The girl awoke as the aftertaste of blood lingered in her mouth. A shriek escaped her as she saw blood spattered across her blankets and room. Next to her, she saw Masato’s corpse; one icy hand still on her bed. Quickly her father burst into the room. As the overhead light flushed the darkness from the room, Masato turned to a pile of blossoms and his blood vanished like a nightmare. “Hatomi, is everything okay?” he father asked with a yawn. “I’m not sure,” Hatomi answered confused as if it had all been shadows of a dream. “Since everything looks fine in here, I’m betting it was a nightmare. Now back to sleep your exams start tomorrow,” he said then exited the room.
As the alarm broke the silence in her room, Hatomi opened her eyes. She remembered last night. By the weak light of dawn, she searched her room for any evidence of the dead man or the blood. Something cold and hard pressed against her left side. Hatomi tossed her covers aside to see a katana lying next to her. The katana, sheathed in dark wooden saya, had black silk braided over its rayskin tsuka. Hatomi lifted the katana to examine it more closely. The tsuba, made of iron, was embossed with an image of wind and spirits and a symbol unfamiliar to Hatomi. The blade glistened in the morning light. The alarm continued to shriek. Hatomi turned it off and got dressed leaving the mysterious katana perched in a corner.
Hatomi grabbed her schoolbag, slid on her shoes and head of into the growing dawn light. Junior year had been difficult for her and she worried tremendously about placing on this years exams. She had not time to worry about neither the nightmare nor how that katana arrived in her bed. As she passed a little park, she stopped at the corner. She waited for the traffic to pass. Out of the side of her eye, she noticed something. Hatomi turned to look. It seemed like heat lines coming from the pavement, but it was too early in the day for that kind of heat. Hatomi walked closer. “Did the lines just move?” Hatomi whispered to herself as she stepped back in fright. She felt her back touch something. Hatomi screamed. “Wow, exams have you really freaked out,” a gentle female voice said. Hatomi wheeled around to see her best friend Sakura standing their. Sakura’s blonde hair dangled over her shoulders as she extended her hand to help Hatomi to her feet. Hatomi found comfort in Sakura’s blue eyes and sweet smile. “I guess so,” Hatomi said gazing in the direction of the heat lines. “Sakura, I swear I am losing it,” Hatomi said thrusting her hands into her short black hair. “How so,” Sakura asked. As they walked, Hatomi explained about the nightmare, the mysterious katana, and the heat lines. “Why don’t we take a trip to the spa after school today? Maybe it will relief some of that stress,” Sakura said with concern, “I know exams are important but they do no good if we’re drooling on ourselves in a corner.” “Hey sexy princess of my every dream,” called a whiny male voice. Sakura turned red and Hatomi covered her eyes in shame. “Not today,” Hatomi muttered in frustration. “Oh Moriko-chan, how I love thee,” the voice called as its owner came into view. From around the school gate ran a student with adorably spiky night-black hair. The glare on his glasses hid beautiful iron-gray eyes. “For the eleven-millionth time, my name is Sakura Tanaka and I am a human being, not some Akiba fanserivce,” Sakura growled at him “Sure, you are identical to Moriko, the busty vampire android with bionic underwear from Kendo Fighter Nanoi,” he said practically drooling on himself. “Danny don’t you have something better to do than harass us. I am having quite a bad day,” Hatomi said brushing pass him and toward the school steps. “Hatomi-san, are you okay?” Danny said regretting his earlier outburst. “I’m fine,” Hatomi replied nonchalantly. Hatomi entered the school without another word. “Sakura what is wrong with her,” Danny asked. “I wish I knew,” Sakura replied as they both followed Hatomi to class.
At lunch, Sakura walked into the schoolyard to find Hatomi sketching angrily into a notebook. “Care if I join you?” Sakura asked Hatomi shrugged. Sakura sat down and pulled out her bento box. The smell of the Umeboshi rice sparked hunger pangs in Hatomi. Unable to focus she tossed down her notebook and opened her own bento box. Sakura grew pale at the images in the paper: blood, katanas, corpses, and other violent imagery. “What?” said Hatomi with a mouthful of chicken. “I’m really worried Hatomi-chan,” Sakura said, “Those pictures are disturbing. Maybe you need more than a spa trip.” “I don’t know anymore. I swore I saw a murdered man in my room. I swear his blood soaked my sheets. I can’t trust my eyes,” Hatomi replied in frustration. Sakura put her arm around Hatomi. Hatomi then sobbed. “Why is this happening to me? Help me Sakura, just help me,” she wept. Sakura looked at the cloudless sky as she held the crying girl. In her heart, she promised she would do everything she could for Hatomi.
When the girls arrived at the spa house, Sakura said something that altered Hatomi forever. “Maybe your stress has become so much your haunted. I read somewhere overstressed teens can become poltergeists,” Sakura said taking a towel from the rack. “Yes I am haunted. Haunted by all those lousy marks in English,” Hatomi replied as the entered the changing area. “Well maybe. Sometime I visit my ancestors when I am too stressed. It helps to talk to my mother even though she does not answer,” Sakura suggested. Hatomi breathed hard as they both submerged into the hot springs. The hot water caressed her muscles and Hatomi felt the nightmare disappear from her mind. “Excuse me could you use a massage,” asked an attendant. She wore nothing but a towel. “Sure my shoulders are so tight,” Hatomi said. Hatomi closed her eyes as she felt hands at her shoulders. “Your hands are so cold,” Hatomi remarked at the icy caresses of the attendant. Sakura opened her eyes. “Did you say something?” Sakura asked stretching her arms and back. “Yeah, this attendant’s hands are cold,” Hatomi responded moving in motion with the attendant’s massage. “What are you talking about? There are no attendants at this spa,” Sakura looked at Hatomi strangely. Hatomi leapt out of the water, her breath rapid with fright. “Then who was touching my shoulders,” She gasped goose bumps washing over her. “There is no one there Hatomi. Seriously, you need to lose that stress. Get back in the pool and relax,” Sakura assured her. Hatomi returned to the pool and sat closer to Sakura. Had stress fractured her sense of reality or was it something more?
Later Hatomi began her studying. She had to pass English; her future depended on it. As she began to translate an excerpt from Alice in Wonderland to English, her mind returned to the katana. She could barely complete a sentence as her mind obsessed over it. Hatomi dropped her pen and walked over to the sword. She pulled it from the corner and brought it to her desk. Carefully she unsheathed the deadly edge from its confines. Playfully, she ran her finger along the dull side. Hatomi rested the katana with its edge facing upward. She had heard that katana had amazing sharpness. Curiously, she tore a page from her notepad and draped it over the blade. No sooner had she released her hold then the paper sliced in half. Hatomi gasped in awe. A smile cut across her face. She began to mimic kendo exercises with the katana. Suddenly, images of violence flashed in her mind: blood, ghosts, battle, and death. Quickly Hatomi sheathed the blade and flopped on her bed. Again, fear came over her. Hatomi shook it off and returned to her English, praying whatever was wrong with her would soon pass.
Hatomi awoke to the sound of her alarm. She had not left her desk all night. Purple marker streaks across her face she quickly packed up her bag and headed for the bathroom. As she walked out the door, she swore she heard laughter. Down the street, she walked again paying no mind to the building stress inside of her. Suddenly, she heard screaming. Hatomi spun around looking for the voice. No one around her seemed to even hear it. Everyone continued his or her business. “Great now I am hearing voices,” Hatomi muttered to herself. Her nerves stood on end. As she past a dark alley, she felt eyes on her. Paranoid sweat dappled her brow. “Be gone kensei,” a deep male voice threatened. Hatomi looked into the darkness. She swore for a moment a face appeared in the shadows. Hatomi huddled her shoulders and ran towards school. After a few hundred meters, she came to a park bench and sat down. Her chest was tight with confusion and adrenaline poisoned her judgment. Sakura spotted her wheezing and raced toward her. “Hatomi what’s wrong?” Sakura asked concern ripe on her face. “I don’t know… I …think I am hearing voices... hallucinating…” Hatomi said between deep breaths. “You need help,” Sakura said brushing Hatomi’s hair from her eyes. “I don’t think this is stress. I think something happened to me the night of that horrible dream,” Hatomi replied. “Maybe that katana is cursed or used in a murder or something,” Sakura suggested, “Where did you say it came from again?” “I just awoke with it in my bed. Maybe my dad bought it as a present to surprise me,” Hatomi reasoned. “Why would he put it in your bed though,” Sakura responded. “I have no other explanation,” Hatomi said her nerves clearly shaking. Just then, thunder broke overhead. “Well, it looks like this will have to wait. Let’s get to school before we get soaked,” Sakura advised as droplets struck her head.
As the sky grew angry the girls ran pass the school gates and in the doors. Bone shaking thunder exploded above. Sakura watched Hatomi closely as she walked to her classroom; she never thought her friend would be a schizophrenic. Sakura clutched her brother’s phone number in her pocket. He graduated from Yale with his M.D. last year and was seeking patients. Clearly, he could take Hatomi’s case. The hard part was telling her best friend of ten years that she was crazy.
Sakura had traversed the entire cafeteria in search of Hatomi. Rain pounded the windows so Sakura knew she could not be in the schoolyard. Only five minutes left in lunch for Sakura to eat and find Hatomi. After a final swept Sakura plopped onto a stool and opened her bento box. As she swallowed a piece of sushi, Sakura pondered where Hatomi could have been.
Hatomi, drenched from head to toe, knelt before her grandparents’ grave. Her hands ran over the etched stone as she prayed for guidance. She felt silly talking to a slab of rock. Hatomi brushed off her knees and turned to leave. “Going without telling Ojiisan goodbye again, eh?” an elderly voice called. Hatomi turned to see an apparition that resembled her grandfather. “Ojiisan!” Hatomi shouted in horror and confusion. “Yep that’s me kid. It seemed you’ve been having quite a tough time,” Ojiisan laughed. “How can I see you? You’re a ghost,” Hatomi replied turning pale with fright. “Well that is complicated. You see there are spirits all around us. Some, like me, return to earth to spend time with our family. Others are native to earth and some spirits wander the earth because they died under horrible circumstances. Further, there are some that are a scourge to the living and only exist to promote suffering. These last types are why you can see me. Let me guess you suddenly could see us shortly after the sword appeared in your bed?” “Yes Ojiisan. How did you know?” “You were chosen, perhaps by accident, to become a kensei: a sword saint,” “Isn’t that a rank of samurai or something?” Hatomi asked. “Yes, but not in this context. A kensei is like an exorcist. They travel about defeating the evil beings that stalk the living. However, a kensei is more than just a human. The power of kensei is transferred via an enchantment and drinking the blood of a fallen kensei.” “I drank some guy’s blood! Gross, I probably have hepatitis or something now,” Hatomi said holding her stomach in disgust. “Pay attention please!” Ojiisan shouted, “The kensei have incredible swordsmanship, heightened access to spiritual energies and the ability to see the dead. The name sword saint comes from the supernatural skills the kensei possess; the longer a kensei trains the more formidable he becomes. A highly trained kensei is so in tune with his soul that he can move about just as quickly and effortless as a spirit. Some say a kensei strike hits with the grace of wind and the force of lightning. Unfortunately for your situation, spirits can smell the kensei blood.” “So I can magically go super-ninja on people without any training?” Hatomi asked mimicking karate forms. “Do you listen, really?” Ojiisan asked impatiently, “No, you have innate capacity to become— as you put it—‘super-ninja’ but you need to train hard. The quicker the better; evil spirits will soon recognize that while you are a kensei you are not a threat. Then it becomes dangerous. Your katana will give you a little help; if you look in the blade, you can see a true reflection of your enemies and allies. Humans appear normal, spirits have no reflection, and kensei have a golden aura. As for swordsmanship, I will teach you what little kenjustu I learned from back when I was a soldier.”
“Thanks Ojiisan,” Hatomi said with a bow. She then checked her watch “One-thirty! Crap I have to get back to class!” Hatomi shrieked and raced out of the gravesite. As she ran, Hatomi felt relieved; she was not going crazy she was just becoming a magical girl. English did not matter so much anymore, Hatomi now had a greater destiny to fulfill. She then realized, as the school gate came into view, no one, not even Sakura was going to believe her.
After a terrible night of nightmares and cold sweats, the alarm summoned Hatomi from her slumber. “Ugh six A.M. already,” she groaned. Hatomi prepared herself for school. She then remembered the katana; she could visit Ojiisan again to begin her training. Taking an obi from a kimono she rarely wore, Hatomi fashioned a crude baldric and placed the katana so the handle just peaked over her sailor collar. The green obi stood in stark contrast to the navy blue sailor suit. Hatomi grabbed a slice of toast and ducked out the front door. From the strange stares she incurred while she walked, she began to regret her fashion choice. Unknown to her eyes evaluated the katana on her back.
Hatomi met Sakura at the bus stop as usual. Sakura stood evaluation Hatomi’s bizarre fashion statement. Sakura thought about her brother and then decided to test a friendship. “Hatomi, this is hard for me to say. I think you should visit my brother’s office. Just to help you cope with things. The hallucinations, the nightmares, and now you’re wearing a katana to class. Please as someone who loves you, please find some help,” Sakura said handing Hatomi her brother’s business card. “You think I’m nuts,” Hatomi responded, “I understand where you’re coming from, but last night I learned I am not crazy.” Sakura looked at her with dismay. “You may not believe this, but I can see ghosts because I was chosen to become an exorcist samurai called a kensei. Right now I only have the power to see spirit world at random uncontrolled bursts, but with training I will be able to not only see them but fight them as well,” Hatomi told her. “Poor Hatomi, I am so sorry. I know those things seem real but they are only in your mind,” Sakura said hugging her. “If they are all in my mind, where did this katana come from?” Hatomi said handing Sakura the katana, “this katana is ancient and a work of art from a smith of incredible skill. Do you think my family or I could afford to purchase something like it?” “It definitely looks to belong in a museum,” Sakura replied examining the katana. “Okay so let’s just say that what you claim is true, then how are you going to find and kill these evil things?” “I haven’t figured that out yet?” Hatomi laughed hesitantly rubbing the back of her head. Sakura sighed. “Fine, because we have been friends for so long I am going to play along with this for a week, but if you can empirically prove to me this is all true then promise me you will at least talk to my brother,” Sakura requested looking Hatomi deep in the eyes.
“Hottie with a sword! I think my heart just stopped!” Danny said lust clouding his eyes.
He darted toward them in a half skip. Sakura grasped her forehead in frustration. “Can I see the sword?” Danny asked passionately. Hatomi handed him the katana. Danny preformed a victory dance he saw in a videogame while humming the theme song. “Villains beware: Dan-sensei, master samurai is on the prowl. Running only makes the pain worse; hiding only pisses me off! Woe to you doers of malice, my katana’s thirst will only be quenched by the blood of evil!” Danny shouted boisterously as he shadowboxed. “Alright Yamato, give it back to Hatomi,” Sakura ordered extending her hand. “Anything for you, my beautiful Moriko-chan,” He said bowing and laying the katana into her grasp. “MY NAME IS SAKURA!” she shouted slapping him across the face. “Ouch! Oh my goodness! My nose is broken! Am I bleeding? Ambulance! Doctor! Nurse… I mean Hot Nurse!” Danny pranced around hollering. “God he is such a baby,” Sakura remarked as Danny continued to make a scene. Hatomi just laughed. Sakura and Hatomi wandered towards school leaving Danny rubbing his red cheek. Unfortunately, Danny was not the only one that became interested in the mysterious katana.
Exams passed like seconds and soon the school day finished. Hatomi gathered her belongings and headed for her locker. Once more, she donned her katana and exited the door. Sakura spotted her and gave chase. “Hey where you headed? I figure we could hit the market after school today to celebrate the end of exams,” Sakura said catching up to Hatomi. “That’s sounds great but I have an appointment to keep. What if I meet you there after dinner?” Hatomi offered. “Alright, I’ll be waiting by the bakery,” Sakura replied. “Thanks got to run, later Sakura,” Hatomi said with a smile as she raced down the side street. Sakura watched her disappear down the alley. The only thing in that direction was a short cut to the graveyards. Sakura hoped that Hatomi’s story was in fact true.
Hatomi came to a one-way street and cut down an alleyway. The quicker she arrived the more she could train. A shadow shifted behind Hatomi. She dared not turn and look. Out from the alley sides stepped two large men carrying bats. “Nice sword, I bet its worth a lot of money,” a voice called from behind her. “Damian! You followed me from school,” Hatomi said recognizing the voice. “Yep I have had my eyes on that sword all day. Not to mention that hot little ass of yours,” Hatomi reached for the blade. “Are you kidding me? There are three of us and one of you. Proceed, but for every cut I get I’ll break one of your ribs.” Damian snickered putting on his brass knuckles. “And for every threat you make I shall make one cut,” called a voice from behind. Hatomi looked past Damian’s shoulders to she a young woman in a white kimono standing there. At her hip, she held a katana. The girl was at least partial Caucasian; her red hair separated into low pigtails by black ribbon. Her blue eyes cut through Hatomi like glass shards. “Get out of here round-eye! This is none of your business,” Damian called to the redhead. “It is always my business when people act like jerks,” the redhead answered. “Just who the hell are you, fujoshi?” Damian growled, “I’ve never raped two girls at once. I just need a second name to moan in your ear.” “I’m the person who is kicking your ass today,” She answered. Damian charged her. He stopped moving seconds into his attack. Other than an audible click of her scabbard the redhead never moved: Or did she? The brass knuckles clattered against the asphalt. Damian stared in horror that the bloody stumps where his fingers were once attached. Never had Hatomi seen anyone with such skill at iaidō. Damian’s goons quickly forgot about Hatomi and engaged the redhead. Quick reflections of sunlight are all Hatomi witnessed before the thugs fled with fright. Blood bathed their faces. The mysterious redhead seemed as if she never moved. Her breathing, posture, and expression eerily remained unwavering from the time she arrived. Hatomi, horrified by the events started for the redhead. In response, the redhead turned and walked away. “Hey wait up! Thanks for saving me,” Hatomi said chasing her. “I was protecting the sword not you,” the redhead answered. “That’s rather nasty to say to someone. Who are you anyway?” “Someone far better capable of handling herself than you are,” the redhead answered not bothering to even turn her head. “Well at least tell me why you’re interested in my sword?” Hatomi asked fighting her temper. “You will find out when you are ready,” the redhead said disappearing down an alleyway. Hatomi, not sure what to make of neither this event nor the redhead, quickly left the area before the would-be muggers could try again.
She arrived at the graveyard as the dimming rays of sunset painted the sky. Ojiisan could tell from her gait that the day had been rough on her. “Hatomi, you look upset. What happened child,” “Ojiisan, it was horrible. A boy from school attempted to mug me for the katana. I never had been so frightened,” Hatomi sobbed. “Are you okay, he did not hurt you did he?” Ojiisan asked placing a hand on her shoulder. “No some mysterious woman intervened. She was so right; I can’t take care of myself,” Hatomi admitted. “Did you thank her?” Ojiisan asked putting his arm around his granddaughter. “No, it was the strangest thing. She had red hair and blue eyes like a foreigner but she dressed in a white kimono. Better yet she dispatched my attackers so quickly I swore she never moved,” Hatomi told him. “Oh my,” Ojiisan said. Hatomi heard dismay in his voice. “What is wrong, Ojiisan?” Hatomi asked. “Did you notice if the girl had feet?” Ojiisan replied. “No, what kind of question is that?” Hatomi answered. “Well if she had feet she was a human. No feet and she may have been an onryo,” Ojiisan remarked thinking hard. “What is an onryo?” Hatomi asked. “A vengeful spirit and from what you described a very powerful one. Onryo are part of the evil spirits you are to fight,” Ojiisan said, “She may have saved you as a test of your competence. Thus, be careful for she may attempt to harm you soon.” “You’re making it worse Ojiisan,” Hatomi said huddling her shoulders. “Sorry child but I do you no favors by hiding things,” Ojiisan retorted, “I am curious. Did she say anything else?” “Yes, she told me she was protecting the katana, not me,” Hatomi answered. Hmmm. Could she be a kensei? Maybe Sato’s evil has not extended as far as I thought. “Ojiisan?” Hatomi called at the ghost. “I’m sorry, Hatomi. I got lost in thought. Just avoid that woman if possible until you have more answers. Now let’s begin our lesson.” Hatomi brandished the katana. “First lesson, the katana is an extension of your body. Feel your spirit become comfortable with the katana. Hold it so becomes like your arms. It is not a knife, it is not a dagger; attacking as if it were will get you killed. Now hold the point toward your target’s head and guide to the right,” Ojiisan ordered with a demonstration. Hatomi followed perfectly. “Good now practice that twenty times until you forget the weight of the katana and become focused on the battle.” Hatomi continued with her training. Ojiisan demonstrated and taught until the sun sank below the horizon. Hatomi remembered her meeting with Sakura. Her mind became distracted and the blade nicked Ojiisan. Blood trickled from the ghost. Hatomi was not sure which disturbed her more the fact that she had wounded her grandfather or that she witnessed a ghost bleeding. “It’s not more than a scratch. However, it should not have happened. Your mind must be in the battle: nowhere else. As you see the results can be dangerous,” Ojiisan scolded her. “Sorry Ojiisan, but I must leave for it grows darker by the moment,” Hatomi responded. Hatomi bowed to Ojiisan and sheathed her katana. “Meet me here tomorrow. You did well but the journey is far from over,” Ojiisan ordered her. Hatomi waved goodbye to Ojiisan and headed for the market district and Sakura. She felt a little safer now that her training had begun. As she started down the hill, Hatomi wished she had remembered her flashlight. Ojiisan watched her until she faded out of sight. Something then sent chills up his back. Ojiisan turned to look at the Pagoda in the distance. While he could not see her, he knew the redhead watched them from afar.
Hatomi raced through the streets until she saw Sakura in her jeans and tee-shirt. Sakura bit into a cookie as Hatomi approached. “Have a good time at your appointment?” Sakura asked handing her a cookie. “Certainly did,” Hatomi said taking a large bite from the cookie. “hey slow down, I know you have eating today,’ Sakura laughed as Hatomi devoured the cookie. “Sorry I missed dinner,” Hatomi replied turning red. “Well the grill is still open down the block; we can get something if you like,” Hatomi’s stomach growled like a dragon. “I’ll take that as a yes,” Sakura chuckled. Hatomi and Sakura began a night of relaxing fun. Hatomi feel happy to leave the worries of her life behind if just for now. Slaying evil spirits could wait; she needed to nurture her own right now.
