Morning came with the gradual warming of the old wooden house's siding, creaking as the moisture wept from the wood and dripped down, before evaporating into the cool air, and fluttering on the breeze that whirled into the open window. Kikyo sat quietly sipping from a cup of Kocha red tea. She watched Kaede roll off her futon with a thunk of her head on the floor and quietly snickered to herself as her younger sibling stirred to life.
"Good morning, Kaede." Kikyo said softly, setting down her empty cup and turning to the small box where she kept a wooden hair comb, and began combing her long hair, in order to put it in her ribbon.
"Good morning, sister Kikyo." Kaede rubbed her eyes and watched her, blinking tiredly before sniffing the pot of fresh porridge before her and eagerly getting herself a bowl.
"Make sure you go to your lessons today. I trust you'll play nice with the other children?" Kikyo said, as she wrapped the ribbon around her hair and allowed her long hair to rest on her shoulders.
"Yes, of course. Where are you going?" Kaede said curiously, tilting her head as she popped a full spoonful into her mouth.
"I'm travelling a small distance, but don't worry. I'll be alright. I'd like to go to the next village and purchase medicine for the future. What we have now is limited, but I was lucky to gain a small fortune." Kikyo said, smiling as she reached into her pocket.
"Really? How?" Kaede asked in wonder, then her jaw dropped as Kikyo pulled out four gold coins and handed them to her. "How I got them is of no concern, why not buy yourself a treat?" She said with a giggle, watching her little sister's eyes light up as she nodded.
Kikyo then stood, and gathered up various items, her bow and arrows, a canteen of water, and a collection of dried herbs that she could sell as well in return. She slung the bundle over her back in it's wrapped satchel, and leaned down for a hug. Kaede clutched around her waist before saying goodbye, and she opened the door.
Kikyo waved her off, then looked up just a moment at the roof, seeing it was bare. She frowned a little, then shook her head.
InuYasha. That coward. I would have liked to have his company on the road.
She shook off the urge to shout his name and wail, balling her fists up furiously as she stormed away.
That immature scoundrel! No good, peeping cretin!
She growled lowly to herself, not noticing the many village people watching her walk by like a woman on a mission, openly slack-jawed as if the morning sun had fried their retinas down to the frontal cortex of their brains.
Kikyo felt silly for being so angry, why, she hadn't thought it likely that InuYasha would show up begging for her forgiveness, flowers in hand. She was sure he probably didn't even see the point in such a gesture, he'd never done it before. In fact, any of the kind things that InuYasha had ever done were never materialistic.
Not like Onigumo, with his very forward remarks, blatant touching and unnecessary gold coins. She appreciated the flattery, sure. Although honesty, it made her slightly uncomfortable with the way he spoke and looked at her so intensely, as if burning through her with those deep brown eyes, which much like dark Kocha tea, shone red in the sunlight.
Kikyo slowed her pace, placing one hand on her cheek as she paused to look around the village, at everyone milling about, happily going about their day. When had her cheek become so warm? She pulled her hand back and sighed, blaming it on her anger, she took a deep, relaxing breath and moved onward.
Not long after, Kaede headed out the door, on her way to school. She stumbled over something and looked down.
"Huh? What's this?" She bent down and brushed away the dirt off the object and saw a small bouquet of wildflowers, secured together with a string.
"That's odd... Why were they here in front of our door?" She picked up the flowers and shook them off, but they were slightly crumpled like they had been stepped on. Kaede set them up against the house and looked at them for a long moment, curiously.
Whoever left them here, left them for Kikyo, I think. Maybe it was that InuYasha boy.
Kaede turned away, hesitating to take her eyes off the flowers.
But, sister Kikyo cannot marry. So perhaps they were for me?!
She gulped nervously, then ran away, at only eleven years old she was much too young for secret admirers.
InuYasha watched the little girl run away and growled, he didn't intend for her to find the flowers! Now Kikyo was even more mad, and leaving for who knows where! He wasn't exactly sure what to say or do, but he didn't want her to think he had just flat out rejected her offer, it was just too much to answer all at once! He needed more time to think about how he felt, and why. InuYasha frowned, hopping from the tree branch he was on and onto another as he made his way swiftly through the outskirts of the village.
~o•O•o~
Kikyo brushed through the mane of her horse and had attached a feeding bag before the long journey, checking it's shoes for any obstructions that could impair walking. She stood and returned to brushing down the mare, then attached her satchel of herbs to its saddle before leaving.
"Lady Kikyo? Where ye be headed off to?" An elderly woman asked, tottering over carefully on her wooden cane to speak with her.
"I'm going to purchase some remedies in the next town, did you need anything Oba-San?" She said gently, leaning down to her level.
"Aye, me arthritis has been acting up, and not to mention that darned gout is back..."
He watched carefully from afar, where Onigumo sat by a fire with some of his men, poking at it with a stick thoughtfully.
Lady Kikyo is very kind. To the elderly, to children...even to my men and I... how noble. A respectable quality to have.
He mused, watching her converse with the elderly woman with a wistful eye as Kikyo rummaged through her pack for a quick remedy for aching bones.
"Steep this in hot water and drink it twice a day. Be sure to elevate your feet as well." Kikyo said kindly, and gave the grateful woman a small cluster of dried herbs. The elderly woman bowed, and tottered off back to her hut. Kikyo smiled, at nothing in particular, then turned and met Onigumo's eyes and her smile faultered, and instead she felt guilt when she stared at him, and her hand went to her chest and clutched there around the sacred jewel.
The tall man stood, his long, wavy black locks swung freely around his back, instead of in the tight half knot that pulled it away from his face. He approached Kikyo and placed his hands on his hips with a sideways smirk, looking at her, then to the horse and back.
"Leaving already? But we've only been so recently acquainted.." He said with a sly tone, and Kikyo backed up against the horse apprehensively as she eyed him carefully, taking a quick note of his relaxed demeanor, and his slightly open robe that revealed a smooth, sculpted chest. She felt her cheeks flush hotly and turned away, preparing herself to mount the horse.
"Wait, can't we talk a moment...? I mean you no ill will, Lady Kikyo." Onigumo said, this time more serious and she looked over her shoulder at him, huffing.
"Speak." She said, a shiver going down her spine as she could almost feel his body heat behind her as he leaned closer.
"Have you thought about what I said...?" He whispered, placing his hands carefully on her shoulders. Kikyo looked down at the ground and attempted to keep the overwhelming feeling of her tears attempting to flow inside, before shrugging his hands off quickly.
"Do not touch me like we are so familiar, Onigumo." Kikyo said, facing him now with a brave swallow of her sobs.
"He did not take you seriously, did he?" He said softly, then reached and stroked the horse's mane instead of hers, and Kikyo turned her cheek and blinked, feeling ashamed that she had hoped he would do the same.
"He would rather stay an uncivilized beast. Does that appease you, that he cares so little for me?" She snarled lowly, then placed one hand on the breast of his robes and clutched it to get his attention. Onigumo looked back quickly, his luminous russet eyes settling on her with interest.
"No, it doesn't appease me. But I'm not at all surprised that he could not appreciate you for who you truly are beneath your outer exterior, demons so uncultured care little for human emotions." He said softly, and placed his hand over hers on his chest.
"Men feel a much broader spectrum of emotion. Love, hate, fear... desire. To sacrifice your youth, your station for the likes of his kind would truly be a shame." Onigumo whispered, and Kikyo's heart raced as he seemed to be inching ever closer. She panted a hot breath onto his throat and turned her face, blushing brightly.
"Do not attempt to woo me so openly, Onigumo! These people think me respectable, I am not a common wench that you would find easy to court to your bed. That's enough!" She said, and pulled herself away quickly, with a shaky exhale.
Onigumo laughed then, and she had to turn back when she heard his hearty laugh at her blatant dismissal of his affections. Kikyo felt a small smile tug at her lips and hid it with her hand, concealing her coy eyes with her bluntly cut bangs.
"Oh? Woo you, did I? I didn't mean to, I guess it was my devilishly good looks, eh?" He said, and waggled a brow, and Kikyo giggled into her hand once again like a child. His expression brightened at hearing her laughter for the first time, and he strutted around like a peacock, puffing out his chest and flapping his arms until she crouched over laughing, holding her stomach.
"Alright, alright! So you've managed to make me laugh, but I was only laughing at you, because you're foolish!" She said, straightening, crossing her arms.
Onigumo pulled himself back together, pulling his robe closed tighter.
"Ah, I was a fool to think you thought I was charming, Lady Kikyo. You're a tough egg to crack." He said, feigning dismay. She placed one hand on her cheek and flushed prettily at him, before speaking.
"Aye, Onigumo, I..."
"Oi! Back it up!" InuYasha growled, jumping down from an overhanging building and directly between the two, making Kikyo and Onigumo part from eachother quickly, startled by his sudden appearance.
"InuYasha! How rude of you to drop in unannounced!" Kikyo gasped, balling her hands into fists. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest, enraged just at the sight of him.
"You interrupted the lady, Dog boy." Onigumo said lowly from behind, stepping forth threateningly.
"Psh! I'm sure she was just telling you to leave!" InuYasha sneered back, then looked to her for support. Kikyo glared icily at him, then diverted her eyes away.
"No, I think it's you that is unwelcome in her presence, now, Lady Kikyo, allow me to escort you away from this mongrel." Onigumo said, coming to her side and leading the horse away from InuYasha.
"Fetch him his blade, InuYasha. Or are you too cowardly to face Onigumo unarmed?" Kikyo said cooly, narrowing her eyes. Onigumo gaped at her, astonished, then back at InuYasha. The hanyou smirked cockily and strolled over to the bushes where he'd so carelessly tossed the weapons, and picked up the most ornate, most garish sword and toted it back to Onigumo, thrusting it into his hand.
"I'm sure you'll need this alot more than me, see, I have built-in defense mechanisms, on me at all times." InuYasha said slyly, and flexed his claws before Onigumo. The other man simply looked on, unimpressed and showed him his back, as he assisted Kikyo onto her horse. Kikyo began riding away, looking back over her shoulder as Onigumo turned to InuYasha and bared his teeth.
"You will leave her be. She doesn't desire to be in your presence." He snapped, then went and found his own horse, and followed after her to escort her.
InuYasha crossed his arms and huffed, before turning back to find the men raiding the stash of swords.
"Oi! Put those back!" He growled, and took chase after them, making them abandon their blades. He looked around the village and snorted, kicking a sword aside, back into the bushes.
Sure, so she just leaves! Abandon a undefended town, rife with bandits!InuYasha growled, and took residence up in a tree above the weapon stash, to keep guard over them, and watch over the village. He knew Kikyo was just using Onigumo to make him jealous, but he wasn't going to allow that to bother him. Such petty games were below him, besides, she would come back later, he was sure of it, and by then she would have had more than enough of that Onigumo creep.
~o•O•o~
She kept her eyes lowered on the reins as they rode side by side, in silence. Kikyo felt a bit immature, making such a show in front of the entire town.
What was InuYasha trying to accomplish? To get him away from me? But why, If he doesn't care for me? Is he truly that selfish that he thinks I am his sole property to claim...?
She pouted, her horse slowing as her hands fell slack. The shade of overhanging trees danced over the dirt road, as they lingered under the mottled sunlight cast between it's quivering leaves.
It looks improper for a priestess to take off with a bandit man, alone in the woods...
"Look, Kikyo. Ducks."
The word startled her, and for a moment, she had trouble comprehending what such a silly word even meant.
"D-Ducks...?" She repeated, blinking blankly at Onigumo as if he were speaking gibberish. He smiled and motioned to the ground before them, and when she turned to look down her heart fluttered in her chest. A mallard and hen waddled across the path, with a line of golden yellow ducklings toddling behind them, with flat, webbed orange feet. She giggled, feeling amused by the adorable sight.
"And to think, they taste so delightful." Onigumo teased, pulling his horse up to the side. Kikyo gasped, "You wouldn't!"
"No, I prefer my duck roasted..." He baited her once again, and earned a batting on the shoulder. Onigumo grinned, then they waited for the ducks to pass before continuing their journey.
They rode on awhile, before the horses became restless and hoofed the ground. Kikyo pulled on the reins, but her horse wouldn't budge. She combed her fingers through its mane and noticed Onigumo was looking up at the sky. Thunder cracked overhead, and spooked the horses before they could even ponder why. Kikyo gripped the horse's mane as tightly as she could as it took off in a mad dash for cover of the woods, and Onigumo followed.
"Kikyo!" He called, jerking hard on the reins to calm his horse, until it lowered its head and whinnied; kicking at the dirt before he led it to follow after Kikyo. He saw the flash of white and red through the weeds, then rain came crashing down in torrents.
He surged after her, then cornered her and the horse along a small outcrop of rock where the house had backed itself into a corner. Kikyo clung to it; frightened, her body wrapped around the mare as she clung to it for dear life.
"Shh. Shh." He made a soft shushing sound, and pulled a carrot from his saddle bag. "Shh. It's ok now." He whispered, and then the thunder clapped once again, and the horse reared back, and Kikyo screamed as she clung to it's back for dear life.
"Heel! Heel!" He said sternly, using his own horse to block the other's escape.
"Onigumo!" Kikyo cried, burying her face in the horse's back as it came back down and threatened to charge at him.
"Kikyo, you must relax. Let go." He said, sternly, holding off the horse with the carrot in hand.
"I--I can't! I'm scared! Please, I'll be thrown!" She cried, and it made the horse even more nervous as it sensed Kikyo's fear and whinnied, stomping one hoof. The rain came down heavily and made gripping to the horse even harder as Kikyo cried in fear, then Onigumo jumped off his own horse and faced the spooked beast. He stroked it's side and whispered softly.
"Come on, Kikyo. I'll catch you if you fall. Let go of the horse. You're frightening her more." He said softly, and she peeked out from dampened strands of hair and nodded, as he stroked the horse and attempted to feed it to distract it as she began to slowly move from where she had held it in a vice grip.
"Slowly. Slowly release your tension..." He said softly, and she sat up, then gasped as the horse shot out from beneath her and took off into the woods. Onigumo managed to catch her before she could fully fall, collapsing to his knees with her clutched to his chest. He watched as the horse took off and sighed, looking back down on her. Kikyo's shoulders shook as she attempted to hold back her tears, hiding her face in his shoulder.
"Let's find somewhere dry," He said reassuringly, and got her to her feet.
"Your mare will return once she calms down," Onigumo soothed, looking down at Kikyo as she attempted to hide her tears. He pretended to not have noticed, as the rain coated their faces, and his lilac eye paint began to run. Onigumo shrugged off the layer of his outer kimono and draped it over Kikyo's head, as she grasped the sides and looked up him, questioningly. He assisted her onto his horse, and rode behind her, travelling beneath the low bows of trees, the willow branches dripping with saturation, that made the forest floor become nearly impossible to transverse as the horse's hooves become suctioned into the mud.
"Onigumo, do you have a good sense of direction?" She whispered, looking over her shoulder. He smiled, and reached again into his saddle bag. Kikyo looked on with interest as his hand brushed over her leg and into the pouch. He pulled out a round object that was mirror-like, and unclasped the hinge to show her, his other arm wrapping around her waist. Kikyo was too fascinated to notice, as he opened the compass and she stared at the face of it in wonder, as the small arrow began to spin and point in different directions.
"What is this... sorcery..?" She said in a low whisper, looking back at him. He smirked, and directed her attention back on the compass.
"What direction do you want to go, Kikyo?"
She paused, then remembered.
"Oh, west from here. I believe there is an ancient shrine not far ahead we can take shelter in until the storm passes." She said, and he placed the compass in her hands. Kikyo took the compass and saw the small symbol for west, and began directing the horse in that direction. Not long after, the dark shadow of the old shrine could be seen and Kikyo smiled, feeling success as she looked back to Onigumo and he nodded.
"What's that thing called?"
"It's a compass, I must have one as the commander of the army, one should always know what direction he's travelling in." He said, and clipped it shut, putting back in the saddle bag as they approached the run-down temple and hurried inside, to get out of the cold. As they did, birds fluttered around in the rafters, where large holes let in the water. Puddles gathered in some areas, but they were able to find a dry area, where Onigumo began searching for dry wood to burn.
"We'll have to stay here possibly overnight," Kikyo said with a heavy sigh, feeling exhausted from their travels. "The next town is half a day's journey, and the weather doesn't seem to be letting up." She said, helping him gather up dried pieces of rotted wood, or dry grass to burn. "Are you so opposed to that?" He asked carefully, and Kikyo paused, then bent to pick up a stick.
"No. Why should I be?" She said simply, and shrugged, before kneeling to help him start the fire. Onigumo sniffed, "Well, your dog friend seems to think you'd rather not have my company."
Kikyo was silent a moment, before hitting two rocks together hard, and casting sparks into the small bundle of dead grass.
"I won't lie and say that I wouldn't prefer his company. But, right now I refuse to speak with that .. that cur." She growled, stuffing the smouldering grass into the sticks with a stick.
"Also, his name is InuYasha." She added, crossing her arms. Onigumo simply nodded, his eyes inspecting her body language. Kikyo sat with her legs tightly closed, her arms crossed over her chest as she still clutched his robe around her for warmth. Her eyes darted at him quickly as if she felt them on her, and glared. "Don't get any ideas."
Onigumo chuckled, and scooched closer to the fire.
"I'm just a bit damp, my lady." He said, his jaw slightly quivering. Her eyes widened and she quickly relinquished the robe, shoving it into his hand quickly. He put it back on and sighed, rubbing his hands in front of the fire.
"You chose for me to escort you. Is that not why you gave me back my blade...?" He said, pulling it off his waist belt and lying it across the floor to sit more comfortably. Kikyo eyed the blade and bit her lip, looking down into the flames.
"I'm sorry. I intended to make him envious." She said, and wrung the ends of her wet sleeves in her hands nervously. She expected to get a shameful comment, but instead Onigumo just shrugged.
"I know. I quite liked the aghast way his face twisted like that, to be honest."
Kikyo sniffled softly.
"I didn't, not really. It didn't feel as good as I'd hoped." She said, and squeezed water from her sleeves.
"Your robe is drenched." He said softly, and began removing his own. Kikyo looked away, hiding her eyes in her hair.
"I'll be fine."
"Alright. But you should know, wearing wet clothing will cause you to catch a cold." He said, shrugging off his white robe down to the thin layer of his nagajuban, through which she could almost see the dark shadow of his fundoshi. Kikyo looked away quickly and gasped, before shaking her head.
"You're right. Let's not be childish." She said cooly, and stood, removing her robes down to her thin white robe as well, which although sheer, her breasts were bound with bandages for modesty underneath her robes. Onigumo kept his back turned while she de-robed, instead looking up at the rafters.
"How good of a shot are you?" He asked, in a tone that was almost dubious.
"I am very skilled with the bow, why?" She snapped back immediately, a little too defensive as she laid her wet robes next to his, on a leaning pillar adjacent to the fire.
"Well, those sparrows are quite fat. They may fly juuust slowly enough for you to hit." He sneered, knowing he was baiting her; hook, line and sinker.
"Excuse me?! I'd like to see you try!" She snarled back, picking up her bow without hesitation. He watched her with awe as she drew back the bow, and speared 2 sparrows on it at once, then the arrow stuck in the wall.
"Erm.. oops." Kikyo murmured, then Onigumo smirked at her and strolled over to where the arrow was stuck.
"Up you go~" He simply said, before swooping her up into his arms and looking down on her with a playful grin as she slapped at him.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"You're hungry, aren't you? Can you fetch that arrow?"
Kikyo pushed against his chest and growled in her throat at their close proximity, then nodded.
"I suppose. But keep your eyes down." She snarled, all she wore for underwear was a wrapped cloth thong that was the same sheer material as her robe.
"I have to look up, Kikyo." He said, smirking.
"Look up, and you die. I swear it, I'll crush your skull in with my foot."
That seemed to get his attention, and he nodded. "Alright, I promise." He lifted Kikyo up onto his shoulders, and she balanced on them carefully, then plucked the arrow out of the wall.
"There. But you get to gut it, for that." She snipped, and hopped down, not realizing that in her jump, her robe flipped up and exposed her backside to him for a split second. Onigumo's eyes widened and he blushed, taking the skewered birds.
"Ah, I suppose that's a f-fair trade."
The black haired vixen sneered at him, as if she were the victor and sauntered away to go rest by the fire, leaving Onigumo blinking, at the desirable image still prevalent in his mind.
Most definitely...
~o•O•o~
The small village street was slick with water as the thunderstorm made it's way through. InuYasha had managed to stay relatively dry, taking cover beneath the overhang of the inn, where he watched Onigumo's men in their tents intently. He didn't trust them not one bit, and so he'd buried all their swords a ways away, deep in the ground where they wouldn't find them. His nose scrunched up, then she sneezed loudly and shook water droplets off of his hair. He wiped his nose on his sleeve, then crossed his arms back stubbornly.
"I..InuYasha-San?" A timorous voice uttered quietly, and he looked over quickly to see the small girl he remembered faintly as Kikyo's little sister, standing to the side of him with a straw jingasa hat held out for him.
"Eh? What's that?" He growled, backing away from her as she tried to put it on his head. InuYasha rubbed his head vigorously where it had touched his ears. Kaede held the hat behind her back and tilted her head, before smiling timidly.
"It's a jingasa. It keeps the rain out of your eyes... do you.. mind staying with me until sister Kikyo comes home...? It's warm by the fire, and I can make noodles." Kaede said innocently, and watched as InuYasha grumbled and looked towards the edge of town, where his yellow eyes had been trained on as well after she left with Onigumo.
"Hn. I s'pose that would be alright. But I ain't wearing no hat." He said quickly, and before Kaede could answer, he darted towards their house and ducked inside in a flash of red. She gasped with her surprise at the sheer speed he was capable of, before giggling and running towards the house.
Once she got there, she was startled by how dark it was in the cabin.
"Your fire went out. So much for a warm fire." He snuffed, covering his nose with one hand as the smoke filled the room. Kaede looked around at the wet floor and walls, and ascertained that InuYasha must have shook himself dry like a dog once he came in.
"That's ok. I can get it going again." She said with a small smile, and hung her hat up on the hook along with the larger one that was Kikyo's. InuYasha watched her closely as she took a small bundle of birch bark and filled it with straw, before placing it on the coals. Not even a minute later, the small bundle lit and the fire roared.
"That's all ya gotta do?" He said, staring into the fire with wonder.
"Aye, Kikyo taught me that trick." She said, as she toted in the cauldron pot full of water and hung it on the spit.
"Feh, her and her magic herbs and potions. Not my style." He snorted, "Just smash some rocks together, that'll get a blaze goin." He muttered, and Kaede snickered as she waited for the water to boil, sitting down a few feet from InuYasha. He scattered over a foot, his claws making scratches in the wood floor as he did. She frowned as she watched him slink away, almost as if cowering from her close contact.
Hasn't he ever sat next to someone besides sister Kikyo...? Kaede wondered, then returned to the boiling pot, adding a handful of dried udon noodles. Then, she added a compact cube of dried broth and herbs and watched as InuYasha's nose pricked eagerly in response.
"What's that?"
"Oh, that? It's for flavoring." She said, then fetched another out of the bag and held it out to him to inspect. InuYasha leaned forward and sniffed, then snatched it out of her hand and popped it in his cheek quickly before she could warn him not to.
He chewed a moment then grimaced, spitting it all over the floor and attempting to wipe his tongue with his hakama sleeve.
"Bleh! Are ya tryin' ta poison me?! That's salty!" He spat, and Kaede shook her head vehemently.
"No! I should have warned you. Here, have a drink." She said kindly, and handed him a large pitcher of Kikyo's favorite Kocha tea she kept on the floor to cool for later. InuYasha took it and chugged it, hissing with relief as the tea washed his palate clean.
"That's better. Next time, you better warn me! Now I ain't too sure if I should trust you, girl." He grumbled, handing back the pitcher. Kaede smiled and set it down, before stirring the noodles that had quickly cooked, adding a handful of chopped leeks to it.
"My name is Kaede, remember? And you can trust me. I wouldn't ever poison you." She said nicely, then began preparing him a bowl of noodles. InuYasha narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously, then took the bowl.
"Hmmm. Why are you being so nice to me...? I'm a scary demon, remember?" He said, taking the chopsticks she handed him, then looking at them with frustration.
"Hold them like this, see?" She said, showing him with her own noodles, then slurping. InuYasha copied her movements, then slurped even louder than her before gulping, his eyes widening with surprise.
"This is good!" He exclaimed, and began digging into it eagerly with the chopsticks.
"Well, Kikyo told me not to be afraid of you just because you're a demon, and besides... I saw the nice flowers you picked for her." She said, looking from her peripheral as the demon boy stiffened where he sat, then growled.
"Feh. Yeah, ya mean the ones she stomped over?" He said, tossing the empty bowl to the floor near her, then crossing his arms. Kaede picked up the bowl and sighed, filling it again.
"I'm sure that my sister would never step on them on purpose... She mustn't have seen... Besides, do you know where she went to? I thought she would be back before nightfall." Kaede said, handing him the bowl. She watched as many emotions came over InuYasha's face, then he quelled them by stuffing a mouthful of noodles onto his mouth and slurping.
"Hn. I'm sure she's off havin a grand old time by now. She'll be back. I just know it." He muttered angrily, and Kaede nodded, not wishing to ask any more questions once a tiny tinge of red had darkened the whites of his eyes.
~o•O•o~
The savory scent of cooked poultry hung in the air as Kikyo stood and tossed the bones out the open door, then rinsed her hands off with rainwater. She wiped them off on her thin nagajuban feeling embarrassed still by the sheerness of the white fabric as she sat back down by the fire and sat with her arms crossed over her legs. They were very long and pale, as the fire flickered over her skin and into her deep chestnut brown eyes.
Onigumo was pacing slowly around the ancient shrine, picking up rotted scrolls and leafing through them. Kikyo sighed and observed him, feeling rather relaxed by the heavy patter of rain, which trickled down from the rafters and splashed into small puddles. She loved the earthy scent it made, as the cool breeze wafted in from the many openings and cracks.
"What are you looking for..? I didn't take you to be a holy man." She said curiously, as Onigumo rolled out an ancient scroll and mused thoughtfully as he read it.
"Hmm, I don't have anything particular in mind. And after the things I've seen...I don't need these." He said softly, then came closer and threw a handful of scrolls into the fire, and smirked at her as her eyebrows raised reproachfully towards him.
"What? They were going to rot anyway." He said with a shrug, and squatted down beside her. Kikyo chuckled softly, watching the papers curl, and the black ink melt away.
"You may have learned something new, that's all." She said, dismissively. Onigumo watched her profile a moment, then followed her eyes to the small fire.
"I know enough. I don't need papers to tell me anything." He said, then rested on his palms and stretched his feet out, sighing heavily.
"I'll go to hell, just like all the others." He said, and Kikyo frowned at that as she tore her eyes from the flames and furrowed her brows at him.
"You don't know that, Onigumo..."
"Sure I do. All the lives I've taken. All the crimes I've committed. Ah, I figure, I'm going to hell anyways. May as well live it up while I can." He said with a bitter chuckle, and gazed up at the openings in the ceiling, where he could see the dark sky above. Kikyo turned onto her side and leaned on one hand to look at him closer, feeling frustrated by the hopeless way he spoke.
"Well, perhaps you could be redeemed. You saved me today, I could have very well been trampled to death. I'd say saving a miko's life is up there with good duties." She said with a small smile, then faltered as she shook his head stubbornly.
"Nah, don't worry your pretty little head on my behalf. I'll be just fine, Kikyo. Best keep your talents for the people who truly need it. I'll be out of your hair soon, so just forget about it." He said, then rolled over with his back facing her, using his bundle of clothes as a pillow.
Kikyo watched him a moment, trying to think of words of encouragement, but instead she looked away and rolled over onto the other side, staring at the fire as she listened to the monotonous susurration of rain. Her eyelids began to grow heavy, then she heard him say something very softly,
"A noble woman like you, is sure to go to Nirvana and live in peace for all eternity."
Kikyo didn't know why, but after hearing his words she felt hot tears began to run down her cheeks, and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to sleep.
~o•O•o~
A/N: Well, not a whole lot happened in this chapter but I hope you all are still enjoying. I just want to remind anyone who has perhaps become confused that Onigumo is still human here, he has not become Naraku. He has the resemblance of the Naraku we know but with brown eyes, and perhaps less "dead" looking skin. Lmao.
As for Kikyo, she is much more lively and easygoing at times. She will show more characteristics like Kagome, with her sometimes being silly or stubborn just like her reincarnation, we seen to forget that Kagome was born from Kikyo, and without Kagome's soul, Kikyo was only half a woman when she was brought back to "life" by Urasue. This Kikyo was spiteful, perhaps at times apathetic and only lingered on because of her hatred for InuYasha bred in her because of Naraku, and her desire to kill Naraku.
InuYasha is also slightly different, he is less civilized, he doesn't wear the beads of subjugation, nor have his Tetsusaiga to help restrain his demon half. He isn't sure how he feels for Kikyo yet, he just knows he doesn't want to lose her, or have Onigumo around her.
This story is all about the "What if?" aspect, for instance if Onigumo had the chance to meet her before he was burned and before her and InuYasha fell in love. So just keep that in mind while reading. :)
Also, thank you again, my guest reviewers! I'm thankful that you're looking forward to reading more. If you could, I'd love if you could leave a name or alias so that I can thank you individually.