Kamiyama Shrine Maiden

She had witnessed the twisted reality, the kaleidoscope of distortions, far too many times. Villages plagued by illness, young girls from both her home world of Densetsu and the Outside World, vanished without a trace—the culprit: elusive and uncatchable.

Rikku Kamiyama.

Her long, 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 the shrine maiden's presence. Even autumn leaves danced in the air as if worshiping her, while small rodents scurried around playfully. She was the last of her kind, tasked with protecting Densetsu.

Her daily routine was etched into her mind. The wild charpies migrated earlier than usual, driven by the deadly gas that permeated the land. When the cicada song ceased, it signaled the outsider's arrival in Densetsu.

Despite the day repeating itself, it was difficult to precisely locate Kotaro. The Gap Yokai's portals shifted locations unpredictably, and Kotaro held the key to ending this ordeal. Rikku knew, deep down, that fate would lead him to his doom.

Determined to set things right, she took to the sky, scouring the land for her target. She prayed he would not encounter a yokai or hungry predators before she found him. During her flight, she witnessed the initiation of a Six-Sided Dimension, a prerequisite for performing Skills within the Skill Rules. Within the dimensions, she sensed the presence of the outsider, his reiki energy. Dread filled her heart.

Without wasting a moment, she soared towards his location. However, being outside the dimensions, she had no choice but to wait until the user finished activating their Skill. To her surprise, the Six-Sided Dimension shattered as she witnessed Kotaro delivering a powerful punch to the yokai.

This was a side of Kotaro she had never seen before. When she first met him, he was a shy and timid individual. But now, he was different.

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 tags at the yokai, who evaded them. Unbeknownst to him, she had a trick up her sleeve. Snapping her fingers triggered the explosion of the tags.

Overwhelmed by the sealing powers, the yokai retreated into the nearby brush.

Locking eyes with Kotaro amidst the inferno, Rikku felt a surge of concern.

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

Reiki, the life force that thrived within all beings. It held the potential for miracles when harnessed, but some sought to wield it as a weapon, leading to the creation of the Skill Rules.

Rikku's ultimate desire was to create a peaceful world, but some exploited the loopholes in the Skill Rules, making it challenging to define its true purpose.

Gradually, Kotaro's heart rate steadied, and 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. At the top, two lion-dog statues awaited her, 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.

Preparing some crackers and boiling water for tea, Rikku picked up her broom and began sweeping the floor, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Kotaro. Something felt amiss.

"What's troubling you?" came a voice, the visitor she had been expecting. Visitors always seemed to find their way to her shrine unannounced, much to her annoyance. It was the Gap Yokai, Yuuki Nohara, who had opened a portal within her shrine. Meeting the tall, slender man left her unfazed.

"Every time we've encountered Kotaro before, he was shy and cowardly. Why is he suddenly more aggressive?" She sensed a fiery aura surging within Kotaro, something that raised her suspicion. The shrine maiden thought Yuuki's ability didn't affect Kotaro. Rikku glared into Yuuki's violet eyes. "You better have some explanation. The Boundary isn't supposed to affect him, right?"

Amusement flickered in Yuuki's eyes as he dared to meet her challenging gaze. He took pride in his status, his seductive features accentuated by a strong jawline and form-fitting attire that showcased his toned arms and legs. Resting his violet parasol on his shoulder, he 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 carefully. Everything seemed to be 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. The mastermind behind it all had plans that extended far beyond their comprehension. It all came down to their true intentions.

Rising to his feet, Yuuki brushed the dust off his rear, respectfully removing his shoes before entering the guest room. Rikku followed suit, finding the yokai fixated on the unconscious Kotaro. Silence hung in the air until Yuuki placed one of his portals beneath the futon that made Kotaro fall into the unknown.

The shrine maiden rushed forward, desperate to save him, but it was too late.

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

"At least tell me!"

Mischievous and unpredictable, Yuuki was a force to be reckoned with. Were it not for his contribution to this incident, Rikku would not hesitate to exterminate him.

The yokai reclaimed his shoes and, with one last glance, was swallowed by his portals, just like Kotaro before him.

Clenching her fists tightly and furrowed brows, Rikku struggled to regain her composure. She took deep breaths. Some of the tension eased from her soul. Time was of the essence. Doing nothing would not heal the sick. The shrine maiden soared through the skies, ready to aid the defenseless villagers.

*

Returning to the unoccupied shrine, Yuuki reappeared silently. Extending his hand, a violet butterfly alighted gently on his finger. More butterflies swarmed around him. "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…twenty-first attempt now?"

Yuuki remained silent, but Okiku read through his stoic expression. There was anger, frustration, and confusion. The mastermind had snared him into a corner, seemingly moving one step ahead of him.

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, like a chessboard putting him into checkmate.

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

Yuuki's patience was finally tested. The woman's head was cut clean. "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, but her indignation was apparent. She growled and flailed her arms like a child, upset that the yokai bore no remorse for his actions. 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. "Respect for a lady, you say? Okiku, you know as well as I do that you enjoy playing tricks and scaring people. You've scared more than your fair share of mortals with your ghostly apparitions."

Okiku pouted, her demeanor shifting from outrage to mischief. "Well, what can I say? It's entertaining to see their faces turn pale with fear. But you, my dear friend, have always been a stoic one. Sometimes, I can't help but wonder if you even possess a sense of humor."

Yuuki's smirk deepened. "Oh, I have a sense of humor, Okiku. It's just that most of your antics don't tickle my funny bone."

She let out a playful giggle, her fan covering her mouth coquettishly. "Well, perhaps I'll have to try harder to make you laugh. Life is much more enjoyable when we find amusement in the little things."

As the two stood in the shrine, their banter lightened the weight of their burdens, if only for a moment. Their contrasting personalities provided a balance, a yin and yang in the world of the supernatural. Just as they settled into their playful dynamic, the tranquility of the shrine was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching the entrance.

Yuuki's gaze shifted, meeting the visitor's azure eyes, and a knowing smirk formed on his lips. "Ah, you've finally arrived, at last..."