/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45515841
"Alright, I'm ready to be lectured." He said aloud, kneeling as I shut the door.

I re-compose myself, having lost my stature and wept, my reputation could afford becoming embarrassed by some poor phrasing now.

"You ran away from us, your family, and broke commitments. Not only this, but you lied to me about Seija, truly these were wrong actions, wrong speech, and you suffered on your own because of them." I say.

Goro flinches, but remains silent.

"I believe you joined Yukari for some end, perhaps the Right Resolve, but to rush to her for power was a fault of an attachment to your ego or letting yourself be lead by Seija. You should have returned to us first and not hid in shame."

He breathes, but does not reject my criticism.

"Lastly, your true error lies at the root of your misconception, your muddied view. You believed that life concluded at a peaceful death, now you've been denied that. So, you've redoubled your efforts to seek the thing that you always wanted, Maitrī, pure benevolence for all living things, in you best interest dealings. But you cannot become Avalokiteśvara when you haven't taken the first step toward enlightenment. Without insight, the Right View, all your efforts are for naught."

At this, Goro's body begins convulsing and he falls to his side. I rush to catch him and gently do so as he shakes.

Slowly his convulsions being to fade, oscillating until he backs to a normal breathing rhythm.

"That hurt me." He said, blinking in surprise. "Why did it hurt?"

I felt his chest and extended my awareness to confirm my suspicions.

"Youkai are weak to mental attacks." And rightful condemnation could apply.

His eye's widen.

"Don't worry, you're still human, but you've been channeling Seija's youkai energy through yourself and it's started to effect you. Ironically, It seems like the bracelet's curse is protecting you, forming a barrier between your human soul and the corruptive energies." I explained.

He sighed, relieved. "That's what I thought. The bracelet helps me see things like a spyglass, but when I try to turn it back on myself things get fuzzy. Is there anything else there?" Goro asked, sounding a little hopeful.

So he could tell. "Your body and soul are optimizing themselves to accommodate the bracelet's grudge. Even if the Youkai energy can't complete it's corruption, you still might become an existence equivalent to a living, wieldable curse."

There was also a small shimmer within him. But it seemed insignificant in light of everything else.

"I met someone like that in the underground who told me something similar. Hijiri..." He started, taking a deep breath. "What should I do?"

From the depths of my bosom I felt an outpour of maternal affection which took all of my will to suppress.

"You must pursue Samadhi. Turn your perception inward and understand what your nature has become and will be. At the same time, you must correct your view by observing others as much as possible and without judgement." I breathed. "Perhaps even Yukari."

"You know, I was able to get along with Seija, maybe Yukari isn't such a stretch." He chuckled. "I'll try it. So I can become someone who can help these kids grow up better then we did." Goro stated, patting my belly. He let me hold him for awhile.

"Say Yukari did send us here with a missive, although I don't think she intends for you to actually read it. It's benign as far as I can see." He said, handing me a letter.

I unfolded it and read. Some formally written harsh words about 'illegal gatherings' and 'Terms of Service Violations', but nothing truly enforceable. I conjured a small fire to designate the missive.

"It's getting late. You and Seija will stay here tonight won't you?" She asked.

"Actually I need to pick up my dog and-" He began.

I clutched his shoulder a little tighter.

"-and I'm sure that woman wouldn't mind keeping him for another day!"

The evening went by peacefully. Seija busied herself with scouring some of our scrolls and asking about various figures like Tara, King Ashoka, and Geasar of ling, wanting to know who among them was 'coolest'. Goro was kept preoccupied with brushing hair and distributing souvenirs from their trip to the Hells. He was assaulted with all manner of questions about figures he met, trouble he'd gotten into, and, more concerning, inquiries about what he thought a man like Anon would like, which I must confess to eavesdropping on, only to make sure dignified advice was being shared of course!

In the end we all ended up asleep, spread out throughout a large room. We hadn't talked about heavy subjects like the upcoming Solstice or relationship drama, but I felt the course of things had been righted, if only a little.

---

If I screwed up Buddhist philosophy, blame it on Hijiri being a bad Nun.

"Yes! Yes!! Gothic Lolita is the cutest!" Hectia squealed as she took pictures of me and Clownpiece holding hands in frilly dresses.

First is was 'Chinese dresses are the cutest', then it was 'Sun dresses are the cutest', and the dreariest was 'Gyaru is the best', took forever to wipe off that make-up.

"What to try next? Goth? Techwear? Maybe plaid? Or, do I dare... Pop and Block?" The Hell goddess pondered aloud as she flipped through her wardrobe.

This woman's thirst for gaudy fashion was insatiable.

"Hmm, so Seija, why are you working for Yukari?" She asked after throwing a familiar looking purple dress to the side.

"All the big names are against her, so I figured it'll be fun to stick it to all those hypocrites at once. I don't need a deeper reason." I said, shrugging.

"How rebellious! As expected of an Amanojaku!" She praised.

"Oh? Don't you mean, 'because I was following my boyfriend around'?'" Clownpiece sneered in a childish tone.

"Shut up, losers don't get to talk." I told the little fairy while pulling at her cheek.

"Yeah little Piece, don't you know it's a given that a young, spirited girl is gonna drag her man around to support her?" Hectia joined in, pulling at her other cheek.

I give her a look.

"What? You're telling me you don't enjoy having your lover following you everywhere and supporting all your mischief?" She said, looking innocent with her hands on her cheeks.

"Of course I do!" I yell. "But, I'm not dragging him around, we want the same thing, turning this rotten place on it's head. So don't make it out like I'm some kind of love struck dove or that he's some sort of servant!"

For a moment both of them stare at me dumbfounded. Good, let that all sink in.

"See Clownpiece? Isn't the look of a girl looking all emo while wearing goth clothes totally refreshing?" Hectia asked.

I'd say kill me, but I'm afraid I'd just end up back here.

---

"What a lovely fountain." I observed while looking at the lawn ornament that spouted blood instead of water, nervously trying to make small-talk to the walking grudge.

"Would you like to take a closer look? I'm curious if people drown the same as in water." Junko asked.

'What, are you Yang Guifei?' I wanted to ask, but feared she would welcome the comparison.

"Another time maybe, I'm not sure I want to take the long way back here." I joked.

"I'm curious about that to." Junko said, slightly tilting her head.

What does one discuss with such a frank, threatening woman? Staying silent was an option, as always, but I was afraid she might direct the conversation as she saw fit which could be just as dangerous.

"Goro, why is it that you and Seija work for Yukari?" She asked.

Just like that.

"The current structure of the village isn't tenable and is wrong. We put everything on Hakurei houses shoulders and are now paying the price for it, Youkai populations are placated at best and growing more feral by the day, and in the midst of all this we're talking about losing a Sage. Our only chance is if we accept that the current order is broken and figure out a new way forward, and I can't do that only knowing half the situation."

"So, you want to understand Yukari." She said plainly.

"I want to understand more then I could on the other side is more like it." I remarked.

"You should give up on that." She began, stepping closer. "After all, you're a tool."

The insinuation burned. Not just the idea, the way Junko spoke made it seemed like there was no room for doubt.

"You didn't know?" She asked, tilting her head to the other side. "If you put everyone's interests above your own that means you'll just be used be others, and besides..." She begins, before rushing toward me and grabbing my hand with the bracelet.

"If you had a will of your own, something like this wouldn't have found you."

I tried to pull my hand out of her grasp and push her away, but the god was like an immovable statue. "We found this out of happenstance, nothing more."

"I disagree. In fact, maybe this was made for you? Someone else would have tried to use it to augment their own abilities no doubt, which would be quite fatal since the curse would channel their attack both ways. The method you use, acting as an intermediary protects both yourself and who you advocate for. Let's have a seat." She said, pulling me over to a bench and sitting me down.

I didn't like Junko touching me and how close she was. Her hands and body itself were soft, but there was a terrifying aspect of her being, something beyond just malice, that irritated me. It was as if she was trying to subsume me.

"Do you know what a grudge is?" She asked.

"To resent someone deeply." I answered.

"Not just that. To hold a true grudge, you become a fire, something that consumes and burns until the target of your grudge is dead."

>>45468782
Man, the worst thing about this conversation isn't about how fucking stupid you are, but learning that LMGTFY apparently ended up getting shut down/bought out and becoming a virus site.

>>45442493
"Sure, I'd like to be friends." Goro answered.

The suddenness of his surprised caught me a little off guard, my tail swishing slightly, which it seems Goro noticed.

"Everyone's plotting, conniving, lecturing, and it's just gotten bothersome you know? I think those of us on the Yakumo side should all just come together and enjoy each other's company before our ingenious leader sends us into the fray." He added.

Was he... suggesting what I think he was? I've been so busy I haven't had time to think about those things. I'd heard they laid in bed with the pink sage, but I assumed that had just been a ruse although maybe it had been genuine? To suggest something like that so candidly, were these two also perverts?

It had been awhile I suppose.

"Honestly I've admired you for quite a bit Yachie-Sama, since I was young in fact. You have impeccable business acumen and I'm sure Takane-Kun, you, and I could have many fruitful partnerships after this."

Was he suggesting a threesome with two other women while his partner sitting right on his lap? What kind of audacity...

"Everyone except Biten, leave." I commanded.

Without protest, my guards and other staff funneled out of the room and the door was closed behind them.

"Goro-kun, let's say, theoretically, I agree to this. How would you treat me?" I say, crossing my legs and my arms.

"The same as all my dealings, I'd put your best interests first." he said with a grin.

A generous lover, that was my type. Well no need to hesitate then.

"Er, Miss Yachie-" Son Biten began, before I raised a hand to stop her.

"I cleared my schedule for this meeting and nobody should disturb us so..." I began, tugging at the top-knot of my shirt until it was loose and draped open, exposing my chest.

".... The both of you can come service me all you want."

"What are you doing you perverted woman!" Seija leaped up and yelled, her face crimson.

I blinked and looked at Goro, who was almost just as red.

"I t-think there was a bit of misunderstanding. That's okay! We really weren't after such a service however." Goro struggled to say.

"Ah, no, this is a uh, A Kiketsu Family tradition! Yeah, you've got to kiss the belly of the matriarch for good fortune you see!" Son Biten bluffed, bending over to smooch my stomach to cement the fib.

I sighed and re-tied the top-knot of my shirt. "Well then, will there be anything else?"

"We need the Hell Goddesses address, have to pay her a visit as well." Goro said quickly.

From my pocket I pulled a notepad, scribbled some directions on it, and held it out. Gingerly, Goro approached me and took the notepad. Almost making to leave, but he stopped, reached into his robe, pulled out a card, and handed it to me.

"It's a massage parlor in the village, not illicit, just, if you're feeling under the weather they accept all kind of customers." He whispered.

I nodded and took the card before Seija yanked on the man's arm, making for the door.

"If you two change your minds, feel free to come back. The Kikestu family will welcome you warmly." I called out to them.

Seija glared at me and shut the door behind her with some vigor.

"Wow Miss Yachie I'm impressed!" Son Biten began. "Despite such an embarrassing misunderstanding, your composure didn't break at all!"

With two quick flicks of my tail I slammed the stupid monkeys face into the ground.

This was another grind to finish. I hope it came out well.

"Your abilities are truly enviable, Kurodani." Parsee whispered. "The story goes like this." I wondered if this one would make any more sense. "There was a woman. She loved a man so much that she'd die for him, or kill for him, or so anything that he told her to. He told her to wait for him on a bridge in Uji. She waited, and she kept waiting." Parsee fell silent for a moment, and I asked incredulously if that was really the end of the story. "She performed the Uwanari-uchi. She waits still." Parsee replied. "For he will one day return, no matter how much the woman resents him for taking his time. No matter how much she resents that everything she has done has turned to ashes." It seemed like a pretty poor story, though I didn't say that out loud.

"Don't you have any stories with happy endings?" Yamame muttered, freeing enough thread to let Parsee's head fall back. "Like, one where they live happily ever after?"

"There was a spider. A small thing, but hated by all it met." Yamame paused there, watching Parsee silently. "It tried to live peacefully, but was attacked for daring to exist. It pretended that it enjoyed its hated reputation, but deep in its heart, it begged for kindness."

"And then?"

"Each season took its toll. The spider tried to help where it could. Every time it offered, it gave up its entire heart, and as it was rejected, it took the pain of betrayal harder and harder. The spider withered more and more. Eventually, it was so withered and decayed that a passing man who could save it didn't notice and crushed it underfoot."

Yamame snorted. "Of course he did. We don't really wither like that, though." She got back to work, and this time, I saw an indication that Parsee would be free soon. "Was that supposed to be an attack at me? It wasn't a very good one."

"You think about it." Parsee murmured, her eyes sliding shut. "You think that the fate of the spider was sad." She smiled again. "I think it was a relief. To know that the suffering was over. That the hope, the want for companionship was over. Each time the spider suffered, its jealousy and hatred bloomed. To die is to be free."

"I'd like to free you, if you don't mind." Yamame muttered, coiling another strand of web around her finger. Both of Parsee's legs swung freely now. "Unless you want me to cover your mouth, too."

"There was a man." Parsee spoke. "He desired acceptance, and freedom from a life of confusion."

"Let me guess," Yamame said, "He exploded and died."

"He met a woman. He fell in love, and then he died. And the woman lived on without him. Perhaps she found another man. Perhaps she held him in her memory for all of her life." Parsee's smile disappeared. "He did not know. But by not knowing, he never felt the pain of knowing she had stopped loving him. To die is to be free." I frowned, crossing my arms. I really didn't get it.

"Just a little...There!" Yamame said with more excitement, and suddenly, the last few webs snapped, and Parsee fell, only for Yamame to grab her by the wrist and swung her onto the small platform that she had been standing on. "I really think you could do with some new stories." She muttered to Parsee before floating up and alighting next to me. "Come on." Yamame reached down and pulled me up, then began dragging me away before I could even say goodbye. Within seconds, we were deep enough in the caves for it to be like the bridge had never existed. "Even when she's not in a bad mood, she's awful to deal with. Nothing but bad memories and worse stories."

I frowned and asked her if Parsee had meant everything she had said. "No, probably not. She doesn't...mean it, but she can't stop herself from saying it either. It's her lot in life." Sounded like a particularly awful lot to me. "I suppose you could see it that way. She’s happy as long as she has someone to upset,
though." I shivered a little. I felt sorry for her, but I couldn't do anything. Nor was I sure she would even appreciate anything. "Let's just get out of here." Yamame muttered, and I noticed that she was a little pale. Perhaps the stories had gotten to her a little.

Any negative emotions I was feeling soon melted away when I caught sight of Yamame's home. It felt like a week had passed as Yamame unlocked and pulled the door open. "No one's been here. Phew." She sighed in relief. "Hang on, let me just..." She stepped over to the door after I'd pulled it shut and locked it. "I'm going to clean my mouth out until I can't taste the sick." I winced in sympathy. "Please..." She pulled me closer and wrapped her arms around my waist. "Can you warm up the bed?"

That, I decided, was something I could do.

"Ah, how envious I am...That you can pass through this place with company so easily." Parsee continued, stalking toward us. Yamame edged in front of me, gently putting a hand on my chest and pushing me back slightly. "You came from the Old City. To see such sights...I'm even more jealous." Her eyes were glowing, the green almost sickly. I found it almost overpowering, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut again and back away. "I'm jealous of you, who can be affected by my powers."

"Er, yes. I'm glad you're feeling well." Yamame said slowly. "We just want to go home." She gestured in the direction of the other side of the bridge.

"Home!" Parsee hissed, spinning and bending down to stare directly at Yamame. "To go home! To have a real home - A home of more than just a faded old bridge. Jealousy, jealousy, jealousy!" Parsee growled at Yamame, before stepping back. "You'd best go back. Where the enviable cold air of the surface world can reach you."

"Really?" Yamame asked, looking a little taken back. "Just like that? Er, thanks?"

"Of course." Parsee said, smiling widely and innocently. "I've nothing against you." She stepped to the side, bowed and used her other hand to gesture for us to pass.

Yamame watched her for a moment, then stepped back over to me and hauled me along. "Walk quickly. She's never this nice." She harshly whispered to me. "Be prepared to run." I didn't much like the sound of that last bit, but for all the worry that there had been about crossing this bridge, it seemed to be going okay. And then, we passed Parsee, and suddenly Yamame shoved me to the side just in time for a bolt of danmaku to pass by where I had just been. I spun to look at Parsee, who was smiling just as innocently as she raised her hand, a growing ball of green light visible. "I knew it." Yamame muttered.

"I've nothing against you." Parsee repeated, her smile widening even further. "But I can make up plenty of reasons to attack you." She said, hurling the new ball at me. I yelped and dived out of the way. Yamame yelled at me to run, then began to fire back while I sprinted to the end of the bridge and hid behind one of its columns. The battle was short, but seemed fairly intense. The pair took to the air, and after a few minutes and a lot of light, I saw Parsee spinning away, falling off the side of the bridge. Yamame was ahead of her, and I heard the sound that I associated with her using her webs.

"Okay!" She called. "Come over to the side of the bridge!" Cautiously, I stepped out over to the red barrier that prevented me from falling off the edge. I looked down, then blinked. Yamame was standing on a small outcrop that jutted out just above the water. Above her was Parsee. She was suspended in the air, held in place by what seemed like hundreds of strands of web. They left her hopelessly entangled, and she couldn't even turn her head properly. "I, er, may have gotten overzealous." Yamame told me. "I'll need to get her out of this now. Yeah, I know." She continued, seeing my look of disappointment. It'd be even longer before we got back home now. Sighing, I came around to the side of the bridge and sat on the edge of the of cliff that led down to the rushing water below. Just below me, Yamame was already getting to work untangling threads.

"I'm so jealous." Parsee said, her smile still present. It was a little unnerving. "That you can tangle me in these webs. So thin and yet surprisingly strong. I'm so-"

"Jealous. Right, yeah." Yamame muttered, but it didn't seem she was paying much attention. "If you hadn't attacked, you wouldn't be stuck here. The webs seemed to have somehow ensnared Parsee to a point where she couldn't move at all. Parsee's eye caught me, instead.

"Shall I tell you a story?" She asked, but I got the sense that it wasn't a question. "Once, there was a young girl. She married a man who took a second wife, and out of love and longing, she devoured the man's second wife." I frowned and asked how devouring the man's second wife had been out of longing. "As her punishment, her hands were turned to snakes, and she became an oni." That didn't sound like a happy story. "True stories are never happy."

"Don't struggle." Yamame told her. "Else we'll never be out of here." She untangled another thread, letting Parsee's leg hang freely.

"It'll be some oni challenging you to a fight." I shook my head. No, I thought it would be Kisami walking around every corner inexplicably from here all the way up to Yamame's house, where Kisami would turn out to already be taking a nap in her bed. It just seemed like that kind of day. "Ugh, that'd be a pain. I love her, really, but she'd be doing nothing but teasing me if she did that. Honestly, she'd probably even ask if we could all sleep together." I couldn't help but pity whatever poor man had to sleep with Kisami. "Really? Why?" He'd probably be strangled by her hair. I'd almost done the same that morning when I'd woken up with her hair all over my face. "Heh. Yeah, you're right. You'd have to tie her hair back if you wanted to survive." I asked Yamame if she'd ever slept in the same bed as Kisami when she was growing up. "Er...M-Maybe?" Thinking back to when Kisami had mentioned a young Yamame running to her in the middle of the night, I asked Yamame if she'd been having a nightmare. "Oh, fine. Yes, once or twice. Her hair wasn't quite so long then. It was more...Shoulder length, but so frizzy that it looked like she'd been struck by lightning." I was struggling to imagine that, since Kisami's long hair was so striking that I wasn't sure it could be any different. "I think she was going through a phase."

We'd been lucky enough to avoid running into anyone for at least the last four streets since leaving the Kurodani building. It was practically unparalleled amounts of progress, which I was very pleased about since I still felt awful. Yamame looked like she was exhausted, with some dark shadows starting to appear under her eyes. She was constantly squinting, too, like she was struggling to keep her eyes open. Still, it seemed that she'd recovered a little thanks to her little incident in that back alley. I usually felt better once I'd finally thrown up, but the peach seemed to be keeping it from happening which wasn't doing me any favours. I just hoped our luck with keeping out of weird encounters could hold out for a little longer.

But, of course, my luck went and counteracted that, because I felt a hand land on my shoulder and roughly spin me around, which in my current state was enough to make me lose balance and tip forward. "Hey, glad to see you're- Whoa!" The voice told me as I stumbled forward and landed face-first on something soft. I groaned as I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to keep myself upright until the world stopped spinning, which was easier when I felt a pair of hands enclose my shoulders and hold me upright. I pushed my hands against whatever I'd fallen into so I could try and get myself upright properly. "U-Um, are you, er, well? Y-You just - your hands- M-My chest..." Squinting and hoping that either the headache or my life would end, I tried to see what I was doing.

Ah, I thought. It appeared that my hands were sinking into the ample chest of a madly-blushing Yuugi Hoshiguma. And she looked like her head was about to blow up, because her face was even redder than Kisami's hair. After a moment, my body caught up with my mind and I stumbled backwards until Yamame managed to catch me before I tripped and cracked my head on the floor. "O-Oh," Yamame exclaimed, steadying me. "I was wondering where you had gotten to." She brushed my shoulders as if there was some dust on them. "You weren't there when we woke up." She nodded at me and patted me on the back.

"W-Well, um, no. W-We left to carry on the p-party once everyone started falling asleep." Yuugi breathed in deeply and nodded shakily, trying to get herself back under control. I offered an apology for grabbing her like that. "G-Good! I mean, er, thank you. I-I should've been a bit gentler..." Yuugi was starting to calm down, I thought. Then, I noticed that behind her, off to the side, were Raki and Lady Kasen. Raki looked at me, then cast her gaze to the side, and I saw Lady Kasen look over at her, then frown in sympathy. "S-So, you look like you're..." She vaguely gestured at my face, and I wondered just how badly I'd interrupted her train of thought.

"Dying?" Yamame supplied dryly. "I think we both feel like it." I slowly nodded as I tried to keep my brain from tearing itself from my skull. I wasn't sure how much longer I had left in me before I collapsed altogether. The steam of the Hot Spring Town was sapping all of my energy and focus.

"Ah, that's probably from the drinking game..." Yuugi muttered, nodding as she took a sip from her sake dish and shrugged then looked at both Yamame and I, since we were staring at her. "What?"

"Drinking...game?" Yamame asked tentatively. I echoed the question, which made Yuugi look between the two of us in confusion, and caused the two Ibaraki's behind her to look at each other and whisper something between them that I couldn't hear. "Oh, we didn't, did we...?"

[x]Help whoever chased after him. Whoever that was, they were probably less shady than this guy. Probably.

---

Sekibanki didn't even think about it, how obvious the choice here was. Who was this guy fooling? His cash was guaranteed to be flat, yellow-green and bendy, and not the ten thousand yen kind. With this kind of attitude, he likely just swindled some blokes, possibly some youkai bigger than him, seeing how scared he seemed. So she would hold him here until his victims catch up for a "talk".

One thing caught Sekibanki's attention - despite being disguised, he wore his clan colours! He was right, this was a good opportunity - she could publicly embarrass a whole tanuki yakuza clan! This wasn't exactly the kind of reputation she wanted for herself, and it could lead to trouble, but from what she understood, the clan would rather attempt to maintain face by getting rid of him, rather than her. All in all, it was a risk she was sure would pay off.

"Hmm, that sure sounds like a lucrative deal.", Sekibanki slowly said with a mock pondering, "But I have a better idea. Why don't I ask the other guys first?"

"Woah, woah, 'ey, wait a minute.". His voice retained the same salesman qualities, but his smile looked a bit strained. "They're not the kinda guys you'd wanna deal with. There's no need for that."

"Exactly what a conman on his last leg would say.", she shut him down with a smug smirk. "Why should I trust some tanuki to tell me the truth?"

"Whatever ya think of me, those guys are ten times worse!". The tanuki now began sounding really nervous, "Don't do this to yerself, they'll kill ya! Slowly!". He was thrashing in Sekibanki's grip frantically.

"Yeah, yeah, keep on yapping, dog. Should've stuck to bothering farmers." Her head on a nearby roof brought something to her attention. "Oh, I think I see some lanterns! They're getting... close...", she said with dying confidence, that was rapidly replaced with worry.

Sekibanki's train of thought crashed with no survivors when she realised what she saw. There were twelve men in total. Six of them were in simple clothes, some with lanterns, and all with shimenawa-adorned mancatchers. The other four wore dark-colored haori, the Hieda kanmon displayed proudly on them. Two men were in front of the group. One of them wore an expensive-looking beige haori and a round metal helmet, and waved his jitte around, shouting orders. The other man...

The other man made Sekibanki feel fear for the first time in a long time. They brought an exorcist with them, and he looked like the sort of guy red-white would call if she ever got into actual trouble. With his tall stature, long grey hair and beard, and a yamabushi garb, complete with a tokin and a shakujo, one could easily mistake him for a tengu. And his hard gaze was fixed on where the two youkai were.

Pulling herself together, Sekibanki screamed her lungs out. "Why didn't you say you got the fuzz on your tail!?".

The tanuki was unprepared for this assault. "Agh, my ears!".

"What did you do!?", she asked, shaking him for a good measure.

"Nothing, I did nothing! It's just a misunderstanding, that's all!". Somehow she didn't believe him.

This was bad. She could try to untie the tanuki in time and make a break for it, but the cops would still see her and give chase, taking her for an accomplice. And if they didn't, she was haunting out of season, they'd definitely give her crap for that. They were both screwed, one more than the other.

There was no getting out of this unscathed, she just had to bear with it. The police squad has finally arrived. Shouting orders to stand down, the men surrounded them, weapons at the ready. The frightening exorcist's gaze became quizzical as it focused on the rokurokubi.

The man in a helmet pointed his jitte at Sekibanki. "You! Youkai! Hand over the suspect, immediately!". Must be the yoriki.

"Alright, alright.", she said, her body's hands lifting. "He was getting annoying anyway. Fair warning, his hands will come out first."

A few patrolmen came closer to the yarn ball, the tanuki was getting nervous. "'Ey, I've told you already, chief! You've already got yer man! Or woman. Whatever, I've got nothing to do with this!".

"Shut up already!", simultaneously rang from both Sekibanki and the yoriki, eliciting a mutual stare full of confusion and, somehow, understanding.

[X] Tripped him. Before he got up, she would twist and turn her neck around him!

---

This was an opportunity to try something new! Hidden by the tree trunk, Sekibanki grabbed onto the railing with both arms and legs. When her prey was close enough, she leaned back and rapidly extended her neck across the road, sinking her teeth into a house's support beam. This kind of tripwire would stop a horse, a human had no chance!

Or so she thought.

She must've miscalculated the height her neck would be at, because instead of two smaller impacts, she felt one large, delivered with such force that her teeth couldn't hold. Sekibanki found herself flung through the air, screaming incoherently. She saw the canal's railing pass right by her nose. This ball on a chain would've rolled the willow her body was next to up in a rokurokubi giftwrap if not for the sacrifice of a few brave heads flying in its way. That, and a couple of branches.

When the world stopped being upside down and full of leaves, Sekibanki could finally see the result of her work - the man was down on his back, clutching his gut. Seizing the initiative before he could recover, she wrapped his limbs and body tight, preparing to make a slight weakness in the arms for when she would have her fill. Moving her head closer to his face, she bared her fangs. Yes, this was it! His rapid breathing, his eyes darting between her heads, his panic-stricken face!...

...that soon let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank goodness.", he mumbled. What!?

"Whew, and 'ere I thought those bastards caught me. Hehe.", he said, mirthfully chuckling. "Now that was a scare! Ya must be famous 'round 'ere!". Annoyed at his sudden nonchalance, Sekibanki squeezed tighter, making him let out a gasp that didn't stop his fit. Her body, no longer holding the railing in a vice grip, walked toward this ball of yarn, hands on hips.

"Shut it! What the hell is going on!", she shouted right to his face. This did nothing to sour his mood. "Ya can let me go, I ain't no human."

In disbelief at this whole situation, she took a good look at him. He looked average for a well-off villager, a bit plump, which his baggy clothes had hidden well, but his face betrayed it. She could finally see that the white symbols on his haori were some familiar-looking kanmon - a vertically positioned leaf with a bit of it missing near the stem. In fact, now that he was closer, she could see on him a similar leaf - in his hair.

A wave of disappointment hit Sekibanki as she groaned in a choir. A tanuki. You've got to be kidding.

"Now now, no need to get all down.", the tanuki continued. "This 'ere is a good opportunity for ya, girl!", he said in a tone of a carnival barker. At least half of rokurokubi's eyes were on him in a questioning stare.

"Ya see, I'm in a bit of a rough spot right now. Some goons are after me, and I need to get out of town. Can ya help a guy in need?". He squirmed a bit, and Sekibanki heard the sound of coins ringing. A lot of coins. "And that's just what's upfront.", he continued his sales pitch, "What do ya say?".

I was fairly certain that I was drunk. That was strange. I hadn't been drunk for a long while. I wasn't even sure if I could get particularly drunk anymore. "I have no idea what you're talking about~!" Kisami drunkenly sung next to me, her head swinging from side to side and almost burying me underneath her hair. At some point, she'd been pinned down by some of the girls who'd set about styling her hair, and the end result had been every single strand on her head pointing in a different direction, much to her dismay. Funnily enough, I couldn't remember how that had actually come about, but I supposed that it couldn't have been important.

But then I heard a rumble, and every piece of meat on the tables began to tremble and shake. I tried asking if anyone else was seeing this, but it seemed like everyone had passed out, except for me. I staggered to me feet and backwards as the meat all flew into one central pile, before it formed a giant meat-man who had my exact face except complete with a stupid looking moustache. "You dare insult the likes of me!?" It roared in what I thought was my father's voice, so I scrambled back.

"Hey!" I heard someone yell, and I sluggishly turned my head to see the pink-haired girl with the funny whale-shaped hat shouting something at me while a gourd swung from her hands. It seemed familiar. Coming down over her right ear was a long strand of hair that curled upward like a hook. "You can do it! Defeat it!" She shouted, and I felt emboldened by the knowledge. I could do it! I could win! So, I used the oldest and strongest technique in the book, one that Reimu had used on me.

I punched the thing in the face, and it exploded into people as if I'd been holding a gate shut. Then, I fell back, and just before I passed out, I heard footsteps. "Well, you do look like quite a mess, hmm?" Doremy Sweet told me. "That's what happens when you let someone meddle with your dreams." She crouched down. "I'm sorting out your sleep patterns. It should keep your brain from getting too scrambled, but it won't stop the usual hangover symptoms." She nodded, then stood up as my eyes began to slide shut. "And you, Miss Okunoda. Let's have none of this, shall we? Interfering in my domain is rather rude, hmm?". And at that point, I passed out.

And awoke, jerking my body up only to smash my shins against the table. Blinking tears and sleep from my eyes, I tried to open my mouth only to end up with a mouthful of hair, which made me try and shift whatever was covering my face. It was all over my face, and it was only by some miracle that the hair hadn't actually gotten in my eyes. It was hard to tell, but I felt like I was lying on something soft and warm. Lazily, I tried to raise my arm so I could get the hair out of my face.

That, it seemed, was the trigger, and an intense lance of pain strong enough to split my skull in two shot through my head. I groaned in pain, letting my arm collapse back to my side as I tried to force myself to remember the events of the previous night. There had been...Something about the party. A drunken kiss? I couldn't remember for the life of me. I thought that I'd eaten a lot, but clearly it hadn't helped to fortify my body against the oni alcohol. That was it. Oni alcohol, and a lot of it. Some flashes were coming back to me. At one point, I'd somehow been drawn into an arm wrestle with Yuugi of all people and she'd slammed my hand down hard enough to drag me with it, sending me spinning over the table we'd been using to play the game until I slammed into the floor feeling like I'd had my arm torn off. Why had I ever agreed to that? Well, alcohol, I assumed.

The soft thing below my head seemed to shift slightly, so I decided to endure the pain and raised my arms to my face again, gritting my teeth as the pain shot through my brain and made me wish I'd just up and died last night. Not to mention, my mouth was starting to feel painfully dry and I still couldn't breathe properly. Hissing, I just about brought my hand to my face and lifted some of the hair, which let me see that it was a fiery red. I groaned and pushed more of it out of my face, then slightly tilted my head to the side. To my vague amusement, Kisami wasn't even that close to me, it was just that her hair was so big and there was so much of it that it had still managed to fall across my entire face and, in fact, past it. I squinted until she stopped existing as three people and consolidated down to one. She was on her side, one knee raised, and the other leg stretched out, and both of her hands resting against the floor. Her hair was indeed splayed in every direction to the point that I wondered if there were any poor sisters of hers buried underneath her on the other side.

Done with your tantrum, you good-for-nothing wannabe idea man? Good. Now shut the fuck up about ass, tits, and whatever other nonsense you want to shitpost about.

They say logic don't apply in Gensokyo, but listen. First off, they're dumb. Second, shut the fuck up, it makes sense if the narrator wants it to. Third of all, the bitch drugged me, plus shut the fuck down. That doll kept saying things, but I didn't pay attention. I ain't insane, this ain't the puppet show in the padded room, that doll ain't moving on it's own and I sure as fuck don't feel like getting raped by some weirdo. Since green onion got turned to vomit pulp, I tried to remember my /jp/ history lessons from Keine when I first came to Gensokyo. Before I could scream Kirisame, I shit you not, I'll be damned if I didn't tell you this, a bunch of outsiders, all speaking feigned /jp/ lingo. Fakes. I could tell some had been there a while. They all seemed like nice folks, but on the other side of the street, there was more than just a few faggots arguing. Freaks. It was some of the most disgusting shit ever. My fucking eyes. Those outsiders stopped in their tracks and two of them joined in and the true nature was never more apparent. It was the worst development ever since people started seeing penises under skirts after managing to score a date as a Wizard NEET. A word of advice, RUN. They say a hole is a hole, but it ain't worth it. If you managed to get a date the first time, you can do it a second time. Just clean yourself up first. Your room probably smells like shit with all those piss open bottles. I zoned out when they were talking, sounded like they all hated eachother for no reason, so they made up some. I don't know when it happened, but someone in a maid outfit came and killed every last one of them with a mop. A fucking mop. I felt the pain when some dude said he wanted to cry.
I stood there about to say something when some other dude croaked with his bloodclot throat "there's not one decent thread in the whole catalog." The fuck does that mean? Every last one of them got up and started walking toward me after a few seconds like some sort of gang initiation when I said that. My life flashed before me eyes, but with more bad memories than good. I remembered some obnoxious motherfuckers who wouldn't shut unliving former hell up outside the /jp/ mansion. "It's your fault that you sold too much sake to a God! YOU DON'T SELL TOO MUCH SAKE TO A GOD! WE'RE GODS! WE'LL HAVE YOU EXTERMINATED! WE'LL HAVE YOU EXTERMINATED AND WE'LL LAUGH ABOUT IT!" Some words those were. I recognized every last one of them. All without a soul and dependent on others because they can't supplement themselves. God I can't bare to watch. "Sometimes it feels like I'm the only smart one around" Some dude followed up, and it was the quickest reply I had ever seen. "Nah dude, some guys act retarded just for fun. Everyone does it, but the only downside is..." he looked at the gate and they were screaming at eachother and pulling on the gate as security rushed over, unsightly. "it attracts the actual retards." "I agree, but it doesn't top that free house in Japan. Nobody bought the damn thing when it was free." I was starting to remember the dude outside the gate, retired with his 4 riot shields around him with his N.E.E.T helm, but the last traces of that dreamlike day vanished when the blonde lady kicked the door open and shoved me in a dark room. I came out brand spanking new, but it was some of the weirdest shit ever I tell you. Everything was fine, but me streamer was numb and I couldn't feel me balls despite touching them. I lost conscious several times, when I don't even remember going to sleep. Not one normal thing happened since that festival. What the fujck man.

>>45348430
man… shut the fuck up im feeling old enough already turning 30 next year

god shut the fuck up you don't make the rules you fish cunt just close you ugly ass face if you have nothing to say man

In his half asleep state, he blurted out "your fault for stuffing all the rooms with dolls, now we don't have anywhere but the living room to sleep, besides i think your friend is here because she thinks we're perverts, or something." And he went back to sleep.

The next evening.
"Hey girls, brought some sake! Let's get sloshed!" Free lodging, free food, and now free sake? Marisa had made it in life. Alice was drunk. Alice grabbed hold of Boyfriend's arm, as her friend looked on uncomfortably. Soon after, Alice wrapped herself around his arm, her face red with the alcohol. She just got an idea to get rid of the unwelcome guest. Playing with her hair, she asked,
"Hey Boyfriend, am I attractive?"
"huh, is that even a question? You're beautiful!"
Alice hugged him tight.
"No, you fool, i mean, do you like me as a woman?"
"O-of course I do!"
What? What are they talking about? Marisa was trying to comprehend what they were saying, but it was too fast for her.
"What do you like about me, then?"
"I-i, like, i, uh-." Boyfriend's face was red as a tomato as he eyed his girlfriend's body.
"I don't believe you." Alice was through with unbuttoning 3 buttons on her boyfriend's shirt, and was sensually caressing his chest.
"Won't you prove your love?"
Alice locked eyes with Marisa , and then with her boyfriend. Their noses touched, very slowly. Marisa felt like a dirty voyeur. The kisses she had seen in movies weren't half as passionate as this one.
Before Marisa realized it, Boyfriend was behind Alice, his hands dangerously close to her breasts.
'Dont mind if I do, although this is kind of embarassing, good thing i have some alcohol in my system' he thought as he started groping her. Alice was making such sensual sounds as Marisa had never dreamt of. She froze in shock, hugging a bottle of sake for support, as boyfriend undid Alice's blouse and revealed a perfect pair of breasts in a black-coloured bra. Alice's moaning was getting lewder still, as boyfriend massaged her nipples.
Alice turned around, and slowly slid down. She unzipped her boyfriend's pants, and slowly took out his penis.
Marisa suddenly jumped into action. "H-hey Alice, i... You're drunk... This is a bad decision, come lets go-"
Alice pushed a drunk and feeble Marisa away
"Shut up, Marisa. Just sit down there and observe." Marisa observed,

'I-is this what they call a blowjob? What, what is she doing... Oh God that looks disgusting... Those noises are too lewd! Oh, I've heard of white stuff coming out after a while! What will she do when that happens? Ew, she's covered in it!
W-what? She is licking it off her fingers? She's smiling? At me? Is it really tasty? What is wrong with her?'

"Look closely, Marisa, you're going to witness true love now."
He took her by the arms and pushed her down onto the futon. He held both her wrists with one hand, and slid the other one down her pants.

'Oh, oh god, Alice is moaning louder than ever! Is this what they call fingering? Her legs are shaking! I feel so dirty watching this! Wait, what is he doing? Is he done with that? Where are her panties? Where are HIS pants now? He's on top! They're holding hands! They're kissing! Again!'

"Please be gentle!"

Boyfriend's hips started moving. Boyfriend got down on his elbows, and grabbed the lady. Alice felt nice and warm in his embrace. She put her hands on his back, offering him some more embrace. Pleasure is a great thing, but comfort is better, and they were both comfortable in each other's embrace. Alice even locked her legs. They finished soon after as Marisa looked on in horror.

'Alice looks so happy...'

"Love ya, Alice"
"Love you too, Boyfriend"

"Did you observe that, Marisa? It will be a useful experience for your future self", giggled Alice.
"Care for some tea, Miss Marisa?" asked boyfriend, putting on his pants, as if nothing had happened.
"N-no, i just remembered something important." And Marisa walked out briskly, without glancing back.
"Holy shit, those two are too bold, to think they'd do something like that right in front of the eyes of a third person, i can't see my friend being that lewd, no way I'm going into her house again before knocking 3 times at least... can't believe how happy she looked" mumbled she to herself as she walked out into the night.

"Finally, she's gone," sighed Alice.
"Yes, but I don't think I'd be able to meet eyes with any of your friends after this. Aren't you embarrassed, Alice?"
"What are you talking about? I made love to the man i love in the house I built. I did nothing wrong."
"In front of guests?"
"It's her fault for being here while we got down and dirty," said Alice, putting on her bra and blouse. "Don't tell me you hated it? Now come on, I'm hungry, let's get something to eat."
"I blew all my money on the sake. I'll make you something at home."

>>45271143 (9/-)
—
After this last week, waking up to an empty house with nothing on the table feels jarring. I have no tears to spare—it was a long night…—, so I just sigh and make something to eat. The day outside was gray…

Mokou was just the first step and therefore the hardest. There are still Mr. Hieda and the students, who would then talk to their parents, and, hopefully, this lie dies by next daybreak. I stare at empty space, pondering just sending a letter saying I'm sick… Funny how I don't have the motivation to do even that.

I want my bed…

I touch my belly, gulping acrid smoke, and force myself to get ready for the day, hoping things go at least an ounce better than last night.

—

Shocked, I stare at Mr. Hieda—he's livid. Normally a man so calm and intrinsic; but now looking at me like I'm a trash pile, "What do you mean by that?" He spits.

"The rumors grew uncontrollably, and I couldn't—"

"No, you absolute fool! If you're not pregnant, Akyuu won't be able to come back to this realm!" I freeze, eyes wide. Akyuu…? W-What?! "I received dreams from beyond—by Yama herself—; livid dreams of my Akyuu’s pure soul awaiting on the shore of the Sanzu to be reincarnated—and it'd have been through you, one of her best friends! I was excited to receive you in my family and treat you like my own daughter! But you deceived me with lies, even using your students!"

… This cannot be real.

It's so outlandish that I can't help but laugh. Shouldn't have: his face twists in scorn. Mr. Hieda never got over Akyuu's death, trying to revert it, acting like it didn't happen… we all just played along to not sadden him—but this is ridiculous! "Mr. Hieda, please. I would never do something like that—"

He slams the table, and I shut up. "Your power over history is the perfect cover; don't try to make a fool out of me, Keine! You're laughing on the inside, aren’t you? Because that's who you are: a monster that plays with people's feelings!" There was a connotation in his words that made my heart skip a beat; Mokou told?! No, she wouldn't… would she? Maybe neighbors heard all, then saw her flying in the midnight, perhaps heard me crying— "To think you'd turn out to be like this…"

I sigh, massaging my temples. "Mr. Hied—"

"You're fired."

I pause. I look at him, frowning. His eyes have a cold fury behind them. "… Mr. Hieda—"

"Did I stutter, Keine? Go pick up your things and leave the temple at once. You're not welcome here anymore."

"You can't do this to me." I affirm, getting up, trembling, feeling an utter rage grow inside like a parasite. He doesn't bulge. "… Don't you know how much I sacrificed for this school?! Decades! You can't fire me over the assumption that I'd give birth to your dead daughter!" I point at his face, free hand slamming the table.

He stares through me. "You're fired, Keine."

I'm boiling with rage, an urge to explode his face corroding me from the inside… But outside the room, footsteps; shrill laughter, and I know whatever I do or say will be heard by the children outside…

… Children that talk a lot.

Mouth a line, eyes fire, I slowly walk away from the table, fists clenched and quaking… And turn, leaving the room with a quick pace—a hiccup, and I can feel the tears streaming, using my hair to cover my red face.

I make it to my classroom in record time, trying hard not to think as my quivering hands push everything I consider worthwhile—personal things, utensils… drawings of me with the students—into my bag, cursing under my breath: who let a man who never properly grieved decide things? Me, birthing Akyuu?! And because it was all a FUCKING LIE, I lost my job?!

I bite my lower lip, hand clinching my chest, trying not to hyperventilate—what can I do to reverse this? Can I talk to someone within Clan Hieda and make him change his mind? Why did things turn out like this?!—crushing a fistful of hair, I remember Anon's words, my heart withering…

Are these the consequences of living a lie? Losing those you love; what you love to do…?

I gulp a block of ice, weak, yet manage to get the full bag beneath my arm, glassy eyes as I open the window and fly back home, desperate to just sink my face in my pillow and, somehow, wake up in a world not as fucked up.

Subconsciously, my hand touches my belly, mind screaming when the only thing I can feel is blood circulation.

I get home—after wrecking myself on the front porch and breaking the fence—feeling absolutely spent, wild eyes and body shivering, biting cold against the enormous, itching, uncomfortable heat cooking me inside. Unsure how to react to the sheer amount of stress, I drop into my bed, still in my teacher's robes, and just… stare at the ceiling.

I don't yell, throw a temper tantrum; rather, my mind buzzes, eyes refuse to focus on anything, and I hug my flat belly… This is just too much…

… How much money do I have on me anyway? Not much. Never thought I'd be unemployed.

Can I buy food? Yes. Supplies for winter? Maybe…

I start to cry.

"My master's current business is somewhat private business, so I'm afraid that I must refrain from explaining at this time. Suffice to say, my master is currently indisposed and delegated her work to me in her stead." I asked Ran if that meant that Hearn usually handled these Shrine visits. "No, it's always-" She began, then realised what she was saying and clamped her mouth shut. I felt a wide grin threaten to split my face open at catching her out. "Urgh." Ran muttered, rubbing her forehead. "Certain tasks, my master finds, are best left to my discretion, and of those tasks, some do I then further delegate to Chen."

Speaking of Chen, I wondered what the small shikigami was doing. "Reimu must be consulted on Shrine maintenance, and she will report back to me once she is done." Ran made it sound like that was all there was to it, but I had a feeling that Ran had a second reason for sending her out of the room. "Chen is still young." Ran said, sipping at her tea again. "She is maturing quickly, but I still feel that some things must be kept from her for her healthy development." Ran gave me a pointed look. "Such as the specifics of the Eientei Investigation, including any gory details." She certainly seemed to care a lot about Chen. I remembered the way that Hearn had spoken of Ran, and it hadn't had quite the same sort of warmth to it. "Chen is my charge, and I intend to raise her well." Ran told me, and I nodded understandingly. I was about to ask her what she wanted to know, when I started to hear some faint shouting from outside. I caught a slight flick from Ran's hat, which further proved my theory that there were the ears of a fox underneath, and Ran looked over at me. "It appears that Chen has run afoul of the local komainu." She told me gravely. "I knew they should have built a fox instead."

That would be Aunn, I realised. In fact, it could possibly be both Aunns, which could be bad. I looked up at Ran and said that Aunn was probably feeling territorial, but she was kind-hearted and I doubted that she would do any real harm. Ran didn't look entirely convinced, but the shouting soon stopped, so I assumed that someone - Probably Yamame - had resolved the problem.

I would like to know all the pertinent details that have happened since your last visit to us." In Australia? The mention caused Ran to look away with some annoyance. "So hot." She muttered under her breath, and I agreed wholeheartedly, though it had been breathtaking in a way that few places in the valley or the village could. "Perhaps to you, who got to sit and look out of the balcony with the air conditioning running instead of overseeing the cooking of your meals in that furnace of a kitchen." Suddenly I felt like I'd said something wrong, and Ran looked a little more annoyed than she had before. I supposed that she might have been annoyed because she'd wanted to relax like Hearn had, but hadn't been allowed to. And, of course, Hearn had eaten - or at least, appeared to have eaten - human flesh, rather disturbingly, so I couldn't imagine getting that meal cooked in a busy kitchen full of other humans could have been easy.

"Never mind. The deed is done. Now, explain to me what happened in regards to Eientei in the time since Australia." Ran's voice had taken on that slightly more clinical, cold tone that it had been in the beginning. "Every detail." She told me, tilting her head downward slightly and favouring me with her sharp eyes. "I already know that you had a meeting with Eirin Yagokoro in Eientei, and you had another one more recently. You may gloss over the exact details if you feel they are too personal, but I want to know the details in at least broad strokes."

I hoped Yamame was having a better time than me.


Yamame was having a rather boring time of it. She knew her human had meant well, but Reimu was still off doing who-knows-what with that ex-celestial, and as a result, she was just...sitting. At the back of the Hakurei Shrine. Where the main blessings were youkai extermination. What a strange situation. And yet, it was still fairly comfortable. It was chilly, but the sun still shone done pleasantly, even if Yamame's body could handle the cold just fine. She'd gotten dressed and cleaned up while her human had been cleaning the courtyard, so it wasn't as if she was just wearing a kimono either. Just as long as that silly man didn't try and carry her off somewhere even stranger than the Hakurei Shrine.

They say logic don't apply in Gensokyo, but listen. First off, they're dumb. Second, shut the fuck up, it makes sense if the narrator wants it to. Third of all, the bitch drugged me, plus shut the fuck down. That doll kept saying things, but I didn't pay attention. I ain't insane, this ain't the puppet show in the padded room, that doll ain't moving on it's own and I sure as fuck don't feel like getting raped by some weirdo. Since green onion got turned to vomit pulp, I tried to remember my /jp/ history lessons from Keine when I first came to Gensokyo. Before I could scream Kirisame, I shit you not, I'll be damned if I didn't tell you this, a bunch of outsiders, all speaking feigned /jp/ lingo. Fakes. I could tell some had been there a while. They all seemed like nice folks, but on the other side of the street, there was more than just a few faggots arguing. Freaks. It was some of the most disgusting shit ever. My fucking eyes. Those outsiders stopped in their tracks and two of them joined in and the true nature was never more apparent. It was the worst development ever since people started seeing penises under skirts after managing to score a date as a Wizard NEET. A word of advice, RUN. They say a hole is a hole, but it ain't worth it. If you managed to get a date the first time, you can do it a second time. Just clean yourself up first. Your room probably smells like shit with all those piss open bottles. I zoned out when they were talking, sounded like they all hated eachother for no reason, so they made up some. I don't know when it happened, but someone in a maid outfit came and killed every last one of them with a mop. A fucking mop. I felt the pain when some dude said he wanted to cry.
I stood there about to say something when some other dude croaked with his bloodclot throat "there's not one decent thread in the whole catalog." The fuck does that mean? Every last one of them got up and started walking toward me after a few seconds like some sort of gang initiation when I said that. My life flashed before me eyes, but with more bad memories than good. I remembered some obnoxious motherfuckers who wouldn't shut unliving former hell up outside the /jp/ mansion. "It's your fault that you sold too much sake to a God! YOU DON'T SELL TOO MUCH SAKE TO A GOD! WE'RE GODS! WE'LL HAVE YOU EXTERMINATED! WE'LL HAVE YOU EXTERMINATED AND WE'LL LAUGH ABOUT IT!" Some words those were. I recognized every last one of them. All without a soul and dependent on others because they can't supplement themselves. God I can't bare to watch. "Sometimes it feels like I'm the only smart one around" Some dude followed up, and it was the quickest reply I had ever seen. "Nah dude, some guys act retarded just for fun. Everyone does it, but the only downside is..." he looked at the gate and they were screaming at eachother and pulling on the gate as security rushed over, unsightly. "it attracts the actual retards." "I agree, but it doesn't top that free house in Japan. Nobody bought the damn thing when it was free." I was starting to remember the dude outside the gate, retired with his 4 riot shields around him with his N.E.E.T helm, but the last traces of that dreamlike day vanished when the blonde lady kicked the door open and shoved me in a dark room. I came out brand spanking new, but it was some of the weirdest shit ever I tell you. Everything was fine, but me streamer was numb and I couldn't feel me balls despite touching them. I lost conscious several times, when I don't even remember going to sleep. Not one normal thing happened since that festival. What the fujck man.

>>45239763
Shut up, you. Let the man do his thing in peace.

I am literally a failure. 26 years old with no education and past job experience. I am ugly as sin and autistic too and that's the main reason why I am a shut-in, I can't go outside because people always stare at me and I can't even talk. I don't want to spend the rest of my life locked up in this room man. I am tired of fucking anime and video games. I am going to kill myself.

>>45232079
(3/5)
“Oh no, I just gambled on you learning from your mother’s example.” I explained.
At this, I could hear Hana’s grip tighten on her weapon. “Don’t talk about something you don’t know anything about.” She says coldly.
Sore subject I could tell, but she had learned, otherwise a new kind of pink mist would be drifting through the night air.
It was good though, letting her get angry like this at the start of negotiations. Kids don’t get to complain much and get scolded by everyone when they do, let her get express herself a little.
“Do you blame yourself? For what happened to your Dad I mean.” I ask.
She doesn’t yell angerly, doesn’t swing her stick at us, instead she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before replying.
“No. I didn’t understand anything and when I finally did, I was able to get him out of that house. It was…Mom, everything was that woman’s and Yukari’s fault.” She answered, a hand squeezing her sword arm as she did, looking down at the ground.
“That’s a lie.” I say, throwing my hands up.
For a moment, I can see her about to snap at us again, until she notices a crucial detail: Seija had yet to say anything and, thinking to behave better then a foul-mouth Youkai, waited for me to continue.
“You can rationalize it all you want, but blame isn’t rationale. You’re still thinking about it right? What you could have done?” I ask.
She nodded.
“Yeah. It’s terrible, isn’t it? ‘If only I was tougher’, ‘if only someone had helped’, ‘if only I’d insisted a little more and that person wasn’t so nice, dear old Dad would still be around.’”
“Dad’s not at fault!” She yelled. “He did everything right and things still turned out this way!”
“You and I both know that’s not true. He’s your father, he was supposed to protect you above all else.”
“He did! Dad did everything for me! Everyone else just, all of you just, why couldn’t you all just leave us alone!” She screamed stamping the ground.
Completely unlike the all-powerful monster that had thrashed us mere moments before, the girl before us was beside herself with grief. I could let up, but this was a particular splinter that had festered far too long.
“Then you ask him, tell him ‘If you could do it all over again, would you have made me watch you suffer?’ and if he was happy leaving you all alone, because take it from my experience, it’s a lot easier to ask forgiveness from the living then trying to find solace in hundreds of gave visits.” I spoke.
At first her expression clenched in anger, then realization. “You also…”
“His body was giving out on him, but he kept going foraging anyway because he wanted to take care of me all on his own. We found his body in a river besides a cliff, probably tripped and fell off.” I recount.
I didn’t like this. Hell, I longed to go back to getting swatted out of the air instead of mouthing off to a trauma beaten child. The last thing I needed was for her to feel sorry for something that happened years ago, and I had well gotten over.
Looking at her though, all confused and angry with no real parent to help her, I wasn’t going to let a little shame get in the way of telling her what she needed to hear. Although the fact that she was responsible for this omnipresent feeling of pain I was experiencing helped me along a bit.
After a while, she spoke up “Oh, how about you shut up you…you perverts!”
Ah, I guess she was still a teenager after all.
“I-I’m not about to be lectured by some l-lecherous man who was about to do unsavory things with his Youkai girl toy in the middle of the village!” She accused.
“Hey! I’m not his toy, if anything, I’m the one who ruined him alright!? Also, who’s the pervert? What kind of voyeuristic lunatic do you have to be to think people getting a little close means they’re gonna screw then and there? Even we wait until we’re home for that kind of thing!” Seija retorted, choosing an amazing time to speak up.
Although she was technically incorrect on the last point, I figured anything I could say would only make the situation that much worse and made myself comfy while the bickering continued.
“You share a household?! Are you two even married? No, wait, you’re saying you two have already…oh that is just sick! Amanojaku are truly the lowest of the low!” She says with a disgusted face.
At this, Seija grins. “Ha that’s exactly right! And guess what? Sometimes, we just sleep together normally! Get all cuddly like two foxes in a tube!”
“I’ll bet!” Hana replies, marching over to me and with a surprising amount of dexterity and what I imagine is some strange application of her powers, pulls the back of my robe down, revealing the rear of my torso.
“I knew it! Look at all these scratch marks and bruises! Oh gods, some of them even look fresh!” She exclaimed.
“Okay, you come over here now.” Seija said, pulling the girl by the neck to the side before she gets any more curious about the damage love making has done to my body and strips me further.

"So...Did you really lose a bet?" Reimu lazily asked Kagerou, who was still hovering next to us in her waitress outfit. If I wasn't already taken, should probably have had me eating out of the palm of her hand. The outfit...fit. Fit well. But instead, my thoughts were on whether or not I could procure a set for...other purposes. Involving spiders. Reimu looked at me. Then, she looked at Kagerou, and after a moment, she slapped me in the back of the head. "Stop fantasizing about your girlfriend!" She sharply told me as I rubbed the back of my head. Next to us, Marisa was complaining about some sort of bee incident that had occurred in her house and Tenshi was poking fun at her for letting her house get all messy again. "Because she," She pointed a thumb over her shoulder at Tenshi, "Lost a bet. I might have to rebrand this place to the loser's club."

"I-I, um..." Kagerou was starting to blush, and her look of embarrassment was so palpable that I felt like giving her a hug. "Um, sort of? I mean, this, right now, is the bet. So, I've got to work here and embarrass myself by pretending that I made my own ears, and wearing this outfit that's slightly tight, and trying to keep my tail from being seen..." She trailed off, running out of steam. "I sort of want to die." She finally confessed, and I couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "But if I win the bet by making it through a few days of this, I'll get something good out of it.

"Yeah, well, I get to make her," She pointed at Tenshi again, who had succeeded in stealing Marisa's drink and was taking a sip, "Winter-proof my whole Shrine." Kagerou even managed to look a little sympathetic at that. "And no keystones this time!" Reimu called, slightly louder, at Tenshi, who looked up and stuck her tongue out, then went back to bugging Marisa.

While I was watching Kagerou, I suddenly had a thought, so I stood and asked her if I could speak with her for a moment. "H-Huh? Um...Okay?" I felt Reimu tap me on the back, raising an eyebrow in a silent question when I turned back to look. I shook my head as casually as I could, turning back to Kagerou, who was herself turning toward the kitchens. "Um, Mr. Boss? I'm just stepping outside for a minute."

"Whazzat!?" I heard the old man running the store yell. "Oh, off fer a break, are ye? Just hurry back soon, yeah? Ain't busy anyhow, yanno?" He poked his head out of his kitchen, frowned at Kagerou, then at Oseki in turn, then ducked back inside.

"Yeah, hurry back, Kagerou!" I heard Oseki yell, which made Kagerou cringe. "Wouldn't want me thinking you're skipping out, would you?" Kagerou squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, took a deep breath, then led me outside into a back alley, which was tight and full of supplies for the restaurant, but more importantly, it was private and quiet.

"So, er, what did you want to talk about?" Kagerou slowly asked me, a frown on her face. She took a seat on a large crate which had probably held a bunch of restaurant supplies. "Oh, it wasn't about, um...Eientei, was it? B-Because, I'm really not in my right mind during the full moon, so anything I may have said or done-" I raised a hand and cut her off, telling her that it had nothing to do with Eientei, and I'd gotten over all of that weird stuff she'd been doing to me. Instead, I was curious about her and Wakasagihime's organization. "Huh? Er, the Grassroots Youkai Network?" I nodded. We'd spoken about it a little, during the walk out of Eientei and through the Bamboo Forest of the Lost, but I wanted to know a little more about the sort of members they got.

"Oh, well, er..." Kagerou pulled her hat off and ruffled her hair. I spotted the awkwardly cut holes in the hat she'd made for her ears to poke through and tried not to laugh a little. "It's, um, supposed to be for weak youkai, but sometimes they're really rude, so we don't try and invite them. Oh, er, by 'we', I mostly mean Hime. I just go and meet people, and she decides if we should try and invite them. There's some loners who aren't that weak, either, but they're nice and easy to get along with." Privately, I knew that Kagerou was definitely not all that weak, especially during the full moon when she'd been able to hold her own against Reisen, so I figured that she was just docile enough outside of the full moon for people to think she was weak. Or maybe she was just too kind. That'd be nice, I supposed. A lot of the youkai I'd met had been reasonably kind, but had usually had something else lurking deeper down. "I was actually hoping to convince Sekibanki to join, but she's still resisting, so..." I looked up and asked if Sekibanki was that flying head youkai she'd mentioned in the past, and Kagerou stared at me blankly. After a moment, she tentatively spoke. "Do...you not...? Um, yes. The one I mentioned before. If I win this bet, I might be able to make her join, so..."

>>45208544
Yup
>Kaki trans
>Endo poor man's nanasae
>Seira - couldn't shut up about power abuse just like all other members and was forced to graduate
>Kakehashi will never return
>Kanagawa Scandal slut
>Kuromi CCP Agent
>Sato Rika no confidence
>Shibata boring as hell
>Seimiya too genki
>Tamura only good member
>Tsutsui boring but nice tits
>Hayashi boring
>Matsuo nice to look at but boring
>Yakubo her voice annoys me
>Yumiki looks like an JAV actress

The only one who can save nogi is 3ki and 6ki which will hopefully be returning 1kis in their prime milf age.

>>45192799
The morning was refreshing and the sky clear. It was a perfect day to take a siesta and let her worries fade away. However, a tantalizing tengu like Aya, close to winning her man’s heart, still had work to do. Flying to Momiji’s house, she found no signs of life. Damn, if the wolf wasn’t a goody-two-shoes Aya could’ve told her about the secret exits. Taking her mission seriously, the tengu set off for the Human Village. She’d have to keep watch herself until she could meet up with her partner.

Listening to the wind as she drifted through the streets, the tengu was worried that she was too lax with her warning to Kanako. The words “Shrine Experience” and “Moriya God” came up far too often for comfort. It was spoken of in hushed voices and uneasy veracity, not yet an urban legend or wives’ gossip.

Finding herself in a market plaza near the HSE, the tengu could appreciate how influential the brothel was. Gift shops and knick-knack stalls used the initials in clever ways, such as “Holy Souvenir Emporium” and “Hakurei Shop Express” to draw customers while avoiding the infringement. One youkai bookseller had a stock of neatly-bound comics, all depicting Anon. The cover of “Pay your debts, shrine maiden husband-san!” peeved her off a bit more. She couldn’t tell why. Something about the tengu’s evil glare that made her feel… dirty.

What really caught her eye was another title: “Shrine Husband’s Holy Hell – Non-stop Faith Milking Experience!” Flipping through the manga, even Aya was impressed by the goddess’ enticing figure and cock-wringing skills. It was amusing to see how the author turned the love-shy deity into a cum-starved demon and the tired husband into a human sieve. Anon didn’t really ejaculate THAT much… well, not after 3 hours… With little else to do, she bought the book and a cozy for the cover. At this time, that girl should be around here somewhere…

Finding a small congregation of humans, the tengu poised herself to eavesdrop. Their green-haired leader told them of the evil and sin that governed the HSE. One conversation between two people carrying innocuous books caught her attention:

“Did you see her new work? Damn, I didn’t know the Moriya Goddess had tits like that!”

“Quiet down! Besides, I bet it’s exaggerated to sell more copies. It’s all just a rumor anyways, the goddess wouldn’t really come down here for a man-whore.”

“Yeah, you’ve got a point. Still, imagine how hot it would be if it was true…”

As Sanae preached on, similar sentiments arose around the tengu. The miko’s words were dampening the mass’ lust, but it might not be enough if the HSE’s continued unabated. After the sermon was over, Aya walked straight to the miko, notepad and pencil drawn out to put on a show for onlookers. “Sanae! Care to talk for a minute?”

After a moment, the miko recognized the tengu in disguise. “Of course! Listen, I wanted to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I should have listened to you further before attacking. There’s just been so much stress, between Hana and maintaining the faith, I’ve been a little high-strung. Water under the bridge?” The miko thrust out her hand, allowing the tengu to return the gesture. It was nice that the Moriyan didn’t hold resentment. However, she still needed to learn the consequences of attacking a pregnant woman…

“No hard feelings, I should have known the rumors would hit you first. Speaking of, I’ve got a hunch that I’ll find a lead today. It’s just the rumors, well, they’ve been getting REALLY bad lately.”

“How bad?” This was too easy.

Pulling the incognito manga out of her bag, the reporter kept a serious expression as she handed it over to the miko. “Take a look yourself.” Sanae opened the book, reading a wholesome preamble about Anon’s simple life as a woodsman and believer of the Moriya faith. As she did, the tengy slowly moved behind her to get a better look at her face and the pages. Once Sanae got past the human being caught in a landslide, secretly caused by the goddess of the land in order to kidnap him, her face turned a bright crimson as she saw a drawing of Kanako, completely naked, straddle Anon in a ritual to “wring out his most potent source of faith.” To the tengu’s surprise, Sanae kept flipping pages, seemingly unaware that Aya was stifling giggles.

Deciding she had enough fun, Aya pointed to a page and spoke softly. “You see what I mean? Kanako’s womb is clearly stuffed, yet the artist has her ride him for another 6 panels. Outrageous.”

The red-and-green miko slammed the book shut and jumped back. “I-I’m confiscating this! This is hearsay! Heresy! Both!” The tengu had no reply other than laughter, taking off before Sanae could grab her gohei. Alone with the smut, the living god dropped it into her bag before anyone could see it, vowing to destroy it when she got home.

(Part 46)