"Ran, how are our newest additions doing? Did they have any trouble fitting in with the locals?"

Ran had spent the majority of her life as her mistress's Shikigami. She could barely remember her life before being bound to her mistress, but she recalled having been in relations with various prominent figures of different empires throughout the course of history. Like many Shikigami, she preferred not to think about her life before being in the employ of her mistress. Although, she could not help but use the term 'employ' loosely.

"They have adjusted well," Ran replied, answering her mistress's question in the briefest manner. She then opened her mouth to further elaborate, saying, "they've acquainted themselves with the half-Hakutaku from the village as well as the white-haired immortal woman from the bamboo forest. A certain nosy crow had also introduced herself to them, pestering them for interviews that were used in one of her papers."

"I see. That's good." One of the Great Sages of Gensokyo said in a way that was intended for herself, but her Shikigami could not help but pick up her mistress's words. "I'm glad that our newest additions are fitting in quite well and peacefully into their new homes." From underneath the fan, she had unfurled, a smirk formed across her face.

"Yukari-sama…" Ran began, her countenance calm but obvious in conveying her need to be inquisitive. "The reason why you allowed those men into Gensokyo… is it because of what is happening in the village?"

"Hm~" There's the mistress Ran was familiar with. Always one for double-speak. Sometimes, even she couldn't keep up with what went through her mistress's head.

Their residence in Mayohiga was probably the quietest place in all of Gensokyo. Not even the Sanzu River was as quiet as the Gap Youkai's house located somewhere around the Great Hakurei Barrier, with all the spirits and souls frequenting the place. The mansion was traditional in every sense of the word, but over the course of the past few years, its owner had seen fit to make several improvements to the place. Improvements being modern appliances that would further enable her mistress's slothful habits.

Even after being Yakumo Yukari's Shikigami for so long, Ran still couldn't grasp how her mistress's mind worked. This made for a rather frustrating moment every time an incident – at least the ones that her mistress had no hands in starting – happened. Still, she'd sworn her loyalty to the Gap Youkai all those years ago. Her transformation into a Shikigami might have caused her memories prior to being one to disappear, but she was a hundred percent sure that whatever woman she was before, she was better off under her mistress's servitude.

"If you are that curious, Ran," the Kitsune's vulpine ears twitched from underneath her oddly styled cap upon hearing her mistress speak, "their presence in Gensokyo will be monumental in aiding its current peacekeepers. You are smart, Ran. Even before I met you, you're one of the smartest beings to have ever graced the Earth." Her mistress never failed to look elegant and dignified, even as she was draped over a dozen layers of self-heating blankets with the lower half of her body buried underneath their kotatsu.

Although Ran appreciated the compliment and the genuine words her mistress gave her, she couldn't help but wonder the implications behind them.

It's almost winter; almost time for her mistress to hibernate. Usually, her mistress would be busiest right around this period in time. It made sense, after all, it was the only time that Gensokyo's true protector was… absent thus making it vulnerable. Perhaps vulnerable was not the best choice of word.

Yet, for some reason, her mistress seemed to be taking things easy this time. It made Ran think of whether or not it had anything to do with the men her mistress had allowed entry into Gensokyo. She could only assume.

"What do you think? Not bad, eh?"

Kamishirasawa Keine was not used to being surprised. Having lived a longer life than the humans she'd sworn to protect, she'd the chance of witnessing things that most people could not hope to imagine. Then again, she was in Gensokyo…

Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto had snuck into the village about two weeks ago in search for her and were hoping that she could help them with a little project of theirs. They explained how they couldn't solely rely on her immortal friend's kindness and mooch off her living space. Keine figured this would happen, but what she didn't expect was their decision to actually build a home for themselves… in the Forest of Magic. What they asked for her was recommendations on where to get building supplies, which was strange because Outsiders had rarely – or just never – asked of that.

She helped by referring them to a carpenter who lived in the village. She had to vouch for them and aid in convincing the carpenter to provide his services for them. Thankfully, the negotiations went well. She asked them where they were going to build their house and when she heard that they're going to build it in the Forest of Magic she had nearly tripped while standing still. Not only was it one of the most dangerous places in Gensokyo, she hadn't expected them to know about it in the first place.

As it turned out, Mokou told them of the place, which made sense. She asked them why didn't they just build one near the village or the bamboo forest, but they told her that they much rather preferred being in the forest. Something along the lines of 'being in their element'. Keine didn't really bother asking them to elaborate and then wished them luck in building their home. And, now, she was standing right in front of the results of their labor and hard work.

The design of the newly built building reminded her of her own house, only much larger. The front door was a sliding door that led to the foyer. The floors were wood furnished and looked like they had been done by a very skilled professional. The same goes for the walls, rooms, roof, and they even built a porch in their backyard. There were even signs of landscaping having been done!

"This is amazing," the teacher praised, "how did you manage to do this in a relatively short amount of time?"

"Well," the blonde man chuckled before answering, "let's just say that both my friend and I have a few tricks up our sleeves."

Keine wasn't surprised at the cryptic answer, rather, she'd expected it. "Regardless, it's amazing that you're able to build something as fine as this. I hope that the carpenter didn't charge you too much for the materials?"

"Oh, he didn't," Naruto told her, all the while gesturing her to sit down on the living area of the house.

"What did you pay him with?"

"We had a few trinkets to offer him at our disposal. He looked happy with what little we gave him."

Keine smiled. "Yes. Most businesses are slowing down in the village due to the coming of winter, so the materials the carpenter gave you must be whatever leftovers. It's mighty kind of you to still offer him something."

"Hey," Naruto brushed off the teacher's words with a sheepish wave of his hand, "anything I can do to help the people around here." He told her, showing her his pearly whites in the process. "Speaking of people… is the situation in the village still…?"

The teacher did not even have to let the former Hokage finish his implications. "Unfortunately, things are still… tense." She settled with the word, finding it appropriate. "But, I guess things aren't as tense as they were when you folks arrive; more so before that."

The silence hanged around for a moment, descending into the room like an all-encroaching fog. Keine failed to realize how exhausted she'd made herself look in front of the man, which only allowed him to get a better grasp of how she's feeling. Between her duties as the village's protector and her own responsibilities as a school teacher, it was only natural that she would be fatigued; especially when paranoia was still prominent.

"You must be tired."

Keine was flustered for a moment, realizing that her expression was slipping. She looked at the mysterious man seated across her.

Despite having been in Gensokyo for around two weeks now, she'd barely known anything about him; much less his gloomier compatriot. Out of the two, it was obvious that Naruto was the easier person to talk to. It made her think that he had experienced or was at least familiar with talking to people. She meant it in a consultative manner, but it could probably be interpreted in other ways. The blonde man, from what little interactions they had, seemed to be an amicable if not downright cheerful character.

He didn't find Mokou's coldness and wariness of him and his friend as offensive, rather, he had pretty much acted as if she'd never shown it. Even when they were at the village Chief's office, he didn't seem upset or angry that he was being denied a place at the village.

"You know," he began, "I once was told that you can't protect anything if you don't know how to take of yourself. My secretary told me that. And my wife. And my mentor. Everyone, really. Those days… so long ago, yet I can still remember them as if it was yesterday." Keine, for a moment, likened him to her students who were now in their elderly. Maybe herself too. It's complicated for folks like them; old but not old.

"From the little time I've gotten to know you, I can tell that you take your job as the village's protector seriously. Mokou-san talked about you and how much you cared for your students, even with your duties."

The corner of the man's lips seemed to have stretched further, making his smile all the more evident. "You reminded me of someone in that sense, hell, he was also a teacher!"

"Is that so?"

"Yup! He can be scary and annoying at times, but he's a big softie inside. He cared for his students, really, to the point where he's willing to trade his life for even his worst student's." Keine barely caught the dip in his expression. "If… if people like him… people like you exist, then I'm sure the village is in good hands."

The stigma that persisted in Gensokyo surrounding Youkais had existed ever since its creation decades ago. Keine, being a hybrid of both humans and Youkai, did not have it easier back then. In fact, she had it far rougher than any regular Youkai due to her hybrid status. She did not belong in either side; not a Youkai, yet not human entirely. Despite the way people treated her back then, she was still determined to protect them. It was not an easy task. Not at all, especially in the early days. Regardless, she remembered those days vividly, and she would not trade them even for a single moment.

And, just from speaking with him at the moment, she got the feeling that the man before her could understand her feelings on the matter.

"…if you don't mind me asking, Sasuke-san, has Naruto-san always been so…"

Sasuke, who had been helping around in the village, was currently accompanying a certain school teacher on an errand from the village Chief. He heard from Naruto that she'd visited their new abode a few days earlier and now circumstances led to him helping her, but he did not mind lending his assistance to those who needed it.

He had his own judgment to make about the teacher, but it had been nothing but positives. In a way, it gnawed on his paranoia; but perhaps that was just his negative side talking.

"…so easy to get along with?" Sasuke finished the woman's sentence for her.

"Huh? Y-Yeah…"

"…"

Keine received no response from the standoffish man. She thought he wouldn't bother to further elaborate his response until he spoke up again.

"That person had nothing," Keine heard him speak, "and what little he had could not be considered good."

Keine's eyes blinked, letting Sasuke's words sink in.

"No one was particularly good to him either, only a handful of people bothered to give him the time of their day. This meant he'd purposefully get himself into trouble just so that people would notice him. But, like any other kid, he didn't like being disliked by people."

The black-haired man paused on his track, head canted so that he could give her a look.

"Forging bonds is what that person does best; even to the point where it can be annoying."

That was the first time Keine saw something resembling a smile on Uchiha Sasuke's face.

Hear ye, hear ye!

The next chapter will feature some more characters from the cast! Stack your bets on who do you think will appear!