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spooky times with john constantine
It seemed that every major city in the world, and even many minor ones, was beginning to have their own “dark history” and “haunted city” tours. While a city as old as Kyoto was bound to have its fair share of ghost stories, a Buddhist temple did not seem to be a likely place to be haunted. However, not all temples were known to be near gates to the underworld like the Rokudo Chinnoji Temple was. Long used for funerary rites and mourning rituals, it even had special practices for the Obon Festival every summer.
Yuuta had been asked to check out some strange happenings on the temple grounds. The monks weren’t sure if there was anything to be concerned about, especially since tourists did a good job of scaring themselves, but they wanted to make sure that the wells associated with entering and returning to hell weren’t acting up. More than the spine tingles or the unusual cold wind, people were now reporting seeing creatures from mythology and folklore at an alarming rate.
Normally, Yuuta would apologize and try to avoid it, but one of the monks mentioned knowing his grandmother … and he did not want to disappoint his grandmother.
So, there he was. In a temple, alone, past sunset.
Standing in front of a well that supposedly let someone go straight to hell with the hopes that monsters and ghosts weren’t coming out of it.
“Ono no Takamura,” he muttered. “You should have sealed up the wells.”
He was already beginning to sense that something was wrong.
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Japan's history and distinctive rituals mean that he's less likely to succeed at a good exorcism, and ghosts are a real jump from his usual demonology. They're not really like the ghosts he's dealt with before either, so while he has a trick or two ready, he'd rather not have to resort to it. But whatever happens, happens. He knows he has to keep the upper hand, no matter what.
But as he arrives at the temple, where the wells are that connect to the rumors, he sees that he's not alone. And that makes things tricky. He has his magic card that allows people to see what they need to see, but something tells him to approach and not just cheat his way out of this situation.
"Oi, you speak any English?"
He hopes so, his Japanese is rusty.
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Except for the ghost tours that occasionally came around.
He sighed. “Yes, I do. Are you here for a tour?”
He first wanted to see what kind of ghosts were coming about. If they were just spirits wandering around, it wouldn’t take much to convince them to move on. Perhaps just reciting a sutra would do it. Anything worse would require a few more tools. Luckily, he had plenty of salt in his backpack, but he would rather not have to fight anything tonight.
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"No, mate. Just looking for a little information."
The rumors about this temple are rife with rumors, but there's evidence of something dangerous here. And John aims to stop it, before another poor sod gets hurt.
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He observes John for a moment and almost chuckles. He looks very much like the Western detectives that come up in all sorts of stories and television shows. He even has a scruffy beard.
“I can help with that. These wells are supposedly entrances to the underworld and were last used in the mid-800s when Kyoto was still Japan’s capital. There are rumors that there are spirits coming from these wells as of late.”
Perhaps this was enough information for this man to go on, or see if maybe they had the same goal. He did not appear to be someone who was here out of cursorily or some morbid agenda.
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But he doubts it. He thinks he's in the presence of another with supernatural gifts.
"That's about what I'd gathered, thanks mate. Do you know of any reports of injuries involved, or escalation in reports?"
Once a ghost becomes violent, there will be victims. And John would rather cut off the problem at the root rather than to risk more people getting hurt. Not that he blames ghosts for their behavior, death does something harsh to human spirits.
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“The monks have only reported that there have been more sightings,” he answered. “So, if we’re here to prevent any harm, I think we came in time.”
So far, he had not sensed anything at the wells. If they had been opened, they were closed now.
Did that mean someone had the ability to open them at will?
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John doesn't like that the place feels so numb, so cold. It looks perfectly normal, for a shrine, but the rumors paired with the ambiance of the area make for a grim work night for John Constantine.
"Doesn't look like much is up right now."
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Yuuta didn’t really believe in rumors—just verifying them or not.
“Generally, if a monk of a shrine says that there is something going on, in my experience, there usually is.”
But John is right about the feeling of this place. Something is off. Coldness would not be unusual if they were going into fall, but this is the middle of summer, right about Obon: the festival to honor the dead. It should have been sweltering and humid. He looks over to the wells, frowning.
“Should we seal it up as it is? Or wait to see what might be trying to get out?”
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John looks towards the well, and feels almost a swelling feeling in the air. It's dense and cold and off. Like they're not meant to be there, intruders in someone else's domain. He knows when there's a spirit there, even if he doesn't have the best skills in this art.
"We may not have time to make a choice. Somethings coming."
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Yuuta senses the change in the air and as John speaks, it gets worse. Something from deep in the well rumbles and Yuuta, being closer to it, quickly backs away and pulls out some papers with sutras written on them from his pocket. He is not sure what will come out of the well: a ghost? Perhaps some other kind of spirit? If it's connected to the underworld, it could even be a demon or a god.
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"Shit, this one is a rough one. Stay on guard, mate."
Then, she pulls herself out of the well. She's the perfect Japanese female ghost stereotype, white stained dress, hair in front of her face, and dirty hands dragging herself out with a crazed fervor.
"Jesus fucking Christ! It's bloody Sadako in the flesh!" He knows she's not literally Sadako, but when a stereotype presents itself it presents itself.
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“This might be worse!”
The ghost lets out a shrill scream and Yuuta throws out one of his sutras. It lands on the ground a couple of feet in front of her. White light shimmers when she tries to rush forward and remains solid when she hits it with her fists. He adds another one for good measure. He is not sure who this exactly is, but it's obvious she's pissed.
"NO! I WILL NOT BE DENIED!"
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John turns to Yuuta, who still has the aura of gold around him. John was a little worried that his spell wouldn't have held against such a powerful energy. Whoever she is, or more was, was not a pleasant person and John knows now that she's not to be underestimated. She's actively fighting against the sutras, fists slamming and voice yelling out, the picture of an angry spirit.
"So mate, what's your call. I can banish a ghost but it takes a bit out of me, do you have an easier time with it? Because I think she needs to be sent off, the bird's lost it."
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Which he does have, in his pockets.
“What are your methods? Perhaps they could be combined.”
It would potentially take less out of John and be more effective. With the way that the wall is starting to fade in color, and how her screams are getting louder, it might not hold forever.
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It might be easier said than done. Most ghosts were weak beings, memories made into creatures that quietly haunt the places they once loved or hated, not causing any real problems for the living. This one, though, it felt strong. Like there was something about her that wasn't just like any other ghost. John found out quickly that he was correct when she sends a spell flying towards him and the shielding magic he has on shudders like it's about to break.
"They don't usually do that!"
thank you for waiting!
But most negative hauntings happened because there was something wrong, something that needed closure. A ghost sending out a spell? He hadn’t even come across something like that!
The girl screams once more and a cold blast of air went through the whole space. Yuuta throws out another sutra, seeing the ones already there beginning to fray and burn. He stumbled back a bit when he saw the face of the young woman. Half of it was covered in an angry looking scar, but that was not what shocked him. He knew her: Emiko Fujikawa.
What was she doing here?!
“We have a problem—she’s a cultist!”
Which means she knows about the supernatural, what they were capable of and likely going to do, and likely how to fight against them better than an average ghost.
Thank you for waiting on me too, minor blood warning!
John has dealt with powerful ghosts, and they're always difficult. He cuts himself, just a nick, and strengthens his barriers. He's sure he's got something in his pockets to deal with this, but he might not be able to get to it. Not easily anyway. He's prepared for low level ghosts, and more intelligent ones that can be reasoned with. Not a former cultist with special skills.
Emiko makes it out of the well, imagine blurring and shaking like a bad poloroid, she doesn't seem real. Ghosts of this power rarely are, after all. And John knows if she's allowed her way, everyone in her path will be in serious trouble.
Time is an awful concept I wish we could get rid of
“Attacks. I have the barriers. I’ll join you when I’m done.”
He grabbed the large package of salt he had in his backpack and threw it out, scattering a solid stream of salt across from where they were. It began to glow with white light as he focused on activating it.
“She was as deep in the supernatural as you and I are,” he quickly said. “I don’t know what led to her death—or what she’s after now.”
As far as he knew, she was rising up in the ranks of her cult. Did someone not appreciate that?
Me too, me too
John nods in approval, leaving his barriers up for the time being. They won't last very long but they'll buy him some time. He digs through his pockets for a trinket, a very rare ring that will help extend his attacks, but he's worried still that it won't be enough for her. Even when he finds it, he's unsure. Emiko here is a whole different animal than the ghosts he's dealt with before...
But he slips it on a finger, and raises his hand up while chanting. A golden tinged blast escapes his hand and lands on Emiko. She's not happy, but she also doesn't seem as phased as he'd like. She'll probably need to be banished and she'll have to be worn down first for that.