Disclaimer: One day, all that is before you will still be yours, Zun. Touhou belongs to Zun.

A/N: Updated description, even if M rated stuff is probably able to be filed under 'Shit I already know!' by anyone that has seen the rating. Still a ways off from any actual meaningful developments! Little Usa-usa is about the strength of a stage 2 or 3 fairy when she's in the water. Well, one does not simply gain power over night, so I think her weakness as forgivable! Already one could be surprised by how quickly she passed Flight 101, though flight is rather natural for a fairy.

Yukari: I have to wonder if you might be chasing off potential readers with this bit of information.

Author: ...Should I remove it?

Yuuka: And erase a part of your history?

Yukari: Yes, while it is damaging, it must be kept for propriety's sake.

Author: Well, if you insist.

Yuuka: And we do.

Yukari: Quite. It is already damaging that you corrected the old 'discaimer' typo every time you notice it.

Author: Well, I want everything to be nice and proper. Were you two not just talking about propriety?

Yukari: Smart Aleck.

Author: Now, how about we get on with the show?

Twilight, Cirno's house:

The small dirt-floored shack which Cirno called home was once again filled with the chatter of people. Women, to be more exact. Women in the guise of girls, to further make things all the more truthful. Rumia, Cirno, and Daiyousei were all seated around the table, making small talk about their days, save for Rumia, who hadn't been up for long. As such, she was mostly just listening, as was the norm, and occasionally saying her catchphrase when it was reasonable, as was also the norm. As this was going on, I was stuck cutting up vegetables, while Mystia showed me how to skin a rabbit, with her talons. Of course, multitasking really wasn't a strong suit of mine, so I had to be healed by Rumia once already. The one that had actually caught the rabbit was Rumia, who was all smiles. However, I did notice that we seemed to be making a bit more than before, rabbit not withstanding.

I looked to Mystia, pausing in my chopping. "Hey, umm... Mystia?"

Pausing in sliding her talons along under the skin of the rabbit, Mystia asked, "Yeah~?"

I paused to consider if I should say anything, but shook my head, asking, "Why are we making so much...?" My voice was hushed, my volume low enough to keep from being heard by all but the nearest.

Looking to the rest of our little gathering and finding them to be too busy with their conversation to pay us any mind, Mystia leaned in closer to me, trying to block sound waves from reaching the rest of the group with the back of her hand. As she did so, she whispered, "Ohh, she's just a... friend... of Wriggle's. You wouldn't know her. Keep this on the down-low, though; Wriggle doesn't want everyone to know." Grinning, she added, "It's a surprise~"

I nodded my understanding, and got back to work, chopping a leek. Before long, my part in the creation of dinner was through, and I was now among the group, listening to the others, much like Rumia did, while Mystia simply tended to the cauldron while humming a happy little tune at a low volume.

Before long, the aged wooden door swung open with a creak, drawing attention to the two that were in the doorway. A young, boyish girl with short forest green hair that matched her eyes entered. She had two black, segmented antennae sticking out of her unkempt hair. She wore a poofy sleeved dress shirt, a short cape with red on the inside and black on the outside, poofy black pants that stopped at the knees and black mary janes. With an easy smile, Wriggle said, "Hey, guys! Brought someone I thought you all should meet! I met her last time I was..." She paused. "...Busy." She looked uneasy as she said as such.

At that, all attention went to the taller girl with a pair of raven black wings each as large as her, short black hair, sharp red eyes, and an awkward smile on her face. She wore a short-sleeved dress shirt with poofy shoulders, a black skirt with white frills, and the strangest pair of red shoes. On her hip was a leaf-like fan in the colors of autumn, around her neck an old camera that looked like new, and on her head a tokin with a red string ending in a bead and a tassel on both sides. Along each of the two strings were three poofy fur balls. Waving weakly with her free hand, Aya said, equally weakly, "Ayayaaa... It's... nice to meet you all...?" She seemed uncertain of what to say, really. What could you say when you know that everyone hates you? If it's just one-on-one, she could easily keep someone off balance enough to get information out of them, but with groups, Aya had problems. It didn't help that, being a bird, she didn't really like being cooped up.

Cirno put on a thoughtful expression for a second, before her eyes lit up. "Ohh, I know you! You're that tengu that everyone seems to ha-" Before she could say any more, Mystia had her hand over her mouth from behind with surprising speed. You would think that those wings would slow you down on land, what with the sheer size of them. Mystia's wings, while not quite as large as Aya's, were still quite large, for her size.

At the appearance of a familiar face, I said, "Ahh, I think I remember seeing you are the Yakumo residence, when Yukari-" And then I zipped my lips shut, realizing that Yukari wouldn't want that to get out, and looked like a deer in headlights for a moment, before calming down, and acting like I said nothing, looking off to the side.

Ignoring my sudden stop and Aya's suddenly pursed lips, Wriggle said, "Aya, these are my friends, Cirno, Usagi, Daiyousei, and Rumia! I'm sure all of you know Aya to some degree. Her paper is quite famous, after all."

With a raised a brow, Rumia asked, "Is that so~?"

With a nod, Aya replied, "That's right~"

With a predatory glint in her eye, Rumia asked again, "Is that so~?"

Blinking at the repeated question Aya asked carefully, taking a single step back at the look in her eye, "Yes...?"

Grinning a toothy, shark-toothed grin, Rumia asked one last time, "Is that so~?"

Getting downright nervous now, Aya replied after thinking carefully for a moment, "...Is that soo...?"

Giggling like the little girl she seemed, Rumia replied, "That is so~!"

Completely lost, and yet looking as if she wasn't unused to this, Aya said with confusion, "Rrrright... A-anyways- Wait, why is everyone laughing...?"

Sure enough, everyone had begun to laugh, save for me. It wasn't cruel laughter, but the kind you would have over an in-joke.

Grinning and wiping a tear from her eye, Cirno replied with a chuckle, "Why does that always seem to work?"

Hardly containing her laughter, Mystia said, "You know, your face was almost as funny as Usagi's~"

I couldn't help but giggle, despite feeling a little sorry for the poor crow. It was nice to not be the focus of the joke.

With her hands on her hips, and her little chest puffed out, Cirno declared, "Ahh, it's been too long since I had a good laugh, like that!" Chuckling, she continued, "And now you're an honorary member of Team 9! Way to go, Aya!" Of course, her saying that hardly abated Aya's confusion.

Grinning beside Aya, Wriggle smack her on the back. "I knew you could do it, Aya!"

Aya blinked, utterly baffled. "I... Huh? What did I do...?"

Grinning, Rumia shouted, "Pass!" She didn't elaborate whatsoever, which simply deepened Aya's confusion.

Trying to reign in her confusion, Aya carefully asked, trying to get a strait answer, "What did I... do to pass...?" It didn't work so well.

Giggling, Rumia replied, "You answered correctly, my questions three!" She, of course, wasn't helping in the least.

Blinking, Aya asked, "Wha-" However, a guttural roar interrupted her, and I quickly hid behind Cirno, while Aya looked mortified.

Grinning playfully, Wriggle teased, "Looks like little Aya is quite hungry, huh?" Of course, she was talking about someone a full head taller than her.

Grinning teasingly, Mystia chirped, "I suppose we should defeat the youkai in her belly before Usagi piddles herself, huh?"

As there wasn't quite enough room at the table, Cirno improvised; a second table, this one made of ice, was created away from the other table. As nobody but Cirno and I particularly liked the cold that the table produced, we were sure to set it a ways away from the others, or at least as far as we could, what with this somewhat tiny home. The other table, which was made of wood, was still slightly cramped, but it was better than having to touch people that are warm. I had the strangest shudder at the thought, confusing myself. When you have them both share a table, things really start to get out of hand. However, there was one silver lining; Wriggle shared Aya's space, just about forcing Aya to wrap a wing around the girl. Although, with just how close together the two of them were, Wriggle had penetrated rather deeply into Aya's personal space, and even went so far as to mess with her feathers a bit, marveling at their exquisite softness.

It was, of course, a bit awkward for Aya, what with not being used to being touched to much of an extent; normally she would be the one doing the touching. It was plain to see that Aya spent a great deal of her time preening and otherwise bathing herself to keep them this nice. The only point that had obviously missed some care was the portion of the wings closest to her back, as it would simply be difficult to reach them. This, of course, gave Wriggle an idea. Why not deepen her bond by helping her care for them? Of course, she would have to save that for later, but it was a thought that could bear fruit.

Patting her belly, Rumia said with a wide, happy grin in her face, "Wow, was that rabbit tasty!" Looking thoughtful a moment, she looked to me. "No offense, Usagi."

Blinking, I replied, "Uhh... None taken...?"

Continuing as if she hadn't interrupted herself, Rumia said, "The last time I had any meat was the last full moon... And it's been even longer since we've shared meat..."

Shuddering, Mystia replied, "Well, we don't exactly want you bringing that meat here..."

Blinking, Aya replied, "Ayaya... Meat is that rare down here? In the mountains, meat is plenty common! Perhaps, if you would have me again, I could catch a doe, or a rabbit from time to time. Heck, we even have wild goats, horses, and a few rare cattle, all just roaming free! Although, most of them would be a bit much. A horse or a cow-" And then, Rumia tackled her to the ground in a tight hug.

Without any hint of sarcasm, Rumia replied, "Meat! I would do anything for you if you brought meat, while we enjoy your wonderful company!" Rumia lifted herself up onto her hands, the small youkai pinning Aya to to ground with her weight, droplets of black drool dripping from Rumia's mouth onto Aya's face like a light drizzle of tar.

So her drool is black...

Pushing Rumia's tiny body off of her with a bit of effort, Aya wiped her face clean of the slime, making sure not to get any on her clothes. She knew quite well how badly it stained; it was somewhat akin to ink. Muttering to herself mostly, she said, "I think I'll bring a horse tomorrow, just out of curiosity, really..." Everyone's faces lit up like a candle at the prospect of meat, all of them salivating a bit at the thought. Of course, catching a horse was no trouble for the fastest in Gensoukyou, but the delivery may prove more difficult. It wasn't the weight, but the size, that would be an issue. The strength of an ancient tengu is rarely matched.

Of course, I had little idea what a horse was, but I just assumed it to be tasty. The lessons that Ran gave me were far from all-encompassing.

Looking to Wriggle, Aya said, "Hey, Wriggle. Could you help me carry it? I mean, I could carry it alone, but I would likely get a bit bloody... You could stay at my house tonight, as I doubt you could get there on your own. All I'd have to do is either sneak you in, or get a... friend to help out in getting you clearance. I doubt she would do it, so I think the sneaking option would be for the best. What do you say?" Aya grinned widely.

Wriggle nodded her assent. "I would be honored."