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I open my eyes to a yellow-haired girl transforming into something magical and striking a pose.
"Wow!"
"Emma?"
Suddenly, I was scoped into the air by the same man in red with scribbles across his face.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to sit too close to the television? It could hurt your eyes," he said.
"I am sorry Papa but I wanted to see Sailor Moon's transformation. It was so amazing." I say in a child-like voice.
He sighs and sits me on his lap.
"I know. But I don't want you to start using glasses when you are a teenager."
I feel the muscles on my face turn into a smile. "It's okay. Maybe I will become a magical girl like them."
With that, I turn to point at the TV. "Aren't they amazing Papa! They get to fight monsters and bad guys with magical powers!"
"True but I want you to grow up to be a normal human being." then I feel fingers on my chin as he makes me face him. "Then you can live life to the fullest."
"Nah! That's boring. When I am a magical girl, I can transform, beat bad guys with my special powers, have many friends, and go on magical adventures!"
"True but have you weighed the consequences of your actions?"
I tilt my head to the right. "What do you mean?"
"There is a reason why they became magical girls and it is not because of the adventures." he pats me on the head. "It's because of the responsibility that comes with it and sometimes, that responsibility is too much for someone to handle."
I huff. "I can handle the responsibility."
He shakes his head. "No, you can't. Look at them."
I do and part of me whines because I had just missed the fight scene. "What about them?"
"They live every day to fighting monsters and bad guys but they don't have enough time to hang out, have fun, spend time with their family, have a normal school life...who knows, they might never get to enjoy the simple pleasures of life."
"But they do enjoy life!" I chirp.
"How?"
"They go to the hot spring, the museum, and even the aquarum."
"It's pronounced aquarium." then he chuckled. "I didn't know that."
"See! They get to go anywhere they want and have friends because they are magical girls! They even get to see the moon!"
"But have they considered their future?"
I feel the confusion set in my mind. "Huh?"
"Most of these girls will keep fighting foe after foe for the rest of their lives sacrificing their present and future." he pats my head. "And you wanted to be an astronaut in the future didn't you?"
I nod and smile again. "I can be an astronaught and a magical girl can I?"
"You can in the anime but not in real life." then he tipped my chin. "Being a magical girl is a responsibility and you can't balance that with real-life situations. You have to choose which one you want to be and it's hard. If you become a magical girl, you will have to abandon your dreams in exchange for the responsibility that comes with it. If you don't become a magical girl, you can chase your dreams and live a happy and fulfilling life."
"Like you and mom?" I ask.
He smiles. "Yep. Like mom and I."
I feel the sadness set in as I look away.
"But that's your choice sweetheart," he says. "Just know that if you do decide to become a magical girl I will support you."
My face brightens up at this. "Really?"
"Yep." he puts his forehead on mine. "I will gladly transform into one to help you with your quest."
This made me laugh. "Sorry, Papa but I can't imagine you wearing a dress!"
"What? You don't think your father can't dress up in a dress? I will call myself .......Ursan Major! Collector of Stars!"
"And I will be Sailor Minor! Keeper of the stars!" I yell and we all laugh at the names which sounded awful. Then the lyrics to the anime's ending brought us back to the present.
"Aww!"
He wrapped his arms around me. "I am sorry you missed your show honey."
I sulk.
"But you can read the manga."
This confused me. "Manga?"
He nods.
"What's that?"
"It's a....."
I frown. "What?"
"It's a .....where the anime comes from and what do you know, I have one right here!"
I frown as everything around us started to flicker like a phone on static and when he hands me the manga, the front cover is....blank."
'Wait, why is it?' I look up and see something pointed in front of me.
"Papa?"
Bang!
Eyes flying open with speed, I sit up with a start.
"Took you long enough." said a spiteful voice. "I thought you would never wake up!"
'Wha...' I look around and see a girl kneeling by my bedside with an angry look on her face wearing a school uniform but what caught my attention was the orange long hair tied together in pigtails and the polka dotted stockings.
'I recognize that from anywhere,' I thought. "Osana Najimi."
She glared and the room flickered to the school's hall where she was hanging from a nose on stage then flickered again.
"Are you done staring?" she asks in an annoyed tone.
I groan and touch my head. "What...what happened?"
"Geez! Who knew saving your butt would be such a pain!" she says. "I didn't sign up for this!"
"Saved my what?"
"Duh! I saved your butt remember?" she folds her arms. "That time your crazy boyfriend tied you to a chair and locked you up in a room?"
Then it hit me and the memories came flooding in. Looking at the scars on my hands and arms, I shudder and hug myself.
"Do you know how hard it is to carry you?" she huffed. "Honestly! Why did someone as smart as you allow yourself to get captured by a psycho like him? If I had known that you were going to let your guard down like that, I spooked you into leaving that hotel!"
I feel the headache getting worse by the minute and slowly fall back on my futon.
"Ugh? Don't you die on me! I need you! Hey, are you listening? Wake up, you idiot!"
That was the last thing I heard before passing out.
"You know she's exhausted."
'That voice...it sounds...familiar.' I open my eyes to see a tall woman wearing red with a red hoodie over her face.
"So what? I saved her life!" stated another familiar voice and looking to my right, I see Osana but she looked...different.
Her hair was different.
And so was the color of her skin.
The woman said something but Osana simply folded her arms and huffed. "So you are telling me to wait?" then she pointed at the woman. "You know if I stay long enough in this world I will turn into a demon. I didn't get this hair out of the blue you know."
The woman sighed and said something I didn't understand.
"Oh, and where were you when all this was happening? That maniac was planning to amputate her! You are her guardian spirit! It's your job to keep her safe so don't call me selfish! I was doing you a favor!"
The annoyance in Osana's voice along with the whispering of the woman's voice talking to her was starting to annoy me. Angry, I reach out to get their attention but they started fading away.
"H...hey!" I call but they were still moving. "Wait! Come back! Wait!"
But they were still moving and this brought tears to my eyes. Getting another headache, I allow the darkness to engulf me, trapping me in the void.
Then I smell something.
Something tasty.
Something appetizing.
I open my eyes to see the woman I saw earlier holding something to my nose.
"Wake up! Eat," she says dropping the bowl next to me. Standing up, she walks towards the door to my room and disappears. I gape at that and stare at the bowl she sitting next to me on the floor. Fearing the worst, I grab the cover and open it revealing soup.
'What is this? It smell's familiar.' I thought before grabbing the spoon and scooping the contents into my mouth.
'This taste...' tears welled up in my eyes. 'It tastes heavy!'
I continue to take spoonful after spoonful of the soup until the bowl was empty. It was a small bowl but I felt so full and satisfied.
"Oh! So you ate the whole thing!"
I look up and there stood the woman with a huge smile on her face under her hood. "Do you want some more?"
I shake my head, thank her and hand her the bowl. Feeling light-headed, I lay back on the futon and close my eyes.
"Sleep well little one," she whispers. "Sleep well."
'Little one.' I thought snuggling deeper into the warmth of the blankets. 'I have heard that word before but where?'
Third POV
The kitsune was cutting the carrots for dinner when her ears perked up from a sound coming from outside. With her spirit vision, she saw the culprit walking up the stairs towards the front door and gritted her teeth.
'I wasn't expecting him.' she thought dropping the knife and closing her eyes, she used a spell to disguise herself before opening the door.
"Yes? Can I help you?"
Stunned because he didn't get the chance to knock on the door, Magic took a step back and composed himself. "Good evening Emma. How are you?"
She narrowed her eyes. "I am fine."
"Are you sure? I popped by at your school and your friends said they haven't seen you for a week."
"A week?" 'Emma' asked in shock.
"Well yes. They were unable to reach you for a week." he pushed up his glasses. "I guess today makes it two weeks."
Bowing her head down to hide her anger against this fellow, 'she' sighed and looked at him with a smile. "Oh. I am taking a break from school for a while."
"Why because of the incident?" Magic asked cocking an eyebrow and when she gave a nod, he sighed and shook his. "You see, this is why I am telling you to come back to our school. You won't miss out on your education because of these ... supernatural events."
"What's the matter Magic? Are you afraid of the supernatural?"
The look on Emma's face was enough to make his skin crawl for her eyes were orange and one could see the canines hiding within her toothy grin.
He gulped.
Were the rumors about her true?
"No. No, I am not."
She smiled. "That's good to hear and I will think about your request okay?"
He gives a stiff nod and turns his back on her. "Well, good night Emma Cross-wood."
"Good night Magic Alexander." and with that, 'she' shut the door.
"Who was that?"
Startled, she quickly turned back to her former self. "It was no one."
"Are you sure?"
The kitsune sighed and finally turned to face Emma who was clothed while drying her hair with the towel but she could see the fear in her eyes.
"No. It was just Magic who came to talk nonsense again." she quickly said. "Do you want to help me make dinner?"
She nods and drops the towel on one of the chairs in the kitchen. The cooking was slow and silent and as Emma set the table, took time to think about the situation at hand.
'I don't like how things are going between my daughter and that boy,' she thought pouring the vegetables into the pot. 'I understand his feelings for her are pure because no one is going to love and protect her more than anyone else and this made me underestimate my child's determination to be independent.'
At this point, she dished the stew into a huge bowl and placed it on the table while Emma checked on the rice in the rice cooker.
'Emma. My darling beautiful Emma. You took your grandmother's eyes, my beautiful looks, and your father's intelligence and determination. Despite everything that has happened to you, you refused to back down to depend on anyone and this is the reason I fell in love with him.' then she sighed. 'Trying to make you fall in love with that boy is one of the greatest mistakes I have ever made because it is clear his method to win your affection is awful. Stalking you for a month, sending uncomfortable messages to your phone, killing people...'
She sighed and took a side glance at her.
'He is not husband material but I was out of options! I put a target on your back during your childhood and things are getting worse now that you are in your teenage years. At this rate, you will be carrying this burden on you into your adulthood.' she looked at her hands and closed her eyes. 'Things would have been easier if I came back as a vengeful spirit protecting your path but came back as a kitsune in another world and part of the bargain to stay in this world is to never harm a human which is easier said than done.'
At his, she balled her hands into a fist and open her eyes. 'No! I can't give up now! I promised your father I was going to give you a happy ending and I will give you a happy ending.'
"The rice is done," Emma announced.
"Oh. Thank you little one," she replied and set the dish of stew on the center of the table. After giving thanks, Emma started to devour the food while the kitsune watched with sadness in her heart for their time together was almost up.
'Well, there is only one resolve.' she thought before coughing. "There is something I notice about you, Emma."
At this, Emma stopped eating and paid close attention.
"And that is your martial arts skills aren't good enough to help you survive this adventure of yours."
Upon hearing this, Emma looked down and gave a grim nod. "Yeah. I am wondering how I would survive."
"Do you want me to teach you?"
This made Emma's eyes brighten up. "Really?"
She nods. "I can't teach you everything but I can teach you some skills and help broaden your knowledge on spirit power and how to channel your inner power but you have to take the training seriously do you know why?"
"No. Why?"
"My time with you is at its limit in this world and I want to be sure you are ready to face this supernatural journey on your own. Not only that," she took out her phone and showed it to me. "Remember this?"
Emma stared at the blank screen which showed 'FOUR WEEKS LEFT UNTIL PLAY TIME' written in red letters.
"We don't know what you are going to face out there but you have to be prepared nonetheless," she said taking the phone away from my face. "So, are you ready to train?"
Although the hood covered part of her face, Emma knew she was serious from the sternness in her voice and knew better than to say no so she nodded.
"Good." the kitsune stood up and walked towards the front door. "I have to put a seal on this house so get some sleep. We will start our training tomorrow morning.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
