-1Chapter 4: The Temple

"Hana!" A voice called out. The young girl ran to the man with a wide smile on her face.

"What's that you have there Koji?" The girl saw a tiny jet black foal pulled on a tether by the man. He was the one who had given her name after discovering Hana abandoned on the bank of the river so badly injured. Someone or something had attacked her and left her for dead. He had taken her in like his own sister. He was an attractive young monk and reminded her of someone she once knew. She felt happy and at piece around him. He was the first monk at the temple to get her to speak. He was also the first monk at the temple to make her laugh. Hana liked him very much, but every time she felt an attraction to him, her heart just couldn't do it. Why did she feel like she was cheating on someone. Perhaps she had a sweetheart somewhere in the fog of her memory.

"I purchased her for long journeys. Aki is getting towards the end of her life, and I felt a new horse would allow the old girl to move on to greener pastures." Hana smiled happily when she touched the little horse's nose affectionately.

"What's her name Koji?" She asked hoping that he hadn't named the little mare yet.

"You can name her if you want Hana." The man stroked the little dark horse's mane and she reciprocated, warming to the man's touch.

"Hotaru." Hana's dark eyes twinkled as she thought of the name. Summer nights were her favorite after all. He always appeared in her dreams under a full moon. Who was the man in white? Was he a memory of her past?

"Hana I haven't seen you smile so much in the time you've been here. You may take care of this little horse as if she were your own if it makes you happy." He'd planned on giving Hana the horse anyway. He couldn't help but to indulge her. This was her, the real Hana. He wished he would have known her then. The girl was so grateful. She hugged the kindly priest, and thanked him profusely. From that day on, the girl's thoughts became possessed with training the young horse.

The little dark horse loved the girl with the great fervor that an animal has for it's master. Hana did not view the horse as a pet however, Hotaru gave the girl a reason to be happy in her new home. Hotaru was Hana's salvation from the stringent rules of the temple.

All the girls of the temple were required to do mandatory purifications whether the weather was in climate or not. In the dead of winter as far north as Hana was living, the cold could be unrelenting. A majority of running water sources in the area froze. That did not stop the Head Priest from demanding that the women of the temple find a source to purify themselves with. The girl's proved their piety by providing the temple with a sample from where they did their ritualistic cleansing. They had to do this each and every night before being let back into the temple.

The Head Priest insisted that the water that flowed over the land had the power to cleanse the soul and ward away demons. The mountain on which Hana lived was a perfect place for a holy temple. Every square inch of the mountain was purified, but some places, such as where the temple was built radiated immense amounts of positive energy.

As Hotaru grew up, so did Hana. She had blossomed into full womanhood by her 17th year, and many of the young priests that frequented the temple felt the temptation of having her near. Her ebony hair had grown long and glossy framing her delicate face. Her eyes were kind and sparkled beautifully when she was amused or driven by her passions. Her skin had a healthy honeyed hue to it, and her high cheekbones were full with a lusty flush to them. Her full lips looked as if they were sweet to the taste. She was quite the woman, but her courageousness and her self sufficiency were what really won people over to her.

She still maintained her knowledge of plants and her ability to cure the sick. She had been teaching Taki, a girl who arrived at the temple about the same time Hana did. Taki was a bit of a wall flower and insisted that no man would want her. She said that no amount of washing would ever make her pure. She looked just fine to Hana. She was a fair skinned girl with a classic beauty to her. She had dark thick hair, and almond shaped eyes which captivated those who looked into them. She was unusually soft hearted and remarkably loyal. She wasn't as lovely as Hana, but many men tried to court her. They didn't want her for long after the Head priest discussed the terms on which she had come to the temple.

Hana had gained the confidence of the Head priest, and traveled around doing business in his stead. She felt wonderful about all her accomplishments, but there was something still missing, and she could never quite figure it out.

One afternoon after riding Hotaru around for exercise, she saw the Head priest followed by a number of gentlemen dressed as if they had a lot of money to throw around. She could see a number of them with smug looks, turning their nose up at the meager house of worship. She rode back to the temple and placed Hotaru in the stables. She entered the temple and ran into Taki, flustered by all the excitement. "Taki are you okay? What's going on?"

"I'd heard rumors from the other girls who've been here for a while. They say that these men purchase brides from the temple. This temple brags about having the purest maidens in the land willing to do anything for rich life. It attracts slovenly war lords looking to deflower virgins."

Hana understood the girl's concern. She didn't want any man she saw even if they wanted her. Many had asked for her hand in marriage time and time again, but she flat out refused every one of them.

"I can't believe the head priest is going to sell us." Hana was beginning to understand why he shooed away any men coming to visit the various women living in the temple. He claimed that the women could not be tempted while receiving their spiritual training. She believed it was a lot of superstitious washing and starvation for a god that never answered. "I thought he wanted us pure of heart and ready for the spirit world." Hana stated feeling angry and cheated. Taki shook her head.

"Keeping us cooped up was the only way he could prove that we were pure. He'll probably sell you to the highest bidder Hana." Taki narrowed her eyes. "I have a feeling those men might be here for you."