I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean for you to wait this long, promise! I've just been really, really busy with school and stuff… But now it's the holidays! So I'll give you all a few chappies while I have the time:)
Thanks to: DanCrazed, sangoscourage, Sorceress of the Cat and Lintered for your reviews!
To Imbue A Soul
Chapter 5:
.oOo.
It was the morning after the sleepover. The four girls awoke to find Yousu grinning happily.
"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to her hair. "I'm me again!"
Her silver-blue streak had returned, much to her delight. A quick glance at her arms and face showed the strange marks to have reappeared also. The now violet-eyed girl sat back on her bed smiling.
"It's like it was all me dreamin'," she muttered to herself.
"Kagome…" Yuka asked slowly. "What is she talking about?"
Kagome looked at her friend in confusion.
"You don't remember?" she asked in surprise.
"Nope," Eri and Yuka said together. Ayumi remained silent, just looking at Kagome.
"Well, last night all Yousu's strange markings disappeared, and her eyes were normal and – do you remember?" Kagome asked hastily as a grin began to spread across Eri's face.
"Nice try, Kagome!" Yuka cried in triumph. "But we won't fall for that trick!"
"Good job for getting Yousu to act along too," Eri added.
Kagome stared at her friends. "But –"
"Kagome," Ayumi said quietly, grabbing her by the arm. "May I have a word?"
Confused, the schoolgirl let herself be led from her bedroom, trying to ignore the ecstatic expression of Yousu, and the knowledgeable grins of Yuka and Eri.
"Kagome," Ayumi began once they were out of earshot. "Don't try to convince them of something that they don't understand."
"So you do remember!" Kagome sighed with relief. "I thought I was going crazy!"
"You're not, Kagome," Ayumi assured her with a smile. "Yuka and Eri saw what happened to Yousu too, but they can't find an explanation for it. Their brains are telling them that it wasn't real."
"But…I believe what I saw, even though I don't know how it happened!" Kagome cried. She slumped against a wall. "I'm so confused."
"So am I, but I do believe what I saw," Ayumi confirmed. "I think it's because I read too much, like Yuka and Eri are always telling me." She smiled reassuringly at her friend.
Nothing fazes you, does it? Kagome thought, returning the smile. "Right – as confused as I am I'll try not to let it get to me. Thanks Ayumi."
The two returned to the room where Yuka and Eri were quizzing Yousu on her knowledge. The three of them looked up as Kagome walked over.
"This is so weird!" Eri said. "She hardly understands anything that we all take for granted, and the things she does remember are really old-fashioned."
Yousu looked away, her face heated with embarrassment.
"Yousu, it's nothing to be ashamed of," Ayumi said gently. "I'm sure that over time everything will be explained." She glared at her two friends. "You don't have to deliberately make her feel uncomfortable all the time!"
Eri and Yuka insisted that they hadn't meant to. An uncomfortable silence followed.
"Come on," Kagome finally sighed. "We still have school today, let's have breakfast and get going."
.oOo.
Once they were ready the five of them left in a rush, running to get to school.
"Kagome!" Yuka groaned as she realized what time it was. "Your mum makes her breakfasts too delicious!"
"You didn't have to spend all that time eating!" Kagome retorted. "It's your own fault! Now hurry!"
The girls made it into the school grounds just as the first bell sounded. Yousu watched the other four as they panted, trying to catch their breath. Like at the hospital, she found that running didn't cause her to lose her breath at all. The girl looked towards the main doors where all the students were heading and spotted a boy looking back towards the group. Yousu stared at him, then followed his gaze and found Kagome on the other end of it.
That guy's want's somethin' ta do wiv Kagome, an' it's gettin' on me nerves, she thought, instinctively tensing and clenching her fists. Then she shook her head and forced herself to relax. What am I thinkin'? Tons o' guys look at girls that way here. It means that they like 'em…
The boy noticed Yousu's glare and looked away hastily. She snorted.
If he likes 'er, why don' he jus say so? she wondered.
"Yousu? Yousu! We're going to be late!"
The words snapped the girl out of her thoughts, making her turn towards the call. She found that her four friends had caught their breath and had walked ahead, waiting for her to follow.
Another day in school, Yousu sighed in defeat, but she ran to catch up to them.
.oOo.
First class for Yousu was Math. The teacher quickly caught on that Yousu was having trouble understanding and kindly set her beginner's work after hearing her explanation and receiving a written note from Kagome's mother.
Sure makes things easier, Yousu thought as copied papers were set in front of her. The girl bent her head over her task, but as the lesson progressed she became aware of the curious stares of her class. She tried to ignore them but couldn't help overhearing muttered comments and muffled giggles. Her ears glowed crimson with embarrassment.
It was slowly and reluctantly that she stood from her seat to go to the next class. Handing what she had managed to complete to the teacher, she kept her head lowered as she stepped into the corridor.
"Why the long face?" a voice at her shoulder asked. Yousu looked up to see Ayumi at her side.
"Ye people think I'm strange," she mumbled to her friend. "All the time they is speakin' 'bout me when they thinks I ain't lookin'."
Ayumi patted her shoulder. "If it makes you feel any better, new people are always talked about in this way. It'll die down in a few days once they find something else to talk about, you'll see."
Yousu tried to feel more hopeful, but couldn't. Something told her that this feeling of being alone had been felt by her before, and she wasn't enjoying it at all.
"Higurashi!"
The two girls stopped and turned at the sound of Kagome's last name. The teacher Yousu had just had was darting towards them waving pages of paper.
"Oh… looks like Kagome's done something again," Ayumi muttered. "Maybe she aced a test…"
But to both girls surprise – and also the surprise of the people around them – the teacher halted in front of Yousu.
"Higurashi?"
"M-Me, s-sir?" Yousu managed to stammer after a hasty bow.
"Yes, you," seeing the confusion on Yousu's face he added. "You are Yousu Higurashi, aren't you?"
"N-No sir! I'm sorry sir!" Yousu bowed again. "I ain't got another name. The Higurashi family took me in when I… when I woke up! I ain't able ta remember me other name."
The teacher regarded her with sympathy. "I see. Well then, Miss Yousu, I have to ask you – are you sure that you haven't any knowledge of math?"
"Them numbers an' stuff?" The girl thought hard. "I know I can count, and add 'em sometimes but… not really anythin' much."
"Yousu," the teacher said softly. "I gave you this easy paper along with instructions. You followed them to the letter. I expect you to just as well in the next class. Good day."
Yousu watched in silence as he walked away to teach his next class.
"That was weird," Kagome noted, suddenly appearing beside the two girls.
"When did you get here?" Ayumi asked with a raised eyebrow. Kagome shrugged.
"I was heading to my next class when a guy ran up to me to say that the math teacher was calling for me," she explained. "I came to see what was happening and found this."
Yousu looked thoughtful. "He says 'jus as well'. 'Zat mean I did fine?"
"Who knows?" Kagome said. "You'll have to wait until your next lesson to find out. Come on, I'll help you find your next class, Yousu."
With the explanation for her learning trouble to notify her teachers, Yousu found that the day passed more easily. Soon school had ended, and it was time to go home.
.oOo.
That evening, Yousu found herself to be the focus of her adopted grandfather's attention. He took no time in declaring her as 'suspicious' and continued to glower at her throughout the evening meal. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Grandpa!" Kagome finally shouted, nearly slamming her fist onto the table. "Stop it! Yousu hasn't done anything wrong! Leave her alone!"
The old man squinted at the violet-eyed girl with suspicion before answering. "She is not trustworthy! She could bring harm to this household that has been protected by generations of Higurashi priests!"
"Not this again," Sota muttered.
"Yousu would never hurt us Grandpa! How could you say that?" Kagome demanded.
"I doubt she is even human," her grandfather continued, observing the colour of her eyes.
"Grandpa – !" Kagome began, but was interrupted by a hand on her arm, silencing her.
"Thank ye fer the meal, ma'am,"Yousu said quietly to Kagome's mother. "I think I'll go ta bed now."
The girl stood quickly and fled from the room.
"Grandpa!" her friend said to the old man who hadn't even realized he had caused Yousu's abrupt departure. "What was that for? Don't tell me you've proven Yousu to be a demon or – what are you doing now?"
Her grandfather had taken out a strip of paper from the folds of his clothing. Handing them to Kagome he looked at her carefully.
"These exorcism sutras will rid you of that demon and her aura of evil," he informed her knowledgably before standing and walking out of the room. Kagome glared at his back as he left then sighed sadly.
"Why did he have to go and do that?" the girl asked in a strained voice.
"Because he's Grandpa – he does things like that," her mum said calmly. She stood also. "I'll go and speak to Yousu, Kagome. Why don't you talk to your grandfather and work things out? Make sure you start the conversation with something to distract him – something he likes talking about."
Looking at both his mother and sister, Sota began to feel uneasy. "I'll help mum with Yousu," he muttered, and walked off to find her.
"Good luck," his mum wished her daughter, and followed him.
"I'd best get this over with," Kagome sighed.
Heading into the room her grandfather had entered she found him seated on the floor looking through the boxes of goods that had been delivered that morning. Seeing her, he opened his mouth to speak. She hastily cut him off by grabbing the nearest box and pulling out one of the items inside.
"What are these things, Grandpa?" she asked him, feigning interest. The old man plucked one from the box and cleared his throat as the cat Buyo entered the room and sat beside Kagome.
"That, Kagome, is the Shikon no Tama," her grandfather told her.
"Shikon no…what?" Kagome asked.
"Shikon no Tama, my girl! The Jewel of Four Souls!"
Kagome studied the keychain in her hand. Yes, it was shiny, but it didn't look all that fantastic. "You don't actually think tourists are going to buy these dumb keychains, do you?"
"That is not just a keychain!" the man insisted. "That crystal at the end is a replica of an ancient jewel which –"
Noticing Buyo's interest in the bauble Kagome held it out for her cat to try and grab. Looking up at her grandfather's silence she saw his glare and tried to pay attention.
"As I was saying, that crystal is a replica of an ancient jewel which –"
He stopped as he realized Kagome wasn't paying any attention to him at all. He tried again, raising his voice a little.
"An ancient jewel –"
Kagome, bored already from his attempts decided to try a different tactic. "You do remember it's my birthday tomorrow, right?"
Her grandfather's glare turned into a chuckle as he pulled a box out from behind his back.
"I'd planned to wait another day, but…"
"So you did get something!" Kagome exclaimed in spite of herself. "Hand it over!"
Opening the package he handed to her she rummaged around inside and drew out…
…something she couldn't identify at all. It was dark green and wrinkly.
"And this would be…?" she asked.
"That, my dear, is a mummified hand of a water-imp, which –"
Kagome finally lost her patience with her grandpa and held the thing out to the cat.
"Here Buyo," she said tonelessly. "Eat."
"No! That's an antique!" the old man cried, and reached after the cat who just walked off.
"Now Grandpa," Kagome said, getting his attention. "Why are you saying that Yousu is a demon? Why don't you like her?"
"She's still here?" her grandfather demanded, producing more sutras. "She must be a strong demoness indeed to have breached the defences of both the shrine and the sutras!"
He has a one-track mind, Kagome thought, looking at him like he was mad.
"Beware demon! I will banish you from this home you now haunt! You will be exorcised! Beware!"
"Oh, just forget it," Kagome muttered, leaving the room to find Yousu.
Her friend had bathed and was snuggled into her bed beside Kagome's. Whatever Kagome's mother and brother had told her had obviously made her feel better about the old man. Yousu showed a small smile as Kagome sat on her own bed.
"I don't really think that Grandpa meant what he said, Yousu," Kagome told her.
"Oh, 'e did," Yousu replied, a-matter-of-fact. Her friend was shocked at the certainty in her tone.
"I didn' take offence at 'is words, ye know," the girl continued. "It's jus… the stuff 'e said made me think."
Kagome waited in silence.
"I think someone's said that I ain't human before now. Lotsa someones. It's like I'm used ta it or somethin'." Yousu rolled over and muttered sleepily, "I really musta lived wiv tons o' nice folks, eh Kagome?"
Kagome smiled at her attempt at a joke, and then Yousu breathed deeply and settled into sleep.
.oOo.
The next day, Kagome woke to a pair of violet eyes inches from hers. The girl screamed and sat up, pushing whoever it was away from her with as much force as she could muster.
Yousu stumbled away from her and fell to the floor with a thump.
"Yousu!" Kagome exclaimed, jumping from her bed and kneeling beside the girl. "I'm so sorry, Yousu! Are you okay? I didn't realize –"
"I'm fine, Kagome," Yousu assured her, standing smoothly and helping her friend from the floor. She began to straighten her school uniform which she'd already changed into. "I'm sorry fer startlin' ye. I meant ta give ye a surprise…."
"You did!" Kagome cried and started to giggle.
Yousu blinked at her for a few moments before enveloping her friend in a hug.
"Happy birthday Kagome!" the girl said, her violet eyes glittering.
"Thanks Yousu," her friend said, returning the hug. "Let's get ready for school now, okay?"
"Right," Yousu replied agreeably.
Heading down for breakfast Yousu flickered a purple glance upon Kagome's grandfather before stepping up to him and giving him a huge smile. The old man eyed the strange girl warily. Yousu, seeing that he still refused to trust her, bowed to him before turning away, heading towards the front door.
"Yousu, aren't you going to eat?" Kagome asked in a worried tone.
"Nup! Already did!" the girl said happily as she exited. "See ye outside! I hear Sota callin'!"
Kagome listened, but heard nothing. She frowned in puzzlement.
"Both your brother and Yousu woke early," her mother said, placing a bowl in front of her. "Eat up, Kagome, and then you can be off."
Outside, Yousu had found Sota calling for Buyo.
"What're doin'?" she called, running up to the boy who held a dish of cat food.
"It's time for Buyo to eat, but I can't find him anywhere!" Sota told her, a hint of pleading in his voice.
"The cat?" Yousu asked, scanning the grounds of the shrine with her violet gaze. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath in while Sota watched her, looking a bit baffled. Not noticing his expression, the girl spun and pointed to a small building.
"There. That's what yer lookin' fer," she announced clearly. "Buyo's in there – I can smell 'im."
"Smell…him…?" Sota asked, still confused.
"Yeah. C'mon!" Grabbing her adoptive brother by the hand Yousu pulled him over to where she'd indicated.
"B-But that's the well!" Sota cried. "I don't want to go in there!"
Yousu stopped on the steps. "What? Are ye scared?"
"No!"
"Then go an' get 'im!"
"I'm leaving!" they both heard Kagome shout. She started running, spotted them, and headed over.
"Yousu, you forgot your schoolbag," she told her friend as she neared them. Seeing where they were she frowned at her brother. "Hey, what are you…?"
"Nothing…" Sota answered guiltily.
"You're not supposed to play in there," Kagome scolded, sliding the satchels off her arm and placing them on the ground.
"I'm not!" her brother insisted.
"It's the cat," Yousu added.
"Did he go down to the well?" Kagome asked.
"Well… Yousu said she smelt him…" Sota trailed off, realizing how weird that sounded. Kagome raised her eyebrows. The three of them entered the building.
Yousu saw a pit that dropped down from the platform they were standing on, with stairs leading to the pit's bottom and also a covered well.
She glimpsed a well, uncovered and devoid of water, centred in the middle of a forest clearing as she raced by…
Yousu shook her head to clear it, the silver streak in her hair flashing in the dim light. What was that? she wondered. Somethin' from me memory?
"Buyo!" Sota called. "Yousu said he was in here, and I don't know where else he could be!"
"So, go down," Yousu suggested, Sota having snapped her out of her thoughts.
"But why do I gotta be the one?" he whined.
"Because you're the one who's looking for him!" Kagome retorted.
Yousu jumped as a scratching, creaking noise came to her ears. Sota screamed and darted behind his sister.
"Something's down there!" he cried.
"Uh, yeah – the cat!" Kagome told him. Yousu narrowed her eyes, trying to peer through the shadows at the base of the steps. Something was awfully familiar about that well…
"Sheesh," Kagome muttered, standing straight. Slowly, she began to descend the steps, watched intently by her brother and her friend. Yousu jumped again as she heard the sound of wood groaning.
That sound…from inside the well… Kagome thought, pausing in front of the covered box. Another sound came from her direct left and she shrieked in fear. Sota screamed in terror. Yousu started, then looked down and began laughing.
"Buyo!" Sota said in realization. The violet-eyed girl sat down, clutching her stomach and giggling like mad. Kagome picked Buyo up as the cat rubbed against her legs.
"You make fun of me 'cause I'm scared and you're all 'argh!' 'eeek!'," Sota complained.
"Look who's talking mister 'why do I have to go?'." Kagome glared at him.
Yousu abruptly stopped giggling as a third creaking sound was heard.
"It…It ain't the cat?" she asked nervously.
In Yousu's vision, the well's lid suddenly shone, edged with brightness. In the blink of an eye is was shaking madly on its hinges, the light growing brighter with every passing moment.
"Sis…" Sota said worriedly. "Behind you…"
Yousu leapt to her feet as the well erupted with tendrils of light that wove themselves into vaguely-shaped arms. The girl's violet eyes reflected the shock on Kagome's face as the tendrils grasped her, pulling her into the well. Buyo leapt out of Kagome's arms to land safely on the steps.
"What's going on?" Sota shouted in a panic.
"Kagome!" Yousu yelled.
Without hesitation, Yousu leapt off the platform, landed in the pit and straightened, all in one smooth movement. Another quick jump and she was beside the well, reaching for her friend's hand as she was dragged downwards. Crying out her name again, Yousu clutched the edge of the well with one hand and grabbed at Kagome's arm – their fingertips brushed once before Kagome abruptly disappeared out of her friend's vision completely. All Yousu could see was the dirt at the very base of the well.
A heavy silence thickened the air. Yousu was frozen in position, her hand outstretched and Kagome's name on the tip of her tongue. A moment passed then the girl's shoulder's slumped and she sat on the ground with a thump.
"She's gone… W-What jus happened?" Yousu muttered, still shocked.
What're we gonna do now?
Yay! I'm done! Wow… I wrote more than I expected to… and I once again apologize for the long wait. Thank you for your patience! So… did you like this chappie? We're finally getting into the episodes! YAY! Please, PLEASE review! It makes me so happy when you do, and gives me the motivation to write more:) An' I'll love ye fer it! ;) Go Yousu!
Hugs!
Víra :)