Welcome to the start of Bus in Gensokyo! Since this is the first chapter, I'll say the disclaimer for the entire fic: I, [Insert Typical Username Here], own nothing, nothing, nothing at all, save that of which that I, [Insert Typical Username Here], have created. Enjoy!
A little note: I redid the first couple chapters, 'cuz I was kinda-sorta-maybe unsatisfied where they were goin', and I just finished high school. So now I have time to write. Enjoy, again!
Chapter 1: Mandatory Introduction Chapter
All was well in the Land of Illusions. People were cheerfully going about their daily routines, the youkai weren't bothering anybody, the most recent incident had been since resolved, and Kanako wasn't scheming to take over the world yet.
That's when Yukari noticed it.
A faint sensation, at first. Then, stronger. Stronger and stronger still, until it could no longer be ignored. The strength of the sensation would have caused any normal human to collapse.
Yukari ignored it.
The sensation then steadily decreased in strength, until it could no longer be felt. Several minutes passed, and the only thing that remained of the sensation was a distant memory, lost among Yukari's gaps.
Behind her fan, the corners of Yukari's mouth crept upwards in the ghost of a smile. Just as planned.
It wasn't much, but it was something. Reimu could feel it. Her Hakurei Intuition™ was warning her that something was not normal. Not "not right," as in, "something bad is going to happen," but "not normal" as in "hey, that's odd." Normally, she received this feeling when a low-level incident was about to occur, such as when the Three Fairies of Light decided to torch Cirno's house. This time was not different.
Reimu sighed. This was going to get annoying. Well, maybe I'll just get Marisa or second player me to do it, she thought. Ah well, it's a small incident anyway. It's not like it's gonna affect me in any way.
Life is funny in how it works. Many times everything will proceed as expected. Other times it will not. Sometimes, however, life takes into account your circumstances and your desires and decides to do everything it can to make your day miserable.
Even Reimu, with her godlike luck, was not immune to all of life's quirks.
" . . . "
"?" Reimu paused in her sweeping of the yard and furrowed her brow.
" . . . aaaaaa . . ."
Reimu tilted her head and tried to find the source of the noise. Wherever it was, it was steadily growing louder.
" . . . aaaaaa . . ."
"Geez, what is that?" Reimu said irritably. "It almost sounds like screaming. It's annoying!"
" . . . aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!"
"GYAAAAAAAH!"
SHAVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
clatterclatterclatterclatterclatter . . .
For those that don't know, that is the sound(s) of a person falling from a great height, a shrine maiden seeing the incoming projectile and freaking out, a wooden building exploding, and the materials thereof raining down upon a once-pristine courtyard. For those that do know, well, good for you.
The resulting explosion—don't ask me how a person falling into a mideval-ish shrine can cause an explosion, it's Gensokyo, so thus explosions can happen wherever—knocked Reimu back into the gate. When her ears stopped ringing and her head was straight, she sat up groggily.
"Ambiguously good god of the Hakurei Shrine, what was that?" she groaned. She painfully pulled herself up from her sitting position. She cringed when she saw the aftermath of her shrine. "What the Old Hell? I just rebuilt that after Tenshi's fiasco! Now I gotta do it again! Gaaaah!"
"Murrrrgh . . ." a groan of pain could be heard inside the wreckage of the shrine.
Reimu picked her way amidst the rubble and peered into a nicely-sized crater in the ground. "Hey, you okay in there?" she asked as she peered in. Then she froze.
Inside the center of the crater lay a person. However, this was not just any person. The person in the crater . . .
. . . was a male.
Instantly Reimu's Incident Radar went off. Male + Crashing into Gensokyo = Bad, if anything her past several experiences with the troublesome outsiders commonly referred to as "Gappy Stus" were of any indication. Furthermore, this male currently inhabiting a dignified position of unconsciousness was wearing odd clothing, further evidencing him as one of the cursed ilk. Reimu decided, however, that instead of blasting him with a Fantasy Seal right then and there, which was her first instinct and exactly what Mima was shouting at her this very moment, and to instead gently (forcefully) help the stranger up (grab him by the shirt) and lightly nudge him until consciousness returned (shake him by the shoulders until he started shouting again).
"Gaaaah!" the stranger shouted. He then proceeded to unleash a string of words in a language that Reimu didn't quite process.
Wait, this is English, Reimu thought. Just my luck. An American.
Despite Reimu's overly-narrow speculative of English-speaking countries, Reimu decided to let the poor chap down. He fell backwards amidst the broken rubble once again, his head lolling about from dizziness. Reimu huffed. Great. Now I have to deal with ANOTHER stupid outsider, one that doesn't even speak Japanese. If only there were some way to communicate-
A ribbon-tied distortion of space opened up in the air above the male. A slender arm emerged from its black depths and snapped its fingers. The arm withdrew, and the portal closed. Suddenly, Reimu could understand what the stranger was saying.
" . . . I told him that the processor wasn't meant for that function, that there was no way that the ether containment would work as such, but no, he had to insist on configuring the carbine chamber like that, and now the turret's gone and there's a giant hole in the center of the plaza and-"
"Um, excuse me?" Reimu warily interjected. "I hate to interrupt your fascinating monologue, but, um, what?"
"Oh!" the male said, startled. "I thought you were the mechanic. Sorry, my bad, I have a tendency to just go off when the subject concerns mechanics. For example, I'm stopping myself right now from tangenting off on a rabbit trail of how much I love mechanics. It's funny, really, because normally, I'd be speaking nonstop about mechanics now, but this time I've managed to not do that and annoy the person standing in front of me. This is great! I've cured my self of my rabbit-trailing disease! Man, I can't wait to tell-"
"Er, yeah, uh, what, excuse me?" Reimu interrupted again. "You're tangenting."
"Gah! Not again!" the man sighed. "I'm sorry. It's a bad habit of mine."
"I can tell," Reimu said, eyebrow raised. "You want to start your first impression over?"
He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry. I guess I'll do that."
"Ah-hrm-hrm-hrm!" the male cleared his throat. "Sorry about that! I'm Shulk from Colony Nine, mechanic and engineer. A pleasure to meet you!"
Reimu decided to use this introduction to glance over the newcomer. Medium-tallish, with a shock of blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Middle-range tenor's voice with a fair amount of an accent. Roundish and youthful face, slim body proportions, muscles lean and lithe. Clothing strange, resembling an outsider's; shoes, shorts, turtleneck and jacket/hoodie combination, all with some kind of odd design printed upon them and most the same shade of red, accessories included kneepads(?) and . . . ankle braces? What is up with this guy's fashion sense? Even for an outsider, it's weird.
"Um, miss? Is there any reason you're staring at me?" the male now known as Shulk drew Reimu out of her appraisal.
"No, no. I'm just sizing you up," Reimu answered dismissively. "Wondering what kind of person you are, possible physical capabilities, and all that."
"Er, okay . . ." Shulk's eyebrow was quirked upwards. "But isn't it proper manners to introduce yourself to the person you just demanded identity from? I gave you my name, so it's only polite to give me yours."
"Nice point," Reimu conceded. "All right then, I am Hakurei Reimu, shrine maiden of this shrine which you just destroyed and peacekeeper of Gensokyo, the land of Illusions, the place which you most unceremoniously crashed into and potentially disturbed the peace of. As such, outsider, I expect you to take full responsibility of your actions—to come here was definitely your choice, was it not?"
"Wait, what?" Shulk asked, taken aback. "I fall through a hole in some ruins and you tell me to 'take responsibility' for crushing your shrine? What kind of logic is that? What Colony are you from, anyway, er, Hakurei, was it?"
"Please, if you must, refer to me as 'Miss Hakurei,'" Reimu narrowed her eyes. "And you might want to take a look around you."
Shulk did just that. The reaction was both what Reimu expected and did not expect.
"Woah! That's a lot of wood! I fell into this mess?"
"You created it, you moron! You crushed my shrine and destroyed it!"
"How does a falling body create an explosion out of a bunch of wood? And who names a building after themselves, anyway?"
"I don't know! It's Gensokyo, so explosions could happen at any time, anywhere! And that shrine is named after my family, you idiot! The Hakurei family!"
"Huh? So Hakurei isn't your name?"
"No! Family name, then personal name!"
"Strange . . ." Shulk muttered. "This needs more looking into. Most everyone I know only has one name, and those that have two are called primarily by their first. This must be some kind of underground society that moved here to escape the Mechon attacks! What a remarkable discovery!"
"What are you talking about? Gensokyo isn't under anything!"
The two continued to argue for a bit—Shulk tangenting off on random things and not understanding that he was not on the Bionis (or wherever the heck he was previously) and Reimu, well, being Reimu, and complicating things further.
Finally . . .
"So let me get this straight," Shulk begain. "I fell into a hole in what you call 'the Outside World.'"
"Go on," Reimu prompted.
"When I was falling, I passed through some kind of boundary from my world into yours."
"M-hm."
"In your world, AKA Gensokyo, I fell from the sky, and landed on your house, somehow surviving and somehow causing it to explode."
"It's called a shrine, but go on."
"In addition to all of this, you think that I'm going to cause some kind of 'Incident,' just because I'm male, from the Outside, and wear odd clothing."
"Exactly."
"Well, I can assure you, I have no intention of running around your 'Land of Illusions' hitting on the various residents thereof, attempting to fulfill a childish fantasy of mine," Shulk deadpanned.
"Well, at least you don't have a weird, supernatural sword or odd powers," Reimu chuckled. "That would basically certify you as a Gappy Stu if you did."
"Er, I actually did have a sword, and it was on me when I fell," Shulk said with a furrowed brow. "You mean to tell me that you don't see it?"
"Wait what." Reimu turned and stared at the blonde man.
"You'll know it when you see it. It's red, about yea wide and yea long," Shulk described, "and has a bunch of runes and etchings on it. Oh, don't touch it, the blade comes apart and you can't control it, only I can."
Reimu shook her head. "Let me guess, this magic sword of yours allows you to manipulate time and space or some kind of crap like that."
"No, it allows me to control the flow of ether," Shulk admitted. "I can see the future without it."
"You're kidding me."
"Nope. By the way, how many problems do 'people like me' give you?"
"More than I care to deal with," Reimu sighed. "Well, just behave, and I won't have to lump you in the category of all the other Gappies out there who tried to grab power here."
"Why? What happened to them?"
"Save for a select few, they all died."
Shulk nodded. "That is certainly a fate that I'd wish to avoid. I'll take your advice and, er, how did you put it? Try not to make an attempt to 'grab power.'" He moved to clear away some rubble and he uncovered a strange, rectangular object.
"Reimu, what is this box-like thing?"
"Hm? Oh, that's my donation box. Donate, please. Now. And I won't make you do that much work when cleaning up the shrine."
"Er, all right? I guess I can . . ." Shulk fumbled through his jacket pocket. "Dunno if our currency is the same, but . . ." He dropped in a 500 G bill. In doing so, he accidentally brushed up against the donation box.
[A clearing. Two figures. A woman in red, a man in red. A box. Suddenly, an explosion. The box is destroyed. The woman dodges, the man is hurt. The woman breaks down crying, and takes the wounded man and throws him down stairs.
A gate, a crimson mansion. One figure. A woman in green. Suddenly, a flash in the sky. Something hurtles down from the heavens and strikes a window, breaking it and going inside. The woman starts and regains her composure, readjusting her hat. Suddenly, a part of the mansion explodes. Screams and yelling can be heard from the inside. The woman rushes inside the gate. Another explosion, and all goes white.]
Shulk's eyes flew open in shock. "Get back!" he commanded.
"Why? What's going on? You spaced out there for a second and-"
"Move!" Shulk dove to the side behind the gate, inadvertently kicking a previously-unnoticed spirit in the face.
"Sorry, my bad," Shulk apologized.
"S'okay, it ain't hurtin'," the green-haired woman mumbled.
Reimu stomps over to where Shulk crouched down. "Hey, what's the big idea!? Just what are you trying to-"
Suddenly, an explosion.
The donation box spontaneously combusted, bursting apart in a blaze of wood, dust, and the remains of old, unused currency. Shrapnel flew every which way, barely missing Shulk and the strange lady on the floor. Reimu dodged each and every piece without turning around.
When the clearing cleared of the smoke, nothing remained except a black scorch mark upon the ground.
Reimu collapsed to her knees. "My-my donation box . . ."
Shulk stood up from behind the gate. "Um, I'm sorry for your loss, but is there a red mansion around here? Please tell me quickly, something tells me that it's urgent—"
Reimu whirled around to face him, eyes wide and blazing, full of Indignant Hakurei Fury, a level of wrath only achieved when someone or something close to said Hakurei is harmed. A guarantee way to trigger this is to screw with a Hakurei' loved on or donations. Moreso the second than the first, usually. Shulk felt that he was staring down twenty Avalanche Abyssions, each complete with a High Entia mage riding on their back.
"YOUUUUUU!" Reimu roared. "YOU DID THIIIIIIIIS!"
"Wargh! Calm down!" Shulk shouted, panicking. "I didn't do anything! I touched the box, saw a vision, and—"
"YOOOOUUU DESTROYED THE BOOOXXXX!"
"Reimu, listen to me!"
"WOOORAAAAGHHH! DEATH TO ALL WHO DARE DEFILE THE HAKUREI'S SACRED—"
WHAK
A staff, thrown with incredible accuracy, bounced off of Reimu's head and flew back into the air, where it was promptly caught by the green-haired person Shulk had accidentally tripped over. The person, a figure dressed in blue and wearing a funky blue witch's hat, twirled the staff, now recognizable as one that had a crescent-shaped blade at the end, and posed, dramatically pointing at Reimu.
"Reimu!" cried Mima, for it was none other than her, though Shulk didn't know it yet, "It is unfair to cast blame upon this poor boy! He just got here, and you're already blaming him for destroying everything you have! How heartless!"
Reimu turned, wrath now settled down, but aura of anger still still strong. "Mima . . . I hope you have an explanation for this."
"Of course I do!" the evil spirit huffed. "He didn't do it 'cuz I did!"
Reimu froze. Shulk flinched.
"I put a magic bomb in your shrine 'cuz I wanted its destruction to be uber-flashy the next time that Tenshi character came over!" Mima said proudly. "I also hid a grenade in your donation box!"
"Gah-er-guh-why-Mima-why-agh-yoru-yon-greech" Reimu sputtered.
"I want attention! I want to be the star of the next incident, Reimu!" Mima pouted. "You've been avoiding me for so long! Can't you just accept my love?! . . . Reimu? What are you doing?"
"EXORCISM OF THE THRICE-DAMNÉD EVIL SPIRIT, YOU FRAKKIN' YOUKAAAAAAIIIII!" (Mima! This means you! Bad girl.)
Shulk cringed as Mima flew over the gate and into the Forest of Magic. He nearly shuddered when Reimu turned to face him, but relaxed when she sighed and kicked the rubble of her residence.
"Shikieiki-damnéd evil spirit . . ." Reimu muttered. She then looked at Shulk. "So, what was that again about a red mansion?"
"I wanted to know if there were any large mansions around here," Shulk explained. "It's complicated, but I had a vision of the future, and in that your box exploded" here Reimu twitched "and something else crashed into some kinda red mansion and caused an explosion. Do you know of anything like that around here?"
Reimu raised an eyebrow. "Why yes, as a matter of fact, there's something quite like what you describe several kilos from here. But I don't see how that would—"
Suddenly, an explosion in the distance, followed by a plume of red smoke.
Reimu glanced at Shulk. "Tell me more about this vision of yours along the way there." She tossed him the miraculously-unaffected Purification Rod.
Shulk stared at the item in his hands. "Wait, what is this for?"
Reimu grabbed Shulk's arm and kicked off the ground. Shulk yelped at the sudden and unexpected flight. "We need this for where we're going. Don't underestimate the Scarlet Devil Manison."
"Gaaaah? We're flying! What is this?" Shulk yelled.
"Welcome to Gensokyo, kid," Reimu smirked, and sped straight on to the slowly rising column of smoke, and the steadily-increasing sounds of chaos.
Postchapter note: Well, it's done! The first real chapter of the story, redone and reuploaded! Please review after reading. Y'know, so I have something to improve on next time.
