Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Memories of the Bell Flower

   Chapter 4: The Man in the Cave

   Rating R: For adult situations, violence, language and other wonderful
things.  Remember to take the rating SERIOUSLY.  Its R for a reason people!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha.

   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!

   Last Time: Tears still flowing and staining her face Kikyou stared at
the jewel with an animosity she wasn't even aware she possessed, "Damn
you," She whispered through clenched teeth her volatile emotions having run
the gauntlet to full fledged rage, "I never wanted any part of this!  Damn
you!"

   The jewel didn't respond.  It didn't have to, the light that danced
around it did that for it.  It seemed to laugh even louder, delighting in
the misery so apparent in the woman before it.

   "I DIDN'T WANT THIS!!"

   * * *

   Over the next two weeks Spring slowly overtook the village and the
surrounding area.  Two weeks without the sight of either hide nor hair of
Inu Yasha.  Somehow 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 in the hands of one who had no skill
of coaxing sounds from it.

   The only relived breath to escape her in those two torturous weeks was
at the end of the first week, when her cycle came and went, confirming that
she carried no child within her.  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, which 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 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 half hopping to catch a glimpse
of red, a flash of silver.

   Kikyou leaned back against Goshinboku, the great tree so near the
shrine, and started up toward the sky.  The sunlight trickled through the
new spring leaves making them shine as a small breeze made them come alive
with motion.  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 solitude.

   When Inu Yasha comes back, she thought playfully, I'm going to tie him
to this tree.  So 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 with from yelling and swearing
at the top lungs 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 she
had ran along way.

   "Onee-sama," Kaede skidded 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 youkai, or something like that, so 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 started sheepishly at the ground, her feet digging into the spring
grass, "Well, um, you don't come with the to look for herbs any more
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 weeks 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 elsewhere,
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,
hopping to coax a smile from her little sister.  The ploy worked, Kaede
smiled proudly, glad to be preforming such an task for her sister.  Kikyou
smiled to herself as she followed Kaede out of the woods and the 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 on the floor 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 their to die.  The sounds she and Kaede had 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 read 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, the covered her small mouth with
her hands, 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 use to seeing people in
states as bad as this one.

   "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 he 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 she would use as soon as Kaede
returned with the water and supplies.

   "Who. . ." He asked again.  Kikyou glanced over at him, to him staring
at her, the feeling as 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 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 you're things!!" Kaede's voice rang
out in the 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 finished, 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 medicine mixture.

   As Kaede sat grinding willow bark, and Kikyou cleaned the body of the
man, Kikyou 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, and Kikyou
couldn't repress a shudder.

   * * *

   Over the next few days the man recovered the best he could, another
testament to his spirt, Kikyou suspected.  Unfortunately with his
recoveries came his voice, back in full.  And 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 he would never again leave this
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 weren'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 shoving her
cooking spoon down his throat to shut him up permanently.

   OniGumo chuckled, as if he could hear her thoughts.  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 are a 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 jewel," he breathed, his voice seemed
laced with desire, "I want to see it."

   "You can't" Kikyou said flatly, pouring the finished soup into a bowl
she moved over 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.  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 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 the words.  OniGumo's words were the words of a rapist and a
murder spoken in a cold and calculated way.  Kikyou was suddenly very glad
that OniGumo would never walk again, because in that moment any illusion
about his personality disappeared.  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, then most likely murdered.

   Kikyou didn't answer him, and that seemed to amuse him.  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, Kikyou couldn't help the slight flush that stained her cheeks.

   "I have no husband," she 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
much echoing in the small cave, making it sound like a monster did indeed
dwell within.  Kikyou shuddered, suddenly glad to be heading home to the
village, even that prison was better then spending another minute with that
man.

   * * *

   Kaede entered the cave that morning to find OniGumo still sleeping.  She
let out a quiet relived sigh.  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 sisters 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 sisters 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 weak, and a 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 extra sedative into the mix,
hopping to knock him out after the first sip so she could get out of there.

   "Oh really?" OniGumo said, "Tell me, isn't there man your sister's been
interested 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 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 very 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 stared 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
door 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 the 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 whispered a prayer of thanks to who ever had the foresight to wound him
in such away, and keep him away from all the innocent people he could hurt
were he free to do so.

   Kikyou dunked under the surface of the water, then came up shaking her
hair free of the water.  Felling 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 mind 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 he somehow didn't believe the statement, "I heard you,
in the shrine, 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 she told him what he had really heard that day, and she
watched as his face softened and he seemed relived 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 into 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 and hungry look in his golden
eyes.

   "You're beautiful," was all he said, 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 responding 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 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 started, then Kikyou pressed her mouth to his,
and he responded again, this time slipping his hand in her robe to caresses
her breasts, causing Kikyou to moan.

   Inu Yasha managed to pull away one more time, 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 hot flesh.

   Both of their control snapped, and there pinned up against Goshinboku he
claimed her a third time.  If possible he seemed even more feral then
before, as if driven by both instinct, love, and desire.  As he thrust into
her, he silenced her impassioned cries with his mouth.  When he finished,
he roared.

   * * *

   End chp.  4

   Authors ramblings: Wow, you guys like that?  I like that. . .  hehehe,
any of you care to wager a guess as to what just happened?  Well, you read,
and now review people, review!  (This goes double for you slugs on
adultfanficiton.net, why don't YOU review!!!)

   Any way, more plot and evil angsty goodness in the next chapter.  Its
5:34 in the morning and I almost dropped to the ground writing this. .
.damn. . .I'm tired!!!  and I'm listening to three brain. . .lol
   Sephira jo - author, lunatic, onigiri