As the broadcast ended, two women mused its contents under the waxing half moon. They sat on an open veranda, overlooking a small koi pond.

Dressed in a mishmash or Oriental and Occidental, the pair of them wore western-style dressed with Chinese-style tabards over them. The nine-tailed fox wore white two-tailed cap while her master wore a pink mob cap. Their dresses matched their hats colors, but their tabards were similar shades of purple.

While it wasn’t quite the right time for it, the both of them were enjoying a moon-viewing session between them, their last one for a while before the kitsune’s master. The broadcast had been a disruption, but interestingly enough, it had been an interesting disruption, so neither of them were too displeased about it.

“It seems that this little Outsider is getting into the spirit of things, wouldn’t you say Ran?” Yukari Yakumo, Youkai of Boundaries, remarked, holding out a sake cup, “I rather enjoyed the… ‘fortune’ as he called it.”

“I couldn’t say,” Ran Yakumo, Kitsune Shikigami of the Youkai of Boundaries, sighed as she poured her master a drink, “He seems… to be getting too into the spirit of things if you would.”

“...Indeed, you’re not wrong,” Yukari sipped her tea, staring at the rising moon in thought, “He alludes to things he should not know, let alone play with.”

Chief amongst which was the… old miko’s final Incident. The seal had been growing weaker as of late, but… This ‘Fool with a Voice’ truly wished to live up to his name, if he dared poke that sleeping tiger. Rumia’s terror and power had grown much weaker as the Youkai of Darkness had been childified, but that could change quite easily. Even the Youkai of Boundaries dared not tempt that particular boundless darkness.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

By all rights, this Fool should simply… disappear. Keep things safe for Gensokyo. Never elegant or orderly, but safe.

And yet...

“And yet…” Yukari mused aloud, “I cannot help but feel as if he genuinely loves Gensokyo. The way he speaks, he speaks as if he’s a lost and broken soul, the sort Gensokyo loves to take in,” she sighed theatrically, lazily swishing her sake cup in thought, “What a strange contradiction I find myself in. Gensokyo loves the lost, but the lost are often so dangerous. This seems to be quite the problem. ”

Pouring herself a drink, her beloved shikigami Ran answered, “If he loves Gensokyo, but is a danger to it, then the solution is still simple.”

“True. True,” Yukari smiled softly. If a human were there, they would immediately know why Yukari Yakumo had the title of the Uncanny Smile. “I wonder, should I simply do away with him then? People do so often hurt the things they love.”

“I am at your command, Master.”

“...Hmm,” Yukari hummed for a bit before shaking her head, No. I think I’ll let this play out just a bit longer. We do have other things to work on.”

Standing up, Yukari stretched and stifled a yawn, “Go help Yuyuko with her little project while I’m sleeping, will you?”

“As you command,” Ran nodded, sliding open the door and entering her master’s bedroom to prepare the bedding.

As she walked back into the house and into her room to prepare for her long winter hibernation, Yukari spoke again, “Do keep an eye out for him though.” Snapping her fingers, space and time Gapped agape around her and when it closed, Yukari had changed into a rather comfortable set of Byzantine colored silken European pajamas.

Adjusting her nightcap, Yukari murmured, “Especially if he alludes to any… dangerous ideas.”

Setting out a futon, Ran nodded, “Hai.”

Slipping into the bed and pulling her covers up, Yukari giggled as her vulpine servant kissed her forehead and bid her a well rest. The sliding door slid closed and the room plunged into darkness. Letting herself slip away, Yukari slipped on her Open-Eyed eye mask.

Before she fully slipped under, she wondered aloud, “I wonder what changes you will bring, storyteller?”

----------------------------------------

Today’s Idiom:

A frog in a well is safe. Safe from knowledge, safe from power, and safe from duty. A frog in a well is very safe. Do not seek safety.