INUYASHA VERSION OF THE RING
Chapter Thirteen: An End To The Mystery
Disclaimer: Just take a look at all the other chapters. –Sigh–
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"Man, I just want to forget this whole thing and just sleep in my bed and have not a care in the world." Sango sighed longingly. "That damn busu Sadako is really getting on my nerves!"
"Well, hopefully it'll all be over soon enough. I'm sure that we WILL found this whole thing out,"
"I hope so. And I hope I can live long enough for my birthday, too! It's at the end of this month, remember, Miroku?" Sango chirped.
Miroku looked at her and nodded.
"Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" 'Man, how could I have forgotten? It's her birthday, and I forgot! That's me for you. Always forgetting stuff. But I wonder what I should get her . . .' he wondered to himself.
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"Awww . . .he's asleep, Mama." Kagome sighed at the sight. Dead asleep in her bed was InuYasha and Souta was clutching around the hanyou's waist. Kagome threw the covers over them and turned off the lights.
"'Night, Mom." Kagome yawned.
"Good night, Kagome, dear. See you in the morning." Her mother said cheerfully.
'Yeah, if I make it to next morning alive . . .' Kagome thought worriedly. 'I just hope that Sango and Miroku have found this out yet . . .'
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Kagome walked to her bedroom and flopped down on her comfy bed. It was an ordinary room, bright and vibrant; she and her mom had just painted it last summer, and she chose to do green for the walls and ceiling. Her bed had clover-covered sheets and pillow. For some reason, you might be mistaken she REALLY, REALLY liked green.
She inhaled the cold, but sweet air pouring into her bedroom from the open window. All troubles slipped from her mind and she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. The moon had just risen and she drifted off into dream land . . .
.
Kagome awoke sometime after her dream. It was vague and she couldn't remember it . . . and worse thing about it, Kagome had the slightest tug at her heart that the dream was telling her the way they could be saved from the tape. She lay her head back down on the pillow, trying desperately to remember the dream. Dissatisfied, she opened her window and snuck out. She better be quick, otherwise Mama would find out her Kaggy-puu was sneaking outside at night!
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Sango awoke from her dream. It was vague and she couldn't remember it . . . and worse thing about it, Sango had the slightest tug at her heart that the dream was telling her the way they could be saved from the tape. She figured she needed fresh air so she walked outside from the living room into the lawn in her pajamas. She stepped over next to the tree in the lawn and felt the cool dew on the blades of bright green grass. She loved to be able to do this. She and Kohaku used to do it all the time . . . at least, when he was still alive . . .
Sango almost screamed as someone grabbed her from behind (and would've woken the whole neighborhood, mind you) if Kagome hadn't slapped a hand over her friend's mouth. Kagome hushed Sango and reassured her that is was just her, no one else.
"Hey, you left InuYasha at home," Sango noticed.
"You should've seen him; he was so CUTE when he was asleep!" Kagome squealed.
"Hey, I just had the strangest dream!" Both Sango and Kagome exclaimed in hushed voices at the same time.
"Really? What was it about?" they both asked. "You go first," Kagome said.
"Well, I had the STRANGEST feeling that it had to do with—" Sango started.
"—saving ourselves from the tape? Same here!" Kagome jumped in.
"Whoa. Freak-eh." Sango said.
"I know! Definitely freaky . . ." Kagome agreed.
"Shall we awake the boys? Oh, wait, Inu is at your house and that's kinda far from here . . . Say, how'd you know I was here?" Sango asked.
"Oh, you know best friend vibes."
". . . Right. Okay. That'll work, I guess," Sango murmured. "Let's go inside, actually no. Let's stay out. Just hope Reiko doesn't have any Doberman pinschers out as guard dogs . . ." she shuddered.
Kagome nodded furiously and whispered,
"No, Doberman pinschers and I have BAD relationships . . . REALLY BAD."
"Oh, yeah, when you were trying to get Souta away from it, and it ended up biting YOU instead. You were crying and screaming and your face was so WET from crying and your eyes were puffy red and I ran inside to your mom and I started screaming, "Mrs. Higurashi! Mrs. Higurashi! Kagome was attacked by a big dog! I think it's trying to bite her hand off!" and your mom almost FAINTED!" Sango giggled.
The two girls burst out laughing and sat their backs against the tree. Memories were ALWAYS fun to reminisce, and especially if you have a best friend to do it with. They giggled throughout the whole night until the sun rose all the way up into the sky at noon. Only then did Kagome realize that her mom would have already discovered she was gone.
". . . Oh, no . . . Mama's gonna see I'm gone! I snuck out in the middle of the night, Sango! What am I going to do??"
"Well, I could SEE that you snuck out in the middle of the night, since I saw you and we're here NOW. (Kagome laughed nervously) Borrow my skates, it'll be quicker."
"Thanks, Sango-chan. You're SUCH a big help; I don't know what I'd do without you!"
"I know, aren't I?"
"You're just SO modest."
"Of course. Well, you better go! Lucky for your that it's summer and your mom wakes up late during then."
"Bye!"
Sango walked back inside the house and was laughing at the shocked look on Kagome's face when she realized she needed to be home. She just wished that Kagome wouldn't be too late and get grounded, or something. She found Miroku snoozing on the couch and walked into the kitchen, coming back out with a glass filled with ice-cold water. Just a perfect reason for dumping it on people when they're asleep . . .
"AAAAAHHHH!" came Miroku's surprised yelp. He leapt up in front of Sango and saw her holding the cup behind her innocently.
"T'wasn't me. What makes you think that, love?" Sango chirped.
"Don't play dumb with me," the boy growled.
"Dumb? I'm playing COY . . . You really do have a problem in the mornings. Okay, I'm shutting up. No need for that look,"
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"THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT, MS. KAGOME HIGURASHI! NO EXCUSE AT ALL! I CAN'T BELIEVE MY KAGGY-PUU SNUCK OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW! MY BABY COULD'VE BEEN KILLED! OR WORSE—KIDNAPPED! YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'RE HERE! IT'S SAFER!" Mrs. Higurashi screeched.
'Actually, I think I'd be safer WITH a kidnapper . . .' Kagome thought. 'Sometimes I wonder if I ever got switched at birth . . .'
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"Yup. Kagome's grounded right about . . . Now." Sango said as she looked at her watch.
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"YOU ARE GROUNDED, KAGOME!" Mrs. Higurashi screamed.
For the rest of the evening, Kagome moped around, and decided to wake InuYasha up. Oh, wait. Her mother already took care of that with her screaming match . . . Then it hit Kagome. Tonight was her last night! The seventh day!
"Oh, dear Lord . . ." she moaned. She decided she would stay with InuYasha for the rest of the day; it'd be safer.
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"Oh, my, gosh! It's the seventh day, and Kagome's grounded! What are we going to do?" Sango cried. "Kagome can't be saved, her mom's already pissed off and now Kagome doesn't have a chance!!!!" the girl wailed.
Miroku sighed and held Sango to him. What's one way to shut her up? Oh, how 'bout this . . .
"HENTAI, MIROKU!" Sango hissed dangerously.
'At least she's quiet . . .' Miroku thought pathetically, tenderly rubbing a red hand-print on his cheek.
"Miroku, there's no hope left. It's all over. We failed—I FAILED. It's over . . ."
"Sango, San—look at me. It's not over. Tonight is our last night. We still have time."
"That's what you think . . ." Sango mumbled under her breath.
Reiko suddenly spoke up, (It startled Sango and Miroku; they hadn't realized she'd been there the whole time)
"Does he grope you like that all the time?"
Sango frowned.
"Not trying to be rude, Reiko, but it's none of your business,"
"Oh, right." Reiko grinned nervously.
"Well, I guess all we have to do is wait until 7:00 tonight . . ." Sango sighed.
"Well, if you want to give up, I'm not stopping you. But I'm not going to give up!"
"Okay, Sherlock Holmes, go find some foot prints and maybe Sadako will come out and say, 'Oh, I'm terribly sorry for the shock I've caused everyone. If you just listen to me, I can save you. Hop on my back and we'll fly off to Never, never land!'" Reiko mocked Miroku, who was frowning.
Sango laughed.
"You've actually got humor!"
Miroku stormed out from the room and sat in a vacant room for the rest of the afternoon until Reiko's digital watch read 6:50:03 PM. Sango was getting worried and ran to the room he locked himself in. She banged on the door and pleaded that he open the door. But she received no response. The watch now read 6:59:50 PM.
"Miroku! Miroku, we're sorry! Please come out!"
6:50:59 PM.
"Mir—"
DING! DONG! DING! DONG! DING! DONG! DONG!
"Noooooo!" Sango shrieked. She jumped against the door, and it burst open. "Miroku! You're not dead!" She saw him sitting on the bed and looking out the window, his back turned to her.
"Sadako's not here . . . But . . . why . . . ?" she mumbled as she sat beside him. Then she gasped as her mind raced to the memory of Miroku and Sango both hitting the "RECORD" button at the same time.
"Miroku! I know why we survived!"
"How??" Miroku gasped.
"Remember when we went to the TV station? Remember how we recorded that tape? I THINK THAT'S HOW WE SURVIVED!!" Sango exclaimed. "I gotta call Kagome!"
"But she's grounded!"
"So?"
.
"THAT'S GREAT, SANGO! I'LL GO TELL INU!" Kagome exclaimed over the phone.
"I know!"
"Oh, I gotta go! Since I'm grounded, I have to get off early! Bye!"
"Bye!"
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"Reiko, I have a surprise for youuuuu . . ." Sango sing-sang.
"What is it?" Reiko called from her bedroom. She was playing video games. Sango let herself in.
"I know how you can save yourself. You got a recorder? Not the recorder instrument, but records tapes."
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"Okay, now press this button here . . . Good. Now you have to record the whole tape until it finishes, then put the tape somewhere where NO ONE will get it." Sango said as Reiko recorded the tape. When it stopped recording, Reiko took the tape and threw it in a ditch in the yard, then covered it up with dirt.
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"Reiko! We're home!" sounded two voices as they entered the house.
"Mom? Dad? You're home!" Reiko cried as she ran to greet her parents.
"We missed you, sweetie!" Mrs. Haruko said.
"You did? But I thought you wouldn't? You and Dad always rant on and on about how you could've had a son!"
"A son? Oh, no. We only said that because remember how you broke my favorite china dish? That's why. Just to teach you a lesson."
"Oh. Well, this is Sango and Miroku. They found me—Oops."
"FOUND you? Why? Were you gone?"
"No, no. They found me a, uh . . . cat, but I didn't want to keep it."
"That's the lamest lie I've EVER heard!" Sango muttered in Miroku's ear as they came into the room.
"But yeah, they've been watching over me while you two were gone,"
"Well, thank you, you two. Here's money for your trouble. Oh, by the way, Reiko, dear, your father and I are inviting all of your little friends over to the ice-skating arena for your birthday!"
"Thanks, Mom, Dad!" Reiko exclaimed.
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"Bye, Sango! Bye, Miroku! Thanks again! For you know what!" Reiko waved as the couple walked off.
Sango and Miroku kept staring at the fifty bucks they held in their hands; each received fifty dollars! They arrived at Miroku's house and slept all for the rest of the day.
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(July 31st)
"HAPPY 17th BIRTHDAY, SANGO!" everyone shouted as Sango came walking in Miroku's living room. The light flashed on and everyone jumped out and confetti flew everywhere.
"Wow! Thanks, you guys!" the now-17 year-old exclaimed.
As soon as they finished gobbling down pizza and chocolate cake, Sango walked over to a huge pile of presents. She began unwrapping them excitedly. She never had huge birthday parties since her parents and family died, except for when her friends would throw her a small party, which was still pretty fun, by the way.
"Wonder what it is . . . Oh, my, gosh! It's a puppy! Thanks, InuYasha!" Sango thanked InuYasha for the yellow Labrador puppy he gave her, which was in a big red box with holes. She then begun to unwrap Miroku's gift and pulled out a navy-blue shirt that read across the front in pink "Thanks for looking" and matching pants. She smiled and gave Miroku a kiss.
"Thank you, Miroku!" Miroku blushed a bright crimson.
"Now, last, but not least, Kagome's present." Sango said as she gazed up at her best friend, who was beaming excitedly. Sango tore the green wrapping paper off and opened the lid to a box. She pulled out a baby blue kimono for New Year's. There was more- a lavender sweater, a "Best Friends Forever" charm, shaped in a heart, which was split in half, one half for Sango, and the other half for Kagome. Sango hugged Kagome and thanked her.
"Hey, Sango. I think there's something else in there . . ." InuYasha said.
"Really? I don't remember putting anything ELSE in . . ." Kagome muttered, just as surprised as the others.
Sango pulled out a square object covered with the tissue paper inside the box and pulled it off. Everyone gathered around the birthday girl and gasped. Sango's eyes widened, and everyone's eyes matched hers. No one spoke for a moment, until Sango finally gathered the courage.
"It's . . . the tape . . ."
"But . . . HOW? We destroyed it, didn't we?" Kagome cried.
"I don't know. I THOUGHT we did . . . And I KNOW you weren't the one to put the tape in my present, Kagome. You wouldn't do that . . . . . It was Sadako . . . . ."
Sango took the tape and led everyone outside. She went to an empty space in the backyard and made a wall of stones circulating around a small fire. Sango tore the film from the tape and dumped both into the fire. Everyone saw it crackling and sparks flew out from the tape. Finally, when Sango was satisfied, Sango dumped water over the fire. The tape and film had melted.
"There's NO WAY anybody can watch it now . . ." she paused. "Who's up for a ride in my car to the movies?" Sango asked everyone.
Everyone shouted, "Let's go!" and they all jumped into Sango's Ferrari and sped off to the movies.
"What are we going to see?" Kagome asked.
"Butterfly Effect," Sango answered.
"Awesome!"
Inside Miroku's house, under the cabinet holding the TV, was the copy of the tape. It lay there untouched; forgotten. A pale, thin hand reached under the cabinet and pulled it out. The hand attached to the person put it in their white gown and walked through the un-opened door and floated downtown. They appeared suddenly in a movie rental shop, without causing any distraction to this figure. No one even gathered the figure was there. It was as if it was invisible. The hand, which belonged to a small girl with very long dark hair and pale skin as white as her gown, placed the tape on a rack with a sign that read "Hottest Hits!" and disappeared from the shop and reappeared up on the hill. She stood in the middle of the road, and as a truck came speeding towards her, she vanished. No one would've guessed who it was; because they couldn't see her . . . It was . . .
. . . Sadako . . .