19 | Peaceful Departure

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Celebrating Obon
When: Evening August 10
Where: The Near Shore
Summary: Mortals may be partying, but there's lots of work for the denizens of the Far Shore to do.



It's the final day of Obon and spirits are being sent back to their homes -- both the ancestral spirits that have been welcomed home for the duration of the festival and the mischievous spirits that have been plaguing the Heavens. But some of them might not go easy, so Amaterasu has requested that gods and shinki old and new alike help ensure the spirits' peaceful departure.



Mukae-bi

Fires have been lit on hillsides and near cemeteries to lead the spirits back to their resting places and to protect them on their way, but angry ghosts and ayakashi are trying to quench the fires so they can attack weaker spirits. Keep the firewood stocked and the fires blazing high while you fight off the attacks.

Heavenly Exorcisms

It's time to bring any possessed household items to the Near Shore to ensure that the spirits are sent safely on their way. Some might go peacefully, while others might have to be purified by fire in order to set the spirits free. Hope you weren't too attached to that chair.

(Careful... spirits that manage to hide from the housecleaning can become permanent guests!)

Guarding the Gates

Hidden pathways into the underworld in caves throughout Japan are open from sunset to moonset on this night to allow the spirits who have temporarily left to return. Gods and shinki must watch over these pathways and ensure that no dangerous ayakashi take the opportunity to escape from the underworld before the moon sets.

After-party

After the moon sets, the denizens of the Heavens can finally kick back. Everyone is invited to a private hot spring on the Far Shore, where a midnight banquet spread is waiting in thanks for their hard work. Wash off any blight in the hot springs and enjoy the banquet before heading back home for a good night's sleep.

In Summary:

• Keep the fires burning
• Exorcise those annoying spirits
• Fight powerful ayakashi
• Enjoy a banquet
• Have fun~

Comments

[thevanguard]

A. Mukae-bi

[ Despite the sheer number of 'ghosts' that are out and about tonight, Yata is still here and fired up, for lack of a better word. There's an air of hyper-vigilance about him, because spending the evening outside of a cemetery is not his idea of a good time, but this time he's not the only one here and he's got a simple task - keep the fires burning and defend the spirits as they return to their resting place from evil spirits and ayakashi.

This, at least, is something he's particularly equipped for and anyone passing by might notice the telltale flicker of Red flames around his form as he keeps his Aura channeled, just in case a fire somewhere needs a helpful boost or an evil spirit ventures too close to the area he's guarding. His trusty bat is propped on one shoulder, also lit with flames. And while he'll engage the ayakashi readily enough, he's also learned firsthand that he can only keep them busy for so long before he needs to find a god nearby for help, so he keeps an eye out for who's nearby just in case he needs to call in backup from someone capable of Rending them. ]

B. Guarding the Gates

[ Eventually his assignment changes and he can be found outside one of the caves holding a gate. Although he might be looking a little on the tired side now that the night is waning into the early hours of the morning. His flames flicker a little more sporadically, like he's been over-exerting himself and, should a long period of quiet have fallen over his post, one might even catch him leaning against a nearby tree, head nodding slightly before he catches himself and struggles to shake himself back awake.


Although this doesn't bode well for long because it seems some evil spirits and ayakashi were waiting for such a chance as this, lurking in the shadows of the gateway, waiting for the perfect opportunity to escape into the world. He's jostled awake by the sound of skittering feet and chortling cackles as a handful of spirits make a break for it. ]

....Oi!

C. Sword of Damocles

[ It's late in the evening when there's a sudden change in the atmosphere above the cemetery. It's enough to startle Yata into alertness, searching around him for the source. Only it's not around him, it's above, and it's a glint of fire that draws his eyes upwards as a massive Red sword manifests overhead to hover in the night sky.

He stares at it in shock for a moment, mouth dropping open in surprise before the brand on his chest starts to burn with a sudden powerful intensity and he clutches at his shirt, going to his knee in surprise and confusion. ]

Ngggh! What....?!

D. After-Party

[ Yata almost skips the party entirely, because he really just wants a bed to flop into right now, but the lure of a hot spring first does him in, especially when he does notice a few spots of Blight on his skin. Taking care of that first, he can be found slumped in one of the steaming pools, letting the hot water work on sore muscles. A plate of food is gotten afterwards, because he is hungry, and he finds a quiet place to flop down with it, poking at it until his yawns make it obvious that it's time to head home for the night or he starts dozing off again over his plate... ]

b

[artificialrose]

Line!

[Before the spirits can break through, a borderline suddenly blazes to life, cutting their escape short. It's not the strongest borderline in the world, but the element of surprise works on its favor.]

[From up the path leading to the cave, Garry's lanky figure can be seen, his arm outstretched, and he clutches at his chest with his free hand.]

Ah.... That was close... Are you alright!?

[thevanguard]

[ Yata leaps backwards with a startled yelp when the Borderline pops up in front of him, managing to catch his balance before he toppled over. Glancing over his shoulder at the source, he catches sight of the guy who cast it before the question sinks in and he nods. ]

Eh? Ah, yeah. Right. I'm fine. [ Although this guy's pose has him squinting at him a moment as he clutches at his chest. ] Are you alright?

[artificialrose]

Fine.... Just fine.

[Which he proves by flopping down a little forward with his free hand bracing on his knee. Reassuring, right]

I just.... sort of ran here? So..

[thevanguard]

[ Yata squints at him a moment, then reaches down to rustle through his bag he'd left near one of the fires, somewhere safe and out of his way. he comes up with a water bottle, still mostly full, and tosses it in the other shinki's direction. ]

Here, catch. And catch your breath. Your Borderline looks like it should hold until one of the gods hets here to finish them off.

[artificialrose]

Ah- [With a slight jerk, he catches the bottle.] Thank you.

That seems to be the only thing to do... You're alright, aren't you?

B.

[sing_for_me]

[A line cuts through, blocking their path. A young girl walks closer, her hands in position and ready to cast another line if needed.]

Thank you.

[Alex tells her shinki as she gently squeezes her shoulder. She turns her attention to Yata after, making her way towards him.]

Are you alright?

[thevanguard]

[ His forward lunge had come to an abrupt halt when he's almost tumbled face-first into a Borderline and he'd skidded so hard he almost went down on his ass. Which was a great first impression to make, right? Looking a little flushed and embarrassed, he scrambles to his feet, rubbing at the back of his neck. ]

Yeah. I'm fine. Uh, thanks for that.

[sing_for_me]

[She jogs to him, wanting to get a better look.]

I'm sorry we surprised you like that..!

[At least he didn't fall down, but inspecting him closely now, his complexion wasn't so great.]

Are you sure you're okay? You look..tired. Have you had a break yet?

[Everyone was hard at work tonight, and it had been some time since everything started. Considering how late it was too, she can imagine how worn out he must be.]

[thevanguard]

[ He blinks in surprise at the question but is quick to raise his hands, waving off the concern with a sheepish laugh. ]

Huh? No, it's fine, it's fine! I've got this, don't worry.

[sing_for_me]

[The concern doesn't leave her face though.]

Okay...well, I'm here to help you out either way. Or at least, my shinki is. She's much more useful than I am.

[She won't push it yet, but Alex will be keeping an eye out for him.]

C.

[redmare]

[Without a god, Chinatsu couldn't make borderlines, but like hell would she allow herself to be useless. It wasn't the fanciest weapon, but the large stick in her hands was enough to at least fend off the smaller ayakashi until a god and shinki dealt with it. Thankfully, the past couple of minutes had been quiet, at least, until the giant red sword appeared in the sky. Chinatsu was stunned, remembering something similar appearing during the firefly festival. Snapping out of it, she runs back to where Yata was before she decided to go patrol the cemetery.]

Yata-san! Did you see---

[She gasps when she sees him down on the floor, rushing over to him.]

Yata-san! What's wrong!?

[She's crouched over next to him now, a hand on his back as she looks him over.]

[thevanguard]

[ He'd pretty much spent the entire night doing the same thing, only with his bat. At least untl the giant ass Sword had appeared overhead and it felt like his tattoo had caught on fire. He grits out a sound, fingers still clutching his shirt in confusion. ]

What the hell...? It burns...

[redmare]

What burns? Your chest..?!

[He looked like he was in a lot of pain, and Chinatsu had no idea what to do.]

Som..someone..!

[She looks around frantically, but they're the only ones there. Shit, and it didn't seem like Yata knew what was happening either. This wasn't the time to panic. Smacking her cheeks and taking in a deep breath, she calms herself down.]

Yata-san, I don't think it's safe for you here anymore. If any ayakashi come we're gonna be in trouble. We need to get you to one of the medicinal gods or shinkis.

[Taking on of his arms, she pulls it around her shoulder and stands him back up.]

Can you walk?

[thevanguard]

Y-yeah... [ He winces a little as he straightens, a little surprised at her help. But getting back on his feet, he can't help but look upwards again. He stares at the Sword for a moment and his brand gives a sharp pulse dragging a quiet hiss from him again. ]

I don't need a healer. I think... I think I need to go there.

[redmare]

[Chinatsu stares at him, concerned in more ways than one now.]

You want to go towards that giant unknown object in the sky?!

C

[freezetheheavens]

Are you okay?

[Toushirou appears behind Yata. He eyes him a bit, somewhat concerned and curious before his eyes shift over to the Sword that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.]

[thevanguard]

[ Yata hisses out a breath, still curled over on himself and clutching his shirt. ]

I... I don't know. Something's wrong.

[freezetheheavens]

[He walks closer, his reiatsu enough so that a cold air surrounds them.]

Where does it hurt?

[thevanguard]

The tattoo. It's... it's never done this before. But the sword showed up and it started burning.

[ The cool air feels good on too-heated skin as he drags the collar of his shirt aside, trying to stare down at it and see. It gleamed with the flicker of his Aura, although fortunately, nothing had caught fire. ]

[freezetheheavens]

The Sword is connected then.

[That's definitely something to make note of.

But he'll keep up the cool air, seeing Yata's Aura flicker and hoping nothing sets on fire.]

[monkeyblue]

[The second the red sword appears above the party, Fushimi high-tails it out of the immediate area. His scarred tattoo is burning and he doesn't want to be seen; instead, he finds the nearest shrine and ducks behind it, gasping in pain.]

[thevanguard]

[ It takes Yata a while to find him - he thought maybe Saru would do the same as him and go to where the sword was for answers, but when he never showed up there, he started searching in the opposite direction.

Which was how he finds him a short while later, the Red Sword still hanging like an omen in the sky above them. ]

Saru!

[ He rushes over, crouching beside him when he finds him hunched over in pain. he can sympathize. His tattoo hasn't stopped burning since the sword appeared either. ]

[monkeyblue]

Tch, figures you can't leave me alone...

[But there's no venom in the words. He's in too much pain for that.]

It burns, Misaki.

[thevanguard]

Of course not, idiot.

[ Why would he even try?

He reaches out, resting his hand on Fushimi's back, his expression worried. ]

I know. Mine too. I figured you'd have the same thing.