/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45668898
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So many arguments. The things she did, the monstrosities, the transgressions—everything came to the forefront, at the tip of my tongue… Yet I couldn't say anything because we were played. She used our very anger against ourselves, pinching and prodding, and, when the chance showed itself, sent us over the edge to the point we had painted ourselves a terrible color of death, of war. It changed little: the attack will still happen, our fury will be poured down on each attack and that hellish building will be dismantled… But we might have lost Hana before our very eyes. And if we can't save even a little girl, then what the hell are we even doing?!

I wanted to lunge forward, to make a pulp out of Yukari, but in her arms, sobbing uncontrollably and trembling like a leaf in the wind, was Hana, an emotional and physical meat shield, incapable of hearing our appeals to her, sunken in an until now unnoticed cocktail of emotions impossible to understand and that ended up like this. Regret tasted like magma.

Trying to attack Yukari was a constant in my mind, as real and factual as the Earth spinning; she had managed to react against Yuuka's punch, and she isn't dumb enough to stick around if we all decide to jump her at the same time. The Gap by itself is a bloodcurdling enemy, too.

There's no way we can attack…

So we have to watch as she makes her way to the door, eyes broad and glinting with success, boasting a smile that lights aflame every inch of my body.

Marisa was still screaming, coming to the same conclusions yet unable to accept them. Mima held her arm, the black-and-white witch pointing her finger, golden hair dancing a carnival of flames with each virulent accusation and veiled plead. I feared for her children at that moment… So much stress…

The ghost looked pale, teeth clenched, hand holding the staff, about to tear it in two. Alice skimmed her grimoire, eyes of molten gold displaying arrant desperation, looking for something—anything—that could change this dreadful situation.

… And Yuuka was unmovable, dawning on her the brutal reality of her homicidal judgement: it played exactly in Yukari's hands, reinforcing the pools of blood that follow her every step as a monster to be feared. Gensokyo's past and present fell on her knees, eyes shining with so much life and emotion, staring at Hana as she was being taken away, unable to do anything about it but mutter, "I… I l-love you, Hana…" It was heart-wrenching, yet it amounted to nothing.

Suddenly, Yukari stopped…

"That's what you get!" She states, arms holding tight onto Hana. We can only watch in disbelief. Marisa freezes, gulping down her venomous words in confusion. "Trying to fight me?! The one that built this place from the ground up! That kept it together when those atomic bombs fell outside?! Is that how egregiously selfish one can be? Reimu destroys this girl's life, and instead of trying to give her a home, accept my terms—Anon is being rehabilitated, Reimu too—, shower her with love and compassion infinite, you flock like hounds to my ankles?! Biting and biting in hopes of taking down the hand that feeds you? Your hubris has backfired, women; accept your defeat, and I'll be kind." Her voice calms down and, softly, she glimpses towards the massive golden statue of a sinful show with incommensurate pride. "To earn my forgiveness, you all will carry that to the doors of the HSE tomorrow, using only your hands and backs. Expose to the village the reality of your defeat and accept it; make your pledge to me that your little insurgence has come to an end. Do it as I said, and I'll forgive you and let my dearest Hana back into your sad lives."

It was a sword disguised as an olive branch. One to tear our group apart, dissimulate even more Hana—still… The young miko's loud appeals and cries for help echoed inside my head, a symphony of nightmares, and, wide-eyed, I found myself considering it.

Yukari saw it, the triumph growing tenfold as she walked to the door. "Heed of my infinite compassion. Of my mercy. This is a quality this girl will have as a true example in her life—none of your unsavory immoralities—; My methods escape you, but even my beloved Hana has comprehended them. Open your minds and understand, too, if you value your relationship! And know, once and for all, that Hana has only one true mother! One that loves her immensely and would do anything for her; that will put her above every single pesky qualm!" She grabs the doorknob and smiles exultantly. Hana whimpers, as does Yuuka. Mima looks lost, frowning; Alice bites onto her lip, her nails scraping the cover of the grimoire, tears welling there and wetting the book. Marisa is lost inside her own head. I listen with a feeling of desolation. That's it…? That's what we are? Fools? "And that woman is—"

She opens the door.

"Not you." Reimu Hakurei utters, her frame almost filling the entire entrance, face to face with the Gap Sage.

Yukari Yakumo's joy fades away.