"Oh, well if it isn't Yukari," Yuyuko said as she looked up towards the entrance to Hakugyokurou, as Yukari slid open the door and walked in, with Youmu Konpaku close behind her, slipping through with food on a tray, which she set down for Yuyuko to eat. "What brings you here looking so serious?" Yuyuko asked, immediately taking a random item of food from the tray and eating it in one bite.
"Well, long story short," Yukari said, taking a seat at the low table with Yuyuko on the other end, as Youmu sat next to Yuyuko. "There's a threat coming onto Gensokyo. A threat that, if left unchecked for too long, could result in it being far more dangerous than the Lunarians could be."
"Oh, that certainly is something to be serious about," Yuyuko said. "So, what would you like the two of us to do?"
"The two of you will be pivotal members in our defence," Yukari said, looking at Yuyuko as she ate something else from the plate. "That is to say, if and when an attack from them occurs, the two of you will use my manipulation of boundaries power to be transported to Mars. I would be too quickly recognised, even with the passing of time and low population at the time. I already had Chen steal a book about the history of Mars from the Martians, so the two of you will steal something else."
"And that is?" Youmu asked, before being stopped by Yuyuko.
"Youmu, let her finish," Yuyuko said, as Youmu nodded and looked down. "And that is?"
Yukari narrowed her eyes, looking down at the table as well. "I'm not sure, but there should be something there. I watched the fight between the Martians and the Lunarians, and one of the Martians exerted power that we have never seen before. To be able to overpower the Lunarians god like that must require some sort of power source, which is what I want you to get rid of. As long as she is out of the equation, I believe we stand a good chance of winning."
"So we're stealing something that you don't even know exists?" Youmu asked, as her eyes widened slightly. "Lady Yukari, I-I'm not sure if this would be particularly beneficial."
"I'm almost certain there is something, and i'm also almost certain I know where it would be situated," Yukari said, looking over to Youmu, before back at Yuyuko. "The girl I was speaking of previously used a deck of cards, which were of the same four suits and the same values we know. However, they seemed to have magical energy. Magical energy that she did not seem to be exerting, as she never showed herself to be capable of magic. If there is something fueling the magical abilities, then it would be on one of, if not, both of Mars' moons. And if worst comes to worst, i'm sure there would still be something on those moons, as there is with our moon."
"I see," Yuyuko said, eating another item of food in one bite. "So, you plan to have us weaken their most powerful player, if possible. That would be beneficial indeed. So, Youmu, when the time comes, let's split ourselves up."
"Y-yes, Master Yuyuko…" Youmu sighed, closing her eyes.
"And if we find nothing, then i'm sure Yukari will let us come back immediately, right?" Yuyuko said, to which Yukari nodded. "So even if there is nothing there, we'll still be contributing to defending Gensokyo. And if there is something there, i'm interested in what Martian food would taste like…"
"Thank you, the two of you," Yukari said, standing up. "Now, if you'd excuse me. There's someone else I need to pay a visit to before I prepare myself."
As she said that, Yukari walked through one of her gaps, disappearing from the Netherworld and Hakugyokurou. Yuyuko turned to Youmu.
"Youmu, do you agree with what Yukari said?" She asked her, to which Youmu quickly nodded. Yuyuko then nodded slowly afterwards. "I see. So, it seems there is a possibility there is something on the moons of Mars."
Yukari emerged from her gap, as the person on the other end of it jumped in surprise. There was someone else with her, however, who was also surprised.
"Oh, how ironic," Kogasa said, as a tear welled up in her eye. "The youkai who is supposed to surprise people got surprised by someone. Nue even got more surprised with you than me…"
"I'm not here for you," Yukari said to Kogasa, as Kogasa began sobbing even more.
"Oh, not only do you steal my job in your world, but you say there's no point in me being here to do it! I thought the creator's of Gensokyo would be nice but… you're mean Yukari!"
"If you're not here for Kogasa," Nue said, also ignoring Kogasa as Yukari did. "Then that means you're here for me, right?"
"Yes, I am," Yukari said, as Kogasa fell to the ground, sobbing. "You're ability is to make anything unidentifiable, right?"
"It's… specifically objects, why?" Nue said, tilting her head in a questioning manner.
"Ah, I see," Yukari said, as she sighed in slight disappointment. "I was going to ask if you could make the whole of Gensokyo unidentifiable as a defence against what's to come."
"N-no can do, not right now at least," Nue staggered on her words, not used to hearing such an important request for her. "This is about the Martian's, right?"
"Oh, I see Reimu has already been, rather surprising for someone like her."
"Oh, no it was Marisa." Nue informed.
"That makes a lot more sense."
"But, if you want me to carry out such an important operation for you… i'll see what else I can do," Nue said, which made Yukari nod.
"I understand, I wish you luck with what you plan to do. Sorry for the intrusion," Yukari said, walking back through her gap.
"Yeah! You better be sorry for surprising me and proving that i'm worthless!" Kogasa sobbed, reaching out to the gap as it closed.
"What's going on here?" Yorimi asked as she walked over, looking around.
"Gah!" Nue said, before looking down in disappointment. "What is it with people finding my true form so easily today… first Marisa called me out on it, then Yukari got the jump on me and now you did the same."
"Your… true form?" Yorimi asked, tilting her head before snapping her fingers. "Aha! You're that weird glowing ball of light from before, aren't you?"
"I don't want to talk to you," Nue said, biting her lip. "I don't like people who unfairly see me like this. Besides, I have important job to do from someone much more important than some newbie youkai. Come on Kogasa, let's leave her now."
"Okay, Nue…" Kogasa said, walking way with Nue, before turning around to Yorimi. "Thank you for being surprised by me, Miss Kawakami!"
"You're… welcome?" Yorimi said, not knowing how to react as the two walked away.
"An important job, huh? Yukari, no doubt," Hiroko said through the earchip.
"She's that youkai of boundaries, right?" Yorimi said, looking out to new places to go. "She seems like she'll be quite the troublesome opponent, huh?"
"Indeed," Hiroko said, seemingly rushing to get to a new point. "Also, Kaiya has long hair now. And she's wearing a hat."
"Oh…" Yorimi said, as she trailed off in thought thinking about it, before shaking herself out of it. "I think i'll go to that flower field now. I like the nature, and we can decide where to go after that."
"Can't you… fly?" Hiroko said, sighing as Yorimi began walking at a normal pace. Nue and Kogasa had flew off into the distance. "It would make this a lot faster."
"Well, I suppose we have walked this way before," Yorimi said, as her feet hovered off the ground. "Although, after this I will walk around. I enjoy the scenic options when discovering new places."
"Whatever you say…" Hiroko sighed.
After that, Yorimi flew over to the outskirts of the flower fields and landed back down within twenty minutes, being careful with her flight speed as to not cause a sonic boom that would attract too much attention. She walked into the flower field, looking around at the sunflowers that stretched out much higher than her. She smiled as she looked around at them, reaching her hand out to one of them before being stopped.
"Please don't touch the flowers," Yuuka said, walking towards Yorimi with her parasol behind her, as she smiled trying to greet her. However, her smile managed to set Yorimi slightly on edge.
"Ah - I-I'm sorry," Yorimi said, panicking as she saw Yuuka. "Is this your flower field?"
"Yes, indeed it is," Yuuka said. "I'm Yuuka Kazami, Youkai of Flowers. Nice to meet you."
"...Yorimi Kawakami, Youkai of Materials," Yorimi said, still slightly on edge from Yuuka's appearance. "I'm new here, so I'm sightseeing."
"Ah, that's fine then," Yuuka said, lowering her parasol as she nodded towards Yorimi. "You came from the Myouren Temple over there, yes? I saw Marisa flying in and out earlier, and it appears a ball of light flew away with some other Youkai recently. Is something happening at Myouren Temple?"
Yorimi's body froze for a second, as she saw Yuuka's smile and remembered that she is also a Martian here to gather information. She loosened her muscles and coughed a little. "I stayed at Myouren temple for a bit, but I was inside when the magician got there, so I don't know about anything in particular happening around there right now. I'm new, as you know…"
"Ah, that's fine," Yuuka said, lifting her parasol back over her head. "I'll just have to ask Marisa about it later. If there is anything important, I don't want to miss it. Anyway, enjoy your stay here. Feel free to take a souvenir if you find anything lying around, since I probably won't need it." She said, as she walked away towards the center of the field.
"I… think i'd rather stay away from here for the time being," Yorimi said, walking out of the flower field before something caught her eye. She knelt down and picked up the top of a small, yellow flower that seemed to have lost its stem. "Oh dear, it seems the stem was recently cut. Must have been a mistake by someone…" Yorimi said, before fixing the flower into the top of her hair, slightly to the side. "I think i'd rather give it a new home. No use leaving it here for no reason."
"Dear any god that may exist, please save us Martians before we all become obsessed with wearing things on our heads. Thanks, Hiroko," Hiroko said through the chip, as she appeared slightly annoyed on the other end. "There's two of you gone to the dark side… don't tell me you want to keep up with the latest trends as well."
"Oh, no no," Yorimi assured as she stepped out of the field. "Flowers are life as well, so leaving it to die for no reason wouldn't do any good, now would it? All life should be treated like that, so I'm taking this flower on a journey with me."
"Right…" Hiroko sighed over the chip, as she left the conversation on that note.
Meanwhile, on Mars, Kasumi was steadying her breath and heartbeat, holding her sword in front of her. Saiko was leaning against the wall, watching as Kasumi attempted to summon something of god like powers. Energy began radiating from her, as a foggy image began to take shape in front of her. Saiko arched a brow in interest. The foggy image began to materialize, as Kasumi began breathing more heavily as sweat began dripping down her face. Eventually, the foggy image became a real, humanoid girl with a red dress, as well as a red headband. The colours matched Kasumi's own hair, as the girl created had a lighter shade of red in hair colour.
Kasumi caught her breath, before looking at her creation. "So… you're the one who was summoned as my god-like familiar, huh?" She said looking at it in the eye. "Interesting… so knowing I have this ability should help in beating that god-summoner."
"Master," the familiar said, closing its eyes. "It appears as though you're in peril over some sort of event connected to someone you met. You summoned me to help take care of that, right?"
"Yes, of course," Kasumi said, slightly surprised at its ability to speak. "Do you have a name? Or should I give you one?"
"Hmm… call me Jitia," she said, looking down at the one who summoned her. "Apologies if you disagree with the name. It was merely something that sprung to mind."
"I'm Kasumi Tadeyuki, nice to meet you Jitia," Kasumi said, before picking up an earpiece and placing it in her ear. "Hello, could you come over here for a second?"
Kaiya appeared inside the training room, facing away from Jitia and towards Kasumi. "What do you want?"
"What's with the… new loo- never mind," Kasumi said, shaking he head as she finished speaking. "Could you teleport Jitia and I over to Gensokyo. I need to pay the God Summoner a visit."
"Uh… no…" Kaiya said, looking at Kasumi, then towards Jitia. "Hiroko's orders. Only person permitted in Gensokyo right now is Yorimi because she's spying for us. Everyone else is supposed to be getting ready, not summoning play things."
"I made a god," Kasumi said, smiling. "Not a plaything. Here, i'll show you if you want."
Kaiya narrowed her eyes, before sighing in a slight bit of annoyance. "I don't care if you summoned someone with ridiculous god like potential, we all agreed that Hiroko is the highest of all of us… not in size obviously… so we all have to listen to her. Even then, i'm still higher than you and no means no. Keep training with your plaything, k?" Kaiya smiled, holding onto her hat.
"Tch, whatever," Kasumi said as Kaiya teleported out of the room. "Saiko, look after the city."
"Where are you going?" Saiko asked, looking over at Kasumi. Kasumi smiled as she opened the door, turning her head around to face Saiko.
"If Kaiya won't do it, we will. C'mon, Jitia. We'll go the manual way," Kasumi smiled as she walked out of the door, Jitia in tow.
*Spell Card!* Character Insight!
Yuyuko Saigyouji: Yuyuko Is the ghost of a girl who now resides within the Netherworld. A long time ago, when Yuyuko was still alive, she commited suicide over grief from her power, which led to Yukari, who was her friend at the time, to manipulate the boundary of life and death in order to reanimate her as a ghost, who now resides in Hakugyokurou in the Netherworld. Her ability is to invoke death upon any living being, however she rarely uses it, if ever, due to the nature of it. She can also manipulate the souls of the dead.
Youmu Konpaku: Youmu is the gardener of Hakugyokurou and also serves as a sort of servant to Yuyuko. As well as this, Youmu has a half-phantom side that follows her around, meaning she is a half-human, half-phantom. She is straightforward and diligent, often being manipulated by those around her and especially Yuyuko. She is afraid of ghosts despite her species, however is much more calm around phantoms. She has the ability to handle sword techniques, being able to draw her sword and swing it at speeds reaching Mach 70.
Yuuka Kazami: One of the oldest and strongest Youkai in Gensokyo, Yuuka Kazami spends most of her days in the flower field named 'The Garden of the Sun'. She also often visits the human village, where the flower shop owned mentions she gives proper greetings. It is said that the older a youkai becomes, the more polite they are, after all. However, there was once an anonymous reporter who said her 'smile was scary'. Despite being one of the strongest youkai, she is a flower youkai, making her ability the ability to manipulate flowers. As well as this, Yuuka appears to be the originator of the 'Master Spark' spell, most often used by Marisa Kirisame.
