Master of the Four Seasons

everlxstingflower​:

@nekofantasia​

“Fufufufu! It looks like someone got my little joke. How clever of you, Chen.”

“Hehehe, not as clever as the one who made the very clever joke Miss Yuuka!”

Michiko took her cup as is, pressing it to her lips as she took a sip and savored the earthy flavor. She returned it to it’s saucer and gave Yuuka another smile as she was inquired about her preference in snacks.

“I am a magician of the youkai variety, but I was born a human and I’m also still friends with humans so I don’t consume them. Don’t hold back for my sake though. While I was born a human, the family I grew with were human eating youkai, so it doesn’t bother me. You can’t stop nature after all.” The magician informed her before closing her eyes and enjoying another drink.

“I only request you try not to get blood on my blouse.” She laughed, flashing a teasing grin.

Yuuka was staring as Michiko took her first sip, a judgement on etiquette and skill. It seemed the magician had passed, as the Youkai gave a slight inclination of the head.  “Ah, how wise. But I shall refrain, not for your sake but for the sake of manners. A guest and her host should eat the same meal and enjoy the same drink, even if it is simply tea and biscuits.”

“Allow me to make your deliberations far simpler, my dear warrior. Do. Not. Trust. Me. Or any Youkai for that matter. We are monsters, nightmares and worse! The villains of your fairy tales, the thing under the bed, the whispers in the night wind. For a human to trust a Youkai is as smart an idea as cutting your belly open and diving into shark infested waters.”

A pause.

First of all, she didn’t intend for Yuuka to take that as an invitation to steal her away again in the future. Secondly, is the question that she hates answering most. A slightly annoyed sigh escapes Sakuya’s mouth.

“It’s not something that full blooded youkai like you would ever understand. I’m aware of what I am and I know there are opportunities to change that everywhere I look. The simple answer is I don’t want to. That’s all.”

Of course, it’s much more than that. Hell, Sakuya’s not entirely sure herself. It’s like every time she or someone else asks her this question, the reasoning for her answer varies every time.

A jovial laugh filled the air, as if Yuuka had heard the most wonderful joke. She held her free hand to her mouth to chuckle behind it in a mock display of politeness. “My favourite answer! It’s not that you don’t know your own weaknesses, you’re too smart for that, or that the options aren’t there. You are human because you choose to be. I will never understand that, you are right! I may want to, perhaps another time, but that is for another day. For now, allow me to inform you that I found your answer satisfactory. You are my favourite kind of human. Rejoice.”

Tsk! This woman was making a mockery of her. She can hear a hint of condescending within the woman’s tone of voice that was veiled under her politeness. Caster already had lost her patience and decided to no longer return the favor in kind. Young Lady? Clearly, Caster was aware that she was far much older than the woman standing before her. She really was out to make enemies wasn’t she?

“I would watch your tongue,” Caster snarled. “If you insist on provoking me, I have no trouble to strike you where you stand, child.”

She spats her disdain already for her. She would forgive her for the moment. Hearing her question, she would only sneer in response. Her reasoning to be there? Well, that was a concern not meant for her. But she decided to answer her— without giving a single hint of her plans and reason to be,

“I’m here on business, as far what that business is…” She remarks. “You shall not worry yourself for. Unless you intend on getting in my way, I suggest you run along and play ignorance to what you see.”

Ah, that rise to anger. So quick. Truly, she had found a wonderful playmate for the evening. When she spoke next, Yuuka’s tone carried the amusement that she felt.

“Please, cut my bothersome tongue from my mouth, it has run rampant without my permission! Observe: Child? Now, now. Only a truly egotistical individual would call a grown woman a youth just by appearances alone. No, no, no. I am far older than you think I am. I am the Youkai of flowers. My existence is tied to them, and as old as them. I am a nightmare beyond the understanding of mortals, but I do my best to look presentable! Forgive me for this little game, child, but I so rarely get to talk to foreign folk.” A chuckle befitting a noblewoman, the Youkai gave her parasol a twirl. Teasing was all well and good, but if this woman got violent she would have no choice but to... run. She was breaking far too many rules to get away with a fight in the Outside World.

“Ah, I see. Business, private business. Then I shan’t pry. It is clear you do not want me to know, but I imagine some whispers would arrive at my door. I imagine it has nothing to do with the mass of magic weaving its way through this city, the fact I am talking to a ghost, or that a wish is on the line. Nothing. At. All?”