𝚂𝙰𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴 ~ 𝙹𝙹𝙺

3

☽S̵̙͕̀̃Ḛͭ̉̇͟L̸̖̽̌͂A̷͙ͭͫ̕Hͥ̽ͣ̃̔☽

☾ I woke up late the next morning, the Madame nagged me as I dressed in the Kimono Kamo gave me again. I didn't even wash it last night, that made me embarrassed.
"Fushiguro brought me back right at 9, I don't know why I am so tired Madame."
I yawn as I follow her out to the breakfast room where the other shrine maidens already were.
As soon as I entered their whispering stopped and they greeted me, staring after.
"Good morning everyone."
I smiled sheepishly.
"Good morning Lady Inoue."
Wait-
"Lady Inoue?"
I looked at the Madame who just shrugged.
"Uhm...no need to put "lady" in front of my last name. I am in no way superior. Please just call me Selah."
I took my seat next to a girl with short blonde hair. She seemed to straighten up a bit, I could feel her nervousness...

"Tea my lady?"
The girl stuttered, offering me the teapot.
All eyes were on us.
"Please..."
I just nod, giving up.
Is this Kamo's doing?
Her hands shook as she poured tea in my cup, so bad that she began missing the cup, and the more she missed, the worse she shook...
When I went to reach out and steady her, she flinched away from my touch and dropped the tea pot all together.
The hot tea splasted over my hands and the table, and I moved her away before the hit tea could spill onto her Kimono, mine on the other hand getting drenched in the hot liquid.
I did not scream or fuss. The burning ceased with my adrenaline as I worried over the girl who was frozen in fear.
"Are you okay Selah?"
The Madame pulled at me,
"I am fine Madame-"
I pull away from her and take the girl's shoulders.
"Show me your hands. You aren't hurt right? No burns? I am so sorry I should have poured the tea myself-"

"Selah come!"
The Madame pulled me away from the girl who was shaken and in tears. My heart ached watching her cry.
"Madame you are making a fuss out of a small accident."
I turn to face her, stopping in my tracks. She grabs my wrists and shows me the backs of my hands, bright red.
The pain suddenly sunk its teeth into me and my own tears started to fall.
"Come Selah. The Masters will get even more upset with me and the girl if this gets any worse then it is."
I just stay silent and follow her out. We made our way to the cool lake and she helped me take off my Kimono. I saw the bright red on my thighs and lower on my legs, then saw my hands and arms.
They weren't crazy burns, but they were enough to be bright in color and burn like they were lit on fire.
"Into the water Selah. I need to go tell the Master's at once."
She guided me in and I yelped as the water touched my burning skin.
"Madame please don't tell on the girl. Say I did it. I'm foolish enough, they should believe it."

"I cannot. Though I can say that you wish for them to forgive her. I can make no promises, but if you request it, they may listen."
I just cried, the Madame taking her leave, the burning would not stop, the pain excruciating.
The Madame returned with a bruise on her right cheek, her hair a bit messy as well, her eyes grey.
"Come, you must see the Master's at once."
I assumed Master Sukuna hit her, he was cruel. He scared even me. If he could hit the Madame, no doubt what he could do to me or others.
I got out of the spring, I was shaking, the burning wouldn't cease. As the Madame dried me, I cried out when the towel would graze the burns. The Madame was completely dejected.
She presented me with a white Yukata instead, it was a lot lighter and when it touched my burns it did not sting as much.
"Master Sukuna wants to punish the girl if your burns are extremely bad..."
She broke the news to me as we walked to the temple. We were passing the other shrine maidens who were on their way to tend to the shrine. The girl stepped forward, her eyed red and puffy from crying, she dropped to the ground in front of me and pressed her forehead to my feet, crying and begging for my forgiveness.

My heart broke watching her.
The Madame even looked sad for her.
"Raise your head."
She did, shaking.
I was shaking too.
"I wont let anything happen to you. You have my word."
I looked at her seriously.
She began to cry once more, her head dropping back to my feet, I leaned down and ran my fingers through her loose blonde hair. It was soft.
"We must get going Selah."
The Madame spoke up, and I patted the girl's head.
She stood up with her head down and walked back to where the other shrine maidens had lined up. They all bowed deeply at me.
I was feared...
Because of my favoritism I didn't even understand why I had.
"Come. Master Kamo is the most upset."