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Karakasa Kozo ‘Umbrella Ghost’ As discussed elsewhere in the Gensokyo Survival GUide, a number of Youkai are said to manifest over time, typically 100 years. Among the most prestigious of these is the Karakasa Obake, or ‘Karakasa Kozo’ meaning Paper Umbrella Priest Boy’. This surprising looking creature resembles a standing Japanese umbrella. These traditional umbrellas are made of paper with a layer of oil over them to make them resistant to the rain. A Karakasa Obake resembles this with a single large eye, a long tongue and one or two legs emerging from the hem of the umbrella. Karakasa Kozo are benign creatures, often surprising humans by following them stealthily, before licking their victim with an oily tongue. Though not dangerous, this may still be traumatic in the right circumstances. Karakasa Kozo usually have a lasting affection for humans, and are difficult to spur to violence. Oddly, while most Youkai arise from eyewitness reports and have essays documenting them, Karakasa Kozo have no reported sightings in Japan. This may be due to the Karakasa Obake's talent at being unobserved, or simply because they are so harmless no one considers them notable. That said, umbrella themed Youkai are not uncommon, and one should take care not to confuse the playful Karakasa Kozo with their more dangerous cousins. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The tumbling head rolled along the cobblestone path. The old rabbit somehow maintaining his perch on top of it over his wheezing. The two girls hurled after the two. Though Sekibanki could not help but think resentfully that Kogasa might have an easier time keeping up if she closed her umbrella… She felt her head begin to come loose, one hand rising to push it back into place. It was surreal. A couple hours later, she and Kogasa would have dozens of witnesses to their inhuman nature. Farmers coming home, housewives working on food at the windows, children playing in the street. Now, the roads were mostly empty. Mostly. A housewife could be seen with a friend. Chatting with one another through a window. Normally, Sekibanki would have just walked right by, completely below note. But with Ichibanki bouncing ahead of her, there was not exactly an opportunity for subtlety… “Koggers, I am about to do something stupid.” “I told you not to call me—” Kogasa’s irritated reply was cut off. Replaced with an expression of shock as Sekibanki threw aside her picnic basket. She held up her hand, holding aloft one of her spell cards. Danmaku surged from around her hand, flaring into the air overhead. The tired rabbit watched them rising impassively. They rained down onto the stone. Rupturing into the ground and throwing up shards of rock. Each creating a pothole large enough to catch her beloved extra head. Yet as she and her friends approached and the dust cleared, all she could see were empty potholes… ...And Ichibanki, laying brushed on her side. The tired old rabbit sitting passively on top of her. A tongue lapping at his paw. “What the hell man? I thought we were cool.” Sekibanki hissed as she started forward again. No sooner had she started for him, than the rabbit’s mad dash resumed. Faster than she had ever guessed he could have moved, he bolted again, rolling Ichibanki beneath him. Each rotation of her head followed by an ‘Ow. Ow. Ow.’ The two Youkai followed, ignoring the two women staring at them from behind as they pursued the hare. Kogasa’s eyes rose, taking in her surroundings. “Seki, I think…” She stopped as the other Youkai ran around the corner. Her slender fingers clung to her umbrella, her extension of herself. An odd feeling of foreboding filling her. Before she reluctantly followed. “You damn creep! Give me back my head!” As she rounded the corner, she could see Sekibanki racing up the path of the Fortune Teller’s house. Its shape looming ahead as though to blight an otherwise lovely spring day. The disembodied head lay on its side on the doorstep, a flash of white passing as the rabbit bolted through a hole in the wall, beneath an Ofuda. His legs briefly kicking to either side before he passed through. Sekibanki bent down, picking up Ichibanki and tenderly brushing at the head’s face, bruised as it was. Kogasa walked beside her. Her demeanor suddenly subdued. “So...we have Sekibanki. We can go on that picnic now and try to enjoy our day together.” Sekibanki gazed down at the mirror of her own head. Its cheeks and face dirtied and made puffy from bruising. Still, Ichibanki tried to smile up at her. “Nah. I’m going after that rabbit.” “...Sekibanki, you can’t. That house is forbidden! And…” The word ‘cursed’ somehow stuck to the roof of Kogasa’s mouth as she watched her friend. Still, Sekibanki only gave a shrug as she eased the other head into her shirt to keep it safe. “Don’t care. I thought he was a chill guy. Now I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.” “But—” “You can wait here Koggers. I don’t want you to see me shouting at an old fogey anyway.” Kogasa watched her friend for a moment, hoping she might back down. But Sekibanki started for the house. Before with a small sigh, Kogasa followed. Who knows. Maybe she could find someone to scare here… =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The house is encircled with Ofuda, protective charms against Youkai and other spirits. How will the two get inside? = Ease Ichibanki through a broken window and have her open the door. = Maybe a passing human could open the door for us? After all, the Hakurei Shrine is supposed to check on it...sometimes... = Kogasa counters the Hakurei Shrine Ofuda with Ofuda from the Moriya Shrine. = Dude, you can fly. Just go up through the balcony.

THE "THUMBS-UP" REACTION HAS RETURNED!! Seriously this used to be my favorite reaction before the system was renovated and it was technically replaced with the "thinking" reaction, which had previously been requested as well. I'm genuinely ecstatic to have both now!

A skeleton walks into a bar. He asks for a beer and a mop.

hey there, yet another one dropped, slightly late if you've seen the wattpad ver but idc now. since im already 3 chapters in as of making this moriya ver, next week i'll probably drop [2]. i'll also need to make a separate topic in misty lake for discussion of my fics as a whole without further ado, let's get to the actual thing, enjoy!! [1] -> *A massive flash happened at the place that was said to be the mark where Gensokyo is. A land of fantasy where the forgotten go. The gone and forgotten, basically.* Human: "What happened?" Human: "A massive flash... c'mon!" Human: "Is that so?" -> *Humans gathered where the flash was, like they knew where Gensokyo is. Only to see...* Human: "What's... happened here?" -> *Two familiar girls stood at the back of the crowd before squeezing through them. It was Renko Usami and Maribel/Merry Hearn...* Renko: "Is this... Gensokyo?" Merry: "It is... Renko.. c'mon!" -> *The crowd watched the two disappear into the territory of Gensokyo.* Renko: "Eh? Wow, Gensokyo is larger than I thought." Merry: "Yeah, I've been here before, remember?" Renko: "Oh yeah. Say... what's happened?" Merry: "I'd say, an almost world ending event..." Renko: "Oh my..." -> *The two dashed off to their first destination, the Hakurei Shrine. Or... what is left of it...* Merry: "This is where that shrine maiden is... what the?" -> *As soon as she paused, she slowed down until she stopped.* Renko: "Th- the... shrine maiden? Gensokyo..." -> *Renko looked around. The whole place is almost flat, except the Youkai Mountain, which doesn't look that mountainous anymore, and this hill.* Renko: "Merry, is this what Gensokyo looks like?" Merry: "R-Renko, I could've sworn... it was all here when I went... no..." -> *Merry remembered the flash from earlier. It seems like... whatever this flash was... it wiped out everything notable of Gensokyo. But were the residents prepared for this event?* Renko: "Search party?" -> *Merry looked down, realizing this is Renko's chance to get into the action of being in Gensokyo but it was ruined... however, maybe hope is not lost?* Merry: "Search party. C'mon, Renko, let's-" -> *A pillar of light flashed in front of them and in that pillar was... Sumireko?* Renko: "S-sumi!?" Sumi: "Ah, say... how you do Renko!" Renko: "H-hey. What brought you here?" Sumi: "The flash, of course! Lookie here!" -> *Sumireko showed the screen of her phone, it showed that the flash is becoming breaking news.* Sumi: "It's so bad that Japan had to cancel most airline trips! Have you heard?" Renko: "Is that so?" Sumi: "I know right! Say, where's Reimu-cchi-" -> *Sumi began to dash to the shrine before stopping when she past the Hifuu Club girls.* Sumi: "... oh. That's... something?" Merry: "Well, we were about to figure out who was behind this... you.." Sumi: ".. want me to join you? Well, I have more knowledge of Gensokyo since I've been there longer than you have. Bet I'll be a valuable asset..." Merry: "How'd you-" Sumi: "You're kinda.. predictable, y'know?" Merry: "Whatever... anyway, what abilities you have? I can almost manipulate boundaries... Renko-" Sumi: "-Can determine location by the night sky like a GPS, yup. I can use ESP!" Merry: "ESP? Sounds familiar..." Sumi: "Ohoho.. watch this!" -> *One of the few nearby half-dead cherry blossoms broke out the ground and starts to float around for a bit before Sumireko sends it flying off somewhere.* Renko: "Ok, enough about Sumi... shall we go ahead for a search party across Gensokyo?" Sumi: "Sure! I'm coming with ya!" -> *Another pillar of light appeared next to them, Sumireko appeared in that spot.* Merry: "Well, no time to lose, I suppose!" -> *The three headed down the mildly broken steps of the Hakurei Shrine hill and determined their next destination to what was left of the Forest of Magic.*

Finally had time to make an entry. Though I really should be in bed now, so no long thoughts from me. Just two girls going into a spooky house because of an oddly lucky rabbit.

...The hell did I miss? Seriously, I manage to take the best times to disappear and see this place transform into a different house entirely. However, I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said or implied, other than that danmaku seems to be the safest bet as at least a couple of games has danmaku happen regularly at the Human Village... Though destruction of property is forbidden in the rules. And my lack of presence recently has had a few reasons that are still not fully resolved, so I'll make sporadic appearances that hopefully last long enough for me to write.