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.
...but 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.
After meeting her new friends, the priestess began her strange yet ordinary life—an ordinary life where the paranormal and extraordinary would suddenly happen and shake things up. She found that she was living the best of both worlds.
After helping Yoh befriend Amidamaru, the powerful samurai spirit that he had his eyes set on, she continued living her strange yet ordinary life. Each day promised to be a new surprise that she looked forward to. Her bleak, predictable days of a mundane life were finally over.
This was the beginning of Kagome's new life—a life full of wonder and smiles.
A Shaman's Duties
The Person She Admires
It was just past 7:00 P.M. when Kagome had finished her homework for the night. She ended her daily rendezvous with Yoh and Manta earlier than usual today. It would have been a lie if she said that Yoh's disappointed look did not tempt her to shake her duties. But the little angel Kagome on her shoulder won in the end. Ever since her mother reluctantly allowed her to move out, Kagome promised herself that she would be as responsible as possible and prioritize her obligations. She did not want to disappoint her mother and let all of her efforts to leave be in vain.
Kagome's only reassurance that she was making the right decision was Manta's understanding smile and words. Thus, the girl was home by early evening and taking care of important matters. Upon arriving home, her first order of business was checking on her slow-cooking pot of Niku Jaga that she had prepared before departing for school that morning. 'Mmmm!' She closed her eyes and smiled as she inhaled the mouth-watering aroma. The steaming beef and vegetables looked as soft as butter as they simmered in her sake-based broth. 'It smells just like Mama's!' She noted with pride before resealing the crockpot with its ceramic lid.
The next order of business was finishing her homework and studying before dinner. Time flew by as she buried her nose in her textbooks and notes. There were a few times where Kagome found herself idly sketching doodles of Yoh, Manta, and Amidamaru into her notebook. But for the most part, the girl was pleased with her productivity. And finally, after finishing her homework, Kagome decided to spend some time bathing before having her meal.
At last, she could truly relax and unwind. With her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, the girl carefully stepped into the tub then sat down. Kagome unknowingly smiled as she dialed the number of the house that she grew up in. Her small body sunk further in the bath as she tilted her head up to stare at the ceiling. After several moments of nothing but dial-tone, her mother's voice finally answered on the other end of the line, "Good evening. This is the Higurashi residence~"
Despite having called her mother several times since moving out, it still felt strange and new to hear that line coming from the opposite end of the phone line. Kagome still could not help but melt at the sound of her mother's comforting voice, the voice of home. "Hi, Mama. It's me~" She greeted back.
"Ah, my little Kagome~" the older woman was obviously beaming. "I'm so glad to hear your voice. How was your day today?" She asked warmly. Kagome's eyes softened a bit at the question. It was the same question that her mother asked every day since she began her schooling years ago. The question, while simple and sweet, was more loaded with warmth than ever. No longer was the question a routine or formality like in the past…
"My day was pretty good actually~" Kagome replied in a bubbly tone that made her mother smile. "How about yours, Mama?" The girl asked back. But again, it was no longer out of routine or formality.
"It went well~ Sota passed his spelling test with flying colors! But we owe that to your cousins," The woman chuckled a bit as she spoke. "They got into some trouble with their parents again so they'll be staying with us for a while." For a few minutes, Kagome did nothing but bask in the nostalgia of her mother's voice. With her eyes closed, she could envision the familiar smile on her face. "So, how are you and your friends doing?" Higurashi-san ended up asking.
"Great actually!" Kagome quickly said. "Nothing strange really happened today but it was still really fun to be with them. I think the two of them make a balanced pair. Yoh-kun can be so lazy but Manta-kun's diligence more than makes up for that. But," She laughed at the memory of Manta lecturing Yoh about sleeping during class, "sometimes Manta-kun can be focused to a fault, so Yoh-kun's laidback nature brings him back to reality. Oh yeah, and Amidamaru-sama is a very kind soul, but Manta-kun needs some time to get used to him."
Kagome's mother's soft chuckle was as comforting as the warm water surrounding her. How did she not notice how much she enjoyed that sound before? "I see," Higurashi-san replied in an amused tone. "Well, I'm glad that you've made true friends so quickly. It sounds like you're genuinely happy."
Kagome nodded, more to herself than to her mother. "Yeah, I'm glad too…" She then remembered the conversation that she had with her friends a few days ago. "Oh, right!" She lightly bonked herself on the head for almost forgetting something so important. "Mama, I told my friends that they could visit the shrine this weekend so we could go through some scrolls," she explained, her voice bright with excitement. "Is that okay?" She asked.
"Coming home so soon?" Higurashi-san lightly joked. "I'd love to have you and your friends over! The more, the merrier~" The woman stifled a chuckle at the muffled sound of her daughter trying to contain her elated squeal. She knew that Kagome was doing her best to appear mature so that they would not worry about her as much anymore. While she was grateful that her daughter was taking her responsibilities seriously, she was even more glad to know that she had the chance to act as a child should.
"Awesome! Thanks, Mama!" Kagome smiled from ear to ear. "I'll let them know that we can come on Saturday but I'll come home on Friday so I can spend some time with you! I miss you guys!"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G
Kagome sweatdropped when Manta pulled his sleeve up his arm to check his watch for the fifth time in the past three minutes. The aggravated expression on his face was one thing. But the way that he gripped the straps of his backpack and tapped his foot against the pavement was another. She knew that Yoh was in for an earful whenever he showed up. "Eh, you should probably stop checking your watch," The girl suggested with a nervous half-smile. "Time only slows down when you watch it."
Manta's expression only hardened at her words. He scowled deeply while crossing his arms over his chest, "Yeah, but I can't help it! We're going to be late because of that lazy guy!" If there was one thing that the Oyamada was proud of, it was his academic record. He was a dedicated student with perfect scores that were only rivaled by his attendance record.
The girl smiled while waving her hand dismissively, "Relax, Manta-kun! I'm sure that we'll be fine if—"
"Did you forget the P.E. tests this morning?" Manta cut in, eyes narrowed and voice sharpened.
Her friend's words cut her deep as the girl went completely pale and froze on the spot, her smile still plastered on her face. Kagome was as silent as a grave on the outside while her inner voice spoke, 'That's right… The boys have a kendo test and the girls have one for archery…'
The Oyamada could not help but smirk a bit when Kagome finally recovered and balled up her hands angrily. A passionate, fiery aura surrounded the girl as she glared out into the distance, "Manta-kun, we must make it to school on time, at all costs!"
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Manta mumbled. He then sighed deeply and stated, "How did we get ourselves mixed up with such a hopeless guy? Yoh-kun is the type who needs someone there to wake him up every morning."
Kagome tapped her chin while looking thoughtful, "Manta-kun...waking Yoh-kun up every morning…" She looked down at her friend as her imagination went to work. "Like a girlfriend…"
The scene in Kagome's inner-mind theater faded from white to a typical teenage boy's room. Random clothing was strewn about as Yoh slept soundly in his messy bed. "Yoh-kun!" Manta called as he opened the door and entered the room. "Yoh-kun, wake up! We have to go to school soon!" The blond boy pouted as he walked over to the brunette's still form. The small teen placed a hand on Yoh's shoulder and shook it gently. "Yoh-kun, come on! We have to get going!" The shaman groaned sleepily, mumbling incoherent phrases before turning over. Manta smiled and sighed. "What am I going to do with you, huh?"
Kagome cupped her warm cheeks as she came back to reality. "Manta-kun, I think that role suits you perfectly~," She told her friend with a cheeky smile.
Manta shot her a deadpanned look while replying dryly, "Whatever you just imagined, kill it with fire." He then grinned widely and added, "Besides, if there's anyone who fits that type of role, it's you."
The girl blanched at the suggestion. She raised a hand while stating bluntly, "No way. Taking care of a guy like Yoh-kun is way too much work." Her blue eyes lit up as the topic of their conversation began dragging his feet across the street, "Speak of the devil!"
With demonic speed, Manta's head snapped as he turned a death glare at Yoh. The brunette's eyes were droopy with a sleepy haze. His shoulders slumped and he swayed like a drunk as he walked. "Dammit!" The blond boy swore as he hastily ran towards and took a tight grip on the taller boy's wrist. "You kept us waiting long enough! Move your ass!"
"Oh, good! We can—!" Kagome's optimistic statement was cut short when Manta dashed past her while dragging a half-asleep Yoh behind him. "Hey!" The girl huffed and glared at her friends' backs. "Don't leave me behind!" She called after them as she began her own sprint.
"No more stargazing if you can't wake up in the morning!" Manta chastised as they ran.
Yoh whined out in a sleepy voice, "What's with you, Manta? I keep trying to sleep but you keep shouting…" In his sleep-deprived haze, the Asakura did not notice Manta glowering at him from over his shoulder.
"ALL THREE OF US ARE GOING TO BE LATE BECAUSE OF YOU!" The blond boy seethed.
"You should probably watch what you say right now, Yoh-kun," Kagome suggested from beside them.
"I wanna go home and sleep," Yoh groaned. "I have a bad feeling about today," he said.
The priestess gasped when she was suddenly hit by a strange, foreboding feeling. In their respective haste and half-consciousness, her friends did not notice that she had abruptly stopped running. 'I have a bad feeling too!' She sweated as she looked left and right. It felt like they were being watched. Her eyes suddenly landed on a billboard that hung above an alcohol shop that her friends were rapidly approaching.
Kagome was going to question her sanity for feeling suspicious of an inanimate object. But suddenly, the sign creaked as it began to wiggle. "Manta-kun, Yoh-kun! Watch out!" She cried out. Her body acted on its own as she lurched forward.
With a speed that shocked even herself, the girl raced down the sidewalk. She tackled her friends with enough force to send all three tumbling forward. Not a second later, the billboard crashed to the ground, landing on the spot where the dragged Yoh would have been. A crowd of passersby immediately gathered around the ruckus and dispersed cloud of dust.
"Those kids were almost crushed!" A woman pointed out as a worker from the liquor shop emerged from inside the premises. She then averted her eyes when she noticed how the girl was sprawled out on top of the boys.
Kagome groaned as she used her elbows to push herself off of her friends. She hovered about them, rubbing her aching ankle. "You two okay?" the girl asked as she continued nursing the set of joints. She looked down at the boys below her. Both were lying flat on their backs beneath her. Manta's face mouth was ajar and his eyes were swirling with dizziness while Yoh's face was scrunched up in pain. After releasing a moan, his eyelids fluttered before opening, allowing him to stare up into Kagome's concerned orbs.
"Y-Yo…" He greeted her with bulging eyes and a sheepish smile.
"Yo yourself," She chuckled before attempting to stand, her arms tentatively spread out at angles to test and keep her balance. "Oof!" She squeaked when her ankle protested against the weight and sent her collapsing into a squatting pose.
Yoh immediately sprung into action and was at her side. "You okay? Let me see!" He noticed how the girl reached for her right ankle. Without a second thought, the boy removed her shoe and peeled her white knee-high sock down. He was not surprised at the sight of the darkened, tender skin. "It's a little bruised, but it looks alright," he sighed then smiled.
Despite the circumstances, Kagome could not help but feel reassured by Yoh's relieved smile. "It's good to know that I'm friends with such a good doctor, Yoh-sensei~" She then looked over at Manta when he finally recovered from his daze and sat up. "Looks like Manta-kun is alright too."
"Y-yeah, I'm fine," The boy added as he got to his feet and looked over at his friends. His eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of Yoh casually leaning in close to Kagome, holding the edges of her sock between pinched fingers and revealing the length of her leg. "Y-Yoh-kun, you pervert!" He squeaked while burying his face within his face.
Yoh blinked before releasing his grip on the garment. He scratched the back of his head and opened his mouth to clarify his innocence, only to be cut off by Kagome's cry of, "I told you, taking care of a guy like Yoh-kun is way too much work!"
The shaman flinched at the statement. He narrowed his eyes while throwing suspicious glances between his two friends. "What have you two been talking about behind my back?!"
Amidamaru, who had been quietly watching the exchange between the young teens, finally smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.
Despite the light atmosphere between the group, the presence that hid in the shadows did not go unnoticed by the priestess.
After reassuring that they were fine to a few concerned adults, the trio continued their journey to school. But not before Yoh squatted down in front of Kagome with his hands ready to receive her. "Eh?" The girl shrunk away. "What are you doing?"
"You can't even stand on that ankle, right?" The shaman asked. "I might as well be a gentleman and carry you to school," he explained with a grin that Kagome could not help but find a bit cheeky.
"Gentleman? A lax guy like you?" Manta asked while looking at Kagome.
They shared a shrug before the girl replied, "I guess anything is possible."
"Some friends you are…"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Manta had not checked his watch or even mentioned the time since the incident. A rather large, disgruntled faculty member was waiting for them and other tardy students at the closed iron gates. He scowled and crossed his arms at the sight of them. "Well, what do we have here? I didn't know that delinquents came in sets of three these days," the man said in a grumpy voice. His eyes landed on the girl being carried on the taller boy's back. "And what's with you? Is this kid your little whipping boy or something?" He asked sharply.
Kagome blushed but Yoh's mouth was quicker than hers. The boy sobbed out with waterfall tears streaming down his cheeks, "S-Sensei, it's awful! Taking care of her is too much work!"
"Hey!" She shrieked before pulling on the boy's cheek. "Take that back! You're the one who—!" Her rebuttal was drowned out by the man's deep, bellowing laughter.
"W-Welcome to adulthood, kid!" The man's intimidating demeanor was completely gone as he slapped his knees. Kagome and Manta sweatdropped as the man fell to pieces at his own joke.
After Yoh and the man exchanged a couple of pleasantries and grins, the trio was let inside of the school grounds without being written up, much to Manta's surprise. He had heard horror stories of the punishments that tardy students faced. He sent a grateful smile up to Yoh as they entered through the main doors, "I guess even a guy like you can be charming."
"Well," Yoh paused while pointing down the hallway. "I'm going to take Kagome-chan to the infirmary. You can go on ahead, Manta," he explained with a smile.
Much to their surprise, Manta shook his head negatively, "We've come together this far. I might as well see this whole thing through." He then blushed a bit while scratching his cheek, "Besides, all for one…"
Kagome's eyes lit up as the expression. She beamed down at Manta, "And one for all~"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"We actually made it in time for the tests," Yoh stated while pulling his shirt over his head. "I hope that Kagome-chan will be alright for hers. It's only a bruised ankle, but still."
Manta nodded as he got changed, "Yeah, we were lucky. I heard that sign keeps falling no matter how many times they fix it."
That statement caught Yoh's attention. "It keeps breaking?" He rubbed his chin while looking thoughtful, "Well, that sounds troublesome…" He muttered to himself.
"You should be more troubled by the kendo test!" Manta chastised. "This school emphasizes academics and sports so you have to do well!" He warned his friend.
Yoh gave his signature grin and phrase, "Don't worry. It'll work out somehow!" The brunette snickered at his friend's skeptical expression…
Ten minutes later, the referee announced Yoh's swift, flawless victory over his classmate. Manta's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets at the sight, "A-AMIDAMARU?!"
Yoh was grinned and folded his arms proudly as his spirit explained, "A samurai must repay his debt to his lord, so I shall follow Yoh-dono wherever he goes."
"I've made a lot of allies at this school too!" The shaman bragged while gesturing to the group of spirits that congregated around him. The color drained from Manta's face as Yoh introduced each other, "There's Suzuki, the top student who committed suicide from being bullied. Kobayashi, the track team captain who got hit by a car during a marathon. Ashida, the artist who died of sleep deprivation, and Noriko the pianist who died of natural causes during her recital." The brunette grinned confidently, "With these guys around, I'll be fine no matter what happens!"
Manta could not help his outburst. He balled up his fists, "You coward!" The grin was wiped from Yoh's face. "These tests were made to test your own knowledge and power! You can't just rely on others to take them for you!"
"Huh? But my goal is to become a professional shaman," Yoh explained with a straight face. He was back to grinning as he surmised, "It doesn't matter if I'm good at those other things. I'm going to keep practicing my skills for my true profession."
Manta huffed and crossed his arms, "Humph! You're lazier than I thought! Don't use being a shaman as an excuse for letting others do your work!" He shot the brunette a glare, "I'm going to watch Kagome-chan's test, I bet she's doing it on her own!"
The blond boy then stomped away while grumbling to himself about how disappointed he was, unaware that Yoh and Amidamaru were casually following him to the girls' half of the large gymnasium. Manta stood to the side. His eyes lit up at the sight of Kagome being helped over to the archery testing station.
It was not long ago that the girl had injured her ankle, and yet, she was still smiling and chatting happily with the girl who had her arm slung over her shoulder. 'Yoh-kun should take a page out of her book,' Manta thought as he watched his friend and their classmate discuss something briefly before the helper released her hold and backed away.
"Wow," Yoh breathed as he leaned against the wall next to Manta, causing the blond to jump in surprise. "She's really going for it. If I were her, I'd just sleep in the nurse's office."
"Of course, you would," Manta replied dryly. His eyes never left the girl as she examined the different types of bows displayed on their mantles. He was expecting Kagome to choose the recurve bow that the most beginners flocked to. Her eyes landed on the traditional Yumi bow, which caught the attention of the spectators. She raised her hand but then hesitated.
"I see," Amidamaru hummed while crossing his arms. "It's natural for Kagome-sama to feel attracted to the Yumi bow as a priestess," he pointed out. "If she received any traditional training, it would be with that type of bow."
Manta nodded slowly. He never thought of it that way, but it made sense. "But why if she's trained with that type of bow, why does she seem so nervous?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, I'm afraid," the samurai admitted before he looked down at his master. Yoh's eyes never left the girl, whose hand was trembling a bit as she looked between the recurve bow and the Yumi.
The whispers of the onlookers did not go unheard by the shaman. Kagome then lowered her head as her arms fell to her side. She almost looked defeated and lost. Manta was both puzzled and concerned as he watched his friend struggle with something that he could not place his finger on. "Is she going to be okay? Maybe she isn't feeling well after all," the blond wondered aloud.
Yoh then cupped his hands around his mouth and called out to the girl, surprising everyone within the vicinity. "Kagome-chan, don't worry! Just be yourself and do what you're good at! Do whatever you want to!"
The priestess turned surprised eyes at her friends.
Manta's eyes widened at the sight of her face. He had not realized that she was feeling so low. It was at that moment that he realized that there were still things that he did not know about his friends—both of them.
Manta looked up at Yoh's closed-eyed grin. 'Maybe, he's onto something after all,' the blond thought before he broke out into his own grin. The shorter boy turned his beaming face to Kagome and followed Yoh's lead. "That's right!" He added, "As long as you get the job done, we're proud of you!"
Kagome's melancholic face turned into a small smile. She nodded at them and then grabbed the Yumi bow. Within a matter of seconds, the girl got into the proper posture for her size and style of bow. The spectators quieted down as they watched the transfer student with anticipation.
The practice arrow was sent flying across the range, right into the center of the target.
Kagome nearly jumped in surprise at the roar of the boys and the squeals of the girls. She smiled timidly as she was surrounded by her enamored and impressed classmates. "Higurashi-chan, that was amazing! Where did you learn to shoot like that?!" The girl who helped her over to the station asked.
"W-Well…" She blushed lightly as she was bombarded with more questions. She sent a helpless look over to her friends. Her blue eyes pleaded for them to come over and rescue her. To her dismay, Yoh and Amidamaru merely grinned and offered her a thumbs-up while Manta cupped his hands and stared at her with starry eyes. 'You guys are useless…' She thought with a secret smile.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
"Are you sure that you're okay to walk on your own already?" Manta asked the girl next to him.
Kagome smiled appreciatively and nodded, "Yeah! I spent most of the school day resting in the infirmary. It feels a lot better." She then looked over her shoulder at the samurai spirit trailing behind them, "And what's with you? I thought you were going to follow Yoh-kun wherever he goes."
"Normally I would but my Lord has tasked me with escorting you two to safety," Amidamaru informed them, his eyes narrowing as they approached the alcoholic shop from this morning.
"I see," She replied. "He must be pretty worried about us…" She stated while touching her fingertips together and forming a triangle with her hands. Manta did not notice the soft smile on her face.
"Hmph," Manta huffed a bit. "He's so clumsy, he should be more worried about himself!"
"Clumsy?" The girl blinked. "I mean, I know that he's lazy but clumsy? In what way?" She asked curiously.
The blond linked his hands behind his head while replying, "I don't know but when we were changing for kendo, I noticed that his body was covered in cuts and scars."
Before she could ponder what that meant, Kagome was overcome with the same feeling from this morning. Her senses were screaming that they were in danger. "Hold on a sec!" She grabbed Manta by the shoulder and pulled him back.
Just like earlier, a second later, the billboard came crashing to the ground where Manta would have been standing. The boy's jaw dropped as he looked at Kagome, "You really are a priestess, aren't you?!"
Kagome would have laughed if she had not looked up and seen an angry spirit glaring down at them. It was humanoid in shape with a long, boxy head that ended in spikes and unnaturally long limbs. It crouched on top of the liquor's shop roof as it glowered down at them, as if it had some sort of vendetta. "It's finally shown itself," The girl stated.
Manta followed her line of sight and looked up. He jumped back several meters, "W-WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" He shouted in panic while pointing up at the entity.
"It's an evil spirit who's possessed that sign," The samurai replied while taking out his sword. "This one is a self-bound spirit who is attached to this place. Stand back, I'll take care of him."
Manta took cover behind Kagome's leg as the spirit's scowl deepened, the corners of its mouth showing oversized human teeth. "Do…" it suddenly growled in a guttural voice. "DO IT!" It shouted before leaping into the air with its arm drawn back. "DO IITTTTTT!"
"DO WHAT?!" Manta shouted as his grip on Kagome's leg tightened.
Amidamaru rushed in front of his wards. He raised up his sword and blocked the ghostly arm before it could touch them. He grunted as the raging entity began pushing him back.
"Self-bound…" Manta whispered. "So it used to be a human…"
"Do...Do…" The spirit growled once again as it glared at Amidamaru with nothing but unbridled rage. "DO IT!" The spirit used its free arm to slash down onto the samurai's shoulder, causing him the reel back in pain.
"Amidamaru-sama, are you alright?!" Kagome shouted from the side.
The samurai placed a hand on his shoulder and winced. This was the first time in six hundred years that he felt any semblance of physical pain. "Yes, I'm fine for now," the spirit replied while raising his sword in a defensive stance. "The problem is that a battle between spirits is not determined by technique or physique, but the strength of the spirits' emotions…"
Kagome frowned as she pointed out, "And this spirit...it became evil because of the intensity of its negative emotions. A pure spirit like Amidamaru-sama...can't…" Her eyes fell downcast.
Manta was taken aback by the defeat in the girl's voice. He looked up at her and asked, "You're a priestess, right?! Isn't there anything that you can do to stop it!?"
The girl shook her head slowly, "I can't… I haven't...I haven't trained for things like this…"
Amidamaru gasped when the spirit suddenly sidestepped him and charged at Kagome and Manta, "Do it! Do it! DO IIIIIITTTTTT!" Kagome raised her arms to protect her face as the spirit closed in on them. "DO—!"
"You mean this, right?" Yoh's voice suddenly asked nonchalantly. Everyone, including the angry spirit, froze and turned to see the young shaman walking toward them with a bucket in his right hand. "Look, I brought some white paint with me."
"Yoh-kun!/Yoh-dono!" The shaman's friends cried out in unison.
"Do it…?!" The spirit seemed just as surprised at his appearance.
"You're a real troublesome guy, you know that?" Yoh sighed as he strolled over to the spirit. "I had to ask all of the people and spirits around here to find out what happened," He told the spirit as he finally stood in front of it.
"Do Do DO IT!" The spirit bellowed while reeling its arm back and slashing the boy's cheek with enough force to turn his head. Manta and Kagome gasped at the sight of blood seeping from the laceration.
"Don't worry," Amidamaru told them. "Normally humans and spirits cannot touch each other. But by allowing the spirit to touch him, he lets it know that he is a shaman…"
"But what is he planning to do with a bucket of paint?!" Manta still questioned with concern as the spirit continued glaring down at Yoh, who did not back down even after being struck.
"A year ago, you were painting this billboard," The shaman explained in a low voice. "You reached for the white paint, but lost your balance and fell off your ladder and onto the road...right in front of a truck. It happened so quickly."
Kagome and Manta silently watched in awe as the spirit went quiet and it lowered its arm. It seemed fixed on Yoh's words as he retold its tale. "You were always proud of your work, so you became unhappy that the billboard remained, despite being unfinished," Yoh reached up with his left hand and wiped the blood from his cheek. He then looked the spirit in the eye and stated, "After trying to reach out for help, you became what you are now. It's my job to help people like you…"
Manta could not help but remember how he exploded at and berated Yoh earlier. The Yoh standing between him and the angry spirit was not the same grinning fool that he was in school. He was a person who was so passionate about his profession that he was willing to put himself in harm's way for it. 'That means...those scars…'
"So I'll let you use my body, Kanta the signmaker," Yoh finished as he held the bucket of paint out in front of him. "So how about it? Want to finish what you started?"
'This feeling...what is this...?' The priestess thought as she placed a hand on her chest. Her blue eyes were wide and sparkling as the angry spirit transformed back into its human form, a man in bloody overalls and a baseball cap. The spirit looked bewildered but… A single stream of tears fell from his eyes as he stared at Yoh.
Kanta the signmaker also looked so emotionally moved…
Thus, Kanta used Yoh's body to finally finish the billboard that was left untouched due to his untimely death. Afterward, there were no reports of the sign mysteriously falling…and Manta and Yoh reconciled over their small spat.
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
The next day was relatively peaceful and uneventful, besides the sprint that they had to make to school after Yoh almost made them late again. The chime of the mid-day lunch bell resounded and Yoh was quick to awaken from his nap from the welcoming sound. "Finally, my favorite class!" The brunette grinned as he stood up and went over to Manta's desk. "Wanna hit up the cafeteria with me? We better hurry if we want the good stuff!"
Manta smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I'm pretty hungry after today's lessons so I need something filling." He then turned around in his seat to look at Kagome, "We'll meet you in the courtyard as soon as we can, okay?"
They would have invited the girl, but she had a habit of bringing homemade lunches to school. They did not know if homemade lunches were what she was used to, or if she was just trying to save money. Either way, they saw no need to make her suffer through the stifling crowd of students with them.
"Actually," Kagome reached into her backpack and pulled out a pastel blue sack. The girl smiled as she announced, "I made lunch for all three of us today, if that's okay."
Yoh and Manta exchanged surprised looks before Manta smiled appreciatively, "Well, if you went through all of the trouble then I'd happily be obliged~"
Yoh added with a wide grin, "Same here. It sure beats fighting people for scraps!"
The two boys then quickly huddled together, away from the cheerful Kagome's ears. They threw each other deeply worried looks. Manta whispered, "I've got a bad feeling about this somehow…"
Yoh nodded in agreement, his face unusually serious and somewhat fearful, "I know what you mean. I've seen situations like this in manga too often."
"The one where an innocent girl presents her friends with amazing-looking food and it turns out to be terrible?" Manta asked while raising an eyebrow.
"Uh-huh, this trope fits Kagome perfectly. She's beautiful, smart, and athletic," Yoh whispered behind his hand. "Her weakness must be the culinary arts."
"But no matter how bad it is, just smile and say something nice," Manta suggested.
Yoh nodded once again, "Yeah. And if you die, I can add you to my spirit allies."
"DON'T EVEN JOKE ABOUT THAT!" Manta shouted, causing Yoh to stumble back.
Kagome blinked innocently while looking up at Amidamaru, "What was that about?"
Amidamaru hummed as he replied vaguely, "Two warriors forging a battle plan…"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Yoh and Manta watched with dread as Kagome hummed while spreading a pink floral blanket out on the grass. Everything seemed so perfect—too perfect. She patted the blanket and smiled prettily, gesturing for them to join her. The girl even pulled out three travel mugs.
The boys looked at each other before nodding in silent agreement. Their hands shook as they gingerly removed the top of their decorative bento boxes. The bright light that seeped out of the boxes caused even more suspicion. "Oh, wow! It looks amazing!" Yoh said aloud, causing Kagome's smile to brighten.
"Just as I suspected…" Manta added in a mutter as he stared down at the sparkling spread. Inside of each box was a delicious, balanced-looking meal. There were three rice balls molded into the shape of a cat's head with pieces of nori added to form their adorable facial features. There were other staple foods: slices of a sweet rolled omelet, deep-fried pork cutlets, a colorful summer salad complete with cherry tomatoes, and strawberries cut out into the shape of stars.
The meal definitely looked too good to be true, especially from someone their age. Yoh and Manta looked at Kagome's beaming face. She looked like an angel as she spread her arms out and offered, "Well, don't be shy! Dig in! I put my heart and soul into these lunches~!"
Yoh closed his eyes as a solemn expression appeared on his face. "So, this is it…" He whispered while pulling his chopsticks apart. "This, too, is a shaman's duty…" He said while grabbing a slice of pork cutlet between the sticks.
'Yoh-kun, I was all wrong about you,' Manta thought with teary eyes. He began to hiccup as he watched his friend take a large bite of the battered meat. The blond knew that it was all over. The way that Kagome's entire face lit up with excitement… the way that Yoh went quiet but his eyes doubled in size… "Yoh-kun, I'm sorry!" He suddenly cried out. "It should have been m—eh?!"
To his surprise, the shaman did not meet his maker. Instead, the brunette went in for seconds and thirds back-to-back. "Kagome-chan," he said between bites. "Sorry for doubting you! This is amazing, like a little piece of heaven!"
Kagome blushed prettily while rubbing the back of her head, "Aw, shucks—Wait, you doubted me?" Yoh was able to ignore her death glare as he was too enamored with the meal in front of him.
Manta, on the other hand, gulped but tried to play it off with a twitching grin. He pulled his chopsticks apart and immediately reached for an omelet slice. With Yoh's reaction as a green light, the blond boy placed the entire slice into his mouth. With his eyes closed, he began masticating the egg… A few moments later, his eyes shot open wide like Yoh's. He threw a shocked look at Kagome, "H-he's right! It really is like a little piece of heaven!"
The girl huffed, pouting a bit, "What did you expect? I wouldn't cook for you if I didn't have confidence in my ability." She then removed the lid of her thermos and poured herself a portion of tea. She breathed in the aroma and lifted it to her lips.
"Well, it's just that you seem so perfect," Yoh admitted as he sampled an omelet slice that made him shiver in delight.
"Yoh-kun said himself that no one could be pretty, smart, athletic, and good at cooking," Manta explained, unaware of how the girl blushed from the compliments. "But you sure proved us wrong."
"Hmph," Kagome smiled proudly, folding her arms over her chest. "Well, maybe that'll teach you to have more faith in me next time."
"Kagome-chan, I swear, you're going to make an amazing wife someday," Yoh grinned as he finished his lunch and shamelessly reached for hers, only to welp when the girl slapped his hand away.
"Flattery will get you nowhere."
After more laughter and excited chatting about their upcoming visit to Higurashi shrine, the trio finished their lunches. They happily fooled around, waiting for the lunch hour to end. All seemed right in the world until the voice of an older male suddenly howled, "GET OUTTA MY FACE!" It was followed by a crunch and pained yelp.
"Eh?!" The trio froze on the spot and looked over to the source of the commotion.
Across the courtyard, there was an overweight upperclassman with long hair and broken glasses on the ground. He held his arms out defensively and cried out in fear, "Wh-What did I do?!"
Standing above him menacingly was another upperclassman. This one was tall with spiky, blond hair and well-toned, muscular arms. He held up his clenched fists and hissed through clenched teeth, "Shut it, chubby! Or do you want me to hit you again?!"
"Manta, who's that?" Yoh asked curiously. He had been attending this school for a couple of weeks now. Due to it being a private school, it was not an everyday occurrence to witness the spectacle of obvious physical violence.
The blond sighed and mumbled, "He's at it again. That's Tatsuhi Tobinari, year nine. He was turned from a delinquent to a boxer by Gushi Kenji—" Manta flinched when Tobinari kicked his victim in the stomach. "Gushi Kenji was a great boxer known for his afro and unique fighting style." Manta and Yoh huddled together to whisper to each other, not noticing how Kagome silently got to her feet. "After Gushi Kenji died in an accident, his gym was closed down and Tobinari went back to being a delinquent."
Yoh rubbed his chin, "Hmm...a professional boxer, huh? That sounds useful."
Manta sweatdropped, "You really have a one-track mind, huh?" He looked over to where Kagome was sitting and his eyes bulged when he realized that she was not there. "Yoh-kun, where did Kagome-chan go?!" He asked in a panic while looking left and right.
"Ah," Yoh blinked while raising a finger towards the direction of the commotion, where a crowd of onlookers gathered to watch. "Isn't that her over there?" The brunette asked.
"Dammit!" Manta shouted. "What does she think she's doing?!"
Meanwhile, Kagome scowled as she pushed and dodged her way through the crowd. She placed her hands on her hips when Tobinari mercilessly kicked his fallen victim in the butt. The poor guy was crouched in a protective position with his arms covering his head. "Ahem!" She cleared her throat. "Hey, you! What do you think you're doing?!" The girl shouted.
"Hmmm?" Tobinari turned to raise an eyebrow at her. "You got a problem with me, girly?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Kagome sassed. "Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to torment other students, especially ones who are weaker than you?! Does picking on the weak make you feel good about yourself?!"
"Haaaaaah?" The delinquent removed his foot from his victim's buttocks. He shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered over to the girl, "I dare you to say that to my face, little girl."
Meanwhile, Manta's jaw dropped at the turn of events. It was one thing to witness random students being beaten up by Tobinari, but it was another thing if the victim turned into his friend! The boy looked to Yoh, "Yoh-kun, we've got to rescu—ah?!" He blinked when he noticed that Yoh was no longer next to him. "HOW DO THEY KEEP DOING THAT?!"
"Well?" Tobinari asked as his face was but a few centimeters away from Kagome's. He glared down at her and challenged, "Go ahead. Say that again if you're so bra—."
[SLAP!]
The crowd went silent.
For a moment, Tobinari just stood there with his head turned to the side. His eyes wide, mouth ajar, and cheek reddened. He slowly raised a hand to his stinging cheek and almost winced at its tenderness.
Kagome lowered her arm but continued glaring at the upperclassman. "So, how did it feel?" She asked. "I bet whatever pain you're feeling, the people who you've hit had it ten times worse."
Yoh suddenly appeared behind Tobinari, "While we're all friends here, there's something I wanna talk about!" He gave the older teen a chummy pat on the shoulder.
The sound of the Asakura's voice seemed to snap Tobinari from his stupor. "Eh?" He asked with clenched teeth. "What the hell do you want?" He glared at the younger boy from over his shoulder.
Kagome sweatdropped while Manta's heart almost stopped. Yoh spread his arms out wide as he explained, "I'm interested in your deceased teacher! Can you tell me about him?!"
Without warning, Tobinari turned and punched Yoh in the jaw, sending the smaller boy crashing to the ground. Kagome gasped and ran to his side, "Yoh-kun! Are you alright?!" She helped him into an upright position as he placed a hand on his swelling cheek.
"Tch," The upperclassman glared down at the two of them. "I see how it is," he mumbled before spitting on the ground. "I'll let you off with a warning this time," he told the brunette before shoving his hands back into his pockets and walking away.
Ten minutes later, our triad of heroes was in the infirmary for the second day in a row. Yoh was flinching with teary eyes as Kagome gently held an ice pack against his cheek. "You two are insane," Manta said with a sigh. "You're lucky that you got off easy."
Kagome scrunched up her face, "You call this easy?"
Yoh pouted and added in, "I don't really think that he's a bad guy."
Amidamaru then appeared, rubbing his chin, "I was thinking the same thing."
"A-Amidamaru!" Manta jumped back, shaking at the sight of the samurai ghost, 'I-I might not ever get used to that.' "So, you don't think he's bad?"
"I can understand the heart of a fighter…" The samurai replied. "I can still see the fighting spirit burning in his eyes," he explained as his expression became sullen.
Kagome huffed, "Hmph! Fighting spirit or not, I refuse to let him do what he wants! I'll give him what for!" The girl's free hand balled into a fist as a fiery aura overtook her.
Manta shrunk away from the girl as Yoh gasped at his sudden, brilliant idea, "I know! Let's see what we can find out about him!" He grinned up at Amidamaru.
The samurai grinned back and nodded enthusiastically, "Good idea!"
Manta then shrugged, "Good luck. Tobinari has no friends or family."
"Let's see if we can find the ghost of that boxing champion," Yoh suggested. "He was probably the closest person to him so he must know something."
"Gushi Kenji's ghost?!" Manta's jaw dropped. "Are you insane?!"
Kagome raised a finger and suggested, "It makes sense. His mentor probably can't move on with the way his student has become. He's probably tormented about it."
Yoh placed his hands on his hips as he hastily got to his feet, "Alright, let's do this!" He looked to his partner and commanded, "Amidamaru, find out whatever you can from the spirits!" The samurai nodded. "The three of us will go check out the boxing ring!"
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Tobinari spent that evening the same way that he spent it every day since his mentor had passed...beating up anyone who dared to piss him off. But no matter what he did, no matter who he faced and conquered, nothing filled the void inside of him. No matter how much pain he inflicted on others, no matter how many times he established his strength, his pain did not stop. Not even sending an entire gang fleeing for their lives was enough to satisfy him.
His master's once-prosperous gym was now a shell of what it once was. The leftover equipment was dusty or knocked over. Everything was crackling and covered with cobwebs. Despite being the place where his master taught him how to live, there was nothing that remained to remind him of his teacher. Once Gushi Kenji died, he took everything dearest to Tobinari with him.
The delinquent balled up his fist and punched the one last poster of his teacher on the wall. "DAMMIT!" He shouted at the image of the boxing champion. "You were my reason to live! You were my dream—I lived to surpass you!" He cried out. "With you gone, what do I do!? Where can I go?!"
"Your place is here," an unfamiliar voice suddenly told him.
Tobinari gasped and turned around. Suddenly, the boxing ring was illuminated to reveal the underclassman from earlier today. "Tch, you again," He hissed with distaste. "What the hell do you want?" His eyes narrowed further when he spotted a short boy that he did not recognize and the girl who slapped him in the corner, controlling the light system.
Yoh was sitting on a stool in the far right corner of the ring. He wore Gushi Kenji gym shorts and a pair of plump, red boxing gloves. He smirked as he replied, "I've come here to fight you. I am Gushi Kenji reborn."
"Tch," Tobinari glared at Yoh. "There's no way that a scrawny brat like you can be my master's reincarnation!" he shot back. He looked the boy over and mentally shook his head. This had to be some ordinary child.
Kagome fist-pumped from beside Manta and called out, "Why don't you fight him and find out?!"
Manta sweatdropped and asked nervously, "Kagome-chan, why are you wearing boxing gloves too?"
Yoh then stood up and merged with Gushi Kenji's spirit ball. Tobinari's eyes widened as the child that he previously dismissed, raised his fists and suddenly took on his master's signature fighting pose.
Rage.
Tobinari could not stop his rage as he tore his shirt off, "Anyone can mimic that fighting pose…" He hastily jumped in the ring, raising his bare fists, "DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY MASTER!" He shouted while jabbing the younger teen in his other cheek. He expected the smaller boy to tumble to the ground like earlier, but he did not.
Yoh merely grinned and looked up at him, "That was nothing. If that's all you got, then there's no way you can match me."
It was exactly what Kenji Gushi used to say.
"B-BASTARD!" The blond shouted as he unleashed a barrage of punches at the child. Kagome watched Yoh easily dodge and deflect the jabs with a satisfied smile. Tobinari's eyes widened as Yoh knocked the wind out of him with a punch to his stomach.
Manta's jaw dropped as he cheered, "T-that's it! Dodging a hail of jabs then caught with a hook! This is exactly how Gushi fights! I still don't get how but he can copy the abilities of the spirits he invokes!"
The match was quickly decided.
"You bastard!" Gushi yelled from within Yoh. "After all that I've taught you, you're still just a pampered—" Tobinari watched in shock as the child once again took on his master's movements. "BRAT!"
He was helpless to defend himself from his master's signature move. 'S-Soul hook…!' Was Tobinari's thought before Yoh struck him like lightning. Tobinari's head was spinning. But in that instant, before he lost consciousness, he saw the image of his beloved master, grinning down at him…
The trio thought that night would be the last that they saw of the upperclassman. But the next day, they were surprised to find Tobinari waiting for them at the school gate. "H-He's here!" Manta stiffened as the upperclassman stopped leaning against the gate as they approached.
"I've been waiting for you," Tobinari greeted coolly with his arms crossed.
Yoh grinned and raised his hand cheerfully, "Yo!"
"Tch, not you," The older teen grumbled as he pushed past the boys and walked up to the girl behind them. Kagome blinked when he got down on one knee and took hold of her hand. "Little miss, I must know your name…"
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!" Manta shouted as he realized what was happening.
Yoh merely scratched his head and almost pouted with jealousy, "Huh, darn. I thought we had a real connection."
"Eh…" Kagome looked around, blushing deeply when people stopped to stare at them like yesterday. It seemed like the more she wanted to blend in, the more she ended up standing out. "It's Higurashi," she stated. "Higurashi Kagome."
"Higurashi…" Tobinari repeated slowly. "Kagome-chan…" He looked up at her, his eyes steely and serious. "As I am now, I am unworthy of such a goddess. I will become the new champion of the boxing world, and then—" Kagome's eyes widened and her face went beet red as the older teen placed a soft kiss on the back of her hand.
Yoh and Manta jaws dropped.
They quickly scooped up the girl and high-tailed it to their classroom.
Word quickly spread that Tobinari ended his days as a delinquent and returned to the world of professional boxing under the name of "Gushi the Second".
S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.
Afterschool, they found themselves at a nearby fast-food restaurant. "Jeez, we've had a pretty busy week, haven't we?" Manta asked while dunking a french fry into his cup of ketchup. "I've never had such a noisy life till you guys came along," he raised a smile to his friends.
"You're very welcome!" Yoh snickered before taking a big bite of his burger.
"I'm not sure if that was supposed to be a compliment," Kagome pointed out. She then went in for a french fry but was interrupted by the desperate scream of a middle-aged woman who rushed into the building.
"FIRE!" She called out. "It's awful! There's a fire at the Chinese restaurant next door! Everyone, RUN!"
Needless to say, everyone rushed outside. And sure enough, the Chinese restaurant right next to the burger shop was set ablaze. The three teens stared up at the inferno with wide eyes. Many adults were shouting and scrambling about for solutions until the firefighters arrived.
"That fire is HUGE!" Manta screamed as his usual panic set it. "LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" The blond wanted to flee the scene, but was held back by Yoh grabbing onto his necktie.
"Hold on, Manta," Yoh stated calmly. "What if there are people still trapped in there?"
"So what if there are?!" Manta screamed back. "What if I end up dying here?!" He snapped.
"If you do die, then you can join with me," Yoh replied simply.
"Again with that?! You're so cold!" Manta shouted.
Kagome then stepped between her friends and said, "Simmer down, Manta-kun. I'm sure that we'll be alright." She then looked up at the roaring flames and said, "Yoh-kun is right. We can't leave just yet."
"There's the risk of someone dying in there becoming an evil spirit," Yoh stated before looking at his partner. "Will you scope it out for me, Amidamaru?" He asked.
"I'm on it!" The samurai replied as he shot into the building.
"A spirit can phase through all types of matter so he should be able to find out quickly," The shaman explained while looking at Manta's shocked face. A few moments later, the samurai emerged from the top of the building.
"Yoh-dono, there's no one inside but there are children on the roof!"
Kagome felt her heart drop at that proclamation. 'C-Children…?' She looked from the blazing fire up to the roof. She was sure that they were afraid and crying, but could not be heard over the raging flames below them.
"Amidamaru!" Yoh called up to his spirit once again. "Can you see the fire engine?! It's long and red!" The samurai nodded to his master and flew up higher to get a better vantage point.
He looked around in search of something that matched the description. Finally, his eyes landed on a long, red vehicle far out in the distance. Its path was blocked by traffic and panicked pedestrians. The samurai swiftly landed and told the teens the grim news, "It's no good. It won't make it in time."
"Guess I have no choice then," Yoh said as he ran over to a basin of water. "Ma'am, I'm going to borrow this!" The teen shouted at the owner of the restaurant. He gasped when Amidamaru grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the water.
"Yoh-dono, as your protector, I cannot allow you to go!" Amidamaru told him. "There is no safe passage through the roof. Therefore…" His eyes averted the side. The spirit was torn by guilt. Guilt from the surprised look on Yoh's face. And guilt from knowing that he was giving the children no chance to escape the fire.
But, if he had to choose between them and his master…
"What are you doing?" Yoh asked, narrowing his eyes and showing his partner anger for the first time. "We can't leave them alone. Doesn't it bother you just to sit back and watch them die?"
Kagome gasped when Amidamaru raised his voice at Yoh for the first time.
"OF COURSE IT DOES!" The samurai shouted back. "But it's still better than watching you die!"
This was the very first time that she had seen Amidamaru have an outburst like this one… Kagome looked at Yoh's surprised expression. 'Yoh-kun means so much to Amidamaru-sama...that's the bond of a shaman and their spirit…' She took a deep breath and nodded to herself.
She knew what she had to do.
There was a solution where Yoh would not have to be in danger and Amidamaru would not have to worry. The girl walked over to the duo and placed a hand over her pounding heart, "It's fine, I'll go."
"Kagome-sama?!" Amidamaru asked while turning his pained gaze to the girl's seemingly calm face. Despite the weight of what she was offering, the girl was smiling softly. Her eyes were sympathetic. "You can't!" He protested.
"It's fine as long as it's not Yoh-kun, right?" Kagome asked as she bent and lifted up the basin of water, which was surprisingly heavier than it looked. That question struck a chord within Amidamaru, Yoh, and Manta. "Amidamaru-sama, please guide me to the roof," She requested.
For once, Manta was completely speechless as he stared at Kagome's face.
With the golden light of the flames dancing across her skin, the girl seemed more beautiful now than ever. Even the water in her hands sparkled and glistened against the raging fire.
Yoh then smiled and placed a hand on top of her head, "Don't be silly." Before she had the chance to react, the shaman snatched the basin from her hands and turned it over his head, completely dousing himself in the water. "It's fine as long as it is me," he told her while closing his eyes and grinning widely.
"Yoh-kun, you can't!" Kagome protested as she grabbed onto his soaked sleeve. "Amidamaru-sama would be torn if you got hurt!" She told him.
The shaman caught her off guard by chuckling, "Funny," he said between laughs. "Because that's how I'd feel if you got hurt." Her fingers lost their grip in that instant. The brunette then dashed into the building burning, leaving Kagome standing there stunned.
"Y-Yoh-kun, he ran into the fire!" Manta screamed while gripping his head.
Amidamaru looked down at his shaking hand before forming a fist. He swore to himself before flying in after his master. "Yoh-dono, I'm coming too!"
Kagome cupped her hands together and closed her eyes. 'As long as they're together, they'll be fine...right?' She asked herself. 'Please, God… I promise not to bother you again for a long time. Just, please… Please…'
The seconds that flew by felt like minutes. The minutes felt like hours.
'Please bring him back to me...'
Manta's eyes widened when an explosion from inside thundered and shattered windows with a bursting fireball. "Damn! The flames are getting stronger and stronger!" An onlooker pointed out. "That kid that ran inside must be burning by now."
Manta felt his heart miss a beat.
He shook away the dreaded thought of never seeing Yoh's face again. "Yoh-kun! Amidamaru!" He shouted at the building. "Both of you, HANG IN THERE!" His shut eyes snapped open at the sound of a bang followed by the rush of raging water.
"I-It's the water tank on the roof!" A man in the crowd called out. "It ruptured somehow!"
Kagome's eyes opened and widened at the announcement. She looked up at the roof and spotted Yoh. He was surrounded by three small children, grinning triumphantly while gripping a metal pipe.
"I-It's Yoh-kun and Amidamaru!" Manta cheered with teary eyes. "They merged and burst the water tank!" He smiled widely up at his friend. "They did it! They really did it!" He shouted while throwing his arms into the air.
Meanwhile, the priestess stared up at the shaman. Her lips were slightly ajar. It was strange. The fire was put out and everyone was safe.
And yet...her heart was still racing.
'That must be it…!' Kagome gasped softly as a thought struck her. 'It's because he looks kinda cool.' Her surprised expression melted into a cheerful smile.
Manta was right. They truly did have a busy week. And all the while, Yoh had gone out of his way to help others.
Because that's what his true calling in life was...
'Not just a priestess…' She told herself. She placed a hand over her chest and smiled wider when she and Yoh made eye contact.
'I'm going to be a shaman, just like Yoh-kun.'
That was the day that the Kagome who wanted to be a normal girl died...
And the new Kagome who yearned to walk the path of uncertainty began...
In my headcanon soundtrack folder, the song for the scene when Kagome and friends debate who will go into the fire up until the ending is called "Kagome's Heart".