Inuyasha:The third sword

The sun is already beginning to show signs of waning, painting the edges of the wide sky a beautiful orange color and letting the sweltering heat begin to descend. 

Even with all of the aforementioned, its brightness continues to provide shelter to those who dwell on the land and thanks to its waning state, the heat is now most acceptable. 

"Mmm... It's warm..."

Halting her movements and forcing the young man to stop with her, the black-haired priestess raises one of her hands to cover her eyes, before looking up at the sky. She doesn't seem to want to see anything, but only to enjoy the warm sun. 

"A bit cold for my taste, but."

"Hush, let me enjoy this moment."

There was not the classic touch of cutting coldness in the priestess' tone of voice, but one of extreme laziness and peace. 

"Fine, fine, but you know I'm part of this moment too, don't you?"

"Yes... Thank you."

The thanks came out no louder than a mere incomprehensible mumble, but that only to humans, which she is clearly not who is standing next to her. 

"Now say it with more sincerity, Kikyo~"

"You could have waited longer... Still, thank you."

You could easily notice the surprise on Asahiko's face, it wasn't for the thanks, as Kikyo has always been polite, but for the sincerity with which they were said. 

"You're welcome."

"Now be quiet."

"Good."

Looking into each other's eyes, Kikyo with a "I'm serious" look and Asahiko with a "Challenge me" look, they both ignore each other so they can go back to enjoying the sunshine. 

...Christopher/Asahiko pov....

"Soup?"

"That's right, soup."

Confirming Kikyo's words, who takes a seat across from me, only with a campfire separating us, I start stirring the pot. 

Of course I haven't cooked, I'm horrible at it... Very horrible. Knowing that, I went and asked one of the refugee groups to give me some food. Well, the materials are ours, so I just asked them for some of the preparation. 

"Was that all there was?"

"Oh, no, but whatever I consider most useful for your situation. I've heard around that you shouldn't give solid food to someone in recovery, so soup it is."

Taking it for granted, he grabbed a nearby wooden bowl and poured a good amount, before handing it to her. 

"I'm feeling perfectly fine, so it's a totally unnecessary worry."

"Of course, the paper-white skin, weak body and loss of concentration is quite normal."

Perhaps noticing that I have a good point, Kikyo finally starts eating. Yes she had already grabbed the bowl from the beginning, I guess in the end she just responded for instinct. 

Still, it is strange the state of "weakness" she is in, after all, is a transformation… Maybe she also wishes to keep that part of "humanity", hence her current state. But it may also be that the transformation is not very stable at the moment.

"Tastes...tastes."

"Yummy, doesn't it? I haven't tasted it, but they were eating the soup like it was the best in the world."

"The soup tastes earthy... The wild greens are tough, plus there's no trace of meat or bones in it."

"Well, then..."

Before I could reach to take the bowl from her hands, I am stopped by an incredibly quick swipe of her left hand. Not that she hadn't liked the soup. 

"What's the matter with you, doesn't it taste awful?"

"Yes, it's horrible... Glup, Glup... Umm, very horrible, it tastes like dirt."

I don't know whether to heed his words, or just the tone of voice brimming with nostalgia. 

"Then stop drinking at once."

"Give me more..."

"What, I can't hear you if you talk that low."

"I want another plate, Asahiko."

Watching as she extends her hands towards me, holding the bowl between them and the strangely warm gleam in her eyes... Aghh, a metaphorical arrow pierces through my chest.

Dangerous, that was very dangerous... So much for my poor, righteous bachelor heart. 

"Well, here's another plate... I'm going to see if I can get more information out of them. Yeah, yeah... That's what I'm going to do."

"Got it."

I'm not running away, that's cowardly... Yeah, yeah, I'll just save it for later. I'm all about emotional genius!!!. 

...Kikyo pov....

"How quickly she runs away."

"Shouldn't you be with Asahiko?"

Setting the warm wooden bowl down on the cold grass, she was momentarily mesmerized by the sensations transmitted through my hands. 

The differences are enormous... Although I used to be able to talk, see, hear... Nothing compares to this. There is no longer the uncontrollable rage, the coldness of living in a carcass... Am I alive…? 

"I've already said that I'm not always with him, plus Cloud Fang is out of the game. I guess by completely devouring Ryukotsusei's soul, he'll be out for quite some time."

"I see... So what brings you here, Saya?"

"You don't have to be defensive with me, if he's given you that... Thing, I'm no one to take it."

Had I gotten defensive? It isn't. Before I could continue down that line of thought, I notice how I've unconsciously grabbed my right wrist. 

Hahaha, what is this... Maybe it's fear, uncertainty... Or maybe just greed for what can keep me in human form. 

"Why, why do you think he gave it to me? It is only a test, in a little while..."

"Has he asked you how you did it? How does it feel? How intense the desire must be?"

"No, but he."

"I'd already forgotten what it's like to be young and the emotional problems that come with it. Well, they'll sort each other out... Maybe."

Releasing those cryptic words into the air, Saya the elder spirit, begins to float off into the distance, leaving me here alone again. 

Despite staying here alone, I could feel the warmth of the surroundings. The laughter of the families, the rudimentary songs and the enjoyment of the smallest thing like a meal. 

"Yes, nothing should be wasted. Glup... It still tastes awful... Glup... Haha... It's totally awful, Kaede made it better..."

If I'm complaining so much, why doesn't this smile disappear from my face... This warmth that runs through me. What does it matter? Just live this moment.