/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44763750
fourth entry!
=
Good movement of the body reflects good movement of the mind, my master once said, and after a day of being gnawed at by passionate feelings, doing anything but staring at nothing is a must. Standing still on the surface of the Lago Enevoado, I attack an opponent made of shadows, the water following my every move with iridescent afterimages, the action of the sun shining through the droplets. The representation of two thousand years of training courses through my body, leaves it shattering the air, which then moves water like tectonic plates.

Mind clearer, I compare this situation with that of two centuries ago with the infamous youkai das águas, Boto Rosa, and his infuriating attempts to drown me again and again in depths of lakes and ponds. All the pummeling he got will never be enough.

The ki saturates the air, muscles burn, and a final hammer motion of my right foot sends crashing waves in a spiral pattern with my body serving as epicenter; the ripples undulate and calm down within one breath of fresh air, combat euphoria turned focus. Centering myself with closed eyes, I recognize the simple yet fulfilling feeling of inner peace.

But it seems it was not meant to last, as I observed throughout the ages.

From the shore, the well of my affection and a somewhat surprise in Remi, an umbrella over her protecting her from death from above and a plastic white chair keeping her comfortable. Deep in my training, I missed the split second Sakuya took to prepare the landscape to fit perfectly the needs of our patroa. What got my attention was Remi's slow clapping and satisfied smile.

Pumping ki to my soles and walking over to them, Remi was the first to talk;

"My, my: as always, a great show, Meiling," the compliment was punctuated with a sip of her green beverage, Chimarrão, a rare pick of Sakuya when she determinates Remi wants something exquisite, unlike the usual blood and tea. "The moves, the energy, your hair; you could say you're the Youkai of the summer, and I wouldn't suspect a thing."

I spare a moment to stare at Sakuya, nodding with a smile, before addressing Remi; "Thanks, Remi. We could ask Yuuka. I have a feeling she'd spot the differences easily."

Remi puffs her cheeks elegantly–the latter is a must. All you do, do with 110% of you; "Do you maintain contact with the Bruxa?"

Even if uncalled for, I take a guarding pose by Remi's other side, the pint-sized vampire now flanked by a former legendary Vampire Hunter and a Dragon Warrior, the Lago Enevoado the object of our appreciation. The imagery is quite funny, "Her green thumb helps a lot with keeping track of all the species and subspecies in our gardens. And it's quite cute how she reacts to other countries' flowers."

Remi stares at the lake as if trying to stab it. If it was alive, it would recoil in fear. Sakuya is quick and precise in offering the metal straw to alleviate the patroa's mood, and it works. Remi and other youkai getting too close to what is 'hers' always generates a reaction of this caliber and, albeit adorable, has consequences–bloody ones–, so better change the subject.

"Enjoying the day?" I ask.

"I was enjoying your fighting movements. Each so strong and precise, enough to blow up a human like a balloon," she sighs. "Sometimes Danmaku can be so tiresome: flashy, yet with no punch to back it." The double-edged knife of Spellcard Duels. No one dies, but pai amado, when you see Master Spark fifteen times in the same week, it loses the appeal... "Oh, would you two duel for me? No Danmaku, only physical." It wasn't a question.

And Sakuya had three knives in between her fingers.

One ki explosion in my soles and I flickered to the surface of the lake, awaiting the criada with an expectant smile. I won't lie, duels with Sakuya are thrilling: sharing our natural energies and tangling them in a sizzling tango makes my heart ache in need! Fewer clothes and this dance has another name.

Each step was accompanied by subtle time stops, making the water she walked on still; "Ready, Meiling? I know I am." The criada provoked, smile a knife on its own.

"For you, always."

And we fought, and we danced, and Jesus, I love her. Each throw a trap concealing another trap, movements trickery and slashes an invitation for overconfidence followed by a quick and terminal fall. I may judge Remi, but even I hate drawn-out boredom; and the feeling of getting physical, hitting knives out of the air, moving constantly not to dodge pellets of light, but cold prata and iron is just...

Glorious.

But a CQC duel against me? The outcome was set before it started, but I added some flair to it, sweeping her feet in a flash and pinning her to the time-stopped water, holding each wrist firmly, looming over her like a husband on a nuptial night. She gasped, red, but smiled anyway.

"... Another loss for me?"

"Another loss for you."

Remi was clapping; Sakuya blinked, now on her side, escaping mine again. Like always.