RECAP
This is the story of Higurashi Kagome.
Kagome was not as ordinary as she seemed to be.
She was as normal as a girl born into a long lineage of priests could be, at least.
People had always told her that she would be someone great, someone special, someone extraordinary...
But she decided that was something—a life, that she did not want for herself.
No. She never wanted that.
She never wanted to hear that.
...However, that was then.
Suddenly, Kagome's life and opinions were changing without notice.
After moving to a small home in inner Tokyo, she met two boys who turned out to be just as strange as she was.
Kagome's first friend was Oyamada Manta: a human boy of small stature but with a big heart who carried around an even bigger encyclopedia.
Her second friend was Asakura Yoh: a seemingly standoffish boy who turned out to be a shaman with a strong sense of duty.
With the mysterious Yoh and the quirky Manta at her side, Kagome was finally able to acknowledge and talk about the supernatural and paranormal without fear of judgment or humiliation.
This was the beginning of Kagome's new life—a life full of wonder and smiles.
The Waiting Samurai
A Promise Through the Ages
A week had passed since Yoh and Amidamaru joined forces to defeat Ryu and his gang.
Since then, the ragtag trio became friends. Kagome cupped her hands and laid them on her stomach as she laid flat against the grassy hill. Ever since that night, she and the boys began to rendezvous at Crow Cemetery every day after school. They would spend hours on end there, just enjoying each other's company. The girl smiled at the sound of Yoh's content hum as a passing breeze rustled their clothing and caressed their hair. Manta was sitting against the tree that he had been tied to a week ago, his nose deep within a book as usual.
They did not always speak during their meetings. Sometimes, they would just sit there, watching the clouds float by or admiring the sparkle of a sea of stars. For a moment, Kagome thought about how she said that she was glad to meet these two... That statement remained true. Yoh and Manta were not just schoolmates to associate with during lunchtime. They were true friends who she spent quality time with every day now...
It was nice.
"Shaman…" Manta suddenly read aloud. "They willingly put themselves into trances and communicate with spiritual beings such as God and the spirits of the dead..." He looked at the back of Yoh's head as he tried to connect the boy with the definition.
"Shamans borrow the spirits' abilities and powers to cure disease and manipulate the government." Kagome's eyes opened at the latter part of the definition. She could not help but sit up and give Manta her full attention. People like her using their powers to manipulate the government was news to her. "Since ancient times, shamans have been the epicenter of human societies. Even at this very moment, shamans exist all over the world," He finished.
"What's that book?" Yoh asked as he rose from his comfortable position to turn and look at Manta.
Manta closed the hard-covered tome and placed it flat on his lap. "It's called Fountain of knowledge, 'Manjien'."
Kagome crawled over to the bookworm and took a spot next to him. "You sure do love reading Manta-kun~" she pointed out as her eyes curiously landed on the cover. "But isn't there a more interesting way to find out about shamans?" She wondered aloud.
"I'm not sure," Manta admitted with an embarrassed smile. Learning about the world through reading and studying was his default method. But he would not object to other ways if they presented themselves. "There aren't many people who know about shamans," He pointed out. "And besides that…I still don't quite get it, even with this book."
"Eh?" Yoh blinked, surprised that someone as studious as Manta could not wrap his head around a concept that seemed so simple. "What part don't you understand?"
"Pretty much everything about shamans," Manta told him. "The book said that shamans are different from ESP users, but I can't find the distinction.
Kagome tapped her chin, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Well...in that case..." She trailed off, as if she was hesitant or unsure of her thoughts.
Manta instantly picked up on the girl's change in demeanor. She was usually bubbly and cheerful in disposition so her voice reflected that. "What's up, Kagome-chan?" He asked the girl, offering her a small smile.
She returned the gesture and asked, "Have I ever told you guys that I'm actually a priestess?"
A light bulb clicked on in Yoh's head at the question. "Ah? Like a shrine maiden?" He grinned widely at the girl while giving her an approving thumbs-up, "Awesome! Priestesses are a type of shaman too!"
"You?!" Manta gasped. "I never would have guessed!" He stated with widened eyes.
Kagome smiled while giving her friends two thumbs-up, "Yup! I used to live at a shrine on the outskirts of Tokyo. My grandfather always used to tell me different stories and legends." Her hands returned to a resting position as she elaborated, "The storage house has thousands of old scrolls and artifacts, Manta-kun. We could visit sometime, and you could study whatever you'd like~!"
"Woah! Really?!" Manta could not help but jump to his feet excitedly, causing his book to fall to the earth. "When can we go?!" The scholarly boy's eyes were sparkling with joy at the news.
Kagome felt her heart soaring in her chest at the boy's thrilled reaction. But she hid her excitement and merely smiled, "Maybe next week if you're available…" She then looked at the young shaman. "You'll come too, won't you, Yoh-kun?"
Yoh grinned and replied, "Of course. As long as we take the bus! It'll be a long trip, after all~"
Kagome giggled then waved her hand dismissively, "Don't be silly, Yoh-kun. We're gonna bike it!"
The shaman's shoulders and hair stiffened, "B-Bike?!" The color drained from his face at the dreaded thought.
Kagome nodded affirmatively, "Yup! Biking it up past downtown Tokyo will be good exercise!"
"B-But…" Yoh protested as waterfalls began gushing from his eyes. "If I have to use my legs that much, I'll surely die along the way!"
The priestess sweatdropped at his shameless declaration, "Well, technically, the shrine is still in the Tokyo area...just a little further out."
Yoh groaned aloud in response. He then plopped down completely. "I hate exercise!" he almost whined. "Can't we take the easier way?!"
"As much as I'd hate to agree with Yoh-kun—" Manta chimed in a bit bashfully. He easily ignored the shaman's offended cry of "Hey!" as he finished his statement, "I don't think I could make it that far either, Kagome-chan..."
Kagome stifled a laugh at the light jab at Yoh, "Don't worry. I was only kidding~" She looked rather proud of herself as she said, "It would be easy for me to bike it, but I don't think I'd feel like it either." The girl then imitated Yoh by flopping down onto the ground with a content smile on her face.
"Uh oh!" Manta raised a hand to his mouth, as if he heard something shocking. His eyes narrowed as he grinned teasingly, "I think you picked up Yoh-kun's laziness already, Kagome-chan."
Kagome's eyes snapped open. She scrambled into an upright position as she protested while a glare at the boy, "Don't even joke like that, Manta-kun!"
Yoh's jaw dropped as he shot up as well, throwing his friends a shocked look, "Hey now! What do you two have against me?!"
Kagome and Manta quietly shared glances at each other. They then looked at Yoh simultaneously. With Kagome's lips curved into a catty smile and Manta's widened into a playful grin, "Well, where should we begin...?" They asked in unison.
"Some friends you are!"
A couple of hours flew by within the blink of an eye. The trio spent a lot of the time chatting about whatever popped into their heads. At one point, they even ended up lying side by side, pointing at passing clouds and saying what shapes they saw. "Oh! You see that big one right there?" Kagome asked excitedly. "If you look at it from the right angle, it looks just like Yoh-kun!"
"Really?!" The shaman's eyes sparkled as he immediately began searching for himself in the sky.
"Eh?" Manta blinked as he found himself staring at an ordinary cumulus cloud. He tilted his head to the left, then to the right. "I don't see Yoh-kun, no matter how I look at it," he said with a puzzled scowl.
The priestess then pointed a small cloud and announced, "And that one looks just like Manta-kun!"
"You're messing with us, aren't you?" Manta deadpanned, earning a guilty giggle from the girl.
Yoh then pointed at a misshapen cloud and called out in a surprised tone, "Oh wow! That one looks exactly look like Kagome-chan!"
The girl twitched, "What's that supposed to mean?!"
After their banter and laughter died down, Manta found himself speaking his thoughts aloud, "Hey...what exactly should I picture when I think of a 'shaman'?"
Yoh was quick to reply, pointing his thumb at himself, "Me!"
Manta's brow twitched as he brandished his book, "I'll hit you!"
"Well, it's exactly what the book said," Yoh stated in a more serious tone. "All of my family does similar sort of work."
"And what about you?" Manta asked curiously.
Yoh let out a sigh and admitted, "Eh. I'm not interested in politics or religion." He then stood up and patted some dirt and grass off of his pants.
"So why did you come to Tokyo in the first place?" Manta questioned him with innocent eyes. He had never met people like Yoh and Kagome before. He had never known that ghosts truly existed outside of entertainment and urban legends either. It was natural for his inquisitive nature and thirst for knowledge to desire as many details as possible.
Yoh shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked to the base of the slope, "I came to gather partners. A shaman's rank is determined by the strength of the spirits that aid him." He never expected that he would be explaining his purpose for coming all this way to an ordinary human...
But then again, thinking about human beings as a whole... Manta truly wasn't an ordinary one, was he?
"To put it simply, by having a strong spirit at one's side, one is acknowledged to be a full-fledged shaman," the brunette concluded. He then looked out at downtown Tokyo. "I'm sure I can meet a powerful spirit in this huge city." The boy blinked when suddenly Kagome was standing beside him with her hand on his shoulder.
The girl smiled encouragingly and said, "Manta-kun and I will help you find a powerful spi—Eh?" Before she could continue, Yoh was suddenly gone and standing in front of Amidamaru, extending his hand with a chummy grin on his face.
"So, be my partner, Amidamaru!" The brunette offered.
Kagome anime fell. "You're way too blunt about it!" She shouted after regaining her composure.
"What kind of way is that to ask for help?" Manta deadpanned as he shrunk away from his shaman friend.
Amidamaru narrowed his eyes as the grinning child, "You're asking me…to join you?"
"Yeah," Yoh nodded. "Your swordsmanship was amazing! If it's you as my primary spirit—!"
"I refused," the samurai replied flatly. Yoh's jaw dropped at the instant rejection. "It was only a coincidence that your goal was the same as mine. Besides that, I have no reason to help you."
Kagome then cupped her hands together, "How about from the goodness of your heart?" Her pleading eyes shone with stars.
Amidamaru shot the girl a disapproving look that made her squeak in surprise before slumping her shoulders in defeat, "I have no intention of leaving this place." With that said, he turned around and disappeared within his tombstone.
Yoh stared down at the stone with a disappointed scowl.
Kagome then knelt down in front of the tombstone and caressed its surface. "Amidamaru-sama must have some attachment to this place…" she stated sympathetically. "Poor guy…" she added in a whisper.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
After Amidamaru's cold rejection, the trio's hang-out venue changed from Crow Cemetery to the nearby river that Yoh enjoyed watching to relax. The sound of running water always had a therapeutic effect on him since childhood. From the cemetery to the river, the shaman could not help but be drawn to the rare parts of Tokyo that reminded him of home. And how his two new friends were willing to accompany him where ever he went was—.
"Jeez!" Manta's exasperated voice crashed into the serenity of Yoh's thoughts. "What were you thinking?!" He shouted.
Yoh's eyes stayed fixed on the river as he asked back, "About what?"
"What do you mean 'about what'?!" Manta spat back. "You're trying to befriend that kind of a samurai! Amidamaru used to be known as a devil!" During his rant, the disgruntled boy closed his eyes and raised up a finger. He did not notice how Yoh's eyes narrowed and Kagome flinched. "He disobeyed his shogun, and mercilessly killed the hundreds of people sent after him!"
"Hmm?" Yoh hummed as his voice stayed neutral and uninterested, "A devil, you say?"
Manta nodded, "That's right! It's a well-known legend around this area!" He opened his eyes and crossed his arms as he concluded his briefing, "If you make him your primary spirit, you're sure to be killed! Just give up on him!"
Kagome propped her elbow against the guard rail and leaned her cheek into her hand. "Manta-kun...you shouldn't be so quick to judge someone like that," She chastised him, but in a low, almost melancholic tone.
Manta blinked, clearly perplexed by the girl's sudden change in demeanor, "Eh? What are you talking about? The legend of Amida—"
"Don't you remember? I'm a priestess, a specialized type of shaman," She reminded him. "I have a strong spiritual connection with God and spirits, like any other shaman... I may not have been trained properly, but I can feel it…" she whispered. "Amidamaru-sama was and still is a good person."
Being friends with Yoh and Manta truly brought Kagome many of her "firsts". One of these firsts included being able to openly talk about her abilities with people outside of her family. She could talk about her unusual abilities without fear of being reproached.
Manta scowled and pressed on, "But you said you're not properly trained, so how can you know for sure?"
Kagome huffed as she turned away from the river to glare down at Manta. She placed her hands on her hips and opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by Yoh's voice.
The shaman groaned as he took a moment to stretch his limbs. With a satisfied smile, he surmised "I guess I'll have to make him my ally after all. He looks so strong!"
The priestess's lips widened into a smug smile at Manta, "Ha! I. Win."
Manta pulled at his hair while crying, "Weren't you listening to me at all?! You're just siding with Kagome-chan because she's so cute! That's not fair!"
Yoh chuckled at his friend's accusation before shrugging his shoulders, "Oh, come on. It's just a legend~"
"So you don't believe me?!" Manta asked, his face and voice clearly distressed.
Yoh stared off into the distance and explained, "That's not what I'm saying… I just think such matters should be ignored. When I became one with him…" The brown-haired boy placed his hand over his chest and stated, "It felt...warm."
The shorter boy found himself perplexed by the shaman's words again, "Warm?" He tilted his head to the side like a confused animal.
"Yeah," Yoh replied. "You just know those kinds of things… Right, Kagome-chan?" He asked, looking at the priestess. She placed a hand to her chest and nodded with a smile, "Mmhm~!"
The soft look in the girl's eyes told the shaman that she sensed the same thing that he did, and that was reassuring. Yoh then looked back at Manta and tried to expound, "When you become one with a spirit, you know its true form… You can sense its heart." Even now, Yoh could recall the warm feeling that he experienced when combining with Amidamaru. "I don't think he's a bad guy… However, I also felt a whirlwind of emotions within him." Yoh's eyes narrowed at the memory of his rejection from earlier. "That guy… Why doesn't he want to leave that place?" He muttered.
Kagome frowned and looked up at the sky, "Amidamaru-sama… He still has a very strong attachment to this world… To that place." Yoh 'hm'ed and nodded in agreement.
Manta looked between the two taller teenagers. Once again, he felt lost. They both seemed to pick up something that he could not even begin to wrap his head around...
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Amidamaru was quietly resting near his tombstone on one of Crow Cemetery's many hills. The solitude of the grave was broken when a fellow spirit approached and called out to him," Yo, Amidamaru-san!" The samurai spirit opened his eyes and watched as the spirit of a man settled next to him. The man looked down at the samurai, who was sitting cross-legged and armed as he usually did. "About earlier, why did you refuse the kid's offer?"
The man's uni-brow furrowed in frustration as he shook his fists. "I mean, that's such a waste! With that body, you could have had all sorts of fun!"
Amidamaru was quick to cut the spirit down with his cool tone, "I am not like you, who was killed by a bear. I am not a fool who likes violence."
"What?" The spirit hissed offensively. "What did just say you, you heartless killer?!" The man snapped back, "How can you say that when you killed hundreds of people?!"
Amidamaru sighed, but refused to be done in by anger, "Don't dwell on it now." The samurai then stood up and looked at the starry sky, it was the only beauty left in this world for someone like him. "I'm here… to wait for someone." Images of his visitors from earlier came to his mind: Yoh's welcoming smile, Manta's shocked expression, and Kagome's pleading eyes. Despite his dismissal of the boy, their faces and words still stuck with him.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Ryu strutted through downtown Tokyo with his hands stuffed into his pockets. His face was twisted into a sneer as he was lost in thought.
He did not like it.
He did not like this situation at all.
Passersby snickered and openly pointed at him—at his haircut.
The teenager deliberately kicked a can at a particularly annoying couple, earning a cry from the girl and a scream of outrage from the boy.
Their reactions to his provocation only aggravated him even further. They were supposed to fear him.
Ryu stopped in front of a store with glass windows. The children on the other side of the glass ran away screaming at the sight of him pressing his face against the clear surface. The gangster then leaned back to stare at his reflection, remembering how that spiky-haired punk used a wooden sword to emasculate him and cut the length of his hair in half. He growled at the mental image of that kid.
Yes... He would have his revenge soon enough.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Neither Kagome nor Manta had expected Yoh to pick the local museum as the destination for their today's trip. It was even more surprising since the museum was a half hour's walk from their meeting spot outside of Crow Cemetery. But neither of the two would complain about the shaman's choice. Manta was a studious person who enjoyed learning while Kagome was just happy to spend time with her new friends.
Yoh smiled as he commented casually, "It's amazing how Amidamaru's sword from 600 years ago is still in such good shape." The trio walked through a lush park area, down an unpaved road that led to the museum. Manta, the shortest, walked between Kagome and Yoh with her on his left and him on his right.
"Well, it's still an important part of the town's history so many have worked hard to preserve it," Manta stated matter-of-factually. "Anyway, why do you wanna see something like that anyway?" He asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" The shaman asked while locking his fingers behind his head. "I wanna know more about Amidamaru!"
Kagome brought her hand to her lips as she added in, "Yeah, I think that visiting the sword will be a good opportunity."
"Opportunity…?" Manta repeated. "For what?"
"To find more clues about what binds Amidamaru-sama to this world," Kagome explained solemnly.
"I understand Yoh's interest in Amidamaru since he wants to team up with him, but why do you care so much, Kagome-chan?" asked the blond boy.
Kagome was quick to huff and cross her arms, "I come from a long line of priests. I won't let a poor spirit suffer eternally. Every spirit deserves its rest. Even if they are called a devil."
Yoh laughed, patting Kagome's head, "You're so cute when you're trying to be noble~"
Kagome's cheeks went aflame as she batted the hand away, "Cut it out! I'm being serious here!"
Manta grinned and teased, "Aw, she's blushing~"
The priestess even again while sticking her nose in the air, "You guys are jerks!" She pouted.
A few minutes later, the three teenagers stopped abruptly as a small building came into sight. "Harusame is displayed in that museum," Manta told them. They shared smiles before nodding and continuing down the path. However, all of the excitement and anticipation that they felt was depleted once they got to the front door. Manta read the sign on the door and swore, "Damn it! It's closed!"
Yoh was fine with laughing it off, "Guess we came here for nothing~"
Kagome could not help but sigh softly while frowning, "What a waste… Maybe we can come back another time."
They turned around at the sound of a bike coming to a halt. A man in a green jumpsuit approached them, broom in hand and concern on his face, "What's wrong, guys? Do you have some business here?"
It was a janitor.
They were lucky—Really lucky.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The man gladly flicked on all of the lights and unlocked the doors to the exhibits for the youngsters. "I'm sorry, even though it's closed today..." Manta apologized with a bow to show his respect and gratitude. "You still bothered to let us look around."
The janitor smiled at the child's maturity but held up a hand as he explained, "You came all the way here with interest in this town's history, so I can't just send you away." It did his heart good to see that children were interested in their roots.
"Um, about Harusame…" Yoh began slowly while gesturing at the locked exhibit down the hallway.
The man laughed in amusement and began flipping through his heavy keyring, "That's right. Harusame will be happy too."
Kagome took this moment to bow deeply, "I'm sure it will be. Thank you so much for helping us."
The boys imitated her while offering more thanks of their own. After the man insisted that it was his pleasure to show them around, the teenagers continued towards their objective of coming. As expected of an exhibit for a single item, it was small and quaint. A rectangular glass casing was supported by a marble platform. The trio crowded around the case as Manta took the liberty of reading the metallic plaque aloud.
"So, this is Harusame, huh?" Kagome asked as she stared down at the katana. Naturally, it had long lost its sheen and was covered in knicks and rust.
The janitor, who stood in the doorway of the lone exhibit, informed them, "It is said that Amidamaru, the devil, loved this katana so much that he was able to wield like it was a part of his body."
Kagome smiled and whispered aloud, "Amidamaru-sama sure is amazing…"
The man in the doorway looked puzzled as he digested her words, "Is?"
Manta grinned cheesily and clapped his hands together, "Oh! Our friend meant the legend of Amidamaru is amazing because people still fear him today! Right, Yoh-kun?"
The shaman grinned as well as he added, "Yeah! She may not look it but she's his biggest fan!" When the man sent a questioning look at the girl, she nodded enthusiastically in support of the cover-up.
Manta looked up at the man and changed the subject, "Anyway, what did you mean by what you said before… That Harusame would be happy?"
"I was wondering the same thing actually," Kagome admitted.
"There's a rumor that Harusame sheds tears at night. It is said that sniffling sounds can be heard," the man held up a finger as he explained. "A katana is the spirit of a samurai after all. There must have been a strong bond between Amidamaru and Harusame. If possible, I wanted to place it next to his tombstone…"
All four of them stared down at the katana with gazes of wonder for a moment.
"Well, at least someone came by." The man stated almost cheerfully. He then turned a smile to the girl and asked, "Why don't you be Harusame's companion, in place of Amidamaru? Harusame will surely be happy." With that said, the janitor walked away slowly to go about his business.
Manta chuckled a bit before asking Yoh, "Even though you're a shaman, you can't talk to katanas, right?" Although it sounded silly, it certainly was a serious inquiry. The boy found that he did not fully comprehend the scope of this mysterious, spiritual side to the world that he recently discovered.
Yoh went to sit down on a bench and replied, "Hmm…" He leaned his back and stared up at the ceiling," I'm not sure."
"Eh?" Manta paused. "Do you think it's possible?"
Kagome admitted with a sheepish smile, "Not even I've ever heard of communicating with inanimate objects before."
"Eh," the brunette shrugged. "Just forget about it. More importantly, do you wanna see when Harusame cries?"
Manta stiffened at the thought of witnessing more paranormal activity, "E-Eh—! Well, you see..."
Kagome patted his head causing the small boy to look up at her. She then placed her hands on her hips and offered him a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about a thing. I'll be here too."
Hours flew by with no sign of paranormal activity. Yoh, Manta, and Kagome were still waiting for Harusame to cry or do anything. So far, Harusame was acting like anything sword; it just sat there.
Manta had fallen asleep after a while. Yoh still watched the katana intently. And Kagome had become so bored that she began reading the book about shamans that Manta brought along with them. Suddenly the sandy-haired lad was roused from his sleep by a strange sound. His eyes shot open as he looked left and right fearfully, "W-What was that?!"
Yoh rubbed his stomach, finally turning his gaze from Harusame to his two friends. "I'm hungry, wanna go buy something?"
Manta anime fell; to think he thought there was something to be afraid of! He quickly regained his composure, "Are you trying to use me as your servant?"
Yoh grinned, admitting almost shamelessly, "Well, actually, I don't have any money."
Kagome smoothed some wrinkles out of her tan skirt and smiled apologetically, "Yeeeeeah, sorry, I left my wallet at home since this skirt has no pockets."
Manta's eyebrow twitched, "Jeez! You're both so irresponsi—!"
The faint sound of a water droplet dropping into a puddle made his blood run cold. "W-What…? What is it this time…?" His eyes trailed down from a puddle on the floor up onto a trail of water that led back up to Harusame's case. "It's… It's crying! Harusame is crying!"
Yoh stood up and told Manta, "Look carefully. It's not Harusame that's crying. It's that man." He then pointed at a spirit dress in an old kimono who was weeping into his hands. The smile on Kagome's face faded into a soft, sympathetic expression as Manta's body became even more rigid.
"I-it! It's shown itself!" Manta shrieked as he jumped behind the girl.
The man looked up, his eyes filled with fresh tears. "What…What do you mean 'shown itself'...?" He blinked some tears away while asking with surprise and skepticism," You guys can see me?"
Kagome nodded silently and allowed Manta to finish panicking from behind her, "Yeah! Very clearly!"
The man showed his manly pride by turning away to wipe the tears away from his face. "This isn't good. I'm embarrassed that you saw that."
"You don't have to be embarrassed," Yoh told him reassuringly.
The man was sitting cross-legged atop of Harusame's display. He had unkempt, spiky black hair. Even his old-style kimono appeared to filthy and well-worn. You could tell that this was not a man who lived a life of luxury during his time.
Kagome closed the book and placed it on the bench next to her. "So what's the matter, mister?" she asked. "Why were you crying?"
Instead of answering the girl's question, the strange spirit turned began eying the teens suspiciously, "What's going on? Who are you people?"
Yoh responded in a laidback voice that almost put the spirit at ease, "I'm Yoh. And these are my friends, Manta and Kagome." Manta offered a stammer with his greeting as Kagome smiled during hers.
The man crossed his arms but seemed satisfied with the answer, "I am Mosuke, a swordsmith."
"Mosuke?" Yoh blinked. "That name is so old-fashioned."
The swordsmith gritted his teeth and snapped, shaking his fist at the brunette," It's six-hundred years old! Of course, it's old-fashioned!"
"Oh," The shaman said simply. "That makes sense then."
"Yoh-kun, you're an idiot, aren't you?" Kagome deadpanned.
"Eh?!" The shaman's eyes widened as a shocked expression appeared on his face. "How did you know?!"
Suddenly, Mosuke's words clicked inside of Manta's head and as he cut in, "Six hundred years?! That's during the same era as Amidamaru's legend!"
Mosuke's eyes flickered with recognition as he balled up his fists, "Do you guys know Amidamaru?"
Yoh nodded, "Speaking of Amidamaru, isn't that his katana? Why are you haunting it?"
Mosuke lowered his head a bit. He was quiet for a moment so he stared down at the rusty sword, "This is…also my katana. I forged it with my own two hands."
The teens exchanged surprised looks. Not even Manta had heard anything about the other man behind the legendary sword.
"Woah, that's so cool!" Kagome praised, sounding like the fan that her friends made her out to be. "So you knew Amidamaru-sama when you two were alive?"
"Yes, I know him well," Mosuke responded as his voice lowered. "I was the one...who killed him," he confessed with a face laden with shame and guilt.
Manta's eyes bulged at the scruffy-looking man, "What?! YOU killed the devil?!"
"Bite your tongue, you moron!" Mosuke suddenly snapped. Manta squeaked and nearly jumped out of his skin.
The swordsmith's shoulders trembled as he lowered his head again, "Don't… Don't you dare call him a devil!" Mosuke's voice began to waver, cluing them in the tears that he was hiding again. "He's… He's not… He's not like that…"
"Yeah, we know," Yoh suddenly stated, causing the man to raise surprised eyes at him. Ever since the museum had opened, this was the first time that anyone had spoken highly of his old friend. "Amidamaru isn't an evil person," Yoh said. "Mosuke, tell me. What happened six hundred years ago? What's the relationship between you and Amidamaru?"
Mosuke nodded as he used his arm to wipe his tears away again. Once he was ready, he began his, "Amidamaru is my friend...my one and only true friend. It was a miserable era... The people were plagued with endless, unstoppable war, agonizing starvation, oppressive bandits... People were mercilessly murdered… But even during that living hell, we lived only to make our dreams come true…"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Amidamaru and Mosuke were best friends for as long as they could remember. Like many other children, they were left orphaned due to war, murder, or famine. Despite their circumstances, the dreamy children did all that they could to live their best lives... But like in other eras, some people were not above taking advantage of the weak and abusing children.
From a young age, Amidamaru taught himself the way of the sword in order to protect himself, Mosuke, and the other wayward children. From the first time that the brave lad thwarted the nefarious ways of predatory adults, Amidamaru and Mosuke knew their dream. Amidamaru wanted to become a samurai who would serve under a righteous lord and protect the innocent and weak. And it was Mosuke's desire to forge the strongest swords for the land's greatest warriors to wield.
From childhood, they struggled, trained, and lived to fulfill their dreams.
At last, as young adults, their dreams seemed more and more in reach...
"It's a wonderfully made katana," The lord praised the two young men bowing before him. He raised his eyes from the splendid sword to the men. "Wanderers," he stated, addressing Amidamaru and Mosuke. "Was this Harusame truly made by you two?" He inquired with genuine interest.
"Yes, my lord," Mosuke replied respectfully. He tried to contain his proud smile as his chest puffed out from the nobleman's admiration.
The lord noticed the excitement on the two young men's faces and chuckled, "I do have an eye for swords so your skill and expertise does not go unnoticed." He then looked at them and asked, "What do you say? Would you two like to work here?"
Mosuke and Amidamaru shared their grins before turning back to the lord. "Yes, sir!" They chorused in unison while bowing respectfully. From this point on, they knew that they had nowhere to go. They were finally given the chance to fulfill their dreams after all.
'But in the end… Hell was still hell.'
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"Kill Mosuke?!" Amidamaru screamed out into the silent night air. His body tensed as he was overcome with a feeling of nausea. The command from his new lord brought his entire world crashing down on him. The dream of living the life that he had painstakingly sought after was no more.
The lord placed a finger over his lips, "Ssssh... Don't be so loud." Amidamaru was almost speechless about how someone could casually command another to betray and murder their best friend. He then unsheathed the Harusame and admired its craftsmanship again, "The eerie light cast by that sword is mesmerizing… Mosuke truly has talent."
He then put the blade away and turned his gaze back to Amidamaru's horrified eyes, "However, you know the more rare something is, the more value it holds. A rare katana like this… There must not be another sword like it anywhere. Do you understand, Amidamaru?" asked the shogun. "Being slain by a friend is still a mercy killing, is it not?"
Under the cover of the night, the samurai went to his best friend's side.
But instead of following his lord's orders, Amidamaru told his best friend of the plot against him.
"How can this be?!" Mosuke despaired as his eyes filled with bitter tears. "We've come this far! Our new lives were just about to begin!" He yelled, punching the tree on the hilltop where he and his friend stood. After spending many moments lost in thought, the swordsmith knew what he had to do, as a friend. Mosuke sighed deeply and resigned to his date, "Do it, Amidamaru. For a samurai, a shogun's order is…"
"Run away," Amidamaru suddenly cut in. His best friend's eyes widened at those words. "You mustn't die here. Escape while you can."
Mosuke protested in an instant, "You idiot! If you do that, you will be—!"
Amidamaru looked out into the starry sky and responded, "Don't worry about it. I'm doing it because I want to."
This was the right decision, Amidamaru knew it. He could not sacrifice his best friend for the sake of his own integrity.
Mosuke saw the resolve on his best friend's face. Even after becoming an official samurai, he never changed.
The swordsmith grinned, "Alright, give me the Harusame. We may never meet again. But I want to give you the finest sword. The finest Harusame."
It was then that they promised the meet in that exact spot in half a day...but their promised meeting never came.
That was the last time that they had seen each other.
Amidamaru kept his promise and waited for his friend to return to him with their parting gift...
He waited...and waited...until he found himself surrounded by a legion of mercenaries.
"No matter how long you wait for Mosuke, he won't be coming."
"We took care of him for you."
"We'll send you to the other world soon too."
Amidamaru refused to believe that his friend was gone. He fearlessly glared the men down, "I have no intention of leaving this place!" With those final words, the faithful samurai drew his swords and proceeded to slaughter the hundreds of men who came to do him in. The once pure white moon was now glowing red as if the blood of the slain stained its very surface.
'That night… He became a legend. Because of his powerful swordsmanship, he was nicknamed the Devil. However, without Harusame, Amidamaru eventually ran out of strength and…'
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Mosuke held his head in his hands as he continued to weep and berate himself, "If I didn't exist, he wouldn't have died! It's the same as killing him myself…!"
By this time, elephant-sized tears flowed down Manta's cheeks after he was sucked into the untold part of the legend.
Kagome's fist tightened at her sides. She stepped in front of Mosuke and whispered, "That is not true, Mosuke-san. It's not your fault that Amidamaru-sama died. He is only human, or he was anyway. Every living being comes to an end somehow." Her body acted on its own when she placed a hand on his shoulder. The priestess suppressed a gasp when she realized that she was able to touch the incorporeal body.
Mosuke shook his head in denial, "No! You don't understand anything! If it weren't for me, Amidamaru would not have died that way…! His death, his defamation, his shame—all of it is my fault!"
Kagome shook her head and told him, "That's not true... I do understand your pain, Mosuke-san. I can feel it inside me…" she said, placing her hand over her heart. "An overwhelming feeling of regret and yearning, that's what I feel..." She told him, "But I think that you should feel honored."
"Honored?!" Mosuke's temper flared. "Are you stupid, or just heartless?!"
Yoh took it upon himself to fill in for the girl, "I agree with, Kagome-chan. It is an honor that such a great samurai would risk so much to keep a promise. He gave up his life because he valued your friendship and your life more than his own."
Mosuke's eyes watered up. Maybe these strange children were right. Maybe he had spent too long feeling guilty to see things from Amidamaru's point of view. "You know...even if you're right..." He gave the trio a teary-eyed smile. "I won't be able to rest in peace until I'm able to fulfill my promise and give Amidamaru his Harusame."
Yoh then smiled while replying nonchalantly, "Then give it to him."
Manta finally stood up, sobbing grossly with snot dangling from his nose, "That's right! Amidamaru is waiting for you! He's been waiting for six hundred years, in the promised place!"
"Wha—?" In that instant, Mosuke envisioned his best friend as he was six-hundred years ago, sitting cross-legged...all alone, waiting for him to keep his promise. Despite his trembling lip, he was finally able to fight back the tears that he had been shedding for so long. Today was the first time in centuries that he felt the tiniest spark of hope.
"Well, let's go," Yoh grinned while pointing at the exit with his thumb.
Mosuke looked down at Harusame and whispered, "But it's..."
"What's the matter?" Kagome pressed. After all that she had heard, she was heavily invested in fixing this tragedy and bringing forth a happy ending.
The swordsmith took in the appearance of the sword and explained, "It's impossible. With Harusame in this condition… I wouldn't dare face him after all of this time." His large hands clenched into fists. Despite the inspiration that the children had given him, there was no way that he could truly fulfill his promise... How could he keep one true friend waiting for so long, only to present a piece of junk?
"It's okay," Yoh reassured him with an easy-going grin. The brunette slapped a hand over his chest as he spoke, "I am a shaman, the one who links this world to the next."
Kagome and Manta stared at their friend's face. It was in moments like this when Yoh rarely looked serious, and noble.
He was a carefree, lazy person, but he was earnest when it came to his job.
"A shaman…?" Mosuke's blinked. He had not heard anyone speak of anything so ancient and spiritual in a long time. These children continued to surprise him ever since they arrived.
"Use my body, Mosuke," Yoh offered while extending his hand to the spirit. "Use my body to make the finest katana." Before the spirit had the opportunity to ask any more questions
"Let's go, Mosuke!" The shaman commanded as he transformed the spirit. "Mosuke, Ghost Ball Mode!"
Manta whispered in awe, "It's almost as amazing as seeing it the first time."
Kagome smiled and nodded, "Yoh-kun is so awesome!" Seeing the annoyed expression on Manta's face, she laughed sheepishly, "Eh heh" she patted his head and added in, "Oh yeah, you're okay too."
"Jee, thanks," Manta deadpanned at the half-hearted praise.
After the light that Yoh's body emitted subsided, the young shaman was hunched over. His body was steaming as his head hung low. Once he raised his eye, Kagome could see that she was not looking into Yoh's eyes, but Mosuke's. "He said your names are Manta and Kagome, right? Take me to the nearest iron factory!"
Kagome looked down at Manta, hoping that he knew the area well enough to grant Mosuke his request. The determined smile on Manta's smile caused Kagome to beam and nod silently.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The lavender-haired samurai gaped at the shining, new katana that Yoh held in his hands with pure astonishment. Disbelief dripped from his lips. "T-This sheen... Harusame." Amidamaru whispered. "C… Could it be you?" He asked of the sword.
"Mosuke-san was still wandering around in this world without being able to rest," Manta informed the spirit who was so astonished to see his best friend's work again after so many years.
Caught in the memories of the past, Amidamaru almost did not hear the words of the hopeful teenagers that stood around his tombstone. "This has to be it..." He told himself. "You're right. Only he could have forged this sword…" He surmised. Everything about this Harusame was flawless, from the curve to the edges. This was a masterpiece that only Mosuke's talented hands could have created.
Yoh then sheathed the katana and stated, "A message from Mosuke: 'Sorry. I made you wait'… Or so he says." The shaman then beamed at the samurai.
"Where is Mosuke?" Amidamaru asked as he stepped forward and looked around.
"Mosuke-san moved on…" Kagome whispered. "He said he couldn't face you after making you wait six-hundred years. So he already crossed into the other world," she explained solemnly.
Amidamaru could not help but chuckle, "Yeah, that sounds like him."
Yoh placed the new Harusame at Amidamaru's feet and smiled, "And now, you can also rest in peace. I'll just leave this here. Later."
With that said, the shaman began to walk away. Manta blinked at Yoh's change in heart. He expected that this moment would end with Amidamaru joining Yoh out of gratitude but... The blond merely shook his head and concluded that he still had a lot to learn about shamans and spirits before he could make assumptions. He then tucked his book tighter beneath his armpit before following after Yoh.
"Heeeeey! Wait, wait! Wait for me, Yoh-kun!" Manta called after the departing shaman.
"Yoh-dono…" Amidamaru whispered as he watched the two go. The spirit turned his gaze to the girl who did not chase off after her friends. "Kagome-san?"
The young priestess shook her head and smiled sweetly, "If you don't mind, I'd like to stay. I want to see you off to the next world, Amidamaru-sama."
The samurai could not fight the smile spread across his lips. "Sure," He nodded to her. "I'd be honored."
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Yoh and Manta slowly descended the stairs of Crow Cemetery. As if reading each other's thoughts, they both paused to watch Amidamaru go from a distance. The samurai was surrounded by a beam of light from the heavens and was slowly ascending towards the stars.
"Since he no longer has an attachment to this world, Amidamaru will rest in peace just like Mosuke-san, right?" Manta asked. "Now it's no longer possible for you to make Amidamaru your primary spirit."
"I guess I did something that I might regret later," The shaman stated crossing his arms and nodding to himself. "Finding a strong spirit like him isn't easy." Yoh then grinned widely at Manta, "But if he rests in peace, that's the best thing."
"Eh? Don't tell me you… Even from the beginning, you were planning to—" Before Manta could finish asking his question, Yoh continued strolling down towards the exiting. "Wait! Was that it, Yoh-kun?!" The curious boy pressed on as he quickened his pace to catch up to his friend. "Huh?" the boy blinked in unison when Ryu suddenly stepped in front of them.
"I found you, punk," the younger teen greeted while lightly tapping his wooden sword against his shoulder.
"Ryu of the Wooden Sword!" Manta cried out. He could not help but stiffen as memories of their first encounter came to mind.
Yoh merely grinned while raising his hand into a friendly wave, "Yo!"
On instinct, Ryu raised his hand back and replied, "Yo." His eyes then narrowed when he remembered why he was here, "MY ASS! Because you messed up my hairdo, I'm the laughing stock of town! No, the world!" He barked before getting into a fighting stance with his wooden sword. "This time, I'll return the favor! Prepare yourself!"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"I'm happy for you, Amidamaru-sama…" the priestess whispered to the samurai.
The peace and gratification on the samurai's face warmed her heart and made her insides feel fuzzy.
Suddenly, the moment that Kagome thought to be beautiful was interrupted by the startling sounds of Yoh's and Manta's screams. She whipped around and looked down the hill. She gasped at the sight of the familiar gangster beating her friends mercilessly.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"Why…? Why does this keep happening?" Manta asked as his body wobbled and felt off-balance. "Oof!" He almost fell over completely but his friend held him firmly in place.
"You okay, Manta?" Yoh asked with concerned eyes.
"You should worry more about yourself than others!" Ryu told Yoh before swinging his sword down at them again. Yoh quickly grabbed Manta and narrowly dodged the attack. "And don't expect me to forgive you with that tiny bit of punishment," He snarled as the shaman created more distance between them.
"Aren't you overreacting?" the brunette asked incredulously before trying to reason his assailant. "It's just a bit of hair!"
"That's not the reason! This is still my 'Best Place'!"
Yoh dodged another attack and replied, "Everyone here thinks you're annoying, go find some other place!"
"Everyone?!" Ryu seethed as his eyes narrowed even more. "Just who the hell is everyone?"
"That was close…" Yoh said as he finished evading another attack with Manta tucked under his arm.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"No! Yoh-kun! Manta-kun!" Kagome called out. "Without Amidamaru, Yoh-kun can't win on his own." She looked up at Amidamaru and told him, balling up her fist. "I'm going to help them! Forgive me for not being there to see you off." She bowed quickly, yet deeply. The girl then took off, leaving Amidamaru alone with his thoughts.
She looked over her shoulder and yelled, "Rest in peace, Amidamaru-sama!" She raced down the stairs and gasped in horror when her friends collapsed at her friends. They were covered in scrapes and fresh bruises. Just as she did during their first encounter, the girl put herself between Ryu and her friends. She glared at him and yelled, "Why don't you pick on someone your own size, huh?!"
Ryu gasped when he realized that he was chastised by the angel girl that captured his heart. He shook his head to get rid of his lovesick thoughts, "Kagome-chan, why degrade yourself by hanging around weaklings who can't protect you?" He smirked while running a hand through his hair, "Step aside and I'll prove that I'm the best man for you."
Yoh grunted as he slowly tried to get up, "K-Kagome, chan… Run away, quickly. You can make it without me." Once he was back on his feet, Yoh added, "Take Manta with you. I'll hold him off."
The girl ignored the noble offer and went to Yoh's side instead. She then steadied him by wrapping her arm around his shoulder. "Don't be stupid," She snapped. "We're friends Yoh-kun. We have to face everything together. It's better that way."
Ryu smirked as he noticed how the three younger teens leaned on and supported each other, "How touching. It looks like I'll have to get rid of them entirely to have you for myself." He raised his sword and swung at them. "Prepare yourselves!"
The beating that the unarmed children received was ruthless, Amidamaru could see that from the skies above. He knew firsthand how painful wooden swords could be. Watching them struck one-by-one reminded the samurai of his younger years...how adults would take advantage of anyone and everyone weaker than them. This was a new day and age, and yet, it was still happening...
He watched as a wide swing smashed into the smallest child's ribs, sending him flying into a tombstone.
The girl bravely dove at the man from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist to hold him in place. Her efforts were in vain as she was easily pushed away.
The young shaman was the next victim. He was the tip of the sword on his left cheek, then his right, and his left again.
Amidamaru narrowed his eyes...and made his decision.
What kind of man would he be if he abandoned defenseless children?
Ryu stood above the boy who annoyed him the most. He double-gripped his sword and raised it above his head.
Yoh shut his eyes and awaited the blow. But instead of pain, he felt the familiar warmth of Amidamaru as his hands rose and caught the sword between them. "Why…?" the shaman asked the spirit as his eyes snapped open in shock. "This has nothing to do with you."
Amidamaru replied, "It has everything to do with me. It is a samurai's duty to return a favor."
The shaman then chuckled in response, "You sure are stubborn..."
Ryu was taken aback at the boy's sudden reflexes and strength, "W-What are you mumbling about…?!"
"Amidamaru-sama… Thank goodness…" Kagome sighed in relief. Seeing the union between her shaman friend and the samurai spirit, she knew that tide of the battle was turned in their favor. She took the unconscious Manta into her arms and quietly moved to the sidelines.
"Prepare yourself," the combined duo commanded. Without another warning, he gripped the sword in his hands and flipped Ryu over his shoulder. The gangster was sent flying into a nearby tree and instantly lost consciousness from the impact.
Amidamaru exited Yoh's body and appeared before the young shaman.
Yoh grinned widely and said, "Thanks a lot for saving our butts." He then looked towards the sky and added, "Now go. Mosuke is waiting for you."
Kagome's eyes lit up when the samurai replied, "It looks like I'm stuck here again." A smile spread across the samurai's face as he spoke, "Even though I would like to follow Mosuke, it seems like it'll be a while before I can go to the other world."
That was the day that Asakura Yoh and Amidamaru formed an unbreakable bond.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Kagome, Manta, and Yoh were walking across the street in downtown Tokyo.
"I can't wait for us to reach your shrine, Kagome-chan," Manta admitted as they continued their journey.
Kagome smiled and laughed, "Me either. But I wish you hadn't brought that book along, Manta-kun. We're visiting for scrolls and stuff anyway."
"That's just the way he is," Yoh shrugged it off.
"You're right," Kagome sighed. "He's pretty hopeless."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" The bookworm retorted.
"Nothing, nothing~" Kagome sang with a teasing smile.
"Huh?" Within the split-second that it took for her to blink, everyone and everything disappeared except her and Yoh. "What's going on, Yoh-kun? Where did Manta-kun go?" She questioned while looking around for signs of Manta.
Yoh did not answer.
"Yoh-kun…?"
He just stood there.
Kagome blinked again.
Suddenly they were standing waist-deep in a sea of blood. "Wh—What is this?!" Her eyes widened at the sight of a dorsal fin rising above the surface of the crimson sea. It shot right past her, allowing her a glimpse of its glowing golden eyes. It was headed straight for Yoh.
"Watch out, Yoh-kun! Watch out! It'll get you! It'll get you!"
Kagome's eyes shot open as she sat up to find that she was still in bed. She was panting heavily and her body was drenched in sweat. "A dream…?" she whispered as she looked at her digital clock. It was exactly three o clock in the morning: the witching hour. "...or maybe...an omen...?"
'An apex predator with striking golden eyes... What could that mean…?'