First the glass that cut at her eyes and the rest of her and then that merciful true darkness. But then falling into some place worse, where the glass was alive. And then falling into a corpse, so hungry. She saw a tattoed man, but he saw her, too. And the look of terror on his face called up a brief memory of her own hell. Before she could consume him, she was caught and held down by ropes. Then Words were spoken, and she came to, rational and naked.

A lean man with hair plaited down to his waist helped her up. He wore only a pair of ripped blue jean shorts. His eyebrows were thick and he had half a grin on his face. “And who might you be?” he asked in a voice deeper than expected.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:37, Fri 14 Jan 2022.

Kiku attempts to shuffle away and pull her legs up against the wall.  Her hands strain as she tries to raise them to her eyes and rub the glass from them.  Some violent shaking as she tries to free herself and sit up occurs before she just relaxes on the bed.  It takes her a few moments to get her bearings and realize her situation.  While the lack of glass in her eyes from her memories is a relief.

I'm Kiku she stammers out to the man as she takes a look around.

Another man tied similarly to the bed to her is on her right side, with another figure on her left that she can't make out much other than a foot tied also.

She spends a little bit more time examining herself.

T-This isnt me... well it is ... but it isn't.  My body feels strange it is just more...


She squints at the man above her.


Who are you and what is this place, what are you going to do with me.

And a blanket maybe?


She flops her head back onto the bed and squirms around as her body has the feeling of not being her.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Fri 14 Jan 2022.

"Call me Hisashi," the man with the long-braided hair says. He glances into the shadows behind him. The space is carpeted and many desks have been pushed away to make room on the floor for the three mattresses. Dim, half-working florescent lamps provide the only illumination, though there is the edge of a green neon sign visible through the dark floor-to-ceiling mirror on the other side.

"Let me help you up." He offers one slender arm.

Then he scratches at his chin. "Short version: you died, you went to A hell and now you're back. You were a mindless beast, as were these other two. But you came through to... well, I'll explain deeper things later. Follow me, you don't want to see what has to happen here."

Four shadowed figures stood up from where they were leaning against desks and the window. A fifth remains seated, merely spectating.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:54, Sat 15 Jan 2022.

Standing rather awkwardly Kiku almost falls back over grabbing the blanket to wrap around her self.   Her first steps an bizarre mix of grace and clumsiness.  Glancing back into the room as she leaves it one more time.


Hisashi? I was dead? Was the glass cutting into my eyes and body a hell?


Holding her hand up and flexing it slowly.

clearly this is not who I was.  Is my face different, not that you might know anyway? It is like i am ... in a different body.  It is like my muscles are a coil ready to strike.   

Before pulling the blanket away and looking down at herself again.

I clearly did not look like this either.  Everything is more ... in a better way.
 Is this normal, not that i guess being dead and not dead? 


Her stride evening out as they move through the building to wherever he is leading her.

The lean man regards Kiku as she fumbles awkwardly. “I’ve heard of this happening but never seen it. What I’m guessing is that your soul found the wrong body on its way back. Also, I have no idea which hell you went to.”

Hisashi leads Kiku through a maze of hallways. Some doors are open to similar floor-to-ceiling windows. Though one, Kiku sees the bright neon sign of a hotel--Midori no Niwa--across the street that seems familiar to her. After some racking of her still confused brain, Kiku realizes that they are in Toshima ward.

Finally, Hisahi steps into a large, indirectly-lit room measuring at least 40 feet on a side. As they go in, Kiku notices the door: it’s thick and metal. Hisashi knocks on it, and it gives off a soft clang. His laugh rumbles. “This is basically a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. We’re day sleepers.”

Arrayed in the windowless room are several mattresses and cots, along with lockers near each. Near some, clothes are scattered on the thin-carpeted floor. A couple of denizens have free-standing clothes racks.

Following Kiku’s gaze, Hisashi says, “Tae-chan should be able to find you some clothes momentarily. And you really should gargle.”

He strides over to the nearest trunk and sits down.

“We’re called Kuei-jin. We haunt the night, following various Dharmas. We need chi to survive; the best way to do that is to drink blood. You’ve got a lot to learn.”

The 'fifth' of the group tending the pens (well spectating at least) was a young woman, attractive but sad.  Traditional robes were wrapped around her slender frame and Reiko clutched a mobile phone with both hands (not currently in use).  She sat still as a corpse, slumped in her chair and only her shifting eyes gave away that she was 'alive'... in a creepy manner.  Reiko was still unsure of her place and very new to her Dharma.  Her lessons were not yet done nor did Reiko feel whole... so she was absorbing things like a sponge.

All through the evaluation of the chih-mei, Reiko had her eye on Kiku.  Only some of the creatures would come back 'sane' (or a close equivalent).  Reiko hoped that Kiku was among them... and when the young woman was led away, she breathed a sigh of relief.  A crooked grin followed Kiku on her way out.

"Welcome sister, hehe.  Let's do tea..."

And then the others moved among those who had flunked their tests.  Reiko watched weapons rise and fall, blood splatter the floor, and animalistic cries peak with pain.  She saw and heard it in slow motion, both beautiful and sorrowful all at once.  Not everyone could be saved, something she had learned in her own hellscape.  But maybe one day she would fix that... if given the chance.

While getting dressed  The hungry dead The stories say .... Her gaze goes back toward where they came from.  Oh..    As she rubs her wrists.

Taking his advice and gargling, realizing the taste of death was left in her mouth.

I guess i have a lot to learn might as well get started as soon as possible.


As the new woman enters the room.

Do we even drink tea?

Only when Reiko was dismissed did she follow after Kiku.  The way she shuffled in was a bit unsettling but after the tea question Reiko became a little more... normal.  She answered Kiku's question and effected a small greeting bow.

"A blood tea maybe?  I've not had the means to try.  I am Kimura Reiko, student of the Song of Shadow.  Who might you be... or rather, who were you?"

Oh how she longed to have a room of her own...and things of her own.  Self consciously running a hand through her hair, it felt dirty to Reiko (when it might appear ideal to someone else).  Even dead and partially enlightened, her vanity still remained.  But at least in Kiku she could have a friend... someone who would come to understand the Second Breath and all that it entailed.

Mimicing Reiko, Kiku runs her hand through her hair.   After getting cleaned up Appearance 4 eventually

Kiku Clearly making an effort to clear the fog still in her head Chi..ziwa, I think.  Pretty sure I was a teacher, english i think.

Holding her head more and thinking.

The last thing i remember was being beaten by someone, i think i had something that they wanted.  I apologize as things are still very fuzzy.

Rubbing her eyes And glass in my eyes

Squinting while looking around the room, and it appears that I will still need some glasses.


How about you what did you do before?

Hisashi says, "Once you've stolen some Yang chi, you can impersonate a facsimile of life. And then have your tea."

As the four others return, Hisashi motions toward them one at a time.

Indicating a large, heavy-set man dressed in combat fatigues, Hisashi says, “Fuse-san. He follows the dharma of the Devil Tiger. You can learn something of fighting from him. And also how to use Demon Arts. You can probably feel it inside: the demon trying to control you. And, eventually it will, if only for short periods of time."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:16, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

”Amachi-san. He’s the real person in charge.” Hisashi grins.

Amachi seems to be slightly over average height and is wearing dress pants and a collared shirt. He just laughs. “What he means is that I’m in balance, the central direction of our Wu. But I delegate. A lot.”

Two females, talking to each other quietly, enter behind the others.

OOC: Make Perc+Alertness rolls to hear what they’re saying. Setting up dice roller now.

One of the pair stands at least six feet tall. “Call me Akagi-sama.”

Hisashi shakes his head. “She does love protocol. Akagi seeks to cultivate the Hun, the higher part of ourselves. She can also teach how to behave around the elders. Without getting more dead.”

The last wu member looks about five-foot and a hundred pounds when soaking wet. Her face and hands are white and gaunt, accented by the pure white robes she wears. “Tae is fine. I’ll be showing you how to face the darkness.” She smiles. “Something tells me you will need it.”

She looks over at Kiku. "Let's get you a shower. I'll show you the way."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:22, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

Kiku bows to Amachi first, followed by the rest in the order she met them.

I am very please to meet you all, I just go by Kiku.  It seems you all have something to teach me when you can.  I will do what i can to bring something to the group, though i do not yet know what it might be.


Yes a shower would be very nice as i feel like i have a years worth of grit on my skin.


Kiku follows Tae off to the shower.

(overheard from the two females whispering together, approaching:
deeper voice: “... your Dharma.”
higher-pitched voice: “ … not sure what purpose Arima … keeping his secrets close …”
“ … hold responsible.”
“ … worried … disposable…”)

The next two years are a dark rebirth. Reiko and Kiku drink in all they can of the wisdom and cunning of the five Wu members. Both of them selecting the Bone Flower Dharma, the bulk of their instruction falls to the petite Tae. For all of her slight stature, she demonstrates the formidable arts of the Song of Shadow. Reiko and Kiku manage, after intense training, to master a fraction of them. Tae proves surprisingly personable and encouraging, especially compared to Fuse and Akagi. That said, the pace of their training is almost frantic.

Of especial import are those journeys that Tae leads them on into the Yin Realm. These are trips only to the very surface of the realm, where the real world is visible, though seen through a lens of decay and ruin. The elder Bone Flower does instruct them on what to expect further in and does find various ghosts to converse with. Tae also gifts each of her students with two imbued white jade tokens -- tiny likenesses of each -- for use when following the crab's footsteps into the Yin world.

Finally, one night, the two students are told to dress their best and animate with Yang Chi: they are to be presented to the local elder, Arima-sama, a mandarin of high standing and great power. The two of them are told to hunt, to top off their Chi and then to converge on the Hokkaido Shrine at midnight.

OOC: Describe how you hunt, making appropriate rolls, like Man+Subterfuge to get someone alone through deception or Cha (or App) +Empathy (or Expression) to try the old seduction routine. Or Dex+ Brawl (or Martial Arts) to just try and go the route of force. Or something more creative. All diff 6. Assuming you succeed, you’re at full Chi. Fail and you’re at one less. Botch and you’re at three less.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:05, Sat 22 Jan 2022.

While kiku ponders simply hitting someone over the back of the head because it is so much simplier.  They rarely are in the cleanest places, and fight back sometimes.  As she cant risk getting her clothes dirty or messy she has to try a different way at first at least.  Also if you dont get them with the first strike, it always leaves an after taste of fear.


Straightening and smoothing her dress before entering the club she looks around for her evenings feast.  It does not take long to notice a man with his eyes locked on her from across the room.  The conversation is less than amazing, but the speed at which he accepts the offer to go some where private makes it obvious what is on his mind.  A brief trip back to his place, a few excuses about biting being a kinky turn on, and a pressure point later, he is left on his bed until the morning.

Using his bathroom to fix her makeup,  She looks a the man and tugs his pants off before leaving.  Might as well leave him thinking something happened.  Definitely tastier when they are happy.

The door closes and locks itself as she leaves for the meeting.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:25, Sat 22 Jan 2022.

Over the two years of training, Reiko came to view Kiku as the big sister she never had.  She wasn't sure if Kiku needed any help from her... but was eager to contribute and gain acceptance.  Reiko's creepiness did not subside.
In her trips to the Yin Realm, Reiko was a keen student.  She had unfinished business in a certain Yin realm Yozi Hell (Kakuri) and ambitions to tame it.  Whatever Tae had to teach about the Shikome, Reiko devoured that knowledge too.

On the night of their presentation to Arima-sama, Reiko chose a black dress and accented it with Boneflower and Yin accessories.  She looked great and took a selfie on her magic phone.  But after Tae's tut-tutting, Reiko changed into something else and prepared to re-balance her natural Yin state to one of Yang.

I guess we are going to play pretend then...

Like Kiku, Reiko chose the same bar and the same method of hunting... even playing the part of 'Wing Chick' if her sister allowed her to.  Everything seemed to go OK initially, but her mark eventually got a glimpse at her hidden creepiness.  Reiko never saw him again after his sudden trip to the bathroom.

Hmph, stupid Yang stuff.

She ended up going to the meeting a little hungrier.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:03, Tue 25 Jan 2022.

The cross-beamed facade of the temple comes into sight as you both approach it after your feeding. A lithe woman in an oversized black leather jacket and mini-skirt stands under the toril. With the ghost of a smile, she motions you to follow her. You pass through a door she locks behind you. The hallway you stand in is well lit, and lets out onto the open central space of the shrine. A corpulent man sits at one end, eating an out-of season apple. His arms are as muscular as an ape’s, and his hair’s worn in a topknot.

The Wu you have trained with is standing before him.

OOC: you know he is Arima-sama. Past that, you weren't prepped much. It sure does feel like a test....
Oh yeah, you should roll Charisma + Etiquette, target number 7, to see how your presentation comes across.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:15, Thu 27 Jan 2022.