Hakueri Shrine
As usual, Reimu had finished sweeping the shrine and was drinking her tea. The events of the past couple of days had begun to take a toll on her. Since she was the Hakueri Shrine Maiden, she was expected to make sure that Gensokyo was well. Now with the land being dragged into what would be an extremely bloody conflict, she felt at odds with herself. She felt like this because of what she wanted. If she were able to achieve just one thing in her life, it would be a lasting peace, with no violence. Remiu had always hated the fact that she sometimes had to hurt someone to solve incidents. It just wasn't in her to do that and not worry about it. She had thought that by treating everyone the same, that she would stay detached. But that didn't happen.
A little over Reimu's head, a familiar gap opened. Yukari could tell from above that Reimu was starting to feel depressed. The youkai climbed out of her gap and sat down next to the miko. She was surprised to see bags under the younger woman's eyes. It was obvious that she had spent a few nights staying up to see if she could figure out a way to protect the land that she loved without having to resort to violence. But deep in her heart, she knew that that was impossible. And Remiu was at her breaking point.
It was just a little hiccup at first. Then she began to shake. Tears began to flow down her face. Yukari had only seen Remiu cry once. And the youkai had been involved. Guilt began to grip Yukari's heart. She pulled Remiu in close and held her. She was almost in tears herself. But what hurt Yukari the most was the one thing that Reimu kept asking.
"Why…Why…Why?"
Scarlet Devil Mansion Library
The sight of a large number of books in a pile on Patchouli's desk wasn't anything new. The same went for the librarian and her assistant floating here and there with research notes. In any other circumstances, Sakuya would have been hard press not to clean up after them. But today, she knew what they were doing and decided to let them be. She also had to escort Patchouli's visitor.
"Lady Patchouli, you have a visitor," Sakuya curtsied. She was acknowledged with a nod and dismissed. Reisen Udongein Inaba held a small paper bag. She had only been in the legendary Volie library once before, so she was still trying to let it sink in.
Patchouli finally managed to disengage herself from the notes and floated over to the rabbit, "So, your master's done with my request?"
"Yes, Master Eirin guarantees that this should calm down your asthma quite a bit. But she says that she needs you to come in for a full checkup before she can make it go away entirely."
"I can't really leave what I'm doing right now. I barely have enough time to eat and sleep. And it's probably going to get worse with that they told us happened during the negotiations."
"Master has been saying the same thing. But we have the Lunarians helping us now."
"Even so, I rather not leave anything to chance. But, there is another favor I would like to ask her."
Reisen could tell that Patchouli was reluctant to keep going and stayed silent.
"I want-no, I would like for Eirin to see about making a potion that would help someone that I can't." Patchouli walks over to a cabinet and pulls out a small bag. "This is Flandre's hair. I've researched every book I have here. But I can't find a cure for her insanity. I know that most people in Gensokyo are afraid of her, but it's not her fault. If they got to know here when she isn't in one of her episodes, she would have a lot more friends. Take these notes I made as well. And tell your master that I'm willing to pay anything to get her that cure."