disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, all credits go to Rumiko Takahashi. I only own Aila and Hikari, and possibly a few others.

"It's true, then?" A beautiful blonde priestess approaches another priestess with ebony hair.

Much like the dark-haired woman, the blonde woman wore red and white Miko attire. Their long locks were tied back by white ribbons. Both of them are beautiful in their own right, and equally powerful too. With their unusually strong spiritual abilities, they both protect the village from demons and bandits.

Here they were, at the edge of their village just before the torii gates, nearing the vast grasslands that could go on for miles and miles. Luckily, she had caught her friend before she disappeared.

The dark-haired priestess turned to look at her friend, who held suspicion within her honey eyes. "Aila. What do you mean?"

She turned to the blonde woman, her hand clutched to her chest. Unbeknownst to her friend, she had the Shikon no Tama in her palm.

Aila was not fooled and adjusts her bow and arrow quiver on her shoulder, "Ye are smitten with a demon."

"How did you...?"

Aila mischievously smirked and waggled a finger at her, "Ye thought ye could hide from ye best friend, Kikyo? Ye have been playing a dangerous game indeed!"

Kikyo wished to defend herself, but she relaxed, baring a soft smile. "I can and never could hide anything from you, Aila. It is true, Inuyasha and I have grown close over this past year."

Aila smirks, "I predicted as much," and then her smirk falters, "Wouldn't ye know where the Shikon Jewel has disappeared to? Kaede mentioned she saw ye in the temple a while ago. What are ye hiding, Kikyo?"

Kikyo's face scrunched up, reluctantly refusing to tell her friend of her doings. 

"The jewel is with ye?" Aila said. "Why did ye take it from its protective space?"

"Inuyasha wishes to be human, " Kikyo softly says, her lips pursing, her brown eyes making contact with Aila's honey ones. "He wishes to be with me."

Aila blinked surprise and disbelief flushing through her body. "The hanyo wishes to be fully human?"

"Yes, " Kikyo nods. "He told me so himself."

Shaking herself from her trance, the blonde shrine maiden clears her throat, "So, ye are going to meet him?"

Kikyo nods again, "Yes. I am meeting him in the fields, he felt it gives us privacy."

Aila made a face. "Are ye sure? Ye don't even have ye bow."

Kikyo chuckles, "I'll be fine. Inuyasha would never hurt me."

"But, Kikyo, " Aila nearly stammers when she brushes past her and walks off to her rendezvous point. "Kikyo!"

The blonde sighs, slumping her shoulders in defeat before inhaling a big breath as she watches her friend disappear from sight. She lightly smacks her cheeks to focus herself and prepare her tasks at hand.

She just hopes Kikyo will be all right. There is something wrong, she could just feel it. It was very ominous indeed, though she did not know why. Kikyo's beau, Aila knew his desire was to become a full demon. From the very beginning, he has made attempt after attempt to steal the sacred jewel. And with every attempt, Kikyo would let him live. Aila knew better and saw her friend falling for the hanyo, though she hid her feelings desperately so. 

May she be a hypocrite, for she herself was in love with a demon.

It is why she couldn't find the courage to intervene in their growth together.

Her honey eyes grazed over the rice fields and river with a frown before continuing on the path. The dirt crunches softly under her feet whilst she walks. Perhaps it was a time when half-demons would prefer their human natures over their demon ones. How the times have changed, though it didn't settle well with Aila. Something felt off. 

"Lady Aila! Lady Aila!" A few children suddenly swarm the priestess, jumping to get her attention.

"Hello, children, " Aila greets with a kind smile. "Are things well?"

"Yes, Lady Aila!" They giggle all at once. 

"Then carry on, ye youngins, I am sure ye parents looking for ye." 

"Awwww, but--"

As Aila would prepare to respond, she feels a deadly disturbance in the air. She felt Kikyo's life waver, and her heart thumped in fear. Dread filled her as a flood would a valley.

"Hurry, Children! Gather the villagers, we're in danger!" And with that, Aila hurries off.

.

.

Breaking through the woods, Aila rushes into the wheat fields, where she most felt Kikyo's presence. She hurried to draw her bow and an arrow, ready to shoot on sight. She was disheveled from sprinting all the way from the village and through the forest. 

"Kikyo?" She glances around, trying to sense her friend. "Kikyo! Kikyo, Where are ye?" 

The ground is stained in dark crimson, and it was still so fresh, but no body or any sign of Kikyo, or Inuyasha. Aila's fingers tighten around her bow, hearing the sound of the grass rustling and the sound of quick footsteps. Her attention hurries to the sounds, aiming her weapon effortlessly.

"Who's there?" She demanded.

"Now that I've gotten rid of the hanyo and the other priestess, it's your turn."

Before the blonde could prepare herself, a large white baboon appears before her. He is tall. Tall enough to be a demon, especially with all that ominous aura he's resonating. 

"What the...who are ye?!" She aims her arrow at him and he laughs. "Where's Kikyo?"

"Killing the half-breed, I assume, " He says darkly. "Oh, don't worry, woman. You'll be joining them soon enough."

"What?" She grits her teeth, losing her concentration just barely. 

The man launches at her, outstretching a clawed hand. 

A scream vibrates through the field, and crops are tainted with more blood.