Disclaimer: I don't own spirited away.
Ornament your Ritual Gifts, Decorate the sacrifice -lie your way into heaven.
It was once such day, with the Dragon seated high above the town square -watching, always watching- that Chihiro received a phone call from the city council. Quiet voices asking for her to come to the shrine. Asking for her to be brave -allow herself to be dressed and painted like the old princesses from the time he had once knew; in heavy kimono and and lacquer. To lead a procession to the cliff above the point where the river met the bay. And give an offering to the crashing waves.
She did not deny them.
The old women who usually just sat by their windows and their drank tea in silence surrounded her, armed with combs and paints and hushed reassurances of her beauty. And layer after layer of beautiful, silk kimono. It felt like being prepared for a wedding, but then, when else would such luxury come onto her?
And after such treatment, she was not surprised when awaiting her at the steps of the shrine was a Litter and four men standing at attention, waiting to carry her and her offering away. It was a parade of grandeur and all came to witness it. All came to bow as she passed.
It was a strange feeling.
But she was not afraid -the dragon was not cruel. He made the water sweet and the flowers grow. And it was with this lack of fear that she allowed herself to be lead to the edge of the cliff, arms full of wild flowers and listening to the softly speaking priest who offered prayer to the wind.
It was with this trust that she listened when he gestured for her to give her offering to the water.
And when she felt hands come to rest against the small of her back, she did not fear also, though she should have.
Because in the next moment, all she could see were wild flowers, and the fractured sunlight as it disappeared above her.
Note: sorry about the delay; i was having a hard few days with work. As always though; Reviews are a very nice thing to leave.