These are lyrics that parody "Company I, 2nd South Caroline" by the 2nd South Carolina String Band, an American Civil War reenactment band. I was going to/might still put them at the end of a story of a girl who can't find a place back home, then goes on a journey through Gensokyo, settling down in places, being used for her musical talents, then running away because she doesn't feel seen as a person until her parents find her. These are the lyrics she would write to thank all the people she met on her journey.

I've often heard it said of late
That Gensokyo am in such state
Where pretty girls are forced to fight
Lest the youkais get to do more than fright

Our school teacher told us so
Scariest place in Gensokyo
Anywhere just beyond the wall
Especially on that mountain tall

The maiden's meals am very small
And often times there's none at all
She plans to starve so very lean
When bullets fly, she pass between

My old friend she told me so
Leanest maiden in Gensokyo
I looked at the sky and found it so
Just what my friend she told me-o

They send me to the mountain shrine
And here's what I learn while I climb
The tengus own that wooded land
They like to show off when they can

That black-haired girl, I told her so
She's the fastest crow on the mountain-o
She just laughed 'cause she knew it so
Just what I told that crow girl-o

They send me to the pharmacy
And warn me to step carefully
There's holes in there to make you fall
That am so deep they don't hear you call

That white-eared girl, I told her so
She's the meanest rabbit in Gensokyo
She just laughed 'cause she knew it so
Just what I told that rabbit-o

The black-white witch is very brave
She does not even fear the grave
When the bullets fly all all around
She wave her hat and swat them down

Her good friend she told me so
Bravest witch in Gensokyo
I looked in the forest and found it so
Just what her good friend told me so

The flower lady grows nice plants
She loves so much it makes her dance
She tends the flowers in the sun
And her smile makes it look so fun

The icy fairy told me so
Nicest lady in Gensokyo
I looked through the gardens and I found it so
Just what the fairy told me-o

In the nighttime when we go to bed
The youkais come out to get fed
We scatter like some little mice
When the youkais, they don't play so nice

Our old elder told us so
Fiercest beasties in Gensokyo
We looked all around and we found it so
Just what the elder told us so

>>70627
I would say
>Isn't that the purpose of shorts, but then I realized there were stories I finished but weren't flesh out enough even for there because of how shallow they were. Anyways I have this Rinnosuke story from around October of last year that I fixed up recently.

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It was in the autumn of a-hundredth-and-twelfth year that I came into the service of the Kirisame family. At the time, I would neither call myself old or young, having long since passed childhood and grown sedentary as most youkai ought to do, but not truly settled. At the time, I was in between occupations and had very little to do. No house to call my own, and possessing a skill set few wished to employ. My singular project at the time had reached a dead end then, and my hands were idle as I watched the days to my coming eviction pass by. My only blessing at the time was a good friend, Miss Kamishirasawa, who at her own volition had dragged me out of my lodgings and into a canal boat.

"I know the very place," she said to me, "A good family, merchants, a fine–small estate. The father is not yet old, canny and has a sharp mind for business. His wife–an outsider–is a fine woman as well. Tall, with a large frame, from the *german* stock so I hear. Nice woman. And their children, a nice and tight litter, two sons and a daughter. Kirisame will set you right and have you'll on your feet in no time. He was quite the precious child know, energetic as well, although I remember one student in particular who–"

For it was only by her charity that I was given this opportunity I had to bear with her. Although, having some since become friends, and both adults now I had the sneaking suspicion that she still saw us both–Myself and Kirisame–as children, or at least students of hers. At the very least the canal man kept to himself, lessening my embarrassment somewhat. Still, I did not yet know how long I would spend in the family's employ and her ramblings often grew tiresome. When I asked where this estate was, more so for want of a different subject, she too acquiesced, telling me of how it bordered the inner and outer village, sitting along a road and with its back connecting into one of the canal-alleys that weaved through the village through like endless threads of a spiders web.
We arrived at the estate casually–to be specific back then flight brazenly out in the open wasn't as common, and even in these days it seems too feminine a method of travel for me–our ferryman depositing us onto the family's docks wordlessly. We were shepherded inside by a pair of servants, an older woman and a young girl. Indeed it was as quaint as my friend had described, with beige stone walls, slanted roofs, and chilling breeze that swept across the estate, scattering the first leaves of fall which had already received their newly painted yellows, oranges, and reds from the harvest gods. The estate was centered on a large two story house that which lower half jutted forward and out of sight, connecting to the general store that sat outside the estate walls while opposite it a small courtyard was centered on a trees, with servants quarters and other smaller houses across from it, the buildings connected by open corridors forming a long sort of 'L' shaped building across from the main house at the bottom left of the estate, almost flush against the wall..

After a short walk, me and my friend were brought inside and seated across from the patriarch and his wife in a meeting room. They were a more upright and tense pair than my friend had described, although he did not comment on it. The patriarch had narrow-sharp brown eyes half sunken into his skull and sharper eyebrows, giving the impression of perpetual anger even when his tone was even. He spoke little, mostly observing and nodding at my friend and her pronouncements of my virtue and work ethic. Although from behind his eyes I could see a light that seemed anything but absent. The wife was more sickly and willow-like than I expected, with clear signs of muscle and fat having gone to nothing, hollowness in the cheeks, and a slight shaking I could not miss. Although I never paid much attention to it, I suppose cases like hers were more common in the days before the Hourai Pharmacy opened. She talked little, but was polite and the hoarseness in her throat and clipped words gave away the impression she would have normally been talkative. Indeed, I imagine in her full health the only aspects in which the matriarch was deficient was her lack of flying ability.

Despite my friend's best efforts, the interview was rather fast with the patriarch quickly deciding to throw his mercy onto me and remove the presence of my friend from his house. Although I had not the impression he was annoyed by her, there was an odd understanding between them that precluded words. Either way I was determined to make my thankfulness be known through the speed and quality of my work, in those days not many would have given an opportunity like this to someone like me.

As I settled into the business of the estate I quickly became familiar with the Kirisame family. There was the oldest daughter and her husband–adopted into the family–the son who so loyally followed his father's words, but only his words, and finally the little brother.

I quickly fell in line as an apprentice to the elder Kirisame, he found my skills useful and what free time I did not have assisting him or learning the mercantile trade I spent on my own project. Every so often I was able to acquire some valuable piece to help me in my work, a grimoire here and rare metals there. In my tenure, I was afforded some use of the servants. Among the nameless and faceless mass, only one caught my eye. She was a small girl, younger than the youngest of the Kirisame. Her head was held perpetually low and she seemed to shrink in on herself, hiding behind her long barely kept white hair, always trying to seem the meekest and tiniest person in the room. Even when she was the sole servant, she shrunk away from me like a mouse.

Although, it only became a peculiarity until the patriarch of the Kirisame commented on her. I do not remember the particulars of what we were discussing at the time, but myself, the patriarch, and the son-in-law were discussing some matter of local politics in the courtyard when the servants came in with our tea. The small servant girl with a tray of food to accompany the tea of an elder servant. . Against my better judgement, I commented on the girl's fall. "That girl, the hooded one, she's rather meek. Isn't she?"

"There's no use with that one, she's dull, mute and deformed, you see?" The patriarch gestured towards her with his cane. The small girl flinched as she hobbled away. At the time I could not actually see her clearly due to her robes and hood, but I allowed myself the imagination to fill in the blanks. I remember the comment clearly due to the oddness I noted at the man, the brother-in-law seemed to stiffen in response to the words and a slight tension filled the air. In the end she returned with another tray and tea was served but our conversation afterwards was notably clipped and the brother-in-law left soon after.

There were not many notable incidents for the rest of September and soon it was October, thus autumn began in earnest.

As people ought to do, everybody began their holiday preparations at the last minute. With the moon viewing various preparations were underway we all found ourselves busier than normal. Sweet potato and various offerings were being bought up and stockpiled, decorations were being prepared, and mochi production across the village tripled. Of course the Youkai activity increased as it always did. In those days there were no spellcard rules and the humans fretfully huddled inside of the village instead of brazenly infiltrating youkai gambling dens. Much has changed, and the amount of man-eaters in those days were in equal amounts to those who were not.

I still remember the long nights, the village patrols eyeing me as I stood out front of the shop. The patriarch had some idea of using me as a ward against the Youkai. He wasn't exactly wrong, those red searching eyes on the roofs and in the alleys would lock eyes with mine before moving on.

It was around that time I learned of the youngest daughter's tendency to flee the estate.

Mister Kirisame told me of her flight rather casually, I do not remember his words exactly but he said something along the lines of, "One of the servants has gone missing, you will be assisting in the search for her."

The servants, and then the town guard was mobilized, with me somehow delegated the tasking of leading a search group through the village. It was the correct choice after all, after I had found her tracks a mile from the Kirrisame estate I followed them to the border of the village where they met with the path leading to the forest of magic. They had all heard the rumors I was sure, Tanuki, Witches, Foxes. I had my own fears but they werre of a different nature. Although it was forbidden for Youkai to consume a human from the village, her case was one where I thought it was more likely she would try to abandon her humanity. In the end, I was the only one who could follow he tracks into the forest of magic.

All they could give me was a lamp, not that I needed it, and with that I was sent on my way. __. I followed the sounds of her crying, counting my steps as I stressed my ears, earning the youkai prowl around us, the fluttering of shikigami in the air, and the buzzing of insects. The wolf rounded to me, putting itself between me and the girl as it barred it's teeth. This was before the spellcard rules were introduced so I made due with my lamp and fists.

Either way, after fending the beast off and taking the crying girl in hand, I returned to the Kirisame estate with her in my arms, half listening to what she said in between sobs. She knew well enough to quiet up by the time we returned and I could deposit her back into the house.

The only acknowledgment the patriarch seemed to give the event was a slight nod of his head.

Then came the first night of moon viewing. The family had their own ceremony, but I was dismissed from my duties for the night–the youkai would be busy with their own ceremonies–So, I walked into the compound and sat upon the porch, a little moon viewing ceremony all to myself. That night was the first time I had gotten a good look at the serving girl. I only noticed her after a half-hour or so, but there she was sitting on the porch next to me. Her hood was done and she was small in frame–clearly malnutrition in this case–but with large round eyes, and her hair–unbound from her ponytail–flowed into a bob of pale-blonde curls. Indeed the only feature she did not share with the Kirisame matriarch were her vivid red eyes.

She flinched away when our eyes met. I did not approach her, instead her quiet, low voice cut through the silence. She seemed perfectly able to converse, although she had a limited vocabulary and was deftly quiet. After our short proper introduction, we began to converse in earnest, hushed tones. I suppose seeing her then, red eyes, white hair, the youngest child of four, it was only a surprise she was not more meek.

This was a decade–or so–before the arrival of the Myouren Temple, and about two decades before the temple and village had grown to such size that the orphanage was built.

I suppose I–unwisely–ended up mentioning my project to her. It was a multitool you see, a combination flash light, campstove, and all-in-one magical device. She ended up pulling me towards her room. A small shed-like space off the well beaten corridors of the estate and squished beneath the shadow of the other servant's quarters.

I had to crouch onto one knee in order to enter her room. Even with what little space she had been afforded the girl crammed as many things as possible there, books of all sorts and various odds and ends, mostly mechanical. Despite how harshly she was treated, I had the great sense that no one–not even the other servants–paid her any mind, one way or the other.

After overcoming my brief introspection, I took a proper look at what the girl showed me. One a well worn and child-sized grimoire of her own making, the other a magical device that replicated the outside world tool known as a flashlight or electric torch. I do not consider myself a great talent at magic, neither am I a prodigy or a genius, but looking through the young girl's journal her talent was evident. If I had to say, she was a prodigy. She shone the light of the flashlight on her hand, casting shadows on the wall as she talked to me in her lowly, mumbly voice.

Then, the snow began. It was unseasonable snowfall, only years later would the winter-in-spring incident come close to matching its magnitude. Indeed, soon a terrible storm was upon us. She dropped her flashlight and I pocketed it as we left, fleeing towards the safety of the family house. Afterwards the news was that the Hakurei Shrine Maiden at the time had perished in that incident.

Despite it's size the house rattled, shook, hail assaulting the roof and wind beating against the walls. Perhaps it would have been more tolerable on another night, but the lady of the house was dreadfully sick and in the chaos the patriarch had resulted to screaming his frustrations at the servants.
I felt her brow, swamped with cold sweat, and then cast my awareness deeper. I was never one skilled in medicine, nor did I know much of biology, my attempts were little better than the shamans and exorcists of the village. Lowly attempts to cast out those inflicting spirits of disease the humans out the outside world name bacteria and virus. The patriarch did not fault us for how little of help we were, merely telling us to let them be, his voice hollow.

One did not have to be a half-youkai to taste the desperation in the air.

By morning the matriarch of the family had died, and a new Hakurei was to be appointed as well. Given that Gensokyo requires a Hakurei to function, her funeral and the ascension of her replacement–like with her predecessors–was of the utmost importance. Although I was not too close to that Hakurei, I attended the event as a Youkai. It was a short ceremony as I am sure you are familiar with, we the Youkai of Gensokyo were collected by the sages and seated in a great crowd behind curtains. Then the younger Hakurei came forth, unveiling herself from her chamber, waved her purification rod, said a few words, and the ceremony was done. At the time the only thing of note was the girl's–for I did not know her as Reimu yet–character: She was composed, extremely so, with flat and even intonation, no shudders, gasps, wails, cries of amusement, or stutter. It was a much finer display than the two Hakurei before her. The child was small and serious, with dull red-brown eyes and a face that looked like it had never smiled. In some aspects she reminded me of the meek girl from the Kirisame estate, others she didn't. Either way soon I was returned through a back door on the estate.

In the lull between the harvest moon and when the funeral would be held, I finally had a moment of rest. So, I set about examining the flashlight that the girl had created. It–like my own inventions–merged principals of outside world technology with magic. Although hers was more crude. The most interesting thing was a length of copper-like filament, easy to mistake for her untrained eye, but I was able to tell it was the legendaryHihi'irokane metal. I quickly replaced the wire with a copper one and implemented the filament into the invention of mine. After one more night of testing and working on it, it had finally taken the shape of the Mini-hakkero. Although it was an earlier iteration, the modern one had all of its metallic components replaced with Hihi'irokane. The most ingenious part of it were the mimic circuits, capable of recording and replaying magic that the device properly observed, a function inspired by my own ability.

I was not invited to the funeral, it has nothing to do with being a Youkai. I believe the old man simply wanted the affair to be private. The event was held swiftly and as silently as possible. I remember their small procession leaving the estate into the village, streets empty, windows shuttered, everyone waiting for the public announcement of the new Hakurei. Snow still clung to rooftops and the unseasonable chill had not left. I said nothing of course, and nothing was expected of me except for the manning of the store, but as the procession rounded the corner, I was joined by the girl.

"Mister," she said, tugged at the hem of my clothes. "I want to see her." Her eyes were wide and pleading. Perhaps it was my guilty conscience, but I assigned someone else to take my place, lied that I'd curse them if they left before I returned, and quickly found myself wrapped in warm clothes alongside the girl.

I did not want to be discovered, and thus I picked up the girl, carrying her as I drifted between alley to alley. Her tiny hands held onto me tightly. We arrived at the funeral's destination just in time, one of the village's small walled-off shrines. The mother's corpse was carried in a planquine-like thing, blocking her off from us and the white robed mourners who were led by the Kirisame patriarch. His shadow was cast long across the city streets as the procession stopped. The gates to the walled off shrine opened, and once the funeral procession had entered the grounds, they were closed off to the world and thus we were left standing in that alley with nothing to see.

I was distracted by the action and my own emotions, seeing that man who looked like he was walking off to his own execution. But it was a convenient opportunity, and so I drew the girl's attention and handed back her flash light, holding the Mini-hakkero in the folds of my cloak. "Here," I said, "I examined your tool, it's a rather ingenious little creation. You have great skill for someone your age."

The girl beamed, red stars in her eyes, she practically lit up the room as she took the flashlight from me. "Thank you," she said. At the time I assumed that was the end of it, but I do not regret my mistake.

We returned to the estate shortly after to await the family's return. The rest of the day was stiff and uncomfortable, any festivity that would be there that time of year had been drained. When I awoke in the morning, my device was gone and the youngest Kirisame with it. She did not return from the forest the next day, nor the day after that. Indeed, the next time I heard of her was from the new Hakurei, after I left the village and had made her acquaintance. Of course then the youngest daughter's hair had been dyed blonde by the Forest of Magic and she had made use of my project in her own ways.

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I hope this states your curiosity Miss Heida, although I do not know how valuable my testimony will be for the record. And to clarify, nothing here is intended to be a testament to anyone's character.

>>70629
As you can see, it's just a shallow retread of Holiday by Katherine Porter and Hellscreen by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa.

>>70630
not sure I can say "shallow" on the internet about fanfiction completely seriously

regardless, I respect the effort, >>70629 !