Chapter Five

Saturday had arrived faster than I had expected it to.While I sat in my room waiting on the professor to arrive, I was deep in conversation with my other half. If that's what one could call a spirit attachment...

"Hopefully when we see Professor Hawkins today, we can see if he knows anything about you."

" Yes I hope he can help in some way. Did you remember to get the photos we had talked about? " She reminded me.

A couple of days ago I had remembered a part of my story where it said my parents had taken pictures. I had quickly sought out my grandma, to see if she knew where they were. She told me she was not sure but she would do what she could to find them before I left.

" My grandma said she would have them. I will get them before I leave. I'm not worried. Hopefully the professor will be able to read at least some of it.."

'Its 12 pm. I'm ready whenever the car arrives. Should be anytime now.' I think a bit nervously to myself. It had only just sunk in. The magnitude of what I was doing. It may only be a year on my own but a lot can happen in a year. 'and I will be alone.'

'Everything will be fine, Shiko. You are a strong smart young woman and besides, you won't be alone. I will be here for you.' Nadeshiko speaks before I allow myself to fall to deep into that pit of loneliness. ' you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Otherwise there would have been no way for you to have opened the box, let alone house a spirit like me.'

Her words helped me gather up my courage just in time to hear a car horn from out front. I then hear my grandma shout up to me moments later.

" The Professor is here. Hurry and bring down your luggage"

"Alright. I will be down in a moment." I shout back down to her as I stand to grab my luggage. ' Here we go' I think to myself as I take a deep breath. A man meets me at the stairs and grabs my other bags after I pass him and go down the stairs to stand by my grandma.

" Here are the photos that you had asked for. I hope they are able to help you."

" Thanks Grandma. I'm gonna miss you." I say as I hold back my tears. I didn't think about this part when I had accepted to go ahead of them.

" I will miss you too. I love you Shiko. Stay safe."

" Hurry along miss. We have to meet the professor at the airport in less than an hour." The man who grabbed my luggage says as he stands at the door of a sleek black limo.

" I'm coming" I shout out to the man. I turn back to my grandma and give her one more hug. " I love you too grandma. Tell the others that I will miss them too. I will try to call soon" I say as I step away and out the front door. The man at the door opens it then takes my bags as I step into the car. He must have put the bags in the trunk because I hear that close just before he closes the back door. Moments later I hear the front door open as he climbs into the driver's seat. He then addresses me as he checks his mirrors.

" We should arrive within half an hour. The professor should be waiting on board the plane by then."

" I'm surprised he is not here now. He said he was gonna be here to pick me up. I hope everything is alright."

"I'm sorry miss. That was the original plan. Unfortunately he had a last minute minor emergency that needed to be addressed."

"Oh. Okay. I understand. Let's not keep him waiting then." I say as I hear the engine start. ' I still want to ask him questions but it can wait a little while ' I thought to myself as I felt the car pull off.

It wasn't a long drive to the airport and surprisingly it did not take much longer after that even till I was boarding a small privet jet. I didn't know if a professor of Hawkins standards made a lot of money or not. I have never really cared for the monetary rewards myself when it came to learning about Egypt. Still a private jet seemed a bit much and with how extravagant this one was, in my eyes at least, I assumed that the museum that he is currently working with must have sent it.

I looked around the main area once I entered the long set of stairs. Almost directly in front of me along the wall was a row of seating with bench like white and brown leather seats with a table in between each set of two. There were only three sets of seats, to my left was a long circular sectional sofa that matched the other seats and a large monitor screen in the middle. I guess for TV and games too probably. There is a hallway that leads off to towards the front of the plane and I set of stairs that I assume lead to the cockpit. To the right of me there are two open doorways. One leads to what looks like bathroom complete with tub and shower. The other a bedroom. This was definitely nicer than anything I had envisioned.

I turn my attention back to the set of seats in front of me where I notice Professor Hawkins sitting across from a young girl of maybe 8 years old playing a card game. I recognized the game from the gift my older sister Yuki had given me. They were playing Duel Monsters. And they were really into it. I stood back to watch amazed. I had never seen a match played before. Let alone played myself. As I watched the match play out a felt a gentle nudging.

Then I was being pulled. I felt like I was Alice and this was the rabbit hole. I didn't know if I should panic. The feeling had come in so subtly. A gentle nudge at first.. Almost like riding a roller coaster. I heard her voice then, ' I think seeing this game. It must have triggered something in my memory. This is new to me. I don't know what is happening here.' I didn't respond at first. I couldn't. I was still falling and rational thought was beyond my abilities at the moment.

It seemed as if many minutes had passed since I had begun falling. Almost like I had to go deep. And after hearing Nadeshiko's voice I am almost certain I had somehow entered her mind. The first question was, does she know I'm here. 'where ever here is' I think as I opened my eyes to take in my surroundings.

I appeared to be in small ritual room. It was ornately decorated in gold. There crystals and precious stones all around. The room radiated an energy that no mortal could deny. In the middle of the room an aged woman sat on her legs in white robes. Her hands were resting in her lap and her eyes were closed. Her whole posture suggested that she was meditating. It was not long after, that a girl around 8 years of age, pushes open the doors to the shrine room and comes running in while pulling on her white robes.

The woman cracked her eye open at the girl and spoke, 'You are once again and always late, baby girl.'

"Yes. I know" the young girl spoke. " I have many responsibilities and much to learn. And I want to learn it all and more. But I hate getting up so early!" The little girl pouts.

I hover in the corner. I don't think Nadeshiko knows I am here. She can't seem to hear my thoughts or anything. I am assuming now that here is a memory she must be experiencing.

" Well you best get used to it, love. Like you said you have much to learn. You need to focus on your training. You are to become the high priestess. You don't need to worry about anything more than that" the woman said gently. " Besides what more could you want to learn? You spend all your spare time playing games and living fantasy. If you tried to do anything more you wouldn't be able to have even those spare moments of pretend." She reminds the little girl.

She seemed to really care for the little girls over all happiness. I know how hard family responsibilities can be. It's hard to take anything for yourself. The little girl smiles then as she replies, " I like playing games and fantasy." She nods then her smile turns serious as she finishes " but some games are not fun. The Shadow Games are bad and I know that they are one day gonna do really bad things. You taught me all about bad energy. I want to be ready to stop it. I need to know as much as I can. My fantasy and games do not matter as much as all of you do."

I was shocked at the seriousness and conviction of the words that were spoken from an 8 year old. She was willing to give up her happiness? What are Shadow Games? I find myself asking questions but have given up for a time in expecting answers. It was clear to me at this moment that I was in this, Whatever This was, as a silent observer. I can hold my questions for now.

It was sudden. Not like blinking, more like a melting or merging. The colors changing to form other images. I couldn't help but wonder if it was always like this in someone's dream or if I only notice the change because I'm in it. To confusing. I shake my head and focus on on my new view.

As I look around, I notice first, a crystal clear pond surrounded by greenery. A tall Willow tree grows off to the left hand side and extends 60 feet all around. There is even a fenced in area that contains a garden.

I notice the young girl from earlier by the garden fence carrying a basket full of herbs and other greens. She was humming softly to herself as she closed the gate behind her and began to walk toward the lake. The closer she got the more I noticed that the grass was long near the shoreline and the stones near the bed were well concealed too. I can already see what would happen. And sure enough, the young girl was obviously daydreaming and planning on sitting on the stones for a bit. Instead of paying more attention, however, she managed to slip on the concealed stones and land harshly.

It was sudden and jarring. I had no words for it. I stood at the entrance to the private plane again. What had happened!? 'Nadeshiko' I call out.

" Shiko? Are you alright? Do you need to lie down? You look a little pale."

No, no. I'm fine. I promise. I was just overwhelmed by the extravagant accommodations. I'm still not used to this kinda finery." I say with a blush. It wasn't a complete lie, anyway.

'Nice Cover' I think. The Professor waves me over. " Have a seat then at least. We will be taking off soon any how." He gestures to the place across from him that the young girl was in. She moved over it would seem, so I sat.

'We will have to speak later Nadeshiko.' I think to get her attention. She doesn't respond.

"Shiko, I'm sorry I was unable to pick you up myself as I had intended. Her parents asked me to bring her with last minute you see. This is my Granddaughter, Rebecca."

Authors Note: I hope you enjoy the second chapter I was able to give you this week. This one was extra special for me cause my muse was really flowing today. I hope to have another one out soon. who knows you may be granted a bonus tomorrow if mu muse co operates as well as she had been. Till then, Chao

Blessed Be!

Shiko