The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Six: Untitled)

Kikyou had woken up early, just as she'd always done. She took some time to tend to the purification of the jewel, then proceeded on to her morning rounds. Since the night of being handed the jewel, she noticed an increase in demon attacks, not on those she protected, for the most part, but herself. All for the sake of getting their hands on the jewel, said to give and increase the powers of demons and men alike.

Currently, the priestess Kikyou, stood amongst a rather large ammount of demon carcasses. Long strands of black hair gathered over her shoulders, with scratches and such on her pale face, yet despite her weak looking state and light but quickened breaths, she kept up her awareness of possible approaching threats. Sensing none as of yet, Kikyou slowly turned her on her heel to return home for a short rest.

Meanwhile, deeper in the forest, a man clad in a kimono of red rushed past some trees to hide away from the twin oni brothers that chased for him. He remained hidden with bared fangs and hand over his shoulder, where he was struck and bleeding, once he'd found a place fo hide. Moments later the oni brothers begun to angrily tear down some trees in the area, seaching for him. Time seemed to slow just for a moment when he was found just within the shadow of a cave, and just as the oni rose an arm to attack with a curse of the boy's exsisance, is when time picked up again.

In a rush, the man moved from the claw attack and slid in a spinning motion. Just as he spun to face his opponent and pulled his bloodied claws from his shoulder, the oni demon turned to face him. It was too late however, with a shout of the attak and a sharp swing of his arm from left to right, bright red blades rushed right for the demon's singular eye. With a loud pain filled scream, it's twin rushed and crouched before the boy and sought to attack with a quick sweep of it's claws, while shouting the fact that he was indeed, a half breed and cursed his exsistance.

That angered him, either of his ears drew back with a feral growl and leaped in the air to avoid the attack. The bright yellow glow from his claws indicated that his counter attack was close at hand. With a mighty shout of the name, long blades of yellow followed the path of the boy's claws. Screams from the oni's faded out into nothing, as their bodies were torn to shreds.

The man fell into a crouch once that was over with and a pain shot through him just then, causing him to reach over to his wounded shoulder. He cursed under his breath, as the continuous pain filled him.

"Damn it all... How could I have let these two weaklings get to me?" he told himself, as amber colored hues stared dead ahead.

Later, around the time of noon, Kikyou stepped from the shrine once she'd rested for a little while, and eaten a bowl of stew. The past several days had been the same, wake early for morning rounds, return home when she had the chance, to rest and have a small meal and take just a few times to clean her small bruises and such, then return to her duties until nightfall. Kaede stepped out after her sister, to bid her farewell and hope to see her safe return from another day of slaying demons that were increasing in numbers... However, Kikyou had already walked into the dangers of the forest. The young girl in an orange-yellow kimono rose her hands to hold them to her chest as she watched her elder sister step into the dangers once more. Kaede begun to felt that something was afoot today, but what, she did not know.

As the day progressed, the bright bursts of pink lights continued through out the forest, indicating the slaying of many demons seeking her life and the jewel that she protected. Once the attacks had thinned down to none, Kikyou breathed out heavily. Her hair was more of a mess, and some strands had loosened from her white hair ribbon.

The young priestess's face held small scratches and bruises, her kimono, ruined with dirt. What was worse, her bow had been broken in half. Auburn eyes regarded the pieces of demons that lay around her, before her awareness picked up on a presence behind her, just as the sun set. Turning her head slowly, to glance over her shoulder, she saw no one but knew better than to trust her eyes.

Amber eyes grew wide at the sight of her, his thoughts upon seeing her were questioning the woman and her appearance. As time moved on after the brief pause, the pulsation was felt through the man's body causing change. Hair that was once a beautiful shade of silver slowly faded into a dark black, amber eyes turned into a dark brown color and sharp fangs and claws became blunt.

"How long are you going to hide?" came the voice of the woman.

The half-demon hiding within the tree merely remained silent, but kept his guard up should she try anything, which also meant that he had to keep his eyes on the woman below. Storm clouds had begun to gather overhead, and thunders were heard, but no other sounds were heard. Kikyou turned to face the tree, and continued to stare up where she suspected the threat to be. She patiently awaited for a response, while rain begun to fall from the clouds.

"Are you after the Sacred Jewel, too?" She pressed on with yet another question.

"Sacred Jewel? Never heard of it" he finally responded with a soft, but gruff tone.

"If you have heard of it, then nevermind. If you value your life at all, I warn you to stay away from me"

For a time longer, she stayed her glance but soon turned on her heel to carry on with her duty. However, the priestess's body had other plans, she found herself collapsing into the mud. The half-demon in hiding finally leapt down and rushed to her side, kneeling next to her somewhat. He stared continuously at her face, for what may have seemed like hours, when truthfully, had only been some few minutes. Little did either of them know, a lone figure just beyond the trees was looking too but soon stepped away, figuring that he would care for her.

"She's some priestess..." he said under his breath.

Moments later however, the half demon turned man over heard the screams of a young girl over the pouring rain. Looking to his left, he noticed approaching torches to which he stood and ran into the opposite direction.

"Sister Kikyou!" the voice shouted again, as she approached the fallen priestess.

Kaede knelt down next to her elder sister, aiding her in a sitting position against her but she noted that her sisters eyes stared out into the distance. Suddenly, a small smile took shape on her lips.

"It must be my lucky night..."

The next morning, Kikyou had returned to her rounds after the previous night of a quick recovery. However the man clad in red appeared behind her with a bright smile, and a hand risen up to flex his fingers.

"Hey Kikyou, I hear this so called Sacred Jewel is a mysterious crystal that increases the power of a demon"

Halting in her walk, Kikyou glanced over her shoulder to the figure standing behind her, some feet away. Why did that voice sound so familar? Her thoughts wandered, for a while, increasing the sound of silence between them, then... Something clicked.

"I remember now, you were the one who was hiding in the shadows the other night"

"Shut up, and hand over that Sacred Jewel!" he yelled out, before leaping into an attack.

In mere moments, the half demon found himself pinned by the sleeves into the tree just behind him, by two arrows.

"I understand, I thought I sensed a different aura from you... So you are a mere half demon"

The fairly loud growl coming from him, confirmed her suspision as she lowered her bow, to speak once again.

"With the Sacred Jewel, you could become a full blooded demon. Would you truly go that far to find your place in the world, half demon? Do you believe that is true power?"

"I told you to shut up, I'll become the strongest demon around! I've already made up my mind, and when I become a full fledged demon, I'm gonna put you out of your misery"

"Take my word for it, that is never going to happen, so long as I purify and protect it" Kikyou responded in turn, with a smile as she turned her back to him.

"Don't make me laugh, you totally reek with the stench of demon blood!" he retorted just as she began to walk away, causing her to halt in her stride.

"What's the matter? Did I touch a nerve? Huh, Kikyo?"

"You better stay away from me, if you don't want to be killed. There will be no third change" she said to him, as she regarded him with a bit of a glare.

"Ah! I'm not giving up that easy! Go ahead and run, you won't get away from me! With that bloody demon smell on you, you'll be be easy enough to find!"

"The smell of me, huh...?" She whispered under breath, while keeping a steady pace.

Later in the evening, Kikyo found herself at a lake, due to the lingering presence there. A dark blue skinned fish leapt from the water with a pair of glowing red eyes, clearly it too, seeked not only her life but the Jewel as well. A single arrow however, was enough to stop the coming demon and purify it.

"You can come out, now"

"Are you okay, Kikyou?" Kaede ran out from behind the tree, that happened to be a very little ways away from where Kikyou stood by the lake.

"Let's go home, Kaede" Kikyou told the younger sister, that was soon followed by a smile and nod from her sibling.

Before they could even move any more then they already had, a light tingle in Kikyou's awareness spiked. The tall priestess turned her head to the right, only to be met with the sight of the half demon again.

"It's you again..."

"heh! Kikyou... Hand over the Sacred Jewel" He said with a crack of his knuckles.

"I warned you to stay away from me" Kikyou said sternly, feeling her younger sister hide behind her.

"And I told you I wouldn't give up that easily! We are going to settle this today"he retorted.

Just before either of them could utter one more word, the light steps moved from beyond the trees. Amber eyes glanced to his right while the priestess gazed to her left, either of them were surprised to see a young human man with bright red hair and he carried a sword at his waist. A travelling swordsman, perhaps?

"It is rude to talk to a woman like that, that it is" he said with a smile, to the silver haired male some distance from him.

~~*~~ A/N: Phew! Longest chapter so far, I think. Anyway, I hope this is good enough of a chapter for the time being. I'm going to have a ditty of a time, to write the next one. x3. I'm also aware I've copied some of the moments of InuYasha and Kikyou's meetings, but it was needed for this to work, I think... Anyway, again, hope you like it. Leave a review if you want to, much love! 3 ~~*~~