• I walk through a huge city.

    Bustling with life.

    Three rivers run right through it.

    At the mouth of the three rivers are little islands.
    Huge and fancy houses rest on these islands.

    Boats of all kinds sail through the rivers.

    A pier called “Friars” is an outdoor market.
    Hundreds of small boats dock in the piers to sell their wares and fresh produce.
    There every weekend from the morning until late afternoon.

    They have some of the freshest fruits.

    But there is one thing that is unique about this city.

    In the center of the city where the three rivers meet is the hugest park ever.

    It stretches from one bank to the other, not touching the banks.
    Leaving enough room for boats to pass along the sides.

    Docks on both the front and back for boats and ferries to let passengers off.

    I’ve only been there once.

    It was so beautiful.

    But I’m actually here for a different reason…

    There is a neighborhood here where a mystic is said to live.

    I reach the entrance of the neighborhood.

    It’s just like Chinatown.

    I’m not really sure what the name is; all I know is that the police and the mayor stay away.

    I walk inside and look around.

    Men and women walk by.

    *Talking*

    I show an older woman the address on a sheet of paper.

    She points in the direction and walks away.

    I reach a small shop and an alley next to it.

    I walk down the dank little alley and reach a small garden and a small house.

    Three spirits look at me and move towards the house.

    I follow.

    Inside, the house smells like jasmine.

    A woman stands in front of me, her back facing me.

    *Swallows hard*

    *Speaking in Japanese*

    “What do you need female warrior?” one of the spirits translates.

    My eyes widen.

    *Chuckles*

    “What, you think I couldn’t read your aura?” another spirit translates.

    The three spirits stand next to her.
    The third one sits in front of her.

    I take a step back.

    “Weren’t you gonna kill me?” the third spirit translates.

    She turns around slowly.

    She lowers a parasol, an owl resting amongst sakura branches as snowflakes fall around it.
    The kimono she wears is painted blood red cherry blossoms.
    Very elegant.
    She moves her hand, revealing a samurai amongst the blossoms, stitched on her sleeve.
    She grabs a chopstick in her hair.

    The chopstick has silver bats dangling from around a blood red stone.

    She has another simple chopstick and one other decoration in her hair.

    It’s silver encrusted, like veins all over the hollow orb.
    Water inside with a single drop of blood in the center and a blood red cherry tassel dangling from the orb.

    She lowers her hand slightly but stops.

    “You will die now…girl.” She actually says.

    My eyes widen.

    I turn and run, but stop as I feel something sharp pierce my skin.

    I reach back and feel her chopstick as it frays my nervous system…


    ~End~



    “I’m so sorry Gion. I wanted her to help you so badly, but I froze in fear.”~ Unknown



    © May 28, 2007