Authoress' Notes: I know it took me a LONG time with the revision of just ONE chapter, but here it is... And I have a good explanation too-
One day I began writing (plat, plat, plat) I typed and type but all of sudden- BOOM! Gamabunta crashed through the walls and destroyed my computer with all my data too! Pissed off, I stepped on and crushed my flashdrive, permanently leaving me without any new revisions to this chapter... And to anyone who did not believe that story then really... First, I forgot. Second, I was lazy. Lastly, I just wiped my computer of all the files and programs without backing up my stories... Okay? Sheesh.
The story: Since Inuyasha is my all time favorite anime I've decided to make a crossover. Oh! And this story mostly follows the Shaman King anime story line but I will make a few twists here and there. So chapter 1 will start kinda like episode 1 and so on but I WILL add more things and maybe omit some things, though I doubt the last part. The story will take place in the Shaman King universe and it will be an AU for the Inuyasha characters. The main character from Inuyasha will be Kagome. I think Sango and the others will appear too. But Kagome is definitely a main character.
About reviews: Reviews are the only things that really inspire me to write and post chapters besides the anime and the story in my head. So if you like the story drop a review please. Even if you don't, I'd appreciate a little constructive criticism. I will not talk about flames because I think I will cross that bridge when I get there.
About pairings: Right now, I'm thinking of creating a Kagome/Harem. But what do you guys think?
Disclaimer: I do not own Shaman King or Inuyasha and claim no rights to them but I DO own this fan fiction story.
Prologue
Kagome was normal... Pretty much.
She was as normal as a girl who came from a long line of priests could be...
People had always told her she would be someone great, someone special, and someone extraordinary... But she did not want that. She never wanted that. She never wanted to hear that.
Ever since she was small, she disliked when people told her how special and different she would. It was probably because she did not- even could not believe that she was different from any other girl.
Kagome did not believe in the supernatural, demons, spirits, or even Kami-sama. She liked cute things, she loved shopping, she enjoyed giggling and gossiping with her friends, and she dreamed of a beautiful marriage to a handsome prince...
At least- that's what she want to be and that's what she wants to believe... There's always had been a small inkling that she felt at random times... As she grew older, the inkling became strong vibes that she felt. Her friends thought it was odd... So she did not like it. On her thirteenth birthday, she fled from the shrine and all the strange vibes she received.
Kagome had just moved from her family's shrine that was located on the outskirts of Tokyo to a small, modest home in a quiet neighborhood in the big city. Although she was only thirteen years old, she was currently living alone, and she had her reasons. She would start school tomorrow. Although she moved to her new home around two weeks before, her mother had requested that she settled down for a week or two before entering her new school. She did and she developed a routine already.
1) Wake up late.
2) Run errands.
3) Get lost for hours.
4) Take a nap.
5) Watch television.
6) Take a bath.
7) Sleep until the next morning.
It had been a Sunday when Kagome's routine was thrown completely off. That day she woke up at 4 pm instead of 11 am or even 12-pm. It was unusual because she had fallen asleep at her usual time, 12 am. Her mother had always disapproved of her lazy schedule, but Kagome had nothing else to do but sleep. She was only thirteen, had no job, no friends, and was all alone... No one to scold her or guide her, despite it all, Kagome went about her routine. She bathed until 5 pm then went out to shop for groceries. As usual she had gotten lost...
And unbeknownst to the poor girl, she would soon be living the kind of life that she had tried to escape from...
Chapter 1: The Boy Who Dances with Ghosts
And the Girl Who Believed
DDDDDDDDdddiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggggg!
The annoying ring of the school bell resounded through halls and through out the school. Its high pitched and nerve wreaking sound both grated on students' nerves and at all the same time, relieved them because that was the bell that told them it was time to go home after a long day of learning. Once the bell stopped ringing, a teacher closed her special teacher's edition textbook and stated the obvious. "That will be all for today class," she said, sending a quite fake smile across the room at her students.
They, in return, only wearily gathered their textbooks, school supplies, and other belongings and began stuffing them into already giant bags ready to burst open. A few students momentarily stopped to stretch their aching limbs then scurried out of class into the busy hallways. Night had already fallen and as friends and acquaintances went their separate ways, shouts of "Take care!" and "See you tomorrow!" filled the air.
This particular evening a rather small boy, thirteen years of age, hurried across the street on his way home. It was still difficult to carry a bag that was almost as big as his body but Manta still managed to make it to and from school and tutoring everyday. Stopping in front of the entrance to an old cemetery, Manta paused as he gazed at the gigantic bluish orb in the sky. It was so close it was as if he could run up the hill, that was not too far away, and be able to lay his hand on the moon and caress its rocky surface… But that was not possible. He was only taking a short cut home!
He entered the cemetery through the black iron gates that eerily creaked open as he rushed through them. The cemetery was as grassy as any other one. Tombstones of all shapes and sizes protruded from the green-covered earth, and gray cement stairs led upward to grassy hills where thousands were buried. There was also a small shrine for any mourners to pray for their dearly departed. Although he was usually afraid of things like this, Manta still took the huge cemetery as a short cut home... Manta laughed at his silliness after pretending to be some hero in some kind of ghost story.
When I realized I was just standing there…
Somehow I felt…
That there was someone calling me
Was he creating make-believe thoughts about some supernatural influence on his detour home? Manta's jog and self-brought laughter was soon interrupted by a content sigh followed by a matching voice. "The stars are so pretty…" it stated in an appeased way. It was as if the speaker's life had already been fulfilled although the voice sounded young.
"Stars…?" Manta questioned, blinking as he slowly turned his gaze to the dark blue heavens. It was sparkling with small twinkles of far-off stellar lights. It was then that he finally noticed them. Never before had Manta appreciated the stars until that moment. "You are SO right!" he agreed absentmindedly before a thought clicked in his head. A chill went up his spine. "Who are you anyway?" he asked, shaking in his tiny shoes. He looked across the way and saw the source of the stranger's voice. Someone seemed to be relaxing on the grass, beneath a lone tree on top of one of the many hills in the cemetery.
"Did you come to watch the stars too?" A brown haired boy asked as he slowly stood up. "Come on over," he continued, walking in Manta's direction. Although he appeared friendly, anyone who sat alone in a creepy place could not be normal, or at least sane for that matter. "We can watch them with everyone." He lifted his head, and the light of the moon illuminated his slightly tanned face; a small smile was worn on it.
"N-nah…" Manta declined nervously, inching away slowly. "It's getting pretty late." Not wanting to offend the odd lad, the dwarf sized boy added jokingly with a cheesy grin. "Besides, you can't say everyone since it is only the two of us."
"Iie. I can say everyone." the brown haired boy replied, unintentionally sounding eerie.
"Huh?" Was the only word that could escape Manta's mouth for that moment.
"The spirits… are here too," the young man announced cheerfully. On cue, the boy's not living friends made their presences known to Manta. Their cheerful yet creepy grins not only disturbed Manta but a lost girl who happened to wonder onto the scene. Both stood there for a moment, frozen, their feet took root into the ground.
"Gh…gh…" the black haired lass stuttered. "Gh…gh…" her blue-gray eyed were wide with fear. "GHHHHOOOSSSSTTSSSS!!" she shrieked.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Manta added as the two high tailed it away from the unnamed boy and his spirit friends. The two did not speak to each other because they both ran in two different directions... But little did the two know, they would be seeing each other again very soon.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"The spirits... are here too."
Kagome panted, and gasped for air.
'Iie... I don't believe...'
Kagome shook her head and shut her eyes.
"The spirits... are here too."
Kagome stopped running and weakly fell to her knees. She squeezed her eyes shut and kept them that way as she slammed her hands over her ears.
"The spirits... are here too."
'I didn't see them. I didn't seem them.'
"The spirits... are here too."
'I didn't feel them. I don't feel anything... I never did.'
"The spirits... are here too."
'No.'
Kagome would not believe it. She refused to... She was a normal girl... Higurashi Kagome. Higurashi Kagome was a normal girl...
Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"GHOSTS?!" came the simultaneous cry of disbelief from Manta's middle school chums.
"Yeah! I saw them on my way home from tutoring." Manta replied. "There was this weird boy at the Crow Cemetery then suddenly, all these ghosts appeared! The place was loaded with them! It was so scary…" the small fry explained.
"Manta… I think you're going a little dead in the head," one student told him nonchalantly.
"What? You think I'm crazy?! I saw the ghosts with my own eyes!"
"Oh, come on, Manta. Stop making up stories." another classmate replied.
Manta faltered, hurt that they did not believe him. "I-I'm not making it up!"
"You're seriously not trying to scare us?"
A bouncy girl who happened to be listening to the conversation added, "Maybe he's been reading too many horror stories." She giggled at him and smiled, "But do continue Manta, I like scary stories!"
"I'm not lying!" Manta shouted, finally fed up with them not believing him.
"Yup, he's gone nuts." the girl coolly stated.
"I'M NOT CRAZY OR LYING! THERE WERE REALLY GHOSTS!"
"You're probably just studying too hard. You need some rest."
"Or maybe…" someone whispered eerily. "He's being haunted," he added with a grin. Manta's other classmates shared a laugh with the jokester. The boy, not even three feet tall, tightened his tiny hands into a ball as his fists shaking in anger. Not only was he angry, but also Manta was also frustrated and somehow slightly embarrassed.
"But it's the truth!"
"I want to believe you, Manta," the girl explained. "But there's just no proof that your story is true at all."
"…Proof…" Manta asked slowly. That one word flashed him back to that dreadful night… Up to the moment when the ghosts appeared. There had been a girl there too… "That's right!" he exclaimed, remembering the girl.
"Eh? What is it?"
"I have a witness! Other than the weird kid, there was a girl too!" Manta told them.
"A girl… really? What did she do? Did she see the ghosts too?"
"Yeah she did! I can tell because she screamed and ran away too!" the shrimp sized boy explained.
"But still… We don't know this girl… So for all we know you could be making that part up too."
"None of my story is made up!"
The teacher entered the room and glared at his students that were behaving so casually in school. "Everyone, get in your seats. Homeroom is starting." Manta cursed in silent rage because his classmates did not believe him but went by to his seat anyway. Manta's eye twitched when he saw the boy from last night enter the room behind his teacher. He screamed, pointing an accusing finger at the lad, who did not even lay an eye on him. Manta's sudden outburst startled the students sitting around him.
"Do you know each other?" the teacher asked.
"Uh… um… no…" Manta replied dumbly, almost blushing from embarrassment. His face was beginning to feel hot. He did not know if he was blushing from embarrassment or flushing from anger...
"Then hurry up and sit down."
"Okay…" Manta whispered obediently before doing as he was told.
The teacher slowly introduced the new student as Asakura Yoh. Yoh stared almost blankly at the class as the teacher explained a few things about him. All the while, Manta glared at Yoh and thought about what happened the other night and how his classmates did not believe him but now he had proof! Suddenly in the middle of short introduction, the door swung open.
In stepped a young girl-
"And it's you TOO!" Manta yelled, jumping up in his seat once again.
The girl blinked confusedly at Manta as he pointed at her but she said nothing.
"Another interruption, Oyamada?" the teacher asked in an annoyed tone.
"Gomen nasai, sensei." Manta mumbled, bowing his head in respect.
The girl then bowed deeply before straightening up. "Gomen nasai." she stated. "I got lost on the way to school then I got lost again on my way to class."
The teacher uncharacteristically smiled at her and waved his hand dismissively. "This young lady is also a new student here, she moved from the suburbs. Please welcome Higurashi Kagome." Kagome smiled brightly at her new classmates and waved in a polite way.
"Let's get along, okay?" she told the class. Kagome stared at her class with a smile, which was normal compared to Yoh's almost stoic and apathetic expression.
"T-That's the girl too…" Manta whispered to his friend sitting behind him.
"Hontou? She doesn't seem afraid of the boy like you were," was Manta's friend's response.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
It was their lunch period. Manta had waited for this moment for hours. He could finally have the boy tell the others that he was not crazy, sleep-deprived, or a liar. The ghosts were real! Or he could have the girl tell them too. Manta glanced at girl that was napping with her head down at the back of the classroom. "I better not bother her." he stated to himself. Manta decided to try the boy for now.
Stopped Editing for the moment.
Manta walked across the classroom to the second row to the front so that he stood on the right side of Yoh's desk. The boy was smiling a small, content smile as he listened to his music, which was playing quite loudly. He must have been totally relaxed because his eyes were closed and everything... "Hey." Manta said. The boy did not respond. He was too preoccupied with his music. "Hey!" …Nothing. "HEY!"
Manta's voice finally reached past the headphones and Yoh opened his eyes. "Huh?" Yoh looked down at Manta curiously. Manta's friends surrounded the Yoh and Manta so that they could find out the truth for themselves.
"We met each other last night at the cemetery, didn't we?"
Yoh only stared...
"You were hanging out with those ghosts, weren't you?"
Yoh stared some more before asking, " …who are you…?"
"NANI?!" Manta shouted in outrage.
"I knew you were sleep deprived Manta," the giggly girl stated, almost annoyed.
"That's why you're haunted." another friend teased again.
More laughs at Manta's expense.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
'I will prove that my story is true,' Manta thought angrily, side glaring at Yoh who was staring off into space. 'Even if I have to- …Oh…?' His train of thought was cut off when a small folded slip of paper was discreetly passed onto his desk. Manta looked around the room and saw no one staring at him or looking his way to signify that they wrote the note. He unfolded it until it was completely open. It read:
"I believe your story about the ghosts and Asakura from last night"
"Meet me after school and we can talk about it (if you want)"
Ja ne,
-Higurashi
Manta was tempted to show the note to the classmates that did not believe him. But Manta knew better. That would probably do no good, and Higurashi would most likely hate him for it and they would both end up embarrassed. He would meet her after school... And maybe they would both expose Asakura! 'Yes...' Manta grinned.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"I see," Kagome stated, tapping her chin with the tip of her finger. "So no one believed you?" Manta nodded in response. "But I guess that is kind of normal. Most people do not believe in ghosts, ya know." Kagome could not blame them either, she accidentally slept in because of a nightmare about her and her not believing in ghosts...
Manta nodded and again and replied, " I know! So that's why we have to work together to prove my story is true! So, you're going to help me out aren't you?" He looked up at his new classmate with hopeful and determined eyes.
Kagome nodded and smiled sweetly, " Sure!" Moments later, her smile transformed into an unsure pout that was almost a frown.
"What's wrong?" asked the short boy.
"Nothing but…" Kagome slowly peered around a telephone pole and peeked at Yoh, who was standing at bridge watching the serenity of the river. "Don't you think this is a little extreme?" Manta peered around the pole to stare at Yoh too. This was getting weird, but she would settle for weird as long as she made new friends. "Why are we spying on Asakura?"
"Because we want proof!"
"I understand that part, but isn't this considered… Stalking?" Kagome asked skeptically.
"…Eh heh, let's just call it a private investigation," Manta replied.
"If you say so…" Kagome sighed as they continued to watch Yoh watch the river.
Three Hours Later
Yoh was still minding his own business, watching the river with no care in the world. From his hiding place behind the telephone pole Manta gritted his teeth together in frustration. "How long does he plan just stand there like that?!"
Kagome sighed softly; she had already given up on watching Yoh and decided to leave the watching part to Manta after the first half hour. She was sitting on the pavement behind him. "I don't know but I'm getting bored with this… Maybe he-"
"Oh?" both witnesses blinked as Yoh finally stretched and yawned aloud.
"Is he finally doing something?" they asked in unison, both now standing and watching Yoh.
Yoh stated with a happy smile. "It's good to be so in touch with nature!"
Manta angrily jumped out from his hiding place and pointed a shaky finger at Yoh. "What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Huh?" Yoh turned around, only to see nothing.
Kagome had pulled Manta back into hiding at the very last second. She held the small boy in her lap and between her legs as she waited for Yoh to look away again. Manta pulled Kagome's hand from over his mouth then sighed in relief. He then got up and looked back at Yoh to find that-
"He's gone! We lost him!"
"Really?" Kagome inquired as she moved from the hiding space and looked around. "How did Asakura just disappear like that…?"
"What the hell?!" Manta exclaimed, pulling at his hair.
Kagome's eyes hardened in determination as she balled up her hand. "Oyamada-kun! We can't give up just yet! We can do it, ne?" she asked, offering Manta a smile. The small boy stared up at her pretty face for a moment before nodding in agreement and making a fist of his own.
"Hai!"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Manta smirked as he clicked on the flashlight that was held below his face. Kagome laughed and joked," your face is scary like that!" They laughed a moment before getting serious.
"We'll stick around here for a while and meet up with him," Manta stated. The duo was hiding behind the mini shrine in the Crow Cemetery. He pulled out a camera and explained his plan to Kagome, " and with this instant camera, I can snap a picture of him when he's with the ghosts."
'Demo… Will a ghost show up on camera?' Kagome silently thought as Manta laughed deviously at his master plan. Suddenly their chatter and laughter was interrupted by-
"What did you say?" a deep, annoyed voice asked angrily.
Manta and Kagome stiffened as they peered around the shrine and spotted a very tall guy with a hideous Elvis-like hairstyle, and he was wearing a white outfit. He and a gang were talking about some boy who hung around in their territory. Kagome nearly gagged at the outfit and stated critically, "It's worse than wearing a suit made of bird-"
"Crap," Manta whispered. He looked up at Kagome with fearful eyes and said," That's Ryu of the Wooden Sword. He and his gang are notorious for beating up anyone who comes onto anything that they consider their territory."
"And it sounds like they're talking about Asakura." Kagome added with a serious tone in her voice. She looked down at Manta but he was too scared and engrossed in the conversation to care.
Ryu said something about not liking a rumor and threw down a tombstone, causing his minions to gasp in fear. The older teenager with an Elvis like hairstyle placed one foot on the stone and leaned on his knee. All Manta and Kagome heard was, "There's a price to pay when anyone trespasses in my territory."
Both spies watched and listened to Ryu and his gang's conversation about the curse of Amidamaru and Kagome frowned when Ryu broke the tombstone in half with his wooden sword. "If he can do that to a stone with only a wooden sword, think of what he can do to us if we get caught." Kagome said.
Manta shivered and looked at Kagome. "L-Let's just go home for tonight." He slowly backed away and froze when his foot knocked over a tin can. The sound of it falling and rolling to the ground seemed as loud as the school bell. It was as if the can wanted them to get caught spying on Ryu and his gang.
"Eh?" Ryu asked as he slowly turned in their direction, spotting both Manta and Kagome. "Who the hell are you two?"
Manta smiled nervously and innocently, "We're nobody. We were just passing through." He rose up his hands to show he was harmless, as if they cared.
Kagome nodded, "Un! We're innocent passersby!"
"Um, uh… Honestly!" Manta added with a nervous smile.
"Little man! You're the kid aren't you? The kid that trespasses in this area?" Ryu asked, before he grinned devilishly.
"No… What are you talking about?" asked Manta, still frozen. His legs glued to the ground.
Just as Ryu and his gang started walking toward him with their eyes glowing menacingly as they approached slowly. Kagome stepped between Manta and the gang.
"Iie!" she yelled. She spread her arms out in defense, blocking her small friend from them for the time being.
"And what's this? A girl," Ryu asked gruffly. He looked Kagome up and down then smirked. He pointed his sword at her and stated, "Step aside. I'll let you slide this time since you have such a pretty face."
"Nani?" Kagome gasped, blushing. This action made Ryu's minions laugh and hoot at her. Kagome put on her best mean face and glared at Ryu. "Don't give that crap 'cause I'm a girl! I won't let you harm Oyamada-kun!"
"Ryu-san, are you going to take that from a girl?" one of the minions asked.
Ryu patted his sword against his shoulder and sighed. "I didn't want to ruin your cute face little lady, but I guess we have to teach you a lesson too."
Manta gulped as the gang slowly approached them, their eyes aglow in the dark. They were as intimidating as a gang of demons would be...
"No holding back!" Ryu told his gang.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" The two innocent teens' scream rung out through the area of the cemetery.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Later that night Yoh stared down at Amidamaru's tombstone with a displeased expression. Something had to be done.
The Next Day
Collective gasps spread through out the room as Manta and Kagome entered the classroom at the same time. Manta had a black eye, a cast on his left arm, and his head had been bandaged up. And Kagome entered the room with only a small band-aid on her cheek. "What happened to you?" someone asked surprised.
"I got beaten up by Ryu of the Wooden Sword," Manta replied glumly, with his head lowered in shame.
"Ryu of the Wooden Sword? How did you end up fighting with gangsters?" another asked.
"Higurashi and I were trying to snap pictures of the ghosts." he replied pitifully.
"You're still talking about that ghost thing?!"
"And why are you getting Higurashi mixed up in all of this? Why she is not… banged up like you?"
"Last night they beat up Oyamada-kun. Then at the end, Ryu gave me a warning by scratching my cheek…" Kagome stood beside Manta and tried explaining, "And besides, it's true. I was there when Asakura was with the ghosts. I saw them too."
The other classmates looked at each other before one of them asked, " Higurashi-chan, how much did Manta pay you…?"
Kagome blinked, " …pay me…?"
"Yeah, to lie about being the so called girl from the ghost night. Is he black-mailing you?"
"WHAT?" Manta shouted. "Why would I do something so horrible to Higurashi?"
"It's nothing like that!" Kagome replied. "Oyamada-kun and I aren't lying, seriously!"
"Then what were YOU doing at Crow Cemetery that night…?"
Kagome stiffened.
"Aha! I knew you were lying!"
"Iie…" Kagome stated. "We're not lying… It's just that…" she bowed her head in shame. "I got lost on my way home from the grocery store! I had been wandering around town for hours!"
"I see… That is pretty embarrassing."
"No matter! It's because of you saying weird stuff about ghosts is why you got beat up by Ryu!" Kagome looked down at Manta with sympathy. No one believed him, even when she said that he was not lying.
"NOTHING WE SAID WERE LIES!"
The class froze and stared at the small fry who had a lot of wind in him. Then came the fateful statement from Yoh," yeah, it's not a lie." Tears flew from Manta's eyes as he looked up at Yoh, who had just been entering the classroom. His eyes were full of anger, relief, and surprise. Yoh looked back down at Manta then at Kagome and smiled. "There are spirits." The classroom was now filled with silence... And no one spoke to Manta or Kagome for the rest of the day until after school.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The three middle school students, who were now permanently labeled weirdoes were now taking off their school shoes at their lockers and putting on their regular shoes. Kagome watched silently as Manta quietly slipped on his shoes. "I heard about what happened from my friends at the cemetery." Yoh told them solemnly.
"What are you talking about," Manta asked. "I'm a person busy with studies… I can't waste my time like you do." He was feeling salty about the entire ordeal. He had gone of his way to prove that he was not liar. He ended up getting beat up. And now that Yoh told everyone the truth, both he and Kagome were labeled as weird.
"Oyamada-kun…" Kagome whispered, her eyes welling up with unshed tears. She too felt bad... She tried being a good person by helping Manta out, but now she was an outcast again. It was all because she not as normal as everyone else... Not as normal as she wanted... No, pretended to be.
"You're Oyamada Manta…" Yoh asked curiously. Then he turned to Kagome and asked, "And Higurashi Kagome, right?" Kagome blinked her tears away when Yoh grabbed Manta's wrist and began leading him away, out the front doors. "Well, come on. Let's go."
"Wai- Wait a second," Manta yelled. "Where are we going?"
"We're going to see Ryu."
"Ehhhh?"
Yoh looked down at Manta as he proceeded to drag the short boy, "My grandfather once said evil can not see spirits. So you must be a good person. I can't stand by and let a good person like you get bullied like that."
Kagome looked to the ground. Suddenly she felt… forgotten. She was alone already... And this was only her second day of school, and the beginning of her third week in Tokyo. She silently watched them slowly walk away.
"What are you saying?" Manta asked, yanking his arm away. "Ryu is total bad guy with many sidekicks! What can someone like you do?"
Yoh whispered, "No doubt, I am pretty weak."
"Then why are you-"
"Asakura…" Kagome whispered.
Yoh grinned over his shoulder, " it's alright and things will work out somehow…" Yoh grabbed Manta's wrist again and stated. "So let's go." Before proceeding on his trek to see Ryu, Yoh looked back at Kagome who stood idly watching the entire scene as if she was not even there.
Kagome's eyes widened when their eyes met.
"Are you coming, Higurashi?" Yoh inquired. Kagome wiped her lonely tears away and nodded enthusiastically. She did not ponder about how her sorrow suddenly disappear when she saw Yoh's smile and the warmth in it.
"You bet!" she chirped.
"Good, now we'll go see Ryu together." Yoh replied as he allowed Kagome to catch up with them. Kagome smiled fondly at Yoh and Manta as Yoh apologized to Manta about pretending to not know him. It warmed her heart because even though she was walking behind them, Kagome could tell that Manta was finally smiling.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The night seemed peaceful enough for the time being. The moon was almost staring Manta in the face as he, Kagome, and Yoh waited for Ryu and his gang to arrive. The tiny schoolboy stared at Kagome and Yoh's backs. The black haired girl was nearly cuddling with Yoh to hear the music from his headphones. "Um…" Manta began nervously. Yoh did not seem to hear him and Manta guessed Kagome was too sleepy to care at the moment.
"Hello!"
Yoh looked at Manta from over his shoulder, bumping the back of his head against the side of Kagome's face. "Watch it!" she exclaimed, pouting slightly.
Yoh removed one side of his headphone from one ear and asked curiously, "Did you say something?"
"Well…" Manta began with fake smile. "Why am I the only one tied to a tree?"
"If I untie you, you'll run away." Yoh replied.
Manta looked at Kagome and asked, "And what about her, huh?"
Kagome answered the question this time, "Well, I came here willingly so there would be no need to tie me to a tree, Oyamada-kun."
Manta sobbed, "But why do I have to be here? Isn't Higurashi being here enough?"
Yoh laughed then promised, "When all of this is over, I'll untie you. But for now, I just want you to watch."
"Watch what, Asakura-kun?" Kagome asked curiously. Already she had gone from calling Yoh 'Asakura' to adding 'kun' to it.
"Watch you get beaten to a pulp by Ryu of the Wooden Sword?" Manta asked with doubtful, teary eyes.
Yoh smiled again, just a bit awkwardly this time. He did not know how to explain that well. "That is… I mean… I want you to watch… me."
Just then a familiar deep voice hit Kagome and Manta's ears.
"It's…" Kagome stated as they all looked up.
"Ryu." Manta's courage and calmness level plummeted from 10 all the way down to -100 as they watched Ryu and his gang approach.
"Huh?" Ryu asked as he looked up at the three younger teenagers. "Who is there…?"
Kagome watched as Yoh slowly stood up and brushing imaginary dirt off his pants. 'I hope you know what you're doing Asakura-kun…' she nervously thought.
Yoh grinned as he introduced the three of them to Ryu. "Yo. My name is Asakura Yoh," he pointed at Manta then at Kagome, "and these two are my friends, Oyamada Manta and Higurashi Kagome." Kagome sweat dropped at Yoh's casual politeness in this situation.
"H-How do you do…?" Manta asked half-heartedly. He was more scared than anything.
Kagome only waved a little and added, "Hi."
One of Ryu's minions whispered something to Ryu and he replied something in a low tone.
"It seems to me that my friends paid you some debt, now I'm here to return the favor." Yoh announced confidently.
"Favor?" Ryu inquired before chuckling. "Are you saying you are going to avenge them? You've got a lot of guts. You must want to see the other world so soon."
"Even the people of the other world say that you're just plain annoying." Yoh replied.
Kagome stood up then took a place beside Yoh and asked softly, " What are you planning to do?"
"Apologize! Kneel down and just apologize!" Manta pleaded from his place on the tree.
"Ryu-san! We'll take care of them!" One of his minions said. Another cracked his knuckles and added,
"There is no need for Ryu-san to get his hands dirty playing around with kids like these."
Ryu nodded and instructed, "As you wish. But leave the girl to me. Do not harm her."
Kagome glared at Ryu and asked, " What's that supposed to mean? Like I said before…" She pointed a finger at Ryu and yelled, "Don't treat me differently because I'm a girl!"
"But I'm treating you because you're cute not because you are a girl," Ryu admitted shamelessly.
Yoh gently used one arm and push Kagome back behind him. "And I would appreciate it if you left Higurashi alone." Yoh told Ryu.
"A-Asakura-kun…?" Kagome whispered, blushing fiercely.
"I'll do whatever I want you little-!"
"It's fine, Ryu-san, like we said." a minion stated. "We will take care of them, of course we will not harm the girl."
"See?!" Manta asked looking at Yoh. "Now they're interested in Higurashi and want to kill us!"
"I already told you, it will alright," said Yoh reassuringly. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded.
Manta could not believe Kagome had so much faith in Yoh already. "He can't do anything on his own!"
"I am not alone," Yoh yelled. Kagome gasped and took a step back when a large spirit appeared behind Yoh and beside her.
"I shall grant thee an opportunity to redeem your mistakes, so you should be thankful!"
'Mistakes…?' Kagome thought.
Manta was thinking the same thing. 'Could… Could it be…?'
"Kick his ass!" Ryu commanded his sidekicks.
"Manta…" Yoh whispered solemnly. "Watch me closely."
Kagome gasped when she realized what was going on.
"Shall we do it then? All right! …Amidamaru!" Yoh called, raising his arm. Kagome and Manta watched awestruck as Amidamaru went into Ghost-ball mode. Ryu's minions did not seem to notice.
"I am a shaman," Yoh informed everyone who cared. "The one who links this world and the next…"
'Asakura-kun is a…'
"Sha… Shaman," Manta asked stunned.
"Let's go!" Yoh stated to Amidamaru before pushing the Ghost-ball into his chest. "Over-Soul Merge!"
"The spirit went into his body," inquired Manta aloud. The edge of Kagome's mouth slowly began to twitch then curve upward. The two men, who did not notice Amidamaru merge into Yoh, foolishly charged at him. Manta gasped when Yoh drew his wooden sword and easily defeated the two with a single swing.
"T-That was awesome, Asakura-kun," Kagome cheered from behind Yoh. A big smile was plastered on her face as she watched Yoh and Amidamaru with excitement. It almost made adrenaline rush through her veins.
"What the hell just happened?" asked one of the shocked gangsters.
"It was too fast to see anything." one of his comrades replied.
Yoh pointed the wooden sword at Ryu and told him, "You're next." Kagome gasped, though the smile did not disappear. She could see him. She could see Amidamaru's spirit inside of Yoh… "Are you prepared for it?"
'Who is this bastard…? He's completely different from a moment ago.' Ryu thought sweating.
'What the hell just happened?'
Kagome balled up her fists and yelled though it was not necessary, "Waste that gangster Asakura-kun!" 'And you too… Amidamaru-sama…' she added mentally.
"What's wrong?" asked the cocky brown haired boy. "Are you afraid to fight me… Rookie?"
Manta could tell that hit one of Ryu's nerves but for once he was not screaming for Yoh to apologize. He was amazed and awestruck… All of this was too cool to be real. But it was real.
"This kid…" Ryu stated as he gripped his sword and charged full speed at Yoh, "Is a real bastard! Don't underestimate me!" Kagome gasped and moved from behind Yoh to a safer place beside the tree with a midget attached to its trunk.
Just as Ryu was about to strike, Yoh grinned and seemingly disappeared. He reappeared behind Ryu, ready to strike with his wooden sword in his hands.
"Ryu-san! Watch out!"
Everything happened in slow motion… Yoh and Amidamaru swung-
"Hmph, I won't kill you. I don't want someone like you to become one of us," Yoh mumbled, though Kagome and Manta knew it was really Amidamaru speaking through Yoh's body.
"Way to go!" Kagome cheered when she saw Ryu fall flat on his back.
"Ahhhhh! Ryu-san has been defeated! Run!"
Manta quietly replayed what happened in his head. 'Shaman… To unite with a spirit… the spirit's movement, skills, everything… Reappears using his body…' A single bead of sweat ran down Yoh's face.
"Amazing!" Manta finally said.
'I guess… It's over now…' thought Kagome.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Yoh stuck Amidamaru's wooden sword into the soil. He and Kagome closed their eyes in a small prayer. "Alright! It's perfect!" Yoh said cheerfully.
"What do you mean?" asked Manta as he looked at tombstone that had been glued back together. "It has cracks all over the place."
"Well, don't mind such petty things." the brown haired boy said smiling.
"That's right," Kagome stated, finishing her prayer. She ran her hand over the stone and smiled, winking at Manta. "Besides, the cracks give it character."
"That's the ticket!" Yoh told her, placing a hand on her shoulder and grinning. All three laughed at what seemed to be nothing at all.
"You two don't seem afraid."
"Afraid? Of what Asakura-kun?"
"Well, you saw me unite with the ghost," Yoh pointed out.
"Well, the first time we saw you was with the spirits after all." Manta explained.
"Hm, oh yeah?"
"Un!" nodded Manta.
Kagome smiled and suddenly slapped Yoh on the back, laughing merrily, "You did a good job with Amidamaru-sama, Asakura-kun!" She blinked when Yoh's shoulders trembled. "Eh… What's the matter?"
Yoh grinned at her over his shoulder and said, "That kinda hurt."
"Oh you…"
Yoh sat down and Kagome followed suit. He looked up at the night sky and said, "Oh! Today's stars are really pretty!"
"You're right again." Manta agreed, looking up too.
Kagome smiled softly and admitted, closing her eyes, "I'm happy."
"Because Yoh beat Ryu of the Wooden Sword?" Manta questioned blinking.
The girl shook her head and said, "I moved here from the outskirts of Tokyo and you could never see stars like this there… when I first moved here I was lonely and sad because I would always get lost and I missed my family… I came here to start a new life and I thought you two screwed it up already." Kagome looked down from the sky and smiled at Manta and Yoh. "But now, I'm glad I met you."
Yoh placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder, "Then you're real lucky, Kagome-chan."
"Ka…gome-chan…." Kagome asked slowly. "What happened to just Higurashi?"
Manta told her smiling "Well, we're friends now, so you can call me Manta-kun."
"And me, Yoh-kun if you want," Yoh added.
Kagome nodded and smiled happily. "I'll do that!" she whispered. From that moment on the three classmates watched the stars contently with Amidamaru quietly leaning against a tree behind them.
Chapter 1: The Boy Who Dances with Ghosts
And the Girl Who Believed
!ENDS!
Authoress' Notes: And there you have it. I guess the revisions weren't as good as I thought they would be... I wanted to give Kagome more character... But like I said before, she'll have more parts in future chapters.
About Ages: Since I said it will be an Alternate Universe for the characters from Inuyasha, they will mostly be around Yoh's and Manta's age. Kagome is about 13. I know Ren is about 15 years old in the anime but like in the manga he was like 13... So um… Yeah, he's going to be his manga age in this story. It only seems right to me. When (and if) the other Inuyasha characters appear in this story, their ages will go according to Kagome's.
I also used a few basic Japanese terms that most fan fiction readers should know but just to make sure, here is a small glossary.
1) Iie - No
2) Gomen nasai - I am very sorry
3) Hontou - Really
4) Nani - What
5) -kun - an honorific usually used on boys that you are familiar or friendly with. Some also use -kun on strangers
6) Hai - Yes
7) Demo - But
8) Un - a grunt-like sound that means "Yeah"
9) -san - an honorific that is basically polite; meaning 'Mr., Ms., or Mrs.'
10) -chan - an honorific equivalent to -kun except for girls. -chan can also be used on young children both girls and boys
11) -sama - an honorific of high respect, usually meaning 'Lord, or Lady'
Readers: If you any questions, don't be afraid to ask. If you have any comments, I would love to read them. So please review. And if you have personal preference for pairings just tell me cause I take into account everyone's wants. Also, remember to vote for Kagome's oversoul! Thanks for reading everyone! Stay tuned for the next chapters!
For Kagome's oversoul, you can vote for which one you want Kagome's primary spirit will be:
Midoriko
Sesshoumaru
Kikyou
SPECIAL NOTES: I just want to thank a handful of people for all their help and support!
Beautiful Phantom- Thank you so much for everything! I appreciate all the help and support you've given me. You inspired me with your wonderful pictures and ideas! Arigato, Phan-chan!
Cool-Hanyou- Thank you onii-san for your help! ...I'm still gonna beat you up for calling my fanart gross. --' Thanks anyway though.
Bishonen'sFoxyMiko- Thank you for all your help too! The last chapters I posted, I screwed up with my dumb email format. Sorry T-T You worked on editing those chapters and I just went and ruined them!