/jp/ - Otaku Culture

"Yuuma Toutetsu, matriarch of the Gouyoku Alliance, at your service." She slammed the spork against the cave floor, then bowed, stretching her arms outward. I introduced myself, then asked Yuuma if she had come from the Hot Spring Town. "I came through there. From the Hell of Blood Pools." The Hell of Blood Pools? That reminded me that Yamame had mentioned some 'strange girl' who was down there, and Yuuma here seemed to fit that description. Then, I asked her why she was here, if she'd been in Former Hell. "Is that the business of someone who isn't part of the Gouyoku Alliance?" She asked me, her rusty voice sharpening slightly. I swallowed and raised my hands, and after staring at me for a moment, during which I caught sight of her sharp teeth, she shrugged.

"I'm looking for someone. A subordinate." I doubted that I knew anyone from the Gouyoku Alliance. From what I was aware of, they were from Hell. "She came up here months ago, and hasn't been back since." Yuuma looked away, out toward the village. "She's the lazy sort. Doesn't move around much. Probably wearing some sort of oversized T-shirt with a stupid slogan on it." I frowned. That sounded...familiar. Like Chiyari Tenkajin, the youkai who was living in my house. "I'm...worried about her." Yuuma murmured. I asked her why, since I would have thought that as a youkai, she could take care of herself. "On the surface? With all these youkai exterminators? I told her that she needed to get out more, but I didn't mean to-" Suddenly, she clamped her mouth shut. "Why am I telling you this?" She growled. "Are you really a human? You've gotten me talking." I nodded, a little confused by the change in demeanour. "Forget it. I'll find her myself." I called out before she could leave, and she turned and pointing the giant spork at me. "What? I'm trying to be nice, but you're pushing me now." I said that I thought she should check the village first, but she might stand out a bit looking like she did. "Oh, that's my business. Have you seen her?" I slowly said that I thought I might have. "I don't need weak people, but you've given me a clue, so I'll leave you for now." Yuuma told me, nodding once. "Perhaps I'll see you again. Perhaps not. Perhaps you'll be strong enough to recruit into the Gouyoku Alliance by then." She didn't leave me a chance to respond before she turned and took off at a sprint into the snow, leaving me thoroughly mystified.

"Well, Yams looked nice and embarrassed once I started asking her what you two have been up to since I last saw you!" Kisami called, coming back down the tunnel toward me. She'd changed up her outfit slightly, the short shirt switched out for a dark, but not quite black, sweater and a long brown coat that was somewhat like the one that Yamame had worn once. "Yams lent me this. Has that girl gone?" She asked, looking around curiously. "I didn't even know who she was, but she seemed strong, so I decided to just talk to her normally." That was probably a good decision, I said, though I privately thought that to some people, Kisami acting normal might be slightly dangerous. "So! You want to marry Yams." Kisami asked me, getting closer. "Which means you need a ring." I nodded, unsure where she was going with this. "Which means," Kisami spun on her heels and half fell, half walked, past me and to the edge of the snow, "You'll need materials." I expected so, but I didn't really know where to get them, so I was hoping that Kisami could help.

"Well...I do know where. One place in Gensokyo where you'll find enough for what you need, but it's...Actually, you'll be fine." That sounded...Not entirely promising, but I supposed that I would make do. "Yeah! Everyone makes friends with you, despite-" She frowned. "No, er, never mind. C'mon, let's get going." Going where? I followed her out into the snow, which began to rise once we'd gotten past whatever Yuuma had blasted. It seemed that the snow really had fallen thickly. "There's one mine I know of, and that's where all the materials I'll ever need are. It's just..." Just what, I asked as I jogged to keep up with Kisami. "You might need something first. Er, I forgot that you humans need to breathe." Wait, did youkai not- "So, um...Let's just get over there first, then we'll figure that out." Again, I tried to ask her where she was talking about.

"Up Youkai Mountain, obviously." Kisami told me, calling over her shoulder. "That's where the mine is." I'd heard Lady Kasen talk about a mine on the mountain. She'd said that Reimu had nearly suffocated inside, which...didn't bode well for me.

Still, I would probably be able to muddle through. I could always just wait outside. Who was going to accost me up there, anyway?