"I will be praying to die in Spring,
Under the flowering Cherry trees,
During the full moon of the second month."
- Saigyo Hoshi
Yukari peered through a small gap. It was the same ghostly pale sight, but occasionally there would be something motionless lying around. A green fairy dropped as the scenery in the gap moved around, showing an aerial view of an area in Gensokyo. Having seen nothing but her fears, Yukari clicked her tongue in annoyance and closed the portal. It was worrying that the number of victims fallen to the snow are starting to become more than just occasional.
Just how could something like this happen right under her nose? With this type of incident, not even Reimu could resolve it with brute force. Well, she could, but there would be a considerate price on stopping the tree. Yukari considered on destroying it herself—it wouldn't be too hard for someone like her—but it's very likely that she will die with it in the process. Unlike Yuyuko, she is not able to communicate with it, but she could sense at least a primitive intellect, focusing on survival. Will her sacrifice be enough? What if more similar incidents happen in the future? Without her guidance, Reimu would...
"Mistress."
A nine tailed fox spoke, hands conjoined in her long sleeves.
"Ran."
"I have sent some of the crow familiars to the tree, but it is as you say, not a single one lived before flying close to it. Its aura of death is too potent."
"I see." she turned around, facing the vast pink sky from atop the stairs. "It's funny, isn't it? This would not have happened if I did not allow myself to succumb to my urges. I have grown weak, Ran. "
"This isn't your fault."
"Nothing isn't my fault when I'm the overseer of this wretched place." Yukari sighed. "I've gotten old, haven't I?"
"Mistress, there is no use on lamenting your mistakes. The logical step we should take right now is to find out what caused the Saigyou Akayashi bloom, then from there, find a solution to stop it. We should also give princess Yuyuko some time to change her mind and speak to the tree, ask what it wants."
But that wouldn't be possible. The tree's deadly snow is multiplying its potency by the minute, and Yuyuko is reluctant to cooperate. Knowing her, she is not going to let her second chance to waste. Besides, Yukari already has an inkling of a clue of what the cause might be.
"No, that wouldn't be necessary. I know a faster way. Make sure to contact the backup if something were to happen to Reimu."
"Yukari," her loyal shikigami grew pale. "You are not going to—"
"I have to say, Ran, it was fun being the last youkai of the boundaries." Yukari opened up a portal large enough to fit her size. "Take care of Chen during my absence, and do a better job of raising her than I did with you, would you?"
The gap swallowed her whole, instantly transporting her to the spacious area deep underneath the tree, where the body of Yuyuko lies.
