Disclaimer: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona belongs to ATLUS. Touhou Project belongs to Zun. I have no ownership of the copyrights of either series in any way.
Chapter 11: TUTORIAL FIGHT! TUTORIAL FIGHT!
All I could do was stare at Alice… Yup, still staring.
"You can't be serious! You're an Ex-Boss!" Marisa yelled both in fear and skepticism… Ex-Boss?
"I am more than serious Marisa. I intend to teach him proper danmaku," Alice told Marisa in no uncertain terms. Alice seemed to revel in Marisa's panic. "Besides Marisa, you're number 2 in Gensokyo, it shouldn't be too bad for you." Now Alice is just rubbing it in.
"Ex-boss?" I ask out loud.
"Don't mind that. Just some banter Marisa and I play with," Alice told me. "Now without further delay, will you pick up the Shanghai doll?" She tells me as she gives me a look of expectation. I'm a bit hesitant to pick it up again though, considering what she was doing with it and how much she knows. "If I say I won't be using it to spy on you from now on, will you pick it up? I don't need it to do that now anyways since I'll be teaching you personally." Well she's got a point there. I go ahead and grab the doll and gently place into my coat pocket, making sure not to rough it up. Regardless of the circumstances, it was a gift after all. After that, I look up to see Alice staring intently at me.
"What?" I ask plainly.
"Hmmm… " Alice hums.
"Alice?" Marisa calls.
"Oh it's not important right now," Alice dismisses, and then turns back towards me. "Now without wasting any more time, we must be off now." She grabs the wrist of my right arm and starts to drag me across the room towards the exit.
"Whoa, hey!" I yell as she chafes my ass across the floor.
"We have no time to delay. A week's time will go by extraordinarily fast, and against Marisa, you'll need all the time you can get," Alice explains to me as I try to get out of her grip. It was at this time that Reimu decided to get back into the conversation.
"Hey! You can't just take my employee like that! He's still on the clock!" Reimu must really need the help.
"Master! I'm back with more snacks and tea!" And suddenly Ruukoto. I had almost forgotten she was here. She came in holding a tray of snacks and tea while wearing her smiley emoticon like expression with closed eyes. All of us stopped to stare at the maid that decided to show up at the weirdest time. Ruukoto ignored us and continued to the table in the center and placed the tray that held the snacks and tea on to the table without skipping a beat. Only when she sat down did she actually open her eyes to see what was around her… on that note it also scares me how she's more coordinated blind than with her eyes open. She, with an expression of curiosity, began to scan the room before her eyes fell upon me in the middle of being dragged out by Alice.
"Master? What's going on?" Ruukoto was now completely confused.
"Um…" I really don't know what I'm supposed to say now. Let's see here. I'm being dragged out by a girl who likes dolls and is going to teach me how to play the local game. Then my maid walked in and completely disrupted it. However, the worst thing is, is that I'm still hungry. "Hey Alice can I grab a snack?"
"No, we're leaving now." Awww…
"Master, where are you going?" Ruukoto asked.
"Alice is probably goin' to drag him to her home in the forest of magic." Marisa answered.
"Is that where we're going to Master?" Ruukoto asked me for confirmation, while making the assumption that she was coming with me.
"Hey!" Reimu interjected. "I'm not going to let you go off with another girl and leave me alone!"
"Um… Reimu? Do you mean that in a different way than what you just said?" I ask her cautiously.
"What do you… that's not what I meant! D-don't misunderstand me you jerk! I just need you to help with my shrine. It's not like I'm going to miss you personally or anything." Reimu crossed her arms triumphantly…
"...Anyways-"
"Don't ignore me!" Reimu interrupted me.
"I'm not!" I yell back, slightly annoyed, but not too miffed about it, though I did close my eyes and rub my nose to calm down. Upon opening my eyes I saw that everyone was surprised, especially Reimu, who looked scared. "Sorry, but I was just about to say what I'm going to do about this." I look at Reimu to get a confirmation. I probably looked ridiculous though, sprawled out on the floor with my arm currently held by Alice who was standing impatiently.
"A-All right, go ahead." Reimu was still a bit shaken from having been yelled at.
"Okay then, I'll be going with Alice to learn how to properly fight a spell card duel, BUT!" I make sure to yell so that Reimu wouldn't get the chance to interrupt, though she didn't look like she was going to. "I'll leave Ruukoto behind to work in my place while until I get back. Is that fine?" Reimu seemed to take my words in carefully before asking-
"You will come back, right?"
"I still work here, so yeah I will be coming back." I tell her.
"Well… I guess that's fine, but after your week is up, you have to come straight back to me."
"You mean to work, right?" I pointed out.
"T-to work! That's what I meant" Reimu hastily corrected herself.
"Ruukoto," I called as I turned to the maid. "I want you to stay here while I'm gone and clean the place until I get back, is that okay?"
"Is that an order, master?" Ruukoto asked back.
"Um…sure why not. It's an order."
"With pleasure master!" Ruukoto's big faced smile returned, but her voice seemed somewhat happier than before.
*CRACK*
Thou art I… And I am thou…
Thou hast tempered your bond…
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooses
To create a Persona of the Art Arcana…
I could feel my Social Link, becoming stronger… but just what did I do to make it so? This one is a bit weird… than again considering who it is with…
"If there's nothing else…" Alice took a second to sweep the room before resuming, "then we must be going."
"Don't run him into the ground," Marisa said cheekily.
"Trust me, with what I've seen him do; I don't think that would be an easy thing to do," Alice said sarcastically while passing me a glance. "Well let's go." She resumed dragging me across the floor and making our way out..
"Hey I can stand you know!" I tell her
"I know." Alice said apathetically.
"Good-bye master" I could hear Ruukoto in the distance.
"Then let me stand!"
"Remember you promised to come back here!" Reimu told me one last time.
"Hmmm, no; it's faster this way." Alice just kept on going on.
"By the way, my house is also in the forest of magic! Don't be afraid to say hi!" Marisa was the last one to yell.
"We're almost outside, and then we can begin flying."
"CAN I PLEASE GET ON MY GOD DAMN FEET!?"
Break
Alice's house was surprisingly normal. We were standing outside of it at the moment. It was a simple white home that looked to be but a single story tall but had a tower on its left side. Alice was currently heading to the door at the front which was colored a curious brown. The house was mostly painted white for that matter, but it looked orange thanks to the setting sun, though it was darker under the patio's roof.
"Well? Are you coming in or not?" Alice said as she opened the door to her home.
"…" Now that I've got a chance to think about it, since I've left, what am I going to do about Youmu and the people from the Ministry? In fact… huh?
"Oh? Somebody's coming?" Alice began to look up into the sky and I looked behind myself to follow where her gaze was to find something heading towards us at blinding speeds. Something mostly green with a white trail…
"Youmu?" I said out loud, and in fact, it was Youmu, who then proceeded to land with finesse and poise.
Her cool demeanor transferred to all her movements apparently. I could see that her eyes had closed from the landing, perhaps to not get dust in her eyes. As soon as she opened them however, I saw that her gaze was sharp like a blade and cut through the scenery before settling upon me. Our eyes met for just an… and she's behind me. I make quick turn to see Youmu pointing a blade at Alice, standing between me and the puppeteer as if she were defending something, her ghost half on target as if it were an option from a bullet hell game. Actually I think in her eyes, she did believe she was defending me.
"Stand down, half ghost. If it is about your charge, then he's here of his own free will," Alice stated, trying to get Youmu to sheathe her sword. Youmu however, kept her blade where it was like an unmoving wall. I better do something before this gets out of hand.
"She's right Youmu, I'm here by my own choice." Youmu's head snapped a few degrees in response. She stayed like that before asking-
"Why?" Youmu's tone was steely, but had a twinge that sounded almost like pleading.
"He's here to learn proper danmaku from me. He's to duel Marisa in a week, and he's not anywhere near ready right now, and won't be without a proper teacher," Alice answered for me.
"You could learn from me, then if that's the case," Youmu said in return.
"Aren't you supposed to be the Ghost Princess's sword teacher? How has that affair gone?" Alice countered… I thought she was the gardener?
"Urk!" Youmu seemed to be caught off guard by that. Her ghost half began to slacken as well. It was a few seconds before I decided to reply.
"Youmu," the half-ghost turned to me. "You're busy enough taking care of Yuyuko-san… and apparently being her sword instructor." Youmu became a little indignant from that last one." Sorry, but what I mean is, I'll be fine, don't worry."
"Are you sure? Are you really sure? Absolutely sure?" Youmu and her ghost-half were looking at me expectantly.
"I chooseth this fate of my own free will. I'll deal with the consequences of my actions when they come." I flash a reassuring smile to try and convince her. Youmu faced downwards, her ghost half also hid behind her.
"If you're sure… but if you sense any danger, don't hesitate to run. I'll cut her down the moment she tries anything." Youmu's tone was a bit shaky, but it had conviction.
"I'll keep that in mind," I tell her.
"If you're finished, can we get inside? The stew is getting colder by the minute." Alice chimed in, impatient, though I myself am starving as well.
"Well, I guess that's my cue to go. Take care Youmu, I'll be back home in a week."
"Your home?" she asked.
"Hakugyokurou; where else?" I mean I don't really have anywhere else to go.
"Your… home… Yes. Be sure to comeback home as soon as you can." Youmu and her ghost half perked up.
"I will. Now get going, I think Yuyuko-san is getting lonely."
"Of course, take care."
"See ya." And like that, Youmu flew off, perhaps even faster than when she arrived. I waved goodbye as she took off, but I'm not sure if she even saw now.
"She's seem quite fond of you," Alice said.
"Yeah, she's been good to me since I got here."
"That's not what I meant, but I suppose it is related. Well, I think we should get inside before the soup completely loses its warmth."
"Right." I am starving.
Break
"That soup was supposed to last me for at least 4 days. There was enough in there for me to eat for 4 days. How did you drink it all in less than A HALF HOUR!?" Alice was flabbergasted.
"I was hungry." Still am. "So what's for desert?"
"Nothing. I don't have any." Alice was still quite shocked from seeing her week's supply of food gone.
"Alright then." I looked out one of the windows. It was dark out now. I guess it's almost time to sleep. "So where will I be sleeping?"
"Huh? Right. I have a guest room over that way that I use for the random traveler if they pass by and need a place to sleep." Alice pointed to the room that would be mine for the next week the door to it looked simple enough. I also noticed as I looked around that the dolls are simply everywhere and seem really independent.
"Curious about them?" Alice noticed my gaze.
"Yeah… are they sentient?"
"No, not at all. I'm just very good at multitasking. I've done this for years, so I can make it seem like they're actual living creatures," Alice told me. "Anyways, enough about that, we'll be getting an early start tomorrow so get to bed."
"Of course." I make my way to the room Alice pointed me to and began to prepare for sleep. The room was bare like a motel room, perhaps to keep travelers more at home or more neutral. I sat on the bed and placed the doll in my coat pocket onto the desk that was by the bedside. After a few preparations, I took to the bed and looked out the window. It was a half-moon tonight. Then moon in the afterlife is always full. Well there's really nothing to it I suppose, at least now there isn't. I closed my eyes and let myself drift off… to…sle…
Break
"You're getting closer. I think we're going to meet very soon."
Break
Something's wrong. Something is terribly wrong. I open my eyes to find out what was happening… Green; an eerie green permeates the room. Damn it. I shift my sight over to where I remember seeing the moon from. It was a glowing yellow. Damn it. This can't be happening. I quickly run outside. This has to be a dream. This can't be happening. It can't be here. No… perhaps it can. I rush through the house and slam my way out the door. My worst fear was real.
Water, replaced by blood, the eerie green world of night, the moon, an ominous yellow, and high into the sky, a tower; without any other buildings around it, it stood alone, piercing the empty world above: Tartarus. I checked my MP3 to find that it was off, and couldn't be turned on despite my best efforts. So it's the actual Dark Hour… I thought it was lost to time… lost… right. This is Gensokyo, the land where lost and forgotten things go. Of course it could come here. I leaned on one of the beams that held the front patio's roof up. I needed a second to catch my breath.
"And here I thought it was gone for good," I told myself. The tower was just as I remembered it, it was strange how it was here despite Gekkoukan high not being anywhere around here, but it her was. I'm not going to question why it's here. I don't know enough about what's going on to make good questions anyways. I guess for now I better just-
The world suddenly shifted.
"Burn my Dread~" My MP3 is on… the world is back to its normal colors… the tower isn't there anymore, it's just gone… I guess I must have woken up at the tail end of the Dark Hour. I turn my MP3 off. I guess I better get to sleep. I need to be wide awake before I can fully register what just happened. I turn back around to face the door, but something catches my eye. Something was glowing a pale blue light.
I shift my eyes to find that it was a butterfly. As if it knows I see it, it darts out of site behind one of the house's corners. I guess it wants me to follow it. I make my way to where it was and as soon as I get around the corner, I found the butterfly fluttering in place before flying straight into the wall and disappearing into a final shimmer. I walk up to the wall where it faded and suddenly-*Bam*- a flash of light suddenly appeared. I closed my eyes in response, and as I opened them, in the same place as the butterfly flew into, a door appeared; a velvet door. I could now consciously feel the key in my pocket.
"I guess I better go in…"
Break
The room was the same as it was last time I was here; glass walls and dichotomic backgrounds featuring a city scape and wilderness. There was something different this time however. Igor and Theo were nowhere to be found. No matter where I looked, there was no one there… but I could feel a tingly sensation. No… someone is here… they're here in the world of the subconscious.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" I ask, hoping someone will answer.
"Yay! You're here!" That voice! Wait. What voice… why is it so familiar? "You're finally here!" the voice shouts again. I blink for a second, surprised that I even got a response. I take one more look around, but I still can't see anyone. "Up here, silly." I take the voice's advice place my gaze upwards.
Sure enough, there is someone above me. She was a very young looking, almost little sister like, girl who had strikingly greenish yellowish wavy short hair with eyes just as green. For that matter, the eyes were also glowing and were, as a result, incredibly eerie. Especially so when placed in contrast to the normally sullen and dark room we were currently in. She wore a loud orange blouse that had a green collar and diamond buttons which lay upon a green, floral patterned, skirt. Lastly, on her head was a dainty dome black hat that was tied with a nice yellow ribbon at the brim… oh right. She also had some bluish purple ball that had some sort of rope thing coming from it that went all over the place around her. I wonder what that is…
"Hello, I'm Minato Arisato. What's your name?" I greeted the young girl. She had me completely off guard earlier. If she wanted to, she could have taken me out then. The fact that she didn't means something, but what?
"Koishi! Koishi Komeiji. We're finally talking to each other!" the girl said enthusiastically.
"I suppose…?"
"You don't remember? That's weird. Usually I'm the one who forgets things." The girl seemed genuinely surprised.
"Have we met before?" I don't remember her at all.
"You came here a few times, but you were always sleepy when you came. I tried talking to you, but you kept disappearing. Then you'd come back. Then you'd go."Koishi's tone was quite cheerful... disturbingly so actually.
"Wait, those dreams. Now I remember. I felt like I was in the Velvet Room, but there was someone else there. Was that… actually, yeah, it probably was you." She just said she met me when I was sleepy. "So how did you get in here? Have you seen anyone else?" Specifically, Igor and Theo.
"Yeah! There was this old man, and this uncle in blue clothes! They said that I could stay here if I ask you. Oh! I forgot to ask, can I stay here?" The girl hadn't answered my first question, but I might as well answer her honestly.
"I really don't know."
"Please? I promise I'll be good." She was now pleading with her eyes as well… Damn it. Why the hell not.
"Sure, for now. But you have to keep your promise." This room is tied to my destiny, right? I'm sure she's got something to do with it if she's in here.
"I promise! Onee-chan always said to keep your promises. Thank you Onii-chan."
*CRACK*
Thou art I… And I am thou…
Thou hast established a new bond…
It shalt further stretch your Universe
Thou shalt have our blessing when thou chooses
To create a Persona of the Jester Arcana…
0… the fool, or at least the equivalent of it. Empty, but filled with possibilities. I wonder, just what possibilities will come from this?
"Onii-chan? You were staring off into space." Koishi snapped back to reality.
"Huh? Oh sorry." It's always a bit distracting. "By the way, why do you call me Onii-chan?"
"I can't?" Koishi seemed to almost be whimpering.
"Well, you can if you want to I guess." I just can't say no to that. Her smile immediately returned after that. You know what, I'll that slide. "You still haven't told me how you got here though." That one however, I can't let slide.
"I don't know. One day, I was just wandering on my own and the next I was here. I'm not sure how." How do you end up in a world of the subconscious from just wandering around? You know what? I don't think I'll get anything meaningful from asking her. That and I don't want to push her too much. I don't think I could stand to see her cry. "I do like it here though, my head feels so much clearer than before, it's like my third eye is open again."
"You're what?"
"My third eye." She grabbed her bluish ball thingy. "It's right here on my heart!" She held her… wait did she say heart!?
"That's your heart?" I ask cautiously.
"Yes!" It was creepy how cheerful that answer was.
"The one that pumps blood…"
"I think that's what Onee-chan told me."
"You know what, I'm not going to question it right now. I'm too tired to think about that. I do need to know one other thing though. Do you know when the others will get back?" I need to know when I can see Igor and Theo.
"They said they'll be back soon. They said something about preparations for a new guest… or something. I wasn't paying too much attention." A new…. Guest… what Koishi just told me is… interesting.
"…So they'll be back soon?"
"Uh-huh!" Koishi said with a nod. Then I can't do anything right now…
"Um… Onii-chan's got to go now." I told her carefully so as not to upset her too much.
"Will you come back and play with Koishi?" she asked me with another pleading look, complete with puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah, I'll make sure of it, but you have to be a good girl okay?" She's a Social link, and a damn interesting one at that. Also again, I can't say no to that. I think I'd die before I could... figuratively speaking.
"Okay! I will! Bye-Bye Onii-chan!" I made my own wave good bye as she waved her arms at me, her huge sleeves still covering her hands. The world began to brighten.
Break
It was still night out. It wasn't the Dark Hour, but perhaps that was for the best. I took a look at the sky. Yup the moon was still it's usual color, rather than sickly yellow. All was nice an-
"THERE YOU ARE!" Me and my big thought bubble. I turn to where the shout came from to see two winged bodies flying towards me, one smaller than the other. Of course that meant one came into view faster than the other… oh boy. Christmas came early this year. Santa Cirno's come to deliver the winter.
"YOU'RE MINE!" And suddenly a blast of liquid of was launched at me. I quickly got out of the way of it so as to stay dry. When it made contact, the ground and grass around it immediately froze over… wasn't that a liquid? "HOLD STILL YOU!"
"Hell no!" If that was a liquid, and it was that cold, then… holy mother of… does ice resistance carry over to this?
"Eye'm gonna win this time, and then Eye'm-"
"STOP!" Cirno and I both turn to see just who was intervening. It was the second body I saw in the distance just before… Daiyousei… how do I know her name? "Please stop! No fighting, at least not without spell cards…" She became meek after shouting her lungs out.
"Speak up! Eye can't hear you!" Cirno shouted.
"She said no fighting, idiot."
"Eye'm not an idiot!"
"PLEASE BE QUIET!" Daiyousei shouted at the top of her lungs. The green haired fairy turned and flew over to where I was, touched down, and began to bow. "I'm sorry. I tried to stop her, but-"
"Say no more, I get it." I mean what could she have done to stop Cirno anyways since Cirno was already flying off? ... What?
"Hey! Eye'm not done ye-"
"What's all the noise?" Alice came out of the house. She probably came out to see what was happening. "Oh, it's just fairies."
"Alice!" I shouted in surprise.
"Yes? Oh, Minato. Just ignore them and come back inside. You're going to need as much rest as possible for training tomorrow."
"Hey! Eye was just about to challenge him!" Cirno was determined I'll give her that, stupid as she may be.
"Hmm? Right, the idiot fairy. I thought that was you." Alice turned to me for a second before turning back to the fairy.
"I suppose this is quite serendipitous. Alright then, how about I duel you instead?" Alice proposed a proposal which surprised me.
"No! Eye want to duel him!" Cirno was now pointing at me. It's rude to point.
"If you beat me, then I'll let you duel him. Do we have a deal." This was a completely stupid proposition now that I think about it. There's no honest reason why Cirno should accept. Cirno could just challenge me directly and bypass Alice.
"Fine, Eye'm the strongest anyways. It'll be no problem." And of course the stupid would take it.
"Tomorrow evening then? I'm busy for most of tomorrow," Alice said, setting the terms of engagement.
"Can you remember that for me Daiyousei?" I'm not entirely shocked that Cirno had to ask her friend for that.
"Okay…" Daiyousei replied, her tone meek.
"Okay! I'll be back tomorrow, but you better not be late." How would Alice be late to getting to her own house? And then Cirno flew off into the distance before any of us could reply.
"Cirno, not so fast! You got lost last time!" Daiyousei gave chase after her friend, leaving it to just me and Alice.
"I'm going back to sleep, you should as well." Alice said while her hands reached into her shirt for something.
"Right." Alice then took her hand out of her shirt, grabbed my hand and placed something in it.
"You forgot this." What she handed to me was the doll she used to spy on me. "While under my tutelage, you are not to leave that behind. Keep it on you at all times."
"Yes ma'am." She's the teacher, so I guess I should follow her rules.
"Good, well don't stay up too late." Alice walked back inside the house. I took one last look at the moon. A waning gibbous…
Break
"Good morning." Alice said from the breakfast table. I just got up a few minutes ago and came out to see what that smell was. Turns out it was a western style breakfast; fruit, salad, eggs, bacon, pancakes and syrup, the works. "Have a seat, and here." She handed me a plate that already had a set amount on it. "You're only allowed to eat that much."
"Aw come on. Why only that?" I mean it's not a small amount. It's just that I don't think it's enough for me.
"Two reasons: One, you'll eat me out of house and home if I don't control your diet, and two, you need to eat light so that you won't get cramps during training." Alice's reasoning was questionable, but okay.
"But I was going to eat light."
"You'll eat light according to the common definition of light." Alice was quick to respond. I was about to give my own response, but – "And if you complain, then I will let you eat it all and we won't have anything to eat for the rest of the week, and it will be your entire fault." Okay fine, I guess she's right… "If that's settled, then enjoy, I personally made this today."
"Personally? Do you use your dolls to cook?"
"Very perceptive. I can see that teaching you won't be quite as much a chore as I thought it was going to be," Alice said smugly as she moved on to her toast. "So how is my cooking?"
"It's pretty good," I said, a fork of salad in one hand, and a cut of pancakes in the other. "I haven't had this kind of breakfast in a while."
"Oh? Right. I do remember that Youmu mostly cooks Japanese food." So her spying could go that far…
"So when do we start?"
"We'll start about 30 minutes after you finishing eating. I don't want you hurting yourself. It will only waste more time during actual training. Don't hurry either, that will make it worse too." Alice was quite personable now that she wasn't around Marisa.
"I know." Those are all common basic things.
"Well so long as you follow through… by the way, do you mind if we discuss you abili-"
*Knock**Knock*
"Oh now who could that be?" Alice headed to the door, somewhat annoyed at having been cut off by whoever stopped by. This stuff is actually pretty good. This syrup's homemade?
"Oh it's… Hey! What are you doing!?" Alice?
"Minato-kun!" Sanae? Yeah it is her, and she's coming this way at quite a pace.
"Not now, I'm savoring the bacon." It's bacon, there's nothing more I need to say.
"Pardon the intrusion."
"Yo, don't mind us." Are those voices… Shiki and Komachi? They're here too? Oh well, I'm down to my last strip… have to savor this-
*Glomp*
"Minato-kun! Are you okay? You aren't hurt are you?" No… my bacon… quick! Ten second rule.
"I'm sorry, but I need to administer emergency treatment now!" I shook Sanae off as gently as I could afford, and made a break for it. Come on ten second rule. Don't fail me now! Almost there! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!
*Swish*…
… The doll swept it away… the doll that was cleaning the floor… took my bacon… NOOOOOOOOOOOO-
"Minato-kun… you're awfully quiet…" – OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
"My bacon…"
"Um… oh right, you were always a bit of glutton weren't you…" Sanae backed away… slowly.
"What are you doing on the floor? Take a seat, we're going to continue our conversation from yesterday." I think that was Shiki's voice, but all I could see was the floor; cold, unfeeling, without bacon.
"Hey what's the holdup, man? Get your butt in a seat and let's get this over with. I have to get back to my regular day job after this." Komachi was the first to take a seat if the creaking and sliding sounds were to be believed. Two more chunks of the same kinds of noises came after, presumably by Sanae and Shiki.
"Please send me a notice before you people do something like this. I didn't have time to properly prepare my home for a visit by guests of your caliber." Alice came back into the dining room and took her own seat. "I'll give you another strip later." Well okay!
"Okay…" I got up from the floor and placed myself in the seat I was in before. Now time to eat some fruit.
"Also, what business do you have here, demi-goddess?" Alice asked Sanae, giving her a curious, and, somewhat, hostile glare.
"I was worried about what my friend was doing in a Youkai Magician's home. Even if you were once human, I can't be sure what's going to happen to him." Was Sanae always this overprotective? She was returning Alice's expression exactly. Her tone was also a bit aggressive.
"Sanae." She turns to me as I call her name.
"Yes?" Her voice had become relaxed.
"I'm fine. Alice has actually been quite cordial." I wonder what fruit it is I'm eating right now.
"You're sure?"
"Positive Sanae, if I'm not, then I can just send this place to Armageddon." Wouldn't it be the first time, and I'll be sure it won't be the last.
"Please don't, and at any rate, let us get on to business." Shiki cut in to get us back on track.
"Right," I said in confirmation as Sanae, Alice, and I all focused on the Yama, her shinigami assistant lazing back, crunching into an apple that was on the table…ironically enough. Shiki looked around the table to make sure that she had the floor.
"I see you're doing well for yourself, Arisato-san." Shiki looked to me.
"I guess. I haven't gotten hurt too badly." Nothing can really scratch me here in Gensokyo, even without the orb… speaking of whi-
"Now as you most likely remember, the Ministry was unable to provide ample recompense during our last meeting."
"I don't know. I did like the charm you gave me."
"And I am happy to hear that. However, the Ministry, as well as myself included, believe it to be quite inadequate to award you for your sacrifice."
"I'm going to guess this sacrifice was his life then?" Sanae, she may not know everything, but she's still quite sharp on the uptake I see. She was very solemn about her comment though. I can't really fault her for that.
"Bingo. Kid's a regular Messiah; haven't seen someone like that in a long time." Komachi was starting to get to the core of her forbidden fruit of knowledge.
"Now would you mind telling me what it was for? You did get permission now, didn't you?" Sanae was, understandably, becoming quite antsy.
"Do not rush me. Having haste now will negatively impact your karma," Shiki scolded. "Though, yes, I do have permission. Well, at Arisato-san's discretion that is. That was what I was told when I made the inquiry. Do I have your permission to share it with her?" Shiki's tone was clinical and professional during her question.
"Sure, go ahead." I'd do it myself, but I'm still eating my last chunk of grapefruit. That and I don't think I'd be able to give as calm a recount as Shiki could. The room was quiet for a few seconds as Shiki looked to be trying to figure out how to convey the meaning of my death.
"…Well?" Sanae asked, somewhat hesitantly. A couple more moments went by before Shiki finally nodded her head.
"Alright; Minato Arisato, Age 17, died of extreme exhaustion on the roof of Gekkoukan High school during the Senior Graduation Ceremony." It really was best to have the Yama speak in my place. I really would not have been so calm talking about it. I expected Alice to ask what was going on… but she probably knows already.
"And what was the cause of the exhaustion?" Sanae asked, now even more melancholic.
"Months before Arisato-san's passing, he was involved in a number of events that are too numerous in number to describe here. A brief summary: Arisato-san managed to awaken a power known as Persona, a mask that allows one to face the hardships of life. He, along with others, became embroiled in a battle with the Personification of Death itself, Nyx." Sanae blanched at hearing just what it was that I was fighting.
"How could you do something so reckless!?" Of course she yelled. That was predictable. That doesn't mean that it didn't hurt to hear it from her. It hurts quite a bit, just like that time we fought on the roof of our old high-school. "… I'm sorry, it's already done. You're here, that's all that matters." Sanae calmed herself, breathing in and out while trying to keep it down, though I could still hear some anger coming from her.
*Cough* "If I may be allowed to continue, Death is undefeatable. All of man must die one day. "
"Yeah, I'd be out of a job otherwise," Komachi said jokingly. *Smack*"Kyan! Oww…" I don't know whether or not she deserved that.
"Komachi! Do not interrupt me." Shiki's face was visibly annoyed. Note to self, do not interrupt her.
"Yes, Shiki-sama." Komachi began to caress her wound.
"As I was saying, it is impossible for man to completely avoid death. Defeating the personification of such would, by extension, be even more outrageous for many reasons pertaining to the balance of the world. However, impressively enough, somehow, someway, Arisato-san managed to perform a seal of sorts. A seal powerful enough to prevent Nyx from descending upon the world of man; the seal powered by his own life. He saved all of mankind. That is why we are here: to thank him for his sacrifice." Shiki finished speaking, and Sanae seemed to be taking it all in. Alice was quiet as well, but was simply looking at her lap. Komachi just looked and observed.
"…To think that I saw boy sleeping all day in class would do something like that." Sanae got up from her chair and slowly walked over to where I was sitting.
"Sanae?" I asked. She then suddenly wrapped her arms around me; her heartbeat could be felt on my arm closest to her. It was a bit embarrassing.
"Don't do anything like that again okay?" … I don't know what to say… "You don't have to do anything like that again. I'm here for you." … Sanae…
"If we can get to the point of Komachi's and I's coming here…" Sanae immediately pulled away, her face I could see, was clearly flushed red. We both turned to face Shiki. "We at the Ministry believe, that based on your service, its type and its magnitude, the offer we are about to present to you will more than reward you."
"Okay… go on." Where is this going?
"We at the Ministry of Right and Wrong," Shiki's tone had become its most formal yet, "would like to offer you a position as an administrator of death."
"…what?"
"An administrator of death," Shiki repeated. "You will be in charge of helping with matters of the deceased as well as having the authority to dispatch Shinigami at your leisure. Considering your current precarious situation, the ability to call for help in case of danger is something we believe will help you." A job… huh…
"This offer is available to you at any time. You can accept it now, at a later date, or not at all. There is no time limit to this offer, so please take great care in your considerations. That is all the business we have with you today Arisato-san. We will take our leave." Shiki and Komachi got out of their seats. "Thank you for your hospitality mage." Shiki and Komachi made a quick bow.
"Please make sure to contact me before you do something like this again." Alice got out of her own seat and started towards the door, presumably to open it for them.
"Of course," was Shiki's own reply.
"If you do accept the job, can you get some more days off?" Komachi asked me.
"Komachi!" Shiki's hand was raised, rod ready.
"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't being serious." She then put her mouth to my ear and whispered, "I'm actually being serious. Please get me a few more days off."
"Komachi!"
"Coming, coming, just hold on." Before she went to the door herself, she gave me a wink and headed off for real.
"Simply ask Yuyuko's personal sword instructor for when you wish to contact us," Shiki told me … Yuyuko has a sword instructor? That's new.
"I should be going as well. I left without saying anything, and I need to clean the shrine today." Sanae then started walking her way out as well. "Minato, come by the my shrine so we can have a more private talk. It's on Youkai Mountain. You can ask Reimu for directions." Sanae then made a very serious expression. "I mean it; I want you to come by as soon as you can; I need to talk to you about this more."
"I'll be sure to Sanae, after next week."
"After next week then; you better keep that," Sanae told me.
"I will." She then gave a nod and a smile.
"Well then, I'll see you next week. See ya." Sanae was the first to fly off.
"Until we meet again Arisato-san," Shiki said.
"Don't keep us waiting for your answer, kid." Komachi then gave her goodbye, and the two of them took their own leave, their bodies slowly becoming silhouettes before simply disappearing off into the distance.
"Well that was quite interesting, but it gave us enough time to make sure you wouldn't get cramps during training."
Oh right… training… I forgot about that.
Break
"Today, you'll be learning how to fire basic bullets. You have the doll with you, correct?" Alice and I were outside her home, the day was overcast. I took the doll out of my coat and presented it to her for her viewing pleasure. "Good, now then, are there any questions before we get started?" Actually…
"A few, you really like dolls right?"
"I thought that was quite obvious, but I'll just give you the benefit of a doubt, and assume that your question is meant to actually go somewhere." Alice spoke pompously as usual.
"It is… So if you're like most doll lovers… does this doll have a name?" I wonder if it does, she seems to care greatly for them. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think she has names for them.
"…" Alice seemed visibly stunned. "Um… No… that one doesn't have one. Not yet anyways…"
"Can I name it?"
"… I suppose you can, seeing that you are my student. " Alice pondered for a moment before continuing. "Yes… I suppose I'll abide by it." Now what to name it…
"What are some of the names of your other dolls?"
"Well… Shanghai for starters…" Alice then got on a train of thought and went silent.
"…" Shanghai… Shanghai…"How about Beijing then?" I'd like to follow some sort of naming theme.
"…I suppose that's fine. Beijing it is then." Alice seemed to be almost happy as she said the name, though her expression didn't change too drastically. "Though, that isn't why we're here today. You must learn how to fire even the most basic of bullets. You're otherwise almost completely useless in a game of Danmaku."
"So how do I make a bullet?" I asked as I put Beijing back in my coat. I like that I have a name for it now. Makes it seem more like it's mine.
"I was getting to that. One of the simplest ways is to simply hold out your hand and simply try to imagine energy of some kind coming out of it." That really does seem simply. "Do you see that tree over there?" She pointed to a nearby tree that had a target placed on to it. "I want you to imagine a bullet coming out of your hand and hitting the target. Don't think too hard about the bullet. Just think about something coming out." I nod at my teacher and place myself into position to fire. I raise my hand out… energy… bullet… anything… something… fire… nothing… nothing was happening.
"It's not working for me."
"It may take a few tries. In fact, normally, a regular human wouldn't be able to do it at all," Alice clarified. "It might be easier, however, for you if you had some sort of medium to fire with. Do you have anything on you that might make it easier to visualize a bullet?" Oh you bet I do. As soon as she asked, my hand went straight for my evoker. I pulled it out and began to inspect it for old time's sake.
"Are you sure that's going to make it easier for you to fire bullets?" Alice asked me quizzically.
"I'm more than sure." It's a gun. How could it not help me fire bullets?
"Well if you're sure, then simply do the same thing as before, but concentrate on the medium instead of your hand." Alright then… fire… bullet… energy… FIRE!
*Bang!* … it fired… it really fired! A white bullet of some sort flew. The target on the tree had a burn mark about 12 centimeters from the center at about pi over 4.
"Not bad, there's a lot of room for improvement, but one must start somewhere." Alice began to look over the target and check it some more. As she was doing that, she said, "Your bullet was a basic one. It may change and morph as you become more accustomed to firing them. It is fine as it is, but you should be aware that bullets can take the shape of many things such as paper charms, lasers, amongst other things. Now I want you to do that again." I brought my arm up to firing position.
*Bang!* "Again!" she shouted.
*Bang!* "Once more!"
*Bang!* "Try to increase the power put into it!"
*Bang!* "Now imagine it as a spread shot!"
*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* "That was just three shots in a row; All at once, at the same time!"
*Bang!* "Again!"
*Bang!* *Bang!* "Control, Minato; control. Don't just fire haphazardly. This time, I want it at dead center."
*Bang!* "Closer!"
*Bang!* "Closer!"
*Bang!* "Closer!"
Break
"Take a break. It seems you used up all your energy." Alice drove me to using up almost my entire supply of SP on training. I think I fired almost 10,000 shots alone today… but hey, now I can use my evoker like an actual gun… I hope I don't shoot myself or something like that…"For now, I'll move on to our next topic and teach you something else."
"What are you teaching me besides Danmaku?" I thought I was here just to learn how to fire bullets so that I wouldn't be at a complete disadvantage during my fight with Marisa.
"It's still related to Danmaku. Can you think of what was the most number of shots you fired at once during our session?" Alice asked.
"I think the most I got in one burst was about ten."
"And how many times were you able to do that?"
"Just a couple of times." I tried to do it more, but it was quite draining to just get 10 of them off at once.
"That itself is a problem. Normally, the best Danmaku players would find that amount completely trivial at best and absolutely inconsequential at worst." Alice was blunt in her saying so.
"Okay, so what does that have to do with what you're going to teach me next?" I'd think the best thing to do is to just practice and get used to it so that I can fire more and more.
"Of course one of the best things you can do about it would be to simply continue practicing so that you'll become used to firing large swaths of bullets with ease, but that would take far too long for you to master. Instead, I will teach you how to control more mediums to increase how much you can fire at once."
"More mediums… you mean…"
"Yes, I will teach you to be a puppeteer. You will learn to control dolls in order to brute force your way into getting more bullets locked on to your opponent."
"Is that why you wanted me to have Beijing around?"
"Precisely, though I must say, I was surprised to hear you ask for a name." Alice became just a scoch solemn.
"How so?"
"Most people do not see dolls as more than mere playthings. To find someone else who would ask for a name… never mind. Anyhow, please take out Beijing." I did as she asked and took her out.
"Here… put this on." She opened my free hand and put something in it. I opened my palm again to find a ring. "Don't! It's a control ring. I used to use it when I was just starting out. I don't need it anymore. That ring will help to establish a connection between you and Beijing. Please put it on." The ring at first, looked to be a simple gold band, but upon closer inspection it had a number of magical incantations on it in the form of engravings and tine magical circles. I placed the ring on my right ring finger as instructed.
"So now what?" I don't really feel any different.
"Now hold Beijing in your hand and have the ring come in contact with her. Anywhere will do." I did as I was told and place my hand on the doll's head. At once, energy of some kind began to surge between me and the doll. It was not visible to the naked eye, but I could definitely feel it. "The connection should be established now. Think about her floating right now."
"Alright then." Float… float… float… floa- "Huh?" Beijing all of a sudden felt light… really light. In fact… she just got out of my hand… and is now just… floating… there was also a weird shining string of light that was connecting me to Beijing, specifically from her back to the ring on my hand.
"Good, I see you have some talent for making it work," Alice said while nodding to herself. "Now just have her fly around and get used to controlling her."
"Okay." I had Beijing do as she said: just flying around. It was simpler than I thought it was going to be. I just needed to think it and Beijing would do it. She even made funny faces when I thought of them. Faces like internet emoticons were easy to make. It was actually pretty cool. Before I knew it however, it was getting late. I was really engrossed in the whole puppeteer thing.
"Oh, look at the time. I suppose I should get started on dinner soon. Continue like that until I call you to eat alright?" Alice then made her way back to the house.
"What about your own duel tonight?" If she lost her duel with Cirno, I'd have to fight her myself, and I really don't want to fight an Ice Fairy cold enough to condense things heavier than water… in fact how does she even…
"Oh that's not even worth mentioning. It will be over in a flash," Alice said with nonchalance. Perhaps that was an indicator of just how confident she was about her victory.
"I hope so." I really do.
Break
I'm honestly surprised. Cirno made it on time. I guess Daiyousei helped with that thought, seeing as how it was Daiyousei who was dragging Cirno along this time. It was just after the sun had set. It was dark, but the house was illuminated enough to where we could see well enough. Cirno's wings were shining and reflecting the light quite beautifully actually now that I got a closer look at them. Alice herself was holding onto a book.
"Alright! It's time to Duel!" Cirno was raring to go. Her wings were shivering in excitement.
"3 Hits, 2 cards max. Is this fine with you?" Alice asked, trying to set the terms of the duel.
"Yeah! Yeah! Let's just get started." Cirno probably was too excited to really care about what she just agreed to.
"Minato, if you will referee?" Alice asked me.
"… Huh? Um, sure; why not?" I took a seat between the two as they got into position. Alice walked to her place with grace and poise. Cirno flew over to hers as if she were on a sugar high. Daiyousei took a seat next to me, probably thinking that the safest place would be where the referee was. She was quiet the whole time. Perhaps I'm scaring her. Once the two of them were in place, I tried to copy what I remember from Reimu.
"3 Hits each. 2 Spell card limit. 3, 2, 1, Go!" On the word go, the two took to the sky at a break neck pace. Once there, Alice began to deploy her dolls at once. Cirno on the other hand was firing Ice at her. What kind of Ice, I don't know. It was amazing to watch Alice in all honesty. Even though she was under fire the whole time, even though I couldn't see even the slightest opening in Cirno's attack, she without getting hit, was placing more and more dolls on to the battle field, all the while never losing her cool.
"Hold still!" Cirno yelled in vain as her latest round of ice shots once again failed to hit their mark. Alice remained silent and focused, her dolls dodging as gracefully as she was. It was a sign of her immense control and skill. I could only stare in wonderment at how many times she came so close to getting hit, and just managing to get out of the way with the most minimal of movements, the ice shots grazing past her just enough. I looked at Daiyousei, she too seemed amazed, though it looked more like a child had seen something pretty, rather than someone who is admiring skill in a particular craft.
"Fully deployed. Here comes my counter attack, Ice Fairy!" Alice declared her intent, even under fire. Her dolls' movements, previously just to get out of the way of shots, were slowly starting to fly in formations. Some were in circular patterns; others were following a set path. It was a wonderful flurry; a display of and uncountable number of dolls flying in perfect harmony. Cirno began to stare as well and stopped her own volley to take in what she was seeing. Alice wasn't about to let this go. "Fire!" She commanded and so her Dolls did. Unlike my bullets hers and her dolls was rainbow in color. They were small, but they flew with speed and precision.
"Wah!" Yelled the Fairy in surprise. She then began to fly in every which way to avoid the bullets that were being fired on her. *Pichun!* And failing miserably.
"First Hit!" I yelled as I registered the sound of someone losing a hit. Cirno had two left.
*Pichun!* "…! Second hit!" I was shocked to hear Cirno getting hit again so quickly, but then again, looking at it now, it was storm of rainbows. Each bullet was like a drop of rain in a storm; all flying out in perfect unison and beauty. It was like looking at an impressionist painting; each one, a ripple of color that painted a picture together. It was staggering. How am I supposed to be able to do this… let alone learn to dodge something like this? This is insane!
Cirno was on her last leg, she was desperate. Or at least she looked it. From what I remember, it looked like she was about to use her own spell card to turn the tides but before she could-
"Now! Close In!" Alice ordered her dolls forward, and at her command, they charged. Spears emerged from their hands. It was as if Alice was the commander of an army at this point; masterfully commanding her troops with perfect loyalty. Cirno was in the middle of her spell card declaration. It was now or never for her. If she didn't get this then she's done for.
"ICICl-" It was too late. *Pichun!* "Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!" Alice's dolls closed the distance and smacked the poor fairy upside the head the sides of their lances. Oh right!
"Third Hit! Winner is Alice Margatroid!"She won… and an overwhelming victory at that. She didn't even use one spell card. I'm scared to even think what kind of cards she has now if that was her normal fighting style. Cirno landed on the ground with a thud, knocked out from having been hit in the head physically. Daiyousei scrambled over to her friend's side. I myself walked over to where Alice landed after the duel... if one could even call it that. She took much less time to dispatch Cirno than I did. Her dolls were already stowed by the time I got to her.
"Cirno! Are you okay?" Daiyousei pleaded.
"uuugh…" Cirno was going to be fine… but she might not remember things too well tomorrow. Daiyousei heaved a sigh of relief from hearing Cirno's groan and grabbed Cirno's arm, placing it on her own shoulders. She then turned to Alice and me.
"Thanks for letting her do this. I just wanted her to be quiet for a while. Now she can calm down about a lot of things." She then took flight. She struggled a bit, but she was able to maintain air.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
"I'll be fine. I do this all the time for Cirno." Daiyousei made a bow, but fumbled a bit and tumbled in the air for a second before righting both of them. "Good-bye. If I need Cirno to quiet down again, I'll come to you." … It would seem even Daiyousei has a bit of a fairy's mischievous nature within her. Daiyousei took off slowly, and flew at a slow pace, but eventually, she got out of sight. I then turned to Alice.
"I hope that, that was a good enough demonstration of what real Danmaku is like." She began walking back to the house.
"It was… beautiful." The patterns were intricate, varied, precise, breath taking.
"Due to the major players of the sport, the game of Danmaku has become quiet feminine hasn't it? Though I suppose that's half the fun; the patterns," Alice mused.
"Can I really do that?" I still can't believe I'm learning from her to do something like that.
"Of course, based on how you did today, I'd say that you'll be able to get something approaching what I did by the end of the week. I'm sure you'll learn enough to beat Marisa," Alice reassured me.
"I still can't really process what I'd just seen."
"That's normal actually. You'll just have to get used to it, but first, get some rest. Training starts again tomorrow morning. I want you ready to learn." Alice opened the door to her home. "I'll be in bed myself. Don't disturb me."
"I won't"
"Then it's settled. Have a good rest tonight Minato." I'll try…
So many bullets…
Author's Notes: Procrastination thy name is YAqkawer. I apologize for posting this late. Life tends to get in the way of things… as well as other stuff… but oh well. I now have the next 3 chapters planned out just to let you guys know. It doesn't guarantee that I'll update sooner, it just means that I have it planned. So what I mean to say is, please bear with me for what I call the 'Training Arc'. I hope that you'll stick around long enough to see the EPIC DUEL (yes in all capital letters) between Minato and Marisa as well as all the juicy stuff that happens in between, Dark hour included. How it's here… well that's why I'm asking you to stick around.
Nothing much else this time; just the usual stuff, but it does bear repeating. Thanks for reading thus far and please don't hesitate to review if you find something wrong with my story. Anything. I'm serious.
Until next time, Ladies, Gentleman, and everything in between, See ya and have a great day! I have trash I need to throw out and Laundry that needs to dry.