Behold the Hakurei: Destined 12
Behold the Hakurei
Chapter Three: Destined
It had been two weeks, but Reimu and her friends had finally made the walk to Nexus. By the time they arrived at the gates, everyone was exhausted and Reimu felt no shortage of anger for Marisa. Reimu couldn't believe how foolish Marisa had been. On a mission where there was no guarantee they would survive, Marisa had decided to wander off on her own. After Marisa left, Reimu had been silent for the entire journey. While Hanzo was certain that Marisa was moving toward Nexus, no one knew if Marisa was there, or if she had decided to stay, or if she was even still alive.
If Marisa was alive and in Nexus, Reimu was going to kill her.
After Hanzo talked their way into the gates, Reimu spoke up.
"What do we need to do now?" Reimu asked. For a moment, everyone stopped and stared at her. "I said, what do we need to do now." Reimu repeated.
"Sorry, Reimu," Sanae said, "It's just, we haven't heard anything from you in months."
"Haven't had much to say," Reimu said.
"Not even about wanting to eat?" Sanae asked, "Or wanted to drink? Or wanted to rest?"
"Sanae, I have a headache and you're not helping," Reimu said, "What do we need to do now?"
"Reimu, are you feeling alright?" Sanae asked.
"No," Reimu said, "I haven't been feeling good since I came to this planet, and telling you that I don't feel good won't make me feel any better. Hanzo, do you have a plan?"
"I have a place you can stay," Hanzo said, "It's close by, and the owner owes me some favors. Beyond that though, I don't know how to find your friend."
"That's good enough," Reimu said, "Thank you, Hanzo."
Hanzo lead them through the crowded city streets to the Fate Foretold inn. Fate Foretold was fairly well off inn, painted light blue to contrast the dingyness of the Nexus outer circle. The inside was lit with oil lamps casting a dull glow across the dining hall. The people inside were noisy, something that grated on Reimu's strained nerves, and smelled drunk. At the bar Reimu spotted a familiar witch's cape, it's owner talking with the barmaid, a chocolate skinned woman wearing clean, light blue robes.
"Ah, Matsuro," Hanzo said, "Business been good?"
"Captain Hanzo," the barmaid replied, a bright smile on her lips, "Whatever do I owe the pleasure?"
"Just doing my part to defend Creation," Hanzo said, sitting down at the bar, "Though, I might not be captain much longer."
"Really?" Matsuro asked, "Are you getting promoted? I thought I would have heard of it by now. News travels fast in Nexus."
"No, not a promotion," Hanzo looked away, "I lost my entire squad in a fight and got roped along with these three. Their fourth is that one," Hanzo said, pointing to Marisa.
"Really?" Matsuro said, "She's a handy girl. Got rid of some ghosts haunting the town. She does good work."
"Good to know," Hanzo said, "I just hope my position is still there by the time this is over."
"Come on now, Hanzo, don't look so glum," Matsuro said, "You do good, hard work. The realm would be stupid to get rid of you."
Hanzo brightened up. "Sometimes I worry about that," Hanzo said, "But it's a worry for another time. I know you remember your favors, and I'm going to need rooms for these four."
"Don't worry about it," Matsuro said, "I can give you the rooms, you just worry about keeping Creation there till tomorrow."
"Well," Marisa said, "I'm going up to my room. Whoever calls a bed last gets to sleep on the floor." Marisa stood up and bumped into Reimu. She was red with anger.
"I have my own room," Marisa said, "You can argue between Sanae and Youmu for the floor. I recommend ganging up on Youmu-"
Reimu punched her. Marisa staggered backward into the bar, only for Reimu to punch her again. "This is not how you get to act," Reimu said in between blows, "You do not get to just up and leave, then pretend it never happened."
Matsuro appeared next to Reimu and pulled her arm back. "Woah there," Matsuro said, "I know the customers like a good cat fight, but I'm going to have to ask you to stop. She did earn her room by the way. Also, I can only give you two, it's been busy recently. I figured that Hanzo could have his own and the other room only has one bed."
"You think I care?" Reimu yelled, "Marisa, you could have been killed."
Marisa pulled herself up and dusted off her dress. "I know, but I wasn't," Marisa said, "In fact, I'm fine. Well, I was until you punched me. I know I shouldn't have run off like that, and I'm sorry. Now, I think I deserve an apology for you punching me."
"No," Reimu said with leer, "I'm not going to-" Reimu closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Marisa, I shouldn't have hurt you. It's just, ever since I came here I've just been angry all the time. My headache won't go away and I feel like the world is falling apart."
"Oh, it is," Matsuro said, "If you travel far enough in any direction you see reality being torn apart by the chaos that lies outside it."
"You can what?" Reimu shrieked.
"Yeah, that why the world needs brave dragon blooded to defend its borders from the chaos of the wyld," Matsuro thought for a moment, "And from demons from Malfeas, and ghosts from the Underworld, and from anathema, and from," Matsuro thought a bit longer, "Well, you understand."
Reimu gave her a blank stare. "Sure," Reimu said.
"Anyway, it's getting late," Matsuro said, "You all look tired, so head upstairs and get some rest."
Hanzo, Reimu and her team, and Marisa went upstairs to their rooms. Hanzo and Marisa each took their own room, leaving Reimu, Sanae, and Youmu in one room with one bed. For a moment, they all just stared at the single bed.
"What are we going to do?" Youmu asked, "Two people will have to sleep on the floor."
"I don't know about that," Sanae said, forcing a grin, "None of us are very big, and I think we could all squeeze on it."
"That won't work," Reimu said.
"Why not?" Sanae asked.
"Marisa wakes up really early in the morning," Reimu said, "If she comes in here and sees all of us sharing a bed…"
"She would never let us live it down," Youmu said.
All three girls looked at each other.
"You know," Reimu whispered to Sanae, "Marisa said we should gang up on Youmu."
"Then which one of us gets the bed?" Sanae whispered back, "I'm not sharing it with you."
"I'll burn that bridge when the time comes," Reimu whispered.
"What are you two talking about?" Youmu asked.
"Sleeping arrangements," Reimu said, "And we've decided that you'll have to sleep on the floor."
"What?" Youmu said, "You didn't even let me vote, you both just decided."
"We did," Sanae said, "And the majority vote is you don't sleep on the bed. You can still cast your vote if you want."
"Okay, I vote I sleep on the bed," Youmu said.
"Well, I will respect your vote," Reimu said, "But that leaves you at a two to one loss."
"Alright then," Youmu said, "I'll let you two decide who gets the bed, but could you do it in the hall? It's getting late and I'm tired."
Reimu and Sanae left the room. As soon as they both left, the happy faces on Reimu and Sanae were gone. What replaced them were hateful glares.
"Alright, here's how it's going to be," Reimu said, pressing her finger into Sanae's face, "Like it or not, I'm taking that bed. You and I both know that I've been solving incidents before you could spell your name. I'm taking that bed."
Sanae's hair bristled as she met Reimu's gaze. "You think I'm just going to let you strong arm me onto the floor?" Sanae said, "Well I don't care how many incidents you solved, I'm taking that bed. Maybe all your divine blessings will help you get comfortable on the floor. Actually, I don't think you'll need any. You're so poor I figure you sleep on the floor all the time."
"Oh, you just made the biggest mistake of your life," Reimu said, "I'm calling seniority on this. I've been solving incidents longer, I deserve that bed."
"What part of 'I don't care how many incidents you solved' did you not get?" Sanae said, "Even if I'm younger I've still done more with my time. Maybe I need to show you the Moriya shrine larder to prove it."
Reimu pulled Sanae to eye level with her and held a persuasion needle to her stomach. "Listen here little miss perfect," Reimu said, "Maybe I need to demonstrate what hunger feels like to you. And don't think I don't have the guts. I won't waste any time opening the stomach of your fat body."
Sanae pulled away with a grunt. "Fine, you can take the bed if you're going to take like a little psycho," Sanae said, "I bet it's filled with termites. I doubt something so pathetic could actually support me, so I'll give the bed to you and your tiny frame."
Reimu and Sane walked back in their room, only to find Youmu sound asleep on the bed with Myon hovering over her with swords drawn.
Marisa woke up the next morning just as sunlight began to pour through her window. After getting dressed, Marisa decided to check up on her friends. Hanzo was already up, but Marisa had to suppress a giggle when she saw Reimu's room. Youmu slept soundly on the bed with Myon watching over her, but Reimu and Sanae had snuggled up to each other on the floor. Marisa quietly pulled one of the tengu's picture machine's from her apron.
What was this thing called? Marisa thought, A 'polarized chimera'? Oh well, doesn't matter. Marisa snapped a picture of the sleeping mikos and the machine dispensed her picture. After waving it in the air, Marisa bent down to Reimu.
"Free food," Marisa whispered.
"Where?" Reimu asked, her eyes immediately shooting open as she shoving Sanae away, "What, Marisa? Don't you have your own room?"
"Yeah," Marisa said, holding up the picture "But I figured I'd gather some treasure before getting breakfast."
A talisman flew through the air, burning the picture to ash.
"Spoilsport," Marisa said, "I would have let you keep some of the money."
"Shut up and lead me to breakfast," Reimus said.
Breakfast that morning was oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and apples. While Marisa ate her breakfast with a light conversation with Matsuro, Reimu ate her breakfast in a way Marisa would describe as 'snarfing'.
"My, she has quite the appetite," Matsuro said.
"Yeah, she doesn't get much to eat," Marisa said, "Where I come from, she's the greatest hero there is. She just doesn't get a lot of recognition for her work."
"I know that feeling," Matsuro said.
"Really, how?" Marisa asked.
"Marisa, maybe I would if you weren't such a glory hog," Reimu said, finishing her plate and taking Marisa's.
"Eh, maybe," Marisa said, "Oh, where's Hanzo?"
"Dealing with some zombies outside of town," Matsuro said, "Something bad is happening. The underworld has been more active lately."
"Will he be okay?" Marisa asked.
"The captain?" Matsuro said with a laugh, "Oh please, he'll be fine."
"Alright, I'm done eating," Reimu said, "Time to wake up the others."
"You didn't wake them up with you?" Matsuro asked.
"And let them eat my food?" Reimu said, "Not on your life."
Sanae sat down at the bar and sleepily rubbed her eyes, slowly eating her breakfast. "Do we have a plan yet?" Sanae asked.
"No," Reimu said.
"I could check the library," Marisa said.
"On what?" Reimu asked.
"I don't know," Marisa said, looking away, "I'm just trying to help."
"Hey, I'm sorry," Reimu said, "Really, I am. It's just, besides this city, we have no idea where anything is."
"I could borrow a map then," Marisa said.
"Can't we just buy a map?" Youmu asked, "I'd rather not become a wanted criminal."
"With what money?" Reimu asked.
"I earned some while I was here," Marisa said.
"Really, how?" Sanae asked.
"I was a street cleaner," Marisa said, "I cleaned up the streets."
Reimu gave Marisa a stare. "You beat up thieves and took their money," Reimu said.
"Cleaned the streets," Marisa said, "So I have a bit of money."
"Is that how you have your own room?" Sanae asked.
"Hah, no," Marisa said, "Eventually, all the thieves knew not to mess with me, and I couldn't catch them. So no, I didn't pay for my room with money. I just did jobs for Matsuro."
"Who is it you're looking for?" Matsuro asked.
"A friend of ours," Reimu said, "She went, somewhere. We don't know."
"So you're just going to wander Creation looking for her?" Matsuro asked, "You will die long before finding your friend. Marisa, instead of stealing, I have a map you can have for free."
Matsuro pulled a map out from under the counter and Marisa unrolled it. "Alright, so we're here in Nexus," Marisa said, "I don't think she'd be here, so let's check out the- What? That can't be right."
"What is it?" Reimu asked.
"That legend on the map, down in the corner," Marisa said.
"That much space equals," Reimu stopped her a moment, her eyes wide, "Eight hundred miles? Matsuro, this has to be a joke. This place is gigantic."
"No joke I'm afraid," Matsuro said.
Ivory closed her eyes as Reimu and her friends looked at the map in dismay. Her only needed her guise as Matsuro a moment longer. Soon she would be able to leave the inn and return to Yu Shan.
"Well what are we going to do?" Youmu asked.
"I have an idea," Ivory said.
"Tell us," Reimu said.
"I'm sure you've heard before that news travels fast in Nexus," Ivory said, "And I heard of someone I think can help you. He's in a small village, right around there." Ivory marked a spot on the map. "You'll want to leave soon, he won't be staying there for very long."
"Alright, thanks Matsuro," Reimu said.
Covered in blood, Hanzo entered the inn.
"Oh, Hanzo you're back," Ivory said, "Are you alright."
"I'm fine," Hanzo said, "There were more than I expected and a mortal necromancer was creating the horde. Just give me a moment to wash up. Hey, you girls look happy."
"Yeah, Matsuro knows someone who can help us find our friend," Reimu said.
"Does she now?" Hanzo asked, staring at Ivory
"News travels fast in Nexus," Ivory said, giving Hanzo a quick nod.
"Hanzo, will you be coming with?" Marisa asked.
"Yeah, I'll be down in a moment," Hanzo said.
Reimu and company set out for the village Matsuro pointed out to them. As they left the Fate Foretold inn Ivory dropped her guise of Matsuro, replacing herself with a mortal woman and implanting her memories of Reimu and her friends into her. Blending into the background, Ivory left Nexus, headed for a gate to Yu Shan.
As she opened the gate, she heard someone call out to her. Spinning around, Ivory saw a woman with long red hair and regal purple robes.
"Empress?" Ivory asked, "No wait, I don't see your destiny and I can't feel essence from you. I know the Empress has destiny, so then you're that-"
"The body double," Kotohime said, "Correct."
"Are you even allowed back in this dimension?" Ivory asked, "Countless Purple Clouds was strict about not having visitors. Especially visitors from here."
"Oh, come on," Kotohime said, "What's the worst I could do? Back home everyone thinks I'm crazy anyway. I was good friends of the Empress, and this could be my only chance to see her again. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Is that literal?" Ivory asked, "People ask me that all the time and I can never tell if they want the real answer."
"Well, I did mean it to be sarcasm," Kotohime said, "But this sounds interesting. Give me the real answer, I want to know."
"No you don't," Ivory said "People also tell me that all the time, and they never want the real answer. At least, not after they hear it."
Kotohime thought for a moment. "Yeah, given all that could happen here I can understand that," Kotohime said, "All the same, where's the Empress. She and I are buds, and I want to see her again."
"She's uh," Ivory scratched the back of her head, "We uh, we lost her."
Kotohime blinked. It was a long blink, so long that people might have thought she was just closing her eyes. Kotohime never closed her eyes, not after she found out what waited for her behind closed eyes.
After she finished her blink, Kotohime spoke. "How did you lose her?" Kotohime asked, "How did you lose her? How did you lose her? Given how much destiny you put on her, there should be, like, giant signs saying 'This way to the Empress' and 'I'm over here guys.' How did you lose her?"
"We don't know," Ivory said, "One day she was there, running her empire. The next day she was gone. No one can find her."
"Oh come on," Kotohime said, "Someone that important is going to leave a trail. Don't you have any clues?"
"Yeah, we have a few clues," Ivory said.
"Well then tell me," Kotohime said.
"Uh," Ivory looked around, making sure no one was watching, "Ebon Dragon said he will be getting married soon. We don't know who his bride is."
"Oh, that would be bad," Kotohime said, "That would be bad for everyone. That might even mean trouble back home. Actually, that gives me an idea. If he is marrying the Empress, couldn't I act as body double until he does ? That is my job here."
"Good idea, but no," Ivory said, "The realm is so locked in civil war that if you do appear then everyone and their dad will try to assassinate you for the throne."
"So things have been circling the drain ever since she left?" Kotohime asked.
"Pretty much," Ivory said, "It's everything I can do to stop the world from ending. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going."
Kotohime took Ivory's hand. "No, you're not leaving," Kotohime said, "I can tell that you're one of those people who just want to get some work done, but you're trying to save the world through paperwork. Paperwork is the bane of heroics, and heroics is what this place needs. So let's get out there and bust some heads!"
Ivory looked between the gate and Kotohime. "I don't know," Ivory said, "I have to report to the wartime office if I want to go 'bust some heads' and they're really-"
"You do realize," Kotohime said, "That if you leave then I will be unsupervised."
"Alright," Ivory said, "I'll go."