Aloha everyone. I know this is probably the third?-I have no clue-time I posted this and when I went back to re-read what I posted….there were chapters that didn't make sense and when I went back to my document I got it confused which one I was working on and boy oh boy the fun on that. I DEEPLY apologize for this screw up and will post all the chapters CORRECTLY. This is also being bonked up to rated M for when I was trying to write for T and below I just can't do it. So yes. Blood, gore, sex, rape, etc will all be included from the deleted parts and I'm just gonna go with that. So yes. That's it, that's my rant/apology/I should only write one story at a time/should not have five copies of this saved on my computer lol -Mahalo plenty!

The time it takes for someone to fall in love is pretty short. But the time it takes for yourself to realize that you are already in love takes an excruciating long time. Some have it easier than others when the one they admire or adore comes to them and the feelings are mutual during their first meeting. I can tell you this much, my love was nothing but hard and excruciating to me.
Heh...perhaps I should start from the beginning? That might be better…it's hard to explain all that's happened to me in one short paragraph. I mean really, how does one go about explaining time travel and mythical beasts?
I guess it started after I moved to Tokyo ready to attend Tokyo U…

Prophecy

The turning of spring had always taken my breath away. Not because of the dramatic change in weather or the different kinds of flora that come out, and not even for the trees shedding their greenery. It's due to the fact that here in Tokyo they really bring forth all the festivities and celebrations! Since coming here I have seen more people living to their fullest compared to where I'm from. Better than Oregon, that's for sure. Here, there's always excitement going on and fireworks for something big or small-maybe even a parade for who knows what! In all reality, moving to Tokyo has been the best decision I have ever made for myself, and I couldn't have been any luckier getting a decent place to stay that is reasonably priced.

"Clara," the landlady, a rather young woman running a nearby shrine, called out for me from the yard. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun and she still had her apron on from working in the kitchen. Trailing out of my small quarters and meeting her outside, she was holding something small in her hand, but I was unfamiliar as to what she was doing with it.

"Yes Mrs. Higurashi?" Her gentle demeanor calming, she showed me the white object in hand, I saw it to be an ornament for your hair. It was so delicate looking it took my breath away seeing it. "It's beautiful! Did you find it while cleaning?"

"In a sense, yes. I would love it if you wore it to the Oban Festival tonight. I know since coming here you've been helping take care of the shrine as payment, but my husband and I want you to enjoy being here and have a fun experience before you start attending school in the spring."

"That's amazingly kind of you, really, but I don't even own a kimono or yukata to really experience it." Her expression became delightful as she clasped my hands and offered to dress me in one of her old kimono's she has had since she was my age.
She began rummaging her drawers and pulled out several boxes where I assumed it was how they kept them in pristine condition. She pulled out a few boxes and opened them up to examine just which one she planned on handing to me. She seemed to have decided on one and handed me the box with a grand smile on her face that made wrinkles show around her eyes.
"Are you sure I can wear it? I know they must be expensive..."

"I haven't worn it since I was young, and it would make me so happy to see it on someone." Insisting on it really, she was giddy wanting to dress me in it and do my hair.

"Then I'll leave it to you for the guidance."
She was so excited that when she ran the tub for me and prepared everything else, I relaxed in the bath and soaked for a while before hearing Mrs. Higurashi calling for me that she was ready.
"Oh wow…" breath taken, she had the kimono displayed on some poles and I was mesmerized by the patterns and colors.
Beautiful silver that shimmered in every direction you look at it from with deep purple trimming. The hem was like a washed out ocean as the vibrant waves sculpted the appearance and made the star patterns really pop.
"This is for me to wear? My god its beautiful…"

She smiled fondly as she looked over the fabric carefully and grabbed hold of the deep purple obi and hung it beside the kimono. "When my son marries and has a daughter of his own it will be me putting this on his wife and passing it to her to give to her daughter. To see your reaction makes me happy knowing I've taken great care of it all these years."

Thinking it amusing to talk of her son's marriage, I had to say it out loud. "Your son is still only in high school," I looked to her with all seriousness and she chuckled thinking that youth did not matter as long as he found someone he loved. I liked the thought and found her to be an ideal kind of mother. "Now then sit down here and let me get you ready for the evening."

"My goodness," Mrs. Higurashi, along with her husband, stood in awe by the door as they looked upon Clara coming down the steps wearing the kimono she had given to her. "If my son was older I would ask you to be his bride," she giggled with delight and her husband laughed alongside her. All joking aside and really seeing it for myself, it was like seeing myself in those folk films. Beautiful and refined Geisha walking down the streets with a parasol in hand. Mrs. Higurashi really has an eye for style, it'll put beauty tutorials to shame if I posted this.

"You speak so fondly of me, but really it's all in the kimono. It's quite stunning."
With the kimono on I definitely did not look my age at all and seem a little older than 19. The makeup she applied making my eyes look stunning and highlighting my green eyes.
"You are terrifyingly good at makeovers Mrs. Higurashi." She acted as though it was nonsense but the way she hid her beaming smile behind her hand said otherwise as she wished to boast. "This obi makes me look thinner, and it doesn't hurt to move."

"Oh dear you must stop with that," she came over and had me look properly in the mirror again. "You are beautiful no matter what dear, the clothes merely help others see it."

"Thanks," a huge confidence boost, Mr. Higurashi nodded in agreement to his wife's statement and carried on with what he was doing prior.

"If only you had a date to the festival it would really be perfect." She sighed. "But surely with the way you look you'll catch a man there." A teasing laugh, her husband returned and pulled her away to let me be and I couldn't help but laugh. They are such a sweet couple and I'm sure their son will find a wonderful girl who thinks the same. I mean he's got time since he's only in middle school.

Thanking her for all the trouble and receiving the small matching coin bag, she waved me off to go have fun at the Oban festival. Though persistent I have a date it did not bother me one bit, she really was a kind mother looking out for others.
It was a rather short walk to the festival. Not really hard to find since the shrine I'm staying at is actually the attraction for the festivities. I walked through the crowd and visited the stands to try out each vendor's specialty. Many delicious treats and fun games were enjoyable, but I think what caught me was how some of these people really got into the spirit of the Oban festival. Some of them wore very unique costumes while wearing masks on their heads and over faces. A few times I thought I'd seen a funny looking animal walking by on two legs but ignored the thought and continued playing games and eating the food. Before the night grew late for the fireworks to start, there was a booth just a little ways off away from all the other stands that was decorated in colorful drapes and lavished in shimmering jewels. It peaked my interest and I walked towards the small tent and heard shuffling in the shadows to reveal a person draped in purple silk covering their features.

"Do you seek your fortune…" the hooded woman asked. Her hand resting on her crystal ball while her face was masked by shadow, it was strange no one was around here wanting their fortune read. I would have thought it'd be popular with all the high school kids around here.

"Sure…why not," sitting down at the table and waiting for the woman to name her price for the reading, she began to stroke her ball and hummed to herself.
I watched as the ball began to swirl on the inside like smoke being blown in the wind and was transfixed on it. The old woman hummed louder and louder as she stroked the ball before lifting her hands away from it and making a strange pose. Unable to turn my gaze away from the ball and watching the swirling smoke inside take shape, I discerned the shape to be nothing more than a crescent moon before a blinding light made me cover my eyes.

"…A fate worse than death…you walk a thorny path that will not make things easy for you. If you value your life you would steer clear from the moon child and live a peaceful life. Take on the moon child and you will have to face hardships unheard of." The woman spoke in riddles as I rubbed my eyes from the sudden flash of light. I didn't understand much of what she was saying, but before I could ask her anything she was swallowed by the shadows of her stand and everything seemed to have darkened all around me. Terrified of the experience and getting up out of the chair, the lights and sounds of people around me came back into focus and continued on like nothing happened.
I looked around once my vision cleared and nothing was different but I turned back to the stand to find an old fortune teller machine placed where the old woman was moments ago.

"This is just freaky…" getting away from the stall and walking back to the shrine, I couldn't shake that feeling I had. Just what was that? Why did everything go dark around me with some creepy woman suddenly turning into a machine? Were all Oban festivals like this?
Reaching home and almost forgetting to pray at the tree for good health, I turned around and stopped before the great tree and looked at it. As old and sturdy as it looked, being near its large trunk always calmed me down and focused my mind. I felt calm shutting my eyes before it and praying to the god of this shrine for good fortune. And just like before, when I prayed for good luck during my exam, I felt warm. Being superstitious as I am, it was comforting this way towards a tree than a random old statue or church. I've felt this the day I moved here and been doing it every day since.

"Clara," Mrs. Higurashi came out of her house and found me praying. She seemed concerned why I was back so early, but I just couldn't tell her about the fortune teller experience. It would probably make her worried or think I ate something with drugs or alcohol in it.

"I got pretty tired after playing so much at the stalls. Perhaps I overdid it a little bit," I showed my best smile to play it off, but her eyes seemed to catch my attempt to lie, yet she said nothing. A mother's gaze is quite formidable, yet she chose to stay her questions and gave a soft smile.

"Alright then…come inside and take a warm bath. Dinner will be ready for you in just a bit."
I went to follow her inside when a loud crack and thunderous boom went off in the sky and looked up to see the fireworks had started. We stood there watching the show in a daze. It was magnificent to see, and just before the big finale, a firework went off that shaped itself into a crescent moon and several stars following right behind. The images of that fortune teller came rushing back to me and this time something else flashed through my mind as well. Something white…large and white was running at me at a great speed that I threw my hands up in front of me to defend myself from the impact and felt nothing other than Mrs. Higurashi shaking my shoulders.

"Clara, Clara what's wrong?!" Her face so close I could see her pupils dilate, and I also saw the fear in her expression clear as day. "What happened? Why did you suddenly yell and cover your face?" Her hands swiftly touching my face and knowing how clammy I must have felt made her worry even more. I felt my heart pounding in my ears. Cold sweat beading down my brow and feeling my limbs going numb, she took me in her arms and helped me back into the house.