Chapter Text
Have you heard of the Inari descendant with a blood red kitsune dressed in yellow and gold who lives by the gentle creek that smells of pine, where the shrines grow moss and glow scarlet under the sky?
Nagito carefully ties her cherry-colored hakama, fingers dancing rhythmically through the silky material as the sun grazes his eyes over the horizon, coloring the sky a pale purple and baby pink. Her curly white hair descends down her back brushing over a sunken waist, just shy of reaching jutting hip bones. As she tightens the bow, double checking if it’s secure enough, she rises from her kneeling position and stalks her way to the sliding door that leads outside, opening it with ease. The breeze was strong, not enough to sting but enough to consider wearing double layers. She immediately spots the familiar twin kanzashi sitting atop faded pink hair.
“Eh? Chiaki? What are you doing out here so early?” Nagito asks with a tilt of her head, her low seated ponytail swaying with the action.
Chiaki glances up from where she was sweeping, next to her an abundance of brittle leaves once forgotten under the winter snow. The trees behind her waved, the soon-to-be flower buds rustling along the motion. “Ah, I suppose it is a bit early…” she mumbles in her monotone voice, a yawn sneaking up on her. “I didn’t even sleep, the commotion from yesterday really dirtied up the place, I think…” She trails off absentmindedly plucking at her color-faded, worn out hakama.
Nagito’s nose scrunched up at the reminder. Springtime is coming up, meaning big festivals are going to happen anytime now. Last night, multiple school girls came to pray and give offerings to the shrines for a healthy and long spring. Where women were, men followed. Chiaki and Nagito were wandering miko, meaning they surfed from shrine to shrine to collect money from cleaning. Although Nagito wasn’t exactly religious in any sense, there was another way to make money by being around shrines 24/7. Nagito's slim frame makes her kosode slip off her shoulders, causing multiple eyes to bore into her. With the turn of a head, a smirk and curling finger, men will trail after in hopes of more. Nagito doesn’t like spring.
“Ah yes, I suppose the weather is warming up some… Mud does track easily.” Nagito replied, stepping down from the doorway and snaking her way over to Chiaki. “Which reminds me, we should be heading to a flashier shrine sooner than later, yes? I don’t wish to dirty this place with my filth longer than necessary,” Nagito says with a breathy chuckle.
Chiaki ignores the self-deprecating mark, instead responding, “Yup, yup. I’ve heard through the grapevine that there’s a creek nearby that has multiple shrines,” Chiaki puts her broom away, clapping her hands together after finishing up her cleaning. “I heard they pay pretty good over there,” She says in a stage whisper.
Nagito nods in response, racking her mind for the dull memory that swims in her brain. A creek with multiple shrines? Where have I heard about that before? Before she could finish the maze of thoughts, the keeper of the shrine came over with two fresh rice balls and a bag full of coins for their tireless deeds.
“I cannot thank you enough!” The woman sighed, grabbing both Chiaki and Nagito’s hands and clutching them to her chest. “Lately people have been talking of a kitsune pulling tricks in our village, it seems they managed to sneak up and fulfill their nasty pranks…” The woman had a deep frown creasing her face, one that made both Chiaki and Nagito want to mirror said frown.
“No, thank you for the generous pay! A person as kind as you must be an angel to allow me--I-I mean! US here,” Nagito spluttered, her voice cheery despite the questionable wording.
Chiaki simply nodded towards the lady, taking Nagito’s hand and dragging her along the dirt trail that spans to the horizon of soon to be used rice fields. Nagito let herself be dragged, this act between the two of them as familiar as their own name--Chiaki leads, Nagito follows. The wind has died down by now as the sun has finally reached a reasonable height. It was still early in the day, no one was outside at this time.
Nagito lets out a soft sigh from her nose, careful not to alert Chiaki. As Nagito tilts her head back to watch the clouds drift by, she goes back to her spiraling from earlier. I think I heard about a kitsune around here before, one by the creek. I’ve never actually seen a kitsune; I don’t even know if they’re real! Probably just another wivestale…
Drifting into her thoughts, time passed by quicker than she realized. Before she knew it, she was being pulled into a bustling village, swerving between civilians and stands full of merch. She had to swing her hip to the side to avoid hitting an elbow, raise an arm above two grade schoolers whizzing by, and duck under a clothes line still being tied up.
Chiaki eventually let go of her hand, noticing Nagito's grip slowly loosening. “Up ahead there is going to be a bathhouse. Hard to miss, there will be people in the front beckoning you to try out their ‘mud baths.’” Chiaki stated while walking backwards in the sardine packed crowd, causing a slight panic to rise in Nagito. “I’ll meet you there!” Chiaki yelped before dashing through the crowd.
She needs to stop leaving me in the dust… Nagito thought solemnly as she raced to keep up.