AN: I never really state who narrates this, but it's not hard to figure out. This is a TEASER from Chapter 1 of "Ariels," the sequel to "Disease." Yeah, the System of a Down song. I almost called it "Walk Like an Egyptian" . . . just kidding. Yes, this is just a snippet. It will be awhile before I get into the whole story, as a) I've just been presented with two fic challenges that I'm dying to do, and b) I just got accepted to LSU and I'm taking a lot of time to get that sorted out. So I hope you guys like this part . . . for those of you who were disappointed with how I ended "Disease," what was I supposed to do, forget all that had happened between them and make her say "I love you, I forgive you, kiss me I'm yours"? Yeah, not happening. Lol, give me feedback! Review me! This is your time to tell me if this piece makes you want a sequel!

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Modern Times

How long can one sit and plot their own destruction? How many lifetimes does it take to realize that you are destined to die a horrible death each time? I do not think I realized that in time to save myself before. Had I known what would happen to me so long ago, who would end up killing me, I am certain I would have done things differently.

For starters, I would have killed Inuyasha before the bastard could think twice.

Ironic, how it is he who has killed me each time. What is he to me--an enemy? An ally? He was a friend once, I think. But to balance out our friendship, he has more often than not been my sworn enemy. I have usually striven to stay alive towards the end of all our conflicts. A friend, yes. In one life I believe we were lovers, although I would rather not dwell on that. I do have a sensitive gag reflex. Friend, ally, enemy . . . to disturbingly offset one of our lives, we were brothers once. Twins, to be specific--not identical, of course, but twins. He had the looks of our father--proud, with his silver hair and gold eyes. He was given the Tetsusaiga, our uncle's sword, though rather grudgingly. I suspect our father found it difficult to part with.

And the girl, Kikyo. No . . . Kagome. Kikyo had proven to be nothing more than a shell filled with hatred. The purity that had drawn me to her originally died with her real body. All those things Kikyo represented did not die, however. They died for her . . . but they were given to one more deserving. Kagome resurrected that which Kikyo let die, and she turned it into something that saved the world.

From me, in case we lack a dose of irony thus far.

I slide my hands into my pockets and wait for the 'walk' signal to come on. I've been ticketed for jaywalking three times this year, I don't need a fourth ticket to pay off. My mind wanders more often than not lately, but I do not complain. The memories are not all unpleasant.

I smile dryly. It was truly a miracle that Inuyasha was able to actually kill me in our past life--really rather dramatic, ripping the Shikkon Jewel from my neck and leaving me to die. I wonder briefly what has become of the Jewel--perhaps Kagome still carries it. I cannot imagine why she wouldn't. But on a deeper level, I don't really care. The Jewel only plagued me in one lifetime. I'm sure something new will arise to catch my eye and get me killed. It always happens. Inuyasha has been the one to kill me each time, and Kagome has always helped him. They are rather indestructible when they want to be.

My mind returns to her. Brave girl, really. I remember the pain I put her through before--physical, psychological, emotional, and yet it took force to make her crumble. A physical intrusion was all that made her yield to me, along with some added . . . persuasions . . . for my own benefit. The measures I took to retrieve the location of the jewel were admittedly cruel to the poor thing, and not necessary at all. So why be so evil? Why so cruel?

That, my friends, is simple. I am evil.

Or I was. I'm not quite sure what I am now. I balance on a knife's edge: on one side is the oblivion that any human is entitled to when it comes to the darker aspects of life, the cruelty and malice and, of course, the evil. On the other side is the madness that has consumed me before. I could care less which way I tumble; I will hit the ground hard either way.

I glance at the couple sitting on a bench as I cross the street finally, careful to keep my face angled away. I don't know why I came to Tokyo. Perhaps it is the hatred for my father in a life many centuries ago. Perhaps I will never truly rest until my soul is vanquished--really, if everyone would just kill me and do it right, I would be very grateful. Cut my head off, banish the demons from my body, push me off a cliff, shoot me with a flaming arrow, that won't do it. I have an old soul, like Kagome and Inuyasha. Even that monk . . . damn, what was his name? . . . and the demon exterminator had old souls. Sesshoumaru, though he is a fool and does not know it, has a soul as old as mine. Fewer lives, yes, but he has been a full demon each time, so he has lived longer. I am still cursed to be a half-demon, though--and it's not as though I would live very long as a true demon anyways. Fate does seem to conspire against me, after all.

Why do they plague me so? Inuyasha is obvious. Our rivalry dates back to the beginning of time. I do not understand this bond to Sesshoumaru--aside from the fact that in his current life, he has outlived both his sons. The fact that he aided Inuyasha in killing me--his own child.

Maybe that has something to do with it.

I pause for a moment, watching the couple on the bench, careful that they don't see me. So calm, so serene. He seems very comfortable with her--or as comfortable as he is capable of being without a sword. Five hundred years only change one so much. There is certainly attraction between them, even I cannot deny that. Her lovely face has a tentative smile as they talk--I don't think they ever really talked privately in the Warring States, unless he was angry about something or there was extreme pressure on them.

How do I know this, you ask? I did invade her mind. The violation is a double-edged sword, and the connection has never truly faded, even after these five hundred years. I know many things about her, and though she doesn't know it, she knows many things about me as well.

She pushes a wayward strand of ebony hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear a little nervously. Their conversation is bordering on very serious, and she does not do well in severe situations. If you were to stick an arrow in her face with every intention of killing her, she wouldn't blink, but interactions like these scare her to death. Somewhere under the schoolgirl clothes and makeup, she is a warrior. But I do not think she will discover that part of herself in this life.

I am distracted, and so I do not see the person headed towards me. We collide rather violently, and his books hit the ground. I mutter an apology as her eyes flicker over to me once, and I turn away quickly, lest she get a good enough look to recognize me. I am pushing my luck lately, being so close to her. Our destiny in this life will not be the same as in our last life together--I do not think we will start off enemies. But in the end, she and Inuyasha will kill me. They always do.

I catch a glimpse of myself in the window of a barber shop--I have lost a little weight, but I was out of shape not long ago, so it's not a bad thing. I have been honing the skills that come with being a half-demon, and it is doing wonders for my metabolism. I am not helpless, and I never plan to be.

I think I have become wiser since I last lived a life with Kagome. I am not the greedy, ambitious fool that I was when I sought the Jewel, and I am not the spoiled child I was when I sought the key to immortality in the next life. But I was never stupid. Now I am the wiser for my mistakes, and I suspect that were I to have a goal in life, I would achieve it very quickly, be it a future as a businessman or ruling the world.

I turn the corner and leave Kagome to her afternoon with Sesshoumaru. Now is not the time to approach her . . . although if I did, what in the hell would I say? I can think of many things I shouldn't say, but nothing decent. It would be nice to get to her before Inuyasha and the others, as I know they're lurking in the city somewhere, waiting for Sesshoumaru to take her to them. I told you I was no fool.

I don't know about my sanity. I suspect that I never had it, in any of my past lives. But I am still very intelligent. I do know right from wrong, and I have a grasp of morals. I know when I should not cross the line.

I don't know if that makes me less dangerous, or more.