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: Well, back to writing again pretty soon.

K/N: That is rather true, I suppose.

A/N: And I get to finally let you meet another of the humans of your life.

K/N: Although, I have to wonder if this doesn't count as writing.

A/N: ...Would you please pay attention...?

K/N: Hrm? Ahh. Sorry, I didn't mean to do such a thing.

A/N: ...Also, whatever happened to you being jovial in various ways?

K/N: ...I'm working on it~ Rome didn't get built in a day, now did it~?

A/N: That sounds a tad forced. ...You don't have to pout.

K/N: But you've insulted me! What else am I to do...?

A/N: Uhh... that's a good question, really.

K/N: Your expectations are a tad high of me, are they not~?

A/N: Still forced~

K/N: Ugh... Must you rain on my flimsy little parade filled with patch-work floats...?

A/N: Well, you have rained on mine quite enough.

K/N: Wasn't me.

A/N: But it will be~

K/N: Lalalalala! I can't hear you!

With my daily work now complete, and Ran's cooking in my belly, I returned to my room once more. As always, I used a gap to do so, as the location of my home is far from easy to access without doing as such. When I arrived at home, landing on my bed in a seated position for a change, I grabbed at where my book would normally be, and found nothing to be there.

Paling a tad, I looked to the nightstand, and found my fears to be confirmed; the book was nowhere to be seen. Hopping off the side of the bed facing the nightstand, I picked the heavy-by-human-standards little table up, and looked in there general area it had been. Nothing.

Placing it back down, I got on my hands and knees and looked under the bed. Nothing. Just where is my diary?!

Standing back up, I rushed to the door, opened it, and then proceeded to rush through the winding corridors, in my haste forgetting that I could simply gap to my destination. Every few corridors, the style of my home would change to another era, or to that of another locale. At one point, my shoeless feet slipped out from under me, and I fell to the ground at a considerable speed, skidding, bouncing, and rolling a ways across the polished floor. I shall have to remind Ran that I do sometimes like to walk across the floors. ...Wait, why am I running when I can just open a gap to Ran's room...?

Blushing a bit at my oversight, I picked myself up from the heavily waxed floor, brushed myself off, fetched one of my sleeves, placed it back on my arm, and fell through a gap. When I arrived in Ran's room, She was as asleep as I expected, however, landing even as softly as I did was enough to wake her.

Looking at me with a sharp, yet sleepy eye, the kitsune asked, "...Master...? I'm trying to sleep... What is it that you want...?"

I chuckled a bit at her reaction. Cutting strait to the chase, just like always... "...Ran, you know that book I told you to never touch?"

Quirking a brow, the fox asked, "The book you said you would remove my taste-buds for a month, and constantly offer me aburaage during said month if I were to read?" I gave a nod, as that sounded like a just punishment for forbidden knowledge. At this, the fox let out a sigh. "Master, I have no earthly idea where it might be. Have you tried looking through your storage gap...?" At this I shook my head. "Then do that, and let me rest."

I let out a sigh, and added, "Ran, I know it's not in there. Have you truly no idea as to where it might be? I really need that book back." For one, I would like to read it. Secondly, it is not good to leave such a book in an unknown location. Only Reimu, the satori family, and Kurumi would be allowed to read from it.

Allowing a pregnant silence to settle in between us, Ran eventually let out a sigh herself. "Try Chen. She may have it, for all I know."

...I hadn't even thought of that mischievous cat! "Thank you, Ran~" With that said, I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. When I pulled away, I grinned a bit at just how red that had made her become. Ran sure does get embarrassed when I give her affection, doesn't she? Well, at least she doesn't blush hard enough to start bleeding everywhere. That always is troublesome...

Waving to her slightly, I fell into the ground, soon coming out in Chen's room. Unlike Ran, she didn't hear me come in. However, curiously she was awake, and flipping through my diary. "...Chen, why are you reading my diary?"

The cat flinched at being caught, and slowly turned her head to me. As soon as she locked eyes with my rather irritated pair, she knew she was in for it. "A-ahh, erm... I found it just shitting out while I wash cleaning...? Ish that bad, Ko- Mashter?"

I let out a sigh, and asked, "Chen, what is the punishment for reading this book?" I didn't particularly want to, but she didn't listen to my warning- she must be punished for this.

Blinking in confusion, the cat asked, "Punishment? I-I don't know, Mashter..." As she spoke, her twin tails curled down, between her legs. She had grown physically, becoming a woman over the last thousand years, but she was still the same childish Chen as always. Not quite believing that she didn't know, I began to listen to her thoughts, and was honestly shocked to find that she was telling the truth.

"...Chen..." At her flinching, I let out yet another sigh. "Chen, it's alright. I'm not going to punish you, okay? You didn't know better." Well, that, or she's a master at hiding her thoughts. But really, who would be able to hide them so thoroughly?

Smiling timidly at me, she asked, "Really...?" At my second confirmation, this time by nod, she began to perk up. "Thanksh, Mashter!" Note to self: be sure to warn Chen of things she's not allowed to do.

With the cat distracted, I plucked the book from her grasp. "Just be sure not to do it again, Chen." Seeing her nod her understanding, I gave her a quick pat on the head, and fell into another gap. Once more I was on my bed, with book now in tow. Now, how about some light reading? I opened to the bookmark which Chen had thankfully left in its place, and began to read.

The place where youkai and humans alike keep dying is surprisingly dull; I expected fire and brimstone, blood and gore, and perhaps a few screaming children about to be slaughtered! I expected someone needing saving. All this place seems to be is a massive graveyard with a tree in the center. Although, it is curious that there is only one being living here. Apparently her father tried to kill her, and so she had to add him to the ranks of the graves. Where once he was the undertaker, now she must fill his shoes. Also, Jack seems to be getting along with her quite well, surprisingly! When we had tea, while he was unable to join for obvious reasons, he was quite the bit of entertainment. Always a lively tale that dead man can tell...

Ohh! And she even already understood the joys of sweetened tea! Apparently, she had honey in her tea once before! Not the same as sugar, but it's still a step above nothing. Sadly, she's no fan of sweetened tea. I tried to tell her that sugar in tea tastes different, but she wouldn't have any of that. Instead, she stuck to her bitter herbal tea, leaving the sugar for my exclusive use.

You know, now that I think about it, I could practice raising the dead on Jack! Nothing too fancy, mind you. Just make him able to enjoy drinks again. Get the digestion system going again. Ahh, maybe a funnel leading to his stomach would work for tea. As it stands, it's awkward trying to have him explain why he's not having any. Not thirsty can only go so far! Yes, a funnel sounds wonderful! In fact, I think I shall go try this now!

That didn't go nearly as I had hoped. Apparently, Jack was unable to speak or "breathe," not to mention that it was making him gag. Honestly, I haven't seen him draw a single breath since he died, so I think he's just imagining that part. On the plus side, I learned that he is actually able to drink tea! He tried pouring it down his neck, and it actually worked quite well, surprisingly.

I chuckled a bit as I flipped to the next page. Ahh, that brings back some good memories, now doesn't it?

Today we began to be a tad more thorough, and I had Jack ask her where all the graves came from. Why Jack? He can easily get one to spill their guts to him with relative ease. Apparently there was once a town here, but everyone started to kill each other one night. Apparently, she heard this from a strange dream. What an odd way to learn... Magic must be involved. After the fighting was through, all that was left was the tree, and a great many corpses. Suspicious. A tree should be relatively simple to burn down; I'm sure that fire had to be involved if an entire town was destroyed.

I shall have to investigate more thoroughly tomorrow, starting with that tree.

I frowned a bit, and placed the bookmark in its place. That's enough reading for tonight. I figured now a good time to sleep, so I placed my book to the side, and drifted off.