“About Ms. Sakuya’s story…” Shiro said, “she said Tsukuyomi could be our ancestor, but I wonder what became of Amaterasu when she descended to the human realm.”
 
 
“Is this really the time to think about stuff like that?” Suzumi replies as the two were squeezed together once again by the cramped moist chamber they were trapped in together. Shiro and Suzumi were currently being held in the stomach of Sakuya’s retainer, Mirano, as they were being transported back to the inn their classes are staying at. Mirano walked with a very quick pace as her knees often rammed into her gut, jabbing Suzumi in the butt.
 
 
“Ow! What the hell is this woman’s deal?! I prefered that other girl’s belly! At least she didn’t treat me like luggage.”
 
 
“Calm down, sis. We’ll be back at the inn soon so try not to upset her.”
 
 
After what felt like an eternity, the twins could feel the chamber around them stop shaking and begin pressing hard on their bodies. The sphincter above opened as they both were pushed up the esophagus and slid out of her mouth at the same time. In only a few seconds, Shiro and Suzumi found themselves sitting outside in the same alley where they were swallowed by Yasako and Ruri earlier. The sun had set as the sky above was pitch black. Mirano handed the twins their normal clothes, neatly folded and even freshly cleaned.
 
 
“You two must never speak of what Lady Sakuya said to anyone. Or else…*ahem*” She hesitates and swallows her words then bows to them before disappearing into the darkness of night.
 
 
“...Is she really a servant of the goddess?” Suzumi remarked.
 
 
Shiro awkwardly chuckled. The two put on their clothes and made their way back to the inn. When they got inside the lobby, Shiro noticed from the corner of his eye Meanwhile…
 
 
“Do you think Shiro and Suzumi are okay?” Rachael asked with a worried expression. Shiro and Suzumi’s friends and classmates had gathered in Suzumi’s group’s room ever since the twin’s sudden summons. “Are they really going to meet the priestess in person?”
 
 
“No clue.” Akari said appearing to be the calmest in the room, however, is really the most worried. “We’ll just have to find out when they get back.”
 
 
“I remember those two saying they were Sakuya’s retainers.” Kazuha pointed out. “Does that mean they work at the shrine?”
 
 
“The priestess has four loyal retainers who obey her every command.” Haruka spoke. “I believe the ones who we met in the lobby were named Yasako and Ruri...”
 
 
Yasako Odogiri is the priestess’ personal caretaker. She takes care of all of Sakuya’s domestic needs like cleaning, preparing meals, as well as managing her schedule; she’s basically her secretary. According to the locals, Yasako was disowned and forced to be a sacrifice by her parents at 8-years-old until Sakuya spared her and raised her like her own daughter.
 
 
Ruri Eiko is a shrine maiden who often assists Yasako with her work. She has an eccentric personality and mischievous nature, however is the priestess’ most loyal retainer. Not much is known about her past, but many believe she was an orphan taken in by Sakuya. She has a tendency to prey on young men who wander too close to the shrine at night.
 
 
Arisu Takayoshi is the captain of the shrine’s security team as well as the priestess’ personal bodyguard. She was a prideful and skilled swordswoman who fought on the front lines during the war. After being dishonorably discharged from the AP army, she turned to thievery and crime until was approached by Sakuya, where she was defeated in a duel and became her disciple of the sword.
 
 
Mirano Fujimura is in charge of public relations. She is the voice as well as the eyes and ears of the priestess for matters outside of the Amaterasu shrine. They say she has worked at the shrine since before Sakuya became the current priestess. She’s known for her cold attitude
 
 
“How do you know all this?” Kazuha curiously asks.
 
 
“From this.” Haruka holds up a small booklet titled ‘Amaterasu Shrine - Travelers Guide’. “They were selling these at the airport. It tells you everything about the shrine and the festival.”
 
 
“What does it say about the sacrifices?” Tsubaki asked.
 
 
“Let’s see…” Haruka flips to a bookmarked page in the guidebook.
 
 
The Sun festival was originally a tradition where people sacrifice their lives to the goddess, Amaterasu, in order to restore her power after her battle with Susanoo. The families of the sacrificed in exchange were given blessings such as bountiful harvests and good fortune. In the past 500 years, the Amaterasu shrine holds a yearly ceremony where sacrifices are fed to the priestess who has been appointed by the sun goddess, who grants the blessings of the sun to all her subjects. Citizens from all over the country would come to see the festival to see the priestess’ beauty and her awestriking dance. The priestess never leaves the grounds of the Amaterasu shrine which is protected by a sacred barrier which mysteriously causes technology like cameras to stop working while inside the shrine.
 
 
“...It also says that the number of sacrifices is different every year. A few years ago, apparently the priestess ate over 30 sacrifices.”
 
 
“That many?!” Rachael said surprised.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Someone opened the sliding door. “I’m back…” Suzumi said in an exasperated and lethargic tone.
 
 
“Suzu’s back!” Kazuha says ecstatically nearly tackling Suzumi to the ground.
 
 
“If you’re here...where’s Shiro?” Haruka asked.
 
 
“Oh, I think he said he was going to bed early or something.” She yawns. “I might just do that too…”
 
 
“We’ll sleep together!” Kazuha says still clinging to Suzumi’s waist.
 
 
“Fine, fine.”
 
 
A little while later in another room, Shiro laid in his futon half-awake. Even though he was exhausted, there was too much on his mind to sleep. The legend of the Yamato sisters, the possibility his family being possibly descends from the moon goddess. It was a lot to take in and to top it all off his father was somehow connected to all of it.
 
 
“Shiro.” He heard a female voice whisper to him. He looked over and noticed it was Lily sitting next to him.
 
 
“How was your meeting with the priestess?” she asked.
 
 
“...It was okay.” To Lily, it was clear that there was more on his mind than he was letting on. Something that he learned while at the shrine was clearly bothering him.
 
 
“Do you mind if I sleep with you tonight?”
 
 
“...Not really.” Shiro didn’t have a reason to refuse her, though his mind too preoccupied with his thoughts to give it much consideration either.
 
 
“Then if you don’t mind…” He heard some rustling before she slipped under the blanket with him. He could feel something soft press against his back only shielded by a thin fabric. He glanced back and blushed feverishly seeing her wearing her lascivious lingerie under a translucent nightgown.
 
 
“L-Lily?!”
 
 
“Sorry, I just can’t sleep in anything except my usual nightwear.” She giggles. “Does this remind you of our little slumber party?”
 
 
“Yeah...” Back then he had snuck into her room to ask to sleep in her belly. Thinking back on it, he gets a bit embarrassed. They talked for a little while longer until Shiro gets drowsy. For some reason, just knowing Lily was next to him gave him some peace of mind allowing him to drift off to sleep with ease.
 
 
That afternoon, Shiro, Lily, and their group miraculously scored yet another set of good spots in the Amaterasu shrine courtyard for the final event of the Solar festival, the fire dance ceremony.
 
 
The Sun reached its zenith in the sky. The chilly air began to warm up. The chattering crowd was silenced by the grating of the shrine’s giant doors opening. The priestess emerged while being carried on a platform, her stomach still enlarged from the two sacrifices she ate yesterday.
 
 
“She’s here!” Haruka said excitedly. Shiro has rarely seen Haruka get so worked up, though she has always had an interest in culture and tradition.
 
 
Sakuya’s hands gently caressed her large taut belly as she whispers another prayer. She stood up, her hands supporting the weight of her belly, which was still miraculously entirely covered by her kimono. One of the masked women gave her a katana, one slightly different than the one she usually carries. As she drew, the blade began to glow. She held it up in the direction of the sun high in the sky until the blade was enveloped in a bright crimson flame that rivaled the sun above. The crowd uproared as the ceremony truly went underway.
 
 
Music started to play as the priestess began her ritual dance. Her stomach had already begun to lose its shape as she was also starting on digesting the sacrifices. The more her belly shrank, the brighter the flame burned. As if the Shiro was mesmerized by the Sakuya’s elegant and light movements despite her huge belly with two whole people digesting inside, just going to show how dedicated she is to her role as priestess. Still, he can’t shake the feeling of familiarity with her even though he’s never met her before coming to Japan. “Could it be related to the legend of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi,” he thought.
 
 
After only about 20 short minutes of dancing, the priestess’ belly was reduced to a small bump, her figure largely unchanged aside from the subtle extra cleavage now poking out from her kimono.The flame now at its brightest, Sakuya cuts through the air and igniting the torches surrounding the stage as a warm gust bellowed throughout the shrine. The music slows as the flame flickers out and the blade is sheathed once more. Just as the music comes to an end, Sakuya lets out a soft burp, yet could be heard throughout the courtyard. The crowd uproars and chants (in Japanese), “Long live the priestess!”
 
 
The priestess waves to the cheering crowd with a beautiful soft smile. The doors to the inner temple grated open once again as Sakuya, her retainers, and all of the stage attendants entered before the doors closed, signifying the end of the ceremony. Shiro and his friends all reconvened outside the shrine.
 
 
“The priestess was so beautiful,” Haruka said. “She digested those two people so easily. It’s no wonder she’s the priestess.”
 
 
“It’s not that impressive.” Akari said. “Everyone in my family can do that.”
 
 
“Well your family isn’t exactly normal.” Suzumi remarked.
 
 
“You’ve got a point.”
 
 
The girls laugh and continue chatting, however Shiro still walks with a sullen and troubled expression.
 
 
“Hey, Shiro.” Rachael says. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” They split off to a secluded area of the road.
 
 
“What did you want to talk about?” Shiro said, putting on a brave smile.
 
 
“Is something bothering you?” she asked.
 
 
“What makes you say that?” he replies.
 
 
“You’ve been so...distracted every since you came back from the shrine last night. Was it something the priestess said or...n-nevermind, you don’t have to tell me…”
 
 
He smiled and replied, “Sorry for worrying you, but I’m fine really.”
 
 
“If you say so...but, um...please feel free to talk to me if anything’s on your mind…”
 
 
“Sure, you got it.” There’s no point in thinking too hard about it now, Shiro thought since it would only worry his friends. Just as the two went to return to their group, Shiro got a text from Yuuna. “Meet me in front of the shrine gate at 8 tonight,” it read.
 
 
“Ok see you then, “he replied. He thought she might have something planned which got him a bit excited. This would be his last night in Japan so he thought he might as well enjoy it to the fullest.
 
 
To be continued...