wasteland, baby! [fushiguro megumi]

22: midnight sun

september 2018

somewhere in tokyo

third person pov

the night keiko had her cousin killed, there was a rare eclipse that lasted for seventeen minutes and twenty one seconds, followed by a blood moon. the same moon that had appeared on the night keiko was born.

"hmm, it seems like kiyoe has failed. i wouldn't say i'm surprised though."

the man in a black yukata styled buddhist robe smiled at the crimson moon, a vision that was irrelevant to him, at least physically, clouded his mind. flames, corpses, and a child. an uncanny encounter, almost, as he would say.

"wasn't she important in the plan?" the patch faced cursed spirit known as mahito mused.

"she was nothing more than a catalyst for our real target."

"whatever you say geto, we're following your plan after all. mizuki keiko better be worth it considering how persistent you were about not having her killed back at the school."

tokyo prefectural jujutsu high school

keiko found herself standing amidst the bleak emptiness, the sheer amount of light had almost blinded her as she took wary steps forward. the ground beneath her consisted of crimson stained liquid, similar to that of her domain, but this one was lighter, and purer.

an ethereal mist began to caress her cheek, soon turning into a fog as a vague figure pieced itself together. for a reason unbeknownst to her, keiko could recognise the uncomfortably familiar face, eyes squinted to see past the inferno of celestial essence shrouding the figure.

amaterasu, goddess of the rising sun.

there she stood, a true celestial being, not really 'in the flesh' but it was overwhelming enough for keiko to stagger back after what felt like the goddess drawing breath straight out from her lungs. the mist parted at her command, paving a path for her to approach the disorganised girl.

"i see you've finally found your way here, princess mizuki." her voice echoed through the vast emptiness, warm yet terrifying.

"what is this place?" it was all keiko could get herself to say, her heart hammering against the hollow chamber of her chest, her eardrums ringing along with the ripples on the ground. keiko wasn't at a loss for words because she was awestruck, but more so baffled as to why she seemed to find such a familiar warmth from within such a foreign place.

amaterasu simply heaved a low chuckle, bringing a hand down to gently graze at keiko's cheeks before pushing her chin up to meet her eyes. and as if there could be any competition between amaterasu's gaze and keiko's, the goddess gave it a second to let it burn right through keiko's turbulent wave of emotions.

"take this as a place where divinity gathers. you've abruptly claimed a seat in the hierarchy, my dear."

"what does that mean?"

"you truly are oblivious aren't you, princess mizuki?" the goddess let out another low snicker, "you've crossed the celestial plane, child. the butterfly dragon god, kazuyahime was the younger sister of kagutsuchi, god of fire. eons ago, when she had disappeared soon after kagutsuchi had begun his wrath, the deities never thought she would've sought refuge with a mere mortal. and now, after generations and generations of hiding behind worship and rituals, she has found herself back to this place through you. oh so pathetic, if you ask me."

keiko felt herself being choked and weighed down, even though she was still in the same position from before. and despite having the liberty to leave, keiko couldn't command a single cell to break past her rigid form.