Coming to terms with what I am now, will not be easy. It's scary to think that I inherented all the good traits while the other me...What a scary thought. He would not care for any of this, just the result he'll get if he's here. Still, Astergo is different from Komachi. Yet, they both have the same job. It actually does make sense; yet his power must be higher than your average grimreaper. As for right now, I'm figuring out not just myself. However, WHY IS TENSHI SO BAD AT THIS STILL!!! Weedwacking fool! You gotta stop tearing the wrong roots!...Oh my god! Someone take me outta this torture.
"Venus! Tenshi!" Oh thank you Medicine, you're a lifesaver! Today, I try to teach her with her own small garden patch. This is so much harder with no words.
"Ok, sorry for leaving you with her so long." It's not the length of time It's the frustration Medicine. You're weren't there to see the poor small sunflowers get snuff from existence...It was a disaster.
"Can I go now, I have a thing to get to." With who ya plant murderer? Three days in and she has been the bane of our existence here at the garden.
"Oh man, she is a hassle to deal with." Medicine can now see the bumbling act of a non self reliant celestial on her own growing project. Did you know she pick lettuce as her project produce? Yeah it can grow in the winter but that now means we'll have to fandangle this spot in the southeast of the garden as her little work space.
Right before the end of fall too...?Is that?
Yeah it is, it's our little goddess from the Moriya Shrine. Munching on seeds.
"Oi there younguns, where ya mom at hehehe?"You can't get anymore southern than that here. Medicine points at the house and Suwako graciously nodded at us as she headed that way to see Yuuka.
"Thank ya kindly you two. Take care now." It's a nice change of pace when you have people like that to keep you grounded.Well, grounded here Gensokyo probably means not complete and total control freaks and nutjobs. Suwako would be considered a southern belle, honest with herself and others. If she's sees you happy then she's probably happy as well. Atleast thats what I get from her right now.
"Oh right, Yuuka says we need to head to the underground before winter and the festival." Uhhhhhhhhhh...why the underground? I stare at her for emphasis on how we're this connected with my arms pointing and flailing about in astonishment.
"Sorry, I forgot because we've been so busy. There's a place there that requires maintenance every few months. It's at the palace though. Oh right, we're taking a care package of seeds there as well. Best not forget those leftover salted seeds too." Great, of course there's the Palace of the Earth Spirits to go to...I honestly thought I'll never see the underground...Oh god that means...OH NO.
"Well let's get to it. I know the way so follow me." Ah that's cute the rest our packages are in a little sack bag that we carry. Taking flight has begun to be so natural to me at this point. I almost don't notice how much slimmer I've become since living and working at the garden. The air is always fill with clean air and the place is awash with some vibrancy when you look below.
"There it is, down there."...That's a giant hole Medicine that looks man-made almost.Hell its perimeter is pave like concrete and there's a ...diving board what the hell?
Landing on the platform and realizing what she's suggesting. She goes to edge of the board and smiles at me.
"See you THHHHHHEEEEEEEERREEEEEE!" Yep, she jump with extreme gusto. Oh gravity won't stop pulling you down.
I wonder if... Looking forward while staring at what look like a console before I fully tip off the edge.
My name is Venus, nah doesn't sound as cool.
I'll say this, the drop took us roughly 10 minutes before I caught up to Medicine who was now at the entrance of the only cave towards old hell. While falling though, the place felt weirdly like you're in a g force machine before being flipped on your head and then that's your new landing spot. I actually can now see why people bungee jump. This has really help my fear of heights.
"It's alway an exhilarating experience falling down here, it'll never stop me from smiling. Yuukarin always takes longer cause she's afraid of hurting our cargo. But that's Yuukarin for you." A cocky swanter and a sly smile was plaster on Medicine face from this experience. Ruffle her hair pretty badly but she doesn't seem to care.
Yeah sounds like m...Yuuka.
Shaking my head, I breathe in loudly to shake the notion. I'm still coming to terms to what I am. But, hey did you know this place is like extremely hot? We got closer to what look like a bridge and yep there's the elf ears bridge guard. How does one's power work if you don't speak? We'll see when we get closer.
"Heya Parsee, can we head to the palace freely today? She didn't look happy at all, just grumbling and mumbling under her breath while biting her right hand's thumbnail.
"I'm jealous of how happy you are, and I'm jealous of how silent you're being." Stuck up white girl jealousy voice is how I describe her saying these things but dang does she speak fast.
"It doesn't work like that Parsee, if the other can't talk your power is deny." Medicine waited for a response from the green eye moe yokai but she just sighs in defeat.
"I'm jealous that you've beaten me like this." I now realize the people here don't run around blasting eachother in spellcard duels. It's likely that nothing is wrong cause it's not them being pick on. I guess peacetime is a very rare commodity so everyone kinda just accepts what happens to them.
I prefer it this way as well, just constant serenity. Or maybe it's because the girl's aren't the target...I am.
Thinking back on Astergo more clearly. Something is wrong with the atmosphere. For a place so well known for it's duels and giant laser. It's the like the girls are subdue so that if anything stands out it can be immediately found. I don't like that.
"Venus? We gotta hurry." I ran ahead past Parcee picking up rapid speed and cross the bridge in record time. I wave at Medicine who had a slightly surprised face.
"I'M JEALOUS OF YOUR RUNNING!" I'll take that as a compliment at this point Parsee cause I can't really know what I would be jealous of. Not being a girl I guess? Jealous of Danmaku? I don't know really and quite frankly I don't care. I'll just build my own form of dueling with sunflowers and lightning.Medicine finally made it over, again we could fly over but I think that's rude.
"Alright to the Yokai Village. Oh yeah, please be careful about where you step. There are multiple forms of bad stuff that can happen here as Oni are still bitter about losing the mountain." Granted, I barely know this story. I just think the Oni could've kept the yokai mountain if not for things going south. Not to mention that Tengu breed like rabbits so I bet there is way more of them than there are of oni.
Walking along the glowing orange path of candle lights to the underground's main stay was quiet an uneventful. Oh look there's a light?
That's not just a light, that's artificial light from a 18th century light bulb?
Man, this place looks a lot more modern, however it still had a hallmarks of being behind in every way. It look exactly like the human village except much larger and way more yokais of both gender but I didn't see the one's I'm familiar with yet. It's just as active with laughter, cheering, and is that lava on the side of the far right wall?
"Yeah, welcome to old hell lets-HEY!" Medicine was pick up by a burly looking demon as we're where walking. I don't think it he gets that he's three time sizes too big for her.
"So, what's a pretty looking thing doing here?" Yep definitely three times bigger. Gross.
"Sorry pal, I'm not your night toy go bother the wolf tengus." Medicine focus a little energy and began leaking a deep purple from her arm joints that preceded to burn the demon's skin. Good time for a combo.
"Argh!"
*Krrsht*
Yep, I have gotten way stronger. We should go.
With that he crash into a nearby wall paralyze. We took the opportunity to book it before more problems come.
"Thanks, it's rare for demons to get handsies, but my toxins take a few minutes to subdue them to let me go, but they're tough." So not all are raging pile of assholes trying to lay with every girl he thinks he can overpower. How the fuck do they get away with this?
Maybe they need to be taught a lesson.
...No, it's just how it is and it's within their nature. You can't force something that hasn't been ingrained into an animal. Yet, those that seek higher knowledge, intelligence, and will soon seek to better themselves. It's now in the hands of Darwin's law for these poor fools.
What the hell is with me being so self righteous?
"WHOA THERE KIDS, SLOW DOWN WILL YA? We stop to see look around but couldn't see anyone near us yet, Medicine seem to recognize the voice.
"Yuugi where are you?" Yeah I'm pretty confuse too what the hell?
"Behind you two." WHAT! WHOA!.
"Whaa! Yuugi!?"
A very tall female oni pick us both up into a hug, I'll admit she looks relax but anyone can see the muscle that she has is built to destroy mountains. Her hair for the lack of a better word is wildly long and blonde with the bangs just short of covering her eyes.
"Hahahaha, So what are two above grounders doing here? Not just that, you're both kids it's dangerous to be here." A mission to help our Yuuka is why we're here.
"The palace, We need to check the greenhouse of the Earth Spirits Palace. Hey uhh do you want some sunflowers seeds?" Yuugi's horn is sharp and with that iconic star on the middle if not for the muscle you'll think she's a cosplayer. She really doesn't care what she looks like as her clothes just hug tightly to her form and she's wearing that see through blue dress.
"I see. Well let me take you there. Also, whose the boy?" Right, I can't speak so.
"Venus Rose. He's...my brother." Yeah brother is a very odd thing to say but honesty is the way to a Oni's heart. She hums a bit and looks between a doll and the reincarnate as we walk through the Village
"I suppose he's actually Yuuka's kid. I thought they were joking when they saw another Yuuka running around. But man I need to see her and Suika...Oh right. If she's at the Hakurei Festival I'll see them both there hopefully." Despite the smile, I can only assume she's been busy cause she's perfectly sober with not a hint of a alcohol smell to her. Finally we're out of the underground village and saw a lown building with a pathway made of stepping stones to it.
"So, who got Yuuka pregnant?" Ok, I think it's time off the Yuugi train. I want off before this gets anymore awkward. Holy hell Oni don't mince words.
"I see, how unfortunate for Yuuka. I hope that deadbeat has drop dead by now." I...I...jesus christ Yuugi. I look at Medicine and we both just have the same mortified expression from this conversation. Yuugi means well but uhhh, sometimes things don't need to be said.
"Yeah, I'll take one I haven't had Yuuka's sunflower seeds in a long time." Fishing into the bag she took one of them out and Yuugi accepted it.
"Thank you very much. I don't really see eye to eye with the palace people, but I gotta compromise to have a tight well managed underground." Oh yeah she's an Oni Deva. We wave good bye to her and made our way to the gate.
"Just don't freak out about having your mind read." I won't cause I'll have a proper conversation for once. I gave her reassuring thumbs up.
One thing I'll say though is that the palace is a odd cream color with even more of those electric light lamps that hang on walls. Walking into the place is easy bu-?
Maybe my eyes are getting worse but that's...Koishi?
Near one of the pillars was a girl watching us walk to front door. I don't think Medicine sees her, but I do. Knowing her ability is consciousness itself she's not actually invisible to the human eye as opposed to a form of camouflage. She's physically there at all times, but I don't know what she's thinking trying to hide. I recognize the mouth movements from here.
"You can see me?"
It's ironic that I can only nod to her question slightly and she gasp before running to the back of the palace.
"Where the hell are you looking? There's nothing over there." Ooops. I look down to Medicine who was very confused by my actions and I shrug.
"Knock moron. I can't reach it." Flying would suffice but again the principles. I use the doorknocker and it's this giant wrought iron ring inside a crows beak, that's way cooler than just a lion's head.
"JUST A SECOND!"The voice was muffle but the walls are thin and holy crap too close!
A very cat like appearance reveal herself, Two tails, a black with green dress with skull embroidery as its pattern, red hair with braided side bangs. She looks at me in incredulity.
"So, whose the kid cause he isn't a dead body, and you don't have a pulse doll." Hands on hips and slight high pitch growl was behind her voice if only slightly.
"He's here to give out the rest of our sunflowers seed snacks and help me with the greenhouse Orin." She nods and let us in and yep the front end hall is more of a giant dome with a two way staircase leading to the second floor.
"ORIN I FORGOT MY OTHER SHOE HAVE YOU SEEN IT." That was like the whitest white girl voice I've heard from this place. Oh look you have guest, and then you got a nuclear bird waltzing in with audible thumps in fast rhythm towards us.
"Utsuho we have guest, best keep an inside voice." A very wry look was upon Orin as a disheveled looking humanoid raven looks between me,Medicine,and Orin.
"I don't think I've seen you before? So what's your name." She points at me while having a confused tilt to her head. Other than the crimson eyeball that was slightly hidden by her own bust embedded in her chest. She's fairly normal. Still that is one stack bird. Short green flared skirt, and white blouse, though no cement block foot,or the cannon. Guess thing's have gotten really slow here for you to not be on edge.
"Sorry, he's a mute. He's Venus Rose from the Garden of the Sun." Oh right, I give them the western bow. Still Utsuho looked confuse.
"What is a mute, and there's a garden on the sun? Orin this is too confusing!" In little girl fashion she stomps her foot in frustration.
"It means he lives with Kazami Yuuka, and he can't talk." This helps her a bit so she puts her thinking brain into high gear before having an epiphany.
"Oooooh, So you're Yuuka's son right?" You know what I give her a golf clap and two thumbs up for trying so hard.
"Why can't you talk though, everyone can talk."...Oh...no. We're not going through that rabbit hole let's give her sunflower seeds and hope she forgets this question. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the seeds.
"Sunflower Ladie's tasty seeds, gimme." Mature body but not a mature mind. I think I've just lost the game of "try to survive Utsuho". Cause, I'm losing my mind.
"Stick around long enough and you'll enjoy her mindlessness Venus." Well then talk about convenience. Well tired eyes and messy pink hair not withstanding it's the boss of the Palace. I would say it's odd to have a disconnected third eye, but I think it's cute.
"I should refrain from reading you're mind, this eye is grotesque how can anyone find this attractive?" You gotta have confidence in yourself. I mean your pets obviously care for you so you should care about yourself first and not what I'm thinking.
I looked at Satori smugly and she huff crossing her arms.
"I'll won't give in to your charms that easily." I snicker at that. OK princess, whatever her master commands as it's your house. By the way I saw your sister outside. I made a motion to the door by pointing behind me. This looks like a charade while Satori rushes up to me.
"WHERE!?" Whoa! Talk about a strong reaction. Look, I just saw her run away to the back of the palace. I don't know even know how I can see her, if she's using her unconsciousness or not I don't know. I'm figuring out my own self too you know.
She calms down and breathes sharply, She's very...rufflely in her clothes.
"I'm sorry, it's just she's all I have and I dare won't lose her again." See, it's hard to care, but you have eachother and I think that's good enough. Plus look around you, you have family that is always ready to be there for you.
"It's like reading a book, but it's just a very awkward reincarnated person. I won't thank you. Anyways the greenhouse? Follow me." I snickered at everyone else's confusion. It's good to have a conversation with someone again. I really don't mind having that type of understanding with no words needed. Oh look she's smiling...Don't look at me like that.
"Fascinating. Maybe at the festival we'll get to know eachother better."
Maybe...What the fuck? Don't tell me?
"I could even say interested in what you think of me personally." Ok I think she's misunderstands I'm not...interested in her am I? No, I can't be... But she's... I'm blaming this on teenage hormones.
"Yes, we should. Anyways we're here." Even with her smug expression...
She got me back for calling her eye cute didn't she? Dammit I got played by the mindreader.
"Or did you?" I look at Satori and even with her leaning near me and coming closer...
"Thats enough lovebirds, do that in your own time stud." Right, Medicine is correct we'll do that stuff later...What?.Wait...no, wait. Argh! Either, I haven't realize how much I've been holding back that part of me. Or this body is really hormonal for no reason. I mean it was a joke, right Satori? We look at eachother and we seriously couldn't stop staring. We're gonna have to deal with this later. Satori nods rapidly before turning towards her part of the greenhouse
That seem to cause us both to snap back to the reality that we hardly knew eachother but we got so...lost in.. it.
No, No it's just hormones. Oh look it's cauliflower, And over there is some lettuce, red radishes and a shallow potato field.
Everything is well maintain so I think we should go. Oh hey Koishi...KOISHI!
"Sister is in love with you?" WHAT! Thats gotta be a prank...Don't look at us both like that.
"Sister, he likes you too." Satori sprang up and quickly ran over to cover her sister's mouth. The others were now perpetually being thrown into the land of confusion.
"Don't listen to that! Ah!Koishi you're biting my hand! Ahhhhh!" We should settle this before things get muddle. Satori nodded and lets go of Koishi, and her hand started bleeding. I took off my worn bandage and offer her one. We found a secluded area that was outside of the palace, and eyed the bright orange that emblazoned the cave.
"I want the truth. Are you interested in me?" This is so awkward yet, it wouldn't hurt to try out dating and gauging if this can work. I like you Satori in a way that no one else can offer me. It's not even a physical thing. I just want zero misunderstandings and because you can read my mind.I don't have to think about how to respond, I just need to feel.
"I see... well." We-
"Mwa." She kiss my cheek.
"Well, We'll see where this goes. I can't lie either. It's been so long since someone saw some good in me, but hey the festival,we'll meet again there." Did I just...get a girlfriend? Well I don't know how this will go.
"I suppose our distance will be a hassle, but if you can make it when you can. I'll love to just peruse your mind." I can live with that, we'll take it slow, if we go beyond that. I hope someone stops us. Knowing Utsuho she'll probably cockblock us unintentionally.
We both laugh as my sister in name only comes out of the palace.
"So, is he good? Can we go now without you two sexing up eachother?" Come on, I'm not like that Medicine. I think Satori isn't like that either.
"Yes, our relationship is final. Though no promises if I can keep to myself." Uhhh I really hope I don't regret this.
"Damn, you're the catlady of the underground and you basically bagged the second dude that can keep up with a danmaku duel." Satori's smug expression at what she's done is hard to forget. She looks over to me.
You know you look really cute, very moe yokai.
She sputters as she blushes and returns to the palace interior. Man, she actually has some nice thig- AHHHHHH MY EAR, MY EAR!
"Come on Romeo, I'm gonna have to now explain why it'll be so late for us to return. Really you two falling in love at first sight?" Hey, she likes my thoughts, and that's good enough for me. Jealous Medichan?
"Paru Medichan?" Uh oh she goes for my ear again. Time to run away from her again.
"I'M NOT JEALOUS OF HER. YOU TAKE THAT BACK. I DON'T GET WHAT SHE SEES IN YOU!! Well that's just the Venus Rose way. You go with the flow.
Author notes: I somehow got lost in that love story subplot, but I'm too afraid, stubborn, to change that partand kinda wanna see where it goes myself. Ever get lost in what you wrote? I do.