He had never seen anything like her before. Her build is petite, like a nymph, sort of. Her hair falls past her shoulders like a waterfall, the colour of a luminous blue of the pale blue sky, matching her eyes, framed with long lashes. Her skin is somewhere in between milky pale and sickly pale, though it looks as though it’s glowing like the colour of soft moonlight. She looks so plain, like an average Asian girl, but somehow, Blitz can’t help but feel drawn to her.
As he neared her, she suddenly pointed her broom at him, wielding it like a naginata, the sharp ends meeting him.
“Who are you?” She asked, her voice wary.
“Whoa, watch it!” Blitz yelped, staring at the pointing ends of the broom. They look like thousands of spiked needles which can bring you the most painful jabs that you have ever taken.
Hastily, he added, “What are you doing here?”
“I live here.” She said, still pointing the broom at him.
“Er-very nice place you have here.” He said lamely.
The girl kept staring at him, her gaze quite passive, not unfriendly, but hard. The traditional shrine maiden clothes she wore, a long red slightly pleated skirt tied with a bow, a white haori (which is a kimono jacket) with bellowing sleeves that blew in the wind, with a thin red ribbon. Without a word, she resumed back to sweeping the dead leaves, though her gaze remained unchanged.
“Um, name’s Blitz Worringthon. I’m new…” He said, holding out a hand.
“You’re not one of them?” She asked suspiciously.
“Those guy? No. And I just moved here.” He then caught sight of her wrist. “Your wrist…”
“It’s nothing. “ She said, flicking her sleeves so that it covers the bruise. “I’m used to it… ”
“Are you sure?”
The girl nodded and headed towards the shrine. Unsure of what to do and curiosity tempting him, he followed her into the interior. There’s nothing special about it. Inside there’s a long low table with cushions with a number of calligraphy brushes, inks, various papers and some ema – wooden plagues with all kinds of patterns -, used for prayers and wishes.
He caught sight of the small altar that the teenagers had taken from her. Now it’s draped with a worn out cloth and a small fruit bowl placed on top of it.
“Do you tell fortunes?”
“That depends on what the future holds…” The shrine maiden said.
“Show me.”
The shrine maiden held out her hand for his and he let her. Her touch is cool and soft, the feeling like soft ice or snow. She gazed at his palm and said, “You will live a life long life.”
“Seriously?”
“That depends on you.” The shrine maiden said, dropping his hand. “If you have nothing else to do, then please leave.”
Blitz shrugged and turned, making his way out. As he crossed the wooden doorway he turned back, but her back is facing him. He didn’t want to leave so soon, but something inside warned him not to push her.
Finally, he just turned and left.
***********
“You went up to the shrine???” Scorpio asked, looking shocked. The cheese that he’s boiling lay forgotten til Virgo darted in and turned off the hob as the thick bubbling yellow mass was about to drip its mess all over the sides.
“What’s wrong with it?” Blitz asked, looking a little irritated.” The teenagers were being rude to her…”
“Word of advice, Blitz. To the townsfolk, meddling with the shrine maiden will bring you bad luck.”
“How can you say that?” Blitz said, slapping his uneaten bread roll back into the bread basket. “She’s just a human, just like everyone else.”
Scorpio set the knife down and sighed. “Listen, you still don’t know much about the town right? ”
“I been as far as to the shrine…”
“Well, haven’t you heard of the Phantom?”
“You mean like Phantom of the Opera?” Blitz said with sarcasm.
“Uh-uh…” Scorpio said, “This is a real phantom, not a fake. The townsfolk said the shrine maiden and the phantom were working hand in hand together, causing the young girls to disappear.”
“Who came up with that nonsense?”
“You should ask Gem, she goes to the town school. That’s where the rumour started.”
“You know, maybe I will….”
***********
Sigan in raven form flew down to where the shrine maiden is, still sweeping up the dead leaves. She caught sight of him and flung her broom at him, causing him to squarwk at her in anger.
Blast that girl, he cursed in his thoughts. If that’s the case, maybe he tell him… He can take it over from here…
Resisting the urge to peck her eyes out, he flew away, ignoring the hostile glare that the shrine maiden is giving him.
No comments:
Post a Comment