Maybe that was a nightmare as nothing really happen for the last two days. I did overexert my powers however, as I'm so tired right now. What is happening currently, is that Tenshi can't garden to save her life. Like at all... Getting her to not just dig out planted seeds has been a reoccurring issue. That, and I'm force to watch her dead fish eyes and peach hat for two hours of my early mornings.
"So how goes her work?" I look over at Medicine and shrugged and pointed at out the poor stalk poles and how she sloppily wraps the vegetable vines, and to her deep boot prints in the fertile soil.
"I see, we'll keep at it until she understands." Please you do it, you speak I don't.
"You can wash up, and can get ready for lunch now Tenshi, Yuuka's cooking." At this, Tenshi toss the spade into a still growing carrot patch. My god woman you're an omen.
"Finally, this is so boring and it's worse cause he can't talk." My peace and quiet is gone because of you, she's walking away and finally she is gone. I look at Medicine and she has a perturbed expression. Like she has something she's been hiding. I walked into the carrot patch to grab the spade and yep, it split a baby carrot in two.Wonderful. Turning around Medicine still had that same look of wanting to say something to me before trying to shake the expression from her face. She couldn't as I got closer.
"There's been a thing,I've been wanting to say." Ya don't say? I watch as she fidgets about. She sighs in resignation.
"I use to terrorize Yuuka alot when I came to be. I was so angry back then. I needed an outlet for not just my abuse from my creator, but how they just abandoned me. A 100 years pass, and woke up in a poison bound field and felt compelled to harm anyone. I hurt Yuuka so much that one time she cried. I soon realize I was no better than good as dead if I continue down that path. Humans fear me, youkai hated me. Yuuka somehow, she accepted everything I was no matter if I kick, shove or try to kill her. I gave in to her love. I love her like a daughter should." That part I didn't know until now. Medicine really has earned her name as melancholy. I see why she's so afraid of my reaction to that information.
But.
I don't care about their past really. I have long since accepted that this will be rough relationship with who I am with, and who I am right now. I know she'll hate this, but I pick up Medicine and put her on my shoulders.
"Waaaaah! Put me down this instant you foolish brute!" You can just fly off of me you know. I guess it's the principle of the action as we walk back to the house. Oh look it's our resident gap youkai with our favorite dancing Celestials. Iku seems to be in high spirits even after everything she's smiling while talking to a now clean Tenshi. They looked over at us.
I don't like those stares.
"You've gotten use to our little home haven't you?" Medicine was cautious of falling off or just didn't like Yukari. Either way she held unto my neck a little too tight for me to nod normally. So I just slowly lean forward twice to atleast show I agree. She gave me a laugh in return.
"So you're her child? My, you're shorter than most yet you definitely have a good heart." I suppose, I'm just doing what I normally would do but some things feel less normal to me. Iku glances over to Tenshi.
"How's has the Eldest Daughter been? Treating her caretakers well I hope."She smile while Tenshi try to give a sincere response.
"Its. Its. Its been a great time Iku.Really hospitable." Through her gritted teeth it was clear she hated this yet, Iku just nodded softly with a neutral expression.
"Well, it's nice to see some honesty from your lessers. Yuuka must of raised you well." I'm sure she'll take take that as compliment. It's no use correcting them. Aya has long since ruin any form of denial that we could muster. Iku changed her smile upside down when she eyed the doll on top of me.
"Your actions will be paid in full one day Melancholy." Whoa that hostility in her posture. People really need to let things goes. Ahhhhh! My neck, my neck! Medicine!
Being held this tightly by smooth out slim arms made it easy to put someone into a sleeper hold. Luckily she stop when she realize I was struggling to move. I look up at her worry face.
"Oh thank you Yuuka." We both kinda look dumb staring. Confuse at the food laid out on the outside table. Yuuka was tending to her guests before sitting down as well. A spare space for both me and Medicine. I put down Medicine gently and we sat at the outside wooden table. Oh look it's beef curry and rice. Perfect.
Most of those who were hungry ate with chopsticks, I was given a fork and was about to pick it up until Medicine stop me.
Come on, I'm bad with my hands don't expect me to use those things.
Too late, she grab a pair of chopsticks and silently show me how to operate the two small sticks that were about unconventional and uncomfortable for my hands as you can imagine.
"Sorry but most places won't have silverware for the inept unless you live here or at that mansion. It's very unlikely you'll ever see these at the festival." It's uncomfortable and flimsy. I practice a bit fumbling around with what would be so simple to eat before. It is now time for the real struggle. Japanese utensils usage to be seen as a normal person. I got better at it, but it's a hassle to be the only one not use to it.
Atleast the foods good. It wasn't just beef in it but a tangy and sweet flavor to it with small hint of spices. Unfortunately japanese spices isn't spicy enough that was until I notice the pickle peppers.Granted it is a whole green pepper pickle so I pick one up and eat it with the curry and rice...crunchy with that familiar kick. I certainly got some looks while Yuuka held in her laugh.
"I see, he really is like you Yuuka." Yukari seem apprehensive of my taste in food.
Yo, she loves spicy food? Sure enough on the side of her dish was 5 of the pickle peppers.I'm gonna need more before I'm done. Much to the horror of everyone else but Yuuka who was trying very hard not to laugh.
"Great, I was trying to hide those from her and it looks like she found them and of course you like them that much as well." Medicine, the power of spice compels us to throw caution to the wind. Then again, you don't have a stomach and last time I saw you drink anthing, was a few days ago.
The meal was good and the silence was better. Though those peppers weren't the spiciest they were better than nothing. Of course we both competed for the last pickle peppers until the gap yokai split it in two as me and Yuuka was evenly match in the struggle of the spicy vegetables.
"I should just get the adoption papers to officially change your last name to Kazami child."...Not necessary Yukari I'm perfectly fine being who I am.
Am I really even the same me?
Watching Iku and Yukari leave felt refreshing just the three of us again. It would be three if Tenshi wasn't here.
"Alright, I want you three to head out and sell salted sunflower seeds as a snack and thank you around Gensokyo." Yuuka handed out three filled baskets to carry. On each was the price of seeds it was 500 yen each for a kilogram. Kinda generous but it's interesting that she collects and boils her seed...wait does that mean she makes her own salt, and oil here and sell them? No wonder she gets tired. Her enthusiasm vs living is outmatched.p
"Medicine take your's to Eientei, Venus the Hakurei Shrine and human village, Tenshi the Youkai Mountain and the Mansion. I'm gonna go rest now it's been a long day." With that she went back inside the house, I look at my companions and Tenshi was the only one worry. Gee I wonder why? I actually haven't look inside the Hakurei Shrine. I grab mine and set off to that familiar red tori.
"We better get going to get our share Tenshi. See you before sundown." Medicine headed the opposite direction of the human village to not cross paths with any fishermen coming home from the lake and river.
"Great, I now have to sell this crap too? My day just got even worse, But I ain't about to get into a fight with Yuuka at this point." Tenshi took her's and head straight ahead as the Youkai Mountain was pretty easy to see from any angle that isn't the Misty Lake's shoreline.
Sweet! I can finally see the main shrine of Gensokyo and all it's splendor.
I arrive quickly to the Hakurei Shrine and yet not a single person was here...I think?
"Reimu! Reimu! I brought...Oni...sake?"Yeah I know right it's empty...Wait.
I look at my left and met eye to eye to a short, long orange hair oni with horns that had ribbons tied to them,strap to her arms was chains, and 2 gourds. She seem confuse as I am, and surprisingly sober too. In what way should this one be so aware? I wouldn't know, as this place is strange by default. She gave me a wide sharp teeth grin that made her puffy freckle face and yellow eyes seem chipmunk like, the slight tan skintone giving her an even more rodent appearance.
"Hey there. You must the one that Reimu was complaining about the last time we hung together." You know that doesn't surprise me that she knows who I am. She lumber towards the front of shrine steps and sits.Untying the oni sake cord from her arm and setting it in the offering box.
"Ibuki Suika and you're Venus right?" She takes out a 1k yen.
"Two bags please. One for me and one for Reimu." I set the basket down and gave her two bags and she set one into the offering box, and the other she took a handful and threw them into her mouth knawing away at the seeds and swallowing soon after, before spitting a ridiculous amount of shell pieces onto the ground.
"Ah yeah that's the good stuff. Well, I'll wait here for her. Thank the Youkai of the Four Seasons for me." Again, you're perfectly sober like something happened recently and yet you're smiling...what the heck is going on?
"Before you go though, a fair warning. Avoid the black mist if you know what's good for you."How...ominous Suika. Well if it's from an Oni it must be true as they can't lie. I gave her a nod and took flight to the Human Village.
Maybe she means Rumia, yeah it's probably Rumia.
"How much longer Eirin?" Medicine was being siphon of poisons while a multitude of Inabas grab bag after bag of sunflower seeds to snack on while dropping their own coin yen into the basket filling it rapidly.
"Almost done, These seeds temper our younger Inabas. Still the things I've learned from both you and Yumame have been fortunate for us and the Human Village. I would have never found the cure for many primordial diseases here without you two." Eirin was collecting bottle after bottle of different color liquids via the commands she gives to Medicine; half of them where unique others, had names already documented in plentiful detail from the outside world books she has collected.
Medicine huff as Tewi and Reisen drop in extra coins and completely clean out her supply of sunflower seeds.
"It's always the simple things you'll learn to miss the most." Reisen and Tewi were quick to to deshell multiple seeds quickly with their frontal teeth as they're rabbits so they both have buckteeth to consume many types of fibrous plants.
Geez if you tried to tell them they were human you'll have to ignore the ears and teeth.
"All done. Thank you, and I'll admit I would like to know how Miss Kazami came across salt. Oh, before you go, here." Medicine was given a doll making kit.
"I...Thank you Miss Yagakoro! But where you find such a thing?" Eirin put a finger to her lips and a smile and said nothing as Medicine nodded and quickly left with their spoils of commerce.
"Well, that will keep her away from our resident seven color puppeteer atleast. I'd prefer it if we didn't get more sentient dolls." Eirin took a few seeds crack them open and took a bite.
"Hmmmm.Earth food is so delicious."
"So, you just wanted to sell us boil sunflowers seeds? A green qipou, a green beret with a star with dragon written in katakana, and long red hair. Hong Meiling looked at Tenshi quizzically from the front gate of the mansion.
"Look, I'm doing my civic duty so please buy some because I really don't want to incure my father's wrath for not upholding my punishment." Tenshi shove the basket forward at Meiling's feet. She back away a little.
"Ok, but you're sure you're not about to cause problems while Sakuya is out to get supplies?" Meiling waited a short while as the grounded Celestial fidget between frustration and boredom.
"YES! I don't have my keystone, my spellcards, or my sword, so, I literally can't do anything to you or you're vampires." With that Meiling nodded and hopped over the gate and went inside, a good 5 minutes pass while Tenshi was about to cut her losses when she came back with her own basket and a gold bar?
What the hell!? That's gold!
"Ok, start filling the basket don't worry, I'll help." Tenshi bewildered at her luck as her patience has payed off.
Hehe payday time.
Well the human village had alot of buyers,
but I'm still halfway fill with salty seeded snacks.
"Hey kiddo got some left!?" I look towards the sound and saw a woman in a short red skirt with a large red cape hiding most of her face running up to me. Are all ribbons suppose to be so big and hers was purple.
"Finally, Uh look can I get enough to fill a teacher's request?" ...What? Unless she took up teaching or childcare with Kogasa. I don't get how Sekibanki got rope into Keine's needs. I nodded and show her my supply, I couldn't tell if she was surprised,relieve, or what; given the fact that her mouth was cover.
"Finally, now Kogasa can feed the little rascals she took in for Keine at the moment. She drop in as many coins as she could while I help her gather her spoils.
"Sekibanki, you forgot the basket here let me help you two."Blue hair, umbrella with a tongue with a creepy smile,heterochromatic eyes, it's Kogasa as well. Man it's so weird to see the two of them but then again...they both live here in the village as "normal" girls.
"Ohhhhh, So you must be Kazami's kid right? We know because no one else really looks like you two, and just like her you don't talk much." Not from the lack of trying. Learning a language is hard Sekibanki. With that they're were done collecting the salty snacks and I wave good bye to them as I made my way back to the gate. After checking my inventory I had ten left.
Well time to head back.
"Ahh little one wait a moment." I was going to the gate until...Is she even allow to show up here?
Short blonde hair, tired but attentive fox eyes, a white dress and blue tabard with nine tails, it's Ran Yakumo. Man, those are some fluffy tails. Chen as a baby must of live in them like a princess.
She held out 1500 yen.
"Chen and I are fond of Kazami's work and want to make sure she gets rewarded well." I took the coins and gave three bags to her. she smile warmly, this one was genuine for once. But I got to thinking.
How does all this work? Maybe all these coins are reimburse back into human village and then outsource to the rest of Gensokyo regularly yet most of these coins are fairly new...unless.
"if you're wondering how we keep an economy. It's thanks to the outside world's constant circulation rules. Some people use gold, other use paper money, others these coins, We then reprint them all to be a standardized version thanks to the kappa." How...efficient. So wait that means. the salt comes from...the kappa?
They're really smart, when they're all not lazy,or act airheaded at times.
With this information I left quickly to get back to the garden. Ran made a soft wave goodbye before slipping into a gap.
By the time the three of us got back the sun was nearly down. Medicine showed us where to put our gains.
"It's a work shed all the way over here?" Far remove from the house and most of the endless sea of flowers was a small shed that only had a chest imbedded into the ground.
"Yeah we really don't want that pesky witch ruining the economy do we?" Alright, that's fair enough as she took a third of coins and dump them and made sure to bury the gold bar among the yen coins. Medicine the grabs a fair share of the paper yen and splits it with us.
Whoa! Its 10k for each of us...why so much?
"This is to keep the paper yen in constant circulation. Don't worry about it, just spend for yourselves." I only now notice the box she was trying to hide.
"Sooo whats in the box there dolly?" Tenshi has sharped senses, but it's pretty obvious that Medicine is having a hard time to answer as she quickly tries to head back to the house.
"Well it's been a tiring day and I doubt anyplace is open except that late night Yokai food stand so see you later kid." With that Tenshi left to probably find that Sparrow yokai.
Avoid the black mist.
Whatever happen recently put the Hakurei and the Oni on edge. I should get going.
"Not so fast kid, I wanted a better look at ya." No, you were a nightmare,you're not real!
Standing way too near me was a man clearly dress in a modern day suit clothes, and had the same yellow eyes and voice. Chewing on a reed.
"Yep, you're him alright...atleast a part of that bastard." I don't get your angle dude. I took a few steps back and he waggle a finger at me.
"I don't think ya can outrun the darkness tonight so let's talk." How, who are you, what are you?
"I'm a shinigami from the west that was force here to retrieve a broken soul, but you're not the same soul so I won't bother with ya. Anyways kid, I'm Astergo Castrix. A loyal sheep of the lord, it's common for grimreapers to be sent here in secret as many wayward souls end up here on accident of course." Astergo? Yeah, tall, dark and vague of course. Yet, you sound like an old western bounty hunter. He has the mutton chops and beard for it, just no hat. A red scarf though.
"I'm looking for the unfortunate fool that was the original you. I can't take in reincarnated beings, but I can take in a ghost." I'm extremely bother that I'm not the real me. So, I'm just a fake thing? With real memories?
"Look kid, it's better to nip that in the bud now, then later down the line when ya accidentally find the other you tearing up your new found family apart." I look down not wanting to meet his piercing gaze, I feel sick.
"Kid, ya have a unique opportunity to be the person you "want" to be. But, let go of the past and live your new life. It's rare for reincarnations to have past memories. Besides, that body wasn't gonna be normal regardless. Most would kill to be ya right now." No!No!No!No!No! I'm me! I'm the real me! I'm human! I'm a perfectly functioning normal human being!
"Venus!?" What? I look around and that odd black mist was disappearing around me and that guy was gone. That was...Yuuka's voice.
I saw her running over was unbelievably worry, I haven't notice I was crying until I saw the silent streams leaving my face.
"Venus, sweety? What's wrong?" She offers a hug and I accepted it, I couldn't deny it anymore. As I bawl my eyes out into her chest sitting down.
"It's ok...It's ok...Mo...Momma's got ya now." It's not even an alien concept to say that I'm not her son. I felt better after crying out so much of that bottle of emotions out. My mindset is a teenager who thinks he can hide away the truth in front of them. So, if I'm like this? Then who is the other guy like...Oh no...I see.
"Ya feel better now?" I nodded and she had her own stream of tears as well.
"I'm happy to have you both,when I saw you get hurt...I was so mad, but I just couldn't show it. Minoriko is right, you're basically an adult when I found you and yet...I got attach to you the instant I saw you there." You know I wonder why we're like this...but every family is dysfunctional. We're misfits to everyone else. I think that's enough moping and crying. I think she also needed an outlet.
"Aishite Yuuka?"
"I love you so much. My son of the garden."
Author Notes: Yeah Author inception, I can now say I the author is dead in the story. So yeah Venus isn't technically even me and I hope more people do reincarnation stories to reinvent the SI market. My main goal is to inspire people to write from these stories and DO IT BETTER THAN I CAN. This was the shortest chapter and I apologize.