Duality of Book-Reading Youkai

One bright summer's day, a woman and a winged girl were walking along the road back to their mansion home. But danger lurked on the way, and was ready to pounce at any moment.

Chapter Rating: T

This is the Cirno News Network with a breaking news story. Recently, the tengu have been issuing tests to any and all youkai who wish to become honorary tengu. The gruel activities one has to pass to even be considered for the honor include hundred mile dashes, lifting weights that would make even an oni cringe, and a distinct knowledge of all the reasons every other species of youkai suck. A trickle of youkai attempted to apply at first, but were all turned down even before the first test was completed. As everyone washed out, the tengu have described this as an obvious reason why they are superior to every other species of youkai out there. It is noted that no tengu actually participated in the events in any manner, shape or form.

Thank you, and enjoy the show. This has been THE STRONGEST! Now back to your irregularly scheduled fic.


Dirt crumbles under the feet of a small winged girl as she trudges along, a large load of books weighing her down. She teeters for a second as she stumbles over a rock in the dirt road, wings fluttering helpless to keep her upright. Seconds pass by before she finally balances herself again. Sighing grandiosely, she picks up the pace, trotting up behind the woman leading her.

Said woman merely inclines her head towards the winged girl as she pulls up next to her. "We're in no rush, Koa. You don't need to overexert yourself. And I am perfectly capable of carrying my own books, I'll have you know."

The girl just huffed, before giving the woman a cheeky smile from behind the pile of books. "But you wanted to enjoy the walk to the human village and back, Miss Patchouli. And if you were carrying a book, you would have your nose stuck inside it the entire time. We'd hate for that to happen, wouldn't we?"

Grumbling, the woman just shook her head, before floating above the ground. "I suppose we would. Oh well, you're stuck with the transport of those books back to the library."

Nodding her head, the winged girl nodded. "Of course, Miss Patchouli. If it pleases you as such." With another soft sigh, she hefted up the books, letting them slide back against her chest. "At least it is not that far until we reach the mansion proper. Hopefully the black-white will not have made a run on the library while we were gone."

The woman shook her head. "That would be a fool's hope, Koa. Miss Kirisame is much too inclined to put her sticky fingers into whatever she passes; indeed, the best hope is to instead distract her with another item she feels is more valuable."

Giving a dejected sigh, the winged girl replied, "Sure, but what could we use to bait such a trap? And how could we guarantee that the black-white would go after it, instead of the books?"

"Simple." The woman gave her companion the subtlest of glances. "One would need only place-" The rest of her sentence was cut off as a blur flew by them, knocking past the winged girl and upsetting her tower of books. She quickly began to teeter, drunkenly trying to keep upright as she balanced the books.

It still was of no use, as she swayed back and forth once more and fell over, the titles scattered over the dirt road. The woman's head snapped back to her companion, analyzing the sight before lifting further in the air and spotting the retreating blur. "Koakuma, stay here. I will deal with this… thief. Now, remind me, what day is it?"

Pushing herself up from the ground, she shook her head. "It's… it's Saturday, Miss Patchouli."

Muttering to herself, the woman raised her hand. "I thought as much. Hardly the correct element for intercepting a flying thief, but it will do." She breathed out slowly, before snapping her eyes open. "Earth & Metal Sign: Emerald Megalith!"

Far in the distance, an explosion of dirt halted the blur in its tracks. Before it could react, a green blur shot out and grasped the blur. A faint squawk of pain echoed across the landscape as the dust settled, revealing a small mountain of emerald encasing the would-be thief.

Turning up the corner of her mouth, the woman swept an invisible speck of dust from the hem of her dress before turning to her companion once more. "That worked quite superbly, do you not think? Let us go and see this perpetrator. I'd like to have some words with her."

Frantically, the girl sprung into action, gathering the books that were lying in the dirt. "Yes, of course Miss Patchouli." Once more laden down with her heavy burden, she frantically flapped her wings, trying to catch up to her companion. "Are you sure you're up for it, Miss Patchouli? Usually such a display would have you in rather poor shape. Especially since that was real magic, instead of danmaku..."

The woman absently nodded as she continued to float forward. "Indeed, it was. She did not declare a spell card, after all. And I felt no need to, considering her theft of my possessions." Her eyes cut across to her companion. "You should be aware by now though that using a day's element drains one considerably less than otherwise. Am I needing to give you a remedial lesson?" At the winged girl's quick shake of her head, the woman took back, a small smirk on her face. "Good. And do not concern yourself too much. Our walk was interrupted, after all. And I intend to ensure that our recent acquaintance is aware of the consequences."

At that, the winged girl only gave one more concerned glance before falling in lockstep behind the woman. The silence between them did not last long, as they had caught up to the emerald monument before them, where the figure was struggling to escape from its grasp.

Idly reaching down to take the stolen book, the woman floated up to where the figure was located. Taking in the sight before her, she hummed to herself. "Interesting. I don't believe that I recognize you." Slowly, she floated about, taking in her captive's appearance. "Definitely a youkai of some type, but not one of the tengu. Slippery beasts would have been able to squeeze out of this trap long ago. You've been unable to even crack my creation, so you must be quite young in comparison to most of the other residents of this land."

Darting forward, she grabbed the captive's face. "And the wrong teeth. Human eating youkai would have more pronounced fangs, as they adapt to their food. Yours are closer to the human norm, suggesting you stay on a fairly standard diet. Indeed, I'd imagine that you do very little hunting at all." Before the captive could react, the woman's hand moved quickly once again, placing itself on the singular wing attached to the other's head. "And very interesting plumage, indeed. I do wonder as to the reason for its creation like this…"

Shaking her head, she grasped the face of the bound person. "But enough conjecture. You weren't after me, girl. You were after my books. So tell me, who are you to steal from Patchouli Knowledge, keeper and master of Voile?"

The one-winged girl's eyes darted all about, seeking escape in some manner or form. Finding none, she sighed and turned back. "I… I'm nobody. I just wanted a book."

"Hrmph." The woman leaned forward, raising the girl's chin with the tip of her finger. "Indeed. But there are many people who wish to read my books. And more than a fair few who have attempted to steal them. Why add yourself to such a list, indeed?"

Her face burning red, her eyes darted away from the woman's. "I… I just wanted a book to read. I've none left of my own, and the humans don't trust me all too much."

At that, the woman snorted. "The humans don't trust anyone who has a lick of the supernatural about them. But they tend to respect those with power, which would indicate you have little of that." She paused, pondering for a second. "Why do you wish to read my books? Or any book, for that matter?"

"I just like to read, that's all." Her eyes turned back up, somewhat misty. "I don't care what it is, I just enjoy reading." She moved as if to say more, but paused and shut her mouth, turning away.

"That's what they all say." Still, curiosity began to cover the woman's steely visage. "In that case, you wouldn't care if the book promised you magic, or promised to show you the proper way to shovel dirt?" Receiving a shake from the head of the girl, she mused, "I can't say that I believe you. Still, at least you're consistent. Koa! Come here!"

The abrupt shout was unnecessary, as the companion of the woman was right next to her. "Yes, Miss Patchouli?"

"What is the volume I picked up about? What is its subject?"

The girl blinked. "Miss Patchouli, couldn't you just-"

"Koakuma. The subject of the book." The command carried an edge to it, as if it were hammered from steel instead of flowing from the woman's lips.

And, accordingly, the girl reacted as if it were steel. "Yes, of course. Of course." Taking the book from the woman, she flipped through a few pages. "It appears to be a book that weighs the value of chicken soup, and to what degree it promotes healing in the consumer's soul."

Blinking, the woman turned her head. "Really? That is quite… Interesting. I suppose I'll have to take a personal interest in the purchased books from now on." After receiving a chagrined chuckle from her companion, she turned back to her captive. "If I give you back this book, do you promise not to run away once more? If you do, I will not be nearly as gentle."

Nodding quickly, the young girl quickly said, "Yes, yes, whatever you like. I promise. Cross my heart, and hope to die."

"Heh." Laughing softly, she snapped her fingers, causing the small mountain of rock to crumble to pieces. "Be careful what you wish for. I know a few people who'd be willing to stick a needle in your eye just for what you've done already." Still, she held out the book to the girl, gauging her reaction.

As the dust cleared from the destruction of the monument, the girl flapped her wings, preening slightly to straighten out the feathers that had been crushed only moments before. When she was finished, however, she cautiously reached forward. When she got close enough that the woman couldn't take the book away, she snatched it, and made a movement to run.

Meeting her former jailor's steely glance, she calmed down. Instead of continuing her initial instinct, she cracked open the book, and began to read. It didn't take long for the girl to apparently block out the world outside of her personal bubble.

Sneaking up beside her companion, the winged girl asked, "She really does seem to just want to read?

Nodding, the woman replied. "Indeed, she does. Perhaps it isn't a search for the sake of knowledge, but reading for the simple enjoyment of it." As the girl began to hum to herself, a small smile coming over her face, the woman chuckled softly. "Indeed, I believe that is the case. But there's something I said that makes me wonder."

Taking a step forward, she attempted to lower the book and make eye contact with the young girl. However, the girl stayed glued to her book, bending each and every way in order to keep reading. Ignoring the sniggering that had erupted behind her, the woman eventually snapped out, "Young girl! I have something else to ask you!"

"Wha?" The girl's head snapped up, with one wing on her head fluttering to and fro. When she realized it was the same person as had accosted her earlier, she flushed. "Oh, sorry, sorry. I was just reading, and I was enjoying it too much. Sorry."

"She sounds just like Miss Patchouli…"

Pointedly ignoring her companion, the woman replied in a softer tone. "That is alright, young one. I merely wished to ask you about something you had mentioned earlier." At the tilt of the girl's head, she continued. "You had mentioned that you had no books of your own left. Did you simply finish them, or were they taken from you?"

Her suspicions were confirmed when the girl's face fell. Even the one wing on her head fell flat against the side of her face, as if trying to hide. "They were… taken. Black-white, with burning magic. Red-white, with maddening seals. Blue-white, with her rending knives…" She shivered. "They talk all of my books. Humans that are stronger than youkai. Just because they can. Just because they are capable of."

A frown began to grow upon the woman's face. "That is definitely interesting. Kirisame steals from everyone, so at least that is in character. And the Hakurei never has liked youkai much… not to say that she likes humans much either. But Sakuya?" She traded a glance with her companion once more, knitting her brow. "That shouldn't be the case… She knows how much I value my books. Why would she deprive another…?"

Suddenly, she shook her head. "Bah. Conjecture will solve us nothing. I will simply have to go to the root of the problem." Eyes drifting over to the young girl, she sighed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to keep you on hand. Just in case."

She tilted her head at the woman. "You mean I should come with you?"

"Indeed." Suddenly turning to her companion, the woman barked, "Koa. Give approximately half of those books to our new friend. I'd hate to interrupt our walk, but we must be flying."

Wordlessly, the girl with four wings handed a goodly portion of the stack to the girl with three. Seemingly giddy with excitement, the young girl hugged the books to her chest while cooing softly. Turning back to the woman, the companion asked, "Miss Patchouli, are you sure we can trust her? One book wasn't too big of a deal, but this many…"

Cutting her eyes at the other girl, the woman lowered her voice. "I can easily waylay her once again, if necessary. But I wish to observe. If her story is honest and true, her actions will mirror it." Raising her voice without waiting for a reply, she said. "Come on then Koa, as well as you young one. I may have need of your presence later on. And if not, I suppose you'll simply have to endure some of my hospitality."

The young girl nodded eagerly, flapping her wings once in a powerful burst, propelling her into the air. With a smile on her face, she waited for the other to float into the air. "Yes ma'am, of course. Thank you very much."

"Pay it no mind. I just hope that you have been telling the truth." The woman watched the young girls face for a moment, before adding, "But I don't suppose I can have the privilege of knowing your name?"

"Sorry, of course miss." She nodded once. "I'm Tokiko. Just Tokiko."

The woman hummed to herself. "No family name? Of course not. Only the humans who have spent much time at all with humans would have done as such." She shook her own head. "But enough. Let's be off. We have a sizable amount of ground to cover. And I wish to solve this matter, post haste."


"Wow. This is… Wow. Just so many books… How can there be so many books?"

The woman smiled at the young girl's remarks. "Because there are many people who write books, young one. You must be very young, indeed. You are aware of how many humans there in the outside world?"

The girl knitted her forehead, thinking to herself. "I know there are a lot. Millions, maybe? If the entire world is covered with villages like the human one here…"

Shaking her head, the woman guided the young girl over to a table. "No, you are off by far. There are billions in the world." At the girl's confused glance, she shook her head. "It is a value that you may be too young to comprehend. I'm amazed as it is that you have such skill in reading, to have comprehended that book so well."

Flushing, the young girl turned away, head wing flapping to and fro. "Thanks, but I didn't really understand the book too well. I knew what all the words mean, but they just didn't…"

"Connect?" At the young girl's nod, the woman sighed. "Understanding comes with experiencing, child. You must live to gain wisdom, and study to gain knowledge. You have done little of either, so it comes to show that you are unable to comprehend it when reading attempts to give one wisdom. I cannot fault you for attempting to, however."

She turned her head, waving her arms to the cases about her. "But you wished to know how there are so many books in my library? It is because of how many people that live in this world. And how many that devote their lives to the written word. Whether they be scribes to record history, or great thinkers who record how the universe works, or simply artists with pen and ink, weaving their stories with words, they all place their works onto paper. And that paper, eventually, is bound into books."

She turned back to the young girl, letting her arms fall by her side. "The biggest reason, however, is how short-lived the humans are. I myself have lived over a century, and not aged a day in normal terms. Yet, entire generations of humans have been born, and just as many have died. They have to put their thoughts, their knowledge, and their wisdom to pass it down. Otherwise, it is lost. Forgotten. Vanished into thin air."

Looking down at the floor, an uneasy look came across the girl's face. "Then, why do they not know of magic? About us? Isn't that why we live in Gensokyo? Because the humans don't believe that we exist anymore?"

A frown crossed the woman's face as she floated up slightly in the air. "Indeed, that is the reason we live here now. But the humans wanted to forget about us. They spent so long in fear of demons and monsters, that once they grew strong enough, they wished to dismiss us."

"So we're the cast-offs of the world? Is that why the humans hate us?" She paused, her eyes misting over as her wing tried to cover her face. "Why they've… done this to me? Why they hate me?"

Sighing softly to herself, the woman floated over and laid her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "The humans that live here are the some of the few left who fear something beyond their comprehension. And even though they've been protected for decades by those humans with power, and even the other youkai, they still remember. They have not cast aside us as old legends. And thus, they fear."

A weary look came over the woman's face. "And that is why the protectors of the humans are allowed to get away with so much. Their job is to keep the peace, and ensure that no youkai remains too strong." Her eyes looked down, shadowed by the brim of her cap. "But that is why they're allowed such leniency. Why bother scolding the miko or the witch if they steal a bit from the youkai, or bum off food from everyone they meet. What incentive would they have to protect this land? Fools that deal with twisted logic, is what they are…"

The young girl looked up. "Have you had to deal with them before? And what about the blue-white?"

Removing her hand, the woman guided the girl over to a nearby nook, where waited a small reading table and a few chairs. Waiting for her to take a seat, she answered, "More than a few times. The miko is a good friend of the mistress of this mansion, for lack of a better word. And the witch enjoys the company of the maid here, along with the younger mistress. She likes to think that she enjoys my company, but since every time I see her she's off carrying more books from my library…"

The young girl's eyes widened. "Is that why you're helping me?"

A small smile slipped over the woman's face. "Perhaps. But as for your other question… That is why we are waiting here. I had expected Koa to be back by now with her, but I suppose she has been waylaid." She abruptly spun around, facing down the hallway. "Which leaves it to me to summon her. Sakuya!"

As the echo of her call echoed over the halls, a sudden wind blew by them. The pair blinked, and suddenly the table was dusted off. The pair waited a few moments, before the woman sighed once more. "I know you're around here Sakuya. You can come out now."

The room flashed once more, and where there was once nobody at the entrance of the nook stood a maid. Her voice lilting, she twirled a feather duster and asked, "You rang?"

Her words remained in the air for a second, before a muffled shriek issued from the young girl. The chair clattered to the side as she tried to make her way behind the woman, wings frantically beating the air in an attempt to assist her movement. "The blue-white…"

Ignoring the movement behind her, the woman faced down the maid. "Yes I did, Sakuya. I had a few questions for you, and hoped that you could spare the time to answer."

A sniff of disdain issued from the maid. "Please, Miss Knowledge. You should be aware of that answer. But must we conduct this in the presence of this beast? For I'm sorely tempted to pluck her feathers for a new duster. My old one is getting rather… limp."

A scowl passed over the woman's face. "Yes, we must. For she is the reason I am even conducting this impromptu interview." Sparing a glance back to see that the girl had not begun to panic too badly, the woman turned back. "I've heard some rather unseemly rumors from her about your treatment of books, Sakuya. And considering the abject terror that has filled my companion's demeanor, I'd wager that they are at least partially true. So tell me, why would you go as far as to steal books from lowly youkai, Miss Izayoi?"

The maid crossed her arms, while staring down the woman. "It is because of a deal I made with Kirisame. You wished to save your vaunted collection from her clutches, so I compromised with her. If I was to provide her with books, she would tamper down her raids on the mansion, and would avoid excess collateral damage."

A tired look suddenly falling over her face, the woman reached up to pinch her nose. "So that's how it is. It always comes back to that girl." With yet another heavy sigh, she glared back up at Sakuya. "And you thought that I'd be in agreement with such a compromise?"

Shrugging, the maid leaned back against the wall. "It mattered not to me. It left me with less work to do, and I get to have fun reminding the little youkai of their place. It was a win-win for me." She shot a grin over the woman's shoulder, meeting the eyes of the young girl. "Fresh meat is always hard to come by, and dumb foes like that ice fairy tend to lose their fun after a while."

Gritting her teeth, the woman waved her off. "Go, Sakuya. I know all that I want to know from you." As she spun around, she heard the subtle sound of air displacing as the maid vanished again. The sight of the cowering girl met her, with a knife placed in the wood floor right in front of her.

Snorting in disgust at the maid's actions, she leaned down and grabbed the handle of the knife. Staring at it for a moment, she softly whispered, "To the earth from which you came, once again go and dwell within." The knife slowly began to disintegrate, bits of metal flinging off into the wind and down the corridor.

As it vanished from her hand, she leaned down once more and placed her hands on the young girl's shoulders. "Tokiko, look at me." After a few moments with no response, the woman asked a little bit more firmly, "Tokiko, look at me." In a few moments, the girl looked up at the woman, eyes peeking out from behind the wing on her head. "Do not trouble yourself any longer. Sakuya may enjoy talking tough, but she is aware that you are my guest. And if any harm comes to you… I'll deal with her myself."

The young girl sniffed quietly once more, before nodding slightly. "Ok… I'll trust you. It's just that…" She hugged herself with bother her arms and wings as tightly as possible. "They hurt. A lot. And she making it hurt so much."

Mentally calculating a few word she might be having with the maid at some point, the woman pulled the young girl to her briefly, wrapped in a loose, somewhat feathery hug. They remained that way for a few minutes, with the woman hoping that it would speak for her in a way that words would not be able to.

After the sniffles of the girl had ceased, the woman leaned back, attempting to reply to the girl's earlier fears in an attempt to calm her further. However, she was met with closed eyes. Smiling softly, she carefully leaned the girl back against a stack of books. Standing slowly, she turned in order to find her other companion, in order to have help in moving the young girl to a bed.

Only to find the winged girl standing right there.

"So, just a trust exercise, Miss Patchouli?" An odd smirk covered the girl's face. "Getting mighty close for a trust exercise there. Or are you planning for something else?"

Giving her a sharp look, the woman said, "Amusing, Koa. The girl needed it. She was breaking down at the sight of Sakuya. What that maid has done to her…" She shook her head. "It's times like these that I wonder if I'm getting too accustomed to this library, and ignorant of the world around us."

A small hand was placed on top of the woman's. "Don't fret too badly, Miss Patchouli. We've had little to tie us to the world outside of these halls. Perhaps it would do you some good to make a friend who isn't a servant of yours. If friendship is all you seek."

Glaring halfway before giving it up as a bad job, the woman turned away. "Trying to be funny, little devil? I'd swear, if I wasn't aware that I didn't summon a succubus, I'd wonder what exactly you are."

She grinned widely; showing off more teeth than would be natural for a human. "Too bad I'm not then, as it'd drive you up a wall. But I'm glad I'm not one of those fools. Controlled by their impulses, the lot of them."

"So am I, Koa. So am I." She turned back towards the sleeping girl. "But enough bickering. We need to get our young friend to a bed. She'll be feeling rather poorly if we leave her here. After that, we need to make a plan."

Floating over to the young girl, the winged girl paused and looked back. "Plan for what, Miss Patchouli?"

A grimace came over her face. "Plan to carry a few stakes and some tar along with us. Just in case we need to burn our prey." The grimace grew into a small smirk, as the woman finished. "We're going to go on a witch hunt, Koa. And I'm feeling positively medieval."


A/N Howdy all again, this here is another oneshot I've had in mind. I had it planned out for a little while, as it sat at one sentence long for a few weeks. But it was fun writing it, as the pairing of Patchouli and Tokiko just seems so natural. And no, I've not decided if this will be an actual pairing, a friendship, or even a mother/daughter type of relationship, as all three could work.

To be honest, though, I never saw Sakuya as being much of a villain at first. But I've never cared for Sakuya much, to be honest. Also considering that she's the least favorite of the Scarlet Crew, even after Cirno and Rumia if you count them. Plus, there's the whole 'he who hunts monsters' aspect. Not that she was a vampire hunter, but assuming she's a human, she's been around monsters almost all of her life. It isn't that unlikely that she could succumb to the darker tendencies of the mansion. Although, by now I'm just attempting to justify her without having decided on her backstory yet, so I'll stop here.

Oh, and one thing I wouldd like to say. I do not like the whole 'Koakuma is a succubus' deal. Except for a few stories I've read, which actually play up the whole demon aspect (but don't go as far as rape and pillage, just going to show how not human she is), the whole succubus thing just comes across as something to allow her to flirt with the other characters. So, in this story, the little devil is just that.

Anywho, enough of a diatribe. I'll just ask that, as always, please read and review, as I'd like to hear feedback on what you think about these stories. Oh, and if you looked at the last story and the page breaks weren't there, I've gone back and fixed them. The formatting didn't carry over when I uploaded, and I was dumb enough not to check. Hopefully, I've got them working this time around. If not, just tell me.