Author Babble:
Tani: w00tness!! I edited this fic because… well, it was serious crap before. In fact, I think it's serious crap now, but for some reason I like it.
Yodarashi: … (translation: Because you're controversial that way.)
Jazu: Is it just me, or are you ripping off Mel and Christy?
Tani: …well… yeah…. Sortaish…
Yodarashi: And is it just me, or is it somewhat illegal?
Tani: …hey, waitaminute, when did you two graduate from muses to consciences? Besides, I'm just ripping off the term 'Author Babble', which I'm fairly sure isn't all that illegal.
Jazu: *snort* Just hope they don't Mystery Science Theatre you like that 'Bishounen Hunting Amy' person.
Tani: Okay, the difference between that… um… I hesitate to say 'person', because that usually implies that you are born with a brain-
Yodarashi: And a little something called common sense…
Tani: -but the difference is that she ripped off the whole fic. I just… *ahem* borrowed the term 'Author Babble'.
Yodarashi: So? That doesn't make it any more legal.
Jazu: Or any less pathetic.
Tani: …I liked you better as muses.
Intensity
Tani Gesakusha
Kagome knew it was stupid. That didn't help her sleep any.
She sighed, shifting under the covers of her bed in an effort to get into a more comfortable position. Kagome had a problem sleeping in strange places, and her summer condo in Florida was no different. Every little shadow in the corner looked like a monster coming to kill her. The moon casting a shadow through the trees outside her window was a crooked old witch, eyeing her through the panes of glass that suddenly seemed far too thin. She was unable to go to sleep- she kept her flashlight on and a book open in her lap, even at 2 o'clock in the morning. Everything was neatly packed away in the wardrobe, and her trunk was stored under her bed. She set down her book and glanced around- everything was put away. It was almost as if no one lived here at all.
She shut her flashlight off and set it and the book and flashlight carefully in a drawer, then shut it slowly. She yawned and stretched. Deciding to go for a drink of water, she crossed to the threshold and opened the door.
She froze, listening intently. A floorboard creaked down below the stairway. She glanced at her brother's room. Locked, no lights on. A quick glance at her parent's room showed the same result. Then who… or what was moving…?
She tiptoed over to the stairwell and looked down. It was pitch black, but she could still pick out the outline of a man moving around. As he headed up the stairs, Kagome spun around and ran back into her room. Diving beneath the bed, she held her breath, positive that the entire household could hear her heart pounding. Her room was closest to the stairs…
She pressed up against the trunk anxiously, praying that she wouldn't make a noise. The door creaked open slowly. She peered out from under the bed and saw a tall, dark figure glance around the room, then shut the door quietly behind him as he left.
Kagome let out a breath she had not noticed she was holding. Prying open the window, she glanced outside and roughly judged the distance from her room to the ground. Taking a deep breath, she leaped onto the grass below and rolled down the drive into a tree. Standing up shakily and clearing her head, she sprinted for the neighbor's house.
She slammed on the door, yelling at the top of her lungs. "Please, please, open the door! I need to use a phone!"
An old woman opened the door. "What are you doing up so late, eh?"
Kagome gasped for breath. "I'm sorry to wake you, but it's an emergency. Let me use your phone, please!"
The old lady blinked, but Kagome was done waiting. She pushed past her and grabbed the phone.
"Come on… come on… pick up already…" she muttered.
"All lines are currently busy… please hold…"
Kagome resisted the urge to throw the phone at the ceramic countertop.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"My… my house has been robbed." Kagome said, struggling to keep her voice even.
"Okay, miss, where are you?"
"How the bloody hell should I know!" Kagome yelled, the stress finally getting to her.
The old lady tapped her on the shoulder. "Umm… excuse me miss…"
"What?" Kagome snapped.
"Let me see the phone, please."
Kagome growled but, figuring she couldn't be much of a help anyways, handed the lady the phone. She peered out of the kitchen window and saw a man slip out of her parent's window then drop to the ground, slowly disappearing into the trees. She dashed out of the old lady's house, up the front steps, and through the door to the condo. She noticed with a start that it was open and swinging on its hinges. Sprinting up the stairs, she jerked open Souta's door and threw the light switch.
Blood. Blood everywhere. She couldn't think, there was so much blood. There was blood on the walls, on the bed, and… on a little figure curled up on the floor. Kagome screamed. She screamed and screamed until she couldn't remember why she was screaming. She screamed until she ran out of air. Her world went black and she collapsed on the floor.
Kagome opened her eyes blearily, wincing as sunlight poured into them. She sat up, shielding her face and looking around.
Her first impression was that she had gone blind. Everything was immaculately white. But as she focused, she realized that she was just in a hospital. Everything rushed back to her and tears sprang into her eyes.
A young nurse came up and patted her gently. "There, there… I'm glad you're awake. I shouldn't be telling you this because you're supposed to be unstable, but that's bullshit. Hon, your parents and brother are in a critical condition. They may or may not pull through."
Kagome hiccupped. "Wha-"
The nurse didn't give her any time to talk. "You're going to be staying with your godparents for a while, okay? School's almost in, so you'll end up transferring to a new one, but I think you'll be just fine."
Kagome blinked. "But what about the man-"
The nurse sighed. "We're still looking for him, girl. There's only a slight chance that he'll be found, I'm afraid. Now, how are you feeling. Can you stand?"
Kagome nodded dumbly and rose to her feet. Her brain was whirling with all of the information she had just received. "So… you're saying… that my family is in critical condition, so I'll be staying with my godparents and the guy responsible for it all is still at large?"
The nurse considered this for a moment. "Yes, if you want to look at it that way. By the way, my name is Rin. I hope you don't mind me talking so much. Everyone's always telling me to shut up, but I just can't seem to keep my mouth closed. Please tell me if I'm annoying you in anyway and blah blah blah blah blah…"
Kagome stared at her. She wondered absently how she could do all that and not manage to take a breath, then decided she had more important things to worry about. Blearily succumbing to weariness, she collapsed into a world of white and fell asleep in an instant.
~*end chapter one*~
Author Babble:
Tani: …I'm bored. I feel manga deprived.
Yodarashi: … (translation: Uh-oh…)
Tani: Jazu? Can you do me a smaaall favor?
Jazu: *eyes Tani warily* Depends. What exactly is it that you want?
Tani: Can you get Buyo, Kaze, Imo, Duo and Kuro over here?
Yodarashi: NO!
Jazu: O.O Just how dumb do you think I am?!?
Tani: I'll give you ten pennies if you do it.
Jazu: Really!? Ten whole pennies!!
Yoarashi: … (Translation: Kami-sama, nande ore ni?)
Jazu: *runs off, singing to himself* I got ten pe~nnies, I got ten pe~nnies…
Yodarashi: …there goes the muse with about as much understanding of monetary value as a dustmite.
Tani: ^_^ May Kami-sama (Yes, the one who died from artery blockage to the brain) bless him.