Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Shape Of My Heart: Shippo’s fate
*episode 2*

Naraku and his son sort through a tremendous assortment of demons, looking for just the right ones for their purpose. By and large, the contents of the initial body are irrelevant; seeing how it can always be changed later; but the two of them are positively enjoying meticulously choosing each one. Finally, when all is ready, Tattoimaru says, “That only leaves one.” Naraku says, “Are you sure about this? I can’t see how that fox cub can really be so important.” Tattoimaru says, “Father, you yourself told me not to pass up a chance to be cruel. Besides, I promised him that this would happen. I can’t just back out on that kind of threat.” With a resigned smile, the demon says, “Fine, go ahead. But leave your jewel shard with me. I know you got Da-ku to give you one of hers; and if you have it with you, Inuyasha’s wench will sense you coming.” After a split-second’s thought, the boy pulls out the shard and tosses it to his mentor. As he turns to go, Naraku calls after him, “And don’t get pulled into a fight. Let that wait until you have your new body.”
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Monday, October 10, 2005

Shape Of My Heart: Shippo’s fate
*episode 1*

In his dream, Shippo is frolicking in a meadow; all his friends are there with him. Inuyasha is at his friendliest; namely, he’s sleeping with his head on Kagome’s lap. Sango and Kohaku are laughing together, Kirara and Kyoubou are tussling playfully, Miroku and Kagura are deep in discussion of something which Shippo neither understands nor cares about, and somehow Rin has joined them and she is playing with him. Suddenly, the sky darkens and the happy sounds of his friends stop. As Shippo looks to Rin, he sees her fade away; as if she were made of mist. As a rumble like thunder shakes the ground, the foxling has a sickening feeling that he knows where this dream is going. Unfortunately, he is sadly mistaken. The grass and plants around him disappear; leaving nothing but scorched earth. Suddenly he gets a sickening feeling; the kind that people say happens when someone steps on your grave. He knows that, standing right behind him, is someone he desperately wants to never see again. Like a frightened animal, he freezes; instinctively hoping that if he doesn’t move he won’t be noticed. But it is to no avail. He hears that voice whisper in his ear, “Shippo, remember what I told you; you will be a part of me.” With that, he is being grabbed and pulled back. As he struggles, the hands holding him melt until they are mere gobs of flesh; just like Naraku’s tentacles. As the light slowly fades from his eyes, Shippo knows he is being absorbed into the newly spawned demon.

With a start, Shippo wakes up. Tattoimaru is nowhere to be seen; and he is safe in the company of his friends. Everyone else is asleep…except for Inuyasha who had snapped awake at Shippo’s shout. Without saying a word or moving, Inuyasha checks that Shippo is alright and displays his disapproval of being awakened for nothing. The half-demon goes back to sleep. For a moment, Shippo feels an overwhelming desire to rush to the safety of being by Inuyasha. However, realizing the reaction this will likely bring on, he does not. Instead, he turns back to Kagome and tries to go back to sleep.
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Sunday, October 9, 2005

Author’s Note
Ok, I had not seen tonight’s episode of FMA when I wrote this story…talk about coincidence
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Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 8*

Da-ku pulls herself into the sunlight; injured, disgraced, rejected, but alive. Being a demon, she can survive and recover from wounds which would kill a human. She can also tell things about her body just by feel. She knows she will live; but there will be scars on her abdomen for as long as she does. But her creator had known exactly where to strike. Not only was his child no longer an option; but she could never have another. Her dreams of manipulating a more powerful demon were at an end; now all that remains is vengeance.
*The End*
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Saturday, October 8, 2005

Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 6*

Naraku emerges from his chamber in an apparent state of dishevel. He looks from the boy to the woman and back. Addressing his son, he asks, “Tattoimaru, what betrayal is this? I warned you before of what would happen if you killed her. Yet you are here without even the guile to not attack her before my very eyes.” Tattoimaru says, “Father, the time has come for things to change. You have allowed yourself to grow weak with the love of this creature. You have forgotten your own lessons, and given your heart away. Deny it!” As he shouts, he yanks back on Da-ku’s hair; causing Naraku to make a startled motion towards her. Seeing the boy relax his grasp, the demon stops. With a disgusted look on his face, Tattoimaru says, “You are no longer fit to posses the sacred jewel: you are too weak to wield it well. Give it to me and I will spare your woman’s life.” Naraku hesitates, then he pulls the jewel from his robe. He holds it up, contemplating it. Da-ku knows that he is about to refuse; and then the boy will kill her. That is how Naraku has foreseen this entire occurrence. However, she has no intention of letting it happen like that. This foolish boy, if he had had the sense to gag her, she would be powerless; but now, with just three words, she will alter the situation entirely. “Naraku,” she says, “I‘m pregnant.”
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Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 7*

“Naraku, I‘m pregnant.”
With an inward smile, Da-ku thinks, Let’s see him cast me aside now. Men are so predictable. She says, “Your child Naraku; your real child. Not some worthless human!” All is as she planed, now the demon will turn his back on his protégé in a typical show of bravado. Naraku will easily be able to both slay this upstart and protect her; and of course her child. The boy stands there, unsure of what to do. Naraku looks startled, then he smiles. He reaches out a hand to touch her face; then he traces his hand down to her abdomen, as if he might feel something even now. Da-ku is looking into his eyes, so she doesn’t notice when his mutable fingers turn to sharp daggers. With a single thrust, Naraku sends 5 knives into her womb. Clenching his fist and pulling it back out, his smile turns to a sneer. Da-ku collapses; and both males ignore her. Tattoimaru takes a long moment in thought, before he says, “It was all an act…all of it.” His ruthless eyes soften with adoration: his voice is filled with shock, but also joy as he says, “You never loved her; it was a trap for me to fall into. I did…” allowing a hint of sadness to creep into his voice, “…and now I die.” Naraku says, “In a manner of speaking. Now you become a demon.” The boy looks up in shock. “Don’t be surprised; this was a test. I had to know when your heart became ready; and now it has.” The boy asks, “A test?” Naraku nods, “A test, but also a lesson. As a demon, your planning must always be three steps ahead of your opponents; even while they think that they themselves are pulling all the strings. If you fail at this, you die; just like this thing.” He gestures down at Da-ku, only to find her gone. The two had been so intent on their discussion, that she had escaped unseen. Tattoimaru says, “I can have the Saimyoushou find her.” Naraku says, “There is no need. There is only one place she can go. Let her plague someone else for a time. We have a body to build.” Putting his arm around the boy, Naraku leads him deep into the heart of the cave to the chamber he has prepared for the forging of his son’s new body.
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Friday, October 7, 2005

Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 5*

Da-ku is aware of the presence flooding the depths of Naraku’s domain. Insects of hell, in far greater numbers than she had thought to exist, are swarming in the caves. Alone, they pose no threat to her; but hundreds of them could present a problem if she was otherwise occupied. Finally, Tattoimaru appears before her; but he is too late. Hours ago, she became certain that her plan was ready. The boy could try what he would; he would fail. He emerges form a cloud of Saimyoushou, a display clearly meant to instill fear in his victim. He holds the Taiyou in his hand as he turns to face her. The glint in his eye, the stance of his feet, these are enough to confirm that he is ready to attack. Knowing that she is not strong enough to face him head on, Da-ku turns and runs. The boy follows, matching her pace. Suddenly, a corridor is blocked by a wall of insects. Da-ku turns and takes another route; but more and more passages are sealed off. Clearly, the boy is attempting to force her into a specific path which he has plotted.


She runs and runs, but all is as Tattoimaru has planed. He had, however, hoped she would at least try to fight him. No matter. At any point he could end this; but it would be meaningless to do so before she reached the end of his path. Caught up in the thrill of the hunt, Tattoimaru gives no thought to how easily she accepts her fate and runs the path he has set for her. At last, she comes to the critical point; right outside Naraku’s chamber. The Saimyoushou, which have been holding back, now swarm to her and enshroud her. So predictable, she raises a shield with her spiritual powers; which pushes back the black tide. Striking through his minions, Tattoimaru smashes his hammer against the shield; it collapses. By the time Naraku has come out of his chamber to investigate, Tattoimaru is standing over Da-ku; holding the Taiyou against her head.
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Thursday, October 6, 2005

Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 4*

Tattoimaru walks the corridors of Naraku’s cavern; tracing and retracing the route where it all will occur. Of course, there’s room for change; he knows that not all will go as planed. But, taking after his father, his planning makes room for the unpredictable. He is certainly not going to act without careful planning; but then, neither are the others. He knows that Da-ku has suspicions about him; he expects her to make her move soon. He will therefore have to move sooner. His father, however, remains blissfully unaware of what is to come. Naraku was great once; before love addled his will. In time, he might become great again; but not as long as that woman lives. In the mean time, Tattoimaru would take the opportunity to both free his father from his bondage; and also to come into his own at the same time. As his servants, the Saimyoushou, circle around him, he mouths the words, “…it is time.”
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Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 3*

Naraku sits contently in his own chamber. While the poisonous insects no longer serve him; he has ways of knowing everything which goes on in this place. He can tell that the conflict between his woman and his son is reaching the endgame stage. The one thing he can’t be entirely sure of is what Da-ku is planning. He knows that she won’t be caught without a plan; but he is unable to predict what scheme will emerge from her twisted mind. He’s certain that his son could survive any direct attack from her; and that she knows this as well. He half-suspects she’ll try to flee; but he can’t allow that. He is confident that, no matter what she pulls, nothing can stand in the way of what is to come…perhaps too confident.
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Monday, October 3, 2005

Something The Boy Said: Da-ku vs Tattoimaru
*episode 1*

In the time since Tattomaru’s return with his new weapon, Da-ku has caught him following her; and spying on her more than once. She has concluded that either one of two things has happened: 1, he has taken up a healthy interest in the opposite sex, or 2 he’s finally decided to kill her. She considers the later to be infinitely more likely. As she roams the corridors of Naraku’s domain, she reminds herself of what he has revealed of his plan. Naraku intends to convince Tattoimaru that he was truly in love with her; and therefore, vulnerable. When his soul was sufficiently tainted, the boy would seek to use this perceived weakness to gain an advantage over his benefactor; to hold Naraku’s love, her, as a hostage for some ransom. When this time came, Naraku would know that the boy would be ready to begin his metamorphosis into a demon; just as Onigumo had once done. Naraku, her beloved had made it clear that in this process, her life was expendable; and he would not lift a finger to save her. But no matter, he isn’t the only one capable of forming plans; and Naraku would soon find himself caught in one of her own.
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