#yoh/kagome

[theamazingsakuma-chan]

Chapter 1: The Boy Who Dances with Ghosts And the Girl Who Believed

Prologue

This is the story of Higurashi Kagome.

Kagome was an ordinary girl, or so she claimed.

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, and 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.

Ever since she was small, she hated when people told her how special and different she was—how unlike the other children she was.

Perhaps it was because she did not want to believe that she was different.

Perhaps it was because she did not want to be looked at so strangely by the people around her.

Kagome did not believe in the supernatural, demons, spirits, or even the gods who she was supposed to serve.

She liked cute things. She loved shopping. She enjoyed giggling and gossiping with her friends.

And she dreamed of a beautiful marriage to a handsome prince...

At least—that's the person who the girl wants to be, and that's what she wants to believe...

There had always been a small inkling that she felt. There were times that her six sensed picked up on things that others could not perceive.

As she grew older, the inkling became strong vibes that called out to her.

Her friends, her classmates...they thought of her as an oddity.

On her thirteenth birthday, she abandoned her family shrine and fled all of the shadows looming over her shoulder.

From a shrine on the outskirts of Tokyo to a small house in a quiet neighborhood in the inner-city, Kagome moved. Although she was only thirteen years old, she was now living alone. Tomorrow would be a fresh start—the beginning of her new life.

The lone girl focused a stare down at her shopping list. Her blue eyes read over the contents before a small smile graced her lips. She nodded to herself before tucking the paper into her pocket.

She would change her life, starting with her first day at Shinra Private Academy.

As her mother had suggested, the girl spent a week exploring the area and acclimating to her new life alone.

Despite the week that she used to get to know the neighborhood, Tokyo was still a big place for a small person.

So oftentimes when she went out for errands or out of boredom, the girl ended up getting lost for hours on end.

It was today, Sunday, that Kagome decided to do something a bit more exciting—something that her family would not approve of. She was going to go out and do her shopping late in the day. So by the time that she finished, it would be well after dark. As a young teen, being out alone at night was one of the most exciting things to do after all!

The shopping went without a hitch.

But it was navigating the foreign territory under the curtain of nightfall that proved to be a challenge.

Blue eyes blinked as she spotted a tall hill in the distance.

'Maybe I can spot my house from there...' that thought alone urged Kagome forward and into the cemetery.

Unbeknownst to the girl, she would soon be living the life that she tried to escape...

 Chapter 1:

The Boy Who Dances with Ghosts

And the Girl Who Believed

The traditional chime of the dismissal school bell was like music to the student body's ears. They were finally relieved of their scholarly studies and free to go home, fool around, and other typical teenage endeavors. Once the tune quieted down, a teacher closed her special teacher's edition textbook and announced to the young faces before her, "That will be all for today, class." The sight of her smile and the sound of her reminder to study hard and get home safely went on blind eyes and deaf ears.

Some students eagerly gathered their belongings and began stuffing them into backpacks that were already bursting at the seams. Others momentarily stopped to stretch their aching limbs before scurrying out of class into the busy hallways. As with most cram schools, night had already fallen after classes had ended. As friends and acquaintances went their separate ways, shouts of "Take care!" and "See you tomorrow!" filled the air.

This particular evening a rather small boy, thirteen years of age, hurried across the street on his way home. It was still difficult to carry a bag that was almost as big as his body but Manta still managed to make it to and from school and tutoring every day. Stopping in front of the entrance to an old cemetery, Manta paused as he glanced up at luminous orb in the sky.

The moon—it seemed so close and within reach.

It was as if he could run up that nearby hill and be close enough to lay his hand on the moon and caress its rocky surface…

He shook those absurd thoughts out of his head.

Something like that was not possible.

He had to focus on reality—. Looking down at his wristwatch, Manta shrieked in panic, "It's this late already?!" Anxiety washed over him when he realized that there was no way that he would be able to make the last train home! He scowled as he looked at the black iron gate of the cemetery next to him.

He had no choice. This was the only shortcut that he could take to make it in time.

Manta entered the quiet land through the gates that eerily creaked open with a reluctant push from his shaky hands. The cemetery was as grassy as any other one. Tombstones of all shapes and sizes protruded from the green-covered earth and gray cement stairs led upward to grassy hills where thousands were buried. There was also a small shrine for any mourners to pray for their dearly departed.

Being the meek and studious type, Manta was not one to normally in a place like this one...or think such nonsensical thoughts.

'When I realized I was just standing there…

Somehow I felt…

That there was someone calling me'

Was he creating make-believe thoughts about some supernatural influence on his detour home? He could not help but laugh at himself as he hurried up the hill. Manta's jog and self-brought laughter were soon interrupted by a content sigh followed by an unfamiliar voice, "The stars are so pretty…" it stated in a tone so calm and content. It was as if the speaker's life had already been fulfilled although the voice sounded young.

"Stars…?" Manta questioned, blinking as he slowly turned his gaze to the dark blue heavens. His brown eyes lit up in wonder. It was if God poured a handful of glitter on the midnight blue sky. The sparkles and twinkles of the stellar lights were breath-taking. This was the moment that the boy had truly noticed the celestial glory for the first time. Never before had Manta appreciated the stars until that moment. "You are SO right!" he agreed absentmindedly before a thought clicked in his head...

...who on Earth was he talking to anyway?

A chill ran up his spine. "Who are you anyway?" The small boy asked as he literally shook in his shoes. He looked across the way and saw the source of the stranger's voice. Someone was sprawled out on the grass beneath a lone tree atop of the hill.

"Did you come to watch the stars too?" A brown-haired boy asked as he slowly stood up. "Come on over," he continued, walking in Manta's direction. Although he appeared friendly enough, anyone who sat alone in a creepy place like this could not be normal, or at least sane for that matter. "We can watch them with everyone." The stranger lifted his head, allowing the light of the moon to illuminate his tanned, smiling face.

"N-Nah…" Manta declined nervously, inching away slowly. "It's getting pretty late." He certainly did not want to offend the stranger, and it was a legitimate excuse. He then scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepily while pointing out, "Besides, you can't say everyone since it's only the two of us here."

"Oh no. I can say everyone." the brown-haired boy insisted, unintentionally sounding eerie.

"Huh?" Was the only word that could escape Manta's mouth. He looked left and right. There was no one else in sight.

"The spirits—" the smiling boy began while aiming a thumb over his shoulder, "—are here too~." On cue, the boy's incorporeal companions made their presences known to Manta. Their wide, friendly grins not only disturbed Manta but also a certain, lost girl who happened to wander onto the scene. Both stood there for a moment, frozen, their feet took root into the ground.

"Eh—," the girl’s voice hitched. 'This boy must be a—.'

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Manta added as he high-tailed it away from the scene. He sped past the shocked girl along the way.

The boy who mingled with the spirits then turned his welcoming grin towards the girl, blinking when she stiffened and ducked behind a tree.

She crawled away on her hands and knees, leaving the other teen scowling at her reaction.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

That night was filled with restless sleep for Kagome.

The shock of earlier followed her into her dreams.

["The spirits...are here too."]

Images of the scene played in her mind as she tossed and turned in her bed.

Kagome panted and gasped for air, clutching at her chest.

'No way... Not now... Not ever... I don't believe...'

The weight of her haunting reality had followed her to Tokyo and into unconsciousness.

The girl shook her head and bit down on her lower lip.

["The spirits...are here too."]

Kagome stopped running and fell to her knees. She squeezed her eyes shut as she slapped her hands over her ears.

It did not matter how fast or how far she ran. She could not escape that voice.

["The spirits... are here too."]

All she could do was deny what had happened, again.

If she did not acknowledge it, it did not exist to her, right?

'I didn't see them. I never have and never will.'

["The spirits... are here too."]

'I didn't feel them. I don't feel anything... I never did.'

Kagome would not believe it.

She refused to...

She was a normal girl...Higurashi Kagome.

Higurashi Kagome was a normal girl...

Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!Beep!

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

"GHOSTS?!" came the collective cry of Manta's middle schoolmates.

"Yeah! I saw them on my way home from cram school!" Manta confirmed. "There was this weird boy at Crow Cemetery. Then suddenly, all these ghosts appeared! The place was loaded with them!" He explained before shivering as his mind replaying the scene," It was so scary…"

"Manta… I think you're going a little dead in the head," one student told him nonchalantly.

"What?!" Manta shouted defensively, "You think I'm crazy?! I saw the ghosts with my very own eyes!"

"Oh, come on, Manta," another classmate cut in with an exasperated sigh. "Stop making up stories."

Manta faltered, hurt that they did not believe him. "I-I'm not making it up!" He insisted with a deep scowl.

"You're seriously not trying to scare us?" A boy asked with raising a suspicious eyebrow.

A bubbly girl who had eavesdropped on the conversation speculated, "Maybe he's been reading too many horror stories." She then giggled him and smiled down at him, "But do continue Manta, I like scary stories!"

"I'm not lying!" Manta shouted with all of his might, finally fed up with them not believing him.

The group of classmates stared at the usually reserved boy with surprised expressions. It was unlike him to have outbursts like this one. After a moment of silence, they all exchanged looks with each other.

"Yup, he's gone nuts," the girl stated nonchalantly.

An angry vein ticked on Manta's forehead as he shouted again, "I'M NOT CRAZY OR LYING! THERE WERE REALLY GHOSTS!"

"You're probably just studying too hard. You need some rest."

"Or maybe…" A playful boy whispered eerily. "He's being haunted," he added with a grin. Manta's other classmates shared a laugh with the jokester.

The boy tightened his tiny hands into balls. His fists began to shake in silent anger. Not only was he angry, but Manta also felt frustrated and humiliated. He was not the type to play pranks. So why did no one believe him?! "But it's the truth!" He insisted once again.

"I want to believe you, Manta," the girl explained. "But there's just no proof that your story is true at all."

"…Proof…?" Manta asked in a low tone as he bowed his head. The word flashed him back to that night… Up to the moment when the ghosts appeared. There had been a girl there too… "That's right!" he exclaimed, remembering the girl who had screamed her head.

"Eh? What is it?"

"I have a witness! Other than the weird kid, there was a girl too!" Manta told them excitedly. His almost defeated spirit had been renewed at the thought.

"A girl, really? What did she do? Did she see the ghosts too?"

"Yeah, she did! I can tell because she screamed and ran away too!" The blond teen explained.

"But still… We don't know this girl… So for all we know, you could be making that part up too."

"None of my story is made up!"

Finally, their teacher entered the room and glared at his students that were behaving so casually in school. "Everyone, get in your seats. Homeroom is starting." Manta cursed silently, feeling agitated that his classmates did not believe him. Still, he was a model student so he resigned himself to his seat...

Manta's eye twitched when he saw the boy from the previous night casually saunter into the room behind the teacher. The shocked boy could not help his reaction. He screamed while jumping out of his seat and pointing an accusing finger at the other boy. Manta's sudden outburst startled the students sitting around him, but did not seem to faze the source of his shock and ire.

The instructor quirked an eyebrow while questioning, "Do you two know each other?"

"Uh…" Manta replied lamely as his cheeks lit up. He did not know the boy's name or anything about him. There was no way to answer the question without embarrassing himself. "Um, no…" Manta stated in a lower voice. His head lowered in shame as a few classmates chuckled at his expense. His entire face was feeling unusually hot. At this point, he could not tell if he was blushing from embarrassment or flushing from anger...

"Then hurry up and sit down."

"Okay…" Manta whispered obediently before complying with the command.

The teacher slowly introduced the new student as Asakura Yoh. Yoh stared almost blankly at the class as the teacher explained a few things about him. All the while, Manta glared at Yoh and thought about everything that had happened. From their encounter last night, to how his classmates did not believe him, a lot of things were on his mind. But on the bright side, now he had proof! Suddenly in the middle of the short introduction, the door slid open and in stepped a girl...

"And it's you TOO!" Manta yelled, jumping up in his seat once again.

The girl blinked before sending him a puzzled expression. It was if she did not recognize him at all.

"Another interruption, Oyamada?" the teacher asked in an annoyed tone.

"Eh?! Err—!" He paused as he was snapped back to his normal self "...I'm very sorry, Sensei," Manta mumbled before sinking into his head.

The girl then bowed deeply before straightening up. "Please pardon me, Sensei, " she stated in a polite tone. "I got lost on my way to school..." She then smiled sheepishly while scratching a slightly pink cheek, " Then I got lost again on my way to class."

The teacher uncharacteristically smiled at the girl, instantly taken in by her charming demeanor. He waved his hand dismissively before announcing to the class, "This young lady is also a new student here. She recently moved from the suburbs. Please welcome: Higurashi Kagome."

Kagome smiled brightly at her new classmates and waved. "Let's get along, okay?" she asked of the class. She looked at her cohorts a smile, which was a stark contrast to Yoh's stoic and apathetic expression.

One transfer student was an amicable girl who seemed ready and willing to make new friends.

While the other was a standoffish boy who did not bother to greet the class at all.

Manta could not believe his luck—or was this some sort of crazy coincidence?

Did situations like this one really happen in real life?

"T-That's the girl too…" He whispered shakily to a classmate sitting directly to his right.

"Is she really? She doesn't seem afraid of the boy like you were," was the response that he received.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

It was their lunch period. Manta had waited for this moment for hours. He could finally have the boy tell the others that he was not crazy, sleep-deprived, or a liar. The ghosts were real! And he could have the girl tell them too! The others would have no choice but to believe him with the two new students corroborating his story!

Manta glanced at Kagome, who was napping at the back of the classroom with her head resting on her folded arms. "I better not bother her," he stated to himself. He would just have to settle on Yoh for now.

With a newfound determination and anticipation, he walked across the classroom to the second row to the front so that he stood on the right side of Yoh's desk. The brunette wore a small, content smile as he listened to the music blasting from his orange headphones. With his closed eyes and peaceful smile, the boy appeared to be in his own world.

"Hey," Manta greeted.

Yoh did not respond. He was too preoccupied with his music.

"Hey!" The blond raised his voice a bit.

But it was for naught. It had been a long, frustrating day so he could not help the growl that rumbled in his throat.

"HEY!" Manta's voice finally reached past the headphones and Yoh opened his eyes.

"Huh?" Yoh blinked and looked down at Manta curiously. On cue, Manta's associates surrounded the two of them. They wanted to find out the truth for themselves so they could just drop the topic.

"We met each other last night at the cemetery, didn't we?" Manta asked of him.

Yoh only stared quietly...

"You were hanging out with those ghosts, weren't you?" The agitated boy pressed on. He knew the truth, but he needed answers to clear his name!

Yoh stared at Manta silently for a few moments before asking, " …who are you…?"

"W-WHAT THE—?!" Manta sputtered in shock and outrage. How could this person do this to him?!

"I knew you were sleep-deprived, Manta," the normally giggly girl stated in a deadpanned tone.

"So that's why you're haunted," another friend teased again.

Cue more laughter and teasing at Manta's expense...

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

'I'll prove that my story is true, for sure,' Manta thought spiritedly while side glaring at Yoh who was staring off into space. 'Even if I have to—Ah…?' His train of thought was cut off when a small folded slip of paper was discreetly passed onto his desk. Manta looked around the room and saw no one staring at him or looking his way to signify that they wrote the note. He unfolded it until it was completely open. It read:

"I believe your story about the ghosts and Asakura from last night

"Meet me after school and we can talk about it (if you want)

See ya later,

-Higurashi”

Manta was tempted to show the note to the classmates that did not believe him. But he refrained from acting impulsively this time. Nothing good would come of it. Higurashi Kagome would most likely hate him for it, and they would both end up embarrassed. He would meet her after school... And maybe they would both expose Asakura! 'Yes...!' Manta grinned at the thought. Things were finally looking up for him!

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

"I see," Kagome stated, tapping her chin with the tip of her finger. "So no one believed you?" Manta nodded in response. "But I guess that is kind of normal. Most people don't believe in ghosts, you know." She could not blame them either. She accidentally slept in because of the haunting dream that she had last night...

Manta nodded again and replied as his hands began tight fists, " I know! So that's why we have to work together to prove my story is true!" In his excitement, he did notice how Kagome looked genuinely surprised at his conviction. "So, you're going to help me out, aren't you?" He looked up at his new classmate with hopeful and determined eyes.

'He...wants to pursue a matter like this...?'

The girl looked at her new classmate's face. His eyes were burning with passion.

This was something that he truly cared about...

Kagome then nodded and smiled sweetly," Sure!"

Moments later, her smile transformed into an unsure frown that was almost a pout.

"What's wrong?" asked the short boy.

"Nothing, but…" Kagome slowly peered around a telephone pole and peeked at Yoh, who was standing at bridge watching the serenity of the river. "Don't you think this is a little extreme?" She asked.

Manta peeked around the pole to glance at Yoh too.

Kagome sweatdropped as she looked down at Manta. This was getting weird...but she would settle for weird as long as she made new friends.

"Why are we spying on Asakura anyway?" She questioned in a tone that was half curious, half incredulous.

"Because we want proof!"

"I understand that part, but isn't this considered… Stalking?" Kagome asked skeptically.

"…Eh heh," Manta sweatdropped as well while letting out an embarrassed chuckle. He did not expect to be called out so bluntly. "Let's just call it a private investigation," He proposed.

"If you say so…" Kagome sighed softly as the duo continued to watch Yoh watch the river...

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Three hours later, Yoh was still minding his own business, watching the river with not a care in the world. The brunette seemed lost in thought as he leaned against the guard rail with his propped up elbow supporting his cheek.

From his hiding place behind the telephone pole, Manta gritted his teeth together in frustration. "How long does he plan to just stand there like that?!" He was red-faced and seething.

Kagome sighed for the umpteenth time that day. After the first uneventful half hour, she had already given up on watching Yoh and decided to leave that part to Manta. The girl settled for sitting on the pavement next to him, not caring about dirtying her green, pleated skirt. "I don't know but I'm getting bored with this…" She admitted, almost huffing with her confession. "Maybe he—."

"Ah?" both witnesses blinked as Yoh suddenly stretched and yawned aloud.

"Is he finally doing something?" they asked in unison, both now standing and watching the strange boy.

The brunette sighed in contentment as he offered the river a satisfied smile, "Ahhhh~! It's good to be so in touch with nature!"

Manta angrily jumped out from his hiding place and pointed a shaky finger at Yoh. "What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Huh?" Yoh turned around, only to see nothing.

Kagome had pulled her comrade back into hiding at the very last second. She held the small boy between her legs as she waited for Yoh to look away again.

The calmer then Manta pulled Kagome's hand from over his mouth and sighed in relief that Kagome bailed him out. He then got up and looked back at Yoh to find that—. "He's gone! We lost him!" The blond cried out.

"Really?" Kagome inquired as she moved from the hiding space and looked around. There truly was no trace of the boy anywhere. "How did Asakura just disappear like that…?" She wondered aloud.

This situation was becoming more and more strange.

"What the hell?!" Manta screamed while tugging at his hair. He was at his wit's end! How could this happen?!

Kagome's eyes suddenly hardened in determination as she balled up her hands. "Oyamada-kun! We can't give up just yet! We can do it if we put to our minds to it, right?" she asked, offering Manta an encouraging smile. The small boy stared up at the girl's face for a moment before nodding in agreement and making a fist of his own.

"Yeah!" Was his simple but energetic response. She was right. They just had to be more diligent!

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Manta smirked as he held a flashlight below his face and turned it on with a click. Kagome laughed and joked, "Your face is scary like that!" The duo shared a short, light-hearted laugh before putting on their serious faces.

"We'll stick around here for a while until we meet up with him," Manta stated. The young sleuths were hiding behind the miniature shrine in the Crow Cemetery. He pulled out a camera and explained his plan to Kagome, "and with this instant camera, I can snap a picture of him when he's with the ghosts!"

'I wonder…' Kagome silently thought as Manta chuckled at his master plan. 'Will a ghost even show up on camera? And more importantly, this little guy is stranger than I thought.' She sweatdropped when her partner began rubbing his hands together like a criminal mastermind.

Suddenly their chatter and chuckles were interrupted by a group of voices approaching them.

"What did you say?" a deep, masculine voice hissed out. The owner of the voice did not sound too happy about some news.

Manta and Kagome stiffened as they peered around the shrine and spotted a tall, older teen with a distantly long pompadour and a white suit. 'Uh, people really still wear pompadours?’ Kagome thought while sweatdropping at the prospect that another weirdo entered the scene.

The young man was surrounded by a crowd of lackeys and was angrily discussing rumors of a boy who hung around in "their territory".

"Crap," Manta whispered. He looked up at Kagome with fearful eyes and informed her," That's Ryu of the Wooden Sword. He and his gang are notorious for beating up anyone who comes onto anything that they consider their territory."

"And it sounds like they're talking about Asakura," Kagome added with a concerned. She knew nothing about the guy, but no one deserved to be hurt over something so petty and trivial. She looked down at Manta but he was too scared and engrossed in the conversation to care.

Ryu huffed and kicked over a tombstone to show his dismay and display his strength. He looked annoyed when gang members did not admire his power, but gasped in fear, staring at the damages with wide eyes and dropped jaws. "T-That was the tombstone of Amidamaru, t-t-t-the demon samurai from six-hundred years ago!" Despite the warnings from his comrades, Ryu was not bothered in the slightest. He was too busy caught up in his machismo. With a single downward swing on his wooden sword, Ryu sliced through the stone and left it in pieces.

Both spies watched and listened to Ryu and his gang's conversation about the curse of Amidamaru. Kagome frowned when Ryu broke the tombstone in half with his wooden sword. "If he can do that to stone with only a wooden sword, think of what he can do to us if we get caught," Kagome said in a grave tone.

Manta shivered and looked at Kagome. "L-let's just go home for tonight." He slowly backed away and froze when his foot knocked over a tin can. The sound of it falling and rolling to the ground seemed as loud as the school bell. It was as if the can wanted them to get caught spying on Ryu and his gang.

"Eh?" Ryu asked as he circled around the mini shrine and spotted the younger teens, "Who the hell are you two?"

Manta smiled nervously and innocently, "We're nobody. We were just passing through." He raised up his hands to show he was unarmed and harmless.

Kagome nodded as she followed Manta's example and put her hands up, "Yeah! We're just innocent passersby!"

"Um, uh… Honestly!" Manta added with a nervous smile.

"Little man, you're the kid, aren't you?!" Ryu asked while looking at Manta, "The kid that trespasses in this area?"

"Of course not! What are you talking about?" asked Manta, still frozen. His legs glued to the ground.

Ryu and his gang shared deviously grins with each other before taking deliberately slow steps forward.

"Leave him alone, you creeps!" Kagome then stepped between the gang and her new classmate. She knew where this was going and she would not tolerate it! The girl glared them down while spreading her arms out wide protectively. "If you want to hurt my friend, then you'll have to get through me!" Manta's eyes widened at her choice of words.

"And what's this?" Ryu squinted, "A girl?"

A cloud that covered the moon drifted away in that instant, allowing the light to shine down on the scene. Ryu felt his heart his accelerate when he finally could make out the girl's features: a sweet with big blue eyes, long dark hair, and a rather generous body for someone her age! "Eh—" Kagome's eye twitched. "What's with this guy?" She deadpanned while looking to the rest of his gang for questions as their leader's eyes began pulsing, pink eyes.

They merely looked shocked or embarrassed as Ryu dropped his sword and dashed over to Kagome. He collected the girl's hands into his own while staring down at her, completely lovestruck, "Miss, you're absolutely gorgeous! You should run away with me, and together, we can find our best place!"

Kagome sweatdropped and forced a twitching smile at the proposal, "I have no clue what you're talking about." She then looked over her shoulder at Manta and tried to communicate a message of 'Run away while he's distracted!' with her eyes. The blond blinked but quickly caught on. He nodded and began inching away slowly and quietly...

Only for one of Ryu's gang to point out, "The little man, he's trying to escape!"

Ryu snapped back into reality and narrowed his eyes, "I see... So you used your feminine wiles in order for your friend to escape."

Kagome then yanked her hands away from the older teen and shouted back indignantly, "I did nothing like that!" A moment later, she found herself restrained by two of the gang members as Ryu and the others crowded around Manta. "Oh crap..."

Later that night, the boy who Kagome and Manta had been searching for arrived at the cemetery. He looked down at the crumbled pieces of Amidamaru's tombstone and scowled deeply. Only someone distasteful was capable of desecrating someone's eternal resting place. Something had to be done...

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

The following day, collective gasps filled the classroom as Manta and Kagome entered together. Manta had a black eye, a cast on his left arm, and his head had been bandaged up. And Kagome entered the room with an ordinary bandaid on her cheek. "What happened to you?" someone asked surprised.

"I got beaten up by Ryu of the Wooden Sword," Manta replied glumly, with his head lowered in shame and defeat.

"Ryu of the Wooden Sword?!" Came another student's shocked reaction. "How did you end up fighting with gangsters?"

"Higurashi and I were trying to snap pictures of the ghosts," he admitted honestly but pitifully.

All he wanted to do was validate his claims and earn back everyone's trust and respect...

"You're still talking about that ghost thing?!"

"And why are you getting Higurashi mixed up in all of this? Why she is not… banged up like you?"

"Last night they beat up Oyamada-kun. Then at the end, Ryu gave me a warning by scratching my cheek…" Kagome stood beside Manta as she explained. She looked down at Manta's broken expression and felt guilt. All of the passion and excitement that he showed her yesterday had been beaten out of him. The poor guy did not deserve any of this... "And besides..." As much as she wanted to start her life anew as a normal girl, there was no way that she could turn her back on this person. He looked so deflated and he was being humiliated. "I was there when Asakura-kun was with the ghosts that night..." She confessed. Yes. Here she was, admitting something like that. "I saw them too."

The other classmates looked at each other before one of them asked, " Higurashi-chan, how much did Manta pay you…?"

Kagome blinked, " …pay me…?"

"Yeah, to lie about being the so-called girl from the ghost night. Is he blackmailing you?"

"WHAT?" Manta bellowed while glaring at his classmates. Hearing those accusations rekindled the anger that he felt since yesterday. "Why would I do something so horrible to Higurashi?!"

"It's nothing like that!" Kagome shot back at them. "Oyamada-kun and I aren't lying, seriously! We both saw them! There's no reason to lie about that!"

"Then what were YOU doing at Crow Cemetery that night…?"

Kagome stiffened.

"Aha! I knew you were lying!"

"That's not it…" Kagome muttered. "We're not lying… It's just that…" she bowed her head in shame. "I got lost on my way home from the grocery store! I had been wandering around town for hours!"

"I see… That is pretty embarrassing."

"Oh, whatever! It's because you're so determined to be weird that you got beat up by Ryu of the Wooden Sword!"

Kagome looked down at Manta with nothing but sympathy. No one believed him, even when she vouched for his claims. What else could she do...?

"NOTHING WE SAID WERE LIES!" The bruised and battered boy bellowed.

The class froze and stared at their classmate who had a surprising amount of wind in him. Then came the fateful statement from Asakura Yoh himself, "yeah, it's not a lie." The brunette said it so straightforwardly and casually.

Tears flew from Manta's eyes as he looked up at Yoh, who had just entered the classroom. The blond's eyes were full of anger, relief, and surprise.

Yoh looked back down at Manta then at Kagome and smiled. "There are spirits," he confirmed.

The classroom filled with silence...

And no one spoke to Manta, Yoh, or Kagome for the rest of the day...

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

The three middle school students, who were now permanently labeled weirdoes were now taking off their school shoes at their lockers and putting on their regular shoes. Kagome watched as Manta silently slipped on his walking shoes. "I heard about what happened from my friends at the cemetery," Yoh told them solemnly.

"What are you talking about?" Manta snipped in response. "I'm a person busy with studies. I can't waste my time the way you do." He could not help but feel spiteful and stung about the entire ordeal. He had gone out of his way to prove that he was not a liar. He ended up getting beat up. And now that Yoh told everyone the truth, both he and Kagome were labeled as weird and ignored. He ended dragging a girl who probably would have been popular down with him...

"Oyamada-kun…" Kagome whispered, her eyes softening. She wanted to comfort him. He was the closest thing that she had to a friend after all of this time... But what could she say? She failed him, and herself. She tried being a good person by helping Manta out, but she ended up being an outcast again. And it was all because she not as normal as everyone else...

Not as normal as she wanted—No, pretended to be.

"You're Oyamada Manta…" Yoh asked curiously. Then he turned to Kagome and asked, "And Higurashi Kagome, right?" Kagome blinked and watched silently as Yoh grabbed Manta's wrist and began leading him away, out the front doors. "Well, come on. Let's go."

"Wai—Wait a second," Manta yelled. "Where are we going?!" He questioned as this stranger dragged him away from school.

"We're going to see Ryu."

"Ehhhh?!" Manta's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

Yoh looked down at Manta as he continued to dragging the shorter teen, "My grandfather once said evil cannot see spirits. So you must be a good person. I can't stand by and let a good person like you get bullied like that."

Without uttering a word, Kagome looked to the ground. Suddenly she felt forgotten.

She was alone already... And this was only her second day of school, and the beginning of her second week in Tokyo.

The girl silently watched them walk away.

She was uninvited.

She was unwanted.

Unneeded.

Unwelcome.

Again.

"What are you saying?" Manta asked, yanking his arm away. "Ryu is a total bad guy with many scary goons and you're just a scrawny kid! What can someone like you do?!" He protested.

Yoh agreed with a mutter of, "No doubt, I am pretty weak."

"Then why are you—?!"

Yoh grinned over his shoulder, "it's alright. I'm sure things will work out somehow…" Yoh grabbed Manta's wrist again and stated. "So let's go." Before proceeding on his trek to see Ryu, Yoh looked back at Kagome who stood idly watching the entire scene as if she was not even there. That was odd. Her eyes seemed duller, emptier as she stared at them with a hollow expression.

That look on her face... He recognized that look.

Suddenly, Kagome's eyes widened when she realized that his eyes were on her.

Finally, their eyes met. Yoh's warm chocolate pools found the depths of her blue oceans.

"Are you coming, Higurashi?" Yoh inquired curiously. His question was accompanied by a friendly smile.

That acknowledgment...

Kagome was surprised to find that the heavy grip on her heart had been released.

She could breathe.

She didn't even realize that she had been holding her breath.

The girl returned Yoh's smile with a watery one before she nodded enthusiastically.

She did not ponder about how her sorrow suddenly disappeared when she saw Yoh's smile and the warmth in it. There was no time for that. She just had to enjoy this brief happiness while it lasted. "You bet!" she chirped.

"Good, now we'll go see Ryu together," Yoh replied as he allowed Kagome to catch up with them. Kagome smiled fondly at Yoh and Manta as Yoh apologized to Manta about pretending to not know him.

It was truly a heart-warming moment.

Despite walking behind the two boys, Kagome could sense that Manta was finally smiling too...

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

The night seemed peaceful enough. The moon was almost staring Manta in the face as he and his new classmates waited for Ryu and his gang to arrive. The tiny schoolboy stared at Kagome and Yoh's backs. The black-haired girl was nearly cuddling with Yoh in order to hear the music from his headphones. "Um…" Manta began nervously. Yoh did not seem to hear him and Manta guessed Kagome was too sleepy to care at the moment.

"Hell-o!" Manta called over to them.

Yoh looked at Manta from over his shoulder, bumping the back of his head against the side of Kagome's face. "Watch it!" she exclaimed, pouting slightly.

The brunette lifted one side of his headphones and asked curiously, "Did you say something?"

"Well…" Manta began with a twitching smile. "Why am I the only one tied to a tree?"

"If I untie you, you'll run away," Yoh replied.

Manta looked at Kagome and asked, "And what about her, huh?"

Kagome answered the question this time, "Well, I came here willingly so there would be no need to tie me to a tree, Oyamada-kun."

Manta sobbed, "But why do I have to be here? Isn't Higurashi being here good enough?"

Yoh laughed then promised, "When all of this is over, I'll untie you. But for now, I just want you to watch."

"Watch what, Asakura-kun?" Kagome asked curiously.

"Watch you get beaten to a pulp by Ryu of the Wooden Sword?" Manta asked with doubtful, teary eyes.

Yoh smiled again, just a bit awkwardly this time. His desire—He did not know how to explain it that well. "That is, I mean…" He scratched his cheek as he tried to find the words," I want you to watch…me."

Just then a familiar deep voice hit Kagome and Manta's ears.

"It's…" Kagome stated as they all looked up.

"Ryu." Manta's courage and calmness level plummeted from 10 all the way down to -100 as they watched Ryu and his gang approach.

"Huh?" Ryu asked as he looked up at the three younger teenagers. "Who goes there…?"

Kagome watched as Yoh slowly stood up and brushing imaginary dirt off his pants. 'I hope you know what you're doing Asakura-kun…' she nervously thought.

Yoh grinned as he introduced the three of them to Ryu. "Yo. My name is Asakura Yoh," he pointed at Manta then at Kagome, "and these two are my friends, Oyamada Manta and Higurashi Kagome." Kagome sweatdropped at Yoh's casual politeness in this situation.

"H-How do you do…?" Manta asked half-heartedly. He was more scared than anything.

Kagome only waved a little and added, "Yeeeeeah...hi."

One of Ryu's minions whispered something to Ryu and he replied something in a low tone.

"It seems to me that my friends paid you some debt, now I'm here to return the favor," Yoh announced confidently.

"Favor?" Ryu inquired before chuckling and placing a hand on his hip. "Are you saying you are going to avenge them? You've got a lot of guts. You must want to see the other world so soon."

"Even the people of the other world say that you're a nuisance," Yoh replied with an agitation that seemed unbecoming of him.

Kagome stood up then took a place beside Yoh and asked softly, " What are you planning to do?"

"Apologize! Kneel down and just apologize!" Manta pleaded from his place on the tree.

"Ryu-san! We'll take care of them!" One of his minions said. Another cracked his knuckles and added,

"There is no need for Ryu-san to get his hands dirty playing around with kids like these."

Ryu nodded and instructed, "As you wish. But leave my angel out of it." He then shot her a dreamy look, "So your name is Kagome-chan, is it?"

Kagome's jaw dropped at his inquiry, "How dare you address me so casually!?" She pointed at him and glared, "Don't treat me differently just because I'm a girl!"

"But I'm treating you differently because you're cute, not because you are a girl," Ryu admitted with a shameless shrug and easygoing smile.

Yoh gently used one arm and push Kagome back behind him. "I would appreciate it if you left Higurashi alone," Yoh told Ryu. "She's not interested in whatever you're thinking."

"A-Asakura-kun…?" Kagome whispered, blushing a bit. Sure, she was brave enough in her own right. But there was something about someone else wanting to protect you...

Ryu's growled at Yoh's fearlessness and interference, "I'll do whatever I want, you little—!"

"It's fine, Ryu-san, like we said." a minion stated. "We'll take care of them, of course, we won't harm the girl."

"See?!" Manta asked looking at Yoh while kicking his legs. "Now they're interested in Higurashi and want to kill us!"

"I already told you, it'll be alright," said Yoh reassuringly. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded.

Manta's jaw dropped, he could not believe that Kagome had so much faith in Yoh already. This was their first time meeting, right? The blond boy tried to snap some sense into the girl, "He can't do anything on his own!"

"I am not alone!" Yoh yelled.

Kagome gasped and took a step back when a large spirit appeared behind Yoh and beside her.

"I shall grant thee an opportunity to redeem your mistakes, so you should be thankful!"

This spirit was unlike the carefree ones from the night of their encounter. This one was a silver-haired man dressed like a samurai.

There was no doubt about it...

'Mistakes…?' Kagome thought.

Manta was thinking the same thing, 'Could… Could it be…?'

"Kick his ass!" Ryu commanded his sidekicks.

"Manta…" Yoh whispered solemnly. "Watch me closely."

Kagome gasped when she realized what was going on.

"Shall we do it then? All right! …Amidamaru!" Yoh called, raising his arm. Kagome and Manta watched awestruck as Amidamaru went into Ghost-ball mode. But the minions who charged at them did not seem to notice the spirit.

"I am a shaman," Yoh stated calmly. "The one who links this world and the next…"

'Asakura-kun is a…'

"Sha… Shaman?!" Manta asked stunned.

"Let's go!" Yoh called out before pushing the Ghost-ball into his chest. "Over-Soul Merge!"

"The spirit went into his body?!" Manta's eyes were bulging from what he was seeing. Seeing ghosts was one thing, but watching a human put one inside of himself was another!

Meanwhile, The edge of Kagome's mouth slowly began to twitch then curve upward.

The two men, who did not notice Amidamaru merge into Yoh, foolishly charged at him. Manta gasped when Yoh drew his wooden sword and easily defeated the two with a single swing.

"T-That was awesome, Asakura-kun!" Kagome cheered from behind Yoh. A big smile was plastered on her face as she watched Yoh and Amidamaru with excitement. Adrenaline rush through her veins as the shaman made quick work of more goons.

"What the hell just happened?!" asked one of the shocked gangsters.

"It was too fast to see anything!" one of his comrades replied.

Yoh pointed the wooden sword at Ryu and told him, "You're next."

Kagome gasped, though the smile did not disappear. She could see him. She could see Amidamaru's spirit inside of Yoh…

"Are you prepared for it?" Amidamaru asked from within his host.

'Who is this bastard…? He's completely different from a moment ago,' Ryu thought as he began sweating nervously. 'What the hell just happened?'

Kagome balled up her fists and yelled passionately, "Waste that gangster Asakura-kun!" 'And you too… Amidamaru-sama…!' she added mentally.

"What's wrong?" asked the smirking brown-haired boy. "Are you afraid to fight me… Rookie?" He taunted.

Manta could tell that hit one of Ryu's nerves, but for once he was not screaming for Yoh to apologize. He was amazed and awestruck… All of this was too cool to be real. But it was real.

"This kid…" Ryu stated as he gripped his sword and charged full speed at Yoh, "Is a real bastard! Don't underestimate me!"

Kagome gasped and moved from behind Yoh to a safer place beside the tree with Manta attached to its trunk.

Just as Ryu was about to strike, Yoh grinned and seemingly disappeared. He reappeared behind Ryu, ready to strike with his wooden sword in his hands.

"Ryu-san! Watch out!"

Everything happened in slow motion…

Yoh and Amidamaru swung.

"Hmph, I won't kill you. I don't want someone like you to become one of us," Yoh mumbled, though Kagome and Manta knew it was really Amidamaru speaking through Yoh's body.

"Way to go!" Kagome cheered when she saw Ryu fall flat on his back. A second later, half of his pompadour fell flat on the ground.

"Ahhhhh! Ryu-san has been defeated! Run!" Came the scream of one of Ryu's lackeys. The remaining members scooped up Ryu and their other fallen comrades before making a hasty retreat.

Manta quietly replayed what happened in his head. 'Shaman… To unite with a spirit… the spirit's movement, skills, everything… Reappears using his body…'

A single bead of sweat ran down Yoh's face.

"Amazing!" Manta finally cheered. He would have pumped his fist if he were not still restrained.

'I guess… It's over now…' thought Kagome as she breathed a sigh of relief. The adrenaline was finally leaving her body as her shoulders slumped a bit. This was a lot more excitement than she had expected.

S.H.A.M.A.N.K.I.N.G.

Yoh stuck Amidamaru's wooden sword into the soil. He and Kagome closed their eyes and recited a small prayer.

"Alright! It's perfect!" Yoh announced while admiring his handiwork with a satisfied grin.

"What do you mean?" asked Manta as he looked at the tombstone that had been glued back together. "It has cracks all over the place."

"Well, don't mind such petty things," the brown-haired boy said with an easy-going smile.

"That's right," Kagome stated after finishing her prayer. She ran her hand over the stone and smiled, before winking at Manta. "Besides, the cracks give it character."

"That's the ticket!" Yoh chimed in as he placed a hand on her shoulder and grinned even wider.

All three laughed at what seemed to be nothing at all.

"You two don't seem afraid," Yoh suddenly pointed out. His face calmer and warmer than what it was in the classroom.

Kagome blinked, "Afraid? Of what Asakura-kun?"

"Well, you saw me unite with the ghost," Yoh stated simply, unwilling to expand on what he was thinking...not yet.

"Well, the first time we saw you was with the spirits after all," Manta explained.

"Hm, oh yeah?" Yoh smiled.

"Yeah!" nodded Manta.

Kagome smiled and suddenly slapped Yoh on the back, laughing merrily, "You did a good job with Amidamaru-sama, Asakura-kun!" She blinked when Yoh's shoulders trembled. "Eh—What's the matter?"

Yoh grinned at her over his shoulder and said, "That kinda hurt."

"Oh, you…"

Yoh sat down on the hill. Manta and Kagome exchanged looks before following his lead. The shaman looked up at the night sky and marveled in its beauty, "Ah! Today's stars are really pretty too!"

"You're right again," Manta agreed, looking up too.

Kagome smiled softly and admitted, closing her eyes, "I'm happy."

Manta and Yoh blinked.

That statement seemed out of the blue. "Because Yoh-kun beat Ryu of the Wooden Sword?" Manta asked curiously.

The girl shook her head while laughing lightly, "I moved here from the outskirts of Tokyo, you know. When I first arrived, I have to admit, I was pretty lonely... But I had to go on because I made the decision to come here in the first place."

Kagome did not know why she was telling this to these two boys—these two people who she had just met yesterday. All that she knew was that it felt good to talk about it, and talking about it came easy with them.

"I came here to start a new life, and I thought you two screwed it up already," Kagome looked down from the sky and smiled at Manta and Yoh. "But now, I'm glad I met you."

Yoh placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and grinned, "Then you're real lucky, Kagome-chan."

"Ka…gome-chan…?" Kagome asked slowly. "What happened to just Higurashi?"

Manta told her smiling "Well, we're friends now, so you can call me Manta-kun."

"Same with me. You can call me by my first name too," Yoh added.

Kagome nodded and smiled happily. "I'll do that!" she told them.

From that moment on, the three classmates watched the stars contently with Amidamaru quietly leaning against a tree behind them.

It truly was the beginning of a new life, together...

[shironezuninja]

I definitely remember Matamune from the Shaman King manga storyline a lot more vividly than Ren’s death.

[debbiechanclub]

A running log of my thoughts watching Wrestle Kingdom 17

I thought about liveblogging as I watched WK17, but I didn’t want to risk opening the dash and getting anything spoiled for me as I didn’t block any tags. So, here’s a running (four-page) log of my thoughts and reactions while I watched that no one asked for.

New Japan Ranbo

Everyone freaking out on commentary about Douki and you know it's half ELP's fault

Kenta is such a menace omg

Respectfully, Mikey Nicholls looks like a generic create-a-wrestler

Aww Douki got eliminated before ELP came out. No chokey for you.

“Shingo Bullet Club confirmed,” bestie he’s in LIJ (side note I’m very much enjoying Gino on commentary)

Oh they got ELP doing Kofi shit out here now (“I’d like a hot cup of Kofi right now” lololol Kevin)

I’m glad they created a KOPW belt. Not crazy about that baby blue though.

 Antonio Inoki Memorial Match

I was gonna skip this match but didn’t out of respect for Inoki

Who is that tall-ass young boy, Gabriel Kidd? He’s bigger than most of the wrestlers

Okay, onto the main card!

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match

I guess United Empire is my number 2 faction now that Suzuki-gun is no more

Yoh looks weird with black hair omg. It’s better though; he must have been going to the same hairstylist as Zack with that yellow-ass hair.

Not a lot of notes for this match, sorry

IWGP Women’s Championship Match

Wasn’t expecting this match yet

Why is Nakano’s entrance gear covered in Stars of David? *looks it up* Ohhh it’s a Kagome crest, which is a Shinto symbol. I learned something new today!

Kairi is so pretty. I love her gear.

As hard as these women hit, it’s interesting to me that they have extra people to help catch dives outside the ring

Kairi best elbow drop in the biz. That match was shorter than I expected/hoped.

Oh.

So, Sasha’s appearance was accidentally spoiled for me, and I don’t really feel any type of way about it. I will say that during her entrance she looked hella in her element.

She sounds nervous, which is understandable

The only thing else I’m gonna say is I wish her good luck.

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match

UNABASHEDLY rooting for Bishamon in this match

Dax not used to getting it back this hard (phrasing)

God bless Yoshi-Hashi I thought they were about to retain off that Big Rig

Oh JFC that was a nasty spill outside the ring

These near falls are gonna kill me they’re gonna kill me before it’s 10 am here

Yassssssssssss!!!!! *Kermit flail*

Like I’m happy for FTR that they got to live their dream of wrestling at WK, but I am so fucking glad they lost

NJPW World TV Championship Match

It’s Zacky baby’s match I want him to win I want him to win so bad!!!!!

Gino “God it looks good” about Zack’s hair, no it doesn’t, don’t lie

It looks less yellow than yesterday. That lighting in the press conference room was hella yellow. Hmmm.

That ankle lock, leg bar, whatever the fuck you call it, so nasty!!!

I’m getting used to the hair the more I look at it, lemme just close my eyes

HE WON, ZACK’S FIRST SINGLES’ TITLE IN NJPW BABEYYYYYYY

Bestie why is your reaction to winning so underwhelming, you’re still going through it, aren’t you

Maybe it’s because the belt is ugly. One thing about NJPW is they’re gonna make ugly belts (I’m sorry, it’s true).

I know fuck-all about TMDK so don’t have any thoughts on that front other than that, respectfully, Mikey Nicholls looks like a generic create-a-wrestler (RIP Suzuki-gun)

NEVER Openweight Championship Match

Say what you will about Karl, but I am LIVING for this NJPW-WWE interaction, and I want more

He’s out here trying to kill Tama

That Gun Stun wasn’t the prettiest huh

I figured Karl would lose, but I really hope this isn’t the end of WWE and NJPW working together, because that’s really all I want in wrestling

Also yay for Tama, he deserves it!!!

LIJ vs. Shota Umino, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Keiji Muto

It always tickles me that LIJ gotta come out separately to their different songs because they’re a bunch of divas

Why don’t more people talk about Sanada? Prime blorbo material

Tanahashi protecting the elder from hurting himself lololol

I hate Dragon Screws, I hate them

Nice moment for Umino

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match

Who the fuck is making Takahashi’s entrance gear and how does he come up with this shit

@comeasyoudar I want Taiji’s coat too, we’ll steal it and take turns. He’s small, we can take him.

NJPW junior division, my beloved

THERE’S BEEN AN ALTERCATION BACKSTAGE????? IS PHIL THERE???

Naito and Umino hmmm incheresting storytelling. I honestly think NJPW needs more of that!

NJPW junior division, my beloved

BACKSTAGE UPDATE: NJPW vs NOAH shenanigans hmmmmmmmm

Lmaooo Takahashi was definitely late breaking up that pin

This was a great match, but NJPW needs more people in the junior title picture it’s been Despy, Takahashi, and Ishimori trading it off for a while now. I know COVID had a lot to do with that, so hopefully now that things are basically back to normal, hopefully there will be some fresh faces in the title hunt soon.

 IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship Match

So hyped for this!!!!!

Did Tanahashi do Kenny’s hair?

This music is fucking dramatic

The GOAT knee pads

This gear is pretty good as far as Kenny’s Wish tights go

Bro the exchanges between these two already, they’re so good, they’re both so good

Don calling himself an invisible hand in Kenny’s life since he was 10, dude you’re creepy

Will bouncing off the apron trying to hit that Oz Cutter, ouch.jpg

Kenny why are you taking bumps on tables like that, c’mon now

Just realized the Japanese girlies aren’t shouting “Kennnnny” like they used to

Omg that DDT on the turnbuckle brooooo that looked nasty I hope Will is okay

Not the commentators shit-talking Red Shoes for not stopping the match

Fucking hell man, these V-Triggers are making me wince

This whole match is making me wince

 It has NOT felt like 30 minutes, holy shit

Not the Styles Clash!!!!!

Ngl, kinda surprised Kenny won. He hit the One-Winged Angel and I was watching with my shocked Pikachu face like, “Is Will gonna kick out? Haters gonna be so maaaaaad”

Incredible match, and the trust these two performers had to have in each other to pull off some of these moves is insane. Yeah, they talk mad shit to each other, but there’s no doubt in my mind they respect each other.

So, so, so incredibly good and lived up to all my expectations.

 IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match

The holographic money kimono, the hair, the pose, the determination; Okada, my beloved

Oh Jay went with the white gear huh

Gino saying that maybe only Triple H has better psychological game than Jay, God bless, I was literally thinking that as he said it

Brock Lesnar was the last gaijin to win the main event in the Tokyo Dome? Wtf

“They can chant your name now because of me!” PLEASE, Jay, omg

I love them, I want them to feud forever (but I don’t want Jay to lose here, please and thank you)

Okada is so handsome; Jay is such a rat bastard. I swear I’m so normal about them, I’m so, SO normal

Can’t get over the stark graphic visual of their black and white gear

Jesus the way Okada crumpled after that chop block to the knee scared me for a second

I am normal

Jay smirking before Okada kicked him in the head (I’m normal)

Piss off, Gedo!!!!!

Rainmaker reversed into the Bladerunner!!! Shockedpikachu.jpg

Reminder that I’m normal about these two men and their history and interconnectedness

Jay calling Okada a coward??? I want you to win this match, but I will fight you afterward

Okada is bleeding from the chops (normal)

OKADA HIT THE BLADERUNNER SHSJSAKAkashadh

!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m in a glass case of emotion

Like I wanted to Jay to retain so that the title wouldn’t bounce back to Okada; but at the same time, Okada being 1-5 against Jay would have been, with all due respect to Jay, fucking ridiculous

Soooooo *shrug*

I win either way

Because I’m normal about these two

Oh no not sad little meow meow Jay, I can’t do this again

HE’S HOLDING ONTO HIS BOOT, JAY WHY

WHAT DID HE SAY TO HIM

I AM NORMAL

Jay looks like he’s gonna cry, I actually can’t do this

I love them I want them to feud forever and ever and ever

SHINGO. I am not done PROCESSING MY EMOTIONS!!!!

Oh no now Okada’s crying talking about Inoki

Incredible, emotional, masterful, wrestling

In conclusion: I am normal.

[juliatheanimelover7]

I posted 896 times in 2022

11 posts created (1%)

885 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@lavendertwilight89

@mustardyellowsunshine

@mamabearcat

@malditamigs

I tagged 27 of my posts in 2022

#yashahime - 11 posts

#yashahime spoilers - 10 posts

#shaman king - 9 posts

#moroha - 6 posts

#shaman king 2021 - 6 posts

#inukag - 5 posts

#shaman king remake - 5 posts

#hanyo no yashahime spoilers - 4 posts

#shaman king spoilers - 4 posts

#inuyasha - 4 posts

Longest Tag: 40 characters

#yoh is seriously so pretty in this scene

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

RWBY VOLUME 9 TRAILER FINALLY OUT 😍😍😍

And that's not all! We also get the first RWBY movie too! And it's a crossover 👀 It sounds like a fanfiction crossover to me 😅😁

8 notes - Posted July 1, 2022

#4

9 notes - Posted August 28, 2022

#3

OMG, WE'RE TRENDING! It's been a while 😮 Inuyasha Moroha reunion got us talking 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Inuyasha and Kagome back on screen must have also helped, speaking of, anyone else feeling nice to see them, I feel it's been so long since we properly saw them and now there's also Moroha so it's just such a sweet family picture 🥺❤️😭

See the full post

98 notes - Posted January 16, 2022

#2

OMG, OMG, OMG! IT HAPPENED! I swear I thought that's how Yashahime s going to end, but the REUNION happened earlier and it's still going on and I'm in tears because Moroha finally met her parents or for now at least one of them and look how happy they are too see each other and slightly awkward but so happy OMG 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️ I'm so glad they didn't mess up with the Moroha Kagome reunion it was so heartwarming and the InuKag theme started playing and FEEEEEELS 😭❤️🥺

See the full post

158 notes - Posted January 8, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

YES, YES AND YEEEEEEEEEES, IT'S FINALLY HERE! THE INUYASHA MOROHA REUNION, OMG. THEY NEEDED A BIT OF HELP - KUDOS KAGOME AND TOWA- BUT THEN LOOK AT THEM, LOOK HOW HAPPY HE IS TO HAVE HIS BABY, TO HOLD HIS BABY, OMG I CAN'T STOP SCREAMING. Look at them finally together as a family. 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️🥺🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥺❤️❤️😭😭❤️😭🥺❤️🥺🥺

See the full post

176 notes - Posted January 15, 2022

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[chukazanmai]

Send me a for a 💭  drabble where my muse reveals something about either their past or some of their secrets.

@archeracrosstime​ asked: 💭 (Magi! TELL KAGOME ABOUT YOH REN!!

He was an awful person. He knew he was. There were so many people out there, not just in this kingdom but in the rest of the world that had suffered the loss of someone dear to them, no matter the circumstances that led to it, some even lost more than one. Yet, Ren acted like he was the only person knowing the taste of losing someone, like no one could ever understand his pain.

He rubbed the silver and orange ring on his finger. It had become a habit of his to rub it whenever he was nervous or in distress, like a silent request for the soul of his beloved to guide him into the right path.  And the Great Rukh knew how in much distress he was right now. The soft wind blew and played with the longer parts of his hair that framed his shadowed expression. He hated feeling like this.

Ren heard footsteps approaching him but didn’t turn around to face the person. He didn’t need to. He knew it was the Queen of Sindria, She was always like this, worrying about him like a mother figure or that of an older sister, constantly reminding him of Jun whom he terribly missed but dared not say it out loud. He supposed that it was natural for Kagome to be worried about him (again). Ren had fled in the middle of one of their magic lessons, after failing miserably to cast the healing spell...plagued by the memories that the mere whisper of the words would trigger them.

He felt her hands touch his shoulders, he flinched but didn’t try to escape from it unlike other previous times.

“I’m fine.” really I am, he wanted to add but was too much of a coward to say. Instinctively he found himself rubbing the ring once again, you are always touching it she says before asking if it’s important to him. Ren merely nods, the words fail at the thought of the ring’s previous owner. 

His heart pounds in his chest, a part of him telling him that it’s time to speak of his past, especially of the part that hurts him the most. That part of him tells him that it will help him heal and move on, he thinks that will hardly happen. 

“...His name was Yoh.” he says at last, the mere pronouncing of the name hurts. He doesn’t feel Kagome’s hands moving nor hears her voice, thus decides to continue “He was...the first person, aside from Jun and Bason, that cared about me...” another rub on the ring and his eyes move down to look at the orange gem in its center “Yoh was...he was my first love...and because of that he is dead. My family killed him...”

Ren’s fist closes around the cold stone of the palace’s window. His heart cries at the thought of that faithful day...but his eyes don’t. Not anymore. Ren hadn’t shed tears ever since...it was like they had completely dried after he cried over the dead body of his beloved.

“...I couldn’t save him, I was weak. That’s why I can’t use that spell, I’m not cut out to heal others.”

He was better at hurting people.    

[nihongomoji]

Inuyasha Japanese Words and Phrases

Higurashi Jinja

The "Higurashi Shrine." The name of the shrine Kagome and her family live at.

Hone Kui no Ido

The name of the "bone-eaters well" that is the portal between Kagome's and Inuyasha's worlds. It is part of the Higurashi Jinja.

Sengoku Jidai

The name of Inuyasha's world. "The Warring Period" or "Fudal Japan"

Shikon no Tama

The name of the jewel that Kikyo protected. It gives youkai more power, and can destroy them at the same time.

Shikon no Kakera

The pieces of the Shikon no Tama that Kagome and Inuyasha are searching for. If a youkai gets ahold of one piece, their powers increase.

Youkai

A "monster/demon". Sengoku Jidai is filled with them. Inuyasha's father was a demon, and Fluffy is one.

Hanyou

A half demon. Inuyasha is a hanyou.

Youryoku

Demon strength. Sometimes this is the reason humans go after the Shikon no Tama/Kakera

Shingetsu

The new moon, when Inuyasha turns into a human.

Tessaiga

The name of Inuyasha's sword. It belonged to his father, and usually changes from a rusty, old sword to a powerful one. Though sometimes it fails, like when Inuyasha is in human form. But in English it is known Tetsusaiga.

Hijinkessou

The name of Inuyasha's attack where he uses his own blood. (Blades of Blood)

Sankontessou

A name of one of Inuyasha's attacks. (Iron Revert Soul Shater)

Kitsunebi

The name of Shippou's attack. (Fox Fire)

Kazaana

An "empty hole", the name of the "black hole" like object in Miroku's hand.

Hiraikotsu

The name of Sango's attack, using her boomerang-like weapon.

Shinidamachuu

Name of the serpent like creatures that take and carry souls of the living to Kikyou.

Saimyoushou

Name of the poisonous flying insects of Naraku's. If they enter Miroku's Kazaana, they'll poison him.

Kaze no Kizu

Name of Inuyasha's attack where he "finds" the scent of the wind, and uses the Tetsusaiga to do some powerful damage.

Tenseiga

Name of Sesshoumaru's Sword, which can only be used to save others. Osuwari

This is all Kagome has to say to make Inu-Yasha's head ran into the ground. This happens because of the Prayer-Beads around his neck.

Sankontessou

ai - love

ai shiteru - I love you

anata - you (commonly used)

ano - well... (Kagome uses this a lot)

are - (ah-reh) Huh?

arigato - thank you

arigatougouzaimasu - thank you very much (much more polite)

atashi - me (female version)

baka - idiot/stupid/moron (who doesn't know this word?)

bishoujo - pretty girl (for instance, Sango)

bishounen - pretty boy (for instance, Sesshoumaru)

boku - me/I (used by males and pretty informal)

chibi - little, small

chikuso - dammit

chotto - a little

chuu-gakkou - middle school

daijoubu - in question form it means, "Are you ok". Just said out as a statement means "I'm fine."

dame - bad, no good

demo - but

fuku - uniform. Like Kagome's school clothes.

gakkou - school

gakkousei - student

genki - energy, healthy, happy, entergetic

gomen - I'm sorry. Gomen nasai means I'm very sorry.

hai - yeah, yes, ok

Hanyou - (Han-yoh) Han = half, You = demon. So, half-demon. In this case, Inuyasha is a hanyou because his father was a youkai and his mother was a human.

hentai - pervert

hime - princess

hokora - small shrine. Such as the one that the Bone Gobbling well is concealed in.

houshi - monk. Miroku's a houshi, though a perverted one at that.

iie - no

inu - dog

Inuyasha - Inu = dog, Yasha = Demon, so "Dog-demon". The kanji breakdown of his name translate to "Dog Night Wars/Gang" according to a Japanese woman who I had the pleasure of talking to in Tsukuba City, Japan. (Of course I had to ask her about Inuyasha. ^_^)

itai - owch

ja ne - or just plain out 'ja' mean 'see you later'

jigoku - hell

Kagome - A song for children that many Japanese people know. Besides being the heroine's name, there was some meaning behind it, actually.

Kami - God. Kami-Sama would be talking about god, or some very high ranking person, such as an emperor.

kappa - water demon

katana - Japanese samurai styled sword

kawaii - cute

kaze - wind

ki - spirit, energy

kimi - you (male form to close friends or children)

kisama - you (very insulting) Inuyasha uses this a lot when talking to enemies or just in general since he is a potty mouth.

kitsune - fox. Shippou is a kitsune youkai or fox demon.

Kokoro - Spirit, love, heart, soul. Various meanings, but all have to do with spirit.

konnichi wa - hello

kunoichi - female ninja

mamouru - to protect

mamotte ageru - I'll protect you.

matte - Stop! (male)

miko - priestess (What Kikyou is)

minna - everyone

mou - sign of exasperation, like sighing

nani - what?

Ningen - Human

ohayo - good morning

oi! - hey! (male) Inuyasha uses this a lot

oji - prince

ojo - princess

onegai - please?

Oni - Devil

onna - woman

ore - me (rude)

oswari - sit! (dog style, go figure) This is used to subdue Inuyasha by Kagome.

otoko - male, guy, man

otoko no ko - boy (Kagome first calls Inuyasha this when she first discovers him)

otou-san - father

owari - the end

sake - wine

Sengoku Jidai - age of warring states. Era where Inuyasha lives

senpai - upperclassmen

Shikon no Tama - Jewel of Four Souls or the Four Souled Jewel. In this story, the jewel contains four spirits of the world and was created by a priestess named Midoriko who lived long before even Inuyasha's time. This is a powerful jewel that can grant anyone strength.

shin-e - die

Shouki - evil aura given off by youkai

Shoujo - General word for girl

Shounen - General word for boy

sora - sky

sugoi - cool! awesome!

sumimasen - I'm sorry, please excuse me.

Tai - As in taiyoukai. Tai means ultimate, surpreme, or great. So, taiyoukai would mean "Great Demon" which is what Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru's father was.

tamashi - life

tetsusaiga - Inuyasha's sword that was left behind for him from his father. It transforms into a large fang when it is held by someone who wishes to protect Humans and can only work with Inuyasha. When it's not transformed, it appears as a rusty old katana.

ursai - shut up (Inuyasha says this to Kagome a lot)

uso - a lie

wakaru - I understand.

watashi - I (polite)

watashi wa - I am

yamero - stop it!

yarou - bastard (used towards males)

Youkai - Means "demon" in this sense. The word "you" translates to demon, but the real meaning behind 'youkai' is 'bewitching apparition' which include demons, monsters, goblins, and ghouls. Obake and bakemono mean the same thing as youkai and are other words frequently used for spirits.

yume - dream

zettai - never

*Name Suffixes*

-chan - Used between friends or with someone younger than you. Generally a very friendly suffix such as "Shippou-chan" as Kagome calls Shippou. Used between boyfriends and girlfriends.

-kun - Generally used for males, but can be used for females too. Someone who's close to you as a friend. Kagome calls Kouga "Kouga-kun" to show how she's friendly with him.

-san - Polite and formal. Used for someone at the same position as you or higher. You would use this with strangers if you didn't know them well. It basically means "Ms, Miss, Mr., or Mrs." Miroku calls Kagome "Kagome-san" out of respect.

-dono - Not frequently used in this anime, but in others, like Rurouni Kenshin. Indicates respect and is very polite.

-sama - Very high respect. Used when speaking about gods or someone like an emperor or king. In this case, Kikyou is called "Kikyou-sama" by the villagers that she lived with.

-sensei - Originally means "born earlier than me". Usually used towards your master, teacher, or someone wise in the literature and art. You would call your school teacher by this suffix.

onee-chan/san/sama - what you would call your sister. Souta calls Kagome "Kagome onee-chan". Kaede calls Kikyou "Kikyou onee-sama".

onii-chan/san/sama - what you would call your brother. Souta calls Inuyasha Inu-no-oniichan or the "Dog-eared brother".

jii-chan/san/sama - grandfather. Kagome calls her grandfather "Jii-chan"

[ao3feed-kogkag]

Shaman King

by TheAmazingSakumachan

For Higurashi Kagome, moving to Tokyo was supposed to be a fresh start. But little did she know that she was walking a similar path that was walked before. A fateful encounter. A promise that transcends time and space. A gift that keeps giving. What path leads to a Happy Ending?

Words: 8740, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale, Shaman King (Anime & Manga), Anime Crossover

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M

Characters: InuYasha (InuYasha), Sesshoumaru (InuYasha), Miroku (InuYasha), Sango (InuYasha), Rin (InuYasha), Shippou (InuYasha), Kouga (InuYasha), Kikyou (InuYasha), Naraku (InuYasha), Kaede (InuYasha), Kohaku (InuYasha), Kirara (InuYasha), Bankotsu (InuYasha), Jakotsu (InuYasha), Eri (InuYasha), Suikotsu (InuYasha), Renkotsu (InuYasha), Yuka (InuYasha), Ayumi (InuYasha), Onigumo (InuYasha), Ginkotsu (InuYasha), Toutousai (InuYasha), Kyoukotsu (InuYasha), Hachi (InuYasha), Koharu (InuYasha), Botan (InuYasha), Momiji (InuYasha), Nazuna (InuYasha), Sango's Father (InuYasha), Higurashi Kagome, Higurashi Souta, Higurashi Kagome's Mother, Higurashi Kagome's Grandfather, Higurashi Kagome's Father, Asakura Yoh, Asakura Hao, Asakura Hana, Asakura Yohmei, Tao Ren, Tao Jun, Usui Horokeu | "Trey Racer" Horohoro, Usui Pirika, Kyoyama Anna, Lyserg Diethel, Chocolove McDonell, Iron Maiden Jeanne, Silva (Shaman King), Oyamada Manta, Umemiya Ryunosuke, Opacho (Shaman King), Amidamaru (Shaman King), Kororo (Shaman King), Asakura Keiko, Kagura (InuYasha), Kanna (InuYasha), Hakudoushi (InuYasha)

Relationships: Higurashi Kagome/Asakura Yoh, Higurashi Kagome/Asakura Hao, Higurashi Kagome/Tao Ren, Higurashi Kagome/Reverse Harem, Higurashi Kagome/Harem, Higurashi Kagome/Bankotsu, Higurashi Kagome/Kouga, Asakura Yoh/Higurashi Kagome, Asakura Hao/Higurashi Kagome, Tao Ren/Higurashi Kagome, Reverse Harem/Higurashi Kagome, Harem/Kagome, Bankotsu/Higurashi Kagome, Kouga/Higurashi Kagome, Usui Pirika/Bankotsu, Bankotsu/Usui Pirika, Sango/Umemiya Ryuunosuke, Umemiya Ryuunosuke/Sango, Usui Horokeu/Sango, Sango/Usui Horokeu, Sango/HoroHoro, HoroHoro/Sango, Ryu/Sango, Sango/Ryu, Asakura Yoh/Kyouyama Anna, Kyouyama Anna/Asakura Yoh, Asakura Yoh & Tamamura Tamao, Tamamura Tamao/Asakura Yoh, Asakura Hana & Tao Jun, Li Bailing/Tao Jun

Additional Tags: Reverse Harem, Harem, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Slow Romance, Fluff and Angst, Manga & Anime, Crossover, Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Crossover Pairings, Parent Higurashi Kagome, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, 6000 Years of Slow Burn (Good Omens), Cute, Angst and Feels, feels trip, Team Feels, Friendship, Friendship/Love, Time Travel, Time Loop, Relationship(s), Angst with a Happy Ending, Eventual Romance, Drama & Romance, Starcrossed Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Enemies to Friends, Underdog

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/26723956

[transcendlove]

A Few Minutes

Pairing(s): Asakura Yoh x Higurashi Kagome, Onesided!Bankotsu x Higurashi Kagome, Onesided!Tao Ren x Higurashi Kagome Rating: T

A ficlet of Chapter 21 from Sakuma-chan’s Shaman King fic because I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t control myself.

“Just stay right here. I’ll bring them all back, okay?”

Bankotsu gave her a reassuring smile, before turning to his brother with firm instructions.

He glanced back towards Kagome, his smile faltering momentarily at the blank look in her eyes. He thought he’d seen the last of that.

‘I’ll fix this,’ he privately promised, sharing a nod with his brother, and turned to quickly chase after their scattered party. ‘Wait for me, Kagome. Just a few minutes.’

---

He found the Usui siblings first.

“I’m really sorry,” Pirika whispered remorsefully, blinking through her tears.

HoroHoro rubbed her back, meeting Bankotsu’s solemn gaze with his own. “Me too.”

Bankotsu clapped a hand on his shoulder and rested a gentle hand on Pirika’s head. “Just come back,” he said in lieu of an empty it’s okay, because it isn’t. Not right now. “Alright? She needs you. All of you. I gotta look for the rest of the brats.”

“We’ll help,” HoroHoro insisted. Pirika nodded frantically from his arms, scrubbing her tears away even as they were replaced almost immediately. “Please! It’ll be faster if there were more of us.”

“Sure,” Bankotsu shifted impatiently, every second away from Kagome itched. “You two get the Taos. I’ll find Asakura.”

The older brother frowned. “Shouldn’t we get Yoh? We know where his house is.”

“No, I need to talk to him. Just point me to him.”

Both siblings pointed.  

---

To be honest, HoroHoro was surprised to find the Taos so quickly. They were just standing by the park, conversing quietly amongst themselves, with Bason floating uncertainly by his shaman.

“Ren!”

“Jun-nee-chan! Sango-nee-chan!”

Both girls looked up in surprise, but Ren refused to face them. HoroHoro noted the stiffness of his shoulders and his white-knuckled fists.

“Pirika-chan,” Sango stepped forward in concern at the sight of the girl’s tearful eyes. “What are—”

The blue haired girl shook her head as she passed by her outstretched hand, stopping before Ren to bow deeply. “I’m very sorry!”

The older boy stepped back instinctively, only to pause as her words registered. “Huh?”

Without looking up, she continued, “This is all my fault! If I didn’t suggest playing that game, we’d all still be friends—!”

“Hey,” HoroHoro interrupted. “It wasn’t your fault. It was mine for making Ren do that dare. I was being an asshole.”

Pirika moved up from her bow to protest, “But—”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Both siblings turned to the Tao heir at his words. Ren still had his face turned away from them, his arms folded. Pirika couldn’t help but think that it came off less defensive and more withdrawn, like he was trying to protect himself. “She made her choice, and it was Asakura.”

“Yoh left not long after you did.” HoroHoro told him.

That got his attention. Golden eyes glared at him in confusion, his brows furrowed. “What?”

“We all did,” Pirika added guiltily. “Ban-san found me and onii-chan asking us to come back, but we offered to help look for you all.” She glanced hopefully at the women she’d grown so close to in the past few hours that she’d known them, giving a wobbly smile of gratitude as Jun offered her a handkerchief.

Ren frowned. “Well, you’re wasting your time. We’re not coming back.” His expression darkened, his voice falling flat. “I doubt she would care if I returned.”

“Are your feelings for her that shallow?”

In a flash, Ren’s hands fisted into the fabric of HoroHoro’s collar, golden eyes narrowed dangerously. “What did you say?”

The other boy glared back, unflinching compared to his earlier cowering at the springs. “Do you even consider her a friend?”

“How dare you—“

“Then why are you running away?” HoroHoro challenged. “Why are you doubting that she cares about you? She rejected you. So what?! Did she do it intentionally? We all know Kagome-chan is ridiculously dense! It’s not like she meant to hurt you! She clearly doesn’t even know you feel that way about her! If you were really her friend, then you would know that’s not the kind of girl she is!”

“Right now, all she must know is that all of her friends just suddenly left her,” Sango remarked, stepping up to separate them from each other. “I understand that you’re hurt, Ren. And you have every right to be. But I think this all escalated very quickly, and that we all just need to calm down a little and talk things out.”

“Ban-san seemed very concerned.” Pirika added, worrying the handkerchief in her hands. “I think Kagome-nee-chan needs us.”

Ren’s glare wavered at that.

An image of Kagome’s tearful face flashed in his mind. His jaw clenched.

“Tch.”

---

On a different part of town, Bankotsu managed to find Yoh not that far from where he’d found the Usui siblings. The brunette’s dejection worked in his favor, his footsteps slow and lethargic.

“Asakura!”

The other boy’s footsteps stopped, turning to look over his shoulder with a smile that looked forced. “Ah, hey Bankotsu. What’s up?”

Bankotsu stepped forward. “You’re coming back with me.”

Yoh’s smile strained a little. “I don’t think…”

Blue eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t asking.”

“Eh?” Was the only thing Yoh could say before he dumbly found himself being bodily carried back towards the direction of the inn. “W-wha—”

“Look,” Bankotsu scowled. “If it were up to me, I’d prefer to keep you away from Kagome. But regardless of however we both feel, you’re still her friend. And as someone who’s known her longer, I’ll tell you right now that she doesn’t have a lot of those left.”

He looked over his shoulder to meet Yoh’s startled gaze. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her smile and mean it. And I’m not going to let you take it away from her again.”

“…put me down.”

“You’re coming back with me.”

“I am,” Yoh agreed. “But you’re walking too slow.”

---

“I-I’ll be right back!” Mukotsu winced as he accidentally spat at her with all his stuttering.

But she only blinked wordlessly, eyes unfocused.

‘It’ll only be just a few minutes.’ He told himself as he vanished for the exit.

---

“Alright, the band’s back together!” HoroHoro cheered as Bankotsu and Yoh met up with them as they hurried back to the inn. Ren and Yoh warily glanced at one another but didn’t say a word.

“Good job, you two!” Bankotsu grinned, ruffling Pirika’s hair and causing the young girl to blush prettily.

Sango suddenly spoke up. “You said Mukotsu-san was with Kagome-chan, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Isn’t that him?” They all turned to see the young man walking in the same direction as them with a drink in hand.

Alone.

Yoh suddenly felt dread curling at the pit of his gut, for some reason. ‘What the…?’

“Mu?!” Bankotsu called out to him. “Where’s Kagome-chan?!”

His older brother jumped, wide eyes blinking at the large group running towards him, feeling his heartrate spike back up at having all their attention on him. Mukotsu meekly raised the can of juice in his hands. “I-I just went to get her a drink.”

“Where is she?” Ren demanded sharply. Yoh noticed the sudden tension in his shoulders and the alert way he was holding himself.

“S-she was sitting in the lobby—” was all he managed to say before the Tao heir left. Yoh quickly hurried after him, but not before quirking a smile at Mukotsu in thanks.

As they all filed back into the inn, Ren suddenly stopped, causing them all to crash into him. “Ren, why did you stop?” Yoh grunted as someone accidentally pushed him into the other shaman.

“Asakura?” Ren said, cautiously confused, as if he knew the answer to his own question and didn’t want to be proven correct.

“Yes?”

“Who the hell is that?”

He pointed ahead of them, where someone who looked startlingly like a longer haired Yoh pulled on Kagome’s hand and wrapped a possessive arm around her waist.

Eerily similar brown eyes flashed over to them from over Kagome’s shoulder. His smirk widened at the sight of them, causing them to bristle as he pulled Kagome flush against his body, and mouthed something in their direction.

Too late.

The feeling of dread intensified. Screams erupted in the inn as everything was engulfed by flames.

“KAGOME!”

[kittykatz009]

TOP 5 OTP (OF YOUR HEART)

Ladies and Gentlemen, and that technicolor rainbow in between, we’re gonna play a game of listing our top 5 OTP and then tagging 5 blogs.

Ooooh! Thanks @senwe for the tag!

Usagi Tsukino and Mamoru Chiba (Sailor Moon)

Yoh Asakura and Anna Kyoyama (Shaman King)

Soul Evans and Maka Albarn (Soul Eater)

Edward Elric and Winry Rockbell (FMA)

InuYasha and Kagome Higurashi (InuYasha)

I tag: @winryofresembool @icameheretowinry @drrockbell @nina-sayu @edxwin-elric

[razzzmatazz]

I know I did something like this a while ago but that was more of a characters I relate to, which isn’t really right for me. I don’t really have any characters I relate to when I think about it, but I definitely have ones that inspire me to be a better person.

So that’s kinda what this is. 

These characters have always stuck with me, having a special place in my heart and helping keep my mind strong. They all have strengths, or something special about them that inspires me to have or make the same strength. 

Kagome Higurashi: From one of the first animes I watched. I remember staying up late every single night before to catch Inuyasha when it would air late on Adult Swim. If anyone could put a picture on kindness, it would be her. I was always amazed by just how kind she was to everyone she ever met, and helped bring out kindness in other people. There’s many other positive things about Kagome, but that’s always what I was drawn to and wanted to be like.

Shanks: From the very first episode, I wanted to be like him. Shanks always put his friends first, not really caring what happened to himself. That, and some of his quotes just really speak to me. 

“By experiencing both victory and defeat, running away and shedding tears, a man will become a man. It's okay to cry, but you have to move on.” 

There’s several other good quotes from him, but this one sticks out to me. It’s stuff like this that helps give me strength. He even inspires other characters in the show, how can I not be inspired by him?

Sunset Shimmer: Actually, I lied. If there’s anyone I relate to it’s Sunset. She’s done some pretty bad things in her past but was allowed a chance at redemption and took it. She never really understood what friends were before that, and now she tries to help others that had been like her. Either falling down that same path or already on it. She’s one of the characters that gives me hope, telling me that-- yeah, you did some fucked up stuff, but you have to make it better. Try and be better, show you’re better to those who helped pull you up.

Sabo: To have a cause to stand for and the strength to stand up for it is something that’s always inspired me. Something I was I could do and try so hard to be like. I’ve spent a lot of my life being silent, letting things just happen and not speaking up when people needed me to. I don’t want to be like that anymore. And whether it’s a call for justice or my friends, I have something I can stand up for now.

Raimundo Pedrosa: Rai’s a bit different from the others on here. He’s one of those characters you grow up with, learning as they do. When you first see him, he’s cocky, a bit full of himself, and was very quick to fight without thinking. As you go along with him though, he learns from his mistakes, takes time to study his team and enemies, stand up and be a leader. He learns that doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest choice, having joined the enemies side several times to take the easy way out, and that doing the right thing requires sacrifice sometimes. He had to earn becoming leader, but there wasn’t anyone better suited for it in the end.

Kiki: Kiki makes me think of one of my favorite quotes from Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. 

“There's nothing terribly wrong with feeling lost, so long as that feeling precedes some plan on your part to actually do something about it. Too often a person grows complacent with their disillusionment, perpetually wearing their "discomfort" like a favorite shirt. I can't say I'm very pleased with where my life is just now... but I can't help but look forward to where it's going. “

Although she’s a much more PG representation of that than Johnny is. She knows who she is and what she wants to be. Somewhere along the way though.. she looses herself. Can’t fly anymore and can’t understand Gigi. Her magic is gone and it takes a lot of searching to get it back. She gives the message and inspiration to try, try, and just keep trying. Setting out on your own can be scary, and there’s going to be setbacks, but you can do it.

Asakura Yoh: Yoh’s another favorite from some of the first shows I watched. He’s carefree and very laidback, much different from everyone else on here. But that’s good sometimes I think. Worrying about too much stuff can stress a person to death. It’s important to find a balance between keeping a relaxed attitude and just plain old not caring. He’s always been positive, had a positive attitude and that’s something I want to have as well.

Mulan: Putting family first, even when they don’t put you first can be hard. And I know it’s a time period thing but it still happens. A lot of what inspires me is just the amount of bravery and strength she shows. I’ve never really been the one that people would think could be brave, but I’d like to be. I want to be able to find that courage and do something with it.

[shironezuninja]

When Tumblr posts spoil the latest AOT episode hours before it streams on Crunchyroll, there’s nothing I can do but wait.

[mijikai-tan]

Besides samewada (of course) what are your favorite ships/otps?

I have a long list of shippings…lets see if i can remember all some of them 

Anime/Manga ships

Sasusaku (Sasuke and sakura) from naruto (OTP/SHIP)

Naruhina (Naruto and hinata) from naruto (OTP/SHIP)

Nalu (Natsu and lucy) from fairy tail (OTP/SHIP)

Gruvia (Gray and Juvia) from fairy tail (OTP/SHIP)

Jerza (Jellal and erza) from fairy tail (OTP/ship)

Tsumiki x io from acchi kocchi (OTP/ship)

Edwin (Edward x winry) from fullmetal alchemist/full alchemist brotherhood(OTP/SHIP)

Royai (roy and riza) from fullmetal alchemist/fullmetal alchemist brotherhood(OTP/SHIP)

Syaosaku (Syaoran and sakura) from cardcaptor sakura (OTP/SHIP)

Inukag (Inuyasha and kagome) from Inuyasha (OTP/SHIP)

Tomoya x nagisa from clannad (OTP/SHIP)

Ryuuji x taiga from toradora (OTP/SHIP)

Kyo x tohru from fruits basket (OTP/SHIP)

Natsume x Mikan from Gakuen alice (OTP/SHIP)

Kirito and asuna from Sword art online (Okay look, this anime is shitty, I’ve hated this show but  however, I love their romance) (OTP/Ship)

Kyousuke x kuroneko from Oreimo (Again, Another anime that was beyond shitty just like SAO but I REALLY loved their chemistry together///Was a shame that they didnt ended up together tho (OTP/SHIP)

Lelouch x CC from Code geass (OTP/SHIP)

Okikagu (okita x kagura) from gintama (OTP/SHIP)

Shota x Sawako from kimi ni todoke (OTP/SHIP)

Hak x Yona from Akatsuki no Yona (OTP/SHIP)

Haru x Shizuku from tonari no kaibutsu-kun (OTP/SHIP)

Soushi x ririchiyo from Inu x boku ss (OTP/SHIP)

Shu x Inori from Guilty crown (OTP/SHIP)

Eremika (Eren and mikasa) from Shingeki no kyojin (OTP/SHIP)

Ymir x Christa from Shingeki no kyojin (OTP/SHIP)

Rivetra (Levi x petra) From shingeki no kyojin (OTP/SHIP)

Rin x shiemi from Ao no exorcist (OTP/SHIP) 

Usui x Misaki from Kaichou wa maid-sama (OTP/SHIP)

Takuto x Mitsuki from Full moon wo sagashite (OTP/SHIP)

Amuto (Ikuto x amu) From shugo chara (OTP/SHIP)

Kazume x Karin from Kamichama karin (OTP/SHIP)

Mochizou x Tamako from Tamako Market (OTP/SHIP)

Yoh x Anna from Shaman kin (OTP/SHIP)

Ren x Jeanne from Shaman king (OTP/SHIP)

Soul x Maka from soul eater (OTP/SHIP)

Yuji x Shana from shakugan no shana (OTP/SHIP)

Hayate x Nagi from hayate no gotoku (OTP/SHIP)

Gin x Rangiku from Bleach (OTP/SHIP)

Yukari x reimu from touhou (OTP/SHIP)

Tomoyo x Nanami from Kamisama hajimaeshita (OTP/SHIP)

Megaman.EXE x Roll.EXE from Megaman anime series (OTP/SHIP)

Alex x Kirie from Himouto! Umaru chan (OTP/SHIP)

Taihei x Kanau from Himouto! Umaru chan (OTP/SHIP)

Soul x Maka from soul eater (OTP/SHIP)

Gen x Beni from tenkai knights (OTP/SHIP)

Gasser x Beauty from bobobo-bo-bo-bobo (OTP/SHIP)

Koji x Izumi from Digimon Frontier (OTP/SHIP)

Hiro x Nine alpha from darling in the franxx (OTP/SHIP)

Zorome x miku from darling in the franxx (OTP/SHIP)

Hiro x zero two from darling in the franxx (OTP/SHIP)

Colonello x Lal Mirch from hitman reborn (OTP/SHIP)

Satou x Yachiyo from Working!!(OTP/SHIP)

Games

Sequelshipping (Hugh x mei) from Pokemon black/white 2 (OTP/SHIP)

Ferriswheelshipping (N x Touko) from Pokemon black/white 2 (OTP/SHIP)

Conflictshipping (Blue x leaf) From Pokemon fire red/leaf green (OTP/SHIP)

Franticshipping (Brendan x May) From Pokemon ruby/sapphire/ Omega ruby and sapphire (OTP/SHIP)

Calem x Serena from Pokemon X and Y(OTP/SHIP)

Naegiri (Makoto x Kirigiri) From Danganronpa trigger happy havoc (OTP/SHIP)

Vaughn x chelsa from Harvest moon island of happiness/ Sunshine islands(OTP/SHIP)

Gray x Claire from Harvest moon DS cute (I know there was other versions but I never played them)(OTP/SHIP)

Yoshiki x Ayumi from corpse party(OTP/SHIP)

Aya x Dio from Mad father (OTP/SHIP)

Defect mogeko x Yonaka from Mogeko castle (OTP/SHIP)

Wodagrora (Wodahs x grora) from the gray garden (OTP/SHIP)

Eticalb (Kcalb x etihw) from the gray garden (OTP/ship)

Yosafroze (Yosafire x froze) From the gray garden (OTP/SHIP)

Emalfire (Emalf x yosafire) from the gray garden (OTP/SHIP)

Fukadol (Fukami x dolphi) from wadanohara and the great blue sea (OTP/SHIP)

Oldtatsu (Old x tatsumiya) from wadanohara and the great blue sea (OTP/SHIP)

Salmiko (sal x Mikotsu) from wadanohara and the great blue sea (OTP/SHIP)

Mystic messenger- female player x all the main interests in the game

Characters that arent from a game/show/anime/manga but by a creator(mostly DSP’S characters)

Daimonji x cosmea (OTP/SHIP)

Liliya x Rosaliya (OTP/SHIP)

Chlomaki x fungas crocodile (OTP/SHIP)

Satanlil (satanick x lil) (OTP/SHIP)

Glasses x Kiku (OTP/SHIP)

Reficul x Sin (OTP/SHIP)

Scor x Mitsuki (OTP/SHIP)

Miscellaneous (Category of ships that are either from both games to series, etc ALSO crack-ships/A few cartoon ships)

Sonamy (Sonic x amy) from Sonic (OTP/SHIP)

Shadmy (Shadow x amy) from sonic (OTP/SHIP)

Silver x blaze from sonic (OTP/SHIP)

Death the kid x Maka from soul eater (OTP/SHIP)- Woop-woop, this is a crackship, I ship them for their chemistry///But dont worry, I also love soul with maka

Rito x Ren from To love ru (OTP/SHIP)- Alright, I may not be into yaoi/fujoshi but however, Harem animes are so bad, I always tend to ship the main male protag with his guy friends instead because yknow what, fuck yo harem and its shitty cliches 

Saito x Julius from Zero no tsukaima (OTP/SHIP)-Another yaoi crackship for this. I may ship saito and louise together but at the same time, I really hate how she treats saito (I like this ship but I hate it at the same time because of louise hhhHHHH) so uhhhh again, FUCK YO HAREM GIRL CIRCLE AND ITS CLICHES owo (Julius and saito is the true ship in this series, sorry i dont make the rules)

Blossick (Brick x blossom) from powerpuff girls (OTP/SHIP)

Fiolee (Marshall lee x fionna) from adventure time (OTP/SHIP)

Thats all for now(?) Anyways, those are my ships and my preferences so yeah. 

[blumedoujinshi]

Doujinshi Overview (as a text post so mobile users can have access to this too)

Types of doujinshi

oneshots (one single story by a single author)

omnibuses (a collection of (often previously printed individually) stories by a single author)

anthologies (a collection of stories by multiple authors)

novels (a written story; not a comic)

for sale (sold by me)

Series

Fullmetal Alchemist

Characters

Roy Mustang

Riza Hawkeye

Team Mustang

Berthold Hawkeye

Shippings:

Roy Mustang x Riza Hawkeye

Howl’s Moving Castle

Characters:

Howl

Sophie

Markl

Calcifer

Shippings:

Howl x Sophie

Inuyasha

Characters:

Inuyasha

Miroku

Kagome Higurashi

Shippings:

Inuyasha x Miroku

Pokémon

Characters:

Green (Blue) Oak

Red

Gold

Kotone/Lyra/Soul

Silver (Pokémon)

All characters

Shippings:

Green x Red

Shaman King

Characters:

Yoh Asakura

Anna Kyoyama

Manta Oyamada

Hao Asakura

Ren Tao

Horohoro

Silver (Shaman King)

All characters

Shippings:

Yoh x Anna

Yoh x Hao

Yoh x Amidamaru

Yoh x Manta

Anna x Hao

Ren x Horohoro

Vision of Escaflowne

Characters:

Hitomi Kanzaki

Van Fanel

All characters

Shippings:

Hitomi x Van

[chukazanmai]

Inspired by @archeracrosstime posting Kagome’s Magi verse outfits, I decided to do two quick edits for Ren’s main Magi outfits too.

1st outfit is Ren’s clothes while he lived in Kou, it’s mostly black and gold his standards colors, the top of the hanfu has got the name “Tao” (his family’s name) embroidered on it while the sleeves and bottom of the jacket are decorated with golden and purple motifs.

2nd outfit is Ren’s clothes within the main arcs of Magi’s season 1 (mainly Balbadd arc and Sindria arc). He stops wearing chinese influenced outfits like he did back in Kou, he begins wearing more “desert-like” clothing, giving him more freedom in his movements and as manner of speech freedom from Kou’s chains.  Underneath Ren’s purple scarf hides a simple crystal shaped necklace that contains Yoh’s ashes, someone that was very important to Ren during his last year in Kou, and on his left hand he also wears a ring that once belonged to Yoh. When he met Kagome, months prior to the Balbadd arc, bandits tried to steal these things from him and the reason he got so badly hurt (aside from still being recovering from fresh wounds) was because he fought tooth and nail to not get these stolen.

In Ren’s back is his family’s tattoo which was forced upon him when he was just 9 years old. It’s mostly visible in his second outfit.

[bestabsoluteshitposts]

B.A.P as Anime Protagonists

Yongguk: Haruhi Fujioka

Himchan: Kagome Higurashi

Daehyun: Monkey D. Luffy

Youngjae: Naruto Uzumaki

Jongup: Haruka Nanase

Junhong: Yoh Asakura

[thelunarfox22]

10 Favorite Female Characters

(tagged by @aldara-the-albatross​)

Violet Baudelaire (Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Starlight Glimmer (Hasbro’s My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

Chihiro Fujisaki (Square Chunsoft’s Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc)

Mulan (Disney’s Mulan)

Korra (Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Legend of Korra)

Kira Nerys (Paramount’s Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Midna (Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

Kagome Higurashi (Rumiko Takahashi’s Inuyasha)

Liv Moore (CW’s iZombie)

Sucy Manbavaran (Yoh Yoshinari’s Little Witch Academia)

This list isn’t in any particular ranking, because I love them all too much to choose. <3

Time to tag folks: @karatekid34 @theirisianprincess @janeandthehivequeen