It wasn't too often that we went to festivals, although Ran-Mama was insistent we go to one. However, she could never persuade Old Lady Yukari to come with us but that old woman insisted Reimu come with us. I was hoping she'd say no but, no, she said yes instead and herded her out like she was pup, fashioning a crimson cord to her like a leash. Just like the old bitch not to come with us, as she never goes to festivals, why she goes was something I never knew.

Reimu seemed to be happy going to the festival, then again, what kid wasn't? If anything, she was too happy, so happy that I thought someone'd eat her to put an end to it. Of course, that didn't happen, as Ran and Ren kept a close eye on her and the pups, however, Reimu is too damn curious, as she boldly approached an oni. Yukari never talked about humans much but it isn't weird to think that only dumb ones would go near a youkai without second thoughts, even if they knew them. Yet, she did and reached up to play with Suika's horns, which made her say, "Moo!"

We were confused until Suika said, "I've seen humans hang around these horned things that go 'Moo', dunno what they're called but I know that is the noise they make." Ran and Ren looked at each other confused, leaving Ran to say, "So, Reimu thinks you're a cow?" As we figure out, she didn't know what those are, then again, youkai usually don't raise cows, just pigs or, for that matter, chickens, so she figured they were called "Moos", saying, "Oh, so ya' mean moos."

"No, Suika, they're not called 'moos', they are called 'cows'. 'Moo' is the sound they make and we don't know if Reimu knows what cows are."

"Well, 'cows' go moo, so I guess they were called 'moos' and humans do hang around the things that go moo."

"Yes, yes, that is true but only if they're farmers and we don't know if Reimu's ever heard or seen a cow before.

"Well, it made sense to say, um, 'moo' 'cause humans hang around them and she's a human."

"Like I said, humans do keep cows but not all of them do. It's farmers mostly."

"Moo!"

"What kinda farmer keeps the things that go 'moo'?"

"Human farmers do."

"Weird, why not pigs or chickens?"

"Human farmers do keep pigs and chickens, some more often than others."

Apparently, Reimu, in that pebblebrain of hers figured all oni make that sound, as she said, "Moo!" to Yuugi, who gave the response of, "Weird pet you have there." I guess she didn't mind that, then again, what is annoyance to me is amusing to her, as she picked her up and held her in her hand. She also didn't seem to mind that Reimu was chewing at one of her fingers, asking, "Is she normally this friendly?" Not really sure as to where she could see biting as a friendly gesture, as that little asshole bit me and it was anything but friendly. Of course, Yuugi just laughed and said, "It tickles, I swear, I never met a human this friendly." Ran did point out that she was rather shy and standoffish, however, sometimes, she would want very much to approach someone new, especially when there are many others. Doesn't explain why she was so mean to me.

After the "friendly" gesture, she introduced herself to Reimu, who, in turn, introduced herself, "Mu!" At first, I thought she was saying, "Moo!" again, however, she was actually saying the last syllable of her name, which sounded the same. Either way, Yuugi did note of how polite she was. After an awkward conversation, we left the oni to their business and, as we walked away, I asked, "How the hell could Yuugi think that her biting was something friendly?"

"Well, that is because Reimu was just playing with her. Her bites were intended to be playful."

"She's not playing with me."

"Hmmph, well, what goes around, comes around."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Chen, you haven't been nice to her and she knows you don't like her, so her treatment of you would be thus."

Quietly, I was seething. Ran-mommie brought her home and, now, we're supposed to act like she's one of us. Could have just left her alone, where she found her, but, nooo, Ran just had to be nice. She's always been soft, always, and because of that, we gotta deal with a little nuisance who makes an ass out of itself. She's supposed to be on my side but, no, not this time, she stuck up for her. I made the misfortune of letting Ren see my expressions, as he made note to bop me on the head, saying, "I know what you're thinking and I don't like it."

Reimu got curious again, running to Yuuka and headbutting her on the calf. Yuuka was surprised, yet she showed no anger, reaching down to put her head. "Greetings, dearie." she said, picking her up, running her fingers through her wispy hair. Reimu was somewhat confused by the gesture, so she took her fingers and ran them through Yuuka's hair. As she noted, Yuuka hasn't had a chance to formally meet her and figured Reimu was mimicking the gesture as greeting. Of course, greetings and meetings came with introductions, something Yuuka always considered important, she introduced herself and was responded in kind. "My, Reimu is quite a sweet."

Again, she was found endearing, then again, maybe she had some sort of malign power. As much as I didn't like her, I couldn't think of her having something like that, it just didn't feel right, however, some of the youkai we've met at this festival found her endearing. Of course, she's a human and humans are not endearing in the slightest sense, especially not this little asshole.

As we enjoyed ourselves, we've met Satori and, her wall-eyed twin sister, Koishi. Reimu approached them, too. Being that Satori can read minds, she didn't detect anything malign, actually, she detected something more on the lines of, "Hello!" and "I am very happy to see you." She responded to her thoughts and said, "It's lovely to meet you, too. I am Satori and this is my sister, Koishi." Koishi, unlike Satori, is more on the level of Reimu and they had no trouble conversing, except it was in dance. Why they danced was something that I couldn't comprehend but, apparently, the satori also communicated through dance. This must be the case, as Satori said, "Really, now? We're flattered."

Well, apparently, she didn't take long to understand cultures here. At the same time, I never did understand why she learned so quick to adjust, then again, she had all winter to learn, after all, she's been around nothing but yokai. However, I made the mistake of letting Satori hear my thoughts, as she said, "I know what you are thinking and, frankly, I am not feeling particularly well. Thoughts like yours are not the ones I like to read." She bid us good evening and Koishi gave Reimu a sweet.

"Mmm-hmm. I figured you were being belligerent for no reason." Ran said. I protested, arguing my case, to which she said, "Your actions aren't belligerent, its your thoughts that are and, frankly, you had better get used to the idea because she is here to stay and that's that." I stayed quiet for a bit, puzzling the nuisance. The kits weren't quiet, especially Fuyu, to whom Reimu enjoyed a conversation with. I saw it why it confused her, as other youkai are talkative during the festival.

As we continued walking, she saw Mamizou and growled. It was puzzling because she was friendly to everyone else, except me, but she didn't react that hostily to me. Fortunately, she was held by that cord, as if she had bitten her ankles or tail, then that wouldn't have ended so nice. Of course, Mamizou is a sort that responds exactly as she sees, in which case, she showed aggression. At that moment, the runt remembered that she was a human and acted at humans would, in which case, she picked up a rock that was roughly the same weight she was and hit her with it. At first Ran didn't know why she was attacking this tanuki but then it dawned on her that Reimu was being played a trick and wasn't responding well. Tanuki, like the kitsune, like to play pranks and are just known for it, however, while some youkai are tolerant, often seeing through it, Reimu was not and didn't like impostors much. "Begone," Ran said, "and leave the child alone."

We continued, Reimu going back to her nice, calm, happy self, curiously greeting the real Mamizou, who gave her peach and went on her merry way. Once again, she had the effect and I couldn't understand why she was so endearing to those who met her. If Yukari had come with us, maybe she could explain but, no, she didn't want to come. She never wants to come and she never gives any reasons as to why, however, on this occasion she wanted Reimu to go.

After enjoying and biding our time, we came home, with Yukari, doing something textile related, asking, "So tell me, how did it go?" Ran went on to state that she could have come outside and enjoyed the festival as it most certainly was fun and she went on to say how Reimu got along well with everyone.

"Sore wa jinseidesu." she said, "That is well and good. It's nice that she's had a lovely time." She went back to her textiles, however, she did bid the others goodnight but requested that I'd stay behind and help her with her textiles. "I heard about how you were at the festival and I want very much to talk about it." Of course, I made the mistake of calling her bitch, to which I found her saying, "Chen, be minded that I have a switch and you know that isn't my name, do you?"

"Yes."

"Okay, good, I wanted much to talk about how you've been at the festival and, frankly, I think it was unacceptable."

"Okay, how so?"

"Well, because it was Ran's choice to bring her here, hmm."

"And, just because someone didn't want her didn't mean we had to have he-!"

"Silence! You watch your mouth!"

"..."

"Now, while that is true, the same could be said about you."

"Huh? How?!"

"Well, humph, I thought you knew. Ran, a kitsune, didn't give birth to you, a nekomata, however, that fact never did change her love for you, as her child."

"...Mmm."

"Yes, you knew that you two were of different species, however, we all know that she didn't give birth to you, that's for sure. "

"Okay, well-"

"Well, nothing. You became her child and that was that."

"There is something you aren't telling."

"You are right."

"What is it?"

"Well, someone didn't want you."

"...!"

"Yes, that is true, someone didn't want you but whether or not that was the case never mattered, not to Ran. No, it didn't and, as you can tell, I didn't give birth to Ran, either, but I didn't care, yet it never mattered. For someone who doesn't want something, there is someone who does. Sure, the humans don't want Reimu and were quick to abandon her to die but, where there is cruelty, there is kindness. Of course, other youkai may find Reimu endearing, then again, they usually don't see a live human child and likely find her as fascinating as she does them. Reimu's here to stay and that is that. Now off to bed."

Authoress Note: Sorry, ya'll. Anywho, I hope ya'll have happy holidays. Also, "Sore wa jinseidesu." means "It's life." - Amoridere