A Whole New World
One Huge Leap

Gotta get there quick! Yuriko Akiyama, a 17-year-old High Schooler, was on her way back home so her mother could take her and her sister for some doctor's appointment. Ugh! I hope I'm not late! Then again when am I ever on time... Oh wait, ha never! Her mother had always told her that she needs to better her time and not waste so much of it procrastinating until the very last minute. All her life she had been late to many things. Birthdays, holiday parties, school. Especially school. She knew they started bright and early but for the life of her she couldn't bring herself to actually enjoy the mornings when things were best. The birds sung, perched high in the trees, a few crickets now and then, and the gentle cool breeze that blew almost year round, even during the summer. The few friends she had had told her that if she managed her time better, she would have more of a chance to, as they say, stop and smell the roses. They were only young once so its best to enjoy it while they can. As she pumped her legs harder to get home on time, Yuriko felt as if someone was following her. Man I better hurry! Though she couldn't actually see anyone specifically stalking her, that feeling was with her until she finally reached home . Made it, and I'm ten minutes early. Thank you Kami.

"Momma! I'm home!" Not even bothering to glance towards her mother who smiled at her as she ran up the stairs, Yuriko rushed to her room so she could change out of her uniform before they left. Glad I made it instead of being late, now I won't have to walk around in such a short skirt. Smiling to herself, she pulled out her favorite pair of jeans and her favorite t-shirt. The shirt was a blueish color with white spots all around, making it look kind of like clouds, with two little strips of fabric crossing on the neck line and it read, 'Buy the ticket, take the trip'. She absolutely loved this shirt, mainly because if she could and had not been in school, she most certianly would have 'bought the ticket' and traveled. Finished dressing, she brushed her hair out, grabbed her favorite pair of boots and walked downstairs and into the kitchen.

Hearing her daughter come down the stairs, Ms. Akiyama grabbed her purse and called for her youngest.

"Nanami, lets go dear! We don't want to be late!" Snatching her door open, she ran down the stairs and straight into her sister.

"Hey watch where you're goin!"

"Well don't just stand there in front of the stairs like that!" Glaring at her little sister, Yuriko huffed and walked out the door. I swear sometimes! Little sisters are too much. Though I guess she was right.

Shaking her head at the two, Ms. Akiyama ushered Nanami out the door. Her oldest may have been home early enough but they would most definitely be late if they did not leave now.

Leaning against her mothers car, Yuriko felt again as if someone was there. Felt but unseen. It was starting to creep her out! "Twice in one day", she mumbled to herself. Noticing her mother and her sister had finally come outside, she waited for the doors to be unlocked and then climbed in. Getting there wasn't too much trouble seeing as it wasn't that far. The real problem was how packed the doctors office was. Sighing to herself, Ms. Akiyama parked a little off the road seeing that the lot was filled.

Checking her daughters in and taking her seat, they waited patiently to be called back. I hope this doesn't take too long. I wanna hang out with my friends today.

Yuriko wasn't very sure that her friends were free to begin with but she would surely try when she got home. Her oldest friend had finally been back to school and seeing as how she was sick a lot, she was sure she'd be free. I don't think her mother would let her go very far though if she's able to hang out at all.

After they had gotten checked in and put in to a room, they seemed to have waited forever for the doctor to finally come in. All together they had spent the better part of two hours at the doctors just to be told what their mother thought. Of course Nanami would have another ear infection. Strange that she gets them every year around the same time though.

On the way home, Nanamis medication had been picked up at the drug store. As soon as they had gotten home and the car had stopped moving, Yuriko shouted to her mother that she would going to check on her friend and to see if she would be able to hang out.

"Be careful crossing the street dear!" Not exactly sure if she heard her or not but she said it anyways, knowing she was very close to being out of earshot.

"I will!" She did hear. That's good. Smiling to herself, she walked into the house making sure her youngest daughter did her homework.

Seeing that it was safe to cross, Yuriko ran quickly across the street. Making it the sidewalk just as traffic started to flow again, she looked up. The only downside to visiting her friend. The stairs.

Oh how she hated the extra exercise when she didn't need it. It was bad enough she had to actually participate in her PE class, in fear of a bad grade. Or worse, clean up. This was just extra work she didn't want to do. Ugh! OK here we go. One step at a time. No big deal. Right? Wrong. When they were little, the stairs had caused no problems at all for her. Maybe it was because she had more energy then. Her friend, however, grew up on top of them so of course she would be used to it.

Yuriko got half way up the steps when she thought it would be a good idea to quit. A stupid idea really when I'd have to walk back down to go home. Groaning, she pulled herself up and continued her climb. Finally! I made it! Reaching the door, she slowly pulled her hand up and knocked. It was kind of strange though not having seen her in a few months.

A moment later, an older woman came to the door, greeting her. "Oh hello Yuriko. How are you dear?"

"I'm fine Ms. Higurashi. How are you?" she smiled.

"I'm good dear, thank you for asking. Are you looking for Kagome?"

"Yes ma'am. Is she here?" she asked. It was a little childish but she was kind of nervous.

She gave a little smile and motioned for her to come in. Ms. Higurashi asked her if she would like something to drink, but she just shook her head no, asking instead if it was alright to go up to Kagomes room. Before she could make it to her room, Yuriko felt a small sharp bite like pain on her forehead. Bringing her fingers up, she felt for blood thinking it could have just been a bug but nothing was there. Weird.

As she got to the door, it opened before she could knock on it.

Kagome was sitting at her desk when she thought she heard her mom talking to someone. Out of curiosity and a welcomed distraction from studying, she got up to see who was here. When she opened the door, she barely caught herself before she collided with the figure standing in her hallway.

Looking up, she noticed that it was her childhood friend. I haven't seen her in months! "Yuriko! Wow I haven't seen you in forever! What're you doing here?"

"I came to see if you were too busy to hang out. Especially since we haven't seen each other in a while."

"Sure. I could definitely use the break in studying. My brain is killing me!" she laughed as she walked over to put away her books.

"Do you wanna just hang out here and sit in the God tree like we used to?"

"Yea. Maybe we can talk too?" Somethings had been bothering her but she didn't really know who to talk to considering her friends didn't believe in myths and legends. Therefore not knowing how to handle my past problems.

Walking down the stairs and through the kitchen, Kagome mentioned to her mother that they would be outside in the God tree.

Climbing stairs was hard for her, sure, but climbing trees had always been easy for Yuriko. Never knew why but it was. She didn't complain either because it was just another way to be closer to nature.

Kagome looked at her long time friend and saw that she had a small smile on her face. Fidgeting with the bottom of her shirt, she thought of a way to bring up what was wrong but didn't know how in case it would dampen her happy mood. Definitely not something that I want to do.

"Are you ok Kagome?" Yuriko felt the uneasy feeling Kagome was giving off. Must not know how to start what she has to say. So she gave her friend a helping hand and asked first.

Deciding that dancing around the subject would probably confuse her more than the truth, Kagome came right out and asked what she wanted to.

"Yuriko. Y'know, demons, mikos, monsters and things like that.. Do you believe that the legends and myths grandpa used to tell us are real?"

OK so here's the first fixed chapter you guys. I would've made it a little longer but seeing that I have completely changed my entire story by accident, I have to let the flow of the story happen on its own now. So wording things to where I'm not repeating myself may take a little more time. Only cause whatever I write appears on the page directly from my brain. No time to actually think about it. Just gonna have to wait and see how it goes. Who knows? Maybe it'll be better than what I originally planned!

Enjoy!

Ms. Manami