The dining room was a chaotic mess.

Not physically. Physically everything was in it's proper place. But the people in there were all over the place.

In addition to the "ordinary witch" who had led them to the dining hall and Dinah, there were three other women, all who appeared to be around the same age. The one named Koakuma was obviously related to Dinah, sharing the other girl's bat wings. The other two were apparently Alice Margetroid, who was sipping tea while a passel of dolls swarmed around her futzing with various objects, and Patchouli Knowledge, who was reading a massive tome.

As soon as Maribel and Renko had sat down the questions had started.

"What's the status of Shintoism in Japan these days?"

"How far along is the Mars program?"

"Did China ever reunify? How about Korea?"

"Have they gained any further insight into the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle?"

There was no pressure, but little rhyme or reasoning to the questions. And every now and then two or three of them would break off into a side discussion. The one thing Maribel did notice was that Dinah seemed to show deference to all the other women. She didn't look younger, but she acted younger.

Still none of these answered the questions she had. So finally, after all six of the other women had started talking about quantum mechanics she interrupted. "I'm sorry, but I really would like to know what's happening to us. And what we're supposed to do next."

Renko paused then nodded. "Yeah. Not that I don't like talking about the stuff I learned in class, but we do have bigger issues right now."

Patchouli set down her book and looked at them directly for the first time. "Hm... We're waiting for the mistress of the house to awaken before we go into why you might be here, but I suppose we can tell you what you should do next."

Marisa nodded her approval. "It's not like anyone will care if they miss that part of the conversation." The witch returned to fiddling with her tea spoon. "You want to give the speech Alice?"

"I suppose I could." The swirl of dolls around Alice slowed until only one doll was still active. "You are in Gensoukyo. The illusionary world that is refuge to youkai and spiritually active humans alike. Sadly, currently Gensoukyo's boundaries are too strong. Few humans cross over naturally, and willingly crossing the barrier is considered impossible currently."

Renko frowned. "But Mary's been here in her dreams before."

Patchouli flipped a page. "She's appeared in a mental state. The barrier displaced her temporally to a time when it wasn't as strong as a way to bleed off stress. That doesn't work with living physical travelers I'm afraid. It's far easier for the barrier to just erase your physical forms, or rip your souls out."

"Yes. The only way you were able to cross over physically is because the barrier between us and the true moon is far thinner." The puppeteer paused for a moment before continuing in a sympathetic voice. "I'm afraid you probably will not be able to return to your homes."

Mary probably should have been more stunned by that announcement, but she was too tired to be severely shocked by mere words at this point. Still, there was a dull ache at the thought of not being able to see her family again. She wondered if that would become worse later.

Then she felt Renko's hand enveloping hers. She turned and smiled at her friend. She wasn't totally alone here at least.

Seeing the two recover Alice continued. "Fortunately you arrived here, instead of out in the wilderness where youkai hunt humans as food."

"Probably one of the safest places outside of the temple or the village itself," Koakuma stated.

Maribel thought for a moment. "I remember a village. Faintly. It seemed like a happy place."

Marisa frowned for a moment. "I suppose. Really depends on what kind of person you are."

"I think they'll have an easier time of it then we would," Patchouli stated calmly. "Talents are appreciated. It's the drive to pursue magic to it's fullest that draws fear for some reason."

"Huh, so then most of the villagers have a power like me and Mary?" Renko asked.

"Usually stronger actually," Alice replied. "Though perhaps with training you could surpass the average villager."

"In any case should you choose to go there we'll supply an escort. You shouldn't worry about short term lodging either. Keine will be happy to give you room and board while you settle yourselves. Though she'll probably have you do some odd jobs here and there."

"'Should we choose to go there?'" Renko asked.

Koakuma nodded. "That explanation we'll want to wait on the mistress of the house for."

"And she should be arriving shortly."

Mary and Renko turned to see another blond woman in a maid uniform enter into the room. She was holding a tray with a large chocolate cake and two bowls of stew on it. The maid placed the two bowls of stew in front of the girls from outside, before curtsying. "Juri Kirisame, head maid of the mansion. My apologies for not meeting with you sooner, but I was busy with the cleaning."

"Ah, don't worry about it. And thank you for the food," Maribel said.

Renko nodded. "Yeah, it's been too long since we ate."

Marisa eyed the cake. "Aren't you splurging a little here?"

Juri raised an eyebrow. "It's not like we're in poor financial straights. You need to let your miserly ways go father."

"I told you not to call me that." Marisa muttered darkly. "And it's not about the cake mix. It's about the blood." Maribel suddenly felt less hungry. Her appetite didn't improve as the argument continued.

Juri smiled wickedly. "It's not like blood keeps. We have two new donors as well. Besides, just because you never gained the taste for it, doesn't meant the rest of us don't enjoy it."

"Leave me out of this, sister." Dinah snapped. "Besides, you're scaring the humans."

Alice sighed. "I don't need any sibling rivalry!" She turned to Marisa. "Or any father daughter sniping either."

"Yes mother," the two girls chorused. Marisa just snorted and looked away.

Koakuma laughed nervously and turned to the human girls. "Um, to explain. Most youkai don't need to actually eat food. So the cake is mostly just for taste. That's why Juri prepared a separate meal for you. As for the donor bit..."

"Ooh! Don't steal that part from me! That's the fun line!"

There was a tinkling from the doorway as a young girl with strange crystalline wings stepped through. She stared at Mary and Renko with obvious interest. At her entrance the maid curtsied again. "May I present the mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. Flandre Scarlet."


Their host grinned widely as she took her seat at the head of the table. "I'm glad you could come visit my mansion. It's boring only talking to the same people all the time. And your story sounds fun! I missed going to the moon last time."

Maribel managed a weak laugh. "Well it was certainly exciting. And we thank you for your hospitality."

Flandre nodded, then started rocking back and forth in her chair, her wings sounding like wind chimes. "I'd like to say that you made up for it by being here and telling me your story," the vampire suddenly leaned forward, and her grin turned predatory "...but unlike other youkai we vampires DO need to eat."

Maribel's heart briefly considered an escape attempt.

Then Flandre giggled and leaned back again, "But I think humans are more fun alive and talking then as food, and my big sister thought that way too, so we just ask for donations! A bit of blood will cover us protecting you today. And if you two give us a little bit of blood every month, we'll help protect you from the other youkai later as well!"

"Most of the fishermen and woodsmen are under our protection these days, which is why my Lady doesn't hunt," Juri added.

"Just as a question, what happens if we refuse?" Renko asked.

"Nothing," Flandre said. "We just don't give you an escort to town, and don't warn the other youkai off."

There was no need to ask what no escort into town actually meant, but Maribel couldn't really argue it was unfair, and being protected from youkai for the rest of their stay seemed fair. Maribel was just about to agree when Renko put a hand on her shoulder. "I can't speak for Mary, but I'll simply pay my debt for today. I'll take my chances once we get to the village."

Maribel blinked. Now that Renko had said that she realized it was a little stupid to promise to give blood every month for a service that they might not need. "Ah yes. Me as well."

There was a long pause as everyone else in the room looked at the two outsiders. Patchouli actually closed her book and stared, while the dolls behind Alice began 'chatting' with each other.

The quiet moment was shattered when Flandre giggled again. "Oh! That's impressive! Now I'm even more interested." She pointed at the two. "Why don't you two become my maids?"

"The pay is good, and we can magically aid you in mastering your talents," Patchouli added.

"Um, no offense, but I think we'll at least want to see the village before we agree to that," Maribel stated.

"Darn." Flandre slumped a bit. Then she brightened back up. "Oh well. I suppose I already have the best maid anyway." The vampire leaned over and gave Juri a squeeze while the maid glowed with pride. Marisa just coughed.

"Anyway, I suppose you'll want to hear about the moon, and maybe what we can guess about your powers before you retire for the night," the magician stated while Juri served their host a large slice of the cake. The two outside girls took that as their cue to start eating as well. "First the moon..."

Patchouli reopened her book. "The Lunarians owe their existence to an obsession with 'purity.' By removing themselves from the earth and it's struggles they have removed themselves from time. In effect they've created their own realm much like Gensoukyo. Except while Gensoukyo feeds off the worlds disbelief of magical creatures, the moon works by mimicking the utopia of the celestial heavens. Though that's a incredible simplification of structures."

Renko snorted. "It didn't look much like a utopia to me."

"Well that's because you're an outsider. It's far more pleasant for the inhabitants," Koakuma stated.

"Though I imagine it's starting to fall down around their ears now," Marisa said with a hint of malice.

Dinah nodded. "In any case, as you've seen yourself 'purity' is a very vague term. We youkai are vessels of impurity no matter how kind and nice we are, while celestials and most gods are pure no matter how terrible they act. Lunarians are a little different in that they have to work to remain pure, but killing impure beings, like say humans or youkai, for the benefit of pure beings such as themselves is considered a pure act."

Maribel felt a surprising surge of anger at those words. "That doesn't seem right," she snapped out. She felt Renko give her an odd look, so she took a few breaths to calm down.

Flandre finished a bite of cake then nodded. "Yeah. The Lunarians are stuck up jerks. I kinda wish I'd have gone with big sis and Marisa so I could 'pop' one to teach them manners." Flandre made a grasping motion and the flower piece in the center of the table exploded into petals. "But I suppose it's best to just let them put about the moon and worry about humans instead of bothering us."

Juri sighed and waved her hand. At that a set of child sized dolls modeled after fairies began cleaning the mess.

Kokuma shrugged. "So in short, no one really likes them, and you'll probably never have to deal with them again. But if you don't want to hear people complaining about 'those aliens,' don't mention you've met them."

Maribel nodded. "And what about our abilities?"

"You have the power to manipulate boundaries now," Marisa said simply. "Same as Yukari Yakumo. Get used to that name, you'll be hearing it a lot."

"Who is Yukari Yakumo?" Maribel asked.

"It's said she's the one responsible for creating Gensoukyo, though even if that isn't true she was definitely the one responsible for maintaining it," Alice replied. "She passed away three hundred years ago, but she's still left a big mark on Gensoukyo. You seem to have acquired her looks and taste in fashion in addition to her powers."

"Acquired?" Renko asked.

Patchouli responded this time. "There's a 55% chance she is a reincarnation, and a 30% chance she's a descendant. Non exclusive of course."

Flandre nodded. "Really it's the only way to explain the hat. Why would you want a figure 8 bow on it?"

Maribel frowned. "What's strange about my hat? I like this type of bow!"

"What about me? What's my power become?" asked Renko.

Patchouli shrugged. "It seems to be the same as it was in the outside world. You know where and when you are."

Renko drooped. "Uh, that's it?"

"Sorry," Marisa said sympathetically, "not all of us get the cool powers. Heck you're doing better then I was at that age. Though maybe with effort you can become good at magic."

This time it was Maribel's turn to comfort her friend. "Don't worry Renko, I'm sure you'll find something you can excel at here."

"Smaller chest, lamer power, and now my degree's useless..." Renko muttered before sighing and smiling again. "Oh well. I guess we'll figure something out, right?"

"Right!" Mary said.

The talk turned to more mundane questions. After some time, Maribel and Renko finished their dinner, then magically donated a half pint of blood each, before Juri showed them to a guest room.


Authors notes: This was two updates in it's original form (as indicated by the line) but I wanted a more substantial update over the cliffhanger, lovely as it is.