/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46208260
She was sitting next to me, looking healthy and content. She raised her sake cup and took a sip from it, her eyes gleaming in that mischievous way that she always had when she thought she had had one over me. Geez, I even missed that. She lowered her cup, that sly smile still one her face.

“Is it really you, how?” There were so many things I wanted to say, but this was only the first to come to mind.

“I’m not actually her. Your underlying inferiority complex means you don’t trust yourself to fix your issues, so your subconscious projected the aspects of your personality onto someone you believe could help you and created me”

“Huh?” I mutter, trying to understand what she said.

“I’m only teasing. I’m the real Akyuu” Her smile only grows wider. I sighed, it was good that was the case because that first thing sounded really stupid.

I take a few moments to digest everything when an alarm bell rings in my mind. “But if I’m talking to you, does that mean that I-”

“No. You’re still alive for now. You’re just taking a short visit here. These things happen, you know”

I nod, a few vague memories of stories I’ve heard about temporary visits to the afterlife and other realms swimming below the surface of my mind. This was such a unique opportunity. I could learn so such, tell her so many things. I was seeing beyond the veil, and all I had to do to make the most of this opportunity was to say- “What’s it like being dead?” The first thing that came to my mind falls out of my mind. I pursed my lips, really hoping I didn’t blow my chances to know more.

She chuckles. “A lot more boring then you think. You might think dying would free you of earthly attachments, but there’s so much bureaucracy that you sometimes forget that you’re dead. Not much interesting happens either.”

Not really the answer I was expecting. I turn to look at the mist clad riverbank stretching infinitely into the distance. It was beautiful in a way, but it would get boring fast. Maybe the rest of the afterlife was the same way. There was a soft clattering behind me and I turned back around. A jug of sake and a cup had appeared out of nowhere. How did-?

“There’s a few of these places here. Even those waiting for their trip across the river need something to do in the meantime. Let’s have a drink together. Trust me, you’re not going to be trapped here because you drink it, it’s not like those folk stories, trust me”

I took the bottle and held it up to my nose. It smelt real to me, just like normal sake. I poured myself a cup and took a sip. It wasn’t the best sake I’ve had-a little tasteless and thin- but it was drinkable.

Akyuu takes another sip of her cup and turns towards me. “You’re in trouble again aren’t you? You wouldn’t be here if you weren't” Akyuu looks me down, no doubt preparing how to lecture me. For once, I almost didn’t mind.

“It’s a lot of trouble” I admit, not quite being able to meet her gaze.

“We’ve got plenty of time, and nobody else to intrude. So tell me what’s troubling you”

“Well, I suppose the best place to begin is earlier this year. Reimu’s husband and daughter left the shrine-”

Why aren't you considering human girls? They're so much nicer than monsters or youkai! Human girls are young and fertile! Monsters are old and infertile!

Do not be fooled !
Akyuu doesn't act the way that she preaches, otherwise she wouldn't have unleashed a dangerous smoke and fire youkai just to get rid of some bugs !