(1) Introduction


Yoki saw things, she knew. But she also knew that those things weren't there. The four year old's eyes traveled across empty air, marveling over curious images that showed no form nor color; shapes that didn't breathe and float like he seemed to believe they did. Gen watched as her son shifted his gaze from side to side, following something, as if there was a dragonfly glinting in the sunlight, a shade of iridescent blue reflected by the shell of a bug that flitted about on another plane of existence. Yoki would forget that they were moving, and slow his pace. Gently, Gen would give a gentle tug on the small brown hand that she held between her fingers, reminding the boy that they were to be on their way. But soon enough, he stopped once more, refusing to move from the middle of the trodden dirt road.

"Come on, Yoki, it's nice and sunny out, don't you want to walk with mommy?" As much as she loved him, now was not the time for her son to be difficult. The journey was two days, the last two nights spent camping in the stables of houses they passed by. Warumachi was only an hour away now, but Yoki shook his head vigorously, gripping the hem of his clothing as he frowned up at his mother.

"You said we should stay put and find shelter." When did she say that? Yoki pointed at the wide, blue sky, and Gen tried to find what he was pointing at. He could've been pointing to the white clouds that drifted lazily in the sky, but she knew he wasn't. He never was. She shielded her eye from the bright, blazing sun, its light warm despite the dry, windy air of autumn.

"It's gonna rain." She was about to tell him to stop being silly, as it was a dry, dry day with only two small clouds sitting flat in the distance, and turned toward him with a parental smile, but her words hung heavy in her mouth. A drop of cold water hit the numb, chilled surface of her forehead, and slid down her skin.