Shojo

By Carolyn Kephart

A disillusioned author rediscovers her sense of wonder at a fantasy convention in Japan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carolyn Kephart
• Release date: Jul 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215819807

Carolyn Kephart

About the author: Early life as a military brat gave Carolyn Kephart an appreciation of nomadic lifestyles, a fascination with world cultures, and close-up insights into the warrior mentality and its manifestations, all of which influence her work. She loves things that nourish the spirit and widen the mind.Visit http://carolynkephart.blogspot.com for her latest writings and random epiphanies.Kephart's epic fantasy duology WYSARD and LORD BROTHER received critical acclaim for its literary merit and timeless themes. THE RYEL SAGA: A TALE OF LOVE AND MAGIC now combines both volumes in a single book, now in a revised and emended 2024 edition.QUEEN OF TIME looks at the Faust legend through a magic realism lens, with a female protagonist.PENTANGLE: FIVE POINTED FABLES is a collection of Kephart's short fiction previously published in e-zines, plus a bonus tale.Visit http://carolynkephart.com for first chapters and more.

Book preview

Shojo

A Short Story by Carolyn Kephart

A disillusioned author rediscovers her sense of wonder at a Japanese fantasy

convention during the mid-autumn festival, when the gates between worlds are rumored to open.

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2023 Carolyn Kephart

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

A list of Carolyn Kephart’s works available on Smashwords can be found at the end of this story. Visit the author's website at http://carolynkephart.com for synopses and free chapters of her books. For her latest publications and observations, check out https://carolynkephart.blogspot.com/.

Shōjō

Arigato gozaimasu to Kenji Ichishima,

whose gracious hospitality and superb sake inspired this tale.

4 October 2017, Wednesday night

Yuki lowered the blinds to mute the rising light, and turned to face the body on the morgue gurney. Gently pulling back the sheet that covered it, she gave a deep bow and mentally reassured the corpse.

I didn't want us to meet this way, Umigame-sama. Perhaps I'm being punished for hoping too much. But at any rate, I promise that this won't be an autopsy. Nothing intrusive that might offend your remains. I wouldn't dream of it.

Across the little bay she could hear the bass throb of pop music emanating from the deck of the conference hotel. This was the big night of the gathering, and most of the attendees