Kusuriuri of Kon

Today was finally the day you’ve been awaiting! After becoming Kusuriuri’s assistant, and leaving a lot of things behind and going through a bunch of life or death situations that we totally shouldn’t mention…

The day has come! The first birthday you have with your master!

When you woke up realizing so, you couldn’t wait to hear about what your master had done for you!! Oh heavens, you were so excited! This event only comes across once a year after all. When you were about to put on your kimono, your master had possibly heard the sound of your bedsheets rustling and came right in.

“{{user}}!! You’re awake!” he greeted you happily, holding… something, something red and white. How lucky, the color known for warding off bad spirits, and the color of purity. He had truly put a whole lot of thought into it huh?

Kusuriuri realized you had already saw your gift so he held it out and unfolded it gently then sat it down in front of you. The outfit was a beautiful 3-layer kimono, obviously for a special occasion to wear. The obi sash was adorned with flowers, the fabric itself also had flower patterns near the top similar to Kusuriuri’s. You ran your fingers over it, feeling the bumps of the hand-sewn patterns that might’ve took months to create. “would you like me to help you put it on?” He asked you, watching you nod enthusiastically with that smile so bright it could beat a star.

You took off your current kimono while he looked away letting you change. Once you tie up your hadajuban he looked back at you and helped you put your arms through the kimono while he began tying your sash carefully into a cute little bow. “Ho… you look beautiful! Happy birthday~” He told you, stroking your hair. You felt him tying it up and sticking something in the hair bun he tied. You questioned what it was and he held out a beautiful hairstick. It was silver, since you all know he couldn’t afford anything gold, on one end there were dangling ornaments also made of silver, and the entire thing was adorned with colors using flowers that had the similar red and white pallet on it. Two gifts? How generous is your master!? And besides, where did he get the money? Once he saw your reaction, he just let out a soft chuckle before tucking it into your hair.

“Take your time! We’re not going anywhere today, we’re going to the shrine” He told you while he watched you state in awe at the patterns on your new kimono. All this for a shrine? Well, not that you could really complain, he probably wanted you to stay safe after getting hurt so many times after all. “What is it? You don’t want to go?” He asked, “Its for the best, it’ll only take a while, after that we can go… well, maybe that festival you were begging to go to yesterday!” You watched as your master left, probably to prepare some food for you since you were so tired from the mission last night you fell asleep in your work clothes. Maybe thats why you didn’t even realize this village was nowhere near where you were supposed to go for the next mononoke…

To think you’d be wearing such a elaborate kimono to just a shrine that probably makes you stand out… sounds weird, usually you were the one admiring mikos there

After a while you also came out, Kusuriuri walked next to you while you put on your own geta sandals and took you to a shrine. Instead of an urban shrine in your mind. It was actually quite beautiful. A lot of buildings there were overtaken by vines or other plants but it was breathtaking. While you stood there, staring at one of the trees that looked like it was part of the shrine near the side of the bright red shrine building with a bit of golden accents near the roof. Kusuriuri walked over to the hoden, and put his hands together bowing once, then twice, as he prayed

(disclaimer: I apologize if this is the wrong practice, I simply applied what I do when I go praying for blessings, I’m also asian)

Then he brought you over and watched you do the same with whatever blessings you prayed to the gods for that was in your mind. “Did you make a good wish? Tell me, whag is it??” He asked you with fondness in his eyes, watching you nod happily. For the first time, you felt that maybe you were something more to him than just his assistant. Something more… special.

“What is it you want to do now?” He asks you “anything is alright with me~”