Start of a Brand New Day
The morning sun arose over the land of Gensokyo. The birds were singing, the humans rising from their sleep. Alice Margatroid enjoyed her morning like normal with a cup of tea. She looked outside her window to notice a rabbit in purple fur hopping off into the darker part of the forest. It was normal to any who lived in the Forest to see these strange critters early in the morning or in the black of night. She remarked "Looks likes that Fear Youkai is working again."
The purple rabbit hopped through the trees with ease soon meeting up with a few more before they merged into a hoard of rabbits. They continued until they passed a barrier that led them to an open field free of trees with a large shrine in the center. The shrine was covered in moss and stone. A staircase led up to a worn bell supported by the overhanging awning of stone. The rabbits emerged from four areas in large groups with over hundreds of identical creatures. Suddenly, two cats with a darker shade of purple fur dashed through the crowd of rabbits, climbing the stairs at a fast pace to reach the top. The two made it up and called out in unison "Nahumar-Sama, Wake up!".
The two cats changed into their human forms. One a male and one a female. Identical in every way besides their eye colors with the male having green and the female having a dim yellow. Their clothes matched in design and color of black with purple, the female having more of a long skirt and small hat with fingerless gloves as the male had pants and full gloves. The shadows around them enclosed on the feline duo. A strange figure emerged from behind as two arms extended on either side with white gloves, giving them a big hug as they giggled. "Gotcha!" the being laughed as the felines looked behind them. Once he let them go, the two looked up at the being. His body covered by a long white overcoat reaching to his feet and up to his neck. His face was like a normal human with short black hair and purple eyes. The faint sight of a shadow black body underneath his attire can be seen, unable to render the color correctly besides his head.
The man said "Incubo, Sogno, did you two have fun last night?" the two nodding. The male spoke up "Yes, Nahumar-Sama. Sogno and I were running all over Gensokyo. In the end, Sogno was the first to reach your shrine.". The female, named Sogno nodded "It was really fun! We got to see the fireflies, the bamboo forest- at least the outside of it- and went for a swim in the river near the Youkai Mountain!" speaking with such excitement. Nahumar chuckled at the two "That's great to hear because I need to visit someone. Mind watching the shrine for me?" with both of them nodding and speaking in unison "Of course Nahumar-sama.". With a simple wave of his hand, the rabbits scattered back into the forest to grip onto various trees to ward off wandering humans from venturing too far in. Nahumar began walking down the steps till he reached a patch of shadow, melding into it and vanishing from sight.
Meanwhile, at the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu Hakurei was starting her day like any other. She swept the steps, feeling the warm rise of the sun approaching. She looked up, noticing a familiar tengu dashing by as she sighed "It's already that time?". Was she expecting someone today? Marisa? Yukari? Her attention was soon brought to the small patch of shadow from a bush. She stopped sweeping and called out "Okay Nahumar, you are over by the bush.". Nahumar emerged with a defeated look "Dang. My presence never gets by you, Priestess." soon walking up to her casually. Reimu looked at Nahumar with her neutral expression and watched as he sat on the steps. She asked "What brings you here this time?" but Nahumar replied "I wish to hear more about your encounters in the past. Tell me about the 'Underground' please?". Reimu walked up, raised her broom and placed the bristled end on his head while bluntly stating "No." then walked into the shrine to fix herself some simple tea.
In that time, Nahumar started to recline on the steps to take in the day. When he first encountered the Priestess, he was severely beaten in Danmaku, but the times after he had shown to only find the human interesting. The way she manages to have nearly no emotion to show was intriguing to him. Nahumar even hoped one day to receive that special smile from Reimu which is non-existent. As he entered the light trance, he noticed a cup sitting beside him. Reimu sat on the same steps and told him "Go on and drink it.". Inside the cup was a brown like water. It was hot and yet when Nahumar took the time to smell it, his eyes widen with glee "Cocoa!". Without realizing how hot it was, Nahumar took a sip and burnt his mouth on the scalding water. Reimu took one simple sip of her tea, "You could of waited for it to cool..." looking quite unamused by his pain. "Priestess, you could of warned me!" Nahumar said back. Reimu returned with "Do you not know the difference between hot and cold still? Honestly Nahumar...". Reimu could of easily just kicked him out of the shrine, yet unlike the other guests she had he was respectful. Deep down she was chuckling at his pain.
Nahumar figured now was a time to talk. The two were sitting so close...so he asked her "Priestess? Do you have any great fears?". Reimu replied "No.". Nahumar blinked his eyes "Surely you have some kind of fear? What about spiders? Or height? Maybe being alone?" trying to find some kind of exploit to win in his next Danmaku match with her. Nahumar always was the kind to use spellcards based on the various phobias and frightening images with illusions to trick his opponent. Reimu saw through all of it. She replied again "No. I do not fear anything at all." taking a sip of tea. Nahumar then openly said one himself "Well I fear of Loneliness. The empty feeling of having no one left around. No one to know if you are dead or alive. No one to care about you.". Reimu stopped him by putting her hand over his mouth "Hush. I think I heard something rummaging in my kitchen...". Reimu and Nahumar got up and walked into the kitchen to see one of the purple rabbits gnawing at a bag of rice. Tearing a hole and eating the grains. Reimu's blood lust grew as she tossed a Talisman to bind the critter to the floor "Damnit Nahumar I told you to contain your Parasites!" she shouted back at Nahumar. Nahumar walked over to the rabbit as it's disguise wore off to be a strange beetle creature of a purple shell kind. Nahumar sent the critter back to his home through the shadows, but the open bag of rice was an issue. He picked the bag upside down to show the hole "Seems like he wanted some rice." Reimu tossed one of her orbs to his head "No duh detective! Now what am I going to eat!?" she shouted.
Reimu, feeling hot headed decided she had it with guests today. Nahumar walked down the steps of the shrine as he thought to himself where to buy more rice. Just as he was walking down, he noticed a familiar being to him. This one was a woman wearing a kimono in a variety of blue colors and a river pattern. Her hair was an ocean blue color that moved like the waves and beside her was a tortoise. She noticed Nahumar and hastened her pace up to him while calling his name out "Nahumar, fancy seeing you here brother." This girl was Sorina, the self proclaimed 'Youkai of Sorrow'. "Hey Sorina. I was just visiting the Priestess of Hakurei when one of my parasites bit into her food supply." he explained. Sorina thought for a minute and then had the idea "Well if she is thinking it's your fault, which it is, you should go to the Human Village and buy that same food as before.". This was indeed a sound plan for Nahumar "Yeah, that does sound great. Thanks sis." he nearly jogged past Sorina and towards the Village while thanking her for the idea. But Nahumar had no money at all, so how was he going to get the rice?
Reaching the village, Nahumar noticed not only humans but Youkai and beings alike in a sort of relation for peace. Though there were more humans than Youkai, he could see the variety. He thought to himself "So a bag of rice...I wonder if they would accept trading of other items?" as he reached into one of the pockets to pull out only three of the cocoa beans he had stocked at his shrine. He needed money and he needed it fast. He stopped by a granary where they sold the raw materials like flour or wheat on their own. He checked the price of a bag of rice being of a currency he never once attempted to understand. "Fifteen Hundred Yen? What is Yen?" he quietly spoke, keeping the price in mind. He looked around trying to find out what Yen was. His eyes soon caught the hat of an acquaintance of Hanalli. A teacher by day but hakutaku by full moon Keine Kamishirasawa. He tried to get her attention "Excuse me Miss Keine?" she turned around and smiled to Nahumar "Oh it's the Fear Youkai. What brings you to the village?". Nahumar was about to tell her but didn't want to seem like he needed help. Instead he asked "Do you know how one can obtain Fifteen Hundred of this Yen thing?". Keine looked at Nahumar, confused by his question "You need money? For what?". Nahumar replied "I am on a sort of task to find some rice for Hanalli, but I forgot to bring money."
Keine thought for a bit then had an idea. "How about you help me out for the day and I will reward you with a bag of rice?" she asked. Nahumar nodded "Yeah! That's an excellent idea!". He had no idea that Keine was going to use him like a pack mule for the day. Forcing him to carry many objects over his shoulders and under his arms. Nahumar never knew how heavy these items were and he could feel his control over the shell weakening minute by minute...yet he had a job to fulfill. He wanted Reimu to not grow hungry. Even if the parasite was to blame, he put the blame on himself for not controlling it earlier. In his mind, he thought only about that bag of rice at the end of it all. Then as the day was ending, Keine guided Nahumar back to buy his bag of rice and end his day at the village.
Nahumar finally hiked back to the shrine as the sun was setting. The bag of rice slung over his shoulder as he took the steps up. Nahumar finally reached the top and walked up to Reimu's shrine. He placed the bag down, yet his legs gave way. Unable to move them he knelt before the sliding door. He called out "Hakurei Priestess! I'm back.". Reimu took a moment to open the door to ask bluntly "What is it now?". Nahumar picked the bag of rice up to show her. His arms looking like they would break any moment now. He said "Here. This is a new bag of rice for you. I'm sorry my parasite ruined your last bag." giving a heartfelt smile to her. Reimu at that moment didn't know what to think. Was he doing this to get on her good side? Was he doing this because he was just good at heart? Whatever it was, Reimu then noticed Nahumar falling face first on the bag "Nahumar! Are you alright?" she asked. Nahumar didn't sound in pain and told her "J-just a minute. My shell gave way. Stupid...Damnit Yukari, you need to make these things more stable!".
Nahumar's head propped off, causing Reimu to hop away. She watched as from the dark neck hole, Nahumar emerged in his true image. The orb was no longer the size of a baseball but rather a basketball. Or her orbs. His eye blinked and looked at Reimu, not realizing that she never saw his true visage once at all. The two just looked at each other for what seemed like hours. Reimu knelt before Nahumar and poked the side of his body. "Soft..." she remarked as Nahumar lashed out "Don't poke me like some silly toy! This is who I really am!". Reimu still couldn't believe this was the being of fear. She picked him up with both hands "Nahumar? Are you saying that you look like...a black ball?". Nahumar sighed "Yeah...please don't tell anyone." remembering the day Mio saw his visage. Her reaction was far different from Reimu's. Reimu realized then that Nahumar was just doing a good deed for the sake of being good. She placed him down and walked off "Well when you get the chance, just get back in your 'shell' thing and put that bag in the kitchen?" then stopped and looked back to him.
To Reimu, Nahumar's real image was too cute to just exploit like the others. She found him...acceptable. So as a reward, she decided to give Nahumar some hot chocolate but even when she thought of Nahumar, she questioned why he was like this? How close to humans is Nahumar exactly?
"Priestess! I burnt my tendon on the chocolate!" Nahumar cried out like a child. Reimu shook her head to get rid of those questions and looked at Nahumar "I told you to let it cool down!". Nahumar looked up with his little tendon attempting to dip into the brown water of chocolate powder. "I can't resist myself around chocolate...I'm sorry.". Reimu could tell that Nahumar was going to be a handful in the future...