Sorry it took so long to update it, I have a lot of stories going at the moment. 5 infact(including this one). I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Three

Kaede's request was to be filled. Kikyou gathered several herbs as well as two fair sized buckets and told Kaede to bring the garments that she would change into. Kaede happily did as she was instructed and skipped along the path in front of Kikyou.

"I hope I can be just like you, big sister!" Kaede exclaimed cheerfully.

Kikyou smiled.

"You shall, Kaede, if that is what you desire, then you shall."

"Sister Kikyou, do you remember Mother?" Kaede asked suddenly, catching Kikyou off guard.

Kikyou thought for a moment, her mind wondering why she would bring up their parents all of a sudden.

"Aye, Kaede. I do remember our mother. Not well, mind you, buy I remember her."

Kaede turned around, walking backwards so she could look at Kikyou.

"Could you tell me about her?"

Kikyou stopped and gazed at Kaede. She was growing up before her eyes and the thought of that made her heart ache. Kikyou looked into Kaede's eager eyes and felt a small lump rise into her throat. She remembered their mother, yes, she had not lied, but to hear Kaede wanting to know about her made Kikyou feel saddened. Just how much did Kaede wish to know about their mother? How could she tell Kaede how their mother had passed away?

"Our mother was very kind." Kikyou spoke as she began to walk once more, entering the forest and leading Kaede to the river. "She had dark hair and brown eyes, just like we do."

"What about Father?" Kaede asked quickly.

"Well...Father had dark brown hair." Kikyou replied. Kaede smiled at Kikyou as she continued to speak. It was not until they had reached the spring that Kaede asked a question Kikyou feared she would.

"How did our parents go away? Some of the villagers say that a demon did not take them away from us."

Kikyou's stomach tightened. Should she tell the truth or lie to her only sister? Kikyou's mind scrambled for an answer to give Kaede.

"Kaede...I would rather not speak of it. Forgive me."

"So it was a demon." Kaede blurted out to Kikyou's surprise. "I see...You face demons every day and it hurts you. I shall not ask again, sister Kikyou." Kaede smiled.

Kikyou smiled back and set the buckets down and began to instruct Kaede in the procedures of the Sacred Water Rite. Kaede did as she was instructed and it worked almost like a chilled bath, next to the chanting and the fact that she was cleansing herself with herbs for her work as a priestess. When Kikyou poured the last bucket of river water and an herbal mix of angelica, cedar, and chamomile, Kaede exited the river and put on her new white gi and red pants. She beamed at her sister who nodded with pride.

"I hope I can remember all of that, big sister." Kaede said happily.

Kikyou smiled and gathered their things.

"You shall, Kaede, you shall."

Kikyou gave Kaede a hug when a noise from a tree caught her attention. She spun around, keeping Kaede close with her right hand, and began to scan the area. The noise came again. Kaede clutched onto Kikyou's leg. Kikyou grabbed one of the buckets and kept it in front of her chest incase something decided to attack. A wooden bucket would do little for her but at least it would weaken the blow.

"Kikyou?" Inuyasha's voice rose from the tree. "It's me..."

Kikyou let out a sigh of relief and set the bucket down.

"What are you doing, Inuyasha?"

He jumped from the branches and landed smoothly before Kikyou and Kaede.

"I was fishing downriver and I noticed the herbs so I came up here and saw you doing something in the water."

Kaede's eyes grew large and she shrieked. Inuyasha quickly covered his ears and gave Kikyou a confused look. Kikyou began to chuckle but held most of it in.

"You are going to be punished by the gods, Inuyasha. No man is to watch the Sacred Water Rite because the god's and goddesses will punish them. Is that not so, big sister?"

Kikyou tried to keep a serious face and nodded.

"Inuyasha, allow me to ask for you to be pardoned." She said, trying to hold in her laughter. She had never heard Kaede scream as she had. Inuyasha nodded then looked down to Kaede.

"Don't worry, shrimp, I didn't see anything of interest so don't go getting your hopes up."

Kaede's eyes grew even wider and she dashed off toward the village.

"You are a monster, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha stuck his tongue out behind Kaede's back then looked to Kikyou. "So how does this, "asking for forgiveness" thing work?" He asked roughly.

"Do not fret over such things. I shall take care of it." She said with a small smile. "I just have to pray and give an offering of great values and hope that they accept my sacrifice."

"WHAT!!?" Inuyasha blurted out. "I won't let you!" He grabbed her and held her close.

Kikyou's eyes were wide with confusion.

"What are you talking about?"

Inuyasha gulped and let her go, hoping his face was not red.

"Nothing. Just kidding around."

Kikyou nodded and gave him a smile.

"Well...while we are alone, would you mind telling me what this big secret is that everyone is hiding from me?"

Inuyasha gulped then nodded.

"Yeah...I'll tell you if you'll walk with me through the forest."

Kikyou stood there, thinking about his offer. She did not have her bow and quiver so she was somewhat defenseless against an attack but Inuyasha had shown that he knows his way through battles in the past even if the enemy out numbers him. She looked to the bucket and nodded.

"All right, Inuyasha. A walk through the forest would do me well to relax my nerves."

Inuyasha smiled and the two walked along the forest path. The first few minutes were silent but Kikyou cleared her throat and jolted Inuyasha.

"Um...Kikyou...I want to start out by saying I'm sorry." Kikyou nodded. "A few months back...there was an accident. A demon took my form and tricked you into leaving the village with the jewel. I had been attacked by the same demon only he took your form and struck from afar." Inuyasha stated. "I went looking for you, I wanted to know what I did to make you angry. So, when I saw you in the field just standing there, I thought I finally had the chance to ask. I ran a few steps and I saw something charging you from behind. It looked like me!"

"I ran toward you to stop him but he had jumped into the air already. I took to the sky as well and watched as he used one of my attacks. I did the same and knocked his attack up just enough so that you would not be cut in two. He dashed off before I could catch him but you were unconscious and bleeding pretty badly. I took you to the village and let them heal you but some of them blamed me for your injury, so I went into hiding."

"Then, I heard that you had gone missing. So I went out and searched for you and found you lying on the side of the road. I thought you had died...I was...scared."

Kikyou placed a hand on his cheek and stroked his face with her thumb.

"Inuyasha..." He looked at her with his golden eyes. "I...I do not know how to say this to you, but I must..."

He closed his eyes and lowered his head, his ears drooped slightly and he sighed.

"I'm sorry..."

"No..." she stated quickly. "I...love you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha's ears pricked up. "You...love me?"

Kikyou nodded and smiled.

"I do."

He leaned in close, his eyes gentle.

"I've loved you since you spared me that day, so long ago."

Kikyou leaned in closer and smiled. Inuyasha closed his eyes and pressed his lips gently against hers. Warmth shot through his body as he could feel Kikyou responding to his touch. Kikyou's heart was racing, she loved him and she could no longer deny it. The world around them fell apart and all that remained was the two of them, together, for a rare moment in time that Kikyou did not want to end.

They slowly drew apart and gazed into each other's eyes. Kikyou's face was flushed and Inuyasha could not hold back the smile that had formed on his lips. Kikyou smiled as well, her face slowly returning to its normal color. Inuyasha picked her up into his arms and leapt into the trees and jumped from treetop to treetop as he returned her to the village. His heart was singing to the gods, he was so happy. Kikyou, too, felt the impact of his happiness and could not help but kiss his cheek as they went. Kikyou only hoped that this would not affect the demon attacks as they strived to obtain the Shikon no tama that hung around her neck.