Work Text:
Better Tomorrow
- Amy M. Jones
She can feel the pain,
And also the betrayal.
She doesn't want this to go on,
So she prays for a better tomorrow.
It's hard for her to cope,
She'd like to runaway.
In her heart she knows,
That she can't let go.
You can see the truth,
Deep within her eyes.
She would like to stop the madness,
But instead, she just cries.
She prays for strength to move ahead,
To survive another day.
She pleads for the courage to be brave,
So she can simply walk away.
Where am I? How long have I been here? Am I asleep? Yes, I'm asleep. It's dark. I can't see anything. What is that light in the distance? It's calling for me. It's screaming my name. I want to go to it, but I can't move. I can only stare at it, unable to answer its calls. What is it? It hurts to gaze into its light. My heart feels heavy. Is this despair? It must be. I've never felt so heart sicken before. I need to open my eyes. To feel the suns warmth. I need strength. Why will my eyes not open? Why can I not escape this hell you call sleep?
In the night, a human woman stirs in her sleep, her face twisted with struggle. Her eyes flick open for a moment, revealing their soft gray color, but quickly shut again. As if fighting in her sleep, her fingers claw violently, and her body twists and turns. At the peak of her stirs, she goes still and breathes deeply, her features becoming calm and peaceful once again.
Hours pass, and the sun begins to rise. Golden streams of light find its way into the woman's small shack from cracks in the roof, slightly warming her cold skin. As if gaining strength from the welcoming light, the woman once again stirs in her sleep, her eyes struggling to open. With little strength, her hands fist and slam the wooden floor beneath her. Finally, her eyes snap open and she sits up instantly, her breathing heavy.
Clearly confused, she looks around at her unfamiliar surroundings and snatches a lock of her orange hair. She looks at it and lets out a sigh of relief. She releases the lock of her hair and rubs her eyes, fighting the water forming in them. Once composed, she clumsily stands and stumbling over her feet, grabs a wall for support. She stands straight, familiarizing herself with walking. Very slowly, she makes her way to the door and slides it open while it creeks and cracks with age.
Looking with caution, she peers at the world outside. "Where am I?" She asks herself, her face innocent and her eyes curious. She descends the short mossy stairs in front of her, silently observing the world she was absent from until now. She steps onto the forest grass, gazing up at the treetops holding back the suns rays. Her mouth curves into a smile and she walks forward into the dark forest.
Suddenly she stops walking and looks around suspiciously. "Who is there?" She asks into the emptiness of the forest, feeling eyes staring at her, burning through her flesh. "You will have to come out eventually." She says and continues walking.
Without warning, she feels a presence appear behind her. She turns around slowly and looks up into cold, red eyes. She stares back, her expression slightly amused. "Hello, Amaterasu." The man says. Amaterasu raises her eyebrows. "Have we met before?" She asks him curiously. The man smirks. "I've been waiting for you to awaken for many years now." He answers. Amaterasu looks past him, into the darkness of the forest, a wistful look in her eyes.
"You want something of me." She tells him quietly. He frowns. "I'm not like them. I won't take from you." He says, his voice soft and almost kind. Amaterasu looks back at him, her gray eyes piercing his. "These trees were seeds when that happened. It should be a legend by now." She says. "I believe in legends, Lady Amaterasu, and I can get back what was taken from you."
Amaterasu licks her lips. "Why would you help me?" She asks. "I also seek what you want, and if you assist me--" He stops, puzzled by the look on her face. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes with clenched teeth, as if sensing something. Her eyes open, filled with disbelief.
"The Shikon Jewel is not whole. It is scattered and lost." She whispers, staring at him. "Yes. That is why I need you. You can sense the shards, and with my strength, we can make the jewel whole again." He tells her. Amaterasu sighs and runs a hand through her orange hair.
"You are right, I am powerless for the moment." She says sadly. "We will get your power back, Amaterasu." He reassures her gently. She looks at him, her eyes untrusting. "What do they call you?" She asks. He smirks. "Naraku."
