A Day In The Life: Hitotsu Ni Naru (Unity) free porn video

A day in the life: Hitotsu ni naru (Unity) The shrimp boat sailed toward Abashiri is a city of 40,000 people on the eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Shiri Karizuma sighed, yawning. An hour home, then he would have several backbreaking hours unloading the freshly caught shrimp. He tied off the wheel, walking out onto the deck, looking forward. The five-meter long boat had been built in the 1930s, and his family had always been fisherman. His Grandfather father and three brothers rested below. He grumbled. He hadn't wanted to go out this week. He had a new game he wanted to play, and the haphazard way his grandfather did things bothered him. Sail out, lay the nets, scoop up the shrimp, then drift for a full day. He knew they could catch four times as much if they ran back into harbor quickly and rushed back out. But- There was a noise. It sounded like talking. But that was nonsense. His father spoke of Yosegai flying when he was younger, but Shiri was of the new generation, all of seventeen this year. If he could not see it or touch it, it didn't... The cloth hatch cover they used shifted, and he saw what looked like a shrimp climbing up out of the hold. It teetered on the edge, and he gasped as something that looked like a tiny human ran up, caught the shrimp, and dragged it aside. Another, then another shrimp came up out of the frigid hold, and each time another of the tiny humans dragged it clear. He found himself walking over to the hold, then knelt. He lifted the cloth, staring into the amber eyes of a woman all of 108 millimeters tall dressed in a fundoshi loincloth. Her wings, two pair, buzzed for a moment as she looked at him, then smiled, bowing. "Greetings honored fisherman," she said. "Greetings..." "Oh, please to accept my humble apologies. I am Zakuro," she said bowing again. "We will be done in a moment." Below her half a dozen other equally unclad Faerie were pulling shrimp from the tank, each smacking the living animals on the back of the head, then handing them up to others. There must have been fifteen all told. He looked at the deck, where a dozen more were stringing shrimp into tiny nets. "Why are you... taking our shrimp?" "The ancestor of Matsuo gave us permission many years ago to take some of his catch." Zakuro replied. "You are his youngest grandson Shiri, correct?" "Yes." "Do you deny us this?" The way she asked was very formal. The Faerie below paused, watching him intently. ""No, of course not." "Then please let us continue. We must be done before you reach harbor." He went back to the bridge, then came back with a pan. He dipped it into the water, setting the two or three dozen live shrimp in it on the deck. "You must be careful." He admonished sternly. "I will not let guests of my father be injured!" "I like him," another Fairy commented. "Perhaps he will partake of our hospitality one day?" "Soon, Kashi," Zakuro commented. She turned back to the boy, bowing again. "We are done now, gentle man. We shall see you when next your grandfather sails." Each of the Fairy bowed, then took pairs of shrimp tied together in nets, and lifted into the air. He watched them fly east toward Shiretoko Peninsula. For a long time he stared. "So it begins again." He turned. Grandfather stood there, a gentle smile on his face. "As I did when my grandfather took me fishing for the first time, so do you meet the Yosegai." He walked over, eyes intent. "Now the question I must ask. Will you keep their secret as fifteen generations of our family have? Or must I refuse to take you fishing ever again?" ***** The Faerie flew low, heavily laden. Each bundle of shrimp weighed almost as much as they did, and it was three kilometers to the shore. As they flew, every eye watched the darkness above them. "Fukuro!" one of them cried, and they dropped lower. The great owl circled, watching their progress. It was the worst possible time! The bird turned, and began to descend. The faerie flew even lower. Now they courted an attack from below, but the owl could pluck them from the air if they flew higher. The bird shrieked, and another faerie came from the front, in her hands what looked like a naginata. Behind her another paused in mid air, and an arrow shot toward the bird. It spun on one wing, and was gone. The two faerie waved, then flew escort on the laden members. They stopped in the edge of the forest, and the two new faerie landed with them. "Who are you?" Zakuro asked sharply. "I am Orchid," one of them bowed. "The one with me is named Koki'o, a hunter from the island of Hawaii. She does not speak Japanese." "How did you come to our home forest?" "I bring you greetings from humans of America." "America. Hawaii. These lands we have not heard of." "Hawaii is far to the east and America even farther." Orchid held the bow outward on both palms. "Gifts from those we speak for." She spoke to the other fairy who handed over the naginata, but did not bow. Orchid showed them how the blade could be dismounted, making a sword, and told of sections of the light tubing which could make it four times their height. She drove an arrow into a tree deep enough that they could not pull it out with the bow. "These are tokens of their wish to meet your leader." Orchid finished. "They are in Abashiri at one of the inns. They will come to Kamuiwakka Falls late in the day tomorrow." "This is something our leader must hear. Will you share our nest tonight?" "We will be honored." ***** Rob tapped in the last signal, and waited for the reply. 'Awapuhi who until a month before had been Cynthia Conroy settled beside him. "I am sorry Rob." "Stop it," he chided. "There were times winter before last when I almost went over too." "But I betrayed your trust." She sighed. "I intended to be there to help you. Now?" She waved at her diminutive form. "Now I am a burden." "I have broad shoulders. I'm used to carrying things." She shook her head in disgust. "As a psychology student, I have to tell you that is a load of shit." "My, such language." "Yes." Another fairy flew over, tousling the hair of the sitting Fairy. "Love, you made your choice. How many times must he tell you? For that matter, how many times must I tell you?" Kaunaoa wrapped her arms around the newly minted fairy. "Now if you keep this up, I shall have to lick you until you scream." "What five minutes?" Blue Belle asked from the camera case where she held Hope. Trillium was sleeping peacefully beside her. "I haven't heard so much moaning and groaning since..." she giggled. "Since I came over." The fairy laughed. 'Awapuhi blushed. "It wasn't that loud," she protested. Kaunaoa licked her ear and she gave a little yip. Saffron chuckled, and leaped on the two girls, bearing 'Awapuhi onto her back. "Together," she said, and two mouths dropped to the prostrated girl's breasts. Rob sighed, and got out the guidebook. It was going to be a loud night. ***** Shiretoko Park in northern Hokkaido is a wonderland of nature with waterfalls, hot springs, and lakes. Most of it cannot be reached by land except for hikers, and has been left unspoiled. It is one of the ten sites listed by the UN because of its natural beauty. Rob walked up the path toward Kamuiwakka Falls, a hot spring. It was early in the season, so there weren't that many tourists yet. He allowed a group of children to pass him, leaning on the walking staff he had brought. The woods were almost silent today. Fog made them a painted background of grays, and he smiled. This is why he had hit the road all of those years ago. The wonder of nature doing what it wanted, rather than being broken by man's hand. The riverbed meandered gently, as if taking it's own lazy way to the sea. He found that walking in the water was sometimes safer than the riverbank after one slip, and now he noticed the water had grown warmer. "Such a wonderful place," Blue Belle said. The day was brisk, not cold, and she clasped Rob's collar as she looked around. "When I was a kid I looked at Central Park and thought is was wonderful. If I'd known there were places like this in the world I would have called it bland." "Some people understand that this is more precious as it is," 'Awapuhi sighed. "That is why they started the National Parks service in America a century or so ago. So people a hundred years from now can see things like this just as we are now." She flitted up into the air, doing a barrel roll. "Think of the Faerie that have seen this before men even came to the region!" She sighed. "Give me a four wheeler any day," Rob said. The faerie looked at him. "Hey, I'm joking!" He waved at the splendor around them. "This is what I love most." A dozen couples and the kids that had passed him earlier occupied the falls. They lazed in the hot water, eyes slitted in pleasure. Rob passed the falls itself, going a bit further. Even here there were tourists, and he sighed, sitting. He had gotten a melon at the market in Abashiri, and he cut it, passing two narrow slices to his friends. Trillium flew out, landing on his neck, leaning into him. Hope rested against her hip, eyes looking around. "Why can't we stay in places like this more often?" she asked. "We do," Rob said around a mouthful of the fruit. "But you chose to travel with me." "I know that my love." Trillium rubbed his ear affectionately. "I have never been more content." He cut off a small piece of the fruit, and passed it to her. Trillium chewed, then kissed Hope, pushing some of the masticated melon into the baby's mouth. She looked up wide-eyed, then raised her arms for another kiss. "That is unsanitary," Rob commented. "The advantage of being among Faerie is that you learn a lot about childcare." Trillium replied. "Both humans and Faerie used to feed their babies mashed up food in just this way and still do in primitive tribes. Do you think they always had mashed up food in jars?" She took another bite, transferring the ground food to her child again. "Besides, she likes it." "She likes to nurse too." "Of course she does. I find it... satisfying." She poked him in the neck. "And if I remember correctly, you like nibbling on my breasts too." "The child in me," he replied coolly. "And when you come over, I will show you how much fun it can be from my perspective." She warned. He looked at the sky, then at the visitors who were climbing from the water, getting dressed, and heading down slope. "Should be dark in an hour or so," he said. "We had best move farther up before someone notices us." He stood, moving a kilometer and a half farther. He found a place off the path where he would not be noticed, and leaned against a tree. It was a perfect day, and it looked like it would be a perfect night too. Blue Belle and Saffron settled together on a branch, gently kissing. Kaunaoa and 'Awapuhi found an empty bird's nest farther up the tree, but thankfully didn't resume their play from the evening before. Trillium and Hope leaned on his ear. The shadows grew longer, and Rob rested content. There was a flutter of wings ahead of him, but he didn't move. The flutter became a swarm, and a dozen or more Faerie flew toward where he sat. His own companions flew down to join him, and they watched the approach. So far there had been no actual attacks or fighting, except for the incident off Italy, but that didn't mean it would not or could not happen. Orchid led the way with Koki'o flying beside her. The locals were dressed in multicolored silk fundoshi, and all were armed. He had originally thought that this was because of fear of attack, and he had been correct, but not from humans. This forest he knew from the guidebooks had black bears and foxes on the ground, hawks falcons and owls in the air. All of which would consider a Faerie a nice snack. They settled down in the trees around him as his own pair and two locals flew down to rest before him. "Greeting, Rob," Orchid said. "This is Kaede, the local queen, and her advisor Anzu." Rob knelt bowing in the Japanese manner. "I thank you for your attention, ladies." Orchid settled down to translate. The faerie looked more like porcelain dolls than they ever had before. Unlike the usual nests, this one appeared homogenous racially. None of the faerie looked like Caucasians. Trillium lifted from his shoulder, and there were gasps of delight from the Faerie as they saw Hope. Rob introduced the faerie with him, then got into the spiel. The Faerie were like an audience at a tennis match, watching Rob when he talked Kaede when she spoke and Orchid as she translated. Beyond making a big fuss about Hope however, they were silent. They gasped as the Treo was activated, and a number of them asked questions excitedly. None had seen anything like it, and the most recent convert, Yuri, who had joined them during the Meijii restoration, explained the Kanji symbols. Orchid had some time getting across what had occurred in the last century and a half. As the moon rose, they guided him to the nest, an old badger's den with half a dozen guards posted outside. He followed them in after they had shrunk him, and set everything up. The Faerie had made their own kimonos, though not as flamboyant as that garb had become. Rob found them comfortable. After feasting on roasted shrimp, they settled in to negotiation. "So we need to do nothing to accept these gifts?" Kaede asked through the interpreter. "Ma'am, we're trying to help the race survive. If you don't want our help, we will leave you alone." Rob slapped the side of the Toshiba hand held unit he had bought the day before. "With this you can communicate with the other tribes we have contacted, and with us if you need anything." "Need?" Kaede waved at the forest beyond the cave. "We need only one thing, and that is to have more children." "That's part of what we're doing." He used his Treo, since he didn't know enough Japanese to get by. Orchid started up the Japanese model beside his. "You see we've started a campaign to find more people who want to interact with the Faerie. We have discovered that almost 80 percent of people can see your true form, and we're winnowing that number for people who will be willing to give aid, or supply your other needs." "We have done such ourselves. There is at least one fishing boat from both Abashiri and Rausu who supply us in that manner." "How did you pull that off?" Kaede puzzled over the phrase. "It was not I that did this. The queen three millennium ago arranged it," she motioned. "Anzu? Could you tell the tale?" "Yes!" one of the other Faerie called. "Tell it!" "Wait a moment." Rob went to the massive stack of his clothing. He pulled out the fiber optic camera and microphone, hooking them up to his unit. Then he went to the pad of the Treo, and began keying in instructions. "What are you doing?" "One thing we have been doing is compiling legends from the point of view of the Faerie." The screen before him lit up. On it, they could see the cave around them. One of the Faerie leaned forward. "Where is this?" She asked. "Right here," Rob replied. He waved, and on the screen, his image also waved. There was a squeal of delight from the gathered Faerie, and a number of them did the same kind of antics so well known to viewers of life broadcast news. Rob lifted the video wand, and aimed it at Anzu. "Tell us the tale, please." Anzu walked over by the fire, and every faerie in the nest sat, cuddling as she spoke. "It was long ago, when I was an unmated child that Toshi sailed from the bay to fish. He was a young man, the owner of the boat because his father Kimo had died in the sea the year before. "The boats then were not as they are now. Not huge rumbling metal machines, but wood and sails with an oar to steer by. The boat was barely large enough for the young man. But he was a fisherman; raised by a line of fishermen that stretches back to when Amaterasu still lived on our world. Toshi had even built the boat he used, and was proud of it. "He worked to gather the Ika that swarm to the surface. He put them into the deep hold he had, so they would be alive when they reached shore and that day he slept upon the sea as fishermen have done throughout time. The next night when he awoke he say a wonder of wonders. For during the day, some of our tribe led by the great Hakka had seen his boat, and wanted Ika for themselves. He watched them gathering the bounty of his labors, and did nothing to stop them, for his people had spoken of us. They believed us to be Kami, spirits of the dead that live among them still. "Hakka saw him, and gifted him with her hospitality. His child would be named Suren." She waved toward a Fairy who sat on the side, who smiled. "For many years, as Toshi grew older, our people visited his boat whenever he sailed. One day he brought his own son Akira, who in time also fathered some of our children. "Then came a terrible storm. Toshi and Akira were flung into the sea, the boat smashed. Hakka had seen the boat going out, and knew that the man she had loved was in danger, so she and several others flew out into the tempest. They found the remains of the boat, but only Akira still lived. They made him small to bring him here, and when he grew back to normal, he went into the village where Abashiri now stands. Everyone was amazed, for Toshi's body had washed up, and they though him dead. "Akira told them that the kami of the sea had rescued him, and returned him to shore. Then he went into the forest, cut the wood, and began a newer lager boat that he named Kyujo, Rescue. "Akira began to sail his boat, and being larger, it could stay at sea longer, and take a larger catch. But it meant he needed more humans as crew. He chose Hachiro, whose name means eighth son, for he was the eighth son of the headman. On that boy's seventh trip to sea, our people met him for the first time, and soon he also became father of our children. "He began to sail three times each year not to fish, but to introduce his children to us. Once at the time of Setsubun, the beginning of spring, Obon, the day of our dead ancestors, and again on Shichigosan which is a holiday for children. These days were gay times when the children would learn of our ways, and would join us dancing upon the winds. "In the fullness of time, Akira died, but he sired four children, two of which Hikaru and Katsu soon joined those that had fathered our children. But the greatest was Hikari, twin of Hikaru, who married Katsuro, a fisherman who lived in the next village, where Rausu now stands. "The young man was jealous, for Toshi and later Akira had been the greatest of the fisherman upon the shores of the island. Never had the family of Toshi ever returned to port without fish in their holds. He married the girl only so he could discover the secret of their success. Every time he came back with an empty boat, or with few fish, he would complain at the girl, saying 'If your father would tell me of the secret, I could be well known as well!'. But still she refused him. "After a long time, Katsuro became angry, and took the girl and her newborn girl child Kyo out upon the sea. When the fog came in, he grasped her angrily. 'Tell me of their secret' the evil man said. "Or by the gods, I will throw you and the child into the sea!'. But Hikari refused, for she knew that unlike Akira and his family, Katsuro would use this for only one reason, to make himself great. She screamed her grandfather's name, then leaped into the sea to get away. Katsuro could not find her in the fog, for some of our people were nearby, and they came, saving the woman and her baby. "Katsuro went back to the village, and claimed a monster had taken his wife and baby. The villagers did not believe him, for he was known to be a liar. But there was no proof. "Two days later, Hikari and Kyo came from the ocean, and she accused the evil man. When asked how she had survived, she told them the same Kami that had aided her father had rescued her. The villagers fell upon Katsuro, and he died. "Hachiro had heard of what happened, and came to the village. Hikari knew that he was a good man, who had known of us, and told no one. She leaped into his arms, and he swore to take her back to her family. But the villagers begged them not to go, for such a lucky person would bring luck to the village. "Katsuro's boat was given to the young man, and he named it Seigi, or Justice. He married Hikari and took Kyo as his own daughter. They had seven more children. Three of which Yuudai Taro and Sho have given us children in their time. Every year, the families would now sail together, and everyone would go upon the boats, for all of the children knew and loved our people. But Hikari was the one who spoke to all. Men, she pointed out, liked to boast, and they would give away the secret when deep in their Sakizuki. So the women have decided which young men who married into their families would be given this precious secret. It has been them, the women of the clan formed by Toshi and Hachiro who have led to this day. "And so it has been since that long ago time, that the families joined by love, honor and our secret that have ridden upon the sea, and have brought in food for their people. And in all that time the men of those families have given us children and food, and have been honored by our nest." "Damn," Rob said when it was finally all translated. He looked at the Treo, and broke the story telling down into packets, which he then slugged for Monica. There was a bleeping sound, and the chat icon flashed. He tapped it. GODMOTHER1: THAT WAS WONDERFUL. WATCHED AND RECORDED LIVE FEED. QUESTION DO THEY HAVE MORE STORIES? "It seems you have a fan," Rob told Anzu. "This is a person?" Monica Braziani. She is an associate professor of Anthropology in Chicago." "Yes, I have many stories." ***** The Treo bleeped, and he read the screen. "All right, Lady P and Martin are headed for Wales. Erika and Henry are enroute to Crete. The Xavier brothers have reached Jalapa. And I am here near the park." He brought up the next screen. "Only four vetted contacts here on Hokkaido. About fifty in Japan. Hello..." He brought up another page. "A Japanese pop duet named Chocho. Japanese for Butterfly. "But the thing is, Kika Shimatsu, the lead singer is a transsexual." "Transsexual?" 'Awapuhi asked. "Yes. Kika was outed last year." He saw the blank expressions from everyone but 'Awapuhi. "A reporter told the world in a newspaper. Actually I think that boosted their popularity. Unlike America, there isn't a lot of stigma with her choice." "What choice?" Kaunaoa asked. Rob paused the video, pointing at the second singer. "This is Kika Shimatsu, the brother." "Brother?" Kaunaoa leaned toward the screen. "That looks like a woman." "Some people don't feel right when they get old enough to understand that God made them men or women." 'Awapuhi told her. "So some dress as women. Others..." She motioned toward the video. "Use medical science to turn themselves into women. Implants hormone therapy. Surgery to remove gender specific visual clues." Kaunaoa looked at the video again. "I cannot tell." "You're not supposed to." Rob shut down the video. He brought up the e- mail screen. He wrote for a few moments, then sent it. ***** Midori poured a cup of tea, taking it to Kika's room. She was hunched over the keyboard, gasping. Midori walked over, picking up the inhaler, and handed it to the girl. Kika nodded thanks, and sprayed her throat, the spasm slowing, then stopping. "Isogi-" "No!" The girl looked at her vehemently. "I am Kika, not Isogi!" She sighed, wrapping her arms around the girl. They had lived the dream, becoming one of the best known bands in Japan in the last four years. Chocho had topped the charts five times in those years, and they lived well now. In fact their second hit had come after a paparazzi had outed Kika. But honestly there were times like now when Midori wished she still had her living brother Isogi. Not a dying Kika. They weren't sure when it had happened. Kika had been wild when she first emerged from that shell of masculinity nine years before. She had taken so many lovers during those years that not even she could have kept track of them all. Now this. "Look." She looked at the computer screen, where an e-mail icon flashed. Kika hit the button, and the screen came up. Their manager Sho Kimatsu had sent a letter. AMERICAN FROM INNERWORLD ORGANIZATION WISHES TO MEET WITH YOU AT SHIRETOKO PARK THIS WEEK. NOTHING PLANNED EXCEPT SATURDAY CONCERT IN KOBE. WHAT SHALL I SAY? "Innerworld?" Midori asked. In answer, Kika brought up the screen. "Oh no, brother. Just because you thought you saw Yosegai when you were seven-" "They just ask to meet us, Midori." Kika looked up at her. "I will." "But that is on Hokkaido!" Midori turned her sister, looking into her eyes. "You are not well." "I know this." Kika coughed. "But I have always dreamed of the Yosegai. I would give my life to see them again." She looked at her sister. "If I must die, there is no better place in the world to go to the next world from." She sighed, nodding. "Tell him we will be there." ***** Midori looked at the natural beauty, of Oshinkoshin Falls then at her dying sister. She was glad that Kika would see this. She just didn't like the idea that it might be the last thing she ever saw. The Visitor's center was a modern building, and they climbed out of the car. An American stood there, and he watched them as they approached. "Ladies." He nodded. "I recognized you from your videos. You are Midori, and you are Kika, correct?" Midori nodded. "My sister speaks very little English. You are Rob?" She asked in accented English. "Yes, ma'am." He looked around. "I have something to show you both, and it is better if is done out of sight. Please, come with me." They walked up the path toward Furepe Waterfall a few minutes away. Rob kept looking around, then motioned for the women to move into the trees. He finally nodded, setting the camera case down. He opened it, and his Fair of Faerie flew up to land on the edge of the case. Kika gasped, leaning forward. "Wonderful." She lifted a hand, and hesitantly reached forward. One of the Fairy bowed. "It is an honor to greet you, Kika-san." "You speak Japanese?" "I am Japanese. I was once an officer of the Imperial Navy long ago. I am now called Orchid." "I am honored to make your acquaintance," Kika replied, bowing her head in return. "May I touch your hair?" Orchid lifted off, and landed on Kika's palm. The woman brushed a finger on the silken hair, smiling. "It seems Orchid has made another convert," Rob said. "You have made her so happy, Rob-san. It will make her last days kinder." "Last days?" "My sister has Eizu," Midori said softly. "What you Americans call AIDS." She looked at the man. "We do not expect her to survive the year." "That's horrible!" 'Awapuhi "What is this aids?" Kaunaoa asked. The other Faerie looked at her. "Remember. No major contact with humans in almost a century," Rob told them. "AIDS is called Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome. It's a disease that attacks the immune system. People are unable to resist disease, and they die." "What causes it?" "A virus that attacks the body's ability to resist disease," Rob snorted. "It's passed through sexual contact." "These, Transsexuals did you call them? They had sexual contact?" "Some of them go too far when the change is made," 'Awapuhi told her. "Like I seem to enjoy being with you so much. They spend so much of their life as men, then get their wish to be women. The problem is, unprotected sex with someone that has the disease is the most common vector for transmission." Kaunaoa looked at Rob as if she expected a translation. "They take the place of women in society, but the disease was first detected in homosexual males. Men who love other men and the disease strikes them more often than others." "So she is going to die?" The Hawaiian Fairy leaped to her feet. "We must bring her over! Make her small then let her grow back to normal!" "We're not sure if it is safe," Rob told her gently. "First, I don't want to be remembered as the man who killed off an entire tribe by introducing AIDS." "Second, the hormone therapy will be reversed." 'Awapuhi. "What are you talking about?" Midori asked sharply. Rob explained the Faerie mating process. "Problem is, her genes know she was a man. Does she have implants?' "No. Just hormone therapy." "At least we won't end up with two blobs of silicon just laying on the ground." He sighed. "When they shrink someone, they revert to what is normal for their body and sometimes shift ages as well. When I am their size I look like I did when I was thirty. It also can heal some pretty major injuries. Another man and I took down a secret government operation in the States. He was mortally injured by a claymore mine, and I took a bad hit. Not to mention ripping the tendons in my arms and legs all to hell." He curled his arm. "They healed that. "The problem is when she shrinks, Kika will be a male Faerie, and when she grows back to normal, her body will be as she would have been if she never took the hormones. All of the surgery will be corrected too." "So she will become a man again," Midori said. "I would gladly pay for her return to womanhood if she is cured!" Kika had been listening, but hadn't caught it all. "I will not become a man again, sister," she replied in Japanese. "Even to save my life." "Kika." The woman knelt, touching her sister's face. "I do not want to lose you." "I made my decision. I will not go through all of it again." Midori looked away, crying. Rob sat down. "Orchid, translate for me, please." He took Kika's hand. "Ma'am, they can heal you, and you can resume your old life. But that is the price of it." "I will not," Kika snapped. "I will die a woman." Rob looked at her, and Orchid suddenly began rattling off something else in Japanese. Kika looked at her, then at Rob. "Is true?" She said haltingly. "All right, Orchid what was that all about?" "I told her that she could join us, become Faerie." "But what about her disease? If the change does not cure it, she will still die." "Karma is Karma," Orchid replied. "If she will not accept the change that must happen, she will die. We do not know if the change will cure her, so she will die." Orchid stood tall. "My people have never stood between a person and their destiny. It is one thing where Americans and Japanese differ." "My sister has made her choice," Midori whispered. "As much as it pains me, I will not deny her that." "As Orchid said, they can make her Faerie. But we won't know for a year or more if it will heal her. And she will never grow back to human size again." "I will be alive and a woman?" Kika asked hesitantly in English. "My size," Orchid told her. "Forever." "But you are so small! You must live short lives." Kaunaoa laughed. "I am over two hundred of your years old. I am the eldest of those that travel with Rob. There are those who live in this very forest that are over three thousand years old." "And I was born in 1911," Orchid told her. Kika looked at the faerie, then at her sister. "Midori, if they can cure me, I would remain Faerie rather than return." Midori shook her head, crying. "You will have to live with them, away from me. It breaks my heart to know this." "Or you could join me," Rob told her. "I didn't have anything really to live for before I found the Faerie in California. Now, I have a reason to live." 'Awapuhi flew up, resting on the table before the woman. "Rob really needs help. If it wasn't for my change, I would be doing that job." "I do not understand." "Until a month and a half ago, I was a human woman named Cynthia. But I fell in love." She signaled, and Kaunaoa flew over to stand beside her. "Now I am a Fairy, pregnant, and happy. My love and I will raise our child and one day I will die. But I made my choice as Kika wants to." "Then why did you not stay with the tribe she belongs to?" 'Awapuhi sighed. "Because I had promised to go with Rob, and he wasn't as stubborn as I am. When this year's trip is done, I will return to Kaunaoa's tribe. But not until then." "If you go with him I will go with you, my sister," Kika said. "We can be together." "But we can't just disappear!" Midori looked at Kika, then at Rob helplessly. "What will we tell Sho? What of our fans?" Kika looked at the Fairy before her, then suddenly smiled. "I have an idea. If the local faerie will agree to it." ***** "You want what?" Sho Kimatsu demanded. "A full scale recording studio ready to use the data feed I will deliver," Midori told him. "Also a video studio, because Kika and I will only do this once." "Do you know how much that is going to cost?" he wailed. "For one song?" "Our last song together, Sho-san," she replied. "Kika will be gone afterward." He sighed. He had been doing everything he could to keep Kika's condition from the press, and now they were going to let everyone know? "That's unfair, Midori." "A last song, Sho-san. After that I am retiring." "Oh please-" "I have been offered a job by that Innerworld organization. We will be here in Japan for the next seven months, but then I am leaving with them." "So this is the end. What do I tell the press? Or the television and radio stations?" "That my sister's life has ended by her own choice and I will not sing alone." "All right, what do you need?" She ran it down. A fiber optic lens with a digital camera capable of recording for at least two hours, copies of the music Kika had written from her computer, and three days of the agent running interference so that no one knew where they were. "You're killing me!" he almost screamed. "What about the tour you are supposed to go on?" "Give them copies of what I turn in, and tell them I will not ask for money." "You're stealing from me now?" "Sho, do not play the injured American agent for me, please. This is how Kika wants to be remembered. Renegotiate the contracts. Tell them the truth. Most of the promoters will understand." "All right, damn it." ***** Matsuo Karizuma walked down the dock to his boat. He heard a whistle, and looked up, then quickly around before he signalled. A Fairy landed on the bollard before him. "Hello, Zakuro." "Respected Grandson, I would ask your favor," she said. "For one so beautiful of my own family, how could I refuse?" he asked. "I wish to have you sail for Obon early this year." "Why?" "A new fairy will join us, and I wished for her to be greeted by all of those who would be her family." She looked up. "There are children that would know their family as well." "If it is what you wish, we will do this." He said. Then he grinned. "You made quite an impression on Shiri. He keeps hoping I will sail!" "If he would wish to spend his time with someone old enough to be his great grandmother, I would be honored by his attentions." She replied laughing. "My dear clanswoman, he has spoken to me of nothing but you." She blushed. "Then please to tell him I am deeply honored." ***** The town perked up a bit as Matsuo gathered his family. Those that had fished with him had always been a select number. Counting even the youngest child, there were only thirty in the village. In Rausu there were even less, only about 20. A crowd gathered as the boat set out. It hove to until the other much bigger fishing boat joined it, and they sailed off together into the dawn. In a rocking boat that Rob had rented, he filmed the rendezvous, then sailed back into harbor. He sent the tape off in the mail, and set out for the park. It had taken special permission for the band to use the park for the filming. The handheld video camera had been mounted on a tripod. Another unit had been linked to the fifty-meter run of fiber optic lens, and Midori checked the view. Rob handed the miniature lights to the Faerie, who nodded as Orchid explained. Kika shivered a bit from the cold, but her spirits were high. She looked at the scene, picturing it in her mind, then nodded. "We are ready." ***** The tapes arrived, and two days later, Midori and an American named Rob arrived in Tokyo. It took three weeks of work to edit, but when it was done, the two watched it silently. The crew looked at the finished product. "The special effects are excellent," one of them breathed. "How did you make it so real?" "We had help from our friendsm" Rob replied. ***** There is a show called Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ on Japanese television. They received the tape, and after some discussion, made a special announcement. "The pop singing duo Chocho has retired with the suicide of lead singer Kika Shimatsu. Diagnosed with advanced AIDS last year, Kika has been in poor health, but wanted to make one last song. The following is the Video of that song entitled Yosegai Ogoru. Fairy Dreams." The scene faded to black, then came up with a Taiko set, the drum music best known in Asia. As the camera watched, half a dozen women with brightly colored hair and wings folded down their backs walked out, picking up the drumsticks. Then they played a slow sonorous measure. Then suddenly the camera seemed to leap backwards down a long passageway, coming out to pan around the beauty of Kamuiwakka Falls up in Shiretoko park. The camera shifted, showing the falls at dawn. Kika and Midori stood upon the upper rim, looking down into the water. The music, a melancholy flute solo began, and the camera lifted until it showed their faces. "Many years, I dreamed of the Fairy," Kika sang. "Beautiful and free, upon the winds." She threw out a handful of sand, and the camera cut to two fishing boats sailing toward the horizon. "Wishing I could join them in their dance in the sky. Wishing I would live, and never die." An ancient man smoking a pipe steered the fishing boat. Off to starboard, another larger boat sailed with his. The camera moved with the jerky motion of a hand held unit, and swung toward the bow. A dozen or more people stood there, looking toward the sea ahead. Another cut this camera on the other boat. It swung from where the man stood on the bow toward the bridge. A dozen or more were here as well. "But such is only a dream," Kika's voice came over the picture. "Not a human dream, but a Fairy dream." The camera cut to the sun setting over Shiretoko. Kika and Midori watched the sun setting, both girls crying as they sang together. "Not a human dream, but a Fairy dream." Now full dark, bright lights showing the sisters hugging. "Now it is time for me to fly, with the fairy I love into the sky," Kika sang. "I miss you now, but for a time," Midori sang. "But knowing you will always be there again." Then Kika sang 'Living in the dream. Not a human dream, but a Fairy dream." And Midori sang with her "Not a human dream, but a Fairy dream." Now a dozen of what could only be called Fairy dropped around them as they repeated the first verse. Kika began to shrink before the Camera as Midori sang. Then a nude fairy flew upward, and Midori put out a hand. The tiny woman landed on her hand. "My sister now and forever more, in flight with those you loved before." "But never parted sister dear. So cry no more, and dry your tears." The small woman bent down, biting Midori on the hand. Now Midori shrank, their voices still carrying the song. now and forever more. Living in the dream. "Not a human dream, but a Fairy dream Not a human dream, but a Fairy dream" Then the camera was besieged as dozens of lights flittered in the air, then took off toward the sea. The scene cut back to the Taiko band. One of the women yelled "Change!" And the winged drummers changed the beat, the music rising from the slow almost dirge like measure to something faster and more joyous, and at another scream from the drum leader, to something wild and free. Cut to the boats on the night sea. Lanterns lit the faces of the waiting people. Lights hurried toward them and anchors splashed into the ocean. Now the lights went off, and a horde of faerie descended. The people gasped, or smiled, and hands reached out, the small figures landing on open palms. Children, one a mere three or four looked at them in wonder. Then the people began to shrink. Soon almost a hundred Faerie flew in a swirling pattern only the camera operators exempted. "Together now and forever more. Among the Fairy," the song continued. The camera in Shiretoko showed the lights returning, flying down into a cleft in the ground. Then suddenly the fiber optic lens lifted, and shot back into the hole from which it had been dragged. The rest for several moments was a blurry haze as hand by hand it was brought back into the cave. The Taiko band was still playing, but the chamber was now packed with Fairy dancing. Among them could be seen both Kika and Midori, touching children, laughing, and hugging as they cried. The women hugged, wings fluttering as they floated in the air watched by the Faerie as they sang the song again. But for this last time the verse ended with Midori singing slowly and sadly; "Living among the Fairy." Then suddenly the camera showed the dawn. Midori stood alone. She looked at the falls, then turned and trudged away. The camera followed her, the drum beats settling back into the dirge like rhythm. She stopped on the beach over looking one of the lakes the park was famous for. She sang the verse a third time. In the background, Kika's voice could be heard. Midori knelt. Lit the floating candle, symbol of the prayers for the dead, then set it on the water, watching the wind blow it out of sight as the song ended. ***** "Look Mio," the boy said. His girlfriend turned at his call. Then they climbed up the hill to the top of the falls. "They stood right here when they made it," he said. "Became Kami and flew away." "Just special effects," the girl snorted. Then she tilted her head. "What's wrong?" The girl looked up the river. "Nothing. I just thought I heard drums." ***** Note: Setsubun or Beginning of spring is celebrated every February 3. Obon is a festival to commemorate the deceased ancestors celebrated in July and August. Shichigosan or seven-five-three is a festival for children held November 15. Of the three, only Obon is considered a national holiday though Setsubun is celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide.