| The gem like object was glowing a radiant red. There was small warmth emitting from the gem like object. I blanked out... "Kiko, Kiko! KIKO!!" "Wu...uh?" "Kiko, are you dead?� My little sister said as her head loomed above me. "Where... am I?" "Are you dead?" "What!? No!" I yelled. I heard a voice in the distance, "Saiyuki-chan! Where are you Saiyuki-chan?!" "Mother, MOTHER!!" my sister waved to mother signaling where she was. "Oh dear, Kiko-san, where were you? You missed the festival." My mother worryingly questioned. "I found her sleeping here mother." my sister said proudly. "It's those classes at that dojo." My father said clearly aiming at trying to get me to quit. "I just passed out father." I snapped back wearyingly. We headed back to our home. When I got back, I requested to be alone for a while. I looked at the gem like object in my hand. It was no longer warm and no longer glowed. I felt a small aching in my foot. I saw a demon symbol on it. I... I was bleeding. I went to wipe the blood from my leg... it burned. I whimpered as the tip of my finger felt as if it was on fire. "Kiko-san, come have some tea with me." My mom requested. I opened the sliding door and sat down on the tatami floor. My mother had a fearful face and a firm grip on her cup. "Why were you asleep in the middle of the road Kiko-san?" "..." �It�s okay, I know that you don't want to..." "I found a stone." "..." "A gem like object... I froze, and then, passed out...I guess." "..." "Do you think it could be the work of a....demon?" "I guess...Probably just a small mischievous demon kitsune." I finished my tea and walked outside. The Cherry Blossom festival would continue tomorrow and it was dusk outside now. I gazed at the sinking sun's vivid colors of orange and the sky lit up with violet and pink. Clouds of a dark gray started to move in and cut of the sunset. I started to head inside when I heard an echo... It was Kuma! "Help....HELP!" He cried in despair. "Oh....that jerk is trying to trick me!" I assured my self. "AGGHHH....my leg!!!" he cried. "What's the matter Kiko-san?" questioned my sister. "Saiyuki-chun... can't you hear Kuma screaming?" "No.....you're scaring me Kiko-san." With those words, I knew something was wrong... *Tatami mat--straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home. |
| The Eyes of the Creator: Orb of Darkness Part 1 Issue 2 |