{ I get these ideas for fics, and they refused to leave until I start typing them ^^; I admit that this is probably one of my most planned-in-advanced fanfics, but that doesn't mean the updates will be any sooner. In fact, don't read this fic if you're looking for a fast update: it may or may not come. I've got another fic as my first priority, and I'd rather not pause in fear of losing it completely. Anyway, I'd really like some reviews on this, and to know whether or not I should bother continuing.
A few important notes – The characters are older than in the anime, and I think I'm going to use most of the manga eye colors. By reading this chapter, it will become obvious that Kagome's family is not the same as on the anime by any stretch of the imagination. This will be explained later. Um.. I'm probably missing something important, but I can't think of it right now.
This will be short, later chapters will be longer if you think I should continue this. This is only an introduction! }
Virtually Real
chapter one – Welcome to Sengoku Jidai
By Jamethiel1
Which of these shapes do you find most appealing?
Kagome glanced down at the page, tapping her pencil lightly against the paper as she thought it over. So, was it the purple and pink swirled one? No. The yellow and orange one that was hard to even look at? Definitely not. She looked at the each once, then marked down one that varied in hues from yellow to red to green, all different shapes that seemed to go well together despite their irregularity. Hey, it was more appealing than the others.
I don't see how they can tell what type of person I am by these stupid questions.. she thought critically, moving on to the next one. She had been working on this personality test for the last few hours, responding to statements like "I have a talent for making people feel loved." How the heck was she supposed to know? It wasn't as if she went around asking people if she made them feel loved. She'd rather not have people thinking she was crazy, thank you very much.
Darkening in the circle for "moderate", Kagome closed the booklet with a sigh. Well, she had finished it. This had mainly been a means of killing time, but now she wasn't sure if she actually wanted to turn in the test or not. It was apart of a contest for a part in some role-playing game. She wasn't even really sure what it was about but, with the millions she knew would be entering, she doubted it'd matter if she sent in a form as well.
Along with the hours-long personality test, she had to send in a form with her name, age, sex, height, weight, hobbies, grades: an endless list of personal questions of which she usually wouldn't give the answers to some unknown company. They even needed a current picture, and she had to respond to multiple writing prompts. One will go to great lengths to cure boredom.
Now she was completely finished. A large envelope was lying beside her, ready to have the contents of the entry shoved inside and mailed, only to be lost in a sea of other submissions. Yet she was just foolish enough to waste the stamps and shipping costs, so she sealed her personal information within the package, and exited her room quietly.
Hearing the thunderous snores coming from downstairs, she thought it safe to assume her uncle was asleep. That was good; maybe she could leave without having to confront him. Walking as lightly as humanly possible, Kagome edged her was through the house, opening the front door and shutting it behind her with as little noise as possible. She waited a moment to make sure she hadn't woken him, then sighed relief. Time to mail in her entry, so she could say she'd at least tried. No harm in that!
-~-~-~-
Kagome opened the large bundle with slightly numb fingers, the "Congratulations, Kagome Higurashi" scrawled on the front part of that stunned reaction. She had almost forgotten the contest she had entered, and finding this in the mail had come as quite a shock. She had never won anything before, at least not something like this. She could already hear everyone at school complaining that she had won, when she hadn't even been that interested in it to begin with. The role-playing game had been a major topic of conversation for months before the contest, and hadn't died down until a couple weeks ago. This was likely to get it started all over again.
Pulling out the first thing that met her fingers within in the parcel, she withdrew a letter, and opened it. Kagome was surprised to find that it was handwritten, not printed as she had expected.
"Congratulations Ms. Higurashi,
You have been chosen to play the role of Kagome Higurashi in the newest and most elaborate role-playing game to ever be released: Sengoku Jidai."
Slate gray eyes opened considerably at the introduction to the letter. I've been chosen to play.. myself? They had made an RP character out of her? She shook her head in confusion, returning her attention to the letter. Hopefully it would explain better than that.
"You have been chosen out of millions of entries due to your unique personality and extraordinary writing skills."
Kagome snorted. Yeah right.
"Enclosed with this letter is a manual to the RPG Sengoku Jidai, along with a detailed profile of your character. Read both carefully and get familiar with your character's history and involvement in the role-play. You will be sent instructions to enter the online RPG Sengoku Jidai in one week. Have fun."
Kagome blinked at the letter as if it would make more sense the longer she stared at it. Unfortunately, the words remained the same and she put the paper aside, reaching into the large package to pull out a heavy booklet of some kind. A Complete Guide to Everything You Need to Know about Sengoku Jidai, the title read, and Kagome groaned. Great, just what she needed: more homework.
-~-~-~-
It only took about five hours of downloads, but Kagome was finally able to get her first look at Sengoku Jidai. After reading all about the site and her character, Kagome was more than ready to begin.
"Enter your ID Code," prompted the screen, and Kagome quickly flipped through the manual until she found it. KH18-M010-ISJ7. Not exactly the easiest thing in the world to remember, but at least no one was likely to guess it.
"Enter your password," it now read. She quickly punched in the correct information, having memorized it previously: mikoreincarnate. Kagome smiled slightly as she typed; despite her previous misgivings, she had a feeling this was going to be fun. She had mainly only gotten information on her own character, but there was a few references to others, especially her family, along with a few mentionings of Inuyasha and Kikyou. The manual had said new packages of updates and information would come in as the role-play progressed, but basically she would be as in the dark as her virtual self. That was fine by her; it would make it all the more enjoyable.
Watching the screen intently, Kagome laughed quietly as an illustration of her character popped up. It looked exactly like her, from the hair to the eyes and body. She was even wearing Kagome's school uniform! She wasn't sure she had ever given the details of the uniform, but figured she must have seeing as how it now appeared on the screen.
Words scrolled along the bottom of the screen before she entered the RPG:
"Welcome to Sengoku Jidai"
end of chapter one
{ As I said before, this is only an introduction. Please point out errors, vague areas, ask questions, whatever! Just please review! ^^ And let me know if this sounds interesting enough to continue, or if I should just work on my other fics. I'm a little over halfway done with the sixth chapter for "Remembering the Forgotten", so I'll hopefully have that up soon! }
