The library
I closed my eyes to try to drown out the music, but it seemed to keep ringing around in my head. I don't know when it started to get so loud, but right now it was hurting my ears. That was not the worst part though, the worst part was that I could feel it calling to me, like a tug at my heart, trying to bring me to somewhere else. That somewhere else was strangely familiar as well.
I reopened my eyes, closing them had not helped at all. The music had only gotten louder. I swung my legs over the side of my bed and walked over to the window. The cool breeze that blew through it felt good as it cooled the sweat on my body. Then there was the smell of cherry blossoms, and I doubled over feeling as if I would be sick. It's not that I don't like the smell, in fact I quite do, but the mixture of that and the terrible sweet music was unbearable. I gasped to take a breath of clear air, but none could be found. I then straightened up and stood there, steadying myself with a hand on the window frame. The wind gusted up again, tousling my blue hair about my head. I felt a bit better now so I glanced behind me and around the room, no one else was in their beds it seemed, of course that may have been because of the fact that the night was so beautiful, and the stars were shining so brightly. . . the stars.
I walked out of the room and down the stairs, a light was on in the living room and I could hear the sound of pages turning. I walked quietly past that room, glancing in to see Nasuti reading as I passed. I reached the front door and reached a hand out to touch the cold doorknob. I turned it and opened the door, letting the sweet smelling breeze waft in. Once again I felt ill. I stepped outside holding my breath for a moment or two. The music was louder here, and even more sweet, I did not want to hear it, it was calling to me and I did not want to follow.
In the end though it was too strong, and I looked once at the diamond studded sky, then started on my way into the forest. I could faintly hear the sound of someone crying, just under the music. Somewhere a wolf howled.
The forest sparked with the light of fireflies and echoed with the sounds of summer. I glanced down at my feet for a moment, the path was littered with sakura petals. I thought nothing of it at the time, but the petals should not have been there. I heard the music again, louder this time, I was getting closer. I followed the path of petals the longest time until It finally stopped. I glanced around myself confused and disoriented, The wind blew and the air floated with sakura petals. That was when my logical mind kicked in. I knew very well that something was wrong, I could not tell what was causing it but I could very well see the symptoms. That was when I saw her.
She was kneeling there at the edge of the petal strewn clearing, a koto sat before her. Her hair was long and put up in an elaborate style, her head turned and the bells on her hair ornament rang, biting into the silence. she wore a pale pink kimono the nearly white colour of cherry blossoms, with a dark blue-violet coloured obi. I still could not see her face. She struck a note on her koto and I doubled over in pain. She continued playing as I softly lost consciousness.
The clouds rolled by silently over the moon as I stared up through the trees, There was a bonfire to my right and it's warmth felt very good in the cold autumn air. I watched as people danced around me, dressed in beautiful shimmering black silk. behind them gossamer wings floated like cloaks. A few of them were flying but not many, they seemed to be enjoying dancing on their delicately built legs. I wanted to dance too, but I could not. I was wrapped in something, I put a hand up to try to push the wrappings away, but my hand just batted at it uselessly. Then the strange chanting began. I could feel it calling to me like something. . . else. I let out a noise like a baby would make, and batted again at the bunting with my tiny hand. A woman was standing over me then, one with long silvery white hair. She smiled at me and lifted me up, I was being carried to the edge of the circle. The chanting silenced. I could see another woman there standing just outside of the clearing, just faintly lighted by the glowing fire. Her hair was long, and there was something wrong about her face. I felt myself being held across the edge of the circle toward the dark woman. Then there was a strong wind, and the woman shielded her face. The wrapping was loosened from around me and i was suddenly floating, flying high above anything, high into the sky, so close to the stars. . . the stars.
I awoke with a strange feeling, as if my back had been terribly sliced up. I sat up and looked over my shoulder. What I saw there made me gasp. Wings, there were strange glowing wings upon my back. I stared at them, and the harder I looked the more invisible they got. I stood, remembering the music and the woman, I was not in that same clearing anymore, in fact I had no idea where I was or how I had gotten there. I looked around myself again, then I sank to my knees, my back hurt so much. I could hear something like crunching footsteps, and I could feel someone wa getting closer. The feeling was not something normal. I felt it in my back, from somewhere out beyond it, then painfully shooting into the sore spots.
I tried to stand up again, the pain only got worse. A breeze blew, smelling of water and summer flowers, and something musty, that should not have been there. I glanced over my shoulder again at the strange filmy wings that rested there, I instinctively moved the muscles in my back, and the wings started to move, there was the strange feeling of something electric as I floated up into the air. Then I fell, the pain shooting all over my back. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The footsteps were closer.
I knew that there was nothing to fear from whoever was coming so I simply sat there, thinking. Trying to think of anything to ward off the pain I felt in my back. I would be safe and well soon enough.
I don't know how I felt or knew any of that, the only explanation would be of my new found memories, and the knowledge at least somewhat of what it is that I am. I, Hashiba Touma, bearer of the Tenku Yoroi, am a faerie.