[1993/6/13]

[Night-time.]

A few hours passed as I sat in the bathtub washing away all my impurities for tonight’s ritual. The thought of being locked up with Emily and Martin was making me feel uncomfortable. Not that I didn’t like both of them. Just something felt weird about this entire situation. First, this ritual isn’t just a routine communication ritual. It’s a purification ritual! I knew no one in town was too happy with the daughter of the priest not joining the shrine. But not to take it to the level of a purification. I sighed and splashed my face with warm water. “What do you people really want?” I asked out loud as the frustration was slowly dissolving in the steam.

Second, they are putting Martin and Emily in the shrine with me after the night. It feels all too rushed. They just arrived here today and Mr. Ishii wants to have them join in the communication ritual and also be welcomed into the faith. And their mom is alright with them being a part of something she doesn’t even know herself? It’s all too strange. I slid back in the water. Normally things at the shrine went standard. Following the ritual documents to the letter and nothing being changed or augmented in any way, shape or form but here they are going against everything. “Maybe I am just over analyzing and being dramatic.”

They never forget. That person’s words floated in my mind. More stuff for me to worry about and over analyze. But, people are weird here and say weird things. Like Yusuke’s mom. Everything out of her mouth is a story or something to cause a rise out of someone. Still, that person was beyond weird. And the aura it had. It was one that felt oddly familiar to me. “Mom...” I found myself calling out to her.

I tried my best to purge all the thoughts that were pulling me down. As much as I didn’t want to be a part of this ritual I was not about to purposely ruin it with my own negative thoughts. I sunk beneath the water and opened my eyes staring at the lantern flickering above me. Breath out. Bubbles floated up to the surface. Get rid of these negative thoughts with every exhale. More bubbles.

I watched above the image of the lantern wiggling. Bubbles erupted from my mouth and nose as I started to feel more relaxed. As the surface settled down I looked up at the lantern and shot out of the water screaming. The young mikos stationed outside the bathroom banged on the door. “Are you alright in there Mio-chan?”

I felt the racing of my heart as I looked around the steam covered room “d-did someone come in?” I shouted.

“No one came in.”

But someone was here. I saw a hand on the edge of the tub and a thick smell of dirt lingered in the air. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Did you see anyone?”

The other miko’s voice was too soft for me to hear.

“No one. Would you like me to get Sakura for you?”

The thick steam in the room only seemed to get thicker each moment and the feeling that someone was in there with me was not fading “please.” Panic was now feeling every inch of my body as the room seemed to disappear in the steam. “Hurry!”

My eyes darted around the room, I couldn't see anyone but someone was in the room with me. I was frozen in fear and didn’t want to leave the water and expose myself even more to whoever had snuck in. “Mio-chan?” Sakura’s voice penetrated my deepening fear. “Can I come in?”

“Yes?” It came out like a question before I could stop myself.

I heard the door open but I couldn't see anything.

“How hot did you make it in here? You two open the side windows and pull up the privacy curtains. Now Mio. Where are you?”

“In the water,” I said softly trying to calm down.

“I’m on my way.” I could hear her footsteps “why did you make it so hot and steam the place up?” I jumped as the side windows opened. “Calm down and stay where you are at.”

“Sakura.”

“Mio. Stay where you are at! The floor is wet and you’ll slip if you keep running about.”

What was she talking about? “I’m not moving.”

“Stop playing around Mio. I have a busy night tonight and can’t play.”

“I haven’t moved!”

Sakura went quiet “Mio. Who is in here with you?”

“I don’t know!”

“Whoever you are! Stop right now!”

What sounded like a pair of toddler footsteps began to fill the silence.

“Sakura!” I shouted now terrified to my core.

“Mio. Calm down! And whoever you are, leave now!” Sakura’s voice was booming and demanding “this is not a place for children to play.”

“Play...?”

“Who’s there?” Sakura demanded “Girls! Shut the door!”

I heard a loud thud and a thunder of footsteps rushing to the door. “Stop!” Another loud thud as something hit the ground.

The steam began to clear out and I could make out a figure on the ground just a few feet in front of me. “Sakura?” The figure stood up and began to walk to me. “Sakura? Sakura?” Closer and closer.

“Sakura?”

“Quiet.” Sakura placed a hand over my mouth as she emerged into my vision.

Silence fell over the over and we could both hear the sounds of footsteps on the grass outside of the bathhouse. Sakura was watching the high window above us both were the steam escaped. “The girls already closed the doors. So it’s right outside.”

I looked up at the window and screamed into her hand as whatever it was pulled its fingers back into the darkness. Another round of footsteps and whatever it was seemed to run off.

She removed her hand “just get dressed. Have the girls escort you back to the house and I’ll go get your father.”

“What was that?”

“Get dressed.” Sakura turned her back to me “I’ll have the other maidens light the temple fires and keep the shrine illuminated.” She glanced over her shoulder “don’t wander outside the illuminated path.”

“S-Sakura...”

“Mio. It’s alright.” Was she trying to lie to me? “Just get dressed and come back to the house.” And with that, she left the room. I could hear her whispering something to the two stationed outside the door.

“Mio-chan.” One of the miko’s walked in carrying a white bath robe “I’ll help you.” She smiled softly and came to my side “I’m Inoue.”

“I know who you are.” I said colder than I meant “I’m sorry...”

“It’s alright.” She laughed awkwardly “we’ve lived together for so long but have spoken so little.”

She wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t allowed to speak to the miko’s at the shrine even if I passed them in the hallways. I could only speak to them if Sakura or my father gave them permission to speak to me first. It was a part of their training to separate them from earthly pleasures. This one being the earthly pleasure of bonds.

“What was that?”

She looked at me with her big brown eyes and tilted her head “I didn’t see anything, ma’am.”

“But it went out the door.”

“I’m sorry.” Her head bowed in respect as I got out of the water “I was behind the door as it ran out of the room. And the steam was too thick to see through even if I hadn’t been.” She was a worse liar than Sakura.

“Inoue. What was it?” She slid my arms into the warm robe.

“Honestly.”

“That’s bullshit!” I shouted.

My outburst must have startled her because she jumped and backed up “Please. Mio. Language.”

“Tell me the truth!” I demanded, “what was it?”

She looked into my eyes “honest to the Goddess I didn’t see anything.”

“But you know something!”

She sighed and took my hand “if you keep questioning Mio-chan, I won’t be able to speak to you. Now, please.” She walked me to the door “watch your step.” She guided me to the left.

“What is that?” I was asking about the tiny footprints she had me avoid.

But she went silent.

Shit. She was serious. “I’m sorry Inoue. You can talk to me.” I wanted anything but silence right now.

She lifted up the paper lantern as another miko joined us “Mio. This is Ina.” Inoue voice was now deep and demanding.

Ina bowed slightly “Ma’am.”

Inoue turned to Ina “wahi tus’al ‘asyilat walkahina la turid mina al’ijabat ealayha.”

She was using a language only those who had been accepted into the shrine could understand. She was trying to keep me out of the loop and letting the others know to keep me out as well.

“Limadha la yasmah laha ‘an taerafa. Wahadha yuathir ealayha ‘aydana.”

Inoue shrugged “’Ana la tajeal alquawaeida. ‘Ana faqat atabaeaha.”

“What are you two talking about?” I demanded.

“Nothing.” Inoue said coldly “please keep up ma’am. The ritual fires are not lit yet and this area is pitch black without our lanterns.

I bit my lower lip in frustration “can’t you just tell me.”

No reply they both continued walking and talking to one another in that strange language. I crossed my arms and continued walking with them to the house. “Where is Sakura?” I asked as we walked into the house.

“Tus’al alkthyr min al’asyilat.” Ina said as she placed her lantern on the hook.

Inoue made a snort and turned to me “we are to take you back to your room.”

“I’m not going to my room!” I exclaimed “Not after-“

“You have a ritual to prepare for!” Inoue’s entire demeanor had changed now. “Now Mio. Please.”

I stomped my foot “I want to speak to Sakura.”

“Turid miniy alhusul ealayha?” Ina asked

Inoue shook her head “Talab miniy ‘akhadhuha ‘iilaa gharfatiha waqifiha fiha.”

“Stop talking like I’m no here! Stop talking that stupid language! And get me Sakura!”

“Stop being a child.” Inoue was now looking at me with her arms crossed “get going!”

My face was burning red “I said no.”

“Aistamara waqam bdhlk.” Inoue nodded at Ina and stepped back.

“I’m not...” My vision started to go blurry “W-what are you...doing?”

“Sorry ma’am.” Ina caught me as my body went limp “I may be a miko now but I’m still an expert in Aikido.” She seemed proud of this “I just got a pressure point that makes you lose motor functions. It’s basically like being drunk. Or so I am told.” She was carrying me to my room “but don’t worry it will wear off in about an hour or so.

“I need...to...speak...to...Sakura....”

Inoue tucked me into bed with an apologetic look on her face. She didn’t want to be mean or hateful to me but it was a part of being at the shrine. Sometimes you had to leave your warmth at the door and take up an entirely new persona. I felt bad for her because I could tell it was not in her heart to be so cold to anyone. Ina watched from the door holding a skeleton key in her hands. It was not surprising they planned on locking me in the room.

“Sakura will be in here after she talks to your father.” Her voice was quiet as to keep anyone else from hearing “we honestly don’t know what it was. But.” She leaned in “Sakura thinks it could have been a troll.”

I wanted to ask her why she thought that but only a garbled mess came from my mouth.

“But honestly. I think it could have been a Mandrake.” She fluffed the pillow behind my head “trolls don’t leave footprints behind. They leave a trail of maggots.” She smiled faintly “but don't worry.”

How could I not worry? I don’t believe in these old stories of magical creatures like everyone else does. But, I do believe in what I see and what I saw in the bathhouse was something more than a person playing a prank. And if I did believe these old stories creatures do not just wander out of the forest without being commanded to do so. And if it was a troll or a mandrake.

“Fa.e...ries..” I spit.

Ina gasped and Inoue stood up and gave me a wink so Ina couldn’t see. “Get some rest.” She said as she walked to the door “Ina.” Slowly the door closed and I heard a lock and the two girls went down the hall talking in that weird language.