"So."

"Yes?"

"How'd you meet them? Rather, how did you?"

"How did I bagged probably the most endowed youkai in all the land?" I get it ok!

"The stillborn child Ebisu."That smile of his faded quickly.

"Oh? I ran into them both when I was sent to new hell. Then I started working for a youkai mafiaso and now, we're here 10 years later." Really gonna brush past her existence?

"What?"

"Nothing it's just..." We watch from the sidelines as the girls tended to the front yard flowers. They left us alone when they realize we knew eachother. Medicine was teaching Ebisu how to tend to weeds that wrapped around the base of the sunflowers.

"It almost makes you forget why we do what we do doesn't it? A smiling face, laughter, innocence that must be preserve."

"Ya done?" The annoyed look on Vector's face said everything.

"I thought you appreciated this stuff."

"Not when it's you."

"Hey grumpies." We focused on the nearby road to see some old friends are here too.

"Alice!" Medicine ran over to the dollmaker with Marisa in towed.

"How's my parts going Medichan?"

"Fine, great even." They took noticed of lanky next to me.

"Oi! I don't think I've seen you before. Are ya Venus's uncle or something?" Uncle!?

"No, just an old friend from the before times." They gave Vector a skeptical look.

"Kinda skinny aintcha? You need meat on them bones." Vector squints slightly.

"You can call me Vector and I already know your names."

"Really?"

"The papers aren't very flattering about you lot."

"No? I guess that's Aya for ya." We couldn't help but smirk at the same time.

"You two really look alike. Are you certain you're not related?" Alice's question was about as accurate as it gets.

"Coincidence puppeteer." Alice slightly flex her hand and Shanghai and Hourai appear behind her.

"Coincidences aren't possible. Who are you really?" Vector raised his hands in surrendered.

"Relax, people look alot alike round here have you've seen the shrine maiden and the reporter tengu? Very eerily similar faces." Yeah I've hadn't mentioned it but Aya and Reimu do look similar in the face area. Alice seem unsure if he was joking but she relented.

"Oi Alice. Why are ya so uppity about him?"

"Just a feeling. Last summer there was reports of masked individuals "protecting" the land. One was bandaged, one was hooded, another was too fast, and the last one was personally stalking the village teacher." If I could say something now I could, but I definitely know some of them at this point.

"You think you could tell if I was really behind it?"

"The smell of blood sticks to you." Right the metallic taste in the air seem to permeate around Vector. Can't really hide it with how pure this place is.

"Witch Youkai like you are far more astute than needed."

"Problem killer?"

"The only issue I have is that attitude."

"OI! Stop it already, ya gonna scare the kids you two." Vector sighs before heading off towards the entrance of the garden.

"You two coming!?"He yells out for his posse.

"No! I want some tips to grow some potatoes back in hell."

"Suit yourself then!" Gone in that same tendril like fashion.

"Alice you don't seem to like him that much."

"I just hate liars who choose to play pretend when they're caught red handed...Marisa." Alice glare at the petty witch thief.

"Come on, if this is about that one time-!?"

"Its everytime! With you gallavanting about like a derange mad woman with no sense! For gods sake, you let the black market go free just to get your cut of the profits you sycophant!" Marisa held her giant hat down to covered her face.

"Hehe...You heard...of that huh?"This is a small non-euclidean edo period village world. Nothing gets done without trying real hard to keep things hush hush.

"Which reminds me. Sumireko has come back, with a little extra in towed."Meaning...Oh. I get it. Marisa's surprise face at the information.

"We might see some new faces soon ze." The girls chuckle.

"So you're Venus? Vector wouldn't stopped talking about you." Really? That psychopath actually talks about me? Urumi must be someone he can trust and yet...

"Something wrong?"

"He gets like that. Especially when he gets into his own head."

"Venus." Hmm? Oh. Medicine had some pots for me to carry.

"Even when she's not here you two do this?" It's our home. Can't let it rot away. However, I'm just now noticing the flowers seem...sadden. With mom not here. Vita?

Hmm?

If I govern over life what's my ability?

Ability to cure sickness,boost health,give the recipient higher strength,even can grow plants-

Slow down! What can't I do?

Resurrect the dead and anything involving undeath. However, you can kill immortality itself.

Why!? Is this really what dragons are capable of!?

You'll rarely ever use some of these abilities...wait, you're not planning on touching these flowers are you?

Why not? They miss mom. They need attention again.

I THOUGHT YOU MEANT A LIVING BEING!

Can you blame me? I live on a farm for 2 months now. Medicine isn't technically a living being but the plants are.

Ugh...Fine, just touch the leaves and I'll help this one time.

Setting the clay pots down. I gently touch a sunflower leaf, and quickly felt like I was being push out of my body for a moment.

You'll get used to that feeling after awhile. Once you get full control it'll be second nature to you. Anyways kin, I'm tired and want to sleep again.

Vita seems to shutdown quickly after showing me how to use this power.

Gods,dragons,youkai...I just wanna be me.

Right, the pots need to go in the back yard with the rest the unuse pots. I looked back to the sunflowers and they looked alot more happy. The golden rays of sunlight cascading on the open yellow petals gave a sense of pride that only I could feel in that moment.

"Excuse me sir?"

"Hmm?"

"Ya happened to come across a lanky, tall, dark skinned man have ya?" The farmer looked at the Stetson hat adorn on the freckle face woman with jet black hair in a ponytail.

"If ya mean that fella over there?"He pointed to a guy looking after chickens before a familiar yellow bird god landed near him.

"Oh gods. Thank ya kindly mister!" She carefully maneuvers around the newly planted crops and gallop to the two people she needed to see.

"STOPPED LEAVING NEW HELL LIKE THIS! I'm gonna get in trouble with Eiki." Yellow hair and a long thinned feather chicken tail god. Kutaka eyed Vector with disdain. He breaks laws just because he's basically untouchable by everyone. Except his bosses. She watch him threw bird feed down nonchalantly with a reed in his mouth.

"Sorry der missy. I ain't got time fer ya pardner. Aye'm just a law abidin farma." Vector snickers as he ignores the chicken goddess pleas.

"Stop that! This isn't funny Vector. I'll tell Eiki about this!" In retaliation he throws a handful bird seed at her.

"Go away, go on git! I ain't got the time fer ya. Or are ya deaf n' stupid as well?" Vector didn't like many of the danmaku duelist. Especially the ones that nagged at him for his behavior. Unfortunately one of those was watching in slight amusement as well as disappointment.

"Vector!"

"Dang it. Watchu-Oh. Ey Boss, tell her I'm busy so she can take her flat chicken breasted ass somewhere else."Saki just sighs before lowering her hat over her eyes.

"Aye hire ya to not be causin trouble for the surface dwellers. Ya good at the killin n' protectin part but ya need discipline." Saki admire his rebellious and chaotic nature. However, he treats everyone like a joke cause of his darker connections. Can't kill an undead like him so he just praddles about causing mischief in new/old hell without a care.

"Don't worry boss, I got things covered. Relax, enjoy the sunshine,get a tan by the lake. You won't even know I'm here." Sake takes a ready stance and motions Kutaka to move. Vector's back was turned so all he heard was the shuffling.

"Pretty quiet boss. Smell that air, it's a beautiful day outside,flowers are blooming. A day like this. Needs to b-!?"

*KRRRRSHHHK*

"To be cherish boss." Saki's kick was absorb by the massive oni right arm that came from Vector. She look up to see the blood vessels and muscles attach to Vector's body pulsate with blood of countless foes.

"I hate your ability." Vector sits down on the arm and dangles his feet as Saki and Kutaka stood in front of him now. His face was awash with immense glee.

"Everyone does boss. As long as bodies exists, I absorb the dead, the living, even oni and gods are swallow by my blood magic. I'm the most dangerous trump card in Gensokyo. Not even the pure Junko or our esteem hell goddess Hecatia compares to my ability."

"So why didn't you destroy us?" He just shrugs as they watch in horror of him tearing himself in two as the organs fell on the floor before it all became a congealed mass that was reforming back into his normal shape.

"Who knows...well except for me boss. Besides, I only follow orders and the such. Because it'll be...too boring otherwise."

"Boring? All this is boring to you?"

"Easy would be the better word. I mean, there is a reason I keep a list of don't kills on me." Vector waggles a brown hide book. The only thing written on the front of was "Vector".

"Say the word boss."

"I want you to kill Momoyo but only as a last resort." Vector looked disturb for a moment.

"Problem?"

"She's on the list of not kills. I'm very loyal to my system and you boss, but if it's what you want. I'll think about it."

"She's an actual security risks for everyone in Gensokyo. If she succeeds in eating dragons again. We're all doomed." Vector groans.

"Aaaaahhhhhh Maaaaannnn. Do I gotta break my code? I haven't killed a giant centipede before, but if I don't...hmmmmmmmm... Ffffffiiiiine you win Boss." Kutaka stares at him disbelief.

"He's going to kill one of our sentient youkai?"

"Trust me, it does hurt me cause technically speaking Momoyo is just following nature."

"It's for the greater good Kutaka. I'll make it up to you ok?" Kutaka plucks out the little chick in her red plummage of hair on her head and looks at it crestfallen.

"For the greater good huh?"

"One more thing boss."

"Shoot."

"I would if I could. What about Miko?" Saki blinks before turning around as her horse ears cane down from underneath her hat.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You will talk with Miko...right boss?"

"You leave my affairs alone." He lean over to notice her orange scarf revealed a stirrup.

"Boss?"

"What?"

"Your stirrup...is huh...showing again."Saki stumbles away from Vector with a noticable blush.

"Y-You mind your business ya hear me!" With that, Vector watches her winged cowboy self leave.

"Another year, another day of no closure."

"Must you tease her about the prince?"

"Clown prince of my ass. I don't get why she doesn't get it over with? We all know she's the horse of the taoist. Now look at her, went from 6 legs to 2 upright tree trunks of muscle and a wing span of a horse drawn carriage. Also, she's a yakuza boss and who pays for most of my more...spiritual killings."

"Why you up here anyways?"

"Why is that human up here and not a tengu?"

"You know I can't bother the tengu with feeding and tending my crops and chickens." Vector looks at Kutaka as if she's dumb.

"Bird brain. You lived at the top of the mountain and this guy comes here everyday!?"

"Why wouldn't he? I helped his family once. Besides, humans live near here."

"One generation of humans lived at the base of the mountain. What do you mean by help? Your ability is so specific that it gets beaten by chicken soup, cough sryup, and sleep." Kutaka didn't like that remark as she frantically pick up a shovel and swung haphazardly at his direction. Unfortunately he side steps the half hearted attempt before catching her stumbling off the shear cliffside. After checking to see if she was fine he just drops her back on the ground.

"Oooooh! I hate you so much! What does Urumi see in you? Certainly not for your "charming" personality." She air quotes at him as he vanish from her sight.

Chores are done and visiting hours are officially close. With the sun just now casting a red glow overhead. Problem is.

"Also trying to surprise me Vector? This morning was unlucky. I-!?" Shit!

"Ummm. I was looking for Miss Kazami? She here by any chance?" Despite the more normal looking clothes. The long brown hair and the glasses. Sumireko? Wait, I sense two people on her. Shes?

"You notice huh? Yeah, I'm carrying a little extra this time. I'm Usami Sumireko." she goes for a hand shake, I returned it carefully to not hurt her in my stupor.

"Soooo, who are you?"

"Venus!" I heard Medicine voice ring out.

"Venus? That's your name?" I nodded as I strode past her. I didn't think about that possibility. We're far behind and ahead in this time frame. Of course Sumireko would be pregnant around this time. I heavily swallow some bile. I feel kinda sick.

I really hope I'm wrong.

"You ok?" Yeah, just overthinking things again.

"I see you two finally met." I nodded to regain composure.

"It's been awhile Medicine. I remember when you almost poisoned me for grabbing some sunflowers one time." Sumireko chuckles at the doll's expense.

"Yeah well, you usually hang around Kourindou. I didn't know you met Yuukarin when she went there. Then again, she doesn't talk alot about much." Mom is selectively muting herself as well. I'm surprised she has people that are willing to listen and cooperate at times given her issues are like mine. Sumireko eyed the sunflowers and her smile seemed to get bigger.

"I see that they're happy right now. But, where is she?"

"She went into a deep sleep this winter, so it's just us and the celestial. Speaking of...TENSHI!" Little doll yells pretty loud over the field.

"YEAAAAH!?" That came from the far right corner of the field near our new patch of berry bushes. They were buried during the winter.

"Oh good she's still here." Tenshi flown over landing nearby.

"Doll those bushes started sprouting what you want?" Sumireko wave at her.

"Wait? You're that teenager from like 10 years ago right?"

"Well its actually been 15 years and notice anything different?" It was obvious to anyone that Sumireko was carrying a child. Tenshi made that same stunned face I had finding out.

"It's been that long huh? Looks like we won't see you after this visit huh?"

"I mean, I found out about this place and kept my promise to Yukari. I had fun, but it's time to move on."

"Just like that huh?"

"Yes, just like that."

"Whose the lucky guy?"

"I prefer to keep him away from all this. Who knows what Yukari would do if she found out."

"Gap hag that scary?"

"I just want to honor her wish."

"Whats the outside world like?" From that question she is clearly uncomfortable as she looks around nervously.

"Tough topic?"

"Y-yes. The outside world just isn't that kind right now." The three of us was confuse by her answer.

"So you too, had something horrible happened recently?"

"You can answer...or not."

"Mass stage famine and a youkai massacre last year. We just barely recovered just last summer." Sumireko eyes widen.

"A religious war broke out and killed 6 billion people in just 10 years. Now there is a wide spread population mandates all across the world. I met my now husband in a bunker 5 years ago and we decided to now have kids." That's really horrifying, but I thought religion was thrown away.

"But there is good news, people are learning magic, finding peace in religion and the occult alike. They now just discovered clean magical energy in America and Japan." That explains Astergo's word choice.

"Maybe, soon you guys can come see Japan?" It's not like we can leave this place Sumireko. She realize her wording and quickly bow.

"I'm sorry! I just...I miss this place. I miss the air,I miss the youkai who are kind, I miss this whole wonderful environment these past 20 years away have left me wishing I could stay here." Sumireko gently rubs her belly. Her face crease into a woman who mature far faster than she'll like.

"But I can't leave him alone. It'll be cruel to after all we've been through." She smiles and hums gently to herself as if we wasn't there.

"So, want some flowers or seeds to take back as a souvenir?" Sumireko nods.

"Yes! I'd like to buy some seeds and take home a potted plant for him to see." Luckily I stopped her from giving us any yen and promptly ran off to get one of our saplings and sunflower seeds. 5 minutes past and I came back to give her package goods. Sumireko caught on and quickly pull out her signature hat.

"Just dropped them in the magical hat, and I wanted to know something." I can already tell the question.

"What are you Venus? I've never felt a magic signature like your's before." Whatever she felt she reach out and I took a step back which snap her back to reality.

"Funny story, he's a reborn Dragon. I know he doesn't have signature scales or tail but he's definitely a dragon." Sumireko had a skeptical look to her.

"Youkai like you aren't known to lie so I'll trust you just this one time." Medicine's smile widen.

"Come on, tricking humans is a youkai staple, but we're being honest with you. He's a dragon." Granted I still have a few tricks to show. One thing I found out about myself. Taking a step forward in slow motion and...

"WHAAAAAAA!?" For just a split second I can move faster than I can process and decided to carry Sumireko above the garden. Problem with this technique is that I'm basically atomizing myself to a new location subconsciously. I found out about it on one of my late night excursions. They weren't kidding when I had a habit of never stopping.

"Ok! You can put me down now!" Sumireko hang tightly to look below us as the Medicine and Tenshi frantically look around until they notice us. Descending down gently once we landed, Sumireko tested the floor before finally letting go of me. Probably shouldn't have done that in hindsight. The other two are just as shock as Sumireko.

"The hell did you do!?" Probably a affront to physics and reality, but when people here literally hold concepts by the metaphorical balls. I think I could care less.

"So that's what Tengu are like?" I think they still have brain functions, I have to stopped thinking and let instincts take over. Who knows where I'll end up with this trick.

"Well, that was exciting, I don't even think Reimu has that capability." From reports, her subconscious and instincts are what carry Reimu in a danmaku battle which even she doesn't realize her constant teleporting. I wonder if I start turning off my consciousness more I could copy it to some extent.

"Well, I better get going to see everyone else." Sumireko waves goodbye and I can only call her walk is more like a waddle. While it was sort of noticeable with her small stature only confirmed that she was nearing the end of her carrying months.

"Alot has changed these 10 years?"

"Well, Humans breed like rabbits in July. Sumireko is no different."

"I heard from the maneaters that babies taste fatty." I didn't need to know this as a nearly turned statistic in my past life. Left a sour taste in my mouth. We should be better than our parents.

"Whats wrong? Can't handle the fact that youkai are maneaters?" No, though Tenshi brings up a good point. Youkai are made to killed humans and very few are just pure tricksters or benevolent. However, certain truths have been answered. Humans can fear youkai and in return fuel their existence. Just believing in them keeps them alive. Another part is how to adapt to this world of theatrics and method acting in real situations? It's easy to bluff your way and not needing to back it up. Youkai territory comes into question that seems to be answer by who owns what first. When Mom moved to Gensokyo she left Higan and Makai behind, but got this large open valley garden in return.

"Hey."Woops got lost in thought again. Medicine had a basket and was pointing to the ice lettuce that fully grown. Let's start harvesting some of the fully grown ones.

"What do you think?" Urumi was holding a sky blue kimono to her body as Ebisu watch in childlike wonder.

"I think pink looks better or crimson."

"Ever thought of black or gold?" Urumi turns her head slightly to see Vector by the sliding doorway.

"They actually let you in even though you smell of death?" Vector sighs as he grabs a nearby towel.

"While you need one, that's not going the fix the stench of death that follows us." One thing was obvious between Urumi,Ebisu and Vector was that the general vicinity tries to avoid the metallic air that surrounds them.

"Can't help the fact we're undead and from new hell." Vector looks over at Ebisu.

"Ebisu?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you here on the surface?"

"Lonely children must need comfort. No one should suffer alone." Vector stares at her trying to gauge the amount of thought process that lead her to this point.

"Souls of children you're after?" She just nods as she lay downs and falls asleep leaving the two in their stupor.

"She's only a child of the river. You shouldn't force her to answer that." The displease look plastor on Vector's face belayed most of his mannerisms.

"You've been awfully focus these days. That's unusual for you." Despite his frowning face Vector couldn't denied that the finish line was near for him.

"This might be my last job Urumi. Somehow, I will die before this place goes under." Urumi's confusion became apprehension.

"That's funny, you can go back to your regular self now."Urumi realized he wasn't joking. The man that was always joking and being a rebel to everyone they met, was stern and cold to her. The fire in his eyes was now more like a somber candle flickering in a dark room.

"Vector you promise."

"Some promises are meant to be broken." Her eyes swell with tears before finally flaring in anger.

"You're throwing away everything!?"

"For the greater good of everyone? Yes."Walking over to him and grabbing the collar of his jacket.

"All this time!? You knew you was gonna die!?" Looking directly in her red eyes, a soft smile appeared as he embraces her.

"This decade I've felt more alive than my entire time in my first life, but my next opponents are gonna be some high tiers that I have to keep alive...if only barely."

"If you do come back...will you?"

"Sure. We'll make it official."

First night alone in a small house. Can't say that I didn't see this coming if not for one thing.

"Friendly Brother?" Hey Koishi...Why did you follow me back home?

"You looked lonely when the Doll left to check the poison fields." Koishi follows us all the way back to here from Eientei unnoticed by everyone but me. You saw Sumireko didn't you? I watched as Koishi examine everything in the living room. Humming to herself without a care in the world. The only reason I let her in was because it'll be too dangerous not to keep an eye on her.

"Brother really cares for everyone equally." Can't play favorites around here.

"Sister would be jealous of all the girl's you've been around." Can't really refute that point cause of my circumstances Koishi. Though watching her pick up one of the only kitchen knives makes me nervous. I wouldn't do that Koishi.

"Brother should give love only to sister." Hey I didn't go much further than looking recently. She points the knife squarely at me. Please don't try this Koishi.

"Hehehe!" Watching Koishi lunge in her subconscious state is more like a lopsided hop with a outstretched hand coming at you with predictable results as I redirect her into the couch while disarming her.

*Fwump*

"WEEEEEEHAHAHAHA!"At this point I wasn't worry about her hurting me as appose to her hurting herself in her own broken logic. I think she believes that I have been unfaithful to the promise I made and to Satori. Of course I'm not dumb enough to try getting stab by a inexperienced girl with a kitchen knife but still.

"Friendly Brother is too kind to Koishi. What if I actually hurt you?" I'm more bound to hurt you than you are to me. Koishi just gets resettled into my couch and lays there with eyes wide and a large teethy grin on her face staring at the ceiling. Don't tell me this is how you sleep? No reaction?

I wave my hand in front of her face. Still nothing. Koishi?

"Koishi?" The steady rising and falling indicated she was in fact asleep. I can't let her eye get dry from being open so I carefully close them. Found the covers and tucked the little pebble to bed. Problem was with me though.

"I'm not a fan of pills." Holding the bottle and setting it on the kitchen counter I thought of ways to fix my restlessness without them. Anyone with a brain could see that there wasn't for my case. I was too high in magical ability, and was already deemed a chronic insomniac even in my previous life. People would suggest that I just take the medicine. Problem was that I was already screwed before that.

"I wonder if Vector goes through days without sleep at night but goes to sleep during day?" Talking to myself is starting to creep in again. Even then, there are other issues as well.

I'm not used to this type of power and confidence. I think I now get what it means to be the expectations that people see. People will only see the son of Yuuka Kazami...if she was here of course. The other side would see a young dragon that they think they can control. The last thing is beyond personal gratification for myself and my own dreams and goals. I haven't been in my head for so long that it's making me nervous. Vector is right,Astergo is right, Satori is right, and mom is right. However, it's about what I want to do. what do I believe in after laying down the cards?

I looked over at the Koishi sleeping soundly curling into the knitted blanket. Her hat completely fallen unto the floor. I walked over pick up the bowler hat and set it on the coffee table gently.

"I just wanna be honest, true to myself, it's not about being good or bad. It's about mitigating the selfishness, pride,greed, the heroics and the risks I'll take."Even saying outloud made it feel more real,tangible to me.

"I don't have to live for others but I want to. I don't have to trust, but I do it with faith in hand. I don't want to fight for no reason, so I made a cause and promise to myself. I'll lived by my words, so there is no reason. It doesn't really matter who is wrong or who is right to me. I'll live my life the way I want to and no one can stop that." In the end.

"I'm still just me afterall. Not a youkai or god can change that. Only I can change myself for better or worse." Venus Rose a dragon of life through and through. I'll let nature take it's course as I prefer the calm waters of the pond over the upstream rivers that will be climb soon.

"Venus?" I didn't notice the front door opened slightly to see Medicine peering through. I put a finger to my lips and pointed at couch she comes over to see Koishi konk out on the couch.

"She has the right idea we should rest for tomorrow." I lay down on the floor and Medicine just hops on the couches other side.

"Night Venus." Night, sister.

Author Notes: This took longer than I thought. I didn't pay attention to the date so this is super late relatively speaking. I'm surprise people are ok with the dragon thing considering...some issues. I wish I wasn't as distracted these days. But you know, that's life. No, I'm not giving up and I do have plans for more after this.