A priestesses' fate isn't so cruel

Chapeter 17

Once everyone - the townspeople and other citizens went home after the festival, as well as the other temple servants that belonged to the other temples left, everyone cleared everything.

The banners were torn down , the yard was swept and cleaned, freed from clumps of rubbish, or whatsoever--

were eventually cleaned away.

Soon the temple looked normal as usual.

Everyone went back to their rooms exhausted.

Except for Shina.

She was dressed in her usual white yukata after her bath, and her straight black hair loose all over.

She ignored all the other priestesses who were busy chit chatting and walking around.

She tied her hair up into a simple bun, sliding a common hair pin through her strands of hair to keep it in place.

"Okay. It's time."

She stood up, sliding her thin papered wall open while trotting out into the cold night.

Makoto was in her way.

She happens to bump into his masculine and shaped body, which was revealed from a large cleavage of his yukata robes.

"O my -- sorry!!" She screams in embarrassment while he came back to his senses.

"Oh! Shina. What are you doing here?" He pulls her away slowly by her shoulders.

"I.. uh.. was just walking around.." She managed to not stutter, while brushing a strand of her hair back while looking down.

"I see. Sorry." He moved away for her, while she just nodded and trotted faster to her destination.

"I'm following her." He whispers to himself slowly, while suspecting something not right about this.

Shina absent-mindedly walked over to the corridors with sakura petals dancing over her feet.

It felt so smooth and gentle.

But she wasn't going to do something gentle..

Looking behind, right and left, she tiptoed slowly to Meikata's room.

The candle light is still on.. she hasn't slept?..

Shina felt a sudden trickle of cold sweat and fear down her spine.

She was having second thoughts.

Yes. I'm gonna find out now. No more delaying!..

She took a deep breath and wished herself good luck.

Thud..

She slid the paper doors slowly..

And tiptoed.

Slowly.. steady..

She peeked her head from behind a paper wall to see Meikata sitting straight , her eyes darting towards her.

Shina guiltily staggered and accidentally tripped on the slippery floor.

Landing on her stomach, sweat dripping all over her face. Meikata just stood still, and heaved a sigh.

It seemed like a sigh of relief.

"High priestess!.. er.. i!.." She stuttered while trying to find an excuse to run off unharmed.

"I know you want the diary. Go ahead. It's time i tell you." She surprisingly thrusts her hand out, lands it on Shina's lap.

Shina didn't believe what was happening.. but just sat up in suprise and opened it. She flipped until a paragraph catches her eyes.

____________________________________
Knowing that my biological daughter Shina is safe and had even comitted into a priestess here! i'm the happiest mother in the world!.. she's so pretty. I wish we were close. Kouchi and Risa had really taken care of her. And it must have been Imanoko's blessing to let me see my own daughter again!..
How much i love her and miss her..
____________________________________

Shina's eyes widen with shock and suprise , tears dripping down her face and chin.

Meikata had tears, but tried to hold it in.

"B-but.. h-how.." She stutters while staring up at the face of her long lost forgotten mother.

Endless thoughts were swimming around her mind.

Who's her father? Why was she given away? How come she's never learned about her mother?

Meikata hugged Shina. "I've always been wondering how you are..." She cries while hugging Shina.

Shina just hugged back, a little startled from everything.

"Let me explain.." Meikata pulled away and gets warm green tea from her teapot next to her bed.

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