Kamiyama Shrine Maiden

“O Heavenly Father and Creator of all, from the sky, to the land, and the seas…” Rikku began her day, folding her knees and sitting on her ankles. Her hands clasped. Her eyes closed as she concentrated deeply. “I pray for deliverance from evil. Fuel our fragile bodies with daily substances, even at our weakest times…”

How long had she done this in a single day? That didn’t matter. She trusted in the holy works. Even if today kept repeating itself. For her, this relationship was stronger and unwavering. “Bring me closer to you for my salvation, and shine so bright darkness fades. My request for you, your humble servant. In the name of the All-Creator, amen.”

Strange events were not uncommon in Densetsu. Once, an angel sought to destroy Heaven. After that, flowers covered all the land. Another time, spirits possessed the innocent. One party or another caused all these events, known as “incidents”. It was the Kamiyama Shrine Maiden’s job to solve them. Three months ago, she stopped a vampire from enslaving humanity. However, this new incident would be the first to challenge her.

She had witnessed countless distortions to reality. Villages plagued by illness, young girls from both her home world of Densetsu and the Outside World, vanished without a trace, and the days repeating itself. The culprit remained elusive and uncatchable.

Rikku Kamiyama.

Her chestnut hair cascaded down to her chest, framing her clear eyes that gleamed like precious pearls. Dressed in a red-and-white shrine maiden attire adorned with intricate patterns of cherry blossom petals, Rikku stood gracefully at nature’s expense. The world radiated in awe within her presence. Autumn leaves danced in the air as if worshiping her, while small rodents scurried around her playfully. She was the last of her kind, tasked with protecting Densetsu.

Living as a hermit alone in the mountains, she had her daily routine etched into her mind. Flocks of wild charpies—descendants to the jungle fowl—migrated earlier than usual, driven by the deadly gas that permeated the land. When the cicada song ceased, it signaled the outsider's arrival.

Reiki, the life energy thriving within all beings, held the potential for miracles when harnessed. Despite the day repeating itself, it was difficult to precisely locate Kotaro’s reiki. The Gap Yokai’s portals shifted locations unpredictably, complicating her search.

From the shrine, the view was breathtaking—lavish trees abundant and diverse in color, from rich reds to deep greens and bright yellows. The cobblestone stairs leading to the top had an array of cherry blossoms, welcoming its visitors as they climbed up. She took to the sky, scouring the land for Kotaro. Hopefully, he didn’t encounter any yokai or hungry predators.

Sylvia, her homeland, remained more insular and primitive compared to other nations. Its people preferred the safety of protected sanctions over expansion. The plentiful trees also provided territory for yokai and monsters alike, making the forest a dangerous area to wander without protection.

During her flight, she saw a portion of the forest being shifted into a large cube. A Six-Sided Dimension had been initiated. Reality itself was bent to the will of its creator. A powerful attack was commencing. All according to the Skill Rules.

The Skill Rules, a universal law within Densetsu, were more than mere guidelines. They had two purposes: to maintain a balance between the attacker and the defender, and to protect the delicate balance between the Outside World and Densetsu. All Skills were to be named, and everyone was mandated to say them aloud. Destructive Skills required a Six-Sided Dimension.

Within the shifting dimension, she sensed the outsider’s reiki presence. Dread filled her heart.

Rikku soared towards his location. Although, she could do nothing but wait until the user finished their attack. Seconds later, Rikku witnessed the newly formed cube shatter. Kotaro delivered a powerful punch to the yokai.

Memories of her past encounters flashed into her eyes. In all iterations, he was a timid man with little confidence. Collapsing to his knees, Kotaro succumbed to his fiery injuries. The yokai, undeterred, pursued him, only to be intercepted by Rikku's timely kick.

"Shrine maiden! Me want to eat!" the yokai snarled.

"Then eat this!" Rikku hurled her sealing ofuda at the yokai, who evaded them. Unbeknownst to him, she had a trick up her sleeve. Snapping her fingers triggered an explosion.

Overwhelmed by its powers, the yokai retreated into the nearby brush. Locking eyes with Kotaro, Rikku felt a surge of concern.

"Kotaro!" she cried. She used her reiki to sense his current status. His heartbeat raced. Placing her hands on his chest, she took deep breaths and channeled her energy into him.

Kotaro's heart rate steadied. His body cooled. He was a fighter.

"That was very foolish of you," she sighed with relief. The shrine maiden carried him as she soared toward the mountain. Cobblestone stairs led to the mountain's peak, where a torii gate stood sentinel.

The climb up the stairs would normally take thirty minutes, but with her flight, she arrived in five. Two lion-dog statues awaited her at the top, guarding the square-shaped floor tiles that led to the shrine and the adjacent storage building.

Entering the shrine, Rikku gently placed Kotaro in the guest room. His reiki energy surged, a phenomenon unheard of in an outsider. Most outsiders lived their lives unaware of the existence of reiki.

She prepared crackers and boiling water for tea. Then, Rikku grabbed her broom and began sweeping the floor. Her mind was preoccupied with Kotaro. Something felt amiss.

"What's troubling you?" came a voice she was expecting. Visitors always seemed to arrive unannounced, much to her annoyance. The Gap Yokai, Yuuki Nohara, opened a portal within her shrine. She was unfazed.

"Every time we've encountered Kotaro before, he was shy and cowardly. Why is this one different?" She sensed a fiery aura surging within Kotaro. Her suspicion grew. The shrine maiden thought Yuuki’s ability didn’t affect him. She glared into his violet eyes. “You better have some explanation. The Boundary isn’t supposed to affect him, right?"

His eyes flickered with excitement as he challenged her gaze. He was proud of his strong jawline and skintight clothes, which showcased his toned limbs. He rested his violet parasol on his shoulders and smirked. "The Scarlium is adapting. It’s beginning to comprehend the situation, allowing the outsider to adapt to his surroundings."

A foreboding aura emanated from the unconscious Kotaro. He was the primary reason the Project Device sought him in the first place.

"You know what to do when the Scarlium awakens," Yuuki stated matter-of-factly.

Rikku pondered the situation. Everything seemed mere coincidence, or so she believed.

"You're starting to realize it, aren't you?"

The deadly gas, the young girls used to construct the Project Devices, Kotaro and the awakening of the Scarlium—all of it felt more than just coincidence. The mastermind’s plans dwarfed their comprehension. It all came down to their true intentions.

Yuuki rose, brushed the dust from his rear, and removed his shoes. Rikku followed, finding the yokai fixated on Kotaro. All was silent until Yuuki placed a portal beneath the futon.

The portal enveloped Kotaro’s entire body as he fell into the unknown. The shrine maiden’s eyes bulged. Her shoulders shook, and a gasp escaped her lips. She rushed forth, but it was too late.

"Don't worry, I sent him home. He should be safe," the yokai assured her.

"At least tell me!" Rikku’s fists clenched as she fought to steady her breath. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She knew the yokai was unpredictable, but this? He had taken Kotaro away in an instant—without a chance for her to act.

Yuuki simply adjusted his parasol, unfazed. “If I did, would it have changed anything?”

She glared at him, her fingers twitching at her side. If not for his assistance, she wouldn’t hesitate to strike him down.

The yokai reclaimed his shoes and, with one last glance, fell into a swirling void. The portal pulsed like liquid shadow, distorting the air around it in rippling waves. Countless watchful eyes blinked within the darkness, their eerie glow flickering before the void swallowed him whole—just like Kotaro before him.

Rikku’s fists clenched tighter. Her brow furrowed, as she strained to regain composure. Her breaths were deep. Some tension eased. Time was of the essence. Inaction was unacceptable if her people continued suffering. She soared through the sky, ready to give people hope.

「Yuuki’s perspective」

A hush fell over the unoccupied shrine. The air twisted, space itself warping in unnatural waves. From the depths of an ethereal void, an obsidian portal unfurled like ink spilled in water. Shadows slithered outward before retracting, leaving Yuuki standing at its center.

With practiced ease, he extended his hand. A violet butterfly fluttered down, perching on his finger. More soon followed, their delicate wings shimmering like amethysts in the dim shrine light.

"You can reveal yourself now."

The swarm dispersed, revealing a pale-skinned woman dressed in a pink, floral -patterned kimono. Hiding behind her paper fan maintained an air of mystery. Her features shielded from prying eyes. "You seem to be more active than ever, my friend. That's very unlike you. Could it be... that outsider?"

"The culprit lurks under the skirt of the Sylvan Supreme."

Her brows hinted at an amused smirk. "All those adjustments you did to alter reality with the Boundary. I believe this is your…ninth attempt now?"

Yuuki remained silent, but Okiku read through his stoic expression. There was anger, frustration, and confusion. Despite all the cosmic knowledge he possessed, the mastermind had managed to snare him into a corner. Rather than frustration Okiku saw, Yuuki felt something else—amusement. Finally, someone had moved ahead of him. A game of cat and mouse, but in the end, all games were meant to be conquered. And this one would be no exception.

She challenged his stoicism with her mesmerizing jade eyes. "Tell me. Why didn’t you send that girl to him the first time you altered reality? Perhaps you sought for answers."

His silence lingered. His thoughts raced through the possibilities. The weight of his decision pressed on him, as if his opponent had just placed him in checkmate.

"It seems we cannot escape the birth of the Chimeric Void," Okiku continued, floating around him. "You can't hide it for long. The day will come when he—"

In one swift motion, Yuuki’s patience snapped—so did Okiku’s head. With a flick of his wrist, the cut was clean, precise—effortless. "Everything is going exactly as planned.”

Despite her decapitated head, life still flickered in her. She chased after her head, putting it back in its place with a sense of nonchalance. "Hey! Yuuki, you big meanie! That was uncalled for!"

Death was nothing new to the phantom princess, yet she pouted as if it were a grave offense. She growled and flailed her arms like a child. Yuuki simply shrugged, unbothered by her theatrics.

"You were annoying me," he replied matter-of-factly.

"That doesn't mean you cut me off! You could've killed me!" Okiku argued, her voice a mixture of annoyance and genuine concern.

"But you're already dead," Yuuki stated bluntly, his tone devoid of sympathy.

She huffed in exasperation, her paper fan fluttering with frustration. "You have no appreciation for the afterlife, do you? No respect for a lady's decapitated state!"

Yuuki couldn't help but smirk at her theatrical outrage. "Why should I respect someone that’s already dead?"

Okiku pouted, her demeanor shifting from outrage to disbelief. "How rude? Do you suggest I truly cross over the River Styx and be judged by Yanluo? Surely, you wouldn’t mind?"

Yuuki's smirk deepened. "If you do, I’ll be lonely. Are you fine with that?"

She giggled, her fan covering her mouth. "Aw, so you do care about me."

Their burdens lightened, if only for a moment. Their personalities were a yin and yang in the supernatural world. Just as they began to settle, footsteps sounded outside the entrance.

Yuuki's gaze shifted to the visitor's azure eyes. He smirked. "Ah, you've finally arrived, at last..."