AN: This is a new story that was originally supposed to be a one-shot, but the more I thought about it the more I realized just how much I could explore with this subject. Actually, I do not know of a single story that deals with Ami, so I'd like to say this is an original concept put into action. Obviously this story will contain OCs... and Ami (who for some reason is not listed as a character choice, then again she never actually appears in game). Enough of my rambling, I hope you enjoy.
I sat in the pathway by a small Japanese shrine. There was not a single cloud in the sky, and the sun was beating down hard. I wanted to be home where I could get away from the harmful rays, or at least take cover under some shade.
Most girls my age should be inside right now learning how to become a great wife cooking, cleaning, and maybe even sewing. I was a 'special' case. I was being trained to communicate with the gods. Of course this set me apart from others my age. I was different and being different was bad. Even if someone wanted to talk to me their parents would not allow it. They believed that a girl should not be in charge of such an important job.
I sighed. I had nothing to do at this moment. The spiritual leaders were performing an important ritual that a beginner like me should have no part in. I quietly took my hair out from the bun my mother had put in that morning. I hated wearing my long hair up even with it being so hot. Another thing I was made fun of for: my black hair. It was unnaturally dark, especially for someone who came from parents who were light brunettes.
"Ami! Ami Fey!" A woman's voice yelled. I looked up to see grandmother calling me over. I stood up and dusted off my long robes. I always hated the uniform; I would trip over the ends whenever I tried to walk too fast.
"Yes grandmother, what is it?" I bowed slightly and then looked into her eyes to see them filled with sadness. What could have made her so upset?
"It is your grandfather; his illness has overtaken him." Somehow she kept her composure. She had probably already done her fair share in mourning the loss of her husband. She looked over to me and saw that my eyes were big and my mouth was opened slightly. "I-I'm sorry."
"Y-y-you're lying." I accused. I slowly backed away from her. He couldn't be dead, he just couldn't.
"Ami, I know that you were close t-"
"You're lying! Grandfather isn't dead!" The woman flinched at my reaction. I was usually so calm, and she had never heard me yell before, especially not at an elder.
"I know that you are upset, but you need to believe me." I turned her head and started to cry. People who died went to yomi, a terrible place where a river separated the living and the dead. Grandmother gently wrapped me into a hug. "Shhhh, it will be okay my child." I sniffed and let out even more tears.
"W-w-why?" I sobbed. "W-why do the kami p-punish those who are good to them?" After hearing this grandmother let go of me abruptly.
"Ami, you better than anyone should know that our gods are just. They do not do anything without a reason." It was not ideal to reprimand a girl who had just heard news of a relative's death, but it was against the laws in the villages to question the higher authorities.
"Yes they do! I never wanted to be a priestess! They're a bunch of thieves! They have stolen my life away from me!" At this point I felt like a small five year old throwing a temper tantrum.
"Do not let anyone hear you say that; you could be killed." I immediately closed my mouth. "You are a smart young girl, but if you do not use those smarts what is the point?" She smiled softly, pat me on the head, and left, presumably to inform others of her husband's passing.
I was left to think about the news she was just told. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't digest it. Grandfather couldn't be dead. He was always so active, even with his illness. My head fell into my hands. I willed more tears to come forward, but they refused to. It wasn't as if there weren't any; they just could not escape my eyes. I could simply not cry for one of my greatest friends.
Grandfather had always listened to my stories of how others would harass me, even when he had other things he could have been doing. He would even offer me advice, which was more than can be said for my parents. Father was always working for little pay or sleeping because of how physically demanding his job was. Mother pretended to listen, but really did nothing because she wanted her daughter to be the first female spiritual leader.
Eventually the blue sky became darker and darker. I had to return home. Mother greeted me by the door.
"Your grandfather is inside. We haven't prepared him for burial yet because we figured you would want to see him." I nodded my head slowly and went into the house. After taking off my sandals I made my way to where grandfather laid on a mat. He looked so peaceful, almost like he was in a sleep and not… gone.
Carefully I grabbed his hand and held it in one of my own. It was cold, a definite sign that he was no longer living. I sat like that for minutes, simply holding his hand. No one said anything, but I heard the shuffling of feet that also indicated that everyone else had exited the room. They had left me alone.
"Grandfather, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I worried you with all my problems." The tears that were not present before were now welling up in my eyes. "Maybe if I had prayed a little harder, sacrificed something a little bigger…" I traced the back of his wrinkly hand with my other hand's finger. Much to my surprise his hand opened and something cold dropped into my palm. I wrapped my fingers around the item and let go of grandfather.
I seemed to be holding a small blue rock. It looked as if it were half of the ying-yang symbol.
"A magatama?" These things were extremely rare. It was said that even the gods envied the one who held this object. Suddenly an idea came to me, and with this it just might work.
I sat in one of the rooms often used for sacrificing. Many candles were lit giving the dark room an eerie feel. It was right around midnight after all. I was dressed in my long dark robe and was double checking that the doors were locked.
"Perfect." I muttered to myself. "Just one more thing." Out of my robe I pulled out the magatama I had received that day and set it on the small alter in the front of the room. Taking in a deep breath I got on my knees, bowed my head, and folded my hands.
"Dear gods of all things good and right, please hear my prayer to you. I have brought you an offering of great worth. If you would just return my grandfather to me you may have it." I started. I didn't know if it was okay to bargain with beings higher than you, but maybe bargaining for a life justified my actions. "I am begging you; please bring him back to me. He is a very good person. He always sacrificed to you." I was focusing all my heart, soul, and mind on having him return to me. "Please! Please, I will never complain about my duties ever again! I'll do anything. I will even…" I never got to finish that sentence, because suddenly everything around me became black.
When I woke up all of the candles were out and it seemed as if nothing had changed. In other words there was no sign of grandfather. Slowly I got up and relit a single candle. From the light I could tell that my magatama was still there, but there was a piece of cloth with something written on it too. I inspected it further.
Ami,
I thank you for giving me the chance to say my final goodbyes to everyone. Too bad I couldn't say mine to you (at least not directly). Just remember, I will always be with you and watch over you. Just don't try to channel spirits anymore, okay. It seems to take a lot of energy out of you.
~Grandfather
I gasped in shock and almost dropped the candle. Channel spirits; is that what I had done? No, that was impossible. After you died you were supposed to stay on the other side of the river; you were not supposed to go back and forth. But then, how did you explain the note? I stuffed it into my pocket along with the stone. I wanted to just forget about it, wanted to believe it was a simple prank pulled by some other children. Kids could be cruel about that kind of thing.
I returned home and opened the sliding door as silently as I could. I didn't want anyone to know about my sneaking out. I breathed a sigh of relief; I was in the clear when…
"Ami, is that you?" I jumped at the sound of grandmother's voice.
"O-oh yes it is. I could not sleep so I- I was going to make myself some tea."
"Thank you." I cocked her head in confusion. "Thank you for letting me speak to him one last time. Thank you for letting me speak to your grandfather."
I froze. Okay, this wasn't a joke. Why would grandmother kid about something like that? She might not have seemed like it, but I knew she was hurt even more deeply than I was at his death. Just don't try to channel spirits anymore, okay.But after you died you went to yomi, or if you were an especially great person you might be raised to be on the same level as the gods.
Just remember, I will always be with you and watch over you. There wasn't supposed to be a limbo. The dead weren't supposed to wander around on earth. They weren't supposed to, but they did. Channeling spirits, huh? Just how am I going to explain this to the head priest?
I know that this first chapter was a slow start, but this was a necessary plot point. Trust me, this fic will spread over long periods of time. Call it a "life fic."
