Summary of Himegami no Miko (1.9-1.10)

I don't own Himegami and... I accidentally wrote too much this time ^_^a


(1.9)

On the way to a newly opened dessert shop, Chikane and Himeko were sitting next to each other in a local train. The boxcar was empty during off-peak hours. Looking at the fleeting scenery outside the window, Chikane was thinking about how she had changed. Then Himeko fell asleep and rested her head on Chikane's shoulder, with a pure happy and content face resembling that of a napping kitten in the spring, or an innocent child in her mother's arms.

How could she sleep like this on someone who would eventually betray her? Chikane thought. If Chikane would exert her skills on Himeko's soft, white throat, or her small rising breasts, she could disable this girl in an instant. Why not? She only need to save the last breath of the other Mikamiko for the destined day; she would not have to bear the scorn from Omitomeyaku; she would not have anymore of bitterness and dilemma. She does not have to play this game. This is all for lower her guard eventually. She would not be fooled...However. Her sweet breath in her sleep. Her soft hair. Her enticing smell. And her warmth passed through the uniform. Chikane's heart was throbbing harder and harder, burning hotter and hotter, turning red, turning white. No, I have to calm down, NOW, Chikane thought. Or else, she would wake up, and find out... what would she find out?

Chikane raised her hand and found her own fingers trembling. They never did even when she was in a forest of swords, or in midst of ice-cold waterfalls. While she was still unsure of what she was feeling, the train had a bump and Himeko's body swayed into Chikane's arms. Chikane took her in without thinking. It was then, that certain something in her heart burst open-- since it was seeded in the first date in the Print Seal Club, irrigated and grown till now-- its brilliance shed into every corner of Chikane's heart like an aurora, turning that infertile land into a place with running streams, green trees and various flower blossoms. "Himeko..." Chikane finally understood that this feeling of hers was non other than love, like what she had seen in movies-- not admiration, not care, nor mere friendship. She recognized her own desire of hugging, fondling, confessing to, and kissing the girl in her arms-- and then...

"What am I thinking?" "That ought to be impossible...both she and I are girls..." Sweet dreams broke into the cruel reality: all is but a short game until the moment of Houten Tamashii; and this company is but a sacrifice to die at her own hands, who's not even allowed to date. Chikane also realized why Omitomeyaku insulted her now-- for he saw through the fact that she had not only become a woman, but also a woman that falls in love with another. The sweet yet bitter, sacred yet doomed, glorious yet fleeting love-- it started without a trace, bypassed her guards, filled her with exclamations and indulgence, bound her tightly and pulled her down all the way to the very bottom of the delightful hell. And this was just the beginning of endless pain yet to come. Should she embrace, or push away Himeko, this cute and demonic girl? Chikane could not do the latter. The train was running forward with the puzzled knight and the sleeping princess in the warm afternoon sunlight, till the end of the world......

(1.10)

It was a room of darkness beyond the reach of the sun, the moon or even the stars. Only a glowing gem lit up the people in it. An about seven year old, formally dressed, Japanese-doll like girl was enshrined in the middle of piles of strings (Shinto tradition), accompanied by a Shinto priestess in a snake mask. In front of them stood the nine Kutouda folks, Souma in the middle. The girl asked the priestess to pass her message:"Be aware. The soul of Oumikami is agitated. To guarantee the prosperity and eliminate the disasters of the island， Mitamashizume no Gi is critical. Fellow Kutoudas. People who are born on the island, belong to the island, till the last droplet of blood, the last strand of hair. The affections of Mikamikos. The responsibilities of Omitomeyaku. The accomplishment of Houten Tamashii. If any of these would go wrong, it will be the end of the island. Remember well." "Aye." Kutoudas knelt down.

There were 108 days left till the day of the 16th birthday of the two.

(End of Chapter One)