Ikiryō 生霊

FanFiction #KaigaiIdol #Phoebee (Commissioned by Phoebee)
#Wss366 MastoPrompt 12/18

•──⋅☾Chapter 1 Part 2 of 2☽⋅──•
•─⋅☾Phoebee the 2.5D VTuber☽⋅─•

“Thank you for coming, Miyakaki. I’m an idol and a 2.5-D VTuber,” she said, setting her drink down. “One of my acts involves playing a clone of myself. A week ago, someone impersonating me did a stream—my fans were certain it was me. They carried it off flawlessly.”

“I hope you didn’t watch it,” Kao injected.

“I tried, but it had been deleted.”

“It’s best not to watch those things. They're often cursed. But go on.”

“Then, a friend reported seeing me at a restaurant. They had even talked to the person, thinking it was me."

She bit her lip before continuing. "But I was streaming at the time. Last night, it finally called me. Talking to myself was disconcerting, to say the least. There were pauses and inflections just where I would put them. We shared the same hopes and fears. She asked if she could take my place at one of my shows."

“That’s worrying. It means it's getting closer to you,” Kao said.

“My Japanese manager urged me to call you. They were very concerned it might be an Ikiryō.”

“Or a doppelgänger. Either way, it sounds like it wants to take your place. Would you like me to perform a cleansing or an exorcism? In some cases, cleansing alone is sufficient. Ideally, both would be done—but there are also charms.”

“I don’t think it wants to replace me. It called me "Mommy" and cried a lot. Can I let it perform just one show, and then could you convince it to go home? Please!”

“That sounds like an Ikiryō. My mother would have called it a soul fragment. It’s risky, but if you want, we can follow your path.”

"I would dearly love to do that. I mean, if I were them, I would want that.”

The words had barely left her mouth before Kao and I both started reciting a mantra. When we finished, Kao explained, “It is best not to open some doors.” His voice was calm but firm.

“Sorry. But I would like to do it.”

“I suggest you take shelter at a shrine while the show is going on. I’ll give you an address. They can also give you charms to ward off further entanglement. While you're there, reflect quietly on any desires or attachments that still cling to you. If you recognize it, commit it to an ema: either a promise to fulfill the desire if it is wholesome, or a vow to release it. Be sincere but humble.”

Pheobee took out her phone. “I’ll tell her.”

Kao held her hand out in response. “Tell me where to send the message. I'll take care of it. There are already too many #cords that need severing.”

[To be continued later]

#MicroFiction #TootFic #Serial #NMFic