Sakuyafan22
Elegant Dungeon Crawling Artist
This fanfiction was something that I had been wanting to share for a while.
It's based on a combination of recurring thoughts, ideas and a discussion I had with FluffyGensouDreamer.
This story features some of my fan characters, so I understand if this doesn't gauge interest.
The Scarlet Devil Mansion was unusually quiet as the maids quickly finished the last of their tasks.
A large reception room had been prepared for the arrival of some important guests.
Sakuya had just finished inspecting the refreshments that would be served, cleaning the relevant parts of the mansion and urging the denizens to be on their best behavior.
The sound of creaking armor and heavy footsteps could be heard in the hallway, gradually growing closer until they stopped a few feet behind her.
The figure was a male nezumi with white hair and ears, and a long, thin tail.
He wore crimson samurai armor and carried five swords on his person. His hair was tied into a ponytail with a thin black ribbon that looked like a bookmark.
"You're late," Sakuya said firmly. "This isn't the time for one of your vendettas. Our guests will be here any minute and I need your mind clear if you're going to be of any help to Reimu."
"I beg your pardon," the nezumi said with a reverent bow. "An oni thought it was a good idea to ambush me as I tended my farm.
I suppose that's all the sport I'll get today."
Sakuya turned sharply at the last sentence. "I'm serious, Ayasuka. Things are tense enough as it is.
I'll thank you to not make things worse with that primal instinct of yours."
Ayasuka bowed, rightfully chastised. "As you wish."
Reimu soon arrived at the mansion a short time later.
She was to be the mediator between her fellow guests in a bid to attain a truce after she resolved an incident that belied a volatile history. Ayasuka was to be her advisor due to his familiarity with one of the parties involved.
To say that the shrine maiden found the situation tedious was an understatement.
"I don't know what's worse," Reimu complained. "That this incident was bigger than it ought to have been or the fact that all this was started over something pointless." She groaned as she rubbed her temple.
"That fox couldn't just give it a rest already? Does he realize that what he did doesn't change anything?"
"It's a matter of principle." Ayasuka said. "It was bad enough those slain monks had trespassed, but they sealed their fate after trying to "purify" land that was more or less a gravesite."
"I love how you're conveniently forgetting that the two caravans that were escorting said Buddhist monks also turned up dead--by the hands of your own master," Reimu pointed out.
"Collateral damage," Ayasuka answered dismissively. "He wouldn't have stopped for anything.
The rules are the rules."
"If you two are done bickering, can we please get ready?" Sakuya piped up.
"Ayasuka, how long until your master arrives?"
"I sense he's near," Ayasuka replied. "He should be here any--"
A terrified scream rang out from the front gate.
"There it is," Ayasuka snickered.
Sakuya sighed.
A pair of kitsune were escorted into the reception room.
One had nine tails, dirty blonde hair and wore a black kimono with lotus designs.
A traditional kitsune mask hid his face and a katana was worn at his side.
The other had red hair, four tails and likewise wore a kitsune mask.
He wore traditional Taoist garb and carried a scythe typically used by shinigami.
The word 'heretic' was engraved on the blade.
Sakuya stood at attention while Ayasuka bowed reverently.
Reimu watched the new arrivals like a hawk.
"Mentor," Ayasuka said, "welcome to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I trust the journey was good?"
The nine tailed kitsune bowed in return.
"All was well," he replied. "Although I must apologize for frightening your gatekeeper.
She had fallen asleep and my associate was the first thing she saw."
"A bad habit of hers," Sakuya said quickly. "I apologize on her behalf for her behavior."
The kitsune chuckled. "I've experienced worse, lady...?"
"Sakuya. I'm the head maid of the mansion. It's good to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine. I am Aki, the patriarch of Black Lotus clan. This quiet fellow behind me is Shugetsu, one of my Foxborn."
Reimu turned to Ayasuka. "Foxborn?"
"A Taoist sect that act as Aki-sensei's eyes and ears," Ayasuka explained.
"They are also the caretakers of his shrine."
Reimu sighed internally. Another religious feud? Of course she'd get dragged into something like this.
An hour later Byakuren and her small entourage arrived. Refreshments were served promptly to ease the tension in the room. Reimu watched both sides closely and was quick to shut down any hotheaded exchanges.
Ayasuka did his best to keep himself centered for the sake of the negotiations, but the presence of the Buddhists was a sight he couldn't tolerate. Out of everyone, Reimu had to rein him in the most.
With stomachs full and tempers calm, the meeting got underway.
It began with Reimu recounting the incident that culminated into the feud it became, how both sides agreed to meet on neutral ground and the list of grievances presented.
Ayasuka filled in the blanks with his knowledge of the history of Aki's clan.
The negotiations started amicably enough. Aki and Byakuren were willing to admit their parts in escalating the situation.
Both were willing to compromise for the sake of resolving the situation.
But when it came time to deciding what the conditions of their truce was, things were on the verge of falling apart.
Byakuren thought to improve relations by establishing a limited presence in Aki's territory.
Aki, who was killed when the Buddhists of his era attacked his estate and eradicated his kin, saw this as an attempt at invasion and threatened to burn the Myouren Temple to the ground to rob them of a staging area.
Many suggestions were raised on how to solve the problem, but all were met by suspicion by the opposing side.
The arguments grew more increasingly heated until Reimu and Sakuya stepped in to calm things down.
Soon Reimu and Ayasuka compiled a list of conditions that would keep both sides accountable without religious bias.
While far from ensuring a lasting peace like Byakuren wanted, the truce would keep hostilities on hold for now.
With the incident finally over, Reimu could finally relax and maybe, just maybe, avoid touching on this fiasco again.
It's based on a combination of recurring thoughts, ideas and a discussion I had with FluffyGensouDreamer.
This story features some of my fan characters, so I understand if this doesn't gauge interest.
The Scarlet Devil Mansion was unusually quiet as the maids quickly finished the last of their tasks.
A large reception room had been prepared for the arrival of some important guests.
Sakuya had just finished inspecting the refreshments that would be served, cleaning the relevant parts of the mansion and urging the denizens to be on their best behavior.
The sound of creaking armor and heavy footsteps could be heard in the hallway, gradually growing closer until they stopped a few feet behind her.
The figure was a male nezumi with white hair and ears, and a long, thin tail.
He wore crimson samurai armor and carried five swords on his person. His hair was tied into a ponytail with a thin black ribbon that looked like a bookmark.
"You're late," Sakuya said firmly. "This isn't the time for one of your vendettas. Our guests will be here any minute and I need your mind clear if you're going to be of any help to Reimu."
"I beg your pardon," the nezumi said with a reverent bow. "An oni thought it was a good idea to ambush me as I tended my farm.
I suppose that's all the sport I'll get today."
Sakuya turned sharply at the last sentence. "I'm serious, Ayasuka. Things are tense enough as it is.
I'll thank you to not make things worse with that primal instinct of yours."
Ayasuka bowed, rightfully chastised. "As you wish."
Reimu soon arrived at the mansion a short time later.
She was to be the mediator between her fellow guests in a bid to attain a truce after she resolved an incident that belied a volatile history. Ayasuka was to be her advisor due to his familiarity with one of the parties involved.
To say that the shrine maiden found the situation tedious was an understatement.
"I don't know what's worse," Reimu complained. "That this incident was bigger than it ought to have been or the fact that all this was started over something pointless." She groaned as she rubbed her temple.
"That fox couldn't just give it a rest already? Does he realize that what he did doesn't change anything?"
"It's a matter of principle." Ayasuka said. "It was bad enough those slain monks had trespassed, but they sealed their fate after trying to "purify" land that was more or less a gravesite."
"I love how you're conveniently forgetting that the two caravans that were escorting said Buddhist monks also turned up dead--by the hands of your own master," Reimu pointed out.
"Collateral damage," Ayasuka answered dismissively. "He wouldn't have stopped for anything.
The rules are the rules."
"If you two are done bickering, can we please get ready?" Sakuya piped up.
"Ayasuka, how long until your master arrives?"
"I sense he's near," Ayasuka replied. "He should be here any--"
A terrified scream rang out from the front gate.
"There it is," Ayasuka snickered.
Sakuya sighed.
A pair of kitsune were escorted into the reception room.
One had nine tails, dirty blonde hair and wore a black kimono with lotus designs.
A traditional kitsune mask hid his face and a katana was worn at his side.
The other had red hair, four tails and likewise wore a kitsune mask.
He wore traditional Taoist garb and carried a scythe typically used by shinigami.
The word 'heretic' was engraved on the blade.
Sakuya stood at attention while Ayasuka bowed reverently.
Reimu watched the new arrivals like a hawk.
"Mentor," Ayasuka said, "welcome to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I trust the journey was good?"
The nine tailed kitsune bowed in return.
"All was well," he replied. "Although I must apologize for frightening your gatekeeper.
She had fallen asleep and my associate was the first thing she saw."
"A bad habit of hers," Sakuya said quickly. "I apologize on her behalf for her behavior."
The kitsune chuckled. "I've experienced worse, lady...?"
"Sakuya. I'm the head maid of the mansion. It's good to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine. I am Aki, the patriarch of Black Lotus clan. This quiet fellow behind me is Shugetsu, one of my Foxborn."
Reimu turned to Ayasuka. "Foxborn?"
"A Taoist sect that act as Aki-sensei's eyes and ears," Ayasuka explained.
"They are also the caretakers of his shrine."
Reimu sighed internally. Another religious feud? Of course she'd get dragged into something like this.
An hour later Byakuren and her small entourage arrived. Refreshments were served promptly to ease the tension in the room. Reimu watched both sides closely and was quick to shut down any hotheaded exchanges.
Ayasuka did his best to keep himself centered for the sake of the negotiations, but the presence of the Buddhists was a sight he couldn't tolerate. Out of everyone, Reimu had to rein him in the most.
With stomachs full and tempers calm, the meeting got underway.
It began with Reimu recounting the incident that culminated into the feud it became, how both sides agreed to meet on neutral ground and the list of grievances presented.
Ayasuka filled in the blanks with his knowledge of the history of Aki's clan.
The negotiations started amicably enough. Aki and Byakuren were willing to admit their parts in escalating the situation.
Both were willing to compromise for the sake of resolving the situation.
But when it came time to deciding what the conditions of their truce was, things were on the verge of falling apart.
Byakuren thought to improve relations by establishing a limited presence in Aki's territory.
Aki, who was killed when the Buddhists of his era attacked his estate and eradicated his kin, saw this as an attempt at invasion and threatened to burn the Myouren Temple to the ground to rob them of a staging area.
Many suggestions were raised on how to solve the problem, but all were met by suspicion by the opposing side.
The arguments grew more increasingly heated until Reimu and Sakuya stepped in to calm things down.
Soon Reimu and Ayasuka compiled a list of conditions that would keep both sides accountable without religious bias.
While far from ensuring a lasting peace like Byakuren wanted, the truce would keep hostilities on hold for now.
With the incident finally over, Reimu could finally relax and maybe, just maybe, avoid touching on this fiasco again.