/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45916529
>>45916701
For me, it's Byakuren.

>>45515841
"Alright, I'm ready to be lectured." He said aloud, kneeling as I shut the door.

I re-compose myself, having lost my stature and wept, my reputation could afford becoming embarrassed by some poor phrasing now.

"You ran away from us, your family, and broke commitments. Not only this, but you lied to me about Seija, truly these were wrong actions, wrong speech, and you suffered on your own because of them." I say.

Goro flinches, but remains silent.

"I believe you joined Yukari for some end, perhaps the Right Resolve, but to rush to her for power was a fault of an attachment to your ego or letting yourself be lead by Seija. You should have returned to us first and not hid in shame."

He breathes, but does not reject my criticism.

"Lastly, your true error lies at the root of your misconception, your muddied view. You believed that life concluded at a peaceful death, now you've been denied that. So, you've redoubled your efforts to seek the thing that you always wanted, Maitrī, pure benevolence for all living things, in you best interest dealings. But you cannot become Avalokiteśvara when you haven't taken the first step toward enlightenment. Without insight, the Right View, all your efforts are for naught."

At this, Goro's body begins convulsing and he falls to his side. I rush to catch him and gently do so as he shakes.

Slowly his convulsions being to fade, oscillating until he backs to a normal breathing rhythm.

"That hurt me." He said, blinking in surprise. "Why did it hurt?"

I felt his chest and extended my awareness to confirm my suspicions.

"Youkai are weak to mental attacks." And rightful condemnation could apply.

His eye's widen.

"Don't worry, you're still human, but you've been channeling Seija's youkai energy through yourself and it's started to effect you. Ironically, It seems like the bracelet's curse is protecting you, forming a barrier between your human soul and the corruptive energies." I explained.

He sighed, relieved. "That's what I thought. The bracelet helps me see things like a spyglass, but when I try to turn it back on myself things get fuzzy. Is there anything else there?" Goro asked, sounding a little hopeful.

So he could tell. "Your body and soul are optimizing themselves to accommodate the bracelet's grudge. Even if the Youkai energy can't complete it's corruption, you still might become an existence equivalent to a living, wieldable curse."

There was also a small shimmer within him. But it seemed insignificant in light of everything else.

"I met someone like that in the underground who told me something similar. Hijiri..." He started, taking a deep breath. "What should I do?"

From the depths of my bosom I felt an outpour of maternal affection which took all of my will to suppress.

"You must pursue Samadhi. Turn your perception inward and understand what your nature has become and will be. At the same time, you must correct your view by observing others as much as possible and without judgement." I breathed. "Perhaps even Yukari."

"You know, I was able to get along with Seija, maybe Yukari isn't such a stretch." He chuckled. "I'll try it. So I can become someone who can help these kids grow up better then we did." Goro stated, patting my belly. He let me hold him for awhile.

"Say Yukari did send us here with a missive, although I don't think she intends for you to actually read it. It's benign as far as I can see." He said, handing me a letter.

I unfolded it and read. Some formally written harsh words about 'illegal gatherings' and 'Terms of Service Violations', but nothing truly enforceable. I conjured a small fire to designate the missive.

"It's getting late. You and Seija will stay here tonight won't you?" She asked.

"Actually I need to pick up my dog and-" He began.

I clutched his shoulder a little tighter.

"-and I'm sure that woman wouldn't mind keeping him for another day!"

The evening went by peacefully. Seija busied herself with scouring some of our scrolls and asking about various figures like Tara, King Ashoka, and Geasar of ling, wanting to know who among them was 'coolest'. Goro was kept preoccupied with brushing hair and distributing souvenirs from their trip to the Hells. He was assaulted with all manner of questions about figures he met, trouble he'd gotten into, and, more concerning, inquiries about what he thought a man like Anon would like, which I must confess to eavesdropping on, only to make sure dignified advice was being shared of course!

In the end we all ended up asleep, spread out throughout a large room. We hadn't talked about heavy subjects like the upcoming Solstice or relationship drama, but I felt the course of things had been righted, if only a little.

---

If I screwed up Buddhist philosophy, blame it on Hijiri being a bad Nun.

She looks in strange ways over me and I can feel her brush against me if we ever cross our paths. Sometimes she can approach me from behind and pick me up since I'm less than half her size. I'm really getting scared around her. Maybe I should listen to mom's advice and not hang out with youkai?