/jp/ - Otaku Culture

The spider resumed fidgeting with her sleeves. "Just...Don't know. Got a feeling that you could keep a secret. Yams is very forgiving, though. She might hit me on the head, but she'll get over it." Well, that presumably was something that siblings did. Not that Patchouli would know. "Good...Good luck with whatever it is you're here for."

"Thank you. And thank you for talking to me." Patchouli nodded once more, and the spider took off. Patchouli strode forward, into the natural light that poured into the cave like a waterfall, and waited in silence for a moment. Then, she opened Sekai's book.


The only spiders I see are the ones that live in the HSE. I hope...I hope that they'll survive whatever comes during the Solstice. There's never been an earth spider in these walls. Not a Kurodani.


"I suspect that Yamame Kurodani wouldn't approve." Patchouli whispered in reply. "She who loved a human. Word spreads in whispers and rumours, Sekai. There's no doubt that the Kurodani family already know of the HSE and of the man who is trapped inside. And if Yamame loved a human..."

"Loves." A voice said, making Patchouli jump. She whipped her head round, reigning in her breathing. Past the light, standing on the paved pathway with her hands folded in front of her and four more limbs extended behind her, was Yamame Kurodani. She still dressed much like she did when Patchouli had seen her during the Hell Raven's incident all those years ago. Warm browns and golds, matching the gentle amber of her eyes. She had a warm smile, too. "Loves a human, I think you mean. I never stopped loving him." She continued, striding forward. Her boots made echoing noises off of the roof of the caves, and she pushed forward into the light. "And I never will." Patchouli snapped Sekai's book shut. "Patchouli Knowledge, yes? My sister fetched me. You wanted to speak?"

"I did." Patchouli nodded, taking in Yamame's appearance. "It's something of a sensitive matter."

"Ah, I see." Yamame spread her hands wide. "I've only got so long, but...Shall we step inside?" She walked past Patchouli, but the magician still caught the moment that one of the additional limbs on her back reaching into her vest and withdrew a key which she passed down to the human hand. Yamame unlocked the door, pushed it open, and then turned to Patchouli. "After you, please. Would you like some tea?"

"Only if you wouldn't mind. I've no wish to keep you unnecessarily." Patchouli stepped into Yamame's atelier and paused, taking a moment to admire the place. Spools of thread everywhere, along with knitting needles, crochet, and sewing needles. It was clear that one side of the room was her work space, and she'd filled it with all sorts of materials. Outfits that she'd finished, a desk full of papers, and so many colours that it made Patchouli's head spin. That was the mark of a master at their craft. And yet, the other side of the room...Was a home. Here, warm colours dominated, from the rich browns and golds to the cosy reds. Wooden floor, though there was a large rug in front of a currently unlit fireplace. Here, too, the walls bore signs of Yamame's spider mind at work. She'd decorated the walls with almost unnoticeable carvings of webs, just enough that Patchouli could make them out. She suspected that when the fireplace was lit, the light would catch the edge of them and make them look as if they were almost alive. Out beyond, there were doors which presumably led to the rest of Yamame's house.

There were three armchairs arranged on the rug, and here was where Yamame directed Patchouli. "Have a seat, please. I'll be back in a moment." Wordlessly, Patchouli took one of the seats and looked at the fireplace. She wished that she'd caught Yamame on a different day, when she wasn't rushed and could have lit the fireplace. She wanted to see those flickering lights.

Above the fireplace, a massive frame hung. In it, a photograph. A photograph of so many faces that Patchouli had to pause for a moment to count them. She didn't recognise the majority, but...There, that one was the girl who had led Patchouli to Yamame's home. Younger here, but undoubtedly the same. Of course, it was clear where the focus was. In the centre of the front row sat Yamame Kurodani, next to a tall man. The two were looked toward each other, their hands clasped together, and even from just the photograph, it was clear that what they shared had been more powerful than any magic Patchouli had ever seen. A large number of the faces were male and female, but they all shared a slight resemblance to either Yamame or the man she loved. Something about the man caught in her mind, but she couldn't quite figure it out.