The Shrine Of Gensokyo: Gensokyo no Jinja

Chapter 30: Fighting to Win a War

Original Concept: Shanghai Alice & ZUN

Written by: wrathie

Author's Notes: IRL is horrible, but R&R, Action packed chapter!

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[…]

Standing with the rest of the Inaba army, I paused as I listened to the person giving commands to us, Patchouli Knowledge.

Her voice coming from a small orb floating in front of us, I felt a little frustrated at being commanded by someone who had attacked our home but I fought down the indignation that was flooding my systems.

[… I understand, Patchouli-san.]

Bowing, I adjusted my blazer a little as shot a glance at Tewi, as usual she was not even paying attention but was fiddling with something in her hands.

[Tewi!]

Hearing a sharp cry coming from the orb, Tewi snapped to attention and in the progress, snapped her head straight to my stomach.

[Usausa~]

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If she apologized to me, I would be very much surprised and she did not disappointed, she just stuck her tongue out and giggled at me.

[Yes Eirin-sama~]

[Tewi, do not dispense with any formalities, do what you have to to repel those worthless fools.]

From Eirin-sama's voice, I could sense the same sadistic personality that she has when she punished me but it was muted somehow, as if Eirin-sama was resigned to her fate.

[Hai hai~~ I'll get cracking!]

Bowing, Tewi turned to me and kissed me on the cheek before jumping away from me.

[Reisen-sama~ Take care! Usa~ You two come with me!]

Gathering two rabbits with her, Tewi disappeared from sight a few seconds later and I waited for further instructions.

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[Miss Reisen…]

It was Miss Kamishirasawa that spoke next and her calm voice was betraying just a little of her feral nature and I shivered. Something serious was up if Miss Kamishirasawa had to reveal her Youkai form and Eirin-sama was so tensed.

[Yes, Miss Kamishirasawa]

[Tewi-chan will be away for a short while so please, try to keep the line and hold on till she returns…]

[Yes, I will, Miss Kamishirasawa.]

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[… I shall once again, explain our strategy, our only strategy to the three commanders present.]

[Sakuya, Reisen and Momizi.]

My fellow two leaders of their respective armies looked at each other before turning to attention to the orb again.

[Our line of defense consists of a defensive circle all around the perimeter of the Hakurei Shrine with the remaining landmarks: Scarlet Devil Mansion, Eientei, The Human Village and Youkai mountain defended by their respective owners or caretakers.

Those involved are respectively: Remilia and Flandre Scarlet, Houraisen Kaguya and Fujiwara No Mokou and the Moriya Shrine Inhabitants. Due to the unique Nature of Eientei, small squadrons of Fairies, Wolf and Rabbit youkai shall be there to act as guards.

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Aerial Reconnaissance and Aeria Support shall fall into the hands of Shameimaru Aya and her Tengu companions.

All this is to protect the Hakurei Shrine and the Great Hakurei Border…

As of the present, Ibuki Suika's location is unknown but it is known that she is searching for Reinforcements.]

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Taking a long and deep breath, Patchouli Knowledge ended her speech with a small desperate plea to us.

[I plead with all of you to follow our lead and do not break ranks, we as the in field commanders will assist in anyway we can from our post in the Shrine.]

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[… Momizi have a question.]

Raising a hand, Inubashiri Momizi, a youkai that I had heard off but never spoke to stepped forward to raise something that was very close to my heart.

[Why must we follow you, my desire is to follow the Great Aya! I demand to return to my post as the defender of Youkai Mountain.]

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[… I too, find it puzzling we must gather… is there a reason?]

Voicing my own question, the both of us looked to the remaining figure that stood out in the clearing, Izayoi Sakuya.

But she did not say anything, her face remained impassive as we waited for our answer.

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[Momizi~~]

It was Shameimaru Aya's voice and with that voice, Momizi's ears perked up and her tail started wagging just like a dog would.

[yes, great Aya! If it is your wish, I would gather my troops to join you in your crusade!]

[Listen to Patchey, Eirin and Keine, Momizi. I'm placing you in their care.]

[B-But Why, Great Aya! Do you not want me anymore?]

Panicking, Momizi looked as if she was going to cry and I considered going forward to comfort her.

[No No, of course not! I'm only borrowing you to them! You will come back to me but I need you to be a good girl, Momizi and follow their lead.]

[But why!]

[Because, it's for the good of Gensokyo. Listen, without Gensokyo there won't be any more Bunbunmaru!]

[AH! NO!]

[That's right! So be a good girl, my greatest girl and my proud and joy! Show them the power of the Tengu!]

Rallying behind her, the Wolf youkai's behind Momizi started chanting her name and finally Momizi stood up, rubbed away the tears in her eyes and nodded to her.]

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[Yes Great Aya! Momizi will not let you down, right, WHITE WOLF GUARD!]

Raising her scimitar to the air, Momizi howled a battle howl that was echoed by the rest of them.

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[… And Reisen.]

[yes, Eirin-sama…]

It was my turn and I swallowed nervously, unsure about what Eirin-sama had on her mind when she ordered us to gather.

[This is one of Hime-sama's whims, but they are right. This is something that is absolutely necessary. This place, Gensokyo depends on us and on you. Especially you and the Inaba Army. Do not tarnish our name.]

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[… ah… yes.]

It was settled then, if Eirin-sama and Hime-sama wished for it, I will have to go through it.

[… But, Eirin-sama… why… why… us?]

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[Isn't that simple?]

The silent amusement in her voice was poorly veiled and I could clearly sense that she was tickled pink at what she was going to say.

[We are the pawns in this play, the ones playing a minor role in the story.]

The laughter that came from the orb made me flinch but it was not because it was twisted. Instead, it was a laughter that I had not heard in years and the same laughter that I heard her gave Hime-sama when I first saw her.

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[… The real heroine, the one all of us are depending on… is depending on us still.]

It was Patchouli Knowledge that ended her statement and it was a statement that made me shook my head and give my commands.

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[Inaba army… Let's do our best!]

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[… We should. They are here…]

Remarking softly, the perfect maid disappeared in a matter of seconds and in the next, I heard sounds of knives flashing and of blood spurting out like a fountain.

[The end is here…]

Grimly, Izayoi Sakuya returned to stand in front of the Fairy Brigade before barking her orders.

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[I'll pick up the Knives after you throw them. So, aim well and true!]

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[Yasaka-sama…]

I, Kotiya Sanae had not seen my Goddess, Yasaka Kanako so serious in my life and I swallowed nervously at what she was doing.

[…]

Silently, she was raising all her onbashira logs in the air while chanting something to herself.

Her usual cheerful demeanor was replaced with something akin to urgency and worry as she placed them all around Youkai Mountain with a small swish of her hands.

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[Yasaka-sama!]

Calling more forcefully, I was gratified when Yasaka-sama did indeed turn towards me with a puzzled look on her face.

[You called, Sanae?]

Putting her hands on her hips, she looked more and more like the familiar Yasaka-sama that I knew and I sighed, in part in relief and another part in sadness.

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I did not realize it so far but how long has it been since I really did speak to Yasaka-sama for things that did not concern my job as a Shrine Maiden.

It has been so long that I've viewed her as my family that without noticing, I had truly left her alone… alone in the Shrine with no one to relate or talk to.

Our relationship has ceased to be family but instead associates in the same shrine, between a master and her servant, a goddess and her follower.

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I had ceased relations with the one person that I can call a family without me noticing till now and I bit my lip in regret.

[Y-Yasaka-sama…]

[Sanae? What's wrong?]

Look at her eyes, full of concern and worry for me… so much so that I could not bear it… the mere thought that I had once dismissed all of this in my pursuit of Reimu, oh that is horrible.

[I'm sorry… really sorry.]

I did not hold back my tears and I poured everything out to her, everything that is, except for my little secret, that of the memories that had returned to me.

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The… other person that was with me in my childhood.

I've hugged her, I am sure I did… and how did that happen… I did not know.

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[Yasaka-sama… forgive me, forgive me for being so selfish, being so stupid and being so cold towards you for so long… I'm… I'm me again…]

[… Sanae, you silly girl.]

Even thou she was smiling, Yasaka-sama still gripped me tighter as she confessed to me as well.

[I was worried that you would leave me, Sanae… … but, I'm glad. That at least… you're yourself again… obsessing yourself with me… with the shrine… that was stupid.]

Pulling my shoulders back so that I could look at her face to face, Yasaka-sama spoke gently and softly to me.

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[Even if the Shrine is not maintained, even if I have to go like the winds… even if the Moriya Shrine does not exist… I would not mind, if only it was for you, Sanae. You are the Moriya Shrine Maiden. If I, the Moriya Patron Goddess cannot fulfill even my own Maiden's wishes… what use am I?]

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[Y-Yasaka-sama…]

[So, Be yourself Sanae. Decide what you want to do and do it with all your heart, instead of being bogged down and dragged down by people like us, old-fashioned in our beliefs and taste and do what you wish.]

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[Yasaka-sama, I want to serve, to be the Moriya Shrine Maiden. That is… who I am. Who I want to be and who I will always be.]

Smiling, I took up my gohei and placed it on my lips, such is my habit and I giggled when Yasaka-sama slapped my head to curb me of the headache almost instantly in reflex.

[Ah…]

[And, we are family. No matter what, Yasaka-sama.]

Relaxing my shoulders, I raised one hand above me as I mustered all the spiritual powers I have and gathered them all around me.

[… Faith… is transient and will always be… I, love you, Yasaka-sama! That is transient as well!]

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If anything, she was more amazed and who could rightly blame her, the child that she had thought lost was coming back in her arms willingly but her response was anything but extreme.

Smiling, she nodded and stood up.

[… thank you… you do not know how important that is to me… how precious… that is to me…]

Turning her back to me, I wisely gave her some space as I knew she wanted to keep her dignity intact, it would not do for her to actually break down in front of me and so I gave her some room.

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[…]

Looking at the formation that Yasaka-sama had arranged with her logs, I was struck by how serious the situation was if she was going to form her own Symbol, the symbol of her power at the foot of Youkai mountain.

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[Are we… in such dire straits?]

Wondering to myself, I caught myself just in time as I saw a team of youkai rushing down the foot of the mountain, armed and ready for battle.

[What is… going…]

Looking up towards the moon, which had magically appeared I sighed and raised my gohei up in the air single-handedly.

[… Blow, Divine wind!]

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With the winds behind me, I left the Shrine and instead took to the air, determined to find out the cause of Yasaka-sama's unease.

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[… no…]

It was another scene out of my nightmare and I felt my hands drop limply to my sides as I slowly descended, lifelessly to stand at the edge of a particular cliff that allowed me to observe the end.

The apocalypse, the end…

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[… no…]

Clutching my own hair, I frantically shook my head and slapped myself, unable to believe that I, for a brief moment at least had given up on hope.

[But this, is too much…]

Worriedly, I turned and unsurprisingly, saw Yasaka-sama grimly levitating on one of her onbashira logs.

[… Get on, Sanae. From now on, it's up to us to protect our home… we can leave it to no one else.]

[Yes, Yasaka-sama, I'll do what ever I can.]

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[.. ugh… no…]

Yukari was right, it would be endless if I do not attack her, to retaliate and to stop her from attacking Gensokyo should be my first priority.

But, that is impossible to do so considering the circumstances of her moves and bullets. They were not logical and I should have expected them not to be logical or even in some aspect, NORMAL.

She was, Yukari after all… in her eyes what is normal is never normal to us and that applies to her danmaku as well.

Bullets after bullets just stream out of gaps created randomly by her and the result of that was a relentless attack that pestered and hindered me in my attempt to get just a bit closer to Yukari.

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[Yukari! Stop!]

Even so, I never gave up. Gensokyo was depending on me, everyone was depending on me to stop Yukari whatever her reason is to destroy Gensokyo. Calling out to her, I tried to let her speak once more, to reveal her intentions but all I hear was her laughing and giggling as I grazed all of her bullets.

If there was someone having fun here, it was definitely her.

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But, that was not the end of it, her voice came from everywhere, disorienting me and making me unsure where I should find her in the first place. Numerous times she had grabbed me from behind, deposited me in a gap filled with rows and rows of danmaku before she actually set them in motion, frustrating me no end.

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[Yukari…]
Worst still, I was tiring and it was near my limit just maintaining myself in the air thus far.

[-y-yukari…]

It was beginning once more to look hapless, the endless maze of danmaku might be the last thing I would ever see again and it would likely be my grave. Bullets spread as far as I could see and to top it off, the variety of colors of the bullets was beginning to take it's toll on my eyes and my mind. It was just too much, too soon and I found myself dropping from the sky and hitting dirt almost straight away.

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[u-ugh…]

Spitting out a mouthful of sand, I grabbed the earth stubbornly as I slowly dragged myself to my knees before looking up towards the stained sky and shouted out her name: Yukari Yakumo.

[YUKARI!]

She was floating on a gap in such a way that she seemed to be eclipsing the moon with her own shadow. Her red eyes shone maliciously and I found myself shivering at such a sight. Her funny shaped hat now resembled one of a devil, with it's ribbon pointing upwards like horns…

She was like the devil sitting on her throne of skulls at the river styx, the river of blood in front of her as she stared down at me, her next victim.

It was, terrifying..

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[gods… oh gods.]
but, I am a Shrine Maiden before I am myself, I am a Shrine Maiden perhaps before I am Reimu… In my own, I knew, I am a Servant of the Hakurei Spirit… and so, I prayed for her strength.

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[Spirits, I beseech you, please hear my prayer…

Let you hear my prayer no matter who you are…

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Please… in this time of great crisis, let me know… let me have a sign…

Of your strength…

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… let my strength be your strength… and your strength be mine…

Just as how I pray for you…pray for me…

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I beg of you, Hakurei Spirit…
Lend me your strength… lend me your faith… and, show me…

What I should do, Great Hakurei Spirit…]

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My prayer, soft and quiet as it is, calmed my nerves and remarkably, rejuvenated me as well as a good night's sleep would. My hands did not ache anymore and neither did my legs shiver when I stood up, pulling out the amulets in my sleeves as I challenged her, the elder youkai of gensokyo.

[Yukari… you're right…]

I felt someone egging me on, telling me, advising me to go ahead… If it has to come to this, I just have to do my best… do my best in this Final Danmaku fight.

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[It's… just a game, isn't it?]

[Eh?]

Her calm and tranquil face twisted as she glared at me, feral teeth elongated from her mouth and she resembled more like the devil than anything else as she peered at me.

[A game?]

[Yes, a game… I should have taken your invitation, Yukari… I, I apologize.]

Nodding my head, I sighed deeply and rose into the air just as effortlessly. Before I was struggling against gravity with my force of will, begging gravity to give me a break and let me soar in the air.

But now, the air welcomed me and I felt as if I belonged in the air and that flying was more natural for me than even walking on land. I felt, free and easy in the air and it seemed to welcome me too…

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Willing myself forward; I shot towards Yukari with a speed that I had never mastered before and caught her napping with a single amulet that I slapped on her forehead.

[B-BANISH?]

It sounded silly and it probably is with the loud shriek that Yukari gave out when the amulet burnt away with a bright flash of light.

[OW OW OWOW~~]

Rubbing her forehead, Yukari's face returned to normal, almost teasing me as she slapped my shoulder in jibe.

[Oh Reimu~ You're so adorable… you…]

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[can't possibly…]

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[banish me from Gensokyo, can you?]

It was the same as before, the evil and threatening smirk on her face as she turned to glare at me again. It was chilling to the bone but I did not flinch from her glare this time.

No, I MUST not run away again!

Oh, Great Hakurei Spirit… lend me your strength!

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I was not done yet and as I easily grazed all of her bullets from her previous spellcards, I tossed a handful of amulets into a gap that suddenly popped out in front of me.

[BANISH!]

This time, it worked as the gap and plenty of other gaps closed in unison after a ripple appeared to spread through the sky.

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[Spell…break?]

Asking Yukari as I sidestepped yet another run by Ultimate Buddhist, I managed a shy smile when Yukari grimly nodded to me.

[So… Reimu, you were holding back after all. I'm glad.]

Tossing the burnt spellcard away, Yukari raised both her hands as she tore the other spellcard, [Ultimate Buddhist] to shreds; ending the spell effectively.

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[Let's play, Reimu! Remember… all of my Spells?]

Laughing, Yukari pulled out a few cards from her sleeves and tossed it into the air and they floated in a circle around her, flashing white as Yukari caressed them with her fingers.

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[Well Reimu, let us reminisce!

Bounded Field: Curse of Dream and Reality!]

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...

Smiling, I suddenly had a flash back of Yukari being in the same position as she was in the past. Our reasons for standing on different sides were the same now… We each believed that we would do Gensokyo good with our actions… but one of us is wrong.

With the ending of our danmaku play… we would know the answer.

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Sitting on a shimmering border that surrounded her this time, Yukari fired two different bursts of danmaku that paused beside me. Bursting apart a second later, smaller homing danmaku bullets, blue and green streamed towards me in rapid succession.

The only catch was that it was harder for me to sidestep the bullet this time owing to the simple fact that the bullets were streaming at me in different speeds, varying with one another to catch me off guard.

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[bring back memories… our first Danmaku play… it was terrific… amazing…]

Disappearing and reappearing randomly, Yukari fired the same volley over and over again even as I returned fire to her relentlessly through needles and smaller burst of amulets that struck her border.

[… you're as good as always, Reimu… in fact, you've become better… much… better.]

Waving a finger in front of her face and pointing to the cracks in her barrier.

[You're breaking my barrier so easily, Reimu… I'm… I'm impressed…]

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[Yukari… please… I do not want to harm you… I really don't… please, stop.]

With a final strike that knocked Yukari's spellcard from her hand, I activated the amulets that plastered Yukari's barrier to break it down.

[Seal…]

The many amulets gathered into one and with a puff of smoke, returned back to my hands.

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[Please Yukari…]

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[… no. You're not… strong enough yet, Reimu… you're still holding back… Look, at Gensokyo now, Reimu.]

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Pulling a gap in front of her, Yukari beckoned me to peer into it and when I did, I was horrified once more at the atrocities Yukari had pulled off.

The borders of Gensokyo was stained red, no doubt Yukari's doing and with every second, the more land it covered as if it was eating Gensokyo from the outside in.

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[! Yukari! H-How could-could you?]

Ignoring Yukari, I dived down and in all intent was heading towards to where I was needed more; among the citizens of Gensokyo when a shimmering barrier flashed in front of me.

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[… you have not struck me down, Reimu. Till you do. Gensokyo will Suffer… SUFFER!]

[Ugh.. Yukari…you…]

I was frustrated before yes but now, I felt anger stirring my heart as I glared at Yukari. She was… a friend of mine… maybe more… but, But I can never be sure of that till… the end too.

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[… I understand.]

In front of me, was a spoilt girl… throwing a temper tantrum to get my attention… and at stakes, is Gensokyo.

This… is unacceptable…

[Yukari… I won't… I won't forgive you just yet!]

Rubbing the tears that were forming in my eyes, I pulled yet another handful of amulets before diving straight at Yukari.

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[Good, good!

Bounded Field: Balance of Motion and Stillness!]

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[…ugh… Reisen!]

Parrying an attack meant for the Rabbit leader, I, Izayoi Sakuya sent that beast to the netherworld with a masterful strike of my knife, slashing it's throat and watching it curl up and die.

As predicted by Miss Knowledge, the siege had indeed taken place but what lead the charge was surprising.

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It was an army of cats that lead the charge and they had effortlessly turned the tables on the first line of defense, the traps that the other rabbit had placed. Skipping over them or sneaking through them, they had come in the tens and hundreds that they traps could not possibly hold them off any longer.

At the beginning, the rabbit army was sufficient in itself to hold off the charge and with the Fairy Brigade assisting with the throwing of knives and firing of Danmaku, it was an easy task to repel the forces.

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Captain Momizi, as she liked to be called was called away by the Lunarian to defend the Forest of Magic and to contact a missing ally.

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Alice Margatoroid.

She was presumed missing but with the vantage point the shrine provided, signs of her passing was detected and it fell to her, the speediest and most robust portion of the alliance to defend the position at the Forest of Magic if Alice was present.

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[… Tsk…]

It was my fifth time stopping time to retrieve all the knives and although I felt fit as a fiddle and was able to do that for many more times, it seemed endless to me.

With every five cats that we take down, twenty more take it's place and the rabbit army was tiring, their arms were no longer thrusting their bamboo spears with efficiency even with their spears exchanging hands every 15 minutes or so to stem the tide.

We were being pushed back by the sheer numbers of the intruders but another key reason was simple.

The piling of the bodies made it harder and more difficult for the spears to be used effectively, not to mention serving as meat shields for the knives we threw at them.

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[Section One two and three, draw your Lances and follow my lead. The rest of you, conserve your energies and switch to formation four, fire danmaku as a substitute and we will rotate the actions in a quarter of the hour. Follow my lead!]

Drawing my knives, I brushed Reisen back as I hacked my way into the enemies, carving my way through them easily. It was shooting fish in a barrel as they simply do not wish to fight back…

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[Sakuya-san! Retreat now!]

[Eh?]

Barely five minutes into the fray, Reisen's voice rang out and I hurriedly returned to her side with a short stopping of time. She was no longer panting and I gathered she had regrouped her troops and was ready for a comeback.

That was my reason for stretching my forces so thin to the point of being nearly overrun by them, crafty and endless cats they were.

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[Rabbit teams, pull back and… Archer Team! On my command, shoot!]

Pointing a finger at the enemy, the rabbit army fired arrow after arrow at them so much so that it was literally a rain of arrows.

It IS a rain of arrows and I watched in awe as the seemingly impenetrable wave of cats were totally silenced with her single command and in the next moment, their bows were cocked and ready to release again.

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[H-How many rabbits do you have… Reisen?]

Wonderingly I looked at the stoic but grim face of Reisen Udongein Inaba before she released a large sigh of relief.

[… there are still more in reserves, helping Tewi-chan… but, we're stretching ourselves thin all the same… we cannot go on like this…]

Shaking her head, Reisen gave an exclamation of surprise as she grabbed my hand.

[You're hurt, Sakuya-san!]

[It is nothing…]

Shrugging, I tore a bit of sleeve off and used it to stop the bleeding even as Reisen fussed over such a tiny scratch.

[You need to get it disinfected! I'll get on to it!]

[Save your strength, there are others that need our attention more.]

Narrowing my eyes, I guided her to a few of our wounded comrades, majority of them rabbits but a few of my own troops were inflicted with moderate to heavy wounds.

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[I'll get right to it! C'mon!]

Gesturing for a few rabbits to follow her lead, she started tending to them with surprising efficiency, bandaging their wounds and using magic to knit their wounds together.

They were sore no doubt but they were more than able to handle light weaponry and more than a match for the cats that were still streaming towards us.

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[whew…]

Wiping the sweat of her brows, Reisen returned to her post, overlooking the line and hurried quickly over to the weakest link; the area where rabbit army and my own troops were faltering the most.

[!]

Firing several shots of danmaku, she scattered them and the rest that held their ground were quickly shot them with accurate strikes to their eyes by me. With the process repeated, we contained the situation once again.

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But as always, it was always a stalemate. We would never advance and never would they particularly overwhelm us at any point.

It was a classic standoff that might drag forever if not for our mortal bodies…

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[… ugh… they are endless.]

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[yes they are…]

But it wasn't over… not yet by a long shot.

[Look at that, Sakuya-san!]

Exclaiming, Reisen pointed to something that was barely visible in the distance and as I stopped time to pick up yet another set of knives and arrows, I went forward to investigate.

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[… ugh…]

Almost choking at the strong scent of blood that I smelt when I approached, I dropped most of the knives in my hand as I saw what Reisen had undoubtedly suspected.

It was a creeping flow of blood that was slowly consuming all life in it's wake. Behind the wave of red was a barren land, littered with the skeletons of animals and the dried out trunks of dead trees.

It was sapping life away with it's progress and when I took to the air, I found it to be encircling all of us with no means of escape wheresoever.

The red tide was approaching at a snail's pace but left alone… it would no doubt consume all of us in a matter of time.

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[… it's a matter of when. Not if… curses…]

Retreating to where I left my comrades, time went on again and I remarked to Reisen.

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[… … all we can do now is hope and believe in the rest.]

Biting my lip so tightly that it hurt, I choose to take the only route that would burden my brain less.

[AHHH!]

Drawing my knives, I leapt deep into the fray and started hacking and slashing away at the menace. With every second spent on them is one less second I can spend on neutralizing the biggest threat in Gensokyo now.

If we could just stop her forces… then… we could stand a chance…

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Unconsciously, I looked to the darkening sky and prayed.

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[Just one, I would not mind if there was Gods who were on our side today...]

And just as I spoke that out loud, Reisen clapped her hands together, her hands stained with blood after firing another well-aimed shot into the advancing army.

[I think there is... there will be Gods behind us... The Divine Wind.. and the Gods of the Earth... I'm sure of it.]

[Let's hope you are right.]

But what am I saying? I, the Servant of the Devil Wishing for a miracle from god? How loud would Mistress laugh at me!

Author's Notes: Well, is it exciting enough? =3