Disclaimer: Touhou belongs to Zun, and the only things that belong to myself would be Usagi the mimic, and Moegi the japanese beetle. Everything else belongs to their rightful owner.

Author: My heaaaaad...

Yukari: It was your own fault.

Author: What...? But... How?

Yukari: Did we force you to reach fifty chapters?

Author: ...Even with my head hurting as much as it does, I have to say, that's some... spectacular logic.

Yukari: Why thank you~

Yuuka: She doesn't mean that in a nice way, you realize.

Yukari: Really, now?

Author: Really...

Suika: Here, have shome water~

Author: Thank you~

Yuuka: Hmm. So she can make people drink water, too?

Author: ...Well, at least it's better than her being cruel and giving me more sake.

Yukari: Hmph. See if I try to cheer you up through your next hangover...

Author: ...You realize that I don't drink, right...?

Yukari: You realize that this is not the only milestone, right~?

Yuuka: My, feeling rather vengeful, are we?

Author: Please have mercy...

Yuuka: Now look what you've done. Now she is crying.

Yukari: Like you are one to talk; you make grown men cry, let alone our rather immature and female author.

Author: In her defense, she has yet to make me cry. You, on the other hand...

Yukari: And here I was only joking about milestone parties. Perhaps I should change my mind?

Yuuka: And they call me a sadist...

Yukari: That is because you most certainly are one.

Yuuka: Perhaps I should start celebrating your birthday.

Yukari: ...Was that really such a bad thing...?

Yuuka: And I shall bake you a nice big cake...

Yukari: ...I do not think I like where this is going.

Yuuka: Ahh, and isn't there that human tradition where one puts candles on the cake?

Yukari: ...Right. Let us stop here.

Yuuka: I am sure that I could fit enough candles on the cake to match your age.

Yukari: Would you give this a rest before you cross the line?

Yuuka: As I do not know your actual age, how about I simply use the number of years I have known you? Now, how many years has that been? One, two, three...

Yukari: ...

Author: W-well, let's get on with the show before they get into a spat...

Yuuka: Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen...

Yukari: ...


Night, Suzunaan, Mootori's PoV:

I sat in seiza as I waited in my room. I couldn't exactly do much; 'my' muscles were a disaster waiting to happen. I was currently sipping tea through a bendy straw that I had picked up at the second hand shop, and I was quite glad that I had done so now that this had come up. Thankfully, only one arm had the strength to lift mountains, and crush cups. The other one, which was wrapped in bandages, was more normal. Was still strangely light, though, so I preferred to not use it. Kept overshooting things as I tried to grab them thanks to that.

Hearing footsteps, I stood up with no effort at all from my muscles. It was a precarious balancing act to try and get up without breaking anything, but I used my bandaged arm to help me, keeping the other arm close to my body as if I were a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Moments later, the door to my room slid open, and I was slightly weirded out by seeing 'myself' enter the room, sliding the door shut behind 'myself'. It was still crazy to me that Miss Kasen and I had switched bodies, but I guess I can't exactly help that someone with god-like power - okay, there are gods that are weaker than her - needed someone as a host for the punishment. It was stranger still to find out that Miss Kasen of all people was an oni. You would think that she would be out and about having parties and getting drunk. But no, I've never once seen her drunk, drinking, or trying to get a drink. ...Heck, have I even seen her drink anything, not counting drinking tea as her? Well, at least I don't crave sake now that I'm her. That would be crazy.

Smiling, I asked, "Are we alone now?" It was still very strange to hear a mature voice in place of my usual immature voice.

Raising a brow, Kasen replied, "Such a question could easily be misconstrued were I not."

Tilting my head, I asked innocently, "Huh...?"

Sighing, Kasen replied, "It is good that my body is in the hands of someone so innocent. I am glad that Yukari at least had the decency to choose wisely.

From behind me, a mature womanly voice giggled. "I shall accept that compliment."

Narrowing her eyes, Kasen said darkly, "Yukari..."

Turning around, I found that the most powerful woman in the lands was before me. I couldn't help but unconsciously swallow. It's not like I hadn't seen her before - I saw her for the first time just a short time ago - it's more that she was the most intimidating person aside from that Yuuka woman I hear horror stories about in hushed voices. And why wouldn't they do so in hushed voices? Speak of the devil, and he will come, after all.

Smiling ever so widely, Yukari answered the call, saying, "My, Kosu- I mean, Kasen, you sound as if you are displeased with me."

Raising a brow, I asked with a trembling voice, "W-why wouldn't she be...? You switched our bodies... We have every reason to be 'displeased' with you."

Chuckling, Yukari chided, "You see that, Kasen? You could learn a thing or two about being more direct from her."

Brow twitching once, my body replied, "You have no room to talk, Yukari..."

Smiling mysteriously, Yukari replied, "Be that as it may, it is not I that goes against my nature."

Giving a wry smile, Kasen replied, "Do I look like an oni to you?"

Looking between the two of them, I asked, "S-so, why are you here?"

Smiling again, Yukari replied, "So direct... It's as if she were the oni, not you."

Frowning, Kasen deadpanned, "Right now she is the oni."

Choosing to ignore that quip, Yukari went on to say, "I have come here with a... proposition."

Both of us stiffened upon hearing such a thing. If she of all people wanted something, it couldn't be good. Seeing as Kasen was silent, I asked the obvious question, "A-and that would be...?"

Grinning quite wide, Yukari was happy to see a fish take the bait. "Ohh, nothing major, really."

Choosing now to reply, Kasen answered, "Your grin says otherwise."

Once more ignoring Kasen, Yukari replied, "I wish for you two to participate in a little experiment of sorts I am holding."

Furrowing her brows, the once oni answered, "No."

Smiling, Yukari replied, "My, how brash. That is more like it. Ignoring reason and simply listening to your emotional side."

Frowning, Kasen replied, "You aren't persuading me any by being irritating."

Deciding to be the voice of reason, I said, "Well, maybe we should at least hear her out..."

Chuckling, Yukari replied to the statement hardly aimed at her, "And now the roles are reversed. How delightful..."

Sighing, Kasen replied, "If you insist... Go on, Yukari."

Smiling, Yukari replied, "Thank you. Now, I am sure that one of you has heard that I am holding a party by now?"

Shaking my head, I replied, "N-no, I haven't heard anything about a party."

Raising a brow, Kasen replied, "...Well, I may have heard something about invitations falling from the sky."

lidding her eyes a bit, Yukari opened her fan and began fanning herself as she simply watched Kasen a moment, judging if that was truly all she knew of the party. Moments later, she seemed to make up her mind, and snapped her fan shut with a smile. "Yes. Quite a supply of pumpkins the host of the party possesses. As such, I decided that we might as well make use of the smaller ones for invitations. After all, the larger ones wouldn't do. Have you ever had a large pumpkin fall on your head from a height?" At the shake of our heads, she added, "It's far from enjoyable."

Frowning, Kasen replied, "You're digressing, Yukari; get to the point."

Smiling widely, Yukari replied, "And now some of oni blood shines through again. ...Or is it that being a human child is doing a number on your patience? Hmm."

Pointing out the obvious with a small waver to my voice, as I still was somewhat afraid of Yukari, I said, "Y-you still haven't said what you want..."

Opening her fan, and fanning herself a bit, Yukari answered, "That I have not." Giving a pause to get a reaction from Kasen, which she received in the form of a twitching eyebrow, she added, "I wish for you two to attend this party of ours."

Not giving Kasen time to give another brash decision, I bravely asked, "What's in it for us?"

Grinning unsettlingly, the Border of Phantasm replied, "See, Kasen? She knows what questions need asking." Pausing for a reaction again, but not getting one, she added, "Why, I shall relieve you of your imprisonment, little one."

This was enough to get the attention of the both of us. Kasen asked, "And if we say no?"

Snapping her fan shut hard enough for it to clack threateningly, which caused a chill to run down my spine, Yukari replied, "Why, you will be stuck like that for an indeterminate amount of time." Smiling, she added in an entirely unthreateningly way, "But you will be going, won't you?"

I couldn't help but gulp quite hard at that, while Kasen simply replied, completely un-intimidated, "Fine, I'll go."

Smiling, the boundary youkai answered, "Very good." Looking to me, she asked, "And you?"

I was now once more intimidated by her so I stumbled over my words a bit. "I-I, umm... Y-yes."

Grinning quite widely, and looking a bit frightening as she did it, Yukari replied, "Very good..."

With that said, tears in the fabric of reality opened up beneath us both, and we fell in. I looked around for 'myself' but found nobody to be around. I was falling through a sea of eyes, all focused on me, and I was falling fast. I tried to whimper in fear, but no sound left my throat. I felt the vibrations, so there was that, but I was more than a little terrified at the sudden loss of my voice. I couldn't scream for help like this. I could be tortured, and nobody would be the wiser.

The fear soon got the better of me, and I began to sob. Just as tears began to cascade down my face, I felt myself land hard on my rear. "Ahh! ...Hey, I heard that! ...Wait, where am I?" I began to dry my eyes with the bandages that made up my right arm. One nice bonus of having them, not that it's likely that kasen has them for that reason.

Moments later, Kasen came out of a gap, landing crouched on the ground, before getting up and dusting 'her' apron off. Looking to me, she said, "I am disliking how fragile your body is. Landing actually hurt."

Thinking a moment, I replied, "...Huh... I guess it didn't hurt to land on my bottom, did it...?"

Raising a brow, Kasen replied, "Of course such a small drop wouldn't hurt... You're me; I've been through a lot of pain in my life, not to mention what I-" She suddenly cut herself off, and reached for the air to her right with her right arm. Blinking, she said, "Ahh, of course... I don't have it, do I."

Moments later, a grin appeared, causing me to jump away from it, followed by a maid that the grin belonged to. I was still a bit high strung by meeting with the most powerful youkai in the land, it would seem. I blushed, and said, "Erm... Hello." I gave her my best smile, although it was a bit forced.

Grinning wider, the apparent ghost said while looking to Kasen, "You knew I was there..."

Sighing, Kasen replied, "Of course I did; you were being quite obvious."

Raising a brow, the ghost asked, "But why'd you try to grab me?" She giggled. "It takes a certain skill to grab an incorporeal ghost, you know..."

Sighing again, Kasen replied, "To be honest, I'm used to being able to... It helps that I was afraid that you might be an evil spirit."

Shaking her head, the ghost replied, "Nope. I'm just a poltergeist~ Why can't you grab me currently?"

Frowning, Kasen replied, "I'm simply not able to today." It's funny how different Kasen is when she's not angry with someone... Never seen her angry before today. Maybe it really is my body that's doing it... But I'm not an angry person? I'm a happy person, so long as I have my books! The only thing I can think of that would make me angry would be if someone took my books... Does that mean that my body thought that I had lost my books for some reason? ...Or did Kasen just lose her cool a bit? To be without her restraint could probably do that. She is an oni. Even if she doesn't act like one. Not that I've met an oni before. Well, aside from Kasen, but going by the tales I've read of oni in some of the books we have, I'd think that Kasen is the exact opposite. If only I could read my special books... Might have one on the subject. Or should I say that one might contain the subject?

But I doubt I'll ever learn ancient tengu for the one that could potentially be of use in this situation, so I'll have to rely on information solely on how humans view the oni, instead of how the youkai view the oni. There's sure to be a taint of fear on the human tales; oni are supposedly terrifying youkai after all. But what I know of Kasen... either that's wrong, she's different, or something's up in general. Could Kasen be putting up some sort of front around humans? Maybe she kidnaps and parties alone? ...Well, parties, anyways; you can't exactly kidnap yourself. I stroked my chin in thought. ...Or can you? I shook my head. No, that would be plain silly. How would that even work? Mind control... of yourself? I don't really know how magic works, but... maybe an automated spell that mind controls you to go some place you don't want to go? Would that even still count as kidnapping?

As I was thinking about utterly pointless things, the other two were looking at me. While I wasn't paying attention, much had happened, not that I knew what any of it was. The geist suddenly screamed bloody murder, startling me out of my thoughts, and causing me to flail and sputter. I soon fell on my butt, as I had also unconsciously thrown myself away from the scream.

As the ghost giggled, Kasen said, "She really shouldn't day dream like that... People could take advantage of it." She let out a sigh, shaking her head.

Frowning, I replied, "I wasn't daydreaming..."

Raising a brow, and crossing her arms under her non-existent chest, Kasen asked, "Then what were you doing?"

I began to press the tips of my index fingers together, and the left arm won well enough to crumple my right index finger with a little shockwave. Thankfully I couldn't feel anything with that arm, so it immediately snapped back into position. "W-well, I was wondering if you're strange for an oni."

Blinking, Kasen asked, "What exactly do you mean by that?"

Looking away, I explained, "Well, you don't seem to drink... much of anything, you don't kidnap humans, you aren't usually as brash as I hear that oni are, and you don't seem to really go for parties..."

Raising a brow again, Kasen asked, "Is that what humans think of us...? That's somewhat insulting, Kosuzu... Not to mention racist, and a major generalization. Would you like it if I were to generalize and say that humans are all racist towards youkai, cowardly, entitled creatures that would stab you in the back at a moments notice?"

Gasping, I brought my right hand to my mouth. "But that's not true! There's Reimu! Ahh, and Miss Keine! Not to mention Mokou, going by what Miss Keine says about her! Ohh, and there's Doctor Yagokoro!"

Kasen was a bit shifty-eyed, she said, "And now you see why generalization isn't right; it's quite inaccurate, to say the least. ...Although, did we not just learn that Reimu isn't human? To include her is a bit..."

Eyes widening, I replied, "Ahh, that's right..."

Clearing her throat, she added, "Not to mention that Mokou is immortal. Can one really count her?"

Gasping again, I asked, "She is?!"

Nodding, Kasen added, "And then you have Doctor Yagokoro. She's... nearly human, but not quite. She's from the moon."

Blinking in surprising, I replied, "...Now you're just pulling my leg... Moon people...?"

Smiling, Kasen replied, "I know, it sounds like some form of joke, doesn't it? You weren't around when the youkai stormed the moon, after all."

Snorting, I asked, "How in the world would anyone even reach the moon however long ago that was...? The outside world only recently reached the moon..."

Eyes widening, as she didn't know that, Kasen asked, "What?! Is there a war going on?!"

Shaking my head, I replied, "Not that I know of..."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Kasen replied, "Thank goodness... The youkai would undoubtedly take advantage of it to wage another war..." Looking around shiftily, Kasen added, "Also, this is just rumor, but... some say that Keine isn't human either."

Frowning, I replied, "Those rumors are outlandish. Just because she eats grass doesn't make her a youkai. I'm sure... grass is delicious, if you prepare it properly."

Giving me a dry look, Kasen asked, "Then why don't you eat some right now?"

Giving her a blank, I looked to the grass, before looking back at her. It was like looking in a mirror, but I was getting used to seeing myself by this point, so I wasn't particularly bothered. "Well, erm... Do I have to?"

Smiling, Kasen replied, "Yes, you do; I insist."

I couldn't help but gulp, and squatted down, mindful of the skirt that was shorter than my kimono, and grabbed some grass in my hands, while bracing myself, and ripped it free with ease. Sometimes the strength of an oni can be useful, it seems. Although, seeing as I was expecting resistance, and I pulled pretty hard, I ended up falling on my rear. It didn't hurt, what with the dulled nerves, but I'm sure Kasen will have some grass stains to deal with eventually.

Chuckling, Kasen replied, "Just the left would have done fine."

Grumbling, I replied, "Yes, I know that now... I just forgot about that..."

Smiling sweetly, Kasen replied, "So, are you going to eat it?"

I looked down at the handful of grass, and couldn't help but gulp. I was going to regret not just admitting defeat, and I knew it, but I had to defend Miss Keine. And so a stuffed the whole fistful of grass into my mouth, and I began to chew. I learned to have a newfound respect for Keine within the first few chews. She ate this every day. And liked it. She really liked it. And yet it doesn't taste good at all. In fact, it tastes terrible. Horrifyingly terrible. In fact, forget Keine, I have a new found respect for anyone or anything that eats grass. But I soldiered on. I chewed some more. And some more. And after a good number of chews further, I swallowed. "...Delicious..." I lied. I lied with the best strait face I could muster. And the aftertaste. It wasn't the worst thing I had ever eaten, but it was by far not even in my top fifty meals. Or hundred. Or thousand. I would go on, but I don't feel like calculating the number of meals I've had. I never did like taking inventory. Would that even be taking inventory? I mean, I don't exactly contain all of my meals anymore.

As I continued to digress mentally, Kasen sighed. "You really want to defend her that much? The story going around was that she used to be human."

My mental bubble abruptly, and I tilted my head. "Why not anymore?"

Raising a brow, Kasen first amended, "Used to as in a long time ago, by human standards." Next, she said, "And they say that she wanted to be more than human."

I couldn't help but tilt my head at that, and said, "But... How would being a youkai do such a thing...? Wouldn't that be a downgrade?"

Sighing, and shaking her head in disappointment in me, Kasen replied, "What, exactly, are the differences between humans and youkai?"

I tapped my lower lip with my right index finger as I thought. "...They love eating people, and they dress funny?"

Chuckling, she asked, "Do I eat people?" She seemed to ignore the latter point, likely having nothing to say but agreement on that point. At least, until she added, "And I would like to remind you that everyone with power dresses strangely by human standards. Even the humans."

I blinked in confusion, and chose to respond only to the former question. "...No? ...Probably, anyways... I don't exactly keep an eye on you, though..."

Crossing her arms under her non-existent chest, she stated, "Let me tell you the benefits of being a youkai. These are things that you humans tend to ignore. All of these things are objective, before you try to say otherwise. Youkai live for as long as they are able to survive for. Yukari is... likely the oldest, and she hasn't aged a day her whole life. I've known of her my whole life, and I'm ancient."

Blinking, I replied, "R-really...? I can't imagine what I would do with a human lifespan, let alone that..."

Nodding, she continued, "Next, there is the strength aspect, as you have surely experienced."

Nodding in return, I replied, "Yeah, and it's really annoying..."

Smiling, Kasen replied, "It's something one not born with it would have to get used to, I would think. Myself, I can regulate my strength well enough to be at human levels. In fact, most oni are so strong that they never actually learn how to properly throw a punch, let alone how to fight. They just rely on their monstrous strength to do the job. The truly powerful oni are the ones that know how to fight. Like Yuugi, or Suika."

Tilting my head, I asked, "Who's Yuugi?"

Sighing, and shaking her head, Kasen asked, "You don't know who Yuugi is? One of the big four of the mountain?" I shook my head, and she asked, "What are they teaching you in that school...? It doesn't do to not know who is in power among the youkai... It can save your life to know who to treat with respect... Not so much with oni, as you would likely die of alchohol poisoning anyways, but still... What would you do if you met with the Scarlet Devil, for instance? She would be far from pleased to not be known..."

From off to the side, the geist asked, "You aren't human? And here I thought you were both human..."

Stiffening like a board, Kasen played dumb, laughing nervously. "I-I have no idea what you're talking about..."

Frowning, the ghost replied, "I'm not so easy to fool that I would fall for that..."

Cringing, Kasen leaned in close to the maid, and began to whisper, "Look, I can't have that getting out, okay?"

Giggling, the girl asked, "Ohh? So it's some sort of big secret? I see... Well, I'm not to trouble guests, so you're safe; I won't reaveal it later tonight on stage to the whole party, or directly tell the tengu reporters~"

Panicking, and not without reason, Kasen shouted, "You can't! Please! I don't want to be found any more than I already have been!"

Pouting, the maid replied, "I just said that I wouldn't..."

Sighing, Kasen replied, "...Please. I don't want this to become big news."

Frowning, the maid answered, "Fine, I'll phrase it better; I swear that I won't tell anyone! Pushy oni..."

Letting out a held breath of relief, Kasen said, "Thank you."

Grinning, the geist asked, "So, are you two humans ready to have a good night?"

I couldn't help but smile at that, as I wanted to be human again. "Yes!"

Motioning to the mansion a fair ways away, she said, "Well, have fun!"

Looking a bit thoughtful, Kasen replied, "Yes, fun..."

With that said, we began to make our way towards the mansion, and the party within. In the distance, I heard someone crying, but it was faint. "Do you hear that?"

Raising a brow, Kasen asked, "Hear what?"

Thinking a moment, I said, "I suppose you forgot to add that youkai have better hearing." It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

Chuckling, the once oni replied, "I suppose I did. That, and smell. Some youkai are even taken out of action by smelling ink. It's quite the potent scent that overwhelms them enough to make them pass out. Beast youkai are the highest on the list, obviously. Especially tengu. Every last one of their senses are sharp as a scalpel."

Thinking another moment, I asked, "What's a scalpel?"

Sighing, Kasen replied, "It's a surgical implement employed by doctors. Pray you never need to find out what they are for." Thinking a moment, she went on to ask, "Don't you have medical text books at your rental store?"

Nodding, I replied, "Of course, but I'm a bit busy with work to read every single book in the entire store... Besides, I've been more busy with a... side project than reading."

Raising a brow, the once pinkette asked, "Side project?"

Laughing nervously, I replied, "You'd probably just laugh... Besides, it's mostly a secret."

Snorting, the girl who gained an arm by accident replied, "You know my greatest secret. I will not force you to tell me, but... fair is fair."

Sighing, I nervously stammered, "W-well... I've been recently trying to translate a couple... special books I... came into possession of."

Giving me a flat stare, Kasen asked with slight suspicion, "Really, now. They just fell into your lap, didn't they?"

Nodding, I simply answered, "That's right. Nothing bad done to acquire them. Nobody will miss them."

Shaking her head, Kasen replied, "You realize that that would sound like you killed someone to get them, if said by someone who wasn't just a child."

Jumping, I shouted, "I-I didn't hurt or kill anyone! I just..." I bit my lip, and yelped in pain, as I had just removed a chunk of flesh, which was already growing back. I couldn't help but shudder, and spit it out. The blood was... strangely appealing, though. It had a certain flavor to it.

Chuckling, Kasen said, "I would suggest you not do that again until you get used to the strength. Or, due to us returning to our own bodies, I suppose you likely won't get used to it. Which is for the best, really; I know I don't want to get used to being human. I feel so... small and weak..."

Frowning, I replied, "Well, sorry for being 'small and weak'..."

Sighing, she asked, "Now, you were saying?"

Blinking, I replied, "Ahh. W-well... I... may have used the funds of the store to buy them... B-but they were really good deals, and I can rent them out for extra!"

Raising a brow, Kasen asked, "And what sort of books are these?"

Nearly biting my lip again, I answered, "...They're, uhh... daemon books."

Blinking, Kasen asked, "What? Why on earth would you want to buy daemon books?"

Frowning, I replied, "Why wouldn't I? They're rare books! And they were pretty cheap, all things considered!"

Frowning as well, Kasen asked, " 'All things considered'? What are these things to consider?"

Cringing, I replied, "W-well..."

Raising a brow at my reluctance, Kasen asked, "Yes? Go on."

Nearly biting my lip, but stopping myself short of doing so, I replied, "It's an ancient tengu book of some sort."

Pausing to consider that, Kasen asked, "Did you not say there were a couple? I.E. more than one?"

I flinched at that. "...I did."

Crossing her arms, the ancient once-youkai asked, "Then what was the other?"

Gulping, I answered, "W-well..." I got a bit quiet, mumbling, "It's the Necronomicon."

Furrowing her brows, Kasen asked, "What was that? You'll have to speak up; your hearing isn't as good as I'm used to."

Gulping harder, I simply said, worried about her reaction, "The Necronomicon."

Jumping, Kasen shouted as she got up in my face as well as someone shorter than you can, "What?! The original?!"

Waving my hands defensively, I stammered, "N-no, no! I don't think the entire village would be able to afford something like that, let alone the family store! It is a first generation copy, though." I was quite proud of that fact, and so I couldn't help the smug grin from spreading across my face.

Frowning, Kasen replied, "That book is dangerous. I don't know a lot about books, but even I have heard of that book. Nothing good, either; it's a necromancer's best friend. Necromancers are never a good thing..."

Frowning right back at her, I replied, "It's bad to judge people by their profession alone."

Raising a brow, Kasen asked, "Racist towards youkai, and yet accepting of necromancy of all things...? I'm afraid I haven't seen a stranger combination of beliefs in some time..."

Furrowing my brows, I replied, "I'm not racist."

Sighing, Kasen asked, "Then what are you?"

Thinking a moment, I decided on, "Careful, I guess...?"

Frowning, Kasen pointed out, "You realize that buying the necronomicon is far from careful, right? And just how is that careful?"

Smiling, I replied, "Well, you really hammered it home how much stronger youkai are than me in just about every way. I already knew they were stronger than humans, but wow was I off! Being you has really reinforced my belief that youkai are dangerous, and could easily kill me if they wanted to! So, I'm cautious of youkai."

Raising a brow, Kasen reminded, "You realize that oni are literally the strongest youkai, if you're going by strength of arm. The difference in strength between the next strongest is even larger of a difference between humans and them."

Gulping, I replied, "R-really?"

Nodding, and continuing on, Kasen added, "In fact, there are some youkai that are weaker than humans physically. And, of course, there are some humans that are stronger than many youkai in the mystical arts. Such as that human magician, Marisa. Sure, many youkai are stronger than her, but there are also many weaker than her. It doesn't take much to become stronger than the vast majority of youkai. The guards of the human village are utterly mundane, and yet they can take out the feral youkai that threaten the village, with the proper equipment."

Blinking, I asked, "Really? I always just figured they were there to keep order among the humans... I figured there was no way any of the villagers stood a chance against youkai..."

Smiling, Kasen replied, "Well, now you know, don't you? In fact, any human with the proper knowledge can take on weak youkai." Muttering under her breath, she added, "I'm sure I'll have to demonstrate that by the end of this party..."

Raising a brow, not quite sure if I heard that right, I asked, "What was that?"

Shaking her head, Kasen answered, "Nothing. Anyways, when we enter the party, we're going to have to start using our bodies names. Alright, Kasen? I don't want a repeat of the accident from earlier..."

Sighing, I replied, "That's gonna be really confusing, isn't it...?"

Smiling, Kasen replied, "Well, we have no choice. We can't exactly have people knowing that we're in each other's bodies."

Raising a brow, I asked, "And why not?"

Sighing, Kasen answered, "Because that would raise questions of how it happened. I'm not about to start lying; I'm still an oni. I have my pride. It's just... different from that of most oni."

We continued the rest of the walk in silence, and were soon at the entrance to the party, much merriment going on inside.

Looking to Kasen, I noticed that she seemed a bit nervous about the whole thing, so I patter her on the head with my right hand, and awkwardly said, "Don't worry, ...Kosuzu. I'm sure it'll be fine. What are the odds of anything going wrong?" I was all smiles as I said this.

Chuckling, Kasen replied, "It's not me I'm worried about, Kasen. You don't know how to defend yourself, do you?"

I was about to ask what she meant by that, but then I remembered that she's pretending to be human; I can't rely on her strength if we get in trouble unless it's a last resort "...W-well, I'm sure it shouldn't matter, should it?"

Shaking her head, the oni gone human replied, "You realize that this is a party of youkai, right? There will be youkai beyond this point."

Gulping, I replied, "Ahh." I couldn't help but shiver a bit at the prospect.

Raising a brow, she added, "Man-eaters are among them; you can guarantee that."

Shaking a little now, I replied, "A-ahh..."

Sighing, she hammered one last nail in, "We might even find Rumia; there's no doubt that she's in there."

At the mention of that name, I began to have a flashback of all the stories I had heard as a child. Well, a younger child. 'If you don't go to bed when you're supposed to, Rumia will come gobble you up.' was the one most used. I even could have sworn that I once had one living under my floor. And, needless to say, that terrified me. Rumia terrified me. She still does. It was enough to make my eyes well up with tears, and for my knees to go weak. The only thing that kept me from falling to the ground and sobbing was the strong determination to not show any signs of weakness, or draw attention to me. Heck, I nearly voided my bladder at the prospect of meeting her.

Kasen, noticing my abject terror at the prospect added, "Ohh, don't be like that. You'll be perfectly safe. If either of use were in danger, it would be me, and certainly not from Rumia. She doesn't eat children, or those who have done no wrong. She fancies herself a hero, you know. She even saved Akyuu in one of her past lives.

It wasn't until she had mentioned my friend that I began to calm down. "W-what? She... saved Akyuu? How do you even know that...?"

Chuckling, Kasen replied, "Well, I've talked to both at length, and learned a lot about the both of them. They both remember the event, Akyuu more than Rumia. She was the first human that Rumia saved. A great blob of black suddenly swooped in, gobbling up a would-be rapist before Akyuu knew of her gift. She was just a supposedly ordinary little girl back then."

Eyes widening, and frown deepening, I echoed, "Akyuu was nearly raped?"

Nodding, Kasen replied, "That's right. Humans can be just as bad as youkai after all."

Blinking, I asked, "Is that so?"

From deeper in the party, the voice of a little girl called, "That is so..."

As I spun to face the voice in terror at knowing exactly who that voice belonged to, Kasen asked, "Aren't you thankful that she did what she did?"

Looking to Kasen like a deer in headlights, I swallowed, and replied, "...I-I guess so...? I mean, I never knew that she... did things like that..."

Smiling, Kasen replied, "That's because we humans like to portray her as a monster simply based on the fact that she eats people. Sure, it would be better if she didn't, but isn't that true with most bad things? Things are much better than before she stopped being feral. That's what gave her the bad reputation in the first place; she used to eat people willy nilly. I believe she once ate an entire village, back before the villages banded together."

I unconsciously swallowed at that. "You aren't making her any less scary, you know!"

Chuckling, Kasen replied, "Then fear her; she has earned that much. Just don't let your fear get in the way of living your life. Now, how about we go and earn our prize?"

I looked to Kasen, then the party, then back to Kasen, before nodding. I'm way out of my element, but I don't exactly want to be a youkai. It's only a matter of time before I screw something up for Kasen after all. There must be a reason why she's in hiding.

With that said, we entered the party. There were more youkai than I had ever seen. Which is to say, more than five or so. There were dozens. Sure, I'm sure that most of the ones I've met before now could wipe the floor with these ones, but still. Especially Miss Yukari and Reimu... Reimu's seen more fights than I would like to think about, and never been defeated, at least, as far as I know. Yukari is... strong enough that even mundane people like me can sense her power.

The sheer number of youkai was stifling, and it was enough to easily make me afraid. The fact that most of their eyes were trained on us wasn't exactly something that helped, either. So, I began to remind myself that I could probably punch them through a wall if I had to. I mentally chanted it like a mantra, as we walked deeper into the party. Soon, I was somewhat relaxed about the stares; enough so that I noticed that their eyes weren't on me. They were on 'me'.

Looking around, I was surprised to see that not one youkai was looking at me. They were all looking to Kasen, some of whom were licking their lips hungrily. And that was quite enough to make me worry for different reasons. Not for myself, but for 'myself'; I didn't want my body to get eaten. Then I'd be stuck as a youkai! ...Not to mention that Kasen would be dead. Would she haunt me? I could have saved her! I'm sorry, Kasen! I didn't mean to let you die! ...Wait, I just imagined that happening, didn't I? Looking to Kasen, I confirmed that she was still alive.

And then, not a second later, something shot past us, and she was gone. Looking about wildly, I soon found her to be pinned to the ground by a large horned man. My face lit up with a bright blush. "K-Kosuzu, you can't do that!"

Groaning in pain from under the man, Kasen looked to me, followed by the man, and finally looked dryly to me. "He tackled me." A moment later, she put a progressively larger and larger amount of effort into getting out from under him, and by the time she was able to get out from under him, she was red in the face.

Dusting herself off while panting, Kasen remarked, "There are times when... I wish I were stronger... "

From behind me, a booming male voice asked, "Is that so?" The volume, as well as the contents of that message, were a combination that was enough to make me start, spinning around. I found that there was a wall of blue and tiger stripes before me. A voice originated from a fair bit higher, saying, "Move it, missy." I looked up. And up. And up. And finally found the head of the shirtless horned man before me. A blue man twice my height, and wearing a tiger skin as a loin cloth. Somehow, I knew that he had killed that tiger with his own two hands. Perhaps by stepping on it rather roughly; he's large enough for it, certainly. He had numerous blue and red horns of various shapes upon his head.

With a squeak, I stepped aside, and he began to stomp on by me, each foot fall causing the smallest quake, before another quake took its place. This was the pattern that was applied to every foot step, and I was honestly surprised that his bare feet weren't leaving foot prints in the floor. For her credit, Kasen merely stuck out her tiny chest, and leveled a cold glare at him, as if seeing something that didn't please her. It was honestly surprisingly fierce. I had no idea that I could make a look so... so freaking cool! It was enough to break me out of my stupor that had been applied by the giant of an oni. I mean, really, he was just plain intimidating, to say the least. Downright stupidly large to say a bit more. Seriously, I think bears are smaller than that! Youkai bears!

And then he threw back his head and laughed. I had to cover my ears at the sheer volume of the guffaw. When he was done, he pointed at Kasen with a fat finger and said in his outside voice, "I like you, missy! We ought to drink some time! That's a look you don't see on a little human often!" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Not that I've ever seen a little human. Not that I can remember, anyways!" And then he burst out laughing again. It was as if a bear was laughing, and was louder than what most would expect.

Crossing her arms, and fixing him with an icy look, Kasen replied, "I don't want any trouble." It was honestly hard to hear her over the laughter, but it was enough to silence the infernal sound. And if the stories about oni are true, I mean that in more ways than one; it was like hell had opened a can of laughter. It was surprisingly jovial, all things considered; not as intimidating as you would expect, but the volume was still enough to leave my ears ringing.

Frowning, the oni of an... oni said, "I just wanna give you a chance at true power! Nothing major! Just a little scuffle!" I didn't like the sound of either of those things, to say the least.

As I was about to try and face my fear and tell him to leave 'me' alone, Kasen replied, "...If it will satisfy you."

My eyes widened, and I asked, "W-what?! Ka- Kosuzu, are you sure you want to be doing that?! What if you get hurt? Or worse?!" And by that I meant what if I get hurt or worse. If she were in her own body, I would simply cheer her on from the sidelines. Besides, it's not every day you get to see two oni duke it out. But an oni and a human?! She'll be slaughtered, and I'll have to live my days out as an oni! I don't want that!

Turning to me , the titan of a man said in a dark rumble, "Butt out, missy." He continued to look at me after that, his eyes not showing any anger, as he looked me up and down.

I couldn't help but gulp at when he brushed me off, but that soon turned to curiosity as he lost his hostility. "I-is there something on my face...?"

Stroking his chin, the oni said in a more reasonable volume, perhaps due to mumbling, "I know I've seen her somewhere before..."

And then I realized just how badly I had screwed up. Of all the people I had gotten the attention of, it had to be the most likely kind of person to recognize Kasen's body. Why did I have to speak up?! I nearly bit my lip again, but refrained from doing it, as biting off my lip would only further incriminate me.

Thinking fast, Kasen shouted, "Hey, hornless coward, are we going to fight, or stare at ladies?!" Hornless...? I wonder what that means? Some sort of insult, maybe? It was paired with coward... ...Wait, she's insulting an oni in my body?! Does she have a death wish?! I don't want to be stuck as an oni!

Turning to Kasen with a low rumbling growl that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, he asked in a low voice, at least for him, "What did you call me, human?"

Matching his deadly serious expression, Kasen replied in an equally low voice, "I said that you're a spineless, hornless weakling."

Just as the oni pulled back his arm to throw a punch, Kana appeared between the two of them. Good, she's gonna break this up before 'I' get 'myself' killed. Smiling, Kana said, "Now now, there will be no fighting in the ballroom~" Thank you, Kana! Grinning, she added, "We have a coliseum for that!" ...God dammit, Kana!

Letting his fist drop to his side, the colossus replied, "Then show us this arena, and we'll settle this like men."

Deciding to be pragmatic, Kasen replied, "I'm not a man."

Smirking, the oni replied, "Really? With a body like that, it's easy to make the mistake." ...Okay, that was just mean! I couldn't help but feel my eyes well up a bit at that, while my eyes fell to 'my' chest.

Noticing my tears, Kasen replied, "Really? With such smooth legs, I thought you were a woman." I did a complete 180, going from teary-eyed to snickering, while eyeing his smooth legs. It was quite hard to resist the urge to laugh, but I didn't want his attention back on me, let alone to be dragged into the ensuing fight. While I'm sure that Kasen has to be strong, that guy's also an oni, and has more muscle on him. Wouldn't that make him stronger than her by default? Of course, I'm sure that if Kasen could hear me, she'd be correcting me. Well, if we were alone, anyways.

While he silently fumed at her comment, we all followed after Kana as he muttered about rasms and frasms. I heard a good number of followers coming up behind us, so I turned to look as we walked, and was utterly surprised to see that we had at least a dozen youkai following us, and that number was quickly growing as we went on. Do youkai have nothing better to do than presumably watch a little girl get beaten up by an oni that looks more like what I would expect of an ogre...? And then I noticed a blonde in the crowd that made me sweat. I-Is that Rumia? I couldn't help but gulp subconsciously. And then I realized that it couldn't be, as she lacked the seal in her hair. The stories speak of her wearing a- No, wait, she's fiddling with it in her hands. But why is she so sad looking? You'd think she'd be happy at a place like this... I'm kind of curious, but that's the single youkai that I'm most scared of. Do I dare approach? But then again, I should be there to witness 'my' untimely demise. And, if Kasen does somehow win, to congratulate her. But I'm just as afraid of watching 'myself' die as I am of asking Rumia what's the matter. After all, everyone thinks I'm human. Although, wouldn't someone like Rumia be able to tell the difference? A-and what if she's acting like that one plant? Venus fly trap, was it? This could be some part of some elaborate trap to attract stupid humans with no self-preservation!

But Kasen said that she talked to her... Doesn't that mean that she has to at least be somewhat sociable, contrary to what everyone says about her? I know I'm going to regret it, but... I think I'm going to go ask. Whispering, I shouted, "Hey, Kosuzu, there's something I need to go and do!"

Raising a brow, Kasen whispered back, "What on earth? I didn't think you would have the quote unquote 'balls' to go off alone among youkai... Why the sudden change of heart?"

Nearly nibbling my lip again, I whispered, "W-well, honestly, all of the eyes were on you this whole time, not me..."

Blinking in surprise, Kasen whispered back, "You noticed that? I'm impressed... I figured you would be too terrified to notice such a small detail."

Blushing, I whispered in turn, "H-hey, give me some credit..."

Whispering back, Kasen replied, "I only give credit where credit is due. Credit is only now due, so... Anyways, go do what you must do."

With that said, I nodded, and headed for Rumia, my feet feeling heavier with every step. After what felt like an eternity, I came to the humanoid made of acid, or at least as far as I knew. She was sitting in a corner, her knees hugged to her chest, while toying with the ribbon that would normally be in her hair. It was wrapping around her fingers and trying to tie itself. And then she sniffed the air, before looking to me, and releasing her ribbon, which immediately flew at her head, tying itself back around her hair. "...That... one human...?"

If she had reacted any other way, I might have fled. However, the sheer weight of the loneliness in her tear-stained eyes was enough to make me do otherwise. And I mean literally stained by her tears. Is it just me, or are they black? "W-w-what's w-wrong, Rumia...?"

Blinking, Rumia tilted her head. "Why do you stink of fear?" That was enough to make me sweat a bit. "And sweat..."

I couldn't help but gulp, replying, "W-well, uhh... Ehe..." I tugged at my collar with the weak hand, not wanting to find out how quickly Kasen is able to strip herself. "The reason is-"

Resting her chin on her knees, Rumia interrupted, "You aren't right, are you. Not sure how you aren't, but..." She stood up, and began to size me up, before continuing, "You aren't standing like you." She began to circle me, as if she were a shark circling prey, and sized me up the whole way. "You never used to fear me. What happened?"

I nearly bit my lip again, before asking, "Do you... really want to know?"

Smiling, Rumia replied, "Yeah, I'd like to know, if you're willing to share."

Sighing, I replied, "I'm... not Kasen..."

Snorting, Rumia replied, "Is that so?" That was enough to make me shudder a bit. It wasn't a thing like what I expected of her. It was like there was no fire or energy behind the words at all. As far as I knew, she always said the term with great joy. This time, however, she sounded... empty. "That much was obvious... When you 'get to know' humans as well as I do, you start to notice things that are strange. She wasn't normal. Not by far. She was... more like a youkai, in how she handled herself. You, on the other hand, are more human in how you act. More natural. She was very stiff, too."

The mention of 'getting to know' humans disturbed me a bit. However... she was surprisingly secretive about it. Is it because I'm human? Is it because I'm potential prey? No, somehow, that doesn't feel right. Steeling myself, I asked, "Why are you crying?"

Frowning, Rumia replied, "...It's really quiet over here, you know. Not many people around the corners of the party, it seems."

Blinking, I replied, "...True..." Silence greeted me, while Rumia wiped her teary eyes on her sleeve, staining it with some black. Is it just me, or does she cry oil? ...I wonder if it's flammable.

Frown deepening, Rumia replied, "It's not oil. And I'm not crying. I'm just... leaking." Black gas quickly exited her body's orifices, forming into her trademark sphere.

Eyes widening, I asked, "Y-you can read minds?"

Sighing, Rumia replied, "No, you're just thinking out loud."

I blinked in surprise at the simple answer. "Ohh." Silence once more took over the room, before I asked, "W-why did you avoid the question?"

Silence greeted me for the longest time, and I was going to ask about it, but then she asked, "...What's your name?" I heard a sniffle from inside of the bubble.

It was getting harder by the moment to feel fear towards her as she was now. Sure, normally she's not exactly the most frightening to look at - if not for the red eyes, one might mistake her for a little girl - but the knowledge of what she is - and, of course, what she does - is a bit different. But now? Now I only felt pitty, some caution, and more than a little curiosity. After all, what could the great Rumia be made sad by? She eats people! It can't be something that would be small. Someone must have died that was very close to her. Perhaps a friend? Probably a youkai of some sort. Why would a youkai befriend a human after all? Especially a youkai that eats humans. Realizing I had been staring for the longest time now, saying nothing, I blurted out, "Mootori Kosuzu!" It was only after that I realized my blunder; I had just told a man-eating youkai my name. My family name is well known among the village, what with owning the only book rental shop. From the books that would-be healers need, to how-to guides on farming, our place has it all, and is popular among natives and outsiders alike. And now we even have a couple magical books! Before long, we really will have it all! It will be great! "Muhahahaha!"

After a short pause, Rumia replied, "You're a really strange human... Besides, who says 'the great Rumia' would wanna eat you? Good people give me heartburn..."

Blinking, I asked, "But don't you not have a heart...?"

There was an awkward silence, before Rumia answered, "That is so~ But heart burn doesn't involve an actual heart. Just a stomach."

Thinking a moment, I stroked my chin. "Do you even have a stomach? Or any organ for that matter? I heard you're just a pile of goop in human shape..."

Giggling, Rumia answered, "That is so~ But I have an entire body's worth of organs every full moon! Several, in fact! My record is five~"

Shuddering at the implications of that, if I got that right, I asked to confirm, "You ate five people on the full moon alone...? W-what about the rest of the month?" I know that the moon empowers youkai, but jeez! That's a lot of people! How haven't we run out...?

Not even taking time to think, Rumia answered, "A big, fat zero... The treaty makes sure of that..." She sounded slightly annoyed.

Tilting my head, I asked, "Really...? What treaty...?"

Pausing a moment, the blob of darkness asked, "...You really don't know about it? It's the only thing that keeps your village from being consumed by the youkai..."

Shuddering, I replied, "N-no, I've never heard of it, I don't think..."

Sighing, Rumia reabsorbed the darkness around her, which amounted to her taking a deep breath and inhaling it all. "Over a hundred years ago, one of the two first Hakurei shrine maidens, Hakurei Miko, gathered signatures of all the youkai who held territories. To this day, nobody has tried to overthrow it and return to the old ways, breaking the treaty. In return, there is a supply of humans brought in every month. Once every full moon. Ten live humans set free into the wilds, and quite a lot of human flesh given to every territory holder. It certainly is a good deal, even if they were forced to sign..."

I blinked in surprise at that. "So... I'm safe from youkai?"

Nodding, Rumia replied, "I'm surprised that you would come see me without knowing..."

Before I could reply, my mind suddenly shifted, and I found myself standing before that blue oni, who was now lying on the ground, bleeding from his mouth, with the widest grin on his face. "So?" We were in an arena of some kind, that much I could tell. The stands were full of cheering youkai

Blinking, I rose a brow, and asked, "Yes?" My eyes widened. That wasn't Kasen's voice; that was my voice! I began to pat myself down. That was my tiny chest, and my rear end. My hair wasn't up in buns anymore, but pigtails. I'm me again!

Grinning all the wider, the oni yanked off one of his horns. Shouldn't that hurt...? Knowing the strength of an oni quite well, I wouldn't doubt that it'd be easy to do, though. And then, he did the unexpected, hopping up with more speed than you would expect, and landing with enough weight behind it to send me an inch into the air, causing me to stumble a bit. And then he did something completely strange, and stuck his horn to my head. Within an instant, it suctioned to my forehead, and he let it go with a satisfied nod.

I was about to demand to know what on earth he was doing, but lost that train of thought completely the moment my forehead began to get hotter and hotter, as if the horn were quickly being heated to greater and greater heights. It didn't take long for me to clutch my forehead, and let out horrible screams of pain, falling to the ground, and begging for the pain to end, but it never did. Or so I thought. After a good thirty seconds of torturous pain, the feeling of white-hot horn being pressed into my head ended.

Grinning down at me, he commented, "Jeez, are all humans this noisy when you turn 'em?"

My eyes widened with fear at hearing that, panting raggedly. "N-no, why- No! I can't be an... oni... A youkai... I... no...!"

Frowning, the oni said, "What? You answered yes! Don't be such a big baby, kid."

At that, I balled up on the ground and began to cry. I didn't want this; not one bit.