Nonresounding Mausoleum Moral !Ufi4UXR66c 2011/08/28 (Sun) 11:52 No. 97 ▼ File 131453235873.png - (679.21KB, 500x595 , toyosatomimi no miko.png)
I wanted to try something out, so I wrote whatever came into my head at the time. This is only so I can get my mind off of an idea that I've been meaning to write. This is in no way what I define as good, and I didn't know where I was going with this. Still, enjoy if you read anyways.
"Namu sanpou! Do not yield to worldly desires. Namu sanpou! Cleanse the body and mind of evil thoughts. Namu sanpou! Offer sanctuary to both youkai and humans." Your rough voice cuts through the warm air of summer. A few children merrily scuffle around the temple, chasing each other in loud, cheery voices. You tend to the plants growing around the front yard including the weeds. You've always had a sentiment towards them, but you often wonder why. A jingle of coins clatter nearby. It's a familiar sound, so you turn around towards the donation box and bow. "Thank you for your kindly charity!"
A young girl, who can't be older than twelve, waves excitedly. "You're welcome, mister!" She bellows, obviously delighted. Prancing around the altars, she shuffles around inspecting a few items before a group of children, presumably her friends, call out to her. The girl immediately runs over to them, joining the crew.
You feel a grin inch up your face. If there was anything worldly you would want to keep, it would be the innocence of youth. Though you aren't nostalgic, a wave of emptiness washes over you. However, the feeling quickly fades as you dust off a used pedestal. Above it is a grainy portrait of the renowned Hijiri, the one who set her famous goal on human and youkai coexistence. Many criticize her for addressing a controversial problem with simplistic views in mind, yet none would actually speak ill of her intent.
You press your thumb on the portrait and drag it to the right. The portrait becomes more clear along the sides. Although you dust it every day, it seems the portrait magnetizes all dirt to attract to it. Just yesterday, it was utterly dirtless. You look at the duster, hanging on a tack on a wall. In a few short minutes, the portrait is looking as good as new. Hijiri's content smirk is aimed at you. Just once, you would like to meet her in person. You want to know more about her ideals and what she's aiming for.
A tap coming from the altar snaps you out of your reverie, surprising you. A woman adorning headphones is sitting on top of the altar head, holding some sort of baton in one hand. "I can sense your desires. You desire to follow in the ideals of Buddhism and follow in the footsteps of the one you call Hijiri. I've been watching you tend to this temple, and I can sense that your intentions are pure." She smirks, amused with herself. "But you are naive, and easily swayed. Do you believe that Buddhism will give youkai an equal treatment?"
"Of course I believe in it, because our lady is a youkai herself."
"Then consider this," she replies smugly. "Why did she become a youkai?" The woman pauses intentionally, waiting for your response. You offer her none, so she continues on. "Of course, to prevent herself from dying. She was scared of death, as was I. But is cheating death really what Buddhism aspires for?"
"That's not reall-"
"Also, before my resurrection took place, do you know who sealed me, attempting to keep me in an eternal slumber" It was the Buddhist monks' doing, not to mention that during my rest, a temple was built over my mausoleum. This one."
"...Just what are you?" you ask.
"You can consider me a saint." she answers in a bland tone. "Or maybe a devil, if you want. So what it boils down to is that I could be biased. I could be lying, but for what reason would I do that" I'm not getting revenge, but you could say I'm revealing the whole truth for you."
"But why?;"
She completely disregards your question. "The majority of humans are scared of the unusual. My proof is an attempt at my life to stay 'dead.' What makes you think that youkai will fare any better if they have problems over a saint"
You don't find the words to say anything else. Just what are ideals" The perfect resolution to a problem" The woman is long gone now, disappearing without a trace. Nothing seems to indicate that any living being was just there.
"Namu...." You struggle to call out. "Sanpou." You couldn't find solace in your prayers anymore.
...Byakuren Hijiri. Was she really the "saint" that everybody portrayed her as" Or was she a "saint" like the woman"
For once, you leave the temple early. You try to say an afternoon prayer, but all that came out was, "Shit."
Anonymous 2011/09/16 (Fri) 02:25 No. ...this makes me feel sick in my stomach. It's not a bad story, but something about the end just makes me want to curl up and bang my head on the floor.