Chapter 18: Advertising

It was a good day. The shrine was in better repair. The miasma has disappeared with my assistance. My barrier was holding on strong. The weather was nice, fresh air passing through the trees. The breeze was especially nice after my bath. I sat on the porch, running a comb through my hair. Doing this will help it breathe and dry faster as well as get any tangles out, I just have to be careful not to overdo it and straighten it out. I paused mid-stroke. That would make me look like Kikyo.

I need to go to the store. We are out of toothpaste.

I got up and slipped on some clogs. I called to my familiars to tell them where I was going before stepping on the stone path towards town. Being careful of my yukata around the overgrowth, I paused when I heard some whispering. Moving forward a bit more I came upon two little boys hiding in the bushes. They ran away frightened before I could ask them what they were doing. That better have not been a dare.

I was walking down the road towards the nearest store when I passed by a pair of gossips. I couldn't help but listen to them when they vaguely mentioned the shrine.

"Up in the mountain, did you know there's a weather-beaten abandoned shrine there?"

"The one where they said there were hitodama sometimes appeared?"

"Yes, that one! The haunted shrine, I heard lately, a girl ghost appeared there, something like that…"

"Scary"

"Since my grandma hurt her back, there's almost no one that will go near the shrine anymore and because the forest is dangerous, we told the children not to go there. It's a creepy place right? It will be dreadful if something happened there…"

I had entered the store by then. In actuality, I didn't want to hear any more. I was stopped by a couple of guys in glasses with camera. They asked me about the shrine in hopes to take pictures of imaginary ghosts, not the good kind of tourists. I brooded on my way back to the shrine. I took a better look at my surroundings. I winced. There was overgrowth in and around the stone paths and stone steps crumbling them away. The trees and bushes looked wild. The grass was over grown patches and surrounded by weeds.

I topped the stairs and the contrast was evident. Everything was neat and orderly. The grass was even and green with no weeds. The bushes and flowers were place with care and arranged tastefully. The trees weren't over bearing, but I could see Tomoe sitting in a tree closest to the Tori. I squinted at the branches. They were too close to the Tori.

I headed inside and arranged seating mats and prepared some tea then I called everyone for a meeting. I waited patiently for everyone to gather, total: 4. I waited for their attention. I folded my hands.

"Alright everyone, I have some serious matters to discuss. On my way to the store earlier, I had overheard some gossips, and what I heard was very concerning. People, other than our faithful select few, are not coming to the shrine because they still believe that it is abandoned. Right now, there are rumors of it being haunted, and those rumors are keeping people away or attracting the wrong kind of tourists. We need to advertise this shrine to revive its place in the people's minds as a flourishing place of worship instead of the neighborhood's place of courage testing. "

I paused to take in their reactions. They were shocked in horror and dismay. I thinned my lips grimly, but I stretched it into a smile to give encouragement.

"I have some experience in this area of expertise, so I have an idea. I believe we should set up a festival. It doesn't have to be a formal one, just something for the public to see that the shrine is still in use and is open to the public. We also need to tend to the paths leading to the shrine as the vegetation has overgrown and eating way at our stone stairs, and it is unappealing to the eye. What do you all think?"

Mizuki had agreed with me immediately. Onikiri and Kotetsu pondered it for a while before agreeing as well. Tomoe stayed quiet. I guessed he couldn't decide, but since he was outvoted, we are going with the festival. We are going to start work tomorrow, but right now I need to create some ideas to attract people. The stalls were a given. We needed food and games for people of all ages, so they can be occupied and happy. Of course, we are going to need certificates and seals of approval to sell the wares, especially the food. What we need are events for people to look forward to seeing or doing. What can we do?

I need more people to think with me! Hm, which mode of communication to use? Phones are too costly, so letters? Yes, letters would be perfect! Gathering paper, envelopes, and cute stickers for a seal, I started on my invitations to my various associates: Himemiko, Kurama, and Kamehime. Hopefully, they will help get the inspiration wagon going. Calling for Kotetsu, I asked him to send these letters out to their respective people. Now that that was out of the way, I mulled over some main events we could possibly do.

It was nearing the afternoon when I was pulled from my musings by Onikiri. She was thoughtfully bringing me some tea. I smiled in thanks before taking a sip as the wisp looking over my list and mostly crossed out suggestions.

"Kagome-sama, we do have some things that could be of use. The equipment used in the events before is in the treasure house at the back of the shrine."

"Oooo, thank you Onikiri! I'll look into it."

After finishing my tea, I followed Onikiri to the treasure house. Dust billowed all over me when I opened the doors. Eyes shut out of reflex; I stepped back a bit before reopening them. Looking about myself, I saw that only my front was gray. I started to dust off and cough at that the cloud that I made. Ignoring the fact that I took a bath this morning, I entered the musty store house. Looking about the boxes, I figured I'm going to need Tomoe. I don't know what were in any of these boxes without labels.

Back tracking to the entrance, I wandered over to the newly trimmed tree by the Tori. Tomoe was gathering the ashes of the cut off limbs of wood to spread them in the garden. Hm, maybe I can learn how to garden; the ash would make good fertilizer. I rubbed some cooled ash between my fingers to have a sense of the texture. I looked up when my pile of ash was swept away. Dusting off my hand, I stood to face Tomoe.

"Hey Tomoe, if you don't mind, I need your help in the treasure room."

He looked up from his yard maintenance and stared at me. I raised an eyebrow. When he continued, I started to move my hands to fist onto my hips. He seemed to snap out of his little trance and moved in the general direction of the treasure room. Eyebrow and hands falling, I stared at him in confusion before following. It was subtle, but something is up with Tomoe. I squinted at his back, something off. I think, his staring started some months ago when Narukami-sama came for Tomoe and my godhood.

I put those thoughts aside when we entered the store house. Looking about the aired room, I gazed for something to catch my eye. I saw something yellow and shiny. I looked to a lion head used for the lion dance. It could work. I climbed some storage boxes to see if I could reach it. That turned out to be a mistake. The boxes' structure was unstable. I wobbled a bit before I started to fall. Squeezing my eyes shut and tensing on reflex, I waited for the pain. None came. Carefully peeking one eye open, I felt arms around me. I saw a stunned Tomoe. I relaxed.

"Thank you Tomoe, I think the boxes are telling me not to go with the Lion Dance."

"That Lion head is used as an ornament only Kagome."

"Okay then that is defiantly out. Do you have any ideas that could be the main event?"

He just stared at me. I raised an eyebrow. I was still in his arms. I patted his shoulder and pointed to the ground. He slowly set me down. I looked up at him to see if he had any suggestions. A few moments later, I'm thinking he doesn't have any. I started to turn to sift through the boxes behind me when Tomoe grabbed my attention with a question.

"Why?"

I raised an eyebrow. I rolled my wrist silently to wave him on to continue his question.

"Why are you trying so hard? People won't come even if you do this pointless event. It's not that the worshippers stopped coming from yesterday or today. We're already like this from before you came. Even though you've become the Land God, it's not something you've to worry about."

I pursed my lips, not at all happy that those negative thoughts were clouding his mind. I turned to him seriously and gently. I guess it's about time I told him what I thought about this matter.

"I know, Tomoe. I have read through those 20 years of unanswered prayers you recorded. You have kept this shrine up and running, even when no one comes around anymore. You do all these chores: cleaning the chouzuya, dusting the front shrine, clearing out trash from the offertory box, and maintaining the prayer bells. I want other people to know about that. That's why I want this event and festival to be successful."

I smiled at him genuinely.

Being the Sunset Shrine brat in Tokyo, the active shrine always had visitors and had good upkeep thanks to Gramps and the occasional helping hand. She had never seen her shrine in poor condition. When she first climbed up Mikage Mountain and saw the state of the mountain's shrine, under all the overwhelming encounters, she felt how lonely and sad the old building felt. She felt bad for the abandoned shrine. But now, she can help it turn into a better condition along with the worshippers' help, as soon as more come in anyway. Seeing such differences now, it made Kagome feel warm and grateful to Tomoe. Despite how he sees his chores as mandatory, she sees them as accomplishments and care.

I took in a deep breath and sighed in relief. I gazed at the stunned, stock still familiar. My brow furrowed. Was he ok? I started to wave my hand in front of his face to see if I can get him out of his daze. He caught my hand. I took a sharp inhale. When did he ever smile like that?