The Fox and the Shikigami
Lost Soul!K7yo62LHdE 2024/07/13 (Sat) 03:07
No. 32148
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You were newly remade at the time. After this body has decided to become Yukari's shikigami, you, Ran Yakumo, had been made, pledging to serve her in all things for the good of Gensokyo. Speaking of which, Gensokyo was also newly remade at the time, having been separated from the outside world mere weeks before your remaking. While the timing was largely accidental, you appreciated the symbolism. Two tragedies, one slow, one sudden, but both turning into the creation of something new, something that would actually provide a future... in containment, admittedly, but a future nonetheless.
Another connection you had with this land? There were teething issues.
"And how are you this morning, Ran?" Yukari asked, gapping into the room.
"I am well, Lady Yukari," you replied, standing up from your bed. "This body is settling down; the emotional surges have become both fewer in number and less intense."
"And did you sleep well?"
"Better than previous evenings."
Using her gap as a flying carpet, Yukari floated over to your bed, brushing her hand over your pillow and the damp spot it contained. "So I see."
She floated over to you and you stood at attention as she inspected you. Despite having just woken up mere minutes ago, you were mostly presentable. You'd had time to change into a fresh dress and tabard, for your eyes to dry and your cheeks to return to their usual pale tone. You'd been in the middle of brushing out your tails when Yukari had arrived. You'd been hoping to finish before her morning check-in, both to look as you should and because-
"Here, let me." Yukari held out her hand.
"Lady Yukari, I can-"
"Ran," she gently insisted, and you put the brush into her hand, defeated.
Yukari dragged the brush through your tails with the ease of long practice, going with the grain of the fur and smoothing out tangles with each pass. It felt heavenly, like receiving a caress and scratching an itch all at once. This made it no less difficult to bear. Both because it was an inversion of your role, your master serving you, and because it stirred up th
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