Chapter 4: Touring


They stopped at Haruhi's place first, a small, modest apartment complex, to drop off her purchases, and then it was off to Higurashi Shrine. The ride was fairly uneventful (besides the fact it was a limo), and within a few minutes, they were all on the shrine grounds.

Well, almost.

"Wow, there're so many steps!" Honey chimed cheerfully as he skipped to the top of the abnormally high stairs first without so much as a sweat. Kagome had been initially confused at why the 'little boy' was called '-senpai' by the others, but when informed of his actual age, her jaw nearly punched a hole through the bottom of the car.

"I suppose commoners need their exercise, too," Hikaru remarked casually. Turning his head back slightly, he called out, "Hey Haruhi, hurry it up already!"

Haruhi, clearly out of shape, was only midway up and on his knees, panting. Mori thoughtfully doubled back, lifted him up, carried him bridle style, and jogged up again.

"Thank you, Mori-senpai," Haruhi said gratefully. The older boy answered back with silent smile, and he put him down gently.

Wow…Haruhi seemed so…feminine for a moment there.

Everybody surveyed the grounds. It was large and spacious, and obviously well kept. The main shrine stood before them, and to the side were a much smaller one, a tiny souvenir shop, and a large, majestic tree, the Goshinboku.

The first few minutes consisted of Tamaki, the twins, and Honey looking at the main shrine, enthralled as if it was unlike anything that ever existed, and the rest of them were watching them with different expressions. Mori was impassive, Kyouya looked amused, Haruhi hung his head in exasperation, and Kagome was dumbfounded that such people actually existed.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CLIMB ONTO THE SHRINE'S ROOF! Grandpa would have a heart attack if he saw this…or maybe happy actually. These people are probably stupid enough to pay a fortune for his fake charms…

At least the reactions when under the tree were much more subdued.

Sunlight glinted through the branches, showering flecks of gold onto their skin. There was always something wonderfully tranquil and comforting about that tree, and as a slight breeze blew, the tree seemed to murmur that everything would be all right. All of them simply basked underneath the shade, smiling serenely back and simply enjoying the tree's presence.

And Kagome couldn't help but to notice how cool all of her visitors looked at that moment.

Even Tamaki-san…and why does Honey-san look so old? But in a strangely awesome way…

Of course, with such a beautiful moment like this, something had to interrupt it.

Outside of the tree's calming radius, somebody yelled out, "HEY KAGOME! WHAT'S TAKING YOU SO LONG?"

The first things the visitors noticed were the slightly quirking ears.

Tamaki had a strange sparkling look in his eyes and looked ready to tweak those adorable fuzzy appendages.

Oh no…not now…


Let's see, not much to say today, but watching the Nathan's International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating Contest last Friday was fun. sigh...I really was hoping Kobayashi would win this year. Too bad he lost to Chestnut at that 5 dog tie-breaker. But man, I can't believe that both of them managed to scarf down 59 hot dogs in 10 minutes...it was amazing to watch them go.

Well, that was random.

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