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Ch. 17: Beware the affection unrequited for some time

"…Uh…"

"W-Woah, you surprised me there…"

"…! Haaah…"

"Um… S-Sorry, didn't mean to drop by so suddenly, especially on top of you at that…"

"…Surprised…?"

"I mean uh, I was gapped here against my will so if you'll just excuse me-"

"Haaah…!" Tatara Kogasa, who was on her back being straddled by the gapped-in Oni, reached up and grabbed Ibuki Suika around the neck, smiling brightly.

"Wai- Wha- Huh? Ack!" Ibuki Suika, who got caught unawares, was pulled down in to an extremely affectionate kiss on the cheek….

"Chu! Chu! Chu! Chuuu! 3" … and several more.

"Wah! Woah woah woah woah!" Suika managed to sit up through sheer strength, but it didn't help much; she had pulled up the embracing karakasa with her. Suika tried placing a hand in between her and the still-attempting-to-kiss umbrella youkai, but Kogasa simply switched to licking her hand-

"WAH! Okay that's enough!" Suika roughly shoved the Kogasa away. Kogasa hit the ground on her bottom rather hard with a "Yip!".

"Ugh…" Suika examined her saliva-coated hand. "Hey you!" Suika rounded on the umbrella youkai, "That is just wrong! You don't just go licking... huh?"

Tatara Kogasa was seated on her knees with her legs around her. The petite, blue haired heterochromatic youkai was decked out in a blue skirt and vest with a white blouse. In her hands was clutched the giant, one-eyed purple umbrella that she had originated from, its huge tongue lolling out of its mouth and on to one side onto the ground. Kogasa was looking at Suika with indignant blue and red eyes, both of which were tearing.

"Uh… Hey… I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" Suika began to apologize for her earlier rough action.

"And here I was thinking…" Kogasa began to sniff, "'Why would anyone pounce on me so eagerly like that?'"

"… Huh? I didn't-"

"And then I was thinking…" Kogasa hugged herself and blushed, "'I'm wanted! Someone wants me!'" Kogasa began to run her hands up and down the sides of her arms.

"W-Wait… I didn't- And could you please cut out that action! It's a little creepy-"

"And then… just when I thought after all these years…" Kogasa looked up at Suika blushing and panting rather laboriously, steamy vapour exhaled with each breath, "Just when I thought after all these years of being forgotten…" Kogasa began to look a little less aroused and a little more downcast, "Just when I thought I was going to be taken in… You pushed me away!"

"Uh… Hey, this is a misunderstanding-"

"Just as I thought…" Kogasa wiped a tear from her red, left eye, "It's just as always! Everyone wants an umbrella, but… but!" Kogasa whimpered.

"Ah… Oh no… Hey, don't cry! Don't-"

"NO ONE WANTS ME!" Kogasa started wailing. "Waaah! Waaaaaah!"

"Shush! Shush!" Suika kneeled at Kogasa's side and tried in vain to calm down the crying karakasa. "You're making a scene!" Suika referred to the surrounding empty forest.

"Waaah! Waaaaaah!"

"Oh god… I-It's not like I didn't want you," Suika feebly kept trying. "Well, it wasn't like I was going after you in the first place…" Suika said under her breath.

"Waaah! WAAAAAAH!" Kogasa had heard that last line.

"A-Alright, alright! Why don't you follow me?" Suika silently prayed this would quieten the umbrella youkai.

"… sniff… Huh?" Kogasa stopped crying and stared at Suika wide-eyed.

"Yah! Yah! I-I do need someone to show me the way after all," Suika inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. "I kinda lost my orientation after being gapped here," Suika added truthfully.

"Haaah… Haaah! Okay!" Kogasa stood up as well, suddenly cheery. "I can show you around!" she linked arms with Suika and snuggled into her side, the arm of her umbrella caught between Suika's arm and her own. Now the two were sharing the same umbrella, much to the disgust of Suika.

"So… where are you from, Oni?" Kogasa looked up happily at Suika.

"Uh…" And here I thought I was just going to get myself a cat… thought Suika. And now I end up with an umbrella… "I uh… I'm Ibuki Suika, and I hail from many places… I guess," Suika was leaning to the side, trying to put some space between her and the clinging blue-purple youkai. "But I uh… I currently reside in the Hakurei Shrine. Do you happen to know where that is?" Suika looked at Kogasa, only to see Kogasa looking at Suika in wonder.

"Ha… kurei…" Kogasa's mouth opened wider in awe, "You live there?"

"Y-Yah… why-"

"With that really tough miko?"

"O-Oh… yeah why-"

"You're really strong aren't you?" Kogasa snuggled again into Suika's side. "I can't believe I was picked up by such a person!"

"Th-Thanks…" Suika cheeks reddened with embarrassment. Hmmm… Suika looked at the karakasa currently employing the standard practices of skin-ship on her… For an umbrella youkai, she's rather big-

"But for an Oni, you're rather tiny aren't you?" Kogasa looked at Suika with amazement again.

"… Thanks kid…" Suika's temple twitched. Perspective, perspective…

"Oh! I'm Kogasa by the way!" Kogasa beamed. "Tatara Kogasa! And this place is uh… Um…" Kogasa stared around their surroundings. "Well, to tell you the truth… I'm not entirely sure where this place is. All I know is that there is a temple near here, called Myouren Temple."

…! Myouren Temple. Suika had heard of it from one of Reimu's latest exploits. Maybe if she could get there… she could find someone to help point her home! And take in the karakasa…

"Okay! Nice to meet you Kogasa," Suika smiled. "Could you please take me there?"

"Sure! Here!" Kogasa unlinked arms with Suika and pulled Suika by the hand. "Follow me!" Kogasa smiled back over her shoulder at an awkward and blushing Suika as she took the lead.