#akita shiori

[cinemaobscura]

The Flowers of Evil | 惡の華 (2019) dir. Iguchi Noboru

[questintheskies]

[tsukimefuku]

❅ Sand and Snow | Chapter 4

ALL CHAPTERS HERE | PREVIOUS CHAPTER HERE.

In the city of Odate, Akita, there have been multiple deaths in the past few weeks. The first-grade sorcerer Nanami Kento is sent out to investigate the snowy city, not knowing that it would be his last mission as a Jujutsu High student.

OR

Why Nanami left Jujutsu High to become a 9/5 corporate slave.

Tags: Murder/mystery, canon typical violence, POV Nanami, Post Star-plasma Vessel Arc, Canon compliant, Angst but I'm not Gege

Gojo and Nanami shenanigans ensue. They find out more about the Yamadas.

WC: 3.4K | on AO3 here.

The curse-user had claimed yet another victim, 28-year-old woman Takahashi Mio. Given that the killings were timely spread apart, Gojo and Nanami decided it was best if they went alone to investigate this latest death. Gojo provided Shiori with his burner phone number, just in case.

"So, Nanami, could you get me up to speed on what is going on?" Gojo asked.

"Didn't you speak to Yaga principal? I've been giving him daily reports."

"No."

How could the supposedly strongest jujutsu sorcerer of our age not get any information about the mission before he got here? Gojo's irresponsibility was particularly bothersome for Nanami most of the time.

"And did you talk to Ijichi?"

"Oh, that I certainly did! Before yesterday, actually!" 

Nanami remembered Ijichi's demeanor on the phone. "Well, did you threaten him in any way?" He asked.

"I strongly suggested he didn't report his findings to you on Jujutsu High's phone anymore." Gojo grinned.

Earlier that day, when they were at Shiori's house, Ijichi relayed to Nanami all of his findings about the Yamada family. Obtaining this information was particularly difficult, because Jujutsu High's archives that he could search did not offer a lot of information about the family, something that was unusual, so Ijichi faced a little more digging around than he was accustomed to.

Gojo helped (with a healthy dose of strong encouragement called "try to look in forbidden or somewhat classified archives" right before he left).

According to Ijichi, the Yamadas did not have the best relationship with the Jujutsu Society established by Tengen and frequented by the clans. The Yamadas didn't even consider themselves as a clan, given they wouldn't keep most of their jujutsu traditions or preserve their name during the centuries, and started to spread as non-sorcerers throughout Japan, while most of them stayed within Akita's prefecture. Those that remained were mostly the ones born jujutsu sorcerers.

It seemed that the main reason the Yamadas and Jujutsu Society did not get along was because Yamadas never surrendered their cursed objects or tools to them for safe keeping. There was one object worth noting, specifically, that the Jujutsu Society was keen on having, as it involved the ability to guard cursed objects, tools, and nearly anything with cursed energy above a certain threshold in a very convoluted way. Ijichi didn't quite find what it was, unfortunately, and questioning Shiori served little to no purpose for that matter.

Nanami was starting to suspect Shiori might've been withholding information.

And about her parents, they were apparently the most well respected members of the family up until their disappearance, serving as the informal leaders of the Yamadas. They had twins, Shiori and Shiro, both born with the ability to see curses and manipulate cursed energy.

"Could this object be like Toji's cursed spirit? The one that kept his arsenal?"

Gojo went silent for a moment. "Yes."

Even though Gojo's silence was usually something Nanami longed for during most of their interchanges, this was actually sorrowful. He felt bad for Satoru and the memories that might've evoked.

"So, we are working with the hypothesis that this is a mission for retrieving cursed objects, and not actually exorcizing anything or capturing anyone?" Nanami said.

"No!" Gojo promptly answered. "Nanamin, quiz time!"

"You don't know anything about quizzes." This roundabout way Satoru had of getting his points across was incredibly obnoxious. Nanami wasn't feeling so empathetic anymore.

"What were we sent to do in Odate?" Gojo asked, with a child-like smile on his face.

"What I was sent to do while you were unavailable was to investigate these deaths and deal with what was causing them."

"Correct! We were sent to do just that!"

Nanami sighed. "Ok."

"Next question: what is the probable cause of these deaths?"

Nanami was questioning if this was actually leading anywhere.

"A curse user, most likely."

"Correct again!" Satoru responded like he was in a trivia TV show.

Nanami put his fingers in between his eyes, fighting an emerging headache as they walked in the streets of Odate. "Can you please just say what you're thinking?"

"I'm teaching my underclassman!" 

"I do not respect you as my upperclassman."

"I need to train my teaching skills!"

Nanami dreaded the image of Gojo Satoru being a teacher, as that implied he'd be the most responsible person in the room — that room being a classroom.

Gojo proceeded, "We're here to capture a curse user and take him in for questioning, preferably. What does that tell you about what Jujutsu High wants from us?"

That they want us to take this curse user to them, who probably knows how to find the actual object of their interest, Nanami completed in his head.

"I see your point. What is your plan, then?" Nanami asked Gojo.

Some girls were walking by and started commenting on "the tall guy with white hair". Gojo lowered his glasses and winked. The girls went mad. One of them fainted. Nanami sighed heavily.

"We get to that object first and retrieve that. I'd like to know what it is and how it works. Information is important, you know?" He answered, pushing his pitch black glasses back into position.

Gojo seemed like an uninterested idiot at times, yet he was definitely not dumb, nor easily manipulated by Jujutsu High's leadership.

"Hey, Nanamin!"

"Stop calling me that."

"We should go eat after we finish this, I heard they have the best Kiritanpo here in Odate!"

Nanami sighed, yet again, for Gojo had started with his foodie shenanigans. At least the cold breeze helped with the headache.

As they approached the scene, the same hectic scenery ensued. The building was surrounded by curious people, some news reporters, and the entrance had police tape around it. 

"Gojo, we should check the perimeter first. Last time this happened, the curse user got away from me."

"Sure. I teleport myself in, and you go and do your checking."

It actually was a good plan.

"Fine." Before Nanami finished the word, Satoru had already vanished. He then started walking around the building to look for any suspicious activity, or even the motorcycle. There was not much going on other than what he had seen already, and no trace of cursed activity on the outside, so he decided he would simply wait around and see what Gojo found.

However, as he was about to just sit and wait, he saw something. Haru, that fox from the first day, was right on the other side of the street, looking at the apartment complex.

What is going on?

Nanami started walking towards the animal, but as soon as Haru saw him, it just bolted away. Given that it was not anything of importance, He decided to let it go and keep waiting for Gojo to come back.

"I'm done!" Satoru said, as he appeared back right beside Nanami. "Found some interesting things. Let's take a look."

First, he took out a small wooden box, just like the one that was in Nakamura's office. It had cursed energy traces all over it. 

"I've seen one of those before, at the last murder scene." Nanami said.

"You have? Well, how about this?" Gojo said, as he took some papers out of his pocket. He figured that if the last victim was a Yamada that had changed his surname, this was also a possibility in this case. And he was right.

The high school conclusion certificate read Yamada Mio.

"This is concerning".

"Definitely." Gojo responded. He then took his burner phone and called Ijichi. "Ijichi, we have a request. Search all the victims, see if they've changed their names and were previously Yamadas. Also, please, check similar death's throughout Japan in the past few months."

"Last three months." Nanami said.

Gojo looked at him. "Last three months" he said before hanging up. "Why that time frame?" He asked, looking straight at Nanami.

"Come. Let's have lunch. I'll fill you in."

***

"So, this lady is pretty sus, huh?" Gojo said, as he had three kiritanpo rice sticks stuffed in his mouth.

"She doesn't seem like a bad person." Nanami responded.

Gojo thought about it. "You're usually not a bad judge of character" he said, as he pulled the three sticks out of his mouth at the same time, completely scraped clean and started talking with his mouth full. "But someone can be a good person and still do bad things. People find all sorts of justifications for their shit." He wasn't wrong.

"There are some things that are not adding up." Nanami pondered. 

"What about this brother? Have they not contacted the police or anything about his disappearance?" Gojo grabbed three rice sticks simultaneously.

"Apparently, they haven't. But that could be explained by the fact that he probably would be dealing with cursed spirits involved in their parents’ disappearance. His sister seemed aware of that possibility." Nanami grabbed a single rice stick and started eating at a normal rate.

"I see." Gojo responded with his mouthful of rice. "Hey, Nanami..." his tone shifted to a more serious one. Nanami noticed it.

"What?"

"How is this mission working out for you?" He lowered his glasses so he could look directly into Nanami's eyes as he waited for a response.

Nanami contemplated if he really had an answer for that question, as he started to speak without really knowing what would come out of his mouth. "At first, it was angering to see they'd put me up for another mission that seemed above my capacities." He meditated for a moment. "But I'm fine now. I simply want to finish this mission. Why?"

Gojo smiled. "Nothing. It's nice to see you still have a good head on your shoulders." He said, giving Nanami a little tap on his back as he got up. "Well, let's detective Conan this!"

Satoru was back to using references. Nanami was not pleased.

Gojo's phone rang, and he picked it up. It was Ijichi. Satoru's demeanor went from playful to serious, as he said, "ok. Thanks for letting me know." and ended the call. "We have to go back to that house now."

"Why is that?" Nanami asked.

"All the victims were Yamadas". Gojo answered, as he put his phone away. "If my thinking is right..."

"She could actually be the next target."

***

As they got back to the house, the sky grew grayer. The sun was about to set, and they knew they had to question Shiori for real this time. Nanami knocked on the door, but before Shiori could open it after unlocking, Gojo just barged in screaming Good evening!

"Hey, guys! You're back." She said, greeting them with a smile and feeling startled as a giant dude with white hair had just let himself into her house unceremoniously.

"We are." Nanami responded. "And we have some questions for you."

Shiori looked at him somewhat confused. "Let me just feed Haru."

Gojo looked at her confused.

"It's a fox, I feed it sometimes." She clarified.

"Oh."

After Shiori went outside with a bowl of food for the animal, she walked back into the living room, where they were waiting for her. "Well, ok. What would you like to know?"

"Firstly, what you really might know about all these deaths." He answered, bluntly.

She sighed, resigned. "You said something about a venomous shikigami, haven't you? Well, I know something about that."

"What do you know?" He asked. Gojo was just standing in the corner of the room, watching the conversation.

"I know there is a shikigami technique that runs in my family, one where we can summon poisonous creatures. Most of us summoned flying snakes. Some curse users in my family might be the culprit."

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Nanami asked.

"I... I don't know." Shiori said as she sat down on a chair, feeling embarrassed. "I've never really been able to trust or rely on anyone other than my brother. And I barely know you!" she said, looking at him. "And we kind of met when you were being a creepy stalker and I had a gun."

"Please, stop saying that." Nanami replied while he sighed.

"Stalker? Gun? What?" Gojo asked, seemingly puzzled.

"And you're from Jujutsu High, on top of it all. I don't know if you're both aware of that, but my family never got along very well with you guys. I never had much of a reason to trust anything you told me." She said.

Nanami stood silent. After all, she wasn't exactly wrong.

Shiori looked at Gojo. "Can you imagine if you came into my house and I said, 'hey, one of my relatives might be the murderer?' What would you do to me, then?" She sighed. "And to be fair, I still don't trust you both completely. So, yeah. What else would you like to know?" 

"Is there any special cursed object in your family?" Nanami asked.

"... Why do you want to know that?" She retorted.

The answer was clearly yes. "These killings might be related to it." Gojo answered from across the room. "The murderer is collecting cursed objects at the crime scenes and leaving these behind." Gojo showed her one of the wooden boxes. 

"Oh, I see."

"Do you know what these are?" He asked.

"Yes."

They were all silent for some time.

"Will you tell us what they are?" Gojo replied.

"No."

Gojo wanted to smack her.

"And you both are 'good guys', I can tell that much. You won't beat me up for information."

She was right. He still wanted to smack her.

"You should know that all the victims were Yamadas." Nanami said. "You could very well be the next target."

She was taken aback. "All of them?"

"All of them." Gojo said, trying to sway her stance from that bit of information.

She considered her options for a moment. "Shit." If she gave them the entire information, they would probably catch the culprit and just leave. She wouldn't be in danger's way anymore, but would probably have to surrender things her parents left her to Jujutsu High. On top of that, her brother was still missing, and after learning that Yamadas were dying left and right, he could possibly be in danger. There was another option. 

"Well, that's life. I can die in my sleep." She shrugged. "But I do have valuable information. I just need you to help me with something first." Shiori said.

"What?" Nanami asked.

"Help me find my brother." These guys, while a dynamic team themselves, were clearly good at their jobs, and she could sense that Gojo was a particularly powerful sorcerer. She knew this was the best — and, maybe, only — bet at finding her missing brother. 

We just got side-quested, Gojo thought, as he groaned and made his way into the kitchen. He hated being pulled into situations he couldn't simply solve by using his powers and beating or exploding things. "Are there any cookies left?"

"Can you both help me find my brother? Please?" She asked, worriedly waiting for an answer.

Nanami and Gojo said "yes" at the same time. Both of them sounded defeated.

"Fine. Then let's get talking. We need to find the remaining Yamadas in town. As much as I want to find my brother, I don't want anybody to die because of that." Shiori said. "There were 9 deaths, right?"

"There were 12, actually." Nanami replied.

"What?" She was very surprised. "What do you mean by twelve deaths?"

"They happened in other cities, with the same M.O." Gojo responded from the kitchen. He sounded like he was munching on something.

"And they were all Yamadas?" She said.

"Yes."

"Well, I need their names, right now." She opened a drawer and grabbed a key. "Come, follow me, you two."

They all went upstairs, following Shiori's lead. She then went inside the main bedroom, which was a little unkempt, and seemed unused for a while now. "Now, where was it...?" She started stomping on the ground, until they heard a hollow board. "Here!" Pulling it up, the woman grabbed a chest and opened it. Inside it, there was a small black notebook. 

Before she could do anything, Gojo grabbed the notebook.

"What the hell?!" She yelled, surprised. Damn, he's fast.

"We need to be absolutely certain you're not withholding important information again." He opened it. There was a huge list of names. The pages were yellowy, and the small notebook seemed pretty old. "What is this?"

"The list of people that might be targets, from what you both have told me. Flip to the last pages, the most recent ones are there."

He did, and instantly read many familiar names under those that were already struck out. Nanami approached and looked at the notebook too. The name "Yamada Itsuki" popped out. 

"Your mother's name is here." He said.

"I know. Let's cross out that, and also everyone that has died. Whoever doesn't have their names crossed will be the next targets."

"And how do you know that?" Gojo asked.

"I just do. You told me that people were dying and getting cursed objects stolen from that box, right?" They stayed silent. "So I'm sure that list is what we need. People usually just change their surnames, and keep their first names. This should be easy enough." 

Nanami and Gojo asked Ijichi to send them the list of all the deceased's names, and after striking out those, there were only 2 names left. Miyuki Yamada and Ayako Yamada. They relayed that information to Ijichi and asked him to search for residents in Odate that went by the names Miyuki and Ayako, who were or had been married.

"Well, now we wait." Gojo said, sitting down and resting his face on his hand.

"I guess." Shiori replied, while her mood shifted. "I'll be going downstairs for now."

She did, while Gojo and Nanami shared a look. Gojo's look meant, what do you think? Nanami said nothing and followed Shiori downstairs. She was sitting at the table, looking very upset and poorly hiding it. Nanami sat beside her and waited to see if she would say anything.

"I just realized something because I'm an idiot, and I'm very angry at myself right now." She said. "If I had trusted you, even if you took me away for questioning or to Jujutsu High, or something else, that woman might still be alive if I helped sooner." Shiori clenched her fists. "I'm such an egotistical idiot."

Nanami realized she was truly saddened and furious at herself because of that.

"You only knew where to look after we told you about the cursed objects being stolen. There was nothing you could have done." Nanami replied.

Shiori looked at him and sighed. "Thank you."

"I just stated a fact." He said.

She smiled, still somewhat upset. "Yeah. I guess so. I was just scared that-" She choked up a little. "That I wouldn't be here for when my brother came back, whenever that happens."

"How do you know if he is still alive?" Nanami asked bluntly.

"Well, you're kind of abrasive sometimes." She replied, smiling. "I just do. I can't explain it to you factually. It's a twin thing. I know he is alive, I'm completely sure."

He wasn't going to question it. As a jujutsu sorcerer, he sure had seen weirder things.

"I want to help when you guys go save those two women." Shiori said, out of the blue.

"You will hinder us. You have no combat training." Nanami pointed out.

"Well, you will follow us no matter what we say, won't you? Just like you did today." Gojo said, as he came down the stairs.

How did he know that? And was he hearing our conversation all this time? "Yes, I will. Exactly like I did today." She answered frankly. There was no point in lying.

"We're not carrying dead weight, and we won't jeopardize this, because people might actually die. Do you understand?" He asked, staring at her. His tone was serious. She felt like he could see through her soul, and it sent shivers down her spine.

The way this man shifts between 'pretty boy' silly demeanor and this menacing aura is eerie, she thought. "I understand. I don't want to put myself or other people in harm's way anymore, but I still want to help."

"Fine. Then, show me what you've got." He said, hiding his eyes back behind his glasses and grinning widely.

End notes:

I started to go down that path where I'm hating everything I write, so it took me forever to be done meddling with this chapter before posting it. Ugh I hate when this happens (hope you enjoyed it, still).

[nvrcmplt]

Saori remember naught but the sensation of blood spreading at her paws - the feeling of a hand upon her head between her ears and the softest of voices call out; Ko. She remembers the awe in the surrounding gasping beings, as she felt stone crumble from her fur making her pelt no longer leaden and heavy. Trapped would be a word to use, but it didn’t make sense since they chose to become statues to lie in wait for their next Master.

Now found - her Spirit form released by a blood oath and sacrifice of a beloved family dog, the Wisdom holder eased herself to the dog’s corpse. Taking it for her own and reshaping it to her breed. Thus - when the light and smoke cleared from the gathering of Onmyōji under the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Clan Name, she found herself staring at only one of them… This one - the Chosen Blood - had her bead - her name on his tongue and now his vision shared with her own. This was the one that summoned her from her lengthy sleep.

The moment they locked eyes - and the being lowered to a knee - Saori’s form moved with ease to greet him with her nose to the back of his palm. Tail wagging with delight upon the smell of old blood - this was a strong clan and would be stronger in the future. “Master.” It was the first word to be uttered between them, and it was all that it took for the rest of her life here to be involved in ▇▇▇▇▇▇'s history.

Saori’s Wisdom bead gave her the IQ and understanding of world matters quickly, to take on stories of the humans of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Clan, to understand that war still happens but much more secretive. Thus, in her sphere of information, she took it upon herself to ask of the Clan Head - He, who she was bound to by soul and name - told him of her siblings.

The Hakkenden / Hakkenshi of Legends.

They were not just a story of Warriors in times of battle and children games to distract them from Warring states. But real Inu-yasha that protected a sacred person or place. Their beads were the symbol of their loyalty - larger in the past but became smaller to match the present times of everything they were.

The first bead, Devotion - also written as 'wisdom' - was placed upon the wrist of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇'s Clan’s head- and with its power - he was able to find answers to what he sees and heard in passing. To look beneath the underneath - to pull apart layers of lies or half-truths and find their real meanings.

Wisdom - holds the talent to see through lies of man. Whilst Saori - at his side, took upon the form of a pure white Hokkaido-inu - she stood regal in her white coat and with eyes akin to a ghost - ever silent - ever watchful.

From those years onward, Saori aided the clan head and his successors - a single heir, to claim another statue of her brother and sisters.

After Devotion, came Benevolence - Akinori a spitfire Akita.

Michinori of Gratitude was found within the fourth heads reign - A Shikoku-ken.

Shiori of Knowledge, was donated out of honour from a defeated clan - A Kishu-ken.

Kahori ( Duty ), Kazunori ( Brotherhood ) and Masanori ( Faith ) were all found thanks to Shiori’s memory. A Kai ken, Shiba Inu and Tosa.

The last of their band - the leader of a leaderless group — Kiyonori ( Loyalty ). He is yet to be found - locked away and the missing piece to the full formation barrier of the Hakkenden's true ability. A statue in waiting for his true Master to wake him from his slumber.

The Hakkenden CAN NOT be seen without their permission - as they are spirits / Inu-yasha, they are non-visible to those without Onmyōji lineage. The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Clan, is one of the oldest Clans to have a Generational contract of Blood with the Hakkenshi. The first to seal this was Saori, and it continues now with Kiyonori.

The Canines are visible however when granted the permission to be so by their Master. BUT - they are not of human guise, but their pure canine forms. Kai Ken, Akita, Shiba Inu - these dogs roam the halls of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Clan Home with no muzzle nor leash but true freedom.

That being said, they can and will mess around with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Clansmen, showing their shadows on the walls or barking in the dark halls. Their Master may have to scold the pups regularly when they get a little too rowdy.

The Hakkenshi have a Barrier Formation made by the Onmyōji Clan heads at the time of Saori’s behest. This formation grew stronger and stronger with each canine statue released how it grew weaker over time as it was incomplete.

With Kiyonori’s sealed state, the Formation is still incomplete and won't be amplified by EIGHT as all pillars are yet to be resurrected. This barrier stops, repels and denounces yokai from entering the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Clan grounds. It can also remove impurities from corrupted souls making many humans faint if they are unable to withstand the sensation.

The Hakkenshi show their human forms when their Master desires it to be shared, they are a wide range of age, shape and size. Much like their canine forms they are beautiful and dangerous - as they all have weaponry styles of destruction. All of them different from one another as they have formed their own love for weaponry selected over time.

[redsamuraiii]

Live Action “Rent-A-Girlfriend” (2022)

Kazuya Kinoshita is dumped by his girlfriend Mami Nanami after dating for a month. He then decides to use an online dating app to rent a girlfriend named Chizuru Mizuhara, a beautiful and attractive girl. 

However, because he thinks she was inauthentic, he gives her a low rating. When Chizuru berates him for that during their next meeting, he realizes she is meaner than he expected. 

However, when Kazuya's grandmother is hospitalized, he brings Chizuru along and his grandmother is smitten with how great she is. As such, Kazuya continues renting Chizuru in order to keep up appearances with his family and friends, but things get complicated when they discover they are next-door apartment neighbours and attend the same college. 

Hiyori Sakurada as Chizuru Mizuhara Ryūsei Ōnishi as Kazuya Kinoshita  Shiori Akita as Mami Nanami Source : kanokari_drama

[jp-actresshub]

As Mami Nanami

Official Site

Chizuru, Mami, Ruka, Sumi

[jdramaconfessions]

[j-gravure]

[psychodramajp]

Twitter News Roundup [May 24 - 30]

Twitter News Roundup [May 24 – 30]

Please have a look at the news of 2021, week 21! (more…)

[shanghiman]

KAKEGURUI: Twin Live-Action TV Series

[ot9000]

秋田汐梨 日本防火・危機管理促進協会

[questintheskies]

4/29/23 Shiori Akita Instagram Story Update

[tsukimefuku]

❅ Sand and Snow | Chapter 3

ALL CHAPTERS HERE | PREVIOUS CHAPTER HERE.

In the city of Odate, Akita, there have been multiple deaths in the past few weeks. The first-grade sorcerer Nanami Kento is sent out to investigate the snowy city, not knowing that it would be his last mission as a Jujutsu High student.

OR

Why Nanami left Jujutsu High to become a 9/5 corporate slave.

Tags: Murder/mystery, canon typical violence, POV Nanami, Post Star-plasma Vessel Arc, Canon compliant, Angst but I'm not Gege

Here we go! First fight scene, and everyone's favorite white haired sorcerer arrives.

WC: 3.6K | on AO3 here.

This time, Nanami called Ijichi after reporting to principal Yaga. Ijichi picked up pretty fast, and had a worried tone to his voice.

"Y-Yes?"

"Ijichi, I have some things to ask. Firstly, do you have any new information about the Yamadas?"

Ijichi paused. "No... I have not. I mean, I don't." He sounded nervous.

"Is there anything wrong?" Nanami asked.

"No, just... h-haven't found anything yet. Nope. Nada."

He thought Ijichi's demeanor was out of sorts, but decided to not press the matter any further on the phone. Some things about this mission were shady, Ijichi must've had a reason to be acting like he was.

"Also, I need to have some samples examined. Is Ieiri available?"

"Samples? Of what?"

"Coagulated blood from the last corpse." Nanami answered.

Ijichi sounded like he fought back an urge to hurl and gagged a little. "I will ask her about it."

"Ok, do it now."

Nanami heard fast footsteps, a thump, another thump, Ijichi saying ouch and ruffling on the line. He sighed as he waited for Ijichi to solve his locomotion hardships on his way to Ieiri. Shoko picked up the phone and answered.

"Hey. What's up?"

"Ieiri, I need to have some coagulated blood samples examined. They contain a cursed type of venom. Normal methods were not able to determine its nature or origin."

"Tough luck, huh?" She responded. "Nanami, you're in Odate. Just the time it would take for that sample to get here... I don't think I can do anything to help you this time around, unfortunately."

He sighed. It was worth the shot, anyway. "What would you suggest?"

"This is something that has to be analyzed in loco and as soon as possible."

"I understand. Thank you." Nanami said as he hung up. He grabbed the phone number Shiori had given him earlier that day, and dialed it. She picked up.

"Hello, who is this?"

"It's Nanami. Are you occupied?"

"I'm not, actually. I'm just at home taking care of my plants. Why?"

"I need your help with something." He replied, hoping she wouldn't ask for further clarifications on the phone.

"Ok, I guess. You can come over. But please, knock on my door this time, stalker." She replied, before hanging up the phone.

Nanami sighed and started getting ready. As he thought about how much a job was worth if it meant getting accused of being a stalker, he did not notice his hotel room window was just barely open right before he went out.

***

As Nanami approached the house in the woods, it started to grow colder. This time around, the snow beneath his feet was considerably thicker, and the wind felt like razor blades slipping just above the skin. He hurried his pace, just so he wasn't in the cold for longer than necessary.

Getting to the front porch, he knocked, and Shiori answered.

"See? Much better than hiding in the bushes and getting jumped with a gun. Glad you knocked." She said, jokingly.

"I did. You instructed me to." Nanami replied in a monotone.

He really has absolutely no sense of humor, she thought, welcoming him. "I'm brewing some tea, if you're interested. Will help ease the cold off."

"Thank you. I accept it."

"You really do talk funny, huh?" Shiori remarked, smiling.

Nanami seemed puzzled. 

"Nevermind." She replied. For someone his age — clearly still a teenager —, Nanami sure talked in a very formal way. "Here, take it." She gave him a cup and got one for herself. She then poured the tea in both cups and sat on the table, inviting him to join her. He sat down and smelled the tea, it had the same strong sweet and flowery aroma.

"What is this?"

"Oka tea, one of Yamada's specialties." She answered. "It's a mix of herbs, flowers, and other dried ingredients. Some people still buy this concoction I make, I like to believe other Yamadas out there still make it for themselves, but my customer base has been growing thin. I almost can't afford the costs for keeping my greenhouse anymore." She seemed somewhere in between upset and resigned about the entire situation, adapting to another bad thing happening in her life.

Nanami sipped the tea. It was a perfect balance between sweet and acidic, but had no sugar or sweeteners added. It was impressive, actually. He looked at Shiori. "You still don't want to become a jujutsu sorcerer or an assistant for Jujutsu High? They pay well."

She scoffed, as if the idea itself was absurd. "There's more to life than money. I want to keep my family's legacy alive, even if it dies with me. Also, I have to wait for my brother's return."

"I see." He didn't quite know how exactly he felt about what she said. Never one to contemplate about the meaning of work, or purpose, for that matter, Nanami felt he had nothing to add to the conversation on this matter particularly.

"You said you needed help with something, didn't you?" She asked him.

"Yes." Nanami took out the scalpel enveloped in paper. "Do you have any reservations regarding blood?"

"Not really. My family would train us from a very young age in the tradition of healing with nature and those kinds of things." She shrugged. "I have helped my mother treat wounded people before."

"Fine." He unwrapped the paper and plastic, revealing a scalpel with a tip covered in blood. "I need your help taking a look at this blood sample. It has been infused with some type of cursed venom. I'd like to know if you know something about it." 

"I see. I mean, I don't see anything out of the ordinary. But I get what you mean." She scratched her head a little, staring at the scalpel, not knowing exactly how Nanami thought she could help. Understanding about poisonous plants was one thing, working with cursed venom-infused blood was another entirely.

"You can't see cursed energy traces?" Nanami grew increasingly skeptical at her ability to help him.

"See what?"

"Vestiges. Here, look closely. Focus. It is like seeing a cursed spirit, but fainter." 

She drew her face closer, and her eyes widened for a moment. "Oh, yes! I can see it! Some very small traces of cursed energy." Shiori reclined in her chair and laid a hand on her chin, while she evaluated some possibilities. "Look, I don't have a lab or anything here for analyzing whatever this is. I do, however, have some old books from my family that might help us determine the origin of this."

Better than nothing, Nanami thought.

She went upstairs, and he could hear sounds of things getting taken, dropped, twisted and thrown around, like Shiori was trying to remodel the house. At one point, it sounded like a large bookcase fell, followed by a scream and some cursing like shit and holy fuck. Shortly after, Shiori shouted, "I'm alright!".

He hadn't moved an inch, still sipping on his tea.

Shiori came down holding a very large — and apparently ancient — book. It had a very worn out brown leather cover, the binding seemed just about ready to give in to time and degradation. It also smelled funny. "Here, this might help us. Let's take a look."

She opened the book, and started flipping through the pages, until she got to a part that talked about poisons and different types of venom. "So... what do you want to know?"

"Is there any indication of a curse or shikigami that possesses venom?"

"Let me see." She put the book on her lap and started flipping through it. She paused for a moment, and then continued. "Well, there isn't anything about curses or shikigami. It has, however, some things about medicinal plants and such."

Shiori didn't raise her eyes to meet Nanami and stayed silent. He found that to be out of character. This would usually be the moment she'd make some unfunny or confusing remark. 

"Is there anything about any plants or herbs that can asphyxiate someone?"

"I don't need a book for that one." She closed the book. "There is the heartbreak grass." Shiori looked at him. "The most toxic varieties are spread throughout Asia. Do you think someone could infuse the extract with cursed energy?" She asked. "Why would somebody even bother to do so?"

"It avoids that a jujutsu sorcerer turns into a curse after their death." Nanami replied.

"I see. But were the victims even Jujutsu sorcerers?"

This still didn't explain the bite marks, though. 

Shiori looked through the window. "It's starting to get dark outside. I don't have much to eat here, since I'm the only one living in this house for the time being, but I might have some hibari senbei cookies, if you want to take them with you". 

Nanami remembered Gojo would be arriving at Odate tomorrow, and had a faint memory of him asking about cookies. He sighed, putting his fingers in between his eyes, and responded, "Thank you. I will be needing that."

"Needing?" she replied, a little confused, as she walked into the kitchen to grab the baked sweets. "What would you need cookies for? Do you have low blood sugar or something? Here." She came back and handed him a small paper bag with homemade cookies inside.

"Nothing. I apologize for inconveniencing you." He replied as he took the bag.

"Don't worry. I appreciate the company." She smiled. "Even if you're a stalker, company is company, am I right?" Shiori said mockingly.

"Please, stop saying that." Nanami answered, annoyed. She just chuckled.

***

Back at the hotel, Nanami greeted Yoko, who was just about to end her shift. She waved as he got closer.

"Hello, Mr. Kento! Can I help you with anything?"

"Actually, I have some questions about Yamada Shiro, if you have some time."

"Oh." She was completely caught off guard. "Of course, I think." How does he know his name? "What do you want to know?"

"What can you tell me about him?"

"Well, I have been best friends with his sister and him since middle school." She said, whispering. Probably so that her grandmother couldn't hear anything. "They were good kids. He had a thing about protecting weaker people, but every time he got in a fight, he'd be 10 times more hurt than the one he had beaten up." Yoko shrugged. "And she had something about not meddling in other people's businesses. She just wanted to protect him."

"I see. What about his departure some time ago?"

Yoko was taken aback. "How do you know that?"

Dammit.

"During my work here in Odate, I've met your friend, Shiori. She told me her brother left the city a while ago."

"Your work in Odate? What do you do?" She asked, and then pondered. "Oh, you've met Shiori then."

"I'm a private investigator." It was hard trying to keep track of all the versions of his story. This was starting to become tiring. "I'm here to investigate these deaths in Odate. After talking to you and some people, I decided to go to Yamada's house and learn more about them, just in case." He replied. "Yes, I've met your friend."

Yoko was at a loss for words, wondering if he was treating her best friend as a suspect of any sort. She needed to talk to Shiori as soon as possible, and know more about what this man standing in front of her had said to her. 

"Well, about Shiro... You probably heard it better from his sister. He left about a year ago to go looking for their parents, and grew increasingly distant, up until he simply stopped responding to our messages and calls to ask him how he was doing, around 3 months ago." Yoko thought that it would be fine telling him this, given that he probably already had that piece of information from Shiori. "Even though I wanted to call the police, Shiori asked me not to."

"I see." Nanami noticed her change in demeanor. He knew he wouldn't be getting very far questioning Yoko anymore. "Well, thank you for your time." He said, walking towards the elevator. When he got to his floor and started making his way to his room, he could hear someone shutting their window loudly. People lack basic cordiality with others, he thought to himself.

As Nanami entered his room, something felt off.

He looked around and nothing seemed actually out of place, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. As Nanami turned his back to the closet, for a split second, he felt someone lunging at him. Thanks to his reflexes, Nanami was able to throw himself in the window's direction before the culprit made any contact.

It was the man dressed in black.

Nanami grabbed his blunt sword from his back and advanced in his opponent's direction, instinctively ready to deal a 7:3 blow. However, he quickly realized it would be a bad idea, given that the preferable outcome here was capturing the curse user and taking him to Jujutsu High for questioning and, being the case, sentencing. Restricting his strength, Nanami dealt a measured blow to the man's stomach, which made him spit blood inside his mask.

What Nanami was not ready for was a shikigami appearing right in front of him. It was a floating four-eyed purple snake, with a menacing set of fangs. The snake instantly charged in his direction, quicker than he could deal another blow. He reinforced his arm with cursed energy before the snake could bite him.

The shikigami suddenly disappeared, and right behind it came a full-blown punch from the man that caught Nanami with his guard down. He could feel his nose cracking at that moment. Nanami was thrown against the wall behind him, breaking the mirror, while shattered glass fell all over him. As he tried to get up, the man opened the window, held his shikigami on one arm, and the floating monster helped him out.

Nanami then realized what was missing. His documents regarding the case from Jujutsu High, which were laid over the room's table.

He pulled the phone and called #903. The old lady picked up. He informed her his room had been invaded, and he got attacked.

***

"Hey, good morning. There's a pretty guy asking about you at the door."

"What?" Nanami had to take a few moments to get himself back to reality. 

"Yes. A pretty guy. He's asking for you. He's calling you Nanamin." Shiori responded. She said the word 'pretty' mockingly with a half smile on her face.

The night before became a haze. Old lady called Yoko, who then called Shiori, who then called Nanami. It was a full circle of what the hell was going on. While Nanami assessed the state of his wounds in the bathroom mirror, he told Shiori he would be looking for another hotel to stay for the time being.

"That's a terrible idea." She replied. "Look, there is something weird happening, and it might have something to do with my family. I saw the last victim's photo on the local news. That was my uncle whom I thought had left Odate years ago, Hiroshi."

He was silent, trying to figure out if his nose was broken or just very purple.

"We are already joining forces. Or, for the matter of fact, you're using me as a source of information."

"I-" Nanami started to say something.

"It's fine, I understand that's how an investigation works" she cut him off, before he could say anything. "But I want to know what the hell is going on."

This was bad. He couldn't stay on the phone with her anymore.

"I'll be at the hotel waiting."

"I'll ask Yoko to give you a ride." She hung up.

Nanami started texting Gojo right away, and hoped he would answer at that moment.

NK: I have been attacked in the hotel. I'm going elsewhere. Ask where to find me at the main desk.

SG: Are you okay?

NK: Yes. Only some mild bruising.

NK: Hurry.

After he got to Yamada's house, Shiori offered to help to treat his nose. They sat at the dinner table, and she adjusted Nanami's hair, which got completely over his face during the altercation, and was laying on top of the wound. This guy should really cut these bangs, she randomly thought. Shiori then started treating his nose — it was not broken, but might have a hairline fracture. He was pretty sturdy, after all, even for a jujutsu sorcerer.

"Did your face get hit by a car?" She asked.

"No. It was a curse user. He had a snake shikigami." 

She went silent for a moment, and kept treating his wounds.

"Well, did the snake headbutt you?"

"No, he punched me when I had my guard down."

She applied some ointment mixed with fresh and clean snow on his nose. It burnt. "It will be uncomfortable, but you'll feel better in the morning."

.

"Nanamin!" Gojo exclaimed loudly, as he walked into the room, white hair slightly covered in snow and frosty pitch-black glasses. "Well, you're definitely in the middle of nowhere." Satoru remarked, grinning widely. Nanami wished he could fall back asleep. He then feared he would have a nightmare reenacting this exact moment.

"Interesting!" Gojo said, examining his face wounds closely. "These are well into recovery for someone who just got attacked last night. Did you treat them yourself?"

"No," Nanami replied, "she did."

Gojo then looked at Shiori, who was at the corner of the room leaning against the wall while she held a bowl filled with water and a towel, at a loss for what exactly was going on. 

"Well, hello. I haven't properly introduced myself."

He never properly introduced himself.

"My name is Satoru Gojo, and this guy right here will be my sidekick for the time being." He placed his hand on Nanami's shoulder. Nanami slapped it away.

"I'm Yamada Shiori," she replied, "and I make things with herbs."

"You got that result with just plants?" Gojo asked.

"Yes. Plants and some clean snow can go a long way." She answered. "My mother used to make me help her when I was around 8 years old to treat the wounded and dying people of our family."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Most of them still died, though."

"Oh." Gojo was surprised she said that with such a straight face.

"... It's a joke. We used to help people that got hurt in these woods, or relatives, but they were sent to the hospital if things were dire enough." She replied. Gojo thought to himself that she had a weird sense of humor.

"She can also see curses and has an innate cursed technique." Nanami added.

"Oh." Gojo answered. "Well, have you heard about Jujutsu High? We have very few healers, and only one actually talented!"

Shiori seemed irritated. "No." she said, as she got out of the room and began descending the stairs, stepping loudly while pouting.

Gojo was confused. "Nanamin, what-"

"She was already scouted by Jujutsu High. Doesn't want to go." Nanami answered. "And stop calling me that."

"Hey, Nanami! Pretty boy! What do you want for breakfast? I only have cookies and tea, so that will have to do." Shiori shouted from downstairs.

"Did she... just call me... 'pretty boy'?" Gojo sounded disheartened. Nanami had a hard time concealing his satisfaction at that.

"She did."

"I changed my mind. I hope she doesn't come with us to Tokyo."

Nanami sighed as he started to get up. They both went downstairs and sat at the table. Shiori had served homemade cookies with Akita faces on them. "They're from the last festival that happened a few days ago," she explained.

"Well, I might just forgive you then." Gojo said, as he grabbed one of the cookies and took a bite.

She understood nothing, but figured it was pointless to ask. He clearly just liked hearing the sound of his own voice. 

"So... What is going on, guys? What is happening?" She asked.

Gojo lifted his finger, as if asking for them to be quiet and pay close attention to him, while he ate one of the cookies. They were waiting patiently — or, at least, Shiori was. Nanami was annoyed that someone would request his turn to speak while he had a mouthful of food to chew and swallow. Satoru finished munching and started speaking.

"I'll get into that in just a minute, but first, Nanami, I need you to call Ijichi." He pulled a brand new and never before seen phone from his jacket. "Use this. There is another Ijichi's number in there, as well."

Nanami grabbed the phone and started dialing.

"As for you, Mrs., are you aware the last victim was a Yamada?" Gojo said, lowering his glasses to stare at her directly. 

"I know. He was my uncle." She answered.

"This might be a coincidence, or you might be in danger!" The way he said it so casually and kind of exhilarated somehow annoyed her. "You could be our culprit's next target."

"Seriously?" She asked, revolted.

"Rest assured, you've got nothing to worry about."

"I don't? And why is that?"

"Because the strongest jujutsu sorcerer you will ever meet just got here." He said, putting on a conceited smile.

"Did he? Where is he?" She asked earnestly.

Nanami could be heard suddenly coughing from the living room. Shiori honestly did not understand the point Gojo was trying to get across.

"Well, you're really making this difficult for me." Gojo replied, taking a sip of tea. The tea was incredibly sweet, which he appreciated a lot. "Well, very difficult."

End notes:

I really need to define a day every week to post, heh. Next chapter will probably be posted on the 22th, but maybe earlier if I get around revising it before that!

[297x420]

秋田汐梨

[kdramamovieandjapanesemovie]

[petz5]

Two new ocs, shiori and a goat kaiju i gotta name