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>>48723882
Kiku-chan is exhausted, sleeping soundly now, and looking utterly relaxed once again. Er Yin doesn't look at you of course, but her tail slides across the floor to you and you twine the vanes of your own tail about the wickedly sharp metal bands of hers. You intended on discussing matters with her, trying to formulate some plan to help her heal, but instead you took care of that yourself. Which leaves you at something of a loss with what to do with yourself at the moment. You're not physically tired or even remotely sleepy, though you've used a small portion of your Shen in restoring your one-day-lover's body, and it's pretty obvious that she's got her hands full. Kiku-chan's relief at her master's restoration isn't just emotional; you're fairly certain there's a great deal of other stuff mixed into her feelings and needs there, and you're not entirely sure you want to wake her or separate her from Er Yin yet just because you happen to be up.

But you're having trouble just sitting now as well. The urge to be doing things is stronger than ever, and you have so much to do. Everyone except Er Yin is asleep, though Akari is on the edge of waking up. Not unusual for her when you're not in the room, you imagine.

[] Fetch tea for Er Yin and chat with her anyways.
[] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.
[] See what Wood Eyes can tell you about your seer and sorceress.
[] Take some time and pray and meditate, give them this time together.
[] ….you could use a cigarette. It's been years.

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Twitter: @XsQuestmistress

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/48517397/

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

Her name: Ryuu Yorihokura

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

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

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 that appears to be made of some alloy of titanium.

Seido no Shinpi-tekina Ken – a mysterious bronze sword given to Ryukusa by the mermaids of Japan.

Go Yūrei no Rensa, the Five-Ghost-Chain, used to summon or send messages to your (actual) older sister Ryuu Nabiki.

Her Penthouse in the Secret Apartments of Tsathoggua in Shikoku prefecture, Tokyo.

Ryukusa's Family.

>Talismans:
Akari – Centipede
Er Yin – Scorpion
Kiki – Toad
Kiku – Lizard
Yui – Snake

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Ryu Ryukusa is tall at 5' 8", but this becomes 6' in her true form. She is fully grown. Lesbian top.
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' 8" and will only grow due to circumstances beyond her control. Dyke, switch.
Kiki is 5' 6", and is at full growth. Bisexual bottom.
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.
Toshida Ginka is 5” 3”, and fully grown. Turtles have a reputation.
Ryuu Wakaba is a head shorter and also deceased.
Margaret Steinhausen is gratefully dead.
Ryuu Nabiki is 5' 3”, and fully transformed. Embarrassingly straight.
Ryuu Shinju is 4' 11” and fully grown. She is coy, maybe a dodomeki-child.

>>48723899
Alright, Ryuu-time! Hope you're doing fine, XS.
>[x] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.

>>48723899
I'm bad at this, what's the most recent promise we can deal with without incurring the wrath of the Jade Emperor?

Or well, not really wrath per say, because the dude has probably become the all-chill due to being about as old as the sun, but fatal disapproval?

>>48723945
Also I hope the week hasn't been unkind to you so far.

>>48723899
>[] Take some time and pray and meditate, give them this time together.
Noooooooo smoke!

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>>48723945
The promise to slaughter them both, leave the remains in Ryuu Himeyuri's house, and kill everyone in her lineage and ancestry to prevent any prayers from being said for her.

You made that promise as a demigod, and that means you MUST fulfill it. Not even the Jade Emperor can prevent you from doing so.

Great, a good thread like this pops up and I have to return to work in about 20 minutes.
>>48723899
>[x] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.
>[x] See what Wood Eyes can tell you about your seer and sorceress.

>>48723945
Well the way I see it, we probably aren't expected to be so gung-ho about doing his bidding even at night while our clan sleeps, so doing something on our own now should probably be okay! Probably.

>>48724006
>>48723899

oh right, that one. Well, might as well get it out of the way. Was there a recipe we had in mind?

[] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.

>>48723899
>[] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.
Hahaha this will be fun

>>48723899
>[] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.

>>48724006
So, what was our idea for fulfilling it to the letter, if not the spirit, of the promise again? I remember it was discussed at the time but it's been a while.

I forget, what reason does Himeyuri have to not have booby-trapped her house/set up an ambush there?

Not that I think anything she can muster can really stop us, much less slow us down, but she might be able to do something she'd regret.

>>48724245
Illusions, maybe. Or maybe a Clan Ryo combat team that does not realize that Ryukusa is coming for a visit.

>>48724050
>>48723899
actually wait, withdrawing that in favor of
>[] Take some time and pray and meditate, give them this time together.
Because I forgot that we have to make sure Himeyuri doesn't wake up and Ryukusa might be too high on power to be as stealthy as she can be.

>>48724245
I don't think Ryukusa would punish her for self-defense, so unless she can actually mount enough of a threat to force Ryukusa to fight seriously enough to risk hurting her, I don't think it'll be an issue.

>>48724291
There is a small problem
>I am going to slaughter them. Then I am going to take the pieces and arrange them in your living room while you sleep. If you wake up, which is extremely likely, I will slaughter you, take the pieces to your parents home, and place them there. In the event they waken as I am doing this, I will slaughter them, and place the parts in the houses of the next nearest relatives. I will continue this process until either no one wakes while I am there or until one month has passed, whichever happens first. It is important to remember that I do not have to be a quiet dragonette when moving through people's houses.”

While the dinner part is fine, we still are honor bound to kill Himeyuri if she wakes up, however, I'm not sure what the terms are if she's awake when we get to her place?

>>48724346
That's a fair point, or rather, two of them. I wonder, if she wakes up but doesn't notice Ryukusa is around, does Ryukusa still have to kill her? What if she just wakes up for reasons unrelated to Ryukusa?

>>48724368
On the other hand, to imply that she can't arrange pieces in someone's living room without waking someone up is really selling Ryukusa short.

>>48724288
>might be too high on power to be as stealthy as she can be.
....you really don't have to worry about that.

>>48724346
>>48724368
>>48724389
It doesn't say anything about us waking her up on purpose though.

>>48724397
oh good, paranoia withdrawn then. Sorry!

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[XXX] Kiss them both and slip out of the house to deal with a personal promise.
[XX] Take some time and pray and meditate, give them this time together.
[X] See what Wood Eyes can tell you about your seer and sorceress.

While smoking was a habit you picked up both as part of the delinquent image and simply as something to keep you relatively occupied as a schoolgirl, like all such habits it was one you could take or leave at will. The holdover isn't desire as much as it is a way to be doing something other than simply sitting, meditation or no.

Not that some prayers and meditation would be misplaced, though. You're an adult now, apparently, or at least you've become what you were meant to be all along. That deserves a little respect.

You do have one bit of nagging curiosity though. You've never really tried Wood Eyes, largely because it was difficult and draining when you could have tried, and you've never really had a use for them. You're not ignorant of how incredibly helpful they have been to Yui-niji-chan, as Kiki-hime has been guiding and helping her to grow. So you open them, with shocking ease, to study both Er Yin-sensei and Kiku-chan.

You're not quite sure what you expected. Rather than the matter-of-fact understanding Water Eyes gives you, the simplified and absolute intense truths revealed by Fire Eyes, or the complicated flow of power, Chi, Shen, Jing, and other rarefied energies that used to make no sense to you, you are given a much deeper, more intricate insight into Er Yin that Water Eyes allows. No, not deeper or more intricate....more fundamental. More personal, and in depth, perhaps. It's a subtle difference.

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>>48724455
Now you are aware of Er Yin's essential desire to be a good Master (and her awareness of that word is complex and intricate, easily broken down if you bother to concentrate upon it) to her Hougyoku-chan, her more complex and intricate desires and needs to assist you in avenging her previous incarnation and those of her lovers and family as well as assist you in this lifetime to become whom you are meant to be, and her more fundamental and basic desires to be a good nurse to your children and to protect the household as a whole.

Following any one desire leads you to the fundamental natures and basis of that desire, such that you can easily understand her motivations, her needs, and what she requires and can be given or lead to to assist her in achieving those goals. The inverse is easily accomplished as well: you could easily uncover ways to inhibit or even destroy those desires, fundamentally altering the way she acts, feels and believes.

Interestingly, she doesn't notice you using Wood Eyes, though you're pretty sure she's noticed you using Water eyes at least once before.

[] Go ahead and study Kiku-chan.
[] Oh, no, fuck that mind controlling bullshit. No way.
[] Relax, close Wood Eyes, and open Stone Eyes instead.
[] Follow up on some of Er Yin's desires (write in which one) out of curiosity.
[] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.

>>48724472
>[] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.
Sounds like an interesting test!

>>48724472
>[x] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.
>[x] Relax, close Wood Eyes, and open Stone Eyes instead.

>>48724472
>[] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.
Useful, but we might need training on how to
deal with them properly.

I vaguely feel like it might be a bad idea but
>[] Relax, close Wood Eyes, and open Stone Eyes instead.
I feel like since our elemental training is mostly maxed out, we should make sure we know all we can of our weakest two elements.

>>48724472
>[] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.
>[] Relax, close Wood Eyes, and open Stone Eyes instead.

>>48724472
>[x] Relax, close Wood Eyes, and open Stone Eyes instead.
>[x] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.
Yeah, sure. A little less prying.

Maybe Ryukusa is a little uncomfortable actively manipulating someone with wood eyes, but getting insight and then closing them again seems nore "fair".

>>48724528
>>48724472
Also while not that vehemently, I sort of feel
>[] Oh, no, fuck that mind controlling bullshit. No way.
Not because we distrust Kiki, but more awareness of how we could get carried away.

>>48724591
Yeah, I suppose Ryukusa might just be uncomfortable using Wood Eyes on her family in general, even if it can be completely harmless when used in moderation.

>>48724606
Also if you're clever enough at using them, the other Eye techniques can be pretty fucking invasive as well.

>>48724627
That's basically the point of them, yes

>>48724239

We just have to take some animals like chickens, kill them, and cook them.

>>48724591
Also we shouldn't really lack trust in our ability to use it when needed, just remember that Wood Eyes aren't a toy I guess? ...Eh now I'm thinking this was a mistake.

>>48724713
Even cook them?
Well, I suppose domestic Ryukusa needs practice too.

>>48724724
Cooking them makes it just a bit more fun than throwing carcasses around. But uh, I wouldn't say she needs practice, no.

>>48724741
Considering that she can make a multi-course gourmet meal for 10 in 5 minutes effortlessly I think she's fine.

>>48724741
You always need practice anon!

>>48724472
>You won't attempt to control your loved ones or anyone like this, especially not for something of your daily life.

>Apologize to your beloved for using your Wood Eyes without asking before. Everyone has their private things.

>Mention they were just as beautiful under Wood Eyes than as always

>>48724627

Ryukusa takes care to never be invasive with them. She can arguably fail, but that's it.

Even putting aside the mind control angle, relying on wood eyes acts as a crutch where regular empathy should be used. You go from feeling for a person to just pushing their buttons, and acting out according to desired results instead of one's own feelings.

Hi XS! How are you?

Time for best Quest with best QM!

>>48724793

Hoping this is not too late.

>>48724724

Ryukusa doesn't need practice in domestic things. She needs to perform Actions, though.

>>48724793
So tell her we tried Wood Eyes, and apologize for doing it? That seems like a good idea.

>>48724798

Wood Eyes is basically an enhanced version of this.

I wouldn't say that how Kiki has been using it with Yui is bad, for exemple. But like any power, it can be abused easily.

>>48724472

Adding to my vote here >>48724793

>Kiki-hime-chan is amazing, handling that power so wisely. Of course, there was never any doubt about it.

>>48724793
If we apologize for using wood eyes, that implies that our loved ones who do it naturally would have been in the wrong if they ever used it on us.

I still say we go to the Mill Pond Demon, after we've dealt with Enma-oh.

I mean, there is more than Er Yin's recent injuries that we wanted that power to cure.

Also, did Akari send that invitation ? It would be inexcusably rude to not go after inviting the Kappa to a meal.

>>48724872
hm, hadn't really considered that part. I feel like >>48724855
might mollify it a bit, but perhaps not. This is complicated.

>>48724884
Perhaps it could be worthwhile, but there is certainly no rush to it.

>>48724872

Not really, because we are fine with them using it, but we used it this time basically "just to test" for fun. It's like if we used Water Eyes just to test them and discovered someone's private thoughts.

>>48724884
Your point about the invitation is fair. So's the rest really, but as anon said, we've got a lot of stuff to do, so it'd probably go on the backburner.

>>48724911

Sure.

>>48724927

As I said, after we've dealt with Enma. Unless the invitation makes us do it soon anyway.

>>48724920
though wait if we're doing that, we probably shouldn't also test Stone Eyes.

>>48724920
I say we need not address it at all. We've not even brought up that we have all the eyes, as far as I know they have no idea about it.

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[XX] See how much of that knowledge you retain without the use of Wood Eyes by closing them.
[X] Relax, close Wood Eyes, and open Stone Eyes instead.

Perhaps it is your prejudice against – or simple awareness of – how utterly devastating the Barrier Techniques where you assault someone's mental integrity that makes you really not want to pursue this too deeply just yet. Still, it is insightful. Closing your Wood Eyes, you are caught by surprise by how very little retention you have of what was only seconds ago completely obvious. It is also notable that while Kiku-chan was in Er Yin's arms, you received absolutely no information about her through Wood Eyes at all. You're still aware of how much Er Yin wishes to help and how she adores and dedicates herself to Kiku-chan, but compared to what you understood so deeply while looking through Wood Eyes, it's nothing you didn't already know for yourself.

And it makes sense, really – Wood Eyes, unlike most of the other techniques, is an active technique, actually informing you and allowing you to manipulate others while they're active with supreme accuracy. And once they are closed, you have no retained information, and what you understood so obviously fades into non-importance, even for someone with your retentive memory. The influences you can create while using them are not anything permanent, only very well informed psychological techniques that might have a lasting impact more because of whom you use them on rather than your use of them.

Though you can certainly see what Kushinada-san meant when she didn't want Kiki-hime in charge of Japan. That would be a troubling thought, if you didn't know the power of Wood Eyes was so self-limiting.

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>>48724994
Stone Eyes, on the other hand, gives you something even more simple that Fire Eyes does. The few objects of stone and crystal in the room fade into translucence, including the glass and the backing of the mirror; but the real interesting thing is what you see when you look at Kiku and Er Yin. Kiku is a ancient, potent flame, supremely destructive even to itself; only that which contains it is spared from destruction and that would be Er Yin. Er Yin is an even older yet more flexible, vivacious force of incredible depth and knowledge. Her natures as Void and Metal intermingle, making her both wise and warlike in equal amounts.

Not 'truth' per se, but simply their basic nature.

You close Stone Eyes and rise easily, your tail slipping free of Er Yin's. Placing a hand on Er Yin's shoulder, you leans down, and kiss her softly, deeply, reveling in the intimacy of the kiss. You can't help but shudder as she allows you to break the kiss; you didn't even notice when she took control of it and was kissing you, rather than the other way around.

You are so looking forward to that date.

A gentle kiss for your delicate seeming priestess causes a soft, trilling warble to erupt from her throat, much to Er Yin's amusement. You stroke her hair and whisper softly to Er Yin, “I will be back before dawn, I think. If something happens, you will know, but you need not worry. I have a Promise to keep.”

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>>48725010
Er Yin-sensei starts to look worried, but when you explain why you are leaving, she nods and takes you at your word. “Hai, Ryukusa-sama. I will sleep soon, I think.” You trace her horn and slip away to one of the other bedrooms. There you say a litany of prayers, to those whom you have promised them and to those whom you feel need and deserve them, as well as some on behalf of your family and yourself. You then settle down to meditate for a while. You know it isn't going to be as long as you want, but it feel like forever.

And you have just the thing to meditate upon: what you're going to wear to Himeyuri's house.

[] Sleek and Chic: meeting of the classy ladies.
[] Not-Ninja Exotique: stylishly not a ninja.
[] Traditional Tomboy: this is Clan Ryuu vs Clan Ryo.
[] Casually Beautiful: you don't need attention, you just need to look good.

>>48725022
>[] Casually Beautiful: you don't need attention, you just need to look good.
Maybe we can blend in!
Yeah, I know, for Ryukusa that's a hopeless idea, at least without some kinda glamour or illusion going on.

>>48725022
>[] Not-Ninja Exotique: stylishly not a ninja.

>>48725022
>[] Traditional Tomboy: this is Clan Ryuu vs Clan Ryo.

I like tomboys

>>48725022
>[x] Traditional Tomboy: this is Clan Ryuu vs Clan Ryo.
A tomboy Ryukusa is fine too

>>48725022
[] Sleek and Chic: meeting of the classy ladies.
[] Not-Ninja Exotique: stylishly not a ninja.

>>48725022
>[] Traditional Tomboy: this is Clan Ryuu vs Clan Ryo.

>>48725022
>[] Sleek and Chic: meeting of the classy ladies.
>[] Not-Ninja Exotique: stylishly not a ninja

Not-Ninja Leader Ryukusa

>Let's add some Ainu influences.

I'd add some Chinese ones, too, but I think tonight we can use Ainu.

>>48725022
>[x] Traditional Tomboy: this is Clan Ryuu vs Clan Ryo.

>>48725022
>[] Sleek and Chic: meeting of the classy ladies.

>>48725211
Ainu isn't a bad idea. I'm wondering whether XS could craft an outfit combining all these traits though, anon!

Looks like everyone's here for the REAL decisions.

>>48725255
A stylish outfit? Quite possibly! An outfit with Ryukusa's lack of dress sense? A much greater challenge.

>>48725274
I will have my say in Dragonette Dress-up Simulator 2016, anon!

>>48725299

What do you mean, lack of dress sense? Ryukusa is incredibly elegant and fashionable.

>>48725329
This. Has he even read the quest?

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I declare that now is the time to post asian beauties

Do you think we could recruit Himeyuri? She'd be useful, though it'd be hard as hell to convince her to quit the Clan Ryo, even if we point out she technicaly betrayed Oba-shit, and that Oba-shit definitively betrayed her.

In any case, I think we should leave a letter for her.

Maybe we could leave her a caligraphy, too. Something nice.

>>48725425

Maybe "Forgiveness".

And maybe written in a way that both says we are forgiving her and apologizing for putting her in this harsh position.

I mean, she was acting as our enemy, and we didn't go overboard, but threatening her entire family was still big.

>>48725405
That's quite pretty indeed, anon!

>>48725425
I dunno about that. I mean, I don't dislike her and would like her on our side, but I also dunno about recruiting her now. After all, if we did, wouldn't she get a huge target on her from auntie, as a traitor and all? I mean, technically our family is full of traitors to auntie, but that's because they were closer to Ryukusa. Grabbing Himeyuri would be almost an insult to her.

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[x] Sleek and Chic: meeting of the classy ladies.
[x] Not-Ninja Exotique: stylishly not a ninja.
[X] Traditional Tomboy: this is Clan Ryuu vs Clan Ryo.
[+] Ainu influence. Well, what you've seen of it.

It's a fairly difficult choice, to be honest, because you have so many interesting statements to make. But really, this is you, head of Clan Ryuu, meeting with the Spymaster of Clan Ryo, and making good on some serious threats. But that doesn't mean you can't have some fun with it.

The one thing you definitely would like to try out is something showing off your hips. Both Inau-kun and Yuuhi-chan's outfits bared their hips some, and Inau-kun's was sort of mannish, a samurai sort of style to it. You rise slowly and lay out a set of hakama....and then consider the better of it, and lay out a set of nice silk hakama, black and elegant with silver trim along the waist and legs. You use talons to slice bits of it away, keeping in mind the rest of the outfit, and sew the edges, adding some embroidery to it.

Absently you note that Akari has woken up, and while Yui and Kiki-hime stirred both of them are quickly asleep.

The jacket is more gi than jacket, but you add a little embellishment to it as well: namely your personal mon as given by Clan Ryo upon the jacket in several places, along with a set on each shoulder. Scoop back blouse, not quite to the waist, long sleeves, a choker strap....hmmm. Oh, flare the sleeves and split them from the elbow down, except the wrists held on by cuffs. Bare forearms, to match your back and your hips. Flowing legs, wide and soft and shimmery, good. Silver buttons with cobalt blue glass on them and the collar. Flats, Chinese style with more silver and cobalt blue embroidery. Nice wide men's obi-style belts, two of them. No need for weapons just yet.

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>>48725805
You dress, adding a traditional fundoshi, but the amount of width for the pants makes it unlikely that anyone will catch anything more than bare skin at a glimpse. You glance at your back in the mirror before drawing the jacket up; the tattoos marking you as a warrior of Clan Ryo are dark and vivid along your pale skin. If the police see, it might make a difference, but you aren't planning on letting them see you. You toe the slippers into ~Nowhere~ for the moment, and then leave the bedroom in the same pristine state in which you entered it.

Er Yin-sensei has vacated the living room, Kiku-chan undoubtedly in tow, but Akari-niji-chan is waiting near the door, dressed and clearly intending to go with you. Her eyes open and she is rather taken aback by your look. You pull Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume and place her in your belt, while you toss Matagama-no-Shitoki over your head and she settles about your neck, while you take the sheathed blade Gendai-no-Muteki-no-Buki and balance her on your shoulder, while hanging Go-Yūrei-no-Rensa, the silvery Five Ghost Chain along your right hip from one of the two belts you are wearing.

[] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
[] As much as I'd like to have you with me, you can't join me this time.
[] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
[] I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is maybe.
[] This is personal business, niji-chan, but I'll consider it.

>>48725826
>[] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
>[] As much as I'd like to have you with me, you can't join me this time.
Sorry, niji-chan.

>>48725826
[] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
[] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
[] This is personal business, niji-chan, but I'll consider it.

>>48725826
>[] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
>[] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
>[] As much as I'd like to have you with me, you can't join me this time.

>This is not a question of security, but of a promise I have to keep.

>>48725826
>[x] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
>[x] As much as I'd like to have you with me, you can't join me this time.
I wish I had a better imagination (and grasp of Japanese clothing) so I could visualize what the outfit might look like, but I'm sure Ryukusa is pulling it off swimmingly.

>>48725826
>[] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
>[] I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is maybe.
We're not planning to actually fight anyone, are we?

Amazing outfit, as much as I can tell.

What tattoos does Ryukusa have?

>>48725826
>[] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
As for Akari, even though I feel like it's important we break into Himeyuri's place on our own, not sure why we can't talk with her along the way.

>>48725990

Not planning, no.

>>48725826
>[] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
>[] As much as I'd like to have you with me, you can't join me this time.

>>48726020
Ryukusa's plans are better than average plans, so I'm sure they'll go off without a hitch!

>>48726032

Nah, Ryukusa is smart enough to know things won't go as planned most of the time.

>>48726004
>They are a pair of 'mon' type markings along her shoulderblades, encircled and entwined with a pair of dragons and the kanji for wealth, prosperity, dragon, and loyalty along with the family name. Not quite yakuza style and they follow the same basic outline of most Clan Ryo markings, but they are unique to her as all are. Akari has similar ones, except her personal mon is different than Ryukuzas and her family mark is different.

>>48726140
>and the kanji for wealth, prosperity, dragon, and loyalty along with the family name
Sounds kind of tacky. I've never seen actual Japanese fashion use kanji in that fashion; do you have any examples?

>>48725826
[] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
[] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
[] I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is maybe.
[] This is personal business, niji-chan, but I'll consider it.
>[] Let her make her case to come with.

>>48726180
No, because it's entirely made up.

They're designed so that the entirety of the tattoo can be added to a charm or talisman so that the spiritualist of Clan Ryo can literally curse specific individuals or create wards against them.

This won't work on Ryukuza or Akari - theirs have been altered by the Sun.

>>48726402
>They're designed so that the entirety of the tattoo can be added to a charm or talisman so that the spiritualist of Clan Ryo can literally curse specific individuals or create wards against them.
Man, that's pretty nasty. I guess we shouldn't expect differently from auntie, huh.

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[XX] Ask her what she thinks before her eyes burst.
[X] As much as I'd like to have you with me, you can't join me this time.
[X] You think I'll impress Ryuu Himeyuri?
[+] This is kami stuff, a demigod's promise.
[+] ….but I'll always hear you out.

You smile and tug the jacket open so Matagama-no-Shitoki can slip under it to rest against the shimmering black satin blouse, cradled by your breasts. “You should probably blink a few times before your eyes become permanently damaged, Akari-niji-chan,” you comment mildly as you walk over to her. With a flick of your wrist you spill the nodachi into ~Nowhere~ to free up your hands.

She blinks several times but can't take her eyes off of you. “So....you think Ryuu Himeyuri will be suitably impressed by this?” That gets her attention, and she shakes her head. You reach down and cup her cheek, running your thumb along her lips gently. “You're drooling.” She watches as you bring your thumb back to her mouth and extend your tongue, sliding it along your extended thumb while looking into her carnelian eyes.

You swear to kami she just about had an orgasm.

“....you shouldn't go alone, aniki,” she murmurs, enunciating so carefully that you're absolutely positive she's working at not stuttering.

“I have to go alone. I made a Promise, as a demigod, to Ryuu Himeyuri. If everything goes well, there wouldn't be a problem with you being there, or anyone else....but if the worst happens, I don't want anyone but me there.”

“This is about the Twin Warlords, isn't it, aniki.” Unwholesomely on top of things, but that's why....wait, you don't pay anyone yet. You should probably do something about that. You nod slowly. “But that means I have to come, because chances are high she will have set a trap.”

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>>48726666

“Ah, but that's why you're going to pinpoint her current whereabouts and that of the Elites, in the next thirty minutes, niji-chan,” you tell her, having just decided that in the last few seconds. “And while I warm up the tea, you can try and argue your way into this mess of mine, so I can say 'no' again.” You lean in and sniff her hair, reveling in the scent of damp stone and strange spiciness that is Akari. “You DO like this outfit,” you comment as you turn and walk away.

Akari coughs softly and crawls over to the coffee table to set up her laptop. “Yes, aniki, I do,” she admits softly, and you can't help but smile. As she starts work, you reheat the green tea that has been steeping this entire time. You add a little water, draw off a little tea, and take out the tisanes to set them aside. “I imagine she'll need a direct line to Oba-san, so I'll start there.” The softened key-tapping of her personalized laptop won't wake anyone, you're fairly sure.

Setting her tea on a coaster near her, you settle on the floor next to her. She works very hard at ignoring you. “I made a very distinctive and plain promise as a threat to her and all her living relatives. If I want to, I can pretty much kill everyone in her lineage without repercussions.” That declaration makes Akari look at you. “Oh, I left myself several loopholes, easily exploited ones, but the point is at my discretion I can end her line.”

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>>48726679
“What about the Imperial Edict?” Your niji-chan starts typing again, somewhat more slowly at first. Then she picks up her tea and sips it slowly, her eyes wandering almost anywhere but on you.

“Not even the Jade Emperor, may he live Ten Thousand times Ten Thousand Years, is allowed to interfere with a promise like that. And don't ask me how I know. It's Kami Stuff, which is about all the answer we need.” She nods thoughtfully at that, though her expression doesn't actually change. “So, while I would like to have you with me, I'd just rather not expose you to a situation that potentially disastrous.”

She glances at her computer screen, taps a few buttons and then ignores it again. “A neutral third party might make it easier to bypass your promise, aniki,” she points out.

[] One, you're not neutral. Two, Kami Stuff will happen regardless.
[] Possible, but I'd rather not rely on an unknown potential.
[] Maybe – it also might drag you into it to make it occur regardless of what anyone wants.
[] Well, that depends on whether or not your presence forces any other issues.
[] Okay, so say I do let you come. You know Yui will know something happened....

>>48726700
>[x] One, you're not neutral. Two, Kami Stuff will happen regardless.
No finagling your way into this one, Akari!

>>48726700
>[] One, you're not neutral. Two, Kami Stuff will happen regardless.

>>48726700
>[x] Well, that depends on whether or not your presence forces any other issues.
>[x] Possible, but I'd rather not rely on an unknown potential.

>>48726700
>[] One, you're not neutral. Two, Kami Stuff will happen regardless.

>>48726700
>[] Possible, but I'd rather not rely on an unknown potential.
>[] One, you're not neutral. Two, Kami Stuff will happen regardless.

>>48726700
>[] Maybe – it also might drag you into it to make it occur regardless of what anyone wants.
I'm feeling kind of wary now, it doesn't feel like Akari to be so insistent on things like this, is there something we're missing?

>>48726700
>[] Akari, you're going to need to try harder than that. I made a promise, and I WILL see it through. Now, maybe, you might help me. Maybe, you might be around. But if you're not careful, you'll get dragged in and make this far more complex than it needs to be. So be careful how you help, if you want to.

>>48726879
Really? Akari is usually pretty insistent on guarding Ryukusa at all times. When she doesn't, Ryukusa usually has others around her to guard her.

>>48726879
Most likely she doesn't want to get blamed by Kiki for letting Ryukusa go on her own.

>>48726700
>[x] Maybe – it also might drag you into it to make it occur regardless of what anyone wants.

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[XX] One, you're not neutral. Two, Kami Stuff will happen regardless.
[+] Combining possibles, maybes, and some honest, down to earth basics.

“You're about as neutral as an electron, Akari.” That nets you a somewhat dubious glance. “Hey! I did pay attention in class! Anyways, you're not a neutral party, and it's Kami Stuff. If I have to live with it, and it looks like I really am going to be involving myself in it more and more as time goes on – I need to learn to live with it.” You sip your own tea and consider carefully. “I mean....look, it's not simple, I know. But the basis of Kami Stuff is that the Kami require certain actions when we call upon them or when they call upon us. If my promises are things that the gods will move heavens and hells and earth and yomi to achieve, then the possibility of you being caught up in it regardless of either of our wishes is strong.” You gesture mildly with your teacup. “It's not just an unknown variable, it's literally an unknowable variable, one that can work in either direction, or push things out of shape in a manner I can't imagine.”

“Aniki, if you aren't back before anyone else wakes up after not having warned anyone, that there will be at least four people out for your blood, and that's not including Kiki-hime, who will put a collar on you.” a few more keystrokes, then a blur of tapping keys and flickering displays, before the computer quiets down again save for the cooling system.

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>>48727150
“While that might be fun, I have the feeling that's not what you meant.” You sigh as you slowly gather your hair and tie an elaborate knot out of the length of it. “Well, I'm telling you, but I'm sure that won't really count, since it would just fall on your pretty little head. But honestly, I can't sleep, I can't sit still, I need to be doing something, anything. It was bad before, but this is even worse. I figure if I take care of this, it will be the end of it, and I'll be able to move on in other ways.”

Akari looks at you seriously. “You're going to try and recruit her aren't you.”

[] No, not really.
[] I'd like to but it will never happen.
[] More likely she'll do something stupid and force the issue.
[] This is one of those plans where planning isn't really an option, niji-chan!
[] It's better than just killing her.

>>48727165
>[] I'd like to but it will never happen.

>>48727165
>[] This is one of those plans where planning isn't really an option, niji-chan!
>[] More likely she'll do something stupid and force the issue.

>>48727165
>[] It's better than just killing her.
>[] More likely she'll do something stupid and force the issue.

>>48727165
>No, not really.
>I'd like to but it will never happen.

>>48727165
>[] It's better than just killing her.
>[] I'd like to but it will never happen.
>[] More likely she'll do something stupid and force the issue.

>>48727165
"I'd like to, but I'll settle for her living through this."

>>48727165
[] This is one of those plans where planning isn't really an option, niji-chan!
>[] If she wants to follow me, I wont say no. I'd rather not have to deal with any more complications, though.

>>48727165

>I don't know. She would be useful, and we could make so that it is a genuinely good change for her, but it is unlikely to happen.

>Still, I want to keep my options open, and ready for anything. Who knows where the flow goes?

>... A collar? Really? I wouldn't complain~?

>>48727165
>[x] This is one of those plans where planning isn't really an option, niji-chan!
>[x] It's better than just killing her.
Fuck it, we need a secretary anyway. I bet she could do the job.

>>48727261

Nice one.

>>48727165

Adding this >>48727261 to my vote here >>48727364

>>48727369

She's a spymaster, not a secretary.

>>48727555
Yeah, but I dunno how much we need a spymaster. Our family is pretty talented after all, and Ryukusa has a lot of connections that she can't exactly give over to a spymaster for dealing with. However, we DO need a secretary! And if you think about it, a spymaster is basically a secretary but sneakier.

>>48727555
We don't need a spymaster, because Akari is already our spymaster.

>>48727605

We dont' really need a secretary.

>>48727636

Eh, I don't think they work in the same domains.

In any case, Himeyuri has skills and knowledge that would be useful. But honestly, I'd settle with her living and never acting antagonisticly toward our family again.

Okay I just reread the quest. And I have to ask XS. Is Hinata-hakase a manticore? I'm probably wrong. But both Ryukusa and Oba chan don't think she's japanese and the only thing I can think of that has shark teeth a weird voice and claws is a manticore. Now I know there's the whole foreign spirit child can't get power in other country's. But as we have seen there are ways around that.

Uh, we should ask Akari if she already sent the letter for the Kappa.

We should also hug her tighly and kiss her and her belly, because Ryukusa loves her incredibly and she has been in danger of death or of losing their child less than ten hours before.

>>48727772
Bonus points awarded.

>>48727772
>>48727795
Nice job, anon!

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[X] Gah, Akari, what did I JUST say about complicating stuff like this?!

“Now see,” you complain mildly, gesturing with your teacup without spilling a drop, “this is exactly what I mean when I say that you could make things even more difficult just by being there-” You pause to let her make some changes to her program. “-whether or not you intend to. I mean, sure, I'd like to recruit her, it would be serious coup, especially if I could drag along some of her more useful flunkies, but honestly, I'd settle for her survival instead. Because Ona-san won't be interested in losing her chief intelligence gatherer to me; Himeyuri-san is probably the only person who can actually figure out what we'll be doing in the next month because almost none of it has to do with the clans of spirit children.”

Akari looks at you with aplomb. “I didn't hear a real answer in there, aniki.”

“Well, there isn't one, niji-chan. Making a plan outside of knowing what I absolutely must do is just asking for trouble. And aside from you and Kiku-chan, anyone who might come with me would NEED a plan to work from. Kiku-chan would follow my lead out of duty, but you would do what I need and want, rather than what you're supposed to do, which is a lot better than most. But ~I~ haven't got a clue as to what needs to happen here outside of the promise made. Most likely she'll force the issue by doing something stupid, but even THAT isn't a guaranteed outcome!”

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>>48727795
>>48727772

You are a smart anon

>>48727772
To be honest, one of the big reasons I haven't re-read the quest for clues is I'm worried I'd just end up getting impatient to get through it and reading too fast to really catch hints and tips anyway. My short-term memory is shot to fuck, sadly. Did you have certain things picked out you were looking for, or just good memory anon?

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>>48727807
Akari nods solemnly, and taps a few buttons before turning the screen to you. You look over it carefully, seeing where the most likely locations she is, her flunkies are, the best locations for traps, and the best baited traps that already exist might be. “If I were her, I would be here.” She points at a low income neighborhood with various Clan Ryo holdings nearby but not actually part of them. She has family relatively near there and there are bodyguards assigned from Ryo to them according to Akari's legend. “It has the only active cell phone under any alias she's ever used, and that one was her training name.”

“All right. So....you understand?”

She turns to you and casually pushes the table several feet away with a light shove. You catch her tea and the cup, and the tea in the cup and set it aside as she crawls on hands and knees towards you. Rather than stopping, however she continues crawling, forcing you to lean back in your seiza position as she reaches up and cups the back of your head with one hand. She pulls and you go, because you literally have no choice. She's halfway along your body when she lifts her other hand, pressing her breasts against yours as her other hand grips the back of your head.

She's a serious as an earthquake and as implacable as a tsunami.

“So, a collar, huh? You going to pick it out with her.” Despite your flippant comment, you're actually kind of nervous here. Akari isn't typically aggressive, and right now she's doing a real good job of scaring you.

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>>48727823
“Aniki, if you take a mortal injury, you don't come back to us now. Your regeneration can't save you if they take your head, your heart, or incinerate you.” Her soft, warm carnelian eyes belie the deadpan expression and the flat tone of her voice. “So if it comes down to that, promise me – Promise ME – that if it is too much....you will run.”

[] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!
[] You know I can't do that. I might have to leave one of you.
[] You know it won't work, my darling niji-chan, and I don't have to tell you why.
[] And what defines too much for me, niji-chan? I've fought demigods and the Warlords.
[] I rely on you to make sure that it will never be too much, if I do make that promise. Understand?

>>48727772
>>48727795

A manticore, really?


...Well, I would have never linked the two. There is several creatures with sharp teeth and weird voices, not to mention claws, that I could think of, and since the manticore is a relatively obscure Persian (or at least Middle-Eastern) monster, it never struck me as a possibility.

So good job, anon. I have no idea how you found it, but damn.

>>48727843
>[x] You know I can't do that. I might have to leave one of you.

>>48727843
>[X] You know I can't do that. I might have to leave one of you.

>>48727843
>[] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!

>>48727772
I'm still catching up and suspected that, since Manticores are the only monsters I found with three rows of teeth, but then it didn't seem to add up with all the other stuff Hinata can do.

I guess that's because a lot of what she can do is learned and not quite a part of her nature?

Also, are manticores assumed to be Greek or Persian monsters?

>>48727843
>[X] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!

>>48727843
>[x] And what defines too much for me, niji-chan? I've fought demigods and the Warlords.

>>48727843
>[] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!

>>48727843
>[] And what defines too much for me, niji-chan? I've fought demigods and the Warlords.
>[] You know it won't work, my darling niji-chan, and I don't have to tell you why.
I really wish we could! But the consequences might well be disastrous.

>>48727843
Okay now I'm really worried.
I'm tempted to try some Eye techniques because I'm getting the impression that there's something Akari knows but isn't allowed to say, and that something is REALLY important.

>>48727843
>[] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!
>[] And what defines too much for me, niji-chan? I've fought demigods and the Warlords.

>>48727969
Like I don't know, despite it being a demigod promise, I think anons felt like this was pretty much gonna be a prank at worst, due to the loopholes we gave ourselves but the sheer dissonance of Akari's response to this makes me think we're stumbling into something really bad. Like we're now at Zero Stuff so complications can arise.

>>48727843

[] You know it won't work, my darling niji-chan, and I don't have to tell you why.

what is this saying? That we can't defy the will of the Kami or whatever and it's just putting us both in trouble? Also I feel like we sort of have run from fights before, or at least we've allowed ourselves to be rescued from them.

>>48728016
That's true. But I dunno if bringing someone with us would be the solution. We certainly can't take a full party, as it were, on a stealth-mission.

>>48727843
[] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!
[] And what defines too much for me, niji-chan? I've fought demigods and the Warlords.
>[] You know that I trust your instincts, Akari. This was supposed to be a small thing, but I'll run over the situation again.
>[] Fire Eyes.

>>48727914
>>48727872
If he's like me, he googled
>monster with three sets of teeth
and it's the first result

But I don't know, I feel like that's only scratching the surface with Hinata.

>read about the different catastrophes regarding Ryukusa's elements

>fire is Mt. Fuji going up
>earth is a fuckhuge earthquake
>water is the tsunami
>forest is Aokigahara containment failure
Metal was Manowar touring Japan and setting the amps so loud (literally "Louder than Hell") Izanami sees her beauty sleep interrupted and goes to tell them to quiet that racket down, I presume.

>>48727795
Wow I was right. I actually wasn't expecting that.
>>48727822
>>48727872
My memory might have clued me in (can't remember, I suspect it did at gut feeling level), But I googled 'mythological animal with three rows of teeth', and it came up manticore. So I thought what the hell might as well ask. I was expecting it to be wrong.

>>48728091
Nah, apparently Void was going to be the madness and upheavel induced by revealing the supernatural to all of Japan, and our patron may well have been Amatsu-"Shinto equivalent of an Elder God"-Mikaboshi.

Could have been really fun, but if Tager Quest is any indication, probably too dark for a lot of us.

>>48728055
>what is this saying?

Remember, most of Ryukusa's choices are more 'how Ryukusa reacts' and they alter how she is percieved by her loved ones.

The difference between these choices is more a case of 'Ryukusa's attitude' and 'Akari's view of her aniki'.

Akari is perfectly aware of how Kami Stuff works - it's drilled into every spirit child from birth, by their very existence. A Promise made by a demigod is binding, and that is Kami Stuff. whether Ryukusa boops her nose, tells her what she already knows, reminds her of what she knows already, or is questioned about how she wants the promise to be worded is up to the players.

>>48727914

Manticores are Persian monsters with some Greek stories, according to what I've read.

>>48727843
"If it means leaving you, any of you, to die instead then I can't make that promise. And if it doesn't mean that, then what reason would I have NOT to run? It's not like I insisted on being left behind to finish my match with Kushinida back then, did I? What is it that has you so afraid?"

Damit missed most of it tonight.

>>48728216
What's making you busy, anon?

>>48727843

>[] You know it won't work, my darling niji-chan. I'm sorry.

>Hug her tightly.

>"I don't want to lose you. Any of you. I'll do whatever I can so that I won't. And I'll do what I can so that you don't lose me, either. If I have to flee and can, I will."

>Kiss her. Then kiss her belly. Then kiss her again.

>"But 'too much' is a pretty difficult concept. I'll do as much as I can."

>"And I'm a demigod. Without going into hybris, doing what others think is too much is part of my duties."

>"Beside, you saw me flee before, no? I know when there's a situation I have to avoid, like that time when we were attacked at the plage."


I know this might be a bit much, but it's how I feel about this issue.

Of course Ryukusa will flee if she has to. But being a Dangerously Clever Dragonette, she also know that she can't promise of not fighting against "too much".

>>48728241
He might be on the East Coast and have a 9-to-5 job like I do.

I actually got in a little trouble today.

>>48727843

Forgot to add to my vote here >>48728280

>You know me, and we share training and tactics. A Shinobi run, unless confronting the problem is a better option.

>>48728326

I mean, we basicaly spent all the quest running from our foes, unless running became worse than confronting the problem.

>>48728309
What kinda trouble? Someone saw you playing gay dragonnette quest?

>>48728340

We fled even the Anonimous, most of the time.

>>48728016
The issue is that since we are aware of the loophole, we're treating it like a prank.

The target is NOT aware of the loophole, so she's treating it as oh god oh god I'm gonna die screaming for momma and then momma's gonna die and dad and grandpa and uncle Festus and cousin It and everybody oh god.

>>48728366
Oh right, that.

>>48728366
But Ryukusa isn't treating it like a prank. She knows there is the possibility she might just have to kill a bunch of people. We didn't dress just to impress, we dressed to show her we mean real honest to god Clan vs Clan business here.

>>48728393
>But Ryukusa isn't treating it like a prank
That's correct. Anon is, though.

>>48728366
She is aware of the loophole actually. We told eye-chan to give her a message specifying that we would show up while she is awake and serve a dinner.

>>48728422
I don't think anon is treating it as a prank ANYMORE, I think they just were when it was initially presented as an option.

>>48728443
Wait, she doesn't need to be asleep when we arrange the pieces in her living room?

>>48728422

I never treated it like a prank.

>>48728445

Nope. Most people didn't even see the loophole, at first.

>>48728478
I meant more specifically in this thread. Like I was more just concerned with whether or not we'd accidentally wake her.

>>48728462

She needs to be asleep while we arrange the pieces in her living room.

>>48728509
We could just drop her blood pressure enough to knock her out.

>>48728509
So showing up when she's awake doesn't work, or at least it doesn't really mean we have to kill her since that only specifies if we wake her up, but it doesn't really fulfill the promise either.

>>48728508

It was pretty much said it is extremely unlikely that Ryukusa could accidentaly wake her.

Not to mention she'd need to wake up while we are "arranging the pieces", which would take us a split second.

>>48728529

Really, fullfilling the promise takes as long as it takes to put a dish made of two chickens somewhere in her living room.

>>48728546

I've just realized that using chicken might be see as an insult.

Let's cook her geeze, instead.

>>48728558
Let's make a full buffet spread :P

>>48728610

Nah, we still need to be quick.

>>48728624
You think that a buffet will take Ryukusa more than 30 seconds?

>>48728529
Well yeah that reassured me when I was initially having second thoughts, though now it feels like my apprehension was entirely justified going by Akari's response to this.

>>48728641

Akari doesn't know what our promise is, to be fair. Nor that we have a loophole.

Still, it is a situation we have to take entirely seriously, since it involves playing with someone's life and more.

>>48728637
No, but the promise must be followed in less than that. If Ryukusa wants to do more afterward, why not, but the promise needs to be done as quick as light.

Ryukusa knows better than to trivialise a potentialy lethal action.

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[XXX] Kamidamnit Akari, what did I JUST tell you about promises!!!
[XX] You know I can't do that. I might have to leave one of you.
[XX] And what defines too much for me, niji-chan? I've fought demigods and the Warlords.
[X] You know it won't work, my darling niji-chan, and I don't have to tell you why.
[+] This is me, telling you, that I know what you mean, and what you need from me. I trust your instincts and I will be careful and cautious. I am not willing to sacrifice anyone else because I might die.
[+] I know how to run, and I run really well. I also am who I am, and too much is as much as I have to be expected to handle.
[+] Akari is love.

Leaning back as you are, her hands gripping the back and underside of your head, her body laying along yours, you should be in the submissive position. She's definitely in the dominant position.

Except, well, this is you.

You wrap your legs around hers, ignoring the protest of your hips at the contortion that is required to get your legs out from under you, and catch her tail between your ankles. At the same time you let yourself fall back and slide your arms between hers, over, and under, gripping the back of her head with your hands, letting her feel your talons. You use your tail to flip yourself over and onto her, despite the beginnings of her struggle (a struggle she WILL win if you give her the slightest bit of leverage). You press your forehead to hers and gaze into her eyes, holding her fast and hard. She allows you to, though she could very easy break your hold with minimal effort.

Of course, she'll rip the heaven out of the back of her head and neck if she does and she knows it.

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>>48728763
“Akari-niji-chan, you know better than that.” She holds very still as you gaze into her eyes, dragon-sapphire into soft, warm carnelian that hides a soft, warm, beautiful heart behind stoicism and calm. Your whisper is soft, deliberate. “If I make that promise, someone I care about may die. You, Yui, Kiki, Kiku, Er Yin, onee-sama, Yuuhi, Shoko, Inau, Chisato, Peta....the list goes on. People you might not even think of as involved. But a promise like that....they could be involved. How much is too much for me?”

She flexes and you duck your head and let go of her legs and tail. She's already reaching for you, but you are in a handstand over her. She tries to sweep your arms away, but you're already half over the bridge and on your feet. You sweep her off her feet with your tail, and she goes down to one hand and her knees. You dart in, arm inside hers, hand at the back of her head again, talons touching her spinal column, thumb along her carotid as you mirror her stance. Both of your tails lash slowly as you stare into one another's eyes again. “I respect your instincts. I will go in with my Eyes open, and not just one pair. Many pairs. I will be aware and careful. But I will not sacrifice any of your lives for mine. I promised not to, as Ryuu Ryukusa, not as some demigod or some kami-damned immortal.” She's breathing heavily and you're not exactly perfectly calm either.

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>>48728777
She lifts her other hand off the ground and starts it moving towards you, but your hand is at her side, lifting, redirecting, and you have both hands against the back of her neck now, fingers interlaced but not locked, your other thumb at her jugular vein. She freezes, her breaths quick now. You're supporting each other on your knees, your arms twined about hers in a complex and threatening lock. “I will not fail you, my Akari. Not as a leader, not as a lover, not as a friend. I love you too much to throw away my life. We have places for each other in our lives, and I am not willing to risk it on a promise that someone else has power over.” Disrespectful to the kami, yeah, but fuck them, they're not Akari.

Wait, that's not true. But fuck it.

….um, yeah.

Sssoooo, you did that too. ANYWAYS.

You look into those dark eyes and she relaxes, slowly, and you pulls her to you, rolling onto the floor and spinning yourself until you are nestled in each others arms, on your sides, looking at one another. She lowers her head, and you can see the tears swimming in her eyes. Fear that no one else will ever get to see. Maybe Yui, in time. But now, only you. “I love you, aniki.” Sobs that barely interrupt her soft declaration.

“I love you too, my Akari.”

The kisses that follow are soft, slow, deep, and desperate. And entirely yours and hers.

>To Be Continued....

>>48728692
Actually we did tell her that
>“Oh, I left myself several loopholes, easily exploited ones, but the point is at my discretion I can end her line.”

But I don't know, it almost feels like Akari is expecting that all of clan Ryo will be at Himeyuri's place. Also while nothing can stop us from fulfilling the promise, it doesn't seem like we gave any kind of deadline unless we accidentally triggered one by our purely internal decision of "I'm bored, might as well get this out of the way."

>>48728789
Awwwww

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Thank you for reading and playing. I hope that you have enjoyed.

>>48728792
>it almost feels like Akari is expecting that all of clan Ryo will be at Himeyuri's place.
Got it in one.

Akari can be afraid for her loved ones too.

>>48728830
Thanks for running XS. Was great, as always.

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>>48728830
We have. Get some rest, XS.

>>48728830

I'm really sad that we made best girl worry and cry, but in general I guess this is something that we had to talk about right?

Thank you so much for running, I hope that regardless of how good or bad it's been already, your week is better in the second half.

>>48728789
>Disrespectful to the kami, yeah, but fuck them, they're not Akari.
>Wait, that's not true. But fuck it.
>….um, yeah.
>Sssoooo, you did that too. ANYWAYS.


>Meanwhile, in Heaven
>Amaterasu-okami: *vein bulging on her forehead with a forced smile* "Oh, really, Ryukusa-*chan*? Now you're getting that collar at the first occasion."

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>>48728844

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>>48728858

>>48728845

All our best girls worry and cry sometime. Even Ryukusa does, and she's their best girl.

>>48728830
Sorry to bother you, but I'm still (shamefully slowly) catching up to the quest, and I can't seem to find when Akari initially confronted (and beaned) Kurao Busou in defense of Yui. Did that happen in a thread, or was that just indirectly alluded to when we were passed out?

Also what's the deal with Tengu? You've mentioned them being ardent defenders of Shinto, but they seem to be really rare?

And finally, about how late are we in figuring out Hinata-Hakase's lineage?

>>48728830
Thanks for running, XS! It was fun.

Thanks for running!

Now I want Amaterasu to Ara Ara~ Ryukusa. As punishment. Yeah, let's go with that.

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>>48728845
Thank you.

>>48728856
So true.

>>48728882
It was alluded to in thread, but the actual incident is in Yui's Tale, at the bottom of the Pastebin list.

Tengu are in fact rare, as most have retreated. there are some Tengu-children, however, and many of them are in law enforcement, working as private investigators or bodyguards, or takign care of small, out of the way temples.

Tengu-children are instinctively drawn to strife, and if they are not careful, they will start causing it of their own accord, right or wrong.

As far as her lineage, not particularly late. There aren't that many clues. It may be of interest to you all that she hides from two of the Great Kami - she is never outdoors without a shawl over her head, day or night.

>>48728961
Ah, I guess figured that Hinata had some kind of supernatural aversion to sunlight, didn't notice that she also wore it at night.

>>48728961

Two Great Kami? Both the Sun and the Moon?

>So true.

Oh my~.

>Ryukusa being tied up by Inari as Ameterasu puts on a dominatrix outfit

>>48729235

>a dominatrix outfit she made Ryukusa design and create.

Actually wait a sec,is this the first time we're initiating offensive action against clan Ryo?

Like normally we're either delaying or defusing conflicts, or doing defense against what they send against us right?

>>48729433

More or less, yes.

>>48729510
Well then, this really IS a big deal.

This isn't just a midnight snack, it's a declaration of war.

Well actually I think we technically declared war a while ago but still.

>>48729596

Not really a declaration of war. It's a proactive exchange, rather than a reactive one.

I mean, as you said, before we were defending.