Excerpt: Good Luck Priestess

It was raining again, not that Nana could let that stop her from doing the outdoor errands that needed to be completed that day. She sighed and scooted further into one of the few stores still open anymore. The war was wrecking havoc on the lives of ordinary citizen.

The rain got a little harder as if reacting to her thoughts. “Great.” She looked around, maybe something she needed could be found here, assuming it was affordable. The war hasn’t been the best thing on prices either. She rolled her shoulders in an attempt to make them relax. The tension felt like it would break her back if she didn’t do something about it soon.

“Hmm, maybe I need a new bag? This one is getting worn out and the strap’s cutting into me.” She found a small area with bags and shuffled through them. They were mostly handmade and not too bad to look at, although appearance was the last thing she could consider right now. She tugs one out from the bottom of the pile. “It’s nice enough,” Nana said to no one in particular. She looked it over carefully, making sure there weren’t any flaws in it that would make themselves known once she had placed anything inside. “I guess I’ll get this one.”

She shakes a bit of water from her dark auburn hair before walking up to the old woman minding the store. Nana gives her a bright smile, hoping to cheer someone’s day up, even if it wasn’t her own. The woman smiled but, but only half-heartedly. Nana wondered if she’s lost family in the war...

With the bag purchased Nana stored at the edge of the rain. She took a breath and rain down the street, trying to keep her things as dry as possible. She reached the store at the end after passing several empty and boarded up ones. It was too creepy to simply walk by those. It was like living in a graveyard, waiting for the ghosts to jump out to make her join their ranks. She swallowed and shook her head to banish the image from her mind.

“Excuse,” she called inside, “I would like a blue umbrella if you have any left.” Being a shop that only sold umbrellas, she hoped it was the case at any rate.
“I have some blue ones against the left wall,” answered a gruff voice.
“Thank you.” She found the blue ones and looked though the different types. Most were of solid shades, but a few had decorative patterns. She picks a medium blue on with yellow stars. “How cute! I’ll take this one, mister.”

Now less afraid of the rain, Nana heads home with her bags clutched to her chest. Another sigh escapes her as she sees how dreary her home has become. “What’s even the point of this war...? We don’t need the world, Japan is enough. Weren’t we happy with only Japan?” Her question was left unanswered, with only the rain to mutter its condolences.

“I’m home,” Nana calls out once she’s inside. She slips off her shoes and sets the umbrella aside. “Mom and sis must have gone out too...”

Nana placed the small amount of rice and spices away, thankful that none of it got wet. She pulled off her wet clothes and set them aside in a basket to be washed and pulled on something dry, an old kimono from her grandmother. Normally she wouldn’t wear it except for special occasions, but she doesn’t have anything else right now and going naked would certainly cause her to catch a cold in this weather. She towels her hair to get the rest of the water out before slipping on the expensive outfit, tying only a basic knot in her obi. “Don’t I look presentable?” she said bitterly to herself. Normally a girl her age would already be married or at least have a fiancée, but the war has taken all the men away to fight. “I’ll die a good looking old maid at this rate.”

Nana grabbed her new bag to begin transferring the things from the old one into it. She reached into the new bag to open it wide and gasped in shock as her hand encountered something solid. “I don’t remember putting anything in here...” She pulled the object out and was surprised to find that it was a book. A very fancy and expensive type of book. “This couldn’t have fallen in by accident, could it? I had it folded and everything! Oh no! What if I accidentally stole it somehow?!” She stood in a panic, dropping the book to the floor. The pages flew open of their own accord. A warm wind suddenly sprung forth from the book and bombarded the house, swirling around the room like a tornado. Nana screamed.

A bright red light shot out and in moments the wind stopped and Nana was gone.

“nnh...” Nana slowly blinked open her eyes black eyes. “What happened...?” She closed her eyes against the bright sunlight. “Sunlight...? But wasn’t it raining, and it was getting late too... Did I sleep through the night?” She rubbed her eyes and sat up before chancing another look. “Where am I?” she shouted.