/jp/ - Otaku Culture

[All entries of the HSE here in chronological posting order!]
>>45324110 | part 1
>>45324120 | part 2
>>45324127 | part 3
>>45324134 | part 4
>>45324150 | part 5
>>45324163 | part 6
>>45407358 | part 7
>>45442424 | part 8
>>45515189 | part 9
>>45587647 | part 10
>>45678494 | part 11

[last chapter entries]
>>45680334 | 14-15-Reimu
>>45680341 |
>>45680344 | 9-Sanae
>>45686833 | 16-17-Reimu
>>45686843 |
>>45688681 | 29-Rikako/Lemontene
>>45692475 | 21-22-Kosuzu
>>45692501 |
>>45695902 | 54-Ran/Chen
>>45703242 | 10-Meiling
>>45705429 | 127-128-Hana
>>45705436 |
>>45713316 | 3-4-Eirin
>>45713322 |
>>45716538 | 24-25-Yukari
>>45716580 |
>>45717085 | 146-Yamashiro/Seija
>>45717285 | 129-132-Hana
>>45717296 |
>>45717322 |
>>45717330 |
>>45717931 | 69-73-Aya
>>45717951 |
>>45717964 |
>>45717991 |
>>45718022 |
>>45727342 | 147-149-Yamashiro/Seija
>>45727346 |
>>45727354 |
>>45731614 | 26-Yukari
>>45735120 | 150-152-Yamashiro/Seija
>>45735128 |
>>45735132 |
>>45746201 | 133-135-Hana
>>45746212 |
>>45746236 |
>>45747889 | 30-Rikako/Lemontene
>>45748645 | 153-155-Yamashiro/Seija
>>45748651 |
>>45748659 |
>>45749131 | 74-Aya
>>45750758 | 23-24-Kosuzu
>>45750778 |
>>45756243 | 136-137-Hana
>>45756254 |
>>45765828 | 18-19-Reimu
>>45765837 |
>>45766573 | 8-9-Fairy Wars
>>45766579 |
(821 entries)

[for phoneanons that can't access the dead threads, here's all of them]:
>>/jp/thread/44478667#p44783853 | starting point
>>/jp/thread/44802165 | first proper thread
>>/jp/thread/44846425 | second thread
>>/jp/thread/44889557 | third thread
>>/jp/thread/44930736 | fourth thread
>>/jp/thread/44991041 | fifth thread
>>/jp/thread/45037580 | sixth thread
>>/jp/thread/45076441 | seventh thread
>>/jp/thread/45122397 | eight thread
>>/jp/thread/45164037 | ninth thread
>>/jp/thread/45214506 | tenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45270851 | eleventh thread
>>/jp/thread/45324060 | twelfth thread
>>/jp/thread/45332185 | thirteenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45340894 | fourteenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45407283 | fifteenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45442364 | sixteenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45515120 | seventeenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45586295 | eighteenth thread
>>/jp/thread/45678335 | nineteenth thread

[Ao3 link to the HSE collection]:
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/The_Hakurei_Shrine_Experience

[If everything fails, here's the entirety of the HSE's part 1 (506 entries)]
https://files.catbox.moe/jo96iu.rtf | Part 1
https://files.catbox.moe/cxdwig.rtf | Part 2

45756254
—
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 am anything but at 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 whole body freezing… However, as seconds passed, Yukari didn't come out of it, my shoulders dropping when the message settled in: She's too busy to look for herself…

Tsc, that woman will never give me any 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 with my movements, 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 throughout the mountains of the Senkai. I wonder if Miko heard it too. “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 the past echoes. I look out into the distance at the sword in the middle of the lake, held an inch below the surface by cadaverous hands and a mountain of bones, 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—

—there, found it…? Huh. The water's surface bears the impression of 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 the whole of Makai. The power behind the magic is enormous, even though its incursion is, at most, superficial as it didn’t have time to develop…

But it isn't enough to challenge two sages. It never is…

… Okina haven't tried anything…

Alone.

The Sun sets alone, after all.

>>45774653
Good to see a Kasen chapter after this long. I wonder if her and Hana can properly patch things up, probably not. Though the makeup sex would be legendary.

>>45775117
>I wonder if her and Hana can properly patch things up, probably not.
if she gets to know Kasen's condition plus that she going to Senkai was Yukari setting her up, then there's really no motive for Hana to not forgive Kasen.

>>45775134
Honestly, knowing Hana she might not even consider it a problem as she has a rather warped view on sex by this point. Still would be an awkward conversation though.

Kasengara

>>45775162
>Still would be an awkward conversation though.
sprinkle in Reimu being present too, and you have the recipe of an immense clusterfuck
>>45775246
I wonder what this code means…

>>45775367
>sprinkle in Reimu being present too, and you have the recipe of an immense clusterfuck
"You see Reimu" said the fully reunited Kasen, "me banging your daughter for a full 8 hours with only breaks to rehydrate, where I stopped counting her orgasms after the first two dozens. Was in fact your fault for not sealing me properly when you were a teen, because you were a permavirgin at the time. That is why I did nothing wrong in sexing her every time we crossed paths, but its okay now because I'm reformed and am not weak to lust anymore! Reimu why are you pulling out the gohei... Reimu why are there flames all around? Reimu wh-"

>>45775437
"...Like I was saying, everything is okay now and I was actually in the right the whole time!"
"Strongest attack? Guess you need more training, huh?"

>>45775437
>>45775446
“K-Kasen is too strong! There's only one way to defeat her… You gotta get naked AND on fire, Reimu.”
https://files.catbox.moe/95c9jt.png

flowchart 19 coming through!
https://files.catbox.moe/uuwx26.png
for writeranons to guide themselves and readeranons to listen to Komm Sussy Todd while reading it!

>>45775920
>the lava burst and killed all the workers
AAAAAAAA NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I am surprisingly emotional about this

>>45775920
Oh god that plane's heading straight for Hana tower! Turn on the TV, it doesn't matter which channel!

>>45775920
We're gonna need a flowchart for the flowchart at this point

>>45775981
don't worry, Anon, I was too...
>>45776037
OH FUCK!! It's all the small and greedy merchant's fault, I knew it....
>>45776051
I was intending to make a progression webm of the charts when we finished, but will see if I can do tomorrow a small one containing all until now

>>45775920
>>45775981
And I'll get away with it, same as always.

Is this the ERP thread?

>>45775515
>>45775446
Reimu was on her knees, youkai she didn't even know was plotting behind Yukari's back fought without recourse in the sky above the village and around. Before Reimu and her daughter floated the reformed Kasen who gazed upon the battered mikos with a bit of sorrow behind the lust for battle. Reimu knew she was on the backfoot, this was truly a sage made for combat unlike Yukari and Okina and it showed in sheer power and prowess.

Hana looked down at her feet as Kasen's voice bellowed at the miko team with sorrow and excitement, "is that all you got Reimu, Hana?! I knew I should've trained you when I had the chance. This is just pathetic!"

Reimu gritted her teeth and she knew that her sweet baby was only putting on a brave face. She was so close, securing Hana's future after coming so far herself!

Not giving Kasen the gratification of a response she got to her feet, that was when a flash of an idea crossed her daughter's eyes. An idea she'd soon dread.

Hana was scared, but she rallied herself as she whispered to her mother, "we... we have to do... THAT"

Kasen raised an eyebrow, Reimu paled... no, not THAT! However, Hana's eyes were iron and Reimu knew it was the only way, "I... I understand. We'll unseal our secret technique just this once, FORGIVE ME MASTER" she shouted at no one in particular.

Hana stood tall next to her daughter, shame and purpose filling her in equal measure as in unison they shouted like a protagonist in one of those hot-blooded Tengu manga, "miko-miko change, forma ero familia!"

In an instant their Hakurei miko outfits vanished, flinged off like a dart from a blowgun. Clad in crimson negligees with very revealing panties and nothing at all behind the shee fabric up top they embraced.

Reimu wished she could die as with a face as red as the outfit they let out erotix sounds as they embraced and groped each other. She didn't dare look down at her daughter, closing her eyes as they pecked each other on the lips with false excitement.

Kasen let out a very dignified 'BWUH?!' as she watched the display. Reimu swore she heard the battle around grow silent, she'll have to kill them all later, no other way now.

Despite her shame, and her daughter's hands that felt a little too into it, it seemed to be working as Kasen descended to the duo, "W-what's this?! Y-you mean... the entire time?! And you didn't tell me?!"

The horns on Kasen weren't the only things horny it seemed. Hana's low and husky voice, something she'll have to see about getting scrubbed from her mind later, responded with false(?) rapture, "That's right Kasen-nee, and were here for you. We're so impressed with your strength and owe you soooo much~"

Yup, one wack for Kasen, one for Hana, a dozen for herself. Kasen stammered as she drew closer, both hands outstretched like a tiger pouncing its prey, "You don't have to tell me twice~!"

Suddenly two gohei materialized from the folds of the negligee... somehow... and with the combined power of mother and daughter a 'Pichuun~' rang out across the war zone of the village...

>>45776184
nope, sorry, we haven't gone Berlin yet. It's a fanfic thread. Writers are shitposting instead of writing, as of norm

>>45776200
good Jesus Christ, my fucking sides
hope THIS thread influence doesn't influence the Hakurei writers. Maybe for an alternative ending where they form the incest triangle

>>45776200
This explains everything. Kasen, the youkai of sex, inserted herself as Reimu's surrogate mother. Reimu, the miko of armpit sex, could not maintain her role in her marriage due to Kasen's perverted influences. Hana, the miko of incest, never had a chance to begin with. The Hakurei bloodline was destined for incestuous turmoil, regardless of gender.

Any suggestions for the next edition of the relationship graph, already added Oiwa's name.
Remember, shit posts are accepted.

>>45776305
the entire Jobber Squad plus Sanae adopted Hana, so there you go!

>>45776305
Konaga belongs in the chastity box.

>>45776292
>The Hakurei bloodline was destined for incestuous turmoil, regardless of gender.
Perhaps Haha should've had that heart attack

>>45749131
With an official hiatus published for the author of Bunbunmaru, responsibilities were turned over to the “Tengu News Association”, otherwise known as Megumu herself. Even if Yukari could manipulate Aya, it was far more difficult to dictate what a daitengu would say, even more so to censor them. Yet, Megumu wasn’t interested in making waves. She simply chose to elevate the trite Bunbunmaru has been publishing recently to a daitengu’s standards while inundating Aya with a list of names for her children.

“Ooh, how about Rin? It’s a very beautiful name.”

“No, kids named Rin tend to go missing. I don’t want my kids to be in danger.”

“Maybe Tomoe? It’s nice and strong, so she’ll take care of herself.”

“Ehh… A name like that might invite strife into her life.”

“How about Fuyuko since they’re being laid in winter? Oh, we haven’t even started getting to names for boys!”

This was the price of keeping Bunbunmaru out of Yukari’s hands. It was also the last thing Aya wanted to do today. She was wasting valuable time cooped-up instead of checking on her business deals or investigating Tsukasa’s role with the HSE. Megumu could be oblivious at times, but she wasn’t dumb enough to answer Aya about the Tenma’s deal with Yukari. If only she knew anything about that invisible jerk besides the fact they were invisible! Maybe something in their shadow-

“Go to Eientei, now!” A panicked cry broke Aya out of her thoughts. Megumu’s face had gone pale. A sense of deja vu surrounded the reporter before she touched her cheek. This damn cut… Not just a cut, a clue! “I heard that during pregnancy excessive exsanguination becomes more likely-”

Aya left before the daitengu was finished, relieved that she had any excuse to get the hell out of there.

Business seemed slow in the hospital. The waiting room was empty, save for a familiar face. Well, most of it was familiar, save for a large welt on her cheek. “What’s the matter Hatate, someone find out you were spying on them and complain in person?”

The brunette tengu opened her mouth slowly and spoke with a bit of a lisp. “Kasen happened. I talked to her for a second and she just punched me. Good news is that anyone would believe the story now.”

“Why’s that? Did you catch her talking to Yukari or something?” Avoiding speech, Hatate instead presented her flip-phone to Aya. Clear as the moon on a cloudless night, it was an angry, pink-haired hermit pulling her arm back, thrusting it forward, and making contact with Hatate in slideshow-format while the distinct entrance to the HSE was in frame. She captured the action pretty well, but Aya would never admit it out loud.

“This is great news! Now we can create a solid connection to Kasen’s stature and nighttime visits to the HSE, shifting the blame away from Kanako. Everyone will think she’s the one the rumors were about all along.” Everything was coming together perfectly. Maybe after everything died down she’d post a story getting Kasen’s side of why she was walking by the HSE in the first place.

Of course, Hatate had to knock the tengu off of her high. “Everyone except for you.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s clear proof Kasen is visiting the HSE at night and that she’ll get violent at onlookers. Look what she did to me!

“Why would she stay invisible attacking me but not you? It doesn’t make any sense! That’s clearly not all there is to it.”

As the tengu started arguing back and forth, two orderlies showed up to break up the fight before it could get ugly. These two clearly-delinquent tengu had to be separated before they made more work for the nurses.

(Part 68)

>>45776914
Hatate and Aya were taken to separate rooms. Surprisingly, Aya’s nurse left as soon as she found out her patient’s name. After a few minutes of waiting, another nurse led her over to a room full of weird equipment. She could only guess what most of these contraptions did. The morbid possibility that Eirin was going to permanently silence her to ensure those pills never leaked was becoming likely. Jeez, the table here even had sockets for clamping limbs.

Finally, Eirin came in with her familiar lack of expression. “Shameimaru, it’s good to see you. Please lie down so we can begin the process.”

“Hold on, what process? I just came here to get this cut looked at, not strapped down and harvested for my eggs and organs!”

Shock flashed on Eirin’s face before it returned to neutrality. This only worsened Aya’s nerves. Was she actually going to take her eggs? Is this where she died? Endless concerns swirled within the tengu’s brain as she looked around the room for something she could use as a weapon. This bitch didn’t have to stay dead, just long enough for Aya to escape!

“Calm down. It’s a routine check-up on the health of your eggs. Due to the nature of your eggnancy, the process will be quite invasive. I need you to lie down for the safety of yourself and your offspring.” If there was one thing Aya knew, it was a how to pick up on a lie. Doctor Yagokoro was hiding something.

“Only on two conditions: First, you tell me why this cut keeps coming back. Then, I want to know exactly what you’re going to do to me and my children! No omissions!” The tengu didn’t like mistrusting Eirin, but the situation was getting too weird. Especially for the doctor’s standards.

All Eirin did was turn Aya’s face with her hand and look at her cheek. “It’s a curse. Your cut will continue bleeding when you activate its requirements. Moving on…” Through incredibly dense and technical language, Eirin explained that Aya would be sedated and bit of each egg’s membrane would be collected for analysis. While the tengu trusted her to perform the surgery flawlessly, she remained suspicious of Eirin’s intentions. She could run away now, but she did want to know how her children were developing… she didn’t even know their genders yet.

“Alright, fine. Just stop being creepy about it.” As soon as the tengu laid her body down, shackles enveloped her ankles, wrists, neck and wings. She felt a slight prick on her collar before the room became hazy. As her mouth stopped working, she felt the shackles on her ankles start to pull. As her vision went dark, the tengu could have sworn Eirin had a fire in her eyes she’d never seen before…

When she awoke, Aya’s clothes were all in place and Eirin was at a counter, scribbling away feverishly at an array of paper while looking a microscope. Though Aya’s restraints were undone, she spied a rather normal timer ticking away near the doctor’s work area. Her backdoor may have something to do with this...

As quietly as possible, the tengu snuck up behind the Lunarian to peek at her work. Three small jars containing translucent tissue were placed in a rack, a fourth likely being inspected right now. As for the records, they were splayed out as Eirin looked over each one in a blur. It was all jargon, but Aya could recognize a few key symbol combinations: XX, XY, XY, and XX.

She had two boys and girls!

It was a rare opportunity to find Eirin vulnerable, so Aya took her chance. “So Doc, how are my little guys doing?”

Instead of jumping in fright, the doctor calmly turned around to regard her patient. “They’re all developing strongly. It’s rather remarkable how robust they are so early… like how quickly you woke up. You can leave now. You know where the exit is.” It was an unusually cold response. Not that Aya wanted to stay here any longer than she needed to.

“If that’s all, then mail the results to Iizunamaru when you’re finished. I’ll be off now.” Without a second glance between either lady, Aya made her way back to the reception area where Hatate was waiting for her. When she noticed Aya, she cocked her head in confusion. Suddenly, the news she just found out finally hit her and she realized she must have had a goofy grin on her face.

“I’ve got two strong boys and two perfect girls. Now let’s get this story out on the presses so they can be proud of their mama’s work!” The two tengu left the hospital, filling the air with excited, one-sided chatter.

(Part 69)

>>45776941
>>45776914
good to know Aya's genetics are forever imprinted in story as part of the perfect living beings. Eirin's eugenics are the way forward, boys and girls~!
but look at that, 50/50 on Aya's part! Nice~
Tomoe is a beautiful name, tho. Megumu has good taste. Now pairing that with a boy named Isshin…
nah, one god shattering sword is already enough.

>>45777080
>spoiler
I've been playing Nioh 1 recently so I considered the suggestion being Ginchiyo, but I have a soft spot for the Heike. The real question is how many names should be real and how many should be derivates of Ayaya...

>>45777144
I weep for the poor soul that'll fill the Ayaya quota... Maybe mask it to soften the blow? Like 'Maya', 'Ayatsuya' and whatever possibility to lessen the child's pain, at least in that lane Aya wouldn't guarantee herself a son/daughter that wants their mother impaled by a comically large printing press pen
Also, forgot to say it, but Hatate putting on the true reporter's boots and getting decked on the face to give some credibility to her news is cool as fuck, damn. A day without 'Tate bullying is a good day~
>spoiler
I see, cool; never played much Nioh, but these are nice sounding names~
and thanks for the chapters!

Okay so how should this go about?
You think Shinkidude / Mimachad should take over the rest of the confrontation scene? Or do I try and continue?

>>45777660
Confrontation? Oh you mean rikako's nonsense? Probably best for you to handle it unless you have something planned specifically

>>45777660
let him do it, it's a good excuse for him to write his characters; his pace is better and will kick off the war plan, which others are already awaiting for

>>45778014
Seconding

>>45776914
>>45776941
Hatate is lucky, last time Kasen punched someone Seija was buried in the ground
Eirin is such a good medic, it's very nice of her to just care about the babies condition and no other hidden and nefarious motive

reminder finale never

>>45780229
lies.

Newest edition of the relationship chart.

>>45781003
>nearly complete incest loop
feels like a bad omen after the joke 'mu/hana post…

>>45781042
All it takes is someone deciding to be an asshole and write a post up. Besides it feels inevitable at this point doesn't it?

>>45781282
>All it takes is someone deciding to be an asshole and write a post up
would be considered overstepping boundaries and unfit with the story's lore -- Hana not feeling an ounce of lust towards Reimu --, and, like what happened to Rikakoanon, ignored and made not canon.
>Besides it feels inevitable at this point doesn't it?
doubtful it'll happen in the main story at all. In an alt-ending probably will, but in the main story we have
>Hana doesn't feel attraction towards Reimu
>unlike traumatized Anon at the beginning, Reimu has a spine to tell Hana 'no' and knows what Yukari did, so would think Hana's advances are a byproduct of that, ultimately denying her
it's a fun shitpost, true, but that's it.

>>45566937
—
The bottom of the raging river was freezing.

Yet, I felt nothing. A warmth swam inside like I was fireborn, my limbs strong and head clear, not a scream of terror echoing; no iron chains pulling me to the depths, my mind on the objective: catch those fish.

Holding a basket, I swam touching the bottom, catching all I could while holding my breath. Grinning, I noticed it was a much better haul than in my past excursions, though the effects of hypoxia started to appear, so I immediately began resurfacing.

Breaking the water barrier with flowing platinum hair and drinking from fresh air never gets old; same for the thunderous laughter on the shore. “Look at your sexy mother go, kiddos!” Mokou yelled, the twins in their small shared cradle by her side, both under a mountain of blankets and winter clothes despite having Mokou's blessing of warmth—so cute~—; their loud mother busy sewing something. I scoffed, huffing and paddling out of the water, flushed despite the harsh climate and few clothes.

“I still haven't gotten used to this,” I mumble, putting the basket down and graciously taking the towel Mokou extended to me—she looked smug.

“You better get, then—under me, none of you three is feeling cold ever again~” With a hearty laugh, she nuzzles the kids, and my heart grows. Ever since Mokou decided my single bed could surely fit all of us four, my night terrors of cold and devouring water currents have faded away… It's a welcome change. “Get yourself dressed already; it's almost time! I don't want anyone to see you with so much exposed skin, Keine.” Her pouting is cute; Aki mumbles with the loudness, and Mochi chews on his fist.

I giggle before actually getting myself dressed properly. The meeting we're going to have in about half an hour is very important, and attending it in my bra and undies could be offensive.

I guess.

… After all, it's a meeting with various youkai. Mystia contacted me recently, saying she had talked to a bunch of youkai in situations similar to hers and amassed a good number for our cause—though rage persists, it has cooled off; this is much bigger than me—and with the letter reviewed again and again until perfection and then cloned by hand, nothing else stands between us and defying Gensokyo's status quo.

Success… failure…

… Sweet smiles, beautiful wings—so much is at stake.

Frightening doesn't begin to describe it.

Though, no chill comes as a strong, warm arm envelops me from behind, gentle lips kissing my nape. I feel safe. “Overthinking again?” There's no need for an answer; a simple hum and she nods slowly. “… I don't know what'll happen either, Keine. However, no matter what goes—we win or we lose—know that I won’t let anyone or anything destroy our family, okay? I'll protect us. Forever and ever.” I turn to her, seeing the fire in her eyes—the fire of someone who'd burn the world for you.

It’s warmer than her blessing.

“Thank you, Mokou~” I place my head on her chest, her heartbeat a calming, beautiful song. The moment lasts for a bit more, her hands caressing my back and soft lips kissing my scalp, before Mokou undoes the hug with a mischievous grin.

“But fuck that doom and gloom—we're gonna crush when the time comes!” She walks to the black fabric she was sewing on. “And, with you being our cool leader, it'd be nice if you could, you know… Stand out a bit more?” My smile turns into a frown, eyes looking at my clothes: blue sundress, a red tie, quaint ballet shoes. I look back at Mokou, who titters. “There's nothing wrong with how you dress, dork. You’re beautiful~But for a leader…? That won't cut it. Soooo—I made this!”

With a toothy grin, she shows me the black fabric, revealing it to be a long cloak that would probably be centimeters away from brushing against the ground if I wore it. Hm… It can work; it's gaudy and simple, easily recognizable too. That over a blue dress like mine would just enhance the colors and—

Then Mokou turns it, and color drains from my face.

“I know, I know—rad, isn't it? It's a design from one of my Spellcards, more: I read in a book I got at Suzu that it means prosperity or something, and it has relations with gods of Thunder, so it's very strong-looking~but you already know that, right? And, oh, I used red and white so you'd always have me at your back~Heh, so, what do you think?!” She looked very proud of herself. Mochi was laughing.

Well… She wasn't wrong in most of what she said.

Still, that'd apply if the thing wasn't crooked.

With the gentlest tone I can muster, I say: “Mokou… I appreciate your effort and thought—but you see, the ura-manji, when crooked like that, has a very… particular history.”

She blinked, ignorance latent. “Oh, and what would that be?”

After explaining it to her in detail, Mokou swiftly began unstitching the crooked swastika from the cloak, constantly sobbing and mumbling: 'I-I'm s-sworry!' Mochi laughed cutely, Aki was grumpy at the noise, and I kissed Mokou's head a lot to comfort her.

>>45781346
FINALLY FINISHED THE KEINE STORY!!
… though, the editing process and writing for other storylines will be tough. Two threads should be enough to post everything, though!

>>45781328
Pretty much, I'll save it for an alt ending, maybe as a joke along with the 'Yandere Hana fixing Yukari ending'. At this juncture it would be impossible since I'm not 'mufag, I would be overstepping my bounds greatly.

>>45781346
I mean, Mokou is right. It would make her a strong leader that makes everyone look up to her.

>>45778014
>>45778677
Sounds good

>>45781346
How ungrateful! Moukou just wanted to share a Slavic symbol for the sun with her good friend. Does Keine have something against the Slavs?

>>45781858
>>45782005
you guys have to understand: Keine is very racist against things from the outside world. She calls the people literally 'outsiders'. Join Keine and Hana and the amount of combined racism could create a youkai from thin air.

>>45781840
>Yandere Hana fixing Yukari ending
Yukari tasting her own medicine will be fun

>>45776941
The results were immediate. Once the news hit the mountain, the wind was full of nothing but rumors about Kasen traveling Gensokyo at night before enjoying a steamy session with Anon. Sightings of her in weird places, real and fake, were filling newspapers. As the worst-kept secret in the Human Village, gossip spread like wildfire about the hermit visiting the HSE. This was only exacerbated by Kasen, Yuugi and Yukari have a showdown in Old Hell. By the end of the week, every corner of Gensokyo, including the oni, were hungry for more news about the pink hermit.

For Aya’s purposes, this was great! Sure, Yukari just stuck a mysterious sword beneath the place she lived that could do any number of horrible things, but that just meant more people were praying to the Moriyans for safety! In fact, the rumor mill began touting Kanako as one of the few forces in Gensokyo capable of keeping the sword from destroying all life nearby. In the same articles, Aya did suggest that praying to Kanako as a virgin goddess of childcare would ensure an easy birth. Were these embellishments uncalled for? Nobody could say for sure.

Alongside these developments at work, Aya was focusing on her personal deal with the yamawaro. She didn’t speak to Takane again after the HSE — it would be too easy to make a connection. Instead, Aya had to meet with representative of different suppliers and manufacturers herself. They were simple transactions: Aya promised construction deals and a small monetary incentive while taking pictures of her contacts in potentially compromising positions, aided by mysterious winds that were whipped up at coincidentally inappropriate times. Who was she to miss out on insurance? Of course, some contacts didn’t see it the same way. Thankfully, she dragged Momiji along with her to these meetings as muscle. The wolf seemed to enjoy intimidating the ‘dirt kappa’ a little too much.

Chemical components for her ‘fireworks’ were easy to find; Gensokyo was no stranger to explosions. Finding metal material was a little more difficult. The yamawaro were limited compared to the kappa in that department. The issue was that the aquatic engineers had more… scruples than their mountain counterparts. Most of them wouldn’t agree to supplying Aya with the resources to level their home without approval from a daitengu, if not Tenma-sama. So, she had to get in touch with an even higher authority — a god!

Finding a backdoor was almost second nature at this point. Any way to cut down on travel time was welcome as Aya’s pregnancy grew more cumbersome. Passing through to greet Nazrin in a different outfit was a daily occurrence. Sometimes they’d even chat about their pregnancies. She had a lot to say thanks to experience leading mice, but was quite uncertain about raising her own children. Today, the Land of the Backdoor wasn’t just a vehicle; The tengu had business with Okina first.

For the first time she could remember, the backdoor hag was taking herself seriously. A grand table had a map of Gensokyo laid out and multi-dimesional diagrams of what might be the Land of the Backdoor were set up around it. A pin was placed on the Youkai Montain—Most likely the spot underground where the sword slept.

“Hey Matarajin, I’ve got something for you!” Making her way over to the goddess, Aya presented a collage of yamawaro with exposed undergarments. To a layman, it would have appeared to be a gravure magazine of nervous young yamawaro. This was nothing of the sort! It was a refined, curated showcase of the sacrifices young entrepreneurs had to make. This was life. This was art!

“This is it? Sure, some of these girls look downright terrified, but the visual medium is so overdone. I’m a very busy goddess, after all. This just isn’t enough to hold my attention.”
The tengu was prepared for this. “Check the back. There’s a special surprise for you from the third girl and the fifth girl.” Rolling her eyes, the hidden goddess flipped through pages of unwilling models until she came to an empty page, save for two locks of hair tied with frilly ribbons. “They’ve been carefully preserved to maintain—“

“Leave. Now. I don’t even have time to look at your shenanigans anyways.” With no reason left to linger, Aya left Okina’s dimension. As she stepped through to her destination, she could have sworn she heard a loud, drawn out sniff from behind her. The sooner her business was done with Okina, the better.

Now, it was time to make a deal with a real goddess: The ever-benevolent Suwako! A goddess that would surely forgive her after smacking her with a fan in the heat of the moment the last time they saw each other! A goddess crucial to making her plan work that could also easily curse her as punishment for her slight against her and her kin!

...Hopefully Kanako was home. And hadn’t seen the doujin Aya gave Sanae.

(Part 70)

>>45782896
ah, world building and feasible events changing the landscape, reactions, culture and perception of place. Don't you love the smell of it~?
>As she stepped through to her destination, she could have sworn she heard a loud, drawn out sniff from behind her
Okina loving other smell entirely...
oh, did you got the Suwako's deal from my post or you had it already in mind? Either way, glad seeing more of the frog!
man, you're putting in the work! Thanks for the chapter!

>>45782971
>spoiler
Bit of both. I had Kanako in mind because she's the business-minded one, but talking to Suwako will work better for the flow of the story. Shit is about to get realer than real.
The benefit of retroactive writing is contextualizing all the events in a slower pace~. The downside is trying my damndest not to accidentally contradict stuff I thought I remembered perfectly. I completely forgot Okina was doing her meeting with Satori, the Moriyans and Hijiri during Hana's birthday, so Aya passing through without seeing Okina in her usual place just happened to work out. It also makes something I set up a little more interesting...

>>45783039
>spoiler
hype~
>The benefit of retroactive writing is contextualizing all the events in a slower pace~
sounds very nice, and think will give a time when have some time between storylines; though the downside feels daunting considering the 20 threads prior to this one and the Okina example...
>It also makes something I set up a little more interesting...
heh, love me some drama

>>45781346
Glad to see Keine and her silly hobo lover are happy together, hope they work things out.

>>45782896
>...Hopefully Kanako was home. And hadn’t seen the doujin Aya gave Sanae.


I'll see what you do with this, I've had an idea kicking around about Kanako

>>45784713
>I've had an idea kicking around about Kanako
damn, right around the end the Moriyan girls start to get more attention. Better than never

>>45782896
>...Hopefully Kanako was home. And hadn’t seen the doujin Aya gave Sanae.
this gonna be good

>>45695902
—
Among Yukari's decisions that have most perplexed me is her decision to harbor Seiga Kaku in our war effort.

The motives are clear-cut, yet I can't scratch the itch that whispers it's more of a hindrance than actual help. Truly biased, considering Anon's words about her, but her evils are centuries old… Ugh, it doesn't matter, not at this point.

I walk out of the Gap, eyes narrowing with the heavy atmosphere. A Chinese-like room, candlelight illuminating many scriptures, tapestries, and other luxurious sorts, though most depicted scenes of taboos: orgies, wars fought under Tao, sacrifices…

Surrounded by the candles laid on the ground around her like a circle—the zombie standing in the shadows, her eyes glowing; the origin of the odor of death… maybe—, Seiga sat with her legs crossed. A European art piece of a massive, naked man eating a human hung on the wall, towering over her. His eyes were haunting. “Oh, hello, Ran~!” The hermit said, stopping her Tao chant and turning to me, her hairpin clasped tight in her hand being used to sculpt a figure in rosewood; it looked incomplete, but whoever it was, had a terrible feeling to them. “Wow, you look on edge! Didn't you like my collection? Yukari was very nice for helping me bring it all from the mausoleum—the HSE's atmosphere is unbeatable! So much wretchedness and affliction~!” I nodded slowly as she giggled.

Yoshika grumbled, Seiga humming before getting up and putting her hairpin back on her head, fixing her disheveled hair. “Greetings, Seiga. I've simply come to—”

“To appreciate the true art of Tao? I didn't know you were interested, Ran! Here, lemme give you a tour.” The hermit skipped my way, her smile growing. “Ah, this smell~you and Anon had sex, didn't you? Glad you could do something about that heat of yours, though I'm kinda sad I wasn't invited—” I tried edging away from her, but she gripped my wrist, an evil smile there. “—he mumbles your name sometimes when we're fucking like animals—others, too, but it’s just us here—and it's so cute!” I immediately freeze at her words. Seiga looks pleased, reaching inside my tabard. “I'll love our time with that man-toy together after our victory~”

I pull away from her with a Gap, skin itching and rage liquid inside my stomach, nine tails bushy and hidden ears standing upright. “I kindly ask you not to touch me again, Seiga.” There's a sharp threat in the words, though it doesn't seem to reach the hermit.

“Hm… You know, Ran, toys that break are thrown away.” She walks up to Yoshika and, for no motive, punches the zombie in the stomach. It falls over, limp… “Get up.” Yoshika starts to get up. “Yukari-chan appreciates my work keeping her network of spies and fighting for her in the frontlines—I asked for little in return: some sweet newborns here and there; she's even okay with me eating her pets' babies~! Though, unlike me, your servitude is free! She can do whatever she wants with you, and you can't do anything about it~” I narrow my eyes, heart throbbing; Seiga giggles, Yoshika is back on her feet—only to fall again after a second punt. “Good girl! You'll get some treats later~now get up without using your hands.” The zombie squirms, using only her legs to try lifting her whole body weight; my stomach turns with the meaningless torture. “So, keep that in mind the next time you try denying me something I want—Yukari might need to fix you, and while that goes, Anon would have to do it in your place.”

The trap is easily recognizable, but it still drains me cold. Oh, to simply destroy this house of cards and save Anon…

… Yet, I wouldn't be able to guarantee Chen's safety in the process, and to fight Kasen and Yukari without a plan would end in my demise.

Just a couple more weeks…

Then I can burn it all to the ground, so no ash remains.

Seiga notices my struggle, humming with knowledge I can't begin to fathom. “I… I understand. I won't reject your advances from now on, Seiga-san.” Heart thundering, I bow down to her, Yoshika finally managing to get on her feet for Seiga's great amusement.

“Wow, I didn't think you loved me too, Ran! My heart was jumping with my love confession, heh~!” She spins in place as if a love-struck teenage girl. “Just don't get too boring too fast, please! That's never fun. Anyway! Let's start with my private collection of cool stuff I got from the Outside World—let's see, let's see—” She looks around the wicked room, eyes gleaming. They lay on the towering piece, which, after some thought, I remember seeing it in an exposition in the century before the Great Barrier. “—Ah, let's start with this exemplar! It's called 'Saturn devours his son', one of the many renditions of Cronus and his fabled paranoia. A particular inspiration of mine, you see~” She giggles, a hand caressing her flat belly. I frown at the confusing connotation, and she gives me a smug look, though explains nothing. “I have it as a main piece because it reminds me of this certain blonde Sage~”

Ugh…

>>45789367
the ending I'm planning for the sex hermit ending will be fucking wild.
also, Keine chapter(s) today if I got the time~!

>>45789367
Ran you have to get along with with hermit more. Just because she's a lascivious woman the delights in exploiting an abused man, enslaves a woman as her undead puppet, and eats babies doesn't mean you two can't be friends.

>>45790224
Truer words are yet to be spoken! Seiga is very nice~

>>45789367
hot. Ran is lucky

Damn, slow week

>>45792874
one of those, makes the pressure to write lower though can snowball really hard. Hoping Mimaanon can get the war-plan soon, otherwise will have to write it myself to keep the main-story going

>>45792874
sadly, writers spent all their energy shitposting in the beginning of the thread. lets pray for their souls

>>45792892
I'm writing, I'm writing. I just have to rewrite a lot of what I had down because of Kasenanon contradicting it.

>>45654240 (49/?)

Shinki gave the human an appropriate amount of time to explain herself. As the scientist continued to stumble over her words and it became obvious that no explanation was forthcoming, Shinki turned to her two companions. “So what was it you were planning to do here? I don’t suppose you were invited?”

The fairy ‘Lemontene’ who was up to this moment looking down, began to sniffle. “N-No, w-we weren’t invited. We were going to go fight the people at the party because Miss Rikako said they were bad b-but they-”

Before Lemontene could finish, Rikako reared on her with a glare. “Don’t pin this on me you fatous spirit of shitty garnishes! You are at least 50-no 90 percent to blame for all of this! Admit it!”

As Rikako pulls back a hand to presumably strike the poor fairy, Shinki roughly grabs her hand and pins it against a nearby tree, producing a yelp from the scientist. “You realize that your companions seemingly are at the edge of mutiny and your single hope in this situation is to earn enough of my pity that I don’t drag you out of Gensokyo and throw you into a volcano for threatening my daughter, right?”

Rikako’s face goes pale, “Y-Your daughter?”

Shinki can vaguely feel a smile on her face but certainly doesn’t feel happy as she replies, “Yes, my daughter. Now little Lemontene as you were saying?”

Lemontene nods as she wipes away her tears, “We… We thought that Mima and everyone were bad people who wanted to do bad things so we were going to go fight them. I’m sorry for the trouble, b-but we were just trying to do the right thing!”

Hmm… Lemontene at the very least seems to genuinely believe what she is saying. Casting a look towards the slimy worm being held in place, Shinki began to piece together what must have happened. Rikako must have manipulated the poor fairy, but what about the maid?

Casting a discerning eye towards the automaton Shinki asks, “Where do you fit into all of this.”

Ruukoto who up to this point was loudly whistling and sweeping the ground, looks up as if confused. “What, me? I was just following orders. Rikako was my master you see, so I had to do what she said.”

A reasonable defense considering Gensokyo has yet to have its equivalent to the Nuremberg Trials, though perhaps that would be a good precedent to establish in the aftermath of all this. Nodding Shinki presses further, “And now what’s this talk of selling poison to people?”

Lemontene tilts her head innocently (cute!) and replies, “Poison? We never gave anyone poison! All we did was sell lemonade and Rikako’s special lemonade.”

Melancholy interjects, “Special lemonade containing toxic industrial waste products.”

Lemontene pouts, “Toxic industrial-whatever, not poison. Rikako already said she was selling uber-toxic chemicals, but that doesn’t mean she was selling poison.”

Melancholy deadpans, “Toxic is synonymous with poisonous.”

Lemontene tilts her head again (cute! again), “Sin-on-a-mouse? What does Nazrin have to do with anything?”

Melancholy replies, “Toxic means poisonous.”

Lemontene blinks, “Oh…”

As accusatory eyes shift to Ruukoto and Rikako, the robot suddenly speaks up. “For the record, I joined the group after any of this selling stuff business. I had nothing to do with it."

As accusatory eyes shift to Rikako, she gulps. “Well… you see… Paracelsus once said ‘"All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; the dosage alone makes it so a thing is not a poison.’ Almonds have cyanide within them, but people are allowed to sell them. What crime have I committed other than boldly treading a new path and facing the inevitable pushback of Luddites?”

Melancholy does not look impressed. “You mixed lead into lemonade.”

Rikako scoffs, “A natural sweetener. Pliny the Elder spoke highly of the sugar of lead. Leadmonade is the next step in the drink industry.”

Shinki looks down at the scientist, “Pliny the elder died of apoplexy. Apoplexy is caused by high blood pressure which is a symptom of lead poisoning.”

Melancholy adds, “Not to mention your ‘Leadmonade’ sent fifty villagers to Eientei.”

Shinki shakes her head, tired of all this. “I’ve heard enough. Ruukoto and Lemontene, you’re mostly off the hook. As for you Rikako… you’re under arrest.”

>>45792892
I've just been a little lazy doing other shit, I wanna say I was busy with IRL shit, but I was really spending 2 days straight trying to pull off a 1cc and the other playing CDDA. Today I was prepping for and doing a ttrpg
I haven't pulled off that 1cc yet...

>>45794434 (50/?)

At the news, Ruukoto raises her broom celebratorily while little Lemontene still looks torn. Rikako however is confused. “Under arrest? You’re not just going to beat me up and smash my lab?”

Shinki shakes her head, “No, you don’t deserve that mercy. I am going to force you to look at the damage you’ve caused and provide restitution to those you’ve wronged MWAHAHAHA!”

Having been released from Shinki’s grip, Rikako falls to her needs and begs at the Goddess’ feet. “No, please! Beat me up! Steal my lunch money! Call me a nerd and shove me into a locker! Anything but that!”

Shinki smirks, “It’s far too late for that my dear.”

Reaching into her magical bag of stuff, Shinki produces a striped black and white prison uniform. After slightly adjusting its dimensions with a bit of magic she says, “Melancholy cover Lemon-err I’ll do it myself. Sariel my dear, would you…?”

Shinki covers Lemontene’s eyes, prompting the doll to ask, “Wha? What’s going on? I wanna see! This is unfair! This is fairy discrimination.”

Ignoring the lemon spirit’s complaints, Sariel slams her staff into the ground with a Hebrew murmur, and suddenly all of Rikako’s clothes are on the ground. The scientist yelps again and attempts to cover herself, but it proves unnecessary as another slam results in her being covered by the striped uniform.

Pleased by Sariel’s performance, Shinki lets go of Lemontene. The fairy breaks the sudden science by exclaiming, “Wow! You sure can change fast Rikako! But why wasn’t I allowed to-”

Little ‘tene is interrupted as Melancholy demands, “What the hell was that Sariel?”

The fallen angel just shrugs, “It was something we pioneered in the Grigori. I haven’t had to use it in a long while though. Are we finished now? We have other places to be.”

Shinki replies, “I know, I know. I just wanted to see this handled properly. Draw up a circle to trap the mana if you would. I don’t want Yukari to catch wind of this.”

Lemontene asks, “What’s going on? What are we doing now?”

Reaching out and brushing the little fairy’s hair, Shinki replies, “Oh, you are going to be guests of Makai for a little while. Well you and Ruukoto, Rikako is going to the dungeons beneath Pandemonium and no not the sex… the secret ones. She’s going into the normal dungeon.”

Ruukoto complains, “Why do I have to go? Can’t I just leave?”

Lemontene meanwhile stares up at Shinki starry-eyed. “You have secret dungeons on top of your normal dungeons? That’s so cool miss Shinki! Can I see them sometime?”

Shinki replies in order, “You know too much” and “You betcha! You can see the super secret dungeons beneath Makai when I’m finished with my business with Yukari.”

As she puffs up while making a promise to the little fairy, Shinki makes a mental note to make some sort of jungle gym thing beneath Pandemonium to entertain the twerp. Sadly, the moment is interrupted when Sariel flicks her. “The circle is ready, you’re free to teleport them to Makai.”

Sulking slightly, Shinki focuses her magic to fold this location over to Pandemonium. Pushing through Gensokyo is a breeze, though there is a momentary pause as the magical membrane of Makai resists the unknown magic. However, the second it identifies her, the wall quickly gives way and in a flash, the three are gone, dropped off along with a note in front of Yumeko.

Wanted to do more tonight, but the Kasen thing really fucked with my plans. if it's not an issue I'd like if it could be struck down as non-canon. Otherwise, I'll need to change a lot of my plans and that might delay things.

>>45794447
>>45794434
Rikako's reign of terror is finally over! No more people shall be poisoned by sweet leadmonade! Thanks for your service, Shinki, Sariel~
>>45794447
>spoiler
that'd be very hard, because it'd contradict what was established during the creation of the sword, which is that it can communicate with Kasen and Yukari, and having the number 1 paranoid Gap Sage just know someone as powerful as Shinki went and tampered with the project she poured so much time and effort into, and it's a cornerstone of her plans… and do nothing about it would feel cheap and unlike Yukari at all. Not even timing can save that, since Shinki did it prior to getting to the party and Yukari/Kasen got the pin around that time. If it was the next day during her IUI, I could change it.
Though, to not delay things further what we can do is that: Shinki doesn't know about Kasen undoing her changes and makes the plan as if they were still true. That would generate a 'bomb beneath the table' situation, where we know something important changed, but the characters don't, and it's just awaiting to explode in their faces. Meaning improvisation on the spot when push comes to shove.

>>45792874
Yeah, I burned one draft and am starting on another.
It's a bit of burnout and having many other things to do mixed into one.

>>45794692
I don't get your point about the party. Wouldn't that be the time when Yukari would be the most distracted? It'd be occurring as Yukari is getting up to her shenanigans. Ultimately however Kasen getting to it is something I can live with.
The big issue is that the magical circles were supposed to cast a spell and then destroy themselves. I suppose Kasen could have caught them while the spell wasn't finished but even then she wouldn't be able to get much out of it as they were masked to appear as though the work of the Dragon God.
I get if you want to smother that plot point in the cradle and you obviously didn't know my plans for how the magic worked, but I dislike how it was handled. The sage with pretty much 0 connection to Western magic being able to find, safely disable, and then be able to identify the magic in the span of a post is what feels cheap IMO.

>>45795160
>the party
that's why she sent Kasen. Distracted as she might be, it happened before Reimu came, so she was still in control and wouldn't ignore a ping like that of the sword.
>Kasen destroying the magic
my reasoning is that it was cast inside what's basically a pool of hers, the bracelet and Yukari's magic, making the Makai magic stick out like a sore thumb. Masked or not, you cannot miss it. She is a Sage for a motive, and even though it took hours, destroying that magic shouldn't be out of her realm.

>>45795120
>burnout
that sucks, man. The project is more calm as of recently, tho, so take a break.

>>45795945
>that's why she sent Kasen. Distracted as she might be, it happened before Reimu came, so she was still in control and wouldn't ignore a ping like that of the sword.
How conscious is the sword? Can it feel everything going on around it in the general area of hell and detect beings even if they are trying to remain hidden?
>my reasoning is that it was cast inside what's basically a pool of hers, the bracelet and Yukari's magic, making the Makai magic stick out like a sore thumb. Masked or not, you cannot miss it. She is a Sage for a motive, and even though it took hours, destroying that magic shouldn't be out of her realm.
This isn't the case. The spell was cast a ways away from the sword on whatever would make a good overlook. Admittedly, while I did explicitly say they were not in the pool, I didn't clarify where exactly they were as I had a weird pride thing about fitting it all into one post. But again, it's whatever. I can accept Kasen destroying the ritual, the specific line that I have an issue with is her tasting the magic and deciding it's from Makai. The entire point of the ritual was to false flag as the Dragon God and open up more possibilities with the sword. I can accept axeing the latter part, but I still don't think Kasen should be able to identify who made the magical circles.

>>45797752
It occurs to me the moment after posting that Kasen did not actually break the circles causing things and only pulled out of the stuff it put into the sword. While the point about it being supposed to feel like the Dragon God's magic is stronger, a lot of the problems I raised are negated.

>>45797752
>How conscious is the sword? Can it feel everything going on around it in the general area of hell and detect beings even if they are trying to remain hidden?
I left that vague, so Anons have more liberties since the sword is so open to the world, and mistakenly thought it wouldn't matter at all, since at the point I made it the understanding was that the finale was coming soon after. Then we got the party… Not saying it was a bad thing the party, it was great developing Hana, Yukari, Sanae and the 'mu, still was more time outside than what I thought initially. My take? Everything inside and on the surface can be perceived, and the sword is as alive as Kasen and Yukari are alive, though it lacks a thinking consciousness; it's just another part of them. It won't ping them for every ounce of prayer it feeds off, but when 'threats' are detected, then it will respond like a nervous system and send a signal to the 'brain', Yukari and Kasen, for them to check what is happening
tl;dr: the sword is a magical limb.
>The entire point of the ritual was to false flag as the Dragon God and open up more possibilities with the sword.
oh, I see, I see. I can work with that, enhancing Yukari's paranoia so she's more ruthless is an easy take~
thanks for bringing it to attention and bearing with me, I'll change it to adapt to that, just need to finish editing these Mokou chapters first
>>45797799
that's rough man…

>>45797944
>thanks for bringing it to attention and bearing with me, I'll change it to adapt to that, just need to finish editing these Mokou chapters first
I'm happy to get a good resolution to this, though I really could have prevented this by giving a few more details initially. All the best, I look forward to those Mokou chapters.

>>45781346
—
Without the 'tainted symbol' on her back, Keine looks nice clad in a black cloak. It makes her much more imposing than the soft woman in blue, which is essential for what's to come.

Keine expects violence—rightfully so—but also that people will hear the things she has to say, hers and our babies' stories. That they'll understand. I… love—so surreal to ponder such a heavy word…—I love her for motives like those, but I feel here they're misplaced. Gensokyo, before turning into this paradise land, was a pit of snakes and continues to be so, though hidden underneath a lot of stars and bright colors. A land of petty wars and depressing bloodshed, where 'disgraced' fathers would force their young to slash open their stomachs…

I won't blame Keine; she wasn't there to see any of that. Despite being a living Atlas, she prefers to seek the positives of our world, admirable change…

… But I was there. For a thousand years, I was there. And I don't want any of it near my family.

That's why, when the day comes, I'll make them hear with these accursed flames and immortal body. Keine will use her heartfelt and beautiful words, and I'll stomp people to gory pulps so they fucking hear her.

I'll play this game so she doesn't have to.

… Still, what after?

What will she think of me? Will these bloody hands snuff the flame of our love, or will she accept my actions as necessary…?

The question is devouring…

I open my conflicted eyes to the sight of her talking to a rat woman—she looks familiar—two kids clung to her back and a look of tiredness lacing her rat face. We're inside Mystia's house, and, whatever I look at, a weak youkai can be seen, most of them droning around my bride-to-be, the flowing cloak setting her apart amidst a sea of wings, tails, and silly hats. Mystia had amassed a lot of youkai—which Keine quickly and warmly integrated into our movement, with Mystia representing night sparrows, that rat woman rat youkai, and so on—food just as abundant as brainy conversation, topics of change, Keine's struggles and derivatives popping within her circle and out of it. Gossip, too.

I tried integrating, but it all felt just so… Overwhelming.

It made me feel sick being surrounded by people, so Keine lent me Aki and Mochi and told me to take a breather in the baby area…

Aki sleeps in my arms; Mochi plays with the other babies and I sulk, though the sheer variety of cute babies brings a smile to my face—oh, no, no! Mochi, bad Mochi! Don't pull the rat's tail!

Keine and the rat lady saw me desperately trying to take Mochi's hand off the crying little rat hybrid, other babies watching with either confusion or plain enjoyment—one was even clapping, the devil!—and Keine's apologies were heard as the mother rushed and, gently, took her child away from mine. Heart pounding, I looked at her, the size difference making her look like a preschooler, though I felt tiny with the crushing feelings of shame swimming inside. “I-I'm so sorry, I did—”

“No, no, it's okay. They're just kids!” She giggled, cuddling her baby; the newborns clung to her back, sleeping despite the loud noises. Keine looked at us, tense, but the woman just waved her hand and a sigh left my bride-to-be before she began talking to Mystia—her three children with her—and two other night sparrows. “Though, my~color me surprised when I saw your children. So cute~” Another giggle escaped her and I couldn't help but frown, stopping Mochi from reaching for the rat lady's recovering daughter.

Then I gave her a better look; sparks popping inside my brain and…! Realization was swift as an overweight cat. “It’s you!”

“Me!” She giggled louder, walking to one of the empty sofas and taking a seat. I juggled my two children before following after her: That woman back at the baby store I and Keine visited during the first stages of her fake pregnancy… Memories of that time are bittersweet, so I staunchly ignore them and focus on the now. “Such a weird outcome—I give some advice to what I think is a fellow expectant mother. Next thing I know, the rumors about her abortion are lies; she has adopted two little night sparrows; and is fighting to make Gensokyo a better place for everyone. Crazy world we live in.”

“Heh, that's my woman for you~!” My words and posture are full of pride, though the rat lady simply nods, cuddling her kids with a smile. I watch the technique with some awe; she juggles three like a master while I struggle for dear life with two.

I look back at Keine managing a bunch of questions and people at the same time and can't help but recall that day in her classroom, lifting her from the ground, yelling about a better life, shaking with sheer happiness…

Things have come a long way. I'm happy…

… Then, I'm not.

This feeling in the air…

I’m terrified.

“Can you, please, hold onto my children? I’ll take a breather outside.” I don’t wait for her stuttered input before giving her my babies. Keine’s worried eyes on me.

Smiling at her, I leave.

>>45799308
—
The snow is strong, but the cold doesn't bother me.

That woman does.

Firming my feet, I leave the ground with a silent yet powerful impulse, speeding through foliage and accumulated snow, eyes blazing irons… Still, my heart beat as if a blast furnace; legs shaking, stomach twisting, throat constricted.

Images of my twins, of Keine—happiness I won't find anywhere else—, an echo of Kaguya's words… Visions of blood… The feedback loop is crushing, yet I trudge forward. Fire hissed beneath my fingernails, flowing white hair under the setting sun, blasting through a thicket with soles landing on the ground, snow screaming as it was blitzed into a melted state, vapor expanding and rising with the pressure change.

My eyes, two stigmata, lift…

Seiga Kaku stares back with a wicked smile—she wears a Yakumo's uniform. “My~you noticed me fast! It just took ten whole minutes!” The mockery was like a bucket of water on my lava-coated heart.

“What do you want, Yakumo scum?!” More of those—more varmints trying to destroy my family; take what's mine… Flames dance, pleading for the cremation of the hermit until she fertilizes the blooms of spring.

“Nothing, nothing. Just interested in some words that got to me—that school teacher is bold; softly overthrowing a government would never end well back in my homeland,” she taps her chin, a chisel in her hand. “We prefer the method of just killing all enemies and taking over power~with your immortality and her power, I doubt you two couldn't do the same.”

“That says more about you than us, freak—now, what the fuck do you want from us?!” A ball of fire snaps from my left hand, eclipsing sunlight and refracting on the snow like an iridescent rainbow. Seiga looks thrilled.

“If that says something about me, is that I usually win!” The rage builds inside like a massive campfire. “Bleh, you’re cute but vastly boring. Not my type.” She shrugs with a sigh. “Anyway—I was just watching, you know? Yukari likes to know about what goes on around her, and a protest in the Human Village can be bad for our business. So I was gathering information!”

The fire rises. “You haven't relayed the information yet…” I mumble, yet she giggles, nodding slowly.

Silence.

I can see a small cut carved in the earth beneath her, probably her escape plan. A droplet of sweat rolled across my neck; muscles tensioned all over, prepared. Seiga wasn't much behind, swirling the chisel and light of Danmaku shining on its very tip…

The world sang with an upcoming duel, the air heaving.

“Also, Mokou-tan~” Her voice had an alarming omen to it. “Your babies… They look very tasty; I'd like love raw—”

Fire is a violent storm, and the tree behind Seiga transforms into a raging pyre. The blue woman was already on the move when a torrent of Danmaku fell upon her like hellfire, her laughter following the attack being just more fuel, and with winds of fire I'm upon her, movements of old martial arts combined with the wrathful fire licking on her skin and clothes, though she opens what resembles gaps in my legs and arms with that chisel of hers, passing through the wide attacks but not the flames themselves.

The pride of each flowing move and dodge of hers is accompanied by bouts of Danmaku, one particular nasty one hitting the side—

—half my face comes flying off in an exodus of blood, bone, and brain matter, littering the snow. Seiga howls with joy. “Wow, so you have a brain~!”

Rigor mortis settles in, knees widespread and blood pouring from my open face—until an inundation of fire surfaces, flesh growing like roots, a new half-face taking place: same wrath portrayed there as the flames border the sides of the closed wound, hair growing back and aligning with the rest of my scalp. “So you're a bitch that doesn't play by the rules…?” She snickers, twirling her chisel. I gazed at her, fire licking my arms. “… Good.”

Before she has time to say another word of bullshit, an ablaze hand is holding her face.

Her brain can only react; utter fear—

—A deluge of flames explodes like a spewing volcano, cracking the sound barrier like a mighty thunder. The sheer quantity of whitish vapor rising from the carbonized forest resembles indeed the aftermath of a volcanic eruption…

Seiga, thrown some feet back by the strength of the flames, stares at me with a fast breath, her face open in two…

Alive, anyway. She used the chisel on herself. Smart.

But hardly enough; her whole body is shaken, trauma coursing through her like a nasty virus. I brush a knuckle against my mouth, cleaning the dirt; flames surround me like a ghostly bird, its tail sizzling the snow and eyes deep on Seiga. “Heh… V-Very nice, Mokou-chan~” I narrow my eyes with her incessant mockery.

… Something feels off about all this…

But I don't care; ready to continue fighting, same for Seiga—

—until, from a wound of bloodshot eyes behind her that suddenly appeared, comes a hand that lands on her shoulder.

Seiga froze, then sighed. “Ow~fun’s over.”

edited the Kasen chapter around to adapt to Mimaanon's idea. Not much changed, just the addition of, after destroying the magic left by Shinki, Kasen recognizes the bluff behind the magic.
Next Kasen chapter tomorrow with Yukari~

>>45774653
—
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.

all this talk about magic and swords...
what am I, chopped liver?
seriously I am a long ways from home and my only friend (who isn't in Jail) is currently being bulled in the bathroom by a dweeb with blue hair please advise

>>45799742
>what am I, chopped liver?
Exactly, we have filled up our collective headspace with discussion regarding magical items that we have no room for science.

>>45799329
Whelp looks like mokou and Keine are joining the big solstice shitshow one way or another, mostly because seiga wants to replenish her stock of dead baby danmaku.

>>45800378
little spoiler: they aren't taking part in the Solstice~

>>45799742
>please advise
I wonder what was the resolution of this plot point in Rikakoanon's character arc

The man staggered backward, nervously adjusting his glasses as the white wolf stoically approached him.

"What are you scheming human?" The Tengu asked, raising her broad sword to his neck.

"Scheming? Can't a man walk around the village without being accosted?" He angerly asked.

Slowly the wolf sheathe her sword before grabbing the man by the collar, pulling him into an alley, and pinning him by his robe against his wall, no small feat, considering he was a foot taller then her. With her other hand she fished around his pockets, pulling out pens, coins and other effects until she found what she was looking for, a leather-bound note book, flipping it open, she perused the sketches of various woman and crowds, stopping for a moment longer on illustrations of white wolves, before shutting the book with a thud.

"You're doing more then traversing I think, what are all these drawings for hm?" She asked sternly.

"My hobby?" He replied, raising an eyebrow.

"A hobby? Perhaps, or maybe you're gathering intelligence hm? These illustrations are quite detailed after all and I doubt a human such as you has such interest in Youkai." The Tengu's white tail made a violent flick as she spoke.

"It's... my hobby." The man said, his face slightly reddened.

"What's going on here?" A new voice spoke from the entrance to the alley.

Both parties turned to seen the woman wearing the working outfit of the HSE, adorned with a camo cap.

"Begone Yammawaro, what happens outside the HSE is our stewardship." The white wolf said with a low growl.

Takane sighed. "Really? Then should be so kind as to attend my meeting with Yukari later this afternoon to explain this little incident?" She asked.

The Tengu turned to the man, then glanced back to Takane. Gently, she let the man down and, with her tail, flicked up one of the pens she dropped to her hand and wrote something within the leather-bound sketchbook, before pressing it to the man's chest and backing off. The man grabbed it, quickly sweeped up the rest of his possession and left the alley. The White Wolf made to leave as well, before Takane stopped her.

"Don't take this personally, but he'll respond better if you just tell him honestly." she whispered.

"Mind your own business." the White wolf retorted, slightly reddened and bearing her fangs, before trotting off.

>>45801148
this one reminds me of a three parter I almost posted after the fake doujinshis bonanza where the White Wolf Brigade would be initializing recruits and, to troll them they'd send the nervous recruits to Anon with the challenge of trying to be the first one to get him to pet them
It'd end in massive sex.
Didn't finish it because was busy as hell at the time, maybe I finish it since sexanons are basically starved.

>>45801148
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I used to think the White Wolves were more honorable and serious, but after that incident with Momiji, were she tottaly lost herself because she SMELLED something, I started to see things in a new light. Take, for example, this one who just pinned a man against a wall for some drawings, was she performing her duty by interogatting a potential spy? Or, was she at her limit and looking for some 'stress relief'. Ughhh, thinking about it disgusted me a little, these Youkai acting all lustful and needy when they were supposed to be doing their jobs, in all the time I've spent managing this place, I couldn't understand that 'need' of there's.

It was a small blessing though, that many of the workers where proud enough not to cash in on their employee discount, it meant that Anon could have an extra rest period here and there when appointments failed to show and the next customers weren't ready. Still, it meant that the problem just migrated outside the HSE to the emergent market that surrounded it and the human men curious enough to visit it didn't realize the real danger they were in. From random locker inspections I found stolen clothing, stacks of photographs taken of the same man in public and private settings, and some of the dubious 'love perfumes' sold in the back of some of these stands.

Analytically, I knew it was an economic reality, there was only so much of Anon going around and Youkai that used to live far from the village, like Tengu, now had much easier access to mates, without the need for kidnaping and spiriting away to some mountain. I even anticipated the cultural changes that the brothel would cause, asking Yukari for an alarm to be fired off whenever a man entered or left the HSE for posterity so we'd deter such debauchery, although I think the only reason she agreed to it was because it was another security layer for Anon.

Yes, analytically I recognized it, emotionally, seeing workers with hickeys and public displays of affection, held hands, wandering eyes, stolen kisses, retreating into sheds or alleys where they thought nobody was watching, it all made me wince.

"Hugghh." I sighed, comforting myself in the knowledge that all this would soon be at an end and trying to clear my head for the task ahead.

The village buzzed more then usual for this time of year, or at least, seemed so from on the ground. I'd spent much time watching this place with spy glasses from the mountain to gather business intelligence in the past, but being on the ground brought a whole new perspective. People were hauling goods, mainly firewood(of which I had secretly supplied much), but also food and decorations. Children played and ran in the streets, trying to catch various animals and balls they'd thrown about, unaware that many of those things were, in fact, Youkai. Many expectant mothers also walked about, some shameful, others with pride, a few of them human, but far more of them Youkai who were seeking to know more about the other half of their future child's heritage.

It all made me feel even more awkward, truth be told. I had disguised myself, yes, but the keen-eyed humans could tell, even the slyest Youkai couldn't escape their sight here in the village. Not that they would do anything of course, Hana would be quite overworked if she was called for any odd Youkai visiting the village, still, it made me concious either way, wondering if they saw me as a whore, a deceitful villain, some strange oddity, or maybe, in the most rare case, a marriage prospect.

I shook my head again as I approached one of the Alley's Goro's map of Kogasa locations had led me to, maybe I'd ask her a little about how she managed here herself?

>>45801330
Ha, that'd be doubly awful since I also gave you the name for that Doujin parody.

>>45794434
>>45794447
Based Sariel writeanon eliminating the zoomerhumor gag characters that added nothing of importance to the entire story from the narrative
Kill off the other fairies & Okina next please

>>45801648
it's kind of a shame because way back at the start, I'd had a thought about a different grouping of Rikako, Rika, and Ruukoto (She would have been the sole comic relief by fucking up plans by sheer incompetence) as mechanics and engineers who Yukari was hiring on the quiet (Because being a scientist is considered heresy in PoDD) to perform services related to the building of the HSE, and then later chemistry services related to the incense, but then the Yamawaro were brought in for building and Rikako was thrown to the weird Lemontene plot, so the whole idea ended up never materializing

>>45801648
nigga what

>>45801648
>that added nothing of importance to the entire story from the narrative
They introduced the concept of the black market emerging outside the HSE with the first lemonade post, so that's objectively wrong.
>>45801669
> but then the Yamawaro were brought in for building
First the Sagume chapters we would've gotten, now this. Every day I learn about some idea I inadvertently snuffed out. Such is the way of things on a community writing project.

>>45801688
>Every day I learn about some idea I inadvertently snuffed out
That's a rough thought. Don't even want to know my score...

>>45801688
>They introduced the concept of the black market emerging outside the HSE with the first lemonade post, so that's objectively wrong.
This is some of the biggest cope I think I've ever read. That could've been introduced during one of the hundred of establishing shots where a character stands outside the HSE and nobody ITT would even bat an eye. It doesn't even make sense from a character perspective. Why isn't it somebody like Chimata instead of a 98hu that couldn't even get 100 points in the latest popularity poll?

>>45802067
since when has the fucking popularity poll mattered? they were just there first, and no one thought or cared to have chimata do it before the idea of lemontene selling lemonade was brought up

man, it'd be nice if life could stop fucking Hanaanon's ass. So hyped for the Hana's chapters~

>>45801648
Don't worry Yukari can always Gap Cirno into the infinite torture dimension like she threatened to.
And the rest are jobbers.

>>45802259
I remember when yukari threatened ran by saying she'd throw chen into a torture chamber she found in eastern europe rather than just having a torture dimension

>>45802287
weren't both threats just her manipulating others? It's still vague if Yukari would or not harm Chen, even though she called Chen an automaton recently, in the Kogasa's chapters she was shown getting disappointed and shocked by Chen neglecting her a hug; while the Cirno dimension of torture could really just be a gap manipulating the fairy's capacity to respawn for all we know. Both were used to threaten and get a reaction: Okina was coerced into wasting time, not solely focus on her army and getting paranoid as seen in the Aya's chapters; and Ran to not forget her place while still having a plot, seen in the Ran chapters with her having the tools to sever Yukari's control though not doing so because it could end with Chen in Yukari's hand, where in the Solstice Chen will be the last thing in Yukari's mind
doubtful any of the two threats will be fulfilled anyway.

>>45802477
Keep coping Cirno's gonna end up in a fate worse than death either way.
Being Okina's rape slave is basically a form of torture anyways.

>>45802081
>they were just there first
and general quality suffered ever since because of it.

>>45802514
Cirno being groomed to be okina's replacement "properly"? The sage did consider it in 16 I vaguely recall.

>>45801345
>That many of the workers where proud enough not to cash in on their employee discount
Oh, how old and new lore have changed so much through the threads. It used to be that the tengu working there would run trains on him as stress relief. Lets just pretend that a sizable amount of the workers don't for the sake of your narrative, huh?
Still, I wonder how Anon's Tengu/Kappa/Tanuki fanclub will react during the finale. Maybe it would be unexpectedly wholesome?
Or just a lot of backstabbing as they try smuggling him to various parts of gensokyo...

>>45803060
>>That many of the workers where proud enough not to cash in on their employee discount
>Oh, how old and new lore have changed so much through the threads. It used to be that the tengu working there would run trains on him as stress relief. Lets just pretend that a sizable amount of the workers don't for the sake of your narrative, huh?
Keyword being 'many' here, I think it's needlessly constricting and maliciously autistic to say that all the workers need to be of the same mind. Makes things boring because someone wrote one line at one point.
Also, it lets me write more scheduling problem content. You see, if you have a workstation like a heat treat oven or a long database ETL job that has a limited capacity and a long lead time, you want to make sure you buffer work for it in advance so you don't lose production capacity in cases where an upstream job may be late, which I imagine is where worker's get their employee discount from when customers flake, get caught using counterfeit money, get kicked out, etc.

>>45803317
Yeah, i'm not heckling you or anything. Just funny to see how old lore is getting retconned often enough to make way for more intresting dynamics and plot points
>spoiler
Ah yes, I understand entirely...(I don't). Discounts were just a funny thing that was written in to make things more grim for Anon anyways. Not the worst move on Yukari's part since it'd make them more inclined to keep things functioning and prevent any serious attachments to be formed. Then Yukari forgot how much of a softy Ran became...

>>45803338
>Yeah, i'm not heckling you or anything.
Ah, I see I see.
>Ah yes, I understand entirely...(I don't)
Well you see, It's like fast pass.
Also do you mind if I write a vent crawling chapter with Chen and Flandre. It will be full of hijiinks, chuuni, and workers rights violations.

>>45803363
I am neither Ranfag nor any writer associated with the Yukari rape rondo. Do as you please.

>>45765837

The waters of the pond-turned-hotspring were pleasantly hot, a good bit warmer than she normally likes it, but the freezing chill of the air more than made up for any discomfort. For a bit, no more than a few minutes Hana felt like a child again as the tension bleed from her. She was trapped in here with a tyrant and monster, that was undeniable, yet for a few days at least that tyrant would be at her most docile, if Hana knew her mother. Even what seemed so long ago, when they lived under her terror as a fact of life, she would have these days and weeks of placidity spurred on by whatever passed as guilt in her sake-addled mind.

Hana fell into the habit of enjoying what she had when she had it; so, with whimsy coursing through her veins she let her hands scoop up the water and toss it into the air. It’s as if she was a child again and played with the fairies in secret behind the shrine when her mother wasn’t looking. She admired the light of the moon and stars refracting inside the droplets and dancing across her eyes like the ice that fell in lazy waves earlier today. The stress and pain of today cooled under the frigid air that caused her exposed skin to shiver, her damp hair to nearly freeze, and sent a thrill of excitement throughout her body.

Sour memories, ones that have been running through her head nonstop, bleed out as she laughed out loud and practically danced through the chest deep water of the deepest part of the pond enjoying how it moved as she used her powers create unique patterns. Without a care she dived into the water, breaking bathing etiquette, as she swam the short distance and played like she was in a river. The hot water became pleasantly warm as her body acclimatized; all terrible thoughts were ignored for a time as her muscles sang out in pleasure from the relaxing feeling permeating Hana’s skin along with the heat. Floating on her back now, she watched the emerging stars grow in power alongside the half-moon as the night truly took hold and bested the sun’s brilliance.


All things come to end however, and before her skin got too pruny Hana left the pond; dashing to the change of clothes that hung on the partition separating her sight from the shrine’s rear. She used the towel to quickly wipe off the excessive moisture from her skin in a hurry before wrapping her hair in the towel itself. Her sandal clad feet crunched on the thin layer of fresh snow as she rounded the partition and found the outfit promised, two of them…

An older version of her miko’s outfit sat there upon a small foldable table… alongside the outfit Yukari had made for her.

Hana stared at them; the cold that invaded her body almost forgotten as the sandals on her feet barely insulated her from the frozen winter beneath her feet. She reached out a hand only to pause again before her mind could come up with an answer at this surprising question. The dread and confusion of the day’s events came back in full force after such a delightful time where they were ignored.

Why had her mother seen fit to put them both out for her? She knew that mother didn’t have a good opinion of ma- Yukari, and after this incident she can’t say she had the highest either. Neither did the others for that matter, least of all Yuuka and Marisa.

The embarrassment and terror she felt today flashed behind her eyes as she recalled the gross amalgamation of feelings that caused her to say what she did and reduced her to a sobbing wreck. How they all looked at her as she was being carried out, the terrible anger behind their eyes after they found out about their… relationship, and their comfort that felt inexplicably different than Yukari’s…

Trepidation filled Hana as she reached for the Hakurei uniform, an older outfit made by her father for her only two years ago; left behind in their rushed move as non-essential. It’s faded crimson and off-white fabric was clearly worn out in some areas and stained in others by frequent use, yet her father’s craftsmanship shone through in retaining its quality despite that it was looking a bit small here and there.

Nostalgic and bittersweet memories came from that outfit like fruit from a tree, it was folded carefully and sat alongside her undergarments. Memories of years gone by where she’d experienced life alongside her father; being taught by him and acquiring valuable knowledge, their expeditions with Aunn as they foraged and acquired the tastes of the seasons, and the less savory ones of covering for each other to desperately avoid the wrath of mother…

>>45804040

Her finger caressed the worn fabric, thin from use despite its purpose of being cold resistant, and her finger felt a long-mended tear. One of the rare good memories she shared with her mother, of them working together to solve a particularly troublesome case involving a newly settled youkai that didn’t understand the rules. Despite it being a rather shallow wound that simply bleed a bit more than it should have, seeing her mother’s worried face she placed talisman after talisman on her until she dragged her to Eientei was a new experience. As well it was a strange experience to be coddled so much by her, even letting her neglect her chores until Hana insisted. She wondered if that bratty youkai was still sealed within that rock?

Chill seeped into her skin as her attention drifted to the outfit that was gifted to her at that eventful party. It was an amalgamation of the miko outfit she always wore and Yukari’s own white and frilly business dress, the accents purple instead of crimson and tastefully complimenting the stark whites and reds. The tabard itself a blending of Yukari’s favorite trigram and the Hakurei yin and yang symbols and in the same color scheme. Did Yukari design this herself…?

A deep sorrow filled her as she stared at the craftsmenship, attention to detail, and quality of materials that caught her eye for the first time. Hana still didn’t want to believe that Ma- Yukari had used her like everyone was saying, she didn’t want to believe that Yukari used her love and affections to some twisted end. Did Yukari really love her? Hana knew that Yukari was different, but in her own way she wanted to help others and loved Gensokyo. Between the times Yukari… exploited…? Hana’s desires, Yukari had seemed genuine, playful even, as Yukari trained Hana, shared exotic outsider meals, and lectured her on concepts that Hana didn’t quite understand like four dimensional manifolds and quantum synchronicity…

Yukari had hurt her all the same, even before the party Hana had realized it to an extent. Yukari didn’t understand family, and even if she did accept Hana’s sinful love for father it was only borne from a lack of common sense. One that both her mother and father readily warned her about, that those youkai who live for too long will carry severe misunderstandings of how humans work. Did Yukari act and do those things out of malicious intent…? Hana didn’t want to believe it, but the truth was plain as day. Yukari had hurt her, humiliated her and father without a shred of hesitancy, and did the same horrible things to father that mother did…

The memory of those days she found her father dragged into that baleful gap and was run into exhaustion before she could even get close to try and rescue him. The memory of the day she had been dragged her before her father, Yukari nearly killing her by suffocation and destroying her father’s peace for some unknown end. The many, many more memories of Yukari exploiting Hana whenever she pleased, making the miko in training terrified of her own shadow and never wanting to venture alone at night. They all played in her mind like a terrible picture show.


The breeze picked up, blasting the last of Hana’s warmth out of her body with a soft yet potent chill that caused her skin to raise in bumps. Hana made her decision then; the chill of the night would not allow less. With the snow beginning to fall again like the memories she’d be forced to endure for the rest of her life, Hana made her decision.


Dressed now in the warmth of her miko’s outfit, she carried in the Yakumo outfit gingerly without allowing it to unfurl and drag in the dirt. She would have to confront Yukari eventually, if she did truly love her, she would hear her out without trying to use her tricks. For now? Hana would accept the warmth of those that did love her earnestly, and she would confront her mother for once and all. She’d find her peace with Reimu one way or another…

Sorry for the delay folks, but Hana and Reimu's confrontation will be happening soon. Likely tomorrow if all is well.
I'm trying to leave Hana's feeling's open for a second confrontation with Yukari and all. This time with Hana unable to simply be talked over like an old lady in front of a used car salesman. At this point i'm not going to go back into an open Hana Yakumo thing, since the way the story has gone, but I do like a little ambiguity. It will allow everyone to write how they please for the finale without limiting things.
I wonder how the hag council has taken things, I be Yukari would be the type to not give one to everyone there as a powermove

>>45804045
Completely unrelated, but I found the trigrams on her tabard amusing. Kùn, it means confinement or oppression. It can crush you, manipulate you, and exhaust you. This is pretty bad, but there's a positive side; even the most placid animals will fight back tooth and claw when backed into a corner, so too can you by finding inner strength and draw out the most of your capabilities to overcome this adversity.

...Well I can't say I was expecting to see this when popping back into the thread.
Dang, There were obviously a few bumps on the road here (both personally and in the thread) but I thought I was doing a pretty alright job with the Rikakotene stuff. Didn't know it gave some of you guys such strong opinions, let alone even be popular enough to warrant them. I'm fine with exiling myself from the project if that's what the majority wants. There's been quite a few light-hearted jabs on how they're expendable and not really important to the overall story already so it probably wouldn't affect anyone or anything too drastically.

>>45801135
Initially at first conception of the two stooges (later three) there was always an idea for that cool fight scene but I've kinda just shelved that once the Party hit lol. Besides that, nothing really super game changing or anything. Just a scene of them and the Jobber squad finally interacting face2face. Joining them in the big scenes like whatever's happening during the solstice arc.
Getting teleported to Makai wasn't high on my bingo card but I already have some funny ideas so I can probably make it work. I do want them to appear during the solstice in some form however so figuring that how to achieve that while stuck in Pandemonium's Slammer is gonna be a bit of a brain teaser

>>45804932
>I'm fine with exiling myself from the project if that's what the majority wants
DO IT FAGGOT

>>45804932
I wouldn't worry about that one(1) guy who constantly bitches about everything. He will bitch no matter what after all.
As long as you don't go balls to the wall in treading on other's stories, including your characters where they don't belong, or jump the gun like the cirnowriter did I don't think anyone would have grounds to genuinely dislike the silly story of tene or you as a writer.

>>45803363
Chenanon here: sure, go ahead! Treat the girls well, please

>>45805157
>Treat the girls well, please
Lewd them and include them in the suffering porn???
Alright let's see, we got Yukari, Hana, Kasen, and Okina that can get this ball rolling. Which one should it be?

>>45804045
>>45804040
>Hana playing with the water
oh, so you took the wholesome approach at that line. Glad!
Man, this path of strife better have some good ass karma for poor Hana in the end, she deserves it
So she choose the Hakurei uniform? Nice~ considering Reimu's reaction after Hana left the room, she'll probably be rolling on the ground of happiness (out of view, of course)
Thanks for the chapters!
>>45804091
>Hag Trinity reaction
Am awaiting for the warplan and so the party officially to finish to write that

>>45803401
Wait how come Yuuka is in chains? Did I miss something?

>>45805615
it's just comedic visualization since Mima was keeping Yuuka at bay until before the statue was revealed and hell broke loose

>>45805289
>oh, so you took the wholesome approach at that line. Glad!
For now...

>>45804178
Better yet, it combines the meanings of “Fire ()” (power and, well, flames/fire) with “Lake ()” (old and connection, the realization of boundaries). I just find it a pleasant coincidence that Reimu's views on her powers and her life being plainly about using those mighty powers and nothing else, and then her denial of this continuous cycle, breaking it through sheer love and willpower, took her to be gifted flames not to kill or destroy, but to protect Hana; while Yukari has lost so much of her connection to other people and life itself, she can't even recognize the true love Chen and Ran feel for her, this life of loneliness and unresolved trauma leading her to forsake natural life and seek to force it through cold science and magic
all the while, Hana is left to carry the consequences of their deeds.

>>45806780
H-Hanaanon…?

>>45801648
>>45802067
he's right you know

>>45799329
—
They began talking.

I can't properly hear them talk from this far—… Hana? The Hakurei brat…?—, but the way Seiga leans towards the Gap and talks, trying to contain her voice, tells me the conversation is tense.

The thought of charging the hermit, letting my fury run wild, and just tearing her head off is reconsidered: I have witnessed Yakumo's abilities repeatedly; neither Danmaku nor my flames will do substantial damage... Still, the burning rage at Seiga's words about my little ones—my precious little ones—and my outrage demanded action. For them, Keine made a mad last stand; she could’ve given up but chose to persist… Teeth clench as flames rise—

—just for them to be extinguished. What the—?

I tried fueling them, but they refused to ignite. “Excuse me, Fujiwara-san, we are almost done.” The voice came from my side, a tingling feeling that lasted a second before vanishing. Looking back at Yukari and Seiga in silence: I have never lost my fire, not even beneath water or sporting a broken body… I tsk'd, shoving my hands inside my pockets to conceal their shaking.

The thought of me having committed a mistake is harrowing.

Calmly and elegantly, Yakumo left the Gap, an oddly genuine smile on her face, moving with a certain weightlessness. “Sorry for bothering you and your little party; I was just doing my job as a Sage~”

“Your bitch of a subordinate said she'd eat my kids—is that something sages do, Yakumo?” My tone is a perfect mask of rage. Yukari hummed at those words, twirling her parasol once and twice as she looked around: mere twenty seconds of battle, and the area seemed as if a battlefield victim of Greek fire.

“That's very rude of you, Seiga,” the hermit rolls her eyes, pulling a pipe out of her flower and lighting it—I hide a smirk seeing the slight yet persistent tremble of her hands. She won't forget those flames so soon. “Well, Fujiwara-san, I apologize on behalf of her; you must be acquainted with her reputation already, but I guarantee you: she's not eating anyone's babies.” It was a fucking lie; I could feel it in my bones, hairs on my arms standing upright, a flame the Gap couldn't control flicking inside. “But anyway, to what matters: she has told me what she heard of yours and Kamishirasawa-san's plan for the village, and…” She pauses, Seiga smoking with anticipation, anxiety eating my insides. We're already deep in difficulties following Keine's way of dealing with the Hieda situation; the Yakumo household coming for us would be terrible…

But not only for us. Far from it. There's a motive why no one—not even the Sages—picks fights with either me or Kaguya.

You cannot hope of outlasting an Hourai immortal in battle.

Yukari's eyes tell me she knows that well… Although… There's something in there that sends shivers up my spine.

“… I've decided it's not worth my time. The cultural landscape of the village doesn't interpolate directly with the success of the HSE; even so, I'd say your plans can even get us more clients~” She beams, Seiga sighing with bored eyes. “So, by all means, go forward with your plans! Less ignorance between humans and youkai would relieve a lot of burdens from my maidens' shoulders, hm?”

What in the…?

So she's just… choosing not to meddle? I’m very delighted with the outcome, though it's the Yakumo woman on the other side; lies are as much part of her reputation as those freaky Gaps. And that peculiar gut feeling I got just now…

She must be hiding something.

'What?' It's a question that I doubt I'll get an answer to here and now, so I just nod. The Yakumo woman seems very happy. “Glad we cleaned the slate~! Ah, knowing your conservative background, I should've brought a sword to offer to you—that'd cement our friendship~!” My skin shivers, though I can't pinpoint why, the woman's expression unreadable as a Gap opens behind her. “But I'll leave the gift-giving for posteriority. Let's go now, Seiga. I'm sure Fujiwara-san would like to return to her family.”

“Hǎo de~” She shrugs with a huff of her pipe, giving me a side glance as she follows Yakumo inside the Gap. My burning irons exposed a wince of terror beneath that ugly face, remnants of my raging flames almost atomizing her head—still, it didn't erase her smugness, showing me two rows of sharp teeth. I swear to break both if she gets close to my children.

Just like that, they leave, and I stand alone in the barren patch of forest…

Tsk'ing, hands scratching my hair, I squat, flames igniting again. It's a small relief for my throbbing heart.

… Mochi, Aki, Keine…

As if things weren't already confusing and hard enough for us…

Alone in this clearing, snow melting with leftover fire, I ponder this meeting, a longing thought consuming me as the moments pass: taking Keine and the twins in my arms and just… Run away. Run from the village that stoned my bride; that'd hate my babies—Gensokyo.

Start anew outside; build a worthy, great life…

Maybe find a small measure of peace.

… It’d be nice.

>>45810256
—
I’d left for twenty minutes. Two of pursuit, one of fighting, five of conversation, ten of a panic attack and two to return—and a lifetime of fear.

My kids are the first thing I look for; they’re both safely nestled in a cradle by the rat woman who swung it tenderly. She seems amused at my deep sigh of relief, and I make a mental note to interrogate her on how the fuck she put Mochi to sleep in just 20 minutes. My eyes are then on the other third of my heart, and her eyes are still full of concern, though it doesn't last much—she's good at hiding—before she makes a gesture for me to come closer, the others watching with barely disguised interest.

They were surrounding a dining table where a map of the village lied; the Hieda household was in focus as a big red area, the subtitle in blue being: 'Area of peaceful protest'; while, throughout the entire village, green dots marked 'letter spots’; lines of various colors tagging the routes, each one with two names attached to them. More things were on the map; the details and absolute organization of information a testament to Keine’s decades of teaching.

She was explaining it extensively to anyone who'd ask or had a question, but I barely processed any of it as I placed myself behind her like a shogi dragon tower…

… Though the effectiveness of said tower is dubious after that short meeting with the Yakumo scum…

My stomach turned, but I hid it well, eyes on the stacks of letters by the side… If I burned all of them, Keine wouldn't be able to reach the villagers so easily, and the protest would die before it started. The failure could be used as an excuse for us to run away.

… It took a second for me to digest this thought and when I did it, I wanted to puke. I was seriously considering destroying her work out of fear for the future? What kind of friend, confident—bride—am I?! The flame of shame burned—a sense of helplessness I hadn't felt in a thousand years—as my eyes rushed to my son and daughter.

They were still well. Alive, breathing, cuddling with each other, hiding their lower faces with their cute wings, all warm with the small pellet of harmless fire I planted inside their tiny hearts so they'd always have one of their mothers with them…

… It could end so easily.

It took me minutes to notice Seiga. She wouldn't need minutes.

Only a second…

One second, not enough to save them; to do anything to help—

—a warm hand catches mine, hidden from view with her long cloak. My thoughts slow down as I look at Keine's nape, feeling an urge to kiss it…

… Ugh, gods.

I catch my breath and, with my free hand, clean the few drops of sweat from my forehead—an incarnated phoenix sweating in the winter… If that's not the set-up for a joke, I don't know what it is.

“Any more questions?” Keine's tone is gentle and nonjudgmental, looking around the crowded room—I wonder if this is a teacher's tactic; children do often get ashamed of asking questions…—but it seems the plan was passed on successfully, prompting Keine to nod to herself, cutely satisfied. “Great~! This concludes our meeting. The next one will come in two days so we can have a more in-depth discussion about the protest. Remember to stick to the discussed routes so you don't get caught by patrols; don't get separated from your pair so, if one of you does get caught, the other can set off a flare, and I'll eat that part of history. Tonight, we're going to kick-start a better Gensokyo: none of our children will ever need to suffer as we did. They and their children will look back with pride knowing their parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters fought and didn't give up on this beautiful land, struggling to make it better!” Her eyes on Aki and Mochi bear love strong enough to withstand earthquakes. “Tonight, we build our children's futures… Thank you.”

Nods and words of agreement, inspiration, and excitement spread around like wildfire, the air saturated with sheer resolution as each pair of youkai got a stack of letters.

No way back now…

The youkai streamed out in preparation for tonight and, just as the horizon swallowed the sun and thick winter clouds concealed the skies, I and Keine left Mystia’s house, Mochi in her arms and Aki in mine.

The way back home was silent, Keine keeping close to me all the way—we recovered our basket of fish to store it and flew a bit with the twins to tire them out for them to nap. It was still quiet as we prepared dinner together, filled mostly with Mochi and Aki crying, as it was around these hours they'd wake up and let nature take its course.

With everyone well-fed, it was my turn to put the twins to sleep. Keine went to take bath first…

Just one second, all that it’d take…

… Tears welled in my eyes as I watched them sleep, standing by their cradle, sniffing, my legs trembling.

Keine left the bath and saw my wide eyes and shaking legs—my despair. She didn’t seem surprised, and the smile she gave me felt like home. “… Wanna talk?”

I nodded.

>>45810256
Pretty comfy chapters, I don't see how Keine's protests will make things better in the long run, but thats any committee organized by mothers for you.

>I can't properly hear them talk from this far—… Hana? The Hakurei brat…?—
So Seiga is gonna sicced on Hana next? Can't wait to see how that pans out.

>>45810441
>how Keine's protests will make things better in the long run
it'll benefit mostly weak youkai's lives like her twins and clean her reputation in the short-run and, with her pushing for better teaching—so things like stoning people out of ignorance never happen again—and the youkai integration with human society after the Pregnancy Crisis and natural sympathy for the devil, youkai will become less of threats and seen more as just regular people. Taking from the fact youkai change based on people's belief, that'd theoretically decrease their violence and threat
of course, most of it won't be tackled because it'd be WAY after the finale; but I'll make an epilogue after the events of the HSE for Keine, Mokou and the twins~
>Can't wait to see how that pans out.
spoiler: she'll be mostly keeping Reimu busy to try tackling Hana alone, though it'll depend on if Hanaanon wants Hana to meet Yukari by herself. It's low priority on the Seiga side, so I wouldn't like him to change his plans just to fit it, I'll write around whatever he chooses

>>45810702
>seen as regular people
wouldn't that make people less afraid of them and therefore put the youkai in danger of death?

>>45810739
counting on not with the Hakurei Barrier still up and keeping them alive, since it was raised for such purpose, and the fact that only weak youkai would stop being feared while others like onis; Tungus and such that hold considerable power would still strike general fear for 'youkai', but who knows? Maybe Keine is leading a Youkai genocide! That wouldn't be too far off from the Eren memes

>>45810803
Or the ones about Byakuren "genociding" Youkai by trying to make them enlightened.

>>45810702
I've said this from the start, but Keines action would remove the supernatural element and fear from these level one mooks and cause then to die off rapidly as their nature changes or they become humans after living in the village. It won't matter for thr sake of the story and all, but Keine-sensei should've take the swastika. Since she's about to purge all the undesirables and let Yukari have pick of the litter.
>spoiler
Could be interesting as a way to confront Yukari, with anyone else there it'll only get in the way of a confrontation. I'd imagine that if it is one on one it'd be hard for her to resist Yukari's schemes.

>>45810901
The nature of youkai can change and it could just be mackied away, but the only other story I remember touching on it was the Okina one in a doubly non-canon chapter as I don't think it's in the Cirno non canon fic or the "main story" AO3 fic.

>>45810739
Nta but I like to headcanon that the death is transformative, they stop being youkai and be something else, it really strictly depends on how others hold a collective view on how it would turn out, them actually going poof or not.
Imagine being so powerful as a youkai yet being inexplicably bound to man in such a harsh way that if they wanted to and really understood, kill you.

>>45810901
>I'd imagine that if it is one on one it'd be hard for her to resist Yukari's schemes.
doubtful; the party was an eye-opener for Hana, and though she still favors Yukari slightly as seen in the last Hana chapter, talking to Yukari again and being capable of seeing through her words should be a sobering experience. Or maybe not. Hyped for what Hanaanon has in store~

>>45810933
Yeah it can change, and most youkai in the prints treat that as a kind of death since they are entirely based off of legends and perception. It'd be like becoming an entirely new being, which for something made entirely of spirit is akin to getting reincarnated. Its why they take care in their public.
In Cirno's case, dubiously canon as it is, it was a fairy(nature diety) becoming a full god, it isn't necessarily a change of nature, but even just that minor step has radically changed Cirno's character into someone much smarter and thoughtful. She's already a different person and the change would only be more profound for a youkai.

>>45810951
Methinks a lot of hana's development and resistance towards yukari will mostly be dependent on how her infernal lust stands after her interactions with her real mom and possibly anon and his letter.

>>45809033
Who's right about what?

>>45811028
Your mom

>>45811012
Then she's doomed. That lust didn't go anywhere, she's still an abused girl in the most hormone addled time of her life surrounded by gorgeous people.

>>45811012
Then she's saved! Anon will say 'NO!' and Reimu will teach her the art of unfucking yourself mentally through carpentry, meaning all that lust will be safely targeted onto her dog!

>>45811045
I believe in Hana, that things can very slowly be better for her over time, in context with the solstice however at best I think it can only be redirected, that's just me though.

>>45811035
What about mom?

>>45811130
stop shitposting and go talk to your mother, Hana. She wants to teach you about the shrine's woodwork philosophy

>>45811045
maybe she just needs to get all of it out of her system by engaging in a drugged up fuckfest for several days straight until she's no longer a hormonal mess

>>45809033
oh my fucking goooooooooooooooood SHUT UP

>>45811177
That's one weird looking Reimu.

>>45811196
That may work for men but I don't think that will work well for a woman anon, have you seen those drugged out party girls?

>>45811214
I haven't found a carpenter!Reimu yet; maybe will have to edit my own...

>>45810256
>>45810266
Keine is really taking to her new role really well. The Gensokyo of the future is going to be unrecognizable with all the changes that will take place.

>>45811124
It's not going to be easy but now that the problem is identified steps can be taken to help her.

>>45810803
>>45810901
>>45810933
The belief issue doesn't really hurt half-youkai so much since they've got the best of both worlds. The acknowledgement that youkai are real would be enough. For the rest of the real and weaker youkai it could be a problem. Maybe an ending could tackle the idea that an alternative solution could be found to sustain youkai, maybe swing that macguffin demon sword into a power source/engine of fear/cake dispensary that allows nearby (within Gensokyo) youkai to subsist without requiring humans to 100% fear them. That solution that kinda feels like an asspull, but with the amount of OP bullshit 2hus have already and have done I think it could make the best out of a bad situation.

>>45811950
It's not really worth to use a plot point outside the Keine storyline to solve a problem that won't be relevant until a good while after the story itself is over. Questions answered by Deus Ex Machina are hardly satisfying.
Will be rolling with either of the original ideas of ripping off Monster Inc., saying the Hakurei Barrier keeps them from vanishing or just saying 'fuck it, we ball, won't address the issue, lol'
or maybe something more interesting and nuanced comes regarding Keine's power of eating story~
who knows?

oh yeah, it's all coming up hana

>>45801345
The Umbrella Youkai, Kogasa, was a strange sort. She was a Tsukumogami who's hobby was surprising people and known to be notoriously bad at it, yet, she was a persistent element of the village, and apparently not too disliked by some of the inhabitants. To wit, the map Goro gave of her common hangouts had a small note reading 'ask local children if you're having trouble', an indication she'd be a good hire for a child-care business, but it made me wonder how she maintained her existence as a Youkai if she was so accepted.

"Excuse me." A voice said from behind, tapping me on the shoulder.

"Bugagagagagah!" Kogasa said, as I turned around, thumbs in her ears, waving her fingers, tongue, and eyes.

"Ah, you got met." I tried to say convincingly.

"Don't play dumb with me!" She said with a pout, putting her fists on her waists. "I can tell when someone's not surprised you know! And even then, a Youkai's surprise isn't anywhere near worth a humans!"

So, she could tell even with my villager disguise. I guess she's pretty well integrated, I'd have to ask her for some tips regarding that later.

"Kogasa-san I've actually been seeking you out, truth be told. How would you like to be able to play all the peek-a-boo you could ask for?" I asked the pitch Goro had scribbled out for me, handing her a pamphlet.

At this, her eyes lit up and she quickly scanned the thing. "A child-care service for half-Youkai children? That sounds... wonderful! I could do my side-job without being heckled and eat my fill of surprise every single day!" She said, doing a little gleeful hop.

Well, this went better then expected. "I'm glad, there will be a lot of opportunity in the coming months so be prepared to receive more-" I begin, but am cut off.

"Hey, that uniform, are you working for Yukari?" She said, her eyes narrowing.

Shoot. I knew it was too good to be true. "I am doing some construction and management work for her, but I assure you that will be far and away from my priority after-"

A snowball to my face cuts me short. As I wipe away the snow, I see that, to no surprise, Kogasa has made a break for it. Well, I expected as much.

I give chase, gliding carefully throughout the village back alleys, using what knowledge I had gleamed from my spy glass and logistics planning to keep pace with the rapidly moving umbrella. My goal wasn't to chase her down, no, I just needed to know where she would go to ground, then send her a carefully worded missive by way of a trusted, unaffiliated messenger. After all, everyone knew where Kogasa could be found, but that didn't matter if she'd take flight every single time. Had to solve the problem at the root.

But tailing the umbrella even that much was easier said then done, doing it without arousing too much suspicion from the local village? even more difficult. As I jumped from roofs, rolled into alleys, and nimbly dodged caravans, fences, the elderly, I couldn't help but think I shouldn't have taken the risk and brought a few Tengu with me bribed with extra break time.

Eventually, I felt a tiny blow to my stomach as something small rammed into my side and knocked me down, whatever it was, it was repelled back itself. Kogasa didn't bother looking back, she just kept running, if I continued my chase now, I could probably still catch up to her, still, I looked, and cursed myself for doing so.

"Ow, what gives lady? Why don't you watch where you're going?" The small kid said, kneeling over his scrapped knee.

>>45813274
looked to Kogasa, gaining distance on me, looked back to the kid, and sighed, reaching for my medical kit. I was getting soft.

"Ow, ow, ow! What are you doing?" the kid asked as I dabbed his scrapped knee with anti-sceptic.

"Disinfecting the wound, you don't want it to get amputated do you?" I said, adopting the voice I'd use on the younger Youkai at the HSE.

"It'll be your fault if it does..." He murmured, embrassed at himself.

"There, there, I'm sure a strong boy like you will walk this off in no time." I said, as I started to wrap the bandaged around his knee.

Looking over my shoulder, I'd lost Kogasa. I guess I took her a bit too lightly. No matter, she'd probably go into hiding for a bit, but had to come out sometime. Maybe I could add a spot bonus to goad Goro into taking over this little venture. Aughh, I bet he was off doing some lovy dovy couple nonsense with that Amonojaku of his and having nothing but fun right now.

"Hey, hey, Fuyuhito, what's going on? Did you trip and fall again?" A tall man asked as he approached us.

"Oniisan! Oniisan! This woman ran into me!" The kid said running to him.

The man quietly looked at me, looked at what appeared to be his younger brother, looked at the boys knee, and closed his eye for a moment. Then he chopped the boys head with his hand.

"Ow! What was that for?" The kid asked, rubbing his head in pain.

"For being ungrateful! You call yourself a man when you go about, running into passing woman, who are so kind to treat you, and then bad mouth them?" He scolded.

"But she ran into me!" He cried.

"And so what if she did? You're a man aren't you? Is this how you act when things don't go your way? She, on the other hand, tended to you, so far as I can see, you owe her an apology either way." He reasoned, crossing her arms.

The brat, Fuyuhito apparently, sighed, and, seeing there was no argument to be had, bowed to me. "I'm sorry miss."

A slight smile crept upon the man's face. He was not handsome, but more rough and a little brutish. I could tell from the way we looked and the wear on his hands that he was about five years younger then his apparent age, crafts and work had aged him. Still, he stood tall and had a sort of serenity about him, although he was a little direct and proud.

"Forgive us Miss, my brother can be a little reckless and irate at times, but he's at a rough age is all, I'm Fuyuichirou." He said with a slight bow. "You aren't injured are you? If you're in a hurry, I could carry you to wherever you were rushing to if you allow me."

"I'm Takane. And it's quite all right. I just thought I saw someone I knew and was trying to catch up to them." I said, a little white lie.

"Someone you knew... do they have a name? We might be able to find them for you." He offered.

"Oh, don't trouble yourselves. It's not such a bother really." I said with a smile.

For a moment he looked at me, before nodding his head. "Well it can't be helped then. If you find yourself hungry please pay us a visit at our little bakery just beside the village square, we have the bread sign, you can't miss it. I'll see you're treated well.' He said, turning to leave.

"Oniisan! She's definitely hiding something!" The child complained as he made to leave with his brother, before getting another knock on the head.

"And it's not our business to pry is it? Besides, I saw you making eyes at your school mate. I don't think young girls like men who gossip." He said, pulling the boy by the collar out of the alley.

I sighed and said a small thank you to the man, Fuyuichirou was it? Maybe I'd look into the bakery supply chain a bit-

>>45813279

"Wow, I thought love at first sight was a total legend, but I guess it's true huh?" Kogasa said, looking from over my shoulder.

I turned my head mechanically to face the red and blue eyes. "Pardon?" I asked.

"Eh? You can't tell? You're seriously blushing right now!" She exclaimed.

Slowly, I took off one of my gloves and put a hand on my cheek. It was, in fact, warmer then normal, but it could be the biting cold. Crap, did I seriously just go ga-ga for some random man I met of the street? This sort of thing has never happened before, no, calm down, it's likely just a misunderstanding. After all, I expected villagers to act totally inhospitable toward me so I was just caught a little off-guard by the kindness is all.

"I guess it would make sense that a business-minded Yamawaro is attracted to someone like Fuyuichirou-san, after all, he keeps his business afloat by somehow selling out-of-season goods. There's a lot of gossip on whether he has connections, or a secret recipe, or a new way of preserving ingredients..." Kogasa went on.

Ah, that was a delicious mystery after all. I hadn't really been all that interested in food stuffs asides from cucumbers for exactly those issues, if he had some way of solving it...

"See! Your brains already filled with thoughts about him!" Kogasa said, poking my cheek.

I swatted her hand away. "I'm interested in the logistics is all!"

This did not deter her smug look. "Well, I'm satisfied you're more then a soul-less goon at Yukari's fingertips. Someone like that wouldn't stop for a downed child or become love struck after all. feel free to give me a call when you've got work for me or if you want love advice!" She said with a flourish as she dashed out of the alleyway.

I got the applicant, but somehow this didn't feel like a win.

---

Next chapter is vent-crawling, employee abuse, and maybe healing, who knows?

>>45813283
>>45813279
Youkai are weak to the milk of human kindness...

>>45813283
>>45813279
>>45813274
>Then he chopped the boys head with his hand.
nice to see that Hunter-kun and Sekibanki managed to settle in on the village and had their first kids! Very happy for them~
You know, while it's interesting the ways Takane used to try pursuing Kogasa, there's no way around it looking like a kid pursuing an athlete. I was laughing the whole thing imagining her little legs on overdrive and her face all full of determination and focus, but running at half the speed~

>>45812686
it's a sign from heavens! Hana WILL resist!

>>45804045
>>45804040
you gotta resist, 'Ana!! I believe in you!

>>45815947
>nice to see that Hunter-kun and Sekibanki managed to settle in on the village and had their first kids! Very happy for them~
I'm slightly aware of that fic. I hope the comparison is positive!
> imagining her little legs on overdrive
Woman with short legs are cute. woman with long legs are also cute.
>>45782896
>The wolf seemed to enjoy intimidating the ‘dirt kappa’ a little too much.
Ahaha, extra shifts for the racist wolf.
In retrospect, There's a whole alternate reality where instead of mucking about with tsukumos, I ended that last little Seija & Goro adventure with them meeting Suwako instead since Curse Goddess, Curse Braclet, and all that. Too late now, but fate really does hate involving the Moriya in this story.

>>45817712
>I hope the comparison is positive!
It is; was a very fun read when someone recommended to me in earlier threads after it was discovered Tewianon was the Sekianon himself. Though I haven't keep up with it recently, so busy writing in my free time
>the leg conundrum
cute legs do be cute~!

>>45811344
>The Gensokyo of the future is going to be unrecognizable with all the changes that will take place.
hopefully it won't be as bad as foretold in the 1000 years shitposts…

>>45819818
i wanna read the 1000 years shitposts were can i read?

>>45820344
spread across the threads, but no real chapter about it since the future in-universe is so uncertain. Sorry mate.

>>45810266
—
From the moment she had left Mystia's house, I knew something was wrong.

“I want to leave… Gensokyo.” Those words shook me. Mokou noticed, scratching her nape. “Fuck, n-no… I should give context first.” She scolded herself, scowling and barely hiding her terror. We sat on the edge of the bed, her left leg rocking up and down, hands clasped together, eyes wild, her breathing wavering. She had refused to leave the bedroom, eyes jumping everywhere, searching for something in the shadows—what monster would be strong enough to threaten Fujiwara no Mokou…?

I don’t know, but she won’t face it alone.

I gently drew circles on her back, the rhythmic movements soothing her enough that she could speak again, her voice loaded. “… Seiga was spying on us—she's with Yakumo, a-and—” My breath hitches, though surprise last only a moment. Yukari getting around to knowing my plans was a particularly harsh situation, but not unexpected. My best bet was to keep it on move and hope she wouldn't be interested in stopping us—or 'integrating' us into her mafia—as contingency prep around her is next to impossible. Mokou looks at the twins and gestures ‘no’ with her head. “… She's got no plans on stopping us, but Seiga—Keine… she said she'd eat our kids.”

…My world stops, and it’s as if a strong hailstorm showered over me, cold shards hitting my skin and cracking my bones. My eyes swell and my mouth dries; rivers of lava uncomfortably flowing inside my veins. Mokou's lower lip trembles, her eyes on mine so very tired.

Even inside our home, I feel lost.

Aki and Mochi…

Again, the twins are threatened by things they cannot hope to control; prey to a horrid, perverted monster… But this one is intelligent. I'd go through that night ten times over before having to face just one intelligent enemy.

“I don't want to be in this place anymore… To face these people and to keep on with these plans—I'm so tired… I want to run away, Keine—me, you, the twins—to somewhere far away!” Mokou begs, her trembling left hand on mine as she moves closer, the dam cracking.

Squeezing Mokou's hand back unconsciously, I stare at their cradle, my heart feeling like it was about to burst. Seiga… I don't know much of her, but if she's with Yakumo, murdering her would bear horrible repercussions: My abilities do not affect Yukari; Mokou is only one person, and, no matter how strong she is, she can’t fight forever. Besides, if Yukari employed Seiga, who’s to say they aren’t alike? Maybe Yukari’s even worse…?

Just thinking makes my body itch; Mokou's hard squeezing tighter as the first tears begin to stream. I stare at her, shocked and frightened… It is that bloody night all over again, with monsters all around me, my eyes on the verge of shutting, my blood gushing, and horrid hunger numbing my mind…

Oh, this cruel, unjust world… Every single piece on the board is against us again, and Mokou thinks our best hope of survival is to run away and continue to do so for the rest of our lives…

… Against the world, surrounded by predators…

It's like that night all over again.

Like in that night, my eyes blazed with an inner fierce determination that flowed like a raging river. I stopped shaking, stance iron-like, eyes focused, and my tears vanished. So what if I'm surrounded? If the world wants my children dead and my misery to be eternal?

I fought the world once, and I'll fucking do it again.

Mokou takes in the tangible resolve that permeates my features, her teeth clenched and brows furrowed as shock settled. “Keine—” she hisses, but I cut her.

“Running away is meaningless,” Mokou pales, our eyes meeting. “Because what says a monster won't give chase? Predators live for the hunt… No. Mokou, I refuse to give our kids a life of running away; of constant fear and doubt—”

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, IDIOT?!” She stands up, tears streaming, eyes rage-filled. I calmly get up too. “You want to stay in this rotten place?! We cannot! We need to run away now! It's Yukari! he extinguished my fire, you might die against her—I-I don’t want to lose my f-family… We can’t stay here!” Her yells awaken the twins, small weeps echoing.

My eyes droop a little, but determination doesn't fade. “I am not letting them live a life of fear, Mokou.” She towers over me, body trembling with the despairing emotions, spitefully mumbled words stabbing my heart—though the sight of her so enraged is what kills me. I know what she has had to endure: a millennium of loneliness, of never being able to make real connections; of finally having a light shine in her life… Only for it to be threatened.

The mighty Fujiwara no Mokou feels powerless…

Anyone in her shoes would be the same. “Just… why?! Why, Keine?!” She gestures wildly. “Our children are in danger—why you want to stay in this place?!”

Silently, I walk up to the sobbing twins under her scrutinizing gaze, picking them up with a tender smile.

I turn to Mokou…

… And the words that leave me are as true as the sky is blue.

>>45820619
just one today because I'll be busy for the rest of the day and won't be able to edit. Sorry~
but hey, I heard people love cliffhangers. Not like they make them want to tear their scalps off or something :)
more tomorrow!

>>45804932
There are fags on the internet who'll complain about anything and everything, don't take it too seriously. The stooges aren't big players, if people don't like them they can skip their chapters with no problems.
As for the Makai thing, sorry about that but I couldn't contrive a reason why Shinki would have let them go free when she was trying to hide as much from Yukari as possible. Still, I could see her letting them leave after they resolved the issues in their friendship (and signed a magical NDA).

Also, Tewianon if you're reading this. Would Tewi be willing to sign a magical contract swearing herself to Hana's cause? I figure she would, but I suppose I may as well ask.

>>45822124
>Would Tewi be willing to sign a magical contract swearing herself to Hana's cause? I figure she would, but I suppose I may as well ask.
Not that she would have a problem declaring her allegiances(she already did by attending the party and handling Yukari directly), but signing a contract is another issue that would bind her to whoever made the thing. She has a very short list of people she'd trust like that and would weasel out of signing it if at all possible.
She would have to trust the person 100%, be forced too, or have a need greater than the risk of being tied down to a rando. On top of that she's no slouch in intelligence and isn't naive, she'd negotiate favorable terms or avoid the situation that would require her to sign it altogether.

TL;DR: I could see her signing something, but not without her giving the contractor a big headache

>>45822199
Would she at least be willing to sign something preventing her from repeating anything she heard/saw amongst the jobbers? Otherwise, I could see a lot of tension about letting her leave when her allegiance is so muddled and paranoia is running high.

>>45822238
not Tewianon, but Eirin commented about the Eientei nurses gossiping about 'Yukari bullying their younger sister' in the IUI chapter, so it's already canon either Tewi or Sana and Sara talked about it. Sana and Sara were sleeping when Hana went out and are seen as harmless, so would roll with that

>>45822238
I assume you mean with Shinki? 100% doesn't know her nor would trust her, pretty sure this would be the first time they'd meet. Not to have Tewi be an annoying bump to write around, but in any case I'd see Tewi trying to give her a headache by adding certain clauses or at least having her family present be used as leverage. Sana and Sara would be non-issues.
>so it's already canon either Tewi or Sana and Sara talked about it
Tewi 100% leaked it to the rest of the inaba, its a family matter after all

>>45822313
Yeah, Shinki though backed by the rest of the jobbers. It's a weird situation, but as long as Tewi is willing to talk terms I don't think it'd escalate.

>>45822313
>Not to have Tewi be an annoying bump to write around
not him, but that's a good thing. Conflict and characters not abiding by terms so lightly, having their own views and motives for discordance is one of the pillars to make characters feel alive

>>45822365
Figured, looking forward to seeing tewi trying to troll yet another god(this will not be the first time and won't be the last)
Tewi won't try to fight her in a non-danmaku manner at all, though Shinki would have to flex a bit to get Tewi in line with her. Though maybe you could include a danmaku contest between someone and Shinki to show that not everyone would care to be bound like this.
>>45822376
Good point, I just didn't want Tewi to hijack the warplans and to give other writefags a headache trying to write a deceptively childish lolibaba that loves pranking others playing hardball or causing a splinter in the group. Though that would be fun to write about, maybe i'll write more Tewi plotting later.

>>45804045

Hana took a step up onto the veranda with the Yakumo outfit draped over her arms. She had to put it away quickly then come back and take down the partition and table before it became an issue tonight. Her mother may be acting kindly for now, but pushing her was never a wise choice. It had always been such small things that set her off on her worst episodes. Even if she could escape her mother easily with her powers, where else would she seek refuge?

As she opened the doors, a pleasant scent greeted her nose. The smell of hot green tea and grilling dango embraced her as did the warmth of the ancient kappa-made heater that rumbled with life. It was a nostalgic smell, different from how father made it and something of a rarity as far as Hana was concerned. Her mother didn’t often cook from what she knew, preferring to leave such mundane tasks to her father or Hana herself, it was only on rare occasion that she bothered cooking even something as simple as a snack for anyone and not simply grabbing the cheapest possible thing from some sweets shop or telling you to tough it.

Closing with a soft tapping sound, the sliding door went back to doing its best to preserve the heat of the modest shrine. Hana slipped off her course bath sandals, exposing her rapidly cooling feet to the elements before slipping on the comfortable house slippers made of quilted cotton dyed black with a crimson ribbon tied on the top into a bow. Like the outfit she wore, the slippers were worn and a relic of a time that seemed so long ago Keine would teach of it in her sometimes-monotonous voice.

From where she stood in the living room, drenched in a warm orange light coming from the ceiling mounted paper lantern, she could see her mother in the kitchen that adjoined the living room. Its own doors wide open to take full advantage of the heat of the clay wood fired stove that didn’t seem to change a bit from the time she left. It was a strange feeling, so much had changed yet so little was different. For a strange moment of near-vertigo she could’ve sworn that she’d see her father standing there in the kitchen wearing his usual jinbei.

Instead, it was her mother who stood there in his place, a sight she glimpsed as she walked the length of the living room. Reimu was wearing a new looking yukata of thick cloth made to withstand the chill of the cold months, the yukata was a rich charcoal black of rather simple streaming patterns that wrapped around the sides of the body till it formed a swirling Hakurei Yin Yang symbol on the back. The sleeves of her yukata were rolled up and held in place by a stained pastel orange tasuki that would’ve seemed out of place if it didn’t used to be a common sight throughout her life. Unsurprisingly, Reimu’s long and jet-black hair was also pulled back and covered by a simple cloth of the same orange hue as the tasuki.

As if Reimu felt her eyes, or just heard the sliding door open, Hana heard the voice of her mother call out from the kitchen despite not turning to peak her head out, “I'll have a snack and some tea ready in a moment, so if you’re feeling peckish…”

Her voice was slightly awkward, or at least Hana thought so, she simply wasn’t sure as she’d never heard her voice be anything but some form of self-righteously correct, enraged, sarcastic, drunk, or some mix of the former. Maybe she was reading too much into her mother’s stiff body language and tone, but she seemed nervous…? That sprout of a thought made Hana slightly paranoid in turn, did she do something wrong? Old habits wanted to reassert themselves in trying to supplicate Reimu, which Hana snubbed down as they came up, she was mostly successful as she responded a little too quickly and desperately, “O-okay, I’ll be right there I just have to put away the partition and uh- I’ll be quick…”

A strange sound of acknowledgement rang out from the kitchen and Hana couldn’t help but notice that still her mother didn’t wish to poke her head out of the kitchen to speak to her directly. Hana couldn’t decide if she was grateful for that or if it should be taken as a warning sign of one of her potential moods. Either way she wouldn’t bring it up, Hana scampered out of the warmth of the living room and into the small and freezing hallway that her room was adjoined too.

>>45823275

Hana’s room, a space that she could call her own, yet at the same time was now as foreign as the outside of the valley Gensokyo was nestled in, was as always, a spartan affair. There was a strange warmth to see it again, namely the furniture her father made her for her still standing. The worn chest of toys decorated with faded dyes and cracked paints, it was built before she could remember and repurposed into general storage as Hana outgrew her childhood. A tall wardrobe modestly treated with oils that made the wood look warm and sporting colored markings from long ago when Hana doodled on it as a child, it was built when she was a child and her outfits grew to include her mikos outfit and other dresses she would wear for rituals by the time she was beyond a toddler. The once loathed desk whose surface was scratched and stained by inks and spilled drinks, built when she was around five years old and begun to attend temple school. Her well-kept vanity set with its large rectangular mirror framed in the same kind of wood that built the rest and set firmly on top of a dusty and bare tabletop, built for her for her twelve birthday and rarely used much for its intended purpose given how little Hana cared about making herself look good for others.

The futon had already been set out in the center and a good few blankets sat at the foot of it… that was a lot of blankets actually… must have been at least four rather thick looking woolen covers. Her old juban sat next to the bed as well, ready to be used at a moment’s notice. As she placed the Yakumo outfit down onto the vanity after dusting the thing enough that it wouldn’t get the folded cloth dirty, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Hana’s brown hair flowed freely down to her shoulders uncontained by her usual ribbons, hair tubes, or even her favorite hairpin. Its color was a darker shade than her hazelnut-colored eyes but complimented them well enough. Her miko’s outfit, similar enough to her mother’s, in fact some being slightly altered hand-me-downs, clung to her body tightly in some areas. The old and worn outfit clung a little too much to her chest, a satisfying proof of her growth and rode up to a bit below her knees from where it should’ve hung closer to her ankles. The sleeves themselves also looked a bit smaller than they should’ve, the off-white hanger-ons looked alright enough if she wore them lower but they missed the valued function of actually warming her upper arms.

Quickly she fixed her hair slightly, setting the wild bangs over her left eye in place with that old red-and-white four-leaf clover hair pin she carefully maintained till now. Before she left, she glanced down at the yakumo outfit that sat on the vanity, she didn’t know what she felt as she looked down at it. A strange sense of sorrow chipped at the corners of her minds, and a stranger sense of longing gave her the thought to try it on and see how she looked in it.

Ignoring the impulse, she turned to the door leading out to the hall that connected to the living room. It was a strange day for her, one that filled her with doubt and terrified her. She was calmer now after splashing about like an idiot, but her mother’s presence beckoned her to the living room and she knew what she had to do. Even though it was late and she wanted nothing more than to sleep and forget everything that happened, there was still more to this day.

Hana told herself she could handle it as she closed the door behind her, she told herself that she wasn’t afraid of her mother anymore, she told herself that no matter what happened she would get her answers. It wouldn’t be like before where she’d be reduced to a sobbing wreck. With a gulp, as if she had a lump in her throat, she forced down the doubt and fear that she barely realized was trying to imprint itself in her mind and entered into the warmth of the living room where her mother sat at the table sipping her own tea.

>>45823283
>>45823275
comfy Hana atmosphere setting up chapters~Reimu in yukata is always so cute, just hope it's not an omen to what's to come

>>45820619
>Maybe Yukari’s even worse…?
Whaaat? Mama Yukari? No way, not mama Yukari!
She'd never...

>>45825928
Hana please.

>>45824294
To be fair Hana couldn't see an omen coming even if it was big as Kanako's mountain of faith. Let's just hope she won't let the whole dad fucking thing slip, that would make things rather awkward.

>>45826003
The real question is would the mu blame herself, her daughter, yukari, or any combination the three if she knew? Maybe even blame anon for being unable to tell his daughter no? Who knows.

>>45826026
Depends on how much of a menji era jap she is with what their attitude incest was. Given by how nervous Hana is to have others find out its probably not something accepted much, or maybe that's just Anon's common sense being imparted on her.
I think she'd try blaming Yukari at first, Anon and Hana if she knew the story, then herself upon self reflection. There isn't anyway she'd take it well, though if she were to confide in Ran or a yook I'd imagine the answer would be something between 'who cares' and 'good for her'. Yooks often lack common sense after all.

>>45822531
>Good point, I just didn't want Tewi to hijack the warplans and to give other writefags a headache trying to write a deceptively childish lolibaba that loves pranking others playing hardball or causing a splinter in the group.
understandable
>Though that would be fun to write about, maybe i'll write more Tewi plotting later.
that'd be very nice~

>>45826527
>Given by how nervous Hana is to have others find out its probably not something accepted much, or maybe that's just Anon's common sense being imparted on her.
probably it's not generally accepted at Hana's level, considering too much incest can generate monstrosities, but otherwise should be okay with somewhat distant relatives.
>I think she'd try blaming Yukari at first, Anon and Hana if she knew the story, then herself upon self reflection.
that's mostly correct, but not much blaming Anon and Hana; she's already aware both are victims of her and Yukari, so even if she'd indeed blame them, it'd be for a moment or so. And while Ran and other youkai would be mostly okay with it, the core problem is that it was done without Anon's consent; first drugged by a traumatized Hana, then blackmailed. Anon doesn't want to fuck his daughter, and she'll have to accept that in the ending where Yukari is defeated and Anon freed.

>>45820619
—
“Because we are together.” Simple words, Mokou's eyes on me perplexed as she readied sharp words, anger in there overflowing alongside love clear as the sky and despair dark as the abyss. I approach, the twins weeping quietly. Hurt, she looks at them and then at me. The tears that leave me are a history of my life. “Responsibility, hope… I understood these words' true meaning that night—fighting and constantly gambling with Death—all for their sake. I've adopted them into my life, and so the responsibility to make this world the best possible place for them while having the hope to move forward with this pain. History shows this path is one of strife… But I'm—we are—not alone on it anymore.” I place my forehead on her chest, trembling hands reaching for my shoulders, but I stop them by placing Mochi there, my heart screaming in joy with her holding him so dearly. “… We have you now. And we love you.”

Her already wide eyes are now the size of plates, holding Mochi as if a lifeline.

I close my eyes, cradling my sweet Aki against the bend of my neck, her tiny wings grazing my nose as her warm body acts as a symbol of approval: there is meaning to my mission. “We cannot fight Yukari and Seiga alone—but, together, there’s hope, Mokou… And I have a plan.” I opened my eyes. Mochi was trying to eat her hair, but Mokou wasn’t paying attention. I giggled. “In my hakutaku form, I can create history… I'll write Seiga's murder.”

Mokou frowns and, tightening her gentle hold on Mochi, stares through the window: only the third quarter of the moon is on display. “K-Keine, it'll take weeks! We don't have time!”

I gesture a 'no' with my head, smiling at Mokou. “It doesn't need to be the Moon, but something very similar…” Mokou clearly doesn't understand what I'm talking about, but the passing seconds make a certain understanding shine behind those beautiful eyes. With it, came hope. “Kaguya could manipulate the instantaneous and so bring out the full moon, but that wouldn't do—from what Goro-san and Seija-san told me, there's a connection between Eientei and the HSE. We'll need someone else with a connection to the Moon…” She deflates before frowning with my eyes on her.

It clicks; she looks stupefied. Mochi laughs. “… Me?”

“It's just a theory,” I say, kissing Aki's nape. She mumbles merrily. “But I believe that if you laid your eternal flames—the blue ones—over the half-moon, you could mimic a Blue Moon.” The Blue Moon was always a strange phenomenon; one occasion is when there are two full moons in the same month, though it doesn't affect my powers…

But when it's a Blue Moon caused by a volcanic eruption spewing thick clouds of haze into the atmosphere? Then my capacity for creating future skyrockets.

I've always wondered why.

My eyes are on Mokou, hers big with gleaming embers of hope, big arms tightly yet tenderly holding my son… My pounding heart melts.

I think I have found my answer~

“S-So…” She swallows, trembling limbs and a strained smile. “There is a chance we can trigger your Hakutaku form if we cover the moon with my blue flames." I nod. “And then… W-We can save our children from those bitches?” I nodded again, crying and giggling. It doesn't solve all of our problems; I can't dictate Yukari's actions even in my Hakutaku form, but… I do have a contingency plan for that. “And we won't have to… live lives of running, constantly in fear—our kids can have good, peaceful lives?” I nod for the last time, and my smile is as immense as my soul at this moment.

Mokou approaches me and places Mochi gently on the bed before doing the same for Aki. We look at one another, only a few centimeters apart…

It’s under the soft light of the moon streaming from the window that Mokou squeezes my hips and pulls me forward, a kiss of sheer necessity and love aflame tying us together.

I wrap my arms around her neck, having to stand on my tiptoe to do so. She laughs on my lips. “… Sorry for calling you an idiot, dork. I forgot you’re the brain—most of the time. Seriously? Jumping in freezing rivers?”

“I'd do anything for my family~” I reply, laughing with her, even though what I decided not to say hurts my heart. I do not use my Hakutaku abilities on people for a reason—beyond common sense, of course: in order to make the future tangible, every moment of their lives needs to be written. If I want something to happen in ten years, I have to write those ten years…

No wonder I don’t remember a word of what I write.

Killing Seiga needs to be done organically. Writing 'she dies now' could be traced back to me by Yukari, and I can't control her actions—why just writing 'her murderer is never found' wouldn't work…

But if I were to completely write someone’s life without mentioning Yukari even once, then she wouldn’t appear in it.

The effort could very much kill me, and it'd be a controlled life… but also a peaceful life.

… I can't write my future, but theirs…?

If it is to keep them safe, then I’d gladly do it.

>>45831197
—
Still, my mind rushes for alternatives.

Writing that Seiga will never eat babies again would be noticed by people around her, mainly Yukari, and it could be traced back to me—I have to work with the supposition Yukari will always notice any remarkable change I make to Seiga, be it circumstances or her core personality and self. Working without it against a sage would be foolish—her suicide; leaving Gensokyo; turning against Yukari… After they met Mokou, all could come back to me. Writing Seiga's death might not even be enough, considering Yukari might just come after us and our babies herself. The possibilities were harrowing, the initial plan looping inside my mind again and again, nothing better surfacing.

Writing combined hundreds of years in 12 hours of a full moon—in the best-case scenario—could kill me out of exhaustion, but would also mean my family would live safely…

… But I don't want to die.

I want to be here with my future wife and my two kids—I want to see them laugh, grow, hold them when they need to cry and shower them with love whenever possible! I don't want to lose my family… It's so very egotistical after talking extensively about responsibility, but every human in history has dreaded parting ways with those they love and care for; why would I be any different?

There must be an alternative. An alternative so we all can have our happy endings, where our family remains us four—maybe even bigger somewhere down the line…

I can't think of a better way to secure their souls…

… I love them so much…

It hurts. It hurts so very much.

I smile at Mokou anyway, kissing her back and delighting in a soft and peaceful 'now', though there's more we need to discuss and do.

She sulks hard when I leave her hold and bend to pick up Mochi and Aki from the bed, nestling them in my chest. “Tonight I'll be busy monitoring the letters spreading and tomorrow we’ll be answering the villagers’ question, possibly dealing with Mr. Hieda and talking to the press, so we'll be attempting the Blue Moon plan after tomorrow—okay?” She simply nods, a mischievous smile rising on her face as she cleans up her remaining tears, her eyes gleaming with something primal. I softly lay Mochi and Aki on their cradle, both so tired that it takes no time for them to go back to sleep~looking at the clock, I notice it's almost time for the letters to be spread; my role in this being monitoring flares and, if things go awry, eating the story behind each one so the youkai dealing with that route can have enough time to re-route and be safe. They're color-coded, so it should be very easy. “I'm leaving now for the roof, Mokou. Stay here with th—”

Suddenly, strong hands reach me from behind, holding my breasts with might and pinching the nipples as if a hungry baby, A knee separates my legs as a warm mouth pecks seductively at my neck. W-What…?! “No,” Mokou whispers.

WHA—

“M-Mok—ah~—I need to be outsi—” A hand goes down and enters my dress, moving all the way back to my chest, flesh on flesh thrilling. I'm blushing like a squashed tomato…

Embarrassingly leaking like one, too.

“The flares are like fireworks, right? They'll make a whistling sound that should travel the whole village.” Her rough knee pressured a sensitive spot, one hand rising to caress my neck as her mouth now hovered behind my ear. My trembling hands are pressed against the wall, eyes bulging and cursing my throbbing heart, legs begging to cross yet enjoying the knee action. I nod, red like blood. “We'll both hear if one does go out; you'll be able to eat history back to this point and, since I won't forget too, I'll immediately stop and let you do your work…” Her hand leaves my neck and grabs my face, moving it to meet hers; our eyes on each other are like burning coals. I swallow. “… But until that happens, I'll make you never forget what you are: my woman.”

A moment of silence extended as I processed her words. ‘They do make sense’, said my mortified, horny consciousness. “… O-Okay.” I whispered.

And before I can even register it, I am lifted off the ground and hurled onto the bed, with a powerful, warm body kneeling over my own. I watch Mokou rip off her shirt and breast bandages, same for the ribbon keeping her rain put—a tsunami of beautiful white hair falling over me.

Beautiful.

I throw care to the wind and let my hands explore, blazing lips meeting mine, a love so passionate and powerful burning her on my very skin.
—
For the teacher’s and the immortal’s delight, no flare was set off.

Outside, the letters are plastered all over the sleeping Human Village. Tomorrow, it'll know the struggles of a teacher and guardian; the injustice thrown at her by the grieving father that has gone mad; the stones thrown by ignorant children that didn't know better; the harrowing yet sympathizing tale of a night to remember; and the brewing tide of change that is to come.

When the village awakes, it'll have to face the reality that its leader is a lunatic.

>>45831204
>>45831197
part 1/3 of the Keine finale done~!
sex as a wrap-up is cool! Sadly couldn't finish the Father Garcia edit I was making of Keine for the first chapter, but oh well.
will rest for sometime to give other storylines some attention!
for Ayaanon, you okay with me using Aya in the Keine chapters? It's okay if you don't want to or have other plans for the time between the party and the Solstice!

>>45831239
>Ayaanon
My basic timeline for the party -> Solstice is like this:
- Aya lays eggs the night of Hana's b-day
- Recovery period
- Tengu finale
- Wrapping up Aya and Okina's relationship
- Solstice
If it's just reporting, feel free. If it's something that will get her physically and possibly violently involved, I'll see how I can fit it together.
I'll be posting an update later today. Not even my hiatuses can stop Moriyans from gaining relevance!

>>45831617
bummer, guess I won't have Aya on the milf uberorgy containing half the mothers of Gensokyo then. Sadge.
yup, just reporting so no worries! Thanks~
also
>Aya lays eggs the night of Hana's b-day
ayyyy nice!

>>45831204
>>45831197
Wtf Keine and Mokou are lesbians? I thought they were just really good friends???
Write anon how could you?! Think of the influence this will have on Anon's half youkai children!

>>45832048
are you insane, man?
Clearly they're just helping each other relieve some stress. There's nothing wrong with helping your bride-to-be release some steam. Mochi's and Aki's two mothers aren't lesbians.

>>45832083
Oh, damn my bad dude.
It was just a sisjob like when Hana or Kasen do it with others, nothing gay about that then. Just make sure they say 'no lessie' after or it'd get weird.

>>45832237
true, it was my mistake forgetting it
next sex scene after they marry I'll remember to add the 'no lessie, sis' for clarification. Thanks again~!

>>45832237
Man, could you even imagine a girl having sex with another girl? I couldn't. Although Aya and Momiji did kiss and orgasm an awful together lot in that bathroom...
Nah, that's insane.

>>45832402
Anon, you seem to not have missed the point of the bathroom steamy sex scene: Momiji and Aya in that moment preformed jobber-to-jobber mental connection, meaning Aya was influenced by Momiji smell/petting-induced heat and so, since there wasn't a mighty might man nearby for them to execute ritualistic tengu rape, they had to settle for each other. It was simply necessity, and the shame almost drove Momiji to suicide
I deem it not lesbian sex.

>>45832432
As the old tengu saying goes, 'It's not gay if you're in heat'.

>>45832432
>>45832468
Right, I forgot it was just good, clean rape. Thank goodness there isn't any degenerate lesbianism among these mothers! Dragon God might not have mercy on them otherwise...

>>45794447 (51/?)

With all the subtly of a wrecking ball, Shinki slams open the door to Alice’s cottage and shouts, “Happy birthday Hana!”

Unfortunately, Hana is not there. Instead, her allies seem to be warding a freshly patched wall. Her sudden appearance causes them to jump, though it grows strangely quiet after that. As the silence lingers, Mima floats over and begins to give a recount of the party. As Mima reaches Yukari’s arrival, Shinki’s smile contorts into a grimace.

As Mima pulls away, Shinki says, “Sheesh, she’s absolutely insane. I suppose we figured that out already, but still…”

Sariel pokes Shinki with her staff, “Pointing out the obvious is unnecessary. Relay our findings.”

As she swats the staff away, Shinki replies, “Right, right. More bad news, she’s making a soul-eater sword out of sin. I think it also has ties with Ibaraki-doji. I-”

Shinki is cut off as the others react poorly to this newest revelation. Mima is able to string together a coherent line of questing the fastest (and says it the loudest), “A soul-eater? There can be no doubt of her intentions in that case. How did she shape such a sword out of sin? The woman is many things, but a blacksmith is not one of those.”

Before Shinki could reply, Yuuka cuts in, “Ties with Ibaraki-doji? What exactly do you mean by that? Does it contain the pieces of Kasen’s soul that were sealed away?”

Shinki begins to answer, “Well it’s specul-” but is cut off again by Alice this time as she asks, “How exactly did you find this out? Is there any risk that Yukari is on to you?”

Marisa interjects, “That shouldn’t be possible-ze. Yukari’s attention was rather firmly here and none of her goons would be able to spot Shinki while she’s in her element. What I want to know is what held you up? Did something happe-”

Sariel cuts the chatter by slamming her staff into the ground. As the room grows silent, the fallen angel growls, “Enough, let her speak.”

Shinki rewards Sariel with a pat on the head. The mercurial seraphim surprisingly allows it. In fact, she puffs up to receive like a cat. Clearing her throat, Shinki answers, “Well to answer your many questions. The sword wasn’t forged. Instead, Yukari seems to be growing it or rather letting it form by itself. I couldn’t get a perfect read on the stuff being used to fuel the sword’s growth, but it’s definitely nasty. Violence, hate, lust, envy, etcetera, etcetera. What I am certain about is that there was a ground-up soul slurry in there and part of it felt like Ibaraki-doji. It may have been an imitation of the old bitch, but that shouldn’t matter much for the ritual itself. As for Yukari being onto me, nothing is ever certain with that woman, but I can say that she definitely didn’t see me through any gaps or magical means I could detect.”

As Shinki seemingly is done talking, Marisa stomps with a reddened face, “You didn’t answer my question, what else happened? I know you of all people wouldn’t take long to figure all that out.”

Shinki sighs dreamily, “Ah, a young magician who comprehends my power. If only there was another one who truly respected her creator’s strength. You’re right. For one I had to take out the trash, but before that, I left Yukari a little surprise.”

Mima raises an eyebrow at that, “A surprise?”

Shinki nods, “Yeah, a surprise. Nothing too crazy, I just made it appear that the Dragon God ordered her death.”

… The room falls dead silent as everyone stares blankly at Shinki. Mima, ever quick on the draw, demands, “Explain.”

>>45832773 (52/?)

Shinki levitates a chair over near the doorway to lean back on with her arms resting behind her back, “Well, Sariel and I drew up some magical circles (self-destructing ones so no risk of those being found) that’ll cause a big ol’ stone dragon maw to rise out of the lake and the sword is going to be sticking out of the dragon’s mouth. It’s going to look really cool. Oh and uhh there’s going to be a tablet saying something along the lines of ‘you who is worthy, claim my blade and with it slay the usurper. With you, I shall forge a new pact yada yada’. The reason it took so long was that we had to mask the mana so it feels like the Dragon God’s magic and that really wasn’t something we wanted to half-ass.”

Sariel helpfully adds, “Shinki also insisted on twisting the sword’s appearance so it looks more ‘dragony’.”

Shinki nods, “That too.”

Again it’s quiet until Yuuka lets out a little giggle. Said giggle quickly turns into a laugh, though no one else shares her particular giddiness. Finally, Yuuka recomposes herself, “That… That is going to drive Yukari insane. With how she schemes and fixates…”

Mima concludes, “She’ll be off chasing the illusion of dragons, thereby splitting her attention between her enemies, real and imagined.”

Alice adds, “That’s not even considering the effect the words will have on the sword. Such a provocative statement is going to spread a rumor, and a sword that grows from emotions and souls is going to be extremely sensitive to such things.”

Lunging from her chair (which somehow returns to an upright position despite how far back it was leaned), Shinki grabs Alice and strokes her head, “That’s correct! I always knew you were a smart cookie.”

Alice of course squirms and complains, but Shinki refuses to let up. At least not until the complaints shifted to something about people approaching. Upon registering that it wasn’t just another pitiful attempt to escape cuddles, Shinki lets go of Alice. The dollmaker falls, comically flailing her arms and screaming, before hitting the ground with a groan.

As Alice lies on the floor, Yuuka shooes the dolls gathering around her and demands, “Who’s approaching the cottage? Are they servants of Yukari?”

Sitting up while rubbing the back of her head, Alice replies, “No, it’s just Kosuzu, Aunn, and the rabbits.”

Looking down at Alice disapprovingly, Sariel leans over to Shinki and whispers, “I think you dropped Alice too much as a child and that’s why she’s like this.”

Shinki whispers back, “Drop her too much? No, she was the one we cuddled the most. If anything it’s the opposite problem. Though maybe letting her change her name to a storybook character she liked and pretty much assuming their identity has a part to play.”

Either not noticing or not caring about Shinki and Sariel’s sidebar, Marisa says, “Tewi and the kids? What business could they have here? I know she said some stuff about Hana being family or whatever, but do we really buy that ze?”

Mima replies, “You can never quite tell with her type, much less her. That being said, I would say it’s feasible for her to be on Yukari’s payroll. Welcoming her with a kiss certainly fed into Yukari’s plans. As for her words to Hana after Yukari left, they could play into a greater scheme to warp Hana from both sides. Let us not forget her present to Hana, she’s certainly not concerned with Hana’s purity. Still, even if she is a double agent, her true allegiance will always remain with herself.”

At the mention of Tewi’s present, Yuuka face sours. In a dangerous tone, the Youkai says, “Perhaps it’s a good thing she’s visiting, I have words I would like to share about appropriate and inappropriate gifts for a troubled youth.”

Marisa cuts in, “I certainly agree with the sentiment, but perhaps we should be focusing on what to do. If she might be a double agent, should we hide anything? Say the Goddess and angel ze?”

Mima nods, “That would be wise, Shinki if you would?”

Shinki raises an eyebrow, “Just me? Is my companion for whatever reason not worth addressing? What are you saying that she’s just window dressing? A little bit of eye candy that will just go along with whatever I say?”

Before Mima can apologize, Shinki adds, “Well you’d be right, c’mon let’s go.”

The subsequent hardest strike of the staff of the day (and trickle of blood that accompanied it), was well worth it to see Mima’s deadpan. Still, Shinki couldn’t enjoy it for particularly long before Sariel angrily dragged her upstairs.

Figured I should get this out before I can rewrite it. The rest of it should be done by Friday.

>>45832783
>>45832773
heh, it's was funny reading Shinki explaining her plans so proudly while knowing Kasen has just destroyed everything. Well, being in the Jobber Squad does have a toll after all~at least the jumpscare worked
Sarielbullying should be punishable by hanging, you goddanm beast!

>>45832783
Uh oh!
Looks like everybody's favorite rabbit is about to get skinned again!

>>45833098
>"I'm pregnant with quintuplets! You wouldn't kill Anon's children and their mother, would you?"
>gets out Scott free
she can't keep getting away with it!!

>>45833143
>>45833098
Oh God, imagine Tewi being the one to spill the beans on Hana's sin kink AND her rampant father fucking. Imagine all the stares Aunn will get as she defends all the cool ways Nue taught them to play

>>45833060
At the very least the message and stone dragon stuff were spared due to not actually directly going into the sword soup.
As for the Sariel bullying, I toned it down a tad. Originally Shinki slapped her ass while saying the last bit, but I felt that was a tad too far.

>>45833143
Alchemy is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural.

>>45833158
she wouldn't do that; she's a good mother that respects her adopted daughter's boundaries and privacy!

>>45832783
>Kosuzu
Suzuanon went to the sleepyhead dimension after the lingerie talk, may his soul rest in peace...

>>45782896
The Moriya Shrine was a picture of serenity. Aya couldn’t see a single soul at the grounds. Without the hustle and bustle of religion mixing with commerce, the tengu could appreciate how the goddesses built their shrine. The land itself was molded to guide the wildlife away from human footpaths, allowing both to coexist. For foreigners, they adapted well to the mountain. Since the paths were empty, That had to mean Sanae was out gathering faith in the Village. Now Aya only had to face the wrath of two goddesses.

As she flew closer to the Moriya Shrine, Aya could feel the presence of divinity. Considering who lived here, the tengu had two options: If it were Kanako, she’d have the disadvantage coming by air. If it were Suwako, she’d better not set foot on the ground. If both of them were here, she was fucked either way. Still, she had to choose one approach. Between smacking one in the face and spreading porn of the other, which goddess would be angrier at her?

Aya landed at the foot of the steps to the Moriya Shrine. She was immediately swallowed by the earth without leaving a trace of her existence behind.

… She could feel something on her nose. When she tried to wipe it off, the tengu realized her arms were pinned to her side. Up to her neck, her entire body was pressed by tightly-packed dirt. It was even wedged under her fingernails. Opening her eyes, the tengu noticed rippling waters surrounded by wooden pillars. It would have been a spiritually-enriching sight, had she not been rendered immobile. To her right, she heard the shutter of her camera. Straining her neck, Aya could barely glimpse the goddess’ fluttering purple dress.

“So Kasen’s the one that’s been causing trouble for us, eh? What a shame. It’s always the last person you’d suspect.” Suwako slowly circled the tengu, holding a rolled-up paper in her right hand and Aya’s camera in her left, documenting her imprisonment from every angle she could get. “Almost makes you wonder who else could turn on you.”

With the little freedom she had, Aya turned her head down in a show of veneration. “Oh great, honorable and forgiving Suwako-sama, I harbor no intentions to destroy the Moriya Shrine! It was just a misunderstanding! Happenstance! A fluke!”

Her shoot over, Suwako sat down in front of Aya with a devilish grin plastered on her face. An old evil ruminated beneath her childish mask. “Well, you know what they say: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice?” The goddess unfurled the paper into a very familiar doujinshi featuring Kanako on the front. “Shame on me.”

“I’ve never seen that doujin before in my life! I had no idea people could see the holy and ultimate Kanako-sama in such a lewd and unsavory light! How dare they suggest you would ever aid in the entrapment of an innocent man to fulfill the material desires of a lonely goddess!”

Unable to contain herself, Suwako fell to the ground laughing. “Ahahahaha! Even when you’re buried to your neck and lying out your ass you hit the nail on head! She’s been reading this thing every night since she took it from Sanae. If Yukari didn’t already have him, Kanako would have him tied up herself!” Under the cool breeze, infused with the lake’s effervescence, Aya was sweating bullets. Kanako knew the contents of the doujinshi.

“A-and is Kanako here right now?” A rumbling came from underneath Aya. Before she could realize it, the earth around her neck opened up and the soil surrounding her limbs pushed her out of the ground. Her outfit was still stained with a layer of dirt.

“Eh, calm down already. Kanako is out dealing with the kappa. Besides, it’d be poor form to kill you after you and that girl stuck out your necks to help us out. Even worse to kill ya’ while you’re still carrying. Congratulations, by the way! Make sure to drop by sometime to pray for a safe delivery.” Extending an arm out, Suwako waited for one of her trained mishaguji to bring her a bottle of sake. It seemed quite fancy. “Now, what brings ya’ to the this ol’ shrine?”

Without the imminent threat of death in her mind, Aya calmed down and assessed her situation. She knew Okina’s backdoors around the Moriya shrine were far away enough from here that she could talk to Suwako without worry. Perhaps Suwako knew that too. Now, how to approach the topic… well, the last time she petitioned a goddess, the direct method worked best.

Mustering her courage, the tengu took a polite tone. “How much do you trust Okina?”

Suwako followed up quickly. “So it’s treachery, huh?” Aya’s blood went cold as the earth goddess chugged down her booze.

“Well? Get on with it. We don’t have all day.”

(Part 71)

>>45833643
Suwako’s expression was hard to read. Was she waiting for Aya to reveal something she could report to Okina, or was she waiting to see if Aya was trying to draw something out of Suwako? Bah, enough of this mind-guessing recursion! “I haven’t exactly had the best relationship with Okina before now, but I don’t believe a word she says.”

“You mean you don’t have faith in your god? It’s pretty rude to take her blessing without giving her any faith.”

“Her whole shtick is being a secret goddess, she doesn’t need faith and yet she’s still this powerful. Once I’ve taken out the tengu, she has no reason to keep up her deal with me. Worse, nobody will be able to stop her once Yukari’s been dealt with. We know nothing about her, yet she’s been watching all of Gensokyo since the barrier went up.”

The short goddess rested her cheek on her hand. “That’s all pretty obvious isn’t it? She’s had it out for the tengu for a- wait once you’ve ‘taken out the tengu’?” Her eyes went once she realized what Aya said. “You realize you have more tengu inside your body, right? What exactly do you mean by that?”

“I’m just going to throw around enough bombs for Tenma-sama to cut ties with Yukari. Only a few printers will be hurt if it’s necessary. Now, I think you and Kanako can—”

The goddess’ cool demeanor had fallen. “Hold on, that’s not enough! How many people are you planning to blow up? How the hell did you even come to this conclusion?!”

She convinced Momiji, maybe she could convince Suwako! The tengu had to try. “Nobody ‘needs’ to be blown up, just a few machines and some clusters near residential areas as a bluff. Maybe some printers will get hurt if its necessary. Look, I’m just trying to weaken Yukari’s forces so we can save Anon and stop Yukari from doing something even crazier. She already made a demonic sword and plunged it under the mountain for who knows what reason. The oni seem to like it and the tengu won’t do a thing about it just in case they upset Yakumo. In a way, Yukari planted a bomb. My bombs are actually a tool for achieving freedom—“

“Stop! Stop! I get what you’re trying to do, but I don’t think it’ll work. What are you going to do if Tenma refuses to negotiate with a terrorist, blow ‘em up?”

Thick silence filled the air. Aya struggled not to answer the goddess, but that in itself was enough of an answer for Suwako to regret letting Aya out of the hole.

As gently as she could, Suwako tried to reject the tengu. “*sigh* Y’know, I was beginning to think we could work something out about Okina, but I’m not sure your alternative is much better. It’s nothing personal, just that Sanae has had a really good time here on the mountain. Your heart seems to be in the right place, but I’m not sure the shrine would do quite as well sitting in a crater… I wonder how much faith it would take to move everything back to Nagano...”

At the very least, it seemed like Suwako wouldn’t squeal to Okina about this conversation. The rejection still hurt Aya’s plans “I see. Just one more thing: Could you take a look at this cut? Eirin said it’s caused by a curse, but wouldn’t elaborate. She’s being really weird. You know about curses, right?”

Eager to get this crazy bird away from her home, the earth goddess agreed to inspect her. With just a touch from her hand, she knew exactly what ailed the tengu. “Oh boy, this one’s quite a doozy. Tell me: Do you know who gave you this curse?”

“Nope. They were invisible. All I saw was a shadow of a sword coming at me.”

“You sure it was a sword? Could have been something else that’s sharp—nevermind that! This here is a blood curse. As long as the person who cast it has even a stain of your blood, you’ll bleed as long as you trigger its condition.”

Touching her right cheek, Aya felt an uncomfortably familiar wet flow. “And that condition is?”

“Trying to figure out the caster’s identity. It’s a real bastard of a spell. I heard onmyoji learned it by studying the magic used by the denizens of Makai. It’s a good thing they were sealed away if they dabbled with these kinds of curses.”

Spilling blood all over the grass, Aya grasped Suwako by the shoulders, smearing her white sleeve with red liquid. “You said Makai, right?! Kasen isn’t from Makai! I knew it! That slut fox is dead meat!”

Now thoroughly frightened, Suwako tried to squirm out of the tengu’s hold. “R-Right! Now if that’s all, you can leave now!” Aya’s grip only tightened.

“Just listen for one more minute, I’ve got it aaaaaall figured out now!”

(Part 72)

>>45833648
“…Let me get this straight: Tsukasa spread the rumor about Kanako visiting the brothel to weaken us, and the same person who’s working with her cursed you. This is ploy is between Yukari and Tsukasa, and you can’t tell Megumu to cut it off because she has too much faith in her assistant. So, since Tsukasa’s accomplice wore accessories similar to Kasen’s to frame her, you and Hatate ran an article detailing exactly that to empower us and make Tsukasa believe she threw you off her trail?” Suwako could hardly believe the words coming out of her mouth.

Aya shook her head affirmatively. “Pretty much.”

“And your two pieces of evidence are Tsukasa leaving the Hakurei Shrine Experience and a robe that has accessories sown into it similar to Kasen’s that the assailant wore?” The first bit was admittedly solid. The second, however…

“And my curse! One that someone that practices Makai’s style of magic left! It definitely isn’t Kasen, at the very least.”

“Right. Now how does this convince me that you aren’t crazy? You’re still planting explosives around the mountain and arming yourself with pipe bombs.” Although Suwako could faintly understand Aya’s position, she was still quite a bit too dangerous to trust.

“Megumu herself was undermined by Tsukasa and her cohort. That doesn’t fly. If the business deal with Yukari is turning the tengu against each other, it’ll be much easier to convince Tenma-sama to break it off! All I have to do is catch those two and make them pay for their transgressions!”

After everything the land goddess heard today, she sat by the lake’s edge to ponder the tengu’s words. Aya enjoyed the ever-present breeze, focusing on her own goals and preparing for the worst outcome. When Suwako was ready to reconvene, Aya slipped a hand towards her maple-leaf fan in preparation. She wasn’t going down without a fight—not now…

Standing straight in a dignified pose, Suwako cracked a smile and held out an open palm for Aya. The tengu accepted, then pulled away when a toad hopped out of Suwako’s sleeve onto her own hand. “That seals it! Welcome to the team, Aya! This is a convoluted mess, but we’ll help out with your issue as much as we can. You just have to do one little favor for Kanako and me.”

Overjoyed as she was, Aya was still a little worried about the new conditions. “And that would be?”

The froggy goddess walked a little closer to Aya’s and spoke in a subdued voice. “When you’re setting up your spots, just be a little bit clumsy. Maybe drop a few pipes between backdoors? On accident, of course. In very obnoxious spots for Okina to retrieve them from.”

Bombing Okina wouldn’t work. Aya had already considered it. Maybe by ‘obnoxious spots’ she was emphasizing reconnaissance on the Land of the Backdoors? No, she wouldn’t need to drop anything… it was a ruse!

“Dang it, you should have tricked me with a ripped bag or something. Now that I know it’s a farce, Okina will probably read my mind through my backdoor and grill me for dinner.”

Suwako just blew her complaints off. “Really? You’re telling me a tengu can’t figure out how to lie to themselves?”

“It’s not as fun when you know about it! Besides, I’m an honest reporter, I can’t help but think about the truth.” Aya gave her a wink out of reflex.

“Yeah yeah, just do it however you think will work best. Since that’s taken care of, head over to the ravine to get your bombs. You’ll have to do a few runs for the trick to work.”

Aya was confused. She mentioned yamawaro connections, but not whom. “But… my sources aren’t in the ravine alone?”

With a loud rumble, a large onabashiri unearthed itself next to Suwako, which she gave a knock. “Kanako’s taking care of that. Now you have kappa and yamawaro manufacturers!” Hopping up on top of it, the goddess had a satisfied grin when she saw Aya’s confusion. “Icons have more power than just gathering faith, ya’ know!”

“Wait… did Kanako hear everything?” Shit, she heard Aya call her lonely!

“Yep! And she couldn’t do a damn thing about it! Ahahahahaha!” Suwako jabbed the onabashiri with her elbow. “So Yasaka, how’s it fell to know both of your faithmongers know exactly how you’d like to treat Anon?” If wood could blush, Aya believed the giant stake would have turned into sequoia before her eyes.

(Part 74)

>>45833655
>Part 74
I didn't skip a post, this is supposed to be #73. Next update will still be #74 of Aya's Amazing Adventures

>>45833655
>>45833648
>>45833643
kek, Suwako really threw Aya for a loop, though Aya's cunning to sperg at the right subjects and moments earned her even more allies to her terrorism~!
Also, thanks for chapter's three explanation. It helped this smooth brain in ways you wouldn't believe
Thanks for the chapters!

>>45833671
I understand the pain personally; why I stopped numbering my chapters...

>>45833098
deserved

GENTLEMEN
TODAY I WILL SUCK ON HANA'S TITS

>>45838409
NOT BEFORE ME!!

made a little tribute for our Sekai~
if anyone wants it
>Sekai t-posing with the tree: https://files.catbox.moe/n8lh12.png
>Sekai t-posing without the tree:
https://files.catbox.moe/kvl9rt.png

>>45838493
Cute eldritch god daughter, looks like a last boss with that pose.

>>45838493
I get it, she's called Hata because of all the funny hats she owns

>>45838685
>amalgamation of all 2hus that enter the HSE
>has a mega collection of silly hats
weirdly fitting…

>>45838577
>>45838712
Now we just need to Hana to encounter her, fuck her, and finally close the Hakurei incest loop for once and all. Maybe right after she seduces Reimu.

>>45838818
sexfiendanon…

>>45838929
Surely it'll happen, right after the Yukari victory lap around the village... right?

>>45838493
Winged daughter... no! I won't take responsibility! Not even if she has fluffy wings to give me warm daughter hugs with! I'm not ready!

>>45839711
you must resist, Anon!
I know happi daughter is too cute, almost impossibly cute, but you must resist!!!
webm version if you want to pause to see each individual frame: https://files.catbox.moe/kcmajk.webm
Just gaslighted myself into a head cannon that when Sekai is too happy she'll be cycling through appearances...

>>45840955
>Spoiler
Little lady this is the most terrifying moment in my life.

>>45838493
>>45840955
Anon(s) here surely wouldn't abandon their daughter. She's an uncertain amalgamation of everyone involved and is as a whole, abstract and undefined. She needs good hands to raise her. A mother figure that understands vague poorly defined bullshit powers helps too.
>>45841035
You *will* get used to it.

what's your favourite dead/unfinished/not being written anymore for whatever reason HSE plotline? for me it was the buddhists or heca and junko

>>45841576
Reisen, I would say. It was a nice view into the insides of Eientei and more of the pregnancy crisis through the eyes of someone that doesn't want to use it for their own nefarious plans

>>45841576
Meiling/patchy

>>45841409
>She needs good hands to raise her. A mother figure that understands vague poorly defined bullshit powers helps too.
someone said 'poorly defined bullshit powers'?

>>45833352
I'm still here, just unsure how to continue things for Kosuzu's perceptive while we still have the war plans and party to wrap up.

>>45833655
Poor Kankao gets bullied even when she's not there. She deserves to have at least a crumb of Anon before this is all over.

>>45838493
>>45840955
Hata is so cute even if she's a metaphorical rape baby.

>>45841703
>I'm still here
=D
>how to proceed
that's really tough, really, especially because Mimaanon kinda messed a little the timeline, though it's nothing major and can be easily circumvent: Tewi and the others left and, in the Hana chapters, they had already come back to catch the ending of her healing; but Mimaanon wrote as if they were returning after Hana was sent to the Hakurei Shrine. Or am I blind and missed something, that's always a possibility. I'd just write following the Hana chapters timeline so Suzu can still catch Reimu leaving or talk to Hana; leaving the details at the end vague so it doesn't conflict
Or maybe ask Mimaanon to remove mentioning Suzu in the latest chapter so it makes it better for you to write; you're the Suzuwriter, after all.
>Kanako
>it'll be during the closing act of the finale
>it'll be her messing up saying 'Hi Anon!'
that's enough for Kanako, right? She's a humble goddess, after all~
>Hata
Anon, she's not just a rapebaby; she's the ultimate metaphorical rapebaby!

>>45841846
I don't have much plans for the party per say. It'll be all scheming and magical theory, things she's not good at. I guess I could try to have her do a few things off to the side and then I'll continue with my after-party plans once this is wrapped up.

>>45841846
>Tewi and the others left and, in the Hana chapters, they had already come back to catch the ending of her healing
Just classic 'writers not reading what the others wrote' syndrome, happens to the best of us. I'll just ignore that little slip up when I write more Tewi.
Also as a side note: Tewi was indeed there with Sana and Sara, I left it vague on purpose for the rest including Mamizou so other writers can write their own stuff.

>>45841846
>that's enough for Kanako, right? She's a humble goddess, after all~
In between Hana, Tewi, and IRL shit(I'm going to be moving in 3 days) I wish I had enough time to devote to writing the Moriyan girls. They were so fun to write with during the Kanako chapters

>>45842194
same, that's why I decided to mainly use Sanae's POV for my party chapters. So fun, but so underused...
>moving
good luck and be safe! And don't forget the cat behind. I thought it was all just a meme until we moved and forgot the parrot behind

>>45841846
I swear I distinctly remember wondering whether Kosuzu and the gang were going to the Hakurei Shrine or Alice's cottage and checking, only to see Hananon didn't mention them. Had I realized, I wouldn't have had to do my first rewrite.

>>45842358
>only to see Hananon didn't mention them.
Gomenisorry, I didn't mention them since it was out of the scope of the story and I wanted to leave it vague on purpose. It was why the only one that I actually gave a bit too was Tewi in the Hanahealing part.

>>45823283

The table was new like most of the shrine’s interior was, though in spirit at least it was as it always was; a short circular thing varnished with oils and dark in hue with enough room to fit your legs under and not much else. On either side of the table sat a soft looking cushion, new as well it seemed though Hana could recognize the course forest green cloth that covered it as previously residing in the storage shed. Sitting on the table itself sat a small rectangular wooden plate in the center with loose dango covered in that sticky sweet sauce, and a steaming cup of fragrant green tea situated in brown earthen cups invitingly sat in front of each of the cushions.

The air of the living room was suffused with a subtle tension that set Hana on edge as she walked in and noted how her mother didn’t even so much as glance at her. She closed the door behind her as a bead of cold sweat formed on the back of neck, it was as if the sliding wooden and paper door was as iron and trapped that suffocating static inside the misleadingly cozy room.

Hana turned to her mother who sat at the table, her eyes were still forward and locked in a heavy kind of concentration. They were almost a glare that bored into the far wall, it made Hana’s knees weak as flashes of the past, visions of what happened in this very room, swam around the edges of her vision like rowdy spirits.

Feet clad in slippers took her one step closer, the nervousness building up like the pressure in the geyser of old hell. Her first step was already terrible as the expression on her mother’s face became ever clearer in the warm orange lighting of the living room that only helped to set the stage where the ghosts of the past danced. Still Reimu did not even give a glance at Hana, it was as if she was a predator who was trying to lull her prey into a false sense of security.

Another step, as outwardly steady as the last, carried Hana even closer despite her manifest unwillingness to venture onwards. Her eyes glanced at that table itself and memories of the seemingly distant past were remembered as if it were yesterday. The predator in front of her, her strength well known, had used that table’s predecessor as a fulcrum for her rage all too much. Hana could see the ghost of a crack where her father’s body had once impacted it along the sturdy edge with enough force to break his joint.

A third step, a fourth step, and with each new step another memory played out by spirits of the past that possessed this room, too many to count. Her vision was getting narrow, her mother and that table were all that she could perceive. Every unconscious twitch of a muscle brought back memories of violence bestowed upon her and father without mercy, teasing death yet always one step away from delivering the killing blow.

Hana was working hard to regulate her breathing, she wouldn’t show weakness here, she wouldn’t regress into that pathetic mess when she was doing so well just earlier! Hana tried clearing her mind, quick meditative phrases were uttered mentally to clear the thoughts and let her focus to limited effectiveness. Still, a storm of terror whirled around Hana, a storm that she tried her best to shutter her mind against lest it blow open the doors and take her.

At the lip of the table now her feet had carried her to the cushion, where for the first time her mother looked at her. Reimu’s eyes saw the hem of her dress first, blinked as if not believing her eyes for a second, then wandered up and a thin smile formed upon her lips. No words were said yet, but the tension that Hana felt vanished like a breath exhaled and the storm itself abated into merely an ever-present but distant mirage as Hana took her seat at the table.

However, Hana was still on guard, she knew how easily things could turn even when her mother was in one of her more docile states. At a moment’s notice she’d be out of the shrine and flying anywhere but here. As she sat her mother’s voice, stern and perpetually irritated yet lacking any edge met her ears, “I haven’t made dango for quite a while and some came out a little burnt, but the sauce is…”

Her voice stopped for a bit, Hana’s eyes were on her tea cup and she didn’t look up at her mother’s face yet, “You seem a bit pale, would- would you like to lay down?”

Hana heard the tone in her mother’s voice faster than she made out her words, they seemed to have an edge of worry to them. Hana shook her head after her brain caught up, she had to talk with her mother tonight, she had to clear the air a bit and get her answers no matter what. As her hands closed around the hot drink and gratefully absorbed its warmth she shook her head, “No, I’ll be fine. I just needed a moment.”

>>45844823

With an ‘ah, I see…’ her mother’s voice ceased and a silence prevailed for a short bit as Hana sipped at her drink to calm herself. She grabbed a wooden skewer, sitting on the edge of the plate bearing the dango on a rest normally reserved for chopsticks, and plucked up one of the saucy little balls. Her mother had just done the same and without a word they ate, Hana putting the little snack in her mouth and chewing it.

Hana wanted to say the flavor was fine, but she couldn’t taste it with how busy her mind was despite her attempts and collecting herself. Still, she let out an ‘its good, thank you’ after she sipped at the hot tea to wash it down. It probably wasn’t even a lie; it did look delicious after all.

Tea was sipped and snacks were nibbled at a slow pace as the warmth of the heater kept the chill out of the room the estranged mother and daughter resided in. Silence reigned as both avoided looking at each other over much, conversation came as naturally to them as fruit sprouts in the dead of winter.

Hana had to ask herself why she couldn’t broach the question, or any words for that matter. The occasional glace and word of ‘you’re not cold right?’ or ‘pass the honey’ failed to spark any conversation that would last beyond a whispered response. It made Hana feel like she was sitting before a stone wall, one that could collapse and crush her at any moment.

Hana was quickly running out of excuses, each sip and dango snacked on only exposed the plate and her thin excuse to broach the subject smoothly. Hana welled up her confidence, meditative practices learned throughout her life coming in handy for once as she focused, and focused more running over how to ask, what tone to take, and how estimating how quickly she could flee should worse come to worst.

Taking one last sip of the warm tea, her cup about halfway diminished she placed it on the table with a small clack that seemed louder than a yamabiko’s shout. It jarred her a bit, and judging by how her mother’s eyes settled onto her with manifest discomfort Hana wasn’t the only one feeling as such. Hana wanted to avoid her mother’s eyes, those deep amber eyes that terrified her for her entire life.

Not budging mentally nor physically Hana let the less-than-elegant question slip with a whisper before she could overthink it again, “I don’t get it… Why are you trying to treat me so nicely when you hated me?”

With the question asked Hana forced herself to look up at her mother’s face, it was a stone mask, a cracked one. Her breath hitched before resuming and the irritable expression on her face wavered as her brows furrowed before returning to her usual resting expression of light annoyance. Hana didn’t avoid her eyes despite the desire to flee rising up in force, reading into every movement her mother made as if she was a snake ready to sink her deadly fangs in.

Hana clutched the earthen tea cup; her grip was tight absorbing the warmth of the placid liquid within, yet ready to defend herself and make a fighting retreat at any moment. She was resolved to get her answer and find out just what happened with her mother over these last few months, and she had to find out from her own mouth why she was such a monster. Ran had intervened, that little cat shikigami was involved, was Yukari herself involved more than Hana already knew? She didn’t believe she’d ever forgive her, but if she was to move forward, she had to face her sometime. Mamizou was right all those months ago, she’d never move out of her mother’s shadow if she didn’t become stronger in every sense of the word.

Her mother never took her eyes off of Hana, they drilled into her as if she were challenging her, but they lacked the violence and rage Hana was expecting. Reimu’s hands let go of the cup she was holding and pushed it forward to make space for her elbows, she knitted her fingers together as if to restrain her posture itself. Hana tensed up in turn, despite the signs of her snapping not being there she couldn’t help but shake the dread as she went over every way she could’ve shown some kind of disrespect.

>>45844830

Just as Hana was starting to doubt herself and started letting the world lines squeeze, looking at every angle in new ways and threading the path she’d take to escape in under a second, her mother spoke. Reimu’s voice trembled slightly, “I knew we’d have to have this talk sometime… Hana I- I want to start off by saying that I do love you.”

Hana shifted in her seat uncomfortably, not letting the world lines relax and keeping her eyes on her mother from unique angles. Her words may have been gentle and her posture unassuming, but Hana knew better than to relax. Her mother continued, her voice was still soft and docile despite the tension in her frame being visible even through her thick yukata, “You may think that I’m lying, or just… trying to save face after I’ve already lost everything. I don’t hate you… and I didn’t hate your father either I just…”

Hana felt a spark of irritation rise up from her belly like bile, she didn’t hate them…? Nevertheless, Reimu continued her words, the trembling in her voice abating as if her words were rehearsed many times over, “I couldn’t stop my rage from guiding me, I didn’t… It- It was addictive, the anger. I used to believe that it was the sake that would force me to do it, that I turned into someone different because of it.”

Clearing her throat, Reimu refocused herself shortly after her eyes seemed to wander somewhere far, as if she could be haunted by the same ghosts that Hana saw. It couldn’t be though, Hana refused to believe that her mother would ever consider such things even as she spoke, “I love you, and I did then just as much as I loved your father but I loved that urge more… I loved the power, the p-pain I inflicted thinking that I could control you both forever without serious repercussions”

Reimu’s eyes focused back onto Hana, they tried to assert a sorrow and injury that was felt all the way to her soul itself, but Hana could scarcely see that. Her voice grew quieter by a few decibels and her eyes looked off to the table below her, guilt was evident as was the way she subconsciously scrunched her socked toes, “I had- have demons inside of me that I could never control. Every day I’d drink myself stupid to forget about them and what I did to you both, I’d take and take without caring about what was thought of me… I’d wake up disgusted and when I had a moment to think about it, I’d be repulsed by how I let things turn out.” Reimu breathed in again deeply, yet none of the tension seemed to leave her as she exhaled and her eyes locked with Hana’s again, “I wanted to change but I’d just do it again before long, it was too easy- too tempting to just fall back into my old ways. Everyone expected it and there was no one to stop me…”

Despite her fear a fire of anger was kindling inside of Hana, a petulant disgust was making itself known to her conscious mind. She wanted to see her in pain, she wanted to see her mother hurt just like she hurt her. Hana wanted to see her get brutalized at gohei point, she wanted to see her get raped like what visited upon her father, she wanted to see her life snuffed out cruelly alone in the cold without an ounce of mercy. Hana was trembling now, and she knew it as she clenched her jaw with determination, determination to not give Reimu the satisfaction of seeing her visibly react.

Hana thought her mother must have seen her anger, even though she tried to hide her poisonous thoughts Reimu did know her well. For a second Reimu closed her eyes and paused her words, when she opened them again it was like something was barely kept back. Hana thought it must have been rage, of course the old bitch would be up to her old tricks at the slightest provocation! Hana knew she couldn’t win, that she couldn’t really do anything to stop her if her mother attacked. That it’d likely end up like it did with Marisa, her mother’s uncanny senses picking up on her movements and simply floating to where she’d be. Hana didn’t care, she was raring for a fight even if it’d end up with her bloodied and dead, so she could show the world what kind of women Reimu Hakurei was!

The dam didn’t break however, and Reimu continued on with her scalding words, “I even went so far as to push you both away from others. I always mistrusted your father, thinking that he’d turn tail and run off at the slightest chance. That he’d cheat on me if I took my eyes off him, so I pushed everyone I once loved away and if I even thought he was thinking of someone else I’d make sure he’d only think of me by any means necessary…” Reimu’s eyes moistened a bit, but she blinked it back, “I knew he had better options, I knew that a man like him could have pick of the litter and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him! I had to make sure he knew that he’d only think of me“

>>45844835

Reimu’s fingers became unwound, Hana was ready to act if she so much as moved too fast, but her mother simply balled her fists letting her knuckles go white with the same faux calm over her face. Hana despised every word that came out of her mouth, memories, way too many for her to count came flooding past her mind’s eye as her eyes started to water a bit as well from the rage she felt.

Still, her mother did not stop speaking, “A-after you were born, I couldn’t stand the thought of you looking up to another, I knew what I looked like, I knew what I was, I knew what you’d think of me. Instead of keeping up and becoming someone to admire I thought it’d be easier to just use my gifts and keep you at my side by force... Kasen loved you so much, she would bring her animals down from the mountain and your father would run around keeping up with your energy as you played with them, he’d fuss over you so much… And-and I couldn’t stand the thought of you looking up to her, or Marisa, or Kosuzu, or Akyuu, or anyone else. I did what I do best and I isolated you on purpose, I cheered when you came home form school as quick as you could and when you stopped trying to make friends, I was happy that you’d given up. Hana, I ruined you on purpose, neglected your training so you couldn’t leave easily, and most importantly kept you from anyone that could let you see how terrible things wereb=, so you’d never think of expanding out!”

Listening to her every word Hana couldn’t help but let her anger overtake her good reason. Despite the fact that Reimu still looked like she had more to say, that cutting off her mother was always a dangerous thing to do. Hana still spoke, her voice was barely contained rage that trembled like a leaf, “Is that why you’re trying to treat me so nicely now? Because you realized how horrible you were? You think some tea and dango would make everything better?!”

It took all her self-control to not scream her frustrations, she could feel the tears forming on the edge of her eyes, she could feel her hands tremble in undisguised rage, she knew that her mother could kill her without much fuss if she struck fast enough; Hana didn’t care in this moment. Her voice carried over the table, it was all she had in her arsenal so she used it well, “You could’ve killed me and it would’ve been better! All those years of you hurting father, of making my life hell and hurting me over the simplest mistakes, and for what?! Just so you could control people that you hated?!”

Something in her mother’s eyes was threatening to burst, something was coming and Hana wanted her to strike and prove her right. This wasn’t about Yukari or freeing her father, in this moment all that the world comprised of was her and her mother. The pitch of Hana’s voice rose as she started unconsciously lifting herself onto her knees, her hands gripped the table tightly, “You hated me, you hated father, you hated everyone and all you wanted was to make us miserable! I never wanted to see you again but you just wouldn’t go away, I wanted me and dad to be happy but you kept looking for us, you kept pushing us into a corner and now look at it! I don’t even know if I’ll ever see dad again and here you are pretending that everything will be okay if you say sorry!”

Hana breathed heavily as she stared at her mother, her breath was hot and shuddering as she glared at her. Reimu tried to close her eyes again, her body was tense as iron, Hana thought the time was finally here. That now she’d see her mother snap like always and be proven right, that she’d swing her gohei like always, or maybe manifest her power and try snapping her body like a twig. She would finally be proven right and everyone would hate her forever, no one would come to her aid anymore an- ‘You’re right’ was what she got in response.

It cut Hana’s thoughts off and even though her glare didn’t abate she felt a growing surprise as she took in her mother’s eyes and body language from every sporadic angle she could catch the light of. Reimu was red in the face, her body was rigid and she clutched the air as if she could move the sky in her fists, yet it wasn’t rage that painted her mother’s face.

It was sorrow.

>>45844847

Pure and unadulterated anguish was all that Hana could see behind Reimu’s watery eyes that spilled forth from the floodgates. The red that painted her mother’s face, the emotions behind her eyes, the curling of her lips; none of that was rage. It was something she’d never seen her mother of all people display to anyone; it wasn’t something she was prepared for.

The tears were audible now as she pulled herself together through gritted teeth, “I-I know! I know that it makes nothing better! I know you’ll never want to look at me again as even a human! I know, I know, I know, I know!” her mother breathed in and breathed out deeply, the meditative practice was the most basic and one she’d taught Hana personally; it didn’t seem to work, “I made you hate me and I made everything hell for you! You’ll never love me, never come back, never smile at me again and- and I don’t deserve any of it either!”

Reimu was shouting now, the sorrow was too much to retain any semblance of pride, “There’s nothing I can do to make it up to you, nothing at all! I know that as well as anyone!” Her mother bowed her head, smashing her forehead onto the table without a care for appearances, “But I still love you, I love you and Anon more than life itself! I would do anything to make it up to you! I can’t set things right, I can’t and don’t know how! Please, just know that I love you and that’s all I need! Just know that the only thing I’ve thought about since then was you and your father and how I could help in anyway I can! I-I rebuilt the shrine for you, I stopped drinking, I accepted Aya, Marisa, and Ran’s feelings for your father and I wish them the best! I just want you both to remember me- to remember that I love you and want nothing more than to support you in whatever you do! I never hated you, I only hated myself!”

With hitching breath, Hana stood up as Reimu raised her head in reflex at the sudden movement. Hana couldn’t handle it; she just couldn’t sort out the genuine remorse she saw with the image of the women that she despises more than anyone. This wasn’t her; it wasn’t the same women that twisted her arms and brought her low to the ground with sake-stained taunts at the slightest provocation. It wasn’t her tyrannical mother that raped her father as she pleased and birthed her into this world with nothing but ill intent.

Hana wanted nothing more than to hate her, she wanted Reimu to explode in anger and strike her even if just once. The sobbing wreck in front of her that punctuated her ‘please!’s with another slam onto the table with her forehead, her palms flat at her side as if she could show her sincerity further with that alone, was not the women who would abuse her gifts to torment those she was closest too. Hana felt disgust in that moment, at her mother, at herself, at even her father for marrying such a woman.

Suffocating in this room she shouted, “Don’t, Don’t! Just stop!” as she ran off and threw open the doors to the freezing hallways. She wanted to leave the ghosts of the past behind, to move forward despite it all. The ghosts followed without mercy as she threw open the door to her room and slammed it shut behind her as she moved through. She could still hear the sobbing behind her through the thin walls that hid little, the terrible sobbing of the monster that tormented her yet found a way to change that seemed genuine for once.

Those baleful cries of anguish became a harmony soon enough as Hana clutched the bag of presents, the only comfort she could find, and let her voice join the wailing. She clutched the bag as she collapsed onto the futon, letting the contents spill out haphazardly. Memories, and nothing but memories showered her mind no matter where she looked. Memories of the eventful party, those that loved her, those that she thought hated her, those ghosts that circled her like vultures.

Among the contents that spilled out, something Hana didn’t even care to notice as she lay there in her own self-loathing and anguish was a small box. It lay upside down, its ribbon crumpled by gravity and its wrapping paper battered from all that has happened today; its contents unknown and its sender remains to be seen.

part one of Hanabanana's confrontation is complete, second part may be a bit slower given i'll be moving in the next few days. I should still have time to write tomorrow night though.

>>45844849
>>45844847
>>45844835
>>45844830
>>45844823
Hanaanon, you don't do that to a man... If I remember this during work and start sobbing again, I'll fucking destroy your router so you won't have internet when you move, you monster
man, this was heart-wrenching, fucking loved it! And what a cruel point to stop in... Well, hyped for the next chapters~ thanks for these!

>>45838409
Get in line

Will a new Alice post ever be made?

>>45845325
When you write it

>>45845325
if I recall well Mimaanon said after he finishes the warplans in the party.

>>45844858
It was good, thanks anon.
I imagine hana is most upset about seeing something seemingly irredeemable in her eyes actually change, and seeing she herself may have to change from the comfort of her previous views, if that's what's happening.

>>45833805
>>45833671
Just be like me and never put a number on anything so no one, especially not you, knows anything about how long your arc will take!
Imagine planning, couldn't be me!

>>45848555
Fresh from the farm organic

>>45848555
>trips
that's it, boys. Planning is gay from now on. Will be scrapping the four-parter I was going to post today and begin from the zero without a plan.

>>45849005
Good

>>45799522
—
It took some time to get into contact with Yukari. Time I had to think and ponder, profound relief yet a certain fear overtaking me in random moments: this is our chance to finally finish it all. With the Dragon God involved, Yukari wouldn't have any chance of winning, and she'd be swiftly put back in her place, meaning things would be back to normal, maybe even better from the things I've gathered from this hellish experience… But that's wishful thinking.

Nothing will ever be the same, and my sins whisper in my ears constantly. There's no peace to be found anymore; be in Senkai, in the arms of my few lasting friends, in crazed lust…

A thousand years of suffering, of war and death, another thousand of aimlessly living, of trying to be better and finding myself—never to succeed.

Ten of serenity alongside my… child… of red and white…

Twenty knowing I had failed her and her family.

One year of pure torment.

… There's no peace to be found anymore. That shallow spring has recently dried.

What remains is shattered glass—even that can still kill.

Yukari was weirdly happy when I found her; her first words were about the ping she had received two days ago from the sword… My words sapped the happiness from her face like a bamboo hose and I felt contentment deep within: 'this is what you get for meddling with powers greater than what your mind can perceive.'

… Still, my heart pounded as she stormed inside the Gap—I followed.

The Underground, again, had changed: Onis flocked around the lake still, but a monolithic, gaping maw of polished cobblestone protruded from the water's surface—a dragon's maw like that of Koutei, but twice as big—framed perfectly by the massive waterfall that used to serve as a backdrop for the sword. Yukari, frowning, moved to the top of the open maw and stood on pointy teeth, each the size of an oak, and gazed at the winding throat, where golden flames surrounded the sword beneath the water. It had changed to be as straight as a Chinese blade, sustaining three limbs of iron that resembled hooks on each side—a seven-branched sword, similar to the one Koutei forged in Heaven's Amrita from his scales.

I paid no attention to it, only to Yukari. Her face changed multiple times, from fear to confusion to thoughtfulness, reading the tablet on the Dragon's uvula. I could feel the gazes of hundreds of Onis on the shore, my veins empowered by prayers and chants to Ibaradouji. They don't understand what's happening, but their faith is being challenged by a living God. It was arduous to hide my smile. Yukari hummed to herself, focused. “… The magic was destroyed, then this rose.” She repeated my words of earlier, Gaps opening all around in the following silence—

—two in particular brought with them people. Ran landed on her feet, sleeves together and confused, before noticing what surrounded her. She looked very tense and was about to address Yukari… Then we noticed the second person.

Seiga was nude, blushing, panting and… Covered in blood.

It took a moment before she understood what was happening around her, pouting and hardly worrying about her nudity—it wasn't the same for me, eyes searing holes on her creamy skin and plump breasts, pussy slightly open and soaked and with well-kept petrol-blue pubes adorning it, legs strong and thick, jungle of blue hair disheveled and exuding in the air the sweet aroma of sex. I was wet before I noticed, but managed to look away, body quivering and heart thundering—Seiga giggled. “Kasen-chan, Ran-chan, hi! Yukari-san, so rude~I was having fun with Anon.”

Ran froze, tails bushy. She looked ready to kill. “Is this blood…”

“Oh, no, no~I wouldn't harm him like that! It's Yoshika's… Kinda: I filled her with some poor sod's blood—he was an outsider~—then took her to a threesome with me and Anon and, when he least expected it, I slashed her open, drenching us two with blood! Hahaha!” She held her belly as she laughed, Yukari giggling too. Ran lowered her head, but her eyes carried the cold fury of Hell and Heaven. “Oh~his face was just…” As if not under the gaze of us and Onis from afar, she rubbed her hand on the blood covering her body and buried it in her soaked pussy.

It was sickening. The erotic sounds tortured me.

“Leave it for later, Seiga,” Yukari commanded, turning to us. “You'll be deciphering the Feng Shui of this lake and my sword—find the source of this magic and the entity that did cast it. Ran, you'll use the Gap to test the magic of the sword, the lake, and the Underground. Return the chance of the Dragon God having been to the Underground and Gensokyo as a whole in the last six months.” They both nodded, Seiga sitting with a smile on the teeth and joining her hands, a meditative trance befalling her strikingly fast—I felt acidic envy. This monster was capable of acquiring peace despite her sins?! A monster in harmony with its sins…—, Ran swiftly left through a Gap.

Yukari and I shared a look and my heart screamed: She was calm.

>>45850391
—
“And we, Kasen, will go fetch someone who understands Draconian magic.” Her words were piercing, though their meaning made me scowl. What is she talking about? Draconian magic is exclusively for dragons. Does she know someone capable of it? No, it’s impossible…

My mind rushes, but Yukari's giggle brings me back to reality… And when understanding comes, all coloration drains from my face, body tense as if under rigor mortis.

Koutei. She's talking about my Koutei.

“Hm~” She approaches, and I can't give a step back quick enough, a gentle hand caressing my chin and sending waves through my body, eyes jolting to her breasts, mouth watering—they saw Seiga too, admiring her perfect back and ass, the voice of my mind screaming for me to close my eyes.

Hana moans, flush and with her legs open; Anon thrusts deep inside, bleeding and crying.

I couldn't move. These sins weigh too much…

So I slowly nod, Yukari giggling before kissing my lips—“Shall we go, my dear Kasen?”—escaping my greedy hands by entering the Gap… It takes a moment for my mind to clear, my hands sweating—

A giggle echoes yet again, but it's not Yukari's. “Go, go, little lamb~your master is waiting.” Seiga snickers, rage coursing beneath my flesh like a tsunami…

But what can I do? Attacking Seiga will amount to building a castle of dust against a storm; just as well, not a single word comes to mind, only deep-seated rage that makes my arm fume.

In silence, I entered the Gap, Seiga laughter grinding my bones to dust—

It disappeared when the Gap closed, though it would later become another voice to taunt me in my sleep.

My Senkai surrounding me didn't bear any of its usual peace, Yukari standing five feet away from me, parasol opened as to protect herself from the fake Sun—from its blossoming Sakura perch Kanda watched, the same for Houso, who growled at Yukari from the top of his rock, an ember of joy drifting inside with their protectiveness, though it ends at that.

They are not to attack Yukari under any circumstances.

… It's for their own safety.

“My~your pets look as menacing as ever, Kasen. It'll be a delight to have them protect the HSE during the Solstice.” My blood burned, but I didn't act upon it. She knows very well why.

“Koutei was supposed to be only revealed during the Winter Solstice as a surprise weapon against our enemies—doing it now in front of the whole Underground would be foolishness.” I hate it. I hate it so much that my precious friends are being used to defend that atrocity, being treated as weapons, especially Koutei. I urged him to leave my side and follow the enlightened path he had achieved in his spiritual journey… But he stuck by me, as he has done since I watched him hatch…

… Such a sentimental dragon.

Yukari merely hummed, twirling her parasol. “Things have changed, and the situation in our hands calls for action—”

“But Koutei shouldn’t be subjected to this!” Rage bubbled inside alongside crushing fear. Was I wrong? Did I miss something? No, it can't be; it was exactly like the Dragon God's magic—the same thing I felt all that time ago, during that oath I never fulfilled. There's no way this nightmare continues with no one intervening! Okina hasn't done anything yet! Why is she not doing anything—

“My, my, Ibarakasen~” My train of thought is cut off by Yukari, which is now standing an inch away from my face; growling comes from the side, and I unconsciously gesture to Houso: please, don't. Yukari's hand goes up and brushes my skin, my body tensing… A feeling worsened when I felt warm water collecting on her finger. Was I— “So desperate for a light—any light—and you looked so intently at the first one that popped, I fear you may have blinded yourself~” B-Blinding myself…? “Miracles don't often happen. You should know that already: How many of those you killed, raped, ate wished—begged, screamed—for a miracle? Anon also wishes for a miracle to fix your broken mind every day~I say you're perfect the way you are now: subservient and meek… Now, call your pet snake before I start killing your other pets.”

Hope burns brighter. Fear consumes like nothing else.

I wish for the Sun to settle so the pain stops. Satori would come eventually to help, as will Yuugi and the rest—that won't be enough—others will come too, like Yuuka, Alice, the Moriyans—that won't be enough—and, of course, Okina and now even Reimu, which Yukari is monitoring closely… I also fear that they won't be enough.

It's maddening to not believe in anything anymore…

… But the Dragon God would've been enough! And, as if responding to my prayers, a statue of him appeared on the centerfold of my suffering, promising me a better future, a future where I can find a small measure of peace…

It's my only true hope of escaping this nightmare.

… I so very much wish to be left alone.

Walking as if outside my own body, I approach the edge of the mountain and, filling my lungs, yell Koutei's name. It comes out weak.

Sadly, he responds.

>>45850403
—
The numbers were grim.

About two hundred years ago was the last time the Dragon God blessed Gensokyo with its presence, the magic saturating the air like particles of gold, persisting through passing ages. Theoretically, his magic could even be used as a measure of time the same way carbon is, though I leave the thought for later, fastening my sleeves before proceeding to my last point of interest—already having visited Youkai Mountain, the Village, the Sanzu, the Underground, and even the Blood Pools, saying hello to Toutetsu and that purple-haired friend of hers—the Hakurei Shrine. As usual, I felt proud of the changes as I landed on its roof. An urge tried to make me go inside and say hi to Reimu, but I resisted, pulling out my notebook and beginning to use my Gap to test the levels of magic saturating the air.

As expected: nature magic, barrier magic, and Buddha magic are overpowering. It's situated in an area where fairies like to play; it’s a shrine and is right on the barrier—found it.

Pulling up the function, I checked and… Hm. The Dragon God's residual magic, mere atoms yet powerful anyway, radiates readings close to those of the Moriya Shrine…

I tsk, sighing and looking at the Sun.

0% chance of the Dragon God having entered Gensokyo or the Underground as a whole…

… So it seems there's no almighty God on its way to save Anon from Yukari…

Well, it's the reality we live in and, though unrelenting, it’s not hopeless: we have allies—I look at the shrine beneath me, a sweet, small smile opening on my face—and a big surprise element. Our chances are as good as it gets against Yukari… “43.645074, -115.993081,” I mumble to myself as I open a Gap back to the Underground to relay the information back to Yukari—

—hm, weird… The script caught an unknown variable, which makes me frown. Magic without categorization? It must be a bug that avoided the Pass if. With numbers so outstanding, almost equivalent to the Dragon God's magic, it cannot not be a bug, so I scrap it and leave the Shrine—

And my jaw almost dropped. W-What in the…?

A massive Gap cracks the ‘sky’ above the lake where Onikirimaru lies, so great I can't see either of the ribbons Yukari likes to have on their extremes. But that's the lesser of it, as a massive veridian dragon—Koutei?!—is connected to the Gap, dwarfing its surroundings with a body the thickness of a sequoia, having to do rounds as it descended from the 'skies' onto close to the lake, its gargantuan head hovering about ten meters above the already massive dragon-shaped statue. One of its large hands touches the stone, eyes close. Waves of Draconian magic shifted the still surface of the lake, making my tails bushy.

Puzzled by the development in my one-hour absence, I Gap myself to the top of the statue by Yukari's side—going from far away to up close to Koutei is jarring, but I recover quickly—ignoring Seiga, who's still naked; Kasen was sitting on the stone, her eyes closed, though her face looks pale and sick. “Took you a while, Ran-chan~losing your touch?” Seiga mocked me, but I ignored her. Her words of control strike true, but in Yukari's presence, she holds no power over me. Yukari didn’t move her eyes.

“Yukari-sama, I have found no new trace of the Dragon God's magic anywhere, be it in Gensokyo or the Underground—there's a… 0% chance he has been here in these last two centuries.” It was barely perceptible, but Kasen winced.

Yukari hummed with her eyes closed, nodding to herself. “You did well, my Shikigami. Seiga's reading of the Feng Shui has shown no alteration of the sword’s core chaos. Whoever tried meddling with it could only do it at a surface level. Still, it led her back to traces of godhood, so another God rallies against us~” Her tone carried no worry, just a certainty of her actions; she has been like this since the day after the party…

I calmly nodded, my heart pounding; another God means more firepower to Okina's side, taking this was done by someone on her side.

… Still, why is Yukari so calm?

Koutei's eyes opened, head lowering to our level as Kasen got up to pet the massive and shining scales—

“This is not our magic. It's but mimicry.” The dragon’s thundering voice resounded through the air, shivering my body whole. My heart felt like about to burst. Kasen froze and Seiga had finally lost her smug. On the shore, who wasn't prostrating and praying was now.

Yukari remained placid. “Three out of three—99.9% chance the Dragon God hasn't stopped favoring me~that's very good—”

“—This.” Koutei cut her, his voice carrying a rage that could send lesser people mad. Yukari's smile evaporated, and I swear I could sense Kasen's soul leaving her body. But all that was ignored: reaching for his own scales, the massive dragon pulled effortlessly… something. A pole made of billions of tones of green, shining like a star; six hooks spread evenly along it. “Is a true Dragon’s sword.”

He put the sword in front of Yukari.

A mountain and a woman.

>>45850410
—
My blood was frigid, limbs trembling. What's Koutei doing?! I looked at him, the Dragonscale Chiljido gleaming with murderous intent and towering over Yukari, who reciprocated the stare with odd placidity, eyes cold and focused, not an ounce of fear, as if she had no worries that, in a fight, she'd win. Seiga hummed, pulling her chisel from her tousled hair, ready to run away if things went awry. Ran had a Gap opened by her hand, and a droplet of sweat on her forehead exposed the true feelings beneath that calm facade. The dragon had an infinite wrath behind his eyes, clutching the handle of the seven-branched sword and ready to move the very world with the promised swing. “K-K—”

“Kasen,” he spoke in dragon tongue, halting my words, my powers allowing me to understand. “We can kill her together. End your torment.” Yukari was staring at me with an intrigued smile.

“K-Koutei… I know you want the best for me, but this is not the answer—Gensokyo depends on Yukari to survive—”

“Then we kill her, and so Gensokyo dies together.” His voice rumbled the world with deep-seated rage, Seiga looking tenser by the second, the people on the shore staring as if watching a world-shattering event. My heart rate already through the roof had reached a new level, body suddenly stopped quivering as sobering thoughts washed over me. “A forest cannot remain unchanged forever. It has to burn its old to make way for the new—and this woman is a parasite that needs to burn.” Yukari's smile was growing, parasol's end against the ground, meeting Koutei's death glare head-on. How can sh—

“Your pet seems to be misbehaving, Kasen.” She said, Ran trembling with the tone; Seiga looked morbidly aroused.

“I-It's not like this; K-Koutei is just—”

“Done. I am done with Kasen's enslavement!” He yelled in Dragon tongue, my eyes bulging even more and my teeth clenching. Yukari hummed, nodding to herself… I gawked at her and, calmly, she smiled at me, a dangerous twinkle in her purple eyes—

—She was understanding everything. She used the Gap to manipulate the boundary of comprehension…

“Don't worry, Kasen. I'm not mad at your misbehaving pet, who is proclaiming to kill me; I'm just disappointed. Control it, please.” I gulped glaciers, slowly turning to Koutei. Behind that deep wrath, a sadness threatened to sprout.

“Please, Kasen… It's unbearable to see your defilement.” Somehow, the whimpering and imploring voice of a massive beast that could level mountains in minutes was especially gut-wrenching. Tenderly, I reached forward, the dragon moving the sword to the side—the displaced air making violent air currents—, to be eye-to-eye with me, my hand brushing the rough skin beneath his massive eye. “I came back to you… But you are fading away…”

I contained my tears, knowing full well the three stares piercing my back—Ran had pity and ears down; Seiga looked thrilled and amazed; and Yukari kept that confident, cold smile of just now. “I know, Koutei, I know… But I love this land! I cannot burn it down…” Reimu flashes in my mind, her smile; Hana's; Anon; Satori, Yuugi, Suika—I simply cannot let all die because of me; not when there's a chance things will change… No matter how low the chance is, “And I know Y-Yukari is working to make it better! When the sword comes out, too, I'll be free.” My whispers didn't seem to reach him, unlike my lies, the large eye closing as if in incisive pain. “Just… wait a bit more, okay? Things will get better.” I place my forehead against his skin, hugging his face as if a kid trying to hug a tree.

Koutei whimpers one last time before moving away from me, burning eyes over Yukari, my heart throbbing—a small hope pleads him to strike her down, but I swiftly snuff it like the weeping cry it is—and, with a defeated look, Koutei stores back the sword inside his body, the thing disappearing in a billion contrasting greens. “I am sorry for my display.” He uttered and before the entire Underground, a dragon bowed to a woman.

Yukari's smile grew tenfold, almost silly-looking. “Good~very good!” The ground beneath us suddenly faded, a Gap consuming and throwing us by the foot of the dragon statue—

—which sprouted from the water as if with life of itself, Gaps all around it—

A shriek of anguish jammed me cold, wide-eyes rushing to Koutei and… My heart was ripped apart: the statue's mouth closed around his neck, caving into the strong scales. “Y-YUKARI, WHAT ARE—”

“Bowing is not enough. Bad pets should be punished~” Hundreds of Gaps started opening and chains, loud and terrifying, began sprouting—n-no, those aren't chains… But 'trains' melded together to look like massive chains—which caved into the statue, making a cruel and makeshift contention collar—

I'm crying. I'm utterly crying; each of Koutei’s cries of sheer suffering destroyed what remains of my soul. My friend, one I watched grow since the egg… Was being chained like a mongrel, his echoing pain a song—

—Because of me. Of my egotistical wishes…

>>45850418
—
The twisting chains made of trains pulled the squirming dragon to the cave wall, hitting the waterfall and sending a deluge towards the 'skies', but I ignored it all, my eyes never leaving Koutei, a cloud of dust rising where he had hit. I need to move now! To check on him… B-But my legs are glued to the water surface, thick tears burning my face as if molten lava—

A hysterical laugh shook my entire being. Seiga was laughing. She was laughing. “Oh, Yukarin~I think I have fallen in love with you! To see a dragon being tamed is quite the experience of a lifetime.” Her eyes shone with wonder, and I saw a deep well of pity in Ran's eyes that stood by Yukari's side, who stared at me with an expectant glare.

She wants to see what I'll do.

I want to kill her.

I want to kill this woman.

A shadow of unmitigated rage begged me to do it, to march forward and make her into a bloodstain… I am marching forward; my eyes are wide with choler and my face contorted in fuming rage from deep within—

For all the torment she has caused me and those I love…

I will kill her.

—Two low sounds to my side stopped me in my tracks.

Yukari's seemed surprised.

I looked down. My hair buns had fallen…

… But I didn't pay attention to that, staring at my reflection, the crystal-clearness not only showing the dead lying on the bottom but also the until-now thought-dead Ibaradouji and her proud, pointy horns…

I screamed.

I screamed; tears were welling and shaking hands lifted. No! Not this! Not like this! Not the entire of a millennium of sacrifice, of attempting to become someone better, of trying and failing and—Reimu's smile, our fierce battle; Anon's calm and kind smile; Hana's childish marvel; Satorin and her bashfulness, drinking with Yuugi and Suika—

NOT LIKE THIS!!

A shivering effort, a bloodcurdling cry…

… And the two horns filled with Douji’s lust were plucked out with loud cracks and a rain of blood, feeding the lake beneath. I crushed them into dust and, without an ounce of elegance, flew desperately towards Koutei, heartbroken; mind fragmented. The pain is too much, the sins are too much, the rage, the lust, the nightmares, the death—it's so, so much IT'S UNBEARABLE!!

Sobbing, I crash onto Koutei's face, hugging it and seeking refuge from this awful world. The dragon chained to the wall whimpers, making me aware he's still conscious. “Koutei, I-I'm s-so very sorry—p-please, forgive me! I didn't want you to end chained down and lose your freedom; please forgive me, I beg you—” The blood cascading from the top of my head, warm and rich, made me feel faint.

Koutei's voice was weak. “I am chained down, Kasen…” I searched his face, meeting the feeble gaze of one of the most powerful creatures to have ever existed. “…But you are the one without freedom, Kasen—from her… from yourself. It kills me, the others, and I know it's killing you too…” Tears fell down the dragon's visible eye, the chains rustling loudly with movement. “Free yourself, please…” Blessed tears crashed onto the lake below as if meteors.

I couldn't say anything; my throat was lumpy.

Why hasn't the Sun set? Why am I still here, lost in this dark night? I was given hope, only to have it swiftly taken from me. Twice. My heart shattered twice, and the sharp glass shards are becoming too tiny to cause harm…

It's tiring. I'm tired. I want the Sun to set…

“His effectiveness range will be of the entire lake and two hundred meters around it. That should be enough to chase and destroy whoever might seem like a threat to our sword, Kasen~” Yukari's voice came from behind, setting my heart on fire and freezing it at the same time. I turned to her, seeing her on top of Koutei's nose, smiling as if everything was okay. “I've already manipulated Onikirimaru to return to its pristine look; sent Seiga and Ran back to the HSE too… And now, Koutei-san here will be the warden of our sword~” She approached me, the heavy bleeding sapping on my well of strength to the point where it was hard to move. “Kasen… Why do you still have delusions of my defeat?”

She stopped in front of me, kneeling so we could stare into each other's eyes. Rage fueled my next words: “… You're going to die in the Solstice, Yukari…”

“No, I'm not.” That confidence was still there, as if wholly sure of her words. I frowned, ready to speak— “I'm pregnant.” It was as if being hit by a tsunami wave, my words evaporating. I stared at her, completely thrown off at seeing her tenderly caress her belly. “I will be a mother in a couple of months… It was very hard to do it—a lot stood in my way and doubts were plentiful. But it happened. I am pregnant.” She giggled, moving her hand to my face, Gaps closing my wounds. “It happening so close to the ending is a signal: this baby will survive, which means I'll win against Okina. I have no doubts anymore.” With my consciousness slipping, she held my face and whispered, “I have already won.”

Darkness surrounded me…

… And nightmares welcomed me.