A Perfectly Normal Life

The girl came to a stop at the street intersection, panting as she looked at her watch. Late again, she silently cursed. Her medium length black hair was a mess, spilling over her dark blue school uniform, as her failure to notice the alarm clock didn't allow her the time to do her morning routine properly. Masako-chan and Keiko-chan are going to laugh at me again, she fumed, and no doubt she was going to get another stern talking to by the teacher. As the traffic light flipped to blue, she dashed across the last intersection and into the school courtyard; with luck, maybe she could sneak past the hall monitor and not get too many humiliating stares by her classmates.

My name is Akiko Fujiwara, seventeen years old, and I'm a third-year student at Tsuru High School here in Ōtsuki, Yamanashi. I like to cook and am a member of the school literature club. My best friends Keiko Chiba and Masako Minamoto are members of the school science and kendo clubs and we study together for our university entrance exams. I love my family and the life I live, and I am a completely normal girl in every possible way...

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"Stand!" the teacher ordered. "Bow!"

Almost at once, the classroom stood at attention and obeyed the teacher's command as the school day had finally come to an end. Fortunately, Akiko had managed to get through the day with only a few embarrassing gaffes.

Out in the school courtyard, the tan brick three-story structure oversaw the throng of students as the central clock chimed. The surrounding outdoor facilities filled up as the sports clubs started up, while inside, the culture department clubs did the same. Akiko along with two other girls, Keiko who was the smallest and had shoulder-length hair and glasses, and Masako who was taller than the others and kept her hair long down her back.

"...so, look at this," Masako offered, spreading a set of pamphlets across the table, showing a set of apartments. "All of these are close to the bus and train stations to some of the universities we're looking at," she proposed.

"Eh... don't you think we're getting ahead of ourselves?" Keiko pointed out. "How about we pass the entrance exam first before we go looking for places to share?"

"Oh right... you two bookworms should be the last ones to worry about passing," Masako snorted. "I'm the one who should be worried."

"I thought you were going apply for a Kendo scholarship," Akiko remembered.

"I tried," Masako mused, "but those are really tough and competitive. There's only a few slots, and even then, I still have to pass the entrance exam."

"Don't worry about it," Keiko assured while taking Masako by the hand. "We'll carry you over the finish line, like we always have."

"That's right! One for all and all for one, like always!" Akiko promised.

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The Capital city of the Calidor Empire was the seat of power of a sprawling Empire that spanned the largest continent of the world. Ruled by a monarchy with a combination of might and magic, the Royal family had held onto power with an iron fist for generations, and with no apparent end in sight, as the next in their line were already scheming amongst one another for the throne.

However, the tall gleaming buildings wasn't why Sergeant Taira was summoned here today. Inside the great hall, he stood in the middle with a group of elder councilmen and mystics seated in elevated booths looking down on him. Clearly, they weren't here to give him any commendations.

"You summoned me, My Lords?" Inen Taira bowed.

There was a moment of silence in the room that Inen could sense that something was terribly wrong, as if all eyes were staring into his soul. "You were tasked with the job of eliminating the one that was prophesized to be a key threat to the future of the Empire... and yet he still remains..." the High Seer proclaimed.

"I-Impossible," Inen stammered. "I stabbed him through the chest! I confirmed his death! I buried him myself!"

"You buried a piece of meat and bone," the seer growled ominously. "The spirit survived. He's still out there, and so long as that's true, he will remain a threat to the Emperor's reign. Wherever he may be, that burning hope must be found and returned."

"Returned?" Inen asked in confusion. "Don't you mean killed?"

"You tried that already," the seer scolded. "Prophecies aren't so easily foiled. Simply killing them in the open and the spirit will just move on again. Bring them here to the temple and we will purge the spirit properly."

Inen bowed ceremoniously. "It will be done!"

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"Mom... don't tell me you have to stay late again?" Akiko had just gotten off the bus and started heading for the last leg to her house as she spoke on the phone.

"I'm sorry dear, the hospital's short staffed again," the voice on the other end apologized. "Also, your father's going to be held up with one of his meetings again, I'm afraid, so please take care of yourself for dinner. If you need to order something for delivery, go ahead. I'll be home probably about midnight or so," she finished.

"Right, sure, OK, love you mom," Akiko finished the call. She sighed... her mother was an ER doctor at Ōtsuki Municipal Chūō Hospital, so her staying late was something she could understand. Her father though was probably spending time with his office co-workers at an izakaya, with more than a few drinks. Part of that she understood was just a given of the corporate culture, but she still wished he could balance that time better. She also realized they were both working so hard for her; college would be coming up soon, and while she and her friends were applying for scholarships, that wasn't a guarantee, so the money would be something they needed to have ready.

Hm... maybe I should invite Keiko-chan and Masako-chan over. Mom did say to go ahead and order delivery... we'll make a study session out of it. She reached her family's modest home, walked in, set her books aside and turned the television on. Checking her itinerary for tomorrow, she grumbled slightly. Her literature club was expected to meet to discuss the latest novel they had selected; one that she was still behind in, which meant another all-nighter to catch up. This is what I get for trying to join literature and tennis club. I really should think about dropping tennis, but Mom would complain that I'm neglecting my health. Picking up the phone, she dialed a local donburi delivery place. Spicy beef sounds good... we'll go with that...

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First Sergeant Kenji Takeshi watched with growing misgivings as the latest group of prisoners were being brought in by prison transport in caged wagons into the Capital city. He had been reassigned from field duty back to headquarters several months ago, against his personal desires when it started to become clear from his performance that he was no longer able to give his best for his men.

It had been nearly six months since he had heard about the loss of his good friend and mentor Captain Akira Fujiwara. He had been told that Akira was killed during a routine mission to root out an insurgent camp and that he had fallen in battle against treacherous villagers, but in his heart, Kenji didn't believe that. Akira was far too skilled and experienced to have been overcome by mere villagers, and would have had the experience to spot an ambush. Something didn't feel right about that story, but of course, he didn't have any proof, so he was forced to just swallow his suspicions and live with them.

He shook his head; the Empire had grown darker these past few years. Everyone could feel it. Say the wrong thing to the wrong person and you and your family would disappear, never to be seen again. It didn't used to be this way, he remembered, but oh how things had changed. As of late, he had been hearing whispers from a growing movement among the outer villages of the disgruntled populous of a prophecy that warrior would return to be the downfall of the Emperor. Children's stories, he scoffed, but at the same time, he could see how the appeal would cause the rumor to spread far and wide. If only that were true... that somewhere out there... one man... one person could make all the difference...