Just a FYI…I have been working on this story for about 5 months now and I am almost done with the story. The only thing is that I have to transfer everything from paper to word format. That may take a while, but I'll try to post a chapter a day.

Chapter 2:

Mirror, Mirror

A couple of monks were taking their daily stroll when they came across Lena.

"What's that?" one of the monks approached her still body.

"I don't know Kazuhiko. Don't get too close! It could be a demon." The other monk poked at Lena with his staff to see if she was still alive.

"Demon or human, she is still a living creature. We must aide her."

"I don't want to touch it. Its garments are strange."

Kazuhiko picks her up and carries her into the temple.

"I don't sense a demonic aura coming from her, she must be human."

Kazuhiko lays Lena on the floor mat.

"Nobuo, she is beautiful. The clothing she wears outlines her Goddess like body. Maybe she is an angel." Kazuhiko looks at Nobuo.

"Maybe she has some injuries underneath her garments. Ah… we should inspect her." Nobuo said wiping off the saliva from his lower lip.

"Nobuo, Kazuhiko. I see you've brought a guest." Lady Hinato, the head priestess kneels next to Lena and places her hands above Lena's body and runs them from head to toe releasing energy into her body.

"All better now."

Lena's eyes start to open.

"No need to remove pieces of cloth. Wake up daughter of Buddha. You are well now."

Lena sits up and stares at the two monks and priestess.

"Where am I? Who are you?"

"Dishonorable!" Nobuo interrupts.

"You will address Lady Hinato with respect."

"I'm so…"

"No need to interrupt Nobuo. She does not know who we are. My name is Hinato. I am priestess to these lands and these are my apprentices; Kazuhiko and Nobuo." Kazuhiko the chubby one bows and forces Nobuo as well. Lena returns the gratitude and bows.

"Please forgive me young one, but I didn't catch your name." Lady Hinato says with a beautiful and soothing smile.

"My apologies. My name is Lena, and I am from California."

All three were confused.

" California? Is that in Japan?" Kazuhiko asks curiously.

"No. I flew here to vacation from America." She glanced over to her hosts. They had such a confused look on their faces.

"Told you she was a demon." Nobuo whispered.

Lena looks around.

"Why is everything so…old?" Lena freezes. Suddenly she remembers what the old lady at the incense shop had told her. "The power to reveal time." Lena looks at Hinato.

"What year is this?"

"We are in the peaceful year of 1497."

"Oh no!" Lena sits back.

"I'm in Feudal Japan!"

After calming down and a few cups of tea, Lena was able to relax. The pendant had actually worked. She had many questions.

-Will time freeze in the future while I am here? Will I be able to return to my era? How did I trigger it?-

Hinato also had many questions about the future. Lena thought about how beautiful this Japan was than the modern one.

-Well, I wanted to get out of that world and my wish came true.-

Lena tried going back to the modern era by saying "Go back" but, it didn't work.

"Maybe the mirror was the key." Lena turns to Hinato who was standing at the entrance of the temple with her hands stretched over her head while she chanted some kind of prayer.

"Lady Hinato, I have decided to stay here for a while. Is that ok with you?"

Hinato turned and smiled.

"Stay as long as you want. This is your home."

Lena got up and walked towards the Priestess.

"One thing though. I need to go back to my world to get some clothing and food. Is there anything here that causes a reflection?"

Hinato pondered for a brief moment and remembered that there was a spring not far from the temple.

"I'll go there then."

"No wait Lady Lena!" Hinato stops Lena.

"It is getting dark and the forest is dangerous. Not even my spiritual powers can protect you from the evils that lurks beyond the pit of the forest." Hinato held Lena's hands.

"Evil?" Lena questioned Hinato.

"Demons lurk through the woods at night. They are evil, vile creatures. My barrier protects this temple so long as I am alive. You must not leave." Lena looked around the temple and saw the barrier.

"Demons? Such creatures exist?"

"Yes, child. They are real. Although, not all of them are corrupted souls. Some are kind and pure hearted, but the majority consider us a delicacy. Especially when after the Shikkon Jewel of Four Souls."

Hinato explained briefly what the Shikkon Jewel was and how demons and evil humans become bothered souls when they are possessed by evil thoughts.

The next morning Lena thanked the priestess and the monks and promised to return. She went to the spring and made her wish to return to the modern world. It took her a while, but eventually she figured it out. She held the amulet the same way she did the previous day and in a blink of an eye she was back at her hotel room. She packed essentials and realized that time did not freeze.

"This time, I'll pack a mirror." She went downstairs to the bathroom in the lobby and returned to the Feudal Era.

"No more trees!" She landed safely on her feet and proceeded towards the temple.