The Voice of Japan

*3*

The echoes of battle cries filled her as she felt the horse's power underneath her, the blade steady within her hand as she came up to the targets in sight. She was ready, to fight for honor and her country. She could see him not far from sight as he readied his own, charging toward the enemy as arrows flew in the air and horses flying by. It was this that she breathed for, all the training and schooling, this is what she was ready for.

She made her way down the imperial walls as she heard the diversion of the battles, she tried to ignore it as her heart sank deep within her body. Her mind wandered to the nation she had grown to love so much as her own, it was something she feared the more she saw everything fell around her. She was slowly watching as the man she knew so well turn into something she had never witnessed before, and it was breaking her heart more and more.

Shouting was all she could hear, someone was frantically trying to warn another about something, something dark and deadly yet the other wouldn't listen. That his people would be fine. The other tried so hard to warn him, yet he was ignored... and then it was too late. The dark cloud filled the air as the toxic heat covered her body in excruciating pain. She wanted to get away from it yet she was frozen as a pained screamed deafened the world around her as the mushroom clouds her last sight before her heart gave up on her.

Harper shot out of her bed with a gasp as her dreams replayed in her mind. She had seen the wars and battles of the two women, but that one was something she wasn't excepting.

"Crikey that was wicked." her gaze ventured over to her nightstand as she saw the blossom sitting there for her, waiting for her touch.

Picking up the flower, she looked at it in wonder as its image of yesterday filled her with worry instead of interest. For in its view was not him, but her. As if someone was watching her from the beach she was just at, she felt the unsettling present of someone watching her as well. She shook her head of the thought as she took in the sweet aroma once more, just to find her head swirl around back to the dark clouds. There he was, cowering on the ground and withering in pain. Gasps and moans came from him as small patches of red covered his white uniform.

She threw the flower away, her heart racing as she tried to gather her wits of the vision. The sights they always gave her were always sweet and interesting, yet as the one before was unsettling, that was downright terrifying. What on earth were they trying to show her?

Finally seeing her clock, she bolted out of her bed, remembering her deal with Mrs. Takada. Running around like a fool as she tried not to think of what would come as she graced the woman's door, ready to get the session over with.

"Almost late." Mrs. Takada shook her finger at her.

"I know, I overslept." she replied.

Mrs. Takada's eyes narrowed at her as they made their way to the woman's car. Crud, Harper knew that look. She was going to have to speak when they finally got on their way. It never failed for her, the woman was like a hardened detective and would do whatever it took to get what she wanted.

And that she did, "So more dreams?"

Harper watched as the cars drove by as she sighed at her question, "When isn't it?"

"The bigger question is women or-"

"Them, nothing else."

"You're lying."

"Ok, ok. I swear I saw the bombings."

The woman looked at her in question, trying her best to figure out what she meant. It was even hard for Harper to believe what she had seen. "Hiroshima and Nagasaki."