DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kannazuki No Miko.
So...I guess I am back from my little 'writing' vacation lol. My poor e-mail was just constantly bombarded by some of you :/ You think I can just sit and write stories all day? WELL...I probably could but I DO require some outside help if you want me to work on my stories like a slave (-_-;). ANYWAYS, because I felt so horrible that one particular reader was practically begging me to write another...here you go. I promised multiple chapters and longer than any of my previous works so let's see how deep we can plunge ourselves into this ocean, yes? The characters are, of course, reincarnated (since I particularly like this setting since it lets the characters and the plots be more malleable). But they're not college students this time but a bit older with careers :P. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know how much you like it and don't be afraid to give me some nice new ideas I could possibly incorporate into the story.
It was the beginning of a pleasant winter in the small town of Mahoroba. The snow had begun to fall, causing everything to sparkle silver under the sun's pale rays. Within this lazy, but blissful town, the citizens lived their daily lives in accordance to following a habitual routine. They woke up in the morning, tended to their children, went off to their jobs, and then returned home to their families. This was a town for those who wished to live a simple and quiet life surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Oh, if only the citizens knew of their true history.
If only the citizens could have been taught by their ancestors about the iridescent Solar priestess and the alluring Lunar priestess and how those two sacrificed so much for the sake of humanity. If only the citizens could understand the pain two true, eternal lovers had to endure for centuries to save a world full of strangers. If only the citizens could appreciate what it means to have the freedom to live and choose the paths they take in life. However, the priestesses now have been granted a chance to pursue freedom like everyone else. Love is allowed to finally fly off into the welcome embrace of the horizon and tender hearts can embrace each other without worrying about what could possibly await them beyond the sunset.
Within this town lived a woman by the name of Kurusugawa Himeko, who was a vibrant, young woman in her mid 20s. She had sun-kissed blonde hair and eyes that sparkled like deep pools of liquid amethysts. Shy and unnervingly sweet and gentle, she was well loved as a person and a veterinarian at the Horizon Animal Clinic. This young maiden's memories of her past lives were hidden from her so that the previous pain would not transfer to her reincarnations. However, what always did transfer was the eternal love and bond she had for one particular woman. In this life, she had yet to meet her truth love but Himeko believed that whoever she was meant to love would come for her while she would loyally wait, ever so patiently. Then, that fateful day in the beginning of winter when snow had slowly begun to fall, Himeko's moon and stars walked into the golden-blonde's love-yearning life.
"I feel like my breasts will fall off." Saotome Makoto said flatly as she entered the quaint animal clinic, causing the entrance's bells to jingle off her presence.
The ginger-haired woman was shaking snow out of her thick, short hair while she took off her jacket and hung it on the nearest coat rack. Himeko was in the back room making tea when her friend entered and the blonde came out to greet Makoto with a warm smile and an equally warm cup of tea. Makoto graciously took the cup and gladly downed the contents as quickly as she could to thaw her frozen throat. "Tea isn't meant to be drank like it's beer." The blonde quietly said through a delicate smile as she took back the empty cup from Makoto's hands.
Himeko's best friend laughed brightly and shook her head. "It's so cold out there! I can't believe you called me into work today with our town gone to hell in a snow globe." The red-haired athlete re-adjusted her nurse's uniform and walked to her designated seat behind the front counter.
The blonde doctor re-emerged from the back room, her petite hands carefully encircling a cup of her own tea. "We are completely booked for the day and we can't let our patients down, regardless of the weather."
Makoto blew out a stream of air from her tightly pursed lips as she glared at Himeko as the blonde took a careful sip of her tea. "My nipples almost became icicles on the way here. Would my work pay for an emergency nipple transplant if I needed one? I think not!" Makoto's comical comment left the two women to greet the morning with light-hearted giggles.
The crisp morning gave way to an even colder afternoon and the animal clinic quickly transformed from a place of quiet to a bustling station for howling pets and their masters. Dogs, cats, and birds dotted the waiting room and their voices over-lapped each other in random intermittence while their owners watched the clock, hoping time would move faster for them to see the pretty doctor. Makoto greeted each new visitor, checked off their name from the appointment list, and asked them to wait patiently in the waiting room for Himeko to administer to them. While the ginger-haired nurse was losing more of her patience from the constant barking and whining from the animals, Himeko was in her office and tending to every animal and its owner with the utmost attention. The blonde was well loved by all her patients, even more so by the pet's owners themselves. Himeko couldn't count how many times she was casually asked out on a date by an owner while she was carefully placing a thermometer down a pet's rectum. Luckily, she was only complimented by the obvious staring some of the men did and so it left her to be less distracted while working with her furry patients.
When the time came close to 7:00 PM, Makoto sauntered into Himeko's office with a soda in her hand and a cup of freshly brewed tea in her other. "I thought you'd need a pick-me-up. Of course, I was more or less thinking soda and a cigarette but I thought tea would suit you better." Makoto winked as she handed the blonde the pleasantly warm liquid, which Himeko accepted graciously.
The young veterinarian carefully took a sip of her tea and savored the warmth and calming affects of the soothing drink. "The winter this year seems to be harsher than the others and so the animals are catching all sorts of colds it would seem." Himeko leaned her forehead against the edge of the tea cup. "I guess we should expect to be a lot more busy this season, which could mean only a couple days for vacation instead of our usual week." The blonde said as she looked up at Makoto, who leaned against the door way.
Makoto took a drink from her soda can and rolled her eyes at her friend. "If you weren't my best friend, I would have murdered your cute ass, Himeko."
"Aw, why would you say that? Did you have plans this winter?"
"Well, I was thinking we could go skiing! We haven't done that since college and all you do is work like an alcoholic works a bottle."
"I believe they refer to a person like that as a workaholic."
"Oh, now we're going to get fancy and make up names for fake diseases as an excuse." Makoto playfully jibed which sent Himeko to blush into her tea cup.
"I wasn't-"
"I know, I know. Anyways, let's go catch dinner and a movie tonight!"
"But, weren't you complaining about how it's so cold that your nipples might freeze in this weather?"
"Good point, I totally forgot about that little danger. Let's go get dinner at that soup place down the street then and forgo the movie for another night. Those damned pets and their sniveling owners wore my patience down to its nub." Makoto growled as she turned around and walked back to her desk.
Himeko smiled at her friend's retreating back and carefully set down her tea cup to organize the loose papers on her desk. She took one last sweeping look over her office to make sure nothing was out of place, and walked out to the front where Makoto was checking the appointment roster one last time for tomorrow and carefully placed it on her desk. "All finished here?" Himeko asked her friend as she put on her jacket.
Makoto nodded her head as she put her own jacket on and walked to the front door. "Yes, now let's go get some soup!"
The two were greeted with winter's icy breath the moment the front door was swung wide open. Both women shivered visibly from the cold and began their brisk walk to the restaurant. Halfway to their destination, they stopped to admire a beautifully decorated Christmas tree that stood guard in front of a tiny orphanage. Himeko's heart always ached at the sight of the lonely orphanage, for she knew that most of the orphans rarely found adoptive parents and so they waste their childhood in an orphanage and are then forced out when they become of legal age. She desperately wished she could take all of the children home with her and raise them as her own but that wasn't a plausible reality and it hurt her even more to acknowledge the truth. However, she wouldn't mind raising an orphan someday when she felt she could juggle a child and her work. Himeko only knew too well of the hurt of never being adopted since she was an orphan herself, who watched prospective parents come and go while she was too shy to greet them straight on as the other, love-deprived children did. She was lucky enough to score high on her college entrance exams and went off to college while the other orphans who came of age were given some money to buy a bus ticket and told to find jobs for they were no longer welcome to stay.
Makoto studied her friend's sad face as Himeko lost herself in the many flashing lights and decorations of the towering Christmas tree before them. The blonde's best friend could see the hurt that the orphanage pulled from Himeko's memories and Makoto gently placed a caring hand on Himeko's arm, forcing the blonde to shake out of her trance and focus her attention on her friend. "What are you thinking about, Himeko?" Makoto asked softly.
Himeko let her violet eyes fall to the ground as she let out a misty breath. "I want to adopt a child, one day."
Makoto raised a questioning eyebrow at her friend. "What brought this suddenly on? We went from 'happily galloping towards the soup restaurant' to 'I think I want to take home a kid instead'? I mean, if you're trying to imply you'd rather get take out, that's all good with me too."
Himeko lifted her head and gave her friend an amused look. "No, no Makoto. I've always thought that I'd adopt a child instead of having my own. There are so many children out there who deserve to be loved and if I can change the life of one child then at least I can feel like I made a difference."
"It's like 1000 below freezing and here you are, going on about saving the life of one child to make a difference in the world. So typical Himeko. How about we get some dinner and then you can go super girl on humanity when you're all full." Makoto grinned as she began to drag her friend away from the flickering lights of the Christmas tree.
However, a creaking of a door opening and shutting caught their attention and the two focused their eyes on the shadowy figure who walked out of the orphanage. For some reason, Himeko felt the hands of fate hold her steady while her eyes were glued onto the approaching person. As the figure emerged into the aura of light emitted from the Christmas tree; Himeko knew she had found the missing piece to her yearning heart.
August, sapphire eyes glittered like moist jewels as they captured the dancing Christmas tree lights. The darkness did not obscure the totality of the woman's beauty but only accentuated it. Her midnight-blue tresses seemed to glow with a brilliant sheen from the caressing of the moon's light. As she walked nearer to Himeko and Makoto, the obscuring darkness seemed to melt away and what few lights lit up the night seemed to brighten up the stranger's beautiful face with an ethereal glossiness. The stranger's beautiful eyes caught sight of the two friends and a pearly white smile, that would put ivory to shame, greeted the women. "Good evening, ladies. I hope you are not here to visit the orphanage at this time? The children were just put to bed." The stranger's voice was clear and felt so bright, like as if her very voice was the manifestation of iridescence and her every word were glowing with prisms.
Himeko seemed to have lost all control of her body as she stared wide-eyed at the majestic being before her. She couldn't make herself move but she could feel her heart beating rapidly against her chest within the mere presence of this mysterious woman. Makoto, who sensed Himeko's unusual hesitation, stepped in for her friend. "Oh, we were just admiring the Christmas tree on our way to get some dinner. You work here?"
The lady gave the pair a courtly smile. "Oh, where are my manners, do forgive me. My name is Himemiya Chikane and I give donations to this wonderful orphanage here so I came by today to bring the children some gifts and helped them set up this Christmas tree today. They did a marvelous job of it."
Himeko felt her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest and hug the woman before her. She couldn't understand why she was having this extremely strong, magnetic pull towards this woman but all she wanted to do was have Chikane hold her in an embrace that would rival the strength of any bond ever created. Makoto glanced at Himeko and realized her blonde friend was staring at Chikane like a love struck school girl then she was hit with a different conscious thought. "Wait a second, you're Himemiya Chikane? Like as in 'Himemiya Law Firm', the one that won that big case against the corrupt business chains in Tokyo? So, you're Himemiya Akio's daughter!" Makoto's eyes grew wide as she realized she was standing in front of what was the closest thing to royalty she would ever be near.
The azure eyes of the woman softened and she bowed deeply in front of the two women. Makoto was on the edge of asking for an autograph and a picture while Himeko didn't seem to realize the connection Makoto had made. The blonde was too awe struck by the woman's alluring presence and how all she wanted to do was feel the physical comfort of this woman that her very soul had been yearning for all her life. "May I ask the names of you and your friend, Miss?" Chikane asked politely as she focused her eyes on Himeko.
"I am Saotome Makoto and this here is Mahoroba's number one veterinarian for two years in a row, Kurusugawa Himeko. But, she's not usually this quiet, I mean she's shy but usually she'll say hello or something." Makoto jabbed Himeko in the ribs and this caused the blonde to shake the shackles of her over-whelming desires to finally return to reality.
"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to be so rude. It's nice to meet you, Chikane." Himeko's face bloomed with a blush as she tried to find the courage to look the young Himemiya in the eyes.
Makoto cleared her throat. "She meant to say Mistress Himemiya. The hunger must have eaten half her brain."
Chikane laughed softly behind a delicate hand and her gleaming eyes held onto Himeko's face. "I don't mind being called Chikane. It creates a more friendlier air between people instead of having 'mistress' creating intimidation from the beginning. I apologize for keeping you two from dinner."
"Not at all!" Himeko's voice shot out like a cannon, shattering the still quiet of the night which only caused the blonde to blush even brighter.
Makoto's jaw seemed to drop at Himeko's out-of-character reaction and the ginger-haired female decided she needed to save her friend from total embarrassment before it was too late. "Well, we work at Horizon Animal Clinic so come visit us if you have a pet in need for Himeko here to stick a thermometer down its butt." Makoto's unusual invitation style caused Himeko to wish she could disintegrate into the wind and be carried off far from where they were.
"Ah, that would actually be quite splendid since I've recently moved back here from the city and it would be much more convenient to have my puppy see a veterinarian here than have me drive two hours to the one we usually see. Who would I have to call to arrange an appointment, Miss Saotome?"
"Oh, call me Makoto and you can just talk to me if you wish to arrange a private rendezvous with Dr. Kurusugawa." Makoto wiggled her eyebrows at Chikane and the latter only gave the ginger-haired nurse a kind smile.
"If you have any openings during this week, please add me in. Here, this is my business card and I would greatly appreciate if you would contact me with an appointment." Chikane extended her business card to Makoto, which the nurse took with a gracious bow.
"I am pretty sure we have an opening the day after tomorrow. It would at 4:00 PM, if you don't mind it being that late."
Chikane nodded her head. "That would be perfect, thank you. I shouldn't keep you two from your dinner any longer. It was a pleasure to meet you both. Good evening and enjoy your dinner, ladies." With that, Chikane bowed her head at the two ladies and glided past them to make her way to the parking lot.
Makoto quickly turned to Himeko and grabbed the blonde by both her shoulders and shook her violently. "Damn, Himeko! I mean, if you think someone's hot, that's perfectly fine but you do know how rude it is to just stare and drool when we had Mahoroba's princess talking to us in front of a Christmas Tree."
Himeko buried her head into the soft palms of her hands. Frustration was sketched on the corners of her eyes as she took in deep, solid breaths. "I don't know what came over me, honestly. I couldn't even talk or move." A sob threatened to choke her voice.
Makoto gave her friend a questioning look then her face brightened with a thought. "Oh, maybe it's your virginity finally telling you to let it out!"
Himeko looked up and stared incredulously at her best friend. "You can't be serious with that line of logic."
"I was just kidding but I wasn't kidding about you drooling though. I mean, you could have drowned her in your drool if you kept doing that. Even Mrs. Tanaka's bull dog doesn't drool nearly as much as you did tonight and that dog can drool enough to fill my shoes. I only know that since he did it today, that-" Makoto was cut off by Himeko placing her palm against Makoto's mouth.
"Okay, let's just go get some dinner." Himeko began to walk towards the direction of the restaurant and Makoto followed closely.
"She was pretty hot though." Makoto teased as she caught up with Himeko.
"She is quite attractive, I agree."
"You'll be in your office, all alone with her." The ginger-haired female tried to move her eyebrows up in a seductively suggestive way but that only caused Himeko to stifle her laughter.
"And with her dog."
"That could be kind of romantic."
"What could possibly be romantic about me giving her puppy a check up?"
"Can you imagine trying to look sexy to her while jamming a thermometer down the poor, whimpering puppy's butt."
"Okay, that just kills it."
Makoto grinned and stopped in front of the soup restaurant. She held open the door for Himeko to enter. "I'm your best friend and so it is my duty to tease you until your face bursts like a squeezed tomato."
"I should fire you but then I would feel horrible." Himeko said through a grin as she walked into the restaurant.
"Oh, if we're going to start playing the 'threat game', then maybe I should just drop Miss Himemiya's business card into my soup and accidentally eat it then have you fish the phone number out of my poo. Hey, don't give me that look! You go through animal poo on a daily basis." Makoto laughed heartily as Himeko gave her friend a playful shove.
"Yes, but I get paid to do that."
"Getting Chikane's number is better than any monetary payment." Makoto gave her best friend a toothy smile.
Himeko felt her face flush with warmth as she tried to glare menacingly at Makoto, which she failed miserably at and that only incited more laughter from her friend. The blonde finally relented and laughed with Makoto but her mind was elsewhere, dallying within the land of love and dreams, thinking about the august woman she believed was the missing piece to her fragile heart.
Yes, I am putting Makoto into this story because her as comic relief is much needed sometimes. The characters are quite OOC and if you don't like it well...I could change it and make them more of what they are, I guess. I just got tired of child-like Himeko and decided that she could keep her innocence but also have an adult edge to her. And Makoto...well...she's your tension breaker so she is going to be OOC unless you absolutely hate it. Then...I'll cut her out from now on. Thanks for reading!