A/N: Okay, it's one thirty in the morning, I've been washing dishes in my pajamas for two hours, and the kitchen reeks, I tell you, REEKS of garlic. If I didn't know better, I'd say that one of the parental units was trying to exorcise something before they left for California. Therefore, the garlic takes responsibility for the shortness of this chapter. I'm happy to say the next chapter is already in production.

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Dictated from a record left by Nagita Houjou

There's something in the air. I know it, my friends know it, even the lunatics know it. More than one voice has been shouting about death lately. The more religiously inclined have been saying their prayers, chanting their rosaries, praying the gods, whatever they can do.

Even Kagome-chan, bless her soul, has been acting strangely. She's normally such a quiet girl. But there's been something odd in her eyes. I can't place it. The closest I can come to describing it is... anticipation. Excitement.

In some strange way it reminds me of a mood she'd come into sometimes, when we were little. The group of us children would be playing, pushing each other, laughing, and suddenly she'd turn away. "Leave me alone," she'd say. "I don't feel like playing anymore."

She was a peculiar child, now that I think of it. Sweet, often naive, but odd. There was a story Sir Kajishi used to tell, about when Kagome-chan was having a temper tantrum. Right in the middle of the normal whinings, she started shouting, "I want to go home! I want to go home! This isn't home!"

I digress from my point.

Perhaps the crux of this problem is that Sango-dono has taken suddenly ill. Sir Kajishi called me in to take a look at her.

It was...dreadful.

I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was wrong with her. She was paler than Kagome-chan, and had no energy whatsoever. The poor girl was having trouble remembering people's names- I can't tell you the pain I felt when she turned to me and asked, "Who are you?"

Of course, I forced a smile and replied, "Nagita Houjou- your doctor, and a friend."

She smiled her lovely smile, "Well, then, thank you for coming."

Sango-dono kept mumbling something about 'those cold yellow eyes'. When I asked her about it, she responded in a dead tone, "I remember nothing."

Most of all, I noticed there were two tiny puncture marks on her neck. They could have been bug bites, but it seems almost too coincidental.

There was only one thing I could think of to do.

Call Kaede-sensei.

I saw Kagome-chan as I left the house. She looked pensive, as if she was pondering something in great detail.

"Hojo-kun!" she called out. "Is she going to be all right?"

I could see the worry in her eyes.

"I don't know," I responded honestly. "I'm going to bring my teacher to see her tomorrow."

There was something else to her stance as well. She was biting a fingernail- a habit I haven't seen in years.

"Hojo-kun," she blurted out, "did she tell you about the eyes also?"

I nodded. "But when I asked her about it, she became unresponsive."

The air hung between us. I got the distinct impression that she was hiding something.

"I'm scared, Hojo-kun," she said softly, so softly that I almost missed the words.

I did my best to provide a comforting smile. "Everything will turn out all right in the end," I said, though I had no such conviction.

Kagome-chan looked sad again. "I hope so," she murmured.

The response penned by Korosu Kaede

Nagita-chan,

Of course I will come to Kyoto, if my old bones can take the trip. It all sounds very interesting, and I believe I know the cause, but I must see Miss Kajishi to be entirely sure. I will arrive on the twenty-first, but in case my suspicions are correct, you must take these precautions before I arrive: Never let the lady be alone, not even for a minute. Keep her away from windows and moonlight, and make sure to season all her food with garlic.

I know you will be questioning my sanity at this point, boy, but do as I ask. There are things you do not understand, Hojo-kohai, and perhaps may never understand. Please await my arrival before you do anything drastic, but obey my instructions or Kajishi-jo's illness could become fatal.

- Korosu Kaede