Chapter 14: Of Forgiveness and Understanding

Author's Note: I didn't have the time to write the omake =

and thank you Darwise for the Beta read 3

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[Don't hurt Big sister Keine and Big sister Mokou!!]

Then, just as suddenly as if it was a miracle, the children begun crowding around Miss Keine and Mokou. Even I, who was a few feet away and being restrained, could hear their small cries.

[DON'T HURT THEM! WE LIKE THEM!]

Cries of the children who had squeezed pass the mass of people had crowded around the both of them, raising their hands protectively around them. They were a funny sight in any other situation, their hands not even reaching Mokou or Keine's chest but they spoke a statement to the adults.

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[DON'T ASK THEM TO LEAVE!!]

[Children…]

The man's voice, who had been strong and ferocious a few minutes ago, weakened and he seemed at a loss to what to do.

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[She's youkai… both of them are… we want you to be safe…]

[NO! With Miss Keine and Big sister Mokou we feel safe! Don't ask them to go!!!]

Calling out, a little girl hugged Keine and she stuck out a tongue at another adult, who must have been her father as he tried to coax her back.

[But… she might hurt…]

[YOUKAI ARE NOT ALWAYS BAD!!]

Screaming out in unison, all of them pushed Miss Keine and Mokou further and further away from the adults, forming a large circle around them as they all cried out loudly.

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[We like Miss Keine and Big sister Mokou!! Big Sister Mokou saved us from a lot of bad youkai!! She is very nice!! She is the hero!!]

[She saved me from the darkness youkai, daddy!!]

[She saved me too!!]

[Miss Keine is our teacher!! I don't want anyone else to be our teacher!]

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Various cries of children's wishes were heard and soon, all the screams and shouts of 'leave! Leave' were replaced by the gentle sobbing of some of the crying children as they hugged Miss Keine and Mokou.

At a loss to what to do, the adults backed off but they never stopped discussing among themselves.

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[Trust in youkai… it seems like those two had this planned…]

[I NEVER should have allowed them to play with her… what were we thinking…]

[We were fooled… by them… they just wanted us to trust them and then kill us all!!]

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The same man was spreading those rumors without basis and it infuriated me, infuriated me so much that my entire body was shaking with anger and I bit my lip, ignoring it when I started to bleed from biting too hard.

[… d-damn…]

[Miss Shrine Maiden?]

[WE DON'T NEED YOU!! WE HAVE THE SHRINE MAIDEN WITH US! YOU YOUKAI SHOULD GO AWAY! CHILDREN, LISTEN TO US AND STOP FOLLOWING THOSE LIES!]

Bursting out in anger, the same, thoughtless bastard grabbed a rock and flung it at Mokou, striking her in the head and all the children scattered and hid behind the both of them, their fear evident in their eyes.

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[YOUKAI CAN'T BE TRUSTED!! THEY ARE EVIL, THEY HURT YOU! DON'T YOU KNOW NOW?!]

Screaming those lies, he approached them and calmly offered a hand to the children, ignoring the dumbstruck Miss Keine and Mokou altogether.

The both of them were speechless and was unable to come up with even a bit of defense when he slowly approached, calling to the children.

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[THEY FED YOU LIES!... It is time, Children… to follow the Shrine Maiden… she will bring happiness to the village.]

[H-Happiness…]

[yes, eternal joy.. as long as we have the Shrine Maiden…]

[…]

The children look tempted and they looked up at Mokou and Miss Keine, who just averted their gaze, unable to come up with a come-back. Their cover was blown, and no matter how kind their intentions might be, it is the truth that they had lied to them and to my horror, the man saw it as his moment of triumph.

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[COME CHILDREN! WE SHALL RUN THEM OFF THE VILLAGE AND WELCOME THE HAKUREI SHRINE MAIDEN!!]

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Enough… enough…

ENOUGH!!

Going down to my knees, I beat down the hatred that was boiling in me and once more, sensed for the perfect inner circle.

I knew how to save the both of them and the children too from the fate that the man has damned them to…

He is wrong.. every one of his beliefs is wrong. If he would realize it…

My faith… my service to the people… they do not understand…

They remember me as a Youkai exterminator… but Youkai exterminator I am not… I am Hakurei Reimu, servant of the Great Hakurei Spirit…

Feel my faith.. see my faith…

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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…]

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[As I serve you, so do you serve me… Spirits… listen to my humble prayer…]

[Show me what you see…

what you believe… what your strength is…

feel my beliefs, feel my strength and see my sight…

I am you and you are me…

same is our fate and same is our end…

Grant me your strength…

listen to my humble prayer…

Spirits…

Youkai of Gensokyo…

show my faith to the people…]

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Muttering the prayer, I heard the children pray too and the cries of surprise from the adults as they backed away from me.

Strong emotions surged through me and the same goes for power and I slowly lifted myself from the ground, glowing white as I did so.

It was an ethereal sight, balls of light appearing all around me and it must be a sight the people never forget. The sight of the Shrine Maiden, holding out her gohei and with her eyes closed descending slowly in front of Miss Keine and Mokou.

The very salvation they sought saving the demon of their village. Such irony…

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[R-Reimu…]

Weakly, I Fujiwara no Mokou grinned at Reimu as she floated down in front of us, chanting slowly as she did so.

[yea… you sure showed them…]

Breathing a sigh of relief, I knelt down to pat the nearest girl's head and she paused from her praying for a moment to hug me tightly.

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[Big sister Mokou, I don't want you to go!!]

[… I'll try my best, ya?]

Grinning, I felt Keine's breath on me as she too, knelt down and started praying too.

[… I'll pray for the spirits to save you, Big sister Mokou! And Miss Keine too!]

[… Mm…]

To be honest, I never believed in god… but once, just once… why don't I pray… not to the gods, but to whoever is looking down on us today…

[…]

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Numerous, if not hundreds of spirits gathered around us, glowing white in a dizzying maze as they formed a barrier between us and the group of adults.

They were speechless and some of them showed something akin of fear as they saw my prowess and how I had managed to summon so many spirits in front of us.

[As I serve the spirits… so does the spirits serve me…]

Raising my gohei in front of me, I stopped my prayer and smiled as my companions, the two small fairies sat down on each side of my shoulder.

[As long as one has faith, even the weak can triumph over the strong… if one prays… it will be heard...]

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Bowing to them, I smiled gently as all the spirits flashed once, a symbol of my understanding between us.

[I am, Hakurei Reimu; the Hakurei Shrine Maiden… do… you… have faith?]

Posing a question to them, I did not wait for an answer as I took a step forward. Likewise, the spirits around me advanced that footstep closer and the adults hesitated.

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[I am not the salvation that you have wished for… I am merely a servant of the spirits, I

serve the Great Hakurei Spirit that resides in the Shrine… and as long as I have faith in the spirits, the youkai of Gensokyo… they won't harm me…]

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To emphasize my point, I waved my hands around and the small fairies danced along in the air, fluttering their wings slowly and calmly.

[Miss Shrine Maiden!!]

Hugging me from behind, the kids clung on to me for a moment before they all cried out to the adults in unison.

[The Shrine Maiden taught us…. How to pray, how to listen to the words of the spirits!! Youkai are not all bad! Some are bad and some are good! As long as we believ-]

[SHUT UP, YOU!!]

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Running from the crowd, the same man that had spread such ridiculous rumors ran forward and started tugging at one girl who was still praying softly.

[COME WITH ME, MINA!! COME!! YOU DO NOT PRAY TO THAT HERETIC!]

[… He is the same man who said I was the salvation of the people…]

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Narrowing my eyes, I was about to stop him when another form stopped him dead in his tracks.

[HEY. YOU BASTARD! YOU DON'T HURT CHILDREN!!]

Roaring angrily, Mokou threw a fireball that just narrowly missed the man's head before gliding over and hugging the little girl named Mina.

[Are you alright, Mina?]

[Mm.. mm thank you, big sister Mokou!]

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Clinging on to her tightly, she never released Mokou even as I and Miss Keine arrived at the scene seconds later behind her.

[How could you hurt a child like that… even if she is your daughter…]

Taking Mima from Mokou, Keine caressed Mima as she glared at him angrily.

The crowd too, seemed taken aback at that action and all of them seemingly veered away from him, avoiding him like the plague.

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[YOUKAI LIKE YOU SHOULD NEVER BE TRUSTED!! AND YOU, YOU'RE NOT A SHRINE MAIDEN TO TRUST SPIRITS!]

[…]

Before I could rebut him, the children themselves cried out for the third time.

[IF WE BELIEVE IN THEM, SPIRITS WILL HELP US! YOUKAI WILL!]

Hugging the fairies, the children proved their points to the adults and even as the three of us smugly exchanged glances, the adults earlier advantage was gone, replaced by confusion as the fairies did indeed surround them.

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[YOU'RE MANIPULATING THEM, YOU BITCH!]

Howling in fury, I stopped him when I blocked his strike with my gohei. Narrowing my eyes, I slowly spoke, masking my rage as I explained to him.

[A Shrine Maiden… is one who serves the Shrine… makes prayers on behalf of the people… a Servant of the Spirits… the youkai… never could I manipulate something that is born out of people's faith as much as I can manipulate a person…]

[…]

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It seemed like the wind had gone out of their sails as the man fell silent, obviously not knowing what to say next. The children too were going around, showing that the spirits are indeed harmless and I breathed a huge sigh of relief at that.

[…Thanks, Reimu.]

Hearing Mokou whisper, I shook my head and reassuringly squeezed both of their hands.

The two of them were this close to being thrown out of the village and by some miracles on my part and the village children, we managed to keep them in the village.

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Illuminated by the last dying traces of the setting sun, Miss Keine and Mokou were bathed in the orange hue, making them amazingly beautiful.

It was a nerve wrecking experience and I was sure the both of them would never want to see something like this again for as long as they lived.

[… I… never expected the people to get so worked up…]

[it's not-]

I was about to say it's not your fault when the sky suddenly darkened and the dying visages of the sun were completely wiped out, leaving all of us in complete and utter darkness.

[AH!]

[Miss Shrine Maiden!!]

… No, not in utter darkness.

As the initial shock wore off, we found that we could see and that it was due to the tiny youkai fairies emitting a weak light from their bodies and I smiled at them.

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[Thank you for granting us your power… Youkai of the village…]

Saying a small prayer, I raised a hand in triumph when I saw too, that some of the adults were praying together with the children and the light from the spirits intensified.

[YOU ARE THE ONE THAT CAUSED THIS TO BEFALL US!!]

Out of the darkness and the stillness, the same man who had created such a ruckus grabbed Mokou and shook her hard, not letting her say anything else.

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[YOU BROUGHT THiS TO US! THE DARKNESS YOUKAI IS HERE AND SHE WILL EAT US ALL! YOU BROUGHT THIS TO US!!]

Shaking his fist angrily, he was about to punch her when Miss Keine Intervened and pushed her away.

[Stop it! We are at a dire state, it's not right to fight each other!! We are in the same boat!]

[HOW ARE YOU SURE WE ARE!! LOOK AT YOU! YOUKAI AND US, HUMANS! YOU WILL EAT US!!]

Before Miss Keine could make a comeback, others gathered around him as well, shouting comments at her.

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[That's right! Despite what you say, people and youkai can never coexist! Youkai will help youkai! You must have called her when the situation got bad!]

[I-I didn't!]

[STOP LYING!]

The situation was turning from bad to worse as Miss Keine tried her best to console the mad crowd in the darkness while the praying children and some of the adults were being sheltered and protected by the small fairies.

[YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN YOU SILLY YOUKAI!]

[…N-No, it's not that wa-]

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[FOUND YOU!!]

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Hearing that voice, I sighed and raised my hands in the air, knowing that my old foe came to finish her fight.

[Enough…]

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Saying it loud enough that everyone can hear me, I raised myself into the air with my two companions, my gohei in front of me and my ofudas drawn with my other hand.

It must be an imposing sight for the other band while an inspiring sight for the people who are praying.

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[Mokou…. Miss Keine… keep the people safe… and…]

[… in this world… trust is the most important thing… belief as well… do… you have faith?]

Throwing the question to them, I flew into the darkness and disappeared from sight.

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[Rumia…]

It was definitely Rumia, the wall of darkness showed the extent of her powers, from the small orb of darkness where I first met her to the envelop of darkness that had covered the village so well.

[I'm here, Rumia. Come and find me. Your fight is with me alone.]

Narrowing my eyes, I drew my ofudas and waited for that crazed girl to burst through the darkness.

[?]

Feeling my two companions tug at my shoulder, I concentrated to find out what they were trying to tell me.

Emotions spread through my body as I touched their foreheads, making them and me light up simultaneously for a brief instant.

[…]

A look of what must be described as pensive understanding spread across my features and I nodded to the two of them.

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[… Thank you, I was blinded by rage and frustration.]

Seeing the both of them flap their wings happily, I eased them to hide inside my clothes as I drew my ofudas from my sleeves.

[… both of you are the best.]

Smiling, I spread the ofudas in a circle around me before raising my hands up in the air, chanting a spell as I did so.

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[Fly towards the enemy, fly fly and find him for me… fly fly and show me… HAKUREI HOMING AMULET!]

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Slapping my gohei on the ofudas, all of them flew into the darkness and I closed my eyes, waiting for a response from it.

[AARGh!]

[…there she is.]

Narrowing my eyes, I flew towards the direction and as I did so, I placed a couple of charms inside me and muttered.

[May the spirits protect me…]

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Reaching into the spot where my amulets had struck Rumia, I was greeted with a scent that could only be described as something that had been burnt.

[… Rumia was here…]

[RUMIA IS HERE!]

Hearing her cry, I narrowly escaped being struck by purple bullets as a string of them flew towards me, just visible on my line of sight.

[Rumia!]

[DON'T RUN DON'T HIDE YOU CAN'T RUN AND YOU CAN'T HIDE!]

[I won't. this time, I will face you… not calling others… but using my strength.]

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If I have to prove to the people that what I am saying; that faith is what is lacking in them, I must do it myself… not using the powers of small fairies… but using my own strength… to show that, youkai really are human too.

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[I Am Hakurei Reimu, the Hakurei Shrine Maiden]

[I AM RUMIA, DARKNESS YOUKAI.]

[… Now, Rumia… let's…]

[DANMAKU!]

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Diving below the stream of bullets she had shot at me, I casually grazed and darted behind the large bullets that surrounded her before I let loose a barrage of needles towards her as well.

[…]

Needless to say, she disappeared before that happened, hiding in the darkness.

The darkness is really such a bother to my efforts and I shot a few more ofudas into the air, chanting as I did so.

[Fly, HAKUREI HOMING AMULET!]

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Releasing two and grabbing a charm as I followed them, I grazed a laser that burst from where the ofuda was heading towards and hugged the laser the whole way till I saw Rumia, still straining to maintain the laser, dodge in shock at the ofuda and my sudden appearance.

[Found you, Rumia!]

Crying out to her, I fired a barrage of needles behind her, never letting her have the upper hand as I threw everything I knew at her.

From my ofudas, to charms and my needles, Rumia barely dodged all and as I was not aiming particularly at any part of her body, nor was I thinking along any lines of strategy, Rumia's small frame was covered with scars and marks as I relentlessly pressured her.

[…]

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Stopping suddenly, I called out to her tauntingly.

[Rumia, you are the darkness youkai… the one who says you are going to kill me…]

I did not see her pause but I was not planning to anyway and I coldly shouted out to her, daring her to come out.

[… then why are you running, Rumia? You, who wishes to kill me… should kill me right now.]

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In truth, I was disorientated. Chasing after Rumia had made me lose all indications of where is up and where is down and of course, where is right or left. I could be a few feet away from salvation or a few thousand feet away, I would not know.

How far am I from the crowd of Youkai fairies that were with the villagers, I did not know as well…

If I died, no one would know how or when… but they would know that I had fallen to the darkness youkai.

Whether it is Rumia's plan or she did not thought of it did not matter now, I had called her bluff and dared her to appear before me.

[!]

Seeing a round of red bullets being shot at me, I dived into their midst and micro-grazed their pathway before calling out to Rumia again.

[Is that it!?]

[DIEEE!]

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A shrill shriek answered me and suddenly, the darkness was replaced by slightly gray surroundings, like walking into a fog. I could see Rumia, floating overhead, her hands held wide open and her teeth bared. It was a terrible sight and one that would only get worse as all around her, portals of dark energy gathered.

[… Shrine Maiden shall die… for insulting me… for hurting me…]

Reaching into the dark portal, I could not afford even a second more as Rumia, pulling out a gigantic bastard sword from the portal with one hand, slashed a vertical wave of green bullets at me.

[W-What?!]

This was an unexpected turn of events and Rumia, welding her gigantic sword, only got closer and closer to sinking her teeth into me as she swung wildly.

Leaping over her initial slash, I tried to throw a few ofudas in her direction but they were slashed in half when Rumia expertly swung her blade in a circular fashion.

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[DARKNESS: ENVELOP!]

Roaring a spell-card into existence, Rumia slashed the air and darkness once more surrounded me, this time I could not see a thing and I hurriedly draw a Spell-card of my own.

[SPIRIT SIGN: FANTASY SEAL –CONCENTRATE-!]

Remembering what this spellcard did, I focused all my energies into one singular ofuda and launched it into the air.

The glowing ofuda disappeared and when I heard a roar of pain was I sure that it had struck her. Nonetheless I was not in the clear as I flew in a circle, trying to avoid staying in one direction for too long least Rumia caught me.

[YARGH!]

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Side-stepping her with barely inches to spare, I thanked the heavens for my quick reflexes as it had severed a few strands of my hair in the process. Rumia had screamed a battle roar as she slashed, which was fortunate as I would not have known what was going on.

[Spirits…]

Stopping myself even as I wanted to pray, I shook my head and drew my Gohei, which I had slung back on my obi and pointed it at the panting Rumia.

[Rumia this is between you and me… I started this circle of events and I will end it, end it now and end my amnesty towards you.]

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Brandishing my gohei like a sword, I slapped Rumia's giant bastard sword to the side as a few charms that I had activated before surrounded me.

[Seal the form in front of me, seal the strength that she had loaned from the devil himself… SEALING AMULET!]

Parrying her blows with my gohei, I called out and the charms, glowing faintly blue, responded by forming a barrier that burnt Rumia wherever she touched them.

[Now, let's end this!]

With a final thrust, I slammed my gohei on Rumia's blade, knocking it out of her hands and breaking my gohei in half in the process, I grabbed Rumia in a full-hug before screaming.

[DREAM SIGN: EVIL SEALING CIRCLE!]

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The look of surprise on her face was understandable as her greatest enemy had just hugged her and I grinned a little, satisfied in my plan as I felt the spellcard that I had hidden in my clothes lit up with power.

A pillar of light erupted from me and it shot to the sky, chasing away the darkness as it did so. The screams of anguish from Rumia did nothing to loosen the grip I had on her.

[LET ME GO!! LET ME GO!!!]

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Gradually, as she fought and bit me in an attempt to break free from me, the dark portals that still were hanging near her started disappearing. Her eyes, which were glowing eerily red, slowly faded to a light gold and she stopped struggling as vigorously.

All along, when in the barrier, steam would come out of her body whenever a part of her touched the circle and she would scream in pain throughout the whole process. This was the same with Remilia when the ring of holy fire erupted from the Spellcard.

With my arms around her, I was helpless to her teeth if she decided to bite me as I wanted to keep her in the circle for as long as I could, not wanting to let Rumia escape from the circle.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!]

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Screaming and screaming, Rumia showed a look of agony that one would have if she was giving birth and I prayed to the spirits to let her agony end.

[I know, Rumia… that you are not evil… you're just afraid…]

Still hugging her, I buried her face into my bosoms and gently stroked her hair, trying to comfort her if she would only take that bit of comfort from me.

[Please, Rumia… listen to your heart…]

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I had hurt Rumia by attacking her, humiliating her in front of the Children by using youkai Fairies, her own kind to drive her off. It must hurt her pride so much that she finally decided to hunt me down personally with all of her strength.

In my memory, Rumia is just a little youkai that does not like to encounter people and rarely attack them, not to mention hunt them down.

Being a darkness youkai, she thrives in the darkness and never leaves the darkness except on the night of the full moon, when her powers mysteriously disappear.

[…I'm sorry… for doing what I did on a whim…]

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Closing my eyes, I tightened my grip on Rumia as I remembered what I did to her. Something that must be taboo as Rumia, being that darkness youkai must always be in darkness.

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[You can play in the sun now, Rumia!]

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Such inconsiderate and cruel words to say to a darkness youkai. Just like the moon will always be the shadow of the sun, darkness and light shall always stand polar apart, never together and never will.

I had more than insulted Rumia but in the same time had destroyed her purpose as a darkness youkai.

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[… let my strength be your strength… l

et my faith be your faith…

let my destiny be your destiny…

let my meaning be your meaning…

at the same time…

hear this little prayer of mine,

youkai of the darkness.]

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Releasing her ever so slightly, I floated slowly away from her as I watched her eyes slowly turned gold in color and her teeth, which were protruding out of her mouth like fangs, retract themselves.

Her overall look, which was similar to a crazed doll, was much more like the Rumia I saw in the orb of darkness at the Forest. She had the appearance of a lovely little girl and as she rolled herself into a tiny ball, I could hear small sniffling coming from Rumia.

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[Sniffs… Rumia… Rumia lost to the Shrine Maiden…]

Looking around me, the darkness was thinning and I could see the faint star-light shinning above us, a sign that the battle had taken longer than I imagined.

[You… didn't lose… Rumia…]

[…]

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Looking up as if she finally noticed me, Rumia shook her head, blew her nose before she straightened her back to look at me. Her clothes were torn at the sights and she gave off an eerie green glow in the circle of holy fire but it did not singe her like it did not singe or burn me.

Aptly named: The Evil-Sealing Circle might really seal away evil or at the very least, evil thoughts from anyone in the barrier.

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[I prayed to you… prayed to the youkai of darkness… did you hear me?]

[… …mm…]

Wordlessly, she nodded and looked away as her hands wrung up and down nervously, something very human-like and I smiled and patted her blonde head.

[… could you hear the children too?]

As I said before, even when hearing things through a muted and bad radio, one can hear the emotions running through music that is broadcasted from it.

Emotions can be felt if one listens hard enough and this is one of the examples.

Like a badly tuned radio, I could feel the children's prayers as they prayed to the spirits for safety, for strength to pull through and for each other.

If there is a gift that I ever wanted, this would be it… of trust between people and youkai…

Rumia too seemed to have heard it as she shook her head and started bawling loudly.

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[WAAA!]

Burying her head into my clothes, Rumia cried her heart out as I just patted her head comfortingly. She is still a child no matter how many years she had been in existence and it is right for me to take care of her…

[… would you… like to play?]

[… -play?]

[Mm… play… with me… with the other children…]

Whispering to her as we slowly descended down to the ground, I pulled her to an arms-length away from me and asked her face to face.

[Would… you like to play with the children?]

[… I… I…]

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Temptation rocked her and she bit her lip, obviously trying hard to resist my offer to her. It was unknown so far how she would behave herself and how the children would accept her, but a part of me said that it was the right thing to do.

[… I… I want to!]

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Praying along with the children, I struggled to control the anger I felt within me as the chants of 'leave, leave' never once left my ears. Mokou too must be feeling the brunt of the attack as she was not praying, instead she was keeping watch on the other group of people, those who were against youkai.

Past history has shown that the need to conform can make people do irrational things but this is more serious. The others were influenced by a strong spoken leader, the man that was still screaming at Mokou.

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I do not have a very good impression of him as he always kept to himself, always opting to live his day tending his fields and his poultry.

The only strongest impression I have of him is his active participation in chasing out the resident youkai fairies…

He is a bitter man… strongly speaking against us and at the same time, a great manipulator of people.

[NO! I would not let someone who hurts her own daughter touch her now!]

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Showing her teeth, Mokou threw another fireball at the angered man who spewed more vulgarities.

[YOU WHO CALLED YOUR FRIEND TO SCARE US DOES NT HAVE THE RIGHT TO LECTURE ME!]

[THIS DARKNESS IS NOT CAUSED BY-… ah.. forget it.]

Regaining some of her composure, Mokou thread air and started to levitate to the sky just like how Reimu did.

Speaking about Reimu, as I prayed along with the children, her unmistakable presence was overwhelming in our hearts.

As she said, as I prayed to the spirits, keeping my faith that I can do so, I could feel various emotions that were surging through me very faintly.

But strongly however, I could feel Reimu's heart beating and Mokou's burning desire to protect the children.

Reimu's presence was one of calm but of strong determination and Mokou's presence was of a fiery and fierce inner strength as she battled the darkening cloud of doubt in my mind.

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The experience is something that I would never forget and one that I can never record down. It can be described as such a pleasant and unpleasant feeling altogether but it was worth the experience.

Praying takes much willpower and patience and of course, faith. If one has the faith to pray to the gods, to submit oneself to the spirits… it will be an easy task…

Concentration too is key and as I say all this, my concentration on praying is weakening ever so slowly…

[!!]

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Giving a cry of surprise at the suddenly lightening night sky, I looked up with the children to see something miraculous.

A pillar of light, blue in all it's glory; ripped through the darkness and shot straight up to the heavens.

Anguished screams could be heard but they slowly died down as the darkness just disappeared like the early morning mist that will evaporate in the sun.

Right in the middle of the pillar of light were Reimu and Rumia, hugging one another for all it is worth.

[Ahh…]

Cries of wonderment from the children reached my ears and I stood up, joyful that Reimu is and going to pull off another miracle and I ran towards Mokou and hugged her from the back.

..

..

[Mokou!]

[… yea, that girl did it, did'cha? Heh]

Grinning at me, Mokou winked and the both of us took into the air to welcome her, the heroine once again, Hakurei Reimu.

As she descended from the heavens like an angel, nothing was heard till she was perhaps a few feet from us. Then, the sounds of faint sobbing could be distinguished from her.

It was Rumia, the darkness youkai was sobbing on Reimu's shoulder and I felt something akin to confusion and relief hit me at the same time.

Confusion as why Rumia would be crying with Reimu, her sworn enemy and relief that Reimu had not exterminated Rumia.

It was a double-edged sword that Reimu had not killed Rumia as she would be branded with siding with youkai and saving the innocent and confused Rumia at the same time.

But, as I looked at the both of them, one hugging the other and one showing such love for Rumia, I just ignored all of that.

[…]

After all, Reimu is the heroine, if she thinks it's fine, that is fine with me.

..

..

[… first, you must say sorry to the children… okay?]

Reminding Rumia as the both of us stood on firm ground, I smiled at her before gently pushing her forward to face the children.

As neared the ground, I could only hear the wind blowing and none of the angry words or the peaceful prayers that had came from the people of the village earlier.

It was eerie to say the least and it was like comparing a ghost town to a bustling city, the difference was too great and I was certain Rumia too was initimidated by the silence as she swallowed nervously.

[… Miss Shrine Maiden]

..

..

It took a small, courageous voice to break the dead lock and I saw that it was the little girl whose father was the leader of the angry mob.

[… Is… she alright?]

Voicing her concern, murmurs could be heard from the children around her and of course, the angry mob behind me and I raised my hands up protectively over Rumia, shielding her from the mob.

[… She's fine. Rumia, you have something to say to them… don't you?]

Pushing her again, Rumia stumbled a bit but she managed to keep her balance and made her way in front of the children, clutching her hands behind her back.

Ignoring her youkai eyes, Rumia looked like a little pre-school girl, all innocent and very adorable. Standing in front of the children, it made me wonder for a moment how someone so adorable could create such fear and anger in the village.

..

..

[Erm… I…]

Speaking out in small, fragmented words, Rumia shivered considerably before she screamed out loud.

[I AM SORRY!!]

When she did, it sent a ripple of shock through the people and it seemed that it too had removed the seal around her mouth as she repeatedly said that out.

[I AM SORRY, I AM SORRY, I AM SORRY!!]

For a brief minute or so, she screamed out her apologies to the children, who just stared back at her in surprise and then finally, I see the one image that I dreamt of seeing.

..

..

[… okay…]

Their little mouths, which were opened wide in shock, curled up to a smile and they nodded their heads slowly.

[We know… we know…]

Running around her, the children gathered together in a gigantic mass group-hug that turned Rumia red with lack of air.

[Let's play! Let's play!!]

[Mm!! We know!! We know that Rumia is scared!!! We can feel it!!]

[Did you hear me calling out to you??? We like to play! Want to play?]

..

..

Their small voices is stronger than any other weapon in the world and I am sure, even while I am standing behind them, that their words had reached deep inside Rumia.

Knowing, understanding, forgiving and accepting…

Four stages of revelation that the children and the people of the village has gone through…

[… Children…]

[Thank you, Miss Shrine Maiden!!]

Together with Rumia, the children gathered around me and giggled happily.

[Thank you! Thank you!]

[Shrine Maiden, Let's play too!!]

..

..

With Rumia in their midst, all their troubles seemed to have floated away and they did not seem bothered by them anymore, something which is both a blessing and a crime.

[… Not now, Children… how about all of you go play at the side…]

Brushing them aside as I made my way to Mokou and Miss Keine, who were not being surrounded by the adults, I wanted desperately to defend them and without my two companions, who I have left with the children, I hurried over.

..

..

[…]

Reaching them, I swallowed nervously as I prepared to hear the worst, of the people screaming and shouting at Mokou and Keine but I was proven wrong almost instantly.

Surround Mokou and Keine was a pair of middle-aged women and a few elderly man as they spoke with Mokou and Keine, expressing their thanks.

[Thank you, Miss Fujiwara… Miss Keine… for helping our village… it seems that we have really got everything wrong…]

[Forgive us, Miss Fujiwara!! We… we just…]

[The youkai are to be respected… we as the elder generation should have known and have spoken up… but we did not… we have disgraced our names, following blindly…]

..

..

..

Words of regret, words of apologies and words of thanks, seems like I did not have to do anything else after all.

[… Hey, Mokou… Miss Keine…]

Stepping behind them, I opened my hands wide open to welcome them and they hugged me, one after the other.

[Reimu…]

[Yosh, Shrine Maiden Girl, you did it!]

Patting my back, Mokou grinned before she turned serious, looking at the other group of adults that were squaring off.

..

..

[SHE'S IN LEAGUE WITH THEM!]

[Youkai should be respected! It is the endless circle of things!]

[SHE BROUGHT THAT YOUKAI HERE!]

[The start begets the end, if we start the ball rolling, we will have to bear the circumstances.]

..

..

Arguing slowly, the elderly man was gaining the upper hand in defending Mokou and he advanced step by step towards the mob and behind him, a growing number of people was backing him up.

..

[The Shrine Maiden reminded us, that Trust, Respect and Faith is key… you who always resort to violence will die a painful and horrible death, that is what we were taught as children… have you forgotten?]

[I AM PROTECTING EVERYONE HERE!]

The supporters of the middle-aged man had abandoned him and were drifting around aimlessly, clueless to what they supported. It must be very unsettling for them, to see something that crushes their beliefs so...

Yet the middle-aged man never gave up even as he made his last stand, shouting at the elderly gentleman.

..

..

[YOU WILL BE THE DEATH OF THE VILLAGE, LETTING YOUKAI EXIST HERE!]

[no… you will be… sowing discord among the people… putting false lies and trying to start a rebellion… it is you… who will be the death of the village.]

[W-what are you saying?

[Do you hate youkai so much after your wife was…]

[No apologies can return my wife. NOT EVEN FROM A YOUKAI!]

..

..

Grabbing a stone, he threw it in Mokou's direction but it was knocked away by a casual fireball that Mokou summoned with a flick of her fingers.

[…]

Walking forward, Mokou stuck her hands in her pants as she levelly glared at the man.

..

..

[… A youkai took your wife?]

[ONE LIKE YOU! SHOULD NEVER DESERVE TO LIVE!]

[… Directing your hatred… to someone else who is not involved… do you think that is righteous too…]

[… stop defending yourself, youkai girl! Who knows when you will start killing.]

[…]

Narrowing her eyes, Mokou seemed ready to explode but she just shrugged.

[Whatever. Think what you think. But, there is no need to drag your daughter in it.]

Gesturing to the child in question, she grinned when she saw her hugging Rumia even more tightly like a doll.

[The child is innocent, ya don't need to harm her…]

..

..

Bending down to pat her head, Mokou looked up to the girl's father before asking him a question.

[Tell me, do you want cha girl to always bear your hatred?]

[…]

Speechless at that, he was even more stunned when Mokou, ruffling her own hair, walked forward and offered a hand to him, a very manly fashion that struck at how well Mokou had this planned out.

[It's always the hardest to be the one who takes the first step, ya? I know that. So… I don't want cha to get the wrong impression of me… I'll protect ya kid, from youkai and more.]

..

..

Grinning, Mokou stuck one hand on her pocket and waited for the reply.

It was a little surreal, seeing something like this happening and it must take someone with a big heart to accept and forgive someone who has been spewing vulgarities at her.

[This is a promise between you and me and I would swear my eternal life on it.]

Speaking seriously, Mokou waited and so did the rest of the people. In the crowd were people who had supported him, echoed strength from him and in the end, abandoned him. In reality, everyone is the same deep inside. Wanting to support the strongest and fearing to be the one left out.

..

..

The primal rule, strength in numbers do not always apply… look at Mokou, she survived for thousands of years just being alone.

Immortality aside, she has retained all her rationality and if it was someone less stronger than her, I am certain rationality will be one of the last things I would expect from her and now, Fujiwara no Mokou is showing compassion and understanding for her enemies, empathy … putting herself into his shoes…

Even so, Mokou's words did not reach the man and he shook his head calmly, a very different expression from the one he had shown before.

..

..

[No. I would die rather than join forces with a youkai. How strong is your promise to me?

How much will it matter to you… how much trust can I place in a being that caused the death of my wife. Never will I make that mistake again, Fujiwara No Mokou.]

[… you speak my name…]

..

..

Sounding surprised, Mokou blinked momentarily as the man continued.

[You are different from other youkai, strong, proud, and independent. Such traits sicken me… youkai like you should never exists… masquerading as humans… faking so many things to gain sympathy and everything else…]

Raising his arms in the air, he laughed manically and that caused even more distance to develop between him and the people of the village. Even his own daughter, who still clung on to Mokou; visibly flinched when she heard that laughter.

[Look at me, once proud and strong… labeled as the strongest man in the village… reduced to this… HAHA! SUCH IRONY!]

Pounding a fist to the ground, he looked up again and glared at Mokou.

[It is not my fate to be deceived by a youkai, especially an immortal one like you.]

..

..

Turning his back to Mokou, the man stomped out of the village and into the darkness, leaving Mokou shaking her head and hugging the small girl in her arms.

[… well… that's that… we'll take care of cha, don't worry… till your daddy comes back.]

Grinning somewhat sadly, Mokou comforted the child even as her eyes were still fixed on the direction where the man has gone.

He is a proud man, with a proud heritage and he would not swallow his pride even in the face of opposition… in any other scenario he would be a great leader but now, he is just an outcast…

[…]

..

..

[… -coughs-]

Hearing a cough and feeling someone tap my shoulder, I whirled around and was greeted with an elderly gentleman that I recognized as the one who had defended Mokou and I immediately bowed to him.

[May the spirits bless you…]

[May the spirits bless you indeed, Hakurei Shrine Maiden… how nostalgic…]

[Y-yes?]

..

..

Stroking his beard, he coughed softly before continuing. His small and fragile frame looked as if it had weathered a lot of storms but would not live past another one and I held on to one of his hands.

[Thanks, both of you…]

Smiling as the two fairies held one shoulder each between the both of them, I listened to what the old man has to say.

..

..

[How nostalgic that… a Shrine Maiden would appear with the old beliefs..]

[Old beliefs?]

[W-why yes… around 60 years ago… when I was a young man… we respected spirits and even worshipped some of them… especially the Spirit in the Hakurei Shrine… those were peaceful days… people would pray and… the spirits would listen… there were spirits for rain, for almost everything…]

[That is… like Shinto…]

[… Shinto?]

[Erm… nothing much… please continue…]

..

..

Shaking my head and looking away, I nervously smiled as the old man continued his story.

[But… times were changing… people were strong then… and they can defeat spirits… those that appear before us started to attack us too… it is too long… for me to remember who started it…]

Scratching his head, he bitterly sighed as he concluded his short, but meaningful story.

..

..

[Times were changing… the elderly were forgotten… the young took charge and the old beliefs were forgotten and abandoned… even the Hakurei Shrine Maiden like you.. forgot the role of the Shrine… till now…]

Putting his hand on my shoulder, he smiled and it seemed so odd that such a wrinkled and aged face would produce the most dazzling smile I had seen… ever.

[I thank you.. Hakurei Shrine Maiden… in letting the village be united again… in a single belief… in a single faith…]

Coughing mid-way, I realized that all of the people in the village had gathered around us, even Keine and Mokou were listening attentively to him.

..

..

[Being right… or being wrong… does not matter… it is the faith and the bond that we are strong… we people are weak… so we must always be united…

So… I thank you again, Hakurei Shrine Maiden… for making the village united… defeating the Darkness Youkai… and of course… giving us faith and belief that all this will end…]

[~~~~]

Cheers greeted the end of the speech and I felt butterflies magically appear in my stomach out of nervousness but at the same time, a warm fuzzy feeling that I would get after accomplishing something good was mixed with it.

..

..

[Everyone! Let's start a celebration for the Shrine Maiden!! For everyone, for the youkai and for the future!!]

Raising his hands in the air, his cries were echoed around the village and even I cheered along with them.

[And one last thing, the most important thing… the Welcoming of Fujiwara no Mokou to our village!]

[E-EhH?]

Cries of surprise came from the main heroine, Mokou and I could not help but laugh when the villagers raised her up in the air and chanted happily: Mokou~ Mokou~

..

..

[Eh- St-stop it! This is embarrassing h-hey!!]

[We have not welcomed her to the village yet… even after living with us for the past 10 years or so… more so due to the negligence of our part… the elders and of course, the young'uns not wanting to accept her…]

Saying so in a matter-of-fact tone, he trotted off behind the crowd, leaving me very confused and enlightened behind him.

[C'mon, Reimu.]

..

..

Feeling another warm hand touch my shoulder, I turned to see it was Miss Keine, smiling as she pushed me forward. Tears were in her eyes and I helped her wipe all of them away.

[… this is such a special night for me and Mokou… i… I just hope it is not a dream…]

Sobbing plainly now, Keine fell into my arms as I comforted her softly and listened to her as only I could.

My two companions likewise comforted her by sitting on her shoulders and patting her with their small hands even as she sobbed softly.

[I… I was always afraid that I'll be rejected once they found out I am a half-beast… and Mokou too… she's taken so much inside her… if… if…]

Shaking her head, Miss Keine's arms grabbed me suddenly and shook me.

..

..

[Please, tell me it's not a dream, Reimu! Tell me it's real… that you're real and you're back… … that this night is not a dream…]

[It is not a dream… Miss Keine…]

Pulling her hands off me and easing her to face the village, I pushed her gently forward and as she stumbled after the first few steps, I grabbed her hand and started pulling her with me as I ran straight towards the center of the village where I could see Mokou, a blue and white dot being held up in the air.

[This is reality, Miss Keine!]

--