"Mother, have you ever been in love?" 
Raiko's ear gave a flick when she heard the question. Dull-brown dog laid an surprised look on her youngest daughter, who curiously gazed back at her. It lasted only for a brief moment, since almost right away the priestess lowered her head and seemed to be unusually interested about the floor.
"Well, yes. With your father." Raiko answered and lifted a wooden bucket filled with water. "I don't mean affection between husband and wife. I mean romance between young people." Chizuru noted while stroking her long, straight hair, finally gathering it as a bun. "Young romance can mature into passionate love." the girl's mother stated and poured water into dark iron pot, which was hanging from the roof. Shrine maiden perked her ears. White dog didn't recall either of her parents ever mentioning that last word out loud before. Not many people did, or then she just had never noticed. "Really? You do love father?" young woman asked and tied her hair up. "I most certainly don't hate him," Raiko answered calmly, eyes staring at the distance for a moment. Soon she gathered herself and a faint smile appeared on her light-colored muzzle. She had noticed it before; her daughter was fond of that cat-priest. Whenever he appeared, Chizuru fell nervous and overall acted differently...  Though it might be obvious to everyone else but her.

"Have you met someone? Is that why you ask?" 

"N-no. I'm just curious." white Kishu answered and lowered her ears out of embarrassment. 

"Sometimes feelings come over time. It's more common than marrying out of affection," Raiko told and meanwhile Chizuru tied the sleeves of her robe so they wouldn't be on a way. "I know that." she said with a chuckle and heard some faint clattering as her mother was lifting some jars. "Woman's happiness lies in making a home." dull-brown dog reminded and those words made Chizuru tighten her lips as she tried to hide a small frown. Yes. That was taught to everyone ever since she had been a little girl, even very long time ago when her ancestors had been young. And earlier the priestess had never questioned that way of living. But that was before she had became more skilled with her job, more interested about new things. Doubt was burning her mind. And it made her feel guilt. 

 "Mm... Are you trying to say I can't be happy if I never get married?" Chizuru asked meekly and started to pick up pieces of firewood. The movement was barely visible but on the corner of her eye she noticed how older woman twitched a little. Dull-brown Kishu began to start fire after her daughter had brought logs under the pot and tried to choose right words. 

"Ah. Well. Hm, it's not exactly what I meant," Raiko began and moistened the tip of her nose with her tongue, little unnerving expression on her face. Then older woman cleared her throat carefully. "I'm only saying you should think far ahead. When you are old, it's good that you have company and people who will take care of you."

Thin streak of almost transparent smoke started rising from the tiny flame as Raiko spoke. Chizuru reached to pick up an fan when older woman left to the other side of the room. Taking her mother's place, white dog crouched beside the stove, blowing air at the growing fire with bamboo fan. After noticing her daughter had been quiet for a while, Raiko said with a comforting tone: "There's nothing wrong with being a housewife." 
"I never said there is. It's just..." Chizuru started and huffed a little to herself. "How do you know if you make the right choice?" she finally asked, peeking inside the pot full of water and rice. "About the man?" Raiko questioned but didn't waste time to wait for a reply and continued right away: "You need to be doubtless when it comes to that. Marriage takes a lot of work, it isn't romantic daydream like silly young girls think. If you make a wrong choice, your whole life might become miserable." Priestess stopped waving the fan for a moment to gaze at her mother. Thought crossed Chizuru's mind, yet she hesitated to ask. 

"Hmm. Did you... make the right choice with father?" priestess quietly approached the subject. But her parents loved each other, right? At least you could say that if Raiko's earlier words were worth believing in. And the Kishu didn't think her mother would ever lie. Chizuru had seen before how much her parents cared about each other, it couldn't be just an act performed for the children. Still it was something she needed to ask.
 White dog's mother turned to look at her daughter speechlessly, until she smiled. "You and your siblings wouldn't be here if I didn't." Wave of uneasiness appeared on Chizuru's face in the form of slight blush and she started to move the fan again. Only much faster than before. "M-mother..." priestess stuttered nervously and Raiko only laughed at Chizuru's expression. "When your father and I got married, we promised never go to sleep angry at each other. And I think the fire is good enough now, my dear." Raiko mentioned and white Kishu went to hang the cream-colored fan back on its place. "What I mean is, a couple needs to work together. Everything will work out in a way or another when both husband and wife understand and listen to each other." older woman told and Chizuru felt a small smile growing on her face. 

"Not every marriage is like that..." she noted more to herself and heard her mother chuckle. "Certainly not! Maybe your father and I are just lucky. But they do say that attraction between two people is connected to their past lives." Raiko said and went to sprinkle some salt into the depths of warming iron pot. Feeling both dubious and amused, priestess arched an eyebrow. "Really, mother? Do you truly believe in that?" she asked. Raiko puckered her dark lips while thinking. "Hmm. Oh well... I suppose in a way I do." dull-brown Kishu answered vaguely, placing the jar of salt next to other ceramic jugs. 
 "And does that mean you and father were lovers in your previous lives?" shrine maiden laughed and clacked the pot's lid on its place. In the same time she considered that the thought sounded somehow very endearing, childish or not. Raiko started to pick up vegetables, smiling shortly. "Who knows. Maybe we were. And if we weren't, we have that chance now." older woman stated and reminded her daughter: "But enough talking. I have work to do and so have you. I will be fine by myself, so don't keep your father waiting. Hurry now."

Quickly Chizuru tidied the front of her robe and released the sleeves free. Black hair was flowing down her back again, soon tied as a loose ponytail. Somehow young woman felt glad there was something else to concentrate on than thoughts of marriage. "I don't know how long does it take but I think we will be back before the food's ready." priestess said and Raiko nodded. "It will keep warm. Just do your duties properly." older woman commented. "We always do," Chizuru smiled and soon the slide-door was closed.