88th Journey [Audio]
...Was everybody?
How could we even put up with that horrible thing? Were the deities on our side?
I don't believe this.
[A silence. She doesn't know how to address that. She just lets go a strained laugh]
I am glad that was over and we returned to the normal curse schedule. Better the devil you know, right? Setsuna, tell me if I could do anything. Maybe help Rin in her safe haven idea? I don't think it's going to be useful to gather people in a place for this one, to be honest, when we should remain as apart as possible.
Huh.
A friendly heads up as a member of the Curse Brigade, for those who come from worlds without Christmas, you should avoid the mistletoe because today it's going to reinforce a tradition. Last year, people caught beneath them were forced to kiss the nearest person and from what I could see today, it's a repeat. It doesn't seem harmful, but who knows, it's one of the fastest way to spread a bug. We don't need more zombie flu in this season.
[Casa de Kirin]
I'm in the library and I took Shun with me, we'll return after midnight when the ornamental greenery stops growing above our heads.
How are you feeling, Rokuta and Keiki? I'm sorry I couldn't burn incense during the rain of blood. This effect could have been diminished. Really. It's my fault for getting caught up like that.
Oh, Keiki, I sent Hyouki back to you, but I'm keeping Jouyuu, so don't worry. I'm going to be fine. This is a precaution in case the curse affects us while I accidentally walk under a mistletoe and y-you know! [there's a shudder in her voice because she's mostly furry for rodentkin, okay?] If anybody has Christmas questions, I don't mind answering them. This isn't a really big holiday in Japan as it's in Europe or the Americas, so I don't pay much attention to the religious aspect of it.
[I could have died, Youko whispered under her breath, to the fuzzy companion that had her head popped out from her backpack. She had been able to sneak the mice Yuki had given her into the Library, reluctant to leave her alone in an apartment with a free roaming suugu. Youko had committed a grave mistake in the past, a negligence as the owner of Raku, which she would not allow that fate to repeat itself in Shun's case, a new pet also named after her friend Rakushun.
She was currently sitting on the library, surrounded by piles of books about judges and juries, about legal systems in Imperial China and Feudal Japan, about how to investigate and collect evidence. They were untouched. With a glassy look in her eyes, she turned her head from the rodent to the open window. She had chosen an broad spot with a view to the streets, even with the embarrassing nature of this curse, Youko couldn't remain trapped in her room. A portion of her core was shaken by the claustrophobic nightmare she endured days ago. But Shoukei had it worse.
Keiki had it the worse of all and that made her felt guilty and impotent. She was so worthless, in her stubborn quest for the truth nature of the barrier, she had fallen into those rifts! She had suffered, but it couldn't be compared what the Kirin would have endured that day, knowing his master was being buried alive while a rain of blood stopped him from doing anything.]
I'm sorry, Keiki.
[She closed her eyes, trying to chase that sinking feeling of self-loathing away. She was alive, she told herself inhaling sharply. Kei and Keiki were safe. She didn't let them kill her. Wherever it was Tentei's will or Youko's will, it didn't matter. Youko only wanted a time alone to meditate upon this to prevent future risks, she wanted privacy and for that reason she had sent Hyouki away. Of course, there was still Jouyuu.
Your Majesty?
Cue to him, his voice resounded into her mind, vacillating more than usual.]
Huh. It's okay, you have seen me in my worst already. So I don't mind your presence.
[When his silence was his answer, Youko muttered. Enough of this. She cleared her thoughts from the pessimistic, grim direction to reach out for the first book on her volume pile.
She could have died, but she lived another day. She lived and she was the Glory-King, Empress of Kei; a newfound determination appeared on her green gaze. She was living while her people were dying for the mistakes she was making as a ruler. She couldn't abide for her own incompetence and ignorance.]
How could we even put up with that horrible thing? Were the deities on our side?
I don't believe this.
[A silence. She doesn't know how to address that. She just lets go a strained laugh]
I am glad that was over and we returned to the normal curse schedule. Better the devil you know, right? Setsuna, tell me if I could do anything. Maybe help Rin in her safe haven idea? I don't think it's going to be useful to gather people in a place for this one, to be honest, when we should remain as apart as possible.
Huh.
A friendly heads up as a member of the Curse Brigade, for those who come from worlds without Christmas, you should avoid the mistletoe because today it's going to reinforce a tradition. Last year, people caught beneath them were forced to kiss the nearest person and from what I could see today, it's a repeat. It doesn't seem harmful, but who knows, it's one of the fastest way to spread a bug. We don't need more zombie flu in this season.
[Casa de Kirin]
I'm in the library and I took Shun with me, we'll return after midnight when the ornamental greenery stops growing above our heads.
How are you feeling, Rokuta and Keiki? I'm sorry I couldn't burn incense during the rain of blood. This effect could have been diminished. Really. It's my fault for getting caught up like that.
Oh, Keiki, I sent Hyouki back to you, but I'm keeping Jouyuu, so don't worry. I'm going to be fine. This is a precaution in case the curse affects us while I accidentally walk under a mistletoe and y-you know! [there's a shudder in her voice because she's mostly furry for rodentkin, okay?] If anybody has Christmas questions, I don't mind answering them. This isn't a really big holiday in Japan as it's in Europe or the Americas, so I don't pay much attention to the religious aspect of it.
[I could have died, Youko whispered under her breath, to the fuzzy companion that had her head popped out from her backpack. She had been able to sneak the mice Yuki had given her into the Library, reluctant to leave her alone in an apartment with a free roaming suugu. Youko had committed a grave mistake in the past, a negligence as the owner of Raku, which she would not allow that fate to repeat itself in Shun's case, a new pet also named after her friend Rakushun.
She was currently sitting on the library, surrounded by piles of books about judges and juries, about legal systems in Imperial China and Feudal Japan, about how to investigate and collect evidence. They were untouched. With a glassy look in her eyes, she turned her head from the rodent to the open window. She had chosen an broad spot with a view to the streets, even with the embarrassing nature of this curse, Youko couldn't remain trapped in her room. A portion of her core was shaken by the claustrophobic nightmare she endured days ago. But Shoukei had it worse.
Keiki had it the worse of all and that made her felt guilty and impotent. She was so worthless, in her stubborn quest for the truth nature of the barrier, she had fallen into those rifts! She had suffered, but it couldn't be compared what the Kirin would have endured that day, knowing his master was being buried alive while a rain of blood stopped him from doing anything.]
I'm sorry, Keiki.
[She closed her eyes, trying to chase that sinking feeling of self-loathing away. She was alive, she told herself inhaling sharply. Kei and Keiki were safe. She didn't let them kill her. Wherever it was Tentei's will or Youko's will, it didn't matter. Youko only wanted a time alone to meditate upon this to prevent future risks, she wanted privacy and for that reason she had sent Hyouki away. Of course, there was still Jouyuu.
Your Majesty?
Cue to him, his voice resounded into her mind, vacillating more than usual.]
Huh. It's okay, you have seen me in my worst already. So I don't mind your presence.
[When his silence was his answer, Youko muttered. Enough of this. She cleared her thoughts from the pessimistic, grim direction to reach out for the first book on her volume pile.
She could have died, but she lived another day. She lived and she was the Glory-King, Empress of Kei; a newfound determination appeared on her green gaze. She was living while her people were dying for the mistakes she was making as a ruler. She couldn't abide for her own incompetence and ignorance.]