Chapter 9: 3, Part 4
"Ow," Satori said, as they drifted out of the underground. She shielded her eyes with her arm.
Are you okay? Renko glanced at Satori worriedly.
"I haven't seen sunlight in sixty years. I forgot how bright it was," Satori said. She squinted and shielded her third eye with her other hand. "Lead the way. I can follow your thoughts while my eyes adjust."
Renko nodded, and continued flying. Satori trailed behind her. The sun was almost setting, and Renko felt a twinge of guilt. Alice and Mima were probably worried about her. She just hoped they'd be waiting at Eientei.
Satori's eyes adjusted before too long, and she flew alongside Renko afterwards. However, after a short time, Satori glanced back over her shoulder.
"It seems we've drawn Hakurei's attention," Satori said.
The next moment, a red-and-white blur shot past, and Reimu turned to face them several meters ahead, two red-and-white spheres patterned like yin-yang symbols orbiting her. Renko stopped short, hovering in place, and Satori floated beside her.
"You've only been in Gensokyo three weeks, and you've somehow gotten wings and dragged Komeiji out of the underground? Gods damnit, Usami, Ran said you weren't going to be trouble. You better have a good explanation for this," Reimu said, arms crossed. Satori had gone silent.
"These, um, they're… they're an enchantment Lady Mima put on me temporarily because I'm really slow and I needed to fetch Komeiji quickly," Renko said, fluttering the wings once when she referred to them. She mentally cringed at how nervous she sounded.
Reimu groaned.
"Mima's in on this? What the hell could she possibly want with Komeiji? Ugh, this is a mess. Give me one good reason I shouldn't knock some sense into you right now."
Renko flinched, and glanced timidly at Satori.
Komeiji, w-what do I do? She seems mad, and really scary…
Satori smiled reassuringly and gestured for her to go on.
"W-well, Marisa got really badly hurt… um… Lady Mima was really upset. An—" Renko started.
"Wait, what? Marisa? What happened, is she alright?" All of Reimu's irritation had evaporated, and she floated a bit closer, concern clear on her face. Renko relaxed now that Reimu didn't seem liable to snap and attack her.
"No, she isn't, that's why I have Komeiji," Renko said. "She got hit in the head on accident while she was playing tag with Flandre Scarlet. It looked really bad, and even after Mrs. Yagokoro took care of the actual injury, she's all messed up and not talking or understanding things and she didn't look like she recognized anyone… apparently, Komeiji can help…"
Reimu floated there in stunned silence for several seconds.
"…I told Marisa a million times that she'd get herself hurt if she kept playing with that crazy vampire kid," she said, shaking her head. "Maybe she'll finally believe me. Ugh… Get going, you two. Komeiji, you had better go back underground as soon as you're done. I don't want an incident on my hands over this."
Reimu made a gesture of floating aside and leaving the path clear. Renko bowed, and then took off towards Eientei, Satori keeping pace at her side.
Why didn't you say anything? Renko wondered as they flew.
"Hakurei dislikes me rather strongly. I didn't want to provoke her," Satori said with a shrug.
Renko raised an eyebrow. Why?
"Most people don't take my mind-reading ability as nonchalantly as you do. In fact, I typically don't even get along with other youkai. Come to think of it…" Satori glanced at Renko. "Why is it you don't find it particularly strange or uncomfortable?"
Renko took a few moments to organize her thoughts.
Uh… well, I come from the outside world. All of Gensokyo is strange in comparison. I've run into an honest-to-goodness witch who flies around on a broom, a ghost of an archmage, a bird that sells grilled fish, a teleporting maid, and I just found out the girl I've been staying with was a youkai the whole time, even though she's probably the most normal person I've met here. Psychic youkai on top of that? Sure, why not?
Satori giggled softly.
"I suppose that's entirely fair. I appreciate that you're so accepting, honestly. You and Kirisame. It gets dull terrorizing every single human I meet once they realize what I am and inevitably decide they hate me. And lonely," she said.
Renko resisted the sudden urge to comfortingly pat Satori on the shoulder. Satori glanced at her, but didn't address the thought, and they flew on in relative quiet.
"I don't see this 'Eientei' place," Satori commented as they flew over the bamboo forest. Renko was watching the sky, carefully pinpointing their location.
Give it a moment…
Renko looked back down, and smiled. It had in fact become visible just at that moment.
"Hm. You were right." Satori followed Renko to the ground, and Renko walked up to the door and knocked.
Several seconds later, a girl in a white and pink outfit with a blue suit jacket opened the door. Renko quickly noted her lavender hair and the slightly crooked rabbit ears on top of her head.
"Hello, what are you here for?" she asked.
"Hello. Um—" Renko started.
"Usami!" Mima flew through the rabbit girl and hovered around Renko, looking her over. "Oh, good, you're alright. I was worried. You've been gone a while. You'll have to tell me what happened later."
"Nice mental wards," Satori said dryly.
"Thank you. I made them myself," Mima said.
"Oh, this is your apprentice and the satori she was bringing. Come in," the rabbit girl said. She moved out of the doorway, and Mima practically dragged Renko inside. Satori followed them down the halls.
"So, you're Marisa's friend?" Mima asked as they went, floating backwards to look at Satori.
"I am. Satori Komeiji, pleasure to meet you," Satori said.
"Interesting first name. I'm Mima, Gensokyo's premier archmage, and likewise."
"Please don't make fun of my name," Satori said, glancing at her feet.
"Ah, it must be a sensitive subject. I won't pry. Thank you for coming all this way to help Marisa, by the way," Mima said. "Did you really decide to break the treaty for your friend?"
"Actually, your apprentice beat me in a danmaku duel and kidnapped me," Satori said.
Mima raised an eyebrow.
"I used Ice Sign 'Icicle Fall'," Satori clarified.
Mima burst into badly-suppressed giggles. "I see. What an interesting youkai. At any rate, here we are." She stopped in front of the door to the room where Marisa was, and Mima tapped the door lightly. Eirin opened it, and they walked in. Marisa was still laying in the bed, and she glanced between everyone, but still had a constant dazed expression. Alice had fallen asleep on a chair in the corner.
"I'm surprised you turned up, but I'm glad. Don't touch her head, she has several fractures in her skull," Eirin said to Satori. Satori nodded.
"I won't." She stared at Marisa in silence for several seconds. "…You want me to bring her mind back. It's going to take some time, and I'd prefer to be alone with her, but I believe I can do it."
"You heard her. Everyone out," Eirin said. Renko walked over and gently shook Alice awake. Alice groggily stumbled out of the room, and soon, it was just Satori and Marisa. Eirin closed the door behind her.
"I suppose now we wait. Ah, Usami, I should take that enchantment off of you. Have you noticed any side effects?" Mima said.
"Um, it feels like it got stronger, but I feel fine," Renko said. Mima inspected the magical wings carefully.
"Hm. They seem fine to me. Here," she said, and flicked her wrist to dispel the enchantment. The wings flickered and vanished. Renko frowned, feeling a bit awkward without them. It was almost like something was missing that should have stayed.
"It sorta feels weird without them now," she said.
"That's a sign you probably shouldn't have them any longer. I know sometimes, enchantments that are meant to be short-term can become assimilated into a person's aura and impossible to remove if they're left on too long, and I don't think you want permanent space wings," Mima said.
"…Yeah, I guess. So, um…" Renko started.
About then, Kaguya rounded the corner with a cheerful smile. "Oh, huh, you all are still here? Hm. Anyone want to play a game?"
"What kind of game?" Renko said.
"It's an outside world video game called Mario Kart Double Dash," Kaguya said.
Renko's eyes lit up. That was one of her favorite retro games.
"Um, I call dibs on Paratroopa and Baby Luigi!"
"No no no left!" Mima called, leaning over Renko's shoulder and giggling.
"You're breaking my concentratiooon!" Renko elbowed the akuryou and focused her efforts on the race. Kaguya, with her team of Bowser and King Boo, was a formidable opponent.
Another day, she might have stopped to consider the absurdity of playing Mario Kart with the exiled moon princess Kaguya, but she was too busy trying to win. After Kaguya had broken out the rice wine, she had convinced Renko that they should play strip Mario Kart. Renko wasn't sure why she agreed, but it probably had a lot to do with the rice wine.
She was twenty, she could make good decisions. Probably.
Renko did her best to maneuver her kart around Rainbow Road, ignoring the fact that her button-down shirt and skirt were in a pile beside her on Kaguya's bed, she was reduced to a white sports bra and her underwear, and Kaguya was even less clothed, with nothing covering her upper half.
Right about then, Renko accidentally steered off the edge of the track.
"Aaaah! Nooo!" she cried. Her kart was dropped back onto the track seconds later.
"Whoops…" A quick glance at Kaguya's screen confirmed that Kaguya had also driven off the edge.
Playing Mario Kart was actually really difficult while under the influence of alcohol. Go figure.
It was another full five minutes that included countless falling off the racetrack before finally, a cart crossed the finish line of Rainbow Road.
"Wooo!" Renko practically catapulted her controller into the air as she cheered. Mima caught it, still giggling incessantly.
"Noooo, I lost again…" Kaguya whined, flopping face-down onto the bed. Renko awkwardly patted her shoulder, never quite managing to pat the same way twice in a row.
The door suddenly opened, and Eirin stared for several seconds before burying her face in the palm of one hand and letting out a sigh.
"Kaguya. For the love of Tsukuyomi, how many times have I told you not to get your guests drunk and play strip video games?" she said.
Kaguya started trying to count on her fingers, but quickly gave up.
"…All of them?" she tried.
"And Akagane, you are an adult, why would you allow this?" Eirin stared accusingly at Mima.
"Are you kidding? This is solid comedic gold. I haven't laughed this much in decades. Mweehee." Mima grinned remorselessly.
Eirin rubbed her temples.
"Both of you, put your clothes back on. These shenanigans are over."
Renko stared into her tea, refusing to make eye contact with Kaguya across the table. Eirin had forced her to drink a medicine that had cleared up her intoxication very, very quickly, and now she was in a comfortable sitting room.
"…Someone please remind me never to drink and play video games with Kaguya ever again," Renko said.
"Got it," Alice said, sipping her tea elegantly. Shanghai mimicked the gesture with an empty, doll-sized teacup beside her.
"I thought it was great, except for the part where I lost," Kaguya said, still cheery. "Though, okay, no drinking next time."
Renko nodded in agreement and took a sip of tea, eyes closed. Unlike Alice's tea, which was unflavored but lightly sweetened, this tea was subtly flavored with fruit, but served straight. It was different, but she liked both in their own ways.
"It's been a few hours. I wonder how long Komeiji is going to take…" Alice said.
"I'd rather she take a long time and make sure Marisa is alright, rather than rush it and not have her recover fully," Mima said. Alice nodded in agreement, and sighed.
"I just can't help but worry. Marisa's one of my closest friends, we've known each other for years."
"Komeiji also considers Marisa a really good friend. She said so when I talked to her earlier," Renko said. "I'm sure she's doing her best to help."
"I suppose." Alice frowned at her tea, but quickly looked up when the door to the room suddenly slid open.
Satori walked in. Everyone's eyes followed her as she walked up to the table without a word, sat down between Renko and Alice, and poured herself a cup of tea. She quietly drank from it, and only set the cup down when it was empty.
"Ahh… my throat hurts," Satori said in a slightly hoarse whisper. "I'm finished, though. Marisa is asleep, which she needs to finish my work. She'll wake up in about an hour and a half."
Alice relaxed immediately, and Shanghai mock-cheered. Almost without realizing it, Renko grabbed Satori in a hug.
"You're the best, Komeiji!" Renko said with a smile. Satori blinked in surprise, and tried a smile. It came across a bit unevenly. Renko quickly let go, and refilled Satori's tea for her. Satori sipped at it more slowly this time.
"I'm assuming that you needed to speak in order to do it?" Mima asked. Satori nodded. "I see. I don't think anyone here will blame you for resting your voice."
"I will—okay yes I'm kidding, stop looking at me like that!" Kaguya stuck her tongue out at Satori, who was glaring. Satori mock-sighed and returned her attention to her tea.
As everyone settled back into a more comfortable conversation, and Renko and Satori quietly drank their tea, Renko felt a sudden faint presence in her mind. It was insistent, but not forceful, and almost felt like it was asking permission to enter.
Renko glanced around. Mima was casually talking about something with Alice, while Kaguya had pulled out a Game Boy Advance and was playing Pokemon under the table.
She made eye contact with Satori, who smiled a bit shyly. In retrospect, it was obvious that it was Satori. She mentally poked at the presence, and her aura flared the slightest bit, creating an invisible connection.
Thank you. Hello, Usami, Satori's mental voice said. Unlike when she spoke aloud, her thoughts resonated with a calm cheer.
Hello, Komeiji. Is this what it's like, reading people's thoughts…? Renko couldn't help but find the sensation of Satori speaking into her mind a bit strange.
Not really. You're only receiving what I want you to, and I can perceive much more of what you're sensing. Plus, it'll break as soon as I go back underground. Satori half-shrugged. Also, you may call me Satori if you wish.
Renko brightened up a bit. Oh, I didn't expect that, but you can use my first name too. Thank you, Satori.
Satori smiled and sipped her tea, and while she didn't use words, Renko could sense her cheerfulness through the mental link she'd made.
So, Marisa's going to be okay? What exactly did you do? Renko asked.
Ah, well, her mind was essentially a blank slate, though luckily most of her implicit memory of motor skills and magic was still intact. I basically hypnotized her own personality, memories, opinions, feelings, relationships, and habits back into her, and made sure she could still experience personal growth despite that. She probably won't actually remember experiencing her past, she'll just know what she's been through, but it's the best approximation we'll get.
Renko shivered a bit at the idea that Satori could completely write in an entire person's being through hypnosis.
Anyone else would have been able to resist something that invasive. It just shows you how damaged she was, that she couldn't do anything about it, Satori hastily said.
That makes it less creepy, but still. Remind me to never get on your bad side, Renko thought.
It would take a lot of effort for you to get on my bad side, Renko. Satori smiled when Renko looked up at her, and Renko glanced away shyly, trying not to blush a little. She failed when she realized Satori was aware she was trying not to blush.
"I feel left out," Mima remarked, and Satori slowly turned scarlet.
She knows, was all Satori thought to Renko.
She definitely knows, Renko agreed.
The time had gone fairly quickly, and Renko found herself standing by the foot of Marisa's bed. Mima had claimed one of the spots directly to her side, while Eirin was across from her, ready to intervene if it seemed Marisa was going to harm herself accidentally. Alice and Satori had claimed the next-closest spots, and Renko hadn't felt like it was worth fighting over a closer spot.
Just as Satori had said she would, Marisa slowly stirred. She shifted slightly, and opened her eyes. She glanced between everyone, slowly taking on a confused frown and biting her lower lip in discomfort.
"…Someone wanna explain what I'm doing in Eientei, with all you guys standing over me, ze? And also, why my head hurts worse than when I've pulled an all-nighter at the shrine drinking with Reimu and Suika?" Marisa asked.
"Severe head injury. Don't touch it," Eirin said.
Marisa started to nod, winced, lifted her hand to her head, and pulled it back before actually making contact.
"Ugh. Mmkay." Marisa dropped her arm back on the bed.
"You were playing with Flandre. From what I heard, you flew past her very quickly, she turned, and her wing hit you in the head," Mima explained. She put one hand comfortingly on Marisa's shoulder, and Marisa smiled a bit shakily.
"I told you you were going to get yourself hurt if you kept playing with her," Alice muttered. Marisa stuck her tongue out at the puppeteer.
"You thought she was gonna hurt me on purpose, ze," she said. Her gaze flickered to Satori, and she blinked twice. "…Satori? What are you doin' here? I thought you weren't allowed up here…"
"I'm not," Satori said. Her voice was still a bit hoarse, but she managed. "It's a bit of a story, and my throat hurts right now."
"Ah. I'll ask you some other time, then." Marisa chuckled quietly. "Nice to see ya, though. Always is, ze. Mmh. I should stop talking, it makes my head hurt more."
"Yes, you should. Alright, visiting time is over. Except you, Akagane, you can stay as long as you don't get in my way. Everyone else, out, I have some tests to run now that Kirisame is conscious," Eirin said. She quickly shooed everyone but Mima out of the room.
I'm so glad she's okay, Satori thought to Renko. Her mind, minus some details in the memories, is exactly like it should be. It's a huge relief.
It's so much better seeing her actually recognize people and react to things. Renko smiled. Marisa really was going to be okay. She still couldn't help but be a bit nervous about how easily someone as powerful as Marisa had been so badly damaged, though. If Marisa could get hurt like that, what about her…?
"Whaddaya mean I can't go flying for three weeks?!" Marisa whined, staring up at Eirin with a look of utter betrayal. After a time of rigorous examination, Renko and the others had been allowed back into Marisa's room.
"Kirisame, your skull is still fractured. A relatively light bump on the head that Usami would barely feel could legitimately kill you. You're not getting out of bed unsupervised for at least a few days," Eirin said, arms crossed.
"This sucks, ze." Marisa pouted and stared at the ceiling.
"It's okay, Marisa, we'll be sure to visit so you don't get too lonely," Alice said, and lightly reached for Marisa's hand. Marisa smiled, and lightly squeezed Alice's hand. Satori coughed into her sleeve and shuffled back beside Renko.
"I doubt I'll get the chance, but I'll be hoping you recover quickly," Satori said.
Marisa sighed.
"Well, I guess that helps, ze. Man, if I didn't have awesome friends like you guys, this would be the worst," she said. "As it is, it's… about the third worst thing that ever happened to me."
"What are numbers one and two?" Alice asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Well, the second worst thing was when I accidentally snapped one of Yuuka's sunflowers," Marisa said.
Alice, Mima, and Satori simultaneously winced. Renko glanced questioningly at Satori, and got the quick message I'll tell you later.
"…And there's worse?" Alice said.
"I lost my virginity to an oni, ze. It sounded like a good idea at the time. It really wasn't," Marisa said.
"Gods damnit, Marisa," Mima said, pinching the bridge of her nose. Marisa chuckled. Alice turned an interesting shade of pink, while Satori's expression failed to change. Renko glanced at Satori, realizing that at some point, Satori had to have found out about this, and then deliberately put that memory back into Marisa's head. It was no wonder she didn't react. Renko made the conscious decision not to think too hard about what Marisa had said.
Probably a good choice, Satori thought to her, before speaking aloud. "Well… now that Marisa is alright, I should probably go home. My pets will be worried sick."
"Ah, yes. Margatroid, Usami, why don't we escort Komeiji back to the entrance to the underground?" Mima said.
"That would only be polite," Alice said. Renko nodded in agreement.
"Aww. I wish you could stick around, ze… Hey, Satori, c'mere before you go," Marisa said. Satori tilted her head, blinking a few times, but walked over. Marisa reached up as well as she could and ruffled Satori's hair with one hand. Satori giggled quietly, and one of the long tendrils attached to her third eye shifted to poke Marisa on the nose with the heart-shaped tip.
Renko couldn't help but be slightly unnerved by the fact the tendrils could move.
"Eheh. I'll be sure to come visit once I'm all better. Seeya 'round, Satori," Marisa said.
"See you, Marisa," Satori said. With that, Mima led Alice, Renko, and Satori back out through the halls.
"I wasn't aware you could move those," Mima commented, glancing at Satori.
"They're much less delicate than they look," Satori said with a half-shrug. Alice shifted uncomfortably. "…no, I won't touch you with one. That would be quite rude." Alice relaxed.
"You know, Komeiji," Alice said as they stepped outside, "For being possibly the most feared youkai species in existence, you're… actually quite pleasant. If you're like this all the time, I can see why Marisa would like you."
"Um, she normally talks a whole lot more, and doesn't let you talk, because it's like listening to us repeat everything over again, but other than that, yeah, she's really nice," Renko said. "I actually… fell asleep on her doorstep, and she took me inside and put me in a comfortable room and let me help fix food when I woke up."
"That explains why you took as long as you did. And why you weren't exhausted or hungry when you returned," Mima said.
"I see…" Alice glanced at Satori. Satori smiled pleasantly, and while she didn't send any words to Renko, Renko could pick up a faint general sense of happiness.
"Well, I suppose if I ever get the chance to meet you again, I can give you a fair chance. You're an underground youkai, so I doubt I will, but…" Alice trailed off, and Satori nodded. Mima led the way into the sky, and Renko was nearly left behind before Satori slowed to match her pace.
You weren't kidding about needing that enchantment to fly at a reasonable speed, Satori commented as they flew.
Hey, I only learned to fly about three weeks ago. Before that, I'd never used any magic, Renko 'said' mentally.
Oh. In that case, your flight and danmaku are both impressive for your level of experience. If you come to visit again, I have some pets that are around your level of strength. You could spar with them to try and increase your effectiveness, Satori said.
I'll ask Lady Mima about going, thanks. Renko smiled, glad that Satori was so friendly. She was starting to really like youkai—none of them actually seemed malicious so far, and the only ones that had caused any harm had done so accidentally. She almost felt bad for being so afraid of Ran when they had met.
She'd have to be nicer next time.
Author's Notes
Are we done with Section 3?
MAYBE
MAYBE NOT
IT IS A MYSTERY
