Ascension│Bluelock x male reader

3.23. The Darker Path

Walking through the shrine's entrance felt wrong.

Y/N didn't know why. Chichibu Shrine was open to all, nestled in a small town to the northwest of Tokyo. Countless people walked under the traditional torii gate, passing under the red-painted wood. And yet, he hesitated in front of it.

The shrine was directly in the centre of the town, but as Y/N looked inside, it was like looking into a different world. The entire area was cordoned off from the town by a large fence, as well as a thick growth of trees acting as a natural wall. And inside, the concrete pavement transitioned into an older, stone-tiled path.

"Excuse me, young sir?"

Y/N turned, surprised. An older man stood behind him, dressed in dark green, loose clothes. They were traditional - like something people would wear at a festival, not everyday life. "S-sorry, I'll move..." He moved to the side, out of the path of the man, but the man just shook his head. He stood next to Y/N, looking up at the gate.

"This shrine is one of the oldest in Japan." He murmured. "And for many, it's one of the most important."

"Uh."

"Do you know who is said to be enshrined here?"

"No, sir."

"Ame no Yagokoro Omoikane." The man replied. The name sent a shiver down Y/N's spine. "The kami of wisdom and intelligence."

"That's... nice, sir." Y/N tried to respectfully say.

"People come here to pray to any of the kami. But praying to Omoikane is said to be much, much more effective here." The man nodded to himself, eyes on the gate. "It is said Omoikane protects this entire area. This is, in a way, their holy ground."

"Right..."

"You don't believe in this, do you." 

Y/N cringed. "Would you be angry if I said yes?" 

"No, not one bit. Everyone is free to believe what they want." The man hummed. "This place was made by one of Omoikane's human ancestors. He ordered this place built, in the hopes that Omoikane would bless this place. And guess what?" 

"He did."

"He did." The man agreed, laughing kindly. "So, recently there's been a lot of young people here. As a young person, there's so many choices, so many different routes in life you can take. And it's difficult choosing between them, isn't it? So people come here to pray for guidance. To pray for wisdom, to help them make the right choice."

He looked at Y/N. Eyes deeper than an ocean, a dark, layered blue, met Y/N's own. "I advise you, young man. Before making any rash decisions, pray to the kami. If you are a sincere enough soul, they may take pity on you."

"Pity...?" Y/N echoed.

"Pity, my boy." The man smiled. "Even for a kami, the path you've walked so far is one of the darkest to exist. They would not want you to make it darker."

"W-what?" Y/N blinked. "You... what? Darker?" 

"Darker." The man nodded, expression turning more serious. "Can I tell you something? A little tidbit from an old man, if you will." 

Y/N nodded, throat tight. 

"People think they need so much to make them happy. Whether it's love, acceptance, or money, status, and power, they think all those things will help." Eyes unblinking, the man stared at Y/N. "To achieve true happiness, to truly enjoy life... focus on yourself. You don't need anyone else to make you happy."