/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45164120
>it's probably
man shut up.

"Um..." Yamame hummed, taking a moment. Oh yes, she'd been upset with her sisters in the past, from times that Yura had misplaced her belongings to dealing with the aftermath of Kisami's escapades. "I don't control them, if that's what you're asking. They're my sisters, not my slaves." There was a hint of something not quite like anger in Yamame's voice, now. Being controlled was not something Yamame desired, and she'd never force it on her sisters. Work was one thing, but actual control? "I love them, each and every one, even if they drive me absolutely insane from time to time." Yura, especially... "I don't think I could enjoy my life quite so much if I didn't have my family to fall back on when I needed help."

Kasen's eyes gave away nothing, as if they were a dark abyss from which nothing could escape. "How very lovely to hear." She commented, then had her attention broken by the sound of the staff member returning, balancing a tray on her hand. She placed it down, offloading two cups of steaming tea along with several plates of food that looking a little too unhealthy for Yamame. Either way, it didn't stop Kasen from digging straight in, while Yamame took a small sip of the tea, which did turn out to be rather excellent. "Ah, there's nothing quite like the food of Former Hell. Are you sure you wouldn't like to try it?"

"Um, no, thank you. I'm fine." Yamame doubted she could have eaten even if she'd tried. "Miss Iba- Kasen, um, can I ask you something?"

"Of course." Kasen looked up from her plate at Yamame. "That's what this conversation is, after all. If I'm to know you better, you must know me better in return."

"O-Okay." Yamame drew in a breath and tried to force her thoughts in order. "Do you - Um, sorry. Do you love-?" Before she could finish, she was cut off.

"Do I love? Hmm, but who are you referring to? Reimu, perhaps? My partner - my other self?" She leaned in. "...Him?" Yamame kept her face light and a small smile pressed up on it, but it seemed not to help because Lady Kasen's demeanour changed. She suddenly looked more curious, and more interested. She leaned back in her chair, folding her hands on her lap. "You're worried."

"No, I'm not." Yamame said, quickly, forgetting her own nervousness.

"Not outwardly." Kasen replied calmly. "But being who and what I am, I am well accustomed to seeing when someone is hiding their true self. Perhaps not for malicious reasons. I hide my identity as an oni for certain reasons, too." She leaned forward. "What has worried you so?" She let the question hang in the air for a moment. "No, I rather suspect I know. And here is where we reach the true aim of the conversation, now that the preamble is out of the way. You wonder why I am ever so slightly cold to you. Is this not so?" Yamame opened her mouth, but Kasen leaned forward and pressed a finger against her lips. "Think carefully before you speak." She whispered, almost dangerously, and Yamame frowned for a moment before feeling a fire light in her belly. It sounded like half of Ibaraki-douji was looking down on her.

"I have been wondering that." Yamame finally said. "Have I upset you?"

Kasen tilted her head. "Yes, but not because of anything you've done to me. Can you understand what I am saying?"

"What I've done...indirectly." Yamame ventured, and then, because she was still feeling a little nervous. "Is it because-"

Kasen raised her hand and Yamame fell silent. "I'm explaining. Please, allow me the privilege." Yamame kept her mouth shut, waiting for Kasen's words. "Let me start by saying that, despite what she might say, I do love Reimu Hakurei. She's precious to me, and I want her to be happy." Yamame didn't have much to say to that, because while they'd seemed reasonably friendly in their interactions of the previous day, Yamame hadn't picked up on the idea that Kasen cared for Reimu quite so much. "You may wonder why I am being so forthright with you about this." Slowly, Yamame nodded. "Then, you presumably also know that Reimu considers that man to be family." Reimu had expressed as much, and she had referred to her human as her brother on one occasion. "I, somewhat embarrassingly in hindsight, tried my best to push the two of them together romantically."

"He and Reimu...?" Yamame asked. "But they seem so...comfortable with each other."

"That, in a nutshell, was my reasoning. They seemed to get along well from the start, and I thought that he and Reimu would be..." Here, Kasen looked more than a little embarrassed. "Well, I thought they're be a lovely couple. So, I tried my best. I taught him skills that I thought would help him impress Reimu, and I tried to impress on Reimu in turn that she should be looking for a partner who might just be close already." Kasen's demeanour was starting to get to Yamame, and despite her general nervousness around the woman, her instincts from taking care of her sisters were starting to kick in.

>>45153126
Man shut ya stupid ass up never forget we were supposed to be like onto the angels. The monsters are supposed to be beneath us, transform them into house wives.

>>45142012
Man depressed anon why do you got to be like this, shit is getting old. Just get in the wisp cage and shut up.

Tenshi's massive keystone still stuck out like a sore thumb, and I wondered why it had taken so long to get rid of it. Surely it couldn't only be because the oni kept trying to turn it into a competition? "Alright, in here. Let's find out what exactly is going on." Yamame stepped ahead of me, pulled upon the sliding door to the building and ushered Nai and I inside. While we were pulling our boots and shoes off, Yamame had a short conversation with the girls outside, which involved some excited words and Yamame getting pulled into a hug by one of them. I watched curiously, until Yamame finally dragged herself free and told the girls outside that she was busy.

"Sorry, that was just some of my other sisters. They're about my age, but I don't get to see them all too often." Yamame explained, grabbing my coat from me, and leading me upstairs. Nai followed up one floor, but then stopped.

"Big Sister, can I...?" She asked, seeking permission.

"Of course, Nai. Just remember what I told you." Yamame told her, ruffling her hair again despite Nai's complaints. Nai eventually gave up on fixing it, then took off down the hallway and into one of the rooms. "Her sisters." Yamame told me. "Her age, anyway. I always tell her to spend more time with them, but she keeps coming to my door." She paused for a moment. "Not that I'd ever deny her. Adorable, she is." Well, I couldn't exactly disagree. We continued up two more floors, until we were near the top of the building. Here, there were a number of rooms down a long corridor, and I didn't know exactly what to expect, so I let Yamame lead me down to the first door, which she pulled open. Inside was a storage room, and Yamame poked her head in, looked around, then placed my coat behind some boxes. "Should be safe there. It's not like it'll fit any of my sisters, anyway." If they wore it, they'd be dragging half of it along the ground. Yamame nodded satisfactorily, then pulled the door shut again. "I'm sure that plenty of the family are working on the wood, anyway. The stone's annoying enough, but half the wood of the buildings nearly rotted, and it's been a bloody nightmare getting it all replaced. Anyway, that's probably why it's not so busy in here." Yamame told me, pulling open the second door along the corridor.

"Yamame!" I heard a roar, and just as Yamame turned her head back to the room instead of me, something with reddish hair crashed into her and knocked her to the floor. "Oh, where have you been!? It's been forever! I thought you'd given up on us!" The red thing was another spider, but she was taller, with long, extremely messy hair, and her dress was wrapped around her waist, with her shirt coming only down to just above the middle of her back. "Are you eating right? How's the seamstress business? Is it true what Yura said about you meeting a human boy?" She was wrapping her arms around Yamame, playing with her hair, kissing her forehead, and all sorts.

"Wait, just - No - Please, get off me, I can't breathe!" She cried, and finally, the red girl relented and clambered to her feet before helping Yamame up. After a moment to catch her breath, she stepped back over to me, which made the red girl draw in a gasp and open her mouth. "Wait, please." Yamame repeated, and with a pout, the girl waited. "Okay, I've been busy, that's all. Yes, the seamstress business is going well. More than well, actually. I had a slight change of diet, but I'm doing fine. And, um, yes, I did meet a human." She poked me in the side, and I introduced myself. "This is Kisami. My...Elder Sister." Yamame said, seeming to struggle a little at the end. I looked between the two of them, a slight smile blooming on my face.

"So, you're the one who's captured my cute little sister's heart!?" Kisami jumped over to me in an instant, talking excitedly. Her eyes were a striking shade of blue, and for a moment, I wondered just how she fit in with the rest of the family. The others I'd seen all had hair ranging from black, to brown, to blonde, but the wild, messy red that framed Yamame's elder sister's eyes and wide smile was entirely different. Perhaps she was adopted? No, that would be ridiculous. She actually looked a fair bit like the gatekeeper at the Vampire's Mansion, Miss Meiling. Well, maybe it was just personal preference and she liked red. "Well, she's definitely grown up. Haven't you?" She looked back at Yamame, who scowled and looked away. "Feels like it was just yesterday that she up and ran at the first sight of a big, strong man."

"Ki!" Yamame cried. "Shut up!"

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.

>>45113981
What isn't a marriage proposal to a monster nowadays?
>Looking her in the eyes?
You were asking for it. Marriage
>Shopping in the wrong aisle at the grocery store?
You can't take care of yourself. Marriage
>Accidentally touch a monster's tail?
No man has ever brushed her before, take responsibility. Marriage
>Walk down the wrong road
Designated raping street. Rape, then marriage.
>Be sad
Requires bogey hugs. Marriage.
>I'm starting to think these monsters are just making shit up to marry us.
He knows too much, send kunoichi to shut him up. Marriage.

>>45077494
The bowstring is tight as fuck to begin with unless you detighten it and it's not smooth enough to rub genitals on it comfortably.
Man shut the fuck up already.

>>45042898

I slid from shadow to shadow, pausing to make sure I wasn't being followed. Dangit , I thought the streets were supposed to be empty this late in the evening, Why didn’t these people have better things to do than to hang around on the street? While I asked myself that question, I failed to notice the basket in my way, kicking it over. I had to spend a minute apologizing and tidying things up before I doubled back and took another way to get away form the prying eyes. If I ever hoped to have a future as a detective, I needed to work on my sneaking skills. After some delay, I reached the street the brothel was on. Most of the stalls and shops had closed up, so I was able to quickly dash through the alley leading to the back of the shrine experience. The buildings large profile made the shadows here dark and gloomy. It was the perfect place to get up to all shady business , but it was a good thing I was here for honest reasons. Not wanting to waste more time, I knocked on the door and waited.


A few moments later, the door opened. There standing was a woman with dark green hair and a dress with a pattern of different sorts of green. “Call me Yamashiro. I’m the manager. You’ve got twenty minutes before I leave, so get things done before then” She stepped aside to let me in, and I followed her. The backend was almost ordinal, a hallway with the occasional door leading off to somewhere. But I knew that behind each door laid dark and terrible secrets, just waiting for a detecitve to uncover them. That or it could be a bathroom or a closet. Yamashiro went off in one direction, and I tagged along.


“So you’re one of Anon’s friends, right?” she spook about him with shocking familiarity. Did they become friends as well or could it be that it was more? A man escapes his abusive wife and starts up a life of prostitution. He gets wrapped up in a conspiracy involving powerful youkai, and his relationship with the manager running the place becomes something more. It was romantic in a way. Ah, I was imagining things again. They were probably just friends.


“Yes I am. I knew him and Reimu before they got married, even. But it got harder to see him over the years, and it wasn’t until he left the shrine I was able to catch up with him again. He was surprised to hear I had gotten married, that’s how little we interacted over the years” I pass by a cart and pause to look at it. It was full of outfits that looked just like Reimu’s but in different sizes. If the rumors were true, then they had outfits for almost every woman in Gensokyo. Even me. Shame on them for assuming I'd want to go to a place like this!


“Ah, those are dirty. Don’t touch them” she warned me. Oh yeah, the clients must have worn them while doing ‘that’. I move my hand away. “So you run that bookstore in the village yeah? You said you also offer a printing service" We turned down at a bend in the hall and continued on. For some reason It seemed like this place was bigger then it should be.

"I've run it since my parents retired. Sometimes I do print books for clients, but I have to be careful about offering it to youkai. It's a lot riskier than renting out books, please understand" Youkai books might be incredibly valuable, But even I was able to learn printing youkai books would put a target on my back if not handled carefully.

"I get you. Well, I promise you that if I ever buy your services, it'll be completely honest and on the level. I swear on it" Yamashiro held up one hand in a pledge. She certainly seemed honest, and I was a very good judge of character.

We approach the end of the hall and I spy a someone small crouching down, looking at some sort of assortment of fails and gizmos on the wall. When they turned to us, I noticed they were wearing some strange mask. It covered the front of their face and was held in place by a strap, with two lens allowing them to see. Where the mouth would be, some canister jutted out. I couldn't understand why they were wearing it. Before I could ask Yamashiro, she moved away from me to the figure who took off their mask. It could be a Kappa, she was definitely small enough.

The two of them whispered something to each other until Yamashiro turned to me. "You can go ahead. Remember, twenty minutes and I'm leaving" Heading to the end of the hall, she pulled at a latch and the door flush with the wall opened.

We must have gotten turned around somewhere, all I saw behind the door was grass and a tree or two. "Is this it?" I questioned.

"Yeah, it is" She told me. That was the only answer I would get.

I stepped through the door and saw even more greenery surrounding me. I heard the door shut behind men and found that it disappeared. Running over to where it was, I ran my hands over the wall, sighing with relief when I felt a small crack of the door. So it was a secret door, just like the stories! But now there was only one question, where was I?

(1/3)
—
"Calm down, Anon—regulate your breathing, focus your mind!" Despite my words, the sounds filling the room are of flesh on flesh hitting at high speeds. Squatting over him, I sent my hips up and down with no hint of slowing it down, drooling a bit and damping him with my lewd combination of juices, my breasts jumping with the speed, loud moans leaving me as the floor creaks, both my hands on his chest to help with the rhythm; my chain clanking against the floor.

Our bodies were covered in sweat, remarking the excruciatingly good long time we have been in this position, Anon's teeth clenched and eyes closed shut, almost to the point of crying, holding the futon with such force as if trying to rip it apart, chains of light holding him to the ground—all that impulsing my horniness to the moon and increasing the speed in which I slammed my ass against his dick.

"Kasen… please!" He pleaded loudly, but I simply sat down on his dick with might, a painful shout leaving him.

"Training the body is as important as training the mind, Anon—to control it is to control your limits!" I mewl, the tip of his penis hitting that stop and grinding there with such—ah… "With my powers, you have training wheels, but when the true training starts, you'll have to hold it all by yourself! You cannot cum yet, Anon!" I lay on him, crushing my boobs on his chest and smelling the intoxicant smell of 'man', sweat, and sex, fervently kissing him.

An important part of training is enjoying it, after all~

For ten more unstoppable minutes the training goes on, our bodies red with the heat, cramps only prevented by magic. But Anon is on his absolute limit, so I slowly release the chains holding his orgasm at bay, the light around his wrists exploding. As if a switch had been turned, his hands fly to my hips, squashing them before starting to slam his dick inside repeatedly, holding my body still and just pumping and pumping, and oh, oh~

Clasping my hair, I have to support my entire body straight as I finally let myself cum, legs quivering and trying to cross with each other, another layer of utter control on my mind as to keep my strength at bay—if I lost concentration and cross them, my thighs will cut Anon's lower half-life a scissor going through a sheet of paper. The danger; my womb being filled to the brim with ropes of thick cum and the dispersing warmth of an outrageously long session of unstoppable throttling—training, oh, training—on his dick reaches its end… All make me reach heaven, even if for a moment.

I pull myself out of his dick, a loud 'plop' echoing as a line of cum drips from my soaked pussy, legs yet to stop quaking, body a bit bent forward, breathing as if drowning—yet a smile paints my face. My hands shuffle a bit with my hair drenched in sweat before I can properly express, "You did great today, Anon! Your body will be made of steel in no time!"

Anon doesn't answer, hands hiding his face, body shaking still. Oh, he's recomposing himself? So cute~

"We'll get down to mind training tomorrow, 'kay? Then we'll have all the basics covered!" Ignoring my post-sex state, I walk towards the veranda with a smile, giving Anon a side-eye. "I'll be outside refreshing myself—if you wanna join me for an after-session, feel free~"

I don't wait for an answer; I just leave, waling to the pond behind the fake shrine, murmuring a lullaby, the sun shimmering on my sweat-covered skin… It takes ten seconds before my body starts to shake, my pace on the reddening grass unsure. By the time my legs sink into the pond, tears stream down my face, eyes wide, hands over my mouth to stop myself from screaming.

It happened again. I thought it wouldn't, but it did. I try to clean myself in the pond, semen dripping from my femininity, but it amounts to nothing. It happened again… I—

"You lost control again~" A voice comes from behind, and in the span of a second, I'm ready to fight—though, in the next one, my eyes narrow with spite, and I cover my exposed breasts. Yukari giggles, not trying to hide her gaze. "My, my—what a weak sage—"

"What did you do to me?"

"Me? I did nothing, my friend—I simply used the pieces at my reach." Cold words congest my throat, begging to be let out, but any courage I have goes down with my tears. Her laughter drips venom. "Poor Ibaraki Kasen, raping her former protégé's husband, all because of a simple mistake. Adorable." She spins her umbrella carefree, her smile crawling on my back like a demon.

But rationally speaks louder; "… Mistake?"

She giggles, and I feel caught in a web; "Have you ever considered what is evil to an 11-year-old, my poor Kasen? There's wrath, of course; greed, even though hypocritical, indeed; sloth, pride, gluttony—all those come from your true form had in batches, now sealed inside your arm by an 11-year-old who also experienced those evils too… But you know what an 11-year-old should never experience?" I freeze as understanding befalls me—Yukari smiles like a devil; “Lust~”

>>45023914
(2/5)
“Oh, around and unidentifiable as always.” She said hitting me in a gut.
She turns to Goro. “Goro-kun! I haven’t seen you in so long after our last arrangement, did you pick up Seija as a fallback girl?”
No way. “Nue, you know this guy? He seriously said you were pregnant and that he was working for you while I was beating him to a pulp.”
“Yeah, that’s right, although I had Futatsuiwa-san arrange the details because I knew he’d say no if I should up.” She pouted. “Don’t worry though, Seija wouldn’t have stopped even if she knew it was true.”
I nod affirmatively.
Hold on! “Wait, so you’re actually pregnant?!” I asked.
Nue rubs her belly in a sickeningly motherly way. “Yes, Anon is the father.”
“Didn’t take you for the type to fall for a man whore.” I say matter-of-factly.
“Ha, that’s rich coming from the woman who risked stepping on Myouren temple grounds after what Hijiri did to you last time just because you couldn’t leave your boy friend alone for his business appointment.” She laughed, twirling in the air as she did.
Was she following us? No, Nue loved nothing more than making you confused about where she was or wasn’t. It wasn’t worth getting hung up on.
“Nue-kun, I’ve been out for a while and need to know about some things. Has anything new happened at the HSE? And how’s this Nazrin replacement doing?” Goro interjected.
“Hmm, well there’s all sorts of pop-up shops setting up around that join, nothing that mysterious though. I did manage to nag something interesting from a worker’s pocket.” She tossed something that looked like a rock to Goro.
“Don’t ask me who though, I was checking too many backsides to keep track of.” She shrugged.
He flipped the thing over, felt it up, held it to the sun, smelled it, and did all those other appraisers do to scam their marks. Ah, gross, is he licking it?
“Magical receiver, right?” he asked, spinning it in his hand.
Nue nodded. “Best guess would be that it needs to connect to something pretty far away for being so big.”
He tossed it to me, right at my face to you spiteful con! of course, I caught it.
“Could you invert that?” He asked.
I looked at the thing but didn’t go the whole nine yards on molesting it. “You mean turn it inside out? No, thing’s solid so there’s nothing to flip. Do you mean make it a transmitter instead?”
“I think it’s a signaling device for the HSE, if we’re lucky it’s one for where Anon’s trapped in. If that thing works, we have a private line to him.” He explained.
“Feeling lonely so you need a pen pal? Cute.” I said, waving the rock at him with my other hand on my hip.
He crossed his arms. “You ever talk to someone across one of Yukari’s gaps? Across time?” He asked.
“What are you getting at, just spit it out fool, Yukari’s gap-oh”
Yukari’s boundaries were always tricky to deal with. Even if you got past all the weird and perverse conditions she thought up, it’s likely that she INTENDED you to do just that. But if this little rock was an intentional back door, that could open possibilities.
I slip it into my dress pocket, Goro doesn’t seem to protest.
“As for the new rat, Chisy? Chisaszzy? Chisazu? She’s got a chip on her shoulder and took over Nazrin’s position after this happened.” Nue patted her belly. “I think she’s definitely still talking to Nazrin somehow, but she’s got a phobia of me and won’t let me in her office, which is all fine and good so long as she’s afraid.”
I can see Goro think on this. Think harder idiot some of us are bored here.
“The Outcast God.” He speaks.
Just say her name you coward.
“Okina?” Nue asked, blinking.
“It certainly fits the puzzle, not like she would serve one of the hidden Shinto gods, Moriya, or any of the deities stewing in hell. Plus, she wouldn’t miss the chance to put egg on Yukari’s face.” Goro answered.
“Well, I could’ve told you that for free! She gave me a little thrashing for corrupting the youth when I was doing business with the outside.” Nue says, shrugging.
“Perverted Nue, what did you do this time-“Goro laughs, shaking his head before stopping. “What were you trading with the Outsiders?”
“Just some things we’ll need if worse comes to worse, worry about it some.” Nue says, smiling.
“Nue, I swear if you were trading arms…” Goro begins.
“Oh, shut up, can we leave already? Nue isn’t going to tell you anything when she gets like this.” I exclaim, bored of all this conversation.
Goro shakes his head and regains his composure. “Don’t use those weapons, if you do, forget about a future for your child.” Goro said to Nue, before following me.

>>45022345
The attractions were still shut down. Ran and Toutetsu probably already gave Okina information about the internal affairs of the HSE, and Aya had lots of pictures anyways. Still, she regretted not being able to see the leaderboards. The shrouded patron leaving definitely wasn’t Alice, but there may have been some clues. No matter, since she was here for pleasure, not work.

Heading over to the shrine, the beauty of fall caught her eye. From afar, a brilliant tapestry of red, brown and yellow tempted the soul. On closer inspection, every leaf lacked the small veins that become visible in the sunlight. It seemed the shrine could emulate the seasons, flora and fauna, just not as well as the genuine articles. Maintaining the barrier and it’s quirks must be taxing. But how well could it stand up to the power of the Secret Sage when the time came?

Pushing heavy topics aside, Aya knocked on Anon’s shrine. She could feel her arms shaking and legs wobbling. Her pill lasts hours and should have kicked in by now. Was she really… No, she was an elegant, mature woman! She was already a mother, even! Visiting a man was no big deal for someone with as much (reporting) experience as her!

“Welcome ho-” Before he could finish his sentence, the tengu wrapped her arms and legs around Anon’s upper body. He must have been used to such greetings, as he quickly spread his legs and fortified his center of balance. Her weight was nothing unusual, and the feeling of her soft chest was only a little distracting. It was the speed she rushed at him with that left Anon reeling.

Only a second into the hug, she lifted her head away from his shoulder, pouting. “Well? Aren’t you gonna hug me back? Squeeze reeeeeal tight!” Embracing her, Aya’s face melted in satisfaction. Taking a whiff of his hair, she was reminded of the comforting feeling from her dream that swept away any worries about barriers, anarchy or blonde man-stealers. “For today, I wanna spend the whole day touching each other, at all times! No letting go of me until time’s up, okay?” The tengu’s expression was dead serious: Answering “no” to her would have untold consequences.

“Alright, alright, we aren’t going to let go of each other. That means you can’t do anything sneaky either, okay?” Beaming, Aya agreed to Anon’s terms. Hopping off the man and grabbing his hand instead, the red-white tengu sat next to him at the table as they drank tea and enjoyed light snacks. Yet, something was missing. The snacks weren’t bad: She enjoyed something savory after eating all that dango. It was the tea! After enjoying her own brew for the past couple visits, the HSE standard wouldn’t cut it anymore.

Aya stood up, carrying Anon’s hand with her. “We’re going to the kitchen!”

“What for? Did you want something sweet today?”

“No, silly, your snacks were perfect as usual~. Remember telling me you didn’t know which herbs came from the mountain? Well, today you’re getting Aya Shameimaru’s crash course!” Right, that seemed to put a smile on his face! Pulling Anon off his pillow and into the kitchen, the tengu flitted around, smelling unlabeled bottles and inspecting various powders at breakneck speeds. “Now this one only grows in the spring, so you gotta collect a lot to last the year. Oh, and this one is really rare, but it’s gives you the perfect smoothness. Ah ha! This one gives off that nice aroma! You can tell when the tea’s sweet because it’ll always have this!” Bombarded with too much information in too few seconds, Aya dragged Anon to the living room as she quickly transcribed her lecture on a sheet of paper, then yanked him back into the kitchen. Aya’s visit was quickly becoming a contender for the most exercise he had while holding hands while standing.

After a whirlwind adventure in tea-making, Anon finally got a chance to sit down and enjoy the end result of his lesson. Aya gazed at him intensely. This was her favorite blend to drink during the fall: Sweet, spicy, and a little rich. It reminded her of watching the falling leaves dance around the setting sun as she reclined after a day’s work. When he sipped, Aya took her own sip. It was actually quite good, for a human.

“Mhm. This is great. So, how close to the real deal did I get?”

“Hmm. In an honest article on the Bunbunmaru, this would get an 8/10. Remarkable for a first try, but you still need a little bit of practice to really copy the tengu masters.” Counting herself as a master, of course. “Now then, how about a little bit of baking to round out your recipe book?”

Fearing for his limb, the human respectfully declined. “Sorry Aya, but not today. I think I need a bit more practice before moving onto the big dishes.”

“That’s fine. I wouldn’t mind cooking for you in the future.” Realizing what her words meant, the tengu’s face turned a shade redder, but her smile stuck firmly to her face.

(Part 30)

>>45021686

Yuugi was outwardly the picture of calm as she sat in a rather decent looking lobby, even if inside she was storming about learning the truth of the matter at least she wouldn't show it. The lobby of the HSE was almost empty, with only a few stray wolf tengu glaring at them but not daring to approach, cowards it seemed and not worth her notice even if they were those annoying tengu.

Suika was sitting across from her sipping from her gourd rather often as Yuugi nicked a barrel of the good stuff from the back after the kappa who sold the stuff bolted as she approached, it wasn't a problem since she left some pocket money at least.

Yuugi didn't mind the outfit the worried looking fox shikigami outside, whose first words were 'plan oni', guided her and Suika to, it was a little breezy but there was nothing weird about it. Well there was some magic on it, but it was weak enough to not even scratch at Yuugi's spirit so she just left it. Even if it was that bothersome women's little operation it was rude to just break the place and its stuff.

What the red horned oni did mind was how quickly everyone left the area around them, eh. All weaklings it seemed as there wasn't any oni here today, but it still was a bother to be treated like some common ruffian. Yuugi was an oni of class after all!

Suika had barely shut up this entire time, talking about how much fun she has here and that she's been wanting to come here with Yuugi. Suika even earned a quick fist to the face when she mentioned 'She never thought Yuugi of all people would want to learn about lewd things'

pulling the gourd away with a pop the pronghorned oni listened as a shaky voice came over one of those fancy voice transmission thingies 'I-Ibuki-sama party of two...". Suika popped up, "That's us! Hurry up, bet you can't get there first~!"

Yuugi burst forth with a wicked smile, finally a challenge to focus the whirling thoughts as she followed the little oni who burst through the barrier of the door leading to a hallway with a few unremarkable doors. It was clear the door with the sign, "Your personal experience awaits~" was the destination and after Suika and Yuugi smashed into the barrier protected door causing it to quiver the door seemed to open in a hurry on its own.

Feeling that old magic wash over her for a second Yuugi could hear Suika shout, "Anon-kun where are you?! I brought a friend this time!"

Yuugi found herself at a strange building, she was in a small wooden hallway with the overcast noontime sun streaming in, yet as she looked the windows she quickly realized that she wasn't in gensokyo proper. This was safely in a barrier of Yukari's making, it seemed to be a piecemeal representation of the village beyond the window, notably she could see a market and some housing that simply looked 'fake' if she had placed it as an afterthought.

She was sure that this space expanded a good ways beyond the confines of the fake village, likely even including other spaces like that fake shrine Suika told her about. the little oni wasted no time in strutting forth as she heard a familiar voice call out, "Suika? over first door on the left!"

Recognizing the voice Yuugi followed her small friend into a strange room, there were small tables with rather large cushions behind them all facing a point at the front of the room. The pillows were large enough to sit two with a bit of wiggling, but stranger was that at the front of the room there was a lectern in front of a large green board with writing on it, 'Welcome to your special lessons~'

It was just then that Yuugi realized the purpose of this building from the times way back when during the era when oni still lived on the surface, it was a school!


Suika's playful voice rang out through the quiet classroom as the open windows let in a breeze that pleasantly cooled the skin, even if that strange scent wafted through it was nothing to the oni of her caliber. Suika was quick to tease, "So that's why it took her so long to come on over, she's such a pure girl I didn't think it'd be good for her!"

A laugh punctuated by smacks that would've broken a man's bones sprang out from Suika like a crow's song as Yuugi gave her open palmed smacks to her exposed backs. Yuugi was more than a little embarrassed by this, how could she not be? Anon was a friend of hers and one of the rare humans that tried to out drink an oni back during the parties at the shrine, he could even get the whole group of them cracking up.

She didn't really know why he was here in this place, nor why he was pretending to be a teacher, but as he riffed jokes off of Suika and bantered with her she remembered why she enjoyed his company so much. Still, there was a reason she was here and she left her mind after Suika piped up, "So anyways Anon, that's why I brought her here! Little Yuugi-chan is here to learn about the birds and bees, its why I even got that busy body fox to fix us up with the 'private tutor Anon' setup!

That pink haired Satori didn't know what she was talking about!

She knew that psychic wouldn't lie to her but really now, did she really believe that? Its just preposterous no matter how you look at it, there was no way it was true... Its just... Yuugi would know much more about that than she would! Yuugi went out a lot and had lots of friends!

If that was true someone would've told her, I mean yeah just because the weaker oni were too scared and weak to challenge her on how right she was didn't mean that Satori was right about this! Just because Yuugi never had an oni man that could even hope to get close her didn't mean that she was ignorant!

No... No! Yuugi was right and she knew it!


Yuugi stomped around the luxurious room at the hotsprings she owned, the tatami mats buckled under her feet but she was careful enough to not break them. Yamame and her sisters were already charging her an arm and a leg for repairing her hotsprings the last time their big blowout party ruined the foundation of her inn.

She needed support in this, surely if a trusted friend were to come up with her to that stinky animal palace she could help lay the evidence on that dumb Satori! Yuugi gulped down a ball of nervousness as her mind drifted to the only oni she could rely on for this kind of chatter, though she didn't like the idea of it... She'd have to speak with her deceptively little friend, Suika...


Yuugi and Suika had just finished up a game of 'volley-rock' where both of them headbutt a rock the size of two tatami mats in the air at each other till one of them breaks the rock, it was a fun little bit of enjoyment and more than enough to wind down after a long day. The two apex oni laughed as the rock was smashed at the top of its arc by some small time oni sent flying in one of the many brawls that surrounded them in the main forum of the underworld.

Yuugi was a bit embarrassed to bring it up but she did want to do it right so she barked out a challenge with a loud and domineering voice, "Hey chibi, I got a good stock gathering dust at my place. Why don't we see who can tuck the most away?!"

Suika grinned after she gulped a large swig from her gourd, "Ehhh, why not? I could go for a drink! Besides, you know I'd never lose to you!"


Both Oni were feeling nice and loose now, the fiery oni sake went down like water but Yuugi knew that she needed to remain a bit sober so she didn't say anything she would regret. Three barrels was enough to get a bit of liquid courage in her and get her lips just loose enough, she had a hard time broaching the subject as she gulped another swig down.

Still, there was no way she'd let that smug satori who couldn't even take proper care of her pets dictate the truth! Yuugi just had to test the waters first... with bravado in her voice she asked as if she was commanding one of her youkai workers, "Suika!" the smaller oni turned her attention towards her friend letting out an 'eh?'. "You got a man yet? I'll have to test him if you do!"

Yuugi could barely hold back her embarrassment, she could've just asked normally after all. Yuugi was quite happy with how cool and collected she normally was, this was just sad. Suika looked at her for a second before she burst out laughing, she fell to her back still clutching the barrel that was big as she was tall as she practically rolled around on the floor.

Yuugi's face went red from the reaction and hoped that her reaction would be mistaken for the alcohol as she chugged down more and more in a hurry; mistakes be damned. Finally Suika recovered enough to let out between gasping laughter, "What you want to talk about love or something? Where did this come from, I never thought 'Yuugi the strong' would be interested in love?!" Yuugi's face reddened more as she continued, "Don't tell me that after millennia you finally wanna work up the nerve to ask a guy out!?"

Yuugi grabbed an empty barrel and smashed it over Suika's head to shut the loud little oni up, "You know that's not what I mean!! I just... err... I had a dispute to settle with some idiot and I wanted to get evidence and the word of a friend!"

Suika got up from her solo revelry as she brushed off the splinters from her hair, "Sorry, sorry~ It was just unexpected you know? Never figured you'd start asking about that sort of thing and all~!"

Yuugi considered whacking her over the head again but knew it would spiral into a fight, "Well..." Yuugi took another gulp to gather her thoughts, "Its just I wanted to know something important to snub that idiot pink haired Satori..."

Suika looked at her expectantly as she let her friend gather her strength, "I'll kill you if you laugh..."

With fake tone of calm and a mighty blush Yuugi could barely avoid stammering, "Where do babies come from?"

>>44995493
Refusing to be left behind, Toutetsu barged into the conversation: “Alright, that’s enough out of you two! I’m done being a spy. It doesn’t suit me, and this girl here will do a far better job of it, even if she’s saying some stupid things right now. Take this damn thing off me and give it to her already.”

Reclining in her throne, Okina’s presence began to manifest itself. The same power Aya felt during their duels. “My my, Toutetsu. Can’t you let a woman have fun in these stressful times?” Without moving a finger, magic swelled around the goddess and the taotie. Satono and Mai simply continued their routine as a myriad of colors, unseen in the natural world, refracted through the water. The lights enveloped Toutetsu completely while she stood there, bored and annoyed. In an instant, the energy vanished. No trace of it could be felt.

“Really? For a Hidden God, you really like showing off.” Turning towards a far-off door, Toutetsu simply slung her giant spork over her shoulders and sauntered off. “Welp, I gotta go help Ranni out with something. I guess I’ll see ‘ya later.” She only saw the back of her head, but Aya could imagine the biggest grin on the Gouyoku boss’ face.

Okina returned her attention to the tengu standing in front of her. Now that she was alone, Aya had to trust her instincts to carry her through the rest of her interview. “Don’t think that just because I removed Yuuma’s backdoor I would hand it over easily. Why should I allow a youkai like you to serve me?” Her eyes narrowed as she prepared to unravel her every word.

“The tengu are enemies to both of us: They took away everything I worked for and partnered with someone who’s doing terrible things. Since you’ve been interested in taking them down, wouldn’t having an inside man, motivated by revenge and betrayal be helpful?” Don’t think about Yukari. Focus on the tengu! “The rumors of the wind are our first real line of defense. Combined with your control over secrets, crippling the tengu would be child’s play!”

“Eh.” Okina was unimpressed, beginning to pet the distressed rat at her feet. “I can pluck rumors from the wind whenever I feel like it, assuming there’s anything worth plucking from it in the first place. Don’t bore me with the pitiful feats of a tengu. What are you, Aya Shameimaru, worth to me?” As the goddess’ golden eyes glistened, the tengu was forced to rack her brain for something easy to reveal, yet unique…

“I don’t need to tell you, I can show you!” Perking up, Aya pulled a collection of photos from her bag. Approaching the goddess’ throne, Aya leafed through to find what she was looking for: The red-white miko’s defeat.

“So? It’s no secret the Hakurei miko is easily tricked, especially now. Even her intuition cannot save her from her own mistakes anymore.” Taking the album herself, Okina sifted through a collection of miscellaneous photos until she came to blonde girl dressed in red and white. “And who’s this supposed to be?”

Aya looked closer at the photo before she could recognize the person’s face. “Oh, that’s Alice leaving the HSE.” Turning towards Okina’s face, the tengu noticed intrigue, wonder… desire?

The goddess muttered under her breath: “So she’s been hiding a figure like that under that dress, huh? And that contrast between her eyes and that dress… still so innocent” If the tengu’s ears weren’t deceiving her, the goddess’ breath had gotten heavy.
Slamming the album shut, Okina grasped the tengu by her shoulders and turned her around. Slipping one hand underneath her shirt, Aya immediately felt a rush of magic coursing through her back. It was similar to the power of the seasons, but controlled. She also felt a hand caress the back of her collarbone, causing the tengu to let out a squawk. “Hey! What was that for?!”

Ignoring her question, Okina pushed her back from the throne and began in a booming voice: “Aya Shameimaru, I have found your deeds worthy for entering my service. You will aid me in destroying the wretched tengu society and unraveling Yukari’s anomaly!” Aya could do without all of the “I”s and “Me”s, but her goal was accomplished. Yukari stole her life. With Okina on her back, Aya could at least take back her mountain.

“Thank you, Matarajin! Oh, before I go, when are you going to to watch me?”

“I will see everything you see, my servant.” That was expected, but maybe it didn’t have to be that much…

“If I give you more photos of girls in the Reimu get-up, can you watch me a little less?” The goddess shut her eyes and held her face in her hands. Damnit, did she offend her?

“...That will be determined.” Her mission accomplished, Aya left the Land of the Backdoors for the Youkai Mountains. It was time to rest. Finding a poor girl to exploit would have to wait for the morning.

(Part 28)

>>44984638
(4/4)
“Oh” she said, turning halfway to face the dog. “You brought a friend?”
“GOOOH!” I scream out staring directly into his eyes. The hound turns and begins trotting away, but I could see the Seija- readying a shot.
Like a frog I buck out my legs to propel myself in the air toward her. Without thinking I do the only thing I could manage, which was biting down on her collar with all I could muster. The Oni’s blood tasted of iron and some other deathly chemical I couldn’t describe.
“Ah, so fierce!” She cried out. “But you missed the jugular tiger.” Like throwing off a coat, she discards me to the ground.
“I really do like human bite marks.” She began, poking the wound with her nail. “Something about the mix of jagged and flat marks just looks more menacing.”
Seija grips my chin and jams her finger in it, pressing it against my tongue. “How’s it taste lover? A little oni blood is good for digestion you know?”
So, I was going to wake up to dysentery tomorrow, good to know. Ah hell, I’m going to die here and we both knew it.
“See, if you want to go for the throat like a proper killer you make like this…” Like a vampire she begins to bite my neck. I can feel each of her pointed teeth sinking slowly, consistently, into my flesh, but she stops before the job is done.
“Just kidding-“ She begins, before my bite interrupts her.
This time I tear like a dog, side-to-side, ripping and pulling at her flesh. The gummy tearing and the iron taste make me feel nauseous, but I don’t stop until I yank the chunk free of her neck and feel a sharp jab to my stomach, causing me to gulp down the chunk of flesh.
“Yoghgh!” Seija tries to speak while blood sprays from her neck. She tries her darndest to keep squeeze it shut with both hands to little effect.
In the meanwhile, I crawled away. On all fours like I was gecko sneaking across a bog. The scraps and abrasions on my skin are meaningless at this point.
“SoGHFH” I hear, being turned over once again by the Oni.
Looking at her neck, I could see dirt compacted where the wound was, acting as a poor man’s suture. She knew that would just get infected right? Well, I guess that doesn’t matter to a Youkai.
As she raises her arm to strike the final blow, I feel a calm take over me. The birds, the soft earth, the biting cold, and everything between was floating through me. I didn’t hate Seija, not that she wasn’t deserving of spite, I just didn’t feel capable of doing it anymore. There was my father, always serious looking and never raising his voice, there was ‘Youkai Grass Roots Movement’ member, who asked me for directions and was my first client, everyone who I knew and started trouble with was here with me. Tears run down my face.
Why did we fear death? Why do vengeful spirits, ghosts, Youkai, even Gods run from it? Did they not know about this serenity?
But my euphoria comes crashing down at a singular sight, a specter of red and white standing tall above us.
“Seija.” She speaks, but the words are without feeling.
“No, ygh.” I try to beg. Don’t take this from me, I made this bed, I’m not your burden or your curse, I’m just a corpse.
She points her stick at me and addresses Seija “If he dies, I’ll kill you.” Again, she speaks with no feeling, no emotion, no intention, or duality. A purely true statement with no symmetry.
I close my eyes. Later I open them and feel a cool breeze. Whether I am being carried to safety or across the Styx, I do not know.

>>44979508
Just shut the fuck up man. Mariri is atleast 8.5/10 without any filters.

>>44946650
>The essence of capitalism is to create desires within individuals in order to standardize them by creating a prototype universal being
1: That's not capitalism, that's corporatism.
2: Just... man, shut the fuck up. Get out of /jp/ and gb2 reddit. I hate massive corporations too but you are a huge fucking faggot, every single one of you "muh post-capitalist society" retards is a faggot

(1/2—p1)
—
Setbacks like these are why I have Toutetsu doing the job, not Mai or Satono. She may think it's a waste of her talents, but If any of my other loyal servants had been in her place there when Biten confronted her, I highly doubt things would've gone smoothly. Nevertheless, that's the strife I was hoping for—unconventional, true; fuck like a rabbit? Wow—and shall put to great use.

Smiling, I watch as the goat leaves, soon dwelling in my deep thoughts, frowning eyes on the board of pieces on the little table by my chair, all pawns frustratingly still in the same place...

… But that'll soon change. Yukari may think she's smart, putting me against a wall by forcing Toutetsu's hand, yet I wonder if she'll someday discover I was one step ahead of her. This confrontation will be the key factor in hurrying up the Moriya Shrine girls and, if everything goes well, getting help from the Myouren. Three months won't be time to think, not with their busy lives, and not for a single moment they'll wonder about my plans or how I'll be marching them through, their eyes foolishly locked on the prize: the human.

I grin, eyes narrowing with joy. So many puppets, so many people fighting for the same award, and, of course, the eventual free-for-all to see who gets to take the man home…

The Moriya; Toutetsu on my behalf, Yachie's on Yukari's—and perhaps the Keiga on none—; the Hakurei Miko; Yukari and her shikigami; the Myouren and even Eientei… Oh, this smile on my face—I fear it'll tear my beautiful complexion apart.

It's like a game unfolding right before my eyes: not only will I be able to destroy Yukari's pet project, but I'll also have a dozen little minions tearing at each other's throats like mongrels over a piece of rotten meat. They should feel honored to serve as playthings under my mighty thumb, happy I'm leading them into this sacred war—a war simply for the enjoyment of Gensokyo—but mainly mine~—; with the revitalization of alliances, the death of pacts, glory aplenty—all over primitive desire and lust.

A great rebalance, if you will.

I smile, inspired, and pat myself on the back. The boring times are finally coming to a close~
—
My encounter with Son Biten demanded change, which came in the form of altering the meet-up place: a small, covered hill far away from the Human Village, parallel to Youkai Mountain, perfectly out of tengu patrol routes. I lay on my spork, looking through the gap between foliage and counting stars when the sound of an actual gap fills the area—

"If you want to name a conspiring alliance, Chen, you've gotta be more assertive, violent—'Anon's Frens' simply won't cut!" The crow woman—fucking Aya Shameimaru, of all people—said, enthralled in a conversation I don't care about with the youngest 'member' of the team. I squat, throwing a raised brow at Ran. She sighs, avoiding eye contact, tired like a mother of two idiots. "Not only is it grammatically wrong, it lacks energy—can you imagine it in a headline? 'Anon's Frens GREAT STRUGGLE against the DISHONORABLE Yukari Yukumo—"

"Sounds amazing! Much better than being 'violent'!" Chen displayed an excited smile at the prospect, tails bobbing. Aya scowled, preparing a lengthy soup of words to pinpoint exactly why Chen, the child, was wrong.

… I did the only sensible thing and scooped a load of dirt with my spork, hurling it at her like a trebuchet. She barely dodged it, the dirtball ripping a tree in half in the background. Ran sighed. "W-What was that for?!" She yelled, pissed off.

I gave her a stare meant for prey. "Got a friggin' problem, reporter?" Even with the censored curse, she winced a bit. I turn to Ran. "You know that the last thing our operation needs is attention, right? Care to explain why she's here—?!"

Before I could finish, a small frame hit me, and I almost lost my balance. Chen's arms were as unexpected as they were warm. "Ayaya is a friend of Mr. Anon! She’ll help!"

"Aya—A-ya. Not Ayaya, please—"

"Shut up, Ayaya, I'm enjoying my hug!" I yell and, to the bakeneko's surprise, lift her into the air and hug back like trying to squish her guts out. She laughed, adorably applying the same strength back. "Whomp, what a strong kitten!" I put her down with a smile—her clothes all crumpled, smile wide and silly.

"Like Mr. Anon said… so fluffy~" she murmured in bliss before Ran—barely hiding her smile—started:

"We don't have much time, so I'll be brief." Oh, yeah, the hag doesn't last much. "Toutetsu, Aya will be our new spy—she's not against having a backdoor on her. Would you take her to the Land of the Backdoor, talk to Okina, and see if she's fit?" I analyze the tengu up and down, our 'first' impressions lingering with a bad aftertaste.

I shrug, deciding to apologize later. "No need for testing, I trust your judgment, Ranni," a spiky grin tears my face open. "Though, this means I'm ultimately done with spy work…"

Keh-heh, fucking finally—I've been dying to dismantle the rape brothel with my own teeth.

"Yeah, so then I said that I wrecked that youkai so hard it couldn't fly, and she bought it! I'm telling you man, that redheaded waitress is into me! I'm gonna-"
"Yasu, shut up, there's another one!" You lean forward, scrutinizing the 'human' walking through town with a silly grin on her face. Ill-fitting jinbei with weird bulges at the back, a hood, weird hair, red eyes, strange gait... attractive... Yasu leans forward, fingers working as he sketchs. "Seriously, white and blue hair... who does she think she's fooling? And I'm pretty sure I see horns..."
"So is she...?"
"She is," you confirm."Heading right to the brothel." Your own fingers work as you write down every detail you can glean off of her, and not forgetting to differentiate truth from your own speculation. You're not making that mistake, not after Shigeki tore a strip from your hide over it...
"So, uh, are we going to do anything about it, Hiro?" Yasu says, turning to you nervously. You raise a brow in response.
"Do what about what?" Sometimes, you swear this dumbass doesn't have his head screwed on straight.
"Stop the youkai? Do something about her destination?" You pause at that, before shaking your head regretfully.
"She's... not doing anything wrong. Not harming a villager or causing problems for villagers." You can't help but wince, and cut Yasu off before he can speak. "As for the destination... I wish. Sure, the youkai have been more... placid... then usual, but we can't do anything about it. Men can't even enter that building." You'd know, you tried. "Trust me, I wish we could go rescue that poor bastard, but there's more then the Watch can handle keeping him there." Experience in exterminating low level, mostly feral, youkai and fairies and dealing with drunks and lowlives doesn't stretch that far.
Yasu looks mutinous, and you smile fondly at the younger man. "But we should still...," he breaks off with a huff, and you pat his shoulder sympathetically.
"It's frustrating," by all the Kami you know about, it is, "But all we can do is... keep watch. Keep watch, and not forget about him. He might not have been born here, but he's one of us as far as I'm concerned. If nothing else, someone will probably interested in what we've gathered by the time this is all said and done." You pause, collecting your thoughts. "We're not just letting this lie."
You lean back, grumbling as the youkai, probably some kind of bird youkai, enters the obscene place. You pause, and write down that her hood has another odd bulge at the back. Yasu nods, still obviously unhappy. "Maybe we could get a spy in there, a woman willing to report back..." You snort, shaking your head.
"Nobu tried asking his wife to do that, you know." You smile slightly at his curious expression.
"Really? How'd you know, how did it go?" Your smile grows.
"Well, he didn't tell me, but... whole neighbourhood could hear his wife yelling at him for it." Hah. Classic.
An idea strikes you... perhaps a prayer at the mountain shrine would be warranted, maybe they could help... Yasu looks disappointed, but soon bounces back with a smile. "I got a question!" Of course he does, you smile indulgently. "What kind of name is Anon, anyway?"
Oh boy. At least your wife is making chicken hotpot tonight... your favorite.

>>44902191
>WHAT ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID THIS SHIT IS JUST BORUTO NOTHING MATTERS IT ISN'T CANON
>Okay so who cares if it is canon it's just a fragment where none of the club members act like themselves so it isn't really canon and the kids are so boring!!11!!
>Okay so it doesn't matter if the club members act like themselves my ship didn't win so it's not canon and Satoko is a heckin lesbian queen so she would never marry a man and have a kid!
>Okay so what if Sakiko is really Satoko's kid that doesn't Mean Kisaku isn't the father shut the fuck up now!
>Okay so who cares if the character bios confirms Kisaku isn't the father the story hasn't said it yet so it isn't canon!
>Are you fucking stupid Keiichi can't be the killer that makes no sense and of course he isn't the father of Sakiko MEDS NOW
>Okay just because Kisaku suddenly died instead of Keiichi when Rika warns him doesn't mean he's the killer and it doesn't prove that Sakiko is his daughter even though Sakiko and Keitarou take up the majority of the new cast screentime together it doesn't mean anything!
>Okay so what if Satoko smilied and didn't care that Kisaku was killed it doesn't mean she doesn't love him and that she's in love with keiichi!!!
>Okay so Keiichi is most likely the culprit I still don't see how that proves sakiko is his daughter?
(YOU ARE HERE)
>Okay so what if Satoko and Keiichi planned to murder Kisaku after Rika warned them that doesn't mean Sakiko is their daughter and that they love each other!!!
>Okay so what if Satoko and Keiichi told each other they loved each other and kissed maybe they're tricking one another to get what they want and that doesn't mean Sakiko is his daughter!!!!
>SO WHAT IF KEIICHI TOLD KEITAROU SAKIKO WAS HIS SISTER THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE CAME INSIDE SATOKO SATOKEI LOST IT FUCKING LOST
>SO FUCKING WHAT IF KEIICHI AND SATOKO ARE MADLY IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER AND STARTED THESE SERIES OF MURDERS TO FINALLY BE WITH EACH OTHER THEIR JUST REALLY REALLY GOOD FRIENDS HAVE KIDS TOGETHER SATOKEI LOST SHUT UP UP UP U-ACKKKKK

*Sippppppp* just a few more week bros

>>44918170
(3/3)

I checked my watch again, since the rhythmic sound of sawing through wood just stopped it probably meant we’d just barely make it with time to spar, luckily for us, next course was a picnic which Anon had prepared the day before, otherwise he’d need another period to get things ready in the kitchen.

I’d offered all sorts of alternatives to the man cooking his own meals, even had a couple chef teams on call for the second Yukari gave approval. In the end, it was Anon’s decision to keep cooking all on his own, seriously, this guy does the most needless things, but I guess it’s all he has power over in this situation.

“It’s almost ready.” I tell him, placing the trash bucket beside him on the veranda.

“Thanks for the help and for this.” He said, peeling a bandage off and placing it in the bucket. “Why don’t you have a seat?” He asked, patting the space next to him on the mat. Ah, why not, nothing I can do but wait anyway. I take the seat beside him.

“It’s really humbling, how good you are at this.” He said aloud, gazing out at the fake skyline.

“Beg you pardon?”

“I spent most of my life repairing and taking care of a shrine just like this one, cleaning-” he stops, shakes his head “-all kind of messes, but you make it look easy.”

“It’s my job.” I tell him, with just a hint of pride.

“That doesn’t mean you have to be good at it. If it were me, I would have just kept scrubbing that floor until the wood came right off, you had the sense to just cut the problem out and the leadership to carry out your work.” He smiled, pointing back toward the house. “They trust you.”

I didn’t know what to say. Nobody in this sorted business had anything good to tell me: “low-life”, “scalp”, “wannabe Kappa”, is all they called me. And this person, the one whom I’m guaranteeing is going to jump right back into the fire as soon as possible is telling me things like this.

Were humans always like this?

I check the seals on my gasmask just to be sure and finding them adequate, pull aside the Tanuki. “Kuma, stop the fumigation. Tell Ran we need another rest period for things to get up to snuff. We may have to shut down for the whole day.” She nodded and was off.

“Thank you.” He spoke.

“Don’t thank me, saw dust is a health hazard.” I tell him.

Really, such needless things.

I appreciate hard-working, camo-wearing girls the most

"It's not a concern, keep observing and report any changes." The slamming of a door punctuated the end of her statement.

Matara Okina lorded from her mobile throne in her Land of the Back Door. One of the great Sages of Gensokyo, now reclining back pinching the bridge of her nose. "What is that accursed woman thinking…" Okina mused to herself, idly playing with a wooden playing piece carved and painted in the likeness of the Youkai of Boundaries. Her eyes scanned over a map of Gensokyo and the territories of several factions before setting the piece back onto the village, right next to one in the likeness of a kitsune and a plain looking man.

While not officially called an "Incident" it would soon grow into one. At first it started as a way to get back at Yukari and knock her off her high horse, but now became more than that… much more. Thanks to Mai and Satono—her lovely Douji—she's aware of the sudden increase in visitations to Eientei. Worse still, the reports from the Zashiki-warashi say there's a boom of simultaneous pregnancies in the Village, some of whom are married women. Oh the delicious scandals unfolding! Resting her cheek in her hand, a crude smile formed on her lips: "I'll have to hand it to her for upping the ante." The army of half youkai about to be born is a big problem, but the faces Yukari will make when this blows back into her face will be worth all the trouble.

No plan ever survives first contact with the enemy and Toutetsu alone is no longer enough to bring this "Hakurei Shrine Experience" down. Okina was still soured about her failure keeping Yukari distracted—though in hindsight—tea over a game of Mahjong wasn't the most intellectually stimulating to keep her busy. Nevertheless—looking over the menagerie of pieces in this great game Okina grimaced at the lack of pawns on her side. When going against another Sage there's no room for error, and merely her Douji and Toutetsu made up her ranks. Ran would have been nice to have as a strong pawn on the inside, but Toutetsu spoke of some sort of blackmail preventing the Shikigami from aiding in any meaningful capacity. She's almost certain Yukari was leveraging Ran's own Shikigami against her. Could she can get Toutetsu to bring the bakeneko here for safekeeping and 'cut the leash' so to speak? As for Anon… he's no good as a pawn but rather bait. Yukari's fixation on him will be a lovely weakness to exploit. Really? What's so good about this human? Okina remained puzzled to that end.

It was time to pull in some favors. Moriya Shrine was the most likely candidate as they are the only faction with playing power untainted by Yukari's scheme. Her own reservations aside for their disruptions to Gensokyo's balance, the leverage they could provide was insurmountable. Toutetsu vouched for Yasaka Kanako's strength from their fight during the Black Water Incident, and as for the Moriya Goddess herself: Okina has no doubts to the power of one of the Old Gods. The Green Miko on the otherhand is the weakest link of the trio and the most susceptible to Yukari's "antlion trap." Powerful allies for sure, but can she coax them into an alliance of convenience?

Before she knew it the answer clicked into place. A common thread amidst all of this is Anon, and it goes without saying that removing him from the equation would crumble Yukari's playpen like a house of cards. From the rumors she's heard the Shrine had an interest in Anon as a potential marriage candidate after his original marriage fell apart. In that case, their interests align for the time being. Best of all, if she plays her cards right then Moriya owes her a favor. Matara Okina you've done it again! Perhaps when this is all over she can find out what it is about Anon that had Yukari act out like this.

Okina wasted no time in her preparation and stuffed the rolled message into an old sake bottle leftover from the last 'Girls Night'. Kanako should recognize this brand—and she should after she brought it from her personal collection. A small door opened to her side and the bottle was unceremoniously tossed through Sanae's back-door. Only briefly hearing a smash and a surprised shriek before it closed. Bringing another door into view, Okina flung it open to reveal a startled Satono. "Oh Satono-chan~! I need you to do a little something for me~. Make your way to the Moriya Shrine and get an answer from them, then prepare arrangements to bring them here, you got that?" A cheery voice chimed back. The door flicked shut and Okina was left with her thoughts again. If it comes down to it then she'll make her appearance in the Front-facing World personally. "Now then. Your move Yukari-chan."

"Well, you don't have to make a decision right now." Tenshi said, rubbing her forehead. "It's a complicated situation. Best to sleep on it, perhaps." I opened my mouth. "No, I don't want to know who you'll be sleeping with." I closed my mouth again.
"Wait." Marisa said, slamming her hands on the table. "What?" She looked at me, then turned and looked very closely at Tenshi. "Who's he sleeping with?" She looked at Reimu. "You?" Suddenly, I realised that Marisa had no idea about my...spider situation. Reimu raised her hands and shook her head. "Then - Who?" She was starting to look a little desperate now. "C'mon, don't leave me out of this. He's supposed to be my client. Romantic fulfilment? All that?" The blonde girl looked seconds from jumping across the table. "Who was it? Narumi? Patchouli? Don't tell me it was Junko. Don't leave me in the dark like this, man!"

"Marisa, leave him alone." Reimu tiredly said, slapping Marisa's hands away, which had been starting to edge across the table toward me. "If he doesn't want to tell you, he doesn't have to." I found that to be a very big-sisterly response, which made me feel just a little warm inside.

"But - But-" Marisa was at a loss for words, and Tenshi finally rolled her eyes.

"Alright, let's leave it there for now. Back here in a day or two? Good? Good." Tenshi got to her feet, wrapped an arm around Marisa's neck, and dragged her from the chair. "Come on, you. Maybe I'll give you a hint if I feel like it." Marisa's complaints and pleas for answers faded as Tenshi dragged her through the flap, pausing to wave goodbye to us.

Reimu and I looked at each other. Were they-? "No." Reimu said bluntly. "Definitely not. Even Marisa has better taste than a washed-up, delinquent former celestial." I remarked that Reimu really should try to be nicer to Tenshi. "Well, maybe you should try to make your precious Kurodani be nicer to me." I raised an eyebrow. "Shut up. I'm plenty nice." I rolled my eyes and fished around for money, only to remember that my money was in my other trousers. Which were discarded somewhere in Yamame's bedroom. With a lot of tears in them. Reimu looked at me, then rolled her eyes. "Oh, fine. You're so lucky you're endearing." That was a nice compliment, even if I wasn't certain it was meant to be taken as one. She fished around in her sleeve, then withdrew enough money to pay the bill. I promised I would get it next time, though the glint in Reimu's eye did concern me slightly when I said that.

We left the shop, and I wondered where I should go now. Back to the Shrine? The dojo? Yamame's home? "I can tell where you want to go, so let's get going before I die of old age." Reimu told me. "But seriously, make sure you're drinking enough water." How did she know that Tenshi had said that to me, too? "Marisa probably can't tell, but I'm just as sensitive to spiritual changes as Tenshi is." I probably blushed from that. "Look, just...Oh, I don't know." She began leading me in the direction of the caves, and before long, we were walking through the darkness, a ball of light lazily floating ahead of us which Reimu had thrown as soon as I had felt the shakes starting to come on. "Seems like everyone's got things going on these days. Kasen's busy trying not to throw herself off a cliff, Ibaraki-douji's arm is trying to reinvent herself, you're getting sucked dry by a spider, whatever's going on with Tenshi and Marisa..." I coughed somewhat violently as I began to see the soft glow of light in Yamame's home. "Oh." Reimu giggled lightly, patting me on the back. "I just...kind of miss the old days. Things seemed much less complicated." The past generally seemed that way, I said. When I thought back to when I'd first met Marisa, everything had seemed simple, but I was definitely happier now. "Yeah. I guess you're right." Reimu said, staring off into the darkness.

Once we were stood outside the door, Reimu turned to face me properly. "I'll come by in a day or so, whenever those two get around to meeting again." She rapped on the door. Within moments, it was flung open and there Yamame stood, looking like she'd been lifting heavy things around because she was sweating. "Just returning my brother, Kurodani." Reimu stepped back. "I'll see you later." She told me, eyeing Yamame who was breathing somewhat heavily. With a wave, she turned and took to the air, floating back down the tunnel.

"You." I turned to look at Yamame, who's eyes had started to become wildly unfocused. "Inside, now." She grabbed me by the coat, hauled me through the door, and all but threw me at her bedroom. "Have you ever heard of coffee?" She asked me, looking like her already abnormally high energy reserves had somehow shot even higher as she pushed me through the door. "I think I've developed a taste for it!"

I thought I was about to develop a taste for something else entirely.