THE ARMY OF YOUKAI SWARMING BEHIND HER AS SHE BLAZED THROUGH THE SKY ON HER BROOM WAS RELENTLESS. HER HEART WAS POUNDING IN HER EARS AS SHE CLUTCHED THE PARCEL TO HER CHEST WITH ONE HAND AND SWOOPED DOWN INTO THE FOREST WITH THE OTHER. SHE WAS NEARLY OUT OF MAGIC FROM TRYING TO FIGHT AN ARMY BY HERSELF, AND IT WAS ALL SHE COULD DO NOW TO TRY AND LOSE THEM BY BURNING THE REST OF IT. SHE HAD LONG SINCE LOST HER HAT, ABANDONING IT LEST SHE BE CAUGHT.
THE DARK FOREST FLEW PAST HER, STINGING HER FACE AND ARMS WITH THIN BRANCHES AS SHE KEPT CLOSE TO THE TREES, HOPING TO THIN THE RANKS OF THE LEGION CHASING HER. NIGHT WAS FALLING, AND SOON A HUMAN SUCH AS HERSELF WOULD BE FLYING BLIND, EASY PREY FOR THE YOUKAI. FORTUNATELY, THE LESS DEDICATED YOUKAI WERE SLOWLY TAPERING OFF AND GOING HOME.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY OF THEM WERE STILL CHASING EAGERLY, DETERMINED TO STOP THE YOUNG WITCH OR DIE TRYING. THE FOREST WAS NOT A STRONG ENOUGH DETERRENT, WHICH LEFT MARISA ONLY ONE OPTION.
AS SHE CAME OUT OF THE FOREST, SHE ZOOMED TOWARD THE SHRINE, BLEEDING FROM A NUMBER OF SMALL CUTS ALL OVER. THE COOL NIGHT AIR KEPT HER SANE AND FOCUSED AS SHE AIMED FOR THE STEPS OUTSIDE. WITH A THUMP, SHE LANDED HARD, BOUNCING AND ROLLING AND LANDING IN A HEAP OUTSIDE THE DOOR. IGNORING THE NOW SPLINTERED BROOM AND THE THROBBING PAIN THAT WRACKED HER BODY, SHE CRAWLED OVER, SLID OPEN THE DOOR, AND SHUT IT BEHIND HERSELF, FINALLY REACHING SANCTUARY.
WHEN REIMU STIRRED FROM HER FUTON AND WENT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, SHE FOUND MARISA HUDDLED IN A CORNER, CLUTCHING THE PARCEL TIGHTLY. SHE EVENTUALLY CALMED MARISA DOWN AND PRIED IT AWAY, PLACING IT ON THE GROUND. SHE OPENED IT CAREFULLY, REMOVED THE LID, AND LOOKED INSIDE TO SEE WHAT IT WAS.
THERE WAS NOTHING INSIDE.