Pseudo-Eldritch God in Gensokyo

"Uh, can you let me go now?" asked a small blonde girl, her crimson eyes narrowing impatiently.

"No," replied a lanky young man, his tone casual but firm.

The girl, currently restrained by twisting roots that sprouted unnaturally from the ground, was Rumia, a Youkai of darkness. She hung midair, limbs restrained, while the young man standing before her casually twirled his hand, the roots responding like puppets to a master's will.

His name was Kiru, and he was in the middle of processing how exactly his life had turned into… this.

A week ago, Kiru was just an average human, if not a nerd of sorts. Then, two monumental things happened: First, he discovered that he now possessed two inexplicably almost godlike abilities. Second, while experimenting with one of them, he accidentally transported himself to Gensokyo, a magical land he knew only from a series of bullet-hell games called Touhou Project.

It had taken Kiru all of five minutes to go from marveling at the beauty of Gensokyo to running for his life when this strange little Youkai tried to eat him. Luckily, his newfound powers were more than enough to stop her in her tracks.

Now, as Rumia dangled helplessly, Kiru thought back to what he'd figured out about his abilities. They seemed to come straight out of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" template he'd once read online, and he could even name them:

The first, Shaper, granted him complete mastery over biology. He could control and manipulate all organic matter within an immense radius, reshape living organisms with a thought, and even create biomass from nothing. His body was no exception—he could enhance it, rebuild it, or even survive decapitation by anchoring his mind to a hive-like network of lifeforms under his control. The sheer versatility and power of this ability was both exhilarating and terrifying.

The second, Kaleidoscope, gave him power over space, time, and the multiverse itself. He could traverse alternate realities, pull items or versions of people from other timelines and more. The infinite possibilities of this power made his head spin just thinking about it.

Combined, these powers made Kiru something akin to an eldritch god—or at least, a god in progress? But here, in a land filled with absurdly powerful beings like Yukari Yakumo and Reimu Hakurei, he figured he was more like a discount deity by comparison. 

That brought him to his current dilemma: What now? He could technically use Kaleidoscope to go home… but where was the fun in that?

This was the Touhou Project! A literal magical fantasy land! Sure, it was also filled with world-ending magic girls of crazy power and hacks, but Kiru was determined to make the most of it. For now, though, he needed something simple—like a place to stay.

"Hey," Kiru said, glancing at the still-suspended Youkai. "Do you know where the Human Village is?"

Rumia tilted her head thoughtfully, as if forgetting for a moment she was tied up. "Oh, yeah, I know where that is! But humans don't let Youkai in, y'know. Oh, and sorry for trying to eat you earlier! Your scent earlier was super convincing."

Kiru raised an eyebrow. He'd used Shaper earlier after catching Rumia to subtly alter his scent, just in case, and apparently it worked. While he was at it, he'd also enhanced his physique, making himself healthier, stronger, and sharper than ever. He flexed a little, more out of self-satisfaction than necessity.

"Love this ability," he muttered under his breath.

Out loud, he then replied, "Yeah, I'm good at shapeshifting. Blending in is my specialty."

With a flick of his wrist, the roots released Rumia, gently lowering her to the ground. She stumbled briefly, then straightened up and brushed herself off.

"Alright, this way!" she said cheerfully, her mood doing a complete 180. She began floating just above the ground, her pace leisurely as she led him toward the village.

As they approached the Human Village, its wooden gates loomed ahead, guarded by two spearmen. Rumia hovered beside Kiru, grinning mischievously.

"So, are we sneaking in to eat some humans?" she asked casually, as if discussing dinner plans.

Kiru smirked. "Oh, totally. Except I'd rather not get lynched by an angry mob. For now, I'll blend in and see what I can find."

Rumia tilted her head, curiosity lighting her crimson eyes. "Sounds fun! Can I come with you?"

Kiru raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I wanna see what it looks like inside!" she said, her tone almost childlike.

He considered this for a moment. "Alright, but on one condition: no eating the humans. If I sneak you in, you're on your best behavior."

Rumia pouted, crossing her arms. "Fine, I won't eat anyone. But you'd better feed me instead!"

Kiru smirked. "Deal. I've got a few ideas for snacks you'll like. Now, just follow my lead."

With that, Kiru used Shaper to produce thin silk cords, wrapping them loosely around Rumia's wrists. He picked her up bridal-style, carrying her as she squirmed slightly but played along.

When they reached the gate, the two guards immediately stiffened, gripping their spears tightly.

"Halt! State your name and… is that a Youkai?" one of them demanded, eyeing Rumia warily.

Kiru flashed his most confident grin. "Howdy! Name's Kiru. I'm an outsider, just arrived in Gensokyo recently. I'm seeking refuge in the village—it's been a rough day, what with the Youkai in the forest and all." He gestured to the girl in his arms. "Speaking of which, this is Rumia. She tried to eat me earlier, but worry not—I've captured and tamed her. She's harmless now."

Rumia blinked. "Wait, what—"

Kiru flicked her ear, silencing her before she could ruin the act.

Rumia quickly caught on, her voice rising in theatrical awe. "Y-Yeah! This mighty human was so strong and awesome that I had no choice but to submit! I'm his loyal servant now, promise!"

The guards exchanged skeptical glances, but neither seemed particularly sharp.

"An outsider tamed a Youkai?" one muttered, clearly impressed. "That's the kind of thing you hear about in old legends."

The other guard nodded. "Very well, as long as she's on a tight leash, you may enter. But keep her under control."

"Of course," Kiru said, flashing a charming smile as he carried Rumia through the gates.

Once inside, Rumia wriggled free, floating beside him. "That was fun! But wow, those guards were dumb."

Kiru smirked. "Newbies, probably. No way seasoned guards would fall for that."

The Human Village bustled with life, its streets lined with wooden buildings, market stalls, and villagers going about their day. Kiru scanned the area, looking for a place to settle. After asking around, he struck a deal with an elderly farmer who offered him a small shack in exchange for labor. With his earlier use of Shaper enhancing his strength and endurance, Kiru knew he could handle the work with ease.

Later, inside the shack, Rumia perched on the bed, her legs swinging idly as she looked around. "The Human Village is pretty interesting! So many tasty—uh, I mean, not-to-eat humans!" she corrected herself quickly under Kiru's raised eyebrow.

He chuckled briefly, shaking his head as he opened a cupboard to check the food supply. One lonely loaf of bread greeted him.

"Good thing food's not an issue for me," Kiru said. He placed a hand on the counter and used Shaper to conjure fresh ingredients. Within minutes, he'd crafted a juicy hamburger patty, fresh buns, and cheese. He set a small fire going in the old fashioned stove and began cooking.

The savory aroma filled the shack, making Rumia's mouth water. She stared hungrily at the sizzling patty.

When Kiru finished assembling the burger, he took a massive bite, savoring the flavor. "Mmm… I really do love this ability. Definitely need to practice more with it—and Kaleidoscope, too."

Noticing Rumia's puppy-like gaze, he smirked and quickly crafted a second burger, handing it to her.

Her eyes lit up as she took a huge bite. "Mmm! This is amazing! Almost as good as humans!"

Kiru gave her a dry look, and she chuckled nervously, he smiled a little though. 

After they finished eating, Kiru lay down on the bed, ready for a nap. Moments later, he felt Rumia climb on top of him, curling up like a cat.

"What are you doing?" he asked, half-amused, half-exasperated.

"You fed me," she murmured, nuzzling against his chest. "No one's ever fed me before. And you feel comfy."

Kiru sighed but couldn't suppress a smile. He used Shaper to create fluffy, fox-like tails from his waist that wrapped around her like a blanket. Rumia let out a contented sigh, drifting off almost instantly.

"Cute," Kiru muttered, watching her sleep. "At least when she's not trying to eat me."

As the room grew quiet, Kiru's mind turned to the future. Gensokyo was vast and unpredictable, and there was so much he still didn't know. For now, though, he would bide his time, learn the lay of the land, and prepare for his later fun he plans to have. 

[TIMESKIP]

Several days passed. Kiru settled into the rhythm of village life, working labor jobs to keep his spot in the shack while keeping Rumia close to ensure she behaved. Villagers were uneasy at first, whispering about the Youkai he kept under control, but their unease slowly turned to cautious curiosity. The sight of Rumia obediently tagging along—more like a mischievous pet than a predator—softened their opinions.

Before long, rumors about the mysterious outsider spread throughout the village. "The man who tamed a Youkai" became a local legend, sparking gossip wherever Kiru went. By now Rumia was also informed by Kiru how he was originally human but she was fine with that... although she did nibble on him sometimes. 

On his first real break from work, Kiru stretched and turned to Rumia. "I've got something to handle. Be back in a second."

Rumia tilted her head. "Huh? Where are you going?"

"Nowhere you need to worry about. Stay put and behave," he said with a smirk.

Before she could question further, Kiru activated Kaleidoscope. The world dissolved into a swirling, prismatic vortex, the infinite Multiverse stretching out before him. By now, he'd practiced plenty with his powers, confident enough to finally take a trip and put his abilities to practical use.

Kiru's first stop was Earth—Marvel Comics' version, to be exact. He appeared near the X-Mansion, where mutants trained under Charles Xavier's watchful eye. Using Shaper, Kiru copied the biological templates of every mutant he could find in his range, including the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants for good measure. Each template became part of his arsenal: Super Strength, telekinesis, teleportation, and more.

"This," Kiru mused, "is gonna be fun."

Next, he zipped across realities to the Dragon Ball Z universe during the Namek Saga. On the planet as a battle took place, he located Saiyan and Namekian DNA sources, even managing to snag a template of Frieza's biology without the tyrant noticing him.

From there, Kiru hopped to the DC Comics universe, adding Kryptonian and Martian templates to his growing collection. He marveled at the sheer versatility of the abilities he was acquiring but made mental notes to experiment later.

Kiru didn't stop there. He visited:

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, to copy the Pillar Men's physiology, My Hero Academia, collecting quirks from both heroes and villains, And even Monster Musume, though he'd prefer not to explain why for that one. 

Satisfied, Kiru found an empty universe devoid of life and spent a month practicing on an abandoned planet. He quickly learned the limits of combining templates—the hard way. Mixing Martian, Kryptonian and Saiyan DNA with certain X-Genes resulted in catastrophic instability, causing his body to break apart but thankfully Shaper fixed him. Despite this, Kiru fine-tuned his abilities, discarding incompatible combinations and remembering those that worked seamlessly.

After finishing his montage training, Kiru returned to Gensokyo. To Rumia, who was lounging in the shack, it looked like he had vanished and reappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Okay!" Kiru declared. "I'm done."

Rumia stared at him, bewildered. "You were gone for, like, a second!"

"For you, sure," Kiru said, laughing. "Don't hurt your head trying to figure it out."

He ruffled her hair, earning a small pout from the Youkai.

As Rumia grumbled, Kiru grabbed an empty pot and created a single red rose, planting it carefully.

"What's the flower for?" she asked, poking at the petals.

Kiru's grin widened. "Just a backup plan."

Unbeknownst to Rumia, the rose's roots contained Kiru himself via a hive mind type of method. If his body were ever destroyed, the flower would act as a lifeline, allowing him to resurrect. He mentally kicked himself for not doing this earlier but resolved to plant a few more "insurance policies" around Gensokyo later.

Rumia shrugged, losing interest. "Whatever. You're weird."

Kiru smirked. "Wanna see something cool?"

Before she could respond, he gave himself the X-Genes he had copied from Pyro and Iceman, conjuring flames in one hand and frost in the other. The fire danced like a living thing, and the frost solidified as it formed ice cubes.

Rumia's eyes widened. "You can use element magic?! That's so cool!"

"Yep," Kiru said, winking. "Just your ordinary magician, that's me."

Elsewhere in Gensokyo…

Flying through the sky on her broom, Marisa Kirisame, the self-proclaimed "ordinary magician," suddenly felt a strange itch of irritation.

"Huh… why do I feel like someone's trying to steal my thunder?" she muttered, glancing around suspiciously.

A competitive glint sparked in her eyes. "Well, whatever! If someone is, then I'll challenge 'em later if they're worth it. For now, time to bother Reimu!"

With that, she sped off toward the Hakurei Shrine, unknowingly setting the stage for a future meeting.

Back with Kiru and Rumia...

Kiru sat cross-legged on the floor of his shack, a large map of Gensokyo spread out before him. He had acquired it from a curious merchant, who was all too eager to share gossip about the various landmarks on it. Kiru's finger traced paths and landmarks: the Scarlet Devil Mansion, the Hakurei Shrine, and other iconic locations he vaguely remembered from his world's Touhou Project lore.

Rumia, floating lazily in the air, peered over his shoulder. "What're you looking at?"

"A map," Kiru replied without looking up. He tapped the ornate drawing of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. "I'm thinking of finally leaving the human village and exploring more of Gensokyo. The Scarlet Devil Mansion looks interesting… but these shrines? They're tempting too."

Rumia tilted her head. "What's at the shrines?"

Kiru smirked. "Oh, you know, just some people I'd love to meet. I figure stirring the pot a little could be fun."

"Stirring the pot?" Rumia echoed, blinking. "Like… soup?"

Kiru chuckled. "Not quite. More like harmless mischief. Testing the waters, seeing what I can do without getting myself obliterated by the local heavyweights. That kind of thing."

Rumia crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "If it's harmless, that sounds boring."

"Oh, don't worry," Kiru said, leaning back and resting on his hands. "Youkai like you should appreciate this. Mischief is just the start."

His gaze returned to the map. He tapped the Hakurei Shrine thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll check this place out first. Meeting Reimu sounds like a good idea. She's the face of this whole franchise, isn't she?"

Later That Day...

Kiru and Rumia set off from the village, taking a winding dirt path that led toward the Hakurei Shrine. The scenery was picturesque: rolling hills, distant mountains, and forests that seemed to stretch forever. Kiru enjoyed the fresh air while Rumia hovered behind him, occasionally plucking leaves from low-hanging branches out of boredom.

As they walked, Kiru adjusted the scarf around his neck—a new addition he had created with Shaper for aesthetic flair. 

"You sure Reimu isn't just gonna whack you with her stick?" Rumia asked, spinning lazily in midair.

Kiru grinned. "Oh, she might try. But that's the fun part, isn't it? Figuring out how to not get whacked... or how to simply avoid it."

Rumia rolled her eyes. "Humans are weird." 

"Correction: I consider myself an Eldritch Horror now." Kiru shot back jokingly. 

Their banter was interrupted by the sound of rustling bushes ahead. Both froze as a figure stepped onto the path—a girl with green hair that had a frog pin & snake-like accessory in it. She carried a gohei as well with her.

Kiru recognized her immediately. "Sanae Kochiya…?"

The girl tilted her head, clearly puzzled. "How do you know my name?"

Kiru cursed inwardly. He hadn't meant to blurt that out. "Uh… lucky guess?"

Sanae narrowed her eyes but didn't press the issue. "Who are you? And why is there a Youkai with you?" She pointed at Rumia, who waved cheerfully.

"I'm Kiru," he said casually. "An outsider. And as for her, she's… my companion pet Youkai. Completely harmless, I assure you."

"Pet?! I'm not your pet!" Rumia hissed.

Kiru flicked her forehead. "Relax, it's just for appearances."

Sanae tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes. "An outsider? Really? Wow, it's been a while since I've met another one of us! Isn't Gensokyo amazing? It's so weird, but in the best way! Anyway, you're heading toward the Hakurei Shrine, aren't you? I was just there earlier."

Kiru blinked at her rapid shift in tone. "Uh… yeah, I'm heading there. Hoping to meet Reimu."

Sanae's expression turned serious—or at least, she tried. "You know, Reimu doesn't just let anyone waltz in, especially with a Youkai in tow. If she thinks you're up to no good, you're gonna get a faceful of her gohei." Her tone was stern, but there was an unmistakable excitement bubbling under the surface, as if she was trying to channel Reimu's no-nonsense attitude and not quite succeeding.

Rumia floated closer to Kiru, smirking. "See? Told you this was a bad idea."

Kiru ignored her, focusing on Sanae. "I'm not here to cause trouble(yet). I just want to introduce myself and ask a few questions about Gensokyo." He added with a grin, "And hey, maybe even make a new friend or two."

Sanae seemed to perk up at that, lowering her gohei slightly. "Friend, huh? You know, most people don't say that when they see me pointing this thing at them. Usually, it's all 'Oh no, spare me!' or 'Youkai exterminator! Run!'" She laughed, but it had a slightly awkward edge, as if she was trying too hard to sound nonchalant.

Kiru chuckled. "Well, I'm not most people. You've got a strong aura about you, by the way. You must be pretty skilled."

Sanae's eyes lit up at the compliment. "You can tell? Well, of course you can! I am a shrine maiden, after all! Not just any shrine maiden either—my gods are literal gods! I've solved plenty of incidents myself, you know. I might not have Reimu's reputation yet, but…" She caught herself, straightening up and trying to regain a more composed demeanor. "I mean, yes, I am very capable. So don't think you can try anything funny!"

Kiru grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it. Besides, I can tell you're not someone I want to mess with."

Sanae grinned. "Yep! I can call down miracles if I have to! Not that I'll need to—unless you do something suspicious, that is." She paused, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Wait a second, how do you even know about Reimu? Have you met her before?"

Kiru hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Uh, let's just say her reputation precedes her. She's kind of a big deal, isn't she?"

Sanae's shoulders sagged slightly. "Yeah, I guess so. Everyone always talks about her. Not that I'm jealous or anything!" She perked up again, pointing her staff at him dramatically. "Anyway, if you're going to the Hakurei Shrine, I'll go with you. Someone's gotta keep an eye on you. Plus, I don't get enough chances to show off how great I am as a shrine maiden."

Kiru smirked, shrugging. "Fine by me. Lead the way, Sanae."

As they walked, Sanae peppered Kiru with questions, her enthusiasm boundless. "So, what's the Outside World like these days? Any cool new gadgets? Do people still watch anime? Oh, do you think Reimu and my styles would look good in a magical girl show? We kinda got that vibe, right?"

Kiru held in a chuckle. "It's... a lot to explain. But yeah, people still watch anime. And Reimu as a proper magical girl? That's an image."

Sanae grinned, looking satisfied. "I knew it! She'd totally be the serious one who secretly cares about everyone. And me? I'd be her rival who eventually teams up with her to fight the real bad guys." She sighed wistfully before snapping back to reality. "Anyway, we're almost there!"

Kiru exchanged a glance with Rumia, who snickered quietly. He couldn't help but find Sanae's energy endearing.

At the Hakurei Shrine...

By the time they arrived at the Hakurei Shrine, Kiru felt like he'd been on a whirlwind tour of Sanae's thoughts and interests. The shrine came into view, nestled in its peaceful clearing, with Reimu Hakurei herself sweeping the steps, her red-and-white shrine maiden outfit swaying with each motion. She glanced up as the group approached, her expression immediately shifting from neutral to annoyed.

Reimu glanced up at the group, her brow furrowing. "Great. More visitors. What do you want?"

Sanae stepped forward confidently, as if she'd been leading the charge the whole time. "Hey, Reimu! Look who I found! An outsider and his… uh, pet Youkai?"

"I'm not his pet!" Rumia snapped, glaring at Sanae.

Kiru gave an exaggerated bow. "Greetings, mighty shrine maiden. I come in peace!"

Reimu raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And the Youkai behind you? Is she 'in peace' too?"

Rumia pouted. "Why does everyone assume I'm gonna eat someone?"

"Because you usually do," Reimu and Kiru both say as they deadpanned.

Kiru then stepped forward, hands raised. "Don't worry. She's under control. I just wanted to introduce myself and maybe… ask a few questions about Gensokyo. As an outsider, there's a lot I don't know."

Reimu sighed, resting the broom against her shoulder. "You came all the way here just for that?"

"Well, that, and I was curious to meet the famous Reimu Hakurei," Kiru said, grinning. "Your reputation precedes you, after all."

Reimu groaned. "Great. Another weirdo."

(TO BE CONTINUED)