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Chapter 3: A Glimpse Into the Past - and the Present

I look around anxiously at my friends, who all seem excited to be here. 

"She should be coming soon, Kagome-chan, I heard she's really accurate!"

"I heard that, too!"

"Is, is that so," I reply nervously.

"Don't worry, Kagome-chan, it'll be fun!"

I nod my head and say, "You're all right, there's no reason to be nervous."

They shake their heads in unison, but stop in mid-motion as the fortuneteller enters the room and takes her seat at the table.

Involuntarily, I gulp. She looks at me and closes her eyes, while my friends stare in awe.

She opens her eyes and says, "Miko, the presence of your soul, I feel it encompassing the room."

My friends look at me while I display a look of confusion.  How did she know my family has a shrine?

The woman leans forward slightly and says, "Your strong spirit has known many existences, but, one in particular has had great influence on your soul, a powerful and righteous miko.  During her lifetime, her soul was eternally bound in mutual love to that of another."

Confused and scared, I say, "Wha, what are you talking about?"

"Indeed, whether you have known it or not, your soul has sought that to which it is bound, like it has done in all its incarnations since that of the great miko."

Now I am starting to get upset, and even my friends seem surprised.

The woman smiles and continues, "And, like each previous incarnation, your soul has found the other."

My friends gasp and I am in a state of disbelief.  This can't be real!  Something like that could never have happened.  Upset, I stand up suddenly.

"Kagome-chan!" my friends say in a worried tone.

"I, I'm sorry, but, can we leave now?"

"All right, Kagome-chan," they respond. 

We stand up, excuse ourselves and leave the building.  Once outside, I breathe deeply and begin to convince myself that everything she said wasn't true.

"Kagome-chan, are you all right?"

I nod my head yes and say, "Of course!"

"Oh, ok."

I look around and see that they all still look worried.

I walk in front and turn around so that I'm looking at them and say, "Don't worry everyone, it's just for fun, right?"

They shake their heads and say, "Yep!"

"Everyone, why don't we go for burgers now?"

"Ok!" we all shout in agreement.

As we walk, we chatter, making me more relaxed.

When we arrive, they all say, "We're treating you today, Kagome-chan!"

Startled I say, "Thanks very much, everyone."

"No problem!"

"You deserve it!"

We all make our orders and sit at our regular table.

"Kagome-chan, have you thought more what you're going to do about Hojou-kun?"

Hojou-kun?  Is it possible that he's the one, the one my soul has been seeking?  No, I shouldn't think like this, after all, what she said can't be true, can it?

"I heard him say that you're the only one for him!"

"I heard he wants to ask you to the dance!"

"I, I don't really know," I answer.
"Don't worry, Kagome-chan, I'm sure you'll know what you want to do soon."

"I bet you're right," I answer, though I'm not really convinced.

I relax on my bed, reading a manga.

"Itsuki, are you doing your homework?!" my mother shouts from the kitchen.

Yeah, right.

"Yes, Mom!"

I go back to reading, but I am distracted.  That woman, it's strange, she has a nice scent that seems familiar somehow; wait a minute, why am I thinking about her?  She's rude, vindictive, beautiful, and, what am I saying!  I don't think like that at all, she's just an annoyance!  Angry, I throw the manga on the ground and get up. I pace around the room, forcing myself to think of other things, but failing miserably.  In frustration, I leave my room and make my way outside.

"Itsuki, where are you going?"  my mother asks as I pass her by.

"For a walk," I answer without looking back.

Sounding worried, she responds, "Don't be long, you still have homework to do."

Even though I can hear her words perfectly, I ignore her and walk outside.  I wander, and unconsciously, find myself where I first met her.  I pause and think how, like her scent, this place seems strangely familiar. I look ahead and see her not far from me, she is talking to someone, I recognize him from school, what was his name?  Not caring, I decide to listen and watch their conversation, so I hide behind a tree.

"Higurashi, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday."

He holds out his hand, which contains a present. 

She looks at him surprised and says, "A gift?  How kind of you, Hojou-kun."

She takes it, but pauses suddenly, as if she is thinking about something.

"You can open it if you like, Higurashi."

"Oh, of course," she says, being drawn from her thoughts.

She unfolds and tears the wrapping paper and says, "What a lovely – stick."

I suppress my laughter, he got her a stick?!

"It's a good luck charm, Higurashi, for exams."

"Why thank you very much, Hojou-kun, I can always use good luck!"

I smile, I can tell she was forcing herself to say that. 

"Have you had a nice birthday so far?"

Her expression changes to one of annoyance as she responds, "Well, it started off badly."

Her face brightens as she finishes, "But it's improved since then."

I feel like I was just punched in the stomach, does she already hate me that much?  I straighten and think, keh, I don't like her anyway, she's just some annoying woman.  I resolve to walk away and completely forget about her, when I hear him speak again.

"Higurashi, there's, there's another reason why I came here."

As much as I want to leave, I find myself frozen in place.

She looks at him with a questioning expression.

He steps closer to her and asks, "Higurashi, would you like to go with me to the dance?"