Chapter Text
Zenitsu absentmindedly swept at the light layer dust that coated the wooden flooring of his honden.
“Can’t believe I have to clean my own damn shrine…” He muttered to himself. “And no visitors today, either. It takes a lot of energy to get any nearby towns, you know. Would it hurt the humans to be a bit more considerate?” He whined.
The shrine was a modest size, five ken by three ken, with a curved roof, stone stairway, and a raised wrap-around veranda. Outside were two stone tōrō, and further down the sando was a single wooden torii. Just a little over a century ago the shrine and torii were painted a brilliant vermillion red, the wood polished and cared for. But with the rise of industrialization, people began to move further and further into the city in search of work. The only towns left were a few small farming communities, so visits were few and far between. If Zenitsu were to be honest, Enmusubi shrines weren’t nearly as important as Inari shrines to a farmer. It’s a miracle there’s anyone still alive who remembers where it is.
Still, he wouldn’t trade his spot for anything. His job as Enmusubi no Kami was infinitely rewarding. You see, everyone has a red thread around their finger that connects to another person in the world who is their destined soulmate. Zenitsu helps guide people to their soulmates and ties their threads together so they may never part, even in the afterlife.
When he first began learning under the original Enmusubi no Kami Mitsuri, the idea was so romantic and fascinating to him. A person made just for you would mean you would never be lonely or unloved. Zenitsu doesn’t remember much of his past life, but he definitely never met his soulmate and he didn’t have any other relationships since he was orphaned too young to remember his family.
The concept of soulmates was truly a beautiful thing, but he quickly learned being an Enmusubi no Kami was harder than he could ever imagine. Sometimes soulmates found other humans to pair with before they could meet, or they would outright reject each other. Sometimes people’s strings would even get cut: a life ended too early, a sacrifice to a spirit, an exchange for a longer life, the possibilities seemed endless.
At first it infuriated him how easily humans could give up their soulmates. He would do almost anything if it meant finding his soulmate in his past life. He used to wonder if he had a soulmate as an Enmusubi no Kami, but ironically, they can’t see their own strings. When he asked Mitsuri if he had a string, she gushed about how gorgeous it was, red as a ruby and curling through the air. But he’s always had superhuman hearing, even in his past life. So good that he could tell people’s emotions by the sound their souls made. If he focused enough, sometimes he could hear their thoughts, too. He didn’t need to read Mitsuri’s thoughts to know she was lying, her soul weeping for her poor protégé who had no string. Even as a god his love life was piss poor.
Usually, when someone doesn’t have a thread it means their soulmate hasn’t been born yet, but for some unfortunate souls (like him) it means they’ll never have one. When he asked Mitsuri about humans without threads, she had told him this, but she also shared a special case she once dealt with. A human monk was soulmates with a spirit. At first, she couldn’t see any threads since the lovers existed on separate plans. However, when the spirit visited the mortal plane the thread had manifested.
Zenitsu once had hopes that his was a similar situation, but Mitsuri didn’t visit the mortal world much once she finally deemed him as the new Enmusubi no Kami. Even if she did, he’d hate to ask and twist the sweet tune that constantly bubbled from within her into something ugly.
You’d think after so many years he’d come to terms with his eternal damnation to a life without romance, but the hurt never seemed to wane. He was sensitive, dammit! Mitsuri always told him there’s no shame in feeling deeply. Some people just felt more deeply than others, and that meant their joy and happiness was even stronger too. She even told him she had picked him as her successor because she saw how much love he had to give in his past life and that he did so with whole being; He was meant to be Enmusubi no Kami.
Zenitsu wasn’t sure if he agreed with that, but it only mattered that Mitsuri believed, since it was her who decided he would be the next Enmusubi no Kami.
He yawned. Propping the broom up against the wall, he opened the doors of the honden and and went to sit on the veranda. A gentle breeze brushed by.
Zenitsu dropped his shoulders and breathed in the fresh air. “Ah, spring evenings really are the best, the sound of love is at its strongest!” A dopey smile adorned his face as he swung his legs in the air, humming to himself.
Basking under the warm rays of the late afternoon sun, Zenitsu let his eyes slip close and laid down on the veranda.
Even in his sleep he could hear the outside world, and the sound of geta sandals slapping against the stone sando pulled him back into the waking world. He looked to the horizon to see the sun begin to set. ‘Isn’t late for any visitors? It’ll be dark going down the mountain’ he thought to himself. ‘Maybe I misheard?’ But the sound was getting closer and as the lingering feeling of sleepiness faded, he heard a heartbeat, too.
“This melody…” Suddenly tears sprung to his eyes, making them shine like gold under the sun.
“IT’S ANGELIC!!~" He shrieked. "So smooth and mellow, I could listen to it for an eternity!” Zenitsu was a blushing mess, hands clasped together in front of his chest. “What kind of person could such a sound come from, I wonder, hehehe…” It grew in strength. So determined! He could tell by the pants of their breath this person had rushed up the mountain with a purpose.
‘What could be so urgent…’
He bolted up onto his feet. “… HIYYAAAAA THE SHRINE! THEY’RE PROBABLY HERE TO PRAY! STUPID, STUPID, STUPID, GET BACK INSIDE!!!!”
With inhuman speed, he shoved the doors open and slid them close so fast and hard the force momentarily lifted them off the track and shook the walls.
Heart pounding a mile a minute he scuttled to plaster himself to the farthest wall, but then thought better and moved to press an ear to the door.
They were coming up the stairs now. There was a small thud as his guest kneeled in front of the empty offering tray, standing it back up. It must have gotten knocked over in his scramble to hide, he thought.
His guests’ breath hitched, gathering air to speak.
“Enmusubi no Kami, I have an important favor to ask of you. I beg you to listen to my prayer and aid my wish.”
‘A woman,’ Zenitsu leaned closer, ‘A sound like that belongs to a beauty for sure! Who's responsible for making a beautiful woman ask for my help?!’
She paused, as if waiting for a response, then continued. “The favor I ask is not for me but for my brother.” Her breath hitched again, but this time a melancholy tone made a dissonant twinge in her soul.
‘AHHH WHAT IS THIS SUDDEN SADNESS?! DON’T CRY MISS, DON’T CRY! I’LL HELP YOUR BROTHER, I PROMISE, EVEN THOUGH HE MADE YOU CRY!’
She sniffed, “He’s an amazing person, always helping everyone in town and working hard to support our family. But he’s so concerned for everyone else, he forgets about himself.” She bowed her head to the floor. “If you could find someone he’ll let take care of him, I would be eternally grateful! I’ll give you offerings and visit as much as I can. I’ll even have my brother to repair your shrine.”
Oh, having a pretty girl around sounded nice! Maybe her brother could repaint the torii, he always liked how the red looked against the green of the forest.
The girl reached into the sleeve of her pink yukata. “I don’t have much to offer, my family is large and we’re not rich, but hopefully this gift will please you.”
She placed down her offering.
“I made this myself just for you, Enmusubi no Kami. I humbly ask you to please accept this offer and my request. Thank you.” He heard her shuffling to stand and descend back down the stairs and the mountain.
After Zenitsu deemed she was far enough away, he slid open the door and looked at the offering tray. On it laid a kumihimo belt, woven from different shades of gold and orange silk thread. The craftsmanship was remarkable, and the threads seemed to vibrate with life.
While the braid was exquisite, it was an intriguing choice to make.
Musubi is relationships, to gods, time, people. Tying threads is Musubi, connecting people is Musubi. Enmusubi no Kami tie the threads that connect life. By gifting Zenitsu a kumihimo braid, a tangible symbol of his power, his guest had recognized him with upmost respect.
Zenitsu blushed and pressed his hands to his cheeks. “Such a grand gesture! The love that binds family is most magnificent, too! Ahaha~ I would help any gorgeous lady without an offer, but now I simply can’t refuse!”
Zenitsu decided he would help this girl’s brother find his soulmate, no matter how hard it might be!