forgottenwaters

[forgottenwaters]

aw, don't be like that. what makes you think i've got something?

i can smell the little whelp from here. you can't just bring in every stray you find, you know.

yeah yeah, you know me too well. but we do need at least some spirits to survive to torture condemned souls, which brings me to my next point.

have them cleaned and clothed, and don't let the hellhounds near them until they've gotten used to their scent. this little one's been through enough today.

*sigh* as you wish, lord jigoku.

ah. that reminds me. i never asked for your name, kid.

...shirazaki.

shirazaki. a bit long, but i'll think of a nickname for you. anyways...

you're safe here. i'm sorry about your family, but there's nothing we can do about them now. if you'd like, we can hold a funeral for them. there's... no second chances for spirits like us when we die, but it's still important we put the dead to rest, out of respect.

mm-hmm... i'd appreciate that.

all right, let's get you cleaned up first then. i'll see you again soon.

[hints have been updated.]

[forgottenwaters]

[the spirit takes a moment to survey the area. light-furred corpses litter the area, along with several scorched patches of dirt.]

hm, probably not, unless you know fox magic. that one behind you, though...

just a kid, huh. and yet you already have six tails? i guess that explains how you survived. you must also be responsible for that surge of power i sensed before, aren't you.

[it's less of a question and more of an affirmation. still, shirazaki doesn't answer, though his legs are trembling.]

angry, are you? well, that's just how it is down here - you're strong enough to survive, or you aren't and you die. now how about you come with me? i could use someone with your power.

i... i...!

i won't force you to. but a kid like you won't survive alone out here for long.

i'll... i'll go with you. just... can you make me stronger?

sure, kid. if that's what you want.

(ft. @inaris-pokemon-world)

[forgottenwaters]

Inari: Oh my! You seem injured! Is there anything I can do to help? What happened?

[shirazaki puffs up their tails to look bigger, and it looks like they'd snap at you if you got any closer.]

wait... your aura feels different... you're not one of them...?

[stepping further back into the cave, shirazaki narrows his eyes, and the fireballs floating around him start to burn brighter.]

don't lie. everyone else is dead already. or were their spirits not enough to satisfy you? i won't go down that easily--

[the sound of wings flapping from outside seems to get shirazaki's attention then, and they hiss under their breath as the sound gets louder and louder by the second.]

@inaris-pokemon-world

[forgottenwaters]

[a familiar-looking fox is hunched down within the shelter of a cave. they appear highly alert and hostile, as if they were just in a fight. will you approach them?

(younger) shirazaki is available for asks / hints have been updated.

party status has changed.]

[forgottenwaters]

mister kappa!

are you looking for your mom, kid? she just left.

ah, n-no. i wanted to greet you before i went home. i thought you would've been fishing already?

nah, not tonight. take a look over there.

see those flames? that means the seas are too dangerous to sail for now. i've learned my lesson from last time.

ohh... can i sit with you for a while, then? the flames look pretty...

sure, kid. how about i tell you a story, then? you can take your pick.

mm-hmm, i wanna hear one!

[forgottenwaters]

happy lunar new years from umibe town!

[forgottenwaters]

oh, it's good as new. i'll be back to work tomorrow.

i see. that's good.

[issei pulls a piece of scrap paper from her sleeve and hands it to kappa.]

...? what's this for?

a little exercise. write down all your regrets and worries from today, then tie it to your hook and cast it out along with those feelings. until you think you can let those feelings go, keep casting out your line. or give yourself until the paper dissolves, then save it to worry about another time.

wow. does it really work?

depends on whether you want it to. but if you let yourself get eaten up by negative thoughts, you might turn into a malicious spirit.

that's pretty insightful coming from you. if you've got techniques like these, people are gonna wonder why you haven't passed on yet.

[issei lets out an amused huff.]

i got a lot to make up for. and until my boy goes on ahead, i'm not going anywhere.

[kappa has completed his quest.]

[forgottenwaters]

so... you ran into the headless spirit again. and then a complete stranger saves you, but you saw them get trampled in the process. not only that, but even the fox lord is involved somehow. are you worried they'll blame you or something?

no, no. i was only interviewed by one of the attendants, and they said lord ninetails would handle things. they told me not to worry about anything, but... i didn't ask for help. that tree spirit didn't have to get involved, and now their entire spiritual presence is just... gone. that's it, there's no chance of reincarnation for them now, and all because of me. i'm not anyone special, and yet they willingly took my place. i just don't understand...

sounds like survivor's guilt to me. trust me, i know all about it.

ah, i'm sorry, issei. i guess you're the last person i should be talking to about this.

don't worry about it. it's better to talk about it than not. besides, that's kinda why spirits like us are here, right? to move on. there's nothing that can be done about it now, so no use getting caught up on it.

is it... always this hard?

yeah. it can be. but we've got nothing but time to sort it all out.

[forgottenwaters]

when did you get back? itsuki wanted to greet you right away.

oh, uh, just a little while ago. i wanted to get to work as soon as possible.

hm... did something happen? you seem a little off.

n-not at all! ah, but before i forget, i caught one of the fox vendors on their way out so i got you some fried tofu.

oh. you really didn't have to, but thanks.

d-don't mention it.

kappa... if you're not gonna tell me what happened, tsukasa's gonna squeeze it out of you eventually, you know.

i... i know.

give me some time to cook something with this. i'm borrowing your stove, then you're gonna tell me what's up, got it?

sure, 'mom.'

[forgottenwaters]

here a hot chocolate for you Nukue

yoink! i'll be taking that, hyo hyo!

wahh, mister garappa, that's mine!!

[forgottenwaters]

thank you for your cooperation, dear guest. you've been very helpful.

y-yeah, no problem. i hope the clean-up effort won't be too difficult.

don't you worry about that. now, it's about time for the bus to be arriving, and i should report back to lord ninetails.

[the bus has arrived. it's time to go home.]

[forgottenwaters]

king of monsters

[forgottenwaters]

i'll admit, i've only ever heard of this headless spirit in passing. i'd be more worried if it strayed close to the village, but based on what you've told me, it's not targeting us directly.

yeah, it's more erratic, if anything. but if nothing is done about the mess it leaves behind, it could be dangerous. especially its blood.

[kappa grows quiet again, thinking back to how close otokou was to being lost completely.]

hmm... and the spirit that pushed you out of the way, i believe that was a jubokko by the name of kanoko. most likely it was acting on lord ninetails' orders to take care of our guests.

a jubokko? then, the headless spirit's blood definitely isn't good for them...

do not despair. you can't blame yourself for the actions taken by others, understand?

i... y-yeah...

kanoko is capable of making its own decisions. besides, i wouldn't worry.

[forgottenwaters]

you're not in trouble or anything. i apologize if i made you nervous.

oh, uh, it's okay.

but... you must have seen something. am i wrong?

no, you're right, i just...

take your time. it must've been frightening.

[kappa looks down at his lap in silence.]

[more than being frightened, he was more concerned about the tree spirit who pushed him out of the way just in time. they could've had friends and family, or someone relying on them, someone who would miss them if they were truly gone. and kappa just sat there and watched them get trampled. thinking back to otokou, he wonders if there was even a small chance they could've survived. if he could've done something to help.]

i... saw what happened. it wasn't pleasant.

it's all right. again, please take your time.

[forgottenwaters]

that tree spirit... they can't really be...? no, there's a chance they could still be 'alive'... but just why would they do that for a complete stranger...

[the sound of rustling leaves gets kappa's attention.]

you are one of lord ninetails' guests. leaving already?

ah. y-yes, i...

there has been an incident within the forest. you didn't happen to see anything suspicious, did you?

er... well...

my apologies, but i will ask that you stay and answer a few questions for me. it is very important if i'm going to figure out what happened.

i... a-alright. i'll stay.

[forgottenwaters]

[continued from here]

[koun tilts their head, ears lowered in sympathy.]

you don't even get to share meals often? i see...

[they look as if they have more to say before they perk up again.]

you're right; there is not much we can do about the changing times, but i am glad these events have led us to meet. whenever you feel like it, you are always welcome here. as long as you have that charm, you should have no trouble returning, my friend. i would be glad to share a meal with you again.

[just then, there is a knock on the door frame before the door is slid open to reveal another fox spirit.]

forgive the intrusion, my lord. there's been a... disturbance in the forest.

hmm? can it wait?

it's... well, it's a little urgent. noi went to survey the area and concluded that it needs to be cleansed. there's also quite a bit of damage...

[koun sighs and turns back to their meal.]

ah... and i barely got to eat. please forgive me, inari. duty calls and all that. though next time i would very much like to hear about how you attained godhood, if time allows. perhaps i could even visit your realm sometime, hm?

@askoinari