[She'd happened on the hidden shrine once before. And she'd been busy at the time, having deadlines to meet and the usual stress that accompanies a college student --
But she'd never forgotten about it, how it seemed to melt into view, a quiet refuge surrounded by a thick outcropping of trees. Small and clean and apparently cared for. So much like the little shrines from her childhood, dotted across the Japanese landscape as a tribute to mischievous spirits.
She bows at the gate before entering, managing her pink tote that's weighed down with gifts. If there is a small well to clean her hands, she'll do so first, and then continue until she's in front of the shrine proper. The bell is rung -- once, then a bow, twice, then kneeling to her knees -- before she begins to pray.
... Or just to think, perhaps, because Sakura doesn't know what she wants anymore. Strength, or courage, or just a quick end when it comes. Hands clasped together, she presses her forefinger and thumbs into her forehead, breathes through her nose until her heartbeat is slow and even.
If there is a god, or gods, or anyone who bothers to look down from their throne, then she hopes that perhaps they'll pity her for a little while, selfish as it is.]
[Baren sits at the back of the shrine, idly running his hands through the teal feathers of a chocobo. He watches Sakichi's horse eat away at a small trough for one, and listens to the sound of footsteps. The animals around him move as if to counter the intruder but for now, Baren insists on holding their attention.
Someone uses the well, then rings the bell. He leans back against the old wooden surface of the shrine and listens for a few heartbeats more.
Then he sends Tanuki first.
Tanuki skitters away from Baren, wandering around the shrine to approach the girl that he doesn't know or recognize.
This probably isn't the prayer she wanted, but Tanuki has spent 300 years watching humans. He sees one who seems to be lacking in laughter at the moment. So he approaches her without fear, instead just sitting his rump down a few paces away from her and sniffing vaguely in her direction.
Hands back in her lap after prayer, Sakura receives a slight startle at the sight of the... ta... nuki? That is absolutely a tanuki. A plump-looking one, too, sniffing at her but otherwise looking harmless. Her glance shoots up to the bell, then back to it.]
< Oh my, did I call the guardian of this shrine to me? >
[She speaks in melodic Japanese, voice naturally quiet in the atmosphere. She shoots Tanuki a smile before reaching for her tote.]
< Well, it'd be rude not to leave you an offering for good luck. >
[What does a tanuki even eat? Sakura feels like she might've skipped that lesson in her childhood. Nonetheless she has a packet of rice cakes with her, and breaks open one to offer the creature.]
his tanuki is so fucking fat. soon he'll have to roll him.
That said Tanuki is smart. The guardian of the shrine. He likes that. His ears twitch as he seems to consider it. He's the guardians of the Kumous, maybe, even if this one doesn't remember that's who he is. When she reaches for her tote, he naturally moves closer and sniffs some more.
At the site of a rice cake, his eyes light up as he immediately wobbles on his hind legs to close the distance faster so he can nibble on one end.
[Oh no, it's so cute, she'd like to order ten please.
She is also an absolute sucker for pudgy animals, already digging to bring out another rice cake.]
< Here, for tomorrow, since I won't be able to come back and pray for a bit. Try to ration them out, okay? >
[Listen, she gave it her best shot. If the little darling shoves this one down its face in the next five minutes, that's hardly her fault. She chuckles quietly watching it eat.]
< I have to say, I love your shrine. It's so peaceful... We had some like these in Japan, too. >
[baren makes a note to put up a sign "stop feeding the tanuki"
but tanuki will just continue to eat happily, wiggling his round body happily even as he looks back at her and seems to be listening to her problems. it's true, he understands human language fairly well by now.... but then he's gonna go and retrieve baren!! he scutters away, but will come back into view a few moments later after he's managed to get his teeth on one of baren's shoelaces and started pulling him over]
Oi Tanuki, watch it, these are new...
[but despite the fact that he was definitely listening, he has the nerve to act a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. when he speaks to her it's similarly in Japanese - ]
< Ah, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. > [well... he didn't... he didn't expect visitors at all] < Don't worry about me - stay here as long as you want.... >
Which means she was babbling in the presence of a stranger, and that heats her cheeks with embarrassment, stare immediately hitting the floor of the shrine. He seems to know Japanese...? And whether that's his heritage or a language he picked up, she responds in kind after a bow of respect, realizing he must be the true owner.]
< No bows necessary - and it's kinda funny, that you were more chattery with Tanuki. Am I intimidating or something...? >
[He wants to clarify that easily, giving a wave of his hand. She's embarrassed. He gets that. But there's no judgment coming from him and he only moves to reach up to pet the tanuki that rests on his shoulder.]
< He's mine in the sense that he won't leave me alone... but he took a liking to you pretty quick. >
[... Right, so. This man is not to Japanese that he's going to adhere to the cultural "Ask no questions" clause. Honestly, she's a little startled by the boldness of his question, but it also seems to shake her out of her nervousness. For now.]
< Sorry... I suppose I get nervous around strangers... >
[The reply, carefully crafted like an apology, is followed by a tiny smile. Still not meeting his eyes, though.]
[Oh honey... that is not how nervousness works. At all. Her lips pull into a somewhat amused smile.]
< I've never thought of it like that. >
[Ah well, it's a moot point, and she won't dwell on it. Not when there's a cute tanuki to coo over. She covers up a laugh with the back of her hand, though it doesn't completely diminish the sound]
< I see many visitors assume he's the shrine's guardian and treat him accordingly. >
[Yeah your tanuki is pretty fat but look? at how? cute?? she wiggles her fingers at him, into a little wave]
[baren has no idea how anxiousness works he really does just shoot in the dark in hopes of one day getting it right
(he won't)
that said, tanuki will tilt his head at the wiggle of her fingers and then do a little nod of his head back. hello. you fed him. you can stay.]
< When he's around here, I guess. He uses that face of his to worm his way into people's hearts, and also onto their plates. Do me a favor and use at least a little restraint with him, yeah? It's for his own good. He doesn't get nearly enough exercise to balance it all out. >
[If she were bolder than she is, Sakura would make mention of her two kittens and how they'd love to help this cute little tanuki burn some weight.
:) ]
< Of course. My apologies if I contributed to the problem. >
[This apology, at least, seems more relaxed than her previous statements. It's obvious she's not quite as nervous now.]
< ... Um, are you someone who looks after this shrine? >
[She's hesitant to name him the owner, as talk of spirits aside, "owning" a shrine might be seen as a little presumptuous, and she doesn't know him well enough to assume he wouldn't take offense.]
He hates owning things like this, but there's really no way to answer that wouldn't be a terribly obvious lie. Still, he seems nonchalant about it, giving a shrug.]
< One of them, anyway. >
[That's the truth - but he's still technically the owner, considering that it was given to him by Retrospec.]
[Well. Partly. She supposes it's only fair to delve into the bigger truth if she's going to make a habit of coming here every so often, like she promised Tanuki.]
< It's very nice. And I hadn't realized how much I missed seeing shrines until I found yours in the forest. >
[Picking lightly at her skirt, she tosses her glance to the side, still feeling bashful.]
< In Japan it was commonplace, but here in America, it's like something out of a fairytale... >
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4/25
But she'd never forgotten about it, how it seemed to melt into view, a quiet refuge surrounded by a thick outcropping of trees. Small and clean and apparently cared for. So much like the little shrines from her childhood, dotted across the Japanese landscape as a tribute to mischievous spirits.
She bows at the gate before entering, managing her pink tote that's weighed down with gifts. If there is a small well to clean her hands, she'll do so first, and then continue until she's in front of the shrine proper. The bell is rung -- once, then a bow, twice, then kneeling to her knees -- before she begins to pray.
... Or just to think, perhaps, because Sakura doesn't know what she wants anymore. Strength, or courage, or just a quick end when it comes. Hands clasped together, she presses her forefinger and thumbs into her forehead, breathes through her nose until her heartbeat is slow and even.
If there is a god, or gods, or anyone who bothers to look down from their throne, then she hopes that perhaps they'll pity her for a little while, selfish as it is.]
no subject
Someone uses the well, then rings the bell. He leans back against the old wooden surface of the shrine and listens for a few heartbeats more.
Then he sends Tanuki first.
Tanuki skitters away from Baren, wandering around the shrine to approach the girl that he doesn't know or recognize.
This probably isn't the prayer she wanted, but Tanuki has spent 300 years watching humans. He sees one who seems to be lacking in laughter at the moment. So he approaches her without fear, instead just sitting his rump down a few paces away from her and sniffing vaguely in her direction.
Hello.]
no subject
Hello indeed.
Hands back in her lap after prayer, Sakura receives a slight startle at the sight of the... ta... nuki? That is absolutely a tanuki. A plump-looking one, too, sniffing at her but otherwise looking harmless. Her glance shoots up to the bell, then back to it.]
< Oh my, did I call the guardian of this shrine to me? >
[She speaks in melodic Japanese, voice naturally quiet in the atmosphere. She shoots Tanuki a smile before reaching for her tote.]
< Well, it'd be rude not to leave you an offering for good luck. >
[What does a tanuki even eat? Sakura feels like she might've skipped that lesson in her childhood. Nonetheless she has a packet of rice cakes with her, and breaks open one to offer the creature.]
< Will this suffice? >
no subject
his tanuki is so fucking fat. soon he'll have to roll him.
That said Tanuki is smart. The guardian of the shrine. He likes that. His ears twitch as he seems to consider it. He's the guardians of the Kumous, maybe, even if this one doesn't remember that's who he is. When she reaches for her tote, he naturally moves closer and sniffs some more.
At the site of a rice cake, his eyes light up as he immediately wobbles on his hind legs to close the distance faster so he can nibble on one end.
Thank you for the offering!]
no subject
She is also an absolute sucker for pudgy animals, already digging to bring out another rice cake.]
< Here, for tomorrow, since I won't be able to come back and pray for a bit. Try to ration them out, okay? >
[Listen, she gave it her best shot. If the little darling shoves this one down its face in the next five minutes, that's hardly her fault. She chuckles quietly watching it eat.]
< I have to say, I love your shrine. It's so peaceful... We had some like these in Japan, too. >
no subject
but tanuki will just continue to eat happily, wiggling his round body happily even as he looks back at her and seems to be listening to her problems. it's true, he understands human language fairly well by now.... but then he's gonna go and retrieve baren!! he scutters away, but will come back into view a few moments later after he's managed to get his teeth on one of baren's shoelaces and started pulling him over]
Oi Tanuki, watch it, these are new...
[but despite the fact that he was definitely listening, he has the nerve to act a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. when he speaks to her it's similarly in Japanese - ]
< Ah, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. > [well... he didn't... he didn't expect visitors at all] < Don't worry about me - stay here as long as you want.... >
[he's
so much nicer to women
wow]
no subject
There was someone here.
Which means she was babbling in the presence of a stranger, and that heats her cheeks with embarrassment, stare immediately hitting the floor of the shrine. He seems to know Japanese...? And whether that's his heritage or a language he picked up, she responds in kind after a bow of respect, realizing he must be the true owner.]
< Thank you, sir. >
[... After a fidget, nodding to Tanuki]
< Is he yours...? >
no subject
< No bows necessary - and it's kinda funny, that you were more chattery with Tanuki. Am I intimidating or something...? >
[He wants to clarify that easily, giving a wave of his hand. She's embarrassed. He gets that. But there's no judgment coming from him and he only moves to reach up to pet the tanuki that rests on his shoulder.]
< He's mine in the sense that he won't leave me alone... but he took a liking to you pretty quick. >
[it was the damn food]
no subject
< Sorry... I suppose I get nervous around strangers... >
[The reply, carefully crafted like an apology, is followed by a tiny smile. Still not meeting his eyes, though.]
< Oh, I'm sure it was the food. >
[Listen, she ain't no fool at least.]
no subject
[So there's no need for uncertainty, for feeling nervous or shy. Baren shrugs again.]
< Even if those reasons are just to feed a gluttonous tanuki. >
no subject
< I've never thought of it like that. >
[Ah well, it's a moot point, and she won't dwell on it. Not when there's a cute tanuki to coo over. She covers up a laugh with the back of her hand, though it doesn't completely diminish the sound]
< I see many visitors assume he's the shrine's guardian and treat him accordingly. >
[Yeah your tanuki is pretty fat but look? at how? cute?? she wiggles her fingers at him, into a little wave]
no subject
(he won't)
that said, tanuki will tilt his head at the wiggle of her fingers and then do a little nod of his head back. hello. you fed him. you can stay.]
< When he's around here, I guess. He uses that face of his to worm his way into people's hearts, and also onto their plates. Do me a favor and use at least a little restraint with him, yeah? It's for his own good. He doesn't get nearly enough exercise to balance it all out. >
no subject
:) ]
< Of course. My apologies if I contributed to the problem. >
[This apology, at least, seems more relaxed than her previous statements. It's obvious she's not quite as nervous now.]
< ... Um, are you someone who looks after this shrine? >
[She's hesitant to name him the owner, as talk of spirits aside, "owning" a shrine might be seen as a little presumptuous, and she doesn't know him well enough to assume he wouldn't take offense.]
no subject
He hates owning things like this, but there's really no way to answer that wouldn't be a terribly obvious lie. Still, he seems nonchalant about it, giving a shrug.]
< One of them, anyway. >
[That's the truth - but he's still technically the owner, considering that it was given to him by Retrospec.]
< Why? >
no subject
[Well. Partly. She supposes it's only fair to delve into the bigger truth if she's going to make a habit of coming here every so often, like she promised Tanuki.]
< It's very nice. And I hadn't realized how much I missed seeing shrines until I found yours in the forest. >
[Picking lightly at her skirt, she tosses her glance to the side, still feeling bashful.]
< In Japan it was commonplace, but here in America, it's like something out of a fairytale... >