Path To Damnation

Path To Damnation
Summary: Kikyo is a simple shrine priestess who ends up being promised in marriage to the neighboring village’s monk. All seems well enough until Kikyo meets the handsome demon lord of the west. She soon finds herself desperately longing for the demon lord’s touch. Kikyo begins to lust terribly after the demon lord. What will become of her when her monk husband to be discovers her dark secret?

I do not own Inuyasha or any of it’s characters but I do own the characters that I make up.

Original characters:
Hiroaki: Miroku’s younger brother. Looks exactly like Miroku but his eyes are a soft chocolate brown instead of the violet color of Miroku’s. He is sixteen years old and Miroku is nineteen.

Kaori: Kikyo and Kagome’s younger sister. Looks like Kikyo and Kagome except her eyes are gray. She is fifteen years old.

Chapter 1: The Monk Of Usake
A/N: Kikyo learns of her father, Maresuke Higurashi, the high priest of Racedah’s plan to give her hand in marriage to the young monk of Usake. Will she willingly accept her father’s proposal or will she defy his wishes?

Kikyo carefully tucked a stray strand of her long ebony hair behind her ear as she padded slowly across the rice field that stretched as far east as her chocolate eyes could follow. A sudden and somewhat aggressive breeze swept across the field and threatened to blow her thin straw hat right off her head. Kikyo reached up and placed her hand firmly on top of her hat to keep it in it’s place atop her head.

A little ways ahead of her were her two younger sisters. Kagome being seventeen was the first of Kikyo’s younger siblings. She was about five feet five inches tall with long thick and slightly wavy ebony hair that fell to the middle of her back. Her eyes were a striking blue gray and she had the most perfect milk white skin. Kagome was truly the most vibrant and spirited of the three sisters and that was something that Kikyo secretly envied about her. Even though at times Kagome didn’t know when to keep her mouth shut so her sharp tongue often landed her in trouble. Kagome had quite a few of the village’s single young men desperately trying to win her affection.

Next there was Kikyo’s youngest sister Kaori. She was only fifteen years old but she was also quickly gaining the attention of many prominent young men in the village. Kaori may have been the youngest of the sisters but she was far more wise than she led on to be. She was tall about five feet eight inches to be exact and her skin was a beautiful milk white. Her eyes were a most stunning shade of gray, dark and smoky never revealing too much about what was really going on inside her head. Kaori’s hair was a rich coal black and it fell down to the very middle of her back just as Kagome and Kikyo’s did.

Glancing away from her conversation with Kagome Kaori noticed their older sister had fallen considerably behind. “Don’t dawdle Kikyo, we haven’t got all day!”

“Forgive me Kaori, it’s just very hot this afternoon.”

“Well hurry up because it’s just the three of us collecting the rice today.”

“I’m coming.”

With a heavy sigh from both of them Kaori and Kagome stopped and waited for Kikyo to catch up.

“You know Kikyo you really slow me and Kagome down.”

“Yes well need I remind you that you are both younger than me? Kagome is two years younger than me and you are four years younger than me.”

“Yeah well let’s get going so we can start to harvest the rice.”

With a small nod Kikyo slipped her woven straw pack off her shoulders and placed it on the ground at her feet. Kagome and Kaori quickly followed and the three young women began the tiresome task of harvesting rice.

“So Kaori how many young men do you have trying to court you now?”

Kaori shot Kikyo a devilish grin as she tossed some rice into her pack.

“A good handful I should say.”

“I see, well choose wisely because they shall be the man you spend the rest pf your life with. And how about you Kagome?”

Kagome gave an indignant snort as she quickly filled her pack with rice.

“Please Kikyo, I have yet to find a man that I deem worthy enough to call my husband.”

“You shouldn’t be quite so picky Kagome or else you might never find a man to marry you.”

Kagome gave a dry chuckle before she tossed some more rice into her pack at her feet.

“You really shouldn’t comment on a subject that you’re no more advanced in than either of us Kikyo.”

Kikyo glanced down at her nearly full pack quickly as she felt her face heat up from the dark blush that had spread across it like wildfire at Kagome’s remark. She had almost forgotten what a sharp tongue that her younger sister possessed until now.

“Shouldn’t you be happily married by now? I mean you are nineteen years old Kikyo.”

“Um well yes Kagome, many would agree that I should have a husband and children by now.”

“So then why don’t you?”

Before Kikyo could answer Kaori stepped in front of her.

“Back off Kagome, that’s enough. We have work to do so stop bickering and get to it.”

“Fine.”

Kagome turned her back towards Kikyo and Kaori and continued harvesting the rice in an angry silence. Kikyo flashed Kaori a sad smile and the three young women finished their task in an awkward silence. After they had filled their packs with rice the three sisters slipped them back onto their backs and began heading back towards the shrine they called home. Kikyo and Kaori walked side by side and Kagome trailed a little further behind them. Kaori decided to continue their conversation from earlier.

“Kikyo may I ask you something without upsetting you?”

“Of course Kaori.”

“Why have you not married and started a family of your own?”

“I haven’t been brought up as an ordinary woman Kaori. I was raised as a priestess.”

“What does being a priestess have to do with you having a husband Kikyo?”

“I suppose I’ve just been using my duties as a priestess as a way to avoid getting married.”

“Why would you want to avoid starting a family Kikyo?”

“I’m afraid that I wouldn’t know the first thing about being a wife to someone.”

After a few moments of silence Kagome decided to speak up about something that had been nagging at her all morning.

“Kikyo?”

“Yes Kagome?”

“There’s something important that I have to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I wasn’t supposed to say anything but father was up talking with Souta very early this morning. In fact it was still dark outside.”

“You heard father and Souta talking? What were they saying Kagome?”

“They were talking about you Kikyo.”

“What about me Kagome?”

“Well that’s just it I’m not supposed to tell you Kikyo. They caught me listening and made me promise that I wouldn’t tell you.”

“Why? What did they say Kagome? You have to tell me!”

Kagome sighed heavily and shifted the pack that was now starting to become heavy on her back.

“If I tell you Kikyo you have to promise you won’t tell father or Souta that I told you.”

“Okay I won’t, now tell me Kagome.”

“I heard father speaking to Souta about traveling to Usake tomorrow.”

“Why would they make you promise not to tell me about going to Usake? That doesn’t make any sense Kagome.”

“Well I heard father telling Souta that you were to accompany him so that you could meet your future husband.”

“My what?”

“Future husband. Apparently father and Souta have decided to offer your hand in marriage to the monk of Usake Kikyo.”

“A monk?”

“Yes and rumor says that he is incredibly handsome rich and kind Kikyo.”

“It matters not how handsome or rich or kind this monk may be Kagome, I shall not be forced to marry him! I will not be handed over as some sort of gift!”

Kaori decided to speak her opinion which she hoped might calm Kikyo down a bit.

“Kikyo calm down, maybe marrying this monk won’t be so bad.”

“Damn our father and our brother for conspiring to marry me off without asking for my consent! Well I shall immediately put a stop to this arranged marriage nonsense and neither one of you will stop me!”

Kaori glanced nervously at Kagome who now had a hateful scowl plastered upon her pretty face.

“Oh no you don’t Kikyo, you promised not to say a word about this! So you’re going to honor your word and keep your mouth shut! Understood?”

“Alright Kagome.”

Kaori took the opportunity to voice the rest of her thoughts now that Kagome had finished yelling at Kikyo.

“Maybe father and Souta are just trying to do what’s best for you Kikyo?”

“Maybe Kaori, but did they have to go behind my back? How long has this been planned Kagome?”

“I’m guessing for quite some time because father has been going to Usake to visit the monk for a couple of months now.”

“Kagome did you happen to catch the monk’s name?”

“I believe I heard Souta say that his name is Miroku.”

“Miroku, he sounds handsome just by the sound of his name, don’t you think Kikyo? Are you going to allow father to bring you to Usake?”

“I suppose I don’t really have much of a choice Kaori.”

“Maybe marrying this Miroku won’t be so terrible after all Kikyo. Just give him a chance, I mean you haven’t even met him yet.”

“You’re right Kaori, I shouldn’t judge Miroku before I’ve even gotten the chance to know him. It’s not very priestess like of me to judge someone so unfairly.”

“That’s right Kikyo, you are a priestess incase you’ve forgotten.”

“No Kagome I haven’t forgotten my place as a priestess. And maybe Kaori’s right, maybe becoming Miroku’s wife will be a wonderful thing.”

“Of course I’m right sister, I’m always right. Now let’s get back to the shrine and empty the rice into their bins.”

The three raven haired young women headed into the shrine and quickly emptied their packs. After finishing their hard work Kikyo took off her straw hat and wiped the sweat that had collected on her forehead.

“Thank kami that’s finished! Now to get a well deserved soak in the hot spring. Would either of you girls care to join me?”
“Oh no Kikyo, Kagome and I still have to round up the horses and get them back into the stables.”

“Alright suit yourselves. See you two in a little while.”

Kikyo headed down the hall until she reached her quarters. She quickly grabbed a simple white sleeping kimono and a linen to dry herself off with. Grabbing her soap that was scented with jasmine and rain she placed it into her woven basket along with her sleeping kimono and drying cloth.

Slipping out of her quarters Kikyo carefully headed for the back exit of the shrine. Arriving at the back of the shrine Kikyo quickly crept outside and headed across the wheat field that led to the nearby hot spring. The sun had begun to set and Kikyo knew her father would not be pleased if he knew she was out at this time of the evening.

But the fact remained that she had worked hard in the rice field today and wanted to rid herself of the sweat that had covered her body. Once at the hot spring Kikyo placed her basket at the edge of the bubbling mineral water. Stripping out of her sweat soaked miko’s robes she grabbed her soap and eased herself into the steaming water.

A sigh of relief escaped her slightly parted lips as she waded to the middle of the hot spring. Kikyo leaned back against a partially submerged rock and allowed her tired brown eyes to slip closed. She had no idea that a pair of molten amber eyes were staring down at her from the canopy of the treetops above. The golden eyes gazed down at the raven haired maiden as she lay against the boulder that radiated warmth through her naked body.

‘Who is this woman? She’s the most magnificent creature I’ve ever seen even though she’s nothing more than a filthy ningen wench. I will have her no matter what the cost.’

The golden eyed demon was just about to surprise the maiden when her brown eyes snapped open abruptly. She raised her right hand and it immediately started to glow a bright white blue.

“Leave now demon and I’ll spare your life!”

His golden eyes grew wide in surprise but then quickly narrowed with malice.

‘Damn! The wench is a priestess! I must get away before she purifies me!’

With an incredible speed the demon quickly retreated back towards his palace in the west leaving the priestess alone once more. Only foolish demons dared to test the skills of priestesses and the demon lord of the western lands was no fool. It was only a matter of time before he would figure out a way to cross paths with the ningen priestess who had intrigued him so immensely.