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>>38488714
The fact that Er Yin-sensei actually has visions is also a little more alarming than you'd expected. Certainly she is a seer, and a sorceress, but apparently the Chinese meaning of seer is quite a bit different than the Japanese one. The future she saw was of an insane, transformed Wakaba slaughtering her way through the ranks of spirit children – starting with your family, and never ending. Noppera-bo, a No-Face. They're only mischievous and somewhat bizarre ghosts to humans but to spirit-children, they're an abomination, a horror.

You hope Er Yin is resting now.

The taxi will be here shortly, and you are once more headed to battle. The problem is this time, you're the only Ryo-trained warrior; Shoko and Yuuhi may have trained together, but they were house guards and staff members, not killers. Inau-san might even be more of a liability, sword and bow or not, because her provenance is hunting, not warfare. The worst part is that Wakaba will retain a measure of her Stone dragonette nature even if she does turn into a bakemono. You can hope you're not too late, but you're worried about the Catholics you sent her out to deal with.

Well, scare the hell out of really. But if they tried to do something stupid....

“Ryuu-sama?” Inau-san's voice is soft and cautious as she steps over to you. “Are you all right? You're growling.” you look up, and Yuuhi-chan is watching you curiously from her perch on the back of one of the benches near the gate, while Shoko-san is looking concerned.

[] Just fine, Inau-san.
[] I'll be all right, thank you.
[] Ah, worried, but it's nothing unusual. Are you all right with this?
[] Not really, but I'm doing what I can.
[] Depends on what you mean by all right.

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Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/38352589/

Interlude: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/37879167/

Search for Title: Ryukuza on Suptg
Barrier Combat Guide: http://pastebin.com/rZLwzvGx
Twitter: @XsQuestmistress

Hebiki Akari's Tale: http://pastebin.com/3JjNVKbY

Kurao Yui's Tale: http://pastebin.com/qYJa4PwH

Kumatori Kiki's Tale: http://pastebin.com/pdjfAEEU

Akari's Lesson (R-18): http://pastebin.com/bnGavrhP

Kiki's Gift (R-18): http://pastebin.com/sLP3NcbC

Aniki, Senpai, and Me (R-18): http://pastebin.com/U1AxYhxK

Kiku, the shortest, is 5' 1" for ever and ever. Lesbian submissive.
Akari is 5' 3", and has another few inches to grow. Sexuality is weird, switch, cosplayer.
Yui is 5' 4" and will only grow due to circumstances beyond her control (though she will be able to change her size, being Void oni). Dyke, switch.
Kiki is 5' 6", and is at full growth. Bisexual bottom.
Ryukusa is tall at 5' 8", but this becomes 6' in her true form. She is fully grown. Lesbian top.
Er Yin is the tallest at 5' 10" and is fully grown. Lesbian dominant.
Jinyuu is 5' 7" but persistently hovers an extra three inches above the ground or floor because of her nature as a seer. Straight.
Hinata-hakase is 6' 3". Sexuality is terrifying.
Hidesato is 5' 5". Straight.
Kushinada is 5' 8". Straighter.
Taisho Ryoga is 5' 9". Who knows.
Hyun Chisato is 5' 4”, and is fully grown. Lolicon with plausible deniability.
Rie is 8” tall or 5' 5”, and is fully cat. Her sexuality is cat.
Ryuu Wakaba is 5' 6" and is fully grown. Straight dominant.
Hagyu Genso is 12' 5” standing upright. He is by and large gay.
Mizumi Shoko is 7' 2”, is fully grown. Bisexual top.
Yuuhi is 4'11” and is fully grown. Yuuhi a cute.
Tokei Isusangi, Inau-san is 5' 3”....
Reiha is 5' 5 1/2”, and is milfy.
Peta is 3' 2”. Peta is \>.</
>Talismans:
Akari – Centipede
Er Yin – Scorpion
Kiki – Toad
Kiku – Lizard
Yui – Snake
Ryukusa – Matagama-no-Shitoki

>>38488757
>[] Ah, worried, but it's nothing unusual. Are you all right with this?

>>38488757
>[] Ah, worried, but it's nothing unusual. Are you all right with this?

>>38488757
>[] Not really, but I'm doing what I can.

>>38488757
>[x] I'll be all right, thank you.
Yaaay Ryukusa time

>>38488757
>[] I'll be all right, thank you.
>[] Are you all right with this?

>>38488757
[x] Ah, worried, but it's nothing unusual. Are you all right with this?
Well, is she?

>>38488757
>[x] I'll be all right, thank you.
Looks like we shouldn't have sicced her at those Catholics after all!

Hope you've had a good week, XS!
If Ryukusa met Maria, how long would she be able to resist the cuddliness?

>>38489191
>Answered at end of quest.

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[X] I'll be all right, thank you.
[XX] Ah, worried, but it's nothing unusual. Are you all right with this?

You compose yourself and relax a little. “Worried, because I'm not insane, but that's kind of to be expected. Thank you for asking though, Inau-san. And you can call me Ryukusa.” turning your back to the gate and relaxing a little more, you look into her strange eyes. “Are you all right? I mean, I know you're not a warrior, and it's probably pretty strange to be hunting people like us rather than animals.”

Inau-san frowns faintly, though it's a thoughtful sort of frown, not an annoyed one. “I really hadn't thought of it that way, Ryukusa-sama. It was just an opportunity to use my skills, at first. But you and Shoko-sama have a very different sort of air about you.” She smiles, her lips curling prettily. “But I think it will be all right too.”

“You said Shoko and I had a strange vibration? Not Yuuhi-chan?” Said nogitsune-child is currently standing on the back of the bench, sniffing the air as she looks at the sky. Considering she's got that gung-ho samurai mentality, you're rather surprised she doesn't put off the same killing sense as you and Shoko seem to.

Inau-san looks at the youkai-born warrior. “No, she doesn't,” she replies quietly, a strange little smile tugging at her lips. “She almost seems like an innocent.”

[] Make it very clear that she can't afford to think like that.
[] She seems like it to you too, but you know better.
[] Well, you've been told you're 'pure' so one can never tell.
[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.
[] Is she sure she's not mistaking 'purity' for 'innocence'?

>>38489253
>[] Well, you've been told you're 'pure' so one can never tell.
>[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.

>>38489253
[x] Is she sure she's not mistaking 'purity' for 'innocence'?
[x] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.
Inau is pretty innocent herself huh.

>>38489253
>[] Well, you've been told you're 'pure' so one can never tell.
>[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.

>>38488757

Seconding >>38488816


>>38489005

The Catholics most likely didn't have that much of an impact. If what our cousin said was true, she doesn't need much to go bakemono

Though, I wonder what make the No-face so terrifying for spirit-children. I mean, loss of identity is horrible, but a No-face seems to be a powerhouse even among true yokai

>>38489253
>[X] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.
>[X] Make it very clear that she can't afford to think like that.

>>38489253
>[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.
>[] Is she sure she's not mistaking 'purity' for 'innocence'?

>>38489387
Perhaps, I'm still suspecting some kinda exorcism gone wrong here though. Well, I'm probably wrong but still.

>>38489387
I think it's bakemono that seem to be frightening in comparison to normal youkai. Ryukusa seems to have a lot of respect for nekomata and bakeneko too and they're normally weak on the yuokai scale of things..

>>38489253
>[] She seems like it to you too, but you know better.
>[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.

>>38489387
Bit late there anon!

>>38489253

>Make it clear she can't afford to think like that
>"innocent" does not mean "harmless"

>"Don't underestimate her. Expectation are dangerous, in our world. Even Wakaba might look like a typical spirit-child, for the time being

Hello student, I suppose

>>38489253
>[] Well, you've been told you're 'pure' so one can never tell.
>[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.
>[] Is she sure she's not mistaking 'purity' for 'innocence'?

>>38489253
>[] Make it very clear that she can't afford to think like that.
>[] She seems like it to you too, but you know better.
>[] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.

>>38489535
>>38489253


I forgot to add

>ask her what she means by "innocent" and what make her think that

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[x] Make it very clear that she can't afford to think like that.
[x] Well, you've been told you're 'pure' so one can never tell.
[X] Explain to her gently that 'innocent' doesn't mean 'harmless' or even 'safe'.
[X] Is she sure she's not mistaking 'purity' for 'innocence'?

“I think you're looking at it wrong, to be honest, Inau-san,” you murmur, as you settle into a flat-footed crouch, resting your arms on your knees. All three of you – including Shoko – watch as the odd spirit-child stands on one foot on the back of the bench, stretching up and holding her leg out and reaching up with her sheathed daisho to try and poke at a moth fluttering by her.

“What do you mean, Ryukusa-sama?” Inau-san asks softly, her voice concerned.

“Nogitsune aren't innocent creatures. They're youkai, and that passes to their children. But that doesn't mean they aren't pure.” She bites her lip, tensing as Yuuhi swings the hilt of her weapon viciously and totally ineffectively at the moth as she precariously balances on the bench, her tail flashing in wild circles. “I think what you are seeing as 'innocence' is Yuuhi-chan's 'purity'. Yuuhi-chan is as pure a creature as any I've ever met. She is honest, earnest, and straightforward. She makes no bones about what she is or what others are.”

Inau-san relaxes as the strange creature grumbles to herself and hops off the back of the bench and onto the ground, sitting on the grass huffily and muttering dire imprecations at the wayward moth. Which, naturally, lands on the end of her daisho now that she's not paying attention to it.

“Did you think she was going to fall?”

Inau-san looks startled. “what?”

“Did you think she was going to fall?”

“Well, I was worried about that, yes. Weren't you?” Inau-san is trying to be inoffensive, but your lack of concern is confusing her.

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>>38490104
“Not even for a second. She's not a child in the way you think she is, just cute.” You lay your gloved hands on the ground, feeling the dampness of the earth. “Even if she were 'innocent', that wouldn't mean she wasn't incredibly dangerous, Inau-san. What you think of as her being 'innocent' is simply that she has nothing in the way of her heart or mind that could make her question her duty or her orders. When she promised to serve me, she gave over everything that an ordinary person would have to worry about and placed it in my hands.” Inau-san looks confused and you stand up, leaning against the wall, and looking at her, smiling sadly. “Ethics, morals, second thoughts, questions of right and wrong....she doesn't have any of those. Those are mine to deal with, not hers. If I told her to kill you, right now, she'd try and kill you, right now.”

Inau-san looks back at Yuuhi-chan, who is nodding off, the moth perched on her nose. You can see the understanding dawning in Inau-san's gaze.

“Oh, I have no doubt at all she'd protest, and she might pause for long enough to let me rescind the order before she killed you. She's thoughtful like that. But she would use every means at her disposal to take you to the brink of death, and give me a heartbeat's worth of time to save your life, before killing you.”

Your half-hearted smile fades as you steal a little of Inau-san's innocence away. “Yuuhi-chan is very pure, of that I have absolutely no doubt. I don't even need to be a seer or a miko to know it. But she isn't an innocent. Kiki-hime is innocent....but if you scared her or tried to hurt me, I think you'd discover that 'innocent' is not even remotely the same as 'harmless'.”

“I....I think that I see, Ryukusa-sama.” Inau-san looks uncertain still, but you think she got the important points.

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>>38490138
“Besides, people have called me 'pure', so you can never really tell what's going on in our world. Expectations like that can be dangerous. Wakaba-san might be a Stone dragonette, but that doesn't mean she's slow, stupid, or even stubborn. It means she's strong, and sure, and powerful, just like every other dragonette, and that's all it means.” Shoko snorts laughter at your comment, as the taxi rolls up to the gate. Yuuhi-chan sneezes and hops up with her sheathed daisho at the ready, her combat stance instant and throughly pointless as the moth flutters away unseen by the nogitsune-child.

Like the van you drove to the forest in, there is the passenger seat, a three-seater in the back, and a two-seater bench in between. The passenger seat does turn, though.

[] Yuuhi and Inau in the middle, you in back, Shoko up front.
[] Shoko in back, you up front, Yuuhi and Inau in the middle.
[] Yuuhi in the back, you and Inau in the middle, Shoko up front.
[] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.
[] You and Shoko in the middle, Inau up front, Yuuhi in the back.

>>38490166
>[] Shoko in back, you up front, Yuuhi and Inau in the middle.

>>38490166
>[] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.
Inau is doing the tracking/hunting. Let her navigate from up front.

>>38490166
>[] Shoko in the back, you and Inau in the middle, Yuuhi up front.

>>38490166
[] Shoko in back, you up front, Yuuhi and Inau in the middle.
This seems the most reasonable.

>>38490166
>[] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.

>>38490166
>[x] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.
Sounds good, letting her track is smart.

>>38490166
>[x] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.
Ace of the diaaaaamond!

>>38490166
>[] Shoko in back, you up front, Yuuhi and Inau in the middle.

>>38490166
>[] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.

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[X] Inau up front, you and Yuuhi in the middle, Shoko in back.

The driver opens the door for you, and bows, and you bow back, keeping your grin under control – it's Yamashida Toyo, one of Chisato's people. You don't let ont hat you've recognized him, and he of course plays the polite taxi-cab driver, able to completely ignore the most outrageous guest. “Inau-san, you're front, you'll be giving directions. Shoko-san, sorry, you've got the back seat to yourself. Yuuhi-chan, you're with me in the middle.”

Shoko doesn't seem put out by being in back, and seems perfectly happy to stretch out in the back, which makes her look faintly silly given her clothing is so loose. Inau-san bows tot he driver who bows back, and they do this a number of times as you and Yuuhi climb in. You go to sit but her gentle hand on your arm stops you.

“I have to sit on the outside, aniki.” You debate trying to break her of that habit, but give up – it was a lost cause when Akari-niji-chan taught it to Yui-niji-chan. Maybe it's a conspiracy....

“Why is that, Yuuhi-chan? Do you get motion sick?”

“No, but the princess said that I'm supposed to take care of you, and since she's not here, I have to do that.” Inau-san smiles at her earnestness, and Shoko-san is smirking at you, her eyes dancing with laughter.

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>>38490815
“Fine, fine!” You let her sit down and she scoots to the far side, against the wall of the van, giving you plenty of room. You brush your skirts and belts into place with a gust of wind – which not entirely accidentally shoots a cool breeze up Yuuhi-chan's skirt making her yelp and push her skirts back into place. “So did she give you any other impossible orders that I need to countermand right away?” You belt in as the taxi starts on it's way.

“No, aniki, just that one, and she said she'd spank me if I let you bully me, so you can't bully me either,” she says in a rush before you can ask anything more. Shoko-san is enjoying the hell out of this, her girlish giggles more natural seeming in her shrunken form..

[] “Well, that doesn't mean I CAN'T bully you, Yuuhi-chan....”
[] “Really, you're getting spankings from my wife?”
[] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”
[] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”
[] “Who would you be more worried about spanking you, her....or ~me~?”

>>38490852
>[] “Really, you're getting spankings from my wife?”
>[] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”
>[] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”

>>38490852
[x] “Really, you're getting spankings from my wife?”
[x] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”

>>38490852
>[] “Well, that doesn't mean I CAN'T bully you, Yuuhi-chan....”
>[] “Who would you be more worried about spanking you, her....or ~me~?”

>>38490852
>[] “Well, that doesn't mean I CAN'T bully you, Yuuhi-chan....”
>[] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”

>>38490852
>[x] “Who would you be more worried about spanking you, her....or ~me~?”
>[x] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”

>>38490852
>[] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”
>[] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”
>[] “Who would you be more worried about spanking you, her....or ~me~?”
Not necessarily in that order

>>38490852
I'm gonna be honest, Kiki spanking Yuuhi is a very appealing idea and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
>[] “Really, you're getting spankings from my wife?”
>[] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”
>[] “Who would you be more worried about spanking you, her....or ~me~?”

>>38490852

>[] “Well, that doesn't mean I CAN'T bully you, Yuuhi-chan....”

>"Always be careful with wordings, Yuuhi-chan"

>[] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”

>>38490852
>[] “Well, that doesn't mean I CAN'T bully you, Yuuhi-chan....”
>[] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”

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[XXX] “How about improbable or conflicting orders then?”
[XX] “Who would you be more worried about spanking you, her....or ~me~?”
[XX] “I guess she took those dominance lessons to heart.”
[XX] “Well, that doesn't mean I CAN'T bully you, Yuuhi-chan....”
[X] “Really, you're getting spankings from my wife?”

“But Yuuhi-chan, that doesn't mean I can't bully you. She'll just spank you if you let me. Of course, that means that either you keep me from bullying you which means resisting your master, or you get spankings.” Yuuhi-chan's crimson eyes widen and her tail twitches as she tries to figure out a way around the new situation you've presented. “Hey, since when are you getting spankings from my wife anyways?”

Yuuhi-chan looks confused. “I'm not, aniki, she just said she would spank me.” You shake your head and sigh as Shoko snickers and Inau-san smiles and looks at you sidelong.

“That's not innocence, that's outright ignorance, Inau-san.” Inau's cheeks darken just a bit and she turns her attention to the streets ahead. “Apparently my wife seems to have taken to being an S-type readily enough. Of course, I could always spank you instead.” Shoko-san tries to stifle her laughter and Inau-san glances back, her worry clearly that of someone unsure of whether to believe what she's hearing or not. “How about it Yuuhi-chan, would you like a spanking from me?”

Yuuhi-chan seriously considers the idea for a moment, while Shoko is suffering from a severe case of uncontrollable laughter as you rest your head in your hands, almost disbelieving that the nogitsune-child would actually freakin' consider the question at all. “I think you'd be better at it, but Kiki-hime would have nicer hands.”

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>>38492149
You lift your hands, and Inau-san's blush deepens. “Told you.” Turning your attention back to the perky girl, you lean back in the seat and she unselfconsciously settles next to you, leaning against your shoulder and placing her hands on her thighs. “So are there any other weird orders I need to know about, because I'd really hate to be in the middle of something and then have you tackle me out of no-where.” Running your hand through her silky tail fur, you wonder idly if it would keep a braid at all.

“Well, she said that if I think Wakaba is a threat to you even is she surrenders, I should kill her anyways. But she was thinking about Akari-sama when she said it, so I think she's just as worried about Akari-sama as she is about you, aniki.” Not surprising, given that you were all there when Wakaba made it crystal clear that she'd kill Akari and take her place given half the chance. “But mostly she wants me to protect you. But I know you have things you need to do to, so I'll just be a samurai, not a shinobi.”

“You can't fucking win with her, Ryukusa-sama, forget it,” Shoko-san interjects before you start to protest her suicidally generous gesture of loyalty. “She remembers everything you already said, even if it sounds she's like she a fucking suicidal kamidamned idiot.” Yuuhi-chan is nodding agreeably.

[] Fine, but what I told her applies to you too, Shoko-san.
[] If you say so, but let me make some things clear....
[] I trust her loyalty, if not entirely her intentions.
[] Just as long as you don't share her suicidal streak.
[] I'll make the Wakaba call personally, Yuuhi-chan.

>>38492171
[x] I trust her loyalty, if not entirely her intentions.

>>38492171
>[] I trust her loyalty, if not entirely her intentions.
>[] Just as long as you don't share her suicidal streak.

>>38492171
>[] Just as long as you don't share her suicidal streak.
>[] I'll make the Wakaba call personally, Yuuhi-chan.

>>38492171
>[] Fine, but what I told her applies to you too, Shoko-san.
Really!

>>38492171
>[] I'll make the Wakaba call personally, Yuuhi-chan
>[] Fine, but what I told her applies to you too, Shoko-san.
>[] If you say so, but let me make some things clear....

>>38492171
>[] Fine, but what I told her applies to you too, Shoko-san.
>[] I'll make the Wakaba call personally, Yuuhi-chan.

>>38492171
[x] If you say so, but let me make some things clear....
[x] I trust her loyalty, if not entirely her intentions.

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[X] Look, I realize she's got a death wish, but this is the way it works....

“As long as her loyalties override her intentions I'm okay with that.” Yuuhi-chan looks confused and Shoko frowns faintly. “I don't need her killing herself on my behalf. You two don't yet realize how difficult to kill I can be. So I'll make the call on Wakaba, regardless of how Kiki-hime feels about her survival. I have better experience than she does at this.”

To your surprise you get support from a different source. “Ryukusa-sama is right.” Inau-san turns her chair to face the other two. “If she is as she says she is, then you must not consider her safety before your own. Demigods are difficult to kill, unless they are faced with things beyond the normal. That is not to say she cannot be maimed, or very badly hurt, even near to death, but to actually kill a demigod requires the utmost conviction and strength of will, more so than powers or magic.”

“But Wakaba-san is crazy!” points out Yuuhi and you have to physically hold her in her seat when she tries to spring up so she can pace. Despite that she continues her hurried exclamations. “There isn't anyone more focused or willful than a crazy person! How will I be able to protect my mistress if she won't let me fight for her?! What will the princess think of me if I don't protect mistress with all my strength?! And the cute little oni will cry and my sensei who isn't my sensei is gonna yell at me so much and and and-mpshhsmphm!”

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>>38493327
You look at Inau-san who looks appalled at the distress she's caused your retainer. “It's okay, she does this often. She'll be fine.” You give Inau-san a glare, and then turn that same glare to Shoko, who recoils slightly. “Speaking of which, what I told Yuuhi-chan goes for ~both~ of you. No getting killed pointlessly or on my behalf. You can assist me, but there will be ZERO tolerance for sacrifices from me. You will fight with me, not for me. None of you are trained to this like I am, regardless of how much you've fought before.”

You look between the young woman and the old oni-child. “My word is law on the battlefield. Akari-niji-chan and Kiku-miko-chan and Er Yin-sensei know this. You learn it now, and live it as long as you serve me.”

Inau-san nods, but Shoko's muscles ripple, and she looks like she's going to become somewhat angry.

[] Let her have her say.
[] Cut her off – this is non-negotiable.
[] Hear her out, but you're not budging.
[] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.
[] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.

>>38493348
>[] Hear her out, but you're not budging.

>>38493348
>[] Let her have her say.
>[] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.

>>38493348
>[] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.

>>38493348
>[] Hear her out, but you're not budging.
>[] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.
If we knew this would happen, we would have bedded them beforehand to asset our authority

>>38493348
>[] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.
>[] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.
This seems fine, but we gotta be firm though.

>>38493348
>[] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.
>[] but if she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.

>>38493348
>[] Let her have her say
>[] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.

>>38493348
>[] Let her have her say.
>[] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.

XS, I just want you to know that this is my favorite quest, and you're my favorite QM.

Alright, back to lurking, bye.

>>38493348
>[x] Hear her out, but you're not budging.
>[x] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.

>>38493894
Nice of you to say so, anon.

>>38493894
Thank you.

>>38493348
>[] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.
>[] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.

>>38493792
This.

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[X] Hear her out, but you're not budging.
[X] If she has something worthwhile, you'll listen.
[XX] Point out that they're trained to protect places and people, but you're trained to kill them.

With your hand on the silent and quiescent Yuuhi's soft lips, you look at Shoko-san expectantly, allowing her to say what she needs to say.

“That's fucking bullshit, Ryukusa-sama, and you know it! You're the entire reason we're here, and if you die, then we're stuck for another couple of kamidamned decades waiting for Ame-no-Horobi-no-Mikado to reincarnate! You don't understand how important he is us at all!” Her muscles are rippling, her anger making her compressed form unstable. You narrow your eyes, the dark sapphire of them gleaming faintly in the window behind Shoko. “Both Yuuhi-chan and I have every bloody youkai-cursed right to sacrifice our fucking lives for yours, because as long as you fucking live, our master can return!”

You look at her and speak softly and slowly. “You're going to have to do better than that.”

Shoko's eyes go aquamarine, and she grinds her teeth. “What the fuck did you just say?”

Holding out your hand you count down. “First, I'm not your master, I'm the head of my own family, Ryuu Ryukusa. Yuuhi-chan pledged herself to me, so she obeys me, and if she doesn't, I leave her behind and safe – and I can do the same to you, Inau-chan, and just about everyone except Akari and Kiku-chan, who I can tell to keep you behind and safe instead.” She starts to protest but you raise your voice just enough to drown her out. “Two, you and Yuuhi-chan are protectors of a household, soldiers and guards. I'm a thug, killer, and murderer, and I'm GOOD at it, far better than either of you are at it. You're even a Water oni-child, the least combat effective oni-children there are.”

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>>38494618
She looks down, angry but knowing you're correct. “Third, I have a better grasp of my powers than anyone else here does, to the point where not even Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the Grass-Cutting Blade could effectively poison my blood and stain my body with death.” Sure, you lost an arm, but you got something like it back, right? “Even handling the flames of corruption my cousin used didn't drive me totally insane or completely destroy my hands. None of you could have managed that – you heard it yourself, I didn't kill anyone even when I was driven utterly insane.” Inau-san is glancing back at you, but her focus seems to be on where the taxi is going. Shoko is looking thoroughly shamed, though.

“Finally, and this is the most important thing you have to remember, is that you have people who care about you, such as Yuuhi and the other lovers you have at your home. That means, and I want to be sure you understand this well, so I'll put it in oni-terms for you....” You half stand and grip the side of your seat so hard the steel frame bends and stuffing squirts out between your gloved talons.

“I WILL NOT FUCKING TOLERATE YOU FUCKING DYING ON MY WATCH, YOU STUPID BITCH.”

The taxi has come to a halt, and everyone except Yuuhi is staring at you like you're about to kill the lot of them, including the poor human taxi-driver. “Have I made myself clear?” you ask softly. Yuuhi is nodding her head rapidly, while Inau-san and Toyo-kun are keeping very, very quiet and still. Shoko is staring at you like you've grown an extra seven heads.

You narrow your eyes and she bows her head over her hands, placing them before her horns. “Hh-hh-hai R-Ryuk-kusa-dono!”

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>>38494637
You take your hand away from Yuuhi-chan's mouth and turn around, discarding the broken seatbelt. “Now that that's settled, lets go find my wayward sister-in-arms. Inau-san?” There's a gentle tug on your sleeve. “Yes Yuuhi-chan?”

“Can we get something to eat after we're done?”

“....yes, Yuuhi-chan we can do that.” You can't help but smile at how easily she takes these things in stride.

“She's not too far from here. Neither is the Holy See, the palace for their god.” You don't bother to correct her, though technically she's correct. “There's a lot of lawn and walkway, kind of a part before we reach the church-house. She's somewhere between there and here.”

You pay the taxi-driver – well, overpay really, because you're pretty sure he'll never drive a taxi again unless Chisato holds a gun to his head. A thoroughly cowed and respectful Shoko-san starts unstrapping her sleeves and pants legs, and Yuuhi checks over her sword carefully. Inau-san is tying back one sleeve, and pulling her yumi out of ~Nowhere~.

[] Have Inau-san scout ahead and locate the quarry, then report back.
[] Follow Inau-san at a distance, and have the other two follow a little further back.
[] All together, don't get separated at all....Just In Case.
[] Have Shoko scout by cloud, Inau scout on foot, you and Yuuhi follow.
[] Ask for input, see if they have any ideas.

>>38494664
>[] Have Shoko scout by cloud, Inau scout on foot, you and Yuuhi follow.
>[] Ask for input, see if they have any ideas.

>>38494664
>[] Follow Inau-san at a distance, and have the other two follow a little further back.
Tactical column!

>>38494664
>[] Have Inau-san scout ahead and locate the quarry, then report back.

>>38494664
>[x] Follow Inau-san at a distance, and have the other two follow a little further back.
Sounds smart to me.

>>38494664
>[] Follow Inau-san at a distance, and have the other two follow a little further back.

>>38494664
>[x] Follow Inau-san at a distance, and have the other two follow a little further back.
Gotta get smart!

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[X] Follow Inau-san at a distance, and have the other two follow a little further back.

You watch the taxi leave, and give Shoko-can a few minutes to recover her wits and release the power that she has constrained in her body to make herself smaller. Many oni-children can change their sizes, and with those size changes comes power – or, in the case of a shrinking oni-child, a restriction on power. As she grows, you turn to watch Inau-san studying the grass and trees as you stand on the sidewalk. She's even sniffing the air, and you get the eerie feeling her sense of smell is sharper than yours.

“Ryukusa-sama....”

You look calmly to the nogitsune-born samurai girl, who looks quite serious. “Did you mean what you said to Shoko-chan?”

“If you mean the words I said, then yes, I meant every word. If you mean, how I said it....well, no, not really, and I think she understands that. Or she will. Water is the same everywhere.” The saying is more about how Water-natured spirit-children are, more than actual water, since you know very well that isn't remotely true. “I really don't want to lose even one of my family members, Yuuhi-chan.”

She looks thoughtful. “So Shoko-chan is a member of your family too?”

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>>38495489
“More or less. A member of my household, for certain. Mine to protect and make safe.” You frown, because Inau-san is walking back and looking troubled. Shoko walks up as well, flexing her twisted and gnarled hands in her gloves. They looked human in her shrunken form, which makes you wonder if that's actually a result of her power, and not simply oni physiology. “What's wrong Inau-san?”

“There are a great many tracks, and movement of wind, like a cloud rider's movement, all leading away from the church, Ryukusa-sama. There is also human, dragon, and oni blood in the air, at least for six different bodies.” Okay, so her sense of smell is a LOT sharper than yours. At least you can smell a virgin at ten paces, like Inau-san is. “I can hear seven or eight voices, three in conversation and the rest making strange noises.”

[] Change of plan, we're moving in fast and silent all together.
[] Inau, go first, carefully. I'll come in second, Shoko follows with Yuuhi on a cloud, keep on me.
[] What kind of strange noises, exactly?
[] Everyone stays here until I come back for you, I need to see this.
[] Throw a large barrier up and head in fast, because none of that can be any good.

>>38495546
>[] Change of plan, we're moving in fast and silent all together.
The priests have started an exorcism, the ignorant fools.

>>38495546
>[] Inau, go first, carefully. I'll come in second, Shoko follows with Yuuhi on a cloud, keep on me.
The cloud has stealth, right?

If there are mortals or cultists, they get arrowed first.

>>38495546
>[] Change of plan, we're moving in fast and silent all together.
Shit shit shit. I bet bad things are happening RIGHT NOW!

>>38495546
>[] Throw a large barrier up and head in fast, because none of that can be any good.
If these idiots are trying to exorcise them...

>>38495546
>[x] What kind of strange noises, exactly?
>[x] Change of plan, we're moving in fast and silent all together.

>>38495632
>Clousa cannot be detected by mortals, but priests and sorcerers do not have that limitation. they are silent, and they can be hard to see, so 'stealth' is relative. With care, she can stay behind trees, and not many people look up.

>>38495546

>What kind of strange noise?
> throw a large Barrier and rush with everyone

>>38495546
>[x] Throw a large barrier up and head in fast, because none of that can be any good.
No time to wait!

>>38495546
>[] What kind of strange noises, exactly?
>[] Throw a large barrier up and head in fast, because none of that can be any good.

>>38495546
>[x] What kind of strange noises, exactly?
>[x] Change of plan, we're moving in fast and silent all together.

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[X] Change of plan, we're moving in fast and silent all together.
[X] What kind of strange noises, exactly?
[X] Throw a large barrier up and head in fast, because none of that can be any good.

“What kind of strange noises, exactly, Inau-san?” You have a sneaking suspicion – well, no a charging, towering suspicion – but you want to be sure before doing something rash.

She closes her eyes and her mouth moves, forming noising, but it takes her a moment before she starts imitating what she's hearing. Her difficulty is obvious; she speaks neither Latin nor English, and even you know the Lord's prayer from watching the few movies you have.

“Inau, you put an arrow in any sorcerer or human and make sure they don't make any more noise. Shoko, your on containment of any warriors, isolate them and keep them back. Yuuhi-chan, stay close, but try and stay between Inau and any combat. We moving in fast, try and keep up.” You take hold of Matagama-no-Shitoki, made part of your costume and you feel the kami's warmth and calm, making it your own. You don't need speed this time – you need SIZE, and throeing up a barrier that covers not only the whole park but most of the church itself at a distance of nearly two miles is a very painful, straining experience.

But Matagama-no-Shitoki supports your cause, and supports you, and you manage it, even at the cost of a portion of your Shen. A small, but still significant portion in the scheme of things.

Then you RUN. You run hard and fast. Shoko doesn't bother – she sweeps Yuuhi onto her cloud, but to your surprise, Inau-san is right beside you, keeping pace with your inhuman speed. Huntress indeed, she could probably run down a Fire dragonette if she had to. It doesn't take you long to get there, and when you get close, things are....well, less bad than you'd been afraid off, oddly. Oh, they still suck Mt Fuji's great mossy ball-sack, but it could definitely be worse.

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>>38496459
Inau peels off and heads towards a tree off the walkway around the fountain with it's statues and sculptures, while Shoko literally drops Yuuhi off to your right side. Before she peels off and leaps to the ground on the opposite side of the....the ~problem~ area. You're not quite sure what to call it. It's not really a battlefield....

You see the white haired priest standing and holding up his crucifix keeping himself between the four young men and women who are reciting the prayers from books. They look and smell terrified, but their voices are steady and calm. The other priest that you say, the dark complected 'soldier of God' who is the deacon's assistant is on one knee, a swath of blood covering his face and soaked into his clothing. He's got a silver – actual, real silver, though it probably has a steel core – sword in one hand, and he's holding it by the blade, just under the hilt. It's glowing and you can feel it's power from here, a potent ward.

Wakaba is laughing, her sword soaked in blood and ichor alike. There are only a dozen bodies, oni-child, dragonne and dragonette, and human. A single sweep of the scene determines it's not just Wakaba whose killed people here, you can tell by the lay of the bodies and the wounds. But she's leaning on her sword, giggling softly, her hand trembling, the other gripping her sword unsteadily.

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>>38496484
But far worse is what your crimson eye sees. The glowing golden lines of danger are not extending from her weapon, or her claws, or her teeth. They are extending from the books the Catholic acolytes or priests and priestesses, or whatever they are hold. Golden wisps of threat, rising from each book, coiling around their breaths, and slowly sliding from their breaths to waft to Wakaba. To be ~absorbed~ by Wakaba. Almost as though she's drawing....strength from their....prayers....

It all clicks into place then, as it hadn't before your meeting with Rie and Hinata-hakase. The reasons exorcisms don't work on spirit-children....why they always go so wrong. Prayers to sustain kami and youkai. Prayers to drive out demons....prayers which feed the parts of a spirit-child that are not human, while doing nothing to the human part of them....twisting their spirits and cursing their human parts to be subsumed into their spiritual forms that no longer have ties to humanity!

The idiots are feeding Wakaba ~prayers~ and she's ~already cursed~!

>To Be Continued....

>>38496521
Tanks for running, and also well fuck.

No matter if this is the Catholics's fault or not, I say we send them an ultimatum as soon as we can. As in "leave within 2 hours or be destroyed"

I hope you have enjoyed playing and reading, and will stay to answer a few questions.

First one, of course being....
>>38489191
>If Ryukusa met Maria, how long would she be able to resist the cuddliness?
The cuddliness, no, but Maria's Deep Training would be very concerning to Ryukusa, who is very similarly inclined by her own nature. She's pretty much treat Maria the same way she would treat a partly trained attack dog - carefully and gently, with affection and a great deal of respect....and a big stick in the other hand.

>>38496521
I knew it, I knew the Catholics were gonna do some shady shit and fuck it all up! I knew it!
Next thread when?

>no cuddles
Awww...
Makes sense though.
Thanks for running!

>>38496619
I am hoping for a 10:00 am PST thread tomorrow.

>>38496650
Now if you'd asked about Kiki-hime, she'd be all over those cuddles.

>>38496669
Would be swell!

>>38496691
That's good to hear.

>>38496607

Thanks for running!

Who is Maria ?

Also, does this thing with prayers means that priests, miko and the like can empower their allies ?

>>38496772
Maria is the main character in A Tale of Witches, anon.

>>38496521
Great, we better grab that sword.

First retainer to not get hurt gets bedded first!

>>38496772
Yes, and Ryukusa has actually felt the effects of prayers directed at her or to Horobi on multiple occasions. The downside is that it takes true devotion and attention to be worthwhile, in any measure and it only works on beings with a spiritual component that can be prayed to - say a youkai spirit-child, or a demigod nature.

It also works in reverse, which is what sorcery is.

>>38496941

This last sentence is terrifying

>>38496941
Huh, that's interesting. And has interesting implications.

I was asked if I would be getting an ask.fm, and the answer is no, I will not be doing so. I have stories to write instead.

>>38497280
I'm glad, XS. Night!