Mai Tsuchiya

Background

Mai Tsuchiya (土屋 舞) is a priestess at Seichi ("Sacred Earth") Temple (Seichi no Miya (聖地宮)) which belongs to her family. She is the intended heir and will become its kannushi some day. Her parents are currently on a pilgrimage to Japan leaving her and her older brother to mind the temple and the family dojo.

Aether

Mai has powers to manipulate the elements of nature—air, fire, water, and earth—and after meeting The Guardian, who found her for her ability to communicate with the earth thus making her the Omnipath, she honed her skills as one of the Prime. Considering herself the fifth element of Japanese philosophy (sky or spirit (空)), the power underlying the other four elements, she developed the identity, Aether. She has minor training in martial arts from her father and opts to fight with war fans when faced with hand-to-hand combat. She also uses her natural grace she developed over several years of dance classes and makes every fight look nearly like a performance.

Seichi Temple

Located on the three-and-a-half acre formal Japanese garden, located within the Washington Park Arboretum, Seichi Temple is a traditional family-run Shinto shrine. Originating in Japan’s prehistory, Shinto is the natural spirituality or the practice of the philosophy of proceeding in harmony with and gratitude to divine nature. The shrine is an enriched environment where people can feel deeply refreshed and renewed. The Tsuchiya family welcomes everyone to make an omairi (visit) and they can conduct the oharae (purification ceremony) as well as many types of shinto ceremonies for individuals, families, groups or businesses. The shrine is also affiliated with the karate dojo just outside the arboretum.

Seichi Temple

Temple Grounds

Tome of the Omnipath

6月30日1995年 Weather: Clear

My name is Mai Tsuchiya. I am 14 years old. My family runs the Shinto shrine in Seattle located within the UW Arboretum. I have a 20-year old older brother, Jun. A little while ago, I realized that I was special. Whenever I got scared or angry, my body would react on its own and cause strange things to happen. One time, someone had flicked a cigarette still burning onto the ground and a patch of dry grass caught on fire. I ran down to the pond, but because I was in a panic, I didn't think to bring anything to carry the water. My body just took over though and as soon as I stuck my hands into the water, I was able to channel a wave to splash directly onto the flame, extinguishing it.

I could also sometimes hear a voice when I touched the ground and it kept telling me that the world was in danger and to look out for a man, The Guardian, coming to find me to be my protector. I met this man earlier today.

It was around 3 o' clock and having just gotten out of school, I changed into my robes and was about to start my daily task of tidying around the temple. I noticed a man staring at me nearby so I went over to welcome him. Sometimes people get a little uncomfortable, unsure if they're allowed on the grounds. He looked like he didn't quite know what to say to me and started by muttering under his breath "but you're so young...", introduced himself as William, and that he was here to protect me. He knew that I was special and that's when I knew he was the one the Earth was referring to for I hadn't told anyone about the things I could do, not even to Jun, who I thought was special too. He said that he had been around for thousands of years, protecting people like me who could hear the Earth's voice. Given the circumstances of me being so young, he seemed to think that this time, the danger to the Earth was real and will probably come within my lifetime, so he would be around to protect me at all times and be a part of my life. Just as I told him about my family, Jun came home from school.

William and Jun got into a conversation that felt a bit prickly. Jun's always been very protective of me so I'm sure he didn't much care for a stranger coming in and saying he was going to be a part of my life. William's voice changed ever so slightly when he said that this was the way things were going to be and Jun immediately got defensive. William looked a bit surprised too and apologized right away. He seemed really confused and asked again if we shared blood and that there was no question of our relation. Of course, Jun answered yes. He wanted to feel William out so he invited him to spar with him. The exchanged blows for a while, gradually increasing in intensity. Jun had been practicing karate with our father since he was a young boy so I knew he was very skilled, but when I saw that he was really starting to put in effort, I got a little worried. Just then, William struck him with a punch that laid him out! I got scared that he was going to jump on him so before I knew it, I dove onto the ground and caused a wall of dirt to rise up between them.

William was really at a loss for words now. Jun got up and told me it was okay so I got up and the wall crumbled into a pile of earth. I told both of them about what I discovered about myself and William said that throughout history, he had never had an Omnipath, one who communicates with the Earth, who had other powers. He took this as a sign of grave danger and suggested that we train together so that I could better utilize and control my gifts for the time to come. He went and had a short chat with our parents and arranged for the three of us to leave for Japan to train for a few years. It was a bit surprising at how accepting our parents were. He gave me this book, the Tome of the Omnipath, and said that it was mine to write in and to share my experiences. I haven't read through my predecessors' entries yet, but I hope most will list out living long and happy lives.

10月5日1998年 Weather: Light Rain

It's been over three years since my powers were awakened. I've spent that time in Japan, training with Liam and Jun. Now, I have much better control over my powers as an elementalist and am able to harness the power at will instead of only during high stress. The Earth has been quiet for the most part, and Liam keeps telling me not to worry. Yet. We returned to Seattle a couple days ago and now that Jun and I were back, our parents took their turn for a pilgrimage and we were to carry on the shrine and dojo by ourselves.

Liam and I were near Ravenna today where we witnessed a terrible car accident. The car was in bad shape, though it actually looked like most of the damage was done previously, and a man in a suit was crawling out of it. We ran over there and though he looked to be pretty badly hurt, he was oddly nonchalant about it. He even waved off the idea of calling an ambulance while straightening out an arm that had to have been broken in a few places. Liam took special interest in this man so he suggested we step into a bar to chat. He introduced himself as David and in a terrible stroke of luck, he apparently had been through a lot lately - train crash, being shot, car accident, the list went on. But lucky for him, he was blessed with the ability to heal quickly. He was a New Man as well. When Liam told him of our story, he was on board immediately. He was tired of his everyday life as an accountant and wanted to be a part of something bigger. I suppose there isn't much bigger than the planet being in danger.

4月12日1999年 Weather: Cloudy

Not much had changed in the six months or so since we met Dave. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that the end was near. Liam and I got into a bit of an argument over this. He said he'd heard the same thing over and over again, but HE'S not the one always hearing the Earth's voice and the ominous things it says! Just as we were getting heated, the TV that was on in the background caught my attention. A man in a sharp black suit, a cherry red tie, and a black fedora with a red rose in it was talking about magic or something or other. I really wasn't paying much attention because the only thought in my mind was that I absolutely certain this man was The One; The One that this very book mentions in legend as "when comes The One, so comes the end."

We found Jun who was sweeping the grounds and drove out to the Henry Art Gallery. Liam had called Dave on the way and told him to meet us there so that we could all go to Kane Hall at UW where UWTV Production was located, together. When we got there, there was a bunch of TV crewmen around and even as we were able to get in, no one knew where the man on TV went. He apparently disappeared right after the broadcast. I went outside to see if the the Earth had anything to say, and got nothing. But while we were outside, Liam heard Dave's voice coming from the rooftop so we made our way up.

When we got near the top of the staircase leading to the roof, Dave was talking to a man in his 40s who I knew was the same man on TV, but he seemed to be trying to say that he wasn't. I took a chance and was very upfront with him by saying "You're The One. I'm the Omnipath." When he still looked like he had no idea what I was talking about, Liam told him of the legend that made him either the bringer of or the sign of the coming apocalypse. It didn't do any good as he just shrugged us off as being crazy youngsters pulling a prank on an old man and tried to shove past me. I knew I couldn't let him get away so I hit him with a blast of air to knock him back. I told Liam to yell at me later as I knew it wasn't a good idea, but it was the only way I could get this guy to listen to reason! He scribbled a note and gave it to Liam saying he was going to leave now, but will meet us according to the note. It said Beth's Cafe, 7pm.

We went to the cafe as arranged and saw the man sitting at a booth. We joined him and he introduced himself as Mikhail Rezenof, a jewelry store owner with Russian ancestry, but hailing from New Jersey.