#she's not sure about it but she likes how earnest kami seems so she gives it a read

[mettywiththenotes]

I kinda wanna see Kami introducing Momo to shounen comics now

[safestsephiroth]

FFXIVWrite #8: No Prompt/Extra Credit Day - Asagao Shiragiko

Part three in the series!

Part one link here.

Part two link here.

Part four link here.

Part five link here.

Part six link here.

Part seven link here.

Part Final link here.

She had begun his training in earnest, beneath the calm Hingashi sky, the very next day.

Etsuji was a quick learner. He asked questions constantly, and Asagao realized almost immediately that whatever tutors had been meant to teach him had, very plainly, failed the boy. Because to stifle a young mind's curiosity and wonder is to beat out what makes it more than that of a beast.

She sat back, leaned against a cherry blossom tree. He had been taught swordsmanship well. The fundamentals were far more important than what came later, and his were sharp. His movements were fluid and quick, though he had not yet perfected switching between them. So she had him practicing the same three swings. Again, and again, and again.

She had expected him to complain. She had expected him to be impatient to learn iaijutsu. She had been. Instead, he seemed overyjoyed.

A half bell, he repeated the exact same motions. She could see the improvement already. She stood. Walked over to him.

"Stop. That is enough."

He turned to face her. Sheathed his katana carefully. As if it were made of glass. Bowed to her.

"Thank you, sensei. But... may we continue?"

She smiled. Looked off to the distance. Kugane was not terribly far from here. It had been some time since she'd returned to the city. Not since she spoke with...

"Of course we may. But it will not do to have you repeat only the same three actions, hmm? Now, I would like you to face North." She pointed, and he immediately complied. "For this exercise, we will pretend you are under attack. You must defend and counter. I will yell to you a cardinal direction and an angle. You will turn that direction, defend from that angle and then swiftly attack."

"Yes, sensei!"

She looked off again. The blonde ijin. What was his goal? He had said he owed a debt to yakuza. And it was plain, there was either something else living within him, or he was deranged. But she had never known someone deranged to speak with such clarity.

At the same time, she had met very few she would think of as deranged. Perhaps he was simply an exception? But then, that wouldn't explain the bizarre magical powers he had. It was simpler if he had been telling the truth. That did make it more likely.

"Hmm."

"Sens-?"

"West, high!"

He pivoted right - winced - spun fully back around to face East. Swiped his sword up, then a quick turn and downward slash.

"Very good. It is good you recognized your mistake and moved to correct it immediately. It's important not to hesitate in a fight. An opponent who intends to kill you is not likely to do so."

"Yes, sensei!"

Was the ijin truly an assassin with good intentions? It seemed impossible. But then, a samurai defying the nobility must have at one point, as well.

"Etsuji?"

"Yes, sensei?"

"Why does rain fall from the sky?"

His face furrowed. "Um. Well, in Geomancy-"

"SOUTH, LEFT!"

He spun left, swung the sword to his left, then swept the blade right.

"Very good! I am impressed you did not let your guard down."

He blinked. Looked back to her. An odd expression.

"Uh... Yes. Thank you, sensei."

"Hmm? Is something wrong?"

"...No. I feel a bit unwell. May we take a break?"

Her head tilted. "Very well. We can continue this exercise later."

"Thank you." A flourish - a flash - and he had sheathed his katana. He didn't even seem to notice.

But she had.

"Here. The village nearby can sell us a meal. I will pay for both of us."

"Okay." He looked to the sky. To the trees. "This is an orchard, right?"

"It is. I helped the owner deal with attacks from wolves some time ago. We will be sleeping here for now. The wilderness is no place for a novice to be at night."

"Yeah." He nodded. "Thank you."

"Of course. Come on." She led him to the village nearby. But not long along the path, she heard a faint whispering. She glanced back behind her. He was trailing behind, head low. Muttering something. She slowed down. Pretended not to notice. But he slowed down, as well.

She thought back to the amulet.

Best not to bring it up. Best not to accuse him. The boy was trying his best, this much was plain. He was hopeful. Cheery. And learning quickly. It would be an inauspicious start to accuse him of keeping the strange thing after she had already told him to leave it behind.

While they walked to the village, she mulled this over. She thought on it as they ate, as he spoke enthusiastically about heroism. About helping others.

"Do you have any stories about times you've saved people?" He looked to her like a man looking at an emperor. Like a student looking at a legendary master. Like a son looking at-

"I do. I do not wish to flatter myself overmuch, but there are many. I think for today I should tell you only one. It would not do to fill your mind with the idea that these things are mundane or ordinary, hmm?"

He nodded. Leaned forward.

"Sit up straight. Your posture mustn't slack."

He leaned back up so quickly he almost fell over. "Yes, sensei!"

She smiled. Cleared her throat. "Some seasons past, I was visiting a village in Koshu. While I was there, the weather turned sour. The villagers explained that it was likely tied to the anger of the kami."

"Yes, that makes sense." He nodded. "The kami-"

"Please do not interrupt."

"Yes, sensei!"

She smiled again. So eager. Like when she was his age. Her face darkened but a moment.

"Sensei?"

"I had my suspicions about their story. They sent a small group of the villagers on a journey, to acquire a gemstone from Bukyo to offer the kami. The village did not have money in abundance, but they told me this was a vital practice that kept them safe from the rain. I decided to wait. And watch."

He nodded.

"The rain did not stop, did not let up or strengthen or lull. The drops fell at the exact same pace for five days and nights. I had sensed something was wrong. But I did not figure it out until I spoke with a young boy, there. Nobuyoshi. I realized from his questions what was happening."

Etsuji shifted in his seat. Impatient. She smiled. Yes, that was what she had expected from him.

"I asked him to lead me to the shrine. I talked with him about the kami. How people bring offerings to the shrine not out of love, but out of fear. They bring offerings when they desire something, or if they desire something to /stop."/

He took a bite of food.

"I folded up a piece of paper. Bid him toss it into the sky. I focused myself, and aimed a killing blow. The paper split in two well above his head - and the blades of wind I had created with my cut neatly cleaved the hidden yokai watching us from behind the trees in twain. The rain stopped seconds later."

"Wow!"

"I did not tell any of them what I had done. But I recognized that it was all an illusion. A powerful one, to be certain. But an illusion all the same. Now. What can you tell me you've learned from this story, and how is it I knew it was an illusion?"

He tilted his head. Scratched at his neck, looking skyward. "Let's see. We have to consider wisdom from any source it comes from, and not discount it. Like with the kid, right?"

"Correct. Very good. Go on."

"Um... Giving offerings to the kami, we must make sure we understand what we are doing?"

"That is one way you could see it."

"And... you could tell it was an illusion because the rain was the same, right? Rain gets heavier and lighter, and even when it rains for days at a time, it doesn't rain exactly the same."

"You are correct. Very well done. The other thing that tipped me off was that the village was still there, and that they were offering something so valuable. The fact it was always gemstones, and that they had to travel all the way to Bukyo and back to get them, meant they had tried other things. Things which had been spurned. Further, the fact the village did not floor in five days, that they were not overly afraid of their crops withering and dying, these both showed me the rain was illusory. A plant does not heed illusions. It has no mind to be deceived, and so the sun still shone on the crops. Water does not heed illusions, and so despite the imagined rain, the soil was never flooded."

He nodded. "You're really smart!"

"I am experienced. I am a little embarrassed telling this story, you know. It probably should not have taken me five days and nights to figure out what was going on."

He seemed to consider this.

"They had been living their their whole lives, right? If they didn't figure it out, doesn't it mean you're smarter than them because you managed to?"

She looked outside. Back to Etsuji.

"I suppose that's one way to see it." She smiled again. "Thank you. Are you ready to return to your training?"

"Yes!" He sprang up, and took off again for the orchard. She left the money behind and followed him.

But this time, she decided to make an effort to move quietly. And as he went, she could hear faint whispering.

Why was he talking to himself?

[the-ash0]

surviving paradise 21 -want

She's down in her den; a lab in the lower catacombs of Capsule Corp. Hiding, I suppose.Though she should know I can sniff her out by her ki —puny though it is. The door is open, and I can hear her tinkering away. Slow wafts of smoke claw their way out from the entrance and into the hallway like some hungry beast.

I’ve never been down here before and given a choice, I think I’ll never return again. The place is dark, oppressive, and in severe need of a better ventilation system. What possesses a woman of means to seclude herself in such a deprived little hell? Small wonder she’s so weird.  

Before I can come up with a decent plan of attack, the vixen beats me to the punch.  Something hits the tabletop with a clunk; and I hear her sigh as she announces, "come on in, Vegeta. I know you are out there."

Well damn. Guess she's not hiding. With a grunt I enter her lair, and regret it instantly; the air inside is as thick and solid as a curtain. A brown, filthy one. Although the chamber itself is spacious enough, the hallway has more room to manoeuvre. Bookshelves line all the walls, filled with a large assortment of items; everything except for actual books, which are placed  in large stacks on the floor. It’s a labyrinth of contraptions, running in every direction. The only clear path is to her desk, half-way in. The desk itself has only enough space cleared for her hands and her current project.

I quickly realise how she found me out. Monitors are suspended over the desk and while one shows a zoom-in of her work, the two others are clearly surveillance cameras. The left shows an obvious and familiar place: the Gravity Room. I tell myself I should not be surprised, shouldn't bother worrying about such things like being watched. Raditz told me I’d drive myself mad worrying about shit like this, and he was the expert. No; it’s actually a good thing she likes to spy. It’s exactly what I need her for.  "I thought I told you I had a job for you?"

Bulma turns in her revolving chair to face me, and lights up another cigarette to take a deep drag, then breathes out the stench like she’s Shenron’s spawn. Once again, she’s all smiles and familiarity when she was screaming at me less than an hour ago. "Oh, Vegeta. How nice to see you’ve finally heeded my warning and dragged yourself away from my invention. Amazing though it is, I really think it’s time for a break, don't you? So ask away. What is it that you require of the world's greatest genius?"  

I just broke several bones, not to mention five ribs, why would I need any more breaks? The woman seems in a good enough mood, reclining in her chair, so perhaps I am better off leaving her with her silly misconceptions.

"Right." I turn and run my hand along a contraption that reminds me of a mechanical winged beast. Its head is at my eye level, and my finger leaves a near-white streak on the brown surface. Ugh. I wipe the grime off on my shorts quickly, suddenly missing my gloves. "Well there is one little thing you could help me with. Just a little thing." I clear my throat again. It must be the smoke.

This gets her attention. She leans forward and brings the long cigarette to her mouth halfway before thinking better of it, then extinguishes the little smokestick in an ashtray by her side. There is a soft smile on her lips as she states, "well, I'm always happy to help out, Vegeta." She blinks and that weird look crosses her face.  "Is your room comfortable?  Are you getting enough to eat?"

I nearly bark out a laugh, but quickly disguise it as a cough. Yes, she is always happy to help... too happy. What is this game? Is she rubbing my nose in the help I’ve already received? "Oh yeah. It's... fine. Enough food. Everything's been... adequate?" Yes, I'm playing it down, but as far as I’m concerned the negotiations have already started. I look back at her, crossing my arms as I lean back against the doorframe.

"Good! I was worried about you for a bit there, Vegeta." The woman puts her elbows on her knees, hands twitchy with vacancy.  "So, you said you wanted help with a project. Would you like another upgrade to the GR? Or perhaps something else for your training? If you just take a few days off, I bet I can whip you up something special."

A weird laugh bubbles out of my gut at that, and I disguise it as another cough. Is she going to make me state the obvious? Fine. “That would be pointless.”

She freezes and sits back. Her face goes through a myriad of expressions from surprise to confusion to an odd frown, like I just said something very scary. Kami, but I hope she’s faking it. Yet if she is, she is the best actor in the universe and that might be worse. Her voice is sad when she responds. "Pointless? I'm surprised to hear you of all people say that."

This isn’t getting us anywhere. I shake my head, angry that I have to explain. "I’m as powerful as Kakarot was when he challenged Frieza, maybe even more so. But it's not working. There has to be some sort of... trick to it. Some kind of..." I gesture wildly, unwilling to say it out loud. It's not about skill. It’s not. "Technique? I don't know how, woman. I need to know how Kakarot did it."

Bulma taps a finger to her chin as she thinks for a moment.  "Why, that shouldn’t be a problem. Would you like me to give Goku a call?  I'm sure he'd be happy to help too. I bet he’d come right over."  

I almost tell her that nobody would be stupid enough to reveal his greatest secret to an enemy... but who am I kidding.  Kakarot is definitely that stupid. Regardless, there are some levels I don’t want to sink to if I have even one other option left. "You think I have no pride left? You would have me run to that third-class simpleton and be taught like I’m— that idiot’s disciple?"

Oh, I think I'm going to be ill.

"Okay, sorry." She holds up her hands. "I wish you’d give Goku some credit; I know he can be a bit airheaded. I wasn't trying to offend you. So, what do you expect me to do? Unless you believe that basking in my scintillating company will make you magically turn Super Saiyan.” Bulma stops then smoothes her hair with one hand as she flutters her eyelashes. “Which, honestly, does seem like a viable theory."

I refuse to by side tracked by whatever that's supposed to mean. "Well he's your..." What’s the word, "friend, right? I mean, he'd tell you." Hell, the woman could even say she was doing research. For science. Not that it matters. Kakarot would never suspect his ahh... odd-found knowledge ... would be used for evil. Oh, the idea calms me down well. I nearly smile.

"So you’d like me to talk to Kakarot for you about how to become a Super Saiyan?"  She gives me a look like that’s the oddest thing she’s ever heard. Though, really, what gives her the right to judge me? She’s the one on a weird planet with this entire fantasy freak-parade. "Oh Vegeta, I wouldn't even know what to ask about..." She trails off and gets that far away look in her eyes. I think she gets it now. Yes, she is a scientist. A clever one at that. And apparently she enjoys spying, so this is right up her alley. Oh, I knew she would not acquiesce easily. That is fine.

"Okay." Good. Finally I’ll have her demands clear; she’ll tell me what she wants of me, and we can trade. No more surprises. No more guessing at her motives. "Yeah, ok. I get it. You want something in return to compensate you for your time." Hell, the thing that worried me most was she’d leave it open. Put me in debt to her. Little minx, not this time. "So what would you want?" I just hope it’s either someone dead or stress testing an invention.

I seem to have broken her trail of thought, and she fixes me with that sad look again. "What do I want," Bulma repeats, like it’s a weird thing to ask. Foot tapping, she takes way too long to answer, frowning worriedly. Finally she reaches for her coat pocket, then catches herself, a slow smile spreads across her face. "Well, for starters, I'd like to make sure that my people are safe. Those androids are coming in a few years, but to be honest right now I’m more worried about you. And if I help you become a Super Saiyan, then I want you to use those skills to defeat them. Fair enough?" I shouldn't care about her acknowledgement, but it’s so nice to be seen as a threat once again. Because it’s been too long, and it's rightly my due. That’s right! I’m the real danger. Me! Feheheh. Also, it seems the job she wants me to do is... not doing any work? It’s a good deal, but there's one little hitch. "I still want to fight Kakarot. But I suppose I could hold out till after the androids are dead."

She smiles in earnest now; I realise the previous grin was more of a stage move, and this is real, carefree happiness on her face. “Right, I don't think I could stop you two. Besides, Goku would be so disappointed if he didn't get to fight you as well! So, here's the deal. I'll start doing some research— I'll talk with Goku, Krillin, Tien... and I’ll see if I can find a common thread. In the meantime, don't kill anyone. Just relax and maybe get to know people. When was the last time you took a vacation?" Vacate what? She’s talking in riddles. I tisk at her in annoyance. Worse still, so much for me being seen as a threat. She is not even one bit afraid of what will happen after I’ve defeated Kakarot. I guess when Earth’s hero comes into play, the woman’s faith is absolute. But she talks over any objections. “I bet if you got to know our crew, you’d find you have more in common with them than you realise. Yamcha used to be a desert bandit, oh, and Tien. Not to mention Piccolo...” She trails off again and gets a dreamy look in her eyes.

This woman really is weird. I have absolutely no interest in getting to know any of these creatures, yet I can see the advantage of gathering some intel. Besides, I know just where to start, so I bare my teeth at her. "Deal."