Tsukasa Kudamaki
Tsukasa Kudamaki's Fantasy Rebirth Story
Word is she's supposed to be around here today...!
Where is she...? *rustle rustle*
Tsukasa
What are you doing, Miss PLAYER? Wiggling around in the bushes like that.
Tsukasa
Are you playing hide-and-seek?
Tsukasa
The whole world's in chaos thanks to the Lost Word Incident, and you're just frolicking around. Kids, I swear.
Ah, Tsukasa! There you are!
I'm not playing! I was looking for you!
Tsukasa
Huh, why?
Tsukasa
Oh, I just remembered Lady Iizunamaru needed to get a message to Miss Momoyo. Super urgent.
Tsukasa
So, if you'll excuse me, I'm super busy. Unlike you kiddos, this adult fox has real work to do!
Liar.
I already met them. There's no urgent message.
You're not getting away, Tsukasa.
Tsukasa
Yikes! Chill out, Miss PLAYER! What's with that look?!
Tsukasa
You know, back in the day, passing messages wasn't so easy. You had to walk somewhere or send someone with a scroll.
Tsukasa
And these days it's all done in seconds.
Tsukasa
The outside world's got these weird... shiny rectangles? People just tap and swipe all day. What even are those?!
Wait, you know about that stuff?!
Tsukasa
Oops... that was meant to be a secret.
Tsukasa
Anyway, I'm not here to get fact-checked. Conversations are supposed to be fun.
Tsukasa
So, Miss PLAYER, you Gen Z or what? Nevermind... better stop before I get canceled.
You so meant to say that!
Tsukasa
Heh, your interpretation, your problem!
Tsukasa
So, what's up? I'm not gonna turn you away. Not with the kind of bond we've got.
Tsukasa
But that's also why you should know that I've got nothing useful to offer.
Tsukasa
No reason to sugarcoat it, so I'll just say it. I'm a youkai who stirs the pot. Trouble's kind of my thing.
Tsukasa
Pretty sure you know that.
Tsukasa
You can't really change a youkai. We're not like humans who can just turn on a new mood when they feel like it.
Tsukasa
It's like eating habits. Ever try forcing yourself to eat something you hate? It's the worst.
I eat everything!
Tsukasa
You're so exhausting!
Tsukasa
So you're not one of those picky eaters, huh? I need to think of another example...
Tsukasa
Hmm...
Tsukasa
OK, how about this? An onigiri made with rice and barley... filled with chocolate! Real thing, by the way.
Ew, that actually sounds gross!
Maybe if it was puffed barley it'd work!
Tsukasa
Phew. You finally get it.
Tsukasa
So yeah, asking a youkai to change is like asking someone to eat gross barley-choco onigiri for life. Basically impossible.
Tsukasa
I know you're trying to rally a bunch of youkai together and turn them into one big force.
Tsukasa
But I specialize in doing the opposite. I stir the pot, create discord, watch it all fall apart.
Tsukasa
Gensokyo's important to me too, y'know. Which is exactly why the best way I can help... is by NOT helping.
Tsukasa
So I'll just leave everything to you and cheer you on from a comfy distance.
Tsukasa
Just do me one favor and don't get in my way, OK? Well, toodles!
That was all lies.
Tsukasa
Was not!
Was too!
You're totally lying!
Tsukasa
Hmm...
Tsukasa
One question. Was this whole plan your idea?
Mostly! Got tons of advice though.
Tsukasa
Oh, really?
Tsukasa
So what you're saying is... many know bits and pieces of the plan, but hardly anyone has the whole picture?
I guess... yeah.
Tsukasa
Hmmm...
Tsukasa
Then why trust ME?!
Tsukasa
There are way more powerful youkai! Wouldn't it make more sense to take this to them? I knew you were kinda stu―
Nope! Still think you're the right choice.
Tsukasa
...Ugh.
Tsukasa
Well, sure. With my kuda-gitsune network, I could spread any intel across Gensokyo in an instant.
Tsukasa
Be it real or fake. Honestly, fake's easier.
Tsukasa
Whisper it to an ex-moon rabbit and it'll hit the Lunar Capital in no time. Got folks coming in and out of Hell, too.
Tsukasa
Basically, if you know 'em, I can reach 'em.
Tsukasa
I've even heard of new youkai coming into existence from fake news. That's basically god-tier stuff, if I say so myself.
Tsukasa
Maybe that kind of chaos will actually come in handy.
Tsukasa
Now that I've heard the full plan... Yeah, roping me in is the smart move.
Tsukasa
Still annoys me. But fine.
Yay! That means you're in!
Tsukasa
Ugh... with that ridiculous smile on your face, how can I say no? You're seriously unbelievable.
Tsukasa
I'm a kuda-gitsune. A proper youkai―a type of youko. Tricking humans is what we do. It's why we're hated.
Tsukasa
Heard of kitsunebi? They're mysterious flames caused by us munching on corpses in graveyards. We're kinda creepy.
Tsukasa
So tell me... Do you really think this kind of arrangement is healthy?
Doesn't matter. I've already made up my mind.
Tsukasa
What's this?
It's a confirmation of our partnership.
It's a symbol of our promise.
Tsukasa
Geez... I'm not some cutesy fox from a storybook.
Tsukasa
Well, whatever. I agreed, so I'll take it.
It'll look great on you!
Tsukasa
You're impossible...
Tsukasa
All right, time to get serious. This isn't just about Lady Iizunamaru anymore.
Tsukasa
We might end up dragging all of Gensokyo into chaos. And if that happens, people won't just talk. They'll hunt us down.
Tsukasa
Get ready to put your life on the line. I'm not joking.
Yeah, I'm done playing nice! Time to be a bad girl!
Tsukasa
...
Tsukasa
Heh heh...
Tsukasa
That's what I like to hear!
Tsukasa
I'm a youkai! A kuda-gitsune, to be precise. Back in the day, humans couldn't stand it when others got rich or famous.
Tsukasa
"Why them?! They're no different from us! How'd they end up with the gold and glory?!"
Tsukasa
And just like that, the gossip starts.
Tsukasa
"That family's got a kuda-gitsune. They used one to cheat their way into wealth and fame."
Tsukasa
It was back when people didn't value wisdom. Earn something fair and square, and they'd still say it was some youkai trick.
Tsukasa
If things went south, it was always, "Guess the kuda-gitsune ditched them. We're safe. We play fair."
Tsukasa
So buckle up! That's the kind of kuda-gitsune you're stuck with now!
Tsukasa
Tsukasa Kudamaki is at your service!
Costume Presentation
Tsukasa
Lady Iizunamaru, Miss Chimata, Miss Kanako, the sages, and the other big players have different plans. Some work together, some don't. Their complex power games are crammed into Gensokyo. Without me, you'd get trapped in their webs.
