Hong Meiling Exhaled in her hands, and rubbed them together in an attempt to generate walmth. While her inhuman body was perfectly capable of staving off the romanian winter, it doesn't mean that she liked it. Meiling was not overly fond of winter, her gardens were covered in snow, and her only other job, gate guard meant long hours of doing nothing but standing around shivering all day. There wasn't even much point to her job. The mansion doesn't get a lot of visitors at the best of times, even that wizarding lot usually new better than to come looking. Hell, it's not even as if you could even find the mansion unless the mistress wished you too, or knew what you were looking for. Add to all that the bitter cold of romania, and the chances of guests invited or otherwise was practically nil.

Yet this was Meilings job, regardless of its almost-utter pointlessness, and despite her grumbling, she liked her job. Not a lot was expected of her, just guard the gate and tend the gardens. It was a simple and rewarding existence for Meilings old and weary soul, and she is thankful for Remilia for providing it. The mansion was a nice place for people like her who simply didn't belong in the world anymore. And if that sense of belonging meant she had to beat up a vampire hunter or two, Meiling was all the happier.

She suppressed a shiver as a gust of wind blew by. Still, she could do without the cold.

Just as she was considering nipping inside for a blanket, a stool, and maybe a hot coco, she spotted some movement out in the snow. Coming up the the path, two figures. One she recognised as Yukari Yakumo, a very powerful and rather well known, albeit enigmatic, Youkai from Japan, who had been visiting the mansion several times over the past decade or two, to plan something with Remilia. Although Meiling didn't know the specifics, she had heard from Patchouli that apparently Remilia is planning to move the mansion soon, and this apparently involves the strange youkai sage. Not that it mattered much to Meiling. No matter where the Manor happened to be, the front gate was still the front gate, and the garden was still the garden. Although in the present, she is hoping for somewhere warmer.

Regardless, Yukari's presence was no shock. Although what was surprising was that she was actually using the front gate. Usually, when she wanted to come in, she would already be in.

The other figure being lead by the hand by Yukari was clearly a child of about six. But was so thoroughly wrapped in winter clothing that it was the only meaningful observation Meiling could make, other than her Aura suggesting a freshly transformed human Youkai.

"Good afternoon Miss Meiling. Is the Mistress of the house in?" Yukari said, addressing Meiling cheerily.

"Lady Scarlet is always in." said Meiling politely, giving a bow. Meiling found it difficult to relax around Yukari. Every one of her finely honed instincts could tell Meiling that she is trouble. And there was always that glint of mischief in her eyes that enhanced that. Nevertheless, Yukari is welcome in the manor, both as a friendly acquaintance of the Mistress, and that it would be totally pointless to try and stop her. So Meiling generally dealt with Yukari by being polite enough to cover her discomfort, and boring enough not to catch the border Youkai's attention.

Unfortunately this didn't currently seem to be working. "Ahh of course, she doesn't get out much these days does she? Rather sad to see such a charming and powerful individual wasting away out in this dark old manor isn't it?"

"...You could look at it like that." Meiling said diplomatically.

Unfortunately Yukari seemed to be committed to this conversation. "Of course if we are talking about wasting away, there is always that Magician of yours. When was the last time she even left the library?"

"... Lady Patchouli suffers from poor health, and when she is not busy she joins us for meals." said Meiling, putting up a minor defence for Patchouli's lifestyle.

Yukari wasn't finished yet though. "And then there is the young Scarlet. Poor, poor thing. When was the last time she even saw the open sky…"

"What do you want, Miss Yukari?" Meiling said, deciding to risk retribution before this conversation got any more uncomfortable.

Yukari grinned "Well a reaction for a start, but for the most part I have some business with Remilia. However I need someone to watch little Hailey for me while we chat." she patted the head of the child "Would you be a dear and keep an eye on the girl for me?"

"Well… I'm pretty sure Sakuya would be more-"

"Wonderful, thank you so much for your help!" Yukari said, clapping her hands with a big cheshire grin.

Meiling sighed. "No problem."

Yukari turned and kneeled down to the child's level. "Now I'm going to have a chat with the owner of this house about grown up things, You be a good girl and stay with the nice gatekeeper until I get back."

Big green eyes peered out from in between her beanie and scarf and behind thick glasses. It seems she didn't want to be left alone, but she nodded anyway. Yukari patted her on the head again, before standing and walking into a gap. The girl looked almost ready to follow but it closed again.

What follows was a little awkward silence, as the girl stood alone in the snow. It went on just long enough for Meiling's pity to kick in. "Hey kid, come over here. The wall will protect you from the worst of the wind."

The girl gave a start and looked at Meiling seachingly. Meiling responded by patting the wall next to her. "Come on, it won't bite, and neither will I. I'm not that kind of Youkai."

This seemed to assuage the girl's doubts, and she stood next to Meiling, snuggling into her scarf.

There was a more companionable silence as they huddled by the wall. But Meiling decided to break it. She was curious, and it wasn't every day she had company. "So how long have you been a Youkai kid?"

The girl looked up at Meiling, who smiled encouragingly. She mumbled something, but Meiling couldn't make it out though the thick scarf. "Couldn't catch that."

The girl pulled down her scarf. "About two weeks." She mumbled, softly.

"Wow, that's pretty young, how did it happen? Was it an intentional transformation, or did it just sorta happen?"

"Just sort of happened I guess." The girl said, "Just woke up with sharp teeth and really hungry, and then I bit my cousin."

"A people eater huh? Don't see them too often these days." Meiling mused to herself. "I guess that makes you like me, although I can't quite pinpoint the moment it happened, I just kinda realized one day that I wasn't human anymore."

"I didn't know until Yukari told me." Hailey said.

"Now that's another thing. How does a freshly transformed end up with Yukari Yakumo of all people as a chaperone?" Meiling said.

"I don't know," said the girl. "But I like her. She's nice to me."

"Is that so?" Meiling said. For some reason the ideas of 'Yukari' and 'nice' didn't really fit together in her head.

As if sensing her doubt the child quickly said. "Its true! She says nice things to me, and she hasn't hit me once, and, and she gives me nice things to wear…"

"Okay, okay! I get the picture." Meiling said, while filing that middle bit under 'worrying'.

The child huffed slightly. "You seem to think highly of her." Meiling said.

The child looked at the ground. "She said she was my friend, that was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me."

Meiling winced internally. That was simultaneously the most heartwarmingly pure, yet depressingly sad thing she had ever heard from a child's mouth. What the hell happened to this kid to lower her standards to such a degree to make that her life's highlight?

Meiling decided to check a little deeper. "And how did you end up with her?"

The girl seemed to think about it, before answering. "She found me in a snowstorm, then she took me to a really comfy bed, and fed me some really yummy soup, that apparently had people in it." Her voice steadily picked up enthusiasm as she talked. "But that was apparently ok, because I was a Youkai, and Youkai are supposed to do that kind of thing, and then it turned out she had brought me to an island called, um 'San-tor-ree-knee', and it was really nice which lots of pools and beaches and really cool towns on hills, and then she bought me a whole bunch of new clothes, clothes that actually fit me, and that I was allowed to keep! And then after two weeks she brought me here." The girl started breathing again.

Meiling laughed, "Is that so huh? Well I guess If I had been given a two week mediterranean vacation I'd be pretty happy too. Either way I'm happy for you. Sounds like life has been treating you rough."

There was a little silence as Meiling pondered what she had been told. Before coming to a little decision. "It just occurred to me that we haven't been introduced properly yet. My Name is Hong Meiling, I'm the gardener and guard of this house." she said, kneeling down and extending her hand for a handshake. "Call me Meiling though."

Hailey stared at the hand, before taking it. "I'm Hailey Potter, umm, call me Hailey."

Meiling smiled before gently taking Haileys hand and emptying the contents of her other hand into it, several brightly coloured candies. Meiling had intend to give them to Flandre after dinner. But she had a whole bag back in her room and it wouldn't take much extra time to get more.

Hailey looked down at the candies then back at Meiling, who said. "Go on, they're yours. I've decided to be your friend too. Nothing wrong with giving a friend sweets right?"

The girl looked at Meiling, before beaming and throwing her little arms around Meiling for a hug. "Thank you!"

"Hey don't worry about it." Meiling said. All in all, the girl reminded her a little of Flan. Only a little less potentially murderous. "That's what friends do after all."

A loose gust of wind blew by, and it gave Meiling an idea. "I'll tell you what, no point just shivering next to a wall. How about we have a little fun..."

"Oh Remilia~" Yukari said in a singsong voice, stepping out into the Vampire's favourite sitting room. "I have a favour to ask you~"

Remilia was of course waiting for her. She would be a pretty lousy manipulator of fate if she couldn't anticipate surprise visitors. "Oh really? And what might someone such as I offer one such as you?"

"Oh it's nothing too urgent. Why don't we do a little pow wow first. A little bit of catching up?" Yukari tittered

"Very well. Sit down. I had meant to ask you some questions anyway." Remilia said, as Sakuya materialised with a tea tray. "Care for tea?"

Yukari sat down gracefully opposite Remilia as Sakuya set down the tray. "I've never said no."

"Mind if I start Yukari?" Remilia asked, as the tea was poured. "I am quite keen to know when we might relocate."

"Eager to get out of Europe are we?" Yukari said, before sniffing her tea. "Oh how I do love miss Izayoi's Tea."

"The leaves are from Meiling's garden too. We are never for want of quality." She also gave a sniff. "I believe the blood is from… 1957… a spanish nobleman if I am any judge. But to answer your question yes, the old country is starting to wear very thin indeed. What with the advances in technology and the increased vigilance of those so called wizards, it's getting harder and harder to have any fun at all."

"I can't really imagine those poor excuses for magicians are giving you much trouble are they?" Yukari said.

"Not particularly, but they are a frightful pain to deal with. All the secrecy has gone to their heads I'm afraid. Even their magic is subdued and pitiful. They fear power to an almost insane degree, and it's only gotten worse since that dark lord of thiers went and got himself killed. Magicians with actual power and drive like Patchouli are a dying breed, and even then they tend to get swallowed up in the enforced mediocrity that surrounds them."

"A sad situation to be sure. The art of magic is well and truly dead in europe." Yukari said, shaking her head.

"Quite, but might you answer my original question? After all you have told me of Gensokyo, I am quite keen for the change in scenery."

Yukari sighed. "I'm sorry to say the move might have to be delayed. The Hakurei shrine maiden has just passed away rather prematurely."

"How unfortunate. I take it that is going to set me back somewhat?" Remilia said.

"Unfortunately so. It's probably going to be at least a decade before her daughter will be able to get things back in order." Yukari scowled. "This happens almost every time. The minute a Hakurei bares a viable heir, all the Youkai who want her dead treat it like open season. As it happens the heir in question is just over six years old and had barely started her training. She's a first born too, so no siblings to teach her anything about her job. She's powerful at least. But power didn't do much favours to her mother. It might fall to me to teach her."

"A youkai teaching a priestess?" Remilia said, smirking.

"I am well aware of the irony." Yukari said. "But nevertheless, until I get Gensokyo stabilized and young Reimu situated into her role, we may have to hold off for a decade, maybe more."

Remilia sighed. "Very well. It is disheartening, but then what's another ten years to a five hundred year old vampire?"

"Thank you for your understanding. Your patience is appreciated." Yukari said.

"I think this wraps up my questioning." Remilia said. "Now if I might ask what is this favour you were asking about? I think you have let me stew in my suspense long enough."

Yukari put her finger to her lip in mock thought. "Yes, I suppose I have."

"Does this favour have anything to do with the situation in Gensokyo?" Remilia said.

Yukari waved her off. "No no, nothing that serious. This is a pet project if anything. I suppose you have noticed the individual I brought with me?"

"It was rather hard not to." Remilia said, "She has a very powerful fate attached to her, but that fate has been twisted and bent to an almost ludicrous degree, it's still holding, but just barely. I take it you had something to do with that?"

"Oh no, that's the most fascinating part, it did that entirely on its own, with almost no intervention on my part. In fact I had to prevent it from breaking itself when she nearly killed herself in the snow."

"Now that is curious. But what has this got to do with me? Do you wish for me to break it for you without ending her life?" Remilia asked.

Yukari laughed. "Oh goodness no, I want to see where this goes. For you see that is what my pet project is. I want to follow her thread of fate to its end, while keeping as close to breaking point as possible."

Remilia leaned in. "Now that does sound fun. What exactly do you need from me?"

"Oh not much right now. Maybe more down the line. But I want mostly is the use of your Townhouse in London." Yukari said.

Remilia's eyebrow raised. "Not that I object, but why do you want that dingy old place? I haven't been paying it much mind to be honest. I even had all of the fairy maids relocated here. It's been all but abandoned for the past seventeen years."

"Yes, and it's the perfect haunt for a young Youkai to learn the ropes." said Yukari, clapping her hands. "Allow me to explain. You see, little Hailey needs to remain in London, or at least Europe. As if I bring her back to Gensokyo she might be out of reach of her strong fate, and it might very well snap then and there. But due to some… circumstances, she is unable to return to her previous residence."

"Circumstances?" Remilia said.

"It turns out little Hailey is a flesh eater, and took quite an impressive chunk out of her cousin before running away." Yukari said. "Although if you ask anyone, they deserved it."

"I see, so my townhouse is a convenient location to house her." said Remilia.

"Oh it isn't just that." Yukari said. "It's also dark, imposing, and heavily warded as to avoid detection. All in all its the perfect place for a young Youkai to consolidate her power. Not to mention comfy and opulent."

"I see what you mean. Very well, I will allow it." said Remilia, "But on the condition that you keep me posted on this pet project of yours. This is probably the most interesting thing to happen around here in half a century."

"I am quite happy with those terms." said Yukari. And they shook on it.

Yukari got up. "Well, if that will be all, I must be on my way. I must get young Hailey settled into her new home by nightfall."

"Very well, I shall accompany you to the door. I think I might like to meet miss Hailey before she departs."

Despite the size of the manner, the trip was short (considering that the inner dimensions of the manner are entirely at Sakuya's beck and call, this is no surprise). But when the huge oak doors opened before them, they were greeted with Meiling running around the courtyard making airplane noises, while she held Hailey over her head with one arm, while Hailey held her arms out beside her giggling and squealing with joy.

This went on for a few more seconds until Meiling noticed the group at the door. Where she petered out awkwardly. After a moment of silence, she rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand. "Eh-heh, I was just keeping the kid company."

"We can see that." Sakuya said, half way between amusement and exasperation. "You can put her down now."

"Er, right." Meiling carefully put Hailey down, who couldn't help groaning in disappointment.

"Keep up the good work Meiling." Remilia said, with a sardonic edge. "By the way, make yourself presentable, we are going to have some more uninvited, and most definitely unwanted guests coming up to the manor, make sure you give them the cold shoulder."

Meiling bowed and made to her post by the gate. But Hailey grabbed her hand, and asked "Are you in trouble?"

Meiling crouched down and ruffled her beanied head. "Not really, but I will be if I don't get back to my post. Don't worry I'll be fine. If you ever feel like it, come and visit. I'll make a little bit of time for you."

"Thank you Meiling." Hailey said, hugging her leg before letting go and letting the martial arts youkai return to her post by the front gate.

"So that is the fabled dragon of the east?" Yukari said, watching Meiling's retreating back. "When you see how good she is with kids, it certainly makes room for doubt."

"Meiling gave up on all that long before I met her. She much prefers being a gardener. She's also rather fond of Flandre." Remilia said.

"I suppose if you can manage her, you could manage nearly anybody." Yukari mused, before beckoning Hailey over. "Hailey I'd like you to meet Remilia Scarlet. She is a Vampire Youkai."

Hailey looked up at Remilia in awe (for Hailey was short enough to do so), Remilia soaked up the attention. "You mean, Vampires are real... and they are Youkai?"

"Why yes Hailey, and Miss Remilia is doing you a very big favour. So be a good girl and thank her." Yukari said.

"Thank you Miss Remilia." said Hailey dutifully, bowing like Yukari had taught her.

"Think nothing of it." Remilia said gracefully. "Allow me to also affirm the invitation given by Meiling. Feel free to visit anytime should Yukari allow it. The doors of the Scarlet Devil Mansion are always open to interesting and well mannered Youkai such as yourself."

Privately Remilia was thinking about how a youkai with such a potent fate was worth keeping an eye on, and ingratiating herself early on might yield a powerful ally somewhere down the line. But even to Remilia the happy smile that Hailey flashed could very well be reward enough.

As Yukari said her goodbyes and lead Hailey through a new gap, Hailey said, "I like youkai, they are nice."

"Is that so." Yukari said, smiling. Haileys youkai education was coming along well.

And Next chapter, this time focusing more on introducing some of the supporting cast. The Residents of the Scarlet Devil Mansion will have an on and off presence in the story.

To those who are wondering about timeline, this is taking place well before the events of Embodiment of the Scarlet Devil, at this point in time, Reimu is an undertrained Shrine maiden who just had her mother murdered. This being before the spell card system was invented, and the only thing stopping youkai from wantonly murdering humans is common sense, self preservation and threat of reprisal. We will get to the dual protagonists of Touhou later though.

For now, let's keep going through Haley's childhood.