Chapter Eleven- Mazuki and the Cursed Book (part one)

!Warning! Some scenes are found not suitable for children. This story includes violence, mild language, and adult content. Reader discretion is advised.

"Ready?" Mazuki asked. Naori nodded,"One, two, three!" They pulled the orb out of the staff's grip and found themselves back in the darkness. They were greeted by Adeth.

"I'm surprised how fast you guys are recovering them, I thank you,"She did a friendly bow and her wings spread out and fluttered slightly. Naori put the orb in the Fire spot on the tablet.

"Now we just need to get the Spirit Crystal and everything will be back to normal,"She put a hand on the glass that contained her mother. Kagome stared at the future her in the glass.

"C'mon, we should get going so we can find that last crystal,"She said and they were back on Earth.

It had been three days since they left the village, and they were at another village that was holding a festival. Sango, Kagome, Naori, and Mazuki were all wearing colorful yukatas and had thier hair up in fancy ways and looked stunning. They walked along and danced to the music played by wooden flutes and drums. Sango won them all fan's for beating someone in arm wrestling. Naori and Mazuki went ahead to see the street dancers. When they were going back to the others, an old woman called out to them.

"Young ladies! Over here!" Naori and Mazuki turned to see who it was. She was very small but was jumping on the balls of her feet. She had a pointed nose and small black eyes and wore a dirty uniform.

They moved over to her,"What is it old woman?" She pointed to a wooden wall with three red circles painted on it.

"Shoot an arrow and hit all three marks and you win a prize! C'mon, give it a shot!" She handed Mazuki a bow and a carrier filled with arrows.

"I'm not very good with archery, but I guess I'll try." She pulled the string back, but it broke the bow in half,"Oops, sorry." The woman handed her another bow. This time she was more careful and shot the arrow but it landed on the ground. She drew another arrow and hit bounced off the wall."Drat! Naori, you try, your mother's good with a bow."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I am." She took the bow and shot the arrow, which busted one of the paper lanterns and almost caught the poor old woman on fire if they didn't put it out."I'm so sorry"

"That's okay deary, try again." Naori pulled back the string and this time it hit the wall, but no where near the targets."Third times a charm!"

Again Naori didn't make it. It landed in a pot of stew in the next stand.
"Looks like we didn't make it,"They were about to leave when the old woman called out to them again.

"Wait, I like you girls, so I'm gonna give you your prize anyway."

"But we didn't win, we couldn't hit the target once,"said Mazuki.

"Oh, I don't care, have it anyway,"she reached inside her robes and pulled out a red dusty book,"It came from across the sea." She handed it to Naori.

Naori stared at it and gave it to Mazuki,"I'm not a book person." They walked off and got some sushi and sat down and ate.

"Did that old woman seem strange to you?" Mazuki asked.

Naori swallowed,"Yeah, she was pretty wierd. I wonder why she was so anxious to get rid of the book?"Naori took another bite of the eel.

"I dunno." Mazuki took out the book and saw that all the pages were blank,"That old hag tricked us! There are no words!"

"Oh great, we got swindled. Lets go see her about it."Naori finished off her plate and they walked over to the old woman's stand, which was now empty."Great, she left us with a stupid book."

"I'm still wondering why she wanted to get rid of it in such a hurry,"Mazuki flipped through the blank pages.

"I say chuck it,"suggested Naori, but Mazuki put it back in her yukata.

It was night time and Naori and Kenta were asleep. Mazuki flipped through the pages of the mysterious book. All the pages were still blank and useless and she thought of doing what Naori suggested and just throwing it away, but she felt like something was connected to it, but what was it? She took out a brush and ink and made a little spot on one of the pages. The dot dried quickly and did nothing out of the ordinary. Mazuki wrote her name and it still did nothing, so she gave up and closed the book and rolled over to sleep.

The next morning, Mazuki was once again flipping through the pages.

"Are you still looking at that stupid thing?" Naori sat next to her.

"I'm just wondering what it's for. Tonight's the last night of the festival and I'm gonna ask that woman what it's for."Mazuki tossed the book aside.

"It could be a diary."

Mazuki blinked at her,"What's a diary?"

"It's a book that you write all your secrets in and all your memories and it's just for you or whoever you want to share it with. That might be why there are blank pages."

"That does sound like it. I guess I have a diary now."

They got changed for the third and last day of the festival. Mazuki pocketed the book, while Kagome braided Naori's hair in a cute bun. They walked along the street eating shishkabob and rice cakes. Mazuki looked around for the old woman, but didn't find her until the paper lamps were lit.

"Excuse me, old woman."Mazuki ran up to her,"Yesterday you gave me this book, but there are no words. Tell me why."

The woman studied her moving her head up and down,"Oh yes, I remember you. Yes, the book do you like it?"

"I don't know what to do with it."Mazuki took it out.

"Well you read it dear."The old woman did a kind smile.

"But there are no-"Mazuki stopped because when she opened the book. There was indeed a story. All the pages were filled with words to some story. Mazuki felt hightly embarrased."I must have been too sleepy." Wait, but I wrote my name in it. Why didn't these words show up before?

She lost track when Naori came up with some firecrackers and they exploded. They met with the rest of the gang and watched the end of the festival fireworks. Inuyasha and Naori had to cover thier eats from the sound, but enjoyed the beautiful fires in the sky. After the festival they headed back to one of the huts where guests stay during the festival. They changed and said goodnight to the others and split into thier rooms. Mazuki, Naori, and Kenta went to thiers.

Mazuki opened the book and read the beginning of the story:

I was floating down the river when I saw some kids play near the edge. The waters were choppy so I warned the kids not to get in to far. But they bent down and I watched as one of the little boys fell in. Quickly I dove in fighting the current and reaching the boy. I grabbed him by the neck of his shirt and tossed him to the shore. The other boys helped pull him up and I grabbed on a vine and they helped me up. They thanked me and left.

Mazuki had only read a little bit, but she felt tired and set the book down and fell asleep.

Naori shook Mazuki awake,"Wake up, we're about to leave." Mazuki yawned and rubbed her eyes. She got up and changed out of her night clothes and into her kimono. She grabbed her boomerang and the book and stepped outside.

"Okay, I'm ready now."Mazuki said to them. They left the village and continued down the dirt road. They walked several miles and decided to stop to rest. It was around noon and Shippo and Kenta were playing with the tops. Kagome was sun bathing and Miroku and Sango were talking. They had become closer since the incident; the others pretended not to notice. Inuyasha and Naori were wrestling and he was currently sitting on her. Mazuki saw nothing else to do so she took out the book. She read:

I walked through the village in need of new clothes. The river had soaked mine and they were already torn. I payed for the haori and went back on my way through the forest, following the flow of the river. When I was about to rest, I was attacked by bat demons. I took out my sword and defended myself. Soon, I used my spiritual powers to fight them and they retreated. I was left badly injured and needed to heal so I started a fire and made me something to eat. I rubbed the medicinal herbs all over my wounds. I was afraid that other demons would smell human blood and come after it, like the way a predator does to it's prey, wait till it's hurt.

"What are you reading, Mazuki?" She looked up to see Sango in front of her.

"It's a book that some woman gave to me,"Mazuki closed it.

"Did you win it?"

"That's the wierd part, I lost the game but she gave it to us anyway."

"Us?"

"Me and Naori." Mazuki got up and dusted off the front of her robes.

"C'mon, let's get going before it gets too late,"said Inuyasha.

They walked down the path they were taking. After a few miles, Mazuki was lagging behind. Her hiraikotsu seemed to be heavier than usual and even though it was large, she could usually carry it with ease. She fixed the strap trying to make it more comfortable.

"C'mon Mazuki, or we'll just leave ya there."called out Inuyasha.

Mazuki picked up the pace. She felt oddly tired and she started to pant even though they were only walking and the temperature was just right. Naori noticed her and walked next to her.

"I can carry your boomerang for ya,"Naori offered. Mazuki was too tired to say no, so she undid the strap and Naori put it on her back. The lift of the heavy load made things better and they caught up with the others.

After an hour, Mazuki was pouring sweat and needed to stop to catch a breather."What's wrong with you today?" Inuyasha asked,"Are you sick?"

Mazuki shook her head,"I'm just tired."

"Inuyasha, lets set up camp early today,"said Kagome. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, but they did set up camp. They gathered wood for the fire that they would make later in the night. Mazuki and Naori went exploring and came back early because Mazuki was too exhausted. Kagome took out a thermometer from her first aid kit.

"Put the stick end under your tongue and hold it there." Mazuki did so and after three minutes it beeped and Kagome checked it."Ninety- eight point six, She's perfectly fine."

"I told you I wasn't sick, I just need to rest, we walk all the time."That wasn't entirely true. They spent a good two weeks in villages.

"Well, you go and get some rest and we'll cook dinner and have it ready for you when you wake up,"Sango said. Mazuki went into the forest to get some peace and quiet and fell asleep.

"I'm worried about her, she does seem pale,"Kagome said to Sango.

"Are you sure she isn't running a fever?" Sango asked her.

"I'm positive, she had the normal temperature level." Kagome and

Sango looked back at the woods where they saw Mazuki fall over in her sleep. Kagome put her in her sleeping bag. Sango sat next to her and wiped the hair from her face. Kenta fell asleep and so they all settled down.

Mazuki woke up later and she tried to go back to sleep, but it wouldn't come. She decided to read herself asleep. She took out the book and read where she left off:
It's very difficult to wrap yourself in bandages, especially your back, but I pulled it off. It didn't look neat, but it would have to do. Since there were demons in the forest, I decided to seek shelter in one of the villages. I grabbed a long stick and used it as a cane to help me walk. After two hours, I had the sight of a village in the valley. And it was very lucky that it was so close because I had the feeling something was watching me from inside the forest.

Mazuki dropped the book on her chest and passed out.

A/N: Dund dund Daaaa! Looks like Mazuki is in trouble! I think the next lemon scene is coming up soon, so if you want you can skip that chapter. Well, tell me what you think!