InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ The Key to Evil is Envy ( Chapter 9 )

Time After Time

 

By RosieBird

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, although I did recently get the newest DVDs and the 3rd movie, so does that count? No? Sure? *Sigh* Okay…anyway, if you've come this far, then, Sally Field forgive me, You like me, you really like me! ^_^ Well, anyway, I hope I can be more focused on my work from now on. It's hard to get ideas when work occupies my whole mind. Anyway, this is chapter 9, so I hope you enjoy it. Again, keep those reviews coming. I love reading them and they really encourage me!

 

Okay, someone did ask for a little program to follow about the name changes, so here. First, let me remind you that all the good guys will be called by their old names (Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, etc.) When they're out in public and around other people, they'll be called their new names.

 

Inuyasha - Chiko

Miroku - Anil

Sango - Seiko

Shippo - Anihiko

Kouga - Hojo

Ayame - Eri

 

The bad guys will be called by their new names.

 

Kikyo - Mika

Onigumo - Satoshi

And, of course, Shiho is the main baddie and she is using Midoriko's body.

 

Up to speed now? Good. Now, onto the story!

 

Chapter 9 - The Key to Evil is Envy

 

Kagome wanted to struggle against Satoshi's iron grip, but didn't dare with the dagger pointed into her neck.

 

“In-Inuyasha.” Kagome whispered.

 

Inuyasha growled through clenched jaws. He didn't dare use the Wind Scar with Kagome in the way. But he couldn't let Satoshi get away with his insult.

 

“Let her go.” Inuyasha said quietly and there was no mistaking the desperation in his voice. Kagome felt as though her heart had taken a plunge. She couldn't fathom her beloved Inuyasha sounding so defeated.

 

“If Inuyasha has given up, what hope do I really have?” Kagome thought.

 

“LET HER GO!”

 

Kagome was flung to the ground as Kouga kicked at Satoshi's head like a soccer ball. Kagome felt the air being thrust from her lungs with the impact of her fall.

 

“Damn you, wolf!” Satoshi hissed and leapt away. Kouga braced himself in front of Kagome.

 

“Don't you lay a finger on her, you bastard!” Kouga spat. He glanced back at Kagome. Inuyasha hurried forward to ease Kagome to a sitting position. All the while, he never lowered his Tetsusaiga from Satoshi.

 

“Kagome, are you hurt?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Inuyasha.” Kagome said weakly. “Please, don't leave me.”

 

“I won't.” Inuyasha said and pulled her close to him. “I swore I would never leave you.”

 

Kouga felt as though his heart had been pierced. He turned his attention completely to his enemy. But Satoshi was gone.

 

“Where'd he go?” Kouga said. Inuyasha looked up in surprise.

 

“He just vanished.” Sango said.

 

“He must have known he couldn't win.” Miroku said.

 

“Shippo, where are you?” Inuyasha called. Shippo appeared from the equipment shed. He was shaking, but unharmed.

 

“Shippo, are you alright?” Kagome asked and she pulled the child close to her. Shippo felt his heart and head flood with memories of Kagome holding him like this long ago and he burst into tears.

 

“I want my Mom!” he cried. “Please, I want to go home!”

 

Inuyasha placed a hand on the boy's head. Shippo turned sniffling to Inuyasha.

 

“We'll take you home first.” Inuyasha said. “Then we'll all meet at the diner to talk. Okay?”

 

Miroku nodded and held Sango to him. Sango rested her head against him. She felt tired beyond words. Seeing her brother again after a lifetime apart was emotionally draining.

 

“We'll meet you there in an hour.” Miroku said and the couple walked away.

 

“Wait, Inuyasha.” Shippo said. “I do want to go home, but I want to help.”

 

“It's okay, Shippo.” Inuyasha said in a very gentle voice. “You are still just a kid. And I don't want to get in trouble with your parents for having you out so late.”

 

Inuyasha gave him a friendly tap on the head that made Shippo laugh.

 

“We'll tell you everything tomorrow, okay?” Inuyasha said and winked.

 

Kagome smiled. There was a time Inuyasha would have been very harsh with the young fox demon, but now, Inuyasha seemed almost brotherly in his speech. Shippo sighed but nodded.

 

“Okay, but promise you won't talk about anything important.” Shippo said.

 

“Cross my heart.” Inuyasha said and did so. “On my honor and all that man stuff.”

 

Shippo smiled and hurried off.

 

“Will he be okay on his own?” Kagome asked.

 

“He doesn't live that far from school and I doubt that Satoshi will go after him. Let's get home okay.”

 

“Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha and Kagome turned to see Kouga standing before them.

 

“Oh, right.” Inuyasha said. He sheathed his sword and faced the wolf demon.

 

“Kouga.” Inuyasha said. “Thank you. For saving Kagome.”

 

Kagome stared in shock. This was completely unbelievable. Kouga seemed to think so too, but his reaction was barely more than an eye twitch. He bowed his head.

 

“Just take care of her.” Kouga said and Kagome realized that Kouga was relinquishing his claim on her. Kouga turned to look at her.

 

“Kagome, I know that you can never love me, but I will never stop loving you.” Kouga said. “I want you to be happy and I'll do everything in my power to see that you are. Just please, let me love you?”

 

“Kouga.” Kagome said but found her voice wouldn't come to her. Instead, she nodded and Kouga smiled.

 

“See you around, mutt-face.” Kouga said and he seemed to melt away to reveal the face and body of Hojo. Then he walked away.

 

Kagome and Inuyasha stared after him and left the field. Unbeknownst to them all, two other figures remained. One, a red head girl sobbing quietly and staring after Kouga. The other, a lanky man with brown hair who chuckled as he watched the girl continue to cry.

 

“We may still have our key.” Satoshi whispered and disappeared.

 

***

 

It was a very quiet walk back to Sango's house. Miroku kept his arm around Sango's shoulders, waiting for her to speak. Sango's thoughts were with the image of Kohaku. She remembered his death and how Naraku had trapped and controlled the young boy with a shard of the Shikon Jewel. How she would see him and watch as Naraku played with him like a doll and use him as a pawn. She had not lived to see what had become of her brother. And she did not know where he was now. They reached Sango's house. Sango walked in and Miroku followed.

 

“Father won't be home tonight.” Sango said. “He's out of town. Such is the life of a government agent.”

 

““Perhaps you'll want to clean up before meeting at the diner?” Miroku suggested. “I can wait here.” Miroku watched her cautiously as Sango stared off into space.

 

“Kohaku.” Sango whispered. She felt Miroku take her arm and pull her close. He held her tightly, as if willing for her pain to leave and come upon himself.

 

“Sango, my dearest, let me share this pain with you.” Miroku said in his gentle voice. Sango tried to fight the tears but they flooded her eyes and poured down her cheeks.

 

“It isn't fair!” she sobbed. “Why can't he be here with me!?”

 

Sango continued to cry as Miroku rested his chin on her head and stroked her hair. Little by little, Sango felt his comfort and regained her composure.

 

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to unload like that.” Miroku stroked a long finger over her eyes and wiped her tears. Then, he bent down and captured her lips in a warm chaste kiss. Sango let her arms encircle his neck and Miroku pulled her closer. When they broke apart, Sango gazed into Miroku's warm brown eyes.

 

“Sango, I know how much you loved your brother.” Miroku said. “Anyone with eyes can see how your heart aches to see him again. But please, don't think that what we saw tonight was really him. That was a Kohaku of the past. Kohaku may be in this time as well. We'll find him, I know it.”

 

“What if he isn't here?” Sango said. “What if I can never find him?”

 

“Don't think like that just now.” Miroku said softly. “Each day must be lived out and we can never know what the day ahead will bring.” He bent closer to her and spoke seductively into her ear.

 

“But please remember that I am here.” Miroku said. “And that, no matter what the future will bring, know that I love you with all my heart and soul.”

 

Sango took in a breath and smiled. Miroku returned to look at her and smile. They kissed again and Sango felt her heart ache with love for the man who held her.

 

“I love you too, Miroku.” Sango thought and, as if Miroku could read her mind, he deepened his kiss.

 

***

 

Kagome and Inuyasha strolled down the street towards the diner.

 

“Inuyasha, can I ask you something?” Kagome said. Inuyasha looked at her as they walked.

 

“How did you get those prayer beads back?”

 

Inuyasha began to laugh.

 

“Simple. I got them from you again.”

 

“From me?”

 

Inuyasha stopped and grinned.

 

“You remember what you did with them when you came back here?” Inuyasha asked.

 

Kagome thought. She didn't really recall what she did. She felt as though she were in a daze. She thought back to leaving the well house, going inside and then, she'd woken up in bed with tears on her face and her pillow soaked.

 

“No, I just remember that I thought I dropped them somewhere.”

 

“Somewhere that your grandfather found them and decided that they would go nicely in the gift shop.” Inuyasha said. “I was visiting the shrine over that weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of you to see how you were doing. But you hadn't come down all weekend. But I saw the prayer beads and something just told me that I wanted them back.”

 

Kagome couldn't help but laugh.

 

“You hated that rosary.” Kagome giggled. “And you wanted it back?”

 

“Yeah, weird I know, but it was like having you back with me.” Inuyasha said.

 

Kagome laid her head against Inuyasha's shoulder and Inuyasha smiled.

 

“I love you, Inuyasha.” Kagome said. Inuyasha grinned.

 

“I know and I love you.” Inuyasha said. Kagome slipped her hand into his and Inuyasha laced his fingers with hers.

 

“I feel like I'm walking 10 feet above the ground.” Kagome thought. They reached the diner and waited for Sango and Miroku.

 

***

 

Ayame walked slowly up the street to her house. She had long since stopped crying but felt numb and empty.

 

“Kouga.” Ayame thought. “Why can't you forget her? Why can't you accept a love that's so freely yours?”

 

“He's so damn frustrating!” Ayame screamed.

 

“Aren't all men like that?”

 

Ayame turned sharply to see a young woman behind her. She was dressed in jeans and a peasant blouse. She had short brown hair and brown eyes and she was smiling cunningly.

 

“What would you know about it!” Ayame snapped.

 

“Oh, plenty.” The girl ran a hand through her hair and smiled. “Let me guess. He doesn't see how much you love him and insists on chasing after a girl who has her heart devoted to someone else.”

 

Ayame stopped and pouted.

 

“I see it all the time. My name's Tori and I'd like to help you get the man you love.”

 

Ayame stared in surprise. In the blink of an eye, Tori held a dagger with a green jewel in the hilt. Ayame's mind went blank and her eyes filled with the greenish glow of the jewel. Tori smiled wickedly and disappeared.

 

“Now, we have the final key.” Shiho appeared, along with Mika and Satoshi.

 

“You, dear little woman, will help us conquer the power of the Shikon Jewel.” Shiho began to laugh.

 

***

 

“So, what do you we know so far?” Miroku asked. They sat in the nearly abandoned diner. A few businessmen and women sat at the counter drinking coffee or talking with colleagues. They seemed oblivious to the young men and women. Even the proprietor barely acknowledged them when they came in.

 

“We know that both Kikyo and Onigumo, or Naraku, have been given new forms. We also know that they want the Shikon Jewel, correct?”

 

“Do they want the Jewel, Miroku?” Sango asked. “They didn't seem to be trying to get the Jewel. They seemed to be looking for something else.”

 

“Almost like they were torturing us.” Kagome said thoughtfully.

 

“It doesn't matter what they wanted.” Inuyasha said sharply. “They attacked us and that means we have to fight back.”

 

“Think Inuyasha.” Miroku said simply. “We don't know what they're planning and therefore, we have no way of knowing where or when they'll strike next.”

 

“What I want to know is how everyone can be here.” Kagome said. “And how they look so different. But how you all can look the same.”

 

“I have a theory about that.” Miroku said. “When we died, we died at the hands of a demon who was using the power of the Jewel. Remember that when Kagome was reborn she looked like Kikyo. Kikyo died with the Jewel so she harbored much of her former looks. So, when Sango, Shippo and I died, we too retained our looks.”

 

“That makes sense.” Sango said. “But what of Ayame and Kouga?”

 

“They lived out the lives of demons.” Miroku said. “But it would seem that the lack of demons in this world's time means that demons eventually became powerless, so they died out and were reborn as humans.”

 

“I get it.” Kagome said. “So what about Kaede?”

 

“As a priestess, perhaps her spiritual power gave her some abilities, but I did say it was only a theory.” Miroku said.

 

“We're getting off the subject.” Inuyasha said, slapping his hands on the diner table. “What about Mika and Satoshi?”

 

“Shiho is controlling them. The question is how.”

 

“I think it might be through those jewels on their daggers.” Kagome said. “Both Mika and Satoshi had daggers with green jewels on the hilts.”

 

“Certainly it is a single connection to them all.” Miroku said. “But what was Shiho talking about when she said they would soon have the final piece.”

 

“I don't know.” Kagome said. “It seems to me that…”

 

“What?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“I don't know what I was thinking about.” Kagome said, shaking her head.

 

“Say, Inuyasha.” Sango said. “How did you manage to get the Tetsusaiga back with you?”

 

“Yeah, I've been wondering that myself.” Kagome said. “How did you get it back?”

 

“Well, I'm not exactly sure.” Inuyasha said. “I just remember thinking that I needed it to protect you and there it was.”

 

“The Jewel!” Kagome said. “Of course. When you used the wish to keep us together, you were absorbed by the power of the Jewel. So, the Tetsusaiga would have been absorbed too.”

 

“If that is so, then when you needed it the most, the Jewel's power returned it to you.” Miroku said. “Think of the Jewel as a safe in this case. You discovered the combination somehow when you needed it to protect Kagome.”

 

“It isn't the Jewel they're after.” Kagome said confidently. “I think that they were looking for something else. They spoke of a final piece. Maybe they were looking for someone, not something.”

 

Inuyasha stared in confusion. Miroku and Sango looked equally confused.

 

“Think about it.” Kagome said. “Mika spoke of her causing fear. Inuyasha, she talked about how you should fear her because she was named for the new moon. And Satoshi, like Onigumo, is filled with greed. Greed for Mika, for the joy of torturing us. And Shiho is pure hatred, no doubt there.”

 

“Fear, greed, hate, all those are evils.” Miroku said. “Such evils would be the opposite of what make up the Shikon Jewel.”

 

“What do you mean, Miroku?” Sango asked.

 

“You recall that the Shikon Jewel is made up of the four souls, those of wisdom, courage, friendship and love. So, greed, fear and hate would be opposite to that.”

 

“Are you saying that Shiho is trying to construct some sort of negative Shikon jewel?” Inuyasha asked. “How is that possible?”

 

“Shiho is using the power of Midoriko, from who's body the Sacred Jewel originated. So, perhaps she is able to create such a jewel.”

 

“The Shikon Jewel was terrible in power before it was purified.” Kagome thought. “To create a negative jewel would be even more terrifying.”

 

“But what final piece could they need?” Sango asked. “And where would they get it.”

 

“If greed is the opposite of wisdom, fear the opposite of courage, and hate the opposite of love,” Miroku said, “Then it stands to reason that they would need envy to counteract friendship.”

 

“Envy.” Inuyasha said. “What's that gonna do?”

 

“Envy is very often the key to all evils.” Miroku said. “All the demons we battled were envious of the power of the Jewel and sought it for themselves, instilling fear and hate and greed around them. Even Naraku was born from envy. Onigumo's envy of Kikyo's purity which led to his greed for her.”

 

“But who'll they get for envy?” Kagome asked. “Kouga?”

 

“Possibly. He is jealous of Inuyasha for securing your love.” Miroku said.

 

“I don't know.” Sango said thoughtfully. “He seemed defeated. Lonely.”

 

“Could loneliness serve their purpose?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Loneliness is too easily conquered.” Miroku said. “It's too easy to fill. Envy breeds all other evils, including loneliness.”

 

“Envy is a breeder for all other vices.” Kagome thought. “But who would be envious enough to allow themselves to be swallowed up.”

 

A rock sailed through the window. Customers ducked or fled as more rocks sailed through the windows.

 

“What's going on!” Sango screamed. Miroku pulled her under the table as a stream of rocks pelted through the glass again. Inuyasha did the same.

 

“Is it Satoshi again?” Inuyasha asked.

 

“Kagome!” They heard a familiar voice call them from outside. “Come out and face me! I'll make you pay for taking Kouga!”

 

“Is that Ayame?” Kagome asked and cautiously peered through the window. She caught a glimpse of fiery red hair blowing in the wind before another rock sailed through the window and glanced across her forehead. White-hot pain stabbed through her and the world went dark.

 

“Kagome!” Inuyasha shouted and caught the falling woman. Blood seeped through the wound in her head. Inuyasha picked Kagome up and led Miroku and Sango out the side door.

 

“It's a bunch of kids.” Miroku said.

 

“Those look like some of the guys who attacked Kagome.” Inuyasha said. “Yeah, I recognize that scar I gave the leader.”

 

It was true. Kagome's attackers, along with what appeared to be the rest of their gang had returned. Standing amongst them, arms crossed with an evil smile, was Ayame.

 

“I'll make Kagome pay for what she's done.” Ayame said. Her eyes glowed green. “She'll regret everything she's ever done to Kouga. And to me!”

 

To Be Continued

 

At this rate, I should be done with this story by Christmas or New Year's. At least, I hope so. You might have noticed the girl who got to Ayame sounded a bit familiar. Yep! It's me. But that's the only time you'll see me. I figured I'd take a tiny little part. If you wonder about the name, it's my nickname in Japanese. Oh, and some of you have pointed out that Inuyasha is a little bit softer and nicer in my story. Yes, Inuyasha wouldn't act like that, but think back to the episode “Totosai's Rigid Training” and you'll remember that Inuyasha's a little bit softer towards the Lynx demon, Bunza.

 

I'm still working on the story, but inspiration comes and goes and work tires me out a lot. But I'm always thinking about it. Tell me what you think, okay? I'll post the next chapter when I get to 125 reviews. So, until next time…

 

Stay cool minna! From here on in, this will be fun! ^_~