The Shrine of Gensokyo

Chapter 22: Of Gods and Youkai

Author's Notes: I will update soon. But before that. There is a special one, time, deal. There will be an Omake for the next chapter, an utterly random one of my own whim. The first 5 reviews will get to ask the Author, me, any questions that they like and I will answer them to the best of my abilities.

The same goes to my other ongoing fanfic, 'Finding History with your Flame' so for those who are interested, review guys~

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Sitting at the base of a tree, I watched with interest as Nitori started work on another invention of hers, the motorboat engine that is supposed to run entirely on cucumber juice and nothing else.

Singing her silly song, Nitori seemed quite at ease with me around and she made as much noise as before but this time with a hammer and a nail as she nailed in the final part of the wooden board that is protecting the motor.

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I had taken a good look at the motor before hand and was surprised to see that it was stuck together with plant resin and the main construction material was wood, which made it a fusion between great technological thinking and Mother Nature.

Helping her with her motor, I had polished her tools to perfection and had given it to the grateful Nitori, who promised to take me up to the top of the mountain with her new motor and boat.

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[Reimu, are you alone?]

[… eh? If you mean right now… no, I have you and my companions!]

Smiling, I gestured to her but Nitori shook her head and explained as she dug into her haversack for a bottle of cucumber juice that she drank a bit of.

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[Are you the only human to come?]

[Yes… Nitori… did you see another human?]

[I did!]

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Brightening up, Nitori dived into the water to replenish her water supply before pulling the motorboat engine to the boat and telling me her side of the story.

[I saw Marisa! She was busy though… and she flew up to the Moriya Shrine!]

[Did you! When did you see her, Nitori!]

Jumping up to grab the only visible clue, I shook Nitori hard till she wriggled out of my grip and coughed in pain.

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[Reimu! Reimu! I need water, water!]

Immediately I throw Nitori into the water and waited for her to recover, all the time reflecting on my mistake.

[Sorry, Nitori… ]

Apologizing to her, I winced when Nitori shot a high pressure burst of water that struck me like a solid stone on my forehead, causing me to rub my head in pain.

[That is your punishment! But, I'll take you to the Moriya Shrine, Reimu!]

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Jumping up from the water, Nitori pulled out a bottle from her backpack as she explained to me.

[Marisa is really very busy when I saw her as she was flying so fast that I could only see her broom shooting stars as she flew up!]

Nodding to me as she fiddled with the machine, Nitori rubbed her chin and elaborated further when she passed me a pair of goggles.

[Here, Reimu! Watch this!]

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Nodding as I wore the goggles, she pressed a couple of buttons on the goggles and then turned back to fiddling with the machine when my vision of her was suddenly disrupted by a shaky image of water bubbling.

[Nitori, what's this?]

Asking her, I sat down on the boat and yelped when the boat suddenly listed to one side, threatening to tip me over into the river.

[that's what I saw that day, Reimu! Just watch!]

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Ignoring me, I somehow manage to stabilize the boat while staring at an endless repetition of Nitori's point of view of surfacing for air and swimming in the river.

Suddenly however the image turned fuzzy and I realized that it was due to strong turbulence that the image was distorted. Next I saw an amazingly fast object whizz pass Nitori's small stream, leaving small stars in it's wake and I took off the goggles, having seen what I was expected to see.

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[See, See? I was testing the goggles when she just flew by, she was in a hurry so she did not pay attention to me.]

Whispering sadly as she emptied the contents of the bottle into the engine, Nitori smiled when my two companions patted her shoulders to reassure her and she grinned even more when she jump-started the engine by yanking on the line.

It reminded me of an outboard motor and it was run on nothing but cucumber juice, making it environmentally friendly.

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[Let's go, let's go!]

Waving excitedly, Nitori jumped into the river for another time to soak her body with water and pushing the boat upstream to give it a boost.

[I'll take you up to the Moriya Shrine!]

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It was a long journey and as we progressed ever so slowly up against the current, Nitori told me about her dream, her dream of one day having a role to play in saving humans.

To her, humans are like kappa, very inquisitive and always energetic.

Even if humans would never accept youkai, they accept kappa as kappa has always been their neighbors, always playing mischief on them but saving them on many accounts.

The youkai with one of the most faith in Gensokyo is probably the kappa as although there are few kappas, kappas never disturb humans and humans never disturb kappa.

Humans never kill kappa, they drive away humans and kappa scare humans.

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It has always been this way and it will stay for as long as time ends.

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[Humans are fun to play with! They can never win me in swimming but they always try to!]

Remembering her first friend, a human boy, Nitori giggled when she remembered the many competitions they had and the many things they invented together.

[Humans are interesting too, I love to take apart things they made to see how they worked!]

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Explaining that to me, Nitori took her backpack out for me to see and I was surprised to see the logo of a famous bag brand imprinted on it.

[It was given to me by him but he has disappeared…]

[He was probably an outsider… someone living outside of Gensokyo…]

[… maybe, but I like humans here too… the children would play with me sometimes but they would never talk with me… so I would never know how to talk to them… so… so I want to know more about humans and protect them!]

[Protect them?]

[yes! Without humans the world will be very boring…]

[I suppose so…]

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Agreeing with her, I was almost inclined to disagree when I remembered people like Remilia, Sakuya and Miss Knowledge.

[So, I will save humans from danger! I love them!]

[… you sound like Miss Keine.. but your purpose of saving them are different…]

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Up till now, I had meet youkai who hated humans, youkai who dismissed humans, youkai who coexisted with humans…

Humans who hate youkai, humans who protect humans from youkai, humans who protected humans from youkai…

But only once have I seen youkai protecting humans from danger, whether from youkai or not… the same goes for humans protecting youkai from danger no matter what…

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[Isn't that you, Reimu?]

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Reading my mind, Nitori grinned as she pointed at a small pier at a distance away.

[Reimu, you protect youkai from danger no matter what… as long as they are in the right.]

Never revealing how she read my mind, Nitori pushed me off her boat before offering another small advice for me.

[Reimu! The kappa and the tengu sense something big is happening! Be careful! I will go prepare myself too!]

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Nodding and saying her farewell to me, Nitori dived into the river and disappeared from sight as I waved goodbye to her.

Her goodbye was abrupt and mysterious but as she said her goodbye, I saw that she was looking up at the sky between every second and that was a dead giveaway.

[Is… something going to happen to the sky?]

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[…Ah, what a well kept shrine…]

Reaching the shrine on top of all those steps, I took the time to turn and look back at where I had came from.

The scenery was terrific although it can never beat the view from my hakurei shrine, I can hardly say it was not beautiful. The sight of the small river winding itself down the mountain, dotted by forests and the occasional cloud that drifted by.

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[Amazing… this is so beautiful…]

Sitting down on the steps, I was tempted to drink some tea and to just spend a few hours looking at the scenery, like what I would do at home in the Shrine.

[You're not at the Shrine, Reimu…]

Shaking my head, I clapped my hands together and prayed softly to my patron goddess.

[Oh Great Hakurei Spirit, thank you for seeing me through this journey… let me once again offer another prayer to you, as well as the youkai of the mountains, the rivers and the forest for letting me thread in here…]

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Praying, I felt warmth envelop me even as my two companions glowed softly with me as I prayed. Surprisingly thou, instead of just the three of us glowing, orbs of light were gathering around me and they formed a small circle around me as I prayed softly to myself, letting my heart to be heard only.

[… Thank you…]

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Ending my prayer, I turned and took another good look at the Shrine before me, the Moriya Shrine.

It was subtly different as it was colored different. Instead of the gold coloration that usually decorated the shrine's wooden borders, it was a shade of dark green. Another difference was that instead of the symbol of the yin-yang orbs, which the Hakurei Shrine was renowned for, the main decorative object was of a snake that was hugging the pillars.

Besides that, it was like my Hakurei Shrine but even more neat and tidy, bringing a sort of rural feel to it as I heard the sound of sweeping coming from the backyard.

[Oh that's right… I should offer a prayer.]

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Nodding to myself, I walked to the place where I would usually make a donation to the Shrine and lo and behold it was there and I dropped a 100 yen coin into the donation box and hearing it clatter with the rest of the coins in there.

Somehow, deep inside me that cause a bit of anger but I shook it off and started to pray.

[Patron god of the Moriya Shrine… hear my prayer…]

Lowering my head as a sign of respect, I prayed silently to her, wishing for peace in Gensokyo and of her lending some of her powers to me and some of my power to her.

[… thank you…]

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Ending my prayer in a minute, I found myself glowing again, but this time instead of white light, I was glowing a slight yellow, which surprised me and disturbed me at the same time.

[Have I invoked the wrath of the Moriya Goddess?]

Wondering to myself as I clapped my hands together again, I bowed to the alter and turned, only to see another person, this time a definite shrine maiden walking from the courtyard.

[I thought I sensed someone praying…]

Muttering to herself, she kept the broom in her hands as she turned and spotted me.

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[Oh, Hello there… I've never seen you before. I'm Kotiya Sanae, the Shrine Maiden of the Moriya Shrine… and you are…]

Bowing to me respectfully, she smiled as I bowed back to her and responded accordingly.

[Reimu, Hakurei Reimu… I am sure… that you remember me?]

[…]

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The look of surprise was expected but what was doubly amusing was she looking at me if I had just cracked a joke as she walked around me, staring at every part of me.

[… are you c-certain… are you Reimu?]

Even after going a few rounds, she still was not certain as she remarked to me.

[The Reimu I know… would never pray to a god, not to mention her own god… how would you ever pray to Yasaka-sama?]

Poking me, she chided me and insisted that I was just pulling her leg, which made me a little angry at her.

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Kotiya Sanae, I knew her from Akyu's records but I never did hold a lasting impression of her despite the both of us sharing the same occupation of being a Shrine Maiden.

She had grown; her green hair was now at her knees and was tied into one large high ponytail that made her look very pretty and womanly. Her three sizes have obviously changed and I felt a little jealous at her well-endowed figure, which can match and might even beat Miss Izayoi. But that is not what a Shrine Maiden should be concerned about as I shook my head to clear those thoughts from my mind.

Dressed in a Shrine Maiden outfit that resembled my younger self's only without the many ribbons and the twin hair accessories I still wore on my head. Instead she had a snake ornament like the Shrine, making her look truly like the Shrine Maiden of the Moriya Shrine.

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[Besides, Reimu would never have youkai fairies with her… aren't you two quite adorable…]

Giggling as she tickled them, she was taken aback when I replied to her first question.

[A Shrine Maiden should not lie, Sanae…]

[… then… are you really…]

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Nodding her head as she pondered on that thought, I nodded my head and smiled at her, showing her my amulets and creating a border between us.

[You are Reimu!]

Exclaiming loudly, Sanae's face was first of happiness and then it turned to something like unease and she had a complex expression even as I reassured her that I was not here for trouble but rather dropping by to talk.

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[It's not that, Reimu… I am just wondering about what the Hakurei Spirit will say-]

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[Well well, what do we have here…]

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[Yasaka-sama!]

Appearing beside me was a strange lady, she had poofy blue hair and was wearing a red shirt with a mirror right at the center of her chest. She had the red eyes that symbolized that she was not human and a long twisting rope that was in a shape of a circle.

She did not stand or but she just thread air as if it was the most obvious thing to do. Looking down at us, she smiled before slowly lowering herself to float beside Sanae and patting her head.

[well, well… there I was… wondering at how such a large amount of faith was gathered here… turns out it was you, Hakurei.]

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Pointing at me, she pinched Sanae's cheeks before remarking to her.

[Look at her, Sanae, you should learn from her example and be more polite to your guest.]

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There was nothing to be said, she was definitely someone of a higher caliber. I've read that youkai who are highly powerful are normally the ones who are more composed and calm and are confident in their powers as they have decades to practice their skills and powers.

But she, the lady that floated in front of me was at a different level altogether. She seemed not to be radiating power but seemed to be part of nature herself. My shrine maiden instincts told me that immediately and I went to my knees in respect of her.

[… Y-You're… the Patron god of the Moriya Shrine?]

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It is not a statement but rather a question as I knelt in front of the Goddess in front of me.

[Well, yes.]

After several moments, she replied and she helped me up slowly and dusted me off using her hands.

[My name is, Yasaka Kanako. The Goddess of the Moriya Shrine, the goddess of wind and rain…]

Sanae seemed a bit unsure of her introduction but she nonetheless remained silent as Miss Kanako led me to the Shrine with all the confidence in the world.

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[I'll have a small chat with you later, Hakurei. For now, Sanae will take care of you. Be a dear and offer some tea to the guest will you, Sanae. I have to attend to the other guest in my private room.]

[Yes, Yasaka-sama.]

Bowing to her goddess, Sanae nodded and retreated back to the Shrine while Miss Kanako beamed at me.

[Our Sanae has mellowed over the years, so do make yourself at home.]

Miss Kanako is a little too friendly to me and I felt a little confused at how I am supposed to reply to her words. Should I be happy that she is so friendly to me or should I be a little cautious about her behavior?

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[Well then, I hope the both of you do have a nice chat, Hakurei.]

With that, her body slowly disappeared in front of me and when it seemed that all was left was her smiling head, it was absorbed into a void and she disappeared.

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[… what should I do?]

Asking my two companions as they sat beside me, I patted their head and waited for Sanae as I complemented my plan in coming her.

[The Great Hakurei Spirit surely led me here… for something…]

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[Here you go, Reimu.]

Returning before I got my thoughts straightened out, Sanae managed a smile as she led me into the interior of the shrine. Following her down the corridors, Sanae never uttered a single word and I felt a little uncomfortable just following her. I really wanted to talk to her and to know what she was thinking but she never gave me any chance to do just that.

My two companions however had different ideas and were pulling on Sanae's hair and mine before I noticed and I hurriedly pulled them away from Sanae, them protesting as they I did so.

Squeaking loudly and lashing out lightly with their tiny feet and hands, they made me and Sanae giggle.

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[They're quite a handful, aren't they?]

Remarking to me as she invited me to sit down, Sanae waited for me to drink the first sip of tea before she too took a drink. Looking at her face and her behavior, she must be nervous and unsure as she did seem uncomfortable in meeting me.

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[…]

Combing her hair, I suddenly stood up and took the comb from her.

[Here, let me comb your hair for you.]

[Eh…]

She looked surprised, understandably so but I never faltered from my suggestion and soon I was combing her hair and admiring her beauty.

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[… I wish I have skin like yours Sanae… My skin is so tan compared to yours…]

She is a beauty alright, she must have plenty of suitors as she did not give off the 'musty shrine maiden' image bur rather of a young and upbeat graduate student, she did look that young.

[…]

She blushed a little but she stayed still as I combed her hair back to shape, which was a pity as I hoped to generate a little more response from her.

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[Thank you, Reimu…]

Bowing to me, I felt even more comfortable as she was so cold and formal towards me, it made me a little lonely and awkward sitting in front of her.

[Reimu.]

[yes?]

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I fear I was a little too enthusiastic with the reply as Sane blinked for a moment and then stifled a small smile as she looked at me.

Her green golden eyes peered at me and she seemingly took a deep breath before starting.

[Reimu… is it alright to pray to the Moriya Shrine?]

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Author's Notes: If you're wondering why, a Shrine Maiden is supposed to serve their on shrine, that's what I'm driving at.