The Shrine of Gensokyo: Gensokyo no Jinja

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Chapter 32: Bad News For All

Original Concept: ZUN & Shanghai Alice

Written by: wrathie

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Author's Notes: Busy with other fics and IRL~ But R&R!

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Diving to the side, I nicked another cat on it's neck and slammed my heels to the gut of another as I whirled in a frenzied dance that took down the cats like they were sandbags. If one would have told me yesterday that a cat army was coming to invade Gensokyo I would have laughed at the person's face.

Right now however, that person is a prophet in my eyes as I sank a knife deep into the flesh of a cat that has been creeping up on one of the fairy guards.

We had given up on using range assaults to clear the threat and instead took them head on, lances and spears against the claws of those cats.

Coordinated efforts against their guile and wit… and it is paying off. We are still able to hold those vermin off.

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With a slight annoyed smile on my face as a blot of blood appeared on my clothes as I stabbed and wrenched my knife free, I remarked to my subordinate, a fairy that had been in the mansion for as long as I had.

[Miss Knowledge would have a field day… this cats have a greater catness…]

[96 points…]

Emotionlessly she replied and I felt more attached to this particular fairy than the rest. She is one of the few that would do their tasks quite well, not perfect but would be devoid of the many flaws like the rest.

[…]

But even in the middle of battle, I had no time for a breather as from time to time, a sudden surge in rabbit numbers would drive them back enough for me to launch a fresh offensive with knives. It was an endless process that could be repeated as long as I can focus enough strength to pick up the knives and arrows.

Unfortunately I do not have much stamina left and I felt my vision become just a bit hazier as my knives went just a little off mark.

I was thankful for the rabbit army and Reisen, she had been responsible for saving many of mine and her comrades in battle, stitching them up and saving their lives. But she too was tiring, as her movements were sluggish and her bullets hitting lesser and lesser.

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[…]

Exhaustion was taking over and if reinforcements do not arrive soon, we would surely be wiped out…

[Sakuya-san!]

All I felt was a quick jerk on my collar and Reisen had pulled me off to a corner, calling for all her troops and the maid brigade to fall back.

[WAIT, STAND YOUR GROU-]

I was in the middle of a command when from the sky came a rain of blue and white lasers that scattered and shot down every single cat in the distance and even destroying all of the gaps from where the cats were coming from.

Passing me some pills and a piece of sandwich she explained.

[Eirin-sama is showing her hand… and here, this is an energy booster… drink this too.]

Passing me a small bamboo flask, she busied herself with taking my pulse and bandaging a cut on my thigh as I watched on in amazement.

[Sakuya-san, if you do not eat a little… you'll collapse. The pills contain a chemical that will temporarily boost your energy and digestion…]

[t-thank you..]

[It's no matter… I should be apologetic… leaving you in the fray while I scuttle about…]

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Smiling sadly, her eyes flashed red and I felt my body tension leave me momentarily.

[there you go… you are very tensed… if you do not relax you will tire more easily and make more mistakes… So rest for a short while. I'll take over your position.]

Drawing two small firearms, Reisen pushed me down before popping a few pills inside her mouth and dashing forward, taking charge of the situation.

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[…]

Left alone by the side of a tree, I took several deep breaths and tried to move when I found that my body was not responding.

[!]

But after a few minutes, I sluggishly got up and as I did so, I felt my strength return to me; a miracle indeed. She had slipped something inside those pills… that sneaky rabbit.

But thanks to her I am feeling much better.

[Time Sign: Private Square]

Closing and opening my eyes, the familiar grey and lifeless world appeared before me again and I quickly got to work placing my knives in their most optimal locations.

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[A-Am I Reimu?]

[No no, you misunderstood me, Reimu. Your name, yes… you are named Reimu. Yes you are…]

Smiling still, she floated closer to me while brandishing her parasol to the side.

[Reimu… but, are you, Hakurei Reimu?]

Placing much focus on the title Hakurei, Yukari questioned me again, her eyes and tone questioning.

[I, of course I am, Hakurei Reimu… I lived in the Shrine all my life.]

[Yes you did… maybe… who knows who you are, Reimu… a person can change… especially when so many years are involved. Who are you, truly?]

[Do you doubt me, Yukari?]

[Yes, I doubt you… Reimu, … we only have your words for it… you are so different, Reimu that you simply could not be the Reimu we know, can you?]

[… t-that…]

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Unease, I felt unease in me as she explained to me.

[Can you, tell me for sure. That you ARE, the Hakurei Reimu. Or are you, just Reimu?]

I can't, right?

I told myself and then, I laughed to myself too. Yukari hearing that, raised an eyebrow quizzically at me.

[… it's so odd… Miss Kamishirasawa told me… Mokou told me that…. I should always be myself… and I asked myself this.]

[…]

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It is such an odd stage for me but nonetheless it is a stage, a stage made by Yukari over the Armageddon of Gensokyo.

[Who am I? Hakurei, or Reimu?]

[And… your answer to it… be?]

[I am Reimu… more than I am Hakurei, I am Reimu… but, I AM Hakurei Reimu… I know it, I feel it… I REMEMBER it…]

[Bull… complete bull.]

Taking the winds out of my sails, Yukari remarked as she produced a small book in her hands. A bounded copy that I recognized and she started flipping through it, murmuring softly to herself.

[… You didn't remember anything.. for there is nothing for you to remember… You can fly… … perhaps by luck. You might resemble Reimu but you are NOT Reimu.]

[W-Why do you doubt me?]

[The Gensokyo Chronicles… an encyclopedia for Gensokyo… all it's incidents and all it's truths… That is your savior, Reimu.]

[… No Yukari, that is not true…]

[Named Reimu you are… but Reimu we know you aren't… Amnesia is a useful thing, isn't it? For all we know, you might be lying to us, lying to yourself, telling yourself that you ARE the Reimu, THE HAKUREI REIMU.]

[No…]

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Yukari is mistaken, it's true that I remembered lots more from the Miss Hieda's records but I had a feeling that I knew all that before… I AM REIMU, I AM!

[… Your Shrine Maiden Training is flawless, Reimu… that I am very much impressed with, the real world does have some secrets and talents up their sleeves… Being able to use the Hakurei amulets… how you reacted so easily to Danmaku patterns is astounding. You could, for all I know… be Reimu.]

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[I AM Reimu!]

But, what is the wavering and shivering in my voice as I screamed defiantly back? Was I, like she said, not Reimu?

Not THE Hakurei Reimu?

But, what does it matter to me?

Hadn't I tell myself that I should be strong and to be who I am?

Does it matter if I am not Hakurei Reimu?

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[Oh, it matters alright… It matters.]

Reading my mind, Yukari had an evil smirk on her face as she drew a border in front of her from which glowing red eyes can be seen.

[THE Hakurei can never be defeated…. That is the rule, the rule that none of us youkai can break. Like the Half-beast would say… Youkai would always cause disasters and Humans will never trust youkai… but, can humans be trusted?]

[…]

I remained silent.

I knew, that whatever answer I give, it is not the answer Yukari wanted and so, I waited for her.

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[Are you, truly Hakurei Reimu. Show me the proof. Show me, who you are, Reimu, who you really are. It is inside you, always have been inside you. You are not putting your best, not showing your hand, your true hand… Where is the trump card you always have in you.]

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[… W-What if, this was all I have?]

[… than you, shall die. Foolish to challenge me… Yakumo Yukari.]

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I felt a flicker of fear ran through me as Yukari opened several gaps in front of her and declared another spellcard.

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[Evil Spirits "Xanadu of Straight and Curve"!]

Firing a concentrated wave of bullets all around her a dense cloud of bullets, Yukari smirked and fairly giggled as she sent them raining down on me. Luckily I was prepared and made it through one of them intact and ready for the next wave. The green and blue colors were mixing with the purple hue of Yukari's border and I found it harder and harder to concentrate on the bullets that were streaming in on me.

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Even so, they did not seem to touch me no matter how Yukari tried to aim those bullets at me. Raising one hand, larger and more destructive orbs were lobbed in my direction and I found it much more easier to dive between the gaps of the larger orbs or to knock them away with Sanae's gohei to the bare fringes of the larger border Yukari set up for our Danmaku play.

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[… …]

She was still tight lipped about something; that much I can gather from the way she hesitated with every obstacle that I overcome.

Funny Danmaku play comes so naturally to me and how the patterns of bullets were quickly recognized by me and my body almost dancing past the bullets that my past self, the me at the Shrine would cringe at. Now it seemed so natural to me like I was born with this.

I belonged here, I thrived here and I would prove to Yukari, that I am the Hakurei Reimu that she wanted to see.

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That's right, she wanted to see Hakurei Reimu and I just have to prove that I AM the Hakurei Reimu that she seeks. There might be countless Hakurei Reimu's in the world and I am just one of them.

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The truth in her words struck home to me and I found myself more understanding to the gap youkai floating high above me.

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[Named Reimu you are… but Reimu we know you aren't… Amnesia is a useful thing, isn't it? For all we know, you might be lying to us, lying to yourself, telling yourself that you ARE the Reimu, THE HAKUREI REIMU.]

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[But I am, I AM the Hakurei Reimu of Gensokyo, of the Hakurei Shrine…]

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Just as the bullets that Yukari fired began trapping me in between them and with a larger orb bearing down on me, I screamed loudly for Yukari to hear.

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[YIN-YANG SANCTIFIER ORB!]

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To my utter amazement, nothing happened and I was struck by the large orb of doom which exploded on contact, slamming my helpless form on the border.

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[uh….]

My vision was hazy and I just laid there on the border, clutching my body and checking with my sense of touch that I was still intact. My body felt as heavy as lead and it took all of my strength to just roll over and struggle up to my knees.

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[… n-no…]

Reaching for Sanae's gohei, I saw a foot step on it and I looked up in fear and dread at the one person who had knocked me out of the sky.

[… so…]

She declared with a tone of finality in her voice as she looked down on me.

[you are not the Hakurei… Reimu.]

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[… does.. it matter, Yukari?]

My chest was heaving heavily as I lay on my back, staring up at the crimson skies, Yukari's face covering half of it as I waited for the end to come.

I still clung on to hope, hope of salvation from death and after death. I do not fear death anymore… not after I tried my best, my very best in stopping her or… did I?

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[I don't know… what will happen… if you stop me… or what if you didn't …I don't know… Reimu.]

She looked like a lost child, staring down at me and I felt pity for her yet again. She is like a spoilt child after all, wants her way with the world and when she did get it, does not know what she wants to do.

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[… you are not the Hakurei, Reimu… are you… shocked? The true Hakurei Reimu is one who can use the Yin-Yang orbs… you are clearly not able to wield them to the best of your abilities… the miracle earlier was just a fluke.]

[… Perhaps…]

I smiled at her, not with blood rimmed lips as I smiled to Remilia, not with eyes devoid of hope and eyes that accepted death; but with the smile of belief and eyes of hope that I tried to convey to her.

Even in my deathbed I have to tell her this…

[But, I… Reimu… knows, I am Hakurei Reimu… and… the Hakurei Spirit, is there, waiting for me… ushering for me…]

[So, you welcome death?]

She sounded a little doubtful and I can hardly blame her, who would welcome death.

But I am not welcoming death, I am welcoming salvation.

Yama-sama had told me what waited me beyond this world; I would be judged for my sins and judged for my actions. I have done what I could, I know I did… my prayers would be answered… I would till the end, believe in my faith…

Even if it would not be answered…

My faith in the Hakurei Spirit… and the belief of the salvation of my home

… how easy it seems now, to accept this…

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[…]

[I.. hope, Yukari…]

[?]

[That… with my death… you'll spare Gensokyo…]

[… is that, a dying request?]

[… no, that is… a wish… from me to you…]

[a… wish?]

[… a simple wish… a simple prayer…]

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Wordlessly, she shrugged and raised her hands, ready to send me to oblivion.

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Oh, great Hakurei Spirit… hear my prayer… hear the cries of my heart… the cries of the hundreds who believe in you…

Hear my wish…

Hear my humble and selfish wish…

That of peace… and that of love

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[Evil Spirits "Xanadu of Straight and Curve"!]

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[!]

A blinding flash of light suddenly blinded us as we were about to engaged on another round of combat of those vermin, worthless felines, woof!

[!] (Author's Notes: Yes, I know 'woof' is irritating but it's the easiest way to differentiate Momizi)

But as the light faded away, I first saw a doll fly past us and when I rubbed my eyes with my paws, it was still there.

I sniffed the air to check it's scent and at once I knew that it was the sign I had been waiting for.

The doll and many of it's companions were surrounding us, lances in their hands and I had to bark at my troops not to engage them when…

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I saw the person that I was sent to fetch walk slowly in front of us, her face held high, her chin up and blasting the foes to nothingness with a pitiful handful of dolls.

[… Momizi… was it?]

Her voice was cold but she did turn her face to me, a worrying smile for me.

[I got the message from Patchouli… you can leave now.]

I sensed that she was arrogant in her strength but she surely could as more and more dolls appeared around us, armed with lances, swords and shields and firing danmaku at the rapidly retreating army of cats.

[Am I being dismissed?]

Saluting her, I gave her the respect she deserves by gathering my troops behind her, sheathing our weapons and instructing them to stand to attention.

[Yes, Momizi… you are being dismissed…]

[Understood, I shall return to my position?]

[Yes, you had most admirably finished your task, the honors go to you.]

My ears perking up, I barked an acknowledge of thanks before I waved my sword in the air.

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[Mission is accomplished, let us go back!]

Howling, we took to the air and flew directly with as much speed as I could muster to my position.

How I miss the thrill of intense battle! WOOF!

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[The situation does not look good…]

Muttering under my breath, my anxiety increased as another wave of cats barreled down towards us.

[Tsk…]

They had gotten more wily and sly and many of them were able to get pass the knives or arrows that were shot at them to engage the rest of our troops. I was in the thick of it and it was looking helpless. As fast as Reisen can patch our troops up, as fast as the cats were being killed, ten would take it's place. We had shifted our location repeatedly to avoid stepping on the corpses and to gain a foothold on our own position.

We found things difficult but we kept at it, at the order of our masters. But deep down, we knew we were fighting a losing battle and we were losing ground with every second.

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[Fighting on borrowed time… … fitting…]

Remarking as another cat fell in front of me, I managed a smirk as a row of cats were taken out by a swinging log, courtesy of the other rabbit, Tewi.

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[Miss Sakuya!]

Hearing Reisen call to me, I threw another set of knives at them before retreating back to the source of the voice. As I retreated, I saw my position quickly filled by a rabbit and I found myself impressed by the fierce training they had gone through to be so disciplined.

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[…?]

I shook my head as she muttered a spell to envelop me in a mist of magic that soothed my wounds and invigorated me. When asked how she did that, she refused flatly to say but reassured me that the effects were temporary. As she did that however, the image of medicines appeared in my mind, to my utmost displeasure.

[… I do not know how to break the news to you… but we have trouble.]

[… if we did not have trouble, I would be greatly surprised.]

Dryly remarking to her, I waited for her to speak. Even in the midst of battle she seemed timid and afraid, unwilling to put in her all, a trait which very much displeased me. If her own troops are willing to put their lives on the line and she was not, how could she expect them to follow her.

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[… Ran is here.]

[Ran?]

[Yakumo Ran… the Shikigami of Yakumo Yukari… she's been sighted…]

I cursed and swore at the development but Reisen was already on top of the situation, grabbing my hand she pulled me behind her.

[we got to confront her, now.]

[… It is an option, but I highly not recommend that, morale will be lost.]

[That's right… Ah, duck!]

Pushing me to the ground and just in time as lasers suddenly struck the ground in front of us, killing another mass of cats with it, Reisen hurriedly pulled me away.

[I called for reinforcements; Miss Keine would provide Aerial support while we are gone.]

[Aerial support… that is a new term…]

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Dryly I replied as we flew towards where Ran was sighted. I had to admit now that I was severely intimidated by Ran Yakumo, she is a powerful but patient force of nature.

Yes, not a beast youkai, a force of nature. I had the pleasure of making her acquaintance once due to a party held in the Netherworld and we had found many in common as we had served much powerful mistresses.

During our short time chatting with one another, which is due to a common duty of washing up the dishes, we had chatted about our mistresses.

Shamefully I must admit that I had poured out many of my woes to her, that of the helpless fairies, China, the dusts gathering in Lady Patchouli's library, China and China.

Ran in turn had told me of the difficulties of maintaining the border with her mistress sleeping while keeping her immense household spick and span.

We had parted ways as friends, not firm friends but good friends nonetheless.

I too had seen how powerful she is when she took an invitation to danmaku with Kazami Yuka, another powerful being when she flattened a solid mile of trees and the result was a grudging draw.

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Despite my acquaintances with her, I had rarely if ever seen her face to face since Reimu left Gensokyo so many years ago. Once I did see her when she was doing her shopping, a very rare occurrence and she had seemed tired, the black circles below her eyes and the limpness and frizzled look of her magnificent tails, signs that she was severely under stress.

Under gentle probing she merely remarked that Yukari had not been herself lately.

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[… do you think, it is even possible for us… to console her?]

[…]

Her face told me what I wanted to see, she was not convinced of that.

[… we could only… pray and hope for the best…]

Smiling sadly, she told me that she was worried about Reimu and that shared with my sentiments. The blinding flash of light had halted the assault but when they did press on, they seemed more determined to get by, holding on to the lances that had killed them and reluctant to retreat.

That must be a sign … I just hope it is not ominous to us.

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… I remembered.

Just like that, just… when death was about to take me away… I recalled many many things.

It is like they say, the life would flash in front of you when you are about to leave this world.

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But they did not flash in front of me. My live did not flash in front of me.

I just..

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Knew

I knew…

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A part of my time was returned to me. I knew, I remembered, I recalled, recollected my past self.

Looking at a mirror in my mind, I saw me, who I was and who I am.

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Now, please…

Just tell me that did not happen… that I had not undergone such… such terrible and wondrous things.

It is like a dream, a fantastic dream.

It is not impossible… just fantastic…

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I waited for the end but it did not come but salvation did, in a way…

[…]

I remembered her face, Yakumo Yukari… the mischievous smile she would show me as she appeared before me in a gap. The drunken look on Suika as I woke her up everyday…

The annoyed look on Alice when I dropped by for a cup of tea…

The joyful looks on Remilia's face as I played Danmaku with her and Sakuya.

It is coming back to me, the pieces are beginning to fit in…

But, there was still something missing…

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The person beside me as I got through all the difficulties, the person with me lending a hand and at times, pulling me through all that I had faced.

Marisa… where is she?

Where is the piece of my memory that contained her..

And… the piece that would tell me why I left my home?

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With another flash of light, the strength was restored to me magically yet another time, I felt lighter and my mind was sharper as I got up, dusted myself and sighed.

[Another miracle…]

I should not be complaining but I did found it a little, upsetting as I had flouted hundreds of rules by being saved by miracles so often. What are the odds of that, having my life saved so many times.

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Hovering in front of me was a glowing monstrosity of a yin-yang orb, massive in size and radiating with power and I found that I could move it with my will.

[Yin-yang… sanctifier orb…]

Muttering the spell aloud, the orb flashed brightly once as if answering my question.

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When all seemed lost, strength surged through me and my previous incantation was invoked, nullifying the attack by Yukari and slamming and breaking her border like it was paper.

The last I saw of her was her crashing like me, on the barrier of her own making and her undoing as she disappeared from view.

But, I knew it would take more than that to take Yukari out and as I looked down forlornly at my homeland, Gensokyo I was sadly warranted. The crimson wave of death was still creeping ever silently forward.

[… so…]

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The telltale sign of her popping out of her border signaled the end of my respite and I took a deep steadying breath before asking the person behind me, surely a satisfied smile on her face. I did not need to think to know that she was behind me, but oh gods help me… I was trembling with the prospects of meeting her again.

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[You ARE the Hakurei, aren't you?]

[I guess… I am]

Sadly I told her and it was quite a scene, the both of us back facing one another, exchanging trivial words; the calm before the storm.

[What did I tell you, Reimu…]

She berated me, I can tell she was berating me for lying to her about who I am but I only have one defense.

[… you pushed all the blame to me again, Yukari… you liar…]

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[You do remember…]

She seemed satisfied this time and she let loose a round of loud raucous laughter that was true, she is truly amused and was laughing it all out, her fears, her resentment and all of that through her laughter. She is, for a brief moment since we reunited, really laughing.

[you had me worried… I could have killed you thousands of time over, Reimu.]

[I knew that…]

[Yet you… hid everything from me… I was fooled for the whole time]

[No… I, remembered… only just now.]

[…]

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There was another interlude of awkward silence that was quickly silenced by more laughter from Yukari.

[Amazing, that is the ultimate rule at work isn't it, Reimu? That of the Hakurei and only the Hakurei can do…]

[…]

I knew it was not so but who was I to refute her, she knew the rule, she perhaps have a hand in the creation of the rule and she is the strongest youkai, the elder youkai of gensokyo… who am I, just Reimu to refute her words?

[Or was it you… Hakurei… for making this miracle…]

[not me, Yukari… it's not me…]

More surprises were in store for me as she seemingly did not seem interested in me for the time being, she was talking to someone else that was not present to me.

[… you have other ideas don't you… and right after you finally accepted me… why is this so? Why have you changed your mind?]

Her tone changed and turned nasty, deep and unforgiving as she muttered a few more words.

[… I shall have to persuade you… that I can overcome all odds…]

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[Well Reimu, let us continue…]

[M-Must us?]

[Yes, we must… we must continue.]

This seems endless, the process was being repeated over and over again, her endless and powerful attacks aimed at me. At times I would fall but I would rally some miraculous strength from within and strike back with enough ferocity to stop her for a brief time.

All I hope was that the brief time has brought relief to the people below me, who I know for sure that is suffering now.

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[… pray with me, will you?]

Gesturing to the tiny forms that still huddled inside me, I braced myself for Yukari's next round of attacks and this time I knew, I definitely knew I would get through them all.

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[Hey, Reimu… remember this?]

Yukari's face relaxed and she smiled softly at me, raising her fan in front of me, clasped shut as she spoke.

In her hands, I saw the name of her next spell card and I shuddered at the memory of that spellcard, it would not be pretty to dodge all of them.

[Yukari…]

Somehow, I smiled back at her.

There was the distant memory of us in the same stage, not like the nagging feeling that I had felt earlier but I can see the scene play in front of me.

It was during the time when Yukari, she was stopping me from going after her Shikigami, Chen…

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I had defeat Yukari and still she would not retreat and she stood in front of me, her hands spread out wide, her clothes tattered and she was bleeding quite badly. But her eyes, her eyes told me that she would not retreat till she take me down with her.

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The roles were reversed now. I was close to my last legs but I would not give up, I would continue till Yukari see sense… I promised… I promised that, I would save Gensokyo, somehow, someway… and save Marisa along the way.

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[Yukari]

I repeated that to her, a small, hopeful smile on my face.

[Go easy on me…]

[You wish, Reimu.]

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[Shall we?]

[Let's…]

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[Dodge them all, okay?]

Smiling, Yukari tossed the spell card into the air and I responded with a small wink and by dashing forward into the air.

[leave that to me…]

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[Evil Spirit's 'Yakumo Yukari's Spiriting Away']

Author's Notes: I noticed i'm always ending with a 'Spellcard'...