Next chapter right of the bat. Well? Get to reading it! Go on!
Touhou belongs to ZUN. You know, the guy with the beer?
Chapter 2 – Stormy Explanations
After a lengthy conversation with the shrine maiden, what I get out of her explanation about Gensokyo seems pretty crazy. Apparently, it's a place where everything considered myth, legend, and fantasy is, in fact, real. There is magic here, and beings like youkai, fairies, gods, ghosts, and others such creatures exist, no matter how hard that is to believe. But apparently it's all true; she gave me a pretty good demonstration of what she is capable of with those talismans of hers just to prove it. It was very shocking to see them fly out on their own, considering they are supposed to just float to the ground like a regular piece of paper like first thought.
Another thing she tells me, that completely throws me for a loop, it that this valley is also separated from the world I'm from, which is called the outside world around here apparently, by what is called the Great Hakurei Border, which surrounds this whole place like one huge bubble. I think I could barely see it in the sky now that I think about it, though I'm honestly not too sure.
I think that is everything in a nutshell...and my head just cracked like one too. Ugh...
As the miko starts to wrap things up with her explanation, I'm sitting here at the kotatsu with no more tea in my cup and with my head lopsided, with the face that could easily imitate a zombie. "...And I am Hakurei Reimu, Shrine Maiden of Paradise. I keep the peace around here, and maintain the border as well. Well, that is pretty much it... H-hey, are you okay?"
She looks actually concerned. Well, she has a right to be a guess. I think my eye is twitching...
I try to sit straight again to give her my reply, but all that got me is a sharp headache. "Just... Just give me a second. This is a lot to...holy crap..."
Yeah, my mind just broke. Medic! Man down over here!
"I understand. I suppose this is a normal reaction, all things considering. Should I get some more tea?"
You mean some of that stuff that you gave me earlier that helps me see straight? Yes please!
"If you would, I would be grateful." I hand her my empty cup, providing her with what she needs to get more mind cleansing liquid. While she is gone doing that, I can sit here with my thoughts, or what's left of them anyway, to try to figure everything out.
So let's see here, what is my current situation? I somehow ended up in a land of magic, I am disconnected from reality, I am unfamiliar with this whole place, I have nowhere to stay, I know absolutely no one from around here...
As I begin to list everything that is going on, I begin to sit straighter as the maze of thoughts in my head begins to map itself. As I do, I come to simple realization; one that might just keep my sanity.
How is this any different from how I my life has been? I mean sure, there is magic and stuff like that around here, which is going to be taking a great deal of getting used to, but...doesn't that just make things interesting? I think...I might be able to get used to this. Somehow...
"Here you go." The now named Reimu comes back with another cup of tea, in which I appreciatively take back into my hands. "Anyway, I know how hard it is for outsiders to accept any of this, but..."
"It's okay." I speak up before she continued, catching her attention. "I'm starting to wrap my head around the idea. I think I will be able to cope."
Take a sip of the tea, relax the head. Wash and rinse the brain, repeat. Good tea...
"Oh? Well that was quick. You sure you're going to be alright?" Her concern clearly shows as she inquires my sanity, with just cause too.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. This won't be the first time I find myself in a new place, so things aren't that different for me. Besides the obvious, I mean."
"Really now? Well then, as long as you're sure." The red and white girl says to me as she begins to nonchalantly sip her own tea. "Well then, I guess I can start explaining how you got here in the first place, and about that person you met before."
You got my attention right away miss. Tell me what you know!
Seeing how I am giving her my full attention, she proceeds with her next explanation. "That golden-eyed woman you keep mentioning, her name is Yukari Yakumo, the gap youkai. She's one of the main reasons Gensokyo exists to tell the truth. She has the power over gaps and boundaries, which can be very troubling for me sometimes. She is the one who brought you here, using those gaps of hers like the one you fell into."
...What? She has power over things like that? That is... really broken, in so many ways.
"So that's why her eyes looked like they did, she's a youkai? Scary..."
"Actually, I hear she changes her eye color every now and then. I myself have seen her with purple eyes before." Reimu takes a glance at me from her tea, catching my baffled look. "Anyway, she can travel to the outside world whenever she wants, unfortunately. She also tends to just bring outsiders here on a whim, which is what happened to you it looks like."
"...How very irresponsible." I comment dryly, earning a nod from the girl in front of me. "So she...gaped me here? Why me?"
It's a sound question. Why would an all powerful being like her want with me? I'm a nobody!
"Because we needed a musician, Dash-kun." Something whispers into my ear creepily, with an all too familiar voice...
Say what now!?
"Gah! What is with you people and...sneaking up...on me. What the hell?" I lose the words inside my mouth, which is a common response when you see someone hanging from a rip in space like an armrest.
"It's nice to see you again too." The lady now known as Yukari says with a false pout. I can tell she enjoys messing with me, which doesn't settle well with me in the least.
"...Ugh. You said something about a party?"
How I just got defused like that I'll never know...
"Yes, I did. We need someone to play some music for the party here at the shrine. I thought I explained that before?" She says as she sits on that rip in space like a chair.
"What, you were serious about that? And here I was expecting you were just messing with me."
In response to my question, the gap youkai pulls out a decorative fan from somewhere on her, flipping it open to hide her face. "Well, I was doing that too."
And with that she gets a hard glare from me. Congrats Miss Yakumo, you're going straight to my shit list.
"Yukari, stop messing with him. And what about the Prismriver Sisters? Are they not coming?"
The 'who' Sisters? Should I know who they are?
"They can't play for us this time sadly. I was shocked too, but it seems they had a prior engagement, and can't break from it."
"I see. So why'd you pick this guy up if that's the case?" Reimu asks, pointing her finger at me rudely.
"I would like to know that as well." I agree, folding my arms in irritation. "Why did you kidnap me? I'm sure there are better prospects out there."
As if what I said was funny, this crazy lady begins to chuckle behind her fan. "You were a skilled musician who was both homeless and wouldn't be missed by anyone. I needed someone that could just disappear from society to come here, and you fit the bill."
Oi... That was a low blow there...That was it? Just because I'm homeless? Kinda low standards don't you think? I mean seriously that's... Hey, wait a minute...
"How the hell did you know that about me? I never mentioned any of that to you before!" I snap at her, my outburst apparently being predictable to her.
"Simple. I've been following your movements for about a week now." She states so casually it is like she is speaking about the weather, though I find it very disturbing.
"You... You've been spying on me!? What the hell! Invasion of privacy much? What gives you the right!"
Well, that certainly explains the paranoia feeling I've been having lately. Mystery solved, I guess.
"Well how else was I suppose to know you were right for the job? I'll admit I found you by random, but it turned out quite fortunate, don't you think?"
I...I give up... There is no reasoning with her...
It's at this point Reimu decides to speak up again. "You have my sympathy. Being the target of Yukari is very unfortunate indeed, an evil I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"How mean, Reimu! Here I went and brought a talented musician and I don't get any thanks?"
Wait, did she say talented? Ego boost, get! Though the fact it came from Yukari may hinder its worth...
At this point, Reimu actually looks curious. "By the way, I keep hearing you're a musician... ah... What's your name?"
The realization that I haven't once told her what my name was hits me, so I attempt for a proper introduction. "Ah yes. My name is-"
"His name is Tadashi Rizumu. Though I believe he prefers to be called 'Dash'." I'm interrupted by Yukari, practically stealing my thunder in a sense. My reaction is a classic, a prompt face plant into the table.
"It's... It's a pleasure to meet you..." I murmur from the table, trying to salvage any pride I have left.
At least Reimu is kind enough to offer me the chance. "Likewise, Dash-san." She sits there pondering for a moment, before bringing up a point I'm sure that was coming up. "Huh, what an interesting name. You don't exactly look Japanese."
...I suppose this needs to be explained as well, huh? Oh well.
"I am on my father's side, though most of my characteristics came from my mother. My family just took on some of his traditions is all, our names being one of them." I explain to her, not being very enthusiastic about it.
"Ah, I see. Well if that's the case, do you know some Japanese? It would prove useful here since that is the primary language."
What I say next catches my new acquaintances off guard, considering it was in very fluent Japanese. "I do. My father made sure to raise me bilingual, kept spouting how someday it would be useful to us. I really should have thanked him for it, I never thought I would use it any."
"So you're bilingual? Great, that makes it easier on me. I don't really like messing with peoples language boundaries too much. It feels like cheating sometimes." Yukari laughs a little at herself, though Reimu and I don't follow in her amusement.
From what I know right now, you are a walking life hacker. I don't want to hear you saying that you don't like cheating!
Seeing as we are just speaking in my secondary language now, I decide to go along with it all. It really doesn't change how I interpret everything anyways. Besides, it sounds like I will need the practice for later anyways. "By the way Reimu-san, you speak English very well. It's surprising actually."
"Thank you. I get all kinds dropping in here thanks to her..." she juts a thumb to Yukari who just huffs to herself. "...So it was a must to learn it. It was surprising how many outsiders knew English, even if it wasn't their first language."
"You forget I was the one who suggested that you should learn it. I even brought you that book."
Reimu was quick do dismiss the floating lady's antics. "Yeah, yeah... So anyway, Dash-san. I keep hearing you are a musician. What instrument do you play?"
"I play guitar. What, you didn't see my..." My mind freezes when I realize my case wasn't anywhere near me. In a split second I'm dashing around the room, eyes flicking from one corner to another. "MY GUITAR! Where the hell is my guitar?! I can't lose it, there's just no way!"
Code red! Everyone scramble! Send a search warrant! Do something, anything!
"Calm yourself Dash-kun, it is right here. I made sure to keep it safe while you were passed out. Your things too..." She sticks her hand in one of those damn gaps of hers and pulls out...
I did nothing less but pounce after my guitar, seizing it quickly, and setting it on my lap faster than you can say natural harmonics. "My baby! Oh thank goodness I thought I lost you!"
My actions left the room speechless as I cradled my life and joy, most likely everyone thinking I'm crazy. "Err, Dash-san. Is that thing that important to you?"
That thing!? Okay, how can I explain this delicately to explain of important this is to me...
"Reimu-san, let's just say that I treasure this just as much as I treasure my own life, if not more."
She seems even more baffled than before. At least, until Yukari brought something up. "I'm sure you can relate to him Reimu. How would you feel if someone stole your donation box I wonder?"
That must have gotten through to her, because immediately after an electric atmosphere began to surround her, causing me to recoil. "I would make sure anyone who did would burn in holy fire..."
Good, it looks like she gets what I was feeling earlier. Now...to see if all is accounted for.
I open up the gold clasps on the black case to reveal my beautiful acoustic guitar, in all its glory. Its main body displays a brilliant thunder cloud pattern painted onto it, swirling with blacks and grays that give off the near impression there is one actually inside it. The bridge was similar, but also sported a bright white lighting bolt traveling up it to the head, like one would when striking the ground. Personally, it is the ideal image of 'bad ass' in all sense of the word.
"Ladies, let me introduce you to my one true companion on my travels. Arashi, my faithful guitar." The silence that followed would have been very comedic to me, if I wasn't being completely serious.
What? What's with the looks? I'm being serious here! Oi!
"You named your guitar 'Storm', Dash-kun? Really now? You're not being very original here."
Oi, oi, oi! Lay off, you damned gap youkai! I can name my stuff what I like!
"So this is a guitar? I must admit, this is my first time seeing one. It looks interesting enough, almost like a sanshin."
"I must admit, I am mildly impressed Dash-kun; this guitar is very well maintained. I've seen a few myself before, so I should know."
"Thank you for the compliment, Yukari. So Reimu-san, would you like a demonstration? I'm all set to play a song if you want me to." I ask with enthusiasm, my fingers itching to touch the strings even if she says no.
"...Why not? I would like to hear it I suppose." The maiden say apathetically, but in her eyes I can tell she is curious.
Best to give this audience what they want then.
"Very well then. Without further adieu, let's get started."
And with that, I start manipulating this brilliant piece of work like a martial artist would practice his form, with flawless precision. The sounds comes out clearly and beautifully, like they usually do as I continue to play. Reimu begins to get absorbed into the song happily, while Yukari just sits there and enjoys, her eyes glued to what I'm doing.
…Truthfully, I never played something like this before. I found out on my travels some time ago that when I play my guitar, playing what feels natural to me sounds better than a song already written by someone else. If I like an arrangement I come up with on the spot, I try to remember it for later. I also found I get inspiration from my audience, so I try to make a song that reminds me of them. Right now I'm thinking about Reimu, and when I envisioning her I see a pathway in spring blanketed in various colors and hues. The song I came up with for that seems to match pretty well with that image.
Ha... That was a nice one. I think I should remember that for later.
Glancing at Reimu, it looks like she enjoyed it too. Feeling full of energy today, I decide to play another for the heck of it.
I wonder what would fit Yukari song wise? Probably something really complex like her.
Complex seems to fit the bill, since when I start playing this time I realize how difficult what I'm trying to attempt is! What I feel from Yukari is something like a rift in space, where a final battle of sorts would take place, like something from one of those fantasy games I've played when I was a kid. This one is really epic!
I look up briefly to see the ladies reaction, and I'm oddly surprised by the outcome I'm getting. Reimu seems like she was getting irritated for some reason, though she still looks impressed by my skill. Yukari on the other hand seems to be enjoying this one much more.
As I end the song this time, I get a small round of clapping from my small audience. Apparently I have pleased them greatly, which was my aim in the first place.
"Well done Dash-kun, that was very well crafted. See Reimu? I told you this young man has talent!"
I am in shock, Yukari! Please, praise me more! The ego enjoys the support!
"Yes, that was very enjoyable to listen to Dash-san. However that last bit had something I didn't like."
"Oh? My dear Reimu, I believe that was the best part! Though the beginning wasn't bad either."
Are you ladies really going to debate about this? It was just some music...
"Hmph, well that's your opinion. Anyway, it was still very nice Dash-san. I do wish you will play for the party later, I think everyone would enjoy listening to you as well."
Oh yeah, the party. I suppose I should play for it later, huh?
"Of course! I always enjoy displaying my talents where it is needed. You can just leave it to me." I pound my chest with my free hand, giving the impression of dependability.
"I think I will do just that. Thank you very much for doing this for us on such short notice." The shrine maiden gave a small head bow of thanks, in which I accept wholeheartedly.
"Say Dash-kun, I would like a word with you in private, if you would?" The whimsical life-hacker asks of me, giving me no reason why to decline as I put away Arashi for the moment.
"Sure, lead the way." Of course, as soon as I say that she opens a gap underneath me, letting me fall through and dropping me somewhere behind the shrine, leaving me in a heap on the ground. When I get my bearings, I am left amazed by the sight of the large amount of sakura trees in bloom scattered in front of me, with the petals falling with the small breeze.
Damn, what a sight for sore eyes!
"Quite a sight, isn't it? This is where the party is going to be held, underneath all of these wonderful pieces of nature." Yukari explains as she exits another gap besides me, staring out at the view like I am.
"Yeah, they're beautiful alright..."
I could probably sit out here and watch these for the rest of my life. Okay, maybe not...
We stand there watching the view for the moment, before Yukari asks of me something unexpected. "Now then, do you realize what you did in there, Tadashi?"
...Crap, I don't like where this is going.
And there you have it. Read and review please. Criticism is most welcome!