The Eighth Night: Tsumakari ~ Kappa

Author: [Since it seems like it's going to be a little long, I'll stop here for now. I plan to update soon.

Also, I'm always waiting for your feedback.

And please also check out "If I Went on Sword Training with My Childhood Friend" and "The King of Netorare".

Thank you.] (TL/N: I'll looks into these titles if this one is good enough. Here is titles in Japanese: "幼馴染と一緒に剣の修行に出たら～"and"ネトラレの王")

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In the end, after that, I embraced my wife recklessly. Perhaps it was also because of the excitement caused by the act between Nurarihyon and my wife, but still, I must have been somewhat uneasy.

Anyway, I just held her with a feeling of wanting to overwrite what had happened to her with Nurarihyon.

...Really, she's not having his baby, isn't she?

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And so, the next night of "Tsumakari" is coming again. This time it seems to be the "Kappa" that will come.

(TL/N: The Kappa is a mythological monster said to inhabit ponds and rivers in Japan. This strange creature is said to have the appearance of both a humanoid and reptile and are extremely cunning. Kappas have over 80 different names, though the most common are kawappa, gawappa, and kawaso. Check out its image here.)

The kappa in this world seems to be no different from those in the world I was in. The simplified characters used are mostly the same as well. However, this raises some questions.

There are a considerable number of kappa living in this world. They breed and form communities in swamps where humans don't visit. In other words, they're beings that have settled in the present world. Despite this, I don't understand why "tsumakari" is necessary.

"Tsumakari" should have been a ritual for improve relationship between human and Yokai through sexual intercourse and adjusting the distance between them and reality.

Although they're all lumped together under the name of kappa, the general kappa (if that's not a strange way to put it) and those who come for "Tsumakari" might be different species. Or perhaps the significance of "Tsumakari" has become merely a formality and remained as a simple ritual.

Or maybe it's just because it feels good?

And now, the actual thing is right in front of me, at the back entrance of the mansion, where a bundle of cucumbers was hanging from a rough rope. It seems to be a souvenir, and the kappa in this world also have cucumbers as their favorite food.

From bringing their favorite food as souvenirs alone we can tell that they're friendly towards us.

"A kappa carrying cucumbers by hand as souvenirs."

When put into words, it's truly pastoral scenery; one might even say rustic or simple-minded. But Kappa itself was far from peaceful-looking: plates on its head; carapace on its back; webbed hands and feet with paddles...it certainly matched what described in folklore.

While it's cute and symbolic in manga and anime, the one in front of me is, how should I put it... more realistic.

It was large and flat, with a beak that reminded me of the dinosaurs I saw in picture books. Its round eyes were similar to those of birds, with small black dots giving off an inorganic impression. Above all else, its blue-black slimy skin felt like that of amphibians. Something resembling moss hung from its carapace.

Something like an UMA or a creature rather than a youkai. And there's a faint smell of the swamp. (TL/N: "creature"="クリーチャー". I don't how how to translate this word better)

Come to think of it, did they grow the cucumbers hanging there themselves? Or did they steal them from a nearby farm like in the story of "Sero Hiki no Goshu"?(a Japanese novel). But even if kappas forming communities engaged in agriculture wasn't strange at all; there's also the possibility that it was an offering from neighboring residents.

As I scolded myself for being rude to someone who had brought souvenirs, my wife innocently said, "Well these cucumbers look delicious! Thank you very much."

The kappa responded only with sounds that sounded like "Gugyagya," not saying anything like "You're welcome-Kappa." It seems they are going down the creature route without adding "-kappa" at the end.

Even so, will my wife embrace this..."creature"?

In the case of the Ushi-Oni, perhaps because it was too grotesque, I didn't feel any sense of reality.But because this Kappa is too realistic, I can't help but feel a strange vividness... and hesitate.

Moreover, I wonder if inviting clients who are high in moisture to the tatami room would not make them uncomfortable? Wouldn't the futon get in the way instead?

As I pondered various things like that, my wife clapped her hands and said, "Since we're at it, why don't we invite them to take a bath?"

That's a great idea. There is a large bathhouse in this mansion, which is like a small public bath. It is rarely used except when there are many visitors because it is difficult to fill with hot water. Otherwise, it is only used for "enjoying" time with two people...

Fortunately, we had just used it yesterday, so if we boiled the water again, we should be able to prepare it quickly.

Thus, this time our guest reception took place in the bathhouse.

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The staircase leading down to the bathhouse was quiet. It was built in a quiet part of the mansion as an extension to the bathhouse.

It was semi-underground and the walls of the above-ground section were slanted like a roof, with large skylights installed for natural light.

The outside was a courtyard surrounded by hedges, and on beautiful moonlit nights like tonight, one can enjoy moonbathing in this stylishly designed space.

We put fire in the kettle, setting the temperature to lukewarm water.

I don't think aquatic creatures have a habit of soaking in hot water, so it's probably safer not to make it too hot.

On warm nights like tonight, it's convenient for the "creature" as well. This way, the bath would be ready in no time.

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The kappa obediently followed the guide and sank into the bathtub. Since he was almost naked, so he went straight in without changing clothes.

Although he wore something like a loincloth around his waist, it remained on him.

But what is that thing anyway? Was it the only fashion it had? And why a loincloth? Is it some kind of obsession? Or was it a part of its body, or was it a type of plant like moss that it had a symbiotic relationship with?

...No, no, there was no point in thinking about such things. It was my bad habit to think too deeply about trivial things.

In any case, the kappa seemed to be enjoying himself in the bath. However, that was only my subjective judgment. I couldn't read any emotions from his UMA-like face, but he didn't seem to show any discomfort, so that was just my assumption.

So I also got into the bath with him.

I never thought that one day I would take a bath with a kappa. And then...

The sound of the glass door of the bathhouse being opened echoed, and my wife came in. She covered herself with a bath towel while looking embarrassed about her nudity even though she had no problem exposing herself to yokai before. It seems she has her own rules when it comes to mixed bathing.

"Excuse me..."

She said as she also dipped her feet into the bath. And as she submerged her body in the water, she skillfully let the bath towel slip off and flow outside the bathtub to avoid exposing too much skin. Her movements were refined despite trying not to expose herself too much; Although she covered her ample breasts with her hand, her erotic voluptuous naked body could still be seen clearly through the water surface.

My wife took position on the other side of Kappa who sat between us and we enjoyed our time together for a while until my wife's body gradually moved closer to Kappa's body.

"How's temperature?"

Kappa didn't answer anything but my wife moved closer and pressed her large breasts against Kappa's backside. Then she gently reached under his loincloth in the water...

I wondered what she was doing, but as a shrine maiden, perhaps she was curious about what was underneath the loincloth. The water surface trembled slightly.

In return, Kappa wrapped his arm around her shoulder and began to explore my wife's hand with his webbed fingers."Ah..." A seductive voice escaped from my wife's mouth while her hand continued moving under Kappa's loincloth.

However, I still couldn't tell what Kappa was thinking from his amphibian-like expression. But gradually my wife's moans became more and more alluring and the sound of water splashing grew louder.

As I watched them touching each other in the bath so intimately, it felt like I shouldn't be seeing something that private so I looked away. However, their sensual sounds echoed through the bathroom along with the movement of water for a while until suddenly my wife stood up from the tub saying "The water will get dirty if we continue... let's move on to somewhere else."

She then extended her hand towards Kappa inviting him to follow her into another area where they could continue their activities without me.

Finally, the main performance of "Tsumakari" is beginning.