Over two thousand years ago, gods were active in the daily lives of the humans beneath them. They would slip in unnoticed and urge people to become heroes or villains, build civilizations and topple them, and then... they left. The gods vanished with no trace one day. No one knows what happened to them. It all happened on [[that day]]...The gods across the world are playing as usual; messing up people's lives, fixing others, building up heroes and villains, and then tearing them down. But one day, a young god by the name of [[Kami]] looks down upon the world her fellow brethren are so enthralled with and sneers. [[She says...]]"Kami" means god in Japanese. In this context, "Kami" is being used as a name and to refer to a Japanese god. Go back to [[that day]]."I'm bored with this world." "What are you bored with, sister?" [[Morrigan]] asks Kami. "This. Everything." Kami sneers at the world. "What is the point of everything? It makes no sense. They are beneath us; worthless insects that don't deserve our attention." Morrigan delicately covers her mouth with her hand. "Now, now, Kami. No need to get riled up. They're merely playthings for us - " Kami whirls on Morrigan. "Then why must we raise up some of them to the same status as ourselves? Why are we meddling with them and creating halfbreeds? Look at Hercules, Gilgamesh, and Vali! It's disgusting. We're mating with bugs." Morrigan blinks in surprise, and then bursts into loud laughter that sounds like cawing birds. "Oh, you're so funny, Kami. Have you ever met a human before? Spoken to one?" Kami thrusts her nose into the air. "I don't need to. Filthy creatures." Morrigan's lips widen. "[[I think you should.]]"Morrigan is a famous Celtic goddess of war and death, representing a part of the circle of life. She often takes the form of a crow. One of the most famous myths of her is the "Tuatha De Danann." For more information, you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morr%C3%ADgan. Return to what [[She says...]]Kami glares at Morrigan. "What are you saying, crow?" Morrigan shrugs off the insult. "I am saying..." The Crow Goddess's fingers twitch. "You should visit them. Get to know them a little." Kami narrows her eyes. "What are you up to?" Morrigan's fingers stealthily finish a mystical command - magic, humans would call it. Divine power. Morrigan smirks. "Everyone's been talking, but you haven't been around to hear. We're leaving Earth to let it to grow a bit on its own before returning. Well... those of us who have participated in its growth until now, that is." Kami's eyes widen. "You're going to leave me here with these bugs?" Morrigan throws her hand out, activating the command. "You're our sacrifice, now. After all... someone has to make sure they don't annihilate themselves." [[A bright light engulfs Kami.]]JAPAN - 12:58pm, 17 January 2013 Kazuto sighs and leans against the wall, checking his watch for the umpteenth time. His lank, nineteen-year-old frame seems misplaced in his business casual suit. "She's late," he grumbles, glancing around yet again. A young girl about twelve years old with long, straight black hair up in pigtails meanders down the street. She wears a heavy coat that barely hits her knees and fur-lined boots that cover her thin pants. Not very eye-catching in a crowd. Something about her catches Kazuto's attention. Frowning, he steps towards her. He... [[Says, "Excuse me..."]] [[Leans against the wall again.]]"Are you lost?" Kazuto asks the girl. She pauses and mechanically turns her head towards Kazuto. He freezes underneath that dead look in her eyes, as if a part of her had frozen and died in the cold weather. She doesn't blink, and it looks like she isn't breathing. "..." Kazuto swallows at the girl's uncanny stare as an unexplainable chill permeates his body. Forcing a friendly smile, he gestures around with a hand. "I-I was waiting for a friend and noticed you pass by. You look kinda lost. Do you need help finding the train station or something?" The girl's head tilts slightly to the side. Her face remains expressionless and her eyes void of life. Kazuto could feel the alienic presence radiating off the girl. He tries again. [["Are you lost?"]] [["Do you need help?"]] [["Uh... Never mind. Sorry to bother you."]]Kazuto lounges against the wall and stealthily watches the girl pass by. She glances at him with dead eyes, as if a part of her had died in the cold. She moves without a sound. A chill runs up Kazuto's back. What was that just now? A while later, Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, peddles up to him. She wears a lightweight jacket and a miniskirt with tights to help combat the cold. Her gloved hands grip her bicycle's handlebars. "You're late!" Kazuto whines, straightening up. "Sorry, sorry! I lost my way..." Sakura apologizes, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto sighs heavily. "Forget it. Let's go; We'll get the next train."The girl's eyes slowly blink at Kazuto's question. Kazuto sighs heavily, relieved at the usually natural response of a body. However, she doesn't say anything and continues to stare at him. He swallows hard again. He repeats his earlier question. [["Are you lost?"]] He tries again. [["Do you need help?" he asks with a stronger voice.]] He decides it's not worth it. [["Uh... Never mind. Sorry to bother you."]]As Kazuto slowly backs up, she turns back along her path and silently continues forward. Kazuto shivers violently as she leaves, the chill permeating his body that seemed different than the cold, humid Tokyo winter. He rubs his arms and leans against the wall again. A few minutes later, Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, peddles up to him. She wears a lightweight jacket and a miniskirt with tights to help combat the cold. Her gloved hands grip her bicycle's handlebars. "You're late!" Kazuto whined, straightening up. "Sorry, sorry! I lost my way..." Sakura apologized, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto sighs heavily. "Forget it. Let's go; We'll get the next train."The girl doesn't respond. She doesn't blink or move, either. Kazuto fidgets nervously. Maybe she's a... ghost? [["Do you need help?"]] [["Uh... Never mind. Sorry to bother you."]]"Hel...p." Kazuto barely heard it, but those words escaped the girl's mouth like the scrape of a leaf on the ground. Kazuto's eyes widen. [["Are you okay?"]]The girl stares at Kazuto with those dead eyes. A breeze blows by, chilling Kazuto's skin even more than her empty gaze did. "Looking..." [["Looking? Are you looking for someone?"]] The creepy atmosphere gets to him. He backs up slowly. [["Ah, sorry... I don't think I could help you."]]"Yes..." Her head bobs slightly and the long pigtails shift forward a little. She blinks again. Kazuto waits for a moment, but she doesn't say anything. He gives her a shaky smile. [["Do you need help finding them?"]] [["I'm Kazuto. What's your name?"]]As Kazuto slowly backs up, she turns back along her path and silently continues forward. Kazuto shivers violently as she leaves, the chill permeating his body that seemed different than the cold, humid Tokyo winter. He rubs his arms and leans against the wall again. A few minutes later, Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, peddles up to him. She wears a lightweight jacket and a miniskirt with tights to help combat the cold. Her gloved hands grip her bicycle's handlebars. "You're late!" Kazuto whined, straightening up. "Sorry, sorry! I lost my way..." Sakura apologized, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto sighs heavily. "Forget it. Let's go; We'll get the next train."She stares at Kazuto unblinkingly. He shifts uncomfortably. "Hel...p?" her deadpan voice rises at the end of this single word. Kazuto nods quickly. "Yeah. Do you need help?" A crease forms between the girl's eyebrows. Kazuto finds himself holding his breath. [["I'm Kazuto. What's your name?"]]"Kazu...to." Kazuto nods jerkily. Maybe she's not from around here... "I'm..." Kazuto smiles encouragingly and watches her. A small wrinkle creases the smooth skin between her eyebrows. "I'm Kami." "Eh...?" A sound escapes Kazuto's lips. He stares at the little girl. Maybe escaped a mental institution...? No one really calls themselves kami. [[Kazuto waves his hands in dismissal.]] "Uh... I'm meeting a friend here soon, so I guess I'll see you later..." [["What are you saying?"]] [["Didn't you say you needed to find someone?"]] Kazuto watches Kami as she turns away. She walks down the street and disappears around a corner just as Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, appears on her bicycle. "So sorry I'm late..." Sakura apologizes, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto stares after Kami for a moment longer before turning to Sakura. She frowns at him, concerned. "Did something happen?" She asks, and Kazuto quickly shakes his head. "No, no. Let's go. The next train should be here soon." They walk together. "I hope Mom loves the present I have planned!" Sakura squeals. Kazuto smirks. "We, you mean. We both picked it out for her." "Oh, hush. You're more than capable of buying her a present by yourself." They laugh, and the enounter with Kami becomes a fading memory in Kazuto's mind."I'm Kami." She had said it again. Kazuto swallows hard. "Look, I don't know what kind of joke this is, but people don't normally call themselves kami..." An emotion slowly boils in her eyes. It took a moment for Kazuto to recognize it; indignation. "I am Kami. You are Kazuto. I am kami, you are human. Simple." Her Japanese is rudimentary and clipped as if she learned it as a foreign language, even though her pronunciation is excellent. "Okay..." Kazuto mumbles, unsure. [[Play along with Kami.]] "It's nice to meet you, Kami. So who are you looking for?" [[Back away from Kami.]] [[Ask Kami some questions.]]"Morrigan." The name is vaguely familiar. Kazuto frowns and mulls over it. Suddenly remembering his friend's obsession with mythology, his eyes widen. "Morrigan, as in the Celtic goddess?" Kami's head bobs up and down once. Kazuto frowns and decides to break it to her. "Um... she doesn't exist." Her head swivels from right to left once. Kazuto sweats under those sharpened eyes. "She does exist. She cursed me to this world. I hate her." Kami's jaw tightly clenches together as her hands ball into tight fists. Kazuto staggers backwards from the overwhelming rage rolling off her. He cowers, nearly insensible from fear. [[Kazuto fights through his fear.]] "Why did she send you here?" [["..."]] [[Run away.]]Kazuto watches Kami as she turns away. She walks down the street and disappears around a corner just as Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, appears on her bicycle. "So sorry I'm late..." Sakura apologizes, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto stares after Kami for a moment longer before turning to Sakura. She frowns at him, concerned. "Did something happen?" She asks, and Kazuto quickly shakes his head. "No, no. Let's go. The next train should be here soon." They walk together. "I hope Mom loves the present I have planned!" Sakura squeals. Kazuto smirks. "We, you mean. We both picked it out for her." "Oh, hush. You're more than capable of buying her a present by yourself." They laugh, and the enounter with Kami becomes a fading memory in Kazuto's mind.[["Why are you wandering around here alone?"]] [["Where's your family?"]] [["Do you know where you're going?"]] [["Why do you call yourself Kami?]] Or did someone name you that?" [["So... who are you looking for, Kami?"]]"Morrigan." The name is vaguely familiar. Kazuto frowns and mulls over it. Suddenly remembering his friend's obsession with mythology, his eyes widen. "Morrigan, as in the Celtic goddess?" Kami's head bobs up and down once. Kazuto frowns and decides to break it to her. "Um... she doesn't exist." Her head swivels from right to left once. Kazuto sweats under those sharpened eyes. "She does exist. She cursed me to this world. I hate her." Kami's jaw tightly clenches together as her hands ball into tight fists. Kazuto staggers backwards from the overwhelming rage rolling off her. He cowers, nearly insensible from fear. [[Kazuto fights through his fear.]] "Why did she send you here?" [["..."]] [[Run away.]] Kami narrows her eyes ever so slightly. Now Kazuto regrets even approaching her in the first place. Why couldn't he just mind his own business?! "I don't like humans. You're just bugs. Everyone left me. Morrigan cursed me here. I have wandered since then." All expression leaves Kami's face and her fists unclench. She looks exhausted, as if showing this much emotion had worn her out. The atmosphere clears up, as well, and Kazuto takes deep breaths while listening to Kami. "She told me to make sure humans don't destroy one another." The more Kami speaks, the better her speech becomes, as if she is finally grasping the language. "I cannot leave this world, nor can I stay. I'm stuck in between." ... Never mind. Kazuto doesn't understand this last statement. "What do you mean, [[you're stuck in between]]?" "[[Um... do you mind if I leave?]] I'm actually meeting someone soon..."Kami narrows her eyes ever so slightly. Now Kazuto regrets even approaching her in the first place. Why couldn't he just mind his own business?! "I don't like humans. You're just bugs. Everyone left me. Morrigan cursed me here. I have wandered since then." All expression leaves Kami's face and her fists unclench. She looks exhausted, as if showing this much emotion had worn her out. The atmosphere clears up, as well, and Kazuto takes deep breaths while listening to Kami. "She told me to make sure humans don't destroy one another." The more Kami speaks, the better her speech becomes, as if she is finally grasping the language. "I cannot leave this world, nor can I stay. I'm stuck in between." ... Never mind. Kazuto doesn't understand this last statement. "What do you mean, [[you're stuck in between]]?" "[[Um... do you mind if I leave?]] I'm actually meeting someone soon..."Kazuto pivots on his foot and runs as fast as he can, terrified beyond belief. He has no doubt in his mind now that Kami is a god - and an angry one, at that. His feet fly across the pavement, around turns, and down sidewalks. He rounds a corner and runs into Sakura, a cute high school girl on a bicycle - incidentally, the annoying little sister he had been waiting for. "Whoa, Kazuto! What's wrong? That's the fastest I've ever seen you run," Sakura exclaims, quickly setting her foot on the ground to keep from toppling over. Kazuto heaves in air, his hands on his knees. "Never... I'm never talking to a strange little girl again..." Sakura tilts her head and frowns concernedly at Kazuto. "What are you talking about? A little girl?" Kazuto finally looks up at her and gives her a shaky but reassuring smile. "It's nothing. But... if you see a girl with pigtails and plain clothing who looks like she's searching for something, do not talk to her. Ever." Sakura stares at Kazuto for a moment incredulously. After a few seconds, she shrugs. "Whatever. Let's go; we're going to be late." Kazuto gives her a steadier smile now. "Sure. Let's catch the next train." Sakura fist-pumped the air. "Ya-hoo! Shopping for Mom!"Kami stares at Kazuto blankly. She doesn't respond. Kazuto fidgets nervously. What should he do? She's like a block of ice. [[Back away from Kami.]] [[Ask a different question.]]Kami stares at Kazuto blankly. She doesn't respond. Kazuto fidgets nervously. What should he do? She's like a block of ice. [[Back away from Kami.]] [[Ask a different question.]]Kami stares at Kazuto blankly. She doesn't respond. Kazuto fidgets nervously. What should he do? She's like a block of ice. [[Back away from Kami.]] [[Ask a different question.]]Kami stares at Kazuto blankly. She doesn't respond. Kazuto fidgets nervously. What should he do? She's like a block of ice. [[Back away from Kami.]] [[Ask a different question.]]"Morrigan." The name is vaguely familiar. Kazuto frowns and mulls over it. Suddenly remembering his friend's obsession with mythology, his eyes widen. "Morrigan, as in the Celtic goddess?" Kami's head bobs up and down once. Kazuto frowns and decides to break it to her. "Um... she doesn't exist." Her head swivels from right to left once. Kazuto sweats under those sharpened eyes. "She does exist. She cursed me to this world. I hate her." Kami's jaw tightly clenches together as her hands ball into tight fists. Kazuto staggers backwards from the overwhelming rage rolling off her. He cowers, nearly insensible from fear. [[Kazuto fights through his fear.]] "Why did she send you here?" [["..."]] [[Run away.]][["Why are you wandering around here alone?"]] [["Where's your family?"]] [["Do you know where you're going?"]] [["Why do you call yourself Kami?]] Or did someone name you that?" [["So... who are you looking for, Kami?"]]"I'm stuck," Kami repeats, her voice barely a whisper. She stares at the ground with a hopeless expression. Kazuto stares at her. Kami no longer feels like an ominous presence. Instead, she is like a young girl who is lost and wants to go home. An idea pops into his head. Spontaneous, irrational, stupid, and may even get him killed. After all, there was no doubt in his mind that the girl in front of him is a god - or, at the very least, not human. [["I want to help."]]Kazuto watches Kami as she turns away. She walks down the street and disappears around a corner just as Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, appears on her bicycle. "So sorry I'm late..." Sakura apologizes, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto stares after Kami for a moment longer before turning to Sakura. She frowns at him, concerned. "Did something happen?" She asks, and Kazuto quickly shakes his head. "No, no. Let's go. The next train should be here soon." They walk together. "I hope Mom loves the present I have planned!" Sakura squeals. Kazuto smirks. "We, you mean. We both picked it out for her." "Oh, hush. You're more than capable of buying her a present by yourself." They laugh, and the encounter with Kami becomes a fading memory in Kazuto's mind.Kami glances impassively at Kazuto. "You cannot help. You are a mortal; your life cannot compare to the existance of gods." "I can't just stand here and watch you suffer. Let me help; [[I have to be of some use to you.]]" [["All right, then. Good luck."]]Kami stares at Kazuto. Her gaze is not blazing with anger nor is it completely dead like when he had first met her. It is calculating. Analyzing. As if she is trying to figure out everything he could help her with. "Yes... I suppose you could help me." She turns on her heel and stalks forward. "Follow me." "Ah..." Kazuto glances behind himself. His sister should be arriving soon... "I will not stop. Follow, or leave me alone." Kami's slowly retreating back fills Kazuto's eyes. He glances over his shoulder again. [[Follow Kami.]] [[Stay and wait for Sakura.]]Kazuto watches Kami as she turns away. She walks down the street and disappears around a corner just as Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, appears on her bicycle. "So sorry I'm late..." Sakura apologizes, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto stares after Kami for a moment longer before turning to Sakura. She frowns at him, concerned. "Did something happen?" She asks, and Kazuto quickly shakes his head. "No, no. Let's go. The next train should be here soon." They walk together. "I hope Mom loves the present I have planned!" Sakura squeals. Kazuto smirks. "We, you mean. We both picked it out for her." "Oh, hush. You're more than capable of buying her a present by yourself." They laugh, and the encounter with Kami becomes a fading memory in Kazuto's mind.Kazuto scrambles after Kami. I'll apologize to Sakura and Mom over the phone later, he thinks to himself as he catches up to the little girl. "So... where are we going?" Kazuto asks slowly, worried his question may set off another flash of anger. "Morrigan's favorite spot," Kami responds abstractly. "Where might that be...?" Kazuto asks. "Ireland." Kazuto gapes at Kami. "All the way there...? How will we get there?" "By flying." "I don't have a passport..." "Not by plane. By bird." "Ehhh?" As their conversation continues, they disappear around a corner. Sakura, riding her bicycle, rounds the corner just as their shadows disappear. She glances around the area in surprise. "Brother...?"Kazuto watches Kami as she turns away. She walks down the street and disappears around a corner just as Sakura, Kazuto's little sister, appears on her bicycle. "So sorry I'm late..." Sakura apologizes, slapping her hands together and grinning unapologetically at him. Kazuto stares after Kami for a moment longer before turning to Sakura. She frowns at him, concerned. "Did something happen?" She asks, and Kazuto quickly shakes his head. "No, no. Let's go. The next train should be here soon." They walk together. "I hope Mom loves the present I have planned!" Sakura squeals. Kazuto smirks. "We, you mean. We both picked it out for her." "Oh, hush. You're more than capable of buying her a present by yourself." They laugh, and the encounter with Kami becomes a fading memory in Kazuto's mind.Hello! Welcome to Kami's Quest series. Check back often for additions to the series. Author: Maxina Storibrook Website: http://maxinastoribrook.wix.com/maxstori Program: Twine Read [[Kami's Quest: Prologue]]