/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45046755
(4/4)
“Ahh!” A frightened voice yelled.
Goro and I both turned to see that mutt, Kagerou, dropping the whicker basket Goro had brought with him.
“So uh, Goro-kun! You um, left this basket at my place and it seemed like it still had some pretty important stuff so I thought I should bring it to you, but I uh…” She said, all woozy looking.
“…what I mean to say is, sorry for interrupting! I’ll be off now!” She barked, setting the basket down and speeding off, but not before turning to me, making a thumbs-up sign and winking.
It’s decided. Next time I was coming back with sheep sheers and leaving with a wolf-skin scarf.
Goro walked over and retrieved his basket, then continued down the path. When I didn’t immediately follow, he turned back.
“Coming?” He asked.
I tried to mouth something, but not even I could come back from such a flip of the situation.
“Wait.” His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t think I was serious, did you? Oh man, I actually got you?” He threw his head back, laughing.
I felt my face flush with embarrassment and, begrudgingly, enjoyment. Never have I cursed my existence as an amanojaku so much.
“So, you really are just a small fry huh? I bet your that ‘absolute deal’ of yours is full of holes, isn’t it?!” I angerly blurted out.
“Eh? Oh no it really is as permanent as it gets.” He began, smirking “but what good is it if I must satisfy the client’s best interests? For many evil people like Yukari, a good doer like me is better off dead right?” He laughed.
I felt my eye twitch.
“And who’d believe someone would become a God just by shaking some hands? It’s like being venerated for eating at nice restaurants or having a distant relationship to a god, but twice removed.” He said, slapping his knee.
I raise my hands trying to say something, but don’t find the words.
“And speaking of killing, you’ll let me stick around for the finale at least? Hell, maybe you’ll get a chance to flip my plans and the HSE on its head all in one go hm? Wouldn’t want to miss the look on my face, right?” He chuckled, walking off.
Staring at his back, I felt my composure return and senses slowly restored.
I smiled, wide and toothy.
Maybe I had been too hard on Goro. He did have those Grassroots Youkai wrapped around his thumb, knew a surprising amount about Yukari’s tendencies, and even had dealings with high-level youkai like Nue and Futatsuiwa. His ability might be sub-par and his skill in battle left much to be desired, but he was driven toward some end and when you know what someone wants, you can control them.
People think an Amanojaku’s only duty is to flip everything on its head, but everyone forgets our true role:
We tempt men to do evil things.