The New Winds

It was the lunch hour and before beginning his cleaning duties Yotsuo wanted to find an instructor. He didn't particularly care who since they were all in charge. He understood that for the adults, his request was likely to not be overly important, but for him it was a question of his own soul and purity so it was of utmost importance. So he sought out whichever sensei he could find.

Again lurking in the shadows of a hallway, Shosuro Tomoe watches her surroundings, observing the students.

"Ah, hello child. Do you require something from me?"

She nods her head as a bow.

Bowing with respect to the sensei, he rises. "Yes, sensei. I wished to make a request. I have a unique gift that allows me to travel to the spirit realms, which technically happens by itself each night when I visit Yume-do. I don't have any intent to use that ability outside of any instructor's supervision, but I am also still learning. Back home, I underwent ritual purification at our temple on a daily basis to ensure my soul was clean of any influence that might linger on me during travels and to help prevent me from being drawn to them unwittingly. I was hoping for permission to be able to visit the temple daily before sleep so that I might undergo ritual purification to ensure my spiritual safety."

He bows once more with his request. His expression clearly revealed that this was something he considered of dire importance.

"That is quite the rare gift, Kuni-san. However, the rules laid down by Agasha-sama are quite clear, no student it allowed to leave the dojo buildings. We can't have an incident that could reflect poorly on our duty to oversee your safety, now could we?"

She taps her mask with a finger a few times in thought.

"I can see that this is a manner of great importance for you however, so perhaps an exception could be made, with proper supervision..."

"I would not ask it if I didn't consider it to be so important to my spiritual well being. I do not wish to break any rules and I had hoped there would be an attended shrine or temple on the grounds where I could do so. Already I am starting to feel discomfort since I was not able to do so last night after traveling here. I scrubbed myself to near bleeding during my bath last night in hopes it might help, but it did not leave me feeling better," he replied.

"Any rules or restrictions that came along with such an exception would be adhered to and any supervision would be gladly welcomed. Any additional duties for the privilege would be welcomed as well."

"There is a small temporary shrine here in the dojo for you to pray at, though it is not dedicated to any particular fortune. Is there one you require specifically?"

Her voice turns to concern for a moment and looks at the Kuni up and down.

"Bleeding? Oh my, we mustn't have that. Blood outside of the areas it is meant to be spilled can bring bad tidings, don't you know?"

"Yes, I know. I didn't actually bleed, but parts of my skin were bright red and sore from scrubbing," he replied with a nod. "Part of it is that I also need a priest or monk to help perform the ritual purification as well, as I'm not yet recognized to be able to perform such things on my own. After my gempukku I'll likely be able to do so on my own, but for now I can not. I have a small statue of the Fortune Jurojin that I use in rituals, as he is the fortune that most represents health and well being from what my Master taught me."

"I see. Well, then it seems as if the shrine here would not be appropriate then. I see your plight, Kuni-san. I take it you will now ask me to have Agasha-sama grant your request, no? But here is a lesson for you. Favors never come without a price."

"I am aware that favors come with a price. I've heard my Kuni masters speak of my gift. I know what is in store for me. The heavens favored me with the gift, and the price will be my life and possibly my soul one day. As I said, any additional duties or rules that I need to observe to help maintain spiritual purity are acceptable," he says with a nod. He had seemed like a relatively upbeat student at the welcoming ceremony, but he clearly had some of that patented Kuni morbidity in him. Probably not surprising for a child not yet out of training that had to worry this much about their own soul.

"No no no, I do not mean the gift you posses. I mean having me make a case for you to bend the rules. What do I get in return? If you don't offer something, it leaves the party doing the favor with an open request for you to fullfil for them someday. You can't refuse them after all if they helped you."

Her dark eyes stare at the Kuni intently, the only physical feature of her face visible behind the mask.

"Umm... I don't have a lot that I can offer. Do you want me to try and contact someone for you that has died? I can try to do so to get answers to questions that you might have for them," he suggests, since it's basically the only truly unique thing he can offer people. "I talked to my grandpa that way once so I know it's possible. It's hard but I can try to do so for you, I'd keep trying until I succeeded or until I figured out it was impossible."

The woman lets out a laugh, breaking her steely on for a moment.

"Just the fact that you offered is enough, dear child. Just remember my words for the future, or you may find yourself in over your head in obligation to others. I will seek out Agasha-sama for you."

"Okay," he says with a nod. He understood the reasoning behind it, but he also was aware that that things came with a price. Every Kuni did. He had seen the Damned and anyone that knew the Damned understood that. His childhood, while it had more wonder and beauty in it because of his gift, was still that of a Crab.

"I appreciate the lesson and your understanding. But I also maintain the offer, as it's also beneficial for me to practice my gift as well and I won't do so without supervision." He bowed in appreciation.

"I do not wish to gain any knowledge I should not normally have access to myself. It can change destiny, and destiny is not something I wish to alter. But I do thank you for your offer, Kuni-san. I will speak to Agasha-sama for you."


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Kuni Yotsuo's request is granted, and it will be this sensei who accompanies him each night to the shrine.