http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QseLRkLtO5w - Deep Forest Where The Dragon Sleeps, Mamizou's Theme Arrange by K2 Sound
Ah, don't let the fire burn too low. My bamboo shoots are nowhere near sweet enough yet. You keep the fire going, I'll sprinkle some more sugar on it.
Hmm? What sugar you ask? This sugar.
....what's that look for? Everyone always carries a bag of Kirrin-brand sugar on them. It's common sense.
You don't? Really really? What would you ever do if you come across a delicious-looking huma-....snack thing on the road? You don't? You obviously don't get out enough, human. I mean, you live in the human village for Hina's sake. It's like living in a great big unlimited snack cupboard.
....what? You're giving me an even funnier look. I was talking about snack shops. All the good snack shops are there. What did you think I was talking about?
Speaking of snacks is making me hungry....Kyuu....so hungry. If the bamboo doesn't cook soon I might just have to snack on something....hmmm....something....
....what? No, I'm not sprinkling sugar on you. You're imagining things. It's just snowing. Yes, it's snowing in late spring. I wouldn't sprinkle sugar on you. You're sweet enough as it is. I know, I tasted.
....are you alright? Does that lamprey taste funny or something? Here, this one's done. Might taste better.
...
....are you...alright? You don't look too good....
....
No! I didn't poison it! What are you accusing me of?! I would never ever poison anyone! Not when I could burn them. Or poke them. Or both! To death that is.
Ah, you mean it's sweet. Yes, off course it's sweet. What did you think sugar tasted like? Fairies? Well, yes, off course I added sugar to the lamprey. It's what everyone does!
Good point. By everyone I mean everyone who is not you. And awesome.
Hmm? You're offering it to me? Cause I'm hungry? Ah no, I really shouldn't have lamprey, thanks. You don't want to see me after I've had lamprey. It gives me...flagrance.
What was that? I said it makes me fat earlier? Am I just avoiding eating meat, you ask? Ufufu, why do you ask? Did I not tell you I'm a fearsome youkai, wild and ferocious and rawr and all that? Does this not imply anything to you, human? Don't get too hopeful~
Oh, what's that you're doing to the fire? Oooh, a spellcard. I am impressed, human. Yes, well done with kindling the fire. Yes, little fire, grow up big and strong and awesome like your dear mother....yes...
Did you get that from the spellcard store in your village? Yes, I thought I recognized it. Kindle Sign「Noble Blaze」 is one of mine after all. Most of the Kindle Sign series is....except the few that are Maybelle's.
So, any good with danmaku? You're decent, you say? Good for you. Your school has taught you well then. You'll never go wrong with a spellcard or two.
Hmmm? Why did the pipsqueak bring spellcards to a claw fight you ask? Especially when danmaku's designed to level the playing field for humans and not youkai?
That's an interesting question. Let me ask you then. Why did you use a spellcard to enkindle the fire just now? Because you're just too lazy to go get some firewood, you say? Well, same reason. Spellcards are spells for the lazy. Why drain a cow dry to get enough blood to scribble a hundred magical circles or chant yourself hoarse over a thousand incantations when you can flick out an easy spellcard? It saves time and effort. And in a fight that's all the difference between being on the receiving or giving end of hell.
Nazrin is quite the clever one...maybe a little too clever at times. We're both beast youkai. It means we pack some serious punch in a head-to-head tumble but are a little lacking in the ranged department. Assuming we were both average beast youkai we'd simply catfight each other to a draw. Working off that assumption she decided to open with ranged attacks and gain an advantage first. Spellcards simply allowed her to cast spells without giving me the time to get within poking-range. Just as well for her. As you can easily gather, the battle would have been mine from the start if we had gone straight to fisticuffs from the start.
Difficult to imagine, isn't it, a time when nobody abided by the spellcard rules? You know right now that you can easily challenge me to a spellcard battle and regardless of who wins you'd stop me from eating you. Ahem...hypothetically speaking, off course. The point is, you can feel at ease around me knowing that. Imagine not having that guarantee of safety. Exactly, no human would ever dare come within a fairy's throw of a youkai, let alone negotiate and trade.
....you can put down your spellcard now. Someone's eyes might get put out. I should know. Last time my visitors did that poor Nazrin had to spend a whole night dowsing the front lawn for their eyes...and other bits more difficult to find.
Hmmm? Oh, yes, I'm being sidetracked again. Speaking of Nazrin...
Chapter 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8qy-pQmkjw - Tiny Tiny Clever Commander Arrange by Hatagoya Spring
Kirrin instincts...It's just like drinking, Akyuu decided. Everything from the irresistible temptation, the guilty first sip, the 'one more should be okay' that followed, the senseless sense of oni-like invincibility it came with, all the way to having as much control as a celestial on her period. It even came complete with a bout of bridge-princess level self-loathing on the trudge home after.
She can claim a victory as much as Marisa can claim she owns the SDM library. Nazrin owned the battle from the start. Akyuu's win was a steal, one she had a suspicion was not entirely hers either. Despite having as much respect for spellcard rules as the shrinemaiden has for gods, Nazrin, a youkai, had chosen to open the fight against a fellow youkai with spellcards. Now on closer thought it was as orthodox for youkai as the concept of sobriety to oni. It had only just begun to sank on Akyuu what that meant. Nazrin had it all planned out, from drawing her into the tight confines of the Genbu Ravine to opening the fight with a deadly ground-and-air pincer pattern spellcard, all while never letting Akyuu get within a fairy's breadth of erhu-poking range. It was not the approach of an average youkai, it was one of a clever tactician. Akyuu simply overwhelmed her through brute force alone, a force she had as much control over as Hakugyokorou has on its fridge.
But what really rounded off her self-loathing was that last fact - she only began to win once she gave into that feral murderous intent. She was out to kill Nazrin, and she even enjoyed it. Every bit of it. It was like drowning in a liquorice-like euphoria, thick, dark and sweet. And the fear. She could practically taste the fear pouring out of Nazrin. It was so...so very....hellishly delicious, a taste that sent her into a trance-like ecstasy. Just the very thought of that wondrous pleasure made her mouth water, her body tremble, her tail and ears wag.
All that mixing with the deep dark guilt sitting like a giant toad in her tummy made her feel sick with self-loathing. Now all she needed for completeness was the oni-like hangover.
Speaking of hangovers, Rin had been strangely quiet throughout the journey back. Akyuu couldn't help but wonder if it was uncharacteristic guilt of her own or some sudden newfound Kirrin wisdom that was keeping Rin from raising the subject of her fellow stowaway. Akyuu herself couldn't help but err towards the former. It must be Rin's fault! She's to blame! Akyuu just wanted to survive. She needed to use those instincts. She....
Ugh, down that road lies guilt city...
Still! Rin must have known about little miss instincts! Rin didn't even bother warning her about it! It's all her fault! It must be! This silence must be her trying to think up a way to explain herself! It must be! Well, this had better be good! Because Hieda no Akyuu is not a lad-...youkai you can so easily cross, thank you very much!
"You know..." Rin began. Akyuu held her breath. Here it was. Don't dissapoint me, Rin! "
...Rin has it worked out. A hand in the bush is definitely worth all 3 chicks. And then some." Rin said, sagely.
Akyuu had to fight not to facefault straight into the snow. This was a considerable feat, considering she had enough weighing down on her as it was with a tiny commander over one shoulder, a bucketful of lamprey under another.
Rin! I expected more of you! Why do you have to be so...so...just so...Rin!
The little Kirrin couldn't help but sigh, shaking her head. All the pent up tension and anger seemed to slowly dissolve. She simply couldn't help it. She couldn't stay angry at Rin, at least not this once. It was like trying to be angry at a stubbornly cute giant panda for being big and heavy. She just couldn't help being...well...Rin, all incurably adorable and obliviously lovable to boot...at least for an obnoxiously nonsensical voice in one's head.
Then again, she only had two to judge from. The other she just learned was a murderous psychopath. But let's not think about that right now, she thought to herself.
It's alright, she told herself. It'll all be alright. Yes, stay calm, be the mature one. She's supposed to be over a millenia old mentally, so she should act it. Rin has done right by her so far. She wouldn't intentionally place her in harm's way. Besides, her own survival relies on Akyuu's too.
Now, more importantly, Akyuu's own survival relies on sneaking back into Mystia's camp as quietly and stealthily as she can before her nightsparrow boss notic-....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66WcLQ9nbw - Lost Place, the Sealed Away Youkai Arrange by Floating Cloud
"Sch?tzcheeeen...." Akyuu froze mid-step.
"
Nein, there's no point pretending to be a tree either,
Sch?tzchen." "Oh....hello, e-elder s-schwester Mystia-san...." Akyuu squeaked, turning about face snappily to face her boss. Meanwhile one arm unceremoniously dropped the mouse youkai behind her, the other reached forwards with the bucketful of lamprey in an attempt at a token bribe, "Lamprey?" She asked while mounting a valiant but futile attempt at inconspicuously kicking the mouse under the bush behind her.
"What did I tell you about bringing home food from outside,
Sch?tzchen?" Mystia asked, nudging the mouse on the ground with her own foot, her face bearing all the amusement of a mistress seeing a kitten bring home her first mouse, literally. "Is this even hygienic?"
"...does it count if she's knocked out?" Akyuu ventured hopefully, her fluffy ears very visibly drooping, tail low between her legs. She was silently grateful she had sent off Maybelle with some sweet riceballs and some parting pettings. She had enough to explain to Mystia and Kagerou without Maybelle being there to helpfully add that she was a good stalker.
"I guess it's consensual if she can't say no?" Kagerou contributed, sauntering up to join them.
"That's 'knocked up', RouRou." Mystia pointed out, her eyes critically noting how both Akyuu and Nazrin's clothes looked as if they had taken the scenic route through the hell of blazing fires without any sun screen or common sense for that matter. "So either you two had a rather hot catfight or you both decided to have a staring contest with the hell raven. Which
ist es?" She asked, eyebrow raised and arms crossed in a maternal equivalent of a military demonstration of force.
"She started it!" Akyuu said, aiming a digit at Nazrin for blame emphasis.
"And yet you took her home?" Mystia's eyebrow rose by a few more millimetres.
"Spoils of war, pillage, women, food, all in one." The wolf said, grinning. "The cool girls do it all the time."
"What she said." Akyuu nodded emphatically in agreement again, aiming a digit at Kagerou for further emphasis. It took her a moment longer to properly process what Kagerou said, another to regret it. "W-wait, what...?"
"
Liebe at first sight, was it? Ah,
wunderbar..." Mystia sighed. Kagerou gave a perfunctory wolf-whistle.
"N-not what you said!" Akyuu was quick to deny, her face burning like a miniature hakkero.
"Heeeh....why else do people bring girls home?" Kagerou grinned, teasingly. "Play chess?"
"....is it too late to choose the we-had-a-staring-contest option?" Akyuu sighed in defeat.
"
Na, I can't really afford to feed a third hungry pet though." Mystia muttered, scratching the back of her head.
"We don't eat that much!" Both Kagerou and Akyuu retorted.
"So you don't have a problem with being pets?" Mystia sweatdropped massively.
"I just want to tend to her wounds until I can get her on her way again." Akyuu said, quickly.
"You beat people to a pulp so you can nurse their wounds?" Mystia shook her head, "You really are a strange one,
Sch?tzchen."
"Eh, different strokes for different folks." Kagerou shrugged. "We're an open and tolerant society." She nodded at Akyuu's clothes, "I mean, if we can tolerate her streaking we can tolerate anything."
"
Naaa, what are we going to do with you,
Sch?tzchen?" Mystia sighed to herself again. Only then did Akyuu properly take a look at herself. Her clothes, or what charred remains still clinging to her body still qualified as clothes, were guarding her decency about as efficiently as the scarlet devil mansion doorguard.
Kagerou gave another wolf whistle.
"Was that really a necessary contribution to the discussion, RouRou?" Mystia asked, tetchily.
"It is. I'm a wolf." Kagerou retorted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp8BSTB7Mow - Extend Ash Arrange by Sound Holic
"Came at a bad time?" Another voice joined the conversation. Akyuu almost leapt out of what was left of her yukata. Another voice? She turned around quickly to face its owner. She breathed a sigh of relief as she noticed the owner, at least, had a body, and that she hadn't somehow spawned a third disembodied voice in her head. The fact that it was a human one, a female one at that, was a bonus.
Mystia, on the other hand, was anything but relieved at the appearance of the newcomer. In fact, her face was turning the very colour of her hair. "Mouuu...You're here early. W-We're not ready for deliveries, you know." She muttered, very visibly fidgeting, her voice suddenly becoming quiet and high-pitched at the same time.
Wait? 'Mouuu'?
Akyuu could tell Mystia had the word 'nonchalant' in her mind, maybe even 'breezy' or 'blas?'. But what it translated to in her mouth was anything but. And the knowing grin of sheer amusement on Kagerou's face only confirmed Akyuu's suspicion. It was all she could do to stop herself from mirroring her grin.
Akyuu looked around at the culprit. It was difficult to take in the new arrival all at once. To do so properly would require her to take a few steps back, maybe even get a stepladder. She was tall, incredibly so, almost two heads more so than Akyuu. A baggy pair of fire-red trousers, a pair of well worn heavy duty leather boots and a plain white shirt, all unkempt and darned in places with colourful charms, were her seemingly-reluctant compromise to the fashion department. But on looking further up (and straining her neck doing so) an almost surreal beauty seemed to slowly bleed into the picture. Finest strands of silky straight silver-blonde hair cascaded in a gleaming waterfall over well toned curves. And hiding underneath the swaths of perfect hair was a face that glowed with abundant youth, featuring sharp, ruby-red eyes, thick set eyebrows and a serene smile exuding a gentle, boyish charm. Still, there was something about her eyes, about how the shadows formed on her face, that suggested a wealth of experience, a rugged maturity of sorts.
And charms. Paper charms. Lots of it. Everywhere. On her clothes, tied in her hair, simply everywhere.
It was a figure Akyuu knew well, often even an object of secret envy. There were none closer to her adopted mother than, perhaps, this person. It bothered Akyuu at times that there was a side to her adopted mother she never got to see, one that was almost entirely this woman's monopoly. But still, Keine seemed happiest when she had the pleasure of her companionship, so it was something Akyuu readily forgave. Akyuu would always silently worry for Keine, knowing how short-lived this woman would be compared to Keine's youkai lifespan. Surely Keine knew this well, poor poor Keine.
Despite how often she saw them together, she knew very little about this woman. What little she knew was what she had in her mental copy of the chronicle. One Fujiwara no Mokou, bamboo forest watchguard, health nut and fried chicken stand owner. Not to mention a closet ninja, something she kept concealed from Akyuu oh so very carefully, just like a true ninja (But Akyuu knew better! Nothing escapes the Hieda eye!). In short, a very, very strange human. And from the looks of the big sack of charcoal on her back, charcoal supplier too. She made a mental note to update the chronicle entry with this when.....oh...never mind.
"....ninja? Really?" Rin asked, reading the mental entry on Mokou over Akyuu's mental shoulder.
"....Ninjas don't wear red or orange." She pointed out.
"You're behind the times, Rin. All ninjas do that these days. Nobody expects it." Akyuu said inwardly, nodding sagely all the while.
There was something about Mokou, about her calmly caring exterior, her silently suffering nature, about her selfless self-neglect, that drew the maternal sort to her. It was like homing amulets for Keine and Mystia's hearts. She simply couldn't blame them. Still, despite Akyuu's suspicions, if Keine had feelings for Mokou, she kept them as well hidden as Mokou kept her ninjahood. Mystia's feelings, on the other hand, were about as hidden as Unzan's hitbox.
Apparently it was not too uncommon, relationships between two girls, or so Akyuu heard. This was especially true amongst the youkai. It was a rather strange concept to her but not an absurd one, just like eating her carrots and broccoli.
"Too busy for the charcoal, Okamisty-san*?" Akyuu didn't miss the mischievous twinkle in the tall girl's eyes. "Haa, maybe another day then." She sighed in obvious mock disappointment, making a dramatic gesture of turning around to take her leave.
*Okamisty-san: A portmanteau of 'Okami' which means 'proprietress'/'manager' and 'Misty' short for Mystia.
"W-wait! Mokou! D-don't go! N-not yet, I-I mean.
N-nein, what I mean is...this...that..." Mystia faltered, fidgeting like a bomb waiting to explode. Her face, at least, looked the part. This was all the confirmation Akyuu needed.
"What the boss meant is she can rearrange our very, very busy schedule and make an allowance for you and your charcoal just this once." Akyuu said for her, smoothly.
"Like always." Kagerou added, grinning wide, giving Akyuu an approving nudge.
"
Ja, what they said!" Mystia squeaked, smiling a watery smile.
"Haa, good, good." Mokou nodded amicably, setting down her bag of charcoal and taking a seat at the stall. Akyuu couldn't help but note that despite there being snow atop the bag of charcoal, Mokou herself was perfectly dry and snowless.
"J-just a m-moment, I-I'll f-fix you s-something
gut." Mystia said, ending on a rather high-pitched squeak, as she dashed behind the cart. "I-I'll a-also p-pay you, s-soon, p-p-promise."
"No rush. The meals are more than enough." Mokou said, waving her hand dismissively. "So, you're a fire user?" She turned and nodded at Akyuu.
"Is it that obvious...?" Akyuu smiled sheepishly, the fire about her horns dimming a little.
"Haa, pain isn't it, clothes not keeping up with you?" Mokou said, sympathetically. "Used to have the same problem myself."
Akyuu had always suspected Mokou was in some way superhuman. Ordinary humans don't regularly fight off youkai or give away dessert at dinner. Now her words confirmed it for her. Now Akyuu couldn't help but wonder, is she more like Marisa or more like Sanae and Reimu?
"So you're asking is she more a thief or a beggar or both?" Rin asked. "That's harsh."
"Not easy asking your opponent to wait while you strip before a fight." Mokou went on to say. "And let's not begin on the awkward misunderstandings." Mystia seemed to blush quite visibly at this.
"Must've made for one heck of a hot distraction though." Kagerou grinned. "Hot? Get it? Anyone?"
A sympathetic tumbleweed tumbled across the windswept snow.
"Wait, you said 'Used to'?" Akyuu asked, absentmindedly patting the sobbing wolf bent over in the snow in despair.
"Yeah, used to, till the BlackWhite came up with these." Mokou said, gesturing at herself. This was followed by a short pause as her audience looked her up and down in search of the 'these'.
"Suspenders?" Mystia asked, finally.
"....pants?" Akyuu ventured, uncertain.
"Boobs." Kagerou snapped a finger triumphantly. "Amirite? Yeah, I am so right. Wait, that means the Black White sells boobies? Hah, there might be hope for you yet, Fluffy!"
The sympathetic tumbleweed tumbled back the other way.
"We give up." Akyuu said, ignoring the howling wolf being mobbed by a pack of kittens.
"It wasn't a guessing game to begin with..." Mokou chuckled, "It's the charms." She said, pointing out the paper charms adorning her clothes and hair.
"They make your clothes fireproof?" Akyuu asked.
"Sort of...but why don't you try them yourself?" Mokou suggested, "Tell you what. Happen to have bought some spare charms from the Black White's shop today." She said, bringing forth a wad of paper charms from her pocket, not unlike the ones plastered all over herself. "Have some. Don't really get it but in practice keeps'em from catching fire and makes'em regenerate when you do. Saves on laundry and new clothes."
"Oh, thank you so much." Akyuu said, gratefully accepting the gift.
"Don't mention it." Mokou gave another dismissive wave of her hand. "Always glad to help Okamisty-san and her friends."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPX2zqET9Tk - Eastern Dream Arrange by Floating Cloud
"
Sch?tzchen, go out back and put them on your dress." Mystia said, bustling past Akyuu with Akyuu's full lamprey bucket. "Oh, and you can keep your new pet. I'll give you some extra power drops until she gets better." Mystia whispered aside, seemingly grateful for the hand earlier.
"Y-you d-don't have to." Akyuu stammered, suddenly blushing again.
"It's alright. The sooner she recovers, the sooner she can get on her way." Mystia said. "Now, run along."
Akyuu could tell Mystia wanted to have a quiet chat with Mokou, seeing as she pulled Kagerou out from underneath the kitty-dogpile and sent her off to grudgingly set out the tables and chairs. Akyuu was more than happy to oblige...provided she got to eavesdrop.
"Cheeky." Rin intoned.
"She might have news on Keine, that's all." Akyuu hissed inwardly as she went to pick up Nazrin. She still marvelled at how easily she could swing around a youkai her size onto her shoulder as easily as . As a human she could hardly move her snack cabinet by herself, at least not without emptying it first*.
*Furniture rearrangement happens a lot in the Hieda household. The snack cabinet changes location every week. Visitors are told it is moon-based Feng Shui. Those who know Akyuu know it is more appetite-based interior design than anything.
She set Nazrin down on a convenient bench behind the cart, made the little mouse comfortable with a rug and blanket, before setting herself to industriously eavesdroppi-....applying charms to her dress.
"Can't stay for long. Needed back in the village tonight." She heard Mokou say. Three cheers for fluffy ears! Three cheers for the sharpness of youkai hearing!
"Oh, urgent?" Mystia seemed to have regained some composure, at least voice-wise. Good for her.
"Yes. It's a wake. For the daughter of a best friend." The temperature dropped a few degrees.
"Way to read the atmosphere, casanova." Rin rolled her eyes. Akyuu couldn't help but sigh in agreement.
"Oh...." Mystia seemed at a loss at how to react, "...the
chronist girl,
frau Hieda." She finished lamely.
"Yes, her." Mokou confirmed
"Stop butting into everything, little Kirrin." Rin muttered.
"I can't help being dead. Can you?" Akyuu sighed, cradling her face in her palm.
"Yes Rin can. That's why Rin's here in your head." Rin replied.
"Get your own." Akyuu hissed back.
"There aren't any with enough empty space." Rin shrugged.
"You take up too much space." Akyuu retorted. "Now shush."
"Poor girl. Don't even have a body to bury. The coffin'll be empty." Mokou said.
"Poor girl..." Mystia echoed.
"Give it back." Rin said.
"Be quiet." Akyuu muttered. "This is a very serious conversation."
"How is the school teacher taking it?" Mystia asked, her voice full of concern. Akyuu's fluffy ears stood at attention at the mention of the name. She held her breath for the answer. The pause seemed to drag on forever.
"Oh, Black-White, when did you appear?" When Mokou did finally speak up again, she seemed glad for a convenient change of topic. Akyuu almost cursed Marisa for turning up at the worst possible time.
"Oh, at arounds '
Mouu, y-you're here early'." Marisa said, offhandedly, doing an almost perfect imitation of Mystia.
Correction, perhaps the second worst possible, Akyuu thought to herself. She guiltily felt some measure of relief that she wasn't Mystia at that very moment.
"M-M-M-MARISA!" Mystia cried helplessly. Akyuu could only imagine her face.
"Okamisty-san is shy enough as it is. Best not to tease her too much." Mokou said.
There was a laugh from Marisa at this. Akyuu could hear Kagerou put a table down a little too violently in the distance. She herself couldn't help but ram her palm into her face hard in silent agreement. That confirmed it. Mokou is the clueless insensitive airhead type. Poor Keine. Poor Mystia.
"What're you doing all the way out in the middle of nowhere, Black-White?" Mokou asked. "Surely the only thing to 'borrow' out here is time?"
"Hahah, coming from yous that's pretty funnies ze." Marisa laughed good-naturedly, "I'm being a good girls todays ze, gathering medicines for the peoples and stuffs."
Wait...if Marisa's here, that means....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oaEtlfQgVo - Road To The Moon Arrange by Floating Cloud
A chill ran down her spine, running all the way down to her fur now standing on end. She looked around in terror, eyes darting about in panic. Right? Left? No, neither. She turned her Kirrin senses on full.
"Eeee~n! Fuwafuwa-chaaaa~n!" A voice called out growing louder at an alarmingly fast rate.
Above! Akyuu reflexively dove forwards onto the ground in a valiant attempt to roll away to safety. Sure enough, something dove after her from the stall's rooftop. "Eeee~n! Fuwafuwa heart-seeker attaaaack!" Unfortunately for Akyuu, she was on the receiving end of a fluffy-guided youkai homing missile.
"Kyuuuuu!" Akyuu gave out one last cry of desperation before she was smothered by an angelic glomp-meteor from heaven.
"Flufffyyyy~!" A pair of nimble hands were quick to apply themselves to Akyuu's helpless tail while a pair of surprisingly powerful legs entwined themselves about the rest of her downed form, pinning her mercilessly.
"KYUUUUUH!" Akyuu could only squeak helplessly as her futile struggle seemed to only entangle herself with her assailant even more.
"Eee~n! It's a match!" The little creature applying itself luxuriously onto Akyuu cried triumphantly. Akyuu just about managed to catch a glimpse of the little figure clinging onto her holding out a familiar little notebook, one that bore a sample of her fur on its open page. "Found you, Fuwafuwa-chaaa~n!" Ah, so it was for remembering who Akyuu was, how fascinating, the little Kirrin thought, for the briefest moment, before resuming panicking.
"RouRou! Go pour some cold water over those two!" Mystia called out.
"Why me, Yamadammit?!" Kagerou shouted back in exasperation. "Just neuter one of them! Or hell, both!"
"20 Yen bonus!" Mystia shouted back.
"30!" Kagerou bargained.
"Fine!"
"Deal! Hey, Goldilocks, wanna chase some tail? Look over here!"
"FLUFFYYYYY!"
"What just happened?" Mokou asked aside, watching with mild concern as the big bad wolf ran for dear life, a little girl in red quite literally on her tail.
"Young loves ze~" Marisa grinned.
"
Mein life." Mystia could only sigh in exhaustion, rubbing a dull throb in her temple.
"500 yen." The nightsparrow said, hand held out, palm up.
"Oh, that's not too bad. Might still have some spare changes left overs from my last visit to Suika's ze..." Marisa said, reaching into the utility pack strapped to the side of her belt and drew out a purple crescent-moon-shaped purse.
"...per minute." Mystia added.
"..." Marisa froze, dropping her* purse in shock. Mystia caught it smartly out of the air and whisked it whole into her cash register in one neat swoop. "Wha...wait!" Marisa gasped, "H-how is hugging your fluffy mascot maid worth 500 yen per minute?!" She demanded, pointing a disbelieving finger at Akyuu who was once again sitting at the front of the stall squirming in the loving arms of one Ellen Fuwafuwatama Aureus.
*Considering this is Kirisame Marisa, even calling it her purse may be an exaggeration.
"Yeah, it should be worth more!" Ellen chirped helpfully.
"Ellen, very helpfuls ze. Now, shut up." Marisa muttered, "That's way more expensives than last times ze! You just made it up didn't yous?!"
Mystia calmly raised a finger to indicate the menu that hung from the stall's awning. There, alongside terriyaki eel and eel flamb? was 'Fuwafuwa Mofumofu ChuuChuu Refilling - 500 yen per minute'.
"Oh...." Marisa blinked. "That's fine then." She said, settling down for all of an entire second. "Like the Tanuki's butt it's fine!" She snapped, slamming a hand down on the table.
"
Na, put it this way, spend enough today and I might overlook your tab." Mystia said, offhandedly.
"Ergh...." Marisa winced, before pouting with her chin cradled in one hand. "...can't you at least gimme a little loaner?"
"What? Let you borrow more?" Mystia asked, "You realize you'd run out of space in your will at this rate."
"...tch..." Marisa managed to extend her pout.
"Hahahah. Ah, never a dull moment here." Mokou laughed amicably, "Might have to order this Fuwamoumouchu refilling thing myself." She said, swirling her cup of tea idly.
There was a crash, followed by the rattling and clanking of a pile of pots and pans sliding down an avalanche of crockery, ending in the compulsory plink plink plink of a lagging teaspoon. Akyuu, Kagerou and Marisa couldn't help but wince as they peered over the counter's edge at the nightsparrow now buried under half the kitchen.
"Oh, are you alright, Okamisty-san?" Mokou asked, joining them in peering over the edge.
"
N-Nein! Y-you-c-can't, I-I'm-n-not-m-mentally-prepared, n-not l-like this. I-I w-want to at least d-date first...and...stuff...b-but to p-pay f-for it...s-so forward...y-you d-dont n-need t-to pay...I-I-Imean it's on-t-the house...I-I mean I-I'm n-not that kind of girl...n-no, I do want to, I-I just d-don't w-want you to youknowIdontknowmaybeIdoaaaaaaaa..." Incoherent muffled babbling wafted up from somewhere underneath the massive pile of pots and pans. Akyuu and Kagerou could only share a defeated look.
"She's alright, she's just doing the inventory." Akyuu was quick to respond, "She speaks to herself often when she does." She nodded at Kagerou. "Sempai!"
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry, I'll help her with the 'inventory'." Kagerou said, rolling her eyes as she leapt behind the stall counter. "Not like there's any helping anything else..." She muttered under her breath.
"Don't work yourself too hard, Okamisty-san." Mokou said, before turning to peer at Akyuu once more. "Haa, see you've put on the charms. Good, good." Mokou nodded approvingly at Akyuu's dress, now bearing the Kirisame brand charms.
"Oh, you gave hers my patented explosive charms No. 3117 ze." Marisa said. "Good choice daze."
"....explosive charms?" Akyuu blinked, suddenly regretting something massively.
"Quick, Fluffy, strip!" Kagerou said, barely stiffling a mischievous giggle.
"Eee~n! Eeee~n! I can help!" Ellen was quick to offer. Akyuu's hands stopped halfway towards the hem of her dress, realizing in time that taking the dress off might be just as deadly as keeping it on.
"Yep, explosives daze." Marisa grinned, not helping.
"Come now, BlackWhite." Mokou said, laughing, "Stop pulling the poor newborn's leg. Don't worry, kid, it's just the name." She smiled reassuringly.
"Why does the name have 'explosive' anywhere near it?" Akyuu demanded, eyeing the charms covering her with newfound dread.
"Oh, originally designed'ems to be explosive charms for controlled demolition use ways back when Rika was trying to build some railway things into the undergrounds." Marisa explained, taking a sip of her tea. "They're supposed to explode and regenerate repeatedlies as long as you give'em magics, but ended up only doing the regenerating bits. Also turned outs to regenerate things its stuck tos. Wuld've gone and continued developments but RikaRika suddenly upped and vanished without paying mes a single pennies." Marisa sighed. "Probably went off chasin' some other antique overgrown rust buckets and forgot all 'bouts its ze."
"....they're not going to suddenly start exploding then?" Akyuu asked anxiously.
"Hasn't yet." Marisa sighed, looking both disappointed and hopeful at the same time.
"Yet?!" Akyuu squeaked.
"Yeppers." Marisa nodded, "Let me know if they dos, 'kays?" She said, looking hopeful, a look Akyuu didn't like one bit.
"Take it from me, they're quite safe." Mokou said, "Been wearin'em for a while now."
"Safe for
you, maybe." Kagerou said, quietly.
Akyuu was busy weighing what was worse between wearing a potential timebomb or not wearing anything at all during battle when Mokou interrupted, "Speaking of the dress....that symbol on the back looks familiar." She nodded at the symbol on the back of Akyuu's dress resembling a yellow rising sun with 3 rays spreading outwards from the centre, partially hidden underneath Akyuu's long silky hair.
"Now that you mentions it, it does ze." Marisa nodded in agreement.
"It looks just like the hell raven's symbol." Mokou said.
"Yeah, that's it, the one that appears everywheres when she's about to make you go booooms." Marisa nodded in agreement.
"Not a good one to be wearing at the moment." Mokou said, suddenly wearing a sombre look. "That hell raven's leading the resistance against the Youkai Empress in the Ancient Capital."
"Hahahah, the hell ravens? Leading a resistance?" Marisa suddenly broke out in laughter. "Isn't 'resistance' three syllables too much for hers?"
"She's still wanted by the Empress, regardless." Mokou said.
"Who isn't?" Marisa said.
"You." Kagerou said. "Nobody wants you."
"For high treason." Mokou added.
"Treason implies loyalty in the first place." Marisa said.
"What does high tree-son mean?" Ellen asked.
"It's where sons get hangeds from really high trees." Marisa said, knowingly. "When they run out they start using daughters...." She said, ominously.
"Eeen....Marisa-en knows everything." Ellen said, thoughtfully. "Good thing we have plenty of trees then. I don't want stuff hung from me. They'd tangle when flying, like my hair."
"Speaking of familiar and bounties, your head looks like it's worth a lots ze." Marisa suddenly said, nodding at Akyuu.
"K-kyuuh?!" Akyuu squeaked. "W-what do you mean?"
"Oh, those wanted posters." Mokou nodded, "All over the human villages right now. Now that you mention it, the resemblance..." Mokou said, looking at Akyuu closely. "...is uncanny..."
Akyuu shrunk uncomfortably, wishing she could simply disappear as squirmed deeper into Ellen's embrace in a vain struggle to hide herself, much to Ellen's approval.
"The Blood Red Cappricious Moons." Marisa nodded, "Wanted for the murders of poor little Akyuu-chans and the kidnapping of all the village childrens."
Akyuu visibly shrunk even further. Ellen became visibly happier.
"Except the bounty's frozen." Mokou added, "Reimu demanded it be rescinded."
"Yeah. If only it was still worth something I'd have you to take aways ze." Marisa grinned. Akyuu couldn't help but shiver at her longing gaze. "Reimus had to be a spoilsports and declare her super duper S-Class dangerous, flee-on-sight order, bounty's just gonna feed Satsuki Rins with fodder, blah blah blah." Marisa sighed, "Just cause she got her butts handed her to hers doesn't mean we gonnas, right?"
"Heee.....so very nice of that tsundere miko, gathering all that fear for us..." Rin said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6cewjech-0 - Legend of Hourai Arrange by C-Clays
"But if it's true then she's incredibly powerful. The RedWhite isn't the least bit a pushover." Mokou said, thoughtfully, "The youkai are talking 'bout her too. Word is she summoned the dragon lord down to the youkai mountain. People say they've seen it roaming the forests."
"Dragon Lord...." Rin murmured, gleefully,
"....you don't say..." Akyuu could only resist the temptation to shove her palm into her face.
"Probably just the giant toad ze." Marisa laughed, nervously. "Happens all the time with the excitable folk, like back with that giant kappa balloon thing."
"Yeah, they also said she was the one who burned down the entire Untrodden Valley." Kagerou joined in the nervous laughter, "No youkai's able to blow up half a river and it's surroundings and st...." She seemed to pause for a moment. Akyuu looked up at her wolf friend, noticing the pause in her voice. For the briefest moment she thought she saw Kagerou staring at her. "*Cough*! *Hack*! *Wheeze*!" Kagerou coughed, leaning onto the stall counter for support, "Sorry *Cough* hairball..." Just her imagination, perhaps?
"...just starting to remember, the stories Keine used to tell." Mokou suddenly said, "The legends of the goddess of youkai."
"...sounds familiar." Marisa murmured, "Isn't that what the Empress is calling herself? Hahah, lemme guess, the Blood Red Moon's calling herself thats?"
"No. The youkai are." Mokou said. "The ones who care to chat anyway."
"Hahah. Looks like the two might have to toss for its ze." Marisa said.
"It's one thing to claim it. It's another thing entirely to summon the actual dragon lord." Mokou said. "The legend told of an all-powerful youkai, one who heralds the return of the dragon god."
"Oh, the one where she returns as a youkai newborn?" Kagerou said.
"That would explain the Empress' bounty on all newborns." Mystia said.
"Pretty sure the legend said it would be a human-child." Mokou said.
"....huh, suddenly the kidnappings of human childrens makes sense ze." Marisa said, taking a sip of her sake. "Looks like the Empress is taking this legend thing seriously." She scoffed.
"These days it's difficult not to." Mokou said.
"Hahah, something like that...." Marisa laughed, though with just a hint of uncertainty.
"When hope fails and despair reigns, when shadow falls and light wanes," Mystia suddenly sang slowly, in a soft, hushed voice, as if frought by a sudden inspiration. "When the land wails in misery and pain....forth, from a bloom of blaze and gale, rise, from a mist of hale and sorrow," Mystia chanted a slow dirge-like tune, almost whisperingly. "One lady, crowned with fire, robed in fear and blazing wings. One deity, with fiery lyre in hand she sings, to her summons the Dragon lord appears. One mother, raising her loyal legion to wash the land of tears."
A silence followed as Mystia finished. Nobody wished to be the first to admit to shivering with goosebumps.
"....hahah, just a fairytales daze." Marisa finally laughed, though her pitch betrayed her anxiety. Everyone around seemed to breathe a sigh of relief at someone, anyone, breaking the silence.
"Hahah, doubt the goddess of all youkai would be serving tea at a lamprey stand." Kagerou said, laughing just as nervously.
"Doubt the 'big bad frickin' wolf' would be either." Mystia muttered, darkly.
"I-I didn't mean anything by t-that, boss..." Kagerou said, meekly.
"I don't mean anything by cutting your bonus either." Mystia said, offhandedly.
"ROUUUUUUU!" The wolf wailed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWhj5mw16fQ - Starry Sky, Capital City of Flowers in the Sky Arrange by Yonder Voice
The night wore on, bringing with it more snow and cold, but not customers. The only thing thicker than the snow was the darkness. The clouds saw to it that not a single sparkle of starlight saw the earth. The darkness seeped out from the forest around them, flooding the little clearing, besieging the little encirclement of light that was Mystia's stall, threatening to smother it. But the crackling of the charcoal embers and the bright chatter more than proved stalwart defenders against the dark.
Akyuu leaned back against the back wall of the stall as she peered up absentmindedly at the darkness above. 'What am I doing here? Where do I go next?' The thoughts seemed to gnaw at her as she realized it was already her 3rd day staying with Mystia. She was still nowhere closer to resolving the incident. If anything, it was only growing more and more complicated. The youkai kidnapping children, the food and power drop shortage, the clans extorting lone youkai, now the whole kappa village gone and giants running amock? Where should she start?
The answer, however, felt about as clear as the night sky. She sighed, letting out a little puff of thick white steam as she looked down at the little girl she was accompanying, the self-proclaimed Fluffy Ellen, who was industriously drawing lines in the snow with a twig. Ellen had gotten tired of the drinking and talking and had decided to find other means of entertainment. Unfortunately any form of entertainment for Ellen seemed to include Akyuu in one form or another, even if it were just her company.
Akyuu decided to shake off the thoughts and occupy herself with straining her ears to catch the conversation at the front of the stall, hoping to find out even the slightest bit more about the situation outside, especially at the village. Luckily enough, she didn't have long to wait.
"Not drinking much tonight?" Akyuu heard Mystia ask. There was a clink of a sake cup being pushed back across the counter, presumably Marisa's.
"Nah, I need ta fly back to the village ze. Need to get back early. Not gonna drink'n'fly." Marisa said. "Sides, can't be drunk at a wake. Would be disrespectful and such."
"You're going to the wake too?" Mokou asked.
"Yeppers." Marisa said. "She was a close friend. Only person in Gensokyos who was never stingy with mes. Need to pay my last respects and stuffs. But more importantly, need to back up Reimus."
"Oh, yes....helping her keep a lid on things, suppose." Mokou said, her tone taking a darker edge.
"Hah, yes." Marisa muttered. "A hero's funeral indeed..."
"A hero's funeral?" Mystia asked, bewildered.
"Yeah, that's what she's getting." Mokou said. "For sacrificing herself to save the children."
Mystia must have noticed a look on Mokou's face as she replied, "You...don't approve?"
"No, don't like it, cause it's the SSG* that turned it into one." Mokou said, gravely. "Turning the poor girl into a martyr, their poster girl in their recruitment campaign."
*Secret History Society of Gensokyo: A canonical group of anti-youkai human supremacists that believe in a Gensokyo free of youkai. Source: Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red.
Akyuu's face visibly darkened at the mention of the name. Her little fists tightened until her knuckles turned the colour of the snow around them, what snow resisted being turned to steam around her feet.
"Are they...really planning on going to war with the youkai?" Mystia asked.
"If anyone on the human side will, it's thems." Marisa muttered. "Knowing them they'd probably set ups a recruitment desks at her doorsteps. Not like they're having any difficulty recruiting at alls at the moments."
"Yes, Hieda-san's death has finally convinced the fence-sitters and softened the nay-sayers." Mokou said.
"Are you alright, little Kirrin?" Rin asked, noticing the little column of steam rising around the incandescent little youkai.
"I...I didn't mean for this...to happen..." Akyuu muttered.
"Don't take it too hard, little Kirrin. You're not to blame." Rin said, soothingly.
"I'm not." The little sage growled. "...They killed Tokiko's mother. Now they're using me...and walking all over Keine's feelings..." The red sheen burned at the edges of her vision again, threatening to consume her with rage. The SSG....They will burn. In fire. Burn and burn and burn some more. They and all their bigoted brethren. The fires of all seven hells would not be enough. No, she would make them drink the hourai elixir so she could burn them for all eternity and a day, and...and...
"Mew~?" She felt the familiar comforting feeling of Kuro licking her cheek with concern. The red sheen, almost drowning out her sight entirely, instantly dissolved away, taking away with it the seething anger and rage. She hadn't even noticed it taking over.
"I...I'm alright, Kuro." Akyuu sighed, petting her most loyal little kitten gratefully.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KABUnoBvJLQ - Sumisome by Yonder Voice
She felt a tug on her dress. She looked around to find Ellen peering up at her, teary with worry, little hands clutching her apron. "Fuwafuwa-chan....?" She quavered. "You...don't look so good. Are you cold?"
"..." Akyuu was quick to put on her usual smile, her practiced forced smile, as she reached out to pat Ellen on the head. "I'm alright, Ellen-san." She said, ruffling Ellen's hair gently.
"...." Akyuu was rather taken aback by the glare she received in return. "Een! You're lying...." Ellen muttered, pushing Akyuu's hands away. Her simple words stung Akyuu more than she thought possible. "Friends don't lie to each other..." Nobody, not even Tokiko, had ever been that blunt to her.
Has she ever been honest her entire life? Or lives for that matter? She, blessed with her infallible memory, can she remember even one instance where she has ever truly spoken her mind? Opened up to another fully? Shared her heart entirely?
Once, perhaps. That was the day she became a youkai.
"No...I'm not alright." Akyuu conceded, reluctantly. "I'm sorry, Ellen-san. Would you forgive me this once?"
"Eeen! Friends don't say sorry either!" Ellen snapped, pulling Akyuu into a surprise glomp. "When you can't say what you want to, you don't have to say anything. Because friends can just do this~" She trilled, holding Akyuu tight.
Akyuu couldn't help but be taken aback at first. It was most definitely awkward and random, no matter how you looked at it. Nobody has ever been so unabashedly forward with her. But somehow it felt...strangely nice...knowing just how sincere and honest Ellen was with her friendship. If she were honest to herself, it was something she wanted more of deep down inside.
...if she were honest....
Akyuu's arms reached out, uncertainly. Slowly they sought to encircle the tiny figure before her. Slowly they found purchase about her slender shoulders. With a little pull she drew Ellen closer. Ellen squirmed closer against her, washing away any uncertainty Akyuu had left.
It was warm. So wonderfully warm. It was a warmth that seeped all the way through her, filling up the very depths of her troubled heart, washing away all her doubts and fears until all that was left was a wondrous comfort. There was an unflinching sincerity, a pure heartfelt earnestness, in Ellen's hold. It struck Akyuu just how right Ellen was - no words could express how genuine Ellen's friendship was. No words were needed, not here, not now.
A little pang crept into her bliss. Lies. To Ellen who can't remember anything, lies must be worse than losing her memories. It would be manipulating what little she had left, twisting them, shattering them. It was perhaps the cruellest thing you could possibly do to her.
No, Ellen deserved better. Much, much better.
"Ellen..." Akyuu took a deep breath, "I won't lie to you ever again. Promise."
"Eee~n, it's alright, I already know that~" Ellen giggled, "Because your hug said so~"
Akyuu couldn't help but stifle a giggle. "Oh, Ellen..." Akyuu sighed.
The cold and darkness laid a formidable siege upon the little circle of light. But nothing could touch the fortress of warmth that was Akyuu and Ellen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjTgqNFM2Qw - Water Mirror, Candid Friend Arrange by Foxtail-Grass Studios
The fourth day brought with it more gray skies, snow and a grim realization. Life as a youkai still involved waking up early and working...or at least early in youkai terms. All in the absence of a roof or, worse, sweets. Then again, with her breakfas-....mouse guest still out cold, there was little else she could do.
New and improved (and potentially explosive) dress donned, the little youkai once again found herself lamprey hunting. Or, perhaps, more accurately, lamprey-watching, as the only thing she was close to catching as she waded through the icy river was a cold...and maybe her death but she was trying to think positive thoughts.
Did that lamprey just flick its tail? At her?! How rude!! Just cause it's fast and slippery and impossible to catch, it thinks it's all that?!
....positive thoughts....positive thoughts....
"All I wish for...is some fish..." Akyuu muttered to herself.
"...and all Rin wishes for is a hand in the bush." Rin sighed to herself.
But perhaps....? Akyuu looked down at her hands, then right and left, furtively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsR7MeJAFRg - ED Song - Futatsuiwa No Sado's Theme Arrange by Tamaonsen
"...Little Kirrin?" Rin asked,
"...Rin didn't mean a literal bush, you realize? Well, alright, it is a literal bush, but not that kind of bush...." Akyuu might not have much in the way of positive thoughts, but she's got something else aplenty...
"...Little Kirrin...what are you planning?" Rin asked, suspiciously.
Without another word the little Kirrin summoned up her scarlet mist. They bent to her will almost instantaneously, spiralling out in thin, serpentine tendrils, circling about her body and arms.
"...little Kirrin...?" Rin's voice took on an anxious edge.
She gathered them all into a compact ball, as small as she could will it to be, in the palm of one hand. There it spiralled like a turbulent gas planet the size of a kemari ball, storms of energy raging across its surface. It was almost perfectly spherical this time, smaller too.
"Little Kirrin...." Rin said, slowly,
"Rin knows you've been having bad days...but the rest of the planet isn't really to blame...." Then, taking a deep breath, Akyuu stretched her hand out...and dropped the orb.
"LITTLE KIRRIN?!" Rin gasped in disbelief, "
DUCK! DUCK FOR COVER!" She cried.
"Kyuuu!" With a cry Akyuu ducked her body low, but not for cover. She spun herself around, raising one foot up into the air in a perfect (but technically illegal, but the lamprey didn't know that) kemari spin kick. The sweeping kick, trailing sparkling water droplets, caught the orb, sweeping it out of its descent. There was the now familiar violent blast of energy, the blinding crimson shockwave. She threw herself out of her spin, diving into the water for cover, peering out just in time to see exactly what she expected to see - an angry scarlet meteor racing out over the river, straight towards a gathering of lamprey.
Akyuu held her breath. Even Rin was silent. Together they watched the high speed comet streak across surface of the water. Finally, it struck. There was a little splash as it hit the surface. Then....
BWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
An impressive jet of crimson water the size of Mystia's stall exploded into the air, spraying the air with superheated vapour, finely crushed stone, and a little fountain of lamprey, some of which were even ready-cooked, half-steamed, half-broiled.
Akyuu and Rin watched the spectacle, slightly terrified, mostly awed. Performance-wise, it delivered exactly what Akyuu wanted, compact controlled annihilation, with accuracy and range, and, above all, apocalyptic special effects to boot. Except....
"PYAAAAAAaaaaaaaaa.......aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAA!"
"....Pyaaaa?" Rin said, thoughtfully.
"Since when did our all-consuming apocalyptic powers come with such a lame sound effect?" "...ever since it started making it rain lamprey and...." Akyuu gulped, looking up at the sky nervously, "....that..." She murmured uncertainly, pointing at a dot in the sky that was slowly growing into a sizeable silhouette.
"...a bird?" Rin blinked.
"...a fairy?" Akyuu ventured, squinting.
"
...a dragon?" Rin guessed.
"No, its...." Akyuu gasped, recognition dawning, "It's...it's a fish?!"
"...and a bush." Rin added.
"pyaaaAAAA....NO! IT'S MERMAID! aaaAAAAAAAA!" The silhoutte corrected in between screaming.
"Runyahahah! 2 wishes in one." Rin fistpumped triumphantly.
"And now, for the third wish...."To be continued....
