Fantasy Ikigai

[Aster]

IC || CS || Lore || OOC​

Ikigai -
"The Japanese concept which means 'a reason for being'."

Episode 1: Missing

Nishimura Mizuha, the youngest daughter of the Nishimura clan's head has gone missing! Rumor has it that an Ayakashi kidnapped her. A search party has been organized by all eleven clans to find the missing child before it's too late. The child was last seen near Fūjin Temple with a white-haired Yokai bearing large horns. The reward for finding her is 200 silver coins.

 

[Orikanyo]

Takeshi Tora

​

Sitting within his room, the Tora clansmen named Takeshi began preparing for his newest mission. He began recounting his tools and refastening his armor, sharpening his naginata's blade and giving it a fresh oiling. "A dull blade is a dangerous one." He remembered his mother telling him some time ago, he only really understood she meant dangerous for the wielder a few years after when he cut himself trying to carve a stick with a dull knife. He also learned not to carve things with the blade facing towards yourself then, really he learned quite abit from that one accident, even if he nearly lost his left thumb due to it.

He looked over his kit once last time, stood up and remembered the details of the task. "Alright so we have... A white haired yokai, large horns, a missing child named Nishimura Nizuha... Or... was it Mizuha?" the man questioned himself as he plucked up his weapon of choice. "Well, guess it doesn't matter too much, a two gold bounty for finding her is good enough for me. Aside from the fact I'm saving the poor kid from... Who knows what. Really wish they saw more, hell maybe what the yokai could do or whatever..."

Grumbling, the man pulled open the entrance to his room and stepped out into the Tora compound. taking in a deep breath of the crisp air he stretched out his arms, accidentally knocking the roof with the naginata's sheath. "Man, what a good day for a hunt. though, you could say any day is good, fighting in the rain, storms, sunshine, nothing beats a good thunderstorm mid battle though." he spoke as he walked down the way, polearm resting upon his shoulder and smiling as if there wasn't a thing wrong with the world.

He stopped for a moment to take a look around, weird, why did the world feel so quiet?

It was as if he was missing something.. or rather, someone!

Somebody he could not go on an adventure without!

Ah yes, now that he thought of it, it was more like three people.

Standing out in an open area, the man cleared his throat, fixed his clothes and took in a long deep breath...

"SHIGGY!!!!! MEIKO!!!!! WHERE ARE YEA!?"

The man's voice echoed throughout the compound like the roar of a lion. Satisfied with his call, he began to watch and wait for his companions, or at least one of them, so show up or speak up. today was going to be a good day, that he could feel, and nothing was going to ruin it! they would go out, find this white horned yokai with large hair, and be done before dinner. That yokai probably is nothign speacial anyways, probably some trickster trying to play a prank or something that took abit of time. or maybe the girl has a contract and told nobody about it? heck it took him awhile to remember to tell the others about Meiko, man she was driving the whole compound nutty with her pranks.

That was an awesome week.

Fond memories aside, he was not satisfied with the rate of which the others were showing up, he readied to bellow out another call.

Aster deer A Murder Of Corviknight

 

[Aster]

s h i g e n o r i . t o r a

Missions that did not involve fighting the Shi-gai came rare in the Tora clan; so naturally, when the request to search for young Nishimura Mizuha was announced, Shigeru was one of the first to accept.

Instead of diving head first into the search, the young male took his time in collecting records and information about the young girl he was searching for. From her appearance down to her favorite sweet's shop, he peruse the information with quiet thought and was just about to come to a conclusion on where she would likely be until--

"SHIGGY!!!!! MEIKO!!!!! WHERE ARE YEA!?"

The birds perched on the branch outside his room flew off in unison and Shigeru could swear he saw the furniture tremble at the stentorian call. It was the promise of trouble at the given call more than the sheer volume which caused him to jolt and stiffen in his seat: a reaction trained into him from all the near death experiences his cousin, Tora Takeshi, dragged him through.

Screw the Shinigami. Shigeru practically had one living in his household. It was a miracle they were still alive given all their misadventures.

"Urk--Kaede..." Shigeru whimpered, taking a second too long to realize he had spilled the ink jar when he flinched. It stained all the work papers he had meticulously filled out and was slowly making its way towards the edge of the low table he sat at.

Quickly gathering the rest of the papers and deciding it was pointless to try to salvage them, he used them as make-shift towels and quickly cleaned up a majority of the mess before going through the extreme of scrubbing the table clean of stains with detergent. Being the neat freak he was, it wasn't uncommon to see a small heap of cleaning supplies in almost every inconspicuous corner in the Tora household.

Cleanliness was one thing, but Shigeru was sure the Tora elders would not be pleased to find out that he's "lost" his paperwork once again. While feeding Kaede proved to be the best way of destroying evidence, the male was starting to worry about his partner's digestion... or lack of thereof.

Knowing that running away was futile, Shigeru pulled himself to his feet and turned to face his partner who was sipping tea behind him, blatantly ignoring the summon made by the older Tora male.

"We better see what he wants," Shigeru reasoned, sounding like a mother trying to convince their child to eat vegetables. Another ear-pounding shout hardened the smile on the violet-head's face.

"...Before he wakes up the other half of the Tora clan."

Shoving a few talismans into his cloak pockets, Shigeru left to find Takeshi just as he was prepping for another booming shout. He quickly shuffled over, slapping his hand over his cousin's mouth, hushing him.

"I'm here! I'm here! Don't shout anymore or the Elders are going to get mad," he sibilated under his breath, already side-eyeing the ends of the corridors like they were going to appear at any given minute. When it came to his relationship with Takeshi, Shigeru was usually the one receiving the short-end of the stick, taking on most of the scoldings and punishments given for the trouble Takeshi they caused. At this point it was almost comedic and Shigeru could no longer tell if they were doing it on purpose.

Like his yokai partner, the violet-haired man was jaded to scolding. But that didn't mean he liked being scolded regardless.

Releasing his hand on Takeshi, Shigeru made a quiet sigh.

"So what is it?" he asked, eyes trailing towards the pole-arm his cousin carried. Ah, right. Weaponry. His sword.

Shigeru must've left his forlorn blade in his room again, lest Kaede took it up for him. It was a common mishap for him to forget one of the most important tools needed for a Tora onmyoji. Over the years, Shigeru's gotten better at handling whatever's thrown at him without said-blade much to the elders' dismay. He's even gotten a lecture out of it from Kaede's grandpa once. That was an... experience which kept him carrying his blade for a good week before leaving it back at home to collect dust.

At least now he was cautious enough to carry protective charms and wards on him but it was still nothing compared to his uchigatana, leaving most of the work to fall on Kaede.

"Wait, don't tell me. The Elders assigned you to look for Mizuha too?" Shigeru came to a solid conclusion after putting one and one together. Like himself, Takeshi looked dressed to leave.

location: Tora Mansion | mentions: None | interactions: Kaede A Murder Of Corviknight Takeshi Orikanyo

 

[A Murder Of Corviknight]

Unlike his grandfather, Kaede wasn’t really the superstitious sort. He was the type to have no qualms about breaking mirrors (as long as he knew that there would be no angry yokai yowling at him later). But as a bellowing shout echoed throughout the Tora Clan compound, disturbing both the peace and the contents of his tea cup, the young genbu wasn’t able to help but balefully eye the upright tea stalk floating in his cup. Faith or no faith, weren’t they supposed to bring good luck? Or at least predict good luck?

Ah, no matter, he thought, fruitlessly ignoring the world (including his only human friend) and taking his sweet time with his tea. He should have known he was doomed to suffer from the lack of peace the moment Shigeru signed up for saving a missing child. He had hoped that an easier mission like this wouldn’t warrant a need to be lumped with Takeshi (even Kaede had to admit that he was hard to ignore) but...he should have known better than to trust the sanity of elders and Shigeru’s luck.

(All elders, no matter which side of the world he was on, seemed to have a hobby of nagging and bossing around the younger generation.)

After finishing off his tea (including the tea stalk), Kaede did dutifully follow Shigeru out the room. However, after a moment of debating between laziness and being a good friend, Kaede decided that laziness was a good choice for today and slipped back into Shigeru’s room. ...Only to leave not even a moment later dragging Shigeru’s uchigatana behind him...as a turtle.

Of course, it was initially more work to drag a sword along with him (especially as a turtle) but he had his reasons. Shigeru having a weapon meant that Kaede himself had to do less work. Travelling as a turtle meant that he wouldn’t have to explain himself or bother to answer Takeshi and Meiko. He also wouldn’t mind being carried by Shigeru. However, seeing how he was essentially being a bad friend by...what was it that humans say? Throwing someone under a racing horse? Carriage? ...Whatever the phrase was, Kaede doubted his friend would carry him.

It didn’t really matter much to Kaede either way. As long as he was able sneak in at least one little nap, he would be satisfied.

So, with the rattling and clinking of the sword being dragged behind him (there might have been a horrified gasp behind him as he toddled along but he decided to ignore that), Kaede eventually pulled to a stop in front of his friend’s feet and let the strap attached to the sheathe of Shigeru’s sword drop from his beak. After letting the sword drop with a satisfying thunk, Kaede merely patted Shigeru’s foot with his paw as if it would make him feel better about the matter before he stretched out in the sunlight (and dirt) without even a hint of remorse.

------------------​

NAME. Kaede
OBJECTIVE. Get Shigeru to do his share of work
MOOD. Satisfaction
TAGGED. Aster | Orikanyo | deer

 

[fluticasone]

fluticasone

Gozu yawned as he was finally released from the prison Akito called his home. As holding cells went, the Muroo homestead was one of the comfiest, but the warden didn't leave hell just to stare at wall scrolls all day. He'd been itching to get out, practically wishing that some Shi-gai would cause havoc in a nearby village. In a way, his wish did come through, though Fujin temple could hardly be called 'a nearby village'.

Gozu could still hear his ears ring from when his contracted human and the elders argued about the former's responsibility to their current mission. They both knew all Akito wanted was a reprieve from the stifling atmosphere at home, but he thought it was prudent to leave that bit out, lest the elders ban these 'excursions' altogether. Akito may have been used to it, but Gozu sure as hell didn't enjoy being tied down to one place when he'd finally been given the chance to explore. Frankly, he thought the Muroo elders' obsession with protecting their head was futile; if the family was as cursed as Akito said, then he'd die when the curse decided to act up. People passed away all the time, what was another Muroo head in the longrun?

After what felt like hours but was in reality minutes, Akito finally managed to exit the gate and join the Ayakashi. Pale green eyes looked at the numerous protective charms that filled his hands, most likely from the other clan members. Gozu took one, holding it to the light as he perused the carefully written character. He knew that the process of making the ink itself was far from simple, and appreciated the steady hand behind each brushstroke. Its effectivity, however, was the more dubious in quality.

"Do those things actually work? From what I've seen I'm usually the one doing the protecting rather that it." He lightly threw it back with the others that Akito held. With a shrug, he turned his back to both Akito and the gate, facing the direction of their intended destination. A trickle of excitement for what was to come crept into his gut. "Fujin Temple right? Let's go find that yokai."

Now excitement was all well and good, but it would probably be worth reminding hell's general that their main goal was finding the girl, not the yokai.

 

[Nano]

taglist

Nano

fluticasone

A long, drawn-out sigh was the only indicant of Akiyoshi’s surrender. His expression made it plainly clear that he was wholly unconvinced and that he was simply “agreeing to disagree”.

“Just,” he said, the first word hesitant and very much subdued, “don’t do anything risky, alright? I know I don’t have to tell you this, and you also have Gozu-san but still…” With unsaid words hanging heavy, Akiyoshi took it as a cue to leave, likely to check on his son and daughter. Akito felt a stab of guilt in the meaning behind his brother’s worries, but nevertheless, he was resolute in his decision. Though his primary reason was to take a short reprieve from the duties of the household—a sentiment that both Gozu and he shared—what he had told the elders was true to a certain extent. It appeared to be a simple rescue mission, but a gut feeling told him that something may be amiss. Of course, that “hunch” wasn’t just a sudden wave of nerves and/or an excuse to justify himself.

After much fussing and an excessive number of protective charms being pushed into his hands, Akito finally managed to swim past the overprotective crowd called the Muroo Clan and through the gates. There Gozu lay in wait, picking at one of the charms and casting a doubtful glance at it before tossing it back.

“It’s the thought that counts, I guess.” Akito shrugged at his partner’s comment. As capable as he was (at least that’s what he always told others and himself whenever he got cold feet), even the people who were ignorant of the Muroo’s curse seemed to fret over him at even the mere mention of stepping off the compound. Well, at least the children were cute, though their protective charms were more “charming” in a clumsy rather than “effective” way^[1].

Carefully placing the charms in the small satchel kept safe underneath his coat, Akito took inventory one last time before patting his knives into place and confirming their next destination with a nod.

“The details stated that the ‘white-haired yokai’ was last spotted at Fujin Temple,’ he said with the intention of moving on quickly. One look at Gozu’s face, however, brought about another brief pause and the mild exasperation that became commonplace over the past eight years. “You haven’t forgotten that the main objective was to find Head Nishimura’s daughter, right?”

Realizing for the nth time that he’d just asked a question that he already knew the answer to, Akito bit back a sigh. “Nevermind. Don’t answer that.”

He was used to it.

---​

notes
[1] Akito’s handwriting is even shittier though, so he can’t really talk.

code by Nano

 

[Orikanyo]

Takeshi, the pure boi

​

The hand of his favorite cousin came outta nowhere just as he was about to holler again, but it appeared his loud voice could not be contained as the moment he removed his hand he spoke once more. "About time yea showed up, I was about to yell for yea again!" the man laughed, his smile bright as the sun when Shiggy finally arrived, he looked like a child that had been just given a piece of their favorite candy.

But nonetheless Shiggy continued as he always did, talking and talking about the elders and their dusty old hides, some old farts who think they own the place.(Which they do) In truth he wondered why Shiggy was always bothered by those old fogeys, yea sure hes got some super powerful spiritual whatever and a cool heavy turtle and a really soft looking head of hair and a really pretty pair of eyes, and much better at writing and a fancy fan dancing thing and a real good way of talking and stuff.

But Takeshi was a good fighter!

He also had Meiko!

So that was something right?

"Nah, the elders haven't sent me on that mission. But that wont stop me from goin', those old farts don't know what their talking about sending yea alone." the blinding smile only got wider as he crossed his arms, looking as if nothing in this world could dare stop him from going. In truth, this wouldn't be the first, nor the last, time he had went out on missions from hearing only the the slightest hint of trouble brewing, but considering that fact the Tora elders more likely considered Takeshi on the mission without really having to tell him that fact.

They have tried to stop the younger man before, it never ends as planned, someway, somehow, he always manages to wiggle out of whatever confinement they keep him under. The fact he contracted with a kitsune only made matters more annoying to deal with.

"So? What do you think the yokai is? Maybe it'll be a huge evil thing that we gotta fight to the death! Or maybe we'll find it and it'll beg for it's life as it runs and hides at the mere sight of us! Or maybe-" he paused for a moment as the new being came upon the scene, Kaede, the heaviest damn thing Takeshi has ever tried to lift. Despite his smallish size he may as well weigh as much as the whole Tora compound, or perhaps even more, on multiple occasions the young man had tried to lift Kaede, and generally his attempts had been met with failure.

"Kaede! You finally woke up huh? Man if you hadn't had things to do how long could you sleep for?" The man knelt down to get a better look at his long time nemesis, noticing the sword that had been dragged all this way. "Speaking of bonded yokai... Where is Meiko?" he questioned, peering around the area.

"That fluffy butt has to be around here somewhere... Maybe if I yell for her again." he began taking in yet another deep breath...

Aster A Murder Of Corviknight deer

 

[Shadow Alpha]

☂ ✦ ☁ ☾​

Bad Wolf

Ōkami no Ikari
Ikari had received the order from her higher ups and she had honestly taken the order with a grain of salt. It was nothing more than grunt work for the black sheep of their clan as if she didn't have better things to focus on at the moment. The young wolf yokai was currently perched in a tree in the middle of Ametsuchi overlooking the human residence. Ikari's bare feet swung lazily with the breeze as she let out a sigh. "Why am I the one that always gets the worse assignments, it's not like I even care about this human girl that probably walked off on her own free will. I swear humans can be so idiotic when dealing with yokai."

Ikari leapt down from her perch and landed silently, "I guess it's time to get started with the mission anyway." She looked around the area and yawned which exposed her sharpened canines. It would have been a nice day to relax but she had no intention on dealing with the punishment that would follow. Ikari had begun her trek through the town in her smaller pup form, it was easier for her to avoid the stares of humans. The fluffy pup made her way through the streets with her nose up, hoping to find Miki walking around somewhere. 'I wouldn't have to deal with this issue if I didn't have to team up with a supernatural human.'
rubycats

code by pasta

 

[Aster]

k o h i m e

The sun was rising nigh high in the sky, shortening the shadows Kohime cast as she hobbled her way back towards the Zhang mansion. In her arms were two large paper bags filled with various items and food on a list labelled as 'groceries'. Kohime had seen this list before and went shopping with her partner Shui enough times to roughly understand how to complete the chore; albeit, this was her first time going on her own... without informing the Zhang household.

Aside from Liu Shui, the Amabiko was indifferent to most humans and before her contract, she made no attempts to follow the rules of their society and culture. Taken under a mother's wing and guidance, the young raven head was finally learning, though more for the sake of gaining approval from Shui than the desire to fit in. She was a yokai after all, and following human 'rules' seemed like an unnecessary task.

Having to inform the Zhang household of her departure (even if it's a short one, like a walk outdoors) was a prime example. The Zhang elders---as any clan---had good reason for being careful. A bonded Yokai unsupervised and wandering through Ametsuchi could do great harm should they want to. She knew this yet, her pride, more than anything, kept her from obedience.

Thus when Kohime suddenly disappeared, taking a sum of Hideki's money to pay for the groceries in the process and simply because she "disliked" the man enough to trouble him, it was no surprise to any for the clan to send Shui to find and escort the young Yokai back.

It did more harm than help but Kohime didn't know that. She was humming happily to herself, pleased to prove some worth to her beloved partner.

She hated interactions with strangers, and even more so with humans but the thought of Shui praising her filled her with determination. Since she was using Hideki's money, she felt no guilt in indulging herself with a few snacks with the leftover sum of money. (RIP Hideki's wallet)

It was quite impressive, watching a small girl with the appearance of a fourteen year old, balance two large bags in her hands while shuffling in highly elevated shoes. The shiny red fruit which peeked from one of the bags threatened to over spill as she readjusted the bags in her arms for a better grip.

Passing by an old tree which grew by the river, hazel eyes (*hazel in human form) spotted a familiar face situated on one of the tree branches. She squinted as she tried to recall the tengu's name. Mikazu? Mikara? It was something like that.

Before she could decide to call out to him or ignore him, a few of the apples in her bag fell out, rolling down the grassy slope she walked beside, and straight into the river.

Kohime gasped and the word which fell from her mouth (a word which she picked up a few hundred years ago from a potty-mouth friend of hers) was nothing the pleasant sort. If Shui were here to witness, she'd be scandalized.

Placing her grocery bags underneath the tree, Kohime frantically ran down to collect the fallen apples, only to witness one hitting someone swimming ('Who is stupid enough to swim in the river early in the morning' is a question which stumps her) square in the head before dropping down into the water with a plop.

Location: Road back to Zhang Mansion | Mentions: Shui Zhang fluticasone , Mikarazu chaotics | Interactions: Nagisa Rhakun

 

[Aster]

s h i g e n o r i . t o r a

"Please dont," was Shigeru's immediate, smile-strained response to Takeshi's laughing statement. As much as the Tora members believed and practiced in war cries and voice projection, Shigeru had never been one big on noise. His easily startled personality usually had him stiffening against his will at every loud sound made and the trait made him easy prey for pranksters like a certain missing Kitsune.

Perhaps it was that very same trait which made people like Takeshi worry for the male despite him being a perfectly, ahem, capable adult. Disregarding all the times he's forgotten his own purified weapon, of course. While he was sure his cousin meant no harm, his words still proved to sting Shigeru's pride.

He knew he wasn't the most "Tora-like" member in the clan and his pacifist approach to things may likely get himself killed one day, but having the Elders send a chaperone (one who embodies the very nature of a 'Tora') at twenty-two was embarrassing. Sometimes he wondered if the Elders did it just to snub in his face how different he was from his infamous cousin. Sure, his methods weren't exactly slash, slash, poof, the way other Tora members handled their missions but they were still completed nonetheless.

Even without his sword, Shigeru had enough sense and knowledge on spirits to keep himself alive; and if all else fail, he had his partnership with Kaede as a safety net for dangerous situations. A contract with a Genbu should hardly be one just for show. (Guilty coughing from both parties in the background)

As Takeshi rambled on about the various scenarios he conjured up in his mind, Shigeru felt a pat on his foot. He had dully processed the sound of clinking metal and something heavy being dragged over wooden tiles, and yet he was still surprised to see that the thing which had produced the sound was his very own uchigatana. If the elders had caught what Kaede did, they'd skin the violet-haired man alive. His fear for another violent lecture had his horror greatly misplaced.

"Aghhh! Kaede! If anything happens to Hanafubuki*, the elders would kill me," Shigeru cried, bending down to inspect the sword for any damage, chips or dents (though it was highly unlikely). Seeing how it was still in one piece, the violet-head breathed out in relief.

He's been warned of the dangers of carrying around a damaged purified weapon. Not only would its blade cease to work on Shi-gai but in a worst case scenario, the wielder himself may be harmed. Although, what Shigeru feared in this case was another earful from the elders than the possible dangers of his blade turning on him how ever that may happen.

Weapons in Tora were treated like familiars. Disgracing one was an unspoken taboo; especially given how most Tora Onmyoujis were rarely seen without their weapons, attachment came easily. Shigeru was no different, despite the multiple times he's unintentionally and intentionally left his own blade behind.

The mention of Meiko brought Shigeru to full alert and he took quick glances behind him and at nearby corners should the said-yokai pop out of no where. Seeing how the coast is clear, he strapped his sword to his side and saved the eardrums of many by stopping Takeshi from another booming shout.

"M-maybe she's already out scouting for Mizuha?" he fibbed, making his way out of Tora grounds. "She was last seen at Fujin Temple so I'm sure there's a bunch of people who are going there to double check," his words trailed off in a thoughtful look.

"I think we should check else where first," Shigeru suggested. It would be a waste of time if everyone was gathered to search for Mizuha at the Temple and his gut told him to go otherwise. "There was a ramen shop she frequented. Let's ask the owner to see if he knows anything."

location: Tora Mansion Entrance | mentions: Meiko deer | interactions: Kaede A Murder Of Corviknight Takeshi Orikanyo

 

[Rhakun]

Nagisa (汀)

​

After leaving her home bay, seafaring had become an usual method for Nagisa; she had been swimming around the coastline ever since her departure, trying to find an access to Ametsuchi for a couple of months now. Still, as interested and perplexed as she was about the sights and wonders of the travesy, there were little to no things to eat in the parts that she had now stumbled upon. Sometimes, entire days could pass without her even crossing fish and so, exhausted and grumpy, she took it to rest on the surface for a couple of seconds.

The beach she arrived on was rocky and bare, surrounded by cliffs and searocks toned in soft shades of grey and beige that the setting sun colored. It did not seem like there had been wanderers around in years; no human landmark was visible around except for an old fisherboat's shipwreck, now claimed by seagulls perching on its remains. Away into the distance though, trees and pasture rised from the oceanfront; Nagisa sighed in relief for maybe a family of Onmyouji could be found in a village nearby, but since she was still tired, there was no interest on her side to haste.

She napped for a some minutes on a batch of sand, but then, her ears caught a small splash a couple of meters away from her. Without giving it much thought, Nagisa woke from slumber and rushed to the water, glaring in all directions until she spotted a small blur darting away from the shore. Nagisa chased after it and after taking some swings at what appeared to be an abnormaly swift char, the small fish was captured and dragged out of the sea.

"Well!" she muttered in a heavy pant, holding the creature above her head. "You are one sly trout, I give you that."

"I know what you want to do, siren." Replied the animal. She was taken aback at first, but then she realized that she had caught an Amemasu; a small one at that. "I descend from a great spirit, and if you spare me, you'll be rich!"

Nagisa listened thoroughly, but money was of little immediate use to her then. She replied, opening her mouth and putting her fangs in ever growing display; speaking with increasing impatience. "As of right now, my needs are very distinct. I cannot eat gold."

"Well, you desire something that is even easier to manage!" Shouted the Amemasu, increasingly nervous. "Let me-- let me go and I'll take you where others much bigger than me are! Kill me and be cursed off the oceans!"

She gave the fish an eased stare and loosened her grip in full knowledge that she could catch him again if things came to it. If he was an honest spirit, she'd be benefitted and, if the Amemasu tried to run away, she could always devour him and have a point to make to his elders if confronted, whoever they might be. Either way, giving him a chance seemed like the convenient option for her. However, as soon as her hand loosened, the char slapped her face with his tail; knocking her underwater with incredible strength. She tried to get up, but drowsiness drained her by the second, blurring her vision and slackening her limbs.

Little by little, her consciousness drifted away.

❃​

"Owww... my head..."

Morning sunlight up to what seemed to be days later, Nagisa woke in a pool of Koi fish. Two of them were caught on her hair and, as soon as she noticed, her strands spiked up and pierced their bodies, proceeding thus to drain their blood. She hung in there, feeding off until she was satiated and tranquil. Soon thereafter, Nagisa left the place to discover that she was surrounded by the same type of tree that she had last spotted while starring from the beach and, after a long look around, determined that the sea was not to be found anywhere close to where she stood.

Most likely, the Amemasu had cursed her to sleep and kept his end of the deal by dragging her through a basin into the pond she had woken in, but he had also driven her deep into the mainland and away from her previous point to, probably, not encounter her again. A cautionary choice that had brought safety for him and a mild headache to her, but Nagisa reflected it as a reasonable reaction on part of the char and, without further ado, she continued her journey by swimming downstream.

It was then that a round object fell on her head, accentuating the pain of her encounter with the char. At first she thought it could be an aggressor, so she flared her hair, getting into a defensive position. Nagisa's startlement, however, was short-lived. She plunged back into the water to pick what had fallen on her head, noticing it seemed to be a small red orb, crowned by a tiny piece of seaweed.

She was estranged by it. Rising from the stream, she saw an Amibiko wandering near a tree with many others like it in a bag and, without the absence of wonder of what one of her kind was so far from the waters, she went out of the river to call her.

"Hey!" She said. "I believe this is your... rock."

Mentions: Kohime ~ Aster

 

[King Crimson]

Hou Mei Shiga and Shojiro
Collaboration post between Orikanyo and King Crimson ​

Hou Mei had spent the past night since she had arrived at the inn endlessly repeating simple sealing mantras while she practiced making proper jutsu forms with her hands.


She was too bundled up with nerves and excitement to rest, and to ease her tension within the confines of the small, cramped inn room, she quietly trained until she succumbed to a deep and heavy sleep, peacefully dreaming of what her first day would be like as an onmyouji.


What she hadn’t imagined was that she would wind up sleeping in, gracelessly splayed out atop her tatami mat.


“And there she is again… I dare say the concept of being lady-like is far from her mind.” a small man stated as he dangled his leg off the ledge of the table. The little one scrunched up his face, staring down at the sleeping young woman, a pool of drool forming under her head.


“She’s kind of like a sleeping monkey...Or a drunk, either way at least shes still cute.” the little one hoped down upon the matts, making barely a sound as he dropped. Stepping his way over to the sleeping young lady he tapped her head with the sheathed needle’s “handle.”


“Hou Mei! It is time to wake up! Your friend is hungry!” he beckoned her from the realms of sleep, thought not fully sure it would work this time. It most certainly never did each time shes done those late night training session…


“Hmmn...bwuh…?” came the girl’s drowsy response, her body beginning to shift beneath him.


“Wakey wakey eggs and rice… man that saying never fits right. Gotta work on that one.” the little man eyed the pool of spit nearby with a raised eyebrow. “Were you looking to spend the whole morning with your face in the floor? I dare say that’s an odd way to sleep.” the mouthy little man continued to walk around, waiting for her to finally get up.


The young girl sluggishly sat upright in response to his insistent poking and prodding. After wiping the sleep out of her eyes and giving herself a few sobering claps on the cheeks, she humbly bowed before the small man.


“Good morning, Sensei!”, She replied with all of her usual enthusiasm, her earlier grogginess forgotten, as if it were naught but a bad dream.


“Ah, so my student finally awakens. I dare say you would’ve slept straight into the evening should I had let you.” he neglects to mention the fact he had slept in himself, waking up not a few minutes earlier. His night was a thrilling on as he had snooped around the other parts of the INN, particularly the kitchens.


Hey, he was a growing boy!


He stroked his tiny chin as he looked up to his now wide eyed and bushy tailed student. “Now then, do you remember why we are here in this… INN?” he spoke, but that sentence felt wrong.. In this INN, why did it have to be called a INN… Why was it called INN for that matter? What did that word mean?


“Of course, Sensei!” Hou happily responds as she stretches out what stiffness remained in her muscles.

“We’re here to meet with the rest of the onmyouji search party to help find that abducted princess.”

With a giddy, if not slightly guilty chuckle, she adds, “I was so excited about meeting them, I couldn’t sleep at all last night!”

Offering out her palm as a platform for the small boy, she asks,

“...But before we do that, shall we grab a quick meal?”


“A splendid idea, never go out on a mission on a empty stomach I say, you’ll only regret it later.” with a small leap he landed atop of the young woman’s palm and knelt down as to not fall off should she move him elsewhere. He’ll admit, travelling by Hou Mei is a lot faster than on foot.


He’d recommend it to others, but he’d rather not share shoulder space.


“The search party… I wonder what they will be like I wonder?” he asked himself out loud, silently hoping they were all… Pleasing.. To the eye. “Now then.. Onwards!”


Placing her pint-sized teacher on his usual seat atop her right shoulder, Hou jubilantly replies, “I hope they’re really, really strong!”


And with that, the unlikely duo venture out from the inn, and into the bustling street, towards their destiny

...and breakfast.

Everyone

 

[deer]

A small silhouette could be seen resting and sleeping underneath a shady tree as a soft 'mew' escaped the female fox's lips while her chest heaved up and down at a steady, temperate rate. It was a peaceful morning as the birds chirped and flew through the air gracefully. The sun was beaming down and she could smell the fresh morning dew and sweet smell of flowers that surrounded her. Usually, Meiko would hate the quiet and silence the morning brought, but, at some point, the kitsune did need her beauty sleep without any disturbances.

Meiko had been going in and out of her meditative nap as she sighed inwardly to herself, feeling a small breeze. The female yokai found herself lethargically snuggling closer to herself as her nine tails wrapped around her frame, providing more comfort and warmth. She was soothed by the wind chimes and the rustling of the sounds of the family waking up to start the day. Nothing could ruin this day. Meiko thought subconsciously to herself as she sighed happily.

However, before Meiko had the chance to drift off into a tranquil state of mind and dream world - pulling pranks on Takeshi, chasing mice, and just causing havoc in the household - she was interrupted by a booming, obnoxious voice that caused her to jump up in fright, losing her sleeping position. "Ta. . .ke. . .shi. . .!" Meiko hissed under her breath, grumbling as she found her body shaking from the shock of being woken up from the roaring thunderous oaf! Her ears twitched as Meiko groaned loudly as she found herself wanting to cuddle closer to herself or trying to get comfortable again. "Come and find me!" Meiko called out in an annoyed, almost heated tone, scoffing to herself, muttering every curse word in the book.

But, no matter how hard she tried to relax, she could only feel her anger fueling as she lashed out against the tree by backing kicking it with her hind legs. Her eyes narrowed as she huffed and puffed before glaring at the passerbys who had the wind knocked out of them by seeing an irritated and vexed yokai. Meiko's nine tails were flaring in the air as she stood in a defensive position - fire practically engulfing the kitsune's frame - ready to pummel Takeshi the minute she saw him. However, deciding that she didn't want to actually kill her contract partner, Meiko shifted back into her human form as her long, silver, white hair dangled down her back and to the ground. Her eyes twitched as she brushed off any dirt that was on her clothes. Her admiration for how she look would have to come later. A storm was brewing and the person who would face her wrath was none other than him.

Not a moment sooner, Meiko jolted off, quickly speeding through the corridors of the household, sniffing out Takeshi. Before she knew it, she skirted to a stop, seeing Takeshi's back towards her as she a low, guttural growl escaped her lips before she rushed towards him. "Y . . O . . U !" She screeched loudly as the tackled Takeshi, latching onto him as she bit his arm. "What did I tell you about screaming and interrupting my sleep!?" However, Meiko's nose twitched as her eyes looked up towards, realizing she was in the presence of two others. Blinking back her surprise, Meiko smiled sheeplishly, "Yo!" She called out towards both Shigeru and Kaede. Not caring that she was still latched onto Takeshi's back, Meiko readjusted herself to a position that was more "lady-like" and "appropriate". Grinning, Meiko spoke, "Ready, already? Do we have to go and save this girl? Can't we just sleep?" She sighed before pouting slightly, folding her arms, remembering that Takeshi had signed them up on this mission. Meiko wished she hadn't remember. . . which was sort of what she was trying to do. . . but the mere thought of Takeshi having fun without her was depressing. So, without further ado, Meiko patted Takeshi, "Well, I guess we can't keep the damsel in distress waiting! Off we go!" She exclaimed, using Takeshi as practically transportation. "Oh! By the way, Kaedeeeee~ You're looking really hard this morning!" Meiko winked before giving a lopsided smile at Shigeru. "Let's get our money!I" Meiko cheered, not really caring about the whole mission. She just wanted money for food and other snacks.
tags: A Murder Of Corviknight , Orikanyo , Aster

codedby@meraki.

 

[A Murder Of Corviknight]

At Takeshi’s rambling (and Shigeru’s panicking over his uchigatana...which he ignored), Kaede merely yawned with all the impudence innocence of a turtle. If the young genbu had been anyone else, he’d have probably corrected him since Takeshi interrupted his tea time rather than his nap time. But Takeshi was right about one thing and (as per usual) Kaede didn’t care enough to deny it. If he had his way, he’d be taking a nice long nap in the pond or the warm sunlight instead of...

...Whatever this was.

Without a single flinch, Kaede lifted his head from the ground and eyed the chaos of before him that involved fur, screaming and biting with the most deadpan expression possible on a turtle’s face. A part of him wondered if the perks of being away from his family’s elders (and his friendship with Shigeru too, now that Kaede thought about it) was really worth getting his sleep schedule messed up like this. But alas, it was too late to regret a (life changing) decision he made on whim. If he could survive literal typhoons Kaede was fairly sure figurative ones won’t kill him either.

"Oh! By the way, Kaedeeeee~ You're looking really hard this morning!"

The young genbu blinked calmly at Meiko’s greeting, a bit lost, but still gave her a short wave with his paw. He felt as if he was missing a joke somewhere but was too lazy to puzzle over it past checking his shell. Twisting his head around to check his shell, Kaede briefly wondered if Shigeru polished his shell recently or if it was just a dirty joke that was currently not sticking yet. It honestly wouldn’t be the first time but, unlike Shigeru, he didn’t care enough to let them stick to his brain.

To be honest, he was fairly sure his family’s form of dirty jokes were far worse and scandalous but he can’t say that without his grandpa somehow finding out about it. ...And using him as a skipping stone again for “staining the noble image of the Genbu and their family”. (That, and Shigeru just might die from high blood pressure and mortification because the poor sap was bad with these jokes and Kaede liked his friends living and breathing, thank you very much.)

So, instead of pondering over her joke further, Kaede idly twisted his head back around and toddled passed the other three to get out of the Tora compound grounds.

------------------​

NAME. Kaede
NOTE. ASDIFUAOSDIUFOIU I’ll proofread tomorrow *lays down on the floor*
MOOD. Okay
TAGGED. Aster | Orikanyo | deer

 

[Katsuya]

- Haruhi Han -
"The search begins..."​

"Thank you for your help, Sir."

"It's not a problem, little missy. Hav' a good day!"

The petite teen gracefully bowed at the elderly man as he went on his way with his horse-pulled cart that's filled with hay. Then she stood up straight with a soft frown on her red tinted lips. The golden hair decoration in her dark braided hair jingled a quiet and peaceful 'ting', shining from the sun's light rays with the minty green tassels waving in the soft wind.

Haruhi sighed quietly. Another person who didn't see where Nishimura Mizuha went. Honestly she knew it would be difficult to be part of this mission, considering she couldn't see ayakashi and she's without a contract; but she had hoped that someone had seen the girl around these parts. Any type of information would be wonderful to the small brunette Han onmyoji.

"There has to be someone who saw her..." Haruhi muttered to herself as she mindlessly wondered on the dirt road. Her thoughts ran, thinking of the possibilities the young girl might have gone or where the yokai could have taken her. She even wondered why would a Yokai take a girl away from her home...

"Maybe it wanted someone to purify it's friend?" She said to herself. The Nishimura clan are known to purify both ayakashi and humans, so it could be possible that the white haired yokai was desperate and kidnapped her...but then it would have taken a stronger or a more experienced Nushimura member if that was the case. The young teen shook her head, already striking that idea away for now as she continued to walk, moving as if she was hovering when in reality she's taking small steps.

The Han teen paused in her walk, looking around carefully as she realized something and mentally groaned. She wandered away from the market place. Her parents are going to scold her for this. She can already hear them saying things in displeasure... "...but if I'm restricted, then I can't possibly find the Nishimura girl. Yes...That would be my excuse..." Haruhi was about to turn around to go back the market place when something caught her green-hazel eyes.

"Hm...?"

An apple? No...now's there's two- three apples floating away in the river. Puzzled, the young Han member walked close to the riverbank, pulling her sleeves back so they wouldn't get wet. Then she reached to grab two of the three apples; the third one was too far for her to grab. Wondering where did the apples come from, Haruhi followed the river, thinking she'll find her answer soon enough. She paused again when she saw something that normally does not happen. Another floating apple...

Oh no, it's not floating in the water this time. It's floating in the air, above the river like it was waiting for someone to grab it...and there's a little girl sitting near the riverbank.

Haruhi looked at the pair of apples in her hands before looking up at the odd...air floating apple. Are these apples yokai or just that one that's floating in the air? What's going on?

"Maybe the apples belong to the little girl..." is what she concluded after spotting two grocery bags under a tree. Maybe she's the reason for the floating apple? Haruhi walked closer to the seemingly young girl with the large goldfish kaznzashi on her head.

How to talk to her without startling her?

"...Excuse me, little miss. Are these your apples?" She said to the little girl before staring at the floating apple again. "...Um...Are you doing that or is it something else?" Why is she asking this to the girl? It isn't like she can see ayakashi...or can she?


Rhakun Aster chaotics

 

[Aster]

k o h i m e

Kohime should've known better than to assume that a human was swimming in the river. The length of the person's hair, her raggedy (or well, Kohime found poor) apparel and appearance hinted her difference from the rest of civilization. However, it was her comment rather than her visage which gave her identity away.

The mention of a rock made the young amabiko narrow her eyes in scrutinizing distaste. She tutted lowly under her breath, sectioning off the yokai as one of the 'ignorant' sorts who chooses to stay in the far shores deep within Ukiyo. If it weren't for her travels with Seimei, perhaps Kohime would've been the same as her.

But no, even if she had stayed tucked away in that god forsaken village, her survival would be unlikely.

"It's not a rock," she answers the yokai with unintentional scorn as she warily eyes the stranger's long hair. It moved like it had a mind of its own and Kohime had seen how it took on a defensive stance when the apple had hit the yokai. "It's a fruit. They're called apples," she informs, tone softening as she's reminded of one of Shui's previous lectures on how she should be nicer to... others (even if they were beneath her). Especially when it came to humans.

As if the heavens wanted to test her, Kohime was greeted by said human. Her sudden appearance made the girl jump back a step and she glared in blatant suspicion before noticing the apples in her hands. Sizing her up in a glimpse, Kohime relaxed after concluding that she could most likely take the petite female on if she had to. It technically wouldn't be too hard for her to shove her into the river and run off if the human stranger proved to be bad news. (Kohime, you asshole.)

"Yes, those are mine," Kohime says flatly, taking the apples from the human girl. She shoves them into her obi, wedging them between the layers for fabric like a temporary pocket. Her eyes narrow at the latter comment.

It isn't everyday a human notices the dealings of an Ayakashi. She spared a quick glance at the people walking on the street. They were passing by and failing to see anything strange. To them, the floating apple was most likely invisible and that was the case for most things. The gods or some divine power keeps most human eyes away from the Ayakashi, but this human could spotted the irregularity, proving herself to be no ordinary dame.

"Onmyouji," she concludes, almost in a hiss. Only the members of the twelve clans have enough spiritual power to peer into the rifts between Ametsuchi and Ukiyo. "You're an onmyouji, aren't you?"

Location: River bank | Mentions: Shui Zhang fluticasone | Interactions: Nagisa Rhakun Haruhi Han Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Haruhi Han -
"Surprise surprise!"​

Haruhi blinked, not expecting the glare from the girl. Nor did she expect her tone to be so...flat. Normally people would just say 'thank you' for returning something, but this little girl did not. Then again it seemed she scared her, so the brunette couldn't blame her for being wary. Stranger danger is a good practice after all.

When the girl took the apples and shoved them down her obi, the Han onmyouji stoically stared at the dark haired girl. Now when she has a closer look at the girl, the first thing that popped in Haruhi's thoughts was 'She's so cute~!' Honestly if she had to compare her to something, it would be a doll with a huge goldfish on her head.

Though she was taken aback when the little girl guessed correctly about her profession. How did she know? Unless she does see who is holding that apple right now...then that would mean one of two things: The little girl is an onmyouji as well or she's an ayakashi.

"...That's right. I'm an onmyouji..." Haruhi calmly answered, wondering how will the seemingly little girl will react to that piece of information. "And you are?"

Aster Rhakun chaotics

 

[Orikanyo]

Takeshi Tora

​

"GAAAAAAH!!"

"Aaah... Oh, hey Meiko! he chirped, the fox's sudden arrival and outright dominance of the scene not taking him aback for even a second, even as he had a new bite wound on his arm that he so was quick to yelp about, but that seemed to bother him like a fly on a horse. And the piggy back was standard protocol by that point, the fox came and went as she bid, and he was more than happy to give her someplace to rest if she got tired...

Or lazy...

"Not yet Meiko, the ramen place is next. We gotta find the trail first, if we can't track it, we can't fight. If we can't fight, we can't save the girl. And if we can't save the girl, how can we afford your snacks? Also, it's where our next lead is, hopefully." he craned his neck to look at her, a large hand coming up to lightly scratch behind the kitsune's ear. He would admit he had his own ideas on what to do with the money, but hopefully Meiko wouldn't steal his whole cut. Like last time, he had spent so damn long hunting down that yokai only to find himself wrapped into buying what the fox wanted.... it was kinda his fault, though one of these days Meiko is gonna end up becoming abit to big to carry around with the way she eats at times...

Though he'd never say that out loud.

He was dumb, but he wasn't stupid.

"And as Shiggy says, it's where she stayed alot. Than it's likely somebody will know something. If anything, we can ask around to see if they had seen her around, acting odd or speaking to people not there. The usual types of things." Takeshi stroked his chin, said hand removed from the fluffy one's ear, as he thought it through. His training breaking the haze of other thoughts popping into his mind, as it was prone to wandering. "If theres nothing there, we should eat, gather strength and then head to the temple. I'm sure that everything will work out perfectly once we figure out where we're heading. Maybe we'll find others doing the same job."

The jolly young man turned to leave, eager to get the show on the road with his friend and bonded yokai now safely upon his back once again. "Come on Shiggy! Grab Kaede and lets get moving!" he called to his cousin, urging him forward. As per usual, he was leading the pack, if for no other reason than the fact he was always moving first.

 

[Rhakun]

Nagisa (汀)

​

Nagisa listened, without being briefly turned aback by the Amabiko's bitter tone, at the explanation. Fruit; she was familiar with term from her travels, but had never seen one before. After glancing and lifting it over again, Nagisa concluded that this red thing was an unusually hard and big berry, probably one of a legendary tree or a tough giant among the bunch.

As she noted things in though, Nagisa noticed her interlocutor shifting stance.

"Yes, those are mine."

"I assumed so-"

"Onmyouji. You are an Onmyouji aren't you?"

And that flared her with doubt.

"What?" she thought, a little confused at her summon of words "How does she know that term?"

Before she could answer "I am not" in a perplexed, questioning tone, Nagisa inferred from her transition of attention what was happening: An Onmyouji was standing nearby and, this girl, probably a Yokai contracted for the sake of picking berries and other errands, was vinculated to a clan. Quickly, Nagisa caught the direction of her stare to a young woman near the bank, used her fingernail to write the Kanji for her name in the apple and tossed it in her general direction. She had planned the meeting to be more careful; however, this was the chance she had been waiting for for months now and the rush went faster than her will to let a smooth trade happen.

"Can you hear me!" She shouted slowly, being completely unaware of whether or not she was sounding solemn or plainly clueless. "I am a powerful entity of Ukiyo! Bond with me so I can --Oh, and sorry if I hit you-- wander you plane in my travesy! I shall put my power in your service and solicitude if you concede!"

She ended and let the idea sink in in silence. Turning towards the apple-Amabiko, she moved her mouth (as if not to ruin the impact of her message) and hoped she could read out of her lips:

"Pretty cool, right?"

Mentions: Kohime ~ Aster / Haruhi ~ Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Haruhi Han -
"What the?!"​

Haruhi patiently waited for the amibiko's response only to let out a surprised yelp when she felt something hit her head. Breaking her proper lady demeanor, she looked at the falling red apple with wide eyes and tried to catch it. It took her a few seconds but she finally caught the slippery fruit in her hands. To anyone else, she looked like she was juggling badly.

"Ha! I caught you!" Haruhi declared loudly, not realizing the few people who were passing by were staring at her like she was a bit strange. Then they moved on their way.

'Why did the apple yokai attack me? I was only asking the little girl- hm?' The brunette felt something on the back of the apple and turned it around, spotting a name written on the fruit...

"...A name?" She muttered, looking at where the fruit used to be at for a moment, her brow raised. She couldn't tell if she should be amused or really concerned that a yokai has willingly given her name to a stranger.

"Do you know what she's saying?" Haruhi asked the amibiko, curious and a bit amused.

Rhakun Aster

 

[Aster]

k o h i m e

Shui once told the children in the Zhang clan not to talk to strangers and the girl before her exactly that. Albeit, she had already broken the rule of not talking to the two, she knew better than to give out her name so easily.

"None of your business," she responds, not realizing that her behavior rouse contempt and anger. She didn't have the most pleasant personality and was undergoing a long, tedious process to change her superior attitude. "Why should I give my name to an onmyouji? For all I know, you could be someone from the Han clan. I bet you'll try to use my name to bind me or expel me but let me tell you this," she shoves a finger in front of the girl's face, "I'm already bonded to the world's greatest onmyouji so good luck trying anything fishy!"

Before Kohime could go off on a lengthly ramble on Shui's beauty and accomplishments, she was interrupted by Nagisa's loud shouting. The humans couldn't hear a thing but Kohime, being a yokai, caught every word at full volume. She flinched and covered her ears, before snapping at Nagisa. To a normal person's point of view, it looked like she was shouting at the river.

"She can't hear you, you big dunce! Stop shouting--"

And the shouting stopped, but only just so that the yokai could mouth her comment to Kohime. The amabiko's palm promptly met her forehead and she sighed loudly.

"Since you two are so helpless, I'll help you guys out alright?" Kohime said, crossing her arms. She knew enough about onmyoujis to tell that the brunette was no weakling, especially since she was able to see the carvings the Iso-onna left in the apple.

"There's a yokai right there," a finger was jabbed in Nagisa's direction, "She's asking you to make a Contract with her. I can show you guys how," Kohime offers, unknowingly breaking yet another important onmyodo law (Humans sure love red tape.")

Making a Contract is one of the most important decisions in an onmyouji's life. One wrong mistake and it could cost not only the life of the bonded but the lives of many others as well. Such an event is usually observed by the elders of a clan or a trusted invigilator, despite the technique for Bonding being relatively easy. It helps to keep things in track and usually lengthy precautions and tests are taken to prevent the creation of Wasuremonos.

Of course, Kohime didn't know that, nor was she aware that failed Contracts usually ended up with the life being sucked out of the weaker party. She was just about to explain the steps when she felt a pat on the head and turned to hear the very words of praise she had sought out to gain.

"Shui!"

Location: Road back to Zhang Mansion | Mentions: None | Interactions: Nagisa Rhakun Haruhi Han Katsuya Shui Zhang fluticasone

s h i g e n o r i . t o r a

Sometimes, Shigeru can't help but wonder if Meiko and Takeshi were cut from the same branch. Takeshi's loud summoning had been one disruption to Shigeru's peaceful morning, but it seemed even Meiko had to make a vociferous appearance as well. Months of Meiko and Takeshi's screaming and laughter had trained him from flinching at the sharp infliction in the kitsune's screech. His smile remained plastered on his face even when Meiko dug her teeth painfully (or it looked painful) into Takeshi's arm. He greeted the fox babe like it was any regular morning.

"Oh! By the way, Kaedeeeee~ You're looking really hard this morning!"

The sing-song words had Shigeru choking on his own saliva. He coughed and reacted, red in face with equal parts embarrassment; the innuendo failing to sail over his head the way it did over Kaede's. Was that a pass at genbu? It was, wasn't it?? Is that even allowed???

The thought of Meiko flirting with Kaede made his stomach churned but not due to any green-eyed beast. Rather it was the idea of the two getting married and strengthening Shigeru's relations with Takeshi further which made him nauseous. He loved his cousin but that man was a handful. To have him as some sort of in-law... Shigeru would have much better chances at surviving if he jumped off a cliff.

Takeshi as an in-law was one thing. Kaede being hard was-- No, no. There was no way he was going to let his mind fall that deep into the gutter. His partner deserved nothing but pure and noble thoughts.

Seeing Kaede's innocent reaction only shamed him for even venturing such dangerous waters. He apologized under his breath, giving no context as the conversation was swept in his cousin's pace.

"I think we might," Shigeru added to Takeshi's verbal monologue, "It seems the head is pretty worried about her so he called up the other clans too," he replied as he attached his sword to his waist. "I hope we find her soon," he plucked at imaginary fluff on his cloak; a nervous habit he picked up when he's unnecessarily worried.

The last time Shigeru had seen Mizuha was during one of the rare meetings the clans hold every so often. He was 16 at the time and could vaguely remember Mizuha to be a very pale ravenhead who hid behind her father's cloak. She was a cute little thing for a 7 year old but now that she was 14, it seems her appearance had took a drastic change.

The file with the details Shigeru gathered contained an image of the young girl. She was pig faced, beady-eyed with short hair frizzed up to look like someone who has been struck with lightning and left that way. It was not the sort of image Shigeru had in mind and he could not recognize the petite ravenette he'd seen years ago. He highly doubted his memory would serve him wrong but the image given proved apparent. Maybe he was mistaken.

What the male didn't know was that the pictures given out to the clans were neatly swapped due to the playful mischief of a certain white-haired yokai. Mizuha was indeed the same girl in stature and mien from Shigeru's memory but the group had yet to discover that.

"We just had brunch a while ago though," Shigeru sighed at Takeshi's mention of food. The male was a prime example of the stereotype of Tora members having an insatiable appetite. He knew better than to argue. It was easier to follow along with his cousin's willful demands.

Shigeru cast a pensive glance at Kaede before eventually picking the genbu up. While he could easily ask his partner to walk himself, his obliging nature made it easy for the purple-head to take 'troublesome' tasks without complaint or thought. Besides, he was one of the few (if not the only) onmyoujis who had the ability to carry Kaede. Their spiritual connection nullified the genbu's impossible weight; though that didn't mean Shigeru didn't find him heavy.

The four of them bounded their way towards the village, setting a quick yet leisure pace past the Zhang estate. On his way there, he was stopped by one of the villagers who seemed to have something to say to him until Shigeru turned around.

"Oh, wrong person. Sorry," the villager apologized before quickly leaving. This wasn't the first time it had happened though it has been a while since anyone mistook him for someone else. Whoever it was, Shigeru worried for them.

Passing by the riverbank, he noticed a yokai floating in the river in the corner of his eye. It seemed she was trying to communicate with the human girl in front of her. He would've liked to help out but it seemed the third party was handling it. The third girl looked somewhat familiar but Shigeru couldn't place his finger where he's seen her. The curious thought was easily shrugged off when they neared the ramen shop.

"Ah," Shigeru made a short exclamation just as the four were about the enter the shop. His eyes had landed on the most curious thing: a tiny man perched on the shoulder of a young, impish looking girl.

He made eye contact with the both of them. His sudden outburst seemed to alert the others and he calmly played it off with an awkward greeting.

"Uhm, good morning," he smiled, looking quite normal for a man who was holding a giant turtle in his arms.

location: Town | mentions: Akito Nano Nagisa Rhakun | interactions: Kaede A Murder Of Corviknight Takeshi & Shojiro Orikanyo Meiko deer Hou Mei King Crimson

 

[fluticasone]

Aster Katsuya Rhakun

fluticasone

"Shui, have you seen Kohime?"

The brunette sat up from her position on the floor, ink-dipped brush poised above the scroll in front of her. The sliding door to the hallway was open, and soon enough her husband came into view, holding up his wallet in exasperation. It was pretty obvious who the culprit was, considering only her Ayakashi was gutsy enough to try and trick Hideki and his partner.

"She might have gone to the market. I did mention we were running low on ingredients for a dinner I wanted to make tonight."

"We're only low on supplies because she keeps eating it."

Finding it difficult to deny the statement, she instead dodged by focusing on the summons in his other hand. "What's that?" Rather than wait for his reply, she simply leaned over and took it, reading aloud the message within. "Mizuha-san is missing? That's worrying." While she didn't know the young Nishimura too well, she knew most members of each clan's main family by name at the very least.

As she washed the brush in a nearby bucket, Hideki disappeared and came back, this time holding their Suzu and Tamagushi. An eyebrow rose, and he answered before the question even reached her lips. "Not joining you; I have a cleansing elsewhere. I'll help you look for Kohime first though." As if on cue, Shou arrived in his night sparrow form, taking his place at his usual perch on Hideki's right shoulder. The two converse quietly for a brief moment as Shui prepares her things.

"You guessed right; she's along the river path right now."

The pair bid farewell to the branch head before leaving the vicinity, following the path to where Shou said they'd probably find Kohime. Neither pair was surprised to find he was correct, nor were they surprised about the grocery bags in her hands. What did catch their attention was that Kohime was with two others, neither of which they recognized. It didn't take a genius to know that she didn't warm up to others easily, so either they were friends she hadn't told them about, or they were strangers she met on the way back. The three of them were leaning on the latter, and they found themselves quickening their steps before disaster could strike, if it hadn't already.

"Kohime, good job on buying from the market." Hideki was about to open his mouth in protest, but the quick glare from his wife was enough to stop the reprimand itching to make its way through. Shui gave Kohime's head a quick pat, even as she sized up the two others. One was in the water... obviously not a regular human, as no one else was staring at that display down there. Then there was the girl in front of them, speaking with Kohime and holding an apple. Either was an omnyouji or someone who had extremely powerful spirit. The more logical explanation would be the former.

Hideki looked at the two factions in curiosity, but said nothing. Shui simply took the bags from Kohime's hands and handed them to her husband. "Hideki, would you mind bringing these home first." The look she gave him would render any protest invalid. "Thank you." She looked at the small party gathered around them, holding the Amabiko close in case the two presented any sort of danger. "Kohime, do you know these two?"

 

[Katsuya]

- Haruhi Han -
"Names, names, and more names!"​

Haruhi crossed her eyes, blinking as she stared at the pointed finger to her face. Then at the little girl (probably not a little girl, she thought) who promptly shouted at the river before she slapped her own forehead. She's...very amusing, to say the least. Her reactions are very extreme and open; the brunette wondered how would the yokai react if she knew that she was right about her being part of the Han clan. (Haruhi also wanted to pinch her cheeks because her reactions are just really amusing to see but she resisted. The brunette didn't want to incur the already feisty amibiko's wrath upon her and Nagisa.)

"E-eh? Trying something fishy?...but I eat fish already. Why would I try anything fishy when I already eat fish?" Haruhi asked calmly, a tinge of surprise and confusion colored her soft voice.

'Though I wasn't asking for her name. I just wanted to know if she was a yokai and if she has seen a white haired ayakashi with long horns...' She thought as she followed the amibiko's pointed finger to the river. Once again she was surprised. Nagisa wanted to form a contract? With her of all people? Certainly there must be other omnyouji who are better suited for her to train with but...the brunette does need a partner...

"Okay...Yes, I would- I would love to form a contract with you!" Haruhi shouted back at the river, wondering if she could hear her.

The brunette turned back to the amibiko, preparing to listen and faintly remembering her studies about forming contracts when suddenly a man and a woman came by. They stopped next to the little yokai- her name is Kohime? The woman patted her head and praised her...Her name is Shui and his name is Hideki?

'Those are lovely names too.' She thought to herself as she blankly stared at the couple before eating the name off the apple. Once again she didn't know if she should be honored to know the name of the hot-headed amibiko or if she should scold the woman for saying it so easily. Especially when Kohime clearly didn't want her to know.

Her thoughts popped when Shui asked Kohime if she knew them.

"No, Madam. She does not know me." Haruhi said before bowing her head respectfully. "I'm sorry for causing you alarm but this conversation started because I wanted to return her apples- Ah! I will buy you a new one. I bit this one." She showed the bitten apple to Kohime, letting her see that she ate the name off. Then she turned back to the woman. "You see Madam-" The brunette told her what happened; that she thought the apples were ayakashi but then Kohime was explaining to her that another wanted to form a contract with her.

"However...um...young miss," Haruhi tilted her head a bit like an inquisitive child at Kohime. "I thought we needed the elders of a clan or a trusted invigilator to see the contract through. Am I mistaken or can you really do it? I didn't know bonded ayakashi can watch over the bonding ceremony too." She could have sworn it was in her studies, but if she misread then she needed to reread them again.

Suddenly she became flustered, remembering something else that she needed to do.

"Where are my manners?!" She said out loud before clearing her throat. "Please I think it's only fair to tell you three since you have spoken of each other's names. My name is Haruhi. It's a pleasure to meet you, Madam. Young miss. Nagisa." The omnyouji didn't know if the invisible yokai is right next to her or if she is still in the water but she wanted to introduce herself to her too.

Aster Rhakun fluticasone

 

[Rhakun]

Nagisa (汀)

​

To Nagisa, the Amabiko’s fury was awkwardly amusing. She seemed to be irritated at every cardinal direction of the winds, snapping at the slightest press of her temper. Nagisa's lip message was mildly intended as an attempt to push the boundaries of her patience and, much to her delight, she was flustered. Ignorant of whether or not she had noticed, Nagisa snorted a chuckle under her breath, covering her mouth with her left hand.

However, her interest shifted at the mention of the contract’s procedures. She had confided in the girl’s attunement to Ukiyo to be strong enough to distinguish her voice, but it seemed like it wasn’t the case. Closing her eyes and blushing at the now-evident proposition that she could not be perceived by her, she stood to provide reactions in the background as the talking was being done.

"There's a yokai right there,"
Nagisa waved.
She's asking you to make a Contract with her.”
Nagisa nodded.
"Okay...Yes, I would- I would love to form a contract with you!"

When she heard her call towards the river, she hopped tiny leaps of excitement over the surface, waving the water around her legs in quiet splashes once she stood near the edge. Much more relaxed, Nagisa stepped out of the river and into the road. It took a bit for her hair to completely exit. She walked towards the girl and stood there for a second wondering how to communicate something without hurting her again, to which she shook her hand rapidly to get as much water out of it as possible and proceeded to place it on her head.

“I would too!” she muttered, patting the girl’s head.

Iso-Onna were always soaked, even out of the sea. What made hunting and traveling in-land difficult inside Ukiyo was that that their appearance would often signal them away; Yokai were not very fond of the idea of having their blood drenched by a vampire, so her kind would be usually spotted and avoided inside continents and, given the lack of food, dead by starvation shortly thereafter. Internally, Nagisa hoped dearly that there were less suspecting creatures in Ametsuchi for her to live off; it would be a damned shame that a situation pushed her to eat the Onmyouji... or the Amabiko - she was probably very salty.

Her line of thought was hijacked by the apparition of a woman and a man with whom names were pointed out in a matter of seconds: Shui. Hideki and Kohime. She had asked the Amabiko (Nagisa was almost certain by their interaction that Kohime was an errand girl) if the people present were acquainted to which the Onmyouji replied in a succession of ideas that ranged a diversity of topics. Nagisa was estranged by the order of addressing, but she found her word salad adorable either way. Thee Iso-Onna felt very happy of finding such a lively human and decided to learn to write her name as soon as possible.

"Nice to meet you, Haruhi!" She said, patting her head once again after her introduction.

"Not much is to add," she said in the direction of Shui, taking her right hand to her hip after Haruhi was done talking, "just a little incident with ah-polls."

She accentuated, turning her stare to Kohime and flipping a wink her way.

Mentions: Kohime ~ Aster / Haruhi ~ Katsuya / Shui ~ fluticasone

 

[Aster]

k o h i m e

The drastic change in the Amabiko's demeanor was blatantly apparent. The sour scowl on her visage melted into a look of pure delight. An innocent and bright smile made its replacement as Kohime turned to the Zhang woman, almost seeming to forget the two behind her.

"Are you here to get me? I'm sorry it took so long. I was delayed because of some nuisances," she said, side-eyeing the other two before smugly grinning at Hideki being told off. It was almost like a signature move for her to stick her tongue out at the man in a mocking gesture every time Shui shooed him away. Sometimes, the action was retaliated (much to Kohime's fury) when the couple wanted their own alone time. Of course, all these acts were done out of Shui's line of sight. She ran forward to hug Shui and ducked her head under her partner's arm, making a raspberry at Hideki's retreating figure.

"Huh? Oh," Kohime pulled back when the question was addressed to her. She stared shortly at the two mentioned and shook her head. "Nope. Don't know them, so let's just go!" she said tugging on Shui's arm. Now that her partner was here, she couldn't care less about others.

"No, Madam. She does not know me," the petite onmyouji said, before bowing her head respectfully. "I'm sorry for causing you alarm but this conversation started because I wanted to return her apples- Ah! I will buy you a new one. I bit this one."

"It's fine," Kohime interjected, waving her hand at the onmyouji as though trying to shoo away a fly. She would really love to just leave but knew that Shui was much too much of a noblewoman than to leave the young girl hanging. The amabiko puffed her cheeks, mildly annoyed that her precious time was being taken up. For the sake of keeping up appearances, she remained quiet. The last time she was rude to someone in Shui's presence, she was given a lecture and a grounding from sweets for a week.

She paled at the mention of the Contract, only faintly recalling the rules mentioned. It must've slipped her memory and she pursed her lips in modest shame.

"Kohime," the Amabiko replied, with a curt bow neither lower or higher than the one Haruhi made. Etiquette was a must in Shui's presence, though Kohime would like nothing more than to just ignore the two and run off. "Amabiko from Ryūgū-jō. Partner of Shui Zhang."

She made the same short bow towards Nagisa and did her best not to cringe at the wet spot left on Haruhi's head. She wondered if the brunette felt it.

"They're called apples, Nagisa. Ah-pels, not Ah-polls," she chided the Iso-onna. Snappy as she might be, Kohime showed care in ways few would appreciate. Her correcting Nagisa was just one of the many signs.

Location: Riverbank | Mentions: None | Interactions: Nagisa Rhakun Haruhi Katsuya Shui & Hideki fluticasone