Chapter 6: Toast.
Next morning came and I rolled around in my bed, hesitating to get up, when I glanced to my right to see Yukari, peering directly in front of my face.
"Good morning, plaything." Yukari greeted me. She nuzzled her parasol tip under my chin, "Get up. You've got some chores to do today."
Oh drat. They're probably something like carrying her, Ran, and Chen in a wheel-less stagecoach while trotting on flaming tacks.
I sighed, "What would those chores be like?"
Yukari chuckled then viciously yanked me out of bed by my leash and dropped me on the floor; "You'll just have to see yourself."
Groaning, I picked myself up and entered the main room – Noticing Chen was asleep on the floor.
"Oh no, no, dear. You can't do anything in that." She opened a border and took out the same dress I had on the day before. She shoved it over my head, I didn't even notice that the nightgown had disappeared.
"Now plaything, if you are of any actual worth, then you can cook."
Sweet, I'm good at that.
"But you must be innovative." Her face stayed in an unnatural neutral.
… Aw, dang.
Yukari's eyes twinkled in a diamond-like fashion that I knew all too well, "Since the first meal of the day is breakfast… I'll need something of that order, but what in Gensokyo could I want? ~"
An epiphany washed over the youkai's face, "I've got it!"
I prepared for the worst.
"Toast!"
Toast?
"Toast?"
"Toast!"
What? There's got to be a twist.
Yukari fashioned her devilish smirk onto her face, "But as you can see, there is no toaster. So you'll have to figure it out yourself."
I knew it.
I surveyed the kitchen, the purple and red abyss sat on a corner shelf and spewed out countless loaves of bread. The border mistress walked to the couch and settled lazily by Chen, stroking her red vest.
What the heck do I use for a toaster?
I looked at the oven – no good. The toaster oven? Nope. There was no other way to prepare toast. The only way involved an extra item, not a toaster.
Slowly, I walked over to Yukari's couch and stood in front of her like a maid. My mouth popped open but no words came out.
"I… Uh. Do you have a branding iron?"
"Nope." Yukari rolled on her side and pulled a hot circle on a stick out from a border. "I do now."
She handed me the iron and resumed her position on the couch.
I almost pressed the iron against the flaky bread when I remembered…
Burned! How black does she want it?
"M-miss Yukari?" I hollered.
"What?" snapped Yukari.
"How crisp… do you want it?"
Her face shined a little, "Very black, plaything."
Without a word, I continued to cook her toast.
A couple minutes later, I had cooked a whole loaf of bread with varying crispiness on each slice. I plopped two of the darkest slices on a plate and handed it to my 'master'.
She refused to take it, her face spilled out with disgust.
"Tell me, girl." Her tone turned sinister. "What do you see missing from this platter?"
I was silent.
"Butter!" She flipped the plate up into my face. "Get the butter and bring it back!"
Scurrying to the kitchen cupboards, I raced to find the butter.
What am I looking in cupboards for?
Realizing my stupidity, I found the butter in the refrigerator door. I spread it neatly onto the previously rejected slices and handed them back to Yukari.
"Thank you." She returned to normal, with a little touch of happy.
Yukari showed no thanks or appreciation. She simply ate the toast and handed me the plate. Starting to wash it, she heard the running water and objected.
"No, no, dear. Dishes are for Ran." Yukari got off the couch and stretched. "Oh, look who it is."
Both of us looked to the door to the west of the kitchen and saw Ran entering.
"Couldn't help but overhear." The kitsune winked at me. "Thank you for helping."
From that, I was given a little burst of confidence.
Perhaps Yukari is just Tsundere in a sadist sort of way? At least Ran's nice. I think I'll just cooperate until she decides what to do with me.
I stared at the Yakumos and the sleeping Chen curled up on the floor.
Yeah. That's what I'll do.
"So…" I started, "What do you want me to do?"