#mount kurama

[redsamuraiii]

Nioh 2 (2020)

Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the Samurai which the Japanese regarded as the tragic hero in Japanese history. It was said that he trained with the Tengu on Mount Kurama in Kyoto near Kibune.

[will-of-dumpsterfire]

18, 19, and 32 for the naruto asks?

18) favorite character

Sasuke since day one. While when I was 11 it was because I thought he was cute— then growing up with the series it turned into loving the character and the depth Kishimoto gave him. His growth through the series. I also related a lot to his anger, grief and revenge seeking surrounding his family during my youth. There’s a lot more to this but I’ll leave it at this… He’s my boy and to this day my favorite manga/anime character of all time.

19) least favorite character

pffft Danzo. Fucking vulture.

32) favorite non-human character

Kurama is my number one. I cannot just mention one tbh Gamabunta comes in such a close second. Both of them have such strong personalities, big nostalgia moments for me. I love them. Also bonus mention of Gamakichi and Gamatatsu <333

[yyh4ever]

Yu☆Yu☆Hakusho "Battle Days" Bromide Prints

Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition - Fukuoka Venue

Price: 660 yen

After the "Attention" Sticker Collection, a set of 3 bromides plus a photo mount, with Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama illustrations, was announced on the Puzzle Official Site. This is another exclusive merch that will be sold at the Fukuoka Venue.

The mount surface is a mix of the end of chapter 91, after Yusuke sees Genkai being killed, and Kurama, Hiei and Kuwabara's faces from the opening of chapter 78.

The first bromide is part of the opening of chapter 77. They just removed Toguro.

The second bromide is the opening of chapter 130. I like this illustration so much, because Hiei is wearing shorts and Kurama's hair is tied back in a ponytail. Please, have a look at Kurama & Hiei Fashion Variation from the Yu Yu Hakusho Official Characters Book.

Finally, the third bromide is the famous group photo from the last chapter.

[not-your-fucking-kacchan]

♡︎𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐤𝐨 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚♡︎

Day 26 of Kinktober 2022

Summary: you just wanted to talk to Yoko, but he had something else planned once he saw how you longed for him.

695 words.

You love your boyfriend. It doesn't matter whether he's Shuichi or Kurama, you love him nonetheless. But getting to see him as Shuichi every day makes you think that he's hiding from you.

You had been wondering for a while now, why you never really got to see Kurama. Was he just more comfortable being Shuichi? Or did he think that you were more comfortable with Shuichi? Whatever the reason, you wanted to get it sorted out. Anything, just to get your hands on those soft silver ears of his one more time.

"Shuichi, baby? ... Why do I never get to see Kurama?..."

Oh boy, here it comes. The dreaded question that immediately has him bowing his head in exasperation as Kurama stirs inside of him. Hearing the longing tone of your voice does nothing but stir the spirit inside of him, and Kurama starts to fight for his place in the spotlight. If his loving, doting girlfriend wanted to see Kurama, then that's what you would get.

"uhm... Well- you can see him now, if you would like that. It's just... I tend to be a little more possessive in that form-"

He's hushed by your dismissal as you tell him that everything's fine, and that you just wanted to see those fox ears one more time.

Boy, were you wrong.

Because sitting in front of you now is a fox demon who's all too comfortable with staring straight into your soul. Those ears, though... They're just irresistible.

His eyes widen and he stares up at you as you suddenly start to pet at his ears, kneading them with your fingers and massaging them in ways that has him relaxing every tense muscle against you.

So you don't necessarily see it coming when you're pounced on by the fox, and a strangled yelp is all you're able to release as he secures his teeth into your neck. The pain stings and radiates down your body like an electric shock, and you arch your back, clinging to him while he mounts you.

His eyes are hungry, and his tail swishes around behind him in slight agitation. There's a tent in his baggy fighter's pants too, which you hadn't expected.

He growls in an attempt to get your attention back, his soft hands trailing over your eager body in an attempt to pull you from your thoughts. He doesn't like it when all of your attention isn't focused solely on him, apparently. The next few minutes pass by you in a haze, and you willingly spread your legs for your boyfriend, letting him go to town.

The silver fox is feral for you, growling and biting, and as he fishes his leaking cock from his boxers you can't help but get excited. Of course you've entertained the thought of having him in this form, but you didn't want to be the one to propose it, so you consider yourself as a very lucky woman right now.

Your underwear is soaked, and upon feeling this with clawed, pale fingers Youko smirks at you, cooing and peeling the fabric away.

"so wet, already? What a good girl"

There are no words to explain how that just made your belly jump with arousal, and you're so distracted by his smooth, buttery voice alone that when his cock prods at your waiting cunt, you can only moan into his neck while he fucks into you slow.

The stretch is harsh but you push through the pain, needing to feel his arms around you as he pistons his hips against your own.

But pleasure is almost replaced with confusion when he pushes far enough inside of you for you to feel... Resistance? It's like he's suddenly gotten much bigger and you fear that he won't fit, even as he pushes harder into you.

"Ah-! Owh- what is that? Kurama?-"

He merely chuckles in response, licking at the bite marks he's left on your neck affectionately, shushing you and calling it his knot. Through his mumbles you finally manage to catch what he's saying, and your eyes widen comically before a lewd scream is torn from your throat, much to Yoko's satisfaction.

© 2022 not-your-fucking-kacchan

◃ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 | 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 | 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 ▹

[archiveikemen]

Minamoto no Yoshitsune Main Story: Chapter 10

Premium Avatar Challenge

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting┊aikm’s Genjiden Glossary

While I was listening to Yoshitsune-sama play the flute in the garden at night, we encountered a low-grade ayakashi…

Yoshitsune: — Are you afraid?

Yuno: … A little.

When Yoshitsune-sama leaned in to examine my facial expression, I told him the truth.

Yoshitsune: I see. … Then you should come closer.

(Wha…)

Yoshitsune-sama pulled me closer — and gently put his hand around my shoulder, closing the space between us and making my heart race at the sudden warmth of the physical contact.

Yoshitsune: We’ll stay like this until the ayakashi leaves.

Yuno: O-okay…

(If we stay this close, he might be able to feel my heart racing.)

My fear was slowly melted away by a warmth I didn't know where it came from.

The black shadow inched towards us as we stared at it…

Yoshitsune: Look, it can’t touch us.

Yuno: … It really can’t.

The ayakashi stopped in front of us, as though it was being blocked by an invisible wall.

(Please leave quickly…)

I prayed while holding my breath.

Yoshitsune-sama pulled me closer with his hand to reassure me.

(Ah…)

Yoshitsune: — Leave.

He placed his free hand on the hilt of his sword.

The slightly drawn sword glinted in the moonlight.

Yoshitsune: There’s no one here for you to prey on.

(Yoshitsune-sama…)

At that moment, I felt certain that Yoshitsune-sama would protect me no matter what happened.

(... Even though he’s an enemy.)

The black shadow groaned in reluctance, but eventually gave up and left.

(It’s gone…)

Yoshitsune: Good, you’re not trembling anymore.

Yuno: … Yes, thanks to you.

Yuno: Thank you, Yoshitsune-sama.

Yoshitsune: You’re welcome.

The warmth slowly went away.

I spoke, trying to hide the slight feeling of loneliness I felt.

Yuno: It seems like you’re used to encountering ayakashi.

Yuno: Is it because you spend a lot of time with Kurama?

Yoshitsune: That’s one of the reasons, but…

Yoshitsune: It’s also because I was easily targeted by ayakashi since childhood.

Yuno: Since childhood…

(Does this mean that he’s been seeing ayakashi since he was a child?)

Yuno: How were you able to…

Yoshitsune-sama’s eyes were downcast as he recalled his past.

Yoshitsune: When I first met Kurama, he told me that my soul is something in between human and ayakashi.

Yoshitsune: Because of that, ayakashi are easily attracted to me.

(What…)

Yoshitsune-sama glanced at the spot where that black shadow was just now.

Yoshitsune: I never found ayakashi to be frightening, but I could always sense their unique presence.

(That’s…)

Yuno: Then… what did you do when you encountered an ayakashi for the first time?

Yoshitsune: I quietly hid myself and waited for time to pass.

Yuno: You could’ve talked about it to an adult around you, or…

Yoshitsune: I was being treated with great caution as a child.

Yuno: What do you mean?

Yoshitsune: Before I even became old enough to understand anything that was going on, I was sent to a temple on Mount Kurama.

Yoshitsune: I have no memory of what my parents’ faces looked like.

Yoshitsune-sama spoke while tracing his memories.

Yoshitsune: Growing up not knowing my own lineage, I always felt ostracised.

(His childhood must’ve felt so lonely. But…)

Yuno: I didn’t expect your past to be like that…

Yoshitsune: Really?

Yuno: Yes.

The eyes of Yoshitsune-sama’s vassals whenever they looked at him were always filled with adoration.

(The people close to him… there’s Benkei-san who’s overly protective, then there’s Yoichi-san and Kurama who clearly have special feelings for him.)

(It’s hard to believe that Yoshitsune-sama once felt ostracised.)

However, I could tell that Yoshitsune-sama wasn’t lying.

Yoshitsune: Later on in life, I found out that there were various reasons for that.

(Reasons…?)

Despite my unease, I waited for him to continue.

Yoshitsune: Voices could be heard in my room even though I was alone in there, and there were a series of unfortunate events happening around me. Those might've been the reasons why I was being treated with caution.

Yuno: But those were caused by ayakashi…

A shadow fell over Yoshitsune-sama’s eyes.

Yoshitsune: It was inevitable. I was the only one who knew that.

Yoshitsune: It was also at that point that I had a vague feeling that I didn't belong there.

Yoshitsune: Around that time, I met Kurama who was living on Mount Kurama.

Yuno: So you’ve known him for that long…!?

(They have a much longer relationship than I expected.)

Yuno: Ah… now that I think of it, Kurama did mention something about “eyeing your soul since your childhood”.

I thought back to the night we first met.

– Flashback Start –

Kurama: While it's true that human beings are just toys, Yoshitsune is different. I've been keeping an eye on this soul ever since he was a child.

– Flashback End –

(If you think of it, this is actually quite an impressive story…)

Yoshitsune: According to Kurama, no one with a physical constitution attractive to ayakashi has ever reached adulthood.

Yuno: So you…

Yoshitsune: It seems that the reason why I’m still here is because Kurama put some sort of spell on me.

(Did Kurama do that without his consent? I mean, that's very typical of Kurama, but…)

Yuno: But Kurama’s intention from the beginning when he approached you was to eat your soul, right?

Yoshitsune: Yeah. When we met, he specifically said to “offer him my matured soul”.

(I thought as much…)

Yoshitsune: I was surprised when I heard that, because I wasn’t expecting him to say it to me directly.

Yoshitsune-sama stopped and looked up at the sky.

The mood peeked out from behind the clouds, illuminating the dark night sky.

Yoshitsune: … At the same time, I felt happy.

Yoshitsune: Even though his end goal was to consume my matured soul, Kurama was my very first friend.

(Ohh…)

I knew from Yoshitsune-sama’s tender smile what Kurama meant to him.

(When he was in a lonely environment, the first person he bonded with was Kurama.)

(That’s why, even though one was human and the other was an ayakashi… Yoshitsune-sama and Kurama became friends.)

Yuno: Your encounter with Kurama must’ve been an irreplaceable experience…

Yoshitsune: You’re right.

Yoshitsune: Now I have Benkei and Yoichi by my side too.

Yoshitsune: … The younger me never could've imagined having more people who are dear to me.

Yuno: Yoshitsune-sama…

Beneath the billions of twinkling stars, Yoshitsune-sama slowly continued.

Yoshitsune: I formed a pact with Kurama in order to defeat Yoritomo-kou, and gained supernatural powers.

Yoshitsune: If my oldest friend, Kurama, wants my soul after I use all my powers and achieve my goal…

Yoshitsune: I’ll be more than happy to surrender it to him.

(Yoshitsune-sama's one of a kind soul led him down a different path from other people.)

(It must be so painful when no one understands him…)

Feeling an ache in my chest, I sighed deeply.

Yoshitsune: …? Yuno.

Yuno: Hm?

Yoshitsune: Why do you look so sad?

(...)

A warm hand cupped my cheek.

Yuno: … My apologies. I was thinking about how you must've felt back then.

Yoshitsune: …

After staring at my face for a while, Yoshitsune-sama frowned.

Yoshitsune: — I’ve said a little too much. I didn’t expect you to be this bothered by my life experiences.

Yuno: I- It’s fine…

I shook my head.

Yuno: I’m glad I could listen to your story.

Yuno: Thank you for telling me.

Yoshitsune: … I wonder why you're thanking me.

Yoshitsune: I’m the one who got too overjoyed that you empathised with me.

(... I didn’t think he felt that way.)

I couldn't peel my eyes off the faint smile on his face, and I also found myself captivated by his eyes.

Yoshitsune: It’s getting late. We should go back inside.

Yoshitsune: Yuno, I’ll escort you to your room.

Yuno: I can go by mysel—

Yoshitsune: I want to escort you back.

(T-the way he said it sounds kind of unfair to my heart…)

I was so happy at his offer that I couldn't refuse it.

Yuno: … Thank you.

Yoshitsune: Then, shall we go?

Yuno: Yes…!

I took his outstretched hand and rose to my feet.

(... It’s warm.)

— For a moment, our eyes met.

The eye contact made me feel like he could read my mind, and I quickly looked away.

(This is rather embarrassing.)

Walking next to each other down the corridor made me think of the night we strolled through the festival together.

(He was escorting me like this too back then.)

(But I still don’t understand Yoshitsune-sama well yet…)

Yoshitsune-sama had a kind heart because he knew what pain and loneliness felt like.

I couldn't help but find that both frustrating and endearing at the same time.

[madara-fate]

Most people seem to think the reincarnation stuff was an asspull, what do you think?

I don't think I would've described it as an asspull, but I didn't like it because Naruto started off as this loser underdog who wasn't special in comparison to the naturally talented prodigies of revered clans like Neji, and I preferred it that way. But as the series went on, you learned that Naruto was actually very, very special...

You learn that he's the son of the 4th Hokage, one of the most powerful ninja in history.

You learn that he's part Uzumaki, a revered and powerful clan who were also distant relatives of the Senju, who were an even more revered and powerful clan.

You learn that he's the son of Kushina, who not only was Kurama's previous host, but who also possessed special chakra even among the Uzumaki.

You learn that he's the "Child of Prophecy" according to the Great Toad Sage on Mount Myoboku.

And yeah you learn that he's the reincarnation of Ashura, who is not only the progenitor of the Senju and Uzumaki clans, but he is also the son of Hagoromo, the Sage of the Six Paths and the single most influential and revered figure in shinobi history.

So how on earth is Naruto not special? The guy has special running through his veins, and I didn't really like the U turn on his character.

[n-coma]

Naruto Fan Cast: Part One

I fear the day when Netflix will attempt to create anything Naruto-related. Still, I am curious about what it would look like. So, before Hollywood lays its hands on our beloved fandom, allow me to introduce you to my personal fan cast.

Before we begin, let's agree on two points: 1. These are just subjective ideas that you might disagree with! So feel free to respond with your own suggestions; 2. In my fanon, the Naruto universe includes different races and nationalities. For example, Uchihas, Hyugas, Naras, and Sai are completely Japanese in my head. Meanwhile, characters like Tenten, Guy, Lee, and Rock Lee are Chinese. And the list goes on. In this post, I will only cover European/American actors cast for non POC characters. The POC fan cast will be posted later; it requires a bit more time and attention.

Here we go.

Naruto — Rudy Pankow

Look, he is a perfect Naruto for several reasons. He isn't overly 'Chad' nor too feminine. He has messy blond hair and exudes a chaotic energy (it radiates from him even in pictures). If you're still not entirely convinced, watch this YouTube video featuring him and his funniest moments. Those dimples! Blue eyes? I mean, hello?

Sasuke will be covered in the post with all the Asian characters.

Sakura — Piper America

Big forehead? Check. Pink hair? Yep. She has that unpredictable look in her eyes where you don't know what to expect from her.

Ino — Hunter Schafer

You might recognize her from Euphoria. She possesses this tall beauty combined with a flower-girl energy. Her red carpet look perfectly aligns with Ino's jutsu. The hair pieces are a perfect match, and have you noticed her nose? Ahhh!

Kiba — Dylan Obrien

This was the easiest fan cast ever! Just look at him! He embodies that dog energy in the best possible sense. Also, we'd hire Tyler Hoechlin for motion capture as Akamaru *winks*.

Temari — Florence Pugh

What I appreciate about Temari is her strong backbone and unapologetic character. Florence Pugh not only possesses those qualities, but she also has a broader facial structure that resembles Temari's. With her green eyes, dirty blond hair, and similar demeanor, what more could we ask for?

Gaara — Bill Skarsgård

Hear me out! We can always color his hair and do some black eyeliner as well as red tattoo, but when it comes to capturing Gaara's haunting eyes, who could do it better than Bill Skarsgård himself?Who will have such a slim, prince-like bone structure? Your honor, I rest my case.

Kakashi — Robert Pattison

We needed an actor with eyes that express this nostalgic, covered-in-ashes pain, hand in hand with melancholy and a 'not giving a fuck' vibe. Robert Pattinson or Robert Pattinson? After playing Batman, he has already learned how to portray a traumatized, tired orphan. What more do we need? I did not find his pictures with grey-colored hair, so let me include this black-and-white photoshoot.

Asuma — Hugh Jackman

Charisma, beard, and a bit of spice. Kushina — Abigail Cowen

Hollywood boasts around ten ginger actresses, and they all seem to cycle through fandoms like hand-me-down clothes. However, from among those ten, we had to choose the one who possesses a strong personality and a look that could intimidate. So, we're going with Abigail Cowen. She's already played a role with power struggles before, making her a good fit for depicting Kushina's struggle with Kurama.

Minato — Danny Griffin

Golden Retriever energy! What more can I say? He is the real-life boyfriend of Abigail Cowen (Kushina) and my personal choice for the position of the 4th Hokage.

Tsunade — Elizabeth Olsen

It was a hard choice between her, Scarlett Johansson, and Lady Gaga. But let's be fair — she has the mommy energy, she has a princes-like energy, and looks very much alike the character.

Jiraya — Anson Mount

Daddy.

Okay, I guess this is it for now.

Get ready for my next post on the Akatsuki casting, and make sure to stick around for the upcoming Asian and African fan casts! 🌟

[akkivee]

jyushi’s council of monsters!!!!

these monsters are actually all tengu!!! these tengu in particular are said to have fought for minamoto no yoshitsune, a very famous samurai known for his victories that unified japan at one point. the tengu here granted minamoto no yoshitsune the skills and knowledge to defeat benkei, an equally famous warrior monk, who swore his allegiance to minamoto no yoshitsune thereafter his loss. here’s the art of the battle!!!

from left to right in jyushi’s council of tengu, we have saburo of iizuka mountain, sagamibo of shiramine, sojobo of mount kurama, and hokibo of mount daisen.

these tengu reside in different regions of japan, likely to symbolise what this samurai has helped accomplish, and it’s interesting we have jyushi depicted here as said leader who had brought japan together 👀

[sneezemonster15]

What's your opinion in the chakra reincarnation thing with SNS? Not whether that makes them brothers or not (because it doesn't) but if you think it was a good decision, or when you think Kishi decided to implement it

Chakra reincarnation and all the alien themes were introduced only in the war arc properly where they contributed to the plotline, however they were foreshadowed in the Pein arc. It really did come off as very jarring and incongruent with the storyline and worldbuilding that was already established in the arcs before war arc, it did shift the narrative on another plane altogether. Kishi worked a lot to streamline it but it was clear that he was struggling.

Kishi doesn't like loose ends (just look how bloody thorough he is with SNS) but there were loose ends nonetheless. Did he retcon some stuff here and there? He did.

For example, Minato using sage power in war arc when Kurama has been extracted from Naruto and he is about to die. We didn't see him use sage energy or even mention that he could use it even when Naruto had realized that ten tails jinchuuriki Obito could be hit with it.

Kishi knew that it would look strange to the reader, who is following all the characters' strengths and skills closely since this is a battle manga and these things are very significant to the story, so he tied up the loose ends with the help of Kakashi's character who asked Minato that sage jutsu wasn't his forte, so how come he used it?

Hence, Minato explains his reasons for it. This is a war and he was able to use it on his toes when he didn't use it even when Obito attacked Konoha. It's obviously a very important and effective skill. Logically, it doesn't make sense that he was never shown to use it before this. But in the scene where he used it, Kishi had to have ten tails jinchuuriki Madara being attacked by Minato, Kakashi and Gaara. But because none of them had the sage power, they wouldn't have been able to attack him. So, Kishi had to choose Minato for it since both Kakashi and Gaara had had too much visibility in the manga already, so it would look illogical if either of them were shown to use sage energy.

And even before this, the reader was given the impression that only Naruto and Jiraiya had been able to make it to Mount Myoboku to train for it.

Do I think chakra reincarnation was a good decision? Where do I think it was implemented?

Well anon, I didn't like it in the first place that all the problems of the shinobi world, which were portrayed very realistically and thoughtfully were reduced and trivialized by blaming it on the chakra fruit and all the alien politics. Narratively and as per the worldbuilding of the shinobi universe, it just looks like a hail Mary pass. It's obviously a retcon. I am sure Kishi had a rough idea when he started to write the war arc but hadn't filled in the blanks yet, that he did as he went along. I guess Kishi was stressed, there were so many characters and so many plotlines converging in this arc, it couldn't have been easy. And he had to introduce the alien plotline somewhere so as to give a pretext to Boruto's plotline. Boruto's conception went on board somewhere around the Pein arc, but Kishi took his time not to malign the larger narrative with it, and he held off as long as he could. But I can assure you, had it not been for Boruto, there would have been no chakra fruit, no Kaguya, no Hagoromo and no Ashura and Indra.

[yyhimagines]

hi the imagi es here are so cute! I really like riding horses and I think it would be silly if yusuke and the boys were riding horses with me, I imagine kurama might be good at it but everyone else would struggle, LOL! would you be able to write something about that when you have time?

"You gotta relax," you insist. "Horses can sense your nerves, and it makes them nervous, too." "Easy for you to say," Yusuke says, grip on the reigns far too tight and his posture far too stiff in the saddle. "How do you know it's not gonna suddenly freak out and buck me off?" "Just don't spook it," Kurama says. "Breathe, relax your posture, and lighten up on the reigns." "He's right," you say. "Loosen your hips and just sway with the saddle. If you tighten up like that your horse is going to stop." "What, you're telling us these things can sense the tension in our bodies?" Kuwabara seems horrified, and his horse stands nervously, ears back attentively and listening to its rider with excruciating detail. "Yeah, they can," you say. "You have a cat, right? Just think of it like interacting with your cat." Kuwabara groans uncomfortably, but he looks down at the beast beneath him, takes a deep breath, releases the tension in his body with a heavy exhale, and reaches out to stroke his ride's neck. The horse responds favorably, shifting its weight and letting out a gentle sound. It can still sense Kuwabara's nerves, but suddenly Kuwabara feels a bit more in-tune with the creature. "That's more like it," Kurama says, riding up beside Kuwabara and his mount while keeping a respectable distance and making sure Kuwabara's horse knew he was coming. "Yeah!" You smile widely. "Just remember: no sudden movements, no shouting, no hitting, and try to relax. There's a rhythm between you and your horse. You just gotta find it."

Yusuke looks pale, but he tries to keep this advice in mind. He's got a long way to go. "Come on, Yusuke—you can handle demons and monsters, but not a vegetarian?" You both tease and try to boost his confidence at the same time. "Yeah, it's the vegetarians you have to watch out for."

[sabraeal]

want your heart (to be for me), Part 1

[Read on AO3]

The last of my Holiday Gifts for the year, posted a few weeks late due to this particular fic growing COMPLETELY out of control. It was supposed to be a one shot, but since this is nearly 5K in and of itself...I decided two parts would be the best decision.

A god’s work, Nanami has found, is never done.

She spends two weeks rolling about the ocean floor, trying to untangle the complex politics of the courts of the sea gods and their tumultuous marriages, but when Himemiko’s wedding drama settles enough for the waves to spit her back out on land, she’s sure-- certain, really-- that this time she’ll keep her feet dry and nose clean long enough to make it through exams.

That is, until some sky god falls in love with Tomoe, stealing him away to her cloud city or whatever. Three days of growing wings-- painfully one bone at a time-- and nearly a week of learning how to use them all ends in a burst of shimmering feathers the moment her toes touch the tip of Mount Kurama, all her hard work amounting to little more than pillow stuffing. Two days before the test.

Her just-barely passing marks would be worth it, if only that jerk would appreciate the effort.

“Thanks again for letting me stay, Kei-chan.” Nanami’s sure to put on her brightest smile, the one that makes Tomoe choke and Mizuki sigh.

Kei barely bothers to look up from her phone. “What? Oh, yeah, no problem.”

“Really--” she sprinkles a little more earnestness on this one, teeth hurting as she keeps them bared-- “it means a lot to me! It would have been a real pain trying to get back to the shr-- home tonight.”

“Yeah, totally, I get it. You really live out in the boonies.” Her fingers fly across the keyboard, nails ticking and tacking in the same staccato bursts as a typewriter. Or gunfire, maybe, considering the amount of bodies she’s leaving behind. “It’s no problem. My parents are never home, so you can come by whenever.”

Nanami blinks. “Wha--? Really?”

“Why not?” Her shoulders twitch in what might be a shrug’s lazier cousin. “I mean, I’ll probably be on a date, but if you need a place to be...the door’s not always open, because I don’t need my stuff stolen, but it’s here.”

It’s not the first time she’s had the rug ripped out from under her, but this is the first time it’s felt like a magic trick. Sure she stumbles, but she’s still on her feet, and what’s beneath her is so much sturdier than some raggedy old tablecloth. “That’s really kind of y--”

Kei flicks off her screen like punctuation.“Ami-chan’s at the door.”

The girl’s all limbs, but when Kei sweeps up from the couch it’s graceful, in a way Nanami could never manage. Or well, in a way she’d think she’d be able to, up until Tomoe slunk in with his stupid smirk, insinuating that everything about her was so unfortunately human. “Make yourself at home or whatever.”

“Oh, okay,” she murmurs faintly from the floor, the impulse to jump up and hug her fading as Kei strides through the door. “Thank you, I gue--”

The door slams shut on any more earnestness. Knowing Kei, that’s on purpose.

“Well well, Nanami-chan,” a reedy voice pipes from behind her, more confident in its welcome than it deserves, “it’s not quite as spacious as home, but I suppose we could do worse.”

Nanami twists around so tightly she nearly wrings herself out, her limbs tangled up so hopelessly that she can do little more than gape as Mizuki paws through Kei’s bed, making himself right at home. “Mizuki, what--?”

“As much as I hate to give that wild fox any credit, he certainly dreams up better bedding than this. Is this even real cotton?” He tugs at the fitted sheet, mouth thinning out to a grimace. “Ah, well. Beggars and choosers.”

“What are you doing?” Here, specifically, but she’ll settle for any answers that wrap up before Kei can saunter back in, Ami in tow. “You’re supposed to be back at the shrine!”

“Where else would I be?” he asks her, expression rumpled reproachfully. “I’m your familiar, Nanami-chan. If you’re leaving because of that nasty fox, then I will help you settle in your new shrine. Even if it means I’ll have to cut back on my brewing.”

Mizuki’s words may be nothing but aggressive support and positivity, but the disparaging glance he spares Kei’s bedroom-- well, he could teach the mean girls at school a thing or two.

“I’m not leaving! And certainly not because of Tomoe!” There’s no sense in doing that when he’s already spending all of his time sulking in the spirit realm, punishing her for daring to enjoy a kiss. “It’s just a long walk from the city to the shrine. It’s not safe for a girl in the dark!”

At least, that’s what Ami had told her, wide eyed and trembling. It’s the sort of thing Nanami would typically wave off-- it’s hardly the first time she’s had to make that walk after the sun’s set, and it certainly won’t be the last if Tomoe’s going to bury himself in tanuki every time her crush rubs his fur the wrong way-- but Kei put her phone down, serious, and agreed. And when Ami added, especially since Tomoe is out of town with his family, for good measure, and well--

Stretching her legs outside of the shrine seemed like a better and better idea every minute.

Mizuki tilts his head, eyes narrowing until he’s more snake than human. “You’re right,” he decides. “It’s much better for you to be here. I’d hate to think what that wild fox would do if he caught you on your date.”

Nanami whips around with a yelp. “My what?”

“Your date,” he clarifies, too confident for someone living so far from reality. “With the crow god.”

“Oh, that.” She laughs, the tension slumping straight out of her shoulders. “That’s not a date. I’m just showing Jirou around the city. It’s the least I can do after he taught me how to use those stupid wings.”

They hadn’t felt stupid at the time; no, they’d felt powerful and dangerous, like she was a Real God, not just some high schooler thrust into the spirit world at the whims of a butterfly who thought she might make a good lesson for his familiar. Ha. If she’s a lesson, it’s one Tomoe sure isn’t happy to learn.

“Oh.” Mizuki pulls the sound too long; goosebumps pimple up her arms. “Well, I suppose he will be very disappointed, then.”

A strange knot knits itself in her stomach, heavy as a stone, rattling around as she shifts onto her hip, frowning at him. “What do you mean by that? This is what he asked for.”

Or rather, he’d said, I have grown curious about this mortal world. I want to see why it draws so many crows off the mountain. Same difference, if you ask her.

Mizuki stares at her. “You told him it was a date.”

Her jaw drops. “I did not.”

“You did, you said--” he pitches his voice higher, nothing like her own-- “Is that all? It’s a date!”

“I didn’t mean it like that!” she insists, cheeks burning. “It’s just-- it’s a saying. I’m sure he knows that.”

Even still, Nanami can’t forget the wide-eyed way Jirou had looked at her, nor his murmured, is it...?

Mizuki hums, unconvinced. “If you say so, Nanami-chan.”

Her mouth opens. To say just what, she’ll never know, since the door flies open at the same time, and with the reflexes of a god-- or a girl who has learned not to get caught-- she shoves Mizuki straight out the window.

Ami blinks, staring at the place he sat only seconds ago. “Did you just--?”

“Hey, keep it moving,” Kei snaps from behind her. “We don’t got all night, do we? Nanami’s got a date to go on.”

“It’s not a date.” She’s sure of that, certain, but as Kei elbows her way into the room, dropping down to her vanity with an expression that could only be called stern, it comes out much meeker than she‘d managed with Mizuki. “It’s just an old friend--”

“Whatever.” A drawer rattles open, and oh, Nanami had thought her little compact with two shades of blush was the height of luxury, but Kei’s got enough make up to glam up a small country. “You want to look hot or not?”

“Ah...” Nanami blinks. There’s glitter in there. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt...”

Kei’s the kind of girl whose mouth is too sharp for smiles, but a smirk fits her just fine. “That’s what I thought.”

“So what’s the deal?” This is the longest she’s ever seen Kei without her phone, her hands too busy dancing across an absolutely massive palette instead. It’s the sort she’s only seen in store windows to make the big ones look reasonable by comparison. “Should we take pictures of his license plate? Have Ami follow you in disguise?”

“Me?” Ami hiccups, flushed.

“Well, I can’t.” She sniffs, reaching into her vanity for yet another little plastic case. “I’ve got a date too.”

“Ah, no, that’s not--” Nanami imagines Kei flashing a phone in Jirou’s face and can’t decide whether to laugh or grimace-- “he’s a friend, I promise. That’s all.”

“That’s what they want you to think,” Kei warns her sagely, unimpressed. “But guys our age only have one thing on their mind.”

“Oh, well, he’s, er...” It’s impossible to explain that he’s an ageless being that typically sits in a hall outside of time and space. “A little older. So it’s fine.”

“How did you meet?” Ami asks, so sweet-- too bad it’s drowned out by Kei’s, “Does he have a brother? Friends?”

Somehow she doubts that either Kurama-- er, Shinjirou or Jirou would appreciate her spreading around that they were related. Or, well, whatever the tengu had going on, living on Kurama. “Through, er, Tomoe’s family.”

Ami’s eyes round. “Oh.”

“What about that guy anyway?” Kei leans back, her hand guiding Nanami’s chin this way and that, inspecting her work. “I thought you two were, you know...?”

It’s stupid how her eyes tear when she says, “We’re not.”

Kei frowns, grip easing on her jaw. “His loss then. What about this guy? Is he hot? Would it drive Tomoe nuts if you--?”

“Kei-chan,” Ami gasps, hands clapped to her cheeks. “Nanami already said that this was just a friend! There’s nothing for Tomoe-kun to be upset about, and even if there was, Nanami-chan would never!”

It would be nice to be as kind and put together as Ami thought she was. “Right,” she lies. “There’s no way he could complain about me showing our friend around, nope!”

Kei arches one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows, skepticism palpable. “Right. Now what are you going to wear?”

It takes the whole half hour for Kei to lean back, one of those dagger-point grins on her face as she declares, “Oh yeah, he’s going to choke on his own tongue.” 

Considering how she’s the only woman he’s ever met, she doubts that will be a high bar to clear. “This isn’t a date.”

“Okay,” Kei says, unconvinced, which is all she manages before the doorbell chimes, delicate as crystal. “I’ll get it.”

“No!” Nanami catches herself before she can grab her, pushing her mouth into the semblance of a harmless smile. “I mean, he’s my guest! You don’t need to put yourself out.”

A spark flares deep in the morass of Kei’s green eyes, and oh, she has made a mistake, saying the exact thing that would pique her interest. “No, no, let me.”

It’s only five yards to the door, but with both of them on their feet, it becomes a contest of inches, Kei’s sharp elbows fending her off at the same time Nanami tries to catch her ankles with a heel. It’s a tumble, really, one of them making headway before the other draws her back, over and over until Nanami knocks the phone from Kei’s hands into the couch, making a mad dash before the girl can recover.

The door’s open hardly more than a crack, but she calls out, “Jirou!” nonetheless, like she can audibly mark her territory, her smile wide if strained, and when it swings wider--

Oh.

Intellectually, Nanami had known he couldn’t walk around the mortal world in his monk’s robes and beads-- and there’s no way his wings would fit in the subway-- but still, she’s not prepared to see the former fourth Soujoubou of Kurama idling in the hall with jeans. There’s no red dabbed at the corner of his eyes either, no tabi or wings or undefinable magic something-- he’s as mortal as they come, just some guy--

A camera clicks behind her, and she turns just in time to watch Kei pocket her phone, gaping. “This is your not date?”

Oh, that’s right, he’s gorgeous too. Because the spirit world runs on soap opera rules.

“I told you, you didn’t have to take pictures!” Nanami hisses through her smile.

“This isn’t for your thing,” Kei assures her. “This is for personal use. Are you sure he doesn’t have a brother?”

It’s quiet, pitched to stay between them, but she sees Jirou glance back, brow furrowed, before his gaze slides to her. “Nanami,” he says, serious as always. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

All she can do is stand there stupidly, staring at the way his hands flex at his side. Oh no, this is definitely a date.

“Hey,” That knife’s edge of a smirk splits Kei’s lips, one of her hands already outstretched. “I’m Nanami-chan’s--”

“Leaving!” she gasps, surging forward to drag him through the door. “We’re leaving!”

The door slams shut behind them with the force of foxfire, her hair billowing out around her shoulders as it hits the frame. With a smile grit so bright her teeth ache, she chirps, “Well, let’s get this show on the road!”

Only hours ago, there’d been a whole plan for this whole debacle. Not a solid one-- Nanami didn’t really do itineraries, and she doubted Jirou would appreciate being hurried along like a tour group-- but she’d had ideas. Tokyo Tower, maybe, or the Skytree for something more current. The art museums in Roppongi were also an option, though she thought one of the ones down by Ueno Station might be more convenient. Cheaper too, since she doubted the former fourth Soujoubou would be flush with pocket money.

But none of that is Date Material. Not that she wants it to be, it’s just-- Nanami hates to disappoint. If this is going to be Jiro’s single trip to the mortal world, then she really should try to make it special, maybe even go along with--

“I don’t understand,” Jirou huffs, coat shrugged so high it must itch his ears. “It’s a tree.”

It’s a long way down from the gallery to the mall’s lowest floor, but Nanami leans over anyway, wondering whether she could grab one of the snowflakes hanging from the rafters if she just reached out her hand. “I’d think out of anyone, you would understand how important a tree can be.”

“The sacred sakura is the source of Kurama’s life and power.” His lips peel back in a sneer. “This is indoors.”

“It’s a Christmas tree!” The bulky banister digs into her back as she turns, grinning up at him. “Don’t you guys have--?”

Slouched in his wool coat Jirou looks like any other guy walking past, but skepticism pulls his spine straight, putting him head and shoulders above even the tallest passerby. With his arms crossed and face drawn into a forbidding scowl, it hardly matters that he doesn’t have his wings or isn’t dressed in his monk’s robes-- he’s every inch a god.

Or a spirit, or-- ah, whatever tengu are. She’d never been too clear on just who made the cut for kami, and at this point in the game, it’s a little late to ask.

“Ah, right, no, you wouldn’t.” With the way time works on the mountain, Jirou might even predate the concept. “It’s from the West. It’s a night where couples go out, and--”

Her teeth clamp down, biting back the words. What’s wrong with her, mentioning couples’ holidays to the only guy who has ever confessed to her? Especially when she already rejected him for reasons-- reasons that have flitted off to the spirit world, probably to discourage her too, and--

“Are you going to get souvenirs for your brothers?” she asks, breathless.

She braces for him to scoff, to tell her that the once-soujoubou has no need for gifts, but Jirou only blinks. “Souvenirs?”

Ah, right. The tengu never leave the mountain. “When you go somewhere, it’s polite to bring back gifts. Food and stuff! A little slice of the mortal realm for everyone to enjoy.”

Only a few months ago, Jirou’s frown would have been enough to make her back track and tremble, hoping his wrath wouldn’t come down on her the way the gods were so fond of doing, But a week under his wing, so to speak, and now she knows: he’s thinking. “...Polite?”

“C’mon.” She hooks her arm around his. “There’s a store right over there.”

It doesn’t strike her until they’re in front of the novelty chocolates, Jirou standing as still as a deer in headlights, that oh yes, the man from the magical mountain might be paralyzed by choice.

“There’s so many,” he manages, strained. “How do you do this? This whole world is so distracting. It’s a wonder any one of you gets anything done with all this going on.”

Nanami leans a hip against the wall, not bothering to smother her grin. “It’s because we’re getting stuff done that there is all this.”

His mouth rounds. “Oh.”

She plucks a box off the stacks of snacks, a to-scale miniature chocolate Skytree. “Do you think this is why the mortal world corrupts the tengu? I’ve never thought about it, but I suppose we’re spoiled for choice down here. And everything must seem so fast.”

“Maybe.” He approaches the word slowly, lips wrapping around on tip-toe, as if sneaking up on it might make it easier to say. In the end he grimaces anyway, cheeks flushed. “I’ve since realized that the corruption of the mortal realm might have less to do with its vices, and more to do with its, er...”

His dark eyes flick toward her, pink creeping up to his ears before they skitter away. “Taking into account the other prohibition of Kurama, the first Soujoubou might have been more concerned with keeping his brothers from distracting themselves with the, er...mortal women that lived there, rather than any other excess.”

“Oh,” she squeaks, her own face suddenly hot. “Yeah, I guess that would be...”

“I agree.”

Her head snaps up, watching as he delicately picks up a snow globe from the shelf behind him, a small version of Ueno Park painstakingly modeled inside. “We are told that we hatch from beneath the branches of the sacred sakura. I certainly don’t remember anything before my time at Kurama. But for Shinjirou to be the Soujoubou’s son, then that means he must have...”

Jirou’s mouth pulls thin.

“Well, there must be some lady tengu, right?” Nanami can’t recall ever seeing one, but she’d be the first to admit: her sample size is small. “On one of the other mountains, maybe? It’s not like the Soujoubou...”

His steady stare is more answer than she needs, and yet he still tells her. “I heard he was a handsome man, in his younger years.”

“Ah.”

He lifts his shoulder, cheeks burning too bright to be casual. “The last century was a hard one.”

“Right,” she murmurs faintly. “I’ve heard kids will do that to you.”

An hour and three stores later, Jirou finally settles on some wagashi shaped unseasonably into sakura blossoms, sold two in a package, grimacing as Nanami shakes out the shrine box to pay for them.

“Don’t worry,” she tells him, with a smile, “I planned for this!”

He does insist on paying for the lucky cat three stores over, pulling out a stack of bills that certainly aren’t from the spirit world. “It’s for the Soujoubou,” he explains, firm. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to ask you to pay.”

“You’re bringing Manekineko onto a mountain full of birds?” Her mouth twitches as his furrows wearily. “He’ll be one well fed cat!”

“The Soujoubou likes them. Cats, I mean.” He softens as she gazes down at the bag, like he can see the figure even through the glossy paper. “He says they carry their weight keeping the mice out of the kitchen.”

Nanami blinks. “You guys get mice in the spirit world?”

His mouth hooks into a smirk. “ Whether they are made by gods or men, few things have as little respect for boundaries as a mouse.”

“Ah.” She stares down at the bag. “I guess that makes--”

The gloss shimmers as it flies from his hand, knocked back to the pavement. Nanami needs a solid second of blinking for the moment to come into focus: the bag laying on the ground, Manekineko’s box slid half out of it; Jirou standing stock still on the walkway, as if the ground was made of glass and even a breath could make it shatter; a little boy sprawled on the ground at his feet, staring up and up and up, tears already beading on his eyelashes.

“Stupid.” The mountain of a man-- of a god glares down the long slope of his nose, just as remote and aloof as Kurama itself, and Nanami stiffens, her breath caught in the heavy weight of her lungs. Even without his robe, he’s imposing, and the boy on the ground shivers the way Botanmaru used to at the very sound of Jirou’s name. She can’t forget how the little crows had all feared him, how they would flinch at even the gentlest raised hand--

“Here,” Jirou murmurs, crouching as much as a man his height can manage. “Are you hurt? Can you stand?”

“N-no.” The boy blinks, shaking his head. “I mean, yeah. I can...I can get up, I think.”

“Then there is no reason to sit on the ground.” His large hand juts out, just in front of the boy’s face. “Who do you belong--?” Jirou catches himself. “Do you have a guardian nearby? A...parent?”

“Y-yeah.” That small hand folds into Jirou’s, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. He can’t be more than six or seven, too young to be wandering alone, but too old to suffer being stuck to someone’s side. “My m-mom.”

“A mother.” Jirou’s face softens. It does things to her stomach that Nanami refuses to contemplate. “She must worry over you.”

The boy flushes, tucking his face into his shoulder to hide it. “Yeah, I guess. Maybe.”

“Come, then.” With an awkwardness that’s almost endearing, Jirou shifts his grip, holding the boy’s hand so delicately it might as well be made of glass. “Let us see if we can find this woman. Your return will go a long way toward easing her mind.”

The boy’s cheeks blow out, half a pout. “Okay, mister, if you say so.”

It takes only a minute or two to locate his mother, weighed down by a half dozen bags and on her phone, placing a frantic call to the help desk.

“Daisuke!” she gasps, clutching the boy to her, not letting him shake her off. “How many times have I told you to stay close! There’s too many people for you to go running around!”

“I just wanted to check out the Lego store,” he huffs, suffering through her kissing and scolding with belligerent embarrassment. “I didn’t mean to go far. I would have come right back if I hadn’t run into-- er, I mean...”

“Run into?” His mother blinks, and that’s when she notices Jirou, looming awkwardly a few steps away. “Daisuke!” she hisses, manhandling him into a bow. “I’m so sorry that my son inconvenienced you, sir. I promise that we raised him better than to be such a bother.”

“Ah.” One hand raises, soothing. “Please, you don’t have to explain to me. I understand. Young boys often seek out their own adventures.”

“Oh.” The woman’s eyes trail up him, from the thick sole of his boots to the fur trim of his hat-- and when she’s done, she glances over his shoulder, squarely at Nanami, before she asks, “You have children of your own?”

“No, no.” His hands wave between them, a soft denial. “Younger brothers.”

“I see, I see.” Or so she might say, but the gaze she fixes on Nanami is far too speculative, the implication so heavy she can’t help but turn away, flushed. “Go on, apologize for interrupting their night, Daisuke.”

“Sorry,” the boy informs the pavement. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

“Really, it’s no trouble.” Jirou’s voice is always heavy, each word spoken with a palpable weight, but for once--

For once, there’s a laugh bubbling beneath it, too light to be smothered by seriousness, one that sets his lips twitching, a smile haunting the corners of his smirk. Happiness.

It looks nice on him. 

It takes another ten minutes for Daisuke’s mother to be content with her son’s apologies; Jirou’s protests going unmarked with each bow and scrape. Don’t go easy on him, she insists, he needs to learn some manners.

“I think,” Jirou murmurs, humor clinging to the shadows of his words, “that maybe Shinjirou is lucky the Soujoubou did not bring his mother to the mountain. They are fearsome.”

There’s an ache in her chest, an old one, the kind that never fills but simply is grown used to, until it feels natural to never heal. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t remember much about my mom.”

His mouth is already open with his next question, but she can’t stop herself, not when the words are already struggling their way out through her lips. “You’ve changed.”

She glances up at him just in time to catch the way his eyes round and his mouth slackens, a blush blooming across his cheeks that has nothing to do with cold. “What...?” He clears his throat, and once again he’s Jirou, aloof and alone, the strongest tengu on Kurama. “What do you mean?”

“The Jirou I met a few months ago wouldn’t have helped that boy.” Her elbow pokes into his unyielding side. This guy obviously doesn’t skip ab day. Or...whatever day they trained to make what should be love handles into solid steel. “He would have just told him he was weak and a disappointment to his ancestors. He certainly wouldn’t have helped him to his feet, let alone find his mom.”

“That’s...true enough,” he admits, reluctantly. “My mind was always bent toward pleasing the Soujoubou. To living up to his example and becoming the strongest of his sons. I thought that if I became a man he could rely on, if I made the rest of my brothers as strong as me...”

That it would protect him. Or rather, their way of life. He’d explained as much, when they descended into the Thunderbeast’s lair.

He coughs, cold steaming his breath. “All those years, I worried over only the most superficial aspects of being Soujoubou. I neglected to see even the most basic truths, the ones my master had gone to great pains to show me, even as I proved over and over that I did not understand. There is more to strength than the physical. There is more to discipline than denial.”

Nanami hooks a hand around his arm, squeezing it. “It’s good that you did learn it though. It takes a very big person to admit when they were wrong.”

She doesn’t add, especially a god. She’s learned the hard way that you never know when one is listening, especially when their winds are such tattletales.

“It was you that showed me that, Nanami. I allowed my vision to be clouded by pride, and you--” Jirou glances down at her, that stony glaze softening to something almost human-- “you saved me. All of us on Kurama. Our lives have been changed by your touch, and I, for one, will never forget what we owe you.”

“O-oh.” The way he looks at her, it’s so-- so intimate, the way she catches Tomoe looking at her in the breath before he turns away. The way she wishes he would without needing to hide it. That someone would, without acting it was some great sufferance, a lowering of their standards.

And here Jirou is, giving it to her for free, no strings attached. In a way that makes her want to turn toward it, the way flowers do for the sun, unfurling her petals to bask in its glow--

It’s too much.

“Oh, is that, um--” her eyes dart over the street, trying to find something to hold onto, some flotsam in the storm of these feelings-- and she finds it. “Ice skating?”

Jirou blinks. “Excuse me?”

“Come on.” She hooks her arm through his, dragging him toward the stop light, eye fixed on where the crowd presses around Ueno’s plaza. “Let’s go.”

[redsamuraiii]

Mount Kurama, Kyoto by 鞍馬寺

Song by Tetsuya Komuro

[yyh4ever]

HG Yu Yu Hakusho Figure Collection

"Yu Yu Hakusho" is now available in the traditional figure brand "HG Series"! It is a set of 4 characters: Yusuke Urameshi, Kazuma Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei, plus a bromide.

Publisher: Bandai

Price: 5,980 yen (tax included)

Size: about 65 to 100mm (H)

Material: PVC (body and pedestal)

Reservations: Premium Bandai from May 19, 2023 (Friday)

Scheduled to be shipped in September 2023

The figures feature Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei in dynamic poses. Yusuke comes with an exchangeable fist part, from a punch to a spirit gun fist:

It also includes a special bromide with 3 familiar scenes from the OP, Eyecatch and ED of the anime, in a photograph mount.

Bromide Size: about 86mm (H) x 59mm (W)

Material: PP

Set contents:

Yusuke Urameshi (with pedestal) x 1

Exchange fist parts for Yusuke Urameshi x 1

Kazuma Kuwabara (with pedestal) x 1

Kurama (with pedestal) x 1

Hiei (with pedestal) × 1

3 types of special bromide (with mount) × 1

[eirikrjs]

In SMT V, Kurama Tengu refers to an "Ishizuchizan Hokibo" in a quest before summoning Zaou Gongen to fight alongside him. Do you know who or what he may be referring to?

I took this screenshot and apparently never gave it a second thought.

It appears Ishizuchizan Hokibo is one of the Great Tengu by one such reckoning/grouping, living on Mount Ishizuchi in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku. This page has everything. Hokibo:

Simply, Hokibe lives atop Tengudake, Ishizuchi's peak. But Ishizuchi is also associated with the Shugendo sect and En no Ozuno/Gyoja, and thus Zaou Gongen, who is venerated at Ishizuchi. So in the game, the somewhat lowly Kurama Tengu is appealing to a superior tengu to contact and help summon the mountain's deity.

[joisbishmyoga]

Ten Line Tag Game

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

I got tagged by blenderfullasarcasm. So! In no particular order, based on which I've worked on most recently, including unpublished work:

1. "I'm sorry I don't know more," Kurama said, hands clasped worriedly in front of him, eyes just that slightest bit too wide for calm as he glanced past Maya's father. [Unpublished YYH work, "Narcissus Winks".]

2. It was fortunate the heavy door was unlatched, because Caius hit it with his shoulder -- not, unfortunately, the part where a heavy grip had him, but more in front, just above the rip in his jacket where the silver embroidery of his rank insignia had been torn out, along with the buttons to the accompanying pocket. [Unpublished and untitled one-shot for The Titan's Bride.]

3. Ann would like it known that she is totally going to scream for the guards as soon as this bird-headed weirdo lets go. [Unpublished Persona 5 fic, "Obverse".]

4. A stunning redhead frowned delicately at sample pages spread across a table at the far side of the room. [March Prompt Fic, a DCMK/Persona 5 (and 3) xover.]

5. Saguru thumbed through the convention schedule on his phone. [February Prompt Fic, supernatural shenanigans in DCMK.]

6. "General!"

Obi-Wan -- still reeling from the oddest surge in the Force -- finished tugging his mount to a halt, clinging to the cliffside, and peered down in bemusement at the man free-climbing recklessly in his wake. [Star Wars fic, "It May Have Started With..."]

7. Sae had taken the phone with her. [Persona 5 fic, "Enlightenment", which is currently being expanded; the first chapter is identical for both versions.]

8. "I have decided," Mme. Balon announced near the end of Friday's cooldown session, "that all of you are advanced enough to experiment with doing your own choreography." [Miraculous Ladybug fic, "Gravity's Just A Habit", using a variation of edorazzi's twin AU.]

9. Princess Thalia was bored.

(This, dear readers, is a warning.) [Untitled original work, planned with a friend some 15 yrs ago or so. Man, we've forgotten so much of it...]

10. Over the summer, the alliance had set up a small tower in the curve of a sandstone outcrop near the Naka River, in one of the less contested borderlands between the Uchiha, Senju, and Aburame. [Naruto fic, Tobirama smut series, "Early Days Yet".]

[lunarwildrose]

Fun fact: Karasu-Tengu dress up as monks / priests to play mischievous tricks on ppl, and reside mostly upon Mount Kurama.

Karasu-Tengu roughly translates to English as, "Crow Goblin", hence why I call our babies "The Little Crow Goblins", with Dada shortening it to "Crow Goblins", which stuck, hehe ^^;

We have 15 with one on the way for the Year of the Cat, cos I really wanted an extra baby born in the Year of Nabi. 🐱

It's the Year of the Cat in Vietnam, and Bunny elsewhere, btw! 🐰

/// Not my art. ^^; I think it's from "Crow Week".

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#personal #Karasu #KarasuTengu #CrowGoblins #KarasuYuYuHakusho #KarasuYYH #YYHKarasu #YuYuHakushoKarasu #鴉 #幽遊白書 #幽白 #YuYuHakusho #yuyuhakushofanart #yyhfanart #yuyuhakushoart #yuyuhakushoartwork #digitalart #illustration #art #cutefanart #bishounen

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