Prologue
Into the Rose Lands
"Ai, is something the matter, child?"
In perpetual twilight, a scarlet veil of changeless dusk, Ai watches the Moon flowers open. Ai dares to touch the flower's silky white petals. Ai dares to breath in the bouquet's subtle scent. But, Ai shouldn't do such things. Ai shouldn't want the flowers.
"Ai, dear, what ever could be so troubling?"
Her soft lustrous lower lip quivers. Emotion never reaches those eyes, her eyes, red like rubies, beautiful yet lifeless treasures. A few strains of loose hair gently brush across her fair skin.
"Nothing is the matter, Grandmother. The flowers are blooming."
"Oh, Ai, the flowers are always madly blooming."
"Yes, Grandmother, I suppose they are."
"Isn't that what you wanted, Ai?"
"Yes, I suppose it is."
"Such a strange child, really what a strange child you are Ai."
Ai is Ai
Her delicate mouth gasps, repeatedly. She hides her face in the gloaming's red rimmed grass. She, she is Ai. The fair child's body quakes, her little body, so fragile and small. Ai is Ai. The folds of her little sailor dress shift closer to the flowers. Ai is love. Ai is hate. Her long hair rests beside her with such beauty it always seems it own entity. She sighs. Ai, Ai is Jigoku Shojo.
"Ai, have you memories again, child?"
"Yes, Grandmother, I suppose so."