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Everyone knows Watatsumi Island's arable land makes up probably less than 25%, but even that percentage doesn't mean that land is all that great. Most goods are imports from Narukami, yet the habitants of Watatsumi try their best and pray to their God that they'll harvest enough to feed their families without having to buy the imports.
Maybe because the summer weather went on for a bit too long, maybe because she didn't pray enough, or maybe it was just her luck. Having long lived on a small part of that so called farmable land, (Name) was one of the few farmers on the island. The task of working the land had been passed down for as long as she could remember. Yet here she stood on that land, the driest, smallest pieces of what would be carrots and radishes in a wooden bucket.
(Name) wanted to cry, to scream, to fall to her knees, pack up her things, go to the other side of the world, and sink into the ocean all at the same time. But instead, the woman stood in silence as every bad decision she had ever made raced through her mind.
There was a time when the farmer did cry when her harvest wasn’t as much as she wanted, but that was years ago and she was not the same anymore. (Name) would now rather use her energy on other matters.
A group was gathered at the bridge between the village and the Sangonomiya Shrine. (Name) felt a sigh of relief knowing who the people were gathered around.
"I know the harvests were horrendous this year, I feel for everyone -as we thought this year would be a great reap. But please, do not fret. The rainy season brought in a boom for our fisherpeople and our trade with Narukami is steady as always. Believe that no one will be without food this winter and we will have fertilizer ready for the spring."
"The Priestess is right, my brother works at the docks and he said they had to haul three craters full of fish just last week!"
"Many tourists visited during the summer months, that profit is sure to help Watatsumi."
"I'm still upset."
"Hail the Divine Priestess!"
(Name)'s comment was drowned out by cheers and the excitement of her fellow villagers as the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island headed back towards the shrine.
The woman always got a funny feeling when the Priestess was around, but who wouldn't when being around their deity in human form. (Name) knew Sangonomiya Kokomi did the best she could and gave her all for Watatsumi, even more than the average person.
~~~
Watatsumi’s Divine Priestess worked and lived for the people, for Watatsumi itself.
It was no surprise whenever she visited the village to speak with the people or if anyone would stumble across her sitting alone atop a hill.
Her eyes had always captivated (Name). For an islander, the endless ocean was an everyday view -but Sangonomiya Kokomi’s eyes appeared to hold the secrets of the ocean in their blue-hues. Far deeper than their old land of Enkanomiya, perhaps.
When people gathered in crowds at the Priestess’ appearance, the farmgirl’s view lit up whenever she happened to make eye contact with Lady Sangonomiya. In (Name)’s mind, it was as if a pearl had rolled into a bed of seaweed and she wanted to soak up every second.
The Priestess would come visit her once in a while -for official business, of course. After a couple visits, (Name) seemed to gain a strange confidence whenever Kokomi was around. A sly remark and witty comment here and there. Boasts of how her harvests would be some of Inazuma’s best.
Lady Sangonomiya found it charming (for some reason) and couldn’t help but motivate the woman more just to keep hearing her speak.
~~~
Everyone goes through hardships, the people of Watatsumi are not without their fair share.
War broke out and swept whoever it could, however it could. That included (Name).
Those who could fight, fought. It was (Name)’s job to provide food for those in battle. But Watatsumi Island isn’t known for its fertile lands, now is it?
The other families on the small arable land had sent out their youngers to aid the fisherpeople, the main source of food the island could provide their troops.
(Name) was alone.
Less people showed up to water crops and check to see if there were any ripe ones, they had given up hope on producing even one case full of cabbages. But the (colour)-haired woman didn’t.
Day and night, she went out and took extra care of her crops, using everything her family had taught her. She wasn’t about to abandon her family’s most prized possession, not even when all seemed lost and times were desperate.
This is one of the things that drew Kokomi towards her. This thing she had inside. Was it determination? Loyalty? Maybe even desperation? Whatever it was, it awakened something inside of the Sleeping Dragoness.
(Name) believed she had somehow ascended to Celestia when the radiant figure appeared while she was tending to her side garden one night. The moon was at its peak, a sign of the unholy hours these two women were awake at.
“A God…?”
Kokomi smiled, “You are still as bold as I remember. As resolved, too.”
The pearl had rolled into the seaweed bed with an intent to stay.
~~~
(Name)’s fruits and green were never ready in time to boost those on the battlefields. Everyday the news of what was happening across the islands made the woman more anxious, but no anxiety was enough to make her act out. The goods were not ripe yet, she would have to wait.
And wait she did.
Those who were able to come back home to Watatsumi got to taste the biggest carrots, juiciest berries, and plumpest radishes (Name)’s family name had ever produced. A satisfying victory meal after the thunderstorm.
~~~
The (colour)-haired woman moved over a stack of books and sat on the other side of the table. Kokomi laid her head in her arms over the table and muttered, "I'm sorry…"
“Don’t take it personally, you know I need to speak my mind,” (Name) picked up a few locks of the Priestess’ pinkish-hair and wrapped it around her finger.
“Trade with Narukami has been steady but tourists have also been increasing in Ritou, they want double the iron for only a five-percent increase for us…I’m getting tired of negotiating…”
(Name)’s face soured at this new information, “Who do they think they are? That is not fair at all. Even a 60-40 give-and-take would be understandable but that’s a stretch!”
Kokomi took the hand playing with her hand and held it down to her face, leaning into the touch as her partner spoke her mind about the things she would tell the Tri-Commission officers if it wouldn’t get her arrested.
“...And then I would row all the way back here and make you the best dinner you ever had with only the freshest vegetables. But, since I, legally, can’t do all of that -you know I’ll always be here,” (Name) was wrapping up her speech, “I’ll be here to greet you with a big hug after you’ve finished telling those across the islands who’s really in charge here.”
Eyes that reflected the depths of the ocean glanced up at those that belonged to her lover, her eyes that always had a bright shine when she got passionate about something. Simply hearing (Name) speak and go on tangents was enough to make the Divine Priestess a lot better.
The (colour)-haired woman held Kokomi’s head up to face her properly as she continued, “You know that you don’t have to be perfect, though I know it’s hard not to try and be. You are…such a hard worker, but you need to remember your own teachings-”
“‘Watatsumi is run by the people, we all work together to prosper and succeed. Back-to-back, hand-in-hand, we do it together for our native land!’”
Kokomi smiled after (Name) recited the shrine’s teachings to young kids. She leaned in to place a kiss on her lover’s nose, producing a chuckle out of the woman. The Priestess spoke, “Thank you for your words, my darling.”
“Hehehe,” (Name) couldn’t help but get flustered by her affectionate actions and words.
A stomach rumble was audible enough to make Kokomi chuckle. Her lover’s face tinted a darker shade of red out of embarrassment and placed a hand over her abdomen. The leader of Watatsumi Island reached out and helped her beloved to her feet after standing on her own.
“A shipment of rice should be arriving at shore any moment now. How about you help me deliver it to the village? I’ll make you some Bird Egg Sushi in return -I did say no one will go hungry, didn’t I?”