The Day of Thunder

Yukara followed that, expression darkening. "So they served the madness while ostensibly sane." That did not make much sense to her, but it seemed those in the know had chosen to accept it as fact. "Lucky for her, perhaps for all of us, that I was not the one who was told this first - I might have c...

"I have clearly missed a great deal - I had no idea there was cause for concern among these people."

Yukara shrugged, her expression clouded. "I am glad at least that I carry jade - I am as prepared as I can be, with what little I do know."

"That is... a comfort. I have been considered something of a bad omen. A harbinger of death."

She smiled weakly, at the memories. "It feels so far removed from how I have been treated here - yet it was not long ago. This entire place has been unexpected, in every way."

"Yes... and so many I did not even know. I lost track of which were dead when I arrived, and which I had to stop before they became something beyond salvation. Turning them to the wheel was the only grace I could offer." Her voice was even, devoid of emotion beyond a lingering sadness. "Little comfo...

"I can understand that - I suppose for me fighting has been much of my life." She sighed and cast her gaze away to the side, looking somewhat awkward. "I do not even remember... how many people I have killed. There is no joy in it, but... I have had no other answer. No other solution to the madness ...

"His name is Ryoshun Keito." Yukara gazed into the middle distance. "A magistrate. He encountered me while I was on the hunt for the demon wolf. We shared a target, and he opted to... deputize me. After we finished having a confrontation about the village I had cleansed, where he found me laying the...

"Justified, perhaps." Yukara steadied herself and turned her gaze back toward the shrine. "But not equally. You have the decency to admit that much - did any of them? Did any of the high and the mighty care about my wellbeing?" With a dark, dry chuckle, she shook her head. "Of course not. Why should...

That drew a snort, and then a peal of laughter. Yukara winced at the motion, but could not help giggling, as she shook her head. "Ach, that makes three of us with no idea, then. Kai, Otomo-san, I do not wish to confuse either of you - I am not attempting to flirt at the moment." Still chuckling, she...

Yukara has picked up a point of corruption here, so I'm sure down the road if she survives, she will be fine, given she is earth 4. Also, my day 5 has felt weirdly short. Like I came in, did what I was going to do, and then was done. One of those weird IC days where you have a lot of short and sharp...

Much need sleep.

Yukara gazed at her fist, muttering, "Yet what I fought was from outside here... none of this makes sense to me." A soft sigh, and she let out a little bit of the tension, feeling suddenly quite tired. "Nao-sama, I apologize for my earlier outburst. You of all people did not deserve it. You have bee...

That gave her pause, and she bit her lip. If it were to change... but it was there. She was here.

"But we are awake."

Yukara furrowed her brow. "Are we not?"

"I see... I am sorry." Yukara sighed. Then groaned. "I cannot even be angry without reality intervening to remind me I am not the only one who struggles." Shaking her head, she turned to face Nao. "You could have done it - clearly it did not afflict me with the warping madness - the jade does not bu...

"You?"

Yukara glanced back, incredulous. "What is the matter with you? You are healthy, gifted in magic, and child of a God."

Expression clouded, she added, "You are the sort of person who might be warned - might be told what his happening in this accursed place. What need have you of miracles?"

When he grabbed her shoulder, for a brief moment it almost seemed she would turn her blade on him, but she did not, merely bristled at the touch. After her spoke, her eyes widened, and she bit out a tiny, hushed reply.

Then she pulled away, in ever greater turmoil.

/exit

Yukara snorted, and did not turn, right hand gripping her bisento with white knuckles. "Ran out of breath." Her gaze remained fixed on the dark hill. "This entire damn village sets me on edge. I feel the madness at the edges. It would be so simple to turn to the best cure I know - yet I do not have ...

"Oh, yes, perhaps you should have. Yet it was hardly just you, who seem to have found me a convenient test for their theories!" Reaching to her left wrist with her right arm, she drew her prayer beads, letting them fall so all could see the jade beads, and then she took them in her right hand and sq...

ME: Yukara mad

Yukara was furious. Still. Pacing out from the village, she had wandered the farmland in a rage, burning inside at the betrayal, and still it did not ease. No matter that they were not sure of the danger, they did not think to warn her. It was convenient to simply watch . Convenient to pull her arou...

"Right now? I do not know what I think - you all chose to be here, so clearly your doubts were strong enough to bring you to this place. Yet not enough to warn me of what I might be doing. Convenient that the hill child with no family should be a volunteer, and not someone important ." Yukara cast a...