/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Patchouli drained her tea cup and stood. "Thank you for your hospitality, Yamame. And for the answers to my questions." She patted her bag, containing the new additions to the ritual.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, I forgot to actually get you the silk." Yamame rose from the chair too, heading over to the workshop part of her home. "No, no, no...Where are- Ah, here we are." Yamame raised her hand, containing a small spool of white thread. "I hope that this is enough for your needs."

Patchouli took the offered thread and delicately slid it into her bag. "I'm sure it will be." She nodded, then headed for the door. "Once again, thank you. This is more important than you know." She couldn't explain any further, but Yamame seemed to understand the need for restraint.

"That's okay. Perhaps I'll learn more in the future." Yamame accompanied Patchouli to the door. "I'll have to head back out to the festival in the Human Village soon, but I'll tidy up in here first. Can you find your way back?" Patchouli squinted through the column of light in front of her and into the darkness of the caves. Undoubtedly there would be someone out there who could guide her, but...

"Where does this come out?" Patchouli asked, pointing up at the hole in the roof of the cave. "I can fly."

"Ah, it's, er...Up on the mountain. Shouldn't cause any problems, but the tengu like to get all territorial about it from time to time and say that they own the whole mountain, so..." The tengu were certainly annoying creatures. Patchouli had plenty of aggravating encounters with Shameimaru to attest to that. "Well, good luck with your project. I - Or one of my family members - Will see you soon, I'm sure." Yamame gave one of those motherly smiles, then closed the door as Patchouli took to the air.

Patchouli burst out into the cold air and took a moment to orient herself. Yes, she was somewhere on the mountain, but she could see the Human Village in the distance, so she already had some vague idea of where she was. She did need a few more ingredients, though. Fortunately, none of them were particularly strenuous. Patchouli thought for a moment, then pulled Sekai's book out. The child was in a pensive mood, it seemed. Was, as in she was going off of the conversation she had seen while going through their fates. Patchouli had to remind herself that Sekai wasn't actually communicating in real time through the book. "Well, brat? Any wisdom to share with me?" Patchouli muttered to herself.


It's funny. So, Yamame Kurodani is what a mother should be like. I'm not trying to upset you, Mother, but I would love to have a mother like that. I look at them - At Anon Hakurei and Yukari Yakumo, and I just...I can't see it. Even if it wasn't for all the horribleness of the HSE, I just can't see a love like what Yamame has for her husband ever blossoming between them.


"It sounds like you could use a hug, but you're not getting one from me." Patchouli whispered. She squeezed her eyes shut. Just get Sekai out of the HSE. Everything else could come after. "And - No, I somewhat doubt Yukari Yakumo is capable of something like that." Baseless speculation was pointless, but Patchouli doubted that Yukari still remembered what true, unadulterated love was. "Time's wasting." She sighed. That was the thing about being alive. Especially as a youkai. Yukari Yakumo was old - Older than Patchouli by many hundreds of years, and as young as Patchouli was in comparison, she knew that some emotions became harder to hold onto without constant reminders. Yamame Kurodani would likely never forget, and she had enough family and reminders around her to always remember the love she felt. Yukari Yakumo, on the other hand, kept everything aloof and at arm's length. Perhaps she had been hurt at some point in the past. It wasn't Patchouli's concern. But it was very unlikely that she could be the mother any child needed, let alone the mother that Hata no Sekai needed.

Patchouli shook her head and took off. Ingredients needed to be collected, and she wanted to get back to the Mansion before sundown.

Much to her pleasure, the rest of the things she had on her list came easily. At one point, she had to frighten off a cocky fairy, but she made good time, and just as the shadows began to lengthen, she alighted at the gate of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Meiling was leaning against the brick wall, her head tapping against the bricks every few seconds. A single coin lay in her hand, which she was idly rolling across her knuckles as she stared off into the snow. She looked pensive, too. Everyone, it seemed, was deep in thought these days. "Meiling." Patchouli sharply called.

Unlike usual, Meiling didn't startle. She looked over, then flipped the coin into the air, catching it in her other hand. "Lady Patchouli, you're back." The gatekeeper looked up at the sky. "And just before sundown."

Is Yammy a good seamstress?