The Shrine of Gensokyo: Gensokyo No Ginja
Chapter 41: The End of A Dream
Original Concept by: ZUN & Shanghai Alice
Written by: wrathie
Author's Note: What can I say, it's so cheesy i died a little in the inside.
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[W-wha?]
I asked myself this as I felt a resurgence of Yukari's power, it was pinning me down as she seemingly emerged from death…
I had assumed, believed that I had actually killed Yukari as I could not sense her powers for a moment.
A part of me wanted it not to be true as I knew for sure that the person who loved Gensokyo the most was in fact Yukari herself, even more than me… she put Gensokyo over herself… Time and time again I had doubted her but the one thing I could not and should not doubt her was her love for Gensokyo.
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And yet… what is this? Yukari's powers were fluctuating, mixing themselves with another source I was not familiar with and soon she would overcome my barrier again.
I had set up a barrier to prevent Yukari from reaching out to Gensokyo with her gaps and borders but she was fast destroying and decaying them.
Opening my eyes, which I had closed to focus more easily, I instantly covered my mouth in shock and disbelief.
Yukari's face was twisted beyond recognition as she spun in the air similar to what Ran would do, only she was clutching her head and laughing manically again.
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[Return to where hence came from, Return to where one was born, Return to where nothingness is form… Reverse time, reverse the ages… WAHAHAHAHA!]
She screamed again as she came to a stop.
[Right, Reimu?]
I froze, unable to respond or spoke as her eyes deeply traumatized me.
This, is not Yukari.
No, this is not her…
Previously I had seen occasionally a glimpse of Yukari in the raving lunatic… She retained her love for Gensokyo even if it is deep inside her.
I had no idea how deeply she had sank into madness but I knew that it could still be saved… it would probably take time but she could be saved from the depths of her insanity if given enough time..
Maybe, I had once thought that perhaps Yukari would be fine a few days later as she wakes up…
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But not this… this, is not Yukari… this mad… insane person is not her…
Who knew how long had passed when I regained my capacity to think and it was only due to those two dears, pulling frantically at me before I did but by then, I could see the End in front of me.
It was exactly like the first vision I had when I visited Gensokyo and my two companions, bless those two who were clutching my hand in fear.
The sky was red, dotted with eyes while a tide of red ooze slowly engulfed Gensokyo from the outside in, starting from the border and slowly towards the epicenter, which was the Hakurei Shrine.
It was exactly what I had feared, the coming of the end... and here I was, powerless despite all I have done, all I could have done… to prevent it…
I… had seen it coming before but did not knew what it signified… those eyes hungrily peering down at Gensokyo, ready to rip it to shreds at any moment.
The moving earth showing how Yukari had even managed to move the earth against us… anything and everything that was in her way was not engulfed, it was disintegrated, demolished and utterly removed from this world...
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All I could do, like what I always did, was to pray… helplessly but with all my faith…
[Please, hear my prayer…. My selfish and helpless prayer..
Please, lend me your strength… lend me the strength to overcome these odds…
Lend me your strength and I shall lend you mine..
Draw from me my faith as I draw on yours…
Please…. Spirits… Lend me your strength and I shall lend you mine…
Let not this land be tainted, let not this land, holder of so many memories, so much happiness…
So much hope be lost…
Please, spirits… lend me your strength, the strength to overcome this obstacle…]
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I, wanted some faith…some strength… as my own strength is leaving me… I wanted to believe in myself but is there anyone that can believe in me beside these two children that stuck close to me.
For the first time, I felt utter despair and nothing could possibly prepare me for what happened next.
[…!]
A gap appeared below me and all I saw was darkness in my fading consciousness…
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If there was a thing that kept people going through tough times in history, it was hope.
Hope is eternal, it gives strength to people, strength to overcome obstacles, the ability endure pain, suffering, loneliness and is the medicine for despair.
Remember the Pandora's box?
Within the box, when all the diseases and disasters that will plague man and youkai forever lies hope… and hope is the last to be released, weakly as it escaped but it, as weak as it seem gives man the strength to combat all the evils in the world.
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It is not strength that allows us to overcome our greatest fears, it is hope, hope and belief in a brighter day, in that we can and we will be able to….
That is hope, the one who gives us strength no matter where you look at it, how you look at it and… ultimately how you deny it.
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No, don't tell me you do not have hope, for one without such a precious belief is not alive…
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[… no…]
And my hope has left me, the one thing that had kept me going; perhaps even everyone else going for sure was swallowed up by the great evil of our time, Yakumo Yukari.
I was looking up and I just glanced blankly when the symbol of our hope, still hovering defiantly in the air despite the approaching death disappeared when she was engulfed by Yukari's gap.
Realization struck me when I found myself sobbing, my knees on the floor in despair a few seconds later. I could not believe it… Reimu, the Reimu who has struggled and beat so many before her, overcome so many odds was finally defeated, perhaps even….
Killed by her… the one person I would not believe would ever lay a finger on her…
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I knew how close Yukari was to her, Reimu would endless tell me of her woes of Yukari pestering her when all I could see was Yukari wanting to spend time with her…
Yakumo Yukari, she too was a person I never expected to want to destroy Gensokyo… how could she when I saw firsthand how she protected the Great Border with her bare hands and all her energy till she collapsed outside my door…
That was the only time I saw what was behind the mask that she had over her face…
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I, Kamishirasawa Keine, had never seen someone so tired, so exhausted with what she has to put up with in my entire life.
The burden she carries on her shoulder can never be measured or passed on to someone else… no one, only she can carry it…
I heard her whimper, cry out and scream in her sleep… the many nightmares that plagued her… Even more startling was the many eyes that I had thought she controlled appeared in the room that she slept in… looking at her endlessly, probably even trying to drive her insane…
… that's why… I, despite all my doubts was not surprised when Yukari supposedly lost it… the burden on her is too great and even the strongest mind will collapse if pushed to the limit.
But I had no doubt in my mind that she would recover from it… little did I know I was wrong… that she would bring disaster in the land that she loved so much.
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I… I did not believe it… why, why her? And…
Why, why must fate force these two, the two who loved Gensokyo the most of all… to struggle against one another… why? Can someone give me the answer to this riddle? Can someone please make sense of this confusing situation?
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[… ah…]
Seeing a hand that was offered to me, I took it and was helped up by Yagokoro Eirin of all the people in the world. She did not have the same stuck up attitude as before, it was… normal, strangely comforting to me as she said nothing.
[…]
Turning her back at me, Yagokoro Eirin left and went ahead to meet her charge, the Eientei Rabbits while I looked around me aimlessly. It seemed like everything I could do or should is pointless… I was devoid of strength and of a goal… something to drive me on… Everything was hazy… and meaningless…
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[Keine!]
[M-Mokou?]
I looked back and there was Mokou, flying towards me with Houraisen Kaguya in tow. The both of them seemed worried, was something wrong?
[Keine, you don't look good.]
She was worried about me as I walked slowly towards her. Mokou, she had suffered so much and just when it seemed that her life, our life was going to turn for the better… it was all shattered again… My hopes were floored just like that… I… I…
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[KEINE!]
[MISS KEINE!]
The next moment, I found myself lying on a futon in the Hakurei Shrine as I blinked in confusion. Why am I here? Wasn't I…
[Oh! You woke up! Thank goodness, Mokou, Mokou she woke up!]
Kaguya, who was tending me shouted and in a flash, Mokou appeared and pushed her away.
[Keine! You alright?]
[… Yes… thank you, Mokou… Houraisen-san…]
[Ah…]
Mokou's eyes opened wide and she acknowledged Kaguya's presence by giving some space for her.
[… You're still running a fever, Miss Keine….]
[Ah… No, I feel…]
I stopped for a moment to consider how I truly felt…
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[… keine?]
[… No, I'm sorry… how's… things]
I trembled when I asked the question and judging by how the two of them looked at each other, it did not look to be promising. How could it be promising, if Reimu is gone… we… we can't possibly stand a chance.
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[… Nothing's changed… it's going to be dawn in a few hours… If you're okay, we're gonna meet the rest to decide what to do.]
Grimly, Mokou stood up with Kaguya by her side. The two of them who were immortals, do they fear this predicament? That they, as immortals are going to die?
Wait… t-they can't die… aha…
[Aha… haha…]
I laughed before I knew it and I clutched my face in despair, there was nothing more I can do… I am going to die without accomplishing anything… and here I am, wishing ill of Mokou and Kaguya and of their immortality… how could I? How could I be so heartless, so insensitive?
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[… Keine, we'll think of something, don't… don't do that.]
I looked up to see Mokou, all of the fire in her eyes gone, replaced by cold understanding and I nodded weakly to her. There was no use in ruing their immortality… we are in the same boat… it is not our lives that matter, it is Gensokyo, our home and where so much of our memories are home to…
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[Ah…]
I gave a small exclamation when I heard some voices, the voices of the children as they ran around the Shrine, oblivious to the danger.
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[Ahaha~~]
[Yay~~]
Their voices, filled with joy and happiness was like a wake-up call and I felt my shoulders slacked and relaxed.
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[Miss Keine, can you stand? Let's go…]
Kaguya offered a hand to me as well and I took it, willing again to challenge the impossible even if it is fruitless… we are not fighting alone, I had friends, allies and people who love Gensokyo as much as Reimu did… and we are not fighting for ourselves we are fighting for one another, for the present and… for the future…
For the sake of these children too… how could I have forgotten…
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[…]
Everyone of them sat in silence in the grand hall of the Hakurei Shrine. The oni, Ibuki Suika had done her part by gathering all the people left in Gensokyo to the Shrine, leaving no one behind.
Everyone, from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, Youkai Mountain, Eientei and the Human Village was in the vicinity of the Shrine. It was the safest place possible as by the calculations of Yagokoro Eirin, the last place that would be engulfed was the Shrine.
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Now that all that could be done was done, the hall was silent. It had been a tremendous task from gathering them here to allocating the refugees to various part of the Shrine. Some were on the roof but majority was on the Shrine Grounds and in the interior.
Izayoi Sakuya had done her part well by enlarging the space of the Shrine to accommodate as many as it could possibly can.
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After all the chaos, the people responsible for the defense of Gensokyo sat in somber silence. None of them knew what to do next, whether to wait for their deaths peacefully or to leave this place…. Or to fight it out in a last ditch attempt.
No one knew which was the right path to choose.
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From the Youkai to the humans to the Lunarians and to the Gods, no one knew which was right and which was wrong and who could blame them…
Now, the silence was just eating away at everyone's patience and nerves… they were afraid but they could not show fear… if they did, who would stop the fear from spreading… panic and chaos would soon follow and all they have done, by bringing them here to be safe would have been for naught.
However, there was one casualty for all their efforts and that one casualty was struggling to get out of bed even as the others pinned her down.
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[LET ME GO!]
Ibuki Suika, the Shrine Oni of the Hakurei Shrine was severely hurt in the operation and it was discovered that her internal injuries had worsened. She risked her own life to get the others here and the rest of them knew and felt the burden on her shoulders.
She was indeed the only one that can accomplish it, to bring the scattered population to the Shrine in the time that they did.
Without her, many more would have died. She had made a tremendous and heroic effort but she was not resting, not when her life was on the line.
It took the combined efforts of both the goddess to pin her down to bed with their magical seals but even they were feeling lost, unsure as to what to do.
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[…]
They sat silently, looking at the darkening sky as in the horizon, the red tide of death slowly approached. It would not be that soon now, perhaps a few more hours bring about the end…
[Damn… what's the use of Gods if they can't do anything!]
They heard a few of the men cuss and swear and they lowered their eyes, unsure what to respond. True, they were powerless but that did not mean they had not tried their utmost…
[In the end, we had to rely on a youkai to save us… this… this is unacceptable.]
The cursing continued but it had snapped a nerve among the group.
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[SHUT UP! WHAT WERE YOU DOING, HUH?]
The one person that they had not expected to raise her voice in defense of the gods and the youkai, Hieda No Akyu shouted at them as she held on to her friend, Kamishirasawa Keine for support.
Her voice reaching higher and higher levels, she berated them for not appreciating them for what they did for the humans and instead, they were bad mouthing them.
[You are such a disgrace! They saved your lives and you think that it is shameful to be saved by youkai?
They risked their lives for you and did not even asked to be thanked! Where were you during the battle, you were HIDING AWAY, RUNNING AWAY AND YET YOU EVEN DARE TO BLAME THEM? WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT!]
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Tensions were rising, everyone was sick and tired of the drawn out battle and the egos clashed with one another. Arguments were being raised everywhere, from the youkai to the humans, from the lowly fairy maid to the village elder, everyone was arguing about something and everything.
The quiet alliance that was made from being in the same boat was broken just as silently as it was made. It seemed like the end was nigh and it would silence these voices once and for all.
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But, in the middle of the disorder and the discord, Ibuki Suika weakly slammed a fist on the floor and slowly worked her way up again.
The fire in her eyes were not diminished and the yearning in her heart empowered her to do what she knew was right.
Crawling, one step by a time, she reached the open door and looked up at the sky, where she had last saw Reimu, the Reimu she had brought back to Gensokyo.
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[R-Reimu…]
Grimacing as she clutched her waist in pain, Suika staggered out to the courtyard and looked up again.
[REIMU!]
She screamed loudly and that silenced the rest who were in the middle of a brawl that had started. All of their eyes turned on her and they gasped when Suika, with the rest of her strength, threw a large boulder that she had gathered straight at the sky and they looked down in disappointment when the boulder just broke up when it collided with the border above them.
They knew it was pointless but why, why did Suika still do what she did despite her injuries? Why, they did not know why anymore.
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They had forgotten why they were fighting, why there were struggling so after hope had abandoned them.
All they could was to argue and to find who was at fault when no one was in the first place.
One could blame it all on someone else or to blame it on themselves but the truth is and truth that Ibuki Suika had shown everyone was that all of them, had forgotten what was important to them, why it was important for them not to give up.
In the first sign of defeat, not only was hope lost… but the will to carry on with it..
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Ibuki Suika, she had not forgotten it. She knew why she had to fight, she knew how she could fight and despite everything, she was going to fight, to challenge her fate…
The image of her struggling up again was burned in the memory of those who were present, it showed how much she treasured the most important thing in her life.
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…..
And another voice suddenly rang out, strong and determined as she walked over and helped her up.
[… stop putting everything on ya shoulders, damnit.]
She, the one who had burdened a similar load on her shoulders grinned as she scooped her up and dumped her back to the futon.
[Well, I'm off.]
[EH? Where are you going?]
[… where else, Suika, I'll make sure to leave a footprint on her damn face for ya.]
[M-Mokou?]
She flicked her bluish silver hair behind her and waved goodbye but she did not count on another person running after her.
[I'm coming to! I don't care if you think I'll get in the way! I want to go!]
[… whatever.]
[Princess!]
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The other, the Lunar Princess with her long flowing hair smiled wordlessly at Eirin as they prepared to leave.
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[No, don't come, Keine, you're staying her to look after Suika and the rest.]
[B-But…]
[I'll go, Hakutaku.]
[…]
The others looked on in worry as the Lunarian Brain followed suit as well, they did not know her motive but if even she was going…
[Then, I will go to, master!]
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[…]
Slowly, more and more people stood up, running towards the growing entourage heading towards the border, they too remembered the most important thing to them. It was a wake up call, courtesy of Ibuki Suika and each of them smiled warmly at Suika as they passed her.
[I am the Mistress of Fate, not one to bow down to fate. Let's go Sakuya, Rumia!]
[FEH… you can't control me…]
[Yes, as you wish.]
[I wanna go too, Onee-sama!]
[If Remi is going, there is no reason for me, -coughs- to stay as well. Meiling, you stay here to help them.]
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[Then, let us go, Shanghai, Hourai.]
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[This is a scoop, Gensokyo Residents going against Armageddon!]
[Aya-sama, I shall accompany you as well, howl~]
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[Y-Yasaka-sama… I too, I wish to…]
[Let's go, Sanae. If the Devil is going, so shall the gods.]
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All of them, differing in their thoughts, beliefs, philosophy and way of life are united…
How is this possible… you ask?
Everyone of them only and will always only have one place they call home, one person who they all respect, confide, love and believe in.
The land, called Gensokyo, the place which encompasses all, empowers all and accepts all… the land where even the weakest can survive, where the strong is just a title…
Where traditions go on, where the youkai roam and where man is at his most creative..
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And the one who looks after all this land, the one who has faced everyone of them, defeated everyone of them, accepted everyone of them, understood everyone of them and finally, had forgiven everyone of them…
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Hakurei Reimu
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….
[Hey, what are you doing?]
[? I'm praying…]
[Praying?]
[Mm mm! The Shrine Maiden taught me how to pray! Wanna pray too! She says we pray when we are in trouble!]
[mm.. okay, teach me how to pray then!]
[Okay! Okay! Repeat after me…]
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[Spirits, listen to my wish, my selfish wish, my wish… just a simple wish…
I beg you… beg of you to lend me your strength… lend your almighty strength for to me…
I beg of you… to listen… to hear… my, selfish wish…
Put trust in spirits… put trust in humans..
Have faith in my faith…
Have strength in my strength…
Lend me your strength and I shall lend you mine…
Hear my prayer and I will hear your prayer…
Let me feel your pain, your joy and your sadness and you shall hear mine…
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I serve the spirits…
I have faith in the spirits…
I draw strength from the spirits…
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As I serve you… so do you…
So please… listen to my prayer… listen to my wish…
Grant me with your presence…
Grant me with your strength…
Let my spirit…
Let my soul…
Be part of you…
Be part of your strength…
So…
I offer this humble prayer…
Lend me your strength,
Spirits of my faith…
Lend me your strength.]
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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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…
I was drifting, drifting in darkness… I felt so much pain in my body that I just wanted to sleep… I could feel that the two of them were beating on me frantically but I was too tired to care.
I… I really felt like dying there and then…
I had failed, I had failed Gensokyo and everyone else… Yukari had won… was my determination and will not enough or… was I truly wrong…
Was her way of remaking Gensokyo the right way? Was it… the right way for us to end this? For all our memories, of her memories of Gensokyo to be destroyed just like this?
I… I don't know anymore…
Memories, will forever be within us… so it is okay, to just destroy them when… when the time is right?
Is that what you meant Yukari? Do you mean, all my struggles were in vain… all the people's efforts… from living their lives up to this point… was it all in vain?
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Tell me, Great Hakurei Spirit… was it, all in vain? Was our life worthless, to be thrown away and discarded just like this?
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Please… would you tell me…
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[ugh…]
The pain was overpowering… she had struck me in so many places I could not count… my consciousness was fading as well… b-but I, do not want to leave just yet… No, I must not…
Not when… when this is wrong… Oh, Yukari… can you hear me? What you are doing is wrong… Yukari…
This is… not the right way…. I know it is not!
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So… will someone.. help me tell it to her… p-please?
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[Say, Reimu… how about you and I get married?]
[Eh… You're a vampire, I'm no blood doll…]
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[Reimu, Reimu, Marisa came to play! Ahah~]
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[here's your tea, Reimu…]
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[Hmph… so you're here again, Hakurei?]
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[… what do you want, Red-white? Get out of here… Marisa being here is awfully rude.]
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[A Shrine Maiden is supposed to gather faith, is that not right?]
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[Say, Reimu!]
[Reimu!]
[REIMU!]
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Voices, I hear voices calling my name and I opened my eyes wide to see that the darkness is ebbing around me. The voices of my friends, the others who have gave me so much strength…
Everyone, who like me loves Gensokyo with their hearts… please… just lend me your strength… Yukari, you can hear this, can't you? This, is why you are wrong…
Even if it seems hopeless, even if it seems like the dawn will never break.
As long as one is not alone, there will be another day…
Yukari… can you hear me?
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I slowly spoke what the beginning of my prayer… the prayer I wanted Yukari to hear…
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.
[… eheh…]
Moriya Suwako, invisible to all, looked to her companion and she asked her once more.
[… what have you done throughout all of this?]
[I've always been watching, nurturing and believing in all of you… that's all.]
[That's not enough!]
[… Ahaha… that is enough… do you, put your faith in her? Do you trust her, Moriya.]
[…]
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[I, I always do… she is, someone special…]
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[Yes… and let me tell you this…]
[?]
[As long as this land remains, mark my words… the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, never falls.]
[… never… falls?]
[… The Hakurei Shrine Maiden, never falls… I… I have to go.]
She smiled at Moriya Suwako before she rose to the air and laughed lightly.
[So finally, you call my name, Reimu.]
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[HaKuRei]
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[…I…]
I licked my dry lips before trying to say something. The others were right, arguing would get us nowhere and I was about to apologize when I heard the sound of a bell twinkling.
[Eh?]
The others heard it as well and they looked around for the source.
[D-Did you hear that?]
[Yea… w-what was it…]
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But then, there was a flash of light that blinded all of us and when I recovered, I saw something incredible. In all of my years in Gensokyo from the first incarnation to now, where I am known as Hieda no Akyu, I had not seen something as stunning as this… I had heard legends of this… but had never seen it in person.
The Hakurei Border, normally dull and colorless was radiating lights that mirrored the colors of the rainbow, it was a soothing light that made me feel comfortable just looking at it. It seemed to be removing all of my worries and negative feelings just by shining at us.
I felt my shoulders relax and the tension disappear from my body. My anger too was dissipated by just looking at it… how miraculous was that?
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It was recorded at the formation of the Great Hakurei Border, the sky shone with rainbow colors which we now call the Aurora… but this, if this is the sight that greeted my ancestors, this is not the Aurora at all… this is something different, something magnanimous, something powerful and peaceful showing her hand…
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And as I stood up, so did the others who were just a minute ago arguing with me. Now we walked as one to meet the others, the group who wanted to leave and help her, Reimu….
I felt guilty raising my voice over such trivial matters and as I was about to speak, I was once again bowled over by the scene that greeted me.
I heard whispers from them, chuckling and sighing as the rest of us looked on in disbelief.
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[That's Reimu for ya…]
[mm… Reimu, you did it again…]
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The approaching tide of doom was itself being engulfed, this time by a barely visible wave of light that came from the border, moving swiftly towards us.
Wherever the light shone the destruction that was wrought on the line was undone, returning it to it's previous form… the beautiful land we call our home was slowly returned to us, more magnificent than before.
I could see the lush green fields, the towering and thick forests as well as the crystal clear lakes and streams that dotted the land.
It was as if no one had touched the land before, no plough had dug through it's virgin earth.
It is as if we were transported back in time, back to the time where neither Man nor youkai exists….
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[…]
I paused and reflected for a moment as the red tide of death disappeared and the wave of light washed over us. I felt a tugging in my heart as I heard a voice whisper into my ear.
[Have courage my dear…]
It sounded unfamiliar and yet familiar to me. It was someone that had spoken to me before, but despite probing through my memory, I did not remember her… which is impossible… I… I remember everything, don't I?
As the wave of light touched the Hakurei Shrine, it burst into a brilliant pillar that shot skywards, stopping only when a few meters above us and exploding, showering the sky and blinding us again.
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[!]
Then, I could see her again, Reimu, as she floated, seemingly weightless above us and I raised my voiced and shouted, a shout that was echoed by many others as they cheered once again.
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[REIMU!]
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[WHY! WHY!]
I screamed in defiance as I watched, powerless as my plan became undone in front of my very eyes.
I tore at my hair, gnashed my teeth and futilely tried to stop the wave of light that was destroying my master plan effortlessly.
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WHY, WHY MUST SHE ABANDON ME NOW!
[WHY, WHY MUST YOU? YOU WERE BEHIND ME ALL THIS TIME WEREN'T YOU?]
I screamed out loud while sticking my head through a gap to glare at the one that must have summoned her, no one else could possibly summon her but her, the only living Hakurei in existence.
I grabbed her lifeless face and shook her vigorously, demanding an answer.
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[YOU CALLED HER, DIDN'T YOU? HOW? HOWWWW!]
Slapping her repeatedly I screamed my anger as I formed bullets to intercept the wave, only to see them disappear into nothing.
I can never hope to match her power… BUT WHY. WHY MUST SHE ABANDON ME NOW!
..
[TELL ME, TELL ME! YOU DIDN'T STOP ME BEFORE! YOU DIDN'T! SO WHY NOW! WHY? IS IT DUE TO HER? WAS SHE THE CAUSE? AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!]
There was no response but I did not expect one, not from her… not after I had known her for as long as I had lived. She never answers, she never speaks… but she is there, I knew it.
I saw to it, I acknowledged it and I saw to it… she, is there… always have been and always will be watching over me, watching over her… watching over everyone.
I did not know what she wants, what she gets from this, what her goal is… all I know, is she is there, she is watching and she… for the longest time…
Never interfered…
..
..
[WHY WON'T YOU ANSWER ME? SPEAK TO ME! ANSWER ME!]
She never interfered before, NEVER, in no account would she manifest, appear before anyone even when it seems the world is going to be destroyed.
She is just a watcher, never a player… she never takes sides… SO WHY! WAS IT HER? WAS IT!
..
[IS IT HER? IS SHE SPECIAL? IS SHE SO SPECIAL TO YOU?]
I slapped Reimu again and I gloated as her head flopped lifelessly to the side. Look at her, helpless in my hands and half-dead, why will she favor her? Why? Is it her? Or is it someone else?
[WELL, LOOK AT HER! COME AND GET HER!]
I laughed again as I repeatedly slapped and kicked Reimu, hearing barely audible moans and winces from her badly bruised face.
Savior of Gensokyo? I BEG TO DIFFER, SHE'S JUST A BEATEN UP BITCH!
[WELL? TELL ME! IS IT HER? WHY? YOU HAVE FORSAKEN ME, HAVEN'T YOU? HAVE I GONE TOO FAR? AHAHAHA]
It did not make sense to me, why must she favor her? Was she that important? Is she that powerful? More powerful than me? Does she has something different that I do not have?
WHAT? TELL ME, WHAT!
..
..
[…]
I calmed down suddenly as a thought entered my mind.
[… so, she is special… huh?]
I spoke so softly that I am surprised I even heard myself. There was only one thing left to do… nothing else is left, not after she… she took sides.
So, I am in the wrong, am I?
..
[…Reimu….]
I smirked as I dropped her and I watched as she plummeted down from the sky like a pigeon who has her wings clipped.
[DIE.]
Opening a gap below her, I prepared for her the most vicious way for her to die. She will die by being torn apart, piece by piece till there is nothing left of her… Ahaha… AHAHAHA!
..
..
..
I…It hurts…
I could only feel pain as I ended my prayer… unlike the previous times, I could no long sense energy flowing through me as I prayed for power from the spirits around me… have they, abandoned me too? Was I… not strong enough after all? Was me and my friend's will not strong enough?
..
I felt myself being lifted up and struck repeatedly, each hit making the next seem less painful as the fog that clouded my mind made it harder and harder to feel or think about anything.
I am going to die, I know it… this is the end…
I heard someone screaming but now, I could not even decipher what she was saying, it was like hearing something from a badly tuned radio… I could hear her… but not understand her.
The flurry of pain from being hit intensified and I felt my body become limp from the assault… but I felt no pain at all… just numbness… I knew my body was shutting down and I, in a way welcomed that… it felt more peaceful that way… I could probably see the others in the afterlife… I have never welcomed death like how I did now… it will ease my suffering, my grief and my sadness…
..
..
Spirits… it's okay… you can take me… I… I have failed…
..
..
Then, I felt my body dropping… dropping perhaps to my death… ah, so it would be quick…
I struggled to smile but it just hurts so much that I gave up and waited for it… it might not be painless but… but why do I care now…
Good bye… everyone…
And…
I felt tears in my eyes and I opened my mouth, meaning to say I'm sorry but all that came out was a small croak.
I'm sorry… Suika… Marisa… I… I…
..
..
[Courage, Reimu.]
..
..
I heard a voice call and the next moment was just a blinding flash of light and the feeling of being lifted in the air as I felt energy surging through me again.
[?]
I… I…
..
[… w-what happened?]
I asked myself as I looked at myself in disbelief, it was like I was never attacked, had never gone through the ordeal that threatened to break me and as I looked around, I was overcame with relief and joy at seeing Gensokyo restored to it's former glory.
I could take in the sight all day, it was that beautiful and breathtaking…
Somehow, somehow Gensokyo was saved… who had done it? Who had saved me?
[….?]
I felt two tugs on my shoulders and I looked down to see the two fairies, both looking very cheerful reaching out and poking my cheeks.
[h-hey, stop that you two…]
I laughed and I realized how long it had since I truly laughed. The ordeal might have only taken a few hours but it felt like a lifetime… now, it was like a burden had lifted off my back and I breathed in relief. It felt good, like I was alive again as I cuddled the two of them in my arms.
..
..
[W-Where's… Yukari…]
I could not see her, where was she? The last I saw her… or the last that I thought I saw her was when she… was…
[about to kill me…]
I lowered my head and bit my lip, it hurts to know the truth. Yukari was truly about to kill me… but what happened to her? Where… is she?
..
[… !]
I gave out a cry as all of a sudden, I felt my body seizing up and I hugged myself in pain. Something… something… was wrong… I… I…
I felt tremendous pain and I dropped from the sky despite my two companions trying desperately to keep me afloat. W-What was happening? I… I can't…
[… Ah!]
As I dropped, I felt something drop from between the pockets in my sleeves despite my fading consciousness and my eyes opened wide when I saw what it was.
[NO!]
It was Marisa's Hakkero and I frantically tried to grab it as I fell towards the earth. I just did not want to lose it, so intent was I that I did give a further thought of what might happen next and what I could do… I just wanted to retrieve the Hakkero, the precious thing to Marisa despite my fading consciousness.
As I reached out to it, I heard a swooshing sound and the next moment, I found myself in the arms of someone.
..
..
[Yo, Thanks for holding that on for me, Reimu… appreciate it, ze!]
..
..
[Marisa! MARISA!]
I heard someone call out and I immediately ran towards the approaching figure from the sky. We saw Reimu dropping from the sky and although one of the tengu sped off to catch her, someone else was there before her. A person so quick that she was a blur till she sped towards the Shrine and the telltale signs of the stars blazing behind her was seen.
[Marisa!]
I called out to her and I swore I saw her waving at me. This is wonderful! Gensokyo is saved again and Marisa and Reimu were reunited! Is there something that could be better?
..
[Yo! How's everyone!]
She grinned as she hovered above us, riding her favorite broom, Starlight as she cradled Reimu in her arms. Both of them looked tired and who could blame them. One had just saved Gensokyo and the other no doubt had a tough time with Yukari…
[You're looking torn up there, Suika.]
She remarked as she finally stopped near Suika.
[shuddup…]
Suika shouted back at her but she was in no mood to fight, we all could see that as she struggled to get up. This was the moment Suika had been waiting for, her reunion with Reimu.
Suika really loved Reimu, something that we all experienced firsthand when Suika would risk her life and limb for her.
[Reimu, see that? It's Suika… c'mon… I know you're tired but you should at least talk to her.]
Marisa grinned in concern as Reimu seemed to be in a daze, was the ordeal so tough on her?
..
[M-Marisa… Suika…]
She managed to croak as she held Suika's hand. Suika seemed a little lost for words as she grabbed on while we gathered around them.
[…Reimu? Don't talk… you're, you're tired right… ahaha… you can rest, Reimu… don't try to talk if it's too tough for you.]
It was too late when I sensed that something was wrong. She was too weak, I should have known when I saw how careful Marisa was with her.
[Yagokoro!]
I shouted for her but I could hear Reimu coughing as she told Suika and Marisa.
[I-I love you… Suika, Marisa… ahaha…]
[Reimu?]
[Reimu!]
[Sorry… I-I'm sorry…]
..
[Reimu?]
[Reimu?]
[REIMU!]
[NO, REIMU!]
Author's Note: No, there will be an update after this.