You don't remember where you heard about it first.
A name whispered in back alleys. A thing said to be beyond comprehension. A being formed of titanium, magic, a soul, and fury. A messenger of a divine. A rice thresher in the shape of a fox that was perfectly fine with threshing human souls from the husk they called a body.
Some said it lived near Sendai Station. Others said it resided near Takekoma Inari. Others still lead you to this café ran by a witch and her doll lovers. The café was cozy, but busy. It didn't look like where something like it would be. You went up to the counter and while you could read the sign, you knew you were out of place. The way you spoke clashing with everyone's rustic accent. It was humiliating that you had to ask the barista three times to explain the special before accepting defeat and instead you order a dupio.
The patrons' eyes burrowed into your soul.
Then woman with a shaved head, and a jackal like face sat across from you. Shi wore a JAXA shirt but in vibrant green. Hir pants were denim, and shi had a cane. " 見知らぬ顔だな。何を探しにきたか？[What are you seeking stranger?]" You were thankful shi spoke with slight English accented Japanese, much like a coworker you have back in Tokyo.
"機動命婦を探している。[I'm seeking the Myobu Engine.]" You said. Then you notice the café was silent. You look, and all that's left of the other patrons is you and the jackal looking woman. You swallow a lump in your throat
The bald woman nods and sips at hir tea. "なるほど。なぜそいつを探しに来たのか？[I see. Why are you seeking it?]"
"夢なら何でも叶えさせるだそうです。[There are those who say it can make dreams real.]"
"人間の心臓を食すという話もありそうだ [There are those who also say it eats human hearts.]" Not that you hadn't heard that before but it was still horrifying. " それならなぜその危険を冒すか[So... why risk it?]"
"他に頼れる場所はないから [Because... I have no where else to go.]"
"そうかと思った。お前はそれほどやけっぱちだよな [Yup, that scans. You are that desperate aren't you?]"
You hang your head in shame. " そうですよ。[I am.]"
The Jackal faced woman pointed to a back door. "裏通りにあるはずのないドアはある。ちゃんとこれしかないと間違いは無かったら開けろ。あれは怒るに決まってるが、気概を証明できれば、あれは必ず願い事を聞く [There is a door that shouldn't be there in the alley. Open it, but only if you are positive that is the only option you have. It will be displeased with you, but if you can prove your mettle to it, it will listen.]"
You eye the door. It was ominous. You turn to face the woman again, and find hir gone. The café was full again. The watch on your wrist chiming that it was midday. There was no better time than now.
No one stopped you as you went for the door, but the barista looks at you in fear. You step into an alley and like the jackal woman said there was a door. It looks like the door to an American home that lead nowhere. You hesitate before opening the door.
Inside should not exist. The door should have lead to a wall, to an apartment, to nothing. What greeted you was something more rural than your life in the city prepared you for. There are rice fields lit with lanterns that glowed like moonlight, bipedal silhouettes attended to them. The mountains look like something you saw out of an old film, and you have never seen that many stars in one place ever. Finally, something sat in a rocking chair, long shapes lashing slightly as it rocks. You walk in, and close the door. There was a brief puzzle of whether or not to take off your shoes. Keeping them on won out given you were outdoors and in the middle of the night.
You walk towards the figure in the chair. "人間はなぬすぬ個々まで来だのっしゃ？[What is a human doing here?]" Came a husky feminine voice, the rustic accent sounded refined and discerning as compared to the others in the café.
"貴方は機動命婦。。。ですか？[Are... are you the Myobu Engine?]"
The figure stops rocking, the long shapes that you now recognize as tails stopped moving. It stood up with practiced care. "そうだっちゃ。[That I am.]" It turns to face you, eyes glowing like the full moon. ". おらの縄張りまでなにしに来たんだいが？[What brings you to my domain.]" It demands.
The eyes froze you. " 家柄を取り戻したいのです。[I wish to recover my lineage.]"
"何の家柄っしゃ？今の世の中で大名なんかになりでえのっしゃ？[And what lineage is that? Do you long to be some daimyo in this era?]" It laughs cruelly. "人間共は変わってね。[Humans, always the same.]" You gulp, trying to speak again but it continues. "力を欲望し、天下を取ろうとし、煩悩に優れた愚か者ども。貴様の願いを叶えると思うかー[Power hungry, wishing the world was theirs, so much desire. No, I don't think I will grant you your—.]"
"天下なんかどうでもいい、それを欲しくありません！[That is not my wish!]" You shout at it in fury. The figures working the fields stopped and you feel their eyes on you.
The fox's tails lashes and it approaches you. You recognize the image of a combat doll no matter what form it was. The scars criss-cross on its body through synthetic fur. The image of a man standing in front of a tank comes to your mind, and you feel a perverse kinship with him as you stare up at this being of dread and wonder. "んだれば、邪魔者よ、なぬがほいなぐ欲しい？[Then what, oh interloping one, is your wish?]"
"高祖母はイタコであり、かつて人形を制作しました。戦前改革対抗により迫害されましたが、曾祖母は彼女から教わる機会は全くなかった。[My great great grandmother was a witch, and she made dolls. She was persecuted for standing against the reforms of the pre-war eras, and never taught my great grandmother.]"
Its eyes narrows. "んだれば彼女見でえになりでえのっしゃ？[And you wish to become like her?]"
"ええ。[Yes.]" You meet its luminous, icy eyes. Your hands shake, but your face remains firm.
It sighs. "おらはお前を力になれねえげんとも、方法を案内すべ。[I cannot help you, but I can point you to a path.]"
"はい、なんでも。[I will take anything.]"
"どいなぐかかるかわがっちゃねのす。[You don't even know the cost of what it will be.]"
"才能はきっと心の中に眠っています。高祖母見たいに、そして彼女の母親たちみたいに、イタコになりたい！[I know I have the skill! I want to be a witch like my great great grandmother and her mothers before me.]" You got to your knees and bow, forehead touching the soil beneath you. "金なら幾らでも！ですが機動命婦様！是非とも我が行くべき道を照らしたまえ！[I will pay whatever cost it will be. Just please, oh most glorious Myobu Engine, light my way.]"
The silence stretches on as it looked at you. "立っで、こばがくせに。[Stand up you fool.]" It says. ""必死だど分がるだげんとも、これを渡すと教える魔女は一人いるだでば。[I know you are desperate, and I know there is a witch who will teach if you hand her this.]" It pulls out a business card from its jacket pocket. "警告しなかったと言わねえでけろ。蒲公英王をごしっぱらげさせるでねのっしゃ。[But never say that I didn't warn you, The Dandelion Queen is no woman to be crossed.]"
You stand up, and grab the card. "ありがとうございます！たすかります！あの。。。[Thank you! Thank you, you are most kind. Uh]" The realization sinks in. "蒲公英王ってどなた様でしょうか？[Who is the Dandelion Queen?]"
"都沢晶子。んだれば、考えを変えてお前を食がる前にちゃっちゃど消えろ。[Miyakozawa Akiko. Now go, before I change my mind and eat you.]" It hisses. You run, shutting the door behind you. When you turn back, the door wasn't there. The card in your hand, the one that said in seal script "Myobu Engine" was. And for the first time in decades, the world felt right again.
Commentary
So I want to shout out to @riversidewings here for letting me muck about in her story universe.
I am glad to be working with her on her projects not only as cohost, but friend.
Now to continue: I wanted to write the Myobu Image because the image of a Yokai that is a combat doll wouldn't leave my head. And leave it to someone like me to sit down and make the Myobu Engine.
I won't lie that the Myobu Engine is a thing I aspire to be.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, as I enjoy helping River M59A1 find a voice for Akiko and Zee.
