Besides Inuyasha, the closest person to Kikyou during her life was her younger sister Kaede. She acted as Kikyou's assistant, helping her tend to her duties as a priestess. Even though she had her sister, the priestess was still lonely and her longing lead to her destruction. After Kikyou's death, she eventually took over her roll as protector of the village.

As a child, Kaede looked up to Kikyou as a strong priestess. Not only did she have the physical power to destroy demons, but she also had the patience, knowledge, and kindness to help the people of the village where they lived. While Kaede would never match her power, she gained more than enough of the other aspects to make her sister proud. Perhaps, in some ways, she is even stronger than her older sister since she was able to hold the position of priestess for many years without giving in to the sadness which eventually destroyed Kikyou.

Both worked hard to earn the respect of the other. Kaede did her best to learn everything Kikyou taught her. She matured quickly, emulating her sister's noble behavior. Kikyou too tried to earn her younger sister's respect. She did all of her duties (and then some) without complaint. Even though she ached to be normal, she never cried or whined to her sister. The only person she ever confided her secret desire to was Inuyasha.

Kaede would have done anything for her sister, and Kikyou trusted her more than anyone. They were family and had to look after one another. Kaede even did tasks she greatly disliked (such as looking after Onigumo) because her sister asked her to do so. As she died, Kikyou gave her burial instructions to her younger sister because she knew that she could trust her to see that they were carried out exactly as she required.

When Urasue stole Kikyou's ashes, Kaede needed to get them back. Not only was she worried about what the demon witch would do with the ashes, but she also could not stand the thought of her sister's grave being desecrated and her rest disturbed. When Kikyou was resurrected, Kaede asked her to return to the land of the dead, because she hated to see her sister so twisted with rage. She still loves her sister, but she knows Kikyou has changed.

While there is little warmth in the way Kikyou now treats Kaede, her affection for her sister sometimes show through her cold exterior. Sometimes when Kikyou encounters children, especially if a girl is precocious, she smiles and tells her that she reminds her of her younger sister. Kikyou does not ask her sister to betray Inuyasha (with the exception of their first encounter on Urasue's mountain). Although she asks Kaede for information, she never demands anything Inuyasha would not have told her himself if she were to ask.

While time and death have separated the sisters, they still care for each other. Kikyou's rage saddens Kaede, since she remembers her sister's kindness, but she still loves her. Kikyou, though distant from her sister, still remembers her fondly. The two will probably never be as close as they once were, but at least they appear to be at peace with each other.

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