Sin Times Seven by tenchi no mai

Greed

This was written in response to Priestess Skye’s challenge: Seven Deadly Sins 

Theme:  Greed

Due:  Week 4

Required Word Count:  Minimum 700

Actual Word Count:  782 (Story Only)

Universe: Canon – Feudal Era

Rating:  M

Warnings:  None 

Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine, they are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz Media.   Only the plot to this story is my intellectual property.  I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

‘Italics’ = thoughts 

Greed - /grid/ [greed] – noun - excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions. 

Greed

Kagome was sitting under the Goshinbuko idly tipping the little vial of shards back and forth while thinking about the Shikon no Tama.  

After three years of searching for the shards they were close to the end of their journey.  There couldn’t be too many of the kakera left.  She had two of the tiny pieces in her hand and Naraku had the majority of the jewel hanging from a silk cord around his neck.  There were three more that she knew about; Kohaku had one and Kouga had the other two. 

During this trek around feudal Japan, she had also reached several conclusions about the cursed little tama.  

The first was that the Shikon no Tama  was more trouble than it was worth.  Every place that a shard had landed was embroiled in problems that were much larger in magnitude than the minute size of the kakera.  She had thought that the Shikon no Tama was originally a problem when the centipede demoness had ripped it out of her side, however the shards were each a disaster waiting to happen. 

Kagome glanced up into the thick canopy of the Goshinbuko, searching for a glimpse of firerat.  Peering through the leaves, she couldn’t see him, but was able to sense that Inuyasha was not too far away.  He was probably lounging on a bough, just out of sight. 

The second thing she had quickly realized was that the jewel was insidious.  The tama itself had been so innocent looking and seemingly harmless.  When it had been in her possession it was pure, a small glowing pink orb.  The portion that Naraku had obtained was dark and roiling with an evil that that was palpable. 

The shards seemed to beguile both human and demon alike.  It appeared that almost no one was immune to the effect once they held a piece of the jewel.  It created a greed for more of the shards, and more of the power.  Once they were entrapped by the magic it became an obsession to own the jewel, for whatever nefarious scheme could be imagined, no matter the cost. 

Contemplating the insidiousness of the jewel reminded her of the other conclusion she had come to regarding the Shikon no Tama.  She was positive that no matter what was wished for once the jewel was whole, even the most selfless wish would somehow become twisted to create a grave and altogether unexpected effect.  

Inuyasha continued to wish to become a full demon.  Even after having turned full demon on several occasions, with disastrous results, it was still his desire to have power equal to his half-brother. 

Sesshoumaru.  Kagome smiled as she thought about the demon lord.  He was one of the few who had no overt desire for either the shards or the completed jewel;  he was in this for revenge.   Also the fact that once the battle was won and the jewel returned to its original state, that she would go back to the Western Fortress with him and become his mate. 

Kagome’s smile wavered.  She was just as guilty of being greedy as the rest.  Her heart desired to be in two places at once.  When the wish was finally made she secretly hoped that the Boneater’s Well would remain open so that she could continue to travel back and forth between her time and the Feudal Era.  She truly didn’t want to give up either one of her families.  

If the well was going to close, she fervently prayed that she was on this side of the well and that she stayed here.  Kagome shifted uncomfortably, the roots of the Goshinboku didn’t make for the most comfy of seats.  She was fairly sure that once she was mated to Sesshoumaru that her life would be extended and she had a good chance of meeting up with her birth family again.  They would be upset, that was certain, but it wouldn’t be too long for them until they met again.  

The thing that scared her the most was the thought that the well might close with her on the other side.  She wasn’t sure if she would be able to endure the wait until, if and when, she met Sesshoumaru again.  The worst would be not knowing if he would survive the ensuing 500 years.  As far as she could tell there were no demons in her time. 

Kagome smiled again as she rose from her seat. Sesshoumaru was back from his hunt and slowly pacing across the clearing towards her.  ‘There is no use thinking about the what if’s until we’re sure we’ve won the battle.  There will be enough time to think about it then.’ 

~*~ 

There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is not greater disaster than greed. - Lao-Tzu 

Fin

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