The Girl with Strong Senses

There once was a girl named Kagome who had lived in Tokyo for her entire life. She grew up in a conservative family that has been running a Buddhist Temple for decades. Her parents named her “Kagome” which means love and blessed in kanji, but there was another meaning of her name that they never talked about: Lost. Even though, how strict, religious and against witchcraft her parents were, Kagome always felt that her senses were relatively stronger even for a decent highly spiritual girl. Whatever she dreams would always become real, or she would have taken the words out of the other’s mouth as if she read their mind. However, she never mused over it.

Well, everything started to shape into something bigger when she hit twenty. She began to get deja vu constantly, she wanted to believe it was something petty that she would get over soon. Nevertheless, it did not come to an end. It got even worse; apparently, she was getting deja vu so much that it was like seeing the future and knowing what will happen next. In fact; one day, when she was coming back home to the subway, she foresaw that she was going to be pushed to the tracks. And it was almost going to happen if somebody didn’t help her out.

That day, she tried to ask her mom about it, which she answered in an unsatisfying way:

– You know my dear, in the Dhammapada Buddha says “All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by mind.” You are making this all up in your head. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about these, you have Seijinshiki in a week to get ready. (a Japanese celebration for all twenty-year-olds)

She couldn’t sleep that night thinking about it over and over again for hours, but in a micro-moment; she felt that she was being pulled into sleep, and shortly she dozed off.

She found herself in some sort of realm that was quite disturbing and relaxing at the same time. She saw someone walking towards her; a pale-skinned woman who had her hair long to almost her ankles.

– Are you enjoying the beauty of your mystical experience, she asked.

– Excuse me, I don’t get it, Kagome replied.

– I was unlocking your consciousness, didn’t you understand?

– I felt something was going on, but who are you and why me, may I ask?

– Oh honey, my bad, I should’ve introduced myself. My name is Izanami, short for “Izanami-no-Mikoto” I am your great-grandmother who your family always hid from you. And you are me reincarnated.

– .... Ohhh what!

– Yes, and there is nothing to worry about, but we’re running out of time, so listen to me carefully. Come to Mount Osore on Seijinshiki day at midnight.

– Oh no!

– Oh yes, Mount Osore, Seijinshiki, midnight.

...

Kagome woke up gasping for breath. Being in shock was not enough to describe how she felt, she was astonished. Though, a side of her felt relieved in a way that she couldn’t describe.

She was going to do it; it never appeared to her that it would be something ethereal, she knew it was real, she knew her senses were right.

On the Seijinshiki day, she went to Mount Osore without anyone knowing and started to wait till midnight in the backyard of the temple. The sooner it became, the lighter she felt. And when the clock hit 00.00 her spirit got taken to the underworld.

Mortals may say that she was “lost” like her name, but in fact, the underworld devil had gained a new daughter.