An invitation to Gensokyo

Chapter 7: Brute force

Ryusashi and Ran left the village without making a fuss, and Ryusashi sighed with relief. "Whew, looks like we didn't get caught." He said, but Ran didn't agree with him, instead she stared at him angrily. "Why would you break Ms. Aya's camera like that Ryusashi?! And you're just playing it off like nothing happened, aren't you ashamed?!" She said, obviously very disappointed in him. "Just hold on a second, I didn't even know I could have done that! I can't even open a peanut butter jar on my own, It was completely accidental!" He said, trying to calm her down, but got the opposite of what he had hoped for. Ran angrily placed her hands on her hips. "It doesn't matter if it was an accident, the fact of the matter is that you destroyed that camera!" She lectured, but Ryusashi was lost in thought, staring down at his hand. "Are you even listening to me?!" His ears heard her, but his brain didn't. He was completely lost in thought, trying to comprehend where this sudden change in strength came from. His train of thought was brought to an abrupt halt when Ran yanked him by his ear. "Ow! What the hell are you doing?!" Ryusashi managed to pull away, realizing Ran was growing impatient with him. "Did you even listen to a word I just said?! I said you're going to find that girl and apologize to her appropriately!" Ran said angrily, but Ryusashi didn't really care. He was still more interested in his newfound power and what he might be able to do with it. "Hang on, let me try something." He said to her, and Ran raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" She said before Ryusashi suddenly grabbed her waist and lifted her high above his head. "W-WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! PUT ME DOWN! LET ME GO!" Ran screamed at the top of her lungs, flailing her arms and legs hoping to break his grip. He was amazed by how light she was, it was like carrying a feather. "You really don't weigh much, you know." He said as Ran continued trying to free herself. "My weight is none of your business! Now put me down!" He did just that and Ran brushed herself off. "What's going on with you today? All of a sudden you're acting strangely." She said, but Ryusashi still didn't hear her. He started walking walking away from her and into the forest. "H-hey, where are you going? Why aren't you listening to me?!" Ran yelled at him, she was at her wit's end dealing with his strange behaviour. Ryusashi's walking turned into jogging, then running, then it became a full sprint into the forest. "Come back here!" Ran yelled, desperately trying to get his attention, but he was already too far away to hear her.

He ran far into the forest, running at a speed he didn't think was humanly possible. He continued his sprint until he came to a hill that was high enough to overlook the entire village. Heavily breathing, he sat down and gazed off into the distance for a little while. Suddenly, a voice came from above him. "There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you!" Ryusashi looked up to see Ran, floating above him. She came down and took a seat next to him. "Why did you run off like that? I was worried that you might have injured yourself again." Ryusashi looked away from her, trying to avoid her lecture. Ran moved a little closer to him, putting her hand on his shoulder. "If somethings wrong, you can tell me. Is it about the camera? Tell me." Ran said calmly. "Look." Ryusashi said as he stood up and began walking over to a large rock stuck in the ground. He stomped on it with all of his might and it cracked open. Ran was shocked, Ryusashi turned back around to face her. "Maybe Kasen's training is starting to kick in or something. I don't know. All I know, is that this can't be natural." He said to her. Ran stood up and took his hand. "Let's just go home, alright? I promise you'll be fine, I won't let whatever this is hurt you." Ran said, attempting to calm him slightly. He smiled, silently thanking her for her reassurance. Ran walked him home, holding his hand firmly.

When they arrived, Chen was sitting at the table, waiting for Ran to come home. "Welcome home lady Ran! What did you bring home?" Chen asked excitedly, and Ran smiled at her. "Just the ingredients we'll be using for dinner. I bought some fish and spices, so we can have inari and rice tonight." Chen beamed at her. "Inari?! Yay! That's my favourite!" She cheered. Ran gave her a stern look. "BUT, you won't be having any." Chen's joyous look changed to despair. "W-what?! Why not?!" She said in a whiny voice. Ran glared at her. "Well, have you done any of the chores you were supposed to do today?" Chen's ears fell sadly and she nervously fidgeted with her fingers. "N-no..." Ryusashi stepped through the door. "Well there you have it. Those who don't work, don't eat." He said sternly and Chen turned to face him. "Well you haven't done any-" Chen stopped when she realized he was single-handedly carrying all of the groceries for Ran. "Thank you Ryusashi, but please, let me take care of this." Ran told him and he nodded apologetically. Chen sniffled with small tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll do them tomorrow, so can I please have some inari?" Chen begged, but Ran wasn't phased by her puppy dog eyes. "Chen, you can only be upset with yourself. This is what's going to happen from now on when you don't do as you're told, am I clear?" Chen looked down at the floor, guiltily. "Yes lady Ran..." She replied sadly. "Now, all you're getting for dinner is a bowl of rice, and that's it. And afterwards, you're going right to bed, understand?" Ran told her, and Chen nodded, sniffling a little. Ran sighed heavily. "Chen, I don't want to have to tell you that you can't eat your favourite dinner, but you need to learn that you have responsibilities, just like I do." She told her patting her head. Chen walked over to her room and shut the door, Ran wiped small tears from her eyes and Ryusashi placed the groceries on the counter. "You alright, Ran?" He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I've never disciplined Chen like this. Ever. I feel like a terrible caretaker." She said sadly, and Ryusashi hugged her. "But still, if you don't discipline her like that, she'll never listen to you, you know." He told her as she returned his hug. "I understand that, but it still hurts to have to do that."she said, on the verge of crying. A gap opened in the living room, and Yukari stepped out of it, yawning. "I'm home." Ran let go of Ryusashi and brushed herself off a little. "Welcome home lady Yukari, will you be having some dinner with us? We're having inari tonight." Yukari sat down at her spot on the table. "Ah, just some tea for me tonight please. I had quite a feast with Yuyuko today." Ran sighed. "I should have figured. I'll have your tea ready in just a moment." Ran took a pot out of a cabinet and began filling it with water, while Ryusashi took a seat across from Yukari. "I didn't get to ask you before you left, but who's Yuyuko?" He said curiously, and Yukari smiled. "Yuyuko is a very good friend of mine who manages the netherworld, don't worry, you'll meet her eventually." Ryusashi leaned forward and put his elbow on the table, he was rather interested. "The netherworld huh? Isn't that like, the afterlife? She must be a god of death or something, right?" Ran placed a cup in front of Yukari and poured some tea from the pot. "Thank you, Ran." She said happily before taking a sip. "You're mostly right. The netherworld is referring to what's beyond death, and while Yuyuko is capable of manipulating death, she isn't a god of it." Yukari explained, continuing to drink her tea. "That's interesting. I'd like to meet her sometime." Ryusashi said enthusiastically, making Yukari smile. "I'm glad you're interested in exploring Gensokyo, but in due time."

After a short while, Ran had finished preparing the inari and rice. She had also made some salad to go with the fish. Ryusashi, Ran, and Chen all ate their share of food, while Yukari simply sat with them, drinking her tea. After finishing her rice, Chen went to her room as she was told, still somewhat sad that she didn't get any fish. Ran sighed as Chen's door shut, also sad that she had to discipline her shikigami for the first time this way. "Lady Yukari, there's something I wish to discuss with you." Ran said and Yukari smiled. "Well, talk to me." Yukari replied, sipping away at her tea. Ryusashi wasn't paying much attention as he was still trying to use his chopsticks, he had gotten the hang of it, but still struggled somewhat. Ran cleared her throat. "Ahem, privately." Yukari opened her fan and began waving it at herself. "I see... Takano-kun. Be a dear and give us some space, won't you?" Yukari said and Ryusashi raised his head to look at Yukari, then at Ran. "Sure, I was about to get ready for bed after I finished anyway." He stood up, taking the remainder of his dinner into his room and shut the door. "Alright, what must we be so secretive about, hmm?" Yukari asked curiously, Ran swallowed the food in her mouth. "It's about Ryusashi." She said, Yukari tapped the edge of her cup, and Ran refilled it. "What about him? He seems to be doing just fine. Though his chopstick skills could use some work." Yukari said with a small giggle. Ran clasped her hands together, fidgeting with her thumbs anxiously. "His body is changing. Today he displayed feats of strength one might refer to as superhuman." She explained and Yukari smiled happily. "Is that so? It looks like it must be taking its effect." Ran looked at her curiously. "What is taking effect, lady Yukari?" Ran asked before Yukari took another sip of her tea. "Well, the night he came woke up here, he and I shared some sake. Well, his cup had just the tiniest drop of an oni's blood." Yukari explained and Ran gasped. "L-lady Yukari, with all due respect, that could have killed him." Ran said, concerned, but Yukari didn't seem to care too much. "Well it didn't. I'm honestly rather surprised he didn't pop right on the spot, it just goes to show that he's a special case. His soul is stronger than that of a normal human, which makes him a vital part of our plan, remember?" Yukari explained, and Ran looked down at her plate. "Of course, lady Yukari." Yukari smirked at her. "Good, good. He just needs to become stronger now, then we can put everything in motion." Yukari said, chuckling to herself.

Eventually, a few days past, and Ryusashi would be able to go and train with Kasen again. The four of them sat down for breakfast, which was rice, miso and Ran's favourite fried tofu. Ryusashi had grown a taste for it, especially when Ran made it herself. He ate his breakfast quickly, picking up entire mouthfuls with his chopsticks and it didn't take him long to finish. "Can I have some more, please?" Ryusashi asked politely, and Ran stared at him for a moment. "O-of course. Hold on a moment." Ran put some more tofu and rice on his plate and handed it back to him. He finished that one just as quickly and asked for a third plate before Ran even had half of her own. "My goodness... you're certainly very hungry this morning, aren't you?" She asked, surprised by his appetite. "I can't get stronger if I don't eat enough, right?" Yukari laughed. "Yes, that's certainly true, but try to save some for everyone else ok?" She said and Ryusashi rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed. After finishing his third plate, him and Yukari left for Kasen's dojo. Kasen and Yuugi were waiting for them, while Suika, as usual, was sleeping in the corner. "I see you're doing well, Ryusashi. Good to see that you've gotten back to one hundred percent." Kasen said, and Yuugi cracked her knuckles. "Looks like this is gonna be round three. I just hope you don't break like last time, buddy!" She said enthusiastically, and Ryusashi smiled. "Trust me, I don't plan on it." He said as the two of them got into position. Yukari decided to stay and watch how this turned out. "You're staying?" Kasen asked her, and Yukari smiled. "Only to see how this turns out." Kasen shrugged and gave them the signal to begin. Ryusashi put all of his strength into it, actually managing to catch Yuugi off gaurd. "Hey, that's certainly not bad. You're making me put some effort into it!" Yuugi said as she started pushing harder. Yukari smiled. "Yes... it's certainly taking its effect." She thought to herself. Although, even with his newfound strength, he couldn't prove himself a match for Yuugi. After a couple of minutes, she had managed to push his arm all the way down and take victory. Ryusashi groaned in annoyance. "Darn it..." he whispered to himself before Yuugi slapped him on the back with a hearty laugh. "You're really something, holding me like that! Bravo!" She said energetically, but Kasen was confused. "There's no normal human that can even hope to challenge Yuugi in a contest of strength. Where did this power of yours come from?" Ryusashi turned to face her. "To be completely honest, I'm not sure. It just sorta popped up the day Yuugi popped my shoulder out of place." Kasen sighed. "That really isn't much of an explanation, but it's all we have to go off of, so I suppose it's fine. Anyways, let's get started." And so they did. Before stepping into her gap and taking her leave, Yukari smirked to herself, hiding it behind her fan. "You can certainly be something special if you keep this up, Takano-kun. I'm expecting big things from you."