The Ribbon That Binds Us (Chapter Ten: Cruel Fate)

That same night, Kikyou found herself kneeling beofre the Sacred Jewe, a light colored cushion legs. Her eyes closed and her hands in a prayer. The Sacred Jewel sat on a small wooden scructure that sat atop a dark colored table. Rows of wood-stands stood leading to the doors at her back. Incense filled the room as she prayed.

The Jewel shined with a brilliant mixture of purple and pink, several dozen tiny sparkles of white surrounded it like specks of stars. As she continued to pray, a presence hit against her awareness, causing some minuture tingles through her. Opening her eyes slowly to glance over her left shoulder somewhat, she lowered her arms to her lap.

"Who is it?

"Kikyou, it's me" came the whispered, but undoubtly familiar voice.

"InuYasha? What's the matter? Has something happened?" her voice, clearly concerned.

Kikyou turned her body to try and get a better view of him through the doors that obstrcuted her line of sight. All she saw was the shape of his torso up, the moonlight merely casting a tiny bit of light over his form.

"I can't stand all this waiting... Kikyou, can you make me human right now?"

"You know I can't, the night time is filled with evil... If we are to use the Sacred Jewel, it must me after sunrise"

"Alright... Then we'll do it, right after the day breaks. Agreed?"

"You are so hopeless" she said turning her head to the side, a smile creeping up her lips.

For a few long moments, she waited. Waited for any signs or words that would come from her lover to be. When no reponse came, Kikyou glanced over her shoulder... Puzzled by the silence. She stood to her feet then and stepped over to the double wooden doors, pushing them open with etiher of her arms while calling out his name. Auburn eyes, glanced around the area for any possible sign of him, but found none.

By morning, just before the sun peeked out from beyond the horizon, a certain priestess took careful and quiet steps towards the mat that held over the door frame. The light creaking of the wooden floors woke, not only her younger sister but the red head guest in her hut, who was currently found against the far wall. Before he could even utter a word out to the older priestess, Kaede beat him to it, and so he remain silent, merely listening.

"Kikyou, where are you going?"

Kikyou halted in her steps just before the mat covered door, surprise filling her features for just a moment. Looking back the older priestess looking back at her sister, who lay in her bed even now. The only difference is, the younger sibling had a bandage over her right eye. Kenshin eyed Kaede in silence then, his thoughts drifting back to that late afternoon. The poor girl. Her eye taken from her at such a young age. Fortunately though, she still had her left one, and he was thankful for that at least.

"Just out," she said with a smile.

Kaede yawned out, lifting a hand from the make-shift blanket to cover her open mouth.

"It's early, go back to sleep"

"But..."

"You don't need to worry, Kaede," after a brief pause, a thought clicked, but really... It was merely an excuse.

"I'm only going to find medicinal herbs for your wounded eye"

"Medicinal herbs? There's already lots right here..." She responded innocently to her sister, her singular eye glancing over to a cloth with some dozens of herbs piled on top, next to those, sat a darkened brown jar.

Kenshin rose his steel-blue colored gaze, to the priestess, in such a way that neither sister seemed to notice. He too, was curious, Kikyou had begun to act stragely as of late. Could it have something to do with that man? The one with the strange ears atop his head? What was his name again? InuYasha?

"Um... There may be something more effective, I'm going to take another look around" she said, turning her head to look at the floor boards inches away from her feet.

"Thank you, I appreciate it" was the only response from her younger sibling, along with a smile.

Kikyou turned her head to look at her sister, auburn eyes searched they young girl's girl, for any sign of pain. But she saw none...

"Kaede... Does your eye hurt?"

"No, It's much better today"

"That's good, I won't be very long" Kikyou said, with a small smile to her yet it faded when she turn to exit the hut.

Kenshin couldn't help but feel unease then. Something, something seemed to be whispering in his head. A small voice saying that, something wasn't right here. Looking back to Kaede, Kenshin took notice of her merely staring at the mat that was falling into place again, perhaps she too, felt something amiss...

Kikyou ran her way through the forest, hey breathes came out somewhat heavy. A light breeze passed her frame, blowing her hair back somewhat but letting it flow freely behind her as she ran.

"I'm running so late" she said aloud, laced in her voice seemed to be a light panic.

She stopped beneath the Sacred tree, the very same place that the change was to take place. The Sacred Jewel currently held between her fingers, as she halted just underneath said tree. Kikyou let her auburn eyes wander the area, for any possible sign of him. And no tingles were felt through her, or her awareness. Just a few birds chirping some distance away from her location.

"He hasn't even arrived yet..." she whispered beneath her breath, clapsing the Jewel near her chest.

For some few stretched out moments, she stayed beneth the tree. Occasional her eyes would scan the area for possible threats nearing her, or any sign of InuYasha. After waiting for several dozen or so minutes, she found herself stepping into an open field that seemed to stretch on for miles. The sun just peeking over the horizon. Soon enough, she stopped in place.

"That InuYasha... Maybe he overslept" she said softly to herself, slowly reaching into the inside of her kimono.

Kikyou pulled from the white top, the clam containing the rouge he had given her some time ago. With a small smile gracing her lips, she opened the small object to reveal the red puddle. Carefully with a finger, she dipped her finger in and rose it to her lips. Time seemed to slow and almost immediately pick up afterwards. She realized too late that a threat was directly behind her.

The sharp claws of a demon, tearing through her flesh. From her lower part of her back up to her shoulder, the claws tore through with ease. Like a knife cutting through butter. Blood splatters rushed in the air then and in moments, Kikyou lay on the grass in a growing puddle of her blood, staining it. Her shoulder ached, and she shook with widened auburn eyes, unable to move much, if at all. Then... Laughter resounded in the air. The laughter sounded so much like...

"You could try to pretty yourself up with this, but can't hide your true nature" his voice aggresive and gruff, as he approached, having long caught the clam she'd held moment s ago.

"What..." she said softly, somewhat struggling to move only to feel pain shooting through her.

"This rouge doesn't become you at all, demon blood's good enough for you" he responded, easily crushing the clam into various piece, droping what remained of it inches to her right.

Kikyou's eyes grew wide again. Her mouth had become dry, as she shook. Slowly she forced herself to speak, thinking that maybe her mind was playing a trick on her. She could only hope...

"... InuYasha?" she asked, obviously pain filled her voice.

Approaching footsteps warned her of the impending danger, she soon realiazed that his true purpose was the Shikon Jewel, currently under her outstretched hand. Despite the pain, her weak attempt was to cover the Jewel, in truth however... She wished to grip it, hoping to stop the rounded object to be stolen. She cringed in pain and let out a bit of a whimper, while he stepped on her hand. Nearly crushing her bones.

"Fool! I had no idea whatsoever to become human," he said aloud, adding an emphasis on ever.

The demon disguised as the priestess's lover couldn't help but grin in the slightest, at the reaction she had at the news. Her eyes were wide in surprise, or in realization of her foolishness. Or, both. He did not care. He took the Jewel from underneath her hand, with very little resistance. Looking at the Jewel with a grin, as he held in between his thumb and index finger. The light that once surrounded the Jewel, gone. And darkness was seen slowly festering within it's center, growing outwards at a rapid rate.

"But I shall take the Shikon Jewel nonetheless, thanks,"

Kikyou could only lay there, as he continued to speak to her. Her hopes, crushed. Her heart was also crushed... No, it shattered.

"This Jewel is about to absorb a great deal of pain and suffering, when I use it to slaugter the villagers" he left then, turning on his heel with a grand smirk.

Kikyou could only shake in pain, where she had been left. But her resolve grew, and overtook the pain as she cried out to that traitorous half demon.

Back at the village, Kenshin had went out to gather some clean water and he appeared to be walking back to the hut where Kaede and Kikyou resided, when a cold wind passed him. He looked over his shoulder at the forest behind him, with concern in his eyes. Why hasn't she returned yet? She did say that, she'd retrun soon enough yet the sun was already rising. Slowly but surely, it was rising. He narrowed his eyes at the family of trees some ways away.

And why the sudden chill in the air? It was mid-spring by now. Something definately wasn't right. Kaede then caught his attention from within the hut. She had called for him. Kenshin entered the hut quickly enough, only to place the rather large buckey he'd carried back here, by the door. He rushed to her once he noticed how sweat rolled off her brow, and how pale she seemed to be.

"Has sister Kikyou returned home?"

He could only avoid direct contact with her eyes, and take a seat next to the bed ridden girl. That seemed to be an answer, but not the one the young girl had been hoping for. In truth, Kenshin wanted to leave and look for Kikyou, for the Kaede's sake but he couldn't just leave her. She'd recently lost an eye, for crying out loud. That didn't mean that he was at ease, his eyes wandered over to the door mat, just hoping for Kikyou to walk through, if not now, soon...

Meanwhile, a baboon pelt form managed to sneak into the shrine, placing the Shikon Jewel in it's place. For a short moment, he stared at the taint growing within it. But then... His pelt was dropped to the wooden floor, with a soft thud. Doing so revealed a perfect image of Kikyou, the Priestess.

"Now, for that half demon"

Back in the forest, just as the sun had risen some more. There stood a man, InuYasha, under the tree. Amber eyes wandering the area in search of Kikyou. His ears moved at the sound of laughter coming from behind him, a laughter with a familar smooth tone.

"So, you've come half demon"

InuYasha's brows lowered, as he turned to face her. Kikyou had her bow ready, and an arrow aimed directly for his torso.

"Wha... What did you just say Kikyou?"

"I said half demon, can't those ugly dog ears of yourse hear what I say?" she said in a venom filled voice.

"Wha... Ugly dog?" he repeated, with a deep scowl growing.

"I can't have a half demon like you have the Sacred Jewel,"

InuYasha stood there staring at her, part of him didn't want to believe that but with her following words he let out a low growl rise in his throat.

"I will destroy you, here and now! Die InuYasha! Begone half demon!" she shouted, letting loose the arrow.

InuYasha leapt from the path of the projectile and soon into a tree. Distancing himself from her, through leaping from tree to tree, cursing under his breath. That left the imitation Kikyou to stand there, with a smirk.

"Now, the Sacred Jewel will be tainted with hatred and bitterness" she said with a laugh, that slowly faded into the voice of a man.

InuYasha could be seen rushing through leaps, making him look nothing but a blur of red and silver white. His brows were lowered in anger and his fangs clenched tightly. He could feel his blood boiling, too. His thoughts wandered to the day where she'd said, never would he be called half demon. Never would those words ever leave her lips again. But why did she start saying it again... And why now?!

Sudden screams from the villagers outside were heard, few screamed out a certain one's name. InuYasha. Some even attempted to shot him down with arrows tied with ropes. but no luck. He crashed through the roof of the shrine, where the Jewel was said to be. And sure enough, there it was. He detested the scent of the incense though, and was quick to cover his nose with his fire-rat sleeve.

Kenshin ran out of the hut, with his sheathed sword in his left hand, all after having managed to convince Kaede to stay in bed, at least for now. Steel blue eyes immediately went to searching that fiend out. He exited just in time to see InuYasha crash into the shrine. His brows lowered in anger. That was Kikyou's sacred place. Mind you, Kenshin himself, had never been there but even so...

Moments later, InuYasha crashed through the roof again, only this time... He seemed to be laughing, and holding something in his right hand. Kenshin pushed that thought aside, that fiend needed to be stopped. He found himself running up the steps, just in time to see InuYasha land and run for another leap. As quickly as he could must, being human, with a special technique mind you, Kenshin ran over to him and stretched his arm out while withdrawing his sword. He sliced horizontally from the left, at the other male's legs, that was easily leapt over.

InuYasha let out a growl and retaliated with a kick to the side of his face, however, some bit of surprise hit him like a slap to the face as the human man lowered his head to avoid the side ways kick. The half demon landed in a spin facing Kenshin.

"I don't have time for this!" InuYasha growled out.

As Kenshin's face remained neutral, InuYasha growled again. The swordsman slowly crouched after sheathing his blade, which puzzled InuYasha. He growled again, deciding to ignore him. He'd be the second to perish after his power was that of a full demon, anway. InuYasha ran and leapt to his right, leaving Kenshin to attempt another chase after him. Futile. Being half demon, he was faster then humans.

A certain female's voice however, stopped Kenshin in his tracks. Looking over his shoulder, steel blue hues grew wide in seeing the shape she was in. Her enire right side was soaked in red. Her blood. Yet she still held a bow, ready to be fired?

"Die! InuYasha!"

For a moment in time, everything and everyone stopped stopped. InuYasha looked over his shoulder to Kikyou, their eyes met. Both were glaring. Both fuming with anger and confusion in their hearts. Why?

"InuYasha!"

Soon, time picked up again, InuYasha flew in front of the tree. She let her arrow free. And in seconds, pinned him to the tree before he could escape. InuYasha's eyes grew wide, as the Shikon Jewel flew out from his hand and landed some feet from him, despite the fact he'd tried to reach for it. Wind bristled through the trees, in the silence. Kenshin could only watch.

"Ki... Kikyou... How could... I thought that..." he struggled with words, as his mind raced, his hand slowly rose to reach for her then.

Both watched as Kikyou struggled down the steps. Kenshin frozen in on spot, he seemed to be trying to process what had happened yet... InuYasha on the other hand, was pinned and confused. He could be of no help either. Kikyou stumbled and dropped her bow. Slowly with what little remained of her strength, she knelt before the jewel. Her wounded arm reached out to pick it from it's place on the dirt, the numbing in her limb had already settled in. She cringed in pain, as if to hang on as long as she could while the villagers surrounded her. Concerned for her. Even her sister had snuck by. Kaede knelt next to her, deep concern filled in the only eye she had left.

"Sister Kikyou!... Who did this to you, Kikyou?"

InuYasha's amber eyes could only stare at Kikyou's pained form, with the surrounding villagers and sister. His thoughts flooding back to that day on the dock, but that soon faded to nothing. His vision too. Slowly shut his eyes, arms slowly going limp.

"The Sacred Jewel... It was all because of this" she voiced through the numbing pain.

Kenshin shook his head, finding himself next to Kaede. Kneeling by the poor girl. Kikyou spared him a short lived glance but soon met with Kaede's eye.

"Listen to me, Kaede... Take the Sacred Jewel and burn it with my body," she said softly, but pained.

Kaede could only stare at her sister, while Kenshin was left to glance to the side. Knowing what she intended to do.

"That way... It will never fall into the hands of evil again" Kikyou last words, were spoken, and with a final grip of the jewel, she let herself fall.

"Sister Kikyou!" she cried out, sadness laced in her small voice.

Later that morning, Kaede had done as Kikyou had wanted. Despite not wanting to, she wished to respect her sister's dying wish. Kenshin stood some feet behind the girl, with his arms crossed. The villagers had also helped the girl grant Kikyou's wish. She had after all, done a great deal for them. The fairly large group, watched at the body and the jewel had slowly turned to ash and the jewel gone with a faint glow.

~~*~~ Okay, I think I'll take a little break from writing this particular story. If I were to guess, I've spent the last few days, approximately 50+ hours, writting about four to five chapters. I'll be honest, it was fun, but I'm exhausted. I do hope you enjoy this chapter though. Again, it's mainly canon with some Kenshin thrown in. Much love! 3 ~~*~~