"Mother, what is this?" Yakeru asks, pointing to the sparkling blue jewel nestled between gold trinkets and various other gems in his mother's chest box. Something about the blue jewel calls to him. Beckons him.
That's weird. He doesn't like how it tugs on him so. Something about it feels wrong. Twisted even. Like it wants to corrupt his mind.
Why would Mother have something like that?
"The Shikon Jewel," she replies, combing her long auburn hair with her claws. "Did you know our family was tasked with watching over it?"
He shakes his head and sits down at her feet, staring up at his mother. She smiles and ruffles his hair. "Is it a family heirloom?"
"Not exactly. The Shikon is something that must never be used unless the Shikon priestess herself commands it."
A priestess?
He frowns, crossing his arms. "It calls to me," he admits. His tail twitches behind him, snapping back and forth.
"Ah, because that is its nature. But only the Shikon priestess can control it."
"There are plenty of priestesses and monks around. Why doesn't one of their descendants watch over the jewel then?" They are a family of kitsune, not humans and certainly not priestesses. Why are they tasked with watching over such a thing? Surely something so dark and twisted as this jewel should be with someone pure?
His mother sighs and tilts her head towards the door. "Come in Yumi, I know you want to hear it too."
Yakeru glances back at Yumi. He didn't even hear her footsteps. She's getting better at masking her presence. He pouts and huffs. One day, he'll master that too. Can't have her besting him in everything, even if Mother says it's only natural that Yumi picks things up faster. Something along the lines of her being a female and being more mature mentally.
It's all hogwash, truly.
"Why are we taking care of something that should be a human's responsibility?" Yumi sits down with a flourish, smoothing out her kimono. "Humans are nothing but pains in the butt." She stretches out her legs that are far too lanky.
Yakeru bites his tongue, resisting the urge to tease his sister about how her so-called growth spurt is more like a growth squeak.
"Yumi!" Mother's eyes turn to slits. "Where did you get that from?"
Yumi clucks her tongue. "I'm capable of forming my own opinion. I've seen how the humans chase us away because we're demons. Why are we watching over them and taking care of them? They don't appreciate it and they just turn on us."
Mother shakes her head. "Humans fear things they cannot understand. Their lifespans are nothing but a blink of an eye compared to ours."
"But..." Yakeru starts. "Why do we look after them?" Not that he minds the humans. The village kids play with him, and they give him gifts.
"Negative emotions and fear breed curses." Mother looks off into the distance. "It was that fear that led to humans taking the jewel for themselves and making a wish."
The Shikon calls to him, but Yakeru grits his teeth and focuses on his mother's words.
"The Shikon grants wishes, but it twists them and only the true priestess can wield its power without repercussion." Mother stands and takes a seat in front of them on the fur of their ancestors. His father's fur rests on the bed, next to Mother's pillow. "Our family fell into watching over the jewel by accident. As foxes, we naturally only seek to cause mischief here and there, but never to truly harm anyone."
Yumi scoffs.
Yakeru elbows her in the side.
"Because of that, our family was selected to watch over the jewel, as we did not feel the pull as strongly as the others. Once we deny the Jewel, it leaves us alone."
"This before or after some human made a wish?" Yumi questions, picking at her claws.
Why come in here if she's going to be such a piss sport about it?
"After," Mother replies, softly. "Because the human was convinced that he could handle it. He feared us demons for our strength. And so, he made a wish that he did not anticipate."
"Did the wish kill him?" Yakeru leans forward.
"In a roundabout way, yes. He made a wish to compete with us demons. To rid the world of us and so the Shikon granted his desire to have power. For some of his fellow man to have the power to fight back. Not every demon wishes to coexist peacefully after all."
"So, what's the problem? We're still here," Yumi says with a sigh, as though the story is nothing but a bore.
"Negative emotions and fear breed curses," Mother repeats. "That human feared us demons and made a wish out of that fear. The jewel is mischievous, like us foxes. It granted the wish, but created checks and balances."
Yumi sighs and throws her hands up. "Mother, why are you talking in riddles? Was the wish granted or not?"
"Curses," Yakeru whispers. "Did the wish create curses?" His tail fluffs up. His arms shake. He feels it in his chest.
"Yes. Or rather, it modeled our demonic energy and gave humans something similar to work with. The wish was not from a...it came from a fearful space and the Shikon latched on to that negative emotion. It granted him cursed energy, and it granted others the same. Some didn't receive anything, and those that couldn't control it created something that they couldn't control."
"Again, why are we protecting humans and why do we have to watch over this stupid jewel? Sounds like it's nothing but trouble."
Yakeru frowns. The pull shimmers down until it snaps. That's why. The jewel beckons people to make a wish on it. How strong is the pull for other demons?
"We are tasked with protecting the jewel until the Shikon priestess appears. When she does, a new world will come to fruition. Only she can keep the Jewel pure and wield its power like her own. Until that day comes, this jewel is to stay protected and must never leave our hands."
"I'm not doing that," Yumi says.
"I'll do it," Yakeru says. Does Yumi not feel the sense of urgency? If one wish created such monstrous things such as curses, what other travesties might befall them? With how quickly these humans breed, it's only a matter of time before the world is overtaken by curses.
"Remember this, if you don't take anything else from this story. Negative emotions and fear breed curses. That is why we help the humans we watch over. The happier their lives are, the fewer curses there are in the world. Cursed energy may be a cheap copy of demonic energy, but enough of it can take down the strongest demons."
Yumi stands, her hands clenched into tight fists. "Sorcerers are the reason Father is not here! I refuse to look after some corrupt jewel to protect humans!" She turns and rushes out of the room.
Yakeru goes to run after her, but Mother grabs his arm. "Mother?"
"Watch over your sister. There's so much anger inside of her. Promise me, Yakeru."
He nods. "I promise." Yakeru pokes a fang out. "Mother?"
"Yes?"
"How did the jewel come to be?"
She smiles, but it's one tinged with sadness. "At the cost of many lives."
He frowns and then nods his head. The Great War then.
"Watch over your sister," Mother repeats. "I fear that anger will distort her mind and I won't always be here."
He chuckles. "Mother, what could possibly take you away?"
She doesn't answer, at least not verbally. Her watery smile is the last thing he remembers.
Yakeru glances over at the Shikon, placed in plain sight in the case. He prays that one day, the Shikon priestess will show.
A/N: Happy Monday! Gonna be writing all day today, and tomorrow, and the day after that, and so forth because what else am I supposed to do during a staycation?
We will get another shikigami meeting. I'm sure the bunnies have a lot to say lol. And real quick, I gave Rosario Pires permission to translate the fics into Spanish on Wattpad. Just a little FYI. I appreciate you guys for looking out for me!
Have a wonderful Monday. Wishing you a productive day. Drink your water. And I will see you later this week (or later today).
