Chapter One - Hansha (Reflection)
Have you ever woke up one morning and found your world as you once knew it changed? It's happened to me before. I was a perfect student and a perfect son at one point. And then while taking one of my shortcuts home one evening, I ran into the strangest person. He sat in a grave yard, staring at the sky and rambling on about the stars.
"Who hangs out in a graveyard?" I thought. "He must be a real weirdo."
He was weird, alright. He talked to people who were dead. He fought with a katana. He made friends with fiends. And he showed me that even without my own physiological problems, I was a far cry from normal myself.
Two mornings after meeting him I woke up and realized that science and common sense were no longer the answers to all existence. No matter how hard I may have tried to deny it, there was no science in the battles I witnessed after that moment of truth. There was no common sense for the thoughts and feelings that began stirring throughout my body, mind, and soul.
Quite some time has passed since then. I've made many friends within the thinning shaman community, and while I am not a shaman, I feel natural among them. Yoh and Anna have been good to me, patient with my endless questions and fascination of their lifestyle among spirits. Ryu and Tamao are kind and often the first to volunteer to help when my physical circumstances make certain tasks unmanageable for me. Horohoro is very flamboyant and often reminds me to take some time to have fun. Ren is much more mature and intellectual and is often the one I turn to when I'm in need of honesty or support. Sometimes I even spend time alone with the spirits. Tokyo's increasing violence has begun spilling into the Funbari ga Ohka District. Amidamaru, Tokagero, and even Bason on occasion escort me if I have to be out late at night. I've never understood how it would help me, since I'm only human, but their company has always been enjoyable.
Sometimes it can be frustrating being the only human among shamans and spirits. I don't like to depend on my friends, but I'm also glad they care enough to help when I need it. Ryu once told me that my Best Place would be were I am happiest. I think this is where I will always be happiest. An adopted member of this family of shamans. I most certainly hope I will never wake up to find the world is a different place.