Phantom of Dream
Disclaimer :
Touhou Project © Zun
Phantom of Dream © darkro90
Genre :
Fantasy, Supernatural, Spiritual, Adventure
Rated :
T
This story is based on the Touhou project, and all its canon characters, locations and events are a property of Team Shanghai Alice, ergo ZUN.
All characters and events in this story are entirely fictional and any possible similarities between them and real people and events are purely coincidental and not intentional.
Chapter 4
Love-colored Magic
They said ignorance is bliss. But those who given up to their curiosity, said otherwise. In the end, Was it really worth it?
The sound of the footstep grows louder. It can only mean that she's getting close.
As I waited for that moment, my heart beats even faster than before. I could only barely recognize it's rhythm, and the sensation of sweats pouring from my forehead to the grounds didn't help much.
Could this means that my end was nigh? Or should I consider this as a signs of good things to come? Nevertheless, that moment is getting closer. I should prepare myself.
Suddenly, the sounds stopped, and I can already feel her presence close to me without having to peek from the bush. The temptation of seeing her face almost overcame to a point where I could pounce at her and gaze upon her face for the eternity to satisfy my curiosity.
But common sense prevail, and when she moves her body closer to see behind the bush where I was hiding, I roll forward and sprints like there was tomorrow across the shore of the lake and the forest.
"Huh? H-hey! Where are you going?!"
From distance, I could faintly hear her voice. But all was too late, I was already got too far from her to listen whatever she might want to say. And at that moment, I came upon another heartbreaking epiphany.
Seriously, Noru. Why you're running away from a cute witch that possibly could saves you and take you to safety? Also, you're currently walking across the shore of Misty Lake. This means that are three possibilities: One, you met Cirno and get frozen to death. Two, some big fish youkai appeared out of nowhere and swallowed you whole. Or… three, which is the most non-possible scenario, is that you found Scarlet Devil Mansion, take refuge there until morning, and awake safely at your not-so comfortable Apartement. But the third option was the most little likely scenario would happen, as Cirno, the big fish youkai, or even Rumia would catch you first. Now, what will you do, Noru Imago? There's still turning back, you know.
Although I want to press on running with a faint hope that I would find the Scarlet Devil Mansion by luck, I was already out of breath, and running even further was no longer an option. Otherwise, I could expect a love-colored Master Spark immediately shot right to my face after I get to her sight.
I hope my deduction is correct, and she didn't get offended by the fact that I've just ran away from her.
I slowly sat to the ground while I catch my breath, and looks on the lake that goes on to the distance that my eye couldn't even see the edge of it. The cold, gentle breeze greets my face, and the moonlight shines even brighter than ever. Silence completely fills the air, save for noise of the slow, gentle rocking wave, and the faint footsteps coming from the direction where I run from. I could die peacefully knowing the fact that my life ended by a cute ordinary magician, and just stepped on the Fantasy Land where almost everyone wants to go. Besides, this view was good enough to be my last.
Well, at least even if I die now…
Not a minute elapsed after I sat on the ground; Marisa's already standing beside me, while catching her own breath. I just noticed that I've been so absorbed at observing the lake that I didn't even notices her getting closer.
"Why did you run away? Do you have any idea that I was trying to help you?" She said that with a dissatisfied face. Although she didn't smile, her graceful face already charms me even further. Did all Touhou character have above-the-standards face, despite ZUN's drawing and illustration? Well, I guess it's only because ZUN sucks at drawing.
Wait a minute. No Master Spark to the face? Only trying to help? Is this real life?
Realized that she's running after me because she was trying to save me from many youkai that lurks here, in the forest and the lake, I quickly stand and prostrated myself before her.
"I'm sorry! I think you were a youkai or sort…" I said that while still prostrating myself before her.
Yeah, right. That is probably the most painful lie I've ever made.
"Well… what are you doing here, anyway? It's very dangerous to go wandering around here alone, you know. Especially at night. She's probably around here somewhere now…" She said at as she's tilting her head around, like she was looking for someone.
Ah, yes. I've already met that charming youkai acquaintance of yours. But telling her that I've already met Rumia yesterday would spawn all the complication I wish to avoid. I'd be probably better without telling her the truth.
I stand up right after she finishes her question. Prostrating for too long could made me looks like a weird person that hobbies in apologizing. Or like some of that wimpy anime character.
"You could say that I was lost, erm…" I pretended that I didn't know her name.
"Marisa. You can call me Marisa."
"Alright. You can also call me Noru, Marisa."
"So, mind telling me how can you end up here, Noru?"
Answering this particular question won't be easy. Even though I could try on being the usual, clueless "outsider", I feel that was too un-original, and decides to improvise a little bit.
"I was sent to fetch some special herbs that said to grown here. Eventually, I got lost and until now, still frantically searches for a way home."
"Oh? So you're from the Human Village?"
"Kind of."
"Hmm… that's strange. I thought you were an outsider for a moment."
Damn. She's sharp.
"O-outsider? Nope, I'm not one of those rabbles, I'm afraid."
"I see. Follow me; I'll guide you back to the village."
She starts to move in direction deeper to the forest. Left with no other choice, I followed her closely behind, while anxiously waits for my wakeup call back in the real world.
For a moment before I followed her, I saw a tall, menacing shadow standing behind one of the tree. From the looks of it, it seems the shadow was observing us the whole time. I quickly shrugged it off and followed her.
En route to the village, I saw many extraordinary things around the forest. There was some flower that I've never seen in my life, and the real world flower's beauty is pale in comparison of the flowers here. One of them has their petals pale-colored like lily flower, but the way they reflect the moonlight is enough to make me stands there, dazed by its beauty. Curiously, I asked Marisa about them.
"Oh, those? I believe they are called lily or something."
What? So lilies here can reflect moonlights? I wish I had one in my apartment room. That would be quite a spectacle.
I get my face closer to the flower, to see how the petal could reflect the moonlight so beautifully. But before I could do that, Marisa stopped me.
"You better didn't stick your face closer than that."
Startled, I reflexively backed down a little bit after hearing that. Always listens to the native will get you a big reward, they said. But it wouldn't hurt if I question a little.
"Why?"
"Those lilies could suck your soul if stared at too long, and too close."
It also could suck your soul? I take back my word; I wish I didn't have to bring one of them back to my apartment.
After inner ranting about how beautiful things at Gensokyo could be dangerous to one's life, I continue my journey to the Human Village with Marisa. I saw many things that were equal in terms of extraordinaire like the previous lily, but majority of them was harmful too. For example, there was a man-eating rose that would reveal its own true form while it was full moon.
"Say, Marisa… have you ever met a youkai that hobby in surprising peoples?" I try to ask her trivial things, only to see how she profiles and describe other Touhou character in her own way.
"Ah, Kogasa? Where did you meet her?"
"Well, I've never actually met her. But peoples in the village often talks about her."
"They are? Hmm, you can say that her ways of surprising people was surprisingly ineffective."
Wow, how surprising.
"Really? Then… how about those vampires that lives in the scarlet mansion? I heard they were actually quite nice."
"Sometimes, they are. But also sometimes, they were the nastiest people you could meet with. You see, for one time I've only looked to borrow their books. Instead, I get a handful of danmaku shot at me." She said while snickering. And that handful of danmaku is quite deserved. I think not anyone appreciate someone that is borrowing their stuff to death.
I can imagine. In the canon works that ZUN partake, Remilia was too ambiguous to begin with. When she's helping people, at first glance it seems she's doing it for her own agenda. But upon closer inspection, you can say that she's doing it genuinely without any hidden agenda, or some times, only out of curiosity.
"Ah, we're here." She immediately said that when she sees a torch hanged on a tree.
I could already see the village from distance. It was lit pretty well for a village without electricity, and it somehow radiates an aura of safety even when you're only looking at it. Maybe it was pretty normal for peoples like me, that didn't even stand a chance against fairy that shoots harmless projectile.
"Home sweet home." I mumbled quietly.
"And this is where we part way." She said that while she's preparing to use the broom she carried around. I just recently noticed that she didn't use her broom the whole time when we walk through the forest. Maybe it wasn't suited for two people? Or she prefers to walk because she's keeping a low profile? God knows the real reason.
"You're not going to stop by first?"
"I'll pass. Be careful from now on, will you. There's no guarantee of me being around if you get lost again." She said that with a smile. Oh, the tomboyish yet cute face she's making almost earn me a trip to Hakugyokurou if not for my self control.
"Sure." I returned the smile.
"By the way, since you didn't carry any pouch, I guess you didn't get any of that herb eh." She said it with a pitiful look this time.
"Looks like it…" I let out a sigh after saying it.
Like I did look for them in the first place. Oh, lies and sarcasm at its finest.
"Well, good luck then. I hope you find them on your next trip." She said that while she's mounting her broom. My guess that she's preparing to fly now.
"Thank you, for the good luck and the help for getting me here. I doubt I could've make it without your help." I said that while bowing.
"Haha, you're welcome. Well then, see ya next time." She said that with that angelic smile again.
Ugh, that smile almost gave me another mini heart attack. Maybe I should coin out the disease for "death-by-moe".
"See you next time too, Marisa." I waved to her direction. After I finish my sentence, her broom immediately levitates, and next thing I know is that she's flying fast toward the forest again.
So that's how they fly in Gensokyo. Now… What to do? Should I rest at one of the inn while I await my recall to the real world? Or should I simply stand here like a scarecrow to wait for the recall? Either way, I should enter the village first.
I began to walk forward the village while imagining how things would be when I got there. But as I got closer to the village, the strange blurring sensation befalls me again.
So this is the signs if I'm close to waking up in real life. This time, I'm glad that this little trip ends without any incident. Surely, next time I'll trip here again, I would wake up in here, near the village, as I think this act like my checkpoint. I… Hope so.
Next thing I know, I was already freefalling into the void again. And with my consciousness slipping even further, I closed my eyes and embraced the feeling of slipping further into nothingness.
*RRRRIIIIINNNGGG*
The familiar sound of infernal racket had awoken me again from my deep slumber. Although I didn't dream, nor get any actual sleeps, I'm feeling that I get one, because I feel very refreshed when I got up and turned off the damned alarm. And it seems judging from my experience, visiting Gensokyo at sleep didn't disturb your real life body at all. But it's still need further testing though.
Hmm, maybe because of the circumstance was different this time?
After a quick breakfast, I skipped the shower and head straight to the computer to check anything new and to continue my research on Gensokyo. While the computer was still at startup phase, I tried to reminisce on what I've just got through this night, at Gensokyo. Then, I've encountered some plants that resemble their counterpart in the real world, only that some of them radiates the beauty and danger I've never encountered before. That makes me wonder though. If I can carry my body through to Gensokyo, can I actually carry things there?
Basically, I was running from Marisa in the beginning for silly reason. Fortunately, she's cleared up that misunderstanding and escorted me through the forests that were full of youkai.
Even if I can, carrying things would only ruin the immersion though. I should avoid bringing anything with me next time I wanted to go there.
My train of thoughts was interrupted with sound of a popup in my computer. After closing all of those annoying popup, one caught my eye and really stands out from the rest.
"You have one new e-mail. From: ZUN Subject: I'm watching you Read now? [YES] [NO]"
At the sight of the email, I can feel the ominous feeling from it. Obviously, he wasn't too pleased that someone was playing at his own private playground.
He's… watching me? But how… from the drunken visions that he regularly see? Or- What will happen if I read the email? …Will ZUN's hand grabbed me from the monitor the moment I opened this mail? Will his shadow materialize out of nowhere and killed me in a heartbeat? Surely, those things wouldn't happen but… Considering that he's a one mysterious and scary fella…
Damn! He must be the shadow that was observing us in the forest!
I swallowed my excessive saliva that builds up in my mouth, and pressed the [YES] button.
Chapter 4 Ends.
-To be Continue-
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