Thank you for your attentions, James Birdsong and UnconsciousFake. About your review, Derago, it doesn't work that way. The mini-clone doesn't alter the person herself, but the situation around her. Her characters remain the same as before.
With that out, enjoy the fourth chapter!
And a warning: despite being in a normal fiction category, this story contains a LOT of crossover universe inside.
The kotatsu has been moved away from the main room, and Reimu among the others have put the tables around the room. It's now filled with people, so she has to also start bringing the food out for everyone. Thankfully, Alice has helped her by lending her dolls, and Sakuya who surprisingly arrived early to help, so she doesn't have to go back-and-forth between the main room and the kitchen too much.
When everything's in place, Reimu sits down near the 'interview table', just in time Aya starts her questioning: "Okay, everyone gathers! Now, mister Kuro, can you say something about yourself?"
"Hey now, I can't just spill out everything about my private life, can I?" Kuro jokingly replies. "Well, first thing first. The name is Kuro, and I am a traveler and sort-of mercenary. I go around the world and do whatever I can to help people in need."
"A traveler, huh? So, how did you find out Gensokyo? The barrier prevents people from recognizing the place being existing."
"Ah… I was in the search of the copies of a dangerous book, called 'Book of Shadow'." Kuro reveals. "I happened to find its presence in this place… and I made a contact with her." He points his finger to the Youkai Sage.
"…Does that book contain spells that could revive dead people?" Everyone turns to Patchouli. "I found it when the mansion wasn't in Gensokyo. However, those spells were too deadly, and when I tried some less-lethal ones, none worked."
That makes the man stiffen up a bit. "…Are you sure that none worked? Or was there any visible fails?"
The librarian shakes her head. "Nothing unusual after that."
That comes with a sigh of relief. "Thanks the god… where was it now?"
"Sealed in my place. What are you planning to do with it? We have tried, and failed, to destroy it." Patchouli asks, slightly interested at the one object being mentioned after a long time.
"Well, I have the original, and I could destroy the copies with its real spells…"
"Hang on for a second." Aya interrupts. "There is a book that could revive dead people?"
"With a heavy cost." Kuro continues. "And it's not very pretty."
"Well… change of subject!" Aya decides to not continue that matter. "Where are you from, your hometown I mean? Your appearance doesn't look like you're from Japan. Your face looks kinda like the Gatekeeper, though."
"…Uh, gatekeeper?" Kuro asks back in confusion.
"Ah, right, you haven't seen her. She's from China, you see…" Immediately Kuro facepalms then chuckles, causing Aya to ask: "What's wrong?"
"I…was being mistaken as them many times." He answers. "But no, I'm not from there, but a country directly at its South."
Reimu watches as Aya's questions starting to get personal. She focuses on the outsider's expression, and sees his smile being a little forced. Though, his gestures show that he's ready for the interview. She guesses that, being a celebrity, he's used to this kind of event. She then looks around to see everyone already gathering around, trying to hear as many things from the outsider as possible…
"So he's not as bad as I thought." Alice whispers to the maiden. "But Reimu, I notice that you have been staring for him for a long time. What is it?"
Reimu whispers back: "It's…something about him… I feel like I have met him somewhere…"
"Maybe it's because you have encountered a few outsiders before." Alice suggests.
"…Maybe. But I think it's more complicated…"
"It is." The two turn to see Satori leaning to them. "So far, the outsiders Yukari has dropped in were nobodies. Some of them have lived peacefully now in the village, but the others didn't have the same luck. A unique outsider like this Kuro is a mystery."
"You can speak a person's mind…" Reimu states, only to see the elder sister shaking her head. "…You can't read his?"
"Koishi couldn't hide herself from him." Satori reveals more. "He seemed to either be able to stop time like Sakuya, or teleport like you when he dodged Orin and Utsuho's attacks."
"…Did they…"
"They used Danmaku, so don't worry." The master assures.
Reimu then glances towards Yukari, and sees… solemn in her eyes. That kind of expression can only be seen when she talked about some of her friends' deaths, like Yuyuko for example. She needs to find out why this person is THIS important for Yukari to have him meet with the major people in Gensokyo.
"Hey Patchouli, I heard that you're heading here early." Just the moment after sunset, the rest of SDM's crew appears at the front door of the shrine, as the eldest mistress asks for her library friend. "Have you finished what you have planned?"
Patchouli temporarily lowers her book down and answers: "Unfortunately, my spells failed. But, seems like my intervention was not needed. The culprit himself has lifted that one away by himself."
Following the glance, Remilia finally notices the new face in the group. "Ah, that's the outsider that…" Then, she notices that her sister is walking to him, as the person watches Flandre getting closer to him. "What are you doing?"
The girl's face then closes in and in front of Kuro's face… and she sniffs. "Hm… hm… hey! Are you a vampire?"
"…Eh…" He doesn't immediately answer…
"No way! 'The new outsider is actually a vampire in disguised'! That has to be the biggest news!" And Aya responds by writing down in her notebook, and causes a chain reaction of shock and awe.
Flandre plans to ask further, when Kuro puts a finger on her lips to shut her up, then looks to the lousy audience behind him, making them stop shouting for a moment. He then retracts his finger and asks her: "May I ask why you declared that?"
"Well…" Flandre explains herself. "You smell just like one! But… that scent seems to be… a little feminine…"
"…Of…course…" Slowly turning his head to the Youkai Sage, he sends the woman the 'playful hatred' glance as he says to her: "Of course… that's why you decided to drop me in… after THAT, huh?"
The SDM then comes inside, and Remilia asks: "So you're admitting that you're one?"
"No. What I'm saying is that I know how she found out the scent." Kuro explains.
"Aw…" Aya's shoulder drop a bit. "I thought it's going to be a shock news."
"Well, sorry for disappointing you." Kuro sarcastically says.
"So, what's the reason, aside from the possibility of you being a vampire?" Mokou returns back to the subject.
"Ah, that… before I was teleported here by our truly Youkai, I have… 'anticipated an event' with a vampire. That probably left her scent on me." Kuro says, as he makes quotation marks with both his hands.
"Ah, you know one of us in the outside world?" Remilia asks, interested in the development. "You must be close to her that you would let her suck your blood."
"Uh… think again…" Kuro remakes the quotation marks. "Anyway…"
…
The Time Maid then turns her head to the kitchen… and she stops the time, stands up and pulls out one of her knives and rushes to the person standing at the door… and she puts the knife on the person's neck… "Who are you?"
"Doesn't recognize your face?" The doppelganger of her replies. "But, to be serious, I'm your clone, created by his power."
"…Give me a reason to not kill you right now."
"It's because I'm not planning to kill you." The real maid turns to see the outsider looking at her, completely unaffected by her Time Stop. "Her appearance is just for fun."
"…Who are you?" Sakuya asks, her guard keeps up high.
"He will say it soon." The clone answers in his place. "Sir Kuro, I will take the leave."
"Of course, you're dismissed." The clone nods and pulls out her own clock… and she disappears.
"…" The real maid takes a moment to register the situation, then she turns to Kuro. "What do you want?"
"Please, I mean no harm." Raising his hands up in surrender, he replies. "Just go back to your seat, and I will reveal myself."
"…"
…
"Actually, you might know who she is. Ever heard of a Dark Evangel?"
"…That's a name I haven't heard for a long time." Remilia covers her mouth with her left hand to hide her surprising expression. "The Gospel of Darkness herself… befriending a human…"
"Wow, the story is getting interesting! Who's this Dark Evangel?" Aya is eager to find out.
"I don't think we should have a horror story in a New Year's party now." Kuro lightly reminds everyone. "How about we enjoy the party first before…"
"Hey! Is that Rinnosuke?" Marisa suddenly points out of the shrine while laughing.
Everyone turns to the direction to see a pink armor walking to them. Reimu immediately facepalms when she sees it and says: "My freaking eyes… I never thought he would wear it here…"
"Hello everyone!" The person greets everyone, with a very strange high-pit voice and a very… feminine way of talking. "Sorry for being a little late! Deary Keine wanted me to help her with some small works, and I can't decline her request!"
"Wh…What *laughs* what is that?! Rinnosuke, what happened to your voice?" Aya laughs as she slaps her knee in a comedy way. "Trying something new for a new year?"
"Why not? I like to change once a while." The shopkeeper giggles, earning more laughs. He then turns to a surprised Kuro and greets him: "Ah, you're the famous celebrity from the outside world, right? The name is Rinnosuke, it's a pleasure to meet you."
After snapping out of his own shock, Kuro shakes his head to regain his focus, then stands up and gives the person a handshake. "It's… nice to meet you. I guess I won't be the only male here, huh?"
"Can't let you handle them by yourself." Rinnosuke pats the man's shoulder.
As the duo laughs, everyone chuckles at their antics. Even Reimu has to let out a smile and says: "Guess this party is going to be wild. Who am I kidding? Every party here is wild."
The time goes on, and many people enter the shrine to join the party. Most of them are having a bright smile on their faces as they enjoy the time of the year, and they go along with the new outsider very well. However, Reimu can see some of them being skeptical to him:
Keine. When she arrived, she's in a complete shock, but when Mokou asked her to join with, she dropped the shock and went along.
Shikieiki and Komachi. The latter actually didn't react to him much, but the former has sent him a suspicious glare to him throughout the party.
Sakuya. For some reasons she acted the same like the Yama when the rest of SDM joined the party.
Yuuka Kazami. However, she only had a look of curiosity on her face.
And a few more, but they didn't act as much as the mentioned. The maiden couldn't tell why, but these people must know something about him…
When the party nearly reaches midnight, most of the younger girls and the ones who can't withstand alcohol have dropped right on the floor, snoring soundly. That also includes the smaller Oni of the duo.
"The party is coming to an end, huh?" Kuro chuckles, as he watches the scene in front of him. "Does every party look like this?" His face is slightly red from all the alcohol he has consumed.
"They are." Reimu, slightly drunk, places her right elbow on his shoulders. "Though, you and Rinnosuke have hold yourself quite well. I was expecting you to drop before Suika."
"Well, I have my way." Kuro chuckles again…
Then, the temperature inside the shrine suddenly drops to near zero, causing everyone who's awake to turn their heads to the outsider, as he glares towards Yukari. The Youkai Sage sighs and says with her 'business' tone: "You have many questions for me, don't you?"
"Obviously." The hoodie he's wearing is instantly replaced with a lab coat, and the red color on his face vanishes. "Because the young girls are here, I'm not in the right position to ask those questions."
Because of it, everyone's guard raises up. Shikieiki plans to order Komachi to attack him, but Yukari speaks up first: "Everyone, please drop your suspicion. He's not here to harm us."
"I find it hard to believe." Mokou replies. "Even I felt that dreadful feeling…" A hand suddenly places on her shoulder, causing her turn back to see Keine with a sad face. "What is it?"
"Mokou… everyone, calm down." She's on Yukari's side. "Let him speak."
The others look at each other, measuring the actions… and they decide to follow, since Yukari and Keine are two of the most important figures that have good reputation.
"Thank you." The Youkai Sage nods, and turns back to the outsider. "So, what do you want to know first?"
"I will cut to the chase." Kuro starts. "First thing first: Have I existed before this point?"
"…What kind of question was that?" Mokou asks in confusion.
Yukari doesn't mind that remark, as she answers: "Yes. You existed for six years, before you disappeared fourteen years ago."
"…Fourteen years ago?" Reimu slams her hands on the table, as she glares to Yukari. "Yukari, did this man…"
"It's not that, Reimu. He didn't do that." Yukari denies. "However, he's responsible for their disappearances…"
"Her parents' disappearances, you say." Shikieki immediately understands what she's planning to say.
Pulling out her gohei and talisman, Reimu starts letting her power raise up. "Yukari… you should have told me sooner. I would have…"
"I know you would have punished him." Yukari interrupts. "Please, just let him ask the questions."
"…Yukari, the moment I find him to be potentially a threat…"
"I know. You can trust me, right?"
"…" Slowly, Reimu calls back her power. "Alright."
"… That's not the power of a miko." Kuro suddenly states, startling the maiden. "…Anyway, here's my second question. Why didn't you tell me that there are more than one of the copies of 'Book of Shadow' and 'Book of Eibon'? Even when they're sealed, they still possessed a threat."
"Then you don't have to worry. Other than the one in Voile Magic Library, the others are now completely harmless, waiting for you to destroy."
"…We will see." He then pushes his hand into one of his pocket and pulls out a Hakkero, which is similar to Marisa's one. Then, he uses his magic to dissemble the item… revealing a small ring in it…
"How did you get it?" Reimu nearly shouts, making everyone turn to her in surprise.
"I gave him, Reimu." Yukari answers.
"Why?"
"That's my third question." Kuro interjects. "The truth is that, one of the businesses I have here is with you, miss Hakurei." That kind of formality unnerves her, because in the party, he would just call her by her name. "And… my first assumption was to engage a marriage with you, in order to keep the bloodline alive."
Every sound drops, as everyone tries to consume the info…
"You said, 'my first assumption'." Patchouli states. "Why?"
Kuro sighs. "You have known that Yukari and I have talked before, right? She didn't specify it, but she gave me the Hakkero, which I didn't know that the ring was in it until later in the future, and hinted that it's for marriage. That's why I had the assumption. However… after Yuugi told me the relationship between the Youkai Sage and the Maiden of Hakurei, my business here is not directly to her."
"…It's really you." Keine says, and everyone turns to see a small tear in her right eye. "Fourteen years…"
"…" Kuro turns to look at Yukari directly in the eyes… then turns to the pink-armor Rinnosuke. "And here is my last question to you, Yukari Yakumo." Everyone gulps when he says it with such authority and demands. "…Why didn't you tell me that, one of your natives is MY old citizen?"
Again, silence of the night occurs. Reimu tries to register what he just asked. Yes, he did say that he actually rules over a nation. But, what did he mean by 'old citizen', and why he seemed to be extremely upset when he asked it?
"First, you didn't bother to ask." Surprisingly, Yukari replies with calmness. "Second, since you would just leave them be…"
"What if they didn't know what happened after 'that'?" Kuro criticizes. "I don't want any of them to be in the dark…"
"She told us already." Rinnosuke speaks up, having pulled out the helmet and looks at the outsider. "Don't worry, you told us too."
"…Us." Kuro repeats the last word, earning a nod from Rinnosuke. "..." Kuro doesn't say anything at first, as he places the ring on the table… then: "Yukari… I'm not returning now."
"I don't expect you to do so." Yukari understands. "Take your time in the present first. Then, you can repeat what you have done before."
He sighs in relief. "Thanks…"
"Lady Yukari." Ran interrupts. "Most of us don't have that much patient in us. Please tell us who he really is."
"It's not about who I am, but who I will be, miss Ran." Kuro interrupts. Then he turns to Reimu, and asks: "Miss Hakurei… how much do you remember about your parents?"
"Why do you need to know?" Reimu asks back.
"Because…" Kuro bites his lower lip to hold his words for a moment. Then, he continues: "Is there anything special about them that you remember?"
The maiden is not happy that this outsider wants to know about her privacy life. But, since it's something very important, she lets it go for a moment. "I don't believe it to be something special, but…" She then reaches to her sleeves and pulls out a flute. "It's something from my mother. Occasionally, she and my father would play a song at nights. But, aside from us, nobody seems to be able to hear the song."
"…" Kuro lets out a very long sigh. He then turns to Rinnosuke and asks: "You can hear it, do you?"
"Yes." He reveals. "But that's a secret till now."
Kuro nods and turns back to Reimu… "Please, what I say next is not a scam. Every question I ask, every statement I make, their purposes are to find out all the pieces of the full picture. And now, with the last piece… I can safely say that…" He takes a deep breath...
"You are… my daughter."
Chapter 4 end!
Yep, that's what I'm going to do with this story.
Also, if you want to know the crossover references:
Dark Evangel/Gospel of Darkness is from Negima.
Book of Shadow and Book of Eibon are from Corpse Party.
I will give out the explanation during the story, but if you didn't want to wait, you can check the stories in my 'main timeline' stories.
I think it's enough for now. See you all in the future!