-Prologue
"Was this real, was this just a nightmare, was she going to die?" Many thoughts flowed through the young girl's head as she ran through the dark forest as fast as her feet could carry her. She was being chased by a creature with canine features as what appeared to be feathered wings as far as she could see and from the growls and glint of sharp teeth, she figured it only had the most ill of intents in chasing her.
The distant lights of a settlement came into view as the beast started to grow closer to the fleeing girl, she thought to herself "Just a bit longer then I will be safe!", however distracted by her thoughts she ended up tripping and falling flat on her face. She tried to get up and resume running but, by the time she came to her senses the shadowy beast was just a few strides away from her; giving up she closed her eyes and hoped for a miracle to happen as what she thought to be a winged hound approached her.
She heard what sounded cloth blowing in the wind and to her surprise her pursuer had not sunk their fangs into her, something must have stopped its assault. She opened her eyes to she a girl, a perhaps somewhere in her late teens, standing between her and the beast that sought to kill her, the would-be victim of the attack could not make out her saviour's appearance in the dark but felt immediate relief upon seeing the distinct red and white clothing they wore. The saviour in red and white garb announced in a calm, albeit commanding tone of voice "What do we have here, a big scary youkai terrorizing a little kid. We can't have that, now can we!", The youkai in surprise leapt to it's hind legs and responded in smooth, smarmy tone "Now there beautiful, there's no need to stain your delicate hands in blood tonight, I was just having a little fun you see". The saviour muttered to herself "Typical, he just had to be a sleaze" before making a few distinct hand movements and conjuring a glowing sphere of two a red and white hue, similar that of her clothing. Illuminating the area around them and striking the youkai with terror; surprisingly what the pursued girl thought was a winged hound turned out to resemble a young man with black hair, a beard, mustache, orange eyes and as she thought she saw earlier pointed ears covered in fur a color similar to his hair, and dark brown feathered wings. Her saviour had long hair that was dark brown and most prominently a large red bow in her hair, the girl knew from stories she heard that her saviour was indeed Reimu Hakurei, someone who had saved countless lives many times before and the Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine. The shrine maiden known as Reimu said to the now terrified youkai "You have ten seconds to run before I exterminate you!" she then started counting down and upon the number six the youkai shouted out "Damn you! I'll find a way to make my start as a feared youkai I swear!" and flew off retreating far from view.
Reimu dissipated the sphere and helped the girl to her feet saying to the girl with much more friendly tone "There I got you now, you will be home in no time!". When the two entered the safety of the village Reimu told the girl "Don't go out alone again okay, I saved you once, but I might not be able to do that again!". The girl happily responded, "No need to worry I'm going to be a brave and powerful youkai hunter just like you one day!" while happily skipping towards a nearby home. The door opened, and a middle-aged woman opened it to pick up and hug the child she said" Oh Tsuki I was so worried about you! Don't you remember that it's dangerous outside at night?" Tsuki responded to what "I am sorry mommy, I met a fairy who wanted to show me a new tree, it had a white trunk and gold leaves the fairy then gave me a silver acorn!".Tsuki's mother said "Oh it doesn't matter now, all I care about is that your safe" before taking her hand and walking with her through the doorway.
Before the door nearly closed Tsuki ran out and said to Reimu "Thank you! Miss Hakurei, I appreciate what you have done for me!". Tsuki's mother sighed and walked to the miko and saying gratefully "I'm guessing your responsible for my daughter's safe return, if I can do anything to in return for saving my daughter please let me know". Reimu hearing the mother's offer her eyes to lit up instantly, she said "If you want to help me in the future please donate to the Hakurei Shrine, give whatever you can". Tsuki's mother replied "Certainly, Lady Hakurei, I'll give you a visit tomorrow and provide a nice offering for your shrine". Reimu bowed to the family and noticing how weary she was getting told the family "I hope you bring something really nice!" before flying back to an old lonely shrine in the nearby a mountain, this was clearly the Hakurei Shrine she spoke of. As she landed and open a panel door, she noticed a small creature quickly run past her feet, Reimu sighed to herself and muttered "I'll get some new mousetraps tomorrow I'm too tired for things now". She hobbled over to a bed and flopped onto it thinking back on the feelings she had when reuniting the child with her mother, a part of her felt happy to do a good deed and be recognized for it, a part of her felt a little sad although she couldn't place her finger on. She drifted to sleep hoping have a less eventful day.