Servitude
A Touhou Project round-robin fanfic created by Wolfsbane706 and hosted by Mephiles666. This chapter of the round-robin is written by Wolfsbane706.
Chapter 1
Darkness. All around her, darkness. It was . . stifling, somewhat, and it felt like she was still unconscious, almost. "Hello?" she called meekly, only to be answered by her own echo.
She almost tried again, but someone answered. "Good grief, you're noisy," said a Voice.
"Where am I?" she asked.
"Somewhere," the Voice said distractedly. "Not entirely sure where exactly."
"Well you're no help."
The Voice scoffed. "Hey, you're the one who trespassed into my darkness," it accused. "I'm just a wanderer. Not my fault if I end up somewhere I don't know."
That didn't make sense to her. "But if you take down the darkness from time to time, won't you know?" she asked. Simple enough, right?
"Not that simple~," the Voice sang. "My eyes don't like light. Too much, and -poof!- no more sight."
Despite her situation, she found it interesting. "How do you normally do stuff?"
"Hm-hm-hmm~," the Voice hummed. "That's the question of the day!" it said, much like someone announcing a game show would. "Y'know, I'm curious myself: you keep asking me why I won't move, but why won't you move?"
"Can't," was all she said. She refused to elaborate.
"Ohh~?" The Voice was showing interest? "Why 'can't' you move?"
"Was playing on the ice with that stupid chronicler," she said. "Bitch is a trouble magnet." Now that she was going, she couldn't stop. "Ice broke. Idiot fairy came along. Akyuu got away, my legs got frozen in the ice. Lost 'em both 'cause the fairy was mad at Akyuu for giving away her favorite napping spot."
"Oh-ho-ho~!" the Voice mocked. "So Cirno 'unintentionally' claims a victim~!" it declared. "I'm amazed you're still around. Oh wait, no I'm not." Its tone became condescending, mocking, pitying. "Fairies don't eat humans. They're 'Nature's Children'. Feh. Sorry bunch." The Voice paused. "Say, if you have no legs, how did you come to wander into my darkness, hmm? Or were simply one of those bothersome 'victims of circumstance' I hear so much about?"
"I was here when I woke up," she replied, glad at the chance to finally speak. "When I fell asleep, it was almost nightfall and I couldn't get home."
"So you've only recently lost use of your legs, is that it?" the Voice challenged. "I suppose that would explain why you're so stinking wet and why you won't stop shaking. Still, I'm beginning to get bored. What kind of entertainment can a legless girl provide? None, I tell you!"
"I still have my legs!" she challenged. "I simply can no longer use them."
"Same difference," deadpanned the Voice. "Unfortunately, you cannot stay. I cannot eat you for risk of angering both mikos, and I cannot let your noisy shivering ruin my beauty sleep. So, here is what shall happen: I will use some of my magic to heal your useless legs. In return, you must cone and dance for me every new moon, when I can dissipate my darkness and see normally. If you do not agree, I will eat you anyway, for I am Rumia, of the Evening Shade, and I am HUNGRY!"
She gulped. Rumia—now revealed to be the owner of the Voice—had roared her last word, to make sure it went through clearly. "Yes, Lady Rumia," she replied, adding the honorific in order to further placate the powerful Youkai of the Black Shadows. She hesitated, though. "How did you know I danced?"
"Hmm. 'Lady' Rumia has a nice ring to it. But still, to answer your question, Satomi Kurosaki, I know the voice of every man, woman, and child in the human village. You are no exception. You dance under that bothersome Satori's instruction. This, I have learned from listening." Satomi heard light footsteps land on the ground then approach her. "Now, I haven't done this in some centuries, so forgive me if it's slow. Do you, Satomi Kurosaki, eternally swear to dance for me, whenever your mistress so desires?"
Unhesitatingly, "Yes."
"Give me your wound, then." She did as told and felt life slowly returning to her legs. "The darkness I put into your body will ensure that you obey my commands and insure you against claims by other Youkai. It will also mark you as my eternal servant to those able to see the effects. Now, leave my darkness before I have a change of heart."
She almost said "Yes, mistress," but opted for the less-awkward "Yes, Lady Rumia."
Rumia listened as the girl ran away. The Youkai of Black Shadows predicted an attempted murder in the near future. She didn't know why she always picked the lost causes as servants. It was a pity thing, she supposed. As she recalled every servant she'd had, her thoughts turned to an old friend from before her sealing. Granted, his memories were kaput, but still. Had it not been for that wolf, she would not be here today.