KOTODAMA

"The soul that resides inside words."

Chapter II

The streets during these early hours of the day were quieter in some parts of the city. Usually, he would move through districts whose nightly activity was synonym of a bad life or crime, something debatable when one knew the people wandering there, and whose tales were told graphically. However, today he decided to go somewhere else, taking by an urge he usually wouldn't follow.

The place where the purse's owner lived was one of the safe districts. Its streets gave off a different feeling from the ones he frequented. Through the parts where leisure happened, one could hear laughs, and the nightly movement was calm, some would even say trustworthy; there were practically no suspicious characters like him. That was probably because of the strolls the police would take through the place, he found, that were meant to protect the well-being of those who lived there. All the more reason he should try not to draw attention to himself.

That early morning, he reached the address written on the documents he found among the purse's contents, and remained there, staring at the third floor, just like the address on the documents said. A few seconds passed, the lights were turned off at that hour, and in that short time he inspected the place, and finally decided it was a fool's errand to watch when no movement was happening. To come here had been a rash act, too much for his own usual-self. He had to admit the drawings Shippo showed him had aroused his curiosity, for the likeness of the man in those sheets and his, including the golden color of his eyes, were real. He had stared at those pictures, trying to discern the story they were trying to tell, for most of them lacked any context, the mayor part just drawings and some with only the face: his face. He didn't know much about drawing, actually, he didn't know much about anything, yet he dared to guess it wasn't hard to trace certain common features, increasing that likeness... but his eyes were another matter entirely.

Maybe because of that intrigue, and the strange sensation that clutched his stomach when he saw the picture of the girl in that document, he'd taken a different route that day to arrive here.

"What nonsense." He told himself in a whisper, thinking he'd wasted much of his time already.

A couple of figures entered that same street then, talking and laughing, their voices echoing in the night. It was obvious they were coming from the leisure part of that district, and InuYasha leaned a bit to hide his features, the hood covering his hair. Then, his steps took him away from that place, the woman's purse crossed around his torso like a satchel.

Kagome dedicated a great part of her Saturday in trying to rebuild what she lost in the theft. The drawings, however, felt to her bland, lacking life. It was as if she had lost the moments they represented, and even the dialogues, as much as she tried to recreate them inside her mind, seemed to refuse to flow like back then.

"Why don't you want to come back?" She asked, as she traced the white locks of her character's hair.

His eyes stared at her, empty, barely a long pupil without shadow or background.

Kagome closed her eyes and bent her head backwards, thinking that maybe it'd be good for her to go out for a stroll around the neighborhood to clear her mind. Before opening her eyes, she recalled the number of beads her character's kotodama no nenju had, and proceeded to draw it. She began to create the spheres, of a deep amethyst tone, and every five pieces she would place what she believed to be stones chiseled into the shape of fangs, which she would then fill with an ivory color. Her gaze stopped on the eyes of that particular and special being who wore red clothes, and who seemed to look at her with a stern expression that was doubled by his crossed arms.

"I'm only going to go for a walk, you don't need to look at me like that." She smiled.

She knew it was nonsense, yet she had the urge of giving an explanation. Suddenly she got a vision in her mind of him, turning his head in a rude gesture of contempt. She began to draw that same gesture at one side of the sheet, trying to recreate it just like she saw it. The truth was that Kagome didn't know what she felt about this, which could be named as madness, yet every time she managed to catch something new of her character, she had this sensation that he was becoming a bit more alive, as if in some place – Of some place- he actually was.

Loyal to her first idea, she sighed and halted her work, stretching her limbs and standing up to get out of the room.

"Ayumi." She called as soon as she opened the door, as she let her hair free to take a bath. "Want to get a drink with me later?"

She heard the positive answer of her friend, who was in the little main room they shared.

About an hour later, both girls came out of the building through the external ladder, headed for the most dynamic zone of the district. Kagome usually wore mostly dresses, for she felt comfortable in them, and in some way, she felt the ruffles and waves which formed the skirts were kin to her restless personality, a result of a life she considered good. Her vicissitudes with her family, studies, friends and now the job, could be said to be the usuals one could have. In a certain way, everything seemed to have an order, and even now as she walked beside her friend Ayumi, she realized of how organized everything was for her, the theft she suffered being the only exception... her life lacked any great "stumbles".

"What did Eri say? Will she come?" Ayumi sought to know.

"She will, and so will Yuka." Kagome took on the task of calling her friends to meet, have a drink and spend some time together.

"Nice!"

Kagome watched her friend smiling with that genuine happiness she would usually manifest, as she hopped in place, swaying her curled hair. She smiled too before that happiness, yet she had the sensation life was more than just that, just being alright. Maybe that was the reason she loved that world that would appear in her mind, as she attempted to give it the shape of a story.

"I hope we can find a place with free seats." Ayumi continued rising the excitement along the way.

Kagome looked behind, for she'd been having a strange sensation for a while now. They were nearing the shopping district and although many were closing, there were still many people on the streets. She shrugged, thinking it must be something foolish, maybe someone had just taken notice of her more than usual and her intuition picked up on that. She had that skill of foreboding things, despite not always paying heed to such omens, not for her nor for anyone; with time she discovered people didn't like to be warned of things, because often time they attracted the risk through their own choices.

They went through a side street that was so narrow it could be called an alleyway. Immediately they caught a glimpse of the lamps of red paper that signaled the Izakayas, places of food and drink they would usually go to. There was one in particular they liked because of their good prices and quality.

The night was beginning, and the nightly leisure was now taking the streets, filling it with a jovial and relaxed mood.

"Look, there they are. Eri, Yuka and..."

"Hojō." Kagome finished for her.

"Did you tell them to invite him?" Ayumi asked in a lower voice, as she smiled towards their friends.

"No." She smiled too, dissimulating.

"Then it must have been Yuka."

"Don't you doubt it."

Hojō had been a classmate from her high school days with who Kagome had a few dates. The boy was a good student, diligent and very respectful; however, she couldn't stop comparing her perfect attitude with the rebellious once she imagined her own character in her stories, and even if absurd, her interest remained focused on the latter.

They joined with the group and exchanged greetings. Hojō took her by her shoulder to draw near and kiss her on the cheek, something Kagome found surprising; this wasn't the way the usually greeted each other, not since they stopped having those dates when they were still teenagers.

"How are you, Kagome?" He said, leaving aside the formalities. It wasn't like there were many between them to begin with, yet there were some which she usually found comfortable to keep some distance.

"I'm alright, thanks for asking. How is work?" She sought to sound polite, and to wave aside what had just happened. Still, she took half a step away.

"It could be said it's ok. I've been there only three months, my coworkers are kind, and I can reach the place pretty much easily." He explained, never looking anywhere else but her eyes.

Kagome couldn't help thinking the boy had pretty chestnut brown eyes, she had always thought so, however they lacked a bit of sun.

"Of course he lacks it, he is a weakling, can't you see?" She found herself surprised at her own thoughts, yet she, calmly, didn't let them show on her face. It wasn't the first time she heard the character of her story talking in her head, and not her voice.

"I'm glad you are happy." She shared.

"Of course you are happy. You are too soft." There he was again. Her gaze dropped to her shoes for an instant, then returned to the boy.

"And you? Yuka was telling me you've gotten a new job."

"That's right, but I've only been there a week." She tried to ignore the sensation of being monopolized.

In the moment Hojō prepared to say something more, Ayumi addressed them.

"I think we should go inside."

The group showed their agreement, yet Kagome noticed a shiver then, and looked through the alleyway behind her again. She had the feeling there was something there for her to see.

"Of course, go on ahead." She urged the group.

"Everything alright?" Her friend asked.

"Yes, yes, go inside. I'll be right back." She began to think about an excuse to give. "I want to buy some candies, you know." She pointed at a shop at the beginning of the alleyway.

She waited for her friends to enter, and avoided with a calm smile the suspicious look her roommate threw at her. After that she watched the alleyway again, finding a crowd of smiling people holding pleasant conversations and were waiting for a table to be free inside the Izakayas. She began to walk then, her steps short at first, not knowing what she was doing, not really.

"Definitely, you are a reckless one." She heard him in her head.

Many times, she came to think that maybe she suffered a mental illness, and as such she herself wasn't able to notice it. It couldn't be normal for her to hear, so vividly, the voice of someone else that didn't exist, inside her head. However, it was unavoidable for her to reach the conclusion that as long as that supernatural being were still in her imagination, everything would remain under control.

Her steps guided her through the meters between the place her friends were at, and the start of the alleyway, and as she did so, her gaze skimmed, albeit if covertly, over the people who remained at the entrance of the various restaurants or shops along the way. When she was about to desist and return to the group, she caught a red-covered figure that seemed split between leaving or remaining where they were, right beside a door. Finally, that someone moved and gave their back to her, their steps quickly nearing the end of the alleyway. For a moment, Kagome had the sensation of pursuing something she didn't even comprehend, something lacking sense. It wasn't until she realized the boy was wearing her purse crossed as if it were a satchel, the same one she had crafted out of jeans and was stolen a few days ago, that she chose to follow.

"Wait." She said, her voice low and held back by a foreboding sensation.

He didn't stop, and Kagome decided she wouldn't let him go so easily. Leaving words behind, she began to sort her way amidst the crowd, following that someone who wore a red sweatshirt and whose hood was covering his head. She felt her heart pounding hard, harder than what her pace should demand, and began to lose control of her breathing, as if she'd been running for a hundred meters. As she moved forward, the crowd receded to seldom groups and on, so the obstacles between them became sparse. They came out of the alleyway and a few meters ahead she saw him turning to a less travelled side street, and she did the same. He should be, at least, twenty meters ahead, and Kagome was sure that if he had wanted, he could have made much more distance. As she made her way into the street, and when he was about to reach the new intersection, he stopped, turned around and looked at her. Kagome froze there, her steps to a halt, as she observed the features framed by that red hood, contemplating the eyes of such a beautiful golden that seemed to be glaring at her.

She caught herself thinking that all gazes she'd known until now were empty in comparison.

"InuYasha." She muttered.

She had to place a hand over her battered chest to keep at bay her restless heart, beating desperate.

The young man had stopped as well, positioned sideways towards her, as if hesitant if to continue his escape or get near her. Kagome felt that yes, she wanted to see him up close, and to know if the hair under that hood was as white as her character's. She wanted to check if madness was finally consuming her, and if her world was going to lose its foundations.

In that moment he turned away from her, and she spoke louder.

"Wait."

She knew her voice was heard clearly, for a man who walked by the boy lifted his gaze. Kagome gave him time for an answer, and could see him shaking his head and attempted to resume his pace.

"My purse." she said.

She watched how he halted his steps yet again, tugged at the purse's belt as if he was about to take it off; however, before doing so he smiled, looked at her with that smile on his mouth and shook his head, slowly, leaving the belt in place again. She became witness of how he walked away, and turned at the first corner. Kagome didn't insist on her pursue; she was too shocked for that. She remained there for an instant, alone, two or three seconds maybe, and thought in the possibility of having gone mad. She had the sensation of having experienced something unheard of; something that shouldn't exists.

Her phone rang then, stripping some of her attention away. She took it out of the small purse she was wearing today and answered.

"Kagome, where are you?" The voice of her friend Ayumi reached her with her usual maternal hint.

"Near, I'll be there shortly." She could still see in her mind that dark golden in those eyes that had just looked at her. She was certain they were bright and disquieting when beneath daylight.

"Hojō went out looking for you." She mentioned. Kagome held back a click of her tongue, out of annoyance.

"I'll be there in a minute." She hung up.

Her gaze found once more the direction in which she had lost the one whose gaze had become engraved in her mind.

To be continued.

A/N

I share with you the second chapter of this story. Personally, I'm in right in the middle of being in love with it, and that makes me happy.

You've left me lots of opinions and theories, and I love that you do, it doesn't matter if they are part of the original idea or not, for to share is a pretty thing.

Thank you for being here and keeping me company,

Anyara.

This text is possible thanks to the translation of: Dezart