A/N: I humbly apologize for the lack of updates. However, it's not in my character to leave something unfinished, no matter how long I've left it behind. To those few of you who are reading this, thank my sister for reminding me of this.
There is nothing quite like being asleep, or being knocked out. You lose consciousness and have no perception of time or space. The torrents of information coming from the five senses; sight, sound, touch, hearing, and smell, all of them stop.
And in the darkness of your mind, trapped with nothing to distract itself but the thoughts within, you have more space than ever to wonder.
Why me? I know Rosie knows me and that I'm a disposable asset, but why couldn't he tap someone from his own family? Why didn't he tap another Rosie?
"Hey, are you alright?" The voice was gentle, soft, and therefore easily ignored.
This makes no sense. If you want to keep this kind of thing a secret, it's better to use members of your own family as the guards. Rosie knows me, but trusting me with this is naivety at its finest. So why?
"Hey, wake up." The sound filtered in slowly through my ears, along with a feeling of being gently shaken.
It could be anything, really, so I guess I should leave it alone for now. Still, I get the feeling that this is going to come back to bite me in the ass...
"If he's not going to get up, can I kill him? He might just be waiting to die, you know?" This voice was more like a little girl, cheerful even with the bloodthirsty words it shaped. "I've got Laevatein; let's do it quick!"
"Don't do that, Flan!" The gentle voice returned, a little flustered this time. I was pretty sure that my life would be in danger, so I chose now to open my eyes.
"Damn, the sky is pretty." The sky, as blue as ever, served as a backdrop to two heads.
The first was like Leopold, and therefore probably the little Rosie I had been sent here to guard. Though his hair was raven-black, probably thanks to some Asian heritage, and his body was far less ripped than his soldier cousin, his face carried the same grace, the same power, though fashioned into a softer, gentler form.
They called him "Pancakes", didn't he? They were damn right to do so.
The second was practically the boss. A little smaller, and with white as her primary color instead of pink, she wore the same mob cap, although her hair was all golden curls rather than a wild blue mop, and she had abandoned the boss' love of maturity in exchange for the pure, raw interest and energy of childhood.
Good choice, "Pancakes". She's perfect for you.
"I haven't had anything to fight for months, Levant! Marisa doesn't even come around to play anymore!" The girl shouted, her mouth and face effortlessly creating the necessary expressions, amplifying rather than containing her unbelievable energy. "You can't blame me for getting a little antsy!"
"All right, all right." He said, patting the girl on the head, her luminescent blush making me grin. "So, what are you doing here?"
"Mr. von Rosenkreuzstillete, I presume?" I asked, pulling out the stereotypical British Received Pronunciation that everyone assumes is the British Accent. "It's longer than Dr. Livingstone, but Felius isn't as long as Stanley." The two faces merely stared at me, dumbfounded.
"Shouldn't he be in one of those 'mental hospitals' you told me about?" The girl asked the boy on my left.
"Probably not." Levant replied. "In our world, someone who looked for someone very famous said something very similar to them when they met."
"Oh, so he's just being cultured, like Sister." The girl said. "Introduce yourself properly, then!" Her index finger was in my face now.
"If you'd kindly get your finger out of my face, I'll sit up and do so." I replied. "We may want to get in the shade, though. This could be long."
We settled ourselves into a tree, and so I began to repeat the day's events.
"I hope this demonstration was fully satisfactory." Leopold, in a breach of professional ethics, had on a grin that went from ear to ear. "I am sure you are well-appraised of the wisdom of my choice."
"Fully." The pajamaed librarian said without comment. "His kill-house tapes suggested it as well, but this proves his ability to take on abnormal foes. Very interesting." She replied, returning to her book.
Leopold took a cup of tea and waited, scanning the library. Before long, the mistress of the house returned.
"Welcome." He nodded towards the door as the pink-clothed vampire returned to the library. "How is the situation?"
"Sakuya tells me the children are busy downstairs." She said. "We can now discuss... less savory matters."
At that Patchouli put down her book, Remi sat down, and Leopold, who had been leaning back against the back of his seat, straightened up. The mood in the room, which had been relaxed, suddenly tightened. It was as though the high roof and lavish furniture had been replaced with an unlighted box with only chairs to sit upon and tables to sit around.
In a moment, the room had changed from a lavish library to an operational command.
"It was only a matter of time before this happened. The geopolitical situation on the other side of the barrier is tenuous, to say the least." Leopold said.
"So I have heard, from your news sources." Remilia replied, moving to sit next to her librarian and advisor. "I must say, this thing you call the 'Internet' is quite convenient."
"I'll assume you have read about the numerous countries making power plays on our side; America, Russia, and China."
"I am quite familiar, yes. It brings back memories of my kind's turf wars, which you so rudely interrupted." Remi said with a smile. "Go on, continue."
"Quite." The reply was curt. "We are worried that in the event of their discovery of their own passages into Gensokyo, they will make an attempt to carve out their own spheres of influence."
"Naturally. History tells us as much, does it not, Patchouli?" The librarian nodded in reply.
"Indeed. In order to prevent untoward incidents in the carving out of spheres of influence, should it ever happen, I would like to ask for your help in preparing a guidebook of the local political situation, so that I and my office may... advise any attempts, as it were." Leopold said. "Please understand that we may not be able to keep this land a secret forever, and that this is a preparation for the inevitable."
"Progressive, aren't we, von Rosenkreuzstillete?" Remilia asked. "You are quite impudent, to presume that this plan will minimize the effect of a colonial approach to politics, which, even in your own history, has created states without unity, where chaos is the norm and pain is never-ending." With a smirk on her face, she turned to her librarian, who replied with a deliberately serene face.
"Indeed. I have found little historical basis for this kind of mutually beneficial approach. What's your play?"
The air froze. The three were now locked in a staring contest, their expressions frozen as they searched for the least bit of a tell in the others' faces.
Remilia stared at Leopold, every bit of his face, from his blonde hair to his blue eyes coming under scrutiny. He, just as cold, returned her gaze, the vampire's red, shining eyes not distracting him from her other features, like her small jaw and pursed lips, looking for the slightest change.
"Fine." Remilia said, breaking the silence. "I don't dislike that impudence. You have your deal."
"Thank you." Leopold said, a genuine smile finally coming over his face. "I am glad to see that I am not the only one who hopes for the best." He said. "The tea is delicious, by the way. Pass on my compliments to the one who prepared it."
"I will. Fare you well, cousin-in-law." Remilia said as he left the library, pushing open the great wooden door on his way out. The two friends were now alone in their library.
"Patchouli, I am curious, but what book are you reading?" The vampire asked of her friend, turning to face her.
"Ken Follett's Fall of Giants." She replied with a small smile. "A tale of fiction about the First World War."
"Keep reading." Remi replied as she stood up, walking to the window that overlooked the garden, where her sister, her brother, and their bodyguard sat under a tree. "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst."
She was no longer smirking.