Alternate Happy version

You are a human from the human village. You have always been somewhat of an outcast, but not on account of you own doing. Your parents always went around spouting crazy ideas about how humans could coexist with youkai. Until one night when they wandered too far afield and were eaten by Rumia. There wasn't much left of their remains, but all that was your parents was interred at the Myouren Temple graveyard.

You resented them for their eccentricity, for you not being able to have a normal life. Children your own age even told jokes that you were a youkai yourself. For a while you lived in your parents home, doing what you could to eat. But one night you returned to find only ashes. You suspected it was a particularly vicious youkai hunter that had often been at odds with your parents. It didn't make sense to you, but as an orphan with no place to live you spent the days begging.

After a while you began to often visit your parents' grave. Afterall, you did love them, byut maybe it was more out of a sense of hopelessness. One evening when solemnly shuffling out of the graveyard, you start hearing another set of footsteps, just out of sync with yours. It's probably just a fairy, but to be safe you begin to pick up the pace a little, but the footsteps get closer and louder, and you start running through the list of youkai you know how to deal with in your head. Unfortunately, you run through that list pretty quickly, and you start thinking about the ones you can't handle.

Just as you're getting to some of the really mean ones, Kogasa drops down in front of you, hanging by her knees from a tree-branch. You were so absorbed in thought that you reflexively jump back, and before you can recover yourself, her huge umbrella-tongue gives your face a nice long lick. She giggles, says "Thanks for the meal, mister!", and floats away into the sky, leaving you weak and drained, barely able to stumble back into the human village.

For days you felt drained, barely able to drag yourself out of your ramshackle hovel to beg. The nicer residents would throw you some food here and there. Just enough to eat. It was funny. Had you been a normal boy with friends, they might have made fun of you for being scared by the blue-haired, young girl holding that ugly umbrella. But for you, it was just an inconvenience.

After a while you began visiting Myouren Temple again. You weren't really worried that Kogasa would bother you again, and if another youkai ate you, well you didn't feel like you'd mind very much.

When you arrive, you see a green head and a pair of dog ears sweeping.

"HEY THERE"

you cover your ears. That damn youkai is so loud.

"s-sorry" She said, a little quieter "Byakuren wanted to talk to you"

Your parents and Byakuren had been on good terms, but you had never really spoken with her. You find her easily in the main room of the temple.

"Hello there. You parents and I were good friends you know. It was shame what happened to them, and to your house. People and youkai inflict such suffering onto one another... As a way of upholding our friendship, I'd like to invite you to join the temple as a priest. You'd have a place to stay and meals."

"No thanks" you reply without much thought.

"I see... well at least accept this found" She hands you a nicely wrapped bundle. "I wish you to stay in good health"

You take the food and with bow head out to the graveyard. Your parents would have wanted you to take her offer, but why didn't you? Why do you keep coming here, even? To sit in front of the grave and curse them? To will them back to life? Honestly, it sounded like a good deal. But somehow, you just couldn't accept the handout. Despite you parent's views, it didn't sit right with you, accepting a handout from a youkai. Call it stubborn pride...

You're leaving the temple at dusk, again. Again, you hear a set of footsteps trailing behind you and a faint giggle from a familiar, yet aggravating voice. You grit your teeth, clenching your fists as you take the same exact route back home.

Unsurprisingly, Kogasa repeats the same exact tactic she used to scare you the first time. Her legs hooked around the branch of a tree, she swings down and lets out a shriek. "Bero bero baa!!" However, in response you just remain standing there, glaring at her.

Recognizing that her plan had failed, Kogasa slowly grew nervous as she remained dangling from the tree, unsure of what to do. However, in the next instant she laid crumpled on the ground, dazed and confused as to what had just transpired. Her cheek bore a deep red mark, likely going to bruise. Feeling your presence looming over her, Kogasa brought her gaze upwards. Her vision was obscured by the tears welling up in her eyes as the pain began to register in her brain.

You cock back your fist to hit her again, your frustration from the past weeks ready to unleash itself on the diminutive youkai. Youkai were responsible for you ending up this way, and here this runt has the nerve to fuck with you.

"w-wait mister, please! I'm sorry!" She cried, her voice shrill and breaking.

But rather than feeling satisfaction at getting back at the youkai who scared you so bad, you feel only pity. Looking at the youkai kneeling in the dirt on the path, you ask her

"Why do you wait out here and scare people? It's not nice to scare people already in mourning, you know."

As it registered that you weren't going to hit her again, she slowly lifted her teary eyes.

"W-well humans are the ones that threw me away. Why shouldn't I scare them? What else should I do...I'm useless..."

Her voice became quiet and trailed off. She sat their crestfallen.

"Well now that I know your tricks you won't scare me again, so don't try it."

You told the youkai, perhaps a little too coldly. Stepping around her, you walk past her back to the human village. But Kogasa didn't leave your mind. Having been cast away, and living without a purpose, she reminds you of yourself. The thought stays with you for a long time, still playing back in your mind as you try and fall asleep in your drafty hovel.

It had taken some time, but finally you had begun to crawl up out of the gutter. Through hard work and tenacity you had been able to make some money for yourself. It wasn't much, but you could afford to eat enough and upgrade your falling apart ramshackle hut into something just habitable. People still weren't really acceptive of you, but what did it matter?
It had been a couple of weeks since you had visited you parent's grave, but on a whim you set out again to Myouren Temple.

You do as you had done before, leaving a small offering and slightly less curses this time. You still had not gotten over things, but there wasn't anything to do but move forward. As you left the grounds, you expected to hear Kogasa's footsteps and prepared yourself for her mediocre attempt at scaring you. But it did not come.

"Tch! finally wizened up huh?" You muttered.

Still, you couldn't help but feel a little...disappointed? No, that wasn't it. Why would you be disappointed to not see a youkai?

After a couple days you went back to the temple again. It wasn't out of the same despair that had drove you there at first, but rather it was a pleasant thing to do now. yes, that was it. It wasn't like you had friends, and though visiting the grave reminded you of things, it gave you something to do when not working. It wasn't like your dwelling was comfortable or that you had enough money left to visit a tavern. Maybe that dumb youkai will be around today, you think, but quickly dismiss the thought.

After doing the usual routine, and having a somewhat one sided conversation with Kyouko about music, you leave the temple.

Again, you hear no footsteps but see something just up ahead. Leaning against a tree with her eyes closed is Kogasa, her umbrella shading her. The eye on the umbrella is closed too. You wonder what she is doing taking a nap on the path instead of hiding in ambush like usual.

Sensing your presence, her eyes slowly open. She looks very weak, as if she was starving.

"B-boo..." she croaks out in a quiet voice, her umbrella's mouth opening and the tongue half-heartedly flopping out.

For a moment you are surprised. Did she really mean for that to be scary? But something isn't right. You think about just walking away, after all, what do you care what happens to a youkai. But your eyes won't leave her pitiful figure, and your feet won't move.

"WAAAH!!" you shout, falling backwards into the dirt.

Kogasa's eyes open wide, she is clearly shocked. But then, her mouth breaks into a wide smile.

"T-thank you..." She says quietly.

Her eyes beam at you, and a small tear rolls down her cheek. It looks like a little life has returned to her. But she does not move from where she is sitting. Without really understanding what you are doing or why, you pick her up.

"Where do you live?"

She points in a direction off the path. It makes sense that she would live nearby, since this is where she normally tries to scare people. With her and her umbrella in your arms you set off in that direction.

You come into a clearing where a large rough stone protrudes out of the ground. Against it stands a hut, not unlike your own. You walk in through the doorway and to you surprise there is a small blacksmith forge set up. There are numerous tools and metal implements hanging around, and a small bed in the corner. You set Kogasa down on the bed and lean her umbrella on the wall next to her.

"Thank you... I don't really mean to hurt anybody. Scaring people is just how I sustain myself. Though I'm not very good at it... I know I didn't really scare you, but it made me happy that you pretended...I'm sorry..."

Why is she apologizing? You're the one that hit her in the face the last time you met.

"Kogasa..." You started, but she was already asleep.

She looks rather peaceful laying there in bed. Overcome buy a sudden fatigue, you sit down with your back against the wall and fall asleep yourself.

The sound of metal clanging wakes you up. It's dark, except for a few slivers of moonlight filtering through the roof.

"huh Kogasa..."

You look but she isn't in her bed. Her umbrella is missing too. The hut seems empty, but you can't be too sure. Suddenly the thought hits you. You're alone in the middle of the woods. Kogasa isn't the only youkai that lives here. You think of Rumia and the fate of your parents, a chill running down your spine.

"Hey Kogasa! This isn't funny, you shitty youkai! and after all the trouble I went to--"

You sense something behind you.

"BERO BERO BA!"

You feel something wet and rough slide across your face.

"UWAAAA!!" You shout and fly backwards, slamming your leg into something hard.

"You damned Youkai!!! After I went out of my way to help you, this is how you repay me!"

Kogasa stands over you, a beam of moonlight falling on her face. She sticks her tongue out, and the umbrella does too.

"Sorry mister! I did tell you that I sustain myself by scaring humans. But thanks to you I feel all better now!"

She smiles, wider than she had before, and even in the dim light you can see that all her energy has returned to her. Man, this youkai is actually pretty cute...

No no no no. It's not time to be thinking things like that, especially about a youkai. You realize how stupid you are. Now you are out in the woods, without foot, and without a hurt leg. Sensing your fright Kogasa starts talking,

"Dontcha worry mister. Other youkai won't come here. And look, I got you some berries from the woods around her." She thrust a sack of berries into your hands. "You can stay here till mornin'. It'd be a bad idea to leave now, the woods can be scary at night ahahahaha. Oh and don't worry, I won't eatcha!"

While you were a little mad that she had scared you like that, but she was right. It's not like you could just leave now. Kogasa sat back down on the side of her bed, swinging her legs.

"Y'know this is the first time a human has been here. This is pretty excitin'"

"Don't go thinking you and I are friends. I just felt a little bad for you is all, laying on the side of the road half dead." You responded curtly.

She frowned a little at that, but didn't say anything else. You eat some of the berries she had given you, and then promptly fell back asleep.

You slowly awoke to sunlight filtering into the room. Hearing footfalls outside you looked to the door.

"Kogasa..?"

You looked to her bed but Kogasa was there sleeping. In a moment of panic you turned back around, only to see a flash of white and feel a cold steel blade against your neck.

"Don't move, human. What are you doing to Kogasa." the voice demanded.

"K-k-kogasa...I thought other youkai wouldn't come here!"

"Youmu! It's okay don't worry!" Kogasa had woken up. "That human is my friend"

"I see." Youmu Kanpaku sheathed her sword. "Kogasa and a human huh. That is surprising, but I am glad that you have found a friend."

"We're no--" You think of protesting but thought better of it.

"You can leave you swords by the door Youmu, I will have them sharpened in a couple days"

With a bow the half-phantom left. Kogasa told me that she often did blacksmith work for Youkai and some others around Gensokyo, even doing work for the Miko of Hakurei Shrine.

"I thought you said that you were useless?"

Kogasa blushed. "I-i'm not very good. I just help some people out sometimes is all. My true calling is scaring humans!" She nodded twice vigorously as if convincing herself.

That was surprising to you. To think that this is what that clumsy umbrella was doing when she wasn't lurking around the roads trying to scare people.

After talking with Kogasa a little more (for you with no friends the contact was nice, though you are loathe to admit it, she being a youkai) you thanked her and headed back to the human village.

"Bye mister!!" She waved energetically from the doorway.

Coming back into town, you couldn't stop thinking about the previous night. Kogasa was actually cheery and thoughtful, so why did she seem so depressed behind that? Did she really think herself to be useless? If the phantom youkai trusted her with her swords she must be pretty talented. Suddenly you bumped into something.

"Eh? what where yer going runt." a voice snarled. "Oh wut's this? If it isn't the son of those two youkai lovers? off playing in the woods with dem like yer parents did? They got wut dey deserveddd."

The man was tall and had a scar across his face that had robbed him of one eye. He was a youkai hunter, and you recognized him. He was the one who had burned down your parents house. His own family had been eaten by youkai, and now he was a bitter drunk. Among even youkai hunters he was known for his hatred of youkai, and for being cruel.

"So what if I was..." You ball your fist in anger. "You're just an old bastard who has nothing left but to drown himself in drink."

"Fucker!!"

He kicks you hard in the chest and you fall to the ground. With a couple more swift kicks he spits

"Do well to remember this, boy...Ain't nobody lookin out for yer ass. Least of all the no good son of them that think humans can get along with youkai."

With a malicious glint in his eye that seemed to show that his need for amusement had been satisfied for the night, he sauntered off.

As you lay there recovering you thought back to what he said. He was scum, but was it really okay? A youkai killed your parents. Sure, their eccentricity meant that you were seen as something of an outcast, and even now most won't help you, seeing you as a bad omen. But still, they had given you a good life. And now they were gone for good. Was it really okay for you get friendly with a youkai? It's not like you loved youkai, in fact, you definitely hated them. But Kogasa...Kogasa wasn't a killer. Her pranks were really harmless, and her situation honestly reminded you of your own. Maybe...

Your ribs still hurt. It had been several days since that bastard had beat you up, but doing labor each day wasn't helping them heal. It's not like you could just lay in bed. You had the feeling that the pity which led to you getting a job in the first place was a fickle thing.

You look around you hut. It certainly was improved from what it was, but you had a long way to go. I mean, even your only piece of cookware was almost useless. A battered old pan with a hole in the bottom so it couldn't hold liquids. Well, you did find out that Kogasa was a blacksmith and it has been a few days since you saw her...but its definitely not that you want to see her. You just need your pan fixed and she owes you for scaring you. Yes, that's it.

You figured you could find her on the village-Myouren temple road where she normally tries to scare people. Sure enough you after a while you hear those same footsteps.

"Bero bero BAAAH!!"

Kogasa jumped out from behind a tree bearing her sharp canines and wiggling her fingers at you. Her umbrella's tongue wagged out, trying to lick your face. You looked at her, not scared in the slightest. But since she looked like she might burst into tears you decided to play along.

"aaaaah" you said, somewhat half heartedly.

But still, she smiled. "H-hey I know you're faking it!"

"Then you should try being more scary and less adorable"

"A-adorable?!" She was taken aback, trying to hide her reddened cheeks. "Who are you calling adorable? I'm a scary youkai y'know. I'll eat you!!" She opened her mouth to show her teeth again. "Graaaah!"

"It's not that you're not scary. You just need to be more creative to surprise people, like that night at your house. When you do the same thing every time of course it's not going to surprise me."

"O-oh I guess you're right..." She fidgeted with her skirt, clearly embarrassed.

"Well anyway Kogasa, I have this pan I need fixed. Could you fix it for me? I'll let you scare me.

"Sure!" Her face lit up, beaming like a child's.

Back at her house, she got her forge going.

"Do you want some sake? I got it in exchange for fixing an oni's chains, even though I don't really like drinking."

Since you can never afford sake at the village, you gladly obliged. Kogasa got to work diligently working the bellows and getting the fires going. She set to work banging out the dents and patching the holes. You had seen blacksmiths work in the village, but those were grown men. Kogasa was no larger than a young human girl. Yet she deftly wielded a hammer that seemed too heavy for her. Really, she was quite adept.

When she was done she showed you her work. The pan was good as new. She even replaced the rotted wooden handle with a nice metal one.

"Wow! There's nothing I can't cook with this now. Thank you!"

You were beaming beside yourself, or perhaps the sake was getting with you. Yes, it definitely was. And against your better judgement you insisted that Kogasa share a drink with you.

"Eeeh?? Just what are you trying to get me to do?"

"Oh shut up, you may look like a little girl but I know you're more than old enough to drink! This is in thanks for you doing such a good job."

"but it's my sake, besides, I told ya that I don't drink, I only have this because an oni--"

"Oh come on!" What are you even doing? Getting friendly like this with a youkai. You hate youkai remember? "Friends drink together. You said we're friends right?"

It's not like you really want to be friends with this youkai. It's just that you never drink and you are caught up in the moment.

"Alright alright fine mister just one cup."

Kogasa was blushing and smiling beside herself, though she tried to hide it. Not that you really noticed, being drunk. She poured some sake into an ornate metal cup that it seemed like she had made herself.

"Kanpai!!!" You both touch cups together and drink.

It seems like Kogasa is a lightweight after all. After just the one cup she already seems tipsy. She confirmed it by pouring up another cup and drinking it. You both carry on like that for a while, drinking together cheerily. It almost...it almost really felt like having a friend. If only she was a human and not a youkai...

"Hey hey hey, play with with me"

Kogasa put her hands right in front of you, and leans in so her face is right in front of yours.

"Eh??" you lean back slightly, embarassed. "W-what do you mean play with you?"

"Y'know a game!" She leans closer.

Your face began to feel hot. "W-what kind of game." You may have needs but Kogasa looks like a little girl and is a youkai. What are you doing?? Idiot!

"W-who wants to do pointless things like that?" You say, turning your head to the side.

"Pointless?" She thrusts her cup into your face "Do you know what makes this cup beautiful? It's not that it can hold sake, but it's the useless parts" She pointed to the little designs on the sides that looked conspicuously like umbrellas "It's the same with life. It's the useless and pointless thinks that make it beautiful. And youkai aren't made up of power and hunger, it's the useless and pointless thinks that make the youkai...it's the...it's the" She stopped, and her eyes welled up with tears. "Waaaaah!! I'm useless!" She began to cry.

So she was one of those drunks. "Fine! I'll play with you."

As soon as the tears came they stopped. "Really?? Well then let's play hide and seek. That way I can scare you." She crossed her arms with a self-satisfied face.

"You know if you tell me you're going to scare me i'm way less likely to be scared."

"S-shut up!!" She was embarrassed again.

Outside it was approaching sunset, but Kogasa did say youkai don't come around here, unless they are seeking her services. What the hell? this is what people do when they get drunk, right?

"Count to 100 and then come find me! And no cheating"

Kogasa ran off into the trees giggling with her umbrella trailing behind her, tongue hanging out rather stupidly.

It had been nearly 30 minutes since you had set out looking for her. Jeez how far did she go? Her blue clothes and hair and purple umbrella should be make her the easiest thing in the world to spot, but you hadn't seen hide nor hair.

"Hey Kogasa, I know I said to be more creative when scaring people but don't you think this is too much?"

Silence.

Damn, it was getting dark. A slight bit of nervousness entered your mind. The drink was wearing off. What if other youkai came around? She said it'd be safe, but why should you trust a youkai.

You hear something rustle behind you. You wheel around but there is nothing.

Above you.

You look up to see a circular silhouette falling fast towards your head.

"Kyaaah!" you try and lift your arms up to defend.

A small pair of legs wrap themselves around your neck and something soft presses into your face. You fall back in surprise and opening your eyes you see a pair of blue and red heterochromatic eyes staring into yours.

"Wahahahah!!!" Kogasa sits back onto your chest.

"Betcha never saw an aerial assault coming huh!! Who knew umbrellas actually make good parachutes! hahahaha!" Kogasa laughed almost maniacally.

"D-d-damned YOUKAI!!!" and stood up pushing her off. Realizing what had just been against your face your cheeks grew hot. "Stupid Kogasa!! What do you think you're doing making me walk all over Gensokyo!"

She looked up at you from the ground, still smiling. "But I surprised you didn't I?"

The innocence of her smiling face disarmed you. There wasn't a hint of the sadness that you had caught sight of at times before. You laughed,

"Yeah, you did"

She stood up and with a hand on her hip, held a clenched fist up.

"Yosha~!"

"Alright that was payment for fixing my pan and the sake. It's almost dark, let's go back now."

As you start to turn back, the woods seem to grow darker. Far darker than they should be, giving that it's still twilight. Suddenly you feel chilled to your bones.

"Keheheheh" A menacing laugh came from everywhere.

It was the voice of a young girl, but it filled you to the core with dread.

"I know that scent...Yes it reminds me of a very filling meal I had not long ago"

Out of the darkness flutters a black skirt. Her read eyes glow. It's dark, very dark, but somehow you can still see her blonde hair and red bow. Rumia!

"You bitch!" Anger and terror well in your breast. This is the youkai that ate your parents. You reach down and pick up a stick, assuming a defensive posture.

"Oh what's this? how cute. You have that little ugly umbrella with you. Are you friends?"

"Shut up!" you cry, raising the stick. Really, what are you doing? Why are you defending a youkai. You should run. Every fiber of your being wants to run. But you don't. Have you really become friends with Kogasa? You, who has never had a friend, and whose parents died by the youkai in front of you, have become friends with a youkai?

"You can't!" Kogasa cries and steps forward. Holding up her umbrella, she prepares an attack.

But fast, faster than you could see, Rumia darts forward and sends Kogasa flying into the darkness. You swing the stick but Rumia is not there anymore. It is so dark you can't see anything. You fall back. Suddenly Rumia is straddling your chest. You can only hold your mouth agape. She slashes at your chest, ripping the skin and causing you to scream.

"It's good to terrorize them. It helps the meat."

Her eyes are wide and pupils mere slits. She looks like a beast, though her body is that of a girl. Her teeth have became fangs which drip with saliva, and her nails are red claws glistening in your blood

"But it's not enough"

With a swift movement she shears your arm off and holds it up, drinking the blood flowing from it. The pain sears white hot, and its a wonder you aren't passing out.

"It's not nearly enough"

She opens her claws and prepares another attack.

"STOOOOOP!!"

A beam of light dispels the darkness, slamming into Rumia and knocking her off you. Kogasa steps forward, holding aloft her umbrella. She fires another beam which blows apart a tree trunk.

"I WON'T LET YOU HURT MY FRIEND"

With tears in her eyes Kogasa fires bullets into the gloom, but they only hit foliage.

"You useless umbrella. What do you think you're doing? Not only do you not eat humans, but here you are defending one as a friend? It makes me sick. This is why you are such a weak Youkai. Yes, I know. You came to Gensokyo after being thrown away by humans. Yet here you are ready to throw your life away to defend one."

Rumia shot out from the dark and slashed at Kogasa, tearing into her side and ripping her umbrella.

"You're pathetic."

"Y-you're right." Kogasa said in pain. "Humans did throw me away. I couldn't fulfill my purpose. I wanted to get back at them, that's why I scare them. But I won't hurt them. Or else I'll end up like you, a lonely and blood thirsty monster who other youkai won't even approach!"

"Tch! useless talk!" Rumia slashed at Kogasa again.

"If you abandoned that pointless sentiment maybe you would have a chance of beating me. Go ahead. Eat that human there. Let's his terror fill you. Then you will get a taste of power."

"I won't!" Kogasa cried. "I may be useless, but he is my first friend. There may be no point to any of it, but that is what makes life beautiful. Ever since I met him I've been happier than I've ever been. Even when I don't scare him, he plays along. He accepts me! And I love him!"

Kogasa redoubled her attack and leap forward, firing bullets. Really? When had you said all of that? She loves you? you were only being nice out of pity. But maybe...

Lying there in your blood, the world was dark and cold. You could barely here anything, but Kogasa's words echoed in your barely conscious mind.

Your whole life you had not had a friend, and once you were alone in the world, you found a kindred spirit in Kogasa. Is that why you kept going back to see her. Looking back, whenever you had been with her you were happy.

Idiot. You really are an idiot. Falling in love with a youkai...

You barely are holding on. Your consciousness is bobbing just at the surface of an ocean of black and you are being pulled down, down, down, down.

As it all fades away you can still see Kogasa blue hair softly waving in the breeze. Her umbrella's tongue hands out, like a dog. Her heterochromatic eyes look up at you, filled with happiness, shining. And that smile...

"If this is it, then i'm glad that I met you Kogasa, please live." You say this, knowing that it was not heard. "I...I..."

You can't hold on anymore. But before you the world goes dark, you think you can hear the voice of a teenage girl.

"wow you're really awake"

Huh? Where are you? It's bright in the room, and the futon is soft. Sunlight is filtering in.

"You really almost died you know, and Kogasa would have too, if I hadn't been passing by and heard all the noise she was making"

Kogasa! The previous evens rush back. You sit up. You look at your body and find yourself wrapped in bandages. You're arm is still gone. It hurts, but you ignore it.

"What happened to--"

The girl bids you to be quiet and makes you lay back down. She had brown hair, with two bunches held together on each side by red cloth tubes. A big red bow adorns the top of her head.

"I'm Reimu, the miko of Hakurei shrine."

You were awestruck. So this is her.

"I owe that cute umbrella for always fashioning my needles for me" She held up the long, glinting needles. "she's not normally the type to get in fights, so I couldn't ignore it. When I saw she was fighting Rumia I thought she was pretty stupid. She definitely would have lost, but Rumia's no match for me. I didn't expect to find that she had been defending a human"

"She has been here everyday checking up on you. She usually avoids others, but she has been helping out at the temple as thanks for caring for you. Oh yeah, you're at Myouren temple by the way. I'll go get her and tell her that you're awake."

Reimu stood up to go, but stopped.

"Oh and one more thing." She thrust a box at you. It said "Donations."

"You can leave a donation to Hakurei shrine here, as thanks for saving you" She gave you a big smile.

You only looked at her confused. Once she realized you didn't plan on making a donation she coughed and excused herself.

After awhile she came back, and a blue shape flies through the doorway and leaps on top of you. It was goes Kogasa and she smiled at you, but then looked away.

"Geeze you really scared me"

She played with her skirt for a minute.

"hold on, I have something for you!"

Kogasa left the room and when she came back she was holding something wrapped in cloth.

"I took your measurements while you were asleep."

Unwrapping the cloth, you see that it is a metal arm. Kogasa fixes it to your arm.

"I put magnets in the hand so you can still hold metal things in it."

"You should have put a cannon in it" You laugh wryly "but really, it's amazing."

"You know" She says "I really did feel like I was useless before, but now I realize that it's not about what you can do so long as you have someone that believes in you"

She looks at you, awaiting a response. You can tell that she's blushing and not trying to hide it. She really is cute... "s-stupid youkai! don't go saying pointless things!"

"mean!!" she hits you in the head with her umbrella

"Ow!" you rub your head. "But really, thank you for risking your life for me. I'm glad I met you Kogasa..." Hesitating for a moment you say it "I love you"

She pauses for a second, startled, but then hugs you, burying her head in your chest. "I love you too!!" she says, sobbing.

I took you several more weeks to be fully healed from the fight with Rumia, but in that time you grew much closer to Kogasa, helping out at the temple together. When you went home, you made many trips to her home. And thought most of her scare attempts fall flat, you always play along. Eventually she came with you to the human village. At first the were suspicious, but once they saw her talent as a blacksmith, they at least warmed up to her for trading. Through your combined efforts many saw that she was harmless. People even tolerate her scaring pranks. You think it makes her happy to find acceptance among humans She even tried her hand at baby sitting, but wasn't very good at it. As for you, through hard work and with help from Kogasa's blacksmithing you found acceptance in the village.

They say that when it rains, you might see a man walking the streets of the human village with a blue haired, heterochromatic youkai, covered by a peculiar purple umbrella.

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Pub: 17 Dec 2021 15:00 UTC
Views: 321