A Stay in Gensokyo

Chapter Two - The House of Dolls

When you're lost, you have no one to blame but yourself. If you have researched the area beforehand, you should be able to memorize the landmarks and let it guide you the way. If not create your own, leave something behind that's easily detectable. That way you wouldn't be walking around in circles without knowing.

That's what Renko-senpai told me the day we went camping in the forest with the others. Maribel-san heard rumours of wailing voices, most make it out to be the work of ghosts.

"But you don't have to worry much about that, if you're with me I'll be able to guide you the way.~"

I was always relying on her, leaning onto her for support. Counting for her help whenever I needed her the most.

But right now...

"Renko..-senpai..."

As the forest surrounding me rustles, I immediately raise my head and push myself off the ground.

"W-who's there!?"

However no one responded my call as it only rose my anxiety, and soon a small figure emerged from inside a bush.

"W-what!?"

I distance myself away from them, it was a small young girl. Perhaps in elementary, she had short golden hair with a small red ribbon tied against it. A black skirt and vest with a white blouse bound with a red tie.

"Uwaa!~"

With sounds of satisfaction it was as though she was in the forest for awhile and only just came out into the open area.

Noticing me soon after, her eyes brighten up as she raises her hands

"Ahh a human spotted!~"

Human? Is this girl playing a game, out here in the woods? Or perhaps she's a lost child? Perhaps it's her way of saying that she spotted someone, children do tend to use words they heard from others. However that mostly leads to using the wrong words for their sentences.

I crouch down a bit so I could talk to her easier.

"U-umm.. Hello there, are you perhaps lost?"

She shakes her head from side to side while waving her arms around.

"Not lost not lost.~"

She's way too joyful for someone to be lost so she may be speaking the truth.

"Oh does the human have a name? Rumia tends to forget to ask the important things. Ehehee.~"

"A name? It's Yuuki."

"Oh, Is that so?~"

"You said "Rumia'. Is that your name?"

"Ehee, yuup!"

She beams as she hops up and down.

"Then... Rumia-chan, do you happen to know where this place is? I kinda got separated from a friend."

Asking questions to someone who appears to be in elementary doesn't necessarily make me feel any better. However if she did have an answer for me, I may be able to recognize the name.

"Yuuki's lost?"

She crooks her head in question as she stares at me with her red eyes.

...Were they always red?

"E-ehh... Y-yes...?"

I nod hesitantly as the air surrounding us becomes tense.

Her bright smile then turns to something sinister as she reveals her fangs. It looks as though they were as sharp as those of the canine breed. Fear was overflowing from my body as I started to quiver.