#torii;plot drop

[toriirp]

PLOT DROP: Ih, vamos ter que esperar mais um pouquinho...

O tempo previsto para a chegada à Praia Grande era certeza de uma hora e meia, entretanto, devido a um congestionamento de um grande volume de carros na Serra em direção à Santos, não há uma previsão correta. No mínimo, levará em torno de três horas para que tudo se normalize. Parece que todo mundo pensou igual nesse final de semana. Ou simplesmente parece que... Final de semana por aqui é assim mesmo. Antes, a previsão de chegada era até as 20h30. Agora, talvez em torno das 23h30.

Tia Hana talvez tenha escolhido um horário não muito bom para partir de kombi. Recomenda-se que desliguem os veículos para que a vibração dos motores não abale a estrutura do túnel e liguem novamente quando tudo começar a andar por pelo menos... Dez segundos. O trânsito está lento e pode ser que vocês fiquem entediados. Esperamos que não, afinal, estão acompanhados. Pode tirar a cerveja do isopor, soltar o som ou qualquer outra coisa porque até as onze ainda tem chão! 

Alguns passageiros de outros veículos como carros e principalmente excursões de ônibus, possuem seus integrantes saindo e se sentando na rua. É uma boa oportunidade para fazer novas amizades e fazer um troca-troca de bebidas e comidas. Quem sabe você não consegue tirar algo bom disso tudo? Boa viagem a todos e muita calma nessa hora, pelo menos hoje a tia Hana chega. 

[team-frightfur]

Dramaturgy: Standard Chapters 1-3 (because looking back they’re super short.)

Archive of Our Own Link : https://archiveofourown.org/works/43361508/chapters/108999891

Episode: 1

Disclaimer: I Don't own any of the characters, stories, or even most of the plot points. - Text Glossary (this will get longer) Italics - Either emphasis or thoughts. Brackets - an aside. Brackets + Strikethrough - Repressed thoughts. Skippable.

Expect no consistent quality with the art. They are crimes for a reason.

Born from the discovery of implementing mass into Solid Vision, Action Duels! Duels where the field, monsters and Duelists' become one, pulls the crowd into the maelstrom of crazed excitement!

In Yuya’s opinion, action duels were, without a doubt, the latest and greatest evolution in duelling! Setting aside the sheer fun factor of riding Odd Eyes Dragon around the field, you just couldn’t get this kind of lighting anywhere else!

Admittedly, the lighting was doing way more for Gongenzaka than it was for him. Gongenzaka’s white clothes blazed like a star against the simulated firelit night, and the simulated wind made his red bandana flare out behind him. Above them, curtains of falling sakura cast dappled shadows on his shiny samurai monsters.

As if that wasn’t enough, the set was based on Ancient Japan! So the scarlet torii, paper screens, and wood houses fit Gongenzaka’s samurai themed monsters like a glove.

Yuya’s bright pink hip hippo, though, didn’t really blend in so well. Technology just couldn’t put yukatas on duel monsters yet.

Still! Never let it be said that Yusho Sakaki raised a quitter! Smiling for the camera, Yuya jumped his hippo right onto the roof of the main building. With the moon behind him, the backlighting would shine down like a halo - perfect for his dramatic turnaround!

- Is what Yuya would have said if Gongenzaka hadn’t accused him of messing around, followed by the real solid vision projector promptly dying, dropping Yuya face first onto the floor mats.

The impact took a moment to sink in.

Did I just nearly die?

It had been an 8 foot drop.

Luckily, or unluckily, depending on how much his head hurt in a minute, ‘nearly’ meant ‘not dead yet’, so the show could still go on! Groaning, Yuya forced his eyes open and sat up, scanning the room for why everything had shut off.

Instead, he landed on four different Tatsuyas, large grey eyes fixed on him with identical expressions of horror.

Ouch. Maybe he thinks I got one turn killed in real life.

If so, then that was not gonna fly! As an entertainer, Yuya made eleven year olds smile! He certainly didn’t traumatise them by breaking his neck onstage!

As such, he did the only thing he could think of.

He pulled a very funny face.

*****

You Show Duel had always been a small school. Even when ‘Yusho’ was a legendary name, it'd never opened outside 3-8pm, had more than two teachers, two floors, one stadium, seven rooms, and twenty students.

According to You Show’s current principal, Shuzo Hiiragi, it was by design. When it came to education, Yuya’s dad believed in ‘quality over quantity’, so he refused to have one person teach thirty kids. Workplace policy was that one teacher could teach ten max, making twenty a mark of success!

For over a decade, the sheer star power of Yusho’s name had kept the number of students maxed out. In Yuya’s memory, the attendance rate had only dropped below 100% twice.

First was when Yuya was six and the attendees had halved to ten. There was a long waiting list, though, so by the end of that year it was full up again.

Three years ago, on the other hand, they’d lost 16 students and, in all the days since, they’d never been able to hook another.

It was obvious why. Yuya and his dad were ruining this school. He knew it, Yuzu knew it, and Mr Hiiragi had to know it.

Despite that, no one had  ever  asked Yuya to leave. He’d always be grateful for that and he’d never forget what he owed to Mr Hiiragi.

Mr Hiiragi was a miracle worker. Yuya didn’t know how he did it but, no matter how few students showed, how much he was offered for the building, or how thin school finances got, Mr Hiiragi always pulled through. Because of him, the legacy Yuya’s dad had left behind always felt secure.

Seeing his face turn pained as he inspected the real solid vision projector made Yuya’s insides twist. The low ache in his nose didn’t even compare.

“We can fix it, right?” he asked, grip tightening on the ladder Mr Hiiragi was using. Any school without a real solid vision projector was dead in the water these days -especially one that focused on entertainment duelling like You Show.  

“We’ll find a way.” Mr Hiiragi said nervously, before wailing. “-But in the meantime, my hot blooded coaching is going to be  wasted !”

“Aw don’t say that.” Yuya tried. “I for one think your theory lessons are super hot blooded and fun!”

He did not, but, considering how the real solid vision projector had broken the instant he’d tried to play a card, Yuya was scared he’d been involved somehow. If he personally destroyed the school his dad and Mr Hiiragi had founded in a single duel, then Yuya’d have to start making up for it early.

Thank god that, while Yuya was resting on the front room couch fifteen minutes later, Mr Hiiragi reported that it was not, in fact, his fault.

Kinda.

Well, basically, Yuya’d upset Yuzu so badly that she’d smashed the keyboard up, which overloaded the system and caused the duel to shut down. An act which Yuzu, arms crossed on the couch next to him, was clearly unrepentant for.

“I don’t even see what I did wrong!” Yuya protested. “Tatsuya was laughing, wasn’t he?”

“He was laughing because you were making a fool of yourself!” Yuzu snapped.

“Exactly.” Gongenzaka added. “There’s a difference between laughing  with  someone and laughing  at  someone.”

“Buuut” - Yuya pointed out with a wink - “isn’t it better to be laughed at than ignored?”

 Or worse…

Gongenzaka frowned, eyes narrowing in a way that made it clear he knew exactly what Yuya hadn’t said out loud. “You think too little of yourself.”

“Gongenzaka’s right! Promise me that you won’t make a joke out of yourself again!”  

Yuya held back a sigh, he could tell it would be stupid to argue. “I promise.”  to give it a shot.

Tragically, just like Gongenzaka, Yuzu heard the quiet part. Suspicious, she leaned in closely so that Yuya could see the fire in her blue eyes.

“You mean it?”

“Of course I mean it!”

“You liar!”

Caught red handed somehow, Yuya dodged off the couch as Yuzu swiped at him playfully? forcing him to hide behind Gongenzaka. Sweating, Yuya prepared for the next five minutes of “Hide from Yuzu or Die Horribly.”

Never had Yuya been more happy to hear the door burst open behind him. Smiling, he turned around and backed up towards the wall, hoping to welcome any other kids who’d dropped by.

Instead of a kid, though, it was an adult man with the most impressive moustache, bumblebee striped suit and sideburns that Yuya had ever seen. Honestly, he was kind of impressed. Sure, the style wasn’t his cup of tea, but you had to respect someone who wore their heart on their sleeve like that.

Mr Hiiragi was less stunned. “Who are you?”

Smiling wide, the man bowed slightly. “My name” -he supplied dramatically- “is Nico Smiley. I’m the manager of the current action duelling Champion, Strong Ishijima!”

Instantly, the air temp in the room crashed. Yuya’s heart froze to match, chest aching from the tangled mess of emotions twisting around inside it. He felt like he couldn’t breathe.

But there was a stranger here so he couldn’t show any of that.

Mr Hiiragi exploded. “I refuse!” he bellowed. “Yuya is a precious student of You Show! I won’t let him join your dog and pony show!”

“What a shame,” Smiley replied. “After all, if you did, we’d be happy to provide you with Leo Corporation’s latest real solid vision projector for free.”

“Whether or not he wins or loses?” Mr Hiiragi asked.

Yuzu kicked her dad in the shins.

“I mean -could we get back to you on that?”

“Of course, of course! The duel isn’t until tomorrow, after all.”

Yuya’s smile faltered. Tomorrow!? “Y-your promoters haven’t already advertised the match, have they?”

“We would never! That would be a violation of your rights.” Smiley assured him. “I can promise you that no advertising will occur until after you give us the go ahead.”

I guess the promoters working on who knows how many hours of crunch don’t get those sorts of rights.

Putting aside his sympathies, Yuya was happy he didn’t have to answer yet. There were so many questions, feelings, and obligations swirling around in his head that he’d need at least a half hour to sort through them all.

Luckily, half an hour was also the amount of time it took for Smiley to walk out of their school. Yuya was frozen to the couch at that point, so Mr Hiiragi saw him out.

The moment he heard the door click closed, Yuya’s smile dropped off his face.

“So, pros and cons!” Yuya started. “Pro number 1: The school survives-”

“-Don’t you even think about duelling just for that real solid vision projector!” Yuzu warned, scooting over and pressing a finger to his chest. “I won’t let you walk into this on our account!”

“But-”

“What’s more important is that you want to go,” Gongenzaka added.

“Exactly! Focus on yourself! No thinking about You Show, or our classmates at Maiami middle, and definitely no thinking about all of Ishijima’s fans!”

“But just imagine how much the crowd would laugh if I lost!”

“Yuya!”

*****

Three years ago, Yusho Sakaki disappeared. Since it happened the same day as his match against Strong Ishijima, instead of a 'disappearance’, they called it a ‘no show’, instead of a ‘missing person’, they called his dad a ‘coward’ and instead of getting any sympathy, Yuya was called a ‘coward’s son.’

But Yuya’s dad was not a coward! He was a legendary duellist who never ran from a challenge and always, always fought to the end! Nothing could shake Yuya’s resolution on that.

No, his dad must have had a good reason for leaving.

-Which meant there was no need to doubt him on anything else! Satisfied, Yuya shamelessly kicked the idea that he should ‘focus on himself’ under whatever dusty mind closet he had in his head. Dad was exempt.

“So!” -Yuya started, stepping into his room and diving onto his bed- “What would Dad want?”

As he considered it, his eyes wandered to the poster of his father on the wall. In it, his dad was dressed in his signature suit and top hat, triumphantly punching the air at Maiami Stadium.

If Yuya remembered correctly, that had been his big win against Ushio -a milestone that earned him the title of ‘legend’ -but what Yuya liked most about it was the clear, picture perfect angle on his dad’s face. Because of the pro-camerawork involved, It was bigger and more High Q than any other pictures in the house.

Thanks to this poster, he would never forget his dad.

(The grief would haunt him every day .)

Right now, Yuya needed those memories. Eyes fixed on it, he thought back to the day he’d been crying in the schoolyard. What had Dad said to him back then?

“Laugh when you want to cry” - he muttered, dragging the words out of the back of his mind - “and push forward when you’re frozen in fear. If you can do that, you’ll definitely have fun.”

The meaning was clear enough. Dad would want him to duel

In that case, Yuya had no choice. Taking a deep breath, he steeled his shoulders and switched his duel disk to communication mode. His hands shook as he dialled in Mr Smiley’s number but, no matter how fast his pulse was racing, Yuya’s heart was set.

“Hello, this is Nico Smiley speaking.”

“Hi Mr Smiley, this is Yuya Sakaki! I think I’m going to accept that duel!”

*****

The single saving grace to the duel being tomorrow was that the ‘tomorrow’ in question was a Sunday.

Sadly, this Sunday was looking to be worse than usual. Sure, it was partly Yuya’s fault for going to bed last night with toxic, man eating butterflies in his stomach, but he’d expected them to go away overnight! Not get married, buy a house, have five kids, and settle down for retirement!

Yuya could only thank his lucky stars that he still had one countermeasure: mum’s pancakes.

Everyone who’d ever finished a plate agreed that Yuko Sakaki’s pancakes were the best. The dough was so fluffy that it melted in your mouth and the lemon juice, strawberry, and cream on the side balanced their flavours perfectly. Yuya fully believed that, should he ever meet a monster down an alley one day, he could domesticate it with these pancakes.

Not even the butterflies stood a chance. By the time he’d finished digging in, Yuya felt ready to face anything.

“Thanks for the food!”

Mum waved him off. “No need. I figured you’d need a pick me up for the duel!”

“I can’t just not say thanks though”- Yuya muttered before the rest of the line crashed down on him. “-wait, you already knew!?”

“It was on the morning news, Yuya. I bought a ticket.”

The promoters worked at least 10 hours of midnight crunch, he decided. At least 10.

Since his Mum had already found out, Yuya wasn’t surprised when the doorbell rang. Hurrying over, he opened the door and found Mr Hiiragi, Yuzu and Gongenzaka all packed onto the footpath outside.

Gongenzaka spoke first. “You truly accepted Mr Smiley’s offer?”

“Sorry for not telling you! It was pretty late when I called Mr Smiley about it last night.”

“Well, that’s a relief! Guess I won’t be needing this after all!” Yuzu said brightly, hiding her paper fan behind her back. “In that case, I’ll be watching from the stands! Give it your best shot and not an inch less, Yuya!”

“And put You Show Duel School back in business!” Mr Hiiragi chimed.

“-But If you  did actually do this just to pay us back, I promise I’ll make you regret it!”

“Trust me!” Yuya laughed, sweating slightly as Yuzu pulled out the fan again. “It’s nothing like that! I just wanted to …be brave and have fun!”

“Then you’ve already succeeded. After today, whether you win or lose, no one can deny your courage.” Gongenzaka said firmly. “Make sure that you try to enjoy it, too.”

“I promise! -and on that note, since you guys are here I may as well run this clown idea past you-”

*****

A few hours and several devastating discussions later, Yuya had to head out. The duel wasn’t for another hour, but it was good manners to show up early for the deck inspection.

Well over a decade had gone by since duel disks had been upgraded to shuffle themselves. That made most forms of card manipulation, like false shuffles, cuts, and passing, impossible. Somehow, though, there were still duellists out there who thought they could get away with marked cards, so inspections were still mandatory.

The deck inspection, along with “being too stupid”, “not respecting your opponent”, “making a joke out of yourself again ” and “making it seem like clowns and magicians are interchangeable” were just some of the many reasons Yuya was convinced not to sneak up behind Strong Ishijima in a jester costume. It wouldn’t be much of a twist if everyone in the entrance hall saw him jingling around.

“If you want there to be a twist, then win.” Yuzu huffed.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“It’s not about what’s likely or unlikely, it’s about what everyone expects.”

Yuzu was right, obviously. To everyone in the stands tonight, Yuya was less likely to win than an exodia user missing both legs. Only Mr Hiiragi, Yuzu, Gongenzaka, and his mum even entertained the thought of anything else.

Speaking honestly, Yuya agreed more with the majority. This was the champion of action duelling they were talking about! Compared to that, Yuya could barely qualify for the locals every second year.

Yuya was going to lose, he’d accepted that. As long as he did his best, that was what counted, right?

But if he knew that, then why wouldn’t his heart stop racing, why were his hands so sweaty they could barely hold his deck, and why was that same mess of emotions that had been dug up by Nico Smiley writhing around a day after he’d left?

Even when he took the field, Yuya was no closer to an answer.

*****

Maiami stadium could house up to twenty five thousand people. With that many seats, the field was almost dwarfed by the stands around it. Luckily, the stadium was fitted with state of the art drone cameras, which could capture the duel and project it onto wide screens behind the seats.

Yuya had sat in those stands more times than he could count to watch his dad leap, spin, and fly across the field. Since his dad disappeared, he’d come a lot less, but he could still be dragged out for the occasional match.

No amount of watching could have prepared Yuya for actually standing on the field. From here, the lights were blinding, the empty space around him felt massive, and Yuya could practically feel the thousands of cheers for Strong Ishijima shaking the air and grinding down his bones.

To his relief, the cheers quieted down when Smiley started announcing the match, allowing Yuya to hear Ishijima��s greeting.

“Here alone?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Hmph. I expected Sakaki Yusho to appear if we dragged out his son.”

Yuya couldn’t even imagine what to say to that.

( If that was enough, he’d have come back ages ago .)

Before either of them could say anything else, Mr Smiley announced the action field. In a flash of light, grass sprouted from gravel, and a forest appeared around them like a cage of trees. Under Strong Ishijima’s feet, a large stone castle materialised, carrying him so high up that Yuya couldn’t even see his face anymore.

Still, you couldn’t ignore tradition. If Yuya remembered correctly, the first part only took this long.  

(“Duelists locked in battle!”)

“Kicking the earth and dancing in the air alongside their monsters!”

(“They storm through this field!”)

“Behold! This is the newest and greatest evolution of Dueling!”

*****

After his dad disappeared, things got difficult.

When he walked into You Show and his dad wasn’t there, the absence stabbed into his chest, when he walked home alone, it weighed on his shoulders until they ached and, when he walked through the front door and closed it behind him, it dragged him back to that day, three years ago, when he’d waited behind that door for hours.

Back then, Yuya’d really believed that, any second, the door would swing open and his dad would come back. Because of that, he’d been frozen behind it until the sky turned dark and the only light in the room was what streamed under the door crack.

But in the end, his dad never came back. His mum came home late from her own desperate search and, when she realised he hadn’t done anything but sit there, collapsed into tears.

Seeing Mum cry made Yuya swear never to sit in front of the door again. Still, he never stopped waiting.

*****

No matter how much things hurt, Yuya never cried. A single week of school was enough to teach him that, for most people, crying was weak.

Instead, when Yuya walked to school and was stabbed by a hundred mocking gazes, he smiled and dragged Yuzu to the lockers. When the word “coward” was scrawled on his locker and desk, he smiled, cleaned it off and moved on with his life.

No one had left a flower vase for him, yet. He was honestly surprised.

 I don’t want to go back.  

As the months passed, Yuya had to clean his locker less and less, people stopped staring at him when he went to school, and his smiles stopped making Yuzu angry. He got used to the ache in his chest until even the lack of students at You Show became something acceptable.

If Yuya lost, would people start writing “loser” on his locker? Would they glare at him every morning and put a flower vase on his desk?

The path in front of Yuya felt like a sheer cliff.

*****

“Entertainment Duelling has nothing to prove!”

No one outside You Show believed that. To them, if the father of Entertainment Duelling didn’t believe in his own style enough to duel till the end, what good could it be?

There was only one way to make people respect Entertainment Duelling again: for the students at You Show to win. As Yusho’s son, Yuya had to win more than anyone else.

He didn’t win enough.

What is wrong with me?!

All Yuya wanted was to protect Entertainment Duelling, but all he could do was drag it through the mud! He lost half his duels, acted like a clown, and could never keep his big mouth shut! Three years ago was proof of that -a smarter kid would know better than to challenge the champion!

Now, Yuya was going to lose the one match he shouldn’t. Finally, the open question of which was better, Entertainment Duelling or Ishijima beatdown, was being answered by the worst possible person.

Everyone’s eyes were on him! The pressure made his ears ring!

How could this possibly be fun!?

*****

In the end, though, it was everyone else’s problem.

His classmates were scum, one moment they pretended to be decent, the next they were rubbing salt in his wounds.

The audience was just as worthless. After seeing his dad take on pre-errata crush cards, monster reborn, and Yata-locks they thought that Strong Ishijima  scared him?! Just think for one second and they’d realise that, even if his dad  had lost, Entertainment Duelling was second best!

But no! That’s too much to expect! Better to make Yuya duel a man three times his age over a grudge with a missing person!

Didn’t anyone have standards?! Why wasn’t anyone worried?!

His dad might be dead or trapped somewhere!

Was it just that fun to drive him crazy?

If so, then it was working. Underneath the nausea, underneath the ache, underneath the ringing in his ears, his blood was always boiling. When the feelings faded thread by thread, anger was always last to disappear.

Maybe one day, it wouldn’t disappear at all.

I want to make them pay for these last three years!

(At that time,  Would Yuya finally lose it?)

*****

( When he was younger, Yuya suspected that Strong Ishijima had kidnapped his father.  

  Obviously, that wasn’t right but, even after Yuya realised how silly it was, he kept looking for reasons. Maybe his dad had been taken by the Yakuza, or maybe he’d been teleported to some fantasy realm! Maybe he was sealed by an ancient curse and could only be freed by Yuya solving a puzzle!

Yuya’d outgrown those paranoid fantasies. Still, deep down, a part of him felt like if he won today, on the anniversary of Yusho Sakaki’s disappearance, his dad would finally walk back through that front door. He’d say he was proud of Yuya, give him a big hug, and Yuya wouldn’t have to deal with any of this fear, shame or anger  ever again  . )

  Something has to change!

*****

No set cards, no hand traps, just 400 LP and 4 monsters to take down Ishijima’s 4000 LP and his ace monster.

The duel was over. As the cheering for Ishijima rattled his skull, Yuya didn’t know if he could smile through it anymore.

Maybe that was the worst part. Even if Yuya lost, he wanted to live by his father’s teachings.

[kryptsune]

World Building Wednesday!~Yokaifell

🌼One of my personal favorites was chosen this week and I am so excited! It was a tie between Wiccafell and this and I just decided to do a little coin toss. I am happy to also announce that the ideas in Yokaifell will also be appearing in a more original form in the Souly Damned Universe. I will talk more about that on SD Saturday!

Yokaifell AU

Yokai Masterlist:

[Red] Ryutsuki (Ryou) 龍月- Kitsune (Kitsune Ebi- Shou & Rin)

[Boss] Kuro  黒- Gashadokuro

Doomfanger- Maneki neko (a variation of the bakeneko this kind brings good luck and fortune which I thought would be cute for the brothers. Hilariously Doomy was with Boss before he died coughs. Doomy is kind of like that cricket in Mulan supposed to be lucky but... questionable.)

Flowey: I am unsure if I am planning on putting Flowey in this or just have him as Asriel. Either way, he would most likely resemble the higanbana. These are also Red’s flower of choice, which is…ironic if you know the language of flowers.

The Dreemurrs: (this is a hard one. There are no Yokai as far as I can recall that are goat like, however there are some good candidates that could work. I have a few in mind right now and that is the kotobuki, hakutaku, shisa, Kirin or even the baku.

Undyne: Uni nyobo

Alphys: Honengyo (This is kind of the “Godzilla” idea she would just be mini XD)

Muffet: Jorogumo

Grillby: Onibi (this is a strange one because he would have to be a combination of onibi for this to work but don’t worry I am on it!)

Gerson: Kappa/ Genbu (due to his wisdom)

*{The lesser monsters would be a variation of yokai not exactly pertaining to their UT counterparts unless I can make that connection. The Underground/ Underworld, in this case, it basically the spirit realm so it’s not really necessary. They are not exactly trapped like in the original.}*

Main Plot Synop:   Frisk is a foreigner trying to start a new life across the world in Japan. I am still trying to pick a possible location in Japan but that is a minor detail. I will say that I would like it to be a little more secluded. It is also modern day (I settled on Izumo). The people she moves to live among tell Frisk of their traditions and stories but her being from the West she has a hard time understanding. Frisk is told not to stay out too late and wander the nearby forest but hey who listens to reason? She ends up getting lost, alone, and afraid. That is until a series of flame like lights presumably show her the way back to the town. This happens a few times but she becomes more and more curious by them until they lead her deeper into the forest. She comes upon the entrance of an abandoned shrine stopping before a Torii Gate as the lights disappear. These are kitsunebi by the way. Only when she is hesitant to pass through it do they appear on the opposite side.

She ends up being startled by a white haired human that seems to have just appeared out of thin air. He tries to speak to her but she barely understands the language if only a few words. In frustration the stranger steals a kiss from the shell shocked human girl only for her to suddenly be able to understand what he is saying. A still highly confused Frisk ends up learning that he is in fact a demon or rather her interpretation since she is from the West.

It turns out that in order to give her the ability for her to understand him a dose of his magic was required changing the physical makeup of her soul causing it to become desirable to other hungry yokai that roam both the spirit realm as well as the night. Not believing his claim and rather angry at his sudden advance she storms off heading back toward the village. She begins to see more than she should as spirits appear out of the woodwork.

An oni appears in front of her ready to devour the poor unsuspecting human in which she ends up running back to the gate in order to avoid the giant monster. At first Ryou is not interested in saving the human girl but it is his fault that she has ended up in this situation. He saves her but not before she ends up accidentally running through the Torii Gate attempting to dodge an attack. The beast follows and Frisk ends up trapped in the spirit realm when the monster destroys the gateway. Kuro, Ryou’s older brother makes quick work of the beast.   

The rest of the story revolves around Frisk trying to return home which requires a journey since a human does not belong in their realm and the gate to “leave” is on the opposite side of the realm. It is incredibly dangerous for someone like her to be there so she ends up in disguise with the help of Grillby and Ryou. Ryou is a kitsune so he is able to create the perfect disguise adding more magic to her soul to fool it into becoming a yokai temporarily. He is surprised to find she is the same kind as him, a kitsune. 

Their journey takes them all the way across the spirit realm to find another gate and on the way they run into a colorful cast of characters. Some are helpful spirits. Others are man eating demons that are looking for a delicious human soul to devour. At first Frisk is content staying with the brothers but a human does not belong in their realm and that causes complications. 

Yokai Lore/ Spirit Realm world: 

The spirit realm is a dangerous place that few humans have ever set their eyes on. It the world between. A space that is home to various yokai. Humans cannot naturally see spirits as the modern setting has diminished the humans that still believe in them. They are not trapped but rather there is a hierarchy that is established. The more powerful the yokai the more they are able to interact with the human realm. 

Hierarchy brief explanation (restrictions and interactions): 

Servants of the gods- Yokai that can interact with the human world during the day or whenever they see fit. They are messengers for their respective deities. They are not known to be troublesome or mischievous. 

Kitsune- A more rare type of yokai that can shift its appearance at will but mostly represented by that of a multi tailed fox. Some of them are servants of the gods but those who have no alignment can walk among the living during the day for a duration of time. When the night comes they can walk freely and interact with humans as they see fit. They are mostly known for luring humans away with kitsune ebi or fox fire.

“Boss” Yokai- Yokai gain their status by either specific species or their prestige. That can either be obtained by LV gain or doing favors for the gods. Some are hostile and some are passive it depends on the encounter. They can walk freely during the night without hindrance but unlike the two prior they cannot take form during the day. 

“Lesser?” Yokai- Yokai that are relatively weak and unable to hold a physical form in the human realm. They can move objects and possibly possess humans but they have no ability to interact on a substantial level. They can be seen by some humans as little dancing and vanishing lights. They can rarely pass the barrier as is.  

Lost souls- Lost spirits that wander between realms. They cannot interact with humans but can be seen from time to time. They are what the west consider the typical ghost.

Human Struggles Info {Plot}:

A human does not belong in their realm which also means that the world is also an enemy. The power of the soul plays a huge factor in this as weak souls are more susceptible to the world influence. There are three different outcomes that are possible for a human if they end up trapped in the spirit realm.

Dinner is served-  A large number of yokai are known for their man eating tendencies finding human souls and flesh a kind of delicacy. Some are beasts that kill for pleasure but humans worst outcome is being eaten or killed.

You’re one of us now- A strong human soul slowly can be changed. The soul decides what kind of yokai that humans can become or will become. It is entirely possible that most of the yokai were once human but it is unknown. They are usually lesser yokai or spirits.   

Lost soul- What the title implies. A soul unable to remember who they were. They wander for the rest of eternity searching for answers they will never receive. They are miserable creatures that pull others into their fate. Their depression is infectious and anyone already questioning themselves could easily find themselves among their ranks. They are not malicious only confused and desperate.  

Symptoms of becoming a Lost Soul: 

Confusion

Memory loss

Random emotional outburst/response

Physical weakness/fatigue

Relationship {Plot}:

Ryou and Frisk become close for a reason that they are both unsure about. They could be soul mates or his magic that is embedded in her soul begins to spread making her have feelings for him. Either way her love for him never wavers. A human can never fall in love with a yokai. It is not only forbidden but also very dangerous. *whoops* Their soul bond only grows stronger as their outward feelings increase. They spend the night together not understanding the consequences of that kind of action.

Unfortunately, Frisk begins to show symptoms that her soul is not powerful enough for this world and she begins to lose herself and forget. In desperation Ryou and Kuro make the decision to travel all the way to the end of realm to get her back to the human realm. When they get there she has a choice. She can stay and become a lost soul for the rest of eternity or leave and forget everything about them. Since Ryou and Frisk are soul bound she would feel a loneliness for the rest of her life unable to understand why. It is like losing a part of yourself. It hurts but she chooses the second option returning to the human world a little bit changed from before.

*Have any questions past this point be sure to drop them in my ask box! If you want to see more drop a comment and/or a reblog! 

(spoilers ahhhhead)

Epilogue {Plot}:

Though Frisk has forgotten about her soul mate and her time spent in the spirit realm she still has these feelings. She finds herself spending more and more time peacefully sitting by the gate or in the forests surrounding her home. It is calming and peaceful for her. What is even more curious is her new condition. She finds out by some miraculous way (not really she just doesn’t remember) that she is pregnant. When she has her children she finds them as normal children for the longest time until they turn 10. They start seeing things that they shouldn’t including dancing among little fire like lights that she swears she has seen before. She could swear she sometimes sees little fox creatures dancing in the flames. A trick of the light...right? 

Frisk doesn’t know but Ryou’s ability to walk in the human realm has him visiting his children and her even though she is unable to see him any longer. Sometimes she wakes up in the middle of the night feeling like someone is there. A kind of warmth that she leaves her feeling cold when it’s gone. Her two children begin to show physical signs of being yokai including little fox ears and tails which she does not seem to question. It feels right to her for some inexplicable reason. Her children eventually see their father through the gate one day and Frisk is hesitant to step through it (for obvious reasons). She follows her children only to leave the human world behind once more meeting a stranger that to her is not so strange. Her memory slowly returns his Ryou’s help and they live happily together with their kids. It turns out that giving birth to two yokai children strengthened her soul from before giving her the ability to stay and become a yokai herself. As before she becomes a kitsune.

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

Planet With 6 - 8 | Cells at Work! 6 - 8 | Phantom in the Twilight 6 - 8 | BnHA 57 - 58 | Angolmois 6 - 7

Planet With 6

“Are you a monster?” - Who’s the real monster in this show, though?

A Clog Punch is even more hilarious than a standard Giga Cat Hammer, haha.

The bad guy died! What the heck’s going to happen from here???

Cells at Work! 6

Smol RBC-senpai is so cute! Not as much as smol RBC herself, but…yeah. I wonder if smol WBC is around as well…?

This story’s a lil’ hackneyed, but nothing that doesn’t twang the heartstrings a little…

I love how the sensei WBC still has blood on his arm as he walks away.

The banter between the NK and the Killer T cells really gets to me. It’s so good!

Angolmois 6

Dang, I liked Yajirou. Now he’s dead…

Where did Teruhi get the cloth for Yajirou’s (I presume) head…?

I find it interesting how he (Onitakemaru) dragged the old man merchant with him and yet went to the extent of plundering the treasure without the intent of keeping it. It’s like he did the plundering as a show of strength…

I’ve realised that even though Planet With’s been getting better and better, this show’s starting to sink. Sure, the staff on this show are giving me everything I asked for, but the shine of a new anime is starting to wear off…That montage just proved why it sunk – it’s more willing to go for a quality drop in the middle of the plot.

It was way too dark in the scene that revealed Teruhi’s face being up against Kuchii’s. It took me a bit to realise that was happening…

The water in that river looks a bit odd.

“Akimado firefly” gets me zero relevant Google results.

Now that I think of it, Nagamine’s kinda hot, LOL.

Come to think of it, I still haven’t got a bead on whether Teruhi has the hots for Kuchii or not. If it’s the former, then this show would be quite disappointing. Plus, are these invaders all Mongols from China, Mongols from Mongolia (duh) or Mongols from Europe? They did have gunpowder, which is from China, but they also said the Mongolians had invaded Europe at this point…

Phantom in the Twilight 6

*sees ep 7 title* - “Awakening of the Century”? Not on my watch, no. Probably not.

Why are they only progressing the plot now? Not that I didn’t like the Roland story, but…c’mon, if your friend is in danger, you shouldn’t derail from that. Right?

Notably, the group is called “midnight sun” (katakana), but the episode is called mayonaka no taiyou (kanji/hiragana).

Karandi mentioned how she loved how faithful this show was to the past folklore of supernatural creatures and now they’re using that to the show’s advantage…huh.

Oh, hey. Next episode preview gave spoilers…that’s just like a next-ep preview, actually.

BnHA 57

Noticeably, Yoarashi is pretty obvious with his giant whirlwind…

Haha, Deku is quoting All Might verbatim from the video!

Welp, there wasn’t much to say this episode…

Cells at Work! 7

This cancer cell looks like Ken Kaneki (Tokyo Ghoul)…interesting choice.

They decided to deviate from the serious plot for the platelets. I give it 10 out of 10!...Nah, just kidding.

*Killer T helps NK get up* - I can see why Negative Primes ships NK and Killer T Cells together now…

I forgot what the cryptic-speaking green-covered cell (not a dendrite, but the other guy) was called…I think he might’ve been a B cell, but that’s all I remember. Sorry.

I can’t believe I’m feeling sympathetic for a cancer cell…

Planet With 7

I like how even Ginko still has secrets up her sleeve right now.

Hmm…it seems the hypnosis didn’t work because Nozo-san is wearing glasses.

Benika and Yousuke seem to have been hypnotised, this isn’t like them!!!

Phantom in the Twilight 7

I find it interesting Vlad chose to use Chinse martial arts. Either Toryu taught him, he learnt how to do them from Rijan or he learnt from Chinese people over many, many years. I think the second option is the most probable.

Why can’t the underlings see Kabocha-kun (Kabocha-kun = the jack o’ lantern)?

Toryu does the Naruto run. He’s not even a ninja!

The OS kind of looks like Windows, but with the taskbar being a colour of a Mac…plus the top bar of a Mac.

The green lines of text that appear on the screen are just gibberish, by the way. They’re not code…

*Chris punches Luke to get him out of the way of the falling debris* - I laughed a lot harder than I should have at that…because that shows they’re concerned for each other…in a very roundabout sort of way.

Oh no, Kabocha-kun!

What?! Van Helsing’s hair wiggles of its own accord! It’s basically alive!

Eyy! Extra info! That’s what I watch these after-episode segments for!

“You’re giving away the second half of the season!” – Hmm…

*after the next-ep segment is completely over* - Hmm…so Ton has her hair change colour and lose her memories. The Price of Power = The Price of Loss. Hmm indeed.

Angolmois 7

Ho-Holy mackerel! My knowledge of Touken Ranbu swords is coming in handy! Imanotsurugi is the lil’ grey-haired shota (tantou) who dresses like a tengu. That means this Kurou man is more simply known as Minamoto no Yoshitsune!

Seriously, this emperor looks like an alien! An alien, I tell you!

At first I didn’t recognise the guys with the facial marking were Toibarai, but then I saw Nagamine and I was like, “Oh. Okay then.” Come to think of it, these Mongolians look like the Earth guys from Avatar…

I find it interesting the Toibarai – or at the very least, Nagamine – are literate. You’d think in a time like 1274 there’d be a lot more illiteracy…or maybe I’m just thinking about Western civilisation…

“The abalones are a tougher opponent.” – I like these ladies already. Not only because that’s such a funny line, but because tough lady fisherwomen with tans is probably more representation than an entire genre of ecchi anime can do for women.

Apparently a porgy is a type of fish…hmm. It sounds silly.

Come to think of it, Jinzaburou was right once bfore when everyone else stood against him and that was when he got thrown out of Sou Sukekuni’s meeting…which doesn’t spell good things for Kanatanoki, y’know.

Cells at Work! 8

Man, I had to memorise the circulation path years ago! Too bad I don’t remember how it goes anymore…

I like how the blood cell mascot is actually shaped like an RBC.

I only just noticed, but female RBCs in this show have booty shorts and male ones have pants. Why can’t it ever be the other way around…?

Hmm…the tricuspid valve is shown as a torii gate. Interesting choice.

*platelets try to put up posters while talking to WBC* - Excellent usage of platelets. 10/10!

I was wondering what the cell’s seal said…close inspection reveals it just says “cell” on it. I guess I should’ve figured that out without having to zoom in on the image, eh?

“…you spineless candy-ass!” – That’s a hilarious insult! Who the heck thought of it and what’s the Japanese equivalent of it???

BnHA 58

A special…? This is almost as bad as a recap episode if it’s all recycled…

…uh, wow. That All Might was more meta than I was expecting.

Oh, I get it now. Movie promo episode. So that’s what this is.  

For some reason, I find Toshinori going “Dave” hilarious. I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it’s because he looks American.

“Save the World With Love!” brings to mind Boueibu, y’know? Good times…

*All Might comes in through the back door, flexing* - Muscle muscle, hustle hustle!

Oh my gosh, they went Detective Conan on us!

Suicide out of grief for what he’d (All Might had) done, maybe?

Oh yeah. Midoriya overlooked why the three potential culprits were separated and left  in different parts of the store. Update: Nope, right thinking, wrong lead.

Planet With 8

Notably, 10 = to in some cases, hence Torai being 10.

Souya’s gone all Shinji Ikari on us! Not that I mind, but…Shinji is a polarising character for a reason, y’know!

Why does this story, with a potential final confrontation on the moon, remind me of Busou Renkin so much?

Phantom in the Twilight 8

“Why Shinyao specifically?” is the question I’m asking here. Why did Shinyao need to be kidnapped?

Has Ton even gone to school yet? Or rather, is it summer break in London and we were never told that?

“She entered forbidden territory.” – Says a worker at Café Forbidden!

I’ve never heard “stole a march on me” before…apparently it means “to gain an advantage over someone else”.

He uses a cat pickup line! He’s a werewolf! That’s…hilarious!

I’m still wondering if Shinyao has Stockholm syndrome to any degree…

The line about the abyss is Niestche (sp???). I’ve seen it quoted enough times to know.

Did they ever mention the fact Ton’s hair went back to normal? Or was all that hair-tossing meant to imply it was back to normal without saying anything? You’re trying so hard, show, but you’re not quite hitting the mark…

[gel0p]

Japan, Day 4!

(Editor’s note: Please note that this was originally written back in May 2019, right after the actual trip. Some details have been updated, but the overall content remains the same.)

------

What better way to start Day 4 than by meeting Hachiko the loyal dog! ^_^ It’s apparently a very popular meeting spot.

I find it amazing that there’s a line for taking a picture with Hachiko.

The teacher ordered a wacky pose, and these kids delivered. ^^

Shibuya Crossing! ...it’s not that amazing when you’re viewing from eye-level.

And that’s what the Starbucks is for! :^)

Moving on to Harajuku station!

The entrance to Meiji Jingu was about 5 minutes from Harajuku station. However, I’m not actually going there yet.

Instead, here we are at Yoyogi Park! ^_^

1st item on the list!

The text: アメリカンコーヒー

What it means: American Coffee

How it was localized: Weak coffee

More crows at the park.

Ganbatte, Juggler-kun :v

Entrance to the rose garden!

Holy crap that’s a big rose, coin for scale D:

Roses everywhere~

Let’s name all of the roses in Yoyogi! Are you ready?

Koigokoro!

Blue Moon!

Princess Michiko!

Musou!

Koenigin Beatrix! (Musou has more petals I guess?)

Wakana!

Tanchou!

Barkarole!

Kaguya-sama! Kaguya-hime!

Yellow Simplicity!

(Editor’s note: Had I already been into JoJo during this visit, I would have called this Yellow Temperance.)

Shiun!

Diana, Princess of Wales! … wait, seriously?

White Magic!

Kibou!

Looping!

Papa Meilland!

Carefully Wonder!

And we did it! Take that, PokeRap :P

(The names of the roses were posted beside their individual plots. I’m not in fact some rose enthusiast. ^^)

Entrance to Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Gate.

┬┴┬┴┤ ͜ʖ ͡°) ├┬┴┬┴

For the record, that’s Iroha Momiji / Japanese Maple. XD

Fountain in the middle of the park.

Time to actually go to Meiji Jingu!

That’s a huuuuge torii. Probably torii-ple the size of a normal torii.

I’ll see myself out.

Inside the shrine grounds.

Entrance to the actual shrine.

Minami (south) gate, I guess?

Treeeeees! ^_^

On my way out of the shrine, I met a Mukudori that was quite successful in its food collection. Good job, birb.

On to the next destination! Drum roll please..

ITSUDEMO SAGASHITEIRU YO~

That’s right, the actual crossing featured in 5 Centimeters per Second!

I learned from my mistakes the night before (while looking for the Revue Starlight playground), and made sure I got the right crossing this time, he he he.

Speaking of Makoto Shinkai movies…

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden!

Shinjuku Gyo- okay you get the point. This is where The Garden of Words took place.

Side story:

On my way to the garden from Shinjuku station, I actually got lost and asked help from a police officer. He told me that he too didn’t know where the entrance was, but if I went in a certain general direction, I’d eventually find it coz it was big anyway. Thank you, police officer! ^^;

More pictures from inside the garden. I was really getting tired at that point.

And this was my last shot from inside!

Time to head to Sunshine City!

Inside Sunshine City. I prefer my cafes to be quiet, thank you very much.

My first proper meal of that day, at Kua ‘Aina. My only other meal was a Frankfurt on a stick, and that was waaaay back in Yoyogi Park. Remember the shop selling weak coffee? Yeah, from that one :))

Itadakimasu~

Inside Sunshine Aquarium! ^_^ I was already so tired at this point that I didn’t want to pick up my camera anymore.

aquaaaaaariuuuuuum~

(Editor’s note: Not yet a Love Live fan at that point. I would have made more Aqours references otherwise :v)

Some penguins outside the aquarium. ^_^

After the aquarium, I dropped by at Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo!

I WANT ALL THE PIKACHU D:

I WANT ALL THE EVERY THING

In the end, I bought a Mudkip and a Rowlet, both for my cousins. And also a Ditto-faced Raichu, for a friend. Time to go back to the hotel!

Back at Panda Bridge! I didn’t know there was such a thing at Ueno Station, lol.

All the plushies I’ve gotten so far. XD I need a bigger bag next time :o

At the hotel, Bandori TV was actually on! They were promoting the upcoming NO GIRL NO CRY concert with Silent Siren ^^

Aaand that’s it! I’ve visited all the places I needed to go to! The next two days will just be for buying things!

Day 4 in Japan, complete! ^_^

<< Day 3 . . . Day 5 >>

[ilirramithtirne]

High School AU

((in an alternate universe, Ilirra was a high school student at some point. Kind of wanted to see how it’d turn out))

Most people knew of her, at least. She was part of every sports club you could imagine. It was really a wonder she got anything done with all the club activities she was involved with. Kendo, swimming, archery, tennis, baseball, judo, Ilirra did it all. And she was good at it, too. Her intense focus made her able to perform feats that many would only dream of.

It also made her an outsider. She came off as cold and rarely spoke in class or even during practice. When she did, it was in as short an answer as possible. One word phrases were get favorite. ‘Yes,’ ‘no,’ 'left,’ 'right.’ These were easy. Sometimes you could get a 'head’s up’ or 'look out’ or even a 'victory’, but they were always delivered with the same monotonous voice, as if she found no joy in anything.

She wasn’t unpretty, either, which had been a problem in the first year she had blossomed. At an age where hormones are running rampant, a pretty girl is a target of various attention, wanted or not. That had been in her last year of middle school, and even then she had had a penchant for being a loner and an athlete. Many boys had mustered the courage to ask her out, and each had been summarily rejected without remorse. This had given Ilirra the reputation as one who one asks out at their own peril. Some took it as a challenge. Surely she couldn’t say no to this boy, he had so much more than the others! No, he was as much a failure. Some used her as a right of hazing, pushing nervous newbies in her direction to have their confidence crushed.

With her personality as it was, it wasn’t odd that no one truly knew anything about her. Rumors flew, of course. This was high school, after all. Maybe she was some sort of government robot, emotionless but strong, created to spy on people. Perhaps she was an alien, attempting to blend in by 'enjoying’ the things that young people should enjoy, but not wanting people to get too close lest they find her antennae or tentacles. Her scaly tail could easily be hiding some horrible probe!

One day, in her second year, some of the other girls in her class had had enough of the speculation. Specifically the class president, Kitsuryuu, an angel of a girl if you asked the teachers, but a ruthless dictator if you asked the other students. In her plot she enlisted (or conscripted) the aid of another girl, a skittish miqo'te by the name of Tia. The cat girl had a penchant for sneaking about or, more appropriately, being unnoticed.

They waited late after school, until Ilirra had finished her practices for the day, then, as stealthily as possible, they followed her on her way home. It was a long trek to the outskirts of town where the buildings began giving way to trees and the pavement to dirt and grass. The pair of spies speculated about their quarries possible fey nature until they finally came to a stone-carved staircase in the hillside, faded red torii marking the path. Neither girl had heard of a shrine this far from town, so the speculations turned to vengeful spirits. Tia wanted to leave before they got cursed, but Kitsuryuu dragged her on.

The climb was long with Ilirra showing no sign of wear and the other two flagging. “How can she have so much energy even after practice!?’ Kitsu remarked. Tia replied with, “Because she’s a freaky ghost! The dead don’t get tired! We need to leave!” Her pleas we’re ignored.

Upon reaching the top, the pair found a stack of logs to hide behind as they examined the old shrine. The trees had prayer slips tied to their branches, some looking as if they had been recently placed. The central shrine itself was immaculately kept, though it looked as if there was some repair work in progress on its roof. Some of the paving stones were cracked, but others looked new.

As they took in the sights, they were startled as a flash of white crossed their vision. Focusing, they realized that it was Ilirra who had stripped herself of her school uniform and traded it for the traditional garb of a miko, a broom in hand to sweep up the walkway.

An hour or so later, Kitsu and Tia barely keeping themselves awake, Ilirra finished her chores for the day, making her way to one of the side buildings. This one was larger than the others and was likely the caretaker’s home. The spies followed, finding a window to peer into.

Inside, Ilirra knelt at a small personal shrine, lighting some incense and bowing her head in prayer. A moment later she moved into the kitchen and began cooking. While the meal was very simple (Tia was upset by Ilirra’s poor use of ingredients and utensils, such a travesty!) it was enough to make the stomaches if both girls rumble. “Maybe we should go?” Tia offered.

Kitsu almost gave in. This all seemed odd, but nothing really out there or supernatural. And then she caught a glimpse of the something as Ilirra retired to her bedroom. “We have to get into that room!”

Tia balked, but Kitsu pushed her towards the window, trying to get the miqo'te to unlock it so they could sneak in. Under such duress, Tia could only comply to the older girl’s request. Once unlocked, they waited until they saw Ilirra, wrapped in a towel, slip into the bathroom. They took this moment to snake inside, Tia hesitant, and tip toe to the bedroom. Sliding open the door their eyes widened in shock.

It was covered in magical girl paraphernalia, much of it pink. Wall hangings, manga, DVD’s, journals, props. In the closet they even found costumes that matched the genre. “Oh. My. God. She’s not a ghost. She’s a fanatic!”

The sound of the door opening caused the pair to turn around and see a towel-clad Ilirra, eyes wide, face red, staring at the intruders. No one moved.

A pin dropped.

[gracemolteniisnothome]

Kyushu Calling: VOL 1

A Few Words:

As a Westerner living in rural Japan, I’m often asked what the outside world thinks of when they think of this country. I explain that most people – most Americans, at least  – picture futuristic Tokyo, or temple-rich Kyoto. Maybe Osaka, maybe Hiroshima. Sites like Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr are full to the brim with Japan’s well-known sights, but for many, the rest of the country remains a mystery. Most people don’t know that you can live on a cow farm and still be a short drive from a beautiful volcano lake, or that surfing is huge on the island’s southeastern coast. They don’t know that 70 percent of Japan is mountainous, which is why the metros are so packed, or that those mountains behold some spectacular views.

I’ve been spending my time in Japan shooting the places most people don’t see -namely, the big island of Kyushu, where I live. I hope to do it some justice in a series of posts. First up: my town, Ebino.

VOLUME I: Ebino

Back in April, after a bit of back and forth with my employer, I received word that I was finally being placed in a school system. Twelve hours later, I was packed up and on a train headed toward a town called Ebino. I knew two things about Ebino: first, that the town hosts a cow-jumping festival every year (yes, you read that right); and second, that my company described it as a nice place, albeit being in the middle of nowhere.

Geographically speaking, they got the middle part right. Nowhere, though? Depends on how you look at it.  

With volcanoes to the south, foothills to the east, and low mountains to the north and west, Ebino lies nestled in a caldera valley. The town itself, with a modest population of 18,000 or so, is actually comprised of four villages - Masaki, Kakuto, Iino, and Uwae- that were combined in 1996 to create Ebino City. As a result, there isn’t much of a centralized town center, with no real main strip to peruse, no castle or Isoteien (Japanese-style garden) to wander, no shopping or entertainment district neatly packaged into one area. Instead, there are small clusters of humanity – coin laundry, udon restaurants, grocery stores, and post offices – separated by rice fields that split the valley into uneven grids. Aside from a handful of overpriced snack bars, there’s not much for a nightlife or even cafes (though we did recently get a rad one that operates out of a converted shipping container, no less). A social life can seem a remote possibility.

Due to its central location between three prefectures (Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Miyazki), both Kyushu’s expressway, called the IC, and the island’s main non-toll road cut through the heart of Ebino. It would be easy to drive through, stopping only for a bathroom break and some kumquat ice cream, or perhaps not stopping at all. To most travelers, this town is a mere blip on the map. But to those who find themselves spending more time here, there is something about this area that is undeniably captivating.  

A Beautiful Nowhere

Head towards the volcanoes to the south, and you’ll find Ebino Plateau. This area is home to the Kirishima-Kinkowan National Park, which was Japan’s first designated national park. The Kirishima Mountain range crosses through the park and includes Mt. Karakui, Mt. Koshiki, and three gorgeous crater lakes: Rokkannonmiike, Fudo, and Byakushi. On a clear day, which is rare, it’s rumored that you can see South Korea from the top of Mt. Karakui. As a result of their volcanic activity, Ebino Plateau and Kyomachi (a district in Ebino City) are popular enclaves to enjoy hot springs. People come from all over to Kyushu to hike here, marvel at the azalea blooms in early summer, or relax in the onsens. Drive towards the northern and western sides of town and you’ll encounter switchback after switchback, working their way up, over, and through the mountains. You’ll find small hidden waterfalls, and miles of river gorges. The ridges are both high enough to offer sweeping views of the valley (like from the Yatake Plateau), and low enough to catch heavy clouds. On more than one occasion I’ve taken alternate routes home from or to school, tossing my camera in my bag, to chase the fog as it drapes along, clinging to the treeline in wisps.

Seasons are felt in full on Kyushu, and the Japanese seem to mark them in smaller segments – including cherry blossom, wisteria, dragonfly, fall foliage, and, of course, rainy season. Kyushu itself is an incredibly lush part of the country. The forests blanketing the area are mix of bamboo, cedars, and various pines, with canopies so thick that stepping into their shade brings a noticeable temperature drop. After rainy season, the land swells as overgrowth spills out onto sidewalks and roads. The vibrant green of the rice fields seems to have its own frequency.

The whole place vibrates, really, both in sound and color.

Despite assumptions about the stillness of a pastoral life, anyone who has lived in the country knows that nature is anything but quiet. Between the cicadas, the rain gutters, the downpours, and the frogs, every day is its own song.  

Cloud Pornography

Nothing makes me feel more like a Midwesterner than how much I talk about the weather. I’ve learned this is theme with the Japanese as well. With the little bit of language I’ve picked up, I often hear people commenting on the temperature or the storm outside, practically before they have finished greeting each other. Exhibit A: When I mention that Chicago is cold and often snowy, anyone with enough English to communicate it shares the same horror story about a snowstorm three years ago that shut down the city and school. Say what you will about small talk, but weather unites us all.

One of my first introductions to Ebino’s ever-changing skies rings true more and more every day: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.”  

The mountains surrounding this valley create a cycle of low pressure and high pressure as the temperatures rise and fall. As a result, a strong breeze pulls clouds and storms across the valley in a constant weather parade. Ebino is the kind of place where it can be rainy, sunny, and foggy all at once. I am fortunate enough to have an apartment on the second floor with an unobstructed view of the river and my part of town. You’ll often find me throwing open the windows to shoot a rainbow across the river, or scrambling out onto my makeshift balcony just to gawk at the clouds and the sunsets. Forget big sky; this is timelapse country. (Note to self: learn how to take timelapses.) On any given day, depending on the sun (or lack thereof), Ebino could be mistaken for The Pacific Northwest, the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Carolinas, or, when the volcanoes are feeling feisty, Hawaii.  

A Serving of Pride

The Miyazaki prefecture is also well known for its chicken farming. Often raised on organic feed, these freerange birds offer a leaner, healthier, more succulent meat that is used in dishes like chicken nanban (a breaded favorite), yakitori (skewered and grilled), kara-age (breaded and fried in oil), and can be found at many restaurants, tourist sites, and festivals. Miyazaki chicken can be found on the menu in popular cities across Japan like Tokyo. On top of that, there are egg vending machines all around Ebino where farmers can drop off fresh eggs for purchase at any given time. If you watch my Instagram stories, you know I am a frequent patron of these machines. You’re also bound to stumble upon a Tano Kami or two throughout the region. These stone statues, called Tanokansaa, depict a deity that is believed to to protect the rice fields and bring good fortune to its farmers. While they range in appearance –from adorable, to weathered, to homemade –these pestle-wielding guardians symbolize the pride Ebino takes in its rice. So much pride, in fact, that requesting half-portions for our school lunch required a delicate dance of reassuring my coworkers it was for dietary reasons, so as not to offend their heralded crop. Rice farming is humble, back-breaking work, but it is highly honored by the community. It is served with every lunch in the school district, and is a staple in most households. School children in Ebino are required to spend an afternoon learning from local farmers and planting their own plot of rice as a class.  

Sentiment Addict

I am not here to convince anyone that Ebino should jump to the top of their travel list (unless your travel list involves visiting me, of course) but there is something to be said for time spent in those in-between places. True, there are no awe-inspiring temples, no cascading torii gates, no giant Buddhas. At the end of the day, this is still rural farming community. But, half a world away, it mirrors a landscape familiar to me from my childhood. Strangely, there are moments here where I am reminded of Wisconsin. Like if you drive with your windows down, and the breeze is just right, you’ll know the cows are nearby well before you see them. Whether it be the sweet scent of freshly cut fields, the swallow’s nest outside my apartment, or the universal nod shared between drivers on back country roads, it's funny how these little threads of familiarity weave themselves into somewhere so foreign.

In the way that Americans may only know Tokyo or Kyoto, most Japanese folks’ knowledge of America is limited to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, or Disney World. To many, Ebino is and will always be the middle of nowhere. But, I grew up in the middle of nowhere. I understand what it’s like to live somewhere no one knows. And, I understand what it’s like to love it all the same.

Till next time ✌🏻

Oh, here's a few gems from the Ebino/Kobayashi area:

Kirishima Geopark: Great for year round hiking, this park offers a handful of trails around the volcanoes and their lakes, and there’s a cafe for refreshments at the end of your jaunt. Bishamon Waterfall and Kuruson Gorge: Small, but lovely waterfall hidden in the hills outside of Ebino, followed by a large bridge overlooking the gorge - which is a 10 KM stretch of the Sendaigawa River. The gorge is frequented by fisherman, but the route isn’t paved and can be precarious at times.

Ebino Outdoor Station: A new cafe in town, housed in refurbished shipping containers and offering solid coffee and tasty lunch options.

Michi No Eki Ebino: Our modest roadside station, offering local goods and omiyage, and delightful kumquat ice cream.  

Daiwa Dairy farms: Real cheese is quite hard to come by, but this small show outside of Kobayashi offers some award winning cheeses as well as homemade ice cream.

Musumi: A adorable coffee shop and co-working space could easily fit in a city like Chicago or San Francisco, offering delicious lunch and dinner courses.