It Will End In A Kiss

Tokyo

(Disclaimer: I've never been to any Japanese temple before or prayed like a Japanese so their might be discrepancies on my descriptions of the temple and Japanese customs of praying. Please be advised that I don't mean any insult if I got things wrong. I fully respect Japanese and their customs. Thank you)

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(BLU)

Robin took me to Senso-ji Temple. Its still early but there's a good number of people already gathering there.

"It's one the most famous temple in Tokyo, maybe even in the whole Japan. Its also an important landmark. People come here to pray and offer tributes or sacrifices. Senso-ji is a great tourist spot." Robin explained while we were walking along the paved path with the other temple visitors.

"I don't know how to pray in a temple though," I told Robin, a bit worried.

"That's why I am here, silly." Robin chuckled as he rubbed a hand on the top of my head. I nodded and scratched my temple.

What we did first is cleansing. Which makes sense because if you are praying for grace or blessings, you want to get in front of the gods with pure intention. A clean version of you.

"I guess its to please the gods," Robin said. "Although I don't understand that, to be honest. I think the gods look into a person's heart, not if they are wearing tidy clothes or your skin in glowing from washing. How will you clean you heart? You cannot pour bleach on it."

"Then I guess you have to be honest to them. To have a clean intention. A clean conscience," I said.

"Then no one will pass. Who has a clean conscience here?" Robin snickered.

"I do," I said. "I am willing to accept responsibilities for my sins. I'm willing to be honest about them. I am sure I have sinned. I mean, I am not perfect." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Yes. You have hurt me several times already," Robin agreed.

That made me laugh. "Oh did I? I'm sorry," I stopped walking to take his hand with both of mine and hugged it to my chest. "I apologize for hurting you. Was it when I punched you after you suggested we should be brothers? Or was it when I failed to say I love you after you tried to pressure me to say it while you were drunk? Can you refresh my memory? Please..." I blinked rapidly at him while squeezing his hand hard.

"Aw. Aw..." Robin hissed as he pulled his hand from my tight hold. "Wow, you are really scary. Accept responsibilities for your sins? Its more like you will bully your way to turn the tables on me,"

I flicked his forehead. "Its because I may not be perfect but I refuse to believe that my sins are worse than yours. You are the worse offender between us, Robin Akage. I am sure, it will take you a lifetime of asking forgiveness on this temple to be forgiven for all the hearts you broke, just last month...you heartbreaker you," I sneered at him before moving again.

"Is it my fault if I am irresistable?" Robin askes as he followed. "I didn't ask them to give me their hearts and be heartbroken because of me."

"Whatever. Just teach me how to properly pray," I said while quickening my steps.

Robin caught up with me by seizing my hand in his. We got to the "cleansing" station of the temple. It's a water pavilion called temizuya, for cleansing before approaching the gods. I asked Robin to read the plastered words on a wall near the water pavilion. Its written in Nihonggo.

"It's just an advisory. Asking temple goers to reconsider praying if they are seriously sick or in advanced stage of pregnancy. You cannot enter the prayer halls if you are sick or heavy with child."