Steward Of Paradise At Work

by Tall-Gothic-Guy

I didn't come here to meet shrine maidens or monsters. I didn't come here to erect a cross. No one even told me about magic being a thing here. Actually, I didn't expect myself to be here at all. I was simply chasing a woman who created eye portals. But it beats being a runaway thief. I just wish I knew sooner, that this place will never give me a break, not even God...Bring it on.

3. Keeping The Sabbath Day Holy

AAAGGHCK! I HATE MORNING'S LIKE THIS! MY FUCKING BACK HURTS!

Damn it. Damn it! Come on, hands together now.

†Dear Lord, thank You for this gracious morning. And this time, I'm going to change my life and renew so I can finally be in Your son, Jesus's blessings.†

At the sign of the cross, I slowly lifted myself up. The numerous cracks that came from my knuckles, wrists and back was quite a refreshing feel, my back has healed some thanks to the ointment Master applied but my shoulder blades are still in bad condition. I can't turn my arm on certain angles yet.

How many times did I fall on my back again yesterday?

Eh, whatever. That was yesterday's news. I probably forgot all about it, and bloody hell my back is gonna suck later. I get the feeling that it's gonna give sooner or later.

Oh dear, I drooled on my pile of shirts. And I'm still bare at the top. Good thing my least favorite shirt is the one caught on the crossfire, this red shirt's going with me now.

"Haaaaaaaaa." Yawning a good one, I turned around, careful not to aggravate the aches (fuck, its hurts a lot).

….

*Stare.*

…..Is it my sleepy mind or is there a cute blondie with blue eyes looking back at me just at the exit of my tent?

And, damn, that's a big ass witch hat she's wearin'. If it rains, you won't be needing an umbrella with that thing on your head.

"….Good morning?" I groggily greeted.

My visitor just grinned, "You look like you went through hell-daze!"

…..What a morning, eh?

"That's not how you respond to a 'good morning', Young Lady."

She plopped down to a squat, her black and white pseudo-maid outfit apron flaring in the movement, "But you sure got nice pecs there!" She extended a hand to me, giving me a friendly smile, "Mornin', you must be Emen, right? The outsider who hounded Yukari to get here? Reimu told me."

…..

Master, if you told her of my coming here, I hope you didn't make it sound wrong because of the terminology you used. 'Hounded' Yukari? That sounded horribly wrong, in so many ways.

At least I get to start the day with a handshake, never happens usually before, since I was alone and poor, and all. "Eman is the right pronunciation. What's your name, miss?" I asked, taking her hand and shaking it. Ah~, nostalgia. Handshaking never felt so good before.

And my, she's got a grip for a tiny woman.

"Marisa! Kirisame Marisa," She stated, shaking my hand vigorously (my right shoulder blade, ow) before letting go and giving a thumbs up, "The 'Ordinary Magician'."

…ok….

"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Marisa." Quite the moniker she got goin' there, it's like calling yourself the class president in a classroom. "Could you excuse me? I want to leave this cage of a tent." I requested, my right hand holding the red shirt.

She stood up and backed away from the entrance. Goodness, this tent was starting to suffocate me, even for how big it is that it could fit three people in it. What time is it, exactly?

Wearing my shirt on, finally wearing my modesty and not exposing too much of my guns, I crawled out of the tent with slow effort to make sure I don't earn myself a spike from the bruises and stood up when I got out, breathing the morning air.

Since when did my legs become so shaky?

Finally standing, yet even more crackles resonated from my back. Gotta admit, they felt so damn good.

"Damn, you look like yer about to fall into pieces. What happened to ya yesterday?" The young lady before me asked, tilting her head in numerous directions, probably examining my person for bruises.

I placed a finger to me chin, holding my elbow across my abdomen with my free arm, and looked away, trying to recall the recent events of my arrival, "*clears throat* Well, if you wish to know: I fell on my back upon arrival, got laughed at by Lady Yukari, fell on my back again after being provoked, screamed like a bitch upon another impact, snapped a new one when I got up, ate Priestess Reimu's entire kettle, had a large bag thrown to my face, sending me to the floor, again, cleaned up the impurities of the yard, stole Little Suika's gourd, messed up the shrine, fell on my back once again for the 4th time, got clobbered by the head, then passed out."

"PPPPAAAAHAHAAHAHAHAHA‼‼" The long awaited laughter finally erupts from my delighted audience. I can't help but feel a little jolly, I had a knack of making people lose their shit with my life stories that involved getting my ass kicked (which is not always a thing to brag about). "YOU FELL 4 TIMES!? AHAHAHAHAHA‼" Though, a little bit of pride is lost on me. Just a little, no biggie. "Ow, my sides! I heard what happened from Reimu but yours is just….ahahahahaha!"

Okay, you do you while I walk by you and go to the main room without falling into tears.

….

Okay, what the heck happened here?

Tipped over bottles, spilled booze, scattered grains of cooked rice, and two sprawled bodies on the floor. The smell of an all-nighter party is all over the place, also the beer, ugh. Is it me or did Suika and Master had too much fun while I was in a mini-coma? If yes, then I'm kinda amazed how I didn't wake up from the possible noises they were making. And I think they got it good: this shrine's in the hills, they could get loud whenever they like without any worry of disturbing the neighbors.

The priestess was drooling on the floor, her hands splayed above her head, detached sleeves spread out almost like a blanket, her hairs such a mess (yikes). Such a sight to see from the life force of Gensokyo and watchwoman, eh? She looked so fuckin' wasted, and it's only the second day since I got here. The particular 'Oni' I've met yesterday had a silly grin on her face as she laid on her back, unable to sleep on her side because of the horns on her temples.

And her gourd had rolled away from her reach.

Okay, I gotta pick that up before she wakes up and becomes a walking 2012, thinking that I took away her booze again. With my back still not okay, I had to bend my knees instead of bending down just to reach the floor.

Gourd in hand, I knelt beside the sleeping kiddie and steadily placed it beside her.

*Grab!*

Okay, I nearly had a heart-attack from that. After the gourd made contact with her side, she instantly grabbed it with both hands and cuddled it atop her chest like a teddy bear.

Hmm. Cute.

"You shouldn't take booze from an Oni, otherwise it'd be the end for ya-ze." Marisa pointed out, standing beside me.

"Lesson learned," I replied, lifting a hand up for her, which she took and lifted me up. "the hard way." I finished, patting me back for the emphasis. Anyway, "What have they been doing the last evening?"

"Eh, y'know." She shrugged, "Drink, chat, party, eat, a girls night out kind of a thing. Some Youkai kept explodin' the forest yesterday, couldn't find the bitch until Reimu did. Keeps hiding her tracks with explosives. I tried to deal with it on my own, but girl had too many fireworks. Keeps planting those stuff everywhere it's crazy. Where does she pull those things out, her ass?"

*Snickers.* So, I wasn't wrong about terrorist monsters yesterday? "Is it safe to say you've won against the offender?"

"Yep, with my help-da ze!" She proclaimed, pounding a fist to her chest and smiling at me in an arrogant flare. "With Reimu's Fantasy Seal and my Master Spark, we roasted her red ass. Quite a tough one for a new-arrival, had me pinned too. Then we celebrated with a drink when we won-ze."

Huh. I think I'm starting to like this place even more. 'Fantasy Seal' 'Master Spark', sounds like magic attacks. And ending the day with shots? These people are not lost from the most classic way of having fun, it seems. "Congratulations on your victory."

Hmm, there are four pillows here. Two were used by the two wasted girls on the floor, another one is obviously for Marisa beside me, but who's on the fourth? "Were there four of you?"

"Yeah, we brought the Youkai over for drinks. Said she was some kinda firework tsukomogami from the outside world and had just recently arrived to Gensokyo. We gave her a mouthful, told her to never blow trees again, then we partied all night. I was kinda hopin' she'd blow some fireworks to the sky for the heck of it. Y'know, for celebratin' purposes, but Reimu's such a party pooper."

Okay, half of that got soaked in, the other half just went over my head. What the hell's a 'tsukomogami'? At least I got the gist that she and Reimu lectured the girl to behave from now on and ended it off with drinks. That is one way to make them obey, giving food and drinks instead of physical punishment. I once read before that kindness is another form of mind-control, super effective that it even invokes loyalty.

I walked around Reimu until her head and lifted her up by the shoulders. "Could you lend a hand? Let's place her to her room."

"Yeah, sure." She positioned herself at Reimu's legs and held on to her ankles, "Ready?"

I would question if she could even lift her up considering those slim arms and her tiny build, but hey, she defeated some explosive expert Youkai less than 12 hours ago. I'm sure she could do it, "Okay, one, two, three, go."

*Snap!*

MUUUWAAAII‼‼

"Was that your back?"

I wonder if I could even lift her up. *sob*

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Alright, after placing Master to her futon with Marisa leaving a kettle of warm water near her for her hangover, I did the foremost task of cleaning the mess they've made.

Marisa told me to leave where Suika is, I had no protest whatsoever. Who knows what might happen if we nudge a sleeping oni with a trigger-happy reaction fresh from a party. If I do it again, that typhoon arm could blow out the front entrance to pieces and Reimu would give me another concussion for the day, or worse, amnesia.

Sweeping the rice out of the shrine, and collecting the boxes and plates reeking with alcohol to the back part of the building, I washed the plates on the kitchen. I was a little surprised that this shrine's got a faucet system. I expected a pump or a well but hey, this makes washing the plates faster. I expected something old-fashioned since the lack of electricity of this place but this sort of modernism is very convenient.

And now, the main room is finally looking like the priestess had ended the day of her Youkai subjugation with tea instead of beer, I felt satisfied with my work. I kept my end of the bargain for the day, Priestess Reimu can sleep as long as the afternoon without having to deal with the mess she and her friends made.

And Suika is still passed out in the same position, kiddo'd prolly wake up at 9 in the evening.

Now, where's Marisa?

Oh, she's at the backyard, standing at the center of the clearing with a broom in her hand, staring at the distance.

If I wasn't crippled, I would've a done an aerial from the porch to the grass. Just for showing off. I always start my exercises with a front flip, especially when there are people watching.

"Ms. Marisa?"

She snapped her gaze to me, somehow surprised to be pulled out of her thoughts, "Oh, he-hey! Good work on the cleaning." She praised, slamming the head of her broom on the ground.

I saw you holding that thing while I was using Reimu's own, why didn't you help me with the damn cleaning? "You would've received my respects and friendship instantaneously had you assisted the task of cleaning. You said so yourself, you celebrated with them. Shouldn't it be obligatory to clean up the mess you've made?"

Somehow, you look like you don't have a hangover. Are you the designated driver to the residents of this place?

"Hey, this broom is not for cleaning-ze." She pointed, raising it to the air like a spear. "It's usually Reimu who cleans up the mess, that fact ain't gonna change anytime."

Now that ain't nice. "Okay." I crossed my arms, "Then, what is that broom for? To fly?" Let's see if that hat of yours has any indication to what you look like, especially you being a magician like you said.

Wait, I think I shouldn't have said that. She looked like she's about to prove me wrong, "Watch." She threw the broom to a short distance, landing with a clatter against the soft grass.

….

Nothing happened.

"Well that was impressiiiiii—" It's floating. The broom's floating. She quickly ran for the elevated broom and jumped towards the shaft, landing both her feet on it like a board. Whoa ho, surfs up, bro! Okay then, that marks the part: she is a Witch. I placed my hands behind me, "Wonderful, what else can you do?"

"Hehe." She cockily grinned, tilting her gargantuan hat upwards with a finger, "Watch this."

*Boosssshhhh!*

Holy crap, she's fast. She bolted off like a bullet to the right direction and I had to run a little forward to see where she went.

Whoa, she's really grinding the air. She's completely balanced on her broom, she's still standing on it and even from here, where she is probably 500 meters away, I cannot mistake the smile on her face for anything else.

The smiles of a showoff.

She did a few conventional tricks: barrel rolls, loop de loops, she even held the shaft with both hands, hung down, and swung around it like the rotor of a plane.

After a few spins, she lifted herself to a seat on the broom with practiced ease, all without breaking the speed of her flight. Making a curved turn with her body completely parallel, she ejected off the broom and somersaulted midair. Upon her descent and keeping a hand on her hat to keep it from flying off, the broom later swooped beneath her feet and she landed on the shaft with her butt, the broom dropping down on her weight before steadying in mid-air.

And ends it with the 'bitch please' pose, fanning herself with her hat, feigning a completely bored face.

Yep, a complete showoff.

….Just like me.

I'm seeing a comrade here, must make her my friend, and soon.

I really wished I wasn't hurt right now, I wanted to show off my agility to her next. If she could do that on the air, I could do some tricks on the ground in a similar manner.

I raised a finger up in the air, and waved it in a wide arc so she could see it. "ONE MORE!" I hollered to the acrobatic witch, wanting her to end her performance with the best she's got.

She smirked again, placing the hat back to its rightful place and swung one leg over the broom so she is riding it just like a horse. Gripping near the top of the shaft, she flew skywards and I held up an arm to cover myself from the sun's glare, which proved difficult because of my damages, I can't fully bend my back upwards, but I could still see her from here.

Now she is nothing but a small shadowy figure in the blue sky. If I didn't met her first thing in the morning, staring at me at my tent and said that I looked like hell and checked me out, I would've thought she was a Youkai witch with a stereotypical appearance. You know, pointy nosed and green skinned. Urrghh.

Anyway, as she reached the highest altitude, she stood on the shaft again, took her hat off and nonchalantly dropped it, letting it fall from the sky and into the ground.

Hmm. I wonder what's she gonna do?

When the falling hat came halfway from the ground, Marisa spread her arms and fell backwards.

Falling to the earth.

Hey, hey! Careful now, your broom's still up there! Wait, are those stars?

Stars. Stars of so many colors are spilling out of her person as if she was covered with them and the grazing wind is flinging them off her. Her head pointed to the ground, her body spinning in a very wild speed and she quickly became a blur, the stars sprinkling off her body like a fountain. If she doesn't die falling, she could crash to the earth like a falling star, literally. That'd be so cool if it happened.

Soon enough, it was raining stars in the area of the backyard. The star shaped objects leaving sparkles in their flight, they hit the ground with a playful bounce before disappearing. The entire myriad of colors all around me were extremely captivating.

So this is magic, huh.

It's. So. Beautiful.

Wait, Marisa's still up there!

Whoa~ The broom's coming her way. With the cleaning material dive bombing in the same speed and eventually coming close to the owner, she grabbed it mid spin and quickly sat on it, curving her path from down to up in a very short arc before she could hit the ground, which was as high as the roof of the shrine. Forming the loop de loop, and coming to the ground with her form pointed downwards as if she was about to crash to the dirt, leaving a trail of stars in her wake, she disembarked from the broom without letting go of it and front flipped, landing on one knee to the grass.

The falling hat landed itself right on her head, perfectly positioned there like it was supposed to, and the finale was followed with the beautiful rain of colorful stars.

Needless to say, I was beyond breathless.

"That...Was...Spectacular!" I exclaimed, clapping as much as I could, stepping through the still-raining stars until I was right in front of her. "I reckon you made yourself nauseated."

"No…way." If you're going to do my thing, which was to talk smoothly after a break-neck performance, you shouldn't be heaving in every word. I can do better than that. "I can…do….another one-ze." She lifted her head up to look at me with a heaving grin, her hat no longer obstructing her face, blushing red from her spin, "You wanna…check out…my next…trick?"

"Nononono. I've seen enough." I placed my forearm under her armpit while my other held her bicep and pulled her towards the porch so she could sit down.

Oh look, this yellow star fell down late than the rest.

*Sniff* What's this lemony smell…..?

I caught the yellow star in my hands and brought it close to my face. It's still spilling sparkles as I twirl it around and its texture was like glitter to my fingertips. And the sweet odor it makes…..

Hmm….

*Nom*

Hmm. Tastes like…..‼ [Mmm, tastes like lemon candy!] I took another bite, eating off half of it. Sweet and sour mixing well together, its sweet flavor making me crinkle in sourness, and Marisa merely created it out of her person. It's infinite supply! This thing could sell in a candy shop. I'm gonna ask for more when I come back from church.

There we go, sit down there and get your head back to you, Marisa. "I beg to differ with your title."

She looked at me, still blushing and sweating as she tried to stay upright with her hands to her knees, "What'd you say?"

"I mean of 'Ordinary Magician'." I clarified, sitting down on the porch beside her, "What part of your performance is considered 'Ordinary' if you can do that?" Magicians are wise, composed, and don't take well to physical exertions that much, at least in my impressions of them in the fantasy games. Had the common sense of magic wielders fucked off as well in this place?

"Ha!" She barked, flopping to her back on the wooden porch and closing her eyes. "It's because I'm human-ze!"

…..

Does that make the magicians in the real world 'abnormal'? That'd be very painful to them if they hear her scream that while doing tricks with her broom. Though if I see somebody doing the leap of faith from something as high as the Empire State building and land to hard ground with a curtsy and just say 'it's because I'm an ordinary human!' I'm gonna flip out.

It's unfair! It's unfair until I get how things like magic work.

Hehe. Who am I kidding? I don't actually care if someone is better at parkour than me. There was no point in envying others, I learned that simple truth from experience. Some people are limited, they have a natural weakness that will never leave their life. I'm proud of what I am, I am proud of my limits. If I can't do magic just because I'm from the outside world, it's alright. At least I can entertain myself with the way life is around me in Gensokyo. If I cannot do parkour to the level of a god, then let someone else take the crown.

To love the self is to accept one's flaws.

"Well, that was an impressive display, Ms. Marisa." I stood up from the porch and rolled my shoulders slowly, checking my range. Not much, still can't raise my hands on a certain level. "If you could consider, please lead me to the church."

She opened her eyes and sat up, "What'd you say?"

Ugh, "I said 'take me to the church." She looked at me as if I had said 'bigus dickus alumnus anoos to the bajinoos' in the slurriest form. "Christian church, Ms. Marisa?"

"…..What?" She hissed, frowning to no end, "What are you talking about?"

….Am I seeing this right now? "Jesus Christ? Holy bible? Adam and Eve? Abraham? Jehovah? Crucifixion?"

"Wa-wa-wait! Slow down, what the hell are you trying to say?"

….….

….….….….Oh.

My fucking goodness. Eman, you are a fucking IDIOT!

Idiocy at its finest, ladies and gentlemen. Not-so-everyday Christian over here, just immediately assumes that there's a Western Religion existent in a land with people speaking in an Eastern Language. Give this guy money for the amazing conclusion of his life! Shall we start with a hundred thousand dollars!?

*Facepalm*

[Oooy.]

If I wanna do a facepalm for myself or to conduct self-punishment via punch to the face, why don't I do it at a place where I could have a clear head amidst the amount of remaining brain cells I have (or lack thereof)?

I placidly raised my arms in surrender. "Never mind." I promptly turned around, going for the front entrance of the shrine.

"Hey, where you goin'?" She asked.

"Front. I am just suffering….culture shock at the moment." So much shock it vaporized several thousand brain cells. "Give me a moment of silence so I might not end up screaming in horror afterwards."

"Uuuhh…okay?"

Taking limping steps towards the location, I made sure to keep my ears strained to listen to the environment. Good bird music, healthy blowing wind, a few rustles of the trees that make for a good substitute of rain sounds, the sound of my suppressed hyperventilation to a steady breathing, the sound of my feet sliding across the ground, I got myself in a rapture of noises as I rounded the side of the shrine until I was just before the stairs of the hill that lead to this place, just below the red archway entrance.

Shiiit! I totally forgot that this was a fucking Japanese fantasy land! Geez, what the fuck is wrong with my head!? How much did I lose 'em? Did I lose a bit too much? Maybe a couple of brain cells while I was chasing Yukari yesterday? Did the heat of the sun and the intense heat of my head melt some of them off and leaked out my ears? Is that it?

How could even something Western as Christianity even exist in this place? Dammit, I had to remind myself that Japan had the least amount of Christians around. My country is number one as the country with the most Christians in Asia, since when did Japan ever had the same attribute? Geez, I must be deteriorating to a fucking idiot right now, huh? I've been staying off the learning books for quite a while.

But….damn it. I scratched my head, clawing at it with both hands. Damn it, my hair's rough as a metal sponge. I need a fucking bath.

[I must be the only Christian around here, huh?] As cool as it kinda sounds, where I could go around and proclaim the greatness of the Lord and Savior to people who don't really know him, it's a complete downer that I'm alone in this. The only follower in a religion nobody knows.

This is such a complete bummer, just staring at this Stop Sign that's saying 'No' could pretty much lighten up my mood.

….….….….….….Wait a minute.

I'm standing at the edge of the hill, stairs leading down below at my feet, I'm facing outwards the mountain expecting to look at the scenery, and I'm looking at a handheld sign post that says 'No'.

….….….….….….….….….….….….

[WHAGH!‼] Holy bejeesus, where the hell did you come from, Lady!? [Yu-Yu-Yukari!?]

"Took you that long to notice that I was in front of you the whole time? Fufufufu~"

The Official Creator of Gensokyo was hanging upside down from a portal floating in the air, her silky and shiny golden hair was hanging down like a fine curtain made with golden thread. In her hand, she had her fan covering her giggling mouth, apparently amused by my reaction, in her other hand was a….it was a fucking handheld sign saying 'No'. I'm not sure if that sign had its word written upside down so it could be read as 'No' or was it an 'On' sign?

[Good morning, Yukari. Why the hell are you holding that thing?] I dryly asked.

If I can't see you snickering a smile, I can see it in your eyes, hag! "I'm answering your question, Silly." She said.

Huh? [What?]

"Allow me to repeat myself: You are not the only Christian that existed in Gensokyo."

….What? [What?]

"I said that you're the only living Christian in Gensokyo!"

….….Wait, was that what she said? [What?]

Yukari looked away, humming in thought, lowering her fan from her mouth but still holding the sign, "Currently, that is."

..….….Okay, I'm officially confused, [What?]

Then Yukari groaned, rolling her eyes and letting go of the sign, gravity making the thing fall to the ground and get swallowed up by an opened eye portal on the cobblestone floors. "I'm not going to be repeating myself, Eman. Why don't you retract your memory 10 seconds prior to know what I said, hm?"

[What? Nonononono! Just stop! Why don't we stop for a moment?] Deep breath, boy. [What is it you were asking?]

She raised an eyebrow, "I wasn't asking anything."

Oh, for fuck's sssss—mmmm…! [WHAT—] Calm down, calm down, screaming is not healthy. [—was that 'No' sign for?]

"It could be an 'On' sign if you rotate it 180 degrees, no? I wonder sometimes what use I could have on such a thing."

OOOOOOIIIII! "Answer the fucking question, Yukari-sama." I'm speaking in fucking yen here, are you gonna stop fucking around with me now?

She slapped her closed fan to her open palm, looking at me sternly, "Language, Eman."

Yeah? I'm not gonna stop altering this fucking language with a lot of 'fuck' words unless you answer my question. I'll let my face tell you my thoughts. See this face, Yukari? This is the face of somebody who's done with bullshit. Can you stop with the bullshit so I don't keep it up?

She sighed, "Fine." You sure got a lot of time on your hands to even be joking around when serious questions are being asked, "You are not the first and only Christian to exist in Gensokyo."

Uh huh, [Okay, what good does that make with my situation if I'm the only one here?]

"Isn't that enough of a solace for a person in your situation?" She asked, frowning.

Yeah? [Well, you ruined everything. The first few seconds of this conversation, you were running all over the place instead of telling me what the fuck I wanted. I don't feel like celebrating right now.]

"You simply weren't paying attention, Eman." She retorted, "I was clearly stating the facts in a direct manner."

[Was the sign necessary?]

"Come on! Can't a young lady like me have a little fun?"

I gestured to the rip, [Is coming out of…..that even necessary?] At this point, I don't know what to call that…thing you're coming out of anymore. I don't think that's a portal at all, that's a fucking door to a dimension of…something totally fucked up.

"Are you saying I'm not allowed to use what I'm capable of?"

Tha-that's not what I meant! [I mean: is coming at my face like that even necessary. Can't you just, you know, opened it over there and called me over instead of just suddenly coming out fucking nowhere, in front of me, and holding a sign?] Not like there isn't any ground for you to stand on where you gotta stay floating, I'm standing on cobblestones.

"I wasn't coming at your face, I was already there while you were spacing out."

Oh myyy FUCK! INSUFFERABLE! THIS WOMAN IS INSUFFERABLE! I JUST CAN'T GET IT INTO THIS WOMAN'S FUCKING HEAD! UUGGHH!‼

I am feeling a fucking headache coming already! [Why are you here besides just annoying the fuck out of me?] I asked, totally tempted to just fucking go back to my bed and sleep this stress out.

She slinked back inside her…whatever I'll just call it a portal. She went inside her portal and closed it. Another one opened up, way too close to my shoulder beside me and Yukari herself straight up bumped into me. "Oof!" Were you trying to spook me with that thing? "Eman, move out of the way!" An indignant voice ranted inside.

The more you do that, Yukari, the easier I'm gonna get used to it. And I only need to see some crazy shit only once or twice before I get desensitized by it. "Really necessary?" Even if I said that, I moved out of the way.

As soon as Yukari got out, the fancy parasol in her hand and resting on her shoulder, the portal closed, and she turned to me, clearing her throat, "My reason for being here, I'm going to help you with your religion problem."

[Yeah? How're ya gonna do that? Crucify me as a joke?]

She cringed backwards with a frown, as if what I said was totally not what she expected, "Of course not, do you really think I'm that evil?"

YES!

Though I'm not gonna be saying that out loud now, am I? [How're you going to do that, exactly?]

"Simple, I'm going to show you a place of worship to erect a cross for yourself."

Ahahaha~ very funny, Yukari—wait, did she just said that? [Really?]

"Of course, a religion like yours definitely needs a monument for itself just like the other religions around here."

[Huh..hah, hehe….wow.] I looked away, a silly smile on my face as I started pacing around in barely-restrained happiness. [You should'a just told me that sooner, y'know? You could've saved me from the headache.]

"If I did then it won't be so fun anymore." She told, fanning herself, "In this day and age where everything's peaceful and boring, even a woman of my age needs entertainment."

Huh, well…can't deny that reasoning. I've been trying to keep myself entertained in my usual life before, and doing some dancing-flippings ain't so fun anymore. [Okay, then. Shall we get started already? I feel eager to see this place of worship for myself."

She shut her fan, "Well, aren't you religiously enthusiastic?" She swiped the air beside her with her closed fan vertically, and she ripped the air a new one; a portal opened beside her, ribbons on the edges and a lot of eyes within. She even made it wide enough to fit 5 people going side by side.

Is that supposed to scare me, lady? Alright, in the rabbit hole we go. I can see that you looked surprised there, creator of Gensokyo, don't think you could taunt me into tumbling to my back again this time.

…..

Huh. I'm standing on an invisible ground. I thought I'd be falling weightless like before, but I've no problem with this. I don't think I can take the landing once I get out of here if it did.

*Stare*

Okay, ignore the rude staring of the void. They're just staring, nothing else.

*Stare*

….

Urrghh, creepy. I can't face away from any of 'em, there all over the place, even below me! I don't even have the guts to fully close my eyes either. I'll either get motion sickness or I'll get extremely freaked out.

"Well, you entered boldly this time." Yukari's voice echoed all over as she entered the realm just in front of me, closing the gap that had the last image of Hakurei Shrine behind her before it closed. D'you really have to put that umbrella up all the time, especially in this sunless place? "I thought you'd tumble and fall like last time."

[I won't be pulling another Marty Mcfly again, Lady. I was too dumb to let myself be controlled by my pride.]

She nodded and hummed in agreement, "Pride is a deadly sin." Couldn't agree more, let me lift up my shirt and show you the punishment on my back. "My, my, looks worse than I thought, even after Reimu's treatment." Okay, lower the shirt now. That hurt the arms more.

[Nothing that I'm not used to, don't worry about it. I'm just gonna consider these as punishment for my sins. I have stolen too much back in the real world. If karma's gonna be a bitch, might as well let it have its way with me till I'm satisfied.]

….

Why are you looking at me like that, Yukari? You're seriously boring those yellow eyes into my bones here.

"Those clothes."

I looked at myself for a second, [What?]

"They are not yours, are they?"

…..…..…..Damn.

She's sharp. Well, I couldn't expect anything less from the creator, can I? In regards to feeling shame, I'll just stare back at this eye that's looking at me funny. Yeah, yeah, look me in the eye, you damn….oculus! [Yeah, they're not. These were stolen, just like most of the 'belongings' I have.]

"Then that brings your worth into question, Mr. Eman." I wonder if she was bipolar, whimsical the first minute then suddenly imposing on me like a Judge the next, "Why should I let a thief like you stay in my paradise?"

I'm not letting you rub this in, Overseer!

[That's not gonna happen anymore! I didn't stow away to Gensokyo just so I could escape reality, I wanted to change! That's why I can't let this Sabbath day pass! I will not eat, I will not drink, and I will pray from morning until night. That's how I'm going to compensate, okay!?]

"Is that what you first thought when you were chasing me these last few months? You never knew this land existed until I brought you to it."

Tch! Just what the hell!? Can't she get my point!? Damn it, this is really starting to tick me off! [Well, maybe I didn't! But I'm serious, Yukari! I don't want to repeat everything wrong that I did to every person here in Gensokyo! I may not have stolen from you, Yukari, but I still want you to give me a chance. I don't wanna steal anymore, okay!? It's not that I even wanted to in the first place!]

Am I crying? Am I really that desperate to escape reality? Is it really that hard to change who I am in the real world? Do I really need a fucking Portal lady to be my salvation instead of a priest?

Pathetic. I am so pathetic.

Wiping my eyes with my hand, I looked away and stared off at nothing, this realm isn't so creepy anymore, [You won't believe me, Yukari, but I felt 'eaten' whenever I steal, and whenever I lie.]

It was true, and every hypocritical thing that I do just makes me feel worse, especially when I just prayed like crazy every Sunday. Thinking the words 'Lord, Forgive me!' over and over again, yet you sin, sin, and sin again. Other people might be used to that, but I'm not. Just never, I can never get used to it! Reality fucked over my life, I can't live in a house, and I can't even look at my parents in the eye anymore. I steal because I wanted to live.

Looks like I really am desperate.

"If you really want to change that badly, then let's see how you walk your talk." Damn, if these eyes have a mind of their own, then they look like they're judging me. Tough love, even for a realm.

As the sound of a portal ripped open behind me, I walked through it without another word.

That realm is heavy with judgment, and interest. If she created that realm, then she's speaking her mind in there with those eyes. It's like I'm inside Yukari's mind in there.

What is she interested at, anyway?

As I finally exited the portal, I was met with the natural world once again. It's so weird. I could breathe in there, yet it felt like there was no air, almost completely scentless. It's like everything in that realm was unnatural.

Then again, this is Gensokyo. What does 'natural' and 'common sense' have to do with it? I've learned that simple truth just yesterday.

…..

Wait a minute, wasn't this the clearing I first landed? That rock over there and the giant tree behind it is extremely recognizable. And even that bush, that remarkable bush.

Hold on, let me look over the hill.

Huh, it is the same clearing! The Hakurei Shrine's right over there just like the last time Yukari pointed me to it. Looks as far as 2-3 kilometers from here, maybe. I could run from here to there too if I wanted to. I bet I could see this clearing from over there if I looked closer the second time. I wonder if Marisa or Master could see me from here.

Why are there pieces of wood over there lying next to that tree?

"Do you mind?" Oh wait, I'm blocking the way again. Okay, stand beside the portal entrance, place an arm across your back, and hold out another hand for the lady.

What? I can't be courteous to the overseer of the land? And why should those eyes behind you look surprised as you? Do you really think I'm not that courteous?

She smirked, "For a thief, you're quite the gentleman."

No, I'm just feeling embarrassed for even expressing myself in that realm with you in it, and I needed physical contact to get it out of my head. Plus, I should treat my Salvation and the owner of the land with respect, shouldn't I?

She took my hand, daintily walked out, umbrella in other hand, the 'door' closing behind her, then I released her. "Well, I should to explain myself as to why you're here, shouldn't I?"

Please.

"Then, to start. This land was created in the 1800s, and is not influenced by the advancements of technology of the outside world. You know what that means, don't you?"

I nodded, though I feel a little unenthusiastic by that info, [That means everything here is old-fashioned and maybe traditional. That also meant no electricity.]

"Exactly, that means you have to shut down that Iphone of yours and save the batteries for later if you're thinking of going around taking selfies with the Youkais." Really, Yukari? Of all the things and places, why now and why that? "Anyway, that also meant that Christianity is very scarce here. There were almost less than 6 Christians within the Great Hakurei Barrier when Year 0 was signified."

Year zero? Oh, I think she meant the time when this place was finally finished and complete. [I assume that the Christians didn't make much of an influence, huh?]

She had a really solemn face there for a second. "But they didn't last long though, their lives were taken too soon. They were the most eccentric men and women I ever welcomed to Gensokyo. They had a standard to treat everybody the same way, friend, enemy, human, or even Youkai. They didn't fear Youkais, they treated them as 'God's creation', so they said."

Wow. Whoever those people were, God would've reward them with the finest gifts Heaven could ever give. I mean, come on, befriending a monster is the most extreme thing to do. And calling them 'God's creation' is an extreme start. Or maybe doing exactly that is already extreme.

She turned to me with a smile, the rather unhappy look on her face gone, "But that's a story for another time. If you do something that would benefit Gensokyo, then I will treat you something fascinating."

Oh ho, a challenge eh? Sounds fun, I'll take it. [Okay, I'll hold you on to that. Now, what shall I do?]

"Do you know how to build a crucifix?"

Oh, of course. No need to ask, it's very basic.

She pointed a fan to the pile of wood, "Use those wood to create the crucifix. If there are any other tools you need, just ask and I'll supply it." She pointed to the area just nearby the stone and the bush, "When you're through, erect it to that area. Make sure the back is pointed to the east."

Oh, so we're building the cross of Jesus Christ as a start? Awesome. I'm never a good carpenter but creating something as basic as a table or a chair is no problem for me. Thank goodness I work my ass off whenever my old house gets renovated.

And a life-sized one as well. This 4x4 wood is as tall as 16 feet, there's also the crossbeam that lengthened to 8 ft. wide. Wide enough that a man could spread his arms across it. A few large nails in a pile, an equally large hammer beside them. And the last but not least, the sign board that will be nailed at the wood right atop Lord Jesus's head. INRI

Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum = Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.

If my place of worship was a clearing in a forest in the middle of nowhere, with a constructed cross as the receiver of my prayers, right where Youkais and dangerous animals could nail me and eat my face while my guard is down as I pray….

No problem. If it's for the Lord, I'll do anything.

[By the way, is Shinto the dominating religion here?] I feel kinda inclined to know what kind of religion is it, what differs it from mine, and what are its beliefs. I could ask Reimu for the info if I got the time.

"Indeed," She nodded, waving a fan to her face, "But there is also Buddhism and Taoism. You'd be amazed how far the religious workers could go just to have many disciples and worshippers." She added with a smile, seemingly amused at some memory.

[Lemme guess: fighting.] First thing that came to my mind, don't know where it came from.

She giggled, "Good guess, Eman. The religious workers show off their power, impress the general public, if they win, then they earn the favor of the people."

Huh….

Getting people to your religion through a feat of violence and display, that's not how it works. You gotta proclaim and stuff like that, [If I may ask: are there any Chinese people here?] Since there's Buddhism, there's gotta be, right?

"Only two have been known so far. One that you'd appreciate seeing, and one you should avoid as much as possible. Oh, and, Eman…."

[Yeah?]

"Buddhism originated from India, not China."

…..

…..…..…..

Yukari gave me an incredulous stare, though still smiling with amusement, "Did you really think Buddhism came from China?"

Numbly, I nodded, [Yeeeaaaah…..]

She shook her head while tutting her tongue at me, frowning, "You need to improve your education, Eman. Your ignorance could be the only thing that kills you if not the Youkai."

Damn it, you really had to rub it in about my education, did ya? [Uh huh….] I was in the wrong the whole time? I literally thought that Buddha was Chinese. Since I came to Hong Kong and China, I saw so many Buddhists that I was totally convinced that Buddhism originated there. [Shit…] I scratched my head. [Can't believe I lived a lie my whole fucking life.]

She giggled, "You need to be better-informed than this, Eman."

Don't remind me, Yukari. [I know.] I groaned, feeling ridiculously stupid over the revelations. Walking over to the pile of wood. Kneeling down, there's already a hammer and a few nails as long as a pencil and three times the size of its usual girth next to it. I think there's going to be a lot of work coming for me when I work on this cross.

"By the way, Eman." Yeah? "What do you plan to do once you finish?"

Oh that's obvious, [Nothing. What were you expecting?]

She raised an eyebrow at me, apparently surprised, "Nothing? You will not convert people to your religion?"

Oh my fuck, here we go. [Oh no, I'm not gonna any of that bullshit. I'm not a Missionary, I'm just a Christian worshipper doing Christian work.]

"Doesn't your religion tell you to proclaim the gospel and spread the word?"

Oh hohoho. [Now it's my turn to say you should be better-informed than this, Lady Yukari. Yes, we are told to proclaim but we are not told to enforce our religion on people.] I can't stop the smug smile on my face here, [The bible said that you should only proclaim once to every person. If they listen and turn to Christ then good. If they don't, well, you just move on to the next person. We're not meant to shove it down their throat.] I really don't know if all other Christians know this, all them atheists are easily ticked when they get pegged more than they have to. [God gave free will to man. That includes the free will to listen or not to listen. Whether the people choose to believe in Jesus or not is not my problem. The only person who could convince a hard-on atheist to become completely religious is God and God alone.]

Though it'd be great if everybody had a religion, they'd be taught to value morals and ethics more often. The lack of the fear of hell kinda gives everybody the free will to do bad things on a whim and think they could get away with it unpunished.

I heard Yukari's footsteps come near behind me, her parasol giving some shade to my back (thanks), "You'll just might be the only Christian to ever exist in Gensokyo. If you die, the cross will just become a pointless statue."

[If people want to come to Christianity, then let it be natural instead of someone pressing it to them. That's the best kind of conversion in my opinion. I mean, what is devotion if it is not natural?] I'm starting to think that my mouth is running automatically now, it's probably because I'm letting out my thoughts of my religion without anybody judging me or criticizing me for it. [Live in the Philippines for a while and then you'll see my point.] Lots of Christian sub-religions there, even Muslims and other religions are around, and we hardly had any quarrels with each other. All because we do not care about the God they worship but instead care about the person they are (except for the ISIS terrorists there, short-minded fucks).

I hear an interested hum behind me, "Just so you know: you have the same mentality as the first Christians of Gensokyo."

I gave her a smirk over my shoulder as I pick up the hammer and nail, [You gotta admit, Yukari. Not all Christians know everything.]

She covered her mouth with her fan, "Is that something you should be saying as a Christian?"

[That's me speaking of experience.] Westboro-fucking-Baptist-shitting-Church for example. They don't know nothing! Those fucks better go to hell when they're dead. They think they know everything, che! Might as well be people calling themselves 'The Wisest' even though they're not, the hypocrites! They don't know respect! They don't even know how to love! [I do love the Lord, but I don't wanna be an idiot because of my religion. I totally hate being pitted among the idiots who do stupid things because of their faith, I've seen quite a few in America.]

Anyway, I'm not gonna think about that and instead make myself focus on some simple labor. Now then, let's gather up all the nails and slot them on my belt here. This piece of wood looks really heavy, I might be needing a lot of muscle for this. I still gotta move this too.

"Hey! Eman, Yukari! Whatcha'll doin' here, eh!? Is something going on between you two!?"

….

…..…..

[Welp, time to get to work.]

Alright, Gensokyo, get ready for a new religion.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"So you're sayin' a new religion's comin' in?"

[Yep.]

"A religion called Christianity. The dominating religion of the outside world, and the most mystical religion by Shinto standards."

"Okay, I getcha. So are we gonna expect another religious war sooner or later? The last time Buddhism and Taoism came in, everybody's been fightin' for popularity-ze."

"And you lost to Dear Reimu, fufu."

"Hey, iz not my fault she's not allowed to lose as per Gensokyo natural law!"

[Excuse me.] "Is conflict the only means to convert people to your religion while outwitting the other? I see that as a bad thing."

"Oho~, your ways are not our ways, Eman. Everything in this land is decided by skill, and cunning."

"Don't forget POWER and FLASHY DANMAKU-ze!"

[Sigh….holy fuck. I don't think I'm gonna get used to this place easily if that's the case.] "Can't those people just, [y'know,] convert people peacefully?"

"No they won't~"

"And why?"

"Cuz it'd be boring-da ze!"

[Oi…..Oh my fuuuck….Spilling blood for your religion…..the most atrocious practice that gave religion a very bad name…No wonder people are becoming agnostic outside…..]

"I mean it in more ways than one when I say that outside world's ways are not our ways."

[…..Oh yeah,] "How so?"

"There is no blood spilled in conflict, even when you use steel or magic."

"And everybody ends the fight with food, tea, or sake. Pretty cool, eh?"

[….]

"Marisa, if you please? I think our foreigner here needs to be more enlightened about our culture."

"Sure. We're talkin' 'bout the Spell Card System here. Reimu got this thing built up when people kept dying and shit, I kinda got fed up with it as well so I had no complaints. So, with the Spell Card System, everybody gets to beat the shit out of each other without anybody dyin'-da ze! Youkai attack humans. Humans exterminate Youkai. It's a deathless cycle, Gensokyo is peaceful than it used to be."

"Define 'peaceful', Dear Marisa."

"Hey, 'least the death count is not much 'round here. You got me and Reimu to deal with incidents if there were any-da ze."

[….Okay, so uh…] "I now understood that conflict is bloodless but what is the Spell Card System?" [Sounds more like a card game to me.]

"Allow to explain this, Marisa. Outsiders will only understand outsider words."

"Whu? What're ya talkin' 'bout?"

"Now, Eman. Think about it this way: a fighting game in the most physical sense. You have the power to hurt the other in the most painful way, maybe even drop a mountain on their heads, literally, if I may add. But in the end, there was no possibility of death. Why? Because both parties agreed to adhere to the Spell Card System. They may suffer extreme pain, yes, but absolutely no bloodshed is 100% guaranteed. Even if one side wins, they are not allowed to kill the other, that's a definitive rule of the system. A heavy majority of Gensokyo follows them, and sometimes many groundbreaking decisions were decided through conflict in adherence with the System."

[Hmm…..Alright. Do the two parties have to be formal for the System to be active, like they gotta agree to some rules or restrictions beforehand like gentlemen?]

"Sometimes they don't have to. They could just rush into the exciting part without any exchange of words. The System will be active the sooner they start. Rules can be decided beforehand or not, the number of spell cards, the time limit of the battle, etc."

[So, you're saying that in every conflict, the] "Spell Card System" [just….turns on?]

"Not all the time. There can be conflicts for the sake of spilling blood. The only way for the System to be activated is when both parties are willing to abide by it."

[What if one doesn't wanna follow while the other would?]

"That's….a little complicated. The best way I could describe it is that whoever wins gets their desired end result. The one who follows the rules ends the fight nonlethally, the one who did not has free reign to decide how the battle ends, just like any other mundane conflict."

[Huh…..I guess that makes sense. Thanks, I think I get it now. By the way, what about the uh…] "Spell Card part. Is that any significance?"

"Perhaps a demonstration would work best than explaining it to you. Marisa?"

"Huh, uh yeah?"

"Introduce the well-known [Master Spark] to our tourist here, please?"

"Huh, you just said that so….differently than mine. Is that how you pronounce it in the Common or whatever?"

"Of course. That Spell Card is pronounced in the Common Tongue, you are pronouncing it with an accent."

"Wha?"

"Sigh. Just do it."

"Okay. Check this out, Eman, and don't ya dare look away, cuz this'll be the flashiest Spark you'll ever see in yer life! Take this, Celestials! «Love Sign—Master Spark»!"

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!‼*

[…..…..…..…..…..]

"So, what'ja think!? Pretty awesome, right!?"

"That…was an example of a Spell Card, Eman. Quite breathtaking, isn't it?"

[…..…..…..…..…..]

"Um, dude? Hello?"

"Fufu, I think we managed to give him Culture Shock."

[…..Megaton…..laser….with rainbows….wow…..]

"Eman, I think you should focus on building that Cross now. I think our conversation had stalled your progress."

[What? Oh! Yeah right, sorry! Working on it now. Excuse me…fuckin' hell that was amazing….]

"Hmm."

"…"

"Marisa, dear…"

"What?"

"Do me a favor and keep that Tengu reporter from knowing about this new religion until a week passes."

"Yeah? Why should I do somethin' like that, 'specially comin' from you?"

"Because once the Gods in the mountain hear about this, they will certainly exploit the amount of benefits it carries."

"Wha? How? What's so great about this religion?"

"Uh, why don't we talk about that out of earshot? We don't want to disturb Eman's work, can we?"

[What? What? Somebody called me?]

"Oh its nothing. Come on."

"He-hey! Don't pull so hard-ze!"

[Okay, you do you guys. I'll just work over here. Damn, this fucking piece of wood. Why is it so heavy? Is this how Jesus felt when He walked all the way to Golgotha? Shit, this must'a been some hard-ass torture for Him. He was even whipped on all places—]

"Anyway, as I were saying. It's not the religion, it's the individuals who worships."

"Are you saying it's Eman?"

"I don't know. We've yet to determine if Eman's the right person to be the medium of its Holy Properties."

"Holy Properties? What're you talkin'' about?"

"We need to keep this religion secret until one week passes, otherwise the higher powers of Gensokyo will immediately take advantage of it, and Eman. Which would only lead to an incident."

"Didja just ignore the question? Also, don'tcha think yer underestimatin' me here? I could handle those incidents solo-ze"

"With something as volatile as this? I doubt it. Please keep this religion away from Shameimaru Aya's notice, otherwise it'd be hell for the entire whole of Gensokyo."

"Ayayayayaya, what is this!? Another outsider!? Excuse me, may I have your attention please and spare some time for a—"

*Huwak!*

"….."

"….."

[Okay, what the hell was all that about? Also, who the hell was that? Some kinda harpy or something? Where'd you send her off to with that portal?]

"Oh nothing, just a rather bothersome girl I've sent back to the Chief Tengu of the Mountain."

"Uh yeah! Somebody you don't wanna meet anytime! Ehehehe….."

[Uh…..okay? I'm just gonna ignore what just happened and just…eh…]

"Okay, work hard."

"Yeah, make it look shiny for me, eh?"

*Pak. Pak. Pak. Pak. Pak.* [Sorry, can't hear you over the hammer!]

"Hey, yer not hittin' it hard enough!"

*Pak. Pak. Pak! Pak! Pak!*

"….."

"….."

"I'm being serious here, Marisa, you need to keep this place classified from the Tengu's ears until then. Keep it that way for a single week, you only have to do that, I will handle the rest."

"Uh, I don't know…sounds like a bit of work for an entire week, y'know?"

"If you comply, then I will contribute 5 rare ingredients for your magical research, from rare stones from the time of King Arthur to lost scales of numerous dragons."

"I'll make her back off with a Spell Card battle."

"Thank you."

*Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!*

"Doing okay there, Eman?"

"This might take a while, Lady Yukari."

"Want some help there, bud?"

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Ya sure ya don' want me helpin' ya with the hammerin'? Ya don' look okay doin' it."

"No need. I can deal with it from here. You just keep it in place, I'm happy with that much assistance."

"Shift it a little more to the right, Marisa, dear."

Damn it, another correction from Yukari. I'd thought that building the Cross was easy but hell no, I had to handle the frickin' geometry of it as well. The crossbeam needs to be perfectly symmetrical to the upright beam, and that wood's thick as fuck! With my back being majorly damaged at the moment, I can't pound this big-ass nail into the wood any further without risking a snap on my back. I can't even raise the damn hammer over my head.

*Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!*

Damn it, this really gonna take a while.

Soon enough, one nail had finally pierced through the crossbeam and penetrated the upright beam behind it. I followed up with the second nail, hearing yet another correction from Yukari when it wasn't perfectly horizontal in the process before I pounded it in, I think I heard a few snaps on my back when I got a little too far with my hammering. I don't think the two ladies with me noticed, the sounds of a nail being pounded muffled it.

Oh well, at least I'm getting closer to the endgame of this construction. Just gonna finish nailing the last two extra nails in, plant the INRI sign at the top, then I'm good. I could erect this cross and finally mark the beginning of a new religion to Gensokyo.

"So….."

I'm gonna purposely ignore you for now, Marisa. Lemme finish the hammerin' here, then we can talk.

"….is your religion some kind of worship for the Decimal System?"

*PAK!* With one agitated strike of the hammer, the nail just caved itself fully inwards through the crossbeam, penetrating the upright beam behind it, leaving only one nail to be handled.

[WHAT!?] THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAID!? Oh my fuck, Yukari just lost her shit, shut up! This is an insult! "Marisa, what sort of construction is your cerebrum made of!? Where did even the Decimal System come from!?" BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY! ABSOLUTE BLASPHEMY!

"Hey, cut me some slack!" She gave me a rather carefree smile, not at all apologetic of the treacherous comment, "It looks like a fuckin' Plus sign to me!"

"IT'S NOT A PLUS SIGN" [YOU INCOHERENT CUNT!‼]

"Marisa, dear." Yukari placed a hand on her shoulder, still laughing at me behind her fan (it's kinda amazing how her tone sounds composed while her face is not at the same time). "That is a Cross, and it was an object of execution in ancient times. Do you know what crucifixion is?"

"Huh?" She held a confused face at first, then it becomes a look of realization, "Oh yeah, I know 'bout this. It's where criminals get nailed to the cross while their arms're spread out. I think I'm starting to get Rumia now." Very good, although what's a Rumia? "I read that even the feet gets nailed there as well, then they leave you out to dry in the sun till ya bleed to death."

"Very good." Very good, indeed. It's amazing how that kind of knowledge even reached Japan, I learned from class that Japanese folk don't like gettin' out of their country much but I guess there can be diehard folks among them.

"So what, there some kinda god you'll be worshippin' in this religion?"

[Hesu Kristo.] Holy shit, my mouth answered that way too fast.

"What?"

*Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!* I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sounds of me hammering this last and final nail.

While I continued pounding, Marisa didn't press on asking, either dropping it or waiting for me to finish my task so she could ask me (though I noticed Yukari telling her something). Looking at this construction now, I think it looks perfect in my opinion. I bet it would stick out of the forest if it gets erected: this thing's quite taller than it looks if I think about it. The only problem would be how to lift this thing up. I think this thing's too heavy for one man.

Now for the INRI sign….

Marisa had it in her hand, looking it over like it was some kind of alien tablet—

*Munch, munch, munch.*

—and she's eating fucking dango on a fucking stick, even Yukari's eating! STOP EATING IN FRONT OF ME! Also, where the hell did you two get chairs!?

"You two…." I swear, I could've explode the hell out of these two if I wasn't so under a domineering position in terms of power and influence on them. "….I understand if you are both hungry but would you be so considerate as to not eat in front of me? Because I have not eaten breakfast yet…!"

"And you won't be having any until you finish this construct."

….

…Yukari, you're a fucking bitch!

I reached for the sign in Marisa's hand, which she gave, and she held out the last dango ball on the skewer to me, "You can have this one-ze!" She smiled.

….Okay, I'm moved to tears.

I mean, not really but this act of consideration literally makes me the happiest man in the world. If there were people who I suck up to, its people who show kindness to me, and this girl's being kind to me! Oh so angelic. God bless you, Marisa.

"…..thank you." I timidly said before I bit the piece off the stick and walked away for my work.

Mmm, tasty…

*Gulp* "By the way, Lady Yukari."

"Yesh?" Fucking swallow that thing before you reply, geez! I thought you were supposed to be ladylike with that dress you're wearing! I seriously think that you are way older than a millennium, your speech patterns and general aura just give that away. That is, like, a LOT of fucking time for you to learn proper manners!

"Could you state a few things about Shinto for me?" [Stuff that differs Christianity from it?] I'm gonna hold off the construction here for bit, just so I could listen to this. It's just the sign that's missing, and it's quite flat compared to the other wood works, I think nailing the thing would be easier than the last so holding it off for now will cost me nothin'.

I may be a Christian who will always remain to worship the One True God but that doesn't stop me from learning about other religions. It doesn't hurt to be open-minded, no?

She threw the empty skewer over her shoulder (in such a dainty flourish too) and placed one arm across her abdomen while the other held up the parasol over her head, twirling it. "Very well, I can spoil you that much."

Sweet! Alright, here we go. [Okay, first off, what're the teachings?]

Yukari looked clueless, "Um, could you please restate that? Are you talking about the beliefs or written teachings?"

[Uh, second one.]

"Ah yes." She waved her face with her reappearing fan, making her beautiful locks swish like majestic ocean waves in the breeze. "There are no teachings, Eman. While your religion has a bible, scriptures, commandments, and a set of rules, Shinto has none of it. It wouldn't be seen as a religion in technical terms, it seems more as a way of thinking and a way of life instead. A naturalistic way of life, I mean, it highlights 'going with the flow'."

Really now? [Okay, what is the way of life of a Shinto believer? In the ethical sense included.]

"There are principles, Eman. One: Tradition and the family. Two: Love of nature. Three: Ritual purity. And Four: Matsuri. That means revering the Kami, by the way. Their emphasis of living is Sincerity and Virtue. It is almost as similar as the Two Laws of Christ. If one is sincere, he would not steal, kill, covet, or hate his neighbor. If one accords to virtue, it is natural for them to be moralistic."

Sweeet. [Okay, next up. Beliefs, good and evil first.]

"But first, state to me the true nature of man, especially in the biblical point of view."

There is only one common answer, the oldest belief that even Nature would agree on, [We are ridiculously ev—]

"Guys!" Marisa suddenly screamed, drawing my attention along with Yukari's. "I mean, not the both of you but Eman, could'ja stop talkin' in Common? We're in Gensokyo, speak Japanese, geez."

Uuuh, okay?

"If you insist." Ahem, okay. Polite speech, take it away. "The natural truth of man, especially us Christians is that all humans are completely evil and sinful beings since their birth."

Gauging Marisa's reaction, she was giving us a lopsided grin, almost looking so…condescending, like she was looking at me like a child who didn't know much, "That's kinda harsh. I'd get that belief mahself but to hear it straight out offa religion is kinda…..whoa, hehe. How come some humans could do some good if that's what yer religion says?"

"Because my God handed down a set of rules for the benefit of our neighbor and for ourselves."

"And what're those rules?"

"It is 'Love thy God' and 'Love thy neighbor'. Simple as that. You follow those rules, you will be able to have a peaceful living."

"A god telling you how to live…." I don't like where this is gonna go when Marisa says it like that. "Your religion's a quite bossy one if you ask me, kinda whacky too, like a cult or somethin'. Livin' by somebody's rules, I ain't callin' that living."

Ahem, Marisa.

"I did say that it is for our benefit since we are rather sinful beings. If you simply love your neighbor, you would not think of stealing from them, hurting them, lying to them, and coveting them. A very simple yet meaningful human ethic. Quite similar to the two things Lady Yukari had mentioned." Of course not a lot of people would ever listen to that. "Not that every Christian obeys it, however. I doubt myself to be obedient too. I can't expect myself to love everyone I met, nor will everybody think the same way as me."

"May I continue?" Oh, sorry. Please go ahead, Yukari. "Thank you. In the Shinto sense, no one is born sinful and evil. Everyone is pure upon birth, therefore marking the humans as fundamentally good in nature. In the case of being 'sinful', as you put it, they blame evil spirits that cause people to be unclean. They may gather other forms of impurity in their daily life: sin, dirt, disease, error, disaster—such things that cause them to lose their purity even more. In order for them to remove such impurity, purifications rites are taken occasionally, weekly, annually, etc."

Hmm…..

"There is no such thing as a ruling god like yours. Shinto emphasizes living a good life while it's still short, yours emphasizes a proper living in preparation for death. Shinto gives a way to approach life and the world in a way that benefit individual living, yours gives way to being a neighbor for your neighbor in order to achieve a good life. Also, there is no such thing as a higher plane of existence like a Biblical Heaven, there is only here, this physical world for the divine beings and spirits. Oh and by the way, all Kami are not perfect, like you say your God is."

That's right. No one can compare to the Lord.

"Kami are almost no different than the average human being, the manifestations of their physical nature is just above that of humans. They may make mistakes, they may be evil, and in Gensokyo, where most kami have physical bodies, they may even act like a human, only with a more...enlightened way of thinking."

"Yeah, they got a habit of lookin' down their noses on ya-ze."

Riiight. I guess it's kinda sensible that gods are proud.

Okay, next one. "What of gods? Or Kami as you seem to put them."

"Oh, oh! Lemme fill up on that one!" Marisa excitedly raised her hand, lookin' like a classmate who really went through all the studying just for this question.

Yukari and I shared a glance, then I turned to her again, "Go ahead."

"Alright. In the Shinto POV, kami are pretty much the nature of everything around us. Like this, that tree is a god. That cloud is a god. That rock over there is a god. They're pretty much all over the place, even the moon and sun are gods!"

"Shinto gods in a nutshell, right this way." Yukari playfully gestured to Marisa with a giggle.

…..

….That…is…..totally…..stupid.

"That belief is….crazy." To me, that is, don't wanna offend anybody here. "How could the moon and the sun even be considered gods? I mean, I would understand if it is sun god or harvest god or even mountain god but calling inanimate objects gods are almost….primitive…and relatively stupid."

"Maybe I should not have trusted her to explain." Yukari remarked.

"What?" Marisa turned to her in exasperation, "Come on, that was all I got! Ain't that the gist of it?"

"I have to say no." Yukari disagreed with a superior flare, "You are a secular human being, Dear Marisa. Only a worshipper can understand religion better than the agnostic."

She slumped down on her chair with a pout, "'Least I tried."

"Anyway," Yukari turned to me, "You are correct for there being gods and goddesses of natural phenomena and climate, but if a particular object has earned a tremendous amount of faith, including a mountain, it's revered nature as a god—in the Shinto perspective—will be given a form. Sounds ludicrous to you, isn't it?"

Absolutely. What's the point of worshipping a damn tree if it's not even gonna do anything for you besides….being a tree?

"But that does not mean that all Kami have physical bodies. Some of them will remain as divine spirits, intangible and unseen, just like your God. Anything and everything in nature is a Kami, but those who present their nature extraordinarily and strikingly are the ones most likely to be revered as a Kami by anyone. My best examples are waterfalls with tranquil waters, a volcano with a menacing explosion upon eruption, maybe even a lion with a mighty roar. They are considered Kami because they are magnificent to the eyes.

"First of all, Kami are much more comparable to a 'Spirit' than what you would consider a 'god'. They are all present in every forces of nature, natural objects, and even living beings. Here is the case, Eman: whether it is a tree in the woods or a mountain, as long as it is part of Earth, it contains tremendous amounts of spiritual power in its being, even natural phenomena has them. When a tree or mountain is given a name and venerated, the spiritual power of that being is placed into 'Concept', then it is bound and shaped by its given name into a god. Its personality is even defined by that name, considering that forces of nature do not have personality. In terms of reverence as a god, they respond in a give-and-take relationship with humans. Show them appreciation in your own way, they grant you blessings in your daily life in turn. Particularly good luck, good health, and others. That's how they manifest themselves as a 'God' in your perspective."

Hmm, "Makes sense." If every object in the natural world is considered a Spirit that could be worshipped, then the spiritual plane of earth is packed with these people. Reimu is starting to look like some kind of a Shaman more than a Priestess the more I think about this religion….which is not much of the difference but still….

"While humans will become Kami in death, they can become gods too."

What!?

"Animals even. Maybe the spirit of a long-passed ancestor, or even a dead man's soul. The only way for anyone or anything to attain godhood is for it to have tremendous amounts of faith, which is generally a difficult task."

…..huh.

[So that's it?] "Faith equals godhood? If their attained faith and veneration is lost, they will revert back to who they once were?"

She shrugged, "Back to their nature as a simple Kami (spirit), yes."

I scratched my head, squinting my eyebrow, [Shit….everything sounds so…..primitive…yet so sensible at the same time.]

"But your God is not the same, yes?"

[Nope, not at all.] "My God does not need faith to be a God." Uh oh, here I go again with a motor mouth when talking about my Lord and Savior, I'm just glad Yukari knows what my religion is and won't groan at the claims. "If He was a God who was made then He would not be my God at all. I would say it's a role-reversal, Lady Yukari. Instead of a god needing faith from us, we need Him." [Or something like that, but you get me, right?]

"Of course. Your religion holds regard to the worship of a higher being existing outside our own universe, governing the nature of human life, earth's natural occurrences, and everything else outside of it. Everything in the earth is under the dominion and stewardship of man but is limited, therefore no one must cling to the things of the physical world in order to be happy in life."

"Uuuuh, I'm really confused right now. What'd you say 'bout your god again, Eman? Is your religion somethin' like Buddhism or somethin', about not being attached to things and stuff?" And Marisa, being a secular person as she seems to be, will never get a thing. We'll just ignore you for your ignorance, we can't have ourselves explaining everything to you the second time now, can we?

"I guess that is all for now." I dismissed, tired of the talk. Alright, time to nail this INRI sign to the cross, and finally finish my job. Maybe once I'm through I could pray for a little while. I wonder how long I'll be praying though, I got a lot to offer.

"That wasn't even the whole of Shinto yet. We still haven't covered Taoism and Buddhism."

I chuckled; what're we in, a fuckin' nutshell class session about the eastern religions? "Some other time, Lady Yukari. For now, I'm going to finish this construct right here, right now."

"Ah yes, do just that." Thank you for understanding. Turning to Marisa, she said, "Time for you to leave, Marisa."

"Wha—AAHH!" Marisa got swallowed by a portal suddenly opening below the chair she sat on, taking the chair with her.

"I left your gifts in your bedroom!" Yukari called out in the opening before it closed. It almost looked like she was sending off her kid on a school field trip with a holler of best regards.

Makes me wanna smile.

"Well, are you going to stand there or are you going to finish the cross?"

Oh right, sorry.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

Alrighty! Done and done! The INRI sign is now nailed near the head part of the cross, just above the place where I'd think Jesus's head would be when He got crucified.

Now for the last and final touch is to erect it, the front facing the west and the back facing the east, just like what Yukari would want. But first, we need to dig a hole. And to dig a hole, I need a shovel.

And since there's not a shovel in sight, I shall turn to the nearest delivery service. [Yukari?]

"Mmm Whagh?"

Says she as she munched on a tosino taco. Would you PLEASE STOP eating those things in front of me already! You're seriously tempting me to extort food out of ya! Also, would you please fucking swallow your food before you fucking talk to me!?

[Shovel.] I gotta hand it to her when it comes to getting me the stuff I need. Like when I need some pencils, a new hammer, smaller nails, her portal-delivery service worked its best, better than any delivery company I knew in the Real World.

The way it goes however…..

*WHOOSH!*

…is that she fires it like a fucking cannon! EVE! RY! TIME! I don't know where the hell she gets these things but this is getting ridiculous! If I'm rating her delivery company services, it's 2 to fucking 10! Who the hell shoots those things like that to the client!?

[Fucking hell, Yukari! STOP! DOING THAT! Are you seriously trying to get me fucking killed!?] That shovel nearly nailed me in the head, and I had to jump to the dirt (AGAIN!) to avoid it.

*Cough! Cough!* "Language, Eman. Your God is in your presence."

[It's not even erect, you stupid…mmmmmrrrrrmmmmmmmm‼!‼" At least you choked on that stupid taco mid-laugh. Serves you right.

*Vwush*

Now you ordered a 1-liter bottle of water!? Stop pulling those things out of your own ass! Wherever you're getting them, you are literally stealing from the outside world! I don't need to be a genius to figure that out.

Wait, who am I to think that way? I'm a thief too.

…Damn it.

Bear with it, Eman, bear with it. You'll get your revenge. Just get up from the ground and try not to jump at her the sooner you hold the tool.

*Grab* I seriously feel like slapping your stupid face with this shovel, Yukari! Be thankful I'm not submitting to the evil side of me.

I marked the spot in front of the boulder as my X mark. If I erect the cross just in front of it, it will rest its weight on the stone and not topple over in case of tipping or over-balance.

Stab the shovel to the ground, drive it in with a foot.

*Shek*

Press down on the handle—

*Snap!*

Ow, this is not gonna be pretty for my back.

…..

Stab the ground, drive it in with my foot, wrench out the dirt with a bend of the tool, throw the excavated dirt to the pile, rinse and repeat.

I'm sweating, burning, dehydrated, hungry, thirsty, and severely injured. I dare somebody to do something like this while meeting the six conditions stated.

My back hurts. My red shirt is literally damped with my sweat, my jogging pants are literally brown with dirt and mud, and now my elbows finally gave away. I can no longer continue the digging business, or even grab on to something, but it was done. A sizable hole is set for the cross.

I sure am pushing myself a bit too far for this thing, aren't I? But what can I do? I've come this far already, and I'm almost done. Can't stop now, I just gotta slot the cross in the pit.

But…..how?

With the crossbeam finally nailed to the upright beam, it's twice as heavy. Maybe even heavier than 110 pounds. My back aches even more, and I barely had any strength in me left. I really wanna lie down for a while and rest, try to get energy back.

No. More than that.

I feel like I want to die.

But I can't. I won't.

This is something I have to do if I want to be forgiven. I'll take it all in stride, this exhaustion and the burning sun that scalded my head, I'll take it all in. I'll suffer like Jesus, maybe even get a broken bone but I will see this cross erected like it is supposed to! If I suffer just to keep my faith up, then fine!

Consider it pride, Lord, but I don't want to end this day without anything symbolizing you.

I spared a glance to Yukari. She had a milkshake in hand, but it wasn't near her mouth. It rested on her lap, both hands holding it, and her attention was fully on me, unblinking and unmoving.

Well. Here goes nothing.

I just gotta turn this cross over. Good thing I don't have to drag it to the hole, it's perfectly lined up to it the sooner I do. Once I turn it over, I'll just heave it up and its bottom can automatically slide down to the hole by its own weight.

Rule number 1 about lifting: use the knees.

One.

*Exhale*

Two.

*DEEP BREATH!*

THREE‼‼

It's…..sooooo…hhheeaaavvvvyyy…‼!

This is torture! Absolutely torture! I can hear the rattling of my bones, and I'm definitely going to break my own legs once I'm done!

"AAAAAAAAAAA—"

60 degrees…..

"—RRRRRRRRGGG—"

80…..

"—GGGGGGGHHHHHH‼!"

110 degrees!

*CRASH!*

My legs didn't break, but my balance got lost so I fell along with the turn-over'ed cross. My head landed on the cool, recently unheated side of the cross with the weight on my head much heavier than I thought it could. I think I just cracked a rib. But I didn't feel any pain. Maybe I was too tired to feel anything, reassuring as it sounds, the exhaustion is seriously threatening to put me down to unconsciousness.

Just.

One.

More.

Push.

I'm almost there. Come on, get up. Just one more.

"Uuurrghhhh….‼" I feel your pain, Saitama. These elbows are making really funny crackling noises as I push myself up.

Come on, put a knee below you and push.

….‼

Damn it, it's even harder than before. Come on….! Stand the fuck up!

This is so fucking annoying! Just so annoying! I get here to see my place of worship, now I have to deal with this stupid Youkai that does nothing except look and laugh at me like some fucking dickwad!? Now everything looks like shit. That tree looks like shit. This grass I'm stepping on looks like shit. I try to seek forgiveness and this is how she supports me? I came here to change for fucks sake.

Life. Always a fucking drag. Reality? Much worse. It wasn't my fault that I became a thief, it definitely wasn't. If they had not just up and left us to ourselves, where I have to stress myself just to provide for us, I...I wouldn't have become like this. Just at the moment did they show their face again, right at her funeral, they had the guts to apologize to my damn face? Did they really think it was that easy?

I may not be angry at them anymore.

But I will NEVER FORGIVE THEM.

DAMN IT, I'M FUCKING PISSED!

"AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!‼‼‼‼‼"

Get the hell up you stupid piece of wood!

I feel like I'm about to die. I actually broke my limbs, and the pain was unbearable.

BUT THAT'S NOT STOPPING ME‼

"GET! IN! THERE!" YOU! FUCKING! CONSTRUCT!

*SLOT!*

…..

…

…

…..It's in.

…..I did it.

I did it.

I did it.

I have erected the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Gensokyo finally has a new religion.

….

Welp, now'd be the good time to pass out.

But before that….

†Dear Lord, I have done You my most strenuous service. I won't be praying to You for today. My efforts to create the symbol of Your religion had done its toll on my body that is of ash and dust. Dear Lord, do forgive me this once. I'll make up for missing the time to pray today at another time. Dear Lord, bless this land, bless this place of prayer, and bless the woman who welcomed me to her home and gave me shelter. Bless also Yakumo Yukari, she gave me salvation in Your place. And finally, thank You. For everything you have done for me until now.†

I landed on my back straight to the ground, I don't think I'll be walking for a month now. My spine….

†Lord, forgive me. Amen.†

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

She stood up from the chair, opening a small gap beside her before slipping the half-finished milkshake in, straight to the fridge in the Yakumo residence. Drawing her hand back, she willed the portal to another place and slipped her hand in again, pulling out a green face towel. Fresh from the laundry, and smelling like flowers.

Stepping close to Eman's fallen form and kneeling down beside him, she slipped a hand behind his severely sweaty head and lifted him to her lap. Afterwards, she wiped his wet face with the face towel, drying what remains of the dirt that matted there, keeping the umbrella she held the entire time angled towards the sun to keep his upper body shaded and cooled.

This human really was interesting.

He really pushed himself. He neither ate, nor drank, nor rested enough, nor even fully healed. Yet he actually accomplished the one task she prepared for him to do. He even followed every word she said to the letter. Directed towards the east, the exact direction to the Hakurei Shrine, and the cross doesn't even look half-bad. The pit was quite impressive, she doubt that even a typhoon can topple this monument.

It was idealistically well done. It was perfect.

Eman earned his keep. She wondered what the results would've been had his body been in perfect condition—perfect enough to climb 50 meters high….perfect enough to chase her down. The possible outcomes are endless, she couldn't help herself with a giggle.

…..

There. Now his face is cleaner and free of dirt. Not for his body though, inside and outside. He had actually dislocated his knees, his fingers, and elbows. His back might've been the next thing that broke had she not nudged the cross forward into the pit in silent assistance. That cross was too heavy for him. His ribs had cracked, and his shoulder blades are done for.

But nonetheless, he was alive.

Now she needs to wait for Him to come and see for herself if Eman is actually someone to walk his talk and is considered worthy of a medium.

Throwing the towel back to the gap, she drew out her fan and waved it to his face. He could've just asked for her help. She wouldn't have minded, he did accomplish a perfect craft. Was he trying to look independent? Or was it all out of the pure will to please the god he worshipped?

Well, she couldn't care which. She had seen overzealous and driven as two sides of the same coin: bearing recklessness and self-destruction. All that matters is that the cross of the 'Messiah' is standing high and tall. Once a few rites are cleared, the nature of the symbolization will later influence the surroundings; this clearing of the forest will become a safe haven for humans—Consecrated ground. A pure manifestation of holy energy will be activated in a matter of hours. The coming effects will have the grass and the trees becoming magical barriers; any being of malevolence can never lay its foot within. Not even the Biblical Devil and his subjects could ever lay their foot here.

And all of that amount of purification will be accomplished by a single Christian simply erecting a crucifix after building it? The amount of belief put in it made it all too easy to achieve.

Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed. That's what the Christian book says, doesn't it? If Eman had been following that verse in this menial task, then maybe, just maybe, this man might actually be the one.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Boo!"

"AAHH!"

"Hehe, did I surprise you?"

"Do I look not surprised!? Yukari-sama! How long've you been there and listening!?"

"Fufu~ Long enough that I watched you slur on the last verse!"

"Hey! If you want to listen to the good news, then sit beside me! I feel like I'm missing out on things without you around."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Maybe next Sunday, I'll be with you the entire sermon. Maybe I'll stand at the side of the altar and watch my little girl grow up."

"Oh, Yukari-sama. I'm a grown woman, don't treat me like a child, especially if your, I don't know, more than a millennia years old. But I love that. Oh, try not to scare the kappas. They keep telling me that they get the willies just by looking at you."

"Oh, I'll try. I am the overseer of this land, aren't I? I should understand to keep my 'refugees' satisfied, right?"

"'Refugees'? Yukari-sama, they are residents! You hear me? Re-Si-Dents. There's a difference."

"Honestly, Christians and your logic. I could never get it. I mean I already could but I just can't believe it."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"You should just stop."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"Your 'saving' and 'salvation' and 'rescue from sin', they are all pointless. They can't change, Ama-chan. Youkai will always be Youkai. Its better you keep your religion to yourself."

"Yukari-sama. I think we already went through this conversation already. And my answer stays: I won't stop."

"Your actions lately had been doing the most wonderful results to the entire population of Gensokyo, and I am very glad to have brought you with me, but try not to waste your time on something that doesn't give results."

"But…."

"You're actions and preachings are doing wonders enough. Don't try to waste it all on people who cannot see the world the way you do. I can't see the world the way you do. I am a Youkai, just to remind you. Youkai do not obey human laws lest they go to hell, Humans do not obey Youkai laws lest they go to hell. You mix them up, then Gensokyo's natural order will crumble, and your ambition will bring nothing but despair. Everyone will blame you for everything."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"No matter how many times you tell me, Yukari-sama, I won't stop. I'm a steward of God's creation, and I will tend to them to the best of my powers."

"Tut, tut, tut. Ama-chan, this act of yours will certainly get you killed."

"If I end up hated for what I'm doing, that means I'm doing God's work. If I end up dead for doing this, then that means I left my mark. This wasn't my own idea either, the others helped come up with this months ago, and they are willing to take the risks."

"Haa, you Christians…..so naïve and narrow."

"Even if I can't conjure results to the Youkai, I can at least show them a point of view that not a lot of people have."

"And what point of view is that?"

"The perspective of God and the Heavens."

"….Pardon?"

"If you look at the way I do things from the eyes of a human or a Youkai, it shows nothing and it looks worthless, just like you said. But if you look through His eyes, look deeper than you see, you might notice other things that I even I don't notice."

"?"

"God is the creator of the universe. He knows all, sees all. If He sees all, He sees the deeper meaning behind the deeper meanings. Even yours, Yukari-sama."

"Mine?"

"Don't state the obvious, Yukari-sama. Even if you built this place just for the sake of Youkai, humans, and even gods to live in peace, God sees more than that purpose, even if you had a secret agenda."

"I am well aware of the true purpose of Gensokyo's existence. I did form its development, and I care not if your God knows my secret agenda. Its bound to happen, and none of your plans revolve around it."

"Even so if you have a purpose behind a purpose, God sees something else that even You didn't realize you were doing the entire time."

"Oh….And what is that?"

"How would I know? I'm just a mere preacher that spreads the word. My point, Yukari-sama, is that Youkai can be more than just Youkai, and Humans can be more than just beings born evil. Haven't you said it? The Hakurei Barrier prevents every influence that outside world has on everything inside it. That means that the common knowledge of Youkai being the enemy of mankind does not apply here, that means we can alter it. We can make Youkai the friend of humans if we wanted to, I just need time."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"You are completely obsessed, and your Christian principles are technically domineering, you're even taking advantage of every Youkai's developing sense of identity...And somehow I like it."

"Second thoughts already?"

"Whether that be the truth or not, I find myself appealed by this…mission of yours. I hope your aim comes to fruition, Ama-chan."

"Thank you, Yukari-sama. I swear, I will deliver God's Love to this land so there can be no conflict. I understand that people will keep on fighting, and people will keep dying, and that peace is nigh-impossible to acquire, but I want to give hope to this land. I want to see the day when the Youkais and humans hold hands together instead of seeing each other as if they're animals or food."

"Do remember that some Youkai won't stand worshipping a god. If Youkai don't do Youkai things, then they will simply lose their identity and then disappear. Your end point destroys Gensokyo's true purpose."

"I know. That's why I'm trying to find a way to alter that before I get any further. Converting people to Christianity is not my purpose….Not anymore. I've seen things now. I just want to show them just how much God's power and love can do through me. Yuuda-kun's been supportive lately, he kept saying that my plans will succeed. I don't wish to disappoint him, so I'll keep going until it ends."

"Yes. Your lover's been attentive to his sweetheart."

"Yu-Yukari-sama!"

"Hahahaha!"

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"...You know."

"Yes, Yukari-sama?"

"Now that I think about it…."

"Yeah….?"

"A village where Youkai and humans living together…doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Hihi. Isn't it? But I cannot do it alone. We cannot do it alone. I need more able help. So Yukari-sama?"

"Yes?"

"Will you please grant me your support, to make this paradise a true dreamland for all?"

"….."

"….."

"Lift your head, Yoko Ama."

"Yukari-sama?"

"You don't need to ask. This land is to save the Youkai from the humans and from themselves, and it is also to give them a new purpose. That has been my aim since the start, and you have been always there with me and for me. You'd do anything for me, and for the Youkais. Among all of you and your friends, you alone can make the possibilities easier for me to reach."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Do listen. Peace between Youkai and Humans is extremely impossible. And I will say this again: The sole purpose of a Youkai is to horrify, harass, destroy, or kill, and they cannot be themselves if they don't do that. That almost breaks Gensokyo's purpose. But still, even Gensokyo is capable of change."

"Yukari-sama."

"Nothing is impossible for God, isn't that what you told me?"

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"The day will come, Ama-chan. The day will come."

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"The day will come, huh…..?" She repeated. That one promise she made in the forest with the one person she considered the most valued and precious stepping stone to developing Gensokyo. It looked like a distant dream, almost unable to reach since the day of her judgment.

It was unfortunate that she had to go.

But Yukari never doubts fate, she never does. She went through enough times of her life to even think of doing otherwise. There will be the Day. There can be the Day. Maybe 10 years from now. Maybe a hundred years from now. It won't matter.

Gensokyo is her pride and joy, and she had hoped for its creation since then. And it did, now look at the way it is, proud and fruitful, quiet and peaceful, chaotic and tumultuous, rambunctious and rowdy. It wasn't the way Ama expected it to be, but she's sure she would have loved this. Ama's friend's granddaughter is seriously letting an inchling live in her shrine, an oni before that to boot. The Youkais are barely any trouble to the humans. And to top all of that, the Spell Card System was created, delivering evenhandedness to all species in terms of combat and conflict. Yukari was proud of Reimu.

"Yukari-sama! Nothing is impossible when it comes to God. Through me, I will do everything for you, even if my faith is as small as a mustard seed!"

Nothing is impossible for God, huh? Yukari wondered. Christian beliefs are so mystical. They could almost defy the most common logic of things with a single sentence.

That is something considered worthy to be part of Gensokyo, Yukari remembered.

She looked down on the sleeping stowaway, snoring away without a care in the world. She looked up, the sun was finally angled behind the cross's incomplete form. It was beautiful, she may admit to herself. She had long awaited for the sun to angle in this direction, for as long as 5 hours, she knelt still, underneath the shade of the newly-built monument.

The stroke of the hour of Three in the afternoon is the exact time the Christian figure called Jesus Christ had died on the cross, as spoken by Outside World common belief, symbolizing his sacrifice to cleanse the world of its sin. If she were to take advantage of that belief and the symbolism behind it: have a full-blooded Christian build a cross, have him suffer in the process, simply plant it to the ground and have him pray a blessing prayer on the day of Sunday which was referred by them as 'Sabbath Day': a perfect Purging would definitely be accomplished.

And she felt it.

Yukari finally found the perfect candidate for the medium, and he passed the test.

The clean energies. The cleanest magic that not a single magician alive could ever acquire or conjure, but only receive, it permeated throughout the entire clearing, its pure aura purifying the very nature around it from the taint of Youkai corruption.

Yukari could feel it to the brim of her being, she can feel her heart burning with the Holy Fire as she unconsciously absorbed every trace of it to her being, a fire that shines the darkest pits of her heart, it made her feel at ease, as if nothing in the world is ever her concern anymore.

Even for a Godlike Youkai like Yakumo Yukari herself, she cannot defy something that was beyond her control from invading her spirit. So, with her power to hold it down proving pointless, she eventually succumbed to the warmth of the blessing.

Her mind never felt so relaxed, not since a hundred years did it ever felt so free. Free from the worry of food. Free from the worry for her paradise. Free from the burdens as its overseer. Free from her concern as a living being.

This must've been what enlightenment feels like in the Buddhist belief.

She was swimming in pure peace. Her eyes rolling to the top of her head and slowly closing, her entire body slowly easing to the graceful and purifying air, she never wanted to admit it, but she missed this. She never thought she was, but she actually missed this feeling. Ama was so spoilt with this type of aura before, spending her entire free time in Holy Ground when she isn't preaching.

Then, just at the snap of a second. It was all gone. The drug-like sensation of her heart easing and her body practically floating in hot spring waters, just gone.

Her eyes snapping open, her breathing coming in heavy inhales, shaking her head to get the euphoric sensation out of her senses and darted her eyes all over the clearing, looking for Him.

…..

No one was there. He was already gone before she could snap out of it. He was done. He had blessed the clearing. He had created the Holy Ground. And He just up and left.

As always.

He's really shy, isn't He? Yukari shook her head.

Turning her eyes back to the sleeping person on her lap, he looked like he turned into jelly. If there was tension in Eman's body before, it was all gone. All stiffness softening to flexible muscle that he had earned through years of exercise. He definitely felt His presence too in his sleep, and might be experiencing the best dream of his life throughout. She can relate, it was the best feeling in the world when she held His hand for the first time.

His clothes had become completely spotless from dirt and dry from sweat, as if his clothes had never even suffered the labor he went through. It didn't reek of sweat, it had the scent of the sun, due to the big amount of time he spent to create the cross. Even his clothes were laundered.

Placing a single hand to his chest, she assessed his entire anatomy.

…..

He was completely healed. His bones had been readjusted, the knots on his muscles been removed, his blood sugar had been restored to normal, his blood pressure had been reduced to the purest minimum, his hunger has been satisfied, his thirst has been quenched—his entire being has been brought back to 100%. But all the callouses his body had earned through trial and error remained, his special gifts and privileges, both physical and mental, staying with him.

He can play monkey in the trees now, it seemed.

His skin had become pale, and it stupefied her that He had to go that far. The brown complexion he had earned from the days he spent under the sun as a youth to the tanning from the sun as he constructed the structure today, and all of his scars that he had earned from his troubles living like an ordinary human—his skin was brought back to the state when he was born to the world.

He was either purified as well or purified in collateral with the holy ground, Yukari couldn't tell, but the results amused her.

Hmph. He's always like this. Yukari thought fondly. He didn't exactly 'replace' the skin, only cleaned it; a good scrubbing. Now his skin looked smooth, and shiny.

Just like a baby's bottom.

She smiled and ruffled Eman's dark hair, even his hair become smooth and slick, extremely fluffy to her slender fingers that she wanted to keep running her hands across it for hours.

Nonetheless, it was a complete success. Being a Youkai (or Demon, in a western sense) of Boundaries had its privileges. One of them is access to another person's thoughts and emotional states via boundary of heard and unheard. She might be violating personal space to be entering Eman's mind when he was about to drive the crucifix in to the pit but she couldn't help it.

And she never expected everything that ever rushed through inside his head.

Yukari never expected Eman to use the memory of his parents just to brew up anger and give himself a temporary drive of strength. Reckless, but effective. Just like the last 6 Christian's that existed in Gensokyo a few years after its creation. Their approach is always the same whenever they do something extreme.

It's even more of a shock to her to hear that Eman had her, the person who put him through all that muscle-work and torture, blessed in his prayers alongside others.

Another one of the most confusing networks of a self-sacrificing Christian's mind put into display (in the mental sense, since she was in his head). She could barely understand how far forgiveness and kindness can go with people like these. Even if she already does, she just couldn't stop shaking her head.

Did he pray to have his injuries healed too? He probably didn't, she understands just how far devotion can go in the heart of a Christian. And she saw that Eman was completely serious. He was so devoted that he didn't ask to be healed and instead took his injuries as punishment for his sins, just like he said. A thief deserved to be punished, and he was healed instead.

"Fufufufufu~" Honestly, Christians and their logic, she could never understand it. Even though she already does, she just can't believe it.

But then again, this is Gensokyo. Common Sense had no place here. That was how this place came to be.

"Congratulations, Letitia Eman. You've brought the dying religion back to Gensokyo."

At that declaration, Yakumo Yukari, the Youkai/Demon of Boundaries began to wonder.

What would work out with another god in the mix of Gensokyo's diversity?

What would be done with a religion that was long abandoned in Gensokyo put back into play after a century without it?

What would the disadvantages of this old religion be?

What would be the benefits with the amount of customs and beliefs it had?

What kind of alterations will Eman enforce on the religion now that it is inside the Hakurei Barrier, no longer influenced by Outside World customs?

What's going to happen to Gensokyo in the near future?

What kind of effects will it have on Gensokyo?

What might happen to the certain people that will inevitably get involved with it?

What sort of problem will this addition bring besides some offhanded Incidents?

What would Eman's role be in the coming events that is sure to arrive sooner or later?

What would Eman end up creating along the way?

…..

…no.

What would Eman eventually destroy just by simply existing?

Hmm...…

Yukari closed her eyes, and pondered.

And pondered.

And pondered.

…..…

And pondered.

…..…

And pondered.

…

Then, she smiled a smile that mixed glee and mischief together, whether a human or a nonhuman being witnesses such an expression on the Youkai Sage's face, they would all be sent running off in terror. Once such a face lingers on the Overseer of Gensokyo, things are taking a turn for the worse, whether sooner or later, it will happen.

Things had become even more interesting than she thought with these new additions.

She can't wait to see how this unfolds.

"I knew I found the right person."

She willed a gap to open beneath her feet, wide enough for both Eman and herself to be in the middle of it, then she slowly sank down to her realm like quicksand, bringing the stowaway with him, leaving behind the last words she will ever say to the Place of Worship.

"Be prepared, Eman-kun. We're going to play in the way your god does it. I'm going to put you through hell and find out if you could actually hold on to that faith of yours until the end." She hummed in thought, indifferent to the possibilities. "Or will you break in the middle of it?" Before her head was fully submerged to the gap, she finished. "By all honesty…I hope you hold out till then."

I got big plans for you.

And she was gone, the gap closing above her head. A gentle breeze soon swept the clearing in a steady flow, the trees and the bushes swaying in a gentle dance.

The Place of Worship has finally concluded the celebration of its creation.