Chapter Two: Lonely Woman:

Kate came from a humble background in the countryside of Japan. Not much is known about her past. Many believed that she lived a sheltered life. It would make sense as she initially didn’t know much about the world. Kate was even though to be a good girl. Her family thought that she would stay obedient forever. That all changed when she fell in love.

Kate was sixteen years old at the time. The girl happened to be picking wild berries when her fate took a different turn. This man first came into town looking for directions. When Kate first laid eyes on him, the sparks instantly flew. At first, she didn’t know how to approach him. His dark hair reminded her of fine silk.

“Excuse me,” he said when he spotted her. “I seem to be a bit lost. Can you help me out?” His elegant voice made her heart do little flips in her chest.

“S-S-Sure!” she yelped. “What do you need?” The man of twenty-one gave her a strange look.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked. Kate quickly nodded her head.

“Yes!” she yelped. “I’m fine! Perfectly, fine!” The older man blinked at her.

“Okay…” he said. “Can you tell me how to get to the local shrine?” Kate quickly nodded her head.

“Of course,” she said. “I can lead the way. Follow me!” She led him down the dirt road to the local shrine. The girl glanced over her shoulder at him. “What’s your name by the way?” she asked.

“Ichiro,” he said. She blushed at the sound.

“I-chi-ro,” Kate repeated.

“Yes,” the man said.

“I’m Kate,” the girl said in one breath.

“Okay,” Ichiro said. The silence between them did little to ease her jitters. Kate dug in her mind for something to say. She opened her mouth, but closed it again. The girl had never felt this way before. The boys that passed through her hometown looked cute, but not like this. Kate had the urge to reach out and touch him in some way. Ichiro happened to looked down at his own hand.

“What are you doing?” he asked. Kate quickly drew back her hand.

“Oh,” she mumbled. “I’m so sorry.” She looked down at her feet for the rest of the walk.

“Is that it up there?” she heard him ask.

“Huh?” Kate asked as she lifted her head. A shrine stood inches away from them up ahead.

“Oh,” she said. “Here it is.”

“Thank you,” Ichiro said. Kate watched him as he walked up towards the heavy stone steps. From that day forward, her mind became consumed by that handsome twenty-something man. At first, she thought that she would never see him again. After the shrine visit he would go back to wherever he came from, never to be seen again.

“Thank you so much,” Ichiro told her. Kate nodded with a sad smile on her face.

“You’re welcome,” she said. “I have to get back now.”

“Alright,” he said.

“See you later,” the girl said. Kate managed to get one more glance at him before walking away. However, this wasn’t the end to their story. Later on that evening, Kate came home to a rather pleasant surprise.