Welcome to Gaia! ::

"My name is Yukari Yakumo. I came considered the God of Gensokyo. I am also the border youkai that established this place. I was a dear friend your mother's." Yukari stepped forwards, offering a hand out to her. "I am not an enemy... I only wish to help you show Fear what he is blind to."

Malrama hesitated at first but then accepted the hand.
"So...You know about my mother's real death?"
Malrama frowned after saying that. She didn't know the real details but the story Fear gave her was...not accurate.
"Tell me...Tell me the truth about her death. I promise not to share it with Fear yet."

Not attuned to the current events taking place outside the human village, Ran had been going about her business shopping for ingredients for the days dinner. Though she did her best to hide her ears, tail and overall presence the residents all knew of the modest shikigami. Her face was a welcome presence in their daily routines. But there are some villagers who know when there's something new about; and this time two little girls spotted a black cat walking on the roof edge of the nearby fruit shop. They approached Ran rather than the cat, thinking it was another familiar person: "miss Ran, miss Ran!" The child pulled on Ran's sleeve for attention.
"Is that Chen up there?" Ran looked towards the child's indicated direction seeing a black coated cat.
"Oh, no. That isn't Chen. I'm sorry she hasn't come to play with you today." She responded while patting the child's head. The two children said farewell to Ran and ran off to play. However, Ran's eyes were fixed still towards the cat that seemed to be searching for something. That's not a simple stray, and that shade of black isn't normal. Ran thought to herself. Perhaps it was some unknown youkai.
It's moving suspiciously, so maybe I should get it's attention before it causes any trouble to the village. She decided to make her presence known by giving off a hint of her strength, a signal that any youkai or spiritually aware human could notice. The black cat noticed Ran's announcement and looked over at her as she motioned subtly and smiled for it to follow her over to a large cherry tree.

Ran knelt down to speak to the strange cat in a more personal manner. She smiled as she spoke: "I see you can speak. I'll introduce myself. I am Ran Yakumo, I simply asked you to come over here because your presence is curious. What is your name?" While she was speaking Ran kept trying to discern something from the cat's scent but it was nothing she could recognize.

"A shield? I'm not sure about that. This is a very tranquil village, you won't see many weapons here." Ran responded.
"So you are the embodiment of fear then? Why would you come to this place though? The human you seek must mean something." As she spoke Ran's eyes were locked with Fear's and she felt more uneasy by the second. It wasn't an intimidating or overwhelming feeling, but more of a harsh oppression. Some how it was making her nauseous.

"I can not." Yukari stated blandly. She moved her hair, her hand going back to her side."Of right now, it is not wise to tell anyone, not even my own servant, of what has happened to Fear and your mother... but... she was not killed by a human, as Fear believes. That is all I can say."

Ran stood up as Fear took the form of a man. As she responded once more, her smile slowly faded "I see. So you seek revenge. Strange."
As Ran looked directly at Fear her face was now indicating a more serious expression. "Are you really the spirit of the emotion of fear? Do you not know the ways of humans by now? By seeking your revenge your victim will not have the chance to regret and bow before you, he learn learn nothing. It is before the enma where he will be the most regretful, a place someone like you should not be sent." Ran's tone was almost condescending as she continued: "you've forgotten in your anger, the very fundamentals of the human mind. When you have your revenge you may create not just fear, but hatred. More will come after you and the cycle may escalate."
Ran looked away a moment before she said, "killing isn't the only choice you have. If you do believe it is then I'm sorry but I don't want to see more people get involved." As Ran finished her sentence she looked again straight at Fear, this time with the resolve to preserve the lives of the uninvolved. Her power, unseen, flowed out from her center, expressing her desire to be a that mountain for the sake of someone very close to her. She had not, however, shown her full strength. Perhaps worried about any effects it would have on the village they were still in.

Have you, a deity of this world, succumbed to the emotions of the humans you rule over? A deity who is becoming human without even noticing it?