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Bittersweet
Read it at: LJ | MM.org | FF.net
Pairing: Naraku + Kikyo
Rating: T
Based upon:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
iyfic_contest Week #194 | Naraku
Inspired by: scenes from Chapter 552
Inspired by a somewhat throwaway line in the infamous "death" chapter, I thought it might be interesting to explore just what Naraku's true wish had been...
I actually wrote this short piece an eon ago, in response to a different prompt at the same contest community (Week #179 'Love the Villain', I believe) - but I misunderstood the directions. I thought we were supposed to show ways in which the villainous characters of the stories could be made sympathetic and/or redeemed, instead of just "showing their hidden good side" - and when I realized my error, I shelved the fic. I rarely do that (usually I just delete them outright), but in this case, it turned out to be serendipitous.
When this week's contest rolled around at the community, with the prompt "Naraku," I figured it was as good a time as any to take this piece out and dust it off. Plus, I really wanted something with polish that I could put out, considering all the life changes and subsequent muse hiding that was going on (and, still is, to some extent...sorry S/K fans!).
So, this piece was my attempt at finding the sympathetic angle to Naraku's story. As we all learn in the end, his one objective throughout the twists and turns of the manga canon story was to have Kikyo's heart. I think maybe he came to this conclusion fairly early on, precisely at the time when he realizes that, even when he discards his own heart in order to kill her, he is unable to strike the fatal blow. They say there's a thin line between love and hate, and this dude was all over it, LOL.
I mean, what was he when he first met Kikyo? A crippled, homeless vagrant, completely at her mercy. He was powerless and hopeless and helpless, but suddenly - he had another reason to hang on to his mortality. If his objective from the first was to possess Kikyo, and his objective in the end was to have her heart, then it makes sense that he'd take on this quest to secure the jewel and its promised powers in order to gain what he so desperately wanted.
Well - in theory, at least :)
I received a bit of response at the comm, but for the most part, it has been incredibly quiet over there of late. Some of the winners are making me go o.O, which is never a good sign...and considering how long it took me to dredge up inspiration for its prompts, it makes me wonder if its still worth it, to continue to participate.
*shrug* We'll see - there are many irons in the fire, but it seems like most of what I'm focusing on right now is part of a related chapter fic or serial. I don't have many ideas for simple drabbles or oneshots at the moment...
Pairing: Naraku + Kikyo
Rating: T
Based upon:
iyfic_contest Week #194 | NarakuInspired by: scenes from Chapter 552
Inspired by a somewhat throwaway line in the infamous "death" chapter, I thought it might be interesting to explore just what Naraku's true wish had been...
I actually wrote this short piece an eon ago, in response to a different prompt at the same contest community (Week #179 'Love the Villain', I believe) - but I misunderstood the directions. I thought we were supposed to show ways in which the villainous characters of the stories could be made sympathetic and/or redeemed, instead of just "showing their hidden good side" - and when I realized my error, I shelved the fic. I rarely do that (usually I just delete them outright), but in this case, it turned out to be serendipitous.
When this week's contest rolled around at the community, with the prompt "Naraku," I figured it was as good a time as any to take this piece out and dust it off. Plus, I really wanted something with polish that I could put out, considering all the life changes and subsequent muse hiding that was going on (and, still is, to some extent...sorry S/K fans!).
So, this piece was my attempt at finding the sympathetic angle to Naraku's story. As we all learn in the end, his one objective throughout the twists and turns of the manga canon story was to have Kikyo's heart. I think maybe he came to this conclusion fairly early on, precisely at the time when he realizes that, even when he discards his own heart in order to kill her, he is unable to strike the fatal blow. They say there's a thin line between love and hate, and this dude was all over it, LOL.
I mean, what was he when he first met Kikyo? A crippled, homeless vagrant, completely at her mercy. He was powerless and hopeless and helpless, but suddenly - he had another reason to hang on to his mortality. If his objective from the first was to possess Kikyo, and his objective in the end was to have her heart, then it makes sense that he'd take on this quest to secure the jewel and its promised powers in order to gain what he so desperately wanted.
Well - in theory, at least :)
I received a bit of response at the comm, but for the most part, it has been incredibly quiet over there of late. Some of the winners are making me go o.O, which is never a good sign...and considering how long it took me to dredge up inspiration for its prompts, it makes me wonder if its still worth it, to continue to participate.
*shrug* We'll see - there are many irons in the fire, but it seems like most of what I'm focusing on right now is part of a related chapter fic or serial. I don't have many ideas for simple drabbles or oneshots at the moment...
no subject
Because he had something to prove.
He had someone to impress.
This is really great - looking at the lengths he'll go to, the fact that he wanted her to beg, to say she loved him so he would save her...
Very well-written! ^_^