Famous Last Words: Cats in Bandanas are Cute!

This week I wrote my first story for my Storybook project. It was a challenge to write in the Arsene Lupin style despite how much reading and preparing I did for it. I'm looking forward to revising next week, because I want it to be even better. One of my next stories will be based on the legend of Ishikawa Goemon, and there isn't much source material about him, so I will be making my husband watch a couple of movies based on his legend to help me get into that world a little bit better.

Yesterday we had orientation for our capstone internship at the veteran's center. I think it's going to be a really good experience. I'll be helping with their weekly art class, a monthly photography class, and taking pictures during field trips to the park. I think it's funny how they didn't mention in advance that we were going to have a bit of a health exam, including a TB test at the orientation. My blood pressure was up pretty high, so I'm going to have to work on that and follow up with my doctor soon. And they need record of an MMR vaccination. I'm older than the other students, and didn't grow up here. I know I had it twice, but have no record of it, so I'll be going to the health department Monday to have another. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I also have to go back Monday to have them read my TB test. Then comes the good part, I get to start next week. I'm excited to see how art class goes.

It's almost October already, which I find fairly terrifying. Mario is excited, though, because October means I buy him a little pumpkin to hang out with, and bowtie day will be here soon! I was considering getting him a bit more of a costume this year (if he'll wear it). Though he could always put on his yellow bandana and go as Morgana! Yes, part of the reason I like Persona 5 so much is because the cat looks like my cat!

(Photo from my persona collection, Mario dressed as Morgana!)

For me, October means I have to get myself together with this grad school application thing. One of my teachers blew our minds in class this week, and I'm rethinking my entire life's purpose now. I was only going to apply to the PhD program and decide what to do after that, but I think I'm going to apply to a couple of different Master's programs as well. That way, if I don't get into the PhD program, I won't have to wait a year and a half to start a Master's. Part of me almost thinks I belong in one of the Master's programs anyway, and that it might be best if they reject me. I can always reapply later, after I have my Master's. It doesn't really change much about the application process, which is a relief. I guess we'll see what happens.

Week 7 Story: Coffee and Curry

“Akira,” Sojiro began. “I have a favor to ask.”

Akira looked up. He was curious about what his guardian could possibly need his help with, besides washing dishes in the cafe. “Do you want me to brew the coffee?” he asked hopefully.

“No, no, I can handle that myself. Besides, you’re still learning.”

“I could start the curry, then. You taught me the special recipe and I’ve gotten much better at making it.”

“It’s not like that,” Sojiro said, looking serious. “It’s my daughter, Futaba.”

“You… have a daughter? Why am I just finding out about this now?” Akira looked at his cat, Morgana. The cat just shrugged and went back to grooming. “Sojiro?”

“It’s a long story! Futaba isn’t well. Her mother committed suicide a couple of years ago, and it’s always been hard for her. Over the past 6 months, it’s gotten much worse. She refuses to leave her room at all.”

“Oh,” Akira said gently. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He looked down for a moment, feeling awkward. Then he raised his head defiantly. “Wait a minute, what exactly do you think I can do about it?”

“Oh, come on. I know there are things you aren’t telling me. Things that you can do. Stuff like those ridiculous Phantom Thieves that are always on the news.”

“You think I’m-”

“No. Let’s just leave it be. I don’t want to know anything more than I have to, alright?”

Akira nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Just help me out! If you save Futaba, I’ll… give you her hand in marriage or something.”

Akira and Morgana went up to their room in the attic. The cat spoke, referring to Akira by his codename. “So what are we going to do, Joker? We’re going to help Futaba, aren’t we? It sounds like she might be in serious trouble.”

“I agree,” Akira replied. He opened the MetaNav and spoke the name ‘Futaba Sakura’ into it, instantly getting a hit. “She has a palace. It sounds like we might need to change her heart. I’ll contact the other Thieves right away.”

(Photo from Megami Tensei Wiki)

It turned out that Futaba wanted to leave her palace. She wanted to heal her heart. But she was trapped inside by a shadow called Yamata no Orochi, the eight-forked serpent. Joker sent the rest of his teammates to deal with finding a route to Futaba’s treasure. “I need your help with a special task, Mona”, he said to the cat.

“Anything you need!” Mona replied. “So what’s the plan?”

“We’re going to trick the serpent,” Joker replied. “See those eight doors? The snake will be coming to this very spot. We’re going to put out some bait to slow it down,” he said with a mischievous smile.

“What kind of bait?” Mona asked. Joker opened his bag. He pulled out 8 bowls, a big container, and a thermos. “Wait, did you seriously bring a bunch of coffee and curry with you?”

Joker nodded. “The curry should make it feel full, slowing it down. Least that’s what it always does to me when I eat it. And the coffee will make it feel hyper and dizzy.”

“I see,” said Mona. “So we’re going to feed half of its heads the curry, and half the coffee, to confuse it, right?”

“Right!” Joker exclaimed with a brilliant smile.

And so they put out bowls of coffee and curry. Joker and Mona waited patiently in the shadows. Then the serpent came and ate the curry, and drank the coffee. It became sluggish and dizzy, losing motor control due to the conflicting states it was in. Joker began shooting some of the heads, while Mona aimed his slingshot at the others. Before long it was knocked down, and Joker dealt it the final blow with his knife. When it was quiet again, a short girl with long, orange hair emerged. She gave Joker a shy smile. “Thanks! You saved my life.”

“Come on, we have to hurry and take the treasure!” Mona said excitedly. They joined the rest of the Phantom Thieves, finished the job, and headed home.

They arrived at the cafe just before closing. Akira and Futaba walked in together, with Morgana hitching a ride in Akira’s bag. Sojiro almost dropped the mug he was holding. “F-Futaba! I can’t believe it!”

“Curry please, Sojiro, I hunger!” Futaba announced, sitting at the counter. Akira sat beside her while Sojiro dished up two plates of his special curry for them. When they finished eating, Sojiro’s smile faded into one of shock.

“What’s wrong with your face?” Futaba asked.

“Oh, uh, I sort of… promised this guy your hand in marriage if he rescued you,” Sojiro replied with a blush.

Futaba looked at Akira. “Hmm. I might be down with that. I guess time will tell!”

(Photo from Pinterest)

Author’s Note:

This story is based on The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi from Romance of Old Japan by E. W. Champney and F. Champney. In the original version, the princess Kushinada-hime’s parents offer the god Susa-no-wo her hand in marriage if he saves her from the serpent. He leaves out 8 bowls of sake, and the snake becomes intoxicated. Susa-no-wo easily kills it, and marries the princess. I have based my retelling on characters from the game Persona 5. Akira (Joker) and Morgana (Mona) live in the attic of Sojiro Sakura’s cafe. In the game, his daughter Futaba asks Akira’s group of vigilantes, The Phantom Thieves, to change her heart. They have the ability to enter a cognitive world in people’s minds when their thoughts become distorted, using a navigation app on their phones. They steal the core of the distortion, thought of as a treasure, which triggers a “change of heart” by changing their cognition. In my version, I decided to mix the two together. One of the game's many enemies is Yamata no Orochi, who is based on the eight-forked serpent of Koshi. I thought it would be fun to have Sojiro offer Akira his daughter’s hand in marriage for saving her life. Since all they serve at the cafe is coffee and curry, I liked the idea of being able to slow down the snake with the things our heroes had on hand at the cafe.


The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi from Romance of Old Japan by E. W. Champney and F. Champney. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology Part B

(Photo from Pinterest)

The Faery Robe - A fisherman hears singing. A fairy comes down and touches the water, hanging her robe on a branch, and leaps into the water like a mermaid. The fisherman thinks her robe will bring him fortune. The fairy tells him to give her robe back so she can fly, and he tells her to dance for him first. She insist she can't dance without the robe, and he gives it to her, setting her free. She puts her rainbow wings on and sings as she flies back up (celestial dance). The fisherman falls in love with her beauty, and then everything is silent again when she is gone.

The Jewel of Heart's Desire: The Quest - Takeuchi has lost the crystal sword after the Empress asked him to watch over it. A fisher maid named Tamatori who wishes to marry him follows him to a cliff at night and he tells her the situation. They see shining in the water and decide it must be the crystal. Tamatori goes in the water to get it. Sharks, swordfish and other sea creatures come after her when she takes the crystal, and she fears death. the dragon comes, and she knows it won't let her live, so she plunges the sword into her chest, then thrusts the jewel into the wound. The dragon went away, and her body washed up at Takeuchi's feet. She was honored in death. The Empress named her the Princess of Heart’s Desire. Some say they were secretly wedded.

Japanese Mythology from Romance of Old Japan by E. W. Champney and F. Champney. Web Source.

Reading Notes: Japanese Mythology Part A

Izanagi and Izanami - Izanagi: god of heavens, Izanami: goddess of love. Married and gave birth to generations of gods, men, animals, fish, the sea, mountains, etc. Created a flower that became the sun and moon, and gods and goddesses. The last were Izanagi, all powerful god of the air, and Izanami, fair goddess of the clouds. All life was issued from them. 

“Floating-Bridge of Heaven” - between the celestial and lower world. 

They gave birth to the 8 islands of Japan. To rule the earth, they had a daughter, the Bright-Shining-Amaterasu, and a son, Susa-no-wo-no-mikoto. Amaterasu was told to rule the heavens, and took a throne in the sun. Susanowo was told to rule over the moon and the water. Izanami gave her earth children (the 8 islands) godlike powers, which upset Susanowo. She was banished to Yomi, the abode of departed spirits. Izanagi goes to look for her and asks her to come home, and she tells him to not look at her because she has eaten the bread of Yomi. He tried to save her, but her form had already changed, and she turned to mist and vanished. He ascended to isle of Ahaji, in an abode of eternal gloom and remained there. 

(Photo from Pinterest)

The Miraculous Mirror - Susanowo shoots a fireball at Amaterasu, so she flees down to earth and hides in a cave, refusing to come out. They eventually send Uzume, goddess of laughter to dance outside the cave. Amaterasu opens the door to see what's going on. The people tell her they think Uzume is more glorious than the sun, which makes Amaterasu jealous and she comes out of the cave. Taji-Karaô blocks the cave with a boulder so Amaterasu will remain in the sun.

The Eight-Forked Serpent of Koshi - Susanoo - god of seas and storms. Agrees to slay the eight forked serpent Orochi in exchange for princess Kushinada-hime's hand in marriage (also to save her life). Turns her into a comb which he puts in his hair. Brews sake of eightfold strength. Made 8 portals, put a vat of the sake at each door. The serpent got drunk on the sake, and then Susanoo killed it, turned Kushinada-hime back into a princess and married her.

Kushinada-hime - (Wondrous-fair Princess), daughter of Ashinadzuchi (Foot-stroke Elder), son of the Mountain-God and Tenadzuchi (Hand-stroke Elder).

Note for me: This could be Sojiro asking Akira to save Futaba. He would use coffee instead of sake.

Japanese Mythology from Romance of Old Japan by E. W. Champney and F. Champney. Web Source.