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Gensokyo was a land of fantasy and dreams alike, where even the wildest of dreams could become a reality. What might be thought of as fiction in one world, could very much be made a reality in Gensokyo, no matter how impossible it seemed. There was always the saying of 'believe in something enough and it will come true' going around every now and then, but…
"There's no way that's true. Who told you that this time?"
…there were some who did not believe in that. Nitori Kawashiro was one of these people, a kappa and arguably the de facto leader of all kappa on Youkai Mountain. She was staring dumbfounded at an associate of hers who she had worked oh so very closely with, her jaw slacked in awe.
"But it is, I mean it! I mean, why else do you think everything magical in this land happens? You really should get out of that shell of yours sometime, Nito. You just need to believe a little more!"
Chimata Tenkyuu was a goddess from higher up on the mountain - somebody Nitori had actually encountered entirely by chance, all because the goddess needed somebody to help with an issue she'd been having regarding black markets. Which, in the end, turned out to be entirely caused by a particular yamawaro that Nitori was all too familiar with.
And it figured. The yamawaro were rude and discourteous, even if their leader was slightly more polite than the average yamawaro. Not that it mattered, Nitori didn't particularly want to remember her all that much, she had far more pressing matters. Like tinkering, building contraptions, and spending time with her associates. Like Chimata. Even if she was a little prideful and dramatic at times, in contrast to Nitori's own typical timidness as a kappa.
It was a nice contrast though. Chimata was quite a nice lady if one could bear the overbearingly dramatic personality she can have at times.
"Uh… The last time I did that, I sort of… err… caused half of the contraptions all of the other kappa made to malfunction, all at once. And that was a whole mess to clean up…"
"I'm aware! Ah, mostly because I was, you know, there when it happened. But you got right back up on your feet, marched onward, and wasted no time in salvaging everything you could! See, that's what I like about you. You're pretty resilient. Even if a huge obstacle might get thrown your way, you just rise up and beyond it like always! You have a really good brain in that cute little head of yours, you know?"
"W-Well, I won't deny that…"
Nitori looked away sheepishly. She'd gathered with Chimata under the full moon so they could gaze at the stars. Normally, Nitori wouldn't actually do this unless she actually didn't have anything else to do, or if she needed a break from working. Surprisingly, she didn't actually have a choice in the matter, since Chimata actually dragged her out of Genbu Ravine to a secluded spot on Youkai Mountain.
There was nobody else around. It was quiet and dark, with the surrounding area dimly lit by a small fire the market goddess had actually thrown together for the both of them, right in front of a small pond. Nitori herself was partially submerged in the pond, whilst Chimata was sat down cross-legged beside her, gazing upward at the full moon with a soft, tender smile on her face. That smile was always something that lifted Nitori's spirit up whenever she saw it. It was infectious at times, too.
If the kappa ever felt overwhelmed around Chimata, the market goddess would typically give her some words of reassurance, then put on that exact same smile. A sweet, intoxicating one she can't get enough of. It was a pure sight, rare to come by in Gensokyo to be sure, so she cherished it dearly each and every time she saw it. It calmed her nerves even just by thinking about it, too, that's how potent the effect it had on her truly was.
"Right? By the way, isn't the full moon beautiful tonight?"
"Uh… I… guess so…? Don't people usually say that staring at the full moon tends to drive you insane? I swear I've heard a few youkai rabbits say that."
"Well, that's just a belief! But I suppose I did also say that if something is believed in enough, it becomes a reality, doesn't it? So maybe it does drive you crazy! Err, well, not to say I've had that problem. Lunar rainbows only really happen on a full moon, or you can see them with the naked eye at that time, don't you know? Even if the naked eye might only perceive the moonbow as white, that doesn't mean the colours aren't there."
Chimata pointed upward toward the horizon. Nitori's gaze followed where the goddess pointed to, then she saw what she meant. In the distance, there seemed to be a drizzle or spray of some kind pouring down from the clouds above. Rain, simply put. And because of that rain, there was a faint, white line forming on the horizon. A moonbow, plain and simple, had appeared right in front of their very eyes. Of course, youkai and gods have far, far better eyesight than humans.
"...It feels almost nostalgic seeing a lunar rainbow again, underneath this precious full moon."
The market goddess spoke up again, staring intently at the moonbow with a surprisingly quiet expression. This caused Nitori to pay her a confused glance.
"Nostalgic?"
"There was a lunar rainbow ongoing when I first properly got my faith back, which allowed me to continuously exist now with you, Nito. Don't you remember? The whole mountain had a market for those Ability Cards ongoing, due in part thanks to Megumu, but also thanks to my own regulations and rules alike. And, unlike her, you actually humour my regulations. As silly as it sounds, I need those to gain faith from transactions. Otherwise, I gain nothing, whilst an uncertain exchange is made. Only under the circumstances of a special event marketplace can ownership of an item truly be relinquished. I've told you that time and time again, remember?"
"Yeah, I… I do remember."
Nitori would curse herself if she forgot something Chimata told her. She made a distinct note in her own head to always acknowledge and listen to anything the market goddess told her. Namely because they were in such good cahoots, but also because the rainbow-coloured goddess just had the type of voice Nitori could listen to for hours as she worked and worked on her gadgets and gizmos. It was as addicting to her as nectar was to a bee, just as that precious smile of hers was.
"So, you showed up under one of these… I suppose seeing another one like this is proof of how well our relationship has been going, right? A-Ah-. I mean business partnership, to clarify, n-not as in-."
"I understood what you meant. Ehehe… It is rather adorable seeing you clumsily stutter over your words like that though, Nito. Besides, I don't mind it if you see our relationship as something other than being strictly business-related. I have noticed how receptive you seem to be with me, as opposed to any of your usual clients or friends. Like Kirisame, for example. You paid way more attention to me than you did to her when we all met up after the black markets were… ahem, dealt with. Sometimes, I swear you even go into a trance where you focus on me and solely me, but that might just be my imagination."
"Uhm… Y-Yeah, err, that might… just be your imagination, Chima…"
"Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't? You probably won't confirm it yourself. Which I do respect - everybody does have their boundaries. But the thing is with markets, they accept anybody and everybody, no matter who they may be. That is what makes marketplaces so unique and special, not just to me, but to everybody who contributes to one. The doors to the market are always open and will never shut to anybody, lest they transgress on the regulations surrounding them. But I know you'd never do that, because you're not a criminal. Rather, you're my friend. One of my closest friends, as a matter of fact, Nito. I really mean that."
"Uh… y-yeah, so… so are you."
There was a fluttering feeling rising in Nitori's chest. Whilst the kappa gadgeteering genius did feel relieved that Chimata didn't seem to be pushing her any further, hearing those words come out of her mouth didn't help things that much though. She meant a lot to the market goddess and Chimata was making that known loud and clear.
"Hmhm… I would like it for us to never drift apart, but perhaps that's just childishly naive of me. The thing is with marketplaces, competition and cooperation can happen at any moment. One second I'll be cooperating with somebody I'm close with, then the next thing I know I'll be competing against them. It's… strange to think about. How something like that can just… change at any given moment. Then again, it happened with Iizunamaru and her assortment of annoyances, since she just sought to gather wealth and power into the hands of the tengu by using my markets… I'm glad you don't seem to think that way though. The kappa truly are easier to work with than the tengu ever will be."
"Well, duh. The tengu tend to seek the outcome where they're the ones benefiting the most, whilst not caring about potentially double-crossing those they're working with. I'd know from experience, like one second I'll be fixing up a camera for Shameimaru, then the next thing I know she'll be writing something dubious or what-have-you about me and using photographs taken from those cameras. It's why I tend to sneak a failsafe or two into anything I make for the tengu…"
"Mm, that is a bit of a cheeky tactic, but it is a smart choice. That's the issue with… I'd say tengu, but it really applies to anybody, Nito. You can't really know who to trust at times, unless you know absolutely everything there is to know about that person. But even then, how can you know if 'everything' is truly everything there actually is? It's sad to say, but it's the saddening truth all must embrace."
Sighing, Chimata looked upward to the pale, luminescent orb glowing brightly in the sky above. She reached a hand upward, as if to grasp the lunar surface in the palm of her hands, with the moon faintly shimmering in response. Nitori watched the market goddess for a moment, before her body subconsciously drifted over beside her, reaching upward to the moon as well. She didn't quite know what she was doing - her body was just on autopilot. Before she knew it, her hand was right next to Chimata's, reaching upward towards the moon.
"Ah?"
The market goddess blinked in surprise, her gaze panning downward toward the kappa reaching up beside her, who stared back after a moment and jumped, startled upon realising what she was doing.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry, I d-didn't know what I was-."
But before Nitori could actually retract her hand properly, Chimata merely softly grasped the kappa's hand in her own, lowering it down of her own volition. Nitori allowed her to do so, stunned by the sudden hand holding, not even sure what to think or say now. And before she could, Chimata raised a finger to her lips and quietly shushed the kappa.
"Shh, it's alright. Sometimes, it's better not to think, hm?"
"U-Uh-."
Nitori had actually started going red in the face. She didn't quite anticipate this happening. That little genius mind of hers was racing in a fervent panic, trying to think of something she could say or do in response, but… it genuinely didn't come up with anything useful. Each time she saw a glimpse of a coherent response, it was quickly overwritten, redone, and remade in seconds, then it happened again. And again. And again and again, all in her mind, to the point it was near-impossible for her to actually say anything.
And yet… it felt… nice. Chimata's hands were soft and delicate, softly grasping Nitori's own. Compared to the market goddess', Nitori's hands were thinner and more rigid, though that's because of how often she worked with her inventions. She wanted more of it. More of this strange, soothing sensation interlocked in her fingers and hand alike. She wanted to feel more of Chimata.
"Nito… No, Nitori. This is more of a serious question, so please, be as honest as you can with me here…"
"Y-Yeah? What is it…?"
"What do you think of me?"
There it was. There was that question. Chimata knew. She had to know by now, surely. The market goddess knew what Nitori truly felt towards her. She had to. She had to. There was no other explanation for why she'd suddenly ask that now of all times, not even a single other-.
"Nitori. Don't overthink it, okay? Just… take a deep breath…"
"Ahhh…"
Doing as asked, the kappa subconsciously took a deep breath, not even registering that her body was following what Chimata asked her to do.
"...Now, breaaathe it all out…"
"Haaaahhh…"
And she did it again. Though, it did calm her nerves, even if only by a little bit. Nitori couldn't deny that. Sometimes, she really did just need to take some deep breaths to avoid overloading her brain.
"Better?"
"A… A little…"
"Good! We don't want you to hyperventilate now, do we? That's a disaster waiting to happen. Now… hmm… Actually, let me ask this. Can you answer the question? Or is it too hard for you to give a concise answer?"
"E-Err… well… it… is a hard question to answer, I guess…"
"I see. Is it because you'd feel embarrassed admitting it?"
"A-Admitting what…?"
"That you want to be with me."
Ah. Yeah. She knew. She just confirmed that she figured it out. The whole mystery was out there for the whole world to see, now came the part where Chimata teased her for it and dismissed her-.
"Nito, Nito… I should probably specify that I don't think any less of you if you do think that way. If anything… it put a lot of things into perspective for me. And, honestly, you know what?"
"Eh…?"
"I can't deny that I feel the same way at times. Sometimes it'll be random, you'll pop into my head when I'm alone, by myself, sitting and watching the world go by with a cup of scalding hot green tea in my hands planning out my next market. 'I wonder how that cute, genius kappa from the ravine is doing?' No rhyme or reason to it, you just show up in my head inexplicably at times. I imagine it's the same for you as well."
…Did she just hear that right? Did Chimata actually just admit what Nitori thought she did? No, she had to be dreaming, surely. This was just a dream and she was going to wake up to the sound of her alarm clock any moment now, surely.
But… it didn't. It didn't wake her up. She felt Chimata's hand locked firmly in her own still. Nitori felt the cold wind of Youkai Mountain smack lightly against her face, brushing her hair to the side a little. This was real. It was real. It will always be real.
"Y… You really… think that way, Chima…?"
"Why, of course! When I say I think a certain way sometimes, I really do mean it, Nito. So, is it the same for you?"
"Well… if you're admitting it, then, err…"
Nitori took a moment to breathe. Chimata patiently waited for her to steel her nerves to say what she had to. For the kappa, it felt like a million years had passed as she tried to force the words past an invisible barrier stopping her from trying to say it. But, she had to be brave. She couldn't be the meek, timid kappa that led all of the other meek, timid kappa. Maybe she just needed to swallow her pride, grit her teeth, and bare her true self for Chimata to see. Just this once.
"...y… yes. It… I-It is. It is the same for me."
"I see… That must have taken you an awful lot of courage to even admit, Nito. Well done. Though, if we both think that way about each other, then… hmm… Say, what do you feel about testing the waters, then?"
"T… Testing the waters? Meaning… you want to… try with us… e-err…"
"Being a thing? I believe that's what somebody called a situation like this… But yes, I would like that, assuming you're fine with it. I will not force you to however. That's just inconsiderate and mean otherwise!"
"U-Umm… Well… I dunno, what if somebody… f-finds out…?"
"Then they won't. We can just keep it between the two of us, no?"
Right, that was true. They could get together in private and… be more intimate that way. Nobody had to know they were together like this. Not the tengu, not the other kappa, nobody. It could just stay between the two of them.
"If… you're sure we can, then… A-Alright, I'm fine with it."
Nitori took another deep breath and nodded her head as firmly as she could. Though, the kappa was starting to tremble with anticipation and excitement. She hadn't actually had anything like this with anybody before, at least not in a way as meaningful as this.
If anything, she was glad it was Chimata as opposed to anybody else.
"Hmm… Ah, you know, it just occurred to me. If I'm a rainbow, be it solar or lunar, based on my appearance, then would that make you the water droplets which refract the sun and moon's blissful light to form me?"
"Eh…? W-Well, um, maybe?"
"Then, so long as we're together, united as one, with ourselves so tightly interlocked with one another…"
Chimata slowly closed her eyes, leaning forward and down towards the kappa. Nitori quietly listened as the market goddess spoke - her tone was becoming softer and closer than it was moments prior. She got closer, and closer, until Nitori subconsciously started closing her eyes there and then on instinct alone, as if her body knew what was coming next.
"...then this special marketplace we found shall never disappear."
Their bodies touched. No, rather, their faces touched. Nitori had raised herself out of the water a little as Chimata lowered herself further and further, now it was to the point they were softly butting heads with one another. Then, without a word needing to be uttered between them, the two took it a step further.
"Mmm…"
Warmth filled Nitori's body and her heart started pounding further and further as she felt her lips make contact with Chimata's own. The kappa's brain had no clue what it was doing, it was malfunctioning and trying to come up with a reason for why this was happening at all, but it ultimately couldn't. And yet, Nitori managed to look past that. How, one may ask?
She merely used the advice Chimata gave her. To not think at all about something like this.
Even then…
Sometimes, it was just far better to bask in the moment, no?