Disclaimer: Touhou belongs to Zun, and the only things that belong to myself would be Usagi the mimic, and Moegi the japanese beetle. Everything else belongs to their rightful owner.

A/N: Aha! I feel good for once! Joy pulsates through my black heart!

K/N: ...You seem like a fine enough sort to m-

A/N: I desire the downfall of humanity.

K/N: ...Well, I suppose some of-

A/N: We all spread like a plague. Even good people create bad.

K/N: ...I see. I suppose that is a good enough reason to call one's heart black.

A/N: Isn't it just?

K/N: Perhaps. But, really, you don't seem like a bad sor-

A/N: For my lack of ability to make my dream a reality, I've stuck to trying to make others happy.

K/N: Will you stop interrupting me?! Jeez, you won't let me get one little thing ou- And stop laughing at m- And now you're making me interrupt myself!

A/N: But I can't help it! I was merely correcting your view of me, that is a-

K/N: How do you like being interrupted, huh?!

A/N: ...It doesn't particularly bother me, really. How about we just get o-

K/N: On with the show!

A/N: ...

K/N: ...

A/N: ...Jerk.

Jeez, has it really been a week since last I read? I'm starting to feel like I did over a thousand years ago! It's been so long since I was anything along the lines of busy...

Ignoring my own whimpering and instead rolling over onto my bed from the gap in which I had opened beneath myself, I snatched my book from the place in which I had kept it, and began to flip through it. I had either forgotten to place the mark within its pages, or somehow managed to knock it out in the night. I had learned, once again, that exterminating troublesome youkai was more exhausting than it sounds. And that's saying something! It already sounds exhausting enough as it stands! Of course, if I were to use my magic it would be quite a bit easier, but that would feel like cheating. Heck, it kind of is cheating, in a sense.

Finally on the right page, I began to read.

I couldn't find the blasted thing! How in the work can one even lose a head?! At this rate, Jack won't be able to move o~~

It seems he doesn't mind that. Gave me quite the start with that sudden prank of his! Maybe I should listen to his advice that I have been up until now ignoring. "Why so serious," he would ask. I had no answer for him. Really, I have a lot of weight on my shoulders, and I try to take that seriously. Of course, that would be in no small part due to Jack's missing head. I feel guilty about somehow not being able to locate it. Did some idiot throw it into the sea, thinking that he would be drawn away?

Maybe I'll just listen to him, and start trying to take life less seriously. I hadn't felt like I had lived nearly as much in thousands of years as when I helped Jack pull that great prank. Who knew that eggs could be used in such a way? Well, besides Jack and I of course. But besides us who would ever imagine them being used in such a way? It was a work of genius, really.

That does it! From today onwards, I, Tartara Hitomi, will begin to live life to the fullest, and try not to take everything so seriously! In fact, I shall even act silly now and then.

I began to grin like the cat who ate the canary at that proclamation. To this day I still live in such a way, don't I~? I couldn't help but giggle a bit, as I turned the page. Although, I suppose she was a tad off on acting silly. Why act as such some of the time, when you can act as such constantly? After all, the more one can distract ones self from reality to better! I smiled a bit as I read on.

With both Jack and I having given up on finding his missing heads, we began searching out alternatives. It seemed off to simply leave him headless, so we first tried a cantaloupe. It was somewhat the right shape, but simply too small. Next we tried to simply put his knightly plate helmet upon his neck, which was curiously secure. However, it merely made him look somehow terrifying. The glowing motes of light that formed behind where his eyes normally would have been didn't help in the least, nor did the fact that they were red of all things help.

However, after a little thinking, I had a wonderful idea. I looked through our fruit closet, and eventually found a pumpkin. With the gourd in hand, I grabbed a knife, and carved away. By the time I was done, I had made quite the pumpkin! It looked both silly and frightening, while also looking ordinary enough for a pumpkin. When I presented it to Jack, he was ecstatic! He stuck his neck in the hole in the bottom, and looked about in glee. He loved it, or so he said! I couldn't help but grin a bit at the compliments he showered me in.

Apparently he wants to throw a party to celebrate the thing. I had no problems with the idea, so I gave my consent. Seems the party will be in a week. All we have to do is get ourselves a nice number of willing people to invite! Most likely it'll be all youkai, but I wasn't about to tell him that yet. Seems fitting with how he wants to set it on all hallows night. Although, does that holiday even exist yet? I wouldn't be surprised if it's his doing that creates it, to some extent. Still the greatest day of the year to use youkai. It's like the full moon, only far greater! Especially when the full moon is on the same night...

I chuckled as I put the mark back within the bounds of the book, and set it aside. I'll save the party for tomorrow. With that in mind, I turned in for the night.