It is 1868, fifteen years after Commodore Perry forced Japan to open up its port to trade using strong-arm tactics. Since that time the number of cities that allowed has grown considerably. Some cities have even allowed foreigners to reside there indefinitely. It is to one of these port cities, Kobe that the de Sidhe are en-route to on a state of the art, ultra-fast, steamship. It's a modern marvel, why, it's only taken them one-hundred and seven days before they reach port!
One-hundred and seven days. On the Ocean. Trapped on a boat in an endless expanse of water. Days and days of rocking waves, of occasional storms, of the smell of salt and fish. Days and days of seasickness, moments of overwhelming fear, make up those three months of Niamh's life. It is absolutely horrible! Both her father, Flynn, and her mother Comyna keep trying to help her cope by telling her want a wonderful adventure this is and how so few get to see the mysteries of the orient. But, to a sixteen year old woman who finds her only constant companion on most days is a 'seasickness companion' pail, this is of little solace. She cannot even try to imagine what spirits and mystical artifacts they might find, she's just trying to imagine keeping down food.
But the day is at hand, the journey of misery is over and the family has docked. As they disembark from the ship, an expanse of cobblestone roads and one and two story stone-wall and tile-roofed buildings stretch out before them Flynn explains, "Now lassie, we've been invited by Mr. Tanaka to come stay at a hotel he has built at this port for traders. He will have our luggage picked up from the ship and taken straight to the hotel. From what he wrote in his letter, we were recommended by Simon DeBeville; the English nobleman we helped a few years back regarding his, ah, unfortunate inheritance of that cursed suit of armor. Mr. Tanaka is in ... a similar situation of sorts. He claims to be having all sorts of problems with kami, that's Japanese for spirits, harassing guests and causing his business much trouble. Mr. Tanaka has tried to get local help with the problem, but nothing has come of it ... so we were called in as experts. This is a great honor, the people of Japan do not turn to outside
rs. In fact, outsiders aren't allowed in most of the island; so you need to be on your best behavior. No running off into the woods to explore while we work. Understand?"
Niamh is busy adjusting her balance back to dry land. She can't remember the last time she was on ground that didn't move (was it Ceylon?) and even an earthquake wouldn't spoil things now. "I bet we got called because the local exorcists didn't want to deal with a place where foreigners stay," she grumbles. The admonishment about wandering into the woods stings a bit. She still hasn't tamed and bound any spirits yet, and Japan is supposed to be full of interesting ones. "I just want to eat something. I'm surprised my clothes aren't falling off of me already."
That suggestion might not be too far from the truth. The people for the most part are ... short, and dressed in loose-fitting clothing; wide-legged pants and robe-like tops. They also give the three odd foreigners suspicious looks and mutter to each other in, well, Niamh must assume is Japanese. She certainly can't understand it right now. "There will be food at the inn. Many restaurants in the city won't serve what are called gaijin. Which is, well, us," her mother says kindly as they walk and her father keeps consulting a map and having to stop and peer at signs, then back at the map. "Which is probably for the best, really. I have heard tales of the things eaten here. Quite a bit is raw. Can you imagine?"
"How raw?" Niamh asks, her mind going to potatoes of all things. Would a raw potato be bad? Do they have potatoes? "And surely not the rice. There's a lot of rice, isn't there?"
"Raw fish, specifically, dear," Comyna says as if she's having to confess a terrible sin, "On vinegar-soaked rice." Meanwhile her father is scratching his head and turning the map a few ways. "Their language is vexing," he admits, "It's backwards-grammar, and the same symbols mean different things based on context ... and some subjects are just assumed."
"Fish isn't bad," Niamh admits. Fish and rice made up a lot of the food on the ship for the latter part of the voyage after all. "Remember how sick I got on that steak tartar in Germany? I just want lots of whatever they have." She finally takes a moment to look around the port area. "Father, if the instructions are confusing, can't we just follow the luggage?" she asks. "Or.. ask someone? They don't look like they're going to sacrifice us to crocodiles."
"No, because that would make us look weak in their eyes, and easy targets. This is a culture of appearances, or so I have been told," Flynn explains, then starts walking again as he turns down a side road. "If we cannot find something as simple as a hotel, how could we possibly help them with their problems ... and things like that." It also dawns on Niamh that the people in the streets are staring at their hair. Red hair, or blonde hair must not be common here.
"They.. wouldn't try to steal our hair though, would they?" Niamh asks. What really worries her is the whole not appearing weak issue. Normally, she could feign tripping so someone would offer a hand to help her up so she could use her ectoplasmic trick for being able to speak the local language, at least for a little while. Now she'll have to.. think of some other excuse to make contact. "Do they shake hands at least?" she asks her parents.
"No. They bow to greet, to apologize, and well, for just about all social interactions," Flynn explains as he turns again and heads down yet another side street. "Touching others is not polite ... so lass, please keep your hands to yourself. This is a very different culture from what we're all used to, and rules here are extremely strict. We must be careful and tactful. To them, we are barbarians."
And yet some of the locals seem to still be carrying swords. Barbarians? Talk about eye of the beholder.
"How will I be able to talk to anyone though," Niamh mutters in typical teenager fashion. "The spirits aren't formal too, are they?" she asks out loud. Which isn't very loud. It's a port city, so locals may understand English. The swords surprise her though. "The ones with swords are officials, police and such, aren't they?" she asks her mother quietly.
"Unfortunately I do not have much detail on the local kami. I seem to recall that research said some are formal, others are ... not. Many are troublemakers. And oh, vampires hop," Flynn explains as he pauses again to check the map, and the sign on a nearby building. "Samuari," Comyna explains to Niamh while Flynn sorts out directions again. "Officials. Warriors. Very honor-driven. I hear that they will disembowel themselves if they do anything that brings shame upon their family. They are a fading class in these modern times, thankfully ... but dangerous. Like the knights of old, only without a sense of humor you could say."
"So.. bureaucrats seeking lost glory?" Niamh asks. At least, that's how she sees knights back in Great Britain. None of them look like they could wear armor, but they always have a lot of it on display.
"Mm, more or less," Comyna concedes. Just then Flynn speaks up, "Oh, I think we're close. Just down this side street here and then to the right. The hotel should be at the end of that street."
"I wonder if it will smell different," the teenager asks. The further they get from the sea, the more she can get the scent of the new country. It smells different than home, but at least it doesn't smell like London or other European cities.
It smells like dust for the most part, and ... flower pollen. "Come, new adventure awaits. Mysteries, unknown, and stuff to scare your bloomers off," Flynn declares, which ears him a playful and gentle swat on the back of his head by Comyna. "You're being silly again, love," she chides. "Set a better example for your daughter. Bloomers, really?"
"I wonder if the local clothes are comfortable," Niamh asks, sticking close. She hasn't seen any girdles, bustles or other torture attire. Just some really big bows and pretty robes. She isn't sure about the odd footwear though. It doesn't look like you could properly kick anything with it.
"I hear they only just started wearing underwear. Can you /imagine/?" Comyna remarks in horror to Niamh. Her father has continued on and they're making a brisk pace through the last part of an all-too-long journey. They make the right turn and up ahead their beacon of rest and /steady/ beds awaits! It's a two-story building that has a mix of the local architecture, low roofs lined with tile that curl up at the ends, and more European styles of wood and windows, and actual /glass/. Most windows here look like they're made of paper or velum. There are also two people standing out front. One is a young woman, short, with long black hair that reaches almost do her bottom. She's dressed in a flowing blood-red red dress/pants looking skirt and her upper body bears a stark-white robe with thin red lines at the hem of the sleeves, neck, and waist. It's all cinched snug with a double-wrapped silken belt. In front of her is an older-looking gentleman, perhaps their employer, Mr. Tanaka, even. Niamh ca
cannot make out what he's saying (and even if she could hear it, she probably wouldn't understand it), but his expression and gestures make it look as if he's pleading with the girl.
"Oh, look, there it is lass, our home away from home," Flynn says and smiles back at the two women.
Niamh is focused on the girl of course. She's not dressed like any of the others they've passed.. it looks like she's wearing some sort of uniform. But mostly it's her hair that draws Niamh's attention like a moth to a flame. She's never seen hair that long on a human being before!
The older gentleman starts to repeatedly bow to the girl and repeats the same odd-sounding phrase over and over. The girl remains standing mostly still, then shakes her head slightly from side to side and says only one thing in a soft and lilting, yet somehow firm, voice. "Iie," she says. When the man rises next, he finally spots the odd group walking towards him. A quick bow to the girl and a muttered ... something, and he steps around her. "Flynn ... de Sidhe?" the older man inquires, sounding almost hopeful. The girls' head turns, but her flowing hair masks any real look at her face. Though, from this angle it looks like she has a lock of stark-white hair draped down the left side of her face. Must be a trick of the light, though.
Flynn draws to stop and bows at his waist deeply, then gestures for Comyna and Niamh to do the same. "Tanaka-san," Flynn says formally, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. This is my family; my wife De Sidhe, Comyna, and my daughter, de Sidhe, Niamh." Perhaps here family is always given before name? The older man beams, looking quite happy, "And you read the books I sent on our culture! This is most wonderful. Come, come." He waves them to approach. The girl says nothing save for a small "Hmph!"
While following the adults, Niamh tries to get a closer look at the girl. She must be close to her own age.. unless she's way off about what counts as normal size for Japanese. But mostly she wants to see if the girl is actually the haunting spirit and not actually human at all.
"And forgive my manners, this is Nokamura, Miyuki. She is one of the younger Miko from the Midori shrine outside of town. I was asking her if she would help with our troubles, but ... the shrine continues to refuse our requests," Mr. Tanaka explains as he wrings his hands a little.
This brings up many questions in Niamh's mind.. none of which she can voice. Children don't do that with strange adults, and she's already worried about accidental breaches of etiquette. She'll have to ask her parents later, or hope they ask now why the shrine refused service. Despite her idea earlier that it was to do with foreigners, now she wonders if Mr. Tanaka has down something to aggravate the local spirits himself.
At hearing her name the girl finally turns completely around to look at them. She folds her hands together before her and bows deeply at the waist. When she rises, Niamh can finally get a good look at her. She doesn't look like a ghost, but she is rather pale, and her features are extremely thin and delicate ... she almost looks like a porcelain doll when it comes down to it. And Niamh suspects that to many Westerners she would be considered head-turningly beautiful. "Kon'nichiwa," she says simply and gently. The tone is very neutral as she stares a bit a the foreigners. It's then that yes, it's apparent she does have a streak of white in her hair ... and moreso, her eyes don't match. Her left eye is emerald green, while her right eye is icy-blue.
"Ah .. one of the local shrine maidens," Flynn says and bows now to this 'Miyuki'. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Nokamura-san." He then comments back quietly to Comyna and Niamh, "A shrine maiden is ... a lot like us from what I have read. They are intermediates to the spirit world. The term Miko is used as their title. Usually Miko-san, which expresses respect to them."
Niamh tries to repeat the gesture as she bows back. She wonders if she should repeat the.. greeting? Best to stick with the bow for now, until she can understand the language. She does say, "Miko-san" though when she bows. That should be safe. I wonder if her eyes are related to the white streak, the thinks. Blue and green eyes! Not the colors one would expect.. everyone else has had brown eyes. It's.. interesting. And curiosity always gets the better of Niamh eventually.
The Miko's expression remains neutral; perhaps a touch suspicious of these interlopers. She turns and says something gently to Mr Tanaka, who bows to her and responds in their language. Another glance to the de Sidhe family and her lips turn up ever so slightly, a small smile? Hard to tell. She then bows to Mr. Tanaka and says one more thing, turns, bows to the de Sidhe family, then starts to walk away.
"She is returning to her Temple," Mr. Tanaka explains, looking a little, well, relieved that she's leaving. "Come in, come in, I will get you settled in your rooms and we can discuss the ... complications over a meal," he offers.
It all makes Niamh more suspicious. Is it the location that's the issue? It's usually an artifact or similar that warrants a visit from her family after all. But.. food! She smiles at the thought. And then she whispers to her mother, "Will I be able to take my boots off inside?" She likes being barefoot at home, but isn't certain of the customs here... and doesn't want to get her toes cut off or anything for breaking some rule.
"You never wear shoes inside here," Comyna answers and smiles to her. Mr. Tanaka waves for them to follow, then opens the front doors and takes them inside. The hotel itself is ... spartan. There isn't a traditional desk, or chairs, or ... much of anything. There is a low table surrounded by what looks like mats, and a few candles. Mr. Tanaka removes his shoes and gestures. "Welcome to the jewel of Kobe," he says, "It isn't much yet ... but I am confident with your help we will have more guests before the year ends."
Flynn removes his boots at the door and steps in. "I do hope we will be able to help you," he says, "As I said in my letter; we can help with a great many ... supernatural complications. But, we will need more details on your specific one before we can say with any certainty."
Niamh immediately squats down to unbutton her boots as well. She can manage with having to wear socks until they get to their room.
"Of course, of course. Please accept my apologies about earlier, I had not expected you to arrive while Miko-Nokamura was here. I had hoped she would reconsider assisting ... but no, their shine stands firm. We must face the 'consequences' of our actions," Mr. Tanaka says as he leads them back down a hall, then up a short and narrow stairwell. "I have reserved two rooms, one for your Daughter, and one for you and your wife. I hope that is acceptable? If you wish for something else, I will accommodate as best I can."
As Mr. Tanaka is then opening a door to present a room to the family, Flynn remarks, "We are your only customers, are we not, Tanaka-san? I do not sense the presence of anyone else here. That seems odd for a port town; your troubles must be bad indeed."
This causes Mr. Tanaka to pause and wrinkle his face. "You must understand," he says apologetically, "That land here is hard to acquire and funds limited. This was the only place I could afford to build this inn. The owning family was willing to sell it for such a good price. It was an abandoned shrine, you see. No one ever used it anymore. Not even the owning family. Overgrown, decrepit. How could we possibly know that some kami still called it home." He tugs a bit at his sleeves, looking uncomfortable. "And because we desecrated a shrine, the Miko of the Midori Shrine won't help us."
Shrines are to gods, Niamh thinks. Isn't that what kami means? She read the books so long ago, while they were still off the coast of Africa. She should have reread them, but she was busy feeling miserable.
Rather than speak out loud, the girl tugs on the back of her father's coat to get his attention.
"I see. So ... you have offended some local kami. Foreigners in their home, a double-insult of a sorts," Flynn starts to say, then turns to look at Niamh questioningly.
"Did he keep any pieces of the shrine?" Niamh whispers to her father. She's.. well, mostly decent at psychometry, which isn't that common within her bloodline. So she felt the need to remind her father of that.
Flynn considers this and turn back to Mr. Tanaka. "My daughter wishes to know if you kept any part of the old shrine," he says. "Oh yes," the older man replies, "We kept all the statuary and offerings to the Gods; they're stored in the cellar."
This makes Niamh smile. She won't be useless this time! Granted, manifesting spirits is still dangerous if they're angry.
"What sort of problems have you been having?" Flynn now asks. This causes the older man to look ... worried. "Belongings of my guests are being possessed by small shinigami and torment them so they cannot sleep," Mr. Tanaka admits. "And then there is the one that has occupied the bathhouse..."
"Occupied the bath-house?" Comyna now asks, her brow arching up a little at that. Mr. Tanaka winces as he explains, "Yes, an Akaname has taken residence in there and sometimes when my guests are relieving themselves it ... licks them."
Comyna blinks. "That sounds unpleasant," she says politely.
The teenager had almost forgotten that baths exist. A whole house for bathing! Even if she has to fight off a ghost, it sounds like someplace she has to visit.
"The history of the shrine is kept at the Midori Shrine, if it would be of help. They might let you see it. You can read our basic symbols now, yes, de-Sidhe-san?" Mr. Tanaka asks of Flynn. "I can, to an extent. Forgive me, but I do find your language a challenge to learn," the man admits.
"I can talk to the Miko-san," Niamh offers quietly to her father. Sure, it might be to satisfy her own curiosity, but it's still something useful.
"Now, your rooms. I know they are not much, but I will strive to provide all I can," Mr. Tanaka claims and steps aside. The inside is ... spartan, much like the downstairs. There is a low table and seating mats in one corner, a dresser and chest for storing clothing, what looks like a hanging-rack of some sort, and a padded mat for the bed. The mat in this room is small, so is probably the one allocated to Niamh.
"But you cannot speak their language," Flynn points out to Niamh, gently. "And it did not seem like the Miko could speak ours. How would you communicate?"
"I can do the tongues technique now," Niamh claims. "I practiced on the ship, with the cabin boy. He spoke French and Mandarin. I was able to get up to almost ten minutes before I had to do it again."
"By touching," Flynn points out a bit sternly. "Have you forgotten the rules of etiquette I explained earlier?"
"I'm sure I can convince the shrine maiden," Niamh says. "I'm practically one myself now."
Flynn sighs, a sound all fathers tend to make, often. "Tanaka-san, can we visit the shrine, or are foreigners forbidden?" he asks, to which Mr. Tanaka replies, "Yes, you may. It is open for visitors all hours as a place of prayer and rest."
Mr. Tanaka goes to the room next to Niamh's and opens the door. It is furnished much like the first, save for larger sleeping mats for the adults. "Do you wish to relax while I prepare a meal?" the older gentleman asks of the group.
"I would like to rest a bit," Niamh tells her parents. Actually she just wants to investigate the room.
"That is fine. Please summon us when the meal is ready. We shall rest and prepare for the work ahead," Mr. de Sidhe says, then steps into his room, and Comyna follows. He turns and bows to the older man. "Thank you for allowing us to help you in your time of plight, Tanaka-san. We will do all we can to help you."
"Then I hope you rest well. I will bring your luggage up when it arrives and call you when the meal is ready," Mr. Tanaka replies and bows in return. "Rest well, honored guests." The older man then backs out, and heads back down the stairs to leave the family alone.
"Not a very welcoming people overall," Comyna says to her husband. "They were staring at us all through the town, and talking. Some looked displeased we were here. And then that Shrine Maiden ... she seems a bit ... creepy."
"We seem creepy to a lot of people," Niamh points out, before going into her room and sliding the door shut. That in itself is a novelty! She tests the futon pad, and prowls around while running her fingertips along the walls. She doesn't open the window, but does look out of it. "Anyone here with me?" she whispers as she lets her hair down. If anything might bait a kami, it could be her hair.
"They're supposed to, dear," Flynn says and pats his wife's hand. "Mystery is all part of their role, I suspect. It helps lend an air of authority to them. She seems young, but well-mannered..." And her parents discussion fades as the doors close. The room is quiet. Spartan as it is, it smells nice, sort of like rose petals. The air is cool, and far cleaner than anything in London. Every breath seems to feel relaxing. Her hair also falls, unmolested. So far, she seems alone.
When nothing untoward happens, Niamh opens the window.. and checks for escape routes! After being cooped up on a boat at sea for what seems like an eternity, she isn't about to be cooped up in a building the entire time she's here. Plus.. there's a garden to look at.
Well, she could climb out onto the roof easily enough from here. And there's a tree on the far side that leads down into the manicured garden below. It's not a large garden, but is is well kept and offers a small pond full of huge goldfish, pebble-paths leading to and from what must be the bathouse, and several stone lanterns set at intervals to provide light at night. It's ... positively beautiful and peaceful. Hard to believe this place is haunted at all. Also up at this height she can see more into the distance and outside of the city, up on a hill, might be the Midori Shrine. It's an impressive multi-story building painted in deep reds and golds, and has an odd post-lined pathway leading up to it.
"They have dragons here in the East," Niamh notes to.. nobody. But after keeping quiet she needs to talk just to talk. "I wonder if the shrine maiden knows all of the local spirits? Is she related to any? I mean, she'd be exotic back home, but here she really stands out. Her one eye is greener than both of mine, even. I bet she'd like someone to talk to. So she'll talk to me, I'm sure. That.. is a nice tree. I wonder what kind it is, and if it's from the original shrine.."
The room and surrounding landscape respond with their sage wisdom; the wind lightly rustles the leaves in the tree. All in all, if the haunting isn't too bad, it might be nice to stay here for a while. And it's right after that thought the hairs on the back of her neck prickle.
Niamh slowly turns from the window, and moves to the side (just in case the ghosts aren't above trying to push someone). She then takes a deep breath, and exhales just a bit of ectoplasm to see if anything takes the bait. She can't do much in her current state of fatigue, after all.
The room feels a bit colder, and a wind gently blows through the room. Her 'breath' frosts up briefly, then fades. Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to be hostile currently. The coolness passes, and the room returns to just feeling peaceful.
"You don't seem particularly angry," Niamh points out. She closes the window, just in case it was a cool breeze. But she gives her sixth sense the benefit of the doubt, and says, "Maybe you want someone to listen to you?" It's a common offer. Most ghosts hate it when someone can't hear them.
The answer to that is ... a whole lot of silence. Maybe the activity is only at night. Most spirits are empowered by twilight, after all.
So Niamh decides to try and get some actual rest. Having the bed on the floor is odd. But she's slept in a hammock, so it can't be that hard to get used to. She lies on the futon and tries to clear her mind and meditate until dinner is ready.
Before Niamh even realizes it, she's hearing the chirping of night-time insects and birds. Her meditation must have turned into sleep because her eyes are just now cracking back open. The air is cooler, and there is a low flicker of light from her window; the garden lamps must now be lit. There's also a light knock at her door. "Honored guests," Mr. Tanaka's voice comes from outside, "Your meal is ready..."
Stretching as she sits up, Niamh still nearly falls over when she swings her legs out as if she were in a raised bed. "Ouch," she complains as she bangs her heels on the woven floor mats. She manages to get up and find the door in the dim light though.
Outside Mr. Tanaka is rousing her parents. The hallway is lit by gentle candle-light and the air smells ... wonderful. It smells like food. Unknown food, but still, food. "Come, come," Mr. Tanaka says, smiling even though he seems nervous for some reason. He gestures for them to follow, and he heads down the stairs.
"I do not know about haunted, but that was more rest than I've had in months," Comyna says as she exits her room and yawns, covering her mouth with one hand while she does so. "Much better than the ship."
"I don't see how anyone could not relax here, especially after a sea voyage," Niamh says, and smiles at the smells. She's only too happy to follow after their host.
"Agreed, lass," Flynn says as he follows, "But I wonder what has made our host so nervous again." He follows after their all-too-ravenous daughter.
"It's evening.. that's when things act up," Niamh suggests. "Unless something happened to our luggage.."
The reason becomes apparent, for as Mr. Tanaka guides them into what must be the dining-room, as it has a low, long, table surrounded by seating mats ... and it isn't empty. Sitting at the far end, back straight, legs folded, and hands in her lap is the Miko they met earlier. "Please forgive me, but ... she insisted in joining. She wishes to be sure you are not here to desecrate the spirits any further than I already have," Mr. Tanaka whispers to the de Sidhe family.
Niamh smiles at the surprise visit, and tries to get the spot nearest to the girl. It also helps her to see how she's supposed to sit.
"Konbanwa," Miko-Nokamura says politely and bows slightly from where she is seated. How the Miko is sitting doesn't look very comfortable, she's got her legs folded beneath her so that her shins are against the floor mat.
It takes a moment for Niamh to settle into the tight kneeling position.. partly because her dress isn't really made for it, so she has to bunch the skirts up towards her knees.
"Good evening, Miko-san," Flynn says and bows before taking his seat to the priestess' right. Comyna bows too, and sits beside her daughter on the left of their 'observer'. Miyuki's head turns just a bit and Niamh finds herself being watched by a very emerald-green eye. Up close her skin manages to look flawless and smooth, and she isn't wearing any makeup that she can see. Her expression is still very neutral, to perhaps being slightly bemused at the girl's struggle with her attire.
Now that she's closer, Niamh breathes in deep through her nose to catch the other girl's scent. Given the quality of her skin, she must bathe and use some sort of soap. In comparison, Niamh probably smells as if she's been wearing her clothes for several days now.
The Miko smells forest-y. Gentle flower pollen, pine, and other earthy/leafy undertones, along with several gentle, yet musky, incense scents. When Niamh's nostrils flare, this makes Miyuki's left brow raise slightly, which makes that lock of stark white hair shift a bit. What happens next is even odder, because Miyuki asks, in /perfect english/, "Are you kitsune ... /fox/ spirits?"
Flynn and Comyna share a surprised glance at the fact it seems this young girl knows their language. "Ah, no, Miko-san, we are just human beings," Flynn replies respectfully. "And we are not here to disrespect your shrine or spirits of your land."
Niamh is still surprised by the girl's voice. She wants to ask if she had a foreign parent, but is certain it would be terribly rude. "I like your voice," she says instead.
While looking at Niamh, Miyuki says, "I asked because of your hair ... and that your honored child is ... sniffing me. Is it normal to sniff each other in your land?"
This causes Niamh to blush. "It is a just a habit of mine," she admits. "I was curious."
"I see. Forgive me, but how can you smell anything at all? Your clothing ... has an unpleasant scent to it of soot, dirt and sweat. Does it not mask all other odors?" Miyuki inquires; her voice soft and polite. Perhaps a bit curious herself.
Flynn coughs softly. "It has been a very long journey, Miko-san, and we have not yet had a chance to bathe. I hope we do not offend," he offers.
"I can ignore it," Niamh claims. "After being overpowered by the stink of the ocean for so long, I'm eager to smell anything else."
"I do hope you will use the bathe then, for I fear any hunter could follow your path through the city as you are now. As well as any predator or yokai," Miyuki notes politely. "Please tell me, as my Shrine must know; what are your intentions here? This inn wove its own fate by razing an old shrine and putting in a place for foreigners to come instead. They should face the penance the kami deem appropriate."
"We'd rather come to an accommodation with them," Niamh says quietly. "It isn't right for spirits to be angry forever."
"How do you plan to do that?" Miyuki inquires of Niamh. "You know not of the spirits of this land, their wants, or their needs. Angered kami can be quite ... dangerous."
"I planned on asking them about their wants and needs," Niamh says a bit defensively. "There are statues in the cellar from the old shrine, I can.." she starts to say, then cuts herself off. She isn't sure how to proceed.
Mr. Tanaka has shuffled back into the room and starts setting food and drink upon the table. First is something reasonably familiar, a pot of steaming tea and several cups. The food, though, is more unusual. There is a plate of what looks like little dumplings of some sort, a plate of noodles, a plate of what looks like raw fish upon rice, and little blocks of fried something. There is also a bowl of rather, ah, snot-coated-looking beans for the more adventurous ... and a plate of fried, er, squid.
"You can get devoured, or cursed, or transformed, or imprisoned," Miyuki says, her voice soft as if speaking to a very young child. "Or possessed, or taken and married off to a beast, or ..."
"Starved to death?" Niamh offers as her stomach rumbles. It all looks edible to her right now.
As Comyna and Flynn start trying to pick food to eat using, well, little sticks to spear them and set them on a plate, Flynn speaks up. "We intend to be respectful and try to find a way to ease their anger without further harm to Mr. Tanaka. How, we do not know yet, we must learn about your spirits, as you say."
Since the grown-ups have begun serving themselves, Niamh tries to as well. She wonders how to deal with the rice using the sticks though. There must be a trick to them.
Miyuki picks up a pair of those sticks and instead of spearing food, she sets one in the nook of her thumb, and grips the other with her thumb and forefinger. Then using the very tips of the sticks she daintily picks up morsels of food and places them upon a plate before her. She picks several pieces of that raw fish, some of those odd fried ... things, and some of the squid.
After watching the Miko closely, Niamh tries to handle her sticks the same way. She could try to infuse them with some of her own spirit, in hopes that there's an imprint on them from their crafter or others that have used them.. but it's not a method that works very well for physical skills. So she just tries as best she can, and gets as much of everything as she can fit on her plate.
"There are many yokai in this city as it is very old. From the wise and dangerous tengu, the impish shinigami, to the trickster kitsunes, to the dangerous nogitsunes, to the gentle kodama," Miyuki explains before delicately lifting a bit of fish to her mouth and eating it in one fluid motion of her hand and lips.
It takes several tries to hold onto a piece of fish on her own, but Niamh manages eventually. After swallowing, she tells Miyuki, "I will be sure to wear gloves outside of the hotel then."
It's tricker than it looks to hold those ticks and move food. It's almost like holding a pencil, except there's that second one that often likes to twist sideways on her. Her parents are watching this and now trying to mimic her too.
"Gloves? Are they blessed? Regular gloves mean nothing to the yokai," Miyuki notes kindly, again as if talking to a very young child.
"Ah, Miko-san," Flynn interjects, "If I may ask ... how is it you know English?"
"No, it is just that.. when I touch things I can.." Niamh struggles to explain, but is glad for her father's interruption.
That question makes the Miko smile slightly. "Necessity. When your barbarians in their black ships invaded our harbors and forced the Emperor to sign a trade agreement, it was deemed that some of us should learn the language. Starting young is the best way, after all," she explains. "Though, forgive me for this, but I would have preferred it not be necessary. Few on this island appreciate being threatened with death if we didn't trade with them."
"That was the Americans, I am afraid," Flynn tries to explain, "They view diplomacy as 'speak really loud and wave things at people'. I assure you my country is not nearly so ... crude."
"Better to accommodate and learn what you can, than hide and be surprised later," Niamh says, and smiles as she discovers the fried squid is much easier to pick up than the fish slices.
Miyuki is now eating those fried blocks of .. something with delicate little nibbles. "So long as you show respect to the yokai and kami, with some effort you may be able to win some over to help you and Mr. Tanaka. I should not get involved, though, as his actions offended some of the guardian kami of the Midori shrine, and I must abide their wishes."
"What would getting involved.. involve?" Niamh asks. She's always looking for a loophole to any set of rules, after all.
"As I cannot get involved, I cannot answer that question," Miyuki notes, then takes and nibbles on one of those buns. Once bitten into, Niamh recognizes the smell. It's some sort of pork bun.
Tries her bun next. She's got nothing against seafood, but pork that hasn't been salted into leather is something she can really enjoy. "You have a duty to protect the kami, don't you?" she asks after letting the taste linger on her tongue for a bit.
"Of course," Miyuki responds. The pork bun tastes divine, especially compared too the over salted rations served on the ship. Tender, flavorful, and moist.
"But as you state you are not here to harm them, I have no reason to get involved," Miyuki points out. "Was that untrue?"
"If we know what not to do, it would help," Niamh says. "There's no harm in.. making introductions, is there? It could be at your Shrine. It can't be involvement with the problem here if it happens there would it?"
"I see your daughter seeks to be a politician," Miyuki remarks with a bit of amusement to Niamh's parents.
"Would I be given a sword then?" Niamh asks, suddenly serious. Who wouldn't want to have an official sword, after all.
This makes Flynn and Comyna both chuckle. "She is a teenager, they always seek ways around the rules," Comyna admits.
That question makes Miyuki frown and furrow her brows at Niamh. "No," she says with a tone of finality.
"But you could introduce me to your shrine's guardian kami, couldn't you?" Niamh presses.
"We have several guardian kami," Miyuki claims as she sets her sticks on the plate. "And yes, I could introduce you to them. But what would you offer them for that honor? What have you done for their lands to make you worth their time?"
"I might be able to do something for them," Niamh says, that defensive edge returning. "I'm not worthless, or a barbarian, or a witch."
Miyuki then leans in. "Well, then what are you? You must know what you are, and what you can offer, before you can offer anything to a kami," the Miko points out, then sits back. "Many come to speak to them always want money, or the love of some girl, or for their enemies to suffer, and other such nonsense. Few are ever deemed worth enough for the kami to be bothered to speak to them."
"I'm a medium," Niamh insists, even though she leaves out the 'in training' part. "I can.. let them manifest. Physically. Without possessing someone."
"They can do that already," Miyuki remarks as she studies Niamh a little. "There are risks in communing with spirits, espeically those you are not familiar with."
"What do you do for them, then?" Niamh retorts. Although she's curious now. Spirits that can manifest are usually found deep in the forests and natural places, not in the middle of a city!
"I concur with the Miko. I am not sure you are ready to speak directly with the local kami," Flynn says after clearing his throat. "These are not the forest spirits like back home, lass. Shrine spirits are powerful."
"I speak for them, and ensure that their needs are met, and their sacred places are protected," Miyuki explains, then unfurls her legs and rises, "And speaking of such things, I should return to them. It grows late."
"I just want to know what they're like when they're not upset," Niamh argues. "Knowing what they want is important.."
"Calmer than you are right now," Miyuki points out, then actually reaches out and boops Niamh right on the tip of her nose with her index finger. "I will ask them if they would be even willing to speak with you. Until then, please do not try to speak to them directly. Unfortunate things could happen."
Both Flynn and Comyna share a look of surprise that the Miko actually touched Niamh! Touching is so ... uncommon here.
Rubbing her nose, Niamh says, "Fine, I'll.. wait. Unless something contacts me first." She doesn't seem surprised by the touch, but then she's probably not really thinking about local customs at this point. "Are they any rituals or rules for taking a bath, Mr. Tanaka?" she asks instead. Baths are calming.
"Please do not pee in the tub," Mr Tanaka requests and bows to the girl. Miyuki bows to all gathered, then departs the dining room, presumably to leave.
"There's a shrill squeal or surprise from the front of the inn! "Noboru-san!" cries Miyuki. What follows is some high-pitched, and annoyed-sounding Japanese!
"What's happening?" Niamh asks Mr. Tanaka. "Who is Noboru?"
Mr. Tanaka looks confused. "I believe Noboru is one of the guardians of the shrine? The Miko is ... upset that apparently he was sent to bring her back to the shrine," he admits to them.
"Even she has a curfew?" Niamh asks, but follows with, "Or is it because she came here and she's not supposed to?"
There's a bit more complaint, then an oddly hollow-sounding sort of reply. The tones of it seem male, and amused. The only words Niamh can make out, though, is when she distinctly hears whatever it is refer to Miyuki as 'Miyuki-chan'.
"I do not know, I am sorry. I do not pry into the lives of those at the shrine," Mr. Tanaka says and bows deeply. "Forgive my ignorance!"
Flynn gets up and walks to the doorway and peers out to see if he can spot this 'Noburo'. "Huh," he remarks.
Looking to her mother, Niamh says, "I suppose I shouldn't look at the statues tonight, should I?" She does listen to the noises her father makes though.
Flynn waves at Comyna and Niamh as if to get them to come over. As Comyna rises, she says, "I believe it would be wise to let the states be tonight, and examine them after some rest and in the daylight hours, dear."
Niamh gets up and hurries towards her father, trying to smooth her skirts out as best she can along the way.
There's more back and forth from up front between Miyuki and this Noboru. It ends with Miyuki sounding exasperated and saying, "Daijobu!" Niamh gets up to her father in time to see Miyuki arguing with a creature that's as large as a wolf, but built thinner with more angular proportions. It's completely white, save for black-tipped ears and feet, and these phantom blue lines tracing out and swirling throughout its ghostly fur, seemingly hovering just above its surface. And somehow, it is also managing to look terribly amused at the obvious frustration Miyuki is expressing towards it. Behind it, numerous fluffy white tails flick all about.
"She thought we were one of those?" Niamh has to ask, guessing that Noboru is a kitsune 'fox spirit' since he certainly resembles a fox.
Looking frustrated, Miyuki marches off, and just before this Noboru follows, he looks back right at Niamh. For a moment, Niamh finds herself looking right into this creatures slit-eyes. Then ... he's gone, following the Miko out into the dark streets a few steps behind her.
"He didn't even say a greeting," Niamh notes. Turning to her mother, she asks, "You don't suppose that's Miyuki's father do you?"
"Given that she was, ah, upset with it and vocal about it, I rather doubt it. Parents are not talked to like that here," Comyna notes. "A lesson you could learn, daughter."
"I don't argue like that," Niamh.. argues. "Maybe a brother then," she concedes.
"Don't be silly," Comyna chides. "She looks nothing like that."
"They must be able to take on a human form, if she thought we were kitsune," Niamh points out. "Maybe it looks like her when pretending to be human."
Eyes going wide, Niamh then says, "Maybe he's her husband!"
"She didn't seem like a spirit to me," Flynn remarks. "Not everything in this land is mystical and magical, lass."
"Dear, I think you need to go back to bed," Comyna says gently. "Your imagination is going crazy."
"If the kami are anything like the fey, then I don't have to imagine very much," Niamh claims. But the meal is weighing on her. "Alright.. bath in the morning."
After thanking Mr. Tanaka for the meal, Niamh returns her dark room. Rather than light a candle, she waits for her eyes to adjust and goes about rummaging through her small trunk for her sleepwear, changing out of her rather lived-in dress and small clothes, and this time uses the blanket from the closet to cover her as she returns to the futon mattress. "I'm really tired," she tells the room. "So don't disturb me please." Then she closes her eyes, lets her fatigue do the rest.