The darkness surrounding Kira turned into the whitest light she had ever seen and felt like she had been wrapped up in the definition of warmth and fluff, she couldn't help but think that she wouldn't mind staying like this forever as it was extremely comfortable, and it felt like getting embraced as she had rarely ever been before. Unfortunately for Kira it only lasted around a minute before she fell into a slumber.
Kira was woken up by a kid, no more than 9 or 10 years old tugging at her sleave, calling out out her.
"You're not allowed in here, hurry up before they find out, please don't sleep, just come with me!"
feeling drowsy Kira realised that the kid was almost taller than her, huh, seems I've shrunk a bit, but on the bright side I don't seem to be a baby so I shouldn't complain. Following the girl dragging her hand she saw a few other kids milling about and was surprised the kid apparently was dragging her away from the other kids but instead into another section of the.. actually what even is this place, a shrine? it looked very eastern in nature.
The girl finally stopped before another section of the shrine, turned around to Kira bowed and said, "I know the spirit energy of the main shrine area is attractive to you, but that's exactly why Shino have placed us closer and you further away so you wouldn't be tempted your bodies can't handle it and you would only hurt yourself."
the girl gave a slight bow before running back to the other kids, Kira was frankly taken just a tiny bit off guard, she was still feeling sleepy and had no clue what was going on, but decided to go in the direction the kid had told her to go.
Kira walked for a bit until she came to another smaller shrine house, she hesitated and wasn't sure if she should knock, even if anyone would be in there. After thinking for a bit she decided to just open the door and move in maybe she could catch a bit more sleep if there was a bed or a blanket or anything, Kira completely froze half way trough entering the shrine as the sight was not quite what she had been prepared for, foxes like literal fox cubs running around, and not just that kids ... well kids with fox ears and even tails, some were sitting at tables drawing or writing, others were sitting in tiny circles seemingly casting magic.
Long story short Kiras brain just short circuited for a moment trying to ingest the information, like Inara had definitely eluded that her realm had other things than humans, but Kira had to admit, she hadn't really mentally prepared herself.
One of the kids who looked a bit older glanced towards the doorway, she had felt someone entering and was wondering if they were getting a new instructor, seeing a kid her own age deeply confused her, her spirit concentration was too high, while trying to sense who or what Kira was the girl turned completely pale, stood up and ran out of the room, from the opposite entrance of the one Kira had used, she was using every bit of energy she had, and was even further enhancing her limbs with magic just to reach shino as quickly as possible.
reaching her instructor out of breath, doing her best to show her urgency, "there is a girl at the entrance of the fox shrine. and she... she feels like Inaras shrine does!"
hearing what the girl said Shinos brows furrowed, "Easy there Yin, I know you're ahead of the others and recently learned how to sense spiritual energy, are you sure you didn't just overreact because another girl just happened to be a bit stronger than you?"
shaking her head vehemently Yin proceeded to do her best to convince Shino to follow her.
back at the shrine Kira had finally snapped out of her mental short circuit after she saw one of the bigger fox girls turn pale get up and practically run away upon seeing her.
come on, I can't be that hideous Kira thought to herself but none of the other kids reacted the same way, they gave her a curious glance and just returned to what they were doing. Kira really had no clue how to proceed from here and was considering if she had misunderstood the directions from the girl that woke her up.
deciding to turn around to see if she could find the first girl she saw, Kira walked straight into a tall fox lady, who grabbed her so she wouldn't fall but upon touching her the lady froze up completely, stepped 3 steps back and assumed a bowing position, like what the fuck!?
Kiras mind whirled, did she do something wrong? it was clearly an adult, she wasn't quite sure how fox people grew, but couldn't find any reason for the behaviour, maybe its an Eastern culture thing in regards to people you don't know, so deciding to simply take the approach of "when in Rome.."
and imitated the way the lady was bowing at her, back at the fox lady.