Indeed I've been gone for a long-ass time. I sort of lost interest in all television for a while, this show included. But then I remembered it and wanted to write more. So I guess I'm writing it again! So yes. I changed a whole bunch of stuff around in order for the storyling to suit my needs. So this scene is a little more different than it was shown in the show. I'd like to think this is a mediocre chapter, as I've been neglecting this for so long.
I don't own it, all that jazz.

-scout's dream, aka, me(a)ga(i)n.

As Kikyo and Kaede ran, they heard several shouts and loud noises in the direction of the temple. At a closer distance, they observed the men of the village running towards the shrine, only to turn around and run away again. Kikyo strung an arrow in her bow, and put her hand on Kaede's shoulder. "Kaede, you stay here. It seems that some hard-headed demon has decided that they are the owner of the jewel… we'll see about that."

Kaede noticed a slightly mischievous look in Kikyo's eyes. All of the shiny-eyed vapidness she'd had when she had been tending for Onigumo was gone. Kikyo turned back toward the shrine, which now had an inexplicable hole in its roof, and stalked forward, ready to shoot. Kaede of course, followed in silence, choosing not to listen to her sister.

A half demon? She thought as she watched her sister run into the shrine house, the men of the village scattering like seeds off the premises to watch the outcome. I've never seen a half demon before. I guess now is a good time as any to see one, she mused. Although I'd really like to see him alive before Kikyo kills him…

Seconds following Kikyo's entrance to the shrine, the loud crashing noises were silenced. The men of the village murmured slightly, not knowing what to think. Had Kikyo slain the demon? Or, had the demon slain Kikyo? Kaede, not wishing to wait any longer, charged into the shrine house to look for her sister. Some of the men tried to protest, but were too scared to make a move or a noise.

Kaede crept into the shrine, a place she didn't spend much time in. Though small, the shrine had many rooms, a couple of which Kaede had never been allowed to enter. "K-Kikyo?" she mewed softly, peering around a few rice paper screens. She started her search on the rightmost door, with no results. Finally, she reached the leftmost door, the door that led to the jewel room. Of course, they'd be in here, she presumed, her heart beating ever faster.

She peeked in around the screen. There was Kikyo, bow still drawn, stock-still. She looked almost serene when she stood so still, much like the smooth stone Buddha statue that she had at one time witnessed a few monks dragging through the village. She wanted to whisper her sister's name, get her attention. But her attention was obviously drawn to something else.

The other side of the jewel room was dark, with the exception of the glowing jewel Kaede knew to be the shikon. Two eyes flashed through the darkness, making a shiver go down her spine. This shiver, however, was one of excitement. A real live demon inside the temple, she thought. No demon had ever managed to creep inside during Kikyo's reign as priestess. And now, a half demon has managed to outwit my sister?

The demon, too, although not clearly visible to Kaede, was standing in a defensive stance as well, mirroring Kikyo's. Why aren't they fighting, Kaede wondered.

One of his fists was clutched around the jade string that held the shikon. Now Kaede knew the reason for the prolonged silence; they were both planning their next moves.

She stood there, watching the two of them in the room ahead of her, for what seemed like hours. Finally, Kikyo gave a soft laugh. Her grip on the bow had loosened significantly.

The demon spoke. "And what is it you find so funny about our situation, wench?"

Although Kaede couldn't see her sister's face, she sensed a smirk fall across it. "Well, demon, you'll be happy to know that you are the first of your kind to ever enter this temple in search of the jewel while it has been under my watch."

The demon stepped forward and in front of the jewel, and Kaede noted his long, silvery hair complete with two white ears, and blood-red kimono. His eyes flashed a yellowish gold, and he had an impish grin. He looked no older than Kikyo, and more humanlike than any demon she had ever seen before. "Heh," he sneered, showing his pointy canines. "You must have noticed that I'm not really a demon. I'm a mere half-demon. And now I'm the first to break the consistency of your watch. This is what I'd call a good day."

"Congratulations, half-demon. However, if you touch the jewel, I doubt very much if you make it out alive."

"Oh, is that a challenge?" the demon sneered once more. Sneering seemed to be something this particular being was skilled at. "Because I love a challenge."

"So do I," Kikyo quietly said. "And I'm not particularly thrilled about shooting you inside this place of worship. So why don't we take this outside?"

The demon looked at her as if she were kidding. Then, before Kaede knew what hit her, he had flipped back over the jewel, grabbed it, and made a mad dash for the door she was standing behind. "Don't mind if I do!" he yelled back at Kaede's sister, as he ran right toward her hiding place. He collided with her, both of them clumsily falling to the floor.

"Outta my way, kid!" he yelled as he got off of the floor and sped off. Kikyo was right behind him.

"Thank you, Kaede," she said hurriedly as she rushed past her sister.

"You're welcome," Kaede said to no one but herself. She got up and dusted herself off, and ran as fast as she could after her sister, pursuer of the only demon to ever steal the Shikon jewel.

----

"Damn right, I am!" Inuyasha exclaimed, hitting his hand excitedly on the ground. "I mean… I was, until Naraku got it."

"Well, Inuyasha," Kaede began as Kagome heard her rise from her chair by the fire. "Be that enough story for ye? Or want ye more?"

"You didn't even get to the good part yet."

"That, being…?"

"When… when… I don't know when it gets better, but I know it does! Besides, why did you need to give so much backstory about Onigumo? I mean, I already know about his transformation into Naraku…"

"But ye needed to see why Kikyo was the way she was when you met her. There is much more to the story of Kikyo and Onigumo than meets the eye."

Inuyasha sighed. "Yeah, I know he was in love with her. And that's why he turned into Naraku, because he was so evil and jealous of me and her. Whatever. Less chit-chat and more story… please."

Kagome sighed. She was beginning to see why Kikyo was so sad all the time…

"So I followed ye and Kikyo…"

---

And so ten-year-old Kaede followed Kikyo and the demon, all the way into the forest. Kaede again found them in a scene of still life, him pinned against a tree, her only yards away from him, bow rigidly drawn again.

Kikyo's face was drawn into a look of concentration. This was a new experience for her, and the fact that the jewel was out of the shrine was all too surreal. "Give me one good reason not to shoot you."

With his head down, Kaede thought she heard him mumble, "I think you're cute."

Kikyo's eyebrows flew up. "What?"

"I said… I-I'll give you back the jewel."

Kikyo's face eased up, but she still had the bow drawn back. "Do you… do you swear?"

"I guess." He made a move to come toward Kikyo. She tensed up even more on her bow, but he held up the jewel in front of him. "Fine. If you don't trust me, come get it yourself."

"I… I can't," Kikyo said, a brief look of fear crossing her face.

"I don't bite… much," the demon joked. Kikyo didn't find it funny in the least. "Okay then, have the girl come get if from me."

"What girl?"

"The girl behind you. The one that looks like you."

Kikyo didn't turn, but she spoke to her sister, who stood in the bushes a few yards off. "Kaede?"

Kaede sighed. "Yes, sister Kikyo?"

"Please go fetch the jewel from our half-demon friend."

"Yes, sister Kikyo." Kaede slunk over toward where the demon stood, jewel out in his hand. Noting her fear, he crouched down to her level and held it further out to her in his clawed hand, moving his eyes from Kikyo to her.

"What's your name?" he asked, a look of amusement on his face.

"Kaede… And what's yours?"

"Inuyasha," he said, as Kaede took the jewel from his hand. "Your sister doesn't seem to like me very much," he said. "But that's okay. I don't really like her either." He looked up to Kikyo and grinned.

To Kaede's surprise, her sister returned the grin, looking genuinely and inexplicably happy.