Inspiration (OPEN)

[Kitten4u]

Something exciting happened in the kappa capital recently. They got their hands on a very powerful source of energy courtosy of the gods on the mountain. This would revolutionize the way the people of Gensokyo lived. Nitori and the other kappa had many ideas for machines and what-not, but finding a way to power those devices was a real nightmare until now. Deep underground in an area that used to be Hell, Nitori and a couple of human girls found a hell raven that was given the power of the sun. It was like the outerworld's nuclear energy, but the energy this raven produced was clean, did not produce any waste (well, except for natural bodily functions, but that's not radioactive), and had no risk of a meltdown. It was truely a wonderous form of energy.

Nitori hoped that the word about this energy wouldn't reach the general public until it was actually ready to be used, but sadly it did manage to leak. There were rumors about it drifting everywhere! Granted, a lot of the information they had was false, but it was still annoying that the kappa couldn't shock the world when they unvieled it. She wondered how it got out since it was rare for the kappa to talk to anyone that wasn't a kappa and even rarer for them to actually speak to a human. Oh well, Nitori had more important things to worry about than how the world knew about the kappa's newest secret.

Today, she was taking a break from implimenting that energy. It was hard work after all, particularly since they had to deal with a rather dim youkai. For now, Nitori just wanted to dream about what she could do with this power. She decided to leave the kappa capital for a while since it would be much quieter near the various streams on Youkai Mountain. She was sitting on the edge of one of these small creeks in an open area. There were very few trees in this area, and not much grass either. It was mostly rock and sand. The sand was nice to sit on, even if it did tend to stick to her wet butt. It was snowing lightly, but cold water didn't really bother this kappa at least. She still splashed her feet in the water as though it couldn't freeze at any moment.

Then she began to think. What could she build with this new technology? There was so many possibilities it was hard to know where to start! Like most people, she thought about the current issues her kind was facing. The most notable one right now was cold water. The kappa didn't actually live in the water, but they were certainly dependant on it. Perhaps there was a way to keep it warm year round? And if they could keep the water warm could they keep the air warm as well? That would certainly help a lot of humans, and Nitori liked humans a lot. If they could keep the air warm, could they cook food faster than a fire could? Each of those questions just kept spawning more questions. Nitori had never been so excited in her life. She couldn't wait until this project was done.

For now, she would have to live with staring at the cloudy sky and simply dream about what she could do. For now, she could only imagine what Gensokyo would be like in five years. But soon, she would do everything in her power to make it a reality.

[whyerd]

As Nitori couldn't stop thinking what's in store in the future, Akamai didn't think he would have one. The poor creature was starving and dehydrated, as most of the edible plants are no longer around. It didn't help him that wolves decided to hang around his den. That is why he was tired and sore, afraid that the predators would take him for dinner. His home was around the border, that was until he was abandoned by his mother. For the last six months, he's been living near by the forest by the mountain.

The cat tengu then noticed a stream. He was too exhausted and thirsty to be his normal, observant self. He dashes to the sandy opening, bending down, and cupping the water. Afraid that it wouldn't be available to him for long, he quickly shovels 7 cups of water. The only reason he stopped was the freezing water was painfully numbing his hands and face. Trying to return the heat to his hands, the child tries drying them on the dirty clothes and rubs them together.

Pangs raged in Akamai's stomach, lips chapped and split, legs were raw meat jelly, the bitter cold wind picks up, and the snowflakes became bigger. Each annoyance, every pain has became heavy weight that he's starting to be crush by. He had to let the world know it, "Why did you have to leave Mommy! I don't want to die out here!" Still not noticing his surroundings, he broke down and cried.

[Kitten4u]

Nitori just stared at the clouds, completely oblivious to everything around her. She wasn't here, she was, oh about seven years in the future. That was, until she heard someone splashing in the river. Normally she wouldn't even notice this, but she wasn't thinking about anything with running water at the moment. Right now she was more interested in the outerworld concept of "electricity," and it was apparently bad if that stuff came in contact with water, not that she would know right now. Though, once she was able to expiriment with it she would definatly see if that was true. After all, the kappa capital was on the river, and it would be bad if it really couldn't come in contact with water.

Regardless of what she was thinking about that splash startled her. She certainly didn't know what water would do, so picturing it was quite impossible. Put simply, the water didn't belong, so she immediatly snapped back into reality. For a moment she didn't even know where she was, but she remembered pretty quickly. Nitori came here to get away from her work, but she didn't imagine that anyone else would come here. Her first instint was just to run. She was painfully shy, so any unexpected contact would generally make her run unless there was something she really needed to do. She was getting ready to dive into the water when she got a closer look at this person. It was starting to seem like she had some obligation to stay.

Kappa had a soft spot for kids, and not just human kids. There was this nasty overexaggeration that kappa liked to eat human children...Well it's partially true. But what youkai don't eat humans anyway? It's not like they do it frequently, or like they raid human towns. Though, this kid didn't look like a human anyway. Nitori couldn't think of a human with purple eyes...Or cat ears for that matter, so that nasty little part of kappa culture didn't even matter here. However, it looked like he was in pretty terrible shape. What could she do though? Nitori didn't know what he ate, or how he would even react to her being there. Still, she couldn't help but feel she had to do something.

After fidgeting for a moment Nitori just decided to go with the first thing that popped into her head. She happened to have a cucumber on her (how could she possibly go anywhere without at least one?), so she just decided to give that to the kid. Hopefully it would do the job, she knew that she loved them. Though, she couldn't help but hesitate as she approached him. He was another person after all. She slowly waded through the water, stopping at just about every step as though she might turn back. When she was finally next to him she just held out the cucumber and looked away. Nitori didn't say anything, nor did she really know what to say. It was hard enough just to go this far.

[whyerd]

The cat-boy continues to cry. It's been awhile since he had, the last time being several months ago. He wasn't crying about dying though, only being homesick and hating his mother. Akamaii know that he does, but can't believe that he hates Mommy. She was God; he did everything she said but in return she cared, taught, and loved him.

Out of nowhere, she abandons him. He didn't know why, then guessed, then believed. The child knew he did look a lot like his mother and sister. However, when asked about what he and they are, his mother and sister were girls and he was a boy. Mommy would sometimes talk about Daddy, another boy, and what he did. Though he wasn't told what he looked like, Akamai assumed he look like his father. However his young mind needed something to blame, he choose that he did the wrong doing. Perhaps he wasn't man enough for his mom, especially with ears and a tail like them.

"Hm!" Akamai was drawn out of his world, by the sound of something coming towards him. He stares at the kappa, not knowing what she is. He wasn't scared, it wasn't the first time a hallucination came then disappear. In all 6 years of life, he's only seen three beings, counting himself in the mirror, all of them cat tengu. The being disappear, it stood there in the water.

"Who are you? ...are you real?" His voice is hoarse from crying and still being thirsty. His purple eyes may have appeared black, if Nitori could see past the tears. They seem to notice something, "Is that for me?" He reaches out with his right hand, about to reach for the cucumber, but thought of something. I need to know if she's real. His hand went to the tops of the kappa's, ignoring the palms holding out the item.

[Kitten4u]

Was she real? Well, that was one hell of a philisophical question, but somehow Nitori didn't think that's what the kid meant. But, why would he ask such a silly question? Wasn't she clearly standing right there in front of him? It was kind of hard to take this seriously, but she didn't really want to hurt the kid's feelings, so she did her best to be polite.

"Um...Yes," she nodded. "...To both questions."

Fortunatly she managed to avoid raising her eyebrows at all, though she did have a somewhat awkward expression on her face. That was a combination of her general nervousness around people she didn't know, and the fact that she found this situation rather strange. Then again, Notori didn't really know how to act around strangers, so she found most situations strange. However, she couldn't help but think that this was particularly weird.

"I'm Nitori Kawashiro," she paused, "Um...Nice to meet you?"

Nitori was still holding out the cucumber for the kid to take, though she wouldn't be at all dissapointed if he didn't take it. Cucumbers were tasty after all.

[whyerd]

His eyes lit up when he heard his questions being answered. His face followed suit, touching her hands, It's real! He referred her as 'it', as he didn't what sex she was. It didn't help that she was an entirely different race. That was a big deal right now, If it's real, then the food is! I hope it doesn't leave when I take it.

Akamai snatches it, quickly devouring it. If he wasn't starving, he would have appreciated how tasty and refreshing it was. The entire time, he watched the kappa, intended to follower her if she tries to leave him. It's been a long time that he had ran into a living being. the child wasn't going to let her leave.

It's only been a minute when he was half-done. He stops eating loudly and with his mouth open to ask, "Can you stay around, Nitori? I don't want to be left alone." He nosily returns to eating, trying to keep his focus on the visitor.

[Kitten4u]

Nitori just stood there in complete shock as the kid inhaled that cucumber. Sure, he did look like he was in bad shape, but food isn't really supposed to be eaten like that. It's bad for the stomach. Well, at least he liked it. Sadly, she didn't have anymore on her, or she might have given him another one. She could hardly blame herself for that though. It's not like she expected to run into anyone in the middle of nowhere.

"Well, I have some work I need to finish at some point, but I can stay for a little while."

Nitori came here to take a break from said work, so there was really no reason to not stay for a little while at least. Plus, how could she say no to that face?

[takiyoma]

Walking along a path not to far away from the two was a young blond headed man holding a tiger Lilly in his left hand close to his nose. This young man was minding his own buisness humming a smooth song to himself. Nothing seem to bother this man, nothing even seemed to distract. This young man was stuck in his own world, the oh thing that caught this mans attention was the tiger Lilly. His short straight hair blew with the breezes of the wind. This young man's eyes were close at the time. This man was tall and muscular. He was wearing a fancy white shirt and matching pants. This man continued to hum to his self as he continued to be in his own world.

The young man fixed his glasses that had been on his face above his nose. The glasses wasn't to big, they also wasn't to small. They fit the young man perfectly, and made him look like a buisness man. His glasses fit his cloths perfectly, making him look like a rich man. This young man was a Youkai. It wasn't obvious, he looked more human then anything. Only a another Youkai or a human that could tell a Youkai by it's ways could tell, until you've seen his nails. Although a human would have had long nails too.

The young man wasn't planning for any sort of battle at all, so he had sat down his long green sword somewhere. The young man stopped in his tracks and took one last whiff of the beautiful tiger Lillie's scent before tossing it somewhere and smiling simply. "Oh the delightful scent of the tiger Lilly makes me think what would it be if there were other beauties that could match of the scent and texture of it's fabulous smell?" he said to himself very calmly. His eyes not yet opened, he just stood there thinking. The young man rested his arms to his side before noticing that the question was a good question he couldn't even answer.

[whyerd]

Akamai finishes his meal, "Do you have anymore? I'm still hungry." His stomach is used to the scarfing, as food is hard to find and it's usually better to eat it before it goes. He didn't know she didn't have anymore, but didn't give her time to answer before, "Can I go with you? I don't want to be left out here. It's too cold."

He wasn't thanking her or asking politely, other than tone, because he wasn't raised to do so. He asked, then got an answer, then was on his way. The child didn't give out his name, because he didn't know if he should. Despite a 'yes' or 'no' answer, Akamai is going to follower her. Being caught up with Nitori, he didn't bother to pay attention to the rest of his surroundings. He didn't hear or see the man and his flower.

[Kitten4u]

This place was becoming livelier than she thought it would. Rivers were the life source of all living things, so she felt like she shouldn't be as shocked as she was. Sadly, Nitori didn't really want to go too far away from the rivers, so there was no easy way to avoid people. Next time she would make a mental note to bring her optical camouflage suit once she got around to fixing it. Stupid thing had a tenancy to break a lot. Regardless, there was another person here, which was two more people than she was hoping to meet on her break. This new person didn't seem to be human or a kid, so she didn't really feel the need to talk to him, and probably wouldn't unless he spoke to her first. Plus, he was talking to a flower and that was just weird.

"Um...No I don't," she paused, "...Sorry?"

Nitori couldn't really explain why she felt the need to apologize. If anything she should be upset that she didn't even receive a simple thank you for giving away her favorite food. Sure, she was used to doing thankless work, but that didn't make it right. Who knows, maybe she just felt bad for the kid and was more apologizing for his situation than the fact that she didn't have anymore food. Though, that wasn't really her fault either.

He wanted to follow her? He was a cat right? He did realize that she was a kappa right? He did know how kappa live right? Cats and water sprites aren't exactly a good mix. Plus, the kappa capital was at the base of a waterfall, and while it wasn't physically in the water it was very close to the water, and people could only get there either by swimming or by flying. He didn't appear to be able to fly, though that didn't always mean he couldn't. It just seemed unlikely to her. Nitori didn't bother to bring any of the devices that allow her to fly, so the kitty couldn't exactly use those either. Plus, she wasn't real sure how the other kappa would react if she brought an outsider to the village.

"Well...It's kind of...Surrounded by water. I'm a kappa you know. We live in the water."

((Sorry for the sudden change in personality. I read through the Mountain of Faith gamescript again and I realized I needed to tone down her shy cuteness and amp up her computer hackerish attitude.))

[takiyoma]

Hearing two voices not so far away the young man opened his eyes slightly. Takiyoma was this young mans name. Takiyoma seemed a little surprised, he didn't even notice the two there in the first place. He didn't understand why a little flower had got him so distracted. He shifted his icy blue colored eyes to-wards the direction of the two, he realized that it had been a young boy and a girl. He wasn't quite sure why they had been there, he didn't really expect them to be there. Thinking to his self simply ~They might just think I'm a little strange for talking to a flower~ But was he right? It's not really seen everyday a random person walking by talking to a flower, but Takiyoma couldn't help it. He couldn't resist the smell of a flower he likes. Takiyoma shifted his eyes to-wards another direction, away from them. He wasn't planning on talking to the two at all. Besides, he had other plans on his mind.

Reaching his hand in his left pocket he took out a sort of fruit, a small pear that he had found on a tree somewhere along his long walk. The pear he had found was by the waters, and that's how he had found and picked the tiger lily. The pear wasn't really his favorite fruit he liked the most, but he didn't mind eating it for starving matters. Takiyoma starred at the pear that had been in his left hand for a moment, he wasn't sure whether to eat the pear right now or just give it away. To him, the kid that had been by that girl seemed hungry. He replayed in his mind what he heard from the little kid while he was standing there some time ago, but still he wasn't sure. Takiyoma pondered on it for awhile, before he made up his mind and tossed the pear to to-wards the kid's direction. He wasn't paying any attention at all when he tossed the fruit, but he did know his aim was perfect.

Rather the kid would catch the pear or not he knew what he did was right. Takiyoma let out a slight sigh as he stood there. He still didn't feel like talking, so he just started walking away. The direction he was walking almost seemed as though he was walking to-wards the two, but what he wanted to do was simply walk pass them. Takiyoma continued to stay silent, he thought to his self ~I know where there is more, so it makes no sense to keep that one~.

[whyerd]

[sorry for the late and short reply]

He was confused by her reply, to being asked if he could go with her. "I didn't know what a kappa was... Is the water you live in that deep," referring to the stream that was up to Notori's legs, "I think I can keep my head above it. If I can't, can I just follow on the side?"

He felt a slight thud next to him. He looks at what it was, eying the fruit. Not wanting to lose the kappa, he takes the pear and continues to watch the first visitor. "Can I go with you? I don't want to be by myself ever again."

[Kitten4u]

Nitori seemed to be trying to say something, but it came out is incoherant babbling. She never was good at saying no to someone, and it was even more difficult since he was a kid. However she wasn't sure how the other kappa would react, and that made her tempted to say no. Thus, she found herself unable to say anything but gibberish.

Though, something was strange. Nitori was under the impression that nekomata couldn't even move when they went into the water. They certainly couldn't swim, and they definatly couldn't use any of their abilities when wet. Yet, this one seemed completely unafraid of the water. That was certainly very strange, and rather inconvenient. She probably swam faster than him, so she could always try to ditch it further down the river. But Nitori wasn't sure if she could bring herself to do that. The thought of him sitting at the edge of the river bawling his eyes out all because she decided to be a jerk was kind sad. Well, it seemed like she would be stuck with him unless she could pawn him off on the weird guy.

"Um...Well...The city isn't actually in the water. It's...uh...Just surrounded by it. It's at the base of a waterfall, so the air is kind of misty, and...Well, like I said, it's surrounded by water. The lake is kind of deep. Not even I can touch the bottom and keep my head over the top of the water. Um...Maybe it would be best to follow someone that doesn't live in the water?"

She kept looking towards the weird guy with the flower, and hoped that he would take the hint. Nitori didn't mean to be rude in this case, but she really was afraid how the other kappa would react to an outsider in the city. Sure, they didn't really have anything against nekomata, but no nekomata had ever gone into the kappa capital. They disliked water, and the kappa were heavily reliant on it. They just didn't mix well.

[takiyoma]

As Takiyoma continued to walk he heard the two continue to talk. It wasn't like he had a choice. Even if he were to ignore them he would still be able to here them because of how close he was. Takiyoma finally walked pass the two before closing his eyes and yawning lightly. Hearing the conversations of the two the boy seemed to had wanted to stay with the lady because he had no home, Takiyoma began to get a little curious. Takiyoma didn't want to be as nosy, but then noticing the lady's reply to the kid he just had to look. Opening his eyes slightly and shifting the to wards the two he noticed the kid was a nekomata, and the girl seemed to be a Kappa. Takiyoma was a little surprised the nekomata kid wanted to stay with her. He quickly thought to his self ~Well the girl is right, over where they live it is usually surrounded by water...not unless the kid is willing to take a risk. Other than that he wouldn't survive~ Takiyoma shifted his eyes back to wards his main focus. Which had been straight ahead.

He was a little far from them at this time. He began to slow down his paste a little, remembering a rumor he had heard about the kappa. "I wonder" He said to himself curiously,. But remembering the fact that he did not want to talk to anyone at the time, Takiyoma just shook his head out for the though.

Takiyoma realized what the kappa girl had said to the nekomata kid; "Um...Maybe it would be best to follow someone that doesn't live in the water?"
" He figured she was giving him a hint. Takiyoma chuckled slightly to his self as he continued to walk. ~No way am I taking care of a nekomata~ He thought. Takiyoma didn't really feel like being bothered for of now. He was just simply taking his little strolls around Youkai Mountain. He wasn't really thinking of talking or meeting up with some creatures/people.

Takiyoma walked to a tree and looked up at it, as if he were looking for something, but actually he was trying to make a decision if he wanted to solve the rumor of the Kappa, to see if it is true or not. ~Well there is a Kappa right there, solving this rumor should be easy. Should I continue my long stroll? or have a talk with the kappa?~. Takiyoma was stuck in his own decisions. He wasn't sure which one was better. Besides, having a talk with the Kappa wouldn't be so bad, that's if the kappa wouldn't hate him. Narrowing his eyes he shifted them to wards the two before thinking ~Hm...maybe if I become friends with this Kappa, I would be able to destroy some of the other Humans that is said to be stronger than some of us Youkai's...besides, I don't think this Kappa is able to control her powers if she dozen harness the power of the sun. But then again....looks can be deceiving.~. Takiyoma was sort of distant from the two at this time. He was almost to far away to be seen, but it wasn't hard to spot him, sense he had been wearing white at the time.

[/size]

[whyerd]

He wasn't taking the hint, "You live in water? But you just said it you lived surrounded by water. I should be fine. 'Misty' means the air is wet, like it's raining? As long as I'm not underwater, I'll be good. Can I go with you, then? You're the only person I've seen for a long time"

Unless she starts attacking him or spells it out, he'll be compelled to follow her to safety. Though he knows the presence of the other person, he believes she will take care of him. That's her fault as she provided food first. Perhaps if she makes him leave her, Akamai will then go to the older male.