File: Horobi.jpg (630 KB, 1000x1201)

630 KB JPG

>>43234681
Despite that, they're coming through each time, scathed, burned a little, but alive and perhaps better for it. You'd like to think so at least But there's only one way to do that, and that's talk to them. Not just about their issues, but about yours. You've been open about what you are, who you are, and what you're becoming....but not entirely open about some of the things you've been feeling. Oh, certainly your love, your concern for them, your worries about what you've all got to face....but not about the anger and pain you've been holding in, the hate you have for the people who have tormented all your loved ones in the past, and currently.

You sigh softly and Yuuhi-chan turns and looks at you, slim and delicate. She really needs more meat on her bones, though she's not truly bony to be sure. You reach up and caress her cheek and she curls her face into your hand, glowing red eyes closing and years laying flat out to the sides. “Gotta go back aniki.” You nod and the cute leans down and kisses you.

You clean yourselves up in warm water from the sky, and she sighs, eyes closed and face upturned to the sky. She shakes herself, head to toes, and her tail explodes, her hair becoming a stringy, knotted mess. Combing her hair and tail out, you help her dry by summoning a breeze, which makes her shiver; it's cool, but you can't help that.

Dressed, you take a deep breath. Time to face the music.

[] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.
[] Hold Yuuhi's hand as you return.
[] Ask Yuuhi-chan how open she wants to be about it all.
[] Apologize and carry on as usual for the moment.
[] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.

File: Ryuu Ryukusa by GodofMoxie.png (1.2 MB, 1023x1628)

1.2 MB PNG

>>43234707
Twitter: @XsQuestmistress

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/43104559/

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

Threads in Chronological Order, including writeups by XS : http://pastebin.com/Z53TyK0N
or search for Title: Ryukuza on Suptg

Barrier Combat Guide: http://pastebin.com/rZLwzvGx

Ryukusa's Treasures:

Matagama-no-Shitoki, a kami in it's own right that protects Ryukusa from inimical magic.

Eight hundred and sixty-two cat youkai live in your aura

Nyoi-ju, the Wishing Jewel.

Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume – Ryukusa's mukade possessed wakizashi; a kami. “Daughter of my Centipede of Rain.”

Gendai-no-Muteki-no-Buki - Invincible Weapon of the Present Age, a secret kami-blade given to Ryukusa by Wakaba.

Ryukusa's Family.

>>43234707
>[] Ask Yuuhi-chan how open she wants to be
about it all.
>[] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.
>[] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.

Hey XS. Things going well?

>>43234707
>[] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.
>[] Hold Yuuhi's hand as you return.

>>43234707
>[] Ask Yuuhi-chan how open she wants to be about it all.
>[] Hold Yuuhi's hand as you return.
>[] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.

File: 6f63e303abe8edb6db064be4f(...).png (517 KB, 611x1000)

517 KB PNG

Kiku 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' 6" and will only grow due to circumstances beyond her control. 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.
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-kun is 5' 3” and still confused.
Reiha is 5' 5 1/2”, and is milfy.
Peta is 3' 2”. Peta is \>.</ aka Her Most Imperial Highness Patanjali Piri Yokuhime Kuronogitsune Pa
Detective-san, aka Mugon Chujo is fully grown at 5'11”, and straight.
Kenji Soomi is 5' 4” and gothic lolita.
Musumi Kanako is 5' 6.5”, and is pretty straight.
Hebiki Naoto is 5' 9” and belligerently omnivorous, sexually. You hope only sexually.
Kodachi Umetsume is 5' 4”, and fully grown. Practicing asexual.
Melinda Blitzenberg is 5'10”, fully grown and horrible. Maybe confused.
Ryuu Wakaba is a head shorter and also deceased.
Margaret Steinhausen is gratefully dead.

Hi XS! How have you been?

>>43234707

>[] Hold Yuuhi's hand as you return.

>Ask Yuuhi-chan if there is some things she'd rather keep private. Then lick her like she did to us.

>[] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.

>Explain to everyone what happened and why

>Apologize, and tell them they can punish (or 'punish') us further, if they deems it necessary

>>43234860

*or rather 'punish')

>>43234860
Second ING all this.

...Inau-kun is going to have another nose bleed.

>>43234924
>Second ING
Phone why do you do this

>>43234924

I wonder if there is rumors that Ryukusa is part vampire

>>43234707
Damn, I'm late.
>[] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.
>[] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.

>>43234707
>[] Ask Yuuhi-chan how open she wants to be about it all.
>[] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.
>[] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.

I'm pretty sure Yuuhi would be open to the point of finding the question weird.

>>43235045
Still only polite to make sure.

>>43235049

True, that's why I voted it. Still, Ryukusa's probably picking up on how the cute swordsmaster is thinking, more and more.

>>43235098
Let's hope so.

Though, I wonder when she became this good.

Shoko will probably have some fun stuff to say about it, when we both cuddle the fox. If something like that happen, that is. Not sure if Shoko would want to.

>>43235149
Shoko doesn't know either from what she's mentioned in the past.

>>43234707
>[X] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.
>[X] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.

File: 1fba166ec553a56ec8f8d26f3(...).jpg (511 KB, 709x1120)

511 KB JPG

[XXX] Make sure everyone is all right and calm first.
[XX] Ask Yuuhi-chan how open she wants to be about it all.
[XX] Hold Yuuhi's hand as you return.
[XX] Tell everyone Yuuhi-chan needed to administer a spanking.
[+] Explain exactly why what happened happened, and apologize, making sure they know you're truly contrite and open to properly being chastised. Keeping Yuuhi's secrets secret if she wants you to, of course.

It's a little troublesome, because you really can't predict her reactions to almost anything. So asking your samurai if there's anything that happened she would want to keep secret is more of a safety precaution than anything else.

Naturally her first response is a confused look and a tail twitch. “Huh?”

“Well, I mean is there anything about what happened that you wouldn't want me to speak about to anyone else?” It's a slightly better phrasing, but you're certain she's not quite 'getting it'. So to speak. To your surprise she looks thoughtful.

“Well, Shoko-sama says I'm not supposed to talk about having sex in front of Japanese people because they're prudes.”

“Prudes, huh?”

“Uh huh. Japanese people are prudes because it makes them uncomfortable that people might like to have sex a lot especially if it's girls and girls or girls and boys or boys and boys and they get really confused when you tell them you like girls and boys and then they don't know what to say and people get really flustered by all that.” You were about to stop her, but she seems to have come to a full halt on her own. “That's what Shoko says but I don't think she means it the way she says it.”

“Do you actually need to breathe, Yuuchi?”

“Uh huh.”

File: 2a3ebf49865ed65f3030b64c3(...).jpg (1.27 MB, 2500x3535)

1.27 MB JPG

>>43235484
….well it wasn't 'okay' at least.

“So there isn't anything that you'd want to keep secret? I don't want to make anything hard for you.”

She blinks at you curiously. “You're the one doing all the hard stuff, aniki.” Well, she's not wrong.

You reach over and take her hand now that she's dressed, and gently pull her close for a kiss. She leans over on her tip-toes and kisses you quite well, and when you break the kiss, her face is all smiles and bright glowing eyes. “You're okay, aniki,” she says calmly.

“Yes, Yuuchi.” She takes down the barrier....but you don't let go of Yuuhi-chan's hand as you walk back into the temple. Things haven't changed too much since you were dragged out; Yui-niji-chan is kowtowing to Kiki-hime, who is still blushing but also smiling into her sleeve while Kiku-chan is hiding her own mouth, her brow so furrowed you could plant rice. Akari-niji-chan is still peacefully sleeping, while Inau-kun is watching Yui-chan with a warm smile – and pinching the bridge of her nose.

Everyone actually seems amazingly calm, which is and isn't a surprise. It is a surprise, because your method of leaving was more than a bit abrupt, but it's obvious that Yui's embarrassment has been rather distracting and cute enough that everyone is trying to get her to relax, and not really worrying about themselves relaxing. The only one who really has any concern for you at the moment is Kiku-chan, and a single glance and the lowering of her sleeve is enough to tell you whatever she saw before is gone.

She doesn't miss your hand-holding though.

File: 2a9e0214c3e420f4a51f0278b(...).jpg (2.09 MB, 1350x1770)

2.09 MB JPG

>>43235501
“Sorry, everyone. I was being bad, so Yuuhi-chan had to administer corrective punishment.” Yuuhi-chan nods solemnly and Yui-chan looks up at the two of you from on her hands and knees. She doesn't seem to notice the hand-holding, but that doesn't surprise you at all. Inau-kun does, but doesn't make any special notice or lack thereof.

“Did you use a metal paddle? The wooden one got all soft when we tried it.” Kiki-hime looks confused. “Aniki over-watered it and it turned mooshy.”

“Is mooshy really a word?” asks Inau-kun.

Yui nods. “Yes.” Kiku-chan rolls her eyes and mutters about the baka oni-girl, and sits down cross legged, while Kiki-hime tries not to laugh.

[] Let everyone settle down a few minutes longer.
[] You should have heard her description of my house.
[] Yui-niji-chan has a....unique point of view.
[] Take a seat by your wife but keep Yuuhi close.
[] Well, I really needed the punishment.

>>43235518

>[] Let everyone settle down a few minutes longer.

Let's see what they do

>>43235518
>[] You should have heard her description of my house.
>[] Well, I really needed the punishment.
>[] Take a seat by your wife but keep Yuuhi close.

>>43235518
>[x] You should have heard her description of my house.
>[x] Yui-niji-chan has a....unique point of view.
>[x] Take a seat by your wife but keep Yuuhi close.

>>43235518
>[X] Let everyone settle down a few minutes longer.
>[X] Well, I really needed the punishment.

>>43235518
>[] You should have heard her description of my house.
>[] Take a seat by your wife but keep Yuuhi close.
>[] Well, I really needed the punishment.

>>43235518
>[x] You should have heard her description of my house.
>[x] Let everyone settle down a few minutes longer.

>>43235484
>Yuuchi
She gets a cute pet-name now? If so I approve.

>>43235518
>[] Well, I really needed the punishment.
>[] Take a seat by your wife but keep Yuuhi close.

File: 2a282bc5997ae24e7512295dc(...).jpg (387 KB, 1440x900)

387 KB JPG

[XXX] You should have heard her description of my house.
[XXX] Take a seat by your wife but keep Yuuhi close.
[XXX] Well, I really needed the punishment.
[X] Let everyone settle down a few minutes longer.

“You should have heard her reaction to entering my apartment,” you quip softly, smiling and that does make Kiki-hime laugh. Inau-kun looks confused, and you smile. “Her exact words were 'totally gay, aniki' I'm afraid.”

“She does know....“ Inau starts, but Kiku-chan shakes her head. “Really?” Inau's own brow furrows. “I see.”

You settle down next to Kiki-hime, and sneak your hand into hers; however you don't let go of Yuuhi's hand and she settles on your other side. Kiki-hime glances at you, and you smile, blushing a little. Kiki leans over, looking at Yuuhi, who seems perfectly content to observe silently for the moment. Kiki-hime looks back to you and you shrug apologetically, but she smiles warmly and leans into you.

There's a little more banter, but mostly everyone is sitting near you and slowly forming a circle facing you as well. “Yui-chan is a special sort of case, but like Akari-niji-chan, she's a total professional.” That brings snickers from the whole group, including from Yui. “But really, Yuuhi-chan helped me a great deal. I've been having some trouble, and I haven't been able to discuss it very much.” You fidget a little uncomfortably, and that makes just about everyone sit up and take notice.

[] try and explain as quickly and succinctly as possible.
[] take it slow and easy, this is your family.
[] a page out of Yuuchi's book will work..
[] water eyes and handle it calmly.
[] reassure them that everything is really okay.

>>43236250
>[] take it slow and easy, this is your family.

So I gotta ask, and I'm not sure what thread it actually came up in, but did anyone else notice how Oba-san seems to have collected demi-gods, who are all probably reincarnated Kami, of each element?

I mean, she had us, our fire-oni cousin we beat the crap out of that I can't remember the name of and that wood... dragonette I think that either he or one of his followers/harem told us about.

Is there some kind of obscure ascension ritual or something going on here. I wouldn't have been too sure to guess at what kind of ritual it would be, but with us finding out that Oba-san might be a human possessing a Kamuy instead of the other way around...

I'm not sure if any ideas or thoughts had been thrown around as its been a while since I read that thread and I just happened to be thinking on the story recently.

>>43236250

>[] take it slow and easy, this is your family.

Let's just do it calmly, in a Ryukusa way, without worry

>>43236250
>[x] a page out of Yuuchi's book will work..
Why not try it?
>>43236298
Hmmm, that's an idea anon. Might be something to follow up on.

>>43236250
>[] take it slow and easy, this is your family.

>>43236298

It's more that Oba-shit knows to keep useful pawns around, I think.

If there is any Kamuy whose mikoto was KIA or MIA, she probably tried to get them.

Remember she was happy to throw our cousin under the bus, so he wasn't that important to her plan.

>>43236250
>[] take it slow and easy, this is your family.
>[] water eyes and handle it calmly.

>>43236250
[] take it slow and easy, this is your family.
As much as we love water eyes, let's take this one relaxed, were trying to not over control things right now.

>>43236406
I think some anons may be developing water-eyes-addiction. Scary stuff.

>>43236433
It is handy, but I think it becomes a handicap. On the other hand, what it describes is really quite pretty.

>>43236250
>[X] take it slow and easy, this is your family.

>>43236250
>[X] take it slow and easy, this is your family
>[X] reassure them that everything is really okay.

>>43236433
>>43236460

It's not an addiction or an handicap. Sometime, the situation require extra-knowledge to be solved without screwing up, but most of the time, it doesn't.

>>43236571
Well, I think it was meant in a "we don't really need this, but just to be sure" obsession with always being sure. In a situation like this, it's good not to be sure. Obsession with acting perfectly isn't healthy, and on occasion it's good to make mistakes. It reminds us humility.

Right now id call it safe to risk small mistakes, trusting we'll recover from them given who we are and who is with us.

>>43236733
Maybe we can look with water eyes *after*

>>43236733

Making mistake is never good. Humility is remembering we're still likely to make them.

Personaly, I don't think we used Water Eyes in moments we didn't need it.

>>43236858
>Making mistake is never good
It reminds people that we aren't infallible. It makes us more approachable. It makes us seem more like a person and less like a caricature of an ideal partner.

File: Yui.png (2.95 MB, 2000x1413)

2.95 MB PNG

[X] take it slow and easy, this is your family.

You take a slow breath, not so obviously, but Yuuhi gives you're hand a squeeze, while Kiki-hime leans against your shoulder. The others are calm, most sitting seiza, though Kiku-chan is cross legged. “I have been....upset....no, not upset. I've been angry, very angry, for a while now.” That nets you a lot of confused and concerned looks. “Don't be ridiculous, not at you!” Yuuhi squeezes your hand again, and this time you take a calming breath and let them see it.

“All of us, all of my family, have been victimized. We're about as much victim as you can't get, of course, but we've all been hurt by people, and I can't get my hands on any of them to make them pay.” Closing your eyes you try to keep your cool, but you let the anger in anyways, feeling the anger. When you open your eyes, the room across from you is awash in sapphire blue. Mostly because the only other light are a lot of candles and some glimmerings of daylight.

“I hate that they've done these things to you all, but I hate it just as much that I can't....I can't stop forcing you to suffer through these pains to help us all through the troubles we're going through. Kiku-chan is without her master, who is still injured so badly she can't help us except from the sidelines....I made Kiki-hime perform surgery....Yui-niji-chan had to deal with the people who abused her....”

File: Kiku.jpg (159 KB, 650x962)

159 KB JPG

>>43236989
“Bakayero.” Everyone – no, not everyone, Kiki-hime is looking at you with soft, moist eyes of sky blue – turns shocked eyes to your priestess who is glaring at you. “You're not forcing us to do anything. Encouraging, but not forcing. You have never forced any one of us.” You start to protest but she raises her hand. “You can be manipulative, but you have never been so to us.”

….have you? It takes some serious thinking. You've used Water eyes on them, yes, but that was either in the course of already using them for another purpose, or to verify what you already knew. You really haven't used them at any other time on your family. You've never needed to, that you recall. You might have heavily encouraged some things, but you always made sure they knew there were alternatives, and that saying no could be done.

“You are not the only one who needs to grow Ryu-chan,” says Kiki-hime, somewhat to your surprise. She doesn't lift her head from your shoulder though. “Other than onee-chan and Er Yin-sensei and your your sister, we're all young. It's hard but....but the things you ask us to do are things we should do anyways.” She sighs softly. “It's bad for us to be afraid of the things that we could use to help one another.”

You're not sure if she's twisting a knife or your heart.

[] I don't mean to scare you with my anger....
[] You're right, but it doesn't feel right.
[] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.
[] Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough....
[] You have every right to be afraid of those things; everyone does.

>>43236931

No it doesn't.

Mistakes mean that bad things happen and that everyone involved suffer.

People knows we aren't infallible, and they know even more that we are a person and not some kind of caricature. And Ryukusa is approachable because she acts like the approachable person she is.

We will make mistakes, true, but they aren't a good thing by definition.

Saying mistakes are a good thing is like saying Er Yin getting burned is a good thing

>>43237007
>[] You're right, but it doesn't feel right.
>[] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.

>>43237007
>[X] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.

>>43237007
>[x] I don't mean to scare you with my anger....
>[x] Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough....

>>43237007
>[X] You have every right to be afraid of those things; everyone does.

>>43237007
>[] You're right, but it doesn't feel right.
>[] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.

>>43237007
>[] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.
>[] Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough....

>>43237007
>[] You have every right to be afraid of those things; everyone does.
Awww

>>43237007
>[] You have every right to be afraid of those things; everyone does.

Is the tautology meant to be, in "Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough...." ?

>>43237281
>Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough
That is exactly what it says.

>>43237281
>Yes, there is a tautology there, but Ryukuza does have that specific conflict. She experiences the two halves at different times; she's not really concerned with being too hard - when she's hard, she just kills people. She's concerned by degrees of softness.

Well, I wouldn't say there is a difference between being too soft and not being hard enough, but that's just me.

>>43237364
>>43237104
In that case i add soft or more soft option
>[x] Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough....

Damn. I'm sure there is something I should add to my vote, but I don't know what

>>43237007
>[] You're right, but it doesn't feel right.
Facing the things you're afraid of is part of growing, but having a family should mean that having people you love beside you to help you face them at your own pace, not having them dying before you to force you into action.
Never mind that Ryukusa wishes she could take everything onto herself.
>[] Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough....
Because if only we were stronger, we'd be able to protect our family from such hardships.
Yeah, that'll work out well.
>[] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.
Which line, though? The line between encouraging her family to grow and help each other, and manipulating them for some nebulous 'greater good'? The line between letting her hate show so it doesn't eat away at her from the inside, and letting it consume her? The line where between fighting as Ryukusa and losing, and fighting as Horobi and winning? The line between USA and Mexico?

>>43237007

Adding:

>I'm afraid of losing control over my anger, and realize I did something I will regret.

>But I think I accept my anger a bit more, now...

to my vote here.>>43237281

>>43237678
>The line between USA and Mexico?
That is a dangerous line.

>>43237678

The line between justice and revenge. The line between an execution and a murder. The line between destroying what needs to be, and what you want to be.

The line between Orobi and Susanoo

It's probably one of the main reason why it's so hard for Ryukusa to accept her killing of the one who raped Kodachi.

In fact, it could be said that she's so worried of not doing the right thing because of her anger that she can't let herself go when anger IS the right thing

>>43237855
Or maybe it was caused by the killing of kodachi's brother in the first place.

File: Kiki.png (991 KB, 888x1185)

991 KB PNG

[XX] I'm afraid of stepping over a line, Kiki-hime.
[X] Sometimes I think I'm too soft, other times I think I'm not hard enough....
[x] You're right, but it doesn't feel right.
[+] These anger issues make me feel like an emo-girl.

“I am not used to dealing with anger, kasan. I've never had anything to be angry about, really. In school it was just normal things.” That earns you a dubious look from the ex-Head of the Student Council. “Bullying Stone dragonettes and oni-children and testing Water dragonette is normal for us. It isn't unusual, it's expected, and it's not a big deal. Even what Oba-san seemed to be trying to do before, that's not unusual, until I found out specifics. The things that happened to you, to Kiku, you Yui? That's not normal. That's evil. And....”

You don't know if your ready to discuss Kodachi. Not with everyone. That's....too much.

“I'm always afraid I will take it too far....kasan,” you murmur softly, the previous brilliance of your eyes subdued to a soft blue glow that paints only your loved ones now. Too far again. That's what you want to say, but not here, in this place; not in a temple. “Where does needing your help become asking too much of you?” While you're not meaning to ask her specifically, it does somewhat come out that way. “I may be learning to deal with my anger, but it's still hard walking between asking for your help, and seeing the pain you suffer because of it.” You look down, the glow of your eyes dimmed almost to nothing. The conflict is very real inside you, and you don't know what to do about it.

Of course, her laughing at you doesn't really make you feel better per se.

File: Inau-san.jpg (1.41 MB, 1200x853)

1.41 MB JPG

>>43238392
Her laughter is soft and warm, gentle, lacking cruelty. Still it is discomfiting to have inspired that laughter when you're trying to be serious. Your cheeks would heat up if you allowed it, but then Yuuhi leans over and licks your face. Naturally you blush, the distraction entirely too overwhelming. Kiku-chan is looking at you speculatively, while Inau-kun hides her smile and Yui-chan giggles at you. Kiki-hime slides her arms around your neck and you look down, embarrassed.

“When you ask too much, you'll know, Ryu-chan. You always know how much to give, and how much to take.” Kiki-hime brushes your dry cheek with the back of her fingers. “You chose us, just as we chose you. This is not one sided, none of it is. Much of it is convenient, perhaps even too coincidental, but it is what has happened, and we are making the best of it all, even if sometimes it frightens us.”

“Even though you're right, it doesn't feel right to me.” You frown, and mutter under your breath, “Sometimes I wonder if I am too soft, and sometimes I wonder if I'm not hard enough....” Inau and Kiki both look confused.

“Don't you mean you 'wonder if you're hard enough'?” Kiki-hime asks, while Kiku-chan continues to watch you.

It is Yui-niji-chan who answers. “No.” The two of them look at your oni-chick. “People like aniki are soft, or firm, or they kill you. It isn't a question of if they're hard enough. They're always hard enough.” Inau-kun shakes her head, clearly not understanding the issue. “If aniki wants something she asks for it. If she wants something really bad, she asks for it really nicely. If she needs something, she'll just take it.” You feel your cheeks heat up and it's an effort not to control the blush.

File: 2a89688db86c9eb39545d74d5(...).jpg (321 KB, 1466x2000)

321 KB JPG

This is your family, they can see how you feel. It's allowed. You just have to let yourself be that way for them.

Kami, it's hard.

“Like Yuuhi-san,” your priestess says calmly.

“Like Yuuhi-chan,” you agree softly.

“Huh?” Yuuhi jerks awake.

….crazy enlightened person. You have to remember: crazy enlightened person.

Kiki-hime giggles softly and smiles at you, clearly approving. Yui-niji-chan smiles. “I like her, are we gonna keep her?” Inau-kun blinks, and looks confused. Kiku-chan shakes her head and places her pointer and index fingers of one hand on either side of her lips., looking at Inau-kun, which doesn't seem to solve the problem.

“She means, are we gonna keep having sex,” states Yuuhi to Inau-kun, which is a level of bluntness that you've rarely seen the hyperactive nogitsune-born achieve. Kiki-hime giggles while Kiku-chan bops Yui-niji-chan on the head and immediately grabs her hand and swears up a small storm while Yui-chan looks at her like she's gone crazy for even trying it.

“This is ~so~ not how I planned on having this go,” you murmur as you try to stem the flow of blood to Inau's head.

Then you hear the first bells ring from the clock-tower of Miyamoto Pearl Island; it's 7:00 am, and the people who work outside the main building will be starting to work now.

[] See if there is an infirmary on the island that you can move Akari to.
[] Have everyone arrange themselves appropriately, and set up a small sick-area for Akari here.
[] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.
[] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
[] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.

>>43238436
>[] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
>[] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.
>[] Have everyone arrange themselves appropriately, and set up a small sick-area for Akari here.

>>43238436
>[x] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.
>[x] See if there is an infirmary on the island that you can move Akari to.

>>43238495
Sounds good, seconding

>>43238436
>[x] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
>[x] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.
>[x] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.

>>43238436
[] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.
[] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
[] Have everyone arrange themselves appropriately, and set up a small sick-area for Akari here.
[] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.
Best to be discreet about Akari, lest our enemies find us.

>places her pointer and index fingers of one hand on either side of her lips
I do not mean to pry, but you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?

>>43238436
>[X] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.
>[X] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.
>[X] See if there is an infirmary on the island that you can move Akari to.

It's not a good idea to have the shrine's visitors find an unconscious dragonette lying about.

>>43238436
>[] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
>[] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.

>Ask how much freedom we have on this island and what we can do with it.

>>43238436
>[] Have everyone arrange themselves appropriately, and set up a small sick-area for Akari here.
>[] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.

>>43238436
>group talk
>[x] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.
>[x] Have everyone arrange themselves appropriately, and set up a small sick-area for Akari here.
>[x] Tell them that you are lucky you have them, and hug them all.
>[x] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
>We have been pretty blessed to have found such a very accepting family to accept a Haram lead MC.

>>43238560

Perhaps, but not having Akari close is bad, too. At worse, if visitors come, we can hide her.

File: harem.jpg (97 KB, 533x471)

97 KB JPG

>>43238613

Our family is the best. I miss the ones who aren't here, though.

>>43238629
Ryukusa isn't even Haram, Islam doesn't outlaw seafood. So if we find a QT muslim girl she can eat her out no problemo.

>>43238646
Me too anon, but we must be strong.

>>43238436
>[] Kiss Kiki-hime and then Yuuhi....oh, heaven, kiss them all.
>[] Ask how much the management knows about what you'll be doing here.
>[] Have everyone arrange themselves appropriately, and set up a small sick-area for Akari here.

>>43234752
> Tokei Isusangi, Inau-kun
Where does the nickname come from? Doesn't seem to resemble her normal name much.

>>43238669
You're probably thinking of (non-)Halal. Haram is basically Islamic sins in general, including murder, premarital sex, and consuming non-Halal food and drink such as alcohol.

Of all the possible lead MCs from the list of characters we've had as MC (however temporarily), I'd say Ryukusa is pretty Haram.

>>43238613
It was karma, actually.

I really hate to think of what it would be like for our family without Ryukusa.

>>43238799
>It's based on her mother's name, literally 'huntress'.

>>43238799
>asking about nicknames
>Peta
>Her Most Imperial Highness Patanjali Piri Yokuhime Kuronogitsune Pa
At least Isusanagi has all the required letters; where does the 'e' come from?

That said:
>Inau or Inaw, Ainu: イナウ or イナゥ, is an Ainu term for a ritual wood shaving stick used in Ainu prayers to the spiritual world. They were used in most Ainu religious rituals, and were also frequently made to request assistance for hunting and childbirth.
It might have something to do with this.

>>43238808
It was a joke on Ryukusa's water-dragonnette nature. So since Islam doesn't consider seafood Haram she's in the clear.

>>43238848
>>43238859
Gotcha

>>43238830
Pretty shitty
>Kiku maybe never finding Er yin again.
>Akari never having a aniki.
>Yui suffering family aduse.
>Er Yin maybe never seeing Kiku again.
>Yuuhi left waiting for her god to return.
>Inau never finding out she likes girls? not the worst.

>>43238953
and
>Kiki of course is even worse.

>>43238953
>Kiki trapped in a loveless marriage to the son of the man who tortured her

>>43238953
Don't make me sad anon.

On the plus side, wakaba would be better off.

>>43239058
Odd i think she is better remembered in death then what she was like in life.

>>43238953

>Yui and Shoko waiting for the mikoto of Orobi

>>43238953

>Kodachi living with a kami-wielding rapist

>>43239271
I take it you mean
>Yuuhi and Shoko waiting for the mikoto of Orobi

>>43238953
I think you're forgetting
>due to pressure from Upper Management and the deteriorating situation, the Japan Renewal Project is handed over to Susano-oh
>acceptable civilian losses and property damage figures are revised upwards
>the Project is out back on schedule and moves ahead on an accelerated time table
>objections by foreign stakeholders are overruled

>>43239118

It's sad, but her death was her saving grace.

Wakaba wasn't a nice person, or a good person. She was considered to be a somewhat competent tool by everyone, and she was only pissed to not be considered the best tool.

But, in the end, she did what I, and maybe some others, can only admire. A pure, fundamental affirmation of her self.

>>43239328

I meant this, yeah.

Yui would probably have gotten herself killed, by finding someone else for her suicide-by-duel.

File: 2c9af5749d57d934667431663(...).jpg (339 KB, 1500x1060)

339 KB JPG

[X] Hugs, kisses, and professionalism. Right, you got this.

You turn and lean into Ki8ki-hime, and kiss her thoroughly and quite well. She's breathless and more than a bit giddy after you're done; she earned it. You turn and then kiss Yuuhi-chan who melts into you like you're her entire world, and for a moment you probably are. But you don't leave it at that.

You gesture to Yui-chan and she smiles brightly, moving to straddle your legs as you embrace and kiss her, her eyes closing. Her cheeks bloom deep brick red, your hands gripping her hard enough to hurt anyone who isn't her. You give her a soft second kiss, and murmur that Akari has okayed a date for just you and her later. Her tail lashes quite wildly, as she steps away, going to check Akari as you imperiously gesture Kiku-chan over.

Her approach is reluctant, her eyes lowered but you tilt her head up so that you can look into her golden eyes before you kiss her. Her kiss involved a firm grip on her branching horns, and a hand at the back of her neck that makes her whimper into the kiss, making her forget about those around her in favor of how she feels in her own skin at that moment. You owed her for the Yuuhi comment, and she is half dazed when you let go.

You catch Inau-kun's hand and she looks started as you pull her down, and quite suddenly kiss her. She looks rather shell shocked and you catch the attention of just about everyone else in your family too. It takes her a long moment to relax, and you have to lead her into the kiss a bit; she's clearly not used to the act of kissing at all. When you let go, you murmur softly, “For everything you've done for us all, especially Kiki-hime, many thanks.”

>>43239385

>Mermaid advertisement campaign is discarded
>Unchecked foreigner agents wreck destroy many cat and fox youkai

>Hybrid project go in full-force, with full access to Kiki, resulting in corruption of the natural order

File: 2d0335df34e7e890ba6b670e1(...).jpg (166 KB, 1305x800)

166 KB JPG

>>43239497
The others settle down a little but you draw them into a group hug, tail sufficing when arms cannot and you share in one another's strength and hope. Yui and Akari aren't involved, but you'll make up for it later you promise yourself. You're also careful not to put stress on your left hand. Partially healed isn't healed.

Finally you sit back and they quickly arrange themselves before you, your change in demeanor warning enough that it's time for work. “As lucky as I am to have such a family, it is time to deal with the problems, if any. How much do they know about what we're doing here?”

“Not very much, other than we're itinerant priestesses traveling to various shrines. Inau-kun and I are the priestesses, the others are out assistants and miko.” Kiku-chan seems fairly confident they've bought that. We have as long as a week, if we need it.” Her blood is cooling quickly, and she's more relaxed than she was a short while ago. You nod.

“Can you perform a few ceremonies for the kami here, and perhaps to Ryujin as well?” Inau-kun and Kiki-hime look startled, and Yui-niji-chan looks at you, eyes bright and interested.

“Yes, aniki. I can perform some rights. My sister has helped before, and Inau-kun could probably perform some Ainu rites with me as well.” Inau-kun blinks at Kiku-chan. “Yes, I am a Koshinto priestess. I was Ainu before I was Japanese. But that will give us lots of entertainment value and they won't look too deeply into what else me may be doing. They said they'd also provide breakfasts and suppers of us. Nothing expensive, but it will be plentiful and filling.”

File: 2e3a0e39d82dac17511701abb(...).jpg (107 KB, 650x540)

107 KB JPG

>>43239519
You nod. “Set up a sick area for Akari-niji-chan. I don't want her in the infirmary. Remember, three with Kiki-hime at all times, and one with Akari at all times.”

“What about you, aniki?” asks Yui-niji-chan, curious.

[] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....
[] I want to follow up on a few things.
[] I'm going to rest here with Akari. I'm still injured.
[] Give me a little while to consider.
[] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.

>>43239546
>[] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....

>>43239546
>[] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.

>>43239546
>[] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.

>>43239546
>[] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....

You know, the only thing I miss about the flashbacks is that they showed us how the members of Ryukusa's family inspired her to deal with different situations.

>>43239546
>[] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....
>[] I'm going to rest here with Akari. I'm still injured.
Conditionally,
>[] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.
if only I could remember what we have to talk with her about.

>>43238953
>>43238973
>>43238988
>>43239271
Do you all truly believe that each and every one of our family members is so weak that, without Ryukusa, they would all surely be defeated by their circumstances? Are they all truly not smart, or wise, or skilled, or strong enough to find their way, even without Ryukusa's aid?

Well, I guess Chisato might be. :^)

>>43239546
>[x] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....
>[x] I'm going to rest here with Akari. I'm still injured.

>>43239546
>[] Give me a little while to consider.
>[] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.

>>43239701
Sure they are, but while I'm sure Akari would do fine for example, Yui and Kiki especially were very much entrenched in their respective systems and seemed to have accepted their place seeing no real alternatives or escapes. They would no doubt be CAPABLE of escaping their fates I think, but whether they'd ever realize it or get the motivation to is not so clear.

>>43239546
>[x] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....
>[x] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.

Pearl prayers or Er Yin, what a dilemma

>>43239701
>Do you all truly believe that each and every one of our family members is so weak that, without Ryukusa, they would all surely be defeated by their circumstances? Are they all truly not smart, or wise, or skilled, or strong enough to find their way, even without Ryukusa's aid?

Yui was trying to get herself killed to escape the pain. Kiki was resigned to her horrible fate, with only a dream of a kind girl being there for her to keep her going. Kiku was only managing to go by thanks to sheer force of will, being forced to see her sister being tortured, unable to do anything, with her master trapped and being condamned to kill girls whose fault was not being good for Orobi, and would have kept losing her mind each day a little more. Aniki would have never escaped her clan's and Oba-shit's conditioning to make her a personality-free drone.

Ryukusa was the one who helped them, and each at the last moment. It doesn't make them weak, or dumb, or unskilled, or foolish, but sometime, one can't succeed without a little help from their friends.


But maybe and what-if are dangerous things. The certain thing is that they helped Ryukusa as much as she helped them.

>>43239546
>>[x] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....
>>[x] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.

>>43239701
>[x] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.
>[x] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....

>>43239546
>[] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....
>[] I want to follow up on a few things.
Is it kappa time?

>>43240045

Not yet. After we talked to Er Yin and reunited with everyone, probably.

>>43240045
We are going to have to talk to Er Yin before the kappa thing.

You know, there was an idea about talking to this old sorcerer dude and ask him about the kappa before encountering the youkai, back in the days.

Too bad stuff keeps getting in the way.

>>43240145
Haha, yeah it's not RQ if derails aren't getting derailed.

File: Ryuu Ryukusa.png (1.35 MB, 1500x1032)

1.35 MB PNG

[X] I'm going to rest here with Akari. I'm still injured.
[XX] I'm going to talk with Er Yin.
[XXX] Well, you're praying good pearl harvests and blessings from the sea....

“Well, for a while, I'm going to rest here with Akari, which will give the rest of you time to go eat and speak with the people here in Mikimoto. My hand is healing, but slowly. I don't want to make it any worse.” You consider a moment. “Then I'm going to have a talk with Er yin, somehow. Besides, there's one thing I can do that will make the effort we're going to worthwhile....”

That makes several people – including Kiku-chan – look at you in confusion. “Well, the best disguise is one that isn't a disguise. And since you're praying for the blessings of the sea and good pearl harvests, I can at least help with that once my hand is healed.” you also have to deliver warnings, and the mermaids can help you with that.

“Now, you go on and eat. I'll stay with Akari-niji-chan.” That meets with some dubious looks. “I mean it. We'll be fine, and we could both use the rest.”

There is a lot of reluctance, but you manage to convince them even Yui-niji-chan, that you'll be fine alone with Akari. You wait until they're all well away before you slowly walk over to your unconscious kohai. Kneeling you change her bandages one-handed-and-with-tail, not using your hand lending an air of familiarity to the procedure.

You stroke her forehead, feeling her slight fever as her body works to heal itself. “I like to think you'd be so proud of me, Akari,” you whisper, kissing your best friend softly on the lips, before allowing yourself to slip into a trance.

>To Be Continued....

>>43240185
Thanks for running XS!

>Ryukusa decides to give training to Yui, Inau and Kiki
>Shows up dressed as a sexy-but-strict-teacher

File: 5fd41c4287c1a46c37a54ec01(...).jpg (301 KB, 992x1404)

301 KB JPG

Thank you for reading and playing. Been a busy month, for which i apologize. Hopefully things will settle through first part of November.

Ryukuza is my NaNoWriMo substitute. Kami knows there's enough of it now.

>>43240185
Thanks for running!

>>43240265
It was a good thread, looking forward to getting some contact with Er Yin again.

>>43240265
Thanks for running.

I'll stay for a short while for questions.

I am thinking running Yui POV next week.

>>43240318
That could be fun. Especially after the situation with Kiki.

>>43240265
Thanks for running XS it is literally the only quest i have ever been able to keep following cause of your great quest master skills making the characters very entertaining to read.

>>43240212

>"Ryuu Kiki-san?"
>"Y-yes, Ryuu-sensei?"
>"I cannot tolerate such behavior in my class. I'm affraid you will have to join me in detention."

>>43240318
After the island, are we going into downtime or showtime?

>>43240265

Thanks for running!

>>43240318
Yui would be wonderful. Been wondering about how things look from her mind which seems to work very differently from the dragonettes.

>>43240430
>>43240437
Training montage time.

>>43240318

I have one question: can the humans see the mermaids for what they are, even when they're in the water?

>>43240318
>not running That Random Villager who Keeps Catching Glimpses of Weird Shit but No One Ever Believes Him POV

>>43240477
What kinda training?

>>43240512
The kind where you only keep clothes on because it makes it hotter.

>>43240483
Yes they can. Mermaids look very much the same in all worlds - they're not spirits.

>>43240500
So, Chisato pre-Peta?

>>43240588
That could be fun to see some time in the future unless she never thought twice about anything cause ryu is that good at stealth.

>>43240588
Detective-san and Soomi!

>hardboiled agent and his gothic lolita

>>43240588

I imagine Chisato's options choices to be kind of like Ryukusa's, but with four options only and a few options being more reckless/foolish, and based on less astute perceptions

>>43240624

Chisato as she is now sounds like a fun PoV

>>43240651
I bet Soomi is a slouch at home
A slouch in a nightgown and thighs, but still useless

File: Peta-chan.png (914 KB, 1000x1500)

914 KB PNG

>>43240663
This would be accurate.

>>43240746
Soomi is a very nice demonfoxgirl. She will help Detective-san in every way possible.
Goodnight, all.

>>43240968
Night!

>>43240968
G'night

>>43240968
See ya, XS