Writers Note:
Hello again. This tale is based on the popular pairing, Youmu x Reisen. This story is a "what if" so it may not correlate with official works completely as a fair warning. I would like to improve my writing abilities with this story so any helpful critiques that will motivate me to improve my writing skills are very welcomed.
This story will update once every Sunday starting 10/29/17 unless other outside events prevent me from having the time to do so.
There is a PDF version of this tale that provides artist illustrations in a light novel style that will be updated once every Sunday starting 11/5/17. The link will be provided in the writer's notes of every chapter. This PDF version will incorporate the current chapter and any previous chapters before it. (Please note that not all chapters will contain visuals in this story.)
Thank you for spending the time to read my notes, now onto the tale.
Chapter 1
The blistering heat of the autumn season scorches the Human Village. The sun now at its highest point in the sky. Without a cloud in sight, the ball of fire basks its warmth down on the land of Gensokyo. The azure blue blanket stretches clearly across the land as far as the eye can see. With a basket of freshly picked fruits, saccharine candies and, other goods bought at the local market, a girl with a stoic expression weaves her way through the bustling streets. With her bright silver bob cut hair and her signature dark green dress, the unorthodox gardener and swordswoman, Konpaku Youmu, makes her way to the next stop on her list. The shopping district full of food stands that sell luscious vegetables. Knitting through the crowd of locals, her avocado dress flows gracefully back and forth as she strides with an apathetic yet gentle beam on her face.
"Hm... It looks like there's not much left here." She scratches her ash white hair in frustration, unimpressed by the lackluster selection before her. "With how busy it is out here that's no surprise. Only a single bundle of carrots and a few packs of potatoes are left."
Finger on her lip, she debates. "Ninjin Kinpira then?" Youmu folds her arms together. "Or maybe a vegetable salad as an appetizer? But then, I'll have to make another dish." The servant's shoulders slump, coming to a stalemate.
But in the end, she reaches out for the bundle of fresh, juicy, carrots only to be intercepted by another doing the same.
"Eh?"
"Huh?"
Surprised, Youmu turns to the side and meets eyes with a suspicious looking person covered in overbearing clothing, not suited for today's harsh weather. With a thick wool black scarf wrapped around their neck stopping right below their lip, a wide straw hat shielding their sharp gaze, the half-ghost is unable to make out their features. Plastered in heavy clothing from neck to toe with only their pale white fingers escaping their gloves. As if that wasn't wary enough at first glance, the extremely large backpack raised suspiciously on their back made this person appear more frightening.
Alarm bells cry loudly in the phantom's head. "A thief?!" She shouts, earning the unneeded attention of the locals.
"H-hey, I'm not a thief! Now keep your voice down..." in a groggy tone, the suspicious person begs while observing the crowd of onlookers.
"Only a thief would dress in something so wonky!" Youmu retorts, ripping the bundle of carrots out of the accused hands.
"I'm not a thief! And, hey, I am going to pay for those!" The suspected burglar protest as they lunge for the valued vegetable bundle. "I had it first, now give it back!"
The pair tussle as Youmu holds the bundle close to her chest. With a stumble, the alleged thief's straw hat flips forward, landing softly on the seething dirt. Her two fluffy ears bounce effortlessly up and down. Her indigo hair once coiled up in her chaff hat now flows gracefully down to her waist. Face partially visible, her eyes glow a hot, simmering red, mirroring her cheeks.
"Hey… aren't you that Usagi Youkai from Eientei?"
"Eeep!" Exposed, the seemingly timid bunny Youkai searches the crowd of villager's that formed around them. She shakes her head back and forth trembling in place momentarily. Suddenly, the cottontail makes a bee-line for the nearest gap in the circle, leaving the bundle of carrots behind.
Bewildered, Youmu watches as her figure turns into nothing but a speck on the landscape. Uncertain of what just happened the gardener looks back down at the cluster of orange vegetables now in her possession.
"Hey, are ya gonna pay for that? I ain't running a charity here!" The clerk, now agitated takes charge.
"Ah, yes, yes!" With a shriek, she pulls out her wallet from her vest's breast pocket.
"Having trouble sleeping? Well, have no fear, we are here! With our brand-new no side effect sleeping medication you can rest easy all night and still wake up feeling breezy!"
With a small bell in hand, an even smaller Usagi with short black hair and a long pink dress swings the attention getter up and down. The light chimes draw in unsuspecting visitors.
"Hey, Tewi!" In a huff, an enraged woman walks over. "I just purchased new sleep meds from you guys last week! Are you saying these are better?" In irritation, she flicks her short blonde hair then crosses her arms over her long blue dress. With her magical doll hovering around her and a stare that could kill one-thousand men, she glares at the petite saleswoman.
"Ah, A-Alice Margatroid!" T-The doctor was just about to have us get in contact with-"
"Save it!" She thrust out her right palm clenched with cash.
"Well, here's the deal…Eirin said I can't prescribe you any more sleep meds without her approval. And I think you know the process from here by now. You visit her, talk about your problems, a few weeks later you might get a prescription from her.
The puppeteer grinds her teeth.
"However, if some incentive wets my whistle..."
Faced with the con-artist's wager, Alice scowls at her, attempting to pierce her soul like a dagger. But in the end, reluctantly, she reaches deeper into her pockets fishing out more cash.
"Here Rabbit!"
"Pleasure doing business with ya!"
Alice rips the bag filled with new medication with all her might then storms away.
"Hehe, sucker."
"Tewi! Tewi!"
Tewi turns around to see the taller Usagi trumping along, ears slumped. "Geez Reisen, what happened? Did you trip over a mole hole again?" The bunny snickers to the side.
Reisen rolls her eyes and fluffs her hair through her fingers. "Let's just go home already! I'm tired of dealing with these people." She says, face contorted with mixed expressions.
"Fine with me. But, hey, did you get the carrots for the other rabbits? Heck, forget about them, I'm starving here!" Tewi reaches her palms out. "Gimmie."
"I tried to buy some stuff but..." Annoyed, she ruffles her locks once again. "…hey, just forget about the dumb carrots, alright? Let's go already!" Reisen buckles her backpack and hoists it back over her shoulder, her long hair gets caught behind the bag.
"Fine. So, how much did you sell today, Reisen?" Tewi questions as they begin walking towards the fields.
"About...twenty or so bottles. Nowhere near the quota Master wanted. What about you?
Tewi snickers, slapping her knee like in some comedy skit. "A good nine or ten bottles but I bet I doubled if not tripled the cash you made."
Reisen puts her hands on her slender hips. "You've been conning people again, haven't you?! If you keep it up the humans here will stop trusting us. They might even start to hate us."
Proudly, the con-artist rests her hands behind her head still trumping along on the road.
"Details, details, now tell me what happened to our lunch?"
"..." Reisen groans. "Well...I kind of…got scared off..."
Tewi eyes grow wide then a slightly mischievous grin emerges on her face. "Wait, what?" The white bunny giggles, manically.
"That girl, you know with the white hair and creepy phantom thing lingering around her? The one from who broke into Eientei before? Well, she accused me of being a thief, but she stole that package of carrots from me!" Reisen bites her thumb nail. "Because of her stupid accusation, everyone looked at me like I was some criminal and I started getting worried. Geez, I felt like a dang fool."
"Ah, you mean that half-ghost...Konpaku Youmu?" Tewi glances over her coworker's attire. "Well, isn't that your fault for dressing all shady like in the first place? You look like a lunatic in that get-up, no pun intended."
The lunar rabbit turns her head to the side and takes a deep breath. "You don't get it..." Her shoulders slump.
"I'm right on the mark, aren't I?!" Tewi chuckles then kick the ground. "Oh, I'm good!"
"Shut up…" Reisen bites back at the joker then lifts off towards the sky. The trickster gleefully smiles then blissfully takes off behind her.
Finished with her shopping trip, the servant makes her way up the seemingly endless steps leading to Hakugyokurou, her home. When she finally reaches the door, with a huff, she slides it open. "Master Yuyuko, I'm home!" Youmu calls out, cupping her one free hand on the side of her mouth.
Yuyuko Saigyouji, the princess of death, rushes in the main hall like a child awaiting her mother's return. Even with the outlook of a pristine, dignified woman, she runs like a gerbil in a wheel.
"Oh, there you are, Youmu! Did you get the candy? You know, the candy from last week?!" Like a shark waiting to be fed, Yuyuko circles her handmaid.
"Yes, I did. Hang on a second, Master Yuyuko." Youmu rummages through her bag revealing the sack of sweets. Gracefully, the princes' leaps in the air catching it with her teeth, flip mid-air, landing on all-fours.
"Master Yuyuko! That is not how a princess should behave!"
"I'm sorry Master Eirin...I know I shouldn't have done that…" Reisen glances to the side. Now dressed in a business jersey, red tie, and short skirt falling just above her knees, the bunny looks downcast. "…but it really was-"
In the palace of Eientei, sitting in her office, a pen in hand and her hat to the side, Eirin Yagakoro, the medical doctor of Gensokyo stares firmly at her pet. She raises her finger, stopping the rabbit mid-sentence. "Ah, no excuses, Udongein. Now apologize to Tewi."
Instinctively, Reisen bites her thumb nail and gnaws on it relentlessly. "That lying no good..." She mutters under her breath.
"Hey, we can all hear your creepy mumbles, Reisen!" Tewi taunts from behind her guardian. Like a mole peeking out from its hole, she stretches her neck out just barely making her eyes visible.
"I'm sorry...okay?" Reisen dejectedly limps her shoulders as if being pulled down by a dark force.
"Sound sincere-!" Tewi mocks but the physician, tired of their bickering, cups her mouth.
The doctor moans at their childish antics then grimace back at her servant. "Reisen...it's about time don't you think?"
"Please start the dinner." Chewing on her candy, Yuyuko request. "You were quite late coming back from the village." She holds her stomach. I was so hungry I could have died! "
"Shut up, Master Yuyuko..." With leering eyes, the soon to be chef scowls at her master.
Yuyuko clenches her heart. "Your stares of death wound me! Please, forgive me, Master Konpaku!" With a slight crackle, she adds.
Ladle in hand the now, the chef points her cooking utensils to her master. "Only on one condition…"
"…You stop setting me up to get in trouble! Those are the conditions, Tewi!" Reisen, face puffed up, filled with annoyance as she walks into the kitchen, unbuttoning her suit. With a purple, polka-dotted apron over her white dress shirt now, she pumps her fist, ready.
"I have no idea what you're talkin' about." Tewi smirks. "And even if I did, who said I should listen?" The evil rabbit crosses her arms with a sneer, reflecting the devil himself.
"I don't need this right now, I'm trying to get back on Master's good side. If I ever been there in the first place..." Reisen searches the cabinet and pulls a few spices out. "She...hasn't been too pleased with me after we got to Gensokyo." The miserable bunny laments. "She was disappointed in me for allowing those people to run amuck around Eientei. I still don't think she's fully gotten over that."
Tewi looks through the shelf and pulls out a snack with a label clearly reading: Do not eat, the property of Kaguya Houraisan. "Really? She let me off the hook after a brief scolding. Guess that measures her love for you, doesn't it? Hehe. Lucky, you." She chews away.
"L-Love me?! Stop with your taunts, Master Yuyuko!" Youmu flustered rips the basket of food away from her whimsical Master.
"But I really do love you!" Yuyuko puffs her bottom lip out. "You do quite a lot for me." Eyes glimmering with anticipation she moves forward on her knees towards her warily cook. "And because I love you so much I'm sure my portions of the dinner your preparing will be a bit more on the hefty side, right?" Pushing her fingers together she waits for her servant's response.
With a sharp karate chop to the forehead, Yuyuko shrieks.
"You only care about the food going into your belly!" Youmu barks.
"I can't believe you!" Reisen shouts. "How could you lie about something like that?!" Searching the cabinet to no avail, the Usagi's legs give out as she holds her body on the counter. "The Princess won't be happy, she's going to tell Master Eirin then I'm really going to get in trouble!" Panicking, Reisen rushes out the kitchen leaving the pot of almost ready food still simmering. "Princess Kaguya, I didn't eat your snacks! I swear." Her pleads fade away as she disappears down the hall.
The prankster, giggling maliciously, takes out a bottle that reads condensed hot peppers and dumps the entire concoction in the boiling pot.
Crying, Reisen makes her way to the Princess's door.
With a knock at the door, ladle in hand, Youmu comes rushing out of the heated kitchen. She opens the door and bows to the guest in front.
"Hello!" A hovering trumpet floats through the entrance, revealing one of the three Prismriver Ensemble phantoms, Merlin Prismriver. Her figure comes to shape as her cream dress and soft blue hair flushes into view. Next in line, two other instruments. A violin and keyboard mosey their way inside after.
"Thank you for inviting us." The violin takes the shape of a girl with black clothes and hair as bright as the sun. Her cheeks raise slightly as she catches eyes with the gardener. Lunasa Prismriver gleefully takes a bow to the chef.
"Sorry for Merlin's rude behavior, Youmu." Lyrica Prismriver, the keyboard says as her form melts, revealing her bright red dress and her hat with a luminary star right on top.
"No, there's no problem at all. Please, go sit down. The food is almost ready." Bashfully, Youmu smiles at her three guests.
"Oh, they've finally arrived!" Yuyuko squeals as she floats into the main hall. "I'm so glad you all could make it! Please, come, enjoy this wonderful candy from the Human Village."
"Candy before dinner?!" Merlin screams like a child deprived of delicious pleasures. With a trump, she runs to Yuyuko.
"We couldn't miss out on a new business opportunity, Ms. Saigyouji." Lunasa bows gracefully.
"Business opportunity?" Eirin puts a finger to her mouth. "Is that what you've been calling it, Tewi?"
"Hey, it makes us more money for less product. I say it's a great investment if we go this route." Hands behind her back with all the confidence of ten people if not more, Tewi grins back at her employer.
"That may be true but what of the customers who decide not to come back because we are exploiting them? We can't just force sickly people to buy an expensive product as a last resort. That festers...terrible business practices." Eirin straightens out her notes. "Now promise me the next time you go out to the Human Village that you'll sell our product at the correct price." Tapping on her clipboard, Eirin pleads harshly.
Sensing a slight hostility, Tewi caves in. "F-Fine, I'll do it." Then glances upwards at her menacing boss. "Well, we can discuss this later. Yeah, let's do that! So, hey, is the food ready? I'm a little hungry."
Reisen enters from the shutter door leading to the hallway right on cue. "Ah, Master, Tewi, I was just going to get you. The food is finally ready. The Princess has already taken her seat in the hall."
"Thank you, Udongein, we'll be right there." The doctor smiles gently to her servant. "C'mon Tewi, since you seem to be so very business savvy, let's discuss this more over dinner. "With a sharp pinch on her fluffy white ear, Eirin stands up and drags her along."
"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"
"Yaaaaaaaaawwwwn."
With her long black locks in a disarray, dark rings below her eyes, stretching her beautiful skin, the Lunar Princess, Kaguya Houraisan, rests her chin on the counter.
"Princess Kaguya, you shouldn't sleep all day." Reisen sighs. "That's why you're so tired all the time." She continues to scold as she sets a bowl of simmering stew down in front of her. The other two finally arrive. Eirin gracefully tugs Tewi's long ear as they all sit down at the table.
"Itadakimasu!"
Kaguya raises her sticks then delicately stirs the hefty stew around. With mouthwatering anticipation, she lifts the stew up and puts the edge of the bowl on her lips.
"Woooooow!" So good, Merlin praises.
"It's so good! Youmu always does great work when cooking!" Lyrica chimes in as she continues eating. "This is a wonderful vegetable stew."
"Why does she get bigger carrots?!" Yuyuko crosses her arms and glares at Lunasa. Her sour voice vibrates over the chatter of dinner plates.
"Ah..." Warily, the blond-haired phantom rubs the back of her head, trying her best to respond to the enraged princess.
"Master Yuyuko, even I don't have the time to carefully pluck each large carrot into one bowl. Stop teasing, Lunasa."
Caught off guard she turns back to Yuyuko, chuckling at her expression. "Oh, hehe, so she's teasing me then?" Lunasa giggles, still shaking. "I was scared I got in the middle of Ms. Saiyouji's food source." Relieved, she gradually continues eating.
"Ah, next time when you cook Youmu-" the ghostly princess puts her finger up, gathering the attention of the group.
"Taste the food you are cooking before you serve it!" Eirin adds while scrubbing her tongue with a handkerchief.
"B-But I did! It tasted really well, too." Reisen pleads, cowering down below the table as if it's a hole for the Usagi. "But before I made the plates…it did seem a tad hot to my nose…."
"Then you might just have a piquant taste." Kaguya chimes in, still slurping the broth of her meal.
"How can you eat something so potent, Princess?!" Eirin shocked, stands up. "Even I can't stand for such a meal! I rather drink poison!"
"I have to deal with Fujiwara no Mouku often. A little heat is nothing compared to her passion when we fight. It... actually has a hint of nostalgia to it." She laughs, sipping another mouth full.
"Wow, the Princess is a whack job!" Tewi snickers, spitting to the side.
"This was you're doing, wasn't it Tewi!" Reisen points with half her body still under the table, accusing the smaller Usagi.
"Blame me all you want, I didn't touch the food. I'm innocent here." Horns growing slightly on top of her head.
Once again, Reisen puts her head down and abuses her thumb. "Liar...I'm always getting blamed for-"
Eirin claps her hands sending a jolt to Reisen. "What have I told you about mumbling to yourself. That bad habit of yours will get you in trouble one day, Udongein.
"Yes, Master..."
"Now, are you going to complain about cleaning up after dinner?"
"No, Master."
"Good! It is decided then that tomorrow we have meat!" Yuyuko chortles, fanning herself off.
"So, about that business opportunity Ms. Saigyouji." Lyrica floats over and takes a seat next to her. "Just what are we going to be playing at the Autumn Festival?" We need to give this information to the fourth sister as well."
With the dinner finished, Youmu collects the dishware then makes her way into the kitchen. There she scraps out the remains into the trash and soaks the dishes in warm water.
"Hey, do you need any help?" Lunasa walks in, hands behind her back.
"Ah, no don't worry about it. Please, go enjoy yourself with Master Yuyuko and the others."
Lunasa waves her hand back and forth. "No, I rather help you." She beams. "You made such a great meal for us, I don't want to stick all of the chores on you, too." Abruptly, Lunasa makes her way to the side of the sink. Pumped and ready to go she rolls up her sleeves and reaches for a bowl in the sink then begins scrubbing away.
Youmu scratches her cheek, ultimately giving up. "Heh, thanks, Lunasa."
"Those were some great vegetables, where did you get them from?"
"The Human Village. There's a certain food stand that I like to go to. The prices are a bit higher end, but the quality is the best there. This particular batch was the last that they had in stock for the day..."
"Oh, you got lucky nobody else took it."
Youmu's eyes glance downward at the water dancing across the wash bucket, as her hands wave back and forth over the dishes.
"Lucky huh?" Her mind races back to the moment where they met, the eyes of the lunatic rabbit and hers. The looming pulse of insanity lingering in the back of her mind resurfaces. With dried lips, she murmurs "Now that you mention it...I... may have done something a little…underhanded."
"Like what?"
"No, it's nothing. I just have to make sure I... at least apologize for it if I see her again."
"Her? Who are you talking about, Youmu?"
With a smirk, she looks back at Lunasa. "It's nothing." Shrugging off her uncertainties.
With a deep breath, Reisen groans. "Today...has been a long day...and Master wants me to go back to the village again and give out, even more, medication than before? She's crazy..."
"Didn't someone tell you to stop mumbling to yourself? I can clearly hear you in the other room." Tewi steps in snorting, obviously proud of getting away with her prank.
"I know...it's just a really bad habit but I'm trying to get better." She blushes as she continues brushing away at a pan.
"You best pack a lunch for tomorrow, that way you don't get your carrots stolen again! Haha."
Depressed, she puts her head down. "That was a misunderstanding. That girl shouldn't have accused me like that and in front of all those people no less. I was so embarrassed." Reisen sets the pan to the side and clenches her fist. "If I see her again...I'm going to drive her insane for good this time." Her eyes glow a red hatred at the thought of inflicting suffering on the unsuspecting half-ghost.
"Achoo!"
"You're sneezing an awful lot. Are you catching a cold, Youmu?"
Youmu turns to Lunasa. "I don't think so..." She sniffs.
"Probably someone's talking about you. Hopefully, it's good things if so." Finishing up the dishes, Lunasa wipes her hands and lowers her sleeves. "So, what are your plans the upcoming week?"
Youmu stares at the ceiling as if searching for the answers hidden in the walls. "Hm, not anything that I can think of other than tending to the garden and... shopping, oh, and Master Yuyuko's sword training…that she never does. Why?"
"Well, I'm sure my sister's and I are going to start practicing more because of your Master's event during this year's Autumn Festival. So, I was wondering if maybe you'd like to come by and listen to us play sometime?"
The ghost jumps with a cheerful grin. "That sounds nice. I love listening to you all play!" She claps.
"Then it's settled, I expect a critic after we perform for you." With confidence, she puts her hands on her hips. "I doubt there'd be one with our skills, though!"
As the night ends, Yuyuko and her servant send the trio off with a wave. Now with the guest gone home and the day winding down, the two bid their goodnights to one another. Lying in bed after the exhaustive day, Youmu turns to the side and closes her eyes. The harsh winds of the Netherworld where they live fail to seep into the room. Not even the spirits flowing around the outside can be heard in this silent chamber, making the much-needed rest even more rewarding. As her mind dwindles down and starts to recall the events of the day she whispers softly. "Yeah…If I do end up seeing that Usagi tomorrow...I'll... definitely... apologize to her. " Her vision grows dim as her consciousness slowly fades, drifting off to sleep.
