The Shrine of Gensokyo

Chapter 28: The Beginning of the End

Original Concept: ZUN & Shanghai Alice

Written by: wrathie

Author's Notes: time passes, life moves on.

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On second thoughts, If I had known the method that Lady Yasaka was going to take me to Marisa, I would have politely declined as I shivered even as Lady Yasaka waved energetically at me from down below.

Down below as I was securely strapped to a giant onibashiri log and was about to be fired away like a rocket quite literally.

Tying me against my will with her strength, lady Yasaka just whistled as she tightened the notes, ignoring my small cries of pain and discomfort as she made sure I was tied on as tightly as possible.

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[Have a safe trip, Hakurei.]

All smiles, Lady Yasaka clapped her hands in prayer and that made me even more uneasy as she prepared to launch me to outer space and beyond.

[Lady Yasaka… are you sure… that this is safe.]

[Have faith in me, Hakurei. That is all you need.]

Winking, Lady Yasaka tried to dispel all my fears with that smile of hers and I smiled nervously while nodding to her.

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[Let me pray for a moment, lady Yasaka?]

[Time's a wasting! No time, No time!]

Dismissing my small prayer, Lady Yasaka just shook her head and prepared to fire.

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'I would dearly want to as my life is in your hands…' was my only thought as Lady Yasaka glowed with green power as she raised her hands up in the air.

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[Hakurei. Have faith in yourself and do not worry… ON-BASHI-RA!]

With that, the gigantic log with me strapped to it flew to the heavens and with me screaming the whole way during my eventful journey.

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[!]

It did however, made me think less about the many confusing thoughts that were swirling around my mind as I screamed my lungs out along the way.

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[Rest in peace, Hakurei…]

Trying hard not to laugh and to feel a little sense of pity for the Shrine Maiden, Lady Yasaka slid back to her room for a nice nap, knowing that it is the only rest she will get for quite some time.

[It's starting… for real this time…]

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[Hear me loud and clear everyone?]

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[Mm..]

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[Yea… I hear ya, Suika…]

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[Everyone keep in contact at all times, ya hear? Keine, Patchey and Eirin will be making the decisions while I'm away.]

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[Wait Suika, where are you going?]

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A concerned voice rang out over the multiple voices and there was a small pause before Suika replied, the seriousness apparent in her voice as she told everyone that had gathered with her.

[To get reinforcements… to get reinforcements…]

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[… Ironic that I will be in such close proximity with you, Kamishirasawa.]

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Remarking to Keine, Yagokoro Erin snickered as Kamishirasawa Keine paused in what she was doing, sifting through documents in Main Praying hall of the Hakurei Shrine.

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[we are in the same boat, Miss Eirin. I would have expected more… understanding from you…]

Sighing a little, Kamishirawa Keine's attitude as she looked up to the Lunarian.

The two of them were there for a purpose, to coordinate the last ditch plan proposed by the Shrine Oni, Ibuki Suika. Being the Brain of the Moon and the Wisest of the Half-beasts, everyone had agreed unanimously for them to be in this position to coordinate the efforts. The last person of course, was the Great Moving Library, Patchouli Knowledge, who had remained silent during the whole exchange.

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Her small body was almost hidden by the many books carried to the Shrine by the many youkai fairies from the Scarlet Devil Mansion and volunteers from the Rabbit Army in Eientei.

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[…]

Not the sort to speak much, she preferred to remain anonymous, only speaking when her presence is needed or when speaking in behalf of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

As it was arranged, Keine was the ambassador of the Human Village, Eirin the Ambassador of Eientei and Patchouli the ambassador of the Scarlet Devil Mansion.

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[Understanding? I am afraid you are mistaken, Kamishirasawa. If it is not for the Princess's whims, I would not even grace this small 'event'.]

A cold smile appeared on her face as she looked down and gently pushed the stack of documents that Keine was sorting, causing them to collapse on themselves.

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Yagokoro Eirin, the brain of the moon was not known for her kindness and this was illustrated with the cold expression and demeanor that characterize her inner self.

Arrogant and looking down on everyone that worthy of her time. To her, Kamishirasawa Keine was someone who can never match herself.

She was not even youkai and not even human, a half-human and half-youkai. The worst of the worst in her own opinion.

Not having the strength of a youkai nor having the will of a human, Kamishirasawa Keine will never be as strong as her potential allows it.

Yet, the same Kamishirasawa Keine is a person Yagokoro Eirin can never ignore, not in her immortal life.

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Her history intrigues her the same way she looks down on her, how can she survive in this cold, heartless world and live through her heartbreak, and her not ending that disaster-prone life of hers.

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[We share this same fate as do so many others, Miss Eirin. If we do not do this, no one will…]

[we won't die, not now, not ever.]

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[… To Die, is as simple as not breathing, one's mind not thinking, functioning. One's history will alost surely end with one's death, Yagokoro Eirin.]

[Wise words from one who is not even a tenth my age, Kamishirasawa.

Pity that is something I have gone through a long time ago. Save your breath.]

Brushing her silver hair back, Yagokoro Eirin just laughed as she turned and walk away from her.

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[Yet, to live is not the same as breathing… one's mind thinking, functioning… It is one's interactions with people, that creates history… One will always influence two… or even more.]

Whirling around, Yagokoro Eirin was about to say something when Kamishirasawa Keine killed the words in her throat with just a simple question

[I remember your offer, Yagokoro Eirin and I once again reject it. To live, with no purpose in life… is a life that is not living. I have my purpose in life and I will see it to the end, ending my own life with my purpose.

Does your life have a purpose?]

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[…]

She was speechless and it was not for the first time that Kamishirasawa Keine had gotten the last word on her.

[hmph. Just for that, I'll play along with you, Kamishirasawa. With my knowledge and the power of the Moon behind you… You won't lose.]

Raising a hand, Yagokoro Eirin's spellcard took effect and with a small flash of light, the sky darkened almost immediately.

[Imperishable Request: Illusion Moon]

Weaving a magical spell in front of her, Yagokoro Eirin muttered another Incantation that lit up the whole night sky with silver stars.

[Lunar Sign: Lighting of the Heavens]

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[Let my Light light your way, Half Beast.]

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[Then I won't hold back then…]

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Managing a smile after being awed by the Lunarian, Kamishirasawa Keine's horns grew and her entire form and outfit changed in a second after being bathed in the fake moonlight.

[When the moon replaces the sun, is when I walk the earth, Lunarian.]

Grinning a little ferally as she shook her hair, Kamishirasawa Keine crossed her arms and thanked her formally.

[You have my thanks, Lunarian…]

[Hmph, where have your manners gone, Beast…]

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[… ahem…]

Defusing the sparks that was shooting between the both of them, Patchouli Knowledge coughed to get their attention but she visible shrank away in fear as the two of them turned their attention to her.

[I had found what Ibuki was mentioning in her prophecy…]

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[… if it's just a prophecy, I won't consider this real… but, when I saw who was the one who made that prophecy, I paid attention.

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When the Moon's power even rival the Suns…

When the Chosen one searches for her answer…

Gensokyo will be ripped apart:

When Armies March against one another…

When the greatest test her limits…

When one cannot draw boundaries no more…

When even the ground revolts against man and humans alike;

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Hope may be lost.

But remind yourself,

That Hope is eternal;

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Echo my name,

Echo her name…

Draw strength from her, just like you draw strength from me…

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When a River is born amidst of the Chaos…

When wind brings salvation…

When a Dragon Awakens from her slumber…

When the boundaries of one another's heart is broken,

When ones' Strengths are everyone's Strength…

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And…

When hearts are connected…

When their wishes are heard by me…

Call My Name:

The Chosen Hakurei…

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Yakumo Yukari.

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[It was vague, but I did my best… to translate that language… as far as Possible.]

[… The Chosen, Hakurei?]

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[There is only one Hakurei. Isn't there?]

[Hmph… everything starts now and ends now…]

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On cue, the heavens split apart when a visible crack appeared in the sky with a sickening sound.

[I'll cover the gap for now!]

Soaring into the sky, Kamishirasawa Keine focused her power and simply wiped the crack from the world, consuming the history of the crack.

But in total agreement with one another, the three of them reached for the floating orbs and barked out the command.

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[Brace yourself! It's begun!]

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[AHH!]

Screaming as I flew in the air, I struggled to contain my tears as they leaked out of me. The only reasonable comfort I had came from my two companions, who were somehow still clinging onto me as I flew through the air in an amazing speed.

The wind was howling and pulling my skin back at the speed I am travelling at and I must say, it is not a pleasant feeling at all.

All the hype about flying is overrated with this kind of service and treatment and I internally swore that I would never fly commercial…

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[But… I was afraid of flying before…]

Remembering my phobia of flying, I struggled inside myself to remember again. My past self, my past strength and my past love…

Yakumo Yukari.

[Yukari?]

In a matter of moments after I soared through the air, a large land mass suddenly came to view.

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[!]

My two companions shared my shock and they pulled hard on my hair, causing me to flinch in pain as we looked to be heading right into the floating chunk of earth.

[Oh my goodness!]

And crash we did, with a deafening thud that shook the whole chunk of earth to it's core.

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[-Coughs-]

Safe from death by the log absorbing most of the impact from the crash, I sighed in relief when with just a small pull from my two companions was able to free me from the damaged chains.

[Thank you, both of you…]

Patting their heads, I jumped from the log to the mysterious land mass and looked around.

Covered by a wide variety of vegetation, it seemed as if this land mass was pulled out of the ground by an unstoppable force that was still holding up in the air.

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[… How beautiful…]

The owner of this remarkable land was quickly revealed by the sky as I looked up.

The Hakurei Border was still present, shimmering in the sunlight but another border was at work here, keeping the landmass from the effects of gravity.

A purple sheen reflected off the sky and I knew only one person who can do that, erecting a barrier that is that strong and powerful.

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[Yukari…]

Being the gap youkai, she is known to live at the furthest point of Gensokyo, right at the edge of my home and we are here. At the lair of Yakumo Yukari, the house of the Yakumo should be around here.

Leaping into the air, I hugged my two companions closely as I slowly navigated the landmass.

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[… Yukari… Marisa… are you here?]

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It was not more of a landmass than a small city as it was humongous. It stretched for more than a mile and it was hard for me to spot anything with the strong mists that was forming.

It brings a sort of mysterious feel to it that I appreciate with mixed feelings.

It was befitting of the youkai that was more than a legend but it did not help my case at all.

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[Ah..]

Definitely on cue, the mansion of Yukari appeared in front of my eyes as mysterious as the myths and legends that surround her.

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It was floating above the ground and most remarkable of all, only a third of the mansion exist, the rest of the mansion was not even present.

I could see only the roof, part of the third floor and part of the first… the rest were simply not there.

But there was no doubt it was the mansion of Yakumo Yukari.

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[Yukari? Are you home?]

Timidly, I knocked on the door of the mysterious house and was immediately rewarded by the door swinging open, inviting me in.

[Is she… expecting me?]

Biting my lip, I coaxed my two companions to hide inside my clothes as I removed my shoes and stepped into the house.

[Yukari?]

Calling out into the empty house, I took a simple step that brought me a few metres forward, leaving me breathless as I looked back to see that the exit was much further than I remembered.

[Oh my…]

Hurriedly leaping back, I found myself back where I started, at the front porch of the mansion, adding to the mysterious feel of the mansion.

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[…]

I was getting a little worried at the prospects of meeting such a powerful youkai but I knew I had to, if I were ever to find Marisa and save Gensokyo, from whatever it needed to be saved from.

Perhaps, it needed to be safe from me?

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Thinking that thought, I took a deep breath and entered the mansion, calling out Yukari's name as I did so.

[Yukari? Yukari!]

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Walking into a small room that opened for me, I smiled and relax when I saw who I was looking for sitting comfortably in a couch, sipping a cup of tea.

[Yukari!]

I had to refrain myself from running forward to hug her and so I curtsied, pulling my hakama up a little as I greeted her.

[Yukari… I… I…]

[Reimu… how… are you?]

Sleepily, Yukari smiled and waved me over, to my delight and astonishment. I had not expected her to recognize me, not to mention not even be surprised that I was here.

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[Reimu, I had not expected to see you again…]

Smiling as she poured a cup of tea to me, Yukari seemed to be a little distracted as her eyes kept looking everywhere and then back to me again.

She excluded an aura that could only be described as mixed. I could sense power from her certainly but I could sense a little disability there as well. Some part of her was weak but I could not put my finger where that was supposed to be.

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[Yukari… I'm back..]

Not knowing what to say, I smiled nervously as I took the cup of tea she pushed to me.

[Yes, yes, you're back, back~ Back… in Gensokyo… I welcome you back…]

A little tipsy in both her actions and her words, Yukari rolled back to the couch as she giggled, hiding half her face with a purple fan worthy of her name.

Dressed in a flamboyant white frilly dress, Yukari pulled the same funny hat I saw in my dream over her head while looking at me.

Her red eyes sparkled with mischief and I felt a little relieved that she was not as stern or serious that I imagined her to be.

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[Hey, Reimu…]

[Yes, Yukari?]

[Danmaku… let's Danmaku…shall we?]

Exchanging a casual conversation for a while, I blinked in surprise when Yukari suddenly offered this suggestion of me.

[Danmaku?]

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[Of course… hehe, why would we do anything else? Haha~]

Tilting her head like a mad woman, Yukari's eyes went out of focus for a moment as out of the blue, she pulled out he parasol from nowhere.

Crossing her arms, Yukari asked me again, this time with a menacing aura in her offer.

[Danmaku, Reimu~, Danmaku~ and on stake… is who will rule Gensokyo! That's good right? Good! Very Amazing! Haha!]

[Rule Gensokyo? W-Wait a minute, Yukari!]

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My rational mind spoke up, trying to stop her while I still can

[Rule Gensokyo! That would be fun! RIGHT?]

Ending her tirade with a small scream, she silenced the whole room and my two companions hid even deeper into my clothes at her sudden outburst.

[Y-Yukari?]

For a moment, the twisted face that Yukari showed me casted doubts on whether she really is Yukari as the Yukari I knew.

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[Let's danmaku, Reimu! After all… what else can we do to while away time?]

Laughing as she struck her couch repeatedly with her hands, she was back at being playful and I breathed a sigh of relief at that.

With such differences in her attitudes from one second to another, it is not hard for me to believe that no one can get along with Yukari. She is always mysterious, always aloof and always careless while being serious, unforgiving and harsh in her words…

The many legends about her might all be true as there is no way one can understanding or fathom how Yakumo Yukari works. I could not see the gears turning in her head nor the many scheme, plans or the nothing that exists in her head as she is too unpredictable.

Even now, pouring a new cup of tea for me, I could not tell what she is getting at as she sipped the tea casually with me.

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[You've grown, Reimu…]

[yes… thanks to many people, Yukari… you have not changed even a bit…]

[… of course. A youkai does not change shape that easily when one reaches my age…]

Coughing in purpose, Yukari allowed a small smile to grace her features as she asked me again.

[Say: Reimu…]

[Yes, Yukari?]

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[Do you… love… Gensokyo?]

The same question that popped up no matter where I went was asked again but this time with a difference. There was this unknown pressure around me that I had to swallow in my nervousness.

I knew that Yukari will make her next move base on my answer and I braced myself before answering the same answer that I had given to everyone who had asked me before.

It was like pitching a knight against a queen in chess. I only had one shot at this to make the killer move… but if I fail, I would be kicked mercilessly away by her strength.

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The Elder Youkai, the gap, the border youkai of Gensokyo.

The one that is stronger than the strong;

The one that is truer than the truth;

The one that loves Gensokyo more than anyone else..

Yakumo Yukari smiled when she heard my reply:

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[I love Gensokyo, all of it… the people and the youkai… I love all of it…]

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[Hakurei Shrine Maiden… let's danmaku…]

Covering half her face with her fan, Yukari slowly closed the fan with a small tap and the smile I saw on her face froze my innards almost instantly.

[For the fate and sake of Gensokyo… let us Danmaku… AHAHAHAH! WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN?]

Forming a small red slit below her, Yakumo Yukari lifted herself clear of the couch very easily and I drew a sharp intake of breath at the expression on her face.

[It'll be real fun! I promise you! Show me… your strength…]

Opening the fan with a single flick of her fingers, she shot blue shurikens that left the couch I was sitting on riddle with holes as I dived for cover to the left.

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Drawing my trusty blowgun, I shot needles at Yukari but it was like bringing sticks to a gunfight. The needles were simply absorbed by a gap that Yukari opened by simply pulling on nothingness.

[Reimu is always fun to play with~~ Desho~~~]

Giggling as she covered her mouth with her fan, she shot lasers at me by simply tapping the air with her parasol. I dodged those two but I was feeling a little helpless at the prospects of facing such a powerful person. I would not be able to defeat her… not even close. The gap between us was always too great.

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[But… why? Yukari… why? Why must we…]

[Danmaku? Well… it has always been this way… isn't it? A disaster strike… the Shrine Maiden Moves… and all is taken care of… nothing reaches you… no one can best you… desho?]

Smiling serenely, I was not fooled by Yukari thinking that she was calm. Instead she was brimming with rage and was on the verge of tears as she quivered while in mid-air.

[The fate of Gensokyo… lies on your hands, always… BUT… not now~]

Waving her hands to express her disappointment, Yukari leaned closer and her hand grabbed my shoulder even though she was a few feet above me. Such is the power of her manipulation, that distances, gaps between us are rendered null.

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[When you're gone~ Marisa has been keeping Gensokyo safe! I was happy… I was the one who was keeping the boundary intact~~ Gensokyo was relying on me… It felt nice, to be recognized for that!]

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[… Yukari… Thank you for protecting Gensokyo… Will you still do that now?]

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[AHAHAHA~~ DID YOU THINK IT WAS FUN! REIMU?]

Screaming suddenly, the Yakumo mansion was suddenly distorted with a new outburst from Yukari. The fluctuations in her emotions were tied to the wellbeing of the house and how it looked as the lights dimmed, the walls were painted black the moment she expressed her anger.

[HAHA~~ IT WAS FUN! FUNNNNN~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REIMU~~ WAHAHAHA~]

Rolling her head forward and back, left and right, Yukari disappeared and reappeared almost everywhere in the room as she kept laughing and laughing like a mad woman.

Pulling her hat over her eyes, Yukari smiled again.

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[It hurts… do you know that… Reimu? Every night… when you are gone… I felt pain… it hurts so much… knowing you were gone… my heart had a hole in it due to you taking part of it with you… IT HURTS! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THAT FEELS! DO YOU?]

Screaming at me, her voice was magically amplified and de-amplified at some sentences that I felt a little sick, my senses unable to cope with Yukari…

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[It hurts so much… but it's fine… I had fun! Lots and lots of fun!]

[My power grew too! I was getting stronger everyday! It was fun trying out my new powers~~ You wouldn't know that… would you? Your powers were there from the start~]

[But, I always loved you Reimu! Always! Always! HAHA! Always~ yes… always… desho? Always~~~ and always will! It will be fun to Danmaku again~ wouldn't it? You'll play with me, right? RIGHT?]

Tugging on my sleeves and doing a 360 change in expression every 10 seconds, I nodded to appease her playfulness and her anger at the same time.

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[But you're a liar… aren't you, Yukari?]

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A brief moment of silence passed between us as the gap youkai, her head appearing from bucket of rice, simply smiled and remarked to me.

[You're half right…]

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Was she lying? What part of her words are lies and what is the truth? I cannot tell… …

Oh spirits, please… lend me your strength… your ears and your faith…

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[Reimu… I won't allow you to… I will never allow you to… You've been taken away from me… I will not allow you to take away my power… Ehee~~ But Reimu is so cute!]

Pulling my cheeks with her hands, Yukari giggled as she settled back to her couch again, leaving me fidgeting while staring at her.

It was an extremely volatile situation and her being so relaxed just scares the hell out of me…

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[The gap between… youkai and humans… will be maintained… IT WILL BE! MY STRENGTH WILL REMAIN! NO ONE… no one… is stronger than me… in anything… Even you, Reimu… cannot break the gap between youkai and humans… no matter how hard you try.]

A harsh expression and one that shows how desperate she is was highlighted to me when she bit her own lip so roughly that she was bleeding on her lips.

[No matter what you do… the gap will remain… you will not destroy it… I will not allow you to…]

[Yukari… I… I just want…]

But I am known for being stubborn too! This, this... is just wrong!

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[SILENCE!]

Her thundering voice shook the whole house and it collapsed within itself, presumably into Yukari's gap, letting the two of us stand in the sunlight once more. With the sun behind her, Yukari looked just like a goddess and I swallowed nervously at that prospect.

Am I going against the very soul of Gensokyo, the embodiment of Gensokyo itself?

She IS truer than the truth, stronger than the strong and the most ancient of all youkai in Gensokyo after all.

[I will not allow you to destroy the gaps in Gensokyo… the border that holds Gensokyo together…]

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[Yukari… I just want everyone to get along…]

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[Come…]

Raising both her hands, Yukari smiled as another small slit in the world heralded her up to the air, covering my view of the sky when all of a sudden, clouds roared in, darkening the world with the sun's absence.

Before either I or Yukari could speak again, the moon had appeared behind her and as I gasped at the absurdity of it all, Yukari just laughed in her seat overlooking me.

With her parasol in hand, Yukari pointed the end at me while murmuring softly.

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[Let the strongest youkai… meet with the strongest human… Come, Hakurei maiden… can you match me? The accursed gap youkai, Yakumo Yukari?]

[Just as the colors of the spectrum… will crimson overturn violet this time? Or will the opposite side of the rainbow, the gold at the end of the rainbow… be discovered?]

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[Let me show you, the gaps between our hearts… how it has grown over the years… Reimu… ehee~~ I will be serious today~ Will you be… able to take it? Don't… break, Reimu~]

Giggling, Yukari tilted her face slightly to the sight, making her look very crazed and insane and I swallowed nervously, drawing a few amulets as Yukari readied herself by simply pulling on her frilly dress and curtsying to me.

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[Outer Force: Infinite Super Flying Object!]

Cracking the sky, Yukari's first attack came flying straight at me.

[!]

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Author's Notes: So i started the serious stuff. R&R