fic: Akuen
This for ninjacat alley after reading her last Mikoto Uchiha piece.
Akuen
She prays at every temple she passes. Lights incense until the scent lingers on her skin no matter how hard she scrubs, perfuming the house like old ghosts. Swallows down every vile home remedy that her aunts and cousins swear by. Wears scarlet saru-mata* underpants and dozens of charms tucked in the creases of her kimono. Everything, anything whispered into her ear that could give her a son for her husband, for her clan (for herself, a son a son a baby boy a baby to hold in her arms for more than an hour).
She prays at every temple she passes. Jibo Kannon show me your tenderness, Koyasu Jizo give me a son, Shoki protect my son from all harm, Mizu no Kamisama hold my womb fertile and strong, Konohanasakuya, my lady, my mother, please give mercy to your poor child, give me my son, strong and fearless and blessed with our eyes, please oh please you gave birth to three great sons in midst of fire and flames, I do not fear, I am not afraid, I would die for him, my lady, my lady, my mother, please do not let any of my babies die again...
She prays. Her firstborn steps towards her, all unwavering grace and quiet eyes, and Mikoto can only think that all her prayers were answered save one and her son will see that. She only hopes her last one will count the most.
*saru-mata are red underpants that mimic the red buttocks of fertile monkeys in the hopes of increasing fertility.
Akuen
She prays at every temple she passes. Lights incense until the scent lingers on her skin no matter how hard she scrubs, perfuming the house like old ghosts. Swallows down every vile home remedy that her aunts and cousins swear by. Wears scarlet saru-mata* underpants and dozens of charms tucked in the creases of her kimono. Everything, anything whispered into her ear that could give her a son for her husband, for her clan (for herself, a son a son a baby boy a baby to hold in her arms for more than an hour).
She prays at every temple she passes. Jibo Kannon show me your tenderness, Koyasu Jizo give me a son, Shoki protect my son from all harm, Mizu no Kamisama hold my womb fertile and strong, Konohanasakuya, my lady, my mother, please give mercy to your poor child, give me my son, strong and fearless and blessed with our eyes, please oh please you gave birth to three great sons in midst of fire and flames, I do not fear, I am not afraid, I would die for him, my lady, my lady, my mother, please do not let any of my babies die again...
She prays. Her firstborn steps towards her, all unwavering grace and quiet eyes, and Mikoto can only think that all her prayers were answered save one and her son will see that. She only hopes her last one will count the most.
*saru-mata are red underpants that mimic the red buttocks of fertile monkeys in the hopes of increasing fertility.