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IcePickLobotomy

Hall Cop: Tatsumi's Cleansing

IcePickLobotomy
May 3rd, 2016
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  1.  
  2. [19:21] Arkalest Today is a good day.
  3. [19:21] Arkalest Or rather.
  4. [19:21] Arkalest Today was a good day.
  5. [19:22] Arkalest Then the sky blackened, the birds stopped chirping and a slightly malevolent breeze picked itself up the moment you stepped past the locked gates of the Academy'ìs property- Papa Shrio and your father whistling innocently as they put their crowbars back into their backpacks.
  6. [19:22] Arkalest Then the latter went off- Something about a pachinko parlour exorcism near Akibara- leaving you with one Jamaican priest who just took stock of the forest.
  7. [19:23] Arkalest "It's.." He rubs his tanned chin- Trying to not stare /too/ hard at the gnarled trees. "...Something."
  8. [19:24] Tatsumi looks around.
  9. [19:24] Arkalest "Churp", says a midnight-bird that looks like a quail and a raven had a baby in a loveless marriage. "Churp", it hisses- Spreading large wings, nested on top of a tree that looks like it's trying to strangle itself.
  10. [19:25] Tatsumi "I'd heard rumors about this place at school. I'm not surprised it's given a wide berth by my peers."
  11. [19:25] Arkalest Tatsumi: Flanked by rows upon rows of tangled, brown-leaved trees there is a road that has seen better dfays- leading to a parking lot that has seen better years- leading to a wall that probably was better off as raw cement.
  12. [19:26] Arkalest "It's almost like they /wanted7 this place to be a shithole"; mutters Papa.
  13. [19:26] Arkalest "Also that fucking bird. Something's /wrong/ with it.."
  14. [19:27] Tatsumi "Very wrong with it. This place of profoundly ill."
  15. [19:27] Arkalest "Hey, fuck you too onisama", mutters the volatile- Casually flapping away onto the bowels of the urban forest.
  16. [19:27] Tatsumi "And rude."
  17. [19:27] Arkalest Someone farts very loudly from inside the forest.
  18. [19:27] Arkalest This is accompanied by a choir of giggling schoolchildren that sound like they had their throat sandpapered. Papa Shiro shakes his head. "This is..."
  19. [19:28] Arkalest "...Entirely altogether too appropiate for this, shit..."
  20. [19:29] Tatsumi "We should start the school itself. All of this is likely radiating out from there, so start from the center and move out. Correct?"
  21. [19:30] Arkalest "Probably. As an aside, did your papa ever tell you about the, uh-" Shiro wriggles his fingers around, rubbing his goatee. " /Implications/ of fighting off zombie children?"
  22. [19:30] Tatsumi "No, if he had I'm certain such a lesson would have left a impression."
  23. [19:32] Arkalest "..." A bit of worry and disappointment crosses over the tall man's face. "...Just...Kamis don't take well to priests bludgeoning children, even if said kids are jsut trying to eat their face so.."
  24. [19:33] Arkalest "...Try to make it look like an incident......"
  25. [19:33] Arkalest He shakes his head. "...Welp, there, said it. Now, uh- Wanna go first?"
  26. [19:34] Tatsumi "Ah, I see." he glaces at Shrio and nods, slowly moving up the walk-way, keeping a careful eye out to his surroundings.
  27. [19:35] Arkalest Tatsumi: the trees seemingly straighten up the closer you get to the gate- More full, less bent- With greener leaves.
  28. [19:35] Arkalest Eventually, you hit up the gate- And notice that there's a handful of locks on it- Simply placed on a few bars here and there.
  29. [19:38] Tatsumi "Someone has been maintaining the grounds."
  30. [19:38] Tatsumi glances at the window.
  31. [19:39] Tatsumi "And I saw someone in that window. Male, brown suit, glasses. He went further inside."
  32. [19:39] Arkalest "With all of our luck it's some sort of necromancer.." Shiro bends down to pick at some of the locks. "Mmh.....Look new."
  33. [19:40] Arkalest "Oldest one gotta be a few years- Newest one..A month? Maybe more. Cheap ones.."
  34. [19:41] Tatsumi wonders if he shouldn't have insisted that he and Shrio would handle it on their own. "Concerning, if that is a necromancer he knows we are here, and if we give him time to prepare or cover his tracks. . . That does sit well with me."
  35. [19:42] Arkalest "Want me to force this gate or.."
  36. [19:45] Tatsumi "Wait," He looks over the gate and locks, and finds some wards on it. "Warded against Youkai but not ghosts. . . and Kanji, charms I think, Love, Happiness. . . Interesting."
  37. [19:46] Arkalest "Creepier and creepier...."
  38. [19:46] Arkalest He sighs. "Least we're gonna fight off /only/ love-crased yandere-ass ghosts.."
  39. [19:47] Tatsumi "Right, let's go on through then. Think you can force it?"
  40. [19:47] Arkalest *CRACK* "And off its hinges it goes- Carteering off with a loud thump. Shiro motions with his head at the parking lot.
  41. [19:48] Tatsumi moves forward as indicated.
  42. [19:48] Arkalest There's a white van in one of the otherwise empty spots- And next to it, a cadillac- With its doors open.
  43. [19:49] Arkalest The wind is making them sway forward- And knocking on the windows. Windows which are all intact, if slightly water-damaged.
  44. [19:49] Tatsumi peers into the cadillac.
  45. [19:50] Arkalest Tatsumi: Someone left a change of diapers in there.
  46. [19:50] Tatsumi wrinkles his nose.
  47. [19:50] Arkalest Still packed up in plastic and everything. Look brand new.
  48. [19:51] Arkalest "Ego correcto sum. Rapist ghosts. "
  49. [19:51] Tatsumi ". . . huh." He wanders over to the van and tries to peer in through the windows.
  50. [19:51] Arkalest Tatsumi: You can spot the faint shapes od cleaning supplies- And a very large locker, laying sideways..
  51. [19:52] Arkalest Judging by the smell of ammonia clinging to the doors, it has been used recently as well..
  52. [19:52] Tatsumi "I feel this raises more questions than answers."
  53. [19:54] Arkalest "Same...Want me to uh..." he wags a finger at the van. "Just to make sure he doesn't have something nasty shit trapped in there?"
  54. [19:55] Tatsumi "Normally I would say no, but considering this place, yes, please do so."
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  59. [19:57] Arkalest SHiro places a hand on the backdoors of the van. "..mmh...Locked pretty well." He shoulders them tentatively- Causing a metallic rattle. "I'd need either time or a pretty big amount of force to do this.."
  60. [19:57] Arkalest "Wanna try with a kami or...Just ward this and leave it be?"
  61. [19:57] Tatsumi "Ward it and leave it be for now. We can come back later if that man proves dangerous."
  62. [19:59] =-= extinct is now known as Cornuthaum
  63. [19:59] Arkalest Shir nods and knees, pulling out his warding equipment. "Check the entrance."
  64. [19:59] Tatsumi nods and heads to the entrance, keeping a eye out for more wardings or traps.
  65. [20:01] Arkalest Tatsumi: Someone has etched a dick onto the metal of the door- And you manage to catch a glimpse of two figures when you throw a look inside.
  66. [20:02] Arkalest Both are just faint, evanescent outlines- ALmost like grey mist- But one of them is taller, one shorter.
  67. [20:02] Arkalest "........Tatsu:"
  68. [20:02] Arkalest Shiro's voice is low.
  69. [20:02] Tatsumi "Shrio. ." He whispers back
  70. [20:03] Arkalest "Turn your back slowly.....No sudden movements."
  71. [20:04] Tatsumi ". . >" He slowly stands up and does as Shiro asks, trusting the other priest implicitly.
  72. [20:04] Arkalest Tatsumi: You see the two figures once again. The taller one is nearby the driver seat on the cadillac- And the smaller one is leaning inside, to get at the diapers.
  73. [20:05] Arkalest The moment you look at them they disappear- But you notice another figure- Similar, but with red splotches on its face- Eyes? in one corner of the parking lot.
  74. [20:05] Arkalest SHiro narrows his eyes, and it disappears.
  75. [20:06] Tatsumi "You saw the two in the car? I saw them in the school just before you spoke."
  76. [20:09] Arkalest "THey look pretty faded.....Mmmh...Chained to this place?"
  77. [20:09] Arkalest He nods in the cadillac's direction. "Maybe the necromancer's appeasing them so he can go about his business.."
  78. [20:11] Tatsumi "The warding on the gate worked both ways. They may be trapped, we're not even sure if there is a necromancer."
  79. [20:12] Arkalest "I am talking the old man you saw..."
  80. [20:13] Arkalest "Still, uh, I /think/ he probably is up to no good..."
  81. [20:13] Tatsumi "I just prefer to keep my mind open. . . and myself prepared for the worst."
  82. [20:16] Arkalest Tatsumi: Inside the hall, there's a chalkboard next to the shoe depository.
  83. [20:16] Arkalest "Graduation ceremony soon."
  84. [20:16] Arkalest THe chalk...Looks fresh.
  85. [20:17] Tatsumi ". . . Perhaps a ceremony or ritual using the graduation to direct the spirits here?"
  86. [20:17] Arkalest Tatsumi: You spot the two figures- The taller one moves off in the direction of a professor's room, and the smaller one lingers next to shoes.
  87. [20:18] Arkalest Seconds later, you see the red-splotched figure appear from one end of the corridor and float inside another room for professors- But not before staring at the door the other phantom slipped inside.
  88. [20:18] Arkalest Then, as if on cue it slowly turns- And you can almost swear its eyes narrow at the sight of thr smaller ghost..
  89. [20:20] Arkalest It vanishes like mote sof dust, and Shirp narrows his eyes. "....Not normal, that one...At all.."
  90. [20:20] Tatsumi "If this place was normal we wouldn't be needed here."
  91. [20:21] Tatsumi carefully reaches for a leaflet inside the one of the shoe-cubbies and pulls it out. He reads it over, giving Shiro a good view as he does so.
  92. [20:25] Arkalest Tatsumi: Published in 1994...Detailing the urban fox sanctuary of Shigeru- A small wildlife preserve that housed the descendents od the first urbanized foxes of the city- That had been connected to the forests outlaying the city.
  93. [20:25] -->| ckk1857 (AndChat294@A12C9184.FD897F5F.4042D19F.IP) has joined #Adeva3IC
  94. [20:26] Arkalest The last page is an impassionate pledge for a donation drive that'd take place in the same year to keep the sanctuary from being razed off...
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  97. [20:28] Tatsumi "Huh. . ."
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  100. [20:29] Arkalest Shiro quriks his lips and his grip on the staff tightens. "...We going to do this classroom by classroom?"
  101. [20:29] Arkalest "Or try to find the..." He nods in the corridor's direction. "Source."
  102. [20:29] Arkalest "Cause I have an idea of what that may be, and it's nto pleasant at all.."
  103. [20:30] Tatsumi "Let's check your idea out, though do you want to check that room first or after?" He points to the Professor's room "I did see one of them go in there."
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  107. [20:31] Arkalest "Yeah. I'll go first, you check my back.."
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  109. [20:32] Tatsumi "Of course. When you are ready."
  110. [20:32] Arkalest He nods slowly- Stalking up to the door with his staff held horizontal.
  111. [20:33] Tatsumi keeps close to Shiro, facing the other way with his own staff held ready.
  112. [20:33] Arkalest Tatsumi: You idly notice that a /lot/ of the photos that have been nailed to the walls look...Photocopied. Not originals.
  113. [20:33] Arkalest There's a creak as the door opens and-
  114. [20:33] Arkalest Suddenly the smaller figure appears out of thin air in front of you.
  115. [20:33] Arkalest It hesitates for a moment...
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  118. [20:34] Tatsumi holds the staff out warily. "Shiro, behind us."
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  121. [20:35] Arkalest "....There's a letter he-"
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  124. [20:36] Arkalest And the spirit passes through yoou- For a moment you feel a pang of anticipation- of worry-Then Shiro swears under his breath.
  125. [20:36] Arkalest "Fuck me..."
  126. [20:36] Arkalest "Take a look. Just.."
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  129. [20:36] Tatsumi blinks and turns around.
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  134. [20:37] Arkalest Tatsumi: There are a few things on the desk. Two framed photos- Without any dust. A pair of keys- Framed by a small chalk circle..
  135. [20:37] Arkalest And a sealed letter, within a somwaht crude imitation of a Shinto protection circle
  136. [20:39] Arkalest "...Should we disturb that?"
  137. [20:42] Arkalest Tatsumi: While drawing the circle, you notice the photos.
  138. [20:43] Tatsumi "Not without a better idea of what's in there. I'm going to try something." He creeps over to the circle and creates a secondary circle in order to make a shunt into the primary, and get a idea of what is within it.
  139. [20:43] Arkalest One of them portrays a tall man- Frazzled black hair, eyes closed- Together with a classroom of smiling students. He's in a suit, and all the students are looking at the camera. Save for..One- A petite brunette- Who is glancing at the man with a thin smile.
  140. [20:44] Tatsumi "Shrio, that picture. Might be those two ghosts we say." He nods to the one with his chin.
  141. [20:44] Tatsumi *Shiro
  142. [20:45] Arkalest Tatsumi: While being irradiated by the same feeling of trepdiation that is coming from inside the circle you ntoice the other photo- Same man...With the old fellow you saw earlier. The professor has a "Best Professor Of The Year" sash- And the old man is in thwe sme outfit. A few years younger..
  143. [20:45] Arkalest But it's him- And he's shaking hands.
  144. [20:45] Tatsumi "And that one, the one shaking the professors hand is the man I saw in the window."
  145. [20:46] Arkalest "Shit....Uhm. Splotches. it's here."
  146. [20:47] Tatsumi "What?"
  147. [20:47] Arkalest You see the phantom of the girl appear a few metres from the desk- Looking outside of a closed window while the taller phantom stands next to her- One arm patting her head, or so it looks like.
  148. [20:47] Tatsumi silently 'ohs"
  149. [20:48] Arkalest "It's...I think whatever it was it...Yeah, if it didn't have a grudge then it developed one when...Yeah."
  150. [20:49] Arkalest Tatsumi: You feel a pang of malicious envy float off in direction of the letter- What with its constant repidation..
  151. [20:49] Tatsumi "The letter is nothing good."
  152. [20:50] Arkalest "Thought so..WQhat do you think it is? Some sort of anchor?"
  153. [20:53] Tatsumi "I'm working on it. . ."
  154. [20:56] Tatsumi "It's. . a sort of anchor. Meant to keep these two from wandering around. . . " He removes his own chalk and a few more bits. "I'm not going to fix this permanently, but I can at least get it working until we have the time and knowledge to fix it on a long term basis."
  155. [20:56] Arkalest "Good idea.."
  156. [20:57] Arkalest The ghosts waver- And refocus into more refined version of themselves.
  157. [20:57] Tatsumi "It's letting the impurities from these items leak into them. Whoever did this isn't malicious, simply ignorant."
  158. [20:58] Arkalest It's the two of them- The girl's shoulders tense- The man throwing a glance behind himself every now and then, shame and worry plainly visible even on the translucent, flowing lineaments of his ghastly form.
  159. [20:58] Arkalest "Yeah, but...Qui bono? For what, exac....................................Tatsu." His voice switch from low to acute and clear- And you hear him two-handing the staff. "Splotches."
  160. [20:59] Tatsumi stands up and picks up his own staff. "Yes?"
  161. [21:00] Arkalest "Thin k she's...Turn around."
  162. [21:01] Tatsumi does so, staff ready in a defensive posture.
  163. [21:01] Arkalest Splotches didn't gain any definition in the real sense of the term.
  164. [21:02] Arkalest Her outline did- And now she looms over SHiro's gangly form- Thin. knifelike muzzle aimed at the two ghosts- Ears bent back-A tail that tapers off.
  165. [21:02] Arkalest Glowing red eyes of a kitsune.
  166. [21:03] Tatsumi stands undaunted. "We hold no ill will to you. We seek to purify this place and help bring the dead to rest. Nothing more."
  167. [21:03] Arkalest She lingers for a few seconds- And then she's off- Sliding down the corridor.
  168. [21:04] Tatsumi lets out a small breath he was holding. "That could have gone worse."
  169. [21:04] Arkalest "I think it's not the real deal...An echo? One tail, though so.." Shiro narrows his eyes. ".....A third piece in all of this?"
  170. [21:05] Tatsumi ". . . The fox sanctuary. Hard to say how it's connected though. We should move on and look for that man we saw, try and get some answers."
  171. [21:05] Arkalest "Yeah."
  172. [21:05] Tatsumi ". . . I think we should check the gymnasium. There was mention of a graduation ceremony, he may be preparing that there."
  173. [21:07] Arkalest Tatsumi: Drawings of monsters on the blackboards- Old ones that have been redone time and time and time again in a shaking hand. Torn pages from notebooks- Depicting foxes. Students commenting..
  174. [21:07] Arkalest "Monday- Yosh keeps syaing the foxes won't come unless we plant a tree, but he's a dumbass"
  175. [21:08] Arkalest "S- K. told me she wants to try and bring some peaches to the foxes. One of them played nice with her- She even said there's one with puppies!"
  176. [21:08] Tatsumi "There are good Kitsune, there are mischievous ones. There are even evil ones. I wonder what sort we will find here."
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  178. [21:09] Arkalest "Mami saw the foxes again- Saw the prez as well. Weirdo..:"
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  180. [21:09] Arkalest "Prez scolded pross Hayato because he gave Mizune chocolate again...Weirdo even more"
  181. [21:10] Arkalest Shiro looks at a notepad filled with drawings of ghsots. "I....This place had to be a nexus of stuff even...Before shit went down the drain."
  182. [21:10] Arkalest "To actually make it /evil/....Shit man, what could have happened?"
  183. [21:11] Arkalest Tatsumi: last classroom before the stairs- Before the nurse's office.
  184. [21:11] Tatsumi "Something truly vile. For this place to be so twisted in such a sort time frame. . . Something deeply profane."
  185. [21:11] Arkalest You see Splotches move inside /this/ classroom.....And then throw herself at the chalkboard.
  186. [21:12] Arkalest At the stylized image of a fox muzzle- Eyes done as childish splotches of red chalk- And words. So many words.
  187. [21:12] Arkalest Bad words.
  188. [21:12] Arkalest "Ms. Rika is............:Fuck, those are some foul-mouthed kids.."
  189. [21:14] Tatsumi nods. "It seems so small in the face of what is here, but one cannot look upon the forest and forget the trees." He erases the foul words with a frown. "This place is going to take a while to properly cleanse. I can feel the malignancy on my skin."
  190. [21:15] Arkalest "Yeah.."
  191. [21:15] Arkalest The spirit rabidly throws itself again and again at the chalboard- Until it slumps down- Retreating away...Shiro shrugs, and moves onto the nurse office.
  192. [21:15] Arkalest "............................................................No."
  193. [21:16] Arkalest His voice is flat.
  194. [21:16] Tatsumi peers past the other preist.
  195. [21:19] Arkalest Tatsumi: The girl- Bent over a gourney- Hands over her eyes. The open bathroom door. SOmething on the sink- In a plastic bag covered in chalk. A small plasti stick.
  196. [21:20] Arkalest "This is just........" SHiro shakes his head.
  197. [21:21] Tatsumi "Indeed, but we have our duty."
  198. [21:21] Arkalest "Yeah...Lket's move up."
  199. [21:21] Tatsumi "Yeah. Let's not linger here."
  200. [21:26] Arkalest Tatsumi: There's a small trophy cabinet at the first floor's staircase exit- And a phot of a younger president shaking hand with a smiling old woman dressed in a floreal-motif kimono.
  201. [21:27] Arkalest "TO Sakura-chan, our school's first and foremost's benefactor."
  202. [21:29] Tatsumi "I wonder if my father was aware of how deeply rooted the foulness of this place is. I cannot help but think that he does and he intends this to be a lesson to me. Such a action is in line with his method of teaching." There is no bitterness, only resignation with a tinge of wonder.
  203. [21:33] Arkalest A classroom on the left. More drawings. Zombies. Ghosts.....And the kindly old woman- Face distorted by the cruelty of children in something hag-like and rotten...More condemnation for Mr. Rika.
  204. [21:33] Arkalest SPlotches, kneeling in the middle. She runs away- And out of another classroom pops the professor's ghost. It follows her- Down the corridor, with worried steps.
  205. [21:33] Tatsumi "Shiro, a question if you would indulge me?"
  206. [21:36] Arkalest "...yeah?" He peeks into a classroom. More drawings of monsters.
  207. [21:36] Arkalest "Mami said one of the foxes bit her."
  208. [21:37] Arkalest "K.- let's not meet near the tree. Saw crazy old woman....again"
  209. [21:37] Tatsumi "How bad is this place compared to the worst you've seen? I won't ask for details, just. . I want to know how bad this is in the grand scheme of things."
  210. [21:37] Arkalest He stops sifting through more paper slips. "There was this mass grave in Cape Town."
  211. [21:38] Arkalest "Sailors, mostly. Modern too- Late 20th century. Mostly poor people- People they wouldn't mobilize search and rescue for.."
  212. [21:38] Tatsumi nods, listening attentively.
  213. [21:39] Arkalest The man'0s voice drops low. "The sadness was like a wall, mon. We had to wear triple wards."
  214. [21:39] Arkalest "The outrage. The...you know, just...Hatred. But this?" He waves a finger. "This is nothing compared to that."
  215. [21:39] Tatsumi nods.
  216. [21:40] Arkalest "Shit like this mon.....Nature, it's good at fixing it by herself. Wood kamis move in. They bring good karma, which blunt the edges...More Kamis move in as a result. Eventually...Worst you'll get is a few bad vibes..But this?"
  217. [21:40] Arkalest He kicks the last in a line of perfectly arranged desks. "This is a diorama."
  218. [21:42] Tatsumi "It needs to be at a certain level to self-sustain itself like this?"
  219. [21:42] Arkalest "Someone has done the equivalent of spiritual embalming here. Kept.." He shuts the notebook close. "Kept recirculating the spirits. Negative feedback loop- And I think- Yeah. And I think they werren't.....Trying to fuck things up."
  220. [21:43] Arkalest More classrooms. More words. The ugly witch. The crazy fox lady- Who lived secluded in the woods.....But also just..General pettiness. Notebooks flled with notes scribbled over and over again.
  221. [21:44] Tatsumi "There's a reason we do as much training as we do. These sorts of things are. . . delicate. But if this is done out of ignorance, they should be more amenable to our assistance. . . I hope."
  222. [21:46] Arkalest Then-
  223. [21:47] Arkalest "...." Shiro narrows his eyes- Picking up a folded piece of yellowing paper over one desk in a classroom- Right near the stairs for the third floor.
  224. [21:47] Arkalest "Tired of weird things happening to you? Don't want to deal with the old crazy fox lady? Afraid of Mr. R? Come join us at the seance this weekend!"
  225. [21:47] Arkalest "We will banish the....Fuck."
  226. [21:48] Tatsumi "Banish the what Shiro?"
  227. [21:49] Arkalest "The monsters..Come to room A12."
  228. [21:49] Arkalest "It's..Third floor, maybe? We...Check that...And then the gymnasium."
  229. [21:49] Tatsumi nods.
  230. [21:50] Tatsumi heads to the third floor, and room A12, hopefully.
  231. [21:51] Arkalest Tatsumi: You catch a glimpse- Splotches, darting out of one of the classrooms on the third floor. The professor- Coming up to talk to her. They stand ther. She nuzzles hic hest.
  232. [21:51] Arkalest You catch a glimpse of a petite ghost at the other end of the corridor- Looking on.
  233. [21:52] Arkalest Everything just /skips/ forward for a moment- As you see the boarded up, chained door of A12- With chalk circles protecting it.
  234. [21:52] Arkalest As you catch a glimpse of the professor- marching towards the semi-open door of the president's office- Head hung low.
  235. [21:54] Tatsumi "I doubt our mystery man is in there. We'd have heard him moving those chains."
  236. [21:55] Arkalest "Yeah...Do we want to poke that, go to the gymnasium or.." He simply nods at the stairs. "Your choice, man.."
  237. [21:56] Tatsumi "Let's check the office while we are here and then to the gym. Whatever is sealed in that room. . . I have no desire to poke it until we know what we are dealing with."
  238. [21:58] Arkalest Shiro cautiously opens the door- And inside...You see the professor ghost, head hanging low. Another chalk circle on the desk- Another letter. An opened one.
  239. [21:59] Tatsumi doesn't break the circle, but he does peer over to read the letter.
  240. [21:59] Arkalest SOmeone has put a new file cabinet in here- One that has been locked up. Someone has tidied this room almot maniacally.
  241. [22:00] Arkalest Tatsumi: "Professor Hayato...Fired for...Troubling behavior- Received severance package..Segnaled by..M.."
  242. [22:03] Arkalest The ghost- You see his shoulders shake and then..Slump in utter defeat.
  243. [22:03] Arkalest It turns around and- Splotches is there. He moves away from her- Pushes her aside. She slips away as well- Trailing after him...
  244. [22:04] Tatsumi follows the pair.
  245. [22:05] Arkalest They go towards the roof stairs...
  246. [22:05] Tatsumi ". . . I think I know how this ends. Should we do something or go to the gym?"
  247. [22:06] Arkalest "Let's go for the roof, honestly...I..." Shiro shakes his head. "I dunno anymore, man."
  248. [22:07] Tatsumi ". . . I feel as though we should see this through." He heads to the roof.
  249. [22:08] Arkalest Tatsumi: Malice. Get enough of it, and things...Get weird. The sun's shining through the clouds- But the moment you step outside you see Splotches- Nuzzling the professor's chest.
  250. [22:09] Arkalest He shoves her aside- And time just /skips/ Now the moon is pushing through the cloud. You can see the girl- Standing against the chain link fence.
  251. [22:09] |<-- ckk185 has left irc.systemnet.info (Connection reset by peer)
  252. [22:09] Arkalest You see /something/ after she jumps- An outline. The man in the suit.
  253. [22:09] Tatsumi blinks
  254. [22:09] Arkalest He tries to grab her.
  255. [22:09] Arkalest He fails.
  256. [22:11] Arkalest Fingerrs senselessly clutch at empty air. He stares- head low. A step back. Another.
  257. [22:11] Arkalest The outline fades the moment he starts running from the roof.
  258. [22:12] Arkalest Tatsumi: You see splotches. You see Splotches staring at the president. You see the president nod.
  259. [22:12] Arkalest Once.
  260. [22:14] |<-- Strypgia has left irc.systemnet.info (Ping timeout: 123 seconds)
  261. [22:14] Tatsumi "We should go to the gym now. Hopefully we will find some answers there."
  262. [22:15] Arkalest "And that fucker...Whatever he did.."
  263. [22:15] Arkalest DOwn one floor. Two, three...Turn left and-
  264. [22:17] Arkalest A metal barrier- COnstruction tape. Old construction tape. There's a closet down the corridor- Further down, light coming in from the open doors of the gymnaisum. Faint, wavering light. Candles. The air here somehow smells of burnt rubber- not the lack of scents of the whole school..
  265. [22:17] Arkalest And in front of the closet...Splotches. The president. He nods at her, and goes inisde the closet.
  266. [22:17] Arkalest Another skip- Splotches standing in the middle of the corridor. The professor marches towards her- Hands balled into fists, head lower..
  267. [22:18] Arkalest She retreats into the gymnasium.
  268. [22:19] Tatsumi follows her.
  269. [22:21] Arkalest It was never finished.
  270. [22:22] Arkalest It was never finished- The pool never was. Just smooth concrete. Splotches stands on the edge. Defensively.
  271. [22:22] Arkalest The professor doesn't even hesitate. One shove, and she doesn't fight back.
  272. [22:23] Arkalest The president- Hands curled around the handle of a kitchen knife- Knees and elbows of the suit stained with chalk- Looks up from the circle.
  273. [22:23] Arkalest "I couldn't do it."
  274. [22:25] Tatsumi approaches the man slowly, his staff in one hand. His face carefully schooled in a sympathetic non-judgemental look. "Would you put the knife down please? This place has seen enough tragedy."
  275. [22:28] Arkalest The tool clunks against the ground as the man..SImply lets go. "You are shinto, r-right?" You see a hint of dark cicles behind thick glasses. "T-then you...Got to help me."
  276. [22:29] Arkalest "I...I thought they were afraid, you know? Of what was..Outside, so I made the locks. I made them so they could pass, but...Wasn't that."
  277. [22:29] Arkalest "I....His cadillack, y-you didn't touch it, r-right?"
  278. [22:30] Tatsumi "No, we inspected it but did not touch nor take anything within it."
  279. [22:30] Arkalest "G-good." A sad smile creeps on his face. "I...Took so long to...Get everything right."
  280. [22:32] Tatsumi "The seals and bindings are your work?"
  281. [22:32] Arkalest Shiro lowers his staff as he helps the man stand up. "You are the president of this school? The principal?" A quick, nervous nod.
  282. [22:32] Arkalest Another nod. "I...Had to make do." He sucks in breath.
  283. [22:32] Arkalest "I just...I didn't believe it at first, but the nightmares..And the foxes.."
  284. [22:33] Arkalest "They kept coming to me. Saying..Things..A-and...They're still down there. Both of them."
  285. [22:33] Arkalest His eyes squeeze shut and he grips his stomach "But not him oh no /not.../ not him.."
  286. [22:34] Tatsumi glances at Shiro. "What's wrong?"
  287. [22:35] Arkalest "Easy now, mon. Lemme help ya.." He places a hand on the back of the wizened man- His faces wrinkled in pain- And slowly lowers him onto his back outside of the chalk line.
  288. [22:36] Arkalest SLowly, Shiro begins ubottuning the suit- Then the man'0s silk shirt- Then he stops.
  289. [22:36] Arkalest And stares at the claw marks- A single gauge running rhe width of the man's stomach- An old scar..
  290. [22:36] Arkalest ".....Fucking foxes.."
  291. [22:37] Arkalest The principal doesn't even bother resisting- He just trashes slightly, biting down on his knuckles.
  292. [22:37] Arkalest "It was....Nights after." He coughs, forcefully pulling the hems down. "I.....Was here. Talking wit him."
  293. [22:38] Arkalest A wizened hand points at one of the exits. "He heard...Mizune's voice."
  294. [22:38] Tatsumi nods slowly.
  295. [22:38] Arkalest "Wasn't her wasn't her /wasn't her/" The rest of the phrase is just a high-pitched whine of pain. "My pills..Pills..Pocket.."
  296. [22:39] Tatsumi reaches into the pocket and helps the man with his pills.
  297. [22:40] Arkalest He swallows them greedily- Helping with his trembling palm. After a few seconds his breath steadies..
  298. [22:41] Arkalest His body slackens- A minute after he runs his hands through his hair. "................I am sorry."
  299. [22:41] Arkalest "I am...I was, the man who...More or less built this place- And you....Are two shinto priests, right?"
  300. [22:41] Tatsumi "We are. We came here to purify this place after hearing about it."
  301. [22:42] Arkalest "....Thought so." His shoulders slump. "I...Just made things /worse/, haven't I?"
  302. [22:43] Arkalest Shiro shakes his head. "You should have contacted a real priest. It's all..What you were /even/ tryint to do?"
  303. [22:44] Tatsumi "We are more interested in helping the spirits here than assigning blame sir."
  304. [22:46] Arkalest "I....I tried to...They were trapped here. Did some research, and...I got to write an ending for them. For me- A good one. This place, this school-" You see his fists ball up. "All the things I've done for it... You hav e seen the phantoms, right?"
  305. [22:47] Tatsumi "The girl and her teacher, yes we have."
  306. [22:47] Arkalest The man slowly stands up. "I am so close- I just need the clothes in the van- Brought them here. Everything else...Is in place."
  307. [22:47] Arkalest "They were- I don't know. I don't know aymore..."
  308. [22:49] Tatsumi "Stop, please. What exactly are you trying to do? Use yourself as a vessel for the spirits, take them out of this place and release them. That's it, but that's. . . What of the spirit bound in room A12? The Kitsune I think."
  309. [22:50] Arkalest He blinks. ".......There i no spirit in A12- There is..There /was/"
  310. [22:50] Arkalest He swallows. "Something."
  311. [22:51] Arkalest "She, Mrs. Rika- She's down there.."
  312. [22:51] Arkalest "I-in the pool.."
  313. [22:52] Arkalest "I-in my desk, a letter- All the evidence needed for the police to..Run an investigation. After I'd be done with the spirits I'd...Give them that. Stop...People from razing this place."
  314. [22:53] Arkalest "Just5..Make it right. Make the foxes' home /whole../ "
  315. [22:53] Arkalest "Tatsumi." Shiro straightens his back. "What do we do now?"
  316. [22:55] Tatsumi adjusts his glasses. "Give me a moment. I need to think about this."
  317. [22:56] Tatsumi "The ghosts, they were here before you started setting this up, correct?"
  318. [22:58] Arkalest A slow nod. "But they were meshing with...the others."
  319. [22:58] Tatsumi "The other spirits?"
  320. [23:02] Arkalest "Yes...Just...Those things that were here before.."
  321. [23:07] Tatsumi "I see." he nods "That makes sense. We have two ghosts. The professor and the girl who are bound here. Then whatever is sealed in room A12. We also have what's left of the dead Kitsune around here, which may be connected to room A12. And underlying all of this is that great malignancy of this place. The ritual that was prepared here has linked into that, so it's activation may tap into that...
  322. [23:07] Tatsumi ...primary source." That that would be bad goes unsaid "The ritual is almost complete, and I'm somewhat worried about the built up energies around it, defusing it without setting off that underlying source might be a issue."
  323. [23:08] Arkalest Shiro nods- Andf the man closes his eyes, brething in.
  324. [23:08] Arkalest "So, do we fix this mess or do we try to do our own thing?
  325. [23:11] Tatsumi "Maybe. . . Modify the ritual, clean it up so we can transfer the spirits to a container. That way we can deal with A12 and the grounds without worrying about harming them. That would also sidestep the issue of setting off the grounds trying to defuse it, and most of the work is done already."
  326. [23:11] Arkalest A slow nod. "Then...Shall we?"
  327. [23:11] Tatsumi "Yes."
  328. [23:14] Tatsumi removes his chalk and gets to work modifying the ritual.
  329. [10:28] Arkalest Tatsumi: The ritual takes you the better part of rhe day as you and Shiro retrace the steps of the Principal- With the man explaining every single movement, every single chalk drawing. Credit's due when is due...A slight creepy credit.
  330. [10:29] Arkalest He has managed to track down a lot of items from those days- And the ones he could not get his hands on were replaced by copies in the scheme of the ritual.
  331. [10:39] Arkalest Tatsumi: And as you lay the last preparations, he comes up to you- Shoulderse tense, thinkering with his cravat. "I, uhm..."
  332. [10:40] Arkalest "The thing in A12. " His fingers dip into his breastpocket and he retrieves the small bundle. "I........."
  333. [10:40] Arkalest ".............It is better for you to take this. Destroy it, whatever needs to be done."
  334. [10:41] Tatsumi nods and takes the bundle. "It will be dealt with as appropriate."
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  341. [11:58] Tatsumi nods and takes the bundle. "It will be dealt with as appropriate."
  342. [11:58] Arkalest Tatsumi: It feels........
  343. [11:58] Arkalest There's maliciousness.
  344. [11:58] Arkalest There is love.
  345. [11:58] Arkalest Then there is cosmic indifference.
  346. [12:00] Tatsumi "What is this?" He inspects the package.
  347. [12:00] |<-- Scya has left irc.systemnet.info (Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client)
  348. [12:01] Arkalest Tatsumi: It's a delicate, lacquered figure of a fox. The princiapl looks away, sighing. "...At first I thought it was garbage, but....One second, actuall.y"
  349. [12:01] Arkalest He moves away- Tailed by Shiro- And returns, holding a small wooden box.
  350. [12:04] Arkalest Beneath the lid there are eleven lacquered fox symbols- White fur, red eyes. "Sakura- That oldwoman. She did those."
  351. [12:04] -->| scya (Mibbit@SystemNet-E2BB3104.dip0.t-ipconnect.de) has joined #Adeva3IC
  352. [12:08] Tatsumi "These are old, few hundred years and. . " He looks out to the door "Their connected to something outside."
  353. [12:09] Arkalest He sighs. "I....Suppose the foxes left? And the statues want to reconnect there.."
  354. [12:10] Tatsumi nods.
  355. [12:11] Tatsumi "Should place those after we've cleansed this place, let them do their task."
  356. [12:14] Arkalest Shiro joins his hands, and begins chanting slowly...
  357. [12:15] Tatsumi echoes the motion. Joining Shiro's chant.
  358. [12:16] Arkalest It rings against the walls of the gymnasium- Against the two bundsles of clothes within the circle- Within the cement.....
  359. [12:18] Arkalest Tatsumi: You see a greyish mist coalesce into two humanoid forms near the circle. The two phantoms bend down to pick up the clothes- Which disappear in a puff of smoke.
  360. [12:24] Arkalest The principal steps forward- One pink-wrapped floreal wreath in his right hand and a rolled-up diploma in his left. He goes down on his knees, not daring to look them in the eyes...
  361. [12:26] Arkalest There's a split second of utter stilness, and then the objects fade like smoke in the wind.
  362. [12:26] Arkalest More silence, more seconds of stilnnes.
  363. [12:26] Arkalest Then a thin, girly hand touches the principal's forehead. Moments later, that of a grown man.
  364. [12:27] Arkalest [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80SKuF9wX2M ]
  365. [12:29] Tatsumi bows his head.
  366. [12:29] Arkalest Tatsumi: You hear cheering coming from all around you- Boys and girls laughing and chanting. It lasts for all of five seconds, but you see the ghosts smile in the principal's direction. The professor places a hand around the girls' shoulders, and they turn towards the door that leads to the outside of the gymnaisum- ATOweards the moonlight streaming in.
  367. [12:30] Arkalest Tatsumi: THen they look behind themselves, at the unifhsied pool- At what is laid to rest there. The old man dares not say a thing. Te girl lowers her head mounrfully..
  368. [12:31] Arkalest Then the firstof the foxes step in.
  369. [12:31] Arkalest Their slender bodies are white as moonlight- Eyes as red as the rising sun. Eleveln of them. They slowly circle the old man....
  370. [12:32] Arkalest One of them- The biggest, with four tails- Slowly advances on him. Animal eyes meet two impenetrable glasses.
  371. [12:32] Arkalest TO his credit, he doesn't beg- He doesn't whimper or scream. He simply slowly stand sup- hands balled as fists.
  372. [12:33] Arkalest Then he relaxes them, and you see him whisper a prayer....
  373. [12:33] Arkalest The end doesn't come.
  374. [12:33] Arkalest |Death is easy, old man.|
  375. [12:34] Arkalest She nods towards the cement. |living on the other hand....|
  376. [12:35] Arkalest Tatsumi: You see two whispers of silver light emerge from the pavement. One of them drifts in the direction of the girl's cupped hand- And the other swirls on itsel- Growing- Moving towards the old man. He moves out his arms to take it-
  377. [12:36] Arkalest And finds himself holding a sleeping baby, no more than one year old.
  378. [12:36] Arkalest It's a tiny thing, swaddled in white c cloth. |Shintos.| The head fox turns her gaze upon you two. |You have done well.|
  379. [12:38] Tatsumi "Thank you, we have done nothing less than what our duty requires."
  380. [12:41] Arkalest |However, I am afraid my sisters and I can not go back to protecting this place. The forest is too meager to offer substenance to us...And so we had to depart for the city. |
  381. [12:42] Arkalest She lowers her head. |And I must confess we had..An arrangement. We would allow a certain level of maliciousness to build up in those grounds to curb favor with one of oursa..|
  382. [12:42] Arkalest The fox nods at the two ghosts. |But..Little did we know we would end up causing something like this..|
  383. [12:42] Arkalest |On behalf of my sisters- And Rika...We are sorry.|
  384. [12:44] Arkalest Both ghosts nod slowly- And then they wave at the old man.
  385. [12:45] Arkalest |You, shinto- You have done us both a favour and a disservice...Now we have to speak to this one, and...We would like for an intermediary.|
  386. [12:46] Tatsumi "I will do as you request."
  387. [12:49] Arkalest The two ghosts slowly disappear- And you hear the sound of a cadillac's engine turning on. One paw raised, the fox looks out of the door. |And you, old man...We will take care of this place. as we must admit we had...Quite the fondness for it.|
  388. [12:49] Arkalest |That-| And the soft, musical voice of the fox switches to that of a kindly, maternal old woman. |We entrusted it to you:|
  389. [12:50] Arkalest He blinks- "S-sakura? I-I am s-"
  390. [12:51] Arkalest |Don't be. Just leave. Live.|
  391. [12:51] Arkalest |Give her another chance to do so as well..|
  392. [12:54] Arkalest A slow nod. "I...I will."
  393. [12:55] Arkalest One of the foxes slowly stalks up to you and Shiro. |This is Mumei. She will lead you to the place of the other kitsune....Mind.|
  394. [12:56] Arkalest |This place will also help you in your understanding of Raoh..|
  395. [12:57] Arkalest And so they all fade- A gust of wind wiping off the flames of the candles. The principal blinks- And you hear a small baby's giggle.
  396. [12:57] Tatsumi "I see. . ."
  397. [12:57] Arkalest Shiro sighs. ".......I need a smoke. Tatsu- You alirhgt man?"
  398. [12:57] Arkalest Mumei slowly coalesces into an albino fox. |Hi?|
  399. [12:58] Tatsumi "I'll be fine. Go grab a smoke, I'll scream if I need your help." He nods to the fox. "Hello."
  400. [12:58] Arkalest "I, uh, the baby...I need to...Register her.." The old man sounds on the verge of tears.. "I...Can I go?"
  401. [12:59] Arkalest Papa Shiro nods. "I think you did enough, man. "
  402. [12:59] Tatsumi "You have. Go, we will finish taking care of this place in your stead."
  403. [13:00] Arkalest He slowly makes his way to the exit- Arms wrapped around the baby.
  404. [13:01] Arkalest |So, uh, I am Mumei, as Saki said. Nice to meet you all..|
  405. [13:01] Arkalest |I'll be taking you to the other kitsune's place..If you don't mind, that is? I mean..:|
  406. [13:02] Tatsumi "I do not, please lead on."
  407. [13:03] Arkalest |It is a fair bit in the city- YOu know, ah, urban kitsunes and all...|
  408. [13:03] Arkalest |ALso, you..| She sats on her haunches. |You defeat Raoh, didn't you?|
  409. [13:05] Tatsumi "Not exactly, it is more that we came to a understanding." He mulls it over a moment "Raoh has . . . lost interest in claiming Japan."
  410. [13:07] Arkalest |Well, we /do/ have enough people clamoring gfor the throne..|
  411. [13:08] Arkalest She trots out- Back into the woods. |Now..FOllow me.|
  412. [13:09] Tatsumi follows the spirit.
  413. [13:16] Arkalest You trot after the fox- past the rusted gate, past the now silent forest...Into empty streets, with only a handful of salarymen at the crossroadfs- Drunks and late
  414. [13:16] =-= WolfieBed is now known as Pale_Wolf
  415. [13:16] Arkalest You trot after the fox- past the rusted gate, past the now silent forest...Into empty streets, with only a handful of salarymen at the crossroadfs- Drunks and late people, stum,bling down the streets. Mumei is fleetfooted, and soon she ducks onto a metro station.
  416. [13:17] Arkalest There is a train waiting- The last salarymen there throwing circuspect glances around themselves boardin- And when they finally do- When the train finally departs with a whistle, the station remains empty.
  417. [13:17] Arkalest |Soooo... What do you Shintos do for fun?|
  418. [13:18] Tatsumi "It varies from person to person/ I enjoy reading and poetry."
  419. [13:18] =-= scya is now known as Kenji
  420. [13:19] Arkalest "I enjoy reading beat poetry, trekking around...Stuff in general, but..What about you foxes?"
  421. [13:20] Arkalest Mumei shimmers for a moment- And seconds later she is the size of a big dog, a small green shawl with a lily motif clinging to hr neck- And a single streak of yellow fur running down |More than you think. Ecoterrorism, for example. We sensibilize people to the plight of the forest.|
  422. [13:24] Arkalest There is a creak as a train slows down onto the station, totally empty. It is a pretty old model, with what little crimson-painted surface that isn't covered in graffiti being battered and brusied. Its doors open with a *DING* and Mumei trots inside.
  423. [13:25] Tatsumi "I see. . ." He steps into the train-car.
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  427. [13:30] Arkalest |So, uh....How was Raoh?| Mumei curls up on a leopard-skinned seat- Just one among many. Shiro lets out a whistle and plops into anothr one.
  428. [13:32] Tatsumi takes a seat.
  429. [13:32] Tatsumi "Oddly enough he is not a. . . he is not as bad as his title would lead you to think."
  430. [13:33] Arkalest |I mean..| She blinks, and you see what you hope isn't the canine version of a blush. |Was he really that evil? For a given definition of..That.|
  431. [13:33] Arkalest The train speeds up- Its destination display showing the name "Naraka"
  432. [13:34] Tatsumi "When he realized I was a child he felt somewhat guilty at my involvement." He shrugs "But prophesy cares little for such things as age. That was part of what lead to our. . understanding. Overall I would say that there are far worse people I could know."
  433. [13:39] Arkalest |...........Interesting...| Her tail beats against the seat as the train speeds down a dark tunnel. The dinky orange lights in the ceiling barely provide any sort of illumination, and you can feel the whole car vibrate as it speeds up. |.....Oh. |
  434. [13:39] Arkalest |I assume you do not have problems with onis, demons and whatnot, right?|
  435. [13:39] Arkalest |:...Right?| She summons a pair of square glasses.
  436. [13:40] Tatsumi "If they do not seek conflict or to prey upon the innocent I have no reason to have a problem."
  437. [13:41] Arkalest |What if they're just..| Strings of red lights appear on the walls of the tunnel. |Hang around and....Act like people? With all the bad and good it entails?|
  438. [13:43] Tatsumi "Then I treat them no differently than I would any other person."
  439. [13:44] Arkalest |............Well, that's a relief because-| She makes an awkward circular gesture with her forepaws. |Then it would have been a bitch to explain..|
  440. [13:44] Arkalest "NOW ARRIVING- "Croaks an electronic, frazzled voice on the PA system. "IN NARAKA."
  441. [13:44] Arkalest Tatsumi: Then the train slow downs onto a station.
  442. [13:45] Tatsumi stands up.
  443. [13:45] Tatsumi "I will admit, you have gotten my curiosity."
  444. [13:45] Arkalest Tatsumi: There is a yuki-onna at the door- Behind the door.
  445. [13:45] Arkalest Dressed in a costly Western-cut suit, and holding a suitcase stuffed to the brim with protective wards.
  446. [13:47] Arkalest Next to her, a three-meter tall oni in lacquered samurai armor is checking his iPad- Strapped directly to his titanic wrist like a watch- While holding the hand of a stringy ghost girl in a serafuku- Who is lapping a blood icea cream with a forked tongue.
  447. [13:47] Arkalest Past them................
  448. [13:47] Tatsumi ". . . The world holds more wonders and strange sights than I will ever see in my life, and will never cease to surprise me."
  449. [13:48] Arkalest The tiles are cracked and worn- But glittering in their polish, with blue neon lights attached to the ceiling- A few lighting spirits racing among them. An animated suit of samurai armor is playing a whole drum-set- Plus a bass and a trombone- By itself, using coiled mist-tentacles filled with eyes.
  450. [13:50] Arkalest Groups of ghost girls chatter amidst themselves, with a few of them tuning their instruments inside this cavernous..:Train station. There /are/ staircases, but they all lead down- Onto the earth- And there's a loud thrumming, a choir of voices coming from there. Men with stitched eyes and pincers for hands in Armani suits- Making their way to the train, putting their lobster claws on the...
  451. [13:50] Arkalest ...bras handrails that line the station.
  452. [13:50] Arkalest Tatsumi: |Follow me! She /has/ to be at Club D...|
  453. [13:51] Tatsumi follows. Seemingly unconcerned at the surrounding creatures.
  454. [13:52] Arkalest The vixen steps onto the stairs- Nimbly dodging a pair of neokomatas in matching colorful rave attire- And ducks onto Naraka proper.
  455. [13:53] Arkalest Tatsumi: You went only a few times to Akibara, but this is.Well.
  456. [13:54] Tatsumi is still in his Shinto garb.
  457. [13:54] Arkalest Tatsumi: This is more, despite being smaller- Despite being only inside a cavern with a ceiling covered in duct fans and rusted pipes- And in massive neon lights.
  458. [13:55] Arkalest There's a chinese hopping vampire manning a taco stand in front of what appears to be a pachinko parlour- A building that fades onto the cement5 ceiling. He nods at you respectfully as he hands a bowl of tacos to a zombie man wearing a sailor outfit.
  459. [13:57] Arkalest Mumei ducks towards a tall, square building- Five floors, its windows barred and covered, a sheer aura of /music/ pulsating out of it. A couple of tengus take off their their wide-b rimmed black hats when they pass by you- Black dresses dragging on the wet, bare floor.
  460. [13:57] Tatsumi nods back respectful, acknowledging the respect given, and wondering why it is given.
  461. [13:58] |<-- Kenji has left irc.systemnet.info (Quit: http://www.mibbit.com ajax IRC Client)
  462. [13:58] Arkalest The air is just...Saturated with the smell of a dozen different street food types, with the mell of cheap sigarettes and costly beers- Sugary scents and sour ones- Enveloped by half a dozen different musical genre blasting out of as many buiuldings with neon signs saying things like "Nullificate Club", "The Golden Chain", "Seventh Cloud"
  463. [14:03] -->| scya (Mibbit@SystemNet-E2BB3104.dip0.t-ipconnect.de) has joined #Adeva3IC
  464. [14:04] Arkalest Shiro whistles. "This is....Man I heard rumors about this. A whole damn village...No."
  465. [14:04] Arkalest "A city."
  466. [14:05] Arkalest Tatsumi: Mumei stops in frotn of a three-meters tall-ogre in a white wifebeater- Red arms tattooed with crosses and a dozen religious symbols. The giant crosses his arms- And leans down on one knee to talk to the vixen.
  467. [14:05] Tatsumi "It may have been a village once, but it would seem it has grown with the city above."
  468. [14:07] Arkalest Tatsumi: The ogre beckons you closer with a finger. "Sir."
  469. [14:07] Arkalest There's more than a hint of respect in his booming voice.
  470. [14:07] Tatsumi steps forward. "Yes?" He says without a trace of trepidation.
  471. [14:08] Arkalest One hand slips inside a jean pocket big enough to fit your head- And comes back holding minuscule cards. "Those are reedemeable for free drinks."
  472. [14:09] Arkalest Tatsumi: You notice a post for a band- With a huge grey D and a dark background- Not much in the way of other ads.
  473. [14:10] Arkalest A loud male voice form inside is singing- Muffled by the double metallic doors.
  474. [14:10] Tatsumi "Ah, thank you for your generosity." he takes the offered cards and slips them into one of the pockets in his robe.
  475. [14:11] Arkalest "The Miss wants to see you." He pushes the doors open..
  476. [14:11] Arkalest Allowing you to step into Club D.
  477. [14:12] Tatsumi "I will not keep her waiting then."
  478. [14:13] Arkalest Velvet-lined walls covered in black-inked kanjis, with mahogany columns sustaining balconies filled to the brim with ghosts, zombies and youkais dancing to a rocking crescendo- Provided by a gigantic D-shaped stage at the center of the room.
  479. [14:14] Arkalest Two people step out of the shadows nearby a column- A ghost girl in a blue, blood-stained serafuku wearing a surgical mask- her raven hair covering her eyes- And a white-furred rabbit in a suit, long ears and red hair slung back-. Both girls are holding baseball bats filled with nails.
  480. [14:15] Arkalest The Inaba looks at you for a moment with her huge red eyes, and then nods- Turning towards a door barely visible agains tthe wall.
  481. [14:16] Tatsumi returns the nod and heads to the door. He knocks on it thrice.
  482. [14:16] Arkalest "THANK YOUUU!" Hollers the singer- Right as the door opens on a spiral staircase leading to a box right over and in front of the stage.
  483. [14:16] Arkalest Mumei climbs the stairs- With Shiro tailing you.
  484. [14:17] Tatsumi tails Mumei
  485. [14:18] Arkalest Tatsumi: "Hello."
  486. [14:20] Arkalest The box is smoky- Enveloped in a fragrance of roses and vanilla- Mahongay, gold-lacquered chairs and couches with red velvet cushions. The girl who spoke has a silky voice- barely above a whispoer.
  487. [14:20] |<-- LilithSleep has left irc.systemnet.info (Ping timeout: 120 seconds)
  488. [14:20] Arkalest She is wearing a school uniform- Black and red and orange tie, her hazel hair long and uncut. Reclining on the couch, she looks at you from behind half-lidded, golden eyes.
  489. [14:21] Arkalest Tatsumi: Behind her...
  490. [14:21] Tatsumi "Hello Ma'am."
  491. [14:21] Arkalest "THANK ALL OF YOU BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! FOR BEING HERE AND FOR BEING SO DAMN SUPPORTIVE!"
  492. [14:21] Arkalest The singer's voice is suave- Too suave...Too silky yet deep. You...Think you recognize it.
  493. [14:23] Arkalest "Four Ds /LOVES/ you guys, and we know YOU." A slender finger wrapped in a black glove aims itself at the crowd.
  494. [14:23] Tatsumi blinks. He makes the connection.
  495. [14:23] Arkalest "YOU /love/ US BAAACK!" He pants onto the elaborate, spiky mesh of his microphone pole- Long, lean milky-white limbs connected to a lithe torso wrapped in a sleeveless red jacket.
  496. [14:24] Arkalest "So this next song-" Perfectly coiffeured hair- Evenly split down the middle in pure black and pure white- A black tie hanging from a beautiful, slender neck. Turqouise eyes..
  497. [14:24] Arkalest Sharklike-teeth.
  498. [14:25] Arkalest Raoh grabs the microphone. "IT'S FOR ALL OF YOU AND FOR OUR SPECIAL-" He aims the microphone stand at the box. "GUESTS! "
  499. [14:26] Arkalest "HIT IT, DMD!"
  500. [14:26] Arkalest [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vk24UKKI4yY ]
  501. [14:26] Arkalest |Miss, those are the SHintos that-|
  502. [14:26] Arkalest "Sssh."
  503. [14:26] Arkalest THe girl brings a dainty finger to her lips- And then aims it at Tatsumi "You:"
  504. [14:26] Arkalest "You purified my playground."
  505. [14:26] Tatsumi "Yes, I did."
  506. [14:27] Arkalest There is no angter in her voice- Merely perplexity.
  507. [14:27] Arkalest "Why?"
  508. [14:27] Tatsumi "It is our duty to purify places of malice." One could have easily asked a bird why if flies.
  509. [14:28] Arkalest "And....." She tilts her head. "Why is that?" There is honest puzzlement in her voice.
  510. [14:30] Tatsumi "Impurities bring poor fortune, they bring imbalance to the kami within. It leads to misery and suffering for those who dwell within around around it."
  511. [14:30] Arkalest "No, I mean- Who dediced it is your duty?"
  512. [14:32] Tatsumi "I did. I choose to become a priest, I choose to make this my duty."
  513. [14:32] Arkalest "Why? I mean, you're so young, and there's just so many shrines- So many impure places.."
  514. [14:33] Tatsumi "There are many shrines, more than I could ever care for. There are more impure places than I could ever purify in my lifetime. But without my presence there would be more. I cannot fix everything, but I can make things better than if I had done nothing."
  515. [14:34] Arkalest "That's a...Very interesting viewpoint." She tilts her head sideways. "But, mmh, see, I am afraid I need to be a bit....Forceful here. You have seen the ghosts here, right?"
  516. [14:34] Tatsumi "I have yes."
  517. [14:36] Arkalest "See, there's...A balnce here. Just like in the sanctuary- Isn't that right, Mumei?" The fox nods.
  518. [14:37] Arkalest "Old woman feeds the foxes. The foxes are happy. The foxes keep evil kamis away."
  519. [14:38] Tatsumi nods. Listening.
  520. [14:39] Arkalest "Kids feed the grounds with their maliciousness. My ghosts feed there. They keep other, worst ghosts from going and eating people. We all are happy."
  521. [14:39] Arkalest "Now..." She joins her hands together. "Who will feed my ghosts and /me/ ?"
  522. [14:41] Tatsumi "You want me to . . . compensate you for your lose."
  523. [14:42] Arkalest A slow nod.
  524. [14:43] Tatsumi "I would be willing to reach a arrangement, so long as it is not too. . . ethically questionable."
  525. [14:48] Arkalest "I just want a place for my girls to rest and recuperate at.."
  526. [14:50] Tatsumi "A place with enough malice for them to sustain themselves on. But not so strong that it would be harmful to the humans in the area."
  527. [14:51] Arkalest "Indeed. "
  528. [14:52] Arkalest "I assure you, they will behave to the best of their abilities.."
  529. [14:58] Tatsumi "I know a place. A closed down slaughter house near the docks. It was never purified or even sanctified. It was one of the places I had considered purifying, but the school was more. . pressing due to the presence of spirits. It's closed down and the general area off limits, so there should be very few people there, and it's unclaimed by anything powerful. There are a few ghouls there, but I...
  530. [14:58] Tatsumi ...doubt they would be a problem for you. I will make sure that it is known to be off limits at our temple and some of the others, if you find this agreeable."
  531. [14:58] Arkalest She blinks. "I......Uh...."
  532. [14:59] Arkalest "..................................DUnno what to say. That sounds..That sounds pretty good, actually..."
  533. [15:00] Tatsumi "I am glad it is agreeable to you."
  534. [15:02] Arkalest "...Yeah, let's go with that- " massive fluffy tail pops onto being, and she crosses her legs. "So, uh-" Her tone's noticeably warmer. "I mmh- Would be an awful host if I didn't grab drinks for the three of y6ou, would I?"
  535. [15:03] Tatsumi "And it would be quite rude of us to refuse our host's offer."
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