Small note, I changed the name of Seido's 2nd Spell Card. That is all.
…..
Chapter 8: First visit to White Jade Mansion
I woke up and yawned before stretching my hands… or at least I tried to.
Leaning on my right shoulder fast asleep is Ran Yakumo, Yukari's shikigami. Lying on my lap also fast asleep is Chen, Ran's shikigami. All of us are currently on the sofa in the Yukari's living room, with the Yokai of Boundaries herself nowhere in sight.
I'm startled for a moment before remembering what transpired yesterday.
…
After eating lunch, Chen wanted me to play tag with her. Thinking that it's just a regular game, I agreed.
Unfortunately, I had forgotten that in Gensokyo, what is normal for the residents here is pretty much plain crazy in my world.
So, I ended spending hunting and chasing Chen in some wacky house where the doors, stairs and corridors are literally all over the place. Walls, floor, even the ceiling! One time, I went through a door attached to the wall, fell onto the ceiling and came down to the floor.
Reminded me of Portal, only without the portal gun, the test chambers, the hazards, the power-crazy A.I. and the promise of cake.
Nope, just me, this house and my recently-adopted, Nekomata shikigami daughter whom I'm playing tag with.
Yeah… I wonder why I'm so accepting with all this. Guess I really am just a simple guy.
Anyway, by the time I managed to catch, it was already time for dinner, courtesy of our growling stomachs. So we went back, had dinner and then Chen made a huge fuss not wanting to take a bath. I can't blame her.
As a Nekomata, one of her main weaknesses is water, which even average cats normally can't stand. Ironically as a type of Bakeneko, Chen's ability to acquire to the powers of a wrathful god when possessed can only be removed with water.
It took a lot, and I mean A LOT of effort to finally get Chen to bath, which includes having to find her when she was hiding, Ran tying her up and dragged her when we found her (not that it worked much), Chen escaping and having to chase her, even a Spell Card battle, me & Ran versus Chen. It wasn't the "standard" Spell Card battle but considering how stupid the reason was, I could care less about the rules. It's pretty amazing what one Nekomata can do when her back is up against the wall though. By the time we finished the whole ordeal (and given Chen a proper bath), it was way past midnight. Yukari had already told Reimu that I'd be spending the night there.
As a result, I not only end up staying the night, Chen had me tell bedtime stories since she couldn't sleep. I wasn't sure when Ran joined in, but once she did, things got pretty lively. I guess somewhere along the way, we all fell asleep.
…
I sighed to myself before smiling at the Nekomata sleeping on my lap. She may be a handful, but she sure is cute when she sleeps. I gently stroke her head, causing Chen to softly purr in her sleep.
Hmm… I wonder if I can-
Poke.
"… Meow~"
… Let's try that again.
Poke.
"Mmm… Reow~"
Poke, poke, poke…
CRUNCH!
"Agh-" I clamp my mouth with one hand as I try to remove the other from Chen's mouth. Yeah, I had this coming. But c'mon! Who could resist such an opportunity?
"That wasn't very nice, you know. Poking Chen on the cheek while she's sleeping."
Hm? Oh Ran, you're awake! Wait a minute…
"How long have you been watching?"
"Since you started poking Chen… You really deserved that bite, you know."
I grinned sheepishly, "Yeah… How long are you going to rest your head on my shoulder?"
Ran smiled, "As long as I can, it's really comfortable. You have really broad shoulders, by the way."
… Oh great. "So you do take after your mistress after all…" I groaned.
Pinch! "OW!"
"How rude! I don't enjoy teasing people like Yukari-sama does." The kitsune pouts while getting up. Huh, you look pretty cute when you pout, Ran.
"Munyan~ Oh! Good morning Ran-sama! Good morning Papa!" Chen says as she gives me a hug. I smile before giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Morning Chen. Sleep well?"
"Yup. Hee hee~" Her twin tails wave from side to side as I stroke her head.
"You know… you really do look like a daddy right now." I know that voice.
"Y-Yukari-sama?" Ran looked really shocked.
"Oh, morning Yukari." I raised my hand in greeting.
"Good morning, Yukari-sama!"
"Morning." Yukari raised her hand to stifle a yawn. "Ran, be a dear and get breakfast ready. We are going to Hakugyokurou."
"Oh, you're going somewhere. Then, I better get out of your-"
Yukari interrupted, "And you're coming with us." Huh?
I asked, "I am?" Which Ran echoed, "He is?"
"Yay! Papa coming with us!" Chen hugged me again.
Oh no, you don't. "Thanks, but no thanks." I replied.
Yukari took out her fan and covered the bottom-half of her face, "Oh? Are you saying you won't join us on our visit?" I shook my head, desperate to avoid whatever scheme the gap yokai would drag me into.
"I've already had lunch and dinner here, I'm pretty sure I overstayed my welcome." I reasoned. 'And I want no part in your schemes, Yukari. I can see why Reimu gets annoyed by the mere sight of you.' I finished in my thoughts.
"Is that so?" Yukari paused, "Chen, it seems that your papa doesn't want to come with us."
WHAT? How DARE you bring Chen into this! I'm gonna Spark-
"Papa…" I froze in mid-movement and turned towards Chen. "You're not coming with us?" Oh dear…
"Umm… no Chen, I'm afraid I can't. Yukari said that she told Reimu that I'd return today, so I'd-"
"Actually…" Yukari interrupted, "Even though I did say you'd be returning today, I didn't say at what time." She smirked.
Oh man, you gotta be kidding me! I am not going to end up a pawn in your games, Yukari!
"Please come with us, Papa. Please?" I look down at Chen, who is now hugging me and staring at me with…, big… sad… soulful… eyes- Oh no! Not the Cute Kitty Cat Eyes of Doom! Anything but that! Yukari…
"Pwease~ Papa? Pweeeaaasssseeee~" … Okay, NOW you gotta be kidding me.
I'm not gonna budge, you hear me! Don't look at me like you're going to cry, Chen! It won't- YOU'RE ACTUALLY SHEDDING TEARS? And now she's… putting both fists up to her chin and her mouth is-
WARNING! WARNING!
MOE OVERLOAD! MOE OVERLOAD!
Oh god. Why is this happening to me?
Well folks, I admit defeat. If the picture I'm looking at right now isn't the Holy Grail of cuteness, I DEMAND you send me the image that could beat this very ONE!
"Alright… I'm going." Damn it, Yukari. You purposely taught Chen how to that, didn't you? You sure got a thing for contingency plans, I'll give you that.
Ran gave me a sympathizing smile, "I'm sorry, Seido. Chen always got me with that as well." I see, you too huh?
"YAY! Thank you, Papa!" Chen hugged me again before walking to Ran. Yeah, you're welcome Chen. Seriously, I have to add this to my payback list. And speaking of paybacks…
"Hey, Chen?"
Chen turned around, "Yes, Papa-"
GLOMP!
"Meow?"
I glomp my daughter from behind and hold her in the air. Consider this payback for roping in your papa like that, you little devil you!
…
Hakugyokurou: Gardens
Emerging from the gap, the first thing I see are trees as far as the eye can see.
"Hey, Yukari? Are you sure we're in the right place?"
"Of course, Seido. We are currently in Hakugyokurou, or rather the garden."
… Did she say GARDEN?
"Wait! Are you saying that this entire area… is merely the GARDEN?"
I look around with my mouth open. WHO is the person we are meeting?
Yukari had to tap me on the head to get my attention, "Come along now. You'll have plenty of time to see the sights later."
I nodded my head and followed Yukari , Ran and Chen.
A few minutes later, we soon came face to face with another person. At this point, I've gotten very tired at calling all the females I meet "girls" and considering they are much, much older than I am, the term does not fit by a mile.
"Greetings Yukari-sama. Yuyuko-sama has been expecting you."
"Ah greetings, Youmu. This is Seido, Gensokyo's newest addition and the latest outsider."
I can see a hint of shock and- Uh oh… the glare I'm getting tells me she was part of the incident too.
….
Oh right, I forgot those idiots pissed off the major population here.
Youmu has short silver hair worn in a bob cut, and bright red eyes. She wears a dark green and white dress with several ghost insignias along the edges and a ghost insignia as well on her breast pocket, and a black ribbon tied off-center in her hair. She carries a long katana with a cherry blossom insignia and a flower attached to it and a wakizashi behind her at waist-level. There's even a formless ghost floating above her head- Eh?
I look at the ghost; it greatly resembled those in picture stories for kids.
… And now Youmu's reaching for her katana- SHVING- Oh crap. Now I have the edge of a sword pointing at my face! I just came here for a few minutes and now I have someone who's threatening my life, I think I would have been better off being born female…
"HEY! Don't bully Papa!" Chen comes forward with her claws out, but Ran stops her.
Yukari must be enjoying this because she said, "Well Seido, if you already done observing Youmu, what can you tell about her?"
Is this really the time? I'm about to get- She's not going cut me down? Talk about your mood swings… No pun intended. Well, I've
I look at Yukari for a moment before looking back at Youmu and the blade. Considering her built and stature, and including the length of the katana, "She's a swordsman who fights using both hands when wielding her katana." I could be wrong, but I'll say what I honestly think.
I look at the wakizashi, "She's also ambidextrous, so she can fight with a blade in both hands if necessary…" I look at the flower attached to the sheath of the katana, "And she's a gardener."
"The gardener." Youmu corrected, "I am the only one in charge of the garden. And how did you know that?" I pointed at the flower on her sheath, before looking at the ghost floating on her head.
"And I see that you're half-ghost." I joked.
"EH? H-How did you know?" … Seriously? She really is half-ghost?
"Yeah, I can see the connecting lines between the two of you…" I wait for Youmu to be shocked before adding, "Just kidding, I don't have that kind of ability."
"B-But, how did you know I am a half-ghost?"
"I was just joking about it, I didn't think you really are part ghost… By the way, can you put the sword away before you poke one of my eyes out?" When she did, I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh, were you scared staring at the edge of my blade?" Youmu asked.
I narrowed my eyes as I frowned at her, "What do you think?"
"Your face said otherwise. You looked rather indifferent in spite of the danger." Youmu said.
Did I really look like that? I must look like a lunatic then.
"Ara ara~, what happening over here? Oh! Hello, Yukarin~." Now a… woman is approaching us? Well, meeting someone who at least looks older than I am is a welcome sight, even if they're also female.
Let's see. Hair is a pale shade of pink. Wears a light, pale blue kimono with ghost designs. White and blue ribbon around her waist, another going down her kimono, and the bands and lacing on her arms and collar and has a transparent layer underneath. Her mob cap has a veil and a hitaikakushi and she is wearing black shoes and frilly socks.
… And she's floating above ground, has two small ghosts following her- Wait a minute.
Could she be…?
"Are you Yuyuko, the bourei?" I asked, remembering the conversation I had with Suika. The woman paused before nodding her head, "That's me~. And who might you be?"
"Oh, I'm Seido."
The bourei stared at me before looking over my shoulder to Yukari, I assume. And then…
GLOMP!
Now Yuyuko has my head buried in her bust while swinging me around like a little girl who got herself a doll, "Oh, Kami-chan! I wanted to see you again for a long time!"
Kami-chan? How does she know my real name? She said that she was waiting to see me again for a long time? Have we met before? Oh damn, I can't breathe! "Mmm… Mmmm!" I began swinging my arms wildly, trying to get Yuyuko to let me go.
Thankfully, Yukari came to my rescue, "Yuyuko, it is best you let go of Seido. He can't breathe with you suffocating him with your bust."
"Aww~." I heard Yuyuko pout before letting me go, allowing me to breathe air again.
Youmu looked shocked, "Yuyuko-sama, do you know this person?"
Yuyuko was surprised, "Why of course, Youmu. Don't you remember? He-"
"Yuyuko!" Yukari said suddenly, "This is Seido's first visit here and Youmu has only just met him. Isn't that right, Yuyuko?"
Yuyuko paused for moment, looking at Yukari before her eyes widened. She then nodded, "Oh yes! Silly me~. This is the first time you've been here, isn't it Seido?"
I slowly nodded my head, slightly unnerved by the strange display of behaviour from the two women.
Normally, I would assume the reason Yukari said that because Yuyuko seemed ditzy but something in her tone made me think there is a deeper meaning to it.
"So… who exactly are you?" I asked. "I only heard about your name, nothing else.
Ran spoke up, "She is Yuyuko Saigyouji. She is the Princess of the Netherworld, and the governess of Death."
I blinked a few times at Yuyuko, trying to get it through my head that the airhead in front of me has such a serious position. Then again, is the ditzy side she shows a side effect for having such power?
"So… how do you know who I am?"
Yuyuko's ditzy smile did not falter, "Oh, I heard about you from Yukari for some time now! With how she talks about you, I wanted to see for myself the outsider who captured Yukari's heart~!"
Yukari retorted, "That is not true. Really, Yuyuko. Where in Gensokyo did you get that idea?"
"Since you always looks like a lady in love whenever you talk about him~" I couldn't help but smirk when I realized that Yuyuko was teasing the gap yokai. She's Yukari's friend alright.
The bourei then turned "But I can see why she's so interested in you. You're very cute, like my Youmu! You even look good enough to eat!" If it wasn't I didn't see Yuyuko drooling from the side of her mouth, I would assume that she was just teasing me. Oh c'mon, Seido! She's the host here! Just because she's ditzy doesn't mean she'll-
"As a matter a fact…"
Huh? How did she get so close?"
"I think I'll have a little taste!"
Wait, what are you- GAAAAHHHHH!
…..
Third Person Point of View
Everyone was shocked as Yuyuko literally swallowed Seido's entire head. The outsider futilely struggled to get the princess off.
As a bourei, a soul that possesses corporeal form, Yuyuko's body does not have the limitations her human body has, like skin, muscles or bones. As result, her entire body is able stretch beyond the limitations of living flesh. This is why Yuyuko is capable of stuffing an entire human head into her mouth. It is also how she is capable of eating vast amounts of food in a sort amount of time and why her body still looks the same. As for where the food goes is still a mystery, a mystery Seido may have the unfortunate opportunity of finding out.
"Yuyuko-sama!" Youmu screamed, "Yuyuko-sama, please stop eating Seido!"
Ran and Chen however, decided to take a more direct approach, prying Yuyuko's head off Seido's.
"Yuyuko-sama! I insist that you spit out Seido's head this instant!" Ran cried.
"Papa! Papa! Let him go!" Chen tried to pull her adoptive father away to no avail.
Yukari narrowed her eyes as she puts away her fan and slowly approached with her parasol in hand.
But what came next shocked everyone even further.
As Seido struggled to get his head out, his body began to emit a kind of mist. Slowly, the mist began to gather at his back, shaping itself.
The more he struggled, the denser the mist became, expanding itself further with every passing second. This continued until it finally took the distinct shape of two black wings.
SHOOM!
Seido furiously flapped both wings, creating a strong gust that threatened to blow away everyone in the area. He then flew straight up into the sky with Yuyuko still "attached" to his head before kicking her in the abdomen, finally succeeding in freeing himself.
As Seido shook his head to get rid of the saliva, Yuyuko narrowed her eyes and covered the bottom half of her face with her fan as she observed the boy. Back on the ground, Youmu, Ran and Chen looked up in shock.
Among the three, Youmu was the first to speak, "Wha? What is that? Are those wings? Is that his power?" She turned to Ran who could only shook her head.
"I do not know. I had never seen him use that sort of thing nor seen him display the ability to fly." Ran said, recalling that Seido provided ground support during the Spell card battle yesterday.
"Yukari-sama, do you know- Yukari-sama?" Ran turned to her mistress, whose gaze is now on the outsider. Yukari paid no attention to her shikigami, silently watching Seido and Yuyuko as they remained in the air. An action Ran has rarely seen during her employment.
This was something Yukari Yakumo had to take seriously.
…..
Seido's Point of View
GODAMMIT! She really tried to eat me! What the hell was that about!
I looked down, glaring at the princess of the netherworld. She didn't look hurt from that kick I gave her… Well, I admit I'm half disappointed by this. But she did placed my whole head in her mouth.
YUCK! I need a shower when this is done.
"Ara, ara~ . Well, aren't you interesting? Those wings you have…"
I raised an eyebrow, "What about my wings?"
"See for yourself."
Looking over both shoulders, I noticed that my current wings are different than the wings I used yesterday. Besides being bigger, the wings I have now don't seem to match any flying-type bird I know of. In fact, I don't think they belong to any type of birds at all.
The black "wings" in question are rather long and pointed; sort of resembling the high speed wings you find on a falcon and yet they have rather large slots on them. The result makes my wings look somewhat skeletal in nature.
If I wasn't hovering above the garden right now, I wouldn't have believed these wings are actually capable of flying. They looked… incomplete.
"Yukari told me that you didn't learn how to fly but… it seems you dealt with that problem on your own. That would make things a lot easier." Said the bourei princess.
"What things?"
"You've already learned how to use Danmaku, and I heard that you've got a few Spell Cards already. So how about a Spell Card battle?"
I lowered both eyelids. How did she know about my Spell Cards? Did Yukari tell her last night when Ran & I fought Chen? Goddamit, Yukari.
Yuyuko continued, "It would be boring if it was just a normal battle. So how about a little bet?"
I was afraid of this, "That depends… What kind of bet?"
"If I win… let's see, I'll make you do whatever I want~. Maybe I'll make you my servant, have you wear all kinds of cute clothes. It will be so much fun~."
OH HELL NO! As much as I'd like to refuse this offer, I don't think I can get anywhere if I avoid every fight that comes my way. Going against a strong opponent will be educational experience, for me anyway. At least I don't have to worry about getting killed.
Yuyuko looked at me, "What about you? What is your side of the bet?"
… "If I win, I get to hit you on the face. Hard."
I can hear a few gasps from the ground. Yeah, I know. Wanting to punch the princess of the netherworld who oversees death is beyond simple stupidity. But right here, right now, I don't give a damn. Whatever rationality I had left with me when I arrived here, it burned out with Yuyuko's little stunt.
Yuyuko covered her face with her fan, "Very well then. I accept your condition~."
"Yuyuko-sama! You can't be serious!" Youmu shouted.
"Oh, don't be such a spoil-sport Youmu~. It will be more fun this way~."
The gardener shook her head and sighed before unsheathing her sword. Her mistress however waved her hand dismissively, "Put away your sword, Youmu. You won't be fighting this time."
Both Youmu and I shared the same look of disbelief, "What? Then, who is going to fight for you?"
The princess narrowed her eyes as several prism-colored butterflies appeared around, "Isn't it obvious? The one fighting you, will be me."
…
Oh crap.