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.

13. Crazy? I Was Crazy Once!

*Ding Dong! Ding Dong!*

For whom the bell tolls?

….

….….….

Probably the vampire's hunting hour.

So should I expect myself to be visited and get fed from again just like yesterday? I got a knife in my hand and I got my eye out on all possible openings. Window and door, possible shadows and man-sized closet—all them possible entry points for vampires. Unless if they just suddenly appear out of fucking nowhere, like in front of me just after I blink, then I'll be fine.

….….….

Let's take a chance at that.

1…..

2….

3…..

BLINK!

….….

….….

Nothing.

Okay, let's try again.

….….

1…..

2…..

3…

Blink!

….….

….….

Nada.

Okay, let's try a 5-minute gap then do it again.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

1…..

I eyed the door…..

2….

Then the window…..

3….

Deep breath.

Blink!

DRAW!

….

….….

….….….

Nothing.

Haaaaaa.

Am I precautious, or just straight-up paranoid? I can't tell. I'm not feelin' nervous, really. We-well, maybe a little bit but not shitting-my-pants nervous, more like anticipation nervous, the kind you'd feel when you're expecting a guest to enter.

Like what Marisa said, the Mansion's clock tower tolls at midnight, and it just did more than 7 minutes ago. Same time when the second vampire of this mansion entered my room and nicked the back of my neck. Rather than let it happen while I was stiff like a log, I'm gonna wait for her, with a knife in hand, hidden from plain sight, underneath the pillow in my sit-up position.

I strained my ears for any possible sounds, which is almost a vain thing for me to do. But at least I'm trying. Those vampires don't carry a sound in their footsteps (Remilia doesn't too). I ain't gonna tempt fate in this hour, I'll even take a whoosh of wind to be a possible sign of their presence. If I feel the chilly-willies in my spine, I'll take that as an instant giveaway of her arrival.

I'm glad that I'm not feeling scared to shit anymore. I guess the 'only afraid once' mechanism is working, but the fear of death is still there. This is a vampire I'm up against, I'm already dead meat before I could even consider using violence.

It seems my only get-through out of this night is to try and reason with my possible visitor, Flandre, the Draculina's little sister. The one vampire that made Marisa uneasy when I talked to her about it. That alone just makes my confidence falter, and sucks.

I doubt I could even escape via running. I'm at 70% of my current strength right now, probably even less thanks to the recent anemia. I can't work up the sprinting pace at this rate, even less to climb a wall or wall-run it. So escaping my predicament by running like hell is already a no-no. Even if I was 100%, I still wouldn't be able to run away.

One: it's night.

Two: she's a fuckin' vampire.

Three: I'm at a complete disadvantage to everything.

Dammit, just dammit all. Right after I got myself a bed after a little broom ride, I didn't even wake up before night like I planned to. Waking up before night is my body's automatic mechanism whenever I sleep in the afternoon, makes it possible for me to run through the night without drawing the cop's attention to myself while I go for another place to stay. I guess the blood-draining made me even more exhausted than I thought, or maybe it was the bed…

Bah, complaining is useless now. I don't know who to blame in this situation. I blame Marisa fully, all the bullshit that lead to the library brawl used almost all of my energy supply but I already gave her a good beating so I forgive her now.

….….….

….….….….….….

It's so fucking quiet, I could even hear the rustle of my clothes against my skin. Anymore of this silence and I'm gonna hear my own heartbeat. And it is not helping my situation at all, I'm sweaty and tensing as all hell.

Sigh. [Fffffffuck…..] I kneaded my head, appreciating the stress and the anger flowing in me. Made me forget about my fear for a bit.

It's fucking night. Can't believe I'm frightened of it now when I used to like it. The peace and quiet the night brings is something I appreciated the most. Noisy cars, noisy people, noisy buildings…..noisy mornings.

I do appreciate mornings, yes, because it makes me feel refreshed, and it's a perfect hour to do some flips or do some runs. But a time of rest, like the evening or a time of rain? Yeah, I love those the most. A time where things get silenced by nature or blissful quiet, I love those moments and those sounds. It makes me sleep well.

Things weren't easy back then. It's not just the police, it's not just the hunger pains, it's not just the thirst either. In every new location, the local police doesn't know me yet. A person can go on for 3 weeks without food, and water is sometimes affordable on some locations. If I eat, the amount of water needed will increase. The lesser I eat, the lesser water I need. I can handle my nutrition on my own, so my consumables are not my concern.

It's the comfort that's the hardest to come by.

The comfort of an area to sleep, the comfort of rest, the comfort of company, the comfort of…a lot of things. Those things are hard to get. The floors are hard, I can't rest with extreme heat, noise or stress, there is nobody I can't trust, and…well…..fuck. Can't state each of 'em right.

The point is that I lose my sanity bit by bit every time I get annoyed, stressed or frustrated on my own. I maintained a positive outlook just so I could live, assuring myself that there is still hope for me down the road if I just keep going. I hated my thievery, I hated my isolation, I hated my desperation, and I hated my LIFE. There would've been a point where I would've lost it, lost myself to complete anger and just….snap.

All the anger, the anger that I never let out because of my isolation. It could've killed me, it could've killed me at some point back then. I might've fallen even deeper than I should have. I've already fallen short thanks to my acts of theft, I don't wanna fall even shorter by taking someone's life because of rage.

All them prayers, all them wishes that I asked—begged God to hear and answer, it took so long for them to be put into manifestation.

He granted them in the form of a beautiful, blonde woman holding a fancy umbrella walking in and out of portals that made me fall on my back 3 times in a row, sending me to this land called Gensokyo.

I wanted a release from my pain, instead God gave me a chance to restart my life in a land where things go the wrong way.

Well, there's no way I could thank Him enough for this. It's more than I could ask for. I'm in the company of good friends, got the chance to interact with people again, to clean again, to assist someone again, to even give. I earned myself so many wonderful blessings just by being here. This place is packed with monsters and vampires, yet I managed to do things God would've approved.

I'm glad you existed, Yukari, Reimu, and Marisa.

You three are the sources of my change for a better living. Without you guys, I wouldn't be the way I am now. I'd just be the same thieving, crying parkour monkey if it weren't for you three.

Because of Yukari, I was assured that impossible things don't exist anymore. There is only possibilities hindered by extreme challenges, and I'm no stranger to such things. Because of her, I was in a place that once existed in my childhood dreams. Because of her, I was now a new man.

Because of Reimu, I had the chance to finally change for the good and was given rest from my hard life. By being her housekeeper I was able to do things I couldn't do before. Helping her clean, sharing the boredom, chit-chatting pointless shit….I even felt a little bit of attraction towards her. Because of her, I was able to experience these things once again. Being a human person, that's what I've been missing for these past months. Because of her, I am finally myself again.

Because of Marisa, I earned my social life back and brought my morals to a jumpstart because of her fucking pilfering sticky fingers. I'm very grateful that she existed, she made me realize that I haven't lost my touch in my social skills. She made me feel alive with her broom rides, I found kinship within her love for speed and thrill, and for the most part of all, she made me do things I couldn't do before:

That punish fight with Meiling; that rooftop chase; that full-on marathon in the mansion to the library; a hands-on spell card fight experience; a life and death situation against Sakuya …

Because of that fucking witch, that Ordinary Magician, Marisa Kirisame, I was given a full hands-on experience of Gensokyo's horrible yet wacky reality, in just fucking 3 days at that.

[ .kkkk….!] I shook my head along with my snickers.

Fucking Marisa.

The source of all my problems, yet the medium for all the exciting and dangerous things Gensokyo had in store for outsiders like me.

Marisa, when I see you again, I'm going to punch you in the gut so hard for everything you've done. Because of you, everything happened to me. And I relished every single one of it!

I love you, and I FUCKING hate you to bits. I'm glad I fucking met you.

My heart bursting with so much confidence and a big crazy smile on my face, I swung my feet off the bed, laid my feet on the carpeted ground and walked over to the bedroom table that had a vase filled with roses on it. Once I reached it, I picked up the vase and gently lowered it to the ground, there you go.

With the surface of the table free and open, I could finally do this:

Lay my knife on the table, kneel down properly and hmph!

*THUD!* The knife jumped.

I'm slamming the dang thing with my fists.

*THUD!* It jumped again.

It's a coping mechanism, don't judge.

*THUD!* Yet again.

I lost most of my sanity outside due to isolation back then, cut me some slack if I'm doin' this, 'kay?

*THUD!* And again.

Plus, I'm feeling happy and giddy right now, gotta pent it all out somehow, no?

*THUD! THUD!* It did a dance there for a bit.

I'm still under the feeling of danger, of course, fucking vampires and stuff.

*THUD!* It jumped way higher than the last jumps.

Right now, I need every bit of confidence I need to handle my situation. Somehow, I'm not feeling my lethargy anymore. Neat! Maybe the fast-pumping heart could refill my blood supply even faster.

*THUD! THUD! THUD!* It's nearing the edge.

Bring it on, Flandre. I'll take you on. I can wait all night until the sun shines.

*THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!‼*

The knife finally fell off the table.

[Haaah…haaaah…haaaah…..]

That…..felt….gooooooood~~

Thank God the table still held on. I was using all of my strength on that one, really. I expected a little crack of some sort, even if this thing's got a thick mass. Oh well, you take what you can get. This thing is Scarlet Devil Mansion property, I already gave up revenge and I don't wanna make it worse between us.

Gotta put back this vase here, there you go.

Alright, just gotta wait still for a while and see if Flandre comes in. I'll just lean back against this corner of the room here, cross-armed with possible entries in my one general view, knife stays in my hand, just to be safe. I guess one can never be too secure in Gensokyo, huh?

….

….

….

Wish I brought my phone with me, could'a used some tunes to pass the time. Should I risk exposure just for a moment of leisure? Hmm…Probably. I'm that suicidal. Then again, everyone's been calling me that before, why stop now?

….

….

…..

What time is it?

….

…..

….

I lost all fear and instead felt bored. Makes me drop my sense of security though, but hey, at least I'm a little tense now. Can't have myself triggered to attack mode just by something falling on its own.

Need to sit down.

I walked over to my bed and sat down on the edge. Ah, all that standing made me tired, and I haven't stood that long since the saddest graduation of my life. Cracking my knuckles, I looked over my shoulder to look at the window: still no vampire, only a clear grassy yard shined by moonlight. Looks both beautiful and ominous at the same time. In front of me, the door is still closed. I didn't lock it, it's pointless to do so, anyway. Any vampire could've blown that door open by flicking it. If I wanted to bolt I'd have to unlock it before I could open the door so locking's a no-no. I only need a twist and a pull, then I could run.

….….

…...!

My spine chilled. There's a prickling on my neck.

I snapped to look at the window: nothing.

Someone's watching me. Whoever it was, I can't see her. But she can. She's here, Flandre's here. Where the hell is she watching me from? I could understand the window but I could feel it like she was right nearby, it's more unsettling that I don't know where!

Tense, I warily stood up from the bed, tightening my grip on my knife and steadily walked to the nearest wall. Slow and easy steps, no need to expose the exterior signs of fear, only wariness. So much for hyping up for her arrival, I'm feeling nervous already.

There's still the nagging sensation, where the fuck are you, Flandre!?

*C~r~e~e~a~a~k~*

….

….

Oh no.

The door just opened. I didn't even see the knob turn.

The door was wide open, but there was still no Flandre. I only see the opposite wall outside, dark and dim, the lack of windows made the hallway nigh-imperceptible because of the lack of light besides the ones coming from my room.

She's toying with me, she's baiting me, she's fucking baiting me.

Why do I have to suffer this fucking Horror-cliché—

….

I saw something move out of view outside the window.

….….

Holy fuck, I'm so fucking boned. Out the door and out the window, I'm literally cornered. So much for jumping out the window for an escape shimmy.

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck—

[Grrrrrrrr…rrrrrr…..!]

Not happening, not happening, not happening—

[….rrrrrrrrrr…..rrrrrrrrrrrr….!]

I'm not going to die tonight, not happening. This is still my first week of Gensokyo, I'll have to ensure a year to pass if I want to die happy.

I performed the sign of the cross: †Watch over me, Lord.† I gripped my rosary through my shirt and exhaled. Okay, time to man-up.

The rumbling in my throat steadied to a soft grumble, I tightened the sweaty hold on my knife and walked over to the door. The silence is fucking tense, my footsteps are so loud even for the soft footfalls, and the prickling is still there!

[RRrrrrrrrrrrr…!] The rumbling in my throat is getting louder the closer I get to the door. Just before I passed the doorway, my forehead creased and a sneer broke out of my lips, the rumbling turning into growls.

1…..2…

HMPH! *STOMP!*

WHERE YOU AT!?

The stomp of my foot echoed out the dark, dark hallway, receding to the distance like a thunderclap. I looked left, I looked right, I looked up, even down, and yet, there was no vampire. There were no vampiric red eyes, none of those weird lights in the darkness, no jingles either.

The prickling was gone.

….

…..

Did she just bolt?

Did I just scare off a vampire?

Oh, fucking goodness. I fell down to my knees way heavier than it should be but I relished the pain, thinking of it as a victory sensation. Fuckin' hell, I'm suddenly feeling tired now. Did a pump of all that adrenaline and tension bring down most of my mental energies?

Haaaiiii….Maybe I should just sleep this night out?

Nah, too suicidal, even for my standards. Flandre would just suck me dry without me noticing. Unless she took Sakuya's words to heart…nah, still don't trust her.

I placed one hand on my knee then I stood up, pivoting my feet I—

There was a breeze on my back.

…..!

Oh no. Nonononono!

Someone's behind me, someone's behind me, someone's behind me!

There were two entities, the one who opened the door and the one who was at the window. It was just a glimpse but denying it as something else is the last thing I'll ever do now.

The window can be opened, but only from the inside, I doubted that anybody could get in unless they smash it through. How did she get in? How did she unlock it? How? Fucking how!?

Pointless, it's pointless asking now and the simple fact to know is that she's here.

What should I do? Run or stay? Kuh, why bother with either of 'em? They're all pointless, she can outrun me any time and how am I supposed to know if she's reasonable?

Should I continue walking out the hallway, where it's dark and unlit, extremely dark that I would instantly be lost (there are no fucking windows in this hallway for the moon to come in!) or stay in my room and be acquainted with the unknown entity, Flandre Scarlet or other and hope to live?

I never met the vampire girl, I don't know how she thinks or how she acts. I never even seen what she looks like. All I've got were some fucking lights and some childlike personality that didn't know anything about the concept of consent. It doesn't help me at all, am I just gonna take my chances and hopefully talk to her?

…!….!...

….….!….!….!..!.!.!‼‼

AAAAAAHHHHH…..fuck my life!

Without turning around, I slowly walked backwards into the room, and when I did I closed the door, the hinges managing to creak. The silence did not help with the sounds, it was magnified 3 times and it felt like I was locking myself in my own deathbed.

Oh fffffuck.

[HHHRRRRRRRR…..!]

*BAM!* I slammed the fucking door on the darkness's face.

….….…..….….….

A surge of false courage was surging into me, and a new mindset settled into my brain. A rather unorthodox one, the one that I usually took just to fuck around with the natural, because sometimes I get fed up of natural outcomes.

The natural outcome of this situation would be a bad one, where I would die or get attacked, or I managed to calm down my intruder.

Fuck those two things. I'm dealing with this bullshit….my way.

I have just remembered the one thing I've known when I first arrived to Gensokyo, the one thing that was extremely crucial to all: Common Sense has fucked off.

I must not approach this situation the old conventional way, I must deal with this situation the same way a Gensokyan does. If this does not work, then FUCK I don't know what could!

The prickling was there but I don't care. Whoever is behind me, do you want me to be tense? Do you? Do you want me to quiver like a fucking scared cat?

Think fucking twice.

Watch this.

After slotting my knife to the holster now outside of my pants thigh, I took a deep breath….then I—

[HAGH!]

—exhaled in a shout.

My body was starting to itch.

[Hhrrrrr….!]

Itching.

I began to scratch my head, roughly at first, then clawing, then I began to claw at my own head so erratically that I am starting to look like I was going mad. I felt my ears get warm, I felt my sweat become more prominent all over the heating areas of my body. Oh my fuck…!

EVERYTHING'S SO FUCKING ITCHY! AGH!

Now I was starting to scratch all over me, grunting and growling like some menacing dog. My neck, my chest, my arms, my legs, even the area above my balls. Holy fucking shit, my body felt like it got bit by seven million fire ants and the nearest body of water was fucking 75 kilometers away.

{Ngrhk! Katola ani e!}

I was now reverting to my very first language, all my rants and lapses always about the itchiness and the heat of the room.

Whatever I looked like to the person in this room with me, probably had no idea what the hell was going on with me.

Then there was another thing coming to this slowly-lapsing-to-the-verge-of-insanity hysteria that's going on with me: Irritation, annoyance, impatience, anger, whatever the hell the thesaurus has for the most hottest emotion that includes being ticked off as fuck, I'm feeling them all right now. I was penting them up as I scratched all over myself, the volume of my growls getting bigger and my frequency borderline-demonic.

*BUNG! BUNG! BUNG! BUNG!*

When I reached the breaking point, I was now punching the door. The pain was almost lost on me, I didn't feel it. The itchiness was much worse, so fucking worse than the ache on my knuckles, so much worse than the possibility of death within walking distance in this fucking room.

{Pagkayawa aanii e! He!} I now lapsed to just cursing the fuck out of my mind when I backed away from the door and held my head like it was going to explode. It felt like it did, because all the itchiness in my body was powerful enough to blow my fucking mind. {Bisan pa sa pagtulog, dili gyud na pwede!?} Now I was cursing about my situation, complaining about my inability to sleep.

First off, this situation was starting to annoy the fuck out of me, and I'm going to lose it. I'm nearing the point where I would just go mad and destroy any inanimate object I could see. I've been through this situation before, and the primal rage I let out was sometimes catastrophic it even woke the neighbors and had them call the police on me.

I never planned to stay the night, I only wanted to rest for a short bit and wake up for the results. I would've left via Marisa's broom if that had happened. Instead, I overslept and got myself into this situation: I woke up past dawn, killing all of my chances to leave this place, and I am indirectly forced to stay the night here.

And now, I CAN'T SLEEP!

SOMEBODY GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK! FLANDRE, IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU BETTER GET THE FUCK OUT AND LET ME SLEEP!

{HAGH!} I kicked the fucking door near the bottom area, hard. I heard the hinges break, I even heard the wood crack.

*BUNG!* I punched it again.

I twisted around heatedly, frowning and glaring all the way. Big surprise, nobody was behind me! Oh great, that just means I'm alone! Should I just go to fucking sleep now!?

Cursing so many cusses of my first language that I would have made a sailor quiver as I stomped all the way towards the table with the vase of flowers, I swiped the damn thing off with a vice grip before slamming it on the ground. It didn't break.

Then I—

{BWISIT SA TANAN!}

—Kicked the fucking table. It slid a few meters away. I wasted no time to walk up to it and begin smashing my fist on it. This time, I didn't care about property damage. I feel inclined to just break this fucking thing apart with my bare fucking hands.

{Pasulod naku diri, nakatulog ko! Pagpukaw nako, gabii na! Pabalik nako tulog, naa man diay bampira magsulod pag-abot sa Alas Dose! Dili gyud ko maka pahulay!? HA!?}

There was a crack on the table now. It was as long as my forearm, stretching across the table horizontally.

Having enough with just beating the fucking thing, I stood back up from kneeling and faced the entire room, looking all over for the intruder. I still don't see her. Up, down, right, left, behind me, in front of me, NOTHING! She's not here! But the fucking prickle and the extreme nagging at the back of my neck was still there. She's still hasn't left.

Growling in frustration, I now yelled out to whoever the fuck was in here, {IKAW BA, KANANG NAA DIRI! SAMUKUN NA KAAYO KA, HA! GATULOG KO DIRI! UNSA MAN ANG IMONG PULOS!? UHAW KA NGA GUSTO KA MAG-INUNM SA DUGO!? ADTO SA OSPITAL! DAGHAN KAAYO DIDTO! KALAS ANG IMONG ORAS DIRI!} I stomped the floor, adding up to the amount of FUCK-BOMBS I'm dropping in this fucking room, {WALA GYUD KAY BATASAN, HA!? YAWA KA! GAKAWALA NA ANG AKONG PASENSYA DIRI! GA INIT NA ANG AKONG ULO! PWEDE BE PAHATAG OG PAHULAY BE!? NAG-AWAY NA KO GANINA! KULANG PA ANG AKONG TULOG! WALA KOY ORAS SA BWISIT! MAAYO PA NA MAG-HAWA KA DIRI OG BYAE KO!}

COULD SOMEONE GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK ARLEADY!?

I'm done, I'm so fucking done with my situation. This bullshit needs to stop, immediately! I'm getting tired. I hate being scared, I absolutely do. Whenever I feel that way, getting ticked off was my main coping mechanism. All this fear, and all this tension is doing nothing more than just pushing me over the edge of my rage. I'm really boiling mad right now, and my conscience was starting to disappear. I feel like destroying the entire room just to make myself feel better and secure. Instead of just opening the window to let the wind in, I'll just break it open with my foot. I bet I'll love the sound of glass breaking.

But no. I'm not going to take it out on the room. I feel like taking it out on the person with me in this room. I'll do it. I'll fucking do it, I don't care who it is. Vampire, or some other Youkai, I don't care. The person in this room has been the reason I'm feeling this way. If this moron had just knocked on the door and greeted like a normal person, I would've been friendly and spent the entire night talking about shit. Instead, this idiot just decides to sneak in and open my door. For what purpose? To creep me out? To make a dramatic entrance? To make a horrifying atmosphere? Just for the hell of it?

No, I don't care for the reason. All I know is that I'm gonna send a few bruises to whoever is in here the sooner I see the first sight of skin, wing, hair, or anything. My knife is ready. I'm gonna use it. I'm gonna use it.

Come on. Where the fuck are you….!?

.….….….….

.….….….….….….

.….….….….….….….….….….

.….….There was no one.

The prickling was gone, the nagging was gone, but I still felt that presence in the room. Flandre Scarlet is still in the room. This time, the atmosphere of this place was now different. There was no tension anymore, there was stiffness, the kind felt after some sort of scolding or reprimand was said.

It feels like I was now the one in control of this situation. No one is controlling the gravity of this situation but me, I'm leading it to where I want to. I control the outcome now.

.….….My anger's dissipated entirely, like it just tuned itself with the atmosphere. Since the danger or fear was gone, there was no reason to be angry anymore. Now, I just feel hollow, so empty, demanding some emotion to replace it.

I feel like replacing it with more irritation. Just enough irritation to show that I am still not happy.

This time, I'll be going back to the seco—no, the third side of me; the new side of me after I finally learned how to speak Yen. The first and hidden side of me must remain dormant, "Whoever is here…come out."

It's time to be civil. It's already obvious that staying angry isn't going to help, maybe with removing the fear and controlling the atmosphere but not the situation. Nothing's gonna go far unless I go through this thing like a normal person, "Do us a favor and show yourself. Nothing good will come for the two of us if you stay hidden. Worry not, I will be civil as long as you do."

*Kling. Kling. Kling. Kling. Kling.* The jingling. It wasn't loud, it wasn't nearby me. It was…..there.

I could feel somebody's presence behind me, I could already see the multicolored-illumination beneath my feet. There's even multiple shadows of my legs.

Wearing a guarded expression, I slowly turned around. I first saw a rather bone-shaped branch, and it had gems hanging from it. Colors varying. I counted 7 colored gems, glowing like dim light bulbs. Then I saw red colors, with a bit of white: it was a white blouse underneath a red vest, a little ascot found on the collar.

…..what the fuck are you? Are those things even wings? Are you some kind of vampire subspecies?

She was just as childlike as Remilia, albeit younger; a couple years younger. Unlike the Draculina, who looked rather mature despite her small size, this kid's childlike to the very flesh. She was even at the height of my waist. The way she looked at me; curious and wary, the innocent sparkle was present in her cherry eyes. A face that would fit a seven year old was there.

Frowning, I end up asking, "What are you?"

In a soft and quiet voice, she replied, "Vampire. What are you, Mister?" Even the way she talks is childlike.

"Ningen." I breathed. I felt stupefied here, more at her wings than her response. Those things are too beautiful for a stereotypical vampire. How in the world did she get those wings? Was she born with these? Or were they artificial? I stared back at her eyes, "What's your name?"

She took one step back, then her other foot was placed behind the first. She took the hem of her red skirt with both hands, lifting them slightly up, and curtsied, her blonde side-pony falling forward in her bow, "My name is Flandre Scarlet, Mister." Then she positioned back to a stand, "What's your name?"

I frowned even more, feeling even more confused for some reason I don't even know. All the impressions I formerly had on Flandre were being shattered. I expected somebody uncivilized, noisy, and pushy. This girl was none of it. Whatever vampire traits I expected from her, I didn't see any of it from her disposition besides her physical appearance.

Was I freaking out and going mad for no reason? Or did her seeing me go mad made her more…placid?

I knelt down to her level, now eye to eye without her looking upwards to meet my gaze. Her cherry red eyes had depth, and it had a soul. I nearly thought that it was humanlike if I hadn't noticed the edges of her iris's contracting in tiny movements like a cat.

In a low voice, I now answered her, "Eman. My name is Eman."

In response, she gave a sickeningly sweet smile, exposing her vampire fangs, "Okay. I will start calling you Mr. Eman, then!"

My frown couldn't get any deeper. What is going on with this kid? What is it about her that makes me feel….off?

"Hm?" She suddenly turned her eyes from me and looked at the door. I followed her stare, looking at the cracked part below it.

*Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.*

I heard footsteps. Thanks to her vampire attributes, she heard it before me.

…..?

What the fuck is going on? Why does my mind feel like it knows how far is the owner of those footsteps from here? Why am I thinking that the person coming was 143 meters away without even looking?

How could I even hear it in the first place from that far away? Was the silence of the hallway magnifying it?

My mind's eye was starting to act up. I could actually image the form of the person that's coming, someone tall, someone with lean build, the color of green, and a slight shade of crimson.

Meiling.

Why did I think of her when I hear those footsteps? Why does it feel like I'm absolutely certain that it's gonna be her that's gonna open the door?

Ignore it.
We need satisfaction.
Must destroy. Must kill.
The woman not matter.
Vent out frustrations on her.
Strike the cursed child!
Turn away and towards the vampire.

…..…..…..

68 meters.

My face was starting to heat up, an irresistible urge to lash out was dawning on my consciousness. My body acted first before my mind; I was clenching my fist before I even thought of doing so.

Break everything.
Destroy. Crush. Eviscerate.
Satisfy us!
The child or the woman, we do not care who! Just kill them!
You are angry. Let it out.
Suffer or die! Suffer your anger on the women or perish to it.

What the fuck? My violent impulses are acting up. Why do I feel like I want to murder someone so badly?

My breathing was coming in deep heaves, my throat growling in unison with every exhale. The heat in my head was monstrous, all of my anger was coming to the breaking point. Unless somebody restrains me or knocks me out, I won't be able to stop myself from breaking everything apart.

21 meters.

My body's itching. It's itching. Terribly itchy. Why is it so itchy?

I looked back at Flandre once again, and she flinched for some reason, "Mi-mister Eman…your eyes…"

"Flandre, listen to me."

She is a nuisance.
Kill her.
She is an annoyance.
Disturbing your slumber is a crime!
She deserves to be punished.
She is a blasphemy to our race.
Vampires are nothing!

I felt the urge to just punch this vampire in the fucking nose and impale her in the heart with my knife, for bothering me and ruining my sleep. She deserves everything that came for her. If the damage on the door and the table needs a culprit, it's her. Not me. It was her, it was definitely her. If Flandre hadn't disturbed my sleep I wouldn't have went mad, I wouldn't have even felt this way.

I will fucking kill you, Flandre.

"Do not…..interfere. Do you hear me?" I asked her in a warning, a firm grimace lining my expression and tone. "Whatever you do, do not do anything. Everything will be fine."

0 meters.

*Kachak.* The sound of a door opening.

There was another presence in the room, and the one voice that I expected to hear came, the mental image in my mind's eye fully complete, "What is going on here? I heard screaming."

Hong Meiling.

[HHHAAAAAAAGGHGHHH!]

Without any warning, I finally snapped and broke out roaring as I charged Meiling at the door.

There was red everywhere. My body wailed in all directions, my throat shook hard as I kept roaring and screaming in every exertion. Every time I hit something, I could feel the impact, I sometimes felt the shockwave that gave me rushing all across my entire skeleton, but there was no pain. I think my mind just went numb from the rage. That was motivation enough for me to keep going.

I couldn't tell apart who was Meiling in my line of sight and who was not. Was I hitting an inanimate object or was I hitting somebody living? Everything was so red; the walls, the darkness, the person in front of me, everything. My fists flew in her direction all the way whenever I caught sight of her, lacking all the finesse I usually kept in a fight where I got my head in the game. My movements were brutish, from top to bottom, and the itchiness in my body only made my movements worse. Meiling kept blocking or parrying my every blow, and I noticed that she was not fighting back.

Why was she not fighting back?

Even if I had thought of that, my body still could not stop moving. There were several moments when Meiling got me locked in a grapple, but my body reacted almost subconsciously to break free. In an arm lock, I twisted around and tried to elbow her face. In a full-nelson, I took advantage of my body weight and threw the both of us to the ground. I nearly stabbed her in the head with my knife when I did.

There was a moment when I wondered if the hallway suddenly got a little bit visible like it was dimly lit.

After that, everything was a haze.

My body was starting to feel like lead. The exhaustion was catching up to me now. My strikes were becoming sluggish, my entire frame was protesting at the exertions of my blind rage, yet I didn't listen to it and let myself be controlled by it. I don't know how long I've been moving, flailing in all directions and screaming, but it was obvious that I am going to drop in the next few minutes.

The time when I was promptly put down….was when a blur of yellow and red smashed into my abdomen and slammed my head against the wall.

I was already unconscious before I could figure out who did it.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

I groaned in my breath when I was coming to. My body ached all over, my knuckles especially. They hurt the most. It felt like I have been punching the wall for an entire hour and only managed to nick it. My throat felt dry, I felt a certain déjà vu when I acknowledged that fact. It reminds me of something, particularly the day when I literally crashed into Gensokyo. I feel so sweaty, and my body burned from the inside like a furnace.

And holy hell, was I tired.

Before I could notice that something cool and wet was on my forehead, my right eye was forced open by a pair of fingers. Whoever did it, I couldn't see. Everything was blurry in just one eye after having just woken up.

"Hm, looks like you got your eyes back, Comrade Eman." A cheery voice remarked, releasing my eyelids and letting it close.

Who the hell was that? [Wha….what?] I breathed, groaning even more as I rolled to my side, making the supposed rag slip off my forehead. Even doing that hurts, feels like I just winched my shoulder minutes ago. Ow. The surface I'm lying on was soft, am I lying on a bed or something? [Wha…wha's goi' o'?]

"Looks like your coherence is back as well. I guess that's a One for the Wonders of Martial Arts and a Zero for the arts of magicry and sorcery, right, Ms. Flandre?"

"Yeah! I made the bad spirit go away by one hit!"

Where the hell am I?

Rubbing my eyes at first, I slowly opened my eyes….I'm still in my room and I was lying on my bed. The same window and curtains was still there whenever I roll on my left side on the bed, it was open and cold air was being let in. Thank God for that, I need something to cool my body.

*Throb*

[Grhk!] Ow, my head. That hurt, it felt like somebody just slammed a sledgehammer to the back of my head and left it to bloat for 12 hours.

Before I could touch it and find out how bad was it, someone grabbed my wrist and placed a cold bag in my hand deftly. "Ice bag. Place it on the back of your head, it'll ease the bruise."

[Hrgh.] Grunting in response, I did just that. Haa, that's much better.

Huh, I didn't notice that my knuckles had been wrapped up in bandages till now. Is my right hand wrapped up too?

….yep. Whatever I just did earlier, I must've punched something real hard, and messed it up so badly that I doubt it'll look the same ever again.

Trying to sit up, despite the aches spiking across my lower back and left shoulder blade as I propped myself up with my left hand, I leaned back against the wall and looked around the room once again.

Hmm….doesn't look like anything's changed. Even the crack I left on the table is still there, and the flower vase is now back on top of it. Flandre's over there sat on the scarlet sofa, lanky legs swung back and forth, looking at me with a curious face. The walls look fine, there were no scratches that would imply that I had been scratching it with my fingernails or my knife…..if I had done that, I might have fallen into the deeper end of my insanity.

I looked to the window again, checking for cracks and possible damages: none. Thank goodness. If there's any property damage I couldn't cope with, it's broken glass. Stuff like that can't be fixed easily.

To my right, there was Meiling sat on a red leathered-mat chair, smiling to me with her arms crossed, looking as pretty and strong as ever. She didn't look any different, I don't see any bruises on her, no cuts or anything. Her hair was frazzled, but not by a lot. It looks like she just fixed it up just a few moments ago. Her hat was crumpled though, and the star pinned there was winched a little to the side, ruining the perfect symmetry.

There was a bowl of water and rags on the nightstand, no damages there too. Though I noticed a tiny nick on the corner, which made it look rather…foreign in this neat and proper room. When I looked past Meiling, where the doorway was…the door was gone, there was only a frame.

Which would mean…

[I broke the door, didn't I?]

She still gave me a big smile for it, "Right off the hinges too. Nice work!"

She's praising me, like, what the fuck? Isn't this place her home? Why would she even feel that way towards the place she was supposed to be protecting?

[Why are you so impressed about that? I just broke property.]

"Meh, nothing unusual." Excuse me, what? "The goblins'll have it back in just five minutes."

I…uh…good point. 'Nothing unusual', okay, I'll believe that. I get the feeling that this place suffers more punishment than the training dummy me and my buddies regularly beat up in our tricking practices. What Marisa pulled and what Patchouli said earlier served as evidence.

I pulled my knees close to my chest, trying to get comfortable, [How long was I out?]

"Just for 30 minutes." She answered, "I expected an hour or more, especially with that blow to the head but you sure wake up quick, and you still got time before midnight."

….what?

[It's not midnight?] What was that toll earlier?

"Ah…" She chuckled, turning her eyes to the other person of the room. I followed her stare and it was Flandre, who sheepishly looked away, "That was Ms. Flan playing drama. She just wanted to make you think that she was coming and watch how you react."

….….….oh my fuck.

I've. Been. Played!

[Oooogghhhhh…..!] Oh my fucking shit, I just went insane for no fucking reason!? I was actually paranoid for nothing!? I've been hyping and creating my own self-confidence because of a prank!? EXCUSE ME!? {YAAAAAWAAAAA…..!}

"Ms. Flan, you should know better than to intrude someone's slumber." Meiling scolded.

"Sorry…." An apologetic voice replied, "But he didn't look sleepy so I thought I could play around with him."

"In that situation, you assume that he will sleep eventually. Besides, aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"I don't wanna. Sakuya, Patchy, and that girl are out, I could have the mansion to myself!"

"Ms. Flan, do not refer to your sister as 'that girl', please?"

[I just attacked Meiling for no reason?] I whined, glaring at the both of them. [I just went crazy in this room for nothing!?]

Meiling blinked, "Pardon, friend?"

Oy! [If I get scared, I get mad. It's a coping mechanism, Meiling.] A far too dangerous one that it should not be purposely provoked, it is a very chaotic behavior. I could potentially hurt both foe and friend, especially when I fall into a rage. [I went wild, because I was scared half to death in my room! Whenever I snap, I just lose self-control and just might hurt somebody!]

She then began to frown, sharing a serious glance with Flandre before turning to me, "Comrade, you've been possessed."

….

[What?] What are you talking about, Meiling? How the hell am I possessed?

"Listen here, Comrade Eman." The look on her face told me that what she'll tell me is anything but a joke. "When you attacked me, your eyes were as black as the void. Your hazels were gone, even the white in your eyes had just disappeared, like the hollows of a skull's eye sockets."

[Wait, hold on.] This just feels a little off here, I couldn't make out the sense in that sentence, [Question: where did I attack you?]

She throbs a thumb behind her, "In the halls."

The hallway outside my door was dark as fuck.

[Then that's the reason!] I ranted exasperatedly, gesturing to the darkness behind her, [The hallway's dark, it was just a trick in the light or something! You're just seeing things, Meiling!]

"Comrade…" Meiling dragged in a chiding tone, smiling like a—holy shit, what the fuck are you!? Your eyes, Meiling, your eyes! They're turning into blue slits! And your teeth too, I'm seeing fangs in there! "I hope you are not forgetting what I am. I can see in the dark better than you humans."

[O-oh…okay….] Tha-that's logical, I guess. [..bu-but still, how could you tell? Do you even see colors in the dark?]

"A-aaah, not that much, but I could easily see the irises in anyone's eyes." She nodded, more rigorously than necessary. She just made that up on the spot, didn't she? "But I'm serious, Comrade. Your eyes had no irises, they were just…..gone. And you acted like you couldn't even hear me, you were more animal than man. Growling and screaming the whole time. Even your movements were not your own." She then looked at me with an expression crossed between concern and worry, "What demon possessed you to make you act that way, comrade?"

The more I kept hearing it, the more credible it just gets. The unsettling dread gnawed at my insides even more when she said the word 'demon'. I barely remembered what I have been doing when I attacked her. Right when Meiling opened the door, everything else after that was just….hazy, like a dream I couldn't remember what I did, no matter what I do.

How could I not remember?

This was not the first time I went crazy and became wild. The last time this thing happened was not even long ago, I went mad on Sakuya. And before her, it was just 5 months ago. When I lost it that day, I remembered everything I did. I remembered that I smashed a brick on someone's face, I remembered that I bit someone's neck and made him bleed, I sometimes even dream about the moment that I threw somebody across the room and shattered his spine. I remembered that I enjoyed every single moment of it that day. The feelings and emotions I felt that day were not that different to earlier: the hot rage, the violently itchy body, the uncontrollable urge to just destroy everything and everyone in the vicinity because I feel like it and I can, and all the wild screaming I made like I had just lost all of my humanity and became a motherfucking monster.

Yet….how could I remember nothing in this incident? I couldn't even remember what I even hit. I don't even know if I had destroyed something. Was I really possessed? By what? By who?

"It's true." This time, it was Flandre who spoke, "When you told me to stay, your eyes went black, Mister Eman."

Oh my fucking goodness, no.

The room just got even colder, the ice pack on the back of my head did nothing more than just unnerve me. My breath was starting to heave in big breathes because of the increasing anxiety and I grasped my rosary through my shirt to calm myself down. †Lord, please help me. Send down your angels and cast away the demon that has taken ahold of me. Please, take him away.†

A hand held my shoulder gently, squeezing it. I turned to see who it is and I met Meiling's gentle smile, "Worry not, my friend. I doubt that whatever demon had possessed you will be coming back. After witnessing my power, it must have been so frightened that it ran away."

"Hey!"

"Sorry. My and Flandre's power, it won't be coming back!" She exclaimed with a rather cheesy and proud bravado, I found myself frowning exasperatedly at the display. She shook my shoulder, "Don't let that incident worry you, not like we of the Scarlet Family do not suffer these possessions once every six months or two. Whatever happens, Comrade Eman, we can handle it." She then gave me the most reassuring smile ever, "If you get possessed again, leave it to me. I won't allow a demon to drag my friend around like a puppet." Then her smile faltered, "Unless it's the Milady…since she is the subspecies of a devil…"

The Draculina's mention was the stinger, I have just forgotten all about the danger of my situation and instead I felt myself being heated in irritation once again. And for fuck's sake, I asked in a prayer to get the anxiety out of me, and the mention of a certain devil did the fucking job!

…..oooooohh…

[Kkkk…!] Oh. My. Gad! [kkkghhhaahahahahahahaha!] Oh my gad, the irony! The fucking irony! I can't believe that just happened.

"Co-comrade!? What's wrong!? What's getting into you!?"

I'm fucking possessed, you fucking piece of fine China! Can't you see that I'm cackling like a fucking demon here!? AHAhAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! I seriously can't believe that just happened!

[AAAAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!‼! AAGH! That was so pricele-he-he-heesss! Ahahakhakhakha!] Holy shit, my stomach! Ow! It hurts!

"Comrade, you are not possessed again, are you?"

[I'm fine, stupid!] I'm crying! [I'm fine, geez! Calm down, you said it yourself, didn't ya? That demon ain't coming back for now!]

"The-then, why did you start laughing all of a sudden?" Geez, she looks worried.

Then my face contorted to a deadpan look, the ultimate seriousness rolling all over my fucking mouth as I suddenly lapsed to the Yen, "That's classified information, for your own safety I suggest you back away before something bad happens to you."

She recoiled in shock, "Wha-what!?"

[PPppphhhhaahahahahahahahahaha!‼!‼!‼] Her face! Her face! [AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!‼!‼!‼]

*Smack!*

{….aray.} Do you really have to smash that fist of yours to my forehead, woman?

"I ask you to get ahold of yourself, you insane man!" Now you just look straight-up annoyed, Meiling, "I can't stand another second of you losing your mind!"

I hear you so are you gonna move your fist away from my forehead now? My hands are up, I'm surrendering here, [I hear you, Meiling. All calm now, I won't go crazy again.] Still can't stop smiling like an idiot here though, [Are you gonna take your hand away now?]

"Do you swear to me to not laugh for no reason?"

Still smiling here, [I swear.] No promises though, hehe.

"Do you swear your dignity on that?"

Now the smile is gone, I'm the one feeling annoyed here, [Yes, now would you please move it?] Did you get the irritation from my voice, I hope you did because I really don't wanna go wild again just to show you that.

And you did, making me sigh in relief and rubbed the punched part tenderly.

The smile did come back though, it was not the idiot one, it was the warm one, the one I wear when I'm thankful for somebody, and it's for you, my friend, [Thanks, by the way, for treating me. Even though I went wild and attacked you, you still had the time to treat me so…yeah, thank you. It means a lot.]

Your growing warm smile just adds up to the ice pack that's easing the bruise on the back of my head here, Meiling. You're making me feel a lot better just by doing that, "Don't mention it, Comrade. As my friend, it is my duty to help you in any way that I can."

I lowered at that, appreciating her sentiment, [Thanks. I'll pay you back for this.] Maybe a little permissioned hangout at some restaurant somewhere in the village? Or some home cooked meal of Filipino cuisine? [Did I hit you anywhere in particular when I was out of control?]

There goes that cheery smile again as she throbs a thumb to her left chest, "You managed one right here. Even for a single kick, you strike like a giant! You even blew me across the hall!" Why do you sound impressed at that, girl? "Looks like you really do better with your legs than with your fists!"

….what the fuck is wrong with your head, Meiling? You said I blew you across the fucking room, and you were amazed for that? [You alright? Is it hurting or anything?] I asked, holding her left shoulder and rubbing the part above her breast with my thumb.

She grabs my wrist and gives me a friendly tap on the shoulder with a free hand, "Worry not, Comrade Eman." She moved my hand away, "I endured worse, yours is just a light tap….Though, you wouldn't want to experience Ms. Reimu's kicks though. She's strong, even for a human."

You made it sound like it was the most traumatizing experience in your whole fucking life, like you just went through surgery right after she hit you with one. I think I just got myself another reason why I shouldn't try the patience of my Landlady.

[Wouldn't dream of it.] I looked out the window, checking out the rather brightly lit gardens. It looked quite enchanting, the fog was gone. The mood outside looks perfect for a beautiful night viewing. Hey, why don't I do just that? I'm feeling rather energetic right now. [Hey, wanna go walking outside?]

"Wa-walking?" That's horrible engrish parroting, Meiling. "Oh, sanpo." Yeah, that's the one. That means 'stroll', Ladies and Gentlemen. "But why? Isn't it night?"

[That's the point.] I wouldn't have brought it up if I didn't like walking around at night, [It looks like there's a clear sky tonight, that means we could see some stars. So, how 'bout it? Wanna go?] There's also the fact that I can't navigate through the darkness of the hallway on my own, not a Youkai like you, girl.

"Don't you think you should be resting, especially after all that wailing you just did?"

[Still not tired, Meiling.] Include the fact that I slept in the afternoon, there's no guarantee that I'll be sleeping anytime. [I think I can last for a couple more hours, even with this bruise on my head.]

She stared for a bit before sighing, rising to her feet from her chair, "If you end up worsening it, it's your own fault."

Pfft, [I'm not a child. I know when to sit down and take it easy. If I get possessed again, I'm not worried. I got a beautiful girl full of fisticuffs keeping me in check, right?]

Oh, you liked that compliment, didn't ya? The puff in the chest is visible.

"Wait here, I'll get a lamp. We can't have you tripping over yourself every time while we walk, would we?" She asked, going for the door.

[Yeah, yeah. I'll wait here. I'll keep the kid company.] I gestured to the kid who was now stood at the end of the bed, looking at the both of us plainly.

Meiling gave a long stare to the girl for some reason, her face showing some concern and worry for a bit. After short seconds, she nodded slowly, "Okay. Be nice, Ms. Flan. Okay?"

"Mm."

Then she left.

Now it was just me and the little vampire alone in this room. Now she's looking over here with a rather unreadable face, I ignored the staring and went to stand up from the bed, keeping the ice bag pressed up to my head still. Shit, I can't keep holding this stupid thing all the time, can I?

Where's my bandana…ah, here it is, in my right pocket, same place I left it. With it, I wrapped it around my forehead, going around my back to press the bag inwards. No loops, doing so would just hurt. This amount of pressure is just right.

Ah~ there we go. Now I can work with both hands now. I take a seat on the chair Meiling sat before and proceeded to put on my shoes that were placed on the bed side.

And Flandre's still staring at me with that unreadable face. What's her problem? Anymore and she's gonna bore a hole on me.

…..

…..…..

…..…..…..

She's still staring at me, even after I just finished tying my shoes and slumped inwards to the seat. Where the hell is Meiling? How long does it take to find a lantern in this place?

Actually no, that's a stupid question. This place is a mansion, I doubt I could find my Frisbee in this place if I smashed a window with it.

…..

…..…..

Damn it, why the hell does she keep staring at me?

…..actually, hold on. This question just came up, and I wanna know the answer.

[Hey, kid.] I called.

She instantly frowned at me, [Flandre. My name is Flandre, not kid.]

Whoa, was that an accent? I couldn't tell if that was European or French. [Sorry about that. You sure got a nice accent though.]

Her eyes widened at that, then she smiled, sheepishly looking sideways, "Re-really? Ehehe. Thank you." Then her eyes widened, "Oh, not that way." She cleared her throat, [Thank you.]

I couldn't help but giggle along with her, now the creepy atmosphere before just disappeared. Never knew that a compliment could do that much to shift the mood, [Anyway, can I ask you something?]

"Yes, what is it?" There goes the wide eyes again, "Ah, I mean…"

[Why not just go with the language that you're fine with?] Can't have you giving me two languages of the same sentence the entire time. [If you want, I could speak Japanese for you if you like.]

She opened her mouth to say more….then close it for a nod.

Okay, then. Yen, take the stage for me, please? "Right. As I were saying, when I was finally incapacitated while being possessed, were you the one who did it? Was it you who drove me to the wall and caused this?" I'm talkin' about the bump underneath this ice bag, kid.

"Yeah," She doesn't look like she felt bad about it, somehow, "You were not stopping so I had to do something, even if you told me not to."

Sigh. Can't say I'm surprised, I kinda expected it. The size of the impact on my abdomen was small, Flandre's build kinda fits it. And man, she hit hard.

I still smiled to her though, "Thank you, Flandre. I revere you as the heroine of this incident. While our Dear Meiling kept me busy, you knocked the demon towards exorcism." I gave thee a polite applause. "Bravo."

"Yay!" And she gleefully jumps back-first to my burrowed bed, wings making a jingle upon the landing. "I'm a heroine!"

Such odd wings, where'd she get them? Did she grow them out of her back or something? If yes, then I'm betting she's a rare type of vampire. I bet that in their species' history, those gems are quite the target from treasure hunters and other vampires since it grants some sort of power to whoever has it or something.

Hehe, speculation is fun.

"Hey, Mister."

Oh, she's calling me, "Yes?"

"Are you a vampire too?"

Wha-what? Didn't we have this conversation before? "Why do you ask such a thing?"

"Because look at your skin! It's white, like outside when it's snowy! Like me, except…uh whiter!" She pulled on the skin on her forearm, showing it to me, "See!?"

Oh yeah, I did have this skin. Huh…hehe, how fast did I get used to having this kind of flesh on my body? I wasn't even a white boy when I first came to America. I should be feeling something about this kind of transition. I got this thing just nearly a week ago, and under one day too.

…..maybe I just don't care?

If that's true, then my mentality as a Filipino is still stuck in my head, and I'm glad for that. In the Philippines, racism is a taboo, especially coming from a foreigner. Just one slur is enough to have everybody in the scenery pick up their machetes and hack you to fucking bits for the dogs and cats to eat.

"I prefer being a werewolf, actually." Fuckin' Love those guys. Among all the beasts of gothic lore, lycanthropes take the top of the list for being brutal, and full of awesome! I am a massive fan on movie werewolves, being big, fast, and fierce is the way to go! You could even rule the night and be in the same level—or even outclass a vampire. "But unfortunately, I am not. I am but an above-average human." I'm tappin' my chest here, listen to the heartbeat, kid.

"Oh." For some reason, she's surprised, "Just a human." Why does that sound like an insult? "That girl doesn't like werewolves, she said that they stink and they're slow."

Um…"That girl, Flandre?"

"Yeah! Big sister!"

Kid….kid….what kind of relationship do you have with the Draculina that you don't use the proper term all the time? "Do you have a problem with your sister?"

She smiled, shaking her head, "No."

So….what? "Then, why do you use the term 'that girl'?"

"She's such a showoff, Mister Eman!" She exclaimed, smacking the bed with her hands. I think she just shredded it a little, "She loves to act like she's in control of every situation, she even said that she could control fate! I think it's stupid, she's just trying to look tough in front of everybody!"

…..childish.

There's nothing else in my head except Childish. All my impressions of Remilia are starting to come down, "So she's practically a Drama Queen."

"Yeah! Big sister's a massive Drama Queen! Every time there's a guest, she acts like a big rich girl!"

Dude, we're really blaspheming the name of my host, aren't we? I think I might get beheaded for this, "Careful, Flandre. She might hear you."

"No, she won't!" Her smile was so big when she said that, "Patchy, and Sakuya, and that girl are out! They didn't tell me why but I don't care! I finally have the mansion to myself! This has never happened since…ever!"

So they're not around tonight? I bet they're out on another vampire banquet or something, discussing the nefarious rackets in their society. "Where did they went off to?"

This time, her smile was gone, "I don't know…" She's frowning there, "They just left without telling me."

….reminds me of something that happened to me before.

…..damn it, the itchiness acted up out of that memory. Forget it! Forget it! That's in the fucking past, you don't care anymore!

Deep breath, Eman, no need to lose control again and murder the table this time, "Maybe Meiling would know."

"Unfortunately no." Somebody said at the door.

Oh hey, Meiling! She's back with a lit lamp in her hand, "Oh, Meiling. I did not see you coming."

"I did!" Of course you did, you're a vampire, kid. You got them super hearing as a perk in your life.

"Milady and the rest left at dusk without prior warning." She told me, "When I asked, Sakuya told me 'we'll be back before dawn'. This wasn't the first time it happened so I didn't ask further."

So in the end, nobody knows.

Eh, whatever. Not like this changes anything. Right now, I wanna go out into the gardens and finally see it fully for myself. The first time I crossed the garden back in the morning earlier, I was running like absolute hell, chasing after Marisa. I never bothered to look sideways and smell the flowers as I charged the door.

Up we go to a stand, with Flandre jumping off the bed in a hop, I faced Meiling, [Alright, shall we go?]

She nodded, "Let's."

"Do you want to join us, Flandre?" I asked to the kiddo.

"Sure!" She skipped forward and caught my hand—tight! "I'll tour you around too!"

To be honest, I nearly flinched from her grip (cold!). A sudden surge of fear kinda swept over me when she held my hand, like I thought she was gonna rip me apart. I also noticed Meiling stiffening at the action.

"Ahehe….be gentle with him, okay, Ms. Flan?"

I'm getting a lot of fucking hints here. Why's Meiling acting like the person holding me was a lion, friendly to the family, unpredictable to the guests?

"I know! I promise not to break him!"

Fucking HELL….!

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

The tour was kinda….normal, if a little dim.

The entire place was dark, like the whole mansion just decided to go light's out. If the Scarlet Devil Mansion wasn't a scary name, then this atmosphere just enforces that. At least Meiling's lantern and the kid's natural wing lights helped, it helped me ease up on the prospect of going through the darkness. I am not afraid of the dark myself, but to go through the darkness all on my own just to find my way out? No, siree. That's as far as I can go when it comes to the things I could do as a normal human being.

Glad that these two are in my company, and the chit-chats we get along the way are helpful, and fun too! Keeps the creepy atmosphere in the darky hallways out. Each room Flandre introduced me to, I get to see just how childish this little vamp is as she talked about everything that happens in every room.

She's got a big mouth when it comes to her house. Even Meiling was about to laugh. I didn't, I just loved the childishness of the little supernatural creature. I was in a deadlock between thinking she was a vampire or a really sassy little sister of my host.

First was the recreational room: it's pretty much what I expected it to be. Flandre showcased a fireplace, a shelf wall loaded with literature books. A crisscross of fancy swords held up over the fireplace too. She told me it's where her sis likes to laze around. There's even an alcohol cabinet (hihihi), whisky and wine and other stuff. There's also the typical comfy couch that was facing the fire, footstool included. It was only for the residents exclusively, servants not allowed (save Sakuya, of course). Her sis and Sakuya are the usual users, the others aren't so much into relaxation, so Flandre tells me. I didn't hear her mention herself being with her sister in this room. Why?

Next was the music room, or should I say, antitheater. I'm not sure what I was expecting but….this place looked fitting to be a music room. An elevated stage, stairs that lead up to it, lots of chairs for the violinists to sit on, the center of those chairs was the concertmaster's spot, where he'll be playing his solo. There's even some bleachers on the sides, including those fancy balconies opera houses usually have. And this place is way too big, this is the fucking size of the mansion from the outside! There are quite a couple of instruments here. Violins, cellos, classical bass, classical guitars (nice), harp, trumpets and other aerophones, and a piano. Flandre told me that her sis was quite fond of the violin and the piano, then she got bored and gave up on 'em. Typical behavior. Flandre herself was aiming to be a big shot on the piano. She's really trying hard but she's getting there, I could tell, plus she's got double-focus. Her hands can play independently instead of being on one focus. I could just picture it: The Scarlet duet, Remilia on the violin, Flandre on the piano. I bet it'll look grand.

After that, we went to the kitchens. The place was quite bigger than I imagined, probably because of the number of chefs present. Flandre pretty much horded every cake and candy she could manage to find with her nose before she could introduce me the stuff around here. Quite the sweet tooth she has, I like to think Remilia is the same. Meiling snuck a few raw beans, and also a couple of meat plates. Lots of pans and pots here, some out of bronze and most from steel. Old-fashioned furnace, fascinating stoves too, even an opening over the fires for the smokes to go through and into the chimneys. There are a lot of spices here. I think I saw a few that were definitely from the outside world. There's some fruits here, I ate one nice healthy apple for the heck of it. There's a meat locker too, and I nearly vomited from the amount of beef they have the sooner I opened it. So many guts and entrails, ugh. Now I know why Meiling told me not to open it. I don't wanna know if one of the meat bags in there were humans, I don't wanna know.

We were about to enter Big Ben but I kinda shot that idea down since I've seen enough. Include the fact that I've been wanting to go back outside, I lost all enthusiasm to keep listening to the kiddo's stories, even Meiling agrees. But not before I took a little sneak peak at the door that led to the insides of the clock tower. I gotta say: loved the clockwork in there, all the cogs and bolts, and the noises of grinding metal and steel in there (damn). If I wanted to enter Big Ben's innards in London, I don't need it on my bucketlist anymore~

Last destination, the gardens.

Finally.

Even for the company of two girls with me, the darkness and the lack of light in that mansion was getting into me. Still dim out here but the moonlight makes a better light along with Flandre's and Meiling's lantern. I never been to the front yard of the place, but now that I do, everything's just…..wow. I can't believe I didn't took the time to look sideways when I ran through here first thing in the morning to beat up Marisa's ass. Now that I get second glances, everything is a thing of beauty.

The fact that Meiling was like "Welcome to the Scarlet Gardens." when we got here just makes it all too perfect.

"This place is amazing." I looked over every piece of greenery that I could see with a pleased smile. Not just roses, but also other flowers were around. Their formations are quite neat, the arrangements were surely done by expert hands, and the general mood of the place is just peaceful. With stone pathways, I get greeted with so much flora in-between me as I pass through in a slow pace, making sure I see every little flower with my own two eyes in this moonlight and not miss even one. "Did you do all this, Meiling?"

"Yes, indeed." I hear the pride in that voice, girl. You sound really proud of it, and you rightfully should. This place is amazing! I give you 5 out of 5 in this!

Flandre was knelt down in front of a pink flower in a distance, poking it with a finger. With her lights illuminating around her, every flower nearby caught in the glow gets a new shade, and it looks amazing. She's a really beautiful vampire. I admit that now. She's a really beautiful vampire.

"I never took you for a person with a fancy for gardening, my friend." I never did. With that height, and that uniform, and that hat, and them forearms, she's fit to be the drill sergeant in the Red Army. And I doubt anybody's gonna fuck up in their exercises while she's the instructor, she'd flying kick their ass to the next millennium if otherwise.

"Well, considering that it is a hobby of mine and Gatekeeping tends to get a little boring, Milady allowed me this much to have the gardens as my responsibility."

"And a dedicated one at that." That's a truth, and fuck anybody who says otherwise. Due to how big this fucking place is, the front yard is too spacious, so spacious that it feels like it was deliberately exaggerated. This place is too large for just one person to manage. From what I can see, the amount of flowers I found in this garden is going above the thousands, and each of them looked pristine and perfect. Even in the evening, all of them seemed to shine underneath the moonlight. If that's not dedication, then somebody tell me what is it!? "All this beauty is the mark of an artist. Did anyone praise you for all this effort of beautification?"

Oh, I see a blush going in there. Even in the moonlight, it's quite visible from here, "Aha…not much. Usually our most mundane guests would give the time to compliment, and they're hard to come by in these past months. So…thank you…for complimenting my work."

I see she's not complimented much by her boss since she's been doing this for a while. Kinda understandable; you see beauty too much, you get used to it that your standard of beauty gets high (something I try to avoid). That falls on the Draculina's case, and it is left to the guest's jurisdiction to give the place a look over. Oh well, at least she got some feedback. That makes me feel better, "You're welcome, friend. Come morning, I will hand over a second feedback. I wager that with much more visibility, the charm of this garden will enhance by a hundredfold."

She gave me a big grin for that, "I'll be waiting for it!"

Returning a smile, I stood up from my knelt position and continued walking forward on the stone walkway, brushing my hands across the shrubs of green, making them shudder and flicker. Man, under the moonlight, my hand—my pale skin looked like it belonged to a dead guy.

"Does some others assist you in the beautification?"

She chuckled, "Why do you call it 'beautification'? Isn't it easier to just call it 'gardening'?"

Aaah ha ha…. "The kind of formation this garden has, along with the fact that Remilia Scarlet, thy Mistress, is the owner of this abode, I have the inkling feeling that all of this is just a flaunt to her rich and regal image to anybody that passes by." I held back from saying that it's redundant, because that's already obvious at this point to anybody aware of what the hell's going on.

"Ha ha!" Oh my, she's actually laughing, "That's our Mistress! She takes any chance to show herself as a regal and proud lady of wealth."

Redundancy!
Arrogant!
Proud and Flaunting!
Annoying!
So proud her head is big enough to match the mansion!

I'm so ticked off….! That Draculina is starting to look like the stereotypical cockheaded rich people that do absolutely nothing but give me a reason to punch them in the fucking mouth….!

"I see…" I'm not hiding my disdain, am I? Given by the understanding look on Chun Lee's face, she understands how I felt.

"As for your question, yes indeed." Which one? Oh yeah, right! The question about if she had help with the gardening and stuff. "Ms. Flan helps me sometimes."

"I help with the watering can!"

I hear ya, kid!

Wait… "What time of day does she help you?" I think there's something a little off here with a vampire associated with gardening here.

"I know what you're thinking," Meiling smiled to me, "I work during the day and, yes, she helps me under the sun."

"I use an umbrella when I help."

Huh….

"Unlike most vampires like the Milady, Ms. Flan's a daytime vampire. She sleeps during the night just like you humans."

[What?] That...that's new. Huh, [Wow…I never heard of a vampire like that before. Daylight doesn't hurt her, right? Like, at all?]

She nods, "Mm hm, indeed not. That's the most common misconception among humans and Youkai, Comrade. It only weakens them, not kill them."

*Tug* Ah, someone's tugging my shirt. Oh, it's Flandre. "Rain hurts too. If I get wet, I won't be able to use my powers."

Well, that's new, "Rain hurts vampires?"

Flandre's mood got down when I asked, Meiling solemnly nodded, "One of the many things a vampire cannot pass through, basically. I reckon that due to vampires being undead, they cannot touch something that gives life or something like that."

[….Makes sense.] It really does, did folks in the outside world know about this? I never heard or read anything about water being their kryptonite. All I get to see from most movies are bat transformation, super speed and strength, and other morbid powers. All the basic weakness I knew are all debunked by the Draculina, "Why didn't Remilia tell me any of this?"

A wry smile crossed Meiling's face, looking away, "You can't expect the Milady to reveal her many weaknesses, Eman, and it's best you don't exploit them unless you're inclined in suicide."

….you didn't have to phrase it like that, Chun Lee, geez. Now you just made me all nervous! "Duly noted."

"Good for you." Then the nice smile came back to her face, "So, shall we continue the walk?"

"Yeah! Come on!" Hey, ease up! You're gonna rip my arm off! "There's a bush that I gotta show you! It's shaped like my face!"

[Flandre! Be gentle with me there!]

After getting the kid to calm down and let go of me, we went inwards into the garden. The show: more flowers, more hedges with flowers, more flower beds with flowers, and hey! There's Flandre's face!

Even for the redundant extravagance of this area, it is indeed appealing and easy on the eyes. How many times did I compliment this place? If it goes above 50 times, then Meiling did her job right. Looks like in this part of the mansion, there's more green than petals. This could be the hedge section of the front yard gardens. Looked slightly typical, with the spiraling roads in-between well-trimmed hedges and all. Each bush was trimmed in the exact size as the other. A few potted plants laid out on each corner. There's even a few trees here….and a fricking hedge maze.

I underestimated the fucking size of this place. This land is massive, and the Mansion's big on the inside! This is overkill. This gotta be overkill. Whoever designed this place, you really overdid it.

And what is this?

"Now that's unusual." I comment. I'm talking about the fountain here. By the standard of a really rich woman, this fountain is very big, so much water spewed in multiple directions, it's a very typical structure. What made it unusual are the statues of cherubim around it.

For one thing, it's out of place. Why would the Scarlet Devil Mansion have a piece of art with Angels around it? It just doesn't mix well.

"What is, Eman?" Meiling asked.

"I've seen a handful of fountains Outside, but this particular one seems a little…off to me, even if the design is quite contemporary."

You don't get me, do you, Chun Lee? That's okay, I didn't explain myself. Wait, why does Flandre look annoyed?

"What I mean is that the stone angels on that fountain is very contradictive to the general theme of the Mansion." I turned to her, "Do you see what I mean?"

She nodded in understanding, though there was a noticeable grimace on her face, "I see. And I sometimes think so myself, but Milady is particularly fond with this one, along with Ms. Flan."

"Yeah, it was designed by Papa and Maman." Now that's a new look on her face, it's wistful, "Every time I look at it, it makes me remember them."

Okay, now I feel absolutely guilty for even saying it. Fuck. Judging the art of a dead parent, real smooth, Eman! You deserve a fucking cookie for that! "Forgive me for what I said."

"It's okay."

Mr. and Mrs. Scarlet, please forgive me for that. I didn't know! I gotta be much more sensitive than that next time. Who knows if I just end up disrespecting something else, like the memento of a dead kid?

Mr. and Mrs. Scarlet, if you do not mind, I'll be repentant of my words by sitting on the rims of the fountain and appreciate it for what it is, for your youngest kid's sake.

*Shshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshshsh*

Ah~ I couldn't stop myself from making a relaxed sigh as I listened to the sound of rushing water on this piece of art. Due to its big size and the large quantity of water spewing from it, it almost sounds like a heavy rainfall, and I love heavy rainfall. It makes me sleep comfortably at night. Clothes get warm, jacket gets warm, and even the floor of my tent feels a little snuggly.

Yep, I take back what I said, Mr. and Mrs. S: this fountain is perfect. You both did a good job on the placement too. By the angle of the moonlight, there were many wiggly lights dancing around, a particularly mesmerizing sight. Quite hypnotic, and very sleep-inducing.

Meiling and Flandre also took a spot on the edges. Chun Lee beside me, the kiddo beside her. I bet they wanted to rest off all that exhaustion thanks to the kid's tour. I was never given a chance to sit down at the time (Meiling here looks fine though, looks like she's just meditating). The amount of distance I have to cover just to get from landmark to landmark with an eager little girl leading me around that mansion….it felt like I just walked an entire country without ever thinking of stopping for a rest. The fact that every hallway is football field's long, shit…

If the hallways are that long, how will anybody reach the dining hall in time when its breakfast, or even go to the toilet?

Whoever built that place, you better thought this through.

…..Unless the residents are capable of flying. If you knew how to fly, you would cover 5 times the amount of distance needed just to vomit out the window. Remilia and her li'l sis is a vampire, therefore super fast; Patch is a magician, could teleport; Sakuya had time-stopping and shit, absolutely no problem for her; and Meiling…hold on.

[Meiling, can I ask something?]

From her meditating place, hands folded on her lap with eyes closed, she responded, "What is it?"

[Can you fly?]

She opened her eyes and shot me an exasperated look, "Of course I can! Isn't that obvious at this point?"

[No.] I've never seen you fly, that's why I can't affirm it to myself, [And how is that supposed to be obvious?]

"I guess you don't know, huh?" Now she's looking at me like I was an idiot! Can you blame me, Meiling!? I'm still new here, y'know!? "It's common knowledge that anyone even with the smallest pool of magical power in their being is capable of flight. You could say that it is as basic as taking your first steps as an infant. Or should I say, as a person introduced to the magical arts?"

Huh.

"I don't rely on magic, myself. I rely on manipulating ki to take flight. In some intervals, you could say that I am walking on thin air!"

Sounds...interesting, [What is ki? It's the first time I've heard of that.]

She gave me a deadly smirk, smacked a fist to her palm—holy shit! Rainbow fires just spewed out of her arms and shoulders! How cool is that!? "It's the energy and life force of the universe, young man. All living beings carry it, even you, and I am blessed with the ability to manipulate them. My own ki is tuned to be very colorful, I think it's unique to me."

I'm breathless. I'm absolutely breathless, and could not stop smirking goofily, [That's awesome.] I lost my vocal chords, I only breathed that!

She then gave me an ironic grin, lowering her arms and putting out the amazing fires, "Only in the visual appeal, Comrade. In the face of opponents who favor range and finesse instead of close-quarters combat, I would not be able to stand a chance."

[Even so, that's still awesome.] Bringing out those flames just by smacking fist and palm, and putting it out as easily as blinking, it just shows how good she is at manipulating that ki thing. I first thought Meiling was a powerless Youkai relying on martial art ability to compensate, I was wrong! When she slammed the fucking ground of the library earlier, I was so wrong. And I totally forgot that she could actually do amazing stuff until she just showed me those rainbows.

And it just shows how fucking inadequate I am, how utterly weak I am in the face of a Youkai. I'm nothing but a powerless human only having rage and physical ability to go with it. Damn it, I wanna go to bed and cry there, contemplating about my existence.

"You're depreciating yourself, Eman." Her voice got firm there. Does she have issues on people who belittle themselves as weak?

[Was it obvious on my face?] My defeated smile was kind of a giveaway so it'd make sense.

She shook her head, "I can feel your ki being very soggy. It's a sign that you are belittling yourself, and I'm quite familiar with it."

I held up my fist; lemme tell you my thoughts, friend, [It's just my powerlessness, Meiling. I'm like a guy with an unbreakable wooden sword with mediocre experience to you guys, who are holding steel swords and are formally trained.]

"Even a wooden sword can best the sword of steel if the hand that wields it knows combat better than the enemy." Oh shit, Meiling the master is about to lecture…! "Have pride with what you have, Eman. Nothing compares to the warrior who strives on improving after every loss and victory. Be glad for being human, for there are many things a human is capable of that a Youkai cannot. Besides, not even Kirisame Marisa could do such acrobats. Not all humans could do what you did, my friend. Whoever else had the gall to be involved in a Spell Card Battle boldly like that, despite knowing that he is powerless to the very core?"

Who else did….?

"You're strong, Eman, and I could see that. I'll even say you're stronger than the average human. The last time I ever saw a human who could endure so much, struck so much, and even lasted to the very end was more than a century ago. I won't say that you can best even me, but I could certainly say that even you could become as formidable as a Youkai if you improve yourself past your limits." She gave me a smirk, "There was a certain saying that to defeat a monster, you must become a monster. To me? You are monster enough, Comrade. To defeat Sakuya is no easy feat, and you say that you used your anger to win, yes?"

…yeah.

"Then why do you need to belittle yourself!? You're clearly capable! You are clearly skilled with self-defense, could utilize your emotions to help you, and you're nimble, which is essential in Gensokyo. You humans are capable of adapting and changing yourselves to be able to survive anything you suffer. As powerless as you are now, you can still better yourself. And when you do…..face me."

She's…..she's right. I am strong on my own right! That's right, I am strong! In fact, I already am. Which among the folks Outside could do the numerous life-risking shit I did in the outside world? Who else had the bigger balls to do the same thing? I survived high and low before, got chased by policemen countless times, and suffered poverty. I'm still alive today, that just shows how much of a diehard motherfucker I am when it comes to staying alive.

My anger is clearly something that helps me in a fight. It might make me predictable, but strange things happen when I flip off. Sakuya learned that firsthand. My strength increases, everybody suddenly gets scared of me, and my adrenaline made the world look like everything's slowing down. I'm clearly suited up to beat anybody I meet.

And last but not least: it's because I got God by my side. With Him by my side, nothing stops me. He helped me get strong, He helped me survive, He threw me opportunities to be stronger than I currently am, and even helped me survive the adversity of my two years. If it weren't for Him, I wouldn't even be here today. I wouldn't have survived Sakuya.

I grasped for my rosary, †Thank You, Lord.†

I turned to Meiling and I extended a hand for her, "Thank you very much, Meiling. That's what I needed to hear."

And she takes my hand in a snap and, oh damn, she's got a grip! "Anytime, friend."

Boy, I got myself another best friend. Thank God.

*Throb*

[Urghk!] Ow! Where'd that come from?

"Comrade, you okay?"

[It's alright. The concussion just spiked, nothing serious.]

*Throb*

Mhrm! [And there's another one…!] Damn, Flandre really hit me hard against the wall that—

*Throb!*

[Ow! Damn…!] That one hurt more than the last! [And another, ehehe… still hurts though.]

The worry on her face was starting to grow apparent, "Do you need help? How bad is it?"

[Bad but not bearable.] I'm not lying but I probably didn't look convincing since I'm clawing at the wrapped-up bag of ice on the back of my head as if it's digging itself into my head, [It'll prolly pass. Just give it a few minutes and—]

Mine!

*THROB!*

[ARGH! What the fuck?]

His Body Is Mine! Surrender It!

He is here!
The snake cometh!
Usurper!
Fiendish abomination!
This body is ours!
It cannot be yours!
Neither God's nor the Devil's, it is ours to keep!

Surrender It, Lowly Mutts!

[AARGGHH! Migraine! Migraine!] This hurts! This hurts! It feels like the lump on the back of my head had just split open and is bleeding! It stings! Help! This is unbearable!

"Comrade, keep it together!" Somebody held me by the shoulders, "Tell me what's wrong!?"

[My head! It feels like it's gonna split open! Aaarrgghh!]

Give Me This Body! It's Mine Now!

We will not hand it over to you!
This body belongs to us!
Cannot be yours!
Who are ye to command us!?
We will vanquish you from our sight!

If You Wish To Suffer, So Be It!

[AAAAAARRRRGGHGHHHH!‼]

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"He has made his move." Yukari remarked the obvious, staring into the gap presenting the screaming and nearly-crumpling form of the Christian. The Gatekeeper was clearly distressed, trying to keep his fortitude up with words of support, which did nothing.

All 3 transcendent shikigamis watched alongside her, ignoring all else to the world around them as they focused on the happenings presented by the gaping shred of mutilated conception of ocular distance in front of them. The King and Queen were particularly vex and expressively displayed their ire at the occurrence, the frowns and the glares in their countenance would have broken the will of a battle-hardened army if stared back upon. The new recruit merely narrowed her eyes at the scene, fully knowing that the human was beginning to collapse.

The younger vampire came to the scene, wondering what was going on. Before she could comprehend and question why the human was cradling his head and screaming his lungs out, a drip of blood leaked out from his nostrils and splattered to the floor. Yukari and her servants noticed that the vampire was frozen still from the sight, the smell and the sight of Holy Blood triggering her uncontrolled instincts. If the human does not leave the scene, the assault on his mind is going to be the least of his worries.

As if hearing the synchronized thoughts of the 4, he snapped free from the Gatekeeper's grip and ran towards the gate, growling in pain and scratching his whole body all the while. For what reason he chose to run there, nobody bothered to guess why but at least he will be away from the nearest potential danger.

The redheaded Youkai was about to attempt pursuit but not before telling the vampire to remain there, oblivious to the fact that the young girl had been silent and had not heard a word she said. The distance between the gate and the boy was getting shorter and shorter, and the gatekeeper was utterly surprised at the speed the human had. The short transcendent being snorted at the reaction, she herself is faster than everything alive or undead in that mansion.

In a dumbfounding show of strength, which utterly left Meiling speechless but surprising nobody behind the gap, Eman blasted the bulking gates of the Scarlet Devil Mansion open with a single kick, creating a deafening explosion of steel so loud that even the King heard it like it was right beside his powerful ears.

Finally outside of the Devil's domain, the human fell to his knees on the stone path, the pain in his head intensifying to the point where even the lump on his head literally split open to bleed due to the increased flow of his heartbeat and the quickening pace of his breath. He scratched himself all over, violently, red lines ran all over his exposed pale skin underneath the moonlight. It almost looked like he was tempted to use the knife just to remove the itch crawling all over his body. As he screamed, his voice was starting to alter, his guttural tone reducing to an even more grotesque throat. He was starting to sound like the demon that attacked Meiling when she arrived to the bedroom.

The trail of blood running down from his head and down to his face, the Gatekeeper quickly caught up to him and held him by the shoulders behind him, keeping him steady from swinging his upper body on all sides and to hold him down in case he lashes out. She must be assuming that the man was being possessed again. Yukari wondered if she found out what's actually happening to him given that he is feeling pain rather than going out of control in rage.

The struggle lasted for 2 minutes, with Eman desperately trying to claw his own head open just to get rid what is ruining the inside of his brain before being restrained by Meiling, there was a moment when he was frantically trying to escape from the grapple he was in. The violent itchiness in his body was driving him mad, made worse when his hands are held back from scratching them. But gradually, his deep and guttural screams slowly faded, making way for his human voice to return. The itchiness in his body slowly lessened to a mild prickle, easily scratched by rubbing his back on the person holding him down. Desperate breathing easing to a steady rhythm, his stiff form softening as the pain in his head seemingly disappearing, he raised his head to face the moon, bloodshot eyes gaping wide at the white globe, illuminating his pale white face leaking with blood.

He was completely unaware that he was staring right at Yukari's face.

Waving her hand across the gap, the shred of reality closed and she turned around, heading for the door of her house, the three shikigamis following wordlessly behind her at a matching pace. Before she reached the door, she turned around once again and faced the three transcendent animals.

"It has been done." She declared, earning a nodding assent from the three. She turned to the man stood in the middle, "You know what to do."

The King nodded, quickly walking back to the direction he once walked from, keeping his attention to the partly-cloudy skies above him.

"And as for you, 'Dispatcher'," Yukari addressed the short girl in her official role.

The new recruit formally bowed with a clawed hand to her chest, lowering her head beneath the level of her master's as befitting a servant, which was unneeded since she was laughably short compared to the former, "What shall This One's orders be?" She asked in a soft-spoken voice.

"You…" Yukari pointed her fan to the bowing head, "…are to trigger Flandre Scarlet's urges, and ensure that it is directed towards Eman Letitia's Holy Blood. However you do it is up to you, understand?"

"This One understands."

"And one more thing," She snapped open her fan and covered her mouth with it, letting her narrowed eyes be put into emphasis, "Never ever let yourself be seen. One of the fewest policies the Yakumo family has in their line of work is the tendency to be discreet. Can you hold up to my standards?"

"This One can, and will not fail. She will not disappoint Yukari-sama."

"This will be your rite of passage, and a test of your abilities. I want to see for myself the shikigami my servants picked up for me. Make one mistake…" Her eyes flashed yellow, the slit in her irises marking the truth in her words, "…and it'll be the cost of your life."

The threat drew a stare from the Queen, a rather emotionless stare, devoid of the usual affectionate and loving gaze, but said nothing. After the stroke of 3 seconds, the Dispatcher raised her head up and looked at Yukari squarely in the eye, a determined and orange gaze staring back at slitted yellows, "This One will not fail." This time, her voice was very firm and steely, no longer carrying the disposition of a very overconfident warmonger.

This could have been overkill, giving the shikigami a reason to go all out. She already knew that the short girl will succeed in the job, with or without the motivation, but considering how long she, along with the other two, will last in the Yakumo family, it's better to let her be on her very best before the time comes.

"Now go. I'll be watching." She gestured to the general direction of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. In most cases, she would have gapped any of her 'hired hands' to the specific location just to be quick, like most before, but this transcendent being had a large head for being the fastest living creature of the earth, large enough to outmatch the rumor-mongering Shameimaru Aya, and carried all the evidence to prove it. She will reach her position under the span of 2 seconds, maybe less.

With a sharp turn, she swiveled on her toes and walked towards the direction of the forest in a relaxed pace, the nigh-imperceptible edginess in her being exposed to Yukari's sharp eyes. Her modified black Indian midriff that exposed her navel and entire left arm was completely silent as she moved, not even the slightest rustle of fabric against skin. With her footsteps quickening, her jet-black stirrup legwear that hugged her willowy legs from the hip nearly became imperceptible at the dark of the night, her tip-toed feet springing her forward to vast distances in each step before she disappeared entirely from sight.

With his subject onwards to her objective, the King initiated the gathering of his best soldiers. With a low, but deep howl, carrying the air of a mighty lion sending a defiant roar against a rival, his men gathered above his head in attention, all manner of clouds that carry storm, rain, and wind merging into one, forming the force that would befit the orders given to him by Yukari. With a point of his finger, the clouds drifted forward like an army of a million strong marching unto battle to raze the House of the Devil to the ground with rain as arrows, the mighty winds as the battering ram, and the occasional thunder as the beat to the drums of war.

For the final touch, Yukari quickly weaved her will to the land. If the human is keeping a good lookout, he might notice that the clock has not went past midnight. But Yukari never knew him to look at the small details when he is living the moment of his life, but even if he did she can just tamper his visual networks to make sure he never notices. One thing she'll allow him to see is that the moon had not moved from its last position since 12:59 a.m. Not that it'll be visible for too long once the storm settles.

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

"Are you alright now, Comrade?"

[haaa…haaa…..I...I think so….]

"Are you sure you feel like yourself again?"

[No, I don't feel like going crazy or anything…..damn, that was the worst headache ever. Probably the worst one I ever experienced.]

"You don't feel possessed at all or anything?"

[Besides feeling lightheaded and close to vomiting? Yeah, I'm basically fine for the minute. How do I look? Did you see any black eyes on me?]

"Not really. You look like a mess, Eman. Even your wound raptured and stained down your face."

[That bad, huh? If you could get me some water to wash it off with….haa….I'll appreciate it.]

"I shall. Let's go back inside. You are best protected inside these walls than outside of it."

[Gotcha. Youkai are nocturnal, I take it?]

"Sharp guess. We are the most active during the night, and are at the peak of our strength at the night of the full moon."

[….Good to know.]

"That's all you have to say?"

[…...]

"I can't believe just how much strength you are hiding from me, Eman. You kicked the gate open. This gate is something too heavy for humans, let alone one, to open or close it, and you kicked it as if it were nothing more than a measly door made of wood. Tell me honestly, how strong are you?"

[It's prolly the desperation or the adrenaline, I didn't even feel it since all my pain receptors are all directed to my head.]

"I can't bring myself to agree on your first input."

[Let's just…oy. Lemme just clean all this blood off my head before Flandre gets any ideas, then we can talk about how hard I kick, deal?]

"….."

[Meiling, did you get me?]

"I hear a storm coming, and it's heading this way."

[Really?...At least I won't be needing a watering can later.]

~~~~~ « ҉ » ~~~~~

At Last, This Body Belongs Me!

The Ultimate Vessel. The Infinite Container For All Spirits. The Bearer Of All Blessings. The House Of A Million Rooms. The Temple Of The Most Feared and the Most High.

Mine!

Come All Ye Who Scorned Solomon's Name. Come All Ye Who Submit To Me. Come All Ye Who Bear Knowledge. Come Ye Speakers Of The Language Of Angels And Man. Come All Ye Snakes and Seducers.

Gather And Rejoice, For The Fall Of The So-Called Scarlet Devil's Ilk Will Herald Darkness!

The Fall Of This Land Cometh! The Fall Of Mankind Cometh!

The Rise Of Youkai Cometh! The Rise Of Gods Cometh!

The Destruction Of Gensokyo Cometh!