"The End of Her Autumn"
Hey guys! It's me again-) And yep, it's another MariXAli - I've got an opportunity to upload it finally ~_^ Though this time it's not only fluffy, but also a bit angsty - but that's just at the beginning! I truly hate bad endings, you know))
lol, I think it's magic - I actually write fics about other Touhou-pairings as well, but Marisa&Alice-stories are first on the list when I'm gonna upload something here)) But I'll definitely post it someday, I promise!
Well.. In comparison with my previous stories this one is rather long - it consists of 3 chapters. So.. enjoy & critisize as always! :) Hope you'll like it!
P.S: I don't own Touhou Project
Chapter 1
– Hey, Alice! There is an Autumn's End party at the Hakurei Shrine today's evening, ze! I hope you'll be there, won't ya?
That was the phrase which the Black-White Witch had pronounced earlier with a typical wide grin on her face. Though Reimu called the puppeteer sometimes to such arrangements, Alice usually thanked her but refused to come cause she always felt lonely and more like an outsider in big companies.
But this time she made up her mind to visit the mentioned party. How else? Marisa, Marisa herself had called her! Actually, Alice was so taken aback with her words that she flushed in embarrassment and stammered out something like "well, I don't know.. There's nothing interesting to do there."
– C'mon, I know you don't really think so. I'll be waiting, ze! See ya! – Marisa suddenly squeezed her palm for a moment then winked and flew away leaving the completely perplexed girl behind.
"It is certainly going to be a great evening! No more squinting and uncomfortable situations – everything will be different tonight!" – the blue-eyed doll maker whispered to Shanghai who she decided to leave at home this time. The little doll was smiling joyfully holding out a natty headband to her mistress who was so excited that even got more than two hours late meticulously preparing her best clothings and preening herself.
It was nearly 11PM when she finally came to Reimu's place. Alice heard the loud music and high voices long before she reached the shrine itself. When she got through the gate, she saw a big bonfire on the glade near the shrine. Almost all Gensokyo-inhabitants whom Alice new, were sitting around the fire and having a feast. The generous amount of alcoholic drinks and food had reduced by half, as Alice could judge by from the pile of empty bottles and remnants. She made her way through the crowd carefully, searching for Marisa. No one payed attention to her fragile figure – everyone was occupied with their own chats and entertainments.
As Alice came closer to the source of music, which actually was the Prismriver sisters playing their joyful songs, she finally noticed the magician.
Marisa was dancing with Reimu.
Alice couldn't imagine that this sight would afflict her so much. She just stood there helplessly watching Marisa, her Marisa hopping in tempo with miko's movements. "Idiot," Alice scolded herself. "It's only a dance, nothing more.. It will end soon. Relax.. Just relax!"
The girl decided to greet the witch and the shrine maiden when the musiс finally ended but suddenly saw something that made her freeze on the spot.
Reimu brought her lips to Marisa's ear and whispered something to her – something really intimate as it followed from the deep blush on Reimu's face. The magician froze in astonishment but a moment later got overwhelmed with joy cause she gave the miko a strong long-lasting hug and exclaimed with an amused smile: "Yaaay, Reimu!! You said it finally! I'm really happy to hear it, ze!"
At that moment Alice's heart cracked into peaces. Everything she had been expecting from this evening, all for what she was hoping secretly – all that turned into illusion in a split second. Just another unfounded hope..
She turned away and went back slowly over the hedge and ditch without caring anymore who was on her way. The mere several minutes, which the puppeteer had spent at the party, suddenly precipitated her into the abyss of grief and despair.
As she was passing back through the gate, the familiar voice reached the youkai-girl unexpectedly:
– Alice! Hey, Alice!!
That voice.. It always made her shiver.
Alice turned her face in utter disbelief to see the panting magician. The latter was apparently hurrying to catch the puppeteer.
– You came finally, ze! I'm so glad.. But why are you leaving?..
Then Marisa noticed Alice's mournful face and came up quickly:
– Wait! What happened?
Any other time the words that the witch was glad to see her would bring a blessed smile to Alice's face, but that moment her soul was too desolated, too empty to answer adequately. Irredeemable tears began flowing from the crystal-clear blue eyes. She jerked up her head and turned her painful gaze towards Marisa:
– Why don't you just get back to your beloved Reimu? Leave me alone!
– What?! Alice.. Alice, wait!
– Why the hell should I?! You don't need me here to have fun – nobody does, and especially you! You've already got someone close enough.. So let me go!
But instead of that the magician blocked the girl's way and stretched her hand to grasp Alice's shoulder. That was too much for Alice to bear in such condition. She flinched furiously:
– Don't touch me!! If you don't go away, I'll kill you!
These words stunned the witch. She was speechless for a moment and then uttered quitely:
– Y.. You won't kill me, Alice. You know why, ze? Cause.. Cause I believe that the woman I like would never do anything like that.
– Wh..What? Stop kidding me.. Enough jokes for today! Just.. Just leave me already!!
With these words Alice shaking in deeply upset sob flew up and then disappeared in the forest darkness, leaving Marisa standing on the path sorrowfully among the joyful sounds coming from the shrine.
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