Chapter Text
They say moving to a new country can be full of thrills and adventure, that it’s a chance to explore not just the culture and its people, but also yourself. Some would also claim it's a pain in the ass, having to deal with all the moving fees, the difficulty in finding a career, or having to slowly learn the social norms of the new environment. To you, it was more of a chance at escape. A chance of leaving behind the land that you’ve lived in since you were a child, and leaving behind the faces of all those you’ve lost. Transitioning from America to Japan was a headache to say the least. It took months for the right paperwork, explaining that you were not a child attempting to flee their parents, your belongings not getting lost.. But you finally made it.
Being fluent in Japanese, it wasn't too hard for you to eventually find a place to live, a place to work, and a place to continue your education.
Since the unfortunate death of your parents a year and a half ago, you’ve been on your own since. Their inheritance money was quite a heavy sum, considering their careers as two influential lawyers back in the states. You’ve been able to live off of it for rent, food supplies, and clothing for awhile now, and only recently started looking for a job for some form of social interaction.
Life was hard by yourself.
There were no breaks after you came home from school to study for the exams, it was straight to work until the moon rose. It was hard to cook for yourself, so take-out and pre-made meals were always the to go option if you even had time to eat them. But, you know you make it through this. You’ve already been through enough, the universe can’t get worse, right?
You’ve been in Tokyo for two months now, and believe that you finally have some sort of schedule planned for the upcoming days. Life is starting to become manageable, to say the least. You’re becoming used to the work hours, staying up and studying, and waking up early the next morning to do it all over. It’s not that you hated it, you just felt there was no purpose anyways.
No purpose, or meaning in your life.
It’s a week or so into autumn, and while most of the tree leaves are turning different shades and colors, a few of them are still green and full. The winds are picking up, and the hot and humid Japanese summers are once again saying goodbye. You are currently on your way to school, and being a third year student, this was going to be a really hard year for you.
It’s not been easy in school, in the social aspect. Being from America, you would often hear people behind your back making some sort of remark about you, either about the strange tones in your voice when you talk, or something similar. You’ve learned to ignore all of them, since you already know you stick out more than the average student. Maybe, it’s because you might be a bit more shut in than other people, but you’re not sure. People wouldn’t approach you first to talk, you would always have to be the one to initiate the conversation, when they rarely occurred. You were foreign, a mystery.
Looking down at your phone, you continued on the pathway to school. No new messages from any of the family back home, no calls, no emails. Nothing new at all.
The pitter patter of quickly approaching footsteps towards you, caused you to lift your head in curiosity, only to be met with the sight of a girl tripping over her own two feet and landing face first on the ground. Catching a quick glimpse of her, you’re able to make out the standard winter outfit for your academy, a white blouse with trims of green and red, along with a green skirt and long white socks. Atop her crown was a head of luscious raven hair that trailed down to the mid of her back, and below that, she had a yellow backpack. As she fell, her bag flew off her shoulder, and spilled all the contents within it.
You couldn’t just ignore her, especially since she was right beside you. You turned around, and offered her a hand as she started to collect herself together. The girl looked up at you, and you got a better look at her face. She had pale skin, flushed cheeks and eyes the color of dark coffee. She took your hand, before standing up and awkwardly dusting off the base of her skirt. “Thank you. I’m sorry, by the way.” Giving a quick bow, she knelt on her legs to pick up her belongings.
You nodded, before helping her pick her items up. It was typical school stuff, a pink notebook with cute stickers, some pens with some mascots face on them.. but, one thing did catch your eye. It was a small little glass vial, and inside were shards of what appeared to be some kind of crystal. You’ve heard of people carrying around geodes and other types of rocks for good luck, good fortune and all that, but for some reason, seeing it was a bit odd.
You reached for the vial, and picked it up. You took a better look at it, and moved the vial in your hand, the sun’s light reflecting off of it. They were a beautiful pale pink, vaguely translucent, and for some reason you felt drawn to them.
Something clicked inside of you. You’re not too sure what it is, but peering into the jewels sends your body into a state you’ve never felt before. You felt like you could take on the world, both physically and mentally. You felt some sort of power travel through your bloodstream. It was only a couple of seconds that you held the crystal, but you noticed the other girl finally tidying up her back. Looking fulfilled, she stood up, and turned around to offer another thanks for helping her retrieve her things, whenever she saw the fixated look in your eyes.
“Ah! I almost forgot those!” She panicked, and looked at you pleadingly. You snapped out of your daze, and once you were back in reality, you felt a shock of pain go through your arm. The once feeling of ecstasy was now nothing but a fleeting dream as what felt like burning hot fire traveled up your arm and into your body. It was brief, but there was a bright light that made you flinch. This caused you to drop the glass bottle, but luckily the girl was able to catch it right before it shattered.
“Are you okay?” She asked, grabbing ahold of your hand. Her fingers traced against your palm as her eyes stared right into yours. You looked down at your arm, yet it looked completely fine. Pulling up your sleeve, there were no bruises, nor cuts or burns.
“Those are some strange rocks..” You muttered while pulling at the sleeve of your arm, the pain still lingering slightly. “I’m fine, I think.”
The girl looked concerned, but it almost felt like for a whole nother reason than your arm.
“Well, I’ll get going.” You said, beginning to walk away. After taking a few steps, the girl called out to you once more. “I’m Kagome Higurashi, by the way. Who are you?”
You think you’ve heard that name before. The way she’s dressed makes you believe that she's a fellow third year student like you, but you can’t really put an image to her face. She looked like every other ordinary girl in school, just walking with their head low and keeping their grades high.
“Well, I’m…” You gave her your name, and something seemed to have clicked in her head.
“The new student from overseas. It’s nice to meet you.” Kagome reached into her bag once again and put the vial into it, before once again looking towards you. You weren’t sure what was wrong, everything seemed fine, but a voice in your head told you there was something more going on. Why was she so interested in you? Maybe you’re just overreacting, you literally just helped her and she just asked you her name. Maybe, it was new to have someone go out of their way to talk to you first. “Wanna walk together?”
You took her up on her offer, and the two of you made your way up the large stairs into the building, before you were going to split off. But, you both ended up walking to the same classroom. You don’t recall seeing her in there though, right?
“Oh, you’re in here too?” Kagome looked a bit surprised.
How did she never notice you? You stuck out like a sore thumb. “Yeah, for a month or two actually…”
Then everything suddenly came into place, as she took a seat in the desk beside you. The desk that was left vacant the entire time you’ve been here. It belonged to a student who, according to all the rumors, was very sickly. What was it? Hay fever? Bunions? Bird smallpox? Something along those lines.. Actually, you think it was all three.
“Wait.. you’re the girl with the bunion problem right?” You asked, your fist slamming into your open palm after recognizing her name.
“Eh!” She gave the most deadpanned look you think you’ve ever seen, before shaking her head. “Yeah.. that’s me.” She sighed, putting her bag on the back of her seat.
She didn’t look sickly at all. In America, it wasn’t unheard of for people to play hooky for a few days and say they were sick, but you didn’t think this girl had it in her to do it. She looked like a goody two shoes, for pete’s sake. Maybe she was sick.
Class soon started, and ended just like that. During which, you noticed that Kagome was a really intense learner, at least more than everyone around you. She wrote down every single word, and was flipping between multiple notebooks at a time. You guess that missing two months of school just wasn’t enough for her to give up already. Normally, you would keep to yourself, you learned that that was how a lot of the people were in this place. Instead, since it seemed Kagome was actually showing some sort of interest in you, you decided this once, you’ll try and talk to her.
Class was over, and the bell rang that was signalling lunch. Kagome pulled out a cute little box with a bunch of goodies in it, and was going to eat soon. You tapped her desk lightly, still sitting in yours. “Hey uh.. Do you need notes for everything you missed the last few weeks? I have most of the stuff written down.”
“Oh, really? I’ve been getting a lot of them from my friends, but sometimes they just don’t pay attention.” She leered over her shoulder at her three noisy friends, Eri, Ayumi and Yuka. “Can I take you up on that offer?”
You realized them as three of the most gossip-heavy students in the class, and ones that you just know you’d have a hard time getting along with.
“Of course.” You gave a small smile. It wouldn’t hurt to be a little nice, besides, Kagome seemed rather cute.
You two made small talk for the rest of lunch, and then the rest of the day carried on as normal.
Soon the final bell chimed inside the classroom, and everyone began to pack their things for the end of the day.
This morning was the first day in a while that Kagome was heading to school. Between staying home and playing hero in feudal Japan, and having to stay up some nights studying by the campfires, it was really beginning to take a toll on her body. Why couldn’t her grandfather have just said she had something normal? Something that would let her seem fatigued? Then it would have been perfect.. She sighed. Her head was not there today. Recently having put a little girl’s spirit to rest after her death, and having to defeat a cursed mask that her grandpa awoke, she realized that the modern day world might be just as bad as the feudal times. She wasn’t all there today, and ended up tripping on her own two feet and loosing her stuff.
She let out an aggravated sigh, before noticing the hand of a passing stranger helping her up. It was clear she had never met the girl before, because if she did, she would have remembered that face. There was something about it, something foreign, something different, something that she liked. Examining you, she took notice of your luscious hair, beautiful eye color and the concerned look in your eye. Kagome bowed and offered thanks, before getting on her knees once again and scooping her stuff in her bag.
‘Notebooks.. Check, pencils.. Check, shikon jewel.. Shik- where are they!’ She thought, spinning her head around looking for the jewel shards. It was then she picked up her bag and noticed that you had them in your hand, looking at them as if in some sort of hypnotic trance. Kagome felt her heart speed up, but called out to you, making you come back to this world.
You reached them over to her, but as soon as her hand reached out to take them back, there was a bright flash of a light, one that she had seen before.
No one that walked around them stopped to look, or wondered about the strange light. None of them saw it, or had connections to the past like she did. You shook your head, too busy with the jolt of pain in your arm to not notice that nobody else seemed to pay attention to you, or anything that just happened. This shouldn’t have happened, and Kagome knew that. It was quick, but she was able to reach the vial before it shattered into even more pieces.
“Are you okay?” She asked, seemingly concerned not just about you, but the jewel shards. That strange, bright light, what was it? It was almost as if she was supposed to absorb the shards, but didn’t.
“Those are some strange rocks... “ You spoke quietly to yourself, rubbing your hand against your chest. You rolled up your long sleeve, and examined your arm. There was nothing on it, nor could Kagome see any sort of light that emitted from the jewel when it was inside of someone. You didn’t absorb any of them then. “I’m fine, I think.”
Her eyes still focused on you, she gave a gentle smile before putting the jewel in her bag, this time, in a side pocket to make sure it doesn’t fall out.
‘Who is she?’ She thought to herself.
“Well, I’ll get going.” You turned around, and started walking towards school. “Wait!” Kagome called out, causing you to look over your shoulder. “I’m Kagome Higurashi, by the way. Who are you?”
After you gave her your name, it seemed to have clicked in her head. She must have been the new student that her friends were talking about sometimes. The strange one who never talked to anyone. Strange though, she was talking to her. Kagome and you went to school soon after, exchanging minimal conversation, something else clearly on both of your minds the whole time.
Kagome thought to herself the whole walk, about the strange interaction between you and the jewel. How could you have seen the light, and why were you so fixated on it? It wasn’t as if you were a demon, longing and hungry for the gem, but the look in your eyes was that more of a child seeing it for the first time. Could you have perhaps felt the power? She couldn’t be too careful, and decided that maybe it would be a good idea to keep you around for a bit. Lucky for her, halfway through the day you offered her your notebook to catch up in class. She accepted the offer, and while she actually needed the notes, she would end up getting them from the other three. It would be a good chance to get to know her too.
That night was the first time you had a nightmare about something slightly different.
You went to work as usual, as a clerk at a supermarket in downtown Tokyo. The night itself was pretty normal, a few angry customers complaining about prices, a sweet old woman who would compliment your cute hair style, kids running up and down the aisles giving you a headache.. everything was as it normally was. It was closing time, and being the only one in the store, it was your job to shut the doors and lock everything up. The final customer had just left, and taking this opportunity to close the doors before someone else walked in past closing, you basically leapt over the counter and slammed the door shut, letting out a sigh of exhaustion. You shut out the lights, and exited through the back door, making your way to the bicycle you had chained up out back.
You made your way home through the lively Tokyo night streets, passing past a few crowds of drunken people, a street performer, and many other sites similar to the big cities back home. One you arrived at your apartment and changed out of your work clothes, you threw yourself on the couch in exhaustion. You were mentally exhausted today, and your body was drained. Your arm was still sore since this morning, like the day after a shot from the doctor.
Thinking back on it now, it was strange. Maybe those dumb crystals were to ward off evil or something and it picked up your bad luck. What was with that light anyway? What the hell happened? Did Kagome feel the pain that you did before, or were you just overreacting? You must be. It was probably just a cramp from moving the wrong way, or sleeping on the wrong side last night.
Turning to your side, you faced the tv that was playing across the room. It was playing some sort of old, black and white english horror movie with Japanese subtitles. Well, it was super late, and that is usually when the more adult stuff starts coming on tv. You tried to reach for the remote, but being too lazy to get up, you let out a sigh and admitted defeat to the piece of plastic. You watched the movie for a bit, but soon felt nothing as your body drifted off into a slumber from your long day.
You have been getting nightmares since the day your family was forced to leave you, or since the day you couldn’t have died like the others. You should have. You would see yourself standing on the side of a road in the city, standing on a sidewalk right outside an intersection with heavy traffic. The stop lights were flashing yellow, and all the cars were moving disorderly, and fast. It was only a matter of time before someone got hurt. Darkness loomed over the city, creating a thick black fog that limited your vision, yet the light of the moon was the only source strong enough to even try to break it. You tried to move your feet, like any other night, but to no avail, your body did not listen. You watched the cars weave in and out of each other's paths, and soon saw your parent’s car pulling up to the light. You see them come to the stop light, eyes forward on the road, yet you could hear a small conversation happening in the car, yet couldn’t make it out. They were no doubt angry, absolutely livid at the fact that you took off and ran out of the house in the middle of the night again. They’ve probably come looking for you to give you another scolding about school, or maybe tell you it’s time to move again. You were tired of it, you needed a break, so you ran away, a guilt you still hold to this day.
Seeing a chance to go, they continued down the road and straight through the intersection, and your head followed as their car moved.
You blinked, and now you were in the back seat of the car, but your parents didn’t seem to notice you. You’d cry out for them, trying to get them to hear your pleas, but your voice didn’t make a sound. You sit, and wait for the inevitable to finally happen, again and again every night. Their headlights pierce the darkness down the road, as you wait for the car to come barreling towards them.
Once again, you blinked. You were no longer in the back seat, but standing on the side of the road once again, ahead of your parents. From the other end of the street, you can see a rusty red automobile suddenly coming down the wrong lane of the road. You try to scream out for your parents safety, to try and get them to move out of the way, but it was too late.
You saw the look of pure terror on your mom’s face as her eyes began to glow from their assailant’s headlights, and your father attempted to hurry and swerve out of the way. The loud explosion of the automobiles making contact burst your eardrums, and the smell of smoke and fire filled your nostrils. It all happened so fast. You can’t make out the body of your parent’s as they lay in the car, presumably dead, nor can you see the body of your attacker.
Funny how you can vividly have the same nightmare that feels like every night, when you weren’t even there to see the crash. No, you were hiding in an alleyway sobbing just outside your house. You never even saw the crash happen. Yet, why does it plague you so?
You can feel your body growing heavy, and your legs crumble beneath you. You fall on your knees, and start to wail uncontrollably. It was your fault, you shouldn’t have run away. This is where the dream normally ends, fading to black, and waking up screaming, crying, or maybe even just quiet sobs. It doesn’t end this time though.
You continue to stare at the fire. No one comes to help from down the road, and all the houses around you are pitch black with no lighting. There was nothing but the pain and suffering of your loss, until you heard the movement of creaking metal in the infero. First, it was just the sound of something scratching on metal, but you soon saw the car that hit them move slightly, as if someone was trying to open the door. With tear stained eyes, you could do nothing but wonder who would come out, and if they were coming for you next. Louder this time, something slammed against the door of the car, as if someone was throwing themselves at the door. The whole automobile shook slightly, but no voice came from it begging for help. One final time, there was a loud banging noise. The door was blown off the side of the car, all dented, and half melted away by what you thought was the fire.
Stepping outside the car, was what you could only make out as a translucent figure, as it began to walk towards you through the hellfire. It came closer and closer, taking one step at a time very slowly, and as it did, you saw the form of a demon behind the fire. You couldn’t see the entirety of him, but the one defining feature about him was his face.
It was a mask, unmoving, looking down upon you. It was a white mask, in the shape of an ox’s head, with two large golden horns sticking out at the top. There was a faint line of red paint going along the tips of his eyes, and down the nostrils of his nose. There was some sort of red, shaggy hair that grew from the sides of the mask, with strands of gold woven into it. You couldn’t tell if it was a part of the mask or not, but whoever this was, had the craziest hair you have seen. It was long, trailing down to the back of his knees, fluffy as can be and sticking out in every direction like a mad man. It was also a silvery, white color. While you couldn’t see the person’s eyes, you could feel his stare ripping into the insides of your soul.
Suddenly, the sense of loss and dread you felt before, was replaced by something even more foul. You felt a blanket of overwhelming dread fall atop your shoulders as a deep, echoing voice danced around the inside of your head. The figure dared not open his mouth, but you heard only one word.
Satsuka.
You woke up instantly after that with a loud inhale of air. You sat up, and looked around the dark room out of fear for the figure you just saw in your dreams. Your heart was beating wildly in your chest, and your breathing was fast paced. Who was that? Was it the devil? With a bunch of thoughts running through your head, you didn’t notice the time until a few seconds later. Only a few minutes have passed since you got home, you weren’t even asleep for ten minutes.
Sighing, and bringing yourself to sit up, you managed to make it back to your bedroom before you collapsed again. Sleep would not come easy tonight.