Chapter 2: Petals Born on Spring, pt. 2

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Sep 7, 2025 7:19 pm
"Ehhhh, so are the other musicians evil-doers or are they just bad enough to drive the shamon crazy?"

Twirling the house-key in her hand, Shizuka thought about what their mission was supposed to be now. She still intended on taking all the illegal photos of Homura and Clause away from Otoya, but it seemed like the only other loose end were the mysterious musicians who played chaotically instead of harmonically.

"And you'll need to come with us, of course. The sciencey type people will want to dissect your brain or something. Maybe we can get some giant musical instruments to fight shamon."
Sep 7, 2025 7:28 pm
Claude suddenly glances at Gozen disapprovingly. "I don't think that's legal, and certainly not the right thing to do."

Detective Roosevelt

saevikasInactive for 18 days

Sep 8, 2025 1:40 am
Detective Roosevelt
Chimera rubs her chin thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, if you're an outcast, why were other shamon summoned when the violin was played? Or is it that the violin is cursed to summon shamon, and you came independently because of the...noise?"
Sep 8, 2025 2:18 am
vicky_molokh says:
Claude suddenly glances at Gozen disapprovingly. "I don't think that's legal, and certainly not the right thing to do."
"It was a joke! Obviously they won't dissect his whole brain. They will just take a few parts out that he doesn't need."

Shizuka stroked her chin as she looked the bloody-nosed violist over.
Sep 8, 2025 9:17 am
When Homura nudged her, Abenanka was distracted. She didn't really notice it, she scowls at the violinists hand and practically snatches her vial back. She puts it aside, not back wherever she stashed it. That didn't mean that when the violinist approached Homura she didn't step slightly in front, protective, and her scowl deepened.

"I don't believe you." She said at last, her head cocked to one side. "I hope you'll all forgive me. She addressed this to the others before continuing. "But why should I?"

She crosses her arms, eyes trained on the floor instead of the man. "It's very convenient that you're a good guy until now, when suddenly your control breaks and then you risk people's lives in a crowded city. Your only precautions were to... to... walk around until you find a violin? Not seclude yourself in a cave or somesuch? Are you really so worried about the danger you pose?"

"How many of the Kim'Unko have died keeping us safe from shamon? How many innocents have lost their homes?"

She shakes her head and turns around. Without another word she stalks off, leaving the group behind. They can deal with this supposed turncoat, since they seem to have cooler heads. What she needed was a break, already. She'd been on the job for all of 3 days and it was nearly too much.

"Kamuy of the owl bless me with your calm, but I think I need to put my head in a bucket of ice water."
Sep 8, 2025 3:18 pm
Violinist
The man looks overwhelmed by Chimera's wave of questions, looking confused, "Uh, err... Well; to be frank, being a deserter, I always have been an oddity to shamon standards, and the relation with my master really changed me, in a spiritual level... That's the power of music, it seems." He now walked fine, his dizziness passed.

"Ahem, I really don't have much to say about monikers and secret techniques... I lived as an ordinary human for all of this time." He says, with an excusatory smile, then turned grumpy, "Now, now; there's nothing cursed about my violin, missy. The other shamons most probably were summoned by the negative energy of my fury and transformation, as it commonly happens."
Otoya Sawatari
For some reason, it seemed Otoya thought Shizuka was talking about the shamon man, "Yeah! Oh, dissect his brain? That's a little harsh..." But then, he gasps in panic, as Shizuka glances at him, "Gah!! You're talking about me?!! D-dissect my brain?! What crazyness is that?" He says, crawling away and then leaning on a wall, slowly standing. What could be seen as panic, was, in fact, indignation, as he rebukes her with fiery eyes: "First-off, lady, my music comes not from this 'brain' you talk about: but from my heart! The same can be said about my ability to listen to other's inner music! So if you're going to dissect me, dissect my hear- Uh, I mean... Don't even think about it!!"
At Abenanka's explosion, the man seems shaken. He deeply bows at her, "I can't do anything but beg your pardon, miss... I should be killed by my sins, I know that; so if you want to, do it: slay me right away!! But I swear, if I can get to hear that man's music, I solemnly promise to not, ever again, attack any humans, for the rest of my life."

He stays there, bowed, waiting for an answer.
On the meanwhile, Homura finds a booth and calls her superior.
Shinzo Moriyama
After dialing the theater's number and asking for the manager, she's swiftly put in line with Mr. Moriyama, who, after hearing all she had to say, orders in a stern tone: "I see... Good work cornering that shamon, now kill it! Before it escapes or hurts anybody! Sigh; then, go recover the photos at Sawatari's house, and bring him in."

Akira Hoshikawa
"Hold on!" Hoshikawa protests, "Don't do that! He don't seem to pose any threat, and is unarmed and at your mercy! How shamon-like it would be to just murder him on the spot! Besides, he's now showing himself as an ordinary human, Moriyama-san! Forcing these girls to have human blood on their hands, even if just apparently, just wont do it, we need their hearts unstained!

At the end of the day, on the field, you have the authority, Kusakabe-san; I expect you to do good!"
Sep 9, 2025 2:06 pm
Satisfied with her teasing, Shizuka looks at the older man bowing at Abenanka. She wasn't about to kill anyone that looking human, plus he seemed to know a lot about the shamon and whatever this "negative energy" was. It could prove useful to the SPF to learn a little from them both to help detect future attacks.

"I don't know if you want to rely on this guy, but I guess it's been working for a long time. What about those other musicians, do you know anything about them? The ones that play "discordant" music."
Sep 10, 2025 2:32 pm
Homura was conflicted, but ultimately, she couldn't abide the thought of killing the shamon violinist. He was different from the regular grunts. He was intelligent, so it'd be no different from killing a human in her eyes.

"Commander, vice commander... I'm going with my gut. For now, we'll detain the shamon, so have a transport sent to our current location so he can be picked up. Once he's safely taken away, we'll proceed to Sawatari's place."

As she finished up the call and stepped out of the phone booth, Homura saw Abenanka storming off somewhere. She went after her, catching up quite comfortably due to her longer stride.

"Abenanka-chan! Where are you going? We need to stick together."
Homura insisted. She looked back and saw that the others were just out of earshot, so she asked in a slightly more hushed voice.

"Is something going on? I know these past few days haven't been easy."
Sep 11, 2025 7:37 am
Abenanka visibly jumps when Homura calls out to her, and she awkwardly turns and gives a completely unnecessary wave. What felt like the third straight ambush of the day catches her completely off guard, and it takes her far too long to get back on track in front of Homura so she can't help but nod without enthusiasm.

Then the second question game, and that made her freeze up a bit more. "Something... something going on? No, well yes; but aside from the revelations too important for me to judge on, I don't think so."

She toys with the end of her braid, the nervous tell so obvious at this point. She wanted to rant at Homura for putting herself in harms way so much, but that would be hypocritical. She wanted to white at Homura about how she missed the mountains and couldn't stand all the people and buildings around but that'd be unfair and not her responsibility. She wanted to finally have some courage to be selfish for once and tell her...

"But that's to say nothing's wrong between us." She added hastily, even though no one asked.
Sep 11, 2025 1:29 pm
"Nothing's wrong? Are you sure? You nearly had a heart attack when I called for you," Homura teased, playfully slapping Abenanka on the back. "You're far too wound up!"

Inwardly though, she was relieved that she apparently hadn't done anything to make Abenanka upset. At least, as far as she could tell. Whenever she leapt into danger, it simply didn't occur to her that anyone would be worried. Why would they be? If anyone was worrying, it was her own fault for not being strong enough, as far as she was concerned.

However, she wasn't entirely clueless. She was aware that the city grated on Abenanka at times, so she thought of something that might help relieve some stress. "Oh! You know, the cherry blossoms will be blooming soon. Once we both have some free time, we could do some flower viewing at Ueno Park. Just the two of us! What do you think?"

It sounded suspiciously similar to a date, but Homura hesitated to call it such. It would just be an... experiment. That sounded better to her. It was just to confirm that there was nothing unusual between her and Abenanka, and Claude was imagining things that weren't there.
Sep 11, 2025 6:01 pm
OOC:
As I said before, I'm leaving some things purposefully open, so feel free to add to anything I wrote in here.
Before ending the call, Mr. Hoshikawa adds: "But Kusakabe-san, we don't have any prison installations in here, much less to hold a shamon captive!"

"Indeed, and bringing one of them in the theater would be too risky, it could snitch it to the others. Don't bring it in here! I'll have spies on its tail for now on." Moriyama adds.
After the incident, the girls go up the street, until the wide pathways for cars and carriages end, the girls having to go up a row of stairs. Abenanka feels relief as this place is much mure quiet and peaceful than the crowded streets down there, reaching Otoya's house, located at the end of a narrow streets going uphill.

An old and rusty iron gate flanked by walls, the plaster fallen of in many spots, revealing the bricks inside. A large chain with a padlock holding it shut, but it's so loose that a person could easily squeeze by it anyway.

Otoya Sawatari
"Here! Ladies first~" Otoya says, pushing one side of the gate open, giving plenty of space for everyone to go in, before he does so himself.

Inside, they can see a nice yard, with a stone undulating path towards the house, a fountain and a workshop; it's that the yard hasn't seen care for many years, with the overgrown grass and weeds everywhere.

The house is a two store building of brick and mortar; a staircase leads to the balcony on the upper floor.

Weather Shizuka opened the door herself, or gave the keys to Otoya, anyone would have trouble opening the heavy and old door, with rusty and dry hinges.
Inside, the floor and ceiling are made of hardwood, as well as most of the neoclassical furniture inside: all coated with a thick layer of dust, while some others are protected from it by a large cloth covering them.

This chaotic entrance gives place to a more spacious living room, with a double-heigth ceiling; a stair leads to a mezzanine where presumably the dining room would be. An old piano can be found on the living room, as well as some violins hanged on the wall, seemingly the only things not overtaken by the dust.

It could be noticed how many of the furniture hold high piles of magazines atop of them, most of them on female fashion... Needless to say, Homura could see many covers with her face on it. Also covered by cloths (though with breaches and tears) some piles of old paintings on canvas could be seem. Finally, some photos of them, the Blossom Maidens, could be find scattered everywhere.

"Phew! Home sweet home! Could I exercise some hospitality and offer you some biscuits? Some tea (maybe with some brandy)?? Heh~?"
Sep 11, 2025 7:04 pm
Moyreau says:
"Here! Ladies first~" Otoya says, pushing one side of the gate open, giving plenty of space for everyone to go in, before he does so himself.
Claude mirrors Otoya's action, also pushing open the other half of the gate and gallantly gesturing for others to go in first, and then enters approximately at the same time as Otoya (at least tries to, unless he keeps waiting to ensure he's the last one).
Moyreau says:
Finally, some photos of them, the Blossom Maidens, could be find scattered everywhere.

"Phew! Home sweet home! Could I exercise some hospitality and offer you some biscuits? Some tea (maybe with some brandy)?? Heh~?"
Claude grins at Otoya, "I was half-expecting you to offer the rest of the three choices."

Then the photos come into focus, and Claude frowns, but doesn't (yet) say anything about them.
Sep 12, 2025 4:39 pm
Staying professional, Shizuka enters the dusty home and unceremoniously begins to look around for the photographs. It was dusty and messy, just about what she'd expect from a creepy stalker. However, he clearly cared about his musical instruments and photos of girls. Running a finger on a dusty shelf, she frowned and found a cluster of the photographs he had taken of Homura and the others.

"It's SO dusty, I can see why you prefer photos over real people visitng. You can keep all the magazines, but I'm confiscating all these photos you took without consent. Also, are all these violins magical harmonical things? Do they put shamons to sleep or what?"

After grabbing a good amount of photos, Shizuka peered at the not-so-dusty instruments and tried plucking a few strings.

Detective Roosevelt

saevikasInactive for 18 days

Sep 12, 2025 5:31 pm
Detective Roosevelt
Chimera tilts her head as she looks at the rundown state of the house.

"Oh, is this a haunted house? Perhaps plagued by a nobleman's grudge? Or crying orphans?"
Last edited September 12, 2025 10:07 pm
Sep 12, 2025 6:57 pm
"Definitely haunted, Detective. Old houses like this become infested with the 'many eyes' , I don't know if they have those where you are from."

Shizuka showed Chimera the worn down shoji panels within the house. Most were just dusty and worn down, but there were enough holes in the parchment to be noticeable.

"Mokumokuren are the eyes of ghost's that live in damaged walls. If you sleep in a room full of them, they'll try to rip out your eyes while you sleep."

Detective Roosevelt

saevikasInactive for 18 days

Sep 12, 2025 10:17 pm
Detective Roosevelt
Chimera nods seriously as she scribbles that bit of information down in her notepad with the rest of the yokai she's learned about, of which Japan has plenty of.

"Fascinating! Fortunately, my eyepatch more than wards against such ocular assaults, my dear Gozen. Where I'm from, we have something called a night hag that sits on your chest, trapping its victim in the realm between false death and life. I haven't devised as perfect of a defense for such a foe yet, but the spiked nightgown I'm working on is promising!"
Last edited September 12, 2025 10:18 pm
Sep 12, 2025 10:34 pm
Claude's face goes through a series of changes expressing surprise, curiosity, and admiration, or at least a general strong impression, albeit without turning to face the princess.

Wow, this is wilder than I expected . . .
Sep 15, 2025 8:36 am
"Just... just the two of us!?" Abenanka's face turned an impressive shade of red and she averted her gaze even more. Her heart practically beat a mile a minute at the idea of it, and she wondered what blessing she'd recieved for such luck. Not that... not that it meant anything, it was just two old friends taking a moment together... right?

"I'd love nothing more." She whispered before she took a deep breath and nodded. "Of course, that would be wonderful Homura-san."
The conversation and discoveries in the house are lost on Abenanka, who lagged behind in the garden outside. Her eyes lit up the moment she saw it, some of her fatigue melting away. This place reminded her of home, overgrown and left to be as wild as it should be. She glanced askance at their host, but when he didn't seem to notice she took the assumption upon herself.

Before long she'd waded into the long grass, producing a small knife from one of her hidden pouches in her uniform. With catlike grace not usually seen from her she pounced and descended into the fronds, gathering cuttings, bugs and all manner of other things to restock her ingredients. As she went, anyone who listened could hear her murmuring prayers to the Kamuy of the mountains.
Sep 15, 2025 4:10 pm
Moyreau says:


Before ending the call, Mr. Hoshikawa adds: "But Kusakabe-san, we don't have any prison installations in here, much less to hold a shamon captive!"

"Indeed, and bringing one of them in the theater would be too risky, it could snitch it to the others. Don't bring it in here! I'll have spies on its tail for now on." Moriyama adds.
"Are you telling us to just let him roam...?" Homura asked incredulously. That sounded dangerous, but she couldn't deny their points either. She'd try to trust their judgment for now. "Fine, though I don't think he intends to 'snitch.'"

"Really? Great!"
Homura beamed. "I'll start prepping as soon as possible. If you have more of that mountain sake, I suggest you bring it along. Just don't tell Gozen-san." She winked.

"Anyways, we should get back to the others." She turned to walk off. Her heart was pounding, more than it did when she piloted Sunrise Flare. Apparently, this ranked above mortal combat on her stress meter.

She told the violinist that he was free to go, but she made sure to inquire about where they could find him later if necessary.
Hmm... This place is barely maintained. He lives like this? Homura thought as they approached Otoya's house.

As Homura expected, it wasn't much better inside either. As she entered, the dust in the air caused her to sneeze. It seemed like Otoya was the type of man to throw himself into his passions, at the cost of neglecting everything else. As a passionate person herself, she could respect that... to an extent.

She perked up at the offer of refreshments. After all, she was still pretty hungry. "I'll take you up on that!"

The magazines quickly drew her eye. When she started to go through them, she was surprised to find Otoya's collection was quite comprehensive. "I guess you weren't lying, Sawatari-kun. You really DO have all my starring issues.~" She sounded quite pleased.

As she paged through a publication from a few months ago, she looked out a nearby window and saw Abenanka in the overgrown grass. The sight made her smile warmly, but she put her focus back on the matter at hand. She closed the magazine in her hands and placed it down.

"Tell me, why were you taking photos of us in the first place?" She asked Otoya. "What did you plan on doing with the pictures?"

Otoya Sawatari

Moyreau Inactive for 27 days

Sep 16, 2025 4:44 pm
Otoya Sawatari

"Ahem" He waits, with a stern look, for Claude to enter: "Ladies first."

But then, once they're all inside, he looks at her with a confused and inquisitive glare: "T-three other choices? What do you mean?" He asks, scratching his head.

Afterwards, he answers Shizuka with a sigh: "Phew... Well, you can take them! They're nothing next to the original models anyway~" But his amusement is broken as she starts plucking his violins, "H-hey! Stop that! You're hurting it!" He quickly runs for his violin's aid, taking it and cradling it on his arms; "Now, they aren't magical! Well... Not more magical than any musical instrument, at least.

And... Of course, there aren't any Yokai in here! I inherited this home from my family, who lived here for generations; all accomplished and talented artist!"
He says, full of pride.
Finally, after bringing the snacks, he seems taken by surprise at Homura's remark: "Oh well... Hehe, what can I say... T-the only thing I can't be accused of is having bad taste~ Hahahahaha!"

With all that, the girls had recovered the compromising pictures!
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