Summary: The young lord Kagewaki has a long-term illness and is unsure how much time he has left in this world. Despite this uncertainty, he asked Kikyo to marry him.
(Notes: With great sentiment, I present my heartfelt fanfic for Kikyo Weekend —a humble tribute to honor and cherish Lady Kikyo.)
Filled with anticipation and gratitude, Lord Kagewaki eagerly awaited the arrival of his honored guest, the shrine maiden Lady Kikyo, who had aided him in banishing malevolent spirits. Over a year ago, he had taken her as his guardian due to her extensive knowledge of exorcism, as he suffered from frequent possession by demons.
According to the kind priestess, she revealed with great concern that a demon named Naraku has been relentlessly surveilling them, particularly the entire castle, with the intent of obtaining Kagewaki's physical form for nefarious purposes. Despite Naraku's efforts, he couldn't get closer to them because Kikyo had created a powerful spiritual barrier that protected the entire castle from his malevolent presence.
As he was lost in thought, the guards outside his chamber interrupted him with the words that his awaited guest had arrived, causing him to quickly snap back to reality. Despite his body's weakened state due to prolonged illness, he mustered up the courage to rise from his bed to welcome the priestess.
"I must go and meet her," he whispered to himself, his voice quivering with anticipation.
Striving to rise to his feet, he battled to keep his balance, but his legs betrayed him, causing him to collapse onto the bed. Out of nowhere, a gentle hand reached out to offer support, and as he lifted his gaze to meet their eyes, he found himself face-to-face with Kikyo.
"Don't push yourself too hard. Let me help you," she reassured him, her eyes brimming with worry, her voice low and soothing.
As Kagewaki's gaze fell upon Kikyo, his heart swelled with affection, and a warm smile played upon his lips as he tenderly assisted her in settling down beside him on the soft bed. They sat closely, basking in each other's presence, and he felt a comforting sensation wash over him, grateful for her caring nature and the solace she had bestowed upon him during his time of weakness.
With a delicate voice, barely above a whisper, he expressed his delight, "It brings me immense pleasure to see you again, Lady Kikyo. Thank you for coming. I am deeply grateful." His eyes shone with sincerity and gratitude, and his heart overflowed with emotion as he spoke.
With a soft smile on her lips, Kikyo gazed at Kagewaki and spoke gently, her voice filled with a sense of duty and compassion.
"As a priestess, it is my responsibility to aid those in need. Helping others is something that comes from the depths of my heart," she explained.
"The people in the castle were kind enough to lead me to your chamber," she continued, her tone reassuring. "I apologize for not informing you of my presence immediately."
Kikyo's words were filled with sincerity and empathy, as she truly cared for the well-being of Kagewaki.
With a nod and eyes brimming with gratitude, the young lord expressed his elation upon learning from Kikyo about her selfless desire to aid others. To him, she is a heavenly angel sent to bless those around her.
"Your kindness is greatly appreciated. I am forever grateful to you, my lady," he replied, his voice filled with admiration. "And please, there's no need to apologize for being in my room. The castle is yours to explore whenever you wish."
Kikyo's eyes filled with gratitude and happiness as she thanked Kagewaki for his generous words. A sense of warmth and comfort washed over her. She then shifted her attention to the bag she was holding and reached into its depths to retrieve the supplies for demon contraception.
As Kikyo approached Kagewaki with a bundle of supplies in her arms, her heart was racing with a sense of urgency. With a deep breath, she looked into Kagewaki's eyes and spoke with unwavering conviction.
"I bring to you the very supplies that will keep the demons at bay, even the strongest among them," she said, her voice ringing with emotion.
"These items possess ancient and powerful spiritual energy that can create a protective barrier around your castle and its surroundings. This barrier will keep you safe from the dark forces that seek to harm you."
With a steady hand, Kikyo laid out the supplies before Kagewaki, each item carefully placed with meticulous care.
"These are not just mere tools," she continued, her tone growing more fervent. "They are imbued with an invaluable significance in the fight against the demons. With the use of ofuda, I will inscribe sacred words and symbols to repel the forces of evil. I will also use the haraegushi to wave away any impurities or bad spirits that might still be there."
The young lord couldn't help but be entranced by Kikyo's breathtaking beauty. Despite knowing that he should pay attention to her words, his eyes couldn't help but remain fixated on her.
She was a vision of grace and elegance, with her pale skin glowing in the light and her luscious black locks cascading down her back. Her hair was styled into a low, loose ponytail, held together by a pristine white ribbon that perfectly complemented her flawless complexion. Her eyes were a warm shade of brown, radiating kindness and compassion that drew people in.
The young lord couldn't help but feel a sense of awe in Kikyo's presence. Her dedication to her duty as a priestess and her unwavering strength were truly remarkable. But again, it was her beauty that left him spellbound. He knew that he would follow her to the ends of the earth, guided by her grace and beauty as much as her wisdom and strength. Kikyo was more than just a shrine maiden - she was a force of nature, a beacon of hope, and a vision of perfection.
Kagewaki's heart was pounding so loud, he thought the priestess would hear it. He couldn't take his eyes off her, even though she was just showing him some supplies. He knew what he wanted to ask her, but the thought of it made him blush like a young boy. Yet, he couldn't waste any more time.
Time was precious to him now, and he didn't know how much of it he had left in this world. So, he gathered all his courage and spoke up.
"My apologies if my inquiry appears impudent, but I cannot help but ask."
"Sure, what would you like to ask?" Kikyo's gaze fixed upon the young lord, brimming with readiness to lend an ear.
"Do you... Do you already have an answer to what I asked you during our last meeting? Would you honor me... by becoming my wife?"
He knew he was asking for too much, too soon. They weren't even lovers, and yet he was proposing marriage. But he couldn't help himself.
With an uncertain future looming ahead of him, he remains oblivious to the duration of his remaining days. Despite his father's attempts to direct him towards other women, none of them have piqued his interest except for Kikyo, who has completely captured his heart.
As Kikyo laid eyes on the young lord, her surprise quickly gave way to a gentle, affectionate gaze. Kagewaki's sincere proposal brought back memories to her, filling her mind with a beautiful vision of a better future full of hope and possibilities. He had promised to elevate her life with the condition that she agrees to marry him and have at least one child, who would one day become the heir to the castle.
With a gentle voice, she responded, "I am honored that you have chosen me as your wife, but we are still in the early stages of getting to know each other. Marriage is a sacred commitment that cannot be rushed. We need time to truly understand each other, to build a foundation of love and trust."
Kagewaki felt sad because he was hoping for a different outcome, but he understood that he couldn't compel her to reciprocate his affection. Kikyo is a woman of remarkable dignity and status, places her duties as a priestess above all else. As such, the pursuit of love and marriage may not fit within her current responsibilities.
His voice trembling with emotion, he apologized and tried to conceal his disappointment. Yet, despite his efforts, his handsome face betrayed his pain at being turned down.
"I understand," he said, "I know that what I'm asking for is too much. We're not even in a romantic relationship."
With a sense of empathy in her heart, Kikyo gazed up at the young lord, and as she met his gaze, she sensed the turmoil that was churning within him. She couldn't bear to see him in such distress, so she offered him a glimmer of hope to uplift his spirits.
"I can see that this is hard for you, and I don't want to hurt you," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion. "But I can't give you an answer right now. Please don't take that as a rejection. Let's take the time to truly get to know each other and see where our hearts lead us."
With a glimmer of relief in his eyes, Kagewaki nodded, but his heart was burdened with the weight of her choice. "I understand your decision, my lady. I don't intend to rush you. I will wait patiently, regardless of how long it takes. Please take all the time you need."
Kagewaki averted his gaze from Kikyo's beautiful face with a sense of unease, fearing that she might uncover his true emotions. He shifted his focus to the breathtaking view of nature outside the castle, trying to distract himself. He realized that it is difficult to maintain a good outward composure while dealing with inner emotional pain.
Despite Kagewaki's attempts to conceal his emotions, Kikyo was still able to detect them. As a priestess, she possesses an innate ability to sense when someone is experiencing negative emotions.
Just a few months ago, the young lord confessed his love for her, but Kikyo wasn't ready for love and expressed her apologies. However, during their recent encounter, she was taken aback when Kagewaki proposed to her, even though he knew she wasn't prepared to reciprocate his feelings.
Kikyo was just about to open her mouth to speak when Kagewaki beat her to it, grabbing something from the small table next to them. She saw that it was a beautiful red box jewelry, and before she could even process what was happening, he took her hand. Their close proximity made it easy for him to slip an expensive ring onto her finger, leaving her completely stunned.
"Kagewaki, what's going on? Whose ring is this?" Kikyo's voice quivered with confusion and surprise as she looked down at the glittering jewel on her hand.
Kagewaki's heart leapt with joy as Kikyo uttered his name. This was what he truly wanted - to be treated like an ordinary person, rather than the high-status young lord of the castle that he was. He didn't want Kikyo to address him with any formalities, and her calling him by his name made him feel understood and appreciated.
"It belonged to my late mother," Kagewaki replied with a soft smile, his eyes brimming with emotion. "She told me to give it to the girl I love, and that girl is you."
Kikyo's heart swelled with so many emotions at once that she could hardly breathe. She had never expected Kagewaki to be so serious about her, let alone love her so deeply. Though she had always prided herself on her strength, at that moment, she felt her knees go weak with the intensity of her feelings.
"Please don't put any pressure on yourself." His words resonated with fervent emotion as he continued, "You're not obligated to have the same feelings for me just because I like you. Within the depths of my soul, I am certain that you are the only woman meant for me. Just accept this ring as a symbol of my love."
Trying to hide her emotions, Kikyo attempted to mask the feelings stirring within her as Kagewaki gently kissed her hand with full respect.
She had suffered greatly in the past!
That is why she made the choice to guard her heart and refrain from falling in love again, driven by her fear of experiencing pain. However, despite her efforts, she couldn't deny the blooming love she felt for Kagewaki deep within her heart.
With Kagewaki holding her hand, Kikyo's heart swelled with a sense of courage that she had never known before. She gazed into his eyes, and with a soft and tender voice, she spoke, "Kagewaki, I never imagined that someone could make me feel like this."
Her mind was clouded with uncertainty, but the love that she saw in Kagewaki's eyes was like a beacon of hope, guiding her through the dark waters of her past. She knew that taking a chance on love again was a risk, but with Kagewaki, it was a risk she was willing to take. His love was something special, something that she didn't want to let go of.
Despite the pain and heartache she may have experienced in the past, she believes she has to be brave enough to take a chance on love and allow herself to be vulnerable once again.
There is nothing more romantic than the willingness to take a leap of faith and believe in the power of love to heal all wounds. She deserves to find happiness and love, and she should approach this new journey with hope and optimism.
With a newfound resolve and a heart full of hope, Kikyo took a step closer to Kagewaki, her soft hand trembling as she reached up to gently touch his cheek. As she looked deep into his eyes, she whispered in a voice filled with tenderness.
"I'll give you an opportunity to see where this takes us. I'm willing to give it a try."
Filled with passion, Kikyo boldly leaned in, locking her lips with Kagewaki's in an unexpected embrace that caught him completely off guard. Despite his weakened body, Kagewaki's intense longing overpowers any limitations, enabling him to respond to her passionately with equal fervor. He held her tightly, driven by a pang of hunger that he had never felt before.
As their lips met, Kikyo's passion burned like a flame, melting away any resistance Kagewaki had left. The moment was electric, charged with raw emotion and fiery intensity. The love and hope that had bloomed between them were now a raging fire, driving them both to the brink of ecstasy.
From that day forward, Kikyo and Kagewaki embarked on a new journey together, their hearts intertwined as they explored the depths of their love and discovered the joys of a life spent together.
