#meguruhime

[zarahxan]

It’s the 23rd in Japan now, so I minus well post this already—Happy bday to my oc, Kuu! Can you believe that he’s actually 22 this year and not the kid he is in this pic? XD

Even for all the complex, maddening messes, I love this guy.

(Also yeah, the quote is a continuation of the one i put in Hana’s bday pic by Clara Lucas Balfour!)

#shaman king #shaman king oc #kuuhaku of 37 urban legends #meguruhime #zarahxan art #I won’t stop until I’ve told his full story * - *

[zarahxan]

Oc-tober Day 11 - Truce

“Now, are we all settled, boys?”

“…Sure.”

“Whatever.”

Kuu glared at the other boy as Yoh prompted them to shake hands. He didn’t have time for this. He didn’t even start the fight! (…well, but he did propose the shaman match.).

The blond boy, whose name was apparently Hana, returned his gaze with one of his own. Golden fire met cold lightning.

Huh. So the local rumors held true. Judging from the first few hours he’s spent with him, Asakura Hana was certainly not like any other urban city dweller he’s met.

Reluctantly, the boys shook hands. One noticed the other’s grip tightening, and followed suit. Soon, it became a small, silent match of whose grip was apparently more stronger.

Kuu heard the exasperated sighs of their guardian spirits, but paid it no mind. His brain was too frustrated to think properly or take everything in. It was odd, because he felt like he should’ve felt too tired to move. Yet somehow a strange, energetic sensation burned within his veins. He noticed Hana’s aura brimming with it too.

Was this adrenaline?

——

Yoh and Hana (the brown-haired guy and the blond on the right) belong to Shaman King canon. But Kuu and Meguru remain as my OCs.

Prompts are by @oc-growth-and-development.

#shaman king oc #oc-tober #day 11 #Kuuhaku of 37 urban legends #hana asakura #yoh asakura #meguruhime #amidamaru #shaman king #skoj

[zarahxan]

OC-tober Day 31 - Home

It wasn’t something Kuuhaku was sure he really had. Though, what was the definition of a home? A place of shelter? A house with a roof complete with an ordinary family with ordinary children? A safe harbor? He wasn’t too sure. The closest that came to that were within the lush forests of Shizuoka, or the ancient walls of Shirayuki’s temple, and the strange nostalgia he felt whenever he gazed at the stars. Even then, they were ones that he had to leave, even the sight of clear skies were fickle. As of now, he considered himself a vagabond. One who wandered from place to place, never to linger for too long.

He thought back to his life so far, doing his best to help his mind move past muddled memories, or those his heart would rather not remember in detail. It had been five years since he had left Shizuoka—and four since he had started off on his adventure alone with Meguru.

“Anywhere,”

He recalled his younger self saying, long hair tied up and blowing in the breeze, eyes full of wonder and hypnotized by the sunset.

“Anywhere we want.”

He had traveled a lot throughout Japan. From the snowy mountain winds of Hokkaido, to the close-knit villages in Nara. He had loved and lost, and a blur of faces he didn’t know if he wanted to remember or forget fleeted in his mind. Friends who were no longer friends, companions who were no longer with him. And the goal of which he came to Tokyo in the first place was beginning to feel like a naive pipe dream. He was but a stray, withered leaf blowing helplessly against the breeze, far from whatever bush or tree he came from.

Yet still, he was here. Alive and breathing. Taking shelter underneath the closest bridge he could find because of the rain, and watching yet another pair of stray cats bat at his feet (he no longer felt the need to question why they were there). Soon, he would have to make his move again, lest he not be found.

Meguru was floating in front of him, silently regarding him. She only nodded with a knowing look and flitted closer to him, eyes filled with calm concern (though still concern, nonetheless).

Kuuhaku smiled. Nothing about him could get past her, but what could one expect from the one who raised them? He could hide his heart from the whole world, forever cloak himself in shadows, and she would still see him as if he was bathed in sunlight.

“…I’m okay.” He whispered, his voice a little hoarse from disuse and cold air. He really needed to get thicker clothes…

That didn’t seem to deter her. “Would you like to talk about it?”

“…I was just reflecting on everything so far.”

“Ah.”

They both paused for a moment, as if nothing about that needed to be said.

“…I feel the need to apologize.” he gave something akin to a smile.

Meguru turned her head in confusion. “What?”

“If you hadn’t been stuck with me, you’d be living a better life fit for your status.” he laughed bitterly.

There was another pregnant pause, as Meguru stared at him in stunned worry before her gaze narrowed at him. “Young boy, you have the audacity to think that I regret my decision as your guardian.”

“…”

She floated near his forehead.

Kuuhaku felt a small wisp of furyoku hovering near him. It was as a warm little sun had come to embrace him. Comfort flowed into his heart. It almost bested the campfire nearby.

“…no matter what may happen, I will stay by your side. Is that not what I promised you when you were younger?”

“…I know.”

It was true. Throughout all he had experienced, whether joys or hardship, Meguru had always been a constant at his side. She assisted him, like any guardian would, gave him the closest things he felt to security. Not once did he feel any regret from her. Not even now. It was only ever unwavering sincerity from the dragon princess.

He held his hand up, wondering if even though she was a spirit, he could still feel her.

He felt the corners of his mouth quirk up, the joy feeling more genuine.

“Thank you…” was all he could word, for he knew he didn’t have to say much when it came to Meguru. At times, their understanding was unspoken. Once again, the relentless deluge took their conversation’s place.

Ah, so that was it, Kuuhaku thought. It didn’t have to be a place.

Home was wherever he was with her together.

——

Aaaand that concludes my final post for OC-tober! I gotta say that while it got hectic at times, I enjoyed the ride. This whole thing really helped me become more productive in terms of my art (and a lot more confident too). I hope to do something like this again.

Thank you all for sticking around. Oh, and Happy Halloween!

Prompts are by @oc-growth-and-development.

#oc-tober #shaman king OCs #kuuhaku of 37 urban legends #meguruhime

[zarahxan]

Oc-tober Day 4: Medicine

It was once said that the Great Dragon god of the Ocean, Ryujin, was an expert in medicine. This holds true, and during the early days when the legacy of humanity was still young, he would sometimes adapt a human form and set foot into the surface to gather and experiment with herbs.

His youngest daughter Meguruhime found curiosity in her father’s hobbies. It was fascinating to see her father gather dried plants and ground them into seemingly magical powder that could heal a plethora of ailments. She would often tag along with him, keeping with her a small basket to help her father gather.

For each visit, Ryujin would teach her of a plant and it’s uses, as well as teaching her how to distinguish poisonous ones.

Today, they decided to gather plants along the lowland areas. He pointed her to particular plant growing amongst the grass.

“What is it, father?” Meguru knelt near it to examine it closer. It was a fuzzy, green plant with leaves fanning outwards along its stem. It bloomed pale violet flowers. It looked pretty, though Meguru decided that it also seemed rather humble compared to other floral plants.

“These are what we call gennoshouko.” Her father said as carefully picked a handful. “These plants can be grounded into powder or made into tea. They have very good, almost instantaneous, effects for humans with stomach problems. They can also be good for the skin.”

Meguru hummed in thought as she followed suit and picked a few to put into her basket. “…is it good for us?”

Her father chuckled. “I imagine that it could be. But our constitutions are not as similar to the humans.”

“But father,” Meguru inquires as she walks alongside him, trying her best to catch up. She was sure that her basket had gotten a little too heavy. “Why do you make these things if it’s usually only the humans who have use for them?”

In her hurry she found herself stumbling and gave a small squeak as she fell, soon her face was planted onto the grass.

Her father walked back to her in a hurry. “My jewel, are you hurt?” he asked in panic as he gently helped her up and lifted her face to check for blemishes.

Meguru lightly batted his hands away. “I am fine, father…! I think I just carried too much and I—Ah..” she looked around her and saw that most of the herbs she gathered had spilled across the grass. She sighed, and knelt down to retrieve her basket’s contents. “I think I carried too much.”

“Then you must take care not to bear more than you ought to.” Ryujin replied, as he went down to help her.

“One day, I will be big enough to carry this much and do this on my own.” Meguru stated.

“I’m sure you will be. But for now, you are young. You can leave the heavier loads to your older self.”

Meguru nodded.

“Though to answer your initial question: I make human medicine because I am a god. As gods, it is our duty to assist the mortals, for they are part of the land that we have created.”

“Are there other gods who do what we do?”

“It depends, for no god is the same. As water deities, we can provide them with rain to care for their crops, bring fish into their nets so that they can eat, and bring storms away from their villages should they ask. In turn they praise us, preserve our legacies, and put value into preserving nature, for they know that they can give back for what they take. Such is the balance of this world; between mortals and gods.” Ryujin retrieved the last of the gennoshouko flowers and handed it to his daughter.

“We protect this land and all of its inhabitants because this is ours as much as it is theirs.”

Meguru silently took the bloom. As she and her father made their way home, she stared at the flower in her hand. She wondered what kind of goddess she would be for the mortals one day.

——

Btw, the flower mentioned in the story is the Japanese geranium. Japan actually did use it for herbal medicine (mostly for gastrointestinal purposes), and it was quite renowned for its effects.

Prompts by @oc-growth-and-development.

#oc-tober #day 4 #meguruhime #feel free to fact check me if you want XD #Meguru one day meets Kuu and teaches him of the value of herbal remedies 😂 #and yes her dad tends to be rather protective of his daughters

[zarahxan]

OC-tober Day 18 - Watch

Prompts by @oc-growth-and-development​.

No art this time, but have a small drabble featuring my stubborn and sleepy OC, Kuu, and his dragon companion Meguru!

----

With every minute that passed, Kuu found his eyes growing heavier and heavier and would have to catch himself from dozing off every once in a while. The cold breeze was almost enough to lull him. Still, he kept his tuning fork close. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down, not when it was night. So here he was, seated in the corner of an alleyway, waiting for someone or something to sneak up on him at any moment.

It really wasn’t easy in the city. Back in the mountains of Shizuoka, he could at least conceal himself within the trees. But even the darkest alleys weren’t safe in Tokyo, and one couldn’t hide their grass in the forest if there was nothing but concrete.

“You should rest.”

He turned to see his Meguru hovering beside him, brass serpentine eyes staring at him in concern. He shook his head.

“…this is the hour of when they’re most active.”

“It is no use fighting in your state.” Meguru tutted. “Even children like them need rest.”

“They’re not all just children. Besides, I can fight just fine...” Kuu said, his eyes squinting from lack of rest. He closed them, trying to quiet his mind once more and seeing if he could detect any nearby shamanic activity.

—He nearly caught himself from his body leaning forward. He heard Meguru sigh.

“Let me keep watch for you.” she said, hovering into his sleepy view.

“But…”

“No ‘buts’.” She said. “You’ve been keeping watch for hours now! It has been a long day, and you need sleep. You are still a mortal.”

“Not according to the latest rumors, I’m not.”

Kuu watched Meguru’s eyes widen comically at him, her brows kneading together as her snout flared. He chuckled quietly, and then felt his eyes closing once more and shot up.

“No matter the rumor or how boundless your sleepless wit, you are a young human.” Meguru prompted. “And young humans need plenty of sleep..!”

“I’m not even…” he yawned. “…sleepy.”

Meguru hovered near him. “Let me stand watch this time. I will alert you if anything or anyone approaches.”

“…”

“I know you are concerned. I am too. But we have checked this alleyway for threats twice, and so far no one seems to be around…”

Kuu thought about it for a moment. She did have a point. Then he heard a rustle from not too far from him and nearly flinched. He got his tuning fork, ready to harness Meguru’s power until…

…a peach tabby cat emerged from the shadows. Kuu froze and blinked down at it for a moment as it casually made its way to his foot and began nuzzling against him.

Huh. Just what was it with him and the local cats?? He didn’t remember bringing any catnip with him. Either way, it didn’t stop the cat from dozing off beside him.

Kuu slowly put the tuning fork down, the cat’s calming purrs only encouraged his drowsiness. Dammit. He was too comfortable. He wished to change his position, but didn’t have the heart to ruin its sleep.

Meguru hovered close the the cat, and then looked at him again with a smile in her eyes. “It seems that even your newfound companion for the night also agrees.” She whispered.

Kuu watched them both, and took a deep breath. Oh well, it wasn’t as if his mind was sharp enough to come up with any other plan, much less move well in a fight. Minus well take the crumbs as they come, as his former teacher would say. “…alright.”

He shifted, careful not to wake his little companion, and set his head onto his backpack, still keeping his weapon medium close. “Tell me if anything happens…”

Meguru nodded. “I will, Kuuhaku.”

The last thing Kuu noticed before drifting off to sleep was the cat’s scent. Citrus and mint? How odd. It felt somewhat familiar…

#oc-tober #day 18 #Kuuhaku of 37 urban legends #meguruhime #sk oj