Disclaimer: "NO I DON'T WANT TO!" writer is bound to chair, with a disclaimer set before her "YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" lawyers appear, sadistic smiles in place "OKAY I'LL DO IT PLEASE JUST DON'T LET THEM NEAR ME!" signs disclaimer with pen in her mouth "not like I have any money anyway.."

To Fulfill One's Destiny

Chapter 1- A Twist of Fate

"Wow... I keep on forgetting how pretty it is here!"

Spring was in bloom in modern-day Japan, and nature was reveling in her splendor. A young girl could be seen making her way through the crowds while half-admiring the beautiful scenery. Finally, she came to a stop in front of an old shrine.

Good thing to know that I can make my way around this hectic city and still find my way back.

Sprinting up the dozens of steps, she waved to a young boy who was expertly dribbling his soccer ball.

"Hey Sota! I'll beat you later, okay? I gotta finish my homework first."

Racing up the stairs after offering a hurried "Hi!" to her host mother, Maria paused by the closed door adjacent to her room.

She's been gone for a little over a week this time. Her mother hasn't said anything about it, almost like it's normal. I wonder...

"Mari-chan! I need you to do some chores before you start your homework, ok?"

Turning to face the stairway, she called back down to a woman she had once called Senora Higurashi, before she began her education in the ways of the Japanese. Wasn't that what the exchange programs were for anyway?

"Hai! Just let me get changed first!"

Shutting the door behind her in her room, she dropped her heavy backpack and quickly changed into a worn pair of dark gray jeans and a black tank top with the words 'something corporate' scrawled in white on the front. Shrugging on a white button down shirt to cover her shoulders and grabbing her black Converses, she carefully folded her school uniform.

How on earth do they deal with these things? I mean, we do dress differently in America, but hell! I still haven't gotten used to how short they are,you can't even bend over without flashing everyone in a ten foot radius.

Bounding down the stairs, she snatched a broom from an outstretched and waiting hand. As shestepped intoher shoes, Mrs. Higurashi called "Just sweep up what you can of the place, nothing drastic, its just that its gotten so dirty."

"No problem!" was all she got as a response. Laughing to herself, the knowing mother smiled as she watched the unusual foreign girl stride toward a group of neglected benches and busily set about her task.

Half an hour later, Maria had made her way to the well house behind the shrine, sweeping as she went. She stood in front of the stairs, one hand gripping the broom while the other rested on her hip.

Now THAT is in need of a serious sweeping. Looks like I'll be here awhile.

With a sigh, she climbed the stairs with the decision to start on the inside. Resigning herself to the job, she picked up a small-was it glass?- purple sliver of something out of the pile of leaves. She stuck it in her pocket, thinking to inspect it later. Suddenly, her instincts made her turntodeflect a soccer ball that was hurtling straight for her. She lost her balance turning so sharply and quickly that her right foot had not followed through in the movement, expertly tripping herself in the process. Tipping over the wall of the well, she accidentally dropped the broom before disappearing into the darkness.

A small form appeared at the well door. "Hey Maria-chan? I'm sorry,I didn't mean to kick the ball in here..."

All he found, however, was a broom on the ground, and a slowly rolling soccer ball.

-chan: Japanese suffix used for affection for small children and for girls.

Senora: Spanish term of respect for an older/married woman.