/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45415488

That question had caught Hana off-guard, it confused her. Why? What did she mean why? Why did Hana help her new mama? The confusion must have been obvious, not like Hana was keeping her face in check, because Kasen spoke further with a frosty tone underneath the calm and collected words, “I know you’ve started working with Yukari-san, though I don’t understand why. Do you not remember who started this?”

Did Kasen not know…? Did she not want to know…? Why is she helping if…? Hana realized that unlike a lecture she seemed waiting for an answer so she obliged, “I… Why wouldn’t I help Yukari-san? She’s been helping me and father so much and-“

That anger flared to the surface, making Hana wince, “That women is helping you?! Have yo-“ Kasen recollected herself, “Hana-san, I don’t know if this is some kind of joke, if it isn’t then I can only ask if you’ve lost your mind”

Hana could practically see the rage radiating off of her, it was only barely held back. Why was she so angry at her? Hana barely realized that she took a step back, but she had to keep her ground and explain herself. Kasen deserved that much and mama was counting on her, now she saw why.

Her voice was wavering a bit but Hana was able to clear her throat and speak, “I know Yukari-san seems like she’s h-hurting father, but its for the best! Really! She’s kept mother at bay, she’s taught me a bunch about my work, and she promised to release father once this is all over!”

Kasen looked at her as if Hana had just sneezed on her sweets, “Are you so dumb to believe her lies? She’s using you for her idiotic goals and you see fit to swallow the drivel she spouts?!”

Both of the women were nearly shouting now, Hana was shocked Kasen’s accusations. Mama would never use her… Kasen was simply wrong but didn’t know it, “It’s not a lie! Yukari is just misunderstood, no one wants to give her the time of day so she has to act like she’s the villain just to help me when no one else wanted to!”

It was known hermits were masters of self-control, that’s what Hana had been raised to know despite her mother’s comments about how there wasn’t a single sane hermit around. It was that lesson that she realized the truth of as the sage in front of her fumed. It terrified Hana to see such a powerful being, much less one that she respected and hoped she could be as good as friends with as her father once was. She knew that she was having a bad day, it was obvious with one look at the women who normally didn’t have a single hair out of place.

Still, to insult mama like that… accusing her of using the affections Hana fostered after she had spent so long under the same delusions Kasen had… It irritated her like the dust in her eye causing her to tear up. Hana had to shout out in frustration, “Kasen-san, that’s too much! Ma-Yukari was the only one to actually bother coming up with a plan! You never helped us like she did, you never even showed your face once during that time! You just don’t understand anything! Where were you at any time when things were bad, I barely even knew you till you bothered showing your face when it was easy for you to do so!”

Hana trembled as it recalled the pain of all those years, “She would hurt him… and hurt him more and more, you just pretended to not know! Everyone knew, but you didn’t bother lifting a finger even once! Mother told me about how she could barely stop you back then! She told me and I knew you were strong, you could’ve stopped her if you wanted too, you and everyone else! Nobody did anything till I bothered too…!”

There was a lot of dust in her eyes, enough to obscure her vision as her tears blurred Kasen into a blob of pink, “Everyone left me and father…!” Hana hugged her arms against her chest, trying to shake off a chill that wasn’t in the air, “Up until I got him out myself nobody was around to help… Not you, not Marisa-san, no one…!”

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

Your training at Kasen's hands was going through martial art forms similar to tai-chi and you suppose other martial arts where through some physical conditioning and more abstract forms of stamina and hand eye coordination building were ment to improve you into becoming a more skilled person. Moving felt good honestly and the times you were moving your body seemed to restore your damaged psyche bit by bit with Kasen's earnest interest in your health and the mutual support you gave each other, your support in preparing care packages like you used too back in her senkai of high protein and electrolyte rich food and drink before training and her in giving you constructive criticisms along with her training. You grew to enjoy and look forward to the times you spent together more then most other activities of your daily life at this point as training close to the oni gave you whiffs of the flower that adorned her clothes and her own scent that invigorated you on some primal level and caused you to give it your all. You could even say that when you exercised with her the monochrome that enveloped the world would lift for a time and a part of your mind couldn't help but drink deep from the cup of color that you found yourself in front of.
Today was a typical winter's day, it wasn't snowing but the ground was covered in white frost from previous days only disrupted by your and Kasen's movements or the occasional spot from Marisa's more enthusiastic experiments that melted snow and burnt grass among other things. The whiteness and grays of the sky and ground that was only interrupted by the islands of brown and green of the hibernating grass was contrasted by the red hues of the pink oni hermit in front of you showing you new forms to practice as you followed along in the sometimes painstaking slowness of a student imitating their master. Your eyes were glued to the disguised hermit as you got the hang of the new forms and her powerful yet agile body transitioned from the forms with an ease that even Meiling would envy as between the movements large puffs of condensation would drift out from between her sakura pink lips that fought for the attention of your eyes away from the rest of her graceful body.
You kept up reasonably not inciting Kasen to scold you in the tones of a strict tutor despite the distractions that she presented you, and before you knew it the form practice was over just as the sun climbed higher in the skies behind the overcast clouds signalling a drowsy noon. The veil of gray that covered your mind was faded by that point as sweat crested your brow, the seemingly simple and slow movements took a lot out of someone surprisingly as holding your muscles there and moving them constantly gave you a good workout in the same way that a static exercise would. Kasen herself was seemingly satisfied not doing her normal post workout lecture as she beckoned you to follow her with a low volume but authoritative word onto a cold boulder that she commandeered as your uncomfortable break location which to her was supposed to grow your mental fortitude. There she opened the package you habitually made early every morning consisting of a variety of protein and cholesterol rich foods made to nourish and strengthen the body along with an odd tasting sugared and salted tea that you made to restore that which was lost by sweat and due to the hunger you both were feeling you soon ate your fill of the purpose made food.
Kasen looked satisfied occupying the left hand side of you after her meal, she always did thanks to your domestic skills which was a constant pride point for you, and spoke with the authority of a master to her pupil, "You've improved a lot, If you keep it up i'm prepared to show you the beginnings of the hermit arts". You nodded as Kasen proudly glanced at you and you made some small comment of thanks, Kasen seemed to think for a second and said after a small moment of uncharacteristic hesitation. "So... I was reading in a loan book for Suzaanan that students learn best from positive reinforcement... so as a reward for your good job you can have a more comfortable resting location..." Kasen patted her lap which to your weary body looked like a five star hotel and despite your hesitation she looped an arm around you and pulled you in where you soon collided with her soft lap that you haven't experienced for a long time. Your sweat had dried by that time but even if it didn't you suspected that Kasen would've had all the same fun in petting your head as you rested on her while she hummed to herself a soothing tone. Despite yourself you couldn't resist the temptation and got comfortable as she half hummed and half sang a strange yet soothing song you didn't recognize, the smell of her pleasant fragrance soon sapped all resistance and embarrassment out of you along with her melodic song and before you knew you couldn't even fathom getting up and breaking her embrace.
Before you knew it you nodded off.