Unselfish Wish

Chapter 2- A Heart Touched

Fumiko had been visiting the shrine nearly every day and leaving offerings, maintaining the shrine for three months. Her Papa cleared the roof, no questions asked, because his precious daughter was so determined. It was a cheerful, well-loved little shrine now, even if only by one person. Every day she would run there, excited, and tell the god about her day and her wishes for her classmates, always restating that she would grasp her own happiness with her own hands. She was not aware that Tsukiyomi followed her everywhere and watched her sleep. He knew very well her kindness and generosity.

Finally, it was more than he could take... He simply had to meet her in person, instead of just listening. So, instead of following her from school, he waited ahead in the form of a boy about her age. He could almost feel her happy smile as she ran up the path to the shrine. She was singing softly to herself. He smiled before schooling his features into a calm and cool face. This was supposed to be a first meeting, after all, and he was supposed to be human.

She appeared at the Torii, approaching as usual to pay her respects, mochi in hand. She stopped suddenly when she saw him sitting on a large rock near the shrine. Then, as expected, she smiled widely and walked up to him directly.

"Hello, I'm Tachibana Fumiko. Nice to meet you." She bowed respectfully.

"Nice to meet you." He bowed in response. She gave him a puzzled look.

"Um, your name?" She asked.

"Well... I... can't really say, but you can call me Kiyo." He said, avoiding her direct gaze.

"Hmmm? Okay then, Kiyo. You must have a reason you can't tell me your name, so that's alright. Oh! I brought these mochi and green tea as an offering, but if you'd like to share them, I can make a money offering this time. The mochi and tea are always gone, so I know someone enjoys them, though I don't know if it's the one I intend it for." She smiled that bright, beautiful smile he so longed for.

"A-a-a-alright. If you insist." He wasn't sure why he was so nervous, it really wasn't something he'd experienced.

"First let's pay our respects, okay." She turned to the shrine and did so right away.

"Mmm." He felt a little awkward... I mean, paying respects to myself? Oh well, it'll seem wierd if I don't. He thought, copying her.

"Alright, let's have a little picnic." She laid down her coat and patted next to her. He sat down, a bit awkwardly as they both sat formally. "So, Kiyo, are you looking forward to summer break? It's only a week away!"

"Sure. It'd be nice if the summer was relatively cool though." He hadn’t made small talk in centuries, and wasn’t sure what besides weather would be normal.

"Mmm. I'm fortunate to have air conditioning myself." After this, they chatted simply for quite some time. "You know, most people won't talk to me easily. I'm glad you didn't ignore me. Perhaps I'm finally working hard enough?" She smiled into her tea. He stared for a moment, nearly forgetting to respond.

"Oh, of course. I mean, you seem like a really nice girl and it would just be wrong to ignore you without getting to know you first, right?" She sighed after he said this.

"Well, one would hope. However, I have found that it is often the case that people judge you before they have that opportunity. But, I'm hopeful. How is the mochi?" Again, that radiant smile.

"Eh? Oh, delicious. Thank you." He looked over at her secretly as she ate, blushing. She turned to him and he quickly averted his gaze.

"So, do you live near here?"

"Um, I, no.... My family was just visiting some friends. We will be leaving tomorrow." Her face fell upon hearing this. "What's wrong?" He said.

"Well, you see, I think you are actually my first friend ever. So, I'm sad that I won't see you again." Tears began to well in her beautiful blue eyes.

"Err, well, I mean... how about this? I will come here when my family visits and we can talk then. How does that sound?" She stared at him, tearfully smiling and grasping his hand.

"Thank you! I look forward to it! Well, as much as I would like to stay, I must be getting home now. Thank you, Kiyo. Please do come again." And with that, she was gone. He stared at his hand, where she had touched it.

"More. I want more. To touch you, talk with you, laugh with you. Fumiko." He looked up at the sky. "How can I need this human?"

He’d never felt attachment to humans before. Much like the moon he ruled, he preferred to keep his distance. Despite the fact that she seemed to harbor a great deal of divinity in her tiny body, it was unexpected, so say the least. He was barely friendly with other gods and goddesses, for that matter.

To be fair, pure of heart was not something you found a lot of among the residents of Takamagahara, despite the fact that they were deities. Most had been around far too long to be genuine about much, or interested in mortal doings other than to entertain themselves. Ever since Amaterasu had forbidden revenge disasters- punishments were still allowed, but it had to be approved by a committee first. Most felt it was a waste of time to bother.

First Friend and Protector

"Papa, papa!" she called as she came home.

"Yes Fumi-chan, what is it that you didn't even say your greeting?" He laughed as he said it, swinging her up into his arms.

"I made my first friend, his name is Kiyo! I'm a little sad that he doesn't live here and I can only see him once in a while, but still! He's so nice, and the same age as me and as pretty as a girl!" Her eyes shone with excitement.

"Oh my, that is exciting! Kiyo, huh? Where did you meet him?"

"At the shrine. Papa, his eyes were silver like moonlight, and his hair was as black as night!"

At this, Fumio paused. He was aware of the divinity running through his family, and he knew quite a bit about the fact that deities are real. This sounded very much like Tsukiyomi, and he knew better than most that the gods could be very fickle. The last thing he wanted was for his precious daughter to be hurt by their capricious nature.

"Well, try not to get too excited. After all, you don't know when he will appear again."

"Yes, Papa. Well, even if I never see him again I will consider him my first friend. He was very kind to me." She smiled happily. Tsukiyomi watched from the outside.

"As I thought, her father seems to know something." Just as he was thinking this, the front door opened and said father came out, walking straight for where Tsukiyomi was located. "Eh?!" He hid behind a tree, waiting.

"Ah, there you are. Hello, Tsukiyomi-sama. My name is Tachibana Fumio. I thought that was you. I was a small child when I saw you last, but then you don't really change much, being immortal." He said as he peeked around the tree.

"Gah! How did you-" He was utterly shocked, having never been so directly addressed by a human before. Well, demigod, but still!

"No, no, greetings first, even if you're a god." Fumio used a humoring, fatherly tone.

"Oh, yes, er, Hello, I am Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto. Nice to meet you." He bowed. How embarrassing, to be called out on his manners.

"Nice to meet you as well. I am Fumiko's father." Fumio returned the bow.

"Err, yes, I know. I, um, have been observing you for 3 months." He looked away, blushing.

"Eeeh? So honest. I didn't expect that." Fumio's sense of humor couldn't resist teasing. Especially given the milennia-old god’s blush. How cute.

"What?" Tsukiyomi met his gaze, now irritated.

"Well, not to be rude, but sometimes gods are a bit fickle."

"I am never fickle. I....." At this Fumio chuckled.

"Really, it's fine. I'd rather Fumiko had divine protection, after all, she has divine blood. Both her grandfathers are gods, even if only to sire me and her mother. Our mothers are content."

"What! You are half-god?" Tsukiyomi was shocked. People of divine descent had become much rarer in this day and age, especially since humans did not carry nearly as much belief as in years past.

"Hmm I suppose you could put it that way. May I ask why you are so interested in her? As a father, I worry when my daughter tells me her first and only friend is a god." Fumio watched his response intently, fully prepared to forbid contact if he was merely trifling with Fumiko.

"Oh. Yes you're right. Especially considering your situation. Well, to be honest, I don't know myself. I only know that I want to be near her and help her if I can. She gives love so unconditionally to all around her." His face already displayed something beyond simple affection, and Fumio was a little surprised to see such attachment.

"Then that little shrine she's been tending must be yours." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes." He looked toward the house. "I follow her every day and watch over her at night. It pains me to observe and do nothing on occasion, but I'm happy to be near her."

"I will grant you permission to take care of her, but you must tell me immediately if you decide to change your mind so I can take extra measures to protect her. We will have a whole other issue on our hands if her divinity gets noticed by the wrong being."

"I understand." With this, they shook hands.

After that, instead of watching from afar, he was allowed in the house, though only Fumiko's parents could fully sense him- apparently Fumiko had not yet noticed. As years passed, "Kiyo" would make regular appearances- about twice a year, always matching her age. Fumiko's divinity increased as she aged and Tsukiyomi had to quit being so close because she could see him easily. It seemed as though despite being thinned, her blood was powerful indeed.

As far as her classmates went, it was always the same. It made Tsukiyomi very hesitant to grant them the path to happiness as Fumiko requested, but he often did it anyway, since she was the most important thing to him. He realized that it wasn't simple curiosity- it was true love for a pure-hearted and generous girl that struggled to see the bad in people, despite what they may do to her. The hardest part was holding back when they met- it was not the same for her as it was for him, and his love nearly overflowed every time they met.