/jp/ - Otaku Culture

"I—I left my Shanghai running!" blurted the familiar blonde-blue blur. Another day Alice worked up the nerve, another day Alice failed to see Anon. It was the furthest Alice got so far, she was only five turns from being called! This time however, her excuse wasn't strictly a lie for she forgot something in her rush to flee the scrutinizing fox's gaze. A small pair of eyes watched as the afterimage faded from view. Their owner hovered above a Tengu's service desk, still wearing the mandated miniature miko outfit. Shanghai waited for her master to return. And waited. More numbers were called inching closer to the doll magician's supposed turn, yet she never returned.

A few of the Tengu and Yamawaro staff huddled around the nervous doll, "Do we put it in lost in found or?"—"Is it alive? Maybe it'll go home."—"It's wearing a uniform so technically it's a guest, and she's already paid for…"—"Ran-dono doesn't look like she cares what we do with it."—"Can you really blame her?"—"Ah! Her owner left her ticket behind, let's let her in, maybe it'll be a nice break for him."—"You have a point. She can't do any worse than some of the… rougher girls…"

"XXX please advance at your leisure." A bored voice announced.

"She's not even trying to put up a face anymore—wait that's her number! Just shove her on through!" Before she could react she was already being urged through by a Kappa. "In you go~ Enjoy your stay!"

Shanghai was now lost. Her master seemingly abandoned her and left her to survive in an unknown temporally isolated environment. She couldn't feel the threads that bound her anymore as if the walls conspired to sever anything she could pull herself to safety. The only familiarity was the mockery of the Shrine she knew, but even then it was still wrong. Panic set in. The doll tried to bang on the door in vain, but her tiny thumps would be heard by none. Danmaku? No, the ball of energy was siphoned off as quickly as she could manifest it.

"Welcome home Dear, I'll have tea ready soon," a gentle voice called from within. Shanghai flew towards it like a moth to flame. She didn't care if it could be a trap; she didn't want to be alone and scared anymore.

Anon came out with a tea set for two. The confusion on his face only lasted for a moment before being replaced by pain, then surprise as a tiny Shanghai doll flew into his gut at a blinding speed. With a practiced grace and handling of the plate, none of the tea spilled, but his other hand felt something small almost lodged in his stomach. "A doll?" he said, looking around for Alice who it belonged to.

Shanghai clung to his robes as Anon dealt with the situation. With tea safely on the table and himself in a chair he laid a big gentle hand on the frightened doll. "It's okay, you're safe. I'm not going to hurt you," he cooed.

After some time she felt it was safe enough to let go and open her eyes. A familiar face!… but, a despair hidden deep within his dulled eyes that was magnitudes greater than when Alice was in her occasional slumps over leaving Makai. If she were trapped in a box like this then maybe she too would crack like this. "Would you like some tea? It may be a bit bitter for you, I thought you might be fond of sweets," he said. His voice snapped the doll from her stupor, even perking her up at the mention of treats.

She puttered about the table, dumping block after block of sugar into the imposingly large cup. Each sliding in with a satisfying sploosh. Dipping her head into the cup like a deer at the river, she sipped at the reddish liquid. Satisfactory. Her face must've betrayed her feelings if Anon's faint smile was anything to go by. "So, you're Horai right?"

How dare! Shanghai sat with crossed arms, pouting as hard as she could to get the point across. "I'm sorry, sorry. Shanghai then. It's hard to tell without your normal outfit. She made you all look the sa—sorry. That was rude of me." Forgiven.

The two drank their tea in silence, Shanghai's cup hardly diminishing. The tea cakes were scrumptious, she had to get her fill; Alice wasn't around to say no and she wouldn't let this chance to indulge slip by. Alice… Her thoughts always cycled back to her master. Sweets, tea, and pleasant talk couldn't suppress the building anxiety for much longer. She wanted out. She had to get out. Not just because of Alice but the oppressive box was getting to her head too. "You want to go home, don't you… Me too."

Shanghai stopped in her tracks, anxiety replaced with guilt. She wanted to go home, and so did he; but, only one of them had the option. Memories of what those rude girls said came back, he puts up with people worse than just a lost doll every single day. Maybe she could stay a while longer, for his sake. She flew up to his shoulder, nestling in his neck. They would remain that way until her time was up.

"Later De—Shangai. Maybe some day we'll have tea again."

Ditching her outfit the doll flew home with purpose, now to how to convey this to Alice?