I was told that I was unconscious for three months following that. Shigure said that the medical staff freaked out when they discovered that he was completely healed with only faint scars left, but were concerned when they saw my health had taken a downward spiral.
As for his family, they were shocked and amazed by what they had seen. They told Shigure that because of my healing, they had suddenly realised through the strength and purity of energy I had released that their family inheritance was indeed of a lower grade than what Shigure and I had. They wouldn't pressure him again. He had obtained a treasure and a far superior inheritance. In fact, they wanted to know if it was possible for the family to obtain this inheritance. As a result, Shigure tried to introduce them to the Creator.
The family, upon hearing it had something to do with a god other than their family gods, declined. They decided to follow their family's tradition but agreed to release Shigure to follow the Creator. The clan, however, disagreed and tried to pressure the family into forcing Shigure back into line.
By the time I woke up again, Shigure had finished his physical rehabilitation and was just waiting for me to wake up. He found work in the family business, smoothly transitioning back to help them out a few days a week, but he would otherwise always be by my side praying. That was when the government didn't request his assistance with the occasional case.
I blinked at his face, smiling and happy to see him. He had his face mask on again, but I didn't mind. I was just glad to see he hadn't left me alone and that I hadn't been abandoned. Waking up to his kisses and sweet words made the long sleep feel worth it.
With Shigure by my side and seeing how strong and healthy he was again, I was motivated to improve. I recovered quickly, however my physical rehabilitation was slow. I had lost a lot of muscle strength. I was also incontinent for most of my rehab period until my muscles were able to remember their proper jobs and regain sufficient strength to do them.
I worked hard to regain my strength. At times, Shigure had to poke my head to send me to sleep again when I had overdone things again. Everyday, he reminded me that he loved me and that he wouldn't leave me. Maybe one day soon, I'd be able to remember it and believe it.
Although I say my health improved quickly, it was more two steps forwards and two steps backwards. Later, it became two steps forward and one step backwards. I planned to soon make it two steps forwards and no steps backwards.
We returned home to the house of Shigure's parents where we continued my physical conditioning and rehabilitation. Shigure took me on walks, short runs and bike rides. We climbed mountains and helped the farmers in the fields. He taught me various types of chess games, none of which I was very good at despite his attempts to tutor me. Tactics and strategies seemed beyond me. I was really not cut out for that kind of stuff.
His family cooked delicious food and tried to include me in on activities. They taught me about their culture and traditions, as well as the reasons behind why certain things were done a certain way. They educated and deepened my understanding of words with their connotations and hidden meanings. I learned about their etiquette, tea ceremony and history.
And then one day, they told me I was ready.
Confused, I tilted my head to look at Shigure.
"They feel you are ready to visit our family's shrine to add your name to our family's genealogy book," Shigure explained. "It means you have been accepted into the family. We're going to the village clan to present you to the clan elders."
"Oh," I said.
"To show our respects to the clan, it is our family's tradition that the new husband and wife walk to the family shrine in the mountain where the mountain god shrine is. Our family's house is actually halfway up the mountain, so we're actually going to walk down to the clan village and then back up the mountain past our family's house to the shrine of the mountain god that the clan serves. It'll take us most of the day."
"Ok," I nodded.
Before dawn, I was woken up. Sleepily, I allowed Okaasan and the other women in the family to dress me up in traditional clothes. I had to wear high wooden sandals that were difficult to walk in. I would have much preferred going barefoot to these wooden sandals that were so difficult to walk in.
My kimono was bright red with a blue obi, matching Shigure's outfit. We started the descent down the mountain from the family house, walking on the asphalt road. I was glad we didn't have to walk through the forest like this. It would have ruined the clothes and been difficult to walk with these strange shoes that were both heavy and odd to walk in. It forced me to shorten my steps and walk in a more shuffling pattern.
It took us an hour to reach the clan village at the foot of the mountain, where we were instructed to walk around the village, stopping at the clan head's house where we had to stand and receive a long speech by the clan head and various elders. After that, the elders all left in cars to drive up to the shrine gates, where they would walk the rest of the way to the mountain god's shrine and their family's shrine. Shigure's family also went ahead of us to wait for us at the shrine.
We were given a sweet drink by the villagers and then encouraged to begin the long walk back up the mountain. They instructed that we take the old dirt road up the mountain rather than the easier asphalt road.
Holding Shigure's hand, we walked into the forest and I felt a strange atmosphere envelope us, making me shiver. Maybe it was just my imagination.
"Maybe not," Shigure agreed softly. "There is indeed something sinister in the atmosphere."
Nevertheless, we walked on the difficult dirt path. There were tree roots and rocks we had to climb, although I cheated by holding onto Shigure and taking careful precision jumps up those obstacles. There was a little trickling brook that we had to leap over, where I nearly tripped because I wasn't used to the kimono and the width of its skirts. It was also heavy. I almost lost a wooden sandal.
Shigure told me about how as a child, he used to run up and down these tracks and play in the forest without fear.
"I don't remember it ever having this kind of atmosphere," Shigure said. "Perhaps something has changed."
"Or perhaps you have changed," I suggested and Shigure nodded.
"That is also possible. After all, the Creator's Spirit is not compatible with any other spirits out there. I wonder what happens if we are unable to enter the shrine. Will my family remove my name? Will you detest me if my name is removed from my family's book?" Shigure asked.
"Did you detest me when my name was removed from my tribe's stones? You didn't. You supported me and gave me the Shigure inheritance. You gave me a new name in order to save me. Why would I detest you or look down on you when something similar happens to you? The main thing is that we can be together," I said, squeezing Shigure's hand and giving him a peck on the cheek.
Shigure paused to press me up against a tree to kiss me deeply. Until I had to smack him to let go before I fainted from lack of oxygen. He smirked and I smacked him on the shoulder with a twitch of my nose.
We walked and climbed and jumped up the mountain path until we had to pause for a rest.
"Is this normal?" I asked Shigure. "Why do I feel like we've hardly made any progress?"
"They say that this path is a test for couples, Shigure told me. "It is a longer path than it looks and it is a test of perseverance, endurance and teamwork, symbolising what the couple may have to go through during life."
"I feel like there's something wrong with the road. Like there's an illusion or something here," I grumbled.
Shigure nodded his head.
"You're right," he agreed. "I can see it. It's just that they expect us to spend most of the day in here. If we come out too quickly, the elders may be suspicious and have something to say."
"Then why are we still walking?" I snorted. "We can just take a break and then break through the illusion when it's time."
"Because we are meant to look tired by the time we come out," Shigure said. "Even better if we are all sweaty."
I thought about it and an adults only image came to mind, causing Shigure to give me a sidelong glance. I clapped my hands to my hot cheeks.
"That's not a bad idea," Shigure smiled, pressing me against a tree and bending down to capture my lips.
"No, no," I gasped in between kisses. "What if the kimonos get wrinkly and messy?"
"We'll fix them before we go out. Besides, I haven't been able to stop thinking how you aren't wearing any underwear beneath your clothes," Shigure leered and I gulped. "By the time we're done, it should be about time for us to come out."
"Sh-Shigure," I stammered, "are you sure this is a good idea? What if someone is watching us?"
"No one is watching us," Shigure shook his head. "Why would they watch us? They'd be sitting drinking tea and snacks, waiting for us while chatting."
His kisses continued to fall and I eventually consented. Shigure was careful not to mess our clothes up too much and yet, he didn't hold back.
"I've been wanting to do this again with you for such a long time," Shigure whispered. "Try not to make too much noise or people will hear you. If they hear, they'll know exactly what we're doing in here."
I bit my hand in order to not make a sound, while I enjoyed the sensations. When Shigure was done, he brought me back to the icy brook where we both cleaned ourselves up, using the icy water to wash up.
Feeling satisfied, we fixed each other's clothes, held hands and continued our journey, finding the weakness of the illusion to break free from it. Within less than half an hour, we saw the cars in the car park and the big red gates signalling that we were about to enter the grounds of the shrine.
Just as we were about to step through the first red gate, we came up against a strange barrier.
Shigure and I paused to examine the barrier with some confusion. It felt dark, evil and repulsive. Something was refusing us entry.
Exchanging glances, Shigure and I reached out to the Creator to ask for advice.
*"Leave now,"* the Creator told us. *"Do not enter. There is danger for both of you inside."*
At that moment, a female elder was coming down the steps through the big red gates and saw us standing there.
"Oh, you two are here already. That was fast," she said. "You two keep going. I need to get my phone from the car first."
She passed us to go to the car and Shigure gripped my hand tight.
"What happens if we don't go in?" I whispered to Shigure.
"My family will lose some face and respect in the clan," Shigure replied. "The standing of my family members in the clan will be affected."
"Why are you two standing there whispering and not going in?" the female elder demanded with a laugh. "Don't be scared. You'll both be fine."
"We can't go in," Shigure said, sweating. "There's something blocking us."
"Nonsense," the female elder snorted and grabbed my hand, dragging the two of us in behind her. With every step we took, all my instincts shouted at me to follow the Creator's advice to leave. Unfortunately the female elder's grip was tight. Very tight. I couldn't break my hand free. "Stop this nonsense," she frowned at me when I tried to pull my hand out of her grip. Since you are here, of course you have to come in. There's no point dawdling."
"Auntie," Shigure tried to help me break the female elder's grip on me. "Please let Uki-chan go. We really can't go in."
"Rubbish. Just follow and get the ceremony over and done with. All the elders are waiting on you two. You aren't kids anymore. You can't disturb and make the elders wait for you like this. It'd be disrespectful."
Sweat was pouring down my head and neck. I could see Shigure sweating heavily as well. Every step we took brought us closer to whatever that big ominous thing that was waiting up there for us.