The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Eight: True Intentions Part One)
The next morning had come fairly quickly, it seemed peaceful enough, and Kikyou found herself in the same field where she and InuYasha had spoken the other day. Just as she'd arrived, her sight picked up on his red-clad figure and with a small smile, Kikyou approached him. InuYasha's attention was turned in her direction, once his ears had picked up her foot steps among the grass. Without a word spoken out of either, he held out his clawed hand to reaveal a small clam with a little crimson bow at the end.
"What it is?"
"No sense in me keeping it, so I might as well give it to you. Go ahead take it"
Kikyou regarded him temporarily, and he merely stared back at her, unsually patient for him. Then once again glancing at the clam, her smaller hands reached out to take the small object from his palm. The priestess lay it on her own palm and took a moment to brush a finger over the smooth texture. With a careful finger and thumb she opened the clam, upon realizing that it did. To her surprise, a little puddle of rouge lay at it's center, seemingly untouched.
"The only things my mother left me were that and the fire-robe"
"Your mother was human?" Kikyou rose her eyes to meet his, with a questioning glance.
"Yeah... Well," he begun, but just seemed unable to continue.
"This must mean so much to you"
"Don't worry about it, the robe of the fire-rat is useful enough, it's all I need" he turned somewhat, to glance at the grass which appeared to be more interesting at the moment.
InuYasha's ears moved at the movement to his left, turning his head he noticed her getting closer. He watched as Kikyou took hold of the fire-rat sleeve, gingerly brushing her fingers over the fabric.
"I'm so sorry InuYasha... I didn't know, and I shot so many arrows at it" she spoke that from the heart, and he was taken aback somewhat.
"Heh, don't worry about it... Oh, by the way, what did you say you wanted to give me?" he responded back with a smile, after a brief pause.
Loweing his sleeve, Kikyou lifted her left arm so that she could reach into her own with her right hand. When her fingers touched the beads of subjugation however, she paused. Should she really give him these? Did he deserve such a thing, espicially after he so graciously gave her one of the only items his mother had left him? No...
"Ah, I'm sorry... I seem to have forgotten it" she said, looking back at him with a small smile.
"Oh, come on... I've been waiting and everything" he complained.
Kikyou found herself smiling anyway, while her eyes fell once again, on the small clam. Perhaps fate had smiled upon her work of the course of her life as a priestess, and offered her an alternate path?
"Are you sure I can keep this gift?" she finally asked, her eyes falling onto his red-clad form again.
He regarded her for a time with a singular eye open, before opening the other and smiling to her.
"Sure thing"
Later that night, InuYasha found himself resting in a tree not too far off from the village. His arms were crossed over his chest, while he leaned back again the trunk of the tree. Either of his eyes closed soon after, and he allowed sleep to overtake him. Little known to InuYasha however, a small demon in the shape of a small red spider sat higher on it's nest of string, in that very same tree. A small laugh came from that demon as a plan begun to form in it's head.
Kikyou, on the other hand, had found herself sitting before the table, lighting a candle to light up the room somewhat. Little did Kikyou know, that had awoken her sister from her light slumber. Careful hands opened the small drawer that contained a single object, left by her mother after her slaughter. Thoughts of that day drifted to her mind but quickly enough, she pushed those to the back of her mind. Her small hands took hold of the mirror and laid it on the table's surface, with a little smile taking it's shape over her lips as she pulled out the clam from her sleeve.
Slowly she opened it the small object and placed it on the table next the mirror, taking hold of the round mirror's handle, Kikyou stared at her reflection for a time. After a few more long moments, she glanced over the rouge contained within the clam. Kikyou lightly pushed a finger into the red, coating it in the rouge. After a short moment, the priestess rose that very finger to her lips and laid it over with care. Kaede could only stare from her bed, as her elder sister stared at herself within the small mirror. Her smile grew somewhat, while the priestess rose her right hand to touch her cheek.
The next morning was uneventful enough, with no attacks as of yet. Red-orange leaves fell from the trees and floated their way down to the ground. That indicated the coming of winter soon, as it was Autumn. Kikyou walked to the field of turning grass, much like the leaves, with some children in tow. Two of which held onto her hands with small child-like laughter escaping from them. Each one of the children were clothed in different colored kimonos, and different lengths as well.
"So, what would you like to play next children?" she asked with a smile, but a small tingle in her awareness indicated a presence.
Kikyou rose her eyes to glance up at InuYasha who happened to be standing in a tree which was seperated down the middle with different branches going in every which direction, before thinning to a point in some fashion. He only seemed to stare at her and the group of children.
"InuYasha, why not come down and join us?" she asked, with a smile.
"Ha! You gotta be kidding" he responded, and in a quick motion sat with his arms crossed over his chest.
Kikyou couldn't stop the smile from growing in the slightest, as the two children pulled her along just a little to play ball with her, as one of them stated as such. InuYasha waited for a while longer, but at the sound of the children's laughter, he turned to glance over his shoulder to the group. Little known to them, a pair of blue eyes seemed to watch from a further distance before turning on his heel to move elsewhere.
Later in the morning, when the sun was position higher, a sound of an arrow shot was heard. Kaede sighed out in dismay as it landed just before the tree and not it's trunk.
"It's no good... I'll never be as good as my sister..." she whispered under breath, however the fire soon returned within her eyes.
Pulling yet another arrow from the quiver at her back, she placed the butt of the arrow agains the string while keeping a fairly good grip on the bow. She took aim as soon as the projectile was pushed against the string. Just as she was about to let it loose, the voice from behind her pulled her from her focus. Kaede lowered her bow and looked over to her approaching sister, vaguely noticing the herbs and small basket she carried.
"I'm impressed Kaede"
"Kikyou, it's you!" her sister cried out happily with a smile.
A smile lay on her sister's lips and that surprised Kaede, even just in the slightest. Then a want to say something surfaced.
"Umm... Sister, there's something I'd like to say"
"Yes? What is it, Kaede?" asking the younger girl, while kneeling before her to be at eye level.
"Mm... Nothing, forget it" she said, after having a change of heart.
"Alright" Kikyou responded with a light chuckle, pushing herself to stand again.
Kaede watched as her older sister moved to walk away, heading back home no doubt. InuYasha sat lazily in a tree, and watched at Kikyou moved under the tree he was currently in. Kikyou knew he was there, due the unique demonic energy that was his alone, but still she continued on her walk, fully knowing that he was merely watching her and has no intent at striking.
Nearing the afternoon, Kikyou found herself standing in field of grass with Kaede trailing behind her, she halting her steps for just a moment. A light breeze passed her frame, either of her eyes closed slightly. Winter seemed to be approaching fairly quickly. In taking a small breath of air, Kikyou continued forward, towards the mouth of a cave, unaware of the presence that lingered behind a tree several feet from her location. The one seemingly spying on her, kept his distance, perhaps keeping his eyes on her much like the other had been doing far more then he.
Upon entering the small cavern, the voice of a struggling raspy voice met her ears. She'd found this poor man at the river's edge some day after her few meetings with InuYasha. He had been burned from head to toe. The only thing visible from him now was a single dark eye and just a small part of his right cheek, as well as his mouth.
"Kikyou... It's you"
"Yes, I've brought some groul for you" she responded while approaching the injured man.
Kikyou knelt by his side, pulling out what was held in the basket. She lit a candle, casting a small bit of light in the confines of the cavern.
"Forget me..." the man stated, while looking elsewhere.
The priestess ignored the man's pleas, as she stirred the groul. She recalled having to tell him countless times already, that she just couldn't very well leave him there to die, fully knowing that if that were done... He would surely perish. No, it was her duty as a priestess to care for the sick and harmed.
"Don't even bother coming..." he continued.
Kikyou merely stared at his immobile form on the grass, halting her stirring of the food she'd brought.
"Go away..."
Much to his dismay, she stayed and begun to feed him a small spoonful at a time. After she'd fed him and changed his bandages with care, Kikyou blew out the candle. She stood and gathered all her things, a final glance to the burnt bandit, and soon she left him to rest.
Kaede trailed behind her elder sister, carrying the bow she'd used for her training earlier that day. Either sister's walked down a trail, one that led back to their home. The gentle sound of a river to their left was the only noise heard over the wind blowing through the grass.
"Why can't I tell InuYasha about him?" came the curious question from her sister.
"Knowing him, he would probably become jealous"
"Jealous?" Kaede found herself repeating the word.
Kikyou's walk back home with her sister, had been silent the rest of the way. Kaede glanced up to her sister now and then but no other words were uttered.
The autumn season had come and gone quickly enough, and snow had begun to pile over the ground. Kenshin, some days before snow had begun to fall, had returned, much to the half-demon's displeasure, Kikyou had offered him to stay. InuYasha first argued with her, that day, but she merely stated that she had her reasons and with an aggravated growl and muttering, he'd given in.
Currently, InuYasha sat on his perch on the tree the hut in which Kikyou and Kaede lived, at the base of the hill where many stairs behind it lay. His arms were crossed over his chest, light taps of his claw over his of forearm indicated that this was in fact, not a dream whatsoever. He eyed Kenshin with a scowl apparent just as the male had exited her hut, to his dismay. He inwardly admited though, never to do so aloud, that since his return from wherever he'd been hiding, much less demons posed a threat. Hell, not one approached remotely close to her barrier.
Either of of his ears picked up on light footsteps beneath him. Glancing down with his pair of auburn eyes, he noticed Kikyou standing there, her auburn eyes gazing up into his. A smile surfaced on her lips, once he'd noticed her presence and he found his cheeks burning with warmth then. That resulted him him averting his eyes from her, earning him a light chuckle from the priestess that soon died down to nothing.
"InuYasha..." she finally called out.
"Yeah, what?" he said with his usual scowl.
"I have a favor to ask of you"
InuYasha glanced down at her again, taking notice that all amusement from her had died down from her features and she was once again in her neutral state of mind. Moments later he found himself sitting on the roof, in which Kikyou and Kaede resided. Either of his arms were crossed over his chest, lightly tapping at his forearm in irritation. Kenshin on the other hand, sat with his legs crossed by the door, his sword lay against his chest but leaving it free for his arms to be wrapped around the sheathed weapons.
Both sat in silence for a while, but Kenshin took only a moment to glance up at the half demon. Kikyou had told him he was gentle enough with her, despite having a demon half within his form. Though, all he saw right now, was an irritated child, as if it's parent had taken his favorite toy.
"So, you are InuYasha"
"Yeah, what of it?" he respoded back with a growl soon after.
"Well... I thought of introducing myself, I'm Kenshin" he said with an innocent enough smile.
InuYasha gazed down at him, and scoffed.
"Don't make me laugh, your scent has blood all over it" he said, in seeing the innocent seeming smile.
Kenshin nearly winced at that, indicating a sore topic but instead of retaliating he let his eyes downcast. InuYasha merely watched him and he was about to say something more when Kikyou exited the hut with a quiver of arrows and a bow in her left hand. She wore a straw hat and a rice straw over coat. Within moments she and InuYasha wandered through the snow, her mission having been told to the half demon already.
To the north, Kikyou and InuYasha were fighting among a snow storm. The demon ran right for Kikyou, it's shape resembling a snow lynx. As it leapt for her, Kikyou's bow took on a bright pink hue, and with it, deflected the attack. The demon flew to her left, right in the path of InuYasha.
"InuYasha, it's coming your way"
"Leave him to me!" he shouted back, running towards his target.
InuYasha leapt right for the demon as his claws took on a bright yellow glow, with a single cry of the attack and a downward slash, the demon was torn to bits but a dark cloud like form erupted from it.
"Kikyou, that's it's true form!"
"Right!" she said in confidence, pulling an arrow from the quiver and quickly enough pulled the butt against the string.
In mere seconds, a bright pink glow surrounded the arrow and she let it loose. The arrow pierced through the dark cloud, intstantly purifying it into an explosion of white sparkle which soon vanished into nothing.
"Heh! Right on target" he proclaimed victoriously.
Kikyou was left staring into the air, to be sure that no other threats lay in waiting. InuYasha and she, went for cover when the storm increased in strength.
~~*~~ Sorry to cut it short here but again, like the last one... This chapter is much too long already, but I hope this'll be enough for you guys, for now at least. Also, if they are any typos, or other such things, forgive me. I have been writting all of this for about... Ten to Twelve hours. That sounds about right.
