Innocence

Prologue

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"I... I think I see the world differently,"

The wind would blow through the tall grass, her grandfather silent as he gazed into the distance with cloudy eyes. He'd set down his cup of tea on the table beside them, the light fading from the skyline as the sun started to set beneath the horizon. 
She often wondered what he thought about. 

The tea was getting cold. It was time to head in. The young girl stood up from her seat and gathered the dishes, the clinking of the plates cutting through the tranquil silence of their surroundings. A few birds would land on a nearby tree, curioused by her actions.

"Come on, now. We should get going. Before it gets dark," She told her grandfather, items in hand. He'd slowly lower his head and nod, eyes never making contact. She'd turn her back to him, beginning to carefully make her way through the garden and clearing out any foliage that was in the way. The girl made sure to avoid stepping on flowers and the small patches of grass that peeked from the stone pathway, too. It was best to not bother them.

Tap, tap, tap. It wouldn't take long for her to realize there were only one pair of footsteps that could be heard.Turning around, she noticed that her grandfather wasn't following. She'd retrace her steps, the sounds of her shoes echoing, only to find her grandfather staring at the birds from the trees earlier. 

"My son was the same way too," Her grandfather whispered. 

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A small gift was laid in her hand. The cloth, while aging, was still neatly wrapped around the item, twine securing it all together.
"Your grandfather wanted you to have this."
Airi would remain silent, trying to collect her thoughts. The sun would shine against her back, its warmth beckoning her to move forward. Yet...

"He's been saving it for you. Ever since you were born. Master Ito told us to give it to you when the time was right," 

"And today is that day?"

The maid would nod.

She'd gaze at the present for a few moments, before placing it in her leather satchel.
The girl would glance at the mirror one final time, flattening out her blue dress and tentatively shifting the loose strands of hair out of the way.
"Do I look like I've been crying?" Airi asked the maid. The maid would give a small chuckle and smile, nodding her head no. The young girl would turn back to her bed, where a small suitcase lay. It had taken her a while to remove the dust. Scribbled messily on the front was her name. 
"I think I'm ready to go now."

"Let's go then, we don't want to miss the train," The maid simply told her. 

The two would make their way outside. A busy day, it certainly was. As Airi made her way down the old dirt path, a few rugged men would pass them on the way. An old stone statue rested on their shoulders. She'd glance at the nearby lake, where the old artifact had used to lay. Barren, the only word that Airi could use to describe the lake now.
But she couldn't do anything about it.

Outside, heavy machinery lay waiting outside the temple entrance. Something that the town was certainly not used to seeing. She'd stop to look behind her once more, to take in the temple's sight one last time.
The walls were more green and brown than white now, and the wood that supported the structure was barely recognizable. But somehow, it all felt so... alive. A frown would form on her face.

"Is there something bothering you?" 

Airi would let out a deep breath. She'd close her eyes, before opening them again.
"...no. Not at all," 
She couldn't bear to look at her grandfather's beloved garden either.

The walk out of the temple was silent from that point forward. Airi's walk was brisk, yet not forceful. The suitcase would kick up a light cloud of dust, however, which would prompt the maid to keep a few feet away to prevent herself from getting dirty.
A few birds kept eye on the young girl, curiosed by the human's peculiar actions.

The wait wasn't very long. A man would soon arrive, cart behind bicycle as his figure appeared over the hill. He'd stop in front of the two women, a few rocks flying into the bushes nearby as he did so. A few insects scurried away from the projectiles.
Airi would hop into the cart, as the maid gave the man a few silver coins. The maid would then turn to Airi and give her a small bow.
"You'll be alright, though I'm sure you know that." 

"Yeah, I do. Thank you, though."

The maid would offer one last smile to her.
"May the gods grant you safe travels on your journey, and may your ancestor's light guide you forward."

A small tear rolled down Airi's face.

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