The morning smelled fresh with flowers and allergies.
The Hakurei Shrine maiden slowly rose from her futon and sneezed. "Damn these allergies..." She cursed and began searching for her glass of water, half awake.
The brunette let out a little squeak as she moved around. Weight kept pulling her down in place to the point where it hurt to breath. Quickly kicking off the covers of the futon, she spotted a blonde haired witch sleeping soundly on top of her.
THWACK!
The witch was kicked a couple feet away, waking up immediately when hitting the hard floor. "Hey Reimu! Watch where you kick!"
"Well you shouldn't have been sleeping here in the first place! Wheres your futon Marisa?" Reimu scanned the area with no luck and growled under her breath.
The blonde stood up almost wobbling a bit. She was in her basic underwear and a white tank top she usually has under her regular outfit. It baffled Reimu how she could wear so many layers in the middle of Summer. She never even broke a sweat at times! Reimu in her usual outfit of red and white was a lot less compared to the witches attire.
"Ehe, I got lonely." Marisa said scratching her back.
Outside was sunny and almost seemed like it was noon. A newspaper lay on the steps of the worn-down shrine next to an empty, brown donation box. The shrine looked so beat up that anyone passing by could immediately assume that it's deserted, as there are bugs creating holes on the outside. It bared stains with posters loosely hanging off of it. In no way did it look like a Shinto shrine nor acted like one, because the big problem that drives people away is not the tattered shrine, but the youkai who infest it.
Reimu has dealt with several complaints and rumors that youkai are carelessly freeloading around the shrine and everytime she denies it. This is a lie though, since most passers could see at least one or two hiding around. Even Reimu herself can't tell if they're there or not.
She has regulars though. Some that are seeking refuge or some she can't chase away. There's this one oni who once started an incident to bring her kind back to the surface. Oni's are banned youkai which were somehow "sealed" underground some long time ago. She, sadly, was quickly caught and beat by Reimu as punishment, however the miko felt enough pity to let her stay. The oni hasn't left since. She goes by the name Suika Ibuki and is thrown out for a couple days when she's too drunk.
Outside the oni is sleeping on the branch of a tree. Her sake gourd is loosely hanging from her tiny hands while the wind moves the unsteady branch back and fourth. Reimu slowly creeps out of her shrine, stretching and yawning. As she walks under the tree to get her broom, Suika looses grip of the gourd.
BONK!
"Ouch!" Reimu squeaked right after the gourd crashed down on her. Some sake leaked out onto the ground. Suika was slightly woken from commotion and positioned herself so she could examine.
"Sorry Rei..." She slurred.
Reimu gave her a stern glare and carried on.
Marisa stumbled out a few seconds later with a sigh, plopping herself right on the shrine's steps. Reimu heard the noise; the steps gave a creaky sound when you walked on them.
"How about you go home, Marisa?" Reimu asked.
Marisa simply ignored her and was playing with an old tea cup which was left on the steps. She sat up, "Wasn't this mine?"
This time Reimu decided to ignore her and started sweeping the area.
"You know, Reimu, your not going to get anywhere just doing that. Look around ya, there's nothin' here to sweep!" The witch spoke, "It ain't gonna give you any worshipers here either. Just cleaning nothing but the air won't do you too good. I know I'm not the type to run a business, but I sure do know how to reel people in ya hear? You should put that broom down and do something more, eh, productive if I may insist?"
Reimu threw down her broom and stormed over to the blonde witch, sneering in her face, "Tell me this when YOU learn responsibility."
"I'm sorry Reimu, but I gotta say that I have a long history of being responsible. I just don't want peeps like Alice or Patchouli knowin' that I have a side like this. Honest. Because hell what would they say when they learn I have more things to do than you? They'll die of laughter perhaps! I ain't as carefree as I may come off as Reimu. I sure am responsible enough and motivated enough to learn magic in the least." Marisa affirmed.
"And I may also be a compulsive liar as well as we may all know. But lying about this to you is the last thing I'd ever want to do."
"Hell, I know you're a compulsive liar Marisa, but you're also one of the laziest people I've ever seen." Reimu laughed.
Marisa gave a hearty laugh a few seconds later. "Come 'er!" She said and gave Reimu a shaky hug.
These two were indeed friends. From a far it would be exceptionally hard to tell due to their frequent arguing. Somehow, being almost polar opposites, their friends think they're an amazing pair altogether.
In the back of the shrine was a small pond that housed turtles. An oni-like creature with slicked back black, white, and red hair was crouching down watching the animals. An inchling shifted in front of the girl and waited for a response, but the girl didn't acknowledge her.
"Seija?"
The amanojaku stared at the pond almost like it were a mirror. It took her a while to make actual emotion, and when she did she gave off a smirk, baring her fangs.
"I hate this pond." She bubbled and stood up.
"I hate this place to. I hate being stuck here. It's making me go insane." She continued.
Seija started her daily rant like she usually does. Shinmyoumaru, that inchling, would just listen and never respond. Mostly because she never knows how to reply, or if Seija is even expecting an answer. She never even pauses just in case the inchling wants to talk, and the only screen-time she has is when Seija is out of ideas. The only thing the inchling picked up from Seija's yakking was how much she despised being trapped at the shrine, ever since Reimu captured her. It took a while for her and Seija's relationship to mend, but in the end the result was satisfying. Seija almost forgot about her past intentions but still kept a rebellious attitude. Yukari wanted Reimu to let her go already, but the miko plans to keep the amanojaku under watch until she felt comfortable setting her free. She could turn at any time.
Shinmyoumaru was just happy Seija acted normal again. The only thing different was the amount of talking she did.
"Yo kid."
Shinmyoumaru jumped when she heard Seija's voice.
"Listen to me when I'm talking will ya?" The amanojaku said.
"Reimu! The newspaper! Pick it up!" Marisa demanded as she took a sip of her sake.
Reimu picked up the tengu-written newspaper and sighed, "Even if I'm not subscribed to her, she still gives me her papers..."
"And what's with the sake? It isn't even 11 o'clock yet and you're drinking out of a party cup. Do you have no shame?"
"Aha, my shame was lost a long time ago." Marisa stated. "But don't worry. I bet the Gods are shaming me now."
Reimu opened the newspaper called "The Bunbunmaru Newspaper" and looked at the first article.
THE GREAT UN-MOVING LIBRARY BEDRIDDEN!
It is now indeed the middle of summer where most youkai are too busy getting drunk in many places. Most of the fairies are even participating in these events. Now before I get to into detail about Summer, let's move on to the main point...
It was almost as if Aya spoke to her through the article. That's exactly how she writes her newspapers, which make them greatly unique. Though most youkais are too busy goofing about to even have the patience to read anything, Reimu did have to give her credit at times. What really caught her eye about this one was the head-liner, so she skipped through a couple of lines to dig deep into the point. Marisa loomed over her a bit to get a closer look.
...is what I kept hearing. I flew over to where the fairies were to ask them some questions about this rumor.
What surprised me was when they started speaking clearly about the Scarlet Devil Mansion, where most of their kind do not like to mention. Perhaps it's the way they treat their fairy maids? The mistress herself even stated how useless they were after they got that maid.
A youkai that lives inside the library is sick, as she recently just started going outside. Most say she caught a flu or allergies kicked in. Others would imply she was undoubtedly sick and bedridden. They've heard from the mistress herself that a casualty may be a new topic among this group of fai-
"So she's sick..."
"Or she's dead. Either way, a good time to steal her books."
"You really don't have any shame, do you Marisa?" Reimu repeated, "At least show sympathy..."
THUMP!
The duo turned right to see that the little oni fell off her branch. "About time..."
She picked herself up and brushed off her skirt then attempted to climb the tree again.
Seija walked out with Shinmyoumaru on her shoulders. Reimu shot her a glare.
"I'm just going for a stroll, Hakurei." She snorted.
"How 'bout we head over to the mansion and see the situation, eh? Pay good ol' Patchy a nice visit before whatever-will-happen?" Marisa convinced. "Besides, it's been a while since I've dropped by. They must be missin' me."
Reimu took a sip of her tea. "I doubt it really. All you do is cause trouble wherever you go which is why everyone here including me wants you dead."
"Now that's what I call harsh..."
The two humans jerked their heads around to see a mysterious lady behind them, covering her mouth with a fan.
"You should have more heart towards your friends Reimu."
"Nice of you to drop by so suddenly, Yukari." Reimu growled.
"Ah do not mind me. I'm borrowing some tea that's all. Ran is still missing from last time and Chen is her shikigami, so I cannot exactly command her. Even if I could she wouldn't listen. That cat lacks even the smallest brain." The gap youkai sit's down in between the duo. "And she's been so depressed lately now that her master is gone, somewhere. I almost feel bad for the poor thing."
Marisa didn't feel like blurting anything off-topic out as she saw the tension in the mood. Reimu and Yukari use to be good friends, until one event split them apart completely. Yukari still visits occasionally with the excuse of "borrowing tea" but otherwise the two don't get along anymore.
There was now a deafening silence between the two with no one knowing how to break it up. It was almost painful to sit there and watch them stare at each other so seriously with no intention of speaking another word. However, a wave of relief splashed them when they heard someone walk up to the shrine.
"H-Hey! Look who's here! It's our favorite one-armed hermit Kasen!" Marisa announced trying to make a flashy intro to distract the two. It worked, and Reimu turned her head to the pink-haired hermit. Yukari simply shrugged and gaped away not many seconds later.
"I'm sorry. Did I interrupt?" Kasen asked while sitting herself on the shrine's steps.
"Nah. Actually you came just in time." Marisa replied fanning herself. "Gee it's pretty hot already!"
"We were actually just about to head to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. I wouldn't say it's a good time to come because the shrine would look like it's infested with youkai, and it already does in some ways." Reimu said.
Marisa stood up and grabbed her broom, twirling around. "Come on come on Reimu! It's time to go fourth and explore!"
The mansion stood near a lake with an endless amount of mist. It looked run-down but not as much as the shrine. It was painted a shade of red before though now it was almost faded to a dark pink with some tears here and there on the walls. Most of the windows were stained but were cleaned regularly. Even the ground around the mansion was broken up and un-even. Perhaps the place would have been even more frayed if it hadn't been for certain maid they kept there.
A human maid actually. The only human who lives inside it too and is highly respected by the creatures inside. She carries a pocket watch which she uses to manipulate time. This could explain the reason why the mansion is not as worn out as it should be, as it has been around a lot longer than the vampire who lived there. No one knew where this maid came from anyways. Some say she was a vampire hunter and others say she's a Lunarian. The mistress knows this but has never released the truth to the public and probably never will. It's for the best either way.
The witch had a strange habit of coming to this mansion regularly. Most times she was chased out and others treated like a normal guest. The mansion doesn't get too many visitors so Marisa is the best they've got to cater to someone. Rarely Reimu comes by as well and crashes for a few days, which they hate. At least Marisa does stuff around there. Mostly when she's not a guest, the witch will break into the library and steal important spell books. Sometimes she'll steal them right out of the librarian's hand. She comes in so casually almost as if she wants to get caught. Either that or she's a huge tease. She always gets away.
In other words this part of Gensokyo was without a doubt familiar to the two humans despite the blinding mist in their faces. The mist around the lake was so thick that not even the sun could pierce it at times. Once the two got out, the sun shone brightly on their faces.
"Ugh. Now I almost wish we were still flying through that cool mist..." Reimu complained. "It get's too hot around this time of year."
It wasn't too much longer until the mansion was in sight and the two went straight ahead. In front of the mansion was a gatekeeper who was busy making some type of chair, so it was easy to avoid her.
When the two got to the entrance of the library, Marisa stopped. Reimu looked at her with concern.
"M-Maybe this is a bad idea. I don't think railin' her up would be the best on her last legs..." Marisa sighed.
"Then how about we sneak in there as quietly as possible and get a couple? I heard dying people can't hear too well." Reimu suggested.
Marisa thought for a moment before nodding with delight. "As quiet as a mouse!"
The proud owner and vampire of the mansion Remilia Scarlet burst into the throne room. She wore a somber visage and groaned as she sat on her scarlet red throne.
"Damn this world... Damn this place... Damn it damn it DAMN IT!" She mumbled.
Her little sister Flandre Scarlet sat on the floor coloring a picture. "What is the matter sister?"
The scarlet devil glanced at her sister and smiled. "Nothing Flan. Just stress."
"Stress?"
"Yes, Flan, stress. You know what that is yes?"
"Um, sort of?"
Remilia let out a soft giggle. "You're too young to understand..."
"I'm almost as old as you sister! Don't call me young anymore!" The blonde pouted.
It wasn't too long ago since Flandre was let out of the basement. She was still unable to go outside due to her sister's concern, but Flandre wasn't that bothered by it. She enjoyed being inside if she had people to talk to, and the fairy maids were nice. The gatekeeper was nicer. The younger vampire enjoyed herself now that no one ignored her anymore.
Just then the door to the throne room flew open and in came the gatekeeper holding a chair above her head. It almost looked similar to Remilia's throne but smaller and less decorated, but still gave off the alluring feel. The gatekeeper set it down next to the taller throne.
"Nice work Meiling." Remilia complimented. "Flandre looks like she loves it already."
Flandre was very perplexed at the moment until Meiling spoke to her. "This was all the mistress' idea. She wanted to make you your very own throne!"
"Really sister? Is it really my own?" Flandre asked excitedly.
Remilia nodded triggering Flandre to climb all over it. Eventually she settled down and sat on it in a refined manner. Remilia then got up and beckoned Meiling to kneel down so she could tell her something.
"You have a backup just in case she breaks it, right?" She whispered.
"O-Oh. I didn't think that through. I'll start working on another one then!" Meiling said.
The younger vampire didn't notice the dragon starting to walk out of the room. When she did, she trotted over to the lady.
"Thank you Meiling. I forgot to say that."
The lady gave the blonde vampire a smile and pat her on the head. "You take care ok?"
"You to Meiling!"
In the background Remilia gave a slight growl, but it was so subtle that not even she caught it.
Inside the library were rows after rows after rows of book shelves filled with hundreds and hundreds of hand crafted books collected over the centuries. Some new and some old. Some missing due to the witch clothed in black and white. This would be a paradise to any nerd who fell into Gensokyo's realm and wondered upon here. Not even the librarian herself has read every book nor knows what's here. The library has the strangest assortment of books to. From magic spell books to manga and from old and torn diaries to cursed tomes. It had everything and anything no doubt, but the one who lived among these books was currently dying of disease.
The librarian laid in a bed set up recently, coarsely coughing repeatedly. Her name was Patchouli Knowledge, another powerful witch in Gensokyo. Yet due to her bad health she has to stay inside, and just so recently she started taking short walks outside the mansion. It is still unknown what she had caught but it was certainly life-threatening to the point where she was unable to walk and bedridden. The doctor from Eientei sent her pupil to diagnose the disease. The rabbit stated that they could make medicine however it'd take longer than the time Patchouli is expected to live. So, the attempt is useless and a complete waste of their time.
There she was reading a book and sipping a special herbal tea the rabbit recommended to relive some pain. The intruders snuck in a different way instead of the main entrance. One from the roof which was made by some cracks left untreated and eventually grew to the point where you could easily slip inside. Once they were in, Marisa took a leap to one shelf causing it to sway slightly.
She covered her own mouth and tried to balance at the same time, trying not to call out. Reimu was never the patient type so the second the shelf looked steady she hopped on as well, causing it to sway even more.
Marisa shot a glare at Reimu like she was saying"Are you TRYING to get us killed?!". Reimu got the message and tried to steady herself as well.
"What are you planning to steal then?"
"Anything really. Doesn't matter. It'll all belong to me when she's gone." Marisa replied positioning herself to jump onto the next one. "It's hard to fly up here. Why...?"
"Must be a type of magic. Either that or it's more cramped up here then we believe it is. Perhaps an illusion?" Reimu theorized.
"Damn these illusions. I want my books!" Marisa growled.
Each shelf the duo hopped on felt even more unsteady than other, like it was and illusion. And the shelves never seemed to end either no matter how far they went.
"To scare off intruders? A distance spell? Clever..." Reimu observed.
"Aw come on Reimu! This 'er be nothin' compared to my work! These are simply distance spells which can easily be done by yours trul-" Marisa was caught in mid-sentence as she found herself facing a red haired devil with black eyes. A terrifying look was good to scare off intruders, not just the illusions themselves.
"You're breaking in! And at a time like this where the lady is at her weakest! Have you no shame?!" The devil hissed.
"I'm getting' a strange sense of deja vu 'er or is it just me?" Marisa questioned.
"Ok Koakuma. We want no trouble this time. We'll head out." Reimu said trying to reason with her.
"Sure. I'll watch you."
"Hey Reimu! Don't give up so easily like that! We need our books!" The witch bellowed. "Let's have a duel of course! The best way to win something! And it's two against one! Easy win!"
Suddenly the books started acting on their own, shooting danmaku at the two humans. "You're right Marisa! This place is full of deja vu!" Reimu said dodging the bullets. "These books are cursed! Maybe I should just exterminate them like I would with a youkai!"
"If you do that, Lady Patchouli would be angry." Koakuma grinned and grabbed the two. "You'd be in for complete hell. I'll just take you to her and we shall see your fates."
Koakuma let the two go in front of Patchouli's bed. The humans couldn't do much but sit and wait, probably because they were influenced by the magic surrounding them.
"Lady Patchouli, I have brought a rat and her friend." Koakuma announced and bowed deeply. Marisa chuckled under her breath of how devoted the devil is to her master, but that would be almost hypocritical due to her own loyalty to Mima.
It took a while for poor Patchouli to sit up from her bed, and with that action came a rough fit of coughing. Reimu and Marisa looked away for a moment, afraid that she'd cough up blood at that rate. After she recovered, the purple witch looked bitterly at the two humans.
"You have a lot of gut coming here when I'm at death's door." She started talking more monotone than usual, "What the hell do you want Marisa?"
"You didn't acknowledge my buddy here." Marisa tapped Reimu.
"I know. But I know for a fact that she was forcefully dragged along to accompany you in your evil deeds as well. In other words she doesn't need to be acknowledged."
"Funny thing is that I was behind this in the first place. Thank the tengu." Reimu corrected.
"Ah, so you were behind this as well Reimu? Funny, I thought you were the type to beat up youkai on sight, not torture them slowly."
"I'm her motivation!" Marisa exclaimed. "Without me, Reimu'd be a lump of shame!"
"Don't pity me."
"Shit... I almost forgot not to say that, but I did anyways." the witch shrugged.
"Anyways! As usual I am here to take your books! What's new?"
"Take whatever." Patchouli said.
And then no one spoke for a while. They were too surprised to think of the right words. Koakuma gave Patchouli a look of pure concern until Patchouli shook her head.
"I will die in a few weeks. It's certain. I am officially on my death bed and I wouldn't be surprised at all if I were to be paralyzed tomorrow. " She spoke. Her voice didn't shake at all. "So the what would be the point of protecting these books then? You put them to great use, Marisa. I have seen you use spells out of the books you stole. So in this case you're the only person I would truly trust with them."
"Does that mean they're all mine?!"
"Give me 3,000 yen first."
Marisa almost lunged at her. "God damn it! That speech was for nothing!"
"That wasn't even a speech. Calm yourself or I'll call the maid in."
"Ok, damn it. Reimu I blame you." Marisa said.
"Blame ME? You were the one who wanted to steal! I just wanted to move around since the shrine gets so hot during Summer!"
"But you're in charge of keeping me in check. And who's not doing it...?"
"You aren't, Marisa. It's your job to keep yourself in check! Not mine! Why do you rely on me for so much stuff?! You're older than me anyways!"
As the two were fighting, Patchouli leaned over and told Koakuma to get the maid. The devil flew off in a hurry leaving the purple witch with the two rambling teenagers.
"Kids..." Patchouli grunted as she opened her book.
It wasn't long till Marisa threw a punch and the two got into a physical fight. Patchouli looked over to see the two wrestle and throw punches.
"You two need to calm down and control yourselves!" The older witch hollered. Doing so took so much energy out of her that she felt faint.
Sakuya Izayoi, the mansion's head maid was a lot older than the two heroines. She was more calm and collected, spending most of her time cleaning the mansion or making food for it's residents. She absolutely hated to be interrupted from her duties unless the emergency was that large. This, was not, and was in fact one of the most common instances she had to deal with. Though physical fights between the two was rare and she has never dealt with one before, making this a whole new experience.
Sakuya appeared as suddenly as she usually does and shivered watching the two friends throw kicks and punches. "It's so messy I don't know who's who. Maybe I can have Meiling give these two martial arts lessons... Or I should break this up and pretend it never happened."
"Listen you two! Stop at once!" Sakuya spoke. Then without warning she too was dragged into the fight. Patchouli felt like she could so simply pull her hair out as she was engulfed with rage. No one respected that the older witch was going to pass soon.
It went to the point where she started throwing books at the three, hoping to hit someone. It looked like complete chaos for normal people like us. To Koakuma it did, until another witch burst through the front door.
Seven-colored puppeteer Alice Margatroid walked up to the fight and kicked the living daylights out of the three humans. Clenching her teeth together, she muttered, "You three need to learn some respect. Even you Sakuya, who I would've never expected to act so out of character."
"I am terribly sorry..." Sakuya dipped her head in humiliation and guilt.
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to the person who is spending her final days of life suffering in this bed. Apologize to the person who never had a good chance to see the world. Be grateful that you three even got to go on those dangerous adventures."
The three looked up at Patchouli and gave her a deep bow of respect.
"Thank you Alice." Patchouli dipped her head.
Remilia still sat at her throne; Flandre sat beside her but not as still. A door to the left opened, Koakuma emerging from it. Following her was Reimu, Marisa, and Sakuya, all culprits of the situation. Koakuma preceded to tell the scarlet devil the whole event with the vampire's face turning from bored to disappointed. Flandre waved at Marisa, oblivious to the incident.
"That was uncalled for. Clearly uncalled for." Remilia started. "This is something that's normal for you two, but my dear maid Sakuya..."
"Milady, if I could explain-"
"No explanation needed." Remilia ignored her. "What you did was foolish and unnecessary. I raised you better than this..."
"Raised?" Marisa interrupted.
"That is besides the point, rat." The vampire snapped. "All of you. Face the reality for once. My good friend Patchouli is going to die soon. Your good friend Patchouli will die soon."
"What if she isn't a friend?" Reimu snorted.
"At least show some respect to your elders, Hakurei."
"And show some respect for people who care for her as well! Such as me and miss Alice!" Koakuma added.
"No dinner provided by me for the next three days, Sakuya. A light punishment as you know, but the guilt will soon pummel down on you like a rainstorm you cannot avoid. At that moment you will feel the true pain of this. I hope you learn your lesson." Remilia said sternly.
"Yes mistress."
"And as for you two..." Remilia looked at the outsiders. "Get the hell out of my mansion."
"Fine. I was getting bored anyways." Reimu groaned as she walked out. Marisa however wasn't moving.
"Marisa?"
"I feel bad. May we take Sakuya with us?"
Sakuya twisted her body to the witch with a huge blush covering her face. "M-Marisa?!"
"Just for the night. She can hang out with us and we'll provide her food. Flandre can come along too if she so desires. So then you'd have time to be with your friend."
Almost out of no where that request was. Knowing Marisa, this was highly out of character for her, yet still seemed alright. She had a heart that she rarely shows and this was one of it's times.
"I don't see much of a problem with that... At least you two will be out of the mansion and away from Patchouli." Remilia muttered in agreement.
"Yay! Sleepover!" Flandre cheered as she floated off of the throne into Marisa's arms. "Say, what are we going to do miss Marisa?"
"Hee, we'll eat and play games probably."
"You are all coming to my shrine then. How is everyone thinking that this isn't a problem? I already am hosting an oni, an amanojaku, an inchling, a robot, and a vengeful spirit!" Reimu complained.
"For one, Sukuna doesn't take up much space and Ruukoto has been in the closest for 10 years. Mima is always sleeping and Seija doesn't want anything to do with you. The only people who really bother you on a daily basis are me an' Suika. The only other people you would have to tolerate tonight is a maid older and more mature than the two of us and the friendliest vampire of them all (in my opinion that is). This it really nothing to stress about!" Marisa explained.
"I guess you're right..."
"Off with you then. And Sakuya, your punishment will start once you come back. Do not avoid it." Remilia concluded.
The scarlet devil watched the four leave the mansion's grounds and off into the night. She stood there a little while longer, recollecting her thoughts.
"As quick as it seems life may go. It may come in any shape or form, yet nature will take it's place, and soon it will become plain like the rest of the snow."
Remilia remembered bits of a poem that traced back far before she came to the mansion. Even if she had no memory from what happened before she did, that was the only figment that stayed with her. For now, the vampire decided to leave it be.
Remilia walked into the library. "Patchy. Are you still alive in here?"
…
"Very funny." Patchouli's soft tone echoed through the rows of books. The vampire grinned and headed her way.
"You're very fond of these books, Patchy. I'm glad you've enjoyed them. Honestly, if it wasn't for you I would have burned them all by now." Remilia said, arriving.
Patchouli gave her friend a welcoming smile and nod. "Now now Remi, that's not how you should treat books. These are precious things. Some hold knowledge from long before we were even a mere thought. A waste it would be to throw them away. So many life lessons can be learned."
"You certainly love your books." Remilia giggled. "Mind if I join you?"
"I haven't minded since we met." Patchouli scooted over and patted the spot next to her. Remilia sat down and gave a long sigh.
"It's almost as it were yesterday when we first met. I can remember that rainstorm in such a vivid manner like it's occurring at this very moment. I still have that umbrella in my room somewhere. I'd have to look for it though." The vampire laid down. "I cannot believe you're leaving so soon."
"Ah, but do not look at this as a grim departure. Sure, it isn't the best way to go, but nature must do it's thing to all of the living." Patchouli said comforting Remilia. "Magicians are not like other youkai either. We may be classified as so, but one trait that separates us from the rest is life span. I've met many great youkai who have lived for a few millennia and many magicians die off around a couple hundred years. From what I hear, I'm either dying from bad health or old age."
"Or both perhaps?" Remilia asked.
"Perhaps. Either way, I do not want you to worry about me. I'll still be here like always."
"I know that..."
The two youkai laid with each other for what felt like many years and fell asleep in each others arms.
The Hakurei shrine was busy on this night. The lights were on while everyone drunk sake in a joyful manner, celebrating their existence. It was a miniature party, but still a lively one. The oni Suika danced around the table and sung as the humans ate.
"Hey! Suika! Knock it off!" Reimu spat. "I can't hear myself think when you're singing such sad songs like that!"
"They aren't sad songs Rei." Suika babbled drunkenly. "They're songs about hope and new findings! It's what us oni sang when we were trapped underground for so long! And we still are..."
"I thought dem damn onis hated singing." Marisa boomed in.
"Well yer wrong in many ways! Us oni sing! Just the ones we make up though. And occasionally we'd take some from the tengu and make our own verses and versions. All us youkai love our music! Only if it belongs to us though! Hell, one time this oni was so drunk he started singing "kappa no uta", a song a kappa recently made up, and he got pummeled by everyone! It was absolutely hilarious!" Suika explained with a hearty laugh next to it.
Sakuya took another sip of her sake. "My goodness. It has been a while since I've drank so much in one evening..."
Flandre scooted near the four and rested her head on the table. She tugged at Sakuya's sleeve. "Miss Sakuya?"
"Yes little mistress?"
"May I have some of that too?"
Flandre pointed at the cup of sake Sakuya was holding.
"Hm, that would be a decision up to your sister."
"What is it though?"
"It's just alcohol! Nothing poisonous! Come on head maid! Give her a little taste!" Marisa chuckled. "She'll probably think it's too bitter anyways!"
"I won't! I promise I'll like it!" Flandre claimed and started shifting around.
The head maid let out a sigh and took another cup, pouring a small amount of sake inside it and handed it to the vampire. Flandre stared at the liquid. It looked clear like water but smelled like flowers and random incense. She saw Sakuya's reflection in the cup and gasped.
"Are you going to try it little mistress?"
With that the vampire took a huge gulp, surprising the maid. She then scrunched her face up and shook her head.
"It's so bitter! It burns too!"
"Ah you'll get use to it once you drink it more. It tastes like flowers."
"How does it taste like flowers to you, Marisa? Have you been eating them?" Reimu asked, disgusted. "In my opinion, it has a fruity flavor to it. Not the whole drink, but sometimes it tastes like a peach or a melon depending on what type."
"That's what I mean!" Marisa growled.
The drinking seemed to last for hours until most were passed out on the floor, except the maid and the witch who both sat outside to look at the moon. The full moon. Marisa still held a cup of sake in her hands and so did the maid, but instead they drunk a lighter liquor that was not as strong as the one they had earlier.
The witch stretched. "Maybe we should've gave Flandre this. She could have tolerated it more. It's too light for me."
"Tastes like water in fact." Sakuya replied taking small savoring sips of hers. "The moon looks divine though. I love sipping light sake under the full moon. It gives me a sense of relaxation and safety."
"But you don't do it anymore...?"
"No. Not really. I use to with Meiling, however, we don't get along as much as we use to."
"Ah..." Marisa took another sip. "I'm good with mending relationship problems. If you need me to come by and do some matchmaking work then come find me."
"You let yourself in anyways. I'd just need to look around the mansion." Sakuya joked.
Marisa gave out a laugh and a sigh and pat Sakuya on the back.
…
"Hey Sakuya?"
The gray-haired maid turned her head to the smiling witch. "Y-Yes Marisa?"
"I've wondered this since I first met you, but where do you come from?"
"Not even I remember. I've been here for so long that those memories must have slipped my mind." Sakuya said. "The mistress may know."
"Yeah but she never tells me!" Marisa complained. "I asked her before and all she gave me was a devilish grin and the silent treatment! That girl gets stranger every day..."
"I do remember my childhood there." Sakuya started. "Miss Patchouli was like my teacher. She taught me how to read, how to write, and other basics. Miss Koakuma was like her, but she taught me more about being a maid and my duties. Meiling..."
...
"Huh? Meiling, what?"
Sakuya shook her head and looked back at the witch.
"H-H-Huh?"
"Meiling, what? You mentioned her name and then paused? What about her?"
Sakuya gazed at Marisa for a moment and forced a laugh. "Nevermind. Nevermind. I believe it is time for us to go to sleep."
"It is? It's too early!"
"Marisa. Its one in the morning. We should get a good nights rest for the next day." Sakuya said.
"Stop preachin' me." Marisa grumbled and got on her broom. "I'm going back to my house this time. Reimu would get pissed if I stayed here again four times in a row. See ya."
And with that the witch flew away, leaving Sakuya outside. The maid rubbed her eyes and looked at the moon again.
"That's odd... Staring at the moon like this and having a sense of safety and security..." She thought before shaking off her thoughts. "No no Sakuya! Why would you think that about the moon? You're being silly..."
"K-K...I...O...H...S..."
Sakuya turned to see Flandre mumbling in her sleep.
"I should get some rest as well. I'll think of this another time."
When the sky's hue of gold is finally shown, the maid carried the smaller vampire back to the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
Remilia Scarlet stared out the window again and watched the two girls arrive. "That poem I thought of last night. Where did I get that from?" She thought.
"Probably doesn't matter much. It's possible I could have thought it up on a sudden note."
She stood in the same position long enough for Sakuya to make it down the hallway and to her. Remilia gave her a polite nod to carry on and she did so. The scarlet devil peeked out the window again to see that rabbit come inside. The same one who has been checking up on Patchouli for this long while.
"Waste of time my ass." Remilia sneered and flew down the halls to the library. "That damn rabbit..."
Koakuma stopped her before she could open the doors.
"That's no good miss Scarlet."
"What the hell is she doing here then?!" Remilia growled. "We already know the outcome! If I can't change it then neither can she!"
"You're overreacting miss Scarlet! Reisen promised to keep checking on lady Patchouli until she dies!"
"I never heard such a thing from that bastard. Now move out of the way."
Koakuma shook her head. "I told the woman I'd stay out here until she's done. Even if I am in the presence of you..."
Remilia grunted and gave Koakuma a smack to the face, just to move her. She opened the doors and went along. "Fools like you are making unnecessary drama..."
She vampire then ran into the rabbit. Making a weary face, "I thought when you said that last time that it would be your last time you told the truth? I guess not. What are you doing here?"
"My master told me to check up on her one last time." She replied. "And surprisingly she's fine."
"Excuse me?"
"I checked her again, and it almost looks as if the disease has never happened. I will be leaving now." The rabbit girl bowed and walked away.
Remilia was in shock from what just happened. She had no idea what she was feeling at the moment. Relief? Happiness? Confusion? Stress? What was the word for that though?
"Patchouli! What is the meaning of this?!" Remilia roared in anger as she strode into the witch's point of view.
Patchouli turned to her friend and gave her a smile. A smile that Remilia has never seen before. It was almost frightening and chilling to the bone.
"Hello, Remi."
"Is this some kind of sick joke?!"
"Actually, the strangest thing happened to me last night that I can't seem to explain. You were asleep and I found a book under my arms that I never heard of or picked up so I decided to read it. So I turned to the first page and the next second it was black. I woke up like this." Patchouli said. "Let's just pretend this never happened... Shall we?"