Okay. Now, back to the original scenario. Danmaku training.

And is it just me, or is everyone who writes Touhou fanfic is also a megaman fan?

Well, I'm not.

Anyway, Doujin recommendation; 'The Flower That Follows the Sun'. It's sad, but it's the good kind of sad. The kinds of sadness that can make you smile. (D'awww, Yuuka, so even you can cry…)

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Chapter 4: We Have Reached Unlimited Dakka Works. Is it Enough?

Right, Danmaku. From my limited knowledge of Japanese language, it's mean 'Bullet Curtain'.

Whatever that thing is, it sounds awesome.

Well, Reimu explained that this 'Danmaku' thing was what she threw at the flying gate guard (I want a jetpack) the other day. Those amulets? Those were her Danmaku, bullets that one can summon from themselves and never deplete. Ever.

Unlimited bullets. I admit, the first time I heard this, I have a stupid ear-to-ear grin plastered on my face for a solid minute.

Did I mention that I love projectiles?

Especially if they explode?

"Okay, so, how do we do this 'Danmaku' thing?" asked Karen.

"Pay attention." Commands Reimu.

Oh, I'm listening, alright. It's a motherfucking unlimited bullets!

Unlimited bullets is, like, infinitely better than just bullets!

"Look at that tree, please." Reimu pointed at a nearby tree. I think that's the one I hit when I tried to fly. The one that I smashed with my face.

Revenge time.

"Hm!" Reimu grunts as a series on cards materialize in mid-air, launching at the tree with lightning speed before embedding themselves in the wood. A few moments later, they burst into tiny points of light that, soon after, fade away.

They explode.

Belezza! They fucking explode!

It's an unlimited bullets that explode!

"Um, brother?"

"Yes, princess?"

"Can you stop smiling like an idiot?"

Am I? oops.

"Ah, sorry..."

"So that." Reimu returns her attention back to me."…was my danmaku. It comes out in that form due to the fact that I come from the holy bloodline of Hakurei, and are to reflect that. All danmaku for Gensokyo natives typically represent who they are on some level, however-" she pauses, "For outsiders like yourself, it pretty much is shaped however you like it. Just know that once the shape has been set and its function decided, it can't be changed. Choose carefully."

"Sheesh. Brother?"

"Yes?"

"Go easy on the explosion, please? Because If I get this right, you can make any kind of bullet using this 'Danmaku' technique."

"Urm… right." Don't smile like an idiot, don't smile like an idiot.

Oh, fuck it. Bollocks to the everything.

"Since it's your first time, you might want to use a medium."

"A what?"

"Medium. A conduit to channels your inner power. For the maximum effect, the object you use as a medium must be something with a strong emotional connection to you."

Strong emotional connection? Heh, easy.

"Well, then it's Bianca for me. What do you want, princess? Remember, we have the entire first armory in that bag Yukari gave us."

"A nineteen-eleven."

Eh?

"Isn't that a bit…outdated?"

"My first gun was a 1911."

"Oh, is that so?"

"You should remember, brother. You're the one who gave it to me."

"Am I? Eh, whatever. An M1911 it is."

"Make it quick. I don't want to stand around too long."

"Sure, Miss Hakurei."

I run back to the house, back to our room. Where Yukari's four dimensional bag lies somewhere near the unfolded futon.

Now that I think about it, 'Four dimensional bag' is quite a long name. Maybe I'll just call it 'Bob' from now on.

No, that's stupid.

Anyway, I've been experimenting on using this bag all night. Should be easy.

I open the zipper and put my right hand in, and start picturing in my mind the form of my beloved Bianca that I've stored in there.

When I felt the familiar grip, I pull out, revealing a long, tosca green piece of metal I've been called 'friend' since a long time.

Or maybe it's actually an olive green. I've never bothered to check.

"Patience, old pal. You'll be back in action in no time." I whisper as I set aside the good ol' sniper rifle on the floor (or tatami. Whatever.) beside me.

Okay. Now for my sister, an M1911.

I put my hand back in the bag.

The M1911, as the name suggest, was created in 1911 by the master himself, John Browning, and has been standard issue for U.S military ever since.

Due to its iconic nature, it shouldn't be difficult to picture the form of an M1911 in my mind in order to retrieve it from Yukari's bag.

Well, except the fact that along the span of hundred years, there's been, like, a gazillion version of M1911.

And with Karen's quick cataloging last night (Which I still don't know how she did all that in one night, considering the size of the hyperspace armory), I know that there's at least five variants of M1911 stored inside this bag.

Colt Government Mk. IV Series 70, with the Accurized Colt Barrel Bushing, whatever that means. I'm not the engineer in the family.

A Smith and Wesson knock-off, with Pachmayr grip. Still don't know what that means.

The British version, chambered for 455. Webley Auto.

Civilian version of Colt M1991A1.

And M15 General Officer.

So, because M1911 has more variants than cancer, I'll just picture the basic outline of an M1911 and see what comes out.

Inside Yukari's bag, my hand suddenly felt something plastic. But nonetheless, it feels like the grip of a gun. So maybe I just accidentally grab a Glock 19 or something.

I pull out, and surprised that the thing that I'm holding was in fact, in the most technical meaning, a gun.

But…

Well, let me tell you a few things that are wrong about the gun I'm currently holding right now.

First, it has no iron sight nor scope.

Second, it's huge as fuck.

Third, it has the stopping power equals to a calm river on the surface of mars. Which is to say, nonexistent, due to the fact that this thing shoots water.

Yeah, it's a fucking Super Soaker.

It's a long plastic tube with purple decals, and a bright, orange nozzle. And from the label sticker on the side, apparently this thing is called 'CPS 2000'. Ah, remember those days when they just slapped '2000' on everything to make it sounds futuristic?

Anyway, what be this? Did Yukari put it in here? What did she thinking?! Why would I need a toy watergun in a world with artillery grade flying miko, a super kung fu master, and friggin vampires?

Eh, whatever. Let's just put this back in, shall we? I'll think about it later.

"Oi! Bandy! What took you so long?!"

"Ah! Coming, Miss Reimu!"

Wait, did she just call me 'Bandy'? What am I, a Looney Tunes cartoon character?

I put my hand back in the bag, now specifically picturing the outline of a civilian-legal M1991A1 Compact ORM with shorter barrel and generally cuter appearance.

This time, I pulled out the sleek tube of death spitting metal without a hitch.

And then, carrying both Bianca and the ORM, I run back to where Reimu and Karen are.

"Finally! I've been waiting long enough."

"My apologize. I have some problem with the bag."

"Heh, I'd say, when Yukari gives you something, don't be too quick to believe. You sure it didn't try to eat your hand or anything?"

"Err, no. I'm pretty sure it didn't. Is Yukari really that scary?"

"She's less 'scary' than she is 'annoying'. As I said, she does whatever she wants, and she has the power to back it up."

Funny. The more I know about her, the more Yukari sounds like a prohibition era mafia boss.

"Is that a 2001 model?"

"Autentico. It's the ORM." I confirmed as I give her the gun.

"Si, good enough."

"The power of the weapon itself doesn't matter. You're only going to use it as a medium. Look at my Gohei. Does it look like a powerful weapon to you?"

In the right hand, maybe. I can kill people using a wooden backscratcher.

"I've emptied the magazine. Just in case that there's something wrong with combining magic and gunpowder."

"That's surprisingly restrained for you, brother."

"Hey, I like explosion. Just not straight on my face, alright? I'm insane, not stupid."

"Enough talking. Let's get started." Orders Reimu.

Va bene.

By the way, there's always one kind of gun I've always wanted to have, and now? Now the opportunity is mine.

It's silly, immature, and inspired by internet phenomenon. All crazy aside, though, come on, did you never, as a child, lament for a gun that let you fire some sort of natural disaster at the advancing Nazi stormtroopers?

Also, I really need to push back the urge for creating cannon that shoots kamikaze Batman clones. That would be waay too silly even for this situation.

Looking up the scope, I take aim at the tree, deciding mother nature's gonna take one for the team, and fire…or lack thereof, because nothing happens.

"Don't treat it as such a casual action!" Reimu called over. "Focus yourself on the medium before attempting to form anything."

"Maybe I should try first, brother."

"Sure, go ahead."

Holding the semi-auto in her right hand, using her left hand as a support, my sister takes aim. And pull the trigger.

But instead of a 45 ACP, a burst of small, golden stream of laser comes out from the muzzle, and hit the tree straight in the middle of the trunk. In a matter of seconds, the general area where the laser hit start to glows red. And then explode, taking a good chunk of the tree with it.

"Laser, huh? Kinda generic…" Reimu states in a warning tone. Of course. Like she said, once you decided something to be your danmaku, there would be no changing it. So, I come closer to my sister and ask her, in a whispering tone and as sarcastic as possible;

"A phaser? Really?"

"Ve, I like classic, okay?"

I took a glance at her M1911A1, and I think 'No Shit!'.

"Your turn, bandy. Show me what you got."

"Pfft, bandy…" chuckle my sister.

Oh, please…

I took aim once again, make sure the scope is set at 1X magnification, I closed my eyes and concentrating on the cool metal on my hand. An image is formed in my mind, an image of a certain white doodling of a man with fedora and glasses, a white doodle on a yellow background.

In the immortal words of Benjamin Richard "Yahtzee" Croshaw;

"…As for the guns, I could mention the hugely satisfying penis-extension gun that pins baddies to walls with entire trees but all you really need to know is that there's a gun that shoots shurikens and lightning."

No, I wouldn't make The Shuriken Gun. That would be copyrighted. But that quote right there? It inspired me. I will make a Danmaku that I could call my own. It would be the bestest Danmaku anyone will ever witnesses. Whatever rule of nature Gensokyo is running on, I will bypass it! In order to create the most glorious and magnificent explosion in the history of existence!

"…I wish I could make something like that up. It shoots shurikens and lightning; it could only be more awesome if it had tits and was on fire."

I check on Bianca in a slight hope that she has somehow developed some kind of incendiary mammary, alas, no such luck.

"You were thinking of something absurd, weren't you, brother?"

"Am I?"

Once more, I look down the scope. A tingly sensation welled up in my chest, before flooding my entire body. I aim once more, finger slightly trembling as the energy in that area intensified, then seemed to stretch into the gun. It was as if the weapon had become little more than an extension of my arm; I could no longer tell where my hand ended and it began. I hold my breath to stabilize my aim, this is the moment of truth. I open my eyes, and quickly note that the feeling remains. The feeling of energy. It feels like a storm is brewing inside myself, an unlimited power of utter destruction waiting to be let out. It feels alien, yet strangely familiar, like it has always been there, but only now that I have the mean to release it. I can feel a breeze, but not a regular breeze. This breeze, I can feel the air moving in a highly eccentric manner, as if it has a mind of its own. It's encircling me, cooling me down on my torso, to my forearms, through my fingers, and finally moving down the muzzle of my gun. Blue lines of light begin to be drawn from my fingers into the chamber of my gun. Somehow, I instinctually know that I need to cock it.

GA-CHINK!

The barrel of my gun starts to glow red, then yellow, then blue. And as the heat reach maximum and my gun gives off a streaking white glow, I refine my aim, and pull the trigger.

WHOOSSH!

I felt something leaving my body, as my cute, little Bianca suddenly gives enough kickback to rival a dozen of 50 BMG anti-materiel sniper rifles. I manage to take a single glance at the projectile I've just fired before falling on my butt. Moving at the speed of an express train, a massive, spinning form of localized storm cloud in the shape of a miniature typhoon, giving off sparks of lightning before it hit the poor sapling of a tree, and explodes in one massive, magnificent earth-shaking 'KA-BOOOM!'.

When the dust cleared off, all that is left from the poor tree is a smoking, jagged stump, partially uprooted from the ground it was planted on.

"Impressive."

"Thanks, Miss Hakurei." I smiled, while picking myself up.

"There are flaws in your shot, though. Few are quite glaring ones."

There goes the smile.

"First, it took too long to charge. Though I don't know why you would want to have a charged Danmaku, in actual battle, your opponent won't simply lingers around waiting for you to fire a single shot. Second, although it has a great destructive force, the projectile itself is too slow and it would take a while to reach its target, if it's still there. Third, the recoil is waay too big. You won't be able to dodge bullets when you're lying on your back, knocked out by your own shot."

Wait.

"You're supposed to dodge bullets?"

"Of course! You want to get shot?"

Huh. Okay, dodging bullets. I can do that.

"Maledire, I told you to go easy on the explosion, brother."

"Ve, I'll manage."

I can't help but notice that all the "flaws" that Reimu pointed out is the exact same problem of a regular sniper rifle. Terrible rounds per second, took a long time to reach its target, requiring a leading shot, and a knockback that rivals that of a rampaging elephant.

So, yeah, I'll manage.

"Besides, I like explosion."

Reimu suddenly slapped her own face.

"From all people Yukari can bring here, it has to be a second Marisa."

"Who?"

"No. you don't need to know about her. Not yet. But you'll probably meet her soon enough. Just in case I'm not around when that happens, be listening for a 'Marisa Kirisame'."

"Kirisame?" that name sounds familiar.

"Meili…that gate guard, she mentioned Kirisame before."

"Let's just say that Marisa has a strained relationship with the Scarlet Devil folks."

Scarlet Devil. Foreboding name, that is. And this 'Marisa' girl sounds like trouble, though Reimu seems hardly apprehensive to mention her…either way, none of my business. I'll take care of her when it comes to it.

"Anyway," Reimu continues, "that's all said and done. In any case, some work needs to get done around here before any other lessons."

"There are more?" inquires Karen.

"Oh, you know, flying, Spell Cards, that sort of thing."

"Flying, huh?" Says Karen sarcastically. I guess flying really isn't her thing.

"Hmm. Can you tell me more about this 'Spell Card'?"

"We'll talk about it later. But basically, a spell card is a one time-per battle attack that is stronger than your regular shot, and cover a wider area of effect."

"So, it's like a…finisher move or something?"

"I won't call it a finisher. It's just…stronger. Anyway, more importantly, you'd need at least a single Spell Card to be included on the Spell Card rule."

"And that means…?"

"Spell Card rule makes sure that no one will be killed in a Spell Card duel. As I've told you, it's our way to resolve dispute."

"Ah. Okay. I think I got the gist of it."

"You did? I can't even make head or tail from that explanation!"

"Come on, princess. It's magic. Just go with it."

I look back at Bianca. Her barrel isn't even smoking from shooting that miniature lightning storm. I guess magic is just really that great, huh?

Some people might think that combining modern day firearm with magic can only lead to disaster and can backfire spectacularly due to the incompatibility of even their basic ideals. But being an Eoin Colfer fan that I am (Magnificent troll! It's pronounced 'Owen'!), I know that Magic and Technology can work well together, especially if they are combined into a single concept called Firepower.

"Brother, you're smiling like an idiot again."

"My, you really are weird, aren't you?"

Am I weird? I don't care. As long as I can blow shit up, I'm fine with being weird.

We used the rest of the morning working here and there. Despite Reimu's insistence that if she needed something she'd ask, and didn't want to risk any of us wrecking anything, I still end up hefting some sacks of rice to a shed in the back, while Karen sweeping the perimeter with a broom that seems mightily underused. Then we spent the later hours drinking some tea outside (Tough I don't really like green tea that much) and chatting on matters of Gensokyo and the Outside World. Reimu had been curious as to certain technological advances that she'd caught glimpses of in the shop of a man named "Rinnosuke", and I just needed information period.

I'm especially interested with a class of magical creatures called 'Fairies'. Apparently, they are a bunch of mentally under-developed immortals with the attitude of a lemming. Two words; Zerg Rush. If such being exists in the outside world, Geneva Convention would need to be rewritten.

Suddenly, Yukari appeared.

Yeah, I have the feeling that this will happen a lot.

"Hello, dearies!" Came the voice of the older woman from a gap that suddenly emerged in front of the shrine. Out walked Yukari, spinning her parasol a little, grinning merrily at Reimu, then fixing her focus on me, and my sister right behind me, still carrying her broom. "I trust you managed to get some work in this morning?" This was clearly directed at Reimu.

"I taught them how to use danmaku, and that was it." Said the miko, already grumpier than before. Yukari pouted a little."

"Just danmaku, not how to fly? Reimu, for shame." She made a "tsk" noise in disapproval. Reimu subtly reached for her gohei in response. "But that's why I'm here!" Yukari beamed with a hint of mischievous intent, heading our way, "To make sure these matters are handled correctly. Not that you can't handle it, Reimu." I didn't need to look to tell Reimu was just about ready to smack the youkai once more. My, with the way they interact, one can wonder whether they are nemesis, or spouses.

"Lady Yakumo, apologize for interrupting, but…" I begin loudly, standing up and diverting attention from the tense atmosphere,"…do you require something of us? Can we do anything for you?"

Because, when you are faced with the person who may has created the world that you are currently standing in, it's best to be polite.

"Oh, hardly, dear." Yukari smiled. "I want you to do something with me!"

"Trust me, there's no difference." Says Reimu, directed towards me.

"My dear Reimu, maybe you can learn something from our friend here. Something about politeness."

"You're the last person I want to hear that from, you old troll."

I couldn't help but snicker as Yukari's face took an ever-humorous hint of irritation via twitching eyebrow.

"May I say, you aged up nicely, lady Yakumo. If you were human, I'd say that you're about seventeen. You even look younger than Miss Hakurei!"

"W…What!?"

"Oh, my. Thank you." Yukari's face brightens. And as she swept a lock of blond hair behind her ear, I swear I can see a hue of red on her cheek. Tough it's probably just the sun.

I can also see my sister mutters an unvoiced protest. But from the movement of her lips, I can cleanly read 'Bootlicker' on there. Oh, come on.

"Well, regardless," Yukari began, smiling widely in a pure triumph, "we must be going. So! Grab your bag and your fedora. Don't you know that it's taboo to not wear any head covering in Gensokyo?"

"Really?" I locked gaze with Reimu, but the Miko only gives a shrug.

I turned my back, about to run back to the house and retrieving my bag, when suddenly, I felt something grabbing me by the wrist.

"You know what? On second thought, let me just take it for you."

"Wha…"

But before I could utter a single protest, Yukari flicks her finger. And then, we fall.

Dark. Dark, and purple. This was all that registered in my senses for a good, oh, five seconds while the Border Youkai whisked me through her little dimension of violet and eyeballs. I've always wondering how it would feels to be swimming in a sea full of eyeballs. Honestly, it's not as fun as I thought it would be. Luckily it didn't last long, as we emerged shortly in a wide open field, grass billowing as far as the eye could see. It was very…well, pretty, for lack of a more impressive description. My focus was restored when Yukari smack my face with a very familiar looking duffel bag.

"Okay, it's time now! Grab your gear, please!"

"Time for what?" I asked as I retrieve Bianca and the M1911 from the hyperspace bag. I also, strangely, retrieve two fedoras, one white and one black. Mine was the black one.

I give Karen the M1911 and offer her the white hat.

"Eh, might as well. It's kinda bright here."

Good. Now we both look like a fully armed Jason Mraz clone.

"Now that you are ready, let's do this! Oh, aren't you excited?!"

"Again I ask, lady Yakumo. Do what, exactly? Are you going to tell us how to fly?"

"Oh, that?" She chuckled. "Ah silly boy, you don't possess that ability!"

"Good. My brother is bad enough at flying. We don't need him to reenact September of Ashes with his face."

"Isn't flying a common ability, though? You even teased Reimu about not teaching us."

"Flying? No, Reimu only thinks it is. Also, I tease because it's funny. Quite a few youkai travel in a method similar to flying, but its not the same."

"I see."

Oh well. Now, do I have AA guns or flak cannons somewhere in this bag? Because I have the feeling like I'm going to need it.

"Oh, don't be so worried, dear. Like I said, there are many alternatives, and you'll find yours. For now, let's get down to business."

She took a few steps back. Intertwining her fingers, she looks at both me and Karen, glancing up and down our form before nodding to herself. "Right. We're here to determine what your special ability is." .

"I know of five ways on how to kill human with a carrot. Does that counts as special ability?"

Yukari only response was a puzzled headtilt. "You mean Reimu didn't tell you? Sheesh, I must have words with that girl." She sighed. "Anyway, let me give you some examples. Reimu can call on the powers of the gods. The head maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion can stop time. A certain witch you've probably heard of can master most any kind of magic spell. A shrine maiden who lives on a mountain is said to be capable of miracles. These are but a few examples, and all of them are unique to their holder. Even if two people bear near-identically shaped danmaku, their ability will always be their own. Like, if your danmaku had been shaped to resemble Reimu's it wouldn't change anything."

"Wait, someone can stop time!?" interrupted Karen, her tone is that of disbelief.

"Calm down, sister. The Schrödinger's cat effect, remember? Everything is possible here. Anyway, you were watching our Danmaku practice?"

"Oh, yes! And I must say, I'm impressed. Your first Danmaku, and you've already thinking of making a Typhoon Cannon. It's seem that you guys have adapted surprisingly well with how we do things here!"

Typhoon Cannon, huh? That's as good of a name as any. Tough I'm still reminiscing on a gun that can shoot exploding kamikaze Batman clones.

"So, princess. What do you think of this?"

"Well…"she srugged."I guess we can give it a try. How are we going to do this, again?"

"I don't know." Yukari shrugged, giving us a sheepish smile. Karen's mouth hangs slightly agape.

Well.

This is just magnificent, isn't it!

End of Chapter 4

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You know, sometimes I forgot that my characters supposed to be Italian. For example, they are using American (Colt) and British (Accuracy International) guns, instead of Italian (Something like Beretta) guns.

Also, Ryan Randa has a gun. The model has never been specified, but since it's a 9mm, I assume it was some variant of Beretta 92.