"Kaoori..."
The voice continued to speak in its quiet, whisper-like voice. But Kaoori wanted to sleep.
"Kaoori, get up.. "
The young girl opened her eyes. She was floating in the air, transparent. Startled, she scrambled to her feet.
"Kaoori?"
Kaoori widened her eyes.
"Kami-sama..? Kami-sama, is that you?" she twirled around, trying desperately to find the source of the voice. Suddenly, a bright light appeared beside her, and a form appeared, which looked neither more masculine nor feminine. Kaoori fell to her knees, head touching the ground.. or the ground of the air.


Kami-sama smiled.
"Kaoori, please stand. You do not need to grovel in front of me."
The young girl stood, still staring at the god.
"Do you know why you are with me, Kaoori?"
Kaoori stared blankly at first, then looked at her clothes; they were immaculate. One look toward the ground answered the question in her mind. Her body lay still on the ground, feet from where her last attacker's own body lay. There were no need for words. The young girl swallowed hard. It was true she did not regret her decision to do what she did, and she was not afraid of what was ahead, but..
The god smiled sadly, and beckoned Kaoori. Kaoori took one last look around her world, the world she once lived in. Did the head priestess know? Did the children make it? She could only pray and hope. Everything looked quiet and peaceful now. Would she close her eyes again now?

Darkness.
---
"Kaoori?"
"Yes, Kami-sama?"
"The gods have bestowed favor upon you.. you have done a selfless and brave thing, young one."
"....Kami-sama?"
"You are to be reborn for your good deeds."
"I am?!"
"... it will not be the same at all as before, Kaoori. Would you still wish this?"
"I would."
----
Kaoori kneeled in the darkness again, in her miko's clothes. She closed her eyes. So this was what it was like to be floating between worlds..
"You will live as a deer, Kaoori.. in this new world, is an Endless Forest. There are no humans. You will begin life as a newborn. You will know no one. You will begin your life all over again. Although your life will not be tough, it will not be inconceivable that you will come into hardships every now and then. You will grow up, as everyone else does. You will live, and love. Whether you choose the path of good or evil in this new world is yours to decide, but remember that everything has its consequences. There are new gods in this forest, although I will also be watching from afar. And Kaoori?"
"Yes, Kami-sama?"
"You will not remember this life at all, only your name."

Kaoori gasped and felt tears welling in the corner of her eyes as she slipped into unconsciousness.
----
The young fawn opened her heavy-lidded eyes for the first time inside the Great Oak. She heard birds singing cheerfully; the sun's rays darted in and out through the tree leaves as the wind gently blew through the forest. Trying her legs out for the first time, it only took her a few tries before she took her first steps out into her new world. She gaped in wonder at the view- so many deer, so many smells, so many sights. How overwhelming! She fell backwards, landing on her hind legs. A shadow fell over her, and she looked up.
A stag peered down at her, smiling. Red poppies adorned his antlers, and he wore a carnival mask over his face. His dark pelt was intertwined with black above and white underneath. He chuckled at her antics, and then bowed, allowing her time to stand up.
"Hello, little one. My name is Yorres. Welcome to the Forest."

"I... I'm Kaoori."
-------------------

( asdjkfhsdjf that didn't come out how i wanted it to at all. i may go back and tweak it sometime but i kind of wanted to finish it too. i hope i didn't butcher the Japanese Shinto religion too much, i studied a lot of it but don't have a firm grasp on it completely -_-;;
also Yorres I hope I didn't butcher your character much ;_;

anyway if you read this congrats and thank you, now you know Kaoori's background )

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