was met with the sight of a black horse coming to a stop some feet away. The rider quickly climbed off the horse he rode in on, and ran to her. Lowering himself to his knees, followed by a low bow. One thing is for certain, that caught Kikyou a little off-guard.
"Miko-sama! I come bearing a message of utmost urgency" the man in heavy armor, spoke.
Putting on a stern face, all emotion slipping from her face, in other words, neutral. She waited and pondered this for a little time, but spoke out her question.
"what is this message, you have sought me out for?"
"I fear for the men in the next village over, Miko-sama... There has been word of a demon seeking out young men, no one knows why"
Kikyou continued to gaze at man, feeling a little uneasy about this whole situation and found herself pondering this. Her thoughts reeling, and looking for an answer to what could very well be what she felt in the air moments ago.
'perhaps... This will lead me to the answers, that I seek'
By that time, the man had lifted himself in the same kneeling position with concern over his features. Her auburn eyes met with the darker ones that he had, and with a short nods of her head.
"I will answer this call for help, but give me time to prepare"
With a curt nod in agreement, the man offered her a smile as he stood on his feet again. Kikyou on the other hand turned on her heel and entered the house. Kaede had obviously overheard the entire conversation, for she stood there with her sister's bow and quiver in hand. She could not help the small smile that grew, kneeling down to eye level in order to speak.
"Kaede, I'm going to have to leave in charge for just a little while" gauging the youngin's reaction, with eyes filled with worry.
"I'll be fine, sister.. After all, I am the younger sister of the village priestess" she said with a smile.
Kikyou let out the smallest of laughs, to her sister's bravery. Pushing herself up in a standing position, she graciously accepted her quiver filled with many arrows and secured it over her right shoulder. Next was her bow, one final look to her sibling's face, she turned to leave but halted.
"I should return in about a day's time, can you handle yourself"
"of course!"
"Good..." was her only response, lifting the mat and stepped out.
Some hours had passed, as the man led her from atop his horse to their destination. She had attained her own horse in order to keep up with the light stride the man ahead of her and maintained. Some snow had begun to fall in that time, obsuring their view a little. Kikyou would have stared at the snowflakes that fell to the cold earth beneath them but somethings wasn't right with this air and it didn't sit well with the priestess.
After having travelled a few miles, they stopped at the top of the mountain, above the village that lay at the base. Even from here, she could see the women ushering her children inside due to the lower in tempature in the air while the snow continued to fall. The man on the horse to her left trotted on, giving off a light shiver due to the cold. She followed, feeling the cold breeze pass her frame, yet she remained neutral. Being a priestess, she was required to do that, to protect her and those around her. If she showed emotion anywhere, the demons in the vicinity could very well take advantage of her weakness.
Either of them halted their horse, and Kikyou was the first to climb off her own. Auburn eyes glanced around, she saw nothing but the snow falling to the earth but, even so, her senses seemed to be tugging at her. Her hues set on a lone man, sitting on a bench outside despite the weather. His sword tucked protectively to his chest with either of his arms crosses into his sleeves. Red bangs obsured his eyes from view, due to his head being tilted forward.
'curious... Perhaps a bandit laying wait...?' she thought, auburn eyes once again scanning the area.
"Miko-sama?" the man called.
Kikyou's eyes grew wide for just a moment, but returned to normal. Her gaze fell on him, with naught but promise dancing in her her hues.
"Do not worry, I will look for the source of your troubles"
With that being said, Kikyou wandered ahead after having left the horse in the man's care. The deeper she walked thought the tree, the harder snow feel. She was glad to have gotten a bamboo hat over her head, held by a small rope at her chin and a cloak of rice straw over her shoulders. As the snow fall and breezes increased, Kikyou halted to glance about. There tingling she felt within her had risen, which indicated that she was indeed nearing her targer and the source of the men's restlessness.
Some time prior to her travelling alone in nothing but snow, the priestess had gotten some information from the women, as much as the men. From what they had said, one by one their husbands wandered into the snowy fortress of the trees, and they have yet to return. Rumors had spread, some had told her that their seemed to hear a fading voice and the men went to investigate, others said that the men had left in a trance.
'Either way, it does not bode well... Perhaps there is a demon involved... No, there must be a demon' she thought, as she begun to venture on.
