Chapter 6: The Child of Miare
It is a peaceful night in the Human Village. Most residents are sleeping peacefully, except for Kosuzu. The girl is seen in front of her desk, reading her newest Demon Book.
"Man, this book is interesting..." she remarks as she is yawning from the drowziness coming upon her. Being tired of keeping herself up all night, Kosuzu soon falls asleep, not realizing that the Demon Book is beginning to glow, then a shadowy figure of an another girl emerges from the light. Her features are unseen, but she is clearly having fox-like ears and a tail.
"Gigigigi... thanks for freeing me from my prison, Human girl." the figure giggles as she picks up the book and quickly disappears.
...
The next morning, in Kourindou. Both Rinnosuke and Nijiko has just finished breakfast, and the latter is about to begin her daily schedule.
"Akimitsu-san, can you go to the Human Village and buy some food? We are currently quite low on supplies." the half-Yokai shopkeeper tells his assistant.
"Just leave it to me, Morichika-kun." Nijiko replies as Rinnosuke gives her the list of what should she bring, including eggs, milk and break. The heterochromatic girl washes the dishes and cleans up after breakfast, before heading to her bike.
"Okay, be careful and try to not get into any trouble." Rinnosuke says as his assistant readies herself to go.
"Got that!" Nijiko gets onto her bicycle. "Okay, I am off!"
The half-yokai shopkeeper glances after the black-haired girl as she leaves. He recalls the moment Sakuya noticed how the shop became more organized ever since Nijiko became his assistant, followed by a moment where he saw her training her Magic with Marisa.
"I have never thought Akimitsu-san would be such a dedicated girl. She is working so hard regarding both her job and her Magic. I hope nothing bad happens with her..." he thinks.
...
Then we see Nijiko cycling on the road towards the Human Village. She pays her attention to looking forward, concentrating on reaching her destination, the Human Village. Some time later, she reaches the village gate, where she sees Keine speaking with some villagers.
"Please Keine-san, help us!" one of the villagers says. They all look troubled. "My hatchet was stolen last night."
"And so was my comb." and another one adds, this time a woman. "It has disappeared this morning."
"Hmm, these thefts are beginning to be more frequent..." Keine replies with a thoughtful look on her face. "I promise I am going to take care of this incident."
"Keine-san, good morning!" Nijiko waves to her as she walks to her.
"Oh, Akimitsu-san! Good morning. What brings you here this time?"
"I am going on a shopping errand, since we are low on food supplies back in Kourindou."
"Oh, I see. However, be careful. Since last night, mysterious thefts occured in the village and the perpetriator havent been caught yet."
"Thefts?!" Nijiko cringes a bit as she hears about it.
"Yes." Keine nods. "You should pay attention especially on your so-called bicycle. Strange items such as that sure bound to get unwanted attention."
"Okay, thanks for the advice." the heterochromatic girl replies, as she is about to enter the village, but visibly nervous. The last thing she wanted to be stolen was this precious bicycle, which is very important in traversing between Kourindou and the Human Village. "I hope the thief will be caught sooner or later. Good luck!"
"Thanks a lot and have a good day!" the history teacher replies and waves after Nijiko as she enters the Human Village.
After the meeting with Keine, Nijiko walks through the village, while visiting several shops to buy supplies. The villagers have been very helpful to her, even giving her advices for new recipe ideas, among other things. As she has left the last shop, the heterochromatic girl places her full bag into the basket of the bicycle and glances at the village.
"It is such a blissful place. Who knew the Human Village could be this refreshing compared to the noisy metropolis of Tokyo..." she then trailed off and frows. Comparing the Human Village to Tokyo triggered her homesickness again. "I hope I would be able to go home somehow soon."
"Excuse me! Are you per chance, Nijiko Akimitsu?" a voice suddenly adresses her.
"Ah!" Nijiko gets startled and tumbles over, since she was snapped out of her thoughts so suddenly. She then looks up, spotting the person who spoke to her: it was Hieda no Akyuu, the girl who was seen visiting Kosuzu after she left Suzunaan during her first visit in the Village.
"Uh, sorry if I startled you." Akyuu helps the heterochromatic girl up.
"No problem, I am always this jumpy since a certain Beetle Yokai keeps startling me." Nijiko sighs. "By the way, yes, I am Nijiko Akimitsu. Nice to meet you." she bows.
"My name is Hieda no Akyuu, nice to meet you, too."
Hearing the name, Nijiko is surprised. Such an archaic-sounding name.
"Akimitsu-san, do you have some spare time?" Akyuu asked.
"Well I have just finished my shopping errand, so... why not..."
Nijiko was curious, but a bit vary at the same time. What does this girl want from her? Judging from her aura she was human, but hers came off as a bit unique... similar to Sakuya. However, something in her gut said she can trust her.
"Are you okay, Akimitsu-san?"
"Oh, yeah.. ." Nijiko snaps out of her thoughts and follows Akyuu
Soon, they arrive at a large mansion, similar to the houses the wealthy had in medivial Japan. Our heroine wonders at the impressive building:
"Wow..."
"Welcome to my home, the Hieda House." Akyuu replies.
"I had no idea you live in such a beautiful home." Nijiko remarks.
"Well, my family is one of the wealthiest in the Human Village."
The black-haired girl then leaves her bicycle outside while brings her bag with herself, as they enter the mansion.
"Welcome back, Akyuu-sama." a maid welcomes them.
"This is my newest aquitance, Nijiko Akimitsu-san. Please, be sure to make her free home." Akyuu replies.
"Thanks for having me." Nijiko bows.
"Our pleasure, Akimitsu-san."
"Please, make us some tea. You can find us in my room."
"Understood, Akyuu-sama."
Nijiko then follows Akyuu to her room. Much to her surprise, she sees books and scrolls in many places, many of them containing old texts.
"Wow, so many books and documents! As if I have entered into a minor library." she remarks.
"My family records the history of Gensokyo for generations." Akyuu remarks as she offers a place to Nijiko to sit. "In fact, it also has to do with the reason I wanted to meet you, Akimitsu-san."
"Huh?" the black-haired girl looks at Akyuu quizzally as she sits down onto her knees in front of her. "You wanted to meet me?"
"Ever since I spotted you leaving Suzunaan a few days ago and heard Kosuzu-chan telling about you, I figured you are not ordinary."
"Wow, you know Motoori-san?"
"Yes, we are close friends, because we both equally love books." Akyuu says with a smile, then her expression shifts to serious. "Say Akimitsu-san. Are you from the Outside World?"
This question catches our heroine off-guard. How did she figure out?
"Well.. yes but... how did you know?"
"As the Child of Miare, I have the ability to remember everything I have seen and heard. The fact, that I have not seen you around here before, your vehicle being a strange one which Motoori-san only red about in books from the Outside World and you being the assistant of Morichika-kun, recently getting work in Kourindou which specializes on items coming from that World. Considering all of it, it was easy to figure out that you are not native in Gensokyo."
"Oh..." Nijiko is impressed, but a bit scared at the same time. "Child of Miare, what does that mean?"
"Within the Hieda family, a child is born in every 100 – 150 years with the ability of recalling everything they have seen, through a reincarnation process known as the Miracle of Miare." Akyuu explains.
"Wow, reincarnation..." our heroine marvels.
"So Akimitsu-san, would you mind if I ask you, how did you come to Gensokyo?"
"Well, it began more than a week ago, after my birthday. That evening after dinner, I have spotted a Bakeneko in our courtyard. I am aware that most people in my homeworld is not able to see ghosts and Yokai, but I have the ability to see the auras of other people, which include Yokai. Curious, I have followed the Bakeneko, until it disappeared within a gap. Then the gap sucked me in and I have found myself here in Gensokyo. Shotly after, I was attacked by a Yokai named Rumia, but was saved by Mari-san and Hakurei-san. They brought me to the Hakurei Shrine, where I learned that an another Yokai, named Yukari Yakumo was responsible from bringing me here. And much to my chagrin, she refused to send me home..."
"So it was Yukari, huh?" Akyuu thinks for a moment. "Normally, the Hakurei Shrine is the place where people from the Outside World can be sent back home. However, Yukari plays a big role in that with her ability. I guess there has to be a reason for her keeping you in Gensokyo."
"And do you know, what could be that reason?" Nijiko asks.
"Unfortunately not. Yukari is very unpredictable to say the least. You would never know, what she is thinking. Maybe it has to do with your ability."
"My ability?"
"Yeah. She may have seen some kind of potential in you, but this is just my theory."
"Some kind of potential, huh?" Nijiko says in her mind.
"Okay then, can you please go on with your story?"
"Oh, right. Afterwards, Mari-san and Hakurei-san at first planned to have me live in the Human Village. However, we stopped by Kourindou, since Hakurei-san had to have her clothes fixed. When I saw all of those items, I was inmediately reminded of my home. Seeing it, Mari-san suggested that I could work there, then her and Hakurei-san managed to convince Morichika-kun to employ me as an assistant. Since then, I have been working there, doing several stuff, such as cleaning and running errands."
"Hmmm, Reimu-san and Marisa-san must have said something really convincing to Morichika-kun to have him employ you considering his personality..."
"Ah, Morichika-kun must be dense, but at heart I think she is a pleasant person."
"Oh, okay..." Akyuu is seen writing down something onto the paper in front of her. "Then next question: How do you cope with the life in Gensokyo?"
"Well, I must admit, I kinda like it. I have managed to get some friends, like Mari-san and Motoori-san... however, I am still afraid of the Yokai roaming around. Luckily, Mari-san is teaching me Magic, so I can protect myself."
"Huh, Magic? What kind?" Akyuu asks, being curious.
"Light Magic. Let me demonstrate." Nijiko replies and puts her hands together in front of her, concentrating. The familiar rainbow-colored light sphere appears between them. The current Child of Miare looks on with awe:
"Wow, it is so beautiful with these dazzling colors!"
"Yeah, everything which I produce with my Magic, gets this rainbow colors." Nijiko explains. "According to Mari-san, it is probably due to my personal Spiritual Power. Although I am still learning it, so aside from a big flash, this is the best I can do for now."
"I see. So, currently you are working in Kourindou as an assistant, and you are a Magician-in-training at the same time. Impressive." Akyuu continues to writing things down, which Nijiko notices:
"What are you writing?"
"I am recording our conversation. As a Child of Miare, it is my job to collect and compile information about different kinds of Yokai and everything related to them, including certain events occuring in Gensokyo. This including you, considering that Yukari of all people took an interest in you and Marisa-san teaches you Magic. As a chronicler, this is something I cannot let to fly by."
"Oh..." the heterochromatic girl is about to say something, but falls silent looking at Akyuu. Despite being in her twenties, the Child of Miare looked like she have the wisdom of centuries and knows what she is doing. Something that Nijiko did not have the courage to question.
"Alright, I am done for now." the lavender-haired girl stands up. "Thanks for the cooperation, Akimitsu-san."
"Well, you are welcome. It seems I have learnt some new things today as well." Nijiko replies and also stands up. "I think I have to go now, Morichika-kun may be wondering where I am."
As they are leaving the room, Akyuu gives Nijiko her bag which contains the food supplies. They are going outside, when...
"Hey, where is my bike?!" the heterochromatic girl is shocked to see that her vehicle is missing.
"It must have been the mysterious thief, who showed up last night." a maid says. "Some vegetables were stolen from our garden by the morning as well."
Nijiko then remembers what Keine said earlier about the thief. She cannot believe, how careless she was despite the warning. Still, she has to find the bike, otherwise she would be in a great trouble.
"We... must find it. It is the only way I can traverse quickly between the Village and Kourindou without any trouble. Please Hieda-san, help me."
"Alright, alright! Just calm down, Akimitsu-san." Akyuu tells to our heroine.
Just then, they spot none other than Kosuzu at the other end of the pathway. Besides from her usual outfit, she is also wearing a greenish-brown chequered cap, while holding a magnifyer in her right hand, clearly looking after something. This reminds Nijiko greatly on Sherlock Holmes.
"Hey, Motoori-san!" Nijiko waves to her.
"Oh, Akimitsu-san! Akyuu-san!" Kosuzu looks up and runs to them.
"What are you doing?" Akyuu asks.
"Believe or not, my newest Demon Book has been stolen last night. I am currently tracking after the culcprit."
"Say what?!" the Child of Miare is shocked.
"All began during the night, when I was examining that Demon Book. Then I fell asleep, and when I woke up this morning, it was gone!" Kosuzu explains.
"What a coincidence, my bicycle is stolen as well." Nijiko informs her friend.
"It seems the same culcprit is responsible for stealing it, but now worry! Detective Kosuzu is on the track!"
This sentence from Kosuzu causes Nijiko to giggle, while Akyuu sports a deadpan expression:
"I think you have read too much detective novels lately."
"I think we should tell Keine-san about this..." our heroine brings it up.
"No, anybody, but not Keine-san!" the redhead protests.
"She is afraid that she might be forbidden from reading Demon Books." Akyuu says in her mind and suddenly she realizes something: "Kosuzu-chan, can you tell me what was that peculiar Demon Book about?"
"Well, as I recall, it was about a silver fox Kitsune named Gina. She was a notorious thief and that book told about her adventures..."
"I knew it." the Child of Miare looks at Kosuzu with a stern look, which causes the other girl to gulp, before glancing at Nijiko: "Akimitsu-san, I think we are going need your ability to track the culcprit down."
"Huh? What?" Nijiko is confused as Akyuu grabs her by the arm and begins to run.
"Hey, wait for me!" Kosuzu runs after them.
"What is the matter, Hieda-san?"
"I think that silver fox Kitsune Kosuzu-chan mentioned is the real culcprit behind the thieveries. She might have been sealed within that Demon Book, but Kosuzu-chan accidentelly released her." Akyuu responds.
"A Kitsune?" Nijiko is surprised.
"Fox Yokai with shapeshifting abilities. They are known tricksters and their activities include stealing items from humans. Kitsune are able to disguise themselves as humans, but this is where your ability comes handy. They might look like human, but their aura retains their supernatural qualities."
"You must know a lot about Yokai, Hieda-san."
"Well, she is the current Child of Miare after all." Kosuzu boasts.
"Alright, lets put your ability to test, Akimitsu-san. The task is going to be to find a human, whose aura is vastly different from the others. Can you do it?" Akyuu asks.
"I can try." Nijiko responds.
...
The group them begins to look around the village. As they are searching, they ask around regarding the thefts and if anybody witnessed anything suspicious. As they are doing so, Kosuzu accidentally bumps into an another girl. She has dark-blue hair, silver eyes and wears a long light-green causal kimono.
"Uh, sorry." the redhead apologizes to the girl, who was knocked down.
"No prob, accident happens..." the girl stands up, but visibly tenses up a bit as she sees Kosuzu.
"Hey, are everyone alright?" Akyuu runs to the group.
"We just bumped into each other by accident, nothing special." the blue-haired girl replies as she takes a step backwards. Nijiko looks at her, and her eyes go big as she visually senses the supernatural aura coming from the girl:
"Her aura! Its different!"
"Wow! Now as you mention, she feels familiar. She has similar vibe as the..." suddenly realization hits Kosuzu: "The Demon Book! She must be Gina!"
"Crap!" the blue-haired girl suddenly knocks Kosuzu over and runs off.
"Hey, Gimme back my book!" Kosuzu jumps back up and sprints after the girl.
"Motoori-san, wait!" Nijiko runs after her.
"Kosuzu-chan, Akimitsu-san!" Akyuu shouts after them as she is left behind. "Oh my gosh, those two. I guess I have to alarm Keine-san, before something happens to them."
Nijiko and Kosuzu gives chase to the girl, who, however, speeds up and begins to take on the roofs.
"Darn, she is fast!" the heterochromatic girl says.
"Just not let her to disappear in front of your eyes." the redhead replies.
Unfortunately, Gina was faster and she quickly managed to leave the two behind.
"Darn, we wont catch her in this rate." Nijiko sighs.
"Hey, Akimitsu-san. I have an idea. Do you have smoked meat?"
"Well, I have, but..."
"Good. I know from the book, that Gina loves smoked meat. To that extent, that actually caused her to fall into trouble once."
"But Motoori-san, if this is true, there is a chance she would not fall to the same trick again."
"Well, do you have any better ideas?" Kosuzu asks.
Nijiko falls silent. She had to admit, Kosuzu was right. Using the smoked meat is their only option right now. She gives the smoked meat she bought earlier to Kosuzu, who places it into a dead end. The two girls then hide behind some crates, with Kosuzu is making a lasso out of a rope.
"You think it is going to work?" Nijiko asks.
"I have red it in some Foreign Books how cowboys do this. I always wanted to try this out." Kosuzu replies with a smirk.
Soon, they hear footsteps. The girl soon shows up. Both Nijiko and Kosuzu try to be as silent as possible, as Gina approaches the meat, seemingly not noticing them. However, she is clearly vary, looking around nervously. Our heroine is nervous as well, since she has to deal with a Yokai. However, if she wants her bike back, they must capture the Kitsune.
"Alright, NOW!" Kosuzu yells and spins the lasso, then throws it. Gina, however, is quick to react and jumps out of the way. She attempts to run, but Nijiko also leaps out and blocks her way with her arms spread wide:
"Please Gina-san, we dont want to hurt you. Just give my bicycle back."
"Tch." Gina growls. "So that was how that weird two-wheeled thing is called. Sorry girl, but finders keepers."
"I suggest you should comply, or else..." Kosuzu steps in.
"Or else what? You Human girls should know your place. You may have managed to see through my disguise, but... " Gina then morphs into her true form. Her hair switches from dark-blue to silvery-blue and she sports a similarly colored tail. She glares at the two, menacingly. "I can still see that you two are not Yokai Hunters, so dealing with you two would not be a problem."
Nijiko shivers as she sees the aura coming from Gina flaring up:
"I think we angered her. What should we do, Motoori-san?" she turns around and sees Kosuzu behind her: "Motoori-san?!"
"Please Akimitsu-san, do something!"
"Why me?"
"Because you are the Magician-in-training here!"
"Stop arguing and heads up!" Gina lunges at the two.
"I must do something and quick..." Time seems to slow down for Nijiko within this fight-or-flight situation. Reacting from subconcious, suddenly a rainbow-colored Magic Circle appeares behind her. She quickly gathers her Spiritual Energy into her palms and releases it as a very colorful flash of light: "Dazzling Aurora!"
"Arrgh!" Gina is stopped in her tracks by the large flash, as she is forced to cover her eyes.
"Now, lets run!" Nijiko grabs Kosuzu by the arm as they run off.
"Hey, why dont you fight?" the redhead asks.
"Dazzling Aurora is the only technique I know so far. I still have much to learn in terms if Magic." the black haired girl admits.
"Hey, get back here, you two!" Gina dashes after them.
The two girls attempts to run, but the enraged Kitsune quickly closes in to them. All the villagers who see the chase, are quick to flee in fear.
"I knew we should have told this to Keine-san!" Nijiko cries.
"Ahh, I should rather deal with a Kitsune than an angry Keine-san!" Kosuzu responds.
Gina tries to jump at them as she gets closer, when suddenly a scroll is shot seemingly out of the nowhere, wrapping itself aroind the Kitsune, trapping her completely. The two girls are surprised as Keine shows up, holding the other end of the scroll.
"So she is the notorious thief. Gina the Silver Kitsune." she says in a serious tone.
"Keine-san!" Nijiko is so happy to see her.
"K... Keine-san!? How did you manage to find us?" Kosuzu asks.
"It wasnt difficult. First, you should thank Hieda-san who told me about this on the first place. Then I saw a rainbow-colored flash in the distance and the ruckus caused by the chase led me to you two. Honestly, it was quite reckless from you to try and catch a Yokai without any experience." Keine scolds them.
"I am sorry, I just wanted to get my bicycle back." Nijiko bows her head in shame.
"If you are searching for it, you can find it hidden within her tail." Akyuu also shows up. "Aside from shapeshifting, Gina has the ability to store almost everything within her tail, regardless its size."
Keine then walks to Gina and reaches into her tail. After removing some other items the Kitsune has stolen, she manages to find the bike.
"Hey, what do you think you are doing?! Its mine!" Gina growls.
"Sorry, but it is important to this girl." Keine gives the vehicle back to Nijiko, who is very thankful:
"Thanks, Keine-san!"
"I hope you have learned your lesson, Akimitsu-san."
"Since Gina is not even a powerful Yokai." Akyuu adds.
"Yes." Nijiko nods. "Since I am still quite inexperienced and unfamiliar in Gensokyo, I should avoid Yokai as much as possible and leave the dealing with them to the professionals."
"I wholeheartedly agree." Kosuzu crosses her arms confidently.
"Speaking of which, we have to talk, Motoori-san." Keine grabs the redhead by the ear and pulls her away.
"K...Keine-san! Oww, oww, oww!"
Nijiko and Akyuu both smirks awkwardly as they see Kosuzu being pulled away. The heterochromatic girl then looks at Akyuu and smiles:
"Thanks a lot, Hieda-san. Thanks to you, today I have learned something new yet again."
"I should be the one to thank you, since I got to know a very special person. And that is you, Akimitsu-san." Akyuu replies, confusing Nijiko.
"Huh?"
"Nevermind, I got carried away a bit..." the Child of Miare regains her composure. "I am just happy to have met you today. If you ever need to know something about Yokai and Gensokyo itself, I am more than glad to lend you my help. The Hieda House is going to be always open in front of you, Akimitsu-san."
She stretches her right hand to Nijiko, which our heroine shakes, symbolizing their friendship:
"Glad to be your friend, Hieda-san."
...
After bidding farewell to her new friend and leaving the Human Village, Nijiko heads back to Kourindou. She might have briefly experienced the danger of a Yokai today, but one thing is sure: she can always count on her new friends she gained here in Gensokyo...
"BOOO!" Cassida suddenly appears and scares Nijiko.
"Kyaaah!" the girls gets startled.
The Tortoise Beetle Yokai giggles she she flies off, satisfied of a yet-again-succesful jumpscare. Nijiko sighs: Even though some of those Yokai are so annoying.
...
At the same time, we also see Akyuu in her room, looking at her notes about Nijiko:
"Here. This is going to be a fine article in the recent issue of the Gensokyo Chronicle. Welcome among the residents of Gensokyo, Akimitsu-san."
To be continued...