The moment Ayumi stepped out of the park in a steady pace checking with careful eyes that no one was after her, she ran straight home without looking back as fast as she could without stopping once to catch a single breath. She had certainly had enough for one night. When she arrived home, she entered quietly and made her way upstairs to her grandmother's bedroom. The latter was still asleep to her relief but the remaining chaos of the assault was still there; scattered roots and leafs amidst broken furniture. Ayumi hesitated for a second, should she clean everything silently as if nothing had happened? The girl looked at herself in the mirror, the superficial wounds and scratches were definitely there, and her pajama was coated in dirt and soil. The pain was real, the fight and escape were real, these two girl controlling somehow the earth and the wind were indeed there, they talked and jumped and fought and spoke directly to her like real people, although theoretically their existence should amount only to imagination as this was definitely no dream or nightmare. The girl sighed rubbing her forehead finally deciding to leave the mess and see if her grandma would notice and react. Sneaking like a thief around the house, Ayumi dropped her clothes in the pile of dirty ones, took a cold shower then tended to her wounds with home creams and bandages then returned to her messy bedroom. Before jumping into her bed, she took a daring quick glance at the ivy tree; it was gone.
Maybe she was safe for now.
Taking a deep breath, she sled beneath the covers. What remained of the night hours passed slowly. Unable to sleep, she spent most of them staring at the ceiling and what little sleep she managed to get did not bring her her usual dream.
A woman gowned in a golden armor, with hair gleaming like the sun. Was she the queen these two girl were referring to... Amaterasu? If this was her name, then it was a fitting name to that figure indeed. At least now she knows the end of that vision; that queen apparently died at the hands of some powerful foe.
***
Ayumi was long awaken before the alarm, waiting for her grandmother's reaction. Her intentions were not to scare her, but she had to make sure other people saw what she had seen, that the attack was real, those roots did come to life, those leafs and rocks did cut and burn like daggers. And sure enough; her grandmother scream of surprise consolidated the happenings of last night.
"What happened in here? Where did this mess come from?!!"
Ayumi's grandmother exclaimed in irritation, her surprised angry voice probably echoing through the entire neighborhood. Ayumi was relieved at hearing that loud gasp of surprise, not because she was looking forward her grandmother getting a heart attack, but because she needed a proof of her own sanity.
"That ivy you were so inspired with, it seemed it collapsed into the house yesterday somehow through the windows. The wind was so strong yesterday."
Walking slowly in order not to frighten her grandmother any further, Ayumi provided a fictional explanation, the mess was real but those two girls... she was not ready to discuss them yet.
"How can an ivy break through a window and cause such damage?!"
"How can it grow over one day in the first place…"
Ayumi replied in spite of herself, her grandmother's previous conviction that the plant was a miracle foretelling a beautiful sign still irritated her, considering the dangerous incident of last night.
"Well then good riddance I dare say!"
The girl smiled fondly at her grandmother's quick change in beliefs. She commented:
"The important thing is that neither of us is hurt."
Her grandma turned at her, her eyes widening with worry.
"How can you say that?! Look at yourself? Are these injuries from the tree?"
The old woman rushed to her granddaughter's side inspecting the wounds already taken care of.
"Don't worry dear, they are superficial and don't hurt at all. I jumped clumsily from the bed yesterday out of freight... That's all, don't give it too much thought!"
Ayumi responded cheerfully, drawing away from her grandmother's worried hands. The old woman put her arms on her waist shaking her head with disbelief.
"How can I remain asleep throughout all of this?! I didn't sense a thing!"
"You have always been a heavy sleeper!"
The girl dismissed her grandma's suspicions with a giddy remark before going back to her room to prepare for school promising she will help with the clean up as soon as she returns.
***
Ayumi left the house after making sure no strange plants were around hr house this time. she did not feel at ease leaving her grandmother alone after last night attack but at the same time, she was a little assured. That girl, Chiyasu or whatever her name was, clearly stated that it was within her power to harm anyone yet she still only went after her, while putting her grandmother under some magical trance so she would not be hurt. That was giving her the benefit of doubt... maybe she barely did not wish for anyone's interference as she delighted in torturing her... But another evidence supported the first explanation; at the park, that earth girl erected some kind of a barrier claiming it was to trap Ayumi inside and prevent her from running away, but it could also be to prevent other people from coming in and possibly harming them in the process. Then again... this was giving her too much credit; perhaps it was merely to protect her presence and hide her powers. That last explanation seemed more logical but did not sit right in the high school girl's mind. Something in Ayumi's heart saw further than the girl's aggression and unexplained blood thirst after her "assumed" enemy. Going back through the last few days, basically everyone else was safe as the previous accidents only targeted Ayumi. Great, her worries were minimized now, everyone else was safe from that maniac except herself.
And that's why, she took the shorter path to school, seeming suspiciously paranoid to those around her but she could not care less and having that wind girl at her side gave her relief. She was probably still looking after her if the cool soft breezes of the morning could be taken for a sign.
Then again, the confusing thoughts took over the girl's mind; how could any of this be real? Maybe a tree truly fell into their house in a bizarre but not unlikely accident. She tried to convince herself of this, failing miserably.
For the first time in her academic history, Ayumi's mind wandered through all the classes. She could not focus and the tiredness left by last night clearly showed in the dark circles beneath her eyes which everyone assumed were from studying late for the upcoming exams. As for her wounds, she wore layered long clothes to hide them justifiable by the weather cooling, to evade any unnecessary worries or questions.
"Are you alright? You don't seem yourself today!"
Chisato asked at the lunch break, and Ayumi reassured her that everything was fine. The girl was quickly convinced and merely suggested:
"You're a smart student, there is nothing to prove anymore, don't push yourself too hard!"
Of course, Chisato fell to her habit of tracing anything related to Ayumi to her nerdiness but the latter did not complain. It was her friend's way to show concern and get her to have a more open social life. Having only two best friends throughout twelve years of school and no boyfriend or attempts at having one was not a proud record.
At the second break, Ayumi could not handle her wandering thoughts anymore and the possibility of imaging things or going crazy suddenly filled her with unease. Had she really pushed herself too hard that she finally reached the edge of insanity? Overwhelmed by fears, she did what she never thought she would do in her life... she went to and entered the school councelor office who was not surprised at finally seeing the orphaned girl with a limited social circle.
"Ayumi, what can I do for you?"
The councilor greeted the student with a sincere smile. Ayumi knew she was expecting her to open up about her parents loss. In the end this type of pain do linger despite time, or to speak about her devotion to her academic studies that earned her the nerdy reputation and how it interfered with her social life. But instead, in a twist to all the counselor's wishes, the girl jumped in immediately with the most unanticipated question.
"How far can one's imagination run?"
The counselor remained silent for few seconds, processing the girl's inquiry before she spoke:
"Why do you ask this, Ayumi?"
"I mean, how vivid a dream can seem? Or…"
The counselor respected the silent pause, trying not to push the girl, the girl who was obviously troubled about her own question. Ayumi sighed in defeat, and pulling nervously on her hair she continued:
"Can boredom make you imagine things? Really really vivid characters and conversations?!"
"Have you been seeing things or people that no one else can in the recent few days?"
"I, in all honesty, cannot tell."
"Well, you do seem tired. Sometimes when we push ourselves to hard, our brain can make up some images and sounds. But they are of no medical importance and can go with rest and relaxation."
"I am not pushing myself harder than usual… maybe I was sleep walking… or sleep dreaming?"
Ayumi suggested the last explanation realizing how dumb it must have sounded as soon as it left her mouth. However, the counselor did not show anything with her expressions and went on:
"We think we know the limits to our body but this is not true. Maybe you have been pushing yourself hard for too long, to escape thinking about unpleasant things. Imagination can be an escape route, even for adults."
The counselor was only trying to reassure the nervous student kindly and to encourage her to talk more but Ayumi knew her problems did not stem from the past. In all honesty, she did not want to think about the past anymore as thinking of it would change nothing and only bring unwanted pain and nostalgia that can never be relieved.
Ayumi shook her head in denial to the counselor's questions, who at this behavior changed her approach to ease the young student.
"Have you been having any trouble sleeping lately?"
Ayumi sighed hiding her face behind her hand, did she mean aside from last night craziness? Then the answer was no because as far as that recurrent vision was concerned it wasn't that bad in terms of disturbing her sleep after getting used to it.
"No, not really…"
Ayumi answered out of politeness, she already knew the conversation was going nowhere. Not because of the counselor but because she herself was not ready to open up to any of the other topics yet. The girl stood and thanked the nice woman claiming it is probably tiredness and boredom that caused her vivid vision, a daydreaming habit that she will learn to grow out of.
"You know Ayumi, I heard some strange accidents were happening to you lately. Are you alright... Not distracted by anything or thinking too much of something?"
The counselor spoke before the troubled student left the room causing her to turn back in surprise to which the counselor elaborated.
"Your friend Yuki came to me, she was worried about you. She did mention the possibility of a curse placed on you. Of course I would not take that into account but she wanted to help you somehow and did not know who to go to."
Ayumi remained silent for few moments, she had expected something similar out of Chisato not Yuki, because the previous one was much closer to her and they shared too many secrets but this knowledge warmed her heart and put her into a transient ease.
"I surely appreciate Yuki's concern and I am grateful for it... but really I am fine…"
Ayumi replied smiling, then concluded out of courtesy:
"If anything happens, or if I feel the need to talk about something I will surely come to you… I don't want to make anybody worries unnecessarily about me."
"That would be a good start!"
The woman sitting in her chair answered with a similar smile. Ayumi then bowed and left.
***
"So, you will be coming with us to the field trip?"
"Why would not I come!"
Ayumi asked her hesitant friend, Chisato, who was enjoying sipping the remaining drops at her her juice box bottom loudly with a colorful straw like a little kid.
"I am glad to hear this."
Yuki commented, making it her turn to be asked the same question to which she replied:
"What made you think I would not come? I always go on every trip!"
"Yeah, when walking beside you did not cause trees to fall and stones to explode! I am looking after my safety!"
Chisato laughed throwing the juice box in the nearby bin.
"You don't have to worry about that, you will be safe. And I will be protected… probably…"
The two girl crooked their necks waiting for an explanation for the last part that did not come; did Ayumi hire a bodyguard? A ninja bodyguard was Yuki's more creative idea.
That "probably" which was added with slight hesitation was soon confirmed, as Ayumi noticed a change in the wind, blowing stronger yet staying harmless as if the wind girl was assuring Ayumi of that thought. Either Ayumi truly acquired a magical bodyguard or she really needed to get more sleep.