It's setsubun today!

[ibarakasen]

Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi.

Happy?

[Yukari now owes Suika money.]

Comments

[higan_retour]

[She's trying not to laugh, she's trying so hard....

It's not working.

Wait, it seems like she's composed herself enough to talk now.]

So tomorrow will be the New Year by the old calendar then.

[ibarakasen]

[She sighs] Start of spring: the one time of the year most looked forward to.

[higan_retour]

Spring is a good time of year. you know less people die in spring. Though February is probably one of the higher numbers for death totals.

[ibarakasen]

It couldn't possibly be because of that western Valentine's day, could it?

[higan_retour]

It might, though I think it's more it's the tail end of winter. It sort of catches all the stragglers. It also can get pretty bad weather wise too and you have a lot of accidents.

[ibarakasen]

I think you've been around dead people too much.

[higan_retour]

I am a shinigami, it's my job to be around them.

[ibarakasen]

... Then for all of your slacking, you certainly don't get out much.

[higan_retour]

Where am I suppose to do? Most people attack me and tell me to go back to work. Those fairies have been a lot of fun lately though.

[ibarakasen]

... I can't believe I am going to aid in your abject laziness, but have you thought about going yet further from the river? Gensokyo is a vast place and if you keep your scythe out of sight, I'm sure most people wouldn't recognize it.

[higan_retour]

I've gone to other places, I went up the mountain not too long ago, and I go to the shrine often enough. I also go to your place a lot.

[ibarakasen]

[Just... this face forever]

Are you trying to argue me out of a chance to be even more lazy?

[higan_retour]

Don't try and make it out like I strive to be as lazy as possible.

[ibarakasen]

... You don't?

You could fool a lot of people that way.

[higan_retour]

Of course not. I have a system you know.

[ibarakasen]

Right. Of course.

[higan_retour]

I do! I don't even mind explaining it to you if you like.

[ibarakasen]

I'll pass. I don't want to catch it.

[higan_retour]

Fine, but don't go assume stuff if you don't understand.

[ibarakasen]

'Understanding' isn't entirely necessary when the action is undesirable in the first place.

[Leeecture lecture lecture. Congrats, 'machi, you're still managing to date your boss.]

[higan_retour]

[Least Kasen doesn't hit her and it doesn't violate any sort of workplace ethics?]

Hey, it's not like I'm asleep when I should be on duty keeping people out or anything.

[ibarakasen]

[There's gotta be a rule about shinigami dating the living somewhere...]

... Why do you try to make excuses like that, Shinigami? At least nothing, you don't do your job properly the first time and that's all there is to it!

[higan_retour]

[But do oni even count considering their normal role...?]

I take souls over to be judged, nothing says I have to do it none stop all the time. You know how depressing that would get? Breaks here and there are perfectly fine.

[ibarakasen]

[The better question is 'do youkai count' given their propensity for not really aging or dying unless someone hunts them...]

... Yes, if they're scheduled, but running them when they're not scheduled is where you find fault.

[Pause.

Breathe.

Rub forehead]

... Do you like your job?

[higan_retour]

There's a method....

Of course I do, I worked hard to get it.

[ibarakasen]

Then why do you purposefully do things that, under any other form of management or supervision, you would be relieved of your duties entirely in a short amount of time?

Is it because you know you can get away with it? You enjoy taking advantage of your current employer's kindness?

[higan_retour]

I think that's a bit of an exaggeration.

[But not by much.]

Though... I guess there is less of a load here so sometimes I let myself get distracted... a lot.

[ibarakasen]

I don't think it is.

[MORE. EPIC SIGHING. She is going to die by sighing, Komachi, and it will be your fault.]

Komachi. [Uh oh. She's referring by name instead of title/species now!]

... Stop that.

[higan_retour]

I'll work on it....

[ibarakasen]

[Snort]

Will you really?

[higan_retour]

Why not? I do take my job seriously, despite what all of you think.

[ibarakasen]

.... Because I have a feeling that if you weren't doing it before it is going to take a long while for those things to sink in.

[higan_retour]

Well... I won't argue that. But at least keep in mind I do care about my job and I can do it well.

[When she does it... really Komachi why spend so much effort into catching up than just... doing what you should have all along?</i.]

[ibarakasen]

[Ready for an oni to get uncomfortably close?

Well, there she is, seizing either side of Komachi's face in a surprisingly well-tempered, but firm grip. Given she's an oni and could probably do some devastating crushing damage, that is likely a good thing.

This is odd, because usually Kasen avoids touching people whenever she can, but now... not so much.]

Then do it.

[higan_retour]

[Even if Kasen were likely to do something with that oni strength, though Komachi knows she won't, she still wouldn't worry too much. Being a shinigami was rather nice.

As for a response she just smiles, far too easy going.]

I will, I will. You should worry less about me though. Aren't there more important things to be concerned about?

[ibarakasen]

Given you have decided to monopolize my time lately, no.

[Oh so pleasant smile~]

You can be my next project.

[She hasn't let go yet]

[higan_retour]

And here I thought you were my project.

[ibarakasen]

There's no rule that says we can't be each other's. [Innuendo on purpose? Innuendo on purpose!]

[Little headtilt]

And Komachi?

[higan_retour]

True true.

[And she blinks a bit.]

Yes?

[ibarakasen]

[Oh. 'Machi, ya should've seen that kiss coming. Though perhaps no one could have predicted how hard it was going to be. Not even Kasen herself. Though it's over as soon as it started]

Don't try to expose my horns again, alright?

[Which means Komachi is forgiven and Kasen isn't holding a grudge. With that, she pats the shinigami's cheek... and starts to head off]

[higan_retour]

[She didn't, but surprises were nice. Kasen gets a grin back.]

I'll behave.