/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45774653
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I open my tired eyes with a supernatural ping echoing inside my head—like an ululating whisper leaving the dried mouth of a skull—and sigh. Following the duel with Konngara, I couldn't sleep. Despite being surrounded by my Senkai's beauty, the pleasant weather, trees in bloom, and the setting sun, I lack peace. The origin of the ping was new yet familiar, like a sleeping limb recovering its functions: Onikirimaru. It hadn't finished growing yet, but something—someone—foolishly tampered with its womb—

A Gap opened behind me, my body freezing… However, as seconds passed, Yukari didn't come out of it, my shoulders dropped when the message settled in: She's too busy to look for herself…

Tsc, that woman will never give me rest, will she?

… No, she won’t.

What else do I even expect?

I squirm in my meditative pose, digesting the situation with eyes on the fake Sun… Memories of Hana moaning loudly, of Anon thrusting deep inside, Yukari's tongue… I sigh again, and the emptiness has nowhere to go but back inside—

A low rumble emanates from beneath me, causing the world and my body to tremble. “I apologize, Koutei. Did I wake you up?” I gently patted what looked like rough and mossy terrain, but as Koutei—with measured moves—rose, it was revealed to be just a small portion of the top of his head, which in its entirety is almost the size of my dojo. Hehe, he grew so big and wise on his spiritual journey, I am still shocked he chose to return to me~

… Though, with Yukari's actions and demands…

Koutei rumbles, a heavenly sound that travels the mountains of the Senkai. Heh, I wonder if Miko heard it~ “I'll be fine; don't worry, you big, grumpy dragon.” I tap his head gently, and the following rumble is as if someone had amplified a cat's purring so the entire world would hear it. “Her actions, this way of life—that man's suffering.” A world of disgust accompanies the words. “… It'll all soon come to a close. A way or another.”

Another rumble. A question…

… One I'd like to never face. “I don't know, Koutei. I don't know. The weight of the things I've done, even those against my will—they just… It is just so much,” I whisper lowly, looking at the eternally setting Sun, which denies death, so day never becomes night. An artifact beyond its blazing peak, refusing to give way to the Moon and letting the cycle of life continue. “… I'm tired, Koutei.”

That setting Sun should just stop struggling against fate and die already.

Koutei beneath me whimpers, the cat analogy still applying, my heart a black hole. Wordlessly and with heavy eyes, I tenderly caress his head, the shackles on my wrist humming as I get up and march inside the Gap.

The Underground's atmosphere has changed. As my feet hit the glistening water, anticipation smolders in the air, bloodlust sounds like distant gongs, and a song from eons past echoes.

I look out into the distance at the sword in the middle of the lake and a rage courses through my body at the sight of praying altars and offerings surrounding the sword, a path built on water leading towards it from the shore, almost capable of tasting the faith saturating the air. Eight Oni gather at the altar, while numerous others make their way along the ‘sacred’ path. Two Oni children stare at the sword in wonder and bewilderment before their father, I assume, prods them into a prayer position.

They adore the sword as they adored Douiji a thousand years ago…

… The more things change, the more they remain the same.

My wrathful eyes are on the sword, brows frowned and fists shaking, heart thundering and body begging to tear it all down like the foul mistake it is…

But, at the sight of Yukari's Gaps hiding me from view, the fire dies into an ember. Small, yet burning anyway… A bandaged hand gently caresses the side of my neck, and a well-considered thought echoes inside my worn-out mind.

There's one way to truly end this vicious struggle…

And it's to finally let the Sun set.

Tense and feeling hollow, I put my hands on the water's surface, letting my energy course the lake and find the disturbance; pulsations of my power go along with it and, bitterly, I notice the faithful will detect the increase in 'Douji' inside the lake, which simply means their faith will be validated and strengthened. I want to cry, but I do not do it.

Huh…?

The water's surface bears… a face. Did anyone attempt to jump into the lake? Proof of unwise decision-making, indeed.

For hours on end, I destroy what they built, the sword feeding off the corpses of sigils and magic that tastes like… It’s impossible to pinpoint the origin of the magic; only that’s old, very old—

—as the sword consumes the residual magic, a memory resurfaces of a simple passing feeling…

… True Godhood.

Confusion roots as I pull my hands away from the water, pondering this development. Okina didn't do this. It’s worse.

Much worse…

But also could be good… Because maybe—just maybe—this Sun may set.

… Yukari needs to know about this.

>>45716438
No, but you can draw her to do it.