Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The banquet was decent if anything. Pretty loud and lively after the attempted assassination on myself, but... it was still pleasant enough to enjoy. Met a few more of my friends there. Aya interviewed me, only to get whacked over the head by Auresh in a comical manner. Auresh did apologise to me as to how an assassination attempt slipped by her and the Tarnished, but I didn't mind.

I did think about Takamine for a little while. I... honestly hope she's doing alright, even if she tried to kill me not too long ago. People can change. Like Rujo.

I thought about Rujo and his circumstances an awful lot too. Even brought it up to Nero, who I bumped into whilst enjoying the festivities with Ichirin. They honestly seemed surprised that Rujo willingly told me what happened to him. Far as they're concerned, it's unheard of.

Though I did hear Rujo gained an appreciation for Buddhism. Might be a good thing for him. It'd probably help with his anger issues, right?

Plus, I met some people I didn't know or haven't met before, such as Kaguya. She's a lunar princess that got exiled from the Moon and decided to stay on earth for becoming immortal due to drinking the Hourai Elixir, but she's someone I hadn't bumped into at Eientei whilst I was there one time with Junko. Trish apparently pissed her off, but then again, I'd get why Trish'd do that. She doesn't like people who are overly formal-sounding. Such as Kaguya. Probably why she hangs around Mokou and Curo. I did hear an interesting fact that Trish supposedly flirted with Eirin one time, which is weird because Trish isn't normally a flirtatious person.

As for other people I don't know? I met a surprising amount of oni at the banquet, one particularly by the name of Suika. Nothing odd with that, but Dezain gifted me a bunch of her paper's recent editions, and I read something about Auresh that intrigued me. She doesn't like oni, especially Suika, so why were there oni at the banquet...? Maybe she just respects their strength enough. Maybe it's similar to Tenma. I mean, hell, I saw Tensai there, and he's an oni from the Ministry.

Speaking of which, I sadly wasn't able to meet Tenma. Meeting the true chief of the crow tengu sounded interesting, but I guess I can settle for Megumu... even if Chima doesn't really like Megumu anymore.

Another interesting fact? Apparently there're variations of oni. I don't know how that works, but that's cool. Pretty fascinating too. Like... blue oni, for example. They exist. Mostly female, but still. But apparently there're oni who're employed and not employed by the Ministry of Right and Wrong. Tensai's an example of the former, whilst Suika's an example of the latter. It's interesting, even if the oni are known to be very heavy drinkers, comically strong and durable, and good partiers, they're still pretty diverse.

What else did I do whilst I was there? Hmm... It's a blur to me. I know I didn't drink alcohol, because I don't. I only drink non-alcoholic cocktails and the like. Because I favour not being drunk. Trish, on the other hand... let's just say she can rival the oni when it comes to drinking, despite the fact she's clearly a normal human.

Oh-. I saw Hecatia, actually! We chatted for a bit, though it was mostly her asking how I was finding Hell and if Shonin was being annoying. One can guess what my answers to those questions were. She treats me similar to how Junko does, albeit much more lenient and fun. Some people think her choice in attire is... freaky. Hell, I heard somebody call her 'Freaky T-Shirt Weirdo' at one point. Exact words, by the way, but I think her clothes're cool. Fits Hell's theme of not being a conformist place at all. A place of the free, for people to indulge in what they want without minimal restraint.

...Speaking of Hell, apparently Shonin brought a load of demons and devils, as well as Hell fairies which are apparently a thing, out to 'spice things up'. Hecatia's words, not mine. The next thing I know somebody set fire to Shivu. Then two people died. But they lived. I say that as in they died but came back to life, somehow. I don't know how Shivu did that, but that was... really, really odd.

Other people I didn't meet consisted of that Atriox guy Silia mentioned here and there. He seems like a pretty dark guy, humour-wise and literally. Somebody Trish'd like to be around, I'm certain. I met this shinigami called Komachi too, who was with Eiki. Apparently she's Eiki's subordinate, but she's supposedly a frequent visitor of my sister's bar.

...I should visit Outer Heaven at some point, if not to say hey to Trish and Curo.

Still, the banquet went by in a flash. I honestly enjoyed it quite a lot, and I'm not a party person. Maybe I should attend parties more...? I mean, I'll probably have to, seeing as how I'm the King of Hell. Or, um, King of Hell in training, anyway...

So, um, after... the banquet, though, I returned to Liberty. To my quarters. With Chima. Kasa-chan's still weirdly missing, and I don't know where she is... Maybe she'll show up again at some point. Either that or she's gathering more information from Megumu for me.

Normally I would've gone right to sleep, seeing as how I have to, well, actively seek out Mizuchi tomorrow at Misty Lake. Because I 'agreed' to help her. What she doesn't know is that Okina's onto her, as am I. Though, I have my own ambitions with wanting to go along with her.

"Like, y'know, wanting to see if she can change." Raiju adds in. Yes, thank you, that's what I mean. "Mate, we're talking about somebody who hates youkai with a burning passion and only cares about humans. I don't think Mizuchi is going to change because you asked nicely."

Mmm. She's aware of my family though... and that might be a good and a bad thing. Good as in she might consider me important and useful enough to keep around. Bad as in she might consider me important and useful enough to keep around. Plus, I have no idea what she's planning.

Still, talking about Mizuchi can wait until later. Okina said she'd talk to Sannyo about today. Sage business, as much as I want to work at the den normally for once, is very important. Last time got interrupted with the flood. This time has been interrupted by Mizuchi. Okina has been involved both times. Can I just work normally for once, without an interruption? Honestly...

"Gensokyo is literally anything but normal." Raiju reminds me. I know that. It's just really annoying, but I can't bring myself to dislike it. It's a beautiful place, if not comically dangerous. "Comically dangerous as in deceptively young-looking women holding a god-like power?"

...Pretty much. I mean, take Hecatia for example. Apparently she's really strong. Like. Way too strong. I walked into her one time and I felt like I walked into a very thick chunk of tungsten shaped like a human. It hurt.

"...Hecatia's the Goddess of Hell." Raiju also reminds me. She is. "If you wanna use a real example, take Medicine as one. Dude-. She is small but very deadly. The poison."

T-. 'The poison'? What does that-?

"The poison." He smugly repeats. Why are you smug. How you function will never cease to amaze me sometimes... Or is it more astound...? Words are hard.

Still, you... have a point, I can't deny. Medicine is obnoxiously dangerous because she can poison anything. Pair that with what Strand's apparent poison can do... she's pretty much an unstoppable force.

Come to think of it, she used Strand's poison very easily. I think me letting her use it might have allowed her to access it at any given moment.

"...What you're meaning to say is that Medicine can spontaneously make people cease to exist now." Raiju smacks his lips. "Huh. Not sure what to make of that... At least she won't use it on us."

True. Medicine likes me. We're friends. She actually looks up to me, dare I say it. Me. A human. A member of the species she hates because of being abandoned by one. Pretty ironic, innit...?

"That it freakin' is." Snorting, my alter ego groans a little. "Anyways, uh, what're you doing with Chimata?"

Oh, right, that.

To paint the scene, I'm in my quarters, standing over Chima. Who is on the floor. She has a bottle of wine in one hand and she is very drunk. My stuff, as well as some of hers, is placed 'neatly' around the room. Neatly as in Chimata drunkenly dismissed stuff she had whilst I calmly placed my things, Aegis and my bag included, away, as well as unnecessary accessories such as Kenko, Zoka, my hat, my gloves, and my ribbons. Oh, and our shoes... and the coat Okina gave me that I completely forgot I had on, somehow.

...Because who wears shoes in their bedroom?

...I don't know if I should blame Momoyo for just dumping Chimata on me whilst she's like this. This is her problem as far as I'm concerned, because she caused this.

Or maybe it was Zeitaku's fault, since I noticed she was trying to slip away discreetly. Then again, Chima's been talking about the potential of holding a market at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, saying she had a nice chat with Remilia about it. I think Jill scared her simply by being herself though.

"Ra~ji~me~." Chimata's drunken giggle snaps me from my thoughts as I look down at her properly again. Some of her zippers are undone, by the way. She did that after we got in here, though, so maybe that's a good thing~...?

As for why her zippers are undone? A drunk Chima is a force to be reckoned with, let me say that right now. 

Fortunately, none of the zippers that are unzipped are showing any, uh, specific parts of the body. And any that get close fortunately have the pins on her outfit to hold them together.

Maybe that's why she has so many zippers and pins holding her outfit together? For situations like this.

Still, I should reply, so I do, crouching down a little. "What?"

"I can't~... feel my face." Giggling like a maniac, she raises the bottle of wine she's holding into the air. To be fair, that is not the only bottle she has gone through. She's downed, like, three others which're scattered about the room. Not too sure what to do with that, but apparently gods can drink as much as they want. Because they're gods. They don't suffer alcohol poisoning like mortal people do. 

Still gets them drunk though. "...Honestly, you need to lay off the wine a little." But I voice my concern regardless.

"Ahah~... Don't be such a party pooper." She boops me on the nose, albeit sloppily.

"I-." I did not expect her to say that, so I stifle a little laugh, reeling back a tiny bit with surprise. "I'm just worried that you might get too drunk."

"There's no such thing~! Silly~, I'm pe~rfectly fine..." Chima rolls her head on the floor a little. She's blushing to the point her entire face looks like a seedless strawberry. Or a tomato. Something like that.

"I like this Chimata." Raiju sounds pretty fine with this. Raiju, keep in mind she's my girlfriend. Our girlfriend. I-. Something like that. Words are hard when you're two people at once. "I know. You know, having an interal dialogue when you're also an internal dialogue for somebody else is fucking weird."

I know. Whenever you take control, or when I let you, I know exactly what that's like. It's... very weird, simply put.

"Right?!" He begins cackling like an idiot. As he does, I suppose...

Back to Chimata, um... "No, seriously." I tilt my head at her. "...How're you going to get in bed? You're on the floor."

"I'm... on the floor~...?" Chima looks like she spaces out in a drunken manner. It's honestly kinda cute-looking. "No~... I'm in bed."

...She's in bed. That's nice. But in all seriousness... "No you aren't."

"Whah~?" She looks around in an exaggerated manner, before spotting the bed. Then she realises. "O~h! I thought I was on it!"

I laugh a little, before crouching down a little further. "...You alright to stand?"

"U~hm." Giving it a little thought, she gives me a dumb little grin. "I don't know~...?"

She doesn't know. Huh.

"Dude. No. Carry her." Raiju. "Trust me on this!"

My arms will literally snap in two. I cannot carry a person, let alone shopping bags.

"C'mon. Please?" He begs. I-. Alright, fine.

"...Alright then." I take a breath, then kneel down proper, lifting the god up in my arms. I-... She's heavier than she looks. Ow. My arms. "Come here, you."

"Whoa~!" She's surprised to get lifted off of the ground, which should be an obvious reaction to such a thing. "Aww~. You're soft."

"...So I am." I can't help but smile at this. Even then, my arms are in absolute agony because they've never lifted a person.

Raiju, I blame you for this.

"Worth." You sound proud. My arms hurting is not something to be proud over. "Mate, you really should consider working out somewhat. I mean, do what Trish does. Be obnoxiously strong with little muscle showing."

...Is that even possible?

"I mean. If I can think it's possible, probably is, yeah." I hate that logic because it's literally true. 'If you can think about doing something, that something is possible'. I hate that logic, even though I probably shouldn't, because it can lead to... honestly, the stupidest of things.

Like, for example, thinking about death via coughing. That's actually possible by the way.

"...That has me wondering if Medicine coughing could be considered an attack. Seeing as how she's, y'know, poison incarnate." Raiju audibly wonders. What's with your sudden obsession of Medicine lately anyway...? Plus-. She's a doll. She doesn't need to cough. She doesn't even need to breathe, I think. "Fuck, s'true that. As for, uh, why I keep talking about her? I dunno. She's a funny little doll."

She's half my height. She's not 'little'.

"Counterargument, her title's 'Sweet Little Poison'." Raiju... argues. I-. Yes, that is true, but still, she's not little in the literal sense.

Also, my arms absolutely ache, so I muster what little physical strength I have, both in my legs and arms, and put pretty much all effort into getting Chima onto my bed as fast as humanly possible in a gentle manner. Once that's done, I hurl myself into bed too, because pain in arms is bad. Sleep is good.

"Mmh..." Unexpectedly, I am brought into a sloppy embrace by my drunk goddess girlfriend, whilst being kissed just as sloppily on my cheek. That is normally a sentence somebody wouldn't say. But I am in Hell right now, so anything is possible these days. Hell, tomorrow I could wake up to a flaming chicken running around in a panic for all I know. Or wake up to Okina watching me creepily again. That was weird.

...

It stays like this for a good few moments. Our positions, I mean. Then Chima parts her lips from my cheek, still clearly tipsy. I can smell wine on her breath. Ech. Good thing I skipped the heavy drinks whilst I was still at the banquet...

...I don't know why I said that. I don't drink alcohol. I didn't drink anything alcoholic whilst I was there, just the non-alcoholic stuff. I know the Tarnished make really good milk tea now, anyway. Actually, was it even milk tea? It might've been a milk substitute... Hell if I know anyway.

"Rajime?" Chimata catches my attention again. She's still drunk, so she hasn't sobered up...

"...Yeah?" I glance at her. We're snuggled up under the covers. It's comfy, even if she has protrusions on her outfit. Like pins and zippers.

"Are~... you busy, tomorrow~...?" She asks me. Why's she asking that...?

"I'm at the den, yeah." I nod once, then look at her. I do contemplate mentioning my deal with Okina regarding Mizuchi, but she doesn't need to know. Safer that way, right...? "Why?"

"Aww." Chima has a look of disappointment. "I wanted to be at home... with you."

"I'll be back in time for tea, don't worry." I awkwardly chuckle. Namely because I might actually get back to Liberty pretty late, but I don't want her worrying. "Just a quick day at the den, followed by some slight errands that need doing."

"Oka~y..." She accepts this response at least, her hold on me lightening just a little as she nuzzles her head into my shoulder. "Apparently there's a cherry blossom viewing coming up~... At, um..."

Pausing, she seems to try and remember what that place is called. "Haku... Hagukyi... No, uhm~... Hakugyo... kurou? Hakugyokurou, I think...? The name's a bit of a mouthful."

O~h. "You're thinking of holding a market there aren't you? Like I suggested?" I casually smile. I'm not against visiting a cherry blossom viewing... even if I have no idea what to expect of a place with a name like that. I don't even know why it's called that, either.

"If you input it into a GPS it just explodes because who names a place that." Raiju off-handedly comments. Right? It reminds me of this place in Wales called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. "...How the fuck did you just say that without stopping once?"

Knowing your home country is a good thing, let's leave it at that. How did they fit four consecutive 'L's into a single name though...?

"The Welsh are strange people." Raiju snorts. Alright, yeah, let's leave it at that too. "Not as strange as Scottish people, let alone a drunk Scottish man with explosives."

...That sounds like somebody Suika'd like, probably. Or any oni for that matter. The Scots are pretty good drinkers in general.

"Yeah!" Also, Chimata pumps one hand in the air. "It's in~... four days. I think that's what that ghost lady told me, at least..."

Ghost lady? Hmm. May be something to look into later... "What else do you know about that place?"

"It's a sort of afterlife~...? Mostly for artists." She nods once, humming drunkenly. "Apparently there's a lot of cherry blossoms there."

An afterlife, huh? "Liberty might have some information on it."

If not that, I can always ask Eiki about it. Shonin might know something, too, or Hecatia. One of the bigwigs.

"Ask in the morning." Raiju orders. Fair, I am pretty tired right now anyway... 

"It might! Hmm..." She dwells on it for a moment, before nodding. "I'll ask Shonin. I... think. Or Aikido. I dunno~. Aikido's pretty smart."

"She is." I start lying my head down with the intent of sleeping. "Worry about it tomorrow though. Goodnight."

"Oh! Goodnight!" She also takes this as a sign to start sleeping too... Thank... whoever that I don't have to put up with a drunk Chimata in bed.

...My mind slowly drifts off, spacing out...

I'm... in the Dream World, right? The first thing I see after appearing is... nothing. A black space, filled with white twinkling objects. The closer I look, those are stars.

"...You came."

I'm greeted with an unfamiliar voice. Not Doremy's. She's the only person I know of who can talk to me in a dream...

This voice is more... imposing. Composed. Calm. Eerily calm, at that. A person who sounds pretty confident in their own abilities.

"...Hello?" I look around for a moment in confusion. Namely because imposing voice. What's weirder is that Raiju isn't here again.

"Be not afraid... or something along those lines, that the angels would typically say." The voice sighs out, before showing itself to me. It's a woman, who's taller than anybody I've seen. She's like fifteen feet tall. Wow. "I am not here with the intent of doing harm... or any other malicious activity for that matter."

She has knee-length oceanic blue hair and honeycomb yellow eyes. Despite her... imposing and refined-sounding voice, her clothes don't seem all that dissimilar to Hecatia's style. 

I say that, as in she's wearing a shoulder-less T-shirt with the words 'Memento Mori' slathered on it crazily in red. Though, she wears an oddly formal-looking long skirt that tapers off into the various colours of the rainbow. This woman has a reddish-orange choker on her neck too, as well as a hat that looks weirdly like a podium, only with nothing in it.

Plus, she just has this... aura to her. That she should be familiar, but at the same time, she shouldn't be. It's the same sensation I got when Chang'e was mentioned to me for the first time. Deja vu, maybe...? 

I then note one very weird thing about her. Planets, as far as the eye can see, line the space around her, all chained to her choker on very thin red strings. And she's holding this... weapon. A glaive that's as tall as her, that she's holding by her side. It's golden, decorated with snake prints and a model bust of a hound at the end that isn't a blade.

"Creature of Man." She addresses me in a serious tone. "Wielder of a power that only the gods should hold. I come not as an enemy, nor as a friend. Only as a herald... one who is particularly troubled by something, at least."

"...A herald?" I'm not too sure if I follow...

"A herald." The woman nods once, floating past me, her back turned. The planets move with her, with the strings stretching and relaxing as they shift. "...A being that has existed for many millennia. With such millennia comes wisdom. Great wisdom. Archives upon archives of wisdom, at that."

...She doesn't look like a human or a youkai. Or even a god for that matter. She looks more alien if anything, like Tyra. Clear, crystal white skin that seems incredibly smooth it would ripple at even the slightest touch...

I have a theory as to who this is, though...

"I suppose a name would assist in things, wouldn't it? An identity." Interlocking her fingers, she turns her head to me. "I am the one you may call Lubrae Hieropha. The previous ruler of Hell. Has Hecate spoken highly of me in my absence? Satan?"

Lubrae. I thought this was Lubrae, especially considering what little I know of her. I didn't expect somebody like this, though... "They have. Clownpiece has too."

"The pierrot." Lubrae looks more... solemn, for a moment, before shaking her head with closed eyes. "I am imagining she would miss my presence... How have the yama faired?"

Uh... "The only yama I know of is Eiki, but apparently the yama really liked you...?" I tilt my head with uncertainty.

"Ah. The Yamaxanadu." She nods at this information calmly, a small smile forming on her face. Lubrae seems like such a mellow, tranquil person, despite sounding so... unnerving. "That is good. Quite good, as a matter of fact. Hmm... Now who are you, to be exact? I am aware you are one with a creative essence... and by that I mean you are a Naga, one with a natural penchant of chaotic creation."

Of course, she'd know my family. From what little I know, it doesn't take a genius to figure out Lubrae's really well-informed. "I am. My name's Rajime. Rajimarin, if you want my actual name."

"...A befitting name." Taking a breath, Lubrae raises a brow. "Although, you seem to be quite in the know about Hell, despite being so young. You are eighteen years of age right now, soon to be nineteen come August. Tell me, Rajimarin, how do you know so much? When I was in power, Nagas were only treated as special denizens of Hell and nothing more..."

"I'm actually the candidate for King of Hell right now." I stare at her with a straight a face as I can muster. Deep down, I'm actually nervous, but also... excited, in a way. "It was Hecatia's and Shonin's idea though."

"That would explain a fair amount then." Content, she looks up, lowering two planets to her hands as she stretches them out above her head. One's a more greenish-looking one, with a white sea, whilst the other's a purplish-blue and seems more like a gas giant if anything. "Hecate always was impulsive. A goddess of witchcraft. Satan especially so. She always was incredibly impulsive, rushing in blindly without a plan half the time. They are still very good at their respective roles, however. I'm certain my training did not go to waste."

"I've met two of your disciples, actually. Soldura and Aikido." I maintain my stare, but slip my hands into my short pockets.

"Tsumugi and Ryudo?" Lubrae's brows raise in surprise. "I had thought they would... nevermind. Perhaps times have changed and their presence is necessary. Ryudo is a hermit, as in, he is normally a social recluse. Tsumugi can be considered the exact same... though I know not of Bruschit and Rikata. Or as you may know them, the Disciple of Deception and the Disciple of Surprise respectively. Although, there's something... off about you, for one of your kin."

"...Something off?" I furrow my brows slowly. As far as I'm aware, I'm a normal person...

"Nagas always were strange to begin with, yet you... You are particularly different to those I have met in the past." The ex-ruler contemplates, giving me a very thorough look. "Your essence is... different, compared to those such as the Seamstress, Majiranir, the Ripper. Even the first Nagas, whom I have met."

My essence? "I'm not sure if I follow."

"Nagas are guided by an innate essence. One of creation or one of destruction. Never both, for if one has both, the delicate red string of fate we call 'balance' will snap, then crumble in our hands. Then all will be left with naught but death and anguish." Taking a breath, she smiles. "...Needless to say that has never happened, however. You are exceptionally pure for the side of the family which is considered 'impure'. It's strange. Quite bizarre actually."

Huh. "My purity is what's off, then?"

"Yes and no." What does that mean? "Yes as in your purity is odd, but no as in that's not what I find unsettling about your essence. It's familiar. As if I have seen such an existence somewhere else in my time, yet surprisingly for someone as great as I, I cannot pinpoint what." Lubrae seems slightly disappointed, but lightens up quite quickly. "Although, this is not the purpose I contacted you for, to simply learn more about the most recent Creationist to grace this existence we call life."

"Oddly specific words to use." It's like she almost idolises people like me... It's creepy. "So what...?"

"I received a visitor the other day. I believe it was the same day Gensokyo was flooded." Lubrae folds her arms, closing her eyes. They actually shine beneath her eyelids for a moment as she hums gently. It's pretty neat to look at. "As for how I knew Gensokyo flooded, or how I even know of Gensokyo, you can thank the Seamstress. She planted some of my Altercators around Gensokyo, so I could keep constant surveillance. They're essentially indestructible if made correctly, though their purpose is to be little more than spy drones for my assurance it is in safe hands... and that nothing strange happens. I made a note you were the one to end the flood, not the Hakurei, which... honestly was a surprise. Nagas don't get involved with topics such as incidents very often. If anything, they stay out of them. Another proof your essence is off."

Hmm. I fold my arms. Kinda creepy how she was watching too, but... "Okay... What about the visitor you mentioned...?"

"They called themselves Bruschetta. However, I knew full well who it was. The Disciple of Deception came back to me. She cannot hide her identity from me, no matter how often she changes shape or form. Changelings always were better at disguises than tanuki could even dream of achieving. However, she's the only of her kind... or so I thought, until I later found out she had two children. Now there's only three changelings in existence." Lubrae looks at the glaive she's carrying, then dismisses the two planets from her hands, quickly-

Shi~ng!

-drawing it, pointing it upwards. The planets that surround her quickly start shifting to converge around the weapon, making it glow a brilliant blue in tandem with their movements. "What she had came for was her last lesson. The last thing I could teach her - or attempt to more like, since I wasn't even sure if she could do such a thing - before we finally cut all ties, according to her... which is quite cold, considering I am her mentor."

"...Uh... huh." I give a slow nod, scratching my neck. This is honestly a lot to just spring on me, but-...

...Wait, did she just say 'Bruschetta'? As in that Bruschetta? The same one who's the leader of the Devas? The same one who recruited Rujo, Mizu, and Tyra into the same team, to cause an incident?

"You look like you've thought of something. Speak, young one." Lubrae notices my face contorting into one of surprise.

'Young one'. At least she didn't call me 'child', but then again she probably could, seeing as how she's apparently been around for literal millennia, if not even longer like millions or even billions of years. Lubrae seems that old and composed she could pass for being billions of years old, honestly.

Still, I should speak as told to, so I do. "This Bruschetta... I've heard that name get brought up before by somebody else. A friend of mine." Rujo's not really my friend, but he also is, so... eh. "She's apparently the leader of this group called the Dour Devas of Destruction, a mostly youkai-dominated group with one human and one robot, and that she had a plan to 'shake Gensokyo to the core', or something along those lines. She also told the culprits of the flood incident to actually go through with it, too." I notice how skeptical she looks, then decide to elaborate. "As for how I know this, an ex-Deva told me themselves."

"...I see." Lubrae thinks on this information for a minute, lowering her glaive slightly. "A plan to shake Gensokyo to the core...? How would she do that, pray tell?"

"Apparently she wanted to force youkai and humans to become one and the same." I bring a hand to my chin. "The question is, how?"

"...Wait." Her eyes widen a little with shock. "That's why she came to me then... If only I had been more cautious, this might not be happening right now then..."

...What? "Excuse you?"

"She came to me for a lesson, as I said. Her last lesson. What she wanted to know was how to fuse souls. As the former ruler of Hell, I obviously knew how to do this, but it's a very complex technique that takes a long time to master. It took Hecate a year to learn it, and Satan eight months." Lubrae frowns harder, even grimacing. "But the Disciple of Deception is different. She can adapt in a matter of hours to the most complex of tasks, her entire physiology is built to adapt, to disguise, to fit in. I'm imagining it would take her less time than what those two needed. I'd put it at around three or four months at best, at worst it'd take a month."

...Oh. That's bad. "Hmm."

"But we don't have to worry about her until then." Lubrae's mood lightens a tiny bit, but she's still noticeably wary. That's weird to see, given how legendary she seems compared to Hecatia and Shonin. Someone as great as Lubrae being anxious, and this is the first time I've met her... "Yet, when it happens, it could spell catastrophe."

"How so? Fusing youkai and humans, I mean." I furrow my brows. "How'd that be calamitous?"

"It would make humans less... well, human. More savage-like. Pair that with the intelligence and strength of youkai, and humanity will regress. The term 'youkai' will cease to be since everyone is a youkai at that point. Gods will die, as humans will stop providing them faith for various things they needed. It would break the balance entirely." Lubrae closes her eyes, as they do that glowing thing again. What is she doing when she does that, anyway?

"Why do your eyes glow when you close them?" So I ask her that, patiently tilting my head.

"Hm?" She opens one to look at me, as the other remains closed and glowing a bright blue. "It's merely a sense of foresight my kind have. We can see brief predictions of the future, as malleable and constantly changing as it is... though we don't get to choose what we see. Or I don't, more like, as I am the very last of my kind. Ironic, considering we were just talking about the last changeling not even a minute ago."

She's the last of her kin, huh. "Why not have children then...?"

"I'm too old." Solemnly, she looks upwards again at the black void surrounding us. Her brilliant blue sheen seems to constantly illuminate the inky blackness. "And even then, I simply cannot. Humans are not compatible for somebody like me, as are youkai, gods, and even things that aren't those three such as Astralians and Lunarians. Nothing in this system, or beyond it for that matter, is."

"System?" That's implying she knows there's other life in space. "Things beyond our system?"

"I'm not of this system or cluster, simply put." Calmly, she looks back down at me. "I am a Discernian who has lived past their prime, even longer than the average lifespan of a normal Discernian which is about a billion Earth years, or five hundred Tartarus months. For my many years, I have hopped around system to system, cluster to cluster, in pursuit of something above myself."

Tartarus... That must be her former home then. And holy hell she's old. She's over a billion years old?! That's beyond the levels of a fossil, she's straight-up an unaging alien!

"There's life out there. I'm aware of some humans that think that. I sent some odd signals to them a few times, like music, just to mess with their heads." She actually smiles at this. I remember hearing something about that, actually... Mysterious audio waves from space. "...But, beyond Sol, there are many alien lifeforms. Alien lifeforms I've had the pleasure of documenting. Observing. Compiling information on. Their planets, their kind, their cultures, their... rituals, many things such as that. Some species revered me. Others were afraid of me. Few even wanted to kill me. But they couldn't, for I was, and always will be, infinitely more advanced than they are. Yet, no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find any sentient lifeforms that were compatible with my kin. So I gave up on that. Pursued what I always had been pursuing - the one called Ouroboros by my kind. You may know him as Izanagi."

Izanagi? "As in the creation and life god?"

"The very same. He has been my sole target the entire time, the one who can create life so very easily." Lubrae's eyes lower. "He blessed my kin once before, the Discernians. Uplifted us to a golden age, where we lived in peace with everything we could ever want at our fingertips. Then disaster happened, a force attacked, and he fled, yet not before saving me from joining my brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, in the embrace of death. He sent my soul to Hell to recover, whilst he hid my physical body on a desolate, yet safe, portion of space."

"And you've been searching for him for years on end?" I raise my hand to my mouth, since Lubrae's really uh... something else.

"Centuries. Millenia. The numbers grew and I lost count at some point." The Discernian shifts the planets around her, gently tugging on her various red string to drag some planets closer to her, whilst pushing others away. "He left me with some odd gifts though. Abilities and capabilities that I never thought possible. Manipulation of time. Light and dark. Surprise. Deception. And the ability to record the history of anything. I was called a hierophant by many, so I suppose that's where I picked up my last name from. 'Hieropha'. Truth be told, I was always just 'Lubrae' to many people, as well as my own. Our kind only used one name to identify each other for the sake of efficiency. I was named after Tartarus' moon, which was also called Lubrae."

Didn't expect to be getting lectured on an alien race in my own dreams... Speaking of which. "On, um, a lighter note, this is a dream, isn't it?"

"It is." Lubrae places her hands behind her back, sheathing her glaive in the process. "You're wondering how I'm doing this right now. Hecate can come and go from the Dream World whenever she pleases, but I can slip between the seams of it, essentially manipulating it in its entirety. The baku aren't aware of you and I meeting now, or that you're even dreaming at all." 

"Baku? As in plural?" I raise a brow. I always thought Doremy was the only one...

"There are multiple. Sweet isn't the only one. Managing so many dreams would be so tedious on your own, don't you think?" Lubrae chuckles. "She has cousins. Other baku. She manages Gensokyo's Dream World specifically."

"Huh." Also, Lubrae can apparently just manipulate the entire Dream World. Totally not an unnerving thought, nope, not at all...! "You can 'slip between the seams'?"

"You pick up on some things if you gain the awareness I have. If I know the world around me is fake, I can control that world through tugging on its various corners. Make it my own." Lubrae snaps her fingers as the space-like void quickly brightens, becoming an ocean in a matter of seconds. Blue sky above, ocean below. "...Even if it's not my fake world."

So this is my dream then, huh...? "How powerful are you, really?"

"Infinitely your superior at this moment, that's for certain." She gives me a light laugh in response. "As far as I am aware, there is practically no entities that can match me right at this moment. Not even the Hakurei could if the current shrine maiden was at her very best. As best as she could be, anyway. Except for, possibly, Izanagi, or a Naga. But then again, I am mortal like the rest of you are."

Before I can say anything, she does give me a contemplative look. "However... There are some things I haven't told Bruschit, or Tsumugi, Ryudo, or Rikata for that matter, as well as Chun, Hecate, and Satan."

"...Chun?" I blink. I have no idea who that is.

"You would know her as Junko these days. Formerly, she was Chun Hu. I believed she based her current name off of a past friend?" Lubrae jogs my memory a little. Oh, right, Akane. She went by Joon Konusa, whilst she and Junko still knew each other, didn't she? Then Junko 'coincidentally' chose a name similar to the fox's back then...

"Ah. Right. I remember now." Nodding, I stare at her. "Where were you gong before though? Also-. 'Bruschit'? You know the actual identity of Bruschetta?"

"To answer the latter, I do. Her full name is Paletta Bruschit... and that's one of the cold hard facts I know of her. Paletta is a very eccentric person. Unpredictable. She morphs and changes every second of her existence." Lubrae's fist clenches for a moment, as her hair flickers brightly for a moment, before flowing like water would. 

Paletta Bruschit... the Disciple of Deception, and leader of the Dour Devas of Destruction. She seems like a pretty menacing foe if anything, and if Lubrae's worried about her, then I should have triple the amount of worry she has. Because unlike Lubrae, I'm not all-powerful, and Paletta sounds really strong.

"You seem worried. I haven't answered the former yet, but this answer may be of use to you." Lubrae raises one finger, as the ocean below begins swirling. "I would be willing to teach you. From what I can feel of your essence, you still don't have a full grasp on how your ability works. You seem to be aware of what triggers your creative ability, yet not how to constantly grasp at those feelings, at their very core essence, and make them flow in unison with your spirit as it surges in the heat of the moment."

Lubrae would be willing to teach me huh...? "That's an... awfully big but generous offer to make."

"Believe me, if you are to be the King of Hell, you need strength. Either mental, physical, or both." The Discernian shakes her head. "It's how I revolutionised Hell to become such an enjoyable place. The prior ruler was such an irate being, ranting about how much Heaven had wronged them, and that they should take every demon they have and raze it to ash. Of course, this never happened thanks to myself. I led a coup I dubbed the 'Ivory Rose', which consisted of Satan and even Hades among many others of note, to betray the prior monarch. I believe his name was Beelzebub. Hades is the god of the underworld, and his wife Persephone the queen, but I was Hell's machinist. Its commander."

So Shonin's been around long enough to see Hell go through three different primary rulers, huh...? Interesting. 

"And even so, I'm still aware of Hell's current situation. Dominated by frivolous yakuza families, the whims of two of my very own students, and a ministry consisting of oni and ascendant jizo." Lubrae shakes her head with disappointment, but does bring a finger to her chin. "Although, the family leaders interest me. Their members not so much. I always did have a soft spot for the Yamaxanadu too. To be King of Hell, you will need mental fortitude to not be easily swayed and be devout in your service to your people. You will need the physical strength to endure, to outlast those who wish for your downfall. Hell is a very dangerous place for a living human, Tsumugi found that out quite quickly. It's why she spent most of her time inside my Pyramidion with myself and my Altercators, reading through my endless archives."

"Your Pyramidion?" What the hell's a Pyramidion...?

"My home, for a lack of better words. I take it with me wherever I go. Currently, I reside in the Shinto shadow world of Yomi. One of the various underworlds, under Izanami's rule. My existence and location is very delicate information... and things I hide quite well, at that." Placing her hands behind her back, Lubrae smiles. "It's expansive and is constructed to serve a variety of purposes. Back to what I was talking about, however." She gives me a serious stare. "Tell me, have you met people who share a very odd connection to your ability triggers?"

People who share an 'odd' connection to my triggers...? Um...

I rack my brain for a few minutes, trying to think of a reply, and then it hits me. She's right. I have. "Five out of the six, I... think? There's this woman called Misumaru who knew my ancestors pretty well... I think she's tied to my instincts. Um... There's Junko. Pretty sure she's linked to either hope or adoration. The same could be said for my lover, Chimata... There's Eiki, who I'm certain is linked to my strong sense of justice, and um..." Who's the last that I know of...? It's for desperation. Part of me wants to say Raiju, since he awoke out of a desperate bid, but... maybe Rujo might fit better...? "I'm not... entirely sure about who's linked to my desperation. I have two people in my mind, one being a water spirit called Rujo and the other my alternate self."

"I'm aware that your kin do have alter egos, of sorts. The Seamstress showed me hers." Lubrae nods in a sage-like manner. "Not all Nagas have their alternate selves as one of their 'trigger links', for a lack of better words to describe it. For all you know, this Rujo person could be linked to your desperation... and now I know of five. Instincts, hope, adoration, justice, and desperation. What's the last one you're not sure about?"

"...Fear." I look away. "I... have a particular fear of astraphobia. Lightning."

"Astraphobia." Lubrae repeats, humming. "...I see." She closes her eyes, with them glimmering brightly beneath her eyelids again. "You may meet the person linked to your fear soon."

"...I thought you couldn't control what your foresight told you...?" I furrow my brows at her, since she seemingly just predicted the future for me in a very specific way.

"I don't. Sometimes it's on instinct, Rajimarin. Pure muscle memory." Lubrae chuckles calmly, but goes neutral again. "But, yes, as I said, you may meet that person soon. The foresight of a Discernian is never wrong. Still... Tamatsukuri? I had heard of her from Jacquelin, actually, whilst I was still in Hell. Apparently there's a family heirloom passed down to the Creationists of the family, a magatama that allows Tamatsukuri to commune with them on a psychic link."

Before I can reply, she keeps going, humming. "This 'Chimata' I haven't heard of though. You said she's your lover?" She asks me, to which I nod. "I see. A king and a royal consort... I suppose that could work out. Chun and Eiki I know of, the latter being my personal favourite of all the yama in the Ministry at that and the former being my student at a time. And this Rujo person, a water spirit..." Lubrae begins grinning. "You know, in Satanism, the element of water is typically associated with life and creation. A fitting tie-in to your origins, young one."

"It is? Huh." Pretty big coincidence there, since I had no idea about that...

"Still, let's get back to the topic before our time is up." Lubrae looks to the side, raising a hand to show a small window, with multipe purple strands becoming thinner and thinner by the minute. "My very presence is disturbing this dream further and further... But allow me to ask you this. I can tutor you if you so desire, and I can get your trigger links in on it as well. Chun and Eiki should be easy enough to convince, as well as Tamatsukuri and that Chimata person. Rujo I am not so sure of."

"Rujo is pretty stubborn, so keep that in mind." I awkwardly grin. Seriously, I think Lubrae'd be surprised at how stubborn Ruo can be. Some of the things I heard from Nero whilst I was chatting to him, uh... let's say it blew my mind as to how a normally friendly and approachable guy can almost cause the downfall of a village council single-handedly, all because this one guy threatened Reisen for selling youkai medicine. Yeah, Reisen as in that Reisen.

Something interesting I actually learned, too, was that Rujo respects what Reisen does. The village doesn't have access to actual medicine very often, and when Nero got sick one day, Reisen helped him with some of Eirin's medicine. You wouldn't take somebody as angry and angsty as Rujo to get along with somebody who's so anxious yet calm like Reisen is. Then again, this is Gensokyo we're talking about.

I'm pretty sure many people've concluded that Rujo was the once in a blue moon youkai exterminator who was surprisingly fine with youkai in the village, as long as they didn't bother anybody or cause a ruckus. But he was really lenient in that regard, though, to the point it pissed off his coworkers sometimes at how calm he was, even if he could probably lop a youkai's head off in a matter of minutes.

...Rujo is a very scary person to fight, come to think of it. I think I got lucky during the flood incident that I just got a boost from awakening to Raiju and that Rujo decided to go all or nothing immediately. That and Tyra was helping, I guess...?

"So then." Lubrae stares at me, snapping me from my thoughts. "...Would you like to learn under me?"

...Lubrae's probably the best chance I have. Originally, I thought it was Misumaru, but Lubrae's on a whole other level it seems. "Sure. Learning how to harness my ability properly does seem like a really good idea... especially for the path ahead."

"The road forward is paved with obstacles and bumps designed to throw you off - deter you." Lubrae shakes her head. "Yet, when I'm done with you, even the biggest of obstacles will seem minuscule in comparison to my training. It's quite a serious matter, by the way. You will be perfect, but that will not become possible without sweat, tears, pain, and maybe even blood."

Crikey. "Nothing without effort, huh?"

"If it does not take effort, then you have not learned anything, as my people would say." Lubrae gives a firm nod of her head in response. "...Although, I shall require some time to actually make the necessary preparations for having another student again... Not that it'll take very long, mind you, it will only be a week at best considering the sheer scale of my Pyramidion. With this information, Rajimarin, are you certain you wish to go through with it?"

"Dead certain." I stare at her with conviction.

Fwu~...

The moment I say that, a thick white fog quickly starts rolling in. I feel my senses start to fade...

"Excellent. I will be in touch in a week's time to give a progress update, if not inform you of good news." Lubrae sounds pretty happy to be able to teach again... I can't even see her. All I can do is hear her voice, since she's shrouded in that fog. "For now, farewell, and may your days be filled with excitement and enjoyment."

With that, I lose all feeling of the dream and start to wake up...

"...Jime..."

I slowly wake up to somebody nudging my arm gently. Probably Chima.

"Hey, Rajime..." I hear her voice, so it is Chima. Good, that's... that's good. That means there's nobody intruding on us.

"Mmh..." Opening my eyes, I'm met with the market goddess by my side, her arms wrapped around me. "...Yeah...?"

"What... happened last night...?" It appears she's having a hangover. Oh no.

"Daw." Also, hi, Raiju. "Heyo. Hell'd you dream about last night? I, ah, I was talking to Doremy. You didn't show up, which was weird, and she didn't seem to be aware you properly, uh, fell asleep."

...You won't believe me if I told you.

"Okay, no, what did you dream about? Mate, we're the same person." Raiju's not taking that for an answer. Okay then.

Well, I... met the ruler of Hell before Hecatia came into power. You know, Lubrae Hieropha...?

"What. The fuck." He sounds obviously surprised to hear this. "Uh... huh. Lubrae. You're pulling my leg here right?"

Take a wild guess.

"...Huh. What was she like?" Raiju asks, curious.

Gentle. But firm. Very imposing, pretty tall. About fifteen feet if anything. And it's almost like she idolised people who're like me - creators of life.

"Nifty." He accepts this answer. "Anything else?"

She offered to train me. Plus, I know the identity of Bruschetta now, thanks to Lubrae... even if I only learned her face name of Bruschetta yesterday, or the day before.

"Oo~h. What's her name?" Raiju sounds really eager to know this.

...Paletta Bruschit. Rujo'd probably like to know this... as would Tyra, and maybe Mizu.

"Palette. Brush it." Raiju contemplates on the name. "Her entire name literally correlates to painting. Like she's constantly painting over a canvas - or herself."

That's... a good catch, actually. Huh...

Still, I should reply to Chimata.

"You got drunk off of wine last night." I stare at Chimata. Raiju, our conversation can wait until later.

"Noted." He's fine with that.

"Oh, so that's why I..." Groaning, she shakes her head. "It's Himemushi's fault... She talked me into it, and considering it was a formal occasion, I... really went all-in..."

Pffft. "Yeah, I blame Momoyo too. She just dumped you on me whilst you were off your rockers and told me 'good luck'. I half-contemplated letting Raiju headbutt her for that at the time. Mostly because he offered to do it."

"I still think you should've let me headbutt her." Raiju chips in.

"U-Um..." She seems almost nervous to ask something, but continues after a moment of regaining her composure. "I didn't do anything... brash last night, after we got back here, did I...? I've overheard some things that I tend to act, well... strange when I'm intoxicated..."

...Well. "You tried to undress yourself despite my best efforts to not let that happen. Multiple times." I sit up a little in bed, raising a finger. "Fortunately, in your drunken stupor, you also forgot you had pins, so that helped."

"Oh, I-." Blushing, she nods as if this has happened before, but puts on a wry smile. "Well, I... have been told that I've tried to do that before. Once in front of Megumu and another time to Inochi-san." But, then she gives me a curious stare. "But wouldn't you be fine with... you know, seeing me undressed? I mean, we are together, aren't we...?"

I-. Damn it, she has a point. "It's not that I'm uncomfortable with it, it's just... you were drunk, and I didn't want you doing anything dumb. This room is private, but..." I look around, then click my tongue. "...There is the off chance Shonin could come in unannounced. Or somebody else for that matter, like Hecatia or Aikido. You know what Shonin's like."

"Oh. Um." Realising that's a possibility, she looks away in embarrassment, awkwardly laughing. "When you put it like that, I suppose that... would be a bad thing, if I were to undress... But if there's one thing I've noticed, it's that you don't get undressed or get changed into something else."

She noticed that, huh? I always - or mostly might be a better word - sleep without my accessories on, but I always sleep in my clothes, even if that might crease them.

"Rajime, are... you uncomfortable with who you really are...?" Chimata puts on a concerned expression. Oh no.

"It's not that I don't like being a girl at heart." I sit up more proper this time, as does she. Chimata also loosens her hold around me. "If anything, I actually liked doing things other girls would do. Cooking, art, music, things like that. People'd often make fun of how masculine I seemed, mostly through my lack of a chest or any other 'appealing' features guys'd want. I don't really care about looking attractive, really. I just want to look normal."

"But you let a lot of people think you were a man. Even I thought you were a man." She keeps staring at me, gently touching the side of my cheek with her hand. "Why let people think that?"

"Because I want to be known as a guy." I close my eyes, frowning. "I didn't want people who didn't know me making fun of my appearance, and I didn't want Trish constantly yelling at people to stop bothering me. I guess seeing my own body is like a reminder, of sorts. About my past. I started identifying as a man after my parents died, and I guess remembering I'm still a woman just... makes me think back on many years ago. When things were normal for me and Trish."

"You can't keep carrying that weight." Squeezing my hand with her other free one, Chimata looks me in the eyes. "I'll be here, with you. Always."

"...Thanks, Chima." I smile a little, doing a light stretch as I crack my neck in the process. That always feels weird to do. "We should probably get ready for the day ahead, huh?"

"Oh, yes, we should." She lets go of me, smiling herself. "You need to go to the gambling den today, don't you? I won't be holding a market there this time, but... feel free to use Card Wars regardless, if somebody asks nicely."

"Thanks again." I have her blessing. That's nice. I'm imagining people'd actually like to play Card Wars given its uniqueness. It's like blackjack, but if you could use trading cards.

"Imagine playing, like UNO, then somebody puts down a fucking Blue Eyes White Dragon, whilst somebody else places down a Charizard." Raiju makes a very fitting joke about that. Yeah, like that, that's exactly what I mean.

"Don't mention it! We're partners! And, technically, I still get faith from it." Seeming brighter despite her hangover, Chimata puts on that smile. The type of smile you'd want to protect with your life. "...Though, I'd probably like to wake up before doing anything..."

"Try water. It usually helps with a hangover." I give her some advice, to which she hums affirmatively to, considering hydration. I know that becase Trish would sometimes go out partying, come back pissed drunk, then pass out until the morning. After that she has a big glass of water and she seems fine in ten minutes, which is really surreal.

Still, getting up shouldn't be too noteworthy, so I space out for a little bit...

I'm dressed in my usual attire now, I have my bag on, Kenko and Zoka are on my ears, Aegis is secured on my arm, um... Ribbons, hat, they're on too, as are my gloves. And that's about it. Okina's coat - or my coat now anyway - is in my bag, since I don't need it just yet.

Breakfast wasn't too noteworthy either. Got something to eat with Tensai, who'd apparently been filled in on the plan with Mizuchi today, but he seemed unusually grumpy otherwise. Strangely, I've not seen Shonin at all. She's probably doing something important anyway, after all, Hell's her responsibility on accounts of her being Satan.

...In all my life I never thought Satan would be that laidback. Shonin is a living fever dream, even more so than Hecatia is. Maybe there's something about those higher up in Hell's echelons and being very funky? Funky in a strange way, that is to say.

...Hey that rhymed! Heheh.

Still, me and Chima went our different ways for today. She summoned Aikido, or that's what she told me she was going to do, and said that she was going to look into holding a market at Hakurei Shrine with Reimu's blessing.

...Come to think of it, I've not been to Hakurei Shrine at all. Maybe I should drop by, sometime. Maybe when I'm not busy with maintaining the balance, or doing things people need help with. Or training my potential. Or working at the gambling den. Or being Hell's king.

...

I'm a very busy person, actually. Huh. I should also see if I can go do Renegain's Sweepstakes at some point too. It sounds like fun... but then again, I'd need to gather three other people to help me out with it. That might take some time...

Then again, I could probably very easily convince those who like the promise of a fight. Like Momoyo. Or Rujo. I think Rujo'd actually really like Sweepstakes. And even then, I could summon Satono and Mai to immediately fill out two of the three slots. I do still have those buttons...

But, that can wait until it actually happens, those thoughts. I keep walking through Liberty's halls aimlessly. I'm mostly trying to get a feel for the place - a general sense of direction. The only places I know how to get to directly is the throne room and my quarters, as well as the dining hall.

Liberty is a very confusing place, as in it's big and complex. Too many hallways. This is really disturbing my architectural senses on so many levels, but then again, this is Hell we're talking about.

I turn a left corner. More corridors, some doors on either side. Paintings, among other hallway decorations line the... halls. Because what else would they decorate?

It's also strangely empty. I'm just walking along slowly. I mean, I have passed by some kishin here and there. Oni for the most part, as well as some shinigami and other yama that aren't Eiki.

There's other things, too. Hell fairies, ghosts, hell even a few humans work for the Ministry, apparently. Diversity is apparently a very big thing for them.

...I turn another corner, this time going left again. So now I'm walking in the opposite direction, but I see more things.

...

I decide to stop and look at one of the paintings. I'm curious as to what some of these're even of.

The one I stopped to look at is one of Hecatia, but dressed in far more traditional clothing. Greek-looking clothes. Good lord, those don't fit on her at all compared to what she wears now. Then again, she looks kinda cool in it, plus it shows she does still acknowledge her roots as a Greek goddess.

To paint it properly, it is Hecatia, but painted in a way to show that her three 'bodies' are in fact the same body, just facing in different directions, although she's portrayed with six hands and arms. She's wearing a traditional white robe that only goes over one shoulder. She has a snake in one hand. A boneless noodle reptile, as some may call it. In another hand, she's holding a torch. With a third hand, she has a key. For the fourth, she's petting a triple-headed dog which I think is Cerberus. For the fifth, she's holding Shonin's spear. And in the last hand, she has an old-looking, well-used dagger.

Hecatia also has the most annoyed look on her faces, too, which personally is pretty funny to look at. Judging from her expression, I'd say she's annoyed at having to wear that white robe on all three of her bodies.

...It's an interesting painting, really.

"Isn't Hecate a goddess of witchcraft? How the hell'd she come about ruling Hell?" Raiju wonders aloud. That's... a fair point, actually. Then again, I think she's one of the few Greek gods of the underworld. I know there's Hades and Persephone... and I think Hecate's supposed to be related to Persephone...? My memory's hazy on Greek mythology anyhow. "Huh. The Greek god family tree always was one big pile of spaghetti anyway."

I-... You're not wrong there, actually. It does look like that sometimes.

"Damn right." He chuckles, but then picks up on something I said. "Also-. Did you seriously call a snake a 'boneless noodle reptile'?"

...Isn't that what they are, though?

"I thought the vague, annoying descriptions were my thing." I hear him snort. They are. But one can call a snake a boneless noodle, or if it's venomous, a boneless danger noodle. "Noted."

...

After admiring the painting for a good moment, I take a look at what it's called. 'Ruling Trinity'. It makes a note that the subject, despite being obvious, is Hecatia, and that the dog is in fact Cerberus. The artist, however, is a surprising name. 'Seam Naga'. But, surprisingly, this painting was commissioned by Lubrae. There's a small note on a plaque that tells me this painting was created to celebrate Hecatia coming into power as Goddess of Hell.

This was painted by Seam? Then again, Seam did strike me as the aristocratic type...

"Man, I always did look annoyed in that painting. I'm honestly glad Seam kept my expression there the same~." Speaking of Hecatia. I turn and see that the goddess in question walked up with her arms folded, in her Otherworld state, staring up at the painting whilst I was busy focusing on it.

"Oh, Hecatia, I... didn't notice you there." Voicing my surprise, I raise my brows.

"Well~... I noticed you walking around aimlessly, then saw you stop to look at this." She only turns her head to me, a simple smile forming on her face. "Honestly, I have no idea why Lubrae made me wear that get-up. Said it was to fit the public image, or something~...? I honestly don't remember or care at this point, it's been way too long since then. Seam's a pretty good artist though, so if anything, I'm glad Lubrae got her to do it instead of some lesser artist in Hell~. No offense meant to them, but Seam's way above them."

"Seam did strike me as the aristocratic type." I nod once, awkwardly chuckling, but then gesture to the artwork again. "I didn't take you to be someone affiliated with snakes though."

"You'd be surprised. Plus, I don't get why people don't like them. Snakes're great!" She starts smiling larger than before, pumping her fist into the air for a second. "They represent a lot of positive stuff! I don't know why people associate them with bad things though. I mean, snakes represent immortality and life through shedding their skin repeatedly, and even then, there's Ouroboros, you know, the snake that endlessly eats its own tail."

"I'm kind of aware of the symbology associated with snakes..." Bringing a finger to my chin, I stare at her in contemplation.

"And on the upside, I actually find snakes pretty cool. Or cute, depending on the type." Hecatia does have a fair point. I like snakes myself, even the big ones that'd normally freak people out. 

"How to terrify people and become a menace to society. The ultimate plan in five easy steps." Raiju, what nonsense are you talking about now? "Step one. Buy fifty-odd snakes. Step two. Befriend the snakes. Step three. Be seen in public with fifty snakes all over your body. Step four. Be feared as the crazy snake man. Step five. Profit. Easy."

...I honestly have no words. What the hell, Raiju.

"Like you!" I'd also continue the conversation with Raiju if it wasn't for Hecatia's very abrupt comment. W-What does she mean by that?!

"E-Excuse you?" I jump a little in surprise, namely because that is a very random thing to say, Hecatia...!

"You're like a snake yourself, if anything~." She grabs my left arm and ow her grip is like iron-. "Oh, right, forgot you're not that durable like Junko is, especially in places that aren't your arm..."

What the hell does that mean? "Y-Yeah, that's... kinda tight...!"

"Uh, sorry." She lets go, sheepishly scratching the back of her head. "I honestly forget to adapt my strength for actually normal humans sometimes..." Then, she softly grabs my other arm, to avoid hurting my left arm further. I-. Good. At least she knows that... "But still! You're like a snake, as in you're cool and cute, depending on the circumstances. And since Junko's technically your mom, I guess I count as that too, eh?"

I-. Dear lord, she does. Not sure how to feel about that information...!

Noticing that I slowly understand that fact, she starts grinning. "You're like Piece, too, only far more mature and calm. Then again, you'd probably fit better with my Earth body than you would my Otherworld form. Piece fits more with this one. Junko matches Moon way more."

...As she says this-

Fwash!

-she swaps to her Earth body. Her red hair and eyes quickly transform into an oceanic blue. She seems far more mellowed out now, too. "How was the banquet yesterday, by the way? I'd overheard you were there from Shonin earlier today..."

"Auresh's banquet, huh. It was... alright. I'm not normally a person to go to events like those, but it was still pretty enjoyable, but..." I pause for a moment, contemplating whether or not to mention Takamine and the attempted assassination. Hecatia probably needs to know, right...?

"But?" Hecatia raises a brow, serenely placing one hand on my shoulder. Like a mother would to their child if they thought something was wrong. It's weird seeing her act this way, but then again, it's probably because of Junko. "...Did something go wrong?"

...I don't think word of an assassination attempt by the Lunarians won't go untold at all, so... I may as well. I'm not going to mention Takamine by name, so I'll just keep that part vague. "A Lunarian tried assassinating me."

...The Hell goddess stops on the spot, clearly disturbed by this information, not even saying anything in response initially. 

"Ruh roh." Raiju, not the time. This is serious.

"...A Lunarian assassination attempt? You're absolutely sure?" Hecatia asks me, seeming far more serious than usual.

"Mhm." I nod slowly, then look away. "Well, keyword being tried anyway. I was with a sage and a particularly powerful crow tengu, and even then, other people jumped in to help, so the assassin stood no chance. It was a moon rabbit, by the way."

"How would they know to target you though...?" Muttering to herself, Hecatia ponders briefly, but shrugs it off. "Junko's really not going to like to hear this though. She hates the Lunarians enough as is... and now you're getting roped up into it further. Part of me felt like this would happen, at some point, but I didn't expect it to be so soon..."

She expected this? "What do you mean you felt like something such as this'd happen?"

"The Moon and Hell have been at odds with each other for... a very long time." Hecatia removes her hand from me, and turns away. "For them to try something like this, they're either incredibly stupid, or want to invoke something. Fear, maybe, but that doesn't make sense. The people of Hell can't particularly feel fear anymore, mostly thanks to Shonin and the Keiga."

Hmm. "What do you think the most logical course of action would be...?"

"Personally? I have no idea." Hecatia shakes her head. "Either we confront them about it diplomatically, or all Hell breaks loose. Literally." 

"And why not just wage war? Surely that would align more with Hell's views of being chaotic." An oddly familiar voice speaks up, making me look over. It's... Seiga? Wait, Seiga?!

The closer I look, it's the same hermit I saw that one time during a dream with Doremy. Blue hair, two Chinese-style loops, hair stick, and the same teal dress and blue-white skirt, both with the same floral design and Chinese patterns. I do spot a talisman on her left leg and another on her chest, though... Hell, I'm actually able to read out 'Jigoku Approval', which I presume is something to do with Shonin.

...She's also floating, sat on that translucent white cloth I saw before.

"...Aren't you that wicked hermit Shonin dragged in from Senkai?" Hecatia narrows her eyes at her. "What business do you have here?"

"Oh, nothing in particular." Seiga puts on a casual smile. "I just so happened to overhear this conversation and decided to chip in with my own thoughts. Nothing else, really. Although, I hadn't expected the soon-to-be King of Hell and Goddess of Hell in the same place."

"Actually, she just so happened to bump into me whilst I was looking at a painting." I pocket my hands, staring straight at her. She doesn't know that I know who she is, but... "Why are you here?"

"I was about to ask the same thing. It's not everyday there's a hermit in Hell. The last time was Soldura, but even then he was a disciple of Lubrae." Hecatia tilts her head at the hermit.

"You have that devil right-hand of yours to thank for that." Seiga's face lowers. She seems annoyed, but also intrigued. "Under normal circumstances, I would have been killed for expanding my lifespan, as multiple kishin have tried before. Jigoku, however, saw use in my abilities, and actually allowed me to continue living."

"That's probably why a lot of the kishin seem grumpy today then. I had noticed their mood before, but today they just seemed... off." Hecatia nods, but stares at Seiga. "What does Shonin even need you for, anyway?"

"She made note of my wisdom a few times and she wanted the upper echelons of Hell to be 'more diverse' in her words. This talisman you see here-" She points to the one on her chest. "-it actively stops any demons or kishin from attacking me immediately. Needless to say, the Ministry of Right and Wrong isn't happy with her."

"Shonin is rebellious." I pocket one hand, then raise the other to lower the rim of my cap over my eyes. "...That explains why Tensai was so grumpy, considering he's the head kishin."

"There's a head one that's above all of them?" Seiga seems surprised to hear this, but looks away. "I always thought there were just multiple chieftains."

"That's what it looks like and what everyone believes, but really, Tensai's the top dog." Hecatia looks away. "...I keep things like Hell's hierarchy vague anyway. Nobody who isn't inside needs to know, really." She keeps staring at Seiga, though. "What does Shonin need you for? You didn't answer my question."

"Ah. To put it bluntly, she wanted me as an advisor." She looks at me in a strange way. "...Mostly to put you on the 'right path', whatever that may be."

Oh, great. "And Shonin's going behind my back again."

"...Again?" Hecatia raises a brow.

"She's gone out of her way to arrange things without me knowing at least three different times now." I think back on it. Technically, they all ended up being beneficial, but I don't entirely trust Seiga. "The first time was taking me to the Primate Spirit Garden to meet Keiki. You were there for that. The second time was secretly arranging a meeting with the Gouyoku matriarch and, unintentionally, the Kiketsu matriarch. And the third time is something I found out literally just now."

"...Jigoku does seem like a bothersome individual, even if she usually has good intentions." Seiga stares at Hecatia in confusion. "And you approve of her methods?"

"Most of the time, I do, but there's a few times that even I get tired of her antics." Hecatia groans, shaking her head. "...I really need to have a talk with her about this."

...Maybe I should set up my own secret ring of people from Hell. People I can trust to not do things without me knowing and approving of it.

"That sounds fun." Raiju is in agreement, unsurprisingly. "What're you gonna call that?"

Probably the 'Court of Fools', or something like that. I have a few candidates in mind anyway, some obvious and some... less so.

"Actually, seeing that painting of myself reminds me..." Hecatia's eyes slowly trail to me. "We're probably gonna have to get paintings of you done, at some point."

Oh good grief. "...I see why you were so annoyed when Lubrae had your painting done."

"Well, unlike me, you don't really have a legend to live up to. You're just a normal person at the end of the day." She gives me a reassuring smile as Seiga raises a brow. "Besides, it's important. Whenever a new power comes into play in Hell's actual hierarchy, there's typically paintings done of them."

"So it's a cultural thing." I scratch my neck as she hums affirmatively. Darn. I'm really not photogenic...

"What I'm more curious in is what you'll have to wear for that." Seiga speaks up, glancing at me, then at Hecatia, then at the painting in question, then at Hecatia again. "Considering your differentiation in... fashion sense between then and now, it makes me wonder if he's fine being painted like that."

"Good point." The goddess gives me a look over. "Then again, having a ruling figure who doesn't match the style of previous rulers makes sense, for Hell. Shonin refused to wear traditional garb when they had her paintings made... That reminds me, we need to get a competent artist for that. Normally Lubrae'd be the one to sort that out, but obviously she isn't in Hell anymore."

"You're talking of the prior ruler of Hell, yes?" Seiga raises a brow. "...I had come to hear a thing or two about her in my time. You said one of her disciples was a hermit - Soldura Ryudo - correct?"

"Yeah. Why, you know him?" Hecatia gives the hermit a confused glance.

"I've had a few run-ins with him in Senkai. A pleasant man, though very much stuck in the old way of things." Seiga hums, hand to her chest. "Very traditional, too. Hard to impress... though that's to be expected of somebody being able to manipulate the flow of time with the same competency of knowing the back of their hand."

"I've seen him recently too, actually. He's with a friend of mine in Gensokyo right now." I scratch my neck again, because, uh, awkward feeling of not knowing how to do an expression. "...Or he was the last I checked, anyway."

"Soldura always was a weird guy." Hecatia thinks on the time manipulator for a moment. Or is 'chronomancer' more fitting...? Who knows. "He looked like he just didn't fit, no matter where you put him."

"He seemed alright to me." I shrug dismissively. "...Then again, there were weirder people like Jill the Seamstress when I was meeting him for the first time."

"Oh, you've seen Seam recently?" Perking up at the mention, Hecatia sighs a breath of relief. "I'm glad she's doing fine, even if Jill is a metaphorical and literal nightmare to deal with.

"...Hmm." Seiga seems to be thinking about something after Seam got mentioned, but doesn't voice it. "Well, regardless of the topic at hand, what..." She almost seems like she doesn't believe she's about to ask this, but does anyway. "...is Hell's next course of action? Regarding the assassination attempt, of course."

"That can of worms." I think on it, breathing a little. "...I'm pretty sure it's my decision at the end of the day, right?"

"Probably, yeah. Then again, the Ministry won't like to find out one of the most important figures in Hell nearly got killed. The same thing happened back when Lubrae had this coup against some guy called Beelzebub. Shonin was there, she knows more about it than I did. Hell, Shonin's even older than I am."

Shonin's older than Hecatia? Huh. She sure as hell doesn't act like it, but perhaps that's just because she is literally the devil.

"I like Shonin." Of course you do, Raiju. You're a menace to society personified. "I am the one who makes lightning strike."

Don't joke about that.

"...I would advise you to make a choice soon regarding that." Seiga hazards me. "It won't be long before word of an attempt on your life spreads like wildfire. I know you're making rounds among Gensokyo's locals as well, so that won't be well-received by them either, you know."

I guess I am, huh. "I'll think on it. Either I talk things out with them diplomatically, or..." I slowly trail off, looking down. "...I might have to make a specific statement."

"Honestly, they threatened Gensokyo's safety just to stop a prior fight between Hell and the Moon before this." Hecatia decides to speak up, sounding oddly peeved for some reason...? "The people of Gensokyo weren't even involved in the affair, yet the Lunarians had the nerve to make a threat to them to make us stop. They were cowards."

"Although, it is strategical." Seiga ponders on this. "...Even if said strategy was a massive risk on their part, but it shows they're cold and calculating individuals... I feel like it won't be long before an incident like this happens and actually succeeds, too."

...She has a point... "I'll think on it, as I said before. Right now, I..."

Slowly, I check the time for a brief moment, then realise what time it is. Almost nine in the morning, so ten to nine, Gensokyo time. "Oh, um, actually, sorry, I need to go. Just got too sidetracked with conversations and forgot I had somewhere to be."

"Good day then, I suppose." Seiga watches me go for a moment, as does Hecatia, as I quickly leave the corridor and head to a more... secluded space.

...

Good lord that conversation was weird.

Seeing Seiga act 'normal' is also... odd. There's something about her voice that just puts me on edge. Makes me feel uneasy. Agitated? Words like that, not sure if there's a specific one I could use...

The worst part is, I know she's not a necessarily good person despite being a hermit. Truth be told she actually scares me a little with how nice she seems.

"People have masks. Life is just a masquerade." Raiju makes an... oddly philosophical-sounding sentence? "My mind has three brain cells. Only one is serious and the other two are massive goofballs."

That makes more sense.

Still, um, how the hell am I going to get to the den? There's Aikido, but...

"Over here." 

I jump slightly after hearing Okina's voice, then I spot a door to my right with her hand beckoning me inside. Oh, that's convenient.

"Oh, thanks." Grinning, I decide to go through the door as I close it behind me. 

I ended up at... the den. Like, immediately after I stepped through the door. Okina's here. Sannyo is, too. This is the backroom that Sannyo tends to sit in, I think.

"...Weirdly convenient how y'can just do that." Sannyo comments on my abrupt appearance, but takes a smoke of her pipe regardless. "I ain't one to ask though."

"You tend to learn when and where to do things if you're somebody like me." Okina simply smiles, the sage shaking her head dismissively. 

...I look behind me and notice that the door I came out of has ceased to exist. How does Okina do that...?

Well, regardless of however she does that, I quickly take the dragon emblem I was given the last time I was here out of my bag, then slot it onto my shirt. "Sorry if I'm late at all."

"You're actually a few minutes early." Sannyo comments, making me look towards a clock in the room. Oh, right, Okina's spontaneously appearing doors are a good shortcut, aren't they?

"Mmm. Go about your day like usual, Rajime." Okina instructs me. "...Though, remember what we agreed on."

"I know. Before it hits dusk, head to Misty Lake." I glance at Sannyo. "...That's... fine with you, right?"

"I can't really argue against a sage." The yamajorou lowers her eyes a little and huffs in annoyance. "Kinda wish y'spent a full day at the den for once, but then again, you're a busy guy, what with ya maintainin' the balance 'n all that. Leave 'fore it hits dusk, I'll take over your station once y'leave."

"Mhm." I give a pleased nod in response, then smile. "Is there anything going on today, or...?"

"Outside of ya leavin' early? One thing." Sannyo raises a finger, pausing to take a smoke of her pipe. "...That drummer tsukumogami's here today playin' music. Mostly to liven up the den."

"Drummer tsukumogami?" I pause, namely because I don't know who or what that is.

"She's referring to a tsukumogami of a taiko drum." Okina interprets for me. "...A tsukumogami is a particular type of youkai that comes about because of an object reaching its 100th year of creation. Though how a tsukumogami acts depending on how it was treated and used whilst it was an object. The less used, the more malicious they can be. But the more used they are, the friendlier the tsukumogami is. She's the latter, of course."

"Yep. Her name's Raiko Horikawa. Offered t'do a solo today, during the banquet. Normally she plays with the Prismrivers, who're pretty well-known musicians already, so she's pretty well known too, heheh." Sannyo chuckles, then folds her arms. "...S'mostly to help boost the den's popularity if they know we can get good folk like her in."

"Ah, alright..." I can get that, at least, slipping my hands into my pockets. "Is Oki feeling better?"

"Yep. She only takes a day off if she feels sick." Sannyo confirms that Okinaneko's better. That's good. "...She just needs rest whenever she takes too much treasure at once."

"Okay. Well, um, I'll... be going now." I nod once. I may as well make sure my table's set up properly and what-not...

"Of course." Okina dismisses me with a wave of her hand. "If I need you at all, well, you'll know."

"Mmh." Sannyo shoots the sage a skeptical glance for a moment, but goes back to... whatever she was doing. "Enjoy yourself."

"Will do." Smiling, I leave the backroom.

The den itself is empty, barring Kifujin, Saikoro, Yokoshimana, and Okinaneko walking around here and there. Kifujin has a cup of what I presume is tea in her hand, whilst Saikoro's got a bottle of water which I swear is the same type of mineral water Inochi was drinking at the banquet. Yokoshimana's timidly pushing her fingers together whilst muttering to herself repeatedly, and Okinaneko is... uh...

...Oki is being Oki. She's cleaning out a big box, then once that's done, she's placing yen inside of it. I think that's the payout box.

Well, they're doing whatever they're doing. I head over to my table - which is right outside the room Sannyo's in, and place my stuff down beneath the table, and slip Aegis beneath it as well. I don't forget to take my shoes off, either, which is very important.

"Rajime." Kifujin nods at me as she walks by my table, whilst I'm busy making sure I have Ability Cards, as well as other decks of cards for various types of card games which I swear weren't in my bag before, on the table. "How've you been since the banquet? I overheard somebody tried to kill you there."

"Oh, hey Kifujin." I nod at her in kind, looking up from the table towards the luck youkai. "It's been alright. Still trying to get the shock of that happening out of my system. How's Heiwa been?"

"Fine." Kifujin glances around. "I presume Komakusa-dayuu's told you about the performer today...?"

"Raiko, right?" I tilt my head. "Yeah, she told me about her. A drum tsukumogami, right?"

"Mmm." She takes a sip of the cup in her hands. "...Would you like some tea?"

"Oh-. Yeah, please." Some tea wouldn't be unpleasant right now...

"I'll get some to you before the den properly opens... which should be in a few minutes." Kifujin takes a look at the main doors of the den, then at Saikoro. "Then again, it depends on that idiot setting up on time. I swear she does nothing but drink that mineral water from Earthborn Row all day..."

So it is the same stuff Inochi was drinking yesterday, then... "Sai is a bit of an idiot, yeah."

"Hmh." At this, Kifujin smiles. "Her idiocy has its charms, though in a serious situation, she has to rely on my intellect to bail her out. Or Yoko's."

Actually, that reminds me... Ryuu - Yoko's brother - was the former patriarch of the Kiketsu Family in Hell, which then got took over by Yachie. Yoko doesn't seem to know she's connected to the Kiketsu because of Ryuu, either... Hmm.

"Imagine finding out the brother you look up to is a yakuza patriarch." Raiju comments, clicking his tongue. "Big yikes."

...'Big yikes'. How do you classify a 'yike'?

"You don't. It comes naturally." I'm not even going to ask how it comes naturally.

"Well then. Enjoy your day, I'll be back shortly." Kifujin glances at me, then walks off to go put that cup she's holding on her table, before quickly going into a backroom.

...I take the opportunity to sit down at the house seat, then look through the Ability Cards.

Didn't Hecatia ask for me to fill out a collection of these for fun and for her own curiosity? I could do that right now, but... then again, I'd need to get them out again if I'm playing Card Wars today. Hmm.

...I could've shown her the cards earlier, but ah well. Always next time, as someone'd say.

Still, I've got just about every type of Ability Card there is. I... I think.

...Actually, it looks like there's more here than there were before. How the hell did I get more...? I note things like one of three swords, which I think's of Auresh, another with a tidal wave which is of Rujo, one of a greedy-looking goat which is of Yuuma, and things like that.

Well, I don't really care how I got more in any case. I place them down on the table again, description side facing down so their design shows instead, then look through another deck of cards.

...

It's a standard deck of cards. Hearts, clubs, diamonds, spades. Ace to ten, Jacks, Queens, Kings, even a Joker card. That's a Western deck. I even notice a deck of kabufuda cards.

"So you're the card guy, huh?" Somebody catches my attention, sitting down opposite me. "Didn't think you were gonna show, thought they were making you up, but nah, you exist."

"Well, I do." I quickly organise the cards back into their deck, then look up at the person speaking.

From a single look, I'm pretty sure this is the Raiko person Sannyo brought up to me. Short, wavy, crimson red hair and equally as red eyes. She immediately gives me 'smooth criminal' vibes based on how she's dressed. She's got a white, long-sleeved coat on with a black shirt that has red cross-hatching beneath it, which is then tucked into a short, white skirt. She even has a purple tie on that has a white upside-down cross on it.

Basically, she's dressed like a smooth criminal is what I'm trying to say. All she's missing is a hat that fits with the outfit. She has these odd-looking red... cymbals, I want to say, floating around her. But they seem more like taiko drums for some reason...?

"Right, right." She grins, leaning on the table a little to extend her hand to me, offering a handshake. "Name's Raiko Horikawa, if your boss lady or coworkers hadn't told you already. Your name's, uh..." Raiko pauses, trying to recall my name. "...Raijimari~n...?"

"Close. It's Rajimarin, but Rajime works as well. Or Rajanaga-san, as the den patrons call me." I correct her as I shake her hand, then lean back a little after our hands part. "I've been told you're playing drums here today, on your own...?"

"Yep, that's right." She quickly twirls out two drumsticks from her coat pocket, lightly tapping the percussion instruments floating around her a few times-.

Bababang!

They're... actually pretty loud, honestly, but they follow a rhythm perfectly.

"...Hold up, I felt something weird for a moment. Don't those things remind you of lightning? Y'know, the noise they make?" Raiju pauses, pointing that out. I-...

...

He's right. They do... At least I know it's not... a-actual lightning, but... still...! W-Why'd you have to go and point that out?!

"Oi, you would've noticed sooner or later." Raiju snorts. "...We really need to get that fear of lightning sorted mate. There's worse things than getting struck by lightning in Gensokyo."

I know that, but still, I've had this fear for a very long time, you idiot. Technically, you have, too, since you're me!

"Ah, what the hell, that's fair. But seriously, you gotta face your fears at some point." I know that, Raiju. Otherwise people'd use that to mess with me if they knew... They'd manipulate me.

"Anywho." Raiko looks around the den for a moment, moving to stand up. "Got a busy day ahead of me, but hey, you seem interesting. How about after you're done here today, we go out and get some drinks somewhere, you and me? I know this place in the Human Village, does both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, if you don't like drinking."

She's offering to take me out for drinks after...? But... Mizuchi... Mmh. "I'd be honoured to, but I have to be somewhere immediately after I'm done here, and even then I'm leaving early..."

"Oh, really? Funny, I am too, I'm not here all day unlike you guys." Raiko gives off a lighthearted chuckle, resting one arm on her knee in the middle of standing. "Got some offer for an opportunity for more tsukumogami to come about, and I'm not really gonna turn that down. Person who told me that said to meet them at Misty Lake at dusk anyway."

Wait, what? "But that's... where I'm going."

"...Huh." She blinks at this, surprised. "Tell you what, let's go there together then, then after that we'll go and get some drinks. Sound good?"

"Yeah, that's..." I pause, nodding. It's probably just a coincidence. There's no way Mizuchi just so happened to get Raiko involved too in whatever it is she has planned, right? She doesn't like youkai... "...That's fine."

"Sweet. Catch you 'round then, because it's a date." Giving me a thumbs up, she raises from the seat she took and walks away, twirling her drumsticks idly in her hands. I hope she means 'it's a date' metaphorically, and not literally.

"Charming, isn't she?" Kifujin comes by and places a cup on my table, staring in the direction Raiko went.

"...Yeah. She gives me the vibes of a smooth criminal from how she's dressed." I share the sentiment.

"So she does." The youkai looks back to me. "In all honesty, she offered to take me out for a drink before, but I had plans with Heiwa for tonight. I think she just feels lonely when she isn't performing."

"You think so?" I take a sip of the tea she gave me, examining the taste. It's... not a particular blend I'm familiar with. It reminds me of Yuuka's, but more refined than rural. Flowery, but I taste berries too.

"Mmm." Kifujin folds her arms, but stares at me expectantly. "Also, how is the tea, exactly? I tried my hand at making my own blend."

"That's why it doesn't taste familiar." I chuckle, taking another mouthful before answering. It's pretty rich. Strong, but not too strong. I like it, honestly. "It's pretty good for a homemade blend."

"Then Saikoro just has no taste." Kifujin sighs in annoyance, shaking her head. "She spat it out almost immediately... Clearly you can tell who isn't refined. Yoko liked it, Heiwa loved it, and Oki seemed indifferent. I've yet to get Komakusa-dayuu to sample it, but I'm certain she'll react a similar way to how Yoko did."

"In Saikoro's defense, she's, uh, pretty dumb." I put on a small smile, closing my eyes. "Besides, she's a spider youkai. Tea probably isn't her thing."

"True." Kifujin considers this, but still looks irritated because of Saikoro. "She could've at least swallowed or spat it back into the cup, not spit the tea everywhere. Honestly, I had to clean myself and my Wheel of Fortune because of her, that fool..."

Ah. I can get how she's so annoyed then. "As I said, Saikoro's pretty dumb."

"I'm aware." As I open my eyes, I spot Kifujin starting to walk away. "Still, thank you for the feedback. I'll try and refine the taste further if possible..."

...Whilst she leaves me alone, I decide to get even more ready for the day ahead...

"Oh, u-um, Rajime, h-hi..." Yoko suddenly shows up as I adjust the positions of my cards, taking a seat opposite me cross-legged. "I-I didn't see y-you come in, haha..."

"I've been here for a few minutes." I glance up at her whilst sorting through the various Ability Cards and checking if they have their Card Wars labels on. "...Is something bothering you...?"

"H-Huh? O-Oh! Um, not at all! I was just... hoping you'd show up, today." Yoko scratches her neck a little, fidgeting timidly. Why does she always seem so meek and small...? "I-I... got a letter, from, um, m-my brother, Ryuu, this m-morning. S-Sannyo told me you knew a-about him, since she told you..."

O~h. Ryuu. "Uh-huh. Why bring it up to me...?"

"He..." Swallowing a little, Yoko looks around nervously. "H-He said he wanted to meet you the next time the den opens. Ryuu said he'd come today, if it wasn't f-for the fact his, um, d-daughter felt under the weather, today, and that it w-was important he helped her out w-with her job. Apparently his daughter - or, um, m-my niece, I guess - is some s-super big information gatherer...? And she's, um, his only daughter, s-so, e-err, y-yeah, he couldn't come today."

...His daughter felt under the weather, huh. "He sounds like a great guy, taking care of his family before anything else."

"I-I know he is..." She smiles warmly, looking down and pushing her fingers together, but quickly looks up at me again. "B-But, um, yes, in any case, h-he said he'd liked to meet you, s-since I wrote to him yesterday saying t-that you recently came aboard... H-He's met everybody else in the d-den before, even Heiwa w-when she j-just so happened to come by one time he was there."

Oh, so it's not for any real reason. "Sounds like he cares about you, too, making sure your coworkers aren't bad."

"H-Haha, yeah, he's a bit overprotective." Yoko giggles softly. "B-But, um, he said he'd come by the den the next t-time it was o-open. Which, um, is in two days, b-by the way, if S-Sannyo forgot to told you. I know she's been too preoccupied w-with the dens recently so she's been forgetting d-details, but fortunately I-I can fill in for her sometimes if she forgets..."

"I'll keep that in mind." I nod affirmatively, placing down the Ability Cards currently in my hand. "How've you been? How was the banquet, for you?"

"H-Huh? Oh, um, actually p-pretty good!" Yoko beams, the dragon smiling as bright as a star. "N-Normally I'm not really good at social gatherings, t-they're... kinda overwhelming, but I'm familiar w-with Auresh-san and her Tarnished. Their miasma's pretty cool to look at... a-and it's a good drink too."

"You can drink a Tarnished's miasma?" I... don't know how to feel about that. 

"A-Apparently, you can. N-Not that I've done it..." Yoko looks away, slightly awkward about admitting that 'fun fact'. "But it's got a bunch of r-relaxing properties to it, though, s-so..."

Huh. "Still, you mind, um, leaving me be for now? I need to finish setting up after all..." I look down at my bag, which I'm still getting things out of mind you. That and the fact you can drink Tarnished miasma weirded me out a little...

"O-Oh, r-right, that'd be a good idea, w-wouldn't it?" Realising that she might've been a bit... too strange, Yoko stands, nervously retreating. How does she always look so anxious of something...?

Regardless of how she does, I focus on getting the last little bits before the den properly opens...

The den's open by now and business is booming. People pretty much swarmed my table immediately because, obviously, word about a human bookmaker spread like wildfire among Youkai Mountain's residents and even beyond that. Mostly tengu and kappa. Some tengu tried interviewing me, but I remained tight-lipped. The only people I'd accept having an interview with is Dezain and, reluctantly, Aya.

Hell, it's busier here than it was on the day of the flood incident a few days ago. Probably because word about Raiko performing here got out as well, so youkai, as well as some non-youkai like humans, came by too. So, basically, very busy den day. Surprisingly, I've played more normal card games than I have Card Wars, but then again, the rules of Card Wars are pretty complex. Some people just want a game of poker or something, and I can respect that... even if I end up winning most of the time.

Don't get me wrong, there's been a few times where I've lost, but I've been so obscenely lucky that some people thought I was cheating, which quickly got disproven by Sannyo whenever it came up, as well as Kifujin and Saikoro, especially the latter because Saikoro used to do cards.

Other people started calling me 'Moeru-san' alongside my other title of 'Rajanaga-san' because of how quickly I was blazing through and winning card games like it was no big deal, even when the stakes were pretty high. Moeru means 'blazing' by the way. Or 'burn'. Depends on how you want to translate it.

I did notice an odd amount of tanuki at the den today, too. I've not actually seen tanuki before, but they're these dog-like creatures who look like raccoons. Or, quite literally, 'Japanese raccoon dogs'. They're like raccoons, but not. They're more like foxes and wolves.

They have the big bushy tails though, with the stripes too, that tanuki are usually depicted with. Actually, wait, don't bake-danuki have those...? It's either tanuki or bake-danuki, because I can't remember off the top of my head.

Some familiar people swung by the den today, too. Nero came again, as he said, he's a frequent patron of the den, though this time he came with Mizu and Futo. And, as expected of Futo, she did literally nothing but gamble at my table, since I'm the only human bookmaker. Mizu, however, started chatting up Yoko and started gambling on coin tosses. I'm not asking where Mizu keeps her money either, considering the fact she doesn't wear clothes and she's literally made of water. All I'm saying is soggy money. That's it.

...She's very prejudiced against youkai, but people can believe what they want, I guess. Seeing her also reminded me that Shonin contemplated letting Futo commit arson to a temple, for whatever reason there may be.

That and Futo speaks funny. She speaks like a knave would, like a traditional person in medieval times. Only, she seems ridiculously young, which is downright weird. Also she's oddly masculine-looking.

Reimu came by, too. Though it only seemed she was here to ask me a few questions about what I did during the flood incident, as well as some things about Rujo after learning of him through Aya. I told her only positive things, I mean, Rujo's a good guy at heart, just misguided. I mentioned his past to her, then she seemed to remember who he was and dropped the questions entirely.

...She also gambled a lot of yen, with what little money she bought. I decided to have fun and let her win one game, because she seemed... oddly desperate for a shrine maiden who apparently has some major part in maintaining the balance. You'd think she'd be getting donations pretty often, but... no. Supposedly Auresh donates to the shrine, which is also strange. Why would a youkai donate to the Hakurei Shrine...?

Or, maybe, youkai are just so frequent around the shrine that Reimu fails to care. As I said before, I should probably visit Hakurei Shrine at some point, just for fun.

Nitori came up here as well. I've been seeing more of her lately, but we've never had any actual normal conversations since the flood incident. More casual, straightforward stuff.

"Thank you for playing." But, that aside, not much else has happened today outside of the den being busier. I just finished up a particularly heated game of blackjack that I managed to bluff my way through thanks to my unyielding charisma.

"Damn, you're really good at this, huh?" Nero chuckles. Specifically, I've been playing him, an unimportant-looking brown-haired meek female kappa, a black-haired male white wolf tengu, and Futo for the past twenty minutes. Pretty enjoyable game of blackjack honestly, Nero really knows how to play his cards right, but I'm better. "I get why people're starting to call you Moeru-san now."

"I've never seen somebody bluff that well before, too." The wolf tengu clicks his tongue, humming. "Normally you see that type of play among higher ranking crow tengu... or Sathona."

Obligatory Sathona mention, because tengu.

"Aye, he hath been handing mine own rear to myself on a silver platter as of an hour ago." Futo solemnly slouches her shoulders, her hands in her sleeves. By that she means she has been trying to beat me at my own game for the past hour, if somebody can't push past her dialect. "Tis a true difficulty to attempt to best him in thy game of cards."

"Huh." The tengu glances at her, before standing up. "Well, I'm out. That was fun though, I'll definitely be back."

"Y-Yeah..." The kappa looks through her pockets as the wolf leaves, only to find no cash. "That was the last of m-my yen, too..."

"Better to stop when you can, trust me." Nero awkwardly chuckles as the kappa stands up. "I usually end up playing loads when I get the chance."

...She smiles at him. "T-That's probably for the best... Y-You were pretty good yourself, um... N-Nero?"

"That's the name. You'll see me around here a lot, so if you want some pointers, I can give you some." He snaps his fingers at the kappa cheerfully. 

"Thanks for the offer, but I think I-I'll be fine on my own..." Standing, the kappa respectfully bows and walks off too.

"Please come again." I nod at them as they properly leave, then stretch a little. "...Man, today's busy."

"Well, thy den has an oddly popular drum youkai playing today. Tis to be expected of a known name, is it not?" Futo tilts her head at me in confusion.

"I know Raiko's popular, but still. Today's been more rammed since the last time the den was open." I look over at the tsukumogami in question, who's playing the drums pretty well right now despite having a pretty sizeable crowd around her. It's giving the den more atmosphere by the minute, plus the tune she's playing sounds flawless.

"She is literally a drum tsukumogami. You think she'd know how to play one of her own kind, having been smacked and banged a lot herself." Raiju off-handedly comments. Never say that in that way ever again, because it sounds plain wrong. "Am I wrong though?!"

No, you aren't, but you make it sound like she's a masochist.

"Who knows, dude? Maybe she is." Please just shut up.

"Guess so." Nero scratches his chin, but looks around for a brief moment. "Lot of bake-danuki around today, though, which is weird. There's never normally this many in one place."

"...That amount of them in one place is rare?" I blink at him.

"In their normal forms, yeah." The monk scratches his cheek next, thinking about it. "Usually they're disguised as something, staying out of sight and playing pranks on people. Proper mischievous youkai."

"Hmh. This many reminds myself of that one particular bake-danuki from the outside." Futo squints as some as they go by.

"Mamizou?" Nero looks at her next, raising a brow... before looking like he quickly realised something. "...Ah, crap, if she's here, then..."

Poof!

"Oho, don't worry about that, Nero. I don't have a particular reason to tell Byakuren about ya bein' here again." After hearing something audibly go poof, I look over and spot that a seemingly normal human woman spontaneously gained a big tail, like a bake-danuki has, from nearby.

"...Ah." Nero seems surprised to see her, but the monk quickly recovers. "Please don't tell her."

I get a good look at her before saying anything. It's a brown-haired woman with brown eyes. She has tanuki ears and, as I said, a bake-danuki-like tail, it being striped and everything. She has a green leaf on her head, too, and she has glasses on. She looks pretty old, really... Old as in wise-looking, I mean. 

Clothes-wise, she has a particularly unique beige ecru shirt on, as well as a red-grey skirt with some patterns upon it. She has a bottle of sake and a booklet of... something. I think it's promissory notes, since that's a thing most bake-danuki in mythology supposedly carry, as well as the sake bottle.

"As I said, I won't. What I'm more curious in is that you're with Futo again, this time without Ichirin." Mamizou, as the bake-danuki's been named, looks between the Taoist and Buddhist with intrigue. "You're sure you two ain't datin'...?"

"What?! No!" Futo cuts in abruptly, scowling. "Begone with thy cursed thoughts, perverted canid! We are not like that!"

...She looks oddly cute when she's flustered. Futo, that is to say. Even then she still speaks like a knave.

"...I'm pretty sure that's forbidden anyway, considering the discourse between the Buddhists and Taoists anyway." Nero, unlike Futo, plays it off cool, the white-haired monk resting one hand on his side as Mamizou takes a seat. "What brings you here anyway, Mamizou?"

"Nothin' much." Despite saying that, she has an odd smirk on her face. "Jus' chasin' up a rumour or two, heh."

A rumour, huh.

"...Like what?" I look up at her whilst dexterously sorting the deck of cards I just used back to how it was. I don't know of any rumours that could catch somebody's eye, outside of me being both a human and a bookmaker at the den...

"As I said, nothin' much." The bake-danuki repeats herself, but stares at me. "Say, you're one of the bookmakers at the den, right? How's about a game of Oicho-Kabu?"

"That game where you try and get to as close to nine as possible?" I raise a brow, contemplating it, then look at the kabufuda card deck. I've played it before, with Trish and Kolar. I usually won, though Kolar always had more experience with the deck of cards and game than I did, so he was usually the dealer. Oicho-Kabu's also just Baccarat but Japanese, I think. "...Sure. Kabufuda cards."

"You don't have hanafuda, huh? Shame." She frowns, but doesn't seem upset by this. "Ah well, I can settle for kabufuda anyhow."

...She's strange. There's something about her I can't put my finger on... and I can't help but feel like there's something odd as to why she chose Oicho-Kabu too...

"Count me in too." Nero spontaneously pulls out five thousand yen. He's spent, like, eighty thousand yen in the past hour on my table alone. How much money does he have. "I've been itching to play this for a while. What about you, Futo?"

"Hmph... I suppose I shall, also." She checks her pockets, and produces five thousand as well. "...Although, mine personal funds doth run quite low."

How that Taoist speaks will never cease to amaze me sometimes.

"...I could let you borrow some if you run dry and need something later." Nero looks at her, giving a soft smile. 

"Hmh?!" Somehow, Futo is flustered. "I-... Well, that is a generous offer, I... suppose, zo."

"How you two can coexist never ceases to astound me." Mamizou sighs out, shaking her head at the two, before also producing five thousand. "Five thousand to buy in, hm?"

"Suppose so." I also produce five thousand and put it on the table. "...People do tend to bet more, but I can accept low bets too. It's why my table's usually pretty popular, despite the fact I'm one of the most recent bookmakers to come aboard. That and I'm the only table that does cards."

"How recent we talkin'?" She seems intrigued to hear this...

"A few days ago." I look down and pick up the kabufuda deck. I quickly take one card from the stack to deal myself, then present four cards for the other three. I look down at what I dealt myself. It's a three.

...The ones I presented were a four, six, eight, and one from left-to-right - for me anyway. For them it's right-to-left in that order.

"Don't mind if I do." Nero instantly takes the four without hesitation.

"Hmm..." Mamizou seems to give the dealt hand a good think over for a moment. This is just a game of luck.

After a solid moment of thinking, she takes the one. "Ah well."

"Then I shall take... the six?" Futo furrows her brows, shaking her head. "Wait, nay, the eight seems more tempting... But the six shalt allow me better opportunities for getting closer to that nonary numerical..."

'Nonary numerical'. Thank you, Futo.

...As she thinks, Mamizou focuses on me again. "So what's your name, anyhow, kiddo? Didn't take a human to be a bookmaker in a gambling den usually filled with youkai."

"Rajime. People call me Rajanaga-san or Moeru-san. The former because my last name's Naga and the latter because I tend to blaze through matches and win like it's nothing... or so people claim, anyway." I reply with little hesitation. It's not really an important question, asking about who I am.

"Ah. Naga. Makes more sense then." Mamizou nods once, as Nero gives her a weird look. "Nagas've been around for centuries. One of Japan's oldest clans alongside the Fujiwaras."

Mokou's clan, huh.

"I'm vaguely aware of my family's past through some... odd comments here and there." I chip in, looking down at the three in my hand.

"I have chosen mine card." Futo speaks up, and I notice she's taken the six after very careful contemplation. "...What art thou talking about?"

"You don't know?" Mamizou stares at her in confusion, then gestures to me with her head. "His family's one of the oldest in Japan, the Nagas. I figured you would've known that."

"Ah. Well, those types of people never oft came across me." Futo shakes her head in dismissal. "Some had tried to court myself in the distant past, yes, though they naught caught my eye. They tended to be of the destructive type as a result of mine clan's... destructive past when it came to politics. And even worse, the creative types tended to be far and few between, most often in hiding undertaking questionable acts such as channelling gods, among other ridiculous things."

So she knew of my family, but always got bothered by the destructive types like my sister. Interesting.

"I'm sorry if they bothered you, even if I had nothing to do with it." Still, I deal another card to each of them, then another to myself. I... just dealt myself another three.

"You creative types always were the empathetic lot out of your family. That I can respect." Mamizou nods once with a grin on her face. I don't know what she's been dealt this time, all I know is she has a one, and unless if I just dealt her an eight, then she'll take another card. "...Though, you're aware of the dangers of acceptin' youkai around you, right?"

"I am. I know they're dangerous, but they know not to mess with me." I glance under the table. She does, too, then spots Aegis, a look of realisation forming on the bake-danuki's face. "Besides, I fixed that flood incident a while back with some help, so if anything, they should probably respect me." But I pause. "Then again, people're entitled to their opinions."

"Right, that happened." Mamizou pushes her glasses up a little so they flash, before closing one eye. "...Hit me."

She doesn't have an eight then. That's good. It means I can draw another card and, hopefully, get a three of a kind and immediately win.

So, I deal her another card.

"Same here." Nero raises his hand. Perfect. I know he has a four, so that means he didn't get a five.

So, I deal another card to him as well. I look at Futo expectantly.

"Hmm... I shall take another, then." She doesn't seem too fond of her current hand... I know she has a six, so that's definitely good.

Lastly, I deal herself a card, then a third one to myself as well.

...It's another three. How the hell did I just get triple threes.

"Luck is bullshit." Raiju snorts, before audibly cackling. I mean, Okina did comment on my luck, as did Sannyo, so...

Regardless of that fact. "Showdown!"

In unison, every challenger shows their cards. I don't, to add suspension.

"Could be better." Nero has a four, a three, and a seven. So he has... four as his final score. 

"...This was a mistake, zo." Futo has a six, nine, and another six. So she has a score of one. Yikes.

"And there you have it." Mamizou, on the other hand, has three ones. She has three of a kind, too...

...I look at her cards. "That's nice and all, but..."

"...House wins." I show my cards next. Triple threes, baby.

Nero's jaw just drops on the spot. "T-... Two three of a kinds? Really?"

"...My word, that is... hrmh." Futo doesn't know what to say at this information, either.

"Well I'll be." Mamizou seems pretty surprised at my luck. "You're pretty damn lucky then, ain't ya?"

"So I've been told." I smile. So that means I just won forty-five thousand yen, since three of a kind means you win triple the amount my 'challengers' bet. That's nice. And dealers always win in the case of a draw between a patron and the dealer. Not sure about draws between two players though, but I think it's whoever has less cards? As in, somebody has a four and a five, whilst somebody has a six, two, and one. The person with the four and the five would win, I think.

"Nya~h." As if on cue, Okinaneko walks by, handing me forty-five thousand from her money box. "You won again, Rajanaga~?"

"Yep." Chuckling, I put the money away in my bag. That's part of my pay...

At this, the redhead lion starts grinning. "I swear, you're gonna be known as the champion of the den at this rate~. The only times you 'lost' was just you being generous, right~?"

"Something like that." I gather the cards back and then compile them together again.

"Champion of the den, eh?" Mamizou looks me over for a moment. "...Far as I can tell, that'd be a legit title too. You just seem that lucky, heh."

"Mmm." Nodding, I watch Oki walk away, then I focus back on her. "So what brings you here then? You said you were looking into something?"

"For the most part? I overheard there's a particular type of tobacco here that's got this calmin' effect on those around the smoker." Mamizou reveals why she's here. Ah. Sannyo's tobacco. 

...Not sure what to say about that. "...There might be something like that here. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I'm just a real sucker for drink and tobacco, ya see." Mamizou nonchalantly grins at me. That's her reason then.

"That's all you're interested in?" I raise a brow at her, but fold my arms. "I don't smoke, but I know Komakusa-dayuu does, so it's probably her you're looking for if that helps."

"To be fair, the tobacco's only made out of herbs gathered from around the mountain." Abruptly, Sannyo joins the conversation herself, taking a seat roughly near me. "Alongside helping resolve any... disputes that may arise, it has the unique property of being able to raise the spirits of the den's various patrons."

I nod along with this. "And despite the fact I don't smoke, I can tell it's high-quality."

"On the contrary, it actually isn't." Sannyo shakes her head. Wait, it isn't? "...Everybody's just under the impression that since it's the lady of the house who smokes it, they then think it's high-quality as a result."

"It's a psychological thing then." Nero ponders on this.

"Uh-huh... I see!" Mamizou seems to get this, but furrows her brows. "...But hold on a sec. How come've I heard stories about your tobacco makin' waves among the drunks of the Human Village, then? Last I checked, Nero's the only well-known human who comes here to gamble regularly, 'n he doesn't drink often."

Futo's just had her hands in her sleeves the entire time, not really having anything wise or whimsical to say about this.

Sannyo pauses for a moment at these words, before sighing. "The truth is, as of late, we appear to have even more humans mixing in among the patrons, pretending to be youkai."

"Say what?!" Mamizou leans forward a little, surprised. "Humans all the way up here on the mountain?!"

"There's nothing wrong with humans engaging in gambling." Sannyo puts a hand on my shoulder. "Rajime's proof of this, he's a human himself, but unlike most other humans, he's proved to handle himself exceptionally well, especially during incidents. Shibo is the exact same."

"...It's mostly the flintlock that does the talking." Nero waves his pistol in the air for a moment. "The youkai here know I'm from the temple anyway, so they're fine with me... for the most part, even then Yoko tends to step in to help half the time if somebody threatens me."

"Because she was trained to. Kifujin, Saikoro, and Okinaneko would do the exact same if necessary." The lady of the house shakes her head at the monk. "...But, I'm not sure why there's a sudden insurgence of human patrons. Either it's because word of a human bookmaker got out, or because of something else entirely."

"What you're meanin' to say is that their love of gamblin's outgrown their fear of youkai, eh...?" Mamizou scratches her chin for a moment. "...I might have an idea or two 'bout that issue of yours."

"...That being?" Sannyo raises a brow.

"Why not set up a human-only den in the village? There's this place called Geidontei ya could use." Mamizou raises a finger. "...Though, you might be a wee bit limited on the bookmakers you can bring there."

"I could bring Kifujin, Yoko, and Rajime." Sannyo glances at me. "...You're fine with that, right?"

"Yeah, that's fine with me." I nod once. "My sister's in the village anyway."

"Trish, huh? Yeah, I've been to her bar once with Murasa." Nero folds his arms, thinking about it. "Lively place."

"...Thyself affiliates thy own being with particularly troublesome crowds quite oft." Futo finally speaks again, staring at Nero with what I swear is concern.

"That Outer Heaven place? I mighta heard a thing or two about it." Mamizou furrows her brows. "Though, it's pretty darn odd how a youkai-friendly bar at all hours of the day can stay open in the village."

"Apparently, Trish 'keeps all the youkai debauchery contained'. Words of a few youkai hunters, not mine." Nero raises his hands in defense. "It's a good place though. Not sure if it's, ah, as good as Geidontei, but it's still up there as a place I'd frequent."

"...Hmm." Sannyo thinks on the proposal in any case. "I'll look into it, then, though it'll take a few days, probably two if I had to guess."

Two days.

"Youkai, in MY Human Village?" Raiju, I swear to any god out there. "It's more likely than you'd think."

"Neat." Mamizou pushes her glasses up, satisfied, then focuses on me again, pulling out ten thousand yen this time. "Alright, another game of Oicho-Kabu then. This time I'm bettin' ten thousand."

As the mood at the table picks up again, I nod, getting ready to dole out cards yet again...

Man, it somehow got busier and it's getting towards leaving time for me now. More people came by, like Aikido and Akane, the latter of which seemed to recognise Mamizou but not in a good way.

Needless to say, Mamizou's been giving me a run for my money, though I've beaten her almost every time now. She hasn't stopped trying to beat me in Oicho-Kabu since earlier, despite the fact it seems pretty obvious my natural luck is pretty much unparalleled.

I've lost count at how much she's bet at the table by this point. Nero stopped after a while, since he still needs some pocket change for later. Plus, he even left with Futo, apparently he was looking into buying snacks for them.

...They make a good match for one another, personally. I don't know if Mamizou was joking about them being a thing or not earlier, but if they are, that's... mildly concerning, since apparently there's discourse among Taoists and Buddhists here.

Still, political affairs of religions isn't really my cup of tea anyway. I've just been playing card games for the past... five hours, I think.

People really like my table since it's the only table that does cards.

What's funny is that Shivu showed up for some reason, wanting to check the den out for the first time. She made somebody go bankrupt by talking at a roulette table, and then winning Kifujin's jackpot, despite the fact she's considered very unlucky. How Shivu managed that astounds me.

Renegain and Durin came by as well, although the Dredgen was in her normal clothes, forgoing her identity of the Dredgen this time around... probably because I knew who she was.

Durin's a surprisingly good gambler despite how dimwitted he seems. He almost beat me at a game of poker. Keyword almost since I realised he was bluffing and called it at the best moment possible.

Raiko's still been playing her drums flawlessy. How she hasn't got tired of doing it for hours on end amazes me, honestly. But it seems like she's starting to get to the end of her performance here though.

People've started taking notes at how hard I am to beat at cards, so that means people've been trying to best me for their own personal satisfaction. Even Akane did, at one point, but even if she is really good at lying, I still beat her at blackjack.

...Maybe Raiju was right about luck being dumb.

I've lost count at how much I've earned, by the way. I know it's, like, well in the six digits range, maybe even seven digits. I'm bloody rich.

As it turns out, gambling does pay pretty well. Sannyo said anything extra I win from 'special circumstances' like three of a kinds I can keep, so that's cool.

...Pair that with how often people gamble at my table, and you have a constant flow of yen being thrown out left, right, and centre.

As I said, I'm rich, and this is one day at the den.

"Bloody hell." This grey-haired crow tengu looks down at her cards, raising her brows, then at my hand. 

Currently, I'm playing poker, like I have done before, this time with the aforementioned crow tengu, a redhead white wolf tengu, Mamizou, and Renegain.

"Told ya he's a real good dealer. Ya failed to call his bluff." Mamizou grins at them, taking a smoke of a pipe which I swear she didn't have before.

"I know that, but this is the first time I've been beat at my own game." The crow chuckles, shaking her head. "Normally I'm really good at this game."

"Doesn't matter how good you are, at the end, s'down to luck, sister." Renegain shakes her head, cracking her neck a little. "...S'better than some of the gambling games at Earthborn Row, anyway."

"I wouldn't know anything about that though." The grey-haired crow stares at the black-haired rogue in confusion. "...Namely because that's Auresh's territory, and there's a distinct no-tengu zone there, with some exceptions."

"True." The rogue shrugs dismissively. "Still better than those though, trust me, I'd know."

"...Yeah." The wolf looks between the three, standing up. "I'm out."

"So am I. Pretty good to know there's always higher challenges out there, though." The crow gives me a satisfied nod, standing up and starting to walk off with the wolf tengu.

"Please come again." I nod at them as they leave, then focus on Mamizou and Renegain, realising something. "What time is it right now?"

"Should be almost six." Mamizou raises a brow at me. "Why? Goin' somewhere? I ain't done just yet with trying to beat ya at Oicho-Kabu, ya know."

"I know you haven't." I fold my arms. "There's just something really important I need to do at dusk, meaning I need to leave pretty soon."

"I get that, trust." Renegain scratches her neck for a moment, before looking around. "Still, ah... you're probably better off headin' out now, 'fore somebody forces ya to play again, brother."

"...As much as I wanna keep challengin' ya, she has a point." Mamizou agrees, pushing her glasses up again. She keeps doing that, for some reason.

"Mmm." But I can't entirely deny she's wrong, so I stand up, collecting my things and putting my shoes on, also putting the multiple decks of cards away in my bag. I quickly slip Aegis back onto my arm, then nod once. "Well, I'm off." 

"See you 'round." Renegain folds her arms, the rogue nodding once in acknowledgement, as Mamizou does the same.

"Don't be a stranger. Next time, come by Myouren Temple, I'll treat ya to some tea." Mamizou makes an offer.

"I'll keep that in mind, should I ever go there." I chuckle, then start walking off. I don't really have any idea where it is, but I should be able to find it if I ask around.

As I'm leaving, I pass by Raiko, who by now has finished her drumming act and is now starting to leave, drums in hand. "Oh, heya, Rajime. Perfect timing, eh? C'mon, let's blow this joint and get to Misty Lake, then the drinks are on me after, yeah?"

"If you insist." Grinning, I let her go first, then I follow her out of the den...

Now then, Mizuchi, let's see what you're up to... I've been anticipating this since this morning, so I hope whatever she has planned isn't anything, you know, too bad.

But even then, part of me has this little nibbling feeling in the back of my mind that says this might be really dangerous... Yet, it's for the greater good, so I have to do it.

"Let's go be bad guys." Raiju starts sounding excited. I-. No. We aren't bad guys, we're undercover good guys. There's a difference. "Still acting like bad guys."

I-... Just be quiet and let me do the talking, alright...?

The trip down Youkai Mountain was pretty uneventful. Raiko seemed curious as to my method of transportation, which was flinging Aegis-Strand around like a wet fish and using it like a grappling hook, whilst she just flew along with her percussions behind me. I think the sight of her warded off youkai from attacking me, so... maybe I should be grateful I did come down here with her?

We made some small talk, too. I learned more about her, that she was a taiko drum who came about thanks to the magical energy of something called the Miracle Mallet, which apparently caused an incident a few years back. Although, she's relying on magic from magicians outside of Gensokyo. More like musicians, since she takes the magic energy of modern drummers, hence why she uses a more modern-looking drumset... which she has with her right now.

I'm pretty sure she could choose to dismiss it and resummon it later, but I don't think she's bothered about that right now. She seems more focused on getting more tsukumogami to come about.

She did also point out that the symbols on her smaller taiko drums are Mitsudomoe, which represent the trinity of primary divisions in Shinto, those being man, Earth, and sky, which're also associated with Raijin, the lightning god of the same religion.

...Which is pretty, um, interesting, given Raiju's prior comment of her drumming reminding him of lightning, because of the 'boom' it makes, as well as the volume. Come to think of it, didn't Raijin have a set of drums as well that're pretty similar to Raiko's right now...? 

Food for thought, I guess.

Still, it's approaching dusk right now, and we're waiting around Misty Lake. Raiko's been drumming to herself idly, meanwhile I've just been writing in Gensopedia, mostly catch-ups on things I forgot to write about, as well as what I currently know about people, like Lubrae.

...Meeting Lubrae earlier today was still weird, especially considering she actively invaded my dream to do so. But it's not like she had anything bad in mind, really.

"Man, how long's this gonna take...?" Raiko drones out from her drum, clearly bored of waiting. We've been sat here for about ten minutes on the lakeside.

"I'm sure they'll show soon enough." I'm patient, though. I look down into the water and see that Rujo's waiting beneath, arms crossed and clearly annoyed. I can see him because he makes a small shadow near the top of the lake. He's waiting and listening.

...Though, I could've sworn I spotted people watching from behind the trees nearby too, although maybe I'm just imagining that.

"Alright, alright, good, you both showed." Abruptly, Mizuchi floats out of the ground nearby. "I felt like I was going to have to end up dragging one of you all the way over here by your neck, but I guess not."

Alright. So Mizuchi did call Raiko out here, too... Either that's a coincidence or she did it deliberately, but I'm willing to guess it's more of the former than anything else.

"What do you want?" I cut straight to the chase, closing Gensopedia and looking up at her.

"Yeah, what is it?" Raiko tilts her head. "I was promised an opportunity for more tools to gain freedom."

"That'll come eventually." The vengeful spirit stares at Raiko, a wicked grin on her face. "...But not right now. There's somebody else I need for this plan to work, but I can't exactly reach out to them."

"...Uh-huh." Raiko nods, ceasing her drumming. "Go on."

"I need you to reach out to them for me." Mizuchi points at me with her handcuff. Me?

"Why me specifically?" I raise a brow. Wouldn't Raiko work just as well?

"See, this person I need? They're staying at Hakurei Shrine right now." Mizuchi thinks on it, tapping her chin a few times. "Vengeful spirits like me can't particularly go near the shrine on accounts of it being a holy place, that should be obvious, right?"

"And I know youkai get weaker near the shrine, too." Raiko chips in. "...That's why you want him going? Because he's a human?"

"Bingo." The ghost grins, clicking open the golden cuff, before closing it again. "Because he's a human, he'll stand out less, and even then, the person I want'll just assume he's come to visit the shrine, much like any other human that's insane enough to go there."

Oh. I guess I am visiting Hakurei Shrine, then.

"...Okay. Uh... What do you want me doing?" Raiko tilts her head in confusion.

"This is where you come in." Mizuchi looks at Raiko. "I need you to cause a big enough ruckus with those drums of yours to draw the Hakurei, as well as anybody else that might interrupt, away from the shrine, so he can slip in and convince the person I need for this plan to work. After that, come back here and I'll fill you in on the plan from there, once you have the person."

"...Who am I looking for?" I raise a brow. "That'd help."

"Inchling. Purple hair. Wears a bowl on her head. You'll know who she is when you see her, if you even see her." Mizuchi fills me in on the description, but doesn't give a name.

"Oh, her?" Raiko's brows raise in surprise. "Huh."

Raiko knows who Mizuchi's talking about? Hmm. I'll ask later.

"Yeah, that person." The ghost glances at the tsukumogami, then grins. "I'll see you guys later then. And don't screw up. This is vital."

...With that, she disappears into the ground, presumably leaving.

"...Well that's weird." I turn to Raiko, who turns to me.

"Yeah, really weird." Raiko thinks on it, but shrugs it off. "Oh well. As long as more tools become free, I don't care what she wants, honestly."

I suppose she has her motivations, right?

"Still, I should probably, uh, get to work on that distraction, so... catch you in a bit." Raiko starts floating off, but calls back to me. "Remember, drinks're on me when we're done with this!"

Right.

...I may as well play along with Mizuchi, though I'm curious what she wants with this... 'inchling', whatever an inchling is.

"Remember. Bowl on head, purple hair." Raiju repeats what Mizuchi just told me. I know, I'm not daft.

As I move to leave-.

"Wait." Somebody calls out, making me stop. I turn and see... two people, emerging from the shrubbery surrounding where Mizuchi told us what to do.

Strangely, the second person, the other person who didn't speak, is somebody I recognise, that being Shonin. So this is where Shonin was, then...

The first person is a young-looking girl. She has short purple hair and purple eyes, with a black hairband running over her head. Clothes-wise, it's nothing too remarkable, just a blue shirt with yellow heart buttons and a pink collar, as well as a pink skirt with a flowery pattern. Oh, and she has pink slippers on, which is weird given she's outside, but still.

Other notable things consist of a literal third eye floating above her heart, with cords running to her head and wrists from said eye. Kinda creepy to look at, but... cool, in a way?

"Yeah?" I look at the girl, then at Shonin. "Hey, Shonin."

"Ey." She greets me back casually, as she usually does. "You're probably wondering who this is and why we're here."

"I'm Satori Komeiji, mistress of the Palace of the Earth spirits in the Former Hell of Blazing Fires." The girl introduces herself without a second thought. "...I'm... also a satori."

Oh, she's named after her own kind. Kinda like how Mizu is. 

"Basically, she's a mind reader." Shonin raises a finger. "She kinda took over my role in Old Hell after Hell got moved for reasons I'm still not aware of, somehow."

Oh, she can read minds? Hmm.

"...Mmm." Satori glances at Shonin tiredly, but focuses on me. "I'm also currently leading the investigation into Mizuchi, the escapee vengeful spirit from Former Hell, and I was recently told there was somebody feigning being an accomplice to her, whom of which I presume is you."

"...You'd be correct." I pocket my hands. "I'm working to figure out what she's up to, and if possible, try and change Mizuchi's mind before something bad happens. My name's-."

"Rajimarin Naga, though you prefer to be called Rajime. You're currently in training to become the King of Hell, and you're a very... odd individual, as far as mind reading is concerned." Satori lists without even blinking. I-. Wow. Okay.

"Huh. Spooky." Raiju comments, then realises something. "...Wait, can she hear me?"

"...Hm?" Satori narrows her eyes almost immediately after Raiju speaks. "...'Raiju'?"

...I notice how hard the third eye is looking at me. Huh. So she can hear him.

"See, Nagas have this weird... thing they do where they have two selves. The one you're seeing right now is Rajime." Shonin decides to elaborate for the mind reader. "...Raiju's, uh..."

"...Raiju, simply put, is a walking catastrophe." I sigh, shaking my head. "I mean that as in he's my other self, the complete opposite."

"A catastrophe this ain't." Raiju audibly pouts.

"...I see what you mean." Satori forms a small smile despite that, though. "It must be bothersome having somebody constantly talk all the time, in the back of your conscious. Though, your mind is still strange."

"How so?" I pocket my hands.

"It reads like a... book, in a way." Satori pauses to think about it, furrowing her brows. "I can read your actions, your thoughts, and even your speech as if it were a novel."

...That is weird.

"You don't seem opposed to my third eye though." She also decides to comment on my lack of discomfort about how odd it looks. "Normally, humans such as yourself would find such a thing repulsive, and they'd hate me because it allows me to read their mind. Even other youkai detest me because of it."

"I don't find it weird or anything if that's what you're asking. It's part of your life and that won't change." I look over elsewhere, then back to them. 

...

I wonder. Does Satori know there's a nix in the water beside her and Shonin?

...As soon as I think that, Satori immediately turns to Misty Lake properly, then spots Rujo inside the water, the water spirit of which quickly surfaces. "Huh. Didn't think you'd notice me there."

"I could hear your thoughts in the back of my mind, but I didn't think you were involved with this, so I left you be." Satori comments, as Shonin just now realises Rujo was there.

"Oi, this ain't any of your business, fish boy. Go drink, uh, water or something." The devil points at him.

"Actually, I asked him to get involved." I stand up for him. "...Mostly for him to be on stand by here, in case if something went wrong."

"Yeah, he did, so shut it." Rujo narrows his eyes at Satan. That is not a sentence I thought I would be saying today, but apparently it is.

"Oh." Shonin relaxes a little. "...Freaking... tell me that before you abruptly show up then, sheesh."

...Satori dryly stares between the two of them, before focusing on me again. "Thoughts aside... What do you know of Mizuchi, exactly?"

"She doesn't like youkai, despite the fact she's using a tsukumogami in a manipulative way right now, she knows of my family, she really doesn't like Reimu for some reason I still don't know about, she thinks it's Reimu's fault there's youkai in the Human Village, and... that's it, I think." I scratch my neck. "I know she can't possess Nagas, or in theory anyway, since Eiki theorised that we have a strong abundance of willpower that actively prevents possession."

"If the yama said that, it's probably true." Satori contemplates on this. "...Regardless, you should go ahead with what she asks and try to learn more by working with her. These strings of incidents she's causing, by possessing people and putting some into comas, it's starting to become bothersome for a lot of people. Though, I hadn't anticipated Hell would involve itself in affairs related to Old Hell..."

"It's not just Old Hell and Hell that're being affected, it's Gensokyo too." I lower my hat over my eyes, turning away. "Still, you have a point. I need to go."

"...Yeah, you do that." Shonin nods once very casually, as if this isn't a matter that concerns her.

"Don't die." Rujo gives me very good advice. Thank you.

...Nodding once at them, I start heading off to Hakurei Shrine... or in the direction Raiko went, anyway...

At the same time... (Satori POV)

I watch that man walk off into Gensokyo's dusk, eventually slipping past the trees and disappearing. At the same time, I get a particularly... odd feeling, as if something was displaced for a moment but quickly corrected itself. A strange feeling, but... weirdly normal at the same time.

Rajime himself, however, is just as strange. His mind read like a book, an open book at that, as if it was writing itself as he existed... Normally, people's minds differ, their subconscious usually determines what their thoughts will be, but Rajime... It's like he had no subconscious at all, only a conscious and unconscious. A very black-white mind, for a lack of better words.

And even then, I heard his inner voice constantly, alongside that other person - Raiju as he named them - constantly. Normally I can barely hear somebody's inner voice, only what their mind thinks in my own voice. But his voice reflected both externally and internally almost flawlessly.

...It reminds me of that human who showed up in Old Hell a while back, the amnesiac wielding a glaive. I believe his name was Michino...? His mind read almost identically, albeit he still had his subconscious, unlike Rajime who doesn't.

And he's very... accepting, for a human. No wonder he's being considered for King of Hell by Shonin and Hecatia, according to the devil's words, at least. It reminds me of Lubrae's views on strangers back when Hell was still where it was, people she didn't know. She accepted anybody, so long as they were respectful and courteous to those around them, not just theirselves. Lubrae accepted me for who I was, despite my kind's innate ability of reading minds that freaked all others out beyond belief, even though I was very young at the time and here was Rajime doing the exact same thing she did...

...It makes me wonder. Despite his cool and collected appearance, he seems to bear a rather alarming amount of trauma beneath that, seemingly pertaining to lightning...? It doesn't take a genius to determine he has a fear of lightning because of that - astraphobia - but it's still strange. It's specifically caused by thunder and lightning, nothing else seems to have caused him trauma. There's a distinct feeling of loss and... surprisingly, loneliness, but also other things like fear and hope come to mind.

His mind was like an organised mess, a surprisingly clean, chaotic place. I could read it crystal clear, yet even then, it still felt... cluttered. As if there was so much to determine from it, but I didn't know where to begin with it.

...It's not very often I encounter something like that, too.

I know many youkai and humans alike fear me because of my ability, but he didn't falter in the slightest. He seemed weirded out by my third eye at first, but I swear he thought it was... 'cool'. He didn't write me off as a freak.

It's... relieving, knowing that there are people like that, still out there, who can push past the undesirables and see a person for who they really are.

"...Is, uh, is she thinking about the kid?" Shonin's thoughts snap me from my thought process and the stupor invoked by it.

...I immediately give her a stare as a result of it. "He has a name, Shonin."

"I know." Shonin doesn't seem like she cares, but a quick read of her mind shows that she completely forgot I was able to read her mind as well. "He's just, like, infinitely younger than me and he always will be. Goat devil woman will always be older than human man."

"...What the hell is she even talking about. Why does she speak like that." The nix stares at the devil dryly, thinking to himself, Rujo I think his name was. "I know I've seen her before, but I still can't wrap my head around how Satan can act like that with a straight face."

He has a point, but I don't point out what he thought to Shonin. Shonin always has been the strangest person to talk to, let alone work with... even in very important situations. Such as the time two western devils - vampires - descended into Hell abruptly, and Shonin, despite the risk, decided to let them stay. She's lucky Lubrae was even willing to go through with the idea at the time.

"Well, anywho." Shonin looks at me, clearly intrigued. Please, don't pressure me. "...You're not denying you were thinking about him for, like, the past five minutes. What the hell caught your, uh... eyes?"

"Just how accepting he was of who I am." I stare in the direction he went again, hand on my chin. "...He's strangely nice. It reminded me of Lubrae."

"Oh, I get that. Yeah, he's uh... really odd compared to most of Hell's residents. Real out of place, too." Shonin pauses to think on that. "He fits, but at the same time, he doesn't. He's able to pretty much work his way under anyone's skin."

"He's a good guy, just... uh... slightly confusing at times." Rujo also speaks up, arms folded as he sits on the water, since obviously a water spirit like him can do that. "Despite his pretty serene appearance, he knows how to fight pretty well. Pair that with his ability to seemingly create anything at random and you have a pretty strong opponent... though he's not very strong physical-wise. It's more so in his words and magic than anything else, as well as his mind."

"He acts unconsciously?" I raise a brow. That sounds similar to Koishi...

"Mostly to defend himself." He shrugs dismissively, resting one hand on his chin as his elbow rests on his right leg. "I mean that as in he's smart, too, not just strong in his own right. Trust me, he'll accept anybody, even people who've tried to kill him, which literally happened yesterday."

...At that banquet Auresh arranged...? Hmm. If that's true, he's more accepting than Lubrae is, which says something.

"And even then, I hate his guts, I'm not afraid to admit that." The nix pauses for a moment. "...Or maybe that's just my frustration talking, anyway."

"Frustration?" I stop to look at him and read his mind. He's... not wrong. There's a lot of built-up anger within him, that he keeps stowing away but doesn't let out. It's like a plague at the forefront of his conscious, yet he never releases it. Most of it seems to stem from very... strong feelings of abandonment and betrayal.

There's hints of him formerly being a human before he was a nix, too. He's one of those humans who chose to become a youkai, for whatever reasons he may have had...

Though, the way he handles his emotions certainly doesn't seem healthy.

"Yeah. Frustration. I usually feel angry at something half the time, so whenever I get a chance, I release it on something that's bothering me." Rujo groans, rubbing his forehead a little. "...Though, I've been trying to learn how to control my anger so I don't randomly lash out at people who annoy me."

He's trying to improve, at least. That's good.

Still, the difference between Rajime's mind and absolutely anybody else still astounds me. In fact, I've met his sister before, Trish I believe. Her mind read pretty similarly to his, like a book that was constantly in progress, seemingly no subconscious in site. Just her conscious and unconscious.

"Wait." Shonin looks at Rujo, then blinks. What's she looking at him for-? "Somebody tried killing him yesterday? The hell? I haven't heard of that, and believe me, I'm the devil, dude, I'd know if something like that happened."

"Moon rabbit with a Lunarian weapon, apparently." Rujo dismissively shrugs. "...They got the crap beat out of them by three gods, yours truly, an immortal pyromaniac, a deceptively childish crow tengu, a haniwa, and another moon rabbit."

"...Huh." The devil furrows her brows, then realises something. "Wait. Wait, hold up just a second. You just say 'moon rabbit with a Lunarian weapon'?"

"...It's what one of the gods told me anyway." Again, the nix shrugs dismissively as if that's not a big deal.

...I know for a fact Hell and the Moon have been at odds for a while. Shonin's made a point of that for a while now, whenever she comes by Old Hell. Tensai does too whenever he decides to visit.

Apparently there've been less hostilities since the Moon supposedly held Gensokyo captive to stop Hell from actively invading the Moon, but they're still agitated towards one another.

And Rajime's the candidate for King of Hell right now... Ah. I see how that's bothersome then.

"I-. I swear to Lubrae, they're as dumb as bags of bricks sometimes." Shonin seems unusually angry. Normally she's laidback, but here she just seems really angry. I don't even need to read her mind to be able to tell that.

...Well, she is shouting obscenities and profanity constantly in her head, but that's not important I believe.

"You swear to who-?" Rujo squints at her, but shakes his head. "Nevermind, none of my business. Still, seems a bit random to me though."

"See, Rajime's the candidate for King of Hell, as you probably know by now." Shonin raises a finger, clearly peeved but she's holding it in the best she can. "We in Hell really hate the Moon, and that feeling's mutual. The Lunarians are a bunch of stuck-up assholes who think they're above everyone because they're so pure. I say they're a bunch of overzealous pansies. There's been a constant sense of agitation between us for a really long time. Still, the fact he's a candidate for King of Hell is, like, top secret, which means Hell has lunar spies in its upper, uh, echelons, and that's gonna be a pain to sort out later."

Spy warfare in Hell. Hmm. Odd. It makes me wonder how the Lunarians even managed to convince demons and other various residents of Hell to actively spy for them. Perhaps they were promised human resources or something, and I mean that in the literal sense that they promised them live humans.

...It's still bizarre as to how that's gone unnoticed though. You think Shonin'd be able to tell if somebody was genuine or not.

"Oh." Rujo nods once. "Yeah, sounds like you've got your work cut out for you."

"Right? It's so fu-..." Shonin pauses, glancing at me. I stare at her. "-freaking, I mean, annoying. Sorry, uh, nearly let that slip by."

She has a distinct sense to avoid swearing around me... even if I know she's saying them in her head. How Shonin works never ceases to absolutely baffle my own mind.

"It's fine." Regardless, I gesture for her to go on.

"Okay, cool, so, uh." Shonin snaps her fingers, before looking up at the rising moon. "I'm gonna have very stern words with a lunar sage soon. If they claim they don't know, then, uh, I'm gonna get that other moon rabbit who I know for a fact's in Gensokyo to back me up. Think his name was 'something Sabbath'."

"Curo Sabaton, you mean. He was the other moon rabbit I mentioned, the one that beat up the one that tried assassinating Rajime." Rujo knows who Curo is? I've heard of him myself, he's supposedly a conscientous objector to the current Lunarian traditions... and he was apparently punished for it. I believe I've seen him at Eientei whilst I was pursuing Mizuchi before... In fact, I think he's the one who found Orin passed out in the bamboo forest, too.

He seems like a nice enough person, but strangely, I seem to have difficulty reading his mind. Perhaps it's a peculiarity of moon rabbits and their naturally insane mindsets. Either that or he can manipulate his own mind to trick my third eye. I'm aware moon rabbits can manipulate wavelengths and can communicate with each other psychically by sending out some kind of wave that others can receive...

"Yeah, him." Shonin nods, then raises a brow. "He was there specifically?"

"Yep. The rabbit in question was his former squadmate apparently, Takamine Ichiban." Rujo scratches his neck. "...Rajime let 'em off. His and Curo's choice. Poor bunny didn't even have a choice whether to actually go through with it or not. That kinda crap pisses me off."

"How so?" It sounds like he has his own reasons for thinking that way, so I inquire further.

"Because it's pretty much what happened to me - what led me down the path of becoming a youkai. I didn't have a choice in the matter back then, and I was too gullible. Too confident." Rujo looks away to the water. "But at least I don't have people heckling me out here for being an outsider."

...Shonin glances at me. I read his mind in response to this. He's being entirely honest with us right now. "...He's genuine, if you're wondering, Shonin."

"Damn. You'd be considered a sage in Hell." Shonin points at the nix. "Then again, you'd probably dry up because, uh, Hell is as hot as oni balls."

...What does that mean?

"You literally took me to Hell before." Rujo dryly stares at her. She has? "I think I know how hot Hell can be, idiot."

"Just saying." The devil merely snorts in response.

...These two genuinely are strange. How have I found myself in this company...? I know Shonin wants to help with Mizuchi, but she can be tiring at times with her constant unrelated comments. And her mind makes my brain hurt trying to understand half the words she says. She's a walking memetic hazard.

Rujo, on the other hand, is normal but strange. He seems nice enough, but he's a pretty stoic person, if not overbearing. Some people may pass him off as an 'asshole', or something along those lines, but I can see who he really is pretty clearly.

And then there's Rajime, who I'm still thinking about. He reminds me of Koishi. Carefree, friendly, and a bit clueless to the world around him. The only thing is, he doesn't nonchalantly threaten to stab people only to become their friend later or make random comments about people having no friends, or even terrorise people out of the corner of their eye by abruptly appearing then disappearing constantly. Or, I don't think he does, anyway.

...People do hide behind a lot of masks, though normally I can see clean through those facades.

Speaking of, I wonder how it's going for him right now, playing along with Mizuchi's ploy, whatever it may be... Hopefully this entire encounter proves fruitful, and I gain more information on her as a result.

...I hope it does, anyway.

Meanwhile...  (Rajime POV)

After a little bit of blind stumbling around aimlessly, I managed to find Hakurei Shrine. It's the same as that time I saw it whilst I was with Junko, on top of a hill by itself.

It's approaching evening by now, the sun's starting to set and the moon's beginning to rise to the top of the sky. It's quiet. Some fairies noticed me nearby and decided to harass me, but I threw some elemental attacks like fireballs their way, mostly to make them scatter. They come back anyway even if I did manage to hit some with very telegraphed attacks. I even switched between Creation and Strand a few times. Managed to nail a few with the rope dart.

...Needless to say, any youkai and fairies in the area know not to bother me now. I've been climbing this hill for the past, like, ten minutes since I pushed past the Forest of Magic somehow.

Basically, I went through the Forest of Magic - big mistake - but somehow managed to find my way to the shrine based on my gut instinct alone. As they say, trust your gut, it helps.

"You could just throw Strand right up the hill and zip straight up there, you know." Raiju tells me. That'd be boring. Besides, I need to wait for Raiko's-

Bam! Bang bang bam! Badabam! Bam bang bam bam! Tss, bang bam!

-distraction. That sounds really far away but I can hear it from here. What the hell.

"Speaking of." Raiju snorts. "She is invoking all of the minor gods as a distraction."

"...What the hell is with all the noise at this time!?" I'm near enough to the top of the hill to hear Reimu shout from inside the shrine anyway before coming out of the structure itself. "I swear, if this is Clownpiece again..."

Clownpiece? She comes by here? Huh. 

I'm near enough to the shrine that I can see Reimu step out onto the shrine road. To lay Hakurei Shrine out properly, it's surrounded by trees with a stone road in front of the shrine, which is typical. There's also a torii gate at one end, whilst the shrine building itself is at the other. I note a smaller building off to the side of the shrine I'm on, which seems to be a storehouse if anything.

"Reimu's creepy shed. Very scary." Raiju, shush, I'm trying to focus on Reimu.

Also, Raiko's 'distraction' which just sounds like her beating her drums very loudly is in the direction opposite to me. Luckily I was on the right side of the hill and Raiko didn't decide to go as close as humanly possible.

"Honestly..." I hear Reimu sigh, then mutter something under her breath as she pulls out her gohei. Two yin-yang orbs start floating in the air around her, starting to spin as she floats off from the ground. "I'm trying to enjoy my evening for once. This could be Suika for all I know, or even those three fairies..."

...As she trails off, she starts flying away, giving me an opportunity to slip in unannounced. So I take it. After making sure she's absolutely gone, I head into the shrine itself, taking great care to not disturb anything.

Once I'm inside, uh... the shrine seems strangely... rundown. It's really cold in here, too, which is weird for spring. It seems like a traditional shrine inside, though, albeit very... poor. Does Reimu honestly live here? If so, I feel bad for her, having to put up with all the cold. No wonder Auresh apparently donates when she comes by.

The fact a place as important as this can be neglected is... very sad, honestly.

"That and it hurts our architectural brain." Raiju also points out. That too. It just irks me that a place meant to be so important looks so... forgive my French, crappy.

At the same time though, I have this odd feeling. Like I should be here, yet I also shouldn't be at the same time. Part of me feels like I belong, the other part of me feels like I'm out of place. Alien.

"I get the same vibe you're having." Raiju clicks his tongue. "Spooky."

Still, I'm here for one thing. The 'inchling' that's apparently staying here. I wonder how Mizuchi knew this person's even here, considering the fact she couldn't go near the shrine...?

I note a kotatsu with a cup of green tea on it. It's still steaming, so it's been recently made. Probably Reimu's, so I don't touch it, instead moving past it. 

I eye a few doors leading further into the shrine, but nothing really catches my eye. I wonder why this person's called an inchling, anyway? Is it because they're obnoxiously small, or something? If so, how small are they?

Aegis seems to be reacting strangely to being here, too. It feels warm for some reason. I wonder why it's getting so warm...?

Maybe it's having the same feeling I am. That it belongs yet doesn't at the same time...?

I keep walking around though, looking discreetly. I'm presuming this person would've heard me by now...

"Hey, what're you doing...?" I hear somebody abruptly speak to my left, so I jump, immediately whipping my head in that direction, only to see...

...nothing? W-... What? Wait, but I heard somebody from that direction. How-?

"...Huh?" The voice seems confused. It sounds like it belongs to a pretty young girl, and it's still coming from my left. Not Reimu, but somebody else.

Wait a minute. This is similar to what Sodatsu did that one time, when she shrunk herself to demonstrate her ability.

Instead of looking to the left fully, I instead glance to my shoulder-.

...

There is a girl on my shoulder that's as big as my hand if I positioned it so my thumb pointed up. I mean that as in the 'bottom' of my hand to the top of my thumb. That big.

...What the hell.

"Holy fuck it's a gremlin." Raiju comments. D-. Don't call her that. "She is absolutely tiny as fuck! Gremlin! Goblin! Rodent! Big fucking small!"

Just shut up. That's also rude, you know, calling somebody a rodent! And what does 'big small' even mean?!

Before I can get an answer from him, the girl speaks again. "...Are you looking for Reimu? If so, she just left..."

"Huh? Oh, no, I uh... wasn't looking for her." I take a closer look at her.

Purple hair, purple eyes. Though, her eyes have these little brown flecks in them. She has a pink pinstripe-patterned kimono with some flowers on it and a black... obi. Sash thing. And she has a bowl hat.

...Basically she fits the criteria of what Mizuchi told me to look out for. This is the person she wants...?

I guess the term 'inchling' fits. She's like an inch tall when it comes to her height, if not a little more. Tiny. She's also holding some kind of strange sewing needle that visibly shines whenever the moonlight catches it.

...I note a very odd golden mallet on her person, too. It seems... off.

"Oh." Matching the impression somebody'd get from her size, she sounds childish. "Then why're you here if it's not to see Reimu...?"

"I need - or somebody else needs it I should say - your help with something." I tell her, slowly calming down from that brief surprise of her suddenly talking from my shoulder. I didn't even notice her get on my shoulder...

"...I dunno." She seems to give it some thought, seeming pretty skeptical. "The last time somebody asked for my help, it was for bad reasons...

Huh. She's got a good head on her for being skeptical. Good on her. Let's just... introduce myself first. "I'm Rajime Naga, I'm a... friend of Reimu's, if you will."

Not entirely wrong, but not entirely right either. Hopefully this helps to ease her skepticism a little...?

"Oh, yeah, I've heard about you!" She nods, looking in awe a little. "The Rebellious Rainbow Snake King of Creation!"

Pff-. W-Whah?!

"Oh my god. That's the best title I've ever heard anybody been given." Raiju almost bursts out laughing at this. I can hear him snickering.

S-Still, even if that's a funny and abrupt thing to be called, I play it off. "Is that what people're calling me...?"

"You're actually really popular! There've been rumours of a snake going around, clad in rainbow light, that descends from the heavens to fix people's problems by creating impossible outcomes!" Her face literally just looks like she's met a childhood hero. Do I have that much of an impression on people...? I know word of me has been going around Gensokyo thanks to a few people like Dezain, but still, this is... new. "And with its divine shield that adapts to the situation, it protects the cowering weak from the mean, strong people who cause incidents!"

Huh. Not... entirely wrong. "How'd that rumour come about? I'm honestly not that impressive..."

"A bunch of fairies started spreading it around, I think." She tilts her head, one finger to her lips in a gesture of thought. Her bowl wobbles a little as she does so. "But you're way more impressive than that! Reimu told me you helped resolve two incidents, like that nightmarish flood!"

Nightmarish flood. I'm imagining that would be terrifying for her, given her... petite size. "Gensokyo's my home too, at the end of the day."

"Despite the fact you live in Hell." Raiju off-handedly comments. She doesn't know that, so shut.

"Yeah!" She seems pretty happy to hear that, then realises she hasn't introduced herself. "Oh, um, I'm Shinmyoumaru Sukuna. I don't live at the shrine, bu~t... I kinda stay here sometimes. Namely 'cause I think Reimu gets lonely sometimes. I'm one of the last inchlings too, I think."

How kind of her. Also, that first name's a bit of a mouthful... and yet again, she's one of the few members of her kind.

...This is giving me Mizu vibes again.

"Do you mind if I call you Shinmy?" I ask her, looking to the door. Reimu still isn't back yet, so I'm presuming Raiko's really keeping her busy. Either that or Reimu got sidetracked on the way back by somebody.

"Huh? Oh, yeah! Please do!" She jumps at the opportunity. Okay, cool, makes it easier for me.

"Her first name has twelve characters in it. How the fuck." Raiju wonders aloud to himself. "She has one of the longest names ever, I think."

That's... true, actually. Then again, Hecatia's last name is 'Lapislazuli', and that's... eleven letters?

"What is it with people and having long names? The hell, man..." He sounds lost. Yeah, sometimes I wonder that too, but names are names, right?

"U~m... You said somebody needed my help, right...?" Shinmyoumaru breaks my focus on Raiju as I snap back to reality. Fortunately gravity is still here. "Why?"

"...They didn't tell me yet." I shake my head solemnly. Mizuchi, if anything, is cautious, I can say that much. Actually, Shinmy looks up to me, so maybe...? "But, see, the thing is, I'm undercover. The person in question's known to be a bad, bad person. I'm 'helping' them so I can figure out what they're up to and, if it's too dangerous, put a stop to it immediately. And I need your help to do it, Shinmy."

"Oh~!" Her eyes practically light up at this. "You could've said that before! I'd help the Rainbow Serpent no matter what!"

...Isn't the Rainbow Serpent something from Australian mythology? I heard something about it once when somebody jokingly compared me to it.

"I mean, we're British. We're just Australians that haven't specialised far enough in the tech skill tree yet." Raiju, kindly never say that again, even if it was well-timed. "That's what I do."

I know. And it's annoying.

...Wouldn't that make us Canadians that haven't gone into the medical and charisma skill tree yet though, by that logic...? Since, you know, the Commonwealth exists, and Canada's part of that...

"...Holy shit you're right." He just now realises that.

Stupidity aside, I nod at Shinmy with a soft smile. "I'm glad to hear that. So will you help me on my secret mission?"

"Yeah! Yeah yeah yeah!" She jumps up and down repeatedly on my shoulder. I barely feel anything since she's so small. It's kinda cute, actually. "Oh, I shouldn't say anything about this to anyone, right?"

"Mhm. Just, uh, be careful." I warn her, raising a finger as I start to leave Hakurei Shrine. "This person isn't anybody to take lightly."

"Uh-huh." Nodding obediently, she gives me a determined look. "I won't let you down! I promise!"

Daw. "Good girl. Now let's go." I leave the shrine again, quickly retreating into the silence of the night back to Misty Lake...

Despite her size, Shinmy is a very talkative person. And she's literally a child. She thought I was some fairy tale at first until she found out I actually existed, because this is Gensokyo we're talking about. If you can think of something, it probably exists here somewhere.

I keep thinking about that strange feeling I got whilst I was in the shrine though, and how odd Aegis was acting. It was getting warmer as if it meant to change form, yet it didn't...

And even then, I felt a strange sense of... familiarity. Like I should've been there, but I also shouldn't have been. It's an odd feeling and I don't know why.

...I could go back and ask Reimu about the shrine, seeing as how she's the shrine maiden. I could probably gather something from that... maybe.

She's been talking non-stop about how cool I was. I'm glad to know I'm thought of so highly among particular people such as her and fairies. I think she even said some of the village children look up to me. Apparently. Maybe it's because of Dezain or something like that. Or Trish feeding people misinformation, like she usually does. 

...I don't know why Trish finds misinforming people to be really funny though. I think it's cruel. We have our differences still, as one can tell.

"And then, um, and then..." Shinmy's also been retelling a time that Gensokyo almost got revolutionised whilst we walked to Misty Lake. Particularly because of an incident that she and an amanojaku called Seija caused. That mallet she's holding is called the Miracle Mallet, which reminded me that there was an oni-slaying inchling called Issun-boshi, the 'one-sun boy', from a particular Japanese fairy tale.

I'd let her continue, but we're at the lakeside. "We're here."

Satori, Shonin, and Rujo are gone, although they're presumably in hiding right now and are listening in.

"Oh. Um." Shinmyoumaru looks around in confusion. "...Okay."

She's really cute though. I don't know what it is, but you know that feeling people get when they see something small and precious? Yeah, that's how I see her right now. Small is cute.

"Small is puntable." Raiju. "Okay, THAT was in bad taste, but still."

Raiju.

"...Yeah, no, I should've kept my big dumb mouth shut." He sighs out tiredly.

Yes. You should.

"Ow." Raiko floats out from the trees, considerably beat up and looking pretty sour. I-. Good lord, what did Reimu do to her. Some of her drums look damaged and she has a comical looking bandage on her head. What happened. "...That really sucked."

"Hard day?" I stare at her, grinning a little.

"Heh, something like that." She exhales through her nose, amused by my humor. "Forgot how much those orbs hurt to get hit by." Then, Raiko notices Shinmyoumaru on my shoulder. "...I really hope this was worth it though, because getting beat up by the Hakurei for 'disturbing the peace' really wasn't on my agenda for tonight."

"...You were all that drumming and banging?" Shinmy speaks up, staring at Raiko. Actually, it's more like she's squinting.

"Damn right. Gotta exist to make some noise, little lady." Raiko looks down at Shinmyoumaru, floating closer towards us. "Now where the hell'd that ghost lady get off to...?"

"Right here. Just had something I needed to take care of." Mizuchi abruptly raises from the ground nearby, since ghosts can do that. Freaking spooky incorporeal entities, phasing in and out of walls constantly. Or floors.

"This is the person you asked for, right?" I gesture to the inchling on my shoulder. Act cool, like I definitely didn't just get another person in on a conspiracy within a conspiracy. A coup of a coup.

...Mizuchi takes a very close look at my shoulder, then spots the tiny girl. "Yep. Good job, you weren't a waste of time after all."

Shinmy looks slightly annoyed by that comment. Raiko does too. I, however, am not, namely because I know I am not a waste of time.

"Seriously, this better be worth it." Raiko stares at Mizuchi really hard. "What do you even need her for?"

"Yeah! What do you want?!" Shinmy abruptly points the needle she's carrying at the vengeful spirit.

"Of course, of course, you two've proved your worth, and you're a necessary step to the plan, so I may as well tell you what I have in mind." Mizuchi looks between me and Raiko first, then at Shinmy. "See, what I want is simple. I want to topple this unnatural order of youkai dominating humans. Level the playing field a little, if you will. Still, I'm not that much of an idiot and know that some youkai're needed in certain places, and that some're actually helpful."

"...Level the playing field?" I raise a brow a little. That doesn't sound too dissimilar to what Paletta wants to achieve with the Devas... although she's planning the synthesis of humans and youkai. The fusing of the two kinds, anyway. Mizuchi's just Mizuchi.

"Make it so that humans have a fighting chance, at least." Mizuchi dryly stares at me. "If not more than that anyway."

"...But humans're mean, sometimes." Shinmy pouts. Friend, please, work with me here.

"Yeah, but so're some youkai. Those bothersome types I really want to get rid of." Mizuchi presents a very fair counter to that.

...The inchling thinks on this. "You're right... I think."

She thinks.

"So where do more tsukumogami come into this?" Raiko really wants more tsukumogami to exist.

"That's easy." Mizuchi starts grinning maniacally, then looks at Shinmyoumaru, then the mallet she's holding. "That mallet, there. That's the Miracle Mallet, isn't it?"

"...Um." Shinmy looks at it, then back at the ghost. "...Yeah...?"

I notice the concerned look she's giving me. I give her a reassuring glance in return, softening my gaze. That... seems to help dissolve her concern a little.

"See, what I want to do is simple. Real simple." Mizuchi snaps her fingers, yet it doesn't make sound, since she literally doesn't have a physical body, as logic would have it. "I want you to take that mallet there into the main Human Village, and I want you to use it to make a bunch of the equipment the villagers typically use into tsukumogami."

"O~h." Raiko nods, liking the idea. "I can dig that. But, uh... how're tsukumogami gonna help 'level the playing field' or whatever?"

"That's where you come in." Looking at the drum tsukumogami, Mizuchi leans closer to her. "You're one yourself. Convince them to follow you out of the village before anybody can intervene. The more tsukumogami made, the better."

"Oh. But, uh, the thing is, I know for a fact the energy tsukumogami get from that mallet's limited." Raiko... makes an argument. That's a fair point. "Hell, I had to ditch my old drum kit for a new one to borrow magic from outside Gensokyo."

"...That'd be an issue then." Mizuchi thinks, then looks at me, seemingly getting an idea. "Bu~t that shouldn't be too hard of an issue for you to solve. You're a Naga. You can create things, right?"

"Perhaps." I raise a brow at her. "What I want to know is what you intend to do with the tsukumogami after they're made and out of the village."

Mizuchi thinks on this for a little. "I intend to use them for something, although I can't share that part just yet. RIsk of people eavesdropping, and all that. Youkai supremacists want to silence me permanently for seeking a way to give humans a leg up, a way to fight back."

"That sounds awful..." Wait, Shinmy actually believes this? Either that or she's a scarily good actor.

"Yeah, it is." The ghost deadpans, but quickly regains her tempo, giving me a very hard stare, before noticing Aegis. "Still, I need you to create energy for the tsukumogami. Say, that shield there. Hmm..."

"That thing has a mind of its own, I think." Raiko also looks at it, furrowing her brows. "Dunno. There's something about it."

What? "...You mean to say it's like a tsukumogami?"

"Kinda, but not really. Then again, I have a pretty good feel for what is and isn't one." Raiko doesn't seem too sure. "That thing's new."

"...I could hit it with the Miracle Mallet..." Shinmy speaks up again, looking at the golden mallet in her hands, then at Aegis.

"Try it." Mizuchi wants her to hit the shield with the mallet.

...I'm kinda curious to see what happens, actually.

"You sure letting a mallet that does who fucking knows what hit Aegis is a good idea?" Raiju asks, sounding pretty curious. You're curious what'll happen too though, aren't you? "Fair."

"Go ahead." I tell the inchling, holding Aegis out for prime bonking. 

"Okay! Mallet, transform!" Hopping up into the air, Shinmy raises the mallet above her, and as she comes down on it, she slams it down-.

Bwam!

It... made a weird noise when it impacted Aegis. Like metal on metal, but... off.

...Aegis is also violently glowing with pure white energy, but not visibly changing. Um. Um. That's not normal.

"...Huh." Mizuchi stares at it. "Well, you made a beacon, at least."

"...That's not what... normally happens, though...?" Shinmy stares at it in confusion and wonder as she hops back onto my shoulder.

I wonder what Raiju has to say about this.

...

Raiju? Um. Why're you so quiet-?

Fwu~!

Suddenly I am now glowing, and Aegis isn't. "Oh. This is bothersome."

"...Uh." The ghost seems really confused now. "...You good over there?"

"Whahah?!" Shinmy's surprised, almost falling off my shoulder.

"Wow." Raiko snaps her fingers at me. "You're shining like a diamond. Literally!"

"I am glowing. Also, diamonds don't shine. They reflect." I look at Raiko dryly, then myself. "...I don't really feel anything different though-."

Chi~mimim~!

Oh sweet Lubrae what the hell-.

At the same time... (Raiju POV)

I... I feel really weird for some reason. I feel cold air, despite the fact I know for a fact Rajime didn't let me take the reins. 

...

I'm also surrounded by a very white bright light at the moment and it is near-fucking-impossible to see anything in a two meter radius. Fun times.

All I remember is the gremlin bonking Aegis with that funny mallet, then, uh... silence? Rajime wasn't talking to me - or the others anymore - and then I... uh... lost any and all focus and memories of the past... five minutes, I wanna say~...? 

Look, normally I don't feel like I had my head thrown into a tumbledrier, which is a really weird sentence to say aloud, but... uh... that's exactly what it feels like right now.

Mimimi~...

Ohp-. The literal flashbang going off around me is dying down~...?

"...Ow..." I hear... Rajime? Wait, Rajime? The fuck...

...Once the light's died down I get a look around where I am. I-. I'm at Misty Lake. Rajime is stood opposite me. I see, uh, smooth criminal Raiko, the bowl-hatted gremlin, and the fuckboy phantom girl herself Mizuchi.

...

Wait. Something is not right here. How the fuck is Rajime there and I'm... here?

"...Okay, what the hell is this." Mizuchi looks between me, and Rajime, so that means I'm visible.

...I look down at my outfit. Grey, lightweight hunter's clothes. There's a knife in a sheath towards my right shoulder. There's this weird fucking harness-like thing around my waistline made out of special-looking chainmail. It even crackles with electricity. Neat. I even have baggy pants, so those're comfy. I'm wearing black and white gloves, and u~h... actually, none of my body's showing outside of my face and comically long silver hair.

...

Holy shit I got real. "Woo! Freedom!"

"Raiju, shut-..." Rajime groggily looks over at me, then just now realises what is wrong. "...Wait, Raiju?"

"O~kay, so does somebody mind filling me in on why another person just came out of you?" Mizuchi seems absolutely fucking bewildered. Good for her.

"Well, uh... two guys in one is cool?" Raiko doesn't seem like she knows what to make of this. She has a big dumb stupid grin on her face.

...I just now realised I'm free to say whatever the hell I want without consequence. Nifty. "Okay, so basically, whatever was happening with the shield there after it got bonked transferred to Rajime, then it somehow caused me to... exist? In reality? At the same time as him? By the way, hi, I'm Raiju. I'm Rajime's alternate self. I'm an asshole. But not really."

"Please just shut up." Rajime pinches his temple, obviously embarrassed by my dumbassery. Okay!

...Shinmy has a look of revelations. "Whah?! The mallet's never done that before!"

Nifty.

"Anywho~." I stretch my legs a little. Man, I feel way different compared to whenever I'd take over for Rajime. More free. More lithe. Less arthritis from sitting hunched over drawing and writing all day! I feel great! I am the fucking strong! "Yeah. I'm Raiju, like I said."

...I have a distinct urge to turn down the, uh, tone. For the nonexistent people in my head, that's why. I exist now and that's all that matters!

Also-. I don't feel like a woman. Probably something to check out later, right?

"No kidding." Mizuchi stares at me with intrigue. "You're still a Naga, right?"

"Perchance I may be." I decide to be an ass, because fuck you, ghost woman who exists to spite Reimu and seems like a poorly written character! Maybe that's my hidden sixth sense speaking for me. "Why ask?"

"Because you're literally nothing like him." Mizuchi gestures to Rajime, raising a brow. "...How stupid are you?"

"That entirely depends on the situation." I nod knowingly, a very smug smile on my face.

"He's a menace to society if that helps." Rajime lowers his eyes. "Imagine having him in the back of your head since a few days ago."

"...That'd probably drive me insane." Raiko contemplates audibly. "Huh. Is he that annoying?"

...Just because of that comment, I pick up a rock and casually throw it at her-.

Bonk.

"Pftuh-." That hit her? Well-. It hit her right in the cheek. "Okay, yeah, he's annoying."

"But useful." For some ungodly reason, Mizuchi thinks I am useful. My sister in, uh, any god in existence, I am literally the opposite. The only thing I am useful for is extra muscle and absolutely annoying people to no end.

"That's really you...?" Shinmy asks Rajime, to which he solemnly nods to.

"Regrettably, yes. He does have his charms, but they're... very random, as is Raiju himself." Rajime commentates on my existence as I kick and punch at the air a little since I'm finally able to stretch my legs properly for the first time in, uh, a really long time.

...I wonder. "If you hit him again with that mallet, will another me just spawn?" 

"No." Rajime shakes his head, denying that possibility. "Just-. No."

Daw.

"I don't think that's, um... even possible, or if that was even supposed to... happen...?" Shinmy doesn't even seem sure what to do now. Technically speaking, this is her fault for even contemplating hitting Aegis with the funny mallet.

"Okay, uh... meeting... adjourned, I guess?" Mizuchi thinks for a moment. "Next time, meet in the Human Village in the dead of night. Fly over the wall or show up there spontaneously, whatever works I guess."

"If I am bothered enough." I nod like an ass.

"...Just show up." Mizuchi gives me a dry look before going into the floor again, as ghosts do.

...

Well then! "Today has been very productive."

"Yeah. A menace got unleashed." Rajime stares at me. "What am I even gonna do with you...?"

Friend. "Well, uh..." I think on it, tapping my head a little.

...Actually. "I got nothing."

"There's usually some, um, price to using the mallet's power, too. I dunno what it took though." Shinmy furrows her brows fluffily, despite the fact I can barely fucking see her on Rajime's shoulder. I have superb eyesight. Fucking laser focus.

...How would a zoom function on eyes work, I wonder? Like, y'know, that stupid zoom thing you can do in some video games that, despite the player not having a scope of some kind, can magically zoom in on things. Do their eyes just... extend, behind the scenes? I wonder about that sometimes.

Oh, also, Rajime's probably going to have to explain my stupid ass to everyone he meets. Cool.

Well, not cool for him, but I can terrorise people without restraint.

...Speaking of Rajime, I get a closer look at him. Her. Actually, is it just me, or does he seem more... feminine now that we've split...?

"...Actually, uh..." Raiko speaks up, giving Rajime a weird stare. "...You always look like that?"

"...Look like what?" Rajime tilts his head. That's when I notice it. His eyes're a more bright blue and he seems softer-looking.

Hold up, if I'm the masculinity of Rajimarin, and Rajime's the feminine side-.

Holy shit I just realised what's really different about him.

"You look more like a woman now." Raiko points out.

Rajime has an actual chest. Holy shit. I'll still call Rajime like I would a guy, because that's what he wants to be known as, but uh... I'm seriously doubting that since he has a bust. A small bust, but a far more noticeable one, Jesus fuck!

"I-. I do?" He looks down, then realises. "...Oh. Maybe the price was my masculinity...?"

"Wait, you're actually a girl?!" Raiko just now realises this fact.

"The Rainbow Serpent's a woman?!" Shinmy gasps in surprise, but she seems weirdly happy about that...

"I mean." I speak up, raising my hand. "...Rajime has always been a girl. He just assumed the identity of a guy because he did not have a chest that big when we were still the same person. He was deceptively boyish."

"I will punch you." Rajime glares at me. Okay, noted, and ignored. "What's with that weird harness on your waist, anyway?"

"...Good question!" I poke it, only to get shocked. Ow. What's weird about that shock was that it didn't hurt, all I felt was the static. Hmm. I could probably electrocute the entirety of Misty Lake by jumping in-. Wait, no, Rujo's in there. Balls.

"Huh. Learn something new everyday." Raiko clicks her tongue, before starting to drift away. "C'mon, let's go get some drinks before it gets too late and all the good places shut."

"Ah, right..." Rajime starts following her. I do too! 

Now how is Rajime going to explain this to Trish, I wonder.

Later... (Rajime POV)

...I didn't expect Raiko to take us to Outer Heaven. Trish's bar, I mean. She said it had a pretty good reputation and she's played a one-off drum session here. Trish was 'kind' enough to give her a beer bottle to smash over someone's head. Basically, normal Trish activity.

"...Huh. So you've been busy." Trish comments. I've been telling her about the... everything that's happened today in a very dull manner. Because I'm tired.

"Busier than busy busy!" Raiju chimes in like an idiot. 

"...Yeah." Sis just grins at the maniac that was formerly in my head. "Still, alternate egos becoming real people, huh...? That Miracle Mallet's some crazy stuff."

"It is!" Shinmy pipes up from the bar counter, holding the aforementioned mallet in her hands. "Um... Sorry about causing your brother any annoyances...?"

"Nah, it's fine with me what you do, as long as it's not too impactful." Trish folds her arms, scratching her cheek. "Still, uh, bloody hell. You actually look like a girl now, Rajime. You sure you wanna keep claiming you're a guy...?"

"I know." I groan into my hand. How am I gonna explain this new growth to people...? 

"In my defense, I am a guy. I think." Raiju chimes in abruptly from behind me, jumping up a little to make himself known. 

"You think." Trish gives him a dry look. "I could check."

"Nice try." He grins, shaking his head. "I know exactly what you're talking about. Mate, I'm Rajime. He's me. Or, uh, she's me?"

"Menaces to society aside, I uh... I didn't know Jiyu-sama was actually your sister." Raiko speaks up from my right, downing a bottle of sake. Apparently, Trish sells booze by the bottle here. She gave me some of Curo's special homebrew tea though, since she knows I don't drink alcoholic stuff.

"Oh, no, he is. Or she. Fuck." Trish helpfully nods. 

"They." Somebody else adds. You know that amanojaku I mentioned earlier, that Shinmy told me about? Seija? Yeah, she's here. Apparently she's the 'asshole house cat' Trish mentioned that one time as well. What a coincidence.

Basically, she has black hair with white and red highlights, little horns, red eyes, and the most confusing outfit I've seen yet. A white dress that ends in this odd red, black, and gray spade pattern that somehow both point downwards and upwards at the same time. Somehow, her dress is wrapped with an upside-down blue bow. How she managed that is beyond me. Oh, and she has sandals on, plus this gold bracelet on her right arm.

...A very contrarian person as I've come to find out. She almost always means the opposite of what she vocalises. Trish pointed that out very quickly.

Then again... Looking like a mature woman my age might not be a bad thing necessarily. I could wear bindings underneath my shirt, maybe. And I'd look more in line with the general populace...

On the other hand, people are really used to seeing me as a guy, and I don't know how to deal with this facade I built. How the hell could I have expected that Raiju getting his own body instead of crashing in mine would result in me looking like an adult woman?

"Also, I absolutely despise you and your sister." Seija points at me. Thank you for saying 'you like my style'. "You two are very normal."

What she means to say is 'I like you and your sister, you two are really unusual'. Amanojaku are weird.

"I hate you too." Trish shakes her head, but I imagine she's just talking in a way Seija understands. 

"...You two also really confuse me." Raiko looks between the two of them.

"Good." They both reply simultaneously.

"Seija's like that." Shinmy smiles up at Raiko. 

"And Trish is just naturally very contrarian." I take a mouthful of the tea I've been drinking. It's in this ornate teacup that, when you finish it, says 'look behind you', or really it's look in any direction. When I do that, it's magically full again. I don't know how Curo manages to do that without anybody noticing either.

"She's also an ass." Raiju helpfully nods. Important information.

"Please just shut up. Again." I turn to him, staring with annoyance.

"Nuh uh." He shakes his head. "I will not be sile-."

Thwap!

Suddenly, there is grey tape over his mouth and Curo is stood beside him with a roll of sticky tape. "He said be quiet, you annoyance to the general public."

Pffft. "Thank you, Curo."

"My pleasure." He bows before disappearing, as Raiju rips the tape off of his lips.

"...How the hell does he work." Raiju looks around in wonder for a moment.

"Very carefully, you see." Trish grins like a jerk at him. 

"...Noted!" Raiju takes this as a sign to not ask any further questions regarding Curo. Probably for the better because, knowing him, they'd be really stupid questions that have really obvious answers.

...Also I'm tired. I look up at Trish. "Can I just sleep here tonight?"

"Sure." She nods as I just faceplant on the counter, putting my arms around my head for comfort reasons.

"...He normally like that?" I hear Raiko ask.

Trish hums for a moment. "Usually when something really bothers him. Like that idiot."

"I am a smart idiot." Raiju sounds smug. Please, somebody shut him up so I can sleep...

BAM!

That loud noise makes my head jerk up and look over-

"Ow." -only to find Raiju embedded in the ceiling with Seija sticking her middle finger out at him. Ah... Charming. "What the fuck."

"Honestly, I'm not gonna lie, you deserved that for being so irritating. Also for throwing that rock at me earlier." Raiko looks up at him with a mirthful grin.

Trish looks at Seija slowly, then has an annoyed look, not saying anything. She's... probably annoyed about the damage that might cause to the ceiling.

...Seija looks back at her. "Alright, alright, sheesh fine. No need to get a stick up your ass."

Thud.

"Fu-." Raiju falls to the floor loudly. "O~w, my bones..."

"...Um..." Shinmy looks at me. I glance at her. "Just, um... get some sleep...? I'll stay here with you."

"...Thanks." I nod, then go back to trying to sleep... hopefully...

As everyone else arounds me talk, I slowly start to lose consciousness, probably from sheer mental exhaustion and Raiju being annoying alone... among other factors... like thinking of how to explain my newfound... 'growth'... to people later... This sucks...

...