HikikoHime
Apprentice
Posts: 20
Favorite Touhou Chara: Hatate
I am offline
|
Post by HikikoHime on Feb 19, 2024 5:46:45 GMT
Chapter 1: You Saw This Coming
I've always been the type to live life on the razor's edge, doing as I pleased until the day I die. The fact that I'm still alive means I can keep at it. But to think that I would be saved by Himekaido Hatate, of all people. I always observed her from a distance, the few times she actually left her house anyway, always trying to find an excuse to approach her and talk, but for such circumstances to finally bring us together was... certainly unexpected.
Though I had failed in my mission, I certainly caused quite a stir in the Tengu Village and am now a wanted criminal for dueling several Tengu and even opposing the "Great Tenma" himself. Now I'm quite the powerful little thing, once called a god in the past, but I never thought he would be that strong, and being outnumbered certainly didn't help.
Logically, whatever it was that possessed me still doesn't add up, but Hatate's actions were even stranger. I was here, sitting in her room, sharing tea with her while the Tengu are outside looking for me, likely to imprison me if I'm lucky, but based on Tenma's anger, I doubt I'll get away so easily.
Finally, I simply had to break the silence between the two of us since I was still uncertain if I really was 'saved' or not.
"...Why did you save me?" Those are the only words that came out. Wow. Way to go Himeko.
Hatate just shrugged and finally replied "I wonder." while casually sipping her tea.
"Hah. Still, wouldn't you get in serious trouble protecting me?" I said, trying to remain equally casual as I asked the obvious.
She shrugged again "Obviously, but I'm pretty sick of this lifestyle."
"Enough to betray your Tengu brothers and sisters?"
Hatate thought a bit of her next reply but finally responded dryly "Enough to take the side of the idiot who was stupid enough to challenge the Great Tenma." Ouch. Strike one.
"Hah! I appreciate you covering for me, but I don't buy that for a second!" it's only AFTER that statement I realized how ungrateful I was being. Geez, that's two strikes Himeko.
"Believe what you want." Yet again, the fair tengu sips her tea and shrugs as if she's unfazed by what's going on. I'm becoming that much more intrigued by the stylish yet brooding beauty.
"No uh I mean..." I trailed off unsure if I crossed the line too much she'd turn me in. I wasn't exactly at full power so I had to choose my words carefully, yet holding back goes against my beliefs. "...There has to be more than the simple boredom of your lifestyle to risk throwing everything away."
"What 'life'?" She responded with clear annoyance in her voice "Being the shadow of Aya and the other Tengu? Lacking popularity? Being overworked all the time with no reward or rest in sight? Please, silly tanuki, tell me what it is exactly I'm 'throwing away'?
I had nothing. Partly because I was surprised at her voice suddenly becoming loud and sour but also because, honestly, that sounded like a prison sentence to me.
"Honestly..." She finally broke the silence going back to her calming voice "...I've been keeping my eye on you with my ability. You've been turning Gensokyo upside down and are somehow still alive, as a yokai. I mean, really, how could I NOT be intrigued by someone who hasn't been exterminated by Hakurei or Moriya? There's plenty of powerful yokai, sure, but to consistently cause pranks toward the powerful yet ally yourself with the weak is a bold, if not idiotic disadvantage."
Considering she keeps calling me and my actions idiotic, I couldn't help but feel mildly relaxed by her words. Maybe I'm some kinda masochist? Heh...
"...Actually, why DID you go up against Tenma anyway?" As she asked this, Hatate finally directed her eyes and met mine, with a curious yet fierce glare in her eyes.
"Dunno." I said while shrugging, trying to look cool "I guess... I just wanted to do away with the Tengu Caste System."
To my surprise, Hatate just broke into laughter at that response "Now THAT I don't believe! There's no way some unknown Tanuki is the "Champion of Tengu Rights"! I mean, if we consider your unusual fixation with the Myouren Temple, you're just a bored prankster who's picking fights!" After saying that, she just completely lost it, holding her stomach as she kept slamming the table in amusement and clearly was making fun of me. No matter how cute she is, now I'm a bit annoyed.
"Fine. I'll tell you why." I said while hanging my shoulders at her humiliating laughter, deciding to go another route with her "I found you to be both intelligent and beautiful. You've got a particular look and style that's my type. And ever since I first saw you, I wanted to brush and tie up your hair someday. I want to be your friend. There I said it." And indeed I did say it. Wonderful Himeko. Strike three.
"Hah! I believe that even LESS." She said while keeping her patronizing tone "Are you telling me you turned the Tengu society upside down and made an enemy of them just to impress me? Come ON!" After that, she chugged her tea as if it was sake and she was an alcoholic in withdrawal.
"For the most part" I said, with a cool poker face, deciding to be my little, jerky, defiant self.
"What kind of answer is that?" she responded while sighing, coming back from how high the laughter made her "What other 'reasons' are there?"
"I said it already didn't I? The Caste System is stupid. It's not a Tengu specific reasoning and just wanted to get rid of it. Actually..." I trailed off wondering if I should state this but, well, I was annoyed with her so I risked my safety and life on it "...I overheard you complaining about it a while back in an isolated area within the Yokai Mountain."
"Wh-what are you talking about?!" For once I got her back and made her blush. I guess she didn't think anyone knew of that place and was embarrassed to know someone found her secret hiding place. She tried to play it off but her reaction had the reverse effect. But in terms of impressing her that'd probably be a fourth strike... Wow. I'm still alive.
"Hey I wasn't TRYING to overhear you." I said calmly, which is actually true. "Considering I'm often on the run because of my pranks, I had to find an isolated area and boy, did I ever find it, alongside the fairest denizen in all of Gensokyo: The Beautiful, Modern Day Spirit Photographer Reporter, Himekaido Hatate"
"E-even though we're both girls..." That made Hatate blush even further. It seemed she wasn't buying it but was at least mildly flattered all the same. "...And did you REALLY have to add the 'beautiful' part? That's just..." she trailed off and just sighed, not knowing what to say.
I was on a roll so I decided to go all in with the details, explaining my actions to her:
"Well, based on what I heard, it sounded to me as if you felt trapped and suffocated by the Tengu Society as a whole and figured my actions would get your attention. As I said it was mostly for you, but also due to my distaste for constriction. I respect and pursue freedom which is why I'm at home with fairies in particular. Using them as an example, I detest how others in Gensokyo look down on them when, really, they are the purest souls around and are truly my allies, though they certainly wouldn't stake their lives on a prank of this scale..." I trailed off a bit, gathering my thoughts and continued "'Strength' isn't just the ability to win danmaku battles and defeat opponents and I believe fairies have the greatest strength of all: freedom. It speaks to me, and I wish to spread that ideology, even while risking my own life in accomplishing it. So, to answer your question, that is 'why', Fairest Lady Tengu."
After saying all that, Hatate remained silent, just looking into her now empty cup of tea as if in deep thought. Her condescending laughter was gone, as was her embarrassed look and her fierce tengu curiosity. Now, she was simply an individual who truly didn't know what to say or how to react.
We both sat there quietly for a while and I finally decided to break the silence while changing the subject, though why I went this direction is beyond me to this day: "Anyway, it's going to take a while to recover my magic and strength. As I am now, you could easily turn me in and become a hero among your kind-"
"Hmph. What then?" She interrupted with mild annoyance "It ultimately wouldn't change anything. Siding with you is the only shot I have at... freedom"
I was surprised at that statement honestly. Is that why she spared me? Because a part of her actually wanted me to succeed...?
"So... does that mean you're declaring yourself my ally?" I just had to say that with my usual cocky grin. Stirke five?
"And ONLY your 'ally'." she said while blushing and looking away "Nothing more than that."
"Hehe, I got time." Just as I said that, thinking I finally 'hit', my journal began to glow. Looks like its working its lovely magic once more.
"Hey, I was meaning to ask about that weird book you were carrying... what is it?"
"Ah this? It's a Journal that writes itself. Suzu-chan and I named it the 'Shadow Flower journal'."
I had let Suzu-chan's name slip and it apparently annoyed Hatate even if slightly.
"Suzu-chan?" she shrugged with a disappointed annoyance and continued "Now I see how it is. You already got your eyes on other girls. Guess I SHOULD turn you in after all-"
"Hey hold on!" I said desperately trying to save myself "Suzu-chan... Uh... Mootori Kosuzu-san is a good friend of mine and is like a sister! Besides... she's already got someone special to her." Gah! Why did I say that second part?! Strike six?!
But to my surprise, Hatate began giggling and leaned in with her arrogance returning "I was only joking. I don't care if you're a hopeless flirt who never succeeds"
"Nothing ventured nothing gained, right?"
"Ugh... somehow, I get the feeling that's going to be annoying down the line." Hatate shrugged and followed that with a question "So, what do you plan on doing now?"
"Gotta lay low in my new base: The Himekaido Residence"
Strike seven. She looked incredibly pissed at that statement and how I said it.
"Uh, I mean... I'd like to stay here for a bit and rest. You know, to get my power back and stuff!"
Hatate sighed, rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache dealing with me "Look, as long as you keep your hands to yourself, you can stay. I'm usually in my room anyway so if you lay low, you'd be just like the rest of my furniture anyway."
"Ouch, but at least I can stay"
"For now."
"Hm... okay then. To make it up to you, I'll be your personal Tanuki Maid in the meantime!"
"Uh... maid?"
...Strike eight. Himeko, just shut up already.
"Well yea I mean it wouldn't hurt to clean this mess-"
"If you don't like it, then feel free to see yourself to the door and be greeted by countless hostile Tengu~" ...I wanna say that was a strike nine, but the sadistic smile she had made me feel she was enjoying this. Maybe this was hit two?
"H-hey I didn't mean it like THAT just that, uh... I mean, I was offering to clean up as a way to thank you for letting me stay. It wasn't meant as an insult, I promise!" Indeed it wasn't... I just wanted to play dress up while living with a cute stylish girl.
"Tanuki are famed liars." she said, with an incredulous look on her face.
"And Tengu aren't?" OK HIMEKO SHUT UP ALREADY GAWD!
"Ouch, but I can't argue that one." She said to my surprise and, if anything, looked away with mild shame.
"Then it's a deal!" I said with a bright smile, reaching out and grabbing her hand to shake it, showing my sincere gratitude. And yes, I WAS grateful since the alternative was a swift death by Tengu.
"Hey, didn't I tell you to keep your hands to yourself?! Geez!" Hatate pulled her hand away from mine and began rubbing it on her skirt as if getting filth off of it. Mean, but I can consider that my third hit.
"Okie dokie then! I guess I'll just take a nap right here! I promise to get started as your maid once I wake up!" I said, acting as if all was well.
"Hey..." Hatate said with an evil grin "Tanuki aren't THAT trusting. You're obviously planning something."
I returned that grin and shade back "Just as tengu aren't selfless creatures who do favors out of the kindness of their hearts. You obviously wouldn't house a felon unless you found value in it beyond doing your chores. I'm all for negotiating with you... after I get my sleep."
"You seriously trust me enough to just sleep in my living room?" She asked, surprised I'd drop my guard in front of someone who should be my enemy and could potentially be tricking me.
"I got next to no power right now, so you could easily turn me in. If that's my fate in or out of your house, I'll take a chance and trust you. I got nothing to lose right?"
Hatate laughed at that logic and began walking toward her room "Hah. Do whatever you want then, you crazy tanuki."
©2009-2015, Lunatic Red™, All Rights Reserved.
|
