Chapter Text
On that fated evening many, many years ago,
Surrounded by an endless pure snow...
Yuyuko drops her head onto the table, groaning into the sheet of paper littered with scribbles of words and ideas that won't stick. What does is the wet ink of her recent thoughts to her forehead.
If only thought projection can be a viable way to fully manifest ideas into completed works of entertainment.
Not like that can be helpful when I have no ideas.
"Wow Yuyuko, you've really been working hard," a familiar voice remarks.
Yuyuko's face stays glued to the table. "Hi, Ichie-san. No prank today?"
"Something's telling me it's not the day for one."
"You're holding yourself back on a prank? The world really is ending." Yuyuko hums. "World ending… apocalypse… Nope, nothing."
Papers rustle across the floor as footsteps cross the room toward her. "Still stuck on the next performance?"
"Just like the last time you asked me yesterday."
"But you're usually brimming with ideas! Why the struggle now?"
"I have ideas. They're just not strong enough for me to develop into good, cohesive stories." Yuyuko finally removes her face from her desk, ripping off the piece of paper stuck to her forehead and showing it to Ichie. "I can get two lines and that's it. Impenetrable roadblock."
Ichie leans forward with her face to the paper, eyes squinting . "Are these scribbles because you smeared the ink with your forehead?"
"Who knows? I've definitely written some illegible ideas on one of these papers. Not like I can write coherently with this writer's block."
Ichie shrugs. "I wish I can help, but you already rejected all my ideas."
"They were good ideas. I just… I can't seem to find a way to get them anywhere."
"Maybe you're just overthinking it? Even though it's just Tamao–"
"It's not just Tamao!" Yuyuko falls onto her back, throwing her arm over her eyes. "Tomoe Tamao is the reigning lord of Rinmeikan. Barring the Emperor, she's the most powerful person someone like us can hope to meet in person in our lifetime, let alone for a performance hosted by her." Yuyuko throws her arm off her eyes and glares at Ichie. "And you just happen to know her because her bodyguard saved you from some lowlifes?"
"They were harassing Tamao so I told them to stop it! How was I supposed to know they'd turn to me instead?! Shouldn't they be able to recognize the lord of the land?!"
"That's what always happens, Ichie-san. Try to be the hero and you end up the damsel in distress instead. You should know this by now. And it's not like you recognized Tamao-sama at first glance either."
Ichie pouts. "I thought that only happens in stories!"
"What do you think stories are based off of?" Yuyuko rolls her eyes. "You're lucky Tamao-sama has such a capable bodyguard. I can't believe she fought them all off on her own. No wonder the lord of the land only ever has her around."
"Yeah! Rui is super capable. I mean," Ichie holds her hand up to the top of her head, "her sword's as long as me!"
"Hm, that'd be pretty interesting to see. Tamao-sama and her bodyguard, I mean. Do you think you can recreate that scene?"
"You want me to put myself in danger to help you out of your writer's block?!"
"What? A little peril never hurt anyone."
Ichie scrunches her face. "I meaaaaan. I am going to be the one actually performing as you narrate the story. I guess it'd be helpful for me to get an early feel for the part I might play…"
Yuyuko can't help the chuckle that escapes her because of Ichie's thinking face. "I'm kidding, Ichie-san. If I wanted information for the stories I'm writing, I'd do the research myself."
Yuyuko sits up and stands, dusting herself off. One quick glance at her small room littered with crumbled balls of paper has her wincing. "You know, I think I'm going to take a walk. Might help loosen the block a bit."
"Around town right now?" Ichie shivers. "But it's so cold out. The snow's almost at ten centimeters by now!"
Yuyuko scoffs. "That's definitely an exaggeration, Ichie-san. I know this winter's one of the coldest we've ever had, but it can't be that bad."
It's definitely that bad.
Yuyuko tightens her scarf around her neck, exhaling into the cloth to generate some extra warmth for herself. Thankfully, she ends up wearing enough even though she didn't account for the absurdly cold night.
"I wonder if the Goddess of Winter is upset with something," Yuyuko mutters to herself, then scoffs. "As if there's a goddess like that, let alone one that'd throw a tantrum. If they did it should be snow storming anyway. Oh, I wonder if…" Yuyuko purses her lips in thought. "No, that's not leading anywhere either."
The actual ten centimeters of snow isn't the most conducive for thinking, especially when she has to be mindful of her steps lest she trip and fall on her face like a fool. Though it's so cold that not many people are out and about at this time of night. So it's not like anyone will see if she suddenly trips–
She lurches forward and, exactly as she wanted to avoid, falls face-first into snow.
Great.
Yuyuko snaps her head up and shakes it side to side, throwing off some of the snow that catches in her hair. For a moment she contemplates staying where she's at; trudging through the snow will only keep her mind on trying not to trip and fall – again – instead of thinking about ideas for an interesting story. But then she might get frostbite, and that's not a problem she wants to add to her list of priorities.
Making up her mind, Yuyuko drags herself onto her feet while she pats off the snow that clings to her clothes. Only after does she realize that she's actually wandered farther away from her inn than she thought.
Where am I?
From the surrounding trees, or what Yuyuko assumes to be under the blanket of white, it seems she's wandered outside of the town and into the nearby forest after trekking up a small hill to enter it. Turning around, she can see some illumination from the lights from town not too far away. The warm glow of the town soothes her wound up nerves after falling. It'd make a nice picture to paint– if she was an artist and not a storyteller.
Yuyuko turns her back to the town and continues into the forest.
Every step causes Yuyuko's feet to sink fully into the snow up to her shins. Though, as she musters up extra energy to pull her legs out and keep walking, the annoying terrain reminds her that she at least doesn't have to worry about any dangerous wildlife. In the dead of winter at this temperature and this time of night, the animals of the forest should be hibernating to conserve energy rather than out and about. This includes humans; it's the perfect time for Yuyuko to get lost in her thoughts without worrying about interruptions.
She thinks back to the ideas Ichie first suggested. Although the majority of the writing process is overseen by Yuyuko, it's not uncommon for Ichie to offer critique and suggestions as both the sole performer of her stories and her closest friend.
As always, Ichie offers good ideas. A tale of a young esteemed general and his faithful retainer. The tragedy of a ninja who infiltrates her rival clan's ranks to assassinate its head, only for an unexpected bond to form between the two. A boy saving a princess of the sea while in the form of a turtle, who shows her gratitude by inviting the boy to her underwater palace. The struggle of a family who fights against all odds to maintain their way of life. Ichie even suggested she put on a showy performance to parallel their performance for the public.
But none of them click. None of them seem right. As the writer, it's driving her up the wall at how hard it is to come up with the right idea and stick with it to create the perfect story. If it isn't reflective of her best abilities, how can Ichie showcase her story through her performance? How can they show Tomoe Tamao why she and Ichie are rumored to be the best storytellers in the land?
Yuyuko exhales into her scarf, nuzzling her face into the fabric.
What do I do? At this rate I won't be satisfied with anything. Maybe I should take a break for a day or two… Wait, when is the date of the performance?
Yuyuko pulls out a hand from her pockets and counts her fingers. "One, two, wait, there's only one week left?! Since wh– wah?!"
"Wah?!"
She forgets to pick up her legs enough. The snow drags Yuyuko back to the ground for another inevitable face plant.
Yuyuko blinks with her face stuck in the snow. Wait, that wasn't just me that screamed.
Yuyuko snaps her head up. Her eyes widen when she finds she really isn't as alone in the forest as she thought. In this random opening in a forest removed from the nearest town, there is a woman sitting on the stump of a tree. The moonlight bathes her in an ethereal glow, contrasting her porcelain skin with the colors of her teal eyes, pink curled hair draped over her right shoulder, and rosy lips. Her garments are modest, and for a moment Yuyuko wonders how the girl isn't freezing in the middle of this winter.
Instead, she fixates on other aspects of this woman. There aren't many that Yuyuko would call beautiful, but this woman is gorgeous. It's something Yuyuko would have definitely focused on more if this woman isn't so… suspicious.
Yuyuko catches the woman's shocked expression for a millisecond before she erases all traces of her surprise and replaces it with an amused grin.
"Oh? And who might you be? Not many would wander about at this time of night, especially on a night as cold as tonight," the woman says.
Yuyuko blinks. It's a little difficult to reconcile this smooth, languid voice with the scream she briefly caught mixed with her own just seconds prior.
The woman's smirk lengthens. "Oh? Like something you see? You're staring for an awful long time."
You're weird.
"You're the one sitting in the middle of the snow 'on a night as cold as tonight,'" Yuyuko finds her voice to reply, quoting the woman herself.
The woman shrugs. "I'm one of the few who enjoy a quiet night out by myself. You, however, seem like the type who typically prefers to spend her evenings cozying in your home."
"If you mean being lazy, then no. I wish though." Yuyuko picks herself up, patting the snow off her clothes. "You, on the other hand, definitely seem like the type. You even look like you're wearing your sleepwear instead of some proper layering."
The woman raises an amused brow. "You're calling my dress a night gown?"
"Whatever it is, it's not something anyone around these parts who are used to winters would wear if they're going outside with snow. It looks thin enough for the summer." Yuyuko frowns, eyeing the woman's smooth skin. "Aren't you cold?"
"Oh? Are you offering to warm me up?"
Heat rushes to Yuyuko's cheeks. "Oh no. Let me guess, you're actually a yuki-onna out to lure unsuspecting travelers to their doom, aren't you?"
The woman's laugh jingles in Yuyuko's ears. "No, I'm not. Winter's not my domain, you see. Is it strange that I just didn't want to wear a lot? And for your information, it's not my sleepwear."
Yuyuko frowns. The more she looks at it, the more she agrees with the woman. The lacing and design of the garment is a little too elaborate for sleepwear. Yuyuko doesn't think any of the nobles would even wear something like that to sleep; it doesn't actually look comfortable to sleep in.
Then the only other explanation is…
"Oh, that explains it. You're a traveler and those were the only clothes you prepared."
The woman winks. "How perceptive of you. You have a pretty keen eye. Is that why you keep staring at me?"
Admitting that the woman is beyond beautiful might be adding too much fuel to the woman's playful flames of a personality. No, it definitely will, if the woman's goading grin is any indication.
"Anyone would stare at someone who's wearing what looks like a nightgown in the middle of a freezing winter," Yuyuko replies instead.
"I'm feeling a little miffed that you keep associating my clothing with something as simple as a nightgown, but I suppose you wouldn't understand."
Yuyuko sighs. She closes her eyes, listening to the thrumming of her heartbeat. Whether her increased heart rate is due to the trek into the forest through the thick snow or the way this woman keeps riling her up, she isn't sure.
But Yuyuko is sure of one thing. Not only is this woman beautiful and suspicious, but she is also interesting. Never has she encountered someone so out of place yet acting as if everything is normal. Like the woman says, Yuyuko doesn't understand why she's wearing something so thin and ineffective against the current weather. She doesn't recognize the style or where it can originate from. This woman is an enigma.
A strange woman indeed.
"What I do know is that it's doing almost nothing to keep you warm," Yuyuko says, walking toward where the woman is seated. "And you're definitely cold, if your exposed skin is any indication."
"So you have been staring. Maybe I'm the one who should be worried about your ulterior motives."
Yet the woman remains seated, even after Yuyuko reaches her and stands close enough to touch. She doesn't move even as Yuyuko removes her scarf and wraps it around the woman's neck. As Yuyuko leans closer to fully wrap the scarf around the woman, their faces come close enough for their warm exhales to mix– for Yuyuko to notice how red the woman's cheeks are.
Yuyuko frowns as her fingers brush against cold skin. "Is there a reason you're out here when you're clearly freezing?"
"Maybe I'm waiting for a kind soul to take me back to their home?"
Yuyuko pulls back. "I'm not stupid enough to do that, for your information. The most you're getting from me is my scarf. I don't feel like dying or freezing myself."
"Aw. Not even a name?"
"Isn't it rude to not give your own first before asking for someone else's?"
The woman hums in thought, the sound sending a tingle down Yuyuko's spine. "I guess you got me there. Forgive me for being so rude. You can call me Yachiyo."
"Huh. No surname?"
Yachiyo's lips pull up into a coy smile. "I have to keep some air of mystery. Of course, that means you're free to keep yours to yourself too."
"Tanaka Yuyuko. I don't need to hide anything. I'm just a traveling storyteller. Nothing more."
"Oh? 'Nothing more' you say? You're rather famous around these parts."
Now it's Yuyuko's turn to shrug. "I write and tell stories. My partner performs them. That's all there is to it."
"But surely they're interesting, if the local gossip is anything to go by. You must have some interesting tales to tell."
"All fictional. Nothing interesting has personally happened to me during my experiences on the job."
"Still better than the mundane, everyday lives of the general public."Yachiyo scoots over and pats the spot next to her. "How about keeping me company for a little while? As you said, I could use the extra warmth."
"Didn't you want to enjoy a quiet night by yourself?"
"I can make an exception for good company."
Yuyuko raises an eyebrow. "And how are you sure I'm not someone with 'ulterior motives?'"
Yachiyo winks. "Just an intuition. You can say I've got a good eye myself."
What a strange woman.
Then what does that make Yuyuko when she joins the woman on the stump? Maybe that makes her strange too.
But what does it mean when Yuyuko leans against this stranger and her body surges with heat from their close contact? Yuyuko doesn't know.
Feeling Yachiyo tense, Yuyuko quickly says, "Sorry, the stump is small."
"Why would I complain when that means more warmth?"
"So you are cold. You should just admit it instead of trying to act like nothing's wrong. Are you trying to act tough for someone?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing, except there's no one here."
"Are you not someone?"
"Can't say I'm that impressed when you're shivering against me in nothing but a nightgown."
"Again, it's not a nightgown."
"Right." Yuyuko eyes the lack of space between them. "This is a really weird way to ask for company, you know?"
"Maybe I just want to be picky. And hey, I ended up finding a storyteller's company."
"More like I found you."
When Yachiyo chuckles, Yuyuko can feel the small vibration pass through her own body. She closes her eyes and enjoys the warmth.
It gets her thinking.
"Is there a particular story you wanted to hear?"
Yachiyo hums in thought. "Well, I've never seen one of your performances before. So, how about the one you found the most interesting to write up?"
"The most interesting for me?" Yuyuko looks up at the dark sky as she parses through her memories. "I guess if I have to pick one, it'd be The Journey of the Planeswalker."
"Planeswalker?"
Yuyuko chuckles. "Ichie-san isn't here to perform her part, but I'll make sure to capture your attention with my narration alone."
"Ehh?" Yachiyo smiles, leaning against Yuyuko some more. "Do tell, o storyteller."
At the first light of dawn, Yuyuko finds herself waking up sideways. The next thing that registers to her is how cold she is. She can barely stop shivering.
"Guuuhhhh. Did I really fall asleep outside?!"
Memories of the past night come back to her. Leaving her inn to think, strolling through the forest, meeting Yachiyo…
Was that all just a dream?
But when Yuyuko reaches for her scarf to pull tighter around her neck for warmth, she finds the cloth nowhere to be found.
Just like the stranger she met and shared her evening with last night.
Beyond the Lines
As the storyteller gathers herself and leaves the clearing in the forest, a lone figure hiding behind the trees steps out to sit down on the stump that is just vacated.
The figure removes her hood from her head, releasing blonde hair styled in the form of twin banana bunches from the confines of the cloak.
"Ah."
The woman stares up at the dawning sky. So accustomed to the usual grey clouds covering most of the heavens, it's a nice change to see the rising sun illuminate the world with the beginning of the new day.
The woman smiles. "It seems like things might be a little different this time."