InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Memories of the Bell Flower ❯ The Man in the Cave ( Chapter 4 )

Memories of the Bell Flower

Chapter 4: The Man in the Cave

by Sephira jo (email: sephirajo@yahoo.com)

Rating R: For adult situations, violence, language and other wonderful things. Remember to take the rating SERIOUSLY. Its R for a reason people!

Author's notes:

Bwahahahah! I got my first flames from a stupid person!! Hello Hate and Flaming Time. . .I know you're the same person, its almost amusing how you tried to be two, also read these author's notes please, I fully explain this fic in the FIRST author's note. I'm not going to do it here again. . .so there. :P

Thanks to my reviewers! I'm so glad you've all enjoyed this one. . .I just had to keep writing. ^-^ I apologize. . .not that I'm sorry. :} Enjoy chapter 4!

* * *

Over the next two weeks Spring slowly overcame the small village and surrounding area. Two weeks without the sight of either hide nor hair of Inu Yasha. The heart that had blossomed under a light evening snow quickly withered in the warmth that accompanied the budding season. Kikyou's life moved forward slowly and skipped, an out of tune song in the hands of someone else, an instrument played by one who had no skill of coaxing music from it.

The only relieved breath to escape her in those two torturous weeks was when, at the end of the first week, her cycle came and went, confirming that she was not with child. Villagers came and went, bothering her about various things: a sick child, an imagined aliment, a suspected haunting. If any one noticed that her efforts were half-hearted, they didn't say anything. And that suited Kikyou just fine.

Kikyou spent as much time as possible by herself in the wilderness. She almost thought, that in its own way, it brought her closer to Inu Yasha, whom she missed so much that it left a part of her hollow. His disappearance wasn't uncommon, he often would be around for a day or two, then take off for the better part of a month, leaving her alone.

She had hoped, in vain it seemed, that after what they had shared together that the usual would not be the case this time. There was no denying that she took her woodland jaunts hoping, no needing, to catch a glimpse of red, a flash of silver.

Kikyou leaned back against Goshinboku, the great tree so near the shrine and stared up toward the sky. The sunlight trickled through the new spring leaves making them shine as a small breeze brought them to life with motion. Even her depression that had been brought on by the spring season couldn't overtake her here. Kikyou smiled softly, this tree, this place was special to her. It was close enough to the village that it wasn't really running away, but far enough that she could enjoy a relative amount of peace and solitude.

When Inu Yasha comes back, she thought playfully, I'm going to tie him to this tree. That way he'll always be here when I want him. The impish thought was so out of character for her that she almost laughed aloud. Even more amusing was the thought of Inu Yasha's reaction to being tied to the giant tree. She could almost see his face flushed from yelling and swearing at the top of his lungs, then changing to the passionate expression she had memorized in their short lived retreat from their shared worries of the world.

"Onee-sama!" Kaede's voice snapped Kikyou out of her thoughts and she looked up to see her little sister running towards her. Kaede's face was worried, and from the heavy puffs of breath coming from the young girl it was obvious she had run a long way.

"Onee-sama" Kaede skid to a stop right in front of Kikyou and grabbed at her sleeves, tugging, "You have to come quickly!"

Kikyou calmly rose to her feet and looked down at Kaede, smiling softly, "What is it, Kaede?"

"I was out picking herbs and there's something weird in one of the old caves there. I thought I heard a youkai, or something like that, so please hurry Onee-sama!" Kaede took a deep breath and tugged on Kikyou's sleeve again, "Hurry!"

"Kaede," Kikyou said calmly, picking up her bow and quiver, "What were you doing that far away from the village picking herbs by yourself?"

Kaede stared sheepishly at the ground, her feet digging into the fresh spring grass, "Well, um, you don't come with me to look for herbs anymore Onee-sama, so I, uh, went to look for some, because I checked your stores and we're running a little low. . ."

Kikyou placed her hand on Kaede's hair, smiling sadly. In the past couple of week she and Kaede hadn't gone out on their normal herb gathering trips. Kikyou's thoughts had been elsewhere. Always trust a little sister to remind you of things more important than mopping about waiting for a wandering lover.

"I'm sorry Kaede," Kikyou said softly, "My thoughts have been somewhere else as of late, you and I will go out later for herbs, I promise. Now, take me to this horrible monster in the cave," Kikyou spoke the last part purely as a jest, hoping to coax a smile from her little sister. The ploy worked. Kaede smiled proudly, glad to be preforming such a task for her sister. Kikyou smiled to herself as she followed Kaede out of the woods and village to the cave.

* * *

They reached the cave in question quickly, Kaede having led the way as fast as her small legs could carry her. Indeed there was noise coming from the cave, and as they approached, Kikyou drew an arrow and readied it. A silent commanding glance at kaede ordered her to stay back and stay quiet. Although Kikyou couldn't really sense a youkai in the cave that meant nothing. Some youkai excelled at concealing their auras so even humans with the ability to sense them would be blind to their comings and goings. The sickly sweet smell of burnt flesh added to her caution, for if it was a youkai, and a feeding one at that, she would be in for a tough fight.

Slowly Kikyou walked toward the cave, her muscles taught, ready to spring into action at any moment. As her eyes focused on what lay within the cave, she lowered her bow and sprang into another type of action.

A man lay at the foot of the cave, his body badly burnt. No part seemed untouched by the ravages of fire and it appeared that he had been dressed in rags and dumped there to die. The sounds she and heard had been nothing more then the labored breathing of this man, amplified by the cave walls. Good gods, Kikyou thought, he's still alive. . . after being burned that badly and left here to die. He must have a strong spirt.

Kikyou, now sure that no real danger lay in wait, dropped her bow completely and ran to the man, turning him to lie face up. He stared up at her with one good eye, the other eye apparently a casualty of the fire that had seared his body. Kikyou shook her head, whispering confused wonderment underneath her breath.

Turning her face to the mouth of the cave, Kikyou called for her little sister, "Kaede, come here quickly!"

Kaede obeyed, her small form almost appearing out of nowhere next to her older sister. Kaede looked at the man, then covered her small mouth with her hands, a shocked gasp escaping her. In her young life she had never seen anything so awful, and Kikyou felt bad having to expose her sister to it. But Kaede had expressed interest in life as a healer, so she should get accustomed to seeing people in states as bad as this.

"Kaede, I need you to go back to the village and bring me water, rags and my healing herbs. I need you to go quickly!"

"Hai, Onee-sama!" Kaede squeaked, obviously still upset at the sight of the man, she turned around and ran quickly back toward The village.

With Kaede fetching medical supplies, Kikyou turned her attention back to the man at her feet. She lifted him by his shoulders, no small task as he seemed to be all dead weight, and pulled him away from the foot of the cave, taking him deeper inside, giving him protection from the elements that he had been lacking.

It was obvious when Kikyou moved him that his back had been broken, and he would never be able to walk again. Kikyou felt pity stab at her heart. The least she could do was make him comfortable for the rest of his life, which, judging by the severity of his wounds, wouldn't be long.

"Who. . ." The voice was harsh, rasping. Kikyou looked down in shock only to confirm that it was he who had spoken.

Kikyou shook her head, "Don't speak, you need to save your strength. Don't worry, my sister and I will take care of you." Kikyou finished as she moved to build a small fire pit that would be used as soon as Kaede returned with the water and supplies.

"Who. . ." He asked again and Kikyou glanced over at him to find him staring at her, the feeling unsettling, his stare had something more than mild curiosity in it.

She looked at him and kept her expression stoic, "I am Kikyou," she answered simply.

The answer seemed to satisfy him and he looked away from her, staring up at The cave's ceiling, his breathing heavy.

"Onee-sama! I'm back, and I have your things!!" Kaede's voice rang out in The small cave, and she ran inside, her small body burdened by two large packs and two buckets of water. Kikyou smiled at her little sister, Kaede never did anything half way; she had brought Kikyou's whole pharmacy with her.

"Bring them here quickly," Kikyou said and motioned for Kaede to come closer, "And I need you to start a fire right there, then mix the willow bark with some hot water," Kikyou said as Kaede handed her the packs then ran off to quickly find some fire wood.

Kikyou took one of the buckets of water and a clean rag and began to clean the man's body, slowly working The dirt and grime out of the burned flesh. Kaede ran back into the cave, almost tripping in her effort to do things as quickly as possible and dropped the wood in the fire pit. A few minutes later a fire was going, and Kaede had set up what she needed to heat the medicinal mixture.

As Kaede sat grinding the willow bark and Kikyou cleaned the body of the man, she could feel his gaze on her the whole time, staring at her in a way that made her feel like just being near this man was making her dirty.

Kaede handed Kikyou the finished mixture of willow bark and hot water, mixed with some tea leaves to make it go down easier. Propping his head up with one hand she held the mixture to his mouth.

"Drink this," She said simply, not wanting to talk to this man more than she had to, "It will ease your pain."

He drank it slowly, his stare fixed on her the whole time. Kikyou couldn't repress a shudder.

* * *

Over the next few days the man recovered the best he could, which Kikyou considered another testament to his spirt. Unfortunately with his recoveries came his voice, back in full. Some of the things he said to her made Kikyou wish that his voice had been taken by the fire that had nearly claimed his life.

He called himself Onigumo, the spider demon, a lofty, self-given title which he still clung to, despite the fact that he would never again leave the cave. He enjoyed tormenting Kikyou with stories of his life as a bandit and outlaw, delighting in the fact that she kept her face impassive through stories of rape, murder and robbery. If it wasn't for the fact that Kikyou pitied his present state she would have left him there to rot.

She was kneeling over a pot in the cave making some soup, the only food he could really eat. The whole time she entertained thoughts of shoving her cooking spoon down his throat to shut him up permanently.

Onigumo chuckled, as if he could hear her what she was thinking. The whole situation rubbed Kikyou the wrong way, but it was part of her duty as a miko to care for the sick and injured, and Onigumo was both. In more ways than one.

"So, is it true?" He asked, Kikyou looked up, she hadn't even heard the question.

"Is what true?" She asked, keeping her voice even and emotionless.

"There are rumors, that a young priestess named Kikyou was given a powerful artifact to guard. You are named Kikyou, and you area priestess, so is it true?"

Kikyou started for a split second at his astute question, but it didn't really surprise her. The Shikon jewel would be considered quite a prize by many dark hearted men, even though the jewel really did nothing for humans. She didn't answer however, she seldom found a reason to say anything to him.

He chuckled again, god how she hated that sound! "I thought so," He said after a moment, "The Shikon no Tama," he breathed, his voice seemed reverent, laced with desire, "I want to see it."

"You can't," Kikyou said flatly, pouring the finished soup into a bowl she moved to face him.

"Why not, is it invisible?" He said sarcastically.

"No, I have no intention of brining it here to you, and you will never leave this cave again. In fact, despite your great recovery, I doubt you will survive the year," Kikyou said, letting a small amount of ire seep into her normally composed voice.

Another chuckle, "You're blushing," He stated simply, "I wonder what you would look like naked and blushing beneath me."

Kikyou's eyes widened, she was sure she hadn't heard the last part right. "What was that?" She asked, keeping her voice as flat as possible.

"You heard me," Onigumo said dryly, "I may be burned and stuck in this damned cave, but I still have my manhood. And I want you." The words were spoken like a cold fact, with none of the loving emotion that Inu Yasha had put behind them. Onigumo's words were the words of a rapist and murder spoken in a cold and calculated way. Kikyou was suddenly very glad that Onigumo would never walk again. She had no doubt in her mind at all that if he was mobile that she would be little more than a target, to be used as an outlet for lust.

Kikyou didn't answer him, and that seemed to amuse him. She fed him and he ate quietly for which Kikyou was grateful. After he finished Kikyou worked at changing the few bandages that needed it. She nearly throttled him when he spoke up again.

"You have a lover," It wasn't a question so much as it was a statement of fact. Unbidden, Kikyou thought of Inu Yasha and a slight flush stained her cheeks.

"I have no husband," Kikyou said simply, hoping that would end the conversation.

"But you have a lover," Onigumo said dryly, "Your reaction proves it. So who is it? A farmer? A samurai? A pompous young lord perhaps?"

Kikyou gave him a scathing look that silenced him for a moment before he started to laugh. Kikyou gathered her things and got ready to leave. As she stood at the mouth of the cave she was stopped once more by the sound of Onigumo's voice.

"You don't do your reputation justice at all, Kikyou. I expected a great and powerful miko and instead there's just a weak woman with a great name."

Kikyou gazed down at the man who spoke and answered his taunt coldly, "A very astute observation from a man who will never again see the world outside this cave. Goodbye, Onigumo."

As Kikyou walked away from the cave she heard that laugh she hated so echoing in the small cave, making it sound like a monster did indeed dwell within. Kikyou shuddered, suddenly very glad to be heading home to the village, even that prison was better than spending another minute with that man.

* * *

Kaede entered the cave the next morning to find Onigumo still sleeping. She let out a quiet breath, relieved. Kikyou had asked Kaede to make the trip in her stead for The next couple of days. Apparently the wounded bandit had worn her sister's patience thin, a feat few could accomplish. As far as Kaede knew, there was only one other man who weighed on her sister's mind so, but that was a different story entirely.

Kaede crept next to the sleeping man and as quietly as she could, started a small fire. In the light of the small flame she sorted through the medicines she had brought with her, going over which was used for what. Kaede had a love of healing, another reason she came in her sister's stead, although she had initially been grossed out by Onigumo's monestrous looks she knew that if she became a healer she would see much, much worse.

Kaede happily hummed a tune to herself as she mixed some medicines in with his breakfast, something that had been her Onee-sama's idea. A pain killer, a sedative and other various herbs went into the soup. She was so engrossed in what she was doing that she jumped at the voice that spoke up beside her.

"Girl, where's your sister?" Onigumo asked.

"Onee-sama had other things to do today, so I told her I'd come here." Kaede said simply, then added, "I hope you like the soup I'm making."

Onigumo snorted, then said, "Girl, your sister's a weak coward. Did you know that?"

Kaede stopped humming and just stared at the bandaged bandit, her jaw hung open in shock.

"You take that back!" Kaede shouted. How dare he call her Onee-sama a weak coward!

Onigumo laughed, "It's true, she's running scared right now."

"Onee-sama's not afraid of anything!" Kaede retorted, suddenly it seemed like more of a chore to be here then she thought it would be.

"Oh no, she's afraid right now, scared that her dirty little secret will get out."

Kaede glared at Onigumo, "Onee-sama doesn't have a 'dirty little secret'! She's not here because she had other stuff to do." Kaede finished, then turned her attention back to the soup. Glancing over at Onigumo to be certain he wasn't watching, Kaede poured a lot of extra sedative into the mix, hoping to knock him out after the first sip so she could get out of there.

"Oh really?" Onigumo said, "Tell me, isn't there a man your sister's been interested in recently?"

Kaede blushed, how did he know that?! She had only found out recently and only because Kikyou had a tendency to talk in her sleep. Kaede had only worked up the courage to ask her sister about it a couple days ago, and since Kikyou never lied she had told Kaede most of what was going on. Kaede had the feeling that Kikyou didn't tell her everything, but her sister deserved some privacy and Kaede gladly gave it.

Onigumo just chuckled, "So girl, who is he?"

"Why do you want to know?" Kaede asked harshly, staring at him fiercely.

"The soup's boiling over."

Kaede turned around to see that he was right. In a panic she dived for it, almost spilling it on the ground. She somehow managed to pour the boiling mixture into a bowl without scalding herself too badly.

"Tell me girl, who is he?" Onigumo asked again, as Kaede blew on the soup, desperately trying to cool it down enough to feed him.

"No," Kaede said, looking over at him and sticking out her tongue. She brought the bowl over next to him and got ready to feed him his breakfast.

"Tell me and I won't tell your dear older sister that your trying to poison me."

Kaede started at him dumbly, how could he have known about the extra sedative? He just laughed which only made Kaede angry.

Kaede stood up and poured the hot soup all over Onigumo, who made a sound somewhere between a strangled gasp and a shout, then stamping to the mouth of the cave she turned back to him and shouted, "His name's Inu Yasha and he'll tear you apart you big. . .you big ass!!"

* * *

Kikyou swam in the cool spring enjoying the feel of the water on her skin and enjoying a day without having to deal with Onigumo. After he had shown up, the little things the villagers asked of her didn't seem so bad anymore, anything was better then dealing with that man. She felt bad pawning him off on Kaede like that, but her little sister was so eager to try out her healing skills that she'd put up with anything.

Their sparing match the night before had left her shaken, that man was way to observant and he had an uncanny knack for putting things together. She sent up a prayer of thanks to whoever had the foresight to wound him in such a way and keep him away from all The innocent people he could hurt were he free to do so.

As she swam in the spring, Kikyou thoughts moved away from Onigumo to the more pleasant subject of Inu Yasha. The last couple of days she had wanted him there with her, she needed him. Kikyou needed his touch, she needed the passion he had given her so much that it almost drove her insane. Kikyou wasn't quite sure what was wrong with her but the empty feeling gnawed at her.

Kikyou dunked under the surface of the water, then came up shaking her hair in the morning light. Feeling refreshed she opened her eyes and stretched, stopping in mid motion at the sight of the man who stood near the water's edge. She was so shocked that it took her a moment to register who it was.

Inu Yasha stood there, just staring at her, his face flushed. Kikyou sprang out of the water and threw her arms around him, completely oblivious to the fact that she was still undressed. She held him tightly, almost afraid that if she let go he would disappear.

"Where were you?" She asked, her voice trembling as she felt tears spring to her eyes, "I missed you. . .so much."

Inu Yasha hugged her back, his embrace impossibly tight, "You missed me?" He asked, as if somehow didn't believe the statement, "I heard you, in the shine I mean, I thought you were mad at me. . . "

Kikyou laughed, only to have it choked by a sob. She shook her head, "Stupid, I wasn't mad at you, I could never be mad at you. . ." Kikyou broke the embrace and just smiled up at him, "I guess we have some things we need to talk about," She said, a simple smile on her face.

Inu Yasha just nodded tensely, as if he was trying very hard to stop himself from doing something.

Kikyou smiled, and dressed herself then taking Inu Yasha by the hand she lead him as told him what he had really heard that day, and she watched as his face softened and he seemed relieved somehow.

"We're almost to the village," He said, and Kikyou started, realizing that he was right. They were standing in the shade of Goshinboku, closer to the village then she had ever managed to get Inu Yasha before.

Kikyou leaned back against the ancient tree, smiling sadly, "I don't suppose I could get you to come to the village with me?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

Inu Yasha shook his head, and Kikyou sighed. She looked up at him to find him staring at her again, a strange, hungry look in his golden eyes.

"You're beautiful," he whispered, and then Kikyou couldn't take it anymore. She jumped him, kissing him passionately venting weeks of frustration and loneliness as she pressed her body close to his.

He responded fiercely, ravaging her mouth with his tongue, nipping at her lips with his fangs. When he pulled away Kikyou moaned disappointedly and she tugged on his hair, trying to draw him close to her again.

"We can't do this today, Kikyou," Inu Yasha whispered in her ear, his body telling a different story than his words as he pressed even harder into her, pinning her to Goshinboku.

"Why not?" Kikyou asked breathlessly. She felt light headed, the whole morning the only thing she had been able to think about was him, was this, and now he was telling her that they couldn't?

"We just can't. . . " He began, then Kikyou pressed her mouth to his and he responded again, this time slipping his hand in her robe to caress her breasts, causing Kikyou to gasp and moan softly.

Inu Yasha managed to pull away from her once more and held on to his control long enough to say one more thing, "Damnit woman, don't you care about what could happen!?"

Kikyou just laughed, having him with her right now after so long she couldn't think straight, "Not when I'm with you," she answered, slipping her hands under his kimono to touch the hot flesh there. The whole situation seemed dreamlike to Kikyou as she pulled him closer to her, kissing him as deeply as she could.

The last strands of their mutual control snapped. And there, pinned up against Goshinboku he claimed her a third time. He seemed somehow more feral then before, as if driven by instinct, love and a wild, untamed desire. As he thrust into her, he silenced her impassioned cries with his mouth. When he finished, he roared.

* * ^-^ * *