Courtney blinked hard, her vision blurry. Someone was speaking Japanese in her ear; techno pop was swimming around in her head.
What am I doing here? Where am I?
Courtney blinked again, her vision, and her mind becoming clearer at each moment.
I’m in Tokyo. I’m in Japan…
She laid on her futon for a few more luscious moments, soaking in just that fact. Finally, she jumped out of the covers, hit the alarm, and pulled on her uniform. She liked how it felt. The crisp white shirt was clean, and the short green skirt was stylish and comfortable.
Finally, she pulled her long, silky brown-red hair down out of her usual ponytail. Struggling a little with the clasp of her heart necklace, she eventually got it on, its long chain going in between her breasts, a simple silver heart dangling on the end. Wrinkling her nose at her reflection in the mirror, she smiled. It was beautiful. Not even bothering to put on any make up, she skipped out of the room.
In the hallway, she met Kagome, who gave her a large smile and a look over.
Grabbing Courtney’s wrists, Kagome gave a shrill squeal of excitement, and started to giggle.
Slightly alarmed, Courtney addressed her in mediocre Japanese. “How do I look?”
Kagome laughed again and guided Courtney down the hall. “You look great! Wait until the boys at school see you! They’ll be all over you, with that hair of yours.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so!”
Slightly reassured, Courtney followed Kagome into the kitchen, where a wonderful aroma met her nose. Just that smell alone could wake her up. Smiling, she walked over to the table and sat down next to Sota. As Mrs. Higurashi served her a simple bowl of rice with egg, she looked at up at the kindly mother, and smiled. “Morning, Mrs. Higurashi!”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled kindly, serving a bowl to Kagome, who tucked in with an appetite. “Good morning! Oh Courtney, dispose of the formalities! You’re family now! Call me Mama, like Sota and Kagome do.”
Honored, she blushed as she picked up her chopsticks. “Yes, Mrs., I mean, Mama.”
Fumbling with the chopsticks a bit, she finally got the hang of it, and the bowl of rice was quickly devoured, not even a grain left. Courtney drank a quick sip of water, and stood up, brushing off her skirt. Nodding to Kagome, who was also finished, she nodded her head respectfully to Kagome’s grandfather. Kagome did the same, and as they walked out the door in a hurry, Mama kissed them both on the cheek, and handed them their lunches.
As Courtney walked out the door, Grandfather said something to Mama, thinking Courtney was out of ear. “Hmph! Kagome should be fighting with Inuyasha in the Feudal Era, not gallivanting off at that high school of hers!”
Thinking she was hearing things, Courtney shook her head and paid no mind. As she stepped out into the busy streets of the city, she looked at her new friend. Is she hiding something?
Kagome looked back, wondering where Courtney could have gone. Seeing her a few feet behind, standing on the sidewalk, she laughed. “C’mon, silly, or we’ll be late for school!”
Courtney smiled, and jogged a bit to catch up. Laughing, she apologized as they walked along, “Sorry! Had a few things on my mind. “
Kagome looked at her troubled face and smiled as they approached a milling crowd of Japanese teenagers, all wanting to see the new American exchange student. Smiling, she put a hand comfortingly on Courtney’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine! Look, everyone wants to meet you!”
Courtney blushed, as she was approached by enthusiastic girls admiring her hair, and talking to her in such rapid Japanese she could barely understand them. Looking up at the doors of the school, she waited apprehensively.
I sure hope you’re right…
In school, Courtney struggled through her classes. Did all Japanese teachers talk this fast, or did she think too slowly? Her mind exhausted, she slugged through her kanji, almost passed out in Calculus, and had a major headache by the time Japanese History came around. Thank goodness! She thought. We get a book to read from!
After she got the hang of the reading, she thoroughly enjoyed their lesson in history that day. It was on the Feudal Era in Japan, a time of handsome daimyos and beautiful priestesses, of wicked demons and honorable ones, of monsters and magic. She was instantly entranced by the ruggedness of Old Japan. Suddenly, something tugged on her mind.
(FLASHBACK)
“Hmph! Kagome should be fighting with Inuyasha in the Feudal Era, not gallivanting off at that high school of hers!”
(End Flashback)
Courtney’s eyes snapped open wide. Sota had mentioned Inuyasha too! The Feudal Era…..What’s going on? Her eyes sharp, she decided that Kagome was hiding something…and she was going to find out.
Author's Chapter Notes:
I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA.
NOW REVIEW!