Chapter 3: Strange Feelings and New Desires
Cirno and Daiyousei were eating breakfast on a picnic blanket when a gap opened and Yukari came through. Cirno recognizing her from before mustered up her courage and stood up in front of Daiyousei. "Dai-chan get behind me. It's that purple lady that tried to kill me yesterday." Daiyousei noticed that Cirno was trembling but seeing the determined expression on her face she agreed and moved behind Cirno. "I don't know what I did to you, but if you want to hurt me or Dai-chan then you'll have to fight Cirno the strongest fairy." Yukari slowly started walking towards Cirno causing her to tremble more and more. As Yukari approached Cirno began firing ice spikes towards her although none of them hit. Her aim became wilder and wilder as Yukari closed the distance. Right when Yukari was within arms length of Cirno she held out her arms, and Cirno began to panic even more throwing ice everywhere with the air around her becoming colder and colder. But what happened next shocked both Cirno and Daiyousei. Yukari who seemed unfazed by Cirno's attacks pulled Cirno into a gentle but firm embrace cradling Cirno's head against her chest.
Cirno felt her head being gently guided upwards until she was looking Yukari in the eyes. The expression on Yukari's face surprised her. Instead of anger or frustration, both of which Cirno was familiar with from her frequent spell card challenges, Yukari had a soft and warm look on her face. Her golden eyes were shining, her face was flushed, and her ears were red. Cirno had never seen someone look at her that way but for some reason she couldn't explain she liked it. She could even feel the fear and tension leaving her body and this strange wave of security come over her like nothing could hurt her. For some reason being in Yukari's arms wasn't uncomfortable and she felt the world around her slipping away. She could even smell a sweet floral scent coming from Yukari's hair. Yukari's face took on a troubled expression and she spoke up. "I must apologize, Cirno was it? I never meant to scare you. I can't even remember why I was upset with you. Can you ever forgive me?"
Cirno saw Yukari's worried face and felt something painful in the pit of her stomach. For some reason she didn't like when Yukari looked unhappy. Trying to sort out her strange feelings she spoke up again to buy some time. "I don't really know what's going on, but if you aren't here to fight then why are you here?" Yukari smiled a blinding smile at Cirno and said "I simply cannot believe I never realized it before but I am in love with you. Cirno would you go out with me?" At that declaration Daiyousei who had been watching everything unfold from behind Cirno gave out a flat "What?" She then pulled Cirno away from Yukari saying, "Can you excuse us for a second?" Daiyousei dragged Cirno a good distance away and began talking to her in a low voice. "Cirno do you know who that is?" Cirno shook her head and Daiyousei continued, "That's Chen's master's master. Yukari Yakumo. She's like one of the most powerful Yokai in Gensokyo. So what did you do to her?" Cirno thought for a bit and answered, "I don't know I was flying through the forest yesterday to challenge Marisa and she tried to grab me. Then we fell out of the sky together. We fell into a pile of leaves and I passed out. And when I came to she was staring at me with her face all red and I thought she was going to attack me. Then she put me down and told me to be careful, and Chen and Ran took her away through a portal thing." Daiyousei thought over everything Cirno had told her before she continued. "From what you told me all I can think is she hurt her head falling and is confused."
"So what do we do", asked Cirno. "I don't think we can let her wander around by herself like she is now. So you can either give her back to Chen and Ran or we can watch her." Cirno thought about those two options, and then remembered what else needed to be resolved. "But what do I do about what she said?" Daiyousei thought about it then answered, "What do you want to do? I don't know what's going on, but I don't think she's lying. So just go with what you feel is right." After she finished speaking she gave Cirno a gentle shove towards Yukari and went to clean up the picnic stuff to give them some privacy.
Cirno approached Yukari who had been smelling a flower while watching the two's private conversation. Yukari seeing Cirno approach put the flower away and looked up to meet her gaze. "Are you two finished? I know what I said may have been surprising but I would like if you would give me a fair chance to show you how I feel." Yukari's face took on a nervous expression and she continued, "I would love if you could give me an answer, but if you need more time, then I would understand." Cirno looked up into Yukari's eyes and saw them becoming misty.
She felt her heart sink and a desire to make Yukari happy was growing inside her. She then spoke up and the words that came out of her mouth surprised even her. "I think I want to answer you now. I don't really know how any of this works but my heart hurts whenever I see you sad. I don't know if I feel the same way right now but I think I want to say 'Yes' to you." Hearing Cirno's positive response, Yukari's whole body lit up and she grabbed Cirno and pulled into her into another tight embrace. Cirno felt her arms move to return the embrace and for the second time today she found her eyes meeting Yukari's. She began to feel an irresistible pull drawing her closer and closer to Yukari. Unconsciously she felt her eyes begin to close and her lips begin to pucker. Yukari was doing the same and the pair were drawing closer and closer. Right when they were about to kiss Daiyousei who had been cleaning up the picnic supplies returned and cleared her throat causing both of them to look at her.
"Sorry Miss Yukari. Cirno and I need to get going soon. Keine-Sensei is holding a special class in the village to try to promote humans and Yokai getting along. We promised we'd be there as special fairy guests." After she finished she mouthed to Cirno, "Mystia's place tonight, invite Yukari." Cirno took the hint and said to Yukari, "Um Dai-chan, the rest of our friends, and me are going to eat at Mystia's food cart right after sunset if you wanted to come along. I'd love for you to meet everyone. And Dai-chan is right we do have to go."
Yukari thought for a bit and said "You are probably right. Ran and Chen are probably looking everywhere for me and I have to get back to work anyhow. Also I do approve of Keine's goal of helping the humans and Yokai get along. That's why I built Gensokyo after all. I look forward to seeing you tonight." Before breaking away from Cirno, Yukari gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Don't miss me too much", she said blushing as the two separated. Then she vanished into a gap. Cirno put her hand on the warm spot where Yukari kissed her and then her knees grew weak and she melted to the floor. Daiyousei ran over to her panicking as Cirno stared longingly towards where Yukari had been.
Welcome to Chapter 3. This is the last chapter being uploaded today as one single unit. Thank you and see you in the next one.