Clear water, orange as juice with the setting sun, lapped at her delicate feet, as though tasting them. Feet grew into long, slender legs, which connected to a busty body, and atop it all, a head with a rather worried expression. Ebony curls fell over her shoulders as she pondered and pondered, her decision terribly difficult to make. A short distance away, on that very beach, was an old stone well, dry to the bottom. One would have to be terribly bold to even imagine the well as a means of transportation, much less the very vehicle that took the girl to this secluded beach.

On the opposite side of the old well, was her family and home. Her mother and brother and grandfather would most certainly be missing her. She wished to go back to them, but the well had sealed completely. It would not open again until she chose. For along the beach, bobbing gently up and down in the creamy, smooth water, was a boat. It was terribly small, and with only a singular oar, one could hardly imagine it crossing the open expanse of ocean that lay before the girl. But on the other side of the ocean were her friends. A demon, a priest, and a slayer-for-hire. They would most certainly cry for her if she would not go and see them.

For this is her choice. Decide to stay on the beach, and return home to her family through the well, or climb in the boat and row off to the faraway land where her friends must've ever so patiently been waiting for her. What could she do? She most certainly couldn't choose. Her family, or her friends? ...Or perhaps, her lover? He was across the sea. She could imagine him so upset, his ivory hair all awhirl, wanting her to return, but also wanting her to be happy herself.

And then she saw the sign.

Among the miscellaneous shells and things that were scattered throughout the coarse, brown sand, was a single lovely pear, violet in color. In shined with brilliance, and seeing it brought her back to the glorious Jewel she and her friends had fought so hard to destroy. She took the pearl in her hand, smiled, and then shifted. Creamy white legs, covered thickly in sand, straightened themselves until she was in an upright position. With timid movements, she walked away from the well and towards the boat. She set a shy foot down on the smooth wood, and then another, and sat down completely. Setting the pearl in her lap gently, she took the oar and sifted it through the water, moving the boat ever so slowly.

Calm were her movements and the sea, so much so that the sea was soundless. Quietly, sweetly, she parted her baby pink lips and a lulling hum came from within her, splitting the silence.

"Sing me song

of a lass that is gone.

Say,

could that lass,

be I?

Merry of soul,

she sailed on a day,

over the sea,

to Sky."

Leaving behind regret and remorse, her heart aflutter with awesome excitement, she sang. She sang for her family, who would know that she made the right decision. She sang for her friends, who would welcome her back. She sang for her lover, who would surely deny his missing her. And lastly, she sang for herself, wanting her melody to be heard o're the sea.

~Inu no Kami