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Who; Mitsuru+OTA
What; Story and wandering
Where; Network and Market
When; August 19th and later
Warnings; None at the moment

A. Network Post

I heard a story once quite a long time ago that took place in the Mannenji temple in Iwamizawa. The story is allegedly about the haunted Okiku doll, a doll with hair that actually grows as if it were alive. According to those that tell the tale the doll belonged to a child named Okiku who sadly passed away. The family had desperately wished to bury their child with the doll but it wasn't allowed. The doll was instead placed on an alter meant to celebrate the life their daughter had lost.

Strangely though, the doll's hair began to grow. That was not the only strange occurrence that the doll would produce though. Some would claim that they began to dream of the doll and when they awoke it was there, watching them. Lights began to flicker, thuds could be heard throughout the home, and a strange small voice could be heard calling out in the night.

Eventually the family gave her to the Mannenji temple to take care of, hoping this would calm her. It's done quite the opposite though, instead it seems her powers are growing and it's alleged that she invades even the dreams of the priests. Giving them, and any who come to see her, terrible nightmares. There's even been claims that she's begun to sprout little baby teeth inside her porcelain mouth.

Fascinatingly enough it's become a popular, and well known, tourist attraction. Though I've never been and I'm not certain why I felt the need to share this...

[ What a strange thing to be going around.... ]

B. Log

Mitsuru was exhausted. Not that she particularly wished to admit to that to anyone. In fact, she was trying her best to completely avoid admitting any such thing to anyone. For starters, admitting to it would be admitting to the strange nightmares she'd been having that seemed to directly reflect the story she'd found herself compelled to tell. Admitting that would also mean admitting to the fact that she could have sworn she'd awoken several times lately to see that exact doll she'd been describing sitting near her. Each time she was certain it's hair was longer and it looked more...human. Even worse than that was the general feeling of malice that the doll brought with it.

Mitsuru wasn't afraid of ghosts but...

Well, perhaps it was putting her just a bit on edge. Though, she tried her best to convince herself that she was just imagining things, it was only due to the long hours she was working without taking proper breaks. Or proper care of herself at all. It certainly couldn't be that her story had brought some haunted doll to this place could it?

She sighed and let out a large yawn as she walked out of the tavern. The exhaustion had almost completely crept up on her as she started the trek towards her building, yawning along the way and not paying close enough attention to anyone else that might be walking. If she happened to bump into someone she dipped her head in an apology.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't see you there."

Comments

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"Having a plan at all is affected preferable to floundering in the darkness." At the very least it made her feel considerably better to have some semblance of a plan. It wasn't much but it was better than the nothing she'd had just moments ago.

"I'd be willing to be the one to stay up." Because of course she'd volunteer for that. Did it occur to her that they could just fake one of them being asleep? No. No it did not.

"Hmm... something to trap it in...I have a large clothes hamper. Would that do?

[bufubulous]

To be fair to Mitsuru, it hadn’t occurred to Yusuke either at the moment. They couldn’t be blamed for not coming up with the idea to fake being asleep, given they weren’t at their best at the moment. It even made sense to him for one of them to sleep, in case the doll was only drawn in when someone dreamed about it. “Then I suppose that means I shall be the one to take a nap if you are to stand vigil for the doll. I suppose the sooner we do this, the sooner we can reclaim a proper sleep in general.”

Because he was quite sure that Mitsuru needed it as much as he did. She looked like she hadn’t slept in ages.

“A hamper? Given the doll's size, I believe that should do nicely if it’s in solid condition!” He agreed lightly, stifling a little yawn.

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"Unless you have any outright objects to taking a nap," she replied with a small smile that could almost be considered teasing. Mitsuru may not have always been the best at engaging in teasing but she did try now and then! Sometimes she had more success than others, however she did feel confident that this time she had done quite well.

He wouldn't be wrong with his assumption that she did indeed need sleep herself, but in her own mind she was responsible for this. It was ridiculous of her to think that, but it was simply the way it was.

"Wonderful, then we have a plan."

[bufubulous]

“Hardly. I’m a champion at napping, as it were.” He responded with a smile. Whether he realized she was teasing or not, he seemed to find it in him to respond in a lighter tone as well. Gesturing with a little less flourish than usual, he considered the next steps. “Let us spring our plan into action, and catch ourselves a haunted doll!” He ended with a little bow before straightening and looking in the direction of the housing.

“I shall let you retrieve the hamper and meet once you’re ready?” Yusuke asked with a little tilt of his head, realizing they should probably make sure they had everything set and ready for when the doll made an appearance.

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"Even after all I have seen, I had never imagined hearing something such as that," she shook her head. "Though it does remind of a storytime that a friend gave..." Junpei's believe it or don't was certainly brought to mind here. Perhaps she'd have to tell Yusuke about that eventually! now was certainly not the time though.

She gave a sharp nod. "Certainly. I won't be long, perhaps thirty minutes."

[bufubulous]

“Well now you have, and you shall witness it!” He responded with an attempt at a lighter tone, though he paused as Mitsuru continued. “I should like to hear that story sometime.” He added, though recognized now was not necessarily the time for it.

For now, though, he let her go to collect their doll-containment-unit. “I shall be waiting for your return, then.” He agreed, and true to his word, he was where he was expected to be once Mitsuru had retrieved the hamper. Half asleep already, sitting in a chair.