"It's already been, what, a year? I still can't believe it, myself. You humans really are fragile, aren't you? To think, the human who defeated me, laid low by nothing more than sudden illness. I didn't even get to say goodbye. … Well, I don't know if you liked them, but, I brought some flowers for you. It's a custom, where I come from. Flowers. Bringing them to someone's grave, I mean. … I'm not one to visit graves. In fact, yours is the first grave I've visited. Have I told you that before? … You should- You should feel honored," *sniff* "honored that I'm even bothering with this."
"Mistress…"
"Quiet… I know… Dammit, why'd she have to die so soon…"
"Two years already… Man, time passes fast. Wish Yukari'd told me when you were going. I bought a little something for you. Most Oni wouldn't waste sake like this, but you were a damn good friend. Sorry you had to go so soon, most of 'em last a bit longer. I'm… not really very good at this. Sorry. Hope you're doin' well, and all."
"I was hoping, after five years had passed, I'd be able to visit her without running into anyone else. I'm surprised you even still remember her."
"Don't say anything like that again, please. I remember all of them, quite vividly. None of them were quite so… Reimu, as she was, but I still visit all of them. I'm honestly surprised, however, that you decided to show up. I didn't think you even liked her that much."
"She's the only person that treated me just like anybody else she'd meet. Of course I liked her. … I can't imagine that you'd feel the same, though. You probably like being special."
"It does have its perks, but… You'd be surprised."
"... Tell me it gets easier."
"I'd be lying."
"I don't care."
"... Then, it does. It does get easier." *sniff*
And so it continued, until…
"Man, I think my time's all wonky. Maybe I oughta go talk to Sakuya about it or something. It feels like forever since I saw you, and yet it kinda feels like it was just yesterday that we was fightin' each other, when Yukari made the night last so long. Remember that, Reimu? Haha, I kinda got curbstomped, didn't I? … I swear, sometimes I can still hear your voice in my head."
"Marisa."
"Kinda like that. It's funny. Well, no it isn't. It's weird, but sometimes I just kinda, forget that you're dead. I still expect, every time I come to the shrine, to see ya sittin' out front, drinkin' tea, or what have you. Complainin' about the lack of donations and all."
"Marisa!"
"Yellin' at me for ruinin' things and makin' a mess. The new one does that too, Reika? She been here yet? I told her she oughta come visit you. She's a good girl, that one. A bit out of it, sometimes, though."
"Marisa, shut up! I'm over here!"
Marisa blinked a few times, then lifted her head and looked toward the source of the voice. "R-Reimu!?"
"Don't ask me. I was dead, and now I'm here," the shrine maiden, looking as she ever did, said. She folded her arms. "And what took you so long?"
"E-Excuse me? What took me so long? It's been ten years, you lazy bum! If you were gonna come back, I'd think you could'a done it a little sooner! 'What took you so long' my ass," Marisa said.
"W-well, I came back, like, two months ago, but only the new girl and a bunch of youkai ever visited, and I wanted you or Yukari to be the first to know I was back." Reimu looked away. "Sorry. I didn't realize it'd been that long."
Marisa glared at her. "Are you callin' me short?"
Reimu glared back. "Maybe I am." The two held their looks for a time, until both burst out laughing.
"Man, you don't even know how much everybody's missed you. But, uh, you seriously have no idea how you came back?" Marisa said. Reimu nodded. "Well, you don't look like a ghost, and I can guarantee that you ain't an evil spirit, so… let's go back to my house, and lemme run some tests. I get the feeling you had the right idea not showing yourself to anybody, so…" Reimu nodded once more.
Several hours passed as Marisa became increasingly frustrated with the failures of her tests to determine anything. Completing the last test, the witch sighed. "Well, the bad news is that I've got no clue what the hell you are." Reimu grumbled, but Marisa then lifted her head and grinned. "However, the good news is, that means I've got a pretty damn good idea of what you are."
"How does that work?" Reimu tilted her head.
"Uh, how'd that go again? Summin' like, uh, 'When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth,' or something like that. You're not a ghost, a spirit, a phantom, a poltergeist, a demon, a yukkuri-"
"Alright, I get- wait, what was that last one?" Reimu said.
Marisa chuckled. "An incident, from six years ago. I think that Rokurokubi from a while back still has one or two. Gotta admit, that was certainly one'a the… stranger… things I've seen." The witch shook her head. "Well, anyways. I don't actually know how possible my theory is, but I do know who I can ask. You… probably oughta stay here for now, though. I don't wanna accidentally end up startin' a holy war or anything."
Reimu raised an eyebrow. "A… holy war?"
Marisa grinned. "Welp, I'm off to see the goddesses. See ya!" She bolted off, leaving Reimu alone in the witch's mess of a house.
Another several hours later, and Marisa returned. "So, yep. I was entirely not definitely wrong."
"And that means…" Reimu said, crossing her arms.
"Hey, Reimu, guess what? You're a goddess!" Marisa said with a big grin.
"I'm a what!?" Reimu said, jaw dropping. "How?"
"Well, according to Kanako and Suwako, you were pretty darn close to the gods even when you were alive. They said that it was possible that, if enough people visited your grave with the wish that you weren't dead, you might be able to come back as a lesser goddess." Marisa thought for a bit. "Oh, and Suwako said that we should probably get you back to your shrine." She chuckled. "I guess it really is your shrine now, isn't it?"
Reimu scratched her head. "I… guess so?" She shook her head. "But, wait, they figured it out?"
"Suwako did. I don't think Kanako realized, though. I'm pretty sure the froggy's smart enough not to tell anybody, though," Marisa said. "I think Reika's gonna find out pretty quick once we get back there, though. We oughta just come clean about it, at least to her. K?"
Reimu shrugged. "You're the one that knows her."