Louise stared at the silver haired, silver eyed girl in wonder for a few moments that was until her judgment kicked in.

"I thought you said I had tried to summon something of yours. Not someone," Louise said carefully as she glanced to Yukari. "Is summoning a person normal? I expected some kind of youkai since whatever it was, was yours."

Yukari smiled and looked to Kusae. "Why don't you fully introduce yourself Kusae? Louise has slightly imperfect knowledge on youkai, and very little of Shinto or Buddhist legends."

Kusae nodded and returned her gaze to Louise. "Allow me to properly introduce myself then. I am Kusae, known by the previous names of Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. I am a Tsukumogami Youkai, and I am your Shikigami." Kusae explained calmly and friendly.

Louise looked at her for a good minute before letting out a sigh. "Either she's missing something, or I am."

Yukari smiled. "You are. Did you not read up on Tsukumogami Louise?"

Louise lowered her head in embarrassment. "I think I missed that one."

Yukari smiled again as she walked in-between the two girls and sat down on the garden's grass, motioning for them to do so as well. Once they did, she began again. "Then I shall explain it for you for your sake Louise, be grateful."

Louise instantly bowed her head. "Thank you Yukari-sama"

Yukari' smile broadened, impressed by how quickly Louise was willing to bow her head to her. "Very well then, I shall explain it to you. A Tsukumogami is said to be any item that hits its hundredth year of existence and gains sentience; becoming animate. In cases such as those, however, the item merely becomes animate, its form does not change."

Louise looked from Yukari to Kusae in confusion. "Then how-?"

"May I explain that Yukari-sama?" Kusae suddenly interjected

Yukari merely nodded.

"Thank you Yukari-sama," Kusae replied as she turned to Louise and bowed before beginning. "The reason I have gained such a form is based on three reasoning's. The first being that here in Gensokyo many youkai become more powerful than outside of Gensokyo, especially if born here."

"That's because of how thick Gensokyo's mana is, right?" Louise questioned, getting only a nod from Yukari.

"The second reason is that, often, a Tsukumogami's power is directly proportional to who used or wielded them before they gained sentience."

"Who wielded you then?"

"You don't now the legend Louise, so I believe I shall give you a quick version of it," Yukari spoke up, garnering both Kusae and Louise's attention. "The sword known now as Kusae, previously as Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi and then as Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, was found by the god Susanoo-no-Mikoto when he cut open the body of a great eight headed snake demon called Yamato-no-Orochi. He presented the blade to the goddess Amaterasu to settle an old grievance, and for many generations she wielded it. Generations later it was given to a shrine maiden, who gave it to her nephew to protect him in times of peril. He was attacked by his enemies, who lit a field he was in ablaze; stopping him from escaping. He found, however, that each swing of the sword controlled the winds, and using this ability sent the flames of the field back at his attackers; burning them alive. The sword, much later, was made part of the imperial Regalia of Nippon, and disappeared from the recesses of history."

Louise looked at Yukari and nodded before turning to Kusae. "I'm guessing when it disappeared from history is when you found it?"

Yukari shook her head," no, I actually found the blade only a few years ago, thanks to my boyfriend, but even then Kusae had no sentience."

"Then how did-"

"The third reason I gained a humanoid appearance is also the reason I gained sentience," Kusae spoke up with a smile. "You!"

"M-me?" Louise asked, confused that she could somehow be a reason when she had never met her before.

Kusae nodded. "As I had been wielded by gods for much of my existence, I was mostly immune to the energies that would turn me sentient. When you called out to me I gained sentience, animation, and this humanoid form all at once. All to better serve as your Shikigami," Kusae explained, her smile never leaving her face.

Louise was suddenly nervous. The way Kusae explained her existence so casually, and how she kept calling herself her Shikigami was strange. The idea of summoning a familiar was akin to summoning a pet that could serve you constantly in Halkeginia, but she knew this was not the case for a Shikigami. Chen was a Shikigami to Ran, and Ran a Shikigami to Yukari. Both of them acted completely differently from the other, but she could tell that they both respected their masters to a nearly impossible extent. But that was what worried her. Was Kusae fine with serving her? She seemed to be, but was that because Yukari told her too?

"You're worried about something, what is it?"

Louise looked up to find Yukari staring at her with a look of curiosity and worry. "Er, no I'm just-"

"It's obvious you worry. Is it about Kusae? Or more specifically, her being your Shikigami?"

Louise was frozen in shock. Yukari had hit the nail on the head. And from the smile that suddenly crossed her face, Louise knew that Yukari knew this. "Yes."

Yukari nodded. "It is an understandable worry. Unlike a Halkeginian Familiar a Shikigami is far more connected to its master; often sharing energy and sometimes sympathetic injuries among each other. The relation between a Shikigami and master is different for all, but is always more familial than that of a familiar and master. They don't always start out perfectly."

This piqued Louise's interest greatly. "What do you mean? Did you and Ran not get along at first?"

Yukari nodded. "Indeed; when Ran first became my familiar she was a rough and violent girl far from the well-mannered lady you know." Yukari explained happily, musing over her past. "Shall I show you?"

"Y-you could do that? How?"

Yukari smiled as she took out and opened her fan. With a quick twist, a Sukima appeared above them and dropped over them.

When Louise opened her eyes, she found all three of them sitting on the side of a tree almost thirty feet above the ground. Before she had a chance to move or even speak Yukari put a hand on her knee and pointed down to the ground below them; to a large clearing.

The clearing was full of broken, shattered trees, spatters of blood, and almost a dozen human bodies; mangled almost beyond recognition. In the center of the clearing sat a blonde haired humanoid with nine large fluffy tails and fox ears, naked to the forest around her as she sunk her teeth into the torso of a dead man, ripping chunk of flesh from the corpse. Louise instantly became terrified. It was Ran. Her furry tails were rough and unkempt, her naked boy covered in blood and filth. It looked like Ran, Yukari-sama's Shikigami, in every way.

Turning away in terror, yet unable to look away, Louise watched as Ran continued to slowly devour small sections of the human corpses around her; taking her time with each bite as if to savor the taste. As Ran bit into the throat of the last untouched corpse, a woman with long golden hair, wearing a dress that looked to be made of hard oriental style scale mail, stepped into the clearing. The woman held a Naginata in her right hand and pointed it toward Ran as she ate. "Eating humans may be good for our physical health oh nine tailed, but your spiritual health will falter and fester if you keep this up."

Ran looked up to the woman and growled a throaty growl, blood seeping out of her mouth and down her lips. "So says one who allies themselves with such creatures. If humans will seek me out, then I shall kill them. It is simple as that. Even you would not deny such an act vile Yakumo, you have done similar many a time I hear!"

The woman smirked. "I will not deny having killed humans in cold blood, but times are changing. Without change, these lands will fall to the war the humans wage against each other. I am offering you a chance to change that."

Ran stood up, stepping away from the human's corpse; the bright red blood coating her naked body gleaming in the light seeping in between the trees. "Why should I accept anything you offer Yakumo?"

"I ask of you to become my Shikigami. You are the only one in the entire land capable of being mine, as your power dwarfs all others. I have plans for this land, plans to make it safe for all, and I want you to be a part of them. Will you be mine?"

Ran looked at her for a moment before licking some blood off of her wrist and speaking. "The forests teem with youkai; humans fear the night and wage wars among themselves. The blood of all creatures flows freely across the land, and not a person but you cares. Yet, I grow weary of these forests, these fights, these never ending battles for dominance. If you can guarantee a change to these lands, a change for the better for all; including myself. I will try your servitude, to see if it suite my desires and tastes."

The blonde woman smiled, and as she did a flash of light enveloped all, and Louise opened her eyes again to find herself, Kusae and Yukari sitting back in the garden. "Wh-what was that?"

"That was the past," Yukari said plainly. "As you have now seen, anyone can change to anything. It is all a matter of how it is done, and not all Shikigami's and masters start out of even terms. Ran and myself quarreled often early in our relationship."

"I see."

"Kusae is to become your Shikigami Louise, and while neither of you know the other well, you will both learn to. The relation between the two of you will become what it should be in time. But the Rite comes first of course."

This phrase caused Louise to perk up, and caused Kusae to light up like a lantern in the dark. "What rite?" Louise asked.

"The rite that will join you and Kusae as Shikigami and master of course," Yukari answered, "There are three possible rites that join a Shikigami and master; however, you will only be able to do the simplest one. Though, it is the most controversial among practitioners of the other two."

"There's three ways? Which must I do?" Louise asked, now sure that she would go through with it regardless.

"A Shikigami and master are joined by a bond beyond that of master and servant. They give unto the other a portion of their own power, sharing pain and joy in their lives from then on as the Shikigami protects the master. Because of this, a Shikigami and master are far more powerful together than alone; though they become capable of utilizing some select skills of the other. The first possible way to join is by the Shikigami and master reading special rites, while partaking in the others flesh and blood. This way can only be done between two youkai however, due to a youkai's natural superior regeneration. The second way entails both Shikigami and master drawing out the others spirit and weaving them together, a quick and effective way, but very dangerous. This way can be done by anyone, but they both must be skilled at handling spiritual energy or they could both kill each other. The third way is to allow the energies of both master and Shikigami to seep out and intermingle with the others through prolonged skin contact, and is the most successful way of doing so."

"So it similar to the Halkeginian familiar summoning ritual; sealing with a kiss right?"

Yukari shook her head. "It's far deeper than that. While the Halkeginian ritual appears to use a kiss to force the contract, it is one sided and the creature cannot say no. a Shikigami rite however must be consensual," Yukari explained before turning her gaze to Kusae. "You may go on ahead to prepare Kusae, I'll send Louise along in a moment so you two may begin the rite."

Kusae nodded, bowed, stood up, bowed again, and walked out of the garden; disappearing from sight as the evening sun shone around them.

"She's looking forward to being your Shikigami you know," Yukari suddenly said before Louise could say a word.

"R-really?"

"Yes. Do you not look forward to it?"

"No! I – I do, but I'm kind of nervous honestly. I have no idea what having a Shikigami will be like is all," Louise answered. "I was always told having a familiar was like having a pet that didn't need to be trained. But she's not a pet, she's a person."

Yukari smiled. "I'm honestly surprised you consider youkai like myself and Ran as people. Most humans fear youkai, but you consider them the same as yourself."

"It just feels right to do so, and I'm pretty sure Youmu would be upset too," Louise replied as she looked to Yukari with gaze or surety and courage. "What do I need to know for the rite?"

Yukari nodded and smiled softly. "You are indeed ready. Meet Ran in the bath. I've instructed her to assist in purifying your body for the rite. Once she has finished helping you get purified she will tell you what you need to know. The rite shall take you through most of the night. I'll see you in the morning and await your good news."

Louise stood up and left with a bow, understanding she had just been dismissed. Quickly she headed to the bath and after disrobing herself of her clothing, found Ran in the bath waiting for her. Louise had to forcibly attempt to hide a blush as she entered and allowed Ran to begin scrubbing her down. While she had seen Ran's body in the images of the past Yukari had shown her, she couldn't stop herself from being embarrassed at seeing Ran's well-formed nakedness.

For almost an hour she sat, allowing Ran to scrub her down across her entire body. By the time Ran began using a towel on her, Louise felt like she had lost a layer of skin from all the scrubbing; though she did feel cleaner than ever before. As Ran began drying her hair, Louise could not contain herself any longer and spoke up. "Um, Yukari-sama said you would tell me what I would need to know for the rite."

Ran stopped toweling Louise's hair for moment before continuing. "Yes, it is pretty simple though, so I'm sure you will understand when you enter the room."

Louise tried to turn her head to look at Ran, but found she could not. Ran's grip was strong despite the towel being between them. "Is it really that simple?"

Ran nodded as he took the towel off of Louise's head and began running a large comb through it. "Yukari-sama did tell you what the rite entailed correct?"

Louise nodded slightly, making sure she didn't mess with Ran combing her hair. " It utilizes a mixing of energies through prolonged skin contact, right?"

"Yes," Ran said as she pulled the comb away and shook it about a bit before folding it and placing it nearby. "Please stand up."

Doing as she was told Louise stood up, feeling a bit cold now that she was dry. "Is there something special that has to be done to mix energies during the right?"

"Yes, but I'm sure you will understand once you see," Ran said as she took out a bright pink cotton bathrobe, similar to the kind in Halkeginia though oriental in style, and slipped it over Louise's arms. "You should know though, that while the other two rites end at specific time, the one you shall do only ends when both you and Kusae are completely exhausted."

"I see," Louise said as Ran finished tightening the bathrobe around her and spun her around.

Ran looked at Louise for many moments before smiling with a nod. "You're good and ready. Go directly to your room to begin the ritual, alright?"

Louise nodded and walked past Ran to the door, opening it quickly.

"Oh and before I forget," Ran called, stopping Louise before she had left the bath. "Just to help with your inevitable embarrassment, Yukari-sama and myself did the same rite that you are to do. Good luck . . . and have fun."

Louise only nodded as he turned and left the bath, heading for her room to begin the rite. Ran's information had seemed to do little to help, though she had said the same thing Yukari had 'you'll understand when you see,' what was that supposed to mean? And Ran's comment of 'have fun' and about hiding embarrassment made no sense; Until Louise entered her room that was.

In the center of her room the small one person Futon had been replaced by a much larger one, easily three times the width and half again as long. At the four corners of the room sat small pots of incense that burned slowly and steadily, filling the room with a pleasant and strangely warm scent. And across the room, sitting on the far side of the large futon wearing a similarly colored bathrobe, was Kusae.

Upon seeing her enter, Kusae stood up and walked partially around the futon with a smile. "So are you ready? I'm a little nervous myself honestly."

Louise closed the sliding door behind her and walked up to Kusae, suddenly feeling very warm in her bathrobe. "I'm nervous as well, though I'd be less so if I knew more about the specifics of the rite."

"Well it's pretty simple right?"

"That's what both Yukari-sama and Ran said, but I still don't get it honestly."

"Well we have to exchange energy through direct skin contact right?"

"Yeah."

"A body releases more energy when warm and when a person's emotions are high." Kusae explained as she placed her hands on her bathrobe's belt and began undoing it.

Louise looked at her for a moment before the realization hit her. The comments about embarrassment, and to have fun, along with the large bed and incense; it couldn't be could it? "Um you don't mean?"

Kusae nodded as she undid her robe, it falling to the floor in a hep showing off her naked body. Her boy's build was extremely similar to Louise's, and all across her body were pale white tattoos that Louise didn't recognize. "Ran told me this style of rite is also used for the Shikigami and master to better get to know each other, shall we?"

"Wait that's a bit-"Louise began before being interrupted by Kusae stepping forward and placing her lips on Louise's. Louise was so shocked she didn't know how to react, until she felt Kusae fumble with her bathrobe, it falling off of her right after.

Kusae kissed Louise again and the two of them fell onto the futon, Kusae staring at Louise with a smile, her skin flushing red. "Let's get to know each other better okay, Master?"

Louise knew this should feel wrong, but she couldn't get the strength up to resist, and the longer she laid there wearing nothing, the better it felt. If this was what the rite entailed, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad? Against her better judgment Louise smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's- lets continue the rite."

Authors notes:

First off I would like to remind everyone that knows and tell those that don't that in touhou project a Shikigami is a flesh and blood person that serves another like a familiar in a fashion, and not a paper cut out. Unfortunately due to the open nature of much touhou project lore there's not much else said about it.

Secondly this chapter was interesting as I felt that all the possible rites had to feel possible and I tried to get them right for hours.

Betrayer of the void update: I've finally fixed the plotting problem in betrayer, whoooo. Its entire endgame and flow is different from wha I had first envisioned now, but the important thing is it won't have any more problems with it (plot wise at least), and I can make chapters for it again without worry. Expect the next chapter of it soon!

Hope you guys liked the chapter!