Ryan 'Rango' Prosker's Story

xxxOnce, before Tokyo had been given its name, before tall spires of metal dominated the horizon and light polluted the sky, one could see the stars. They say it was the gods who wove constellations into the otherwise blank expanse of night sky; exposing pinpricks of light to tell stories of legends that would transcend time. Yet, as civilisation grew ever skywards, electric lights began to drown out the natural illumination of the night sky. There are still those who remember centuries long gone, whose gaze at the night sky and remember a time when it was only clouds that interrupted their view. The constellations had changed since they were young, shifting across the Earth’s sky as time flowed forward. Yet, more than one could still take comfort in the beauty of it.

xxx “A shame really.” The man commented absently, his gaze fixed upwards, past the canopy of sky-scrapers towards the sliver of cloudless ink visible above. “Once you could have made out millions of stars from anywhere in the prefecture.”

xxxThe surly teenager seated beside him grunted and shifted slightly away, unsure who this stranger was and why he had randomly started talking to him.

xxx “I made it, you know.” The man continued, an almost smug smile on his face as he leaned against the park bench. He didn’t seem to care that the youth was resolutely staring at the screen of his cell phone, attempting to tune out the rambling stranger. “I mean, I made everything really. You’re welcome by the way.” He paused and glanced at the mortal, as if expecting a ‘thank you’, or any other form of gratitude. When none was offered the man merely continued talking, “But, I am particularly proud of the stars. ”

xxxThe man’s dark eyes returned to the small portion of the sky not covered in thick cloud. He held his hand in front of his eyes, stretched out as if he might pluck the very stars from their homes in the sky. Instead, he waved his hand slowly from side to side, as if waving away a particularly bad smell. A satisfied smile lit his face as his hand fell to his side,

xxx “There, you see!” The man said, nodding towards the now cloudless sky. Though the light from numerous skyscrapers still dimmed the brightest of the stars, they seemed stronger now, shimmering happily above the world below. “Much better.”

xxxThe youth merely grunted again, his hands fiddling headphones into his ears as he attempted to tune out the well-dressed man beside him. Unfortunately, the man’s voice continued to blare through the headphones, as if the younger man’s music wasn’t playing at all.

xxx “I fancy myself as a bit of an artist, if I’m being frank.” He continued, a note of pride creeping into his words, “You see that tree there? I designed it, right down to the edges on the leaves.”

xxxThe teenager didn’t even glance up, too busy checking that he had plugged his headphones in properly. Of all the nights for them to stop working, it had to be when he was getting his ear talked off by some mental stranger.

xxxFrom behind the pair a female voice replied, full of barely contained impatience, “I think you’ll find that I was the one to design that tree. If I remember correctly, you were still babbling on about how sludge was going to be the next big thing.” The woman snorted in amusement. “Well, we all know how that went.”

xxx “Excuse me for trying to do something different.” He retorted hotly, even as he slid across the park bench to make space for the new arrival. Beside him, the irritated youth was silently cursing the two adults who had interrupted his brooding and was quickly stuffing his phone into his backpack. Without a word the kid stood, pulled his hood tightly over his head, and walked away.

xxxThe two gods barely seemed to register the departure, more concerned with the back and forth that had begun. “I make one mistake and you never let me forget it. I made flowers, and gave the world bees. Who doesn’t like bees?” His hands made exaggerated movements in the air.

xxx “One mistake? Oh, I can count at least three dozen you’ve made in the last decade alone.” The female retorted, slapping his hands casually away. She opened her mouth to continue, before changing her mind and instead adding, “But I didn’t come to bicker with you.”

xxxHe nodded. His partner had come for the same reason he had. He stood up slowly, stretching out his tall frame, before offering a hand to the woman. She took it with a nod, her head tilting slightly in a wordless expression of ‘after you’.

xxxA second later the two figures blinked into existence on the wind-swept top of a sky-scraper. From here they could see the city sprawled out below them; neon, artificial lights marking roads, shop advertisements, and the lit windows of residential apartments. Above them, cleared of the thick layer of clouds, was the night’s blanket of stars.

xxxThough no eyes – mortal or otherwise – happened to glance up at the tip of the building, had someone done so, they would have seen two immortals bathed in moonlight, watching their world with a confidence only the gods know. They were one and the same, and yet separate, two entities burning in a universe of their creation.

xxxHe was tall and pale, his feet rooted solidly in the ground beneath him even while his hands reached heavenward. His cheekbones were chiselled from marble, sharp enough to cut mountains. Dark eyes of endless knowledge inspected his world, while strands of hair the same pitch black were pushed back from his face with lithe fingers. His appearance was similar to natives of this land, albeit almost concentrated, as if he were the original that all others had been moulded by.

xxxShe, on the other hand, had the dark, warm skin of someone who would have been marked a foreigner had she walked amongst Tokyo’s population. Her face was softer; a smooth sculpture of beauty, with thick curls of coal-coloured hair engulfing her head. Pupils that whispered of eons gone by watched the city like a predator of old, her lips held tight in a thin frown as possibilities of the days to come ran through her mind.

xxx “Owari” He spoke her name like a resolution; a finality echoing from his lips; the end.

xxx “Hajimari.” She responded with his name; a beginning; a taste of fresh possibilities, and boundless growth.

xxx “Things are moving.” He stated, his eyes too seeing beyond the crawling traffic below. “Do you think they’re ready?”

xxx “They’ll have to be.” Owari responded, her tone firm.

xxxHajimari nodded, rising his gaze from the streets at his feet to the stars above. His hand rose, fingers splayed above his head as his eyes searched between the digits. “Perhaps a sign then.” He murmured, almost to himself. Though, Owari heard and followed her partner’s gaze to the heavens.

xxx “Many have long since forgotten us.” She reminded him as his fingers began to dance overhead. His hand made a graceful pulling motion, a soft breath left his lips, and then the first star fell across the night’s sky; a streak of pure light momentarily illuminating the heavens. More followed, creating a meteor shower for any who happened to turn their attention to the sky that night.

xxx “Well, perhaps this is for my comfort than.” Hajimari replied, his hands clasped behind his back as he admired his work. Owari let the silence build as she too watched the show above, until a dozen moments had passed.

xxx “They all have demons to face.” Her words rang with a hint of pity, for she knew the dangers that were to come.

xxx “Most are of their own making.” Hakimari responded, “They would have had to face them eventually.”

xxxOwari nodded, her curls shifting as if stirred by a gentle wind, “We can only watch now.”

xxxA look of slight guilt crossed the pale god’s face, his eyes flashing momentarily. His partner turned ever-perceptive eyes on him, her frown deepening as she sensed his intentions, “Hajimari, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times, stop interfering with their lives!”

xxxAnd just like that, the aura of power and mystery that surrounded the two gods evaporated. Like an old couple, married for too long and all too aware of each other’s faults, they began trading words; barbs, insults, passive aggressive suggestions. A bird soaring above would be wise to avoid the area directly around the snapping deities, a rat might have taken sheltered in a solid pipe well below the pair too. For the less perceptive mortals, they continued their work without contemplating that above them stood two squabbling gods, or that among their number roamed immortals and ghosts. Even as the two gods disappeared, the only witness to their presence a pouting teenage boy, the world continued to move of its own accord.

xxxIn a shoe-box apartment only a few blocks from the building once occupied by the two gods, a Guardian Angel calling himself Kohaku was preparing to leave on work-related business. A short distance further, within the performance hall of one of Tokyo’s learning institutes, a blonde boy studying music gave his hands a shake as he glared at a piano piece. And further away, across vast oceans and mountain ranges carved and painted by the hands of the divines, a goblin’s hand reached for a door knob. Slim fingers curled around the brass head, her eyes shut, mind searching for the pull of her next destination. She opened the door and slid through, her eyes alighting on the clear windows of her Tokyo apartment to see stars decorating the sky.

The apartment Kohaku called home was small; a claustrophobic collection of tiny rooms which seemed to grow smaller every time he entered. Though tidy, maintained with obsessive care by both its occupants, none could bypass the fact that it barely fit one resident, let alone two. Haku’s bedroom, he had to admit, was pleasant, and gave off a vibe of being more spacious than it was. A combination of good lighting, both from the electrical bulbs and the room's one window, a clean environment, and minimalist furniture no doubt helped give the illusion of space. Small pot plants decorated his desk and bedside table, and throughout the apartment he shared with his fellow guardian, other small greenery could be found. Haku liked the delicate blooms the best, the ones which needed a caring hand and soft whisper to yield an inch of growth. It took a special kind of patience to cultivate those plants, patience which Haku was thankfully gifted with.

Time management was also a skill learned over centuries of working as a guardian angel, and as Haku glanced at his wrist watch – an old analogue face with a solid crack across the glass – he realised that he was going to be late. This was through no fault of his own, he would have pointed out to anyone had he not been alone. Rather, the fault lay with his new charge, who apparently was early.

“Naturally.” Haku breathed, as if he had always expected the slight inconvenience caused by the change of time. A cynic at heart, the angel was rarely surprised when things didn’t go his way. It was almost as if he anticipated disappointment, accepting it with a forlorn sigh as his due. Now was no different, and with barely a complaint uttered he collected himself and set off.

The guardian did not, as one might expect, head down towards the street. Instead, Kohaku took the stairs to the roof. Long strides carried him up several flights of the concreted stairs, ignoring the sound of yelling which echoed from one floor, and the blaring of televisions on various others. Cold, electric light illuminated his path, before, with a sigh of relief, he stepped out under the moonlight. A cool breeze swept across the angel’s face, momentarily caressing away the creases of worry that lined his forever young face. Dark, melancholic eyes turned heavenward, towards a cloudless sky that seemed to hang in the moment, like a breath waiting to be released. Then, the exhale. A spark streaking across the engulfing black; pinpricks of light making their descent to earth in breath-taking bursts of light.

Kohaku let himself indulge for a fraction of a second, his gaze aching for some forgotten feeling. Then, tearing his eyes away and casting them to his feet, the angel let out a sigh. He could only assume that there would be many eyes on the sky tonight, and despite his glamour rendering him invisible when he flew, Kohaku knew that a few of Tokyo’s millions might see him pass – the immortals and touched mortals. All he could do was mentally apologise for anyone who was distracted for a single moment from the falling stars by his flittering frame, before he stepped off the side of the building and took to the air.

Translucent, shimmering wings burst from the angel’s back, keeping his body aloft and pulling him higher into the sky so that Haku could skim over the tops of Tokyo’s steel horizon. He was faster than any manmade machine, making the journey in a collection of seconds. His toes scuffed the top of the hospital roof, heels settling down a moment later. His wings curled away, once again invisible. No stranger to the hospital roof, Haku turned his feet towards the stairwell entrance.

Unlike the reapers who lived in the apartment below his, Kohaku regretfully did not own a suave black hat as part of his uniform, instead he wrapped the image of another around his frame. He opened the door to the stairs as a grim young man and stepped through as an older man, face wrinkled by time and forgotten worries, hands gnarled and broken. His plain clothes whitened and lengthened into a doctor’s coat, while a nametag on his chest informed any who read it that he was a senior doctor in the neonatal ward.

At this time of night visitors were rare and the corridors were quieter than the day, yet still the halls buzzed with activity. Patients and staff murmured between each other, machines whirred and beeped, and the hums of phones ringing, trolleys being wheeled, and more echoed throughout. Haku’s footsteps barely made a noise as he navigated through the maze of hallways. He followed the unexplainable connection that pulled him towards his charge, like a thin cord that linked him with the mortals he was to watch that vibrated with their emotions. He could feel her now, bewildered, and curious.

His pace quickened, and soon he was pushing through the doors to where the new born mortals were wrapped snuggly in blankets. There were half a dozen babies within the room, none no more than a day old. Though Kohaku had never seen his new charge before, he knew without needing to read the name tag that Aoi was in the cot at the end. His hands gently picked up the small human, as careful as if the new born was his own. A soft smile appeared on the angel’s glamoured face, a rarity indeed had anyone other than a baby been around to witness it.

“Somebody was eager to meet the world.” Haku whispered, his gaze kind as the baby girl’s own large eyes met his. “You’re early.”

The baby didn’t respond, but Haku could sense its sentiment; the pure, uninhibited emotions of an infant. He had always held a special place in his heart for children. Why, he was never quite sure. Haku only knew that here, holding the precious bundle in his arms, he felt more complete than he had in years. Yet, even as he soothed Aoi back to sleep, Kohaku could feel the pull of his other charges. He was needed elsewhere.

“I will see you again, Aoi.” He whispered to his charge, placing her softly back into her crib. He hesitated for only a moment, watching the small puff of her cheeks as she breathed, “I wonder what you will become, and where you will find greatness. What joys and hardships will you face?”

Though guardian angels had a hand in directing fate, even they were naïve to the destinies their charges held. Their job was to keep them safe, to nudge them in the direction that would lead them to greatness. A hard job when that greatness appeared elusive. Once, before the world had become that much more accessible, a guardian could follow their charge from infanthood to adulthood. Now, however, over half of his charges moved across the world, to become the responsibility of some other amnesiac immortal. In return, he was given the cases of those guardian’s charges who found their way to Tokyo.

Another of Haku’s newest charges was within the hospital, though this was a grown man rather than a new born soul. Like the first, Kohaku followed the intuitive connection towards the American, reading what he could of the man’s emotions as he went. As he passed under the artificial lights of the hospital bulbs, Haku altered his glamour slightly. The face remained the same, yet each step saw years fall away. Hair slowly thickened and darkened, wrinkles disappeared, and his figure straightened, until he appeared to be a man in his early thirties. The lab coat was gone too, replaced in an empty corridor with the plain clothes of an office worker.

New charges always took a small amount of time to plan for. Though Kohaku was connected to the man’s emotions, there was an unpredictability about handling a charge Haku wasn’t used to that offered some difficulty. It was for this reason that the angel stopped mid-step and frowned, shook his head slightly, and decided to try a different tact. It would take a few interactions to fully learn what might help Ryan Prosker, and he thought he’d keep it short and simple for the first.

Five minutes later a small figure sporting pigtails, a pair of thick glasses, and a girl scouts uniform, turned the corner. Braces lined her teeth, and various badges pinned across her chest displayed her status as a senior girl guide. Haku’s glamour could have been no older than ten, yet the tiny Japanese girl walked with the determination of a centuries old man. It was only when she was within sight of her target, that the girl scout slowed. Haku had come prepared, and reaching into his (her) pocket, he pulled out a small packet of girl guide biscuits. The chocolate flavour.

The glamour’s shoes made a light tapping sound as she danced across the hospital floors, reaching Ryan Prosker quickly. Japanese spilled from his mouth, the tone that of a prepubescent girl, before Haku thought better of it and translated his original statement into heavily accented English.

“Sir, would you like some cookies?” The girl guide smiled brightly at the man, her gaze unwavering as she pushed the packet towards him. “Life is full of constant disappointment and heart-aching.” Haku added, his feminine voice momentarily sombre, the English awkward on his tongue, “But whenever I begin to question the pointless cycle of life, I find biting in a cookie is helpful in the calming of my mind. A momentary pause, before an additional attempt at help, “The exit is down the left path.”

Perhaps it wasn’t the smoothest translation from the Japanese, but Kohaku had never claimed to be a linguist. With a quick bow, the girl guide pushed the packet forward and let go, before quickly turning on her toes and skipping off. Haku could only hope the cookies cheered up his charge, yet he had no doubt that more interaction would be needed in the near future.

Once out of sight around the corner, Haku ducked through a side door and found himself stepping once more into the brisk night’s air. Sirens screamed close by, car horns echoed throughout the night,, and above it all the last few stars began their descent from heaven. Kohaku jumped into the sky, the material of his girl guide’s skirt flapping in the breeze created by his wings. Invisible to all below, he once again let his wings transport him, though this time he remained between the buildings, weaving through them as he followed the map in his mind. His feet touched down a moment later, glittery slip-ons meeting the dirty pavement of a back alley.

The door to the bar jangled as the ten-year-old girl walked in, surprise appearing on her face as she spotted the dark suit and familiar face of her neighbour. The girl guide slid into the seat opposite Seung, offering a glum nod of acknowledgment directed towards the reaper as she settled in. Only when Haku was certain that no eyes were on him did he shed the small girl glamour, letting his natural form take precedent.

“I didn’t know you frequented ‘The tipping point’.” Haku said, his gaze taking in Seung’s sharp suit with a hint of envy. He would love to own such a flattering and expensive piece of clothing, yet even if Haku had the money to afford it – which he didn’t – he was sure it would only bring out the bags under his eyes or accentuate his already prominent ears. “My charge might visit here tonight. Please don’t take his soul. I’ve only just received his case and it would look terrible on my record if he died the first night in my care.”

The bartender came over, a selection of drinks in his hand. Haku shook his head slowly and asked for water instead. The bartender frowned slightly before stepping away, and Haku slumped further into his seat in dejection. He didn’t have enough money to purchase luxury items like sake, not when he’d just given away a packet of girl guide biscuits for free. But, he supposed that was part of his dues. A punishment for the sin he committed in his past life. Such was the after-life.

xxxIt made no difference how many times reaper Seung reminded Haku that they did not choose who died, merely followed the cards assigned to them. The guardian still maintained the prejudice that their mere presence must not be lucky for any mortals in the vicinity. Yet, as Seung reminded him of the fact, the guardian merely nodded solemnly in response rather than argue. Best not to upset a grim reaper after all.

xxxA moment of comfortable peace passed between reaper and guardian instead, the sounds of the bar’s other occupants and the steady beat of vehicles rumbling down the road outside soothing after a day of work. Haku sipped on his water, wishing once again that he could afford anything more than the free drink. A despondent sigh escaped the angel, his shoulders slumping slightly as his gaze left the sad glass of water. His lips parted, words collecting on his tongue, before a small figure joined the quiet pair with a thump and a sorrowful exclamation.

xxxKohaku knew Minako’s moods well, and was well acquainted with her inclination to find love in the smallest, most meaningless of gestures. A passing stranger might smile at her, and the diminutive guardian angel would assure Haku that she was in love. She felt too strongly, opening herself up for disappointment whenever a fresh sweetheart failed to return her newly developed devotion. On more than one occasion in their decades of friendship, Haku had found himself comforting his fellow angel, offering a quiet shoulder to cry on as he patiently waited for her to right herself.

xxxAt least now Haku had the support of his neighbour. No two neighbours, he corrected himself as Alucio joined the quiet table. Kohaku returned Alucio’s greeting, raising his hand vertical and giving a short wave before letting his fingers wrap around the glass of water and pulling it closer. He should have asked for a straw. He watched as Alucio offered the distraught guardian his handkerchief, and Kohaku suddenly had the sinking feeling that he’d be spending the next week hearing Minako waxing poetic about Alucio’s generosity. The male guardian bit back a sigh and returned his attention to the glass of water.

xxxThoughts of sinking into a hot bubble bath distracted Kohaku from the chatter of the table, his mind already swimming with sweet scented candles and luxurious bath salts. Bath bombs were his guilty pleasure, the rare item he allowed himself to splurge on. Not that he did so very often. He would use a candle right down to the stub, and lay in a bath until all the bubbles were gone and the heat had completely vanished. Anything to make the most of his spent money.

xxxOnly the sound of his name draws Haku away from his mental bubble bath, and he gazes up to stare blankly a Seung. Having missed the earlier conversation, Kohaku merely nods and agrees uncertainly, “Right.”

xxxThen a worker is at their table, and Haku’s lips quirk into the first almost-smile of the day. A free beverage? What luck is this? With a quick nod, Haku picks up the menu hastily and skims down the list of cocktails, wines, and other assorted alcoholic drinks. He’s half scared that if he takes too long, the offer will disappear. Yet, as soon as he finds something he likes, he glances up and finds the bartender waiting patiently for the order.

xxx “I’d like sex on the beach, please.” Kohaku informs him, ignorant to how such a phrase could be turned around in any other situation. Yet, the barkeep’s face does not break into a mocking smile at the cocktail, but a regretful frown.

xxx “I’m sorry sir, but that drink was discontinued last week. You must have an old menu.”

xxxHaku is handed another menu, his disappointment and resignation clear by the set of his shoulders and gloomy mask. Nevertheless, he selects another drink – a respectable beer – and hands the menu back with another sigh. It’s only then that he notices the man sitting at the bar. He can sense the man’s emotions, the connection slightly sluggish thanks to the few shots of Sake he’s already consumed. The bartender follows Kohaku’s gaze and gives a happy nod,

xxx “Yes, the American has kindly bought the whole bar a round.” He informed the table, nodding towards the figure of Ryan Prosker.

xxxHaku nods absently before his elbow shifts, prodding into Minako as he drew his eyes away from his charge. “I’m going to talk with my charge. If you’re capable of sitting straight and tearing your gaze from the table, I would appreciate any advice you could give me on him.” Haku mumbled, before a gaze at the men in black sitting opposite them made him add in a quieter voice, “And make sure the reapers don’t kill my charge.”

xxxWith a nod to said reapers, and a promise that he would be right back, the guardian angel slid from his chair and gained his feet. He felt almost naked without a glamour on, but knew that it would be redundant to leave the bar only to come back wearing the image of another person. He may as well wear his own face. Subconsciously, Haku tugged on the lobe of his almost-too-big ear and set off, dipping around tables empty and occupied as he made for the counter.

xxxHe didn’t entirely have a plan, but knew that talking with his charges would only help in his mission to enable them to meet their great fate. So, he took the seat next to the American and drew a rare smile onto his face as he faced Ryan. His lips were unaccustomed to such a position, and the smile quickly fell into a more neutral position as he addressed the man seated beside him.

xxx “Hello, do you speak Japanese?” Kohaku asked in his native tongue, before switching to his less-fluent English, “Or should I thank you in English?”

xxxMovement to his right momentarily drew Haku’s attention away, and he was rewarded with the sight of the bar tender sliding a cool beer into the guardian’s waiting palm. With a nod of thanks to the worker, Kohaku turned towards Ryan once more, his beer held out towards the American – an age-old, wordless invitation to clack their drinks together and ‘cheers’.

xxx “To what are you celebrating?” Kohaku continued, his tongue feeling uncoordinated as it pronounced the English words.

xxx A sea of delicate pink blossoms fluttered in the faint spring breeze, a show of nature’s intoxicating beauty revealed for the world to see. Lanes of sakura trees turned the pavement below a rosy hue, while in other places the falling flowers had carpeted the grass in blushing blooms. The Hanami custom was old, a traditional indulgence by the people of Japan and those world-wide to walk beneath spring’s buds and admire the astounding beauty of it.

xxx In Ueno park, lanterns hang on invisible ropes between the trees, arching across lanes and illuminating pathways during the nightly yozakura. Yet, even during the day, as wisps of cloud pass overhead, the lanterns only add to the festive feel. Kan'ei-ji temple is a Tendai Buddist temple within the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. It sits in the park, a beautiful array of centuries old architecture within the modern city.

xxx Fires from various civil wars and earthquakes have seen the original facades diminished, yet still the temple stands tall and proud. The five-storied pagoda and the Ueno Tōshō-gū shrine still remain as gems of the original temple, beautiful relics of a time gone past. Today, as the midday sun passes overhead, the temple grounds were thriving with activity. Cherry blossoms coloured the grounds pink, while the laughter of young children brought smiles to many who passed by. Stalls set up in one of the courtyards offered delectable treats; yakitori, grilled chicken on sticks; takoyaki, pancake balls with tempting chunks of octopus in the middle; watamep, cotton candy in all colours and styles, and more.

xxx The temple’s festivities were set to continue throughout the evening and into the early night, when the lanterns strung up would offer soft illumination. However, as early afternoon struck the festival was well into full swing. Some families take to the lawns beneath the cherry blossom trees, where picnic blankets allow them to stretch out and admire the blooming petals, while others content themselves with pulling young children around to the games set up for those who require a bit more entertainment. Also present are young couples keen to take in the romance of the sakura blossoms, their hands intertwined as they whispered endearments to each other while walking beneath the blooms.

xxx It was one of these couples that caught Lucia’s gaze as she stepped off the bustling street and followed one small, winding path towards the heart of the temple. They were young, late teens or early twenties, and yet their devotion to each other was clear. As the goblin passed the love-struck couple, she caught a glimpse of their future, intertwined for decades, their hands still clinging together as they age from young and fresh to gnarled and old. Luciana smiled softly, a hint of sadness perhaps beneath the warmth in her eyes. She had once been in love, a foolish affair, yet her story had not ended in happiness as this couple’s story would.

xxx She bypassed the devoted couple with a quick side-step, sending them a hint of good luck as she passed. Ahead, the path opened out into the main courtyard of the temple, a busy thoroughfare of festival seekers. The smell of freshly cooked food and sweets drifted between the crowd, tempting any with a nose or hint of hunger towards the wooden stalls edging the courtyard. Overhead, unlit lanterns and streamers added further decoration, even as the cherry blossoms were the real draw card.

xxx “I’ll take two yakitori, please.” Lucia intoned in flawless Japanese, nodding in thanks as her money was exchanged for the chicken sticks. The dress hugging her body floated around her knees slightly as a faint breeze snaked through the crush of people, and Lucia followed it beneath the tall pagoda and around to where a lawn of grass unfurled beneath a stand of sakura trees. A free root offered the perfect seat, and Lucia tucked her feet to the side as she sat beneath a shower of rosy petals, her gaze drawn upwards to the light blossoms blushing softly against the sky.


xxx “Beautiful” The goblin thought to herself, a feeling of peace settling across her shoulders. She left her mind wander to the twists of the day before, her thoughts less tense than the swirling cacophony of feelings that had assaulted her the previous night. Following her departure from Paola’s apartment, Lucia had spent a long time deciding on her next course of action. Her first instinct was to leave, to run from the city where she had seen and touched her ex-lover. Yet, the goblin couldn’t shake the sense that she should be closer to Paola, if only to investigate the mysterious way the girl had called her.

xxx To stay, or to go? It was the decision that had taunted her throughout the night, and though the goblin hadn’t landed on a conclusive answer, here she sat, still in Tokyo. The tough choice of the previous night seemed all the easier to face now, beneath the sakura. She would stay, would face Cassius if ever they came upon each other again. She was not the same young, naïve woman she had been as a mortal, she was stronger now, more sure of herself. She could handle it. Yet, even as her resolution settled, she remembered the feel of his hand on hers, the colours of his eyes, feel of his breath against her skin…

xxx A flicker in the corner of her eye dragged Lucia’s thoughts from the fox and she turned, searching the crowd of blossom admirers for the movement. Her brows moved into a frown as soft green eyes fell on the dark figure of a ghost. He looked as out of place amongst the pale blossoms as a bear would look in a colony of honey bees. Taller than the natives around him, and dressed in regal, medieval garb that was only now worn in theatrical plays, he was a man out of time and out of place. Though, it wasn’t the unsettling wrongness of his appearance that had Lucia pushing herself to her feet in a second. No, it was the familiarity of his face, the way the deceased soul’s gaze seemed to pin Lucia to the spot, as if he had sought her out from the beyond.

xxx The goblin took a step forward, a jolt of fear racing down her spine. “It cannot be…” She thought, wishing the distance were less so that she could be more sure, even as she wished to be miles away and safe from the soul’s eerie glare. She strained her eyes, even as a crowd of young Japanese temporarily blocked her view. Lucia took another half step forward, only to stop as the crowd passed and where the ghost had been, was nothing. He was gone, like a mirage teasing the goblin with images of her past. Had it been him? Or had the events of the previous day caused her to remember the less fortunate parts of her mortal life?

xxx Luciana took a shuddering breath, her hand instinctively flying to her neck where her fingers traced across the jewels that clung to her skin. She remembered the necklace tightening, the memory of the hand that had ended her life stark in her mind as she stared at the empty spot where he had just stood. But no, that was centuries ago. No ghost could last for that long. She forced her shoulders to relax, let her legs buckle as she regained her seat. It had been her mind, nothing else. She was safe.