/jp/ - Otaku Culture

"By the way...How's Kasen been doing? I've been around every few days since you were last here, and she was still pretty miserable the last time." I quickly told her a shortened version of the tale Suika had told me. "Wow." Komachi rested the scythe against the ground and leaned on it. "Figures no one can cheer up an oni like an oni." She laid a hand on my shoulder. "Thank you. Really. I've known her a long time, and it was killing me that I couldn't seem to help her out. I don't really want her to merge with the arm, you see, but I want them both to get better in their own ways. Be their own people." She shook her head. "Can't say I trust her yet, but if Kasen's willing to give her a chance, I suppose I'd better keep an open mind too." I hadn't really thought about it, but it was clear that Komachi cared a great deal for Lady Kasen. Komachi turned, stepping closer to the exit. "What can I say?" She tilted her head back and gave me a lopsided smile. "I've got a soft spot for moral lecturers." She gave me a wave goodbye, and disappeared in a split second. Lady Kasen had told me that she had the power to manipulate distances, so I assumed that she'd compressed the entire walk to the Sanzu into one step.

I stared after her for a few moments. She was definitely strange, but then again, I couldn't think of anyone I knew who wasn't. But she could be kind and compassionate, and very easy to get along with. I liked her a fair amount, even though I had to fend off her advances. Shaking my head, I turned and looked back at the dojo. Then, I wandered over to the cliff face where Raki had spent a lot of her time right after being unsealed, and set myself down there to watch the sun rise over the distant peaks.

And this would have been fine. But not five minutes later, I heard footsteps behind me, and then two figures dropped to sit on either side of me. "I do believe he's in thought, partner." Lady Kasen said from my left.

"Why, I do believe you are right." Raki agreed, passing the sake box across to the hermit from my right. I hoped that she'd gotten better at estimating where her horns were, since I didn't feel much like getting impaled. "But whatever could it be about?"

"A girl?" Lady Kasen asked.

"A fight?" Raki continued.

"Or perhaps a philosophical topic?"

I looked between the two of them and asked if they were trying out a new comedy routine. "Aw, he's bashful." Raki said, leaning in close enough that I could smell the sake on her breath. "Well, come on, we won't tell anyone." That, I supposed, was true.

"So, what's got you all pensive?" Lady Kasen asked, nudging me. "How are those two girls?" As far as I knew, they were both asleep still, and when they woke up, they'd probably be very hungover. "Oh, definitely. I know they both drank a lot of oni sake filtered through the Hoshiguma dish. So did you, for that matter." I was probably still drunk, I replied. "Well, that's one way to deal with a hangover."

"We used to eat three raw eggs and punt someone off a cliff to deal with the hangover." Raki informed me, and I asked how knocking someone off a cliff was supposed to help deal with a hangover. "I'm no physician. Made us feel better, though."

"That it did, but don't worry, we're not about to do that to you." Lady Kasen assured me, patting my arm. "More specifically, I wanted to ask you about your dear spider." I looked over at her, my eyes narrowing slightly. I asked if she was planning to take more half-disguised shots at her. Lady Kasen did at least have the courtesy to look a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't...I still don't quite understand the two of you. I just..."

"Urgh." The arm groaned, leaning back on her hands. "She thought you and the Shrine Maiden were a sure thing."