Chapter 10
Objectives

Not many remained at Eientei. In addition to Kaguya and Mokou, Reisen had remained, as she was necessary to see to Sakuya and Flandre. The nursing staff had remained, of course, and saw to their physical needs, but only Reisen could examine their minds. A few other rabbits had also remained, mostly those less capable in combat, basic servants and the like. But everyone else had gone.

Reisen met Cirno and Utsuho by the main entrance. "How did it go?" she asked after checking their minds.

"Just fine," Utsuho said. "Byakuren has agreed to refrain from impeding us. Anything noteworthy happen here?"

"Well, Sakuya woke up. Both she and Flandre seem just fine, although they'll be remaining here today. Remilia wanted to leave right away, but the nurses want them to stay a little longer, especially Sakuya. Remilia didn't want to remain, but when I pointed out that the sun would be up shortly, she gave in and agreed to remain until sunset. So your business is concluded, then?"

"Our business with Byakuren, at least," Utsuho said. "We learned of another problem from her, though. Apparently, Sanae's going around 'warning' people about me and Cirno. We may need to deal with her."

"You're not planning on doing that now, are you?"

"Only if she shows up here. I'd like to go after her now, but we did agree to remain here until Eirin and the others returned."

"Good," Reisen said.

"There is one more thing."

"Oh?"

"We ran into Rumia on the way back. I don't know if she's even planning on coming here, but I thought you should know. And, well, Cirno and I ended up fighting her."

"We drove her off," Cirno said, "but she's got some nasty tricks."

"Like what?"

"Let's just say that try to avoid fighting her when it's dark. Actually, the way we drove her off was by lighting up the area."

"So that was you."

"You saw it?"

Reisen nodded. "I did. I didn't know what it was, but when an area gets bright like that all of a sudden, well, if you look that way, you're going to notice. I wondered if it might be you."

"That was indeed us," Utsuho said. "That was the end of our battle with Rumia."

"She kept teleporting," Cirno said. "I realized she was moving through the darkness, so, well, I lit things up."

"Hold on, that was you? Not Utsuho?"

"Our powers are more similar than you might think," Utsuho said. "We realized that early in our training, and we learned each other's abilities."

"Well, that's… unexpected. How can-"

Cirno cut her off. "Incoming. Just one person."

"Wait, how can you tell?"

"We haven't just learned each other's abilities. We can do a lot of new stuff now, too."

"And that includes... sensing people, or whatever?"

"It does," Utsuho said. "And Cirno's right. Someone is approaching. I sense it, too."

"Can you tell who it is?"

"No. We can't identify people that way-except for each other, that is. But someone's coming. The only question is who."

"Utsuho," Cirno said, "do you think it's Rumia?"

Utsuho thought for a moment. "It's possible, but I'd say it's unlikely. She wouldn't have any reason to come here, right? And she wouldn't be looking for a fight right after we beat her, I don't think."

"Then who is it?"

"It's probably our 'scout'," Reisen said.

"Scout?"

Reisen nodded. "She agreed to aid us after we rescued her from the twisted-and yes, I think we've all started using that name. Anyways, we've been using her for reconnaissance; she has a useful ability for that sort of work."

"And you aren't worried that she'll be attacked again?"

"Eirin decided that such a risk was necessary. And it's a minor risk, too; an encounter she can't run from is unlikely. Eirin's worrying earlier was more out of her concern for the princess; she has no such feelings here."

"I see," Utsuho said.

"Anyways, um, why don't you two head inside? If she's back, I should talk to her before she sees you two."

"In case Sanae got to her? A good idea. We'll go fill Mokou and Kaguya in, then. Come on, Cirno."

Eientei was a large place, but the pair didn't find it difficult to locate Kaguya and Mokou. There were two people alone somewhere in the mansion, clearly the two they were looking for. And even in a place with an unfamiliar layout, finding their way to someone was easy when they could sense that someone's exact location.

Cirno and Utsuho heard the two talking as they approached the room. "…but they are an unknown," Mokou was saying.

"I thought you said you'd met Utsuho," Kaguya said.

"Only briefly. Keine and I visited the power plant once. Hardly enough to get to know her."

"I suppose. And Eirin seems a bit worried about them. Utsuho in particular, I think."

Cirno rolled her eyes. Talking about us without knowing we can hear them. How clichéd can you get? She opened the door, stepping into the room with Utsuho.

"Eirin told me Utsuho wanted to incinerate Gensokyo," Kaguya, whose back was to the door, continued. "Apparently it was temporary insanity, and is over now. But we don't know her or Cirno. What we do know is that they're both powerful, and we know Utsuho was ready to do something like that, and we can't be sure it won't happen again, and they just entered the room, didn't they?"

"Yep," Mokou said

"I apologize," Kaguya said as she got out of her chair and turned to face them. "I didn't realize you were there."

"It's not a problem," Utsuho said. "After all, you're right about what I was ready to do. I'm not going to repeat that, but that's something you'll have to convince yourselves of."

Mokou got to her feet as well. "Anyways, you had some business of your own you were taking care of, I believe. How did that go?"

"Just fine," Utsuho said. "Byakuren has agreed to let us be, so we returned here as planned. Although we had an encounter with Rumia first. You may have seen part of it."

"The light? Yes, we noticed. I take it you won."

Utsuho nodded. "We did."

"Do you think Rumia's responsible for her disappearance?" Kaguya asked.

"It's a possibility," Mokou said. "We have someone we have been using for reconnaissance," she explained to Cirno and Utsuho, "but she's been gone for much longer than she should be. Eirin in particular is just about ready to give up on her."

"Actually," Utsuho said, "she's outside, speaking with Reisen. Cirno and I sensed her approach-yes, we can do that-and Reisen concluded that it was indeed your scout."

"And you didn't stay outside to meet her?"

"Reisen thought we should let her talk to the scout in private first."

"That may have been a very good idea," Kaguya said. "There's no telling how she'll react to the news of your survival."

"As I thought," Utsuho said.

"Pardon?"

"When Reisen said that, I remarked that it was a good idea, but we haven't yet told you the reason I stated. Which means that the real reason is different. And based on what you just said, I'm thinking that the reason is related to just who your scout is."

"Well… yes."

"Then just- hold on, I think someone's come looking for us."

"You can 'sense' this, then," Mokou said.

"Yes. Cirno and I can sense people's locations. We can't identify people very easily that way-although we can pick out each other-but we can sense them. And right now, someone's heading this way. I guess they know where to find you."

Kaguya indicated the wine glasses sitting on the small table between the chairs. "Of course they know where we are. Who do you think served the drinks?"

"You don't even go and get your own drinks?" Cirno said. "Really?"

"We do if we're right there, but why bother running off to do something like that when you can have a servant do it for you?"

"I had forgotten how easily this lifestyle can spoil you," Mokou remarked. "I may be just as noble as Kaguya, but it has been some time since I last had an opportunity to live this way."

The approaching person, one of the servant rabbits, entered the room. "Ah, you are all here. Good. Our scout has returned. She and Reisen will meet you in the main hall."

"Well, then," Utsuho said, "let's go meet this scout of yours."

Reisen had wanted to talk to the scout before the scout saw Cirno and Utsuho, and as soon as Cirno saw her, s

he understood why.

"Cirno," the scout said as she approached the fairy. "It's true, then."

"I'm still alive," Cirno said. "We were hiding out in the underground."

"So Reisen told me. And you must be Utsuho."

"I am," Utsuho said. "And you are?"

"Wriggle Nightbug."

Well, Utsuho thought, that explains a few things. "Ah, yes. You were a friend of Cirno's, I believe. She's mentioned your name."

"That's right," Wriggle said, "although I can already tell she's changed just as much as I have."

"Daiyousei is dead," Cirno said. "Utsuho and I are alive, but as far as I know, the others who died really did die. I do know for sure that Daiyousei's dead. And yeah, that's the kind of thing that changes a person."

"Sounds like you had it at least as bad as I did. Although it looks like you found someone else even underground."

"Utsuho's the one who took me underground, actually. What about you?"

"I had Mystia to help," Wriggle said. "Rumia, too, but she didn't really get it. Mystia, though… I got the feeling that she has more in her past then she lets on. She was a lot more mature about the whole thing than I'd ever seen her before. And now we… well, we're… um…"

"You and Mystia?"

"Um… yes."

"It's funny how many people these things have brought together," Utsuho remarked. "Kaguya and Mokou, me and Cirno, you and Mystia... I guess good things can come even from something like this."

"Wait," Wriggle said, "you two are-"

Cirno nodded. "We are."

"Um. Well, um, actually, now that I think about it, I really shouldn't be surprised. I mean, you two have been living together for several years now, right? Given that, this really shouldn't be as surprising as I'm finding it."

"Yours surprised me," Cirno said. "I didn't think Mystia even knew what an emotional relationship was."

"As I said, it quickly became apparent that there's more to her than we thought. I think… I think there's something in her past. Something nasty. Something that made her decide to hide herself behind the veneer of a child."

"And you don't know what?"

"I'm not going to push her. She'll tell me when she's ready to. Anyways," she said, turning to Kaguya and Mokou, "as I told Reisen, that's why it took me so long to get back; I went to go check on Mystia."

"Where is she?" Kaguya asked.

"She's at the human village right now. A lot of us have gathered there over the past couple of days," she explained to Cirno and Utsuho. "And the humans have been quite welcoming, I understand; it's amazing how much a common threat can do to overcome differences."

"Keine has been organizing a defensive plan in case of another attack," Mokou said. "She and I have been going back and forth between there and here. There aren't a lot of very powerful people there, but we do have good numbers. And there are at least a couple more powerful individuals there; in particular, it seems that Reimu Hakurei has decided to move in for the time being."

"Hold on," Utsuho said. "Reimu's in the village?"

"Yes," Wriggle said. "I saw her myself. Why?"

"We've been looking for her," Cirno explained. "We thought she might know something about the twisted. You know, since she probably took care of them the first time, just like she takes care of any other incident."

"We've asked her about that, actually. And apparently, it was in fact not her who handled things the first time. We've been trying to find out who did take care of them the first time, but so far we haven't made any progress. That's been one of my jobs, but I haven't had any success."

"Unfortunate," Kaguya remarked. "Anyways, why don't you give me the report?"

"There's nothing that's really all that noteworthy," Wriggle said, "but sure. And then I think Cirno and I have some catching up to do. And there aren't any pressing concerns at the moment, I don't think."

"Yeah, we should take it easy today," Utsuho said. "You know, get some rest and all that. Especially me and Cirno; we've done a lot of fighting over the past day and night, and we could probably use it."

"That," Cirno said, "sounds like a very good idea."

Remilia, Flandre, and Sakuya left as soon as the sun went down. Utsuho and Reisen met them outside. "Thank you, both of you," Remilia said. "And thank Cirno for me, too."

"I'll do that," Utsuho said. "Where will you go? Back to the Scarlet Devil Mansion?"

"I'm not sure," Remilia said. "Yes, we repelled the first twisted attack, but if there's a stronger attack, we may not be able to. Especially not without Patchouli. And we need to go get China, anyways. We may stay underground for now."

"That may be a good idea," Utsuho said. "Well, when you're underground, find an oni named Yuugi. I told Hong to look for her, too. And if you do decide to stay, then just tell her I sent you."

"All right," Remilia said. "And again, thanks."

"Any time," Reisen said.

"It seems they've left," Cirno remarked.

"Huh?"

"Remilia. Three people just left; I'd assume it's Remilia's group."

"Wait," Wriggle said, "how can you tell?"

"I did mention the training Utsuho and I did. Sensing people is one of the many new abilities we developed."

"Um… okay, then. And you can tell it's Remilia?"

"No," Cirno said. "We can't identify people that way, with the exception of each other. But Remilia intended to leave at sundown. Now it's sundown, and wouldn't you know it, three people just left. It's not hard to figure out who they are."

"I see. You've changed in more ways than I thought, then. You-"

"What the hell?"

"Cirno?"

"We have incoming," Cirno said. "A lot of them."

"Is it-"

"It's not the twisted. They feel… different. No, these are people. But who… it's not Eirin already, is it?"

"Yes, you said you expected her group to be gone for a while."

"Come on," Cirno said. "There's still two people outside. We'll tell them first. Let's go."

Utsuho and Reisen turned to head inside, but then Utsuho stopped. "Um, Reisen? We've got incoming."

"Incoming?"

"Yes. A large group."

"Not good," Reisen said. "Okay, um, we need to see after Kaguya. And Mokou. Um, okay, I'll go get them. You find Cirno and-"

"It's not the twisted."

"Wait," Reisen said, "you can tell? I thought you said you couldn't identify people."

"I can't identify individuals-except Cirno-but the twisted feel different from anything else. It's how Cirno and I know they're not alive. They don't feel the same as people do. And speaking of Cirno, she would seem to be on her way out here."

"Alone?"

"No. She's with one other-Wriggle, probably. They'll be coming out right… about... now."

Right on cue, Cirno and Wriggle exited the mansion. "Utsuho," Cirno said. "Reisen. I guess you're aware, then."

"I feel them," Utsuho said. "There's enough of them to be Eirin's group, but I wouldn't have expected them back so soon."

"Yeah," Reisen said, "they'll probably by gone for a while. There hasn't been enough time yet. If it is them, they'd have had to find what they were looking for pretty much at the moment they reached the netherworld, which would take far too much luck even for Tewi. Unless they had some natural luck, I suppose. Anyways, um, Wriggle, go find Kaguya and Mokou."

"Got it," Wriggle said. She didn't head inside immediately, however. She held the door open for several seconds, then entered.

"You know," Cirno said, "we could find them a lot more easily."

"I know," Reisen said, "but I want both of you out here in case there's a fight. And to keep track of just what our incoming group is doing. It won't take Wriggle very long, though; she took enough insects inside with her to sweep the place pretty quickly."

"I see," Utsuho said. "Okay, most of the group has come to a halt. Only one person is continuing to approach."

"Not immediately going to attack, then, at least," Reisen said. "All right, let's just wait and see who we've got here."

It was, in fact, Eirin. "Ah, a welcoming party," she said as she landed.

"Cirno and I sensed your approach," Utsuho said. "Although we weren't expecting you back so soon."

"We weren't expecting to be back so soon. We're not done, though. We're just here to pick up Kaguya and Mokou. We have another destination."

"Remilia just left," Reisen said, "so I can come, too. And Kaguya and Mokou should be out soon; Wriggle's getting them as we speak."

"Wriggle? She returned?"

Reisen nodded. "Apparently, she stopped in to, um, 'check up' on Mystia."

"She did, did she? Well, that's fine, then. We'll just have to make sure she lets us know next time."

"Anyways," Utsuho said, "what happened? You are back sooner than expected."

"We ran into Yuyuko Saigyouji. She and Yomou were exiting the netherworld as we arrived. We were lucky to run into them. They think they know what's going on, but Yuyuko wasn't willing to take time telling us. Apparently, she wants to reach their destination as quickly as possible. I didn't want to leave Kaguya and Mokou here any longer than necessary, but Yuyuko didn't want to make the detour here, either. I did manage to talk her into remaining at her destination until we get there, though."

"And where is that?"

"They're heading," Eirin said, "for Yukari's."

"What this about Yukari?" Mokou asked as she, Kaguya, and Wriggle emerged from the mansion.

"We're going to her place," Eirin said. "We stopped by to pick you up first. I'll explain on the way. What about you?" she asked, turning to Cirno and Utsuho. "Will you be accompanying us?"

"We do want to know what's going on," Utsuho said, "but…"

"Problems?"

"Yes. Byakuren won't be giving us any trouble, but it seems that Sanae is determined to… make things difficult for us. So I want to come with you, but I'm thinking Cirno and I should deal with her before she becomes any more of a problem. We'll just check the mountain, I think; I don't want to go searching all over Gensokyo for her. We'll just check the mountain, then come back."

"I see," Eirin said. "All right, then. If you want to take care of that, then go. We'll meet back here."

"That works," Utsuho said. "Oh, and, um, try not to mention that we're cooperating. We don't know who Sanae's gotten to."

"Understood," Eirin said. "All right, then. Kaguya, Mokou, Reisen, Wriggle. Let's go."