A/N: It's way later then I thought it'd be. A month sure does go by quickly, huh? Sorry. I started school and I've been focusing on that since I've been slacking off majorly on my school work - thank God it's my last year. Updates should be up every week or two on Fridays or Sundays. But I'm not making any promises!
He was roughly shaken awake and he sat up, startled. What the fuck? Wasn't he just in a gigantic lake swimming with the grotesquely looking mermaids? And where the hell was that awesome castle he saw? How the heck did he end up back in his room? He looked around his room in a confused state and saw his mother standing over him with a disapproving look on her face.
"Hikari Daku," His mother started, hands on her hips threateningly as she glared at him. "What did I tell you about camping in your room all night?" Hikari got up, stumbling over himself as he stood stone straight, staring at his mother like she was his drill sergeant and he was in boot camp. "You know, I got a call from your principal. You cursed out a teacher?! Hikari! What were you thinking?" She yelled at him, a furious expression overcoming her pretty features.
Hikari's face twisted up in confusion. "Uh, Mom. What are you talking about? I didn't curse out any teacher."
"Do not lie to me, young man. The principal told me that during your math class, you weren't paying attention and that Kazuki politely asked you to focus on your work because your grades were already slipping when you just flipped out on him and left the school. Honey, why would you attack him like that? Kazuki is a nice man." She finished softly.
"Mom, I swear to you I did not curse out any teacher. One minute, I was in math class and Hiro-sensei was patronizing me, talking about how dad left because of me and I just remember getting angry and everything went black. The next thing I knew I was outside - I thought school was over so I went to work and went home after that."
Satomi's face suddenly went blank, her body going stiff. "You got angry and blacked out?" She asked quietly, her eyes widening with realization and slight fear.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Hikari sent a confused and questioning glance towards his mother. "Yeah... do you know what's going on? Do I have some mind of mental disorder that I inherited that I don't know about?"
"I have to go." Was all his mother said as she walked out the room.
Mystified by his mother's abrupt change in attitude, Hikari quietly followed her down the stairs where she was talking on the phone in a hush tone.
"...No you don't understand, it's happening now." Was all he heard before his mother went out the front door.
Perplexed by the odd conversation, Hikari decided to put it in the back of his mind and enjoy his Saturday out among the living. In a few hours. He went back upstairs and into the bathroom to brush his teeth and take a quick shower. Twenty minutes later he was refreshed and less lethargic then he was from earlier. Walking to his room he went to his closet and put on whatever he could get his hands on.
When he was done, he sat down in front of his TV and binge played video games for the rest of the morning, forgetting everything that happened earlier as he lost himself in the world of fantasy. It wasn't until hours later and the sun was close to setting that he heard the front door open and he hastily turned off the game and got up.
"Hikari? You better not be playing those damn games!" His mother shouted.
Hikari ran downstairs, stopping in front of his mother and helping her with the grocery bags. "What? 'Course not, I was taking a cat nap if you must know, Mother."
Satomi gave him a dry look.
"Okay, fine, I was."
"You're a terrible liar. You didn't get that from me." Satomi said absentmindedly, packing away all the things she bought.
"Dad was a pretty terrible liar, huh?" Hikari said, nostalgia creeping into his tone.
Satomi smiled a bit sadly. "Yeah, he was."
"Can I go back up to my room now?" Hikari asked, totally ruining the mood.
"No. Get out." Satomi replied back blandly.
"Mom!"
"Go out and enjoy your life, Hikari. I mean it. Now, shoo."
"But who's going to help you cook a-and clean?" Hikari, trying to stall for time, looked around the kitchen to keep himself occupied to avoid going out. Satomi sighed and grabbed the back of her son's shirt, dragging him out the front door and into the evening air.
"Have fun." Satomi said brightly, smiling wide before shutting and locking the door.
"Can I at least get my shoes?!" Hikari yelled trying to make his mother come back to open the door for him. He exhaled dramatically when that didn't work and walked away from the house when he heard a window opening and his shoes came flying down. "Thanks!"
Hikari hurriedly put his shoes on and stepped away from the house, walking away to roam the neighbourhood until he got bored of that and went window shopping instead. He aimlessly wandered around, desperately trying to kill time when he spotted Kagome, an underclassmen from his school. She was carrying multiple bags by herself, seemingly talking to air as he didn't see a phone anywhere and no one was around her.
Curious, he moved towards her. "Kagome!"
Kagome whipped around so fast he wondered if she got whiplash. "A-ah! Senpai! Hello. Where did you come from?"
"I saw you with all those bags so I thought I'd be a gentleman and help you out," Hikari grabbed some bags from Kagome, ignoring her soft protests and continued onward. "You live this way, right? I know I've seen the Higarashi Shrine somewhere around here." Hikari continued his trek forward, looking around the somewhat unfamiliar area. "Am I going the right- why are you looking at me like that?"
Kagome blinked innocently. "Like what?"
"Like you wanna eat me."
Kagome paused, staring at Hikari incredulously before a laugh erupted from her pink lips. "What?"
Hikari smiled. "I don't know. Your face was very concentrated; like you were deep in thought about something serious."
"Hm. Really? I didn't notice." Kagome brushed past Hikari and stopped in front of the long concrete stairs. "Well, this is me."
"Is this the stairway to heaven?" Eyes wide, Hikari went up the first few steps and collapsed dramatically onto the stairs. "Oh God, I'm dying. Go on without me Kagome, save yourself."
Kagome snorted, stepping around him and shaking her head at his antics. "Stop being dramatic and get your ass up. It's only a few stairs."
"A few stairs?!" Hikari stared at her like she was crazy. "Are you insane? Because I saw you talking to yourself and I'm concerned for your apparent declining health."
"No, I'm not crazy. I was talking to a dog."
"You were...talking to a dog?"
"Yes. He was being annoying, I told him to stop following me." She said a bit too loudly.
"You sure you're not crazy?" Hikari inquired, sending Kagome a dubious look as he tiredly continued up the stairs, staring enviously at her as she walked up the stairway to heaven with ease.
"One hundred percent."
It was quiet for a moment when the hairs on Hikari's body stood on end and a shiver raked down his spine. He quickly turned around and squinted down the stairs but he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He stared for a few more seconds before shrugging, hurrying up the stairs after Kagome.
"What took you so long?" She asked when she finally saw him.
"Thought I felt someone following us. Must've been my imagination."
"Someone following us, huh? Whoever it is needs to get a clue that they're no longer needed here." She yelled.
"Why are you yelling at the stairs?"
"Because I can!"
Hikari quickly raised his hands in surrender, not wanting to feel the wrath of Kagome. He's heard stories of the girl, how she suddenly disappeared for weeks and came back changed. How she went from a sweet innocent girl, to a ruthless demoness. He only knew her because he was appointed to be her tutor to help her get back on track.
He didn't know why he was picked, his grades aren't scholarship material but apparently Kagome personally asked for him. He didn't know why and he never cared enough to ask.
The sound of a door sliding open caused him to avert his attention away from the smaller girl and to the older woman standing in the doorway. "My, my, what's all this noise?"
"Sorry, Mom!" Kagome shouted apologetically, grabbing the bags she dropped and carrying them inside, unintentionally forgetting to introduce Hikari to her mother.
Hikari awkwardly looked around, hands stuffed into his pockets. "Um, hello, Ma'am. Great weather we're having?" Failing at trying to start a conversation, Kagome's mother giggled.
"Aren't you a handsome one. Are you Kagome's boyfriend?" Kagome suddenly appeared, frantically waving her arms with a blush covering her cheeks.
"N-no! Mom, he's just a friend. No boys in my life."
"Oh? What about Inuyasha?"
"Inuyasha is a selfish asshole who should just sit!" Distantly, Hikari heard what strangely sounded like a thud and a strangled 'hey!'. Weirded out, he stepped closer to the two females.
"Kagome! Language!" Her mother reprimanded.
"Sorry." Kagome said shamefully.
"Uh...should I go?"
Surprise painted the faces of the two females and Kagome shook her head, shocked that she would forget about the boy standing in front of her considering... "Ah! How terribly rude of me! I'm Kagome's mother, Fumiko. Nice to meet you." Fumiko walked over to him and grabbed the bags out of his hands, Hikari furiously protesting. "Now, now, a few bags won't break me. I'm not that old."
Hikari stood there in shock, watching Fumiko go inside the house without faltering, amazed that she could carry all those bags by herself. "Were you guys raised in the Amazon? Your family is nuts."
Kagome chuckled. "No, silly. Come on, you're joining us for dinner." Kagome grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. "I'm sure Gramps and Sota wouldn't mind."
"Gramps and Sota?"
"Oh, sorry. I should've explained. My little brother Sota and my Grandpa. They aren't here right now though, Gramps went to pick Sota up from his lessons." Kagome explained.
"I see. But I probably should get home, it's getting late. My mom might be worried."
"Nonsense! Satomi said it's just fine." Fumiko said, popping out of no where, making Hikari jump.
Perplexed, Hikari asked, "You know my mom?"
"Of course! I helped deliver you." Fumiko said ebulliently.
Running his hand through his messy black, wild hair, gold eyes were wide in surprise. "I never knew that."
Fumiko waved her hand in dismissal. "Satomi's always keeping secrets. You've known Kagome since you were a kid, she even declared to marry you one time!"
Face burning bright red, Kagome face-palmed. "Thank you, Mom. I love when you embarrass me." Kagome stated sarcastically.
"Oh! You're welcome, sweetie. I'm going to start on dinner." Fumiko walked into the kitchen, humming a light tune under her breath.
"Well, that was something." Hikari scratched the back of his neck, feeling incredibly awkward at what just happened moments ago.
Kagome stared at the ceiling with a deep frown on her face, sighing tiredly. "I'll be right back. Feel free to look around." Hikari watched her leave and uncomfortably drummed his hands on his thighs, looking around the room and examining the pictures framed on the walls and some scattered around the shelves and small tables. After walking a bit more, Hikari found a room and opened it - wondering if he was being too nosy but Kagome said he was free to look around so he stepped in.
The room was empty with just a small alter with a few incenses burning and a picture of a man. Staring at it, Hikari assumed that was Kagome's father and got down on his knees to send a prayer. When he was done, Hikari bowed to it, silently apologizing for barging in unwelcomed. He walked out the room and closed the door softly, turning around and screaming - jumping in fright and grabbing his rapidly beating heart when he saw Kagome's mother standing there, a soft smile on her face.
"Mind helping me make dinner?" Her voice was soft compared to her jaunty attitude she had minutes ago.
"Of course, Mrs. Higarashi."
Fumiko covered her mouth with a petite hand, soft giggles escaping her lips. "Please, call me Fumiko, Hikari."
"O-okay. Fumiko." She nodded and went about the kitchen, takings out cutting boards and pots and pans as Hikari stood there not knowing what to do without being rude.
"You can cut up the vegetables for me." Fumiko placed the vegetables on the counter in front of him and handed Hikari a sharp knife, giving him a pink apron to put on.
"Thanks." Hikari got to work, expertly chopping up the veggies while making small talk with Fumiko. He felt less awkward now, more comfortable with talking to Fumiko now that he was doing something he felt at ease doing - cooking. His mother taught him at a young age, saying he should know how just in case he was ever lost in a forest and the people he met in one didn't know how to cook.
He didn't understand what she meant and he didn't think he ever would since she didn't exactly make a lot of sense and she was being pretty vague about it.
Hikari and Fumiko were halfway through finishing up dinner when the bell rang. "Could you get that? I'll finish up here and call down Kagome."
Hikari nodded and went to the front door, opening it and staring in confusion at the feminine man who was dressed in an old fashion kimono. "Um, can I help you?"
He smiled, red painted lips pulling upward creepily. "Are you Hikari Daku? Mmm, you must be. You smell so deliciously pleasing." The feminine guy took a deep breath and stepped closer to him. "Your souls will taste so good sliding down my throat, I can already feel the power radiating throughout my body now. I wanna eat you so, so, so bad."
Officially scarred for life, Hikari tried to slam the door shut when the man stuck his hand out, forcefully pushing the door back open. "Hey! You have to leave, weirdo. You got the wrong address."
The guy looked affronted. "How dare you! I am the majestic and all mighty, Hiromi! I am a Soul Eater and I have come to collect the three powerful souls in which your vessel protects."
"Are you fucking high?" He questioned blankly. "I'm calling the cops," Hikari moved to pull out his phone when his wrist was roughly grabbed and he was pulled into the chest of the man in front of him. "What the hell?! Let me go!"
"Hikari? Are you alright?" Fumiko moved to get closer, worry heavily lacing her tone when Hikari's shout to stay where she was made her pause. "I'm going to get Kagome!"
"What? Don't! Fumiko!" Hikari continued his struggle to get out of the man's hold when he brought their faces closer together.
"I will have what I came for." He whispered in his ear before forcibly pushing their lips together. Hikari grimaced, shutting his eyes tight and trying to push the man away when his body froze up and his eyes dulled, a lifeless glaze taking over the brilliant gold color they once were. Excruciating pain overcame him from the inside and he felt like screaming bloody murder but he couldn't; his body wouldn't listen to him. He could feel something being sucked out of him, his body becoming an empty shell and his senses going hazy.
Just when he felt like he could faint, he could breathe again and he choked and wheezed, desperately trying to get his breath back. When he finally became aware of his surroundings, he was crumpled on the ground outside in the cold night air, Kagome a few feet behind him with a bow and arrow made completely out of pink pure energy and Hikari stared at it in wonder. What the absolute fuck was going on?
"Tch. If I had known he would've been in the residence of a high ranked Miko such as yourself accompanied with her ever so loyal dog servant, I wouldn't have acted so irrationally." Hiromi said irritated.
"Hn. Flattery will get you no where." Kagome stated coldly, a calculated look in her eyes. Her posture radiated such confidence that Hikari felt protected and safe near her. Another guy that he didn't notice before stood next to Kagome, dressed in all red with long silver hair and...dog ears? atop his head. He was barefoot which Hikari thought was weird because it oddly cold out tonight for the warm season but what was even more weird was the extra set of ears on that guy's head. Was he cosplaying?
"Bastard! Who're you callin' a dog servant, huh?!" The guy in red shouted furiously, a ridiculously huge sword in his hands.
"Sit boy!" Kagome yelled without taking her eyes off Hiromi. Miraculously, to Hikari, he went down with a loud thump, creating a small crater from where he once stood, his body twitching before it stopped altogether.
"What the fuck is happening?" He muttered confusedly. "Am I hallucinating? These are some trippy fucking drugs."
"You're not hallucinating, Hikari. Get up. This is all real, your life is in danger." Kagome said to him, her attention never wavering from Hiromi.
"You're not having him! I came to far just to let him get away, I had a taste of his souls already and it was so powerfully orgasmic I could jizz right now!"
Hikari's face twisted into disgust. Too much information.
"Hikari! Get up and come here now!" Kagome commanded seriously.
Hikari rushed over himself to get up, hurrying to run to Kagome when arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back towards Hiromi. Kagome tensed and released a arrow, it went flying through the air and got Hiromi clean through the shoulder.
Kagome cursed, her arrow hitting the wrong body part because Hiromi had moved, running into the shed where the Bone Eaters well was kept with Hikari captured in his arms. "Inuyasha, get up!" She repeatedly stepped on him but when he made no movement, she screamed in frustration at his uselessness and ran after Hikari.
Hikari gave up struggling long ago since it was obviously pointless and tried to talk his way out of this troubling situation. "Can you just let me go? What's so special about me anyway? I'm just a teenage boy who's into video games and food. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"Yes, you would be an ordinary boy if it weren't for the incredible power you're exuding. It's why I'm here, the power you're releasing was drawing me to you. I never felt anything like it. Now, let's get back to my time so I can feast so your souls." Hiromi said sinisterly, jumping onto the edge of well and cutting his palm, speaking a language that Hikari couldn't understand and watched in fascination as a portal opened up. Hiromi got ready to jump in with Hikari slung over his shoulder when Kagome came bursting through the wooden door, arrow ready as she screamed:
"I won't miss this time!" And relinquished the arrow, it shooting straight through Hiromi's back and out his chest as he screamed in agonizing pain as the holy power ate away at his body before he was nothing but dust in the wind.
Hikari mentally cheered before he realized he was suspended in air and he sent a fearful and panicked gaze to Kagome who matched his own expression as he fell unwillingly into the well. "Hikari!"
Down the rabbit hole he went. Or should he say well? Whatever, he was about to die anyway.