/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>46285628 (4/4—p8)
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All eyes are on Mother.

Her eyes are as cold as stone, yet are also serene, composed—a determination that is as strong as the fire that climbed up her skin in there. Silence doesn't last much as she, almost tenderly, steps forward… And the world explodes in fire, holes bursting from her uniform and, to all that dared look, massive wings of scarlet fire brushing against wood and wool, a pair tall and proud, embroidering her back and turning an already imposing frame into something grandiose. The cat had fallen on her ass, watching in unadulterated awe; Ran frowned with sudden comprehension, quickly mumbling numbers I couldn't hope to understand; Aya seemed a bit… jealous? The weird grin on her face, however, said whatever she was feeling was more profound than that. Toutetsu had a wicked grimace—'hell yeah'—she had whispered. Mother marched to the Goddess of Backdoors, who hadn't even flinched at the display of curling blood flames. “… I refuse to kill Koutei. I refuse to take even more from Kasen.” Okina narrowed her eyes, Satori to her side for the first time in the night bearing something else than suicide of venom: immense hope. I did not. I-If she wasn't going to kill him, then— “But I also refuse to let you take my daughter's freedom away.”

Okina sighs, glancing at Mother's flames for a second before turning to her onyx eyes. “That's not how this works, Reimu, and you know that. You cannot intimidate me, and nothing will change the facts. Make a choice; 'our time is not infinite'.” She throws Mother's words back at her, a moment of silence following—the tension thick as butter.

Mother takes a deep breath…

“Hana.” She utters, and I almost jump from the scare. “These secrets… They're secrets for a reason, right?” I cannot answer, but the brief moment our eyes meet is enough of an answer for her. “I want to hear them someday, if you ever desire to tell me. But now, you do not, and that's okay; I respect you and your choices, my daughter… And as I live and breathe, I'll fight for them and your wellbeing.” Her eyes are again on Okina, whose right index finger rhythmically taps against the arm of her chair. “I've made my choice.”

“Good, you've already wasted enough of my ti—”

“I'll fight Kasen and Koutei alone during the Winter Solstice.”

The tapping comes to an abrupt stop. Okina stares at Mother with wide eyes, as if she had grown a second head. “… What?” She whispers in disbelief, but it's universal.

What the hell is Mother talking about?! Fighting a Sage and a dragon alone? Just so my secrets keep being secrets…?!

I-Is she insane, gone mad?! T-That's plainly—

“Suicide. You want to commit suicide—that's what you're telling me.” Okina says, sinking into her chair; she looks… curious, glancing back and forth from her eyes to the wings. “Well, I'm listening.”

“M-Ms. Reimu, y-you promised…?” A tiny voice comes from the side; the ruffle of nine tails heard, yet I ignored it.

“When the fight starts, Kasen and Koutei must be outside while Yukari will be inside defending Anon. I'll be outside fighting Kasen and Koutei, stopping them from hurting our forces and keeping them busy so Yukari cannot call them to fight against you and the others inside. I'll do so alone…” Okina was about to say something, but Mother kept going. “And, to bring Kasen, to our side… I'll be releasing Douji and resealing her completely.”

I don't know what Douji is…

But the sheer weight of those words makes me wanna puke.

I hear heavy tears falling to my side, and when I turn to look, I see Ran holding the cat tightly while she makes every effort possible to get away and run to Mother. Behind those broad eyes of hers, there's pure terror; Satori looks haunted yet bears crushing hope, trying to hide shaking fists; Ran looks broken; and the others sport complex expressions filled with bad omens—

—Okina laughs. Out loud.

It's terrifying and fills the room with dread, yet Mother remains still and tall, unfazed. “My, my, Hakurei miko~poor me, just when I thought the Solstice couldn’t become more absurdly interesting, something else appears to heighten my mood… Douji will see sunlight again and if you fail, she'll kill everyone in the vicinity.” Okina's eyes are immediately on me; smile disassociated, just like Aya's watching her game troops die from above. “But if you succeed, then the Solstice is won. You know what? That's fine with me! Die, live—all I care about is that Yukari is sealed, and Douji will be the perfect bomb to unleash.” A backdoor appears behind her, the chair floating slightly. “It was great bargaining with you, Hakurei miko! It was also very fun to talk and see everyone; will be happening again soon~bye!”

And, as if she were never here to begin with, the goddess is gone.

Satori hesitates before following, though she stops and turns to Mother… The satori's fond smile could light up a cave. “Thank you, Reimu.” She whispers and, by the next second, leaves.

The silence holds for a second…