(Author's Note: TEN DESIRES. TEN DESIRES. TEN DESIRES. So fun. I like the new characters, they're so cute….is it wrong to be shipping the tanuki with someone already? ^^'' Probably. I've decided, this takes place riiiiight before Ten Desires in canon. No translated script means no way to work with it, so get on it, translators! 3 Anyway, here comes the next chapter~)

Chapter 10: Complications

Marisa was pale and shaky for the remainder of the day, quickly going home as soon as school was out, unsure to hurry or to take her sweet time and let Keine enjoy her relaxation.

C-Cirno…..Keine's favorite…..great, ze, that's just….g-great. I'm doomed. As soon as I break it to her, she'll burst. She'll take it out on me, like she always seems to do when she's stressed, and then she'll fly off in search. She's a lot like a child sometimes, despite what her personality would usually suggest….ggk, it's cute, but when she's worried, it's…not. I hope she's not too happy when I get home, seeing that smashed would be too much, ze….I'd have to go into therapeutic treatment, oh, god, I can see it. He'll ask me why I'm here and I'll say because I absolutely destroyed the woman I love and then he'll call the cops and I'll say not in that way but it'll be too late and I'll get hauled off to jail and I'll have to deal with creepy looks in the shower and don't drop the soap and and and…oh, god, there's the door. Time to break the news…

Marisa winced, and opened the door. Keine was inside, sitting in a chair, reading a book, however, when she noticed Marisa, she closed it quietly, and walked over, smiling.

"Welcome back, Marisa….I think I'm getting better, finally." Keine said cheerfully.

Great. She's in a good mood. First time I've ever been so disappointed to see that smile…

Marisa nodded, smiling weakly, she walked in, closing the door behind her. Keine smirked, a bit playful at the moment, it seemed.

"You know, if you're still suffering from those delusions, I've been thinking….maybe we could at least go on a date sometime."

Oh, god, no. Oh, god, she's in a really good mood. Oh, god, she even wants to….nonononono why today why today….

"I'd not mind, I know it's probably still delusion, but it's the least I could do for you helping to take care of me for so long…." She hugged Marisa gently, nuzzling her lightly, blushing a faint pink. "It's not like I'd mind too much, anyway…" She muttered quietly. Marisa hugged Keine, blushing lightly as well.

"A-Ah…t-that sounds great! I'd love to…so glad, thought you'd never ask…"

"Idiot. Well, I finally did, are you happy now?"

"Very."

"Mmn…you won't be when your delusions wear off." Keine sighed lightly, nuzzling Marisa again, then letting go, walking to the kitchen. "Well, I suppose I'll go make dinner tonight."

"Mmmhmm, yeah, I'll wait here…" Marisa sat down on a cushion, still attempting to look like her normal self. Keine nodded, smiling, she walked into the kitchen. As soon as she was gone, Marisa gulped.

This is the happiest and most on-edge I've ever been at the same time…..watch her go back to her usual self as soon as I tell her what happened. Urgh, and I thought I'd made…..unexpected progress. Hell, wish I didn't have to tell her, ze…there goes all that progress.

Keine walked out, holding two plates of bean curry, placing them close to each other on the table, and pulling a cushion over near Marisa, sitting on it and eating, smiling, content. It just about broke Marisa's heart.

S-She…looks so happy…maybe I shouldn't tell her…no, no…it's now or later, and we have a chance to save her now. But…she's finally happy…she's finally happy with me….no. Marisa, you come last. After everyone else. You mean nothing to her; she's just doing it as a 'favor' to you. You're nothing. You're just the witch. The lustful, perverted witch. And she's just your perverted fantasy of the moment. Hell, you'll probably be on to Alice next week. Why do you care about anyone but yourself..? You don't, really. You don't.

At that moment, Keine laid her head on Marisa's shoulder, content, clinging to her lightly. "…It's nice, you know. Even if you're delusional…if you just stayed like this…I'd be happy. But…n-no….you have to get back to normal. You have to." She sighed lightly. "If you do want to do anything when you're normal again…I'd be fine with it." She closed her eyes, lying in Marisa's lap, yawning quietly. "Wouldn't mind…at all…"

S-She's cute…too cute. No. Resist it, Marisa. Just tell her what happened and block off your feelings. That's what'll work. It will.

"Keine, I have to tell you something…" Marisa began slowly.

"Mmn? What is it, dear?" Keine smiled, opening one eye, half-listening, half-asleep. "Go ahead, you've looked like something was troubling you, but…I've been a bit selfish, I suppose. Please, go ahead…"

"Keine….Nausicca got Cirno." Marisa said, sighing, looking away, closing her eyes. Keine turned pale, and trembled.

"W-What?"

"Just as I said. Nausicca kidnapped Cirno….I don't know where they are, but…." Marisa muttered.

"S-She….she got her…no….no, no, no…." Keine's eyes were wide and she was pale as a sheet. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER? I…I have to look for her, I have to, she's somewhere in Gensokyo…" She slowly got up, trembling still, still weak. "I have to…"

Marisa tried to close up her emotions, but she was still visibly worried and depressed. "K-Keine….you can't do this in your state…" She sighed.

"No…Cirno's my student, and she's my responsibility. I have to save her…"

"Let me do it…"

"Your powers are gone."

"Let me tell Reimu then, and let her take care of it…"

"No, it's not her territory. It's my responsibility, and even the shrine maiden can't take care of what is mine." Keine was being stubborn, pouting, and crossing her arms.

"No. You're not going."

"You can't tell me what you do, especially when you'd do it yourself."

"YOU'RE NOT GOING." Marisa said in her most commanding tone of voice. Keine trembled, sighed, tears in her eyes, she walked back to her room slowly.

"Just when I thought that I was falling for you…you make me hate you again…" Keine began crying quietly, walking into her room, and closing the door, locking it. Marisa sighed, slowly slumping down.

What have I done…no, no, stop it….no…no…I'm a monster…

Marisa ended up sleeping in a corner of the living room that night, soundly, with a frown on her face, even as her were-hakutaku tiptoed by and flew out, whispering silently one message to Marisa.

"…I'm sorry…"

She flew out, leaving nothing to explain her absence.