by Eden Crowne
It was no longer dark. Cold blue flames floating a few feet off the ground suffused the courtyard with an eerie glow. A rush of wind set the flames dancing and the strangest thing I had seen yet sailed out of the sky. Crows, well, they looked like crows. All of them at least three feet tall and wearing stiff, formal Japanese robes, thick beaded necklaces and little black shiny caps tied around their birdy heads. They weren't flying. How could they? They were in kimonos! It was more like they were riding the wind, literally wind surfing. In one wing, their feathers curled as deftly as fingers around a leafy branch. Fallen leaves swirled up into the air, tossed this way and that as the creatures stepped silently onto the ground, tucking the branches behind them.
We stared at the crows and the foxes and they stared at us.
Julian was silent. Still as stone. I was holding tightly onto his arm. I didn't even remember grabbing it. My knees were shaking and I was afraid my legs would give way altogether and I would fall back onto the gravel just like when the fox-faced girl looked at me. Without him saying anything, I knew it was important not to shame him in front of these strange creatures, or beings, or whatever they were. Gripping harder, I tried to stand with my shoulders back and head up.
A shiver ran down my spine. As one, Julian and I turned in the direction of the gate leading to the main shrine. Two figures rose up in a column of gray smoke from the flagstones in the central courtyard. Tall. Human, maybe? Or at least shaped liked humans. Shimmering into solid form, they moved gracefully towards us at a leisurely pace. The foxes, bowing their heads, opened a passage in the circle. The crow things stepped to one side, also bowing. The two seemed to be talking together, laughing softly. Men's voices.
Julian bowed and pulling my arm with him, I understood I should bow as well. We held the bow. And held it and held it until my neck ached. Finally, I couldn't help glancing up from under my lashes to see what they were doing. The two figures stood quite close. All I could see were the folds of their linen kimonos and flat Japanese-style zori sandals with brocade straps. From what I could tell, they were not bowing back. That was probably not a good thing. Bowing was a big deal in Japanese society.
One of the crow guys strutted close. It gestured with a wing (hand?) and cawed hoarsely. This seemed to be a signal for us to rise at last The ghostly blue light flared brighter and I looked up into the face of the most beautiful man I have ever seen. CG flawless. Narrow, fine-boned face, high cheekbones, strong brows and beautiful almond-shaped eyes. His shining black hair hung unbound to his waist. Side parted, bangs swept to the side, almost hiding one-half of his face before slipping down across his cheekbones to the perfectly sculpted jaw. He had the hint of a smile playing around the corners of his mouth as our eyes met.
Though it was an effort, I pulled my stare away to take in his companion. He seemed younger, his hair black and streaked with red, like he dyed it. Short and spiky on top. The rest as long as the other man's, but bound into a ponytail that lay over one shoulder. A scar ran across his forehead, splitting an eyebrow and slicing into his cheek. Meeting my eyes, he flashed a wide grin that made his eyes crinkle up mischievously, and gave me a thumbs up.
I wanted to laugh and return the sign, then thought it might not be appropriate. They were both wearing dark-colored kimonos with an interlocking geometric pattern around the edges and tied very low. The dark gray sashes fit tightly around their slim hips. The younger one had tucked one of the kimono flaps into his sash. I'd seen them do that in samurai movies to make it easier to run. Though they appeared barely older than us, there was an eerie timelessness about them. Even a magical novice like me could tell they were far more than they appeared. Julian couldn't begin to compete with the sort of energy radiating from these beautiful beings.
The silence, as they say in books, was deafening. Heavy as granite. No one said a word. The beautiful CG man walked around us as we stood still, his arms crossed over his chest. I felt like a used, slightly battered Toyota compact being appraised at a Jaguar dealership. If I'd known I had to pass a test, I would have at least put on lip gloss. The other one followed, adopting the same pose. Both foxes and birds closed the circle a little tighter and I swallowed the lump of fear in my throat.
"Lake," said CG man finally in a voice smooth and rich as caramel syrup.
Julian answered in his clear, clipped style."My Lord, thank you for heeding my call."
He cocked his head to one side, smiling ever so slightly. "That piece of jade you brought is both exquisite and powerful. Your reference to the Sacred Mirror, impossible to ignore."
"I have much to offer."
"Of course. Supplicants always think they do."
Julian frowned. I did not think he liked being addressed as a supplicant. Somehow inferior to the men standing in front of us.
"Anikee, anikee!" the younger one tugged at the other's kimono sleeve and pointed in my direction.
“I know, intriguing.” CG man was looking at me. “Where are you from?”
I pointed at myself, not quite sure he wanted me rather than Julian to answer.
The small smile reappeared, just creasing the corners of his mouth.
That meant yes, probably. “Santa Monica, California. Um, we're living here right now though.”
The younger one sort of bounced to attention. “LA? That is so cool.”
CG man glared at him and the other instantly tried to compose his face. “I mean. Hmm, intriguing.”
The taller one stepped a little closer, putting himself intentionally, I felt, beyond the border of my comfort zone. Julian tensed, his hand by mine closing into a fist. “What I meant is, where are you truly from? Which realm? Your spirit, your essence is otherworldly. Fae? Close, to that I think. Who are your parents? Or what are they? To be more precise.”
I had to clear my throat before I could find my voice. “I'm, um, I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean. I really am just from California. Which can be a little otherworldly, I admit. Especially LA. Weird central, you know?”
Julian tugged my sleeve. I was babbling, I realized, and bit my lip, willing myself to be quiet.
CG man looked searchingly into my eyes and I tried not to look away. His gaze was different than the sorcerer's piercing stare. Deeper. Knowing. Not frightening in the way Julian's could be. Julian's eyes were downright scary at times.
“You don't know, do you?” He waved one hand languidly towards the younger one. “Lake, please explain the details of the transaction you propose to my brother. I believe I would like to show your bewitching companion the view.”
He reached out and took my sleeve. There was only the barest sensation of motion and somehow, we were fifty feet off the ground, floating over the roof tiles atop Meiji Shrine. I put out both hands desperately trying to grab onto something and gave a scared mouse squeak.
“Don't be afraid,” CG man whispered in my ear. “I won't let you fall.”
His voice held such calm reassurance, it was impossible not to believe him. We sank effortlessly onto the roof and he motioned for me to be seated. I plopped down on the tiles. We sat for a time, silently, the wind in the trees the only sound. Too much silence for me.
"Is your name, Ani, Ani," I stumbled over the word the younger one had said.
"Anikee? That boy. No, anikee means older brother or mentor. It is, how can I define it? Sort of street talk. My younger brother is very much of this world and not interested in formality."
"Oh. What's your name? Or maybe I'm not supposed to ask that."
"Of course you may ask, though it is rather long and complicated. Hiro will do."
"How do you do, Hiro. My name is Alexandra Carpenter." I tried to give him a bow. However, sitting down, it came across more like I had a stomach cramp.
With another half smile, he gave me a much more elegant bow in return. Oh, he bowed back. That was good.
"Well, Miss Carpenter...”
I put my hand up (the other was holding tightly onto a roof tile), interrupting him.
“Lexie. Please call me Lexie; all my friends do.” After I said it, I realized no one in the Club called me that. In fact, no one had called me Lexie since Brianna and Isobel and the other girls at the Paris International School and my dad. Not even Julian.
“I am honored. Let us be friends, shall we? You are not from my world and I am not from yours, so we need not stand on tiresome ceremony. The formality of Japan can be exhausting even on the supernatural level. How do you like my shrine, Lexie?"
I couldn't help staring. "This is your shrine? Are you related to the Meiji emperor?"
He laughed so hard, two of the crow guys in robes zipped up on their magic wind to look at us. He waved them away. "No, what I mean is I am a kami and this is my family's land. It has been ours since before any emperor sat on the throne of Japan."
"Kami...that means...you're a god?"
Below us stood the main gate, a huge central courtyard, plus the massive tree Julian and I stood under to send our prayers skyward. Prayers to this guy, apparently. Oh my gosh. Not only did my mouth fall open, I was pretty sure I was drooling.
Taking the sleeve of his kimono, he dabbed at my bottom lip with one edge and pushed my mouth closed. "The Western and Eastern interpretations of that word are actually somewhat different and complex. Better to say I am a spirit. An elemental spirit. Yes, that describes me quite well."
Elemental had nothing to do with elementary. "Earth, wind, fire and water, right? What kind are you?"
He waved his hand and we floated several feet straight up. "Air."
Feeling a rush of vertigo, I reached out to grab him. “Right, air, duh! Of course.”
"Your pardon. I didn't mean to alarm you again." He put his hand over mine and we sank softly back onto the roof tiles, our clothes fluttering in the paranormal breeze. His touch was firm, yet his skin had the quality of, what? Silk? Velvet? He didn't take his hand away, holding on a little tighter, his perfect almond eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"What a surprise. You, I mean. I should get out of the country more often. Explore other spiritual pantheons as my brother is always urging me to do. I have never encountered someone quite like you."
He meant that in a supernatural way, of course. "Probably because I'm sort of cursed. I lost my soul."
He was silent for awhile. Who could blame him? That's definitely a conversation stopper. I mean, what do you say after someone tells you they lost their soul? 'So, how about those Lakers this year?' Yeah. Just no.
Still seated, legs crossed, he let go of my hand to float over, really float, so he was facing me. "Is that what you think you are? Cursed? Looking at it from my perspective, I would say it is more of a transitional period enabling you to evolve into your true form.”
“Looking with your super kami vision?”
That got a real smile out of him.
I pulled my knees up and hugged them tightly, watching him bob gently on thin air. “'In transition' sounds like the doublespeak my dad's office puts out to fool clients into thinking the economy isn't really going to crash and burn. I'm just an average girl: sky blue, rock hard, chocolate good. Those are the sort of definitions I understand.”
“If it's any comfort, I don't think you are going to crash and burn.”
“If I don't get the three pieces of my soul back I am.”
“Perhaps.” A gust of wind tossed his long black hair, momentarily masking his features. “Dust is not necessarily the end.”
I gave a little gasp of surprise. He knew the consequences of losing a soul.
“Could you be a little clearer about that? 'Cause I saw someone turn to dust and it looked pretty freaking final to me.” Final like a depressingly small pile of fluff on the linoleum.
“That's because you still see only the surface of this world. The bland facade it hides behind. Your eyes are very young. So much more will be revealed as you mature.”
“Can I just throw another 'if' in there? If I mature, and yes, I'm learning that lesson about there being much more behind the curtains,” I sighed with real feeling.
“You came to the shrine for a reason, I assume you want something of me.”
I thought a minute before answering. "No, nothing, Hiro. Julian asked me to meet him here." That was the truth. I hadn't come to ask anything. Besides, what I really needed wasn't his to give. I lost my soul all by my own stupid self. "I really like your shrine. And the giant torii gates are awesome."
Taking my hand again, he laughed, warm and rich. I felt the laugh inside. It was the strangest sensation. Kind of like sitting in a jacuzzi and having the bubbles froth up all around you. This guy was definitely powerful. And charming.
Who knew kami were charming?
Who knew kami were even real?
"Extraordinary to find a human who doesn't want something of me or my family." Letting go of my hand, he waved elegantly in the direction of the courtyard. "They crowd here by the thousands, day after day, asking, praying, begging. Trying to buy their way into our favor."
“Do you answer?"
"Sometimes. Often they know what needs to be done, they are just lazy, looking for shortcuts."
“Julian wants something though.” Better to point that out, guilt by association and all.
Hiro floated back to my side and stretched out his long legs, held up by a cushion of air. The folds of his kimono smoothed themselves back in place, which was only a little creepy. “My feeling is he wants it more for himself than for you. Am I wrong?”
“Whoa,” I put my palms out in front of me. “That's a pretty tough question. He's trying to help get my soul back. Fight the people who took it. Julian doesn't have to do that. I think it's pretty good of him to even try, no matter what his reasons.”
“Do you like him, this sorcerer, Julian Lake?”
Ouch. That hit a tender spot. My feelings for Julian were, like the kami, very much up in the air still. "You have to know someone to like them and I know very little about Julian.” Boy, was that the truth. “He is not a touchy-feely kind of guy.”
Both softly-curved eyebrows rose in unison.
“Touchy feely?”
“It means friendly.”
“Ah.”
“Julian is very,” I searched for the right word. “Compelling. And powerful."
The kami's eyes became cloudy, literally, the brown turning sort of muddy. "Do you trust him, Lexie?”
Now that was another question I was still trying to answer for myself. I gave a non-committal sort of “Um.”
“As a new friend, I say be careful of Julian Lake. He is much like his last name, deep and cold with an impenetrable darkness below the surface."
That sounded pretty much like my early assessment of Julian. “Do you know him?”
“Our magical cultures are different, yet his energy resonates on a paranormal wavelength common to all. I felt his arrival and took some pains to find out about him, the Soul Eaters he used to companion, and their club of fear. The sorcerer has spoken much with some of the lesser kami of this shrine and elsewhere. There have been adventures with demons, I hear, farther north.”
I remembered the raised, pink scars on Julian's back. They had looked new.
“He called himself a monster to me once.”
“I have met many monsters, and I would have to agree with his assessment.”
Ouch again. Before I could think of what to say to that, there was a thump on the tiles and the younger CG gorgeous guy with the scar landed beside us.
"Anikee, the human grows anxious."
Hiro stood gracefully to float facing his brother, the kimono arranging itself in perfect folds. "On his account or hers?"
The other gave an exaggerated shrug.
Hiro looked down at me, staring long enough to make me squirm. "I will speak with him. Lexie, this is Taka."
He gave me a jaunty salute.
"Taka, this is Lexie Carpenter. We are going to be friends. Why don't you escort our guest to Mother's Well and let her have the blessing of
the water? Lake and I will join you shortly."
The younger kami fist pumped the air. "Yes!" Flashing the same mischievous grin as before.
Taking my hand, we leaped off the roof. I think I screamed as the hard flagstones rushed up to meet us. Instead of a bone-crunching crash, we touched down light as a feather and then, springing up, sailed through the air. Taka repeated this several more times before landing in a quiet, forested glade. Here, thankfully for my stomach, we came to a stop. With a snap of his fingers, Taka summoned the blue flame to light the darkness. In the center of the glade was a set of stone steps and what looked like a well. The still water reflected the glow of the ghost lights. Taka plopped down on the ground and I, thankfully, did the same.
“You said you're from LA?”
“Yep,” I panted a little breathlessly. “Born and bred. At least until I was nine.”
“I haven't been to LA. Soon, though. I've almost got my brother talked into a road trip. You'll have to tell me all the cool places to go. Besides Disneyland of course. I know all about Disneyland. We have one here. Not the same as going to the original, you know? Tokyo version. I think Disneyland is awesome. We have a park you guys don't called Disney Sea; lots of fun. My friends and I like to go there. But we really like game centers. Do you play any games? I like Gundam. All the Gundam games. And racing games.” He mimed driving a car. “What about you?”
He spoke so quickly I wasn't sure which question I was supposed to answer first. It didn't matter as he already had another one for me.
“Are you having a good time in our country?”
Groaning, I shook my head. “Not very.”
His eyes widened in surprise and I realized what I said sounded rude. “Wait, what I mean is, I, personally, have gotten pretty messed up here. Not your country's fault. Japan, well Tokyo because that's all I've seen, is cool. I've mostly been hanging out in clubs and bars and things like that. I should spend more time seeing the cultural sights but...”
