Sunlight streamed through the slim fissures of the window shades from the window adjacent to me on my right. I studied the specks of dust particles that floated within the thin light rays. Tanaka-Sensei was discussing the lessons for tomorrow's class, but like usual, I never payed attention and being in the very end of the room did not help that habit. The voices of my classmates,though...I could still make them out, the consistent flow of it all.....The same foolish gossip from the lively, peppy group of schoolgirls....the familiar sound of the boys talking about sports and other after-school activities .....

I sighed a little and took a deep whiff of the musty air. Today, although it was practically like any other day...to me, it felt like a special day. Like something was to happen...good or sorrowful, I had no presumptions of what it could possibly be. The atmosphere felt like that of when a shot is being held back before the beginning of a battle. Although everyone was talking, it felt silent.

My name? Aya Kietsu 喜び 彩 Third Year in High School. I live alone now since my mother died last year from a rare illness and my father had died long ago when I was three in a car accident.

My mother had been a dream-seer. She had been able to see that in which is to forecome in her dreams. Back when she was alive, she would tell me I too, have the same power...but I am still too young to understand how it works. I can still remember seeing sitting out on the porch, pulling out her long, red and gold embroidered *kiseru and taking a nice big huff of smoke from the end. Although my mother always seemed to be a very nonchalant, I could always see the tension that flowed in her eyes. She had told me, before she had died, that I was fated with something that would open up my past for me. What that means...I've been trying to figure that out ever since.

Suddenly, my best and closest friend, Masumi Shimizu, popped up next to my desk. Her mouth in that same smug grin that she wore practically all the time. But I knew at times, that when she smiled, it didn't always mean she was happy.

Masumi Shimizu 清水真澄 Third Year in High School. She is living with her grandmother at her family's shrine, since her grandmother is a spiritualist. Although her grandmother can contact the dead and see them, Masumi did not inherit that same power....but instead, Masumi had two curses. Her grandmother had explained that a story had been passed in their family for generations, that 7th granddaughter of the family would hold the burden of two curses. The first curse would be that her parents would die when she was born and the second was that she would be able to hear the evil intentions of those around her, but she would not be able to tell anyone the things she heard, or the person closest to her would die.

"Aya!," she said with a huge smile,"Its Friday! And you know what that means! Fried tofu, miso, and soba at my place!~ My grandmother's specialty!" She winked at me.

I chuckled, "Yeah yeah, I know, its practically a tradition now. Say, do we have anything in calculus today?"

"Nope. Its a free weekend! And maybe you could stay overnight!" She pouted,"...You're always alone in that small box, seriously, why don't you just live with Oba-san and I?"

"Hmph! Oi, its not a 'small box', its an apartment! And....I like that apartment?"

We started to walk out into the hallway.

"Ha! First you're protecting the so-called pride of the place, then you're questioning if you even like it!" She rolled her eyes at me "You're strange as ever, Aya."

I whimpered a bit at the comment. "I suppose...."

We walked out of the schoolyard and down the rest of the street in silence. We passed by a few pedestrians, a few normal metropolitan-type buildings....until my eyes rested upon a white picket fence. It was an oddity. It didn't fit with the rest of the city scenery I was accustomed to. There was something behind it.... but when I glanced over the gate, I saw nothing but an empty, grass-filled lot. I eyed Masumi, who was staring too, looking intrigued.

She frowned"That's weird...how the gate and the fence are there, but behind it, there is nothing. Plus, I could've sworn I just saw a tall boy with black hair and glasses walk in there. He was wearing a uniform from our school too...."

"You did?"

She nodded,"No lie. I saw him while you were turned away....but...," she quickly shined a smile at me,"It could have just been my imagination!~"

I forced a small smile"Yeah maybe...but..."I looked back at the fence. Something tells me it isn't....

*On a little note, a kiseru in Japan is a long and slender pipe that is used to smoke. It is not used much in modern days. If you have seen or read "XxxHolic", you may have seen Yuuko smoking one.

Anyway, first attempt at a Tsubasa/XxxHolic fanfic as well as a fanfic with OC's in it. This chapter really is sort of like a prolouge to give some background to the characters and to give the story a place to start. Should I continue? :)