Epilogue

After one turns 100 life starts to change meaning, the worries of countries, the worries of religions stop to have that much meaning, the line between science and magic begins to fade, different ways of looking at the world, nonetheless it is the same world, the facts are the same, regardless of perception.

Kaori did expect to reach this age, but she expected time to have an effect on her. She had received much fortune in her life, but the fortune of aging, the fortune of reaching the afterlife was not one of those. Kaori did not feel old either, that burning desire for change still remained inside of her, but now no church followed her moral code.

In her many travels she saw the stars, she saw other planets and galaxies. She understood how small humanity was, and how important she was to the rest of life. Her fame had become far and wide, in fact only eight people had managed to best Yuuka in combat, surviving was already a feat onto itself, much less winning.

The tree of life reached its branches in many places, and she was either venerated or feared, depending on which planet they were. Plant life was present in all planets, and their flowers provide nourishment to countless planets in numerous galaxies.

Those who best her without knowing had released their bodies of the curse of the original sin. The eight Chiranjivis, the long lived ones who will die along with the universe. Death itself is scared of Yuuka, and those who best her inherently have scared death too, if they can stand up to the tree of life itself, they can stand up to death itself.

Kaori was the eighth, thought to be just a legend, an error in the prophecies, that only seven would be capable of beating her, and Yuuka herself was the eighth, but now those who doubted were proven wrong.

Kaori was perhaps the only one who was not tied down to one place, but to a cause. The only one willing to drift endlessly in the vastness of space. Many enemies decided to forfeit, or out right kill themselves the moment she showed up. They were already terrified of Yuuka, they did not want to know those who could best her.

Gensokyo was the only place where this fame didn't matter, after all the place was full of great old ones. Yog Sothoth holds the gate and the key, Yog Sothoth created the barrier to Gensokyo, as to let sleep the great old ones and live an idyllic dream. Let them think of themselves as human, let them enjoy a simple life. That was the only importance of earth, a prison and a paradise. Kaori came from such a place, among them she was strong, and she ignored how precious of a gift that is.

On her hundredth birthday she found a box at the foot of her bed. It was made out of petrified wood, with gold inlaid in carvings with flowers. She opened the box to find that the inside was much larger than what the box appeared to be, red felt covered the inside, and in the center carefully put together a gun.

A shining revolver with a wooden grip, by the looks of it a newly made piece in the likeness of old revolvers. And bullets, many bullets, Nine heavier than the rest, hollow point with a shining head. Under the gun there was a letter.

"Happy birthday" written by quill and black ink

Under that a note written with a ball point and a different handwriting "Please test light and medium bullets before use. Heavy ones were only made upon Yuuka's request. POSITIVELY DO NOT FIRE"

Kaori lifted one of the heavier ones. This was Yuuka's sword, she had not reforged it, instead she had turned it into this, the core of a primordial star. Kaori did not know why but she would certainly follow that advice. She did not know that the material of those bullets made Neutronium seem like child's play. Firing one of the heavy bullets at a planet would cause all life in said place to end. Firing it at a black hole would turn it into a star.

The lighter ones for sure had a shard of said material too, an atom of it. They were capable of taking down dragons with a few rounds. Medium ones could end entire cities.

"Why now?" She said to herself

The door unlocked, and a woman came in, she was not a member of the church, she wore a red blazer and red cotton pants, a purple blouse with the last button left loose. Kaori recognized the craftsmanship anywhere, the suit was armor on its own.

Kaori placed her hand over the hilt of her sword. The sword moved away from her grip.

"Fairies consider their adulthood at 100 years, only adults are allowed to carry weapons"

That face seemed familiar, someone she had not seen for a long time. "A servant of Yuuka?"

"Misaka would rather not have you stating the obvious. Misaka left the room assuming you would like some privacy when waking up"

"There are protective spells in this place, how did you get in?"

"The trajectory of an electron is merely probabilistic, to get from point A to point B the electron could go to the edge of the galaxy then to B" She shrugged "I am just capable of controlling my own electrons" She smiled "Back to the matter of the box. For a fairy to get the right to carry weapons they have to best another in combat, they have to beat an armed fairy without weapons. The usage of toys is allowed"

"I can show you how much of a toy my sword is"

Misaka laughed a little when she heard that "The weapon is an acknowledgment. Now that you proved you can fight a fairy armed only with toys you are given a real weapon… Crafted from the very one you destroyed. Misaka has to clarify, a weapon to Yuuka is what we would call a doomsday device"

Kaori picked up the pistol, she loaded one of the bullets. This time Misaka looked worried.

"Leave!"

Misaka disappeared, a flurry of electrical arcs of light.

Misaka had an open notepad, she crossed out one item on the list. She was now in a hospital, she left a bouquet of flowers next to a sleeping man. An older version of herself read a book silently. Misaka pulled out a paper flower from her breast pocket and handed it to her. She looked about 70, even though she was close to 90. Free radicals do not affect electric ESPers as much as it does others.

The other one was surprised to see this version of herself. Misaka winked and left the room.

Now she was in a library, this was a maze onto itself, and navigation inside the space was not fully what one would expect. Misaka simply followed the yellow arrows on the shelves. In a desk there were two women, a witch and a nun.

"You owe me dinner!" Said the nun

The witch closed the book in front of her "The birthday of Kanzaki Kaori. I thought she would come here in person"

"You think the tree of life would come to pay you a visit for someone else's birth day?" Index said with a grin "Your will is not strong enough to make that happen"

"It was long ago…"

Misaka smirked "It wasn't your will, it was what you offered. Misaka says as she leaves a flower as a token of good faith"

She left again, this time her list was complete.

Index looked at the flower "So you gave the tree of life a human with the potential of becoming a God… You littered the city with them"

Aleister, the witch shrugged "It was hit or miss, but now I paid my debt with Babalon"

"You say you wanted magic gone… But we both know that failed because it is a lie, you want what every human wants, transcendence to not be forgotten in a billion years" Index said with a smile "The only people remembered after a billion years are gods and their servants. Or tell me, was that fortune and misfortune bit really true? After all those who survive misfortune come out stronger"

"Someone has been dreaming"

"I just read your notes" Index served herself some tea and continued reading.