Author: babyg @ babygxpress

Chapter 21: The Evil Inside

*Slurrrp* "Aah... I feel so happy!" Natsumi said, looking around at the little party around the table. She sweat dropped when she saw their faces.

Konzen was sitting with arms crossed, his mouth twisted into a frown. Gojou was staring curiously at Kougaiji, as if trying to make out something. Hakkai meanwhile, busied himself with feeding Hakuryu. Kougaiji was sipping from a cup, staring daggers at Konzen who did the same.

"Nee... are you guys on bad terms or something?" The tension between Konzen and Kougaiji was broke off as Natsumi's worried voice came into hearing.

Kougaiji laughed, albeit nervously. "Nothing to worry about! Natsumi... what is this yucky drink??" I'll vomit if I take anymore of this poisonous stuff!

"Its tea. Oolong tea. Nobody should be drinking beer at night." Natsumi stated.

Gojou picked up his cup, smirking. Luckily I was smart enough to order earlier before she came up with this nonsense. He took a huge gulp.

"I filled everyone else's cups with tea too."

"*Puuiiii*! NATSUMI! What did you do to my precious beer!!!" Gojou spat, trying to clean his tongue of the foul taste of tea. Hakkai handed him a glass. Gojou, without thinking, took a huge gulp too, and spat it out a moment later.

"Hakkai! What's with the WATER! I thought you gave me beer!"

"Aa-ah, if I don't do as Natsumi-san says, I'll be in trouble. Ja minna-san, I'm going to retire for bed now. Oyasumi nasai." Hakkai headed for the stairs.

"Oyasumi, Hakkai!" Natsumi said cheerfully turning her head towards the stairs.

With Natsumi not facing them, Kougaiji and Gojou immediately poured their cups of tea into a nearby potted plant and breathed a sigh of relief. (The poor plant withered in seconds, what's with the tea! ^^ ) When Natsumi turned back to face them, they both smiled innocently.

"*Phang* I'm going to bed." Konzen set his cup hard on the table and went upstairs.

Kougaiji and Gojou stared at the cup, eyes popping out.

"He actually finished everything!!" Okay, he's as stupid a monk as he was last time.

"How did he manage to swallow the poisonous stuff?" I didn't know Konzen had resistance to poison. Must check that out.

"See? Its not as bad as you think," Natsumi said, getting up too. "I think I'll go to bed too. I'm tired after running out in the forest for so long." Kougaiji hurriedly got up and followed her.

"I'll come with you. After all we're sharing a room too." Kougaiji shot a smirk at Gojou as he went out of the room.

What is he up to now? Gojou thought as he stared at the now empty table.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Konzen. Do you think we should let Akuma loose like that? And apparently he's sharing a room with Natsumi too. Didn't Miramei say we shouldn't let her go near him?" Hakkai's worried voice reached the opposite side of the room where Konzen was.

"I know but what can we do? That spoiled brat definitely won't listen to us if we tell her that the youkai is not himself but is Akuma. All we can do now is put our trust in her."

The room was silent again.

"Do you think he has a big plan up his sleeve?"

"Shiranai."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Natsumi." Kougaiji caught her hand just as she was about to slip into bed.

"What is it Kougaiji?" She asked sleepily, looking longingly at the bed.

He twisted her so that she faced him.

"I love you." He stared deep into her eyes. Natsumi was mesmerized by it. Or maybe...hypnotized?

"I... love you too, Kougaiji." She answered dazedly, wrapping her arms around his waist and setting her head against his chest.

Kougaiji smiled. His hand moved upwards to his mouth where he set small tablet on his tongue. He pulled Natsumi's face upwards and kissed her. The tablet slid down her throat though she didn't even feel it as she was too caught up.

He pushed her aside a little roughly and sat by the edge of the bed, crossing his arms. She looked a little hurt but walked towards him. Just as she reached him, the tablet took effect and she fell into his arms, unconscious.

Kougaiji gave a low, deep throated laugh.

"Saa... I will enter your memories now, dear Natsumi. To find my Miramei." He touched the tip of his fingers to her forehead. A black light enveloped him and he disappeared.

He reappeared in what seemed darkness at first, but he slowly made out a patch of light at the far end. He reached it and found himself in a sort of hallway, with many doors.

"So.. this is how her memory looks like..." He thought as he walked towards the first door. He caught sight of himself in the mirror.

"Hah! I'm in my original form now. Kougaiji, you're just a talking nuisance in my head." Akuma told his reflection gleefully.

Shut up! I'll get you for this, Akuma!

"Enough of rubbish talk. Let me see...." He pushed open the first door cautiously. A twinkle of laughter reached his ears and in the far blurred distance, he saw two girls running in a green field full of yellow buttercups.

"This is her memory of when she is young... adorable isn't she Kougaiji?" Akuma smirked as he closed the door and reach for the next.

SHUT UP!

Akuma worked his way through the long hallway of doors. There were many memories. Some of when Natsumi was happy, when she was sad, when she was sulky, everything was recorded inside. Akuma was starting to feel tired and grumpy.

"If this door is not it, I'll blast everything!" He thundered angrily.

I'll kill you if you do that. This is Natsumi's property, not some damn devil.

"You're lucky you're in my head now. I'll blast you when we get out of here." He pushed open the door. There seemed to be a ruckus going on.

"You can't play with us. We don't like you ; acting all haughty taughty just because you're Kami-sama's favorite daughter." Akuma heard the taunts just as he turned the corner.

He saw a very young brown haired girl crying softly as several boys and girls crowded among her, whipping out nasty remarks.

For a moment there, Akuma's childhood flashed.

*************************************FLASHBACK************************************

"Nii-chan, what are we going to do today?" young Akuen (Akuma) said cheerfully to a much taller but slightly older boy than he. The boy had his back towards Akuen; suddenly he whipped around and grabbed Akuen by the collar.

"Akuen, I've told you not to come near me. I'm fed up with you. " Ashi said fiercely, tossing him aside. Akuen got up, a hurt look in his eyes.

"But nii-chan...."

"You are a failure to Hell. Speak no more to me."

Akuen stared at his brother's retreating back, clenching his fists.

*************************************FLASHBACK************************************

"Soo... I was looked down upon too.... just like this girl. But I am different I fought against them, " Akuma said aloud.

You were considered a disgrace in Hell?

"Everyone thought of me as the sickly last child of Enma, the 'best' ruler of Hell at that time. They said I was weak, that Ashi, my older brother was the true desirable heir to Enma's throne. And Ashi knew that, so he always taunted me. With all this, its amazing one could still survive. Yes, those were the good old days, " he hissed softly.

So, you were actually driven to desperation to prove yourself? That one day, you finally lost control huh?

"Desperation? You might say so; except that I knew I was the Great One. Ashi had power yes, but my power of evil surpasses his by leaps and bounds. I just didn't know yet. And then, SHE came. On her journey, apparently. She was the most beautiful woman I ever met; the first to draw me out of my shell. Yes, she was the one who helped me achieve what I have today." Akuma licked his lips in delight at the memory.

She?

"Miramei. Her power brought out Mine. Though our paths never could cross, my father told me. She was Destiny born in Heaven, I am destiny from Hell."

Then why do you want to seek revenge from Heaven now?

Akuma scowled. "She did something that was unforgivable to me. She, and Enma, and Ashi... yes even the old fart Kami. I have to make them pay back double. Remember, debts aren't good for health." He cackled at his lame joke.

He walked along as he talked, pushing open Natsumi's memory doors one by one. Finally, he reached the end of the hallway. "Her memory of Miramei is bound to be in these last few doors."

He pushed open a door. Nope, wrong one. Two more left. He pushed it open. The memory of Natsumi and Kougaiji hugging together in the glade was very clear; the Kanji for "I love you" hung in the air.

"See that? She must really love you." Akuma laughed loudly.

Natsumi........

"Then, this must be it." He pushed open the last door.

A bright light shone at them as the door opened. Akuma shielded himself from the glare. He lifted his eyes to the source of the light. There he saw, in the middle of a four-wall room, atop a circle, sat Destiny, cross-legged.

He smiled in obvious delight and pleasure.

"So, you're in the Sacred Room of Heaven. I've found you, Miramei."

Name reference:
Akuen - evil destiny or connection || unfortunate love
Ashi - evil
Enma - devil || ruler of Hades

babyg: I am so grateful to all the reviews I've gotten so far; this is really encouraging ^_^ Thank you everyone!!!!!!