Inuyasha and Petshop of Horrors
Chapter 2: Just the Beginning…
Waking to the sound of her alarm clock set to go off at 7am sharp, she sat up right on bed and looked out of the window. For a moment she thought that she would wake up to the sound of Inuyasha shouting at Shippo over something minute. Everyone is gone now, she thought to herself while looking out of the window.
Sighing, she slipped out of bed to stand before the window a while longer to feel the light morning breeze caress her hair. The feeling of something warm encircling around her feet brought her out of the daze she was, remembering of the Feudal Era. Looking down, she saw upon what she thought was a dream the fox that Midoriko was holding in her arms. There is definitely no mistake that the fox is of another. It possess the same silver blue eyes, the same silky pure snowy white fur with the hints of silver and gold mix in it. Shocked, the fox just look up at her with its jewel like eyes watching her.
−Kagome, is something of the matter? − It asked. The voice itself sounded as though it was talking though its jaws are not moving.
"H...H-ai. You are Yirashi right?" Kagome asked cautiously coming out of the shock that she was in a few minutes ago.
-Yes, - came the fox reply.
"Kagome, who is there in your room?" came the familiar sound of her mother's voice.
"N-no one mom." She said out loud enough for her mother to hear.
"Yirashi hide." She whispered as the door slowly open.
"Kagome, are you alright dear?" her mom asked concerned.
"H-hai, I am alright." She said trying to shield Yirashi from her mother's view.
−There is no need to hide, after all she is your mother. You will have to confide to her about me sooner or later. So why not now? −
"Kagome?" she asked looking at her in concern, as she saw her daughter move aside to reveal Yirashi.
"Mom, this is Yirashi. She is a gift from Midoriko when we were in the midst of fighting Naraku." She said while looking at her mother for any sign of her reaction to Yirashi presence in the room.
"She is beautiful Kagome, how come we did not see her yesterday until only now?" she asked
"That's a good question mom. Yirashi, how come you only appear now?" Kagome asked while kneeling down in front of her.
−I was infused with you yesterday and changed to the form of the wind when you returned back here. I thought it would be wiser to let you rest since you already have enough excitement for the day as it seemed. − It said while looking at Kagome.
"Oh I see." Kagome said.
"Kagome? " came her mother's voice. Seeing her mother's confused expression, she guesses that only she is able to hear what Yirashi is saying. Translating what Yirashi had said, her mother seemed to understand the situation clearly.
"Yirashi, how come my mom can't hear what you say to me?" Kagome asked slightly confused
−She will be able to. Only is that I sort of accidentally blocked out anyone from listening into our conversation, it's a habit. − She said embarrassment evident in her voice.
Scratching Yirashi behind the ears, she translated what she said to her mom.
"Well, breakfast is ready now so be down soon, your Jii-chan is getting slightly impatient." Her mom said cheerfully before leaving the room.
"Well you heard her Yirashi, let's go down for breakfast and not let Jii-chan wait in hunger." She said with a bright smile while Yirashi yipped her agreement.
Breakfast was a rather lively affair with Jii-chan there rambling away about youkai and his age old stories about artifacts that she was not sure exist, except of the Shikon no Tama of course.
"Ah Kagome-chan, I need you to help me run an errand in Chinatown. A friend of mine owns a little antique shop there. I need you to help me and pass something to a friend of mine. Ah yes here is the box, here, pass this to him will you. Thanks you." He called out. The box weight about as if nothing was inside of it. Yet knowing Jii-chan, she knows it would be something of a long-winded story if she was to ask of its content.
"I'm going out now, bye mom bye Jii-chan." She called out while Yirashi stood beside of Kagome while she closed the door behind her. Their trip to Chinatown was swift due to the early morning and it seemed as thought wherever she goes everyone seem to look past Yirashi appearance.
"I wonder why no one seems to take note of Yirashi walking beside me. How hard can it be for everyone to ignore a fox walking right beside me?" Kagome thought to herself.
−Everyone sees me as a white cat walking beside of you. I have a strong bond with you to hear what you are thinking too to the next question you have in mind. − Yirashi said as she walked along.
"Eh...Yirashi, you should have told me that sooner." Kagome said blushing from embarrassment not noticing that some of the people along of Chinatown were looking at her strangely for talking to no one.
−I thought you would have known earlier from what Midoriko had told you. And apart from that it would be wiser if you are to reply me silently. Everyone who is walking by will definitely the scene of you talking to yourself very awkward. − She said amusement in her voice while her eyes dance with silent laughter.
With a flustered look around she saw small number of people passing by looking at her oddly just as Yirashi had said. With a smile of embarrassment to them, she hurried up to Yirashi and started finding the antique shop just as her grandfather had told her to. Seeing it in the corner, she entered, and the room decorated with antiques of all times and the light was lit dimly but to a comforting extent. A tall lean person was standing there talking to an old man of about Jii-chan age and both wore clothes from what seems like from an old China time period.
One of them was odd with a face as pretty as a woman and eyes of golden brown just like Inuyasha and another purple in color. It seemed almost impossible to tell whether the person is a 'he' or a 'she'. However judging from the person's way of dressing, it was no doubt male styled clothes. With shoulder length hair framing his features yet even though it seemed to be covering his eyes, they were more outstanding that way with an aura of mystery that surrounds him.
"Ano…Is Genji-san in?" she asked the two person there who seemed to be having a rather long chat. The person with the mysterious aura turned in her direction to seemingly examine her before giving her a smile. The smile itself was already mystifying, but she returned it. There is something about him that seemed to attract her attention, yet she chose to push it aside. An old man who was entertaining the mysterious person stood up and walked up to her with a smile on his face.
He looked just about like Jii-chan, while the mysterious person also followed his action and stood to make a bow in greeting. "You must be Kagome. Your grandfather said you will be the one bringing to me the Mirror of Wisdom. Thank you."
"It's alright guess I have to be going now. Bye Genji-san." Looking around, she saw that Yirashi was with the mysterious person and they both seemed to be conversing with one another too.
Genji noticing her gaze directed to the person whom he was talking to introduced her to him. "This is Count D, a pet shop owner of the building nearby." He said
Seeing Count D walk towards her, and in his arms lay Yirashi sitting there watching them.
"Kagome-san, would you like to visit my pet shop, and perhaps have tea there?" he asked with a friendly smile. Thinking that it would be rude to reject his offer, she accepted it.
−It is alright, he is of no danger and a very charming person.− came Yirashi tone of affection for a person she just met not so long, while he smiled at Yirashi scratching her behind the ears.
When he led the way, Kagome followed beside of him in an uncomfortable silence that seems to make her feel more agitate. Her mind seem to run in different direction of what might occur at his shop or something even though Yirashi told her it was alright. When she suddenly stop and clutch her handbag closer to herself, her face was looking down on the floor hoping that whatever she was thinking will not come true.
Count D who was told by Yirashi that Kagome was not following beside of them stopped to see that she was looking rather disturbed.
−It is most probably her thoughts running wide again. She will be alright Count D.− Yirashi told him while looking Kagome over once.
"Are you sure Yirashi-san? She looked rather upset about something." Count D said.
When Kagome realize that they were there waiting for her to catch up while Count D was once more talking to Yirashi, she hurried up to them.
"Sorry, I got caught up in my thoughts again." She said with a smile of reassurance that showed otherwise.
When they arrived at his pet shop on the 13th floor of a shopping arcade, she saw the decoration of his shop was more towards a Chinese influenced set like with many of the decorations and carvings on the chairs and other furniture that indicated so.
Taking the seat offered to her, she sat down with Yirashi beside of her. She felt auras moving in the shop as voices whispering somewhere behind the wooden decorative separator with designs of nature on it remind her of the falling peach blossom flowers. The voices seem to get louder each moment whenever she thought she heard the sound of wooden doors closing. A voice belonging to a little was asking Count D without doubt about whether or not it was a customer, while another voice which deeply reminds her of Inuyasha especially by the tone of voice.
"Inuyasha?" she said out softly, Yirashi who was sitting beside of her, shook her head as an indication that it is not who she thought was. Looking down she waited patiently for Count D to come out.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting Kagome-chan, please have some tea and cakes." He offered with a bright smile while at his heels were two figure, a little girl with two blonde pigtails tied up neatly at each side of her head, and dressed in a sweet Victorian dress. While the one next to her reminds her of Inuyasha except that perhaps he does not have the mountain goat horns, red hair or dressings in Egyptian like clothing.
Looking at them curiously, she saw them as their humanoid form rather unlike what most normal people who will see them as their animal form. Seeing the cup of tea placed in front of her, she picked it up and sipped the tea. The taste itself is unique, unlike other teas that she had ever tasted. The herbal scent is strong yet it has the light sweetness in them. Feeling the warmth that spread through her body on the first sip, she felt the warmth engulf her as she welcomed it.
Unknown to herself, she did not notice that where her tailbone is, sprouted out a tail of silvery white in color with hints of a light sheen of blue and gold under the right refraction of light. Her hair too grew longer and changed to about the same color her tail while her facial features changed to that of a more flawless creamy pale color. On her forehead is the mark of a crescent moon in the lightest of blue with the design of a tiny silver star in the curve of her crescent moon.
With her head down, her closed eyes take in the fragrance of the tea while she still remain oblivious to her change or the fact that both Count D and Yirashi shared a knowing smile, while the other two animals in the room both looked at her in awe.
"Count D, this tea is really good." she said sincerely while lifting her head to look at him. It was then that she revealed her eyes' color to them. A mixture of silver mainly, with only a light hint of the baby blue. Her voice too changed slightly to a more melodious sound like the chimes of glass bells and the sound of the wind. Her features sharpened, yet she still remained rather recognizable.
"I am glad that you like it Kagome-chan." Count D said with a smile that seemed to her far more mystifying than when she first saw him smile. Seeing him seat himself opposite of her, the boy who reminded her of Inuyasha, stood behind of the sofa leaning forward against it on his arm to inspect her, looking her over. This made her blush a light shade of pink, while she saw the girl sat closely next to Count D with curiosity in her soft brown eyes.
"D she isn't like normal humans nor is she like us. What is she exactly?" the boy asked.
"D-chan, she is pretty, is she going to be staying with all of us here together?" her voice curious.
Looking at the little Victorian girl, Kagome gave her a friendly smile while holding onto her cup of tea. "No, I live in the Higurashi Shrine. Perhaps if you like, you can come by for a visit. I will be most delighted to give you a personal tour of the Shrine itself and the history behind it too." She said with a smile that lit her face.
"Onee-chan can see me?" she asked the obvious.
Smiling, she nodded her head. While Count D just smiled at her while Yirashi held amusement in her eyes. Looking into her cup of tea, she caught a glimpse of her reflection and found it unusual that it is not showing her own reflection. Instead, it shows the image of a girl who looks about like her only prettier with silvery eyes mixed with the hint of silver. The hair too was silver with the hints of a light sheen of blue and gold highlighting the hair at the right place.
When a few of her bangs fell before her eyes, she saw its colors like the one she saw in the reflection. With wide eyes, she nearly drops the cup of tea as she looked up at Count D. Count D as though before even knowing she just came to realize it was her in the reflection, seemingly disappeared for a while only to return with an intricately carved wooden framed mirror, and stood with the mirror in front of Kagome enough to show her, her features.
Brushing the bangs aside, her hair silkily cascaded down to her shoulders. Reaching a hand up to touch the marking on her forehead, it was smooth and part of her skin. It was when she was touching the marking on her forehead, she noticed that her nails were much longer and sharper in an almost nude pale cream color that matches her overall appearance.
Yirashi who has been sitting beside her quietly, now stood up face her. On Kagome's face was the look of disbelieve of what she is looking at and kept throwing glances at the cup of tea which she just drank.
−It is the cup of tea Kagome, this is who you are now truly. The Shikon no Tama itself needs you and gives you this gift. Like what Midoriko said, you have a lot to learn about and I am going to be here to help you always. − Yirashi said in her tone of seriousness and sincerity. Her eyes shows concern and pride, it was perhaps the way which Yirashi spoke to her or it was her eyes that made Kagome much more calmed as she brushed it away almost instantly.
"Don't take it to heart Kagome-chan, Yirashi wanted you to realize sooner so I added something extra in the tea. It will not harm you, just show you your true form. You don't have to worry about other people having this as I am the only one who has it." He said with a bright smile as usual.
A/N: I am studying and rushing this chapter. I do not mean to end it as a cliffy, but read the title, it seemed appropriate that I leave it as a cliffy XP. Bye bye.