Scheming Nine-Tailed Fox

Ah, who is this that trespasses upon these hallowed halls? More visitors, lost in this far off land? I suppose I should not be too surprised. It has been quite a while since some have ventured all the way out to here. Then again, not too many are dumb enough to get lost deep in the mystical forests.

At least they're not coming in from the wastes. That means they're not outsiders… But from the forest? How odd for a human to come through there. The denizens of that forest know their ways about it like no one's business. So for these five to indeed be lost, they couldn't have been from there.

Perhaps I can use this, though. I do need something done. Plus it will allow me to get a handle on what I believe is a fresh face in this land… And see what they are capable of. Indeed, this might be useful.

Of course, who can resist a little fun, guiding them through this abandoned village? Just send the wind blowing a bit through the trees, sending the petals scattering to the ground. Should I have the latches on the doors come undone? No, that wouldn't work. They'd never believe that it was natural.

However, there is a set of wind chimes out back. That will provide the ambiance nicely, I do believe. Now for me to just set back and watch them as they approach. Should let me get my bearings before being thrust into conversation by some unwieldy and highly convoluted means. That would hardly do, wouldn't it?

Well, isn't this interesting. I wouldn't have expected such a combination to manage to compose themselves together for this. …And if such a group is active together, it makes me wonder what they are planning to do. That is not an insignificant level of power they have under their control.

Especially that moon princess. I wonder if her sisters have heard whether she has returned to the realm of the living yet, or not? Although, it would be hard for one to call such a state living. Being encased in bronze does that to one.

At least that one human among them doesn't seem to be too concerned. Now, that is odd, there. I can count one among them that has eaten people during their history, and another that sucks their blood. Speaking of the bloodsucker… I shall have to watch my wares, so I don't lose too many of her valuables. There are enough thieves that pass through here, even accidentally.

Smart, though. Checking their surroundings carefully… Although, they do seem to be entrusting it to the man-eater. Not a bad decision, to be honest. Her eye would detect most of those that would mean them harm… But only most. Not all.

I wonder when they'll finally decide to search this house? I do believe that they haven't even noticed it. Not that many would notice it on their first attempt. We did pick this house for a few reasons… One of them being that it is the one that is easiest to overlook. After all, who would reside in something that appears to be nothing more than a torn down shack?

…For that matter, whom am I speaking to? Bah, monologues.

Hrm. So, coming for me, finally? It only took a fair while. That's what they get for entrusting the man-eater to the searching. All it takes are a few altered boundaries and there is not a subconscious for her to even feel within these halls. Alas, I suppose I should go out and greet the guests as they enter my home.

Surprised to find someone in here? It seems that I have succeeded once more. But do come in; I have reasons to be interested in your visiting here. No, I shall not take no for an answer.

Well, if you want to resist, go ahead. But you are trespassing upon the village of Mayohiga, and as the owner is currently occupied otherwise, I suggest that you comply with my offers. After all, I am not being especially harsh upon you. Indeed, my master would prefer that I give you some hospitality, so if you would comply.

Good for you. I would have hated to bloody the halls of her house while she is busy sleeping. But do not fear, as I have no great interest in doing so. Instead, come inside.

Indeed. Why would I be interested in a random visitor? It isn't common that I find a group of travelers such as yourselves. Especially a group that contains so many magical beings. It is a wonder that none of you knew the path through the forest, and managed to lose yourself thoroughly enough to find yourself here.

Where is here, indeed? None of you have ever been privy to the secret of this village. It is the rare soul that is allowed to walk these halls when invited, as there are indeed few that ever earn such an honor. This is the home of the creator of Gensokyo, and I am her loyal shikigami, Ran Yakumo.

Well, yes, the dragon had a rather substantial place in the creation as well, but she is the one driving force behind it all. The dragon would probably not have done a thing if not for Yukari's intervention. It is a rather fortuitous occurrence that such a powerful youkai has the interest of many in her mind, is it not?

Please, do take a seat. I am afraid that it is not near the mealtime, so I will not be able to provide you with many treats to keep you satisfied. Fortunately, the looks on most of your faces suggest that you do not require food, yes?

Oh? I wonder what has the satori so up in a fuss. Did she have something that sat wrong with her? Hrm. Well, no bother. As long as she is able to make it to any facility that might be required, I shall not raise a word otherwise.

So, tell me why you were lost. What were you searching for, deep in those woods? Well, of course I knew that you were in them. It's only natural that I know from which direction you enter into here. After all, it would be rather idiotic of myself if I were not aware of how the roads twist and turn as they all meet here.

Still, that has not answered my question. What were you doing deep in that forest? …Ah, I believe that I see now. Funnily how you should find a magic shop buried so far deep in the trees, and then proceed to become lost. Would it not be easy to find one's ways out of the woods, simply by tracing their steps?

I suppose that would be too simple for present company, wouldn't it? Pity. You should not fall into such pitfalls so easily. However, the point is moot, and you are here. I just have to decide what to do with you…

Curious about Yukari, aren't we? I am not surprised. After all, it was my master that sent a certain Lunar Princess to her grave after she overextended herself, wasn't it? Yes, I am talking to you, shield. That was a long time ago, though. Even before I was a glimmer in my mother's eyes. So, tell me, how have things been going for you, ever since you died and were sentenced to hell for all eternity.

Well, I am sure I will pass on the news to Yukari that you're out, even if you do not want to respond in particular to me. At least you are not screaming in indignation about killing those impertinent humans that dare to stand against you.

As for the other… I believe that it's been quite a while since I've seen you, robot. Albeit, not nearly as long as the last time my master saw Kikuri Watatsuki. So, tell me, maid. What is it that reactivated you? I was quite sure that Yukari had talked your former master into tossing you away the last time she had heard news of you.

Yes, that is quite right. You are much too efficient in your actions to even be allowed a place in this land, at least by my opinion. Why else would she have you shut down? You are not even from this dimension, android. So why should you be allowed to stay and terrorize the youkai that are living in the wild?

So what if they're the ones that are still wild? The majority of the youkai in this land were original quite the wild animals. I should know, after all. Even if I am a shikigami, I am still a kitsune. You wouldn't find many that could fool me, should I decide to put my mind to it.

Are you too concerned about those humans in the village? Or is it a simple part of your limited condition that means you must do what is asked of you? Do they not already have their hunters to protect them, along with the shrine maiden and the witch? Most of the humans are intelligent enough to not risk the wrath of the man-eating youkai the cross this land.

So, why should an abomination out of space and out of time be allowed to murder at will those across this land? That is why you were deactivated, android. I should shut you down… But again, I would like to ask a favor of you, and doing such a thing would be considered at least somewhat hostile, wouldn't it?

Oh, it's nothing much. It's merely a trifle in and of itself. I want you to deliver a package to someone. A very important and delicate package that must reach there safely, and before the sun rises the day after tomorrow.

That isn't important. However, I most likely should explain why it is that I am asking you to take it. Normally, if Yukari were healthy, I would go myself. However, I feel that it is most unwise to leave her alone for long stretches at a time, considering how long she is sleeping.

You seem surprised, Lunar Princess. Did you expect that Yukari would always retain her youthful speed and vigor? Such an impression she must have left upon you, Princess. It makes one wonder if there is a maker's mark somewhere on your body that you can't see, but one that everyone else that looks at you can. Those that are more familiar with her powers are more than capable of seeing who transformed you into such a form.

However, that's neither here nor there. Perhaps you should be thankful that she did as such, as I doubt that your original form could have withstood the flames. Back to the point, though. Yukari began to lose her physical strength long ago.

I know truly not what it could be. Perhaps it is just an extension of her power's affect on her body. Such a strong limitless power cannot be without its drawbacks, after all. It may have started when she created that netherworld for that friend of hers. Creating a whole dimension out of nothing, just to save that girl's soul?

You may call me callous, human, but it was such a waste. There was no need for a netherworld. If spirits wished to linger, they could easily linger in the land as it was. To create another world, just so that Saigyouji could continue to exist with her mind intact? I do not see the purpose.

Then again, she was always fond of your kind, human. Just as she was fond for everyone's. She was always such an adventurous spirit millennia ago, always trying to do what is best for everyone that might be involved. There was quite an inordinate amount of time keeping everyone she met satisfied and alive.

True. It isn't as if the master felt greatly for every little human and youkai she came across. Instead, she was interested in those that were special. I am sure you know quite well what I mean by that. Those that have some inkling of magic within them. Those that are different from the various normal drivel that your species mostly produces.

After all, how do you expect she was able to create this land that you are within? It hardly took snapping her fingers and separating this land from the outside. How else would she find enough that could live in this land, especially back then? Magic was not nearly rare enough even a hundred years ago to necessitate the movement of the various youkai and humans that she wished to. It was a long and hard process. She had to needle and cajole, sweet-talking those who were a bit resistant.

Thing was, she did it for their own good. She read the writing on the wall, and did something to prevent their end. However, it still took much out of my master to do such a thing. She had to manipulate the landscape itself, moving landscape so that the residents of her land would be satisfied.

After all, do you think that the human village was always like that? True, I suppose that was hardly clear enough. What I mean to ask is if you think the human village was always nestled in amongst a land that is full of youkai? If you have bothered to ask one of the residents, they can tell you that they weren't.

I must admit that the residents of that village are indeed braver souls than the majority of your kind. After all, their ancestors chose this life. They did not like how the modern world was advancing. After all, would you trust the gaijin from across the sea coming in and improving their lifestyle?

Considering that you appear to be a foreigner yourself, perhaps it is wrong for me to assume that you would have any knowledge of how they feel. It is part of the same reason that Yukari removed the android maid from operation. Just as the human village hardly needs outsiders in order to function, Gensokyo hardly needs an android from another dimension in order to be kept safe.

As I said, I may be a bit harsh, but I do not care. I am the one who has to take of my master's frivolities. So as to ensure that everything is kept safe, I must ensure that I myself am ready to keep her on task.

However, I find myself with a rather different objective as of late. As I intimated earlier, Yukari is weakening, and I do not know how to stop it. She may or may not be long for this world, although I do hope that is not the case. That is why I have barely been able to act on my own. Instead, I must send out my own shikigami if I wish to act directly. Chen, however, is not exactly the most agreeing of servants, though.

Oh? You've run across her? Is this recently? I ask, as I have heard little word from her in recent days. Perhaps you might be willing to share where you last saw her?

Ah, on the road to the Netherworld… Interesting. Very interesting indeed. Oh, don't feel too slighted. You do remember what she is, do you not? Well, yes, she is a shikigami, and my servant, but most importantly, she is a cat.

After all, what more do you expect from a cat than an attempt to kill you, or at least an attempt to maul you heavily while laughing gleefully the entire time? They are rather sadistic creatures, after all. So do not expect her to be as congenial as some of the other youkai you may have come across in recent times.

Well, of course she is rather not fond of me. I only summoned her once it was apparent that I would need help while taking care of Yukari. Again, it is part of her nature, as a cat does not necessarily want to take orders. Instead, she will act out in any way that she can against the one who holds her leash, so to speak.

Again, that would take too much time. I could alter the boundaries in her mind, but that would merely weaken her as a servant. If I wished to have her grow, she must have that growth occur on her own. Even in that case, I am not as strong as Yukari. Any alteration of the boundary would not be permanent.

I am speaking with you now as there is little I can do at this very moment. As I said, she is sleeping. I will be aware of any changes in her state, but as long as she is sleeping like this, I do not wish to go far from her side.

Boundaries, you say? Hrmpf. That is what you get for being unfamiliar with this land. You may have spent a great deal of time amongst the humans, but you have yet to learn what is important in this land. My master's power is to alter any boundary, of which you should be familiar if you have spoken to her old ghost friend. I saw recognition in those eyes of yours when I mentioned her; so do not be so surprised.

However, I feel that an elaboration on what exactly she was capable of, and to a further extent what I myself am capable of is moot. I have already made my decision, and even if I could use them to take a greater role, I shan't.

That leads me to my request. As you understand, there has been a rather large disturbance in Gensokyo recently. Something about a mansion of a foreigner making it inside the land, and the owner of the mansion attempting to manipulate Gensokyo to fall under her will. It is my understanding that it has been destroyed recently.

I suspected, although I did not know your involvement. It was fairly obvious that someone had to have been involved in that particular incident. I did not recognize the usual solvers from the description… So instead I had to look for the unusual.

So, would you perhaps perform this favor for me? I have a package that I wish to be delivered. As it is late currently, I will allow you permission to stay in one of the homes outside of this one. None of them have been used recently, so you need not worry about removing another from their own home.

In exchange for such hospitality, I will trust with you the package. No, I wouldn't do the same thing with my shikigami. As you might imagine, such a servant is hardly reliable, especially as she might attempt to destroy said package.

Well, you do not have to, but I would ask that you do so. After all, you are trespassing upon the home of Yukari Yakumo. If I allow you to leave without any repercussions, the two of us would be most upset.

Good on you to agree. Now come. Let me show you to a house where you may stay for the night, and afterwards I may return to keep my vigil over the master. I would hate for anything to happen to her, after all.

On that note, I should make sure that the Lunar Princess is located as far away as possible, just so that she does not attempt to finish the job that she started. Would that be acceptable to you?

A/N Well, that took a lot longer than I expected. Such is how things go, when you have a perfectly normal chapter of a perfectly normal Ran, if a bit more weathered by the years.

Literally, as there seems to be nothing remarkable about her for me to say. So, instead, I will merely say until next time!