KAMI ༘ monoma neito

ʚɞ2

The lady wakes up
to the harmonies
of birds
and the hush of the wind.
She stands up and heads
to the wooden dressing table
to write a letter.

With soft strokes, she writes:

My loving parents,

I am here to stay
in the Ichi-nen Bi-gumi shrine
to worship the kamis
and ask them for blessings.
I plead that you allow me to do so.

Love, Y/N

She folds the paper neatly
and stands up.
She wears the clothes
that were already resting
in the wooden wardrobe.
The woman wears a shirt
of the same color
as the bright clouds,
and her yukata
was of the same shade of blood,
and her white obi
wraps around her perfectly.

Once she slides open the wooden door,
she meets the blonde man
with the same set of kimono
as the day before.

"Kami!"
The lady greets
as she puts her hands together
and bows.

"You look quaint."
The blonde couldn't help
but praise her.

"I do not deserve such praise, Kami.
I am only a mere noble."
She says, her head still low.
"And may I ask?
Am I allowed to send a letter
to my family?" She asks.

The blonde shows his palm.
"Leave such mundane tasks to me,
you have other things to do."
He says.
The lady bashfully gives the letter
to the man.

The blonde clears his throat
and looks away.
"Start by sweeping off
the fallen dried leaves
near the pavilion."
The blonde says
and walks away
to lead the woman.

The lady gladly follows.
She was delighted
to help the man.

The blonde man
shows her where to get the brooms,
and the woman
joyfully sweeps away the leaves.

"As expected of a woman
from a noble family.
You know your chores."
The blonde says
as he leans against
the wooden pole with crossed arms.

"My mother taught me
all types of chores latterly,
only because
I am to be wedded precociously."
The lady answers
with hidden contempt in her voice,
not wanting to sound rude to the blonde.

"Do you not want to be wedded
with a wealthy sod?"
The blond questions,
which the lady immediately replies
with furrowed eyebrows.

"No! I do not love the man,
I have not even met this person!"
The lady widens her eyes and bows.
"I humbly apologize,
Kami!
I did not mean to sound rude."
She says.

"Proceed with your cleaning,
noble lady." The blonde scolds
to which the lady immediately follows.

"And love?
You think such a thing
is more important
than wealth?"
The blonde asks.

"Well yes, Kami.
Love is a beautiful feeling.
May it be fleeting or lasting.
Love is respect, kind, passionate,
and above all,
love is love."
The lady replies
with the most gentle smile
on her lips.

"You sound hopeless.
If I were you,
I would have accepted
such an invitation
to be wedded to a wealthy man."
The blonde says.

"Do you not believe
in the power of love, Kami?"
The lady asks
as she briefly stops sweeping.

"No.
I believe in my power alone."
The blonde answers.