mrs_tanaka | The Sacred Wishing Jewel ch. 2

KoKame the_secret_wishing_jewel_by_de_sh-d5k342z

Title: The Sacred Wishing Jewel
Author: Mrs_Koki ( me)
Pairing: KoKi Tanaka/ Inu-Kame
Disclaimer: Owning people is illegal...common though, historically
Genre: AU, fantasy, demons, fantasy violence, human and half demon sex
Rating: PG ( NC-17 for later chapters as Koki and Inu-Kame get closer)
Length: Multi-chapter.
Summary: Koki is a 22 year old human guy, living a normal but unsatisfied and restless life, gets pulled into Japan's feudal past by an otherworldly creature, where he crosses paths with a dog like half-demon named Inu-Kame. There he discovers his past and future and that not all legends are the work of the imagination. Can ancient history give Koki the answers he's looking for and settle his restless heart? Will price be too high to pay for such answers and will he be able to bare the cost?
A/N: Later chapters Koki and only Koki, will start calling "Inu-Kame" just Kame, everyone else will still refer to him as 'Inu-Kame'.

They make it back to the Master Takahashi’s place by mid afternoon and recount what happened.

“ So this is what’s left of the Jewel huh?” he asks.

“ I thought this thing was unbreakable?” Inu-Kame asks.

“ Apparently, when Koki’s enchanted arrow hit the crow demon, it caused the jewel to shatter upon impact. You did say that you tied the bird’s foot to the arrow before you shot it, right?”

“ Yeah.”

“ Well, there you go."

“ So since this idiot destroyed it, now what do I do?” Inu-Kame asks glaring at Koki.

“ Those shards could be in ten pieces or a hundred, and should a demon get a hold of even one shard, then the outcome would be worse than if a demon had the whole Jewel. Inu-Kame, Koki there’s no other options here, you two have to find the remaining shards and together unite them to reform the Wishing Jewel.”

“ Is that really a good idea, old man, I’m one of those evil spirits that’s after the jewel remember?”

“ Like I said, what other choice do I have. My options are limited, Koki is the reincarnation of Ren, his powers and resemblance is uncanny, by rights he was born to guard to jewel. You, Inu-Kame, well he can’t do this alone and think of it as a chance to redeem yourself.”

“ WHAT?! Why you....that lying, bastard killed me remember?” Inu-Kame shouts.

“ You’re the one that caused him to get injured to the point we couldn’t save him!” Master Takahashi retorts.

Annoyed Inu-Kame leaves, muttering something about humans and how none of them are trustworthy and deny everything.

“Inu-Kame!” Koki calls.

“ Let him go, Koki. He’s a stubborn one and what my brother saw in him, I’ll never know.”

“ You mean....they were..?”

“ At one time yes. It was right before our father died, my brother Ren and Inu-Kame started falling for each other and Ren promised that they would spend the night together and well...he made many promises to Inu-Kame, one was that he would use the Sacred Wishing Jewel to make him fully human. But one day, things changed my brother took over our father’s role as High Priest, and so he couldn’t fulfill some of those promises and he had to deny their relationship and his feelings openly and so when Inu-Kame tried to take the jewel from Ren; they battled for it. Ren was heart broken that Inu-Kame turned on him and tried to kill him, but he couldn’t still turn his feelings of love into hate. So on the day of my brother’s death he bound Inu-Kame to the God’s Tree in what’s known as Inu-Kame’s Forest and told me that I shouldn’t hate Inu-Kame for what he did and to burn the Jewel with his body.” the old man’s story came to a close.

“ Man, that must’ve hurt them both,” the old man just nods “ I know how Inu-Kame feels. I know what’s like to love someone and then have them deny, not only their feelings for you, but your very existence as well.” Koki says, remembering his own painful past.

Koki gets up and goes for a walk around the village, trying to clear his head. After helping an elderly woman with her gardening, she gives him some of the vegetables and some bread as a small reward for helping her out. During his walk he gets even more food from the villagers as a thank you gift for saving their homes and families. He’s walking along and sees Inu-Kame sulking in a nearby tree, he pulls out a loaf of bread and throws half up in the tree, where Inu-Kame catches it.

“ What’s this?” he asks sniffing it, before taking a bite and hopping down from the tree.

“ Its your share, they’re offerings from the villagers. Do you really hate me that much? If we’re going to work together, shouldn’t we at least try to get along.”

“ Of course I do, you remind me of the ass hole that betrayed me. I’ll find the shards on my own.”

“ Well, find then. Its been nice knowing you, animal. I’m going home then.” Koki gets up and walks away.

“ You! Leave the shard.”

“ You mean this thing?” Koki says pulling a small bundle from his jeans pocket. “ Yeah...right.” he says and makes his way to the old well.

Sometime later Koki comes across the old well and jumps in, and climbs back out..cautiously sticking his head out. Making sure the coast is clear, he climbs out and heads back home to call his boss and tell his boss that he’s sick. He unlocks his door, strips off his dirty clothes and goes to take a nice warm shower. He gets out ten minutes later, changes into a pair of shorts and goes to sit and watch tv. He’s watching tv when he hears a knock on his door.

“ I wonder who that is.” he mutters out loud.

“ Hey Koki.” it was his best friend Reiko. “ Where’ve you been man, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for two days now.” Reiko asks, concerned for his friend’s well being.

“ You wouldn’t believe me, if I told you.” Koki says, even though Reiko is a great believer in legends and old tales.

“ Really? Why don’t you try me?” he counters sitting down on the couch.

“ Two days ago, I was taking a late night walk in the park near the train station. I was standing by this really old well, it was surrounded by thick bushes so you really can’t see it much. As I was standing there...this snake-like thing grabbed the back of my jacket and yanked me down the well, I guess I blacked out or something...anyway, I found myself back in the feudal era of Japan. I was being chased by this creature that I had the unfortunate luck to meet and a half human, half dog-like demon by the name of Inu-Kame and an old Priest who said I was his reincarnated brother Ren.” Koki explains.

“ Not meaning to interrupt you, but what happened to the black stone that your brother gave you?”

“ I still have it...well...a piece of it anyway.” Koki says and continues his story.

“ Wow...man! That sounds cool....Can I meet this Inu-Kame? Well, that does explain why people kept trying to take that necklace from you and why your family disowned you.”

“ Wait....you actually believe me?!” Koki was surprised, but feeling grateful since Reiko is the boss’s son, and they have been best friends since childhood.

“ Of course I do, Koki. Oh guess who’s taking over my father’s company in three months?”

“ You?” Koki asks, knowing full well that Reiko had always wanted to have his own gaming company.

“ Yep. I had to prove to my dad that I could do it, that’s why I took all those extra business classes and stuff. So can I meet him?” Reiko asks all excited over what Koki wishes never happened.

“ I hope I never meet him again!” Koki says annoyed. “ He’s a prick and pretty much hates anyone that is human, especially me.”

“ Why would he hate you?” Reiko asks.

“ Never mind that, its not important. So what have I missed the two days I’ve been gone?”

“ Not much Koki, we’re still waiting to hear back about that game idea you and I came up with. And the big bosses have been out of town, so we have to wait until they get back.”

Reiko hangs out for bit, before Koki tells him that he’s tired and wants to go to bed. Koki climbs in bed and doesn’t wake up until the next day.

Meanwhile, on the other side if the well:

“ Master Takahashi! Help!” the villagers shout.

Hearing their cries he comes running out of his house, only to be clipped by a woman swinging a small axe. “ What in the...? Wait..is that...hair? Their puppets!” he thinks as he dodges another attacker. Hearing the cries of the villagers, and smelling the work of demons, Inu-Kame makes a beeline for the village and gets there just in time to see one of the women trying to kill a small child. He sees the old priest take the blow instead.

“ Hey! Leave him alone!” Inu-Kame shouts.

“ Inu-Kame! Whatever you do, don’t use your claws! They aren’t demons, the village women are being controlled. Look at their faces, their eyes are void of light and soul.”

“ But didn’t they just try to kill you?”

“ You understand nothing. You have to find the puppet master firs...Watch out for the hair!”

“ Hair? What are you talking about, I don’t see any hair!” Inu-Kame shouts as he’s tied from head to toe. “ This is no good, I can’t move!”

Inu-Kame starts pulling against the threads that bind him. Not realizing one wrapped around his neck, he hears a woman giggling. Looking up he sees the one behind the attack, pissed now he breaks free. He rubs his neck where he felt something slide across it.

“ I almost lost my head, what in the hell is going on, old man?”

“ Be thankful you’re part demon, Inu-Kame, that would’ve killed a normal human.” he says as Inu-Kame takes him somewhere safe, that’s far from the village.

“ But what hair are you talking about? I didn’t see any.”

“ I can and that hair belongs to the one that attacked the village. Where’s Koki? I’m sure if I can see it, than he can too. See this is why we need his help, whether you desire his company or not no longer matters. I can see the hair, yes, but only when the light hits it. My eyes aren’t what they used to be.”

“ You stay here and hide yourself.” Inu-Kame says and takes off.

‘ Where in the hell did that guy go, now that I actually want him around.’ he thinks to himself as he heads off in the direction he last saw Koki head in.

He gets to the well and sees Koki’s hoodie. Realizing who’s clothing that belongs to, he jumps in the well. Inu-Kame comes out on the other side, and goes in search of Koki...not noticing that woman he saw attacking the village is using her hair and followed him through the well with it.

Having the day off, Koki decides meets his other friend Chika at the park to catch up since they haven’t seen each other in years and her boyfriend hates him for being so close to her.

“ Its been a while Koki, I’ve missed talking to you like this.” She says, “ So how are you doing? I heard what happened with your brother and your family.”

“ I have been doing good. I still miss Kazunaro and if he was still here, then maybe I’d still have my family. But they never got over the fact that he gave me his necklace, it was worth a fortune and they wanted to sell it. So, in the end it caused a huge fight and we haven’t talked since. Hell, they didn’t even come to his funeral and burial. It was just me and his wife and sons. They still talk to me and I even see my nephews on occasion so I have some semblance of a family I guess.” he shrugs, “ So what’s been up with you?” he asks wanting the attention off of him.

“ I just got a promotion, moved into a new apartment and my boyfriend and I broke up a month ago. So, I’m concentrating on my career at the moment. I might get a dog to keep me company though.”

Koki and Chika spend the next two hours just talking about nothing in particular. They soon part ways, no sooner is his friend out of sight does he hear the voice of the only one that he hoped to never hear again. He looks up and sees Inu-Kame sitting in the tree off to his left.

“ Are you sure you’re not a bird?” Koki asks.

“ Who said you could just up and leave like that?” he asks, jumping down from the tree. “ Come on...we’re..” he’s cut off.

“ KOKI!!” it was Reiko.

“ Hey, Reiko. What’s up?”

“ Oh nothing, I was just coming over to see if...is this the guy you told me about?” Reiko spots Inu-Kame.

“ Yes, it is.”

“ Come on Koki...we’re going back.” the half demon says pulling Koki in the direction of the well.

“ Hold it!” Reiko shouts.

“ Why should I?”

“ Those ears...are they...so soft.” he says touching Inu-Kame’s ears.

“ Come on Reiko...now’s not the...”

“ Hey! Hands off the ears!” Inu-Kame shouts, getting ready to attack Reiko.

“ Inu-Kame...SIT!” Koki shouts, causing the half demon to fall to the ground.

“ Sorry about that Reiko, but now’s not the best time. Don’t go touching others like that.” Koki scolds, smacking his friend upside the head.

“ Sorry Koki, I couldn’t help it. Well, I’ll see you.” Reiko leaves the odd couple alone.

With his friend gone, Inu-Kame drags Koki back to the well.

“ Hey...what’s with all this hair?” Koki asks.

“ You can see it, good.”

“ Whoa! Watch out Inu-Kame!” Koki shouts. “ That strand there...cut it!” Koki says, but realizes that he’s the only that can see the hair.

He grabs the strands and pulls it, causing the top strand to bread and the ends to bounce off the light.

“ There it is!” Inu-Kame shouts, and cuts the remaining strand that Koki was still holding.

It was then that Koki realized that, he can’t stay in his world very long or his friends would be in terrible danger if he stays for longer than he needs to.

“ We’re going back Inu-Kame.” he says.

“ Hmmph...you’re the one that ran away from this war.”

“ But you wouldn’t let me, would you?” Koki says. “ Besides, if we don’t stop who’s ever doing this, and I have a feeling they’re after the piece of the shard I carry, then both of our time periods are in grave danger.”

“ Here...you’ll need this, especially with skin as delicate as yours.” he says before throwing his cloak over Koki’s shoulders. " It's woven from the fur of the fire rat and its stronger than any armor."

Nodding Koki and Inu-Kame head back down the well to confront the one behind the attacks. They get back to the past and are immediately attacked by the owner of the hair. They follow the hair deep in the forest, where they come across a campfire.

“ Were they humans?” Koki asks.

“ Rogue Samurai, they must have wondered into the hair. Why are you on your knees, your courage fail you or something?”

“ No, this. I thought it could come in handy.” Koki shows him the bow and arrows he picked up.

“ Think your aim will be better than what it was last time?” he says.

“ That’s what practice is for, which starts now.” Koki says. “ Keep going in this direction....watch out!”

“ Where is it?!”

“ On your right...no left!” Koki says.

“ Make up your mind!”

“ In front of you!”

Inu-Kame doesn’t have time to doge before his legs and arms are trapped, causing Koki to fall to the ground. He sees a big ball of hair and wonders if Yura is in there.

“ Well, if it isn’t Inu-Kame. You’re reputation preceeds you among us Oni.”

“ How do you know me?” he growls.

“ You’re the half breed that became a pet to a reincarnated Priest, in order to gain the Wishing Jewel and so once I kill the both of you, I’ll look for the shards at my leisure.”

“ Good luck with that then, the hair can’t kill me.” he counters.

“ I thought it would, looks like I was wrong.”

All of a sudden he feels a sharp pain on the right side of his chest.

“ This is my favorite crimson sword, it cuts through flesh and bone with the barest of effort. So I can slice and dice you all I want, even though your head remains.”

Getting rather pissed at this demon, Inu-Kame frees his left hand. He plunges his claws into his wounds and then shouts, “ Try my Bloody Claws!”

He swipes at her, taking off her hand in the process. “ You can’t control the hair...”

“ My hair...its on fire.” She looks over and sees Koki.

Koki loads another arrow and again, aims for the large ball of hair...hitting his target dead on.

“ NOOOO....my hair!” she screams as the ball unravels and the heads of the rogue samurai start coming out, along with her other victims. “ You’ll pay for that!”

The demon uses her comb and sends massive flames in Koki’s direction, completely engulfing him.

“ Inu-Kame..” Koki says before he’s completely covered in flames.

“ Why you....”

“ Miss him already? Don’t worry, you’ll join him soon enough.” she cackles.

Now Inu-Kame’s really pissed, the guy maybe annoying and not much use. But he can’t deny the fire that burns within him is hotter than anything he’s ever known humans to have. Inu-Kame and Yura the puppet master go head to head.

“ Almost had your head that time, I can’t wait to play with your hair...its so long and pretty.” she says before stabbing him through the back.

He falls to the ground.

“ No, no more moving. We have to cut your head off just right or that hair is going to get all covered in blood.”

“ Don’t bet on.” he says plunging his hand through her chest.

“ Weren’t you taught manners? Touching the chest of a woman you just met...huh?” she looks over and sees someone climbing the hair ball towards the massive collection of skulls.

“ Where are you looking at?”

“ Inu-Kame! This skull! Its different from the others! There's something in it!” he shouts making his way up to where the skull sits.

“ Oh no you don’t!” Yura shouts.

Koki just gets his hands on the skull when his arms are bound by large amounts of hair. He looks over and sees that he’s not all cut up, like the bodies of the samurai were. Then he remembers what Inu-Kame told him about the cloak and that’s made from the fur of the fire rat, and that’s its woven in such a way that makes it stronger than any suit of armor.

‘ So that’s why I didn’t get burned by those flames’ he thinks.

“ You’re human enough...your head I can take with ease, too bad your hair is too short to warrant keeping. I’m immortal, you can’t kill me.” she says tightening the strands around his neck.

“ Hey wench!”

“ Inu-Kame!” Koki yells.

“ Don’t move or you’ll take your own head off.” he warns ramming his body into Yura’s, causing the hair that binds koki’s arms and neck to slacken.

Koki falls to the ground where he’s able to use the arrow he shot to cut the strands from his neck. While Yura tries to kill Inu-Kame, he searches for the skull he saw earlier. Finding it, he runs over to it and tries to break it with his arrow.

“ Leave it, boy!” she shouts.

Seeing the blade coming down on his head, he closes his eyes and manages to force the arrow through the skull, shattering it into pieces.

“ Noooo!” was the last they heard before Yura disappears.

“ A comb? She hid her soul in a comb. Oh what’s this?” Koki says, picking up a piece of the jewel. “ Another jewel shard, Inu-Kame.”

“ Let’s go Koki, she’s dead.” he says, causing Koki to look at him. “ What’s wrong?”

“ You called me by my name. So does this mean you’re going to start being friendlier to me?”

“ Yeah but don’t ask me why...I still hate you. Besides, I’ve always wanted a weak fool for a friend anyway.”

“ But I saved your life? A weak person like me couldn’t hurt you.” Koki says patting Inu-Kame’s injured shoulder, causing Inu-Kame to wince and growl in pain.

They start walking back to where Inu-Kame stashed the old Priest, when his ears twitch. He turns and sees his father’s old flea servant.