Somewhere in the Forest of Magic, there is a Western-type house, which resides in the forest. Inside, the house looks normal but there is one room that's been light up due to the fact it has already turn dark. In that room is filled with dolls. Countless and different type of dolls are in that room all stacked up nicely on the shelves. However inside, there is a girl who sits in her working table sewing one of her dolls. However, she mutters to herself…
"I can't believe she did that. Even it means of breaking my stuffs…No matter, I'll deal with her tomorrow with a bit of ruse…" as she giggles to herself.
Chapter 2: A Disguise Incident
It was a beautiful morning in Gensokyo where a crow tengu by the name Aya Shameimaru wakes up in her house, full of energy for a brand new day. She then goes to one of the rooms to see Kaoru, still sleeping in her bed.
"Mmmph! Stop! I'm still full!" as I was saying in my dreams while in bed.
"Wake up, Kaoru!" as Aya wakes me up "It's time for breakfast!"
I got up, moaning and still feeling headache "Morning, Aya…" as I greet her.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!" she says "You seems to be a bit sick,"
I groan "That's because you FORCE me to drink sake at night!"
"Well it was a celebration for able to fly like a tengu without using your spell card and also living in Gensokyo since we didn't do that since you were too exhausted and slept after dinner," she says.
"'Stay' actually and do note you force me to drink a whole bottle of it!" I say while getting up to change.
"Well all tengu do drink these stuffs and don't worry since new tengu usually doesn't get use to it like you do," Aya says while looking at her notebook.
"Geez…this is more like a hangover…although I never have one or even drink alcoholic drink," as I change my clothes. "Hope I didn't say anything stupid that day…"
"Of course not!" she says while looking at the notebook "Except for the fact you were saying out loud on how you're too embarrassed to get undress as you're a female now and then says you miss somebody by the name …"
"HEY!" I yell as I finish wearing my clothes "You wrote all of it down?"
"And don't forget…pictures of you drunk!" she says while showing of the photos.
"Aya! Give me the photos…no I mean the negatives!" I angrily try to snatch away from but I don't think Aya lets me.
"Hehe! Would this be a great story?" Aya tease while trying to avoid me for getting the pictures.
Hi again. This is Kaoru Matsuda. I was once a ordinary boy who came from the real world or as people called it in Gensokyo 'Outside world'. But due to my curiosity, I ended up here in Gensokyo and turn into a female crow tengu. Now I have to live in Gensokyo until I return back to my original form when I go back to my own world.
Currently I'm staying with a fellow tengu reporter by the name Aya Shameimaru. She lives in the Tengu Village in the Youkai Mountain. At first I taught I'm going to stay up on the trees but instead I see a normal traditional Japanese house that's located near by the river. Aya tells me that all of the crow tengu loves to gossip and do newspaper. She publishes the Bunbunmaru Newspaper. However since her newspaper are more popular, as she says, she could consider one of the few crow tengu whose newspaper article are very popular in Gensokyo.
It's been a few days since I left my home. Aya has been teaching me how to fly without using the spell card. Even though I could use my levitation powers to fly but in order not to get suspicious, I have to learn to fly without relying it. After many pains and practice I manage to fly properly. It was tough but at least it was worth it. After that, Aya tells me that what job I should do to help her newspaper as a reporter. I have to take pictures, gather information, and give her the article for her to write it. Well she tells me I could write a few articles when the time comes. So today I am off to gather new information in the area in the afternoon with the help of a few friends of hers who's coming over to her house.
"Wow! I never had this delicious breakfast in the morning!" as Aya compliment me after we had our breakfast. "Better than mine, actually,"
"Thanks!" I say "I didn't know that tengu have this kind of modern technology!"
"Ah, that would be the kappa. They invented so many stuffs that they even create something that the Gensokyo people like," Aya says
"Wait…Kappas? You mean the water creatures with shells and a blad scalp on their heads?" I enquire her.
"You can say that…but they wear backpacks and wear a hat. No bald scalp since I checked it before," she replies.
"So is that why I can see some of the stuffs from my world are here?" as I stare at the typewriter and a printer at the corner.
"Yup!" Aya says "Because they're great inventors and I do know one kappa who can make you a camera for free,"
"Seriously?" as I say in a disbelieve tone.
"AYA!" yell someone as I heard someone opening the door.
"Now who could that be?" as I decide to check it out to see who's at the door.
I take a look to see two tengu. One who is another crow tengu who's wearing a purple kind of outfit with purple checkers skirt while the other who doesn't look like a tengu but looks like a white dog wearing a shrine maiden outfit, I think. But soon the purple crow tengu confronts me angrily.
"AYA! How many times do I have to tell you not to post up ridiculous articles about me!" she angrily says while grabbing my shirt and holding a Bunbunmaru newspaper showing an article of her getting a 'humiliating' defeat by a girl name Alice when she tries to take a scoop. "Do you have any idea that my newspaper reputation is going to be ruin just because of your article?"
"I…err…I can see your point but…I'm not Aya…" I try to explain to her.
"Oh now you're trying to deny who you are, is it?" as she was not too happy about it.
"Wait, Hatate! She's telling the truth!" says the dog girl, who then looks closer at me "This is not Aya!"
"Wait what?" says Hatate.
"Oh hey there you two!" says Aya as she comes out "Looks like you met my new assistant or partner,"
"Huh?" as Hatate was confuses with the situation.
"Err…hi there. I'm Kaoru Matsuda," I introduce myself "I'm new here…"
Several minutes later, the girls are at the living room chatting.
"I'm sorry for my rudeness," she apologize "But your appearance looks like Aya even though you have longer hair,"
"That's ok...You're Hatate right?" I say
"Yup! Hatate Himekaidou's the name and I'm a tengu reporter for the Kakashi Spirit News," she introduces.
"I'm Momiji Inubashiri, a tengu who patrols and guards the Youkai Mountain," Momiji introduces.
"Nice to meet you both," I says.
"So how did you meet Aya?" Momiji asks
"Well…you see…" as I was lost for words.
"She was injured a few days ago and I found her lying on the Forest of Magic," as Aya backs me up "I take her back to my home and she was grateful that I help her. However, since she's a new crow tengu, I decide to ask her to live in my house and she even begs me to be her partner and assistant,"
I snapped at the last part while out of the blue I and Hatate say "LIAR!"
We look at each other and I say "Well it was true that I was injured in the Forest of Magic but not the begging part!"
"Well I'm already used to her so I could tell if some part of her story is a farce," Hatate says
"Well I taught that story works," Aya says innocently.
"So Kaoru, you decide to work with Aya because…" Momiji enquire me.
"Well…I don't have a place to stay so I decide to stay here since her house is big enough. And she makes me her assistant doing that," I lied.
"I see. That explains it," Momiji says.
"Say…if I may ask you…are you a doggie tengu?" I ask her
The two crow tengu giggles while Momiji angrily "Stop it!" and then faces me "I'm a white wolf tengu, mind you!"
"But you look very cute as a doggie than a wolf, Momiji" I says while the other girls can't help but laugh, making Momiji embarrasses.
"Will you cut it out!" yell Momiji to her friends and then changes the subject "So Aya why are we here?"
Aya stops laughing and then tells them "Ah yes. I was going to ask you girls to take my partner, Kaoru, to Nitori's house…or her workshop. I told Nitori about the details and she also ask you three to help her out test something,"
"I…have to pass…" as Hatate stands up. "I don't have time to waste with rookies like you…"
"But Aya…" as Momiji tries to persuade her.
"It was nice meeting you, Kaoru but I was hoping we could chat more but I have to check the scoop at the Moriya shrine," as she walks out from the room. "Goodbye!"
As she left, Aya sighs and says "Well…that's Hatate to you. But it's a good thing since she'll be angry regarding one of Nitori's inventions,"
"Why's that?" I ask.
"You'll see," she says with an evil grin.
And so I follow Momiji to Nitori's home. We flew down the mountain until we reach to the place called The Untrodden Valley. In that valley, Momiji says we have to follow the river since she usually goes to Nitori's house to play a chess game called Dai Shogi. Wow, I never taught that people play shogi these days. After a few minutes flying above the river, Momiji pointed out Nitoro's house….which we heard a loud explosion. I wonder if Nitori would be wearing a mad scientist outfit with glasses and white hair. We enter the house and walk into the room that is fill with inventions. But we have to enter the room later due to releasing the smokes coming from inside. Once I enter, I recognize some of the machinery in the room. And then I see a little blue-hair schoolgirl coughing from the smokes. I realize since she's the only one in the room I could guess that….
"Are you…Nitori?" I ask
She coughs and says "Yes I am! Sorry about the smokes. I was testing one of the inventions but that's a failure,"
"I see…" I say in a deadpan tone, since my image of Nitori as the image of the cool mad scientist has been shattered into pieces.
"Who are you?" she asks.
"She's Kaoru Matsuda, a rookie tengu reporter working for Aya," Momiji says it for me just before I get the chance to speak.
"Oh you're that 'Kaoru' that Aya's was talking about the other day. Says something about you looking like her like a twin," Nitori says.
"Yes…I get that all the time," I say.
She then look at Momiji "…And hello again Nitori! Care to have another round later?"
"Maybe some other time," she says while putting down her sword and shield. "Aya says you want to give Kaoru something and a few tasks to be done after that,"
"Really?" she says and thinks for a second. A few seconds later she remembers "Oh yes! That one! Give me a minute!" while she then rummaging through a container that's labeled 'Junk Box'
I then whisper to her and says "Err…to be honest…Are you sure she's capable of…you know…."
"Oh don't worry!" she says "The first time I meet her I have the same expression as you are now. I can say that if you want to find modern technology from the outside world, kappas are the only ones capable of doing this,"
"Well…if you say so," I say, not knowing that Momiji was looking at me suspiciously.
"Here we go!" as Nitori takes out a camera and gives it to me "This camera is the same as your friend, Aya but this camera has an auto focus, which you can capture any kind of pictures even if you're feeling shaky!"
I look at the camera and despite the name 'Nitori' on the label I think to myself "Isn't this a digital camera? Only this needs a film or something. I guess *bleep* or *bleep* company can't create this kind of camera due to the fact digital camera needs a memory card and doesn't need film,"
(Editor's Note: Due to the fact that Touhou NEVER mentions the names of characters or company in the outside world, I decide to add in the '*bleep*' word for many reasons.)
"So what do you think?" Nitori asks.
"Nice. So how many pictures can I take?" I ask.s
"Unlimited! This special negative inside will let you take pictures as many as you want and you can even select which pictures to delete!"
"What the…." I was surprise "Isn't this more like the digital camera from *bleep* company?"
"The 'what' camera?" Nitori asks but then smiles "Not a bad idea but how am I suppose to replace the negatives? I do need to think about this in future…"
"I guess the word 'computer' doesn't exist here yet," I mumble softly to myself while Momiji looks suspiciously at me "So what was the tasks that Aya says?"
"Well it was an invention that a certain magician asks me to make but the problem is she doesn't have any item to pay me for. But Aya gives me this for the payment," Nitori says while holding a walkie-talkie.
I look and recognize a walkie-talkie and say in surprise "Wait…isn't that…" I check my bag and found that the walkie-talkie inside my bag's gone.
"Well Aya says this is some sort of communication device call 'walkie-talkie' that she 'found' but still I guess this will do for the payment of my invention since I'm curious on how this works," she explains.
I was pissed about Aya stealing my stuffs and say to her "But that's my…"
"Anyway…I have a new invention!" she interrupts me while revealing a long machine box that's on the table "TA-DA! My latest invention: THE NITORI DISGUISE MACHINE!"
Both of us were stunned in surprise. There was a short silence as we feel Aya passes through here. Then I say "Err…I'm sorry but…a disguise machine? Why did you invent it?"
"Oh it's because the magician by the name Marisa asks me to create a disguise to fool Reimu by going as another shrine maiden by the name Sanae. But unfortunately, even though she bribes me with cucumber, I can't accept her payment," she explains "After she left Aya came in as she overheard it. At first she doesn't have anything valuable to pay but then she show me this device I never seen before,"
"The walkie-talkie I have….just for this?" I say angrily.
"Oh? It was yours? I'm sorry about it but I can't return it to you," Nitori says.
"Never mind…I don't think it works to be honest. I can't seem to use it," I say.
"Well anyway…in order to do so, you have to put a picture of a person you take and place it inside this slot," as she points at the slot. Let me demonstrate,"
She places a few pictures inside the slot. Once it done, she put a button and it starts to move. It was loud and an every few minutes, came out an outfit, mask and what it seems to be a bodysuit. Once she's done, Nitori decides to wear one of the bodysuits. She takes one of the outfits and sees her enter another room assuming it's the changing room. A few minutes later, the door opens but it wasn't Nitori who shows up but a green hair girl who's wearing a shrine maiden outfit and a few accessories on her hair..
"Hi! I'm Sanae Kochiya! Nice to meet you!" as she makes a cutey pose.
"Wow…you really look like her!" Momiji says happily.
"Yup!" 'Sanae' says as she then tugs her hair out until the mask came off, revealing Nitori's face. "Pretty impressive don't you think?"
"Why do I feel this invention is more like the robot *bleep* in Japan by the name *BLEEEEP*" I think to myself in surprise. I then ask "How did you manage to fit in there? You were short at that time!"
"Hehe! By using the materials I have, you can wear this bodysuit even though your size is different," she replies.
"Yup…this is *Bleep* inventions," I think to myself. I then ask again "What about the voice?"
"Oh that!" she explains "As you can see that there's a mini voicebox inside there mask. It's well hidden and as you know, once you wear it…" as she wears back the Sanae mask and voice as Sanae again "I can voice as the character as the person I'm wearing!"
"Can I give it a try?" Momiji asks.
"Well sure!" as 'Sanae' gives an outfit to her "Aya requests me to do so!"
"Thanks!" as the white wolf enters the room with the outfit.
"Still…I didn't know that this machine could also produce clothing," I say.
"Well as I demonstrate, I place a picture that Aya gave me and the machine will automatically create the outfit, which includes mask, bodysuit and clothing. I only can tell you this much since most of it are confidential if you know what I mean!" she explains while laughing to herself.
"Judging from your expression, I guess you have no idea on certain questions like why all the bodysuit have unique voice since there's no recorder or something," I think to myself.
"But still I do like Sanae's outfit," she says while trying to fix her outfit "I wonder if Kanako would be please about this,"
Justthen,InoticethedooropenandthenIseeafamiliarfigurewhichturnsouttobe…
"Hatate? Isn't that a Hatate outfit?" I say while she walks out without the Hatate mask.
"Yup. Not bad actually! Although…my tail is still visible…" she says while lifting a bit of her skirt revealing the tail.
"Well I can't do anything about the 'tail' part. Since this disguise is only used for people who look exactly like a human," 'Sanae' says.
"But still at least you look exactly like her when you cover your skirt!" I say.
"I guess you're right," Momiji says "This is the first time that I wear this outfit,"
"How about you try to imitate Hatate, Momiji?" I ask.
"Sure!" as Momiji wears the Hatate mask and adjusts it, making herself completely like the real deal and then voice as her "I'm Hatate Himekaidou, rival to Aya Shameimaru!"
"Wow! You sound exactly like her!" 'Sanae' says.
"What about you, Kaoru! Whom are you suppose to disguise as?" 'Hatate' asks.
"Hmm…" I think "I am not sure…."
"Don't worry! Aya requests me to give you a disguise that would suit you!" 'Sanae' says.
"Huh?" I say.
"It's this!" as she shows me the disguise.
"EHHHHH….." as I yell out loudly.
So half an hour passes by, Nitori tells us that Aya asks us to go to the Hakurei Shrine to fool Reimu. However as we were flying above the Forest of Magic…I was still angry about it.
"So…are you still angry, 'Aya'?" 'Hatate' asks.
"Why here?" as I say angrily as I'm not too happy about it. "Why do I have to be Aya?"
"Well…everyone assumes that you look like Aya's twin judging from the outfit and hairstyle. So easiest way is by making you wear her mask and change your outfit to look exactly like Aya," 'Hatate' says.
"Geez…this Aya! Once we get back I'm going to have a little word with her…" I mumble.
"So 'Aya'…what was out mission again?" as she was testing me.
"We were supposed to take pictures of the Hakurei Shrine and try to have an interview with her without blowing our cover!" I say.
"That's right!" 'Hatate' says and then ask me in a different tone "If I may ask why you were lying on the Forest of Magic?"
"Well…I don't quite remember that much but I knock a few branches while I wasn't looking and I accidentally hit the tree…." I lie.
"Odd…because normally crow tengu like you would never hit branches easily since crow tengu would fly over the forest," she says.
"Well, it was what Aya says to me when I was at her place the first time…" I say.
Suspiciously 'Hatate' looks at me as she knows I'm lying and then she says "To be honest…are you a…"
Just then I look below and say "Hey! I see someone on the ground!" as I notice someone lying on the ground in the forest.
"Hey wait!" she says while both of us descend down to the ground as we check on the girl.
"Excuse me…are you all…right" I say to her while turning up her body but to my surprise, it turns out to be a wooden doll "A doll? What's a doll doing here in the middle of nowhere?"
"Did you say doll?" 'Hatate' asks.
"Yes I did," I say while facing her, unknowing that the doll suddenly moves.
"Look out!" she yells.
I was confused for a moment until the doll grabs me tightly. I tried to break free but I couldn't break free. 'Hatate' tries to help me but she can't break it free.
"If only I have my sword with me…" as she's trying to pull it out.
"There's no use trying!" says a female voice. "No matter how you try it won't break!" as we both see a blonde girl wearing a blue and white outfit coming out of the forest with a small doll who's wearing a maid-like outfit.
"Oh god! I knew this would happen the moment you say 'doll'!" 'Hatate' panics. "Alice's here!"
"What's going on?" I say while I still keep trying to break myself free.
"Remember Aya's newspaper article that she wrote about Hatate?" she explains "Well what you didn't know is that Hatate broke a few of Alice's stuffs and I don't think she wasn't too happy about it. So after that incident she must have place traps in order to capture Hatate,"
"But why am I involved?" I say.
"Because you're her friend," Alice replies "And I manage to catch the sleazy reporter who's been snooping around taking pictures!"
We both look at each other and 'Hatate' whispers "It you, Aya!"
"That's doesn't please me…" I say.
"Now it's best you come along with me or your friend will get hurt!" Alice's threaten us.
"'Hatate'! Make a run for it!" I say.
"What? And leave you behind?" she says.
"There's no other choice! I don't want you to get hurt!" I yell at her.
"I can't do that! What would I say to the real 'Aya' then?" she argues with me.
"Let me make help you with this decision inside of me seeing you two arguing like children!" Alice says while she seemingly pulls strings. Out of nowhere, mini dolls encircle us while holding their weapons or mini-lances I see. "Now then…what's your call?"
We both sigh and decide to follow her (Although the doll that's still holding me walks for me). As we walk for a few miles, we arrived at a house. The house reminds me of the houses in European. As we stop, Alice faces us and we know what's coming. So the only thing we both do is…
"WE'RE SORRY!" both of us apologize to Alice, while 'Hatate's' kneeling down towards her (since all I can do is bow down my head)
She silence for a moment and then says "Ok! Apology accepted!" as we sigh in relieve. "But I would like to have a battle with one of you!"
"Aww…great it's too good to be true!" I say.
"I guess there's no turning back here..." 'Hatate' says as she was going to prepare for battle.
"No don't! You don't have her weapons and besides your phone camera's a fake. You will not make it!" I say. "Say Alice. Let me battle with you!"
"Hmm…" she wonders and then releases me "Very well!"
"Wait, are you crazy? You don't have same powers as Aya!" 'Hatate' whispers.
"Don't worry! I think I know what to do!" I reply back.
Not to confident, 'Hatate' whispers, "But…what if…"
"Look! I know we just met but seeing you don't have any weapons behind, it's best I have to protect you as a friend!" I say to her. "Just trust me!" as I take out my hauchiwa fan (A feather-made type of fan) inside the bag.
"Friend, huh…" she says while I get ready near Alice.
"So….are you ready?" Alice says, as she's well-prepared.
"Yes I am…" I say, nervously while giving my bag to 'Hatate'.
"She seems nervous despite her cool attitude…" 'Hatate' thinks while moving aside.
"I'm surprise you carry that kind of bag. I taught you have some tricks up your sleeves," Alice says. "Who are you actually?"
I shiver a bit and then say "Eh? I'm Aya…."
"Don't give me that…I know you're a fake seeing that the real Aya would never fall for that simple and try to protect Hatate there…but whatever," she says while getting ready to attack "I'll prove it to you that you can't defeat me!"
"Err..ok…" I say while trying to calm down "Let's do this!"
"Likewise!" as she makes her first move while I just stare bravely at her attacks.
Meanwhile, somewhere above the forest, a blonde magician is flying up in the sky with her broom, looking around with a sigh.
"Man…I taught there would be some useful items in the forest but I never taught there's nothing interesting except a pile of junk, da ze. Guess I'll be going back home now…"
Just then, she heard a loud explosion. She turns around to see it, only to see smokes at that area.
"What in magic's name is going on?" as she decides to fly towards the smoke.
She flew down to the smoke only to see both me and Alice fighting each other while both take damage from the impact. 'Hatate' on the other hand was surprise about the whole battle.
"Good god….I can't believe you try to do that?" I say.
"What exactly are you….How did you manage to counter most of my dolls!" she says.
"YO!" yells the magician as all of us look at her "What exactly is going on, da ze?"
"Oh, Marisa!" as Alice recognize her "This 'Aya' faker here is very strong. She manages to stop my dolls,"
"What's your story?" as she faces me.
"She tries to use her dolls to bomb us but I manage to stop it halfway before it lands. I didn't think it would have THIS much damage," I say "It isn't fair that you try to throw the bomb at my friend, Alice!"
"You mean Hatate?" as Marisa looks at her. However, she notices a tail coming out under her skirt, probably dues to the blast. "Hey Alice…I think you both should…."
"Kaoru! Are you all right?" says 'Hatate'
"Yes...I'm…fine…" as I suddenly collapse to the ground.
As I collapse to the ground, the girls rush quickly towards me to check on me. I don't know what happen to me after that since I fainted after that. The next thing I know, I wake up in the sofa in Alice's house, if I am not mistake, while I see the girls were relieve to see me awake.
"Finally you're awake!" Marisa says.
"I'm really sorry about the bomb. I shouldn't have let my rage take over me!" Alice says
"That's ok!" as I got up "Eh, Momiji?" as I see Momiji's out of the Hatate outfit.
"Well sorry but I have to remove my disguise since there's no other choice," she says.
"Well now that settle, can we have a chat on what exactly happened?" Marisa suggests.
So all of us decide to sit in the living room to have a chat where Alice's dolls serves us tea while we have a bit of a chat on what's exactly happen. Momiji and I told them about the disguise machine and Aya's plan.
"I see…so you're going to the Hakurei Shrine to fool Reimu, right?" Marisa says.
As we both nodded Marisa sighs "Well I don't think it's a good idea to go there seeing that Reimu's in a bad mood after Aya takes a shot of her panties…"
"What?" I say "So does it mean that…"
"Yup!" Marisa nodded "You'll be greeted by multiple shots of her own 'bullets', da ze,"
"Is Aya trying to play around with us?" I say in a gloomy tone.
"That's Aya for you…" Momiji says.
"So anyway…what exactly happen and why did you ended up getting yourselves injured?" Marisa asks.
"Well it all began when Kaoru battles me," Alice explains "She uses her spell card, which she attacks me with feather bullets while I retaliated with my own spell card. Little did I know….I realize that the more feathers that my dolls get hit, the dolls were getting heavier by a hit. Why don't you tell us, Kaoru,"
"Sure," I say "Well I haven't come up with the name of the spell card that I use but when I use this spell card, each time an inanimate object gets hit, it'll increase weight. But Alice sees it through and manages to avoid it but it wasn't lucky for her dolls. Her dolls get hit but my feathers until it stop moving as it was too heavy for her to control,"
"That's right!" Alice says "But then I got a bit angry for not able to move my dolls and start to use another spell card. I use my dolls as an explosion, which she can't do a thing since even it she manages to attack it, it will still explode,"
"Until the part where she got so angry that she didn't even know where she was throwing at. When she tosses some of the dolls at me, Alice snaps out of it doesn't know what to do," Momiji says "I was scared as I can't run away until I just froze there. But then Kaoru came beside me and uses another spell card which protects us from the explosion. But since the impact from the explosion was so high, Kaoru takes a hit from it while I was saved. And the rest you know as you flew down, Marisa."
"I see…so that means Kaoru saves Momiji's live," Marisa says "But still Alice, even though it's just a sparring duel, you don't need to get so angry just because a newbie manages to stop your attack,"
"I know…I'm very sorry about it…." Alice says to us.
"We're the ones who should say sorry," I say "We shouldn't have lied to you but…"
"…We were worried you would attack us or suffocate Kaoru the moment we reveal ourselves…" Momiji adds.
"Yea…I guess the doll trap was a bit too much…" Alice says.
"Well since everything's settle, how about you two take me to Nitori's place to pick up the machine?" Marisa says "I want to test out whether I can disguise as Reimu perfectly, da ze,"
"Err…okay…" I say and then think "I'm guessing this is why she decides to stick around based on the perfectly made disguises we wear,"
So we stay there for less than half an hour after a bit of chit-chat and the three of us left Alice's house. We three decide to fly over to Nitori's place as Marisa would want to get a Reimu disguise of her own. Well looking at Marisa, this is the first time I see a witch…well she says she's a magician. Still as we pass out of the forest, we decide to take a rest seeing that it might take another hour to reach Nitori's house.
"Well…that was a rough day today…." I say.
"Yeah…it is," Momiji agrees "Seeing that we're going to end up in another battle if it wasn't for Marisa,"
"Yeah. Thanks Marisa!" I say
"No problem! I just hope you can make me the outfit I want as a 'thanks'," she says with a smile.
"But I didn't know you learn this spell card in the first place, Kaoru!" Momiji asks "When did you learn this in a short time?"
"Well…lets just say that Yukari gives me a bit of 'training' the moment she last visits me," I say, while trying to hide the fact that I wasn't too happy of what Yukari did to me in her last visit.
"Ha! Ha! As expected from a human who turns into a tengu and learns some nice spell cards from Yukari, which you haven't name your spell card yet , da ze," Marisa giggles.
I realize what she says and tell her "Err…yea. And about the human part I…"
"Don't worry about it!" Marisa says "I know about you from Reimu seeing that she has forgotten to keep it as a secret without a reminder,"
"Reimu…what kind of a shrine maiden are you…" I think to myself.
"And besides, doggy girl here also knows your secret," Marisa continues.
"Wait…What?" I say in surprise and look at her.
"Yea….I actually know this the first time we met," Momiji says "Even though Hatate doesn't notice it, but I could smell a human scent coming from your body odor,"
"I taught it was your behavior when you look at her, da ze" Marisa shrugs.
As I realize there is no reason for me to lie, I say "I'm…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to lie since…"
"It's ok...I taught you might say that," Momiji interrupts me "I was going to tell Hatate but I would have guess that she will not believe what I tell her seeing that a human transforming into a tengu is impossible. There is a rule that humans are not suppose to live together with a tengu so I taught by the end of the day I was going to tell you not to come back to Aya's place or the Youkai Mountain,"
"But…but why you didn't do that…" I ask.
"…You save me…." Momiji says "I have protected the mountain for so long and the humans that I meet are all rude and unfriendly. Some of them keep calling names; some even throw rocks at me just because I look different as a white wolf tengu. But in my whole life, you're the first human who dare to risk their lives despite the way we look based on your actions today…"
"I see…so what happens now…" I ask.
"Well…I was going to say that I'm going to leave a blind eye but since you're in this tengu form, I don't see the problem of letting you stay…friend" Momiji says while showing her hand.
"Thanks!" as I shake her hand.
"Well that's problem solved!" Marisa says happily.
I then face Marisa "By the way…I didn't ask until now but…where did you get those books?" as I notice her holding some books.
"Oh those?" as she notice it "I borrow some of the books from Alice just now,"
"Oh I see…" I say until I was interrupted with a loud voice.
"HEY MARISA!" as we notice Alice flying towards us.
"Err…on second taught…I just remember I have something to do, da ze. BYE!" Marisa says in a rush, hops on her broom and quickly flies off.
I was a bit confused at first as she flew off. Momiji sighs,knowing this would happen as we hear Alice yell from above "MARISA! You get back here! Those books are passed down from my family for generations! They are not for lending, you thief!"
"Aww…come on, da ze!" Marisa yell, happily "Can't I just lend this just for a couple of days. Besides I did take a peek of the…"
"Sh..SHUT UP!" she yelled, blushing, knowing that she did spot us from below "Get back here!"
I was blur for as I just stare at them while Momiji pats on my shoulder and says "Did I ever mention that not only Marisa's a great magician but also a kleptomaniac till some people, as Aya tells me, call her the Burglar Magician?"
"And we were going to Nitori's place without any doubts of her stealing the machine!" I say.
"Well let's just head back to the mountain…" Momiji suggests.
"Agreed…I think I have enough for one day…" I say.
So we flew back to the mountain and head to Nitori's place. Once we reach there, we decide to take the disguise machine and wear our clothings…Well actually I left my outfit here while Momiji left her weapons in her place. But anyway, we reach there and notice that Aya isn't in. Momiji and I decide to take a rest as I bring in the tea in the living room. But as I think through, I'm a bit curious on how Aya and Momiji met and decide to ask her.
"Say Momiji. How did you and Aya met each other?" I ask.
"Huh? Why do you ask that?" she says.
"Well I do notice you and Aya were very close after I had a chat with Nitori. So I'm curious on how did you two met each other?"
"Well…it's been a long time since I last talk to anyone about this," she says while taking a sip her tea "When I was young, I was a shy tengu. I wasn't able to get any friends even when I visit the Tengu Village. The only friends I could talk to are the same kind as I am. However, most of my friends hang out with the other crow tengu friends. As I see them play, I usually sat somewhere in the corner watching them until we have to go back to our home. Until one day, Aya approaches me. She introduce herself while I just stay quietly but Aya knows I'm too shy so she come up with a plan,"
"What plan would that be?" I ask.
Momiji says, embarrassed "Well…she flips up my skirt and take my panties with her camera…."
"I see…" I say and think to myself "From young until now she does love taking photos and do this kind of stuffs…."
"I was angry and chased her. It took me a while though. By one slip up, I manage to catch her. I do ask for a reason she's doing it and she laughs as she finally manages to lighten up my spirit. She doesn't like to see me all shy as this is not how I should be. I realize what her true intention and introduce myself. This is how I make friends. Despite her antique, we manage to help each other out in countless situations despite the fact we fight or argue about Aya's bad habit. However I do notice why she usually smiles and have this habit…"
"What would that be?" I ask.
Momiji hesitate and then says "Well…it's…"
"HEY GIRLS!" as we turn around to see Aya coming through the door. "How's your mission?"
"Mission? You nearly trying to set us up, weren't you?" I yell at her.
"Yeah! If it wasn't for Marisa we wouldn't have ended up in that situation!" Momiji adds in.
"Well I was going to bring up a scoop about Reimu going on a rampage or something I would come up!" she giggles to herself.
"You mean 'fake news'?" I think to myself. I then ask "Oh yeah…that reminds me…Why did you steal my stuffs inside bag and use for trading?"
"Well it 'accidentally' fell out from your bag when I was searching for a rare item to pay the kappa. So I just take it and give it to her!" Aya replies.
"Still…we got you this machine and please Aya, try telling us your whole plan first. We would have been injured by Reimu's spell cards and they are no joke," Momiji argues
"Well that would spoil the surprise!" Aya says with a smile and then takes out a photograph "Besides, I manage to snap a picture of you wearing the Hatate outfit. Sorry Kaoru, your photo was a bit blur. I wonder what people are going to say!"
"HEY! You can't do that!" Momiji blushes while trying to take back from Aya.
"Like what she says!" I said while getting up and try to snag the photo from Aya.
"Hey calm down you two! Can't we talk this over?" Aya says.
"NO!" we both yell at her.
"Well in that case…." Aya says while taking out her spell card "Catch me if you can" as she dashes out of her house and left.
"Come on, Kaoru! We have to get Aya!" Momiji says. "Right…friend?"
I realize what she says and nod "Right! I really want to teach her a lesson for stealing my stuffs! Let's go!"
"Yeah!" as both of us fly off to chase Aya.
And so ends the day as we both chase after our friend Aya even though she moves very fast. But I have a feeling she was going easy on us. But still I wonder why Aya smiles a lot and have this habit. I didn't manage to catch Momiji's line as Aya interrupt us. But anyway, I manage to make a new friend today and manage to use my new spell card. Maybe one day I could name some of the spell cards that I did. I wonder what other adventure awaits me.