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Twitter: @XsQuestmistress

Previous Thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/889342/

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

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

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

>Ryukusa's Treasures

Her name: Ryuu Yorihokura

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

Matagama-no-Shitoki, a necklace kami in its 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; actually found to be the legendary blade Ame-no-Ohabari.

Go-Yurei-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 – Black Jade Centipede (Mukade)
Er Yin – Black Jade Scorpion (Sasori)
Kiki – Black Jade Toad (Hikigaeru)
Kiku – Black Jade Lizard (Tokage)
Yui – Black Jade Snake (Hebi)
Inau – Black Coral Ear Cuff (Amatsukami)

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Ryuu Ryukusa is tall at 5' 8"; 6' in her true form. She is fully grown. Lesbian top.
Matagama Kiku is 4' 1” for ever and ever. Lesbian submissive.
Ryuu Akari is 5' 3" and has another few inches to grow. Sexuality is weird, switch, cosplayer.
Ryuu Yui is 5' 8" and will only grow due to circumstances beyond her control. Dyke, switch.
Ryuu Kiki is 5' 6" and is at full growth. Bisexual bottom.
Er Yin Long is the tallest at 5' 10" and is fully grown. Lesbian dominant.
Ryuu Jinyuu is 5' 7" but persistently hovers an extra three inches. 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 utterly terrifying.
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 Sakumo is dead and spread far and wide.
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.
Ryuu Himeyuri is 5' 5” and is supposedly straight.
Ryuu Fuuta is 5' 6” and slightly less soft.
Kaga Kei is 5' 4” and fully grown. Might be experimental.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObNeNLf_jdg

>>915346
>[] See if you can step outside and locate anyone to assist you.
Hey XS. How are you doing?

>>915346
>[x] Have some tea, sit, relax, and see if you will heal any more.
>[X] Get up and explore deeper into the house

>>915355
Well enough, thank you.

>>915349
Songs related to our current situation? Being stuck in hell would be not ideal.

>>915346
>[x] Have some tea, sit, relax, and see if you will heal any more.
Alright, Ryukusa time!

>>915349
Wait Melinda isn't dead? That is news both disturbing and great.

>>915346
>[] Have some tea, sit, relax, and see if you will heal any more.

>>915387
I neglected to update it. I will fix that.

>>915346
>[] Murmur a prayer for the owner of the house and lie back down.

>>915346
>[] Have some tea, sit, relax, and see if you will heal any more.

>>915346

>[x] Have some tea, sit, relax, and see if you will heal any more.


No name for the stage? Worrying.

> except a fine scabbard made of teak and carved with various images of a warrior fighting many dragons. No sword, only the sheath.

>No. It isn't one warrior and many dragons.

>It is one kami fighting a single dragon with many heads.

So, we're in Amaterasu's house? I suppose Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi's scabbard could also be in Susanoo's house, but I doubt we could be comfortable in his domain.

>The old Chinese style ceramic headrest is in the shape of a white cat, two tails curled around the sleeping body of it. A blue ribbon serves as collar, and it has black dots above its eyes

So, a God-Eye Nekomata.

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[X] Have some tea, sit, relax, and see if you will heal any more.

You blink and look around again, but see nothing more than your first look revealed. Using any of the Eyes here might be a bad idea, and rude as well, so you simply pour yourself some tea and inhale deeply of the bitter, potent scent. You sip it slowly, and the warmth sooths the deeper aches of your body somewhat.

Rolling your shoulder only brings a faint ache, the ache of a recently dislocated joint having been put back in place. Which isn't quite what happened; your joints are made of sterner stuff than most since wrestling with Akari forced you to exercise them to an extent most others wouldn't have bothered with. Of course, her flexibility is a result of training with you, so it did work both ways.

The latter works much more nicely in your favor, at times, and you're pretty sure Yui-chan gets to appreciate that aspect often.

You part the simple red sleeping robe of satin, and trace the marks on your belly. They're fading, slowly, but definitely fading. Apparently demonic injuries are harder for your body to heal than others. Your left arm is fine externally, though you do have a lot of fine white lines along your legs and right arm. These too are fading, but even more slowly than the ones Hui Daji inflicted. Directing your senses inward, you can tell you've lost a significant amount of blood, and that your peculiar regeneration is not replacing it very quickly.

Drinking the potent, bitter, yet very soothing tea, you pour yourself another cup. The evidence you have indicates you could be in the domain of one particular Sun Kami, but there isn't much reason that you can think f for that being the case. You might be in some kind of Hell, of course; that's a possibility. You suspect you are sleeping though, and the red robe is kind of suspicious, but it isn't a standard prisoner robe of the old times either. The Cranes are not a bad sign either, if they're not just animals, or even if they are.

A shadow moves across the deck outside the paper wall; amorphous in a strange way, though you get the impression of tails and height. She kneels at the doorway to the porch, and sets something on the ground before her, manipulating it. A box, small and long, and something else, being placed in the box. You can't catch any scents from outside.

[] Get up and make your way to the doorway to meet them face to face.
[] Wait patiently; see what happens.
[] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.
[] Slip quietly into the house proper.
[] Take Ame-no-Omukade-no-Musume out of Nowhere and keep her close.

>>915468
>[] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.

>>915468
>[] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.

>>915468
>[] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.

>>915468
>[] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.

>>915468
>[x] Inform them you are awake and they may enter

I suppose it's possible that this is our aura where the cat spirits are living.

>>915468

>[] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.

>though you get the impression of tails and height.

It's the fox who gave us the ruyi, I bet.

>>915487

The seath wouldn't be there, if it was the case.

Not that I think Ryukusa would object to being the "seath" for Amaterasu-okami's "sword", if you get what I mean

>>915494
Might just be a residual impression from when we interacted with the sword.

>>915468
>[x] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.
Yeah, sure.

>>915503

I doubt it. If anything, it'd be linked to the stuff we were told about prophecies, both the actual stuff from our cute Oracle and the horseshit the Kaga footsoldiers have been fed.

>>915468
>[] Get up and make your way to the doorway to meet them face to face.

>>915514
you ruined it man.

>>915516
I just don't want to confoooorm!

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[X] Inform them you are awake and they may enter.

Studying the movements of the person is difficult, but you do see smoke rising from the small box – incense most likely. Reassuring as long as it isn't some kind of spell. “I'm awake, you know. You may come in if you like.”

The figure turns to look at the paper of the wall, and then seems to bow over the box of incense, before she rises and slides the door open.

The brightness makes you blink, and your eyes tear up; you adjust quickly, thank kami, and look out into a beautiful walled garden. There is a bridged stream, and many old trees, and flowers, so many flowers. The sky burns a bright, deep blue rivals only by Kiki-hime's eyes, and there are no clouds. The fact that it reminds you of the Clan Ryo compound isn't coincidental; it is far more beautiful, more real than that place was even when you are awake.

It is, as you suspected, the elegant Kyubi-san, though she is masked. She picks up the mahogany and ivory incense box, and rises to walk in, leaving the door open behind her. Moving in a slow, dignified pace she walks around the foot of your bed to place the box on the stand next to you. Only then does she remove her mask, which grants you a little relief as it appears to be her. She walks back around the foot of your bed (further reassuring, as being walked around would make you nervous) and settles onto a tatami mat that was not there before.

As the sandalwood incense starts to fill the air, she speaks softly. “Greetings, Ryuu Ryukusa. Do you require anything?” She keeps her eyes lowered respectfully. It is a little unnerving.

[] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
[] An explanation would be helpful.
[] Would the owner of this house be the owner of the sword that goes in that sheath?
[] ….what exactly is going on, Kyubi-sama?!
[] Offer her some tea instead and ask her if she needs anything.

>>915586
>[] An explanation would be helpful

>>915586
>[] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
>[] An explanation would be helpful.
>[] Would the owner of this house be the owner of the sword that goes in that sheath?

>>915586
>[] An explanation would be helpful.

>>915586
>[] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
>[] An explanation would be helpful.
>[] Would the owner of this house be the owner of the sword that goes in that sheath?

>>915586
[] Offer her some tea instead and ask her if she needs anything.
[] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
[] An explanation would be helpful.
Always be polite to our hosts.

>>915586
>[] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
>[] An explanation would be helpful.

>>915586
>[] An explanation would be helpful.
>[] Offer her some tea instead and ask her if she needs anything.

>>915586
>[] Offer her some tea instead and ask her if she needs anything

>>915586
Wow, Ms. Kyubi sure looks cool.
>[x] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
>[x] Would the owner of this house be the owner of the sword that goes in that sheath?

>>915586

>Politely greet her and thanks her for the hospitality the owner of this house has granted you. Treat her with the respect she deserves.

>[] ….what exactly is going on, Kyubi-sama?!
>[] Offer her some tea instead and ask her if she needs anything.

>"Is this place the House of the Rising Sun? I've been warned it's been the ruin of many a poor -wait, it's a song."

What if Amaterasu has gotten thirsty after seeing us beat up the two demons with Kami power and this is a booty call?

>>915636
Sadly, you're far more optimistic than me anon. Even if Ryukusa certainly was impressive enough. Then again, probably more scary than anything else by the end.

>>915636

>Miss Kyubi: "Actually, I've accomplished a mission in an extremely pleasing fashion, and Amaterasu-okami-sama told me I could seduce you as a reward."
>Ryukusa: "Oh? And how is it going?"
>Miss Kyubi *suddenly very close and wearing a very provocative outfit*: "I'll let you be the judge of this, ara ara~"

I suppose the Chinese influences are because of the Ainu myth that says Horobi comes from China.

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[XXX] An explanation would be helpful.
[XX] Strong alcohol, a lot of it.
[X] Offer her some tea instead and ask her if she needs anything.
[X] Would the owner of this house be the owner of the sword that goes in that sheath?
[+] Polite and proper greetings to Inari's faithful.

“Kyubi-sama; it is an honor and a pleasure to see you once again. Inari is safe by the gift yuou have given me.” She smiles faintly, only fleetingly, but she inclines her head and closes her eyes. There is still a strange stiffness, a level of formality she didn't have before.

“You might tell me if the owner of the Grass-Cutting Blade also owns this house. I presume that is the sheath for the blade on the wall.” Kyubi-sama glances at it then back to you. “And an explanation, perhaps, might also be nice. Though I wouldn't object to a lot of very strong alcohol. Strictly for medicinal purposes, mind you.” You pour her some tea, in three distinct pours, and offer her the cup and the saucer. She accepts it without a word and simply looks at you with her golden eyes.

“However, first of all....allow me to ask if there is anything I may do for you.” That only prompts her to lift the tea and sip slowly, her eyes never leaving yours. “You did my family a great service, and I am grateful. I would perhaps be in your debt, but I don't think you'll see it that way.

“You would be correct,” she replies politely. “This....dream....is a....gift....from the owner of this house to you, and they will be along in due time.” This time when she sips the tea she lowers her eyes and then places the cup back on the saucer. When she lifts her eyes to yours, her expression is even more unreadable. “There are certain things I may not say and others which I must say when asked certain questions. The owner of this house is very careful about such things, and you would be wise to pay attention to what they say to you, and what they do not say to you.”

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>>915650
You slowly sip your own tea and glance at the doorway. Still the same, and the soft clonk of the bamboo water feature echoes strangely. You close your eyes and listen more carefully to the crane's songs, and frown, not liking their echoes at all. “I take it I will not be getting that alcohol, then.”

“Not from me. Perhaps from the owner of this house.” She looks away as she says it and sets the cup and saucer to the side. She gently takes your left hand and studies the sapphire talons and the pale length of your arm, her fingers gliding along your meridians and your arteries by turns. “Your arm always serves you well, no matter what body is yours. It is good that it has done so, but unfortunate in the manner in which it has done so.” She traces the meridians along your elbow and the ache fades to a more dull throb that is only uncomfortable. “It may yet serve you well here also.”

[] It's about the fan – some divine mandate or situation, right?
[] So Amaterasu-Omikami doesn't own this house....will you tell me who does?
[] I'm in a Hell, aren't I; Enma-Oh is giving me this dream.
[] Be honest, Kyubi-sama, how fucked am I on a scale of 1-100?
[] See if you can access the ruyi here, but don't take it out – yet.

>>915657
[] See if you can access the ruyi here, but don't take it out – yet.
[] It's about the fan – some divine mandate or situation, right?
>[] May I ask about the duration of this dream?

>>915657
>[x] It's about the fan – some divine mandate or situation, right?
Fuckety fuck fuck

>>915657
>[] It's about the fan – some divine mandate or situation, right?
>[] Be honest, Kyubi-sama, how fucked am I on a scale of 1-100?

>>915657

>Why you are here, Kyubi-sama? I do enjoy your company, but I am sure your duties do not include taking care of a silly, wounded lizard.

>So, you did know Horobi. Or the previous incarnations of his mikoto.

Because, "your arm always serves you well, no matter what body is yours". She's met "us" in other bodies.

>>915657
>[] Be honest, Kyubi-sama, how fucked am I on a scale of 1-100?
>[] See if you can access the ruyi here, but don't take it out – yet.

>>915657

>4/5 are questions

>There are certain things I may not say and others which I must say when asked certain questions.


>You did my family a great service, and I am grateful. I would perhaps be in your debt, but I don't think you'll see it that way.

>“You would be correct,” she replies politely

Guys, we can get around the "must answer certain things when asked certain questions by making affirmations or guesses, without formulating them as questions, and then letting her tell us if we're correct or not.

>>915675

*certain questions"

>>915675
Ryukusa is quite clever, but Kyubi might be as well. It just depends how she views her duty. It Can't hurt to try, though.

>>915650
Adding to >>915659
>[] See if a few well-placed hints or guesses might give us a bit more definite idea of what she cannot say.

>>915657
XS, has Enma-Oh been sending his Demons to Japan on the word of one of the followers of Buddism to get around the treaty? Also, is he trying to get around it to fuck with us, thus trying to target those of our group who aren't exactly part of Japanese faith or part of our direct group? I get the feeling that he is just as intelligent as the Jade Emperor.

>>915729
Oh, and one other thing. Is he trying to incite us via to attack him, this invoking self-defense clauses and possible blame us in trying to break the peace-treaty?

I'm asking these more in the vein of 'Would Ryukusa consider these as reasonable things that he would do based on the actions she has seen and what she suspects'.

>>915729
>Ryukuza doesn't know the answers to those questions....yet. Her guesses are

>Most likely, but more than one follower, since Buddhism is strong in Japan.
>Not specifically, though he has been invited to deal with you directly so you and they are fair game.
>She suspects he's just as intelligent, but not as omniscient, and more likely to interfere since that is his specific job - to war against the Celestial Heavens.

>>915734
>Ryukusa isn't sure that is how it would work, since she is Kami and he is a God of Buddhism in this case. She's been given clear leave to fuck his shit up personally.

>>915729
>>915734

Enma-Oh has no possible way to get us to break the "peace treaty" (assuming you're talking of the accords about Buddhism in Japan), especially not by invoking self-desense.

As for targetting people who are not directly in our group, we know he did.

Which makes me think we should check on Umetsume, and our relationship with her, pretty soon.

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[XX] It's about the fan – some divine mandate or situation, right?
[X] Be honest, Kyubi-sama, how fucked am I on a scale of 1-100?
[X] See if you can access the ruyi here, but don't take it out – yet.
[+] So you knew the previous incarnations of Horobi too....why are you here, Kyubi-sama? You serve Inari, not Horobi....
[+] How long is this dream going to last?

You look down at your tea. Your sister could tell your fortune by looking at the remnants of the tea, if you wished her to. That peculiar power is not in your repertoire, unfortunately. There are others you have that can serve you just as well, or perhaps better here. “This....'dream'. Might I ask how long it will last?”

“As long as is deemed necessary,” she replies immediately, her eyes locked onto your face, since she can't look you in the eyes directly.

Well, that means she is able to interpret the question by intent or spirit, as long as it isn't one she's instructed to answer in specific ways. Though that makes things even more dicey; she could have been instructed to answer with lies. “So on a scale of one to one-hundred, how fucked am I, Kyubi-sama?” you ask with a sigh, pouring yourself and her more tea.

A faint smile crosses her lips. “Presuming you do not mean by your wives, I would estimate it to be about eighty, a number similar to the rank of those outside the compound, which is twice that of the one who injured your arm.”

The fur stands up along your tail. You carefully place your hand in Nowhere and feel for the ruyi....the sense of thickness and stickiness is much, much stronger, and Nowhere resists your efforts to sift through it....but the ruyi comes to your hand despite that, almost as if someone pushes it through the thick, heavy sludge that Nowhere seems to be in this place. You even get the impression of soft, delicate fingers and the brush of a ring of fine jade.

[] take the ruyi out and hide it upon your person.
[] leave the ruyi there and hope you will be able to reach it next time
[] write the kanji for 'help' on that slightly imaginary hand
[] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand
[] take the ruyi out and boldly set it on the stand next to you

>Reminder from the QM – previous choices will be answered in upcoming posts, they are not getting ignored (unless mitigating circumstances are present, which is not the current case).

>>915738

>She suspects he's just as intelligent, but not as omniscient,

Well, doesn't Enma-Oh require his magic mirror to judge the souls, while the Jade Emperor, may he live a thousand times a thousand years, has inherent knowledge of everything under his juridiction?

>>915746
>[] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand
>[] take the ruyi out and hide it upon your person.

>>915746
>[x] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand
>[x] take the ruyi out and boldly set it on the stand next to you

>>915746

>[] leave the ruyi there and hope you will be able to reach it next time

>write the kanji for "thanks" and "affection" on that helpful hand

Taking the ruyi out right now is a bad idea, and hiding it on us is suicide. We don't know what it can do to Japan to be in contact with it for that long while our mind is in this "dream"

>>915746
>[] take the ruyi out and hide it upon your person.
>[] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand

>>915756
>>915760

Seriously, guys, the ruyi is not something we should even be touching in circumstences like this.

>>915764
>>915768
I tend to not be too great at reading into these kind of things. What is the problem with taking it and hiding it?

>>915746
>[] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand

>>915767

We had troubles controlling its power when just touching it with our hand.

Doing it with more of our body is a terrible idea.

Not to mention that this level of power won't be possible to conceal once it's out of Nowhere


Also, hiding the symbol of your task like this? Pretty sure it'd be considered an insult.

>>915769

First, we risk to wreck Japan by holding it.

Second, it might be an insult to the Chinese Heavens, given our duty.

Third, this might be a trap to make us get the ruyi out.

>>915774

Bad idea.

>>915786

Also, fourth: the owner of the house might not be malevolent, so getting the ruyi out (assuming they even are concerned by its mandate) would be considered an aggression.

Agression toward someone who's providing hospitality is very, very bad mojo.

>>915756
>>915760
>>915767
>>915774

So really, we don't know enough about the situation to know if getting the ruyi out now is a good idea.

Beside, even if we got the ruyi out, there is no way we can do another battle so soon after the last.

>>915794
I dunno, your arguments aren't too bad but on a meta level I REALLY think there would have been at least one option that was clearly 'don't use Ruyi' if it was gonna be a trap. Even the one that leaves it in Nowhere is very specifically referring to taking it out later.

>>915794

And to the argument "but Ryukusa is Clever so we wouldn't get options she doesn't think are good." : yes, she's Clever. But that doesn't mean that her decisions aren't informed by what she knows, and she doesn't knows much about the game that's playing, right now.

Remember how the mirror curse lead her to nearly attack her loved ones, and the caster wasn't a known dragonslayer like the two demons we just faced.

>>915746
>[] leave the ruyi there and hope you will be able to reach it next time
>[] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand

>>915806

Getting a powerful symbol of authority in this situation is very tempting, don't you think?

Especially given that if things get ugly, it might be her only chance to get out of it, if what the fox said is true about the power of the guards.

But, that's the thing: always be careful when things are tempting.

Ryukusa chose the Red Robes, after all. Endure the bad for survival.

>>915764
I vote for this.

>>915786
>>915790
>>915794
>You will NOT wreck Japan by holding it. the purpose of it being in your possession is specifically to avoid that possibility.

>The purpose of it in your possession is to give access to Horobi's full power without threatening Japan or calling on your Mikoto. It is to be used specifically to fight the Emperor of Hell and his minions in Japan.

>This is a fact known by Ryukusa.

>>915881

Then why did Ryukusa react like she did when she hold it up, in her room?

>>915893

*held it up

>>915893
Because it's still incredibly powerful and potent beyond measure.

It's like a priest being handed Christ's Crown of Thorns. Here is definitive proof your deity not only existed, but died for your and everyone's sins, infused with the power of his blood, suffering, pain, and humility, the mark of his very presence on earth, in you, vested with the power of god himself, for the sake of all humanity.

It's a little overwhelming.

>>915746
[] take the ruyi out and hide it upon your person.
[] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand

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[X] write the kanji for 'danger' on that strange ghostly hand
[X] leave the ruyi there and hope you will be able to reach it next time
[+] Add the kanji for 'affection' and 'appreciation'.

You feel the ruyi in your hand but let go, instead favoring the hand that seemed to pass it to you with quickly scripted kanji: danger, affection, and appreciation. You don't recognize the hand per se; you're pretty sure would know if it was any of your loved ones, but it has a strange familiarity nonetheless. It's definitely not Amaterasu-Omikami's hand either – that one you would instantly recognize!

The hand turns, grasps yours, and holds it within Nowhere for a few seconds more, and then the other hand presses something into your palm, a small disc. You feel the fraint brush of another jade ring on the other hand as well, also on the ring finger. Then the paired hands are gone, and you pull your hand from Nowhere. You open your hand and look at the gold-rimmed coin made of black jade, delicate, old, very very old, and heavy in a way that has nothing to do with its weight. You close your hand over it and make it vanish upon your person, keeping it safe and hidden.

You sip your tea, your eyes locked with the wide, startled eyes of the elegant nine-tailed kitsune. “So....how long am I to remain in this dream, do you think?”

“At least as long as is necessary to make up for your infraction, I believe,” she murmurs. “So, that mostly depends on the owner of this house.” Sipping her tea, she focuses on your eyes, her pupils becoming a little less shock-wide.

You consider carefully and try for a question that has nothing to do with this place or your condition. “Considering you serve Inari and not Horobi, what exactly are you doing here? It isn't as though you have anything to do with me directly, only indirectly.” That prompts a slight smile, and her tails wave back and forth slowly.

“I am here to provide you with a reason not to immediately rampage across the compound, Ryukusa-sama, as well as incense and tea.” She glances at the incense box, which is about halfway burned through as the smoke is coming from the middle of the box. “It would be unfortunate for you to cause such trouble without understanding why and what and the need for it.” She looks down and sighs softly. “You are still injured, though your strength returns quickly. You could cause much damage given free reign here.”

“Much damage to what?”

“Everything,” she says simply, with a mild shrug.

….you're not quite sure how to take that.

“You have known me....no, known Horobi in other incarnations.”

“That is correct, yes.” Her expression has become curious now.

“So you must have known all of my loved ones in their other incarnations too.” She nods with a wistful smile. “Does this always happen to them?” You lift your left arm.

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>>915955
“No. Many, yes. You....Horobi is in the habit of making unusual sacrifices for strange reasons.” She sips her tea and looks you in the eyes. “Sometimes a sacrifice is necessary, but in some situations you need to pay a price to ensure the survival and escape of the people who must do so.” Well, you don't get much clearer than that. “On the other hand a show of power is sometimes all you need to ensure that things go properly.”

….you hope that isn't the case here. If the demons outside are twice as powerful as Hui Daji and Fyusumi, then you could be in some serious trouble.

“This is about Hui Daji's fan, I think. Divine weapon against divine weapon. I don't think anyone expected that to happen.”

She sips her tea, but her eyes never leave yours. When she sets it down she turns the cup upside down and glances at the incense, which is three quarters burned through. “If there were two people who did, it would be the owner of this place, or the owner of the box that your scepter arrived in.” Your heart sinks. If there was ever a definitive answer, that was it. You are in the Yama Hells, and Enma-Oh is the person in charge. You glance at the sheath and frown. “So why is that there?”

“You would have to ask the owner why he wants the weapon that should reside in that case,” she replies calmly. Her eyes flick back to the incense.

[] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
[] The kami Ame-no-Ohabari said she makes things....could she make a way out?
[] Ask about Inari some more.
[] Ask her in a roundabout way if you could get away with 'killing' Enma-Oh legally.
[] As how someone could be Nowhere – she is an enlightened being after all.

>>915959
>[] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
>[] As how someone could be Nowhere – she is an enlightened being after all.

>>915959
>[] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
>[] The kami Ame-no-Ohabari said she makes things....could she make a way out?

>>915959
>[] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
>[] As how someone could be Nowhere – she is an enlightened being after all.

>>915959

>Which infraction am I said to be responsible for, exactly?

>Why you, specifically? How did the owner of this house manage to have you try to handle me?
That's bullshit.

All of this is bullshit.

But eh, let's not panic.

>>915959
>[x] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
>[x] Ask her in a roundabout way if you could get away with 'killing' Enma-Oh legally.
>[x] As how someone could be Nowhere – she is an enlightened being after all.

>>915959
>>915990

So, QM, Miss Kyubi is actually Miss Huli Jing?

>>916008
>Write-ins are always given main priority.

>>916026

I know, I'm just asking.

Because to me it seems that this fox is no Kitsune.

>>916073

Well, she could be Huxian, being an enlightened being who has influence both in China and in shinto land

>>915959
[] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
[] Ask how someone could be Nowhere – she is an enlightened being after all.
>[] I assume Enma-Oh has some plan or other, and while he knows of the mikoto that I hold, he does not yet Understand?

If Enma-Oh is demanding reparations for what got wrecked, shouldn't we be able to demand more reparations than him?

>>916138
I don't know, there definitely seems like there's something we're not getting.

Like it's not as if the Jade Emperor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byFglWs87-c)'s Edict gave us any restriction on the methods we used to drive Enma-Oh from Japan, and it's unlikely/impossible that he didn't know we could break the fan.

>>915959
Oh, one mroe thing!
>[] How much does he understand of what I need to do for Japan's sake? How much may I discuss with him?

>>916158
Wait, why would he even begin to care?

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[XX] ….what happens when the incense burns out, Kyubi-sama?
[X] As how someone could be Nowhere – she is an enlightened being after all.
[+] Do you know exactly what infraction got me here?
[+] Why you specifically? How did the owner net you for this?

You look pointedly at the incense and then back to her. “I presume something important happens when the incense burns out.” You're not new to these question games; you rescued Er Yin from a much more intense one after all.

“At the time the incense burns out, I must make ready to leave so the owner of this home may speak with you personally.” It's quite telling that she doesn't say 'has to leave'. There is apparently a gap of time between when she must leave and when the incense burns out. And from the expressionless and intense look she is giving you, that time will be important. “I was given only until the incense burns for you to speak with me.”

“How did His Most Loathsome Majesty manage to tap you for this duty? I am sure there are plenty of other ways that they could have kept me occupied.” The quirk of smile at your use of the King of Hell's most powerful and important title is reassuring really. She knew it, but it's not exactly common knowledge.

Her answer is calm enough but her tails lash a bit wildly. “Special request for someone whom you could both trust and whom would be able to come here. You are polite, but you might have taken offense to have been met by demons, illusions, or the owner of this place themselves.” She shrugs mildly. “I have certain privileges as I am Inari's most faithful and devoted servant. No place is barred to me if it is in her name that I go there – not even Yomi.” Her little smile makes a brief reappearance. “Which does not mean I enjoy such duties when they have limits imposed by certain powerful beings.”

Kyubi-sama didn't deny that it was Enma-Oh who has you here either. “Is this about the fan? Or was there some other reason for me to be here after all? If it was a demand for reparation, I would have the greater claim, I think. If he knows about my mikoto, then why bother with this duplicity at all; it can't just be about me causing the Buddhists trouble.”

>>916153
>>916138
If the fan was that important, why did he give it to someone so petty? If the fan was that important, why didn't he say 'Oh and by the way, please don't break these important things?' (he's a demon, obviously he wouldn't, but the thing is, he doesn't seem to get who Ryukusa is).

When you play silly buggers with a dragon and fuck with what's theirs, you don't expect a joke in return. You should expect a lesson for your temerity in being a silly little shit. If you're (un)lucky, you'll live as an example to others.

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>>916165
She bows her head. “You destroyed the property of a goddess, Ryuu Ryukusa. There are always consequences for such actions, even for divine beings far above our stations. Not even the Monkey King escaped unscathed from his encounter with Princess Iron Fan.” Her fingers trace your arm gently. “That it was a consequence of someone else's efforts is irrelevant to the Celestial Bureaucracy. Often it is such things that allow for other agendas to be pursued, rather than the crime itself.” That explains him claiming you were infringing upon his duties all right – it is just an excuse after all.

“Such as tax evasion, I suppose.” That makes her give you a strange look. “How can anyone be Nowhere?” Her expression becomes very guarded and she looks at the incense....and the smoke stops rising from the box at that moment. She rises slowly but speaks in a soft, quiet rush. “For anyone to be Nowhere they must not be a whole person, someone who is merely pieces of themselves, spread among many. You only have until the smoke clears from the room before I must go, but I will answer freely.” Kyubi-sama smooths her jacket slowly and carefully, removing the wrinkles from it.

You can feel the smoke dissipating quickly. Three questions, at most – you could try and keep the smoke here longer, but you can tell that the drain on your Shen would be immense. You would be fighting against a True Kami, after all, in their personal place of power. Still, that would be two more questions....you'd be in no condition to try and fight though.

[] Can I kill him with the ruyi in hand?
[] What does he want with me?
[] Could Inari herself assist me against him?
[] Why does he want Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi?
[] All of this is just an excuse to get into Japan for him isn't it?

>>916163
It's not about him, it's about OUR boss and what she wants him to know. And what to suspect if he's going to suspect (which he will).

>>916176
>[x] All of this is just an excuse to get into Japan for him isn't it?
So basically if you get attacked by a divine weapon your only recourse is to win without destroying it huh. As expected of bureaucrats.

>>916176
>[] What does he want with me?
>[] Why does he want Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi?
>[] All of this is just an excuse to get into Japan for him isn't it?

>>916174
It looks like breaking the fan was maybe a trap of some kind? Or he just took advantage of the opportunity given. I don't know, I feel kind of outmatched here, and I'm worried that we're going to need to call upon the power of Inari to save ourselves (which might be the actual goal here).

>>916193
I mean the obvious counterargument is, if we are to be responsible towards him for destroying it, surely he should be responsible towards us for letting it be used in an act of aggression in the first place. But somehow I doubt the Celestial Bureaucracy would care about that either.

>>916193
>More that it was a happy accident for him that you did destroy it, so he could call you onto the carpet and meet you in person without anyone denying him permission.

>>916211
How convenient...

>>915955
So this coin was like a symbolic act of payment we wanted to make to Enma for... something, right? Was it killing his subordinates or more making sure he didn't take our sister with him when he left Japan (is that even a risk?)

>>916176
>[] Can I kill him with the ruyi in hand?
>[] What does he want with me?
>[] Why does he want Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi?

>>916176
>How can I make so I leave this place safely, without repercussion for me or mine?

>What are Enma-Oh's plans concerning this interview?

Sorry for those two write-ins, but I think we need to learn this

>>916176
>What are the things I must not do?

I don't know, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi is destined to one day bring harm to us and ours (albeit via Void), and part of me wonders whether or not Enma can try to lay a claim on our arm is an alternate payment. Even if Ryukusa is clever enough to see what to do here, we're up against someone who is monstrously powerful and a master of dealmaking, and at the same time there's probably an opportunity to make him leave Japan right now if we're smart enough.

>>916236
>It's the payment to leave the presence of the Yama King - to be able to literally turn your back on him and return from whence you came.

>Similar to the obol (coin) you give the Ferryman of the Styx - without it, you are forced to make concessions to gain his permission to leave.

>>916259
Also, is the Kusanagi even ours to give? I'm pretty sure it isn't at this point.

>>916270
>It is not - it is entirely Hinata-hakase's problem and she promised to ensure your family and you are safe from it for 108 years.

>>916270
We can't even pick it up, really. It's still at Hinata's shrine.

>>915955
Wait no, that hand doesn't belong to any of our loved ones, and it probably isn't Inari either.

...Could it somehow be Ryukusa's own hand through some kind of kami weirdness? I don't remember anyone but her and her brides wearing jade rings.

>>916291

It is probably Inari, actually.

>"For anyone to be Nowhere they must not be a whole person, someone who is merely pieces of themselves, spread among many


If it's anyone else, it's someone like, our Sword-users from another life or the past incarnations of Horobi, but I doubt it.

We are *not* spending this Shen, right?

>>916176
>What is Enma-Oh's agenda for this meeting?
>this is all just an excuse to enter Japan, isn't it?
>what does he intend to use Kusanagi for?

>>916176
[] What does he want with me?
[] Why does he want Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi?
>[] Does he actually have a reasonable argument for wanting it, given how he essentially gave a divine weapon to a low-grade subject, who used it against another divine weapon?
>[] All of this is just an excuse to get into Japan for him isn't it?

>>916176
>>916278
Then I guess I feel like a better question than "what does he want to do with the Kusanagi?" (answer: nothing good) be
"Why is Enma asking for something he knows isn't mine to give even if I wanted to, unless he wants to keep me here until it can be claimed?"

Like... I don't think he believes he can push us into breaking our oath regarding the sword, and I don't think he's allowed to trap us for 108 years either. He's operating on a level I don't even understand.

>>916204
He either took advantage of the opportunity on the one hand. On the OTHER, he was the one taking care of and making sure their divine weapon was used correctly, gave it to someone who DIDN'T know how to properly use it, and let it get into a situation where it could be destroyed.

So while he can point at us and say 'she did it', he put it into a position or allowed it to be put into a position where that could happen. If WE are responsible for destroying it, he is responsible for putting it into a position where it could be destroyed.

>>916314
No, but I have no idea what the right three questions are. Like she's probably not allowed to tell us exactly what we need to do to get out of this, that's assuming she even knows.

>>916326
Like I don't know, is it possible that the Kusanagi's sheath is just a red herring meant to distract our focus? That doesn't seem fair, but then again we're dealing with the King of Devils.

Wait, this was Princess Iron Fan's Fan?

How did such a shitty demon manage to get his hands on something like that.

Oh well.

I don't suppose Princess Iron Fan would be willing to settle that kind of problems in a friendly~ way? I mean, she was mad at the Monkey King for taking her Fan, but she was also mad at her husband for cheating on her with a fox lady.

>>916393
She might if it were just up to her, but doesn't Princess Iron Fan work for Enma? Like the wikipedia entry says she's a demon, but I'm not sure what exactly that means.

>>916393
>husband for cheating on her with a fox lady.
This right here should tell you how well she would react to the 'husband' of Inari breaking her fan.

>>916412
And if SHE agrees with Enma, then they can make a realistic case based on the Law that it's all Ryukusa's fault.

>>916412

Fair enough.

Though if we wanted to be really fair, we didn't break it. The brute literally broke it on us while we were trying to avoid it as much as kami-cally possible.

I don't suppose there was any real way to avoid wrecking it, eh? And that there is no way, ever, to fix it?

>>916427
>>916412
Can they, though?
What's the law- especially the agreement between Buddhism and the rests- say about bringing a divine weapon to a foreign country and using it to attack a local god?
Moreso one given divine mandate to cast you out of the country?

>>916433
Probably not. We didn't even select a "block" type Barrier technique, but a "dodge" one.

>>916412

Well, she could get a "particular" kind of compensation from Inari's husband, as a revenge for her marital conflict.

>>916176
>[] All of this is just an excuse to get into Japan for him isn't it?

Would someone killing Enma-Oh be even remotely acceptable by any pantheon? I remember how outrageous the idea an anon had to maybe destroy Kusanagi was presented to be, and while Enma-Oh is an evil being and not a sacred treasure, he's still an important part of China's spiritual landscape.

Also, how fucking dumb was this demon? Why would you use this Fan as a blunt weapon, when it has incredible magic powers?

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[XXX] What does he want with me?
[XX] Why does he want Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi?
[X] All of this is just an excuse to get into Japan for him isn't it?
[+] So, how can I escape safely, without pissing him off, during this interview he clearly has plans about? Give me a break Kyubi-sama!

The way her tails are moving is distinctly unnatural – but it is the shadow she casts against the paper wall to the outside that makes you realize that she's using her illusions and magic to assist you. Because you're sitting in bed as she bows to you, and serves you a last cup of tea, according to the impossible shadows. Impossible, because there isn't a light source in this room. She's probably making it seem as though the incense is still burning, which means she's technically still under her oaths, promises, or bindings to him – except it isn't , and she isn't.

You look at her and whisper softly and quickly. “Answer as broadly as you can, please! What does he want with me?”

“He wishes to prevent you from sending him or his minions home. It is not about you, it is about his presence here remaining strong, especially after you take on the mikoto of Horobi; if he remains, he will be able to influence Japan deeply.” She kneels, and looks you in the eyes seriously. “He may be honorable, but so are you, Ryukusa, and in the same way.” Loopholes and cheats are fair game then. Good and bad, but you're no slouch. He just has a lot more experience, sadly.

“Why does he need the Grass-Cutting Blade?”

“It is one of three weapons that can kill the Jade Emperor in the right hands, one of the others being the sword Muramasa created, and the final being the Vajra of Indra. He would give much, perhaps anything to have that blade wielded in his plans. That sheath is not the sheath of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, only a tool to encourage you to ask about it. But he does not know of your dealings with Hinata.” She rises slowly and bows to you, her shadow taking actions completely unrelated.

“I know that the black jade coins can allow me to buy free passage away from him – will be still be able to harm my family or my clan if I use it?”

She looks worried and glances at the remaining wisps of incense. “He will only be able to take action against them that you allow for, Ryukusa-sama – he is still only here for you as he is allowed to be because of the threat you represent to his followers. Make no promises, take no gifts he does not give his word are given without danger and freely, and do not allow him to frighten you into doing anything foolish that does not end in his death. You can not truly slay him, even with the ruyi, but you can banish him from our homeland using it!” She bows low. You take a deep breath but allow the incense to drift away completely.

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>>916494
“Be well, Ryuu Ryukusa. I will see you once more, at the very least, when you return the Ruyi of Ame-no-Horobi-no-Mikado to the Jade Emperor, may he live Ten Thousand times Ten Thousand Years.” She rises slowly and adjusts her suit once more, pulling the button free and stalling the threads that bind it to her jacket. Her tails whirl around before she turns, they extend behind her as she walks away, dropping one of the buttons into your waiting hand as she obscures the doorway with her lean, tall frame.

“Ten Thousand Years,” you reply softly, looking at the strange, elegant, and somewhat mystifying ancient fox-spirit's gift to you – another jade token, this one more decorative and beautifully carved. You feel the potency of it as it rests in your hand; enough Shen to restore you to your full capacity if you chose to accept the power it offers. The symbol for immortality carved into it holds all this power, and only an immortal could use it. Unlike the coin, all it would be to Enma-Oh is a tiny bit of power.

For you it could turn the tables on him.

You hear the bell ring at the gate of the compound and the shout of the demon guards as they salute His Most Loathsome Majesty, Enma-Oh, King of Hell, Lord of Demons, Ruler of the Underworld.

Chose only one before he arrives.
[] Use the power of the Immortality button – it won't heal you, but you might need the power it gives.
[] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.
[] Call upon the power of Inari – it might be a dream, but it is real enough that Kyubi-sama said you could kill Enma-Oh here and make it stick.
[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.
[] Pray to Amaterasu-Omikami – if ever you needed to know she was with you, now is that very moment.

>>916502
>[x] Pray to Amaterasu-Omikami – if ever you needed to know she was with you, now is that very moment.
Hmmm, not sure what to pick.
Also can we kill him or not? The 3rd option seems to say so, but our nine-tailed friend just said we can't.

>>916528
We can kill him enough that'll make him leave Japan.

>>916502
>[] Pray to Amaterasu-Omikami – if ever you needed to know she was with you, now is that very moment.

>>916528
>Also can we kill him or not? The 3rd option seems to say so, but our nine-tailed friend just said we can't.
The reason we have the Ryu is so we can banish him from Japan. We probably can't kill him as we are now.
>>916502
[x] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.

>>916502

>[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.

Ruykusa is Ryukusa, and the King of Hell better get it.


Acquiring assistance form Inari might be tempting, but as the fox said, Enma will only be able to affect your loved ones as much as we allow it, and this would allow him to do much.

Praying to Amaterasu is not a good idea. This is not your darkest hour yet, so we cannot call upon her so intimately.

The Immortality button is tempting, but not right now. Better keep it to give us a boost when things go ugly, rather than as an opening. After all, the fox just said to be careful of gifts.

And if he can stop us from reaching the ruyi when he's here, he can already stop it now. No need to do it.


So let's affirm our identity, and show the King of Hell that if it's Ryukusa, it can't be helped.

>>916502
>[] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.
Since it's apparently not a trap or similar.

>>916528
>>916540

Praying to Amaterasu this way is not a good idea, guys.

Remember what she told us.

>>916502
>[] Use the power of the Immortality button – it won't heal you, but you might need the power it gives.
I'm not sure if "For you it could turn the tables on him." means that there's a better time we could use it or not.
>[] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.
It could accelerate things to a fight right off the bat, but we'll probably need it
>[] Call upon the power of Inari – it might be a dream, but it is real enough that Kyubi-sama said you could kill Enma-Oh here and make it stick.
It'll probably work, but I still want to save it as long as possible.
>[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.
Really fun, but I can't see how it'd be useful
>[] Pray to Amaterasu-Omikami – if ever you needed to know she was with you, now is that very moment.
Kind of a default nice option, but we know she's always with us.

>>916556
>Really fun, but I can't see how it'd be useful

It's an affirmation of Self.

It's very important.

>>916549
>Praying to Amaterasu is not a good idea. This is not your darkest hour yet, so we cannot call upon her so intimately.
Wait, I thought calling upon Inari was the "darkest hour" thing. We pray to Amaterasu lots fo times.

>>916554
It might just be me being daft, but I don't see the problem. Mind enlightening me?

>>916561
>>916562

It's Amaterasu who told us that we could call upon her on our darkest hour.

And while we pray to her all the time, we don't pray so make sure she's with us, like this option says.

Also, we know that Amaterasu is with us already.

>>916579
The option is pray to her, not call upon her. I think you are overreacting.

>>916502
>[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.
I don't know, on some level I feel like it's really arrogant to think we can stand against a several million year old demon king just by being ourselves.

>>916588

> if ever you needed to know she was with you, now is that very moment.

To pray in shinto is to call upon the Kami in question. Literally, generally.

>>916558

Not only fashion is a way Ryukusa expresses herself, it's also part of her philosophy about her power of Destruction: to destroy things to create beautiful clothes out of them.

>>916579
>>916579
>"I trust you, you holds the mikoto of Ame-no-Horobi-no-Mikado, to take that burden no sooner, nor no later than the time appointed.” Her voice is fire and light and orchestra and power. “The mantle is yours to take, and no ones to give. When you take up that tool which is to be yours, you are beholden to none save Kamuy Fuchi, Ryujin Owatatsumi, and Amaterasu-Omikami.” Her voice softens, warm and sweet and gentle and for you alone. “You will speak to none of my visit, and there will be no other, save you call upon the name of the fox, which may be but once at the direst need.”

>>916602

That's how Buddha did it.

>>916617
>>916622
See? Name of the Fox, aka Inari.

XS wouldn't include two options that are the exact same thing.

>>916617

Oh. So if we call upon Inari, we will be visited by Amaterasu?

My bad, then.

>>916627

I thought calling for Inari involved our family sending us power.

>>916629
>>916627
Of course that being said, I feel like that kyuubi's presence does indicate that Amaterasu is still with us and on our side, so I'm not sure what it would accomplish specifically. Like I don't believe it's a time to lose faith.

>>916662

Well, it wouldn't be us losing faith, it'd be us showing our faith formaly.

I feel like maybe I should change my vote, but...

Princess Iron Fan can't catch a break, uh?

>>916684
Well, seems like she did just last session anon! Quite the explosive break too.

>>916645
>Ryukusa can usually ask them directly to send her power through prayer.

>>916502
>[] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.
[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.
[] Pray to Amaterasu-Omikami – if ever you needed to know she was with you, now is that very moment.

I'm kind of torn between these three. It's implied that we need the Ruyi if we want to end this in Enma being banished, but I'm a little worried that we already missed our chance to do it when it was handed to us. The middle one does appeal to me, but the one suggesting it has been kind of off-track this session. Also it would result in a three-way tie which would be... not helpful. And the last one I just don't really understand how it'll help right now, but that just might be because I'm dense.

Like... I KNOW that this isn't a situation where choosing "wrong" will damn us, but instead just helps affirm our opening move, and indecision is by far the worst thing we ccould do, but I'm still very concerned.

>>916502
[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.

This isn't our darkest hour, just a challenge.

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[X] Three way tie? Help!

You close your eyes, considering your options more carefully.

While the button that Kyubi-sama gave you will restore your Shen, that really isn't the whole problem. Yes, you'd be stronger and more powerful, but chances are that would also be visible to something like Enma-Oh. And it isn't critical to have that power now.

If you had trouble reaching it before – trouble enough that something had to help you reach it – you might have even more trouble now. The badge of office would not just mean you are Ryukusa, though – it would mark you as being a member of the Celestial Bureaucracy, with all the trouble and difficulty that could entail. On the other hand, you would have access to the power to get rid of Enma-Oh in Japan for a nice long time, and probably significantly weaken his grasp in China as well. And you would be able to get rid of the damn thing too, which is one heaven of a bonus as far as you're concerned!

On the other hand, you really are in the shit. You're about to face off with The King Of Hell, in his place of power – dream or not it's still the Underworld – and he's had millennia to perfect his schemes, trickery, and skills. Even with Kyubi-sama's warnings, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to cope with someone's whose machinations are made against a literal omniscient being and successful despite that. You're clever, but kamidamnit, you might not be able to cope with that!

Of course, there is just dealing with it. That's what you do best, really. You're no one but you, in the end. Not even having the power of Horobi matters as much as protecting your family – and that is something you swore you would do strictly as you, yourself. You didn't need ancient weapons, mystical powers, or even immortality to do it. They help, but in the end....it's you, and only you. So dress properly, and get ready to face him yourself.

While you could pray to Amaterasu-Omikami, in this one case, you're pretty sure she's takign very good care of you already.

Chose only one before he arrives.
[] Use the power of the Immortality button – it won't heal you, but you might need the power it gives.
[] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.
[] Call upon the power of Inari – it might be a dream, but it is real enough that Kyubi-sama said you could kill Enma-Oh here and make it stick.
[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.

>To Be Continued....

>>916728
>but the one suggesting it has been kind of off-track this session.

Me?

I've been wrong twice, yes, but it was me misremembering past specific wordings.

>>916791
Sorry for tying stuff!
>[x] Try and reach for the ruyi of Horobi again – he might be able to prevent you from reaching it if he is here in person.
Sounds like a good deal to me. If it works anyway.

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I am afraid I have to call a halt for the evening, regretably in such a dicey situation, but I work tonight, and I've stayed up well past my bedtime. So, you may discuss and see what you can do with the remaining choices.

I will be continuing in a new thread tomorrow morning, from 9:30 am PST. I'll be available later tonight for more questions if there are any.

Thank you for reading and playing.

>>916791
Thank you and sorry, I'm worried I don't really have the temperament for this quest sometimes.

>>916813
Thanks for running!

>>916815
I'm patient, and as long as you are enjoying it that's all that matters.

>>916812
I'll let you live.

You just lose an option as a result.

>>916813
Thanks for running XS.

>>916791
>[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.

I was at a toss up between Getting Dressed and Praying, but I can see that the latter might not do much. I kinda don't like the first three options since they all seem useful for a confrontion which is something I feel we should avoid at the moment.

So I guess that leaves the most Ryukusa options.

>>916791
[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.

This isn't our darkest hour, the Immortality coin isn't that useful yet, while making a good impression? Useful.

Also, we should be careful how we approach Enma-Oh. He'll be careful to try to bait us into doing something to his benefit, thus we should be simple and clear in our aims and statements.

>>916828
Does being Clever and Deadly grant Ryukusa an intuitive understanding of how the Celestial Bureacracy can be used as a weapon if nothing else? I'm not sure how abstract that gets.

>>916813
Thank you for running, XS. Get what rest you can as I'll have cuteness available later.

>>916791
>[] Call upon the power of Inari – it might be a dream, but it is real enough that Kyubi-sama said you could kill Enma-Oh here and make it stick.

>>916791
>[X] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.
It's the only way.

>>916791

>[] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.


Thanks for running!
When we get out of here, we should make a nice, big ceremony for Amaterasu and Inari

>>916791
>[x] Get dressed appropriately – if you're going to deal with the King of Hell, then you'll make an impression.
Even if we can take out the big man, we'd never get through all his backup. Might as well dress up and be diplomatic.

>>917192
I'm not sure about that. Like if we hurt Enma enough that he feels it all the way to China, are we sure demons won't go full "Megatron has fallen!"?

I assume the whole "they're Enma's property" thing will stop that, but it's debatable whether or not they could keep us in this dream without Enma.

>>917210
Best case scenario is us fighting first and without interruption. That seems unlikely, with his demons right outside. We're set against him but we're under no obligation to get ourselves killed over it.

>>917240
Honestly? We'll be in a better position if we're ready to fight at moments in our favour, or if we can drive a wedge in between Enma-Oh the demons following him.

>>917210

It's not "Megatron has fallen". It'd be more "Megatron has been teleported to Cybertron"

Still around, QM?

>>917415
Probably sleeping until past midnight (4chan standard time) considering their schedule.

>>916828
https://sli.mg/Zi423N
The cuteness is ready! Sorry about it taking so long. It's a general dump, so not quite the quality or unity of themes that you might be used to.

Also, some naughtiness MAY have leaked in. Whoops.

>>916887
Yes - it's no different to her than Water Dragon Diplomacy, which is just as twisted and difficult to navigate for others.

>>917415
Now I am.

>>917965
Thank you, it's lovely.

>>917210
>>917192
If Ryukusa understands how it works, demons progress upwards through ranks. If she kills Enma, even temporarily, or damages him significantly, it will set off a power struggle at the higher ranks, but that will be in China where he must return. Anything ranked lower than his Eight Demon Immortals in Japan will be without leadership and more importantly, will be without spiritual support, and won't be able to maintain their own existence in Japan - much like kami in China or angels in Africa. Even the Eight Demon Immortals will be forced to either take up his duties in Japan or return home.

>>916502
Praying to any being is an option that does not generally result in that kami visiting you. The rare exceptions are when that being desires to come visit you, rather than you calling them to you. Praying garners their attention, not necessarily their presence.

>>916492
Killing a living deity is slightly less problematic than killing a manifested kami of an object. Generally speakign most deities - especially Chinese ones - are immortal, and it takes special efforts to kill them (as indicated by the fact that it takes ancient artifacts and unholy weapons forged by madmen to even try and kill the Jade Emperor). Slaying the kami of a 125 year old tea set is more repugnant than would be killing the kami of Knowledge and Scholarship - he was once mortal, and can be replaced by another mortal. The ta set is old, revered, and cared for, and it was given life by the love and reverence of those who have used it - the insult to them is what makes breaking the tea set a crime against the kami.

Destroying one of the three relics of Japan would be destructive to Japan as a whole, perhaps even more destructive than Ryukusa becoming Horobi will be since they represent virtues that Japan holds dear.

You know, I'm wondering something.

Shouldn't the scabbard of Kusinagi have its own Kami?

>>918786
It's considered part of the sword itself because you care for both equally.

Like the saucers you set the teacups on for the tea set are not individual kami (though the kami itself might be considered a many-part spirit). You could injure the kami by separating or damaging the parts, or worse, drive it mad and cause it to become obake.

>>918787

Then, wouldn't this mean neither us nor our family can handle the scabbard, due to our deal (or generally its anti-dragon nature)?

Another question: are the Chinese demons under Enma-Oh a specific kind of beings, or is it that all the malevolent/destructive/disagreable entities of China are classified as Enma-Oh's demons regardless of what beings they are?

Test

>>918788
The bengs under Enma-Oh's control are demons, and they come ina wide variety of forms and powers. However, not everything that is malevolent and supernatural in China is a demon - many are shen (similar to kami) and are individual creatures not controlled by Enma-Oh/Wang Lo at all.

>>918788
Handle it yes. It wouldn't be a good idea to put it Nowhere, though.

>>918792
>>918793

Thanks.

So, given that Poronitne Kamuy is considered to be demon-like and comes from over the horizon, I'm supposing he was a demon in China, or at least a serious competitor in the "make mortals' lives worse" market.

Wang Lo has probably been pissed off at Horobi since a long, long time.
Not directly related, but I also note how Kyubi-sama has said: "Your arm always serves you well, no matter what body is yours." with "arm" in the singular form, when Poronitne Kamuy's story, or rather Yushkep Kamuy's story in which Poronitne Kamuy appears, involves his hand being bitten by Viper Boy.