PROLOGUE

I look up into the cold ice blue eyes that are my Masters’. As young as I may be, I understand that look. Hatred. He hates my very existence, which makes me hate myself.
My Master turns his back and walks towards the door. The sound of his footsteps ring in my ears.
“You don‘t belong here, you should go back where you came.” he goes through the open door, closes it behind him. I listen as he walks away. Dark loneliness envelopes me once more. I fall to me knees. You don‘t belong here. As if I didn’t already know. I didn‘t plan for the Imperial Lord to find me on that night, I didn‘t plan for him to save my life and in doing so making me eternally indebted to him. It’s not only my Master. The whole village seems to be afraid of me. They think it was me.
The tears come again, I gaze through the darkness, across the room, at the one picture I have of my family. My Mothers’ big amber eyes gaze at me and her smile tells me not to worry. My Father stands proud, with his hand on my brothers shoulder. Masakazu. I’m sorry. The moon shines through the window, there is a strange aching in my chest. A howl of misery escapes from my mouth. The moon hears my cry and it is almost as if it feels my destitution. I curl up in a ball and let its rays soothe me to sleep.

*

There is a knock on the door. It wakes me. As I open the door a bright smile greets me. I have never seen this person before. Dark blue eyes, black hair down to her lower back, the fairest skin I’ve ever seen.
“Hey there Shima-kun! I’m Nyoko. I’ve just come to the village with my Mother, she’s an old friend of Shuichi-sensei. He said that you were the only kid that is home schooled. And I really need someone to show me around the village. He did tell me I should wait until the other kids come out of school so one of them could show me but I’ve never really been a patient person. So are you up to the challenge?”
For a moment I’m speechless. This is the most anyone has ever said to me at one time, since I‘ve lived in this village. I open my mouth and close it again. How is it she doesn’t despise me. Everyone else does. Her eyes twinkle and for the first time I think my mouth tries to smile.
“You really want me to show you around?”
“I asked you didn’t I? Come on. Hurry and get dressed, I love it when the sun shines. I’ll wait for you outside.”
I get up and head to the bathroom. Once I bathe and brush my teeth I get dressed. All my outfits are the same. Dark green kimono, white sash and thick white scarf. I see Nyoko’s silhouette outside the door. I have not been out for over a month. I hesitate before opening the door to join Nyoko.
“I see you’re ready. So what do you want to show me first?”
“I thought I would show you the shops first. Then perhaps the Kohana Falls. And the Palace of the Imperial Lord. Although we can’t go in there.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go.” she grabs my hand, my heart skips a beat. Contact with another person is something else I have not had in a very long time. I pull my hand away sharply and she stops. Her eyes, full of concern, look up at me.
“What is it Shima-kun? Do you not want to go?”
“I- I have not been out for a while.”
“Nothing can hurt you. Just look up at the sun. Anything that is bathed in its magnificent light is made beautiful. You have nothing to worry about. Come on!” she skips ahead of me and I follow. My hands deep in my pockets. We walk along the path where the shops and restaurants are. She looks in awe, I wonder if she has ever been in such a large village before. I don’t ask. She sees the sign outside the sweet dumpling hut and her eyes grow wide.
“I- I can buy some if you like.” She nods eagerly and grins. It is amazing how many smiles she has. We enter the hut and I order some dumplings. The man hands them to me and I hand him some coins. He looks at me inquisitively for a moment, then his expression turns to one of fear.
“You!” I turn to him silently and his mouth closes. Why is it they all look at me the same. We leave the hut and I hand Kyoto the bag.
“Mmmm, thank you Shima-kun. But- what was that just now. Did you do something wrong?”
“It is because I was not born in this village. Everyone is like that to me.” Perhaps she can hear the sadness in my voice, or maybe she sees the loneliness in my eyes. She takes my hand and squeezes it.
“Don’t worry. From this day forward, I’ll be your friend. I swear it on these kushidango ok?”
This time it does it of its own accord. My mouth twitches, I don’t know how but I think I’m smiling.