And she blossomed...

I'm not sure what it was, but I know one thing: It was over, and I had not won. The sharp chopstick sticking in my arm was proof of this. I didn't bleed much, but I knew if I removed the foreign article, I would bleed forever... When she had finally left me, I scurried to the bathroom. I squeezed my arm, I squeezed it so hard, as I pulled out the piece of wood. I had not known true pain until this moment.

I cried, for hours it seemed, but I went to the mirror to speak to Touketsu. I saw her, her terrified face was not unlike my own. “Touketsu!” I said, “What do we do?” She smiled sadly. “I don't know, I don't know! But we need to be calm. Music is calming to us, is it not?” I nodded, and turned from the mirror. I took up the bloodied chopstick and went to the corner of the room.

I removed the CD player and the music CD I claimed from the garbage. Rummaging through my immense collection of batteries, I found two that worked, and thanked heaven for them. I put the CD in wrong the first time, but quickly righted it. I pressed the button marked 'play' and put on the earphones.

Within seconds, the most amazing sound filled my ears. I didn't understand it, I couldn't, it was too overwhelming. Such music, I had never heard! I spun around my room in wild circles, listening to the beautiful guitar, and the sweet voice of the one called “Miyavi.” I smiled, my face turned toward the ceiling, I sang along, softly as I could.

Apparently, I did not sing softly enough, as I heard angry footsteps again. This time, I would not stay to see what my fate was. I grabbed the box that held the money, and crammed it into my bookbag, not forgetting the CD player. I jumped from the window, and I ran.

The rocks hurt my feet, broken glass left crimson cuts on the bottoms, but I ran, as far as I could go. I grew tired and slowed to a walk, but my town was already far behind. I fell into a bit of a heap, and I lay there. I don't know how long it was, but I got up and began to run again. My legs, they ached, and my head was pounding.

I came upon another town. Daylight was breaking, and I know I looked pathetic – a little girl, too small for her age, dressed in filthy cotton with no shoes, carrying nothing more than a bookbag. I stopped in an alleyway to rest again.

I was clearly in a shopping district. So many people walked by, I must have looked like a beggar child, when I was far from it. I stopped a girl who looked close to my age. “Excuse me, miss. This girl would like to be directed to the nearest clothing store.” I spoke, with my eyes cast down. She pointed to a building nearby. I looked up, nodded my thanks, ducked back into the alley.