Chapter Text
Tamano had never been under the impression that the kami abandoned the world they created. Her own life was proof of their fickle nature and possessiveness of their earthly lessers. Alas, though they could interact with and live amongst mortals, in truth, they could only understand them so much. That was why they sent messengers, took on different forms, learning but never quite lowering themselves to the height of their creation.
Or perhaps she wondered, they had tried, and through their efforts yōkai were brought into the world.
Creatures borne from the land, souls of animals ravaged by nature or cruelty, and curses wrought from anguish. They were raised from the same hands which mortals gave blessing to, so it was strange that both sides were at odds. Humans feared yōkai, and yōkai looked down on humans. While many humans and yōkai claimed to be the closest thing to the kami, in truth their efforts were in vain.
The source of their power cared precious little if they reached such heights or not.
Tamano sighed. She didn’t resent humans, yōkai or the kami. She learned quickly that no one kind was a monolith. There was no humiliation in being human. After all, she was born as a human just as her parents had been. A human who relied sparingly on the kami’s blessings to ensure her livelihood.
A life sustained by the work of her own hands.
After all, metal and steel were heated by fire and molded by the guidance of a smith. Threads woven into beautiful tapestries were done by the loom, dyed by hands to create patterns pleasing to the eye. Yōkai, as well as the kami, could forge weapons strong enough to cleave the skies in two and tear the land asunder, but so too could mortals. They could wear fine silks of glittering gold, unable to tear and impossible to dirt but so could mortals.
That thought comforted her at least.
“Benzai.. ten?”
Tamano covered her mouth as she stifled a giggle, smiling at the sight of Moroha squinting up at the stone marker outside of the torii gates. It would be impolite to laugh like this on holy grounds, she reminded herself. Should she offend the goddess, or the kannushi, shinshoku and miko tending to the grounds, she wouldn’t be allowed back for some time. A concern Moroha didn’t seem to share as the girl jutted a thumb rudely at the sign depicting the biwa-playing deity.
“Tamano,” Moroha grumbled. “What’s she going to do for you anyone else couldn’t?”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t say such a thing so loudly..” Tamano chided, glancing around the still ponds and stone walkway for the shrine attendants. “We are in the presence of the kami, after all.”
“Yeah, yeah..” Moroha snorted, lazily locking her hands behind her head. She leant her head back against the cradle of her fingers with a grin that exposed a single fang. “A shihanyō and a human walk onto holy grounds, sounds like the start of a joke..” Mischievously, Moroha tipped her head toward Tamano and lowered her voice to a whisper. “You think the kami have a sense of humor? Ya know, with how old they are?”
Tamano’s frowned lightly as she elbowed Moroha’s side, rolling her eyes at the exaggerated ouch. She sighed, sliding her hands back into her kimono’s sleeves. “Why did you agree to come along if you’re only going to insult Benzaiten-sama?”
“Well, excuse me, but Benzaiten-sama isn’t who I came here for,” Moroha pointedly jerked her head in the opposite direction, nose wrinkled in a way that made the apple of her cheeks pronounced.
Why did you decide to come to a shrine dedicated to Benzaiten then?
She wanted to ask, but Moroha’s words dissolved her rebuttal. The corners of her lips twitched and she almost wanted to smile, instead turning her back and continuing down the stone path. She counted the passage of at least three breaths before Moroha called her name, hurrying up the stone path to fall in step with her. Upset forgotten, Moroha peppered her with questions ranging from consideration of the kami to awe at how submerged the shrine grounds were.
A small smile crept onto Tamano’s lips as she answered the questions. At the least, Moroha could always keep an open mind.
The warbling cry of birds and gentle trickle of water falling into the ponds filled the lull in their conversation easily. Tamano sighed. Benzaiten truly was a peaceful goddess, and her rumored luck was perhaps not a fable. What else could be it that Moroha would accompany her to the shrine on this day of all days? Finding the red clad warrior on her path from their campsite was surprising. Had she heard from Hisui that Tamano would seek out Benzaiten’s shrine? Even if she knew, why would she come?
Studying Moroha in her periphery, the shihanyō’s jaw-cracking yawn and bored expression made Tamano wonder why Moroha would abandon other pursuits to journey with her.
Isn’t who I came here for…
The echo of Moroha’s words trailed off into the all too real sound of her asking, “So, this Benzaiten is the goddess of what exactly..?” Her lack of response drew Moroha’s attention, a wordless hum paired with those guileless brown eyes drawing her out of her thoughts. “What is it? Something on my face?”
Moroha gestured to her face impatiently, and Tamano shook her head quickly. Looking away to spare herself any further embarrassment.
Dismissing the thought with a small shake of her head, Tamano gestured open handedly to the glittering pools they passed. The shrine itself was built at the foot of a waterfall, surrounded by rocky walls, so the pools of water made for an impressive scenery as their waters gave off a soft blue glow. “Benzaiten is the goddess of everything which flows..” She ticked off on her fingers as she spoke, “Water, time, words and emotions.”
“Sounds like a busy goddess..” Moroha murmured, kicking a stone in her path. It clattered along the walkway, coming to rest just at the edge of one of the pools.
Tamano shot Moroha her a stern glance, earning a sheepish smile in return as she continued huffily. “She shares this responsibility with the kami Ugajin..”
Moroha perked up. “Oh! I heard about them from Kaede-baachan. They’re a fertility kami, right?”
“That’s right.”
Tamano couldn’t help but smile at how Moroha preened. Even if she didn’t have much respect for the kami, it was a blessing to see her smile like this. Warmth trickled across her cheeks as she honed in on that thought, trying to dismiss it from mind. If Moroha noticed her internal distress, she thankfully didn’t take note of it.
Together, they climbed the shrine steps and washed their hands and mouths before entering the shrine. There, Tamano noticed a change in Moroha’s posture. She seemed alert. Arms drifting down to her sides as her shifting gaze darted in a way to any others would seem languid but Tamano knew she was looking for danger. True, they visited many abandoned shrines where yōkai murdered the inhabitants then hid in the recess like maggots in a corpse, but she felt no such aura here. Yet, there was distance growing between them the further her companion fell into her observations.
Pain tightened its slim cage around her heart. Journeying to the shrine alone was a challenge she’d worked herself up to overcome, and Moroha’s presence was a reprieve from concern. Surely, she could do the same for her. Tentatively, Tamano reached out and brushed her fingertips against the bare skin of Moroha’s forearm, soft skin betraying the taut, firm muscle underneath. A hardened ochre gaze met her own and Tamano willed herself not to suck in a breath or show how off-putting it felt to be met by that stare.
She reminded herself that this was also Moroha.
Beneath her dry quips, insatiable curiosity, and soft features was someone who was not to be trifled with. She didn’t carry a sword on her hip for show, and her claws and fangs weren’t to be underestimated. A part of Moroha, however miniscule, was capable of, could, would and had killed before in the protection of others or herself. And at this moment, Tamano knew if what was beyond this point was dangerous to either of them— she would do so again.
“It’s alright,” Tamano whispered, and gradually that hardened gaze cracked, melting into warm, honey brown like afternoon sunlight released from behind a curtain of thick clouds.
The tension gradually eased like a knot being undone from thick coils of rope.
Before she could say anything further, someone emerged from another hall, swishing robes following as they turned to close the shōji door behind them.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting,” he lifted his head then glanced over his shoulder at the empty foyer as he approached them. “Some of the priests went to gather supplies from the village, while the gūji is assisting with prayers and well… it is quite an undertaking with all that’s been going on.”
Tamano nodded understandingly. It’s why the taijiya and Moroha herself were there after all. With the recent attacks around the coastal villages, something had to be done. “I hope there is little in the way of disturbance to you and yours from now onward..” She bowed her head curtly.
His smile was small and polite, but no less kind. “Thank you. Now, how may I help you...” As he trailed off, his attention drifted somewhat to her left. Tamano almost glanced aside but he twitched as if shocked by something then laughed sheepishly. “Oh, where are my manners… please, come inside.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion as she followed him further, looking back to Moroha over her shoulder. Moroha waved at her from the shrine doors, rocking back on the ball of her foot with a lazy smile as she observed a rather expensive looking wall scroll. Inwardly, Tamano sighed and turned forward.
Well, at least she was in a better mood.
Though she couldn’t say the same for their host. As she spoke with him, the shinshoku seemed unsettled. He would murmur under his breath with his mala clasped tight around his knuckles, thumbs rubbing over the etched markings in each bead.
“Is something amiss?” Tamano asked as he returned with the omamori she asked for. His focus seemed scattered as he approached, skin pallor and eyes drifting in every which direction though notably somewhere behind them. The charm dropped from his stiff hands at her question, though she caught it in the curve of her palm. They both breathed a sigh but she cradled the charm to her chest rather than returning it to him, waiting for an explanation with a slight frown.
He bowed his head with a lowered gaze. “My apologies, Tamano-san.. it is only..” he glanced aside furtively then leant closer, whispering in a small shaky voice. “That girl... I believe she is possessed by a yōkai.”
Tamano looked over her shoulder at Moroha who was now sitting in the open doorway, leaning back with her arms behind her head. Her head was turned away from them but Tamano could hear the beginnings of a yawn breaking the tranquility around them. Her lips twitched almost threatening to curl in a smile. The concern in the shinshoku’s voice compared to how relaxed Moroha was made his concerns almost laughable. However, Tamano felt no amusement at all.
Turning back to the shinshoku, her brows pulled together at the fear plain on his face. “I assure you," she said, stepping into his line of sight to block Moroha from view. "She is of no threat.”
He eyed her with blatant disbelief. “Tamano-san, traveling in the company of such an aura is unwise, and could cause undue harm to..”
Tamano held up a hand curtly, cutting off his words before he could induce her wrath. With a lighthearted tone paired with a thin-lipped smile, she lowered her voice to match his whisper. “May we exercise wisdom as Benzaiten-sama teaches and not hasten to conclusions of one’s character or intelligence.”
His mouth snapped shut, red blooming across his cheeks as he bowed his head with a hasty apology. It went unanswered even as Tamano went to join Moroha by the door. Her eyes popped open and she smiled easily, standing up with an exaggerated groan. “Ready to g—” She hmmed curiously, tilting her head to the side. “What’s his problem?” she asked, gesturing to her left with a jutted thumb.
Tamano glimpsed the still-bowing shinshoku from the corner of her eye, then shrugged politely, continuing down the steps. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
Moroha’s wordless hum followed her in its disbelief though little else was said. Not even half a shaku was between them before a familiar flash of red lit up her periphery. The unrest in her heart quelled at Moroha’s drawling voice, “I was thinking, what did you want from Benzaiten?”
Tamano glanced at her, amused by the informality. “What do you mean?”
Moroha shrugged, harrumphing softly as if her words should have made sense on the first utterance. She rolled her eyes up to the sky and Tamano couldn’t help but notice how flecks of gold glittered in them like sunshine reflecting off water. “Like, what did you need help with that someone else couldn’t do for you?”
Oh. Initially, Tamano wasn’t sure how to respond to that but now that she thought of it - Moroha’s interest and apprehension seemed to come from somewhere. The unspoken that I couldn’t do for you implied by that childishly peevish someone else lingered in the air between them, and as it dawned on Tamano, Moroha tensed then ducked her head slightly. The faintest touch of pink dusted her cheeks.
Tamano smiled, looking down at the woodblock charm. Her thumb brushed against the eyes of the snake coiled around it, staring up at her with compelling slitted pupils.
Unblinking and all-seeing.
“I merely wanted to ask that Benzaiten-sama guide me.. to see with eyes unclouded..”
Moroha made a soft sound almost a scoff but softer as she peeked up at her. “That’s all?”
Tamano nodded. She wasn't sure what effect her words had but some of Moroha's bravado returned as she looked on ahead seemingly as unbothered as she'd been before. It was almost easy to mistake the little sigh she let out as a huff. “Seems you do that enough already..” She said, Tamano giving a wordless hum in consideration. Did she?
Moroha tucked her chin in the crook of her forefinger and thumb, tapping the side of her jaw with her forefinger’s claw. “What did you say.. y'know.. about not hastening to conclusions?”
Tamano considered her words, a breath passing before heat inched up her neck. Oh, no..
"Seems you're seeing pretty clear, eh, Tamano?"
“Y-You were listening?!”
Moroha met her gaze with a flat stare then broke into an impish grin. “To every word.” She danced out of the range of Tamano’s reach, running ahead before she could be seized by the back of her cape.
“Moroha! You...!”
Moroha’s warm laughter carried on the breeze, kissing Tamano’s blushing cheeks as she chased after her. The charm tucked into the sleeve of her kimono bumped against her arm, it’s weight reminiscent of her heavy heart.
Benzaiten-sama, please let my words reach her.
For no one had the right to steal away Moroha’s smile.