Last Time:
"I like it," Hinata admitted as she looked up at Naruto. "Now that I think about it, I think I remember seeing your necklace before I saw you and immediately thinking, 'thank goodness, someone's here to help me.'"
"Hinata."
"Thank you," Hinata said softly as she put her forehead against his chest, "for always being there when I need you, even though I may not realize it sometimes."
Naruto smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you."
"Mm?" Hinata looked up at Naruto. "For what?"
"For accepting me," Naruto said and saw the slight blush on Hinata's cheeks. "I love you Hinata."
"I love you too," Hinata said in return.
Exorcist: Chapter 37 – The Aftermath (Part 5)
The air within all three realms was practically vibrating with excitement the minute the announcement was made of the coming Purification Festival. To the people of the Demon Realm and Shadow Realm, the Purification Festival was the true definition of wiping the slate clean and getting a fresh start and with all that had happened, it was exactly what everyone needed.
Preparations began immediately for the festival and everyone did their part to help pull off a successful Purification Festival. Citizens lined the streets with paper lanterns that bore the kanji for "peace" on the front.
White lanterns bore the name of families and all in their household in hopes of good fortune and peace amongst their family for years to come. Red lanterns bore what they wanted to leave behind as they moved forward onto this new era of peace. And lastly, golden lanterns bore prayers for what they hoped to come. These lanterns were strung from rooftop edges and crossed streets and connected street lights all throughout the Demon Realm and Shadow Realm.
Craftsmen began work on specialty items for the festival that brought good luck and served as idols for the Tailed Beasts that others could place in their homes. Restaurants dug through their closets in search for old recipes for specialty treats and foods that could only be consumed during the week of the Purification Festival. And while the citizens worked on the decorations for their stores and homes, the temples did their part as well.
All the Jinchuuriki – both Shadow and Demon – arrived at their respected Tailed Beast's shrine and learned the necessary prayers and dances. The learned the prayer they were required to bestow upon those who visited the shrine during the Prayer March along with prayers they said in passing. And they learned the dances that were required to be performed at the temple in the individual performance along with the dance for the parade. All the while, both the Shion from the Demon Realm and the Shion from the Shadow Realm prepared alongside one another in preparation for blessing the festival.
And amidst all this, Naruto and Hinata prepared for their wedding and coronation. They both learned the necessary rites that needed to be recited at the time of their coronation on top of learning their own wedding vows. They were measured and fitted for the necessary robes and planned their wedding with heavy input from both their mothers every step of the way. Along with this, Naruto did his part in relearning his duties as a Jinchuuriki at the Kurama Shrine at least five days a week in the evening hours of the day while handling his duties as Prince of Demons during the day. And Hinata did her part to learn her role as a Shrine Priestess on her family's behalf in learning the necessary dances and chants alongside her younger sister and eldest cousin.
And lastly on the night before the start of the festival, the excitement had reached its peak as the cities were covered in hues or white, red, and gold. The smell of sweets filled the air and idols of the Tailed Beasts lined the streets and covered streets and homes. The Jinchuuriki did one last run of their dances and triple checked the accuracy of their prayers while the Hyuuga rehearsed the required ceremonies time and time again. Rites were recited until they were committed to memory and prayers were spoken a hundred times over in hopes of being answered.
And at sunrise that first day of the festival, Humans, Demons, and Shadows flooded the streets in their white robes carrying individual paper lanterns with them. At the Shrine of the Tailed Beasts located to the North, all High Priests and Priestess of the Tailed Beasts gathered wearing ceremonial robes and beads while carrying jaded and jeweled staves with large headdresses. They had each done an individual trek to the secluded shrine and once they had climbed the steps and made it to the shrine themselves, they laid their staves down horizontally and bowed their heads.
From the Shrine of the Tailed Beasts, both the Demon Realm Shion and Shadow Realm Shion emerged wearing extravagant robes of their own made from white, gold, and red fabrics. Exiting behind them carrying wooden bowls of water were the Demon Realm Ryuunosuke and Shadow Realm Ryuunosuke wearing specialty robes of their own.
"On this day on the brink of a new era, I bless thee," both Shion said simultaneously as she carefully dipped their fingers into the bowls of water the Ryuunosuke carried and sprinkled them over the Priest and Priestess who had arrived.
"The Purification Festival symbolizes many things but most importantly, it symbolizes the ending of an era and the beginning of the next," the Shion said. "For centuries, the Human Realm, Demon Realm, and Shadow Realm fought one another in a constant struggle for dominance of another that resulted in countless lives being lost. But today, Humans, Demons, and Shadows stand beside one another. So today, on the beginning of this Purification Festival, I ask that you cast aside your past woes. Leave behind all past burdens as we embark on the beginning of this new era of peace and prosperity. Lift your prayers of your hopes and dreams for the future and together."
Together, lanterns were beginning to be lit.
"On this day on the brink of a new era, I bless thee," the Shion said again as they sprinkled more water of the Priest and Priestess.
"On this day on the brink of a new era, we pray for the continued peace between Realms," the Demon Realm Shion spoke alone this time as she reached over and took ahold of her Shadow's hand.
"We pray for the continued growth and prosperity of our nations alongside one another as we continue towards a future where we all live alongside one another," the Shadow Realm Shion said.
"On this day on the brink of a new era, we bless this Purification Festival to symbolize the continued growth and prosperity of the Demon Realm, Human Realm, and Shadow Realm alongside one another in this era of peace," they said simultaneously as they began to sprinkle more and more water. "Bless the families of those who suffered loss and tragedies in their lives in the previous era and may they be blessed in the next. Bless the lives of those loss in the previous era and guide their spirits so they may no peace and no longer grieve. And, bless all that is to come to us in this era to come."
With that, the lanterns were released.
From there, the festival was in full swing. The Priest and Priestess danced and chanted all the way back down to the bottom of the steps before stepping on their designated magic circles and returning to their respective shrines. From each shrine, the Shrine Maidens and Jinchuuriki lead their float through the streets, the crowds chanting along with each Tailed Beasts' song. They led their floats to Hyuuga Compound where the Hyuuga perform the Dance of the Beasts which encompassed bits and piece of every Tailed Beast's Ceremonial Dance.
Once they reached the base of the Hyuuga Compound, the Shrine Maidens and Jinchuuriki danced around the massive bonfire while continuing their own individual chants. It wasn't chaotic however seeing as the chants almost seemed to line up melodically with one another, their voices clear and filling the air with the help of those who watched. And after a few rounds around the bonfire, they stopped and the Taiko Drummers that lined the steps of the Hyuuga Compound began to beat their drums.
Together, the Shrine Maidens, Jinchuuriki, and Hyuuga began to dance together and around the bonfire, all of them chanting and shouting along before beginning to sing an updated version of the Bijuu Counting Song.
Hitotsu hito yori inemuri Shukaku. (One: "sleep is better than humans," says Shukaku)
Futatsu FAIYA- moeteru Matatabi. (Two: burning in fire, Matatabi)
Mittsu mizu nara makasero Isobu. (Three: leave the water to Isobu)
Yottsu yougan atsuize Songokuu. (Four: hot as lava, Son Gokuu)
Itsutsu itsudemo kakeashi Kokuou. (Five: always on the run, Kokuou)
Muttsu murisezu awatezu Saiken. (Six: taking it easy and not in a hurry, Saiken)
Nanatsu nanafushi soratobu Choumei. (Seven: flying leaf insect, Choumei)
Yattsu yappari WI- daze Gyuuki. (Eight: "Yeah!" is all it needs, Gyuuki)
Kokonotsu kokon to saikyou Kurama. (Nine: "ko-kon" cries the might Kurama)
Doudou sorotta bijuu no nakama. (All the Tailed Beasts have finally come together)
Choi muzu dakedo ii namae. (They're a little hard, but they're nice names)
Minna rippana namae dane. (They're all splendid names)
Minna sutekina namae dane. (They're all wonderful names)
They all whooped and hollered before changing direction.
Hitotsu hidoi kuma dayo Gaara. (One: with terrible bags under his eyes, Gaara)
Futatsu funyan to neko nade Yugito. (Two: with a silky voice like a cat, Yugito)
Mittsu mizukage yondaime no Yagura. (Three: the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura)
Yottsu yonjuu nen yonbi to Roushi. (Four: together for forty years, Four Tails and Roushi)
Itsutsu ikatsui PAWA- no Han. (Five: tough and powerful Han)
Muttsu mukuchina kinagashi Utakata. (Six: reserved and dressed in a kimono Utakata)
Nanatsu nagomasu Kunoichi Fuu. (Seven: the heart-warming kunoichi, Fuu)
Yattsu yabai yo RAPPU no KIRA-BI-. (Eight: he's got crazy rap skills, Killer Bee)
Kokonotsu Konoha no Uzumaki Naruto. (Nine: the Leaf's Naruto Uzumaki)
Tottemo tsuyoi jinchuuriki no minna. (All the powerful Jinchuuriki have finally come together)
Bijuu to nakama yoku nareru kana. (Can they become friends with the Tailed Beasts?)
Minna rippana shinobi dane. (They're all splendid shinobi)
Minna sutekina shinobi dane (They're all wonderful shinobi)
They finished out their dance and once the drummers stopped, they bowed towards the bonfire while the onlooking crowd cheered. The Shrine Maidens, Jinchuuriki, and Hyuuga celebrated at the successful performance, the lot of them hugging one another or sharing special handshakes.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata called through the cluster of dancers as she tried to squeeze her way pass Jinchuuriki and Shrine Maidens.
"Hinata!" Naruto called back and watched as Hinata ran into his arms. He lifted her off the ground and spun her around. He put her down shortly after and buried his face in her neck as he held her tightly. "God, I've missed you."
"I missed you too," Hinata said as she rubbed Naruto's back. This was the first time the two of them had seen each other since preparation began, their schedules usually keeping them apart up until now.
"And the happy couple is reunited," Menma called, all the Jinchuuriki cheering since they'd been listening to Naruto complain the last couple of weeks.
Hinata giggled as Naruto made faces at the Jinchuuriki who happily played along, the lot of them laughing at one another. When she took ahold of Naruto's hands, she saw how he smiled at her. "And Day One of Ten has officially begun."
"Happy Purification Festival," Naruto said as he kissed Hinata's forehead and listened to her giggle.
To Be Continued…