The pale black sky held no evidence of the beautiful sunset that had taken place just half an hour beforehand. The light streaks of color, crimson, pink and a vibrant orange, that had colored the sky like pastel smears were now faded and gone. Stars littered the lightened black sky, few and far between. The beauty of the heavens seemed dull, however, when compared to the sharp lights of the city. It seemed to passerby that the two warred with one another, both trying to be noticed by the humans that strolled down the streets of down town Tokyo. The city was wide awake and buzzing, despite the late hour. Cars, trucks, cabs, and even bicycles made heavy traffic on main roads, the side walks swamped with hundreds of people, of all classes, ages, and nationalities. Tourists made their ways to their hotels after "Partying it up" (Please excuse the phrase). Natives to the city headed to wherever their hearts felt the need to go, talking loudly to one another about the busybody tourists. Still others, whom graced this city with their presence, made their way through the gawking sightseers and roughhousing natives to get to their small apartment to rest after a stressful day. But, there was yet another classification. Three teenage girls, laphing madly as though insane, dodged behind, around, and infront of the other innocent passerby, screaming. Judging from their horrific Japanese and their accent, they were American.
"I'm bored." Shanta whined, her steps slowing to a drunkard's pace. You could tell by they way this girl spoke and dressed that she wasn't the calmest kid on the block. Her tone had a hint of defiance to it, as though she was challenging the world to a bar room brawl, sure to come on top. Her army pants had a tear in the left knee, her black, bare skin showing through. Her sweater was blue, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail so as to keep out of the way, lest it hinder her in any sort of fight.
"Bored?!" Jessica cried, waving her arms, oblivious to the curious stares of those watching them with interest, "We're in Tokyo, the place we've been dreaming to visit for, like, two years! Well, I sopose that ain't true, we've been dreaming longer than we've known one another." Her eyes rolled heavenward, her mouth up turning in a mocking smile, "Wanna go back to the hotel, is that it, Shanta?" She had short, brown hair that hung to her shoulders, a light streak of blonde on the side. Her hazel eyes were framed by glasses, which added to her already rather timid looks. Freckles dotted her cheeks, something she despised. Her T-shirt had a pokemon logo on it, proving that she was a miserable existence indeed. Her jeans were an old pair of flares, worn and faded. Her sneakers also had been worn by her for a long time. This look made her feel comfortable, and oddly safe. Why, she did not know.
"Yes!" Shanta answered loudly, her tone weary with the walking they had done all day. Her light brown eyes dulled in color and she let her shoulders sag.
"Why? So you can play with the ice machine again?" Autumn asked her companion lightly, a hint of mockery in her tone. Autumn had light brown skin. She had tight curls with various shades of brown strands of hair that framed her face, forever hanging in her eyes. She looked like curly sue, a docile, kind little girl. Totally innocent. [*Snort*]. She dressed like a boy, in Jessica's loud opinion. Baggy black pants and an equally over-sized red shirt. She smirked at Shanta's indigent look. Shanta's hands clutched into fists, which she shook at Autumn, who stuck her tongue out in response.
"I did not play with the ice thing!"
"Did too!" Autumn and Jessica said in unison. "Jinx!" Jessica said airily, her grin getting wider by the minute, much to the annoyance of her friends, who often told her smiling was for the "weak-minded nigen". But Jessica pointed out that neither of them were, in reality, demons, to which they replied: Shut it!
Shanta crossed her arms, a miffed expression on her face. "Bakas!" She sniffled angrily, though she wasn't offended.
"Henjin," Jessica said, not being offensive, but smiled and gave her friend's shoulder a squeeze,
"Why don't we go rent a movie? Then we can go to the hotel."
"Whats the point? It'll be in Japanese!" Autumn pointed out, "We could," She added with a peevish grin, her eyes resting on a rather dangerous looking bar, "Go clubbing." This, she knew, would get a reaction from "goodie-two-shoes".
"If you make one move towards any bar, I'll call your mom, and she'll come right over on the next plane!"
"Always so responsible. Makes me sick." Autumn added under her breath.
"That's right, children!" Jessica said with superiority, putting a hand of each of her shorter tomodatchis' heads, giving them a pat. "No irresponsibility around me!" She laphed, giving them a shove in the back, sending them several feet ahead of her. "I'm in charge."
"Who says?!" Shanta asked, cocking an eyebrow. Autumn followed suite.
"I told you, no one with an IQ lower than twelve can be in charge. Therefor, it is I, Hikari Minnimano, devoted wife of Kurama, who shall take upon the humble title of babysitter."
"Ooo, you better run, girl!" Autumn informed her. And so the three ran wildly down the busy sidewalk. Jessica was easily captured, despite the fact that she was both the oldest, and the tallest. She was a bit on the chubby side… [*Cough* understatement *Cough*] Her friends shoved her into a wall, laphing evilly as if they were torturing her. She shoved them away, screaming bloody murder. She caught sight of the native Tokyo inhabitants watching her with amused looks, and flushed, muttering: "Dang it! You to always get me in trouble."
"Lighten up!" Autumn said as they continued on their way, wandering farther from the hotel. She gave Jessica a playful shove in the ribs. She winced. "Like you said, we're in Tokyo! The place where Kagome lives!"
"I don't like Inuyasha," She mumbled, still blushing scarlet. "Kurama, however… But he doesn't live in Tokyo…" She heaved a sigh, the burden of being the "responsible one" once more plaguing her. Why was she the one to keep watch over her friends? What was she, their mother?! "Then again, Kurama is the responsible one," she thought aloud, to soft for the other two to hear, her face lighting up. "Let's take a bus to Kurama's hometown."
"We don't know where that is." Shanta glumly pointed out.
"Hey, raining on our parade is Jess's job, Shanta."
"Shut up, Autumn."
"What? I was just-" Autumn was cut off by Jessica, who clapped her hand over her mouth and pointed with the other hand to a little shop, which had a stack of books in the window. Autumn let out an exaggerated groan of despair. "Books?! Come on, gimme a break, child! We're on vacation!"
"No, not the books!" Jessica snapped, "Look at the boy in the shop, the one at the counter! That looks like Bishouhen!" She said, using her pet name for Kurama. Indeed, the likeness between the boy and the anime character was striking. The long, ruby-red hair, strikingly green eyes, slender, boyishly handsome, dependable face, insubstantial-looking, but quite strong shoulders, and lean body were all as they would be. His attire was casual: a simple green T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Jessica let out a dreamy sigh.
"But," Autumn said, jerking her back into reality, rather hard, "He's probably a wanna-be who dresses like him for attention." This got her looks of utmost loathing from Jessica and Shanta.
"He's got mine." Shanta declared, "Come on, let's talk to him!" Shanta, the ever-ready outgoing one, the one that girls like Jessica usually avoided altogether.
"Nooo! We only know like forty Japanese words, most are insults. Do you plan to call him 'baka henjin'?!" Jessica interrupted. She shook her head slowly from side to side, as though fed up with her friend's stupidity. "Nooo sir-ee!"
"Aw, you ruin everything, Jess."
"Just reminding you there is such thing as sanity." She snapped. But Jessica too, wished to talk to this boy. She breathed in sharply as he walked from the store, his arms loaded down with books. The lamplight caught his scarlet hair- Jessica felt faint. She clasped Autumn and Shanta's hands to keep from falling then and there. "God, is he good looking!" She mumbled weakly.
"Heh." Autumn snorted, slapping the back of Jessica's head with the edge of her hand. "Earth to baka, earth to baka! Come in, child of patheticsy."
"That… Isn't… A word…" Jessica could not take her hazel eyes from the figure. She watched his movements with a dreamy look as he lightly strode down the sidewalk, a spotlight seemed to follow him also. "Look it up…"
"Thanks, but I have better things to do than use a dictionary!" Shanta laphed, then gave her a quizzical look, "Uh, Jess?"
"Shut up, or I will be forced to silence you with my foot." Jessica answered absently, not present in mind, her mouth fairly hanging open.
"Jeez, snap out of it, girl!"
"I think we should follow him." She said suddenly, straining to see the redhead in the crowd, moaning as his form faded into the night. She hesitated a moment before bolting, her friends at her heels. She took no notice to the indignant glares of those she shoved, occasionally looking over her shoulder to check on Shanta and Autumn, who were going a bit slower, not as willing to run after the boy. A rush of adrenaline flooded Jessica's system, giving her a fresh burst of speed.
"Who'd a thought Jess would chase after a boy like this?" Autumn huffed to Shanta as they ducked behind an elderly woman, who shouted angry curses as they passed.
"He looks like Kurama! How'd you think she'd react?" Shanta shot back, starting to loose sight of the love-crazed teen. "Hurry up!"
"Hey, I was just pacing myself for your sake, you want to go faster, I can speed up real easy."
"Then do it!"
* * *
Kurama tilted his head to the side at a slight fraction, his eyes glinting as he viewed the scenery behind him. So, he was being followed. "Whatever could she want?" He wondered out loud, a curious sound to his voice. His eyes trailed her as she sped up, despite the crowd's density, her sneakers thudding on the pavement as she ran. "I don't sense a demonic aura around her, she must be another fangirl. This does wear down my nerves." He heaved a miserable sigh, shaking his head sadly.
"You'd think we'd be used to it by now." Yuskue said unhappily, shoving his hands deep in the pockets of his green uniform pants. "Gee, she is persistent. Good thing Hiei isn't here, you remember what happened to the last unlucky girl who swooned over him?"
A wince passed Kurama's face, his shoulders giving a slight twitch. "If I hadn't been there…"
"Tch. Seems to me that this kid has a thing fer you, man." Yuskue assumed his laid back position as he walked, his arms folded behind his head. His carefree air caused Kurama to smile, glad of the lighthearted teenager's company. "Just think, you don't have a woman, maybe you ought to get one."
"Bleh! Are you insane?! I'm not in any hurry for a road of emotional pain and stress. I'm not very easy to be around, you know that. What makes you think I'd need female companionship?"
"You seem lonely to me. I dunno, maybe you should really consider it, for real."
"What on earth do you mean by lonely, I don't lack anything in my life, I have no need for a… a …. Girlfriend."
"Well, I'm not buying it." Yuskue grinned at Kurama's nervous face, laphing at his friend's sudden fidgeting. "I'm kidding, dude! Don't sweat, I'm not out to get you a mate, okay? Anyway, that's not our problem at the moment, its that girl that's following us. How are we gonna loose her?"
Kurama sighed again, then cast a glance over his shoulder. "I don't know…"
"I wonder if she'd follow us into an alley, she looks real skittish ta me." Yuskue said thoughtfully, biting his lip in concentration. "That ought to do the trick."
"Yes, it seems so. But…" Kurama faded off, his tone troubled. "Yuskue, what if she isn't really human? She could be a demon, masking her sent. It is probable, given our current situation. "
"And hide it from you, fox boy? Naw, she's a normal human. Though, come to think of it, I haven't been paying much attention, some demon may be following us, but it ain't her."
"It is crucial that we keep our eyes open, Yuskue! And for more than just demons, but for the crystal." Kurama said with emphasis.
"Yeah yeah," Yuskue yawned, letting his arms fall to his sides. "I know."
"Good. Now can you use what you know wisely?"
Yuskue tilted his head to the side, a silly grin on his face. "I doubt it!" He chimed brightly.
* * *
"Come on, slow down…" Jessica begged, her eyes never leaving his muscular shoulders, her breathing in short gasps as she struggled to keep up with him. Her sneakers thudded on the pavement, echoing in the dark, cold night air. Jessica noted the change in surroundings, she now was running full tilt in a rather spooky end of town. The buildings looked vacant, old and condemned. Tufts of grass which grew from cracks in the sidewalk hindered her, catching on her shoes and tripping her up. She slowed her steps, catching her breath. Yet she could not bring herself to approach him.
She cast a frightened glance around her, praying that her companions would appear, but no one came. She was alone in the bad end of town at eleven at night in Tokyo, Japan, a foreign country, whose dialect she could barely speak. Suddenly very aware of her vulnerability, she wrapped her arms around herself, her face pale in the light of the street lamps. The vague sound of a dog's bark sent shivers up her spine, and she closed her eyes to collect herself. "Don't be scared… You aren't a baby…" She told herself aloud. "What am I saying?! I'm a baby and I know it!"
Her eyes sought the redhead again, who now seemed to be walking with another teenager. She had already seen dozens of kids wearing a green uniform; the nearby school had that as its dress code. But the youth the walked beside the soposed Kurama wore his a bit differently, like he wore for the simple reason of being rebellious.
"C-Could it be? I must be asleep, dreaming… Or insane. Figures, I knew I'd crack eventually…" Jessica's mouth played up in a rueful smile, her hazel eyes closing as she walked. "It's so real though… They must have just given me my meds."
"Its getting cold," Jessica said, still thinking out loud, the sound of her own voice comforting. "I hope those two went back to the hotel. It'd really suck if all three of us were lost." She shuddered and sought for a distraction. The redhead kept his steady pace, just a hundred yards of so ahead of her, oblivious as to her, as did his companion.. This gave her little comfort, so her eyes traveled to the sidewalk, scanning it for anything to divert her attention.
"What the heck…?" Her steps halted and she stooped to the ground. It was an orb, glowing softly with a whitish-blue color, about the size of her palm. It was so beautiful, so bright! How did she not notice it before? Her fingertips stretched out, just above the gentle radiance, and she hesitated. Pain struck her as if she had been hit by a car, she gasped for breath, the air in her lungs had frozen. Her eyes widened in surprise, her hand jerking from the marble. Her neck broke out in cold sweat, chills up and down her spine. But, despite the obvious danger of the object, something stirred deep within her chest. She had to touch it! Again she reached for it, this time without hesitation.
* * *
"Where the heck is she?" Autumn asked, her steps slowing to a jog. Shanta came up beside her, her face dark with worry. They looked about themselves. Tall buildings towered above them, their bright lights stinging the girls' eyes. Cars zoomed by, despite the late hour. The city was alive and buzzing, non to comforting to them.
"JESSICA!" They called in unison, unable to keep the worry from their tones.
"What are we going to do?" Shanta muttered hopelessly, frowning.
"Rent a movie and go back to the hotel?" Autumn suggested, her tone light with an innocent air.
"Not funny!" She snarled, glaring angrily at the shorter one, who shrugged in response, not overly remorseful as to her comment. "Come on, Autumn, we have to find her!"
"I know! But what can we do? We lost sight of her almost ten minutes ago in this huge city, how can we find her?" She said defensively, her brow creasing in a frown, "We can't call the cops either, our moms would flip."
The two sighed, looking up a large billboard advertising some sort of Japanese wine. Fighting down her gaining fear, Shanta kicked at a dented old can listlessly with her foot. Without a word, she turned to head back to the hotel. Autumn gaped at her, then shrugged and turned to follow.
"Hopefully she's already there." Autumn muttered, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
"If she is, I'm gonna kill her."
* * *
Jessica felt a wave of warmth as she held the orb in her palm, like nothing she had ever felt, it was so soothing. All her problems left her mind, everything. "It feels nice…" She murmured, her eyes half closed in a dreamy state, her mouth partially open. Her skin tingled in a pleasant way, almost like tickling but not so harsh. Enchanted, she stood, stowing the orb carefully in her pocket, patting the fabric of her jeans so as to be sure it was there. The redhead forgotten, she went back to the hotel.
"I'm bored." Shanta whined, her steps slowing to a drunkard's pace. You could tell by they way this girl spoke and dressed that she wasn't the calmest kid on the block. Her tone had a hint of defiance to it, as though she was challenging the world to a bar room brawl, sure to come on top. Her army pants had a tear in the left knee, her black, bare skin showing through. Her sweater was blue, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail so as to keep out of the way, lest it hinder her in any sort of fight.
"Bored?!" Jessica cried, waving her arms, oblivious to the curious stares of those watching them with interest, "We're in Tokyo, the place we've been dreaming to visit for, like, two years! Well, I sopose that ain't true, we've been dreaming longer than we've known one another." Her eyes rolled heavenward, her mouth up turning in a mocking smile, "Wanna go back to the hotel, is that it, Shanta?" She had short, brown hair that hung to her shoulders, a light streak of blonde on the side. Her hazel eyes were framed by glasses, which added to her already rather timid looks. Freckles dotted her cheeks, something she despised. Her T-shirt had a pokemon logo on it, proving that she was a miserable existence indeed. Her jeans were an old pair of flares, worn and faded. Her sneakers also had been worn by her for a long time. This look made her feel comfortable, and oddly safe. Why, she did not know.
"Yes!" Shanta answered loudly, her tone weary with the walking they had done all day. Her light brown eyes dulled in color and she let her shoulders sag.
"Why? So you can play with the ice machine again?" Autumn asked her companion lightly, a hint of mockery in her tone. Autumn had light brown skin. She had tight curls with various shades of brown strands of hair that framed her face, forever hanging in her eyes. She looked like curly sue, a docile, kind little girl. Totally innocent. [*Snort*]. She dressed like a boy, in Jessica's loud opinion. Baggy black pants and an equally over-sized red shirt. She smirked at Shanta's indigent look. Shanta's hands clutched into fists, which she shook at Autumn, who stuck her tongue out in response.
"I did not play with the ice thing!"
"Did too!" Autumn and Jessica said in unison. "Jinx!" Jessica said airily, her grin getting wider by the minute, much to the annoyance of her friends, who often told her smiling was for the "weak-minded nigen". But Jessica pointed out that neither of them were, in reality, demons, to which they replied: Shut it!
Shanta crossed her arms, a miffed expression on her face. "Bakas!" She sniffled angrily, though she wasn't offended.
"Henjin," Jessica said, not being offensive, but smiled and gave her friend's shoulder a squeeze,
"Why don't we go rent a movie? Then we can go to the hotel."
"Whats the point? It'll be in Japanese!" Autumn pointed out, "We could," She added with a peevish grin, her eyes resting on a rather dangerous looking bar, "Go clubbing." This, she knew, would get a reaction from "goodie-two-shoes".
"If you make one move towards any bar, I'll call your mom, and she'll come right over on the next plane!"
"Always so responsible. Makes me sick." Autumn added under her breath.
"That's right, children!" Jessica said with superiority, putting a hand of each of her shorter tomodatchis' heads, giving them a pat. "No irresponsibility around me!" She laphed, giving them a shove in the back, sending them several feet ahead of her. "I'm in charge."
"Who says?!" Shanta asked, cocking an eyebrow. Autumn followed suite.
"I told you, no one with an IQ lower than twelve can be in charge. Therefor, it is I, Hikari Minnimano, devoted wife of Kurama, who shall take upon the humble title of babysitter."
"Ooo, you better run, girl!" Autumn informed her. And so the three ran wildly down the busy sidewalk. Jessica was easily captured, despite the fact that she was both the oldest, and the tallest. She was a bit on the chubby side… [*Cough* understatement *Cough*] Her friends shoved her into a wall, laphing evilly as if they were torturing her. She shoved them away, screaming bloody murder. She caught sight of the native Tokyo inhabitants watching her with amused looks, and flushed, muttering: "Dang it! You to always get me in trouble."
"Lighten up!" Autumn said as they continued on their way, wandering farther from the hotel. She gave Jessica a playful shove in the ribs. She winced. "Like you said, we're in Tokyo! The place where Kagome lives!"
"I don't like Inuyasha," She mumbled, still blushing scarlet. "Kurama, however… But he doesn't live in Tokyo…" She heaved a sigh, the burden of being the "responsible one" once more plaguing her. Why was she the one to keep watch over her friends? What was she, their mother?! "Then again, Kurama is the responsible one," she thought aloud, to soft for the other two to hear, her face lighting up. "Let's take a bus to Kurama's hometown."
"We don't know where that is." Shanta glumly pointed out.
"Hey, raining on our parade is Jess's job, Shanta."
"Shut up, Autumn."
"What? I was just-" Autumn was cut off by Jessica, who clapped her hand over her mouth and pointed with the other hand to a little shop, which had a stack of books in the window. Autumn let out an exaggerated groan of despair. "Books?! Come on, gimme a break, child! We're on vacation!"
"No, not the books!" Jessica snapped, "Look at the boy in the shop, the one at the counter! That looks like Bishouhen!" She said, using her pet name for Kurama. Indeed, the likeness between the boy and the anime character was striking. The long, ruby-red hair, strikingly green eyes, slender, boyishly handsome, dependable face, insubstantial-looking, but quite strong shoulders, and lean body were all as they would be. His attire was casual: a simple green T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Jessica let out a dreamy sigh.
"But," Autumn said, jerking her back into reality, rather hard, "He's probably a wanna-be who dresses like him for attention." This got her looks of utmost loathing from Jessica and Shanta.
"He's got mine." Shanta declared, "Come on, let's talk to him!" Shanta, the ever-ready outgoing one, the one that girls like Jessica usually avoided altogether.
"Nooo! We only know like forty Japanese words, most are insults. Do you plan to call him 'baka henjin'?!" Jessica interrupted. She shook her head slowly from side to side, as though fed up with her friend's stupidity. "Nooo sir-ee!"
"Aw, you ruin everything, Jess."
"Just reminding you there is such thing as sanity." She snapped. But Jessica too, wished to talk to this boy. She breathed in sharply as he walked from the store, his arms loaded down with books. The lamplight caught his scarlet hair- Jessica felt faint. She clasped Autumn and Shanta's hands to keep from falling then and there. "God, is he good looking!" She mumbled weakly.
"Heh." Autumn snorted, slapping the back of Jessica's head with the edge of her hand. "Earth to baka, earth to baka! Come in, child of patheticsy."
"That… Isn't… A word…" Jessica could not take her hazel eyes from the figure. She watched his movements with a dreamy look as he lightly strode down the sidewalk, a spotlight seemed to follow him also. "Look it up…"
"Thanks, but I have better things to do than use a dictionary!" Shanta laphed, then gave her a quizzical look, "Uh, Jess?"
"Shut up, or I will be forced to silence you with my foot." Jessica answered absently, not present in mind, her mouth fairly hanging open.
"Jeez, snap out of it, girl!"
"I think we should follow him." She said suddenly, straining to see the redhead in the crowd, moaning as his form faded into the night. She hesitated a moment before bolting, her friends at her heels. She took no notice to the indignant glares of those she shoved, occasionally looking over her shoulder to check on Shanta and Autumn, who were going a bit slower, not as willing to run after the boy. A rush of adrenaline flooded Jessica's system, giving her a fresh burst of speed.
"Who'd a thought Jess would chase after a boy like this?" Autumn huffed to Shanta as they ducked behind an elderly woman, who shouted angry curses as they passed.
"He looks like Kurama! How'd you think she'd react?" Shanta shot back, starting to loose sight of the love-crazed teen. "Hurry up!"
"Hey, I was just pacing myself for your sake, you want to go faster, I can speed up real easy."
"Then do it!"
* * *
Kurama tilted his head to the side at a slight fraction, his eyes glinting as he viewed the scenery behind him. So, he was being followed. "Whatever could she want?" He wondered out loud, a curious sound to his voice. His eyes trailed her as she sped up, despite the crowd's density, her sneakers thudding on the pavement as she ran. "I don't sense a demonic aura around her, she must be another fangirl. This does wear down my nerves." He heaved a miserable sigh, shaking his head sadly.
"You'd think we'd be used to it by now." Yuskue said unhappily, shoving his hands deep in the pockets of his green uniform pants. "Gee, she is persistent. Good thing Hiei isn't here, you remember what happened to the last unlucky girl who swooned over him?"
A wince passed Kurama's face, his shoulders giving a slight twitch. "If I hadn't been there…"
"Tch. Seems to me that this kid has a thing fer you, man." Yuskue assumed his laid back position as he walked, his arms folded behind his head. His carefree air caused Kurama to smile, glad of the lighthearted teenager's company. "Just think, you don't have a woman, maybe you ought to get one."
"Bleh! Are you insane?! I'm not in any hurry for a road of emotional pain and stress. I'm not very easy to be around, you know that. What makes you think I'd need female companionship?"
"You seem lonely to me. I dunno, maybe you should really consider it, for real."
"What on earth do you mean by lonely, I don't lack anything in my life, I have no need for a… a …. Girlfriend."
"Well, I'm not buying it." Yuskue grinned at Kurama's nervous face, laphing at his friend's sudden fidgeting. "I'm kidding, dude! Don't sweat, I'm not out to get you a mate, okay? Anyway, that's not our problem at the moment, its that girl that's following us. How are we gonna loose her?"
Kurama sighed again, then cast a glance over his shoulder. "I don't know…"
"I wonder if she'd follow us into an alley, she looks real skittish ta me." Yuskue said thoughtfully, biting his lip in concentration. "That ought to do the trick."
"Yes, it seems so. But…" Kurama faded off, his tone troubled. "Yuskue, what if she isn't really human? She could be a demon, masking her sent. It is probable, given our current situation. "
"And hide it from you, fox boy? Naw, she's a normal human. Though, come to think of it, I haven't been paying much attention, some demon may be following us, but it ain't her."
"It is crucial that we keep our eyes open, Yuskue! And for more than just demons, but for the crystal." Kurama said with emphasis.
"Yeah yeah," Yuskue yawned, letting his arms fall to his sides. "I know."
"Good. Now can you use what you know wisely?"
Yuskue tilted his head to the side, a silly grin on his face. "I doubt it!" He chimed brightly.
* * *
"Come on, slow down…" Jessica begged, her eyes never leaving his muscular shoulders, her breathing in short gasps as she struggled to keep up with him. Her sneakers thudded on the pavement, echoing in the dark, cold night air. Jessica noted the change in surroundings, she now was running full tilt in a rather spooky end of town. The buildings looked vacant, old and condemned. Tufts of grass which grew from cracks in the sidewalk hindered her, catching on her shoes and tripping her up. She slowed her steps, catching her breath. Yet she could not bring herself to approach him.
She cast a frightened glance around her, praying that her companions would appear, but no one came. She was alone in the bad end of town at eleven at night in Tokyo, Japan, a foreign country, whose dialect she could barely speak. Suddenly very aware of her vulnerability, she wrapped her arms around herself, her face pale in the light of the street lamps. The vague sound of a dog's bark sent shivers up her spine, and she closed her eyes to collect herself. "Don't be scared… You aren't a baby…" She told herself aloud. "What am I saying?! I'm a baby and I know it!"
Her eyes sought the redhead again, who now seemed to be walking with another teenager. She had already seen dozens of kids wearing a green uniform; the nearby school had that as its dress code. But the youth the walked beside the soposed Kurama wore his a bit differently, like he wore for the simple reason of being rebellious.
"C-Could it be? I must be asleep, dreaming… Or insane. Figures, I knew I'd crack eventually…" Jessica's mouth played up in a rueful smile, her hazel eyes closing as she walked. "It's so real though… They must have just given me my meds."
"Its getting cold," Jessica said, still thinking out loud, the sound of her own voice comforting. "I hope those two went back to the hotel. It'd really suck if all three of us were lost." She shuddered and sought for a distraction. The redhead kept his steady pace, just a hundred yards of so ahead of her, oblivious as to her, as did his companion.. This gave her little comfort, so her eyes traveled to the sidewalk, scanning it for anything to divert her attention.
"What the heck…?" Her steps halted and she stooped to the ground. It was an orb, glowing softly with a whitish-blue color, about the size of her palm. It was so beautiful, so bright! How did she not notice it before? Her fingertips stretched out, just above the gentle radiance, and she hesitated. Pain struck her as if she had been hit by a car, she gasped for breath, the air in her lungs had frozen. Her eyes widened in surprise, her hand jerking from the marble. Her neck broke out in cold sweat, chills up and down her spine. But, despite the obvious danger of the object, something stirred deep within her chest. She had to touch it! Again she reached for it, this time without hesitation.
* * *
"Where the heck is she?" Autumn asked, her steps slowing to a jog. Shanta came up beside her, her face dark with worry. They looked about themselves. Tall buildings towered above them, their bright lights stinging the girls' eyes. Cars zoomed by, despite the late hour. The city was alive and buzzing, non to comforting to them.
"JESSICA!" They called in unison, unable to keep the worry from their tones.
"What are we going to do?" Shanta muttered hopelessly, frowning.
"Rent a movie and go back to the hotel?" Autumn suggested, her tone light with an innocent air.
"Not funny!" She snarled, glaring angrily at the shorter one, who shrugged in response, not overly remorseful as to her comment. "Come on, Autumn, we have to find her!"
"I know! But what can we do? We lost sight of her almost ten minutes ago in this huge city, how can we find her?" She said defensively, her brow creasing in a frown, "We can't call the cops either, our moms would flip."
The two sighed, looking up a large billboard advertising some sort of Japanese wine. Fighting down her gaining fear, Shanta kicked at a dented old can listlessly with her foot. Without a word, she turned to head back to the hotel. Autumn gaped at her, then shrugged and turned to follow.
"Hopefully she's already there." Autumn muttered, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket.
"If she is, I'm gonna kill her."
* * *
Jessica felt a wave of warmth as she held the orb in her palm, like nothing she had ever felt, it was so soothing. All her problems left her mind, everything. "It feels nice…" She murmured, her eyes half closed in a dreamy state, her mouth partially open. Her skin tingled in a pleasant way, almost like tickling but not so harsh. Enchanted, she stood, stowing the orb carefully in her pocket, patting the fabric of her jeans so as to be sure it was there. The redhead forgotten, she went back to the hotel.