/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46760525
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The witch glances at Sanae before looking at me again, budding nerves visible on the samurai and apprentices witnessing this exchange, unsure of the future. “You're going to recall all of your samurai, Hieda-sama.” She starts calmly, and I'm sure the mask hid well the sheer perplexity that took over my face. Does she dare…? The lack of fear there, of slumped shoulders and posture as sure as the blue of the sky, said more than her words. Anger was becoming impossible to control. The red-white demon notices, leaving the squatting position and jumping off the top of the fence to the witch's side, the wood trembling. “You'll peacefully surrender the Hieda State and your council to me and my associates—which includes Toyosatomimi no Miko—” Toyosatomimi…? That saint with the same interest in ruining the village, only more subtle? I should've expected filth to cling to other filth. Sanae appears tense at the mention. “And you'll surrender your title too, which I'll be taking. Do so, and I promise there'll be no harm done to any of the people of House Hieda nor exoneration or seppuku—I'm not asking anymore, Hieda-sama. I'm demanding all that until this very evening… Otherwise, the Hieda Clan will be wiped out of history.”

This woman…

She did indeed dare to defy this clan's history.

Wrath.

Her eyes narrow a little and, with an intonation much more personal, continues. “… I want this village to prosper, Hieda-sama, Sanae-san, to act as my kids' loving cradle throughout their childhood and adulthood, just as it did for me. Many other parents feel the same way, and we'll keep on fighting to achieve that—no child will die a preventable death on Gensokyo again. So please…” For an instant, her voice resembled Akyuu's. The Immortal's fire wings extinguished it, gradually allowing a blue hue to engulf the fiery red. “… Do spare yourself and your people the excruciating pain that'll come if you hinder our dreams.” There's pity in those red eyes, an olive branch offered the same way one would offer qualms to a beggar.

Asking for all of which my family has built for generations upon generations, through wars and conniving backstabbers; displaying her army of beasts—down below they cried and booed out loud, singing too, asking the downfall of this bastion, writhing in savagery and arrogance, bearing the weapons that'll destroy this village…

… all done with a view to the HSE, a calamity threatening to consume the village my daughter has called home for many centuries.

It was absolutely revolting.

The heat of fury nearly melted the mask on my face and kabuto proudly on my head, their composition perfectly befitting actions brewing inside my mind—

— “Mr. Hieda.” Sanae suddenly interrupts, her voice booming as if pronounced by miracles. She was frowning hard. Outside my bubble, I also notice my samurai, their nerves about to reach a crescendo, fingers begging to pull triggers and start the fight for our home, conversation aloud of soaring anger, their eyes focused on the demons…

“Calm down,” I mumble, gently gesturing with a hand for them to be placated, a familiar sense of calm dawning on me as I look towards Sanae. “… You were saying, Sanae.”

Sanae watches, her stance unsure for but a moment, lips pursed… Then a glimmer shines in those eyes, one very alarming, and she steps forward, making this line a triangle. “My job is to protect my faithful, to watch over them and bring blessings—fight for them too when the situation calls it!” Her eyes are now on mine, and that calmness starts to develop instantly into its full-fledged sense. She couldn't have possibly bought that nonsense… This is Sanae Kochiya! The type of shrine maiden Reimu will never be! A woman who upholds true values— “And so, I've been watching you since you've contracted me… You were going to shoot your own people, Mr. Hieda, when Mokou and the Kurodanis came to settle the festival… Why'd you do that? What possible explanation do you have for that when you've told me you weren't looking to start a war, only protect yourself?” The witch tries to hide it all, but an inkling of surprise crosses her face—so Sanae and her aren't working together. Not for now, at least, if the immortal's nascent smug grin and Sanae's harsh stare said something.

To all sides, perplexed looks, anxiety, fear and unwavering courage.

If I don't do anything quickly, I'll lose Sanae Kochiya, my only way of defeating the immortal and snuffing this revolution.

“Answer my question, Mr. Hieda… Don't leave me no option, please.” Her apprentices can’t notice it, but my samurai do—the silent signs of treason.

This feeling…

… I was wondering when I'd start feeling it: calm before battle.

Bear witness, my sweet Akyuu, from far away on those silvery sands of the Sanzu…

So, I pull out my katana and point it at the Sun.

The immortal and Sanae barrel towards me, unaware.

Ah, I think I understand now why I remembered that mission…

Though there is no rain, thunder echoes.