This is my first time in Kyoto. Being the hopeless romantic t am, I firmly believe in the unending power of love. I have visited the famous Kiyomizu-Dera temple to see the Jishu shrine loves fortune stones. Many believed that the stones enhance love luck.

I did not come to Kyoto to ask for a loved one, I already have one. I just wanted to ask for blessings, for a love that will bond in happiness forever. That is why I stopped at a table containing an offering box with thin sheets of white rice paper before going to the love stones. I made an offering, wrote my wish on the piece of paper, and placed the paper in the water. They say the priests bless the large wooden container of clear water with the written wishes. Then, as the paper dissolves, they pray for the wish to be granted.

(Source: Gail Nakada)

And I moved on to the spot where the love stones are located. I was in awe finding a flock of people in the said spot. Unfamiliar faces, different races, and different ages. All praying for love in various forms. I observed the people walking from each end, almost everyone with their eyes closed. But there is one that stood out. She mesmerized me. I had the chance to look at her face closely since her eyes were closed. She intensely prayed while making her journey from one stone to the other.

Her sweet yet striking face captivated me. She has slender eyebrows and velvety eyelashes. I enjoyed looking at her face that perfectly matches her sea-nymph ears and dainty nose. I didn't realize that I was already following her closely. Too close that I didn't notice her turning around. It startled me when I felt her body close to mine. I froze as I look at her face up close. But I instantly felt the heat, or passion, that I had never felt before when her hands started feeling my chest.

"Um... I am sorry if I hit you..." I saw how it surprised her to hear my voice. But she didn't open her eyes. Instead, she stepped backward. I was about to grab her hand, worried that she might fall, but the unthinkable happened. I think it was manna from heaven. A powerful force pushed her towards me. Our bodies collided. She opened her eyes and met mine. Our lips brushed each other most delicately, long enough for me to feel her breath. It was the closest I had been to a woman. Her skin was warm, but I enjoyed the feel. Even though our lips parted, its sweet taste lingers.

We were both speechless. It was silence all around us. Like it caught us in a moment where nothing mattered, just the two of us. I can only see the face, and I can only hear my heartbeat and hers. I don't want to be found if I am lost right now. I want to stay hidden in her touch. Her hand slowly reached for my face. I felt like I have been longing for her touch. But in an instant, I saw her crashing to the ground.

She crashed to the ground, but she immediately got backed up by herself. 

"Are you okay?" I asked. 

She looked like she was trying to identify who I was. But I am sure it was my first time seeing her. "Miss, are you okay?" I asked her again. 

She shyly nodded. "I am okay. Sorry, I didn't mean to.." She raised her hands and pointed to my chest. I smiled at her, and it was the cutest I had seen. She touched her lips with her left hand and pointed her right hand at mine. "But this you should say sorry to me, too. It isn't how I imagined my first kiss..."

It was music to my ears, hearing her say it was her first kiss. But a look of madness slowly replaced her look of innocence, or should I say hate. 

"Whoa! We are both victims here. Please don't be so mad at me! I didn't also mean to, you know.." I couldn't find the words to say, so I touched my lips and smiled at her. 

"We should both be sorry then," she replied. And I heard her whispered, "you should give me back my first kiss." 

God knows how much I wanted her lips on mine. Then, most endearingly, I asked her, "How do you want me to give it back?" 

Her face turned red, knowing that I heard what she said. "I said nothing. What do you mean?"

The way she said those two statements mesmerized me the more. Unsure if it was her way of teasing me or spacing out while looking at me. I fake coughed to get her attention and reach out my right hand. "I am Joseph. After all that happened between us today, we should at least introduce ourselves and shake hands." 

She reached out her right hand. "My name is Fate, F-A-T-E Wilson."

I choked. I was now coughing for real. She asked me if I was okay. At that moment, I wanted more to put my arms around her. But I controlled myself. We were both staring at each other. Where have you been all my life, Fate Wilson?