The Rokurokubi Horror

”…”

Weird answer. Did that voice sound familiar? She squints, still unable to identify them.

”Hey…” She calls again. "Are you doing something suspicious…?"

She sighs.

"I'm just trying to enjoy the sounds of the waves, and the nice night. I'm not causing any trouble."

It would have been normal to be considered suspicious by a human at night, Sekibanki supposed. After all, humans feared what they couldn't see in the dark.

For all they knew, a murderer could have been stalking them.

... Ah, well. That's one's imagination for you.

#yazawan #nico 04

Staring at the sea had captivated her, but not enough to not notice the footsteps approaching. Canting her head sideways some, she can’t quite make out anything but a shady figure under the moon’s dim light.

She clears her throat, throwing a cautious "…Who’s there?"

"..."

Oh. Of all the people, it was her again. At least this time she wasn't being hunted down. Of all the people to meet, however...

"... No one important. Just ignore me."

Perhaps this was the best way to handle things.

#yazawan

Night walks are so cliche. And on a murder island, it’s incredibly senseless to do so, isn’t it. Yet, here we are, staring at the star’s reflection in the rolling waves.

Can’t sleep anyway.

#yazawan #here we go again

It was natural for a youkai to be up so late. Evening was when they thrived, after all. The oceanside was a particularly niche location, however.

... But, it was nice to be by. Especially after having been away from it for so many years.

Gensokyo had no seas, after all.

001 | Mystery Meat - ( Kyouko )

migattesa

As much as she can try and say watching people get their stomachs sliced open was her bread and butter, Kyouko figured she had better things to do than lounge around watching TV. What that was, she didn’t know yet, but it sure beat sitting on a couch in the front lobby of the hotel. This whole event was stupid, fighting over a gnome? What, was this bear crazy? Well, whatever. She wasn’t in it, so it didn’t really matter to her. It still made good entertainment when something particularly interesting happened, however.

She shoved a potato chip in her mouth and got up from the couch, grabbing the chip bag as she swept past it. She stepped outside, the bright sun hitting her face and momentarily blinding her. The weather had been stable as of late with no freaky heat or cold waves. Thank God too, they were getting pretty damn annoying. Almost as annoying as the lack of chips that were currently being eaten. Kyouko frowned. Damn, out again. Luckily the market was close enough.

On her way out of the store with a fresh bag of chips, she spotted someone walking away with a plastic bag, fiddling with something. Looked like a can of meat. They were having a pretty hard time with it, too. It’s a can of meat, how can you… Whatever, it’s their problem, Kyouko thought as she walked right past the person.

…Fine. She turned around and faced the stranger.

”That can has a tab on the top, ya know.”

#migattesa #kyouko 01 #SORRY for takin so long to reply

While going about her meddling with the small can, as a voice pops up, Sekibanki instantly halts-- staring at the can whilst feeling increasingly embarrassed.

Damn, she'd been noticed.

Pausing, for a moment, the youkai glanced aside towards Kyouko with a dull expression masking her own internal embarrassment. Ah, this wasn't good-- this was anything but good. Internally, she cursed herself for allowing such a moment as this to actually happen.

"Of course I know."

A complete lie.

"I was just reading the label on this first before opening it."

Another lie. She couldn't read English.

Turning it over to look at this so-called tab on it's top-- having wondered that it was-- with little hesitation, the youkai went to tugging at it. ... And turning it. And twisting it. And continuing an amalgamation of the three processes in a particularly hopeless manner, growing increasingly annoyed.

Glancing back just to see if the other was watching-- which she still was-- Sekibanki quickly looked back before accidentally dropping it.

"..."

"... Th... the thing's jammed."

Sure it was.

Her bluntness is jarring, Nico is defenseless as she’s pushed to the ground, doing nothing more than staring up as Sekibanki continues to lay it thick. Words, and words, and more words fall out of that girl’s vile mouth, each one cutting straight through to the school idol’s heart.

Sham. Worthless. Lying. There’s no way a person like you could be an idol.

Finally, she rises.

"Sh-Shut up… shut up, shut up… You… don’t know anything about me…” Breathe. She’s visibly shaking, she’s not taking it well at all, angered and hurt that everything she’s devoted her life to has just been spat upon and shoved right back to her.

“You don’t know anything. You’re only speaking from your narrow perspective of hatred for others, that’s all you know how to do!”

”Maybe I’m a little pushy, bossy, maybe I’ve made you mad more than once, but that…” Shaking. Shaking. Shaking. "…That doesn’t make me any less of an idol than I am! Idols become idols because they have a genuine wish to spread happiness to others! Do you think I’m doing this to have a pretty title, to act cutesy and be popular? At the end of the day it’s not about any of that! At the end of the day an idol’s job is to bring a smile to people’s faces! Even to someone as hateful and dreadful as you, I’d still want you to smile, and you know why?” Face puffed, she’s worked herself up, tears budding at the corner of reddened eyes. “Because I’m an idol! That’s what idols do, from the very core of their heart, so I’m SORRY! I’m SORRY I couldn’t undo all that stupid hatred inside of you, maybe there’s someone else can and I hope, I really really really hope, by God, that they do! Because I’m… Because I’m an idol!”

Damn it. Shutting her eyes tightly, as if that would help shut the situation down. She went off the handle… But that’s what Nico Yazawa does.

"..."

So she was finally rebuked with something that was more than simple deflections and insults. ... Ah, well, it still had insults. But it was much more than the youkai had expected to hear from the other. She had half expected Nico to simply run off in tears, but... huh. Maybe she really was serious about all this.

"... You're right," she simply states. "I don't know anything about you. And you don't know anything about me."

Hateful? Dreadful? Mm.

Internally, she thought a bit about those two words. Dreadful? She wasn't exactly a charmer, but she could be nice. And hateful? It's not like she hated people for no reason, she simply disliked others. Not hated.

It was hard to like others you couldn't connect to, after all. And despite living amid their ranks, she could hardly connect to humans, at times.

But she certainly didn't hate them.

"... Hmph."

With a sigh, Sekibanki turns aside and backs away-- taking a seat back where she was at. Casually beginning to refill her glass of sake, the youkai's gaze focuses on the dark sky.

"Well, think what you want. I don't mind being hated, I guess. And if you want to make me smile, I can't really argue with that. I don't get why you would want to, but... well, anyways..."

Another sigh.

"Why don't you just go already? People should be sleeping at this time."

Lies?

Lies?!

Who on Earth does this girl think she is? Nico feels her heart race, blood rush, her anger only flares as the other steps closer — body language haughty, dangerous. Her teeth grit with every word, but the last gets her, and the water gun she held so lackadaisically is thrown viciously to the side.

”What the fuck did you just say to me!? You don’t know anything! You don’t know anything at all, so shut your fucking mouth, already!”

”Think of me as you will, I don’t care anymore! I don’t care if I never see you again! But if you for a GODDAMNED second believe you know what idoldom is about, that you can just call these people who work tirelessly to bring smiles and happiness to others while you sit on your ignorant ass and avoid everyone and stupidly brood to yourself, then you’re just an IDIOT! YOU’RE AN IDIOT, IDIOT, A GODDAMNED HALF-BRAINED FOOL!" Flushed with rage, the smaller girl pushes forward with her hands in attempt to knock Sekibanki away.

"SO JUST, SHUT UP!!"

It's enough to move Sekibanki back a notch, but it's almost as if she let Nico do so willingly.

"Fine. Think of me as you will yourself. I don't like attention, I hate crowds, and fads are just so annoying. I'll say all I want, however, because once again, this is your fault."

And with that she lunges forward, pushing Nico back this time-- with enough force to hopefully cause her to fall, or at least force her to stumble in return.

"I know what you're showing me, you idiot. You're the first and only idol I've ever met, and so far, you've painted this grand picture all yourself. So, I'll rescind what I said about these idols. Maybe they are what you say they are. And if so, then I'll respect that. But then, what does that make you?"

"That just makes you a sham."

And now with a sigh, Sekibanki's features are dull once more. In fact, she seemed more disappointed now than anything.

"If these idols are what you say they are, then it's clear to me that you definitely aren't one of these idols. There's no way a person like you could be an idol. So, again, I'll take back what I said about them. Because mixing you up with them is pretty offensive of me. Yeah... there's no way they could be worthless lying idiots like yourself."

The hard exterior Nico shells droops somewhat as the other closes in, hold on the gun lax. Uh. Woah…

She sounded really bothered. But… why? It was obviously her fault, who just knocks a person out when they’re trying to do some good? It stings, her words, but Nico is not the type to just take it. Flaring up and stepping closer herself, shoulders raised, she stares back into Sekibanki’s eyes.

”Why are you so… so!? Why are you just so rude?!”

”You know what? Say what you want about me, fine! But calling all idols pigheaded is just too far, I’m not going to stand around and let someone like you talk out their ass about something they don’t know about! You know nothing about idols, so why don’t you just shut up and get the stick out of your ass already!” A huff, seething through grit teeth. "I can let go of the fact you knocked me out, but calling idols disgusting… That’s just unforgivable.”

One could practically cut the tension with a butter knife.

Unforgivable, was it? With this change of pace, suddenly, Sekibanki found herself taking some joy in this. Ah, what a nice reaction.

"Disgusting... you're absolutely disgusting, definitely. It's true I don't know about idols, but you've told me enough. Idols are meant to make people smile, I think you said... right? Meant to make people happy?"

"What kind of half-assed lie is that, anyways?"

Stepping in closer to further intimidate the other, Sekibanki's head cants upwards, allowing her to scoff mockingly towards the Nico.

"Seriously... you've never made me smile. Not even once. Instead, all you've been doing is hassling me since the first time you approached me. But thanks to you, I think I understand the basics of an idol. After all, you're an idol yourself. So if all idols are like you, then..."

Sekibanki sneers.

"They're stupid, they're liars, and they're absolutely worthless."

#nico 03 #yazawan

” — What!?”

Quick to retort, quick to fluster. She glares at Sekibanki, fire practically spitting from her eyes.

“I didn’t fall unconscious! You knocked me out!” The stalking comment goes unanswered. To be honest, she kind of is…

”Fess up and apologize so we can get this over with, or you’ll get it!” She cocks her gun.

That was a lie-- she had nothing to do with it. Falling on someone after being pulled on by said person and knocking them out because of it... that was obviously Nico's fault. Again, she was the aggressor. How did she not get that?

"You want an apology? ... For what?"

Moving in closer to the other, Sekibanki stares into the other's eyes as a sort of means of intimidation-- looking calm and composed.

But ah, how annoyed she had grown.

"Everything that has happened has been brought upon by yourself. I don't need to apologize to an idiot like yourself. If anything, you should apologize for continuing to hound me for something that was all your fault. ... You said you were an 'idol' before, right? Are you idols supposed to be this pigheaded? Because if that's the case..."

"You're all disgusting. Humanity has really fallen low to give birth to people like you. You stupid little brat."

She watches the other girl get up, holding the squirt-gun close to her in case its needed for quick preparation. Dunk her into the sea? Yeah, whatever.

That was as believable as this whole “murder island” shit, honestly.

”Don’t play dumb. You know what you did.”

“Just apologize and I might forgive you.”

"Don't be stupid."

Raising a hand to run it through her short red hair, Sekibanki exhales. So that's what she wanted? An apology? And for what, exactly?

How annoying.

"All those times you fell unconscious were entirely your fault. I don't need to apologize for something that isn't my fault."

"You've been the aggressor in each situation. And here you are again. Are you stalking me, or something? How creepy."

No reaction whatsoever. That’s a little disappointing. Nico keeps her position, Pumping up the gun again, she aims it towards Sekibanki.

”Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”

…And another splash.

Setting her drink down, Sekibanki frowns-- expression hid behind her cloak-- and stands up after getting squirted at once more.

"What are you talking about?"

"And stop that. Or else I'll dunk you in to the sea."

And she was serious.

There she is.

There’s the she-devil that cursed Nico’s life.

That weird, red-headed girl with the bow and very strong forehead. There’s no hesitation in the idol’s steps as she sneaks up behind her, confidently pushing a gun she’d bought from the market to the other’s head.

Her voice, when she speaks, is low, serious.

"I finally found you…You’ll pay…"

And the trigger is pulled… releasing water from its multi-colored spout.

#yazawan #nico 03 #you fuck

Of all the--

This girl again? Seriously? ... She didn't seem to know when to give up. Silent for a few moments, having been squirted with water, the youkai simply sits where she was-- proceeding to drink from her glass of sake.

"Hey..."

"Are you following me around to annoy me on purpose, or what?"

"People dying so often sure is scary, huh."

"Not like it entirely matters to me, but... seriously, who cares if one person dies in the first place, not like everyone should get excited about it..."

Grumbling to herself, she casually drinks from some sake she had pilfered from the market by her lonesome.

#despairing muses

unxdeadly

” How unbecoming! You should really learn to close that mouth! “

” Perhaps I’ll shut it up for you! ♥ ”

She was not lying when she said she wasn’t a good fighter; hardly gifted in the art of combat, she relied on her abilities to help her. However, stripped of those, there was no reason she couldn’t land a few select slaps and punches!