Chapter 13: Of Cliques and the Like
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Author's Note: The gap between the beta-reading and the actual posting was due to IRL, I'm preparing to post the next one soon as Darwise finishes with Chapter 14.
Secondly: It's a short chapter
Thirdly: If i get the omake chapter done in time for X'mas, i'll reply all reviews in it.
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[… Keine.]
[? Y-yes, Mokou?]
Looking at how Reimu ran away, I grabbed Keine's clothes and pulled her down to meet me, eye-level and face to face.
[Chase after her Keine.]
[Y-yes I know…]
It was rare to see Keine so hesitant but I could understand why at last, she had just snapped at Reimu for something she had not done and she was guilty and unhappy for doing that.
[Keine, I like you too…]
Blurting that out needed considerable willpower and I felt just a wee bit better when Keine probably flushed as much as me and she looked away like a school girl who has just been confessed to.
My face should show the same crimson hue but I shook my head and continued.
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[Look, Keine. You're the only one who can get Reimu back… she… she did it… fo-for us…]
[… Mokou…]
Whispering back her understanding to me, Keine paused and stood up, wore her hat and brushed her hair back, letting it flow behind her in the wind.
She looked beautiful and it was the same sight that captivated me in our first meeting in the moonlight.
[… I know… Reimu… did that… to let us know… remind us that we each…. Loved one another.]
Offering a hand to me, I too was pulled up to my feet and I grinned, showing the pearls of my teeth to her.
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[So… wha'cha say?]
[… Reimu, she's always alone… by herself.]
[… Mm… I have you, ya know? That makes it much better.]
[She reminds me of you, Mokou…]
[… ?]
Tilting my head, I waited for Keine, who was staring at the far distance, at the red-white dot as she replied me.
[… She's hurt… but she doesn't show it… she likes us… but she's scared of approaching us… She's… selfish. Like you.]
Pouting all of a sudden, Keine took off, threading air before she sped off into the general direction of the red-white dot.
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[Always saying that you would be better offby not being with anyone, yet knowing that it would hurt the one you love most… you're selfish.]
But before she did that, she kissed me on the cheeks and smiled.
[… She, like you… like us… needs a push.]
[… Nah. Kick her back, will ya?]
Showing her a thumbs up, I grinned as Keine nodded and took off, leaving me alone on the roof.
[Yea, a kick should do it. Heh.]
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I was wrong, I was mistaken… and everything that Reimu did had a purpose, whether it was from the past or the future… it is proven history and I, as a keeper of history had not realized it. Shame on me once for failing to realize it, shame on me twice for attacking her in a fit of anger.
[REIMU!]
No matter how Reimu fancy herself able to outrun us, it is a fact that Reimu is one of the slower flight-capable humans in Gensokyo, even I, who has limited powers without the presence of the full moon, was able to catch up with Reimu easily.
She had left the village and was heading back to the forest when I finally caught up with her, rubbing her eyes desperately as she saw me coming after her.
[Reimu!]
Calling to her again, I managed to grab her hand and jerked her to a stop merely inches from allowing her to escape into the forest.
[Reimu…]
[…]
Not wanting to show her face at me, I pulled a leaf out of her book and hugged her tightly, letting my arms squeeze her slightly.
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[Don't go. Reimu, don't go.]
[… w-why… why shouldn't I… I just… I just…]
[No, don't go…]
[I change everything… I change everything and everyone that I meet…regardless of who it is… what it is… I-I…]
[…]
Hearing her whisper as she cried, I held her in my arms and gently rocked her from side to side, running a hand through her hair.
[I don't want to be this way… to… to change everyone… b-but I… I just couldn't help feeling lonely… feeling so sad… feeling so alone and abandoned… t-that I…]
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Reimu had not grown up as much as I had imagined she had after all, she was still insecure in her thoughts, putting others in front of her but still unable to stop herself from being just a bit selfish…
[that I would just… do whatever I felt was right… w-what I did was wrong, Miss Keine… I-I]
[…]
[I-I just wanted to…]
[… I know… I know…]
[I wanted to… wanted to…]
[don't force yourself to tell me, Reimu…]
[I… I…]
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Breaking out into tears, Reimu sobbed on my shoulders and I sighed ever so softly at that.
This Reimu is so emotional… but… when we put into consideration that she is so unfamiliar to Gensokyo and the people and friendship she had lost… we can give it a rest.
[… You're always welcome here, Reimu…]
[…M-Miss Keine…]
[… don't change yourself… you're always Reimu… and the Reimu that we love… okay, Reimu?]
[…Miss Keine…]
With her in my arms, it did not feel that same as how I felt when I hugged Mokou, all heart-warming and blissful. Hugging Reimu is like hugging a big soft-toy, all warm and fuzzy but nonetheless a wonderful feeling.
[Gensokyo… welcomes us… welcomes you… so… don't worry…]
[-sniff]
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Abashed, I was led back to Miss Keine's home while clinging on to her clothes and crying softly. I was behaving and feeling like a small child, lost in the woods without her parents.
I had not thought about it before, but it had finally struck home that I was away from my Shrine, the familiar Shrine that I call home and away from the civilization and the few people I call friends…
It is a horrible feeling, of knowing that I am now really alone in this world and so, I just broke down.
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Meeting Suika and seeing Gensokyo for the first time had been a refreshing experience and I had not thought much about it, falsely pacifying myself that I could probably return when I wanted to.
Spending the days at the Scarlet Devil Mansion made me complacent about returning and it further fueled my fear subconsciously of being alone. I do not want to be alone, nor do I want to be one that would influence the life of others.
I… simply want to be myself…
The same question that haunted me at the Scarlet Devil Mansion, of me being Hakurei Reimu… or just being the Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine..
Who am I, what am I supposed to do had came back full circle and struck me in the chest when I observed and felt jealous at Miss Keine's and Mokou's relationship.
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[I… have sinned… so… so badly…]
Hiding my face, I was comforted by Miss Keine and that made me feel even worst, nothing like a crime that anything once do would make it worst…
[… I-I'm so sorry… I…]
[Shush…]
Still holding me by the hands, Miss Keine reached her home and as the both of us landed on the path, her door slammed open and two speeding forms collided into me.
[Yo! You're back, Keine, Reimu!]
Leaning against the door, Mokou grinned as she raised a hand to welcome us.
[t-the both of you…]
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Dropping to my knees, I caressed the two small fairies that were making wrinkles appear in my clothes by grabbing them tightly with their hands.
Shaking their head, sprinkles of dust floated free of their wings just like how they do in fairy tales and I…
[… s-stupid… w-why would you…]
I could not help myself once again, it was so embarrassing… that I had to cry so many times.. .b-but it was enough, enough with keeping the strong front…
[the both of you… s-stupid…]
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Hugging them, I cried again, letting my feelings flow freely to describe my emotions.
The two of them, they wanted to see me again and I had abandoned them even after promising that I would take care of them the earlier night… What, what kind of person am I…
[… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…]
Shaking my head, I cried out to them loudly till a strong hand gripped my shoulder.
[… Let's go inside…]
It was Mokou and she just shrugged before lifting me up, body and all bridal style and slowly walking towards Miss Keine's Home.
[… Welcome… Reimu…]
As she stepped into the house, Miss Keine appeared from the shoulders and hugged me together with Mokou. Her silvery hair tickled me but it brought calm to me as well.
[… there is nothing embarrassing about that, Reimu…]
[We are human, therefore we cry…]
[… y-yyes…]
Weakly, I nodded to them and released the two fairies, who flew around the three of us in a dizzying dance.
[I've forgotten… that I am… human too…]
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[Humans are weird, ya know?]
Grinning after I had regained my composure, Mokou slapped a hand on my back.
[Wait… I am one too.]
[-giggle-]
Giggling like a school girl, I sat beside Mokou as she just spent time with me, not talking but taking in the atmosphere of the day. It was close to evening now and Miss Keine had left to make preparations for the evening lesson, leaving the both of us alone in Miss Keine's Home.
[Humans, like you, are always self-centered… or selfish… fearing the unknown and praising the almighty and the good.]
[… yes… that's true.]
[But not you, Reimu.]
[?]
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Tickling one of the fairies that had taken a liking to Mokou, Mokou showed her teeth as she pulled out a small pipe from her pockets.
[Ya different, in many ways. You not selfish but you sure are greedy… you liked having donations but even if you did get any, you would still make a fuss. You're not self-centered, you care about Gensokyo very deep inside. You do not fear the unknown and you treat everyone the same… that was you, Reimu.]
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The subject of the conversation was about my past and Mokou generously told me lots of things, with help from Miss Keine's History records but it was her personal experience that I loved to hear about, it brings to life who I am.
[I remember, the first time that we met…]
Testing the pipe, Mokou softly blew a tune for me.
[…]
It was a very sad tune, a tune that reminded me of Mokou's struggles, the endless way the tune brought my emotions up to a climax and down to melancholy.
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What made it more real to me was the way her eyes focused when it was at a certain part of the song, noticeably where it started to reach the chorus and her eyes, which were red, flashed crimson briefly, as if she as mad about something.
[… when we met…]
Putting down her pipe, she smiled as she pointed towards the bamboo forest at the side of Miss Keine's home.
[We met in there… you were… so obstinate… that Keine had a hard time driving you off, but she failed… so we met…]
[… you were with that Gap Youkai… and I died, a few times…]
[I-I killed you?]
[Nah, not like that… Yukari blew a laser through me, but that was due to my mistake. When you are immortal, you fight differently, yea?]
[I-It is a sin to kill.]
[Sure it is.]
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Grinning, Mokou slapped her chest even as the little fairy around her tugged at her blue hair, playing with it.
[But, you can't kill me. Not now, not forever.]
[Well now, let's get to business. You say you're looking for Marisa, yea?]
[… -yes… b-but who is Marisa…]
[…Marisa, is the most important person to you.]
Leaving it at that, Mokou grin savagely before pulling out the History Scrolls.
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[From the start of time, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden had always been the spiritual leader of the people, the one who facilitated spiritual learning and worship of Gensokyo. The Shrine Maidens were powerful and so were their Priests.
The maiden would handle the external affairs of the Shrine and the reading of prophecies from the great hakurei spirit that lives in the shrine while the Priests will maintain the border.]
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[So from what Keine recorded from Akyu is that, well, the Shrine was pretty packed then, yea?]
[The border to Gensokyo and the outside world must be maintained as faith in spirits is not strong in the outside world… thus, this world is separated from the outside world and named, Gensokyo.]
[… Mokou… that is still happening now…]
[Over many generations, the faith people have in spirits started to dwindle and the Shrine Maidens and Shrine Priests of the Hakurei Shrine found I harder and harder to survive… the youkai too, were becoming more ferocious and powerful.
Without faith in the great Hakurei Spirit, even the spirit itself that resides in it lost it's physical form and…]
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[… wow, this is some deep matter… did you read bout this, Reimu?]
[… even if I did… I do not remember…]
[One generation of Hakurei Priests created the Great Hakurei Border at their extent of their lives, leaving only the Hakurei Shrine Maiden alone in the Hakurei Shrine.
Along with them, all records of how to bolster the border was lost and henceforth, there was no sight of a Hakurei Priest as their duty came to an end with the Great Hakurei Border.]
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Stopping abruptly, Mokou stared at me and tilted her head and I returned her level gaze.
[Wow so, they ARE male priests once?]
[I… wouldn't know…]
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[The Hakurei Shrine Maiden then existed only by themselves, shut in the Hakurei Shrine and as a result, the thinning of their bloodline was inevitable… till the last of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden remained, Hakurei Reimu.]
[That's you, yea? There are lots of records of Hakurei Shrine Maidens resolving disasters, but you're the most famous one.]
[Hakurei Reimu resolved many disasters, the most famous of being the one of the incident of the red mists, the night of the fake moon among many others…]
[Still, the Hakurei Shrine had a second Shrine Maiden in this Generation, the Oni in the Shrine Maiden outfit, Ibuki Suika… no one knows why the Shrine Maiden took her in but she is a very reliable Shrine Maiden in anycase.]
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[Suika… she did a good job after all.]
Feeling a sense of relief at the records, I smiled as I imagine the Suika running around, doing the same chores as I did.
[However, the second Shrine Maiden, Ibuki Suika's job was considerably increased when the Original Shrine Maiden, Hakurei Reimu disappeared…]
[!]
[… sorry, yea? Even if ya ask me how you disappeared, I have no idea, I only know about it till that Lunarian told me.]
Shrugging, Mokou patted my back before she pulled me out of the house.
[C'mon. I always wanted to know why you disappeared. Don't you want to know?]
[… I…]
Torn between wanting to know and my duty of finding Marisa, I sighed when Mokou added something at the end of her sentence.
[C'mon! We could ask them to help too!]
[mm mm…]
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[Miss Shrine Maiden!!]
Walking along the path of the human village, I was suddenly greeted by a small girl that ran from a nearby house, she looked familiar, no… she looked very familiar and I bent down to greet her, ignoring Mokou, who was raising an eyebrow at me.
[A-Are you… Yuka?]
Remembering the little girl that I had met at my shrine, the little girl that had gave up her life for a cat, I ran a hand through her hair in amazement.
[Yuka, it really is you… but you really changed…]
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Her hair, which was usually black was blonde and she was wearing a little purple dress with her hair let down behind her, unlike the little ponytails that she would wear when she was still alive.
[Miss Shrine Maiden, you remember me! I'm glad!]
Smiling happily, she jumped into my arms and laughed when I tickled her slightly.
[Why are you here… in Gensokyo…]
[I woke up here, Miss Shrine Maiden! The people here are nice! I'm waiting for papa and mama!]
[…]
Nodding towards her, I patted her head as I pulled Mokou closer.
[Here, Yuka, this is Big sister Mokou.]
[Hi, big sister Mokou!!]
[She takes care of people in the village, so if you want to play, you can play with her!]
[H-Hey! Don't say things like that!!]
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Cutting me off, Mokou slapped my hands away but it was too late as Yuka had clung on to Mokou's leg's happily. Yuka is a small girl, very small for her age and when she smiles, she makes me feel faint and I was sure it had the same effect on Mokou as it did for me as she blushed too.
[Big sister Mokou!! If I want to go out and play with the other children, my friends, can you go with me??]
[Of course…]
Mumbling a reply, Yuka seemed to have wormed herself into Mokou's heart and I grinned happily.
[Be safe…]
Exchanging a prayer between the both of us, I followed Mokou again as little Yuka ran back to her house. This time however, more people were coming out of the house to meet the Shrine Maiden and I clutched Mokou's clothes nervously. I was not used to being stared at by so many people and it felt very uncomfortable.
[We're almost at Keine's classroom and then we'll head over to Akyu.]
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Squeezing my hand reassuringly, I smiled too when the two fairies just patted my fringe in a human-like fashion. The two of them were still with me, giving me comfort and strength and not the other way around.
[… I am not befitting of a Shrine Maiden… I serve the spirits… but now it looks like I am being served by them.]
[More like saved by them, Reimu.]
Along the way, I had explained to her what my faith is and to my surprise, she laughed so loudly that I started to get mad.
[Relax, Reimu! I laugh as the people here would never think of it this way!]
[… perhaps, you're right…]
Shaking my head, I managed a smile and I clapped my hands together for another prayer, something that I should have quite some time ago.
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[Accept this small prayer from me, the Shrine Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine… may the people be blessed… may the faith remain strong… and may the great Spirit listen to the prayers of the people…]
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[Ahh… there you are..]
Pushing the door open, Miss Keine revealed her whole class to me like a tide entering the beach and in a second, the small forms crowded around me and Mokou. All of them; ragged and tired as they were, cried out excitedly to me.
[Miss Shrine Maiden!]
[Miss Shrine Maiden!!]
Repeated cries of Shrine Maiden made my head swirl a bit and I weakly asked Miss Keine what was going on.
[Well, seeing that you are back in Gensokyo, I imagined the children would like to know what you do… heh~]
Giggling as she saw me and Mokou being mobbed, we were literally carried into the Classroom when Mokou cried out defiantly.
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[YOU PLANNED THIS, KEINE!]
[Oh~ I did~ didn't I?~~]
Giggling evilly, Miss Keine slammed the door shut and drew the blinds.
[Okay Children, ask away!]
[Miss Shrine Maiden, I have a question!]
[~~]
I could swear I could see Miss Keine standing by the door, covering her mouth as she giggled evilly at the both of us.
[A-Ah…]
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Having a rat bite my tongue and running away with it, it was all I could do not trying to run away from the children. The crowd of 10-20 members was overwhelming for a Shrine Maiden like me and I felt dizzy and faint.
[… Hang on, Reimu!]
[Y-yea…]
Slowly going to my knees, I clapped my hands together and started to pray.
[… Spirits… listen to my call…]
[Spirits, listen to my call!]
Unable to stop my cry of surprise, I looked around to see that all the children had followed my example, to kneel down and start praying.
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[Let me offer this small humble prayer…
let this prayer be the source of your strength…
not your source of pain… let this prayer encourage you… as we believe in you……
may our faith reach to you…
strengthen you… as it does to us…]
[As I serve you, so do you serve me… Spirits… listen to my humble prayer…]
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It took a while, but all of the children seemed to remember the phrases of the most simple prayer, a prayer to give strength and to strengthen one's bonds with the spirits.
[Thank you, Shrine Maiden!]
Their faith we strong and I could sense some spiritual powers from them, just a tad but it is amazing considering how they never prayed before.
[The kids… they are a handful aren't there? Innocent… but so cheerful…]
[Dependable… I say.]
Laughing, Mokou and Keine were beside me when we stepped out of the classroom behind the children.
[Shrine Maiden!!]
Running to greet us was a young lady with a baby and upon reaching me, she clutched my arms and went to her knees.
[Thank you, Shrine Maiden, for saving my child!!]
[H-Huh, huh what?]
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Babbling as her head went to touch the ground, I hurriedly persuaded to stand up again as she wept openly, rubbing her eyes to the extent that they turned red.
[you saved my child from the youkai… I couldn't describe how grateful…]
[Oh… do you mean… the boy?]
[He's my only reason for living now… thank you for saving him… oh thank you, thank you!!]
Going to her knees again, she bowed repeatedly while I tried to explain.
[It-It wasn't me, it was Mokou, she saved him-]
Quite unnoticed to me, the people of the village were crowding around the three of us, all whispering and saying thanks to me.
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[The Hakurei Shrine Maiden is back!! She will save the people again!]
[Miss Reimu, do you remember me? I am the young boy that visited your shrine to put donations! It has been a long time!]
[With your help, we won't be troubled again!]
[That's right!!]
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[E-Everyone… stop...]
I was nervous and rightly so as all of them were approaching me as if I was some kind of goddess or that I had the power to bring salvation to this world. I had none of those powers but all of them strongly believed I had.
It is the curse and the blessing of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden and I took a nervous step back, seriously considering the option to fly and escape from here. Likewise, the fairies who were with me was huddling inside my clothes as all the humans, all the people of the village was spooking the both of us.
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[And what do we have here, the traitor, the fire girl of the forest!]
[YOU BITCH! YOU BROUGHT HARM TO THE CHILDREN!]
[YOU SIDE WITH YOUKAI, DON"T YOU?! And to think we trusted you!!]
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Hearing those nasty words being directed to Mokou, I instinctively wanted to step forward and to stop them but I was not the only one who did that.
Miss Keine, with her eyes furrowed and looking just a little bit feral, stepped in the way of the advancing mob in front of Mokou.
Mokou, biting her lip in frustration and anger was caught by surprise and she tugged at Miss Keine's clothes.
[Keine…]
Whispering weakly, Mokou shook her head and silently pleaded for her to stop, but Miss Keine did not.
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[Stop it! Mokou is the one that's toiling for so long, keeping the village safe and here you are, blaming here! She's not at fault!]
[Keine! You're the one who said you are the protector of the village! Then you just came in and say that this girl, this youkai girl will take over your job!
See what you have done!! The youkai are mad, hurting people!]
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A strange middle-age man was at the thick of it all, spewing spit all around as he scolded Miss Keine and Mokou, gathering support as they advanced towards them.
[you did a good job before! We are thankful! But that youkai girl, she must go! She's at fault!!
Everything that's happening MUST be due to her! If she's not here, we won't be suffering in fear now!]
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Raising an arm in the air, his cry was echoed all around him. Furious eyes and unspeakable words came from their throats and even Mokou flinched when she heard those words.
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[LEAVE! LEAVE!]
[No… d-don't say such things!! She… she's not at fault!! I can't explain it, but it's someone else's fault!]
Crying out over their din, even Miss Keine was helpless in their barrage of harsh words and she helplessly clung on to Mokou, who had a strained looked on her face as the both of them backed off.
I tried my best to run towards them, but the others held me down, holding my hands and telling me not to go towards them.
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[No, Shrine Maiden, you should not go towards those heretics. They do not deserve your mercy!]
[L-Let me go!! LET ME GO!!]
[EVEN IF YOU SAY THAT, IF SHE WOULD TURN YOUKAI ONE DAY! WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US, THE CHILDREN?! WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?!]
Screaming his anger, his cry was once again picked up by the crowd and they advanced as one towards them.
[LEAVE, LEAVE!]
[you too, Kamishirasawa Keine! You are one as well! HALF-BEAST!]
Flinching at that phrase, Miss Keine looked down guilty as the villagers just look at her in surprise.
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[Half beast? Miss Keine, she can't be…]
[So… she was one of them… that explains it…]
[Miss Keine… we trust you and you are..]
LEAVE, LEAVE!
The chant was strong and I desperately wanted to go and clear the misunderstanding if not for the people that clung on to my legs and arms.
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[Don't!]
[Miss Reimu!]
[Stay! They deserve this!]
[NO THEY DON'T! LET ME GO! MOKOU!!! KEINE!!]
Screaming with all my might against them, I visibly strained against the weight of three adults and I screamed again.
[KEINE! MOKOU!]