Stage 1 – Kokuto, Scarlet Devil Manor
Flandre Scarlet, a young vampire girl and the little sister of fellow vampire Remilla, was in her room playing when suddenly, she heard a strange sound. She turned around to see her family portrait hanging on the wall. On closer inspection, there was something off about it: There appeared to be an extra person in the distance, its features nondescript. Every time she blinked, it got closer and closer. Rolling her eyes, she scowled and stomped over to it.
"Alright, little miss ghost!" said Flandre, quite angry at her. "That painting was a gift from my parents, so get out! NOW! Or you're dead, do you hear me! I'll give you to the count of three… ONE! T-!"
Sadamara, her body unseen save for her hand lept out of the picture and grabbed her face, lightning made of TV static crackling around her as her colors inverted, and she slumped over. She then leapt up, looking absolutely murderous as her eyes glowed red.
"One down. Now to get Remilia Scarlet…"
Meanwhile, Reimu Hakurei was cleaning the Hakurei Shrine with help from Marisa Kirisame, when suddenly, Hong Meiling ran up to them, looking utterly terrified.
"China? What's wrong?" said Reimu, concerned.
"I-It's Lady Remilia and Lady Flandre! They're fighting and we can't get them to stop!" cried Hong Meiling.
"So? It's just a Spell Card Battle. You of all people should know how common they are," said Reimu, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
"No! You-you don't understand! They're literally trying to kill each other!" said Hong Meiling in pure terror.
"WHAT!? But-but how? Why?" said Reimu, shocked.
"I don't know! But you two are obviously stronger than them. Please, you have to stop them! I… I don't want them to die," continued Hong Meiling in her fit of fear.
"I don't want them to die either!" shouted Reimu. "Come on, let's go!"
The three girls then proceeded to make haste to the Scarlet Devil Manor. Sure enough, the two Scarlet sisters were fighting to the death above the Manor, their eyes glowing bright red as they both yelled death threats and curses to each other. Sakuya Izayoi and her fellow servants could do nothing but look on in horror, unable to do anything.
"Tch, China was right," said Reimu, turning to Sakuya. "Sakuya! What's going on?"
"I don't know!" said Sakuya in pure fear. "I heard a crash, and then when I went to look, the two were up there, fighting for no reason! Reimu, please, you have to do something!"
"I will, I will," said Reimu. But what? Hmmm… Reimu then proceeded to look around as she pondered her thoughts, until she realized that Patchouli Knowledge wasn't with them.
"Huh? Where's Patchouli?" asked Reimu in confusion.
"In the library, with Koakuma," said Sakuya. "They're both searching for a spell that'll fix this… Whatever it is."
"Hmm… I'll go see what she's got so far," said Reimu, eager to help her friend. "Marisa, can you stall them?"
"You got it, ze!" said Marisa.
"I'll come with you." said Sakuya.
Reimu ran towards the Manor. Meanwhile, Kokuto and Frozenblaze, their faces hidden beneath a coolie hat and a hood respectively and bodies obscured, went up to the entrance to the Manor's library. Frozenblaze walked up to the door and knocked on it. Koakuma, who has come up behind the door, started yelling at them angrily to go away, but Frozenblaze persisted in knocking on the door. Koakuma eventually got fed up and yanked open the door, only to get a face full of ice fire from Frozenblaze. The blast was so big it consumed most of the library, coating it in a thick layer of ice. …Including Patchouli, who saw up just in time to see the blast headed her way and far too quickly for her to counter it.
"…Crap," was all Patchouli had to say before she was frozen solid. At least her magic would keep her from freezing to death.
"Eh?" said Sakuya. "That sound was… I have to go!"
"What are you-" asked Reimu.
But it was too late. Sakuya had already used her time-stopping powers to vanish.
Kokuto and Frozenblaze were by the bookcase they needed. Kokuto retrieved the book by leaping on the nearby bookshelves, and gave it to Frozenblaze, who opened it and took the piece out. But before they can actually do something about it, Sakuya arrives on the scene looking furiously at them.
"HEY! Who are you two and what are you doing here?!" demanded Sakuya.
Kokuto and Frozenblaze said nothing, but merely looked at her in confusion that quickly turned to irritation.
"Who the hell is this?" spat Frozenblaze.
"…I recognize her," said Kokuto. "That's Sakuya Izayoi, head maid of the Scarlet Devil Manor. She's a human… I can't believe she'd willingly serve a yokai. You get out of here. She's mine."
"Fine, fine," said Frozenblaze, clearly annoyed. "You stay here and give the hired help the ax. Kuroshiro! I got it! Get me out of here!"
Above them, a portal opened up above her and began to draw her in. Sakuya impaled her with her knives, but Frozenblaze just gave her a smug, cruel smirk. She lifted up her hood slightly, revealing a single eye.
"Heh heh heh…" Frozenblaze chuckled. "That's not going to work, retard… I'm a fairy."
Enraged, Sakuya started charging at her, but she was blocked by Kokuto.
"Hold it, traitor!" shouted Kokuto. "I said… I am your opponent!"
"…Traitor?" said Sakuya. "Whatever. I'll take you down, and force you to stop the fighting!"
Sakuya started throwing knives at her, but Kokuto managed to dodge them by leaping out of her cloak and hat, flipping through the air and revealing herself to be a young girl of short stature. Her dark purple hair was in a long, loose, shaggy ponytail. She dresses in a traditional samurai attire, consisting of a very light purple, almost white, robe with dark purple lining on the color and sleeves, a dark gray turtle-neck undershirt, a pink skirt over white pants, black leggings and socks, and straw-sandals. She also wore black arm and leg guards adorned with sharp blades that covered her shins and forearms. Her breasts were on the larger side and are tightly bound. She carried with her a jet-black longsword shaped like a lightning bolt.
Kokuto then charged straight at Sakuya, who bided her time and when Kokuto got close enough, slashed at her with an X-shaped cut with more knives held between her fingers. But much to her shock, Kokuto vanished just before the cut hit her. Fearing a sneak attack, Sakuya quickly activated her Lunar Dial, the device that let her control time and space to stop time.
When she did so, her eyes widened in horror. Kokuto was somehow right behind her… And her blade was mere centimeters from severing her spine.
So fast… thought Sakuya, swallowing nervously, how can she be so fast?! Not even Aya moved this fast during her Spell Card Battles. …Wait a minute! She thought in shock, if that attack hit me it would've crippled me! She-She's not treating this like a Spell Card Battle! She's not just trying to beat me; she's actually trying to kill me! In that case, I'd better get serious.
Gathering her knives, she deftly maneuvered around Kokuto's body, surrounding her entire body with her knives. This should finish it, she thought seriously, I could just cut her throat, but Lady Remilla will want answers from her. And with that, she started time once more.
No sooner did she do that then the knives clattered to the ground. There wasn't even any blood on them; not a single one had hit its mark. Sakuya stared in shock, and then noticed Kokuto standing ten feet away from her. She had one arm raised and she was… Pointing at her? Her confusion turned into shock when every knife she had thrown rose up in the air, pointed at her, and then flew at her!
Sakuya flew up in the air, avoiding every knife she could. She managed to avoid serious injury, but upon landing had gained many cuts. I think I just found out what it's like to have one of your own Spell Cards used on you, thought Sakuya glumly. Now where did she- OH CRAP!
Kokuto was standing right behind Patchouli, a large war hammer tightly gripped in both hands, about to bring the thing down on the immobilized girl's head. Sakuya knew that if she didn't act now, Patchouli would be shattered and die instantly. Taking out even more knives, she ran at Kokuto as fast as she could, in her panic forgetting about her own powers. But when she reached her, Kokuto had vanished once more. The "war hammer" fluttered to the ground, being nothing more than a simple balloon.
Sakuya's eyes widened, and then narrowed in rage. A trick!? But that means… Noticing a shadow falling at her at great speed, Sakuya jumped back, narrowly avoiding a spear, held by Kokuto, and coming crashing into the ground right where she used to be. Sakuya had to dodge again, as the girl had yanked the spear out and tossed it at her the instant she landed.
This was the last straw for Sakuya. No more. Dodge this, whoever you are. She pulled out her strongest Spell Card, Maid Secret Skill "Killing Doll" and used it on her. Time stopped and started over and over again, and Kokuto was pummeled with countless knives in every direction at once. The explosion of knives hit her randomly in every direction at once, and with time stopping and starting seemingly at random she had no room to dodge. Kokuto fell to the ground in a bloody heap, but still got up, seemingly on the brink of unconsciousness. Sakuya ran up to her, knocked her to the ground with a punch, pinned her to the ground with her knives by her wrists and ankles, and finally kicked her sword away.
"I avoided anything critical," declared Sakuya triumphantly. "Now tell me who you are and why you did this to us!"
Much to Sakuya's shock, Kokuto vanished into thin air. Even the blood on the knives disappeared, much to Sakuya's utter confusion.
"Huh? What? Where'd she-" said Sakuya.
Suddenly, the entire area turned completely black. Sakuya was cut off as Kokuto hit her with her Killing Technique "Scarlet Flow" Spell Card. After the explosive slash, sent at her at impossible speeds connected, Sakuya lay still on the ground, seriously injured and barely conscious. Kokuto walked over to her and raised her sword.
"Because you're clearly misguided, I shall make this quick! Prepare yourself!" declared Kokuto.
Kokuto tried to stab Sakuya, but before she could, a blast of spiritual power from Reimu knocked her off of her feet and away from Sakuya.
"Oh no, SAKUYA! Are you alright?" said Reimu, clearly in shock.
"I'll be... …Fine," said Reimu, using the little energy she had. "Stop… Stop her. She's responsible… …I know it."
Reimu nodded and glared at Kokuto, who glared right back. Getting a good look at her, Reimu's eyes widened in shock and recognition.
"Eh?" said Reimu, very confused. "I know you! You're the Hero of the Human Villages… Kokuto! Why? Why are you doing this?"
Kokuto gave Reimu a look of disgust.
"And you're Reimu Hakurei… Gensokyo's biggest disgrace," said Kokuto, getting progressively angrier as she continued to speak to her. "I know all about you! You're the worst protector this place has ever had! You don't care if people get hurt, you don't care if they die! You're always willing to kill those who don't deserve it, just because they break your so-called "rules!" You treat everyone like trash from the lowest of the garbage pits! And most disgustingly of all… You actually, actively try to befriend nonhumans. Shinchikai Natsu would hang her head in shame if she were still alive today! What kind of idiot deemed scum like you a guardian?! Well no more. I will kill you, and take your place! I'll be the protector this world deserves, that it needs, not you!"
"HEY!" said Reimu, furious at her. "How dare you say such things about me! I didn't ask for this job, you know! I don't even like it! Besides… You've got my job all wrong. I'm not meant to exterminate yokai like you or be a protector of anything! My job is to preserve balance between humans and youkai! I prevent youkai from attacking humans and humans from becoming youkai! That's it. The fact that I've resolved so many Incidents is just a-a side effect! Besides, if you kill me, the Hakurei Barrier will go down, leading to Gensokyo's destruction!"
"EVEN SO!" said Kokuto, clearly not caring about Reimu defending herself. "Reimu, you have shown time and time again that you are unfit for and undeserving of the job! As someone far more qualified, I shall take your job and be far greater at it then you ever were! As for the Barrier… I can just use my sword to cut the link out and transfer it to me!"
"As if I'd let you!" yelled Reimu. "Let's see how you handle a Spell Card Battle, Kokuto!"
"…Those fights where you can't die?" asked Kokuto in confusion. "Why do they always… Very well. I accept your challenge!"
The two girls collided, Reimu's gohei clashing against Kokuto's sword again and again. Kokuto noted to her frustration that while her sword was enchanted to aim for the weak points of her enemy and could cut through anything, Reimu was deftly blocking her sword swipes and while she was cutting through Reimu's spiritual power, it was regenerating much too fast for her to cut through entirely.
Damn it, thought Kokuto bitterly, her reputation is well deserved. She must have learned how to fight against sword-wielders from her fights with Youmu Konpaku. Let's see how she dodges all of these.
Leaping back a fair distance from Reimu, Kokuto pointed at Reimu. This confused her, but then she sensed danger. Looking around, she saw swords of every shape and size flying at her from all directions! They weren't moving that fast, but there were a LOT of them. In order to dodge them all, Reimu flew into the air, dodging or smacking them aside with her gohei or even just using her invincibility. Reimu then noticed something strange: Kokuto wasn't flying. In all her time as Gensokyo's guardian, she had never once fought someone who couldn't defy gravity in some way. The fact that she wasn't was… Jarring, to say the least. Can… Can she not fly? Thought Reimu, dodging the flying swords and various other weapons Kokuto threw at her as she did so, No… No, I shouldn't underestimate her because of that. She's earned her reputation as the second best demon slayer in Gensokyo. Either way, I have the advantage up here… My turn!
Reimu swung her gohei at Kokuto, blasting her with spiritual power, magic talismans and magic orbs. However, rather than dodge the attacks, Kokuto leapt up on to the danmaku streams and started running on them! "OH COME ON!" screamed Reimu, "How is that even possible?!" Reimu stopped shooting, but Kokuto just landed on one of the swords and bounced off of it at her, swinging her sword at Reimu's knees. Reimu moved to block, but Kokuto seemed to anticipate this, did a backflip off of another sword and landed on Reimu's gohei. Kokuto then instantly launched into a mad flurry of sword swipes. This managed to hit Reimu, but as per the rules of Spell Card Battles, she didn't die, but was merely hurt and knocked back out of range of Kokuto's sword. This just made Reimu mad.
This girl is giving me a headache, thought Reimu, and she's pretty tough for someone who doesn't know much about Spell Card Battles. She hasn't used any Spell Cards yet… So let's see how she handles one of MINE!
Continuing to dodge the endless weapons Kokuto sent at her, Reimu pulled out her weakest Spell Card, Dream Land "Super Duplex Barrier". She would've gone for the stronger ones, but she felt those should be saved for finishing her off or if she was in a pinch, like she usually did during her many fights. Sealing herself behind two relatively weak barriers, she scattered aura-charged cards at great speed in every direction. Much to her delight, Kokuto had no answer for this and was completely bombarded by the cards and the twin barriers blocked all of her attacks. Reimu couldn't help but smirk. She must not be very good at handling Spell Cards, thought Reimu smugly, this must be a weakness of hers. It's too bad I can only use a limited amount of these. To be fair, if it were up to her, Reimu would use nothing but Spell Cards during her fights while her opponents wouldn't be able to use any at all.
Meanwhile, Kokuto was getting very upset, as she felt someone of her caliber should be doing better. From the information I've gathered, that was her weakest Spell Card. And to think it did so much damage! I think it actually hurt more than the Card then that traitorous maid used! Well I have Spell Cards too. Kokuto steeled herself; I'll use my strongest Spell Card. If it could one-shot Sakuya of all people, it should do the same to her. …I hope!
And so, Kokuto prepared to use Killing Technique "Scarlet Flow" on Reimu. Leaping back about twenty feet from her target, she raises her sword above her head while a blood-red aura surrounds her. Uh oh, Thought Reimu, She's using a Spell Card. But what does this one do?! It's times like these I wish I read up more on the beings living here! I can tell this one is a big one! I'd better move FAST!
As she was doing this, the area around her slowly started to turn black. As this was happening, Reimu flew as fast as she could to the left, trying to circle behind her. Much to her relief, she noticed that Kokuto wasn't turning her body to face her. Just to be on the safe side, Reimu also hid behind one of the many bookshelves in the library. After the area turned completely black, there was a whooshing noise, as if something was moving extremely fast in a straight line, followed by the sound of a sword being swung and then an enormous explosion. Flying up to see what happened, she saw that Kokuto was standing about fifty feet from where she was previously, her sword lowered and eyes closed, and everything around her within a 100 foot radius had been completely destroyed; either slashed, smashed, or burnt to a crisp. Reimu breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing I dodged that. That would have outright killed weak creatures! And-And I think that was her holding back! Flying back over to her, Reimu prepared to continue their fight. That had to have been her strongest Spell Card! …I hope!
Reimu, now realizing that Kokuto's apparent weakness, reached slowly for one of her more potent ones, Spirit Sign "Fantasy Seal -Concentrate-". She knew now that she had underestimated Kokuto. Her earlier words had implied she was barely aware of the Spell Card System, but clearly she was still good at them, although Reimu could still tell she was inexperienced at fighting this way.
Kokuto, sensing the pause in Reimu's movements, realized that she was about to use another Spell Card and so decided to strike first with one of her own, Killing Technique "Greatest Sword". Putting away her sword, Ichigeki De Shinu, Kokuto held up her hands and immediately summoned one of the biggest swords Reimu had ever seen. It was at least 100 feet long and 50 feet wide! But Reimu wasn't too worried. That thing must be very unwieldy, she thought smugly, she's vulnerable! And so, Reimu put away her Spell Card for now and just continued to shoot her as hard as she could, as fast as she could, as often as she could. Every shot hit its mark, but Kokuto just took the obviously painful blows. This isn't so bad, thought Reimu, noticing the damage was starting to build up, Pretty soon she should be- GYAH! Kokuto had leapt at her, using the nearby flying swords as springboards, and when she got about halfway to Reimu, began to swing it at her waist. It was much faster than Reimu thought, but she was still able to dodge it, even when she stopped swinging the sword, turned around to try and bisect her again, and then finally threw the thing at her. Reimu heaved a sigh. So much for it being unwieldy, she thought glumly, but at least it wasn't as fast as I feared. My turn.
Reimu then unleashed Spirit Sign "Fantasy Seal -Concentrate-". Reimu surrounded herself with magic orbs and began to move in a waving pattern, firing off waves of big energy balls and two waves of magic talismans that moved at different speeds. Kokuto is able to dodge some of them, but in the end is still hammered back, landing on one knee then dropping and rolling in a semi-circle to confuse Reimu. One of the waves of big energy balls and talismans hit her at the same time, stunning her momentarily. This just served to frustrate her more, so she decided to use her last Spell Card, Killing Technique "Thousand Strike". This is my weakest move, thought Kokuto, narrowing her eyes as she did so, but it should still be more than enough to take her down. "This isn't just for you, Shinchikai! THIS IS FOR ME!TAKE THIS, REIMU!" shouted Kokuto.
Using all her speed, she ran at Reimu, using a nearby sword to send her flying right in her face, about to cut her exactly one thousand times in the space of half a second. However, Reimu waited until the last moment, flew down under her, and came up behind her, and before Kokuto even noticed she was there, blasted her in the small of her back as hard as she could at point blank range. Kokuto screamed in pain, and her smoldering body fell down to the ground, barely conscious. Kokuto had lost the Spell Card Battle.
Shin… Chi… Kai… was all Kokuto could think as she slammed into the ground, her body coming to a stop at one of the nearby bookcases, I'm sorry… …I failed you.
"I can't believe I lost… …You're as powerful as they say. Reimu… Why do you choose to keep your job? You clearly don't like it. Surely, with your power, you can just leave…" said Kokuto sadly, down on her knees and leaning on her sword.
"Because I have friends here," said Reimu. "I might not like it, but if I don't do my job, keep my job; they'll all be in danger. And I'm also literally the only one capable of maintaining the Barrier. It falling will mean everyone's struggles will be in vain! I can't let that happen… I won't!"
"Hmm… Maybe you are not as bad as I thought," said Kokuto, mulling this over in her head. "Reimu, I…"
Suddenly, Marisa ran up to them. By her side was Flandre, Remilla and the Scarlet Devil Manor staff. All of them were furious at them, especially Remilla.
"Heya Reimu!" said Marisa. "Flandre and Remilla are all better and… Huh? What's Kokuto doing here?"
"Never mind that, Marisa! You!" said Remilla furiously, pointing to Kokuto. "Tell me, why should I not kill you? Why did… Remilla trailed off as she noticed Kokuto's black, lightning bolt-shaped sword, Ichigeki De Shinu. She got dangerously calm. "That sword… WHERE DID YOU GET THAT SWORD! THAT'S NOT YOURS! GIVE! IT! BACK!"
Remilla snarled and lunged at Kokuto, intent on killing her in a painful and brutal manner. But, Kokuto held up a small medallion that looks like a stylized sun that explodes into bright sunlight. The sunlight hits Remilia, making her scream in pain. In order to escape the sunlight, she transformed into a cloud of bats and reformed back at a safe distance, but she was still a little singed. Remilla stared at Kokuto in shock.
"That-that was a Sunburst Amulet! Where did you get that? How? Only Shinchikai Natsu had those!" she exclaimed in pure shock.
"Wh-what?! Shinchikai?! How do you know that name and why do you care?!" said Kokuto, just as shocked by Remilia's statement.
"I'm asking the questions here, girl," snapped Remilia, "But if you must know…"
But before Remillia could continue, Kokuto held her head in pain.
"I-I know we've got it!" said Kokuto, desperation evident in her voice, "I know we need to leave! But I'm so close to getting- …Fine. I'll leave."
Suddenly, A portal opened up behind Kokuto. Before she disappears into it, she turns to Remilla.
"This isn't over," she told her.
"I agree," growled Remilia, narrowing her eyes.
"What was that all about? And who is this Shinchikai Natsu?" asked Reimu in confusion.
"Shinchikai was one of the most famous and feared demon slayers Gensokyo had ever known. Both Flandre and Yuuka were both afraid of her, and even Yukari considered her to be one of the most dangerous normal humans to ever live. And she was a normal human: She didn't have any special abilities other than her sword and wits. She couldn't fly and she wasn't even that fast. And all because some stupid vampire couldn't control her hunger… That being said, the two of us were always very close - even if it was originally done out of self-preservation. I tried to save her life, not take it, but I failed. I avenged her death personally, and buried her sword in a place only I knew about… But as the years passed, I kind of forgot about it. Before she died, Shinchikai told me it was prophesied that she'd get a successor. I always assumed that was you, Reimu. You did stop my plan to blot out the sun and beat my sister. Though, I'm not sure if she'd approve of the way you work or think," said Remilia.
"Well, this Shinchikai was before my time, but she sounds like quite the warrior. But never mind that. What was Kokuto doing here, if not to kill you?" said Reimu, rather curious.
"I overheard them saying that they took something here," said Sakuya. "I believe it was whatever was in this book. I don't know what was in it, though…"
"But I do," retorted Patchouli. "It was part of a relic I was given a long time ago, before I started working for Lady Remilla. You don't need to worry, though: It's powerless, I checked it myself, and even if it wasn't, it was shattered to pieces before that. I have no idea who could possibly want that piece of junk. I'd actually forgotten it until now."
"Oh?" said Reimu. "Well just in case, I'd like to know what it looked like."
"A small, flat gold disk, inlaid with red and black stones. It had the kanji for "give" on it made with silver paint. Or at least that's what I could tell from the piece I had. And before you ask, no I don't know where the other pieces are," Patchouli responded.
"Well if that's the case, then there's no use worrying about it," said Reimu, sighing. "Come on Marisa, let's get out of here. We're not finished cleaning the shrine."
"But Reimu, what if that relic does something bad?" said Marisa, deeply concerned for her own well-being as well as that of her friends. She knew from experience that little bits of trouble usually got big in Gensokyo.
"Oh, please," said Reimu, clearly annoyed. "You heard Patchouli. That thing's useless. And even if it isn't, I'm sure we can handle it."
"Yeah… I guess yer right, ze!" said Marisa, perking up.
Confident in that they were right, Reimu and Marisa then left.
