ROTU: Chapter Eleven

Images blurred around Jalena as she attempted to push herself up to a sitting position. A large hand on her shoulder pushed her gently back down as whispers of a low chant filled the air. Over the next several days, she came in and out of consciousness, remembering only the soothing tune of soft chimes and a light floral and earthy scent.

On the fifth day, the blurry images came into focus. Jalena sat up slowly, observing her surroundings clearly for the first time. A small fire burned in a nearby fireplace. She was lying on a simple, yet very comfortable, foldable bed. She looked down at the shirt and shorts on her in confusion beneath the blankets of thick fur that covered her. Her original clothes were neatly folded and resting on a chair nearby.

She tried to sit up, but closed her eyes quickly, in an attempt to steady the swaying room.

"Easy," a man's accented voice called out as he entered the room carrying more wood. "Don't rush it. You have been out for some time. Your right leg has been injured, so you won't be doing much moving until it heals, warrior." He placed the wood down and sat to face her.

"Where am I?" Jalena said hoarsely as she tried to place the man's accent. She squinted in attempts to remember, but her mind was blank.

"You are in Japan."

"Japan," Jalena whispered. She winced against the severe throbbing in her head.

"Do you know who you are?"

"I'm Jessica…" Her body and mind felt weird to her like it was too heavy for some reason. "I'm not sure where I…" Why couldn't she remember anything?

She focused on the man's face. His long black hair was pulled back from his brown face, revealing gentle, wise eyes. Her eyes widened at their unusual turquoise color, A dark green rim bordered his iris. There was a comforting and familiar presence about him that Jalena immediately liked. "What is your name?"

"Ryu."

"Thank you, Ryu…san—thank you for..." The room blurred. She dropped back onto the bedding as everything went dark.

Another man, younger than Ryu, hurriedly entered the room. "Is she awake?" he asked excitedly.

"Only for a bit."

Looking disappointed, the young man sat down in a nearby chair, watching Jalena closely. "You are sure she is from the stars, Tosan?"

"That's what was revealed to me. She is under the protection of the Okami. They claim she is a very powerful weapon. Seems she has forgotten though, and for how long, I do not know. However, it also means she is safe at the moment from the dark forces finding her because, with her loss of memory, her power is naturally suppressed. Although we can relax, for now, Shakou-kun, we will need to remain on alert. I am unsure if her suppression is temporary."

Shakou stared at Jalena for several moments in silence. "Her energy centers are dormant and there is no surge in her meridians. Do you think she is doing it on purpose to protect her power from those who would hunt her?"

"No," Ryu answered calmly. "She is in emotional pain and has fallen into shadow unconsciously to protect her heart."

"This is not good for whatever quest she is here for."

"All things are in synchronicity. The only reason warriors from other realms would be allowed in this one is because there is a probable threat that humans alone would be incapable of defeating. Yet, if she does not wake to her power within a certain time, she runs the risk of forgetting who she is completely."

"How do we help her?"

"If she does not remember, we will help her by providing her with triggers that would bring her warrior life to the surface. She has likely trained in arts similar to ours so she will be naturally drawn to what we study."

"You will take her as a student?"

Ryu nodded as he stood to look out the window of the country home. "If she does not regain her memory, I will observe, and you will teach her when the time is right. Until then, you must begin your preparations to become the messenger for the realms."

Shakou stood. "Why do you speak this way, Tosan? What did your latest vision reveal?"

Ryu turned to face Shakou fully. "All you must understand now is that you are ready and that together we are essential in helping return her to her quest."

Jalena woke again two days later to find Shakou making tea in the next room. His eyes widened along with his smile when he saw Jalena stir.

"Welcome," he said. His shoulder-length black hair fell forward as he bowed. "I will use English words for you. I am Shakou."

Jalena pushed herself up to a sitting position.

"I will bring water."

She gave Shakou a small smile, happy that the pain in her head had subsided dramatically. "I'm Jess. Thank you…for all of this." She gestured to her surroundings as she took the water. "It feels very peaceful here."

After Jalena had her share of water, she stared down at her leg, which was bandaged and bound with a splint.

"You have a fracture," Shakou explained. "I am not sure if you can walk yet, but Oyaji applied his healing techniques."

"Will you help me stand?" she asked.

Shakou gave her a nod. He knelt to remove her splint and then extended his hand.

Jalena immediately broke out into a sweat as Shakou helped her up. Why did her body feel so heavy? She closed her eyes and held tightly onto Shakou's arm as the room swayed.

A sharp pain shot through her shin as she put weight on her right leg.

"Breathe, Okami-san."

Jalena opened her eyes to find Ryu kneeling before her, holding his hands an inch from her shin. Her eyes widened as she saw a soft green glow flash around Ryu's hand and then disappear into her leg.

A warm sensation spread through her leg. Jalena took in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.

"Now, try to put your full weight down."

Jalena did as she was told, relieved that the pain had reduced.

"You are blocking your full healing," Shakou said. "But, as your heart gets stronger, full healing will come."

"What do you mean?"

"I will tell you more, but first come this way—you can clean up."

Jalena allowed Shakou to lead her to the restroom at the back of the home. She took her time bathing, pondering if the foreign feeling of being in her own skin would diminish.

She also wondered about her rescuers. The younger man seemed to be in his late twenties, but she was unsure. She liked his friendly and open demeanor. The older one seemed just as kind, but much quieter. A deep sense of wisdom radiated from him.

As she finished dressing in her clothes that her hosts had cleaned for her, she searched her mind for more memories as to why she had traveled to Japan, but nothing surfaced.

"Do you know why you came to Japan?" asked Shakou, mimicking Jalena's thoughts as the three sat down to eat several hours later.

Jalena shook her head. "I've tried to remember... I know I was running through a hotel, then I remember falling. Most everything before and after that is a blank."

"You were probably injured in the most recent tsunami," Ryu said. "It was small, but it did significant damage to buildings along the coast. I found you washed up in the river that runs beside our home."

Jalena's brow furrowed as she absentmindedly fingered the bracelet of small blue flowers on her wrist.

"I tried to take the bracelet off, but it would not budge," said Ryu as he watched Jalena closely.

"It's okay," she said as she looked down at the bracelet. "It's comforting for some reason, so I want to keep it on. Maybe it will help me remember somehow." She sighed. "I am grateful for your hospitality, and I'm sorry I do not remember more. I'm not sure where to go, but I also do not want to be an inconvenience—"

"What is placed in our path, Okami-san, is there for a reason," Ryu interrupted gently. "You are not an inconvenience and your presence here is significant. You were meant to come to Japan, and we were meant to find you. We do not argue the path to a greater destiny, even if we do not understand it at times. Yielding to what is before us allows conclusions of purpose to form quickly."

Jalena studied Ryu's face in silence. She liked his intense energy and the way he spoke. His words carried more like music rather than sentences.

"Oyaji is a Sensei," Shakou said. "He is full of much wisdom."

"Why do you call me Okami-san?" Jalena asked softly.

"Okami means wolf," Shakou answered.

"The night I found you, a white wolf was standing outside our house and led me to you," Ryu explained.

This means you are protected by the wolves," Shakou added, "—treasured by the Elements."

"You mean the Earth's Elements—wind, fire…?" The hair on Jalena's arms stood as a chill went through her.

"Yes, but the Elemental Realms are made of more than just that," Ryu explained. "It includes nature—the land, plants, animals…some we see in this dimension and others, such as mythical creatures, we do not."

Jalena gave both men a questioning look as they gazed at her with a curious expression. It was as if they were eagerly waiting for her response—Ryu's expression being more serious than Shakou's. "I understand what you mean, Ryu-san."

"He is a dragon messenger," Shakou stated. "He sees between the realms and delivers knowledge from them where it is needed. This is why he understands multiple languages and cultures—why he knows your path."

"More of that later," Ryu said. "Okami-san, we will do what we can to help you get your memory back. First, we need to determine how much you remember about who you are. You know your name, which is good. What else?"

"There are only flashes—my house in Colorado, but I'm not sure exactly where it is…I only see the home." Jalena closed her eyes to concentrate. "I also have a dog...Haku. I found her while hiking in the mountains—wait, no. She is …" she met Ryu's amused gaze "…a wolf."

Shakou burst out in laughter, which caused Jalena to jump in surprise. She shook her head as her own chuckle joined Ryu's and Shakou's.

"This is good," Shakou said with a wide grin.

The next day, Shakou walked with Jalena as she slowly moved across the grounds of the home in an attempt to strengthen her leg while Ryu worked in the gardens around the house.

"It's so beautiful here," Jalena told Shakou as she observed the variety of flowers and plants. "Did you grow up here?"

"Mostly. We lived in China before my mother died when I was very young, then moved back to Japan. My mother was Chinese. My older sister still lives there. Do you remember your family?"

Jalena shook her head. "I dreamt of voices last night, which I think may be theirs. Though, I don't remember the words they said." She shifted to get comfortable and winced.

"Are you in pain, Okami-san?"

Jalena shook her head as the two sat on a bench in the garden to rest. "It's just—it may sound strange, but it is as if my body is too heavy for me—like it doesn't fit."

"Ah! It is because your energy does not move freely," he explained.

"What do you mean?"

"He means you are blocking the pain within your heart," Ryu said as he approached the two and handed them each a cup of tea. "As a result, there is resistance to the flow of energy inside you, making you feel heavy."

Jalena was silent for several moments as she pondered what he said. "I don't understand how you know this when I do not feel the pain that you speak of."

"Oyaji sees energy and has visions—like what happens in a dream," Shakou said. "You understand this, yes?"

Jalena nodded.

"You have been through a trauma of the heart, not just physical," Ryu said. "It is not revealed to me exactly what happened," he added quickly when Jalena started to say something. "When you are ready to release your heart trauma, your pain will surface. Your memories may or may not begin to return at that time."

Again, Jalena was warmed by Ryu's words. It was as if she had known him for a long time, rather than just as the stranger that had pulled her out of the river only days before.

"You must unblock the energy of your heart chakra. For the energy to be malleable to your command, it must flow freely through all energy points of the physical body." He pointed to her heart. "And it cannot do so until you release your pain."

"How do I release pain if I cannot remember what has caused it?"

"You will feel it before you understand the origin. It will surface at the right time and when you want to deny it, as I suspect you have been doing in the past, you must let it flow. As you allow it to release through you, your body will begin to feel normal again and your understanding will follow."

"I like the words you use, Ryu-san," Jalena responded with a smile. "They feel familiar for some reason. Arigato gozaimasu."

Ryu smiled as he gave her a quick bow. "It is because you are like us and have the blood of a warrior flowing through you. Your memory of this too, will surface at the right time."