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Woo! Chapter 9! An immediate follow up to the last chapter's cliff hanger, we check up on our favourite little swordsman. Enjoy.


Ch. 9: Autumn

It was autumn, although quite frankly no one really knew that it had started. The transition between late summer and autumn was always so subtle, so smooth, unlike the other seasons. Maybe it was the work of the Aki sisters, they were always so gentle.

The past month had sneaked past by so subtlety too. One whole month of late summer bliss. As a chilling, early autumn breeze blew through the garden, carrying with it now a few wilting leaves, the very first victims of the incoming colder months, an equally gentle, silver-haired, diminutive figure gave her katana a flick.

Youmu looked up. The maples were still largely green going on to yellow. Maybe they did not know that winter was coming in a few more months. Maybe they did, but denied it. Youmu sighed. Whatever it was, there was a lot of work to do in the coming months. A lot of fallen leaves to clear up, a lot of autumn dishes to cook. Maybe with luck, the papaya tree may have even borne fruit.

Oh wait, the papaya tree's already dead. Silly Yuyuko-sama, attempting to grow a tropical tree in temperate climate. It was male to begin with too…

Yup, there was a lot of work to do. Maybe just enough to taker her mind off things…

Some distance behind her, standing in the porch of one of the many buildings in Hakugyokurou was Yuyuko, watching her dear gardener with a worried expression on her face. It was apparent to her that something had happened to Youmu over the past few days. She had not gone to the Scarlet Devil Mansion for five days now, when over the past month she would have visited regularly once every three days. Nor had she brought up any new things she had learnt, as she had once done so in an excited manner.

The mere fact that Youmu was aware that Yuyuko was watching her, and yet over the past two hours worked the garden while pretending not to know she was there, that alone was worrying enough.

Yuyuko had tried asking Youmu what was wrong, but for once in her relatively short servitude of less than sixty years, Youmu flat out refused to answer to her Yuyuko-sama. Since then, Yuyuko decided to just give the little girl some space. But Yuyuko did not have to ask to know the source of the trouble.

One day the girl was bouncing about, full of energy about her "Senpai", and the next, not a word about Sakuya.

"Yuyuko-sama?" Yuyuko snapped out of her worries to find Youmu suddenly next to her. "Yuyuko-sama, this garden has been taken care of. Is there anything you would like me to do?"

Yuyuko stared into the deep blue, calm eyes of Youmu. "I… No, Youmu, that will be all for today."

"As you wish, Yuyuko-sama. But there is still plenty of daylight. Would you like me to take care of the autumn groceries?"

"I…" Yuyuko's heart wrenched a little. It had been a long time since Youmu was this… formal with her. "Youmu… sigh… Could I ask you… Could I ask you to meet the Aki sisters later in the evening?" Yuyuko simply could not bring herself to do anything that may make the situation worse. "They will be coming in later with the very first batch of autumn harvest."

"Very well, Yuyuko-sama." Youmu turned away, and hummed to herself. Yup, there will be plenty of work to do.

Yuyuko grabbed the railing of the porch and watched as Youmu walked away. So much of her just wanted to haunt down Sakuya and asked what had happened, but she was so afraid that her intervention was partially responsible for Youmu's pain. Was her forceful, aggressive matchmaking part of the reason why Youmu was like this now?

"Yuyuko."

"Not now Yukari," Yuyuko said, still holding on to the railing, her back still turned to the gap youkai that had just now appeared behind her.

"Yuyuko," Yukari placed her hands on Yuyuko's shoulders.

"My… Before I even ascertain what is wrong with Youmu, word has already reached you, Yukari."

"Youmu? So that's what's wrong?"

Yuyuko turned her head to look at Yukari behind her. "You didn't know?"

"Now I do," Yukari said.

"T'ch, troublesome youkai," Yuyuko allowed herself a small smile.

"Well, I could see you were in pain," Yukari said sincerely. "Yuyuko," Yukari gave Yuyuko's shoulders a squeeze. "Since it's the beginning autumn, come with me to my house. Just for a short drink, maybe dinner too if you are willing to grace me."

Yuyuko turned to face the direction Youmu had walked off in again. "What about Youmu? I know I can't help much, since she doesn't want to share anything with me, but I can't just leave her."

"Yuyuko, Youmu's not a little girl anymore," Yukari said. "I'm sure she'll figure out what to do. Just give her time," Yukari turned Yuyuko to face her. "Have faith in her."

"But…"

"Come on, it'll be good for your nerves," Yukari urged. "You can't help her if you're in over your own head."

"I'll be in over my own head if I drink…"

"Heh… Yuyuko," Yukari smiled. It was nice to see that Yuyuko at least still had her sharp wit about her. "Come with me. Let's just give Youmu a little space, a little time. And you," Yukari started pulling Yuyuko by the arm as she opened a gap to her own home, "A little alcohol."

"But Yukari…"

"No buts. A Youmu in pain may wrench your heart, but a Yuyuko in pain equally wrenches mine," Yukari said, as she firmly but gently led Yuyuko through the gap.

"I… fine…" Yuyuko relented. "Work your magic," Yuyuko smiled at Yukari.

"Don't worry Yuyuko," Yukari returned the smile. "I've seen Youmu over all these years. I believe in her, and you should too."

The gap closed with the silently after them, leaving the autumn afternoon tranquil and undisturbed.


Hmmm… ended up devoting a large portion of the chapter to romance, but not Youmu's romance…

Anyway, it does play its role. It signifies that Youmu's on her own now. So how will she deal with it? Read on, the next chapter's up already.