backyardbbq | tiger fun! (closed)

tiger fun! (closed)

[The funny thing about Yokohama is that there are so, so many nooks and crannies that contain evidence of its wild past. It's not uncommon to see a small patch of earth full of trees and nature, but for it to be framed on all sides by apartment buildings or shops. It's a strange amalgamation of 'nature' and 'infrastructure' that is only possible in cities like this, which have existed for centuries and have gradually encroached on the surrounding forests.

Deep within Yokohama exists one such patch of nature, a 'park' about the size of three city blocks. To the north, a train station. The east contains some shops. To the south is a river. And finally, to the west, a school. But interestingly enough, this 'park' has remained undeveloped. No paths run through it, other than the dirt paths made by teenagers cutting through it to get to the stores on the other side. The road that had once existed there had been paved over some time ago, and the stone path from the road to the shrine remains half-hidden under plant growth and dirt.

But should anyone try to follow that stone path, eventually they will reach a small shrine. It's probably about 40 square meters at most, and with much of the interior taken up by the necessities for running a shrine, it's obviously not meant to be a home. But something has made its home there. Something has managed to crawl through the broken rice paper and nestle in to what little space inside is available.

The shrine's exterior is in really bad shape, too. It looks like nobody has tended to it in a hundred years, if not longer. The roof tiles are in dire need of repair, much of the exterior is covered in vines and fallen leaves, and the wood is showing signs of weathering and rot. Even the collection box out front has a busted top, revealing the small cache of coins still located inside.

Yes, this shrine is in a terrible state. Hopefully someone can find it and notice this.]

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[ While Inaba was normally not the type of person that would go out of here way after classes and club was done and over with, today seems to be an exception, partially because she was very much annoyed about the phone call she'd received from her brother earlier - "hey, Himeko, can you stay out of the house for a bit? I'm bringing someone home," which was enough for her to want to stay outside for a little while longer.

Of course that meant trying to wander around a little aimlessly before noticing the the stone path, surprisingly enough. Finding a place like that in a hidden corner was definitely a good find. Maybe what she'd find is something interesting - something that she could use for the paper.

So when she follows the path and finds a small shrine, it's enough for her to frown a little, arms folded at how much of a mess it seems to be. While she can't do anything about repairing the entire thing — given that she's a teenager and very much an indoorsy person — she can at least clean it up a bit.

And maybe if she took pictures and posted it up, someone who could fix it would be able to. ]

Okay, let's see. . . I think a photo or two should be alright?

[ Her reporter's blood is tingling as she pulls out the phone from her pocket, unlocking it with a slide of her finger before she goes straight to taking pictures. ]

Anyway, there's definitely a lot of work to be done here, and I'd have to get a lot of cleaning materials. What a pain in the ass.

[ Inaba, why are you like this. ]

[Inaba there's supplies right there at the shrine u egg.

Or, well. There's a very, very old broom, and some old wooden buckets. Given that a river isn't too far away, gathering water in said buckets would be easy. As would sweeping the paths.

...okay yeah, she'll need to bring stuff to clean it in any meaningful way.

By the way, the local wildlife seems to have moved in. A tabby cat is currently sleeping on the front porch of the shrine, right under the collections box.]

[ Don't judge her, she's not equipped to do clean-up work! Again: she's an indoorsy person. But nobody is around except for what seems to be a cat, so there's no problem in having her reputation somehow ruined.

But okay, just going to take a note of things and writing down on her phone's notepad application what she might have to get for later.

Let's see what she can do now, though. There's a broom, and even if it's old, it looks like it's still usable (hopefully it doesn't break) so let's just sweep the leaves out of the way while trying not to disturb the sleeping cat.

"Trying" being the key word here. She does frown once it's all in a pile, however, because there's nowhere to put it all. ]

I'll need a garbage bag for that. I think there should be a store somewhere nearby that has some?

[ Just let her double on back to go run to the nearest corner store and buy some gloves, tongs and a garbage bag set; the other stuff that she needs can wait a bit.

Time to send the leaves packing... in the bag, at least. She'll have to dispose of it later when she's heading back home. ]

What else... hm, I guess I could do some other stuff but I. Am Goddamn tired.

[ Which apparently means sitting down next to the cat and petting it. ]

[The cat is actually awake and watching Inaba once she comes back with the supplies from the store. It doesn't move from its spot under the donation box, but it's clearly interested in what Inaba is doing. It seems to perk up once she scoops all the leaves into bags, too.

When she comes over to sit down, it will immediately rub its head against Inaba's hand. The cat appreciates Inaba's attempts to clean up its home!

She might also notice that the 'air' around the little shrine seems a bit lighter too, as if a good mood has settled into the place. It's not unlike the positive feelings someone might have after doing some spring cleaning.]

[ Oh no, that's cute... Inaba is definitely going to give the cat a few more pets because this is a good cat. She likes this cat. It is her friend now.

Although, is it a stray...?

Maybe she should take it to a shelter.

She does feel the shift in the atmosphere, although thinks nothing of it; at least not immediately. Although it's definitely strange and pretty out of the ordinary. ]

This is definitely not going to be fixed in a day, and I don't think I can do this on my own...

[This cat is definitely her friend now, and is purring rather loudly while rubbing itself all over her arm. Love the cat, Inaba. It craves attention.

And a clean home, really. But Inaba is working wonders there. Speaking of which, when Inaba speaks up, the cat meows before jumping up on top of the donation box. Follow the cat, Inaba! It's going to show you something.]

[ Spoilers: Inaba's favorite animal is a cat, so she secretly (or not so secretly for the cat) so hearing those purrs is nice.

Although when it meows and jumps on top of the donation box, she can't help but be curious, hopping onto her feet so she can follow the cat. Where we going? ]

[They're going to the shrine itself! Because the cat is jumping in through one of the holes in the door.

Inaba will probably have to open the door to get in herself, though.]

[ Huh.

Well, okay, she supposes she can push open the door to enter, here. How's it looking on the inside? ]

[It's a fukken wreck.

No really, the inside looks like it hasn't been cleaned in over a century, and plants are growing out of the floor in places. There's also a couple spots where sunlight streams in through small holes in the ceiling.

The cat seems to have made a bed out of a tapestry left on an altar of some sort, though. Which is where said cat is going, to curl up on it. It's showing Inaba that hey, this is home! And that efforts to clean up its home would be appreciated.]

Yikes. This place is a mess. You really should find a better place to sleep, cat.

[ She's bad at names, so she's being simple. ]

I can probably help with the basics, but I'm no carpenter. I might need to grab some help.

['cat' is fine, the cat has its own name anyway and it can't share yet. Not until the shrine is a bit nicer. Because cleaning it up grants this cat power.

The cat meows again before nudging at Inaba's hand again. Anything helps, really. There hasn't been a visitor to the shrine in decades, so she is doing him a huge favor.

But she might also be interested in some of the paintings in the dusty and gross shrine. Paintings that depict a large white tiger. One with stripes similar to what are on this cat.]

[ Seeing the cat meow and nudge at her hand again is honestly real cute, and she can't help but flash a genuine, rare smile because of it.

Athough she does peer at the paintings, humming with interest. ]

A tiger? Was this the god the people worshipped here...

[ Just going to snap photos of that as well, too. ]

I'm going to have to bring in stuff to get the dust out of here-- [ Okay, yeah, she's going to cough a bit due to the dust, sagging her shoulders quite a bit. ] A mop and some cloth, I guess? Ugh... Do I even have the money to do all of this? I'm going to go broke at this rate.

[ Inaba, your priorities... ]

[The cat seems happy to have the pictures taken! And in fact, it's going to jump onto a little table by the painting and stand big and proud, just like how the tiger is standing.

This is the cat attempting to communicate something, but it might also possibly be a cat just being a cat. Still, a good photo opportunity, right?

Then, at the mention of money, the cat jumps down and goes back out front, to the offering box. There are indeed some coins in there! They're probably not enough to buy much on face value alone, but. Um. At least a few are a very, very old style of money, and Inaba could possibly sell them at a coin collector shop for some cash. Not a whole lot, given all the weathering they experienced over the years, but at least a little bit.]

[ The fact that it seems to be happy and even give her a chance at a good photo opportunity is... good, actually. She actually thinks that it's kind of cute to the point where she wants to gush a bit, but no. She can't. She's not that kind of person.

After snapping that photo, she notices how the cat jumps down and goes back and follows it back to where the offering box is.

She peers into it, humming inquisitively but here's the dilemma. ]

I can't just take this. . .it'd be like stealing, wouldn't it? Even if nobody's touched this place in years, probably.

[The cat meows again, and then starts trying to dig the money out with a paw. It's not a successful attempt, because Cat, but he's trying.

Besides, that's what donations are for: the maintaining of a shrine. It's fine, the cat is giving his OK here.

The cat is also too small for this and is falling into the donation box. Whoops.]

[ You tried, poor cat...

Although the fact that he's falling into the donation shrine box is both a little hilarious and also. Uh.

Does cat need Life Alert? ]

Ah-

[ Just let her go into the donation box and grab him out of there because staying in there wouldn't be too good. ]

Are you okay?

[ She's genuinely concerned, here. ]

[The cat seems a little grumpy at having fallen into the donations box. But it did manage to snag one of the coins in its mouth, so when Inaba picks it up it will attempt to give her the coin.]

Sorry, I should have caught you before then... but you're pretty smart, aren't you?

[Yes, this cat is indeed smart. And if Inaba looks at his face, there's something very human there. Maybe a human intelligence in a cat?

Whatever the case, this cat is now attached to Inaba. Inaba is friend-shaped, kitty likes her!]

[ She does pay attention to the details, so when she does note it, she finds herself wondering how it's possible. . . although given that she's dealt with supernatural shit before, so this is nothing different.

Although the fact that the cat seems to be attached to her is.

It's definitely a thing. ]

Okay, I'll help you out. But this better worth it.

[Oh, it'll definitely be worth it. As Inaba will find out, once she gets some more cleaning and repairs done. Because while this cat will remain a cat for the time being, if she keeps making trips and tidying up she will eventually find a person there instead of a cat.

A person dressed in a grey and white yukata, who is carrying a sword and looks like something out of a history book. One who also has a white tiger's mask hanging off of his obi.

One who is admiring the work she has done on the shrine so far, and is smiling contently.]

[ Yeah, she'll keep going back and forth to get some of the basic cleaning and stuff but eventually when she finds the person she's just looking exhausted and is laying on the floor, looking almost dead even as he admires everything. ]

I'm not imagining things, right. . .?

You look tired enough, it could be delirium.

[He says that with a joking tone, and the smile he gives is another sign that he's teasing. But when he looks at her, she'll be able to see that his eyes look quite familiar...]

It's been ages since anyone has cleaned up my home this much. I suppose I should say 'thank you', but even that wouldn't be enough to express my gratitude.

Pinch me to wake me up, then.

[ She wouldn't be surprised if she was tired in general, to be honest. ]

Well, I'm surprised how you could even live in this place when it was like that. I just did this on a whim; I'm not the type of person who'd help like this. . .

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