BDs, mangas, communauté !

At Kabukiza to see Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees 義経千本桜 （＾∇＾）

randomtengureporter:

[[Glee. Now, whenever I need it, I can just glance up and get my daily dose of disapproval. Art print by the wonderful Jisuk.]]

Eee, yay, you got it! \o/

Took me long enough, but I added a section for illustration and fan art on the Karasu site! If I have your name or url wrong, or if you want me to remove your art, or if I forgot you, please let me know!

vulgarismx:

The Karasu art prints from Jisuk have arrived today! ♡

Thanks again for ordering!

Gloomy

Gloomy by randomtengureporter

This was sent to me by randomtengureporter — it’s a wonderful, absolutely perfect little Karasu flashback fic (I LOVE GIFT FICS). Since the story recently has been pretty heavy and depressing, I think you guys will enjoy something more light! Anyway, I’m off to Korea in the morning so my time online will be limited for a while. Take care, everyone!

—————-

"What is it?" Shichi asked as he regarded Shusei, and his proudly presented pouch, with a quizzical glance. After leaning in for a sniff, the young Tengu’s curiosity only increased; the pouch smelled like common ginger tea, but there was an subtle floral scent to it. Another inhale sent his mind back to his Kampo lessons with Sagiri. "Ginger tea with… Forsythia? That’s perfect! We can use this to treat the sore throat illness going around the temple!"

It was far from an epidemic, and easily enough treated, but more than half of the monks at Kurohane had been complaining of scratchy pain in their throats over the past few days. Trouble was, spring had not yet thawed the winter’s snow, and supplies were running a bit too low to spare for mild discomforts.

Shusei nodded, but something about his eager energy made Shichi narrow his eyes in suspicion, even as Kampo formulas began to swirl though the monk’s mind. “How did you get this?”

A roll of the eyes preceded the other male’s reply, “oh, don’t give me that look! I traded some mochi to that Kitsune merchant that passed through a few days ago for it… I was going to give it to Sanae,” Shusei’s eyes rather suddenly found other places more interesting than his friend’s face, “but the merchant warned me not to. This is magic tea!”

Shichi let his head drop forward, and barely stopped himself from running a hand down his face. Sagiri had been chiding him for that, but despite the warnings about the danger it posed to physicians, he was finding it to be a hard habit to break. “The same man who was selling itching powder and that disgusting fake…” His voice dropped to a whisper, “excrement.”

"Hey! He sold legitimate things too!" Shusei crossed his arms and replaced the pouch into his sleeve.

"Like what?"

"Well… The soybeans! He probably had other stuff too. Doesn’t matter! This tea is magic, and that’s that."

Already feeling the conversation slide away from the point, Shichi sighed. “Okay, the tea is magic. What does it do?" When his friend leaned over and whispered a quick description of the enchantment, the monk-in-training felt his eyes widen in panic, but smothered the feeling immediately. His beak opened and closed several times before he found words to convey how ridiculous the notion was. "There’s no way. No one would make anything so silly!"

"Then you’ll help me?" Shusei suggested hopefully.

"Help you?"

The other boy nodded again and draped a feathered arm over his friend’s shoulder. “This place is so gloomy during the winter! A little prank will liven things up,” Shusei remarked and wasn’t the least bit bothered when Shichi shrugged his arm off. “It’s harmless, and you don’t think the magic will work anyway. What’s the harm? As you say, it might help with the illness!”

That was enough to give the Tengu a moment’s pause. All he’d really need to add to the tea was gardenia and some licorice, and it should help heal the discomfort everyone felt. “But… What if…” Shichi shook his head. There was just no way that someone would waste magic like that! Not even a Kitsune with a poor sense of humor! He held out his hand, “okay, give me the tea, and I’ll make it this evening.

Shusei’s eyes glinted with mischief as he took the pouch back out, and dropped it into his co-conspirator’s hand. “Magic… You’ll see!” He then left Shichi standing in the courtyard, looking thoroughly unamused.

In the hours preceding dusk, the boy did everything he could to check the tea for… Anything unpleasant, but none of his limited tests revealed any Kitsune trickery. He wasn’t entirely sure if he was relieved, or disappointed, to have been proven right. Shichi shook his head at the naivity of his friend, and quickly set to preparing as much tea as he was able.

The first steaming cup was presented to Sagiri, who regarded the tea with all the caution one might treat a box of live vipers. After a single smell, she turned to Shichi with her usual unreadable expression. “We are out of forsythia. Where did you get some?” The older woman’s voice was raspy with illness.

Shichi bowed before responding. “Shusei traded some mochi with the merchant that passed through recently.” He spared a glance upward just in time to see his master’s eyes narrow with suspicion.

"The Kitsune?" Her tone made the question seem more like an accusation.

"Yes, but I made sure it wasn’t contaminated with his… Other wares."

Sagiri nodded and gave the tea another sniff. “You added the gardenia?”

Shichi was quick to respond, proud that he had mixed everything in the exact quantities that he’d been taught, “yes! Followed the formula precisely.”

One tired exhale later, Sagiri sipped the tea, feeling the familiar warmth of the ginger sooth her throat. She waited a moment for any wracking pain, urge to heave, or for her feathers to fall out, but no ill effects befell her. Another sip followed the first before she spoke again, “seems correct. Well done. See to it that you give a cup to the rest of the afflicted.”

Shichi beamed and rushed to follow her order, and it wasn’t until the next morning that the magic took hold.

The first hour was spent in confusion, with more than a little bit of panic, but some of the more worldly monks were quick to realize what had happened. From there, it didn’t take long to find the two culprits and drag them from bed for the most thorough chewing-out any monk could remember.

Sagiri, in particular, was livid and made absolutely sure, over the span of four hours, to express her displeasure and disappointment towards her student, while Shusei’s own master applied the same merciless tirade.

Shichi felt more guilty than he could recall ever feeling in his short life, and vowed to never participate in another of Shusei’s… Anything ever again. When he was finally allowed to rise, the young Tengu found it difficult to walk steadily towards the main hall to retrieve the supplies he’d need to fulfill his punishment; polishing every single stone panel in the courtyard to a spotless shine. The elder monks’ burningly angry gazes monitored his cleaning and were quick to point out any spots he’d missed.

Still, he had to admit that the blistering content of the lecture and ensuing punishment was slightly less effective when the Tengu delivering it had feathers that would look more appropriate on a tropical bird of paradise… The squeaky voices didn’t help either, and Shichi had to exercise every ounce of his self control to stifle the giggles that threatened to burst forth when he looked at his primary colored master.

The effects of the magical tea wore off over the next couple of days, as did the student’s muscle soreness, but the muffled laughter in the younger monks’ rooms would last for decades.

三十九 Part 39 (Pyre)

jisuk:

This chapter’s illustration is by Yapi! Thank you!

Karasu: Part 39 - Hey everyone! I’m going out of town for a week so I did my best to finish this now to keep you all from a really long wait. I hope you find it satisfactory and thank you for reading!

三十九 Part 39 (Pyre)

This chapter’s illustration is by Yapi! Thank you!

Karasu: Part 39 - Hey everyone! I’m going out of town for a week so I did my best to finish this now to keep you all from a really long wait. I hope you find it satisfactory and thank you for reading!

hearmemeep:

I got mail from Jisuk today! :D

Yay for Karasu stickers!   The hubby almost stole one to stick on a spot on his keychain, but then found it was slightly too big.  *hordes* MY STICKERS! >.>

Ty tons, Ji! ^^

(and as a bonus, the stamp is gorgeous!)

I’m glad you got them safe and sound! <3

I think I’m done here.

jisuk:

Karasu Store Update

[view store]

New Prints: The Monster and Matsuri prints have been removed and replaced with three new ones — Red Smoke, Higanbana, and Kampo.

All stickers are sold out and no longer available.

Existing Orders: All current orders have been packaged and will be taken to the post office ASAP. This includes print/sticker orders, as well as the stickers for the comment promotion. Thanks everyone!

I’ll be making my next print order soon, so please try to order within the next few days (if you don’t want to wait another few weeks)!