Prologue

百年早いHyaku nen hayai, as they say. I’m 100 years too early to be ready for this battle. Yet here I stand, one hand clutched on the guard of a sword I don’t quite know how to use, the other clenched in a sweaty fist. Reluctantly, I step through.

The familiar quiver and then comes the shift: two images of the world move slightly apart.

A glitch. The fabric of the worlds shivers as I enter the in-between.

Everything looks the same, the neon lights of Ueno in the distance, the dark park, the whipping willows at the edge of the pond. Except it’s not. In the overlap of two realms one can bend the rules of reality.

He’s waiting. I step on the molten-metal-like surface of the pond. His killing intent is so strong that it reverberates into my stomach. I can imagine the dark smoky tentacles twitching in anticipation. My hands tremble so badly, I won’t even be able to pull the sword with a clean draw.

Bloody hell, being a hero is tough. And I thought that studying for exams was hard.

A hand squeezes my shoulder. I’m not alone. One by one, the others step in behind me. Together we might stand a chance.

From: Rina Lewis <[email protected]>

To: Morgan Takahashi <[email protected]>

Sent: 5 October 2003 10:15

Subject: R u answering yet?

I still can’t believe you are in Tokyo while I am stuck here with mum being as annoying as ever. Can you believe what she actually said? That I should stop doing martial arts and pursue a more ladylike hobby? With a straight face I told her I am considering doing weightlifting. She dropped the subject.

Your gran says you’re still sorting things out, but why haven’t you messaged already? I can’t wait to know about everything.

I’m bored to death without you!

From: Morgan Takahashi <[email protected]>

To: Rina Lewis <[email protected]>

Sent: 10 October 2003 05:13

Subject: Re: R u answering yet?

Things are not too bad. School started a few days ago. It’s an international school so most kids are not even Japanese. The classmates were at first interested in me, the expected level of curiosity about a new student joining mid-year. Didn’t last long. By the end of the first day they’d figured out that I’m totally uncool.

Yeah, I know. I could have at least tried. Pretended that I’m into video games and pop music, that I don’t enjoy stargazing with Dad. But why bother? It’s not like I’d have made friends anyway.

Good stuff. Dad took me to this great sushi place. Maybe 15 plates is a lot, but I could have easily had 20. Dad dragged me out saying I’ll get sick. I think he was just worried about the bill.