Long stairs separated the shrine from the street level. "They say that each step signify a trial in it’s own right. With each step one should think on their wrong doings and push on to the next, leaving it behind but remembering not to make the same mistake twice." The design of the aged building seemed to be as old as time itself. It was crafted from wood with a vintage design, and appeared to be well-kept for such an old establishment. The entrance of the building seemed quiet and empty, after all it was around dinner time. The two of them arrived at the entrance of the shrine, and were enveloped in the rustic charm of what was possibly the village’s oldest site, even predating the Hokage Monument. The air was filled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms as the trees around the area were strangely in full bloom. It would seem unusual for those who do not frequently come to the shrine for it was the season when all trees have long lost their leaves. Yet for some reason the area around the sacred shrine remains lush and green with flowers everywhere. While the rest of the village enjoys whatever season it may be in, the shrine seemingly remains in an ever constant spring as if trapped in time. The shrines patrons were all Yamanaka seeking enlightenment and it is through their powers that the flowers remain in bloom. Flower petals dance in the air to the gentle roaming breezes of the wind and the tree branches begins to sway gently to the wind. A crow flies down and lands on one of the fox statues. The black bird welcomes them with a loud caw. "Greeting to you too Karasu-chan." With careful eyes one would see many forms of life. A black cat lays by the entrance bathing in the warmth of the rays of the sun, couple of rabbits nimble at the bed of flowers and a cricket begins to play its song for the coming night. They were being watched by the residence of this place, but they mean no harm. They are merely watchers used to keep an eye out for those who would seek to make trouble.Their stares were especially intense today as they see a sight they never could have predicted; Hakuren take a man back home with her. Hakuren feeling a little insecure ends up hugging Tamashii’s arm as she walks him inside. "Lets hurry up inside." As they entered the shrine's confines with long shadows spreading across the waxed floors. The sun was low, and visible through the double doors, which were still open wide to the outside world as a gesture meant to welcome the hungry and tired. The tranquility of the yard matched the interior of the shrine. While there were modern light fixtures, the shrine was candle lit with an abundance of tall white candles. Burning incense gave the air a unique flavor. Finely carved idols and architecture completed the rustic atmosphere. There are twelve carved idols in all and if one were to walk around the main hallway around the shrine they would notice that each idol represented an animal in the Zodiac. This was not a temple of the progenitor of fire, or the five, but it had a similar spiritual energy. "I would ask you not to touch any of the statues. They're delicate and we already had problems with kids playing with them like toys." Hakuren guides Tamashii down the hall passing hare idol, which had a missing ear, and came to the entrance of the Zen Garden.
Soft gravel set the path through the garden and led to a routinely-raked meditation ground. There was an abundance of flora and fauna, which came in a multitude of species and vivid colors. A few candles hung around the premises in bronze lanterns suspended from trees and the temple by hemp rope, which illuminated the grounds with dancing light as light breezes made each one rotate and swing. A cricket song provided the only background music to the scene. The shrine has four local deities in which they ask guidance for. All four of these deities are Tenko, heavenly foxes, they are a type of kitsune. In the four corners, located in the four carnal directions, of the shrine there is an alter to each deity and on this sits an unusual orb. The object was smooth and white and appears to be a rather large pearl. These are the deities Hoshi no Tama, which is said to contain a piece of a kitsune’s very soul. Being that the hoshi no tama belongs to Tenko they give off a holy presence. The Zen Garden where two of them now stood was at the very center. The walls of the shrine surrounds them on all sides. The walls around the shape the Zen Garden into an octagonal shape and each wall has a trigrams on it made of broken and unbroken lines. This is known as Bagua and it represents the fundamental principles of reality. Being in the center where the holy auras of the four deities tend to overlap a normal person would find themselves in utter serenity. This would be the perfect environment for meditation which the Zen Gardens were created for. In the center of the Zen Garden was a circular stone platform with a yin-yang on it. Hakuren walks over to it and sits on the white dot within the dark half of the circle. This half was yang which not only represents the darkness but also the feminine half that exists within all people. "Please take a seat over there." Hakuren gestures Tamashii to sit opposite to her on the black dot in the yin side of the circle.
Another one enters the void, her presence immense. She was larger than life and was big enough to swallow the both of them whole. Kojoro was an expert at seals both cursed and sacred. Markings decorated her face, legs and back. Eight tails adorn her back side. Kitsune are believed to possess superior intelligence, long life, and magical powers. They are a type of yōkai, or spiritual entity, and the word kitsune is often translated as fox spirit. However, this does not mean that kitsune are ghosts, nor that they are fundamentally different from regular foxes. Because the word spirit is used to reflect a state of knowledge or enlightenment, all long-lived foxes gain supernatural abilities. Generally, a greater number of tails indicates an older and more powerful fox. Kojoro was more than fit to be their guide. Though she may seem intimidating there was no reason to be afraid. In fact she liked having visitors. 