She was just roaming the wide green fields of the village, with her bow and arrow in hand. It was a warm summer's day, the time of the year where people would relax and breathe in the fresh summer wind or watch the grass blades sway gracefully on a summers wind under a comfy day. Where the farmers would visit the crops and the rice fields so that they are sure that they would have a bountiful harvest before the coming of winter. The time of the year where people mostly act – normal. Passing by near the rice paddies, the villagers saw her and bowed as a sign of respect. How she envied their life. The way they act everyday as if there are absolutely no worries over powerful youkai or any monstrous evil that might invade their peaceful village. The way they smiled as if nothing was wrong. She'd love to have that kind of life, but an important thing stops her before she could set herself free…

"All hail the great priestess Kikyou…" said the villagers.

Kikyou, the powerful Shikon priestess…such a big responsibility. Whenever she hear those words, it seemed that she'd never have the chance to let herself go and live the life that she always dreamed of. No…she had to protect the villagers, making sure that they would be always safe…making sure that the smiles on their faces would always remain…

A gentle breeze blew over the village, and she could hear its gentle song. Kikyou closed her eyes, listening to its melodic whisper, only to be shattered by a piercing cry coming from the shrine…"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"Run for your lives!"

"It's Inu-Yasha! He's attacking again!"

One of the men shouted, before he was thrown by the powerful half-demon, who was on the run for the most powerful thing that ever existed…the Shikon no Tama. The unlucky man was knocked unconscious and was assisted by the women of the village. Inu-Yasha looked on at the rest of the men holding weapons and catapults, and he smirked. How foolish, he thought. When will these people learn that they cannot be able to defeat me? He raced towards them, prepared his claws and jumped into the air before anyone could even notice. "SANKONTESSOU!!!"

But before he could give his attack, an arrow flew towards him and nearly missed his left ear. He lost his balance, but he still managed to keep his composure when his feet touched the ground. Ahead in front of him, Kikyou stood as she took another arrow from her back and prepared to shoot. "Inu-Yasha! You still don't give up on the jewel, do you? I command you – leave this village at once!"

"Keh! Nobody orders me around, Kikyou! I won't leave until I get the jewel, and if you still refuse, I might have to get it by force!" He headed towards the temple where the jewel was placed. Then again, before he could have the opportunity to get it, Kikyou fired a warning shot which nearly missed his right hand. "I told you to leave!" she yelled, while taking another arrow from her back. "Before I shoot you with this!" The arrow glowed a bright pink aura – Kikyou's spiritual power. Getting the message, Inu-Yasha backed off, and tore a hole at the roof. She looked to see him disappear, while the villagers ran to her side, asking if she's alright.

"I'm alright, how about you? Is anybody hurt?" Luckily, only the man from earlier got hurt; besides that, everybody was safe. "That's good," she thought.

Kikyou sat at the top of the hill beside the village, meditating…collecting all her thoughts. She listened on, while taking slow breaths now and then, listening to the rhythm of her heartbeat, and the sound of the environment around her as if she was in the middle of a great natural orchestra. When suddenly, she felt something. A common aura. Opening her eyes, she looked to where the aura's from. "Inu-Yasha," she said in a calm voice, "I know you're there. You don't have to hide from me."

Seeing that he was already spotted, he had no choice but to come out. "Keh," he said in disgust and sat, a few meters away from her. He looked at her with suspicion, as if she was planning something else in mind.

Kikyou looked at him then spoke, "This is the first time we'll talk calmly like this." She clenched her fists, trying to control the sadness that is trying to get loose deep inside her. "Inu-Yasha, how do you find me? As an ordinary village girl, or as a person above and superior to others?"

"What?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of question is that?"

She sighed. "I know that I shouldn't show my weaknesses to others, for if I do, they might take the most precious thing away from me…" She looked at the sky, and Inu-Yasha could see the sadness and sorrow reflecting in her eyes. "I'm just an ordinary village girl, however people are afraid of me. All I wanted was to live the life of a normal person and lose myself from the great responsibility that was bestowed upon me…"

"Would you stop whining about that?!" Inu-Yasha said, annoyed. "We have the same problem you know…" It was then that Kikyou looked at him with a sad look in her eyes, yet she tried to hide it with a weak smile. "You're right…I shouldn't complain about it…" she said. He fell silent, and even though he tried to say something, he can't for he'll only end up hurting her feelings…Wait, where did that come from?!? he thought. But still, the look on her eyes…Kikyou looked like she was about to cry…

"Some people tell me, that you're not my kind

And I believed them, but I can't get you out of my mind…"

It was then, that he started to watch over her, making sure that she was safe. The look of hers that cool summer day was so hard to forget – and he finds it hard to forget about her. Before he knew it, he was falling for her…

"Kikyou onee-san! Look what I found!" A cute little girl cried and ran up to her, standing under the cherry trees that are in full bloom that season. "A pretty sakura blossom!"

"Mine's prettier! Look, onee-san!"

She patted them on the shoulders, smiling at the children who are gathered around her, trying to prove that theirs was the best. "They're all beautiful," she assured cheerfully, as she took one blossom and clipped it on the little girl's ear. The latter looked at the blossom with childlike innocence, as they played with her, laughing sweetly.

Inu-Yasha was a few distance away from them. He can hear the laughter of the children playing with Kikyou, and as he looked, Kikyou seemed so happy being with them. But still, the look in her eyes, that look of sadness, didn't went away. He felt drawn to those sweet eyes, and as he continued to gaze at her, Kikyou noticed his presence and smiled at him. The hanyou blushed furiously, shook his head, and went away. "Why am I feeling this way?" he asked to himself. "Kikyou…why can't I forget her?"

And so, during the days that followed, Inu-Yasha always made sure that Kikyou is out of harm's way. Not that he  underestimated her or anything, he just finds it hard to neglect and ignore her after that fateful day when they talked for the first time. Everytime there's a demon invading the village, everytime Kikyou tries to exterminate the foe, he always comes to the rescue and finishes it off for her. He doesn't like the idea of finishing things that aren't bestowed upon him, but…it's better than seeing Kikyou's sad look again. I don't want her to look sad again; I want her to be always happy. That's what he thought, and his efforts are rewarded with her sweet smile. "Thank you," she whispered before attending to the injured villagers. She looked at the direction to where he vanished, before being questioned by her younger sister, Kaede.

"Inu-Yasha helped you again, my sister?"

"Yes, and if it weren't for him, the demon earlier would have destroyed the whole village."

"Somehow, I still don't trust him, onee-sama. You should be careful too. Who knows what he's planning about this village. He still demands for the Shikon no Tama, right?"

Kikyou patted the young girl on the head. "Don't worry about me Kaede, I'll be careful." Right now, I must know what's in his mind…Inu-Yasha, why the sudden change?