flower master

yuuka kazami veteran blackguard district alpha

[acruelsmile-blog]

providemon:

   “I ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴘʀᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪᴛʏ. ɪ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴅɪᴍᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ, ʜᴀʜᴀ! ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ, ᴅᴏɴ’ᴄʜᴀ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ?”

“Oh, if it isn’t the big triangle himself. What an honor.”

“You’re not as threatening in person, I must say. But I applaud your efforts. This is a far bigger prank than I could have pulled off in this place.”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“... Mmmm. That’s unfortunate. My plans weren’t as grand as this.”

“I suppose I should attend Mr. Bill’s party, at least.”

[arachno-phile]

If i

to: Someone A8out to Get Smashed

from: AG

[txt] Ewwwwwwwww, you’re in Sector oo2? Maaaaaaaan, that sucks! 

[txt] I’ll 8e there in a 8it, so you’ll have time to prepare yourself, I guess. Since I’ll have to go there all the way from my mansion in District Eta. 

[txt] If I didn’t want to pick up some crickets for Nic, I wouldn’t 8other, 8ut I guess since I’ll 8e out that way, I can stop 8y for a quick 8utt-kicking. ::::)

[txt] 8tw, it’s your 8utt that’s getting kicked. Just wanted to clarify! <3

[acruelsmile-blog]

TO: In Your Dreams ;) FROM: Reimu Hakurei

you named your spider? that’s so weird uvu

but i don’t think you’re going to be able to kick anything when i rip off your legs <3 just wanted to say~ see u soon xoxo

     This really was a job well done, Yuuka thought.

It’s really too bad she wouldn’t see the look on this girl’s face when she didn’t find her.

[arachno-phile]

to: Reimu Hakurei

from: AG

[txt] WOW. Ruuuuuuuude!

[txt] Unless you’re saying you’d like to end up smashed? 8ecause that can 8e arranged!!!!!!!!

[txt] Turn on your loc8tion!

[acruelsmile-blog]

     It seems like she’s made a successful ‘trolling’, as the humans say. Excellent.

TO: AG FROM: Reimu Hakurei

i dont know how to do that xD but i can do you one better

come meet me at apartment F-2 and I’ll smash your pet too ;-)

     It turns out, phones were fun after all. What a discovery!

[arachno-phile]

to: [all contacts]

from: AG

[txt] Heeeeeeeey! Everyone should get a look at this adora8le cutie.

[Upon opening the message, recipients are greeted with a close-up of a tarantula.]

[txt] Aren’t you jealous?

[acruelsmile-blog]

     Sent in response is a message-- with an image of a smashed spider attached.

TO: AG FROM: Reimu Hakurei

this is what i think of ur spider :-)

[reforgery]

Too close. He takes a step back, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. 

“That’s none of your business.”

“I’m not here to entertain you, so let’s end this conversation.” 

Yamanbagiri brushed his cloak aside and made to step past her. 

Why was a pushy little girl putting him so much on edge?

[acruelsmile-blog]

“You’re not? That’s too bad,” Yuuka exclaims-- trailing alongside him as he does so, obviously knowing how uncomfortable he was. “Truly, that’s a shame.”

“Here I was wondering if you’d be as entertaining as Gokotai-kun...”

     She mentioned the name specifically to get the other’s attention. She had no way of knowing if they knew each other... but, two sword tsukumogami in this place being a coincidence?

Yuuka wondered about that.

[firstgemboy-citta-blog]

“So this…Halloween is all about dressing up? I love dressing up! I have the perfect outfit!”

“Ta-da!”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“I thought humans dressed up as monsters for Halloween? I can’t even tell what you are, dear. It’s cute. ... But, I know what will make it even cuter.”

     A flower had grown suddenly by her feet-- a yellow carnation. She plucks it and leans in-- gently inserting the flower besides Steven’s left ear.

“There. A yellow carnation to pretty up your hair a little.”

[theformerace-archived]

How persistent. Was her arm really the only thing Yuuka cared about? It wasn’t even so much part of her, yet she made it seem as if that was the only aspect of her that was worthy of any mention. Which was why she cringed a little at the mention of being normal. It wasn’t as if she didn’t welcome that affirmation, but–

Something about it seemed unsettling.

Her grasp on her left arm tightened. With the question presented to her, it was evident that she had to be cautious with her approach. Surely, she could tell the truth, leaving her out of danger, but it would doubtless bring harm to others. Alternately, she could lie, which would protect others who were involved but at the expense of her own life.

Cue a long dramatic pause, one which ended in Suruga taking in a deep breath and placing her hands on her hips.

“I probably did. But that’s my concern, and mine alone.” Standing in a readied stance, her legs positioned shoulder-width apart, she decided on a third option.

[acruelsmile-blog]

“... Hm~ My, you’re nervous. Is something the mater?”

     It’s this reaction that finally draws a smirk onto Yuuka’s face again.

“What’s done is done. Even if you were to tell me who it was that fixed you, it’s of no use. I had no interest in that arm alone, after all...” Yuuka explains with a gentle sigh. “You’re what made it interesting. Or rather, it’s what made you interesting. And without it... you’re nothing but a regular human girl.”

“A regular human girl who can do nothing to me.”

     Step.

“You can’t run.”

     Step.

“You can’t fight.”

     Step.

“And what’s worse...”

     Step.

“You can’t entertain me.”

     And finally, she was in front of Kanbaru, umbrella leaning against her demure shoulders, and expression still a sickly sweet smile. ... With a small pause, the flower youkai stares at the girl-- only to shake her head a few moments later.

“Frankly, you aren’t even worth bullying now. It really is a shame, for me... but this makes you lucky. I’ve no reason to harass you, now. Rather, I’ve no reason to even interact with you. As you are right now, girl...” Her smile widens, and she cants her head in a cute manner. “You’re absolutely nothing to me.”

[tigertantou-blog]

When Yuuka backs away at long last, Gokotai is tempted to heave a sigh of relief if not for the sake of saving face. The words she speaks are cruel, but he’s learned by now that she is cruel; not all seek to protect humans, nor do they have a fondness for the weak. He doesn’t abandon his defensive stance in spite of their temporary truce, instead tucking his chin upright in a gesture of subtle defiance. He may be afraid, but he can be ready to fight, as well: Bravery and fear have never been mutually exclusive.

“We don’t have to fight,” he says, though his grasp on the hilt of his wooden tantou tightens. “We– We could be friends instead. There’s no reason for us to be enemies.” He knows that she’ll laugh at his optimism, but there’s a flame of determination burning within his golden eyes, one which denies the very foundation of her threats and promises alike.

“… I’m Gokotai.” The desire to introduce himself appears so abruptly that he can’t stop the words from forming. “I’m an Awataguchi tantou, and I serve my Aruji-sama to protect history. I… I don’t have any reason to fight you, or anyone else that lives here – but if you’re g-g-going to hurt people, or try to hurt me… I’ll fight back.”

Somehow, it makes sense to him: If their eventual clashing is inevitable, they might as well get to know each other by name.

[acruelsmile-blog]

“... Good.”

     A satisfactory answer, indeed-- it showed this sword’s resolve to get broken.

“Since you were so kind as to introduce yourself, then I shall do the same as a courtesy. I won’t even lie to you, isn’t that nice of me? Lying is something I enjoy quite a bit, after all,” the flower chuckles, obviously enjoying this conversation far more than Gokotai was. “My name is Kazami Yuuka, a flower youkai. I serve no one but myself and my own needs, and don’t care who gets hurt so long as it’s entertaining to me. I assume the scale of our power is clear now, yes...?”

“Well, even if it is, don’t let that deter you from facing me.”

     She meant that, too. It would have been disappointing for an easy fight, but it also would have been disappointing for no fight at all. Truly, she was a complex person.

“Of course, we can be friends too. But I don’t like to be friends with weaklings, you know... but fortunately, you’re interesting, Gokotai. So there’s a chance!”

[reforgery]

“…why did you answer?”

“Lacking a target is pathetic for a pest, isn’t it?”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“I never lack targets, for everyone is my target,” she exclaims pleasantly. “Because I’m a predator, you know. You should show me a little respect, though...”

“But it’s always amusing to see people with spunk. So!”

     She swoops right in to stand close to the other.

“What’s wrong, tsukumogami-san?”

[reforgery]

“Why do I exist?”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“If you’re going to ask yourself questions like that, you probably only exist to be picked on. That’s usually what happens to weirdos who talk to themselves.”

“Lacking a purpose is pathetic for a tsukumogami, isn’t it?”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“Many of the non-Winter flowers will be dying soon, once it starts snowing. How sad. But at least with me around, any flower can bloom in any season.”

“It’s lucky I’m around. Lucky for the flowers, that is.”

     Not so much for anyone else.

[tigertantou-blog]

As Yuuka moved closer, Gokotai tensed, his entire body standing ramrod-straight and freezing on the spot. He was ready to retaliate against violence, as much as he loathed to fight – but instead she pointed, harmlessly, at a nearby stranger. He risked a glance in that direction, his tiny trembling hands fixed on the spotted sheath of his wooden tantou.

Show me how strong you are by hurting him.

There was a sudden change in his expression, one which angled his pale eyebrows down and hardened the gold of his eyes. His lips curled in a gesture of defiance – not a pout, no, but something more severe, something that made his entire face go unusually dark. Though his features were naturally soft, it seemed for a moment that he might actually be angry.

“That man didn’t do anything wrong,” he insisted, his little fists clenching until his knuckles went even paler than his snowy-colored skin. “I’m not a bad youkai. I’m– I’m good. I protect humans… S-So…” He unsheathed the wooden tantou with a shaking hand, holding it in a polished stance of self-defense. “… I can tell that you’re trying to trick me. I don’t like to fight, but if you won’t leave me alone, I… I’ll fight you. I will.”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“... Pft.”

     Yuuka covers her mouth at Gokotai’s response-- something that managed to surprise her a bit. Really, this one was like a child in many aspects besides looks. Threatening her like this...

The flower youkai claps her hands together, backing away suddenly.

“This is a cute surprise... so you’re braver than you look.”

     Idly, she eyes that wooden tantou with a smile.

“You protect humans... yes, that is what a sword can do. Protect people. But just as easily as they can protect, they can cut people down. Good, bad... but, that doesn’t matter. Because at the end of the day, you’re just a sword.” She smiles. “A piece of metal that will just rust and bend in time.”

“You’ll fight me if I won’t leave you alone? ... Normally I would comply. But after all this bullying, a real fight with you... just wouldn’t be worth it. Not now.”

     He was so, so weak after all. He hardly had a proper weapon.

“That’s why I’ll let you go. ... But I’m not going to leave you alone~ I’ll have my eye out for you. And when you’re at pique condition, I want you to fight me. Because as things are right now, you won’t even be able to bruise me. Understand? And it just won’t be as fun if you don’t have a chance.”

[netherblades]

“AHH!”

Completely taken back by her total disregard for pumpkin life.

“W-Why would you do that! Why is it my fault? I don’t control your foot!”

[acruelsmile-blog]

     Pulling up another pumpkin from the side, Yuuka puts her foot on it again.

“Now, let’s try this again.”

“Is smashing pumpkin’s not illegal?”

[netherblades]

“I don’t think you should do that. Someone probably worked really hard on that.”

[acruelsmile-blog]

     She crushes it with little hesitation.

“Now look at what you made me do. This is your fault, you know?”

“I said this was a time-sensitive question, dear.”

[smuppeting]

you take a moment’s pause to look at her, silently.

and then with a quick shift of your foot jutting out, you aim to kick the pumpkin from beneath her stance. “nah.”

[acruelsmile-blog]

     She lets it get kicked-- but her stance changes considerably, as with a massive swing she slams a fist down, right through the pumpkin and leaving a small crater in the cement below, slowly being filled with pumpkin guts. And, standing up straight she wipes bits of pumpkin off of her.

“Oh, that’s good to know.”

“Thanks for that. Just stepping on it would have been boring.”

[acruelsmile-blog]

“Is smashing pumpkins illegal?”

     A single foot rests on top of a rather well-crafted jack-o-lantern.

“This a time-sensitive question.”