Chapter 5
A message
Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Yes, Yukiinu residence. Kiyoshiko speaking," Kiyoshiko said answering the phone.
"Hi Kiyoshiko. I guess you haven't heard anything from Natsumi, have you?" Kagome asked on her end noticing the sadness in Kiyoshiko's voice.
"No I haven't, How about you? Have you heard anything from Kane or Yasuo?" Kiyoshiko questioned.
"Not a word. I'll let you know if anything comes up. Keep in contact," Kagome said closing the call.
"Of course," Kiyoshiko said and hung up the phone.
Kagome hung up and headed out side. She walked to the other side of the shrine where she stopped at the base of their family's ancient tree. The sacred tree. Oh what am I to do? What would you say to me now? What would it be a smart remark or a word of comfort? I left and gave birth to your children. And now I let this happen. What kind of mother am I? Our children could be in danger and I can't do anything. I'm worthless. She thought as she fell to the ground, sobbing non-stop.
SCREEECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Huh. Kagome looked up at the car that came to a quick halt in front of her. The door opened wide and a man stepped out. "Kagome?"
"SOTA!" Kagome yelled as she flung her arms around him crying into his shirt.
"Hey take it easy. Crying isn't going to bring Yasuo and Kane back," Sota said pulling her off his shirt and then smiled.
"Hey I thought you couldn't get time off to come," Kagome said all of a sudden.
"I couldn't, but you would be amazed of how much time you have when you quit," he said with a sigh.
"You what? But I thought that you loved your job," she said a bit concerned.
"I did but some things are more important," he said.
"Thank you," Kagome said and they went inside. Before long the table was set for tea and two bowls of chicken-noodle soup faced opposite from each other. They sat down and Kagome started filling her younger brother in on resent events.
"Okay. Let me guess, this started with their father correct?" Sota asked.
"Yes, but how did you know that?" Kagome asked confused.
"It was only a matter of time before they found out. You shouldn't have kept it such a secret. If you told them everything from the start you wouldn't have had such an extreme reaction," Sota said with a look that said I told you so.
"I know that now, but there isn't much I can do about that now. Anyway, Kane overheard me talking with Carol about her father and of course got upset. That's when she ran. After a while we went out looking for her and after we met back at the shrine we realized both Natsumi and Yasuo were missing as well. Soon after that I found this note in Yasuo's room."
Dear Mom,
We're running away and we will find our father, on our own, if it is
the last thing we do. There is nothing you can do to stop us. I dare
you, just try. I hate this life and we have a right to meet our
father. I don't care if you think he was a jerk. He is still our
father. You crossed the line and now were gone. Maybe you can start
having some fun. You won't have to yell scream, or punish us any more.
Have a very good life without us. Hope you're happy! And don't
bother looking for us. By the time you're done reading this note
we'll be long gone.
Your delinquent children,
Kane & Yasuo
"Wow that's intense," Sota said after reading it a couple times. "It's not like them to go to this extreme."
"I know," Kagome said.
"And what's the mystery with Natsumi?" Sota asked.
"We don't know. She could just be lost or she could have gone with Kane and Yasuo. You know how she loves adventures," Kagome said.
"Yes. She's hard to keep up with," Sota agreed, "Have you notified the police?"
"Yes and they're looking as well," Kagome replied and then realized that Sota was no longer paying attention. "Hey Sota, you okay?"
"Do you have a magnifying glass?" He asked looking up.
"Yes, I'll go get it," and after a few minutes came back. "Here you go."
"Thanks," he said and started examining the note.
"What are you looking for?" Kagome asked curious to he brother's actions.
"I can't believe that Yasuo would go through with this. I think he may have left a clue for us to follow. Ah, here it is. I knew that kid had some brains."
"What? What do you see?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"He wrote something at the bottom, but it smeared," he said and tried to decipher the message.
We will be Chkg at Nk nn 3:00
Torrw we will move to the basement of
No ol
"What does it say?" Kagome asked.
"Just a minute," Sota said placing the magnifying glass over the words.
We will be Chkg at the Nk nn 3:00.
Torrw we will move to the basement of
No ol.
"What do you think it says?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know but why don't you call Carol and Kiyoshiko over to help us unscramble it?" Sota suggested.
"Alright. Good idea," Kagome said and ran to the other room.
Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Yes Yukiinu residence. Carol speaking," said Kiyoshiko's mother answering the phone. "Oh, hi Kagome. How are you holding out?"
"I'm fine thank you. Sota is here," Kagome said.
"Oh that's great news. That must make you feel better..." Carol said.
"That's not why I called, Carol. I showed him the note Kane and Yasuo left and he managed to find a secret message written at the bottom that tells where they are," Kagome said excitedly.
"That's great! What does it say?" Carol asked.
"That's the problem. It got smeared and we can't read it. Why don't you and Kiyoshiko come over to help us figure it out?" Kagome offered.
"Okay. Give us a few minutes to get ready," Carol said.
"Of course. See you in a little while. Bye," Kagome said and hung up.
"So?" Sota asked.
"They'll be here shortly," Kagome said.
"Meanwhile, let's try to figure out as much as we can," Sota said and picked up the note.
"Aright the first line is: We will be Chkg at the Nk nn 3:00. What could Chkg be?" Kagome said deep in thought.
"I've got it! Checking!" Sota exclaimed.
"I think your right. So it now says: We will be Checking at the Nk nn 3:00. Then that wold make the next word in, checking in!" Kagome said with joy.
"So Nk nn? Well the last word is Inn, but which one?" Sota said lost.
"Kagome!" Came a voice through the shrine.
"We're in here!" Kagome yelled back, and soon Carol and Kiyoshiko walked in.
"Hey what's up? Heard of a major break through," Kiyoshiko said as she entered the room, her mother following behind. "I found this," Kagome said and showed the original message. "We have managed to decipher part of it, though."
We will be Checking in at the Nk Inn 3:00.
Torrw we will move to the basement of
No ol.
"Well we really didn't need the first line anyway sense they have been missing for more than a day. See it says Torrw which obviously translates to Tomorrow so all we have to do is find this basement. There isn't enough letters to translate the place so we will just have to search the city. Sota could you take the north side of town?" Kiyoshiko asked formulating a plan.
"Sure but why the North?" He asked curiously.
"Because you are close to both Kane and Yasuo and I remember that you would always take them up there. And also you're familiar with the area," she explained. "Kagome why don't you take the business area sense you know the area like a map in your head. Oh, and mom why don't you check the shopping district? You could check if there are any basements, but also Kane might decide to go shopping, knowing her," Kiyoshiko suggested with a fed up sigh. [View of Kane crying and desperately yelling, in feudal area, "I NEED A MALL! I NEED THE SMELL OF CASH IN HAND. I NEEEEED SHOES!"]
"Alright, but how about you?" Kagome asked suddenly.
"I'll take the allies. I know our hangouts and maybe they will hide around there," she said and everyone spit.
Hour after hour basements were searched and malls were checked. Everyone was busy and Kiyoshiko headed down the allies looking in every nook in cranny.
Ring, Ring, Ring,
"Yes Kiyoshiko here," she said still running down the allies. "Oh hi Kagome. Nothing to report just yet, how about you?"
"Nothing and your mother hasn't seen any sign of Kane at the mall either. We will be meeting b..." Kagome said.
"EYAAAAAAA!"
"Kiyoshiko! What happened? What happened?" Kagome yelled desperately.
"I-I'm f-fine," Kiyoshiko stammered picking herself up off the ground. "There is a boy here shredded to pieces. He's covered in blood and he isn't moving. I think he's dead!"
"Wait there I'll call a hospital to come pick you guys up," Kagome said.
"You're kidding. You expect me to stay and wait WITH A CORPSE!" Kiyoshiko yelled.
"The sooner I get off the phone, the sooner the ambulance will get there," Kagome said and hung up.
"EWWWW!" Kiyoshiko yelled once more.
Soon though the ambulance arrived and everyone was gathered at the hospital.
"I'm sorry, we have never seen a case like this. There is nothing we can do," the doctor said.
"Boy what a night," Kiyoshiko said as her mother got up to look out the window.
I can't believe it. I didn't think it was this late. Carol thought looking at the school clock across the way. What a mess if only that letter had one more clue. Just a signal clue. "Wait a minute. Kagome can I see that note?" She asked.
"Sure. Why," Kagome asked handing the paper to Carol.
But instead of replying she started filling in letters. "Let's see... S, h, i, k, o, n. Then T, a, m, a. And then H, i, g, h. And finally S, c, h, o. Perfect fit. Now it says Shikon No Tama High School. The basement at the High School!" Carol said excitedly.
Everyone stared at her unbelievingly.
"I think your right. This is it! Lets go now," Kagome yelled strength restored.
"Aright lets go," Sota agreed and put his arm through his sister's
"I'm sorry doctor but we need to get going. If you need to contact us here are my digits," Kiyoshiko said as she handed her cell phone number to the doctor.
"Thank you," he said and walked down the hall.
"What are we waiting for? Lets go and get our loved ones," Carol cheered. Soon they were on school grounds and at the door, which led to the basement below.
"This is it. I know now for sure they are in there. Just wait till I get my hands on them," Kagome started and snatched the doors open with a loud bang. "I'll get the lights." The room filled with light and revealed a cluttered, dusty room. Boxes and boxes of school supplies made a maze throughout the large room. Carts of baseballs, basketballs, footballs, hockey sticks, and other sports materials lined the wall on the left. Bins of rubber pizza, bouncing chicken nuggets, and other tasteless food, which was served everyday, lined the wall on the right.
"YASUO! KANE!" Sota and Kagome yelled.
"NATSUMI!" Kiyoshiko and her mother yelled. They searched every nook and cranny of the room, moving boxes and shoving their way through the mess.
After a little while they admitted defeat.
"Nothing," Sota said with a sad tone.
"But I thought for sure..." Kagome cried and fell to her knees.
"It's alright. Everything will be fine. Let's go home," Sota said and they headed to the temple.
Once there they contemplated their next move.
"What are we going to do? Everything we have tried has failed," Carol said as she slumped in to the nearest chair.
"I thought for sure that time," Kagome said and burst into tears.
"Pull your self together. Crying won't help. You know that because you're the one who told me that," Sota said with a look of disapproval.
"For all I know my children could be out on the streets DEAD!" Kagome said and continued her crying.
"Look, I'm sure Natsumi and both Kane and Yasuo are alive and well and..." Sota said.
"What did you just say?" Kagome said no longer crying.
"What that I'm sure that they are alive?" He questioned amazed at his sister's sudden change in mood.
"No, no, no, after that," Kagome said quickly.
"That they are alright?"
"No you didn't say alright," she said getting excited.
"What did I say?" Sota asked and looked around at the confused company.
"You said that they are well," Kagome said.
"So, what's your...THE SACRED WELL!" He yelled.
"I'll be right back!" Kagome said and ran upstairs but shortly returned.
"I've noticed that the power of the sacred jewel has faded recently, but I thought it was just my imagination. Apparently not," she said and held out a pair of earrings. "These are fragments of the jewel. These are all that are left."
"But I thought that you never told them," Sota cut in.
"I didn't but my diaries are missing as well. That kid in the hospital was shredded in a way I have seen before, Iron Reaper Soul Stealer," Kagome said. "It was mentioned in my diary as well as Blades of Blood."
"So that is how they knew," Sota said finally understanding.
"Knew what?" Carol and Kiyoshiko yelled. "What's going on?"
"I think we have found Yasuo, Kane and Natsumi. Go home and Pack a bag like you were going camping. It has to be light enough to carry though."
After a while Kagome said, "Fallow us," as she stood up. The group walked outside and to a shabby old shed.
"Where are we?" Kiyoshiko asked as they entered. bags in hand.
"The well room," Kagome said as they all looked to see an old dry well.
End of Chapter 05
Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Yes, Yukiinu residence. Kiyoshiko speaking," Kiyoshiko said answering the phone.
"Hi Kiyoshiko. I guess you haven't heard anything from Natsumi, have you?" Kagome asked on her end noticing the sadness in Kiyoshiko's voice.
"No I haven't, How about you? Have you heard anything from Kane or Yasuo?" Kiyoshiko questioned.
"Not a word. I'll let you know if anything comes up. Keep in contact," Kagome said closing the call.
"Of course," Kiyoshiko said and hung up the phone.
Kagome hung up and headed out side. She walked to the other side of the shrine where she stopped at the base of their family's ancient tree. The sacred tree. Oh what am I to do? What would you say to me now? What would it be a smart remark or a word of comfort? I left and gave birth to your children. And now I let this happen. What kind of mother am I? Our children could be in danger and I can't do anything. I'm worthless. She thought as she fell to the ground, sobbing non-stop.
SCREEECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Huh. Kagome looked up at the car that came to a quick halt in front of her. The door opened wide and a man stepped out. "Kagome?"
"SOTA!" Kagome yelled as she flung her arms around him crying into his shirt.
"Hey take it easy. Crying isn't going to bring Yasuo and Kane back," Sota said pulling her off his shirt and then smiled.
"Hey I thought you couldn't get time off to come," Kagome said all of a sudden.
"I couldn't, but you would be amazed of how much time you have when you quit," he said with a sigh.
"You what? But I thought that you loved your job," she said a bit concerned.
"I did but some things are more important," he said.
"Thank you," Kagome said and they went inside. Before long the table was set for tea and two bowls of chicken-noodle soup faced opposite from each other. They sat down and Kagome started filling her younger brother in on resent events.
"Okay. Let me guess, this started with their father correct?" Sota asked.
"Yes, but how did you know that?" Kagome asked confused.
"It was only a matter of time before they found out. You shouldn't have kept it such a secret. If you told them everything from the start you wouldn't have had such an extreme reaction," Sota said with a look that said I told you so.
"I know that now, but there isn't much I can do about that now. Anyway, Kane overheard me talking with Carol about her father and of course got upset. That's when she ran. After a while we went out looking for her and after we met back at the shrine we realized both Natsumi and Yasuo were missing as well. Soon after that I found this note in Yasuo's room."
Dear Mom,
We're running away and we will find our father, on our own, if it is
the last thing we do. There is nothing you can do to stop us. I dare
you, just try. I hate this life and we have a right to meet our
father. I don't care if you think he was a jerk. He is still our
father. You crossed the line and now were gone. Maybe you can start
having some fun. You won't have to yell scream, or punish us any more.
Have a very good life without us. Hope you're happy! And don't
bother looking for us. By the time you're done reading this note
we'll be long gone.
Your delinquent children,
Kane & Yasuo
"Wow that's intense," Sota said after reading it a couple times. "It's not like them to go to this extreme."
"I know," Kagome said.
"And what's the mystery with Natsumi?" Sota asked.
"We don't know. She could just be lost or she could have gone with Kane and Yasuo. You know how she loves adventures," Kagome said.
"Yes. She's hard to keep up with," Sota agreed, "Have you notified the police?"
"Yes and they're looking as well," Kagome replied and then realized that Sota was no longer paying attention. "Hey Sota, you okay?"
"Do you have a magnifying glass?" He asked looking up.
"Yes, I'll go get it," and after a few minutes came back. "Here you go."
"Thanks," he said and started examining the note.
"What are you looking for?" Kagome asked curious to he brother's actions.
"I can't believe that Yasuo would go through with this. I think he may have left a clue for us to follow. Ah, here it is. I knew that kid had some brains."
"What? What do you see?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"He wrote something at the bottom, but it smeared," he said and tried to decipher the message.
We will be Chkg at Nk nn 3:00
Torrw we will move to the basement of
No ol
"What does it say?" Kagome asked.
"Just a minute," Sota said placing the magnifying glass over the words.
We will be Chkg at the Nk nn 3:00.
Torrw we will move to the basement of
No ol.
"What do you think it says?" Kagome asked.
"I don't know but why don't you call Carol and Kiyoshiko over to help us unscramble it?" Sota suggested.
"Alright. Good idea," Kagome said and ran to the other room.
Ring, Ring, Ring.
"Yes Yukiinu residence. Carol speaking," said Kiyoshiko's mother answering the phone. "Oh, hi Kagome. How are you holding out?"
"I'm fine thank you. Sota is here," Kagome said.
"Oh that's great news. That must make you feel better..." Carol said.
"That's not why I called, Carol. I showed him the note Kane and Yasuo left and he managed to find a secret message written at the bottom that tells where they are," Kagome said excitedly.
"That's great! What does it say?" Carol asked.
"That's the problem. It got smeared and we can't read it. Why don't you and Kiyoshiko come over to help us figure it out?" Kagome offered.
"Okay. Give us a few minutes to get ready," Carol said.
"Of course. See you in a little while. Bye," Kagome said and hung up.
"So?" Sota asked.
"They'll be here shortly," Kagome said.
"Meanwhile, let's try to figure out as much as we can," Sota said and picked up the note.
"Aright the first line is: We will be Chkg at the Nk nn 3:00. What could Chkg be?" Kagome said deep in thought.
"I've got it! Checking!" Sota exclaimed.
"I think your right. So it now says: We will be Checking at the Nk nn 3:00. Then that wold make the next word in, checking in!" Kagome said with joy.
"So Nk nn? Well the last word is Inn, but which one?" Sota said lost.
"Kagome!" Came a voice through the shrine.
"We're in here!" Kagome yelled back, and soon Carol and Kiyoshiko walked in.
"Hey what's up? Heard of a major break through," Kiyoshiko said as she entered the room, her mother following behind. "I found this," Kagome said and showed the original message. "We have managed to decipher part of it, though."
We will be Checking in at the Nk Inn 3:00.
Torrw we will move to the basement of
No ol.
"Well we really didn't need the first line anyway sense they have been missing for more than a day. See it says Torrw which obviously translates to Tomorrow so all we have to do is find this basement. There isn't enough letters to translate the place so we will just have to search the city. Sota could you take the north side of town?" Kiyoshiko asked formulating a plan.
"Sure but why the North?" He asked curiously.
"Because you are close to both Kane and Yasuo and I remember that you would always take them up there. And also you're familiar with the area," she explained. "Kagome why don't you take the business area sense you know the area like a map in your head. Oh, and mom why don't you check the shopping district? You could check if there are any basements, but also Kane might decide to go shopping, knowing her," Kiyoshiko suggested with a fed up sigh. [View of Kane crying and desperately yelling, in feudal area, "I NEED A MALL! I NEED THE SMELL OF CASH IN HAND. I NEEEEED SHOES!"]
"Alright, but how about you?" Kagome asked suddenly.
"I'll take the allies. I know our hangouts and maybe they will hide around there," she said and everyone spit.
Hour after hour basements were searched and malls were checked. Everyone was busy and Kiyoshiko headed down the allies looking in every nook in cranny.
Ring, Ring, Ring,
"Yes Kiyoshiko here," she said still running down the allies. "Oh hi Kagome. Nothing to report just yet, how about you?"
"Nothing and your mother hasn't seen any sign of Kane at the mall either. We will be meeting b..." Kagome said.
"EYAAAAAAA!"
"Kiyoshiko! What happened? What happened?" Kagome yelled desperately.
"I-I'm f-fine," Kiyoshiko stammered picking herself up off the ground. "There is a boy here shredded to pieces. He's covered in blood and he isn't moving. I think he's dead!"
"Wait there I'll call a hospital to come pick you guys up," Kagome said.
"You're kidding. You expect me to stay and wait WITH A CORPSE!" Kiyoshiko yelled.
"The sooner I get off the phone, the sooner the ambulance will get there," Kagome said and hung up.
"EWWWW!" Kiyoshiko yelled once more.
Soon though the ambulance arrived and everyone was gathered at the hospital.
"I'm sorry, we have never seen a case like this. There is nothing we can do," the doctor said.
"Boy what a night," Kiyoshiko said as her mother got up to look out the window.
I can't believe it. I didn't think it was this late. Carol thought looking at the school clock across the way. What a mess if only that letter had one more clue. Just a signal clue. "Wait a minute. Kagome can I see that note?" She asked.
"Sure. Why," Kagome asked handing the paper to Carol.
But instead of replying she started filling in letters. "Let's see... S, h, i, k, o, n. Then T, a, m, a. And then H, i, g, h. And finally S, c, h, o. Perfect fit. Now it says Shikon No Tama High School. The basement at the High School!" Carol said excitedly.
Everyone stared at her unbelievingly.
"I think your right. This is it! Lets go now," Kagome yelled strength restored.
"Aright lets go," Sota agreed and put his arm through his sister's
"I'm sorry doctor but we need to get going. If you need to contact us here are my digits," Kiyoshiko said as she handed her cell phone number to the doctor.
"Thank you," he said and walked down the hall.
"What are we waiting for? Lets go and get our loved ones," Carol cheered. Soon they were on school grounds and at the door, which led to the basement below.
"This is it. I know now for sure they are in there. Just wait till I get my hands on them," Kagome started and snatched the doors open with a loud bang. "I'll get the lights." The room filled with light and revealed a cluttered, dusty room. Boxes and boxes of school supplies made a maze throughout the large room. Carts of baseballs, basketballs, footballs, hockey sticks, and other sports materials lined the wall on the left. Bins of rubber pizza, bouncing chicken nuggets, and other tasteless food, which was served everyday, lined the wall on the right.
"YASUO! KANE!" Sota and Kagome yelled.
"NATSUMI!" Kiyoshiko and her mother yelled. They searched every nook and cranny of the room, moving boxes and shoving their way through the mess.
After a little while they admitted defeat.
"Nothing," Sota said with a sad tone.
"But I thought for sure..." Kagome cried and fell to her knees.
"It's alright. Everything will be fine. Let's go home," Sota said and they headed to the temple.
Once there they contemplated their next move.
"What are we going to do? Everything we have tried has failed," Carol said as she slumped in to the nearest chair.
"I thought for sure that time," Kagome said and burst into tears.
"Pull your self together. Crying won't help. You know that because you're the one who told me that," Sota said with a look of disapproval.
"For all I know my children could be out on the streets DEAD!" Kagome said and continued her crying.
"Look, I'm sure Natsumi and both Kane and Yasuo are alive and well and..." Sota said.
"What did you just say?" Kagome said no longer crying.
"What that I'm sure that they are alive?" He questioned amazed at his sister's sudden change in mood.
"No, no, no, after that," Kagome said quickly.
"That they are alright?"
"No you didn't say alright," she said getting excited.
"What did I say?" Sota asked and looked around at the confused company.
"You said that they are well," Kagome said.
"So, what's your...THE SACRED WELL!" He yelled.
"I'll be right back!" Kagome said and ran upstairs but shortly returned.
"I've noticed that the power of the sacred jewel has faded recently, but I thought it was just my imagination. Apparently not," she said and held out a pair of earrings. "These are fragments of the jewel. These are all that are left."
"But I thought that you never told them," Sota cut in.
"I didn't but my diaries are missing as well. That kid in the hospital was shredded in a way I have seen before, Iron Reaper Soul Stealer," Kagome said. "It was mentioned in my diary as well as Blades of Blood."
"So that is how they knew," Sota said finally understanding.
"Knew what?" Carol and Kiyoshiko yelled. "What's going on?"
"I think we have found Yasuo, Kane and Natsumi. Go home and Pack a bag like you were going camping. It has to be light enough to carry though."
After a while Kagome said, "Fallow us," as she stood up. The group walked outside and to a shabby old shed.
"Where are we?" Kiyoshiko asked as they entered. bags in hand.
"The well room," Kagome said as they all looked to see an old dry well.
End of Chapter 05