Reverse Tarot - hi-no-kagutsuchi

NEW MESSAGE

Ryoji has joined the chat!

You... you're named after the child of Izanami, from folklore. I was curious as to why that is?

Ah.

7:18 PM

Hello, Death... ~

7:19 PM

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you can see my name. We are born of a similar power... (edited)

Ah... you know of me. My reputation precedes me, I see. Then that also means you are just another lackey?

Another lackey?

7:21 PM

...Ahaha..!

Greater gods create us just to do their bidding, to buy them time. I'm assuming you're nothing more than just a time wasting deity meant to serve under her holy light, the creator of shadows, as am I?

7:22 PM

The sooner we accept that fact, the better off we are to accept our position as powerless to the higher beings.

How rude you are. (edited)

You started it. O w O

Well, then...

7:25 PM

I am the collective will of those who wish to abandon all connections.

7:27 PM

...I am a God and I answer to no other being.

7:29 PM

Though, perhaps it's that piece of humanity within you that dares to call such things into question. (edited)

I didn't realize this was a contest... Fair. I will admit I'm.... different. Much different than I was before... Softened considerably. That human side of me definitely suffers to be in the same body as this deity, especially when HER will calls... But to underestimate me would be foolish. I know you have power, but I have the all mother on my side-- she plays my hand when she most desires it.

I will not underestimate you. Should you recognise what I'm truly capable of in turn.

Understood.

...Another thing. Do not share my identity with others.

Fair, as long as you do not share mine as well. Obviously, I have people who aren't friendly with the idea of me being alive.

Ah. You have my word.

Watanabe-san, are you ok?

Not really.

12:53 AM

It's. Getting pretty bad.

Your headache?

Yeah.

12:55 AM

I don't think I should look at screens.

12:55 AM

It's making it worse.

Ok... a good trick is to lay down with a cold cloth over your eyes. Laying on your back will help the pillow support your neck. Take pain killers if you can. But it sounds like you should get some sleep if you can....

I probably should.

12:56 AM

But I have to go into work again. Soon.

Call in sick. Come on, if you're feeling this bad you can't make it.

I just can't risk this.

12:58 AM

My boss is not exactly a . Forgiving type.

12:58 AM

Especially for a headache

You said that before, but things turned out okay, right? If you say it's a migraine, maybe that will give you some pass? You may have to visit a clinic and get a note, but you will at least get some rest.

R....right.

1:02 AM

..I'm sure it'll fade soon anyway. Pain from those dreams usually does. ^^"

It's from the dream...? I see...

..yeah.

Are you sure you didn't just hit your head in your sleep?

...I'm sure. Yeah.

... I see. I guess it's different for the both of us then.

1:06 AM

Or...

1:06 AM

I don't wanna worry you, so forget I said anything.

.

1:06 AM

What???

1:06 AM

What. You cannot just

1:07 AM

Leave me on an ominous cliffhanger.

Anyway, if you insist on going to work, you should bring an ice bag with you-- maybe a heating pad?

...or. you can. Sorry.

Sorry, just...

I..

I don't mean to be awkward lmao

1:07 AM

I just don't wanna worry you too much by telling you too many details about it.

About. It?

Well... it started with headaches, I can say that much.

... That's ... even more ominous.

1:09 AM

Next to the weird dreams. Hallucinations, pain and whatever else. This just. Keeps getting weirder.

Alright, fine. It's kinda... going down into my neck and upper back, now.

1:09 AM

Yeah...

1:09 AM

But I kinda just take pain killers and deal with it.

1:09 AM

I'm sorry you have to suffer with it too tho...

The thing is I've never dealt with anything like this before.

Me neither... not all at once, anyway...

I don't know how hard it would be to get painkillers that. Are enough to deal with it. Because I've tried the off the shelf.. kind. And.. it does nothing.

1:12 AM

It fades after a while but then it just comes right back with a nightmare. It's Not fun.

I mean, combining more than one brand helps. Just be careful which ones you take. I did some research and these help: Yosuke sends some instructions on which over the counter meds he takes, and how many. But yeah, it seems to last longer and longer as the days go on. I dunno what's up. It's impeding my work a bit lol.

I'm. Starting to wonder if the weird. Distortions.. I see sometimes are just from.. dizziness? Or... (edited)

I still say stay away from them. But it's possible...

Right

1:15 AM

Thank you..I'll... I'll try this.

1:15 AM

And try to call in sick I guess.

Sure thing...

1:20 AM

Stay safe, and take care of yourself

Thank you.

...what Nao-San said. About.. sending people to protect me. Did he mean that?

Yeah! We can totally get that set up for you. I'll let him know ASAP.

How would that work?

2:54 AM

I'll still have privacy... right? ^^"

Well, yeah... I guess they'll just check to make sure you're still around...

Right. That.. makes sense.

Hello Naru! From what I heard you're not, super informed about all of this, so I'm sorry!! That sounds like it'd be really confusing... But! Maybe, be careful about mentioning other world stuff on the public chat, okay? Just in case weird people are indeed watching!

... yeah. I was .careless. sorry.

4:19 PM

Won't happen again.

No worries! ʕ‘▽^人ʔ Just be careful!!

Watanabe, I wanted to ask something. Did you only start getting the nightmares after you joined the app?

They did. Yeah.

I gotcha... that lines up with everyone else's stories I just had a theory is all

12:37 AM

BTW?

12:37 AM

Do you know Mochi on like... a personal level? If you don't wanna tell me that's fine, but I thought I'd ask

I don't. :/

O ok! Just wanted to ask lol We just don't know who he knows and stuff, so he's kinda suspicious Right?

I don't think he likes me that much. ^^"

Yeah Actually He seems kinda rude towards you?

Yeah..

Ugh Just ignore him Next time I see him I'll ask him what the hell his deal is lol

I... don't want any drama. Really.

12:47 AM

Please just ignore anything he says to or about me. I. Just don't want to interact with him at all.

You sure? Well ok...

I've dealt with people like him before who just.... want to get a rise out of me?

12:49 AM

And it never goes well.

Yeah that sounds about right What I don't get tho is like Why is he so nice to everyone but you???

12:50 AM

I've never talked with him personally but like I back read the convos enough to know what's going on

I... Don't know. Maybe he just told this lie to get on my nerves later.

I'd just ignore him straight up from now on We can't ban people from the app so I guess we gotta deal with him

A screenshot was sent through. Clearly displaying a lack of name from Everybody on recently but Yosuke. The one 'Naru' had met in person.

(edited)

Huh? Why can you only see me...?

I... dunno?

Cause of our meet up?

I think?

Weird None of this is making sense ugh

Yeah..

1:01 AM

I.. guess so.

Let's not worry about it for now. Thanks for giving me new info Watanabe :)

No prob...

1:11 AM

...I. oh. Oh.... um

1:12 AM

... there was one weird nightmare that I had before ...the app showed up.

I.. I.. can't talk. About it though. I... don't.. I don't know why

That's ok, you don't have to if you can't But if you think you can, I'm here to listen

...thanks.. I..

1:53 AM

It's.. .. ugh.

1:53 AM

I don't understand why this had to happen to me.

I don't know either... but we'll figure it out, okay?

I don't want to worry you at all,, but uh.

10:49 PM

I have Something. Relating to the news. To say??? I guess. And um. . ..mm.

Related...? Is it the You know What's up Naru? Do you need to tell the police?

The victim is my coworker.

2:49 AM

The one who went missing last month.

... what

4:15 PM

You're joking

4:18 PM

Naru

4:18 PM

Tell me you're joking

I'm not.

4:38 PM

They. They told us this morning.

... I see

4:39 PM

I'm sorry Naru I'm gonna need a moment alone ok?

.I.

4:40 PM

I'm sorry.

It's

4:40 PM

not your fault

I shouldn't have said anything.

it's mine

4:40 PM

No

4:40 PM

I'm sorry

4:41 PM

It's... I think I could have done something to help your co-worker and I didn't

4:41 PM

And I'm really, really sorry

It's not.. I.

No

4:42 PM

I should be transparent with you

4:42 PM

Um

4:42 PM

Something like this happened before

4:42 PM

When I was a kid

4:42 PM

...

4:42 PM

That other world I keep talking about was involved

4:43 PM

god

4:43 PM

I dunno

4:43 PM

how to even fucking start lol

4:43 PM

Someone I knew died the same way

4:43 PM

We were kinda close? I saw her everyday for a year and we talked all the time so

4:44 PM

but

4:44 PM

thats not importants

4:44 PM

*important

4:44 PM

we

4:44 PM

whats important is THat

4:44 PM

um

4:45 PM

.

I.

4:45 PM

Oh.

4:45 PM

Its.. not your fault. I. Mean it. I..

no, what i mean is after two victims happened one of my friends was pulled into that other world

4:46 PM

and we-- two of my best friends and i we manted to sagve her

4:46 PM

*amanged to save her

4:46 PM

*managed to save her fuck

4:46 PM

And we saved a lot of other victims after that

4:46 PM

We manage to stop these... what we found out was murders

4:46 PM

so your coworkers

4:46 PM

*coworker

4:46 PM

what II mean is

4:47 PM

I think she was murdered

4:47 PM

and instead of looking more into it

4:47 PM

I just brushed it off

4:47 PM

When I could have done something

4:47 PM

And I'm so, so sorry

.. I. Um. Mm.. I..

Sorry

4:50 PM

I went off

I.. don't think it's your fault.

4:51 PM

Don't blame yourself. Please.

4:51 PM

You didn't do this to him.

him

4:52 PM

sorry

It's okay. ..

4:54 PM

Please. I.. if its.. some supernatural stuff. I. I dunno if you could have known this would happen..

I should have known

5:08 PM

I feel like an idiot

5:08 PM

I should have told someone

You're not. Please stop calling yourself one. It's not your fault.

... ok sorry

5:12 PM

I'll stop

5:12 PM

You're right you're sufffering too I shouldn't make this about me

I... look. Please get some rest.

5:16 PM

And. If you think you can do something about all this, Nao and Teddie are looking into it.. I think? You might wanna talk to them. .. I..

5:16 PM

I'm. A tad numb at the moment.

5:16 PM

I'll be honest.

I'm so sorry. I understand. You just lost someone you knew, I completely understand. Please get some rest yourself. I'll go ahead and talk to them and look into it too. I promise. Let me know if anyone else goes missing, okay? And please, keep yourself safe.

Thanks.. I....I'll try. I'm. Scared.

I know. Do you need that protection like we offered?

I... don't know.

It'll at least make sure that if you go missing, we're immediately alerted and can come find you

Okay.

5:25 PM

Thank you.

Sure thing. I'll let Nao-senpai know

5:26 PM

For now... let's... rest

Yeah.

Well, this wasn't good. Nanako had stayed after her classes to ask her professor a question, figuring it'd be fine to let Miwa go home. She'd just catch the next train back to Tōnoshō and that would be that. The trip to the station ended up a bit differently than expected though. The station seemed empty, which was weird in and of itself. Come to think of it, when did she start to notice that there were less people? And what was this weird feeling in the air? Maybe she just needed some fresh air. Nanako climbed the stairs back up to the street level, taking a step outside and... Whoa. The street was empty. There were no pedestrians at all. This was seriously starting to freak her out. It was dark too. Was it really that late? Without thinking, she looked up to the sky, eyes widening when she saw that it was blood red. She hurriedly pulled out her phone. No signal. Yeah, that figured. She was in deep shit now, huh? She could already hear Yu's voice saying, "I told you so," in her ear. But that wasn't what she was focused on right now. Instead it was the growing fear that was clawing its way into the back of her brain. She swallowed hard, trying to shove it back down. She had to be brave. Maybe she accidentally walked into this place without noticing, and maybe if she went back the way she came, she'd be able to get out. Without hesitation, she called on all of her athletic prowess to start hauling ass back in the direction of the school. Whatever brought her here would have to catch her if it wanted to kill her. @Emily eats TWO lemons

A scenery shift-would once again occur. The blood red subsiding into a deep indigo as what was around her went from contemporary- to one of almost ancient construction. Pillars at almost every turn, an ambience, save for the blood moon still lingering overhead; from Nanako's own past and psyche. Heaven- at least. This world's twisted version of it. An obscured memory; taken and marred even further. Brightly, a spotlight shines on an elevated platform. Shadow puppets writhing in the form they had been constrained within- resembling Kunino Sagiri in shape. Though any closer look would make it obvious that this was not one being. And it wasn't meant to be, either. ...Selfish desire recognised those basic human instincts. Running from something presumed to want her dead. But it seems Narukami had done a poor job of warning her what he was actually like. And for that, well. Her own personal hell within this place would be born of that. Forced to relive. Forced to confront the reality of it all. Forced to recognise her mistakes in ever coming here. Despite all the warnings. Suddenly, the construct reaches with one of it's 'arms.' Shadows cascading down from the false rings that floated above it's head. Blocking the path behind with ravenous intent. A wall of gaping maws and guttural growls. Accompanied soon, by a voice. While heavy in it's presence- would sound soft within one's mind. "...Do you remember something like this?" @Shy, the Galactic Base Baller

She tried her best to stay focused on moving forward despite the changing scenery. This thing was just trying to get in her head, and she wasn't about to let it. All of her best efforts couldn't stop that sense of familiarity bleeding into her vision though. What the hell was all of this, and why did it look so familiar? Why was she starting to feel sick? The feeling was amplified at the appearance of the writhing monstrosity before her, one of the few things that was brightly lit in this hellscape. She slid to a stop, staring up in horror. Every part of her was screaming to get away, and the wrenching sensation in her gut was overwhelming. There was something she was forgetting. Why couldn't she remember? Nanako turned to run back the other way, stopping when she came face to face with the horrific, undulating wall of arms and mouths. Feeling for all the world like she was about to vomit right then and there, she spun back toward the monster, putting on her bravest face. "I'm not scared of you, asshole!" She shouted with all her might, feeling the strain in her throat. "What the hell do you want with me?!"

Kagutsuchi's own voice doesn't respond. Instead, an echo - a memory. Sounds from the side. A voice, manic with power- and yet sounding so scared at the same time. Yelling it's deluded promises to the world. "I'll save this little girl. Just like I saved the rest of you...!" The facade of heaven begins to fall with this. Pathways and structures crumbling at their very foundations. Visages fading into the abyss that swallowed everything whole. Another- much younger voice resounds. A question. "Big bro... What happens to a person... when they die?" Once again, a shift. The many shadows that had been present- soon left a deafening silence. White noise irrelevant to the sights of a dimly lit hospital room. The bed in the center, and the illusion of her younger self within it. Monitor nearby flatlined with harsh shades of red. In stark contrast to the almost colorless surroundings.

Nanako tried to cover her ears. She tried to yell. She tried as hard as she could to drown out the voices that had infiltrated her mind, but it seemed impossible. The first one... it was familiar, but why? The second... hadn't she heard it in some home movies? Was that her? What the hell was going on? The poor girl was hardly able to process what she was hearing before everything started shifting around again. And then, everything was silent. That was almost scarier than the din she'd been forced to experience. Nanako looked over the scene, creeping closer, cautiously. Her eyes widened once she realized what she was looking at. She had vague memories of being hospitalized when she was little, but that was like, ten- .... Ten years ago Her eyes rapidly shot back and forth between the bed and the monitor as the realization hit her. She stumbled back, tripping over herself and landing roughly on the ground. She quickly brought herself back to her feet, trying to calm down again. In a surprising moment of clarity, she reached into her bag, pulling out her keys. She gripped the kubotan tightly in her fist, head rotating frantically to try and get sight of whatever was responsible for this. "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" she screamed. The words tore at her throat, but that wasn't something she was paying attention to right now. There were no thoughts running through her head. She was operating purely on her fight-or-flight instincts now, and running wasn't an option.

"...What do I want from you?" he finally responds. tone dark, amusement obvious from the inflections of his voice. and the callous chuckle that soon followed. Goodness, whatever could he do about a small metal object used to defend from other mortals? It was laughable! That same Dojima recklessness that seemed to spread through this bloodline like a plague. That's what put her here. if not for his pettiness. "There's nothing more that I want, no. You're not the one this is all intended to break apart, piece by piece... He warned you about my goals, did he not..?" Nay, he cared little for her suffering alone. She was insignificant to it all- at least. to him. Narukami had always been the intended target from the moment he had reared his head. Achieving what he wanted most was hardly of concern for now. "You were warned by Narukami to not come to the city. Weren't you? And yet. you didn't listen. And for what?" a scoff. bodiless gaze narrowed. "The belief that somehow walking with your human friends will manage to keep you from a fate like this? You're delusional." (edited)

There was... nothing? He did all of this just to mess with Yu? That was a stupid thing to ask, Yu had told her that's what would happen. Her eyes shut tightly, trying to force herself to get a grip. She was scared, of course she was. But her dad didn't raise a coward. She sucked in a breath and swallowed it down, stopping the shaking. When did she start shaking? The fear wouldn't go away, but she could at least quell the panic to an extent. She knew this thing was trying to get in her head. She'd just have to make that as difficult as possible. She slowly lowered her arms, loosening herself up as much as she could. She straightened her back, regained some semblance of posture. A front was all it was, but what else could she do? Losing her mind knowing this freak was getting a kick out of it made her even more sick than she already felt. "Why show all this to me then?" she called out, her voice shaking slightly, and sounding a bit horse from her screaming. "What do you get out of this if your grudge is with him? And what happens next? I can't imagine you're just gonna let me walk out of here."