Chapter 3: Kogasa is our new Caretakers and who is another caretaker!?
The sun has set down; the moon rises and stars being to shines. The House is show light inside, two children youkais hides in forest, look at house and wonder what inside the human's house. And they want to knew why that lady invites youkais to her house?
"Do you heard that lady who live in that house with six children invites youkais?"
"I dunno, let's see what she does with youkais!"
Two children youkais sneaking toward to big window, dinner room. They careful to not allow be see.
"They are eating with lady and her children!"
" Shh! Don't shout so loud. Whoa! She even somewhat invites that amanojaku!"
Both watch at humans and youkais eating together, they look have fun. "Do you think we will get big family like them?" other youkai child ask her sister. "Maybe...maybe we will get one." she smiles. They turn back and walking to edge of forest. They look at house one more time before disappear into the forest.
Seija get stand and waving her chopsticks, "I fight off that meko, ghosts, witches, vampire, werewolf, mermaid AND most all-powerful youkai for 10 days! I didin't even get tired!" Hieon and Poase clapping, amazing. "But what happen to everyone try get you?" Hieon asks. "I dunno, but I knew I not "really" wanted anymore. No one get money or win, they must drop it or some. Still, folks here still think I am wanted. Which I don't care all at, I gotta eat more foods!"
Seija take food from each plate and eating noisy. "Cool! You can eat that much?" Hieon amazing. Seija give him a funny face, her mouth is full of food. "Just stop stares at me, it's kind annoying!"
"You can put and take away misfortunes from everyone?" Poase asks. "Yes, I can. I believe your misfortune for today is you fall into mud and your brother laugh at you. You don't only get misfortune, Hieon get it too. A bird drops poo on him and he tried clean off with big leaf near him. It's turn out poison ivy and your brother cannot stop scratching all over his body." Hina laugh, she always good at remember everyone's misfortunes. "Well, at least I don't have to take bath!" Hieon annoyed.
Yoshika grabbed her plate and sallow all food in one shoot. Then she burps loud, "Sorry, please pess me a herb tea?" "Okay...here's your herb tea." Syo hand it to Yoshika.
"Thank you...whats your name again?" "It's... Syo." Syo said in low sound. "Ah. Your name is very easy to remember, I always have hard time to remeber long name." Yoshika close her eye. "S... Y... O! I get it! I will never forget your name even!" Yoshika smiles, show her shape teethes. "Can you tell me about your master and how she get you back as zombie?" Syo touch her skin. "Your skin is very smooth, it's not rots away like zombie?"
"Thanks, my master is Seiga Kaku. She revived me back to life, just because she wants to, she put spell on me so my body dont rot away. And please not call me zombie, I am Jiang Shi."
Aya and Guiae discussion about interest rumors access the land. "I have my newspaper that did not get release is about headless person can be seen at human valley when it's windy night!" Aya shows Guiae her yet to release newspaper. "Really? Why don't you release it?" Guiae reading it, it's very good newspaper. "Because that headless person is in the fact lives in human valley and everyone already knew it! It's make my newspaper worth nothing! I have to write new one, do you have anything that make good newspaper?" Aya put away her newspaper.
"Ah...please don't touch my ears. It's make me feel so weird!" Kyouko's face becomes red. "Come on! You are cute, it's no wonder everyone like you!" Joyta continuing pet Kyouko's dog ears. "Tell me, what is your job?" Joyta stops petting and wait for her answer. "Ah...thank you for stop. I am cleaner, my job is make really Myouren Temple stay clean and keep bad people away. I hope I can follow her steps and become priest like my master."
"Do you keep your spirit high? You gotta keep your soul high! They said if you force yourself smiles. You will become much better later!" Joyta show his best smile again. "Uh, okay! I will, thank you for tips!" Kyouko wriggles her ears. "Would you like more herb tea?" Joyta holds teapot. "Of course, please." Kyouko grabbed cup and Joyta pour hot herb tea into it.
Meanwhile, at Kogasa and Oceana's side; Oceana don't talk to Kogasa yet. Kogasa really hope Oceana to learn about her since everyone already talking.
"Kogasa." Oceana break the silent. "Y-yes?" Kogasa catches guard off. "Please tell your umbrella stop stares me, it's rude to look at someone while they eating their food." Oceana said coldly.
"Oh! I am sorry! Umbrella, please don't stare at her. Come here, you gotta eat something!" Kogasa wave bit of meat at it. Umbrella grabbed it with tongue and clew down. Oceana heard noise from umbrella, she turns to Kogasa." Will you please tell it...huh?" She surprises in fact that umbrella does eat meat.
"Does it eat meat?" "Yes, we eat what humans eat, we don't eat anything foods that we hate or too danger to eat" Kogasa petting her umbrella. "What is kind of food you hate most?" Oceana, now is look at umbrella eating meat. "Food I hate? It's would be anything food that spicy, Umbrella and me can't stand heat on our tongues!" Kogasa and her umbrella sticking out their tongues at same time. "Ech!"
"Really? I like spicy, they make me more force and patience. I dislike sweets, they don't good for your health. In the fact they may make you stupid!" Kogasa notes Oceana show a very small grin Oceana tried to not show it.
"Ha Ha! Yes I knew. But we love sweets so much, Umbrella and I been eating them for long time! Children always love sweets, maybe you could give it to your brothers and sisters a candy as reward for good deeds! Did you try it before?" Kogasa return grin.
Oceana was surprised by her idea. "No... I never think of it. May I ask you something?"
"What's that?" Kogasa listens her. "What's your job? Everyone youkai have their job, right?"
"I am happy that you ask, I am karakasa. My job is surprise others!" Kogasa and her umbrella tried make scary face; unfortunately they end up make cute face instead. Oceana make doubly face. "You don't look very scary one. How do you surprise others when you have puppy face?"
"Well... I..." Kogasa freezes "Oceana, don't question set look. She really gets me!" Mrs. Hikko laughing.
"How do you surprises our mom, she not that easy to get scared." Oceana rest her head with her right hand. "Uhh... I don't have to do much work, I just collects leafs enough to build a hill to hide my body and my umbrella. I have builds it near tree so no one notice me, then I crawl in mound of leaf and wait for someone walks pass. That is when I see your mother and I think she's easy target, I am wrong." Kogasa sighs. "Did our mother beating heck out you for surprise her?" Oceana jokey.
"OCEANA!" Mrs. Hikko slams the table, she looks very mad and it's scares everyone but Oceana. "I only make a joke, mother."
"And it's rude, Kogasa don't do anything wrong, nether I beat down her. Please don't say it again, Okay?"
"Yes, mother." Oceana bows. "Good, shall we back to eating our nice dinner?" Mrs. Hikko returns to kind mood. Kogasa get near to Oceana, "Does she always do it when you and brothers and sisters get in trouble?" "On depend, if you do something very bad. She will turn into very scary mother." Oceana giggles.
The dinner goes on for minutes until Mrs. Hikko look up at a clock, it's 7:00 pm. "Oh dear, look at a time. We need clean up the table and we will save anything leftover foods. My guests will you please join us to help clean?"
"Ha, I not going..." Seija get up and about walk out, but Hina catches her by arm. "Seija, I will put you 10 years of misfortune. They work hard to prepare for us and you going leave like this?" Hina give Seija a fake smile.
"Okay! Okay! I will stay and help! Just don't give me more misfortune, please." Seija returns her chair.
Everyone clean off food bits on plate into big trash bucket, and put dirty plate in sinks. "Yoshika, will you get trash bucket and put it outside?" Points at trash bucket. "I get better idea." Yohika grabs it and ate everything in trash bucket, everyone look at her, feel gross. *"What? I can eat everything, I never get sick from bad food!" Yoshika give thumb up.
Oceana, and Guiae are in kitchen, cleaning plates. Others are in living room, Hieon and Poase are playing with Kogasa's umbrella. "It's my turn! I want to play with one-eye umbrella!" Joyta waving his arms in air. "Wait until your turn! Hey Mr. Umbrella! Licks at Poase for me!" Hieon targets at Poase. "NO! Licks him!" Umbrella licks both at same time. "Eeehhh!" Hieon and Poase laughing, they don't mind get dirty. "Come on! You are having much fun, please let me...!" Umbrella hopping to him and licking him. "Ha! Ha! You are like dog!" Joyta hugs it as umbrella still licking him.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hikko and rest of youkais are in Mrs. Hikko's garden. Light of Moon flowers are blossomed, they are special flower that shines in darkness with moonlight.
Mrs. Hikko and rest youkais are sits on long log, faces to big see-throught window of living room where three and Kogasa's umbrella. "I guess it's time for me tell a truth and go." Mrs. Hikko stand up and turn to rest of youkais.
"Everyone, first thing I want to said is thanked you for come." Mrs. Hikko bows. "No-no, you don't need to thank us. I come here because you are nice and honor person even I meet!" Kogasa bows in return.
"I just here because I am hungry..." Seija roll her eyes, Hina slaps her head. "What's you doing?"
"You better thank to sweet lady, or I will add bad luck on your back." Hina rises her fist, it shines. "Fine, fine! Just will you let me said to that lady, okay?" Seija turns to Mrs. Hikko.
"Real reason I come here because I just want see humans in action, I mean to learn them! I not even understood why you invite me to your house... I'm who try ruin your life, I told you many time..."
"It's because you are honor, you tell me a truth and I believe you are more than prankster." Mrs. Hikko smiles.
"Uh... Thanks much... I guess?" Seija turn around to Hina. "It's good enough?" Hina nods and open her hand and take away Seija's misfortunes. "You are clean of misfortunes...for now."
"Hina, that what you do to Seija is reason I invite you. You help me too." Mrs. Hikko now, look at Yoshika.
"Yoshika, I already knew you are zombie, but I believe you are not like rest of brainless zombie. You are able understand me, help me find my hasband's grave when I can't find his grave."
"Thank you and I am Jiang Shi, not some brainless zombie!" Yoshika remind her.
"Kyouko, tell you a truth. You will able become priest someday, you are very fine youkai." Cause Kyouko's face red. "T-t-thank you! I will work hard!"
Mrs. Hikko eye-to-eye Aya. " I remember I walk in wood and see you sit on stump, You have a writer's block when you wander around in woods too long time..."
"Then I saw you, I hope you had something good for news. Thank to you, I able to finish my work, then you invite me out of blue. Why?" Aya get paper and pen, ready to get report.
"I think you could one of person I looking for and I feel it you can do a job."
Mrs. Hikko walk to Kogasa, "Kogasa, I was really surprised by you. I did not make up, it's would be rude. Not only that, you have heart of pure and you able to befriend with my older child. She does't always easy to be friend. Also, I think you are cute enough to get invite from me." Mrs. Hikko laugh lightly.
"Mrs. Hikko, like I said before. You did not need thank me, I never make friend with humans before...you are first human to invites to your dinner." Kogasa return Mrs. Hikko with smiles.
A wind blows Mrs. Hikko's hair flows like wave, "I see. Now it's time for me to tell a reason..." Mrs. Hikko turns to her back. "A reason I invite all of you is..." Mrs. Hikko stops to breath in.
Mrs. Hikko let breath out, "I was testing all of you and see who can be our caretaker."
Youkais sudden falls back! "W-W-WHAT!?" Seija screams. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN? CARETAKER US? DON'T BE SILLY!"
Mrs. Hikko faces at them with serous face. "I did not play around with you! I wish to hire one of you to become our caretaker!" "But...why you don't just hire human caretaker? We only knew you for day and we are not humans." Hina worriedly.
"Did you want to knew why?" Mrs. Hikko's voice become deep. "Because I want my children to learn more about youkai, they not knew much about youkais yet. And no human caretaker will accept my request, they are too scared of my area where woods and many flesh-eater youkais live in woods. There are flesh-eater youkais in woods, but most of them only eat animals. I also very sick, I have to careful to not let sunlight touch my skin or my skin will become worst and slowly kill me. Doctors tell me have to go hospital and stay until I get better."
The wind blows again.
"I was make decide which one will become our first youkai caretaker until I return." Mrs. Hikko rises her arm at moon.
"I decide caretaker will be... Kogasa!" Mrs. Hikko strike down her arm and points at Kogasa.
"What... What... Wait a minute... why it's had been me?" Kogasa start to become panic. Mrs. Hikko holds her hands. "Please! It's all I ask, look over my children until I return. You know about youkais, right? You have a heart, a pure one." Mrs. Hikko start to drop tears. "Please, I don't knew what I doing if you not help us. I can ask other youkais but they may not doing good. All I knew if I stay, I will get closer to my death and my children will send away anywhere, I don't want that!"
Everyone watch Kogasa and Mrs. Hikko holds hands for long time.
It's hits Kogasa, it's very slimier event to her. Before she was karakasa, she used to be normal umbrella, she used to have person she called master. Master always take her with him when there are rain or very hot day. That person was gone and left her behind... unwanted.
"Mrs. Hikko. I..." Kogasa tried to open her mouth. "Kogasa..." Mrs. Hikko stare her as tears slips down to her clothes. "I never done it before, I not spent my time with children. I am not great cooker, doctor, or even garden... I don't very strong to protect someone but I can fight with spells."
Kogasa start to crying. "What you put me at place reminds me of my master who used to with me...now he's not need me anymore. That's what I am now."
"Do you mean..." Mrs. Hikko let go Kogasa's hand. Kogasa clean away tears, "I knew what's feel like lost someone very special. I don't allow them lost very dear mother like you! I will do for you even I don't knew what I..."
Mrs. Hikko hugs Kogasa so fast. "Thank... Thank you! Bless you, Kogasa! My children don't have to worry about me anymore! I will get better!" Mrs. Hikko hugs Kogasa even more and tighter.
CLICK CLICK CLICK!
"Yes! It's going be on front newspaper!" Aya take more pictures of Mrs. Hikko and Kogasa. "This will make the greatest story ever!" Aya laughs. "Please not!" Kogasa tried stop Aya from take of her. "Tsk! Tsk! Once I take it, I already take it! Mrs. Hikko, thank you for invite me! I have to go!" Aya spend her wings and flew away.
"Congratulations!" Hina and Yoshika clapping their hands. "It's... so wonder." Kyouko crying tears of joy, knew children will be in good hands. "Tsk, good thing it's not me." Seija cross her arms.
"Ah! I must tell them a great news!" Mrs. Hikko run to her home.
10:00 PM
Kogasa watches Mrs. Hikko kiss good-night Joyta and leave her room. "Okay, this is last one. Come, I will show your room." Mrs. Hikko and Kogasa walk to second floor. "We are here." Mrs. Hikko opens a room.
The room is very clear, there is one small table with mirror, and chest for clothes. On right side, big window is there and on left side is door to bathroom. Two futons are lying on center of room.
"This room used to belong to my husband and me, but I am sure he not minds it."
Kogasa see a two futons, " May I ask why there's two futons?"
"Oh, I forget to tell you. You are not only caretaker here." Mrs. Hikko remembers. "You are free to choose second caretaker and he or she will work for you."
"HUH!? But-"
Mrs. Hikko put her point finger on Kogasa's mouth, "Shh... children are sleeping. I am very sorry for not tell you, you can do it alone or you can ask someone help and work for you."
"I see." Kogasa nods. "Thank you again for help us. Good Night, I will leaves when sun rises." Mrs. Hikko bows and about leave. "Oh! You can use that clothes chest for PJ. Goodbye." and she leaves.
Only Kogasa and her umbrella are in room. Kogasa decides it's time to go sleep. "Let's see what in clothes chest." She opens clothes chest, there are many clothes. She can't make choose which the best one, "Mmm, I not sure which one I can use...ah! This one look good!" Se picks up a light blue nightgown.
Kogasa get out her everyday clothes into her new nightgown. She walking to a mirror. "It's matches me." She smiles, her umbrella too.
Kogasa get in her futon and closes her umbrella. "Lets good everything going smooth next day, good night my little umbrella..." She kisses her umbrella and falled asleep.
Now this is a piece where YOU come in! Now you have to make an vote who will become SECOND CARETAKER! Anyone from Touhou is fine, however no OC characters is allow, sorry! You can make an vote through review or PM me! Also, this is where I go back work on Nanami's Date until I make final decide who is second caretaker!