/jp/ - Otaku Culture

-Chapter 2: Myouren Temple, Hakurei Shrine, Okina, & HSE-

Beneath the Myouren temple, in the subterranean ritual chamber slash laboratory constructed by Byakuren sat Byakuren, Mamizou, and Shou, seated around the central ritual room’s circular table and cast in the multi-colored light of the room's magical circuits, hand-carved into the wall by Byakuren.

“So onto the next matter,” Byakuren said, her autonomous scroll shifting to the next item on the list. ”The medical support promised by Eientei, and the outside world equipment from Nue?”

“Already done, my Tanuki have unpacked it and are working on preparations for the evacuation right now,” Mamizous said blowing smoke out of her pipe, which took on the forms of the subject matter at hand, Nue, the Inaba, Eirin, and some medical machines

“And Nue herself?” Shou asked, wondering where one-third of the Myouren temple's bulwark had gone.

“Doing something, with the Amanojaku, Seija, and Goro, I don’t know what it is exactly, but Okina set them up to it and it doesn’t seem to be to Yukari’s advantage.” Waving the smoke away from the table with one hand she dismissed the matter. “I suppose it could be worse, but we should still be able to keep up the wards and protect from any attacks here.”

Byakuren shook her head in affirmation. “Hmm, but I wonder where Tewi is, nobody's seen her since this incident started.” Although not a part of the temple and a recluse of the bamboo forest, the white hare of Inaba, the jade rabbit who needed no introduction still had toes to Buddhist and Shinto deities, even being a deity in her own sort of way, and Byakuren had been continually stumped by her lack of appearance.

“Last time I checked, she was in the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. She and that Junko woman struck up a friendship as of late, or maybe they were already on friendly terms and only recently started hanging out so openly.

“Wouldn't be surprised if she’s planning something though, that rabbit's trickery.”
Byakuren could only nod to Mamizou’s words. “Shou,” Byakuren said, nodding to the Myouren temple’s idol. “You are prepared for the interception of Tenma, correct?”

“Yes, ma’am. Chisazu, Nazrin, and Aya have already finished with working on the diversion, I’m ready to move out at any moment.”
“And me and my Tanuki are ready to make our move.” Evacuating the village had proven a troublesome problem Mamziou helped solved, her spying on the Hakurei Shrine Experience as well as the village on a whole, alongside the manpower of the Tanuki and some fairies ‘volunteered’ by Narumi had proven suitable enough for this endeavor.

Byakuren wished they could have relied on Okina’s power to evacuate and the Myouren temple to fight, but in the end, the Myouren temple was far more useful as a fortified location and if Shou was going to fight the Tenma, then the rest would need to stay to help Byakuren defend it.

“Wish I could’ve done more to help you hun, but ya’know.” Mamizou tapped her pipe, she had her own Youkai to look after and Byakuren didn’t fault her for trying to protect them in her own way.

“Regardless, you’ve all been a great help in these trying times.” Byakuren said nodding to Mamizou’s words. “If she does appear I can't imagine her working with Yukari, she has her own ends anyways so if she does appear it'll probably just be to help us to her benefit.” Byakuren couldn't even imagine Tewi helping Yukari if she was to win, even if the alliance against Yukari lost somehow she doubted Tewi would help her, if anything that assured Tewi would stand against her.
“Shou, I’ll raise the wards the second you exit, are you ready.”

“Yes, ma’am, yes I am.” Shou gave Byakuren a salute as she stood, her body tensed up like a spring and readying to leave for the Moyria temple.
“Don’tcha worry, me and your big sisters will take care of the rest here, give those crow hell.” Mamizou threw a hand in the air, singing to Shou as she left the conference room.

“Me too Shou, you have our utmost confidence.” Byakuren nodded and Shou left the room entering the back door to Moriya shrine.

--
Reimu sat atop the stone steps to the Hakurei Shrine, her purification rod lying in her lap as she meditated.

Up the steps walked her friend, Alice Martigold, a swarm of dolls surrounding her, one, in particular, taking on the appearance of a mutual magician friend of hers.
Behind her leaning against one of the pillars of the Torii gate, Hana perked up, walking quickly to where Marisa and Alice had arrived.
Almost skipping as Alice waved to her.

“Hey Reimu, hey Hana.” Marisa said, waving the doll’s arm.
“Y-yeah, it's good to see you two again.”

“Agreed, it's good to see you two are well, that Yukari has been keeping well away I hope.”