Dear Shrine, What's Mine?

Limestone walls layered with gold surrounded them. They admired the carvings in the walls depicting one-armed prosperity spirits with their bat wings and lizard tails. There were other people in the shrine standing by the carvings with their eyes closed, focusing on their wishes to the spirits. Bells rang in the distance. The heart of the shrine held statues of prosperity spirits, their wings arched up to envelop anyone giving their offerings. Offerings were plentiful, from flowers to honey cakes. The scent of incense and weathered stones wafted to their noses.

"If you'd like, we can lead you to bathe in rosewater. The spirits love the smell of it. It won't be long. We provide a covering for you as well so don't be shy," the senior maiden offered. Citrine and Angie's eyes sparkled. They quickly agreed. Sakura thought about it. It sounded relaxing to bathe in a shrine. It reminded her of being a princess of olden times. She nodded. The others shook their heads.

Yukika's eyes roamed the shrine. The carvings surrounded them, their eyes boring into her. The shrine was a wide space for anyone to come to and fro to connect to the spirits. Smooth stone grounds made it easy to kneel on. Even so, the eyes were impossible to escape from. Spirits flocked the grounds, laughing at the crude carvings of them. A few smiled at seeing her and other devoted offerers.

"May I take some time make wishes to the spirits?" Yukika asked. The senior maiden nodded and gestured for a maiden to accompany her. A short girl with a water lily pin in her hair came forward. Her round face held a youthful feminity. She smiled pleasantly as she led Yukika to the heart of the shrine.

"Would these young men prefer to be dressed in their robes now?" the senior maiden asked. Astros and Mikhail nodded. Two boys appeared clad in lime green robes that denoted their status as monks in training. They escorted the two Defenders to a room away from the prying public's eyes.

Ms Limon waved them goodbye. "You all go and indulge yourselves, I'll be looking over the preparations for your celebration," she said. They nodded in understanding. Ms Limon's slim form disappeared behind the walls. The maidens whisked the remaining Defenders further away from the main shrine area.

Lanterns hung from the ceiling with orchids, peonies and lilies painted on their surfaces. Gongs and drums sat in every corner of the shrine. Even in the morning light, candles were lit underneath the carvings. The flickering flames produced an illusion of dancing stone figures. Against the tallest wall in the shrine were grand thrones carved from marble to seat a dozen people. Sakura pointed to the thrones.

"What are those for?" she asked. The senior maiden glanced to the direction she pointed to. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth.

"Once a month, all the members of the shrine will meet, from the chief monk to the newest maiden. We meet to give thanks to the spirits of the shrine and to reflect on our connection to them. Of course, most senior members will sit on the thrones," she explained. The other maidens bowed. One spoke. She had a bright look in her eyes.

"It is also a little celebration for us. We dance and sing and take joy in each other's company. Happiness helps attract the prosperity spirits towards us," she piped up. The senior maiden nodded. Sakura's mind whirred with scenes of celebration, of nimble feet and deep resounding gongs. Of people so different yet united by the spirits.

They exited the main shrine building and walked along stone steps. Blooming trees stood over them. The stone was damp with recent rainfall. Sunlight peeked out of leaves that shone like emeralds. They shivered in the pleasant cold. Serenity awaited them. The maidens led them to a clearing in the thick cluster of trees.

Slabs of smooth rocks stuck together with cement formed bathtubs. Wooden stalls were erected to the side of the clearing. The trees formed a roof over their heads. The air was cool and inviting. The powdered maidens appeared to be nymphs as they fluttered around the clearing. One scooped up water from a large pot to pour into the tubs. Another disappeared into the trees.

"You will find coverings and towels in the stalls," the senior maiden explained. Her eyes closed as she focused on her inner thoughts. Her voice held a mystical aura similar to Oko's. "We will do our best to help you relax. Let go of worldly matters within the shrine. Focus on your connection to the spirits. You will be facing them in the end."

The three listened to her words. Sakura took a deep breath and listened to her steady heartbeat. Angie looked up to the sky, her eyes trailing the clouds. Citrine closed her eyes and thought deeply. The spirits whispered in their ears. Their voices couldn't be made out but their energy flowed through the three Defenders. Spirits were one with the world and so were they. They were nothing more than fickle beings trekking through an infinitesimal universe. After a moment of pondering, they headed to the stalls.

Sakura swapped her layered uniform for the patterned covering that was light on her body. Her fingers traced the spirit mark on her chest. It bulged above her skin. Taking on the shape of her heart, it pulsed along with her heartbeat. She closed her eyes. Fears of her heart being ripped out during battle arose in her. No matter what, everything centred around that beating organ in her chest. She sighed. If only she could exist without it.

She opened the stall door. A maiden awaited her with a pair of slippers. The maiden stood only slightly taller than her. Her black hair parted into two low ponytails tied by gold bands. Sakura smiled and thanked her. She bent down to slip on the slippers. They were too large for her small feet but they were comfortable all the same. The maiden helped her to the tub so she wouldn't slip on the mud.

The tub was already filled with fragrant rosewater. The maiden that disappeared into the trees returned with a basket of jasmine flowers. Sakura stepped into the cool water and a shiver flowed down her body. With delicate hands, the flower maiden sprinkled the jasmines on the water. Sakura rubbed the petals between her fingers. Soft as silk. She was careful not to crush the fragile petals. The flower maiden left to place the flowers in the other tubs.

The maiden that helped her to the tub stayed by her side to help her bathe. She scooped up water with a wooden cup that floated by the corner. Tremors racked her spine as the water was poured over her. Sakura couldn't help but gaze at the powdered maiden. She had a cherry sheen to her lips. Her hands were smooth with long elegant fingers.

"What's your name?" Sakura asked. The maiden smiled at her. She had green sparkling eyes. Her heartbeat raced.

"My name is Marion. What's yours?" she replied, her voice as soft as the jasmine petals.

"Sakura. Thank you for all your help, Marion," she spoke in a tiny voice. Marion swept up some hair that spilt out of her ponytail before pouring some water over her neck. Her hands were so gentle. Heat rose to Sakura's face.

"You're welcome," Marion said. She thought for a while. Something clicked in her mind. She picked up a jasmine flower and slipped it behind Sakura's ear. Her heart was in her throat as Marion's fingers traced her earlobe. "Sakura... what a beautiful name," she complimented.

"Thank you," Sakura murmured. She looked up at the waving leaves. Fluffy clouds floated by her gaze. "How long have you been at the shrine?" she queried.

Marion thought for a while. She hiked up her sleeve to scoop up more water. Sakura blushed madly at seeing her exposed arm. "Counting this year, it's been three years," she said.

"Woah, that's so long! You must have had a lot of experiences here," said Sakura. She was brimming with curiosity about how living in a shrine was like. Luckily, Marion didn't mind regaling her tales of being a powdered maiden. Sakura listened intently and Marion spoke while pouring the water over her.

While the three girls laughed and soaked in their rosewater baths, Yukika kneeled by the altar to speak to the prosperity spirits. She closed her eyes to listen to their voices. Many voices spoke of calamities that would bring fortune upon them. Giant waves, earth split apart, rains of fire. It struck fear inside her. She kept herself steady. She could face it. She could face anything if she wasn't alone. Wishes bloomed in her heart.

She wanted to keep being with Sakura and Angie, laughing together as they walked to the train station. The jokes they laughed at were long forgotten but the sound of delighted laughter never left her mind. She wanted to talk to Ken again. She would sit crisscrossed on the floor leaning against his chair, listening to him talk about his memories with her father. He used to smile when he relieved his old memories no matter how many hours he worked without resting that day. She wanted to see Manuel again. Holding him in her arms without dark thoughts crossing her mind was nothing but a distant hope.

She opened her eyes. A prosperity spirit sat on top of the altar, munching on an apple that had been left as an offering. Its scaly tail waved around to greet Yukika. She smiled at it. Its gold eyes widened at realising that she could see it.

"Are you a spirit vessel?" it asked. Its voice jingled like bells. She nodded. It bowed to her. "Wonderful to meet a vessel. It's not often I meet one, let alone one that can see me."

"It's wonderful to meet you as well," Yukika politely responded. The spirit shoved the rest of the apple down its mouth. The sweet fruit disappeared into its body. It closed its eyes, savouring the taste. It focused its gaze back onto Yukika. A single hand rested on sharp knees.

"So, what do you wish for, young one? Riches? Good grades?" it asked. A teasing smile lifted its mouth. "A baby?"

She shook her head fervently. A blush spread across her pale cheeks. The spirit laughed at her embarrassed reaction. It was cheery to share that moment with the spirit but sadness was quick to pull her down. A thousand yard stare formed in her eyes. She finally spoke.

"No, I don't wish for any of that. I only wish for success in battle."

The spirit frowned. It leaned forward to get a good look at her. Its gaze lingered on her for a long while. "You seem rather young for a human. What are you going into battle for?"

She folded her hands together. Her eyes stared at the ground. Why was she fighting? She didn't need to think of why. Sakura's smile was the only reason she needed. If it meant protecting her, she would do anything.

"The spirit burst is coming near. I must do everything to stop it from destroying the people I love," she told the spirit truthfully.

The sound of wings unfolding met her ears. Yukika looked up with her hands raised in case it unleashed its powers upon her. The spirit sighed and wrapped its wings around its body. A sad look clouded its face. Yukika lowered her hands.

"Oh, I see," it murmured. "I suppose we'll be enemies."

Yukika looked at the candles flickering on the altar. She picked up a honey cake left beside her and offered it to the spirit. It smiled at her sadly. The honey cake disappeared from her hands into the spirit dimension. It appeared back in the spirit's hand.

"Of course not. I wouldn't attack any spirit who doesn't threaten my safety," she assured. The spirit stared off into the distance.

"In war, it's hard to tell the difference between friend and foe. If you won't attack me, someone else will. Humans can't risk the spirits invading when their backs are turned," it told her. Yukika averted her eyes. Was it telling the truth? It was hard to tell what the spirits intended. The honey cake hung down as its hand fell to its side. "And perhaps I wouldn't be able to resist invading. Perhaps it's in our nature to take what is offered to us."

Yukika disagreed. "I don't think spirits are as simple as that," she said. Her hand came to rest over her heart. "You have your own wishes. I can see in your eyes that you wish for this war to not happen as much as I do."

Its gaze turned back to her. A sardonic smile played on its face. "Alas, what are we but pawns?" it said. It held out the honey cake back to her. She held out her hands and a honey cake dropped into them. "Take this as a gift. I'll try my best to fulfill your wish of stopping this war."

The spirit stood up. Its wings flapped, blowing air into her face. It ran off and flew into the sky. She thought of the short words they exchanged. Would spirits be forced to fight just like her? Or would they wait in their silent homes as others ran off to wreak havoc? Yukika watched its form disappear into the clouds. She bit into the honey cake. Bitterness laced her tongue.

"Are you done, young miss?" the maiden accompanying her asked. She just returned from a long walk through the shrine. Her face shone like the sunlight streaming through the entrances. Yukika nodded. The maiden helped her up and led her to be dressed in her robes. Yukika's mind was on those flapping wings. On the life that had been left behind.

'In the end, we're not so different,' she thought.