/jp/ - Otaku Culture

Negotiating with the tengu was the most difficult part of her job. It was less of a coming to an agreement and more fighting in a battle. Two combatants locked in battle, looking for openings their opponent made, where a hasty move could spell the end. Kanako told herself she could do this. It was a much more personal matter then she brought to the Tengu before, but she would adapt. She waited until the lesser tengu servants had finished setting the table and left the room. Now it was just her and Megumu's entourage. Of course that fox of hers was at her side.

"Miss Iizunamaru. I thank you for agreeing to speak to me on such short notice. We have some matters to discuss" Get the usual pleasantries out of the way.

"I assume this is about the shrine maiden's husband? Or ex-husband I should say" Megumu said, a slight smirk on her face. A direct blow right from the start.

Keep the defense up. Don't falter under the assault "It is. We're concerned what an operation like that will mean for the future. It's not exactly a secret that the denizens of this mountain often use the..services there" Kanako did her best to hide how uncomfortable she was, but would it work?

Megumu look shifted into something more focused "Do you know this man? He was the husband to Hakurei, after all. I did hear that you were getting close to him recently" Another blow, prodding for weaknesses.

Don't give her any ammunition to use against you. "We are acquainted, yes. The state of their marriage made it difficult to maintain a connection. With his departure, we thought we could reestablish a friendship. It was surprising to learn of his new line of work, but that is what brings me here" It was a lie, but just enough to avoid giving the daitengu too much to work with.

Megumu's smirk returned to her face as she took a sip of tea. "We all know how his wife treated him. Is it any wonder why he thought to get back at her by finding comfort in the arms of other women? It is rather unusual to do something so drastic, but it is working. Hakurei is at the lowest she has ever been. She's alone, destitute, unstable. It's working"

Kanko could use the momentum to jump into her next question. "That's the issue. The tengu are making frequent visits to the visit for this...place. There's so many power figures centered around there, The Hakureis, the witch, Yukari. Things might end up badly or the tengu could risk losing their prestige when people start to talk about them visiting the village so openly and in such numbers" Kanako hoped she wouldn't have to go into more detail about what went on in that place.

Megumu leaned back a bit "If things go south, we can always pull out and avoid the aftermath. We're not too involved in this. As for the increased visits to the village, well. that doesn't matter. We take care to avoid trouble on the visits. The humans will never admit seeing us, as that would admit they were visiting too. It will never evolve beyond hushed whispers to close friends. Besides, the existence of a place is useful to us. You do know how Tengu are said to carry men away, correct?"

"I have" Kanako said, trying to maintain a mutual expression.

A grin broke out on Megumu's face. "Let's just say this place saves us a lot of trouble. Very high quality too, if only we had more men like him. Maybe you could visit him? I think you would like getting closer to him." The damn fox snickered and the whole room waited for her response.

Megumu found a weakness in her armor. Kanako took a moment to compose herself.Did Megumu suspect something about her personal life? How could she tell? "I'll decline that offer. "I'll decline that offer. I can take it that you're not going to cut ties with that place?" Kanako said, trying to parry the blow.

"No, we will not. My offer still stands. If you ever change your mind and wish to go, then I'd be happy to accept. I'm sure you would really enjoy it" Megumu smiled, now having found a way to exploit her.

"No thank you" Kanko blurted out, a little too rushed. Megumu just shook her head, a smile still on her lips. With a clap, servants poured out of the doors to take things away and Kanako give her farewells.

Kanko entered the shrine, Suwkao and Sanae turned to look at her "They said no" Kanako groaned as she sat down.

Sanae groaned "I tried to talk to the villagers as well, but no success. They believed the lies about the reason for the place and..er..enjoy it too much. I knew the tengu would make excuses for it, but the humans? It's.....Gugh!" She rubbed her brow. "But I found this" she said, handing Kanako a note "A bottle appeared in my room and had this in it"

Kanako read through the note. It was from Okina. A call for an alliance. A way to combat Yukari and free Anon from the HSE. This was just what they needed. The three of them looked at each other. Not a word was needed.