/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>38570682
‘Sometimes I talk with the maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Apparently they have a very well read a knowledgeable mage…maybe she knows something.’ Waggy said this hesitantly, for even though she wished to be helpful, she really she did not want to call on the Mansion, because the elegant chief-maid had frightened her by saying that ‘maybe the mistress ought to prefer sushi tonight.’ And though the maid had meant it as a joke, her refined manner meant that the humor was ill-conveyed to the mermaid.
‘The Vampire?’ Banki said incredulously to the great relief of Waggy. ‘Well, we don’t know if they will help us, and they are rather secretive as it is. But I know of someone here in the village who should be able to tell us what we need to know. In the morning I’ll go to the Hieda house.’
Kagerou and Waggy, who were both acquainted with Hieda no Akyuu because of the activities of the Grassroots Yokai Network (but had forgotten about her since they don’t usually come to town), nodded in approval.
‘Well, the sun will be rising in only a couple of hours, and I don’t think we will be able to sleep much, so let’s have some tea’ said Kagerou, looking expectantly at Banki.
‘You sure know how to make yourself at home…’ She grumbled in reply, but her body (sans her head, which stayed floating where it was) set to work preparing the tea.
While the three yokai girls drank their tea, Kogasa had moved off to the side of the room. The day had been a whirlwind of new sensations for her. She had awoken knowing little but compelled by her instincts had set forth in a strange land. The wound opened by her remembering her own abandonment ached when she thought of it, but at the same time she felt happy when she thought of her new name given to her by the one that saved her. And she enjoyed the cheerful nature of Kagerou and Waggy. She couldn’t help but continue to be optimistic if they were helping her. She felt confident that things would shape themselves and erase her painful memories, while she created new ones for herself.
With this thought leaving her contented, she listened to the girls chatting over their tea. From this she learned some things. She learned that this place was called Gensokyo and that this was the Human Village, and of various other things about current events and the other yokai. They spoke of the most recent incident, and though Kogasa did not know exactly what ‘incident’ referred to, she inferred that they were common enough. They didn’t say overmuch about this incident but mentioned a ‘nuclear hell raven.’ They also spoke of a particular shrine maiden, who they seemed to regard with fear and suspicion. But their talking then gave way to lighter things and they merrily recounted about the goings on in their lives and homes since they last met and engaged in friendly banter with each other. Even Banki, after a little while of loosening up, was in a good cheer, contrary to her normal disposition. This went on until the dawn’s rosy fingers stretched over the eastern sky and the bright morning light filtered into the room.

>>34014025
You awake to the sound of a soft current of running water alongside the incessant creak of an old rowboat. Trying to get a sense of your bearings, you try to prop yourself up with your.. arms? Feeling as if something was off, you attempt to stand up but realize it was also a physical impossibility. Looking down, not only do you notice that your limbs were missing, but rather, your entire body was missing. Suddenly, something appears in your peripheral vision, a wisp of some kind. You follow it with your gaze until the ball of light nestles itself besides a figure leaning against the rowboat. You turn your gaze upwards and make eye contact with a rather seemingly listless and tired-looking girl in a blue dress with red-pigtails. A large scythe rested on her shoulders, locked into place with her arms hooked around opposite sides of the pole.

“So you’re the guy I’ve been hearin’ about, huh? Word spreads quickly whenever that miko is hellbent on solving an incident. Didn’t think she’d actually kill a... well nevermind.”

You remained fixed in your position, befuddled. But after briefly gathering your thoughts and unclouding your memory, you soon come to the realization that you are in fact, dead.

“W-Wait, so then you’re a shiniga-“

The woman abruptly cuts you off.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s just get this over with.”

She drops the blade end of the scythe into the sand, balancing the opposite end with her right palm while reaching out towards your direction with her left palm.

“Pay up.”

“How was I supposed to know to bring a coin purse with me after I die?! And besides, I’m flat broke anyway!”

She lets out a begrudging sigh and steps towards you.

“Not physical money. It’s money that manifests through the bonds you made with others during your life. A representation of the hospitality and respect earned from every single person that cared about you.”

She reaches inside your corporeal form and pulls out a small clump of yen, before overturning and opening her fist to check the contents.

“And.. how sad. Well, I guess this will suffice. Not like I can go turning away every spirit. And ‘sides, Miss Yama said she’d like to have a special word with you. Not every day you get this kind of opportunity, for better or for worse.”

You immediately tense up, acknowledging the past atrocity and grave sin you had committed. Staring blankly off in the distance, your eyes trail along the currents of the Sanzu River towards the distance where you can make out the blossoms of a red flower of some kind.

“Well..? We haven’t got all day.”

The shinigami was already impatiently standing in the boat, her head tilted back towards you.

“S-Sorry.”

You hover over and settle onto one of the seats as she begins to ferry down the river.