Grouse Thicket 腐敗 ogamu-juku

satsu was lost. in many ways beyond the physical, she had stopped following the path her father wished as soon as his life was taken, and now she would wander the world alone, followed only by ghosts.

the kami bade her speak. her father had always been mindful of teaching her better; she was liable to damage the good name of her brothers if she spoke much more, yet, to abate meant to forget. she did not want to forget.

he would laugh, and he would joke. sometimes he would fight but it was never hurtful what he did. those that served by father knew well to avoid kikyo if he came from high upon the mountain. that was where the temple sat, and beside it the secret orchard;
he was not the kind to pray.

and always it was tsujiya that would be sent to tire him. their games would become spats, and sometimes the anger would be so strong between them that they would forget their brotherhood.

if this was the kami of her house, they would know these things. she did not think hard on it. her mind was made dizzy by her memory and the strong smell of rotting fruit.

i would give anything— ah, but there she must stop; she knew to utter the truth in her heart the kami could corrupt her. satsu sucks in a breath of the foul air and feels a piece of herself wither inside.