Return drabble for Incandescens: 100 Demons/ Hissatsu Shigotonin

incandescens writes me a 100 Demons/ knitting drabble. ( Under the cut )

which references an earlier discussion here. And here is the return drabble: which gains, I agree, if you happen to know the Japanese series Hissatsu Shigotonin (Sure Death in English translation) and its main character Nakamura Mondo:

"Ritsu!! Your father--!!"

I tumbled downstairs and ran to where she pointed: the laundry shed out back. Aoarashi was half inside the washer, legs kicking. I yanked him out.

"What're you *doing*??"

"Ahh, the aroma-- the body--" Dark wet lint covered his fingers. He licked them lasciviously.

"Aoarashi!!"

"Mmmmmhh. Violent death-- corruption-- anger-- mh? What's this?" He smiled. "The resentment of an adopted son-in-law!"

Mom came in with a wadded jacket for him.

"Dear, come back to bed. Mother's warmed the futon and your dinner's waiting for you."

"Nothing *you'd* know about," I hissed as he passed me.

Rainywillow fic

"The constellations Shen and Shang"

Title from a poem by Du Fu. I believe the constellations in question are the Great Dipper and the morning star, that never appear in the sky at the same time.

Background to the Rainywillow settei can be found here and here. Professor Grant is a canon character, the antiques-mad Englishman with his love of horidashimono- bargain 'finds' from temple bazaars and small junk stalls. He's the one who gets scolded by the spirit of a teapot for not using the exact kind of tea (a very rare and precious one, as it happens) that the tea pot is used to. I think Hatsu sensei rather likes him, with his wide-eyed wonder and his innocent romanticism, but then Hatsu likes most of her characters, even the ones that make us roll our eyes.