/jp/ - Otaku Culture

(1/3)
Lately the Fake Shrine had taken on a life of its own. Flowerbeds lined the path to it, ecosystems of various animals had been cataloged living about, and a new permanent resident, a small doll that the Forest Witch had left, now floated about the place.
I was thankful for the phenomenon. The flowers instilled those who approached the small home with a sense of peace and relaxation while the new life that sprung up around ate away at the commercial superficiality of the HSE. Visitors purchased fewer extreme courses, Anon’s own mood had vastly improved, and most surprising of all, Yukari didn’t seem to mind any of it, although perhaps she was too busy to notice.
Hopeful as I was for the peace to continue, I knew good market trends and weather had one thing in common, peaceful lulls could foretell cataclysmic periods. I prayed I was wrong.
“Hello Takane.” Anon said, seated comfortably at the table, peeling an orange for the doll beside him.
The doll itself noticed me, gingerly flew over, and gave me a small bow and pack on the cheek. With a solitary finger, I rubbed its little face which she hugged.
“She really likes you.” Anon remarked.
“Children are often friendly.” I tell him, setting a basket on the table.
Contained within where various soaps, ingredients, and other little luxuries I had procured from the village markets and beyond. Carefully Anon took each out, examined it, sometimes sniffed it, and began separating them into piles. The doll inquisitively felt each item until it found a stocky herb she started swinging around like a sword.
“These are a no go.” He started, pointing to a collection of soaps. “Their textured with seeds, some of which I’ve seen uh, excite certain woman. These on the other hand will do great.” Anon held up a collection of bath bombs. “The fragrance makes most people more relaxed. Pretty ideal I’d say.”
“I’ll put in an order right away.” I say, making some notes.
While the HSE wouldn’t deny most requests for foodstuffs and other luxuries, we were able to stock the fake shrine however we pleased otherwise. I long ago started to come up with different ‘weapons’ Anon could use in his arsenal to temper some of the more vicious Youkai, but it was when I started these meetings with him that the incident rate started to decline in earnest.
It also gave me an opportunity to better take care of Anon’s own health, since he sub-consciously chose things that put him at ease, useful for when I would schedule worker’s sessions or my own maintenance windows to take care of him as much as possible.
“Everything going well?” He asked.
“It is.” I said with a smile. “We’re seeing a few new faces here and there, but things have been running smoother, due in no small part to your help.”
The ‘new faces’ were Yukari’s growing collection of ‘personal’. I couldn’t say so directly, but letting Anon know, even a little bit about the situation outside put his mind more at ease then a lie.
“Oh, meeting new people isn’t always so bad.” He told me, now dueling the doll with a herb of his own.
“Are they fun at least?” He chuckled.
Kasen, Flandre, some Tengu, the Otter Yakuza boss, Seija, and Goro, I suppose all these people were ‘exciting’ in some way, but most weren’t the type to share a nice chat like this. Yukari’s new company all had some erratic quality to them, which, considering the massive forces allied against her, wasn’t unexpected.
“They are. Although I wished they’d get along better. A team’s only as good as it’s network after all.” I say.
But Anon doesn’t answer, instead his gaze seems to be captured by something on the ceiling, but when I turn to look, nothing is there.
“Oh, sorry I’ve just been seeing some things lately.” He waved. “Probably should be getting a little more sleep I suppose.”
I put my hand on his and look into his eyes with a firm glance.
“Ah, well, I think it looks like a larva of some kind. I thought it was an eye squiggly at some point, but it’s too much like a circle.” He says, helpless against my gaze.
“There!” He points.
This time when I turn my head, I see something. A small pulsating thing whose form is barely defined hovering ghostly just below the ceiling. It vanishes just as soon as it appears. The doll looks at both of us, confused.
“It started about a week ago. I don’t think it’s something dangerous otherwise you all would know immediately. Might just be a trick of the light.” He says, shaking his head.
“I’ll get someone to look into It immediately.” I say, patting his hand.

>>45182730
I think I'm the only one who's touched on the Kappa specifically:
>>44918148
>It all started a little over half a year ago, when word was getting out that the Yukari household had some big commercial venture planned right in the middle of the village. Now, among Youkai, Kappa hold the informal right of first refusal for any business built within the human village. There’s no judge or law to enforce it, it’s just that they hold the most property there, control river access, and have the experience to bully any other competitor out of the field. But if there’s anyone who has more sway in the village then the Kappa, it’s Yukari “sit-and-watch” Yakumo, so when the main Kappa clans were dumb enough to turn down her contract I leapt at the chance.

My head cannon is also that people can't tell Kappa and Yamawaro apart, so they might be both working at the HSE and characters just call them all Kappa.

>>45150691
(2/2)
“I’m sorry.” I say, before Yamashiro slaps me on the back of the head.
“Fool, I don’t have the right to condemn anything you did to him, and it was his choice to reciprocate your feelings. He’s not such a trophy or so weak that he’d cuddle up to you like a child craves the love of an abusive parent, even if he is stuck in this place.” She explained.
Yamashiro exhaled. “Some annoying guy once told me: ‘Good business is built on good deeds and evil acts lead to no business at all’, and we’ve both done a lot of bad things to keep this place running. Eventually it’ll all come crashing down and those of us complicit with this place will have to answer for what we did.”
I bite me tongue thinking about it. All this time I’d paid attention to Anon, Chen, Yukari, and myself, but this place was taking its toll from so many others as well. So many people we’ve ignored, so like me to not see the bigger picture and trust Yukari.
As if seeing my frustration, the Yamawaro speaks “You two are alike in a way, both bound to abusive people who monopolize your attention, your love. It’s a wonder what the world would be like if either of you could’ve worked together with those people instead of being bound. I think you both just wanted to escape that toxic partnership with one another.”
I felt flush with embarrassment at her words. It’s as if Anon and I were some runaway teenage royalties eloping against the wishes of our parents. Ah, such romantic thoughts were unbecoming of me, I didn’t deserve them-
Then I felt Yamashiro’s hug from behind. It wasn’t sudden or quick, but a slow, warm embrace.
“It’ll be hard Ran. After this you’ll want to monopolize him, have him all to yourself like a fairy tale. But that won’t make Anon happy, so don’t try to re-tread the mistakes of the past or he’ll just drift away.”
“You mean, the others?” I asked.
“Yes. He’ll want to help them, love them as well. It’ll make you more jealous than you’ve ever been and maybe even bitter. Just remember, this is the price we pay for our sins. Bad business just means you pay a greater cost later.”
I placed my hand on hers and let myself feel that warmth. It wasn’t clear how much of what she said was for me and how much was for herself, but that made it feel authentic. Unlike an impassionate judge, more like an understanding mother.
“I’ll try.” I answered.
“Good.” She said, slapping me on the back of the head again.
I turned around, surprised, to be greeted by Takane’s cruel, angry looking smile.
“Because if you hurt him, I’ll make sure to repay the favor with compounding interest.”