Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Angel to a Lost Soul ❯ The Gift and the Shadow ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

(Twilight): Hello everyone! Since I have this story posted on other various sites, I decided to post it here as well. Though I had to change it to fit the rules here since they don’t allow self-insertion / cyoa fics. Seto, do the disclaimer!

(Seto): Twilight Elf doesn’t own me, yu yu hakusho, or anything else you may recognize.

“It’s still raining.”

She leaned against the window and stared outside at the falling rain. A black sketchbook held tightly against her chest as she drifted in and out of her thoughts. Just yesterday she’d found out that her boyfriend had been cheating on her with another girl. When she'd confronted him about it, he’d simply said their relationship together wasn’t going fast enough for him. And that he needed to be with a girl who could give him what he wants.

‘Yeah. What he meant was that he wanted a girl who would let him into her pants whenever he wanted.’

“Jaden?”

“Hmm?”

Jaden looked to the living-room entryway and saw her grandmother looking at her with sympathy. With her mother at work and her grandfather gone to the store, she’d been the only one here to comfort her when she’d burst into her home in tears. Wrapping her sobbing form up in her gentle arms as she poured her heart out and stroking her hair like she did when she was a little girl.

“It’s four o’clock sweetheart. Weren’t you suppose to meet your friend at the library?”

She groaned. “I completely forgot.”

“Perhaps you should cancel?”

A sigh escaped Jaden’s lips as she laid herr sketchbook next to her and sluggishly pulled on her shoes. The once bright twinkle in her brown eyes completely extinguished; leaving them dull and almost lifeless. “I can’t. I promised Raidon that we’d work on our project today.”

She sighed at Jaden’s stubbornness. “Alright then. But please take an umbrella and jacket with you. It’s suppose to start raining more heavily and I don’t want you getting sick.”

Jaden smiled at her concern. Her grandmother had always been like that while she was growing up. Always worrying about her health and well-being like a mother hen. “I will.”

Placing her sketchbook inside her bag, Jaden rushed out of the living-room and headed for the front door. She slipped on her jacket, grabbed her umbrella, and was just about to head out the door until the voice of your grandfather halted her.

“Jaden.” Her grandfather walked up to her with his hands concealing something behind his back. A smile was on his face and his eyes seemed to twinkle. He lowered his voice and looked around; almost as if to make sure no one was watching. “There’s something that I want to give you.”

“What is it grandpa?”

He pulls out a small black box and hands it to her. “Here. Consider this an early birthday present.”

Jaden smiled. “But, my birthday isn’t for quite awhile.”

“I know that, but consider this a . . . get well present for what that bas-”

“Jaden?”

Hearing the approach of her grandmother, her grandfather started to panic and quickly spun Jaden around to hide the box in her backpack. Obviously he didn’t want her grandmother to catch him giving her the gift for some reason.

“Yes grandma?”

After looking at her grandfather - who seemed to be engrossed by the stairwell - suspiciously she gave Jaden a kind smile. “I wanted to tell you to be home before dark.”

“I will grandma. Bye!” Opening up the umbrella she quickly rushed out the door and made her way to the library. All thoughts of the black box forgotten.

“Ya know . . . you’ve been awfully quiet since you got here.”

“. . . . .”

“Not this game again.”

“. . . . .”

“You do remember that the more you refuse to talk, the more I talk. Right?”

“. . . .”

“Okay you asked for it. Now let’s see . . . hmm . . AHA! Would you like to hear some of my all knowing, great, and all sought out wisdom?”

“. . . .”

“Of course you do! Now my advice for you this fine rainy day is to AT ALL COSTS, avoid any squirrels. For you see, they are head honchos of the evil underground society plotting to take over the world. First they shall recruit the hamsters so they can lure the innocent into their little clutches. Then they shall . . .”

‘Good grief. He’s determined to make me talk isn’t he?’

“. . . and since the opossums are in league with the raccoons, who take orders from the mongooses, the evil squirrels will then aim for their ultimate goal. Which is to take over the WORLD!! However, before they can do that, they must get rid of their arch nemesis . . . the only ones who may be able to save us. The almighty . . . CHIPMUNKS!”

“Young man! This is a public library! LOWER YOUR VOICE!”

“And only after the the lemurs have joined the penguins, who joined because of the kangaroos, will the chipmunks be able to stand against the dreaded squirrel army in a battle to save mankind. Hey, I just thought of something! This would make a great movie! Only there could be kung fu fighting ducks and lightsaber battles! Darth Squirrelish versus . . . Chipunkuous Skydiver!”

“YOUNG MAN! ONE MORE OUTBURST AND YOU’RE OUT OF HERE!”

“Pssh. She’s just jealous that she couldn’t come up with such a great idea for a movie. Or . . . maybe she’s in league with the squirrels! Oh no. It’s starting. First the library. Then Japan. And then the World! Wait. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with you. You’ve become a victim of those bushy-tailed rats!”

Jaden almost fell out of her seat when her friend glomped her. “Never fear Jaden! I shall save you from them! You hear me you evil rodents! I shall save my best friend from your evil little clutches. So long as I draw breath, you shall not use her as your virgin sacrifice!”

“MR. HOGOSHA! GET YOUR STUFF AND LEAVE!”

“Please don’t send him away Mrs. Takisha! I promise he’ll be quiet from now on!” Jaden pleaded on her friend's behalf. Knowing that since the head librarian thought so highly of her, she’d let Raidon stay.

“Alright Ms. Hikari. But he’s under your care.”

“Hey! I ain’t no pet that - MMPH!”

“Yes ma’m.” Placing her hand over Raidon’s mouth, Jaden tried to bow politely to her before she dragged him to the other side of the library where, hopefully, he wouldn’t cause so much of a ruckus.

She shoved him up against a shelf and gave him a half-hearted glare. Trying to restrain herself from hitting him upside the head when he grinned pervertedly at her. “Why Jaden! I had no idea you felt this way about me! It’s my looks isn’t it?”

Modesty wasn’t Raidons forté. The man knew that he was good-looking and wasn’t afraid to say it. He had thick, shoulder-length white hair with two or three bangs that fell above his eyes. A strong, average build and haunting electric-blue eyes that seemed to almost glow at times. Yes, there had been many a girl who claimed he had the looks of a god.

“Well it wouldn’t be for your personality. That much is sure.”

Raidon gave her a fake hurt look. “You wound me Jaden! I believe that I shall die of a broken heart! Oh woe as me. Whatever shall I do?!”

As he continued his melodrama Jaden chuckled quietly. No. What she said before wasn’t true. Raidon had a wonderful personality. He was funny, considerate, smart, caring, and so much more. Whenever she needed him, he was always there for her. Never asking anything from her in return except for her friendship. Which she had no problem giving.

In Jaden’s eyes, Raidon was everything that a girl could ask for. And she considered herself lucky to be called his friend. “Calm down Raidon. You’re going to have a heartattack if you keep up the dramatics.”

A concerned look overcame his previous comical one. “Jaden, please tell what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

Even a blind man could have seen through her lie. So it was no surprise that Raidon didn’t believe her. “Oh really? Then tell me dear one, why weren’t you at school today? I know it’s not because you’re sick, otherwise you wouldn’t be standing here with me. And why did you hardly say two words to me when you showed up a few hours ago? Hmm?”

There was no getting out of it. Jaden knew that if she didn’t tell him, Raidon wouldn’t let her leave the building until she did. “Alright. Yesterday, I found out that Tokui has been cheating on me with Serena for the past few months.”

“That BASTARD had the gall to do that?!” A fire erupted in his eyes and they seemed almost unhuman. “I told him that I’d castrate him if he ever broke your heart! Grr. What was his excuse? I know that he had to have had one.”

“H-He basically said that . . I couldn’t give him what he wanted. S-S-So . . he went to someone who could.” The tears that she’d been trying to hold back all day finally burst. As much as it hurt to admit, Tokui had been her first crush and boyfriend.

Smothering down his rage, Raidon pulled her crying form against his strong chest. His hands softly stroking her black hair as he rocked her back and forth. “Dear one. I swear to you that it’ll get better. When I see him, he’s going to wish he’d never been born.”

Jaden looked up at him with a tear streaked face. Desperation shining in her eyes. “No Raidon! I can’t let you hurt him!”

A growl emitted from his throat. “He broke your heart! Do you just expect me to stand around and let him get away with that?! You’re my best friend! And I’ll be damned if I don’t do something about it!”

“Please Raidon. You’ll get into serious trouble and I don’t want that to happen! So please, for my sake, just let it go.” Jaden knew that if Raidon confronted Tokui, he might actually kill him. And she wasn’t going to allow Raidon to get into trouble because of her.

“Alright! Just . . . stop giving me those puppy-dog eyes. You know that I can’t resist those.”

A sigh of relief escaped her lips. She was positive that Raidon wouldn’t go back on his word with her. It wasn’t in his nature to do so. “Thank you.”

“Eh. No problem.” A childish pout came to his lips. “But couldn’t you have at least permitted me to hit him just once?”

Jaden shook your head in amusement. “No Raidon.”

“Aw come on Jaden! It could an early birthday present.”

“Birthday present . . .”

“Yeah! Then you won’t . . . have to . . . Just what are you doing?”

Jaden kneeled to the ground and rummaged around in her backpack. Looking for the gift her grandfather had given her before she’d left. Why she forgot about it, she’d never know. “I’m looking for my birthday present.”

“ACK! Tell me it isn’t your birthday! I couldn’t have forgotten.” Raidon started doing math in the air. “Add the two and carry the one. Wait . . . it isn’t your birthday. So why do -”

“After what Tokui did to me, my grandpa decided to give me an early birthday present in hopes of cheering me up.” Jaden moved your sketchbook and a few art supplies around.

Raising a white brow, Raidon peered over her hunched form and tried to look in her bag. “Soo . . . wha’d ya get?”

“Actually, I haven’t looked yet.”

Raidon looked at her as if she were insane. “You got an early gift and you haven’t even opened it yet?”

“No. I was in a hurry to get here and I forgo - AHA! Found it!” Jaden held up the black box in triumph.

“Huh. Think we can eat whatever’s inside? OWW!” Raidon plopped down on the floor and nursed the side of his head where she’d smacked him. “Why’d ya hit meeeeeeee?!”

Jaden ignored his childish behavior and opened the box. Peering inside she saw a bundle of white, silk cloth. Tentatively, she withdrew the bundle and started to unwrap it. Gasping when she saw what the cloth had been concealing. “It’s beautiful.”

“What is it?” Raidon peered back over her shoulder and looked at what she was holding.

Cradling the object tenderly in the palm of her hand, Jaden started to examine it more closely. It was a beautiful pendant. An oval, blood-red stone mounted in a silver setting and strung on a long, silver chain. And although the library lights were rather dim, they were still able to make the stone shine brightly.

“Eh? Ya know . . . I still think that something edible would have been better. AHH! STOP HITTING ME!” Raidon jerked back against the bookshelf, but ended up knocking over a book that then fell on his head. “Owww! Why is everything out to get me?! What did I ever do to deserve such cruel treatment?!”

As Raidon continued his whining, Jaden delicately traced the pendant with her finger. It may have seemed simple enough, but it felt . . . strange. As if there was some force within it. ‘Why does this -’

Jaden yelped and fell backwards. Staring wide-eyed at the pendant.

“What?!” Raidon looked at her in worry. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“I-I-It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

But that was far from the truth. Something was indeed wrong. As she’d held the pendant, it seemed to grow warmer. She’d just ignored it at first, but then it had pulsated in her hands and it felt like a strong wave of power had surged throughout her body in that one moment. ‘Maybe I’m just imagining things.’

Cautiously, Jaden placed it around her neck and started to gather her things. Within half an hour it would be dark and she’d promised to be home before then. “I need to get going Raidon. My grandma wanted me home before dark and,” she looked out the window. “It’s starting to rain harder.”

Raidon stood up and placed the fallen book back in its proper place. “Alright. But at least let me walk you home. It’s getting dark and there’s no telling who or what you might run into.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Besides dear one. What kind of friend would I be if I let someone as beautiful as you walk home alone? In the rain? Someone might try to take advantage of you.”

Jaden sweatdropped. “You mean, someone like you?”

“So cruel Jaden. So cruel.”

“Raidon, you’re hopeless.”

Jaden laid on her bed and listened to the song Haunted, by Evanescence, play on her stereo. The rain still coming down heavily; along with thunder and lightning. However, her mind was still too preoccupied with the pendant. There was something strange about it and she wanted to know what it was.

Caressing the stone with her thumb, Jaden gazed into its blood-red depths. It was entrancing, to say the least. There was something about it that made it seem mysterious.

As she continued to gaze at it, Jaden suddenly froze. That same feeling was back again. Only this time it was stronger. And she no longer felt like she was alone. Her gaze darted all around her room. Trying to peer through the darkness. It felt like someone was in the room watching her.

Thunder clashed; followed quickly by a flash of lightning that illuminated the room for a brief second. But it only took that brief second for Jaden to make out the tall, dark figure in herr room.

“So you’re the one . . .”

Twilight: *chuckles nervously and hides behind Seto* Now don't kill me for the cliffhanger. I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I get some reviews for this chapter. Anywho, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I promise things get better as the story progresses. Oh, plus the rating might go up in later chapters.

Seto: *blank look* Please review. It will make her very happy.

Twilight: Yep! The more reviews I get, the faster I update. Farewell!