Balm for a Broken Soul
By: Ryu Katanna
Beta:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: A lot of the dialogue will be familiar as the first several chapters do follow the anime and manga. There are more parts that are original to the story, but I've done this to stay close to the original while also telling Kagome's side of the story. There will be more deviations we get farther in.
(-) = English translation. If there are any mistakes in the translation I blame google…
Episode 8: After School Hexer Part Two
Kagome shifted as she took electromagnetic readings next to Lin who was checking the temperature readings. Tuesday has passed with no real results, and it was now Wednesday. She bit her tongue as Masako entered the room. Ayako, Monk, and John had been sent all over the school to perform exorcisms since they had arrived that morning. Of course, they had to do so around the periods in which classes were being held in specific rooms. Kagome, though, agreed with Masako but Naru was set in his ways. He would analyze this case to death until he figured it out.
"Naru, I know you want to find what is causing all this but at this point, it's pretty much confirmed that the cause is not an entity. The others are only wasting time and energy exorcizing spirits that aren't there." Kagome said as Masako left after casting her a dark glance.
Honestly, she had no idea what had gotten into the girl the last few months. They had been civil for a while after their first case at the old school house. Kagome had actually found the other girl's company to be rather pleasant. Yet, for some reason, she had taken a disliking to Kagome after that. Kagome knew that the girl seemed to have a crush on Naru. She couldn't help but think the celebrity teen disliked her because of how close she was with him. Kagome more often than not was always around Naru and Lin.
"We have to cover all the bases to be sure." Naru replied as he checked through their findings.
Kagome didn't bother trying to refute his decision anymore. She went back to work logging data of their tests until Naru decided to return to base. What caught her interest was the sight that greeted them as they approached the room. A girl with long hair was standing in front of the room talking with Mai who stood in the doorway of the conference room they were using as a base. The girl seemed spooked, however, when she looked up to see Naru, Lin, and Kagome walking up.
"Should I be following her?" Kagome asked as she tried to get a read on the girl's aura, but she had run away far too quickly.
"No. Leave her be for now. Come." Naru replied as he led them into the base.
Kagome settled into the seat next to Naru as Lin made his way to the side of the room to sit in front of the monitors. This way he would be away from the bulk of the group when they returned. The room was quiet for the most part until Ayako, John, Masako, and Monk all filtered into the room. Kagome listened to the conversation as she worked on her most recent report for Martin Davis in her seat next to Naru. Naru accepted his tea from Mai even as he glanced over at the report Kagome was typing up without a word.
Once the team had gathered, the conversation had moved on to the Kasai girl. Kagome's attention was drawn away from her report as Mai defended the girl. Saving the document, she decided to pay more attention. She had yet to tell Naru or Lin about what she had felt from Mai. For now, she had decided to watch the girl as Naru explained the differences of psychic abilities.
"So what makes you think Kasai is capable of doing such a thing?" Mai asked after Naru had already explained, and Kagome patted Naru's arm consolingly as he spoke.
"If you can't see the connection after everything I've said, then I can't help you." Naru replied before glancing at Kagome to acknowledge the comfort she was offering to help ease his frustration.
"Sorry, I'm so stupid, your highness." Mai chuffed as she leaned forward with her hand on the back of the chair in front of Naru.
"Are we in agreement then that Kasai really did invoke a curse on the school?" John asked as he came around Mai to stand on the other side of the table from Kagome.
"A curse?" Mai asked in some surprise.
"She admitted it. She said 'I'll curse you to death.'" Ayako replied as she reminded the teen.
"But it's not really a curse. It's more like using psychic powers to make people suffer. That's the P.K.L.T. part, but judging from what I've heard from a number of students, I don't think the girl has that much power." Monk replied as he moved away from Kagome and around the others the refill his tea.
"Do you guys know about the famous British psychic, Oliver Davis? They say he can slam a one hundred and ten-pound aluminum block into the wall, but he hasn't been able to perform P.K.L.T." Monk continued as he moved.
"This girl can't even seem to bend spoons very well." Ayako replied with a bit of aggravation as the conversation rounded right back to where it started.
"I remember when I was little there was sort of a supernatural craze where a bunch of kids claimed they could bend spoons and perform magic. Of course, it turned out most of them were just lying." She continued as she voiced her thoughts.
"Wow. That means you must be pretty old. Ah!" Monk lowered his head as Ayako hit him at the same time a wireless computer mouse came flying to smack him in the face.
"Be that as it may. It's very important to remember that in Kasai's case, she truly believed in her psychic powers." Naru cut in with a glance at Kagome as she scowled at her cousin.
He had actually been surprised when she threw something. The Miko was usually so level-headed. He made a note not to refer to her as old. Better for Monk to receive that punishment.
"She felt she was unfairly attacked and ridiculed by the teachers in front of the entire school, and then... strange things began happening after she said that. Those are the facts, and we can't ignore them." Naru continued as Kagome settled back into her seat.
For now, Kagome had chosen to remain silent. She had her own opinions based on the scan she had done the day before, but she wasn't going to debate with the others. She was here to help with the case, yes, but at the same time, she would act only if Naru asked or needed her to. This was his case, and his cover story while he was in Japan. She would do nothing to interfere. She was mainly here because she was helping him, and because she had grown close to both him and Lin.
"Something awful has happened! Mr. Yoshino was in a bad car accident, and now he's in the hospital!" Yuuko Takahashi exclaimed as the door flew open and she came running in with the news.
Naru stood from his chair and was gone after a flurry of activity along with Mai and Monk. The room was silent for several moments before Kagome brushed it off and turned back to her computer after retrieving the mouse she had thrown earlier. What she hadn't expected, was for the attention to be drawn to her now that Naru and Monk were out of the room.
"So, Kagome, what exactly is it going on between you and our resident ghost hunter?" Ayako asked in a tone that had Kagome glancing over at her as it drew the attention of Masako and John.
Kagome chose to ignore her before directing her attention back to her computer. This didn't stop Ayako, however.
"Don't act like you don't know. For months now you're always near whenever we see Naru. Then there's also the touching. You think no one has noticed? Other than Lin, you're the only one Naru seems to let so close. What, are you in love with him?" Ayako continued only to hear the sounds of both Lin and Kagome's keyboards stop.
"Miss. Matsuzaki." Kagome said in a firm tone as she pulled away from the computer to look at her with a cold expression that set John on edge.
"I don't know how you've gotten the impression that you and I are as close as you are insinuating with your line of questioning. You are a consultant that Kazuya calls upon on a business bases, and I have no connection with you outside of that fact. Your questions are personally cloying, and unprofessional in their very nature. Your behavior is not appreciated, Miss Matsuzaki. If there is something you would like to learn then you may return to your studies as a Miko. As so far as your assistance on these cases has been minimal, at best, you would be better served to complete that training. At least then you may learn how to conduct yourself with some proper decorum." Kagome's tongue was sharp as she gave the other woman a thorough lashing before she stood to bow in apology to both John and Masako as Ayako sat in front of her, slack-jawed and speechless.
"I apologize to you both for having to witness such an uncouth display. If you'll excuse me." Kagome said before picking up her laptop and moving her things to the other side of the room and taking a seat next to Lin.
Even as she continued to set up her workspace, she could feel Shippo shuddering with laughter on her shoulder. His little Shiki face was pressed into the curve where her neck and shoulder met, and Kagome couldn't help the small quirk of her mouth at his amusement. The feeling of Sesshomaru's youki had her glancing up at him where he radiated with a proud and regal air. This caused her to look at Lin just in enough time to catch the amusement in his eyes.
"Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào nǐ shuōhuà zhīqián huì huā duō cháng shíjiān. Suīrán wǒ méi xiǎngdào nǐ duì tā zhème shuō." Lin's deep voice said softly after a few minutes of silence as they got back to their reports.
(I had wondered how long it would take you before you said something. Though I was not anticipating you to say so much to her.)
"Wǒ yě xiàng nǐ dàoqiàn. Zài péixùn zhīqián, wǒ céngjīng duì zìjǐ biǎodá zìjǐ de tàidù xiāngdāng zìyóu. Wǒ bùnéng zǒng shì kòngzhì tā suīrán wǒ bǐ yǐqián hǎoduōle." Kagome said as she glanced back at him after looking through the monitors to see if there had been any changes.
(I apologize to you as well. I used to be rather free with how I expressed myself before my training. I can't always control it though I'm a lot better at it than it used to be.)
"Bié dānxīn. Jiù wǒ suǒ jiàn, nǐ duì tāmen de kòngzhì lìng rén qīnpèi. Zài zhè zhǒng qíngkuàng xià, nǐ bùnéng yīncǐ ér shòudào zhǐzé." He replied with a small nod as she sat down to continue what she had been working on before Ayako's interruption.
(Do not worry yourself. Your control around them had been admirable as far as I have seen. You cannot be blamed for acting as such under the circumstances.)
"Xièxiè." Kagome let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
(Thank you.)
She really didn't know what it was about the man next to her, but he made her feel comfortable in her own skin when he was around. His presence was calming to her. Kagome knew that around Lin, she could just be herself. With one last glance at the man who had become a solid presence in her life, Kagome turned her focus to work with a small smile.
123
Kagome walked down the darkened hall alongside her cousin. She had been told by Naru to direct Monk on where she had found the slight traces of spiritual residue. Monk would then perform an exorcism to cleanse the room before they would move on to the next. They had just finished with the last and were on their way back to base when their quiet discussion about her grandfather's health was interrupted. Kagome's senses went on alert as the thick feeling of a spirit set off alarm bells in her mind.
"Houshou! I feel something. It's coming from the base!" Kagome said as the lights went out, and the two of them took off like a gun had gone off down the hall.
"Nam man ku san da basra dan ka!" Monk chanted as they threw the door open and Kagome came in behind him getting ready to blast whatever it was with her reiki.
She stopped, though, when Monk's chant took effect. Everyone stood frozen for several seconds as the apparition vanished like mist before the lights flickered back on. Kagome could see the yellow flooding Mai's usually bright aura as Naru turned to approach them. The girl clung to Naru's steady presence as they all looked to see if it would come back. Kagome relaxed as she didn't sense anything now.
"Ah. So the spirits have started showing their faces in here, too, huh?" Monk said as if there had been others when Kagome knew there hadn't within the school since they had been here.
"Hey. Are you all right, Mai?" Monk asked as Mai sunk to her knees after Naru walked away with Kagome following him.
"Kazuya?" Kagome asked softly as she approached to be sure he was fine which he confirmed with a nod.
"Come on, snap out of it." Monk said before Mai's voice drew Kagome's attention to her.
"That spirit was looking for Naru!"
"Naru?" Monk asked before Mai continued on as she started shaking from the adrenalin.
"That woman just now. It wasn't a coincidence. I know she came for him. I had a dream last night, and I saw foxfires all over the school. That thing we just saw was one of them." Mai replied and Kagome's attention focused on the girl completely.
"I can't tell you how I know that, but I'm positive I've right. That woman's eyes. Those evil, blood-thirsty eyes... She was looking straight at Naru!" Mai said as she covered her face with her hands and started crying.
"Mai. Hey, calm down." Kagome said as her mothering instinct kicked in at the sight of the girl's weeping.
She crossed the room again to pull the girl into her arms and rub her back. Monk watched his cousin in some surprise. For years she had made it a point not to get close to anyone. Yet, since she had started spending time around Lin and Naru he had noticed she was letting them closer. Now, here she was holding and offering comfort to Mai in a way only a woman could.
'This is a side of her I haven't seen in a long time. Maybe... maybe Naru and Lin are good for her.' Monk thought as Kagome's steady comfort calmed Mai down.
"Mai. Don't worry about Naru. Lin nor I will let anything happen to him. Okay? Calm down." Kagome's voice was soft as she spoke, and soon the teen had calmed enough to pull away.
Monk couldn't help the small chuckle as he seen the wide-eyed expression from Mai when it finally registered that it had been Kagome to offer her the comfort she had needed. Soon enough the girl had moved far enough from Kagome while a small blush started covering her cheeks. Kagome looked at Monk as he smiled.
"Houshou, why don't you take her to the ladies room so she can freshen up. You can change out of your robes as well. I think we're just about done here tonight." Kagome said before watching as Monk nodded and left the room with a silent Mai before she turned to look at the other teen.
"Why isn't Lin with you?" She asked as she moved back over to help him organize the papers so they could leave.
"I sent him to get dinner for tonight. Were you still planning on joining us?" Naru asked as they had their task finished quickly before Kagome started packing up Lin's laptop as well as her own.
"I am, and I'll be staying tonight as well." Kagome replied as she made quick work of her task as Naru paused before looking at her.
"Excuse me?" He asked with some shock at her statement.
"I'm pretty sure Mai is right on point with what she said. That spirit was malicious, and it was looking for you. I'm going to hold a barrier up around your room tonight in case it comes back. If you don't want me to do so then I will be telling Lin about what happened so he can take precautions." Kagome said as she turned to meet his gaze in challenge.
She knew she should tell Lin regardless, but knew that Naru also didn't want to worry him. Kagome knew he would be upset that she didn't, but she would rather one of them be in top form to look out for Naru if something were to happen. That wouldn't be possible if both of them were up all night in case the spirit came back.
"As you wish." He said after a moment as he weighed the two options.
For as protective as Kagome was acting, he knew that Lin could be twice as bad sometimes. He hadn't been planning to tell Lin, but Kagome hadn't given him a third option. She had become his friend, but she had first an foremost, chosen to become like another guardian to him. Kagome had gained the approval of his parents to do so and he knew it helped set his mother more at ease with him being so far away. The woman had certainly made an impression on Luella Davis with everything she had been willing to do for them. Much more than she was already.
"Good. Let's finish up for the night."
123
Once Lin had returned to his room next door after they had eaten, Kagome started first by putting up the ofuda around the room. When that was finished she moved to the center of the living area to place another on the floor in front of her.. Naru watched her go through the motions with some curiosity. This would be the first time he had seen a barrier like this.
"The ofuda is only a tool to help concentrate my energy. I could do this without them but it would have me exhausted by morning. Nothing will be able to enter after it has been placed until I pull back my ki." Kagome explained before placing two fingers on the paper in front of her.
Pushing her ki outward, they watched as an iridescent pink began to spread along the floor. After it had made it's way up the walls she moved to the ceiling. Soon, it met and sealed at the point above her before coming down in one thread to meet its starting point at her fingertips. Kagome let go once the energy was anchored before looking up to see Naru examining the barrier.
Kagome almost laughed as he turned back to her with questions in his eyes. For the next hour, she answered anything he asked about her training to form barriers. Kagome also told him about how she had discovered the ability in the past during one of her many battles. She found his questions endearing as he reminded her of Souta when she would come back from one of her trips.
"You have noticed it haven't you? Mai." Kagome said when he looked at her questioningly after a while.
"What about her?" Kazuya asked as he shuffled through the files on the case.
"I know you're more observant than you let on at times. I'm talking about her instincts. She mentioned foxfires in the school. That girl is displaying latent abilities. She doesn't even know she's doing it." Kagome replied as she finished organizing files that had been sent from the lab in Cambridge.
"I've noticed but how did you come to the conclusion that she's a latent psychic?" He confirmed as he looked away from the file in front of him to look at her.
"When I did my scan of the grounds yesterday. I noticed an increase in psychic energy not too far from me. Mai had fallen asleep, and now today she spoke of having that dream. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out." Kagome said before starting on another file from the stack.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier?" He asked only to see her pause in her work.
"I was hoping I had been mistaken, I guess. For her sake." Kagome answered as she thought about all the troubles having any abilities outside what was considered normal could cause.
Something she knew Kazuya would understand all too well. They worked in silence before he spoke again.
"I understand what you're saying but it may still be best for her to know, and for confirmation." Kagome's eyes moved to meet his own.
"It's better to be informed, and this case may help her to see that having abilities isn't always a good thing. That it can lead to trouble if you're not careful." He explained only to see her shoulders loosen as she thought about it.
"You're right, of course." Kagome replied with a small release of breath before getting back to sorting files.
Not half an hour later and she was proven correct to have stayed that night. The spirit returned. Lingering outside the window, Kagome zapped it a few times when it made contact with her barrier. Neither she nor Kazuya got any sleep that night as they watched it as it lingered to watch them just outside the barrier.
123
It was Thursday morning and they had arrived back at the school to continue the investigation. Kagome had caught a ride in with Lin and Naru after stabilizing the bond. The sleepless night had taken its toll on both of them. She'd had to stay awake to hold the barrier, but Naru had refused to rest while she stayed awake. The spirit had stuck around after being zapped a few times, to Kagome's surprise. It had only left again when the sun started rising.
"What's the matter? Your eyes are all red." Mai said as she placed Naru's tea in front of him while Kagome set down her things to prepare her work area.
"Our 'friend' came back to visit me." Naru replied as he shifted through files.
"Wait a sec. Do you mean?" Mai paused as she remembered the entity from the day before.
"Turns out your instinct was right. She appeared at my window last evening." Naru told her as he set down the file to look at the girl.
"Why the hell didn't you call me?" Lin asked and Kagome could tell he wasn't happy with Naru; just as she knew he wouldn't be.
"Because Kagome had already put up a barrier. We didn't want to wake you up for nothing." Naru replied as he turned from Mai to Lin.
"Wait. Kagome was at your house?" Mai asked as she looked for Kagome to see she looked tired.
"Yes, Mai. I told you I wouldn't let anything happen to him, remember?" Kagome replied with a small sigh as she looked at both Mai and Lin.
"And what would you both have done if something had happened?" Lin asked the two with a scowl as he had already figured out that Kagome had expected for the spirit to return.
"Then I would have purified it, Lin. Naru was perfectly safe. As it was, I zapped it a few times went it came too close to the barrier. I didn't tell you because I knew at least one of us would need the rest." Kagome's voice softened as she knew he would have worried about Naru's safety all night.
"Obviously we were fine. We just had a little staring contest. So stop worrying." Naru said before looking back down at the papers in his hands.
Lin looked at Naru for a second longer before glancing sharply at Kagome as he turned away to watch the monitors. Kagome rubbed her eyes with her fingers before walking over to stand next to him. After a few minutes, he spoke quietly as they listened to Mai and Naru's conversation.
"Nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn lèi."
(You look tired.)
"Wèile bǎochí zhàng'ài, wǒ xūyào bǎochí qīngxǐng." Kagome explained as she kept her voice low to listen to what was being said as well.
(For the barrier to hold I needed to remain awake.)
"Nǐ wèishéme bù gàosù wǒ? Tā shì wǒ de zérèn." He said as he looked at her.
(Why didn't you tell me? He is my responsibility.)
"Nǐ bù zài gūdú de kànzhe tā. Zhìshǎo zhèyàng yī lái, rúguǒ yù dào rènhé máfan, wǒmen zhōng de yīgè rén jiāng huì hěn hǎo de xiūxí." Kagome smiled softly as she saw that he accepted her answer when his shoulders relaxed.
(You are not alone in watching over him anymore. At least this way one of us will be well rested to do so in case of any trouble.)
"Xià cì zài gàosù wǒ." Lin said after a moment.
(Just tell me next time.)
"Wǒ huì, dàn nǐ bìxū zhèyàng zuò. Wǒmen kěyǐ xiānghù zhīchí, zhídào tā bù zài xūyào wǒmen wéizhǐ." Kagome told him as she let him know he wasn't alone anymore.
(I will, but you have to do the same. We can support each other until he doesn't need us anymore.)
Lin nodded in agreement before turning his attention away from her when Monk, Ayako, John, and Masako entered the room. Knowing that their conversation was now over, Kagome took her seat next to Naru. She listened to the others discuss the case as she worked. Only stopping when Naru jerked to address Lin.
"Yes. It's possible that's the answer." Lin said as Kagome stopped typing to look up at him.
"Come on. Fill us in." Monk replied looking at Naru.
"I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. We're dealing with a Zuzo." Naru said as he stood and Kagome clenched her hands at the thought.
'How much hatred is the person doing this holding?' She thought as Naru explained to the team about what he had figured out.
Casting a Zuzo wasn't something that was could be done subconsciously. To call down so many curses on people like this took some serious intent. The person doing this knew exactly what they were doing. What Kagome wondered was where they got the energy. She had picked up on traces of psychic ki all around the school but had not been able to trace them back to their source. Suddenly she felt a little useless. The feeling was all too familiar to her after her time in the past.
She looked up when she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder to find that Lin had moved over to her side. He glanced down at her as she felt Shippo nudge her cheek. Her eyes softened as she nodded and accepted the comfort. Shippo must have said something to the man.
"So who performed the curses?" Monk asked after Naru had finished explaining what they were probably dealing with, and Kagome felt Lin's hand leave her shoulder.
"All the evidence would seem to suggest the hexer is Kasai." Masako answered as she glanced at how close Kagome was sitting to Naru.
"Wait, hold on!" Mai objected before Ayako interrupted.
"It has to be Kasai." She said firmly, and Kagome felt herself wanting to scowl at the other woman.
"You think so too?" Mai asked in astonishment.
"Well, yeah. Look, her abilities were rejected, and in turn, she was made fun of and attacked in front of the whole school. Right? And even her teacher friend has been put through hell because of it." Ayako explained her reasoning before continuing.
"They pushed Kasai to the edge, so she called down a death curse on them. She's just making good on her threat."
"It's not true." Mai objected once more as she clasped her hand in front of her chest.
"Then explain why Mr. Yoshino who personally challenged and laughed at her in front of the entire school is now in the hospital." Naru turned his attention to his young assistant as Kagome nudged him with her shoulder to remind him of their discussion the night before.
"I don't know, but-" Mai started to say as Naru cut her off at her flimsy answer.
"What reason do you have for believing that she's not to blame?" Naru asked, and Kagome knew he understood her gesture with the way he was taking Mai seriously.
"I'm not sure, but I do." Mai's voice was soft as she clenched her hands together and looked down.
"She's not the one. I know it." Mai continued this time with conviction in her voice.
"All right. I believe you." Naru responded after staring into her eyes to see her steadfast resolve
"You do?!" Mai responded in surprise.
"That's great, but someone could still die if we don't hurry." Masako said and Kagome could see from her aura that she wasn't happy about something.
"We have to act. We can't leave the Zuzo out there. I'd like you all to search for the hitogata. Lin and I will go looking for the culperate." Naru said firmly as he let them know what they would be doing.
"Uh, we're looking for dolls?" Monk asked in some confusion about what exactly they were searching for.
"There are two ways to break an enmi spell. Turn the hex back on the hexer, or burn the hitogata being used. The doll is usually buried near the target. That means if the hexer is a student or school faculty member, it's most likely around here somewhere." Naru explained as Kagome stood to get ready to leave.
"Somewhere? Oh, great. That helps a lot. What do you want us to do? Dig up the whole school?" Monk asked as he thought of all the ground they would have to cover with no real idea where to look.
"Well, the hexer must have buried my hitogata sometime after Monday when we started investigating. So that one should still be fresh and easier to find." Naru supplied helpfully as he also got ready to leave the room.
"Yes, but come on. This school is huge!" Monk said with some exasperation.
"Perhaps you'd like to leave?" Naru asked as he heard the tone the man was using.
"All right." Monk almost whined before heading for the door.
"Wait." Kagome's tone was soft, but it was enough to draw the attention of the others in the room.
"What is it, Kagome?" John asked knowing the older woman rarely spoke up like this.
"After you find the hitogata, bring it to me. I may not be able to destroy them but I can disrupt the energy flow summoning the spirits. It should prevent any more accidents until we find them all and properly deal with them." Kagome replied as she ignored Ayako's scoff at her words.
"How would you do that?" Mai asked curiously.
"I can disrupt the energy flow with my own." Kagome replied before looking at her cousin.
"Are you sure you're up for that, Kagome? You're already looking tired." Monk said with a small frown as he took in her tired appearance.
"I'll be fine, Houshou." Kagome said as she tried to reassure him.
"You must not take this too seriously if you show up too tired to work." Ayako cut in with a jab, but Mai defended Kagome before she could respond.
"It's not her fault. She was keeping that spirit away from Naru all night!" Mai said much to the others shock and Kagome patted the girl on the head as she sighed.
"What is she talking about, Kagome? You spent the night with Naru?!" Monk yelped as suddenly they were all focused on her while Naru and Lin watched to see how she would handle this one.
"Yes. I was working some overtime so I'm tired. Still, I can do my job as normal." She answered as she sidestepped the question.
"Since when have you known where he lives?" Monk asked when he didn't receive an answer.
"Since I've known them, all right?! Now can we all just get back to what we need to be doing?" Kagome replied with some aggravation before she walked out of the room followed by Lin, Naru, and Mai.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. I didn't know Monk would react that way." Mai said softly as she seen the man run off down the opposite hall.
"It's all right, Mai. You were just trying to defend me... Thank you." Kagome replied softly with a small nod to let her know she wasn't angry and her mind shifted back to the task ahead.
They had a lot of ground to cover, and only so much time before someone might get hurt again. A few minutes later, and the four of them were standing around the hitogata Naru had pulled out of the cursed desk.
"They did a good job on it, but it doesn't seem to be made for anyone specifically. It's only intention was to curse whoever sat at this desk." Lin said as he examined the hitogata they had found.
"I think you're right. The hitogata caused whoever sat here to have an accident. Meaning the hurt students weren't specifically targeted so much as they were just unlucky. I bet we'll find another one in the track teams locker room that's aimed at the entire club, rather than at a single person." Naru explained for Mai's benefit as Kagome held out her hand to Lin.
"What are you doing Kagome?" Mai asked when Lin handed it to her and the woman pulled out an old arrowhead from her pocket before cutting her thumb.
"Burokku." Kagome muttered as she spread the blood down its length before looking up at a wide-eyed Mai.
(Block.)
"I'm using my blood as a conduit for my energy. This way I won't tire as quickly." She explained as she left the blood to dry as Lin watched her.
"Oh.." Mai replied as they all turned to leave the room.
There was still much to do, but none of them expected there to be another accident all too soon as a scream reverberated through the halls a while later that day.
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Well this is it for this one. Next one is almost all set for next week. Let me know what you thought! ^_^
~Ryu