Hello... It took me a while to make this. I know. I'm sorry but hey I got this out now than never.
The reason for my disappearance? I just trying to get myself into Gensokyo by making people forget about me. Unfortunately, that didn't work so I'm back with chapter 2.
I just want to say this. Thank you for the support of this fanfic. Seriously this fanfic got more attention than I would never imagine it would. Like the reviews were amazing and the biggest motive for me to get this chapter 2 out. So here we are.
Chapter 2 went through a lot of work. ORIGINALLY this chapter was written a month after chapter 1 but it was 6k words which is double the length of chapter 1 and that led to me cutting out the fluff and making it less big. The planning for this story was a big factor for the chapter 2 development as a lot of decisions are made in terms of characters, plot, How it was going to be structured, How long it is, etc.
I have a lot of plans for this fanfic, Big plans.
Once you finished with this chapter, please review it and give an honest opinion on it. I will take as much criticism as possible to make the fanfic better and better with each chapter.
I guess I talked enough so I will go now to make chapter 3. Hopefully, it won't take half of a year.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for the OCs and I try to be accurate as possible to the world and its characters. But I'm not a professional writer, just a fan making fan content. So anything spelling or grammar-related errors is highly possible.
Chapter 2: New faces, New Name
"you're going to have a great time with us, little pup."
My head... It hurts...
The painful pounding of my head greeted me as I awoke. My whole body seems to ache. My eyes were carefully open to see. It became clear that I didn't die as the headache slowly leaves.
I looked around the room that I found myself in, it immediately hit me that I was in some mini bedroom. The walls were neatly painted light brown with photos of flowers. Several chewed toys and large pillows littered the carpet. There was only one closed window with a stool which I'm guessing for anyone who can't reach to see. But it was still night from where I can tell as the only light source was the two lights hanging from the ceiling. Across the room is one door – clearly closed. I tried to look closer, but it was then that I realized…
I was in a cage, but not any cage – a dog cage.
I groaned at the realization and inspected the cage. The cage was small but had enough room to move at least, the wool bed inside was small but comfortable. The lock is ...well locked. Moving a bit, I noticed the bandage wrapped neatly around my head where I was hit.
Someone saved me from being crushed… But who?
My mind wondered if those horned people, what exactly were those people? How can they fly? Shoot giant orbs that explode? More questions like this rushed around like an angry bee's nest.
I almost got killed by them! Monsters! Demons! Devils! What kind of hell am I in!?
Thoughts of the events that played in my head threatened to break my sanity. I tried thinking straight but another thought emerged from my fear.
What if one of those monsters caged me here?
I got to get out of here. I didn't want to be that thing's plaything and was not sticking around to find out.
looked at the lock again but it became clear there was no possibility of escaping, the lock was on the other side nor were the holes of the cage too small to fit my paw through to unlatch it. My chest tightens as complete dread fills my gut as my mind draws a blank, begging for a miracle to get me out.
It was then, the door across the room let out a small shriek...
I instantly closed my eyes and prayed for mercy to whoever entered. The footsteps came closer and closer to the cage as each step made me flinch at how loud they were getting. My breathing became more erratic and the only thing I could do was to make myself as small as possible to avoid being seen. The footsteps ceased and silence took over, but a part of me knew that the unknown monster was staring now at me.
I continued the ploy of burying myself but the noise of the lock being pulled from its hinges had me frozen. It was not long until the cage was fully open with an eerie creak. I thought of making a break for it, I can still save myself from these people…
I felt a hand on my back, it then began to softly scratch it. This was not what I expected, I slowly opened my eyes to see.
It was a young girl, she had shoulder-length light purple hair with a heart hairband. She was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt with heart buttons and a light pink skirt. But what was more striking about her appearance was that she was surrounded by a long vein-like cord connected to her and a large red eye next to her chest. The eye, now staring at me, freaked me out so much that I didn't realize what the girl was doing.
She had laid down the bandages and a small steel bowl, putting them down beside her, and kneeled to my level. Her third eye is still leering me. It became an intimidating staring contest until I noticed the girl is now staring at me too. Her face seemed to gauge my reaction, but I couldn't tell her expression, was she angry, sad, bored? but her face didn't seem to show but her hand gestured to the bowl was now neatly settled, I stared at her and the bowl.
Is she... giving me a drink?
She unexpectedly nods to my silent question, but I didn't pay mind to it. I was too thirsty. I looked over at my choices. The girl seemed okay... not like those devils. They were loud but she sat there waiting for me quietly – the complete opposite. I wobbled out of the cage and over to the bowl and paused to take a whiff of the clear liquid, it doesn't smell fruity at least. Cautiously, I sipped the clear liquid and found it was perfectly fine normal water. I continued to drink but was disturbed by a tug on my head. The girl looks like she is just checking the bandage, It's slightly embarrassing, to be honest being treated like this. Once she was satisfied, she left it alone to let me drink. My mind wandered the girl...
Who is she?
My thoughts were interrupted by the girl clearing her throat, I turned towards her. Her eyes softly looked at me as she then pointed at herself.
She softly spoke as one distinct word came out of her mouth.
"Satori"
What?...
The girl left the room for a few hours leaving me and my thoughts. I lay on the caged bed, more thoughts passed me by.
Her name is 'Satori'. It's not strange for her to give her name, it's strange as I didn't speak to ask for it. Almost like she can read my mind…
I gave a deflated chuckle at the thought and dismissed the thought. What happened could've been a coincidence, but it didn't feel like it. My thoughts get interrupted as the door opens again and Satori walks in but this time with a towel and another bowl of water, but it was bigger compared to the previous bowel. She carefully placed it down, as once again she kneeled and waited for me to make my move. Dumbfounded, I stared at her.
You want me to…
She nodded without hesitating. I took a second to her fast response, but it didn't stop what was happening. I was going to have a bath... Like a dog.
I immediately refused to partake in this endeavor, and I steer my displeasure to Satori. But my glare seemed to be meeting with hers. Her glare matched mine as I took notice of her third eye doing the same. The eye, pulsating like a heart, stared at me as if I was an open book. It creepily moved as its veins wiggled around her body. I couldn't keep the glaring match going as I eventually gave up. Satori gave a small smug smile with her win on our silent dispute while I retorted with an annoyed frown.
I moved to the edge of the blue bowl and paused on how this would work. Do I just jump in? But before I can decide, two hands from behind grabbed me before I even made a move and gently placed me in the bowl.
She began washing my body of any dirt that stuck to my fur now that's now polluted the water. I just stood still and let my "caretaker" do her work. I have never been more embarrassed in my life, being petted is one thing but this is just a whole new level. The red-eye watching me like a hawk didn't make it any better. But the Satori didn't pay too much mind to her third eye. She washed about a good amount of my body but avoided my head wound, the wash went on for what seemed forever. She then picked me up and sat me down in front of her grabbed the towel and began to wipe down my wet fur. I looked forward and noticed a long-standing mirror casting an image of both of us. It gave me a good proper look at what I have become. I can't tell what breed... I am but I'm a black puppy from head to toe.
Admittedly, I again tried to deny what I was looking at as if it was some sort of sick dream or something, but it's no use fighting against it. I sighed looking away from the mirror as it was too painful to keep looking. She finished drying me off removed the towel and placed it down, she did a good job as she made my fur shinier from what I can see in the mirror. I turned to her; she was now staring at me. I suppose I must tell her my gratitude.
"Thanks... for the cleaning I mean" I spoke but I gave more a gruff from my mouth.
She responded with a sentence and gave me a small smile.
But to me, the words fell on death's ears.
"Sorry... I can't understand you," I hesitantly said.
She became puzzled for a moment and then reassured me with another smile placed her hand on my head and softly rubbed. It hurts slightly and I felt embarrassed at the gentle gesture.
She followed with two distinct words of reassurance.
"Don't worry."
Huh?
"You're safe here" she calmly said.
She then stood up and walked out the door but took one look back at me.
I was more shocked by the fact that I was able to understand not one but two understandable phrases.
I sat there for a good while with a baffled looked… once again my thoughts wondered - Satori. She could be the one to help me, I need to stick with her as she is the only real way to communicate…somehow. Have a feeling it's to do with her creepy eye. This probably means playing a bit of a house pet role, I sighed at the thought of it. I need to get back to being human. Stat.
The door went ajar as I expected Satori to remerge, but it wasn't her, but I did recognize her from some of the pictures, the newcomer entered the room. Like the picture, a black dress with green frills, fiery red hair with two long pigtails trailing behind her head while on top of her head is two cat ears.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Rin Kaenbyou but call me Orin." she greeted me with a feline inflection. "It's a pleasure to see a new face. What's your name dog boy?"
Her words were clear as crystal - I can understand her!
My face must've been like a deer to headlights look.
"what's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" She quipped at my lack of an answer.
Instead of thinking of a name, I've decided to ask her why I can suddenly communicate.
She paused at the question then smirked. Suddenly, the girl exploded in a cloud of smoke and what was in her place her was a black cat with two red-tipped tails. To be honest, this isn't out of the blue. Girl with cat ears and tails is an actual cat. But the further I try to wrap my brain the more impossible it is to be real. So, she was like me - An animal. She transformed back that broke my train of thoughts. She probably sensed my newfound revelation and let me talk.
"You're a cat." I blatantly stated.
"Well... Kasha, but yeah, a cat in basic terms," she explained but gave a jeered look at my rattled face. Even when she stated it herself, my brain felt like it was going to explode "You seem surprised?"
I shake my head in response.
This is the first time I have had an actual conversation with someone. I need to tell her to help me.
I open my mouth with a determined will.
"Look, the truth is-
"OOOORRRIIIIIIIINNNN!"
A booming voice comes from behind the door as a newcomer slammed into the room.
The newcomer was another girl. She was a little taller than Orin but what was striking about her is the giant two black wings behind her.
"Orin! What's taking you so long!? Lady Satori has been waiting for you to bring the pup over to her," She demanded at the cat girl.
Since I can properly understand her, I assume she is some sort of bird I'm guessing. Her dress was a white T-shirt with green outlines and a green skirt with black shoes and socks to match. But Orin didn't seem to be liked how the new girl forced her way here and turned around with a soured expression.
"Okuu! You can't just scream like a maniac. You're going to scare him." She loudly argued.
"Oh..." She turned to look at her bewildered. "But that doesn't change that you're taking too long." She pointed.
Orin shakes her head "Hold on, I was speaking to him as Lady Satori said apparently, he seemed to understand words."
"Really?" The black-wing girl looked intrigued. She then turned to me and went uncomfortably close to my face. Her intimidating dark eyes didn't flinch as she gazed at my own, even Orin seemed to pause at winged girl actions. Her closeness gave me a better look at her. Her head was topped off with a large green bow and was even more striking was what was on her chest - A big red eye.
What's the fascination of these people and eyes!?
It felt like an eternity of her staring into my face at every little detail until she finally spoke.
"HELLO! MY NAME IS OKUU!" She yelled in a deafening holler but carefully emphasize each word. I immediately flinched away to not hurt to my ears any further. "CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?" She shouted on.
"OKUU!" Orin shouted out. "Stop that!"
"But you said he can't understand words?" Okuu turned back in a naïve tone while looking at her, she turned to me again. "CAN YOU SPEAK TO US?!" She exclaimed like she was speaking through a megaphone.
I need to stop her fast before she manages to permanently damage my eardrums. "Can you stop shouting, please! You're going to make me deaf!"
"Oh? you can speak," as she found out this new revelation.
"Yes, He can speak. He just doesn't understand Lady Satori, but he can understand us. Speaking of which..." She trailed off to look at me.
She is referring to before we were interrupted. I sighed and took a breath of air once more, I spoke.
"The truth is..." Trying to find my words, I stumble a bit as both girls stayed silent. "I'm a Human."
Both girls paused at my words. It wasn't an unusual reaction to this situation, but it didn't feel any less awkward. They were giving me a deer looking at the headlights look. Suddenly, laughter broke the silence between the two.
The Okuu girl seemed to be in a hysterical state as she shakes in place, unable to control herself. While Orin seems to be snickering as she beat her chest in a coughing fit. My face reddened as I immediately regretted revealing my secret. Orin manages to force the clown out of her and gave me a force straight face.
"You must've hit your head pretty hard if you think that you're human," she said in a mocking tone.
"It's true! I was human before this!" I exclaimed. "I don't remember much, but I know that I. AM. HUMAN!"
Orin gave me an un-convinced face on whether to giggle more or to feel pity at me. Okuu is still uncontrollably giggling like a hyena. I sighed at this predicament as my attempt for help was taken as a silly joke. I lay flat against the caged bed as the silence begins to fill the room. As Okuu seemed to calm down, Orin took the silence to speak again.
"So, you think you're human?" she questioned, stifling her laughter as best she could, I went to nod but stopped, realizing that she wasn't finished. "But you don't know how you became a dog, right?" She finished with an air quotation marks gesture on the word human.
"Yeah, I don't even remember my memories when I was human," I dejectedly said at her as the way she said it put it shows how stupid it was that it was almost understandably laughable that I almost saw the funniest of it.
Orin's ears perked up at the response as the bird girl went next to her and whispered a few words. Orin did the same and it turned into a quiet conversation between the two, making sure I don't hear it as well making in between side looks towards me while talking.
The two seemed to agree with a nod at each other to finish and then spun in place to face me.
"If you need help with your memories to be exact…" she intended trailed off.
"Then you should talk to Lady Satori with your problem," Okuu finished with a hyped tone.
Satori? Why? sure she was...nice, but I can't see a reason to get her to help instead of the two who have a better chance to help than her.
"Satori..." I stuttered to find my words. "You think she can help me?" I said at the idea the two girls presented.
They both nodded at my hesitance and insisted on meeting Satori again and bringing up my problem with her. Their faces beamed at me, they clearly won't take no for an answer, and I did seem well enough to walk properly. Disgruntled, I stood up and walked over to them. The girls instantly opened the door and charged out without me. I stood there contemplating while I noticed the checkered floor with a mosaic that's also glowed light?... A very strange décor choice. Nonetheless, I took some air for my confidence and walked out.
The room was less like a room more like a massive hallway, with stone pillars stood tall in a row, the floor lights lined up to with the checkered floor pattern giving the place a cerein purple glow, the ceiling and further down both sides of the hallway weren't even visible as they were by a deep layer of darkness. The air was abnormally warm, but a strange coldness loomed over the place.
Hushed voices in the distance halted my gazing as I focused my attention to my right. The empty hallway seemed to only greet me, but my guess is that is where I am supposed to go. All the doors were firmly shut except for one. Taking caution, I walked to the door.
Peering in, the room was very similar to the first room that I was in, pastel walls with small pictures, toys littering on the soft carpet, dressers off to the side.
The only difference is that the room was full... of... animals.
It was like a mini zoo consisting of birds, cats, and dogs, all with different colors and sizes. The even more strange thing is that they were speaking plain words among themselves. Some playing, some chatting, some even sleeping. I had to pick my jaw off from the floor after a beckoning cough. Satori, Okuu, and Orin were in the center of the room, Satori sat in a leather chair keeping her attention on me while the other two contents with chatting among themselves and the other animals. Satori signaled her hand at me to come forward, I hesitantly complied not wanting to attract but seemed to do a terrible job as every animal seemed to stare at me when I got close. I looked away from the staring when I noticed another person amidst the chaos. It was a short white-haired girl dressed in a Black maid outfit but what was most noticeable about her was the small rabbit ears on her head. Her face was in disarray as she tried to wriggle her way out of the mini crowd surrounding her seemed to get her attention. I snapped my attention to Satori once I reached in front of her. Satori sat patiently while I took a spot in front of her and sat down.
She began to speak but she continued to have the same problem as I had with her. She then motions her hand once she releases her words that fell on deaf ears. Orin came up and began to speak for her.
"Since you're having trouble speaking with Lady Satori," She explained and continues with hand gesturing herself. "I will be the one translating what she says to you."
I guess this is the only real way to talk... Unless we play a crude game of charades.
"Orin and Okuu already informed me of your dilemma," Orin spoke softly imitating Satori's words, while the former reached her hand out to me to scratch a bit of my back ear. "Not to worry, you can stay with us for the time being and help you."
She interrupted me before I could respond to her proposition.
"I'm sure you have any questions." Orin parrots Satori's words.
Understatement of the year.
"But I believe that introductions are needed" Satori gestured to herself while Orin tries to mimic her voice. "My name is Satori Komeiji, the mistress of the palace of earth spirits, I make my home a shelter for lost and injured animals." She grabbed hold of her third eye as it kept its fixed gaze at me. "This eye allows me to hear anyone's thoughts. So, you may not have a clear understanding of me, understanding what you think is no trouble."
Halted at her words, my mind proceeded to crash and burn on what she just said. A part of me was waiting for a practical prank these people were pulling just to see my reaction, but her demeanor says otherwise.
Mind reading? This person can do... mind reading? If I hadn't already experienced the craziness of the horned people, I would've called her crazy. Though it sort of explains the weird communication between us… Wait. Does that mean-...
She nodded my question on whether she heard on my thought process just now. The clear yes sent my thought process into another frenzy.
"Sorry- I just..." Stammering a bit on my words that that only came out in dog whines. My mind raced to provide an answer.
"It's just with everything that has happened. Then the whole of that horned people-what was they?" I choked on my own words as it started to hurt to think. "Now it's humans that can transform into animals, Mind reading. I don't how I get here? WHY AM I HERE? WHY AM I A DOG? WHAT EVEN IS THIS PLACE? WHY CAN'T I REMEMBER ANYTHING?"
I closed my eyes as another drumming of a headache emerged. My mind felt it was breaking itself apart.
I…... I…. I…-
Suddenly, Satori took me into a small hug. I wasn't expecting this response, nor did I try to push her away. It's as if my whole body has frozen in ice and Satori's warm hug is the only thing preventing me from falling over. I was shivering in place and my breathing became labored.
Satori brought her hand and gently stroked my back. "Ssshh…" her voice was gentle and quiet. "It's alright, I understand… it must've been so hard for you." She continued. "You don't need to worry anymore." It took everything I had to hold my tears back. She continued comforting me as my breathing mellowed, soon she slowly let go of me and gave me a pleasant smile.
"You are feeling better now?" she asked with a concerned tone. I shyly nodded as it dawned on me how embarrassing that was to an outside view, I took a brief side-eye to see that every one of the animals had stopped to stare at me, leaving the room in incommodious silence with a few snicking noises. My face became flushed in red, I just wanted to disappear.
So... Embarrassing...
"Why don't you stay with me and my pets?" Satori stood up while holding me above her face.
"How about a name?" She continued speaking but what I was looking at was her face. Her face was a lot more cheerful than any other smile I saw her did. "Your name will be... Kin Tanabe"
The room suddenly erupted with cheers from the animals below and some clapping from the two animal girls as well. I was confused at the state of the change of the room's mood and looking at Satori's face showed a very accomplished look to what she previously said. But the only thing that was going through my head was...
WHAT?!
Please Review or don't. Maybe I can try the whole people forgetting about me thing again to get into Gensokyo.
