Chapter Three
Songs, Cons, and Slow Spinning Redemption
"HOPE DANGLES ON A STRING!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH!" A few windows shattered as I bolted out of bed. "WHAT IN THE NAME OF SEVEN HELLS IS GOING ON?"
A jack-in-the-box's face leered in front of me, still chanting, "Like slow spinning redemption, winding in and winding out, the shine of which has caught my eye."
"MYOGA!" I roared, pounding my fists on my bed, then wincing as they hit my knees.
No reply. But I thought I heard some giggling from the room next to mine.
I point at the jack-in-the-box. "Early birthday present?"
I glare at the jack-in-the-box. "Are you trying to imply something?"
"And roped me in, so mesmerizing, so hypnotizing, I am captivated." The jack-in-the-box yodeled, bouncing vigorously to the out of key version of "Vindicated."
I clutched my head and shook it sadly. "Get out."
Another jack-in-the-box springs open from the top of my canopy bed and chants, "Right now, it's the end of you and me."
"MYOGA!!!!!!!!" I shriek again.
I start twitching, and storm out of my room. Somehow, the jack-in-the-box follows me, crooning, "I am vindicated, I am selfish, I am wrong, I am right, I swear I'm right, I swear I knew it all along."
I plug my ears and start shouting, "I KNOW A SONG THAT GETS ON EVERYBODY'S NERVES, EVERYBODY'S NERVES, EVERYBODY'S NERVES. I KNOW A SONG THAT GETS ON EVERYBODY'S NERVES AND THIS IS HOW IT GOES!"
I stomp down the stairs, scaring off a few maids in the process, shoved open my door, and bark (no pun intended) at my limo driver, "Get me to my office right now!"
"But sir—!"
"Don't but me!"
The driver shrugs and guns the motor.
Five minutes and many broken laws later, we grind to a halt in front of Quan Ye Cha's headquarters. I opened the door, muttering something about idiots who drive to slow, and froze amidst the chuckles that slowly turned to downright hysterics.
I look down. I'm wearing a teddy bear patterned shirt that reaches to about my knees, and a cute, blue nightcap on my head. I look heavenward and swear that someone is going to be sorry.
To make matters worse, I am wearing FUZZY BUNNY SLIPPERS. There is nothing wrong with fuzzy bunny slippers as long as they are NOT ON MY FEET IN PUBLIC.
"And I am flawed. But I am cleaning up so well!" I muttered, then smacked myself on the head.
Shaking my head to clear it of its nonsense, I strode purposefully into my office building. The woman at the counter had worked there long enough to be tactful and not mention anything about my current predicament.
"Good morning, InuYasha, sir. Go right on upstairs; I'll have someone deliver your cappuccino in a few moments."
I nodded curtly and typed in the password to my personal elevator. It opened, letting me in. I tapped my slipper-clad feet on the ground, checking my Mickey Mouse watch every few seconds. The elevator chimes and stops. Finally arriving at the haven of my private office, the retina scanner allowed me to turn off the security, rush in, and collapse on my leather sofa. I can't wait for the day to be over, and it's only six fifteen. Fuming about counselors who don't know their place, I slouched down and began plotting my revenge. I was just deciding whether to go with thumbscrews or a rack when out of nowhere, a noise blares up. "I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself, so clear."
I jumped so high that I almost hit the ceiling. I am not even going to ask how the jack-in-the-box got into my office. Apparently, no one is going to tell me, either. Certainly not Myoga, who probably is still giggling madly inside my room.
"Like the diamond in your ring, cut to mirror your intentions, oversized and overwhelmed, the shine of which has caught my eye."
Suddenly, I froze. I felt paralyzed, unable to move.
"Kikyo! Where are you going?" I cried, running after her, completely disregarding the steady patter of rain. Completely disregarding the fact that she died. Beads of sweat trickled down the back of my neck, but these too I ignored. Kikyo was running. Something was wrong. She was in pain. I had to find out what the problem was. I wanted to help her. Skidding to a stop right before the corner, I paused to take a brief respite. The taxi sped by, the driver cussing at me loudly. I inhaled sharply and sprinted after her.
"InuYasha?" Somebody was shaking me. But I could not feel it. I could not see who it was.
The sun was setting, and soon light would no longer be seen. A voice drifted through my head, telling me that it was the first day of a new moon. With a jolt, I realized that at the pace I was running, it was only my demon blood that kept me going and once I turned fully human, I would collapse and lay prostrate. I could feel the change already. The weakness slowly leaks through. My hair, plastered to my face from the rain, turns black. Pain racks at my sides as the inevitable cramp came through. I doubled over in pain, clutching my stomach in agony. How did Kikyo disappear so quickly? A flash of light from the corner of my eye alerted my senses for a moment, but soon a soft voice breathed in my ear. "Sleep."
"I'm not getting any reply from him!" the voice shouted again, this time more urgently.
"And rendered me so isolated, so motivated, I am certain now that I am vindicated, I am selfish, I am wrong, I am right, I swear I'm right, I swear I knew it all along…" I lay on top of a futon, blinking as the light streamed through the blinds.
"Kikyo?" I whispered.
"Hush, InuYasha."
I struggled up, propping my self against the back using my hands. "What happened?"
"You are innocent, InuYasha. Now I know you are. But do the others?"
"Kikyo! Wait!"
Suddenly, my eyes spring open and I would have jumped out of the sofa if it weren't for Miroku, Kagome, Sango and Shippo holding me down.
"And I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well, I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself." I murmured, knowing what I had to do.
I saw my four comrades looking at each other and simultaneously mouthing the words, "Insane."
Somehow, unwittingly, that flea-sized, flea-personality, flea-brained counselor of mine helped me realize the truth. It would be up to me to prove it, though. Shaking my head to clear my mind, I slowly processed what had happened. I don't believe in any of those dream oracles and reincarnation crap, but I do know that that hallucination wasn't just a typical guy-going-insane vision. Now that I know how to do it, I will do everything in my power to clear my name.
Time for my daily round at the psychiatrist's. He changed the schedule. He wants it at 7:15 A.M. and 43.2 seconds. Don't even ask. However, on the bright side, I will be sure to inform you about the rest of our day after the appointment.
Damn psychiatrist. I arrive there at EXACTLY 7:15 A.M. and 43.2 seconds and he TELLS ME I'M LATE. He pointed at his clock, which glowed in those stupid luminescent green numbers 7:15 A.M. and 43.20000001 seconds.
"Shame, InuYasha-san. For being late yet again." The psychiatrist shook his head disapprovingly.
"Excuse me?" I yelped. "If I do recall correctly, you were the one who was late to our last meeting."
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Was too!"
"As long as we both agree." I settled onto my chair, satisfied.
Dr. Smith rolled his eyes. "That trick always worked in comedies and sitcoms."
I snorted. "What shows did you watch?"
He cleared his throat. "Write."
Hmm…did I touch upon a touchy subject? Could there possibly be a devious plot involving taking over the TV studio and forcing every channel to broadcast Family Guy every hour of the day? Or perhaps it was something even more serious and preaching. Such as programming each one to show Spongebob Square Pants. OR worst of all—he could have made everyone in the universe MESMERIZED ON CARTOON NETWORK! Dr. Smith just walked over and told me to stop writing nonsense. Who's writing nonsense here? This is very deep stuff. So deep that it's…shallow. I'm serious. Have you ever stepped into a shower with the knob turned all the way around so the water has been as scalding as it possibly gets? And that it's suddenly so hot that it's cold. Well, this is the same. My thoughts are so deep that they're shallow.
You don't seem to be following my logic here…ARRRGH! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT PSYCHIATRIST? WHY IS HE SITTING THERE GRINNING LIKE AN IDIOT?
"So turn, up the corners of your lips," he ululated, placing right his hand against his chest and throwing his head back.
I edge my chair away from him, hearing it scrape against the linoleum of the floor. I hear a voice that whispered, "Part them and feel my finger tips."
Trace the moment, fall forever
Defense is paper thin
Just one touch and I'd be in
Too deep now to ever swim against the current
Looking back, I'm not sure what happened.
So let me slip away
It's not my fault.
So let me slip away
I didn't know.
So let me slip away
Will you forgive me?
So let me slip against the current
You'll help me, right?
So let me slip away
Slowly.
So let me slip away
Gradually.
So let me slip away
Quickly.
So let me slip away
"Write six phrases that you would use to describe what you're feeling right now." Out of nowhere, I hear the voice of Dr. Smith. As I looked up, I saw him smiling at me, his eyes twinkling. If he were fifty years older, he'd make a nice Santa Claus. I bend over to quickly oblige.
I am vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
I swear I knew it all along.
Dr. Smith walks over. He glances quickly at what I wrote, and nods. "I think we're done for today. Go back to your office. Your friends are probably waiting for you."
I nod, push open the office door, wave a farewell to the receptionist who looks surprised at my less than hostile manner, and manages a frantic wave as the main door closes.
Wow, I'm tired. That was some serious stuff. I'm not acting like my old self. Time to PARTY! Insert scene of InuYasha attempting to disco and tripping over the refreshment table Who's the idiot who keeps taping these scenes!!!!!!!! I WILL WRING HIS SORRY NECK!! Unless he doesn't have a neck. Then I'll have a bit of a dilemma.
And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself
My hope
Dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption...
Hey people, I just thought of something. I add so much random crap in InuYasha's diary i.e. Smileys, random swears, that does it even count as a story? I mean, I don't know if I should keep that up. Wouldn't that annoy some people? Dashboard Confessional's "Vindicated" is such a great song. That is, until my friend catherINE started singing it. Shudders never again. I think it fit rather well. I put it in cuz I was chatting with a friend on the phone and suddenly she plays "Vindicated" for me, and I just realized it'd be perfect. Though if you think about it, in the year this story takes place, the song "Vindicated" wouldn't exist. Since I got mixed opinions on which section to emphasize more on, I decided to compromise and do more of both! Listens for applause…Sorry. I'm rather egotistical. One of my many lovely qualities sarcasm Yeah. That's one too. I'm a caustic, foul-tempered, pessimistically optimistic, ubiquitous, arrogant fool. Okay, I was just kidding. I'm a tad caustic, foul-tempered only when aggravated, pessimistically optimistic, ubiquitous, and only arrogant when others are. Maybe I'm not ubiquitous. However, number one, I love that word. And number two, people are constantly telling that I turn up when everywhere, especially when I'm not wanted. Aren't you so proud of me for updating so soon? Sorry. I'm rambling again. I'm sorry to say that a plot will be coming soon. InuYasha is going to go to court. But I'm skipping the formalities. I know that nobody wants to hear an opening statement, direct, cross-examination, etc. But something drastic will happen… Will probably be updated Monday. Latest Wednesday. But we have Comcast starting tomorrow! Ehehehehe…Sorry, that chapter was pretty serious. I'll lighten up quickly.