#i've been listening to kikuo's Welcome to the Star Inn a lot so find the reference

[tsukikoayanosuke]

Awakening Gashadokuro - Ruikasa Week 2023

Day 1: Mythology

Do you really want to die now?

Huh… Not really…

Kufufu… Be glad, mortal, for I’m gracious at the moment. Awaken now.

——————————————————————————————

When Rui opened his eyes, he didn’t know where he currently was. It looked like he was in a simple poor wooden house with its window closed. On the bedside table, he could see a tray of food he didn’t recognize. But he was quite hungry. Surely this is for him if it is placed here, right?

FoOd!

LeT’S EaT It!

GiMmE! GiMmE!

Taking a bite, Rui knows that it was a slice of raw meat. Strangely enough, he doesn’t seem to mind it. Perhaps he was too hungry to even think about it. There were a lot of questions in Rui’s head. Where is he now? How does he get here? Why is it so…loud?

StRaNgE PlAcE!

WhErE ArE We!

NeW KiD! NeW KiD!

Whose voice are those?

CaN We lEaVe nOoOoOwW…

I’M HuNgRy!

LeT’S RuIn tHiS PlAcE.

Why are they in his head?

I CaRvE ViOlEnCe…

HeY, nEw kId. LeT’S GeT OuT Of hErE.

WhErE’S ThE WaR?!

FiGhT! FiGhT! FiGhT!

Be quiet…

ChAoS! I WaNt cHaOs!

WhErE’S ThE FiGhT?! WhErE’S ThE WaR?!

BlOoD! BlOoD! BlOoD! BlOoD! BlOoD! BlOoD!

“SHUT UP!”

Someone held his hands that he never realized were covering his ears. He didn’t even realize that he was crying either. Through his blurry tears, he could see a blond boy with glasses, looking rather concerned but gentle. “Don’t listen to them,” he said. “Just breathe. Follow me.”

And Rui did, closing his eyes again, he breathed. In and out… In and out… Until the voices in his head calm down, barely above a whisper. He let out a sigh. “I’m okay now.”

“Good to know.” The boy smiled again. And that is when Rui notices the pair of tanuki ears on top of his head.

“You’re a tanuki…?”

“And you’re a Gashadokuro.”

“I’m…not?”

“I could see the guy above you.” Rui looked up and didn’t see anything, but he could feel a presence that was almost suffocating. “I’m guessing you had voices in your head?”

“How did you-”

“If seen someone like you before.” The boy sat on the side of his bed. “They made a deal with Gashadokuro and almost went insane from it.”

“A deal- Oh.” The first voice was from a Gashadokuro. “It asked if I want to die or not.” He turned to the blond boy again. “So, am I really dead?” But he didn’t even remember how he died.

“If it’ll help, I’m dead too,” the boy said. “Made a deal with a pair of tanuki and kitsune and here I am.”

“Who are you anyway?”

The boy grinned in an almost cheeky grin that Rui could imagine a tail popped out. “My name is Tenma Tsukasa. I found you in a nearby graveyard and brought you here.”

“So, you save me.” Rui pulled a cheeky smile. “I don’t have money on me. Can a kiss will be sufficient?”

Tsukasa let out a hiss with a blushing face. “Shame on you!”

Rui laughed, feeling light for the first time since he woke up. “But I thank you for saving me.”

Tsukasa sighed. “Not a problem. Just doing my job.”

“Your job is picking up dead people?”

“Well, let’s just say it’s a personal new purpose after death.” Tsukasa stood up and picked up a red umbrella that was on the table. He opened the umbrella and Rui could feel strong energy coming from Tsukasa. “One day, the Star Inn shall be known across the spirit and human world as a safe haven for lost souls. I still have a long way to go before I can make my name.”

“The Star Inn?”

Tsukasa gestured around the room. “This house can’t fit even two people. One day, I’ll get a new building.”

“How are you gonna do that?”

“Uh…” Tsukasa’s ears folded in embarrassment. “I haven’t thought about it.”

Rui chuckled. “Sound like an admirable ambition.” And it wasn’t a lie. He couldn’t remember his past life that well, but something about Tsukasa’s words pull something in his stilled-heart. To create a safe haven for lost souls…like him…

“Can I join?”

Tsukasa’s ears perked up again. “Huh?”

Rui stood up from the bed. “I want to join you. Four hands are better than two, right?”

Tsukasa’s ears folded again and Rui decided it was the cutest thing he had seen. “I-I wasn’t expecting that,” the tanuki said. He cleared his throat and stood up straight. “Well then,” he offered a hand, “welcome to the team, uh…”

Rui giggled and took Tsukasa’s hand, giving it a firm shake. “Kamishiro Rui, Pleasure to work with you.”