et3rnal.w1nt3r desu.
Chapter title says it all.
Please enjoy~
Touhou and its characters belong to ZUN/Team Shanghai Alice.
Chapter Twelve : A Miko, A Witch
''And then, Eirin started spouting a load of nonsense, something effect this something effect that! Does she do this on purpose to make people feel stupid?''
A soft laugh, ''Well, that certainly sounds like the Lunarian.''
Marisa heard snatches of conversation as gradually she became awake. It sounded like.. Reimu? And... Yukari? She didn't really know, her mind was still half asleep.
''I wonder when will Marisa wake up..'' she heard a voice say.
'Reimu?' It certainly sounded like her to the human magician. When her groggy mind processed what the miko said, she was instantly awake.
''You needn't wonder any longer, Reimu-chan. It seems like our little black-white has woken up,'' the youkai of borders said with a chuckle.
''Yakumo,'' Marisa greeted, ''How did you know?'' she continued, still lying down, her eyes closed.
''Who knows?'' the youkai said with a shrug, ''It isn't good to eavesdrop, in case you didn't know.''
''Not my fault that both of you were talking so loud, like you wanted me to eavesdrop,'' she retorted.
''Marisa?'' a tentative voice said the human magician's name.
Marisa opened her eyes and slowly sat up. Turning her head to face the shrine maiden, she said, ''Reimu,'' acknowledging the miko's presence with a strangely neutral voice and expressionless face. She wasn't sure how to face Reimu right now. 'What does Reimu want our relationship to be? As friends? Or just as strangers? Though Yukari being by Reimu's side should be a good thing,' the witch thought to herself.
Hearing her name spoken so unfeelingly by Marisa, the miko's face showed signs of pain and distress. However, it was quickly smoothed and she maintained a uninterested face, not unlike the black-white's. It did not go unnoticed by the youkai of borders.
An awkward pause ensued.
Suddenly, there was a loud sigh. ''I thought both of you would be a little more mature. Seems like both of you need some time alone together before you get honest,'' a certain gap youkai said. The two humans got embarassed, blushing. Reimu hit the youkai lightly on her shoulder, pouting indignantly.
''Now, go!'' Yukari said as she opened two gaps underneath the miko and the magician, dropping them off somewhere near yet far enough that they would not come back too quickly.
With a slight smile of satisfaction, she continued to wait for the puppeteer to wake up and for her friends to return.
''Damn that gap hag!'' Marisa swore angrily as she hit the ground. She got to her feet as Reimu dropped rather gently onto the grassy forest floor. ''Why do you get such a soft landing?'' the witch muttered iritatedly.
''Sorry..'' Reimu said, unsure of how to react to her normally cheerful friend being angry.
Marisa's eyes widened when she heard Reimu apologising timidly, ''No, no you don't have to apologise. It's fine, Reimu,'' she said, looking away.
''Or should I not call you that anymore?'' she continued suddenly, hands curled into fists, clenched tightly and held stiffly by her sides as she thought about what had happened between her and Reimu, and about how Reimu probably hates her now.
''Marisa..'' Reimu was hurt, and she didn't mask it this time, ''Why?''
''Okay, let's be honest to each other right now,'' the black-white said, ''What do you think of me right now?''
Reimu was taken by surprise, ''That.. is a rather difficult question to answer.''
''We have time,'' replied the human magician shortly, putting a slight distance between them before sitting down on the forest floor.
Reimu thought for a few moments before replying, wording her reply carefully. ''I think that Marisa is a good person,'' she said, ''A very close friend of mine,'' continued the red-white hesitantly, ''I... loved you,'' the miko closed her eyes and avoided Marisa's searching gaze, ''And, I still do.''
Taking a shaky breath, Reimu continued, her voice getting softer, ''I understand that you will not requite my feelings. Even so, I hope that...we can continue to be comrades, and.. true friends.. always..''
Marisa used her hand to tilt her oversized cap down, hiding her conflicted face. A part of her did not believe Reimu. Another part of her was angry at herself for doubting Reimu and thinking that the miko did not want to spend time with her anymore. She did not know what to think. She desperately wanted to believe that the red-white's words were true.
A single moment passed.
A single tear left a trail on Marisa's cheek as it made its way down her face.
''Reimu...'' the black-white said with an anguished face as she realised that there was no way the shrine maiden would lie to her now. ''Forgive me..'' Marisa said, her voice down to a whisper as she struggled to keep the tears in.
''Idiot...'' Reimu said with a smile as she gently patted the magician's head.
''Reiiimuuu!'' Marisa broke into tears.
''There, there,'' Reimu went closer to Marisa and hugged her.
''That's... not … '' the black-white said, sobbing uncontrollably, as her tears streamed down her cheeks.
''Hmm? What did you say, Marisa? I couldn't hear you that well.''
''That's not fair!'' Marisa shouted in her friend's arms.
''Huh? What does Marisa mean?''
''Why... am I the only one crying?'' the magician asked, managing to look indignant even when her eyes were filled with tears.
Reimu giggled at her friend's expression, ''You look so cute!''
''Answer me, miko!'' she pouted as her sobs slowly subsided.
''Who knows? Perhaps I've already cried my heart out,'' she replied with a shrug.
A look of guilt flashed across Marisa's face, ''Sorry, truly.''
''How many more times are you going to repeat that?'' the red-white answered, ''I'm fine now, really. Thanks to Yukari.''
''Oh?'' Marisa had a mischievous grin on her face, and had stopped crying completely, although her face still showed traces of sadness, ''So Reimu has found a new person da ze!'' she grinned widely.
''I-Idiot!'' Reimu looked at the ground as she turned a bright scarlet.
''So, it IS true!''
''It's nothing like that!''
''Okay ze!''
''Like I said, it's not like that!''
''I believe you ze!''
Reimu groaned loudly.
''Okay, okay let's go back to where Alice and Yukari is,'' Marisa said cheerfully as her laughter finally died out. She was back to normal.
The magician and the miko was chatting happily when they strolled into the clearing where Alice and Yukari were. Yukari was dozing off, head slightly leaning to the left.
''Hey Yakumo! What do you think you're doing?'' Marisa yelled at the sleeping youkai.
''What?'' Yukari opened her eyes and looked at Marisa, frowning, ''Taking a nap, of course.''
''What if something sneaks up on you two and hurts Alice?''
''Too bad, then,'' Yukari laughed, grinning at the witch.
''Not funny,'' Marisa gave Yukari an angry look and went beside Alice.
''Why must both of you always fight?'' Reimu shook her head and rolled her eyes.
''No reason,'' Yukari replied, standing up and smoothing her dress, ''Well, time to go. I'm off to sleep, and you can take care of the puppeteer by yourself.''
''Her name is Alice.''
''Whatever.''
Marisa sighed, ''Just go, Yakumo.''
The gap youkai grabbed hold of Reimu, who gave a little scream which was quickly muffled by a smirking Yukari, and slid into a gap, chuckling to herself.
The black-white shook her head, ''Honestly, those two have no shame ze,'' she said to herself.
Crouching down, she brushed a lock of hair from Alice's peaceful face, grinning to herself. ''Well, I guess we should go home too huh?''
Gently lifting the youkai's small figure, she chuckled at how light Alice was. Holding the puppeteer tenderly in her arms, she walked towards the puppeteer's home.
No, their home.
Err... some people asked me for my age and gender last week. Does it really matter? Anyway, try and guess, though I highly doubt any of you woud get the 'age' part right =P Leave your answer in a review or if you're too shy, pm me instead haha.
Thanks for reading!
