/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Inside was a hazy, smoke-filled den. All of the shutters were closed, and the only light came from candles that lit the room with dim, flickering light. There were plenty of quiet murmurs, and I could see a lot of figures scattered around the place. In one corner, I could see three crow tengu, gathered around a game of hanafuda. Over there, four white wolf tengu playing cee-lo. There was even a group of yamawaro in the corner, gathered around a board for some game I didn't recognize. But, to my concern, I saw a snake. A large snake, holding a game piece in its mouth for whatever game it was playing. Clearly, it was a youkai too.

Kisami moved into the place without any hesitation, so I decided that I should probably do as she did and not draw attention to the fact that I was a human. It was possible that I could trick them into thinking that I was a youkai. She was heading for someone who was sat near the back of the place, their face in shadow. I could see the pipe in their hand, the embers glowing slightly as they brought it to their mouth for a pull. "Oh-ho?" She murmured, raising her head. I could still only see the silhouette vaguely in the shadow. "Looks like we have a newcomer." She raised the pipe to her lips and in the glow of the embers, I could just about make out her ruby-coloured eyes, as well as the hair that hung over the right eye. "Welcome, esteemed guest, to this gathering place of ladies and gentlemen. The Komakusa gambling den." She stood as she talked, then finished with a deep bow. It brought her into the candlelight, by which I could see that her hair was a deep purple tied into a large ponytail with a yellow tie, and she wore robes that had elaborate patterns on them along with a multi-layered skirt in deep purple. She seemed like a high-class sort of person, like a high-ranking courtesan. Clumsily, I introduced myself, trying to make it seem cool and effortless, the way I imagined a youkai would be. This, I assumed, was Madame Komakusa.

She watched me for a moment, then turned to Kisami. "And - Miss Kurodani. It's been quite some time, hasn't it?" Kisami laughed awkwardly and scratched her head. Madame Komakusa watched her curiously, then took another drag of her pipe, blowing the smoke out over us.

"Er, yeah...Been busy, you know?" Kisami actually looked a little uncomfortable, which was an expression I hadn't seen on her face much. "Listen, I'd love to stick around, but I'm actually just as busy now. Do you know if that goddess is around?"

"I presume you are speaking of Lady Tamatsukuri?" Madame Komakusa replied, taking another drag of her pipe. "I believe that she is in the mines right now, if I remember rightly. But, Miss Kurodani, you know that you cannot take him in with you." She leaned in toward me, locking the one eye I could see on mine. "I know not why you've decided to come all the way here, but even in disguise, a human should not be at this particular gambling den." She whispered very quietly, so that none of the other patrons could hear. "Go to Geidontei, since I set up there too." I slowly nodded, but said that I wasn't looking for gambling. "My, oh my...What is it you two are up to, hmm?"

"Er, can I tell you later?" Kisami asked, but she clearly wasn't looking to answer. Maybe she thought it would take too long. I felt fairly calm, even though I was in a youkai den. "We should get going. Did, er, Lady Tamatsukuri leave anything here? Ability cards, maybe?"

"...No, I'm afraid not. But, she did mention once, a long while ago, that she was carrying a spare on her which should fit your purposes." Madame Komakusa smiled mysteriously. "If you're willing to risk entering those mines. I hear there's someone far too dangerous and despised in there to be allowed on the surface."

Kisami laughed again. "We'll be extra careful, honest!" She opened her mouth to say something more, but was overpowered by a shout coming from the group of white wolf tengu, followed by two of them getting to their feet in what looked to be the start of a brawl.

"Ah, I knew it was only a matter of time." Madame Komakusa sighed. "I shall have to take my leave, I'm afraid. Someone needs to keep this madhouse under control, after all." She bowed deeply to both of us again, then sauntered past, pipe in hand. I watched her go, wondering what her plan was, but Kisami grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me back outside before I could see much at all.

"Best not hang around there too long, I think." She told me once we were outside and breathing the fresh air again. "I think that snake had his eye on you." Curious, I asked what the point of all of that had been. "Well, I was hoping that Lady Tamatsukuri would be there. Do you remember that ability card craze from a year or two ago?" I thought about it.