Chapter 1: Bubble Trouble

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

An arm slipped out from under the covers feeling around for the source of the noise until she finally got a hold of it.

"Shut up already..!" the girl said from under the covers as she turned the alarm clock off and retreated back under the covers. But suddenly she felt the covers being slowly removed, and so she lazily opened her eyes, only to see the smiling face of a boy with spikey blonde hair.

"Kokoro, good mooorning!"

"AAAAAAAHHH!"

"Ow! Why'd you have to do that?"

A blushing Kokoro composed herself and got out of bed. "Nevermind, just don't try that while I'm in the shower." A vein was popping out of her head as she gathered her school clothes and walked out of her room, closing the door behind her.

"Geez, is that any way to treat your guardian? She always punches me.." Nishiki grumbled to himself, rubbing his poor cheek.

"Geez, Nishiki always surprises me like that.." she said, pulling her night shirt off over her head. The thought angered her a bit, but then she smiled and blushed. "Nishiki..."

"What?"

Kokoro's eyes widened as she just stared in shock at the blinking boy.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!"

BOOOMMMM! And Nishiki went flying out the door.

Kokoro's entire face was like a tomato as she breathed heavily in anger and tried to cover her barely clothed body at the same time.

After she was done changing into her school clothes, Kokoro went back into her bedroom to get her backpack and do her hair. She seemed to pay no mind to Nishiki, who was looking a bit cross as he sat Indian style on her bed.

"Hey.. Why'd you hit me so hard?.."

"...WHY! BECAUSE YOU'RE A PERVERT, THAT'S WHY!"

"What'd I do? You said my name and I just thought you needed my help or something!"

"Nishiki..!" Kokoro started blushing again as she looked down and shook her fist, but then she noticed the time on the clock. "Oh! I don't have time for this, I'm gonna be late!" She quickly tied her long black hair into pig tails and grabbed her stuff and ran out the door, but then looked back inside her room. "Aren't you coming?"

"I thought you were mad at me.." Nishiki had a sad puppy dog look on his face, and Kokoro rolled her eyes and blushed a bit.

"It's okay, I forgive you.. Now come on or I'll be late!"

As Kokoro got to the sidewalk, she turned towards Nishiki, who was floating beside her.

"Hey, shouldn't you walk instead of float? It would be bad if people saw you like that.."

At that Nishiki floated downwards until his feet reached the ground and he could walk. "At your command, my beautiful Mistress."

Kokoro smiled and looked away as she felt her cheeks warm up. 'Nishiki... He's been with me for three years already, but it seems like just yesterday he saved me from that demon that was in Misaki... Since then, any time a demon's tried to attack me, he always comes to the rescue. He can be a little annoying sometimes, but I'm sure he never means to be. He's always so nice to me, even after all the mean things I say or do to him..' Kokoro thought to herself. "Um.. Nishiki..?"

"Hm? What is it?" Nishiki had his hands folded at the back of his head while he walked.

"..Sorry.. For hitting you so hard this morning.."

"Oh, that's okay! You do that all the time anyways so I'm pretty used to it by now," he said, almost jokingly.

Kokoro's expression showed that she was clearly hurt by what he just said, but she turned slightly so he couldn't see it. "... Also... I-"

"Kokoro! Nishiki!"

"K-Kaname! Misaki..!" Kokoro was rather startled when she was cut off by Kaname's voice. She was even more surprised when she noticed that Kaname and Misaki were holding hands. Well, not surprised, just strangely taken aback..

When Kokoro and Nishiki approached the two, Kokoro just couldn't help asking, "Um.. Are you two going out or something..?" She felt very awkward asking.

Kaname laughed and stratched the back of his head. "Ahaha, yeah, we are. I see you're as sharp as ever Kokoro! Ahaha!"

Kokoro tried to laugh along as best she could, but what came out was a sort of weak giggle instead. Maybe it was because she had been friends with him for so long that it just seemed weird that he had a girlfriend.. It was even weirder considering that she and Misaki had become good friends over the years.. But even so.. After a moment of letting it sink in, Kokoro finally smiled. "I'm glad for you two."

"So tell me how it happened Kaname! How'd you guys finally start going out?" Kokoro asked as they continued walking to school.

"Hehe, well, actually, Misaki's the one who asked me out, and of course I said yes!" Kaname smiled to Misaki as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her close. Misaki just blushed out of embarrassment.

Kokoro smiled at the two, but then blushed and turned her head slightly towards Nishiki, who looked clueless as always.

"Hey, we're here! Looks like we made it just in time!" Kaname announced.

"Oh.. I guess you can change now Nishiki.." Kokoro said, still blushing a bit.

"Okie dokie! I'll be rooting for you as always!" Nishiki said, winking, and then he popped into plush-mode.

Kokoro smiled warmly at the cute stuffed bunny, and then carefully put him into her backpack. Only Kaname and Misaki knew about Nishiki, so while she was at school, Nishiki always stayed in the form of a plush toy so he could watch over her during class.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning, Kokoro!" said one of her classmates. "Oh, you still carry that toy around?" the girl asked, pointing at the stuffed bunny sticking out of Kokoro's backpack.

"Uh, hehehe, ya."

"Don't you think you're a little too old for that sort of thing?"

"Uh, well, um, it's my good luck charm! Ehehehe.."

"Class! It's time to be in your seats!" the teacher said as he walked in. "Today starts the second semester of the 8th grade. Did you all remember to do your summer homework?"

"Yes Mr. Terada!" said the class in unison.

"Okay! After I take attendance we'll start grading the math drills."

'Alright! You'll be sure to get a 100 with my awesome answers!' Nishiki said in Kokoro's mind.

'Really? I didn't realize you were so smart! Thanks for doing them Nishiki.. With so much other homework I just didn't have time to do the drills..'

'Think nothing of it! And of course I'm smart, I'm a shikigami!'

"Okay, let's see.. The answer to #1 is.. 650.2," Mr. Terada announced.

Kokoro blinked in confusion. 'Uh.. Nishiki.. You got the wrong answer..'

'Impossible! The teacher must've gotten the wrong answer!'

"And #2 is.. 17.52," said Mr. Terada.

'Nishiki! That one was wrong too!' Kokoro decided to do the next one in her head. 'Let's see.. Nishiki! How can you get 100 when you subtract 347 from 892.4?'

'Well, it at least looks right doesn't it? I didn't think it mattered what number you put down..'

'Of COURSE it matters! Ugh!' Kokoro started flipping through the answers Nishiki wrote. 'Eleventy-billion... I dunno... This is hard... I want a meatbun!' "NISHIKI!" The whole class turned towards Kokoro, who was strangling a bunny plush toy. "Ehehehehe! Um.. Excuse me!" With that, Kokoro dashed out the door with the plushie, leaving a confused classroom.

"Kokoro! What are you thinking? Yelling out in class like that.."

"IT'S YOUR FAULT! I thought you said you could do the math drills!"

Nishiki popped back into boy form. "But I did do them."

"With completely wrong answers! You're just lucky we get to go over the answers before we turn them in!"

"Well..."

"WELL!"

Nishiki folded his arms. "...You should've done your homework sooner."

"NISHIKI..!" WHACK!

"Ow!"

Kokoro sighed. "Ugh, what a day.. And they always give us so much homework even on our first day back.."

"Tell me about it!" said Kaname. Kokoro, Nishiki, Kaname and Misaki were walking home together, as usual. "Well, here's where we split. See you guys tomorrow!" Kaname said waving with one hand, and Misaki's hand in the other.

"Bye Kaname, Misaki!" Kokoro waved back, along with Nishiki. Kokoro sighed. "I hardly even get to see Kaname any more, he's always with Misaki instead." She smiled. "But I really am glad they finally got together."

"Ya, even I was thinking it was about time! Those two are obviously crazy about each other," Nishiki said in a carefree tone. Kokoro turned to Nishiki and just stared at his face while they walked. When Nishiki noticed he was being stared at, he turned to face her. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

Kokoro blushed. "N-No!" Nishiki observed Kokoro, who looked rather shy all of a sudden, but then looked back ahead, shrugging it off. "Um... Nishiki... Can I ask you a question..?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Um... Nishiki... W-What do you think... about me..?"

Nishiki turned back to her with a questioning look. "Why would you ask that?"

"Just... wondering..." Kokoro was doing her best to conceal her face, which was deep crimson right now.

Nishiki never took his eyes off her. Instead, he just smiled thoughfully and said, "I think you've got a beautiful heart." At that, Kokoro turned and looked him back in the eyes. Nishiki nudged her chin with the side of his index finger gently. "AND face. You've always got such cute pink cheeks."

Kokoro seemed lost in a daze from looking at and listening to him, but she quickly snapped out of it and returned to shy mode, staring back at the oh-so-interesting concrete sidewalk. "... Nishiki... There's something I've been wanting to tell you..."

"Kokoro! There you are! Take out this trash for me will you? Kujyo and I are heading out to the store for some groceries."

"B-Big brother!" Without realizing it, they had already reached the house. 'Stupid big brother... You'll pay for this..!' Kokoro thought angrily to herself as she hauled the huge, stinky trash bag towards the big garbage bin.

"Kokoro, here, let me help," said Nishiki.

"No, that's alright, I've got it.." Kokoro sighed in relief when she had finished- the bag was quite heavy.

"So, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"N-Nothing! Um! I've got to go.. take a bath! You know, after touching that dirty trash and all.. Ehehehe..!" At that, Kokoro ran inside. A question mark popped out of Nishiki's head, but he soon followed.

When the tub was full, Kokoro turned the handle until the water stopped. She then slid into the warm bubble bath, resting her head on the edge. She sighed and closed her eyes. 'What's wrong with me? Why is it so hard to tell him? For some reason I act as though it's some kind of big deal... I just wanted to tell him that I really do like him... even though he might not know it, especially because I keep hitting him all the time... But why do I blush so easily? Do my cheeks always turn red when I look at Nishiki?... Is there something more to it...?'

As Kokoro was lost in her thoughts, her already bubbly bath started quietly bubbling near the other end of the tub. The bubbling gradually increased, but Kokoro didn't notice it until...

"EEK!" Something was tugging at Kokoro's foot. "W-Where'd all these bubbles come from?" Suddenly she felt her head being pushed down under the water, but luckily she fought it and came up for air just in time. "Wha.. What the..." When she surfaced, she was staring a skull in the face. "Ni... NISHIKIIII!"

In no time, Nishiki barged through the door. "Yikes! Kokoro, you're naked! I don't wanna get hit!"

"Nevermind that! HELP!" Luckily there were so many bubbles in the tub that Kokoro was covered.

Upon seeing Nishiki, the creature caused the water to make a big splash, and when the water cleared, Nishiki was face to face with what looked like a skeleton wearing a kimono of water. On the top of the skull was long back hair. "A shikigami?"

"That's right ugly! And who, or what are you? And why do you smell so bad?" Nishiki covered his nose with his hand.

The creature spoke with the voice of a woman. "Who I am does not concern you, boy!" At that the creature extended its boney hand and shot a ball of energy at Nishiki, blowing him against the wall. It then turned back towards Kokoro and started laughing evilly as it walked closer.

"AAHH! NISHIKI HELP!"

Nishiki quickly shrugged off the pain of the blow once he heard Kokoro's cries. "Don't you dare hurt her!" Nishiki charged towards the creature and tried to swipe at it, but nothing happened. His hand just went right through it. So he tried to hit it with magic, but that didn't affect it either.

"Ha.. There's nothing you can do to harm me..! All you can do is watch as I kill this wretched girl!" At that, the creature shot another, bigger energy ball at Nishiki, hurling him back against the wall. "Ko... Kokoro..."

"Nishiki! NISHIKI! Oh no.. What'll I do..?" Kokoro said, panicking as the creature drew closer once again.

"Kokoro..! It's an evil spirit! A high density ghost!" said Nishiki.

"It is? Then why's it attacking me?"

"Don't act like you don't remember, Momiji Masaki!" said the ghost.

"Mo.. Momiji? My name isn't Momiji, it's Kokoro Nagahara!"

"You lie! There is no mistake! I'd recognize that face anywhere!"

"But why? Why do you want to kill me so badly!"

"Because you are the one who murdered me!"

"What..?"

"Long ago.. In the summer of 1789, you, Momiji, were my greatest enemy.. Then one day, out of nowhere, you came and stabbed me with a daggar and then pushed me into the Aoi River, leaving me to drown... How can you not remember that!"

"Get with the times, you old hag! This is 2004! I think you're a couple centuries behind!" Nishiki said, now standing up with a smirk.

"Nishiki..." Kokoro said, now at a loss for words.

"Kokoro! I can't do anything about this, but you can!" Nishiki threw her a towel.

"W-What? Me?"

"Yup. Aside from summoning shikigami, your family deals with spiritual stuff and exorcisms, right?"

"Well ya, but I've never actually tried to do one..."

"Well then this'll be your first one! I know you can do it Kokoro!" Nishiki winked and gave her the thumbs up.

Kokoro nodded with determination and then looked back towards the ghost, who was walking towards her with a dagger. Kokoro tied the towel around her body and then put her hands together and closed her eyes as she quietly recited some kind of incantation. Soon the ghost started glowing.

"Wha.. What's happening to me! I can't move!" the ghost shouted.

After Kokoro finished the incantation, she stood up and looked at the ghost with compassionate eyes. "...You were in love, weren't you?"

"...Yes... Momiji was always jealous of me!.."

Kokoro smiled thoughtfully. "It's okay... He's waiting for you.."

"He.. He is..?"

Kokoro nodded, and the ghost just stared at her for a moment, but finally looked down and dropped the dagger. Kokoro closed her eyes once again. "...Spirit! Be cleansed and depart peacefully into the nextus of worlds!" Kokoro spread her arms apart, and suddenly a great wind came from the ghost as it glowed brighter and brighter until it vanished with a sparkle. As the wind died, Kokoro slumped down, exhausted, and wiped off the beads of sweat from her forehead. "Phew! That was hard!"

Nishiki ran over to her. "Kokoro! Wow! That was awesome!"

"Heh, well, naturally.." Kokoro blushed and suddenly remembered that all she was dressed in was a towel. "Ehehe! Okay, Nishiki! Time to get out!" Kokoro said, pushing Nishiki out the door.

"What? Hey, wait!" Nishiki tried to protest, but his hand accidentally slipped in the wrong place, causing Kokoro's towel to fall off.

"NISHIKI, YOU PERVERT!"

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!

Kokoro had kicked him so hard he literally flew through the roof.

"Owww... What did I dooooooooo..?"

So, what'd ya think? Reviews are welcome!