"Are you sure this is the place?"
I looked back out at the small, bucolic village nestled into the base of the mountains once more, then back to Musashi, who was coming up behind me.
"Yes, quite sure," she smiled reassuringly before she looked out over the water at our destination. "While I cannot guarantee it will heal all that has been done to you, I hope it will, at the very least, impart some small measure of peace." My poker face must still have needed work because she glanced down at me and said, "I take it you still have reservations?"
"Yeah," I sighed as I glanced out over to the other side of the ship, where we could see the Sakura mainland. While it was likely too far away for us to swim, or for someone to swim out to us, it was still far too close for my liking. "For starters, we stick out like a sore thumb. This is going to draw attention to us in a big way and we don't have a lot of room to maneuver in this narrow channel."
"You're correct," she conceded, "We will undoubtedly draw someone's eye, however, we won't be here long enough for any potential agents to put plans into motion. I kept this journey secret until this morning and the shrine will be closed to outsiders while we are there. By the time someone realizes what is going on and can organize some sort of attack, we will already be back aboard and underway. And Haguro will be here on watch to make sure that the ship is protected from any threats."
Her logic was unassailable, but I still couldn't shake this feeling of unease. "I guess," I muttered softly as I rubbed the back of my neck. "Still can't shake this anxiety, though."
Musashi smiled a solemn smile and placed her hands on my shoulders, waiting for me to look up at her. "Commander, should anything come to pass while we are ashore, I promise I will keep you completely safe. Even if I have to level this entire shrine and invoke the anger of the gods, I will not let anyone harm so much as one single strand of hair on your head. This I swear."
As my eyes met hers, I could see the resolve behind those words, and I knew that she meant every single word she just spoke. She would stop at nothing to fulfill her vow, and while I hadn't personally seen her in action yet, I had little doubt that she had the ability to make good on that promise. While I would have doubted her a week ago, I found myself a little more trusting today.
Over that week, she was a constant, steady presence throughout the day, making sure that things operated smoothly and that I didn't have another panic attack. It helped to have her nearby, knowing that if one should occur, she would be right there to help me through it. It was hardly smooth sailing, however. I still had restless nights, and I still felt flashes of anger that would come out of seemingly nowhere, things, for the most part, were under control. Her aura still unnerved me and made me uncomfortable, but it had become a sensation I'd grown accustomed to. That daily routine, day in, day out, really helped me keep things straight and level. All thanks to her.
"I, uh, thanks," I murmured before I broke eye contact with her, suddenly feeling awkward and uneasy. "We should probably board the launch and head over, huh?"
"That would be a good idea," she smiled as she gestured to the boarding ladder. "After you, Admiral."
We carefully made our way onto the launch, or rather, I carefully made my way. Musashi strode down the steps with a graceful ease that would surely make any supermodel jealous, especially in those tall geta shoes. Once we were both aboard, the launch began to slowly head toward the massive reddish-orange gate that seemed to float at the mouth of the shrine.
"So, this…shrine," I began slowly as I began to notice the little details, "Is this home to your, uh…your 'cammies'?"
In a rare surprise, Musashi couldn't stifle the laugh that bubbled from her throat. "The what?" she giggled.
Suddenly feeling embarrassed and realizing Admiral Clark may not have had the right intel, I repeated myself. "Your 'cammies'? I'm sorry if I'm getting it wrong, it's what Admiral Clark said you called your gods."
As she got her giggles under control, she emphatically shook her head. "I appreciate the effort you're putting forth, Commander. It's pronounced kami. And…it is something of a complicated topic. Kami aren't gods, but they aren't of this world. They're closer to spirits."
Well, at least she didn't hate me or think I was being insensitive. "So…they're ghosts?"
Musashi frowned slightly and shook her head again. "Not quite. But they can be the spirits of the deceased if they are deified." When it was clear I was still lost, she gave me a soft smile and took a deep breath. "Kami are spirits of extraordinary power, but they are not necessarily gods, although some would be considered gods by the standard of other religions. Anything can be a kami, be it a place, an object, or a living being. In the Sakura Empire, there are over eight million kami!"
My mind reeled with the implications. "That's…a lot of kami."
"Indeed," she grinned. "It is a complicated subject, and one that cannot be easily summed up."
I nodded slowly, still trying to wrap my head around the concept. "And so who…or what…kami is worshipped at this particular shrine?"
"The three daughters of Susano-o: Ichikishimahime, Tagorihime, and Tagitsuhime. They are the goddesses of the sea and storms, much like Susano-o himself," her smile grew at the mention of this "Susano-o", and I couldn't help but comment on it.
"So these kami are deities, as is this Susano-o, who you seem fond of," I said, much to her surprise and delight.
"You could say I hold him up as my…patron kami. He is the god of seas, storms, the harvest, and…" A coy expression crossed her face as she finished, "...a couple of other areas."
"I see…" I said thoughtfully. "You know, back home, they say the people here look up to kansen as kami. Any truth to that?"
That coy expression grew as she smirked at me. "Depends who you ask."
"I'm asking you."
She stared at me, her golden eyes sizing me up before her smirk melted into a gentle smile. "No, we are not," she answered honestly. "At least, not as long as we're alive. It's possible that we could be enshrined as kami once we pass on, but until then, we are just people." She paused, for a moment, her smile fading. "…well, not quite people."
"You're people to me," I countered, almost reflexively.
Her smile returned as she continued to appraise me. If I had to guess, I'd say she liked what she had found. "I meant that we were more powerful and capable than your average person," she giggled, "but I appreciate the vote of confidence, Commander."
My cheeks flushed and she giggled in response. For a moment, I thought about just stepping off the boat and into the water to hide my shame, but I dismissed it just as quickly when I realized she would stop me the second I tried. "Well…I try," I sheepishly offered. In an attempt to quickly steer the conversation away from myself, I gestured to the large vermillion gate that floated in front of us. "So…what's this place called, anyway?"
While it was obvious that Musashi could see right through my flimsy attempt to change the subject, she nevertheless obliged and went back to playing the role of dutiful tour guide. "This is the Itsukushima Shrine," she stated, gesturing to both the large gate and the sprawling single-story structure beyond. "One of the oldest Shinto shrines in the Sakura Empire and one of our best known due to the unique 'floating' Grand Gate, or O-torii."
"It certainly looks impressive," I admitted as we drew closer to it and I could see just how massive it was. "I've seen these before in photos of the Sakura Empire, is there any significance to them?"
"Oh yes," she nodded emphatically. "They represent the border between the normal world and the sacred spaces inhabited by the kami. We are entering their home, so to speak. Speaking of which, as we pass through the O-torii, we must give proper respect for the kami, so when we pass under it, we will bow twice, clap once, and then bow again."
"O-okay," I stammered, not wanting to anger any spirits or kansen with my ignorance or dismissal.
The structure loomed over us as we began to pass through it, and for a moment, I wondered if we would fit between the arches. While the O-Torii was indeed massive, a ship's launch is no small craft, and I held my breath as we passed between the huge wooden beams. I tried to take my mind off of it by paying my respects to the kami. I bowed twice, clapped once, and bowed once more just as we cleared it. I let out a quiet sigh of relief as I glanced at the gate again behind us. If this sacred world was supposed to feel any different, I didn't notice. With the imminent "danger" behind us now, I returned my attention to Musashi. "So, is this the shrine you normally go to?"
She shook her head as she began to bring the launch in to dock at the small pier at the front of the shrine complex. "Susano-o has a shrine in Saitama, near Tokyo, that I prefer to visit."
"Then why this one?"
"Because Saitama is densely populated, the shrine would be much harder to secure, and because this shrine has…special rules…surrounding it." The way she phrased that piqued my curiosity, and Musashi must have noticed it because she went on to explain. "This shrine is seen as one of the purest shrines in the Sakura Empire, and in order to maintain that purity, great steps are taken."
I glanced over at the dock and the woman waiting for us there before looking back to Musashi. "Such as?"
"Violence, death, and battle of any kind is expressly forbidden on the island," she answered, much to my confusion.
"...and that sort of thing is perfectly okay anywhere else in the Sakura Empire?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not," she grinned, "but here, it is strictly enforced. The punishment is much harsher for even attempting to harm someone, let alone killing them. Even contemplating or preparing for violence of any kind is a good way to find yourself banished from the island. So even if these cultists were to find their way here, even if they were able to avoid suspicion somehow, and even if they were capable of launching some kind of attack-"
"-the locals would shut that down immediately because they wouldn't want to see the shrine sullied on their watch," I finished.
Musashi smiled proudly and nodded once. "Precisely. So you see, Commander, this is the safest place in all of the Sakura Empire."
I glanced around, feeling a bit safer than I had a few minutes before. As I went to nod in agreement, something occurred to me. "Wait. You said you'd level this shrine, but…battle's forbidden here."
Her smile died and her expression became grim and solemn. "I would not make the first overt act of aggression, but yes, should you find yourself in danger, I would not hesitate to pollute the sanctity of this place to protect you. I can always make amends, beg forgiveness from the kami, rebuild the shrine. I cannot make amends for your death nor would any amount of forgiveness bring you back to life." Her voice had become subdued, and a haunted expression came over her. "Yes, I would burn it all down if I had to." I knew that tone, and I knew that look in her eye, one of loss and regret. Part of me wanted to ask her about it, but the rest of me felt that if I was unwilling to discuss my past with her, it would have been rude for me to ask about hers. In the end, the moment passed when the boat reached the dock and a soft voice interjected.
"Well, let us hope it does not come to that," she said, and we both turned to look at the woman standing on the docks. She had a gentle, serene smile on her face, a black and red silk kimono, and long black hair with a vibrant blue butterfly pin. At first glance, I thought she had been a human tour guide Musashi had enlisted, but the cat ears atop her head marked her as a kansen. "Welcome to Itsukushima Shrine, Commander, Musashi-sama," she formally greeted us with a bow. "I am Fusou, and I will be watching over this shrine while you are here."
Musashi and I both returned the bow before we stepped off of the launch and onto the shrine's small dock. "A pleasure meeting you, Fusou," I replied with a polite smile. "Are you normally stationed at this shrine?"
"The honor is mine just for today," she said with a shake of her head. "Musashi-sama wanted only those who both you and she could trust. But if you wish, I could give you a tour of the shrine?"
I glanced up at Musashi, who gave me an encouraging look before I turned back to Fusou. "Thank you very much for the offer," I began with a rueful smile, "But if it's alright with everyone here, I would appreciate it if Musashi gave me the tour as we've already been discussing the shrine on the way over."
If there was any disappointment or dissatisfaction on Fusou's part, she hid it very well. "Of course. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask. Have a pleasant stay and do not forget to purify yourselves before offering your prayers." With a polite smile and another bow, she turned and left us to ourselves once more.
I waited until she was out of earshot before I turned to Musashi and asked, "Purify?"
A reassuring smile graced her face as she gestured where to go. "A simple cleansing ritual, but don't worry, I'll walk you through it. This way."
As we strolled down the covered walkways, I glanced down at the water that was lapping at the sides just inches from our feet. "How long has this place been here?"
"The exact date has been lost to time, sadly, but approximately a thousand years."
Again, I was stunned. "This whole thing is a thousand years old? How'd they build it on the water like this?"
"They waited for the tides." When I stopped and gave her a curious look, she pointed out to the O-Torii. "When it reaches low tide, the water recedes, giving people a dry surface to build on. Once the pillars and supports were in place, it would have been easy to build the rest."
"Amazing…" I breathed.
"Indeed it is," Musashi agreed before she placed her hand on my shoulder to bring me to a halt. "There. That is where we will purify ourselves."
I followed where she was pointing with her other hand and saw a large stone basin overflowing with running water from a bamboo faucet. It had a rugged, simplistic beauty to it as if the rock had been repurposed from nature. On the basin's edge were several beaten metal cups with long handles attached to them. "I take it we're going to use these cups to purify ourselves?"
"Correct," she nodded as she stepped around me and picked up one of the ladles. "I will go first to show you how it is done, so please pay attention."
I stepped up to the basin, picked up my own ladle, and watched her intently as she began the ritual. "With the right hand holding the hishaku," she began, holding up the long-handled scoop, "we dip it into the water and pour it out over our left hand, then we switch and do the same with our right hand." Relieved that this wasn't nearly as complicated as I had originally envisioned, I followed suit, pouring the water over one hand, then the other, feeling her gaze on me as I did so. "Now we switch the hishaku back to our right hand and pour water into our left hand, which we will then bring to our lips. But do not drink," she quickly warned. I cupped my left hand and poured a small amount of the cool water into it and then carefully lifted it to my lips. Once I felt the water touch my skin, I lowered my hand and let the water splash back onto the ground.
"Excellent," Musashi said encouragingly. "Now, we scoop one final time and hold up the hishaku to the water to flow down the handle and purify it for the next guest." I did so and set my ladle down next to hers. "And the purification is now complete and we are ready to offer our prayers to the kami. Come."
Her hand found mine as she lead me back under the covered walkways, and to my surprise, I didn't feel a sudden revulsion or desire to recoil from her touch. The unease in her aura that I'd been feeling wasn't there. Was this the shrine's doing? Was this simple purification ritual the thing I'd needed all along? Or had I simply become numb to the discomfort?
I didn't have much time to ponder why I was, or more specifically, wasn't feeling discomfort anymore, before we came to a stop in front of a wide open room with a large box blocking our path.
"Here we are," she smiled as she finally released my hand. "This is the honden, where the kami are enshrined. I know it's hard to see, given the size of the hall, but if you look, you can see the shrine there in the back."
Past the large, thick rope strung over the entrance, past the bright lanterns, I could barely make out something at the back of the room. "I'll take your word on that," I remarked before I looked up at her. "So do we kneel or…?"
With a grin, she shook her head and produced a small gold coin from her voluminous sleeves, and held it out to me. "First, we make an offering to the kami. Toss this coin into the box there."
"Does it need to be a specific kind of coin?" I asked as I took the coin and carefully tossed it in between the slats of the box.
"Any sort of offering is welcome," she answered with a shake of her head as she tossed in a coin of her own, "However, it is traditional to use a five-yen coin for luck."
"I'll take any extra luck I can get at this point," I quipped, much to her amusement.
"Agreed," she giggled before she returned to her instructions. "Now, once more, we will bow twice and clap twice, but after we clap, we will offer our prayers to the kami and once we have finished, we will bow one final time."
We both bowed and clapped in unison, but when it came time to pray, I froze. Was I supposed to say my prayers aloud or simply think them? Would it be okay to ask Musashi or would interrupting her be some sort of religious faux pas? I waited for a moment, straining to hear her voice, to see if she was praying aloud or silently. When I was sure she wasn't speaking, I concentrated on my own prayers. But…what did I want to pray for? Would they respond to something grand, like world peace and victory over the Sirens or would it be smaller, more personal? In the end, I decided to keep it small and prayed for some small measure of peace. To not feel so angry all the time, to have anxiety and frustration as my constant companions, to get a good night's sleep for a goddamn change.
Now, this is the part where I'd like to tell you that the kami answered my prayers, granted me serenity and tranquility, and I was able to magically overcome my grief and trauma. I'd like to tell you that, but, sadly, that was not the case. At least, not all at once. My prayers completed, I bowed once more and turned to face Musashi, who was waiting patiently for me.
"I hope they will answer your prayers, Commander," she said softly.
I bowed my head to her and said, "Thank you. I hope they answer yours as well." She smiled back and I looked around before asking, "Now what?"
"Now we can enjoy the shrine as you wish, or we can leave."
While the thought of returning to the safety of Musashi had its appeal, I found myself unwilling to leave the shrine so quickly. "Let's take in the sights for a bit," I suggested, much to her delight.
I don't know if the kami really did answer my prayers, or if the idyllic nature of the shrine itself simply helped me forget the stresses of my life, but bit by bit, I felt more relaxed, more at ease. At peace.
My demeanor changed so much that Musashi couldn't help but comment on it. "How do you feel, Commander? You seem…different."
The corners of my mouth twitched in a soft smile as I tore my eyes away from the Grand Gate, highlighted against the gray backdrop of Musashi's hull. "I feel…better," I slowly declared, my smile growing as I did so. A real smile. Not a polite one, one that was meant as a mask to keep people from worrying, but a genuine, honest smile. It felt good. "I feel calm, the calmest I've been since…since we met. But I also feel so damn tired. Like the way your hand can feel sore after you've been holding something tightly, you know?"
Musashi gave me a broad smile as she nodded in agreement. "You've unclenched," she stated. "And I don't just mean emotionally. I've watched you go about your day-to-day with your fists clenched tightly from sun up to sundown. Now, you've finally relaxed. I'm glad."
My cheeks flushed again, and I broke her gaze as I felt a tad overwhelmed by her attention to detail and her concern for my well-being. "Th-thanks," I sputtered, "I-" Whatever I was about to say was suddenly drowned out by my growling stomach. "Oh. Guess lunch is in or-" I cut myself off with a frustrated groan as I realized my MREs are all still aboard the ship. "Guess we'll have to cut this trip short to grab food," I sighed.
Musashi, on the other hand, seemed far from annoyed. In fact, she had a cunning smile on her face. "Actually, Commander, I think I have just the solution…"
A/N-Ah, so nice to finally have a gentle, fluffy chapter. Enjoy it while it lasts! Until next time, fair winds and following seas!
