#kappagolduck

[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]

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]

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]

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]

i've got what i came here for... no sense in sticking around. i didn't see anything here...

[meanwhile...]

messy... someone... left a mess...

master is busy... must tell fishmeat instead...

...i'll go take care of it.

[forgottenwaters]

[it only took a few seconds. kappa had only barely been able to catch a glimpse of the tree-like spirit that shoved him aside before a much bigger, darker spirit careened into it, sweeping it away in a blur of blood and teeth. kappa could only watch in stunned silence as the creature stampedes past him, specks of blood landing near his feet. the ground continues to rumble even after the spirit passes, unimpeded by the walls of trees in its path which snap like twigs from its rampage, leaving behind it a familiar stench and a path of blood.

in a moment of coherency, kappa wishes he had asked issei to accompany him.]

[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]

that took longer than expected... ah, well, time to head home, then.

[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]

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]

i don’t often go out of my way to go to kitsune forest, and not many of them pass through umibe town except for a select few that i’ve spoken to.

ah, wait... i never asked for that fox spirit’s name. do you think it’d be rude to stick my head out the window to ask?

(ft. @askoinari​)

[forgottenwaters]

the forest’s enchantment is stronger the deeper in you go, but i haven’t had trouble just staying near the outskirts. plenty of sunlight to keep away the more nocturnal spirits, too. although- hm, i forgot to bring something to cut down bamboo with...

...? what’s the matter? did you see something?

ah... s-see, nothing to worry about!

@inaris-pokemon-world​

[forgottenwaters]

[continued from here]

i think it’s pretty easy to contact the fox god, actually. they have offering statues all over the place, especially near shrines.

if you want to tag along, there should be one at the entrance to the forest. i assume there’s attendants checking that one regularly.

...from what i hear, it seems the fox god has people keeping eyes and ears everywhere once you set foot on their territory. getting a meeting with them might be easy for someone like you.

@askoinari​

[forgottenwaters]

of course it's alive, you've never seen a bus before? it's the fastest and most reliable way to get around here. i guess some spirits might be intimidated by the bus' grumpy face, but they're pretty nice. besides, it's not like they're eating you by going inside.

the seats are really soft, you'd have to take care not to fall asleep and accidentally miss your stop. i only use the local transit, but i've also heard the luxury travel bus is even better, and they even have a second deck. must be expensive, though...

@ask-serafinas-harem