Hari-onagu:

  Sneaking around in the daytime... Tizohi almighty, this place was all backward...

  "How adout this hill?" she asked telepathically.

  Yuki-onna answered in a fraction of a second. "Is it sixteen kilometers-"

  "YES! IT IS SIXTEEN KILONETERS FROM THE REST!!!" Hari had no idea one could shout in a mental conversation, but here she was. "It's the fourth tine!" She threw the comically lengthy yellow measuring tape she had to carry on a couple of bamboo trees. This inconspicuous tool was almost as large as that meddling Oni and so heavy the pale maiden couldn't hold it with her bony arms, opting for her more reliable follicular tendrils. Thank goodness the Kamaitachi and their outstanding flight were here, or else she'd have to drag it around Chikukei and risk exposing herself to the Gunka Army, who, even in broad daylight when the Basan are barely active, are still relentlessly hunting them down like animals.

  Speaking of, Totsu, the youngest of the Weasel trio, tugged the long sleeve of her kimono. His broad, preoccupied eyes searched for hers.

  "ピエロは悲しいですか？" he questioned.

  Hari-onagu's frown softened. "Yes..." Her black strands started digging the earth and carving the same pattern she had done three more times earlier that night - a rectangle with a perfect square drawn near each 90° angle and a larger one at its center.

  I fucking hate math. But... geometry can be kinda tight.

  The Yūrei succeeded by getting the size and angles right with the help of a couple of scales. Ironically, this was the most stressful part of the whole process. Her furry assassin pals were here to lend their paws for something other than attempted murder, thankfully.

  "It's done, Yuki..." Hari rolled her eyes. "I know you'll toke around these runes and say I did a terridle jod anyway, so..."

  "Do not be irate at me for making sure this plan goes flawlessly, Hari," her cold friend berated.

  "This reckless, dangerous tlan, you nean." She dragged the gigantic tape and sat on it.

  "Hari, I-"

  "Don't waste your Saniya." She scowled. "You never listen to ne anynore. You'd sooner go dehind the Rokro's dack and-"

  "What choice do I have, Hari?" Even if the sorceress wouldn't show it, the hairy Monoke could discern her frustration advancing. "Who knows how powerful that little demon has become by training under Hōkō's protection? We need to uproot that evil before she festers further."

  Hari-onagu clutched her face with both hands. "So THIS is your answer?! If you go through it, we'll de no detter than the terrorists they clain us to de!"

  "If you are so apprehensive about your reputation, why are you still here? I am not pointing a dagger to your neck."

  She sighed. "I want to guarantee you aren't tossed in a dungeon cell for the rest of your nillennia. I love you, Yuki, dut you are not-"

  "Your loyalty is reassuring. Even if you have an odd way of exhibiting it." Yuki-onna's remark cut through Hari's heart more than any ice dagger. "Listen. Return to base and allow me to carve the 'puppet' runes. I have finished the core sigil."

  The hairy maiden lay on the massive tape roll. "You want ne to stay there alone with the Daien?"

  "Hibagon will not hurt you. However, do not dare mention that this plan of mine goes against the Rokro's wishes," Yuki-onna warned. "We have little time before he contacts his master. Two weeks, at most."

  Perfect. Yuki spoke as if Hari-onagu was the prime example of a social butterfly. Just spending a few seconds near him made her hair all rigid and shaky. He'd stare her down with those black and green orbs of disdain that sent chills down her spine every time. Although she couldn't deny his dark and broody aura was... alluring...

  "If he even takes a stet too near ny room, he's returning to the shadows."

  "Please, do not."

  Ah... The cold air around Yuki's pristine minka. A welcome reprieve from the scorching Sun, which wasn't the most merciful to her albino skin. Nevertheless, her hair was the perfect substitute for an umbrella, granting her the well-needed shadow to push her through the day.

  No signs of Hibagon, even when she ventured further into the icy building. Good. That meant no awkward greeting or small talk for the hairy Yūrei. She had enough stress communicating with the one who was supposed to be her best friend. Two thousand years of friendship, and Yuki had the GALL to question her loyalty!? What was Hari supposed to do with her...? Of course, she knew the dangers of Humanity and the depths they were willing to stoop to firsthand. The war isn't something a few centuries can erase from her memory.

  However, was all that trouble worth slaying a COUPLE of Humans? What Yuki-onna proposed would affect not only a handful of people's lives but the entirety of Chikukei...

  ...

  Here she was, in her room.

  The water bed remained, alongside a couple of trinkets she was sure weren't there before, on top of a nightstand carved from solid ice. One was a miniature statue of her father, Kagi-hige. She smiled at the memory of him scaring Humans away by revealing his "grotesque" maw under his enormous, deadly beard. Yuki had sculpted this figure to an outstanding degree, down to each jagged tooth and hook-like tip on his facial weapon. Hari's heart fluttered at how happy and jovial he looked, his toothy grin capable of frightening the soul out of any interloper in their territory.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  The sculpture's accuracy shouldn't be surprising for Hari-onagu. Her family sheltered Yuki-onna every time she had a fight with her family, which was painfully constant. The two young Yūrei had spent so much time together that they were practically sisters. This unconventional familial bond also extended to her father, who officiated the sorceress' wedding with her late husband centuries later.

  Huh... A tear dripped onto the ice Kagi-hige. The Icy Sorceress had effective ways of tugging her heartstrings...

  She put the figurine back on the nightstand, opting to admire the rest of the trinkets: a macaque, a badger, an eagle, a cute, round doll that bore an interesting resemblance to Hari, and an elaborate representation of the time she and Yuki jumped on her first water bed until it popped.

  ......

  She needed rest. Hari-onagu clumsily threw herself onto her liquid bed and wrapped her equally mystical blanket around her sore body. After a few minutes of sighing and pondering when her life became so... troubled, her eyelids gave in and united for long hours...

  The room was the same when the Yūrei woke up. As expected, of course, but you can never be so sure when you share shelter with so many Monoke...

  Regardless, it was time to stretch her bony limbs once more. Not on this floor, obviously...

  Hovering just enough so her dainty toes wouldn't meet the frigid floor, she exited Yuki's home and saw... Hibagon, staring at the starry sky. Tizohi almighty, how many hours has she slumbered? Where was the Kamaitachi? Yuki-onna? She certainly had enough time to carve every needed rune...

  Before the Yūrei could turn around and retreat to the woods, his honey-coated voice rang. "Greetings, Hari-onagu."

  Her mane coiled around itself in countless braids. "H-Hello..." She weakly waved. "Didn't extect to see you out in the cold..."

  He smiled. "A little ironic, considering our temporary housing."

  "Right..." She shyly averted her gaze to the sky. "You check the stars often?"

  "No need to strain yourself with small talk," Hibagon assured. "The Weasel assassins are currently hunting for our sustenance. Yuki-onna is at the core rune, pouring her Saniya into it."

  The Yūrei could barely utter a word, resorting to a simple "Thank you."

  The Daien stood up, clutching his bamboo flute. "You're welcome, " he said, stepping towards her. Speaking of small talk, I have a question for you."

  Shadows take him. When Hari felt a little comfortable around him, he had to say that to turn her into a living statue again. "W-What is it?"

  Hibagon stopped beside her, resuming his attention to the stars. "Such a reckless plan your companion resorted to..." His beady eyes slowly rotated at her. "I'm curious about your opinion on the matter."

  So that was his intention... He wanted her to slip up and tell far too much than she should... Quick, she had to come up with a reasonable excuse to leave.

  "See, I'm not so sure the Rokro actually approved of this act of terrorism against Chikukei AND nature." Those words sent a pang to her stomach. "Nevertheless... They likely won't contact me for a week, so I'm here to support you until I'm told otherwise." He smirked. "Lucky you, I do not have the gift of telepathy..."

  Oh. Oh no...

  He knew there was something amiss... What now? Was keeping this secret even worth it? Why was he on board with Yuki's madness, then?

  "Your silence speaks louder than any empty justification ever could." He sat down. "Have a seat. I won't bite you..."

  "Forgive ne if I'm not so convinced..." She crossed her arms.

  "Fair." He stroked his precious instrument. "Perhaps a piece of trivia about myself will ease your apprehension?"

  Hari-onagu's mind was tempted by a nagging leftover of inquisitiveness. After all this time watching this weird, lonely bard, she could take the slightest peek through the curtains and get a faint read on him. She knew Yuki would disapprove, but you know what? She has spent all this time having her concerns neglected by the sorceress. She is entitled to at least this much self-indulgement.

  "What's the catch?" She slowly joined him on the grass.

  "You answer me a question about you," he spoke with a modest playfulness. "How do you feel about these terms?"

  Hari-onagu smoothed her kimono, pondering. "Very well..." She gathered enough courage to lock her eyes on his. "What's the deal with your flute? Why are you so attached to it like it's your child?"

  Surprisingly or not, Hibagon's face resumed his default, distant expression. "In a way, it's as if it is." His eyes lingered on the shakuhachi. "My son carved it for me. It's his first."

  Hari's heart sank. She wasn't expecting the Daien to have a child, let alone he being connected to the flute. She annihilated any goodwill he would have towards her, huh?

  "Oh..." It was all she thought adequate to answer.

  "It is customary for Daien children to gift their parents an object directly manufactured by them," he explained. "His mother aided him so the shakuhachi would be functional, of course..." He gave the brightest smile Hari had ever seen from him. "Regardless, it's my most prized possession. For it to break, it's like..." He swallowed hard. "...I'm failing him as a father."

  The Yūrei felt the urge to comfort him. However, she wasn't nearly as close or comfortable around him to act upon it. She sensed she would only make matters worse...

  They remained silent for about five minutes before the bard demanded his end of the bargain. "You and the Weasels... I judge there's more between you than just a contract, correct?"

  She nodded. "It's a long story..." she smiled sheepishly. "I can give you the short version..."

  "Please, go on," he insisted.

  "Well..." She cleared her throat as her eyes basked in the vastness of the night sky. "It all started in the war when I encountered a snall fanily of Weasels in the nountains." She clenched her hands together. "The Hunans were adout to end the entire totulation, so I gathered everyone ny hair could hold and strode through the cold and the raging gales." She took a deep breath. "I wonder to this day if hiding in the nountains and traying for the dest wouldn't have deen the detter choice..."

  Hibagon's eyes were transfixed on her, brimming with interest. "The White Steel clan's feats in the Human-Monoke war are so legendary they are the subject of many ballads, including one of my authorship." He grinned. "I suppose we owe you for feeding our creative minds?"

  "I don't care nuch adout credit, thank you." The Yūrei's globes met his. "But yes, the White Steel clan remains thriving today, even if they are not met with many job requests... They wouldn't even accept working for the Tizohi's Chosen if I weren't the one requesting their assistance."

  "So you are still close to them?" he asked.

  "Very. I've watched ten of the clan's generations come and go." She smiled. "I've seen every one of then grow and forn their own lives in and out of the clan, including the Kanaitachi." She proudly hovered a hand above her chest. "You can say I'n their guardian Yūrei..."

  The bard returned the warm grin. "If only I wasn't in such bleak circumstances, I would be concocting my next piece, inspired by your tale..." His face sobered. "Another time, perhaps..."

  Hari would ask for further elaboration if not for a telepathic message ringing into her brain.

  "I have finished today's Saniya storage. Please, come and pick me up."

  The all-powerful Icy Sorceress being helpless without her aid? What else was new?

  Regardless, she couldn't stay sore at her best friend forever, not if she was about to throw herself into the fire so recklessly...

  "This conversation was... nore satisfying than I thought..." She stood up, and then her toes slowly left the blades of grass. "Dut ny dear friend requires ny assistance..."

  "The hummingbird can always count on her flower for sustenance..." He spoke melodically as the Yūrei flew towards the central rune. "But if she keeps taking and never repaying, all that will be left is a hollow remembrance."

  A chill coursed through Hari-onagu's veins as the alluring yet haunting tune of the shakuhachi reverberated throughout the nocturnal forest.

  Even after this brief bonding, she still found him a dreadful weirdo.