[4]
UNDERWORLD - CHAPTER 4 ''Chikaku"
JUNE 23, THE YEAR 19]
[THE SHRINE MAIDEN OF PARADISE'S VIEW]
.
Outside the Hieda mansion, Reimu groaned. Both her and Marisa had already said their goodbyes to the chronicler, slipping into their footwear and preparing to leave. That last overheard announcement was still quite hard to digest, thus leaving with a weared sensation. More senseless conflict, that was the last thing they wanted to hear from the humans, troubling. Here she hopes Marisa's plan works.
"Bwaah.. Can't believe I actually listened to politics." Reimu yawned, stretching her arms up. Feeling the tension in her body gave a dose of invigoration after listening to all that.
"Heh, I could tell." she caught her broom by the entrance artlessly, "I didn't really think you'd be able to take that all in." she snickered, Reimu rolled her eyes at that before Marisa changed the subject with a deep breath, ".. Well, that was one hard topic to listen to, huh?"
Just as Reimu's arms fell flat to her sides from her stretch, she sighed, ".. The part where she drops a dead satori into the mix? Or the part where this issue of probable war escalates?"
"I mean, let's admit, another family partaking in the whole shebang shouldn't be so surprising. I'd morely say the satori, hell, I didn't think she'd drop about some heavy details y'know?"
'Fair enough.' Reimu agreed, "It was… shocking to say the least. Coming from her really." Reimu said skittishly and especially not outloud.
"Uh huh," the magician raised a brow, "So not a big fan of youkai death then? Despite an exterminator yourself? ze~"
"Well, I didn't ask for this!" she hollered, vexed.
"Oh." her body slackened, "Well too bad, number one."
"Didn't wanna become one anyways.." she mumbled, "Also," least that was audible, "Number one? Me? … You know what? I'll take that."
" And she immediately went back on her word." she said savvily, waving her broom around before landing it on her shoulder.
In response Reimu merely scoffed at the magician trying to get a rise out of her. The shrine maiden took the first step out, planting a foot that'll follow the tobi-ishi path again, this time the other way to the entrance. Like last time, a pair of footsteps accompanied her.
They took this leisurely walk back to the entrance, a second a foot forward, hearing a bit of Marisa mindlessly shifting her broom around. For some reason she couldn't take it out to say what had happened earlier. Just as she thought that, they had already exited the premises of the mansion. Now, what's the first thing on the agenda? .. Racking her brain for an answer, please wait..
".. Ah, Marisa." her eyes narrowed, "Weren't you supposed to head for Nitori?"
"Already am, ze~" with a turnaround of Reimu's headview, the magician had already gotten on her little magic broom stick.
"Oh, ah.. Okay. See you then, I guess."
"What?" the magician took a clear look at her, lifting her hat in the process, "Upset that I'm leaving?" she teased.
She really keeps getting under her own skin, "It's not that!" she refuted, ".. I actually don't know where to go from here."
"Ah." the magician rubbed her own chin, "Hmmmm. Well, just do what you always do, I ain't you, ze~"
. . .
"Moron! Stupid witch!"
" Sheesh, who taught you those words?" she said whilst she evaluated the distance of her broom and the pathway.
"As a matter of fact! You did!"
"I did?" she stirred in her own thoughts before seemingly finding a core memory relating to it, "Oh right, so I sorta did."
"Even so, after all that! I actually just had to stay in the shrine! I still haven't eaten breakfast yet!"
"D-don't look at me!" she stuttered, "You decided to go to the Hieda mansion willingly and yourself, you told me that..! I just wanted to come along.."
"And I don't!-.." she tongue-tied, "Ah.."
At that dull moment, she thought back. Marisa's right. The Hakurei involuntarily curled her lips inward, eyes comically gandering the sides. Thankfully the path is dead empty, so there was no one there to bear witness her quibble with Marisa in public.
Marisa seized the moment at Reimu's display with a remark, " And, I never said you'd have to come last night, you just- ehh.. slurringly agree to meet up. Slurringly? Hope that's the correct word for putting it.. I only said I'd meet up with Nitori." she slightly chuckled.
'Last night..?' … she doesn't remember anything from last night aside from.. drinking. 'Oh. That's why. Damn it!' she frustratingly suppressed her emotions physically.
"Welp, I oughta get there before the guys or whatever their name was, gets a grip on Genbu again. See you then!" In an instant the magician flew off with Reimu left behind.
"W-wait!" a scowl was plastered on her face, " That damn magician..!" she sighed in defeat, she admits, ".. Though I can't fault her there…" she slapped a hand to her forehead, "The hell's happening with me lately..? Some shrine maiden I am.. Kept feeling disturbances and can't do anything about it." she said vexed, "First the shrine, then that shady forest, now I just get unsteady all of a sudden?" she muttered to herself.
She withdrew her hand, sighing, hands departing as she scanned the pathway. For some reason, the trail, which is dirt by default construction, isn't at all packed, completely dense and desolated. It shouldn't be normal for a samurai residence, or at least the Hieda are as standard, to be this vacant. Unless they're trying to go off radar.
"Wow. What the hell. Is there even anyone living around here." she mused, "It's not early, is it?"
".. it's evening." a familiar feminine voice called from behind, "-and the miko from the Hakurei Shrine? Reimu?" the shrine maiden immediately whipped her head around to the voice.
"Eh?"
Her eyes darted over to their hat, a small pyramidal frame with overhang roofs with a tight neat ribbon plastered on this protruding structure on the centre. As Reimu's eyes fell down, her brain instantly knew who it was. Red eyes staring her down, long silver hair that ends just below the shoulders. Who else?
With her caution rest assured, she loosened up to the familiar face.. However a random inkling did want to know if her white hair came off from age or stress but such a thought seem petty.
Her vision only ranged to the hakutaku's upper body, she could tell she was wearing her average, daily, white short-sleeved, purplish navy blue dress around for her class. A red ribbon, akin to the one on her hat, was attached below her collar. And notably, she held a stack of papers close to her chest.
"Hey. Keine." the miko greeted ever so casually.
"What are you doing out here?" she interrogated Reimu petitely.
Even with Keine's caring and nice nature, it wouldn't be ideal to tell her what they were planning. Better to play it off safe.
".. Just asked some questions to Akyuu. That's all." she answered steadfastly.
"Solely for that reason..?"
"Y-yes!" she dug her heel in, 'The hell was that? Why am I suddenly getting anxious?''
From Reimu's standpoint, Keine's expression felt the need to address her uncertain answer before she appeared to murmur something before replying back, "Okay then? Well, I'm here to discuss something with Akyuu. Do you happen to know if.. Ah, ha.." she fizzled on her words as she put two and two together, "I assume she's already here?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled, "That's great to know." her eyes studied her unease face, "Hm.. You seem out of the blue. Is something bothering you?" her smile shifted into a small frown.
'Am I really that expressible?' – "Uh, not really. Just, don't know where to go, or do anything else for that matter. Other than returning back to the shrine." she spoke truthfully.
Keine hummed, "Is that why you came to Akyuu?"
"Yeah. Totally." she said impassively, or at least tried; she was sweating it.
She raised a brow, "Totally..?" her voice dripped with suspicion.
She was definitely sweating it, "Totally." she repeated, hoping her unconvincing response wouldn't invite further scrutiny.
Keine, with her keen eyes and perceptive nature, seemed to know but didn't press the issue, "Okay. If that's the case, perhaps we can chat for a bit? My discussion with Akyuu can wait."
"Is that really fine with you?" the miko replied worryingly.
Keine's face morphed smugly, "Oh? So you do want a chat."
"Ah.." despite Keine's look, she didn't notice the intentions behind it.
'Speaking with Keine isn't bad per se but spending time is … Who am I kidding?! I don't even have anything to do anyways! Spending time. Ppssh, the nerve of me.'
"You seem awfully shy, for some odd reason." The hakutaku spoke once again, "You normally don't act like this when you meet youkais yourself."
"No." Reimu expelled a frustrated groan, "Something's bugging me lately, no idea if it's just me acting up all dense or something else."
Keine shuffled and assorted her papers, "We've all had those days."
" Yeeah but this time, something doesn't feel right."
She gave a genteel hum, "Well.. It could just be the imminence of human politics wrangling again.." she twiddled on the papers, " Or that the feeling of decades long human stability faltering as they precariously put themselves into the brink of war again?"
Silence..
The teacher awkwardly set her right forearm by her face and coughed, "But, what do I know? I'm a teacher, not a shrine maiden. A shrine maiden's intuition can be stronger than mine." she smiled. A reassuring smile. A nice smile to make her feel better.
"Right." with this comfort..? It worked to give her a mind of respite, "Uh.. Do you know anything about my family? Or my clan personally."
Her smile retracted and pursed her lips, "Considering your current behaviour of hearing something that displeases you, and regarding your past conversations with somebody in a fight or so I hear, it might be something you won't be liking to."
…
Her eyes met with Keine, "You know that also conflicts with what you said right?"
" It does. I apologise for that." she bowed her head.
Reimu loosely placed herself in an akimbo, "Keine. I'm no child, I can take it. After all you did say a shrine maiden's intuition can be stronger than some teacher's."
Keine giggled, "Intuition is not a matter of mental fortitude but rather instinctual recommendations you understand in."
"What's the difference?" she tilted her head.
"That is the difference." she giggled again. She also seemed to mouth 'silly' at the end before continuing. Guess her religious lectures on vocab aren't good as she thought, "Of course, still I'm not sure if you'd be able to take in your family's history."
".. Fine."
"Maybe another time." her tone sounded weirdly condescending.
"Right anyways, moving on." she patted where her prized possession was supposed to be, "So what do you– … Wait." Reimu kept searching through her garbs, really frantically.
"Hm?"
"Hold on for one second.." her hands grasped nothing but her garments, "Where is it?" she complained audibly.
Obviously, the teacher noticed her growing stress, "Is something the matter?" she said
"I think.. My ryo… Where the hell is it?!" Reimu shouted, clearly irritated at the disappearance of a certain bullion.
"Ah..? You know I actually saw a ryo on my way here. It was behind you and I picked it up."
"Seriously? When did you become stealthy all of a sudden?" she wondered aloud, "How wasn't I not able to feel you at all then?"
"Remember? My ability? From a distance away, I concealed myself, both body and spirit.. If it makes sense, it's quite vague."
"Huh." she mulled over that, "So, did you at least notice Marisa flying off, or here from there?"
"Hmm. I did see someone leaving in black and white. Guessing that was indeed Marisa."
'Guessing? Who else? No one even wears those clothes she has! Of course it's got to be Marisa!' her thoughts brawled about.
"I'm surprised you didn't notice the ryo..?" her head slid slightly. It was sort of insulting but she's sure Keine wasn't disparaging her.
Reimu thought about it for a moment, she replied back, "You think it's your abilities?"
"I-I didn't plan on taking it.." she denied, the response sounded scorn and tense albeit it was reasonable. But it seemed as if Reimu were accusing her.
Reimu noticed the signs and simply reassured, "You got it all wrong. Must've been your abilities going haywire and all that. Have you been experimenting with it or at least used it lately?"
"Ah.. Well, it must've been a natural happenstance, to me anyways, but it could've been instinctual to protect one's property. But as you said, no I haven't but experimenting my abilities further could be useful. Except of course I'm too busy to do so." she shrugged.
'Right. Now my ryo.' – "Hey Keine.. can I have it back?" she asked with a tint of a distressed intonation.
"... Snrrk."
'... Did she..? snort?'
"That's the first time I heard you desperate but, yes. It's yours after all. You sound honest to the truth from the tone of your voice."
Her body drooped toward the teacher with a bone-crushing hug, "… Thank you.. So much..!" , though maybe not as strong as a youkai.
She kept tightening her grip before realising what she was doing, her body naturally sending a jolt that coursed through her as a reminder to what in hell was she doing. Looking up with her cheeks blistering red , Keine was just an inch taller than Reimu, and she found the youkai to be as surprised as her.
"Ah..! T-this is so unlike of you..?" Keine sputtered from the unexpected hug.
"S-sorry, Keine." Reimu immediately rescinded the hug by trampling backward, "I don't know what came over me." she stammered.
The teacher reacted funnily at that after composing herself, laughing, "Oh it's okay. Just, I didn't expect it coming from you… Are you sure you're alright?"
Reimu shook, "I was scared that I had freaking lost it! I've been trying to save my costs!" she ignored her last statement, blinded by the happiness no doubt, " Thanks a lot for doing the right thing..!"
"I'm a teacher, not a thief." she said with a laugh, "You might want to consider getting yourself a pouch, or a bag next time." she advised.
She thought about it by imagining herself with one, "Eh. That'll slow me down though." but she quickly shut down the idea.
"So why not leave it at home?"
"You never tell when those brats would ransack the place." she grimaced at the thought.
Keine agreed with a hum, "Fair point, they are troublesome, but! They're making great progress." she cheered on that.
"Oh really?" the shrine maiden doubted. – 'No way Jose, are they doing well… Who's Jose?'
"Ah, in the grand scheme of things, compared to their other fellow youkai peers." she answered astutely.
"Uh-huh. Yeah right." she sounded unconvinced, "That doesn't instill me with confidence. When I see them snooping around and make a mess, I'm holding you accountable."
"E-excuse me?" she faltered at Reimu's words, "They're not particularly.. disciplined, not to that extent.. controlled? but I don't see why their unruliness would entirely be on me..?"
"Your reassurances on those brats be."
"I'd like it if we don't speak to my students that way..?" Keine said to hopefully steer the topic
"Fine by me. Can I have my ryo back?" her head laid low.
"Of course." she laid the sheaf of papers down into the ground, she whipped out the glorious metal. Though, are those papers not that important enough to take the rough?
"Are your papers going to be fine on the dirt like that?"
"It's better to return something that isn't yours than worrying about a bunch of paperwork." Keine held out the ryo to her.
".. Though can I ask why you took it?" Reimu took her shiny, sturdy, prized bullion.
"Well I couldn't tell for sure if it is yours. I planned to stay here with Akyuu for a good while, and hoped to wait for the owner to backtrack and recollect their goods."
"Makes sense I guess." she pocketed the ryo, "So, what do you teach about?" Keine livened up to that.
"I teach a lot of things. Ranging from usual mathematical operations; measurements of shaku and architectural breadth of ken, to archaic history and social studies and also other anthologies.. Although unfortunately, the temple school the Hiedas had founded so long ago; have been bound by gaido laws over the years, they were slowly suspending other topics I'm not allowed to cover in my class."
Reimu perked up at that, "Forbade to talk about other topics huh? What's those other topics?"
".. I'm.. prohibited from discussing a matter that could set an example, especially to the Hakurei shrine maiden."
"Oh come on!" she whined.
" But..!" she changed her mind, said almost in a singsong voice, "As I said, I am indeed forbidden to disclose said topics. Under school grounds." Keine insinuated heavily, "And do you know where we are?"
She blinked at her, ".. Uh. Nowhere near a school?"
"Correct. Since we are not in the vicinity of one as to be in school grounds, its regulations are not strictly avowed out here, by technicality. It's still barred to say them out loud though, to some degree. So it's safe to say that it can be worth relaying to you. As you are one of Gensokyo's incident resolvers, it could be in everybody's best interest."
"Cool. Thought it was going to be a touchy subject from you."
"There's a lot of censorship around these parts now, it's quite infuriating really. Humanity doesn't like to be open about losing at a large scale.. Including you."
"Gee, sorry. If the most of us have a brain, will that endear you?"
".. It would. Satire aside. Back to the matter at hand. You've heard of the Reishiro Accordance, haven't you?" Keine asked into a whisper. Clearly not wanting to spill it to a passerby.
"Uh. Not really. It wasn't exactly clear to me."
"That's fine. I'll explain it to you. A hundred years ago, when the lasting Matsumoto clan fell out of favour, the Daigos came to power as Tochi. Implementing a set of guidelines called the Reishiro Accord, to balance out the flow of both common and aristocratic classes at a level, but it also meant to be rigid for all classes. It's a grey area, restricting a certain process of information to isolate any way of prestige to keep the many of you in line to ensure order."
"And that means?"
Keine sighed, "The accordance implicates every single learning institution to a discourse. It's supposed to ensure that a particular class is educated with the necessary remarks so that they could be complicit in focused and relevant topics."
"That's ominous." Reimu grimaced.
"The accordance is just among those forbidden topics that won't be taught to my students."
".. I'm not that big on.. bureaucratic work? and that policy jargon of theirs.. Uh how about that the Tochi at that era actually creating a law without gaido power?"
"They simply have big names at court."
"Course they would. "
"Hence why I despise it. It's discouraging critical thinking."
"Uh. The process, or the system itself?"
"The system entirely. I would push for a change but the most of us aren't ready for change yet."
"Okay..! So.." she clasped her hands and recalled, "History huh? Anything interesting."
"I guess that's one way to procure other information but it's just as the usual. Occasional events, movements, and well, easy to guess, past conflicts.. of their choosing," Keine put on a sotto voce, "-and general census data. And when I mean by general census data, I mean by inducing AP to my classes." she explained briefly.
"Right.." the urge of scratching her own head had never been so yearning to her, "What's AP?"
"Oh that's easy! AP. It's about cultural intaking, societal functionality, and the diverse regimen of each provincial territory in their own right. Capital management. Microeconomics-" she listed off.
"That's great..!" she cut her off abruptly, ".. I wanna ask, what events transpired this entire thing to go off? Y'know how, the Tochi?"
"Events? Anoo.." she thinked back to the past, ".. Well back then, since the Kakusan period where humanity had only controlled four regions. Seibu, Migi-kai, Sansei, and Yonshou."
'Ho boy.. Here we go again, shouldn't have ever asked.'
"Order in Gensokyo was at an all-time low. Public appeasement felt like it might turn into another full-blown human rebel takeover of the villag-.. capital, and overthrow the fledgling gaido government Igarashi had made, until her proposal of the conceptual Tochi would undisputedly change Shin'bokyō's unofficial militia army to a combat-capable rotational army in Gensokyo. This, however, violated many of the traditional customs, prompting a moderate-sized rebellion across the provinces. Samurai lords tend to do that but this was still at a time where us youkais still were a threat so.. Many humans weren't exactly motivated with the cause when they had their own problems to deal with in their local land. So the stratification order remains until something radical changes among the polity."
"... Might have to run that by me again." she said dumbfounded.
She sighed, "The new gaido government was unpopular, forming the Tochi to enforce the social system. Even with its strictly emplaced hierarchy, it still nonetheless proves nothing to fix their disagreements."
"Political squabbling? Where haven't I heard that before?"
Keine merrily laughed to herself hearing that, "Oh yes. Astute observation. I just hope they realise that. It's quite a hassle."
'Not like it's still going-on for what? Three hundred years?' If her math persists.
"It all stems from somewhere. The very principles that makes up a nation. Unity against a greater threat than the common adversary."
"What? Like that lunarian war?" she asked, Keine reacted differently like if she struck a nerve.
".. We never talk about the Genso-Lunar war anymore. Just like the other topics that's been suppressed in the system." she shook her head.
Reimu counted her blessings to the Hakurei. Keine was talking of the other incident her ancestors have dealt with, thanking that Keine didn't mention that wildfire of an incident with the Lunarians and Junko she had, swatting the thoughts away, she resumed, "Uh, why?"
"It's a sensitive topic." she turned her gaze away from Reimu's eyes.
"Oh." she thought of the dastardly Lunarian technology, "Yeah I can see why."
"But!" Keine raised a finger, "I really want to make a push on it. Even if the higher-ups think otherwise, it's wise for the people to see the big difference." she began picking up her papers, "It was a time when the human clans had actually teamed up with many of the youkai life living in Gensokyo.
"Well yeah, I mean. It wasn't entirely possible if it weren't for Yukari from what I heard from my ancestor's book."
"O-of course but even so it still settled off an unprecedented change of their actions! And I want to apply that to my students."
"That's... ambitious." Reimu admitted.
As she lifted the load and organised them, she continued conversing, "Humility and adaptability are wonderful traits to have. It's an absolute shame other topics never include such." she growled.
Reimu slightly winced at that, momentarily forgetting that Keine's a youkai despite a passive one, she was quite aggressive as one, "You sound mad, perhaps I can leave you some time in with Akyuu to relax?" she suggested.
"Ah.. Of course." she said carefully, "It was nice speaking to you, even if your manners are.." she trailed off, trying to find the right words to describe it.
"Are?"
"Imprudent." she completed. Ow.
The miko didn't take offence to Keine's words, "That's a shrine maiden's intuition to ya. And trust me when I didn't get the best education available."
"Ah..! Yes.." the teacher seemed to regret her 'poor' choice of words, "You didn't.. You were homeschooled." she sounded sympathetic for some reason? ".. It was great talking with you."
"Thanks. I can say likewise." the miko responded, "At least it wasn't a lecture."
The hakutaku laughed at that, "I say thank you for a successful uplifting conversation." she phrased it a bit oddly.
Keine made a simple kind bow to Reimu. Reimu raised a hand in return as goodbye, the teacher took off happily with a walk into the entrance.
…
"waaahhmm.. Can't believe I actually listened to actual politics." she huffed, "I'm a shrine maiden! Not a wackjob! .. Uh, is that the right word for it? .. Freakin' Marisa and her inane words."
So, what now?
…
'I guess visiting the Underworld shouldn't be a bad idea.. But! Before I do that! I think I deserve a little treat, here in the human capital.'
.
JUNE 26, THE YEAR 19]
NINOMARU SECTION, KURETE CASTLE, MYOUSHU
.
"I have two letters here, Kashi-tono. From Moriakira-tono, and a Hozen vassal from the Inaga province… From the Isshun Pass? … I understand."
"Our Transmissal Cantrip Telemetry is, for some reason, not granting us any reception… Rely on a message on foot? I agree… Prepare a chokibune, a crew of four… They won't believe them? Issue them with one of the yellow standards, we have many here depending on us."
"Hoh… I-is that right? There's a Sanguis here sent by the Vene Coven? … The Scarlet conducted it of all people?! … But, out of the blue? Why? … We've had better days."
"From Raku? Seriously?! That is.. half a ri from here! … Oh-oh! Mototsura-tono! Forgive me… Patrol with you? Of course!"
. . .
It was loud today. The castle was full of voices, from various backgrounds. Once five hundred men in the castle, lesser lords all across the province have voiced their support, adjoining the ambitious lord with their own men, even local folks from rural backgrounds have come. So it steadily grew to a near two thousand.
.. Until the past two days, they were receiving more visitors than usual. Hundreds, and then thousands. The castle had accumulated a rapid pace of volunteers, approximating six thousand newcomers. The exposure by the tengus must've garnered many.. across Gensokyo once more.
Men going around amok with either tasks or, figuratively, their loud voices as they mull upon their peers and the repertoire. The spacings were gradually getting short to the point that encampments were splayed outside around Kurete.
In the logistics camp, behind translucent fabrics that wept a small area of land, in between two long structures. A samurai adorned in just his breastplate and protective padding held out a metre long handscroll. Its contents depict the entire layout of Kurete, but his eyes were set on the eastern gate.
It was said that a long time ago, maps were normally made for powerful samurai lords and influential nobles, but as time persists. Tengus from youkai mountain, would navigate and map out the world of Gensokyo, mass produce them in bulk to the point of being accessible to all.
Scrutinising it another time, eyes squinting and weaving the same part, there was something about the gate that irks him but he couldn't find the root of it until his thoughts would be washed away from the presence of a man.
"Reporting! Hyoro-bugyo, Daiki-tono!" they bowed longly.
The man sighed, "A report?"
"Yes! A few more samurai-goshi from Gamou-mura who want to test their strength will be joining us. They'll be sent to the Honmaru to meet lord Himeji-sama to be processed."
The bugyo nodded dismissively, eyes still on the map, "This matters because?"
"Just to let you know, tono."
"Very well. Is that all?"
"No. Farmers being enthusiastic about this inference or, should be, a war. They've been abandoning their farms. Gafuchi and Kinuki-cho have been deserted as of late so we'll be expecting supplies to be shorter than usual when harvest comes."
That didn't sound good to him, his face twitched but under the cover of the map, it was unnoticed. The numbers were still growing higher and higher, and I don't think those food reserves would be able to hold on for long.
"Kawamura farms should be expected to hand out supplies, if they aren't greedy." they paused a little.
He ousted any air out of his lungs, "We should also be expecting another two-hundred from Kojuro-san?"
"Yes, tono. Given these dire circumstances, we'll be needing to ration supplies with stricter means."
"Define stricter." he gave a sidelong look.
The man watched heavy in thought, before finally giving a reply, "We.. could mitigate by forming limitations on goods, provisions mostly with restrictions, of course this would mean bolstering security on our storehouses and granaries too."
He wrapped the scroll back, pocketing it, "How well can the fudasashis keep up?"
"They may as well collapse," the individual struck a brow, "-.. Forgive my words, tono."
"How about farming our own? It should be common knowledge. Can we do that?"
" Etoo.. uhn. We'd have to ask the peasants around here how arable the land is, if that is what you want."
He grunted. His back lurched back a bit before stepping to look at an oil lantern by a work table by his right, "Pull that thought off for now."
"Tono?" he narrowed his eyes.
The samurai picked up the lantern, "Those in Himeji's camp would grow restless, Kimura and his men for the most part. They won't wait for the fields to grow." he scanned the lantern's sides, ".. Especially the exterminators that were recently hired. They're not great to have around."
"I understand."
Inserting the lantern back in its place, he motioned his assistant to follow and he did as ordered, they descended inward to one of the central areas in the castle. Walking past through cadres of soldiers at work, conversing, or acting sentry.
They'd receive quick glances or bows from various men throughout the walk. Many weren't at all dressed formally or clean, some would be bare, rugged, or wearing only a loincloth hiding their groin but actual guards were dressed with armour and other protective equipment.
".. Don't you have a niece at home?"
"Yes, I have thought of adopting her. She's been staying at my residence for the meantime. She's still stricken with grief after seeing her family dying right in front of her."
Daiki looked almost ashamed of himself, "Condolences then. I do not mean to disturb a family matter."
"Daiki-tono..!" they sounded upset, "What you say damages me..! Forgive me for reaching out your honest feelings-"
"Stop. One's relative or in-law shouldn't be disregarded because of me."
"Tono.." their head humbly gave out, " Ho."
The two men had walked upon a structure, around ninety-six shaku long (25 metres) but only reaching sixteen shaku in length (5 metres.) It was like a pavilion, supported by wooden beams, walls were combined with wood and paper. However, its rear and sides featured narrow strips of sturdy earth walling.
In front of the structure, two sentries were stationed beside their individual nobori, holding out a spear, the yari; specifically a su-yari, in their right hands. Their armour were poorly lamellar, lacquered black, and equipped with a decent sized rectangular sode and a white headband.
Approaching the entrance, they bowed just noticeable enough for their recognition to be affirmed, still standing mighty still. Just reaching the doorway, his assistant bowed, as tradition they were to stand waiting for their senior to leave. In the middle of the room, an active session of two busily conversing to each other. Sat on stools, divided by a table, sitting across from each other.
Entering, the interiors were plastered with curtains with the clan's kamon; white outline of a flower on the centre with an overgrown stamen flanked with two half sized stamens on either side, on a yellow plane background.
"-The planning has merit.. to all men combatants. Those volunteers that came in droves that make up for our numbers?" the other nodded, "They're getting too eager for their own good."
"After all the good quality lumber we used for constructing their camps?" he clicked his tongue, "What good are those samurai-aspirants for? If they don't respect the hardship from a samurai?"
"The Moriya kami-samas must be smitten with us right now. They should be." their hands pressured in their lap.
"Have they done so, they'll tear us down with the wrath of the Mishaguji. Emasculating us to ruin. It'll be years to recover from! – to the point of bedlam amongst the peasantry.. It'll just be like the Kaji Ikki all over again!"
Daiki stepped in heavy, in haul with his bodywear, "I'm sure Lord Kigiku-sama knows of his caveats." he said confidently, bowing.
As he subsided the clunking sound of his chestplate jiggling every moment of a step, the two stanced stoically upright to the hyoro-bugyo before the left relaxed and smiled while the right stilled and silently harrumphed, later prompting the two to return a casual bow.
"Daiki-dono. It's nice seeing you again."
"Likewise, Maosami-san," he replied, "From what I hear, the campaign have been delayed due to a major setback?"
"So you haven't been informed? Nor heard the beginning at all?" he shook his head, "Hm. Very well… To what you think.. To what we all initially thought.. Lord Kigiku-sama still sets about preparing the excursion."
His head shook downcast, stupefied, he placed his right hand on his abdomen, "W-What?! But.. the kashiras hadn't been sorted yet, nor any of the army compositions-.. , or had they been approved by lord Seii-sama? We can't assort the field rations if we haven't organised yet."
"No. They have not, unfortunately. Lord Shigenari-tono is currently sobugyo of our armies."
He had his hand still on his abdomen, steering his eyes on the sides distraught before fixing his slightly ragged breathing and faltered posture to normal as he tried processing the information.
Usually the role of being sobugyo of the army's divisions always give to the feudal lord's family members that are certified in warfare, or to their most faithful vassals. But handing it over to a foreign lord? A Kawamura vassal that had fought against them years ago to be given reins on the army's functionality..? was unprecedented.
"Lord Kigiku-sama's decision is.. perplexing." the other said, eyes narrowed thoughtfully, "It's possible that Lord Kigiku-sama is considering a different.. strategy. If not, shocking."
"Have lord Seii-sama heard of this?"
"Lord Seii-sama have and has been calm about it. He still remains Lord Kigiku-sama's trusted chief retainer. Lord Himeji-sama isn't taking it easy though. Please sit. You must not be feeling well."
"Am I that expressible? I see. Pardon my outbreak.." he moved toward the stool at the far end with them, they abided time pertinently as Daiki digressed, "To.. I have heard, managing supplies and logistics will be an overpowering hassle, on production transfer and output, along with the storage reserves that'll be consumed overtime as days pass.. Any ideas? Maosami-san?"
"Well.. Instead of conventional exchange. By each fief, we could ask the elders for an increase in the allocation of koku depending on the stipend it makes up to afford the losses we suffered."
"Undeniably rational but time consuming. Troublesome too for the Lord to process. We don't have time dulling with the rice merchants. Any more? Magoroku-tono?"
".. Concerning the dwindling of koku in our estates; in great amounts, we could limit food rations distributed per warrior while maintaining the balance of our allowance of the clan's treasury."
"Curious. Are we standardising a number to each varying station or minimising the grade quality used to every unit?" the hyoro-bugyo asked.
"Standardising..?" he fringed at the word.
"... Officialise."
"Ah.. Yes. The former, tono."
The bugyo furtively shook his head to his response, "How'll it be when we transport goods over the camp once it's constructed? We can't assure the konida to bring all the supplies at once to the three sonae, especially without an appointed taisho.
"Proceed without matter, tono. They'll understand time with logistics are inseparable.. I think. We can use the initial handout as the standard ration given at a basis."
Daiki nodded eye-lidded, "That's acceptable in range. It'll have to do. Institute it with your agents and to your personal trustees. The time they notice, or each of the kumi notice, will be when the pressure ends. If they can add the odds." the two looked up at him with caution.
".. Will you report that to lord Himeji-sama?" Magoroku asked bluntly.
"If I did, lord Himeji-sama would throw a fit. Especially after lord Shigenari's upbringing as sobugyo. Lord Himeji-sama cares for his men greatly. It's not our in best interest to have conflict within the army, Magoroku-tono."
He squinted at him sternly, "I'll keep that in mind, Daiki-tono."
"The dew is not always spry, Magoroku-tono. Lord Shishido-sama trusts me on this." they grunted in reply. Daiki ignored his scowl and cleared his throat, "Maosami-san, what other topical events have I missed?"
" anoo.. Ah. We're still receiving a good number of samurai from Kawahatsu. Fine warriors I am told and I think they hold up to their reputation quite well. We should also have kachi warriors volunteering from Shin'bokyō which isn't so obvious. And additional pack horses from Kawamura's own konida."
"Of course, of course.. Is that all?"
"I heard.. Hamano-tono's Kiba-tai will be joining."
"From the Monoawares? I find that quite hard to believe? Is this true?"
"It's true. Although Lord Monoaware-sama personally never gave the order, seemingly, lord Shiratori-tono had sent his men in by choice."
Daiki hummed, "How precarious. So it wasn't even permitted by Lord Monoaware-sama?"
"That's all we know, Daiki-dono."
"Hmm.. Hamano-tono..." he muttered to himself, he shut his mouth carefully.
Could be among the pieces that could cost the whole entire operation. He thought. Even if he were just a mere provisions manager or, slash, supply commissioner of the clan. A former vassal's aid is startling. Majorly or not.
.
JUNE 23, THE YEAR 19]
ABOVE FOREST TOPS, NEAR THE GENBU RAVINE
[THE ORDINARY MAGICIAN'S VIEW]
.
The wind screeched by her ear, grazing her as she leaned forward. Watching prairies and stretched tree tops arise upward as she gets closer to Genbu. The easy landmark is, well, easy. The ravine's identifiable and spot out, as it always sits in the middle of flat grass due to the amount of logging from both sides, the kappas and the Kurokawa equally.
Continuously she surveyed the passing parcels of land with a discerning boredom. What can she say? There's nothing special about it. It's like watching paint and ink dry.. With a kick. The journey from Shin'bokyō to the base of Youkai Mountain was just a mere six minute ride, on broomback.
Finally she brought herself to a view to the ravine, luckily the perimeter or dare she say, the Genbu Recluse Zone, established by the Kurokawa Bansho-shu weren't occupied by a load of soldiers today. Ideally, they weren't the best guards but they weren't the worst guards either.
Usually the area would always be under wraps by a good sum of fifty and sport taihōs behind brushes of flora, but sometimes the yaguras would be left abandoned and empty. And oh how Marisa was lucky to be granted that.
However, there was still a significant presence of Kurokawa patrolmen straggling around the place, getting by shouldn't be too hard. After all, she's done this multiple times and hadn't been caught, even if the odds were stacked against her.. Uh a few times actually.
"Hut."
She roped around down to a lone reddish tree to find her a landmark to return to, with a fast motion she rode off the broom and landed perfectly safe in a grove. Her broomstick still hung next to her and meandered around whilst she observed the recluse zone from a safe distance.
She looked at her surroundings, looking both ways, "Oookay then. Time to get in, ze~" she said nonchalantly.
By.. going through this hidden hatch by a tree stump, with an undercut on its left. Covered by a loose greenish tarp. It was something the kappas had made years ago to sneak out of Genbu to human society, of course guised, outside from the prying eyes of the Kurokawa.
Lifting it up was easy but shutting it was a problem. If she were to callously shove it or slam it, it'd produce a bombastic noise that can catch the attention of someone a mile away.. That was.. not a splendid experience for her.
She could properly lie it down carefully but she wasn't going to lose her fingers over it. Instead she was going to leave it open as she leapt down the hatch, involuntarily producing a grunt. The jump wasn't anything high at all but it was still steep enough to make her do so.
The environment, what was once bright and lively from the colours above, had become a dreary, abandoned, and desiccated secret entrance. The walls were concrete and industrial-looking intertwined with infested pipes vining the walls. Under her were metal gratings displaying a coursing line of pipes.
"Same old rickety entrance." she murmured, "Still kinda ticks me out, but stupidly cool foreign."
The magician set a hand to search the required items for her visit, with a shuffle, she unpocketed the batteries out, tossed them into the air and caught them repeatedly. Smiling throughout.
She stepped forward, always emitting an echoing thump. There were lights at the end of the corridor, to the ravine no doubt. She wasn't new, she's come and visited the ravine about a hundred times by now. It's not like anything was going to change.
Heading out of the hallway, the end transitioned into a catwalk running along the various concaves of the cliff face, connecting to a number of walkway systems and bridges far over the water bed streaming down to her left. Even a lot more of these systems above and below her as it obstructs sunlight.
There were a few kappas here and there and Marisas sure they've noticed a conspicuous contrast of colours walking around to know it's not of them, but the few faces were familiar faces Marisa recognised and they chillingly waved a hand.
A batch of three however began strutting over to Marisa, they bore a relaxed and lazed expression and as always, they all wore practically the same uniforms. Green caps? Check. Blue silky uniforms? Check. Unnecessary oversized mechanical backpacks? Check. An inch short? Check.
"Sup." they greeted, "What's the occasion?"
"Hey guys.. Say." she planted the batteries back covertly, hiding them out of sight, "You guys know where Nitori's at?"
"Back at 'er workshop. Maybe. Probably still doing repairs, or busy on a project. As she does."
"Uh. Which one? You guys got tons!" Marisa exclaimed at the numerous compartments.
"Storage 9." one of them said simply, "Can't miss it. Just a left turn after you passed the residential area. Oh. And mind the directory place on the fifth system. That's off-limits.. If she's not there, she could be in her workshop."
"Don't forget the water streams when you cross the bridge! Unless you're planning for a downpour, soaking wet, meeting up with Ni-"
"The hell you're talking about, Akemi!" she smacked the back of the kappa's head, "Sorry about that Mar'. Just walk forward until you see the board."
" aaaahh.. Gomen.." the bunkering kappa wailed.
".. Thanks. You guys still tolerate flying around these places? ze~"
"Nnnope."
"Okay then. How about this, ze~ In exchange for me ably using the foundations, y'know these scaffoldings underneath us. I'll smuggle ten cucumbers in. ze~"
The kappa browsed around, "Add ten more." she bargained harshly.
".. Okay. Done." t he magician looked at one of each kappa present, ".. Are you guys all in on this?"
"Yeah."
"Yep."
"oww.. that really hurt."
"She agrees."
Marisa expressed askance at that, "Okay. Can't say when though."
The other kappa smirked gleefully, "Then it's a deal. Twenty cucumbers each."
Her eyes grew in size, could've heard a small squeak, "Eh?! Wuh-wah-WHAT! I can't bring 'em here all at once!"
"Better start devising one on how to then."
Marisa groaned, "Rrgh. Fine. I'll deliver 'em' once I'm done.. ze.."
"Sure. As long as we receive it sometime."
The magician fussed. She unslung her broom and turned, hopped on it but before she could electrifyingly pass them at an overwhelming speed, the kappa swept a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey. Before you go. Catch." the kappa threw some kind of rectangular device.
She caught the device mid-air and took one good look at it, "Uh, what's this?"
"You'll learn in time." they grinned.
'Okay. Ominous. Ze..' She kicked up her broom and immediately zoomed by the batch in a flash, their outfits sprawling up from the rolling turbo. Maintaining that neutral certainty on their faces.. except for one rubbing the back of her head.
The magician followed directions as accorded and by memory, propelled through the bridged walkways, taking a handful of kappas by surprise that didn't notice what had passed them, or what just moved underneath the walkway. Marisa temporarily passed into a short waterfall, a bit soaked on the top; she shook her hat off the drizzle. Maybe she should've taken that advice..
There she spotted the board the kappa had talked about straight ahead, a notice board with what appeared to be a load of coloured paper; manually signed in by ink, with one of them being erratically jotted down with a messy handwriting in importance. They weren't your average washis, they were quality-made if she does say to herself.
The only thing important to her was the one with this flooring system's layout, just stopping by the edge. It was really a rough interpretation of the level, it wasn't even lined and shaped correctly. It looked as if it was to be simplified, not caring of the measurement and cartographic accuracy. Definitely not an artist, but she suppose it makes up for its small size.
The other papers displayed floor plannings of the current system she was on, defunct scaffoldings in.. the experimental repository on the main? She might have to check that sometime. Then a schedule that had three names scribbled out and replaced with a few new names. There was an extra note by the side of it,
"Nanami! Please report to Kawashiro for re-evaluation in Storage 9! At 6. More remodelling it seems. \_(ツ)/ - Akari"
Stuff kinda reminds her in one of those sorority mangas she found; she found them lame. But even so the kappas never fail to still surprise Marisa. With their autonomous society work underground and the access of leeway around here. You'd think there'd be a lot of loose screws within their world. Well, excluding their love-hate relationship with the yamawaros. There's none like it really. She was dazzled to say the least when she finally brought herself to think about it.
The magician laid her index finger at one of the rooms, "Kaaay' Soo. That's the.. materials elevator." she read outloud the texts, "Okay, big words.. Where's Storage 9? .. Why is the map so small? .. And the text too, ze.."
Moving her finger to each room consecutively on the left, she read the names of each chamber in her head, '5th FLOOR CAFETERIA 2 … 5th FLOOR CLEANROOM FACILITY… 5th FLOOR STORAGE 1 … 5th FLOOR STORAGE 1A … 5th FLOOR STORAGE 1B … 5th FLOOR STORAGE 1c … 5th FLOOR STORAGE 1A EXCHANGE-'
"Why are ther' a lot of rooms? Why the quick renovations? I only left for like, two incidents and there's more than last time.. Well that kinda equivalates like, what? Maybe four months? Ze.." she tapped at the map frivolously.. Oh?
Marisa noticed something different about the map's breadth after just touching it. It was a ream of at least five papers stuck to each other. How had she not noticed that before? .. It looked like it had never been used or checked at all, has anyone here even bothered to check it out? Did they even have a use for it?
She flipped the front up, finding it to be an absolute saviour. The next sheet showed another map but this time it was heavily detailed, and the chambers were highlighted with a blocky text as unlike the first one. Unfortunately it's still pretty small so she had to squint her eyes in.
Lifting her hat a bit upward so she can see the top view of the map more clearly; overcast by the brim of her hat. There, a little scrutiny found 'Storage 9' at the leaner top left. It was technically at the end of the catwalk, fist pumping with her right hand. Without hesitation she rode off.
.. Time's past, she's went traversing for a full good minute. Turning splits and corners simultaneously was turning into a rhythm. Just how long is this walkway? .. Oh. Spoke too soon. She can see the end of the walkway system from just metres away after that short turn, and the overhang label titled 'Storage 9' looming ahead. The magician stopped just barely at the entrance, its metal door was slightly ajar.
She got down from her broom and reached the door handle, slowly pushing the door inward, creaking pretty loud. She glanced from down the walkway. She's practically intruding without permission so she watched the sides before pushing the door open a bit wider. Inside, the storage room was cluttered with towering shelves racked with casings and crates and cool other paraphernalia. It was dimly lit but it was tolerable but she caught glimpse of someone checking tabs with one of the shelves.
Like every single resident in the ravine, they wore blue, although their cap had white stripes circling the front and back. The kappa's hair colour was brunette, and had what appeared to be a small discernible structure of glasses by the kappa's temples.
"Excuse me ze~," the kappa turned at a perfect sharp 180 degree angle, "Woah. That was-.. Nevermind, know a certain kappa named Nitori around here? ze~"
The kappa brought her clipboard down, "Oh. You must be the unordinary Marisa."
"That's me! ze~" her face slowly transitioned into a distraught state. – ' Uh… unordinary..? That's unordinary magician to you!'
"I'm afraid she's not here right now. Fellow Nitori is at her designated workshop."
"That so huh? Could that be-"
"Don't worry." she assessed her, "Not her actual workshop. She's just across from here. She's on her break, she'll return here at ten."
"That's pretty late."
"We don't sleep often."
"Yeh-heah, I can tell. Anyways! Nice talking with ya! ze~"
".. It's a pleasure." they pulled the same trick again! How'd they do that?
Retracing her steps backward, the kappa called out from her audit, "Close the door. It was rude entering in without a warning, at least try to make up with what you can."
"O-oh yeah. Right." she drew the door shut, she twirled to see the chamber across. Its overhang sign, 'Storage 9 Relaxation Office.' "That's.. cool. Kappa society right here. ze~" she beamed at the name.
Eight steps from Storage 9, she tugged on the door handle. The door hinges squeaked, playing in with the oppressive silence bearing on the environment. Except for the exhausting whirls of inaudible machinery basking around her ears.
The magician stepped in and scanned around the room, it was an absolute mess. There were loads of apparatuses scattered around the place as it was trashed but at the middle end of the room was a workbench and a lone figure applying a torque tight. She eyed her head to toe, they had the skirts as every kappa in Genbu albeit dishevelled, she wore a tank top, probably dumped the coat somewhere in the heaps. She did have her cap by the workshop though.
"Yo." Marisa reached out to her, "Nitori, that you? ze~"
The kappa, who Marisa presumed to be Nitori, immediately reacted in Marisa's surprise visit, "Mari sah? Is that you?" she turned around to face her, tossing the wrench she had in her hand on the workbench, "What are you doing here?" thankfully the kappa was Nitori.
"Just visiting. ze~" she said casually.
"Oh. Okay. I'd tidy things up here had I known you'd be coming over, but I'll never do because you show up unannounced all the time." Nitori sighed and wiped her hands on a rag, eyeing at the scattered tools and parts.
"It's a part of my shtick." she chuckled.
"Anyways. I've been working on something, someone I owe a favour to."
"Oh yeh?"
"Yeah. Quite the order they've given me," she reached out a hand, "Mind if you hand me over the transponder now?"
"Eh? Transponder..? What transponder?"
Nitori looked awfully ashamed at her, "The transponder Sute gave you... She didn't tell you didn't she?"
"Nnnope!"
The kappa sighed, "She gave me a call earlier that someone hospitable is coming to deliver the transponder, didn't think that someone hospitable would be you."
"Oh." Marisa laughed afterward, "Why entrust someone.. Ehh, unreliable like her to deliver things for you? ze~" she quipped.
"That's because the many of us here in Genbu tend to be unreliable in handing them over. If you knew anything about us, you'd know we're.. ambitious. Is that the right word for it? Eh, call it being resourceful."
Guess not all is perfect. Oh well. Marisa shrugged. Looks like she's going to cross out solidarity off the list. Seems very uncharacteristically repetitive of them.
"She may be unpunctual but at least she gives them on a later date, at usual convenience." she nudged at her reached out hand, "What's the hold up?"
"Oh, yeah. Here." she casually traded in the transponder.
"Thanks." she slipped the transponder onto the workbench.
"By the way, you got a towel or some cloth to wipe myself with? Got a bit wet."
"Uh... Sure. There's one by the rack over there." she pointed.
"Thanks." she unhung the towel and began abrasively rubbing it on her clothes, – '.. Best to make up a conversation before weighing the load',- "So, how's life here in Genbu? ze~"
"That's strange of you. You never say words like that at all." she suspected the magician's motive, "But honestly, it's been the same. You've come over here more than thrice now so you should at least know how it is."
" Yeeeah but how do you really feel? ze~"
"Oh? Tapping into something private? Isn't that the real deal."
"Just makin' conversation." Marisa said half-truthfully.
"Mhm? That's the entire reason you're here? Not that you're being a courier for someone or for good ol' me? A conversation?"
"Just answer the question!"
"Okay. Okay." she held her hands up, "If you really wanna know, we've gotten all changey. We agreed on that. We're tryna do renovations here because we felt like we needed to."
"Neh-hice! More catwalks to navigate through-in. What kind of changes are we talking about? ze~"
"Not the kind of shake-up you might think. Mostly just sprucing up the place, making it a bit more livable and less.. well dark. Notice how dimly lit the place is?"
" Yeeah. I noticed. Didn't want to make you guys feel bad, ze~"
"Well, don't. We pull our weight around here just fine. We haven't had any major hurdles since we agreed with the humans to our isolation."
Marisa picked up on the isolation part in the kappa's sentence, " Whooah.. Okay, what's that about? ze~"
"What? Our isolation?"
"Yeh. You never mentioned that before."
"But you've known of it, just never to detail. It's the Recluse zone, the Kurokawa perimeter? Those guys keeping us in?"
"Yeah, but what's up with that anyways? This some kind of tactic to bar you guys?"
"Naaah. The other way around actually. They gave us an enticing offer that we can't refuse. Sending us tributary cucumbers, in turn we stay here, not a bad deal if I do say to myself.." she drooled at the thought of cucumbers.
"S-seriously?! That's it?"
"Yeah! A thousand cucumbers per month!"
'That freakin' kappa..! Sh'ute! .. Uh I think that's how you say it.'
"-A whole lotta 'em, I don't know where they get these numbers but I ain't complainin'."
"W-when did this happen?"
"Ehh.. My memories all fogged up, I don't remember much. A hundred years ago from before. Humans were at war with the tengus and all that. Something about a campaign to exterminate lord Tenma an' all. Signed an offer with humans, not leaving the ravine."
"Wait? For real? What happened? ze~"
"Eh. As a result, almost a hundred tengus died alongside some youkais around youkai forest. The humans however did not fare well, they really did not. Rough estimate around eight thousand dead at best."
Marisa had a downed expression, "Jeez.. Was it that bad?"
"Sorta.. Tengus are really tough, with great strength. When they saw one of theirs fell, that was a life-changing moment for them. There was like- … Oh! Oh! This one I was fond of!" she blew jovially at the magician.
"Wih-Wah? What, wh- is it?!" Marisa winced at the kappa's unexpected boom, "..what?"
"They had this kind of huge contraption onland that would launch these floating platforms. When those crow tengus got near to a specific distance, it would explode into an incendiary blast! I was there! At the backlines because one of the daitengu employed us to do counter battery work. We wouldn't pit ourselves against them physically since you know, but we were to a matter of technological warfare! It injured a lot of tengus in the process before we were brought in; because they didn't expect for these flying gadgets to pop up out of nowhere from the forest and hail burns, funny right? What's really ingenious about them is how all the contraptions they have were just made out of mostly wood! Like it's amazing! Also there was this four-wheeled vehicle that was holding just a horizontal platform up straight and it always, always lured the tengus in! Ah.. I'm speaking way too much, am I..?"
Marisa stood dumbfounded, "Yeah. You are, ze~"
The kappa awkwardly laughed, "ehe.. Sorry.. etoo.. As much as I want to say human technology is weak, they really kicked ass against the tengus in youkai forest, like.. have you seen those taihō! Those mortars and cannons sound!- .. oh.. that's right, you weren't there."
Marisa nodded at her confusingly, " As much I wanna hear more, don't think I understand some of the terminologies you sputtered out, ze~"
"Heh. Sorry about that." Nitori kiddingly rubbed her head before she convulsively said, "Ugh, damn it! Can't help it! There's just another thing about them humans is that they achieved flight! Well, technically not really since they're mostly magic-powered, but the free floating crafts that doesn't utilise any magic at all is what I'm talking about! Isn't that cool? I thought it'd be built by fanning or some kind of rotor machinery but they used some kind of pumping system to hover. I heard people from the super southern west side of Gensokyo have these self-sufficient dirigibles with apparently bloated fabrics on the sides, but there's like only three of them, so I heard. Saw a blueprint on one of them one time, they could use a lot more work on those ships, like I think I can be able to modify a few addons and a brand new fitting on the framework."
The magician just stood still like a statue, trying to process what all these jargon about dirigibles and rotors are, "Uh.. Right."
"Heard them from a couple of Kurokawa guys by the ledge, they seemed to be in a doozy after this one guy went on a long protracted tangent about human aviation or whatever, and I think I was the only one interested in it! Guess the reason why we don't like, make contraptions as those is because we've been secluded here for soo loong. Had we not, I reckon we can do a better job than them."
"Great to hear!" she said to divert the conversation, "Say! You know you should try? Shake things up a bit." the magician took out the same pair of batteries, "I know you guys have been closed off from the rest of the world-"
"eh, not really, we're pretty well-informed. by these suzunaan news prints the kurokawas gave us and the yamawaros talk." she whispered during Marisa's talk.
"-but I think I can brighten a few ideas to turn attention to you guys- I mean take a slice of the pie."
"... Hah. Are you trying to bribe me?" she remarked while studying the battery Marisa brought out.
"W-Wha..! No!" Marisa retorted.
"Just kiddin' with ya, Maris' We're in lots of bored here, I'd already be down to your offer."
".. seriously? Just like that?"
"Yeah. We're no longer being kept an eye on, they seem to be lessening their watch over us but, I don't know. Don't take my word for it, we've been really relaxed here."
"Oh cool. I was thinkin' these two little gizmos would persuade you but guess it's not really needed then, ze~"
"Wh-wh-wait." she halted Marisa from placing the cylindrical objects back in.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Holy shirikodama, toss me that." allured by the figuratively glimmering items of interest.
".. Uh, alright." she lobbed the two with an underhand, separating in the air, Nitori still caught them in the palm of her hand.
"... .. Now this. Is something to play with." her hands trifled around with them.
"Yeeeaah.. I was wonderin' if you could maybe help us out with buildin' somee kind of incident to catch the humans off-guard and for Reimu to intervene. To y'know, save Gensokyo again. Don't make it a big one though."
"Uh huh, okay.." she said mindlessly staring at the foreign objects, "Wait. Intervene? .. Eh, nevermind. Yeah. I've been working on a new pet project of mine, more of a I wonder if it works kind of thing and, well, things got a bit out of hand because all I lack is a power source and I believe I've got one." she mischievously grinned.
"Sweet. So how long is this going to take?"
".. ehh, maybe like four days." she shrugged.
Marisa's mouth was agape, "What?! That fast?"
"Fast? I say slow. If we had all these materials in the first place it'd shorten in just a day, believe me."
"Just you? Why not co-op with anybody here?"
"Oh. Yeah, with a group. It does take four days. I'd finish the schematic by at least a week, if there aren't any mishaps."
"That's.. surprising, ze~ You're able to finish it in a week.. While in a group, four days..?" she drawled.
"If you've seen us working on a group project, you know why. Hence expect to see no team dynamics, if you wanna watch. We all want to do our own style. Even if it might complete the job quicker or what not."
The magician pondered a good bit in her mind, uncertain. Would four days be enough? Or at least for Reimu to be up and running for it? Will it work as an incident?
"Ehm. Nitori, remember what I said? Don't make it a big one?"
"Yeah?"
"Make it a big one. So we can be for sure it works, ze~"
"Okay, sure. Trust in on us. Our inventions never malfunction.. Just works in different ways of results."
Marisa stifled a small laughter, "Okay, I like that one."
"No, I was serious."
"Oh."
".. Alright." she sighed, eyeing the metal door behind the magician, "Maris' mind if you check the hallways?"
"Whut? Why?"
"This is important stuff that I'm going to lay on you."
"All righty." t he magician heeded. Walking back her way on where she came from, the door was already wide open, head peeking out, she looked both ways of the walkway. No one in sight.
"No one?" Nitori asked.
"No one..? Man, is this suspicious. But yeah, no one. Empty. Might as well lay it on me."
"Sure. Close the door though, don't want anyone hearing this." Thud. ".. Incidentally we're actually not faring well here, this backsliding of a ravine has been going fewer and fewer in numbers as we stay here, and as you guess, or not, they ran to the mountains nearest to the main river."
"Erm. Kamewari River?"
"Mhm. It wasn't a big deal before, until that kishin chief arrived, it became reeaal big. It's funny because the Kurokawas aren't great at keeping tabs on us as we are."
"Wh-really? They don't?"
"Nah, they do. Used to."
"Why? What happened?"
"Heh. They were able to set foot in the ravine whenever they wanted."
"Okay, so what happened?"
"It's just that, they never come back."
. . . What?
"Or well as they say it. Only happened once and I feeeel bad. There was this one guy, everyone liked him, he was good at his job of attendance. Until, one day, this one cranky kappa always to his heel; apparently confessed her love to him. Crazy right? Guy denied because he already has one girl back home.." she made a hissing sound with her teeth, "-She went ham, dragged him somewhere off, we never saw him again."
"Whaa.."
"Yeeah. That was something. No one couldn't find him. Safe to say, we haven't gotten any visitors since."
"Ooh.. Yeah. I can see why. Big yikes. Talk about bad luck, ze~"
"I know right? Anyways, Marisa, I do have something really important to tell you. There's a kappa here you really need to mind. Like have to."
"Oh?" she said saucily as she squiggled her brow, "What, are they like some kind of crazy fangirl?"
"No. The opposite."
"Oh." Marisa was bummed out, "Man and I thought I had a good reputation here, ze.."
"She's got brown hair, wears glasses, this tall." Nitori delineated practically the same height as her, if a little tall, "And talks in this very consistent manner that I always keep thinking she's a robot herself."
"Okay?" she took a mental note, "Appearance sounds familiar, thunk I already met her..? Probably? There's many of you guys that wear glasses. ze~"
"I'd prefer goggles, anyways. She always has a clipboard with her. Has an absolute monotone voice. Bad news" she crossed her arms, "Sometimes the biggest joykill ever."
'Oh wait.' Marisa looked back , 'That was her..? Oh, no.'
"You'll be needing to avoid her, otherwise it won't end well for you. Nami despises magic with a passion, always ranting all about it. One time she went on and on for like thirty minutes, her best time yet."
Marisa ingressed, ending with a click, " Humm.. How bad can she do?"
"That kappa's been telling them what she knows, and knowing her, she will rat you out."
"Them? .. The kurokawas?!" she exclaimed.
"Has been. Were she to know you're here, well, that'd be a problem for you. She'd snitch you out to them by now through the industrial contact. They'd prefer using the TC but Nami's a special case as I said."
"Wh-wah-what.. ahnooo," she nervously chuckled, "Let's say I encountered her today. Just recently. Is that really bad?"
".. Ehem. How recent?"
Marisa's eyes scoped around the roof tiles of the room before facing toward Nitori, "Uhmm.. Maybe like ten minutes ago recent..?"
"That's… not good. She's been associating with the kurokawas since day one, and about what I said about keeping tabs? Ehe, well that was sorta' of a half lie. Nami's been feeding them tons of information over the years, and I don't think she'd be willing to save your skin."
"I mean, can't I just get out of here in a flash?" she nudged her broom.
"Tough luck, Maris'. Both us and them constructed this chain-link fence ceiling of the entire ravine to prevent people from falling. So yeah, there's no way of getting out of here easily."
"Whoah. That's new, but-wuh, WHAT! Th-t-that means the only way out of here is that hatch you guys showed me and those elevators that's restricted to the Kurokawa guys only!"
Nitori swerved with a gauged titter, "Ahah.. Uh, yeah.. Not only that but Nami probably informed them about the hatch not so long ago."
"Ehhh..! So I'm practically stuck here?!" she cried out to Nitori.
" If you're careful. No idea if they've got, like, a routine to the secret hatch, so you gotta keep your bearings clear."
Knock, knock, knock.. Knock, knock, knock.
The two had a small jolt in, heads slowly turning over to the sound. They weren't expecting visitors! Nitori picked up on the situation with a bead of sweat phasing down her forehead.
"Uh, yeah! Who's there?" she wiped it off.
Marisa meanwhile was just hoping it wasn't some Kurokawa search party to hunt her down.. Do they exist? Hope not.
Without a response reciprocating to Nitori, which was rude, the door slowly creaked open ajar. An eye peeked. Then other two individual eyes uninvitedly joined in. In a few seconds, the door squeaked open. One popped out, and another, then another. Oh. It's the three kappas from earlier.
The kappa up front gave a chillaxed wave, "Hey Nitori. How's stuff going?"
"Never worse! The inlet looks great I have to admit. That was nice thinking!" she gave a thumbs up.
"Sweet. The supply transfers are comin' to take up it soon. And that we weren't eavesdropping or whatever. Trust me." she beated her chest as if it meant honourably.
"Actually, we heard something about Nami tattling on Marisa out.. You know her right? That mope?" she whispered... nod. nod.
".. You just had to bring it out like that and be concise! I don't know if you two have good hearing at all."
"I do! Thank you very much! Unlike you, I don't have any hearing amplification aid device to suit your weak ears!"
"Couldn't hear them at all.. My ears are still ringing."
"Uh what? How's that possible? I wasn't that strong.. Was I?"
Marisa and Nitori swapped looks. A subliminal shrug and stared back at the crew. Something bothered the magician.
"How'd you guys get here so quickly?!"
"Shortcut."
"Shortcut..? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked."
Nitori turned to the three, "Okay. Why.. Are you guys here?" she asked the group.
"Marisa wanted to find where you are. We got curious."
"We also went to the medical bay along the way."
"still.. Hurts..!"
"So-"
"With that goody two shoes Nami wandering around? You won't be getting out of here peacefully."
"I just said that.." Nitori set her head downward in disappointment.
"Hyeah but wordings different. Different approach." the kappa shrugged.
'Man.. This is so not comforting!' – "Uh, Nitori. Are you sure you guys ain't have any other secret passageway outta here?"
"I'd have told you in the first place, but that hatch is the only one we've got. So, can't help you out here."
Marisa sighed to herself, "This is not going to be good, ze.. But you do know what you're going to do right?"
"Oh yeah. Think these three are going to help me."
The kappa titled a head in an incline, "Uh. Help you on what?"
"You wanna change history?"
She cocked an eyebrow, "Uh, sure. Have nothing on my schedule anyways."
"You two?"
"Do I ever? Haven't yet and I've always wanted to!" she cheered out.
"Hemm.. Sure..?"
"I'll fill in the details when I get this one off the bench." Nitori waved a wrench at the shelves.
'Okay well, at least things worked out! .. For them that is. What about me?!'
Nitori noticed her worried face, slight worried face, "You still look shook. Look. To reassure you, I don't think the Kurokawa would place security on the hatch, ever. So, I think it's still safe. Just at a new risk."
"But.. didn't ya say Nami would report me in at the first glance!"
"Oh right. I did say that.. Just sneak on out, it shouldn't be that hard for you."
'Sure.. Not like the most of that experience have been me getting spotted.'
"We'll notify you once it's done. You can also have Reimu come along with you. We'll send a tengu on your way with the hopeful outfitted new gadgteer positioning system."
"Right. I'll get on now, ze~" she said a bit slumped. Leaving out to the doorway.
"Watch yourself out there!"
"See you!"
"I think.. My head's feeling better.. OW! What was that for?!" she groused.
"Say goodbye!"
The magician merely put on a bemused look, "It's o'kay. I can watch myself." her footsteps thrumming the metal catwalk, positioned her broomstick.
Nitori closed in on the doorway, just by the doorframe, "We're serious. The Kurokawas are no big deal, Marisa. They'll get ya."
"Why do they even care about me?!"
"... Marisa. You're humanity's most famous thief, not the best nor the worst, famous thieving exterminator. Even the papers say it out, come look." she brought out a Suzunaan gazette paper with her face and name on the frontpage.
"Huh. Good point. Off I go then, ze~"
"Yeah. Bye." the kappa waved, then shutted the door passively with a Click.
As the sound of the door shut echoed out into the vicinity, Marisa rested her hand loose on the end of the broom. Giving a thought to herself, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Well, it's just more extra danger. I guess spicing up a challenge wouldn't hurt." her courage showed once more, the only trait of hers keeping her alive, "If it's the Kurokawas they're worried about, then I'll adapt to it. ze~"
She adjusted the strap of her broom and took off, soaring further the walkways with a burst of speed. The wind chipped upon her as she navigated the familiar route. Erratic corners, a T-section, the board, she even mind herself with the small waterfall, and then unto the secret corridor. Finally, almost out of there. Just entering in..
. . .
WHACK! Thud.
Something.. Just hitted her..! The force caused her to fall on her tailbone then backed on some railings. She can still feel the adrenaline ushering in hard. Her muscles tightened, her face felt numb, her fingers surfaced her nose.. 'That was.. A blunt object.. Really blunt..!'
"AAaaaghhkkh.. Hnngn.." she moaned, her vision whirled, she couldn't put herself to speak words but..
Then this strong inducing foreign feeling riled around her head, scoring a nauseating sensation within her. Unlike danmaku, this was solid. Rock solid type of stuff. Not sharp or thorny. The magician temporarily dropped her hold on her broom as she ordered both hands to bandage around her face. It. Just. Burns.
"WHa-wha-what tuh..? Huh..?"
The pain slowly formented on her nose, bringing her eyes downward from the gaps on her hands, she found.. blood. Looking up, the last thing Marisa saw was a blurry vision of two figures in brackish equipment with a niche of tassels on some helmet. ' Are they.. the Kurokawas..? noooo.. my streak..' Then another thwack hit her and that was a guaranteed black out.
.
GENSOKYO, THE DENIZENS GRASP STERNLY.. PLEASE WAIT WARMLY...
[GLOSSARY]
[1] Hakutaku - an intelligent creature that has an extensive knowledge of other beings, youkais, and other sorts of organisms. Hakutakus are also said to ward off any presence of nefarious deeds and ne'er-do-wells.. uh spirits, mishaps, and catastrophes.
[2] Shaku - a measuring unit of length, 3.3 shaku is equivalent to one metre.
[3] Ken - a measuring unit of breadth and length, one ken is built to be six shaku, so almost two metre. Making on the length and area of something.
[4] Chokibune - a small civil boat, usually thin and long; made out of wood. Made to ferry people around.
[5] ri - a measured unit of distance and/or length. In metric, it rounds around 3.93 or at least near 4 kilometres.
[6] Bugyo - commissioners and magistrates. Samurai officials that are in charge of designated affairs in their own responsible department.
[7] Hyoro-bugyo - an official that is in charge of the logistics behind the konida(21].
[8] Sobugyo - the clan's field marshal to administer tactics and strategies to the army.
[9] Samurai-goshi - rustic samurai of typical low-ranking status in rural villages. Has no ability to be entitled to a daishō seemingly.
[10] -mura - a suffix of, to a town.
[11] Hon-maru - integral central part of a castle. Posing the area that holds the main keep and important structures.
[12] -cho - a suffix relating closely to -machi(glossary on chapter four)
[13] Fudasashi - merchants that store kuramai(14) into depositories and storehouses to be preserved; to be brokered and managed to an economic flow.
[14] Kuramai - stored rice to control a steady pace in finance and for purposed emergency use.
[15] Yari - term for a Japanese spear.
[16] Su-yari - a variant of the yari(15, its shaft has a mighty protracted head; with a straight double edged blade.
[17] Sode - A distinct Japanese shoulder guard.
[18] Kashira - samurai army officers in charge of a unit or more.
[19] Ashigaru -a levy military force; made out of peasants brought with any gear to at least be capable for battle. Or at least anyone without samurai/noble titles.
[20] Koku - a measuring unit of a produce of rice to feed someone in a year.
[21] Konida - delivery transport of a clan's army goods and provisions. With ammunition, necessities, and all things tied to the clan's military.
[22] Sonae - a gathered force of hundreds of men. Complemented with samurai and ashigarus(19].
[23] Taisho - a unit commander with, of course, a name relative to a bushi(26] status. As to a kind of kashira(18].
[24] Kumi - a squad or a company of soldiers with various functions to work in all sorts of specific situations. Tens of kumi make up a sonae(22].
[25] Kachi - a warrior of the bushi(26] status. Low ranking compared to the samurai and the mentioned goshi(9]but are considered to be a part as one but lower.
[26] Bushi - a member of the 'bushi(warrior class)' with the capabilities to ascertain battle prowess, or someone typically hereditary to bear the right of being one.
(author's note : i can't believe there's a ton of dialogue on marisa's side compared to the other two sequences. makes me think)