VSS - 2025-07

1

strangers’* steps* trampled
the fragile moss. crowds* walking
like it was a street*

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Suzu flinched when she saw the mass of tourists surging from area to area at the shrine’s sacred forest. Many walked beyond the barriers pretending the ropes weren’t even there to get “the perfect picture”. Did they think themselves so privileged? As if a digital memory for one person was worth more than preserving the actual living forest and everyone being able to see it.   But she could hear the cries of the Kodama, echoes with out an origin*. Rythmless* and out of harmony. Instead of the spirits happily repeating whatever they heard.   The selfish people remarked that they couldn’t find the birds that sounded like they were wounded.   Suzu decided she’d seen enough. Directives about not using magic in public be damned. She opened a portal directly to the head priest’s office.   “Just what do you think you’re…” he sputtered, but his words cut off at the sight of the sacred forest being trampled. He glared*, his face went beet red, and he stomped through the portal, redirecting his anger at the inconsiderate visitors. “Leave this sacred forest this instant! Do not bring the wrath of the kami!” But they hurled insults at him and said the gods were superstitions.   Suzu knew the truth. She knelt and spoke to the forest, encouraging it to defend itself. “Show them the kami are real.”     Tree branches smacked heads, roots divulged from the ground to entangle limbs, all the kodama shrieked so loud it pierced ear drums, boulders crushed bones, blades of grass slicedf fabric and exposed skin. The crowd fled to the safety of their bus, only to find it wouldn’t start. The police arrived and hauled the rowdy tourists off.   A few were spared—those that had shown respect. Except, the priest was doubled over. Suzu bolted over to him, to find him laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe.   She helped him to a bench. When his laughter finally subsided, he said, “We’ve witnessed a miracle today. Not only did the kami answer those hooligans’ disrespect, did you witness the forest it putting itself back together?”   Nodding, Suzu whispered as she held a glowing sphere in her hand, “I’ll help you recover the tramped plants and mosses.”   “A mage? Here at our little shrine?” he asked.   Suzu winked.   ** Kodama can mean echo and it can mean a sacred tree with a spirit.

2

My commute may be stranger than most, a bridge between diff'rent worlds

3

Starlight rooftops hold the least traffic and the best universe views, too

4

Rain. Headlights blink twice. Rearview mirror lag. Nothing. Do not pull over!

5

Tailed. The same stranger. New train? Doesn't help. Now what? Ghost light lantern glows.  

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Why is that Yuurei following me? He was in the last two train cars that I was. What I get for taking the last train home...   Something about the face niggles in the back of my mind. Have I seen him before?   Click. The annoying guy that was at the back alley sukiyaki shop last week. But he was alive then... What happened to him? Baka. He's obviously dead.   Aw shit, he's coming this way! The train's still moving, and the doors won't open. Chills run down my spine.   He points to the floor and goes back to lurking in the corner.   My book! Scooping it up, I stuff it back into my pocket.   Maybe ghosts aren't all bad?