Decent Summary:
The once quiet and peaceful town was alarmed on the murder of a girl ,Kikyou , by her boyfriend, Inuyasha. What had happened was unspeakable, but much more chilling was the truth that only Inuyasha knows. Something evil that had slumbered for centuries beneath had stirred and it moves in an unusual chain.
Now with some few friends that believed him, as well as the other people that are unwittingly involved, they must find out the pattern before the next target could meet a fate worse than death.
Object of Affection Chapter 1: Urban Legend
The peace of the early summer dawn was shattered as the wail of police sirens traveled through the neighborhood, rousing the towns people in their deep slumber. A sense of malevolent dread hung in the air and the more curious of them had gone out of their porch. They could only wonder among themselves as they follow their sights on the red flickering lights glimmering in predawn darkness.
The old and once deserted shrine was crowded with both cops and curious onlookers. Though the yellow tape had kept curious onlookers at bay,the restless tension could not be contained. This was after all a small town and things such as these have either happened in the outside world as reflected in their television sets. It was only a matter of time before the information leaked. The victim was a young girl by the name of Kikyou and the killer was none other than her boyfriend.
Of course no one had believed it for almost all of them claimed to know the boy and somehow he did not fit the image of a criminal. The son of a rich miser and his second wife, the boy was just like any ordinary teenager. He was cheerful, vivacious and amiable to the folks despite of his rich status. Thus the crowd could only let out a collective gasp of shock and disbelief as the said boy was escorted out by police officers in handcuffs.
Covered with blood, the boy looked like to have come from their worst nightmare. His wild eyes glinted with unfocused horror, both crying and mumbling at the same time.
The motive was unknown and witnesses could only assume that the boy had a lapse of sanity. Soon the wholesome image was distorted as the stories of the boy's life were dug out to make sense of the situation. Living alone in a faraway mansion, with both parents dead and a cold and callous half-brother, the dark lonely secret life had added a sinister dimension to the town's golden boy.
The sound of the screeching tires echoed nearby the site and within seconds the driver hastily parked near the site and a young man came out and wove through the crowd only to be stopped by a cop by the yellow line.
" Let me through. The boy you are arresting is my brother."
The icy command had pushed back the officer to the side and the boy, recognizing his unlikely savior, called out to him.
'Oh gods'
Recoiling in disgust and horror, the man could not hide his grimace as he saw his half-brother. The boy was now screaming and the police had to forcefully shove him inside the police car yet not before he cried out in a loud and clear voice that was heard by all who was there.
" I didn't kill her.It ate Kikyou!! I tried to stop it but I couldn't."
In the end the boy broke down as the police car sped away to the precinct.
"It?"
The boy's brother had echoed the last words, his brows slightly rising up in surprise.
Sighing heavily as if another weight of responsibility had fallen on his shoulders, he went away from the crowd just to walk to his car and meditate. He wasn't particularly fond of his half-brother but he would not let any scandal such as this destroy the family's name and reputation. Letting his mind work with the tenacity and precision that he had always adapted whenever faced with such problems, he pulled out his cellphone from his pocket and contacted his agent. Mentally, he outlined his agenda for tomorrow's meeting with his lawyers.
' Oh, they're going love this.' Thinking of a what hefty sum to dangle to his pack of lawyers, Sesshoumaru, the eldest and heir of the Inutaisho Corp., decided that the only way to get his half-brother's butt of prison or probably the chair was to convince the jury that Inuyasha was insane.
A year and a half later...
Everything was going peachy and Miroku, soon to be a true disciple of Buddha, skipped happily towards the porch of his good friend. But of course,not before witnessing the breathtaking lush green expansive garden, languorously sprawling twice the size of a baseball field, and which Inuyasha flippantly calls the 'front yard'(this would also mean that there is also the 'back yard). There was no need to mention thus that the road to the porch was a very long one and it served as a vigorous exercise to Miroku just to visit his friend.
But today was a beautiful day, though Miroku was half-wheezing when he arrived at the massive door to ring the bell, he was still smiling more so when the butler greeted him.
" Good afternoon to you, Myouga-jiji!"
" Good day to you, Miroku, I assume that you have heard the good news about young master."
"Ah, yes of course," Miroku imitated the enlightened tone of his teacher Mushin," However, as usual I also took the freedom of putting some charms along the garden. One cannot be too careful as they say."
Myouga could only smile as he led the boy to one of the breezier drawing room. " Yes but unfortunately Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't appreciate those things hanging on the garden. He says that it reminded him of the ornaments from the movie ' The Blair Witch Project'. "
Miroku snorted in derision." What can you expect from a man who is enraptured by material things that he cannot appreciate the higher plane of existence. If he wanted more beautiful wards, I'll say that it would cost thrice than the ones that are currently set, with all the painting and not to mention the praying that goes along with."
Sighing, Myouga realized the true symbiosis that goes along with the young master and his friend. Inuyasha needs Miroku's protection while the monk likes Inuyasha's money.
" You would have to wait here for a moment Miroku. Young Master is just finishing his studies with Professor Totousai. Would you like tea to be served or would you prefer soda?"
" I'd like a soda, Myouga-jiji."
" Very well then." With that Myouga nodded and left.
Not long after finishing the soda, the door opened and Miroku stood up to welcome Inuyasha.
"Hey congrats my man! " Miroku patted and embraced Inuyasha before plopping back to the couch" So when are you gonna get out of the House Arrest and go back to school?"
" Next week" Inuyasha sheepishly grinned." That's why I'm doing my best to catch up with the lessons."
" A lot of tongues would be wagging when you return." the monk quirked an eyebrow." They still think of you as the town's Norman Bates. "
" Feh" Inuyasha scowled." I don't give a damn on what they would say!"
" You think it's safe to go out now?'
Inuyasha didn't even wonder what his friend is talking about." I dunno...I mean I'm still wary but I can't stay here for the rest of my life. Besides it's almost one year from that incident and until now It hasn't gotten me yet."
" Is it possible that you have killed It?"
" No." he shook his head " It's still out there."
" Nevertheless." Miroku smile as he fished something from his robe." I have something to give to you that you might appreciate."
" What's that?" Inuyasha stared at the necklace of beads that his friend handed out to him.
" It's protection against evil. I've worked hard making that for months so I guess it would work as a barrier for that creature or whatever that was stalking you."
" Thanks." Inuyasha worn it and didn't mind that it clashed with his outfit. " How much would this cost?"
" It's free." Miroku winked." That's my welcoming gift to you."
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Two miles from the mansion, Sango walked to their new neighbor's door carrying their homemade pie on one hand and dragging her brother on the other.
" Now is not the time for you to be shy." Sango admonished her younger brother." You're always complaining that you don't have any playmates. I saw some boy around your age in here and if you don't snap out of your shyness, you could have your own friend to play with other than Kirara."
Kohaku could only nod under his sister's steely gaze.
Looking meaningfully at her younger brother, Sango proceeded to ring the doorbell and upon opening the door, Sango gave her most amiable smile.
" Hello, I'm Sango and this is my brother Kohaku. Welcome to the neigh---"
Something choked in Sango's throat as she stared back in horror at the girl in front of her. 'Kikyou!!!'
But she was long gone and Sango could only deduce that the one that was standing in front of her was none other than what her boyfriend told her about as the thing that took Kikyou.
"Oh thank you for the pie. We---"
Sango stepped back as the girl's hand reached out for her. Reflexively, she slammed the pie into the girl's face and half carried her brother out of their neighbor's yard and into their home.
" What was that all about?"
Kohaku looked up at his sister in confusion.
" Didn't you see that?" Sango peeped through the windows " Didn't she look like Kikyou?"
" I don't know. " Kohaku wondered at his sister's strange behavior" all I could see was our blueberry pie on her face."
Sadly as if finding himself wiser, he shook his head and walked away.
" Papa was right about your boyfriend though. Miroku's wierdness is rubbing off on you."
----------------
Kagome could only stand in stupefaction even as the pie had fallen off down on the floor. Calmly she closed the door and picked up the ruined pie.
The sound of incoming footsteps turned her attention to her little brother who stared at her and being the sibling that he was, Sota pointed at her and burst out laughing. And of course, being the big sister that she was, she walked forward and dumped the remaining pie on Sota's face.
" Mommeee!"
Kagome climbed up the stairs and closed the door to her room. After washing her face she sat down on her new bed and reached out to pick the phone. Dialing her ex-boyfriend's number, she growled in frustration as she encountered the answering machine.
Having had enough for one day Kagome finally broke down.
" Hey, Kagome, you alright?"
Kagome blinked at the sound of her ex's voice.
" Kouga? I-I thought you weren't there. You're answering machine said--"
" Sorry about that. I've been avoiding calls from a certain someone that I owed money to. So how was your day? Was it that terrible?"
Regaining her composure, Kagome got right to the point." Kouga, I've been meaning to ask you since you're from around this town before."
" That was four years ago,babe. So, tell me what happened?"
" I couldn't put a finger to it but people here started acting weird around me and they have been giving me weird looks. Just a moment ago, some girl was scared out of her wits that she even dropped a pie on my face."
There was silence on the other line.
" That's eerie. But I can't answer anything for you yet, honey. It's been a long time since I've contacted some of my friends there. The town is usually peaceful that it can drive you mad with boredom. I don't know what's up but I'll come there soon enough."
" Thanks, Kouga. I'm sorry for the trouble."
" Tsch, no prob."
After saying goodbye, Kagome could only sigh and hope that this won't get worse on the first day of school.
* He was the killer in Alfred Hitchcock's classic, " Psycho". Sorry if I spoiled it for those guys whom had been meaning to watch that film.
