Note on the setting: Set between Manga chapters 85 and 86. In the anime, this is after episode 58. For some reason in the anime, the Togenkyo arc was forwarded to much later in the series, after Sango has joined. In this story, however, we will be following the manga, meaning Sango has not joined.

Note on the poetry: This poem is supposed to describe Sota's secret, rather malicious thoughts. Despite the hint of much consuming darkness, no, this story will remain light-hearted, for the benefit of those reviewers who wish it so.


My life is a container that is to be filled;

I am half-empty, my summit an elusive goal.

I wonder whether it is possible,

Or whether it is merely the spirits deceiving us,

Whispering and hissing in our wake,

Their honeyed words proclaiming:

"It is thy destiny!"

Are our thoughts read?

Are our private shames exposed?

For if it was, I would go to hell many times over;

Yet I am innocent.

Come, come, you ghosts!

Yield to my desire!

My tainted soul shall poison you,

But you shall not feel it,

Until the worst is done;

Then my tyrannical laughter shall pierce your ears,

And I would become dust,

No more valuable than the ashes from whence I came.

Chapter 1 Desire

"Sota, wash the dishes for me, will you?" Mama's voice came from the kitchen. Sota, a small, dark-haired boy of about eight or nine, was staring avidly at the television. At the sound of his mother's voice, a slight frown crossed his face.

"Why can't Kagome do it?" he grumbled, turning his head slightly. The television enlightened him far more than chores. Besides, his sister Kagome was older and would graduate from High School in about a year or so. Chores would do her a lot more good.

But alas, Sota's compromise was destined not to prevail. Mama's voice rang out once more and the sharp edge of annoyance was prominent in her tone. "You know that Kagome's not here," she said, "So you must wash the dishes instead of her."

Sota muttered mutinously under his breath. However, he obliged and wrenched his eyes away from the television. He walked to the kitchen and noticed a pile of laden dishes by the sink. They were waiting ominously for him, and so too was the soap, detergent and gloves.

Mama watched Sota keenly from the corner of her eye. She expected Sota to complain about his workload, but to her surprise he kept quiet. There was no sound save for the hissing of the tap water as Sota began to clean. It was an awkward silence that reigned but it was through this that Mama could hear Sota's thoughts; he did not think much of his duties.

He was thinking about Kagome. Kagome, who got off chores and housework and had adventures instead. She fought demons, had days off school, and had such a great time in the feudal era of Japan. Sota would follow her down the well but it would never let him through, and she always teased him when he mentioned it. "You're too much of a cry-baby to be fighting demons!" she would say, and Sota knew she was right.

"Sota, you can have some ice cream after this," Mama said, reading the glum expression on her son's face shrewdly. "They don't have ice cream at the feudal era."

In spite of himself, Sota grinned. He imagined Kagome having to survive on vegetables and legumes. She would starve! "I guess I'm really lucky!" Sota giggled.

You are luckier than you suppose, Sota, only you don't know it; Mama thought.


Shikon no Tama.

It sounded like a catchy name for the little orb. It was the size of a large marble, and was pink. A band adorned with fang-shaped beads was secured around it, allowing the Shikon no Tama to be worn as a necklace.

A row of Shikon Jewels lay gleaming in the marvellous sun. They were on display outside the Higurashi shrine. Each had a price tag attached to the beads reading: "250 yen." A small pile of leaflets was beside the Shikon no Tama souvenirs.

Sota's grandfather (affectionately known as "Grandpa") stood beside the display. When he saw an approaching stranger, he called out in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Get your Shikon no Tama artefacts here! Only 250 yen! Great historical artefacts they are! Don't miss out!"

"I would like one," a little girl said suddenly, eyeing the jewels. "They look pretty."

"They certainly do," Grandpa said pleasantly, with a very merchant-like nod. "They're also good luck charms."

"Can I have one, mummy?" The little girl requested, tugging on her mother's sleeve.

The mother looked at the jewels appraisingly; they were cheap nasty things. On the other side of the price tags lay the arresting phrase on each: Made in China. "I don't know, Hitomi," she began, but Hitomi's whine cut her off.

"Please! Please!" Hitomi gave her mother the puppy eyes, and her mother just couldn't say no.

"All right," she sighed, reaching for her purse.

"Excellent," said Grandpa; "Have a free leaflet," he added, after the money had passed hands.

Hitomi's mother took a leaflet. Hitomi beamed as she received her Shikon no Tama. Her mother glanced at the leaflet and read it:

SHIKON NO TAMA

Also known as the Jewel of Four Souls.

According to legend, the Shikon no Tama is a relic of an epic fight between the priestess Midoriko and a myriad of demons during the days the Emperor still had power over Japan. Midoriko died and the jewel came forth from her bosom. It is said that within the Shikon no Tama, Midoriko's battle still reigns.

Shinto tradition states that there are four parts of the human soul: Aramitama; courage, Nigimitama; friendship, Kushimitama; wisdom, and Sakimitama; love. If these four souls were balanced equally in a person's heart, they could use the Shikon no Tama for good. If not, they would corrupt the jewel and their own hearts.

The Shikon no Tama disappeared at around 1447. Apparently, it made reappearance fifty years later, but since then, there has been no trace of the Shikon no Tama or the effects of its spiritual powers.

"What rubbish," Hitomi's mother muttered, but she pocketed the leaflet anyway.


The next day, Sota couldn't wait to get back home and tell Mama about the mark he got for English: 87 percent; almost twice the mark Kagome normally achieved. Grandpa would be proud of him too - maybe he'd give him some lollies or something. Then again, knowing Grandpa, Sota thought it was likely he would get a Shikon no Tama as a reward, and those things were as useless as useless could get.

Sota walked into the house. "Hello, Buyo." He grinned and petted the cat. Buyo meowed and moved his rather portly frame away from the doorway. Sota laughed and shuffled inside, looking forward to telling the good news he had.

A shock, however, awaited Sota.

"Welcome back, Kagome," Grandpa said. Kagome smiled and noticed Sota standing where Buyo had been a moment before.

"Hello, Sota," she said. "Had a good day at school?"

She certainly looked exhausted. Her sleek black hair, though normally a bit wavy, was completely messy. Her clothes were unkempt and dirty. Her eyes had a distinctly tired look about them and her face was streaked with mud.

Sota put his schoolbag on the table and nodded happily. Having his sister back was a rare treat these days, even if she was a bit temperamental. Sometimes, she was liable to snap at him over the smallest thing. So… having Kagome back and in a good mood too… his day was getting better.

"Hey, Kagome, guess what mark I got for English today?" he began, but before Kagome could ask what, Mama arrived. She was holding a plate full of steaming noodles.

"Eat up, Kagome," she said. "You're getting thin these days."

"Oden!" Kagome said joyfully. She picked up her wooden chopsticks and beamed. Her tired face looked a lot nicer at once. "Thank you, Mama!"

Sota was slightly annoyed at how he had been interrupted. "As for my mark…" he started again, but this time he was cut off by Grandpa.

"Did you find any jewel shards, Kagome?" he asked. Grandpa was immensely interested in the fact Kagome was searching for the real Shikon no Tama shards in the Feudal Era. Then again, if Kagome was on a quest for the ancient and historic false teeth of Oda Nobunaga, Grandpa would still be excited.

Kagome nodded, smiling. She shuddered with adrenaline as she remembered her last exciting adventure with her (boy)friend Inuyasha. "Yeah, we did," she said. "Lucky we got it before Naraku."

Mama pursed her lips. "This Naraku doesn't sound like a nice fellow to me - trying to get your Jewel off you. We should teach him some manners!"

Kagome glanced at the shards of the jewel that she had; they weren't many but they glowed a lot brighter than any of the Shikon no Tama replicas Grandpa had. Sota thought it was mesmerising. That minute, however, he was too cross to even consider it. "What about my mark?" he demanded.

"What about your mark?" Kagome asked.

Sota faltered; Kagome looked very interested in him. "You know," he said in a small voice; "87 percent."

"That's great!" Kagome cheered. She clapped Sota on the back. "You're so good at school, Sota! That's what really matters!"

"If you say so…" Sota replied, but Mama was already talking about what sort of things Kagome should take on her next visit to the feudal era. Sota sighed and walked over to the television. He needed something to distract him.

Sota eventually decided that he would play a video game. Video games were good; he was good at video games. He turned on his console and the television, and began to play. After about thirty minutes of avid role-playing, he was still hooked. He barely noticed Kagome enter the room.

She was far more presentable now. Her hair was brushed; she was wearing a clean new skirt and her face had had a good, thorough wash. Kagome peered at her brother intently. She was, in truth, a little envious of Sota. Fancy having nothing to worry about except school and games! There would be no well to complicate life, or Shikon no Tama, or Naraku.

Or Inuyasha.

Kagome blushed at the thought and so to distract herself, she asked Sota: "Having fun there?"

"Yeah," Sota responded listlessly. Suddenly, the words GAME OVER appeared in flashing letters across the television screen. Kagome giggled but Sota sighed.

"What's wrong?" Kagome asked. "It's only a game."

"It's not that," said Sota, sighing again. "Only, I've been thinking…

"My life is so normal, but yours is like a video game. It's so full of excitement. You hunt for magic shards, although you have an evil rival competing for them. And you have to fight demons every step of the way."

"Yeah," Kagome said rather slowly, "It is a bit like a video game, isn't it? But…" She sighed, and Sota looked up at the rather curious expression on her face. It was almost gloomy. "It's not always that simple. I was scared all the time." Especially when Inuyasha pushed himself too hard and almost got killed, she added mentally. "It's like dreamland there," she continued aloud. "I don't want to wake up, even though my life in this era is falling apart… Even though I know what the Feudal Era is doing to me, I still can't let it go, although I wish I could…"

It was a rather impressive speech, even for someone like Kagome. Sota still thought Kagome's life more impressive than his. But still he considered Kagome's words.

"It's Inuyasha, isn't it?"

"Wha-what about that jerk?" Kagome demanded, but her cheeks went slightly crimson.

Sota grinned maliciously. "I'd say he's forced you into this, hasn't he? That and you're in love with him!"

Kagome blushed furiously. "Stop it, Sota!" she yelled tersely.

"Kagome and Inu sitting in a tree: K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Sota sang. "First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes-"

"SOTA, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Sota decided he had better run then, because Kagome was the type of person who kept her promises.