Authors forward: so yeah my other now non-existent touhou fic died because of lack of planning, as it was an early fanfic, this one however I have been planning for a while. As such I would like to say just one thing right now and that is that I do not dislike, hate or wish to destroy the image of any character in the series. And with that I shall let you read and even review if it behooves you.
Everyone was frozen by what they saw before them. The entire crowd of humans, youkai, magicians and demons were frozen with a combination of shock, fear and despair. But mostly despair and fear.
The Hakurei shrine stood in pieces and before it, Yukari Yakumo stood above Reimu's lifeless body as she held Sanae Kotiya into the air by her throat, slowly squeezing the life from her. As soon as Sanae seemed to lose consciousness Yukari thrust her to the ground, making sure her face contacted the stone of the shrine's walkway. Yukari's face was full of hatred as she positioned herself to cast a spell onto Sanae, but hesitated long enough for her to turn around to greet a new presence.
Landing behind her Suwako Moriya, whose eyes were full of as many tears as Yukari's, stood before falling to her knees and clasping her hands together. "Please, don't kill Sanae, please!" Suwako wept.
Yukari glared at her with tears still running down her face. "As much as I would like to for her killing Reimu, I cannot!"
"Please, Sanae isn't responsible for her actions; she just lost herself when she saw Reimu kill Kanako!"
"Reimu would not have needed to kill her if she did not endanger the entirety of Gensokyo by attempting to destroy the border!" Yukari screamed causing every person in the nearby crowd to cringe. "Why did you not stop her if you knew this could happen?"
"I didn't know what Kanako was planning; she had been keeping me completely out of the loop. Please don't kill Sanae! She's all I have now!"
Yukari coughed up a sigh and wiped her face with her sleeve, not caring that she had a handkerchief on her person. "As I said, I cannot kill her. Reimu is dead and every moment that there is not a Hakurei Miko the Border weakens, and Sanae has sufficient power to replace Reimu," Yukari said, choking on the words she had to say.
"What? No- no, please no you can't!" Suwako pleaded as tears fell onto the barren earth beneath her.
"Then what would you suggest I do? Let the border fall! If the border falls then Gensokyo ceases to exist and everyone with it! Is that what you want?"
"No, no but. There has to be someway to-"
"To what, Goddess of Suwa!" Yukari roared as a light and dreary rain began falling from the darkening sky. "What would you have me do? Sanae has sufficient power to replace Reimu and there must be a Hakurei Miko. How many people do you think have the potential to do this?"
"I-I. no please! I didn't have any idea what Kanako was doing and now I've lost her! Sanae is all I have please don't do this!"
The shrine grounds became quiet for many moments as Suwako cried before Yukari. "There are few, if any who have sufficient power to replace Reimu, Sanae is likely the only one who can."
"No, please there has to be someone else who can isn't there? Please there have to be someone!"
"I WILL!"
Both Yukari and Suwako looked toward the on looking crowd to see Mokou Fujiwara step out from the crowd, much to its disbelief.
"You, Mokou?" Yukari asked.
"Yes" Mokou replied stoically.
"Why?"
"I know what it is like to have your entire life stolen away from you. If Sanae becomes the Hakurei Miko then that is what will happen to Suwako."
"So you do this out of pity?"
"No, I do this to protect my family. I lost my family once, years ago, and now Gensokyo is my family. I do not wish to see it fall apart and die because of this. I will take over the duties of the Hakurei!"
The entire crowd behind Mokou lit up with low tones of argument and gossip as Yukari walked up and stood before Mokou. "You do realize what you're saying, right? Your life will change completely, and it will not be one that you can easily change, if at all."
"My life has changed little over the years. I WILL protect my friends. I WILL protect my family. I WILL protect Gensokyo!" Mokou stated loudly enough for all to hear her.
Yukari was quiet for many moments before she nodded in acknowledgment and turned away from the crowd before speaking out loud. "Today a new Hakurei Miko lives and one has passed. Reimu's funeral shall be tomorrow, until then none must enter the shrine grounds, please leave if you do not belong." Yukari walked a few steps away before turning her head to look behind at Mokou. "Please bring Reimu's body inside, Mokou."
Mokou looked around to see the crowd behind her disperse rapidly. With a sigh she walked over and carefully picked up Reimu's body. As she walked past Suwako, who was picking up Sanae's battered but living body Suwako avoided eye contact and flew off toward Youkai Mountain.
Minutes later Yukari and Mokou sat on either side of Reimu's body inside the shrine and Yukari sighed to herself, again wiping away tears before speaking. "There is much you will have to learn and know, but first we must transfer the power of the Hakurei to you, Mokou."
"May I ask how?"
"The Hakurei Miko's are seldom if ever related directly by blood. The power of the Hakurei is transferred from person to person when their time arises, such as now. Please calm yourself while I conduct the rite.
Mokou nodded and controlled her breathing best she could as Yukari began making a series of symbols in the air. As she finished Reimu's corpse glowed and a series of glowing orbs, illuminating the colors of the rainbow, emerged from her chest and one by one, pressed into Mokou's chest. As the last one did this Mokou fell unconscious to the floor.
"And so it is done," Yukari stated to no one but herself. "Reimu is now with the ancestors, and now you are the new Hakurei Miko, Mokou Hakurei!"