Fool in Eastern Wonderland

by YAqkawer

A new world. A new start. Where will this lead for a fool?

21. Chapter 21: Too long Didn't Read

Disclaimer: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona belongs to ATLUS. Touhou Project belongs to Zun. I have no ownership of the copyrights of either series in any way.

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Chapter 21: Choujigen Ultimate Hisotensoku Arena Ultimax Chronophantasma Centralfiction Remix Climax Extend F Journey Turbo Alpha Love Max Answer Encore HD Suplex Hold Golden FES Q versus 12.31415 3CD and Knuckles and Knuckles Producing Perfection; The game; the movie; the book; the game; the Re;birth; the novelization (Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry series) Remastered –Sign- All Night EXE:Late VII U Definitive Limited Release Edition & Knuckles X Y Z

"You haven't come to see me in a while Reimu-sama. Is there something you need?" Genji, a turtle that can fly, told me as I walked up to the pond behind my family's shrine.

"No, there isn't…" I said to brush him off. I came here because… because…

"You can't fool an old turtle like me. I've overseen the shrine maidens of the Hakurei Shrine for many generations, so it is but child's play for me to see that there is something bothering you. Given your age… I'd say… is it puberty? A boy?" Guh!

"Be quiet!" I commanded. In retaliation, I swung an arm at the turtle's grizzled, and somehow bearded, head, only for him to retract it into his shell. The momentum of my swing carried through regardless, spinning me. "Wha!?" *Splash* "This is just great…" I said to myself, now having realized that my efforts only landed me in the pond…. And that was my last set of underwear that was dry… I could feel my entire body soaked, my ribbon felt heavy, probably just drooping down on my head.

"Yup… you only get angry like that when someone hits the nail on the proverbial head," Genji said as he popped his head back out of his shell. "So who's the… hmmm… lucky wouldn't be the word."

"Are you saying that I'm no good?" I started. I'm… I'm good. I can certainly have any boy I want if I wanted, and he'd be a complete idiot to refuse me! Not that I want any romance or boys right now…

"Not at all. You can be quiet a dear when you're not so boiled over. Whether that boy will see it or not though…"

"Minato is too much of a lazy dunce to see anything," He doesn't show to up to work as often anymore… He's always talking to the other girls when they show up; including the youkai of all things… he never treats me with the respect I deserve as his boss… Treating me just like he treats everyone else with his really pretty smile… why can't he give that only to me?

"Oh, so that's the boy's name? I've seen him around when I wasn't sleeping back here. He seemed like a good kid; got a decent head on his shoulders and a kind heart. He even waxed my shell about a month ago when he thought I was asleep. I haven't felt so fresh since over 200 years ago. I felt like a spry 300 year old again." Genji is… I don't know how old… But!

"Hey!" Except before I could correct Genji, he continued.

"Reimu-sama, please heed the advice of this old turtle. I have seen this dance many times before, with your mother, your grandmother, and you grandmother's grandmother, and so on. I'll probably see it with your kid, and your kid's kid, and their kid's kid, long after you've crossed the Sanzu River. Be careful of love, especially since you're still growing into a full adult. The only thing I can say is that you should act in a way that you won't regret your choices. Now I know I say that for a lot of things, but Love is something that can really turn everything you know inside out."

"But I'm not in Love!" I'm not! I'm just angry that Minato is always, always, not paying attention to me… as his boss!

"True, you might just be infatuated, which is an entirely different thing." What?

"How are they different?" What's the difference between them? Aren't they the same thing?

"Now that is something I think best left for you to find out! Hahahahah!" The damned old turtle roared. "I've already given you enough advice as is! Hell I think I've given you more advice than what I gave your mother when she came here stammering about some kid she wouldn't stop talking about for days. Nearly made me go insane with all she had to say about him, which was a lot by the way!"

"Can we not talk about mom…?" I asked… something suddenly feeling heavier whenever he mentioned her…

"Oh… right… sorry about that Reimu-sama… Anyways," he started again, "you should think on what I told you so you don't go doing anything that will hurt you in the long run. Also isn't that Kasen girl waiting for you to return? She's probably been waiting a while for you to get back with snacks and tea!" He was right about that, but I had Ruukoto get that done… actually I should probably check up on them just in case.

"Right…" I said as I started back to return to the shrine. "Genji?" I called… he maybe an old fart, but he's always been there when I needed him, like a grandfather.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Thanks…"

"Just doing my part for the shrine…" And like that he retracted into his shell, and I could hear snoring echoing out almost the moment after.

Break

Entering the living room after changing into something dry, save for my underwear… I was greeted by my… guest.

"Oh you're back, Reimu-san!" The unwanted annoyance spoke… Kasen Ibaraki hadn't shown up for a while but for some reason decided to show up out of the blue. Like always, her red eyes seem to be trying to thoroughly examine me, trying to see if I was doing anything wrong and unbecoming of a shrine maiden… That is if they weren't covered by her shoulder-length pink hair that was wrapped in double buns at the top. She told me that the style is from a place called China… but isn't that just MeiLing's other name? Besides that, she also was still wearing her usual attire, not bothering to wear anything else. She wore a white shirt of sorts that flowered out like petals at the sleeves and bottom, while wearing a simple green skirt with a red hem. Over those she wore a brown tabard patterned with what seemed to be leaves. The only particularly odd things were her arms, of which her left sported a shackle and chain, and the other perpetually wrapped in bandages. "So just when is this Minato Arisato supposed to show up anyways? I asked the maid you have here, but she wasn't able to provide a sufficient answer."

"I don't know. He tends to show up at some point; usually before I get up." I always find him in my living room, watching that weird box thing that Yukari gave me once… I think she called it a TV.

"Well I suppose that there is still some time before he'll show up." Kasen told me this morning that she came to see just who Minato was after hearing all sorts of things from pretty much everyone. "Though I must say, is he usually this late? The morning is already soon becoming the afternoon."

"I just said I don't know. Whenever he does decide to show up, it's usually before I wake up."

"According to my internal clock and previous data regarding my master's arrival, he still has approximately 24 minutes to arrive at the average time," Ruukoto said as she walked in, holding a tray of tea and snacks. After placing the tray on the desk without incident this time, she continued with, "And in relation to his latest time of arrival, he still has another 32 minutes."

"Hmm, then I suppose there is nothing to do but be patient if that's the case. By the by Reimu-san, I thought Ruukoto-san here was your maid? What happened?" Kasen asked, and before I could even begin to try to explain that annoying mess, Ruukoto answered for me. Less work for me.

"I'm not entirely sure myself. However I would suppose that whatever incident left me indisposed also disrupted my registration of Reimu as my master. The role of master was then given to Master Arisato, who was the first individual I had seen upon reactivation… though if I must admit, I feel there must be something else," The maid added with a confused and apprehensive look.

"Hmmm… interesting," was all Kasen said about that. "Well besides that, is there anything else I should know about Arisato-san?" You don't need to know anything.

"He's an incredibly kind master, always willing to help. He's patient, always willing to listen, and never pushes more than he has to. He's also really strong too!" Ruukoto practically sang.

"He isn't like that at all. He's really lazy and always looks like he's about to doze off. I can't tell if he's ever actually listening to me or not, and I really hate that smile of his that always lets him get his wa-" before I could finish, a series of knocks on the door could be heard.

"Reimu-san… Ruukoto, I'm here for work."

"Ah, and with 19 or so minutes to spare for the average. That brings down the average by about a fifth of a minute," Ruukoto said as she got up to open the door. Once she exited the room, I looked at Kasen to find that she was also looking back at me, Kasen then gave a small smirk before opening her mouth.

"Well time for the moment of truth."

Break

"I see…" Kasen stated in a low voice after listening to Minato talk about working for me. In his usual manner, he talked about having to do the cleaning and maintenance without hyperbole in either way, neither making it seem easier or harder than he thought it was. I suppose I'll have to admit that he's at least honest… in fact he feels like he has nothing to hide, or isn't actively hiding anything…

"Reimu-san!" Kasen called in an irritated tone. Paying too much attention to Minato as I was, I whipped my head towards the hermit in surprise.

"Wha- What is it?" I asked her in a cautious manner. I don't want to go through more training again…

"It seems that you've foisted the majority of your work upon this young man, and ignoring your own duties as a result." Kasen crossed her arms, the bandaged one under the normal one, a look of disappointment and anger painting her face.

"I-it's just the cleaning, and besides, I'm his boss. I'm at least allowed that much, right?" I half pleaded, not making eye contact with her.

"But it's not like you do anything though." I heard a voice squeak in. I looked at Minato to find the little imp sitting in his coat as usual. Noisy little thing… I should exorcise her at some point…

"I had hoped that perhaps with his help you were making strides, especially since seeing the shrine so clean. However, from what he has told me, he's the one who's done the majority of the work here."

"To be fair, I did destroy the shrine, so cleaning to the extent that I have is to be expected…" Minato chimed in defending… me.

"Reimu-sama, your face is red. Are you running a fever?" The maid asked from my side.

"Shu-Shut up! I'm going out for a walk." I can't stand to be in here… it's so hot…

"We're not done here, Reimu-san. You can't just use someone to shirk your own duties, let alone upon someone who you most likely don't even know all that well."

"Of course I know…" I stopped… wait… don't I… did I ever… I…. argh! "I'm leaving!" I stomped hard as I made my way out and upon reaching the door, "Make sure you're still here when I come back!" I commanded to Minato with a point of my finder. Not even bothering to wait for an answer, because I know he'll wait, I quickly made my way towards the door. It's too hot in here… The breeze of the late fall met my face as I left the main shrine building.

"Better…" I let out as I walked over to the red gate at the front. Upon reaching it I leaned by it and looked at the calm blue sky. "Do… Do I really not know so much about him?" He… he never talks about himself. He's more inclined to listen to others actually… "That's not fair…" I looked back at the shrine… "I can't go back there after all that."

"You certainly can't…" I whipped my head to the side to see the Old Hag sitting in one of her gaps. "I'd normally say just ask the source, but I guess that's too much for you. Ah to be young again…"

"What do you want…?" I don't want to have to deal with her now.

"Well I want the same thing you do this time. I want you to learn more about your beloved employee." Her sly smile raised the usual warnings in my head… wait…

"He's… he's not my beloved anything!"

"Of course, but that does not change the fact that you want to know more about him, now does it?" She gave a twirl of her umbrella as she looked back at the shrine. "Now you have two choices, you can either swallow your pride and go back in to ask him directly… or there's your other option… Then again I suppose you've already chosen the latter."

"I… I guess…" I… can't help but concede to that. Besides how hard can it be to look for info on him anyways?

"Well I suppose you already know what to do. It's the same as everything else for you. I wish you luck…" She waved good bye as she fell back into the gap from whence she came.

"As I usually do… huh?" I looked down from the gate towards the rest of Gensokyo. An easy feat made possible by my shrine's position on such a tall hill. I looked about and made a decision. "That way then!" My feet left the ground with an ease that I've become more than familiar with. "Time to solve the mystery of the mysterious employee!" The wind cooled my face as I headed towards my first destination. I'll learn as much as I can about him! Then maybe he'll stop being so unfair!

Break

"Oi… right… right out of the gate…" Marisa pathetically let out as she lay on the ground in front of her home, her clothes slightly tattered.

"Well I knew you wouldn't give me what I wanted unless I beat you. Be glad that it was quick." I walked over to her, and gave her a hand. Her eyes flicked in my direction before she sat up and took my hand.

"I don't even know what you wanted. You just suddenly showed up and challenged me to a duel before just whippin' that out and winning instantly! You know how unfair that thing is, ze!" She yelled at me as she stood up, albeit slowly. She then pat herself down to get rid of the dust.

"You still accepted the duel," I commented to her to shut her down. She quickly glanced in my direction as I finished.

"Still didn't mean I thought you'd use that cheat of a Spell Card. It barely qualifies as one, ze," she let out as she rubbed various parts of her body, most likely to dull the pain. "So what did you want anyways?"

"What do you know about Minato-kun? Tell me everything!" I demanded as was my right as the winner.

"Huh!? Is that all? Why don't you just ask him, ze?" Marisa asked incredulously.

"I… I can't right now, but I know you can tell me something!" Marisa's got to know something about him, she's been… weirdly stuck to him for the past few months…

"Why do you want to… wait… it can't be… I'm not losing to you, ze!" Marisa randomly declared, her cheeks reddening as she did so.

"What are you talking about? You already lost." The duel is already over… what could she mean?

"Oh don't pay dumb with… what am I saying… you can't lie to save your life." Marisa shook her head in slow sways as she put a hand to her head. "What do you want to know then…?" Marisa finally asked, strangely exasperated.

"Everything you know. I don't know very much about him, and I thought you might know more." I told her.

"Probably not much more than you do…. In fact… I'm pretty sure I don't know much more than you do… what do I know about him besides his name, personality and powers?"

"What do you know about his powers?" I asked her as not even I knew much about them, but Marisa being Marisa, she's probably researched it as thoroughly as humanly possible.

"Not much, other than the fact that the crux of his powers seems to stem from his… what did he call them… Personas? I looked the word up and it's supposed to mean a sort of social mask somebody wears or a character in a play… something like that. The only other thing I found was that the things he summons are based on stories and legends, but I couldn't find much about them individually."

"I… I see…" I said… that power… it's like my power to invoke the gods when you think about it. That's probably only on the surface however. Its real nature is most likely something completely different.

"Hey you know who might know more? Alice! She taught him how to use puppetry and to duel. I'm sure she knows more than we do!" Marisa put forth, perhaps also starting to become invested in my personal incident.

"How can you be so sure?" I asked Marisa, not wanting to go on a wild goose chase.

"Come on! You think that two people living together for a small time wouldn't learn something about each other?"

"They… they lived together for a small time?" I whispered almost immediately, but it was apparently loud enough for Marisa to hear.

"Um… yeah… but that's not enough time for anything crazy to happen, you know, ze?" Marisa almost shouted, her cheeks becoming rosy again. "Let's go now since we're already warmed up."

"Hold on, who said you were coming with me?"

"Who said I wasn't?" I knew that look Marisa gave me. It was one that meant unless I beat her down again, she'd just do her own thing, regardless of my wishes…

"Fine, not like I could stop you with anything less than another duel…" I said as I turned towards the general direction Alice's house was supposed to be. Even if I'm wrong, I'll find it eventually.

"Alright! Come one, her house is that way!" She pointed as she got on her broom which she was hiding… somewhere. Well less work for me, and it turns out I was partially right.

"Lead the way." I hope this won't take too long.

Break

"So… what are you doing here then?" I asked the Phoenix girl… person as she lay next to Alice on the grass in front of Alice's house. Marisa just watched from the distance, whistling away with her hands poised behind her head as I talked to them.

"You're… quite rude," Alice struggled to say as she slowly got up from the ground, her dolls helping her up. "You just show up out of the blue, challenge both Fujiwara-san and me to a fight, and then just proceed to use that complete atrocity of a spell card on us right from the start. Haven't you ever heard of dueling etiquette?"

"I'm the one who enacted Spell Card Duels in the first place," I reminded her.

"Don't remind me, you damn miko… I nearly died again…" Phoenix Girl said as her turn to get up came. "That's the last time I do a medicine run for them…" She said with a scratch of the head.

"So what is it that you want?" Alice asked as she and her dolls began to dust her body off.

"I want you two to tell me what you know about Minato-kun!" I told them, the same as I did to Marisa.

"Why not ask him yourself?" Phoenix Girl asked. Why is she so… does she know him? Well I already asked her, so not much point in thinking about it now…

"I've already been over this." I've already said this before.

"Well to Marisa perhaps but not to us, but fine. What do you want to know specifically about him?" Alice stated, looking tired. Perhaps she wants to get this over with as soon as possible. Good enough for me. It just means she'll be more forthcoming about giving me her information.

"Do you know anything about his past?" Alice asked… I suppose that's reasonable…

"I know that he's in a weird state of being sort of dead, but I don't remember much past that." I only got a brief explanation of it by that Yama and Shinigami.

"Well they came here to my home during his training and discussed it more in full." So she does know more than I do. Now will she tell me…? "I'll tell you what I heard, so can you stop staring at me so intensely?"

"You know it's a bit disheartening to hear how much everyone else knows so much more about him than I do, ze…" Marisa commented, I guess maybe feeling like she was being left out.

"I'm… interested as well…" Phoenix Girl said slowly, as if she was hesitating, but what was there to hesitate about?

"How well do you know him anyways Phoenix Girl?" I asked finally. I might as well see right now what she can offer.

"Not… not much honestly, but… wait so those times he said he was dead…" She seemed to be thinking of something that was probably very horrifying for her. The look on her face was like someone piecing together some puzzle that bothered her or realizing something was more important than she initially thought it to be.

"Seems like Phoenix Girl here doesn't really know anything, ze…" Marisa said as she walked over to Alice's side to be at a better position for the conversation.

"Seems like Phoenix Girl here knows the least amongst us here," Alice noted as she tried to scoot away from the approaching Marisa.

"Hey, the names Fujiwara no Mokou. I thought I told you the last time I delivered your dream meds or whatever they were," Phoenix Girl angrily told us as sparks of flame began to manifest.

"Of course, but the flow of the conversation fit my mimicking the use of their moniker for you. Now please disperse your flames before another fire starts." Alice's answer seemed to placate Phoenix Girl, but not bothering to wait, Alice continued saying, "Besides we're off topic. If you come inside, I'll tell you what I know of him. I don't think he'll mind if I talk about him like this." Alice made a gesture towards her home to indicate an invitation.

"Fine… I was getting thirsty anyways…" I finally joined back in. I doubt that this will be my last stop today anyways.

Break

"So to sum it all up, what I learned about him is as follows. His power stems from his relations to others and that he feels that, while pathetic, he has always relied on others. This in turn, culminated in him gaining the power to stop some manner of disaster large enough that the Ministry themselves came down to reward him, and that the act also resulted in the expiration of his original body. Other than that, I know nothing much else… Oh there's that, and he's a glutton and quick learner."

I took in Alice's summary… which while more than what I had before, was ultimately leaving us with little to go on about who Minato was or the details of his past. We were all gathered at Alice's table, her dolls serving us tea and snacks as we listened to her.

"That's… interesting, but not a lot of stuff of what we wanted to hear was said in the end, ze…" Marisa said with a huff of disappointment. "But he's looking mighty well for someone who's supposed to be dead, and with even the Ministry backing him, he ain't crossing over anytime soon."

"I… didn't realize he wasn't joking entirely…" Mokou softly said to herself. At least I think it was directed at herself…

"We still haven't heard your relation to him though," I said to her, realizing that she's been weirdly quiet.

"And why do I have to tell you?" She retaliated almost immediately.

"Well common courtesy I suppose, but we could just force it out of you," Alice said as her dolls began to crowd Mokou…

"Okay… fine. We just work together. At night there's this thing which we decided that it would be better if we just tackled the problem as a team rather than."

"You're being pretty vague," I point out.

"Well it's my relation to him, co-workers."

"Well that is what we asked and anything more would most likely be distracting or extraneous. The rest would most likely be easy to discern through her body language," Alice pointed out. Mokou did seem like she was hiding something, but should we really ignore it. "If I may, if you wish to know more, perhaps you should ask the two that seem closest to him, the Blue Green shrine maiden and his half-ghost body guard/retainer. Pursuing an unwilling source such as this one seems quite a waste of time, given her lack of knowing about Minato's state of mortality."

"Guh…" Mokou let out. I guess she didn't like not knowing as much about that as we did.

"Oh you mean Sanae Kobayashi and Youmu Konpaku, ze!" Right… those two seemed close. Youmu makes sense as he lives in Hakugyokurou, but what's his relation to Sanae? They seem to close.

"I thought it was obvious. Anyways, Kobayashi-san was here when the Ministry was here, and Konpaku-san made an appearance and threatened me until Minato-san asked her to stand down. Those two most likely have the largest store of knowledge on our subject."

"Well the closest and easiest one to get to would be Sanae. If that's a bust then we'll just head over to the afterlife and pay Yuyuko a visit, ze," I was about to say something, but Mokou then buts in.

"Hey, do you mind if I join you?" Marisa and I both look at the white haired, trouser wearing girl.

"What?" I let out confusion.

"You heard me. I'll just ask again. Do you mind if I join you?"

"Um…" Marisa starts to think, but I already know my answer.

"Do whatever you want, but if you slow us down, I'm ditching you." I tell her as I start towards the door.

"You're not going to join us Alice?" I hear Marisa ask.

"Why should I? My student is still my student. Regardless of his past, that will never change. As much as it would be nice to, I do not need to know more," Alice calmly stated as she took a sip of tea. A doll that sat next to her nodded furiously in agreement.

"Well okay, suit yourself, ze."

"You coming or not Marisa?" I ask as I'm about to walk out the door.

"Yeah, yeah don't get your panties in bunch, ze," Marisa said as she darted past me.

"Make sure you're not slowing me down," Mokou chimed in, doing the same… It's not a race…

Break

"Rei-Reimu-san… why?" The Blue-Green Shrine Maiden said in a weak voice ash tried to get back up. We arrived to find her sweeping the floor of the shrine. I initiated a duel when we were in ear shot.

"For… For what reason do we warrant such use of that… that spell card?" The half ghost said with voice matching Sanae's. What is she doing here anyways?

"Tell me everything you know about Minato-kun!" I demanded once more. I'm really getting tired of asking and not getting very much… maybe I should have just asked him. No, that ship's already sailed.

"Well then," Youmu began as she got up off the stone floor of the Moriya Shrine. Sanae did the same. "I'm here for the same: to learn about Minato-sama."

"Then you tell us what you know since it seems that means you know less than Green hair, ze." Marisa chimed in. Youmu cleared her throat with a cough and promptly began. Given that she lost it was only right that she tell us what she knew.

"He is gluttonous, and quite a sloth. However aside from that, he holds a strong sense of justice, values those around him. He is also kind, modest, and a quick learner. In that regard he has already made impressive strides in learning my family's sword style; a very good student who bows his head as necessary," Youmu stated all at once without hesitation.

"Well aren't you being cooperative?" Marisa noted after hearing all that at once.

"But you're hiding something aren't you. I've seen that look before. You're not telling us everything kid," Mokou said with suspicion in her tone. I guess she has experience in this regard.

"I've stated everything I believe pertinent to the discussion."

"Brat I've been around for a long time and a lot of that time was spent sniffing out when I'm being had. In other words, don't bullshit me," Mokou threatened. "You lost, now tell us what you're hiding." Instead of indignation, Youmu's cheeks redden instead. Despite this, her composure doesn't break… very much.

"I… I have difficulty at times determining whether or no he is simply oblivious to the ways of love, or if he chooses to ignore it instead…." Ways of love? "Other than that, he has become employed by the Ministry of Right and Wrong as an Administrator of Death."

"Hey, you okay? Reimu?" Marisa's voice sounded distant… but that's not important.

'Ways of Love'? Employed? These two things… hold on, one at a time… 'Ways of Love'… does that mean… Youmu is… well she does seem prettier than usual. I think that's a new haircut, a bit messier… but what does that matter to me? It shouldn't matter very much… but… but it bothers me. And that other thing, employment at the Ministry… he isn't just mine anymore?

"I see… he has taken up on that job…" She knew!? Why does Sanae know this? I knew she'd know the most.

"How do you know about that job?" Mokou asked.

"I was there when he was offered that job in the first place, when he met with them at Alice's house." I see… Alice's house, that girl still had more… but I should focus on Sanae here. Too much work to go back now.

"Well aren't you a bundle of help," Marisa joked.

"I lost. I'll take it with grace," Sanae said dignity. It pisses me off a little. I won… "So is there anything specific you wish to ask?"

"What's your past with him?" I asked, getting to the point.

"We were friends, classmates in school in the outside world," She began clinically. "He was the smartest of our year, despite sleeping in class. He transferred to another school at the end of our first year, and hadn't seen him since until he showed up at your last cherry blossom viewing, Reimu-san. However while at my school, he was the most popular boy in school. I'd overhear the other girls fawning over him, even our senpai in the upper years pined after him. As with Youmu-san, I couldn't tell if he was oblivious or ignorant." So… he was popular… I… I don't know how to take that…

"That's… quite a lot, ze," Marisa finally got in after Sanae's explanation.

"You're being quite overly co-operative, even for having lost," I pointed out.

"So what's the reason you're telling us so much?" Mokou followed.

"If you wish to know, let me begin with my own relationship to him. I love Minato." Marisa, Mokou, Youmu, and I were taken aback by that declaration. How… How… Brazen! "I love him with all of my heart. I've loved him for quite some time now. I'm just letting you all know that I won't lose when it comes to winning his heart, even if it is against the best of the best in Gensokyo."

"Um… That's…" Marisa began stammering, the rest of her reply devolving into an incoherent mess… I myself was just stunned silent… She… she what!?

"You what!?"

"If I may…" All of us turn to the half-ghost. "Perhaps we should wait for a full discussion until after we have gathered all of our information."

"What's there left to gather? We've been to pretty much everyone who's close to him at this point," Mokou said, but a bit of shiver was in her speech.

"There are two places left, The Hieda household, and… The Buddhist monk... Byakuren I believe… anyways, Minato-sama stated he will be going there tomorrow, he told me as much. With that in mind, that implies that Akyuu-san will not have any information, so that leaves the other location."

"And why the monk, ze?" Marisa asked, her composure for the most part having returned… mostly.

"He's been visiting her every now and again. Given her nature, perhaps she's been able to learn something about him that we haven't," Youmu finishes, letting out a breath as she does so. The rest of us, including Sanae, look at each other.

"I'm coming with you," The blue-green miko says. I turn towards the shrine's entrance and look down to try and find the spot where the palanquin ship had landed.

"Do what you want. Just don't get in my way." I leap off the ground and begin another chase. How long will this go on? I just wanted to learn more about him…

Break

"So I don't know very much about his history, is that fine?" Byakuren was alerted to our coming by her followers, but at least she was cooperative in letting us in…

"I suppose you would know the least, ze…" Marisa said after realizing this is probably our weakest lead yet.

"Well this was a waste of time…" I said, and from the sigh Mokou was giving, I think she thought the same.

"Well what have you discussed with Minato in the past?" Sanae continues anyways despite the monk's admission to a lack of knowledge.

"Well, quite a few things, philosophy mostly, but personal information? Nothing of the sort, I'm sorry to say… but if I have to add, it's not like he hides it, but when I think about it… it's like it just never really comes up in conversation really. He doesn't avoid it, but he doesn't bring it up."

"Oh don't tell me it's just that we never bothered to ask!?" Mokou lets out in frustration as she brings the palm of her hand to her face.

"That… might just be it…" Sanae said in stagger. "He's the kind who would off handedly mention his parents being dead…" Huh… so… he's also an orphan…

"Yes… that does seem like him, though I was unaware of his lack of parents…" Byakuren, stated with a solemn tone.

"Still though…" Marisa cut in. "That leaves us no closer to what we came here to do than we were before, ze!"

"Well there is one more place you can try to go to if you feel up to it." Everyone's heads turned in near perfect sync as we looked to find Yukari floating inside one of her gaps as was per usual. "I was hoping to keep this final location a secret, but I see there may be a need for you to go there." I began to seethe seeing her with that smirk on. I was about to yell something, but taking a deep breath, I calmly glared at her and began to speak.

"You're lying, you planned for us to gather and only 'just now' were you going to give us the location." I'm not falling for her bullshit again. She could have just sent me to whatever this place was from the start, but no, she made me go on this wild goose chase just to waste my time, or was it to bring everyone here together.

"I see you're subterfuge has been made apparent now…" Youmu began. I'm guessing she was also spurred on to find out more about Minato.

"I don't know what you're talking about… it's all just coincidental, I swear!" The Gap Youkai began to say in a mocking tone, or was it not… She said it in such a way that to tell whether she was saying it in jest or not was an exercise best left to those who desire to decipher such nonsense. "However I don't lie when I say that there is perhaps one more place you can go to learn more… that is… if you are ready for it…"

"Just shut up and take me there already…" I tersely reply, making sure she heard me as I approached.

"I'm going too. The day's already a bust for my stall. I might as well just go all the way," Mokou said after me, walking up to match me.

"Given the looks of these other two, I'd say you can add three more to the list, ze!" Marisa said, pointing to Sanae and Youmu with her thumb. Yukari pulled out her fan and opened it with a whip in front of her mouth. Her eyes then made an obvious beeline towards the final person in our midst.

"Um… If you will have me, I would also like to see this place." Yukari's eyes relaxed upon hearing Byakuren's reply. Was she banking on her coming with us? It doesn't matter, but that's odd.

"Well then," she began without taking her fan down. "Step inside, and we will be there shortly…" With a wave of her hand, a second gap opened in the space she pointed towards. "One at a time please, there's plenty of room for everyone."

"Right…" I said as I began to walk first towards it, never taking my eyes off her as I did so. "This better be someplace special…" If not then, I'm going to have to give her a needle…

Break

"Well, here we are… welcome to some of the furthest depths in the sea of souls…" Yukari said in a quiet voice as we exited the gap… "Be careful where you step…"

Sea of Souls? I don't know about that. Then again, I've been in Makai, hell, and the afterlife, so it's not like it should be all that special a place… but it was something to see. A golden plane, marked by a night sky draped in a golden aurora. Its beauty was certainly a match for Yuyuko's home…

"Those stars aren't in the right place…" Marisa noted as she began to meticulously try and decipher just where we were based on the sky. "This isn't anywhere on earth that I know of…"

"Um… I think we have other things to worry about kids…" We all turned to Mokou, still in a slow manner from our daze upon seeing our surroundings. Once it had entered our peripheral vision, I think everyone of us whipped our heads to find a massive black creature staring down at us from above…

"I… I can only sense evil from that…"Byakuren said, her composure having become shaken…

"That is Erebus… an annoyance of the greatest sort…" Yukari told us as the rest of us began to back away to have a better view of the beast. This wasn't a Youkai. This wasn't anything like the Youkai I've seen. Erebus? What kind of name is that? It's not Japanese, but it still seemed to terrify me to my core just looking at it… at least it seemed to… from the looks of it, I wasn't the only one not as phased as we probably should have been, as the rest of them, Sanae, Youmu, Marisa, Mokou, and Byakuren, readied themselves.

"Ah, I don't think that will be necessary…" Yukari chimed in, nonchalantly.

"What are you talking about? That thing's going to kill us if we don't do anything!" Mokou spat back at her.

"It doesn't matter. Let's just take care of this thing before Yukari shows us why we're really here…" I said as I grabbed my needles, placing them between the fingers, ready to be launched.

"No, I mean… that…" Yukari said as she pointed towards… an approaching blue blur…

"No need to fear! ELIIII-ZABETH IS HERE!" Just as suddenly as she appeared, a bright light engulfed our vision as the blur came into contact with the black beast, blinding us at its peak. When I opened my eyes, I saw that it had disappeared as if it was simply an illusion.

"What was that, ze!?" I heard Marisa ask as we tried to process what had just happened.

"I… I don't know… it looked… like… an elevator attendant…" Sanae said in a daze.

"A what?" I asked, but before anything more could be said, a high pitched whine began to play out in the same spot the creature was last before the blinding light returned. A sound like that of a puff resounded out, and opening our eyes, in the place of the black beast was a young woman wearing a strange blue outfit with a cap, boots, and stockings, all blue. Her hair was also like solid platinum and her eyes were a piercing gold… almost like…

"Well this was a surprise! I didn't expect to find others here in so deep inside the sea of souls. I had to completely change my battle plan to sending him to the moon and giving him his regularly scheduled dose of Megidolaon there instead. I would have prepared greater accommodations had I known that guests would arrive."

"Hey, Yukari, do you know this… and she's gone, ze…" Marisa noted, and the rest of us found out soon afterwards. It seems that the old hag's just bailed on us. That's just like her…

"Yukari? Are you perhaps referring to the pink one that uses the bow? I believe her Persona was Isis… or perhaps you are referring to a completely different individual," Elizabeth chimed in. Her cheeriness is a bit creepy. It's like she doesn't have a care in the world. "Now then, to whom do I have the pleasure of being acquainted with today? Oh but where are my manners! Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Elizabeth, a mere elevator attendant, albeit one who is utterly neglecting her duties." She said that with too much glee… especially the part about neglect…

"Right… I'm Reimu Hakurei, and I'm not neglecting my duties…" I began… she did give her name after all…

"Marisa Kirisame, ze! I don't have duties!"

"I'm, Sanae Kochiya, I have temporary leave of my own."

"Youmu Konpaku, and I also have temporary leave of my own…"

"Fujiwara no Mokou, and it's my business, not yours…"

"My my… well I'm Byakuren Hijiri, and I've currently left my other duties to my subordinates for now."

"My, such a colorful cast of characters! Be that as it may, I am curious. Do you know where you are right now?" Elizabeth asked, her tone becoming surprisingly serious as she did so.

"No… something about a sea of souls or something like that…" I answer based on what Yukari said as we first entered here, though I wouldn't for the life of me know what she meant.

"Well that is certainly one way of looking at it. How about the rest of you?" She asked the others, but they could only give her glances. "I see. I'm not sure how one could just wander into here, but I suppose stranger things have happened; rarer as well."

"Um… mind just telling us where we are?" Mokou said just what I was thinking.

"Of course! Well… to be fair, the red-white shrine maiden hit the, what was it… bull's tail!" The what? "Um… Bull's Horn? Cow's Horn? Never mind, the point is, is that this place could veritably be called the 'Sea of Souls'."

"A name, but not an explanation…" Youmu noted as Myon seemed ready for anything.

"Well then, perhaps the following will sate your curiosity. This place is where all of consciousness lies; the hearts of every person reside here. Either current or past, they all form and return to here, connected to each other and their origins. Their memories also reside here as well. You see those glimmers of light in what look to be a sky? Those stars that form what look to be an endless nebulae? Actually it would be wrong to call them stars for you see, each one of them represent a life that currently lives; that feels. All of you here also have a light up in that sky. This place's near infinite vastness is matched only by the depth, but you could call this particular spot one of the deepest parts of this sea of infinity; a place that has existed before life even became sentient. However this place also is special because of one other thing…"

"And what would that be? What could be so important that it stands out even amongst a place that would be special by itself?" Byakuren asked slowly, giving her utmost attention to the ele… whatever person.

"Oh well it's right behind you!" She said as she pointed upwards behind us to match. Cautious, we didn't immediately look behind us, but I decided to take the first plunge and… what is that? "That is something that you can only find here in this particular place." All of us, one by one, I could hear our breaths being taken away. What stood behind us, triumphant and stern was a door of gold, ornately made and pristine… but none of us paid any attention to the door. I couldn't make out any of the carvings, markings, or whatever adorned it. We couldn't, even if we wanted to. Instead our eyes trained upon something that was chained almost gruesomely upon the middle section with what looked to be barbed wire like the kind I saw in Rinnosuke's shop, as if to serve as some twisted lock for such a beautiful door.

"Minato!" Sanae yelled first, as she saw what we all saw: A stone effigy of Minato Arisato, tied to the door, arms stretched and seemingly crucified like that saint that Yukari mentions to me on occasion. Its dead expression made it all the harder to look at, as if it was resigned to its fate. This… this is…

"It's not pretty to look at is it? I assume based on your reactions, that you all are acquainted with him?" Her overly bubbly voice knocked me out of my stupor quickly enough to notice everyone else held expressions of disgust, remorse, sadness, or some other negative emotion before they too turned to the blue clad woman.

"I… I was aware that he sacrificed his life… but what… what is this?" Sanae asked, shaken, though I wasn't sure I could do much better than my fellow shrine maiden.

"That… is the Great Seal, crafted by using his own soul," Elizabeth began. "Using the power of his bonds and experiences, he crafted this seal as a final effort to stop a calamity which would end Humanity in its entirety without fail."

"But what the hell is he sealing?" Mokou asked, as Marisa began to walk up to the door.

"Life magic is pretty powerful stuff. Whatever it was, it had to have been the kind of thing that you have to be absolutely desperate to seal…" Marisa said as she was just about to touch the door.

"That wouldn't be the best of ideas…" Suddenly Elizabeth seemed to teleport out of the blue right next to Marisa, snatching her hand away from the door. "I'm not entirely sure what would happen should you directly touch this door. Inside lies a being whose mere presence can paralyze a normal human, and its touch guarantees death. Maybe not the kind you'd normally think, but it is death in a sense."

"Okay, okay…" Marisa said as she ripped her hand out from the woman's blue gloved hand. "Got it, no touching."

"Well if that's settled, then I'd like to ask the lot of you to leave," The blue woman suddenly demanded of us.

"And why should we?" I asked her, trying not to bring out my orbs and needles immediately.

"Well, I don't know why you are here, but this place is very dangerous. I doubt you all have the fortitude to withstand being in this place for too long."

"Well I don't care. I was told that I could learn more about Minato-kun if I came here, and I intend to not go back empty handed! So if you tell us what we want to know, then we will leave." Yukari brought us here, and if I go back with nothing to show for it, I'm going to be pissed off! This is the last place, and I'm damn well sure I'm going to learn something!

"Hmm… I'm afraid that nothing is free in life. If you wish for the information, you will have to pay with something, or would you rather battle moi?" A battle? "I warn you, that besides that boy up there, I have never lost to a human. As a being who resides over power, you'll find that I am no mere elevator attendant…excuse me, I mean former elevator attendant." As if to make some sort of show, an oppressive atmosphere began to choke our surroundings, it was like I was trying to breathe water, only that it was just air that was soaked with power. My body felt heavy even so much so that even my ribbon felt like it would crush me if I let it. Not even those damned Watatsuki sisters made me feel this way.

"Do…" I tried to let out. "Do you know of…" this may be the only way I can win… "Spell card duels?"

"Spell Car Duels? What do motor vehicles have to do with magical duels?" Well… at least the chocking stopped…

Break

"Oh I'm just giddy with anticipation! This will be such a fun experience." All of us spent the last few minutes explaining to the over excitable Elizabeth the rules for Spell Card Duels, with which she would keep mixing up for cars, whatever those things were. Sanae seemed to know, but I guess that's because she was from the outside world.

"Right… just make sure you're ready," I said as I got in place. Since I challenged her, I was going to be the one to duel against her. If I won, she'd tell us as much as she could, if she won… well, we'd leave.

"Oh of course, I have superb memory. I already have all the rules memorized," she said as she held her out in front of her. Almost as if it had done so on its own, a blue book seemed to materialize and place itself into her open palm, opening forth, a flood of cards seemed to pour out. "Normally I'd say to come at me as if you mean to kill, but seeing as these duels are non-lethal, the more appropriate request is to ask you to not hold back."

"Just be prepared to tell us everything you know…" I said as I placed myself into my own ready stance.

"Just one moment!" Elizabeth stated, causing Marisa, who was going to be our referee, to pause. "Hmm… I suppose… maybe… oh… no…" Elizabeth seemed to be flipping through the various cards that were under her control… I think I've seen those somewhere before… "I suppose there's nothing wrong with the classics… There! Come, Thanatos!"

"Wait what!?" I yell as a familiar figure rose from behind her.

"But isn't that!?" Sanae began from the sidelines, with similar reactions from the others rising in concert.

"Oh don't worry. I'm just borrowing it from him. In fact this book is an exact replica of his entire Persona compendium before he became the seal! For the sake of fairness and being unable to use our full might, I've decided to stick with just him for the duel."

"I'll have you tell me what the hell all of that means when we're done here…" I say as I roll up my sleeves… the attached ones…

"Of course, assuming that you win…"

"Um… luckily I've brought a spare change of underwear, ze…"

"Marisa, just start it already…"

"Right… so this duel of 5 hits and 3 bombs begins in… 3… 2… 1… Go!" Without mercy, I flew straight up into the sky and began a rain of fire almost immediately upon on hearing start. My bullets, in the shape of charms, were sent straight down in a constant stream from both myself and my orbs which I set at the same time I flew up. Along with the straight flyers, I made sure to mix in my homing shots as well to further confuse her. It's worked so far, and if that doesn't, I can just throw some sealing needles down instead. They fly better than my paper charm bullets.

"Oh… is this what they call a 'Rain of Bullets'? How pretty!" My opponent said nonchalantly as the rain approached her and her… guardian thing…

*Pichun!*

"Oh dear…" She began but so slowly that it was immediately followed with another-

*Pichun!* -just in time for her grace period to end.

"Hmm… this is interesting" she said as she had her guardian take up space between her and my attacks, though not before another.

*Pichun!* - was let off. … Is she even trying? It's… It's like all of this doesn't even register for her… Here I am, trying to give my all and she's just… Well at least now she got the hint

"I suppose I will have to change my strategy then… Thanatos, Maragidyne!" She commanded, but nothing seemed to come about it… is it just me or… I stopped my assault to find that behind me was a raging wall of blue flame fast approaching from above, falling as it came closer. Immediately I flew around the falling pillars, making sure my assault hadn't faltered too much, however upon facing her again-

"Maziodyne!" A blast of electricity flew at me from what seemed like the maw of the guardian as Elizabeth seemed to be performing some sort of twirl with her cards. Only a quick midair stop prevented me from getting hit by the blast, mere inches away from my face. "Oh? And I was sure that that would hit…" It's starting to annoy me how… whimsical she is… I don't hate it… but… it's… so out of place…

"Well it will take more than that to- oopmh!"

*Pichun!*

"Oh there they are! I was wondering when they would turn up. Oh these were the ones I knew would hit! Silly me." This tricky bitch… those cards she threw… did she… see my homing bullets and…

"She got you good Reimu!" I hear from below…

"Shut up, and what's the score?" I reorient myself and keep an eye on Elizabeth who was doing very much the same.

"You have 4 left, and she has 2. Also how are you expecting me to shut up and tell you the score?" She yelled from below…

"Just get back to your job!" I yelled back, turning my head quickly downwards to see Marisa giving me a mocking expression.

"Right! Sorry!" I turned back to Elizabeth to find that she… she's right in my face!

"You can fly?" Well… why didn't she use it from the start? I backed away to a safe distance readying my ofuda and needles.

"I wanted to see where this was going, and I can see now that aerial movement is key to successful dueling. Now for my next move, Mabufudyne!" She called as her guardian then swiped its sword at me, though instead of something like wind or energy, ice began to fly towards where I was… Guess it's time to show her why this was a spell card duel…

"Fantasy Sealing!" I called, my signature spell forming in a manner that was almost second nature. The orbs of rainbow light began to form around me, dissipating the spears of ice that were poised to strike me.

"Oh? A trump card? Is that what you meant by bomb?" I didn't reply as I then gave a strong kiai.

"Hya!" And sent the orbs her way, flying at high speeds towards her. And… sent that… But there she floated…

"Hmm…" She intoned again… "Ah! I have an idea." With a few movements, her guardian once again stood between her and my line of fire. However with another flick of my wrists, I adjusted my orbs to fly around the figure to bypass entirely. "Gotcha!" What? Suddenly the being's coffins opened up, catching each orb or moving in position to catch them. "Here's my own trump card! Makarakarn!" And like that my orb flew from the coffins, now all a distinct bluish purple color. I immediately flew back as hard as I could, weaving to the sides as they passed, even getting some of them to hit others, but…

*Pichun!*

Their homing was quiet powerful, as expected of my personal spell card…

"Oh another one? How marvel-"

*Pichun!*

"Don't celebrate just yet…" I said as my stray homing ofuda finally hit its mark… I knew that she wouldn't be dumb enough to just be hit by a big attack like that. I didn't expect for her to send my attack back like that however… Still, I got my payback.

"Hmm… it seems I may underestimated you a tad. I think now's the appropriate time to say… 'Let's Get Dangerous'…"

"How so?" I ask as I ready another volley to take her last hit out.

"Oh… I learned a thing or two about fusion spells, watching my guest perform them quite stupendously. I think I have an idea for one…"

"Magarudyne! Makarakarn!" She yelled… Makarakarn was the one she used to… Oh no… A veil of green wind wrapped itself around her and her Guardian. The wind spun like a tornado, leaving not even a single opening. Normally that wouldn't a problem. I'd just fire enough bullets where wind trajectory wouldn't matter… but… with Makarakarn. "I surprise myself sometimes! Now what is your answer for my impenetrable wall of magical deflection?" I can't get past that… no matter what I use, it will be bounced back as all of it is magical based, and any physical attacks will result in me being pushed away by the wind… So… I wonder how long she can last…

"It's over… you've already lost…" I tell her… I set my yin-yang orbs to float around and begin having them fire wildly around her… or so it looked.

"Oh?" She let out as she watched herself be surrounded by my charms. She's really confident in that isn't she? It's ticking me off…

"Hiyah!" I instinctively let out once I felt that the charms were appropriately in place. On my command, the charms stopped in place, and with a pulse of light, emitted bright magic barriers between themselves. In a way it was like a magical array formed between them with each charm as a sort of node in the array... at least that's what Yukari described it as.

"I suppose that is something of an option. However I believe this does nothing to resolve the duel, but simply prolong it. I have enough power to supply this spontaneous combination for hours!" Well at least it seems she's not in any sort of rush.

"So does that mean you won't mind sitting there for just a moment?" I ask her, just to be polite.

"If you have a means of bypassing this, I will be most pleased to see it in action." If I didn't know any better, she seemed to be genuinely excited at the notion of me beating her… or maybe she was genuinely excited to see me beat her… I can't tell with her… I'll have to ask someone about her later… Until then…

"Then it's my victory…" Just… just let all of it go… hold onto nothing…

"How so… you ha-" I stopped listening to her at that point… I ... My mind is fading… closing my eyes… it's… it's taking me… as it usually does… I can feel… I feel… nothing… lighter than nothing… I feel beyond… something… My body, I can feel it moving on its own. My… my consciousness isn't controlling it at all, but at the same time I don't feel out of control… I feel… at home… but… it's lonely…

"Minato-kun?" Where are you? Right… there…

Break

"Reimu… Reimu!" My eyes snap open… by my side on her broom was Marisa… but something felt… "Um… do you want to back off of that?" I look to my side to find… the stone effigy of Minato next to me… "You sort of ended up there…" With a jump (eh… sort of since I was in mid-air), I backed away from the statue of my employee… how… I look around to find that the others were… giving me odd glares, though Byakuren's seemed more amused than anything.

"Congratulations… It is very rare that I say this to someone other than my sister, but you have bested me… pray tell, what was that technique you used at the end there." Right… of course I won… I used…

"Fantasy Nature… the spell card encapsulation of Reimu's ultimate power of floating."

"Yukari!?" I yell as I get my bearings, finding her floating just a little.

"Oh I see, you must be the one responsible for… well… a number of things…" Elizabeth seemed to stutter and seemed not to.

"As expected of a resident of the room, you are quite knowledgeable," Yukari remarked, though what room?

"Oh? Are you aware of the Velvet Room? How rare for someone who is not a guest to be privy to its existence!" Again… what room?

"Hey I think we need to get back on track here!" Mokou interjected between us.

"Oh yes, but allow me at least to know what it was you did at the end there…"

"That near cheat of a spell card was Fantasy Nature…" Youmu began… and what's with that twinge of disgust? It's a legal card!

"Reimu's ability is the power to float from what I've been told…" Sanae followed.

"Correct, but from what point is the question!" Yukari clarified.

"Ah I see. So then either you made the point of origin to float away from either myself and my attacks or from reality itself! How… How ingenious! It's similar in a way to his Infinity Fusion Raid, but as your natural ability? I must say that I'd be hard pressed to find a solution to hit something that not even power resides over or even lies in the same plane as."

"Yeah, yeah whatever…" I tried to say to get them to get back to my spoils of war but then-

"Yes, but if only she would train more to garner more control over it. As is, she can only use it by handing over her body to her instincts and letting herself go," Yukari further explained. Why don't you just tell everyone what my three sizes are while you're at it…? She better not…

"Oh? So is that why you ended up near him? Perhaps you instinctually yearn-"

"That's enough of that!" I interrupt Elizabeth with. "Now why don't you hold up your end of the bargain and explain what's behind that door, what are those Guardian things, and what this has to do with him being up there?" Elizabeth seemed to be surprised to see her momentum taken away from her, but her expression then quickly returned to it default one.

"Ah of course, I let myself get carried away there." She then brings up a card from her book. "As I stated before, this is a perfect copy of his Persona Compendium before becoming the seal. Inside are held all of the Personas he was capable of."

"Um… What is a Persona?" Sanae was first to ask.

"Hmm… Personas are… masks that one wears to face life's hardships. For those who can master their shadows and other selves… they can be made manifest in the real world, taking the form of deities, monsters of legend, great historical figures, and those of the like. Oh but they aren't the real thing, just metaphoric manifestations!" That… that explains some of the ones I'd seen him use like Susano-o and Kikuri-hime despite them not having the feeling of gods like when I channel them…

"So he has an understanding of himself?" Byakuren asked afterwards. I guess her question makes sense for a Buddhist nun…

"Perhaps not a complete understanding, but he does have acceptance of his own self. He is at least honest about who he is to himself. That is a key part of having a Persona. With a Persona," she continued as she drew a card. "A normal human can perform incredible feats." Crushing the card in hand, a Persona similar to the one he called Orpheus Telos emerged, only its colors were off with its scarf being red and body being mostly a light blue green color. "That is the power he mastered, a power he drew upon to create the Great Seal. The power of his true self. He is his Persona and his Persona is himself."

"However I think that's not all to his power is there?" Yukari added, showing that she knew more than she's led us to believe earlier.

"Oh yes, there is the fact that he is a Zero." Elizabeth seemed particularly excited by that fact for some reason… though that doesn't sound so flattering.

"That's not the greatest of titles, ze!" Marisa commented, and I was inclined to agree.

"What do you mean Zero?" Youmu asked for further clarification as her gaze began to harden.

"Oh it is of no insult. To clarify, by Zero, I mean that his innate Arcana is that of the Fool, or the number 0. Each person is tied to different Arcana in life. However the Fool is special in that the Fool can become anything else. Like the number 0, it is empty, but filled with possibilities."

"That… that could explain how he was so good at everything…" Sanae said with a whisper, perhaps remembering something in their past together…

"Alright… I… I suppose that's good enough for his powers…" Persona… It's… himself? How does that work? But… his true self is… are… those things?

"Yeah… I think… I have some research I need to do, ze…" Marisa said in hushed tones to herself.

"That is interesting, but what of the seal?"

"Oh that? It is the absolute manifestation of his power, the power of the Universe Arcana. Not even I've ever seen it before he managed to manifest it. It is the power of the Creator, the power to bring about a new beginning, or an absolute end. With that power he manifested the Great Seal which houses Nyx, the manifestation of Death in all of Humanity. As I said before, with but a touch, your life becomes forfeit… in a sense."

"I… find that difficult to believe…" Youmu stated firmly… though it seemed that she didn't question any further… Given who her mistress is…

"Oh but it's true! How can you doubt it when the evidence of such lies before your eyes?" Elizabeth seemed a tad offended at Youmu's insinuation of fraud.

"I suppose I'll look into it later… " Youmu stated… probably deciding to ask Minato later when she got home.

"My question is, what the hell was that black thing earlier? Erebus was it? I've been around for a long time and even I've never seen anything that… malevolent…" Mokou started suddenly, reminding us of that… thing that we saw when we first arrived in here.

"Erebus… is the reason why Minato-kun became the seal in the first place." Elizabeth's expression grew sadder upon saying so. Her eyes had become down cast, and her lips seemed to purse a bit.

"I thought you said that it was for Nyx? Was it not?" Byakuren asked in confusion.

"Oh no, I perhaps was not clear enough. Well to start with, Erebus is the manifestation of Humanity's desire of death," The blue clad woman began, her way of speaking having slightly elongated as if to emphasis the importance of her words.

"I… Oh…" Sanae seemed to recall something, but it probably wasn't anything terribly new at this point…

"You see, perhaps not where you came from, but around him, the world began to desire death. Thought's like 'If this is life, then give me death' had become alarmingly common. Some even entered an early state of such that I believe was called…"

"Apathy Syndrome?" Sanae answered for her as Elizabeth began to trail. "The disease that causes people to lose the will to live? Is that it?"

"Yes I believe that was it! Anyhow, should Erebus come into contact with Nyx, all of Humanity will suffer from that disease, and all human life will crumble."

"As… will youkai…" I could hear Byakuren whisper, though it seemed that Elizabeth didn't pick up on it… or maybe she chose to ignore it.

"So you see, he's playing a very important role right now… He cannot be disturbed, lest the world potentially will fall into ruin."

"BUT WHY HIM!" I heard both Sanae and Marisa yell at once. Youmu also looked quite angry, and Byakuren as well had an expression of pain. Mokou also seemed regretful… ow… I think I had my teeth clenched…

"Because those are the consequences of his choices… that was the contract he signed. He chose that fate of his own free will… " Elizabeth's tone became quiet. It was strange. It was like she was both proud and sad to think about it.

"What choices!? What Consequences!?" Marisa and Sanae's voices clashed, and I couldn't tell who asked what as a result, though I was about to enter that mix myself…

"I believe that he would be better at explaining them than I could. I may have watched his Journey, but even I had missed a few things. However… I understand your… apprehension…" Elizabeth then began to walk past us right to the door the Minato had become a seal for.

"You seemed quite close to him…" Byakuren noted as Elizabeth stood in front of the golden door, her hand placed upon it as if to caress it.

"He was… quite special… He was dealt a very unique hand…" She said with listlessness as she looked up at him from below her eyes seemed locked on to him in such a way that she might never want to look away.

"Is that why you destroyed that thing then? Actually what's the problem if that thing is gone, ze?" Marisa asked… actually yeah. Erebus is dead, why not just tell him to stop being the seal now?

"Erebus cannot truly die. So long as Humanity continues to desire death… Erebus will be reborn. The only way to finally slay Erebus would be to-"

"Change humanity itself… am I correct?" Byakuren finished for Elizabeth. The attendant seemed to freeze for a moment before looking behind at the nun.

"Yes… Destroying Erebus' body is nothing but a stop gap measure. It is for that reason that I have abandoned my original duties and have come here," Elizabeth said as she turned to face us once again, this time with the door behind her. "I am on a Journey to find the answer of freeing him from the seal. I don't know how long it will take, but I know that simply not doing anything will not accomplish anything. Even in the face of the impossible, against death itself, he never wavered. In that sense, to give anything less in the pursuit of his freedom would be insufficient and perhaps an insult to his memory."

Silence permeated the room. Not even Yukari had anything to say after hearing Elizabeth's declaration of her determination. Looking around, I could see that the others were also at a loss for words. Whoever this was, she was willing to look for an eternity if it meant his freedom… I looked back up at the statue… now that things had calmed down… I could feel it… his spirit. If it compared to the one that worked for me… it was like that was just a small chip of the much larger jewel that hung upon the door. It was more… whole… there was more here… The one that worked for me was but a pale shadow by comparison… It… it hurt to look at how much was still dedicating itself to this… this… burden…

"Wait! So does that mean it might be possible to free him?" Sanae asked, breaking the silence after… I don't know…

"I suppose it would be as easy as changing people's perception of youkai…" Byakuren answered instead of Elizabeth. "What answer do you have for changing people's minds?" The nun asked the blue woman.

"To be honest… I have none. I have only recently started my journey… but… he too had no answer when presented with the task of facing death at his door. I too will not buckle simply because I start with perhaps even less than he did… I hope this answers your question…" Elizabeth concluded, having answered all our questions now…

"I think that about finishes what we came here to do, yes?" Yukari asked us as she prepared to open a gap, taking one last look at the stone effigy of the one centered on today's events. She… I don't think I've ever seen her like that before… It… It looks… human… "Come on then, we haven't time to waste. We've been here long enough."

"Oh? Leaving so soon? Well I suppose if you have no business here it would be pertinent to leave before something irrevocable happens to your souls," Elizabeth said matter of factly, but a twinge of sadness could be heard in her voice… "Please do be careful, and thank you for the visit. I'm sure he also appreciated it…"

One by one, the others started to file out, quiet as they did so. I… I looked up one last time… She… none of your old friends know you're still alive do they? Elizabeth even refers to you as if you've long gone away, even though you were just in my shrine this morning… Even looking up like this feels like I'm looking… like I'm visiting mother…

"Reimu… we can't leave without you…" I turn to find Yukari beckoning me, more gently than she usually does with this sort of thing.

"Right…" I said as I stepped into the gap, my boots hitting the black void that served for ground.

"Well then, take care!" I didn't hear anyone give her a matching farewell. And in a moment's notice, the golden place was gone. The sea of souls, out of mind.

Break

"Here we are, last stop: Hakurei Shrine. Be sure that you take all of your belongings and mind… the gap," Yukari said with a small giggle at the end. I didn't bother her with an answer for whatever joke she made there (whatever it was) and stepped out. She apparently dropped me off at the very spot that I had first decided to take this incident on. "I'm sure you're still considering quite a number of things."

"Don't talk like you know me. I can think of these things myself." … I'm sure I can. I always can.

"Of course, Reimu dear. Well, good night, and sleep well." And with that she disappeared. Letting out a sigh, a sign of my admittedly tired body, I looked towards the shrine, now laced in the dark night… I guess… there's no reason for him to have stayed here… the source of today's troubles. My steps began to echo in the silent night as my shoes met stone. As I close in, I realize something…. Wait… there are candles lit… that idiot probably left them burning and forgot to blow them out before leaving… I make haste towards my shrine, opening the doors with increasing haste. Candles cost money… that's why I'm rushing… the heat from the candles obviously are why it's so hot in here.

"Now where are those candles," I said in a bit of a rush as I approached the door. I could hear the TV on inside, something about stylish, and jackpot. So he left the TV on too then… Upon opening the door I could feel my eyes widen. Sleeping in the amber colored room was a blue haired boy… He… he stayed? Just like he promised… like I asked him to. I silently, slowly walk over , lowering myself to his eye leve such that his face was in full view. He slept silently, his mouth open only a small bit. His breathing was soft, but steady. He's… really pretty isn't he… Nonononononononononono.

"Nonononononononono." No, I'm not like that. I'm not. He is not my first love. No way, no how! He's my employee. That makes it improper right?

"Huh?" Oh no… I woke him! "Oh…" He softly spoke as his eyes finally stayed open after fluttering open and shut. "Welcome home!" He said as he turned the tv off just as a white haired man with a huge sword whose hilted was decorated by ribs and a skull and wearing a red coat was pointing a weird 'L' shaped thing at the screen. Nooooooooo! Not that smile!

"What are you saying!" Welcome home!? Yes, I mean no! I mean… "Arrrgh! I hate this!" He stared at me a bit dumbfounded. He stopped smiling…

"So-sorry…" No that's even worse! "Are you okay? Did something happen?" Stop being so caring. I feel like crying and I don't know why… Why is it that every time he does something for me I feel like… like... nononononononononono!

"Shut up! Just be quiet," I tell him. I need to collect my thoughts. I need to handle myself. I'm the Hakurei Shrine Maiden. I'm better than this! … Okay I'm better, now just look him in the eye and… he looks really worried now and it's not pity either… DAMNIT! "UWAAAAAAAAAAAH" I can't help it now. I'm actually crying. I can't do anything. Nothing is working. It's just making things worse. I… I can't stay here. I need to run away. I need to- "huh?" I let out in a daze, my eyes opening to a watery, unfocused vision. But I didn't need my eyes for this…

"It's okay, just keep crying if you need to," Minato told me in a soft, parent like voice as I felt his arms wrapped around me, their warmth like a blanket and his own body pressed against mine... I… don't want him to hear me… I bury my face into his shoulder and we stay like that for a while…

Break

"So are you a bit calmed down now?" He asks as he hands me a cup of tea. We moved from living room to the steps of the main shrine building. In the cold early winter night… it was so warm… but not as warm as… Did it just get warmer?

"I'm… I'm fine." Yeah… I got it out of my system. I'm fine now; completely… maybe.

"Well you cried a lot so drink some tea. It'll rehydrate you."

"I didn't cry that much," I told him. He's a bit mean sometimes.

"My blazer begs to differ. I'm going to have to give this a more thorough wash than usual. But that's not important. What had you so upset?" He asked once more, though this time when I wasn't so panicked.

"Can't you just get Ruukoto to do it? Speaking of which, where are they?" I hadn't noticed either the maid or the inchling… though the second one was easy to miss.

"They're back in Hakugyokurou. I had them go back when it was getting late. Sukuna-kun was having a hard time keeping her eyes open, so I thought it best for them to go back and get some sleep."

"Like you're one to talk, sleeping in my living room." I almost had a heart attack when I saw him.

"I guess you're right… but we're diverging from the topic. What happened today?" Like I could escape that…

"I… I learned more about… you." I finally said. I have nothing to hide.

"… you could have just asked me…" Of course he would say that.

"But would you have told me how you died? Or that the core of your being is still being used to block the culmination of all of Humanity's negative emotions from killing us all? Or that you were broken for the longest time? Or really anything important or dangerous you did?" I finally shot back.

"Did… did Yukari-san help you out?"

"Y-yeah…" That means he told Yukari but not me… I… I can't stand that… I look him in the eye, a bit of foggy breath occasionally coming into view. "You… you know you can trust me right? I- I lo-" No that's not it! "I mean I'd like for you to trust me."

"Do you trust me though?" He asked. Once more I could feel my eyes widen… do I trust him… Can I trust him…? I… I don't know, but what do I feel? Ye… Yes.

"I trust you. I might not be a good thinker, but I trust my feelings, and they say, that you'd never intentionally hurt me. I have faith in that." He huffs a bit in amusement. "What?"

"Of course you would have faith, you're a shrine maiden," He seemed to say to himself smiling just a small bit. I would have gotten angry, but it didn't seem like he was directing it towards anyone, let alone me. Also his smile was just so… "It's not a bad answer at all. Actually, I like it."

"So… does that mean?"

"What do you want to know?" I look at him as he looks at me, his eyes so soft and clear. They look aged, but youthful. As I stare, I feel not like I'm being analyzed, not like I'm being looked at with scorn, admiration, or anything. It feels like… maybe he's looking at me, for me. I blink… wait… is that love? This flutter in my chest as I think this through wasn't making things easier… but I don't hate it… I don't like the thought of it going away… Is this what Mom felt? I don't know… I don't know if this is love, but… I'll hold on to it for now. It's not bad.

"Reimu-san?"

"Oh! Right… sorry, I was just thinking of questions… yeah… and… can you just call me without Honorifics, Minato?"

"Sure, Reimu." My heart jumped as I heard my name. "So what do you want to know?" He asked again… Well…

"Well… how about your birthday?"

No way am I telling the other girls this. Minato… Minato is… He's mine; my cherished employee.

Break

"What are they doing here…" I asked my… cherished employee. In the living room of my shrine sat all the individuals from yesterday's escapade. It wasn't an incident so it didn't warrant the name.

"Well…" Minato started, but was the interrupted with

"Arisato-sama has an announcement to make!" I forgot about her… the inchling, Sukuna.

"Um… yeah…" I looked once more over the others, it seems that they all had a tough time looking him in the eye. Then again after what happened yesterday, I'd probably also have trouble looking at him. That is if we didn't… anyways-

"Well, what is it, ze?" Marisa asked, her impatience probably getting the better of her.

"Um… Well…" He was stalling. Whatever it was he wanted to say, it made him nervous.

"Just breath in and out, Minato-kun. We're listening," Byakuren told him. Minato stalled for a moment, but then gave her a nod. Taking her advice, he then took deep breaths before it seemed like his entire body became steeled.

"I've noticed this over the past few months, and some of you have made it explicit. Some of you here might not even have it, but… I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now… Sorry… " As if a meteor had crashed right through, a deafening silence followed… wait, WHAT!?

"I also apologize if I've made an incorrect assumption as well…" He continued. I think he said it anyway, because his voice sounded so faint as my head began to swim, warming up little by little as it did so… My sarashi felt tighter then I remembered it being, and my heart felt like it was rattling as hard as it could against my ribs. My legs felt like they were about to give way…

"Oh my… I'm flattered to have been considered like that…" Byakuren stated in her usual tone, but a quick glance, even in my own state of disarray, found that she was blushing madly, her eyes wide open as she stared straight at the floor. From there, I could see that Mokou seemed to be going through some sort of mental processing as she seemed to have frozen entirely. Youmu, Sanae, and Marisa were collectively looking like they were going into shock… if I had to be honest, I probably looked the exact same…

"You heard it here! Minato-sama is not looking for a girlfriend right now!" Sukuna repeated like a child imitating a parent, though for some reason it still hurt…

"Yeah… I'm… I've got some things to do before I can get a girlfriend…" Minato said in a resigned tone. Sanae seemed to snap out the fastest.

"What things?" She asked in haste.

"Well… I have some apologies to make… you see… I don't have a good track record as a boyfriend…" Wait he's had girlfriends? Has he told me this before? I can't remember… Who were they? What did they look like?

"What d-did you do, z-ze?" Marisa asked, still a bit shaken from our collective rejection…

"Well I cheated on them… all 1, 2, 3… 7… 7 of them… at the same time… I think… That's also part of the reason… I don't think I should have girlfriend for a while given that…"

"You… you can't be serious… 7? Really!?" Mokou asked, having finally unfroze. Also seriously… 7!?

"Yeah… I… there's no excuse for what I did…"

"No… no there isn't… but can you tell me why you did it…" Sanae asked next… being more reasonable than I was going to be as I already had arm wound up to strike.

"Um… I wasn't very good at making friends at the time…" he began. Looking around, I could see that the looks weren't so much glares… there was contempt… but it was… minor… everyone looked more astonished than anything else… I guess… well he is trying to come clean to us… "I tried to make friends with anyone I could… it just so happened that some of them were girls… and by the time I realized that the relationships had escalated to the level that they did… I didn't know how to back out of it… I panicked. I… I didn't want them to hate me… so I did nothing, just trying my best to balance everything so they wouldn't find out… I should have been honest about it told them right then… It's… why I'm telling you all this now… So that that doesn't happen again… I'm willing to live with the consequences of that…"

The rest of us began to exchange glances, they hadn't changed since the last I saw them, but… they didn't seem to hate him…

"That's pretty bad you know?" Marisa said, probably more solemn than I'd heard her in years.

"Yes… what you did was quite… lustful…" Byakuren said as well, her being particularly stern.

"Yeah… it's why, I thought I should let you all know, since it seemed like you all were developing feelings for me… or looked like you were…" He clarified his reasoning for telling us… not that it made it easier to swallow everything he was saying… I mean one thing after the other, what were we supposed to feel? What are we supposed to do about that rejection, but… He… is being honest with us… that much is certain…

"Well, have you learned your lesson?" Youmu asked him.

"Well, yeah… that's why I decided to tell all of you right here…" Youmu seemed satisfied with that answer… mostly… her phantom half was still looking like it wanted to bash itself against him. But what am I supposed to do about this? Wasn't I just… rejected? I… I didn't even get to tell him that… that I like him… even if he did figure it out on his own…

"No…" I couldn't help but let out.

"Reimu-san?" I heard Sanae say but I cut her off.

"Who says you can reject me before I even ask!?" I tell him. Minato's eyes widened, it was perhaps the first time I'd ever seen his eyes completely open like that.

"Well… I just thought it wouldn't be fair to you or them if I didn't tell you about what I'd done in the past…"

"That doesn't mean I'm taking that. I haven't asked yet! Once you apologize to them, I'm asking right then!"

"Um… but that doesn't make sense… didn't you…" I gave him another glare, stopping him in his tracks… I look angry don't I? I… I should probably stop that…

"Sorry…" I tell him as I soften my face… "It's just that… Just because that's what you feel, doesn't dictate how I feel. I'm not giving up… I'll wait for you to tell them you're sorry. I don't care what they do, but I know what I'll do…"

"Count me in on that, ze!" Marisa stated with her hand raised high, grinning ear to ear like a stupid little kid. "If getting a setback was all it took to hold me down, then I wouldn't be here. I've just lost one life, that's all. I've got more!"

"If the two of you are doing this, then so will I. I will not lose," Sanae declared with a puff of her chest.

"I'm in as well!" Youmu said as her ghost half seemed to give a resounding air pump. Geez, did they really have to bandwagon on my idea… maybe I should have done this when they weren't here…

"Well… I suppose women are very tenacious…" Byakuren said, as she placed a palm on her cheek. "You'd best just let them do as they please…" She told Minato…

"Whatever…" Mokou said as she turned away from him, but thanks to where I was standing, I could see that her face was still bright red, not having dimmed a slight bit since he began.

"But didn't you all hear me?" He asked once more, his voice still at the same level of volume, but it's intonation being significantly more surprised.

"Yeah, but it seems you didn't hear me," I told him. "How about you just give up on me giving up instead?"

"Same, ze!" Marisa said as she rose on to her feet.

"I won't give up either," Sanae said as she too stood up.

"I… I'm not going to be left out! I'll fight too!" Youmu strained as she followed the other two's lead. We all stared at him as his own gaze fluctuated between all of ours… his eyes then slowed, staying firmly on Youmu's, then Sanae's, then Marisa's, and… finally… mine… His lavender eyes almost felt like they pierced me like one of Marisa's lasers. It was as if he could see right into my heart, like it was all there for him to witness, drinking in things I didn't think he could… but then his eyes closed, and it was like something left me that I didn't want to have leave me… I… I want it back…

"Fine… you win… but only after I've apologized to them…" Minato finally relented…

"I knew you'd see it my way. I'm your boss after all, you shouldn't put up so much resistance." I knew I was going to win that… somehow…

The tension in the room seemed to fade. The other girls giving their own little sayings to him as I sat down and began to reach for a cup of tea. I… actually I realize that I don't know what would happen if those other girls took him back, or if he would still reject us then… or go after a completely different girl… but… no… that doesn't matter. I want him to look at me like he did just then, I… I want him to be mine completely… I don't care what gets in my way. He's already Hakurei property anyways…

"So… uh… did you do any of them?" Mokou crudely followed. As if almost on cue, the rest of us practically spat out our breaths from listening to that… Oh god the tea is in my nose!

Break

"Too long… this day is too long…" So much has happened in the past few days that I'm having trouble keeping up at all… Currently, the only light was from the candle near my futon. Night had fallen, and the only thing left to do today was to go to bed.

"Oh I hope I'm not intruding or anything…"

"ELIZABETH!?" I cry as I realize who it is, falling onto my bottom. "Ow! Ow, ow, ow , ow, ow…"

"Oh I'm quite sorry, here we go…" she said as she held out and crushed one of those cards, summoning that morbid angel into existence again.

"Hey not in the shrine! Not in the shrine!" However instead of an attack, a blue glow surrounded me and… my bottom doesn't hurt anymore… a healing spell? I suppose it is Minato's true self if it has something like that…

"Are you feeling better?" I hear her ask, as I get back up, redoing my night wear as I did so.

"Uh… yeah… but what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just followed you! And to my surprise… well I wasn't expecting to see him up and about…" Oh… so she saw him…

"So… what are you going to do about that then?" She said… that she wanted to find a way to get him out of that seal… so…

"Hmm… nothing… I'm going to do nothing."

"What?" I asked, almost falling to the floor again as I did so. "But… didn't you say that your current goal was to try and find a way to free him?"

"Of course, but that has nothing to do with the him that is here." I could feel my brow furrowing as she finished her sentence. "What I mean is, is that for a while, I was wondering why a piece of him seemed.. missing. The seal felt like a part of it had simply vanished, but with that other him here, it makes sense now. That and… he seems so… happy now. I don't think I could bear to take that away from him."

"But why not see him, or something?" I mean… the way she talked about him earlier…

"My ultimate goal is to see him freed from his duty as the seal. All this does is put my mind at ease to see that he isn't suffering. In fact, this actually spurs me onward with new resolve!" Once again, there's that overly cheeriness… "I just wanted to ask you one thing before I go."

"And that is?" It's not anything that I'm going to regret is it?

"Please take care of him… He's been through enough in life. I'm not saying his life should now be devoid of hardship, but I believe he should still be given some preferential treatment as thanks and reward for his resolve."

"Why me?" She could have asked anyone else to do this. So why me?

"Because like him, you also hold the distinction of having bested I who resides over power. A rare feat I assure you. That is why I trust you."

"That wasn't a real fight though." Unless I trained hard, I doubt I could beat her… I only beat her because I took her into my court where I knew I'd win… in retrospect, even though it was in desperation, and I got what I wanted… it was still kind of a low thing to do…

"It was a fight regardless, it just had rules, but despite that there were still losers, and winners. I lost, it is simple as that. Well I think that is all the time I can afford for our little get together unfortunately. I bid you safe… well… maybe not travels, but… oh who cares! I bid you safe travels Hakurei Reimu! Au revoir!" And like that, she disappeared from view. Nothing left of her remained in my home… I'm too tired to think on it now…

"Whatever… I'm going to bed…" I'll sleep on it… and maybe tell him about her later… oh I wonder how he'll react to that…

---

Authors Notes: So yeah... I forgot to mention that this and the next two chapters are not going to be from Minato's perspective. Oh they'll still be about him, but from other people's points of view. I meant to say that in the previous chapter...

Also, I meant to get this out sooner but was delayed for two reasons. One, I reread it and decided to redo a lot of the writing as I felt it was rushed... and I still feel that way, but it was way worse before, trust me. And two... Xenoblade Chronicles X... I've clocked in about 150 hours as of this writing and I'm only at about 73% completion... I'm generally having an easy time since I decided to base my character off of Dante and it just so happens that long swords and dual guns make a particularly broken build... that and I named him Weltall... you know... for kicks. Also I've only just completed chapter 11... since I'm slow like that.

So sorry about that... anyways. What did you think? I tried to get inside the head of a Tsundere which is really tough since that meant I had to become temporarily insane and not in the Joker kind of insane. Too mean? Not enough dere? Be sure to tell me in a review. Oh yes, and Happy New Year... sort of. You know what I mean.

Final side note, and this has nothing to do with anything. From playing XCX and going back to Gravity Rush, I just noticed how utterly lacking in imagination most open world games are. Take GTA or Just Cause. Most of these type of open world sandbox games take place in places we've already seen such as cityscapes or mountainous regions, but nothing that's outside of conventional imagination. But then take XCX and it's interesting locals such as Noctilum or Sylvalum and how weird and strange they are, how they evoke a sense of wonder as you wander through them. In Gravity Rush, the city is designed not just horizontally but vertically as well and with strange architecture that gives life to it's own world which then literally can be turned upside down. I wish more open world sandbox games could be more imaginative and create landscapes we never thought of before and to make them interesting to explore to see things we couldn't imagine before. Oh well, here's hoping to Gravity Rush 2 and the next XC game.

I'll try to be more expedient with the next chapters since I planned them out... 2 years ago now...