Back to You - Chapter 1
by Mara S. S.
Natsuki:
I was banished to my bedroom while Akira and Takumi set up the equipment they would use to analyze the painting.
The painting was delivered to me the day Shizuru disappeared. It was sent anonymously, with no name or return address. I wasn't thinking too clearly at the time since it was right after I lost Shizuru. When I came to my senses and stopped crying every time I looked at the painting, I made it my mission to find out where it came from.
I think some part of me held on to the belief that if I discovered where the painting came from, I would find Shizuru there waiting for me.
It was a painting of Shizuru, dressed in a traditional kimono and wielding a naginata. She looked beautiful, but deadly. She seemed to exude all the characteristics I'd known in the Shizuru that had been in my arms just a few days ago.
The painter must have been very good, it was almost as if he captured the essence of Shizuru, of who she was. It was... the only thing I had left to remember her by.
Even the clothes she was wearing when I first met her, those had disappeared as well. She was gone, she'd vanished without a trace. It was as if she'd never existed.
But it wasn't like I needed anything to remember her by. Everything I saw reminded me of her. In the short time we'd been together, she'd completely taken over my life and my heart.
I scowled up at the ceiling, wondering what was taking Akira so long. I'd been lucky - one of the rare times I was. My best friend's brother was married to the owner of an art museum downtown.
Akira was also a well known painter in her own right. Akira had reassured me that it wouldn't take long to uncover at least a few basic facts about the painting. It shouldn't have taken that long though.
I tried to distract myself by reading but I just remembered how Shizuru's calligraphy was more beautiful than the printed symbols. I tried listening to the radio but I just remembered Shizuru listening raptly to the music, her face filled with wonder. I tried cleaning the tools I used to repair my bike but I just remembered the first time I took her out for a ride.
The memories of the short time we spent together were etched deeply into my mind.
Takumi finally poked his head into my room and led me out of my misery. "Natsuki? Akira's finished, she's calling you."
I jumped up and followed him out into my apartment. The painting was spread on top of my dining table and all sorts of bags and other stuff I didn't recognized were strewn about the apartment's floor.
I watched impatiently as Takumi handed his wife a towel to wipe her hands with. I crossed my arms on top of my chest and tried to restrain myself from choking the news out of Akira.
"Natsuki, you might want to sit down." Akira told me carefully.
I shook my head. "Just tell me."
Akira glanced at the painting once more. "This painting that you have. It's several hundred years old..."
-o-
Shizuru:
"I'm sorry, Shizuru..." Natsuki smiled up at me weakly.
"Don't say that!" I cried fearfully.
Natsuki looked so pale and fragile. I laced a wet rag on her feverish forehead. Her breathing was shallow, her skin was drenched in sweat.
"Here." Reito touched my shoulder and handed me a cup of water.
"Thank you." I whispered to him. I put an arm beneath Natsuki's neck, supporting her head and lifted her up enough to drink from the cup.
Natsuki coughed and I wiped away the blood laced phlegm that had been bothering her for many days now. I made comforting sounds and stroked the hair away from her face.
"You'll be okay... Natsuki. You'll get better, you'll see..." I murmured.
Natsuki clasped my hand. "Shizuru. You know I love you, right?"
"Natsuki..." I blinked away my tears.
"I've been... so happy..."
My throat seemed to be choked with tears and I could only squeeze her hand tightly.
"Sleep. I think I'll sleep first." Natsuki said, her voice hoarse from all the coughing.
Her eyes fluttered close and I pulled a blanket over her. I watched over her for the rest of the night, just as I'd done every night that she'd been sick.
But after that night, Natsuki never woke up again.
-o-
Natsuki:
"You don't seem very surprised." Akira noted.
"Huh?" I shook my head as if to clear my thoughts. "Sorry, what did you say?"
Akira looked at me with a puzzled frown. "I said, you don't look surprised."
"Oh, no. I- I mean yes. Of course I'm surprised." I took a deep breath, my eyes going over the painting - over Shizuru- once more. "What else can you tell me about it? Where did it come from? Who made it? Who..." My voice grew softer. "Who is she, really?"
"I can't pin down an exact year yet. I'll be taking some samples back to the lab."
This alarmed me and I rushed to the painting, checking it over for any scratches.
"Don't be an idiot. "Akira told me gruffly. "I won't damage it. That," She nodded at the painting, "could be very valuable if it's authentic."
"But where did it come from? Do you know where it came from?" I questioned her frantically.
"It will take me longer to find that out."
"Tea?" Takumi offered while balancing a tray in one hand.
"Thank you." Akira took a cup from Takumi and sipped it. I could see them exchange a loving glance. I think I envied them, a little bit.
I sighed but took the tea anyway. The cup felt so warm in my hands.
"I thought you didn't like tea, Natsuki?" Takumi commented. He'd put the tray down and now had his arm about Akira's waist.
"I kinda got a taste for it over the past few weeks." I shrugged. I put the cup down and stretched. "Please tell me at once if you discover anything about the painting. Anything at all."
Akira nodded curtly. "Of course."
"Ano..." Takumi interrupted. "There's a nurse in the hospital that works in the same shift as me. I think her partner's a historian of some sorts. Maybe I could ask her to take a look at it?"
I smiled at him gratefully. "Could you?"
"I can call right now if you want." He said helpfully.
I had to smile at his generosity and kind-hearted nature. "It's okay. I'll start by hunting down the ones who delivered it. I won't have time to check out other leads until after that."
And perhaps... Perhaps my search would lead me back to Shizuru...
-o-
Shizuru:
I threw all caution to the winds. I simply could not accept that Natsuki was gone. I couldn't accept it. Natsuki couldn't be dead.
After we buried her, I left our house under the care of my cousin Haruka and her own partner. I left our house, with all its painful memories, and I traveled until I found a witch who went by the name of Nao.
I learned and studied under Nao until I felt myself proficient enough. When I left her, I said nothing of my plans. I feared she would try to stop me.
I returned to our house, the house where Natsuki and I had lived so happily. She was buried by a tree and I knelt beside her grave.
The basic pattern was simple. It was a find and fetch spell. I drew the basic pattern. With a stick I scratched it out into the soil. Next blood, water, and other offerings. Then the more complicated part. A smaller one, drawn within the outer circle, to bind the search to Natsuki's soul. And another one, along the edge of her grave, to ground me to this place.
I would find Natsuki and bring her back. That is what I thought, that is what I believed would happen.
When I began, the ground began to shake but I held on fast. I persisted, and as my voice rose to a crescendo, a bright light blinded me.
When I could see again, I saw cold grey stone in front of me. I got up and looked around frantically. "Where... Where am I?"
I clenched my fist tightly. I was... somewhere. I was bounded in by two high and narrow walls. An unpleasant odor assaulted my senses.
Was it possible? Was it possible the spell didn't work? How... How could Natsuki be in a place like this?
I fumbled around, furiously stomping down the panic that threatened to rise up and overwhelm me. Then suddenly, the two narrow walls on either side of me ended and I was in a wider place.
There were many people walking by and I stared in amazement at their outlandish clothing. Then I saw a very familiar figure passing by me.
"Natsuki!" I called out, running towards her. It worked! It worked! It worked! I found her, Natsuki, my Natsuki...
I clung to her, weeping. "Natsuki, I found you. I found you..."
"Excuse me."
I looked up at her inquiringly, still holding on to her tightly. "Natsuki?"
"Who are you and what the hell do you think you're doing?" She demanded angrily.