Yuri Worlds
[65] Break
As with an unfortunate multitude of things mounting up against her, Misaki really had no idea what to say. She fought this sort of situation exactly the same way the other day, and it came to nothing. What could she possibly offer Ayame as proof? Only a recording seemed like a good idea to her, if she’d actually made one, and the faint hope that whatever spyware was rooted in her phone would actually allow her to record and present it to someone else.
Even if all that somehow worked out, she had no idea if Ayame would even trust her. This would have been the prime opportunity to bring a second set of eyes and ears to back her up. Although maybe the cruel and manipulative forces surrounding them actually took advantage of this particular happenstance to give her a madness-inducing moment that really meant nothing but to add to her load of crap to figure out. Irritating assholes playing games with their lives.
The urge to scream nearly overwhelmed her, but a better idea soon settled in its place. “Miss Takamune. Are there dangers on the spiritual zone from both human and nonhuman entities who might attempt to take someone over or use them as a conduit for whatever their purposes are?”
Misaki anticipated that the answer would be yes. This was an uncertain space for her, but like with the hints she got from bored random Spotify listening and online entertainment for more physical aspects of the supernatural, she caught something along these lines and endeavored to fashion it into what made sense. It genuinely seemed like someone or something else was talking through Ayame, like she had become a human radio receiver. It was utterly ridiculous to her rational aspect, but rationality hadn’t won in a fight for quite a while, so she was just doing her best with what she had.
Ayame’s initial response was a tight frown, which soon softened with quiet reflection. She cleared her throat and gradually folded her arms before taking a moment to really reflect on what Misaki asked. "Spiritual zone, while a name I kind of like now that I’ve heard it, wouldn’t really be the correct term. There’s the Veil and the different realms and boundaries to keep in mind, but I’ll try not to overload you with minutia. There are absolutely dangers to protect yourself from spiritually. Mantras, meditation, and energy levels are all critical when attempting something that either opens you up or leads you away from the physical. I can usually sense when something is trying to intrude. Typically, it comes from a shrine or somewhere in the woods or even in an old house, which carries a certain weight with presences that might see me as a delightful little energy snack… on a spiritual level. A conduit for possession is a slightly different matter. There are certain nature entities and malevolent apparitions that can overwhelm someone without them knowing, but that typically comes during a time of unconsciousness or depletion. It takes a lot of effort and energy to overcome human will. The animal hybrid girls, which you’ve probably heard about and people often discriminate against, are said, in folklore, to require the consensus of a human soul and an animal spirit to exist. So, that’s why society often sees them as perversions. So, you don’t have to worry."
Misaki considered pointing out that with the wristbands, possession came over her with her spirit separate, and something was occurring to take over Ayame too and say things she didn’t intend to or remember. She had no proof of the latter, and she didn’t grab Yuka’s phone for the former. It was frustrating, and she had the determination to just say what was on her mind, but it didn’t seem like a smart strategic choice to counter Ayame’s beliefs when she didn't hold any support of her own.
It took Ayame a few more minutes to dig around and come up with the sample pack for Misaki‘s irritation. They looked smaller than ketchup packets. When that was resolved, Ayame then asked what brought on this particular question. The ointment was just as greasy and weird as everything she despised using back home, but the faint burning and cooling sensation left her feeling better than without. In reply, Misaki leaned on lore and podcasts back home before pivoting to her current concerns about her spiritual qualities and whether something had changed.
At this point, Ayame narrowed her eyes, like she was preparing to launch into an admonishment similar to what she dealt Yuka last night as a little firecracker of energy to rip off Misaki‘s wristband. But that moment of preparation soon waned as she gave Misaki another, more careful look of examination. Her eyes traced specific spots high on her head before diving in a careful roll and dip to check again, like an extended series of slow double takes. Easing back into a sitting position, Ayame puffed a long breath and conceded, “Alright, I can take a look at you. Hopefully nothing’s gotten attached, if that’s your concern.”
Misaki thought about saying more or leading Ayame in a certain direction, but she wasn’t sure enough of what the heck was going on to try. Ayame made a comfortable space on the floor for Misaki to spread out. The relaxation procedure was exactly the same as in the clinic, but with Ayame crouched on her knees with the assistance of a pillow. It didn’t take Misaki long to realize that she was alone with a young woman who had already shown signs of not being herself. She wasn’t made of muscle, but she was positioned above her, asking her to relax. A far more challenging prospect than moments ago, before her brain gave her this realization.
Looking around and finding nothing that could conceivably double as a weapon oddly soothed her concerns, but she still desperately wished that Yuka was still with her. Focusing on Yuka’s presence was a salve that not only clung to her side but infused her entire body with focused breathing and quiet relief.
“Interesting…” was the first real thing that Ayame said once they were settled and she began her hand hover. Misaki left her eyes closed but intentionally raised an eyebrow on her face to communicate. Ayame didn’t respond immediately to that but rather did even more hovering. Misaki eventually chimed in to ask, “Interesting bad or interesting good?”
Ayame said in response, "Don’t know yet. Still just simply… interesting. I can say that you are absolutely still the same person you were a few days ago. Not a huge declaration, but there’s a load off. However, I’m getting this weird stuff, like interference in a signal, and I’m not sure what to do with it. I have a few ideas though. Brace yourself. Might get a little weird."
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Indeed, it did. Moments later, Misaki felt like some monolithic monster from beyond had wrapped its spiraling, serpentine arms around her entire body.
“STOP STOP STOP RIGHT NOW STOP!” She screamed, but her voice only echoed somewhere far away from her skin, as though she’d fallen down a deep, dark well within her own body. What Ayame said boomed like a divine voice from the heavens.
“THERE’S SOMETHING! JUST HOLD YOUR BREATH!”
Screw that, Misaki resolved. She panted wildly and hacked out her breath, fighting to make as much noise as possible and tell Ayame that something was wrong. But it still didn’t seem to be enough, as whatever attacked her felt like it was prying her from her skin one excruciating millimeter at a time. Bang, fight, kick!
She struggled to do anything to communicate her terror to the outside world. This dark thing, this wretched black entity that seemed to have implanted itself with the wristband, felt like it was going to do worse than strip her spirit from her body. She feared it was about to eat her, leaving her dead or an empty corpse without an explanation for Yuka. Poor Yuka. Love… Love… Desperate clinging love. She refused to give up and leave Yuka in sadness and darkness. Cast it off and throw it out! This was her body, and no one was going to get it! A body to stand together with Yuka, a soul to share with the girl who meant everything to her!
Everything exploded with golden light blended with an icy, radiant blue. It wrapped around her and infused her with newfound strength. She wasn’t giving up against the forces of darkness, forces supposedly from beyond that she was no match for. Well, they were no match for what lived in her heart. She stretched out and gave them a pressure blast of everything she had.
Moments later, she was back in her body, kicking, gasping, rolling, and flailing as Ayame staggered back in shock and concern, plaintively calling out to her. She had to take an exhausting, excruciating breath in, as though it were her first time breathing air, and wheeze out the last of it until a strangled cough hissed out the last of the breath and she could return to normal, albeit strained breathing. When she could find words again, she loudly demanded, without reaching the scale of a yell, "What did you do? What did you do…"
Ayame seemed like an entirely different person in front of her. She’d lost the calm, sneaky, mischievous flavor to her body language, looking more like a scared little girl just a fraction of her actual age as she fumbled and whimpered for words and the deepest bow of apology and confusion.
"Oh blessed, sweet goddess. You’re okay. Goddess goddess… I have no idea. I wasn’t doing…It was normal. I was just… I was just looking. Lightly touching. And the world exploded before my eyes. Cleaning interference. Brightening your spirit, and then this dark thing. I have no idea. I’m sorry. I am so desperately desperately sorry! Please forgive me…" The redhead crumpled along the tatami floor with her body bowed and her limbs trembling. Misaki was able to carefully compose herself with a few more breaths and wrap her arms around the nurse. Ayame hugged her tight and cried hard.
The commotion brought several concerned maids to knock on the door, along with nosy neighbors. Enough information spread down the hall that it wasn’t long before Yuka blasted through the crowd at full speed and launched herself into the room. It reminded her more of what Maharu might do than Yuka probably wanted to admit. Fortunately, the tatami floor meant the tackle of love didn’t hurt as much as it could’ve. Not long after that, it seemed like everyone was crying, especially Misaki, with relief to be able to hold Yuka in her arms.
When it became clear that Misaki wasn’t going to die or nearly die again on consecutive days, the vast majority of the crowd dispersed. Ayame gushed with apologies for the workers, for Yuka, and especially for Misaki. Yuka had no idea what could’ve happened to bring her friend and her loved one to such a state. Her face tensed up with the beginning embers of anger drifting in Ayame’s direction, but the woman was so disconsolate that she couldn’t keep up any ill will towards her and drew both of them into the most awkward three-way embrace.
The best explanation that Misaki managed to cobble together focused on their discussion and concerns about attachments from the spirit realm. Ayame was performing a minor, surface cleansing of her energy when absolute chaos broke out with a war of light and darkness for Misaki.
Yuka volunteered speculation about whether the creature or whatever possessed Misaki yesterday may have left something behind that activated like a spirit landmine. Ayame furrowed her brow in concentration while coughing, wiping her eyes, and sniffling. She was in no condition to determine whether that was at all possible or accurate, but quickly declared, "I suppose. Yes, maybe not a literal one, but I may have heard something like that in my studies. I don’t know. It’s…it’s …it’s all very confusing. But Misaki has a strong spirit, strong and beautiful just like her loving partner. Oh, goddess. I suppose I still have so much to learn, and again, I am so so desperately sorry for any risk I invited. I recommend you both take it easy, and I’ll do my best to… do the same. Goddess…"
Misaki didn’t blame Ayame. She fervently reiterated that everything that happened was by her consent and hope to uncover and test how she was feeling after what happened yesterday. Yuka soon echoed the same thought that drummed through Misaki‘s head: that she should’ve asked her to come along just to be safe. She acknowledged internally that the entire situation likely would’ve been prevented with Yuka around. Ayame managed to recover some of her usual decorum, but without the silly jokes. Misaki noticed that her eyes lingered on her more than usual. She offered a polite smile. Ayame still seemed tense and uncertain, but she returned a weaker version of that smile before she started stretching. The spot on Misaki’s left thigh didn’t hurt at all anymore, even though the ointment still felt gross.
They had no further preamble before parting ways; Yuka and Misaki clung close, and Ayame plopped down practically flat on her floor with her hands covering her face.