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]

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.]

[thevanguard]

[ He'd come around to that conclusion himself too, sort of. Although he doesn't know how or why. ]

Maybe? This.... this didn't happen last time!

[freezetheheavens]

Last time?

[He's seen mentions of a Sword appearing like this before on the BBS, but he didn't think much of it.

Toushirou looks contemplative.]

Might be worth checking out then.

[thevanguard]

Yeah. There was another one. I think it was another one? It looked different, I think, and it was...

[ He pauses, blinking in surprise before he unsteadily pushes himself to his feet and looks up at the Sword again. ]

...it was blue.

[freezetheheavens]

...What's wrong?

[There's something wrong with that pause.]

[thevanguard]

It was blue. And this one's red and now my tattoo's burning, but I didn't feel anything when it was blue before. But a friend of mine did.

[ And then he could use the strange blue magic on his daggers as well. Not just the flames.

Shit, maybe these really are connected to what they can do. But what did that mean? ]

[freezetheheavens]

[Toushirou's quiet for a moment, connecting the pieces together.

He doesn't know anything about Yata's friend, but there's...something more than wrong here.]

You should check on your friend.

[thevanguard]

Shit.

[ Yata scrambles up to his feet again, looking around, because he's pretty sure Saru is here somewhere. ]

You're right.

[freezetheheavens]

Do you need help finding him?

[He'll help as long as Yata gives him a description of Fushimi.]

[thevanguard]

Uhh... [ He squints a moment, scratching his head. ] Maybe? He's tall, taller than I am, and real skinny. Dark shaggy hair and blue eyes and he wears glasses. His name's Saruhiko Fushimi and his god's.... uh, I think he said his name was Roy?

[freezetheheavens]

[For some reason, he thinks of Munakata and briefly wonders if there's something there.

But, he'll just choose to believe that he might be around the same age as Yata.]

...I'll be sure to keep that in mind. But if the Sword remains out, it'd be best to make haste.

[thevanguard]

Yeah. I'm gonna go find him. But thanks for your help. [ Yata drops his board to the ground and lifts his hand in a wave, his expression determined. ]