Chapter Text
Rubbing her hands together, Yukari opened a gap, crouched, and stood up halfway into it. The destination opened in the air in front of Okina, causing her to jump and let an exasperated breath out. She stuck out of it upside-down, her long hair almost touching the wooden floor, and a sly grin stretching across her face. Ah, the good ol’ comfortable reading on the couch. What was she reading? An Outside World novel by the name of “The Silmarillion.”
“Ah, it’s you, Yukari,” she said, keeping her eyes on her book. “What brings you here today?”
“Ahoy there, Okina! Could you provide me with a sword?”
Removing her attention from the book, she tilted her head and turned her gaze towards her, an eyebrow raising. “Why do you need a sword? And what makes you think I have one lying around in this day and age?”
“A prank, of course.”
Okina smiled and shook her head. “What, you couldn’t have taken it from some unsuspecting owner? Why come to me?”
Yukari blew a kiss over and waved her hand. “See, I’m a sensible woman, and I ask for things nicely from my lovers. Besides, why not be a teensy tiny complicit in it?”
“Alright, alright.” She replaced the bookmark and sat up. “I do require the payment of an answer as to what kind of prank you’ll be using it for. I might have to go rooting around in the older storage rooms… who knows how much accumulated junk and other stuff I have that I don’t even remember having.”
“You probably require a spring cleaning, don’t you? I wonder how many of your memories are buried around the place.” Yukari righted the gap and stepped out of it, sitting down next to her and lacing her fingers through hers.
Her voice turned distant. “I’ll do that later…”
“That’s what you always say…”
As she came back to reality, she said, “Oh, don’t be a hypocrite, Yukari. We both know that you have a lot of curios and dusty things lying about too.”
“I suppose that I cannot argue with that.” She giggled and reached for a feather duster out of a gap. "There! Let us spirit away the dust from this realm of yours.”
“That thing? Satono and Mai would protest if I made them use such old-fashioned implements, and I'd never hear the end of it.”
“Is that so? Every tool has its place, you know.”
“Don't talk like you're the one doing the cleaning regularly.”
An array of doorways appeared in front of them. Some looked different from others, for example, one was made out of oak, another, cedar, a few unidentifiable… and they were painted various colors and had various designs and auras. Some dreary, sone jubilant, some mournful, and much more.
Okina looked at her. "Your pick. Besides that, what type of sword would you like?”
Yukari clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my, I get to have a choice, not only one, but two? This surely must be the best part!”
That triggered an eye roll. "Yes. Well, if I had more details, then I could help you better…"
She rubbed her hands together, then clapped once. "I need something special for the targets of my prank. Open that purple door, please."
"I wonder who that is, then. A fine choice. Not that I know what’s inside."
The doors swung open, revealing a darkened room, rather small in size, but filled with all types of storage boxes and furniture. Musty air drifted from it, and Yukari wrinkled her nose as she entered. It wasn't dusty, though. A glint to the right caught her eye. Proceeding inward, she pried at the cabinet handle, finding a set of mounted katanas with black lacquered scabbards. Not it, and there was nothing worthy of notice within, either.
Yukari turned back, stepped out, and shook her head. "This room has nothing I want, by a second examination."
"Did you pick this room because it was purple?" Okina picked her book back up again.
She grinned. "Why, yes, I did.”
A chuckle and an amused direct look came from her. “As I expected. Would you like to visit every purple room, even if they would contain a very low chance of having what you seek?”
Yukari waved her hand. “Pfft, that is most certainly a waste of time. The amending of the criterion to a ‘legendary’ sword would be better.”
“That’s a step-up from special, isn’t it? And no, I can’t give you that particular sword, as I don’t have it in my possession. Unless you want my replica.”
“No thank you. I dislike imperfections.”
“I do give you my permission, you know. It’s not that complicated.”
“And as such, a tease of encouragement is warranted. Which side of the line do you prefer to show that you walk on?”
Okina pouted and rubbed at her eyes with a hand. “Ah, you and your ways of talking. I’ve done enough similar courtly-speak in those days. Is this a test?”
She patted her shoulder and giggled. “But it’s fun and clever! And I won’t mind any kind of answer. You’re hidden everywhere, after all. Even split four or more ways.”
“Well, please confine it to noh. I’m not as fond of beating around the bush nowadays… But I do think my answer will be predicated on what you choose. I don’t mind that, but please, at least make sure that it is relevant and sensible, if you are to be my biased messenger.”
“Aww, cranky Okina is cute. If it is to be a joint message, then it would be rude of me to take it entirely over and do whatever I desire. Unless you would want me to.”
“Yes, I know.” A blush and smile slowly spread across her face. “Heh, I don’t hear that often. You certainly disarm me easily… I was planning on finishing this book today, but I don’t mind your distraction.”
She waved her off again. “Oh, now is not the time to be lewd like that. Don’t forget my original reason for visiting.”
Okina sighed. “Fine, fine. But after?”
“I have a job to do. Multiple, in fact.”
“Disappointment.” Okina collected her cane leaning in its holder on the side of the couch. “I’ll have to have a look with you then. Be glad that I don’t need anything more than this right now.”
“I am!”
After rummaging through six more rooms, each with their own assortment of items stored away, Yukari held a plain-looking nodachi, smiling down at it. A cursed energy flowed through it, but it shouldn’t be too much for the target, especially with her powers. It would only cause… some minor complications alongside the main event. And it wouldn’t cast any suspicion on Okina, only herself, when it would be ripe to return to sender.
Okina barged back in through the door. “Oh, finally found it, have you? That was a weird sword I got some hundreds of years ago or something. I don’t remember the circumstances of how I got that… but there’s an ugly energy about it?”
Her eyes flickered toward her. “Yes, yes, indeed. I’m happy with this one! Fufu, you must be tired of me going through all your things.”
With a shrug, she said, “Eh, if it’s not outside of the room, then to me, it must not be very important until the moment it’s needed. Well, take it, as long as it satisfies you.”
“Thank you! I’ll put it to a very good use.” Opening up a gap, she placed it within a secure vault, and turned back to Okina with a flourish, kissing her lips briefly. “Now for the real story behind what I’ll be doing… you’ll find it a surprise. Let’s get out of this room first.”
Okina raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, following after her. “Hopefully, it’s a good surprise.” The door closed behind her and disappeared, along with the rest.
After washing their hands, they sat down on the couch, the table in front prepared with tea and some blueberry pastries, judging by the color. She would always stay for these, as Okina usually insisted on making them herself, rather than relying on her servants, unless she didn’t feel like it or simply asked them to. Satono and Mai were lucky to have that, not to mention that Okina devoted a certain meticulous attention to the art. Meanwhile, her Ran was much better than her at that sort of thing, and there was the fact that she herself was far too lazy, though she would never admit it.
Taking a sip of her tea, Okina gestured at the sweets. “These are blueberry baklava. It’s a new recipe that I wanted to try. I hope you enjoy it.”
“Oh my, I’ve heard those take a long time to make.” She bit into one. The sheets of pastry slowly dissolved in her mouth, with the blueberries a contrasting sweetness, and the pecan nut spread complementing them smoothly, yet offering a rougher texture. “Would you mind if I ate them all?”
Okina laughed. “If you’re serious, yes, but I’ll need to take my portion of the fruits of my labor. And thank you.”
Yukari ate another and drank some of the tea. “Half so. So. Some of your old compatriots have entered Gensokyo. Can you guess who they are? Hint hint, an ancient war over religions.”
“That’s not helpful at all. My aspects have been involved in so many over the years. And ‘ancient’ is a shifting designation.”
“It does narrow it down a little. I’ll keep going for you.” She smirked and kissed her on the cheek. “Darling, it was a lot longer ago than the time you disappeared in any significance from the records. Past what you call your golden age as well, but before the names which comprise your current form came about, and after the one sealed away, or rather, that fled.”
Eyeing her and shaking her head, she said, “That reminds me of a wily snake with bared fangs. Hmm, I wonder how the Mishaguji are getting along with her? But, I need a few more hints, Yukari. That’s still a range of many hundreds of years, a thousand even.”
“That’s a topic for another time… and go meet her yourself. She’s probably missing you at least a bit. When you come back, that is. Well then, I’ll make it much easier, since it has to do with another who-would-be-named. Do you remember those sixty-six masks?”
“We’ll see…” she muttered. “Wha — of course I would! I was Hata no Kawakatsu! Why make it that easy then? Are you mocking me? Would this have to do with Umayado no Miko? This brings more questions, and I wonder, is he a god now?”
“Her. Oh, and it’s Toyosatomimi no Miko too now. And that’s half-correct.” It would require some patience for disclosing Hata no Kokoro.
Okina grinned. “Ah, like me! It was inevitable, considering how it was. I hope she doesn’t have too many regrets from back then. Continue.”
“...She is also a hermit, of the Taoist persuasion.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Huh? That doesn’t sound like the prince I know. Are you sure she isn’t an imposter?”
“Then you have been misled in that lifetime.”
Explaining it all took quite the while, but in the end, she received that approval. Yukari smirked as she recalled Okina’s laughter and the warm words in turn.
“Hah, bravo! I approve one hundred percent! A good choice to shake up Gensokyo, oh my.”
And as the sword floated on the palms of her hands, separated by a boundary to prevent its effects from transferring, she replaced the shaku with this one. Moving the actual sword would foil the plan immediately.
Now calling at: Divine Spirit Mausoleum, Human Village, Scarlet Devil Mansion, Forest of Magic, Hakurei Shrine, Hakugyokurou, Untrodden Valley, Moriya Shrine, and Heaven.
Next stop: Human Village.