"Is, is this really alright?"" Louise asked as she sat across from Yukari and looked over the note that had been left behind for her, or perhaps invitation was the better word.
Yukari took a sip of tea and placed her cup on the table with a nod. "I see nothing wrong with you going and enjoying yourself. I honestly believe you have earned it. Just be sure not to drink too, too much. The sake that Oni often drink is stronger than most alcohol.
Louise looked at the invitation, a strange mix of emotions flowing though her as she looked it over, gazing at it's beautiful writing and obviously good intent. She herself had never been invited to any function like this before. She had often seen her parents dress up to go to parties at other noble's mansions, and her sisters often did as well. But all of those events were by invitation only, as most noble events were, and she had never been invited to any such thing before. It made her feel strangely important, but at the same time she didn't feel like helping Tiffania was something that should be celebrated in such a way. "Um, is this the kind of thing that I should dress up for? I- I've never really been to a party before so . . ."
Yukari smiled and stood up from the table, motioning for Louise to so the same. Walking out of the room she led Louise to another room nearby, and once inside Louise could not help but look on in surprise at all of the different kinds of bolts of cloth around the room. "It is always an idea to dress for an occasion. And you won't have to worry about getting into combat either, as the invitation you hold will allow you passage through the Tengu's territory so you can get to the underground city. I have prepared a full length kimono for you, if you'd like to use it?"
"I- if that's alright," Louise said meekly as she looked in wonder at the different kinds of cloth and the various garments that hung on mannequins and rack. All of them looked insanely beautiful, and appeared to be made of a different kind of material than the clothing she now normally wore.
Yukari nodded. "Of course it's alright. Stand over here and take off your skirt and top and I'll help you with the kimono, they can be, difficult for people the first few times."
Louise followed Yukari's directions and did as asked, quickly remembering that her clothing was both protective and warm as a cool breeze blew through the rooms partially open door and across her uncovered skin. It made her shudder slightly, but did make her remember that she had been intending to ask Yukari a question, a rather serious one.
"Lift your arms back, please." Yukari said as Louise felt the touch of cloth against her back.
Doing as asked she felt the kimono slip over her arms and stepping around in front of her, Yukari folded the front section over, making sure they were both snug and fit correctly before she took out a wide sash and began wrapping it around Louise's waist. "Um, may I ask a question, Yukari-sama?" Louise asked as she slowly spun to wrap the sash around her more easily.
"Of course. If you were wondering, both Youmu and Marisa also got invitations, and yours allows Kusae to join you."
"Oh, that's good. But, um, that's not what I was wanting to ask. Um, if a person becomes a Youkai, they become far stronger than a human, right?"
Yukari felt her heart skip a beat as the words left Louise's mouth. She knew that the question would come up eventually, but she didn't think it would be so soon. "That is a . . . . rigged question, for lack of a better word, Louise. While a human who becomes a Youkai does indeed become far stronger both physically and magically, they also lose many things in the process."
"Marisa doesn't seem to have lost anything."
"Marisa is a magician, a specific kind of Youkai geared entirely toward magical power, both its output and gain. It is a little different than just becoming a generic Youkai, and she has lost things, some of them precious to her." Yukari explained as she stopped turning Louise and began tying her sash at her back, tightening it just a last little bit.
"Okay. I know that there are thousands of kinds of Youkai, so a human could turn into any of them then? Or is it dependent on something else?"
Yukari groaned inwardly. "It is dependent on many things, but why do you want to know?"
Louise was quiet for many moments until she final spoke up, her voice filled with determination. "I- I've been think about what happened at Tarbes. Even if all the curses that Hina removed were holding me back, I still almost lost, I'm not strong enough, I- I want to become stronger!"
Yukari sighed to herself so quietly that only she could hear it as she turned Louise so she was facing her. "I can explain it to you in more detail, but before I do, I want you to do two things, alright?" Yukari asked, receiving a nod from Louise. "Firstly, do more research on everything. Broaden your horizons of knowledge both on magic and on the different kinds of species and people that exist. Secondly, I want you to give it even more serious thought while you are researching. Look into things and find out just what you are willing to lose."
Louise nodded strongly, her eyes filled with determination, but also with hope. And that worried Yukari greatly.
"Alright. I can feel Marisa and Youmu waiting for you with Kusae, so get going and enjoy yourself tonight, alright?"
"I'll try, Louise said as she walked out of the room, stumbling a bit over the length and tightness of the kimono's lower length.
"You understand why I am requesting your, particular talents then?" Yukari asked after a few minutes, making sure that Louise was gone.
Responding to Yukari's words, a shadowed silhouette appeared in the corner of the room, her face and upper body completely hidden by the shadows of the room. All that could be seen was that the person was wearing a red skirt that went down to her knees. "Yes, I can see why you asked me. But are you sure you want me to do it? I might just scar her for life." The unknown woman said, her voice happy and full of glee despite the conversations meaning.
Yukari nodded. "Yes, she needs to understand that Youkai are things to be feared and respected and not just creatures of power. She needs to understand what she can lose as well as what can be gained. And I think you are the best to so it. I can transport her to your place tonight when she's likely drunk if you'd like as well."
"That would be fine, transport Youmu and Marisa too while you're at it. I'm sure Patchy would be fine with speaking with them while I . . . teach your apprentice. And I haven't talked with either of them in a while."
Yukari nodded as the shadowed person began to disappear. "Thank you then. I will owe you, and you will not regret it, Miss Scarlet."
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"I- I'm not sure about this. Isn't it a little bit too, um, much?" Tiffania asked as she stood in the center of her room in a deep green Kimono that Yuugi had brought over for her.
"Nonsense, it suits you perfectly!" Yuugi roared with a laugh as she finished tying the sash around her waist and turned Tiffania so she was facing her sister who was sitting on Tiffania's bed. "What do you think!"
Mathilda looked at Tiffania and nodded her head many times. "It looks really good on you Tiffania. I was leary about it, but it's really good!"
Tiffania blushed and raised her shoulders as if trying to hide herself. "Uh, it feels like it shows too much!"
"How does it reveal too much?" Mathilda asked as she looked at Tiffania with a brow raised. "It covers you completely. As long as you don't wear it like Yuugi is it literally can't reveal anything."
"I would get angry at that, but this is just how I like to wear mine!" Yuugi said with a smile as she lifted the loose collar of her kimono a bit, accentuating her extremely obvious cleavage.
"It's just, it feels like too much can be seen. I'm not sure why." Tiffania said meekly.
"Could it be because you haven't worn anything like it before?" Mathilda asked calmly. "It is made of silk you said, right Yuugi?"
Yuugi nodded as a wicked smile crossed her face. "Yes, but I think I know the reason why it feels like that for you."
"Really? Why!?" Tiffania asked suddenly very interested.
"Because of . . .this!" Yuugi called out as she grabbed Tiffania's waist with both hands, shocking her completely as she dragged her hands down onto Tiffania's hips and up to her bust before removing them. Waiting a moment for Tiffania to calm down Yuugi smiled and looked to her. "Kimono's are very form fitting, they can easily show off a girl's waist, hips and bust even if they wear it completely covering their chest, that's probably why it feels weird to ya!"
Tiffania looked at Yuugi and scowled slightly. "You chose this just to mess with me, didn't you?"
"No, I chose it because the best thing to wear to a party of festival is a kimono! Messing with you is just a happy addition!" Yuugi explained with a laugh as she stepped over and leaned against the wall right beside the window.
"Hngh, that's not very nice, Yuugi!" Tiffania complained as she stepped over to her bed and sat down beside Mathilda. "Could you do my hair, please?"
Mathilda nodded as she stood up and took out a few pins and began to put up Tiffania's hair. "Please hold back on teasing my sister, if just a bit, Yuugi"
Yuugi smiled. "I could, but others will as well you know. She's just so beautiful, but her personality doesn't match what people normally think for the body type. You might even get some people hitting on you!"
Tiffania blushed and sunk her head down, forcing Mathilda to lift her head back up to continue tying it. "Is this really a good hair style for her do you think, Yuugi?"
Yuugi nodded as she passed Mathilda a large hairclip shaped like a blooming orange flower, Mathilda quickly placing it into Tiffania's hair. "It is. It's a common hairstyle to go along with a kimono, and I think it suits her well, why not let her have a look in the mirror."
Mathilda nodded and picked up a large mirror off of the bed and held it in front of Tiffania's face. "What do you think?"
Tiffania looked in the mirror and was shocked by what she saw. For a moment she thought it was someone else in the mirror. Her hair was done up into a bun at the back of her head with some of the excess length hanging around it and leaving her bangs untouched, and on the bun was a large orange flower, the clip that Yuugi was lending her. Together with the kimono accentuating her body's shape, she had to admit that she looked far more beautiful than she ever thought she could. "I, is that me?"
"Yeah it's you alright! You look pretty nice out of your regular clothes! I'm almost tempted to unwrap you myself!" Yuugi said with a smile, causing Tiffania to blush again. It was just too easy to embarrass her.
"Are you sure I should be the one to-."
"Oh, no you don't! You're not trying that again!" Mathilda said, interrupting Tiffania's plea.
"But, you'd be better suited to go to a party then me, I've never gone to such a thing and-"
"And I've been too far too many! The children are safe and we're in a place where you don't have to hide your identity anymore, Tiffania. You need to get out there and learn to live a little. I'll watch the kids tonight, so just have fun!"
Tiffania's head sunk low again as Yuugi stepped up to her and reached her hand out to her. "Your sister's right you know. You'll never grow if you don't expand your horizons, so let's get out there and enjoy ourselves. I guarantee you'll have fun. And Oni do not lie!"
"Ugh, alright. I hope your right. I'm not too sure about this." Tiffania said, still not really in the spirit of things.
Yuugi smiled as she glanced toward the window. "If we don't hurry, we'll lose Yukari's apprentice and the others in the party, you know. I already saw them walking outside."
Tiffania instantly perked up and looked at Yuugi, "Wait, they're already here!"
Yuugi nodded. "Yep, I saw them walk by the orphanage just a minute ago."
"Well then, let's get moving; I haven't properly thanked them for helping us!" Tiffania exclaimed as she stood up and left her room, leaving Yuugi behind to catch up.
As Yuugi walked over to the door she felt a tug on her kimono and looked to see Mathilda holding onto it. "Look after her, alright?"
Yuugi smiled to Mathilda. "Don't worry.I swear on my honor as an Oni that no harm will befall her, unless it's a hangover tomorrow morning."
"I can deal with that, have fun."
"Don't worry, we will."
