My name is Satori Komeiji, and I am the mistress of the Palace of The Earth Spirits which resides in the Old Hell underground. My role is to maintain this palace and stop the evil spirits left behind from revolting. Because of my ability as a Satori to read minds and even cause slight dementia, I was asked by the local Yama of Gensokyo to become the Palace ruler, as even evil spirits fear my power. But this ability, it causes others to hate me… only the animals i've kept by my side have stayed with me. But I hate the surface world as much as it hates me. So I'm fine with being alone with my pets in this palace because in the Old Hell, anyone who finds their way here is welcomed to stay. We all have our own reasons for being here, and we can all leave anytime we'd like. But few do. One of those few happen to be someone I know, someone I value greatly, even more than myself, though, that doesn't mean much. My little sister, Koishi.
We are the last two Satori in Gensokyo so if we die, so does our species. I think it's fine if we die off but I want my sister to have a good life at least. But she's a Satori, her ability makes her feared and hated and, being unable to take all those negative emotions from others, she forcefully closed her third eye. Now, she can manipulate the sub-consciousness of others meaning after leaving someone's sight, they will forget her immediately. After some certain events when one of my pets caused an incident on the surface world and a human came down to fix it, Koishi left and rarely comes back to visit. But one of my hellcats told me she seems happy, so I am happy.
I heard that Koishi came to visit today. Rin told me she and Utsuho would handle my work today so I could talk to her. I should really give those two some reward for being so loyal and reliable. Utsuho does create some trouble for me and recently the surface as well but, she always believes she is doing the best thing for me so I have a hard time punishing her. And giving Rin a reward but not Utsuho would be cruel since they are very close friends.
Even though i'm thinking about giving them a reward, there isn't anything they like that I can find in the Old Hell. They're also the only two of my pets that have a human form so I can't ask any of the other pets to go out and buy something. Rin is too busy with work to buy herself something and Utsuho doesn't leave the underground so giving them money is worthless. I guess I'll have to go myself.
Satori goes to talk with her sister about her time on the surface. Koishi is excited and claims that she found a new friend who was similar to her and that no one remembers her. Satori asks about the friend but Koishi doesn't know too much herself. Koishi talks about her time in the Buddhist temple and how she is revered by some of the followers including the head priest. After a while the two sisters bond over dinner and Koishi leaves back to the surface.
I didn't know Koishi was Buddhist, or at least she goes to a Buddhist temple. It's also rather strange that the people there can recognize her. They even hold her in high regard even though she's a Satori. Maybe that's why she's been so happy? Well, maybe people are able to remember her because her presence is changing. I can feel it, her aura feels very… what's the word? Hopeful. Since her eye is closed there is a sense of emptiness around her but something about her is emitting an aura that fills you with determination. Knowing a bit about Buddhism myself, I can see why they hold her in such high standards. That sense of emptiness might seem close to enlightenment for some, and the hopeful aura probably inspires the people around her.
She also mentioned finding a new friend that was... like her? No one remembers them? It can't be another satori, we are the last two. Though if there were any other satori still alive, it'd make sense that they were like Koishi since few could ever stand the universal hatred of the satori-kin. If I didn't care so much for her… I would have done the same. But if her friend is not a satori, and no one can remember her, what is she? I'm worried for my sister, since whoever that is may be a hazard to her. Next time I see her, I will inquire about this, "friend", that she has recently acquired and seek her out myself. But for now, I should get those two their rewards.
Satori takes Rin to leave the Palace of Earth Spirits and goes through the Former Capital. She was mostly undisturbed by the inhabitants until she came across the bridge she once treaded long ago. Satori sends Rin across the bridge first. And when Satori crosses it, the bridge's guard is there to greet her. But no line of dialogue is spoken between the two and Satori passes by unhindered.
Of all the people who reside in the underground, the one I hate the most is that bridge guardian, Parsee Mizuhashi. I know her story, I know her character, and like all other inhabitants of the old hell, she's welcomed to stay. She's not actually a bad person. In fact, she's quite nice and rarely strikes out against others unless provoked. She has a cheerful demeanor and can joke around with someone if they decide to talk to her. I've even heard that she hides away fugitives trying to escape life from the surface until either they are ready to go back, or continue their journey into the old hell. She's not so powerful but she's still able to stop vengeful spirits that snuck by the oni from crossing the bridge. Yes, she may have once been despised by the people on the surface like most other denizens of the old hell, but she's very much appreciated by the occupants down here now. So much so that she's even called the "Bridge Princess". Most people who know of the "Bridge Princess" also know that she's simply a Yokai driven by jealousy and that her ability is to manipulate it. Though she rarely attacks people unprovoked, she will almost always try to induce some sort of jealousy between those who walk together on her bridge which is why I sent Rin ahead of me first.
But the thing that irks me the most about her is the fact that she thinks everyone has a better life than her. I don't need to read her mind to figure out what she's thinking about me. And when I once tried doing so, it was as if she personally attacked me with claims that I am loved, that I am powerful, that my ability to read the minds of others is a blessing that allowed me to be both and she wished she had it. I told her back then that everything she assumed about me was wrong, but her thoughts never changed and only grew stronger as time passed. I've grown numb to people hating me already because of my ability, but the animosity Parsee Mizuhashi has developed towards me because she thinks that very ability is what causes people to love me, irritates me to my core. But that doesn't matter. She's just a lowly jealous yokai who doesn't even know what people think of her.
Satori catches up to Rin and together they reach the surface. The light hurts Satori's eyes but it's a pain that will go away eventually.