Hello there readers of the world! Here is new story which will be little side project of mine. Hope you will enjoy it. So let the dice ROLL!
Btw I already said my wishes to all of you on facebook but I won't give link. So don't give me that look. I post it on Personal profile.
Gensokyo, Hakurei Shrine, Afternoon.
Gensokyo, land of Fantasy, where logic doesn't exist and youkai, oni and fairies are everywhere. The land where, what was impossible become possible. A Land where magic exist and is use for everything. Sometimes even for really small thing, like lifting a cup of the tea.
The weather was really enthusiastic. Sun was shining high on the sky, small wind was blowing the leaves in small dance in the air. Sky was clear, like lake without mist. Everything was peaceful. Even on hill where was small shrine.
It was traditional shrine which you could see everywhere in Japan. There was nothing notable. Just simple shrine on the hill. Under it roof was sitting girl. She was wearing traditional miko outfit. On her head was red ribbon which was holding her hair in place. The long, red sleeves which were separate from rest of outfit. A Long, red-white skirt. Also white socks and black shoes.
The girl has no more, than eighteen, got black hair and brown eyes. Her name was Hakurei Reimu. The Shrine Maiden of Paradise.
Reimu was sitting and was drinking her tea. She already cleared the area in front of shrine. Which was always empty. Or rather was empty when no one called a party. Even people from village were avoiding her shrine. Which was causing, she almost never got donation.
Sighing Reimu looked somewhere distant place unsure what to do. She nearly wants a that some incident occurred. But she quickly banished those thoughts. As if she felt to do something. She took another sip of her tea.
Reimu drank her tea and walked inside her shrine. She didn't bother to close the door. No one will rob her. As if someone had a chance. She walked to her saloon. Which was just small room 5x5. Nothing fancy.
She walked to small bookshelf and pulled decks of cards. She still remember how she get them.
Flashback, two weeks ago
Reimu was cleaning area in front of her shrine. Two days ago she had to deal with another incident. Some troublesome youkai tried to resurrect someone. Again.
Reimu sighed and looked at sky. The weather was little cloudy but except that, everything was fine. Reimu continue cleaning. But soon she stopped and pulled one of her needles and throw it behind her.
"Auch~!"-someone yelp. Reimu got little annoyed expression and said.
"Why are you here, gap hag?"-she turn to look behind herself. Her needle was floating in the air. And soon crack appeared in that place. A rip with many eyes inside and two red ribbon on each end appeared. Needle slowly move closer to Reimu. And with it person appear.
She had purple eyes and long blond hair. She wear some kind hat and white-purple dress. In left hand she had parasol and in other hand she had fan. She also got amused expression on her face. She grab a needle from her shoulder and pulled it out. And not even scratch was in that place.
Her name was Yukari Yakumo, Border of Phantasm.
"Mou~. Reimu how cold of you."-Yukari said in mock pout. Reimu didn't say anything. Yukari just walked out of her gap and stood before Reimu. She said.
"So… How about a small duel?"-she asked with smile. A wind blew between them. Reimu didn't say anything for a sec. After few second her mind understood what Yukari just said.
"Huh?"-was all her reply. Yukari giggled behind her fan and said.
"A duel. Come on Reimu, it was long time, since when we had our duel."-Yukari said. Reimu still didn't knew why Yukari all of sudden want a duel. And seriously she didn't want to think about it. It only make her head hurt.
"Fine. Whatever. So what are the rules?"-Reimu said with resignation. Yukari smiled brightly and said.
"I want try something different this time. You see I was in Outside world and-!"-she didn't finished because she got one of Reimu Ying-yang orb in head, which send her flying.
Reimu stood there with angry expression. She was pissed off. And maybe even more than this. When cloud of dust lowered itself, Yukari was nowhere to be found. Reimu quickly spin herself to look behind her. She found there Yukari standing straight with smile on her face. It would be nothing special, if not that, that her face was covered in blood. With her blood. But it's looks like for Yukari something like this was nothing.
Reimu shouted at her.
"What I told you about leaving Gensokyo! Are you not listened what I said?"-Reimu got veins pulsing on her forehead. She was really mad. Yukari wipe out blood and said.
"Calm down, ca-!"-she didn't finish because Reimu interrupted her with a shout.
"Calm down?! CALM DOWN?! You know what can happen if someone saw you while using one of your gap?! People would then tried to find you and then maybe they would even manage to find Gensokyo. Do I need explain what then could happen?!"-Reimu shouted.
Yukari just waved her hand and said.
"Alright, alright. I get it. Sorry, ok? Anyway, when I was in Outside world I went to some interesting place called 'casino'. And this place is really interesting."- She said with grin. Reimu hearing word 'casino' felt that this place isn't something good.
"And in this place you can win a lot of money. And I'm talking about some really large sums of money."-Yukari said with bigger grin and finger making sight 'earnings'. Reimu tried looked indifferent but hearing that you could win a lot of money, always grabs her attention.
Reimu crossed her arms and turn away but eyes were looking at Yukari.
"Ab-About how large sums talking about?"-she said trying to stay calm. Yukari knew now that she got Reimu. Making thoughtful expression she said.
"If you're lucky, then maybe even few thousand dollars? But if you're really lucky and good at gambling then even million dollars."-she said with grin. Reimu jumped from surprise. Yukari sweatdropped. Reimu was easy to convince if you talking about money.
Reimu turned around and was in her own world now, thinking, what to do with such large sum. Maybe she could expand her shrine or something else. Endless possibilities. Yukari giggle and said.
"But you need to know how to play these games. I will show you my favorite."-she said and she opened gap. From it she pulled cards. Reimu looked at these with confused expression. Yukari said.
"With these cards, you can play various type of gambling games, but my favorite is poker. It's relative easy to learn and you can win a lot of money. The key to win this is luck and poker face. So let's start the lesson, shall we?"-Yukari said with smile.
Reimu didn't knew why but she got bad feelings about it.
From that time Reimu likes sometimes play poker with Yukari or with someone else. And by the way, she was quite good at it. Only Yukari was better, but she got feeling, that Yukari spy her cards with her gaps.
"You can come out. It's not like you hiding yourself for real."-Reimu said to no one practically. Reimu didn't even bother to look behind her. She knew who was that person.
"Ara~. I've been discovered."-said feminism voice. Soon Yukari came out of one of her gaps. Looking from above Reimu shoulder Yukari saw deck of cards which she gave Reimu. Walking away Yukari asked.
"So, wanna another match, hmm?"-she asked. Reimu didn't looked at Yukari just nodded.
Play Touhou【東方【東方 Violin/／Piano】 Ruse Rain 「TAMUSIC」
Both sitting on the ground Reimu gave Yukari her deck so she could reshuffle them. Yukari with closed eye start reshuffling them, and soon she gave herself and Reimu two cards, three were laying on the ground and the rest on the pile, next to three cards. Reimu without expression took her cards and looked at them. Reimu knew that poker face wasn't always indifferent expression, it could be also smiling face, like for example, which Yukari had now.
Reimu in her hand had 3 of clubs and heart King. On the ground were lying 2 of clubs, hearts and spades queen. That give Reimu one pair. She move her hand to face in thoughtful expression, but her expression on face didn't change at all. Giving Yukari nod, she grabbed another card. Yukari grabbed card and put it next to rest. 7 of hearts. Reimu moved her cards in hand so she could better read her cards.
Yukari on the other hand didn't do anything. For now they played in completely silence, but Yukari asked.
"So. Did you enjoy poker so far?"-she asked still with her smile. Reimu didn't say anything just nodded. Yukari sighed and place another card. Ace of hearts. Nothing what would help Reimu. Yukari sighed and said.
"Reimu. Answer me. Honestly. Do you really think that if I or you or someone else would leave from Gensokyo, would this bring disaster to us?"-Yukari said now with serious face. Reimu didn't want to talk about it and put down her cards, giving Yukari sign that they will reveal their cards. Yukari did the same, and in the same time they both reveal they cards.
Reimu lost this round. Pair versus Four of a Kind. Reimu just sighed and gave Yukari her cards to reshuffle. Yukari took the cards and start shuffling them. While she did so, she asked again.
"Reimu, you know that barrier won't hold much longer. With each passing hour it's getting weaker. Soon, all Gensokyo will soon or later disappear. You can feel it as well. And you or I do not stop it. It's surprising that it hold for so long."-she stopped reshuffling and start distribute cards.
"Everything I did was always in my best intention for Gensokyo, and you know it. And that's why I visit Outside World for past few weeks. To gather information. To help us, to adapt most of youkai."-Yukari said with serious and sadness. She finished handing out cards. Reimu grabbed her cards and looked at them without giving Yukari answer.
Reimu looked in her hand. Spades ace and 9 of hearts. Giving Yukari nod she lay on the ground another card. 10 of hearts. This won't help her. Yukari said.
"Reimu, come on, talk to me. It's no use to stay silent all the time. I'm here to help you if I can. I always helped you, directly or indirectly. Maybe sometimes I was mean and all, but I will be always there for you, if you need me."-Yukari said with worry. Reimu didn't say anything.
A Wind blow outside. A sky became cloudy. Trees rustled outside. Rain was coming. Reimu just gave nod. Yukari sighed and put down another card. Ace of diamonds. Reimu said.
"Tell, why all of sudden you started telling me this. I know, about barrier, I knew about it from the start, since I became Shrine Maiden. But..."-her voice broke. Yukari looked shocked seeing Reimu face. A tears start falling down her chin.
"I-I want to stay here… till the very end. Marisa, Alice, Remi, Sanae. Everyone. You know when barrier fall, the whole magic which is here will spread all around the world. It will be so thin, that youkai, oni, every magic creature will slowly disappear. I don't want that..."-Reimu start crying.
Yukari didn't know what to say. She didn't expect to see Reimu caring about everyone so strong. She always looked indifferent about everything. Like she didn't care at all. Could it be that she held back her emotions because of her job. Her situation as Shrine Maiden.
Yukari dropped her cards and ran to Reimu, grabbing her in hug. Reimu broke in full cry. Yukari could only keep hugging Reimu, and patting her. Rain start falling outside. For a few next hours Yukari and Reimu stayed in that position.
Stop playing song
Few hours later
Reimu and Yukari were sitting in saloon, while drinking tea. It stopped raining, but there were still clouds outside. Reimu calmed down a bit, but now she got sad smile on her face. Yukari was worried. If her calculation were right, the barrier will withstand for next year, completely disappearing in between next year or two years.
So little time. If they want to save anything what is dear to them, they need to act now. Yukari started planning how save magic, but this will require help from most powerful youkai in Gensokyo. Yukari looked at Reimu, who was looking now in half-full cub of tea, still with sad smile.
"Reimu, don't worry."-Yukari said fondly. Reimu slowly looked at Yukari who was smiling at her.
"I will do anything to save Gensokyo, to save any part of it. Even if this would be only you or Marisa or everybody else. I will do everything to do so. So."-Yukari pulled hand to Reimu. She looked at Yukari hand and then on Yukari.
"Help me, Reimu."-Yukari smiled while small tear left her eye. Reimu felt how her own tears start falling. She smiled gladly and grabbed Yukari hand, nodding. Yukari and Reimu felt warm inside. Soon after that Yukari left, to start preparations.
Reimu was sitting still in her saloon. She looked at cards which were left alone. Reimu saw them and sigh with smile.
"Really, Yukari. You're really troublesome."-Reimu said to herself and walked outside shrine in order to fly to Forest of Magic. Where cards were, was Yukari Royal Flush. And so preparation to save Gensokyo started.
That's small prolog to new story. Maybe in this scene, poker wasn't priority but believe me it will be later. Much, much later, the storyline will be around gambling.
So hope that you will enjoy this story. And for you to better feel gambling listen to this song:東方 touhou 12 [Casino/Jazzアレンジ] / High-Class Boogie┆ Azure & Sands .┆