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.

Edited on 11/9/20

Chapter 1: Journey's Start

Death: it was not too long ago that man desired death. The people grew tired, apathetic. They simply wanted the end, the Fall. However, despite the overwhelming voices for this desire, despite Nyx – the mother of the night and the bringer of the Fall- descending upon the word, despite the intrinsic and certain promise that is death, man didn't die on the day of her descent.

Even though the rest of the world had given up and was willing to die then and there, a small group of individuals, known as S.E.E.S (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad) rose up and stood against this seemingly inevitable fate. Among these remarkable people, my friends, was myself, at the time, a 2nd year high school student. Name: Minato Arisato. In order to prevent the end, I used the pinnacle of my power, The Universe, to use my life force to create a seal for Nyx. That is where I am now. My body, now made of stone, chained to this door.

However, even in this empty space, I am not alone. In front of me lies this massive black creature, a pair of horned heads, one for each side of the creature's body. Its four red eyes without pupils are closed right now closed. Erebus, that was the creature's name. Before, the monster had made many attempts to reach Nyx, who is sealed behind me. It wished to break the seal that was now my current form, so that it may enact what my friends and I managed to stop.

Right now however, Erebus was defeated. Just before this, my friends from S.E.E.S. had somehow found their way to this place and temporarily quelled the beast. Soon after they disappeared and returned back to the normal world with new resolve to live their lives to the fullest, and at least in one person's case I believe, to relieve me of this fate one day; to give me a life again. Such good friends they are.

Although there is no doubt whatsoever that the horrible beast would rouse itself and begin its onslaught anew, for now there was peace. I am going to savor this moment for as long as possible because once Erebus returns from its slumber there is no telling how long it would be before my friends find a way to free me from this task, and until then, Erebus will continue its never ending attack to destroy me to get to Nyx. All I can do is have patience and persevere. No matter the pain, no matter the length of time, even if I went insane and numb from Erebus' relentlessness, I have to believe with all my heart that my friends would succeed. I can wait. One day. I just have to-

"Oh my, now what do we have here?"

That's not right. It shouldn't be possible. Nobody should be here now besides Nyx, Erebus, and myself. But I could swear that for a moment, I was able to hear a woman's voice. Even in this statue state I currently am in, I can perceive some of my basic senses like sight and hearing at the very least. Still though, perhaps I was just hearing things.

"I only wanted to see what that raucous noise was, but this is well beyond my expectations."

There it was again, and this time, if the increased volume were any indication, she was closer than before. I suppose then that I wasn't just hearing things. I tried looking about to find the source of the voice, but to no avail as I was only met by yet unchanging sight.

"Interesting, this golden gate is quite something. Beautiful, and far more enticing than that boorish creature over there. It appears to be a seal of some sort, and its shape and structure is most definitely a border. Now the question is for what." Whatever was happening she seemed to be looking around, but I still couldn't figure out from where and, for that matter, who was making these comments. "Oh! I'm terribly sorry. I didn't see you there, how rude of me."

She seemed to have finally taken notice of me despite my statue like state. Before I could muster any sort of thoughts on the matter, about a meter and a half in front of my statue body a … tear? A gap? Some sort of … hole… thing appeared. The tear, I'll go with that, had ribbons tied at its ends, making it look like some crude patchwork, and inside… I…

Eyes, so many eyes; all of them staring unblinking from a black void, focused every which way. No, they became focused on me now. What did they see? Was it prey? Or was it something else? The darkness and number hid whatever one might normally be able to gleam from eyes. Instinctually, I tried to move my arm to my side, but of course nothing happened. I could only stare back into that black abyss and await whatever was to come.

"What? Scared stone stiff?" I didn't know whether to be relieved or not that she was willing to make jokes at a time like this. At the very least you could have said something original. As soon as I finished that thought however, a woman emerged from the tear as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

The woman herself, a wave of something parts nostalgia and awe came over me. I've known my fair share of girls of all kinds but, this one… She was a blonde Caucasian woman with a set of impish, sly, almost fox like eyes of a beautiful golden sheen. She wore a night cap of all things that seemed to be of a western style that seemed just right on her head given her apparent looks. For the rest of her ensemble, she wore a well-coordinated mash of Eastern and European formal dress that was predominantly light purple, and in her hand was an open umbrella, stalk resting on her shoulder, pink as can be.

She was beautiful, and the odd style of dress served to further enhance her mystique… however what was that wave of nostalgia? A woman like her would be hard to forget. Junpei probably wouldn't let me forget about meeting such a person either.

Regardless that still doesn't distract from that… tear thing that she rose out from and was currently sitting in. Just the sight was eerie in no small part to the casual juxtaposition of beauty with horror. Fuuka's cooking at the very least looked as bad as it tasted. The woman stifled a giggle, but only just so after letting a bit of it out.

"Is the gap really that fascinating?" She then shifted her body into a more… alluring pose with her chest positioned in front of my face and since I couldn't move-"Or could it be me that has your attention?" She stated in a more seductive tone with a face narrowed in shape to match.

Ok, so those things I can guess are called gaps, not tears, but at least I was close, it was my second thought. Also… they're not bad.

"Hmm, it would appear that you are tongue tied at the moment." She inched closer to where her face was right in front of mine, "Let me fix that." She grabbed my throat so quickly that I was unable to follow her hand until it was already around my neck. While I couldn't actually feel the touch of her hand, I could feel that something else was happening. Something of my being was changing. I didn't know exactly what, but my body shifted. That was the best way I could put it. Something shifted, changed.

"There. Let's try now." She then pulled away, back to siting smug as a snake on that thing called a gap. The feeling faded until it was but a memory. However I still felt… invaded. Whatever she'd done, it was like a violation of the very fabric of reality; a blatant spit in the face of the laws of physics. And I was the ultimate target of such intent.

"Try what? Huh… I can talk. With my voice. I… can use my voice again." I… almost forgot what my voice sounded like.

"Of course. Would you rather I have you croak like a frog? I can make it so if you wish." She interjected with another fox like grin on her face. Her voice reminded me that I didn't have time to think on my newly restored ability to speak. I was in the presence of some… thing, or her, that could open gaps in the fabric of space time as if it was like breathing, and for some reason could manipulate me in some way to return my ability to speak. Whatever she was, she could not be human, no matter how much she looked it.

"Who are you?" I could have started with 'what did you do' or silence, but it's probably best to start with the basic questions and not antagonize her.

"Oh? How rude. You should always give your name before demanding someone else's name." Annoying… she's doing it on purpose, a troll as Junpei would call her. Regardless I should play along for now.

"Arisato, Minato Arisato. That's my name."

"Now that's more like it. Although couldn't you have put more zeal into it, perhaps not sound so stone cold?" Yeah, she is definitely a troll. "Oh well. Anyways, the name I chose long ago is Yukari Yakumo; you can just call me by my first name. It is a pleasure to meet you Minato-san." Yukari… just a coincidence, or at least I hope it is. "I must say, this is the first time I have met a living border. I know of others who have used their lives to fuel their seals, however this is the first time I have met one who was in your state; one who is still sort of alive inside their barrier. I wonder are you…? "

"What are you talking about?"

"Hmm? Oh don't mind me. Just the mumbling to myself. If I may however, could I perhaps be enlightened of the circumstances surrounding your current predicament and what pray tell is going on here? It is the main reason why I have gone out of my way to find this place. Mind you I don't go out of my way very often, and I am most curious of the many things that I see here, chief of which is you and this door. That creature is quite the curiosity as well, though again, quite boorish." She said, pointing to the beast that currently lay upon the floor below in a ragged heap.

She was now smiling a big wide grin at me, expectantly. As if she expected me to answer her in full without reservations. She is quite a bold woman isn't she? However, what is she after, who is she… this Yukari Yakumo? If I don't know that then, giving out information like that wouldn't be the best idea. Who knows what her intentions are. I better play it safe until I know more.

"Perhaps I'm being too polite…" She mused when I had yet to answer her. "A small demonstration then." She held her hand out, cupping it around my chin ever so gently, before her face twisted into a sinister grin and her eyes narrowed and glowed the faintest color of gold.

Something was shaking. Something was screaming. Something was breaking. Dust was being kicked up and something was beginning to move. No… I was beginning to move. I was the one that was shaking. I was the one that was breaking. The seal was the thing that was screaming. I could feel it, my body being overwritten, being undone. I struggled as best as I could against whatever it was she was doing, but it was as if my will were frozen. It was as if my soul was on strings, orchestrated by… by her.

And then it stopped. The world became still, the dust settled back down, and the seal felt once again in place. And her, Yukari Yakumo, still held my face in her hand. Her expression returned to the kinder one she held from earlier. Her face was as immaculate as before, not a single drop of sweat on her brow. It was easy for her. Breaking the seal I sacrificed my life for… it was easy for her. She took her hand back, taking hold of her umbrella once more and sighed.

"That was but a taste of my power as someone who rules over Borders. I would only take just the slightest bit more of effort to completely break you. Now then, what do you say? "

She was smiling, but there was no warmth in that smile. I couldn't understand the part about borders, but her intent still came out clear. Do as she says, or be done with as she pleases. I have met with some truly terrifying women, survived "executions", but the surety of the threat was not something I'd experienced before. I suppose I should be thankful for the poker face that this form gives me. I'd probably be at the very least, sweating a bit. I don't like having my hand forced like this, but if it's the only way to keep the door closed…

"Where would you like me to start?"

"Beginning please." Her voice was now back to a less stern tone and even seemed quite pleased. She almost looked cute what with her eyes closed in a childlike manner, waiting in anticipation for the answer.

"Well to start with… that beast over there. Its name is Erebus. That creature is the physical manifestation of all of humanity's negative emotions. Behind me, lies Nyx; a being awakened by humanity's sorrow and despair and believes that its duty is to end all of humanity. Not for evil reasons mind you. Nyx just believes that death is what humanity wants deep in their hearts. However should Erebus reach Nyx, all of humanity will lose the will to live and become apathetic, essentially brain dead. No human will be exempt from the process and would consequently mean the end of the world as we know it."

"Oh. That… is interesting." Was all she could muster and in quite a reserved voice this time. She seemed to be in serious thought. Her smile replaced with a more neutral expression as she reexamined the beast she continued to denigrate as boorish. Well at least she has a sense of propriety and knows when to stop the jokes. Though she seems a bit too quick to believe me. Seeing as she wasn't going to comment any further, I'll continue

"Right now, my job is to separate the two. While Nyx has no malevolent intent, Erebus' sole purpose is to reach Nyx and Bring about The Fall, or the end of all of humanity. I say end but, again, what really happens is that all of man will lose the will to live. They won't die immediately, but they wouldn't care. Essentially, I am a border between life and death, I guess." Weird. She perked up at the mention of the word border. I know she said border manipulator, but is using the same word really all that surprising?

"I haven't been here for long. I would wager four months at the most, but I believe that is the gist of it. Do you want to know anything else? You seem to be quite accepting of all this." She seemed deep in thought and I was sort of worried if I overwhelmed her, but then she did say finally reply.

"Hmm, I am used to the extraordinary appearing before me, but yes I do have something else I must ask. How did you end up as you are, as a border?" She asked this in a careful even tone. Almost too carefully, as if this question mattered to her a lot, though I can't imagine why.

"I'll make this short but, well, back in winter, January 31st to be precise, Nyx descended upon the world in response to people simply wishing for the end. Although my friends and I fought against what was deemed impossible. Nyx was, as they said, undefeatable and we all fell one by one. Everyone has to die at some point after all. But that wasn't the right time for everybody. When all hope seemed lost, I found strength to persevere, and through that strength I was able to seal Nyx away from the rest of the world. Though there is more after that, that's how I got here essentially. I sacrificed my life so that everyone else could still live theirs. Honestly, not too bad a trade though." As long as people could find some joy in life eventually, it's worth it.

"How old are you?" Well that question came out of nowhere, and was it just me or did she seem, somber, nostalgic even? She also felt nostalgic? She was grimacing, as if she was remembering something, something that caused a bit of mist to form on her eyes. Did I hurt her somehow? Said mist however, disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. It was probably nothing, so I'll just move on.

"18 or at least I think I am, though now that I am the seal, I don't even know if age matters anymore." That statement seemed to simply bring her mood down even further. What is going on here?
First she was messing with me, then she threatens me, now she was trying to hide something form me? I just can't get a read on this person.

Silence now filled the air. She looked downcast, her playful drive missing. I might have matched her demeanor, but this stone face only has, well, only one face. I remained silent, both to give her time, and because I just didn't know what to say. After some time had passed in this strangely lonely silence, she began to speak in a careful, and surprisingly, caring tone.

"Your name…"

"Hmm?"

"I might have missed it. What was your name again?" She asked, her expression still and controlled. Well I suppose that happens. I sometimes forget names myself.

"Minato Arisato," I answered her once more.

"Minato… Arisato…" she repeated back in a hushed tone, letting each syllable roll off her tongue. Her eyes raced about, left, right, left, right. Was she remembering something? But what would I have to do with her? Before I knew it though, her eyes finally came to rest, there was a new clarity in them, a new drive.

"Tell me, do you wish to stay in your current situation?" She asked, her voice warm and candid, as if she was speaking to someone she'd known for a long time, rather than someone she'd just met.

"Huh, well I don't find this to be the best time of my life, but what can you do about it?"

"Do you remember what I said about what I am?"

"You said you were a border manipulator, right?"

"Yes, but I suppose you do not know what that entails?" I would have nodded but I had a stiff neck at the moment. "Well it means just that. I am a youkai. Yes, just like those old myths of satori or oni. However, I am a unique one of a kind youkai, and as a unique one of a kind Youkai, I have the equally unique ability to manipulate anything that is remotely a border, either physical or abstract, in any way I please. For example, I can control the border between real and false vacuum, as well as the border between life and death." What?

"Alright… so you are a Japanese mythological creature who has the ability to manipulate abstract concepts, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, remember when I gave you back your ability to speak?" I tried to nod out of instinct again but was stopped by the obvious, but at least she seemed to recognize my answer regardless. "Simply put, right now as you are, you are a border. You are something I can manipulate." She caressed my cheek as she spoke, rubbing softly and with purpose. I thought back a bit and I do remember her saying as such, but I was too surprised to immediately remember something she said offhand. "If you find that your situation is currently unsatisfactory, I can help to alleviate that problem."

"What I am saying is that perhaps, I can make it so that you can live normally again while still maintaining this seal of yours. You get to live a normal life and your friend Erebus will still not have a way to reach Nyx. Do you get it now?"

Huh? Did I just hear that right? A way out, and one that is almost too good to be true? However, giving someone a new body, and making them speak aren't exactly in the same ballpark. Then again, it didn't seem like she put any effort into giving me my voice back, nor that threat she made. Still though…

"What do you have to gain from helping me?" I had to know what she was after. I still have no idea who she is or where she came from. But then, she smiled. It was the most sincere smile she had given me this whole time. Granted it was not a lot of time, but I couldn't find fault in it no matter how much I looked.

"Well…" she tapped her chin in thought before her eyes blinked once. "You… remind me of an old friend. I couldn't help them then and it only a miracle that the situation evolved as it did, but perhaps if I help you… no, forget I said anything. Though, do you doubt my sincerity or do you just not like me?" And it was back to the first Yukari, admittedly I liked this one more.

"No not at all. I kind of like talking to you. At least it's better than how it was before."

"Well aren't you honest. Oh, I can tell you are going to be so much fun." Her smile widened and seemed more innocent than it had any right to be given what it looked like thus far. "Well, do you want me to give you a life back? I promise you that I will do my best to live up to what I have offered you here, after all, in the absolutely infinitesimal chance that I screw this up, I would lose a lot as well. Please let me help you."

Once again, she flashed that sincere smile, the one I couldn't find any falsehood in. It was a look I was familiar with, particularly from when one of my close friends came to accept something or resolved to do something. It was a look that made me truly believe in others and that maybe the world isn't so bad. I know I really have no concrete reason to believe her right now other than her sporting that look, but… maybe I can trust her.

"So what do you have to do?" She perked up immediately from that somber demeanor after hearing my answer.

"Don't worry about a thing I will have you out in no time." She seemed quite excited. "Though I must inform you that I have never done something like this before and that this will be sort of new to me so please be patient with me, okay?"

"Huh? Never done this before? I thought you said that manipulating my state was easy?"

"It is, but one still must be careful. Don't worry; it will be a simple transition like using different programming languages, essentially the same concept, only needs slight adjustments." She was smiling. I know that probably was meant to reassure me of her prowess, but it just simply unnerved me more. Is it too late to back out now? She then moved in closer and was now in a very intimate proximity to my body. She placed her hands on my stone cheeks, closed her eyes then went silent.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?"

"Of course just give me silence so I can concentrate."

Some moments passed by and… It got white all of a sudden. And now suddenly it's dark instead, a familiar darkness. It took me a second to remember the feeling, but a wave of relief hit me once I did. That darkness was because of my eyelids.

Opening my eyes, I saw that I was in some dark void. I was sure that my eyes were open, however I was sure that it was brighter with my eyes closed. Even so, but a couple of meters away, there she stood in clear view; my benefactor. She was looking at me with a smile, and none the worse for wear. Huh looks like she really meant it when she said that it was going to be easy. Just how powerful is she? Easy come, easy go, hard to keep I suppose.

"Well how did I do?" That is not the question one asks when they preform what she just did. She just gave me a life to live outside of the seal. Something I was willing to wait an eternity for, given out like a lollipop at the doctors. I feel sort of like Ikutski-san now for even doubting her. Was this something she was okay with just doing for me? Just like that?

"What exactly did you do?"

"I simply extracted your consciousness from that stone and used some of that border you were part of to make the body that you have now. The clothes and items you have on your person right now were from your mind and I just simply helped to make them real for you. You can thank me later for that. Right now your soul is in a state not unlike some gods. Split but still whole in a way, a Bunrei to be precise. I would elaborate, but it would take too long for me to explain properly. To put it simply, right now you are both here, and in that seal. I have made sure that the seal has not weakened in any way even though the you that is here now is quite displaced from that location."

Well that is confusing, but I guess there is no turning back now that I have already gone through with this. I can only take her word for it. At least my clothes were intact. I was wearing the Gekkoukan Highschool uniform. Black blazer and pants, white dress shirt, a butler's tie, even my S.E.E.S armband was on me. Best of all however, my MP3 with Fuuka's headphones was hanging from my neck and on my shoulders respectively. Although…

"So, what now? This isn't the real world." In fact I don't even know where this is.

"Hmm? I didn't say anything about returning you there. Did I now?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"What I am saying is that we are not going back to that world."

"Then…" That was the catch. "Where are we going then?" I asked as I placed my hand… it's not there. I don't have my evoker.

"Please calm yourself. You coming to harm is the very last thing I want. I wish to keep an eye on you for now, and for that purpose we will be going to a special place."

"Special? This better not be a dungeon of some sort. You don't have any weird hobbies, right?"

"Oh? And if I did? Would you be willing to play? I'll let you know that I would be gentle. But jokes aside the you that is standing there is tied to the you that still lies within the seal. If the you here dies, then that one dies too, and the seal will, well, I believe you can imagine what will happen."

"Oh…" Right that makes sense. Being alive necessitates being able to die. Though if I die, so does literally everyone else. I can't fault the logic of wanting to keep an eye one me in that case. Even so… I want to see them again, talk to them again… and eat at Hagakure. Her attention will lapse. There will be an opening, I just need to bide my time and play along.

"As I said before, I too have something to lose should your seal break. And I intend to make sure that such an event never comes to pass, so long as I am around. And the best way to do that is to take you with me back to my world." Her world, meaning it isn't my world. Perhaps I can ask her. I need to see just how she reacts.

"Ok… but where exactly is your world?"

"A wonderland hidden in the east, a place where the forgotten become remembered, where the lost become found, a place that you most likely have never heard of." I can't help but think 'Hipster' when she says that.

Immediately after she finished speaking, she opened another gap, instead this time, light was showing through, sunlight. My eyes winced at the sudden brightness. Again, she giggled at my expense before gesturing me towards the gap. I guess she wants me to walk through it to our destination, her world.

Stepping out of the gap, it truly was another world. A beautiful landscape of nature unfettered by machines or any of the modern things I had been so used to back on Tatsumi Port Island. It was like something out of a story book fairytale. I don't know if anything I'd seen before was as pure, untouched. A luscious sea of green as far as the eyes can see, mountains that rose proudly into the sky. Speaking of the sky, it was a beautiful clear day without a cloud in sight, the haze of pollution absent from view.

In the draw distance I could a see a huge lake with a very regal looking western styled mansion near its shores and a few villages in other parts, scattered but no doubt bustling. A huge bamboo forest also stuck out amongst the normal trees and… a gate… in the sky. How did I miss that when I was looking at the up for the first time? But oh well, even that was quite the spectacle.

"Beautiful isn't it?" I couldn't see her, but I could tell that she sounded proud. Honestly, though it might have just been the novelty, I wasn't about to argue with her.

"Yeah…" I couldn't really think of more words to say to her. I was just too enamored by the scenery to really form a complex thought. 'How great would it be to be here with my friends?' I wondered. Before I knew it she stood in front with her arm stretched out as if presenting the world before me. Her prideful smile still hung on her face and then she said the words that marked the start of my new journey, my new life. She said…

"Welcome to Gensokyo, Minato Arisato."

And what a welcome it was.

Author's Notes: I'm writing this on the seat of my pants so this is going to be a journey for all of us. Let's have fun shall we? I also make apologies in advance for potentially sporadic updates due to what I dub as 'lethal laziness'. I hope you enjoy the story and tell me of anything I did wrong. Thank you.

Edit Notes: Well this… was a pain to read and edit. To make a confession… I don't really write more than an edited first draft. That's not pride or self-scorn, that's just the facts. I probably could use a more thorough editing process but I guess that's what this is.

Regardless I will be trying to do this to most of my earlier chapters. I won't be doing major edits to the actual storyline itself, but I will be making edits regarding grammar, pacing, description, or characterization. This first chapter was also a really good reminder of how much I absolutely sucked at writing at the start. Just that characterization of Minato is as poor as can be. I won't promise any regularity or schedule for this, but I'm hoping to at least get it done someday. I'm still writing the next chapter of this as well as Of Magical Girls and Phantom Thieves, so please look forward to those chapters. As always, thank you for reading and have a nice day.

Hopefully by doing this on a regular basis I'll be able to spark something in my head for the new chapters, assuming I don't get distracted by Hades in the meantime.