December's Promise: Unknown circumstances

By Dark X

a/n: um...had to rethink stuff about this chapter... ..

"You come to school often now." Hojo greeted. Kagome smiled and entered the classroom. She had to stay longer in her time to see if it was Naraku making the students dissapear or die. Hojo smiled and followed her."Does this mean that you can go to the Park picnic this weekend?"

"Uhh..."

"You know, before you go again?" Hojo scratched his brown hair.

"I don't know." Kagome remembered about Inuyasha."I'll have to check my schedule."

"Ok, well if you decide to go, then call me."

Kagome sighed when he went away. She wanted to find out about the dissapearences, but Hojo didn't seem the least bit worried. Maybe he was the one doing it all. Inuyasha was going to return to the feudal era for a while in case Naraku was there. That's when Kagome will have to investigate by herself.

That bright light I saw that one night. Why does it bother me so much? It was probably just a show or something. There's something about it. Maybe I should tell Inuyasha about it. What is it?

"Did you hear? A kid from the junior high just by the other corner of the last attack, was gone. " a girl reported to the class.

"What is happening anyway?" a guy asked.

"Our school is next then." Kagome realized."We're the only one in the district that hasn't been gone yet."

The students stopped and looked among them. That meant that they had to keep their eyes open. Whoever was doing it could be one of them. Their teacher entered and noticed the silence. Now the whole school was nervous of the next attack.

Hojo waited for Kagome by the front gates. He explained that maybe he could escort her in case she disspeared. Kagome thanked him and accepted his offer. Besides, Inuyasha was probably gone by now. Along the way, Kagome noticed that groups were going home instead of only one person. Hojo didn't even bring his bicycle.

I guess it spooked them out. Was it really such a good idea to make them all paranoid about what will happen next? Well at least now they're aware that any one of them can be next. Even me..or Hojo.

"Don't worry about it." Hojo said as if he read her mind."I'm here, so don't worry."

"Do you think that maybe we may never see anyone again?" Kagome watched the other students walking."Any day could be our last day."

"Kagome," Hojo's tone changed." there are some things that you should worry of more than the whole mess."

"You mean, you worry about homework instead of getting killed?" Kagome guessed.

"I guess you can say it like that." Hojo regained himself. It was as if Kagome made him step on a subject he regretted."There's no need to worry as long as you have something to live for."

Kagome was a little surprised at what Hojo was saying. Was there something wrong other than the current problem. She waived and thanked him. Hojo smiled and left. Kagome got curious and decided to follow him in case he was next. First though, she left her stuff at home and got her bow and arrows. She left a message with her mom for Inuyasha. Then she left and went to Hojo's house. Or at least tried to find.

(a/n:the following is a presumption of what his family is like if i am wrong then welcome to the fiction)

"Where does he live?" Kagome walked down a row of houses. The sun was setting. That meant the attacks may start soon. She heard a trash can being knocked over and someone running. Kagome hid behind a bush to see who it was. As the sun let it be seen, Hojo ran past her with a hurt look. She was about to get up when she realized that this might be her chance to see who he was running from.

A black ghost-like creature past by. Kagome didn't get to get a good climpse of it, but it was demon-like enough for her to follow. First off she needed to protect Hojo then investigate more on this "thing". She got up and began to run after them. They had turned a corner so Kagome did so as well. To her surprise she found a man standing over Hojo. But it wasn't Naraku.

"Didn't I tell you to get home! This is another lesson for you to learn." The man raised his arm. Hojo was defending his face from the attack so Kagome couldn't see his expression.

"Don't hurt him!" Kagome hid her weapons. The man turned around. He was wearing a green shirt that looked like it hadn't been washed in days. His black sweats had holes in them. The man, from what Kagome could assume, was Hojo's father. He was bald, had Hojo's hair color, and was as tall as Inuyasha.

"You? Who are you?" he staggered."Doesn't matter..get out of here!"

Well he's drunk. I can smell him. Plus he's not Naraku. But what about Hojo?

"I'm his friend." she replied. The sun was almost down now. The streets were empty. Besides, they were at a dead-end corner with only one way out. Kagome was blocking that way.

"Kagome, please get out of here." Hojo got up. His facehad scratches while his uniform held bruises."I'm sorry that you had to see my dad this way."

"Kagome eh? That's the girl that keeps turning you down?" his dad found his balance on the wall."You're the one causing all this trouble."

Kagome glanced at Hojo for a second then got back to his dad. She told Hojo that she'd help him bring his dad back home and ignored what his father had just said about her. He apologized. As the sun went down and his father was in bed, Hojo's smile regained it's place on him. Kagome didn't understand how he can always smile at her even if his father was like this.

"Hojo.."

"My father didn't mean what he said." Hojo gave her a drink."I'm sorry again."

"Hojo, is it because you walked me home?" Kagome accepted it.

"No. I chose to do it and I my responsibility for what happens." Hojo changed his tune and turned to her." What brings you here?"

"I came by to thank you and see if you were ok." Kagome lied.

"C'mon." Hojo got up and opened the door."I'll walk you home again."

She got up and told him she'd be fine, but he insisted on the offer. Still, Kagome refused and left. If Naraku was the one making students dissapear, then she could be next. Hojo decided to watch her as far as he could see her. Kagome sighed and went on her own. When she got home, there was a report of three girls that were missing. One of which was from her school.

"Arimi!" the teacher called her name. Murmurs responded. Kagome looked worriedly over her friend's seat. Later the found out that Arimi was among the week's missing students. It got the school thinking more. They advised buddy systems and cell phones. Some even suggested to carry weapons or guards around with them. The entire district was alerted of what could happen next.

When the ending bell rang, the tension grew between everyone. Hojo and Kagome walked home together again. She didn't bring up the event of her last visit. Instead she spoke about where Arimi could be and who was next. Hojo walked on listening to her, and began to worry about the same things too. Kagome could tell that he was even if he kept trying to reassure her. She let it be though. Inuyasha was probably going to return soon and Hojo was more postive than he would be in this situation.

"One day when this is over, I want you to see my family in a different view." Hojo waited with a group at a cross walk.

"Sure." Kagome answered.

I wanted to ask him,"How can you go through all of that practically everyday and manage to give me an honest smile?" But I know that will hurt him. There's should be something I should ask him. But...I'm not sure how he'll respond to it. I've gotta ask him and that's the only way to know.

"Do you remember a light that shot up in the sky one night?" Kagome brought up.

"Now that you mention it I did. But later I found myself in my bed, so I'm not so sure." Hojo thought back."Did you see it too?"

"A light out the window..."

"Yes." Hojo looked up to the sky."A white light out of one of these rooftops."

"Hmm..."Kagome joined him in looking up."Strange isn't it? A light that came up one night. Then the next day reports of missing kids come in."

"Maybe it's just a coincedence."

"Too simliar to be a coincedence. After that light, isn't it the day that you saw the reports?"

"Now that I think about it, ya." Hojo agreed. " After that night, everyone started dissapearing."

"Well, this is your stop." Hojo stood before the steps to her house."I'll see you tomorrow."

"Alright." Kagome got on one step."Thanks."

Inuyasha had returned to her time so he can see what was going on. Naraku still hasn't shown up anywhere. Kagome sat in her room determined to find out if it really was Naraku. Since all the witnesses were victims, no one knew what the attacker looked like. Another report came up on more missing students. The next day Kagome found out that Hojo was one of them.

chap end-

hahahah u kno if u think about it, Boogiepop Phantom is way similar to the Grudge.