Hanami departed Yakurōdokusen, turned left at the waterfall, and sought Pinba Village. With a broom. In fact, Haka told Hanami to sweep the entrance
"Why the hell did I have to sweep!" yelled Hanami. "Because it keeps away evil," said Haka. "Yakurōdokusen is an old man. Drinking can solve only so much. He can't hold a knife; so, we have to do this alone."
She let out a grunt. Her mind had a thought to lift her right knee and break the broom. Pinba Village was unknown to her. "This is wonderful." She sneered and went straight.
She sang a song in her head that she had heard in the bar. Her anger left. "Mudabanashi de hagurakashite. Fureta saki wo tamerau you ni."
Singing the song out loud, she forgot the beginning. The woman stopped to think. Remembering her dad kicked her out, she furrowed her brow. The broom fell from her grasp. "Hey!" shouted Haka. "How do I get back home?"
"Oh..." The most unsettling thing happened. She stepped back from the broom. Maybe it was possession, maybe she was still drunk. "What is wrong with you!" The broom lifted from the ground on its own. "What... what are you? Why... why do you have eyes, and a tongue?"
"I am a tsukumogami. A hundred years ago, I saw the death Oda Kikumi. Who passed out in the closet? She was a drinker and had a child by a San." Haka scorned. "Yes, I have a mouth and eyes. But you know what else I have? A soul!"
Hanami's hands trembled. "What? Well, you are a San as well. The family name was never Nohimochi. In fact, they started as farmers. It has always been San! Soizei thought to change his name to get away from his mother--"
Hanami bolted away from Haka, screaming. The anxiety was too much. "Just like a San! They all did that!" he screamed. "But they never got away!"
Hanami never looked back. She kept running, and she ran into the grass off the path. She didn't care where Pinba was. This one time, she looked back over her shoulder. What if the broom could run? Was this because she didn't do her chores that one time?
"AH!" she shouted as she tripped. She bolted to her feet, and she saw behind her. "What did I trip over?" She looked where she fell and saw nothing. Hanami collapsed to the ground. "What am I doing?" she cried. "I know I failed! Why did I get drunk before he test! Even Kagome did better than me!"
A puff of red smoke swirled in front of her. Hanami stepped back.
Oni: Whose Kagome?
Hanami: Get away from me!
[Active Blossom System]
The red screen from before showed in front of her. The Oni demon moved closer; it stepped through the screen. Hanami's heart leaped.
[Oni level 5.
A hulking yokai said to be born from war and grudges. Oni wield massive clubs and feast on the fear of those who cross their path.
HP 22 Low-level bulk for a bruiser.
Attack 14Primary offensive stat.
Defense 12 Solid for early survivability.
Sp. Attack 6 Minimal special power.
Sp. Defense 8 Modest resistance to special hits.
Speed 9
Moves (Level 5):
Grudge Howl — Status: lowers opponent's Special Attack and may flinch.
Tetsu Club Smash — Heavy physical strike; small chance to lower target Defense.]
Hanami: What!
Oni: Who are you screaming for?
[System: You are level 1. You cannot fight this oni.]
Hanami: I DON'T WANT THE FIGHT THE DAMN THING
[BATTLE]
[System: You cannot battle]
Red Oni > Tetsu Club Smash [-8 HP] [13 HP remaining]
Hanami: think about bar fights. Fight like you're in a bar.
She did her best and ran at the oni. She threw a punch and hopped back. [18 HP remaining]
[System: You cannot battle]
Hanami: I GOT A DAMN COMPUTER INSULTING TO ME!
Red Oni > Tetsu Club Smash [-10 HP][3 HP remaining]
The oni roared. Hanami sat on the ground, the red screen was in front of her eyes.
[System: You cannot battle]
Hanai puffed. The oni stepped closer, and it raised its club.
[You have 3 HP left. You need the Hahakigami.]
Hanami: SHUT UP!
It was a broom. She tried to remember her cultural studies. Rather than regular cleaning, brooms are used as holy cleansing techniques. They served to purify the air in an open area or room.
The ceremonial broom, tears swelled in her eyes. The oni lifted the club, ready to smack it down. "Hiraikotsu!" she heard a female voice and caught a glimpse of a giant... boomerang. No, there was nothing in class she heard about that.
The boomerang hit the oni, cutting him in half. "Huh!" Hanami left her jaw open, but a sense of relief came over her. "Kagome?" She got up. "Kagome Higurashi!" she ade her way to her and clutched her in a firm hug. "Hanami?"
"I am so happy!" she squeezed her tighter. "I don't know how I got here! I've never been honest. I was drunk during the test. y dad said he would let me back in if--"
"Who's this?" asked Inuyasha.