Title:
PURGATORIOPart:
3 – Stupid Doll!
Author:
Shun'u [ff.net ID: 61008]
Series:
Inuyasha
Genre:
Supernatural/Suspense
Rating:
PG-13
Disclaimer:
Inuyasha, its characters and original storyline are © to Rumiko Takahashi, Shonen Sunday, and subsequent parties. "Purgatorio" is an original fanfiction © to Shun'u [h_shunu@hotmail.com].
Posted:
January 2003Author's Notes and Review Responses:
Please read stories in order written:
[1] Prelude
[2] Full Circle
[3] Purgatorio
[4] Cycles of the Moon (A/U – Optional)
All stories are posted on Fanfiction.net:
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=61008
Shun'uFor early updates and teasers, please join my Updates Mailing List at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shunu
In response to *oh nameless one*:
Hey, thanks for the info. I was wondering about their names. Just forgot altogether.
In response to Alyson Metallium:
Aly! Thanks. Hehe. Since you have the inside scoop, I won't linger too long in the comments. Thought you'd like that little bit of interaction! *smirk*
In response to jammincat9:
Hi there. What's your email? *confused* I can't let you know anything if I can't respond… Oh well. Thanks for reviewing. You can easily just search ff.net for more s/k fanfics. There are tons out there now.
In response to Dark Star:
Aww… I'm sorry you had to put away your party favors. It's just that Kikyou can't be killed yet. I have plans for her, you see. *maniacal laughter* *cough* Sorry about that. ^^; Hmm… regarding Souta, he wasn't crying all that much… it was Kagome. *blink* I'll re-read the chapter and see where I went wrong.
In response to Forsaken Tenshi:
Keep reading! And thanks for the review.
In response to Ceylia:
Cel, Cel, Cel, darling. Check out the last segment of this chapter. Maybe I can help jumpstart your ficcy a little? Maybe just a tad? *begs* I wanna read chap. 18! Ahem. Oh dear. How undignified of me. ^_~
In response to ChaosCat:
*grin* You're the first and only person (so far) to feel bad for Inu-chan! Don't suppose that you're good at art? Hmm? Maybe someone can do a picture of Inuyasha sitting there all pathetic looking while he pines for Kagome?
In response to Momiji:
Thanks for the review! Wow. I think you've reviewed each and every part so far. This is great! ^^
In response to MoonRyoko:
There, there. It'll be all right. Let auntie Shun'u take care of you. Trust me. *wink* No matter how the pairings end up after I'm done tortur- *cough* developing these characters, you'll be happy. Promise. ^^
In response to Shadow Dragon:
Thanks for reviewing! Hope to see you next chapter. ^^
In response to jane:
Erm… eventually, yes. For now? No. Hehe. Poor Inuyasha's gonna have to deal with it. He won't like it, but he'll have to deal with it.
In response to Slice:
Is this update soon enough for you? ^_^ Man, I don't think I've updated this quickly in ages… and if anyone comments on that I'm gonna sick Naraku on you. =P
In response to Talon DragonFriend:
I can't believe you've sat through all those stories… That's just about the nicest compliment anyone can give me! Thanks! And do drop a review for Jaken's poor tale. Nobody seems to like him! *sniff* I do. No matter what anyone says. Oh, and you might get a special treat out of the last part of this chapter. Hehehe!
Purgatory
(as defined in Merriam-Webster)
1: an intermediate state after death for expiatory purification; specifically: a place or state of punishment wherein according to Roman
Catholic doctrine the souls of those who die in God's grace may make
satisfaction for past sins and so become fit for heaven.
2: a place or state of temporary suffering or misery.
P U R G A T O R I O
· |· Sequel to Full Circle · |·
An Inuyasha Fanfiction
By Shun'u
Part III: Stupid Doll!By the time she finally came downstairs everyone was gathered around the low table in the living room. Everyone being: her mother, grandfather, and Souta. Buyo the cat believed himself above scrounging for table scraps and refused to sit by during meals. Either that, or he was just too lazy to bother getting up from wherever he was cozily ensconced in the house.
Kagome hopped the last two steps on light feet. Her navy blue socks almost slipping on the wood flooring. Adjusting the bell-sleeves of her ivory turtleneck, she made her way to the place setting reserved for her on grandfather's left hand side. Oden broth was simmering in a hot pot and the rice cooker sat conveniently to her mother's right. All of the food was laid out in two deep platters, ready to be cooked and consumed.
"Sorry!" she said a little breathlessly. It had taken a while to find her favorite black wool skirt beneath piles of freshly laundered clothes. "I didn't mean to take so long."
She blinked in confusion when no one responded. Then she realized that their attention was riveted on the television. Kagome hadn't noticed the low hum of the set until then. Sometimes it was difficult to adjust to modern conveniences and electronic gadgets after spending such extended periods making do without either electricity or plumbing.
"There have been numerous mysterious sightings of ghosts all across Japan. From Hokkaido, to Honshu, to Okinawa, we report…"
The screen panned out to show a busy downtown Shibuya district. People were bustling to and fro, heedless of others and rushing to their destinations with a single-minded focus only to be found in large metropolitan areas. Nowhere was the famed decorum and politeness of the Japanese people to be found. These were business people out and about for a reason and they had no time to spare for such things as courtesies.
The camera jerked off-focus and the poor reporter was jostled into an avid bystander. Flustered, he ran a hand through mussed brown hair and continued determinedly.
"The first report came in last evening at approximately 8pm from Kyoto. An elderly ramen shop owner reported seeing ghosts from the revolution running through the streets of Kyoto. Described as sword-bearing samurai in dark clothing, he claims to have seen them-"
The reporter suddenly stopped and coughed. He tugged at his generic blue and gray striped tie with the pudgy white-skinned fingers of a man unused to manual labor. Kagome reached over to turn up the volume. On the screen, the news reporter cleared his throat one more time before continuing.
"He claims to have seen them… murdering other samurai spirits in the street.
"In addition to this report, we hear from Hiroshima that ghosts are rising from Ground Zero, where the Atomic Bomb had been dropped during World War 2.
"In Hokkaido…"
The frazzled reporter's voice drowned out as the channel's primary anchor reappeared on the screen. His usual placid professionalism had been replaced by a pasty white countenance.
"No one knows what to make of these sightings. Due to the widespread nature of the incidences, possibility of this being an elaborate media hoax has been disregarded. Religious leaders throughout Japan have begun researching the possible reasons for these events. There is speculation of mass hysteria being the root cause of the exponential growth in supposed spiritual phenomena.
"On to other matters in the news…"
Grandfather rested his elbows on the low table, assuming a contemplative pose with arthritic fingers steepled beneath his chin.
"Hmm… interesting…" he said. The serious tone in his age-roughened voice was a surefire cue that he was about to launch into one of his infamous lectures.
Kagome sighed silently to herself.
Hands slammed down onto the table, causing dishes and bowls to rock and chopsticks to slide off of their rests to clatter noisily onto the varnished wood table.
Souta jumped. He leaned back and stared at their grandfather, culprit of the minor earthquake. Their mother calmly began to scoop out bowls of rice, which Kagome helped in passing around.
Mrs. Higurashi asked practically, "Grandfather, do you suppose that we will be receiving more visitors to the shrine soon?"
Grandpa Higurashi nodded sagely. The topknot on his head so heavily gelled that it didn't budge even a millimeter. "Yes," he stroked his thin goatee absently. "People will be seeking wards of protection against these spirits."
Souta's eyes grew round. "You think the ghosts are real, Grandpa?"
"Undoubtedly, grandson!" A feverish, almost fanatical light entered their grandfather's eyes. "Spirits are as real as living breathing people. This is why we must always take care never to offend them. It is also why we pay homage to the dead by lighting incense and keeping a shrine to them in our homes."
Souta edged closer to his mother. This strategic move coincidentally set him a little farther away from his wild-eyed grandfather.
He asked, "Oneechan, do you think they're bad ghosts?"
Kagome swallowed the mouthful of rice that she had been chewing on. She didn't want to frighten Souta anymore than he already was. However, she didn't want to lie either. And the truth of the matter was that those spirits could very well be the "bad" kind.
"I don't know, Souta, but they would've mentioned it if these ghosts were hurting people, right?"
Their mother was quick to catch Kagome's hint. "Yes, of course, Kagome-chan. Now," she placed a piece of tofu into Grandpa Higurashi's dish, "let's not talk anymore about ghosts and goblins. Kagome-chan, can you pass me the soy sauce please?"
~~~*~~~
Kikyou found Kaede in her cottage alone save for the kitsune child. The little boy was curled up into a ball with his tail clutched in one hand and the other cushioning his cheek from the hardwood floor. He was as close to the hearth fire as can be without endangering any limbs to the open flame.
Kaede sat with her back to the door, a dangerous position to be in without knowing who might enter. She was hunched over a piece of cloth. In her still-steady hand was a shiny metal needle the likes of which Kikyou had never seen. Brown thread trailed over Kaede's blue clad forearm and into her lap where the brown vest pooled. By the size of the garment, Kikyou guessed that it belonged to the kitsune. A quick glance confirmed that he was indeed missing his brown vest and only had a blue shirt on.
The undead priestess paused almost hesitatingly on the threshold. Although they were sisters by blood, she was uncertain of her welcome. There were times Kaede's censure and disapproval weighed heavily in the air between them.
"Kaede."
The aged priestess finished her stitch and jabbed her needle into the hem she had been working on. Kikyou pushed back a surge of annoyance at how slow Kaede was in responding; she was accustomed to people jumping to do her bidding, conceding to her demands no matter the cost or sacrifice to themselves.
"Oneesama." Kaede acknowledged her sister's presence.
She looked Kikyou over, seeing no changes in her sister since their last meeting; Kikyou was still beautiful. She reminded Kaede of how Myouga had once described Inuyasha's elder brother: perfect and cold. But then, there was always more to a person than meets the eye. Beneath Kikyou's beautiful exterior lurked a mind of dark cunning. The reason for Kikyou's success as a priestess was her sympathetic understanding of the creatures that hunted her. To defeat the monsters she had had to become one of them. In many ways Kaede did not regret not becoming as good of a priestess as her sister.
"How are you doing?" Kaede gestured for Kikyou to take a seat on one of her quilted cushions.
Kikyou propped her bow and quiver against the wall behind her and accepted the invitation silently. She waved away a proffered cup of tea. She no longer ate or drank.
"I am well," Kikyou replied stiffly. It was strange, trading inane pleasantries as if they met on a regular basis for tea. She shifted and smoothed the red hakama over her knees. "I came to inquire about something I've recently discovered," she said.
"Oh?" Kaede waited patiently for further explanation.
Kikyou proceeded to sketch a brief explanation of her findings.
"My soul gatherers have found less and less souls in the past two days. When I went in search myself, I found this to be true. Not only human, but also beast and youkai souls are disappearing. Unless I am there when someone dies, I cannot find lingering spirits as I usually can."
Kaede sipped her hot tea, warming rheumatic hands on the brown-gray clay cup. "What brings you here," she specified, "to this village?"
"The spirits are more dense here…" Kikyou's gaze was fare away. "The closer I came to this village and the forest that neighbors it, the more spirits I encountered." Her gray eyes were almost flinty. "What is happening here to draw all of those souls, Kaede?"
Kaede placed her cup on the floor. She sighed and tucked her cold hands into her sleeves. They always seemed to be cold now: her hands. Even during the peak of summer there was a perpetual chill in her aching joints. Over sixty years of life… Kaede supposed that she was lucky to have lived so long and so well compared to others. If only she didn't feel her age every time she bent over to pick something up or rose from a sitting position.
"The increase in spiritual activity here began yesterday evening," Kaede finally said. "I had hoped," here she sighed and shook her head, "that it would end. But it did not." Kaede gazed into her teacup. "I do not know what is happening or why. Maybe you can find out, Oneesama. You have always been more sensitive than I."
Kikyou stood and reached for her weapons before asking, "Does this have anything to do with the girl?"
Kaede frowned at her sister's unwillingness to say Kagome's name. "I don't know… There could be many other reasons. This particular forest is imbued with strong magic."
"But how quiet it must have been before she came," was Kikyou's cryptic response.
Kaede could not completely deny Kikyou's observation. However, she did murmur softly, "It is no worse now than it had been during your life, Oneesama."
Kaede resumed her stitching of the seam Shippou had busted open in one of his tussles with Inuyasha. Shippou hadn't stirred so much as a hair while Kikyou had paid her visit, but now he sat up wide-awake. The kit moved next to Kaede.
"Do you think Kagome's okay, Kaede?"
"We can only hope so, Shippou."
Shippou sat in deep thought while Kaede finished the last knot. The fine thread Kagome had thoughtfully brought from her time worked marvelously. Kaede had never had such ease sewing until Kagome brought back the spools of thread, steel needles and scissors.
"Kagome-chan will be fine, Shippou," Kaede's rusty voice was reassuring. "She is blessed, that child."
Shippou nodded. He said, "I'm gonna see what Inuyasha's up to."
~~~*~~~
Blessed as I am cursed, huh?
Mildly disgusted by the self-pity coloring her thoughts, Kikyou's lips thinned and her stride lengthened to quicken her escape from memories of the past: of the old cottage where now she was a barely (if even) tolerated guest. So lost in her thoughts, was she, that Kikyou failed to see the streak of red until it had barreled straight into her and knocked her to the ground. She became ensnared in a net of limbs, and fought to restore bruised dignity.
"Watch where you're going!" She snapped blindly at the clumsy oaf who'd caused her fall. She dusted off her soiled clothing with angry strokes.
"Hey, bitch, why don't you watch where you're going?" snarled an irritated voice.
Kikyou straightened in disbelief. Had she been that lost in thought that she didn't even recognize his aura? "Inuyasha?"
"Ki- Kikyou?" Inuyasha looked bewildered. Confusion made him scratch his head. "What are you doing here?"
She said coolly, "I am performing my duties as a priestess."
"Heh." Miroku and Sango had caught up to Inuyasha.
The golden rings on the houshi's staff jingled when he planted it in the ground. He leaned into it indolently, combative antagonism apparent in every line of the lean body hidden beneath layers of indigo and black. By his side was the demon exterminator with her immense weapon slung over her shoulder, ready to be released at the first sign of danger.
"What dedication," the houshi said, "Even after death you think of your duties? I'm surprised you've been able to perform them. Seeing as how you're no longer quite as pure."
Kikyou narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Sango ribbed Miroku into silence. He acceded somewhat ungraciously, but refused to relax his ready stance. Then again, neither did Sango. The only one unguarded was Inuyasha. His was an almost childish trust of the undead priestess.
"Shut up, Miroku," Inuyasha growled. He turned to Kikyou. "What are you doing here, Kikyou?" he repeated.
Kikyou broke off her glaring contest with the disrespectful monk. Her answer was clipped. "I came to find something out."
Inuyasha became alert. "Do you know something about the well?"
"She's probably the one who did it," Miroku muttered.
Sango elbowed him unhesitatingly. "Houshi-sama!" she rebuked. Some days she truly felt like she was babysitting a bunch of children.
"Ouch!" Miroku winced and rubbed his side. She had to elbow him three times in the same spot. "Easy, Sango-sama. You wouldn't want to harm the father of your unborn children, would you?"
His bid to win a smile failed miserably, as was apparent by Sango's flat stare. Miroku held his hands up in surrender when Sango began to tap her boomerang sharply with her fingernails. He smiled, hoping to soothe her considerable temper.
"Maa~ maa~"
Throughout all of this Kikyou zoomed in on one thing. "The well?"
Inuyasha opened his mouth. And was hastily silenced by two hands clamping over it while he was dragged unceremoniously away from Kikyou. They were well out of hearing distance when he turned on his abductors angrily.
"What the fuck! I'm trying to find some answers here!"
Sango promptly whacked him upside the head. Inuyasha's head whipped sharply to the side. He snarled in reaction and the rush of anger brought youki swimming to the surface. Then, Miroku was suddenly between the two, one arm outstretched protectively in front of the demon exterminator, the other holding his staff in front of Inuyasha. He was focused completely on the hanyou and therefore missed the rise in color that momentarily touched Sango's cheeks. Inuyasha was too angry to even notice.
Unflinching, Miroku met his friend's fury head on. "Think for a moment, Inuyasha. Why would Kikyou want to help the girl who stands in the way of everything she wants?"
"She wouldn't-" Inuyasha began to deny.
Sango cut in. "She would, and she could."
The look she leveled on Inuyasha froze and burned in turn. Inuyasha crossed his arms, staring off into the distance with his trademark stubbornness. The posture was enough to set Sango off again. She stepped around Miroku's arm and got up into the hanyou's face, uncaring of her own safety. Concern for Kagome overrode all thought of circumspection. And Miroku, wise man, did not stop her.
"Listen here, you stubborn man," Sango hissed quietly, startling Inuyasha enough with her vehemence that he listened to every word she said. "The well is sealed and we don't know if Kagome-chan is stuck in her time or not. Hell! We don't even know if she's in danger right this moment while her weapons are here and none of us can help her. To top that off, she has all the shards of the Shikon Jewel. Now in case you've failed to notice, Inuyasha." She punctuated his name with a pause. Inuyasha winced involuntarily at her scathing tone.
"There are a lot of unsavory characters who would love to take advantage of this moment to catch her alone and unprotected. And just so that you know, since you're too blinded by your never-ending infatuation to see for yourself, one of those people happens to be standing over there." Sango jerked her chin to indicate Kikyou, who remained watchful of the trio.
Sango took a deep breath. "Personally," she said, "I don't care how you deal with her, but if you so much as breathe one word that might endanger Kagome-chan." Sango's arms trembled. "So help me!"
The demon exterminator stalked away with ground eating strides without another word, leaving behind one stunned hanyou and a bemused monk in her wake. Miroku gazed after the young woman with an unreadable expression on his carefully blank face.
Inuyasha scraped at the ground with his toe. He didn't say a word.
Miroku gave him a lopsided smile, the charm that would have melted many women's hearts, old or young, was lost on Inuyasha.
"Well, I guess she said everything that needed to be said." With that Miroku hoisted his staff and left Inuyasha to talk to Kikyou alone.
~~~*~~~
"Your friends disapprove of me," Kikyou observed.
She hadn't been able to hear the intense conversation, but none of them ever made a secret of how they felt – especially not the monk. Kikyou quickly stifled her irritation. It mattered little what any of them thought. To her, they were ants to be trod upon and insignificant.
The priestess had been alone for so much of both her life and afterlife that she was unable to understand the bonds of friendship and companionship that kept Inuyasha's group together. She thought that they followed Inuyasha because individually they were unable to survive. Never had she considered that they were capable, but chose to be with their friends instead of living in solitude.
Inuyasha's jaw worked silently for a moment. He chose his words with uncharacteristic care, Sango's diatribe still echoing in his sensitive ears. He had no doubt that the demon exterminator would follow through with her promise. Sango's will and determination was second to none. Naraku could testify to that; she had been hunting him relentlessly since her family's death and Kohaku's enslavement. For that he could respect her… and her wishes.
"Feh." Inuyasha tried to infuse some cockiness into his voice. "Ignore them."
"Oh?" Kikyou asked bluntly, "What did you mean by 'the well'?"
Inuyasha wouldn't meet her perceptive gaze. "Nothing important." He asked, "What're you looking for?"
Kikyou let the subject drop only because she had more pressing matters to attend to than playing hide-and-seek-answers with her former love. She gave him a quick summary of what had been happening, including the fact that Naraku appeared to be missing. When she finished Inuyasha had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Well? Do you know anything?" she asked.
Inuyasha shook his head. "No. But I'll find you if I learn anything."
Kikyou settled for his answer and rose to depart.
"Kikyou."
She paused and looked back.
"Do you ever… that is," Inuyasha drew a deep, fortifying breath, "Do you ever miss what we had?"
"What we had?" she repeated tonelessly. Gray eyes remained devoid of feeling. "No. I do not."
Inuyasha walked slowly back to the village. Along the way he rubbed the spot directly over his sternum. If he let his mind drift he could almost feel the wooden shaft that had been embedded in his heart for fifty years. It had never truly disappeared… even after the spell had been broken…
~~~*~~~
Beyond the trees Kikyou rested. Amazingly, the perimeter of the forest almost acted as an invisible barrier. Inside there were hordes of souls to be reaped. Outside there were none. Kikyou sat upon a log and set her bow aside, not bothering to remove the quiver strapped diagonally across her back.
She would have to return to Inuyasha's forest often if things did not change soon. Otherwise her energy would run too low to perform even the simplest of ritual magic.
"What we had…" she murmured softly.
"No… Inuyasha, I do not miss what we had." She pressed a hand over where her heart should have been. Her hand squeezed. "I miss what we could have been."
~~~*~~~
"Jaken."
"Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken was about to bow low, when he noticed the doll still clutched in his green-skinned hands. "Awk!" he squawked.
Sesshoumaru arched a moon-white brow but withheld comment about his faithful retainer's present dilemma. Either Jaken would dispose of the incriminating evidence of… playtime… or he would figure out a way to properly genuflect without dropping the ragged looking thing. The youkai lord suspected that Jaken would rather not drop the toy, as it was one of Rin's favorites; Kagome had given it to her last summer.
Sesshoumaru fazed Jaken out as his thoughts turned to the young woman from last night's dream. He had been actively not thinking of her the past few months with relative success. For that dream to have occurred… it was abnormal.
Never in the past had they intruded into each other's dreams without being in physical contact. Why now? And how? He knew that she came from the future, and knew by what means she traveled back and forth to this time. Just recently Jaken had informed him that Inuyasha's group was in the village by the well. Judging by the pattern of their activities, this meant that Kagome was back at home with her family.
The question demanded an explanation. How had they been able to communicate through time?
More importantly… what was happening to the spirits for them to be in such turmoil, for he had no doubts that the dream had been a message.
Sesshoumaru's attention was drawn to Jaken, who had stilled to an attentive quiescence. The retainer had finally solved his problem by stuffing the doll, head first, into the outermost fold of his kimono. Sesshoumaru took one look at the tiny plastic legs protruding from Jaken's robes and strode out of the room.
Jaken scrambled after his master, one hand clutching the doll's legs to his chest to keep them from knocking against him, and the other carrying his two-headed staff.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?" Jaken was confused by his master's sudden eagerness to leave him. "Did you need this Jaken to do something for you?"
Jaken nearly tripped over the front hem of his kimono. He almost had to run to keep up with Sesshoumaru's longer tread.
"Awk!"
The toad-like youkai stuffed the problem-causing doll deeper into his grayish-green garments. He scowled.
"Stupid doll! Stay where you are!" he ordered. Irritation lacing his quivery voice, he shook an admonishing finger at the legs sticking up out of his kimono as he spoke. Of course Sesshoumaru chose that moment, just when Jaken wasn't looking up, to stop.
The little retainer crashed into his master's calves with an, "oomph," and toppled backwards without further ado. The doll flew out of Jaken's kimono to lie face up next to his head; one perfect, plastic leg sticking straight up while the other, equally perfect and plastic leg, was hooked in his collar. On the bright side, Jaken managed to keep hold of the two-headed staff in his left hand. On the not so bright side, the old man's head lay next to the doll's blonde head and looked ready to release a small flame to destroy its newest perceived enemy.
The youkai lord turned just enough to take all of this in. Wordlessly, Sesshoumaru grabbed Jaken by the collar to stand his servant up. He left Jaken to collect himself. Halfway down the corridor Sesshoumaru stopped.
In a tightly controlled voice, he said, "Prepare to leave in one hour."
Jaken immediately replied, "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
As Sesshoumaru rounded the corner, the youkai lord distinctly heard another muttered, "Stupid doll!"
~~~*~~~
Gah~! I can't believe I neglected a glossary of terms 'til now. Why didn't one of you tell me? *wails* *sniff* Well, better late than never, I guess. Here's a listing of the Japanese terms I've used (somewhat liberally) throughout the fic so far.
Youkai: demon – meaning is more complex than the western word implies… youkai are mythical and a strong part of Japanese folklore. They're like a cross between the creatures found in Greek Mythology and Fairy Tales. Hmm… what I'm trying to say is that Oni and Kitsune are well known mythical creatures.
Kitsune: fox spirit/demon – fabled to originally have been foxes, these creatures gained the ability to assume other forms and would often act as humans. Very playful and beautiful.
Hanyou: half-demon – the other half is left up to the other parent. =P
Houshi: wandering monk
Youki: demonic energy – power that youkai have.
Hakama: pleated pants – you see them plenty in anime. It's the lower part of Kikyou's miko outfit… which takes us to the next term! ^_^
Miko: priestess – hmm… based on the context of what I've read, I'm assuming that these are virginal priestesses. They have greater spiritual power than the average human and serve at shrines. Often protecting shrines and holy relics.
Kimono: the traditional garb of Japanese people. Many types. And many layers! Good lord. During the Heian era the women wore 12-layer kimonos. Can you believe how heavy that would have been? Not to mention hot…
Important Side Note: Kimonos are worn with the right side folded in first (closest to the skin) and the left on top. Most westerners wear robes left flap underneath right because it's the natural motion for right-handed people to keep their more dexterous hand free. However, don't wear a kimono this way… just a word of warning for you. And a note for future reference *cough* (hint-hint). Japanese dress their dead with the left fold beneath the right fold… in other words, only dead people would "wear" a kimono in this fashion.
~~~*~~~
Hehe! Hope you enjoyed the last part! I have to admit… this chapter is really rough… I just typed it up and uploaded it. Let me know what you think. Until next time! ^_^
Shun'u