Where in the world is Kosuzu Mootori? Anonymous 2023/04/26 (Wed) 20:53 No. 68883 ▼ 
The Human Village was devoid of sound. A chilly fog lurked around the canal, and the grass on the bank glittered with morning dew. Rays of the early morning sun shone over empty streets, most inhabitants still sleeping soundly in their bed or are already working at the fields outside.
The silence is soon filled by the breath of a Shrine Maiden in red-white as she kicked against the shutters of a small book-renter shop. One kick, two knocks with her fist against the door, then another third kick, were enough to bend the shutter slightly. A Witch covered in black was hunched over beside her, mini-Hakkero in hand and the same troubled expression on her face as her close friend. They had flown to the village as fast as they could, and they couldn’t afford to stop and catch their breath. Not if they wanted to finish this in time. Neither exterminator had any idea if their target was still in the shop, or if her parents were awake or asleep, but the crash of boots against wood would attract attention sooner or later.
Resting or taking it slow wasn’t an option either, for they might start thinking within that time and then the whole miserable business would become ten times harder.
Finally, with one final blow, the shutters broke apart. There was no sound within the shop. Still the debris was kicked aside and the two women rushed inside. There was no sign of their target still or her parents, or even, thankfully, some troublesome youkais that’d love to stand in their way.
No, it was only Hieda no Akyuu standing in front of the desk, her body completely still and her face like stone despite the telling red puffiness and dark bags under her eyes. “She’s not here, Reimu.”
“Then where is she?” said Reimu with a cold tone, her air of indifference already on the burst of wavering now that she knows they at least are making an attempt, that it doesn’t end here and now.
“As if I’d ever tell you.” Akyuu barks back with a heavy edge, one of her hands slowly moving under the desk, an obvious threat really or a true attempt to take out a weapon, it won’t matter.
“Akyuu, what are you doing?” Marisa doesn’t agree as she moves ready to disarm, but is suddenly yanked to a stop. Reimu had grabbed her shoulder. “Hey!”
“Stand still.” Reimu’s voice remains calm, her expression firm on Akyuu. “You know the rules, this isn’t your place to meddle in. So put down whatever you’re holding onto and talk or else…”
“Oh, this isn’t for you.” Akyuu pulls up the item, revealing a small sharp knife in her hand. One she immediately holds up to her own neck, the edge catching in the light. “I won’t talk so don’t try me.”
“Oh come on!” Marisa couldn’t believe the crazy development, as if things weren’t horrible enough already. “Don’t even joke about that, you’re the Child of Miare!”
“Listen to her, this isn’t worth it.” Reimu adds in, a big mistake as Akyuu’s eyes widen in rage.
“Maybe not to you!” Akyuu says between a laugh and a sob, her composure gone and leaving behind a frightened young girl. “But I AM the Child of Miare.” she says for once as if it’s a curse rather than the noble title she always wears with pride. “I’ve seen this happen, hundreds, no thousand of times, and I’m not going to let it happen again! Not to Kosuzu, not to my best friend. Not to the best friend I’ve ever had!”
“Then put the knife down.” Reimu says but then it occurs to her, that this could be a stalling tactic. That Kosuzu might be far away from Suzunaan by now, gaining distance with every second they wasted.
The thought gave her hope, one she knows she shouldn’t have. “Suicide won’t save her.”
“Gensokyo needs me! If I die you’ll have to deal with the consequences, won’t you?” More tears ran down Akyuu’s cheeks. Her breath came out in sharp gasps. “But Gensokyo doesn’t need Kosuzu. She’s your friend, isn’t she, Reimu? Marisa? But here you are, ready to kill her, like she was never anyone important in the first place. Just another victim in Gensokyo’s perfect society!”
“Your job is to chronicle life in Gensokyo and its residents,” said Reimu, “and mine is to keep the peace. I’m the Hakurei shrine maiden. This is my duty. Now please.” Her expression softened. “Put the knife down, and step out of the way.”
“NO!” Akyuu pressed the edge against her skin. A thin line of blood ran down her neck. “I’m serious!”
Marisa couldn’t stand and watch anymore. She panicked and shot a laser at Akyuu. Akyuu screamed as her hand grew limp, and the knife clattered to the floor. “Reimu, quick!” she shouts as she immediately lunges at the disarmed Child of Miare and tackled her to the floor in a grapple.
Reimu immediately sprints after them, shoving a chair aside as she kicked the knife further away from the two girls on the floor and immediately expected the rest of the room for any clues.
Books aplenty were thrown down on the floor alongside a small bookshelf. Some of them were pushed aside as the floors shown signs of something being dragged against it. A clear sign that Kosuzu is no longer in the shop, with or without her own consent in the matter. But why?
Why would she have struggled to stay here? Had she been forcefully knocked down due to being too berserk or was she planning to just await her fate, to not even try to find a way out of this?
“You got help.” Reimu states as Marisa gets up with Akyuu numb in her arms. “I don’t know if you were desperate or confident, but you’ve entrusted her life to stronger hands.” There is nothing crueler than gaining hope, only for it to be snatched away moments later. So she couldn’t help but make it sound like the massive relief that she knew it was. Still, “The only question is whose.”
Akyuu looks down, hiding her face and making it clear that she won’t talk, no matter what.
“Come on, talk.” Marisa adds in, giving Reimu a look that says ‘don’t interrupt this’. “It’s not like we have to...do that per se. We just need to find a way to reverse the process and bam, all is ok!”
“You’re lying.” Akyuu shrugs back, her voice bitter and empty. She’s also completely right.
“That’s enough.” Reimu speaks up again, her voice cold and expression hidden by her back as she moves back to the entrance. “Marisa, go escort Akyuu back to her home. I’ll deal with the rest.” Marisa sees her walk outside without waiting for an answer. If this was any other day, Marisa would’ve followed after her anyway, adding in a quip about how she’ll solve the incident first.
But Kosuzu Mootori became a Jinyou (Human youkai). And Reimu was going to exterminate her with her own hands. It was also clear as day that leaving Akyuu on her own like this could only spell for more trouble. So with some reluctance and uncomfortable silence, Marisa drags Akyuu out of the shop, onto the street towards her home. Knowing that once that is done, she’ll have to catch up.
The potential image of her arriving moments onto the scene of the tragedy. With Reimu looming over her lost friend made her light-headed for a moment. But she knew she could do nothing about it for once.
Its for the sake of balance.
It’s the first time she’s ever rooted for someone to escape the shrine maiden’s grasp.
And the choice here Anonymous 2023/04/26 (Wed) 20:59 No. 68884 ▼ File
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Myouren Temple was unusually loud today. Dozens of footsteps echoed in the halls of once flying ship. The stairs at the entrance gleamed with a new shine as the morning sun shone over it. Byakuren and her followers were already up and ready, or at the very least were most of them.
Shou and Nazrin tended to oversleep due to their nocturnal nature. Nue, Koishi, Aunn and Joon were part of the ‘Come and leave whenever they felt like it’ club. Most likely causing mischief in whatever part of Gensokyo each one has gotten their interest in lately. Or in Aunn’s case, protecting whatever temple or holy ground that she deemed too undefended at the moment. But semantics.
Kyouko was busy brushing at the floor outside, attending to her cleaning duties a bit longer than usual as punishment for having snooped away last night and not telling where she had gone to.
This left Byakuren with Murasa and Ichirin as her company for breakfast. The latter promptly chokes on her soup as the drowned ghost laughs in amusement. Having clearly used her ability to cause a ‘water accident’. Before Byakuren can admonish her for it though, Ichirin is quick to retaliate for a gust of wind ‘somehow’ spills over some of the food the phantom has over the table and into her lap. The two then glower at each other, before a mischievous smile adorns them both.
Byakuren simply lets out a sigh, how children can be so rowdy these days. That didn’t mean the more ‘mature’ members of the temple were any better. For Mamizou is a force of nature on her own, a wrecking ball of schemes even. No matter how many times Byakuren asked her to give some kind of notice, Mamizou continued to simply do things without warning. One moment she steers all participants of an incident into the right direction, the next she confesses to having helped the mastermind of some incident or even being the one responsible for some greater goal.
Most of those confessions came out the moment she was smashed though. Which though an opportunity Byakuren is not against indulging still shows she acts like she owns the place.
Which is why it feels so out of place when she gets a message –carried by a tanuki with the red seal of urgency-- letting her know that Nue is heading to the temple for an important announcement.
Naturally the monk’s heart thinks, this can’t be good. But then moves aside all anxieties she has about the ‘probably an incident to be’ and thinks about things rationally.
This will definitely not be good, says the monk’s brain.
But she does what is expected out of her anyway. She tells Ichirin to get more dishes. She tells Murasa to make sure the Palanquin is flight ready if things really get bad.
And then sets about calling the rest of the family.
Koishi and Aunn did not heed the call for they were currently not in the temple.
Shou and Nazrin however appear within minutes, the tiger and mouse greet every person in the room with a hello or a lazy wave as they move to their seats still half-asleep. Still that doesn’t stop them both from indulging in the food laid before them, something Byakuren gives a small smile to.
Kyouko, of course, shows up moments after with a loud entrance and a louder greeting. Taking her seat opposite to the animal duo, right beside Byakuren herself. Not that it meant anything for anyone could seat themselves wherever they wanted, but Byakuren patted the girl regardless.
Finally Joon appears, and the house gets that much less quiet with their presence. She immediately starts chatting about her latest achievement to whoever is willing to listen so Byakuren tunes it out.
“So,” Nazrin starts mid-bite. “What’s everyone guessing Nue’s got to say?”
“I’ve got no idea what you mean.” Joon says with a scoff, and Byakuren knows enough of her tone to know that she’s playing dumb or pretending to do so in a vain attempt to look all-knowing.
“Oh come on,” Murasa adds in, “She never comes on time unless it’s important. So either she and Mamizou discovered something super worrying or well...I don’t know what could be worse.”
“She does up though!” Kyouko protests, a bit too loudly before covering her mouth with one hand.
“Always half an hour too late that is.” Ichirin says while Unzan rolls his eyes, “I don’t think that counts. But speaking of which, you left the temple right after her last night so…”
“Do you know something?” Shou finishes the sentence and Kyouko staggers under the accusation.
Byakuren looks at the Yamabiko. She doesn’t think she’s hiding anything, but Kyouko’s gotten far too good at hiding things from her as of late. That nightbird friend of hers must be a bad influence.
“So?” Byakuren prompts, hoping Kyouko will be forthcoming.
Whatever she was about to say gets interrupted by Nue’s sudden arrival. Mercifully she’s unharmed nor looking like the bearer of bad news. Still there’s a suspiciously large burlap sack over each shoulder, both big and bulky, but Nue’s strong enough that she isn’t bothered at all by the weight.
When Murasa floats to try and helpfully take one of the bags, Nue turns to stop her.
“Nuhuh.” She says. “I’ve got a nasty surprise waiting in one of these, big booms and all.”
“I believe,” Ichirin says, “that we agreed to limit the amount of explosives in the Temple’s proximity.”
“Yeah,” Joon adds in with mock seriousness, “No explosives in the house, Nue.”
Nue just rolls her eyes.
“Fine,” She says. “Warm some food for me, I’ll be right back.”
It says something about the situation that Nue simply lets herself out of the temple, explosives in hand without any sort of further conversation or explanation. She knows every nook and cranny of the temple and its surroundings. But that doesn’t stop Byakuren from worrying about what the plan here is. She shouldn’t be as everyone has been behaving for a while now. Still, the fact that Mamizou and Nue are scheming again pulls a foreboding twist in her stomach anyway.
She still remembers the trouble they caused by disguising thrown garbage as falling stars.
Anyway Nue returns again with one bag still over her shoulder, which raises, if not a red flag, than at least a yellow flag in Byakuren’s brain.
“So,” Byakuren says as Nue slides onto a spot, settling in to eat with the bag still under her arm. “Mamizou told us you’ve been busy.”
“Nice try,” Nue says in between mouthfuls. “But I know this isn’t the type of thing she would have told you about through only a letter.”
“Are you going to tell us though?” Shou asks. “You’re back because its important, right?”
“I agree with Shou,” Byakuren says. “Are you going to explain what’s the matter?”
“Eh, I had some work.” Nue starts. “To start, anyway. I’m doing Mamizou a favor by helping her smuggle a certain exotic thing. Something you might want to take care off even, Byakuren.”
“Stop beating around the bush.” Joon interrupts with a haughty scoff. “Just say it.”
“Fine, ahem. Mamizou wants you to take care of this.” Nue pushes her plate aside then hefts the bag up, pushing it onto the middle of the table. “Careful though, the goods are a bit fragile.”
Byakuren’s not sure what she means by that, but expects Nue to open the bag and show off whatever she’s acquired. Instead, the Nue pushes the bag closer to her until it’s within range.
“Consider this a birthday gift,” Nue says with a smile on her face that means nothing but trouble.
Byakuren considers not opening it for a moment. The whole thing reeks like a bad prank about to showed off, even if most schemes ended up working for some good most of the time, she still didn’t like anything that convoluted for no reason other than thinking that being honest is a boring option.
“Go on,” Nue says, settling back in her seat with anticipation. “Do leave the restraints on though.”
The what? Byakuren feels a sudden, intense feeling of dread.
Still she reaches out, removing the rope at the top and opening the bag in one fluid movement.
Inside the bag isn’t a weapon or some prank. Inside the bag is a girl, bound, gagged and blindfolded.
“What the fuck,” Murasa swears, speaking for everyone in the room.
The room is seconds away from breaking away into chaos.
What does Byakuren do?
[ ] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly and Nue’s status as a ‘good person’ was always distinctly tarnished by the massive amounts of deeds on her records. Still kidnapping was a new low, altogether. But there had to be a reason right? There better be, because if not then Nue is about to be in lots of trouble here.
[ ] Byakuren moved to release the restraints immediately, if it wasn’t her then someone else would have and no child, no child whatsoever should ever find themselves in such a disgusting position. She’s not even sure if this is a misunderstanding or the cruelest joke she’s been ever exposed to, but even so, that is no excuse. No excuse whatsoever for bringing a girl in here like they’re flour!
What if Kosuzu turned into a youkai CYOA, depending on your choices she meets the inevitable path of Mr Fortune teller or she gets to not end up like that! One could call this the 'Get her tf out of Gensokyo, NOW adventure.'
Anonymous 2023/04/26 (Wed) 23:48 No. 68885 ▼ [X] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly and Nue’s status as a ‘good person’ was always distinctly tarnished by the massive amounts of deeds on her records. Still kidnapping was a new low, altogether. But there had to be a reason right? There better be, because if not then Nue is about to be in lots of trouble here.
Kosuzu turned youkai story, let's see how it goes.
Anonymous 2023/04/27 (Thu) 01:48 No. 68886 ▼ [ X ] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly...
Ooh, I'm going to be keeping an eye on this one. Are there any areas that wouldn't extradite Kosuzu besides the Outside World? I'm not saying look for Asylum in Hell or the Lunar Capital, but if we just need to get out of Gensokyo we have more than a few options.
Anonymous 2023/04/28 (Fri) 00:24 No. 68887 ▼ [X] "NUE DID YOU KIDNAP A HUMAN AS A GIFT" Byakuren said calmly.
Anonymous 2023/04/28 (Fri) 19:08 No. 68888 ▼ 
[X] "NUE DID YOU KIDNAP A HUMAN AS A GIFT?" Byakuren asked calmly.
>>68886 I'd assume Old Hell is bassicaly the 'Mexico' of the 2hu world seeing as all hated and nonfitting youkai end up there. Kosuzu would prolly fade from existence in the outside world and there's no way anyone will be let into heaven.
Any other places peps remember?
Anonymous 2023/04/28 (Fri) 19:56 No. 68889 ▼ [X] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’.
Anonymous 2023/04/29 (Sat) 03:10 No. 68890 ▼ >>68888 > Any other places peps remember? The animal realm, if you count that separate from Hell. I'm not sure if the dream world would be sustainable, but it's there. There's always the option of buying a sunflower costume and hiding in the Garden of the Sun.
Anonymous 2023/04/29 (Sat) 11:12 No. 68891 ▼ >>68890 I struggle to imagine Kosuzu doing well with the animal yakuzas, but I doubt Reimu would bother chasing her down there. The sunflower option though, that could work...
Anonymous 2023/04/30 (Sun) 16:09 No. 68893 ▼ [x] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’.
>>68890 >>68891 I think a more important question than "would Reimu bother following her there" is "why wouldn't Reimu follow her there?"
Is there anywhere which is difficult enough for her to reach that she'll actually care?
Maybe windows Makai?
Anonymous 2023/05/01 (Mon) 02:17 No. 68894 ▼ >>68893 Good point. Anywhere in Gensokyo will probably eventually be found, anywhere in the afterlife is as good as dying anyway long-term, Yukari and Okina would probably deal with Kosuzu themselves, so their little pockets of the world are out...
Maybe running isn't what we should be brainstorming. What if we just tried making everyone forget about it? Memory manipulation shenanigans.
Anonymous 2023/05/01 (Mon) 10:25 No. 68895 ▼ File
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>>68894 Memory manipulation is also possibly a bust.
Her instincts may clue her in that something's up even with it in place. Plus you'd need someone able and willing to get multiple people, with no informations as to just how many know.
Could just be Reimu and Marisa, but for all we know basically all the people affiliated with the barrier know, and I don't fancy the chances of getting Yukari, Okina, Kasen, and whatever familiars, allies, and servants they've given the information too.
Even what seems to me like the best bet for getting heat off Kosuzu, starting an incident, doesn't seem like a good long term solution.
Anonymous 2023/05/01 (Mon) 18:41 No. 68896 ▼ >>68895 We could always go full incident mode and just turn EVERY human in Gensokyo into a youkai. Reimu can't maintain the balance between humans and youkai if there are no humans. Especially if we turn Reimu herself into a youkai. I mean what's she going to do at that point, exterminate herself?
[X] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’.
Anonymous 2023/05/02 (Tue) 02:38 No. 68897 ▼ >>68896 I feel like that has the one tiny problem that even if there WAS a way to do it, it'd be a death sentence in the end without humans to provide belief.
I'm curious if we can just stay out of harm's way forever, honestly. Pretend like it's Impossible Spellcard all over again and just dodge death.
Anonymous 2023/05/02 (Tue) 15:00 No. 68898 ▼ >>68893 >I think a more important question than "would Reimu bother following her there" is "why wouldn't Reimu follow her there?" I would answer that with the fact I imagine Reimu would be exterminating Kosuzu out of necessity and not passion. And the main reason human villagers aren't allowed to become youkai is to keep the balance and keep from upsetting things. Once Kosuzu is that far away and obviously not coming back, why extend all that effort into pursuing her?
Granted we don't really know much about the specific rules and reasonings behind the rules of humans and turning into youkai, so that could be something we find out in this adventure.
>>68884 Link 2023/05/16 (Tue) 17:50 No. 68943 ▼ [X]“You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly and Nue’s status as a ‘good person’ was always distinctly tarnished by the massive amounts of deeds on her records. Still kidnapping was a new low, altogether. But there had to be a reason right? There better be, because if not then Nue is about to be in lots of trouble here.
>>68884 Link 2023/05/16 (Tue) 17:51 No. 68944 ▼ [X]“You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly and Nue’s status as a ‘good person’ was always distinctly tarnished by the massive amounts of deeds on her records. Still kidnapping was a new low, altogether. But there had to be a reason right? There better be, because if not then Nue is about to be in lots of trouble here.
68884 Link 2023/05/16 (Tue) 17:53 No. 68945 ▼ [ ] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly and Nue’s status as a ‘good person’ was always distinctly tarnished by the massive amounts of deeds on her records. Still kidnapping was a new low, altogether. But there had to be a reason right? There better be, because if not then Nue is about to be in lots of trouble here.
68884 Link 2023/05/16 (Tue) 18:16 No. 68946 ▼ [ ] “You kidnapped a human, as a gift?” Byakuren asked ‘calmly’. She didn’t understand how things went sideways that quickly and Nue’s status as a ‘good person’ was always distinctly tarnished by the massive amounts of deeds on her records. Still kidnapping was a new low, altogether. But there had to be a reason right? There better be, because if not then Nue is about to be in lots of trouble here.
