The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Five: The Fate of A Miko)

Some of the huts were aflame while as some of the villagers ran around, being chased and laughed at by the ogre demons, even if they were few in numbers. Kaede stepped out of her hut, with a quiver at her back and a long oak bow in her hands. Depite being terrified, she took a breath and took an arrow and secured it to the bow to the best of her ability.

"Halt! Demons! Cease your attack, or be purified" she shouted, her hands a bit shaky, a clear sign that she was not accostomed to the handling of a bow just yet.

The demons halted for just a moment or so before one in particular laughed above the rest, as he took slow steps towards the youngin. He stopped some feet from Kaede with a grand smirk, either of his hands lay at his back. His appaearance was nearly that of a human, save for the light pale blue skin, dark eyes of black and pair of curved horns located on his forehead, his hair white as snow on the first winter day, that he had tied in a pony tail. His clothes was simple enough as well, consisting of a pair of dark blue colored pants and a white obi which lowered down to his eyes.

"Really? Then by all means, do it"

Kaede felt a bead of sweat drop from her cheek down to her chin, he'd caught her in her bluff, then that meant... She pulled the butt of the arrow against the string as far as she could but due to her constant shaking, the arrow flew off the string once she lost the grip and it landed by the demon's feet. It merely let out a thunderous roar of laughter, which was soon followed by his bretheren. Kaede slowly took a few steps back, as each one halted their booming laughter. The blue skinned ogre demon began to approach her, and that frightened her. Kaede could feel the pounding of heart against her rib cage then, but suddenly an arrow surrounded in a bright pink sphere rushed inches past her hear which hit the leader, or assumed leader into the his stomach, and immadiately the purification took effect.

Kaede slowly turned her head, only see her sister bruised and battered yet she still stood tall and her stoic features in place, now more then ever. Her bow aimed in the direction of where the leader used to stand, the other oni demons stood there in shock. Their leader had not a chance to even scream a word. Kikyou had already drawn out another arrow, and readied it for shooting the next demon victim. She kept her aim, and her eyes on the demons that stood there like statues. It was like she was daring one, or all of them to move. She noted her sister scurrying to her side just as a demon dared to approach a villager, without a second thought the arrow was fired.

Bright pink lights continued to shine through the village, until early dawn where the last of them was slain. Kikyou breathed heavily as her eyes wandered the area, to scout and see if the were any more of them in hiding. Luckily, she sensed none but her heart sank in seeing some torn down homes and even a few dozen or so villagers, lay motionless. Her eyes closed, knowing that this would mean she would need to pray for their souls, allowing them to ascend.

Opening her eyes once again, Kikyou took one step towards one of the bodies, before having to use her bow as a crutch. She realized then that, her powers might have been exhausted to the point of having some trouble to move. Kaede moved to her sister's side to help her walk to the hut where they lived, upon noticing how her hands shook about the bow, meanwhile the villagers took time to weep for the death of their loved ones, and sooner, rather then later, begun to dig up some graves for each of them.

Kikyou on the other, much to her dismay, through the convincing words of her younger sibling, she lay down to rest for now. She made a mental note of a few things, before letting sleep over take her, one of them being putting up a barrier around the vicinity, and another would be to pray for the dead.

~~Later in the evening~~

Kikyou walked from the hut she shared with Kaede, she had already done the tasks she'd mentally set for herself hours before. The barrier had finally been set, and the dead prayed for, she also went as far as to listen to whatever words the remaining villagers wished to share with her, and their tears. Now she found herself kneeling before some plants, her mind wandered back to the attack as she slowly picked some herbs for poison, placing them in the basket by her side.

After she'd gathered a few more of the herbs and placed them in the basket, the priestess stood while taking the time to look at the sky just as storm clouds had begun to take shape just over the mountains, a slight distance away from her home. Something about the coming storm, did not bode well with her.

Upon her return to the village, Kikyou was approached by two of the village just as the sun had begun to set, casting low light across the land. That is when she was told of a dozen or so demon slayers, had come to speak to her while she was away and that they would return tonight, due her having been absent at the time.

Kikyou made her way over to the shrine which she utilized for her training as a priestess, located on the very top of the hill's steps, beyond the large torii gate. There she entered the shrine with her younger sister, for some nights or so, either of the sisters would rest her.

As night approached, she overheard people calling out to her from just outside, over the rain no less. Kikyou stood to her feet, and stepped over to the door to slide it open and as she walked down the few steps, a man in a black suit and little armor on stepped forward to meet her. The others behind him, wore similar suits, but each had diffrent colored armor.

The one before her, bowed before he reached out a hand to her a rounded jewel, to which she allowed him to drop in the palms of her hands. He explained where they have acquired it and how as well as mention that they'd leave it in her care, for purification, before he left with a bow and the others followed suit. As they left, Kikyou found herself staring at the jewel that seemed to glow with a faint dark light surrounding it.

Kaede slowly approached her elder sister, while attempting to wipe the sleep from her eyes. Kikyou on the other hand continued to stare down at the jewel, even knowing her sister was walking over. The youngin glanced up at her sister, then down to her hands.

"Sister Kikyou? What is it you have in your hands?"

"Kaede, this is known as the Shikon Jewel, I have been given the task of purifying it" spoke out, as she lowered either of her hands to allow Kaede to see for herself.

~~*~~ A/N: I'm tremendously sorry to end it here, but I really do think that this should be enough of a chapter for now, I'll continue on the next one soon enough, and I'll try to make the next one a bit or a lot longer for your enjoyment, if I don't run into a writer's block along the way.

On an extra note, I'd like to thank you readers for taking the time to read this story. I didn't think that this one would be such a big hit, but honestly, I'm glad it is. Look forward to the next chapter soon, much love to you ~-^ ~~*~~