~Author's Note~
For day three, I wrote an epic narrative poem which chronicles Marisa's quest to Youkai Mountain, her tense alliance with Narumi and their desperate struggle against a terrible monster. I think I've really pushed the limits of the art form this time. Enjoy.
~Marisa and Narumi Take Youkai Mountain~
A maiden from the mystic woods
Went out to roam one day.
'Neath arching boughs and golden leaves
She gaily made her way.
The sun was high, but well the breeze
Did chill her skin, and so
She stamped her feet and strode apace
Which set her cheeks aglow.
A winding path the witch did walk
A mile along, until
She saw before her rank on rank
Of snowdrops on the hill.
Marisa loved a sight so fair.
Mere months the flock would last
Ere sun and squirrels claimed the blooms
And left them to the past.
A voice broke through Marisa's thoughts.
"What brought you here, my friend?
"To gaze o'er flowers crystal-white?
"That is what I intend."
With plaits of jet and earlobes great
Narumi thither came.
"They're oh, so pretty!" she did smile.
"Do you, friend, feel the same?"
"I do feel pretty! Super-cute!"
Marisa then did boast.
"The snowdrops too I love to spy
"But my reflection most."
Narumi fell upon her face.
"Are you for real?!" she cried.
"For really real!" did Mari quote
The one who wasn't Mai.
"Let's see the sights together now.
"I want to stretch my legs,"
Narumi tried to change the subject
Not to tread on eggs.
They hiked towards the stream that slinked
Through swamps and marshland green
Beneath the Youkai Mountain high
And warm Genbu Ravine.
Above the mire they drifted high
And on towards the hills.
Bedecked by trees, they gently rose
Above the water still.
Marisa touched upon the grass
And lighted from her broom.
Bright sun still shone upon the mud.
No early evening gloom.
"This view is such a wond'rous treat,"
Said Narumi as she
Did land beside the hatted witch
And lean upon a tree.
"A treat indeed!" a voice did roar.
The women jumped and fled.
But 'twas too late for poor Marisa.
A bucket struck her head.
"The PAIN!" she howled. Upon the ground
She writhed and clutched her pate.
"Who are you?!" yelled Narumi fierce.
The bucket stood up straight.
From wooden shell a youkai rose.
Her hair was smooth and green.
"You stand before Ms Kisume!
"I am the bucket queen!"
"It's you?! You're nothing! You're a pest!"
Marisa wasn't thrilled.
In hand she took her mighty wand.
"Do you wish to be killed?!"
"Where being killed's concerned, my foe,
"It won't be I who'll fall."
Kisume laughed with prideful glee.
She stood near six feet tall.
Our heroines were struck with awe
As Kisume unveiled.
So great a woman scarce before
Had sat inside a pail.
With muscles kin to carvéd rock
An amazon was she.
The tsurube-otoshi charged
And punched poor Narumi.
Kisume's wrath gave way to pain
As loudly cracked her knuckles.
"Please don't forget I'm carved from stone!"
Narumi proudly chuckled.
"Don't celebrate just yet, statue!"
Growled Kisume. With that,
She soared aloft and feet-first lunged
For Narumi's straw hat.
The cone-shaped headpiece flew aside.
Narumi fell, quite stunned.
Kisume took her cards in hand.
For Marisa she gunned.
Ten thousand sparks Kisume cast
All burning bright and blue.
Ten thousand sparks Marisa dodged
And laughed to see her stew.
"Your blazing rain can't catch me, twit!
"You're weak without the dark!
"I'll show you why they fear my name!
"Come taste my Master Spark!"
A rainbow brighter than the sun
Exploded from her heart
And blasted Kisume downhill
To plunge into the marsh.
"Oh, yuck!" Kisume cried. "I'm soaking!
"This place is much too boggy!"
Never in her bucket had
She wound up half as soggy.
The forest women wandered back
For lunch and bowls of tea.
Marisa served a pumpkin pie
With cream for Narumi.
"What fun we've had, my magic friend!"
A full Narumi sighed.
"For exercise, a snowdrop viewing
"Cannot be denied!"