With everyone gone and the first few days of winter started I felt the loneliness that Mom feels. Then again we're back to the established status quo. While the first week was fine, minus the headline from Aya...I can't believe she show that picture as the front cover, I don't look good in pictures which only got worse seeing it's me and Satori kissing in front of a destroy food stand. The second week...not so much. It's..complicated.

"Damn now what do we do?" We uhhhh...somehow lost all that yen. I can think of the who was behind it. As salt is needed to clear out the snow that gathered. But now we can't make a path back to the village without it. I'm back to wearing the skirt and it is actually really warm. Though my ability already makes me a walking furnace.

"Tenshi did you take it?"

"Why would I take it and where!?"

"There's only four of us ever here and I don't think a mute who wants to stay fed and warm would jeopardize his life unlike a celestial that has shown to have some form of death wish." Ladies you're both wonderful.

"Hey! I'm not that psychotic!" Debatable, but stop.

"Psychopath!"...Oh hey mom.

"Freak of nature!"...Turn around.

"Can we please stop fighting and help me sort the salt!?"

"NO!"...

...Uh oh.

"Ah! What I meant to say is that I'd love to help you miss Kazami may I say you look wonderful today in your orange scarf looks very warm...Hahaha...uhhh...no?" Mom tried to smile, but she saw what was missing from the shed was the entire embedded chest. She looks between the three of us bitting the corner of her lips. She settle at looking at Tenshi who tried to look as innocent as possible.

"Tenshi?"

"Yes?"

"Where's my chest?"

"Joon and Shion."

"Tomorrow you'll be left to freeze out here, but today..." She grabs Medicine and Tenshi by their heads and guided them to the entrance.

"You're going with them Venus." Right, guess I'm going to make sure we get every last cent back. Oh yeah it's the Kappa Nitori with two big sacks of what I assume is salt.

"So about the salt?" Yuuka didn't bothered to turn towards her or look at her.

"I'll pay you with two full sack of cucumbers if you can wait until tomorrow." Nitori's eyes brighten up.

"Hell yeah! Itsa deal Yuuka!" With that she waited as we finally got to the entrance of the garden. Mom gave a forceful push letting go of them both as the stumble.

"Take care ya three and Venus? Yeah?

"Do be careful honey. Those sisters can be quite...dangerous." That kinda comes with the territory, but I give her two thumbs up as we trudge towards what I assume is the location of the Yorigami sisters.

"Damn it!"

"How did they get it Tenshi? How did they know of that shed?"

"...You want the lie or the truth?" You couldn't be that drunk?

"Don't tell me..." That would mean.

"The fucking Festival! Your drunk ass told them at the Festival!" What precedes is an actual slap fight between wooden doll and a weaken celestial..Girls.

"Fucking doll!"...Girls.

"Bitch!"...Ok I had enough.

"Ugh! Whoa!?"

"H-Hey!? Wha-!?"

Sometimes I forget that I carry the strength of Yuuka at her best on a daily basis so pulling the two apart was really easy but I put a lot of oomph into grabbing them by their arms.

"Ok! My arm is turning red."

"You're breaking my arm Venus." Surprisedly calm to that situation as I let go of them as slowly made our way through the slow to the village.

"So, where exactly are they?" Tenshi shrugged.

"Mayohiga or at the many gambling shacks around the village."...That place actually exists? If It does, we're never getting that money back.

"So we lost over 200k yen in coins and paper...That is if Mayohiga actually still exist."...Not looking good there Tenshi.

"Let's just check the human village before Yuuka absolutely succeeds in killing me." I don't want to see that happen. While I dislike Tenshi's attitude...I'd rather not see Tenshi silhouetted in blood. We're at the gate and the guards are not really in the best condition. They had very stuffy looking heavy cotton undershirts, but was worned in. I wonder... can I just?

"Halt...yokai...State your business." I was never good with snapping my fingers. So I cup my hands until...

*Fwush*

"WHA!?"... A classic fireball and it's really warm I flick it out to make a tail and dropped it near the guards feet. With steady hands I let go of it...It stay stationary. Good.

"What is this!?" He raised his iron spear at me. Yeah, I've gotten so used to the girl's that normal humans here are jumpy.

"I guess to keep you two warm?" Medicine look at me for answer as I put my hands forwards to the orb and guards mimic it they seem much better as soon as they felt the warmth.

"Yeah go on in. Just...don't do this crazy stuff inside." One of the guards shuffle over to the lever and pulled...He can't budge it as the gears are frozen. Not a problem as I walk over and say that the gears had thin layer of ice and I need only to move the lever and give it a light pulled...

*Kkkkkrtt*

Good...let's get going.

"Thank you, do enjoy your stay."Aw see humans can be nice...I'm starting to see why the girl's act the way they do.

"I don't get it. Why help them keep warm if they're gonna die soon anyways?"...The point is lost on you Tenshi cause you weren't human. It's to lessen their suffering while they're still alive. Ya know? The very reason why you're alive.

"It's best to not question him as he'll always do what he wants without telling. At this point you've seen how he acts. Remember the bakuneko's?"...Come on they're two tailed cats and they were cute and fluffy.

"That's why we don't befriend them."...It wasn't that bad girls...Maybe a little...But I didn't think Wriggle would bring giant insects only for them to get eaten by the cats. Come on it's winter what insect survives winter?

"Or how about the time you try to help Mokou with her stand." Granted, I destroy her stall. I didn't think I'll shatter the hammer on accident nearly killing her...again. Besides, she forgave me even after that little incident.

"Shoveling snow"...Hey to be fair fire is a good solution to snow. I didn't think I'll almost burn the front yard.

"My lettuce." Tenshi, you're a plant destroyer the fact that your ice lettuce is thriving is mearly coincidence. I didn't mean to step on the buds after trying to carry the wooden poles so we can have a small greenhouse.

People aren't perfect and we're very flawed.

"Ok, ok... Maybe we should stop before someone overhears us." I don't mind being rag on by them, but I have feelings too. I'm only trying to help those around me even if it ends up backfiring on me.

"So... a gambling shack?" Tenshi starts picking up her walking speed as we've follow around to the more seedy places of the Village where I can only called it...abandoned. It smells like mildew and iron. The whole place looks...decrepit with this sickly black mold from constant water damage.

"Great, always wanted to get sick by being near diseased wood." We've finally made it to suspiciously clean clearing from the rank alleyways. It's enclosed by white polish wood walls and a sliding door engraved with wolf fighting what I can assume is Yatagarasu the three legged sun crow. Totally not out of place.

"Here is one of them. Just so you know...He's a kid. If he gets hurt its his own fault."...I know that, but we wouldn't be doing this if the chest wasn't missing.

Tenshi gives us a finger to her lips...I'm already silent regardless Tenshi.

With our silence as her answer, She opens the sliding door slightly and she looks inside smiling back at us.

"Alright, guess it's our lucky day they're here and you can tell cause well...look yourself." We peer inside and the walls are glittering with jewels and coins in heaps...just this alone would cover the expenses we need, but we need that chest back as we walk further in and could hear the high pitch squeals and low pitch anguish as we got closer.

"AH HA!...Thank you Shion for once we might both have a good meal!"...it's a very haughty tone it has be Joon.

"R-R-Right...sister."...I had to guess from her tone...Shion was..regretful from her actions.

"Lighten up! What idiot keeps a treasure chest embedded in the ground collecting all that wealth if not to keep it all to themselves!?" I can think of a few reason why including paying for expensive salt,medical supplies,seeds...We were using that money...Tenshi why? Me and Medicine look at Tenshi in disdain as she tries to smile...Yeah that doesn't help.

"Look at the bright side atleast we might find the chest...Hopefully." I'd hope as we make sharp left corner turn to see a a large group of people huddle around assorted tables and playing various gambling rules and...there they are. The Yorigami Sisters. Where there's wealth, there is squalor following behind. Shion's freckle face brighten up as she happily waves at Tenshi.

"Tenshi! Over here!"...Ya know you're not supposed to bring attention to yourself in these places...Now we really stick out as Tenshi tries to play it cool.

"Hey Shion...so about that thing we mention...I have one tiny problem and I need your sister's help."Shion tries to answer only be cut off by her Sister.

"Sorry, it's business...Take the kids and leave them at home.Then, come back and we'll talk about helping." I noticed her left foot was rested on the a very familiar chest.

"Wait...Is that a living doll?" She leans forward while rubbing her chin before Medicine could do anything as she was forcibly grab by her face.

"HEY...LET-GMMPH!?"...Quite a forceful inspection as Joon intently stares at her face.

"Such articulation...with some polish she can be sold to the highest bidder." Tenshi pulled the two of them apart with some effort.

"The doll is not for sale. Bare in mind that was Yuuka's kid you just touch." This didn't seem to faze the Rich Goddess in anyway.

"As if the USC truly cares what happens to her fanciful toys."...Ok!...I look at the table and saw what it was...It's black jack judging by how the cards are set up. I threw in 1k yen at the table. This perk everyone's attention as the only thing that matters is getting the chest back with the money inside.

"Kid you don't stand to win. Look...Joon we can talk about this w-!?"

"WE'RE! Playing for keeps...if he wins one you get to have the chest, he wins two times you get exactly how much you're owe. The third win...Well I'll throw in the yen outside. If he loses one round regardless of his win streak I get to have the doll...Gotta deal or what?" I've play this one before and I can read numbers regardless of what else is on the cards.

"We can't be doing this...Venus every time you try to help something goes wrong." Medicine...Sister...Does anyone really want to use the spellcard system when this is more my speed? Medicine sighs as she waves her spellcards in front of Joon. She's not budging...I wouldn't have done this, but I really don't have a choice as she sees money as her sole motivation to keep going.

"Well you ready kid?" Surprise me you conniving sycophant. She starts dealing our cards...Gotta be kidding me...an Ace and a 10 first hand. Joon is the house and Shion is watching intently but had this fearful expression.

"Alright wanna deal or stay?...I choose to stay at 20...Joon's eyes bugged out at that as she deals her last card...its 7 over her 15...22... a bust.

"Dammit! Shion is this your doing!?" She looks ready to smack Shion. I only now notice that Tenshi herself was fully on edge with fist clench at her side...You have a nice friend Shion... After this we'll try to make it up to you. I slid my cards back to Joon and she reshuffle them...she thinks I didn't notice her taking a card out...I can't really say anything and with my blank expression the 2nd hand was dealt...Thank you Tenshi it's two Aces...somehow...Good luck charms are awesome! I show my hand and Joon recheck her cards...She probably can't hit to go above and I was right...20 became 24...another bust.

"FUCKING! SHION! ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS!?"...Don't hate on the opposite of you Joon as she recedes back into her rickety chair. She goes back to that nonchalant smug expression as she looks at Medicine.

"One more kid...If you lose. I get to have something way more valuable then this old chest."...I'll send your soul to meet the Yama before I let you take her...I don't care if I lose... But I won't allow you to have her.

"Just so you know Yuuka will come for me."

"Hahaha! Sure doll! Keep telling yourself that."...It's the truth though...Just play the cards as she reshuffle and I got my cards and her's...Well shit...Joker and queen...Fuck you Joon...I tap twice to hit me She smiles and gives my third...12. Real cute Joon. Hit me again... This time I'm sure what she just did was cheating as she slid the Ace my way...13...You can't deal again can you? Joon was at 14...better be good hit me...Talk about lady luck.

"No fucking way..."

21 blackjack...unless Joon hits over her limit with a 10...another 24 and her lost.

"FUCK!"

"Well you lost...now give us what we deal"

"Yeah..."...!She kicks the chest sweeping me under my feet as she scrambles for Medicine who was already booking it out of the parlor as the crowd made space for their chase outside. Of course I hit the floor and look up to see Tenshi and Shion trying to figure it out if they should follow.FUCKING YES YOU SHOULD!

"Dammit! Hey kid you alright?"...I'm more worry about Medicine as I let jirai fully take over as I sprinted way faster than they could keep up.

"Venus!?...Shit! Shion, if she gets Medicine where would she go?" Shion tries to recollect, but she seems nervous to tell Tenshi. Tenshi grabs the lithe form of Shion to make her focus on her.

"I'm not mad at you Shion I just wanna know where exactly she'll go, alright?" With that little encouragement Shion nods.

"Mayohiga she would head to Mayohiga." Tenshi nods smiling as she lets go of the poverty god.

"Thank you, now help me get this back to Yuuka before she rears my hide." They start gathering up the yen coins into the container.

...Gotta think while running...where would Medicine hide to stay away from Joon or anyone that wants to hurt her? I only now smelt the pungent scent and look down as I stop running...It's the same black substance from before and it's heading towards...the Myouren Temple?...Why? Why not head to back to Yuuka's?...This substance looks like...ice...Her body is going to freeze. I took flight to the west side of the Village and from above I saw Joon running to catch what I can assume is Medicine as she made it to the steps of the Temple. I've decided to crash down between the two of them.

"Come on kid...You don't want this." She takes a fighting stance. I check on Medicine and that substance was leaking from various cracks and was hardening faster than it could flow. Every motion she made creak and broke. Her mouth permanently open wide...Her lower jaw was in her hands...JOON!

"Shouldn't have ran away doll, It's better to stop struggling. I know premium treasure when I see it... Now you're just worthless trash."

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!

Medicine reach out to me as her limbs finally stop moving at all. Her glass eyes in black frozen tears. She's a doll...but she's alive...

"Never turn your back kid!"...

BWASH*

"AHHHH! What are you made of!?"

"Now wait a minute!"

*CRACK*

"UGH!...calm down i-"

*FWUSH*

"Hey!...Let...me..go!"

VENUS!...Hmmm?

When I came to, I notice the scorch marks from fire and electricity and Joon looking up at me...Shit. I went to far. I offered a hand and she's clawing away from me with her clothes destroy beyond recognition, with multiple bruises and a broken leg for her troubles. Just...why do this if you didn't know. Did she not read the headlines or does she not care? Either way, I grab her, pick her up, and place her whole body on my shoulder's as I gently lifted the frozen doll to go up the steps it's awkward, but I made it to the top to see the echo dog herself who drops her broom and runs to get some help.

"SHOU! ICHIRIN! NUE! I NEED ASSISTANCE!"...Pretty soon they come running over from Kyouka's cry and see the scene.

"Hey there...a little help? Please?" Shou picks Joon from my shoulders and the pink cloud that follows Ichirin. Unzan, gently carries the doll to a warm location myself...I'm just exhausted as I sit down on the front steps. I cradle my head and tap my foot in frustration and restlessness.

"Uhhh, You got a little something there bud." I look up and see Nue point to her left cheek I check my right and saw the blood that cake my hand...great.

"I take it you don't like violence judging by the fact you carry the person who most likely wrong you up here huh?" It's complicated...I refuse to let some two bit god try to fleece me and then run away with my sister. Even now, I couldn't stop gritting my teeth at what happened. This is different from just being mad at myself. This was being mad at someone's decision even after they cheated. I won the bet..Why does it have to be difficult, it doesn't have to be...I huffed loudly.

"My, what odd visitor's today." Byakuran I'm not in the mood. Not that it matters to her as I heard her step closer.

"We got the confession from your...assailant. If we can call it that. It was swift and brutal from her account you broke her ribs in one punch, before completely setting her on fire as well as breaking her leg in the process. It's been awhile since we seen such injuries from a god no less."...Yeah I bet cause usually you guys are so "peace loving" right. I laugh to myself it comes out wheezing and hysterical as I turn to look at her... Even then she continues to smile softly. It's unnerving that I can stare at her as I laugh. As the feeling went away, but not the expression of wide eyed shock I had at nearly killing someone.

"You really dislike people, and yet...Your love is reaching so far beyond and below without reasons. Pushing the envelope to watch it bend."... I suppose. I return to relatively normalcy as I waited only to see the day is going to fade...Great.

"You can stay here until you're both ready to leave."...yeah but...

"Venus." I turned towards the sound to see Medicine in a heavy wool dress and habit for children. Nun Medicine...Probably from Ichirin. I breathe a sighed of relief.

"I can't fly just yet and even now my limbs are freezing over so let's head inside." That'll be nice as we follow the monk to a available room.

"Please do enjoy your stay and is there anything else?"...Medicine look at my rough up state.

"Is there a hot spring nearby?And spare clothes?" Byakuran nodded as Medicine went inside the sparse room. Came back with a towel and threw it at me.

"Get cleaned up...Seriously you look like a maniac."...Do I...probably do after all of that.

"Follow me please."Geez her hair is long as We made way to what was essentially a bathhouse.

"We unfortunately don't have separate baths as...well it's hard to get devout followers."... Yeah I think thats a lie as she walk behind the sliding door and...really it doesn't help that I can see the other's eyes glowing behind her.

Just ignore it...I should've seen that coming after all this.

I quickly undress and slip inside the humid bathouse...I haven't had warm baths in years. I just hope they don't try to come in here...I'm taken and I hate religion no matter how kind someone acts.

"We got it back...see?" Yuuka look between Tenshi and Shion and groan...She also had a pensive expression as she realize.

"Tenshi."

"Yes, miss Kazami?"

"Medicine and Venus?"

"Myouren Temple."

"I see...well."

Luckily I got clean without issues the thing is though...I'm wearing something closer to Myouren himself than just like a hand me down habit...It's scary how well it fits.

"Now that brings me back."Never open your eyes while smiling at me Byakuran. I should go see if Medicine is ok. Returning back to our room I open it and I notice Ichirin was applying molding clay to Medicine's crack face with two bolts in her jaw keeping it in place.

"There, that should healed up soon." She takes the bolts out and Medicine begins moving her mouth in different and impossible directions.

"Thank you Ichirin."

"Well...let's just say I had a lifetime of treasures to be thankful for."...She looks at me and blush...Yeah ok I don't trust you not to tell the world what you saw back there.

"How many saw your dick this time?" Let's see You,Satori...About the whole Myouren Temple at this point. Listen, I'm not some piece of meat or a prize to win over.

"Great...Ichirin better keep that to yourself or we'll have bigger problems when we get back."...We making jokes now? Ichirin laughs and begins to take her leave as, but before she does she looks downward at me.

"Quite,I promise to tell the others, but not the Tengu reporter." Aya is not the problem it's the fact that it's blatantly obvious that you girls are thirsty...Most guys wouldn't mind that...There are plenty of human dudes you can get it on with...that are probably better looking, and are more experienced...than me. You know Rinnosuke is a very handsome man. I actually get why Keine is in love with him though and it's common ground as they're both half yokai and knew eachother since they was kids. As for mom...I don't know the guy, but I swear he's familiar.

"You must not like the attention huh?"No Medicine...I really don't. I begin checking her limbs and face.

"Venus?" Lifting one arm and then the other.

"I'm ok really." I should've known that bitch of a god would try to pull a fast one on us. You're not trash, you're not worthless...You're my sister and Yuuka's adopted daughter and we're family.

"Thank you for protecting me...those guards and the humans would've let it happen. Tenshi I don't think she cares about what happens to me, but we're stuck with her for the foreseeable future." After everything I've seen...I do think she cares it's just...hard to like her attitude you know.

"Thank you for letting me stay over Miss Kazami this udon is really good and warm." Yuuka decided to trust Tenshi that they'll be back by morning as she watches the second thing that she's certain that Tenshi cares about.

"Shion was it?" She slurps up a long noodle and nods.

"Mmmhmm." Yuuka observes the poverty god her in thin bare clothes the messy blue hair,her beaten and blue face with black eyes and crows feet...She's at death doors...and Yuuka knew why.

"How would you like to stay here for awhile?" Shion's deep blue eyes lit up at this question. She finishes her food and tries to find the words.

"Are you certain? I can stay...here...at the garden?" Yuuka gave her a few thousand yen.

"You can leave with this and eat at the lamprey seller's stall and get a warm small beer...Or with just a little of your time you can heal here and help Tenshi out with the Garden...You'll be fed,protected,clothed properly and when you're ready to leave I won't stop you.Just tell us in advance." Shion look over to see Tenshi sleeping on the oversized couch and considered her options...She begins crying as she cups Yuuka's hands.

"Thank you, Thank you...I'll try my hardest."

"Good girl. Now then, get clean up with the warm pot of water over there and there is a space in here that you can used to do that and I'll get you some spare clothes for winter weather.Oh and Shion." She looks expectant of getting hit, but instead she's pulled into a comforting hug. She quickly returns the favor as she bawls her eyes out.

"AHHHHHHH!"

"Family shouldn't treat family like that." Yuuka lightly let go, but was pulled back into the hug tightly. Well...kinda has Shion's frail body could barely stay standing.

"Take all the time you need to let it out."

"I LOVE MY SISTER!"

"Shhhhhhh. I know, I know."...

"I...I'M JUST SO SCARED OF HER!

"There, There it'll be alright." Finally she stops sniffling and lets go of Yuuka...her kindness and love was genuine and real...Shion never felt such things in a long time.

"Now be a good girl and do as your told alright?" She nods and takes the pot by the handle and leaves into the right hallway.

"I think your kindness is rubbing off on me Venus." She sighs as wonder how did it such a group came to be...She knows the risk of housing her. However,Tenshi is a natural good luck charm that offsets Shion's misfortune so as long as they're both happy here...nothing bad can really happen. She eyed the chest and it was double the amount she needed and was expecting less...

Quite the comeback Tenshi.

Morning came and we're both ready to get going.

"So you slept well?" As well as a futon can do Byakuran. We wave good bye and made our way back to the garden as quickly as possible. Of course Medicine flew close to me to stay warm against the cold wind pushing past us. We landed at the front door of the house and open it.

"We're back!"...No is that lump on my couch.

"Whazzat wha!?"...No...my couch...again?

"Mmmmph Tenshi that's not nnnice." You gotta be kidding me.

They both got up and look at us...Dammit it is.

"Look at the brightside...you get the futon to yourself."...I ran back outside.

"SHIOOOOOON AND TENSHIIIIII!" MY FUCKING COUCH BE ROBBED AGAIN! With raised hands in frustration as I scream it out to the world.

Author Notes: A little comedy with the tragedies...This one was...tough as Winter is gonna be the filler act of the story, but I don't think people mind that as I once I get to spring it'll be surprise, but I know what it'll be like. The gambling part is mostly from my experience with my favorite type which is Blackjack or 21 either ways it's simple and effective.