II. THE DEAD KIMONO GIRL

CONVINCING THE OTHER PASSENGERS and the flight attendants on board that I was fine and not in need of medical attention was a bit difficult when I was unresponsive for the rest of the flight, but I somehow managed to persuade them after a few minutes of saying I was just narcoleptic and this unfortunately happened all the time.

Grabbing my bags after stepping off the plane, I looked around for my father who was picking me up even after I told him it was fine and that I could take the train but he insisted vehemently. It wasn't all that hard to spot my father in a crowd of short, pale skinned people. He was the only tall, muscled, dark skinned man in the sea of people going about their day in a hurry.

Waving at him in excitement, I made my way over to him as he jogged towards me and swept me up in a bone-crushing hug, gushing over me with tears spurting from his eyes like geysers as he blubbered about how much he missed me and how grown I looked.

I blushed at the stares we were receiving and tried to half-heartedly push him off. "Aw come on, Dad." I muttered embarrassed, trying to put my head down and hoped the stares we were receiving went away.

Japanese people weren't as openly affectionate as Americans were and despite me spending the last two years in America, public displays of affection still made me feel awkward and was something I still hadn't gotten use to considering I spent most of my time in America being a hermit.

I was born and raised in Japan as my mother was Japanese who had met my father in a café he was visiting. Apparently it was love at first sight after she stopped him on his way out of the café to ask him for a picture even though he wasn't famous.

My grandparents weren't totally on board for the relationship at first but they eventually came around after I was born. Growing up looking different and being different than the other kids in school was rough but I managed to pull through.

Unlike my older sister who was fully Japanese, I was half-American, half-Japanese since we didn't have the same dad and she was almost six years old by the time I was born.

I loved both of my cultures. I got best of both worlds with my milk chocolate skin, slight almond shaped hazel eyes, thick black eyebrows and raven black hair which was currently in half-red and half-black box braids.

My dad's genetics definitely overpowered my mom's though since I looked (and on occasion acted) more like him than my mother. The only thing I really got from her was my eyes, lips, nose and hair texture - though it was still thick and curly, it obviously was not as tightly coiled and kinky as my fully black counterparts.

My dad stood at 6'3 with bulging muscles and an intimidating stature but he was a huge teddy bear on the inside and was completely whipped for my mother.

The relationship they had made me envious most days since I wanted a love like that but I was happy being single for right now, there was no need to rush - I was still pretty young after all (not to mention the thought of being in a relationship and giving myself entirely to someone else scared the crap out of me).

I had a hourglass figure that I got from my dad's side of the family with a slim waist, a six pack, double D boobs (sadly, my back hurt most of the time) and thick toned legs. I stay in shape though so it wasn't all genetics. Once I got tired of being tired, I started working out almost everyday last year - I go hiking, swimming, track and I box.

I meditate on the weekends (and some mornings on the weekdays) to center my chakras and align myself spiritually for when I'm feeling out of balance. That's a fancy term I like to use when I get a depressive episode.

Just because I don't practice Shamanism as much as I use to, didn't mean I was slacking off in areas like this. It got hard some days to keep up with, but I very much liked how my body was and I planned to keep it that way.

My dad and I were in the car now and I was explaining the situation to him that happened to me on the plane. He was listening intently, nodding every now and then to show that he was paying attention but never interrupting me. Once I was done giving him all the details, he was quiet for a moment, driving in silence with a contemplative look upon his face.

I was nervous, playing with the silver band around my right index finger that my sister gave me. It was one of the reasons why I get motivated to get out of bed when I have my episodes.

I told my father that I hadn't been keeping up with the practices in a while and I didn't know how'd he take it. I didn't want him to be disappointed in me.

My mother is actually the one who came from the long line of Shamans, but she never really cared for it when she didn't show any signs of extreme gifts, just the knack for sensing spirits - good or bad - and introduced my father to the religious practice before I was born.

It was my dad who took it seriously and when he found out that I showed promise, he took me to my grandparents where they immediately started to test and train me.

It wasn't fun.

He gave a deep sigh and looked at me sadly. "Why didn't you tell me you stopped practicing? As long as you're happy, that's all that matters to me, Sweetie. I'm proud of you either way, you know that. I love you."

My eyes watered a little and I gave him a smile. "Thanks, Dad. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, I was just scared since you seemed so happy when I showed signs of developing the gifts. I didn't want to disappoint you."

He scoffed. "You can never disappoint me, Ani. You're my little girl."

"Don't let Akemi hear you say that."

My dad laughed and grinned at me. "When's your sister coming to visit anyway? Still busy at work? She rarely ever calls these days."

"Yeah, she should be here by the end of the week; being a surgeon is really hard work - the hours are brutal. Being accomplished at such a young age, she has a lot to prove but she hasn't failed a patient yet. She's the top surgeon in the county, of course that's also because she's gifted. I couldn't be more proud to call her my twin."

"You're six years younger than her." My father deadpanned.

"Hey! We're really close and we even say the same things at the same time or can tell what the other is thinking...sometimes."

Shaking his head with a smile on his face, my dad reached over and patted my head. "I missed this. I missed you."

"I missed you, too, Papa."

"Okay, enough sappiness! Let's go save your mother."

Grinning, I mocked saluted him. "Sir, yes, sir!"

Putting my things away in my old bedroom, I made my way towards my parents room where my mother resided. As I roamed the halls, the nostalgia of being back home hit me as memories from when I was young filtered through my brain. I missed being back home, the safe and warm feeling I always got when I lived here comforted me.

My father and grandparents were out front giving me space and taking care of the Shrine and talking with the tourists, explaining the history behind our statues and trees. My grandfather was trying to sell some charm that may or may not have been real, muttering to himself about beating that old man from the 'False Shrine'.

Whatever the heck that meant.

The Sacred Pond Himari spoke of was in the back of the house, off limits and roped off with talisman to ward off malicious spirits although the actual reason was to seal the apparent portal that connected the present to the past. I'm gonna have to find out how to break that, I didn't feel like traveling to another Shrine and jumping to my possible death in some old well.

Ugh, more work.

Sliding the door open to my parents room, I saw my mother laying underneath the covers drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Geez, Granny, you don't hold back do ya? I thought, watching as my mother struggled to open her eyes to look at me, a soft yet tired smile gracing her lips. Eyes dazed, she gazed at me with adoration. "Anima... you came."

"Of course, Mama." I whispered gently, sitting next to her cross-legged and placing her hand in mine.

"H-how are you?" Her voice was weak and breathless.

"I'm good, Mama. Don't talk. I'll fix you right up."

Closing my eyes I steadied my breath and thought of my mother returning to perfect health. Usually, this sort of thing required a ritual with drums and my Shaman attire amongst other things, but I didn't want my mom to suffer any longer and decided to just go the short route. I should still be strong enough to do a menial task such as this.

I don't know how long it took to enter the Shamanic Trance, but when I opened my eyes I saw a ugly, grotesque looking spirit siphoning off of my mother's life energy. Aghast, I stood up and quickly drew runes in the air with my fingers while chanting under my breath. It finally noticed me and let out a horrifying screech, the sound making my ears ring. It got up and tried to lunge at me but luckily I was done chanting and I struck two fingers forward and watched as the runes flew and seared itself into the malicious spirit's skin.

"Kai!" I shouted, looking at the entity scream in pain and explode - releasing my mother's stored up life energy. I carefully guided it back into my mother and watched as the color slowly returned to her cheeks, bringing it back to the rosy red I was use to seeing. The pale pallor her skin was before fading to a healthy hue.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I sat back down tiredly and slowed down my breathing once again. That should not have made me this tired. Just as I felt myself getting close to entering my body, a voice stopped me.

Help me.

My eyes snapped open at the sound of a scared child and I searched around for the voice, noticing for the first time the presence of other spirits except unlike the one I banished from my mother, they were all benevolent and minding their own business. I must be able to see them again since I used my powers for the first time in three years.

Please, I'm scared.

Hearing the voice again, I searched around for a couple of minutes but didn't find any child spirit on the premises. Closing my eyes and honing in on the distant voice, I concentrated on where it was and manifested there a few minutes later. It took longer than usual since I wasn't use to doing this and I was already tired from expanding my energy moments ago.

Peering around I saw I was in a forest again, however; the only difference between the forest in my vision from last night and this one was that there was a dead child laying in the dirt road face down.

Judging from the hairstyle, I assumed it was a girl wearing a dirty red kimono. Feeling my heart break, I looked around for the spirit of the child and saw her sitting by the base of a tree with her head on her knees.

"Excuse me?" I called out, approaching her cautiously. "Are you okay?" Her head snapped up to meet mine and her weary, alarmed eyes grew wide in awe.

"Wow, Miss, you're so pretty!" She exclaimed, brown eyes sparkling.

I chuckled, sitting next to her. "Thank you, you're quite pretty yourself."

She giggled, red blooming along her cheeks as she smiled showing her missing tooth. "Are you dead like me?"

I shook my head sadly. "No, sweetie, I'm alive. I heard you calling out to me and I came to help. Where's your parents?"

Her eyes grew sad and haunted and I felt bad for asking. "They're dead, Miss. My brother is too."

Sighing in remorse for her, I looked around for their spirits to see if they lingered to stay close to their child but didn't see any. Closing my eyes I sent a silent prayer to her family. For a child to lose their family so young must be heartbreaking and lonely. "Was there anyone taking care of you after your family died?"

She shook her head. "No, Miss. Just me."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Rin, Miss!" She gave me another thousand-watt smile and I couldn't restrain myself any longer and gave her a tight hug. After a few seconds of hesitation, Rin hugged me back just as tightly.

Pulling back, I smiled at her. "My name is Anima, Rin. Do you want me to take you to see your family?"

She looked like she was about to nod before a worried expression came over her face. "There's an injured man not too far from here. I hope he's okay." Rin's face became sad and wanting to see that smile again, I placed my hand on her shoulder and nodded in resolve.

"Don't worry about him, Rin. I promise I'll find him to make sure he's all better."

She seemed to be shilly-shally about leaving the injured man without checking on him first but she nodded nonetheless and took my hand when I held it out for her after standing up. Just as I'm getting ready to guide her, a man could be seen walking in our direction with a green imp carrying a staff and a large two-headed animal.

Was it a dragon? A giant lizard? ...Those were basically the same thing weren't they? Shaking my head at my thoughts I focused back on the man as he stopped in front of Rin's body.

Rin gasped and waved her hand in excitement at the man who couldn't see us. That didn't seem to deter her elated state since she started giggling happily. "That's the man! I'm so glad to see he's alright. I was worried for him."

I didn't share the same good mood Rin appeared to be in. The man standing before us was a really strong dog demon and I gulped at the power pouring off of him. "Are you sure this is the same man, Rin? Maybe it's someone else."

Rin nodded enthusiastically. "I'm sure, Miss Anima. He has the same long pretty hair!"

I tilted my head at that and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, his hair is pretty gorgeous. Not to mention his face." I whistled in appreciation and Rin blinked cutely, not seeming to understand that I found the man incredibly attractive despite his cold appearance.

We observed in silence as the man gazed down at Rin's body before he started to continue on his way when he gave a pause and pulled out a sword and slashed her body with it, effectively killing the little messengers that gathered around her battered body.

Gawking at what the man did, I felt my hold on Rin start to fade and I looked down at her. "Rin?" I questioned when she looked to be disappearing. Realizing her soul was entering her body again, I stared at the man in complete awe.

The man knelt down by her side and turned her over, looking to be waiting for something. When Rin's body started to move and her eyes opened, the man stood back up and carried on his way - ignoring the questions the imp was spewing off.

Rin slowly got up and looked around and noticing the man walking away, ran up to catch up to him. She stopped though and turned, glancing into the woods and down the path as if searching for something. When she didn't find what she was looking for, she frowned.

I registered that she was trying to find me and I shook my head at her fondly. Despite not seeing me she raised a hand and waved. "Bye, Miss Anima! Thank you for keeping me company." She shouted, smiling brightly. Turning back around she went to catch up with the still walking man who hadn't stopped for her.

"I'm gonna miss her," I mumbled and closed my eyes to go back to my body.

Unbeknownst to me, the man turned his head and looked back to where he had saved the little girl's life. Seeing no one, he narrowed his eyes and faced forward again; watching as the girl followed him with a small, content smile on her face. Satisfied, he continued his walk.

When I opened my eyes again, it was morning and I was laying down in my bed back in my room. Thinking of the events that had transpired, I knew I wasn't fully prepared for the quest Himari wanted to send me on. Though she consented to training me of her own free will, I felt I wasn't fit enough to just jump immediately into heavy training with her.

Especially with the tight schedule she wanted me to complete it in. That monster.

Nevertheless, what would normally happen almost instantly, took me a bit too long to willingly enter into the Spirit World which was unusual for me. That just further proves I'm more than inept to start my journey into the past.

I'm sure my grandma and that group looking to defeat Naraku can keep him busy for a bit longer without me entering the fray just yet. Deciding to speak with my grandparents and father on re-training me to instill the basics back into my brain, I went back to a well needed rest.

Come next morning, I won't have the luxury to take naps. My grandparents may have gotten old, but their training will be just as brutal as when they and I were younger.

There goes my peaceful summer.