Man… hurry up Reimu… Maybe I should wake her up?

Be patient. She will be ready soon enough.

I continue to sit next to the empty donations box in the front of the shrine. It was mid-morning now. Grayish clouds still filled the sky and blocked the sun, and it looks like they're going to be around for some time.

I really didn't want to set out into such gloomy weather. At least it's cooler than yesterday though…

Sitting inside the shrine was just giving me a headache, so I decided to go outside as soon as it was bright enough to see.

Once outside, I decided to try controlling my mental energy levels for my powers to pass some time. Conjuring my weapons, and testing my dark magic to see what kind of effect it has on me.

I was doing this all morning up until now, and the practice actually did me some good.

I'm getting a little better at conjuring magical ammo and using my spell, although I can't create new spells yet. Weapon switching is a bit more fluid, but the weapon creation process is still beyond me.

Overall…

I pause for a moment and rub my forehead. The headache from earlier still lingers in my mind.

Who am I kidding? I just don't have the right mind-set for this kind of work. I don't think I'll ever learn to completely control my abilities.

But I won't let that stop me… I can use them a little bit, and that's what counts. If I'm smart, and careful, I should be fine with what I know.

I'll be on the right track just as soon as Reimu wakes up… she'll be up any second now.

A few more minutes pass before I hear a door open in the back. Another minute, and the red and white shrine maiden comes around the corner.

"Good morning Reimu." I say with a wave.

"Good morning Knight. Did you… were you alright last night?" She asks in the same calm manner she always speaks in.

I nod. "Yeah, it's just a little weird having to stay up all night long."

She doesn't seem convinced. "Are you sure you're not hungry or tired? I don't want you going out and getting killed because you were too weak to put up a fight."

The concern is appreciated, but I don't want to take up any more of her time. "I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me. I'd like to get going if you're ready to show me."

She shrugs. "Alright then. Follow me, I'll tell you where you need to go."

I follow Reimu towards the shrine gate. Standing there, Gensokyo is spread out before us like a panoramic map.

She points off into the distance. "Do you see that forest over there? The one next to the lake?"

In the distance is a large lake. A cluster of tall trees stands on one end. "Yeah, I see it. Is that where I'm going?"

"Not quite. There is something else I think you should do first. Just before you reach that forest, there is a road leading to a place called Kourindou. You should go there first." She then points to a clearing left of the forest.

Kourindou? "Why should I go there first?"

"It's a store. The man who owns it sells things from the outside world… your world that is." She replies.

I'm shocked by this."Are you serious? Where does he get it? Is he an outsider too?"

Interesting… To acquire inventory from across the barrier of this realm…

"Small things forgotten by the outside world can end up in Gensokyo for various reasons. It's a rare occasion, but it does happen." She explains. "More notably, there is a certain… ah… friend of mine that is capable of getting things from the outside as well."

"Wow… But, I have no money to spend." I don't have anything actually.

"He is always looking for more information on the outside. Since he mostly trades, you may be able to use what you know in return for a few things from him. Try getting some new clothes if you can." She says this as politely as possible.

I look down at myself… my black shirt is fraying in several places, and my jeans have a wide tear on the right ankle. Ugh… what a mess. I need to get this fixed. I hope this Kourindou place has something in my size.

When I look up, Reimu is in front of me holding out a pair of cloth packets. "Take the rest of these herbs with you before you go; it's good for burns and bruises. You don't regenerate, so try to keep something to heal yourself with at all times."

I gladly take it. "Thanks."

She turns away and points off towards the lake again. "After you finish there, you'll need to find the Scarlet Devil Mansion on the side of the lake opposite to the forest. You'll be looking for a librarian named Patchouli there."

Uhh… Scarlet Devil? "It doesn't sound like the friendliest place to go…"

"It isn't."

Just great…

She turns back to me and continues. "It isn't easy to get inside either. They have a strict no visitors policy there, although that hasn't stopped people in the past. Marisa goes in and out pretty regularly now that I think about it. Since she ran off last night, you'll have to look for her home in the forest if you want her help. You can go it alone, or try looking for her. It's up to you."

I nod. "Got it, anything else?"

She thinks for a moment. "No. That's it. I can't go with you because I have too much to do, but you're always welcome to come back here if you need a safe place. Is there anything you want to ask before you go?"

I try thinking of something, but I can't sort through the piles of questions I have for her.

You do not have all day. Finish here and be off.

After a moment, I give up on trying to think of something. Asking for a crash course on Gensokyo will take too long. I should just try to figure it out as I go.

"No thanks. I think I got it all. Thanks for everything Reimu." I politely reply.

"Of course. Good luck. Be careful out there." Reimu gives a polite bow before turning back towards the old shrine.

I say goodbye and head down the steps.

There is a lot I wanted to ask… There are a lot of things that are still bothering me… But I can't let doubt slow me down.

After a moment, I reach the bottom of the stairs.

Just me and this crazy world now. Here we go.

Not wanting to tire myself early, I maintain walking speed. I keep my eyes on the now distant forest and begin traveling down the old road towards it.

With the sun behind the clouds, walking out here among the tall grass is a refreshing experience. After a moment I decide to take a wide look around. Hills, mountains, and trees make for a beautiful scene. Not to mention it is perfectly quiet out here.

Aside from the violent magic and strange creatures. This place is really a paradise. Each breath of fresh air helps to clear my head and raise my confidence.

"Man… the nature out here is just beautiful. I would have never gotten to see something like this normally."

Do not forget to keep your eyes open for unexpected foes. The sun is gone, and many youkai will be about.

Calm down… it's fine. No point in trying to make myself nervous. Besides, I've only actually gotten into three fights since I got here, and one was voluntary. I think you might be overestimating the situation here.

Do not say I did not warn you…

He falls silent, and I continue along the path uninterrupted.

"Hm?"

A faint drop tickles my arm. I rub it off and look up to check the sky. Sure enough, the clouds have darkened a little, and were just beginning to deliver a light sprinkle.

The sprinkle isn't enough to bother me, nor is it enough to soothe the scorched ground.

However, it is enough to stir up the bugs.

I swat a few mosquitos away that had begun to buzz around me.

Ugh! Damn bugs! I wonder if this Kourindou place has bug spray. This is going to get annoying really fast.

I walk a bit faster. These fields will turn into a marsh if it rains. I don't want to be here if that happens.

Bugs continue to hover about, and I try waving them off.

Go away.

Once again, the sound of buzzing wings near my ear prompts another swipe from my hand.

"Ow!"

Surprised by the voice, I whirl back around to see what it was.

A new creature was with me now. She would have looked like an ordinary girl. Except, she is unnaturally small; just barely two feet tall. She has a bright yellow dress that was also matched her jewel-like eyes. A pair of transparent butterfly wings was attached to her back.

What is she? She looks like a fairy.

Unfortunately, you are correct. An ordinary fairy.

Wow, Really? And why unfortunately?

Because they are worthless! They do not die, they do not bleed, and they do not feel regret. They are completely pointless to me. Arcane speaks more irritably than usual, burning my mind with his anger.

Whoa, calm down! It's just a little fairy, no need to get all twisted.

Just… send her away! This creature bothers me.

I can't help but smile a little.

Ha ha… a god of suffering can't stand a cute little girl.

"Ow…" The fairy whined again. She continues to rub her head with her tiny hand.

I think I hit her on accident. I should say sorry…

"Sorry. Did I hurt you?" I politely apologize.

"I was just trying to pass by. Why did you hit me?" she demands. Her voice was so soft it was almost squeaky, so it wasn't intimidating at all.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it. It's just all of these bugs buzzing around out here. I couldn't tell the difference betw-"

"Y-y-y-you thought I was a BUG?" She indignantly shrieks.

Crap. That came out wrong. "No no no. I didn't mean it like that."

"You idiot! How could you say such mean things to a fairy? I'll… I'll…" She flies into me and punches me in the chest, but her tiny fist feels like nothing more than a hard poke.

I try to think of something to say to calm her down, but her gemstone-like eyes are already filling up with water.

"I'll… I'll… wah… ah…" A few drops begin to fall.

You fool! Slay her or her cries will attract other youkai. Do it now!

I… err…

Arcane's demand is too alien for me. I don't have it in me to strike someone so innocent, even in the interest off self-preservation. I merely stand there speechless, waiting for the inevitable…

"WAAAAAAAAAHHHH! HELP! A STUPID YOUKAI IS BEING MEAN TO MEEEEEEEE!"

She zooms off with a loud flutter. Crying and wailing as she flies away.

I stand there for several minutes before closing my eyes and punching myself in the head.

Ugh… that was all kinds of wrong. I made a fairy cry! I haven't even been away from the shrine for an hour yet, and I'm already causing problems.

I sigh.

I should just go now…

"Hey! You!" Another fairy-like voice calls out to me. I open my eyes to see who it is.

Oh… wow. That's… a lot of fairies.

Approaching is not one, but several fairies. I roughly count them, and find they number around forty. Each had different colored dresses, wings, and glistening eyes. All of them were very angry; some of them were already poised to lob danmaku orbs at me.

In the back is a pair of fairies that are a little bigger than the rest. Both of them carried a rod with a sunflower head. They looked like the leaders of this group.

Peeking out behind one of the sunflower staves is a familiar teary-eyed fairy. She was pointing at me while she whispered to her bigger friend.

"Hey tough guy! You think it's fun to pick on fairies? We aren't all so weak you know!" One of the sunflower fairies shouts at me. Many of the smaller fairies clamor in agreement.

I try to think of something to say back, but their sheer numbers and determination stops me. Nothing I could say would soothe this crowd. I don't think that any reasoning from me will help regardless.

This time the other leading fairy speaks up. "You youkai think you're so tough… Well we fairies aren't going to stand for this abuse any longer! Today, we'll show you!" Again, the fairies join in, throwing insults and names at me.

They're taking this way too seriously. I think I stepped on a bad nerve with the fairies here.

The two leaders continue to take turns talking. Each sentence prompts another round of high-pitched cheering from the crowd. A few fairies that were watching from the side begin to join in without even knowing what's going on.

One mere accident and I'm stuck with a small army of angry girls, and they're all after me.

This is bad… I can't fight them all off! How am I going to win against this many?

I see nothing but a pile of trash here. Swat them aside.

Are you insane? This is a whole swarm! I don't have the right gear to take down this many guys!

Then adapt. These weaklings are vastly inferior to your power. You must simply find the proper means to defeat them.

I try to think of something, but I'm too nervous to concentrate.

There is so many… what am I going to do?

Servant! Act or you will be killed!

I… I need to run, I can't do anything in front of this many enemies.

I take a hesitant glance backwards to see how much room I have. Thankfully, the fairies are only in front of me, and I'm free to run out into the fields.

Given how fast they mobilized against me, I don't think I can get away, but those cluster of trees are close enough, and should offer a bit of cover for me.

A narrow wall of trees jutting out from the grass is only one good sprint away. I decide that I will have a better chance there.

I take a few steps back as I prepare to run for cover. Some of them notice this, prompting several angry shouts.

One of the leaders points at me. "You cannot run from us! We will not let you escape, and we will not forgive you for your insult. Girls! Get ready!"

All of the fairies gather magic into their hands and prepare to hurl it at me. Their small bodies are blocked out by countless flickering lights.

Danmaku battle… No way around it I guess.

They are going to fire soon. I have no choice but to defend myself now.

I draw my pistol, Deceiver, and take aim at the crowd. None of the fairies are even slightly alarmed by my weapon. They aren't going to be intimidated by me.

I can't kill them all with this, but I have to try and slow them somehow. Once I get to cover, I can focus on trying to come up with something to defeat them.

The leaders take aim at me with their sunflower staves and begin a countdown. "Ready… Aim…"

Here it comes…

"Fire!"

The thunder of gunshots rings out over the sound of flying danmaku. The battle starts.

Me against a whole mob of dangerous fairy girls.

So far… not off to a great start today, but I'm not going to be stopped so easily!


A/N

Thanks for reading my latest chapter. I hope you enjoyed it as much as i did writing it.

Again, I really enjoy writing about Touhou characters because of all the possible interpertations. I think Reimu, even when worn down, would be the kind of person to offer friendly advice to someone in need. She is often portrayed as lazy and unwilling, but I think that's more of a side effect of how little respect she gets

Between all of the games, it seems like fairies are the universal punching-bag enemy in Gensokyo. It just feels natural to have fairies bug the adventurer at some point in a Touhou works. Naturally, I wanted to add a fairy obstacle in my story, but I decided to give them a distinct advantage so that the ensuing fight would be more interesting than just a curb stomp. I hope it worked out well.

Thanks again. The next chapter will be ready as soon.