InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ ŴĬĆĶĔĐ ❯ ŦĤĖ BÕÕĶ ( Chapter 1 )

 

CHAPTER1: ŦĤĖBÃ& #8226;ÕĶ(C HAPTER 1: THE BOOK)

For months, I've been searching and everything has come up fruitless. It's really starting to piss me off. The Council said we can't give up. Like we have a choice! Every waking hour of my time lately has been devoted to trying to find them and we have nothing. From city to city, town to town, and nothing every time. The Council said we have to hurry-that there's no telling what they could do in the time we've lost track of them. But even with our magic, we can't even find their location. But they feel we're getting closer. I don't. But who am I to question the stupid Council? Very few have even done that. Damn it! How agitating. Today we came to a new city in search of them. We will find them. We always do.

---Inuyoukai

*****

"Nine more months and we'll be free from high school and then it's off to college!" Rin declared. She took a deep breath. "Ahh! Smell that wonderful air…go head Kagome, give it a try!"

 

Kagome rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at Rin with a raised eyebrow. "That's funny," she said. "All I smell is pollution and…nothing!"

 

"You always ruin the moment," Rin muttered. Rin has been Kagome's best friend in the whole world since second grade. They met when they had to work on a project together and they hit it off really well since then. They both balanced each other off perfectly. Rin, with her bubbly personality that was so like a child, and Kagome, the fun and caring one.

 

Both girls had long dark raven hair that reached mid-back. Kagome was slightly taller than Rin. Kagome had gray-blue eyes, as in Rin's case, she had beautiful dark brown eyes. They were never seen apart except when they had separate classes and went home, and even then, they were constantly at each others house.

 

Kagome cursed under her breath and tied her scarf tighter around her neck when a blast of cool wind hit her. They were in early September and the weather was going crazy. It was unusually cold for early September but it always was a weird month; cold one-minute then warm the next. But Kagome knew that eventually the weather would turn colder and colder as winter approached.

 

She cursed again with the thought. She hated the cold. How it caused you to be so buckled up and made you run inside for shelter from the cold. The only good thing she liked about winter was hot chocolate with marshmallows and the occasional snowman or igloo.

 

"I don't always ruin the moment," Kagome said, still holding her scarf. "It's just that, as a 17 year old senior going off to college next fall…it's kind of hard to think about…and why the hell are you getting excited about the end of the school year when it just started?! What are you thinking?"

 

"Well I need something to get my ass through the school year! You need to know how to be more optimistic sometimes!" Rin said.

 

"I am too more optimistic…" Kagome argued.

 

"So you're telling me you're basically scared to go off to college." Rin said, ignoring what she said before. "It's perfectly natural, you know. A lot of people are scared of going off to college…" she brought her hands up to her head and shifted her light wool hat. "But I would never expect you-Kagome Higurashi, an A student- to be scared to…"

 

Kagome turned a glare at her best friend. "I am not scared. I'm excited, honest; it's just that…going off to college seems like a big deal. Too big, if you know what I mean."

 

"No," Rin said. "I have no idea what you mean."

 

"You know, as a best friend, you sure don't relate to me sometimes as you should…" Kagome muttered.

 

"Just because we are best friends, it doesn't mean we agree on everything. And you're just grumpy because it's cold outside and you hate the cold."

 

"That," Kagome said. "And the fact that Kanna ate the last freakin' bagel this morning. I'm starving!"

 

"What a-ACHOO!" Rin sneezed. "Baby."

 

"Guess you have a cold. You should get some medicine before it gets worst."

 

"Ugh! I know. I couldn't even sleep last night in fear I would die in my sleep because of nose congestion! And also…"

 

"Also what?" Kagome asked when Rin drifted off.

 

"I'll tell you when we get to class, I need to sit down."

 

"Fine with me."

 

Kagome released her scarf when she saw the high school coming into view up ahead. One week and two days have passed since they started the twelfth grade. After this year was over, she was on her own. Solo. Alone in the world of adults. Maybe she was a little afraid. Her whole life she had been under the shelter of her mother, father and her little sister, Kanna.

 

She didn't know what it would be like to go off on her own. It sounded silly, really. Wasn't she finally going to get what she wanted? To be able to live out her dreams of being a doctor to help people? She sighed. She had completely ten months to think about it, thanks to Rin and her `optimism'. The girls reached the school in comforting silence, walked up the steps, and entered.

 

Both couldn't help but sigh as the warmth surrounded them, verses the chilling cold outside. They walked to their lockers and began to put their stuff away. Their lockers were right next to each other.

 

"You want to come to a store with me after school?" Rin asked as she put her coat away.

 

"Not like I have anything else to do," Kagome said. "Still on punishment…"

 

"Sorry. But you can still come with me, right?" Rin asked.

 

"Yeah, I can come, but not for long, my mom will flip."

 

Kagome grabbed her math book and closed her locker. "What were you going to tell me outside?"

 

Rin grabbed her arm and dragged her all the way to their math class. No one was there yet, including the teacher himself, so the room was almost empty, save for a couple of kids in a corner flirting and the geek doing next weeks assignment. When they were seated, Rin scooted her desk closer to Kagome and brought her head close to hers.

 

"I had another one last night," Rin said in a whisper.

 

Kagome's eyes widened and she, too, leaned in closer to Rin. "A premonition in your sleep? What was it about this time?" Yes. Rin sometimes had visions or promotions in her sleep. She had no idea where the power suddenly appeared from or how she got it. But she's had it for a while. She first got it when she was in the ninth grade. It was about a girl being raped by a man.

 

She thought it was a regular dream, but it just kept coming back to the point she had to tell someone. That someone being Kagome. But that wasn't the weird part. The real weird part was that a week after Rin had the dream, a girl was found-raped and bruised in the woods. After that, Rin knew something was going on…but she never told her family about it. Kagome was the only person she told.

 

Rin's face took on a thoughtful expression, and then she paused, stretching out the suspense. "I'm not sure…" she said.

 

Kagome nearly fell from her chair. She quickly looked around the room to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation. "What the hell do you mean you don't know?"

 

Rin leaned back slightly. "I don't know! It was all blurry and dark. The words in the background were muffled. I think I saw a face, but I can't be sure. It was a girl-no woman, I know that for sure, and her face was pale and scary looking. She had long dark black hair…that's all I know."

 

"How did you feel after it?" Kagome questioned.

 

Rin sighed. "The same as always. Tired and unable to get back to sleep. But this one…had me scared to death. I woke up in a cold sweat and was breathing hard. I was real scared, Kagome…scared like I've never been before."

 

Kagome's face turned into a frown. Rin's premonitions never sounded like this was before. Sure, she was always afraid, but the way Rin gave a little shiver, she knew this was no ordinary premonition. She rubbed Rin's arm comfortably. "Are you sure you're okay? You don't sound too good…"

 

"It's okay, Kagome. Please don't have a heart attack over it," Rin said. "But it was freaky, and you're the only on that knows about it, so I can't seek comfort from my family."

 

"Rin," Kagome said. "Tell them, they would understand. They love you, it will be okay…you've been having these premonitions or visions-I don't really know-for a year now and you have no idea how you suddenly obtained these abilities. Your family has a right to know!"

 

"Has a right to know what?" a voice asked from behind the two girls. Kagome nearly jumped ten feet high. She swung her neck around to see a young man with sandy-brown hair and brown eyes. Kagome sighed. Hojo. Though she's been in school for such a short time, Hojo, as soon as he saw her, started talking to her. You know, the causal stuff, like `How are you doing?' And `What's your next class?'

 

But those questions quickly turned into, "Are you busy tonight?" And "Do you have a boyfriend?" She always turned him down, but he wasn't taking no for an answer. And everyday was the same thing. He asked she turned him down; it was starting to drive her crazy how he just never gave up.

 

"It's really rude to listen on someone's conversation, you know," Rin said rolling her eyes and scooting her seat back to where it was before.

 

"Sorry," Hojo said, with a hint of embarrassment. "I didn't mean too." He took a seat next to Kagome and she braced herself.

 

"Kagome," Hojo said.

 

"Here it comes…" Rin muttered. Kagome quickly reached her leg across the aisle and kicked her in the leg.

 

"Ouch!"

 

"Yes, Hojo?" Kagome said, bringing her attention back to the boy.

 

"I was wondering if…you would like to come over to my house…?" he said nervously.

 

"Hojo…" Kagome sighed. "I'm not sure if I'm interested in dates right now-"

 

"No! It's-um…a party at my house and I would really like it if you came…so could you?"

 

"Hojo, I don't know…I've been busy lately…"

 

"Higurashi," Hojo said. "It would mean a lot to me if you came to the party…"

 

"Oh. That's nice of you to say to me but, Hojo, parties are not really my thing." That was a very big lie…

 

"You don't have to actually party, you could just talk and sip punch and talk to people, you know, mingle. Come on, most of the school will be there, like a beginning of the school year party," he said wiggling his eyebrows making Kagome laugh.

 

"Ah! So the girl can laugh. You should do it often, you look wonderful."

 

Kagome blushed and dipped her head down. "Thank you…but…I don't know if I can, I'm kind of on punishment so I probably can't go anyway."

 

He grabbed her hands suddenly and held them in his. Kagome was so shocked by the action, she didn't even pull her hands away-not that she would-it would seem kind of rude and she wouldn't want to hurt his feelings. He looked straight into her eyes and she couldn't help but look into his….as if she was in a trance…

 

"Uh…" she said.

 

"Ask your mother if you can…" Hojo said gently. "Just ask her and see what she says."

 

"I…" she wanted to say that her mother wouldn't change her mind, but that's not what came out her mouth. It felt so strange…she wanted to pull her hands away, but something seemed to hold them there… "I…can't…" she tried again to tell him. But all he did was give her hand a gentle squeeze-she almost didn't feel it-and her voice faltered.

 

"Please, Higurashi…" Hojo said. "If you ask and she says no, I'll give up."

 

"I'll…" something didn't feel right. Only half of her body knew it, but the other half was urging her on, telling her it was all right to say yes-she would ask her mother. Something was out of place here…why couldn't she just tell him no? She felt suddenly different, as if something had evaded her body without her knowing…

 

"I'll ask her tonight…when's the party?" Kagome said in a near whisper.

 

Hojo smiled and released her hand. "It's tomorrow night. Here." He reached into his pocket and handed her an invitation, which she took. "You could invite your friend here," he said, nodding his head at Rin.

 

"Okay, I'll do it. But don't get your hopes up." Kagome said, still slightly in a daze.

 

"I think I know you'll be there," he gave her a wink and walked to his seat across the room. What the hell…?

 

"Man!" Rin said scooting her seat back over to Kagome. "That boy is going off to college and he still can't take a hint."

 

"He's a nice guy and everything…ouch!" Kagome said, when she felt Rin's hands connect with her head. "What the hell was that for?"

 

"That boy gives me the jitters, I don't like him," she said with a scowl on her face. "I get a weird feeling…and what the hell was that when he held your hand? It was like you zoned out or something."

 

Kagome once again thought of that feeling she got when he touched her, and how his eyes looked into hers and seemed to…leave something there?

 

"I don't know…" Kagome said with a big sigh. "Maybe I was in the moment."

 

"What moment?!" Rin asked. "I'm telling you, he could end up being some kind of stalker or something. I don't like him and I'm not going to his party!"

 

"Well…the whole school will be there…"

 

"Don't tell me you're considering it! When is it anyway?" Rin asked.

 

Kagome looked at the invitation and answered, "Its tomorrow night at 8:00."

 

"Humph!" was all Rin said before the math teacher entered the room. He was medium sized and slightly chubby, but not too much. His eyes were somewhat big and wide, they were dark brown. His hair was black and matted down to his head, slightly graying at the sides.

 

"You know," Rin said. "This is my first time seeing this teacher in all the four years I've been at this school."

 

Kagome shrugged. "Must be new."

 

"Hello everyone!" he greeted. "My name is Mr. Myoga and I am your new math teacher this year…"

**********

After school…

 

Rin and Kagome walked into the store, Spices `N Herbs. Rin walked right in, like it was her second home as Kagome just stood at the door observing everything in sight. She had to admit, the place did hold some kind of feeling that drew you in. But she still had a weird feeling. It wasn't bad but it just made her aware of where she was.

 

The whole place was dim, but not dim enough that you can't read and see. Some certain corners had bright, colored lights. And it held a spicy smell that had your nose twitching. No wonder the place was called Spices `N Herbs, you could smell everything-all of the items they had.

 

The place was stacked with shelves filled with books. Books of all sizes-small, big, medium, old books, new books, and ripped books. Everything. But not all of the shelves were with books, some held candles of all different sizes and colors and weird looking jewelry that looked pretty.

 

Kagome took another hesitant step inside and felt that weird feeling again, this time stronger than ever. She scanned the big room looking for Rin. She saw her standing in front of a small bookcase with a big book in her hand. Kagome quickly walked up to her. "What the hell kind of store is this?" she asked her.

 

Rin smiled. "It's a different kind of store I guess. It looks interesting, doesn't it?"

 

"Um…yeah…" Kagome said, looking around. "What are you getting here?"

 

"This store has all types of information for people who are into the…supernatural I should say." Rin said.

 

Kagome slanted a look at her. "So we're at some type of…occult store, like with vampires and witches and stuff?!"

 

"Calm down, someone might hear you!" Rin said looking around. "I found this store and thought it might help with my situation-my premonitions- so I came to check it out. It's not my first time coming here, I've been here before and the books they have are very helpful and interesting."

 

"Wow…" Kagome said. She looked around. "It does seem interesting."

 

"I know, and they have some beautiful jewelry here and some wonderful smelling candles, I've even bought some before. And look at this book I found," she said, shoving the big book in Kagome's face. "It's about visions and premonitions and stuff. It looks like it could really help me with what's going on…I need all the information I can get on this stuff."

 

"So are you going to buy it?"

 

"I have to. I need to know what's going on with my body," Rin replied confidently.

 

"If you buy this, will you finally tell your family about your abilities?" Kagome asked uncertainly.

 

Rin sighed. "I don't know yet…but we'll see…did you see anything you liked?"

 

"No. I've barely started looking around." Kagome said.

 

"We'll we're going to have to change that!" she grabbed her had and dragged her off to the other side of the store in search of something. Rin stopped Kagome in front of rows filled with what looked like stones and crystals. They were so beautiful…some shiny and all in different shapes and sizes. They glossed and twinkled when you turned your head in different directions.

 

Kagome had never seen anything like this before and it was a wonderful sight.

 

"Wow…" was all she could say.

 

Rin smiled. "I told you. Pick one all ready!"

 

Kagome looked startled. How could she pick out of all of these beautiful crystals and stones. She wanted all of them. She couldn't choose. Maybe that one-no-maybe this-no! She didn't know!

 

"I suggest the Zakilite, it's a wonderful crystal," a voice said from behind the two girls.

 

What is with people creeping up behind me today? Kagome thought. She turned around to see an old woman with long gray hair that reached her butt. It was all tied in a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. She had a patch over one of her eyes and was looking very strangely at Kagome.

 

"Uh…what was that?" Rin asked.

 

"I said this young lady here should take the Zakilite." The woman repeated again.

 

"Oh…I don't know…" Kagome said. "I can't seem to make up my mind, they're all very beautiful, you know."

 

The old lady chuckled and walked past the two girls and picked up a crystal clear crystal that shined so bright. She held it out to Kagome and she took it without a second thought. And when her fingers touched the lady's hand, she felt a small tingle.

 

"It's a good starting stone," the lady said. "You could buy others later if you want."

 

"What does this crystal represent?" Rin asked looking at the thing in Kagome's hand.

 

"It represents-" the old lady began before Kagome cut her off.

 

"Good luck and purity…" Kagome said gazing at the thing in her hand.

 

The old lady smiled. "Yes…that's correct."

 

"How do you know that, Kagome?" Rin asked her friend.

 

Kagome shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Just a good guess." She turned to the old lady. "How much does this cost?"

 

The lady looked her right in the eye for a moment, before she answered. "For you…you can take it for free."

 

"Free!" Rin and Kagome sputtered.

 

The old lady merely nodded before walking away. She walked all the way to the front of the store, then went behind the desk and disappeared inside a room.

 

"Free?" Kagome thought aloud. "I don't think so. It doesn't feel right to just take it like that."

 

Rin gave her a look. "Kagome, don't be dumb. This world isn't free, when you do get something for free, don't ever question it."

 

"I guess so…but she didn't even know me or anything," Kagome said as they walked up to the front of the store to the cashier. "Its just strange is all."

 

"Yes, well, a lot of things are strange in this world. And that's why they have wonderful strange stores, like this one here!"

 

Kagome smirked at her friends' stupid statement. Maybe Rin was right after all…Kagome squeezed the crystal that was still held firmly in her hand. The two girls reached the cash register and noticed that no one was there.

 

"Where the heck are they?" Rin muttered. "Don't they know they have customers?"

 

"Of course I know I have customer, child. Just had something important that needed tending to in the back. Sorry for keeping you waiting."

 

The two girls looked up to see the old lady. Rin blushed with embarrassment of being caught with what she said and Kagome just smiled in an apologetic way.

 

"Sorry for my friends…outburst," Kagome said to her as she walked to the register.

 

The lady waved a hand in the air, dismissing the situation. "It is all right, child. Would you like to purchase that book, young lady?" she said to Rin, pointing to the book she held in her hand.

 

"Er…yes… I would like to buy it," Rin said. She handed the thick, big book to the lady and both girls watched silently as she ran the book over the flashing red light and slipped it into a bag. "That will be $5.98 please," She said. Rin handed her the money and she took it. Kagome's eyes roamed the store as all of this happened.

 

She realized that she missed a few things when she first walked in. Like, for instance, right above the cash register, pinned way up high on the wall, was a picture of a beautiful woman. In the picture, held a woman of grand beauty. Her hair was long and black that shined brightly. But…under that picture, was a small book case that held a book.

 

The book was a dull dirty yellow. One black stripe ran right through the spine, making it stand out even more. But, though the book looked magnificent, the whole book seemed to be burned in some places and also very wrinkled. Kagome walked closer to the cashier stand and observed it more closely. It was very thick...so Kagome figured it held many pages. She squinted her eyes together when she was sure she saw something written on the cover, but couldn't make it out due to the burns.

 

"Found something?" Rin asked when she saw her look at the book.

 

"Don't know yet," Kagome replied. She looked at the old lady standing in front of her. "Excuse me Miss…"

 

"Kaede," the woman said. "Please, call me Kaede, child."

 

Kagome smiled at her. "Miss Kaede, could you please…?" Kagome pointed up to book, "Tell me about that book?"

 

Kaede nodded and smiled. "It's an old book; found seventeen years ago in rural area of London."

 

"Why was it just left like that?" Rin asked, getting interested.

 

"It wasn't," Kaede said. "It was found among the remains of a house that was burned seventeen years ago."

 

Rin gasped. "Did the people in the house survive?"

 

"Sadly, no. The owners of the house-a young couple- were found dead in a near by lake. No one knew how or what happened to them. Such pity, though. Many of their neighbors knew them well and knew they were gentle and peaceful people. But no one found out what happened."

 

"That's horrible!" Kagome said. "And the killer was never found?"

 

Kaede shook her head. "Not so much as a drop of evidence."

 

The three women were quite for a while, before Kagome said, "Can I…see the book?"

 

It was quiet for a moment, before Kaede nodded. "It is high for me, so I shall get some help" Kagome nodded and waited for her as she once again disappeared in the back room.

 

"That's so sad…" Rin commented quietly when Kaede was gone. Kagome nodded in agreement.

 

"The worst part is that the killer was never found…"

 

Their moment was interrupted when a young man, looking not much older than the two girls, walked out of the back room. Rin, Kagome noticed, instantly became quiet and watched the boy as he placed a small step stool on the floor, climbed it to reach the book, and proceeded to take the book down. Rin's eyes were wide. She leaned into Kagome slightly, "Man, he is cute!"

 

The boy stopped suddenly, as if he heard her. Rin took in a sharp breath and waited. She exhaled loudly when he once again began to move. Rin took this time to look at the young man. He was much taller than both of them. His hair, she noticed, was long and midnight black that reached his butt. It shined. He stood straight and erect, as if he owned the whole world. His face was emotionless…but his eyes…

 

Rin nearly swooned at just the sight of them. They were pit less orbs that went on forever! Rin was suddenly very, very, hot. She jumped slightly when the young man turned around to face them, with the book in his hand. He placed it on the counter.

 

Kagome suddenly felt a strange sensation run through her whole body, as if she just experienced something new and...Mystifying. She took a look at the young man in front of her, but found he was not looking at her.

 

"Is there anything else?" He asked. He had an accent…British maybe? But his eyes were staring straight at Rin, who found herself looking away from the intense gaze, her face warming up.

 

"Uh…No…We're all set, thanks," Rin squeaked out, much to the amusement of Kagome.

 

The young man nodded and retreated back into the room. As soon as he was gone, Rin let out a loud breath.

 

"Did you see him?!" she asked Kagome. "He was absolutely delicious!"

 

But Kagome paid no mind to her. She was staring intently at the book that rest on the counter. She suddenly had that damn feeling again. A shiver ran down her spine, but this time it was more violent. She tried to shake the feeling away, but it just wouldn't budge. She decided to just ignore it until she was able to find the source.

 

Now. Back to business. The book. The book that as soon as she laid eyes on, she felt it belonged to her. Now, why would that be? She had no idea, but she was starting to get the strange impression that this book was the cause of the shudders down her spine. She was just about to touch it; her fingers were so very close to the hard spine of the book…when suddenly, a light shone bright from the book itself. It was like something was reflecting off of it, causing it to shine like that.

 

Kagome quickly brought her hand back.

 

"Gah!" she yelled. "What the hell?!"

 

"Shut up, Kagome!" Rin told her. "People are reading in here." Rin turned towards Kagome fully. "What is it?" she asked, finally out of her rambling daze about the boy.

 

Kagome poked an accusing finger at the book. "That…That book was just glowing at me!"

 

Rin squinted up her eyebrows. "It glowed at you?"

 

"Yes, I was just about to touch it when-flash! It glowed!" Kagome said, doing her best to explain in her panicky state. All she wanted to do look at the damn book, and all of a sudden it glowed at her. But that still didn't explain that rush of feeling she received when the glowing happened. What was that…?

 

Rin suddenly reached forward and plucked the book from the counter. When Kagome saw this, she screamed, "Rin, no!" and slapped the book out of her hands, and watched as it fell to the floor. It fell open, revealing some pages that were written on.

 

Rin glared at her. "Now what did you go and do that for?" She shook her head. "I didn't see any glowing."

 

Kagome placed her hands on her hips. "Are you accusing me of being a liar?"

 

"Well…if the shoe fits…"

 

"Not that's any of your business, but I'm wearing boots today, in case you haven't noticed." Kagome snapped. She was kind of angry at Rin. She waited months to buy those damn boots, all to make Rin mad and the girl doesn't even glance at them! "They are very expensive…"

 

"I don't care if you bought them at a corner store!" Rin said. "That fact is that you're going crazy over an old book."

 

The two girls began to bicker, unaware that the book in fact, was still glowing faintly from where it lay at their feet.

 

"Is there a problem?" a voice asked.

 

The two girls instantly shut up and blush in embarrassment-well, Kagome did but Rin blushed because the young man that received the book for them stood at the doorframe of the backroom with Kaede beside him.

 

"T-There's no problem," Rin squeaked again. "Just dropped a book, that's all."

 

"An awfully lot of commotion for such a simple book," the young man said. Rin blushed even more.

 

"I-It was an accident," Kagome said, "We just dropped it." She quickly bent down and scooped the book up in her arms, ignoring the violent tingling that it shot through her whole arm. She half expected it to glow, but it didn't.

 

Kaede walked closer. "Have you finished with the book?" She asked Kagome.

 

"Uh…"

 

"Fell free to look longer if you please. When you are finished, tell Sesshomaru so he can put it away."

 

"Sesshomaru?" Rin questioned. Kaede pointed to the young man with the black hair standing next to her. Rin nodded and her blush increased.

 

"Actually," Kagome said. "I was wondering if I could…buy the book."

 

There was a long silence. "This is one of our more…valuable books," Kaede told her. "It would be a shame to lose it…"

 

Kagome nodded in understanding, but looked disappointed nonetheless. "Oh…"

 

"But…I will sell…"

 

Kagome looked up quickly, hope in her eyes. "Really?"

 

Kaede nodded. "Thank you! How much?"

 

"That would be a total of $30.00."

 

Kagome frowned.

 

"It would be more," Kaede explained. "But I am a fair sales person."

 

Kagome nodded and took out her purse. She counted and came up with $26.50." She was short. She turned to Rin. "Rin, can I borrow a couple of bucks?"

 

"You still owe me twenty from two weeks ago when you bought that jacket." Rin frowned.

 

"I'll pay you back!" Kagome promised desperately. She didn't know why she wanted the weird book, but it seemed to be calling to her. Rin soon agreed and put her share in. While Sesshomaru rang up the book, Rin asked, "So, you still going to Hojo's party, or what?"

 

This caused Sesshomaru to instantly freeze. He looked up quickly at the two girls. "You two know Hojo?" he asked. His voice was low but demanding.

 

Rin exchanged a look with Kagome before she answered. "Uh…yes, we know a Hojo-"

 

"Hojo Shakimori?"

 

"Yes…" Rin answered slowly. She noticed his stiff posture and the tightness of his face. "Is…there something the matter? Do you know Hojo?"

 

He didn't bother to answer, just quickly wrapped up the book and handed it to Kagome. "Have a nice day." Then, he turned on his heel, and walked swiftly into the back room.

 

"Weird," Kagome said.

 

Rin shook her head as the two girls walked out of the store. "Why must I always like the nutty ones?"

 

When Sesshomaru was sure the two girls were gone, he quickly took out his cell phone and called his friend. It rang a couple of times before it was picked up.

 

"Hello?" a female voice said.

 

"It's me, Sesshomaru. We guessed right. Kikyo is here in the city…"

 

End Wicked (For Now.)

 

A/N: Well, that's the first chapter. The second chapter is almost finished and should be up within two weeks-tops. But until then, enjoy my newest supernatural fic, called When the Darkness Howls. Drop a review and tell me what you think! Until next time…