01. New Arrival

In an inpatient room provided by the hospital, a husband and wife are talking about the future with great intimacy. They talked about many things, as if it were the most precious moments for both of them. Indeed, when you are with loved ones, no matter how much time passes, no one will be able to feel it. Everything passed quickly, just like that, without warning.

His wife's bed, which is near the window, can make it easier for her to gaze at the scenery outside while she is being treated at Yurogane Hospital. They will not wait there any longer. Right after taking care of the final administrative costs, the family with the unique birthmark will be allowed to go home by the doctor and several nurses.

The woman with black hair and slightly curly hair lay on the patient bed with a white blanket that covered her legs to her breasts, as if protecting her from the cold. The woman's face looked tired from having struggled for several hours, since yesterday afternoon, but a smile of joy was clearly visible on her beautiful face.

The woman has successfully delivered her daughter safely. Indeed, the happiness that is second to none in the world, exceeds the happiness of getting the hidden treasure map on the pirate island. Whoever is a woman who has just given birth, only those who are not ready cannot accept her baby with a face full of gratitude and emotion.

"What a beautiful baby," Hideki commented while staring fondly at the little angel that God had given them. "Just like his mother."

The man then stroked the tiny head of the baby girl who a few hours ago had been born into this world by his wife through a normal and safe delivery. How happy he was to have been allowed to be the father of a baby girl whose face was so beautiful. Hideki continued to stare at his daughter who was in his wife's arms with a look full of love.

If there is a second love for God's creatures, then the child will get it. Hideki smiled warmly, truly feeling blessed that the presence of their little daughter was a gift they had to take care of as well as possible.

Kaede — the wife who heard her husband's praise smiled thinly. The woman knows how deeply the husband has fallen in love with their daughter and of course she will not mind sharing love, because her angels are so precious. Kaede then spoke up to break the silence between them. "I've found a name that suits her," she said honestly.

Hideki then looked up, and stared at his wife's eyes, which were dark brown in color with a very close look. "What are you going to name our little princess, dear?" he asked softly. He really wanted his child to have a very beautiful name, like the appearance of a baby who resembled a little wingless angel.

The Akibara woman who was staring at the little baby who was fast asleep in her arms smiled sweetly. "Her name is ... Akibara Rin," replied Kaede while kissing the baby's chubby cheeks and blushing. How beautiful Rin, their beloved daughter is.

Hideki seemed curious about the meaning behind their daughter's name. He doesn't want his daughter to have a bad name later. The child's name must have a very beautiful meaning like the angel of the little baby. "What's the meaning of that name, honey?" asked the husband once again.

The man was really curious about the meaning contained in their daughter's name. A name is a prayer, as well as a blessing that God will send to their future children.

"Akibara Rin means ... a dignified god follower girl," Kaede replied after stroking their little baby's head affectionately. Little Rin who is fast asleep in her arms looks so adorable. The woman giggled with amusement when she saw her daughter's lips looking for a source of food.

Kaede hurriedly gave her breast milk. "I wish Rin happiness in the future."

Hideki smiled too. "The meaning of the name is very beautiful," said Hideki while kissing his wife's forehead, expressing his deep gratitude to her for struggling to give birth to their little daughter. The man held his position for a few moments, then slowly retreated and turned to kissing his daughter.

"Hopefully Rin can go through all that will happen in her life," said his father hopefully. They just wanted their daughter to grow stronger, and be able to eliminate the invisible something that was stalking them from afar.

A terrible curse, from the demon monkey. The Akibara family really wishes the best for the children who continue their cause, and one of their successors is ... Rin. A little baby just born into this mortal world.

~ • ~ • ~

Rin smiled sweetly as she handed a medium sized fruit basket to an old woman who had been helped by her earlier. Seeing that the old grandmother looked overwhelmed while carrying the basket, the seven year old boy helped her. "Here, please ... Granny's fruit basket!" said the little girl cheerfully. 

The old grandmother then accepted it with a small smile. "Thank you very much," said the old woman, stroking the top of the head of the girl who had helped her carry the fruit basket. Even though she did not ask, but the child swiftly did it without being asked. "You are a very good girl, sweetie," she said with a sweet smile.

The girl chuckled, revealing tiny, untidy teeth. In fact, her front teeth looked like rabbit teeth on the top. Her cheerful laugh sounded so cute, "It's okay, Grandma! Rin is happy to help Grandma!" she said with a wink.

"Rin! Where are you, dear?" shouted a woman with a beautiful face with her appearance that was quite striking because it looked very beautiful. Her violet dress wrapped her plump body just right, looking very elegant. The woman was looking for the where abouts of the child who suddenly disappeared from sight while she was busy picking fruits.

Rin, who heard the scream, then turned around, not far behind there, Rin found her mother running towards them with wheezing breath.

"Gosh ... it turns out you are here," said the child's birth mother when she arrived in front of Rin.

Rin, who felt guilty, immediately hugged Kaede's waist, her height which was only limited to her mother's stomach, made her look up and stare at her mother's brown colored net.

The little girl then said, "I'm sorry Rin disappeared suddenly, Mom." Rin then turned to the middle-aged woman who was standing watching her. The old grandmother she helped.

"Earlier Rin went to help this Grandma."

Kaede who understood the reason why the princess suddenly disappeared from her could only smile sweetly, she then said, "It's okay, honey."

The woman who was married to Hideki ten years ago immediately crouched down, and brought Rin into a tight warm hug. "But next time, remember to ask permission with me," said the woman again while stroking Rin's head affectionately.

Kaede then bowed his body slightly to the old woman who was in front of her. A form of courtesy from East Asia. "Sorry to trouble you, Madam," she said slowly. "Rin doesn't bother you, is she?"

The middle-aged woman with quite noticeable wrinkles on her face smiled back slightly, also bowed her body slightly at the elegant woman who had the signature Akibara birthmark on her right cheek.

Shaped like an inverted animal fangs.

"No, no. Rin is a very good child. She helped me carry this baggage earlier," replied Hikaru — the old woman — smiling sweetly.

Kaede nodded once, feeling proud that her beloved child had been able to make other people happy with her presence. It is a key to lasting happiness.

"Yes, that's right, Ma'am. Rin is indeed a good girl," replied Kaede as she slowly stroked her daughter's head.

~ • ~ • ~

A girl with two pigtails is seen busy sweeping the floor of the shrine which is filled with dried flower petals that fall from the cherry tree next to her house. Autumn in Japan has arrived. The girl couldn't wait for the new year celebrations to come in a few months. The girl Akibara has been waiting for some time for this special celebration.

Rin has prepared many things for the New Year's party, such as various plans to enliven the Akibara shrine, she will hold a prayer together. Or maybe create a stage for kabuki * actors at her shrine? Rin is really excited! She was looking forward to that day!

Because, even though it is celebrated every year, Rin always feels homesick for the activities she and her family do during the day.

New Year celebrations in Japan are important days for Shintoists. On that night, the bells in Buddhist temples will ring 108 times. One clank will wash away one sin, until the last ring of bells in the middle of the night.

During the first three days of each year, people will gather together to celebrate the new year by eating and drinking generously. The whole house will be beautifully cleaned and decorated.

Rin always spends the new year with her little family at their Akibara shrine. Only specialize in worshiping on that day after eating together.

One of the most important things they also did during those three days was visiting holy places or places of worship.

Nearly 98 million people across Japan will visit one shrine during the celebrations. At least three million people visit Meiji shrines to pray for good fortune throughout the year.

For Rin and her family, it would be incomplete without a visit to a shrine dedicated to worshiping the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife — Empress Shōken. When they finished staying at home, they would go there together.

Since childhood, Rin has been asked to look after their family's Akibara shrine. The reason was obvious because the girl came from a very religious family. For the Akibara girl, being the guardian of the temple has been a must for a long time. As if it was her destiny.

So when she was offered to become a shrine maiden by her family, the girl quickly accepted her assignment as the miko happily. Without any coercion at all, because this is what his heart desires. Like a destiny that he must be ready to accept wholeheartedly.

A miko has an important role in Shinto belief. Shinto is a religion and a cornerstone of Japanese culture, and exists only in the country of the rising sun. Miko refers to a shrine maiden or an accompanying priest who in ancient times was believed to be a shaman. However, in modern times like today, miko play a lot in traditional events in daily temple life.

They are trained to perform various kinds of special traditional events such as purification, fortune telling, casting out evil spirits, performing sacred dances called kagura, and they are also in charge of caring for the shrine they serve as Rin is currently doing.

The purpose of the miko is to serve the people who come to the shrine by preserving life and bringing happiness to everyone.

Approximately that is the reason Rin accepts her duty as a miko wholeheartedly, because she wants to make other people happy.

"Welcome." Rin welcomes a group of guests from abroad who come to the Akibara shrine near the gate which is called a torii *. The young girl clasped her hands together in front of her chest, while lowering her body slightly.

"Wow, she's so beautiful." A foreign tourist who came with his entourage pointed at Rin, the girl that the foreign guest was talking about could only smile a little while smoothing the bangs that covered her beautiful face.

That's how Rin's daily life is, a girl who has almost turned 18 in carrying out her daily life.

+ Note +

- Torii (鳥 居) is a barrier between the area where humans live and the sacred area where Kami or God lives. In addition, this building also functions as a temple gate.