“YUKARIIIII!” Marisa shouted. “LEMME IIIIIN! I JUS’ WANNA TALK T’ HER! YUKARIIIII!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” a voice spoke. Marisa whipped her broomstick around to the woman behind her. The gap youkai was sitting on one of her rifts with her fan hiding half her face.

“Why not?!”

“Because she has not yet fulfilled her obligation.”

“What obl’gation? I didn’ hear anything ‘bout ‘n obl’gation!”

“Hm. How curious. I wonder why.”

“Don’ ac’ dumb with me!”

“The word you’re looking for is ‘coy.’”

“Whatever! Where’s Reimu?! What’d you do t’ her?! Why aren’ you letting me ge’ t’ the shrine?!”

“So many questions from such a little girl,” the youkai murmured to herself. She closed her fan and rested it on her lap. “Reimu is at the shrine.” She continued before Marisa spoke again. “I haven’t done anything to her. And the reason I’m not letting you near the shrine is because I don’t want her to be distracted right now.”

Marisa crossed her arms. “So she can f’fil her obl’gation…?”

“Precisely,” Yukari spoke with a nod.

“An’ jus’ what is this obl’gation?”

“That’s not something for you to worry about.”

“Like hell it is!” The witch whipped out her mini-hakkero and started firing.

Yukari fell backward into her gap and reappeared right behind the girl. “If you ever find out what’s going on,”—Marisa threw her elbow back, trying to hit the woman in the face, but the youkai caught it with a hand—“I promise you that it will be from Reimu herself. For now, I suggest you turn around and go play with another one of your little friends, alright?”

“No... way!” Marisa wrenched her arm away from her and fired a laser that the youkai dodged easily.

“Fine then. But don’t blame me for the beating you’re about to receive.”

---

Reimu didn’t know what she was supposed to do. The only thing she could think of was to apologize to Aya, but… well, that tengu deserved what she got! So… what?

She looked up at the sound of giggling and stomping feet. She moved to the door and slid it open. Outside, Chen was chasing a blue butterfly. She chased it as it zig-zagged, then in a circle, until finally, it flew higher than she could reach. The bakeneko jumped at it, but not high enough to be able to damage the fragile creature. Despite her failure, she continued to chase the insect into the surrounding woods. She disappeared into the trees, and then, after a few moments, her head popped out of a bush. When she spotted Reimu, she bolted towards the shrine maiden, calling out her name.

“…Chen. What are you doing here?”

“Lady Yukari sent me here to come check on you because you looked sad!” the cat said, chipper as ever.

“Did she now…”

“So she said to try to cheer you up, but try not to… uh… ‘let on that…’ ummm…”

“She didn’t want me to find out she sent you here, you mean.”

“Yeah!”

“Uh-huuuh…” Reimu frowned at the thought of Yukari being sympathetic. And why did she herself make her food? Wasn’t it always Ran that did the cooking? And everything else, for that matter? Wait, did that mean that Yukari lived in a house? Reimu always thought that she lived in that gap-dimension-thing-place.

Suddenly, she remembered that there was a guest in front of her. “I’ll go put on some tea,” she said, stepping back into the shrine.

“Okay!” the cat chirped.

Once the tea had been brewed, she put two cups on a tray and set them down next to Chen. Reimu sat beside her as the bakeneko grabbed her drink and brought it to her lips. “NYOW!”

“It just came off the stove, you know,” Reimu deadpanned before she blew on her own tea.

“It’s hot!”

“Uh-huh.”

The two sat there sipping their tea. It was just like before, the shrine maiden reflected. The perfect amount of chaos and calm.

“Hey!” Chen spoke. “Lady Yukari said you called her ‘mom.’ Is that true?”

Reimu’s grip tightened on her cup. “…Y-yes. …I did.”

“Why?”

“I… don’t know.”

“You don’t? Humans are weird…”

“…They sure are.” The shrine maiden took a sip of her tea. “Hey…” When the bakeneko made a curious sound, she continued. “What’s Yukari to you?” The cat cocked her head at the question. “Like… Is she more than just your master? Do you consider her a friend?”

“Lady Yukari is like a granny!” Chen spoke happily.

A puff of air slipped out from Reimu’s lips before she sealed them again. “‘A granny,’ huh? And how about Ran?”

“Ummm… Another granny!”

Reimu started chuckling until it grew into full-on joyous laughter. “H-her, too?! Ah-HAH!” She snorted. “Ah! I don’t—! I don’t usually do that!” she defended.

Chen, giggling along with her, asked, “Do what?”


“N-nevermind that!” the shrine maiden explained, covering her smile with a hand.

---

Like anything else good, the day had to come to an end. Reimu bid Chen farewell and returned to her duties. As she swept, she pondered who’d come to visit next, a smile on her face. The day continued on as it had since she had wounded Aya, but the sun shone just a little bit brighter, and the breeze blew just a little warmer. When dusk turned to night, she retired to her bed, thoughts of Marisa walking up the shrine steps in her head.

Marisa did not come that day. Or the next. No one did. Yukari, however, showed up at the end of the week. And she brought with her an out-of-place dish: A steak, mashed potatoes, and grilled asparagus.

Reimu’s eyes flicked from the plate to the youkai. “Doesn’t this seem a little… heavy for breakfast?”

“I thought you liked free food,” Yukari said before sipping her tea.

The shrine maiden sighed before sitting down and beginning to eat.

“Ah, I was right!” Yukari spoke quietly and playfully. “More importantly, did you consider what you were going to do to fix your mistakes?

Reimu’s next bite stopped just short of her mouth. “Ah… That…”

“Yes. That.”

“Uh…” The shrine maiden’s eyes drifted away. She set Yukari’s fork down and let a long breath escape from her nose. “The only thing I could think to do was apologize to Aya, but…”

“‘But…?’” Yukari pressed when the silence grew a little too long.

“But is that really… it? That’s not going to work. …Right?”

The youkai let the girl sit in suspense as she took a drink. “No, of course it won’t.”

“Oh…” Another silence filled the room.

“Truth be told…” Reimu looked up at those words. “I couldn’t think of anything either.” The shrine maiden’s eyes widened, and her head tilted slightly. Yukari closed her eyes and smiled. “I think this a wound only time can heal.”

“You’re serious…? Wait, wait, wait! What about Keine?! Can’t she erase history or something?! Or any other youkai?! We can just make it so that night never happened!”

“It’s not that simple, Reimu,” Yukari spoke.

“How?! It’s dead simple!”

“No, it isn’t.” It was. But it wasn’t. The problem was that they were both right. But Yukari, being older and wiser, was more right. “Reimu, please… just… trust me…”

“What? You said we need to fix the spell card system! …Or something.”

“No. What needs to be fixed is something else entirely; I just…” Yukari closed her eyes and shook her head. “Nevermind that; you’re free to go.”

“‘Free to go? What does that mean?”

“That I’m no longer holding you captive. Anyone and everyone may come and go as they please to and from the shrine once more.”

“Since when were you holding me captive?”

Yukari cocked her head. “Since Marisa tried to rescue you, I suppose.”

Reimu cocked her own in turn. “Marisa tried to rescue me?”

“Oh yes. And she failed. Not that you needed rescuing, of course.” The woman took another sip, and the shrine maiden blinked at her.

“…I’m so confused.”

“By what?”

“By everything!”

“Ah, I see. Well, none of it’s really important, so don’t think about it and eat.”

Reimu stared at the woman for a while before sighing. “Fine…”

---

“So then I said, ‘Nex’ time ya wanna tussle with me, ya better rethink it!’”

“Really…” Reimu drawled.

“Yep!” Marisa lied. “‘Course, I still couldn’ ge’ close for some reason.”

The shrine maiden rolled her eyes. “I wonder why…”

“But anyways…!” the witch started as she plopped herself down beside her friend. “How’ve you been? As Yukari’s prisoner, I mean.”

“Fine, I guess? Nothing really happened. Chen stopped by once, but that’s about it.”

“Chen did? I thought Yukari said you weren’ taking visitors…”

Reimu shrugged a shoulder. “She said she was giving me time to think or something.”

“Oh yeah! An’ she said you’d tell me what that was all about.”

The shrine maiden closed her eyes. “She wanted me to think about ‘the consequences of my actions.’”

“You mean stabbing Aya.”

She winced. “Yeah…”

“Wha’ was with that, anyway?”

“It’s… nothing.”

“Didn’ seem like nothin’. Ya sure y're okay?”

“I’m fine!” Reimu snapped. When she realized that her friend had jumped back slightly, she turned away and mumbled, “Sorry… But I’m fine. Really.”

“Uh… Okay.” Marisa slowly tapped her finger against the wooden porch. “Hey! We shoul’ go do somethin’!”

“N-no, that’s… alright.”

“Why? Y’know, y’re acting real weird lately…”

“I just… don’t think it’s a good idea…”

“Wha’s not a good idea?”

“…Leaving.”

“‘Leaving?’ What are y’ talkin’ ‘bout? Y’ve been stuck at th’ shrine fer two weeks now!” The witch pushed herself up. “Fer all you know, there’s some new youkai runnin’ around!”

“Is there a new youkai running around?”

Marisa started running away, broom in hand. “Le’s go find out!”

---

None of the humans of the village reacted to Reimu’s presence, besides the usual amount of fear and respect. The youkai, on the other hand, fled from her faster than ever. “Maybe I shouldn’t be here,” Reimu spoke.

“Whaaat? O’ course not! You bein’ here is the best thing you can be doin’!”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, where would you rather be?”

“I don’t know…”

“Then this ‘s where y’re meant t’ be!”

“I’m not so sure…”

“It’ll be fiiine,” Marisa said as she ducked into Geidontei.

“Wait—!” Reimu started as she followed the blonde girl.

“Miyoi! Two orders of tonight’s special!”

“Marisa!” the shrine maiden hissed.

“Ah, hello, Miss Marisa!” Geidontei’s centerpiece spoke. “And Miss—!” Miyoi blanched. She bowed her head until it was nearly touching the counter. “Greetings and good tidings to you, Lady Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine,” she said to the wood.

“Uh, you don’t have to…” Reimu spoke as she held her hands up.

“Please! Forgive me for my insolence!”

“Miyoi…!” Reimu hissed as politely as she could. “Stop shou…!”

“I shall now commit ritual suicide if it pleases you!”

“No! Just—!” The shrine maiden looked around the bar. Seeing all eyes on her, she turned around and hurried out the door and out of the village.

---

Reimu had another dream of a woman stroking her hair as she lay in her lap.

“You know, many would describe that as a pleasant dream,” Eirin spoke, her head resting against her propped-up fist. “In fact, I sell some villagers that dream pill.”

“Can you help me or not?” Reimu asked.

“Of course I can. If you’ll only stop being rude.”

The shrine maiden sighed. “I’m sorry. Can you please help me?”

The pharmacist nodded. “Yes, I can. What kind of dream would you like?”

“I don’t know… Normal?”

Eirin smirked. “What on earth could that possibly mean?”

“Just make me a dream pill! …Please.”

The older woman opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a purple pouch. “Here. This one will turn you into a butterfly. That should work.”

---

Reimu’s red-white wings carried far and high over the countless flowers that she couldn’t hope to name. She settled on a violet flower and began drinking its nectar. When she had her fill, she fled from it. She continued on her journey, passing through a torii gate. She flew over a river that she was unable to see the other side of. Over a bustling street filled with wisps of white. A woman with a scythe set out, banished from her post.

She stopped in a town to rest her wings. She drank from a blue flower. A young girl was writing something as a woman sitting next to her lectured her. A man set down a cup of tea for each of them. The woman picked up her cup, and the girl snatched a note from underneath it. Once she had finished reading it, she tore it in two and let the halves fall to the ground. The woman asked what it had said, and the girl replied that it was nothing of value.

She reached a giant door. A prince and a jiang shi were waiting in line to be let through. An ox managed to get loose and charged through a shrine. Something shining red danced in the sun’s light before crashing into the dirt. The shrine turned to ash on the wind as flames licked its corpse clean.

She flew underneath another torii gate and into the queen’s chamber. She landed on her finger. Peace took her as her endless journey came to a close.

---

“It didn’t work.”

Eirin frowned. “How? That drug has worked on everyone who’s ever taken it. What makes you any different?”

“That woman was still in my dreams.”

“What woman? The one you complained about last time? How do you even know it was the same woman?”

“I just do, alright?! Make her go away!”

“Ah, so that’s what this is about. Still, it’s a strange request.” The pharmacist reached into the drawer again and pulled out another pouch, this one red. “You won’t have an easy time falling asleep taking this, but you’ll wake up instantly if there’s an intruder.”

“You think there’s an intruder…?”

“If you’re dreaming of laying your head on a woman’s lap as she strokes your hair even after taking a pill that gives you a completely different dream, then it can only be caused by an external source.”

“You mean someone’s breaking in every night. …Yukari…!”

---

Every single little noise kept Reimu up. In fact, it felt like every one of her senses were heightened to some degree. Nightvision was certainly a handy thing, but not when she was trying to sleep.

There was nothing for it, though, so she decided to take a walk. As she went down the steps, some of the noises got louder than she expected them to. Whatever they were, they sure were an annoying racket. Maybe if she got rid of whatever was making that sound, she could finally fall asleep. So she started flying towards their source.

It wasn’t just sounds that revealed themselves to her; it was lights, too. Reimu squinted at the sight, trying to make sense of it. “Oh, it’s those annoying screaming girls…” she realized. She was about to turn back when she spied a shock of purple hair with a flower in it. She landed just behind the crowd and started muscling her way towards the girl. She tapped her on the shoulder.

“Reimu?!” Akyuu gasped. “What are you doing here?!”

“What?! I can’t hear you over that racket!”

The chronicler opened her mouth to try again, then closed it before rolling her eyes. She leaned in close and shouted, “This is their last song of the night; we’ll talk after!”

The shrine maiden frowned and crossed her arms but let the girl have her fun. After just a moment, that turned into her plugging her ears. A minute more, and the song ended, thankfully. She tapped her foot impatiently as the pair on stage thanked the crowd for coming.

“Phew, wasn’t that great?!” Akyuu spoke.

“Awfully noisy…” Reimu murmured in response. At the same time, they both asked, “So, what are you doing here?”

“Ah, you first,” the purple-haired girl insisted.

“I couldn’t sleep,” the brunette replied with a shrug. “How about you, Child of Miare? What are you doing outside of the village at night?”

“Oh, come on! We both know I’m protected by the rules; nothing’s gonna happen!”

“You know not every youkai follows those rules, right? Also, that doesn’t answer my question.”

Akyuu sighed. “I like their music, okay? Besides, it’s fine! Miss Keine escorted me here.”

“Hmmm. Alright, whatever.”

“So, what about you? Don’t tell me that sound nullifying spell doesn’t work.”

Sound nullifying spell…? Oh, I guess someone talked about that when I told them to knock it off. “Eirin gave me some medicine so I could… I’m trying to catch an intruder.”

“How do those things correlate?”

“They’re drugs to help me stay awake. I think they improved all my senses.”

“Oh, I see. Any idea who it is?”

“Yukari.”

“But isn’t that normal?”

“No, no, this is different! She—!” Reimu sighed before relenting. She explained what had been going on, and Akyuu nodded along thoughtfully.

“That is disturbing… Is she trying to become your mother or something?”

“You think so…?”

“It would make sense, wouldn’t it?”

Reimu thought about it for a while. “But why would she start doing that?”

Akyuu shook her head. “I don’t know, but you might want to do something about it.”

“Right. I’ll take you home, then I’m going to find Yukari.”

---

She wouldn’t be able to for the better half of a month. When she did, the youkai claimed she was “just visiting.”

“Whatever, just leave me alone.” Reimu pointed her gohei at her. “And I swear, the next time you touch me while I’m sleeping, I will kill you.”

“‘Touch you while you’re sleeping?’ Just what are you talking about?”

“The dreams I’ve had about a woman stroking my face while I sleep in her lap! The reason I’ve been having those dreams is because you’ve been doing it, haven’t you?!”

“I have not.”

“Don’t lie to me!”

“It’s the truth. I’ve been busy; ask Ran.”

“…Where is she?”

“Not here. Maybe next time, then. Listen, Reimu. I want what’s best for you. Because what’s best for you is best for Gensokyo. Best for the youkai, and best for me.”

“Then leave me alone!”

“No. I suppose your claim that I’m trying to be your mother isn’t entirely inaccurate. But of course, I’m not your mother; I’m more like… your boss. And as your boss, I need you in the best condition that you can be in. How about this? I’ll fetch that baku, and she can tell you what’s going on.”

Reimu crossed her arms. “Fine.”

For whatever reason, it took some time for Yukari to retrieve the youkai. So long, in fact, that Reimu went in to make some tea. Only after it was done did the dream-eating youkai enter the shrine. She sat down at her table and stole her teacup before taking out a small leather-bound book. She thumbed it open and murmured, “So, let’s see… Ah, here it is! Yes, mysterious woman stroking her face, she looks relaxed—at peace even… Rather odd for you to be hostile over such a thing, isn’t it?”

Reimu grabbed a new tea cup and sat down opposite of her. “Whatever. Who is she?”

“I’m a baku, Miss Hakurei, not a fortune teller.”

“Just tell me what you can about her then.”

“Well, she has dark brown hair, red clothes—kinda like yours—and a featureless face. If you ask me, she’s supposed to be your mother.”

“What? I don’t have a mother.”

“Miss Hakurei, I may not know much about humans, but I’m pretty sure they don’t appear out of nowhere.”

“That’s not what I mean!”

“Oh, you’re one of those orphan things, aren’t you?”

“Y—! …Yeah… I am.” It happened so quickly that she didn’t even realize what was going on. Her vision blurred, and tears slid down her cheeks. Her breaths were shaky, and her chest ached. Her heart felt hollow. She put her hands to her face, trying to stop the tears from falling.

A pair of arms wrapped around her, and lips kissed the crown of her head. Yukari’s voice spoke, “You’ve been saving your tears for so long that you’ve forgotten you’ve had them, haven’t you? Cry hard. Cry long. Cry until you can cry no more. I’ll be here for you.”

The shrine maiden’s sorrow redoubled itself as she gripped the woman back, her face pressed against her collarbone. She wanted to push her away, but she couldn’t find the strength to. When at long last she had stopped crying, she murmured, “Why are you doing this…?”

Yukari was silent for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“You’re after something,” Reimu murmured into the youkai’s clothes. “What do you want from me?”

“Your success.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“You never smile. You’re indifferent towards everyone. You feel that every moment that does not bring you satisfaction is an inconvenience. Your only pleasure is drinking and making money. I’ve let you get away with that for far too long. I’m… truly sorry.”

“You’re not… You’re lying…”

“Reimu, I— I’m… terrible at this, aren’t I?

“What are you saying?”

Yukari shook her head and held the girl away from her by her shoulders. “There’s no other way to do this, so I’m just going to. Reimu, I’m adopting you.”

“WHAT?!”

Sanae had once told Reimu and Marisa a story about a family of cannibals who appeared completely normal in front of others but would knock them unconscious once they had gathered enough trust. That was exactly how the shrine maiden felt now.

Yukari’s house may not have been normal by her standards, but it did seem mostly normal, according to someone’s. She expected… Well, she didn’t know what she expected, but she didn’t expect it to be suitable for a human. There were a lot of things that the kappa would want to get their hands on, but Reimu wouldn’t know what they were or their use. The décor was… purple. And old. Probably from a country across the sea, too. There was a white bear skin, complete with open maw, on the floor instead of a rug. And a dead animal skull was sitting on a shelf.

She carefully sipped her tea.

The only thing she could do in this situation was listen to the sound of Ran’s kitchen knife working on some vegetable. The idea of something so normal happening in the other room would have been comforting, but knowing that it was a youkai holding that sharpened object changed that. Of course, they weren’t going to eat her, but… they were youkai. And she was a human.

No, the worst thing was the adoption. What the hell did that mean? Like a pet or a child? She’d probably already know if this was anyone else, but this was Yukari. …Was she facing retirement? At this age? Did shrine maidens retire? Or maybe shrine maidens had to be young? She was only… actually, how old was she again? Sixteen? Seventeen? Her mother…

Her mother… What had happened to her…? When she died, it was before the spell card system was even an idea, so the likelihood of her having been… Suddenly, she realized that she didn’t want to think about that. It was odd; the idea of someone being killed by a youkai had never bothered her before—it was a somewhat regular thing, after all. But the idea of it being her mother… disturbed her.

“I’m back!” Yukari called out, making the shrine maiden jump a little. Reimu heard her shikigami greet her before the gap youkai entered the room. “Hello, Reimu!” she greeted as she sat down to the girl’s right. “How are you today?”

“Uh… good,” the shrine maiden replied, though it sounded more like a question than a response.

“Wonderful! I have a little gift for you!” Yukari spoke as she laid a box on the table.

“Oh. Oh great! How wonderful!” Her acting skills could use way more than a bit of work, but if the gap youkai wasn’t fooled, she didn’t make any indication of it.

“…Well? Go ahead and open it!”

“S-sure…” She picked up the box and started untying the red ribbon holding it closed. The last knot, however, was giving her trouble. She gave up on trying to undo the knot and instead gripped it in her fist, trying to brute force the obstruction away. It worked, but the back of her fist slammed into the youkai’s face. Reimu’s eyes widened as Yukari clutched her nose. When she waved her off, Reimu continued opening the box. Slowly, this time.

Inside were Ran’s clothes. The tabard was red, but there was no way this was meant for her. “Uh…”

“Try it on.” Yukari’s words were gentle—sing-song, actually—for a command, but Reimu didn’t want to anger her more than she already had. That smile she still wore was disturbing. She stood up and pulled the white dress over her head, then the red tabard. Yukari stood up and began messing with it until she was satisfied. “There! It looks wonderful on you!”

“Uh, yeah… …Thanks.”

“You’re more than welcome! After all, if you’re going to be living here, you have to look the part!”

“What?! What about—?! What about the shrine? And what if I want to leave?”

“Oh, it’ll be fine! Hardly anyone ever goes there anyway, right?”

“Gee, I wonder why!”

“Don’t use that tone with me, young lady!” Yukari scolded, pointing her fan at the girl.

Reimu hesitated and relented. “S-s-sorry… ma’am…”

“So long as you understand.” The youkai turned her head to the other room and called, “Ran, could you put on some tea?” then turned back to the girl. “You don’t have to stay standing; sit back down!” The shrine maiden did as she was ordered. “And just what do you mean by leave?”

“You know. Go? Like… rent a book from Suzunaan or something?”

“Oh, you mean play with your friends! Sure, just ask, and I’ll drop you off!”

“Drop me…? Wait, no! We can’t be seen together!”

“What do you mean we can’t be seen together? What’s wrong with that?”

“I believe what she means, Lady Yukari,” Ran spoke as she set down tea before her master, “is that if someone were to see you so close to Reimu, they will become suspicious of your relationship. Particularly your motives.”

“Nonsense! They have no reason to; I’m doing this for the good of everyone! Right, Reimu?”

“Uhhh…”

“Lady Yukari, permit me to elaborate. An overwhelming majority of those living in Gensokyo believe you to be a nefarious manipulator. Some even believe that Miss Reimu is merely a soulless puppet that you yourself created to keep everyone in their place.”

“Oh, preposterous!”

“Please let me finish. From every angle, your reputation is not favorable. Miss Reimu is also feared by some. If the two of you are seen together, particularly by a village human, that will only decrease your respective reputations even further. They will jump to the conclusion that you plan to dispose of everyone in Gensokyo who does not fear you.

“That’s ridiculous, Ran! And you know it!”

“That is correct. But no less true. I will calculate the probability of my statement becoming true if it will help.”

Yukari glared up at her shikigami. “…Fine.”

“I will run the calculations three times.” Ran closed her eyes and let silence reign. “The average chance of one’s fear of the proposed conspiracy is 81.42%.”

The gap youkai shook her head as she pushed herself up. “I don’t believe you. And I’m going to prove you wrong!” she said as she left the room.

Ran sighed as she sat down where Yukari was and took a sip from her untouched tea. “I’m sorry you got dragged into this mess.”

Reimu’s head snapped to the shikigami.

“Oh, don’t act so surprised. If you’ve ever had the thought that Lady Yukari’s main motivation for anything is attention seeking, you’re more than correct. The only reason she has any subtlety is because she has to maintain appearances. Particularly in front of me. The infallible master with her bright-eyed student looking over her shoulder.” She took another sip of her tea. “Not Chen, though. The little tattletale is always telling me about the candy she got from ‘Auntie Yukari.’ Which reminds me! Never mention her age! Period!” The shikigami took a proper drink and then let out a bigger sigh than before.

“Er… right… Uh, hey… What do you think of Yukari?”

“How do you mean?”

“Well… like… your relationship.”

“I’m afraid I still have no idea what you’re asking.”

Reimu braced herself. “Chen called her a granny.”

The shikigami was unable to contain her laughter, so she decided to just let it all out. The shrine maiden didn’t expect it to sound so fox-like as she started laughing along with her. When they were nearly done, Ran wiped away a stray tear. “You should have seen her face when she first called her a granny.”

“Was she mad?”

“She was furious! She was so angry that she was crying! ‘Ran! You said your training was going well!’ ‘Lady Yukari, I said I had made a lot of progress, not that she was ready to be a Yakumo! It’s your fault, anyway! You came to see her when I told you not to!’” The shikigami massaged her jaw before she said, “She gave me quite the beating for that.”

“She beat you?!”

Ran chuckled. “Reimu, I’m a youkai—and a strong one, at that. There’s no reason to be worried about me. If you’re worried about getting beat yourself, don’t be; she’s always been worried about you.”

“Does… she… see me as a daughter…?”

The fox youkai nodded, but she wore a solemn look. “When she returned from that party, she talked my ear off about how happy she was. I don’t mean to imply that’s a bad thing, but she does not want her mask to crack, you know? And I hope you don’t think ill of her; she does want what’s best for you.” A beat of silence passed. “She’s mellowed out a lot over the years. She even tried to make friends with your mother, after all.”

Reimu frowned. “Were my mother and her close?”

“No. She was just the first Hakurei shrine maiden she had revealed to be so closely involved in the running of Gensokyo, is all. Your mother, just like you, tried to shoot first and ask questions after, but Lady Yukari just slipped away instead.”

“How… similar am I to my mother?”

Ran stared at the girl for a while. “Very. If the world had been as kind to her as it’s been to you, I think the two of you would have been nearly identical.”

“And… And what happened to her?”

“I don’t know… Yukari wouldn’t say.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Only Yukari knows what happened. I’m sorry I can’t tell you any more.”

“…It’s… It’s alright…” Reimu took a sip of her tea. “You know… you’re surprisingly easy to talk to.”

“Because Lady Yukari isn’t here.” Ran lifted her cup and said before she took a drink, “I can never relax with her around.”

“Neither can I,” Reimu chuckled, and the shikigami joined her. “That reminds me, you never answered my question.”

“About our relationship?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, if you’re asking if I see her as a mother, I don’t. Though I wouldn’t say our relationship is always a master-servant one. In fact, I more think of it as a mentor-student relationship at times, particularly when she’s helping me train Chen. And I don’t see Chen as a daughter, either, merely a particularly rowdy apprentice.”

“I see…” Reimu spoke. For some reason, it felt like her hopes had been dashed somewhat. Ran must have realized this as she put her hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“I understand that your lack of a family has been causing you a great deal of issues, but also that you’re suspicious of Lady Yukari. If you ever need refuge that you cannot find anywhere else, come find me, and we’ll escape for a while.” Ran smiled mischievously. “We can just tell Lady Yukari we’re picking up ingredients in the village.”

“A-alright. Thanks.”

The fox’s smile turned into a more honest one. “You’re more than welcome, Reimu.”

This chapter was a pain to write because I didn't want the story to go here and where it will next chapter.

---

Reimu slept better than she expected to. Maybe the ceiling of vines, leaves, and flowers had helped. Whatever those glowing blue lights were had also disappeared. She stepped out of her plush mushroom bed and cringed at the touch of the cold moss floor. She sat there adapting to it before she stood up properly and moved to leave the room.

She found Chen in the main sitting room, drawing something. The cat turned to her and said, “Hi, Reimu!”

“Good morning, Chen.”

“Good morning!” the cat spoke again. Then she pushed herself up, grabbed her paper, and presented it to the shrine maiden, face beaming proudly all the while.

Reimu was no stranger to situations like this, thanks to Keine dragging her to the temple school, but usually, the kids would show her a picture of something resembling an animal or how much their characters had improved. “Oh…! This is… really good! Good job, Chen!”

“Sanskrit!” the cat said smugly, rolling back and forth on her feet.

The human nodded slowly. “…Wow! That’s… impressive!” She handed the paper back to the youkai. “I’ll let you get back to that then.” Chen’s smile somehow widened even further before she brought it back to the table. Reimu moved into the kitchen and sat down at the high table sitting in the middle.

Ran set down a cup of tea, a bowl of rice, and a plate of eggs in front of the shrine maiden, saying, “Good morning. It is currently 10:13:28 AM.”

“Huh?”

“The time,” the shikigami spoke as if it explained anything. She put her hands in her sleeves before continuing. “Was the quality of your sleep adequate?”

“I guess. I think that room you gave me is better suited for Marisa, though.”

“I agree, but I have no say in the interior decorating beyond, ‘get rid of everything that proves too much of a hassle to bother keeping.’”

“Like what?”

“It depends. It could be something dangerous, hard to clean… Stuff like that.”

“Ah.” Ran watched the girl eat until she paused. “What?”

“For how much you seem to dislike Yukari, does it not bother you being so similar to her?”

“She and I are nothing alike!”

“To err is human,” Ran spoke before leaving Reimu to her breakfast.

“Where are you going?”

“Some minor tears have appeared in the border, so I’m leaving to repair them before they grow larger.”

“Take me with you!” Reimu cried out with more desperation than she wished.

“What for?”

“B-b-because of the shrine! Somebody has to clean it! Right?”

“Ah, you already wish to escape.” The shikigami opened a gap and gestured for her to follow. “Alright, then, but please understand that if you do not return with me willingly, Yukari is just going to come for you instead. Finish your breakfast quickly.” As the shrine maiden tossed aside her inhibitions, the fox added, “But don’t choke!”

---

When Reimu arrived at her shrine, she found leaves scattered everywhere and money in the donation box. “Stupid Yukari,” she grumbled. “This is why I’m supposed to be here!” She grabbed her broom. “But no, her and her stupid fascination with me—” She paused and looked around before forcing her monologue into her brain. Her stupid fascination with me is ruining the shrine! Doesn’t she care?! Isn’t this the one place she actually wants to stay the same until the end of time?

“Yo, Reimu!” a voice called out.

The girl in red sighed. “Hello, Marisa…”

“Now tha’s way t’ greet th’ friend who saved yer life!”

“Who?”

“That’s cold, Reimu!” When the shrine maiden only shook her head and went back to sweeping, she asked, “Are you feelin’ ‘lright; ya look grumpier than usual.”

The shrine maiden sighed. “No, actually…”

“W’ll, wha’s th’ matter? ‘S it th’ Yukari thing? Look, ‘m really sorry about laughin’ atchu—we all are. ‘S jus’— Ya gotta admit tha’ was pretty funny.” Reimu glared at the witch, and she looked away ashamedly.

“It’s not about that.”

“‘Snot?”

“No, it isn’t.” Reimu sighed again then began rubbing her temples slowly. Her mind was jumping from one thought to another, never staying still for more than a moment like a butterfly. All those ideas, however, surrounded one thing: Yukari. “Marisa, have I ever been wrong about anything? My intuition, I mean.”

The black-white girl let out a puff of air that inspired her bangs to dance in time. “No, I don’ think so, much ‘s I wish that wasn’ the case…”

Yukari doesn’t feel like she’s going to kill me or anything like that… But what’s with the adoption thing? Is she just playing around or is she actually trying to— Reimu shuddered, opting to push that thought away. She said this was for the good of Gensokyo, but what does that mean? She couldn’t have meant herself, could she? So then… Reimu groaned, already tired of trying to think like Yukari. If she could have, she would have come up with a much better plan. “Marisa. Do you have any money?”

---

“I know that you’ve explained this plan to me, what, four times now, but… you want to make Yukari chocolate…”

“Uh-huh…”

“Give ‘er… lots of attention…”

“Yep.”

“An’… B— Because o’ th’ phrase ‘kill ‘em with kindness.’”

“That’s correct.”

“An’ yer sure this’ll work?”

“It’s got to! Fight fire with fire, after all!”

“Why?”

“It’s got to. If it doesn’t… It’ll work.” Marisa just stared at her, skepticism scrawled across her face like a child's scribbles all over the pages of an expensive novel. She shook her head, then reached for one of the chocolates, receiving a harsh slap on the hand. “GO MAKE YOUR OWN!”

“Fine, fine!” the witch gave up after licking her skin clean. “See ya tomorrow; hope this works!”

“You better do more than hope!”

“Okaaaay!” Marisa called back as she took off.

“Why didn’t she close the stupid door?” Reimu grumbled to herself as she moved to fix it. She yelped as Ran appeared. “What are you doing here?!”

“I came to collect you. You’re making chocolate?”

“Er…” the girl shifted her weight from one foot to another. “Yes. I am.”

The kitsune put a hand over her mouth in thought. Then her brow furrowed. “If they’re for a boy, then I pray Lady Yukari does not find out…”

Reimu’s face grew red. “They’re not!”

“I have neither interest nor concern for your love life, so I will leave the matter alone. Are you ready to return to Lady Yukari’s home?”

“Uh…” the shrine maiden looked back to her work. “Could you give me a hand finishing these and cleaning up?”

“Certainly.” Once the sweets were in Reimu’s ice box, Ran opened a gap, and they appeared in the kitchen. “I must start preparing dinner; do as you like.”

“You don’t want help?”

“You are a guest; you shouldn’t feel obligated to help me.” Ran glanced towards the other room where someone whose voice Reimu didn’t recognized was talking. “Though I didn’t formally object, nor do I,” the fox continued in a low voice.

“Raaan?” Yukari called as she entered the kitchen. “Oh good, you are here! And Reimu! Are you helping my dear shikigami? That’s so sweet of you! But you really don’t need to do that.”

“I, uh…” the girl stammered.

“In fact, what do you say we go to a nice restaurant, instead?”

“‘Res…?’” both yonger women began to protest for different reasons.

Ran, finding her courage, coughed into her fist. “Lady Yukari, I don’t… Rather, I’m uncertain that taking the Hakurei shrine maiden to the outside world is such a good idea.”

“Oh, it’ll be fine! It’s not like we’re throwing her to the wolves here! Beside, it’s a wonderful opportunity, isn’t it, Reimu? After all, you didn’t get to truly experience it when you resolved the Urban Legend Incident.”

“Yeah, but—” the girl started before stopping herself.

“What is it, dear?”

The shrine maiden stayed silent, trying to think of how to put her words tactfully. “I, uh… The Outside World was… really noisy, I thought.”

Yukari chuckled. “It is, yes,but this will be a good experience for you.”

“How?”

“Because new things are always good!”

Reimu couldn’t help but pull a face at her baffling words.

“Lady Yukari,” Ran interrupted. “There’s… She doesn’t have— No amount of preparation has been put into—!”

“We’ll make a night out of it!” the gap youkai announced with finality. “First we’ll shop! Then we’ll eat! Then we’ll go bowling!”

Her shikigami didn’t react. At all. Then she put her sleeves up and lowered her face into the cloth. “Lady Yukari,” she spoke quietly and levelly. “May I be selfish and ask you to retrieve Chen in my stead?”

The older woman smiled. “You may.” She opened a gap and disappeared.

Ran seized Reimu by her upper arm. “Wh-what are you…?!” the girl stammered.

“We must prepare for a night of hell,” the fox spoke like a woman possessed. …By something other than a shikigami. When they got to Ran’s room, she dove for a nearby drawer and began muttering to herself as she dug through it.

“Ran? What’s going on?”

Her head snapped violently in Reimu’s direction. “Bowling,” she spat. “That’s what’s going on.”

“Wh-what’s bowling…?”

“A crude Outside World sport where humans throw heavy balls at high speeds down slick lanes towards pins as hard as they can…” The woman winced. “Agony. It’s agony.” She resumed her rifling before muttering, “They must be in here—they must! Reimu!” The fox pointed past the girl. “Check that drawer!”

“What am I looking for?”

“A pair of foam earplugs wrapped in plastic packaging!”

“Uh, okay…” When she found what might be it, she grabbed it and showed it to Ran. “Is this is it?”

“Yes! Thank you so much!” Reimu’s eyes widened at the sight of the hatless fox. It went without saying that she knew she was a youkai, but something about seeing the woman’s ears for the first time was rather strange. Ran took the package and then asked, “Are there any more left?”

“I don’t think so,” Reimu replied, glancing at the drawer.

“Oh dear…” The fox’s ears drooped. “Then… you’ll need these more than I do,” she said as she pressed the package back into the shrine maiden’s hand. Then, she made some gestures to ward off evil.

“Th-thanks…?”

Reimu started as a gap opened beside her. “We’re ready!” Yukari spoke as she poked her head through.

“Eh?! Ah, uh…” Ran stammered. “I, er… Y-yes! We… are.”

The elder youkai frowned. “What’s the problem now?” When the fox only shifted her weight from one foot to the other, she continued. “Come on, Ran, spit it out already.”

“I… er…” She murmured something no one could hear.

“Louder, sweetheart.”

“My… earplugs…”

“Your earplugs? What, did you run out?” The shikigami nodded, and Yukari threw her head back. “Oh, for the love of the gods…” She reached into a gap and pulled out a box full of them. “Here, take them. I swear, sometimes you’re more like an overgrown child than my shikigami.”

“Bowling hurts my ears!” Ran blurted out.

Yukari crossed her arms, rolled her eyes, and shook her head.

---

I know Reimu had just received 20 bucks, but I, for one, think she’s always justified in asking Marisa for money.