Chapter 2: The drifter in the aurora

Even if it's a lie he searches for it. Delusions are no good, but are amusing to watch.

From the records of Daichi Arima:

Seiji Hikami was not your average high school student.

-Don't talk to him, he is a weirdo.

Don't misunderstand me, he has no born supernatural powers nor can he see the spirits of dead people, and he certainly is not obsessed with being special in some sort of way. It's just… that he realized how small his whole world was. How useless he was.

-That's a pity. I met him in first year and he was a normal nice guy back then. Wonder what happened to him…

For the past year and a half he has been doing strange things in school and in the town. Sometimes he would be found under the great bridge in the city brandishing what seemed to be a wandering priest rod, other times he was outside abandoned houses scribbling strange messages in front.

-Yeah, poor guy, guess his girlfriend's sudden transfer hit him pretty hard.

-Did he had a girlfriend? I thought he was like that because she rejected him the second he confessed to her.

-Really? I saw her that day, but she was acting weird too. Well… weirder than usual. She hanged out with my group back then. I should have known something was wrong.

-But why did she rejected him?

-Dunno, they were friends since middle school. Probably she didn't want to ruin that "beautiful friendship" Both changed since then. He began to act weird and she suddenly stopped talking to everyone. She was transferred a month later.

-What a waste really, his appearance is not half bad, unlike most of the guys of our class, and he is not a pervert either. But nowadays… he is scary. Like if there were some kind of wall around him…

-Well enough talk about him. Hey what do you think of…

Gossips like that spawned every now and then, but since Seiji didn't talk much, his classmates didn't care either. December had already ended two weeks ago and this winter was unusually cold. The weather was awful and it showed no signs of improvement. Even then, he persisted with his abnormal behavior. When he was not patrolling the town searching for something, he was shut in a library always searching god-knows-what in dusty books.

If someone asked what was he doing late at night standing on top of a telephone pole he would answer –Training.

If someone asked him what was he looking for in the library, he mumbled.- A fox.

And there were times when he would suddenly become sociable and talkative. Usually lasted three or four days. The few friends he managed to get during those short periods of time asked him what was he doing, to what apparently he answered while stuffing his mouth with food.-Even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me.

Despite all the hardships I managed to become his best friend. He told me the true reason of his behavior. People had been bugging me since then. But I'll never betray my friend so I only say -Seiji is walking trough the path of a true man! Don't you dare to get in his way!

That was until the 15 of January of the year 21of the Heisei era (Namely this year) when Seiji Hikami was "spirited away".

But don't worry, he doesn't worship any evil god in a remote village, nor there is a deadly parasite in his brain.

He truly disappeared from this dimension. Even for me, believing what he told me is difficult. But as his best friend (self proclaimed for the time being) I shall believe in his words and pray for his safety in the dangerous road he chose. Though I can't really tell if is dangerous or not, but it sounded as if.

Good luck Seiji, and goodbye.

That evening Seiji was doing his usual routine. Searching for all the town, always looking for something strange, for something suspicious. He always did two raids in a day, one after school was over and another from four to seven in the morning.

Needless to say all those raids till now had been unsuccessful. Whatever he had been searching for didn't seem to be easy to get, but he kept that routine for six months nevertheless. At first, all those raids were too much for his unaccustomed body, but now he circled the city with apparent ease.

His parents lived overseas, so he could do whatever he wanted. Despite his behavior his grades were normally above average and the gossips about him should hopefully never reach their ears.

That day was about to end the same way as all the others. The sun was already setting, which meant the raid was over for today.

But that day… he somehow sensed that his journey was about to begin. The time for preparing was over.

- I wonder what I'll have for dinner - he used to sing when his raid was over and that day was no exception

And then he saw it.

A girl was sitting in the rooftop of a building, his school for being more precise. Dyed in the last crimson sun rays, the golden ornaments in her red dress were shining. A green hat was half covering one of her cat-like ears which had a golden ring.

-Cat-like ears?

He entered the school and rushed to the rooftop, where the mysterious girl was.

The girl's face illuminated with his arrival. As if she had been waiting for him all the time.

-You're late- she said with a childlike smile.

-Eh?

-You made me wait for ages. Now, follow me, Ran-sama is waiting for us.

-Who are you? Or what are you?

-I'm Chen- she said – I'm Ran-sama's shikigami- she was excited while telling him- And you're Seiji, right?

He was confused but nodded.

-Great! -she smiled- Now come with me.

She leaped from the rooftop, to the school grounds. Then she waved her hand, as if expecting for him to do the same.

-NO WAY!

-Is something wrong?

-Ehh… could you wait for a bit while I… use the stairs?- he said somewhat embarrassed

She nodded happily.

He was excited as well. Finally, after six long months, a clue had appeared. Though this was not what he was expecting, he couldn't miss this chance. When he finally reached the school grounds, she started to run. He followed her.

They rushed for half an hour in a familiar direction. While running Seiji decided to talk to her.

-Hmm… Chen…-chan?

-Yes?

-You said you were a shikigami, but what are you exactly?

-I'm a nekomata, a youkai cat.

She says that so easily…, but the way he leaped in the school, and this amazing speed… Even I have troubles following her, there's no way she is human.

They now were in the outskirts of the city and entering a rural area now.

-Chen-chan?

-Don't call me that!

-Then… Chen, You said you were a shikigami, right? Who is your master?

-We are going to meet her. You'll see her soon.

-Your master is a magician?

-Sort of. And she has a master too. That person is probably resting now

Still running, Seiji began to run out of breath. I…also…need…some…rest.

-Chen?

-Yes?

-Are…we…there…yet?

-Please endure it a little longer.

He realized something. She was taking him to a location he knew.

Up in the mountain, there used to be a shrine in the top. But very few people went there to pray. Not a surprise considering it's location. The quantity of worshippers diminished every year until one day the shrine suddenly disappeared. He and his friends used to go to play there when they were kids, then in middle school he liked to hang there because of the relaxing atmosphere. There were other reasons but that will be analyzed later.

As if it never had existed, the shrine one day suddenly disappeared. Even the foundations on which it was built were gone with it. It was of one of the seven mysteries of the city. But Seiji had a rather accurate idea of what had truly happened years ago.

They now were climbing the stairs of his childhood memories. Why Chen's master had to choose that location from all?

-Because nobody comes here- Chen answered.

-You got a point there. Wait, what's that supposed to mean?

And in the top, a single person stood in the now empty field. Chen rushed to the person there, who praised her patting her in the head.

-This is the human.-she said with a pompous tone -Well done Chen.

-Yes, Ran-sama.

-You're that girl's master? Why did you send her to fetch me?

Then she said in a menacing tone.

-You're pretty rude for someone who had been looking for me for the past six months.

-Then you are…

The fox

After half a year since he discovered it's existence in an old book and in his great-grandfather's diary, he had been looking for it. Every afternoon and every dawn, When people is less aware of their surroundings, a mythical creature is rumored to appear in random places of the world, deceiving humans into following it and taking them to another dimension.

-Well, at least that's how the story goes.- Seiji was facing a golden brown haired woman dressed in a white and blue dress, Her white hat seemed to be hiding ¿fox ears?.

-But to think it wasn't actually a fox… Now what am I supposed to do?

-Your name is Seiji Hikami right?

-Yes- he was expecting something more mythical - Who are you?

-Sorry for not introducing myself. I'm the Shikigami of the Boundary Youkai, Ran Yakumo. And as you can see I'm a nine tailed fox.

-A nine-tailed fox? Where? How?

-Are you blind or what!? Don't you see them behind me!?

Ah, and by the way there were nine golden tails in her back.

-(What do you mean 'by the way'?!)

-Oh. And what does the nine-tailed fox want from a simple human such as myself?

-That's what I should be asking. You don't seem scared of me at all.

-That's because…

Seiji began charging towards her. His whole training was just for this moment.

That's right. He was waiting the last six months for this moment. For the only chance to get into the other realm was this "fox". So there was no time for introductions, nor a need for them. He only needed her to take him to the fantasy land depicted in his ancestor diary. Even if he had to force her.

-…I was expecting for you to appear.

He began to attack her with his rod, bud she dodged it effortlessly. Each attack left a white dust trail.

-Poison? Not bad kid.

-Tch. You figured.

She did a movement with her hand and broke the rod in his hands. Then she began her attack, the nails of her hand became claws as she began to rush to him with an amazing speed.

-Got you!

-You wish.

He disappeared. In his place there was a leaf cut in half. Learning how to do this took a good year of his life. He left a copy and sneaked behind her in order to capture her and seal her powers, or at least that was his intention.

But…

-So naïve.

She disappeared from his field of view.

-A simple human…

The youkai had reversed what little advantage he had in the failed sneak attack. A as if mocking his efforts she positioned behind him, and used a jujitsu throw to bring him to the floor.

-…can't even dream…

But this was not over yet. Seconds before he hit the ground, she managed to grab him again and hit him with a kick. Nobody would think she would be able to fight so well in that attire.

-… of defeating me!

Seiji was panting. His whole body ached, and now he could barely stand. So that was the difference between a human and a youkai. Even so, this was the only chance. He can't screw it now.

-Pitiful human, now listen to me.

He had to enrage her somehow. An enraged person is bound to make a mistake, it should be the same for a youkai.

-Is this the best you can do?- he taunted.-So much for the great nine-tailed fox of the legends. What a disappointment.

That was not true. Seiji sensed a terrifying aura coming from her. He knew it well, if he was alive it was only because of her whim. The mere thought sent chills down his spine. What was more, the words he had just said seemed to have pissed her off and badly.

-Ha! Why are you shaking then? Interesting, human. But I've been ordered to take you safe and sound to Gensokyo, and then we'll settle things. Besides my true power is way too flashy and I don't want to make unnecessary ruckus here.

-Eh?

She was taking him…on orders?

-Now we are going whether you like it or not.

This became confusing, but whatever the reason if what he heard was correct then the first goal was achieved. But then there was another problem.

-We'll settle things there.

Crap I forgot

He made her mad. The last thing he said he did out of desperation and now he had to face the consequences.

-The boundary should be opening in any moment now.

True to her words a black portal materialized behind her. As his ancestor depicted in his diary. "A dark hole with an endless void which can gaze into your soul" There were eyes inside the boundary, Seiji didn't have the energy to think deeply about it. But if what she said was true then…

The gate to Gensokyo… is the boundary.

He was overjoyed to the point he forgot about a little detail.

-What are you doing staring to the boundary like an idiot? Enter now, I'll make sure you wish you'd never said that.

-Oh, right. The "what a disappointment part".

She then grabbed him by the collar and threw him in the boundary.

But something unexpected happened. In a twister of blue, red and green, he disappeared before entering the boundary.

Ran's face was a mixture between annoyance and amazement. She stood in front of the boundary.

- If Yukari-sama finds out about this… I don't want to know- she said sighing. Then she calmed down. All the rage she showed earlier was gone, as if it were a lie. Then she called her shikigami - Chen, we are going.

Both of them disappeared into the boundary.