𝚂𝙰𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙴 ~ 𝙹𝙹𝙺

4

☽S̵̙͕̀̃Ḛͭ̉̇͟L̸̖̽̌͂A̷͙ͭͫ̕Hͥ̽ͣ̃̔☽

☾ "So this is a shrine maiden's room? It's so bland, and small. I'll take you shopping one day to decorate. There is this really cool night market in the city but you have to stay extra close to me okay~?"
Gojo made himself comfortable in my room, taking off his shoes and sprawling out on the floor, he almost took up the whole room just by doing so.
"I don't think I'm allowed to leave the temple grounds Master Gojo."
"Hmm? Well if you are with me it doesn't matter. Im a master so you just do what I say."
He sat up, a mischievous grin on his lips.
"Master Gojo..."
I mumble, he just laughed, leaning into my face as I sat in front of him on the floor.
"So, who do you want to become the thrall of?"
I tilt my head in thought.
Definitely not Sukuna...
Though I cant help but feel like maybe I am just seeing him too one sided...Only paying attention to the negatives.
Choso is open about wanting me as his thrall...
Geto is even intrested.
Gojo is very fun, I feel like I could be around him a lot and never be bored or sad.
And Nanami is very serious and makes me feel safe.

"I cant choose."
"Really? You even consider Sukuna?"
I nod and his mouth hung open a bit, though he smiled at me again shortly.
"You are so cute."
"Whatever Master Gojo."
I stood up on shaky legs and took both my dirty Kimonos in my hands, Gojo stood quickly after and took them from me.
"Nope, you lay down. I can get these washed for you."
"I can do it-"
"No Inoue. The biggest part of being a shrine maiden is taking care of yourself. I wouldn't want that blood of yours to spoil~"
I just roll my eyes at him and turn to sit down on my futon.
"Ill come with Suguru tonight~ I think we need to spend more time together."
He hummed, picking up his umbrella and sliding the door open, right as he did-the girl who spilt the tea on me was standing there.
Her eyes puffy went wide seeing Gojo there.
"Oh, hey..."
I stood up and stumbled over, Gojo holding me by my waist against him as I stood there.

"I never learned your name by the way..."
I spoke again, Her face was red as she looked between Gojo and I.
"Are you okay?"
I reach out to her, as her eyes caught my bandages, they began to water again...
"Im sorry!"
"Honey you are alright. Look at me, I am perfectly okay. Tell me your name..."
"Rannie..."
"Rannie. I am okay. Please stop crying over me. Gojo isn't mad, none of the masters are upset with you."
Her eyes widen when I say just "Gojo".
"You just need to be more careful."
Gojo added, reaching out and rubbing her hair, she froze, I just smiled up at Gojo who blushed and looked away from me.
"Rannie, Gojo has to get going but you are welcome to stay."
Gojo nods, pushing out his umbrella and taking his leave, waving to both of us, Rannie gave a small wave and followed me into my room hesitantly."

"You really are close to the masters..."
She knelt at the end of my futon as I sat in front of her in the center.
"We aren't close at all, we don't know each other like that. Kamo was the one who felt a pull towards me or something, and then the others, I guess they feel it too?"
"So they all want you as their thrall already?"
She was shocked,
I mean, I was too.
"I guess."
"You do know that none of them have ever taken a thrall before right? Generations of shrine maidens have failed."
"What happens to the shrine maidens?"
She shrugged.
"I think they just get sent home. Or to a lesser vamperic temple."
I nod.
I never really thought that shrine maidens failed.
Is that why Geto sounded disingenuous at my introduction towards the other women?
"You will be chosen...but I don't think anyone else will. We started calling you Lady Inoue because you are already like their thrall."

I nod, I see she had already given up.
"Rannie, let's be friends."
I take her hands in mine, she doesn't hold mine back because of the burns.
"But I-"
"We are friends. We will become thralls together."
I cut her off, smiling at her.
She looked like she could cry again.
"Don't doubt yourself."
She nods, then she throws her arms around my shoulders, hugging me, she was shaking.
"You are so cool Selah!"
She said my name...
I couldn't help but smile a huge smile, hugging her back.
"Am not...Everyone here just needs to be reminded that this is not a competition. We are only here to achieve a goal through hard work."
"You are though. Not a lot of women in your position of power would be so humble and encouraging. You really will be an amazing thrall. I know why the masters are drawn to you. You are truly pure, body and soul."
-
☾ Geto and Gojo were over as soon as the sun went down. Gojo fighting with Geto, wanting to be the one to change my bandages.
"I want to!"
He whined.
"Satoru you are behaving like a fool. You don't know how to tend to a wound. Go make yourself useful somewhere else."
Geto pushed him away, Gojo faked a sniffle and decided to cling to me, his arms around my waist as I stood there holding back my laughter.
I heard they were best friends. Opposites really do attract because they are very different in many ways.
Geto knelt in front of me, I held the slit of my Yukata open for him on my right leg so he could change the first bandage, when he unraveled it, he tiskd...
My eyes land on it and it was a deep purple with irritated red edges. Thankfully it was just a huge bruise, no blisters or bleeding.

"We should let some air get to all of these actually."
He moved to my other leg, unraveling the bandage, he sighed, it was better than the right leg.
Gojo took my left hand bandage off while Geto undid my right, they both looked at each other, both backs of my hands were still extremely irritated.
"If she was a thrall now then she would be healed within ten minutes."
Gojo spoke to Geto, Geto just shook his head at him.
"I know but there are two years until then."
I just silently listen to their voices. Their dynamic worked so well.
"Inoue? How do you feel?"
Gojo pressed his forehead to mine, staring into my eyes with his piercing blue ones.
He acts so familiar...
"I feel okay. Thank you both for helping me. I can redress them myself before I go to bed tonight."
"Satoru get out of her face, boundaries."
Geto pulls him by his hair away from me. He hissed like a cat, I started giggling.
"Rest Inoue. We will check on you tomorrow."

Geto pulled Gojo with him out of my room, as the door closed, Gojo whined, saying how he wanted to spend more time with me.
I opened my sliding door to let the light of the moon in over the lake in the center of the Shrine maiden quarters. I smiled and waved at Rannie a few doors down as she sat there watching the water. She smiled and waved back noticing my door open.
I moved back inside, lying down, closing my eyes.
And soon I fell asleep...

~

"Selah!"
The Madame gently moved me by my shoulders. The sun was bright against my face, I tilt my head back to look at the Madame.
"Oh...Good morning."
I yawn, stretching, pain shooting through my arms and legs, I looked down at my bruised burns on my legs and saw green had replaced the red irritation. My hands turning purple and green as well.
"Do you know what time it is...?"
The Madame frowned at me, moving to close my courtyard door.
"Maybe a bit past breakfast?"
I sit up, groaning a bit at the soreness.
"It is past lunch Selah...Master Sukuna is on his way here as we speak-"
"Is she up?"
Sukuna just opened the door. He didnt even use an umbrella in the sun to walk here...

"Master Sukuna-"
The Madame bowed.
"Inoue, why are you sitting up. Rest girl."
He crouched at my right, pressing my shoulders down. I just lay again at his request.
"That stupid girl spilling hot tea on you. She should suffer just as equally."
His words were full of anger.
"Master Sukuna please...I am alright. Just a fee burns, no other issues."
I smiled at him and he just looked away.
"I don't care."
He stood up and left to the door.
"Nanami's Fledgling Inumaki Toge-or whatever the kid's name is...he should be here soon to bring you food."
Sukuna then left.
"Inumaki?"
I look at Madame.
"Young Master...Inumaki. You are getting a bit too comfortable Selah."

The Madame stood, shaking her head down at me, though she had a small smile on her lips.
"How many Fledglings do the masters have?"
"A lot. You will see Master Gojo's and Master Nanami's around the most though. The others are not very social. Master Sukuna does not allow his fledglings to interact with others so you will only meet them in his specific temple wing, or if you become his thrall in two years time."
I nod, a knock came on my sliding door and then it opened.
"Kelp."
He spoke.
He was shorter, with white fluffy hair. He was turned young too, like Megumi. Maybe a year older.
"Hello! Thank you for bringing me this...I could have gotten something to eat myself but-"
"Bonito Flakes."
He shook his head as he said that...
Why is he naming food..?
"Young Master Inumaki has an extremely sore throat since he was turned. He has to communicate mildly to none."

"Oh, I understand."
I smile at him as he sets the tray of food down for me, he looked me over, tilting his head.
"Salmon."
He offered a hand, and I took it, shaking it. He smiled back at me.
He was so precious.
"So Nanami turned you to save you from your first death?"
I ask curiously, taking up the bowl of white rice in my shaky hands first, he nods.
"Wow! Nanami is so mature and put together too. Im sure you like being his fledgling."
He nods again, then he takes my rice bowl from me as my hands just would not hold still, taking up the chopsticks and scooping some, my eyes widen when he offered it to me.
"ahh."
He sounded.
"ahhh"
I open my mouth and he feeds it to me.
-