After the Mask (Secret of the cursed mask game sequel)

Part 1

It has been three long years since the great adventure. Three years!

Sighing I put my school bag away. I just finished entrance exams at high school. Apparently my grades are good enough to get me into a renowned university. Though right now I could care less. "I wonder what they could be doing right now..."

Ever since I came back to the present, life has been a bore and I just have been missing everyone so badly. Sure, I meet up with Kagome every now and then, but it's not the same. I long to go back to that atmosphere.

I tried to go through the well at Kagome's house once, but that didn't work well. It only resulted in a broken ankle and shattered dreams. But I'm not ready to give up though. I've been reading tons of books about the Feudal era to make sure I would fit in more easily than last time. I want to be prepared in case I find a way to go back. And if I do go back, I plan to stay there for a while.

Changing into a priestess outfit and slinging my hair into a low ponytail, I get ready to help father at the shrine. Stepping outside I grab a broom to sweep the path. I will be doing a lot of sweeping from now on. Just until classes start again of course.

As I think back on everything and everyone I miss I sense a cold wind go past me. I freeze and look around, paranoid. For a long time I've been getting the feeling of another presence at the shrine. It comes and goes without warning. And when it's there I feel like I'm no longer alone, that someone is watching. Somehow I can tell that this presence means no harm, so I just let it be.

I asked father once before if he could sense it. He said he didn't and that it was probably just my imagination due to stress from school. After that I didn't mention it anymore, but the feeling kept returning.

I look behind me when I hear my name being called. "Kaname!"

I see my long time friend Emi running up to me. "Hey Emi, what brings you here?"

She tries to gather her breath before speaking, "I was wondering if you wanted to come to a gathering with me. It's just some of our old classmates. We wish to celebrate graduating high school. So, what do you say?"

I smile at her but shake my head. "I'm sorry, I promised to help here today. My dad is really busy."

Emi pouts. "That's too bad. Hiro is coming too you know." she points out.

I sigh inwardly. She's been trying to hook me up with him for a year now. It seems that the only ones bothered that I still haven't dated yet are her and my mom. "He really likes you, you know." she says with a sneaky grin.

"So you keep saying." I sigh out.

Putting her hand on her hips she scowls at me. "You are hopeless Kaname. Why can't you give him a chance?"

I turn around and go back to sweeping. "I'm just not interested."

She throws her hands in the air in frustration before giving me a look of defeat. "Alright then. I'll see you around." she sighs in dismay.

"Have fun." I wish her. With that she leaves.

I finish up and put the broom away in the storage while humming to myself. I reach up to grab a box of charms so I can refill them when I see something in the mirror that is right in front of my face. I gasp while turning around abruptly, the box that I was getting falls onto my head before hitting the ground and spilling charms all over the place.

"Ouch." I wince while rubbing my head. Opening my eyes I quickly look around. There is nothing there. I sigh sadly at this. I really thought I just saw Sesshomaru. But that would be a little strange wouldn't it? My imagination must be running wild.

Sesshomaru is a person I regret not spending more time with. I rather liked him really, even while he was acting all cold and silent. Maybe I could say I even had a crush on him at some point. I hope I get to meet him again someday.

Putting my thoughts aside, I crouch down and gather all the charms back in the box before leaving the storage.

~ Sesshomaru

I watch as the image of Kaname walks away. It's like looking at a ghost, as the image is slightly blurry and see-through. The image sometimes fades entirely.

It was a few months after she left when I found this place. Deep within the forest I found a large clearing with flowers, a pond and a small shrine for travelers. I thought not much of it until I saw a flash of her walking around in this place.

It took me off guard at first. I found out that she could not see me and just observed for a while as she does those things that humans seem to do. At rare occasions this whole clearing is full of images. I can see the surroundings that Kaname inhabits. With that, I believe her image lingers here because in the future, this will be where she is living. It's so strange that the connection between past and future seem so strong here.

Since then I come here every now and again when I find myself close by and I watched as she grew up from the girl she was to the woman she is now.

I don't understand why I keep coming here. What is the point of it? I tried, but somehow I can't stay away for long. Lately though, things changed a bit. She seems more aware of me, though she still can't see me. Maybe she's becoming stronger.

Feeling like I've had enough for now, I leave the place until next time.

~Kaname

That night I just stare ahead as mom puts a bowl of rice and miso soup before me. "What, don't we say thank you now?" she scolds.

"Sorry mom, and thanks."

She smiles softly. "Where is your mind sweetie?"

I sigh, "Far far away. Really far away."

"I hope this isn't about your Feudal adventure again Kaname." father says.

"I still stand by my story." I mutter before starting to eat.

He shakes his head before eating as well. When I returned I told them about what happened, but they just say I bumped my head or something since I was only gone from their sight for a few hours. "You know, I will prove it to you some day." I say after swallowing my bite.

"Sure honey, just as long as you don't do anything stupid."

"Yeah dad."