/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44878759
(3/4-part 1)
—
Eventually, it happens. Toutetsu enters through the door, that ridiculous spork hanging on her shoulder, and I have to control myself to not jolt in excitement. She grins as she reaches the counter. "Sup, Ran—I want more Anon. Is he free?" Her voice is punctuated by light taps on the spork—relief filling me as: rather than a hard equation, it's just two words: 'SAME. PLACE.'

"You're lucky—there's only one more open for the day." A certain someone reserved him for seven nights, after all. "Here's your number." I hand the paper.

"Heh, nice—see ya later, Ran," and she places the sum of cash on the counter, whispering as she leaves to enjoy the attractions.

It takes a lot to contain the trembling smile on my face, but I do it so as I gap the money away after recording it in the register, a conflagration of determination beneath my skin. His light—the one he's trusting to guide him out of this dark tunnel.

I open my eyes, and they're steel. Wait just a bit more.

Chen stares, intrigued.
—
Night falls, and I meet Tetsu in the same place, gulping down the silent screech of the cover I'm using for this secret meeting. So focused on what Yukari is doing right now, I miss Tetsu's eyebrow rising, looking at something behind me, then grinning—my gap fades when I look at her, and she says, "30 minutes?" I nod. "Keh, Yukari lasts only that?"

"Toutetsu." My tone is enough to dilute her smile.

"Meh—Okina is in." I struggle to hide my smile. "She's searching for allies, and discussion with Moriya has been stellar; apparently they have some story with Anon—don't care. Thing is: Okina is—figuratively—moving and doing things, so stay sharp." I nod, scratching my chin. What exactly does Okina need allies for? Does she expect this to escalate to a full-fledged incident?

... It felt grim how easily I could see it happen.

Before I could sink even more into thoughts, the wind whistled, and I reflectively caught a bead of four weird identical talismans. I analyzed them and, frowning, looked at a grinning Toutetsu, "Nice catch."

"What are these?" One side had spiky, bloody patterns surrounding a white eye; the other had vein-like blue roots, a white goat skull in the center.

Under the veil of the Moon, Toutetsu's eyes shone a perilous red; "On a side, Flandre's destruction; on the other, my hunger—those talismans have the channeled power to absorb Yukari's gaps and destroy the rule of a master over a Shikigami. She'll fall for such a trick only once, so make it count, Ranni—also, don't use both sides at the same time, 'kay? You don't want to explode, keh-heh-heh..." I look at Toutetsu, perplexed—her smile only grows. "That's our little secret, Ranni, your only advantage against Yukari. Not even Okina knows about it."

I... I am speechless. I look again at the talismans and just now understand exactly that I have in my hands the power to absorb and destroy anything: pocket black holes—now I know how Reiuji must feel; "Toutetsu, I... I don't know what to say. I doubt something like this fits the spellcard rules."

Toutetsu shrugs, "And? Isn't Yukari breaking some laws, too? It’s human laws, though, but laws all the same—things are just gonna go downhill from now on, Ranni. We must be prepared, because I doubt Yukari is not preparing right now."

I slowly nod, my eyes pondering the talisman beads again, and cold words of menace against the safety of my precious Chen's echo... Inhaling and exhaling, I gap them away to a safe place, far from any soul and protected from the elements, imprinting the coordinates on my mind with a fire rod; "Thanks, Toutetsu. I don't really think things should get to that point, but... thanks nonetheless."

Toutetsu looks at me from the top of the tree, then at the moon. "We are going hella far for a simple human's sake, don't you think?"

Conspiring against my powerful master, amassing two of the Sages, gods whispering behind closed doors, and a great portion of the female population of Gensokyo—

I sigh, tired...

But then I smile fondly. Tetsu raises an eyebrow, a tender smile taking over her face. "What about... going this far for Anon's sake?"

Toutetsu seems surprised, but then she's laughing. "Sheesh! You're toast, all lovey-dovey already?!" I don't try to hide a smile this time, my face taking on a red quality. Her laughter extends as she gets up, spork in hand. "Damn, this was enlightening, but I think Yukari won't last much longer—also, you might want to get your kitten a blanket! See ya around, Ranni! KEH-KEH-KEH!" And, with a whirlwind of laughter in her wake, Toutetsu soars into the night sky.

What the—

The bushes behind me rattle tensely.

I am frozen in place.

I turn... A pair of black tails protrude out of the foliage's side like a sore thumb. Slowly, the culprit pulls her tails into the hiding spot.

I break.

"CHEEEEEEEN!!" Wide-eyed and beet-red, I pull Chen out of the bush, and instead of guilty I see an excited shine in her eyes. Oh no.