HELLO! I have returned! WARGGGGGHHH.
Ugh, what the hell can i say? Updates are long in between and i just hope that people still have their interest of this. Still, read on and have fun.
As usual, great thanks goes to Ban3 to editing and letting me use his characters.
Given the success of the Project Youkai alpha batch, as we were called, it was to no surprise that the creation of a beta batch was already in effect by Project Youkai Fall. This time however, the candidates were drawn from orphanage systems around the world, so as to lessen the notice of these missing people. The people involved in the acquisition of these candidates, the Humanities Branch, were sincere in their work, under the illusion that they were truly giving them a better life. When the project fell, they were the first branch to adhere to the new structure with open arms. The branch is still in operation, however now truly doing what they believed in, finding children from orphanages around the world and giving them a helping hand by allowing them the chance for a proper education. Occasionally, certain malignant owners were selected for assassination, for acts committed against the children. I would know, I participated in a few myself. As for the beta batch, their training cut short by the sudden change, they were given a proper education, although given the thoroughness of Project Youkai training, human interaction was still severely lacking.
For this reason, most were attached to alpha batch candidates, where the majority were taken to treating their predecessors with reverence, even through some were of a similar age.-Recorded by Office of Physics operative Dutch Kotozaki(ret) on the impacts of the Fall of Project Youkai(Submitted to the Crypt for record)
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The lone tengu sat at the table, her silver mane muted in the dim light, mulling over her drink as her burgundy eyes seemingly bored into the surface as if it were the answer to all of her problems. Her pale hands held the cup in a death grip, the clay creation trembling.
As she sat there, a Hakurou tengu sat down beside her, her snowy ears perked up on high alert. Her weapon, a bow, sheathed on her back as her hands held a sword that gleamed in the dimness. She placed it upon the table with the utmost care, an infinitesimal tap that seemed to echo like a gunshot.
"Captain, you left your weapon." She whispered as she reached to take away the cup in the Karasu's hands. Despite the indicative trembling, it was taken away with ease, brought away where it was free from the assault.
The Karasu tengu simply stayed silent, her eyes looking down at her hands as she closed her fists instead, her body spent of energy. The Hakurou sighed as she moved the swords into her superior's hands.
"Captain Tenma, please. The Oni are gathering everyone and we cannot lose a scout captain right now." She implored.
Tenma looked up at her friend. "I almost lead an entire company into a trap. One hundred and twenty Tengu, each one of them a fighter who was called to serve, almost died because a scout captain almost didn't spot a boulder on a cliff set to fall. I shouldn't be here Eri."
The wolfish Tengu sighed again. "But you did, and those tengu survived. Come, please. The Oni are pulling all Tengu and Kappa back and the rumors are that we are going to the moon. We need you."
Tenma blinked in surprise. "The moon? What does the moon have to offer but rabbits and Lunarians?" She inquired.
"Truly, we don't know. It is whispered that the Oni are seeking conquest." Eri breathed, careful to keep her voice as low as possible. Ears were everywhere.
Tenma's eyes widened in shock. "But that's suicide. The moon is powerful and we gain nothing from such an endeavor." While it was rare for anyone to have gone to the moon and returned, knowledge was abundant regarding the powerful capabilities of the Lunar civilization. Having tangled with a lunar surveillance team before, Tenma knew the power of moon weaponry. Their great bows and magi-bows were dangerous weapons, especially the magi-bow, which due to the widespread nature of the weapon, was used by the rabbits. It conveyed the power and image of a crossbow, yet fired a far more lethal magic projectile.
"You know the nature of our masters. We have no say in this whatsoever." Eri whispered. "Regardless, we need you captain. Remember what you told me? About duty?"
"If not duty to your master, duty to your comrades." Tenma recited, a series of words that held great meaning to her. Immediately, a clear change showed in the Karasu tengu. Her hands gripped the sword tightly as they suddenly found new energy. Fire flared in her burgundy eyes, a blaze shining within the deep red.
"Alright then. We will have to gather the entire command squad. I will need to speak with all the squad leaders under my command." She said as she dictated her orders to her subordinate. Eri grinned as she whipped out her paper and wrote down the words spoken. Her leader was back.
...fans for all squad leaders. They will need them to use the wind." Tenma finished. "We may have no say in this but we have a say in the battle. If we can't stop this attack, we can at least limit our losses with effective scouting."
"Yes, Captain Tenma."
Tenma got up from the table. "Well, then, I spent too much time here." She muttered as she moved off, Eri following.
"Captain? It's good that you're back." She said as they headed out into the moonlight.
Tenma only looked up at the moon above them in answer. She imagined the blood that would stain its surface before long. "Good or not, there is a change coming. I only hope that the tengu can survive it." She whispered.
The world dissolved yet again to nothing. Tenma regarded the change with little surprise. The third time was expected. It was just that, this, was strange. It had little to connect to the events of the day.
"Hmmm, a free spirit. No wonder this happened." A voice broke Tenma's trance.
The Karasu tengu turned to the voice, her power automatically in her hands as she faced the speaker. She frowned and tensed up in defense at the brunette smiling back at her.
"Oh don't be so hostile. After all, we just met." The intruder of her dreams said as a laugh bubbled through her throat. Tenma simply shifted in place as she regarded this new person.
"Who are you ? Where did you come from?" Came the questions, curt in execution.
The woman bowed. "Nora Murray, at your service. Where I came from, well that's a more appropriate question." She said as she started to walk around, circling Tenma as the youkai lord turned with each step, constantly presenting her front to her other.
Nora stopped and stared into Tenma's eyes. "I am an overseer, a handler, a superior to a very unique person. Born in nothing, forged by challenge and tempered by will, he has done things that many fear, taken tasks that most decline, saved more than he himself can ever imagine. He has murdered innocents, killed adults and children alike. He is an instrument of anarchy, fighting for order."
"Yet..." She noted. "Yet, he is kind, not one to hurt someone on purpose. He is strong, sharp and fluid. He doesn't hate, he doesn't care for power. He is quite the person, I must say. Quite the person indeed, to hold feelings for you."
Tenma froze. "What... Do you even know who you are talking about?" She whispered.
"Oh yes, oh yes I do. You see, Dutch is a very special person. He needs...a kind of special attention too, for his sake and others. Because of that attention, I know him, inside and out. I can say with some form of belief that in his heart, there is a place for you." Nora pointed at Tenma.
"Of course, what sort of place that would be, is the next question. It is not set. It grows, but the question is, will it be a tumor or a flower?" Nora continued.
Tenma bristled at the implied insult. "How dare you even insinuate that I would be such a thing?"
Nora chuckled. "Oh, it's not me that holds such thoughts. You have so many detractors, so many who would be happy for the two of you to be apart. It is they you should raise your hackles at."
"I am but a humble caretaker who desires for my charge to be happy. It just so happens that you are one of those ways." She declared. "So many possibilities, so many endings. Fascinating..."
Tenma ignored that last comment. Those words reminded her so easily of a certain sage who wasn't afraid to create painful schemes.
"And what about the one that claims him as her own? What does she have to do with this?" She questioned. That presence was a clear opponent and Tenma wanted information about her.
Her counterpart grinned. In-between them, Dutch appeared, an image of the man that stood at attention, casually holding his carbine. Nora gestured and Vale followed, the entity wrapping herself around Dutch, her arms reaching around his neck like a vise. She stared intensely at Tenma, partially hidden behind Dutch's shoulder, a possessive burn in her eyes that glowed like hot coals.
'Mine.' Came her words, reverberating in the air.
Tenma clenched her fists as she regarded her opponent for the first time. She was cute, the tengu lord noted, but looks were a very deceptive thing. Even then, her opinion of her was the same.
"Her name is Vale. What do you see?" Nora smilingly questioned.
"A parasite that clings to him." Was the answer.
That answer made Nora blink in surprise. Tapping the air, her eyes watched invisible images before they gleamed with mirth. "I guess the mind sees what it wants to see." She quipped, grinning again.
"What did you see?" Tenma growled.
Nora waved her hand airily. Vale was again behind Dutch, her hands around his neck. Except this time, she hung on to him lovingly, a peaceful smile on her face echoed by the man in her arms.
Tenma watched the sight with confused eyes. "What is this?" She muttered as her heart tugged at the image.
" What I see...and have seen." Nora stated.
"You are not the only one who cares for him. You aren't even the only one that wants to claim him. The only difference is that she has found her place in his heart. She has earned her place, her reward, you can call it, for what she has done. Him and her, are tied together in ways you will never reach. They exist together now, two corpses in one grave." She continued, smiling at Tenma's frowning face.
"Surprised perhaps? But it's true. They both paid heavy prices for each other, went beyond the seemingly possible. She sacrificed herself to save him and in return, he has bound his soul to save her. Two lives, now tied as one. Poetic, yes, but it matters a lot more to you than just its meaning. You cannot rid him of her, any more than you can rid yourself of you. She is him, mind, body and soul, just like he is her."
"That's why she appears to you as such. A lover, marking hers against others. Oh yes, a lover indeed." Nora savored, watching Tenma's shocked face, the image between them transforming, a picture of the two in the center joined intimately. " She cannot exist without him, as the same for him too."
Tenma simply watched the image of the couple together, their heads touching together. It was...heartwarming yet so heartbreaking. The image conveyed a clear message about the two but at the same time, it told Tenma that she had already lost. Her fight was over, even before she begun.
"What does that make you feel? Despair? Loss? You shouldn't." Her counterpart said. "Because even then, there is still the issue of his feelings for you."
"What do you mean?" Tenma whispered faintly.
Nora held her hand out, a Faustian bargain in her open palm. "I give you now a way to keep your chance. A very twisted chance but still a chance nevertheless. All you have to do is to accept this." She offered darkly.
"What do you stand to gain?" The tengu muttered.
"Happiness, for him. That is all I need or want."
Tenma eyed the open palm cautiously, as though it were a deadly viper. No matter what she felt, the woman before her, smiling in such a benign manner, was a devil incarnate. So much promise yet danger.
But...Dutch.
She took the open hand. "Fine." She breathed out.
Nora grinned victoriously. "Well, then, now that this is out of the way, we can really get down to business. Dutch has a real problem and he is going to need all the help he can get, especially from you."
She brought up an image, an image of a weapon, similar in shape to Dutch's M4. Except this time, it was much larger, possessing two barrels, a larger one above the other.
"This is the weapon that got Dutch worried and rightfully so. It is dangerous and essentially combines his carbine and grenade launcher into one dainty package." She explained, bringing up an image of the weapons as she spoke. "Just a small group armed with this can do serious damage."
"But of course, there is a far greater threat to the village than that. That, however, Dutch will have to decipher on his own before he can do anything, and oh yes, I do know what it is. A weapon, with power beyond normal capacity. One that he is very experienced with." She described to suspicious stares from Tenma. Nora simply smiled cryptically.
"How will he stop this weapon?"
"He will know. And with the power in this world, there will be many ways to dispose of it. What you have to do is to help him. He is proficient, but two heads are always better than one."
As Tenma thought about it, Nora waved a hand in front of her face."Well, then, I must be off. You aren't the only one that has issues to contend with. Remember, you still have a chance. She is still learning, which means that you hold the advantage in knowledge. Use it well." She finished before slowly fading away.
"Wait! How did you get here?" Tenma asked, curious as to how someone in Dutch's head could make her way into hers.
Nora chuckled. "Well, you should be really careful of where you put your tongue next time. Although I must say, such a brazen move indeed. I approve."
And she was gone.
Tenma huffed in irritation. It would appear that her dreams were no longer hers alone, a fact which greatly irritated her. Was there anything that was not private in her head?
Still, as she stood there alone, her mind wandered. What did Nora mean by a twisted chance? There was something she wasn't saying, that was for sure.
"I'm but a humble caretaker who wants my charge to be happy."
Tenma frowned. Those words rang so similar to the Youkai Sage that it was unsettling. It spoke of a single minded concern, a drive to ensure that one outcome, irrespective of any other would come to fruition. She made a note to scrutinize anything that Nora gave her carefully, lest it hurt her.
She slowly started to drift away, releasing her mind into the clouded fog of her dreams. As her vision faded, her last sight tugged again at her heart.
Dutch and Vale blurred away.
Vault
Dutch leaned against the back of the bed, his eyes troubled, as thoughts crowded his mind. Next to him, his soul mate slept, a joyful smile occupied her features as her sleeping mind drew from his presence. Her arms wrapped around him, occasionally drawing her closer to him, like a child that hugged their favorite toy tightly while they slept. Peace flooded the mind link, a feeling that whispered the promised comforts of sleep.
He resisted the urge to join her in blissful slumber. Although he did not move, Dutch's mind was very active, scrolling through different sections of both the vault and the nanobots in his head. Things had him bothered and answers were in order.
The first was Yukari's choice of words. A clear and physical threat seemed quite an unnecessary set of words to use. One of them was enough and two was an overreaction. Hence, he felt that there wa something hidden in her words that could help him. He just needed to find out what.
The second was his opponents. While surely they wouldn't carry their weapon out in the open, lest they drew unwanted attention, once they did, everything would go to hell in a hand basket, and fast. Even wanton use of the weapon itself would easily do too much damage. And if a single shot got off, he would be sure that attention would converge onto the scene. This world had very little experience with modern firearms and the damage they could inflict. Not to mention, these were next generation weaponry, outclassing even his own.
Lastly, Vale.
She was plainly distressed by the circumstances that he was in. Her fear of his death wasn't without merit. Even without the current issues, Gensokyo was a very dangerous place and he would be wise to watch himself. And yet there truly was nothing he could do. Until he saw the magician in the forest that Yukari recommended to him, there was nothing he could do that could really let Vale help out. If it did come true and Vale could exit the vault, just the danger she would encounter alone was enough for him to veto the idea.
As his mind ran, sleep tugged at his mind again, channeled by his bond to the girl beside him. He easily pulled away from the influence and stroked Vale's hair in answer, content to have her by his side. She let out a happy mumble, nuzzling into his shirt.
Wait.
His mind reran the feeling. Vale transferred her state of mind to him through their link. She could also give him mental images and her words very easily. What if...it was information instead?
Was it possible?
As if jolted by this idea, his mind began thoroughly examining the idea, thinking up possibilities. It wasn't too hard, since all she needed to do was to process information that he would be too busy to. She could help him spot targets he missed, see objects that he wouldn't. And most importantly, she would be able to have a direct hand in his well being.
It was at that point that the penny truly dropped. He could design some sort of wide area detection system to go along, like Tenma's protective wind circle. She would be able to monitor threats outside his view and alert him in time. One drawback of modern weaponry was the narrowed view from aiming down a rifle sight, be it iron or holographic. Even setting that aside, human eyesight barely reached a semicircle. With Vale's help, he could at least ensure the detection of all threats at close range, something military researchers had been attempting for centuries.
It could work. No, it would work, he told himself as his mind started to create the baseline algorithms to help it. He was impressed at how the vault worked, converting magical formula into something recognizable for him, this time being algorithms. Of course, there were issues that he had to fix but one problem at a time.
Now if he could only get rid of the angel clinging onto him so he could actually reach the interface and get to work. Which appeared to be impossible, seeing how her deceptively iron hold on him just tightened some more, as if warning him from such a course of action.
Sometimes, the show could not go on, it seemed. Sighing at his companion, Dutch settled back into sleep, letting the pull of dreams envelop him like a comforting cloak.
Dawn
Forest of Magic
Just off the Forest road
The harvester smiled at his good luck.
He had managed to find some rare medicinal mushrooms, ones highly sought after by the healers in town. While not as proficient as the lunar doctor, they provided a closer source of help, important when the bamboo forest was a day's walk, should one not have the ability of flight.
As he felt his bag again for the precious fungi, the sound of carts caught his attention. Curiously, he made his way through the trees to the source, his mind perplexed. The only reason he was up so early in the morning was because it was the transition period between the night dwellers and the day hunters, leaving as little predators as possible awake. And with the rain the day before, the air was thick with the forest aroma, a curious miasma of decay, fragrance and earth. It helped mask his scent from the predators.
But to have carts moving so early in the morning meant that these people would have departed in the night the day before. With no new festivals, there was no reason for such a foolhardy move. Hence his curiosity.
Making his way to the edge of the road, he was surprised to see a large group of men, definitely more than ten guarding at least two carts which trundled towards him. That was even more peculiar, since such a large group would be unnecessary to defend just two carts. Judging from their attire, they were from the mountain villages, which added to the strangeness of these people, since to make such a journey would mean at least an eight hour walk, not including rest. These people would have left around evening the day before. A very dangerous move indeed.
"Hello there, good morning to you!" He shouted. Strange or not, these were humans and courtesy was deserved.
The strangers' reaction to his greeting was natural enough. They waved back warmly as they approached, although there weren't smiles on their faces. The harvester brushed aside that, since they were still in dangerous territory. Good spirits could wait until the village.
He waited as they got closer to him, the creaking of carts increasing in volume. The apparent leader of the group sped up to him, a heavy built man dressed in a simple white shirt and hazel pants, both darkened by earth.
"Good morning to you too. What are you doing, here so early in the morning?" He asked, his smile betrayed by his neutral eyes.
"I should say the same to you. I'm gathering mushrooms. What are you doing so early in the morning?"
The man sighed pitifully. "Customers want their materials before noontime and we were delayed before we could depart. So we decided to leave at night."
The harvester was surprised at the foolhardiness of the man. "But at night? That would be incredibly dangerous."
His counterpart smiled sadly. "Needs take priority."
"I see." The harvester said as the carts caught up to them, their pushers grunting at the effort. They were both covered by cloth, disguising the contents inside but as the carts passed them, a pothole on the ground caught the wheel of the front cart and something shifted inside. The cloth moved and the harvester caught a flash of a strange symbol on a black cylindrical object.
And then he was choking on air.
No, blood, his stunned mind corrected as he belatedly realised that he was on the ground. Hands touched his throat as blood spilled down it, a river powered by his own heartbeat.
"Why...?"
But his killers were already moving away, the creaking of the carts getting further away.
Everything was fading away, black creeping along the edge of his vision. His body would be eaten by the forest youkai and everyone who knew him would only regard him as his last thoughts grew increasingly fogged, his last thought was his family.
'I'm sorry...I won't ever see you again...'
And he was gone.
Vault
"We sure kicked some real ass, didn't we?"
Dutch look up at the white ceiling as the last vestiges of his dream faded, the words remaining in his mind. It spoke of a different time, a different world. A different life.
"Yea, we sure did. Looks like I'm doing this alone though. Will miss you guys." He whispered longingly. It was always the three of them, out to save the world. They fought and bled, secure in the knowledge that their winning meant something. Now, it was just him, with different companions. A different team.
Somehow, change felt painful. Sure he had been with his fellows for a while now but he was given a task to do now and not having his two partners...hurt. Like a hankering urge for the two constants in his life, it pulled at his heart.
He felt lonely.
Ironic perhaps, since he was bonded mentally to Vale, who still held on to him, albeit less strongly. But he wouldn't lie to himself, not for such a emotional reason.
Still, he had a task to do. It had to be done, regardless of feelings.
As he moved to disengage himself from Vale, it drew her from her slumber. The girl yawned as she rose, stretching her arms and wings. Her sleepy eyes focused on the man next to her, energy gathering in them as she recognized him.
As he moved to leave the bed, a uneasy hand caught his. Dutch turned back to an afraid Vale, her sky-blue eyes beseeching him.
'Promise you will come back.' She whispered hesitantly in his mind.
"I promise." He swore, before giving her a peck on her vault entity reluctantly released him, her eyes tracking him as he left the room.
As the door clicked shut, he heard a faint sob.
Orphanage of Lost Dreams
Protective wall
Tenma scanned the pure blue sky, her keen eyes watching for any traveling Karasu tengu. Her heart ached at the wrongness of her location as she imagined watching the sky from the perspective of the tengu palace.
Now that she had some time to think, she felt rather strange, not waking up in the palace. She spent far too long in her lordly abode, she mused, for her to have such a feeling.
She wondered about the condition of the village. She had left Eri in charge and while Tenma could trust in her Hakurou aide, she still kept a healthy level of thought for her people.
The youkai lord swore to find some way to benefit her people in this journey, one way or another. Perhaps the defeat of this new threat could help. Whoever could attack the human village could attack her own. She would be wise to head off this threat.
As she watched the passing clouds, the clank of someone rising via a nearby ladder caught her attention. Utsudo climbed onto the wall, her staff in a harness under her cloak. The Tsuchigumo was blushing lightly, seemingly embarrassed by whatever was on her mind.
"Hey, well, I kinda need to say this." She mumbled, her blush deepening with each word as her hands clasped together in tandem.
Tenma smiled at her reaction. "Yes?"
"T-thanks for what you did two days ago. R-really." She stuttered.
Tenma blinked in surprise. "Ah, you should be thanking Dutch. He was the one that decided to follow you."
"I did. But he said that you were the real help in this and should get most of the credit."
That statement made Tenma blink again. She only followed him yet he stated that she deserved praise more than him. Why?
"Your role in this will be kept quiet. Just as requested."
Of course, Tenma realized. Dutch did not like being in the limelight, he preferred the backstage, the seat behind the throne. The man was happier for others to take the credit. In fact, she noted, it suited him, helped him to draw away attention.
Very well, she decided. She would humor him.
"I see. Well then, thank you." She accepted.
Utsudo let a relieved sigh. "So where are you going now?" She inquired, curious.
"The human village. A matter persists over there which we must settle." Tenma answered carefully.
Her counterpart growled. "I don't like that place. There are so many human supremacists there."
"Believe me, you will find one in every village." Was Tenma's answer. She was no stranger to such poisonous ideals nor their effects.
Utsudo smiled curiously. "Who are you? Rosa-san wouldn't tell me who you are and she knows. I can see it."
The tengu lord answered her with an enigmatic smile. "A simple adventurer."
"Thank you so much!"
Dutch chuckled at the happy faces of the orphans, their gratitude plainly shown as they all lined up along the way to the gate. It was rare for him to be given such a reaction in his line of work.
"Please, it was natural. There needn't be such a event." He answered.
Rosa gave him a thankful smile. "But you did and that should be thanked. So accept the orphans gratitude. Its all they have."
Dutch sighed dramatically. "But if I do, what will they have left?" He moaned, to giggles from the watching children.
"Take care of yourselves but always remember you have your Onee-samas to look after you." Tenma interjected as they headed off, to waves from the orphans.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Utsudo answered, leading them through the gate, Mekan quietly following behind.
Tenma gave her a calculating look. "You know, in another time, perhaps you would make the perfect bride. Smart, determined, any proper person would be a fool to reject you."
The Tsuchigumo blushed madly. "Wh...what?!"
Her tormentor giggled. "Although, they would still have to get past your friend." She pointed out, as said friend hung back behind them, a ghost of a smile on her lips.
"Unless of course..." The second part hung silent in the air, drawing a faint tint of red on the kappa and a questioning glare from her.
Utsudo laughed nervously. "She doesn't feel that way, I think."
Tenma laughed. "I'm just joking. Don't take it too seriously."
"Teri on the other hand, is perfectly suitable to be a bride. In this time too." Dutch chipped in, unaware of the implications of his words.
Tenma immediately blushed,her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Him and her, joined by marriage? The possibility seemed so impossible and yet...so tantalizing.
"Sh-shut up." She stuttered to laughs from the three of them. She wiped her head of such thoughts. Such things were unreachable, she told herself, and she should keep it that way.
"Well then, we'll be off. Thank you for the lodging. It was a pleasure." Her tormentor announced.
Utsudo nodded. " If you ever come back, please, let me know. There are a lot of things I can show you in the market that you will like."
Dutch nodded. "I'll keep that in mind."
With that, he and Tenma trudged off, the tengu lord's blush finally calming down, but still keeping silent, their new found friends waving in the distance.
"Hey Teri, I say we make a stop over at the youkai market first and retrieve your things before setting off, how does that feel?" He asked.
Tenma roused herself from her thoughts. "I think that's a good idea." She returned quickly, her mind still busy.
"Is there something wrong? You seem rather preoccupied."
"Dutch, have you ever thought of who you would spend your life with?" Tenma questioned.
That made the man start. "Is this because of what I said? Well, I never actually thought of it. I mean, sure, I did have the usual what if thoughts but really I have no idea. The quiet life isn't really my forte after all."
"What sort of life did you envision for yourself?"
"...I don't know. I really don't. I guess I expected to keep fighting, not to come back from a mission and that would be that." He finally answered after a long silence.
That fatalistic view made Tenma lightly grab his arm, her eyes pleading. "Why? Why do you think this way?"
Dutch sighed. " Have you ever felt you passed the point of no return? That you might as well continue on because stopping is not an option? That you done so much bad that redemption is not an option?"
That sentiment kept Tenma silent.
"I killed a lot of people. More than I can remember. More than what is forgivable. I am no better then the ones I fight. So if I am gone, at least the world would be rid of one more monster." He ended.
"Dutch..."
The man cut her off with a light laugh. "Don't worry. I don't intend to die just yet. There are far more important things."
As he smiled reassuringly at the youkai woman, a mournful voice penetrated his head.
'Dako, you don't mean those words, do you?' Vale breathed into his mind as he faced away from Tenma.
The man's eyes tightened infinitesimally. 'Don't worry, I did say there are more important things. I promised.'
'Dako...'
He sighed mentally. 'You have seen my memories. You know what's it like.'
That brought a sob from the girl. 'I don't Dako. I don't understand. Please, I just don't.'
'I...'
A surge of emotion spilled over their link as the girl poured herself into him, her feelings a wave that overpowered his thoughts. Just like the night before, he felt her raw emotions, her entire mind laid out for him.
He wanted to experience it all, to feel her, to comfort her but he couldn't. Now wasn't the time.
Dutch carefully separated himself from her and gently pushed her back across the link.
'I'm sorry.' Came his words as he closed the link between them.
Turning back to Tenma, he saw her eyes stare at him with a expression of sadness, curiosity...and envy?
The tengu woman looked away. She could see it. The changes of his posture, his breath, even his eyes were telling proof that he shared his mind with Vale. The man truly was intertwined with the girl Nora showed her.
In a way, Tenma envied their relationship. It was the ultimate bond, a sharing of minds that meant that they could truly feel each other. It was a price not many were willing to pay.
Even Tenma wouldn't do it.
Dutch sighed. "Right. Let's keep this behind us. We still have a village to reach."
His partner nodded silently as they continued onwards again, their thoughts their own.
"That idiot. That complete and utter idiot." Nora swore as she held the entity against her bosom, stroking her hair comfortingly, the girl sobbed pitifully.
Vale looked up at her, her eyes glistening with tears. "Why?" She cried.
Nora sighed. "I guess it's partially my fault. I was the one in his past after all."
Vale squeezed her clothing. "He promised. But it hurts so much, to feel that."
The woman she held onto tightened her hold. "It's a result of his life. He was raised to fight. We all were. But he never thought beyond that."
"We can stop your training, for today." She whispered. "There is always tomorrow."
"No." Vale said as she pulled away, her tears still running but her eyes resolute.
Nora beamed proudly. "Very well." She answered before engulfing them in a portal.
Youkai market
Dutch waited outside the market, leaning against the tree. Tenma had gone inside, to get her equipment from the guild. He, on the other hand, saw no use in entering and kept outside.
As he waited, a nagging question rose in his head. He phased out the lever-action rifle that he had taken from the lizard man. The weapon was in a weathered condition but still operational.
It showed signs of being cleaned recently. Well within a month or so. That meant that at least rifle tech was in Gensokyo, otherwise no one would have the ability to service them. And the lizard man definitely wouldn't have the capability to do so. Even simply working the weapon was a problem for him,
"Hello humie." Ushi greeted as he walked up to him.
"Morning." Dutch returned as he glanced at his counterpart..
"You know humie, last night, a certain youkai who was powerful here left this place. He didn't come back. That gun you have there looked a lot like his." The bull youkai informed him.
Dutch chuckled. "Oh what a coincidence." He remarked casually.
"Yea well, people are going to be thinking stuff if they see that gun humie. You might wanna keep it hidden."
Dutch phased away the weapon, but not before working the lever. The bullet flew out onto his hand, where he placed it on the ground. "Well, that should be enough."
"So how was Death-legs humie?"
He smiled. "Smart, cunning and dangerous. Still, it's surprising that she never had an opponent that didn't get angry with her until now. Does everyone really have such a short fuse?"
Ushi laughed. "The thing is humie, we go there to fight, not talk."
"Makes sense."
Dutch phased in his knife, the soulless blackness against the bright day, and danced his blade again, his hands seemingly untouchable against the permanently sharp weapon.
"Hey Ushi, how's the human village like?"
The bull youkai snorted. "Human gits with more swords than brains. Walk into that place and all those gits want is your wallet. And your head for their walls."
His human counterpart chuckled, his hand closing around the knife in a sharp movement. "I'm sure the other side has the same idea."
"Aye but at least youkai gits aren't that stupid."
"We'll see about that." Tenma quipped as she walked out of the gate, carrying a pack of supplies.
"Ready to go?" Her partner questioned.
The tengu lord nodded and was answered with an apologetic smile.
"Let me finish up here with Ushi first and we will be off." Dutch returned.
"I'll be waiting at the crossroads then."
As the two watched the silvery haired youkai woman move off down the road, Ushi popped the obvious question.
"You like her, don't you humie?"
The addressed human sighed. "I do. But we are so different, so apart... If I did extend the choice, her people would be the greatest obstacle. It would hurt her. Badly."
His counterpart snorted. "Dumb idea humie. I seen human-youkai families beat idiot gits to be together. Your only problem is yourself."
"Maybe. I truly like her. She's beautiful, sharp and intelligent. But I'm not sure if that like I have will become love. Certain things are difficult and complicated.
Ushi chuckled. "Here humie, everything is complicated. Do what's simple."
"So it is. Thanks for the advice. Good luck." Dutch wished as he followed after Tenma.
"No, good luck to you humie. You seem to need it." Ushi muttered as he watched Dutch disappear into the trees.
Forest road
Traders route
The two travelers walked down the road, pushing along against the time to reach their destination before dark.
They both carried a pack on their backs, the result of Dutch's insistence and Tenma's eventual agreement. The Tengu lord was very opposed to splitting her load, since it was her load but Dutch pulled the same 'partners' argument as she did and she grudgingly let it go.
They now walked along the traders' route, a path preferred by every single merchant in and around the forest for it's relative safety, their boots stepping along side lines cut into the ground by countless carts before them.
As they walked, both kept themselves relaxed, albeit at varying levels per person. It was daytime and most youkai wouldn't dare to attack them, especially with such a powerful tengu in the duo. Still, Dutch regarded his lovely companion with a small level of caution. He trusted her and she had shown herself to be worthy of that trust, but given past events, he would be wise to watch himself.
He reached for her, as she looked down at the ground in thoughtful silence. She had be doing that since they left the youkai market, he noted, and whilst the subject matters of her mind were closed to him, he could easily guess what she was thinking about. Not specifically but he could at least narrow it down to one area.
Him. He had given her a lot of material to think about and frankly, he would be happy if she discontinued it. They were already very much involved together and Dutch was no fool. The apathy he received in the tengu village would rapidly sour and direct itself to Tenma if news got out.
He knew the stakes here. Whatever the cost, he could not allow Tenma's tattered reputation to be shredded any more. She covered for him and he had to do the same for her.
As his hand brushed against her shoulder, the Tengu lord reacted violently. Her own hand shot outwards, seizing his wrist in a death grip. Dutch winced as his hand started to twist to hers, glancing hurriedly at Tenma, where she was still registering what happened.
He saw the horrified realization, the fearful widening of her eyes. The pressure on his hand quickly released, a frightened gasp playing it's owner feelings, so much emotion in a second of sound.
"No...not again." She whispered.
Her partner gave her a assuring smile as he cradled his hand. "Relax, at least you didn't almost kill me this time."
"At least? Dutch, I almost hurt you again." Tenma continued.
"But I'm fine. Really." The man returned, his words betrayed by his actions.
"No you are not. Gods, I can't be close to you. Why did I..."
He grabbed her shoulders quickly but gently. "Calm down and think rationally. You didn't hurt me, at least for long. That's an improvement."
She stared back at him, aggravated by his logic. "If I had my katana out, I would have killed you. It would have been as unthinking as before. Don't you understand the danger?"
"Well, I hadn't received murder attempts by you until very recently. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt." Came the answer.
"That's because I was aware of you. If I wasn't, I would have hurt you just the same. Don't attribute your safety to luck. I killed too many humans to not react to a single one."
That statement made him grin. "Well, that makes me one in the equivalent number of dead people. I'm not dead yet."
Tenma shook her head, exasperated at his casual answer. "No no no, you still don't get it. You're human, a being that has a magical nature that my body recognizes as an enemy, because I fought humans for too long. I will attack that nature if I'm not aware of you. Don't you see the danger?"
Dutch nodded. "I do. I also see the solution."
He reached out with his hand and grabbed hers, holding hers in his, drawing a gasp in the process.
"W-what are you doing?" Tenma stuttered surprised, flushing lightly from the gesture.
"Something that we did yesterday. If you reacted to my nature unconsciously, then we just have to bring my nature into the conscious state of your mind. Contact comes into mind. Hopefully, this should help you get used to me and negate your defensive reaction."
"A-ah..." She continued.
Dutch smiled as he held up their hands. "As partners, any problems we get can be solved. Even amongst ourselves. So don't think of running away when there are options still available."
"Right."
Vault
Dutch's memory
Depth Watcher
Nora grinned as a furious snarl erupted from Vale. It was a rather nice sight, she decided, the image of the girl in front of her. Her sky-blue eyes, once empty with tears, now alive with rage. Her wings glowing brightly. It was quite a transformation, one that seemed impossible given the heart broken sight she had seen earlier.
"Calm down. He's thinking on the more practical side of it. And he is right. Physical contact between them should allow for her to get used to him and prevent incidents like yesterday. An incident that lead to your rather intimate proceedings yesterday, I would like to note."
"He's mine. Mine..." The sterling blue haired girl growled.
"Of course he is. But understand his view. You have a way into his mind that is seemingly impossible for anyone else. Feel his feelings. You know he can't hide from you." Nora instructed, not mentioning her conversation with Tenma. If she played her card rights, she could get both females to co-exist casually. A sure fire way to Dutch's happiness.
"Mmmmm." Vale grumbled.
Nora gave pat her a reassuring on the head. "Still, now that you're fired up, let's say we start the next stage of our training. You need to learn to fight in hand to hand combat, for your safety. Not to mention you could learn certain..ah..moves to immobilize your opponent."
"I see. But how can I learn so fast?"
The brunette teacher grinned. "That's the power of your bond. Just like how you gave instructions to Dutch to brush your hair, you can draw skills from him. The two of you can effectively share skills between each other. Reach into his memory and draw from his experience."
Vale nodded, before closing her eyes. She reached into Dutch's memories and selected the ones relevant to her. Her mind feeling the movement, she felt one of the memories, her body following the recorded actions.
The sensation of blocking something broke her trance. She blinked in surprise at what she saw, her arm blocking Nora's fist easily. The brunette smiled proudly.
"There we go. This should speed up your training tremendously. Your main issue is actually getting used to synchronizing with his memories while being active at the same time. At the end of the training, our goal is to get you to use his memories like your own. That way, you would be able to fight like him while still being active."
Vale simply kept blinking at the sight of her block. "Wow." She breathed in amazement.
Nora grinned before stepping back. "Now try one of his attacks."
Vale nodded tentatively before closing her eyes. She chose another memory and felt it, her legs pushing her body forward as her hands reached out. Seemingly natural, Vale grabbed, turned and twisted the hand she caught.
A surprised yelp broke her concentration this time. She opened her eyes to see Nora on the ground, the fragment's arm held by her in a clearly painful position.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" Vale apologized, releasing her victim hurriedly. The entity blushed in embarrassment as she helped Nora to her feet.
"It's okay. Now we do know that you can put the hurt onto people, we can work from there." The brunette instructed wincing.
Despite her words, Vale still stepped back from her, her expression sad. Nora sighed, giving her a reassuring pat on the head.
"Come on, it's combat training. Someone is bound to get hurt. Just think of it as training pain to prevent combat pain."
Vale nodded reluctantly. That drew another sigh from her teacher, who stabbed her finger into her side, drawing a yip from the girl.
"Lighten up. Or I will do it again." She warned.
Vale glared at the brunette angrily before closing her eyes. Nora grinned as she dodged the attack.
Forest road
Traders route
They had been walking for a few hours now and Dutch could say with some degree of conviction that his partner was happier.
Perhaps the most telling was the ghost of a smile on her lips. While he wouldn't expect a spring in her step or a happy aura, that smile said a lot of her. Maybe he should have thought more before starting such a course of action.
Not that he was complaining. Tenma's hands had a comfortable warmth to them and her skin was lovely and smooth despite her swords-woman training. Include her gentle touch and he had nothing to complain about.
Still, he kept his mind on the practical aspects of the gesture. If they were to remain as partners, he had to ensure that she would recognize his touch, lest she actually managed to kill him. While his death would weight little in the grand scheme of things, there were a lot of people who would be either heartbroken, shattered or plain bloodthirsty if he died.
However, he noted that their hands had slowly graduated from simply holding each other to being interlinked. Someone was liking it a little too much.
Luckily, it appeared that something would disrupt their contact. A rather suspect dull, red stain on the rutted surface, which grew closer at each step.
"Tenma, stop. What's that?" He started as he scanned it with his eyes. It wasn't a pool of blood, that was for sure. But it seemed red all the same.
Tenma glanced at the area, her youkai senses picking up the identity of the substance. "It's blood, human, must be a lone trader who was caught by a youkai." She answered, a sad indifference in her voice. Such an event was sadly common in the wilds, since feral youkai were still in abundance. It was a matter of balance for the barrier and it's unfortunate implications were ones that could not be changed.
"I see. But there's something there too. A knife it seems." Dutch noted as he released their hands and walked up to it. The blade lay on the ground, small and sporting a piece of paper tied to its hilt.
"Dutch, this blade belonged to a father. That is a charm for good luck for parents." Tenma whispered, the orphanage still fresh on their minds.
"Poor sod. Must have been taken unaware." He grumbled ruefully. Looking at the object, he picked it up and followed the blood trail, tracing its path with his eyes. Something deep within him pulled at his mind, instructing him to follow the spattery trail.
"Tenma, can you wait here? I've got to return this knife." Grimacing he phased in his pistol.
The tengu lord gave him an incredulous stare. "Dutch, you are looking for a dead man."
"Don't tell me you wouldn't want to lie in death with your blade in hand."
That logic made her sigh. "Fine. But I'm following. This place isn't safe for a human." She warned as air formed a circle around her.
Her partner nodded before they both set off, following the trail of blood as it led deeper into the forest. It wasn't a long trek before they came across the sound of something digging into food. The faint rip of flesh and crunch of bone gave away the location of the body and it's defiler.
The partners both crept up to the source of the sound, which was walled around by the buttress roots of a tree. Dutch crept up to the roots and peaked over, expecting to find something similar to the mountain youkai that once screamed for his blood.
What he got was much tamer, at least in the looks department. The predator was a girl, age-wise probably twelve, possibly younger. She was dressed in a soot black vest and skirt with a white blouse underneath, though her white blouse now had blood staining it. Amber blond hair fell messily towards her small shoulders, while a ribbon tied to her left side drew her hair up into a small ponytail. Her eyes were bright, ruby red, the opposite of the tengu next to him.
He phased away his pistol, Tenma threw him a curious look after seeing his actions.
"She didn't kill him. The blood spatter patterns on her sleeves tell me so." He whispered back. "So there is no need to avenge her for him. She is only the final outcome."
He moved out of cover, feeling the force of Tenma's eyes drilling into his back and casually walked up to the youkai.
"Good morning." He greeted her smiling as he kept the knife hidden behind his back. No need to alarm her.
The youkai glanced at him. "Are you going to steal my breakfast?" She asked, as she bit on a section of thigh, her voice just as young as her appearance.
"No not really. I'm just here to return an item." He answered, showing her the knife, its blade in his hand. Satisfied with his answer, the youkai returned to her meal. Dutch walked up beside her and kneeled down at her side, where he placed the knife on his bloodied hand.
"You lived and affected the world around you. That's more than enough for anything." He whispered. He spotted a small bag tied to the man's waist and reached for it, peeking inside to see mushrooms.
'His family should have this.' He thought before slipping the bag into his pocket. He gave the corpse a nod before rising to leave, when something caught his eye.
Glancing at the corpse, he noted that the blood trails originated from the man's neck. Bending down once again, he examined the neck with his enhanced sight and spotted a telltale red line on his throat. The line was too straight, too thin. That meant only one thing.
To be sure, he reached for the neck. The nanites in his blood reacted to the presence of a substance, present in the slashed area, as his finger confirmed his suspicions.
Dutch's mind registered the distinctive clicking of a radiation detector, an addition that his enhancements gave.
He tightened his eyes. Yukari's words finally made sense to him. Those words weren't redundant, they were warning him of the threat.
"Thank you, your death has revealed the enemy's intentions." He breathed to the corpse, even as the youkai continued to feed upon it.
"Is that so~" The dainty little youkai sang. Dutch turned and left, walking away from the scene. Tenma met him along the way, her eyes questioning him.
"I know what she meant." He answered as they returned to the forest road. "I know what to do."
"You don't seem to like it." She noted.
Dutch chuckled. "Let's just say it happened in the past."
"Ara, Ara~ This is interesting. A human and a tengu together. A Karasu no less."
The duo turned to the speaker, surprised by the sudden appearance. Even Tenma, with her eons of experience, had not detected this new presence.
What stared back at them was a woman, one it seemed, with a graceful aura about her. She had wavy hair, the hue of butter and streaked with chocolate and fawn stripes. A medium sized, striped, snail shell hat, with ribbons woven through holes running along the base and tied into an elaborate bow in the front, sat perched upon her crown. Her attire was a long, chalcedony white, bell shaped dress, stippled with stripes of mousse brown, amber yellow and caramel which decorated the hem. A brown blouse with a white frilled collar, swathed her chest and gave way to a pair of bell like sleeves of the same hue as her dress.
"Oh I don't think so. I'm sure that there are earlier examples, except this time we aren't trying to tear out each others' throats." Dutch retorted.
The woman giggled, the sound of wind chimes in a breeze. "Indeed. Perhaps you are willing to accept another on the same path?" She offered.
"If we walk the same journey, I don't see why not."
The woman giggled again. "Ara~ you're special for a human. Such a gentle heart." She complimented, walking up to him.
"It's only natural for travelers on the same path to form a group." Came his answer as the three started back on their road.
"Ah, but to see a human so trusting, it is an indicator of strength. I'm sure you have such strength in abundance. May I, Katatsumuri Kaimi, a humble Snail Princess, shelter under that strength?" She asked, gently touching his arm.
Her target grinned. "Sure, why not. Dutch Kotozaki at your service, with his Karasu Tengu partner Teri for assistance.
Tenma grabbed his other hand and gripped it tightly. Dutch turned back to see her very on edge, her eyes blazing with a possessive tinge.
His eyes questioned her silently, to which she answered him with a defensive glare. Unsure of the source of her reaction, he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Hmmmm? It seems that you got hurt recently. You poor thing." Kaimi crooned as she examined the healing set of claw marks on his right arm.
"Nah, it's fine. It was just an accident." Dutch answered her, looking at the marks. He winced a bit as he noted that even with his enhanced healing rate, the marks would scar.
"Oh, an accident? But you don't seem clumsy, perhaps your partner had something to do with it?"
Tenma's grip on Dutch's hand loosened as guilt overcame her. It was her fault after all she acknowledged, since the injury happened during a mission assigned by her.
Her partner answered her with a strong but gentle squeeze. The Tengu lord widened her eyes at the gesture, surprised.
"No, it happened before we met. I misread the situation and hurt myself."
"Ara~ You poor thing indeed. Was it troublesome to adjust to your partner? After all, one would think of her as being different." Kaimi questioned.
Dutch smiled. "No more different than you or me."
"Oh but she is quite different from you. After all, we don't have the extras that she has on her back. It must be hard, being next to someone that could easily fly away. Wouldn't you prefer far more comparable company?" Kaimi offered as she pressed herself against his arm.
Dutch smiled. "As tempting as your offer sounds, we are indebted to each other. So not at this current time."
"Ara~ but Tengu are such a violent group. Wouldn't gentler company better suffice?"
Tenma returned the strong grip he sent her, albeit with a more conquering strength to it. Dutch let her hold on, sighing mentally at her rather strange recent behavior.
"She hasn't been quite the dangerous one. Nothing that I would fear just yet." He answered as the first glimpses of buildings appeared on the road ahead.
"Oh, it seems we are getting close. Perhaps another time then~" Kaimi sang as she looked at the human village in the distance.
Dutch gave her a curious look. "Where would you go? There is only the forest route."
"Ara~ That, only a princess would know. My business here is done. I thank you for your strength and your kindness." She said before leaning in and giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Until we meet again, Dutch." Her words trailed off suggestively as she melted into the forest undergrowth, her graceful steps leading her into the dense, viridian foliage.
He turned back to Tenma, who sported a furious expression.
"Look, it was a harmless gesture."
The tengu growled at his words. "Fine." She grumbled. After all, the intruder was already gone.
The two made their way towards the village, releasing their hands along the way, to dissuade wrong ideas.
"Tenma, what's your experience here?" Dutch murmured as they got closer to the outskirts of the village, where lush farmlands spread out before them. A wooden tower stood beside the path ahead of them, distant structures, the village proper, lay behind it.
"They are just as protective as us. Don't expect any quarter from them, even if you are a human."
They walked up to the tower, a simple two story construct of wood, reminiscent of the old structures Dutch had seen in history books.
"Halt!" A voice commanded, as a group of men filed out of the tower. Each held a rifle in his hands, a long barreled weapon with a bolt action lever, similar to the ones used exactly a hundred years ago.
And then the ground around them rippled to life as well, as more men appeared from the ground, hidden in the spider holes from which they now emerged. More rifles were aimed at the two as the men surrounded them.
"Well poopberries." Dutch whispered as he looked around.