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“Yes,” Oni said

“You have asked for the purification ritual,” the priest said, confir

“Who would need it more than I?” Oni said

The priest nodded “It is uide you”

“I have already bathed,” Ushi-Oni said “What must I do next?”

“Put on your robe and follow me I will show you”

Ushi-Oni climbed out of the waters, pulled on a robe and put his feet into a pair of slippers Clutching his folded clothes in one arm, he followed the priest on a path that took them back into the woods, away from the inn and up toward the shrine

They traveled for half abetween tall stands of baates known as torii Each gate had two vertical posts, painted in the traditional red-orange scheme They were capped by a black lintel with upturned ends fro the path in a flickering light

Beyond the first torii was another and then another Some were old and dilapidated, others were newer Inscriptions carved into them displayed the names of the faood fortune

“Is it true that the Tokagawa family once supported this shrine?” Ushi-Oni asked

“Tokagawa?” the priest said “No, I’m afraid that’s only a myth”

They crested a hill and the path leveled off Passing under the final gate, they arrived at the shrine itself: a small covered structure with an altar beneath it A water-filled trough stood off to the side and two carved stone aniuarded the approach

Ushi-Oni stepped toward it

“You must wash first,” the priest said

Ushi-Oni felt the sting of being told what to do “I told you, I’ve already bathed”