Hatched Plans

[Ram]

Mika's mind was boiling as she sank into the equally teaming hot waters of the hot springs near the shrine. Near by a slightly battered looking bicycle leaned against the changing rooms with noticeable dents in the frame and chips in the paint. The miko sank beneath the waters and let out a gargled yell to vent over what she witnessed, bubbles roiling till she came back up to glare at the steamy surface. Not too long ago she made a point to find that Orochi's cave after he went through all of her belongings without permission. Therefore, it made sense to find where he is staying. That vagabond has been lurking around the shrine for days when clearly, he's been here far longer to know the previous caretaker. How long exactly? No idea and not that important. What she found was unacceptable for visitors to witness. Piles of garbage, corpses nailed to trees, and hacked off limbs thrown about in won ton carnage. There in that mess Orochi made a nest for himself among that. A near modern day depiction of a demon among his prizes. Only such monsters would find themselves at home sleeping on top of their victims. To think that was his real living condition made the miko wretch at the high potential of luring demons or creating a very den. Mika couldn't accept an environment laying a stone's throw from the shrine.    

The fact that he's still here and continues to be is the main concern. A letter to Ise was sent a while ago so Mika was pressed to find as much as she could before reviewers make the journey to her shrine. Recalling the words of her senior instructor, Mika had to make the shrine appear that she was in control of the situation. Being assigned to this remote location must mean this area is of great importance to the network. Just because a cursed individual is prowling around, abandoning the shrine to a derelict state to wild yokai would be disgraceful as though the girl didn't try to do her job. Showing incompetence wasn't the kind of results Mika wanted to face. Keeping all this in mind, she washed her face and climbed out to dry off. Donning her shrine robes and retiring to the main house with the bike to cook. It was still breakfast hours, and she hasn't eaten a single grain as of yet. The lengthy commute times to and from the shrine reminded the girl of frequent meals. Starving off a few days deterred her former meal routine back in Ise's cloister. For the time being, it was another large meal of rice porridge. A simple meal that can last her day from morning to evening and possibly into tomorrow, but Mika kept an ill practice of making more than a single portion. Her duties at Ise called for her to make meals for four other people at least. A circle of students taken in by their instructor. Rather than continuously making a bowl of porridge each time, one large pot for a day's worth was far more manageable. Whatever was extra became offerings and with that Orochi around, he could be the walking garbage disposal to have his own share so long as he keeps clean. Throwing him out after the previous miko kept him around would be an afront to whatever previous agreement the two of them had arranged. Rather than kicking him out, the matter became closer to what exactly to do with him. If something can be done about that aura, then things might be a bit different. 

Fetching the water and cleaning the rice at the sink, the miko thought over her options. The faucet running cool water and the grains brushing through her fingers as if trying to polish them. A few dumps of water and filling it till the water was no longer cloudy, Mika set the pot over the flaming stove and covered the lid. She pulled up a small stool and sat down to stare at the crackling fire to mediate. The shrine grounds can be cleaned and kept well protected, encouraging people to visit her shrine is also on the list, but if Orochi is around leaving people with unnerved stares with his predatory surveillance, then what's the point! He could easily spook away people with one look at his bandaged face! If only people could see that aura of his as well. Pondering on that ugly aura of Orochi's, Mika came to terms that she has never actually address a person's aura before. Seeing it on someone was always an event. Either a gentle glow or a heavy miasmic fog, the miko would ignore it or simply deal with it. A person's past can't be changed and there's no telling if admitting to their crimes would matter as crimes of a past life aren't so easily pardoned. The grudges and curses that persist. It was a topic beyond what her cleansing powers can deal with meaning much of the strange aura was contingent on the person's actions. Even still did the thought linger if she can do something about Orochi's aura. Her barrier box was able to hide his presence and the way it moved was so unnatural unlike anything else Mika could recognize as a curse or a blessing but hiding his aura forever would leave her well spent on energy to keep the shrine safe. There was a way to somehow manipulate it, maybe Mika can find a clue as to what haunts Orochi to dissolve it.  

-------------
Meanwhile, departing from the main city of Nara, a black car was speeding away in the late morning into the countryside. A pair of suited individuals sitting up front together. A bald man at the wheel and a young, faced partner giving nervous glances at the empty back seat. The air between the two had a nervous tension with glanced exchanged at one another and once more at the back seat. "What the hell was that thing hanging in the garage for?" The younger agent asked. He took out an id card from his pocket to look at the face of a middle-aged gentleman with shrunken in cheek bones, scarred up forehead, and a noticeable dent in his skull long healed under his salt and pepper hair.  Tori Notada, age 49. "Think it's this guy that's done it? We haven't seen him at the morning meeting. He could have turned on us." The youth speculated at the ready to enact on Tori's comeuppance.  "That's all well and good but it could very well be him. Boss told us to go dispose of this properly so let's follow orders and get it far away for his safety. You do got the payment, right?" The bald suited man asked, eyes glued to the road for any cops while speeding in-between check point stations. His partner padded the breast pocket of his vest for confirmation and took another look back at the rear-view mirror. "Just make sure we still have enough gas for the way back."

[gman]

Well that was Robo rebuilt. Orochi carefully put his scarecrow's head back on. It wobbled a little before settling. A sigh of relief left his lips as he looked towards the sky. The morning sun was beginning to rise. That Miko should have breakfast ready by now, if she made any way. He thought to make his way over there but she did yell at him to clean himself up. With another sigh he headed towards the river. It always takes awhile to get his bandages off but after a painstakingly long time he got himself ready for a swim in the river. He vigorously  rubbed his face and hair, trying to get any dirt and sweat off of him. Sitting in the river he wondered if she would even be there. She seemed mad about the Yokai, but that really wasn't his fault. Thats right if they didn't wanna be hung up like that they wouldn't have came at him like they did. Maybe if that Miko ran into more Yokai she'd understand. 

Getting his bandages back on after about an hour of drip drying out in the sun. Couldn't just put on his clothes and bandages soaking wet. After making sure his bandages were nice and tight he stood up and started walking towards the Shrine. Upon arriving to the shrine he noticed the smoke coming out of the main hut. Yep she was cooking. Hopefully there was some for him left over. Walking up he was about to just walk into the hut. She complained about him just silently showing up. 
A Brillant idea came to him. Balling up his fist he banged on the doorframe about six times. He then just stood there and waited for her to come to the door. 

[Ram]

Analyzing Orochi would require further, direct study. Aware that all she has been doing was yelling at him whenever angered, there is a chance he’ll go to that trash bag in the woods and lure out bears and yokai alike. Or bear yokai. Getting him to stay around longer would be ideal. Based on how he has behaved so far, there were two local people that knew of him. Asking those two would be next during a small introduction on where their stores were. Where…they were. The miko placed a hand over her eyes and groaned at the mistake she made. Where did Orochi go to find those names?! She neglected directions at that time and quickly felt stupid for it.

“Well, no, this is the countryside. There’s only two directions he could have gone off the main road. I can figure this out.” Getting up from her rest stool, the miko prodded the heavy wooden lid and pulled it away. A puff of hot air wafting up to the bellows of the kitchen. Almost satisfied to see how it this way, Mika began to get her ladle and scoop a few into a bowl when a loud knocking rapped the door. “Who is-ah! Hhsss!” Mika hissed and drew her arm back, burning her wrist a little on the edge of the pot. Her growled and set the bowl aside to quickly run some cool water over it before the burn scars. Blowing on it a few times thinking it would do anything, she left the kitchen for the door. Orochi was there looking as bandaged and frumpy as usual. Mika’s shoulders raised to scold him for the sudden drop in but relented due to inviting him in the first place. Who knew he would show up at all. The miko avoided staring at him when stepping aside to grant entry.

“Come in and sit,” Mika sighed and went to make him a bowl first as guest then one for herself, trying not to look sullen about it when setting the table with water mugs and spoons. “This enough for a first portion?” She asked and sat down, taking some time to eat before trying to prod him further. Seems like he’s only around for food and is hanging around the mountain as told. Oddly too simple to be placed somewhere without reason.

[gman]

He flashed a smile that naturally, she couldn't see. His sprawling tendrils which only she could see peered at her as if they were taunting her. Playing a game of trying to get close to her, but stay far enough away that a hand swat would near miss. 
Orochi sat down, taking the familiar meal with gusto. Eating it like had been for months now. As he dug in he stopped at her question. Well naturally it was never enough, but saying that out loud would come off as greedy. 
"Well i wouldn't say no to more" Good point good point, though he had to reel it in to really sell that he wasn't just being greedy. "But you know, you should really have more. After all you never know when your next meal is gonna be." 
That sounded nice in his head, rolled off the tongue good. Maybe those two things combined could work, save for the fact it wasn't true. She could go out and get food whenever she wanted. Thats what shrine money gets you after all. 
She also didn't say anything about him being dirty, guess the river bath cut it. 

 

[Ram]

She took extra care to try tolerating the snakes that laughed at her as if knowing her blunder already. Her eyes half closed when trying to eat and filter them out. Sneaky lil devils. Mika tugged her robe sleeve to drape over her wrist and attempted to reply more withdrawn to his comments. “The next meal will be here so long as things run smoothly.” Her words almost insistent to be at the shrine than go milling about the town and metropolitan area. A meal was temporary when she could purchase something more lasting to the shrine’s upkeep. Was he hinting at about that meal box from before? Mika couldn’t recall where it came from since those men were the ones who selected it.

“I’ll see what’s there to take back,” she responded, thinking that’s what he wanted. Another red box like that one to bring back. Orochi must have liked whatever was inside that container. The miko ate a few more bites and got up for seconds, stopping a moment with a hand held out for Orochi’s bowl. “There’s… a lot made. As usual.” That sounded nice in her head to imply he was having more. Nice enough to not be scraps given. The girl took her time refilling the bowls and running cold water over the burn again as it began to redden.

“Here.” Returning the bowl and sitting down, Mika tried to eat a few more spoonfuls before asking about his plans. “What do you intend doing while waiting around the shrine?”

[gman]

And just like that he was in. Another morning with a full belly. With this much food he may have enough to eat to just laze around all day. He watched her wash her hand. No bandage on it. Wonder if she got a wound there from their outing the other day. "Did you get a bite there or something? Id use hot water if you are washing out a wound." Waiting on his food she shot him a question. "Well i got told to stay here and wait. So im waiting." He said as he watched her. How long has it been anyway? Close to a year? Maybe a year and few months? Without a calendar it was hard to tell. "What do you intend to do while you're tending the shrine? Gonna be like granny and spend fifty years here?" 

[Ram]

She considered refraining from sharing her little incident with the pot but complied if it meant getting all she could from his cooperation. “A burn on the pot. That’s all. I cleaned the other scrapes at the springs.” Mika closed her eyes and bit into her spoon. Imagining what dirty looks he had on his face to be amused by her string of injuries. Traversing forestry was something she’ have to tackle and overcome or make do with taking a cleaver to the flora like a jungle thicket. The thought of doing that and being in her fifties was quiet the picture.

“If lucky,” she set her bowl down. Staying at the shrine was a given till something happened to it. Either it gets decommissioned by Ise or her station gets moved elsewhere. “But seeing the state of the shrine has got me thinking. However the previous keeper managed everything this long, I’d like to build upon and expand in light of the many shrines here in this province, there are also many yokai if not more. That’s my goal to have this place recognized by my mentor.”

Mika then opened one eye to see how his snakes would take it. Cautious in her approach while trying to come off as ‘welcoming’ as possible than earlier attempts. Those seemed to reflect a measure of Orochi. Saying to only stay around the shrine as a free loader. Not on her watch. “With you here, as unexpected as it were, you are senior to these grounds. Would you prefer walking freely than skulking the forest? Granted all you have told me was being of assistance and staying as well.”


As Mika asked this she set her bowl down and turned to the door. A few second later the shrine of headlights lit up against the rice paper panels and window frames. “Excuse me,” she spoke more guarded when getting up and heading out. Her straw woven shoes slipped on when approaching the vehicle. The same familiar vehicle that tried to dump a body on her grounds earlier. This time she felt something at ease from the trunk and assumed the worse as she came up to the driver side to have a stare down with the man in dark sunglasses. “I thought I advised not to bring that out here again.” Mika and the man both sharing a glaring demeanor.

“Calm it down, miko. It’s not like that,” called the other suited man. Mika locked eyes at on as they both moved to the back of the trunk. The man opening it and Mika slapping the trunk shut in response. Her senses telling her a body was in here and that was enough of a look.

“Hey! What’s your deal!” His hands pulled back before the lock could snap on his fingers.

“I said not to return with that. Have I not maybe myself clear?”

“Look, it’s not. Kinda.”

“Kinda?!”

“Can you let me explain. Help me put here!” He looked to the driver for help on talking some sense only to be met with the sound of the car window rolling back up. “Don’t you abandon me with this problem!”

“Problem?!” Mika barked up insulted and stepped forward to challenge her small frame against his tall and lanky one, resuming to argue her stance on why their actions on disgracing the shrine grounds was terrible and the man trying to get a word in on why the Boss sent them here. All the shrine the body in the trunk gently pulsated in its woven cocoon.

[gman]

"Well i'd avoid burning yourself in the future. And isnt running water over a burn bad for it?" He asked nonchalantly He wasn't sure how you where supposed to do it. Renjiro did tell him at one point but his memory failed to recall if you where supposed to run water over it or keep it away from water. "You know i never really knew how granny dealt with the yokai. She kinda just kept the fire going and the place clean. Though i was never around much too see how the finer details of running a shrine entailed." He mainly was here for the free food. Nothing more than that." Though hearing that this Miko only was here for the admiration of her mentor made him wonder why Granny was here that long. 
"You moved out here to make your mentor happy? Huh. Well i guess there are worse reasons." The ethereal snakes Eyed the now refilled bowl as Orochi helped himself to another portion. Some of them peered at the bowl on the table. the others just watched Mika with a curious look. "Skulking around is kind of my job. But im not opposed to helping out, for a modest fee of course." And with that a car pulled up. Orochi was going to get up and check it out, but The Miko was already on the war path towards the Car. . . . . Curious 

[Ram]

“And another thing,” Mika stomped her foot down in her series of rants for their illogical choice to bring another body here at this early hour. Her whining getting on the taller youth’s nerves to momentarily forgetting the pressing issues at hand. Mika backed him up a few steps away from the trunk with her waving arms figuratively cutting at every word. Each word in getting cut off by the smaller priestess for their intrusion.

“I get it! It’s asking a lot of your time but we’re not full on time with this,” he tried to offer another shred of reason and deflect the blame. “But we only found it this time.”

“Found?! Really not another clean up of your messes?” Mika hardly believed their group would be any less sort of the type to have a clean day. The trunk behind her forcibly opening. Sunglasses noticed the shift and glanced at the rearview mirror to see long limbs moving from the sides of the mirror’s edge.

“The Boss ordered us to bring it here! Would you just listen for one second you damn girl!” Needing to blurt out their orders got some hold to keep Mika from giving him another scolding. Mika reached to grab his necktie to pull on at this point when the bald man in sunglasses suddenly bolted past the pair.

Behind the bickering pair rose the body wrapped in a white silk bundle of thread. Spare arms breaking out through the tears in the cocoon as it climbed out. One arm. Two. Then a third as it worked out of the trunk of the car. A tearing pull of the cocoon parting as a fourth arm crawled out of the bundle. The men drew back and took up their pistols, firing a round at the husk. Did little more an impact through the padding of silk. Mika turned to stare at the creature with its form pulling through the outer encasing. A body of a woman in what appeared to be an office blazer and skirt hung in the air with four arms sprawled out of her swollen back.

“This is….,” Mika stared in shock of what creature had been delivered to her shrine before turning to yell at the men one more time in rage. “Why’d you bring a jorogumo here?!” The miko demanded out of the men as another bullet flew past into the woman’s torso. The corpse paused for a moment of the impact with the woman’s head reeling back and opening a blackened void mouth. Acid spitting out in their direction as another set of legs climbed out from the body. Mika threw up a barrier around the two men and herself as it splattered and hissed upon the stone and the walls of the light barrier.

[gman]

Well whoever she was talking too out there, she sounded like she was getting mad. With voices getting raised he figured she was about to kick whoever she was talking too out of the shrine when she yelled something, admittedly he wasn't paying attention as he reached over and had been eating the food out of her bowl. Then the gunshot rang out. Naturally he jumped at the startling sound, but after a quick body check he realised he was fine. Well something is shooting around the shrine, not good. Any other time he would walk outside and see what the hell is going on, but there was a bowl of food right in front of him, and he really, really didn't want it to go to waste. It was piping hot! How could he not quickly shovel the rest of the food into his face? So he did. He couldn't even taste the food because he was eating it way too fast. After shovelling it down he stood up and made his way to the door. Clearly taking his time. Peaking his head out of the doorway He could see the Miko and another guy, he seemed to be shooting into the back of his car. What a moron! Didn't he know that would leave holes in his car? Then came the loud hissing. Something was in the back of that car. But he didn't jump in, For now he just watched from the doorway. After all he didn't know how the gentlemen with the gun would react to him. 

[Ram]

“Unthinkable.” The miko grumbled at the dark aura around the spider woman as it crawled out of the human husk it. Who knows how long it spent there. Spider mandibles gnawed and felt around the human woman’s legs as they folded like paper and eaten again. Probably the first meal in who knows how long. Mika looked away in disgust at both the aura and the crumpling flesh to focus on the men inside the barrier with her. Both unnerved and relived to avoid one acid wash.

Mika thought about lowering the barrier and leaving them to the spider as punishment but reluctantly dug her heel into the ground. Having these two dead wouldn’t be good with her new benefactor. Maybe better to see if she gets more for a good work than go tempting anything now. With how hungry that spider looked, these guys would make an alright distraction if she keeps the safety up. Lucky for them the cocoon waited than start over taking the car sooner.

“What now?” The necktie asked his senior after having unloaded a few rounds earlier into the spider. Ideally without the wrappings in the way, the bullets should have done something yet the creature looked more dazed than stunned when flinging acid.

“So much for getting rid of it sooner. You two woke it up,” sunglasses turned to them. Having seen his share of problems before, it was easy to put the blame on their negative attitudes that stirred the creature.

“I’m part of this?!”
“Excuse me!”

The two countered in unison before Mika was back to defending herself from the duo. “If you’d let us do our jobs, we’d be here and gone faster. Now we’re candy for that spider once this box breaks down.” The walls with the acid hit continued burning smoke from the area as the juices slowly ate away the energies. Mika noted the durability of the safe space and tossed out two beads to reinforce the cage. Now with three full layers protecting them. However, the men were unimpressed.

“Extra packaging till we’re eaten,” the youth remarked sarcastically. Mika shook her head at him and walked through the walls she made and adjusted the size of the box to a smaller, denser state. “Oh so you’re leaving us to die, huh?! Some priest.”

“Shut up!” Mika snapped back and took her talisman papers out from her sleeves. “Let me do my job and you both can leave,” the girl echoed back with the same angry scowl. “Or you rather face the spider than your own boss for failing.” The girl threatened before facing the creature. Its frame easily dwarfing her with part of the woman’s foot hanging from mouth. Mika quickly threw her talismans at the spider. Small bursts of light burning its eyes and thorax with a chittering screech. Arms raised to strike down the girl as she ran back through the barrier box and out the other side. Its legs burning against the box to recoil from contact. Angering the creature with taunting food and a wall between it. Madly driven to tear apart a little miko, the spider crawled around the box with amazing speed as Mika compiled her talismans into stiffened paper knives. The blessed paper blade cut into the limbs cleanly of the first leg leaving the stub to stagger for balance. Two more came after it to try pinning the girl down but the small girl dove back into the barrier shield. Pressing a bead into the side wall, one of the inner reinforced layers narrowed even smaller to a rectangular beam. Her hand flew upwards as the pillar shot out into the belly of the creature, running it through two of its arms as the spider demon crawled to the side in haste off the shield. Once on the ground the spider screeched again and readied another breath of acid as its remaining back hind legs fashioning a web net. The remaining three limbs and stub whaled on the blessed walls. Its weight and acid started to form cracks into the outer layer. Finding the trick too risky to pull again here, Mika tried to flee the barrier and distract the spider away from the two men as more acid spray hurt hot on her heels and towards the house in an arc. Fearing the damage that would cause, Mika put herself in the way and made a smaller wall for the acid to eat into instead. No sooner that the wall began to melt away did it shatter to bits of light from the crushing weight of the spider woman and her net.

Tangled by the threads, Mika looked up at the monster’s opened fangs and dotted eyes reflecting back as it lunged to sink them in. Her disgust ever present in the myriad of rage and hunger in the creature. Certainly one way to go, she thought, and reached in her robes. Unwilling to go quietly. Clenching a fistful of charms, Mika pulled her arm back and recited a single word. “Lockdown.” From the trapped miko came another set of barrier walls from within and moving outwards, washing over the spider threads and the spider demon. The two now encased together within a larger barrier to accommodate for its size. Initially undeterred by the wash of color within the space, the creature went bite onto the miko’s arm as she punched forward. Its fangs sinking into her white robes with an acidic hiss. Smoke rising up from its mouth and the miko with the two locked in place.

Unable to move a step further or a way to pull her arm back, the miko and spider were a pair of smoking embers. The girl lowered her chin and glowered at the creature. Eyes shimmering as the inside of the barrier began to pulsate in rhythm with of an energy within the spider. Cracks lined the spider’s thorax and torso started to splinter off and forcibly split open as smaller pillars bursted out of its body in a crystalline growth with a gush of vapors escaping the carcass. A woman’s silhouette in the mist before it too faded leaving the miko alone with her bitten ward wrapped arm outstretched. Using her free hand, she signed a small prayer before stepped through the remains of the yokai’s energies as it dried out to a husk. She remained inside the 10 meter space while the cage holding back to two men faded, allowing them to walk forward. The man with the necktie stopping a moment to find a fallen ID on the ground bearing the picture of an office woman in her late 20s.

“You are the real deal,” spoke the man in sunglasses, lowering the shades a bit to display a glimpse of striking green eyes. Mika huffed at his subtle praise and fanned her talismans at the two suits. “Take these and keep them in your jackets as you leave and in your car for a while till the ink has faded. I will need extra if you’re going to ask for more for the collateral.” Mika indicated to the broken remains and their car. Hopefully keeping them alive isn’t a waste either. “If you need proof, take one of the legs back.” Her hand pointed to the limbs hacked off earlier. “Put a ward on those as you travel back.”

Earning a brief boy from the two, Mika watched the pair load up their car and leave back down the road. The girl watching till they left the premise before letting out a loud sigh. One spider corpse, a numb arm, and wasted talismans. Wonderful. The girl quietly grumbled and made her way back to the small house, leaving the holy space up to finish purifying the body of its yokai traces. Seeing Orochi blocking the doorway as she climbed up the steps, her brow twitched on what he and his little snake aura wanted. Food or questions, the miko hoped it would be easy after wasting time on that last minute job.

[gman]

Well a small scuffle with something in the trunk. The little Miko had to break bad and use some of that Ise magic. The men standing around her also looked a bit mortified. Whatever was going on out there it was not planned. Strange and stranger. As the car left the area Eiji moved to make room as the little miko moved to come back inside who would probably notice her bowl was now empty. "They did not look like people from Ise." Eiji said to her as she walked in. He waited with almost baited breath for her to ask him just how he knew that. Like a child showing off their work in school, but she would not so he would just continue anyway. "One of them was carrying a gun." Eiji was all too familiar with the receiving end of firearms. More times then not when one got pulled it was on him.  "You know ive never seen any shrine officials with guns before." He said as he walked back inside and closed the door behind him. He didn't know what was in that car, but it didn't take a genius to tell it was a yokai of some sort. " So they bring you stuff to kill? Seems a little odd to come all the way out here just to have you kill it. . . Granny never did anything like that." Now it could just be new age priestess teachings at play here or this little Miko wasn't at all what she seemed to be. But then again why should he care? As long as the food was coming in he didn't have much room to complain. It did still bother him that he never saw Granny do anything like that before. 
"So do you often yell at people like that?" 

[Ram]

He moved. Her eyes looked to the side dismissively for his lack of proper etiquette to not move right away but he eventually did. Just not as soon as Mika would have liked right this moment. The girl stepped inside and closed the door behind her to block out the light of the barrier left outside to return to the table only to find her bowl empty. The scoop trails of the rice porridge trailing to one side and coating the bowl rim. An annoyed groan rolled in her throat but maybe some bright side to this. There’s the rest of the hot pot there.

The girl picked up the bowl and refilled it and returned. Her left arm hanging closely to her side all the while as she moved to eat something. His questions coming together one by one. Something about the men not looking to be from Ise. Did any of those happen upon this shrine before? Probably not or why else he’d be asking. Her right hand stirred the soupy rice and tried to eat what she could when answering. He seemed eager or that just be her imagination.

“Even if they shaved their heads and took up the art of being a monk, they won’t last long,” she remarked About the men being from Ise. Not that she’s know of any other Ise priests turning to a Yakuza. Using a gun for that matter….was he stupid? Her eyes glared at him for assuming she was the one wielding a gun after rummaging through all her belongings.

“Those two may have thought it was dangerous to keep that yokai around and brought it here where there are less civilians to eat.” Mika reasoned but still found the pair to be equally dumb in that regard. Speaking of being equally dumb, her head raised toward Orochi for asking so pointless about her yelling at people. The quietness of a disapproving parent in her tone. “It gets the point across for how flawed their actions are whereas for you, if you’re that content to watch then you can go starve in the forest.” She set the spoon down and got to the point of her attempt earlier before that interruption. “Or is that assistant to the shrine business just sweet talk to the previous shrine keeper? I’ll be sure to tell how much you’ve done that I kicked you off the mountain myself.”

[gman]

"well for one granny never brought yokai straight into the shrine, so yeah id say slaying Yokai is out of my experience range. Well at least when it comes to my time on the shrine. Besides you handled yourself well." He snide remarks left his mouth with a mild poison. Still surprising to see she dispatched it cleanly, though not without some effort on her part. He wasn't counting on her in a fight or anything... yet. But it was nice to see she could keep herself alive, though with some belated moaning. "Though id advise against bringing more Yokai here. From your shoes if a Yokai goes crazy out elsewhere then it is not your problem. Afterall its not around here. Out of sight and out of mind." Speaking of snippiness he didn't appreciate her tone. " Starve on the mountain huh? I don't think that would be advantageous to you. Seeing as how a simple Gaki took a bite out of you." She couldn't see it but he was smiling under that mask of bandages. Not really thinking of the consequences of his words, but throwing out insults like a petulant child, and boy did it feel good. 

[Ram]

"How is that not outside your experience when what would you call that forest decor you have done for yourself? Or the previous night? Fun and games?" Her brow twitched for every technicality Orochi wanted to throw at her. Having to deal with that mess outside and now his snide remarks while eating her food, she set her spoon down beside the bowl and patted the small table loud enough to make the tableware rattle. "Might I remind you that you technically are eating the extra porridge I made and have then taken the time to wait out for my meeting to finish, you still are a freeloader on this mountainside." Mika glared at him and that gleeful gorgon aura of his.

"I would rather appreciate it more if you were a part of the shrine as a keeper than rolling around in a garbage heap!" Picking up her spoon again with her one good arm till the numbing poison subsided, Mika ate a little to try calming down again before his next barrage of commentary. "And stop putting it on me as if I was the one who directly summoned that yoaki to be here. Those people wouldn't have faired any better otherwise. I still find it stupid that their choice of action was to physically take the stupid thing here. Are they trying to make this more complicated than needed to be!?" Mika vented and pointed her spoon at Orochi. "Case in point, for all the freeloading and help you're supposed to be to this shrine, you're going to start acting like a secondary caretaker. Got it?"