~Hakurei Shrine~ > Kosuzu's Grand Bookstore
Weekly Writing Challenge Thread the First
FinnKaenbyou:
"Well, looks like this is the place."
Aya Shameimaru looked down into Gensokyo's bamboo forests, her eyes falling upon the hidden mansion of Eientei. She smirked to herself for a moment as she considered that the non-winged youkai would've found themselves lost in the maze-like bamboo surrounding the mansion, while tengu like her could simply cheat and fly over the whole thing.
"No wonder I'm so good at this whole paparazzi thing - no-one can keep me out!"
She swooped down cleanly, her stilt-like boots leaving tiny imprints on the ground as she landed. From here she could see the sign speedily hammered just above the entrance, reading 'DR. YAGOKORO'S MEDICAL CLINIC. YOUKAI OF ALL FORMS ACCEPTED'.
Aya was not here for that service. She was here to resolve an issue with the bulging and slightly quivering box in her hand. Occasionally it let off a light whine, but a little shake was usually enough to silence it.
Stepping inside, Aya found herself stuck making her way through Eientei's identikit, eternally-long corridors. There were still helpful signs put up here and there for Eirin's clinic, and for the most part Aya followed these signs. The occasional rabbit walked past her, eyeing up her box with a mixture of curiosity and an urge to stay the everloving Makai away from her. Finally she pulled up to one final junction, with the medical clinic stationed just to her right.
She slipped through the door to the left instead - labelled 'DR. INABA'S VETERINARY CLINIC. PETS OF ALL FORMS ACCEPTED'.
---
"Ah?!"
As the door let off a chime, Reisen flinched slightly in her seat. Whatever happened, she had to avoid making it obvious that this was her first customer. She started on her introduction before her customer had even come into view.
"G-Good morning, ma'am, and welcome to Dr. Inaba's veterinary clinic! Here to help you with all your- oh. It's...you, Aya."
She flinched again when she saw who exactly her first customer was. Aya waved her camera at her as she entered, holding some sort of heaving box in her other hand.
"Hiii, Udonge! Sorry to bother you, but I was sort of needing your expertise on a couple of things. I assume I can come in for free advice and all?"
The tengu strutted around the room, looking at the various pieces of equipment strewn around the room. They literally were designed for pets of all types, from birds to fish and everything inbetween. Reisen had learned there was no point in telling her she wasn't allowed to touch something, because it only made her curiosity stronger. She was actually less of a nuisance when she had free reign.
"Well, I'm afraid we do need to invoke some charges. This is a business, after all, and-"
"Maybe I didn't make that quite clear."
Instantly, Aya was leaning over Reisen's desk, almost poking her in the forehead with the lens of her camera. Reisen hated it when she did that.
"Either I get a free checkup, or I might have to publish that article about the time you walked into Tewi's updraft trap."
Reisen's ears perked up. Aya's threat came out with a far-too-cheery tone, which if anything made it even more frightening for her. The tengu had earned herself a reputation for blackmail, but this was the first time she'd used it to gain an upper hand in Eientei.
"I even have some nice photos of it, actually - your friend was nice enough to tip me off. Honestly, I never would have guessed that your panties were-"
"Alrightalrightit'sfreeit'sfreewhatdoyouwant!?"
Reisen almost left a hole in her desk with the impact she made with her fist, her face turning bright red. Aya simply responded by bowing to her with apparent respect.
"Thank you for your generosity. Now, I was wondering if you could give me any help with this?"
She laid the box on the table, and it shook again as its captive tried to free itself. A few airholes had been hastily poked into the top of the box, and another hole from behind had what seemed to be a silver tail sticking out of it. Reisen undid the latch on the front, and immediately-
"Uwaah!"
A head poked out from within, letting off a little cry as it emerged. Reisen stepped back, caught off guard, as the pet turned to her with tears in her eyes. It took Reisen's brain a few seconds to realise that the pet she was treating wasn't a pet at all.
"Wait a minute...Aya, isn't this one of your subordinates?!"
Aya shrugged, ruffling Momiji's hair slightly.
"Well, I guess that's the case, but Momi here lost a drinking game to me a while back, so she's been my pet ever since."
Reisen rubbed at her temples. One customer and already she'd gone through enough madness to consider quitting. Momiji reluctantly started to pull herself out of the box, wincing slightly as she pulled her arms and legs out.
"Wait, how did you even fit her in a box this small?"
"By pushing really really hard. Simple, huh?"
Reisen's attempt at a counter-argument was silenced by another wave of that damned camera. Momiji finally got herself out of the cage, panting slightly as she rubbed the multiple bruises running across her body.
"Uwaahn...Miss Aya, you're so mean..."
Aya clasped her hand over Momiji's mouth, waving a finger in her other hand.
"Now, now, Momiji. Dogs don't talk, and wolves are just dogs but a little bit bigger, got it?"
Momiji's eyes conveyed her reluctance with ease, and she let off another groan as Aya moved in to hug her. It was then Reisen noticed something strange in the youkai's pet's actions - her eyes started to water slightly, and she began to sniff.
"M-Miss Aya, that hu-ah...aah..."
Aya, aware of the warning signs, quickly pulled her hand away before Momiji could finish. Reisen followed suit, clearing room as the tengu gave in to a sudden urge to clear her nose.
"Aaachooo!"
She let off a heaving sneeze, sniffing rather pitifully as she rubbed her nose on her sleeve.
"See, doc, here's the problem. She just keeps on sneezing whenever I hug her. The hell is wrong with her?"
Aya pouted as she turned to Reisen, who was already examining Momiji with some intensity. Not out of curiosity, or even out of a sense of duty; simply because she wanted this pair out of here as soon as possible. Besides the obvious injuries her entrapment had brought around, Momiji didn't seem to be hurt in any way, so she decided to quickly run with her first instinct.
She plucked a feather from Aya's back.
"Ow! Hey, what are you-!?"
Aya took too long grabbing at her now slightly less impressive wings to stop Reisen from holding the feather in front of Momiji's nose. Immediately a familiar mistiness rose in the wolf's eyes.
"Ah...ah-CHOO!"
This time she sneezed with enough force to knock herself off the desk. She hit the floor with a painful-sounding slam.
"Oww..."
She rubbed at her head, tears hanging in her eyes as she got herself back up to her feet. Aya and Reisen were too busy talking to notice her plight, which admittedly was nothing new for Momiji.
"So, it seems that Momi- I mean, your pet has an allergy to feathers."
"I see, I see. Any sort of treatment you can offer?"
"Well, there is a brand of pills which should be able to help her, but they won't come cheap-"
"I'm sorry, what colour were your panties again?"
Reisen's ears stood on end for an instant in fear. She grit her teeth, facepalming as she forced her next words out.
"Then again, since you are a much-esteemed and trusted customer, I would be happy to offer you a free prescription."
Aya's face beamed.
"Oh, how generous of you! I might give your little place a nice mention in my next article, actually~"
Reisen rummaged around her desk, pulling out a bottle of pills labelled 'SNEEZAWAY'. She scribbled an indeceipherable signature on a leaflet as she handed it over to Aya.
"One every morning should do her fine."
"Alright, thanks for e-"
"M-Miss Aya!"
Neither of them had expected Momiji to interrupt the conversation, but the wolf was on her feet and speaking her mind.
"T-That wasn't very nice! Doctors need people to pay for their goods too! W-What if no-one paid for the Bunbunmaru?!"
Her rant, well reasoned and logical as it was, was more or less ignored by its target, who turned back to Reisen.
"She yaps too much. Don't suppose there's anything you can do 'bout that?"
"Well, we do offer muzzles, but they come for a small charge-"
"They were striped, weren't they? Purple and pink, if I recall."
"...I'll get one for you."
Reisen reluctantly walked over to the wall and brought down a leather muzzle designed for a dog. She handed it to Aya, who quickly proceeded to put it to use.
"...and that's why you're a mean, mean, per-mmph?!"
The muzzle stuck out from Momiji's face slightly, but it just about did its job. Momiji clawed at it briefly.
"Mmmh..."
Another muffled moan as she realised the muzzle was locked in place. Aya breathed a sigh of relief as she heard it.
"Ah, sweet silence. Thanks, doc, you're a lifesaver!"
She led her muffled-friend out the door, not having the patience to stuff her back into the box. The pills were in her other hand as she waved goodbye.
"Yeah, whatever. Come again, I guess."
Reisen didn't have it in her to give a heartful farewell as the pair stepped out the door. She sat back at her desk, slamming her head into the wood. The pain was surprisingly therapeutic.
"...I wonder if it's legal for me to fire myself."
Forte Blackadder:
"So she is having a cold huh..." Eirin talks to the phone. "Well, since you're so worried why don't drop her by? I will take a look and see if she needs any medicine. Huh? Can't move? That's quite serious, how about I have my disciple visit you then? She's quite skillful with medicine already." Eirin quickly moves her hand to the shelf, take out some bottle and place them in a box. "Eh, you already have the medicine?" She stops for a moment. "Then why asking? Just let her drink it!"
Eirin jams the phone down. "What's with people nowadays, if you don't buy my medicine then how can I get money..." She seems a little upset.
*Knock knock*
Someone is knocking the door. Eirin instantly straightens up her clothes and elegantly asks them to come in.
"Good day, doc." A woman steps in the room. She is quite tall, wearing red plaid clothes, having a big parasol and a mysterious smile on her face.
"My, isn't it Kazami-san. Why a person like you would go to a clinic?" Eirin slowly stands up and grabs a chair for Yuka.
"Well, nothing special. I'm just feeling uncomfortable."
"Oh, that's news. Well then, let me hear what is your problem." Eirin eagerly talks, it's quite unusual for a powerful creature like Yuka to have a cold, isn't it? Anyhow, this can be a good experience, and money too.
"Yes... but, er... why are you asking me again?"
"Huh? Because I'm a doctor and I need to understand my patient's situation?" Eirin looks confused.
"Oh, you're the doctor?" Yuka looks even more confused.
"Of course, you just called me 'doc' when you came in."
"My, my, really so? Sorry, it must because your clinic is quite dark I didn't have a good look." Yuka shamefully giggles.
"Eh? Dark?" Eirin looks around the room. The lights are all on perfectly, she bought them from the kappa who promised to give a constant power supply. "Is it dark? I spend ?200 each month for the light you know... Ok miss, please take your parasol away." Eirin points at Yuka, who is holding her big, pink parasol like she's still outside. At the moment Yuka looks like a huge mushroom.
"Oh? Haha my bad. Now it's all bright and nice, thank you." Yuka blushes a bit more and places her parasol to the floor. "Eh... your floor is painted red? Looks nice."
"What? Oh that, no it's not painted." Eirin takes a quick look while arranging her messy table.
"It's not? Then why is it red?"
"It's my experience."
"Hah? What experience?"
"It's the patients' blood."
Yuka startles a bit, she pulls her legs and somehow shrugs on her chair. Eirin pleasantly continues "Oh, because the patients want their doc's experience the most you see, I just came to Gensokyo for months so whenever I had surgeons, I just leave the blood there and people can see."
"R-right. Evidence says the truth doesn't it..." Yuka looks troubled, but since there was no incident on the news, she ought to believe that all the surgeons were succeed. "Just a few months you managed to cover your floor with blood, pretty amazing doc."
"Thanks... but anyway, what are your problems?"
"Ah yes, I have..." Yuka takes a long pause. "What's my problem doc?"
Eirin looks at Yuka with her wide-opened eyes. "How do I know? That is your problem!"
"You're the doctor, if you don't know how am I supposed to know?" Yuka asks back.
"Eh? But I didn't know about that!"
"Eh? Does that mean it's serious?" Yuka seems panicked. She leans towards Eirin.
"What the hell... did your head get hit somewhere?"
"No no, I only hit people." The youkai moe honestly replies.
"Strange, let me ask, did you get drunk last night? They threw a party at the shrine didn't they." Eirin heard that Yuka is a care-free youkai and pretty air-head, but from the beginning she's been acting like a bird-brain.
"No, either. I drink time to time but I hardly pass out on it."
"Then, do you smoke?" Eirin starts her usual examination, as a doctor that is.
"No. I'm a flower youkai, naturally I hate fire and smoke."
"Do you gamble? Things like poker?"
"No, but what does it have to do with anything?"
"It has, look, some illness is created by stress, and some stress is created by gambling." Eirin speaks like a professor in her representation.
"It may be so, but I don't gamble, I don't even know poker."
"Then, are you, by any chance, sexually frustrated?"
"No, no! I'm not a kid." Yuka quickly denies, waving her hand before her face.
"Okay... so no drinking, no smoking, no gambling, no sex. You need a life." Eirin concludes.
"What?"
"It'd be common sense wouldn't it?" Eirin giggles.
"Please, doc. I concern of my health here."
"Yes yes, I believe you have an amnesia, a light case though."
"That-that's right! Amnesia! Lately I've been forgetting stuffs! Thanks doc you're amazing!" Yuka jumps, she looks very happy now she's holding Eirin's hands.
"No problem, I told you I have experience didn't I?" the silver haired doctor points down the floor.
"Yes, yes. So that's how it is. I have an... an..." Yuka tilts her head.
"An amnesia."
"Right, amnesia. How can I cure it doc?"
"First, we need to find the cause. Most case it's because of the stress. Do you have any trouble at work?" Eirin starts writing something on her file.
"Not really, but I do have stress lately, it's late spring now so the bugs start mating, they are all over my garden."Yuka sighs.
"Troublesome indeed. Why don't you try relaxing at work? Like for instance, singing? I believe singing in a garden is just lovely."
"Yes, sounds very nice, but... sometimes I forgot the lyrics."
"...Right. Maybe I'll give you some treatment first and see how it goes."
Eirin walks to the shelf full of bottles and pill tabs. She takes down some liquid-like bottles and put them in a paper bag.
"Erm doc? How much is it?"
"Oh this, quite cheap you see. Only ?1000."
"1000! What a rip-off!"
"What are you shouting for, you have amnesia! 1-k is cheap already."
Eirin holds her arms steadily. As expected from a Moon sage, she is unmovably when it comes to pharmacy. Even if it's Kazami Yuka, she is still un-matched for the greatest doctor of all, who single-handledly took care of all illness Gensokyo has known of.
"But... but you just said I have a light case! It should be a little cheaper, pretty please? See, I'm just a youkai, I don't have that kind of money..."
"..." Eirin still stands mighty in front of her medicine. "...Very well, I'll give you a discount as being my first patient this year and having a light case. ?1500, no less."
"Thanks, that's more like it. See, it's good I'm having a light case, or else I'd have to pay you... er..." Yuka searchs her purse.
"?2000 for a serious amnesia." Eirin steadily replies.
"Yes, yes. Ok here is my check." The youkai signs her check and hands it to Eirin. She gladly accepts it.
"But, I'm unsure if I have anything left in my bank."
The happiness instantly disappears on Eirin's face. The Lunarian now has her jaw dropped to the floor and she shouts at Yuka. "What do you mean?"
"You see, I have an amnesia... How about I pay you back after the treatment?" she honestly replies.
"That won't do, if I treated you and you forget that I treated you then you will not pay me."
"No, if you treat me well I should remember what happened and pay you back."
"Of course I'll treat you well, but the amnesia only off after the treatment, not during the
process."
"How about this, you keep that check, after you cure my amnesia just give me back the check and I'll pay you in cash, alright?" Yuka winks.
"My... ok then... please lay down on this bed." Eirin sighs asshe's pulling down a high bed,
covered in a smooth, white sheet with a big light bulb above.
"For what?" Yuka looks confused.
"An Operation." Eirin coldly replies.
"A surgeon? But... is it nessessary?" The conversation about the clinic's floor flashes back in Yuka's head.
"It is, now, do you want to cure your amnesia or not?"
A little shivering, Yuka lays down to the bed. Eirin then digs her hands in a metal box, looking for something. The doctor then drink some liquid from her bottle, comes back to the bed and spits it onto Yuka's face.
"Wha- what is it?"
"Anaesthetic."
"What the hell, you gushes anaesthetic like that? It can't even anaesthetize you!" Yuka angrily shouts at Eirin.
"It's because I'm the doctor here. Damn you're so annoying, just sleep already." Eirin turns around, ignoring Yuka's complains and rubs a knife on her blouse.
"What are you doing?"
"Sterilizing, of course."
"Sterilizing my foot, you're just wiping it on your blouse!"
"Tch, you, you just don't know anything. Oh should I explain it to you in Biblical English, Lunarian and Ancient Chinese? Let it simple for you: I already sterilized my blouse yesterday!"
"What the- No no I don't need a surgeon anymore." Yuka quick stands up and steps away from the bed.
"Hah? You don't want to cure your amnesia?"
"It's fine, I can live with it, I'm outta here."
"It's bad you know. Don't worry, I'm confident in my skills, you will sense no pain." Eirin persuasively speaks to the youkai.
"Of course I won't sense anything when I'm dead! I'm out of here, give that back!" Yuka angrily demands.
"Give what back?"
"My ?1500 check."
"Eh? Sh-, and you said you had an amnesia..." Eirin bitterly mutters, handing the check to Yuka.
"Damn you, I maybe absent-minded but I'm not stupid!" The green hair beauty stomps out of the room, jams the door behind her. Eirin stands in the middle of the room, with a blank look on her face. Then she slowly lays on the bed, exhaustedly.
Tengukami:
What's the deadline? I have a piece outlined that I could post tonight.
Dead Princess Sakana:
The deadline is always sunday midnight, since it's a weekly challenge.
Tengukami:
--- Quote from: Moe Moe Sakana-Katana on February 26, 2010, 04:33:07 PM ---The deadline is always sunday midnight, since it's a weekly challenge.
--- End quote ---
I realize it's a weekly challenge, as it's right there in the title and all, but it's not immediately obvious that Sunday at midnight is the deadline. Might wanna put that in the OP.