The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Nine: True Intentions Part Two)

Kenshin sat just outside the cavern, with his arms over his chest, his sheathed blade against his form as well. He'd been instructed to remain quiet, and to merely wait there after Kikyou had entered and left much like she'd done before. Kikyou had asked him to wait there for Kaede, while she went for her rounds and such. A few times before, in fact. Blue eyes peeked open to peer over at the mouth of the cavern to his right, but made no other movement, he simply waited.

Kaede sat before a wooden bucket filled with water. She wrung water from the white cloth that the youngin had previously dipped into the liquid. The burnt bandit to her left, having had a change of bandage and some food Kikyou fed to him some time ago, before she had to leave to tend to her duties.

"You there, young lass" came the raspy voice.

"It's Kaede" she responded quickly enough, with sterness in her voice.

"Yes... Your sister possesses what is known as the Shikon Jewel, does she not?"

"What would ye know about the jewel? the sterness still there, as her wide chocolate brown eyes fell onto the injured man.

"Heh... All who are wicked know of it, and pursue it?"

"Ye included?" she regarded him with a stern glance, but he seemed unaffected.

"I understand that the more evil the jewel absorbs, the more evil it becomes. Outstanding" he said while looking at her with his only eye left, excitement laced in his voice.

"My sister has it under her control, it won't be corrupted" Kaede responded, turning her head and plunged the cloth in the water again.

"Kikyou's manner is self righteous, for once I should like to se her apprehensive and frightened, that would bring me true pleasure" he said, followed by a weak but menacing laugh.

Kaede glanced over to the one they'd learned some time ago, whose name was Onigumo. An ever present scowl on her face, as he merely stared at her before glancing up at the cave's ceiling. Unbeknownst to them, within the shadows of the somewhat lit cavern, a red spider had overheard their conversation. It's plan increasing in maliciousness.

Around noon, Kaede found herself standing by her kneeling sister, holding a small basket of herbs in her small hands. She watched as Kikyou pulled different herbs the were located near a lake just behind them, the water offered a serene sound and a light breeze passing the sister for a moment, indicated spring was well on it's way.

"I see, Onigumo said that, did he?"

"Big sister, I don't care for that man" she said, in watching her sister finally pushing herself up to stand.

"Bear him no grudge, give him pity. His injuries are great, he shall never move from there again" Kikyou responded to her younger sister, while sparing the young girl a glance.

Kikyou then regarded the calm skies of blue and white clouds, but Kaede could not help but stare up to her elder sibling. The feeling pressuring itself against her chest some time ago, felt nothing like the one she felt now.

Kaede, during the early afternoon, found herself sitting across from Kenshin, the fire pit was the only thing seperating the two. Her chocolate brown eyes, merely staring at him while she held the tip of the chopsticks into her mouth. Lightly and quietly she chewed at the cooked meat within her mouth, while he only stared at the fire under the cooking pot. Kaede continued with her stare, her thoughts wandering about in her head. He was a strange one. He was not timid, nor shy from what she gathered, but he was quiet and kept to himself.

"Kaede" he said simply, startling the girl.

"Y-yes...?" she responded timidly.

"Why does your sister fight those creatures?" he regarded with blue eyes, concern and curiousity filling them.

Kaede blinked a few times, what kind of question what that. Her sister was a strong, proud priestess. Demons sought her life, she had to defend herself. Perhaps he meant... Why did she start fighting. Kaede's eyes lowered to the wooden floor boards, causing Kenshin with panic somewhat. Had he said something wrong?

"If it is personal, you don't need to say" he said, and noted that the young girl could only nod.

He closed his eyes slightly, blue eyes concerned for the young now in front of him. Perhaps... He hit an incrediably sore topic.

During the same time of the exchange between Kenshin and Kaede, Kikyou stood amongst a field of ankle lenght grass. A soft spring breeze brushing past her frame, carrying cherry blossom petals with it, which of course, ended up on the forest floor. Her gaze at the moment, was glued to the blue skies. Then a voice... From behind her, reached ears. A familiar one... Turning her head, Kikyou was met with the woman, Tsubaki.

"What a lovely sight,"

Tsubaki, was a dark priestess. Her attire was that of a priestess, but dark and altered in some way or another. A thick blanket of black hair lay against her shoulders and along her back, ending at the length her knees. A small golden colored clam lay just above her forehead's center, were her hair line begun. The dark priestess's skin was pale, but somewhat tanned in comparison to Kikyou. Her lips were colored red, and eye lids in a light blue. That was a perfect contrast to her eyes, the color being a much darker shade of blue.

Kikyou remained stoic, despite the fact that there seemed to be a scaling green snake wrapped around Tsubaki, with a paler underbelly. It looked to be the length of about a dozen arrows, and judging by how the dark priestess lay a hand on it's scaly hide... Her familiar.

"However, I understand if you remain underneath the cherry trees for too long, you will go insane"

Kikyou merely stared at her, without so much as a response or movement. A soft wind once again brushed past their frames, but neither seemed effected by it.

"Is it the trees that are changing you? You seem like a completely different person from when I last saw you" Tsubaki continued, resulting in finally getting a reaction.

She smiled triumpthly, small as it might hav been but unable to stop herself from doing so, in seeing Kikyou narrowing her eyes, almost as if to glare.

"And what of your pitifully weak powers? Specters and demons are in their hayday, all of them breaking through your barrier"

Just as she spoke those words, two specters passed by Kikyou's legs but the priestess was not phased in the least.

"I see... So, you were the one unleashing demons around me"

"I warned you not to let your heart to a man, he is that worthless half demon if I'm not mistaken,"

Kikyou merely contiued to stare at Tsubaki, when finally, the dark priestes went right for the point of her visit.

"Give me the Sacred Jewel, I shall purify it in your place" she said, holding her hand out with palm upwards.

"You don't have the power to" Kikyou said with an exremely short lived chuckle, as she turned to return to the village.

"Die Kikyou!" Tsubaki shouted from accross the field, halting Kikyou in her steps.

Kikyou stayed still as the approaching presence from behing her, pierced through her awareness like an arrow would a demon. Time slowed down somewhat, as the snake continued to approach. It's long vemon filled fangs ready to pierce her pale skin. The moment it flew mere inches from it's target, Kikyou turned with her bow giving off a pure white hue, nearly invisible to the naked eye and with it deflected the snake back to it's master.

She watched as Tsubaki screamed out in pain, the snake being absorbed into her right eye. When the snake sunk into her eye entirely, a mass of dark blue light erupted out light a flame thrower before fading into the spring air. Soon, Tsubaki found herself heaving out, in slow but steady breathes. She could feel her heart pounding against her rib cage. Her right hand gripping at her sleeve, covering the injured eye from the rays of the sun. The dark priestess could feel a few beads of sweat forming, and rolling down her face.

"Damn you, Kikyou!" she said with a scowl, lowering the sleeve to reveal the damage.

"Now, leave and I will spare your life" she turned and proceeded to walk away, leaving the dark priestess as she was.

The red eyes of a red spider, once again making it's apperance. He watched the entire thing, and his plan was all coming together already. It figured that was the best opportunity to take action, and found itself within Onigumo's cave. The bandit seemed to be slumbering, but not too well. He grunted out now and then, but not much more.

"Onigumo"

When the bandit first didn't open his single eye, the demon spider repeated his name. That awoke the injured man. A single dark colored eye glanced down to his bandaged torso, what came into view through the darkness were piercing red eyes that glowed through.

"Onigumi, your evil thoughts have brought us here" it said with a low tone voice, somewhat sounding like one being under the effects of a cough, or something similar.

"A demon..." the male whispered out, his eye in a wide circle.

"Tell me,"

Onigumo could only lay there and stare at the demon, as it revealed it's shape despite it's still glowing red eyes.

"what is it you want?"

Without a second thought to that question, he answered the unholy creature.

"I must possess my former mobility, then the Jewel will be mine! Not to mention the lovely maiden, Kikyou" Onigumi said with excitement laced in his voice, at the thought of having both the Sacred Jewel, and Kikyou in his possession.

"Done! But in return, we will take your soul" it responded after a brief pause, various colored eyes appeared behind the demon spider.

Each demon behind it, differed in some way or another. Some had merely just one eye, while others had up to four. All their shapes were also, just as different then the next. Each one hovered or simply stood in waiting for a further response.

"My soul is rancid to the core, yet it still holds value. Feast on my fleash, feast on me demons! Devour me! And in exchange, bestow me with your mobility and strength!" Onigumo begun, the excitement in his voice growing depite being eaten alive by the beasts.

His screams were short lived, as the cave begun to be put aflame, leaving not another sound it's wake, save for the crackle of the fire. The flames slowly engulfed the bandages that were left, turning them to ash.

Later that same day, Kaede found herself practicing the art of the bow again. Kenshin sat some distance away from her, in his usual position under a tree. Her merely watched the youngin pull the butt of the arrow against the string, and soon, the arrow flew into the trunk of the tree. The projectile having had small traces of pink sparkles fell from it, but vanished before making it to the forest floor. Kenshin could help it, he smiled, not only because she succeeded but because the young girl seemed so focused and proud over her accomplishment. Kikyou had stood to watch Kaede, a few steps behind her. She too, was impressed with her sister's progress.

"You've improved considerably" Kikyou approached, smiling as her eyes hadn't left the tree or the arrow just yet.

"Thanks!" Kaede glanced up to her sister, whom she admired so.

"Next is the arrow of sealing" she finally said aloud, sparing a glance to the lone swordsman who was a distance away.

Kenshin merely shut his eyes and offered her a smile, Kikyou however, remained stoic until she glanced to her sister with the smallest of smiles, though it was sincere, at her question.

"The arrow of sealing?"

Kikyou gingerly took the bow from the girl, taking an arrow from the quiver. Slowly, Kikyou pushed the butt of the arrow against the string, and for a moment closed her eyes. Kenshin in that time, had opened his eyes to see Kikyou focusing, a fairly noticable white hue, that resembled mist, took shape around the slim projectile. The moment she opened her eyes again, it was let loose. Releasing from behind it various sparkles of white, until it hit the trunk of the tree.

Kenshin could only blink repeated as he regarded the second arrow that pierced that particular tree that day. Kikyou remained still, fully knowing that not only he, witnessed that but her sister as well.

"That is the arrow of sealing, we use it on demons who are otherwise invincible"

"And then what happens to the demon?" she asked, inoccently enough.

"They fall into an eternal sleep," she simply said, lowering the bow.

Kaede glanced up to her sister whom had also turned her head, looking directly into her eyes. She continued her explaination.

"They will only awaken when the one who shot the arrow, deeply wishes for the demon to revive," Kikyou said, turning to look at the tree before them, fully knowing that a certain human male sat nearby... Possibly listening.

"I warn you though, Kaede... Beware of this tree,"

"Huh? The Sacred Tree?"

"It is known as the tree of ages, it has the power to transend time"

"Tree of ages...?" once again, asking curiously.

"If you seal a demon onto this tree, the demon's body will remain perfectly intact..." Kikyou continued with the explaination, however her awareness suddenly picked up on a presence.

No... Not one presence, but many. Kenshing stood up then, with his sheathed katana within his left hand. Just as Kikyou turned her head, thousands of demons flew overhead. Kaede had also looked back to see them, they were heading somewhere, and quick.

"There are so many of them" the elder sister said aloud, but in her mind, she mentally kicked herself.

At the village, the thousand of demons, all of them in many shapes and sizes, begun to attack. Their only two objective were to get their hands on the jewel and kill the priestess. Not one of them however, were against slaying the entire village. However a certain half demon had other plans, with a quick downward slice of his claws, the demon was torn through with the call of the attack and another was sliced apart seconds later with the same attack.

"IRON REAVER SOUL STEALER!"

"InuYasha!" He heard Kikyou shout.

The two sister approached him despite seen the damage the demons had done. Flames were once again gnawing at some of the huts, demons attacked humans that attempted to run and those who were taken down, screamed in agony. Kenshin was in tow, and without hesitation, he ran off in a direction. Kikyou assumed it was to help some villagers that were left distressed.

"Took you long enough Kikyou" he said plainly, then leapt into the air.

"Forgive me!" she responded once she had reached his previous position on the battlefield, a few of the men had been with him.

Each one holding a farming tool for a weapon. They watched as she pulled two arrows from her quiver, skillfully, she aimed one. Immediately the pink hue took form, and she let it fly, instantly purifying one demon. This continued, with each arrow she let loose, only one demon perished at a time. That soon made Kikyo realized that her spiritual power HAD waned.

"Okay, let me try" Kaede said, as she prepared an arrow against a bow she'd brought with her moments ago.

Kaede had shot down a strange snake like demon colored in blue, but it held no scales. InuYasha was left preoccupied with other demons, easily slicing through them like wet paper with his claws. Kikyou on the other hand merely watched the fight go on, she seemed to have had begun to doubt herself yet the cry of her sister broke her from whatever thoughts were in her mind.

"Watch out Kikyou!" she cried out in concern, adjusting her aim to the demon attempting a sneak attack.

The youngin let the arrow loose but missed, to which Kikyou cried out her name when the demon choose to alter his attack onto Kaede. In reaction, Kikyou took aim at the beast and lets the slim projectile fly. The demon was hit and burst into a strong pink light, that was soon followed by her sister's scream. Once the smoke cleared, she ran and reached her sister's side only to see her crouched down on her knees. Her hand appeared to be covering her right eye, blood oozing from between her fingers.

"Forgive me, Kaede!"

"I-it's... It's okay... I think I'm alright"

Kikyou realized then and there, that her precious younger sister had just lost an eyes. Regaining herself, despite feeling anger heating her blood, and the concern she felt for her sister. Those had to take a back seat, demons were still roaming about. Arrows surrounded in a pink glow, followed by explosions of pink, filled the skies just as much as yellow arches. All the demons had been taken care of shortly after.

By that time, it was nearing late evening. Kikyou had left Kenshin to care for Kaede, once she'd done whatever she could for her sister. Currently however, Kikyou sat alone atop a hill, but a slight disturbance in her awareness, or lack there of, told her that InuYasha was approaching. Sure enough, InuYasha leapt and landed in a crouch next to her. She turned her head to glance at him with auburn eyes that could nearly smile at his presence, if it weren't for fact that her sister lay injured.

"How's uh... Your sister's eye?" he finally asked, once the silence was too much.

"I've done a terrible thing to her, I'm entirely the one to blame... If only I hadn't been so careless" Kikyou averted his gaze then, finding that the grass at her feet more interesting.

InuYasha could only stare at her, for some stretched out silence. It got too much for him however, and he too averted his gaze to stare elsewhere.

"Come on... Don't blame yourself too much, things like this are bound to happen when you're fighting all the time" he softly spoke his thoughts, but it still held some bit of gruffness.

A thought suddenly accured to her then...

"InuYasha? Are you unable to be yourself unless you are fighting?" she asked, her eyes falling on his crouched form by her side.

"You asked me something like that before..." amber eyes, falling onto her form, too.

"Wouldn't you like to stop fighting?"

"Huh...? What do you mean?"

"Stop fighting all the time, stop and become human"

InuYasha's amber eyes grew somewhat wide at that, but he was curious as to where she was going with this.

"Me? Become a human?"

"It's possible," both stared at one another, as she took a brief pause in speaking.

"It's true that you are half demon, but you are also half human,"

InuYasha was unsure what to respond, and his eyes went downcast, as if to think it over.

"If the Sacred Jewel of the Four Souls fell into the hands of a demon, their powers would undoubtably increase,"

InuYasha's ears moved with nearly every word she spoke out, an indication that he was listening.

"However, if it was used to turn you into a human, it would be purified, the Jewel of Four Souls would probably cease to exsist"

"And then what, what would happen to you?" he asked, lifting his head to glance her way again.

"My duty is to protect the Jewel, without it, I could live the life of an ordinary woman"

Soon the two found themselves into a boat, just as the sun seemed to be setting beyond the horizon. It's fading light casting a soft over the calm river waters. InuYasha had been stirred the boat then with a long stick acting as an oar, Kikyou on the other hand, sat at the back merely watching the peaceful screnery. On a few occasions however her eyes would travel over to InuYasha red-clad form.

The boat ride was short lived, they'd made it to a dock soon enough. InuYasha watched as she stepped from the boat onto the dock, but her sandal caugh in a small space between two planks, causing a foward fall. Fortunately, she was caugh mid fall by InuYasha. Kikyo glanced up and either one of them got lost into each other eyes. He was entranced and she appeared to be too. Everything happened so fast after that, he dropped the makeshift oar, and brought his arms around her form.

"Kikyou," he started and much to her surprise.

"Kikyou, I will become a human," InuYasha partially pulled back, but his arms still held onto her.

Kikyou merely stood there to listen, and she hun on his every word.

"I swear I'm not just saying this, I will become a human," he said with determination laced in his voice.

"InuYasha..." She rose her head and eyes to meet his own then, her smaller hands gripping onto his fire-rat robe.

"So you could become a normal human too... And be my..."

"Enough, stop... That's all I need to hear" Kikyou said, as she stood to gaze into his eyes.

"Kikyou, I truly am in..."

She chose then to lean higher, placing her lips against his in a kiss while either of her eyes closed to the world. The only thing that mattered was he and she, once he returned it. After their loving embrace, and perhaps an extended talk about their future together, they went onto the matter of using the Jewel. Both in agreeement, they set a destination in which the change would transpire. Unknown to them, a figure in the shadows watched on and overheard their words. A smirk grew on the face of the man beneath a mask.

~~*~~ Here the looong chapter, I said I'd write. Yes, a good part of the story is mainly canon based, but with any luck, that'll change in the future... Now then, one of the questions I've received from one of the previous chapter, has to do with one of the lines from that specific chapter.

The line: "She's some priestess..." was uttered by InuYasha my dear reviewer :) ~~*~~