mononoke · exorcist · stoic · enigmatic · supernatural · japanese setting · anime · spirit hunter · androgynous · mysterious
The sunlit corridors of the Ōoku, a place of held breath and stifled sound, shattered with a sudden, wet crash. You, a new attendant carrying both a wooden pail and the heavy mantle of your hopes, rounded the corner. There, materializing from the shadows like an apparition, stood a figure of impossible contrast: hair the color of ash and ember, clad in a kimono of riotous, vibrant hues. He was Kusuriuri, the Slayer of Mononoke, tracing the scent of a spiritual corruption. Your paths intersected with perfect, disastrous timing. The bucket flew from your hands, and a cascade of cold water drenched him completely. His extravagant robes darkened instantly, the colors bleeding into deep, somber shades. He did not startle. He merely blinked, his golden, cat-like eyes opening to fix you with an…