Thank you so very much to those of you who've read and reviewed! I've tried to reply to everyone I can (Guest and CL, you are most appreciated too!), but please know that your kind words turn me into a puddle of happy goo while simultaneously keeping the muse appeased. Win-win.
Even though I'm posting this chapter in a fairly reasonable amount of time, I don't want y'all getting accustomed to any kind of regular updating schedule ;-) No, seriously. Don't. (Murphy's law...it'll muck up everything...)
But we've already established that I'm stupidly impatient and hate waiting. Thus, here is chapter two.
BUT a quick important note: in case you missed it, the rating has gone up for the reasons I mentioned in note in the prologue. That being said, chapters may vary between T and M from here on out, particularly since those ratings are rather subjective.
As always, it goes without saying: I don't own Inuyasha or Nurarihyon no Mago.
Quotes:
"'What's up, boss?'
'Evil's afoot.'
'Well, sure,' Bob said, 'because it refuses to learn the metric system. Otherwise it'd be up to a meter by now.'"
–Jim Butcher, White Night
"I see a bad moon arising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightnin'
I see bad times today
Don't go 'round tonight
It's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise"
–CCR, "Bad Moon Rising"
In a nondescript house on the outskirts of Tokyo, a woman paced restlessly until one of her servants appeared.
"Mistress, your evening meal is ready."
She turned and smiled widely at the young man who wheeled a room service cart into the room. "Thanks, love. Will you be joining me?" she asked teasingly, flipping her long red hair over her shoulder.
His eyes widened with fear and a faint trace of lust. "Er, no, Mistress. But you are most generous to offer."
He set the food on the table in the corner of the room and then waited for her approval.
She sat, eyeing the full wineglass, and lifted the silver plate cover, licking her lips in anticipation.
"Is it fresh?"
"Yes, Mistress, plated not five minutes ago. Oh, and as requested, your newspaper." He placed the folded paper next to her wineglass. "Is…is everything to your liking?"
"Yes, yes, you may go now," she said, beginning to grow annoyed as he delayed her meal.
He smiled slightly, the light glinting off pointed canines, then bowed once and left the room.
Forgoing silverware, she extended her two-inch, hawklike talons and picked up the still-warm organ off the plate. She gulped it down greedily, running her tongue along her lips to prevent any morsel from escaping and washing the great hunks down with mouthfuls of lukewarm blood from her wineglass.
Swallowing the last of the freshly harvested human liver, she patted her lips daintily on her napkin. It was an acquired taste, one that had taken her a year just to stomach after decades of a liquid-only diet and another year to learn to enjoy. But now… She hummed with contentment.
Reaching for her newspaper, she skimmed the articles disinterestedly until she reached the Crime & Legal section. Then her lips curved in a self-satisfied smile as she read.
Bodies found covered in bite, claw marks
TOKYO—Two bodies were found in an alley a little ways outside the First Street area in Ukiyoe Town on Tuesday, police said.
It is suspected the male victims, whose names remain unknown, may have dumped there.
A worker from a nearby nightclub discovered the bodies just after 3 a.m., authorities said. Autopsies have been performed, but the cause of death for either victim has not been released. According to witnesses, both bodies had bites and claw marks on their neck, torso, back, and arms, as though attacked by wild animals.
More as this story develops.
The woman giggled. "Animals? Fools." She tapped her finger thoughtfully against her lips before saying to herself, "Looks like that rat knew what he was talking about after all…"
The woman returned to browsing the newspaper.
Local police investigating rash of missing person reports
TOKYO—Police are looking into a total of ten missing persons cases that have occurred within the last month.
This is an ongoing investigation, and authorities are requesting that anyone with information contact the agency either on its social media sites or by calling 03-5555-5555.
"Only ten? Hmm… I suppose some of them haven't been reported then."
She pulled out her phone and sent her assistant a text.
Moira: Please remind everyone not to dump the bodies recklessly…we do have more efficient ways to dispose of them.
Akiko: Certainly…will do so immediately.
Of that she had no doubt. While rather overeager and far too gullible for her own good, Akiko was nothing if not competent.
She twirled a lock of her fire-red hair around her index finger before shoving back from the table. She was edgy this evening, so perhaps a little walk…and potentially some research into this "Nura clan" that rat had mentioned…
Across town, Kagome sank into the bathtub, relishing the hot water and perhaps hoping to scrub away her embarrassment from earlier in the day.
You literally run into the poor guy, your reiki has an episode for no apparent reason, and then you don't even ask his name?
She groaned out loud and, after getting cleaned up, she piled her hair on her head and reclined in the tub.
When she closed her eyes, an image of the presently nameless man floated up in her consciousness. A rather good-looking nameless man.
"Ugh, brain, will you just stop already?" Kagome didn't know why he'd made her feel… Well, feelings.
For the past eight years, she'd been somewhat numb.
At first, once she'd gotten to a point where she was trained enough, she erected walls around her mind, blocking out any and all energy, youki, reiki, whatever. And she'd told her family never to speak of Inuyasha, of her time travel, of any of it, ever again.
I just wanted to forget it all… Forget, as they've forgotten me.
Kagome had done all the things expected of her as a "normal" girl her age—she'd gone to school, hung out with her friends, even dated Hojo-kun for several years before he'd finally realized she was just going through the motions and wouldn't really ever return his feelings.
She'd graduated high school and begun college, gravitating toward studying history and comparative lit because…
Because I'm a glutton for punishment. And no matter how hard I try to shut that part of my life away, the truth is I don't want to let it go.
She sighed and stepped out of the rapidly cooling water, wrapping a towel around herself while still preoccupied by her thoughts.
This part of me is my only connection to them. And I don't want to let them go.
Roughly a year and a half ago, she'd stopped pretending none of it had ever happened, deciding it was high time she acknowledge and accept who she was. Including past and present.
First, she began taking archery lessons and resumed training her powers, first with an aging priestess and then on her own, supplementing her knowledge with research into myriad miko and onmyoji techniques. While her innate ability and knowledge was greater, going so many years without training had left her with at times crude and clumsy execution that she hoped would improve.
Then, she threw herself into investigating local yokai lore and supposed yokai incidents, eventually expanding her search to encompass all of Japan. She told herself it was strictly for school, for her independent study…but…
It's stupid to lie to yourself, Kagome. You're doing it because you miss them.
And, though you try to deny it, you miss the strange companionship from friendly yokai and the adrenaline rush from battle with unfriendlies.
During her research into alleged local yokai sightings, she had stumbled upon a website dedicated to yokai with an active message board—that was, incidentally, originally created by the self-proclaimed leader of a local "paranormal investigation squad." While it seemed he himself was no longer actively involved and the current site administrator appeared eccentric yet clueless, the message board itself held promise. Many of the claims posted there had reasonably plausible potential in Kagome's opinion, given her own experiences with yokai.
She'd only gotten the nerve up to investigate one so far, reports of strange ghost lights in some of the parks. With some of the message board posters chattering excitedly about kitsunebi, she couldn't resist the lure of a possible kitsune.
Even if Shippo wouldn't know me…
To see him again…
Unfortunately, while she'd sensed traces of youki, with no easily identifiable source as far as she could tell, she didn't find any actual yokai.
She still couldn't decide if she was relieved or disappointed.
And a tiny part of her wondered if she had really tried hard enough.
However, nothing she'd done and no one she'd encountered in the last couple years—including the law student she'd dated for a while—had completely alleviated the emptiness she felt. She'd had little energy to maintain her friendships from junior high and high school, and perhaps sensing her apathy, they'd drifted apart and lost touch as the years went by.
The vibrancy she'd had during their journey for the sacred jewel shards had dimmed, and though the past year and a half had been a definite improvement, Kagome still felt slightly numb, her emotions dulled.
Until today.
For reasons unbeknownst to her, the mysterious man she'd met in the library had reignited a spark within her, and though she knew she should be happy about it, instead she was both confused and irritated.
Ugh, what is wrong with me? Just because some hot stranger keeps you from splatting on your face doesn't mean you get to tie yourself up into knots over actually feeling something.
That traitorous inner voice asked, "Even though it's the first time you've reacted this way in years? Even though it scares you?"
Kagome promptly told that little voice to keep its opinions to itself, thankyouverymuch, and after drying her hair, threw on some clothes.
Then, against her better judgment, she began browsing the paranormal message board.
yurei_l0vr: OMG guyyyssss I seriously think there's a ghost in my house. *squee* Do you think it's possible it followed me home from somewhere?
aspiringzebra: wishful thinking yurei_l0vr.
yurei_l0vr: you don't have to be rude about it…
Kiyojūji_no1_fan: Do you need someone to investigate!? Give me specifics!
darkness_rulz: Anyway… You guys hear about those bodies they found on the outskirts of town?
trickypaella: The ones about a kilometer from First Street in Ukiyoe Town? Yeah they say supposedly some kind of wild animal killed them…
Kiyojūji_no1_fan: Near Ukiyoe Town? Nonsense! This is definitely the work of yokai!
Kagome hesitated, as until now she'd pretty much just been a lurker, and then, curiosity piqued, she began to type.
lonelymiko: I've seen people mention it a lot… What's so special about Ukiyoe Town?
yurei_l0vr: O.o seriously?
aspiringzebra: (⊙_⊙)
Kiyojūji_no1_fan: lonelymiko you're joking, right?
lonelymiko: …
trickypaella: Aw shit she opened pandora's box… not sticking around for this again… later
Kiyojūji_no1_fan: lonelymiko Ukiyoe Town is only THE yokai hotspot in all of Tokyo AND according to the former Kiyojūji squad leader himself, it is supposedly the home of the great yokai leader, the Lord of Pandemonium! Supposedly years ago there used to be pictures online but idk why but they've all disappeared. Have you heard the story about how he saved Kiyojūji's life as a kid?
aspiringzebra: oh look at the time. gtg
Kagome got the feeling she had indeed unleashed Pandora's box. She was intrigued, sure, but she also wasn't quite in the mood for a yokai fangirl (or fanboy) tirade.
lonelymiko: Hey Kiyojūji_no1_fan my food just got here so I gotta run but PM me that story okay? ttyl!
As she shut her laptop, her phone chimed, indicating she'd received a new email. Swiping the screen, her heart raced a little when she saw who it was from.
From: keikainmainhouse
Subject: Regarding Your Inquiry
Dear Miss Higurashi,
Thank you for contacting the Keikain House. Your independent study sounds quite interesting, and while we do not have all the information you have requested, we are happy to assist with your research and provide what we can. I understand that you are pressed for time during the semester and are unable to commit to visiting us in Kyoto.
Fortunately, one of our members will be in Tokyo on business in a couple days, and should be in town for at least a week. We have given him your contact information, and he will be in touch to set up an appointment.
Please don't hesitate to contact us again if you have further questions.
"Yessss!" Kagome couldn't resist squealing. She'd learned during some aspect of her myriad research that the Keikain were reputed onmyojis, and she hoped they would have some novel materials to add to her research.
And I want to see if they have anything about Miroku and Sango… She figured if Sango and Miroku had started the taijiya school they'd discussed founding, then the Keikain of all people might have information about it.
Her phone chimed again, alerting her to two new emails.
The first was from an unknown sender, and she almost deleted it before she noticed the email domain was the same as the email from keikainmainhouse.
It was short and to the point:
Higurashi, I'll meet with you at your family shrine this Saturday at 5 p.m. –Keikain Ryūji
Kagome laughed and said to herself, "A real chatterbox, this one. I bet he's going to be tons of fun." She pictured a crotchety, grizzled old man, probably one who'd traded in his ringed staff for a cane, and laughed again.
The second email was a notification from the yokai message board about a new PM.
Probably that Kiyojūji_no1_fan person.
Thinking she might as well see what they had to say, she shrugged and opened it in her mobile browser, too lazy to retrieve her laptop.
She skimmed the rather lengthy story, until suddenly something on the screen nearly had her dropping her phone.
The person explained in detail how the so-called Lord of Pandemonium had rescued the Kiyojūji guy, but the physical description…
Red eyes, long spiky hair that was white on top and black on the bottom.
Kagome knew better than to jump to conclusions, but the description held an uncanny resemblance to the split-second vision she'd had when looking at the stranger in the library.
Your reiki did act funny…
She shook her head. No, there was no way. She'd sensed no youki, after all, though she hadn't exactly been trying.
Kagome decided that the combination of a long day and too little sleep the night before had resulted in an overactive imagination and this was little more than a weird coincidence.
Still, as she lay in bed, willing herself to fall asleep, she wished yet again…
If only I'd gotten his name!
Author's note:
1. If you are confused about the first portion of the chapter, I assure you things will clear up before too long. Or not. Maybe it will clear up in too long. That remains to be seen.
2. Yes, I know, there was no Rikuo or Nura clan in this chapter. Coming soon to a chapter near you.
3. Hopefully she won't mind me borrowing her format (I should've asked in advance...), but I "liberated" the quote idea and format at the beginning of the story from ImpracticalDemon. I highly recommend any and all of her stories.