The shrine was glowing, full of purity. The tree, the well, and even the house. A wind rushed by, almost as if it was drawing me up the steps. Kaze . . . Finally reaching the red torii, hands on my knees, I huffed, who could deal with living here? They must be real healthy having to run up and down those every day.

A smell hit me, and I looked up to see a beautiful elderly lady, wrinkles gracing her face, gray hairs barely visible. "Still not used to it I take it?"

I rose, crossing my arms, "I can't imagine how you fare in such a feat."

She looked past me, "ah well," she strode forward to look at the city from the high elevation, "I suppose eventually I'll start needing some assistance . . ."

I closed my eyes and sighed, "oh, not from me, you won't. Besides you don't have anywhere you need to go when I'm here."

She looked at me, smiling. There was a twinge of pain in her eyes. It bothered me. She was silent, but only because she had nothing to say.

"Come," I said, "let's make some dinner."

She turned around and we headed toward the house, my hand placed on her upper back. The setting sun gleamed through the Sacred Tree, painting the world many shades of violet.

I slid the door open and we took off our shoes. It was just us at the Higurashi shrine. Well the two of us and the cat.

Kashi greeted us by rubbing against our legs, leaving white fur behind on my high black socks.

I let out a small sigh, annoyed, Kashi, I love you my little fluff, but seriously? My hand rose in a fist. I'm going to have to find some tape now and get all this white fur off. Grandma headed towards the kitchen. I picked up my fluffy boy and brought him to the living room, setting him down by his food and stroking his back a bit.

The tatami creaked beneath my steps as I exited to the kitchen after miss Higurashi. "What's on the menu tonight?"

She was at the sink, washing her hands before she began preparing whatever it was while I was surveying the contents of the fridge. "Sushi."

I whirled around at her, speaking excitedly, "Ooh, I'll help!"

The moon was luminous, adding shine to every shingle of the roof. The grasses of the entire Higurashi residence swayed in the night. The shide, yoshida-style streamers, swayed at the presence of the power coming from the small hut of a house, the shrine. A holy glow emanated from the well inside.

"Ah, that was wonderful," I leaned back, my belly content.

"But you didn't eat it all," Grandma commented.

I smiled, musing at myself and my habits. "I know but when it comes to sushi, I always get too much and can't eat it all . . . But it was still delicious."

I gathered my dishes and rose, walking to the sink and turning on the water. Then I hear her say, "There's no need, I'll do it."

I step aside, and for a moment watch the elderly lady pour soap on a sponge. She was still taller than me, her spine still strong despite her age.

As I exit the kitchen, I simply state, "I'm going to take a bath."

A light green towel folded up in my arms, I head to the bathroom. The bath was ready by the time I undressed, seeing as I had started it earlier. I step in, welcoming the soothing, yet searing heat encasing my body. I felt bad leaving her down there, but I didn't know how to . . . I didn't know what to say . . . She's always kind and giving but her eyes make me want to do something for her. She must be so lonely here by herself. I don't even want to imagine how she was before Kashi and I became her caretakers.

Uncle Souta asked me to take care of her and the shrine and I knew he hoped I would take over the place. I sunk into the steamy depths. Nande? I'm not a Higurashi, why not let his kids take over when they're old enough?

I never actually wash myself in the bath. The hot water takes care of any dirt I may have on my skin if I soak in it long enough. My long brown hair is another story. I have to use nearly half a palm-full of shampoo each time and it usually takes at least two washes to get it all clean.

Rising and reaching for the towel, I feel a pulse. A heart-thrumming pulse. It struck my body and held me still for a moment. Something about this shrine drew me towards it. I didn't understand it.

A moment passed and, finally free of the invisible force, whatever it was, I wrapped myself in the towel and headed back to my room. Or rather, the room that I was inhabiting during my stay here. I put on a long big shirt and some short shorts, ready for sleep.

The room clearly belonged to someone before, the light-toned wood of all the furniture, the pink bedding and traditional alarm clock. I just used my iphone to wake up in the mornings, so it stood there, the pink hue fading as it collected dust and shedded cat fur.

Miss Higurashi's daughter, or I guess my aunt, had lived in this room before. All I know is that she had moved away to some foreign country with her lover and has lived there happily ever since. I guess she doesn't have the money to come visit. Grandma is a nice person, so I'm sure Kagome-san didn't want to leave them behind. But it was none of my business. They're not technically my family anyway.

My real parents . . . Well, either they didn't care or they couldn't raise me for whatever reason. I was just adopted by the Higusrashi's as I had been left on their doorstep at this very house.

I didn't bother me. Sure, I was curious to know who they were and all. Or maybe I was the female equivalent of a bastard child of some scandal. Who cares? I'm doing just fine where I am now and who I am with. So it doesn't matter. Even if life is a little bit boring finishing high school and taking care of Grandma and I guess eventually, the entire shrine. Someone has to do it.

But is that all my life will ever be? A shrine maiden offering charms and services to visitors? It could be worse but how boring.

"Huh?" A pulse. She stood at the open window. Another. The wind was still. What is this? What the hell? This shrine. Maybe a kami is trying to warn me of an approaching danger. I tried to shrug it off, but while the pulses had stopped, my mind was still racing, my blood still pumping with adrenaline. Adrenaline? Because of fear? No, that's not it.

The Higurashi Shrine was so soothing and peaceful, especially when underneath the boughs of the Sacred Tree. So why? Why now? Had I insulted the place somehow? These pulses were . . . Well, disturbing. Uncomfortable. Definitely not something she should feel at any shrine.

Closing the window, I busied myself with a pencil and a drawing book. A distraction. That's what I needed. Something to do rather than to get lost in thoughts.

That's all I ever do. Think. Wonder. About the world, morals, the ways the minds of people work, the ways things should be in life. I had told myself that that's what shrine maidens did. They try to find a path to the light, to the way they should be. Any religious person does that.

The drawing started to get frustrating. The wolf had a section of light-colored fur overlapping a patch of darker fur. It was causing her to do reverse shading, and it was not fun trying to manage to do that and while attempting not to ruin the darker fur she'd already finished. Every mark made a difference, and she couldn't make any decisions right now.

I just need sleep, if I can manage to get myself to clear my mind. As if that ever happened.

I put the drawing book back under the bed. A voice called my name. "Yes?" I opened my door.

"I'm going to put your leftovers in a bag to take with you to school tomorrow. It'll be in the fridge, don't forget it." Grandma Higurashi said from the bottom of the stairs.

"Hai!" I said, closing the door again. I yawned deeply, my mouth stretching extra wide. I was tired but my brain wasn't. It was like having one of those friends that rambled on and on and you're only listening to be polite. Except I'm not being polite here. My head just won't shut up no matter what I wish.

Just get into bed, I told myself. You have school tomorrow.

I pulled the sheets over me, closing my eyes forcefully.

Man, I really hate pink.