We see before us now a large study. Two walls are covered in bookshelves, facing eachother. One wall sports a giant window, the other a giant door. Various desks, chairs, and organizers have all been neatly confined to the corners of the room to make space for a large pentacle; a five-point star within a circle, which is attached to five other interlocking circles. Each circle is made of two parallel lines with space between them, and numerous runes, lines, and shapes.
A second pentacle, a small six-point star in a circle, sits in front of it. Standing here is a five foot five girl with red hair, red eyes, red clothes with white lining, and a red cape with black on the inside. She holds a book in one hand and carefully speaks an incantation.
The whole incantation takes about three minutes, at the end of which she gasps for breath as a figure slowly materializes in the center of the pentacle.
It carries with it an air of irritation and a scythe sharp enough to slice chains. It waits a few seconds, then speaks in a dark, leaden tone; one reminscient of coffin doors slamming shut.
"Who dares summon Shingetsu Arke, outcast reaper, dread of mortals, the N-"
"Yumemi Okazaki does!" The red one replies with vigor. "The pentacle is perfectly built. You ARE subject to my command!"
The reaper regards her carefully for a moment before responding. "And what order might you dare give me, little one?"
The reaper had been expecting a pause as she got her words together, so that he might not find a loophole or ambiguity. But she replied immediately.
"Your target is Fujiwara No Mokou, an immortal human in the Bamboo Forest of The Lost. You shall enter her home, without being detected by anyone or anything, until such time as you can kill her without anyone or anything else noticing. You will take out her guts and bring them back here to me without being detected by anyone or anything. At no time during this shall you deviate from your mission or harm any other being or thing, dead or alive. And if I feel you have failed me somehow or attempted to work against me, I may very well summon you into a bottle and leave you there for eternity."
The reaper carefully analyzed her orders. There was a possibility to mess with her, but she seemed powerful enough to carry out her threat. True, he was technically trapped already, but at least it was in a manor.
Sanzu River
Komachi Onozuka floats down the river in her boat, happy to have finally reached the manor where he had been sealed. She disembarked, walked up to the door, and slammed it open.
"Heeeey! You in here? C'mon out!"
There is no response. Usually there is one… And it feels empty, too.
Komachi's face turns pale as a feeling of dread coalesces in the pit of her stomach. She immediately runs in, calling out as she searches the house, but there is no-one to be found. Finally she wanders out, and sits down on the steps, head in hands.
"Miss Eiki's gonna kill me…"
Hakugyokurou
"Youmu?" A gentle voice calls out. It sounds female, mature, expectant.
"Hungry again, Yuyuko-sama?" And coming back is an ever-so-slightly harassed tone, but a nevertheless loyal one. Young, female, and very calm.
"Yes, but besides that. Let's go visit Myouren."
Youmu stops, a little surprised at this. "I thought you didn't like it much there?"
Her mistress replies, "It isn't much for eating, so you'll have to carry more food. I just happen to feel like going right now, is all~"
Youmu sighs. She knew better than to try and pry out whatever it was. "Very well, Yuyuko-sama. I'll start packing…"
Mugenkan
There are few in Gensokyo who don't know the name Yuuka Kazami, the Sleeping Terror, the Flower Master of the Four Seasons, the Dream-Border Youkai.
She leaned back in her chair happily, tea in one hand and a book in the other. Life is good when you have titles. Of course, the best way to get more titles is to beat up people who have some of their own.
Her book was borrowed from Akyuu, and detailed the more notable denizens of Gensokyo. She had just learned of Eientei, which is why she was smiling.
She'd never beaten up an immortal before. Or had she? She couldn't quite remember. Maybe Gengetsu and Mugetsu counted?
Ah well…
She spoke in a tone just above quiet, with all the subtlety and hidden thorns of a rose. "Elly, dear, go and pack for a little trip."
Her gate guard, a youngish girl with blonde hair in a white and kind-of-red dress, turned around with a look of mild surprise. She carries a boomerang scythe somewhat nonchalantly, and seems to expect attack at any moment.
Her stance suggests she expects it mainly from Yuuka. "Where are we going, Miss Kazami?"
"You'll see, dear. I think you'll like it." Elly cringes as Yuuka grins. "I'm certainly going to enjoy myself… Oh yes…"
Somewhere
"MASTER SPARK!"
A huge beam of white light shoots forth from a small octagonal device, obliterating several fairies. The black-white witch, Marisa Kirisame, has just discovered an old rival is traveling, and sees a chance for a good fight.
Nowhere
"Maybe I have too many books…"
The book youkai, Tokiko, has just read about the existence of Voile, the magic library. She now intends to travel, but is hesitant; the place is supposed to be dangerous. So you should get a guide, yes? The Bamboo Forest apparently had one…
She might find it easier to travel if she didn't try to take every book she owned.
Take a wild guess
Suwako Moriya, only reliable controller of the Mishaguji and former Moriya goddess, sits on a lilypad and contemplates events. Everyone seemed to have taken a sudden interest in the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. The tengu reporters had all gone off, even Aya. Kanako had said something about opportunities and taken along Sanae.
Suwako wasn't sure. She was still the most powerful god, and you didn't get that way by rushing into things…
This required study. After she visited Shizuha, of course. It was courteous, she thought, to help out younger gods.
How the hell should I know?
The master of the Former Hell of Blazing Fires, Satori Komeiji, sits in the Palace of Earth Spirits, her two favorite pets before her.
Both had asked several times to go outside, to Eientei, yet neither truly knew why. This was vexing and a little worrying. If it weren't for Koishi already wandering off, Satori would have said no. She still wanted to do so, but Yuugi and some others had all left too.
It probably wouldn't hurt to take a quick look…
Misery.
Mystery.
Mistery.
Mist.
Mist loves company. It's pretty good at arranging things so said company occurs at the right time. There are certain oni who know this well and use it to throw parties.
That's why oni are always happy. They don't usually concern themselves with serious things. Why bother, after all? Most serious things are only serious because everyone decided they should be.
