Yuuwaku ran into her room, slammed the door shut, and locked it behind her. She sank to the floor, covering her ears, clenching them so tightly it was as if she was attempting to claw her ears off.

"Perhaps it would be better if I actually did", she thought as the voices of arguing parents continued resonating through the door. Once she was able to block out the sounds of screaming coming from downstairs, she reached for the chain around her neck and held on tightly to the antique key that was attached to its silver chain. She began searching about her room, rummaging through her bottom drawer. She let out a sigh of relief when she found what she had been searching for. It was an antique book; the design on the covers and its spine matched up with intricate design on her key.

This was no ordinary book. In fact, it was the farthest thing from it.

Yuuwaku thought back to the strange day when she received the book. It was about a week ago. She was walking home, unwilling to go home to face the stormy state of her home, when she decided to take the long way, kicking a pebble as she walked. Absentmindly, she accidently kicked the stone too hard and it skipped across the busy road to the other side of the street. She ran after it, ignoring the passing cars that honked their horns and cursed her off as she suddenly dashed across the street. The stone seemed to magically stop once it landed just in front of a crisp green lawn. Confused, Yuuwaku looked up. There was a rather, out of place building before her, with a wooden fence and Japanese styled architecture. There was a wind chime fluttering a light tune as the wind gently clattered them around. Not only was it rare to find a large manicured lawn in the city, but she had never seen such a traditionally styled building amongst the labyrinth grey skyscrapers.

She stared in awe at the beautiful building before her. Then, as if the universe had compelled her to, she began to slowly make her way to the door. When she slid the door open, a strong aroma of incenses engulfed her senses.

Before her was a long hallway, with another sliding door at the end. The hallway was dim, but the distant room was well lit and she could see shadows behind the paper door. She wanted to turn back, after all she was trespassing, but something seemed to stop her from doing anything other than walk down toward the door.

Yuuwaku slid open the door. There was a large, practically empty room. In the center was a large rectangular rug, with a glass coffee table that had a large book, with a lock and a matching key, resting upon its surface. Yuuwaku looked up, there was a tall, red-eyed woman with very long black hair resting sideways on a metal-framed, red couch. The woman was looking at her with an emotionless face and discerning eyes.

"Oh, I'm so SORRY!" Yuuwaku exclaimed, "I don't know why I'm here, my feet just seemed to moved on their own!" The woman's expression didn't change, but after a few moments of awkward silence. The woman smiled wryly, with her discerning eyes unchanged, and sat upright.

"No worries, Yuuwaku, you were brought here by the ties of fate." She replied. Yuuwaku was confused.

"How do you know my name?!" She demanded. "Just what is this place?"

"It is a shop." The woman replied calmly. "A wish-granting shop. We can grant any wish as long as proper compensation is returned."

"Um… Don't you mean, money"? The woman chuckled.

"Sometimes, yes. However, that's not always the case. In order to maintain the proper balance, every action must have something to counter balance it; the scale must not be thrown off balance. When a wish is granted, someone must pay the price to counterbalance it. This can be paid for by many sorts of things. For example, it may be paid through various services, items of importance, or even by surrendering a part of a person's soul."

"Soul?" Yuuwaku gulped. Then, after a pause, she dumbfoundedly added "Wishes?"

"Yes, Soul, and this is a wish-granting shop; therefore by coming here it must mean that you have a wish."

Yuuwaku was quite suspicious, and intended to leave; she had no wish that she could think of, plus she had no desire to return the favor, but something compelled her to reply, "I want that book". Yuuwaku had no idea what had come over her.

"It is yours to take."

"REALLY?" She cried in disbelief. "Well, thanks." Yuuwaku picked up the book off of the table. "Wait, what about the payment?"

"For you, there is no payment, as long as you promise me one thing." Yuuwaku's ears opened, as the woman continued, "You must NEVER open that book." Yuuwaku was puzzled; however, she felt a strong desire for the book, so she promised the shop owner that she'd never open the book. Then, she hurried along home, with a new book and a promise she didn't intend to keep.