Familiar~da ze !?

ACH: Well here ya go! a start to an idea that popped up after recalling the events in ZnT and after reading some fiction about the matterial. Our Ordinary Magician Marisa Kirisame and our pinkette Void Mage Louise Francoise le blanc de la Valliere. How well can they work together as Master and Familiar?

I do not claim ownership of the characters, the setting, or the basic plot. Nor do I claim ownership of the idea of putting Marisa in place of Saito as Louise's familiar, Im sure someone else out there has thought about it already.

Thanks to Fuji92 for a brilliant title suggestion...

...

The sound of blowing wind, the songs and chirps of birds and bugs filled the air as I added the final ingredient of my latest experiment, Bolicus and Agaricus mushrooms. Muttering a short incantation into the Mini-Hakkero, I took aim at the bubbling pungent stew of mushrooms in front of me. Mere moments later, a wave of magic and mana permeated the concoction. It fizzled, it sizzled, it gurgled then... then... then... It blew up!. I hacked and coughed as I cleared my lungs of the soot that covered not only me but a good portion of the wall of my cottage.

My name is Marisa Kirisame, and I'm an Ordinary Magician living here, the Forest of Magic within a land called Gensokyo. And that's going down on record as a funky way to create an explosion, considering how complex the collection of ingredients were. Yes this is one of those days when I actually do something apart from bug Reimu or annoy Alice, or 'borrow' another book from Patchouli. This is one of those days where I actually study magic on my own, not like I wanted to anyways, It turns out everyone has something else better to do than play and have fun today. Thats the reason why Im here today as I have decided to take further notes down on the magical reactive properties of various mushrooms and herbs. I may not be as dedicated or as intellectual as either Alice or Patchouli but as is said, every magician has their unique way of doing things. While Alice experiments on her dolls and Patchy locks herself up in her library all day, I collect mushrooms and note their reaction to bursts of concentrated magic.

This batch of mushrooms and herbs all have a tendency to create very smoky and sooty deflagrations instead of the brighter, sparkly detonations that I require. This mix just wont do for spells or flash bombs. I made sure to note down the particular mix of mushrooms and herbs as to their composition and reaction before moving on to the next batch... After a snack of course. I particularly felt a bit hungry and as to no surprise, checking the clock inside showed that it was well into the afternoon. As such, I brewed some tea and got out the basket cookies that Alice gave me during my visit with her yesterday as I came to pick up that communication doll that she had fix, after it was damaged during one of my encounters with some mischiveous little fairies. It looked good as new, tho I wont be surprised if it was new, knowing how Alice works.

After my little break, I finished of the tea, placed the doll inside my hat where it belonged, placed one last cookie in my mouth and grabbed my broom before heading out to finish the last batch of experiments. I was planning to go somewhere afterwards, probably spend the afternoon at Kourindou, Rinnosuke might have some interesting stuff today. I sure hope he has some more of those Cola drinks or whatever they're called from the outside world. I found those to be quite good, once I managed to get over that fizzling after effect. I don't think Reimu ever got used to it tho. He must also have some instruction manuals by now, that Shikigami I got was a complete waste lest I figure out how to make it work. Oh so many exciting stuff, I got to get done with this quick.

The last batch was identical to the last, except there were now slices of giant mushrooms and a dash of sake... I think its a nice touch, I should remember to get some of that magical sake that Suika has, It could bear some interesting results with my mini-hakkero. I once again boiled the mixture over on the pot before turning of that "sohlar electric furnace" that I got from Kourin, I don't know how it actually works but It supposedly use the sun as its power source, I don't think it would be much use at night but It certainly proves useful during the day, even though its relatively dim in the forest of magic. It was ready, I knew because it has cooled down enough for it to not steam but was still bubbling, I found this state to be when they reacted the most-Interestingly to magic.

I took aim with the mini-hakkero after muttering a few words in it, enough for a small burst of magic, but not too much as to break the pot the concoction was in, these pots weren't cheap you know. I grit my teeth as I was about to fire the burst of magic that would hopefully yield results, but then at the last second, a question popped into my head. Where was the cookie I was biting down on? The hakkero fired and during that flash of light, it struck me. It WAS in my mouth till I muttered into the mini hakkero. I fired with the cookie IN the mini-hakkero!. Normally this would just result in an inconsistent and invalid result but right now, as I'm witnessing the results I hoped for, Im not too sure. There was an intense blinding blue light but no heat, the air moved and flowed, it felt like I was in one of Aya's storms, but this was accompanied by smoke, smoke that didn't really choke or irritate as smoke from a fire would, it was smoke laced with energy, like it was produced through raw magical heat.

...

"Bright!" I muttered. Or at least I tried. My mouth moved, but there was only silence. I found myself in an ocean of bright light with a slight bluish hue, it had a warm and rather comfortable feeling in to it. Aside from the light and heat, I also noticed that I was now floating, nothing like flying, I feel like my body is less than a quarter of its weight. Not unlike what I felt when we rode the Scarlet Devil Rocket to the moon. I tried moving and it felt no resistance whatsoever. I had never experienced this sensation before. It was relaxing, its like all the fatigue in my body has been purged, quite a serene experience. To think that this sea of light resulted from some boiled mushrooms, magic... and a cookie. I Marisa Kirisame proclaim this space, this new found dimension, this entire expanse as my own.

However awesome this discovery was, It dawned on me that I might not be able to share it to anyone. As far as I can tell there was simply no end to this, I have been floating through light for who knows how long, I doubt that Kanako or Suwako would. Is this what its like to ride Inside a Master Spark? Feeling the love wrought in raw magical power burn away fatigue and induce this relaxation. Trapped here in this sea, I started recalling memories from the innumerable fun times I had with everyone. Was this what it felt like to die in peace like under that cherry blossom in that ghost's garden? If it was, I wouldnt mind passing like this, I could use the rest. That was all that I thought of before I went to sleep, it was a very deep sleep with no dreams, but I didn't mind, I knew I wanted to die like this, but not right now. I thought that it would be better to think of a way out after a good rest.

I did not know how long I slept or how far I drifted but I knew that someone was being very noisy, she was babbling about gibberish. I tried to cover my ears but Its as if her words were directly filtering into my head. Is this how Satori feels like, no she can only read thoughts not hear them. I wasn't sure if this was thoughts of someone at all as I cannot discern if anybody was with me in this sea of light. It went on for a few minutes if my sense of time was accurate before absolutely all hell broke lose, as if Okuu went on a rampage again.

The bright sea of light steadily became brighter and brighter till everything turned to white, with me stuck in the middle of this intensifying explosion. It continued to intensify before the voice stopped and everything began to fade to black.

...

"Gaahack~!" I started coughing and hacking as I tried to swat away the smoke and debris of what seemed like an explosion. By the amount of it, I say I was in the middle of it. Did my experiment finally ran out of steam and died down. No that doesnt explain that voice, or the fact that this smoke smelled of a completely different magic as that I first got a whiff of the start of my experiment. It also wouldn't explain why the grass I'm sitting on was different from that around my house, Did my experiment blew me away to somewhere else?, Did It suddenly materialize into a full realm like I was hoping?, or did it simply fail and Im just imagining things?

My questions were answered when enough of the dust and smoke settled. The strawberry blonde girl, who was wearing a white shirt with a black mantle on top of it, which was secured by a brooch that had a pentagram engraved on it. She also had a short black skirt, black stockings and brown boots and was wearing a confused or shocked expression while holding out a wand at me. This was a good enough answer as to who that voice belonged to. Looking beyond her and the line of people standing behind her I saw a very large castle. Larger if not less awesome looking than Remilia's mansion, now that answers why the grass I was on now wasn't the same as before and gave the possibility of my experiment blowing me somewhere else. But it could also be that all this was materialized around me in that instant, and by quickly pinching myself, I determined that this wasn't just a dream or my imagination.

Before I could ponder on what happened, The crowd behind the strawberry blonde girl began to laugh as she went of to the right and started a conversation with an older person, he was balding with a pair of glasses not unlike those worn by Kourin and garbed in a blue robe. I know what an annoyed person looks like and this girl was very annoyed. I thought about voicing my thoughts as I stood up and dusted myself, but before I could do so I noticed the older man shake his head twice which probably was a reason as to why the girl is now approaching me with her wand in hand now with a look of disgust and embarrassment. I swear her mood swings were almost if not faster than those of Alice whenever I was around her.

I looked down as the strawberry blonde-as she was a bit shorter than me, she was shorter than Youmu but taller than Suika-pointed her wand at me and started muttering gibberish, I felt that rise in pressure, that unmistakable feeling of a spell being cast, If she thought she could hit me by closing the distance, she's mistaken, I may not be as fast as Aya or Youmu but I can dodge my fair share of danmaku, and at least I think I'm faster than Reimu. I stood my ground, ready to bolt away to whichever direction was necessary to avoid whatever she was about to unleash. Her chanting stopped, and she lowered her wand to which my eyes followed-

That was a mistake, as soon as I looked down she held the sides of my head firmly, and before I could voice my own thoughts on the matter-not that she would understand-she pressed her lips onto mine and held. It was my turn to be confused now as to what the hell she was doing. She let go before I got my head together to even realize that she did. Her lips were soft, softer than Alice's or Reimu's... softer than even Patchouli's-Don't ask-but before I could think anymore about the sensation a searing pain manifested itself on the back of my left hand. As I looked at lette-no runes etch themselves into my flesh. Fearing for any injury that I may not have felt, I inspected my hand, and found that it was still completely fine, apart from the runes of course. I was relieved that my hand was okay, I needed two hands to eat properly, I wouldnt have known what to do if I lost one of them.

It took a while before I realized I have read something like this before in one of the books I borrowed from Patchouli. By that time, most of the crowd of students if I'm not wrong had stopped laughing and went off their separate ways including that older baldy. What I recalled was that what just happened to me was a form of binding, a contract. A contract to bind someone as a shikigami. At that point I noticed the strawberry blonde started to walk off. Wait-a SHIKIGAMI!? ME!?. Before I could shock myself with my assumptions any more, the girl came stomping back towards me before pulling my hand and dragging me along. I guess there's no helping it. I composed myself as to follow in step with my master.

Yes... Master...

Might as well make the most of it...

...

"WHOOOWHH!" Came out as I found out that what I had thought was a castle earlier, turns out to be a school. One gigantic school, I bet Keine would want to teach in a place like this. And from what It looks like, its a school of magic, definitely feels like it. My 'master' finally stopped in front of a door, I'm guessing this is some sort of lodging... they call it dorms I think. She stomped and fumed her way across the halls and stairs, It also seems like everyone in our path just passively moved away. I don't know if its out of fear or just their own sense of trouble, either way, it was a sight similar to a rather angry Reimu, everyone just seems to avoid her hehe.

"Need help opening that?" I asked, even though I knew she wont understand it as she just shot me a look that spoke of annoyance and confusion before continuing to rummage and fruitlessly try to open the door. It looks like she has locked herself out. Thinking about it, as a shikigami, I should at least try to help her even if we still cant understand each other. I poked at my master's shoulder to get her attention, still with that annoyed and confused look. This time, I motioned to open the door instead of speaking. She stepped aside and looked at me intently as I took my lock pick and opened the door-don't ask-for her. She gave and 'urk' and went inside-still visibly annoyed-with me following.

Inside of the room confirmed it to be a bedroom of sorts. A four-post bed on the left, a window on the far side, a desk with what looks like a magical lamp, a drawer and a body mirror. Certainly not as good as Remilia's bedroom-don't ask how I know how it looks like-but still better than my own. My master, still visibly unpleased with all that's happened I suppose was quietly muttering words to herself. If I had a guess, its probably unpleasant things as I was prone to do the same when I'm annoyed. I would have been doing so If it wasn't for that... unexpected kiss she gave me. I tried to talk to her, but the results were still the same, she didn't understand me, and I didn't understand her. How can I be a shikigami If I cant even speak properly to my 'master'

For some reason though, she started to get less annoyed and more angry at me. I know when someone's angry at me, I have had quite a lot of experience having people get angry at me. I felt that rise in magical pressure again with her pointing her wand at me, like that of what happened earlier. Tho from the previous time this happened, I was paying more attention to her face and head than the wand she held, I cant see the need for her to kiss me again... tho if she insist, I would comply... Oh what the hell. I felt the magic concentrate within her and prepared to duck as to avoid her lips, too soon and she could alter her aim, too late and I wont have time to dodge it.

And for a second time, my assessment was incorrect. The first time, I was trying to dodge an attack but was hit with a kiss instead. Now that I was trying to dodge a kiss, I was hit with an attack. It was a typical magical explosion, not as bad as those the last batch of experiment did since it didnt have soot and thick smoke... It still REALLY hurt tho. As I found myself on the ground, momentarily disoriented from the shock of an explosion hitting my face.

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?" I yelled as I got up and dusted myself. I sort of half expected her to lash back at me since I am just her shikigami now weather I like it or not. I looked at the things I have, which still included my broom and the mini-hakkero. They were still expectedly fine.

"Hey I understand that!" She spoke, this time with surprise than anger or annoyance. Nice to see something else from her face for a change but...

"Yes but still what was that for-" before I trailed of, realizing that I also could understand her. Was that just a translate spell. If it was, why did it need to explode in my face? Well to be honest, I think I would have hid a translate spell as an explosion myself but that's just me.

"It was supposed to be a silence spell!" She answered again with annoyance this time. So much for the change... she said what?

"What?" I exclaimed with a questioning look, I was getting annoyed as well...

"You were being very noisy and I couldn't understand anything you were talking about, So I tried to cast a silence spell on you to shut you up and..." So it was a failed spell, with a different result. An accident. No doubt that happens. To be fair I could have done the same mistake she did so I think I would forgive her this time.

"Well then, Greetings! I am Marisa Kirisame and I'm-" My introduction was cut of as she stomped her right foot on the floor and glared at me, again with annoyance. Can she not be annoyed or at least a minute?

"How dare you speak when not given permission to commoner!" She declared, reminding me of a few people who had a similarly haughty attitude and apparent superiority complex. But it did result in a 'What!?' from me.

"Listen! I am Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière! You have just been summoned. I am your master and you are my familiar! You are obliged to do whatever I wish or command, Marisa Khi-ree-sah-me" Well she at least got my first name right. She's still not as charismatic as Remi tho, at least she didn't ask me to lick her feet...

"KI-RI-SA-ME!" I corrected her as she turned around muttering to herself again. I may not be Satori but I still can tell that she has problems.

"Why couldn't it have been a manticore, a griffin or even a dragon. It had to be a commoner!" She muttered. Hmm, a dragon or a griffin. I think I would take a griffin and... Oh I'de take them all... I shook myself from my own fantasies of having a familiar like what she mentioned. Tho I may just be human, I think I could hold my own against any of those she mentioned. Yes! No sense in believing otherwise. If I believe and try hard enough, I could do anything...

"Everything I do is a failure. All the spells I cast, even the simplest ones end up as a failure. All I can make are explosions. That ability wont have any use whatsoever in anything I try to do. Everyone was right... I am a Zero!" Although I don't think she shares my enthusiasm. She has now placed herself on the bed and had curled up into a little pink ball. Had I not been struck by the words she let loose, I would have been all over her as to how cute she looks.

"I wish I just summoned something powerful, and not a commoner" She spoke again. Something powerful eh? Well She DID summon a powerful shikigami... or familiar in her words, at least in my mind Im powerful, I still could beat most people in a duel. But what is all this commoner nonsense about. Ive never seen anyone look like me before! especially here. Before making my head hurt at thinking about such things I just decided to ask her.

"Hey I know Im ordinary. But what's all this about, this commoner thing you keep calling me?" I asked her flatly. when I notice her twist around and turned to me still on her bed.

"A Commoner is a Commoner, a plebeian. Someone who's below and not a noble! You should know that already" She scowled at me with that all too familiar expression of annoyance. She really likes to be annoyed at me does she?

"A noble?" I asked, almost in a teasing manner. I felt like she was gonna burn me alive with the glare she shot back at me as she heard my less than inspired query. He he. I knew for certain that teasing my master would be a rather fun person to poke around.

"SOMEONE WHO IS IMPORTANT AND CAN USE MAGIC!" She yelled before turning back and facing away from me. So it seems that whatever I was in, It was where a society where those who wield magic was considered nobility over those who couldn't. It makes sense, magic certainly would put someone at an advantage over those who couldn't wield it, like the human village in Gensokyo, where the majority of the residents are non magic users. But what would that make me, or Reimu, or anyone who could lay down the hurt with spell cards? even a bug like Wriggle would be...

"So someone who could use magic is... nobility!?~ze " I said slyly. Im already liking this situation. It suddenly looks like being a familiar in this world might not be as bad as I thought after all.

"Yes, indeed. That's why you should know to give proper respects to your betters" She responded, still in her bed. Betters!? If she can't cast anything but explosions, shouldn't that make me HER better? I set aside the thought as I am her familiar after all.

"So tell me -Master-" Emphasizing the word for full effect. It probably feels nice to be called that way.

"What is it does a familiar like me do?" I asked honestly. I figured that it shouldn't be far off from what a Shikigami would do, but its better to be sure than sorry now is it, or was it the other way around. Bah. It appears that what I thought was roughly what is the norm here. A familiar was to be a protector and guardian for their masters as well as assistance in normal day to day living. But it still seems that she regarded me as less than adequate for the job. Certainly, having a familiar that can speak and decide... and cast magic-but she wont know that yet-would be far more useful than just some beast.

"You seem to not know how much more useful a human familiar would be...master..." Certainly, although Ran and Chen aren't human, they're close enough to pass as one, and they sure are more useful than just some dragon or griffin.

"What are you talking about?" She asked as was now sat on her bed looking at me with inquisitive smiles. Lets see how long before she gets annoyed again...

"You cant speak to animals, much less order them with detail. Humans can use tools or make you tea. Humans can also decide about things that animals cant" I must admit some animals can get close to humans, though I think they would technically be Youkai then instead.

"That's what servants are for! and for that, you're no better than the servants already in the academy, much less so even. What else can you do apart from being a servant and commoner?" She asked THAT question. The question that one should have asked their familiars before they even made a contract with them. I felt sorry at the thought of Louise summoning someone else other than me, what if she summoned Rumia?

I thought about the question. If I reveal that I can use magic as good if not better than they can, I could have my master see me other than being this 'commoner' thing she calls. But If I wait till a better time to divulge that information, I could have a grand reveal or something, and surprise everyone that I can. On a thought, would she even believe me if I did tell her I could use magic. It might take a Final Master Spark and the destruction of a good part of the surrounding countryside for her to believe.

"I am just an ordinary Human" It was a truthful and short answer. After all, I AM just an Ordinary Human. I caught Louise place her palm on her face... yes the infamous facepalm.

"Great! I did summon a commoner... By the founder, what I have done to deserve this" It may not be what she has done, but what she hasn't. She may view explosions as a failure but I think its useful, Youkai extermination with explosions would be fun-I know-. She just need to see how good what her explosions can really do. I experienced it first hand... or first face.

"Fine!" My master said as she stood up off the bed and began undressing. Was she thinking about 'that'? I pondered, I never took my master to be one that fancied me. My thoughts went further into the matter as something hit my face. A blush crossed my face as I examined it, it was her underwear, pink lace... and the rest of her clothes as well. Looking back at her fearing for 'that' fact. I could feel the tense feeling release at the same time as sigh. Louise was now in a pink nightgown and was already in bed. Thankfully I was wrong.

"Wash those and wake me up tomorrow morning" She said tired-ly as she covered herself in blankets as the night crawled in.

"And where do you expect me to sleep!?" I asked with a questioning tone. She merely pointed at a pile of straw on the other side of the bed. I sigh, and just decided not to question it. I gathered the laundry work in a basket and proceeded to exit the room, making my way downstairs.

...

The sun was already replaced by... wait what!? Two moons. Well then, two moons is quite different. Was there a fake moon and the real moon here? I decided not to question it as I walked along stone halls with nothing but torches as lighting. In due time, I began to hear voices coming from one of the openings in the hall. Around the corner I saw two people having a very 'interesting' conversation. The blonde lithe-bodied boy was ver flamboyantly trying to court the girl, who was in turn giving all manner of gifts to her companion. The boy had this air of a playboy, I know one when I see one-don't ask-

"You there!" He declared as his gaze turned to me. He probably caught me looking a bit too intently at their conversation.

"Y-yes!" I stammered a bit as I put on a gentle smile as I replied, Still pays to be kind even if someone annoys you right? Tho Im not that way with everyone else, like Reimu or Sakuya.

"You're the the Zero's commoner familiar aren't you!?" He asked. was that a nickname or something?

"Yes!" I replied again still with a slight smile. It would be good to at least know someone else here apart from my Master. I noticed the girl was now glaring at me with inquisitive eyes. It seems the boy noticed this. Wouldn't do well for his stature if he was caught eyeing a 'commoner'.

"Don't mind her Katie, she's just a commoner tasked to was her master's laundry. She's merely but a servant, she even has a broom" He mused to girl, now named Katie.

"It comes is quite handy, for cleaning up various messes! both common and uncommon~ze " I replied, by this time my smile has but all faded into a flat look.

"Indeed!" The boy replied as he too adopted a flat expression. I'm not for one to pick a fight this late, but If need be I should gladly oblige.

"Guiche!" The girl finally indentifies him as Guiche, she caught the attention of Guiche who proceeded merely smiled.

"As I said, pay her no mind Katie!" He ensured her that it was all okay. With what I see in him, I question if it would really be okay...

"You may go commoner!" I think he finally saw the development of the situation and dismissively allowed me to go, not like I needed his permission anyways. I still need to wash all this laundry.

I don't actually know where to wash this now that I think about it. I might just try that dry cleaning spell I read up in another of Patchy's books. Probably how she manages to remain clean while always stuck there in her library. If I did do that however, I need to make sure nobody else found out. It would surely do things faster, and probably allow me to find some food around here, I haven't had anything but those cookies. Also should probably do something about sleeping, I know I'm now a familiar but Im not gonna go so low as to sleep on some straw.

I was about to resort to using the spell-I have been walking around in this massive place and no sign of anywhere to wash these-when all my problems' solution just turned the corner and came face to face with me. She had dark shoulder length hair and judging by what she was wearing, was probably a servant or maid of the academy.

"Good evening!" I greeted which shocked her for a bit. As she gave me a once over for a few moments before regaining her composure.

"Ah! you're the familiar of Mistress Valliere!?" She asked with much more respect than either what Louise or Guiche displayed. So she is what they would call a commoner then, I guess sans my hat, It really would look like that I'm a maid.

"Yes! My name is Marisa Kirisame!" I replied, returning her good mannered greeting.

"I'm Siesta, a maid in service to the Tristain Academy of Magic. Nice to meet you Miss Marisa Khi-ree-sah-me!" she politely bowed. Still everyone seems to be having trouble correctly pronouncing my last name. Aside from that, she seemed like a good person. Certainly more friendly than Sakuya, and probably not gonna stop time or throw knives at me as well.

"Marisa is fine!~ze " I placed the basket down and returned the greeting with a curtsy. She looked down at the basket that I placed down. This snapped me attention back to the matter at hand, or rather on the ground.

"Lo-Master ordered me to wash her laundry but Im still not familiar with the location. I was starting to worry about it before we met" I honestly stated. If anyone can help me with my problems, its going to be Siesta.

"Oh I can take care of that for you Miss Marisa!" Siesta stated before taking the basket herself. Commoners may be what they are, but at least they are greatly more friendly and polite than any of these supposedly superior nobles are.

"Thank you so much Siesta-" at that moment, my own stomach betrayed me as it grumbled and tumbled. I spent quite some time in that sea of light and I'm hungrier than I would admit. Those cookies were completely inadequate. The sudden reveal of my hunger prompted me to adopt an embarrassed smile to which she returned with her own.

"Please follow me Miss Marisa" She seems to read people pretty well, It seems professional maids like her and Sakuya would know how to read people, especially their masters, Its doubly impressive as Siesta has no clear master, I assume she would serve all the nobles in the academy. I followed her to what apparently is the rear side of the academy, where the servants reside. They generously welcomed me and gave me a meal. I expected it to be like this as the food they prepared me looked so good fit for the nobles, and the flavor confirms so, even tho they say it was just leftovers, I didnt care, its food and food is good enough for me. After I finished eating, I asked if they had some dried mushrooms and joy of joys they did. This was going to be a nice stay as the last of my problems was generously solved by Siesta again as It seems there was a spare bunk in her room for me to use.

Indeed, I do think this turn of events would be interesting!

...