An invitation to Gensokyo

Chapter 4: Master Ibarakasen

Ryusashi listened to his music for hours, eventually the cassette ran of tape to play. Ryusashi took off his headphones and continued to lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The door slid open just a little. "Ryusashi, may I come in?" Ran's voice slipped through the crack in the door, and Ryusashi sighed. "Do what you want, it's your house after all." Ran sighed. "Fine, I'm coming in then." She opened the door and entered the room, walking over to sit next to Ryusashi. He sat up and sighed. "I already know what you're going to say, that what I did wasn't alright and it made me look like a jerk, right?" Ran shook her head and smiled. "I owe you an apology, Ryusashi. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you like that. It's just, as lady Yukari's shikigami, I have to be protective of her." Ryusashi sighed. "I'm sorry too, Ran. I don't usually blow up like I did back there." Ran pat his head. "As long as you understa-" Ran started, but she was cut off when Ryusashi held her in a tight hug. "I didn't mean to say those things, or raise my voice at you, you didn't deserve that. I was upset, upset and confused and..." Ryusashi's voice started to break. "I'm scared, Ran. I'm so scared, and I want to go home. To my own bed, and my own life." Ran gently embraced him, running her fingers through his hair. "Don't worry... everything will be fine. As long as you're here, I'll be here to keep you safe Ryusashi. You can trust Yukari's judgment, she has faith in you, we all do." Ryusashi looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "Even if you say that... what can I even do?" Ran smiled, continuing to stroke his head. "Don't worry about that right now, you're going to find out soon enough, and whatever happens, I know you'll make it here. So be strong for me, alright?" Ryusashi nodded. "Okay..." Ran wiped the tears from his eyes with her tails, it made Ryusashi blush a little. The fur brushed against his face, it felt like rubbing his cheeks on a cloud. They were softer than he had imagined and their touch was soothing. Seeing how her fur calmed him, Ran placed one of her tails in his lap. "Here, maybe this will help you feel better." Ryusashi looked down at the tail, and then up at Ran. "Are you sure? You didn't like it when I touched them before." Ran chuckled a little. "Silly, that's only because you grabbed them so forcefully. It's alright as longs as you're gentle, so go ahead." Ryusashi put his hands on her tail, the soft fur tickled his palms as he slowly ran them through it. He lifted up, bringing it to his face and gently buried it into her fur. "It smells nice... it's so soft..." Ran chuckled as he hugged and nuzzled her tail. "You think so? I take good care of them you know." Ryusashi looked up at her, and she looked back at him with a smile. "Love... I think... I'm in love..." He thought to himself as he rested his head on her fur once more. Maybe coming here wasn't so bad after all.

A couple hours past, and the four of them sat down at the table for some tea. Ryusashi sat across from Yukari with Ran to his left and Chen to his right. Yukari refused to even glance in his direction, she just drank her tea quietly. She was wearing a less revealing dress, it was white with a purple apron, similar to what Ran was wearing, so Ryusashi couldn't make any exposure comments. Ran sipped her tea and glanced at Ryusashi, he was swaying his cup in his hands, watching the contents swirl all around. Ran cleared her throat, catching his attention and motioned toward Yukari. Ryusashi shrugged and went back to his fidgeting, causing Ran to sigh. "Lady Yukari, I believe Ryusashi has something he'd like to say to you." Ryusashi's head fell and he groaned, then he looked over at Yukari, she was glaring at him with anticipation. He looked over at Ran for a moment, she was brightly smiling it him, then he looked at Chen, who was just quietly sipping her tea. He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry for the inappropriate comment I made earlier this Ms. Yukari." Ran smiled at him, but Yukari continued to glare at him. Nervously, he looks around without turning his head for anything she might be staring at. Her face quickly changes too a smile and she pops her fan open. "Well, I suppose if you're truly sorry for what you did, I can forgive you." She said with a chuckle that made Ryusashi roll his eyes. "Anyways, we should be going soon. Kasen is still expecting us today." Yukari said Ryusashi quickly finished his tea and stood up. "You did mention something about a Ibarakasen. Well, what're we sitting around here for? Let's get going already." Yukari took a small sip of her tea. "I admire your enthusiasm, but there's no reason to rush. I can bring us to Kasen's place instantly whenever we want to after all." She opened a gap behind her, and gestured towards it. "If you want to go see her, then this will take you right away." Ryusashi looked at it with scepticism. "It's... safe. Right?" He said worriedly, but Yukari simply laughed. "Oh don't worry, if it wasn't safe, I would've made you walk there. Now then, go right on in." Ryusashi walked up to the tear in space and looked inside, seeing the pitch black void filled with the thousands of watchful eyes. He stepped back a little, closed his eyes as tightly as he could and jumped through it.