HELLO INTERNET, I RETURN.
So I have decided that I'm gonna start cross-posting my work on Tumblr from now on! If anyone wants to throw likes or reblogs over there that'd be swell and Sango would give you a high five for it. You can find the tumblr version of this story over
here.Anyway, without further ado...
-----
?It?s not a date. Stop calling it that.?
Kagerou was normally the sort to pride herself on her patience. In spite of her lupine nature, she liked to think she had an air of nobility that most other youkai lacked. Unfortunately all women had their limits, and Sekibanki was starting to push at hers.
?Well, what else should I call it?? Sekibanki?s head floated bobbed up and down beside Kagerou?s shoulder, while her body walked along on the other side. She was one of the few youkai in Gensokyo who could flank someone singlehandedly. ?A midnight rendezvous with your fishy girlfriend??
?She is not my girlfriend!? Kagerou raised her voice, then promptly regretted it. She forced out a cough to clear her throat before continuing. ?She just needed a partner for some mermaid-dance thing so no-one would try to hit on her.?
?And I?m sure she chose you based entirely on your dancing skills.? Sekibanki folded her arms. ?You should really give up on the denial, fur-face. It looks like crap on you.?
The werewolf winced, twiddling her thumbs and running her long nails against each other. Wakasagi was a friend, and for someone with a social circle as small as Kagerou?s, that was worth a lot. So yes, this was just a simple favour for an acquaintance. A favour that came with a few metric tons of romantic subtext and awkward tension and oh jeez she was definitely overthinking this she had to stop right now.
?W-Well, why did I invite you then?? she stammered, nudging away the floating head at her side. ?If I wanted things to be intimate, I definitely wouldn?t have brought someone else along.?
Sekibanki smirked. ?Because you need someone to bail you out if your inner dork starts showing.?
?I?m not-? Kagerou paused. ?Okay, maybe a little. But you understand, right? I?ve never been to one of these super-formal events before, never mind one in mermaid territory. If I look dumb, it?s going to reflect badly on Wakasagi as well.? She forced a smile. ?And she?s your friend too, isn?t she? You wouldn?t want that to happen to her.?
Sekibanki blinked uncomfortably, her head floating around and landing in its proper place. She seemed to bury herself in her shawl, covering her whole face from the nose down. ?I hope you realise you?re gonna owe me big time for this. I hate these song-and-dance affairs.?
?I?ll make all the arrangements for the next three network meetings,? Kagerou said.
?You mean five meetings.?
?Four. Take it or leave it.?
Sekibanki pondered the offer, then finally nodded. ?Deal.?
?Really? Thanks a lot, Seki! I?m so glad that you-ahem.? No, too emphatic. Such raw emotion was unbecoming of an upper-class youkai. ?I mean, I?m truly grateful for your support.?
Sekibanki rolled her eyes. ?Yeah, sure. So where exactly is this shebang taking place??
?Well, if I got the directions right, it should be...? Kagerou pulled aside a large shrub, revealing the exit to the forest they?d been walking through. ?Here!? She stepped out of the foliage, brushing stray leaves off her dress before standing at the edge of the Misty Lake. Even in the dead of night, the full moon overhead gave the water?s surface an almost silvery sheen.
?Oh, duh. Mermaids. Forgot.? Sekibanki peered over the edge of the water. A faint cascade of lights rose up from the lakebed, the first signs of the oncoming festivities. ?Anyway, fur-face, I thought you were supposed to be a crappy swimmer-?
By the time she turned back, Kagerou was already pulling her dress off.
?Holy-!? The rokurokubi jerked backwards, her head spinning around to face the other direction. ?At least gimme a warning before you start stripping!?
?Seki, what?re you talking about? Of course I?m not naked under this.?
Sekibanki?s head creaked around, looking at Kagerou with the corner of her eye. The dress was lying in the grass beside the werewolf, but beneath it had been a sheer-white bodysuit with red stripes along its sides. A leather bag was strapped to her waist, and she pulled it open to start rummaging through its contents.
?The heck is that?? Sekibanki asked, raising an eyebrow.
?It?s called a wetsuit,? Kagerou answered. ?It?s formal wear for air-breathers at mermaid gatherings.?
?You mean a dress doesn?t count as formal??
?Not when you?re underwater. If the currents get under the dress, it might flare up and reveal some...unpleasant surprises.? Kagerou pouted, speaking from experiences she?d much rather forget. ?Obviously the mermaids don?t have anything to hide down there, so they can wear whatever they want.?
Sekibanki looked away for a moment, but made no effort to push the point. Kagerou wiped her brow at that; she?d been worried the rokurokubi would ask why a swimsuit couldn?t do the same job. The answer was that it could, but that would mean Kagerou would be exposing a lot more skin. And on a night like this, she was much...hairier than she wanted to admit.
?So what am I meant to wear?? Sekibanki ran her hand along the hem of her skirt. ?I can?t be your wingman if I?ve gotta stop myself from flashing every five seconds.?
?Don?t worry.? Kagerou smiled, pulling a second wetsuit from the bag, this one in shades of black and red. ?I thought ahead with this one.?
Sekibanki nodded. ?I figured. You?re always the sort to have everything in order before you-? As she took the suit from Kagerou?s hand, a small card fell out of the sleeve and into the grass. ?Eh? What?s that??
?Oh, you?ll want to read that over,? Kagerou said casually. ?Some very important information on there.?
?Like what?? Sekibanki?s head hung in place while her body leaned down to pick up the card. ?Let?s see...Lady Gurren of the Green Lands, heiress to a small manor in the mountains-? Her brow furrowed. ?What the heck is this supposed to be??
?Your cover story.? Kagerou shrugged. ?It?s a very high class event, so I had to...invent some facts about you. They won?t let just anyone in, after all. Don?t worry, Wakasagi will vouch for you.?
?So you want me to pretend I?m some fancy-ass noble with a silver spoon in her mouth?? Sekibanki?s head gradually shifted to a shade of scarlet. ?This is not what I signed up for! You lied to me!?
?I never lied, per se. I just may have omitted a few details.? Kagerou winked, a sly grin forming on her lips. ?And we made a deal, didn?t we? Can?t go back on a promise. Youkai?s honour.?
Sekibanki?s hands curled into fists, and for a moment Kagerou primed herself to weave away from a punch. The rokurokubi?s face turned bright crimson - then, like she?d been frozen solid, flipped back to a pale white.
?I?ll admit one thing: I?d be applauding you if you tried pulling this shit on anyone else.? She took the suit from Kagerou?s hand, refusing to look the werewolf in the eye as she walked back into the forest to change. ?But you?d better sleep with one eye open for the next few days...?
-----
In spite of its meager size, the Misty Lake was much deeper than it first appeared. Sinking to the bottom took a good five minutes, maybe even ten for a swimmer as poor as Kagerou. This was one of the main reasons the mermaids received few visitors from above the surface; even the strongest youkai had to breathe once in a while.
Fortunately, this was one of the many problems Kagerou had taken into account. From the bottom of the bag she drew a necklace with a navy-blue gem in its centre, then carefully clipped it on. As her toe brushed at the water, the gem shone brighter to show its magic was in effect.
?Some fancy jewellery you got there.? Sekibanki stepped up on Kagerou from behind, clad in the black wetsuit. Her arms were folded so tightly that she made look more like a straitjacket. ?Water-breathing charm??
?Obviously.? Kagerou allowed a hint of satisfaction to seep into her voice. She?d spent weeks planning for this occasion, and now she felt like she was ready for just about anything. ?There?s one in here for you as well, if you want it.?
?I?ll pass.? Sekibanki casually lifted her head off of her shoulders and sat it on the ground by the lake. A second head popped out of the hole in her neck, and she took a moment to put its hair into place before continuing. ?Periscope here will do my breathing for me.?
?Periscope?? Kagerou pulled her head back slightly. ?You name your heads??
?Only when it?s suitably ironic.? The rokurokubi took her first steps into the water. ?So are we going, or what??
?Ah! Right. Yes.? Kagerou stood to attention, following behind Sekibanki with smaller paces. The water was frigid, as she?d expected, but at least her fur did something to stave off the cold. For the first time she could remember, her lycanthropy had actually turned out to be an advantage.
It wasn?t long before the ground beneath her feet disappeared, and she dropped without a fanfare into the waters of the lake. She held her breath on instinct to start, then slowly let her air trickle out as the necklace began to shine brighter. When she finally did breathe in, it was so natural that she would?ve sworn she was on dry land.
?This way.? Kagerou pointed towards the lakebed lightshow, growing more flamboyant with every passing minute. If there was one thing the mermaids were good at, she thought to herself, it was spectacle.
The first few minutes of the journey passed in relative silence. Sekibanki was murmuring details about her cover story to herself, seemingly adding new details as she went along. Kagerou, meanwhile, was trying to conceal the hammering of her heart, keeping herself from smiling giddily. She?d dreamed of being invited to a party like this for decades, and it was finally happening. Her, Kagerou Imaizumi, one of Gensokyo?s high-class socialites! She couldn?t have imagined it more perfectly if she tried.
Naturally, Sekibanki took it upon herself to destroy that illusion.
?So this is the mermaid city?? The rokurokubi snorted as a small outpost came into view. ?Jeez, it?s even gaudier than I imagined it.?
Though the houses were few in number, they were all sprawling masses of decoration and extension, as if each was designed to outdo its neighbours. Shimmering stones and hand-carved coral ran across the walls, catching every inch of light from the surface they could. It was a display of opulence so grand that Kagerou struggled to look for more than a few seconds without her eyes hurting.
?It?s a cultural thing,? she said half heartedly. ?Merfolk value beauty above all else. It?s not about showing off.?
?Really?? Sekibanki smirked, pointing to the center of the village. ?Then what do you call that??
?That?s...?
Kagerou?s mouth dropped open. In the midst of all these clashing houses was the source of the lights - a massive castle, with towers that went almost halfway up to the surface. Every other brick in the building was made of solid gold, and it seemed like recent work had been done to increase that number. At the entrance sat two marble statues of the realm?s king and queen, each of them twice the size of Kagerou herself. The queen was depicted as a gentle, maternal figure, while the king was lifting a trident over his head and bellowing a war cry.
?Okay, you win.? Kagerou bowed her head as she dropped down towards the castle?s courtyard. ?Someone?s seriously overcompensating.?
?I know, right?? Sekibanki stuck her tongue out at the statue. ?Like, I bet he?s four feet tall and about as buff as a piece of paper.?
?Maybe don?t say that too loud. That IS Wakasagi?s father you?re talking about.?
?I know.? The rokurokubi smirked. ?Still definitely true, though.?
Kagerou chose not to honour that with a response. Admittedly, she?d have liked it if Sekibanki was right on that count. Wakasagi had spoken about her parents being very protective - and more importantly, very critical of the dreaded air-breathers. Kagerou would much rather earn the disapproval of a pint-sized puppet ruler than the epitome of mer-testosterone.
The pair touched down at the front of the courtyard, walking carefully towards the front door. As they made it to within a dozen paces of the entrance Kagerou pulled Sekibanki aside, using one of the statues for cover.
?Now, remember the rules,? the werewolf said. ?No swearing, no brawling, and absolutely no self-decapitation. The mermaids have no idea what a rokurokubi is, so you?d definitely freak them out.?
?Aww.? Sekibanki frowned. ?You?re really doing your best to suck all the fun out of this, aren?t you??
?Please.? Kagerou grabbed at Sekibanki?s shoulder. ?I?m counting on you here, Seki.?
For a moment, something seemed to glisten in Sekibanki?s eyes. If you looked closely, you might have mistaken it for compassion, though you?d never hear her admit to it. It was gone within instants anyway, replaced with her classic sigh of resignation.
?I can?t say no when you look that pitiful.? The rokurokubi cracked her neck, then pulled her posture backwards until she was standing upright. Her hands fell over each other, palm over palm, and her threatening aura was replaced with something almost docile. Every inch of her form was perfect - so perfect, in fact, that it quickly turned into a parody of itself. ?Well, milady?? she said, in a flamboyant upper-class dialect. ?Does this tend to thy desires??
Kagerou furrowed her brow. ?Maybe overdoing it with the formality there.?
?Hey, at least gimme points for trying,? Sekibanki replied, dropping back into her natural tone. ?Or would you rather I went around talking like one of those damned commoners??
The werewolf winced. ?Point taken.?
?Most excellent!? Sekibanki held a hand out, every motion as exaggerated as her voice. ?Now escort me to the promenade like a true gentleman would. Chop chop, dear.?
Kagerou paused, looked at Sekibanki?s hand for a moment, then grudgingly took it and led her on. ?You?re enjoying this, aren?t you??
?I haven?t a clue what you?re talking about~?
-----
Getting in to the ball was easier than Kagerou had been expecting. She?d been ready for the bouncer to grill then incessantly over their identities, but the guard barely bothered to pay attention to them. ?You?re the only two air-breathers on the guest list,? he grumbled. ?Not like anyone?s gonna steal your identities.? Kagerou wondered to herself whether or not that was meant to be a compliment as she walked through the front door.
In the corridors mermaids and mermen conversed with each other in small groups, mainly about their latest purchases and how wonderful they were. All of them wore beautiful, billowing dresses or formal suits of the highest caliber. Kagerou and Sekibanki were hugely plain in comparison - but that only made them stand out even more.
?Poor air-breathers,? someone whispered as Kagerou passed by. ?Those legs of theirs look so...unwieldy.?
?Is it true they?re friends of the princess?? another girl asked. ?That girl must have some interesting tastes.?
Kagerou fiddled with the collar of her wetsuit. It wasn?t a welcoming atmosphere, but that much was to be expected. She was a new face, and a foreigner at that. It?d take some effort before the community really accepted her.
?Does this fine establishment offer refreshments?? Sekibanki said, giving the issue much thought than Kagerou was. ?I must admit I am thoroughly parched.?
?Probably?? Kagerou said as she stepped into the ballroom. ?There should be snacks for you to-whoa my god.?
Every rational thought dribbled out of Kagerou?s head as she looked into the ballroom. It wasn?t the room itself that caught her attention, with its statues carved into the wall or the brilliant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Her focus was on the woman in the middle of the room, giving the crowd around her the most polite rejections she could manage.
?Sorry, but I?m already taken for tonight.? Wakasagi forced a giggle as the wannabe suitors did their best to lock her in. ?Not that I don?t appreciate the thought, but-? When she caught sight of Kagerou in the doorway, her face lit up. ?Oh, look, there she is!?
Kagerou became gradually aware that she was staring uncontrollably at Wakasagi. Every inch of her emerald dress shone, the frills bouncing along playfully with the current, making her look almost like a jellyfish. A silver tiara was locked neatly on her forehead, covered in gems that would have sold for fortunes on land. Yet in contrast to the overbearing effort of her fellow mermaids, she made the act of looking beautiful seem almost laughably easy. She looked so natural, so authoritative, so...royal.
It took a hand on Kagerou?s shoulder to snap her out of her trance. ?Wha? Uh, hey there, Wakasagi. You look, um...nice tonight.?
Nice? Kagerou thought to herself.
That?s the best word you can come up with? Jeez, you sound like a moron! They?re going to eat you alive with a vocabulary like that-?Ah, thank you.? Wakasagi blushed and looked away. ?I was worried you?d think it was a little bit overkill.?
?Not at all!? Kagerou blurted, turning even redder than Wakasagi. ?I wish I could look half as glamourous as you do, actually.?
?Heh heh. You?re a real flatterer.? Wakasagi turned to the crowd as she put a hand around Kagerou?s shoulder. ?Everyone, this is Kagerou Imaizumi. She?s a very good friend of mine from the surface.?
Wakasagi?s seal of approval was enough to silence the murmurings of the crowd. The nobles all turned to her, expecting an impressive introduction. She took a deep breath, summoning up the speech she?d memorised days beforehand.
?It?s a pleasure to meet you all,? she said with a bow. ?I?m Kagerou Imaizumi, and this is my companion Gurren of the-? She motioned to her side towards Sekibanki, only to find herself pointing towards empty space. ?Eh? Where?d she go??
Wakasagi giggled, pointing to a set of dinner platters on one side of the room. Sekibanki was leaning over a dish, helping herself to everything within her reach. For all the fancy words and mannerisms, the one trait the rokurokubi couldn?t conceal was her appetite.
?...Actually, never mind. I have no idea who that is.? Kagerou looked back to the audience, doing everything she could to disassociate herself with the gluttonous display. ?Anyway, it?s a pleasure to meet you all!? She had no dress to properly curtsey with, but she tried to emulate the hand motions anyway.
The merfolk whispered amongst each other in response. Mild impression seemed to be the most common reaction. She hadn?t embarrassed herself, but she hadn?t quite won them over either. Kagerou would have spent longer worrying about them if it weren?t for a larger problem presenting itself.
?Ah!? A voice called out from the back of the room. ?So you are the miss Imaizumi my daughter has said so much about.?
The guests fell silent, obeying an unspoken command, and split apart to open a path across the floor. Kagerou had her first clear glimpse of the back wall, and the two golden thrones that sat against it. In one sat a wisened old merman, treated poorly by the passage of years but still holding a childish glint in his eye. In the other sat his wife, a maternal-looking woman whose long scarlet tail never seemed to come to rest. Both of them looked down on Kagerou with polite but expectant smiles.
?Go on, introduce yourself.? Wakasagi pushed Kagerou along down the split in the crowd. Kagerou drifted along on inertia, mouth stammering open and closed as she looked for something to say. Honestly she?d been hoping to avoid Wakasagi?s parents entirely - acting properly in front of nobles was hard enough, but in the presence of royalty all her semblances of calm started to crumble. It happened whenever she talked to Wakasagi, and the king and queen were no exception.
?Um...g-good evening, Your Majesty, Your Highness.? Kagerou bowed so low she felt like she was hanging upside-down. ?T-Thank you for allowing me to attend as your daughter?s partner-? She stopped, blushed furiously, and bowed lower still. ?I mean as her dance partner! Just that, I swear! No connotations or anything behind-?
?Alright, dear, we understand.? The king waved his hand downwards to calm her. ?My dear Waka was quite insistent you attend, and who am I to turn down my lovely daughter??
Kagerou gasped. Looking up at the king?s face, she saw vague similarities to the effigy at the front entrance. Yet there was no aggression or threat in his words, and he spoke gently at every instance. Perhaps time had mellowed him from his war-faring ways.
Thank goodness, Kagerou thought to herself. I was worried this guy was going to tear me apart. Maybe Wakasagi?s warnings had been a bit overdramatic.
A single look at the other throne killed off that beacon of hope.
?I was against the idea, I?ll have you know.? The queen smacked her tail against her throne, tightening her grip on the armrests. ?This is an important festival of merfolk culture to celebrate the highest tide of the season. Having an air-breather intrude upon it is-?
?Now, now, Lucia.? The king shot his wife a small frown. ?You promised you would behave tonight. We settled our differences earlier, remember??
Queen Lucia scrunched her eyes shut, taking one deep breath and forcing it out. ?Of course, Marlon. My apologies.? Effortlessly, she returned to a docile, gentle grin. ?Greetings, Miss Imaizumi. A friend of my daughter is a friend of mine.? She held out a hand towards Kagerou.
?Really?? Kagerou stared at the hand incredulously before slowly gripping it. ?Many thanks, Your Highness! It?s an incredible honour to-?
The moment their hands touched, Kagerou knew something was wrong. A cold jolt burst through her veins, like a predator shooting poison into its prey. A voice rang in her head, echoing through her skull so loud her own thoughts felt like whispers.
Listen here, you little runt, said the voice, unquestionably Lucia?s.
Maybe my husband?s grown soft in his old age, but I still have standards. If you so much as THINK of doing anything inappropriate with my daughter, I will tear every hair from your body and wear you as a fur coat. Am I understood?Kagerou felt like she?d shrunk three feet in size. The audience looked on unaware, and Lucia still wore the same calm smile. No-one but her was aware of the exchange that had just taken place.
?...be accepted into your ranks,? the werewolf mumbled, finishing the sentence after a long pause. Her hand slipped limply out of Lucia?s grip as she gradually backed away from the throne. Even as she turned around she could feel the queen?s eyes burning into the back of her head. This was beginning to feel less like a party and more like a hazing ceremony.
?Hm?? Wakasagi tilted her head, blissfully unaware of the goings-on. ?Kagerou, you alright? You look a little pale.?
?Y-Yeah, I?m fine.? Kagerou did what she could to get the glare out of her head. The last thing she wanted was to make Wakasagi worry. ?The water?s just a bit cold, that?s all.?
?Aww.? Wakasagi hugged the werewolf close. ?Don?t worry, you?ll warm right up when the dancing starts.?
The crowd meshed together again, all eyes falling on the royals. The king sat up in his seat, holding his trident in one hand and clearing his throat. ?Now that all our esteemed guests have arrived...? He slammed the trident?s handle into the floor. ?Let the festivities commence!?
A trio of glowing white spheres emerged from the tips of the trident?s prongs, rising up to dance along the ceiling. Each of them began to chime with a different tone, the sounds mixing to form various chords and cycling through a spectrum of colour. A choir of mermaids formed in front of the thrones, singing to add a final layer of depth to the music. It was a light show and a concert all at once.
?Wow...? Kagerou watched the display in awe for a few moments. Around her the crowd began to split into pairs, each couple clasping hands and beginning to sway to the beat. Kagerou watched them move, following the sway of their tails and their rocking in the currents.
That looks easy, she thought to herself. She?d had no experience with mermaid dance before, but if the motions were this simple she could at least perform a reasonable facsimile.
?Ready?? Wakasagi said.
?I think so.? Kagerou took Wakasagi?s hand, wearing the most confident grin she could manage. ?May I have this dance, princess??
Wakasagi giggled. ?I?d be honoured.?
The pair began to rock and swerve in time with the beats. Kagerou?s first moves were clumsy, but Wakasagi stayed slow enough for the werewolf to find her footing. After a few minutes she was almost graceful - or at least, as graceful as someone with legs could hope to be in this scenario. The song ended, and a small pause took place while the song-spheres switched to a different formation.
?Um, Kagerou...? Wakasagi looked away, eyes falling to the floor. ?There?s something I should warn you about.?
?Eh? What?s up??
?Well, see, the first dance is always a warmup. Things are about to get a bit more...complicated.? The mermaid tightened her grip on Kagerou?s arms. ?Don?t get mad at me, okay? My mother was the one who planned the dance, not me.?
?What?re you talking about?? Kagerou said, with an air of bravado. ?Don?t sweat it, Wakasagi. I?ll be able to handle whatever you have to throw at-?
Then the flips started.
?WHOA!?
Kagerou squealed as her partner spun her through the water. Another aspect of mermaid dance routine she?d wasn?t prepared for was the fact that gravity was no longer a concern. Wakasagi led her into a dizzying series of spins and twirls, moves which the other couples were copying to the letter. The mermaid was many times stronger than Kagerou had expected, hurling her about with relative ease.
?I take it back! I can?t handle this!? the werewolf yelled. ?Can we at least slow it down a little?!?
?I?m sorry,? Wakasagi said with a pained face. ?Please, just try to hold on for a little longer!?
Kagerou had nothing to offer. No clever quip, no casual comment. Right now the majority of her focus was on not propelling the contents of her stomach into the water. Her legs split apart, both kicking wildly, and she began to look more like she was drowning than dancing.
?Look at the poor air-breather,? another mermaid said. ?I knew she didn?t have what it took.?
?I know, right?? Her partner scoffed. ?It?s a wonder she?s still conscious, honestly.?
Faint laughs started to run across the hall, all of them aimed at Kagerou. The werewolf?s self esteem was being slowly crushed beneath a wave of embarrassment. Lucia did nothing to act, but Kagerou swore she saw the woman grin.
Stop the ball, she thought to herself, her brain barely stable enough to put together rational thoughts. I wanna get off...
-----
This was unquestionably the worst party Sekibanki had ever been a part of.
Admittedly, that wasn?t a very difficult achievement. She had never been sociable at the best of times. In fact, this was the first social gathering she?d attended in centuries. Still, even without a frame of reference, she was confident this was about as miserable as parties would ever get. Even playing the role of an upper-class buffoon wasn?t enough to raise her spirits.
To start, there was nothing to do. There was dancing, perhaps, but a quick look at Kagerou was enough to convince her otherwise. The poor werewolf was being thrown about like a ragdoll, and her face had turned an unpleasant hue of green. Sekibanki made sure to stay as far away from her fellow air-breather as possible to avoid the fallout when the inevitable happened.
Other than dancing, Sekibanki?s options were to eat and to converse with her fellow party-goers. She?d put as much time as possible into the first option, to no avail. All they were serving here were crappy appetisers made of seaweed and algae. There weren?t even any drinks, for crying out loud! What sort of social gathering was this if there wasn?t even a good supply of alcohol?
That left the worst option of all - conversation. It wasn?t even the thought of discussion that put her off. It?d be unpleasant, but she was more than capable of having a conversation with a stranger. The problem was that all the other girls who?d gathered for this event were...well, Kagerou would have said ?well-endowed?, but Sekibanki was a good deal franker than that.
?Freaking melons,? she muttered under her breath. ?Can?t look anywhere without getting an eyeful of fish-boobs.?
The rokurokubi?s hand drifted over her own chest. She?d never been large, by any definition, but the wetsuit just made her flatness even more apparent. And even by youkai standards, the mermaid women were almost unnaturally busty. A small part of her wondered if this was all a joke at her expense, a ploy by the other members of the network to rub in her lack of assets.
Her head wobbled on her shoulders, threatening to pop off entirely. Only a small fragment of self-restraint held her back. As much as she disliked it, she had promised Kagerou that she?d keep herself under control. Things weren?t quite bad enough that she?d turn her back on a promise.
At least, they weren?t until
he showed up.
?How tragic. A beautiful rose like yourself left to wilt in the corner??
A merman in a close-cutting tuxedo skirted over to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. With his other hand he presented a piece of coral folded into the shape of a flower. His smile was saccharine-sweet, and his face was incredibly punchable. Sekibanki had to take a deep breath just to fight her natural instinct to let rip on him.
?Good evening, sir.? She picked up the merman?s hand and wordlessly stepped out from under his arm. ?Do you not have a partner to be wooing??
?I?m afraid she was unable to attend. Busy washing her hair, I believe she said.? He pushed the rose into Seki?s chest. ?But isn?t that beautiful? That fate would deign for us to meet, both without a partner, on a night as wonderful as this??
?Not really,? Sekibanki said. ?Simply coincidence.?
?There is no such thing.? The merman ran a hand through his hair. ?But where are my manners? I must introduce myself. I?m Roland, 34th in line to the throne. It?s a pleasure.?
?Lady Gurren,? the rokurokubi said, still refusing to look the man in the eye. ?Green Lands. Uninterested.?
?My, you?re a brash one.? Roland tutted. ?But I think that can be appealing in its own way.?
Sekibanki?s blood pressure was rising to dangerous levels. This was the sort of noble she hated the most; the man who was simply looking for someone to sleep with. He probably thought she was just playing hard to get, when the truth was that she wanted to bury her fist inside his skull. No matter how obvious she made it, he simply refused to take the hint.
?So what?s your family like? Mine?s rich, you know. Extremely rich.? Roland continue to blether, failing to notice that Sekibanki was staring off into the distance. ?We have bedrooms the size of this ballroom, in fact. Very extravagant. Perhaps you?d like to visit sometime??
Sekibanki did her best to ignore the merman?s rambling, but she couldn?t quite turn her ears off. Every word was a grain of salt in her blood, driving her blood pressure higher and higher. Too much longer in his presence, and her urge to tear him apart at the molecular level would be impossible to resist.
?Well, as fascinating as this discussion has been, I fear I have other places to be.? She pulled away, looking for somewhere she could retreat. Maybe a washroom. Somewhere she could scream at a mirror for a few minutes without anyone noticing. ?I hope you have a wonderful evening-?
?Wait!? Roland swerved around her, much faster in the water than she?d ever be. ?Surely I?m at least entitled to a dance? A drink? Can we at least hold hands??
?Are you deaf, or merely ignorant?? Sekibanki glared, the shell of her facade beginning to crack. ?Why are you so insistent, anyway? Surely you have a dozen other women to bother with your ?wiles?.?
?You don?t understand!? Roland said, his voice trembling. ?I?ve attended dozens of these events, but never have I met a woman of your like. No mermaid could ever hold a candle to you!?
?Oh, really?? Sekibanki raised a finger. ?Name one thing I have that they don?t.?
?Uh-? The merman stuttered. He looked back out at the women on the dance floor, then back to Sekibanki. ?Well, you, um...oh!? He clicked his fingers. ?Your youthful form! Yes, that?s what makes you so special!?
Sekibanki went rigid. ?Come again??
?It?s like I said!? Roland smiled, convinced he?s managed to hit on something. ?All the women in this city are milkcows, nothing but breasts and rumps. Compared to them, your body is so innocent, so youthful, so...? He struggled for a clever metaphor, but eventually settled for the truth. ?So
flat!?
Snap.
Something gave way at the back of Sekibanki?s brain. The word popped in and out of her ears - flat, flat,
flat. As if having to watch the mermaids herself wasn?t bad enough, this man had to show up to rub in the punchline. She made a decision in that moment, fuelled by a white-hot rage that made her whole body go numb.
To hell with a youkai?s honour. She wouldn?t sit back and be ridiculed like this.
?...I see.? Sekibanki whispered with a calm smile. ?But you know, that?s hardly the most spectacular thing about me.?
?Oh?? Roland clapped his hands together in delight. ?Then please, bewilder me with your talents, my dear??
The rokurokubi smirked. She reached up with one hand, gripping at her forehead. The merman raised an eyebrow, and Sekibanki could already see the empty compliments form on his lips.
They dropped dead the moment she pulled her own head off.
?Tell me,? she said, in a sing song voice, ?how many of your girlfriends can do this??
-----
Kagerou didn?t actually hear the scream that brought the dance to a crashing halt. She still had water swirling in her ears from all the spinning and swirling. At first she thought Wakasagi had stopped as an act of mercy, but after a few seconds her senses came back into focus.
?M-Monster!? A merman cried out, darting away from the dining tables before taking cover behind one of the thrones. ?She?s here to devour us all!?
The eyes of the ballroom fell on the dining tables. Where there had once been trays of appetisers there were now only empty platters, each of them occupied by a disembodied head. In their midst stood Sekibanki, arms outstretched, one final head sitting upside-down on her neck.
?Sorry for the inconvenience,? the heads spoke out in unison, a crowd forming from a single voice. ?But I had a theory I wanted to test.? Sekibanki licked her lips. ?See, I?ve heard that eating the flesh of a mermaid makes you immortal...?
The words had exactly the intended effect - unbridled terror across the masses. Screams and yells broke out as the merfolk tried to flee the ballroom, pushing and shoving each other out of the way. Another swarm of heads gathered at the exit, blocking off the only route of escape. Calling it chaotic was perhaps too generous a term. The only dancers who weren?t falling over themselves were the princess and her partner.
?Kagerou, what?s going on?? Wakasagi hugged Kagerou from behind whispering into the werewolf?s ear. ?I thought you said she was going to behave.?
?So did I.? Kagerou gripped at her temples to regain her balance. ?Guess we pushed her a little too far.?
Sekibanki continued her pestering, poking her heads right into the faces of everyone present. The screams grew louder and less coherent as merfolk fought each other for right of way. It was probably safe to say that the ball had been a complete disaster at this point. No-one would want anything to do with the air-breathers after this. But on the bright side, Kagerou thought, at least the dancing had stopped before she lost her lunch.
?Stop right there!? The king rose up to strike the youkai down, trident in hand. ?You?ll do nothing to harm my-? He tensed, only to grab at his back and slump back into his throne. ?Oh, curse my arthritis!?
?Marlon!? Lucia held her husband for support as she looked out onto the panicking crowd. ?Someone, please! Stop that monstrosity before it takes away my daughter!?
That last sentence was a light bulb of inspiration flashing over Kagerou?s head. Maybe all her old plans had fallen to pieces, but there was still a way to salvage this. It would just require a small degree of friendly fire.
?Man, these guys are such losers. Is there anything that doesn?t spook ?em?? Sekibanki relodged her head before beckoning Kagerou in with a finger. ?Come on, fur-face. Let?s show these wimps how REAL youkai have fun.?
Kagerou took a deep breath. If she wanted to be heard over all this screaming, she?d have to give her windpipes a real workout. With a crack of her neck, she pointed a damning finger straight at Sekibanki.
?Stop right there, fiend!? she yelled, with dramatic aplomb. ?You?ll do no more to threaten the good people of this city!?
Sekibanki blinked. ?Wha-?
?What?re you talking about?!? Wakasagi grabbed at Kagerou?s sleeve. ?Isn?t she your-?
?Just play along,? Kagerou whispered to the mermaid, before turning back to her adversary. ?Hear this, beast! Through the powers bestowed upon me by the full moon, I will destroy you!?
Sekibanki?s heads stared at Kagerou, then turned to each other with puzzled looks. After a few seconds of deliberation they looked back to the werewolf, eyeing her up with twisted smiles. ?So you want to play hero, then? In that case, I?m happy to oblige!?
A storm of heads flew through the water, aimed straight at Kagerou. The werewolf dodged to the side, pulling Wakasagi away from the attack in the same flourish. A stream of red bullets trailed behind the heads, flying in random directions, trying to catch her mid-escape.
Kagerou blinked once, and her eyes flashed red. Her feral instincts drew a path through the ensuing bullets, and she followed the route through to the letter. All the while she held the young mermaid in her grasp, protecting her from the onslaught.
When a gap appeared in the pattern, Kagerou leaped on it. Letting go of Wakasagi, she charged through a hole in the bullets like a torpedo. She howled as she raised an arm, making a wide sweep at Sekibanki?s neck.
?Ha!? The rokurokubi chuckled as her head popped off, leaving the claws striking at nothing. ?You thought you were going to hit me with that??
Kagerou smirked. ?It wasn?t the claw I intended to hit you with.?
Sekibanki paled. Looking down, she saw a cloud of blue bullets floating in the wake of Kagerou?s nails, hanging between her head and body. ?Shit!? Her body pulled back, and a wave of heads gathered to throw themselves over the blast. When the bullets were released they scattered in all directions, but only a few made it through the hasty wall of heads Sekibanki had constructed. Truly, this youkai brought new meaning to the phrase ?blocking with your face.?
?Not bad.? Sekibanki brushed at her cheek while the heads reformed around her. ?But there?s no way I?m letting you get another shot like that!? She reached under the collar of her wetsuit and drew a spellcard. ?Harrier Sign [Geeza Guardian]!?
The heads altered their formation, creating a series ring that spun around Sekibanki. Their rotations were too fast for Kagerou?s eyes to follow, and they took turns firing bullets aimed straight at the werewolf. Kagerou swerved and dodged, firing a few bullets of her own to test her opponent?s defenses. Each of them was knocked away by a head before it could reach its target. She threw longer, faster streams, but no amount of quantity was enough to reach Sekibanki herself.
?Come on, that?s not even fair,? Kagerou grumbled. ?Why?d you even bring a spellcard to a ball??
?Why didn?t you?? Sekibanki shook her head and placed her hands on her shoulders. ?This is Gensokyo, remember? If you?re not ready for a fight to break out at any moment, you?re doing something wrong!?
Kagerou cursed beneath her breath.
Of all the times she had to come prepared-! She thought over a plan of attack as she continued to weave through her opponent?s assault. None of her bullets were fast enough to make it through that barrier. She needed something faster, stronger, something those flying heads wouldn?t be able to block.
?C?mon, Kagerou!? Wakasagi alone stayed near the fighting, waving her arms about as she cheered the werewolf on. ?You can take her, no problem!?
Hearing the mermaid?s voice brought Kagerou another wave of revelation. It was a crazy idea that had a good chance of getting her killed; in other words, the best sort of idea. She pulled back from the attack, coming to a stop right in front of Wakasagi.
?Wakasagi, help me out here.? She held out both arms. ?We have to dance.?
?Sure, I?ll-? Wakasagi?s eyes popped open. ?What did you say??
?Just do it!? the werewolf yelled. ?And no warmups. You?ve gotta spin me as hard as you can.?
Wakasagi?s eyebrows rose so high they almost fell off of her face. ?Alright. I really hope you know what you?re doing with this.? She took Kagerou?s hands, making a few small swings to warm up. ?Hold on tight!?
The mermaid sent Kagerou into another spiral, flipping her up and down through the water. The orbs overhead played once again, their tempo rising into a desperate allegro. The pair danced between the bullets, drifting slowly closer to Sekibanki while avoiding her attacks. The crying mermaids fell silent, watching the display with quiet awe.
?OK, here?s my plan,? Kagerou whispered. ?On my cue, you?ve got to let go of me.?
?Let go?! But then you?ll-? Wakasagi gasped. ?You can?t be serious. You?re a lunatic!?
?Thank you.? Kagerou turned around to watch Sekibanki. ?Wait for it...?
She focused her eyes, learning the varying patterns of the rokurokubi?s heads. The timing would have to be perfect for this to work. Otherwise she?d end up embedded in the wall with concrete where her brain should be.
?Are you two mocking me?!? Sekibanki and her many heads muttered over each other out-of-sync. ?Let?s see how you two get around this!? With a swipe of her hand the rings of heads spread out, each sending a hazy stream of bullets straight toward the dancers.
?NOW!?
At Kagerou?s command, Wakasagi let go of her mid-flip. The werewolf was sent forward through the raw inertia of the swing, while Wakasagi drifted backwards to avoid Sekibanki?s attack. Kagerou was essentially a human bullet, flying through a tiny hole in Sekibanki?s defenses.
?Oh, son of a-?
Sekibanki couldn?t finish the curse before Kagerou?s drop kick caught her square in the chest. The rokurokubi?s body crashed into a stained-glass window behind her, before starting its mandatory one-way trip to the surface. Her assorted heads watched on as their core vanished into the distance, all floating in place with their mouths agape.
?...Dammit.? The main head, still hanging where Sekibanki?s body once was, stuck its tongue out at Kagerou. ?Pull back! All forces retreat!? The heads swarmed through the newly-made hole in the window, muttering complaints and promises for revenge on their way out. Silence hung in the ballroom as the merfolk watched their former predator flee home to dry land.
A few seconds later, the silence gave way to raucous applause.
?She?s done it! The air-breather saved us all from that beast!?
Kagerou was buried in a sea of merfolk showing their appreciation. Many hugs were involved; based on the pressure applied to her ribcage, perhaps a few too many. Maybe her plan had worked a little too well.
?Alright, everyone.? Wakasagi intervened before the grateful merpeople could smother their hero. ?Give our saviour some room to breathe.? She spoke calmly but with authority, in a manner truly befitting of a princess. The nobles obeyed, pulling away and giving her room to take Kagerou?s hand and hold her upright. ?Are you alright, Kagerou??
?Nothing a little bit of rest won?t fix.? Kagerou said. In truth she was relatively sure she?d broken some bones in her foot, but that was a much less impressive claim to make. Her body healed faster on a full moon anyway; it?d be fixed in an hour or so.
?Marvellous! Absolutely marvellous!? The king rose from his chair again, still rubbing at his back as he bobbed towards the werewolf. ?Though it doesn?t hold a candle to how I used to fight in my youth. Why, if I were a few decades younger, I swear I would-?
?Yes, dear, we?ve all heard this one before.? Lucia followed at her husband?s side, ready to catch him if he overexerted himself. She turned to Kagerou with a frustrated sigh. ?It seems I was too quick to judge you, air-breather. Our people owe you a great debt.?
Kagerou laughed with false humility, rubbing at the back of her head. ?Really, it was nothing. After all the kindness you?ve shown me, it was the least I could do.?
?Hah! Strong and humble. That?s a rare sight nowadays.? The queen gave her a small bow of the head. ?You?ve proven yourself worthy. In light of your achievements, you can consider yourself an honourary mermaid.?
?Ah. That?s, uh...thank you.? Kagerou pushed out a reply, but the cogs in her head were still stumped on that one. An honourary mermaid? How did that even work?
?And as for you...? The mermaid turned to her daughter. ?Wakasagi, take more care with your taste in guests. Maybe next time we can have a ball without a homocidal maniac on the invite list??
Wakasagi looked down, blushing as she twirled a strand of hair with one finger. ?I?ll try my best, mother.?
?Don?t be so harsh on them, Lucia.? The king gave his wife a heavy pat on the back. ?These two are heroes! Why, if we weren?t already in the middle of one, I?d arrange a ball in their honour!?
?Yeah, about that...? Kagerou frowned, looking down at her necklace. The glowing light on the jewel was starting to dim and flicker. ?My water-breathing charm is going to run out soon, and I really don?t want to be here when that happens.?
?Hm. That would be unfortunate. I suppose. But keep in mind that you will always be welcome here.? Lucia nodded. ?Wakasagi, please escort this young woman to the surface.?
?My thoughts exactly, mother.? Wakasagi took Kagerou by the hand. ?And surely our hero deserves a little time alone with the princess she saved, doesn?t she??
-----
?That couldn?t have gone worse if we tried.?
Kagerou talked as she dried herself off; partially to Wakasagi, but mainly to herself. A wall of shrubs shielded the wolf from view, keeping Wakasagi from seeing her in all her hairy glory.
?I don?t know. I really think you won my mother over.? Wakasagi sat on the edge of the lake, scooping up water with her tail as she waited. ?And trust me, that?s a pretty hard thing to do.?
?Yeah, but...? Kagerou buried her face in her towel. ?I really wanted to do this by the book, y?know? Win my way into the royal court through style and charisma. That?s how they do it in the outside world.?
?Maybe, but this is Gensokyo. It?d be boring if the rules applied here, wouldn?t it??
?Heh. I guess you?re onto something there.?
A few minutes later, Kagerou emerged from the bushes in her usual dress. She should have found a better place to hold it, in retrospect; some leaves and dirt had stuck onto it in her absence. Something to consider for next time, she supposed.
?You should probably get going soon, shouldn?t you?? she said, with a tiny frown. ?Your folks will probably go nuts if you?re away for too long.?
?Right. I think we?ve put them through enough for one night.? Wakasagi looked down at her hands, tail wiggling about as she began to blush. ?Look, I want you to know I really appreciate everything you did for me tonight. I know I put you through a lot of trouble, so I just wanted to say-?
?It?s alright, Wakasagi.? Kagerou leaned down and placed a finger on Wakasagi?s lip. ?This is the sort of thing friends do for each other.?
?...Friends, huh?? Wakasagi smiled, her eyes growing distant. ?I don?t know if that?s the best word to describe us, honestly.?
?Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows?? Kagerou shrugged. ?Whatever we are, I?m grateful for every second of it.?
?Me too.? Wakasagi lifted herself out of the water. ?Now, a present for my favourite hero...?
?Present? What are you-?
Before Kagerou could finish the question, Wakasagi leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. The wolf?s heart fell into her stomach, every inch of her body blazing hot. ?I, um, aaah...?
?Good night, Kagerou.? Wakasagi pulled back, giving the werewolf one more playful wink. ?I?ll see you at next week?s network meeting, alright?? She drifted backwards into the water before diving under again, leaving only a trail of ripples to remember her by.
Kagerou stared at the surface of the water for what must have been several minutes. She rubbed at the spot on her cheek where Wakasagi had kissed her. She laughed to herself, a slow, quiet chuckle that came from the deepest depths of her soul.
?See? I told you she was your girlfriend.?
The wolf almost fell back into the water as a voice popped up from behind her. ?S-Seki! How long have you been standing there?!?
?Long enough to see you giggling like an idiot.? Sekibanki had changed back into her ordinary dress, dropping her wetsuit to sit alongside Kagerou?s. ?I?m guessing you got the hero?s welcome after you kicked me into orbit.?
?Yeah, kind of.? Kagerou cradled her hands together as she rubbed her toe into the ground. ?Look, Seki, I?m sorry about how things turned out. I shouldn?t have thrown you into that situation without any time to prepare. And when you lost it, well...?
?Are you kidding? That was the best fight I?ve had in years.? Sekibanki grinned, giving the werewolf a thumbs-up. ?Making yourself into your own projectile? That was some clever stuff.?
?Oh. Well, uh...? Kagerou blinked rapidly. ?You?re welcome, then. I suppose that means we?re even now??
?Not a chance.? Sekibanki grabbed at Kagerou?s collar. ?You made a promise, remember? You get to do the prep for the next four network meetings.?
Kagerou gulped. ?Y-Yes??
?Good, because I have a few motions I want to propose.? Sekibanki?s head rose up again, her eyes digging right into Kagerou?s. ?And they?re going to involve a LOT of paperwork...?