Shadow of The Fox (Shadow of the Fox #1) - Julie Kagawa Page 0,120

tiny courtyard. The haiden, or prayer hall, sitting on a raised platform atop a flight of four stone steps, was the vermillion red of the torii gate. A sacred rope was draped across the entrance, indicating the holiness of the building. Beyond the haiden was the honden, the main building where the kami were housed, and no one but the priest and resident shrine maidens were allowed to enter.

“Looks like no one’s here,” Okame mused. There were no people near or around the haiden; the courtyard was empty, as was the purification fountain near the entrance. But in a place like this, where the only sound was the wind in the pines and the trickle of water into the fountain, the presence of the kami could be felt everywhere; even the brash, irreverent ronin seemed loath to break the stillness. “Maybe we should check the outbuildings? The priests’ quarters should be around somewhere, right?”

Daisuke gazed across the courtyard toward the haiden, a thoughtful frown on his face. “Before we do anything else, we should first pay our respects to the kami,” he stated in a solemn voice. “We are guests here, and I have no desire to invite bad fortune into my house by offending them.”

“I guess you’re right,” Okame said. “Though I can usually offend by simply existing. It’s a talent, I suppose.”

In preparation to speak to the kami, we gathered around the purification fountain, a stone trough with ladles balanced around the edges. Daisuke dipped one of the long wooden ladles in the water and poured some over his left hand, then his right, before swiping a finger over his lips and carefully replacing the ladle. I followed his example, noting that Okame did the same, though his expression was slightly sour as he dumped the extremely cold water over his hands, rinsed his mouth and spit into the bushes. Even Tatsumi followed the ritual, carefully cleansing his hands and touching water to his lips in a very calm, practical manner.

Thus cleansed, we turned and made our way to the haiden at the top of the steps. It was an elegant structure, with a green-tiled roof that curved up at the corners and bright red pillars beneath. A wooden offering box sat before a lattice screen that covered the window into the building. Fascinated, I watched as Daisuke dropped a silver tora into the box, then shook the rope dangling to the side.

A chime rang out from a large bell overhead, and immediately, I felt an awakening all around us, as if dozens of eyes suddenly turned our way. The kami of the shrine were aware of our presence now. I hoped they would not take offense to a presumptuous half kitsune invading their territory.

Seeming unaware of the sudden attention, Daisuke bowed once, and then a second time. Bringing his hands before his face, he clapped twice, slow and deliberate, then closed his eyes in silent prayer. When he was finished, Okame repeated the ritual, tossing a copper kaeru into the offering box, ringing the bell and clapping twice before closing his eyes to pray.

Trying to be patient and wait for my turn, I noticed Tatsumi, still standing at the bottom of the steps. His arms were crossed, and he was gazing at the torii gate across the yard. He looked tense, his jaw set and eyes hard, as if he wasn’t comfortable here. I walked down to stand beside him.

“Are you all right, Tatsumi-san? You look a little pale.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you going to make a wish to the kami? Maybe pray for our mission to go well?”

He shook his head. “The kami wouldn’t listen to someone like me.”

“Why?”

“Because calling on the gods requires purity of heart as well as body,” Tatsumi replied. His gaze shifted to his open palm, and a shadow went through his eyes. “Even if I cleansed myself a thousand times, my soul is tainted beyond forgiveness. The kami want nothing to do with me.”

“Oh.” I thought about that a moment; it sounded so sad, to be ignored by the gods. “Tell me, then,” I offered.

He blinked and looked at me, seeming confused. I met his gaze and smiled. “Your wish, Tatsumi. If you could pray for anything, right now, what would it be? I’ll ask the kami for you.”

“Yumeko...” His eyes softened. For a heartbeat, I could see past the cold and shadows and blank mirror gaze, and the vulnerability there made my stomach clench.

“Excuse me.”

We turned, and that brief expression of gentleness