Kikyo ran a finger through Inutsuki's soft silky hair. She began to smooth it, the rhythmic movement making Inutsuki feel sleepy. In moments, Inutsuki fell asleep, her head leaned against Kikyo's chest. Gently, Kikyo lifted Inutsuki's head off her chest and set her lightly down on the pallet, fast asleep.

She walked quietly over to Kaede's pallet, shaking her lightly to wake her up. "Kaede, Kaede, wake up!"

The younger girl murmured and turned in her sleep. Shaking harder, Kikyo finally managed to wake Kaede up. "What is it, Kikyo nee-sama?" she asked sleepily as she woke. Kikyo put a finger to her lips and pointed toward Inutsuki's sleeping form. Kaede, understanding, nodded. She quickly got dressed and followed Kikyo out of the small hut.

Kikyo wore her usual dress, a white shirt tucked into a red hakama, with everything bound by a ribbon in front of her. She also tied her long black hair in a loose ponytail with a thin white silk ribbon. She carried her bow and a basket on her back. Kaede followed close behind, a smaller basket and an over sized quiver on her back. She wore a orange kimono with black flower patterns on it.

As the sisters walked away from the village into the forest to collect herbs and for Kaede to practice her archery, the villagers waved them off. Ever since the sisters came to the village, they have been safe from demons that the taijiya couldn't keep away. Kaede's innocence and Kikyo's kindness won the respect and loyalty of the villagers and they are well liked.

-In the Forest-

"You infuse your spiritual powers into the arrow and fire it." Kikyo took an arrow from Kaede's quiver, and fired it, burying it in the center of a tree trunk, demonstrating. Kaede eagerly nodded, taking the bow and drawing an arrow from her quiver. She pushed the bow forward even while she pulled the arrow back and was about to release it when Kikyo's fingers closed over her's, adjusting her aim.

As soon as Kikyo's finger's didn't touch her hand, she let go of fletching of the arrow, sending the arrow rocketing into the tree right below Kikyo's arrow. As the arrow flew, a pink aura emitted from the tip of the arrow. The aura was not as bright as Kikyo's but it lit up the dark forest. Cheering, Kaede looked at Kikyo for her acknowledgement. Kikyo smiled.

"You did well, Kaede. Now, the Arrow of Sealing." Kikyo took the bow from Kaede's hands and put an arrow on the string, pulling back. The arrow didn't emit a solid light like the sacred arrows did; rather, a light white aura like mist wrapped around the arrow from Kikyo's hand. She released her grip and the arrow buried itself in the trunk of the tree.

Kaede looked confused. "Kikyo nee-sama, you've never mention this to me before. What demon would you seal and not kill?"

Kikyo laughed. "There are some demons that are immortal. To stop them, we seal them in a eternal sleep so they can never wake up. We will probably never see one, but it wouldn't hurt for you to learn it." She watched as Kaede shot an arrow of sealing at the tree (the tree will never wake up again!) and nodded in satisfaction.

"Kaede, ill be in the forest gathering herbs. Practice your archery. When you run out of arrows, take them from the tree." Kikyo shouldered her basket. "Oh, and Kaede?" Her sister looked at he questioningly. "Don't shoot too many Sealing arrows. They are very draining and you can't pull them out afterwards." That said, Kikyo disappeared into the dark gloom of the forest and the tree rang with the occasional thunk of arrowheads striking wood.

-In the hut-

A man wearing a coat of baboon fur looked down upon the sleeping form of Inutsuki. Outside, everything was silent. Everyone was asleep, and will remain that way as long as the man remains nearby. Even if they wake up, they will retain no memory of what happened.

The man laughed quietly, a deep resounding laugh. "Kikyo and Inutsuki..." he chuckled under his breath. "This will be interesting." He knelt and put a pale hand over Inutsuki's forehead, and the air became cold. A dark form reached out of his hand and entered Inutsuki and her breathing quickened. Her eyelids flickered and she writhed in her sleep. With a final chuckle, the man stood up and disappeared in a wisp of darkness. As the last of the mist dispersed, Inutsuki stopped moving, and she once again sank into her dreams.

Note: Hope you like this chapter :D Review with comments and suggestions please :3 Cya soon ^_^