That day, the weather was calm. It was the day everything came crashing down.
Furious, Reimu burst through cloud after cloud, her gohei rod gripped tightly in her fist. She grit her teeth. Waves of force rippled out from her zooming figure, tearing across the midday sky. Her eyes keen, she scoured the landscape for any sign of the hyakume. Her mind was in a panic; she actually didn't know where to start looking...
"I was stupid!" she shouted at herself. "I should have...If I had...If I had just dealt with her first, this wouldn't be happening right now!" Tears formed in her eyes. "I was so stupid!" She fumed a bit. "I'm...supposed to be...the shrine maiden of paradise...it's protector..."
She shook herself. "I need to focus," she snapped. "She doesn't travel with Alice anymore...and she was checking up on us at the Moriya Shrine." Reimu groaned. "She's clever. But," she paused, "she's separated from her protector. I have a lot of places to check. And, she's so small..."
As she tore through the sky, as fast as she could, her skirt flapped and her hair waved violently about behind her.
"I'll find you, Iliasviel," seethed Reimu. Her brown eyes were fierce.
It was a busy day in the Human Village of Gensokyo. Within this place lived the descendants of the land's original inhabitants, before Gensokyo was sealed away. Living so close to supernatural powers everyday rendered them more powerful than any ordinary human, but, they kept to themselves. Few youkai visited here. Few were welcome. The humans of Gensokyo were not easily aggravated – they were cautious and protective, in this land of gods and demons.
Iliasviel slowly walked its streets, amidst the bustling humans. They wore simple clothes, and carried food and tools. Technology was nearly absent from their rustic, everyday lives. It was as if Iliasviel had stepped into Japan's distant past...
Her red, many-pupiled eyes followed them as they walked past. She had an apathetic look. Iliasviel's plans were coming to fruition. To her, within a few hours, all of them would be dead...
"Even these humans possess considerable soul power," whispered Iliasviel.
She shuffled through a throng of people, into a plaza, where the market was. Several humans gave her strange looks. Iliasviel did not bear any traits that outwardly indicated she was a youkai, but she was still somewhat new to Gensokyo, and anyone never-before-seen in the Human Village was watched carefully. The humans always had to discern who was friend or foe.
Iliasviel stood around in the plaza, looking around. The gears were turning in her head...
"Hey, you," came a gruff voice.
Iliasviel spun around to see a tall, elderly human standing over her. He had a sword strapped to his waist; next to him was a young girl with brown hair, also with a sword.
"Can I help you?" chirped Iliasviel sweetly.
The girl instantly melted, but the man kept his composure. "Who are you and what are you doing here? Not just every youkai is allowed here."
Iliasviel looked shocked. "I'm sorry!" she whimpered. "I'm sort of new to Gensokyo...I suppose I don't really know the rules..."
The old man sighed. "New, eh?"
"Do you have any friends, yet?" asked the girl, hopeful.
Iliasviel nodded, and blurted out the first name that came to her mind. "Marisa Kirisame!"
The man chuckled. "No hard feelings, but we'd like for you to leave, for now," he said. "You're making the townspoeple uneasy, and we haven't approved of you yet. Come back in a few days. As for Marisa Kirisame..."
"...she lives in the Forest of Magic, down that way," said the girl, smiling. She pointed to a gate leading out of the village, into the Forest. "I saw her fly over a little bit ago."
Iliasviel thanked the human villagers, and expressed her understanding of the situation. Waving kindly, she left the village, and proceeded into the Forest of Magic, heading for Marisa's house. The place was dark, for the canopy was thick, and there was an eerie feeling. But, the hyakume paid no mind. She feared no evil...she was the evil.
"I wonder how Alice and Parsee are doing," she mumbled to herself. Then, "That village will be easy to squash..."
She skipped along merrily.
Sanae burst into the Voile Library, out of breath. The slamming of the doors echoed throughout the enormous chamber. Stumbling, she held her chest, and trudged across the carpet, towards the throng of people gathered. Several turned their heads to see her coming.
"It's the Moriya shrine maiden," remarked Suika Ibuki. She picked at a tooth. "Who invited her?"
Yukari's eyes narrowed, but she was silent.
"Sanae-chan?" called Kanako, walking quickly to meet her.
Once close, Sanae embraced Kanako, still breathless. Kanako was initially shocked, but calmed, looking like a mother, as she caressed the shrine maiden. "Gather yourself..."
"What is Kochiya-san doing here?" asked Momiji, her ears perked up. "Has something happened?"
"It would seem so," added Masaaki.
Many gathered around Sanae and Kanako, commenting and asking questions, until Yukari pushed them all aside, gliding forward like a storm.
"Moriya shrine maiden," said she, and everyone went quiet. She held her umbrella aloft. "What is the matter?"
Sanae had caught her breath, by now, and stepped away from Kanako. She bowed respectfully to Yukari.
"Yukari-sama," said she. "An urgent matter has suddenly come up. I am sorry...it was our own ignorance; but, we couldn't have helped it, really..."
"Just spit it out, already," said Suika.
Yuyuko approached, still covering her mouth with the fan.
Sanae took a deep breath.
"Speak," said Yukari. She put her hand on Sanae's shoulder, gently.
Sanae looked back at her with stark, emerald eyes of the deepest worry. "Reimu and I have uncovered the truth about Iliasviel." She paused. "She is a denizen of the Black Moon."
Many gasped, or took a step backwards. Sakuya put her hand over her mouth, eyes wide. Remilia grit her teeth, displaying fangs. Kanako was frozen to the spot. Yuyuko's eyes narrowed, and Byakuren appeared saddened. A silence fell over the chamber. Yukari did not break eye contact with Sanae.
"You're sure of this?" asked Rinnosuke, coming forward. "That's a serious accusation. We've found nothing hinting to a hyakume denizen anywhere."
"Present your evidence," said Yuyuko. The ghost mistress hid her emotions very well, but during this meeting it could be seen she was becoming more distressed; it was deep within her eyes.
"Konpaku-san found the ghost girl who had survived a Black Moon attack," said Sanae. She kept looking into Yukari's amethyst eyes. "One of the attackers fit Iliasviel's description closely; big sleeves, black hair, floating eyes and everything."
"Attackers?" said Byakuren. "I had heard that the hyakume was terribly weak."
"She wasn't attacking, though," continued Sanae, and she trembled, "she was laughing."
Yuyuko held her fan closer.
"Laughing?" said Suika, confused.
"What else?" demanded Yukari.
"As soon as Reimu heard this, she flew out of Hakugyokorou to track Iliasviel down," said Sanae. She finally broke eye contact with Yukari. "I...uh...I stayed a bit to ask more questions. During the Black Moon attack, she used her floating eyes to watch the whole village at once. Anyone who tried to escape, she saw, and signaled to alert the other denizens."
Shou Toramaru spoke up. "That sounds like her ability..."
"It had been my great hope that the hyakume and the Black Moon were not connected," muttered Byakuren. "For the sake of the hyakume...at least..."
"I've heard of this hyakume from others in Gensokyo," said Suika. "It sounded very strange to me." She rubbed her chin, and her single white fang could be seen as she spoke. "A hyakume who left their house? Traveled the world? Goes outside during the day? Takes a human form? How did she not seem unusual to you at first?"
"She must have been altered from her original form by Omen," said Rinnosuke. "A hyakume's normal form is...revolting..." He cleared his throat. "To say the least."
"Marisa Kirisame believes the hyakume has been manipulating Alice Margatroid to do her bidding," said Byakuren. "While she was aboard my ship, Shou and I both felt a power of emotional influence exerted by her, as well."
"Emotional influence...?" whispered Yukari.
"Marisa says that Alice has been shutting everyone out," said Sanae. "For example, we all know Alice and Marisa have been good friends."
Several nodded.
"But, Alice hates Marisa, now, for some reason," finished Sanae.
"She's perfect," said Yukari, her face dark. "Iliasviel..."
Everyone went silent.
"I beg your pardon, Yukari?" said Kanako, rather irritated. "What do you mean?"
"Do you not see?" said the great youkai patriarch. "She is weak, easily defeated, causing others to protect her. She can influence emotions, not only strengthening that protection, but also bringing strife and conflict to others, keeping herself from blame. She can summon her eyes, to keep watch over a large area, unknown to those nearby. She is small, and attractive." Yukari paused. "Iliasviel is the perfect infiltrator."
Rinnosuke stepped forward, his eyes wide. "Then, you believe that she's a denizen of..."
Yukari spun around, her dress swirling like a hurricane. Her narrow eyes glowed with angry energy. Then, she spoke, with unearthly volume and power:
"FIND HER."
"She's n-not evil!" stuttered Marisa, pacing in her house. She knocked some books and potions onto the floor, but paid no heed. "She can't be...not Iliasviel..." Marisa stamped a foot. "Reimu can't prove it! Not with just that. And Alice...she's...she's just..." Her shoulders fell. "I suppose I did leave her alone for like, a long time." She held her head and groaned. "Augh! I don't know what to think!"
Marisa's house, as opposed to Alice's, was in a darker part of the forest. It was cluttered and small inside, with books, papers, potions, herbs, and mushrooms littering the floor. How Marisa did any magic at all amidst this mess was a mystery. However, among this claustrophic hoarder's dwelling was a homely feeling. It was not prim, or proper. In Alice's house, everything was generally put away or organized. Here, in Marisa's home, everything was sprawled out, and laid bare. One never knew what they'd see, or what trinket might be sitting out, or what curious thing it might do. Or, who Marisa had "borrowed" it from.
With that said, Marisa's pacing was very loud, as papers and things crunched under her black shoes.
"Not cute little Iliasviel," she kept muttering to herself, for some time.
Marisa continued in this fashion, glancing every now and then at the Bunbunmaru newspapers on the desk nearby; the foremost one covered in Aya's pictures of the hyakume's visit to the Palanquin...
Gingerly, Marisa picked it up, reading over it. She gazed at little Iliasviel, on the page. Then, she heard a noise:
Knock, knock.
She lowered the page, to see the real Iliasviel standing outside, fidgeting at Marisa's doorstep, glancing around.
"What the...?!" gasped Marisa. "She's here?" Hurriedly, she tripped over her mess to the front door, where she quickly straightened her hat and fixed her hair. She coughed into her own hand. "Right," she said, once her makeover was done – though, she looked no different. Slowly, she opened the door.
"Hello, Witch-san!" beamed Iliasviel.
Marisa struggled to find words. "Er...uh, Iliasviel! You're...well...I didn't expect you to like, show up...here...of all p-places." She grinned.
"I was nearby and thought I'd pay you a visit," chirped Iliasviel. "Since you've been so nice to me, and all." She giggled.
Marisa melted. "Yeah..." Then, she caught herself. "Er...wanna come in?"
"Are you sure?" said Iliasviel. "You aren't busy working on spells or potions or something?"
"Not at all!" replied Marisa briskly. "Come in!" She opened the door wider.
Iliasviel stepped under her arm into the house, gasping. "It's so...messy!"
Marisa blushed. "Well, you know! When you're as busy as me, you don't have time for cleaning!" She laughed hesitantly, shutting the door.
"You have lots of stuff."
"It's not all mine, though," said Marisa. "I've borrowed lots of things from...lots of people."
Iliasviel was poking around curiously, Marisa following with an entranced smile on her face. "That's really cool..." Iliasviel spun around suddenly. "What kinds of potions do you make?"
Marisa jumped back. "Oh! Nothing special. Just...fertilizer and...things that explode...and...cooking stuff." She rubbed the back of her neck, as Iliasviel continued her investigation.
"You cook?"
"Yep. Sure do!"
"Will you cook for me sometime?" said Iliasviel with another giggle. "I'd love that!"
Marisa melted yet again. "I'd...love to..."
"Alice doesn't seem to do any cooking, really," said Iliasviel. She was inspecting Marisa's cluttered bookshelves. At Alice's name, Marisa's smile faded. "I got a little hungry while I was there, but I didn't want to be rude...you know..."
Marisa took a deep breath. "Where is...Alice, anyway?"
"She took a walk, by herself," said Iliasviel. Her tone became sad. "She hasn't been...feeling her best, lately."
"What do you mean? Like, is she sick?"
Suddenly, Iliasviel whirled around, ponytail swishing, and hugged Marisa tightly, burying her face in Marisa's stomach.
"Iliasviel?!"
"Do you...hate me?" came Iliasviel's muffled voice.
"H-hate?" Marisa was panicking, clutching the nearby shelf. She was blushing deeply. "Er...of course not!"
Iliasviel let go, and backed away, holding herself. "I heard that newcomers to Gensokyo caused trouble, before," she muttered. "I feel like lots of people are suspicious of me, or hate me because I'm new here..."
"Suspicious?" Marisa was breathing heavily, but gathered herself. "What...do you mean?"
"Reimu said there's some sort of serious thing happening," replied Iliasviel. "She asked me some weird questions and made scary faces at me..."
Marisa remembered that event at the shrine; Reimu had told her and Sanae about it afterwards before they split up. She thought for a moment. "Well," chuckled Marisa, "Reimu's...a bit...standoffish. Right? Intimidating?"
Iliasviel nodded slowly, looking at the floor.
"She's got a lot on her mind right now, and stuff," said Marisa, patting Iliasviel on the head. "Don't think too much of it. She was thinking stuff like Alice was being...manipulated by you."
Iliasviel's eyes widened. "Mani...pulated?" she whispered.
"Yeah," said Marisa, although the entire suspicion stemmed from herself in the first place...
"Oh goodness, no!" cried Iliasviel. "That's not what I wanted people to think, at all!" She held her head, and Marisa panicked again. "No, no, no!"
Marisa bent down and held Iliasviel's shoulders. "It's fine! It's okay! I promise!"
"But that's...trouble making..."
"Once they hear your side of the story I'm sure everything will be all dandy!"
"I just," muttered Iliasviel. She was quiet for a moment. "I came to Gensokyo and met Alice and...there was just a sadness in her eyes. As I got to know her, I could see why: she was discontent, yet she never pushed herself to do anything about it. I just tried to show her the whole picture, and once she realized her situation...she just...fell apart..."
"Yeah, she said some pretty mean things to me," said Marisa.
Iliasviel looked into Marisa's eyes. Tears were forming. "Please don't take anything she says personally! She's just confused, and...trying to figure out what to do with herself! I was just trying to help her...I never meant for you be hurt too, Marisa..." She gazed at the witch with pleading eyes.
Marisa couldn't help herself. She hugged Iliasviel tightly. "It's okay," she comforted, stroking Iliasviel's hair. "It's fine...we'll get this sorted out. And, I'm not mad, okay?" She held Iliasviel for a while, as the hyakume cried. Once she had calmed, "Since you have one hundred eyes, when you cry, do you cry more tears than normal people?" She grinned, separating from Iliasviel.
Iliasviel wiped her face clean with a sleeve, giggling. "I don't know...maybe?" Then, after a pause, "Thank you..."
Marisa saluted. "No problem! I'm glad to be of help to Iliasviel! Anything else I can do?"
"Do you love Gensokyo, Marisa?" asked Iliasviel, peering at more of Marisa's books. There was a glint in her eye...
"Love Gensokyo?" echoed Marisa. "Oh yeah! I love it, here. I freakin' grew up here."
"...That's wonderful!" replied Iliasviel.
As she pored over the book titles, Marisa watched Iliasviel from behind, soaking up her presence. Any previous suspicion she had against Iliasviel was now expunged. Reimu was just overreacting, right? After all, Reimu hadn't gotten much sleep, lately. Even Sanae was doubtful of Reimu's suspicion. Marisa nodded to herself, inching closer and closer to little Iliasviel; that's right, Reimu was jealous. Perhaps Iliasviel's hugging and niceties on the Palanquin affected Reimu more than she showed!
Marisa was very close to Iliasviel now. She leaned forward, to smell her hair...
"What's this?" said Iliasviel suddenly, taking a book from the shelf.
Marisa leaped back as Iliasviel turned around. "What is it?" She pretended to have been straightening papers on the desk.
"It's a grimoire," said Iliasviel. She dusted off the cover. "The Grimoire of Marisa!" Her eyes were wide with wonder.
"Oh god, that old thing?" laughed Marisa. "I wondered where it had disappeared to."
"What is it? Did you write this?"
"I sure did write it!" beamed Marisa.
Iliasviel gasped. "That's so cool! What is it?"
"It's sort of a record of spell cards and the like used in Gensokyo, by different people," said Marisa. "I also drew their sigils. See, look." She shuffled around behind Iliasviel, putting her arms around her, and opened the grimoire. "Sigils. For everyone. Reimu, Alice, Sanae, and lots of others." She flipped through several pages, all the while nudging closer to Iliasviel, till they were cheek to cheek. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"Wow," breathed Iliasviel. She turned a few pages, under Marisa's watch. "Everyone..."
"Um...yeah...everyone..."
"I could really get to know everyone in Gensokyo with this!" said Iliasviel, smiling.
"Well, it's really just spell cards and fighting magic, so..."
"Still," said Iliasviel. "Even if I know a little about someone, and their name, it could go a long way."
Marisa rubbed her chin. "You know what? You're right!" She stood up straight. "You may borrow this for as long as you like!"
Iliasviel lit up. "Really?!"
Marisa melted, once again. "Y-yes! You may! Use it to your advantage, O newcomer to Gensokyo!"
Iliasviel danced around a bit, before hugging Marisa again. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"Make sure to take good care of it!" ordered Marisa.
Iliasviel looked at the grimoire – it was in very bad shape. Pages were torn on edges, the cover was covered in dust and dirt, and a portion looked to have been soaked in tea...
"Er...well, just don't lose it," corrected Marisa, grinning sheepishly.
"I will be sure not to," replied Iliasviel, clutching it against her chest. "It's far too valuable."
Marisa ruffled her hair. "Oh, you!"
The two girls laughed and giggled together for a few minutes.
"Well, I think I'll head home, now," said Iliasviel, afterward.
"Okie dokie," sang Marisa. Her face was aglow with a content smile. She led Iliasviel to the door.
"Thanks for understanding," said Iliasviel. "I was worried you hated me, too..."
"Of course not." Marisa brushed long, black bangs from Iliasviel's face. "I could never hate you. You're too freakin' cute."
Iliasviel smiled sweetly. "Thank you." She turned and opened the door. "I'd better get home and start reading this. I'll come visit again!"
"Great! Awesome!"
"Bye bye!"
Iliasviel skipped away down the path, into the forest. Soon, Marisa saw her take flight, and zoom away over the treetops, her ponytail waving behind. Then it was quiet. Marisa stood there in the doorway, gazing at the spot where Iliasviel had vanished. She felt very warm.
"I was an idiot for thinking she was up to something," Marisa whispered to herself.
"I've covered all my trails," whispered Iliasviel to herself happily, as she flew along towards her dilapidated house. "There is no connection to be made between myself and the Black Moon." She smirked. "And without that, you are powerless, Hakurei Reimu." A sinister smile crept across her lips. "Powerless."
Over the treetops she soared, sleeves flapping as per usual, until she came to a burnt clearing, in the midst of which was the rundown house. Its roof was falling apart. The porch and the railing were in pieces. It was composed of old, grey wood, splintering and termite-eaten. All of its windows were shattered; inside could be seen a mess of broken paraphernalia. It was a wonder the thing was even still standing.
Iliasviel flitted down and landed before it, clutching Marisa's grimoire. She glanced around. "I should put this inside before someone shows up." Up to the door she trotted, bouncing merrily, humming to herself. "Zum letzten Mal," she sang, swinging her arms around, "wird Sturmalarm...geblasen..."
Once indoors – if it could be called 'indoors' – Iliasviel rummaged around in what was left of the kitchen. Everything was rusted and covered in dust. She opened the cabinets, the doors of which snapped from their hinges and fell to the floor.
"Hmm..."
Scooping up several cans of food with one little arm, she dumped them in the algae-covered sink before placing Marisa's grimoire in the cabinet where they had once been. It fit rather snugly, and had already killed several insects with its weight.
"That'll do," Iliasviel chirped. She picked up the broken cabinet doors and placed them back on. Then, she spun around, still singing: "Zum Kampfe steh'n...wir alle...schon bereit..." And, she pranced back to the door. She was apparently in very high spirits. She took a big leap from the top of the porch steps to the charred grass below with a delightful squeal.
"What an interesting choice of read you had there," came a voice.
Iliasviel jumped in alarm, and nearly fell over. Gathering herself, she looked around quickly. "Wha...who's there?" she asked timidly.
There was a girl's laugh. "I see you haven't changed a bit, Ilia."
Iliasviel's eyes shot to the source of the sound: Mamizou Futatsuiwa, the tanuki. She was sitting on a tree bough nearby, with an intrigued expression. Her glasses glinted, and her enormous brown, striped tail waved excitedly. She straightened her tan ecru shirt, with a keen smile.
"I don't suppose I have, though, either," she added.
"Mami!" cried Ilia, her eyes alight. Instantly, she sped at the tanuki to collide with her, knocking her from the branch with a fierce hug. Before they hit the ground, Mamizou collected herself, laughing, and took flight.
She floated there with Iliasviel hanging off of her, looking like a big sister. "Good gracious," she chuckled, straightening her glasses. "I think you missed me, or something!"
Iliasviel gave an adorable giggle. "Finally, a familiar face!"
They landed on the ground carefully, and Mamizou held Iliasviel's shoulders gently, inspecting her. "I saw your pictures in the paper," she said. "I was floored. I couldn't believe it! It really is you." She gazed at the smiling Iliasviel's face for a bit. "Those pictures really don't do you justice."
Iliasviel couldn't help but giggle more.
"What are you doing all the way out here?" asked Mamizou. "Is this your house?"
"Yep!" beamed Iliasviel.
"Ohh...?" breathed Mamizou, gazing up at it. "I didn't think you'd ever settle down."
"I didn't, really," said Iliasviel. She took Mamizou's hand. "You know, since I ended up here, and all."
"You always were interested in Gensokyo," commented Mamizou, ruffling Iliasviel's hair. "How's it treating you?"
"All right, so far!" said Iliasviel, saluting. "I haven't caused any trouble as a newcomer, as of yet."
"You mean you don't want to steal Kokoro's masks?" teased Mamizou. "Or the moon? Want to let off some red steam that changes the weather? Bring some other religion's saint into Gensokyo? How about a never-ending winter? Ever heard of the Miracle Mallet? Or, how about destroying Reimu's shrine because you're bored?" Mamizou held up a finger. "I considered that one, myself, a few times."
"Oh, you," replied Iliasviel, batting her with a sleeve playfully. "I've heard about all those, already! I still can't believe people would do those things and cause such fusses, though..."
Mamizou sighed. "I suppose you're right," she said, standing up. "Fights break out here for no reason, sometimes, it seems." She gave a fond grin, and bumped Iliasviel's shoulder with a fist. "So? What all were you up to since last time we met? That was three years ago. What all did you do? I mean, I've traveled the world, too, but you – you're a veteran."
Iliasviel spun around a few times, thinking, flapping her sleeves childishly. "Well...once we'd parted in Korea, I went up north to see some huge fireworks. After that I headed to Egypt, because I'd heard of a special..." She faded out.
Mamizou leaned forward, confused, for she had been listening intently. "Ilia?"
"I have the perfect idea!"
"What?"
"Let's have a drink!" cried Iliasviel. "To commemorate our friendship!"
Mamizou burst into laughter. "You're so random!"
"It's a good idea," pouted Iliasviel. She folded her arms.
"No, no, I getcha," replied Mamizou. "Got anything? That house looks...not...very well...furnished."
"I saw some Meisousui in the basement the other day," said Iliasviel. "That should still be good, right? It's kind of old, but it didn't look like it had been opened."
Mamizou cringed. "Old Meisousui?" she said. Then, she shrugged, grinning. "Why not?"
"We'll drink on the roof!" said Iliasviel. "I'll meet you up there, and then I'll tell you the amazing thing I found in Egypt."
Mamizou gave a thumbs up. "Sounds great!"
Iliasviel squealed again, and dashed back into the house, making a ton of noise. Mamizou watched her go, chuckling, until the hyakume was gone. Then, the tanuki's eyes darkened.
"You really haven't changed, have you?" Mamizou muttered. She bit her lip. "I still can't quite figure you out...Ilia..." She looked up at the house, again. "How in the world did you – of all people – get into Gensokyo? Yukari would have never given you a transportation spell card..." She remained there in thought for awhile, until she heard a scream from inside the house. "What the...?!"
Quickly she flew inside, fumbling with the broken furniture and things, before she found Iliasviel in the kitchen, surround by broken cups. She was crying. Her hand was cut, and bleeding.
"Oh, Ilia," groaned Mamizou, floating forward to the hyakume.
Iliasviel's bleeding hand clenched the white bottle of Meisousui – the top had been broken off. Blood ran down the ivory surface, dripping onto the floor...
"What happened?" asked Mamizou, taking the sake bottle and setting it on the counter. She inspected Iliasviel's hand. It had been sliced rather deeply.
"I was...trying," sniffled Iliasviel, "to open...it and pour c-cups for us..." She looked at the ground.
Mamizou melted. "Oh, Ilia," she said. "You're so silly. You didn't have to do that..." She paused, wiping the tears from Iliasviel's eyes. "Are you okay? Can you heal yourself?"
Iliasviel shook her head. "It...It hurts..."
"Oh, right," sighed the tanuki. "You're not very strong...is the cut so bad you can't regenerate?"
Iliasviel nodded. "I'm...sorry. I was so excited; I made a m-mistake..."
"Let's get you bandaged up," said Mamizou. "I don't have any cloth, sadly. Can we use your sleeve?"
"Sure..."
Mamizou bent over Iliasviel and pulled her sleeve back, only to gasp. "What...?"
Iliasviel's arm was scarred in many places. And, as her sleeve was very wide, Mamizou could see more scars running down Iliasviel's side and seemed to continue onto her back, marring her otherwise wondrous skin.
"What are...those from?"
Iliasviel closed her eyes. "From a time that shaped me into who I am."
Mamizou's eyes were filled with sympathy for a few moments, before she snapped back to reality. "Right," she said, taking a deep breath. She then tore the outer parts of Iliasviel's left sleeve into strips, and wrapped the hyakume's injury.
Iliasviel flinched and yelped a bit, but endured without too much fuss.
"You're okay now?" asked Mamizou.
"I'm...fine."
"Come on," beckoned the tanuki, standing up. "Let's have a drink." She took hold of the Meisousui bottle.
Iliasviel sniffled, before she got to her feet, as well. "Right," she said. "Let's have a drink!" Slowly, she smiled. "Thank you so much, Mami."
"That cut should heal in no time," said the tanuki. She ruffled Iliasviel's hair again. "Don't take it off for a few days and you'll be right as rain."
Iliasviel saluted.
"Now, we can't drink from this bottle directly, since the top's shattered," said Mamizou, thoughtful. She inspected the sake. "Thankfully, there's still plenty inside – surely enough for the two of us. I usually carry sake on myself, but this is a special occasion."
"Very special!" cried Iliasviel. "I finally met someone I knew already! Someone I'd met outside of Gensokyo!"
Mamizou nodded. "Cups, if you will."
Iliasviel fished two small cups from the cupboard, and handed Mamizou one, into which the tanuki poured the Meisousui. She gave an even portion to both.
"Now, then!" she declared, holding her glass aloft. "To friendship!"
"To friendship!" echoed Iliasviel.
Taking deep breaths, they both downed their sake. Iliasviel spluttered a little, and reeled, afterwards. Mamizou gasped for air with a smile on her face. She clenched the empty cup tightly.
"Whoa, baby!" exclaimed Mamizou. "That's the stuff! A bit sour, a bit old. And there was a weird, smooth taste...warm..." She rubbed her head.
"Warm?" asked Iliasviel. She was still gathering herself, too.
"Didn't expect that flavor from Meisousui..." Mamizou looked at the bottle again. "Oh," she said at length. "Wow. It looks like a small bit of your blood got into it." She laughed hesitantly. "Definitely didn't expect that!"
"My blood?"
"Awkward, huh?"
Iliasviel was quiet.
"Ilia?"
"Say," said Iliasviel smoothly. "Something was gnawing at me for all those years after we parted in Korea, Mami." She turned away and faced the open cupboard. She placed her own cup back inside on the shelf...
"What is it?"
"I asked you but you never told me," whispered Iliasviel. "Three times, I asked. Three times you brushed it off. I hadn't forgotten it. No...not now that I'm here, in Gensokyo."
Mamizou's brow furrowed. She gazed sternly at the hyakume girl. "Ilia."
Iliasviel turned back around. Her eyes met with Mamizou's. There was a strange look in those many-pupiled abysses... "So," she muttered, "how does the tanuki Mamizou Futatsuiwa come and go from Gensokyo?"
Mamizou didn't respond for a few moments. "Ilia," she said again. Her eyes had narrowed. "You know I can't tell you. Gensokyo's safety is important, even to me."
"Oh?"
"I've heard tales of dark beings and monstrous youkai on the move in the outside world," said Mamizou darkly. "I can't just go giving out info. Not back then, not now. Please, Ilia, understand. I know it took you this long to get into Gensokyo, but you made it in, right? What does it matter, anymore? You're here. You're happy. There's no need to worry about it."
Iliasviel stepped forward. "You don't trust me?"
"Don't take it personally, Ilia," sighed the tanuki. "I don't trust anyone. It's the way I have to live." She put her arms up in the air, with a forced laugh. "I'm a tanuki! Come on! I gotta be tricky, in case something goes wrong. That entails caution." She then deflated under Iliasviel's glare. "Look," she muttered, "I'm sorry I couldn't help you in Korea. Let's move on. Please."
Iliasviel rolled her eyes.
Mamizou was alert, now. "What was...what was that?" It seemed very un-Iliasviel-like. "Did you just...roll your eyes at me?"
"Sorry," said Iliasviel. "It's just a little ironic."
Mamizou's eyes narrowed further, scrutinizing Iliasviel. "What do you mean?"
"You said, 'Don't take it personally,' when speaking of your caution," said Iliasviel. She held up her hand, to inspect the bandage. "So," continued the hyakume girl, with an amused tone, "don't take this personally from me."
Mamizou was confused. "What? Take what?"
Then, her throat began to burn. She flinched once or twice, and tried to brush it off, but it grew quickly in intensity. "What...?!" She started to choke. "What have...you d-done?!" Bending over, she held her neck, coughing and spluttering. Saliva dripped onto the dirty door. "It...it burns...!" Hacking and convulsing, Mamizou stumbled over to the kitchen sink as Iliasviel merely stood and watched, expressionless.
She turned the water handles, but no water came out. The severe burning sensation crept down her throat into her stomach, where it began to burn even more, as if Mamizou had swallowed searing hot coals. The tanuki, tears forming in her eyes, fell to her knees, draped over the counter. Her tail waved back and forth violently, knocking utensils and dishes around loudly.
"IT BURNS!" screamed Mamizou. She scrambled around on the floor helplessly. Crawling towards Iliasviel, she reached out a hand. "Make it...s-stop!" she yelled into the hyakume's face.
Iliasviel merely looked on. "Would you like to tell me how you come and go from Gensokyo, now?" she asked politely.
Mamizou's eyes became filled with anger. "YOU!" she screamed. She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a spellcard with trembling fingers.
"That's not how this works," said Iliasviel complacently. "Don't you remember how weak I am?" She snapped her fingers.
Then, a pain beyond anything Mamizou had ever imagined filled her body. Her every vein felt ablaze. Her eyes felt as if they had been filled with boiling water. Her skin felt as if it had been cut by millions of tiny razors, only to have a waterfall of citrus juice poured upon it. Her bones seemed to be made of magma, scalding her insides. All she could hear was ear-splitting screeching – mind-numbingly loud. All she could see was pure light, burning and painful.
Then, everything went black.
"Marisa!" yelled Reimu, banging on the witch's door. "Marisa, open up! Now!"
The lock unlocked, and Marisa swung her door open wide, irritated. "What the hell are you doing? What's wrong with you? You wanna break my door or somethin'?"
With Reimu was the crow tengu reporter, Aya Shameimaru. She held her camera, flipping through photos furiously. She stood on one foot, as usual, but she seemed stressed, mumbling to herself. Reimu stood with her hands on her hips, on Marisa's doorstep, looking exhausted and very upset.
"Where is she?" she snapped.
"Who?" returned Marisa, fiercely.
Reimu ran her hand over her face. "You know who. Iliasviel."
"There were reports from the Human Village that she came this way," added Aya.
Marisa smirked. "So what if I do know where she is?" She glared at Reimu. "You're just going to pick on her again."
"...Pick on her?!"
"Yeah," said Marisa. She leaned on the door frame. "She told me all about it. You made scary faces at her and bullied her. All she wants to do is fit in, here in Gensokyo, but just 'cause she's a newbie means you can just spread rumors and make her look all evil. Well, she's not. She's just misunderstood, got it?" She pointed a finger at Aya. "And why's she here? Wanna write down what I just said? Go on! I got all day – "
Reimu slapped her.
Marisa stumbled back into the house, holding her red cheek. She was pissed. "Is that how you wanna do it?!" she seethed.
"Marisa!" yelled Reimu. "Get it together!"
Marisa looked about ready to punch the Hakurei shrine maiden. In fact, her fist was clenched and held at the ready. "Wanna fight...?" she whispered through gritted teeth.
"No, I don't," huffed Reimu. She blinked sweat out of her eyes. "She's been here, hasn't she?"
"So what if she has?!"
"Marisa!" shot Reimu, again. "You've been influenced! Do you understand me? Iliasviel came here to influence you!"
"And how the hell would you know that?"
"Because she's a denizen of the Black Moon!"
Marisa chuckled. "Badmouthing her again, are we?"
Reimu gritted her teeth, and trembled, staring at the ground for a few moments. She was infuriated. But, after a bit, she calmed, taking a deep breath. She clapped her hands together. "I'm calm...everything will be okay..." Then, she opened her eyes. "Marisa. Youmu found a ghost in the Netherworld."
"Happens a lot."
Irritated, Reimu had to gather herself again. "She found...a ghost. This ghost girl, Akari, had survived a Black Moon attack many, many years ago, long before the attack on Sanae's shrine, likely. Akari described the denizens, and Iliasviel was one of them."
Marisa was silent. Her eyes widened. "She...what...?"
"The description matched Iliasviel perfectly."
Slowly, the anger in Marisa's eyes faded. All the energy seemed to leave her. She lowered her fist. She gazed right through Reimu, as the realization swept over her. "You mean..."
"It was you who first noticed Alice's weird behavior, Marisa," muttered Reimu. "How did Iliasviel win you over so quickly...?"
Marisa looked down at her hands – the hands Iliasviel had held. They were the hands that had wrapped caringly around the little hyakume girl, helping her to look through the pages of a book...
The witch's heart nearly stopped in her chest. "Book," she whispered.
"What?"
"Book," repeated Marisa. She met eyes with Reimu. "She...came here...for my grimoire!"
Reimu was horrified. "No..."
"She used me!" screamed Marisa. She fell to her knees, there in the doorway. "I fell right into her trap!"
Reimu put her face in her hands. "With that grimoire...she would learn about everyone. Spell cards. Sigils." She looked back up. "We have to find her. Now!"
Marisa was panicking. "We don't have time to look all over Gensokyo!"
"We may not have to," said Reimu. She turned to the crow tengu. "Aya?"
Still flipping through pictures, Aya responded in her signature, lightning-fast dialogue. "The entire tengu guard has begun to mobilize to hunt down the hyakume. After the truth was discovered at Hakugyokorou, and Reimu left, Sanae Kochiya alerted those at the meeting, at the Scarlet Devil Mansion's library, Voile. All have started to spread out over Gensokyo's every corner and crevice, searching."
"Oh my god," mumbled Marisa. "They all...agreed she's...evil?"
Aya nodded solemnly. "Byakuren Hijiri and Shou could attest to the emotional influence, while Patchouli Knowledge brought up the possibility that the hyakume stole one of Yukari's spell cards, whom Yukari had meant for others who deserved Gensokyo. Rinnosuke Morichika confirmed, through his research in the Voile, that the Black Moon's denizens have in their ranks differing species of youkai, heightening the possibility that Iliasviel is one of them. This, coupled with the account from the ghost girl in Hakugyokorou, basically makes this fact concrete." She paused. "That's the short version, at least."
Marisa looked back at the ground. Tears formed in her amber eyes. "I...m-messed up...so badly." For the first time in many, many years, Marisa Kirisame began to cry. "I...was p-powerless! She came and I j-just...I couldn't think she could be...bad. Everything about h-her said, 'cutie patootie'..." Marisa clenched her fist again, and pounded it against the door. "Damn it!" she screamed. "Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!"
"Marisa," muttered Reimu. She knelt down and put a hand on the witch's shoulder, as Marisa cried. "Marisa." Reimu took her into an embrace.
"Reimu!" bawled Marisa. "I'm...s-so sorry! I'm sorry I ever...d-doubted you!" She hiccuped a few times. "You w-worked so hard...!"
"Yeah," sighed Reimu, with a small chuckle. "I did, didn't I?" She let go of Marisa and stood up. "But that doesn't matter, now. We have to find this denizen of the Black Moon before she influences more people."
Marisa sniffled, gathering herself. "You're right..." She smacked herself a few times. "Come on, man! Tough up!"
Reimu smiled weakly. "That's the Marisa I know."
"Sorry 'bout that." Marisa wiped her eyes furiously.
"It's okay," replied Reimu. "We're heading to Alice's house, first. If Alice is there, we can...confront her. Maybe we can snap her out of it. If she's not there, perhaps we can find some clues as to where she or Iliasviel have gone."
Marisa nodded. "Gotcha."
"Aya," said Reimu, turning to the tengu.
Aya looked up. "Hm?"
"You're the fastest in Gensokyo," said Reimu, with a serious tone. "I have someone I need you to fetch."
Aya perked up. Perhaps she thought Reimu was slow, as she had been accompanying the shrine maiden. "Oh? Who?"
Reimu patted the tengu on the back. "You aren't gonna like it."
Exhausted, Mamizou opened her eyes. They were terribly sore. She felt as if she had not slept for days – her body felt worn and without energy. Blinding light filled her vision, causing her to squint. From silence, her hearing returned fuzzily. She could hear a young, beautiful voice...
"...Verkündet unsres Reiches Macht," it sang. "Denn wir wollen es nicht länger leiden..."
Mamizou's vision came into focus. She was in a cold, grey, concrete basement, and before her was Iliasviel, sitting comfortably on an old wooden chair, flipping through the Grimoire of Marisa, singing happily. A single light bulb hung overhead. Behind Iliasviel was a rusted metal ladder, leading up to what looked like the underside of a hatch door. Mamizou looked around gingerly – it felt as though there were masses of needles pricked into her skin; stinging whenever she moved. Her face was still wet with tears and sweat.
She saw that she was chained to a wall of metal pipes, likely underneath the kitchen. They didn't hiss or spout steam; they were lifeless and corroded. And, although her body was horrifically sore from the ordeal earlier, she saw not a single cut or bruise on herself.
Iliasviel, swinging her legs to and fro, was engrossed in the book. "Dass der Englischmann darüber lacht," she sang. "Für das Vaterland da floss sein Blut..."
Mamizou moved her wrists slightly, wrapped in chains, but they clinked loudly. Instantly, Iliasviel looked up.
"Aha," she breathed. She closed the book with a thud. In this quiet, lifeless room, it seemed like booming thunder. "You're finally awake. I didn't think you'd be out so long."
Mamizou's mouth was dry. She struggled to speak. "What...have y-you...?"
Iliasviel's mouth curled into a mischievous smile. She set the book aside and leaped from the chair. She was tiny, indeed. Step by step, she came closer, until she was face-to-face with Mamizou, inches away.
"I have two main powers, Mami," chimed Iliasviel. "One of which, my eyes, I have no qualms showing to people. It's rather fun, really, seeing their pathetic little reactions." She giggled. "The other...is my control over pain."
A needle-like piercing feeling shot up Mamizou's leg, through her hip, snaked through her rib cage, stabbed her chest, dug through her left shoulder, and slithered down her arm to her fingertips. The tanuki screamed in pain. It felt like a worm made of razors had eaten a path through her insides. She was left panting, dazed.
"Of course," continued Iliasviel, cocking her head to the side, "I can only control the pain of those I am in physical contact with." She looked back at Mamizou. "A conundrum, isn't it? I'm not touching you. How, then, can I do...this?"
A tearing sensation racked Mamizou's right hand. It felt as if her fingernails were being ripped out by hot tongs. She screamed yet more. As it faded, she dizzily looked at her hand – her nails were still there, unhurt.
"How?" repeated Iliasviel. She poked Mamizou on the forehead. "Come on, you aren't a stupid tanuki. Or, aren't you? After all, I've played you for the fool all these years." Iliasviel laughed a tinkling little laugh.
Mamizou breathed heavily. She tried to gather the strength to speak, before more pain was inflicted upon her. "The...b-blood..."
Iliasviel jumped up gleefully. "Hooray!" she cried. "You did it! You got it right! Good job, Häftling!" She clapped enthusiastically. "So, since you drank my blood – which was my plan, all along, really – as long as any of that remains in your body – no, essence – I can inflict you with any pain I desire, from anywhere." Iliasviel knelt down again to Mamizou, and caressed her cheek. "Why? Because I'm inside you...always."
During this reprieve, Mamizou had been gathering her energy to escape, using her tanuki tricks and magic.
"And because I'm inside you," added Iliasviel, "I can feel your energy forming magic." She bopped Mamizou on the head, but it instead felt like a great boulder smashing into her skull. The tanuki choked and spluttered as lights popped into her eyes. "It's best you don't try to use magic or even attempt to escape. I'll know." Iliasviel giggled. "And even if you do get away, I'll just cause you the worst pain I can, like earlier. It doesn't matter where you are. You'll black out, until I find you. Or, if I can't find you, I'll just make you black out again. And again. And again. And again." She smiled maliciously. "You won't be able to eat, drink, or sleep. You won't even be able to speak. Eventually, you'll come back to me, seeking relief. Relief from your pain. What do you think of that? Don't you see? It's best you tell me what I want to know. Unless – of course – you want to hurt."
Mamizou listened to this intently, but instead of gathering magic, she gathered saliva. And when Iliasviel was close, she spat in her face.
"Schiza!" cursed Iliasviel, stumbling back. She crashed into the chair, wiping her face with her sleeve.
"I'll...n-never...tell...you," croaked the tanuki.
Iliasviel's anger subsided. "Is that so?" She smiled sweetly. "Funny you should say that. I was once part of a dark order of humans. In that reich, my job was to completely, and utterly break people. Do you know how many times I've heard those words of confidence?" Her eyes flashed red. "I will enjoy...breaking you."
Marisa and Reimu landed in front of Alice's house. It was afternoon, and clouds were gathering in the sky in the west, forming a great storm. Reimu didn't speak. Then a cool wind picked up, blowing their clothes about, howling gently through the trees nearby.
"What if she's here?" asked Marisa, holding her broom.
"I'll do the talking," muttered Reimu. She strode towards Alice's house, clenching her gohei rod tightly. "If a fight breaks out..." She glanced at Marisa. "Well...if we have to fight, we'll both take her down as fast as possible, got it? No dueling. This is serious."
Marisa nodded. "Gotcha."
Reimu turned back to the house. It was very quiet. It didn't seem Alice was home, but Reimu recalled how she had been mentioned sitting alone in the dark. Taking a deep breath, the Hakurei shrine maiden walked up to the door. Her brown eyes stared ahead, determined.
"Alice," she whispered. Then, she raised her right hand...
Knock, knock.
Without warning, the house exploded. The door burst open with a shockwave and flames, blasting Reimu off her feet. Marisa was knocked backwards onto her rear with a yelp. The windows all shattered, pelting the girls with shards of glass, before the roof and walls were obliterated in a second, bigger explosion. Its shockwave blew out through the clearing, rippling the grass about and sending the shrapnel further. Marisa soared back onto the grass, rolling, spluttering. Reimu landed in a heap and was still. She was severely burned in many places. Splinters and chunks of wood rained down as the remains of the house became an inferno, with a huge pillar of smoke rising into the sky. The boom of the explosion still echoed into the distance. Crackling of flames could be heard.
Choking, Marisa got to her feet. She was peppered with dust and bits of wood, and cut by glass. Her hat had blown from her head, so she reached over to pick it up, before she saw Reimu lying there. She gasped. "Reimu!" she yelled, leaping up. She dashed to the Hakurei shrine maiden, panicking. Once to her, Marisa rolled Reimu over.
The shrine maiden moaned.
"Reimu!" shouted Marisa. "You're alive! Thank the heavens..." She helped Reimu sit up.
Her skin was blackened and bloody all over her arms, neck, and part of her face, but Reimu didn't wail in pain. She winced now and then, trying not to move, it seemed. "She b-booby trapped...her house..."
Marisa chuckled. "Yeah, seems so." She picked bits of glass from Reimu's brown hair. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Reimu cringed. "Ah...ow..."
"What is it?"
She held her right shoulder. "I think...I think my arm's broken..."
Mamizou lay limp on the concrete floor. Her head was numb. She had lost much of her sanity. With her eyes partially rolled back into her head, breathing heavily, and with bloody scratch marks all over her body – marks caused by herself – she seemed broken, indeed. Her neck was especially bloody. Had she tried to kill herself – clawing out her own throat to end the pain? Panting, her mouth hung open.
Iliasviel stood over her, her eyes narrow. She cast a shadow over the tanuki. "Thank you, Mamizou, for finally telling me. It was a shame it took this long. If you had just handed over your Occult Orb when I had first asked, you would have saved yourself this mess..." She smirked. "I wonder if you'll ever be yourself, again. Every human broke so easily; pain is such a valuable instrument in the cracking of their shell. You...however...you lasted a bit longer than even I expected." She clapped her sleeves together. "Wunderbar."
At that moment, the ground shook with a rumble. Bits of dust fell from the ceiling. Iliasviel looked up.
"That must be..."
Snatching Marisa's grimoire, Iliasviel sped up the ladder to the hatch, opened it, and stepped outside. She left Mamizou on the floor, broken and defeated. Up in the house, Iliasviel walked briskly past the furniture and dilapidated interior, to the front door. Outside, in the far distance, a huge column of smoke was rising.
She knew it was Alice's house. Iliasviel smiled a sinister smile, and started laughing. And laughing. And laughing. She bent over, holding herself. This episode continued for some time. "Look at you, Hakurei Reimu!" she seethed. "Coming for me?"
"Iliasviel-sama," came a voice, and Iliasviel turned to see Parsee standing in the grass. She had another girl with her. Parsee bowed low. "I've returned to you..."
Iliasviel gathered herself. "Good...good." The little hyakume girl stepped down from the porch to see this new face.
She was Parsee's height, with dark hair, streaked with red and white. There were small blue horns on her head. She wore a short, white dress, with a black and red pattern on the bottom. On her feet were little sandals. Her eyes were a deep red. Her face was fair, and striking, but she seemed boyishly so, as she smirked at Iliasviel. She held herself arrogantly, seeming very much like some sort of punkish rebel.
"So you're the fresh meat, huh?" sneered the girl. "They weren't wrong. You're an itty-bitty little thing. How does someone as weak-looking as you serve the Black Moon? I mean, come on."
Parsee took a deep breath. "Forgive me, Iliasviel-sama," she said. "She means no harm...really."
Iliasviel strode up to the snooty girl with amusement. "What's your name?"
"Seija," said the girl, her nose upturned. "Seija Kijin. An amanojaku."
Iliasviel's eyes narrowed. "Yes...I've heard of you. You've caused a handful of incidents in Gensokyo, even attempted to take over..."
"Her power is that of inversion," said Parsee obediently.
Iliasviel was intrigued. "I should have expected you to come," said the hyakume. "What interest do you have in the Black Moon? I am sure Parsee has explained to you the proposal my master presents..."
Parsee nodded. "She agreed almost immediately."
"Like you, I'm a schemer," said Seija. She put crossed her arms and stood confidently. "I've manipulated and used lots of people, using webs of lies and carefully crafted words. The moment I heard of you, I knew you were up to something. Whatever it is, I want in. My reasons and interests are my own."
Iliasviel was thoughtful. "I see," she whispered. "I suppose it matters not. I don't need you to tell me, anyway. I just need your service. My master can do the rest, when you meet him. He is powerful, and generous. If you seek power, he will give it to you, and you will serve him in exchange for the fulfillment of your dreams..."
"What I seek might just be accomplished with the invasion you are planning," laughed Seija. "I might have to rethink everything."
"If you join us," muttered Iliasviel. She gazed into Seija's eyes, but even when staring into those many-pupiled abysses, Seija was unfazed. "...There is no turning back."
Seija chuckled. "Fine by me."
"Ilia-chan!" called Alice, from above, for she had arrived, as well. Her blue dress fluttered about, and her blonde hair bounced. Several dolls hovered near her. "Are you okay?" She flitted down next to Iliasviel and hugged the tiny hyakume girl.
"I'm fine," said Iliasviel. "I was nowhere near the explosion."
"I came as soon as I heard it," said Alice breathlessly. "I was very far away and still it surprised me..."
"I heard it, too," added Parsee. "That's also why I came."
"If they're investigating my house, now," said Alice, "that must mean they are headed here, next. Not to mention that explosion was heard for miles!"
Parsee's eyes narrowed. "We don't have much time, then..."
Alice looked at Seija. "The amanojaku...?"
"Did you recruit anyone, Alice?" asked Iliasviel.
"Yes, I did, actually," said the puppeteer. She turned to the treeline. "Come out! It's okay, I promise. We aren't going to hurt you."
Iliasviel watched the trees.
Slowly, a tiny ice fairy emerged timidly. She wore a little blue dress, and shards of ice levitated at her back – wings. Her hair was a bright aqua blue, and her eyes were to match. She was small, and adorable – smaller than Iliasviel, even. Gently, she approached.
"And what's your name?" asked Iliasviel, bending down. It was the first time Iliasviel had met someone shorter than herself in Gensokyo.
The fairy hesitated. "Cirno..."
"Did Alice tell you about my master?"
Cirno nodded.
"So why have you come?" asked Iliasviel. "What is it that you seek, little fairy? Vengeance? Power?"
Cirno's timid demeanor melted away. She grinned mischievously. "I want to be the strongest!" She flexed her tiny arms. "I'll beat that shrine maiden!" cried Cirno. She pretended to box. "Ha! Ha!"
"She's rather simple-minded," sighed Alice. She shrugged. "She was the easiest target I could think of."
"You did well, Alice," sang Iliasviel, with a smile. "I know my master will have use for her..."
Alice blushed. "Thank you, Ilia-chan."
"So, what's your plan, hyakume?" asked Seija. "We can't just come and go from Gensokyo. Don't tell me you came all this way to fail miserably."
Iliasviel waved a black sleeve at these trivial matters. "Learn to trust me. I have already acquired a means to exit Gensokyo."
"You have?" said Alice, incredulous.
"Alice," commanded Iliasviel. "Take this, and do not lose it." She handed Marisa's grimoire to the puppeteer.
"This is...!"
"Now, one of your doll's swords, please."
Alice hesitated. "Oh...right..." She summoned it with swirling of threads, and handed it to Iliasviel.
Seija peered at the grimoire, interested. "Let me hold that," said the amanojaku.
"Sure," said Alice. "No...problem..." She paused. "Ilia-chan...what did you need my sword for...?"
Without a word, Iliasviel pulled back her left sleeve to expose her arm and shoulder. As before, many scars covered her beautiful, pale skin. She held the sword aloft, and then, without even flinching – while the other girls watched in horror – she plunged the blade into her arm, tearing her flesh, pouring blood onto the grass.
"Iliasviel-sama!" screamed Parsee, panicking. She made to jump forward.
"Trust me," said Iliasviel darkly, and Parsee stopped herself.
"But–"
"Wait," interjected Seija. "Watch." She pointed.
Iliasviel, with Alice's blade, was cutting a chunk of flesh from her arm. She focused intently on it, twirling the blade around, digging deeper and deeper, causing squelching noises...
Alice covered her eyes, whimpering.
"Gross!" yelled Cirno, but she was grinning,
Seija was impressed. "It seems you've done this before."
Finally, Iliasviel cut the chunk of flesh from her arm. As a result, her left arm went limp. She could barely move it. She beckoned. "Parsee. Come here."
Trembling, Parsee stepped forward. "Is this...blood magic?" she asked.
"No," said Iliasviel. She started to breath heavily, from her self-inflicted injury. "Take it." She held out the flesh chunk.
"What?"
"I cannot dig through it, myself..."
"Dig th-through it?!" repeated Parsee. She was petrified.
Seija sighed. "Give me that," she snapped, and took the flesh chunk. Bit by bit, she pulled off strands of muscle and shook off excess blood, until there it was, in the center:
A microchip. A light on it blinked intermittently.
"What's...this?" asked Seija, confused. She peered at it. "Some sort of kappa technology?"
"Alice," called Iliasviel. "Come here."
"Y-yes," replied Alice, stepping forward.
"You are the only other person besides me in Gensokyo that anyone suspects of treason," said Iliasviel. "That's why they went to your house. The rest of you – Seija, Parsee, and Cirno – no one knows that you are here, now, with me, do they?"
Parsee shook her head, gritting her teeth. "I imagine they're happy I seemed to have vanished, suddenly..."
"I don't really have any friends, nor do I care for them," said Seija matter-of-factly. "There's only one person I worry about, and that's me."
Iliasviel smiled. She was breathing heavier and heavier, as she bled. "Bandage me."
Alice whipped a length of white cloth from the air with her magic, and wrapped Iliasviel's arm in it. In only a few moments, the bandage had become soaked with blood, dripping down Iliasviel's arm.
"Was that really necessary?" asked Seija. "The whole thing seems kinda pointless if you've killed yourself. If anything, you've made yourself easier to capture." Her eyes widened. "Wait...easier to capture?"
Alice put her hand over her mouth. "Ilia-chan..."
"Iliasviel-sama," breathed Parsee, "you can't mean that you're going to...stay?"
Iliasviel reached into her shirt and pulled out a glass orb, inside of which was swirling many differently-colored types of energy and magic. It was small, fitting in the palm of her hand. Upon it was inscribed many glowing symbols of differing languages.
"The Occult Orb of Gensokyo," declared Iliasviel. "Take it. They're already after us." Her eyes narrowed. "I didn't expect them to come so quickly...I imagined I had more time, or that we'd be long gone before they reached Alice's house. Even if they do not have proof to convict me, we cannot be seen together."
Alice's shoulders fell, and there was a deep sadness in her eyes. "Ilia-chan..."
Iliasviel held out the Occult Orb. "Take it and go." Her eyes glowed, as she smiled maliciously. "That's an order, Verräter."
"Can you stand?" asked Marisa, helping Reimu up. "Your legs are okay, right?"
Reimu rolled her eyes, stumbling. "My legs are fine," she said. She wobbled a bit, before regaining her balance, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "I just can't use my gohei rod in my right hand." She held it up. The paper streamers on it were singed.
"I can't believe that thing didn't snap in two," laughed Marisa.
Reimu smiled. "It's not just a stick. It's what I've used to solve every incident in Gensokyo, and it's only gotten stronger every time. Thank Rinnosuke for it." She waved it around in her left hand. "This is too awkward..."
"Can you fight like that?"
Reimu hesitated. "I can try." Then, she looked back at Marisa. "You know where Iliasviel's house is?"
Marisa rubbed her neck. "Not really...I haven't been there myself. It's gotta be around here, in the Forest..."
"Let's split up."
Marisa nodded. "Right."
"I'll look this way, you look that way," said the shrine maiden, pointing.
"Iliasviel wandered to Alice's house from her own," added Marisa, hopping on her broom. "It can't be far."
Reimu took flight, blasting into the sky. The ground zoomed away from her, and her clothes blew about. Sharp pains shot through her broken arm, and she winced, but continued on. She had to find Iliasviel as quickly as possible! Over the treetops she sped, her keen eyes scouring the leaves and branches.
"There's got to be a clearing or something..."
Mustering her strength, she burst straight upward, gaining altitude. Once the ground began to fade into the distance beneath her, she stopped. The air was thin, up here. She breathed heavily, clutching her shoulder. She looked all over the landscape. In the distance, she could see Marisa speeding along on her broom. Then, not far from Marisa, was a clearing with a house Reimu had never seen before.
"Is that...?"
Exploding towards it, it came further into focus as she neared. It was rundown, and old-looking. Reimu passed over Marisa, who noticed her, and sped up to meet her.
"Did you see something?"
"Over there," replied Reimu, over the flapping of their clothes. "That must be it."
Marisa's eyes widened as she saw it, as well. She followed Reimu as they approached Iliasviel's house. In the far distance, within the forming stormclouds, huge trails of lightning snaked about silently, filling the storm cells with unearthly light.
The wind blew calmly. The storm was now gathering, on the day that it all came crashing down.
Reimu and Marisa arrived at the burnt clearing, landing with small crunches. Reimu looked around disdainfully at the charred landscape, as Marisa hopped from her broom.
"Yukari's spell cards don't cause this," muttered Reimu angrily. "This was a side effect...this entire patch of land has been sucked dry of life."
"I think it was like this before it came to Gensokyo," said Marisa. She had bent down, and was running her hands through the blackened earth.
Reimu didn't respond.
"Reimu?" Marisa looked up at her.
The shrine maiden was staring ahead at the house, with her eyes narrowed. She looked like a force to be reckoned with. Marisa spun to see what she was looking at.
Iliasviel stood on the house porch, watching them. Her ponytail waved in the weak wind, and her sleeves billowed about – as they blew, the bandage on her hand could be seen, and the bloodstains on her left arm. Her eyes bored into Reimu and Marisa. Slowly, her mouth curled into a smile.
No one spoke for several minutes, as they stared each other down.
"Did you get the present I left behind for you?" asked Iliasviel coolly, gesturing to Reimu's broken arm.
"What does it look like?" seethed the Hakurei shrine maiden.
Iliasviel giggled. "You aren't looking too good."
"Neither are you," shot Reimu. She took a step forward. "The game's up, Iliasviel. We know."
Iliasviel leaned on the wooden railing nonchalantly. "Know what?"
"About you," said Reimu. "You serve the Black Moon, don't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Iliasviel, amused. "Didn't you say it was fine if I didn't know anything? Back at Moriya Shrine, I mean."
Reimu took another step forward. "Don't play that game with me, hyakume."
Iliasviel shrugged. "I'm not playing any game." She leaned forward. "Even if I do serve the Black Moon," she paused, and her eyes glowed, "you don't have any proof. You come here with baseless accusations, and that's how it always will be. I'm just a little hyakume girl trying to make her way in the world, and just because I'm new, you think I'm trouble. Doesn't that seem a little unfair?"
"That's enough!" screamed Marisa.
Iliasviel went quiet, a bit shocked.
"I don't buy it, anymore," said the witch. She clenched her fists at her sides. "No. More."
"Wh-what...?" Iliasviel's demeanor changed back to that of the persecuted innocent. Her eyes started to fill with tears. "But, Marisa...I thought you understood...?"
"Stop it!" yelled Marisa. She looked severely upset, and stamped her foot. "I've had enough of your lies!"
Iliasviel dropped the act. She turned her nose up, and her eyes became but slits. "Fine," she muttered, from atop the porch. "You had your uses, anyway." Then, she laughed. "But it doesn't matter, does it? Without proof, you're just yapping dogs – annoying."
Reimu was silent.
"What's wrong?" giggled Iliasviel. "Did you really come here with only suspicions? Even if you suspect me until the end of time, you have nothing. Nothing against me."
Reimu smirked.
Iliasviel's smile faded. "What?"
"You think you've won?" said Reimu. "I've dealt with your type before. You think just because you're clever or a schemer that you're free of blame; that you're untouchable. If we can't pin the facts on you, there's nothing we can do against you."
Iliasviel rested her chin on her hand, her elbow on the railing. She grinned. "Yep...basically."
Reimu took another step forward. Her eyes were alight with fierce determination. "I see," she whispered. "Well, you probably should have thought twice before attacking that youkai village, all those years ago. Akari had lots to say about you. Poor ghost girl, she was terrified. Good thing she got away in time, otherwise you really would be blame-free, right now."
Slowly, Iliasviel's eyes widened. Her grin vanished. Her many pupils began swirling feverishly, as her mouth opened in shock.
"Why did you think I was here?" continued Reimu. She took a ready stance, prepared to take flight, her gohei rod raised. "Did you really think I was stupid enough to confront you without evidence? You think I'm some sort of idiot?" She chuckled. "You underestimated me. I'm the guardian of paradise. This job affords me no mistakes. I've solved every incident in Gensokyo. And, I'm about to solve this one, right now."
In the blink of an eye, Reimu swung her gohei rod. It was only a blur. Instantly, a large, square-shaped red and white danmaku tore through the air at Iliasviel. The hyakume – her reflexes sharp – sidestepped it, and the shrine maiden's danmaku sped into the house, blasting apart the back of the kitchen in an explosion of splinters and dust.
Iliasviel took flight, zooming into the trees at the edge of the clearing, her sleeves billowing. Craters pushing into the ground at her feet, Reimu took off after her. Marisa started running, and jumped onto her broom, following. The witch twirled her hands around each other, forming a mass of star-shaped danmaku of many different colors. They glowed like a rainbow. She flew up above the treeline, and unleashed this barrage.
"Take this!"
Marisa's star danmaku blasted through the Forest of Magic loudly – she aimed it to follow Iliasviel's trajectory. The hyakume girl, twirling and spinning through branches as she tried to make her escape, somersaulted and whirled agilely to dodge the star hail. Each star hit the forest floor and exploded. It seemed like a war zone.
Behind Iliasviel, Reimu was coming close. She raised her gohei rod, and launched her own barrage at Iliasviel – an enormous stream of white sealing cards, each engraved with wards.
Several cards flew past Iliasviel's ear, and she yelped. Reimu's aim was ferociously accurate. Rolling in midair, Iliasviel changed direction, speeding through thick branches. Moments later, these branches were sliced apart by Reimu's attack. Reaching out a hand, Iliasviel took hold of a trunk, and spun herself around, changing direction. She blew past Reimu, narrowly missing the shrine maiden.
Reimu kicked her leg as Iliasviel passed, but missed. The shrine maiden used her outstretched leg to land on the tree trunk, and catapulted herself after the hyakume, eyes burning with anger. She waved her rod again, launching a torrent of large, red, square danmaku – like before, at the house – into the sky. These soared into the air, and began to come down, peppering the forest with yet more explosions. Marisa prepared another attack, high above.
"You aren't getting away," seethed the witch. She pulled out a spell card. "Spell card!" she yelled, and stood on her broom like a surfboard. Her hands were palm-to-palm. A bright, rainbow energy began to form, swirling powerfully!
Reimu felt this energy forming. She looked up, glimpsing Marisa's figure high above through the branches and leaves flashing past her vision. In the distance behind, the storm was growing larger. Lightning flashed, and thunder could be heard, echoing across the land...
"Master Spark!" exclaimed Marisa.
From Marisa's spell card exploded a beam of energy the size of a freight train, writhing in a rainbow of different colors. This attack roared with the intensity of a thousand thunderclaps. Her beautiful, terrifying beam of power slammed into the forest floor, disintegrating trees and launching enormous chunks of earth through the air. A massive explosion ensued, and continued as Marisa carefully aimed the beam, following Iliasviel's movements. Her eyes were alight with hate.
Iliasviel saw the forest before her being torn apart by this fearsome power. She slowed to a stop, before ducking down. At that moment, Reimu – her foot outstretched in a another kick – blew past, missing her by inches.
"You...!" cursed the shrine maiden, gathering herself.
Iliasviel had vanished.
Reimu spun around wildly. "Where did you go?!" she screamed.
Then, she heard yelling. She popped above the trees to see that Marisa had ceased her spell card, and was hunched over on her broom, speeding after Iliasviel, who was vanishing into the distance towards Youkai Mountain. The witch was yelling obscenities, loudly.
Reimu did not pursue. She floated there, for a moment. She held her gohei rod at the ready, watching closely.
Marisa soon caught up to Iliasviel, and deterred her course, as the hyakume nimbly dodged Marisa's attacks. The two circled closely around each other, as Marisa unleashed hell. All her danmaku missed Iliasviel, and exploded into the forest below, as the hyakume spun and whirled in midair. The fact that she was tiny and thin seemed to serve her well, now.
Then, Marisa got too aggressive. She sped at Iliasviel, who performed the same trick as earlier: she flew in the opposite direction, and flew past the shocked witch. For a few moments, Iliasviel was moving in a straight line...
Reimu swung her rod, and a blue danmaku was launched at mesmerizing speed. It soared like a bullet towards the fight, but not Iliasviel. Instead, it sped ahead of her, as she flew. And then, once it had come close and it seemed she'd dodge it, it expanded into a spiritual wall.
Iliasviel slammed into it violently, as she had tried to dodge, and as a result hit it with an unnatural position. Marisa had turned about, and was coming, now. Iliasviel – shaking her head – gathered herself, and made to move once more.
But Reimu called upon her shrine maiden powers, and in a split-second, teleported. A moment later, she reappeared above Iliasviel, speeding downward with a kick aimed right for the hyakume's head. But Iliasviel's reflexes were too sharp, and she burst to the side, and Reimu flew past.
Reimu didn't make the same mistake twice, however. She was ready. She had prepared a kick, and a danmaku. And – in her dodge – Iliasviel had been moving straight, once more. Reimu launched a long, silver, danmaku at her, and Iliasviel could not avoid it. It slammed into her little body with incredible force, knocking her breath out. She spat blood. A shockwave emanated, and then Iliasviel was launched downwards into a clearing at the edge of a cliff. She collided with the ground, and rolled a bit, and then was still.
Reimu remained floating where she was, panting, her hand still outstretched.
Marisa landed next to Iliasviel, seething. She leaped from her broom as she neared the ground, leaving it behind, and ran full speed at the hyakume. She dug her foot into Iliasviel's stomach, knocking her several feet across the grass, closer to the cliff.
"How's that!?" Marisa screamed. "How's that feel, huh?" She made to kick Iliasviel again.
Reimu teleported again, and grabbed Marisa's shoulder to pull her back. "Stop!" she yelled into the witch's face.
Marisa was confused. "What?!" she said. "Are you crazy? I thought you understood what she is! She's a denizen!" She waved her arms around. "She's with the Black Moon, Reimu! Don't you understand what she wants to happen to Gensokyo?" Marisa gestured around at the forest, the cliff, and Youkai Mountain. "Gensokyo! She wants it all burned to a crisp!" She jabbed a finger into Reimu's chest. "You! Me! Dead!"
Reimu trembled, glaring at Iliasviel for a moment. Then, she calmed herself. "Look," she said. "I am...very upset with her, too. But, she's weak." Reimu brushed brown hair from her eyes, still panting slightly. "If we accidentally kill her, we'll never find Alice."
Marisa went quiet, looking at the ground. "Alice..." She took a deep breath. "You're right."
"I took her out with a single danmaku," said Reimu. She looked at Iliasviel lying on the ground. "If we damage her too much, she'll die."
Marisa's eyes narrowed. "Right. Gotcha. I won't kill her, then." She walked briskly over to Iliasviel, and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Where's Alice?!" she demanded. "Where is she?!"
Iliasviel, coughing blood, started laughing.
"What's so funny?" shot Reimu. She approached, as well.
Iliasviel kept laughing, ignoring Reimu and Marisa. She cackled, spitting blood into the witch's face.
"Augh!" exclaimed Marisa, leaping back, wiping herself.
Iliasviel lay there, looking at the darkening sky, convulsing madly in her laughter. Her eyes were wide, her mouth curled into an enormous, malicious smile. Her tiny chest heaved up and down. Reimu and Marisa watched this, disturbed.
The hyakume was no longer acting. This was who she was.
"You think...I was trying to...win?" whispered Iliasviel, after she had calmed. "Against the two of you?"
Reimu's eyes widened. "Wait."
"You think I – of all people – was sent here to...defeat you?" continued the hyakume. "Why did you think I...wasn't attacking?"
Marisa's expression was that of horror. "You've got to be kidding me..."
Reimu's face darkened. "What have you done?"
Iliasviel laughed again. "They are far away from Gensokyo, now..."
"They?" said Reimu. She pushed Marisa out of the way, and grabbed Iliasviel by the hair, holding her up. "Who?!" demanded the shrine maiden. "Tell me!"
Iliasviel smiled wide. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips. "You are...too late...Hakurei Reimu..." She trembled, before bursting into laughter again. Reimu threw her back down onto the grass.
Momiji landed not far away, sword and shield strapped to her back. Her white ears were perked up and keen. "Reimu-san! Marisa-san!" She ran over to them. "I'm sorry I'm late..." She gasped at Reimu's condition, but the shrine maiden help up a hand to silence her.
"It's fine, we got her," replied Reimu. She gestured to the laughing Iliasviel. "But there's a bigger...p-problem. I made...a mistake..."
Momiji's eyes were wide with worry. "What is it?"
Reimu tried to speak, but couldn't. Her eyes started to fill with tears. Moments later, she put her face in her hands, shaking. "How...w-was I so...stupid...?"
"Reimu-san?!" cried Momiji.
Marisa approached. Her eyes were dark. "We chased Iliasviel, all right," she said under her breath. "We chased her. We beat her. She's done. Yep."
Momiji cocked her head to the side. "Marisa-san?"
"It's just...what she wanted," said Reimu, her face still in her hands. "She was buying time...for the others...And we fell for it. I fell for it..."
"Others?" asked Momiji, panicking.
"I guess it means Alice wasn't the only one influenced," said Marisa. "And with all the time we took catching Iliasviel, who knows where the others have hidden. It was all her plan, so that –"
" – The others were allowed to escape," finished a voice.
Everyone turned to see Yukari walking from the forest. Next to her were her two shikigami – Ran, the nine-tailed fox; and Chen, the black cat – with them was Sanae, the Moriya shrine maiden. Sanae ran to Reimu quickly, hugging her. Marisa picked up her broom, slinging it onto her shoulder, as she turned to the approaching Yukari. The great youkai motioned towards the laughing Iliasviel, and Ran and Chen descended on the fiend. They held Iliasviel tightly, preventing any means of escape. But, it did not seem Iliasviel would even try to escape – she was still laughing, the rest of her body limp, hanging there.
"I heard about the explosion!" cried Sanae, hugging Reimu. "I'm glad you're okay, Reimu..."
Reimu winced as Sanae squeezed her. "Ow, ow, ow!" she whimpered.
Sanae broke free, eyes wide. "What is it?"
"My arm's broken," said Reimu. "I didn't survive that explosion unscathed, unlike Miss Lucky over here..."
Marisa grinned weakly.
"We need to get your burns treated," said Sanae worriedly.
Reimu brushed her off. "I don't care about that, right now..."
Yukari approached Iliasviel, towering over the her. Yukari's eyes glowed purple, as she glared at the hyakume.
"So," said Yukari. "You are the denizen of the Black Moon."
Iliasviel calmed down, peering up at Yukari – a sinister smile still on her face. "Guten Abend, mein Feind."
"I am–"
"I know who you are," interrupted Iliasviel. "Yukari Yakumo. My master sends his regards."
Yukari's eyes narrowed. "So it would seem," said she. "What was your plan here, today? What did you hope to accomplish? I suggest you begin divulging information."
"Or what?" chuckled Iliasviel. "You'll kill me?"
Yukari smiled slightly. "In Gensokyo, we have access to punishments worse than death."
"That sounds so exciting," said Iliasviel, "but it looks to me like you haven't got much time to worry about that."
"Indeed," said Yukari. She motioned to Momiji.
"Yes, Yakumo-sama?" barked the wolf tengu.
"Investigate the hyakume's house, quickly." Yukari turned back to Iliasviel, as Momiji disappeared. "It was not only you and Alice Margatroid conspiring, was it?"
Iliasviel smirked.
"Who else was there?!" thundered Yukari. The ground shook. Reimu, Sanae, and Marisa backed away.
Iliasviel was not intimidated. She licked the blood from her lips. "So many years lived in ignorance," she muttered. "You truly did not understand the depth of the hatred you have bred here, under your own noses." She looked Yukari dead in the eye. "They were already so close to breaking. All they needed was..." Iliasviel paused, and her eyes widened psychotically: "...A little push!" She exploded into laughter again. Ran and Chen held her tightly.
"She's...a monster," whispered Ran. Her eyes were wide with horror.
Sanae held herself, her eyes fixated on the hyakume girl. After a bit, Iliasviel noticed this.
"Hello, Moriya shrine maiden," giggled Iliasviel.
Sanae stepped back, fearful.
"Caliope misses you," Iliasviel whispered. "She's been hungry for you. For your flesh!"
"Stop it," muttered Sanae, looking away. She was shaking.
"And my master," seethed Iliasviel, leaning as far forward as she could. Ran and Chen tried to pull her back. "He can't wait to see you again!"
"Leave her alone!" snapped Marisa. She had tears in her eyes. "I can't believe you're like this, Iliasviel!" She trembled. "I was so fond of you..."
"We are wasting time," said Yukari. She bent over the hyakume. "Where are they? You remained behind to distract us, and allow them to escape, of that I am sure. I am no fool, denizen."
Iliasviel chuckled. "Actually, you kind of are."
"We will find them," said Yukari.
Iliasviel smirked. "No...you won't."
Momiji returned, panting.
Yukari stood up. "What have you discovered, tengu?"
Momiji took a deep breath, wringing her hands. "There's a tanuki...in her basement...tied up. It's Houjuu-san's friend. She said...she's been tortured..."
"Mamizou," said Marisa. She glared ferociously at Iliasviel. "You tortured Mamizou?!"
Sanae put her hand over her mouth. "No..."
Yukari's eyes narrowed. She glanced back at the hyakume. "You are a nasty, clever little one, aren't you?"
Reimu's eyes were wide. "Yukari...that must mean..."
Yukari pulled out a spell card. A great wind blew, and her eyes flashed with purple energy. "Our time is short," she declared. Her voice echoed over the land. "Alice and the other conspirators have been given Futatsuiwa-san's Occult Orb. They have likely used it by now to escape Gensokyo." Her spell card disintegrated, and the sky lit up with red runes, snaking about. "Indeed," muttered Yukari. "They have passed through the Barrier..."
"They've left?!" shouted Marisa. She punched the air. "Damn it!"
"How could they do that without you noticing?" asked Reimu, folding her arms. "You're Yukari."
Yukari gave a small laugh. "The Barrier is too large for me to keep eyes on, constantly," she said. "Besides, the Occult Orb does not directly affect the Barrier itself. Passage in and out is not easy to detect, with such a tool. This is how Futatsuiwa-san comes and goes without my knowledge." She looked at the hyakume. "Clever."
"Thanks," replied Iliasviel, smiling.
"Do not think you are free of punishment, denizen," seethed Yukari. "You will suffer for what you have done, here."
"That's it, then," said Marisa. She fell to her knees. "We've...lost..."
"Alice and the others will find the White Reaper and lead him to the Hakurei Barrier," said Reimu. She was trembling, holding her head. "He'll...the Black Moon will come..."
"Comes to your senses, shrine maiden!" snapped Yukari. "It isn't over! I intend to pursue the conspirators. Right now."
Reimu's eyes widened. "We will!?"
"Not you," said Yukari. She placed a hand on Reimu's shoulder. "You are injured, and you cannot leave Gensokyo, or the Barrier will begin to dissolve. Remain here, shrine maiden of paradise." She glared at Iliasviel. "Teach this scum some lessons."
Reimu nodded. "I will," she fumed.
"Inubashiri-san," called Yukari.
"Yes, Yukari-sama!" replied Momiji.
"Recover Futastuiwa-san from her predicament," commanded Yukari. "Assure she is nursed back to full health. Then, have her tell you everything she knows about our enemy, as our prisoner is loathe to talk..."
Iliasviel smiled.
"I don't think you have to worry about that," said Reimu. She stood over Iliasviel with her arms folded. "Aya's coming with someone. We'll find out everything we need to know."
"Very well," replied Yukari. "I leave the hyakume to you, then, Reimu. Ran! Chen!"
"Yes, mistress?" answered Ran. Her nine tails billowed behind her as she stood ready, her golden eyes keen.
"What is it?" asked Chen. Her black tails swished.
"You will accompany me, my shikigami," said Yukari. "We will hunt down Alice Margatroid and the other conspirators, and bring them to justice, before the Omen of the Black Moon is alerted. Understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," the shikigami replied.
"I'll come, too," said Marisa, getting to her feet.
Yukari turned to her, dress swirling. "Why? There is a chance we may encounter a Black Moon head-on. I cannot assure your safety."
"I don't care about that," said Marisa. Her amber eyes were filled with determination. "I care about Alice. I was the one who hurt her. I should have been there for her. I wasn't. If anyone can bring Alice back, it's me." She stood there, staring into Yukari's amethyst eyes.
Yukari sighed. "Very well."
"I will come, too!" cried Sanae. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and she looked at the ground with conviction in her face. It appeared she had to muster great resolve to speak those words...
"Sanae," Reimu whispered. "You..."
"What the hell's wrong with you?" shot Marisa. "The Black Moon's your ultimate enemy!"
"I know!" exclaimed Sanae. Everyone went quiet. "But...if I don't face it..." She looked up. Her emerald eyes were filled with tears. "When will I?"
Yukari patted her on the head. "The Black Moon should be fearful of you this day, Kochiya-san."
Sanae smiled slightly.
Marisa, grinning, hopped on her broom. "Well, then what are we waiting for? Let's do this!"
The white hallway was quiet. Its floors were spotless, tiled and perfectly even. They glowed with cleanliness. The lights on the ceiling were pure and radiant. It was absolutely silent. It seemed like the canvas of a painting; without blemish.
Then, clacking footsteps.
Around a corner came a soldier. He was dressed in a long, black, leather trench coat, covered in belts, buckles, and sleek black armor. His boots were shining and squeaky clean. Over his hands were fitted, black leather gloves. No skin showed on this individual. Over his head and face was a sleek black helmet, with a visor on the front before his eyes; covering his mouth was an apparatus like a gas mask. His breathing could be heard through this bastion. He was slim, and well built. This man stepped into the white hallway like black ink spilled across paper...
He briskly strode along, pulling from his coat a folder of documents. Quickly, he advanced. Soon, he came to enormous white doors, that spewed steam and slid open. He stood still, holding the documents close.
The white chamber he came to was massive, and circular. Bright lights shone upon a great pillar in the center. It was a colossal machine. Inside this great monument were all sorts of contraptions and great arms that extended from it. They moved with dizzying speed, manipulating control panels and data upon screens...
The soldier cleared his throat. "Dr. Ilstein," he said, through his helmet. His voice sounded augmented.
The arms on the column stopped. A voice echoed throughout the entire place. "Vat...is it?"
The soldier gulped, holding out the documents. "Here...sir."
It was silent for a moment.
Then, with great whirling and clanking, the arms folded into the pillar. The bottom-most section of the machine split apart into levitating walls – inside of them could be seen a cocoon of sorts; black and sleek. It pulsated with energy. From the floor, opened a door, and from this abyss emerged the tiny, mechanical body of Dr. Ilstein. It was lifeless, and still. His usual, glowing, orange goggles were dead.
But the cocoon split itself, geometrically, beautifully. Inky black smoke funneled from this object into the body, with a sound like rushing water...
And the eyes of Dr. Ilstein lit up. The spidery arms upon his back twitched and fiddled about, clacking loudly. Tapping onto the floor, they held up his tiny, deformed figure. His long fingers wiggled around, like mantis legs, as he turned his head. Only one orange goggle could be seen at this angle. It hummed with energy.
"Bring it," he commanded, displaying his rows of sharp, white teeth.
The soldier stepped gingerly forward – having seen this spectacle – and handed Ilstein the documents.
With his long, mosquito-like fingers, Dr. Ilstein opened the folder and perused the papers.
"Only minutes ago," said the soldier, "we received the signal." He stood at attention. "Those are the coordinates, sir. The transmitter appears to be Officer Luftwaffe's, but the life signals accompanying it are not hers. They are moving rapidly." He paused. "A dimensional disturbance was detected not far from them, with other life signals appearing, pursuing those with Officer Luftwaffe's transmitter..."
Dr. Ilstein held the papers closer to his face. His mouth curled into a demonic smile. Then:
"And so it begins."
