/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44838572

Hijiri was rather surprised by how little convincing it took most of her youkai disciples to attend this event. Most were onboard before she even announced that she believed that they needed to learn from the kind soul that resided in that hell.

She was rather annoyed that some of her faithful joked that the meditations and prayers they could do there would send them straight to heaven.

She was outright angered that some of them, namely a certain Ghost and Chimera, seemed to have some kind of first hand knowledge of the on goings of the establishment and joked with the others about it.

Still she saw that most of them hid their nervousness behind their jokes and some outright were nervous about it. Good, she thought, this was training to learn from a human; those that she knew most of them looked down on to a degree, to become better than they were now.

She'd broker no dissent about their purpose even as they teased each other about like a bunch of juveniles. Eventually they settled seeing Byakuren's seriousness, or at least pretended too, either one was acceptable for now. Besides, as long as they understood then should it come down to it they'd be even more committed than they were at their jokes if they were to leave try to leave with him.


The appointment day came at last, all but the two problem children were jovial enough to joke around with the other girls being silent in their nervousness. It was a good thing since they weren't going to play, they were going to learn. Hijiri just hoped that that man was all that he was cracked up to be otherwise she'd feel like a fool for trusting anything from that elaborate Tengu lie they called a newspaper.

They met the Shikigami at their allotted time after coming in deep and concealing cloaks, should it all pan out than next time they came here they'd be proud and loud as they claimed him as a disciple. Not even Yukari could stop them if they so wished, not without causing a major incident revolving around the many faithful in the village she commanded.

Still, despite playing the part of the thief in coming in under the cover of dark and in disguise she couldn't help but feel irked at the kitsune's attitude towards them. Outwardly there was nothing wrong with her upbeat demeanor and cheery introduction, but Hijiri was no fool and she could see the disgust she regarded them with. The comment of how, 'even the faithful need reprieve from the world' was clearly meant to rub them the wrong way...

She didn't bring it up however, it was beneath her to fall for the provocations of one blinded by the world as the kitsune was after all. As the group holding that silver ticket she and her followers were let through the games and other amusements rather quickly, much to the dismay of some of the more immature girls. It didn't bother her though, since now that they were dressed and bathed in the garments provided they were free to conduct their business that they came here for.


They walked through the large sliding doors and what she felt was a rather potent barrier into a large and expansive area. The shrine she knew from her sporadic business with the Hakurei miko was recreated here and for the first time she realized just the kind of hell this man was trapped in.

As if planned a subtle change overcame some of the more weakwilled of her disciples, a pungent and wholesome smell of food overcame the group setting them at a strange sort of ease. It would've affected her too if not for her sensing something else underneath it, a form of trickery manifested in the air itself. Unlike the wholesome scent of food it was a sweetened scent that lingered on the brain like an intoxicating beverage.

It was just a trial for herself and the others, like any other. She knew she could resist, though she was worried about some of her disciples they seemed to be holding up well, they could watch after each other without her micromanaging them. Byakuren was satisfied as she walked up to the mock-up of the shrine itself, she noted that outside the veranda there was a large blanket and almost equally long table set up, much like the one she knew from the parties she attended there all those years ago.

A soothing and manly voice rang out from the interior of the shrine that strangely rubbed off on her mind like warm thick wax, "Welcome home dears, I hope you don't mind waiting a few moments more. The food is almost ready and the tea will be served shortly!"

Hijiri called out, to the voice with a simple affirmation as it would be rude not too. She turned to her cohorts to command them to not impose more than necessary but apparently, and much to her dismay they seemed to be entranced despite their training. Even the loudmouthed girls in their unbuddhist like outfits seemed to grin as they sat expectantly at the ornate table.

She'd have to make sure to have a talk with them later...