Year 1974
August 13th
The weather was hot. It was the perfect temperature for the snake to thrive in; he just needed a spot to enjoy the optimum sunbathing he had imagined.
He had spent a few decades in the realm of the humans without interacting with any of them. He had also never used the body God gave him as compensation. He lived alone atop a mountain.
But, he had watched the humans from afar and seen how much hate tainted their hearts. They always partook in; wars, bullying, and many more atrocious activities.
They were too conceited and selfish. He wanted nothing to do with them and thus he had maintained his distance with them and never tried to close the gap.
But this particular year he had grown lonely. He wondered if this was the way God felt as he sat in the little house tending to the matters of the three realms.
For the first time since he came down to the human realm, he decided to make use of the body God had given him and mingle with the humans. Coincidentally, it was the period of the Obon Festival.
The air crackled with anticipation as the Obon Festival painted Japan in vibrant hues. Bon fires dances would dance against the backdrop of ancient temples, as it casted long shadows on the serene faces of revelers.
The rhythmic thud of taiko drums would echo throughout the streets, while the soft glow of lantern lights guides the lost souls of men home. It would be a night of magic.
Such was the period the snake had unknowingly tangled himself in. He just wanted to find a perfect spot to sunbathe.
"Hanako!" a young lady clad in a miko shozoku yelled. Her face was as beautiful as the sunset skies, "Hanako, where have you gone?" She stood in the middle of the road and cried. Who was she? What was she looking for? Why did she look so beautiful?
She was the young priestess of the Seibo shrine. Her face looked distraught and full of sadness. The snake watched her from a distance and decided he would look for this 'Hanako' himself. If that would help the young lady stop crying.
He quickly transformed back to a snake again, as that would increase his sense of smell, a great deal. It would also allow him to slither through the people around without causing any major commotion.
He figured out the 'Hanako' would have the same smell as the young lady and left.
His sense of smell took him to a pond decorated with patches of the lotus flower. It was a serene and picturesque sight. Beside the pond crouched a very young child, she had the exact features of the young lady in the streets. She also had a sad expression on her face and that made the snake worry.
He transformed back to a human and quietly walked to her side, "What fancies you in the flowers?" he asked as he crouched beside her.
She startled with fear, who was that? She wondered. She turned her face to see whomever it was only to be bedazzled by the sight of the prettiest man she had ever seen in her life.
His hair, a winter kiss, framed a face as serene as the pond she had grown to love. His eyes were as blue as a forgotten sky. He had the aura of a gentle summer breeze and had not noticed his presence. She was mesmerized in his beauty and her jaw dropped in awe, "You're so beautiful" she said as she stretched out her hand and cupped his face in it, "You're just as beautiful as mother" she added.
Mother~
She had completely forgotten that today was the first day and she had promised her mother she would watch her perform her first Kagura dance. She had taken a liking to the lotus flowers' beauty and had completely forgotten.
"Are you Hanako?" the snake asked as he held her hand that still cupped his face. Her hand burned his cold fingers and make them warm.
She nodded, "Yes, what's your name?" she asked. He let go of her hand and turned his face away. He had no name. God hadn't given him a human name.
A moment of silence ensued. She quickly deduced he had no name. She was a smart child for a five year old. He didn't look like any normal human being too, "It can't be helped. I'll give you a name so the next time someone asks for your name you tell them, okay? She said as she stood up. He nodded.
She looked at his features once again and smiled, "Haru, your name will be Haru because you are very warm"
"Haru," he repeated as he felt something tinge in his chest. What was this feeling he wondered, "Haru, Haru, Haru," he said over and over again and that made her giggle.
"I hope we meet each other again, Haru" she said and left. He sat down beside the lotus and smiled for the first time in decades. The world suddenly had colors. The flowers looked more beautiful and he felt a burning sensation in his chest.
He wanted to meet her again
He wanted her to call his name again, Haru. Haru. Haru. He didn't understand what was going on.
Hanako soon met her mother who scolded her for a solid half hour. She knew she deserved it but she couldn't help but wonder and think about the very beautiful human she had met by the lake.
She wanted to meet him again.
She wanted to call his name again, Haru. Haru. Haru. She didn't understand what was going on.
That year the snake visited God with a smile on his face. God knew something had happened. The snake told God about his new name and about Hanako.
God was really happy. Haru asked him to teach him about the realm of the humans, their mannerisms and their ways of life.
God agreed. So Haru stayed with God, and learnt about the human realm. How to live amongst them without fear. And about their fears too. God grew to love Haru a great deal.
After a decade, God decided Haru had learnt all he needed to dwell with the humans and sent him off.
During the period of his training, Haru never descended from God's abode. Every day, he thought about Hanako and wanted to do his best for her. He couldn't wait to see her again.
He was full of joy to behold the face of the one who had given him his name. He wondered how she looked now.