Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
Memories Held
Kaede curled up on her side, snuggled under the lighter of her two new kimonos, unable to sleep. Thoughts kept churning in her mind, refusing to slow down. She needed to find an answer to Sayuri's challenge, but what? She tried to think of ideas. But they refused to come. There were only the memories, storming through her brain. Kikyo, helping her hold the bow straight, showing her how to put power into the arrows. Kikyo smiling, when Kaede decided that she wanted her hair put up like hers, and agreeing. Kikyo laughing, burying her face in the flowers the children had gathered for her, before giving the bouquet to Kaede with her special smile which was just for her sister, with the whisper that she knew Kaede would find just the right container to display the flowers so everyone could see.
She remembered Kikyo fierce and resolute, refusing to back down. She remembered Kikyo being angry, at seeing injustice done. She remembered Kikyo being gentle, soothing the sick, the injured, the fearful. She remembered Kikyo being strong, refusing to admit defeat, rallying others under attack.
And she remembered Kikyo holding her. Hugging her, crying with her, comforting her, assuring her. I won't let them take you. We are sisters. Sisters, forever. I promise.
"Kaede-chan? Is something wrong?"
She stiffened at the voice breaking the river of memory. "I'm fine," she muttered, pulling the cover over her face.
"You're crying."
"I'm not!" A hand rubbed a wet cheek.
A larger hand briefly touched her hair. "It's all right to cry, Kaede. I won't mind. Remember? Tears lighten the soul's burden."
A strangled whimper escaped. "Sister—sister said that. You—you—"
"We were taught in the same temple." Amusement rippled through the voice.
Kaede tried to pull herself into a tighter ball, feeling mocked. No, she wasn't going to cry! She'd done her crying! Sister was gone, and she was alone, and she didn't need anyone or need any tears.
She felt Sayuri laying down behind her, and tensed against a touch. None came. Only the voice in the dark, a soft murmur. "Tell me about Kikyo, little one? I knew her only as a rival, a competitor. You were her sister. She loved you enough, to risk getting expelled from the temple, to keep you. What was she like?"
Eye ached, throat burned, fists clenched, she fought the urge to shriek, to scream, fought the urge to turn and throw herself into the comfort she sensed being offered. No!
She wouldn't.
She wouldn't.
A sigh. "I'm here for you, Kaede-chan."
No!
"When you're ready."
Never.
Author's Note: This piece was written for the prompt "Brainstorm", for the LiveJournal community Inuyasha's Unsung Heroes (iy_unsung_heros). It was originally published in a shorter form (prompt was 300 words or less), on September 22, 2010. It placed second.