21. LBGTQ

A/N: It isn't as good as it was in my head, but I doubt I could make it better.
Hope it's at least a little enjoyable to read.

Tsubaki was sitting on a pillow, letting hands of another brush her long hair for once. She had her eyes closed, enjoying the tender caress of her companion's cool fingers.

For some reason Kikyou's hands were always cool. Not cold, but not warm as they should be. Tsubaki would often take them in hers and rub gently to warm them a little.

"Tsubaki," the other miko in training said softly. "The teacher said I have only a month before my training is finished. I will be returning to my village."

Tsubaki's body tensed, she turned her head to look in Kikyou's sad eyes.

"Kikyou..."

"Will you come to visit me? I know we can't live together like here - two priestesses cannot dwell in the same village, there is too many dwellings where our help is needed, but I... I want to see you as often as possible. I..." Kikyou's lips were trembling and she lowered her hands to her lap, her fingers gripping her comb tightly. "I don't want to part with you... Tsubaki..."

Tsubaki turned in her seat and pulled the older girl in her embrace, stroking her back while holding her tightly. She could feel Kikyou rest her forehead against her shoulder.

"I love you, Kikyou," she whispered in her ear. During the years of training they had grown from being strangers to be the best friends - and more than that. They had offered and had accepted advices, comfort and kindness from each other. When Tsubaki had been homesick or sad it had been Kikyou who had known how to cheer her up. It had been Tsubaki who had spent countless hours helping Kikyou practice her spells.

They were sharing room, sometimes sharing bed. Now all of this was going to end, to change. Kikyou would return home and become a village miko while Tsubaki was still training. But Tsubaki vowed to see her again. For long hours the girls were whispering, sharing their most intimate thoughts and feelings, soft kisses and assurances of affection.

A month later Kikyou left the temple, but didn't leave Tsubaki's heart. Now the girl was even more focused on finishing her training so she could be reunited with the one person she loved the most in the whole world. She was stubborn and determined to do her best - to show Kikyou she wanted to see her as soon as possible. The other miko was sending her letters sometimes - telling her about her new life. She expressed her desire to visit and complained about the amount of tasks keeping her rooted in the village. She was always replying with words of affection and reassurance that she understood that. And that she would come to see her soon.

When the time came for Tsubaki to finally leave the temple she went to see Kikyou - at last. She barely slept, preferring to walk instead, wanting to reunite with her beloved Kikyou as soon as possible.

When she finally arrived she found Kikyou sitting under a cherry tree, sorting herbs in her basket. She stopped to look at the girl in the shade of the tree, a light breeze playing with her silky hair. And that was when she felt a tingle of youki. She looked around and quickly found the source of it. The young miko froze when she spotted the youkai sitting directly above the other girl, his red robes and white hair in stark contrast to the green of the leaves.

She was about to shout to Kikyou to warn her, to notch an arrow and attack the youkai before he could harm her, but before she had a chance to move the youkai opened his hand and a fistful of wild flowers drifted to the ground and fell on Kikyou's head and shoulders, mixed with her herbs. The miko laughed.

"Inuyasha, stop!" she exclaimed and the youkai smirked before reaching between the branches to his side, bringing a basket above Kikyou's upturned face and dumping whatever it was on her. A flurry of colorful petals rained on the girl who laughed, fighting against her mirth to sound fierce and scold him. The youkai snicered at the ire of the miko he should fear. It was Kikyou, one of the best mikos Tsubaki knew. She was more than powerful enough to purify him. Tsubaki remained behind a tree, watching the pair talk and share a chaste kiss before the miko finally finished her work and walked in the direction of the village, the youkai looking after her for a few minutes.

.

"Kikyou."

"Tsubaki!" Kikyou smiled happily when she saw who was approaching her. She put her basket of sorted herbs beside the entrance to her hut and ran to hug Tsubaki. The younger miko sighed and realxd in her embrace before gently kissing Kikyou on the cheek. "I missed you so much, my love."

"Who is this youkai?" Tsubaki asked against herself. She wanted to assure Kikyou she was happy to see her, but her heart was aching and she wanted to know why Kikyou had kissed him. She felt her tense in her arms. "Why did you let him kiss you? Are you spelled? I can help you..."

Kikyou shook her head and took Tsubaki's hand.

"Come inside, we can talk there," she said softly and led her inside her modest home. Tsubaki sat down by the fire pit, waiting tensely for her beloved Kikyou to finally sit down and talk to her. The other miko did that after making tea for both of them.

"I'm not spelled, Tsubaki," she started, her soft eyes looking straight in her face. "I... I think I'm falling in love with Inuyasha."

Tsubaki's heart stopped beating when he heard those simple words. It was unheard of for a miko to fall in love with a youkai, it was impossible Kikyou could love him instead of...

"I do love you, Tsubaki. I love both of you. I... I'm not sure I could choose only one..." Kikyou elaborated. "He is not a bad person, he is... Misunderstood and so lonely. I was so lonely too, since my return here I had no one who would treat me like a normal girl, a woman, they all see only a miko when they look at me. With him I feel like I feel with you - that I can be myself, that I don't need to hide anything... Tsubaki..."

She reached for her hand and Tsubaki sighed feeling her cool fingers grip hers gently. She saw affection and melancholy in Kikyou's eyes, a shadow of a burden she was bearing, longing mixed with hope that Tsubaki would accept her explanation, understand that there was love for more than one person in her heart, that Tsubaki had her love.

Maybe Kikyou had a heart big enough to love two people, but Tsubaki didn't want to share her affection with anyone. And especially with a tainted being like this Inuyasha. She was sure that despite Kikyou's words he had bewitched her and she had to save her beloved one. She had to gain power to break his spell. For now she just smiled and nodded. It was obvious that the love for the wrong person weakened Kikyou, it was the only explanation such a lowly being could spell her like this. But Tsubaki would save her beloved one and reveal his hideous plot, find why he wanted Kikyou.

.

"Teacher," Tsubaki said to the older pries. "I am a fully ttrained miko, a strong one. I can help. I can purify the jewel."

"I am sorry, Tsubaki, but the jewel is no longer in this temple," he smiled at her gently. "I appreciate your eagerness, but we gave the jewel to a miko who is am excellent guardian."

"May I ask who is she?" Tsubaki asked, her gaze falling to her fisted hands. Without the jewel she was too weak to even see the spell on Kikyou. She had to use it to save her. For sure he had nothing good in mind, he was surely waiting for Kikyou to let her guard down before he could harm her.

"It's your friend Kikyou."

Now she understood. The filthy beast wanted the jewel, he desired Kikyou's death so he could taint the pure orb. She wouldn't let it happen.