Rising Sun and the Golden Moon

Chapter 3

Stacy's POV

“I see you didn’t bring your sleeping bag.” 

Said Frank as he raised one of his eyebrows and gave me a sarcastic look.

Being a sarcastic person myself, I had the urge to respond back.

“Sure, we can sleep like homeless bums. Sounds like fun. Hope your back is strong enough to withstand that!” As I point to the uneven stone-covered ground. With the sun setting quicker than I would have liked, I raised one of my eyebrows and stared back at him. I hope this werebear knows what he's doing. Or at least Alpha Kaden said to trust him. 

“OK, ok, we can have the fun banter all night. Your jet leg might set in soon, Stacy. It’s best we get you to your new home.” 

With that, Frank took both his hands and gestured them to make a geometric circle. A circle of purple light appeared by his hands with intricate geometric shapes within the circle. And just as soon as the light appeared Frank disappeared.

“Wow, what the H. E. double hockey sticks happened?”

I cried out loud.

“Looks like Franky disappeared.”

Kira said in my head.

“You think?”

I stretched my right arm into the area where Shaman Frank was standing before he disappeared. I felt nothing there, which means he not only disappeared, he was completely gone from that spot. 

“OK, will he be back?” Kira whispered. 

Then the purple geometric circle appeared again in front of me.

“Oh, there you are. Come on, follow me.”

Shaman made the hand gesture to follow him and disappeared again. 

“There he goes again. What should we do?”

Kira was as confused as I was.

I had never seen this happen before. I probably saw something similar in a cartoon the guys would watch back at the packhouse common room. I think maybe Joey was talking about a witch he dated once, that did this too. I never really trusted witches, I thought being a Shaman would be different. 

Then the symbol appeared again for the third time.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but you do know how to use the portal right?”

I sighed and shook my head.

“I guess then I’ll teach you how to do it. Until then I’ll take you through the portal. It’ll be like driving you to school or work.”

Shaman laughed and held out his overly large hand.

“Here grab my hand.” He instructed. 

I did accordingly, and the next moment, I was in a hallway with a wooden floor. The house was made with light colored wooden beams supporting the ceiling, literally, there was a thin beige paper that was glued into squared wooden frames that seems to function as partitions. The walls were white with inked pictures of animals and nighttime scenes. A moon and stars could be seen as if guiding the animals somewhere. 

“Where are my shoes?”

I noticed my favorite blue converse sneakers were gone and was standing barefoot on the floor. The lights in the hall were on and there was a sliding door made of paper and a wooden frame next to me. 

“Your shoes are by there by the door behind you.” 

I heard a male voice, and then the sliding door next to me in the hall opened and a man popped his head out.

“In Japan, you have to take your shoes off when you get into a house.”

Before that cultural fact processed into my brain, I was more confused with this unfamiliar, clean-shaven young man talking to me as if he knew me. 

“Who are you? And where is Frank?”

I said as I became ready to let Kira take over to defend myself. 

This huge guy who is wearing the same faded blue jeans and anime tee shirt as Frank did replies. 

 “Oh, I forgot to mention, I am Frank. My appearance changes depending on where I am. I just like to look young and clean-cut when I am not around humans.” He chuckled with his reply.  

Who in the world is my Alpha having me live and study under? David Blane?

"Let me show you around, I'm sure you would like to settle in and maybe try to sleep off the jet lag. I do have another meeting this evening, so please feel free to raid the fridge for any food."

Frank walked out of the room and showed me around his home. It was a lot more peaceful than the ones in the woods back home. The simplicity of the soft brown wood made me feel as if I was already in the woods. The lamps throughout the house were also made of the same material and pattern as the walls. In some rooms, there were tatami mats with low tables and chairs. It looked like the tables could be coffee tables. Frank explained the purpose of this room was for greeting guests. Another room was styled in a more western approach. A single bed with green sheets and a comforter. Two small nightstands flanking each side. With one of the nightstands having a simple, bronze-colored nightlamp. 

"Oh, here is the wifi password and my contact number if you need anything." 

Frank left me in my room, which Kira and I were more than happy to relax in. Surprisingly enough, the room was bigger than my room back home. The closet was huge. I couldn't find the bathroom to take a shower to wash away any leftover travel anxiety. A few minutes into my search, I discovered the bathroom and the restroom. Apparently, the bathroom and the restroom are two separate rooms. With the restroom being the smallest room of all. I heard rumors on the airplane about how in some Japanese homes, there is only a hole in the ground. Thank goodness this wasn't the case. The bathroom was large but not built for luxury. The simple light green and white tiles on the floor and wall were the only decoration, while the shower was more of an open style that was separate from the bathtub next to it. The bathtub and I would have plenty of time to get to know each other. I could see myself enjoying a good bath after work each day. 

Once I finished with my evening routine, I texted my mom and sent her the pictures I took earlier today. I usually dread going to bed for fear of my nightmares, but tonight, I was too tired to worry about that. My tired body had a different idea, drifting me off to sleep.