The Proposal

As we waited for the village to come back to take to the hiding spot, we waited at the river. Suddenly Ishida got up.

"Shinji, I'm sorry, but can you look after Aiko until I get back.

I'm counting on you to protect her."

"All right, I'll do it." I nodded in agreement and turned to face the elder's subordinates. It was risky to keep the younger sister, who had just turned ten, because I could easily become a burden during their escape. They intended to depart as soon as Ishida returned. It would take some time for the other villagers to notice that people were missing if only a small group fled.

"Sorry, but it appears that I will be in charge of babysitting. Do you think it's time to write the book? It appears to be the case."

"It will be fine once we leave the village. Such a unique piece should be read when we can fully appreciate it. We can't just throw it away, can we?" I smiled as I heard Aiko's nervous words and saw her.

"Shinji-oni-chan, are you afraid? Despite the fact that everyone here is in a state of panic?" Aiko inquired

"I guess I'm not afraid right now. It's not even raining, and the weather is perfect." I directed her gaze upward. The sun's shape was missing, but a half-moon illuminated the world in its place.

"Is it okay if it's not raining?" one of the kids said

"Yup. Rising horrors are heralded by falling rain. It's always been that way... Bad things happen on rainy days." I spat in annoyance.

"Rainy days can be depressing. On sunny days, you always smile, but on rainy days, you make a really scary face "Aiko stated

"Clear skies can only mean good news. Oh, how I wish it was always cloudless." I pointed to the sky.

"But won't the crops all perish?" enquired one of the subordinates

"... That's correct." I responded

"Rain is important, as you can see. We don't need to water the fields when it rains!"

While listening to Aiko's words, I remembered that day; the hellish scene I had failed to remove from her mind: the putrid smell that assaulted her nose, the harsh buzzing of the flies, the hole filled with haplessly abandoned corpses, and the lifeless bodies of my dear friends. Such was the fate of those who were unable to find happiness, as the world was shrouded in a cold rain. I grew to despise the rain and felt my existence eroding with each drop.

"Nonetheless, I dislike the rain. In fact, I despise it." I said, clasping my fingers.

A voice from heaven came from the shrine next to our village as we waited for everyone to arrive. It was Keiko who came to look for me and the kids. Keiko, dressed as a Miko, was sweeping the shrine and mumming.

The kids were smiling as I looked at her and suddenly pushed me as they ran away.

"Who's there?" Keiko inquired."Shinji-Sama!" she blushed as I caught her mumming

"What are you doing here, aren't you getting ready?" I scratched my head.

"I have already packed but I cannot leave this shrine once I leave as it would anger the gods. So I couldn't do anything but pray as I leave my grandfather's shrine" said Keiko as takes a moment to think of the memories she had with the shrine.

Keiko was the only granddaughter and the next in line to the Kaishima Shrine. She was a month younger than me but the same age as me. She and her father lived in this shrine and participated in all rituals to thank the gods. Keiko was in charge of performing the ceremonial dance, and she was truly a goddess as she danced. I had a feeling she liked me, but she didn't bring it up because I was an outsider, and Miko's are virgins like the nuns in the church, but they can only marry if the priest agrees. Her father was the head Monk but died before I arrived, so she is technically the head priestess unless she marries.

She has spent far too much time in this Shrine, from birth to adolescence, and it appears that she will miss being there. I got up and rubbed her head when I noticed she was scared and worried.

She looked at me, stunned, tears streaming down her cheeks. As she hugged me tightly, I carefully wiped her tears. "Shinji, what should I do?" I refuse to leave my family's shrine. As a result of my father's death, this shrine is now managed by the Elder. The village council owns this shrine until I marry. They don't seem to care what happens now that we've been told to flee.

I felt a jerk in me because she was helpless. I'm concerned about the girl I met a few years ago who was always smiling and laughing and trying to get closer to me. We heard the village people leaving and were followed by Ishida.

"Keiko, it's time to go" "I don't want to," Keiko said as she lay down. I quickly put my hand on her shoulders and said, "Keiko, this is only for a few days before I and some men leave to fight the enemies, and you should be safe in a place where you can save your lives. This shrine will not be moved because you have protected it, and it is now their turn to repay you."

She sniffles and wipes away her tears "You are correct; there will always be a next time. We will return soon."

I smiled and hugged her as I went to get her belongings and join the village on our way to the hideout. It took three hours to walk with breaks. Because our village had only fifty people, it took some time to get to the hideout. The elders were placed in carts so that we could move more quickly.

When we arrived at the hideout, it was a massive cave with a secret passage that led us to another massive and stranded island on the other side of Kaishima that was pastured with grass and no predators or bandits would enter. There was a small river that connected to the ocean, so everything was in place for the village to settle down until we returned after assisting the Husuo Clan. We hunters never told anyone because we needed time for the village to know and this was the right time.

While all were settled, Keiko was called by the village head and I saw them talking to each other. As the night fell, people together prepared meals and there were singing and dancing to entertain the villagers. Soon, a drum was heard as I turned I saw Keiko as she came out to perform a prayer.

She appeared in her ceremonial shrine maiden outfits, smearing dark red lipstick on her lips and wearing head decorations with jingling bells on them, standing in front of an audience on the kagura stage, and dancing the dance as the band of musicians played happily while she prayed. It is a dance performed by a couple that involves holding bells with colorful cords hanging off of them, ringing said bells loudly, spinning around, and waving the cords around in the air.

As she danced, I was truly mesmerized by her beauty and fell in love with her; as I had previously thought about her, I felt something come into my mind.

After the ceremonial dance, everyone sat down to eat in the dining room. I took a deep breath and approached her, where the elder and members of the village council were sitting.

"Keiko, I have something to tell you," I said as I extended my hand to her. As she extended her hand, I led her to the center of the table in front of everyone and signaled their attention.

"Members of the clan, I'd like to draw your attention," I said boldly to the crowd.

"Oi, what is it Shinji?" Horio asked.

"What's the matter?" Ishida inquired.

"Members gathered here, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my feelings in front of everyone here."

"What's going on, Shinji?" Keiko inquired.

I took a deep breath, took her hand, and boldly said, "Matsura." Keiko, I'd like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of the village; you've all been very kind to me, and I'm grateful, but today I'd like to confess something to you, Keiko."

While others murmured, she was perplexed and asked, "What are you trying to say, Shinji?"

" Keiko, I'm in love with you, you're like my spark whenever I see you, you're my savior who helps me through difficult times, and I know my life will never be complete without you by my side to share it."

She was at a loss for words and didn't know how to respond as everyone looked on, curious about what was going on. I took a deep breath and knelt down.

" Keiko, There are many ways to be happy in this life, but all I really need is you. When I look into your eyes, I can see a reflection of the two of us and the life I hope we'll share together.When I look into my heart, I see only you. If you can look into your heart and only see me, then we should spend the rest of our lives together. I can't imagine growing old with anyone else, nor do I want to.

As I take this journey ahead and don't know when we will get to meet after this battle with the Amida, but Matsura Keiko, When I think about you, I know that no one else will ever hold my heart the way you do.So Keiko, would you take this man in hand of marriage, in other words will you marry me?"

Keiko was out of words and didn't know what to say, but tears of happiness flowed through her. Before she could speak, the village head came forward.

"Keiko, are you really going to marry this outsider" he said straight forward

"I ..I...." she was out of words and could not say anything but the village head's wife gave some comfort and said, " It's your choice, it was you who took him in and you who always dreamt of been with him from day one, accept now or be the virgin maiden throughout your life, it's your decision whether you like him or miss a wonderful man who just confessed in front of everyone"

While they were explaining, I was shaking as to have I done but as I look at her, she was my future and I will not ruin this life and protect whatever I have received in this world. Suddenly Keiko stood up and came towards me.

" Shinji, that was really a shocking moment for me and the village..but"

"But..." I gulped

She continued, " You're the love of my life, and my answer is yes, yes, yes"

The village head Sighed and came towards me, " Outsider, no Shinji...."

"Yes sir...?" I said shaking

" Take care of Keiko, May she bring happiness to you and to this village, this is a great day to celebrate an auspicious occasion" said the village head as everyone cheered as the proposal was success and Horio, Asa and Ishida congratulated me while Yuzuriha hugged both of us telling, " Now there's not a marriage but two marriages"

We smiled as the village were celebrating, as I and Keiko hold hands, she kissed me to the cheek, " I'll be on your care"

"I'll protect you and take care care no matter how long we have the time,I'll be under your care" I said as we both shared our first mouth to mouth kiss.