Temple Girl
33. Protects

The rain seemed to be pouring down that morning– was not too heavy indeed, but it was enough to send a cold that made the bones freeze. No wonder because today has entered autumn, the cold that accompanies today makes anyone sure to know.

Cold disturbs the sleeping Chiharu, he wriggles in search of warmth. When not found, in the end the girl woke up collecting the remnants of her consciousness and folded the bed, tucking her hair to immediately start her morning exercise routine. Of course, splashing himself with a waterfall.

The girl sighed lazily, she really hated the cold. He prefers summer more than anything, winter always brings bad things to his life. It felt like it sometimes made his heart feel frozen, but in the end by strengthening Chiharu's determination out of the contest.

The fragrance of food fragrances smelled all over the corner of the house, enjoying the scent Chiharu unconsciously followed where he was led. Perhaps it was Fu or Su who made them, they were both versatile servants and Chiharu was indeed greatly helped by their existence. Both can cook, clean the temple, and sometimes help Chiharu copy the prayers that have been offered to this temple. Although now not too many who come here, maybe because this temple has been abandoned since long ago.

When it came to the cooking room the girl was aghast from shock, the long white mane that was bound neatly was now busy cutting and preparing food that looked so much. "You're sober?" half-conscious Chiharu voicing the biggest question filled her head.

Gin turned his head to hear a voice he recognized, only for a moment when he returned to cooking. "Sit down a little while longer will be ready." the speech made Chiharu obey tamely, it seems like the girl's soul has not fully entered the body so she looks unusually confused.

Then unknowingly Gin had finished putting the over-the-top food on the table, it seemed like enough to celebrate the festival because the portions were so overwhelming. Smoke billows, giving off an appetizing aroma. Chiharu felt like she had forgotten the last time she ate a meal like this, but there was more to it than that. How could it be, that demon Gin was already conscious and in a fit fresh state like this.

"Hey, answer my question first!" one screw in Chiharu's head seems to be connected.

The man who was taking food for the girl came to a halt, "i'm cured." the casual remark made Chiharu cluck in annoyance feeling dissatisfied.

Closing all his mouth, he snatched the food from Gin's fingers, bribed it into his mouth and closed his eyes as the tasteful taste filled Chiharu's oral cavity. How could the man make food like this, Chiharu had no idea that Gin was so talented. So greedy that Chiharu did not realize that her stomach was fully filled, it might come out if Gin did not hold the mouthful into Chiharu's mouth.

"Stop! One more bribe you're gonna get your stomach out."

Wrenching the bowl from Chiharu's hand, the girl scowled. Just an instant when he sensed what the man was saying was the truth, there was something strange with the man–quite strange when the man was so considerate as he was right now. Preparing the food, taking it, even stopping Chiharu as if afraid that the girl would get sick. "My face will soon be hollow if you keep looking at me like that."

And those words successfully made Chiharu glare, "didn't you realize that you're acting so strange right now?"

The yellow netra rolled, looking at Chiharu with a look that the girl could not understand. "Weird how?" and it seems like Gin is also trying to play around without answering Chiharu's intentions.

"You're weird, too considerate in my opinion. You wouldn't do this if you knew what I'd done to you, if you knew maybe you'd hate me." bowed his head deeply, not daring to look at the yellowish eyeball like the sun before him.

Chiharu realized that he was too cowardly, he was weak so he could not give the man the freedom he wanted so much. "What have you done to me?" didn't the man understand that Chiharu was holding back the turbulent emotions from her weakness.

Without even bothering to answer Chiharu got up from her seat, tightening the grip on the sword that was draped pretty on her waist. "That's it, I'm going first." and the girl prefers to dodge, for now. Maybe next time, he'll explain to the man.

For now Chiharu is not sure that she can accept the hatred Gin incised on her, she will definitely tell about it. Then the conversation just disappeared, swallowed by the cold air even though the girl's body was already warm. He could still remember the taste of the food in his mouth.

***

Chiharu sighed, her body often dripping water from her hair and clothes. Rubbing her face to clarify her gaze, the girl prepared to go home and carry out her usual activities. Replacing Mr. Qi's duty to become an Earth God was his daily work, writing talismans, answering prayers, or even giving blessings.

It feels strange when Chiharu feels tired of all this, even though she is almost sixteen years old. The winter he hated the most became the day of his birth, irony but the girl could not change the day he was born. The reverie came to a halt as a wide cloth draped over his shoulder, warming his frozen body due to the autumn wind.

"Look at your strange behavior again." Getting rid of the fingers, Chiharu tried to avoid contact with the demon who is now lost attention.

Stepping away to walk home, "What winter would you still do this for?" Gin voiced his question, to be honest this question was indeed eager to reveal every Chiharu back inside the temple in a drenched state. The girl was strong enough not to have a fever after doing so for years.

Heard the man's question, inevitably the girl nodded. "And why are you doing this to me?" Chiharu accused the man beside her, no matter what happened. The girl will get the answer.

"Do what?"

"You always say you're gonna kill me all the time, wouldn't it feel weird if you suddenly became this kind of caring figure?" only this time Chiharu was able to stare at the yellowish ball, so beautiful and shining like the sun during the day. Somehow, it reminded her of the summer Chiharu so loved.

Chiharu continued to pay attention to that face, thick eyebrows shading that face, sharp nose accompanied by a firm jaw, dark red lips made the girl linger staring at him there. Long enough that the red hue with no idea of her appeared crept up to Chiharu's ears, making the girl misbehave and turning her face away. Condemning himself and the circumstances of that time, then who must have cursed Gin why the man was so handsome.

Something was heard by the sharp hearing of the two of them, their position changed to full of vigilance. Chiharu's fingers are nested in his sword, ready to be pulled and slash anything dangerous in front of him. Not enough with that, Gin pushed forward. The position of his body was not much different from the girl, just that the position of the man was now in front of Chiharu clinging to the body of the girl– was protective.

Then staring at the source of the voice there, silence forced them to wait for what was in there. Continuing to wait until the atmosphere felt so heavy because Chiharu did not know what enemy they were fighting, and slowly the figure that caused the sound came out from there.

White, fluffy, and red-eyed. Her adorable nose often swayed to find a source of food, her long ears twitching. Reminding Chiharu of Fu and Su who always did, the creature they were wary of was none other than a furry white rabbit that looked adorable. So Chiharu was able to lower her shoulders because she did not feel the threat.

Staring at Gin with a look of annoyance, because the man indeed felt so strange. "What's wrong with you, anyway?!" feeling unable to bear Chiharu voicing her emotions.

"I'm just protecting you."

"I know, that's why it's weird. I'm more comfortable if you behave badly with me, if you keep going like this. I don't know how to." Right, Chiharu did not know what to do if the man continued like this to her.

Guilt will continue to surround him, and he will feel unable to look at that face. Even the man did not feel strange or ask about the incident that had just happened, he did not ask why he continued with Chiharu and instead of being free, why he continued to be trapped in this place. Why didn't the man ask for the slightest item?

The man even now treated him well, how could Chiharu not be confused. The girl was afraid, she was agitated by the full thoughts that kept haunting her. It makes her wobbly and weak, feel insecure and trust no one. Making him feel alone in the scope of his mind.

Gin also fell silent there, staring at Chiharu–'s face looking at the girl's face that seemed to feel frustrated. "I won't do anything bad to you" the man also seems to find it hard to find the right word.

"Don't I tell you why this feels weird, don't you know what I've done? I made you my servant again. I've made a blood oath with you, you know what that means?" The girl took a breath for a moment to ease her feelings, pressing her not to burst out despite the fact that she was trying to hide. Chiharu doesn't care about anything anymore, it would be better if Gin goes and enjoys the freedom soon enough. Rather than being nice to Chiharu.

"I will die, not immortal like you. And this blood oath will make you also immortal." never mind, Chiharu felt tired of all this. He will accept whatever Gin does to him, maybe he will be hurt like their meeting or maybe more para. Whatever the origin of Gin did not kill him, because the man would be killed when Chiharu was lifeless.

The man was still there, and his fingers were outstretched. Making the girl who had been thinking about the possibility of anything Gin would do close her eyes, enduring the pain that would linger on her body. A gentle touch touched his wet head, then reached for Chiharu's shimmering black manes. The man must have gone mad for being so calm after being informed that his immortality had disappeared, "Don't you know why this eternity is in my hands?"

The girl felt hypnotized for a moment as the yellowish net looked at her deeply, a faint smile on its back as the girl fell silent waiting for an answer. "Because of me," his voice was slowed down and uttered off-goals, so slowly that Chiharu felt her hair standing on its back. "had killed a God, just like you."

The To Be Continued...