Darkness of Illusion

Chapter 12

Visitation – Flying Kung-Fu


The grey man sat cross-legged in the Moriya shrine, meditating. In the day that he had been there, the entire place had been transformed. The wood had turned black, and strange red veins grew across them. Runes had been inscribed across all surfaces, floors, walls and ceilings. In the shrines yard, great cracks ran across the land, and torches with black flames lined the sides of the path.

The grey man hadn't moved since the he had sat down, and magic symbols floated in the air around him. He spoke softly, in an ancient language that predated the rise of mankind, not stopping for rest or breath.

The two devils who accompanied him had likewise not moved from their posts. They stood motionless and might have appeared like statues. Their kind did not require food, drink or sleep, and thus could have kept standing endlessly.

Suddenly the grey man stopped his chanting and opened his eyes. "It is time." He said calmly.

He stood up and the floating runes followed him. He headed for the shrine door, and slid it open. His wings spread out to their full length, as he walked across the yard. Where ever his feet touched the ground, black circles appeared. When he left them, the circles expanded and fiends emerged. More black circles appeared behind him, and even more fiends emerged from within the shrine.

The gray man slowly made his way down the path, the magical symbols floating around him like insects. He stopped at the edge of a cliff and held out his hands over the valley beneath it. He spoke, his voice resonating and echoing like a great multitude of speakers.

"The time is right and the land has been prepared." He said. "The ritual has been cast, and the hand of the Dark Ones are felt. I reach down into the nether planes and call forth their great power."

In the valley beneath, a black circle appeared, far larger than any before. The runes floating around him flew down, and took up positions around the circle. Youkai Mountain began to tremble, and then shook deeper, until a massive earthquake tore through it, leveling buildings and causing rocks to come crashing down.

The gray man still stood at the edge of the cliff and spoke the final words. "From the Gray Wastes of Hades, I call forth Khin-Oin!"

From the circle slowly emerged a massive tower. It was shaped like a human spine, with towers and balconies and windows carved into the bone. From the base of the tower, a strange fog emerged, spreading over the entire mountain.

"The second phase is done," the gray man said. He lowered his hands and immediately collapsed to his knees. "Man that was tiring… I swear, I don't know if this numbness will ever fade away…" He said while rubbing his rear end. "After all this, there's still one question I have to ask. Why did I have to do this? Couldn't the yugoloths summon their own tower instead of making me do it?"

"True, but you were clearly the best option if we wanted it done with perfection." Said a voice.

The gray man turned around, but was unable to locate the source of the voice.

"Oh, my apologies." Said the voice. There was a brief shimmer in the air, and Alcain Fem'Att appeared. Immediately the gelugon and osyluth sprung into action, spear and claw being thrust up to the intruder's throat.

"Whoa, whoa. Stand down, there's no need for violence here." said the gray man.

At his order, the devils lowered their weapons, and returned to their positions, unmoving.

The gray man turned back to look at Khin-Oin. "So, Alcain, what do you think?"

"'Tis good start," Said the arcanaloth. "Manifesting both the Well of Darkness and the Wasting Tower in this land is no mean feat. However you should not forget that there is still much more to be done."

"I have not forgotten," Said the gray man. "Yet, there are some things I believe should be taken care of before we I cause the site of power to manifest here. Not to mention that I would need to find the right location for it…"

"I have some ideas as to where…" Alcain said.

"You do? Where are they?"

"No, I'd rather not get your hopes up unnecessarily . I need more knowledge before I can confirm that they would be functional, continue on with what you were going to do."

"This goes above and beyond what you were contracted for, Alcain. Why do so much?"

Alcain smiled. "Were all fiends here, aren't we? Don't we all have a common goal?" The arcanaloth bowed. Then there was another brief shimmer, and Alcain was gone.


Deep in the mountains that surrounded Gensokyo was the village of Mayohiga. The place was small and secluded, populated mostly by youkai. They generally kept to themselves, avoiding the squabbles and Incidents that happened constantly elsewhere in Gensokyo. Even still, the population was low, and most of the houses and buildings were unused.

It was difficult to reach this village, even by flying. Thus it had managed to avoid the turmoil that the rest of Gensokyo was currently going through.

A figure in a red and white dress leaped across the rooftops, performing a series of acrobatic flips and twirls. She had brown hair and wore a green hat. She had cat ears, one of which was pierced, and a hole was cut in the back of her dress to allow for two tails to poke through.

As she jumped she sang, it was an upbeat and playful song.

"Come on everybody! Let's dance!

Come on, cheer up, raise your feet!

Everyone, make a circle! Cheers from Gensokyo!

If your optimistic we say hello,

Because even if things went wrong

We are all friends now!

Fairies and spirits

Youkai and tengu

Even gods are invited!

Come on everybody lets-"

Chen cut her song short as she landed on a building near the village square. In the center of the village was a fountain statue of the dragon god, just like the one in the human village. Three figures had appeared, as if out of nowhere and where observing the statue. One was tall and skeletally thin, another looked much like a giant bipedal blue insect. The third appeared the most human, albeit with gray skin and black wings.

Chen remained still and listened to their conversation.

"Another one, just like I saw in that other village." said the skeleton-like figure in a raspy, sandpaper-like voice. "What is it?"

"It's a statue." Replied the insect.

"Oh ha ha ha," replied the skeleton sarcastically. "I've heard lemures tell better jokes, Kulzu."

"Well if you must have an answer" The Kulzu. "It kind of looks like a dragon."

"Not any kind of dragon I've ever worked with…"

"You used to work with dragons, Ialil?" Kulzu asked.

"I thought I told you, I worked for Tiamat up on Avernus before I got promoted."

"Ah, I had forgotten. Well do you have an answer, boss?"

"It's a statue of the chief god of this realm, and yes it is a dragon. He assisted in the creation of this land, along with a youkai who, if my information is correct, resides in this very village."

Chen crept forwards to get a closer look. Unfortunately, the panel she placed her weight on groaned.

Almost instantly, Kulzu turned in her direction and exhaled a wave of blue energy from its mouth. Chen's reflexes were top notch, however. She leaped out of the way and landed on another rooftop just as the building was struck by the energy, covering it in ice.

"What was that?" Ialil asked.

"I thought I saw something over there?" Kulzu said.

Suddenly Ialil sneezed.

"Curse you." Said Kulzu.

"Thanks…" Ialil sneezed again. "I think it's just a freaking cat. I'm allergic to cats."

"A cat…" The gray man said. He looked about, and then made a beckoning gesture. Chen was lifted off of the rooftop and pulled towards the fiends.

"Would this be the cat that's troubling you?" the gray man said.

Ialil crept closer to Chen and knelt down. He suddenly sneezed again.

"Curse you." Kulzu said.

"Looks like it." Ialil said.

"Should we kill her?" Kulzu asked.

Chen gasped, and then scratched Ialil across the face. He stumbled back while Chen leapt to her feet. Immediately, Kulzu thrust his spear at her. She jumped up and landed on the pole. From there she leapt forwards and kicked the gelugon in the face. As he stumbled back, she landed on the ground and slashed his legs. The gelugon fell on his back, his spear rolling away.

The gray man sighed. "I had hoped to avoid violence while we were here, but predictably enough…"

"If there's going to be a fight -ACHOO!- Can I sit this one out?" Ialil asked. He then sneezed again.

"Bles- Curse you." The gray man said. "Sure, Kulzu can handle this, can't you?"

Kulzu stood back up. "Of cours-AAGH!"

He was then, unfortunately interrupted by a magically empowered spinning kick from Chen, sending him flying. He recovered quickly from the crash, and sat up.

"All right! That's it! No more mister nice- AUGHHHHHH!"

While Kulzu had been taunting, Chen had grabbed on to the ice devils head and sank her teeth into one of his antennae. She then began scratching at his face.

"GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME!" Kulzu flailed about, trying to grab Chen. She crawled about on his body, scratching and biting. He finally succeeded in tearing the catgirl off him and hurling her away. She landed on her feet a few yards away.

Kulzu ran his hands over his face and groaned. "Noooo… I'm missing an antennae."

Ialil and the gray man began laughing.

"Oh come on! It's not funny! The erinyes love the antennae!" Kulzu turned towards Chen and charged towards her. At that moment, Chen kicked Kulzu's spear towards him, he tripped over it and landed face first on the ground.

"Had enough?" Chen taunted.

Kulzu stood up on all fours and then exhaled his freezing breath. Chen leaped out of the way as the fountain behind her froze over.

Kulzu stood up and then made a gesture with his hands. Large chunks of ice levitated into the air, and then fired at Chen. She acrobatically dodged them, before charging towards Kulzu again. He spun and smacked her with his tail, sending her flying. Again in mid-air she flipped to land on her feet. However she touched down on the ice and went sliding into a wall.

"How is this brat so strong?" Kulzu asked, while he moved towards his spear.

Suddenly a ball of fire struck the spear, incinerating it. "Because she's with me!"

Everyone looked up to see another woman standing on the rooftops. She had short blonde hair and wore a white and blue dress. The feature that drew the most attention however, were the nine tails extending from her back. Smoke curled from one of her hands.

"Ran!" Chen said

"Ran Yakumo? The streaker?" The gray man said.

Ran suddenly blushed, and her tails bristled. "That was only once!"

"Streaker… heh heh heh. I'd like to see that f- ACHOO!" Ialil sneezed again. His comment earned him a "Curse you" From Kulzu and a brief barrage of danmaku from Ran.

"Anyways, leave this village now!"

"Leave?" Chen complained. "But, Ran, I was winning!"

"Chen, you don't know what you're getting into."

"But…"

"Chen!" Ran said sternly.

"Yes Ran…"

"Return home, I'll deal with these three."

"Yes Ran…" Chen stood up and took off over the rooftops.

"Good riddance." Ialil said, relieved.

"I'll ask you once more, leave now!"

The air around Ran's hands distorted and shimmered.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to say no to that." The gray man said. "Ialil?"

"With pleasure!" Ialil leaped towards ran. At that moment, the energy she had been gathering formed into electricity in her hands. She launched a blast of electricity towards the bone devil, catching him in mid-jump and sending him flying into the side of a building.

Kulzu unleashed another blast of ice. Ran leaped over the attack and formed blue flames in her hand. She hurled them down at the ice devil. However, Kulzu redirected the flow of freezing energy upwards, intercepting Ran's fire. The two attacks collided, creating a cloud of strange blue smoke. Ran flew downwards, bursting through the cloud and bringing down both her fists on the fiend and smashing him into the ground.

Suddenly, behind her, Ialil leaped from the wreckage, and towards Ran. However, she swiftly turned and caught him by the tail and swung him into Kulzu just as he was about to rise, sending the both of them rolling away.

Ran then spread out her arms, and a blue flame appeared at the tip of each of her tails. She then pointed forwards, and the fires launched towards the devils.

Just in time, Kulzu slammed his fist against the ground. A sphere of ice formed over him and Ialil. The fire hit the ice creating an explosion sending chunks of ice everywhere.

Ran made a throwing motion, and Ialil was sent flying backwards, crashing through the side of a building. Kulzu stood up and clasped his hands together. When he pulled them apart, a new spear made of ice appeared in his grip. He hurled it at ran, who sidestepped.

Kulzu gestured, and chunks of ice began raining from the sky above Ran. She held up her hand, and the ice stopped in mid-air, before transforming into blue fire. She then hurled the newly created fireballs at Kulzu which exploded on impact, and sent him crashing into the rising Ialil, destroying them both.

She turned to the gray man. "I won't ask you again, leave now!"

However the gray man wasn't paying any attention to her. He was examining the dragon statue. "Yes, extraordinarily well made. And these eyes, are they gemstones?"

"Are you listening to me?"

"This statue would look lovely in the garden…"

Ran fired a blast of blue flames over the gray man's head. Afterwards, he slowly looked up, then turned around.

"Oh… they've been defeated. Well that's wonderful, now I'll have to re-gather their essences again."

"I know you heard me, if you won't leave…"

The gray man sighed. "And it was such a good statue too… A pity… Maybe the damage won't be that bad… " His wings extended and he took off, landing on the statues head. He then closed his eyes as he touched his hand to the statue. The statue glowed for a second before the light faded.

"But duty calls…"

There was the sound of shifting stone and the statue began to move. The stone dragon tore it's self free from the platform and water sprayed everywhere.

The gray man pointed at Ran and the animated statue charged towards her. Ran leaped into the air, avoiding the stone dragons snapping teeth. From there she fired down several shots of blue flame, but they simply bounced off of its stone body.

Ran landed on a rooftop. Suddenly she heard something to her side. It was the gray man floating upside down. "Scorch marks can be cleaned up easily enough? Right?" He asked.

The stone dragon lashed out, at the kitsune like a snake. Ran stepped aside, and the dragon smashed through the roof of the building.

Ran gestured downwards, and the stone dragon was sent crashing to the floor of the building. She then clasped her hands together, and the entire building collapsed upon the statue. The gray man had already disappeared.

She landed in the street and caught her breath. For a second she thought it was over, but then the pile of rubble exploded and the stone dragon burst out. However before it could strike again, miniature storm clouds appeared over the dragon, and a highly caustic acid rained down, creating pockmarks on its body. The dragon turned about, trying to find whoever had cast the spell. \

"Great, more repairs necessary…" the gray man said.

"Hit it now!" Someone shouted. Ran turned to see Chen standing beside her.

"Chen? I thought I told you to return home!"

"But Raaan! I wanna help!"

"This isn't the time to be arguing with me! Go-"

Ran's response was cut short as both of them were forced to dodge another attack from the dragon. Ran gestured and several illusions of both her and Chen appeared around the area. The dragon lashed out at each illusion ignoring them when they turned out to be false.

"This isn't the time to be arguing with me!" Ran repeated. "Go back to the house! "

"But…"

At that moment the dragon located the real Ran and Chen and charged at them, mouth wide open. Ran picked up Chen in one hand and rolled away. She stood back up and with her free hand launched a bolt of lightning. The electricity impacted against the side of the stone beasts head, blasting off its horns and one of its eyes, and cracking several teeth. The dragon was knocked back across the street.

"Well that's not good." Said the gray man. He suddenly appeared in a cloud of smoke, floating next to the dragons head. "Oh dear, what a mess." He shook his head.

The dragon reared back, and charged forwards, passing through the gray man, who dispersed into another cloud of smoke.

Still carrying Chen, Ran jumped away from the dragon, and ran along the rooftops, determined to get Chen out of danger.

As she retreated, the gray man materialized next to her. "I could magically repair the damage, but it wouldn't be the same. I'd always know that it was there, and that kind of ruins the effect. Not to mention that it would be kind of tacky… What do you think?"

"Go to hell!" Ran shouted.

"Already live there." The gray man said and then dispersed again.

Ran slowed down, confused by the strangers words. That proved to be her undoing. The dragon sank it's teeth into her ankle and she fell to the ground, letting go of Chen, who rolled away. Ran turned and punched the dragon in the mouth shattering several of its teeth and freeing her foot. The dragon didn't resume its attack on her, but rushed towards the fallen Chen and coiled around her. As she tried to rise it pinned her to the ground with one of its talons and opened its mouth.

Ran immediately rose, ignoring the pain in her foot, and rushed to the dragon, but was too late. The dragon smashed its head into the ground, crushing Chen beneath it.

"CHEEEEEEEEEN!" Ran cried.

"Over here."

Ran turned and saw the gray man holding Chen. Relief filled ran's heart, soon replaced by a new worry for the catgirls safety.

"Let her go!" Ran demanded.

The stone dragon lifted its head and looked around briefly before seeing Chen in the gray mans arms. It charged forwards again. However the gray man held Chen with one arm, and extended the other. The instant the dragon touched the gray man's hand it stopped, becoming again motionless and inanimate.

"I think I would call this battle over." The gray man said.

"Let. Her. Go."

"Now now, Miss Ran." The gray man chided. "It doesn't appear that you're in any position to make demands."

Chen struggled in the gray mans grip, and then attempted to bite his arm. Her sharp teeth didn't even break the flesh, and the gray man appeared to take no notice.

A hundred different strategies coursed through Ran's head, but she couldn't rely on any of them without knowing what her enemy was capable of.

"What do you want?" Ran asked.

"To do what I initially came here to do. Talk. I wish to speak with Yukari Yakumo."

Ran growled, and then relented. "Very well. Follow me."


The gray man had returned Chen to Ran, and she held the catgirl in her arms.

I'm sorry Ran. Chen thought.

Don't worry, you were just trying to do what you thought was right. Ran comforted. However, now you understand the importance of following orders.

Yes Ran. Chen answered.

"I'm curious." The gray man stated. "Would you be willing to answer a question for me?"

"What?" Ran asked suspiciously.

"The others in this village may keep to themselves, but you are no doubt aware of what has transpired in this realm in the past few days? Are you not?"

"I am." Was all Ran answered.

"Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the relationship between a master and shikigami is very similar to the relationship between a master and familiar."

"You are correct."

"Then one of the features of that bond is the sharing of information, for example your brief telepathic conversation just now. If the familiar or shikigami is aware of something, the master is on some level, aware of it as well."

Ran showed no surprise at the gray man reading their telepathic link. "So you're wondering if Yukari aware of what has been happening?"

"Indeed, I have been wondering why the ruler of this realm has not acted in response to the events of the past few days. Is she aware of what has been happening?"

"No, I don't believe she is."

"Hmm? And why not. My wife is not the most subtle of the baatezu."

"She has been… asleep." Ran admitted.

"Asleep?"

They came to a house sitting on the edge of a cliff, presenting a great view of Gensokyo from the porch in the back.

"That's how she spends most of her time."

"Seriously? Hardly fitting for such an important person. Lord Asmodeus never sleeps. Not that he needs it anyways…"

"Well this isn't hell or wherever you're from." Ran said. She opened the sliding door and led the gray man down a series of hallways, to a room. In it, Yukari Yakumo lay asleep on a futon, looking peaceful and content.

"Good luck waking her. I've been trying for days."

The gray man knelt down next to Yukari and placed his index and middle finger on her forehead. "In that case, perhaps it will work best from the inside…"


There are no oceans or seas in Gensokyo, as the realm is entirely landlocked. The largest body of water is in fact the misty lake nearby the Scarlet Devil Mansion. A lake that said Scarlet Devil claims as her own. (It is also worth stating that nobody really cares, and draws water from the lake all the same. She had once tried to instate a fee on the water, a fee Reimu had swiftly put a stop to.)

However the lack of saltwater in Gensokyo, is no limitation what so ever it the realm of dreams.

Dread Pirate Captain Yukari stood the bow of her ship, bravely looking forwards. She was certainly dressed the part, of a sea captain, with some… modifications. Namely a corset, thigh high boots and a blue sash, leaving one leg exposed. She adjusted her tricorn on which was a skull and crossbones. , and then took a spyglass from her belt.

However before she could look through it, Ran appeared behind her, dressed similarly, albeit now wearing an eye patch. "Any idea where we are?" Ran asked.

Just moments before, they had been sailing on the calm tropics, in pursuit of a rich merchant vessel. The skies had been bright and sunny, and there was a strong tailwind.

Now the skies were dark and stormy, lightning constantly flashing followed by deafening thunder. The black waters were rough and rocked the ship in all directions. In the distance were huge icebergs. And Yukari had the strange feeling that something was burning in the distance, just out of sight.

"What foul seas are these?" Yukari asked. "This be no natural ocean."

"A ship! A ship off the stern!" Shouted a crew member.

Both Yukari and the dream-Ran turned around to see another ship following behind theirs. It had red sails and it's wood was painted black. When Yukari turned her spy glass on the ship, she saw that it was crewed by black winged creatures. They looked much like tengu, albeit with bird talons for feet and feathers behind their ears. In their hands they each carried a blazing sword.

Flying above the ship was a huge hulking gargoyle like monster, wielding a large club. It's eyes glowed red and it had razor sharp teeth protruding from its mouth.

"They're coming too fast for us to avoid!" Ran said. "Orders captain?"

"Turn us to port and man the cannons!" Yukari shouted. "Prepare for battle!"

Yukari ran over to the port side, and drew a pistol in one hand and a cutlass in the other as the ship approached. There was a controlled chaos on the ship as the crew rushed to their stations

The winged creatures screeched and jeered as their ship drew close. The massive creature above swopped down and slammed onto the deck, smashing aside sailors with its massive club.

Yukari was about to join the fight against the monster, when a cannonball came hurtling towards her. She slashed at it with her sword, cutting it in half, and passing harmlessly between the two pieces.

One of the winged creatures drew it's sword and charged at Yukari. She blocked the swing with her own sword, and then shot it point blank in the forehead with her pistol. The creature, which Yukari somehow knew to be called an erinyes, remained standing for a second longer before falling over the edge of the ship and into the icy waters below.

Yukari turned to face the large creature, just in time to see an unfortunate crew member's head get smashed to a pulp. Upon noticing Yukari, the war devil batted aside the crew still fighting it and stomped towards her.

Yukari ran towards the creature, opening fire. However the bullets had little effect, only serving to make the monster angrier. It swung its club about wildly, narrowly missing Yukari and smashing several crates.

"So that's why the rum is always gone…" Yukari commented.

Yukari ducked beneath another swing and stabbed upwards into the beast's wrist. In pain it dropped its club which went rolling away and into the water.

The creature brought up both its hands and smashed them down. Yukari rolled aside, and fired another shot, managing to shoot off one of its horns.

"Damn inaccurate period weapons…" Yukari tossed the old gun aside, and suddenly, out of nowhere she was holding a rocket launcher.

She fired, and the rocket blasted a hole clear through the creatures chest, sending it flying. It landed in the water with a massive splash, sending water high into the air.

She turned to the enemy ship, which had drawn closer. She ran to the edge of her ship and leaped landing on the other ship. As she did so the rocket launcher became a machine gun, and she fired a spray of bullets, mowing down erinyes left and right.

"Having fun?" Said a voice behind her. The machine gun suddenly jammed, but Yukari wasn't concerned. She was suddenly holding her sword again. She spun and slashed at whoever was behind her, only for him to block it with his own sword.

The blade was pitch black, with a white hilt. A red gem was set into the pommel. The swords owner much resembled the erinyes before, but lacking the taloned feet. His skin was gray and his eyes were golden.

"Ah, I haven't had a good clashing of duel in ages, not since Prince Levistus and I had that… Well you get the point."

"No, no I don't." Yukari smiled. "And the answer is yes. I am enjoying myself."

She kicked back the gray man and then pulled out a grenade. She removed the pin and then tossed it to her opponent.

"Here! Catch!"

"What is this?" The gray man asked. As he examined the explosive, Yukari leaped back to her own ship.

The grenade exploded, blasting off both of the gray mans arms, sending shrapnel into his body and slamming him into the mast. He opened his eyes to see Yukari rushing to the wheel of her ship. She pressed a button and the entire ship transformed.

In the span of a few seconds, a giant wooden mecha towered over the gray mans ship. The mecha extended both of its hands which became massive cannons. The last thing he heard was Yukari shouting "FIRE!" And then there was a blinding white flash.


Back in the real world, the gray man cried out in pain and was physically blasted back, hitting a wall with enough force break through the wood and land in the yard outside.

Back inside, Yukari slowly awoke, stretching and yawning. She sat up and saw her shikigami. "Ah… Ran. I had the most interesting dream." She said sleepily.

"Um… Not exactly…" Ran said.

"What do you mean?" Yukari asked.

Chen pointed towards the hole in the wall, and the gray man recovering outside. Both his hands were smoking, which he put a stop to with a glance. He stood up and dusted himself off.

"Don't worry about the mess!" The gray man shouted. "I'll handle it!"

The gray man gestured, and pieces of wood lifted off the ground, returning to their original places."

Suddenly his voice could be heard from the hallway. "When you're ready, you can meet me in the foyer."

"Ran? What's going on?" Yukari stood up, and as she did so, her nightgown changed into a violet colored dress, and a white mop cap.

Ran quickly filled her master in on what she knew. She started with the attacks on the human and tengu villages, then moved to the deaths of Keine and Marissa, continued with the attack on the dragons lair, and the attack on the SDM and finishing with the brief fight in Mayohiga.

Yukari remained calm throughout the entire thing, interrupting only to ask if Reimu was still okay.

"Milady?" Ran asked. "What should we do?"

"We should have a talk." Yukari said, a small smile appearing on her face.

"What?" Ran asked, shocked. "You can't mean to seriously-"

Yukari placed a finger to Ran's lips. "Acting with haste will only make things worse. If one of the enemy leaders wishes to speak with us, we should take the opportunity."

Yukari left her bedroom and headed down the hallway to the foyer. There the gray man sat in front of a table, on which was a teapot, cups, and a small pyramid made of small sandwiches. The fireplace had been lit, filling the room with warmth.

Yukari's furniture was the height of luxury, taken straight from the outside world. She sat on a chair opposite the gray man. Ran and Chen sat next to her.

"I hope you don't mind, but I felt a fire would be fitting." He gestured, and the teapot lifted into the air, and then poured tea into four cups. "I believe tea is the preferred drink here. I favor wine myself, but as they say, when in Arcadia…"

The four cups floated into the air. The gray man took one, and Yukari Ran and Chen did the same.

"First, Miss Yakumo, I'd like to introduce myself. "I am the solar Vayne. I hail from Stygia, the fifth layer of the Nine Hells of Baator."

Yukari sipped her tea. She accepted this information calmly. "Demons from hell."

"Devils," Vayne corrected. "There's a very distinct difference between the two."

"Sure…" Yukari said.

Vayne laughed softly, a strange, musical sound. Despite the situation, Yukari suddenly felt the urge to laugh along with him. She resisted it. "Yes, many mortals don't care what the differences are. I could tell you, but that's not what the intention of this visit was for."

"Well then? What are you here for?" Yukari asked.

"First of all, I have a few questions I would like answered. You are the ruler of this realm. Are you not?"

"Well, technically."

"Technically?"

"True I am the ultimate authority here, but I leave much of the running of things to local leaders. Preserves my sanity that way."

"A very… interesting… style of leadership."

"Well if I got involved every time two tribes of youkai got into a territorial dispute or some idiot decides to mess with the natural order of things out of boredom, I'd never have any time to myself."

"Ah… Commendable." Vayne took another sip of tea.

"But, I don't believe even that's why you're here. Is it?" Yukari gestured, and several gaps opened in the air, the ends tied with red bows. Through one of the gaps, Khin-Oin could be seen, and the image showed several wolf tengu examining the area. Another gap showed the collapsed tunnels of the Ash mountains while the next showed the extensive damage the SDM had suffered. There was one showing the damage suffered to the human village.

Yukari opened one final gap, showing the underground city in chaos, as demons rampaged through the streets, fighting with the remaining resistance and, if lacking that, each other.

"You've wreaked havoc across the land I created, why?" Yukari began to speak more forcefully, and her irritation was obvious.

"Well the attacks on the human and tengu villages were both a test and a demonstration. To gain knowledge on how the residents of this realm fought and to show what we are capable of as well. And that was my wives doing, not mine. True I ordered Kyreth to make her way down to the underground and manifest Te'Mat Shar, the Well of Darkness, but how she went about doing that, was entirely her business."

Ran clenched her fist, and the teacup shattered. "Don't give us that nonsense! You're the one in charge of all this, which means it's your fault!"

"True, I suppose there is no way of getting around that." Vayne drained the last of the tea in his cup and sat it down.

"You've failed to answer the question." Yukari said. "What is your ultimate goal here."

"You haven't guessed it yet? The baatezu wish to take Gensokyo as their own."

Chen gasped and Ran stood up, blue fire dancing on her fingertips. Vayne made no motion to defend himself, and indeed appeared not to notice.

"Sit down Ran." Yukari ordered.

"But, Yukari."

"Sit down." She said sternly.

Ran sighed and obliged.

Yukari turned back to the angel. "Conquering Gensokyo? You wouldn't be the first to try. Mima, Shinki, and countless others have tried and failed. The question I always want to ask is why? What does Gensokyo have that is so desirable?"

"You don't know?" Vayne asked. "Well, you've been to the so called 'outside world' plenty of times, haven't you?"

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything."

"Tell me. What's the most major difference between Gensokyo and the outside world, nay, the vast majority of creation. I'll tell you. Magic."

"Magic?" Yukari asked.

"Yes. You have no doubt observed it, but elsewhere in the universe, rare are those who can tap into the flow of magic, and rarer still are those who recognize the talent and develop it. Take this planet for example. The magic in the outside world is near dead. Those who study the arts of magic struggle to create even the simplest of conjurations. Their powers are limited in usage, often no more that once a day! The vast majority of the population believes that magic is nothing more than a myth, a legend. Even in Baator, where the native creatures are innately magical, and still there are limitations of how often their own natural powers may be used!

"But then we have Gensokyo. What passes into legend in the outside world becomes real here. And nothing is more disbelieved in than magic! That disbelief grants this land immense magical power! Can you not feel it?" Vayne began speaking faster and louder, as he became more into what he was saying. "Magic fills the very air, the soil, the water! Anyone in this world who wishes it can use magic. Housewives use simple charms to help clean and dust. Farmers enchant their crops to keep away pests. Travelers use spells to ward against the dust and rain. Storeowners use spells to keep their foods from rotting! Children play games with their magic, and anyone in this realm who wishes it can fly!

"Think! Think of what could happen were we to harness that power! If we were able to create a permanent link between Gensokyo and the Great Ring, we could change the very nature of the multiverse as we saw fit!" Yukari was appalled to find that she was nodding and agreeing with what Vayne was saying. His words seemed to penetrate deep into her very heart, and she somehow felt the urge to help with his task. Such was the power of an angels voice.

"And if I were to refuse?" She asked, trying to re-imagine the angel as her enemy.

Vayne appeared to show little concern at her words, and looked at Yukari with an expression much like a parent might a child who claims to know more than they really do. Yukari felt the sudden urge to apologize, which she resisted.

"And if I were to refuse?" Yukari repeated, her voice revealing more anger.

"Then you would be crushed by the forces of the baatezu like so many other realms have been." His statement was simple matter of fact. "So it comes down to this, what is your choice? Will you join us or die?"

Yukari finished the rest of her tea, and set the cup down. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on regaining control of her thoughts and emotions. She took a deep breath.

A gap opened behind the gray man, revealing a mysterious realm of staring eyes. Vayne was sucked into the portal and it closed behind him.

Yukari stood up and held out her hand. From the corner of the room her umbrella flew into her hand.

"Is he gone?" Chen asked.

"No. He's too strong for me to be able to hold him in there for long." Yukari said. Another gap opened up beneath Yukari and she sank down into it. "Remain here." She ordered.

Yukari emerged into her own realm close to Vayne. She flew towards him as he fell (though could it really be called falling when the realm had no real up or down direction?), and struck him with punch to the side of the head.

He went flying, and Yukari opened another gap, sending him out of the borderlands, and back into Gensokyo. He crash landed on the side of a mountain near Mayohiga, the impact forming a small crater.

Vayne leaped out of the crater, the attack having done little damage. Yukari flew out of the gap, and immediately went on the offensive, aiming another punch at the angel. He turned, and blocked the attack with one hand. He place the palm of his other hand over Yukari's face, and fired a blast of light at point blank range. Yukari was blinded and sent flying back. She righted herself, and immediately altered the boundary between visible and invisible, shielding herself from sight until her own sight returned.

"So you chose to fight." Vayne shouted, in no particular direction. He sighed. "Unlike my allies, I don't like fighting. But alas, to battle I am called once again…"

Yukari's vision began to recover, and just in time to see the gray man slam his fist against the ground. Enormous metal spikes emerged from the ground, spreading out in all directions.

Yukari took off, narrowly avoiding being impaled. The gray man spread his wings and took off into the air after Yukari.

His eyes glowed for a brief second, before he said. "I can see you." He held out his hand, and a jet of flame shot from his palm.

Yukari disappeared into a gap once again, and reappeared behind the angel. She brought her umbrella down on his head, sending him flying back down towards the spikes. The gray man righted himself and landed on a spike, sliding down it. From there he gestured, and the spikes suddenly launched into the air. Yukari weaved in and out of volley of spikes, even running along the length of some of them.

She opened a gap, above the gray man, and a torrent of water poured down over him. Yukari used her powers over boundaries again, altering the boundary between liquid and solid. The water instantly froze over, trapping Vayne within.

She flew down towards the angel, now frozen within the ice, an expression of shock on his face. Suddenly the ice began to glow. The ice exploded and the angel burst out. Instantly he drew his sword and charged towards Yukari. She blocked the swift series of blows with her umbrella and then pushed forwards, sending Vayne skidding on the ice. He took off into the air with a thrust of his wings, and a sphere of white light appeared in his hands.

He hurled blast after blast of energy at Yukari, who raised a barrier, absorbing the attacks. She lifted her hand, and the ice transformed back into water. The water flowed through the air, surrounding and engulfing Vayne.

Yukari directed the water against the side of the mountain, repeatedly slamming Vayne against the ground. Finally she caused the water to disappear, and then gapped over to Vayne just as he was rising. She grabbed the angel and hurled him up into the air. She teleported up to him, only for him to grab onto her. He then flew downwards, energy surrounding them both.

They both crashed into the side of the mountain, plowing a deep crater into the ground. He pinned Yukari to the ground with one hand, and prepared to impale her with his sword with the other. Yukari opened a gap beneath her and sank into it. Reappearing in the air above the crater, Yukari then opened gap to the core of a volcano. Molten lava poured out, emptying into the crater. Vayne looked up, just before the lava hit. "Oh dear…"

Once the crater was filled, she closed the gap and flew out into the center of the lava lake. Suddenly Vayne surfaced, his body and wings in flames. He tried to take off, but sank back into down into the glowing lava.

Yukari breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to fly away, when she heard laughter.

"Leaving so soon?" Vayne's voice sounded. "I'm just getting started!"

The lava suddenly rose up into a pillar. The pillar formed into a massive, multi-armed monster composed entirely of lava.

"This is nowhere near over, Miss Yakumo!" Vayne shouted, his voice now deeper. The lava monster opened its mouth, and a jet of flame shot out, engulfing the entire mountainside in fire. Yukari fled into a gap and reappeared on the side of another mountain nearby. The lava monster moved towards her leaving a trail of molten rock behind him. Vayne brought his many fists down at Yukari, who quickly dodged the blows. She then gapped away, putting some distance between her and the monster.

Yukari lifted her hands into the air, and the sky rumbled. Thick, dark, clouds began to appear, far faster than normal and lightning flashed among them. Vayne gestured and the lava formed into a massive axe which he lifted.

"Where are you, Miss Yakumo? I have a few more questions to axe you!" Vayne paused for a second. "Okay… I realize how lame that was, but I couldn't resist."

Vayne located her, and hurled the lava axe. Yukari gapped away to another area, keeping her focus on the storm she was forming. The lava axe exploded on impact sending hot rock and lava in all directions.

A fierce downpour began, and Vayne cried out in pain as the water cooled his lava body, hardening it. Vayne countered by melting more of the rock around him, adding to his mass. Yukari opened a gap to the bottom of the ocean, pouring more water onto him while the rain intensified. Vayne couldn't gather enough mass.

In a final push, Yukari altered the boundary between hot and cold, and the lava monster cooled completely, becoming completely solid.

At a single gesture, a massive bolt of lightning struck the monster crumbling it into dust. Yukari knelt down, catching her breath.

"Tired already?" The angel's voice rang out. "But this is where the real battle begins!"

The entire mountainside began to tremble. She looked around. Five enormous pillars had appeared around her and she suddenly felt herself rising up into the air.

Suddenly Yukari realized, those weren't pillars, they were fingers! She turned around and an entire area of the mountain rising up, taking the form of Vayne, many times larger than the lava monster.

His voice boomed and was near deafening as he spoke. "I can animate near anything I choose!" However, he sounded slightly tired, despite his boasts.

The mountain-Vayne raised his other hand and brought it down, prepared to crush Yukari in his palm.

Yukari gapped away, and then called down lightning on the monster. The electricity struck Vayne clear in the head, but had little effect.

Vayne aimed another punch at Yukari. Again she gapped away, this time reappearing, running along the length of his arm. She moved up to his shoulder and smashed her fist down into the stone. Cracks ran down the stone, and then the entire arm fell off, crumbling on the ground.

Vayne roared, and clasped his remaining hand over the stump, nearly crushing Yukari.

She didn't waste any more time. Taking off into the air, she opened a gigantic gap in deep space. An enormous meteorite came crashing through, smashing into Vayne's head, crumbling the stone giant into a pile of rubble and forming another crater. Yukari landed at the edge of the pile, breathing heavily.

Bringing in something that big was no easy task, nor was changing the weather so rapidly.

No way is this over. Yukari thought mournfully.

Vayne burst from the pile of rubble, back in his normal form, and flew towards Yukari. She sidestepped the punch and then opened a gap right over Vayne's hand, trapping it. He's getting tired and sloppy. She noted.

She opened another gap, trapping his other hand. Still breathing heavily, Yukari reached into another gap and pulled out Vayne's sword from his sheath.

However before she could do anything with it, Vayne inhaled. He puffed out his cheeks and then spat out a swarm of insects. The insects immediately flew towards Yukari and began stinging her.

She dropped the sword and gestured. Flame surrounded her, reducing all the insects to ashes. It was a brief distraction, but enough for the angel to escape. Vayne charged forwards, unleashing a solid punch to Yukari's head. He swiftly grabbed her as she went flying, and then kneed her in the stomach.

He then slammed her repeatedly against the ground before tossing her away. Yukari landed at the edge of the crater.

Vayne began walking towards her, but Yukari could see that he was breathing almost as heavily as Yukari was. Yukari gestured, and the sword which had fallen lifted into the air. Vayne flew towards Yukari, but didn't notice his own sword as it flew towards him. The blade sliced clean through the angel's neck, sending his head to the ground while the body tumbled over her and into the crater.

Yukari walked over to the angels head, and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, It has to be over!

She picked up Vayne's head and examined it. Suddenly Vayne opened his eyes and shouted. "BOO!"

Startled, Yukari tossed the head away, and it fell down the edge of the crater. After a few seconds the angel reemerged from the pit intact, laughing. "Well… that wasn't well thought out. Okay time to… Wait… this isn't right…"

His head was on backwards. Yukari watched in horror as Vayne pulled his own sword to him and severed his own head. His body caught his head and turned it around before replacing it.

Ignoring the shocked Yukari for the moment, he talked to himself. "Is that really what I look like from behind?"

His wings spread out, and a second pair of wings appeared.

"Much better."

Yukari screamed. She held out her hands, and countless bolts of lightning poured down from the sky, slamming the angel down into the ground. She then flew down to the angel and opened a gap. She grabbed him and plunged them both through it.

With all of her strength she formed a barrier around herself as they emerged into their location, the center of a star.

The gray man screamed as his body was crushed and burnt, using his most powerful magic to preserve his own existence.

As her shield dwindled, Yukari opened one last gap back to Gensokyo. Both of them hit the ground hard.

Vayne struggled to his feet as did Yukari.

"You have fought valiantly, Miss Yakumo." He said, though exhausted. "But it all ends here!"

He flew forwards, and slammed into her. The angel spoke several words in a strange language and a portal opened up behind Yukari. As she was sent flying towards it, Yukari gestured, and Vayne was sent flying towards her. She grabbed onto him, and pulled him into the portal with her.

They emerged in a black void. As they entered, Yukari screamed as her body was wracked with unimaginable pain. She looked at her arms and saw them somehow aging, which should have been impossible for a youkai.

The angel went through a similar effect, his four wings returning to two and his radiance diminishing.

Yukari turned her head, which took an extreme effort. She saw a massive black rock behind her, and they were headed straight for it! Yukari wrestled with the angel, and managed to reverse their positions. She pushed forwards, and slammed Vayne into the rock…


Ran had been watching from the porch on the back of the house. She had seen powers the angel was in possession of and worried for her mistresses safety. And now she couldn't see any of them.

"Where are they?" Chen asked, leaning over the fence and scanning the area.

Suddenly she heard a crash coming from the inside of the house. The two of them rushed inside, to see both combatants lying on the ground.

Her heart sank when she saw Yukari. She looked like an old woman. Her skin was wrinkled, and her hair was gray and thin. Despite this, somehow Yukari was laughing.

Ran turned to look at her opponent. He was in even worse shape than she. He hadn't aged, but he looked pale (if that was even possible). His wings were gone, as was the entire lower half of his body. One of his eyes was missing and only one of his arms remained.

Ran immediately rushed over to Yukari, but she shook her head.

"Finish him." She croaked, her voice weak and raspy. She struggled to lift her hand and pointed to the angel.

Ran nodded, and blue fire appeared in her hands. However before she could do anything further, a black circle appeared between them.

From the circle emerged Kanna. Ran prepared for another fight, but was surprised when Kanna made no moves to attack. She immediately walked over to Vayne and picked up what remained of the angel. She returned to the black circle and sank back into it, leaving only a confused Yukari, Ran and Chen.


Ran helped the weakened Yukari back on to the couch, and poured her a cup of tea. Yukari accepted it gratefully and drank it down rapidly. Most of her powers had been lost. Despite the situation, Yukari had managed to at least make herself outwardly appear as normal.

At that moment, a crow flew into the room from the open window. It landed on the table and set down a piece of paper it was carrying in its mouth.

Chen took the paper and read it over.

"What is it?" Ran asked.

"It's from Lord Tenma." She said. "He says to meet at the Myouren Temple tomorrow at noon. He wants to call a council of war."


Okay. I just plain decided to have fun with this chapter. First of all, I wanted to give the devils some character, so enter Kulzu and Ialil. I don't know, maybe I'll add some more devil characters later on...

Chen and Ran's abilities are described as black magic. I have no idea what that really means so I just gave it my best guess and wrote whatever came to mind.

I did pretty much the same thing with the Yukari-Vayne fight. A fight between reality warpers pretty much lets you let your imagination run wild.

And finally I'm done with all the Visitation chapters.

That's all I have to say for now. If i think of anything else I'll edit it in. So please leave a review.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE *huff puff* PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - okay i'll stop.

Oh! The song that Chen is singing. /watch?v=FpOXJmp1RKw

And if you want to know where the title came from. /watch?v=bhBvNlEAS1k

Thanks for reading!

~Dragonexx