Kaito and his family were in a constant state of struggle. Their village, a former hub of farming, had been cursed infertile land. Their former farming practices no longer worked and no one could figure out why. While his father and mother sought new forms of employment outside of the city, Kaito and his brother found their own way to help around the village. Kait's brother, Inishi, worked around town as a leather-worker, making clothes and shoes and whatever else he could.
Kaito found employ as a woodsman. Few men dared enter the forests due to the rumors of oni and other monsters. Without agriculture, the village needed a new primary export. Lumber was rare in the valley villages as it was due to the danger present in the woods. Of course, he was aware of the importance of the trees and their reverence. Kaito did not have much, but he had made a set up a small shrine for Kukunochi, the kami of the trees, and laid a few meager rice cakes atop it.
He wiped his brow and knelt down, "great Kukunochi, I pray for safe passage and blessing; please forgive my trespass and my harming of these trees." Kaito had never prayed before, not in any official capacity, at least, so this was relatively new for him. Rising, he grabbed his axe off of the ground and brushed his hair back as he entered the forest.
He bore his black haori, pants, and geta as he progressed through the woods. The newly-appointed woodsman kept his eyes open for potential threats, though, truthfully, he had no idea what to look for.
He found a nice, solid tree, resting his hand against it. "This'll do." Drawing back his axe, he took a deep breath, and then swung it forward, knocking into the tree.
@.𖥔 ݁ ˖ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻 𝓢𝓪𝓫 ✧˖°