Rain beat down the day that the police brought Himiko to the little Shinto shrine on the outskirts of Kyoto. Himiko had only celebrated her eighth birthday just a few months earlier when disaster struck the little girl. While walking home from a moon viewing festival a drunk driver had struck down her parents in the blink of an eye, leaving Himiko an orphan. The shrine was to be her new home. Obaa-san waited with patience at the door as the kind police officer explained to the little old lady what had happened. With a nod of her head Obaa-san took the little girls' hand and guided her within. All this passed through Himiko's memories as she sat in the lotus position as the icy cold waters of the waterfall fell over her driving the pains of her past from her. At least for a little while. Himiko had been meditating like this for hours and only now did the sadness leave her. However, it became time to get out before she got hypothermia. Stepping out of the waterfall, Himiko saw that Oba-san stood nearby with a thick towel waiting for her. Himiko bowed her thanks and said, “Obaa-san, the moon viewing festival is tomorrow night. I was wondering if I could attend.” “Himoko,” Oba-san said. “I think it would be a wonderful idea. I will check. I think I have a yakuta that I made for your mother when she was your age.” “Oh Obaa-san,” she said hugging her grandmother tight getting the little woman wet. “Thank you so much.” “Off with you girl.” Obaa-san commanded with a smile of her own. Obaa-san cared a lot for her grand-daughter. Himiko was the only family that the little old nun had as well. Laughing a little she rushed to the shrine where she lived with Obaa-san. Inside she paused to bow and light some incense in remembrance of her lost parents before heading to the baths. Obaa-san's home at the shrine was simple compared to most homes near Kyoto, but they did the best with what they had. No day went by without Himiko running the floors with a clothe making the oak floors shine with a glow all of their own. While Himiko missed her parents as only an orphan could, these last eight years hadn't all been bad. She wished he had more friends, but Mariko-chan was good enough. Maybe next year Obaa-san would let her go to high school, Himiko had been educated by Obaa-san since coming to the shrine. Himiko parted the curtain to the outside hot spring, which had made the shrine popular with pilgrims and tourists a like and stepped out on the flags with a towel wrapped around her. The green waters of the pool invited her in. The warmth of the waters came as quite the shock compared to the cold of the waterfall, but she soon got used to it. In fact the hot water soothed some of the aches that the waterfall couldn't heal. She had just put her towel on her head to relax a little when there came a loud splash nearby. Startled she stood up, her training as a shrine maiden coming to the fore. Something under the water came towards her like a torpedo. Himiko had just drawn breathe to summon the ki fire, a spell that her grandmother had taught her when Mariko-chan launched herself out of the pool latching on to her in a tight hug. “Oh Himiko-chan,” Mariko shouted as she rubbed her naked body against Himiko. “I couldn't wait for you to get back. I just don't know how you can stand that waterfall. Brr.” With a lot of effort Himiko was able to pry the excitable Mariko-chan off of her. Mariko-chan danced in the water she was so worked up. She failed to see the look of irritation on Himiko's face. It was hard, however, to stay angry with Mariko; she was just too cute for her own good. Her otherworldly nature having much to with it. “Why were you wanting to see me so much?” she asked settling back into the water trying her best not to be angry. “Well,” Mariko said oblivious to Himiko's anger. “I found this most amazing book in my clans attic. I just knew you'd like it. Nya.” “A book?” she said with a look of confusion on her face. “You practically drown me over a book.” Tail a twitching, Mariko sat down in the warm spring next to Himiko. “Well, silly, I couldn't read it or anything. It's in some language I don't understand. It must be magic. Nya.” “Magic you say,” Himiko said. “You've got to be kidding. Where is it?” “Um...” Mariko said. “I don't have it on me right now.” She said this while patting her naked body to emphasize the point. “I'll tell you what. I'll bring it too you tomorrow at the festival. Nya.” “Oh alright,” she said not quite believing her friend. Himiko submerged her body under the water and when she surfaced again, Mariko-chan was gone. The next night the moon was the brightest it had been all year. It was almost like you could reach out and touch it. Himiko wore her mothers' yakuta along with geta. She loved the yakuta with it's pattern of white cranes on green fabric. She looked all over the festival for Mariko-chan but couldn't find her. She had just about given up when she saw Mariko talking with a boy she didn't know. As she drew closer, Mariko noticed her and waved Himiko over. The boy seeing Himiko turned and walked away. “Who was that?” Himiko asked. “Oh, that was Matsuda-kun. He's new to the area. Kind of cute don't you think?” “I hadn't noticed.” “Really. I think he's cute. Nya.” “Enough Mariko-chan. Where is the book?” “Boy are you in a rush or what.” Himiko stood her ground and held out her hand. “Oh okay. Sheesh. Don't be a grump.” Mariko handed Himiko a small book bound in black leather. A warmth flowed through Himiko as she took the book. She knew the book contained magic. What kind of magic she didn't know. Leafing through the book she saw what she thought might be a spell to contact the dead. Sudden inspiration struck her. She would contact her dead mother. Himiko felt flush all over. “Come on,” Himiko said dragging Mariko behind her. In a clearing not far from where the festival was going on the two girls stopped. An abandoned well stood in the center of the clearing. Under the light of the brightest moon of the year Himiko read the incantation. She just knew she could do this. Clearing her mind she started to read aloud from the book. Words not spoken for centuries flowed from Himiko's mouth faster and faster. The magic felt natural to Himiko. She was doing it. Then things seemed to go wrong. The well exploded send shards of stone everywhere. If Mariko hadn't grabbed Himiko and together they leaped into a nearby tree, Himiko would've been struck by flying rock. An inky black light spewed from the ruined well coalescing high up in the sky. “Free. Free,” came a voice from the mass of darkness. “Himiko,” Mariko said, the hairs on her neck standing straight up. “What did you do?” “I don't know,” Himiko said. “It should have worked.” Just then the ball of darkness exploded and in its place was a bird-like man. Black wings beat upon the night air and a sense of foreboding permeated the clearing. However, it was his nose that made the girls stare. Could it be a tengu? “Lets get out of here,” Mariko said. However, her talking alerted the tengu that he wasn't alone. It let out a hissing sound as the yokai spotted them. With the speed of an eagle in flight the tengu dived at them. “I see you Nekko,” shouted the tengu as a pair of katana appeared as if by magic in its hands. However, before he was able to strike something else just as odd occurred.“I see you Nekko,” shouted the tengu as a pair of katana appeared as if by magic in its hands. However, before he was able to strike something else just as odd occurred. The moon seemed to open up as if it were a doorway, and stepping out of that door came a girl with blue skin twirling a naginata. Just as soon as she was clear from the door it shut. “Not so fast Tengu-sama,” she said blocking his blades with her weapon. “Once you tried to dishonor my mother but I shall take your head as payment for that insult.” “You,” Tengu-sama hissed so loud that Himiko and Mariko had to cover their ears. The tengu flew back up into the night sky and hovered over the three girls. As he hovered there he glared down upon the trio. “I've waited too long for my revenge on the Nekko to let the yelp of Tsuki-yomi stand in my way,” Tengu-sama growled, “But I can see that I am outnumbered at this time. Know this kami, that you have not won. I will have my revenge not only on the Nekko but you as well.” Spitting a stream of bile on the ground before the thrusting away Tengu-sama fled into the darkness. A silence overcame the gathering. Himiko didn't know what to say. She felt that all of this was her fault. Mariko-chan broke the silence by walking up to the blue skinned girl. Bowing to the waist, Mariko spoke, “I am thankful for your aide Kami-sama. I am Mariko Maneki and this is my friend Himiko Ichikawa.” The blue skinned girl bowed in a military fashion and said, “No need to be so formal.” She smiled showing teeth as bright as pearls. “My name is Kazuko Mikoto, eighth daughter of Tsuki-yomi. I have watched your world for so long. I waited for this day for so long. Once Tengu-sama was a member of my fathers' court but was exiled from the Moon for making advances to my mother the Lady Aiko. I never thought I'd have a chance to cross blades with that trickster, but now karma swings its' balance. I am sure we shall all be great friends.” Himiko wasn't too sure but the next day Obaa-san told her that she was going to be able to go to the high school and Mariko-chan and Kuzuko-sama would be going as well. Who knew what adventures awaited her in school. Only time would tell. |
