What people tend to forget, with the way Yuyuko is constantly portrayed in fanon, is that she is actually a terrifying enemy when it comes to it. I mean, how can you go up against something that can kill you with mere will? And with her command of the dead? It's horrifying. She can kill you and use your soul to serve her.
Also, Happy Halloween, people. And we have hit 3,000 views!
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is owned by Nagaru Tanigawa. Touhou Project is owned by ZUN and Team Shanghai Alice. I own neither. This is a fan fiction of those works.
[This Chapter has been Remastered]
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This wasn't how I envisioned it. I… I don't know, I thought… What did I think? I knew. I knew that we'd have to come to this. That we'd have to confront the person behind this, that maybe we'd progress to the big bad of this incident under our own power, that we could have maybe taken the time to plan our route to her. Youmu obviously was sorry, so there was the slight chance she could help us. Being taken to this woman with her power was not an enjoyable experience. It meant she was ready for us under her own conditions, which was a bad thing.
The mistress of Hakugyokurou stared down at us with her maroon eyes. A Japanese woman...a full bodied woman at that. I'm talking Adult Asahina figure - this ghost's face just as beautiful, and her curves were in all the right places.
Focus, focus. She possibly needs me dead.
Not exactly the most comforting thing to focus on, was it? What was that about her body again?
Sometimes I wanted to smack myself because of where my mind wandered.
Anyway, she was wearing a light blue kimono with dark trim. Her shoulder-length wavy pink hair lightly moved, as if there was a small breeze surrounding her, and a few ghostly orbs were surrounding her, making wavy motions as well. This ghost woman actually had a Hitaikakushi on her mob cap, with a spiral red ghost symbol. Reminded me of the Dreamcast logo, actually.
She wasn't threatening, she wasn't angry. She was just smiling at all of us. Her eyes locked onto mine. All I could do was stare back at her, shaking.
"Ah," she cheerfully spoke. Her voice was extremely soothing. "The boy from the outside world. You have not been in Gensokyo long, have you?" Her demeanor changed to genuine happiness. "Well, I have to thank you, young man, for collecting all of the spring that has bled out of the Saigyou Ayakashi. It was a problem we couldn't fix until recently. But the spring within you will allow it to finally bloom, bringing the revival of the person under it."
This can't be happening. Please, this can't be happening.
Yuyuko cheerfully turned to her servant. "Youmu, please go inside and prepare dinner." She gave her gardener a warm smile. "I won't be long."
"Lady Yuyuko," Youmu blurted out, jumping to her feet. "You need to listen to these humans! You don't know-"
"Youmu, please." Yuyuko motioned towards the building next to the field. "Prepare dinner. The guest I will be reviving might be hungry, after all. We can't be inhospitable."
Yuyuko wasn't angry with her servant. That cut-off was actually said without any hint of aggression. Yuyuko doesn't seem like a person who would get angry.
The gardener hung her head as she slowly turned and walked to the house. The ghost that was with Youmu appeared to do the same.
Really, Youmu? You're gonna give up like that?!
"Youmu!" Sakuya shouted out to her. "You need to do the right thing! Come on!"
Youmu wanted to say something to the four, wanted to do what was right. Lady Yuyuko wasn't in her right state of mind! Yet Lady Yuyuko banished her best friend, the border youkai, from returning when she sealed the door to Hakugyokurou to prevent Youmu from gathering spring, and they'd been friends forever. Everyone thought the door was broken, but it was just sealed, sealed until Youmu was ordered to slash a way out.
Even the friend tried to stop Yuyuko...yet Youmu couldn't bring herself to do anything. She couldn't disobey her master. The Konpakus had been faithfully serving Lady Yuyuko for centuries, and she didn't want to be the one to break that honor. Yet there was no honor in all of that, what Youmu was doing. Why couldn't she bring herself to do anything?
She paused, turned her head a bit, wanting to say something, explain herself to the humans, but then hung it again and continued her walk. With every step, she felt her heart tighten more and more. She entered the house, closing the door. She took a deep breath before dropping to her knees, hating herself.
If the tree revives...reaches full bloom.
She once heard a family member talk about it long ago, but she couldn't recall what was exactly said, not at the moment. She had heard the myth about it, but what exactly was said? It went into greater detail, but she couldn't remember - not then. But those papers really got her memory jogging...
"Don't let that tree bloom, Youmu. I'm counting on you."
Her grandfather's last words to her before he left, the only family she had. And Youmu would be responsible for helping unleash an evil into the world. What a way to tarnish the name.
She could never bring her blade against her master. She stood up, hoping that those four could stop her. It was all she could do, hope that her master could be beaten. Youmu steeled herself as she went to prepare dinner, closing the panels as she went, not wanting to look outside.
A gnawing feeling in her stomach told her she would have to look outside eventually.
If Lady Yuyuko gets this idea out of her head, I'll chop down that stupid tree myself. Her master's obsession was something that Youmu absolutely hated as of late. And all the things she had to do for her….
On the trail of that thought, of the tree, and what was needed for it to revive, she realized something. She had hardened herself against what she was doing for her master, not allowing much thoughts of doubt to creep into her mind.
It started to creep into her mind. The words of the miko reverberated in her head:
"...people are dying down there!"
Her heart tightened again. She hadn't been thinking about it. Wouldn't allow herself to. She just tried to do her task, not wanting to face the reality of the consequences of her actions. After all, she wasn't from the realm of Gensokyo. So why should she…. Why should….
She was feeling guilt wash over her all at once.
By the Gods...what have I done? What have I really been doing? I'm to blame for all of this...If Lady Yuyuko wins, she'll have to kill him. She'll have to kill the boy to get the spring within him. By the Gods, what have I done to the poor boy?
[Imperfect Cherry Blossom]
[Episode 9]
["Broken"]
"Loathing this unclean world.
Seeking rebirth in the Pure Land."
=A Maiden's remains in the other world=
"Please offer Cherry Blossoms to my deceased body,
If someone is willing to mourn my death."
-Touhou 7, Perfect Cherry Blossom - Stage 6
Yuyuko watched as her servant entered the house and closed the door. Still smiling, she turned to us. "Are you enjoying the flowers, humans?"
What kind of pre-final battle conversation starter is that? It was as if she asked us that during a tea party. It was that casual.
I was panicking, but I did manage to take a look around; it was very calming actually, getting my heart rate down. I could see why this place was famous in the afterlife. Well maintained, and just plain amazing.
Wait, shake out of it! This person possibly wants you dead! Really, her demeanor was off putting. I knew she was going to fight us, but it felt like she wouldn't.
Reimu took a few steps toward the ghost. "Yes, but I'd rather enjoy them at my shrine!" The miko was tapping her gohei into the palm of her other hand, not taking her eyes off of the floating woman.
Sakuya brought out her knives, stretching, getting ready for battle. "We know what you're up to, corpse, what reviving the Saigyou Ayakashi will do!"
"Ah, then you already know that I wish to revive the person below it." Yuyuko beamed at us, like we understood what she was saying. "Then do you see why I need the boy? This would be much easier if we work together on this!"
Marisa pointed and shouted at the ghost. "It isn't worth it! Don't you know what the tree will do?"
Yuyuko's smile widened. "Those are mere myths, my little witch."
Sakuya scoffed as she moved next to Reimu. The maid spoke as Marisa lined up as well. "Haven't you given thought, corpse, that there's some truth to those myths?"
This is a world where myths are reality!
"You are lying, maid. " The ghost's smile lessened a bit, as she narrowed her eyes. "Nothing will happen. I've been assured as such from a friend."
Reimu scowled, obviously losing patience. "Letty Whiterock? She's just using you to keep winter going!"
These three...standing up for me in the face of an opponent with a terrifying power...I held up the papers, wanting to be a part of that. I couldn't just uselessly stand around – I had to do my part. "Look, Miss Saigyouji!" I shook them, making sure I had her attention. "Look at these papers!" A ghost shot forth from her, snatching the papers from my hand. That almost gave me a heart attack, to tell the truth. She's so fast with those! Are we really gonna stand a chance?!
Yuyuko read them, her amused expression unwavering, until she got to the handwritten part. Her face saddened. "...This handwriting...belongs to my former friend. I see."
We were getting help from someone. But someone she knew? Which meant that someone really was in my room. "Your friend?" I asked. "So…" Is that a good thing?
"I see that her betrayal knows no bounds." The ghost closed her eyes, lowering her head. "She sees fit to gather humans to put a stop to me. She sealed my doorway, tried to prevent my intentions." Her tone of voice went to slight sorrow. "It's saddening that she hates me this much. I thought her to be a good friend. Letty was right."
That may have done more harm than good then. It's not a good thing.
Yuyuko dropped the papers, her amused look coming back. "But for her to send four mere humans against me is a bit confusing."
...Did we get sent? Since I was able to actually give it some thought, the papers did warn us. Warned me. Is it possible? Maybe. We were led around by the blossoms, weren't we? That is, until Whiterock got Alice to stop it. It was possible that we got led to our destination. It wasn't something to rule out.
"Nobody sent me, ghost," Reimu blatantly said. "Nobody sends me out to resolve incidents."
Yuyuko either didn't hear or didn't care what the miko said. "I can kill all of you with hardly any effort. Yet...you, Red-White. You wrote those rules of danmaku, correct?"
Reimu paused a bit, apparently unnerved by the "I can kill all of you with hardly any effort" deal (I didn't blame her). She glanced at us a few times before responding to Yuyuko. "I did."
The ghost chuckled lightly. Her attitude towards us was unnerving me as well. She was too cheerful before the battle. This final boss is going to be powerful, isn't she?
"Ah, how amusing. Attempting to alleviate the violence in Gensokyo, the deaths. Protecting humanity...that is what it was all about, correct?" Yuyuko clasped her hands, grinning. "Because if we youkai banded together, humanity would never stand a chance. That is why you implemented this game. They all needed a chance, right?" Yuyuko took out a lunatic spell card.
Why is she still smiling that same carefree smile?! Do we really stand a chance against her at all?!
Yuyuko slightly stretched. "Oh, I'll play with you three. But let's make this quick - a three on one match. Taking the time of going through you all one by one might be too time consuming. I would like for this to be over as soon as possible so I can take the boy and the essence of spring within him." Yuyuko dropped her cheerful tone, becoming serious, narrowing her eyes at us. "Because I will have him. I will revive this person. And I will regain my memories."
You have too much confidence in yourself, lady. These three will tear you apart in danmaku. That thought was whatever hope I had left in my body. Her mannerisms were like we didn't really matter in the long run. Not in a sinister "you are nothing before me" way that you find in the manga and anime series that had a long run, where the heroes of the story finally reach the person behind everything and they give a long monologue speech of how powerful they are.
This was different. This was for real. The way she acted was like we didn't matter – period. I felt like an ant going up against a human being. Yuyuko's smile widened as her playful side came back.
"Although, I will warn you. If you refrain from forfeiting the boy to me right now, I shall be forced to take the spring within your bodies as well." Yuyuko again gave us another smile. I've seen enough fake smiles to know that this ghost wasn't faking her happy emotions. She really was cheerful in this situation. "Youmu has told me of a barrier that activates when the boy gathers the blossoms. I can see it, you know. It seems that barrier leaves a trace of spring when he shares it with you." Yuyuko gave a slight shrug. "It is barely minuscule, but why stop at the boy? Why be inefficient?"
So, wait, spring really is powering the healing barrier? That's...cool. I would have been more impressed, under different circumstances - if I wasn't so scared of that woman. The last time someone pretty much scared me to death while smiling at me was with...well...Ryoko Asakura. Why do my thoughts keep going back to that knife-wielding psycho?
Well, Asakura did manage to actually stab me. The memory of that pain is going to be with me for the rest of my life...which I hope extends beyond today!
The three girls got into an aggressive position, lined up, ready to attack the floating woman in front of the massive dead tree.
"Alright. Enough chitchat. We'll take back Gensokyo's spring!"
"We'll take back the warmth you stole, corpse!"
"You don't deserve such a pleasant spring, ze! And we ain't gonna let you take Kyon!"
I blinked, holding back tears. These three...these three girls. My heart ached that I couldn't fight the final boss with them; I was unable to. Then again, how would I go about fighting that final boss?
Yuyuko kept smiling as they flew up to her level. Thankfully I was on the ground, Marisa not offering me a ride on her broom. In this situation, I would have declined anyways.
"Very well, but there's no need to worry. When you are all dead, you'll be taken care of in my realm of paradise." Yuyuko spread her arms, pink butterflies rising up all around the field, and against the night sky, they looked like pink stars fluttering about. "Dog of the devil, Black Witch, and Red-White, you will fall to me! I need the boy to sleep under the flowers!"
I don't want to sleep under the flowers! And don't talk so casually when you say "when you are all dead"!
The ghosts surrounding her began to spin in opposite directions, throwing clockwise and counter-clockwise trails of danmaku at her opponents. Yuyuko was fast, moving, avoiding the shots from the three girls when they opened up.
Marisa reached into her pouch and shouted out: "Barrier time, ze!"
All three girls went towards me with the cherry blossoms. I held up my hand, and they all tagged me, getting the barrier around their bodies. As they did, I wanted to give them words of encouragement.
"Go get her!"
Wish I could have said something better though, something more dramatic, more encouraging. As it was, all I could do was be on the sideline for the final battle. I was relegated to a role as a cheerleader or something, even though I couldn't cheer even if I wanted to. This was a final battle for not only my life (which was a high priority in my eyes), but for the fate of Gensokyo, and possibly the world. The type of situation you would read about and only wish to be a part of, but when you get to actually experience them, they are nerve-wracking and not fun at all.
I should know.
The ghost's eyes narrowed in response to my barrier. "...Where have I seen that..."
[SPELL CARD: LOSING HOMETOWN "LOST SOUL'S VILLAGE -SUICIDE-"]
The ghost didn't dwell on that for long. She finally used the spell card in her hand, and two wave patterns emerged from her sides, as well as a laser. The waves went out in front of her, criss-crossing, while the laser circled around her. The three girls didn't break a sweat dodging this, they kept moving, kept firing.
Yuyuko laughed aloud as she dodged a wave of knives, amulets and lasers; the girls counterattack to her spell card. "Ah, you are good at this game. I have been practicing myself as well. It is a lot of fun, isn't it? I have to thank you, Red-White."
The spell card depleted, a fan-like object appeared behind Yuyuko. It had a very ornate design on it. She spread her arms, crimson butterflies appearing on the fan, and thousands of shots came from them. The girls were immediately hit, but my barrier made sure it wasn't the end.
[SPELL CARD: DREAM SIGN "DUPLEX BARRIER"]
Reimu used a barrier spell card for the three girls as they kept up their attack, affording them more defense. The miko was calling out holes in Yuyuko's patterns to the other two, leading them to the safe spots. The danmaku was actually so dense that I would lose sight of the girls now and then.
This is insane! They might as well be in a downpour dodging raindrops!
I half-expected to see one of them fall out of the sky, knocked out, but they still managed to survive in the bullet-hell that Yuyuko made in the air. The Ghost Mistress kept moving, none of the shots, not even the homing shots, ever coming near her.
During that time, I kind of started to back away from the fight, wanting to find a place to hide. Being out there in the open with that going on was possibly very bad for me. Also, if I got out of there while she was busy, she couldn't enact her plan or whatever, right? At least, that was the logic that was going on in my head at the time. But I noticed something as I started to edge closer to the edge of the field. Crimson butterflies began to gather a ways before the walkway, directly in my path. I just stared at them for a while, before sidestepping. They "sidestepped", too. The closer I got, the more numerous they got. Yeah, not liking this. As I started to edge back towards the fight, the butterflies started to go away.
Well, looks like I'm going to be stuck on the field here. Also, why am I in a position where I'm afraid of butterflies? Then again, they are crimson butterflies, symbols of death.
I also inwardly shook my head at the situation. I was there, trying to do the smart thing like get away from the battle, but I couldn't even do that. Just my luck.
[SPELL CARD: DEADLY DANCE "LAW OF MORTALITY -DEMON WORLD-"]
Man, these spell cards sound really nasty. And it was - that spell card of Yuyuko's gave out six walls of danmaku, going in a clockwise fashion around her. Bigger shots also appeared among them, and they homed in on their targets. Marisa was grazed by one and dropped a few meters before regaining control of her flight.
"Son of a frickin'-!"
"Marisa! You okay?" I shouted out.
She shook her left hand, clenching her teeth. I could see her eyes get a bit teary from the pain. "Yeah! I'm fine! Damn it, that stings like a mother!" Even I could see her hand turn red from the impact.
Sakuya and Reimu made their way through the barrage, and then were on opposite sides of Yuyuko, still firing. Yuyuko kept moving, eventually coming close to Reimu - the miko yelped as a crimson butterfly shot out and left a cut on her shoulder.
"Yargh! You stupid ghost!" Reimu clenched her teeth as she held onto the shoulder. That may have been a real attack. Anger in her eyes, Reimu brought out a spell card, calling out to the maid. "Sakuya, use a barrier!"
Please don't tell me she's doing real attacks. Please.
The maid and the miko both used a spell card.
[SPELL CARD: DREAM SIGN "EVIL SEALING CIRCLE"]
[SPELL CARD: TIME SIGN "PERFECT SQUARE"]
The two barriers erected around the miko and the maid, forcing Yuyuko to have a narrow alley between them. She still moved, the two unable to hit her.
I knew what they were doing, pinning her in place. My heart leapt as Marisa flew right in front of Yuyuko holding the octagon thing.
Reimu shouted at the witch. "Marisa! Light her up!"
[SPELL CARD: LOVE SIGN "MASTER SPARK"]
The laser shot out from Marisa's octagon, going right for Yuyuko. The ghost just smiled and held out her hand-
Some of the ghosts surrounding Yuyuko shot forth, and absorbed Marisa's attack. The hope I had was shattered.
Stupid cheap last boss!
"What!"
"That's not fair! We had you!"
"I told you," the ghost grinned. "I will revive that person."
Yuyuko brought out another spell card as the two barriers ended, Reimu and Sakuya having to flee the area around her due to the butterflies. Yuyuko winked at us. "Now, let us continue the game. I'm having so much fun."
"I've had it!" Sakuya's eyes glowed red, then went back to blue in the blink of an eye. Sakuya's body shuddered as she clutched her chest as she fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Oh, crap...Yuyuko didn't just...did she?!
Reimu and Marisa caught her, bringing her to me. Sakuya dropped to her knees when she was placed on the ground, still gasping, still clutching her chest, and she was turning white, her eyes rolling in the back of her head. We had to use another one of my barriers to heal her.
I grabbed her shoulders, wanting her to be okay, hoping that she wasn't about to die right in front of me there. "Sakuya!"
The barrier reached into her, healing her. The maid caught her breath, as color returned to her skin. She blinked a few times, and swallowed hard.
Thank you, healing barrier!
We heard Yuyuko call out to us. "That was a bad move, maid. We're not using full power here, remember? We are playing danmaku."
Sakuya slowly stood back up, turning to the ghost wide-eyed. The maid's voice was shaky, and she still had her hand over her heart. "You...you…"
"Like I said - we're playing a nice little game. Please refrain from using those powers I saw you use against my Youmu, otherwise I shall be forced to use my full power as well. The same goes for the Red-White and the Black-White." The ghost's eyes wandered over ours, making sure we heard and understood her. When it was obvious we did, she smiled her carefree smile, and cheerfully spoke. "Now, where were we?"
She's toying with us. Damn it all, she's toying with us I understood what was going on. All four of us did. We couldn't win this battle. Not against something like her. If we fought back for real, she'd simply use her death powers. Oh, God I'm actually going to die here, the world is going to end, and there is nothing we can do.
I stared into Yuyuko's eyes, deathly afraid. She kept smiling at me, winking again.
Somebody please help me.
[SPELL CARD: FLOWERY SOUL "BUTTERFLY DELUSION"]
Remilia ran out to the wreck. It was extremely hard to see in that massive snowstorm. The servants were already hard at work digging, pushing, attempting to get to anyone in the rubble. None of their magical shots were working, they just simply bounced off due to the magical seals placed. Already a few live maids were being dragged out, but mostly, a whole slew of them were laid out. Meiling was attempting to lift an especially large piece of rubble with no effect.
Remilia looked around, and saw the Library Assistant. In a midst of an immediate fit of anger, she grabbed the little devil. "What the Hell was Patchi doing in the East Wing?"
The flustered familiar, who was already on the verge of tears, began to sob.
"Tell me, God damn it!"
"She...Lady Patchouli was tutoring one of the maid's children. And then this happened! I'm sorry!"
Remilia wanted to scream at her some more, but she couldn't bring herself to. Because she knew: if Patchi died, so would Koakuma. Remilia stared at the sobbing little devil, feeling a pang of guilt. "Okay okay," Remilia said, her tone becoming less harsh. "Now, listen to me! Get something ready - First aid, a potion, a magic spell, or a deal with the devil himself, but get something ready to heal Patchi and have it ready within the next five minutes, okay? She's alive! I know she is!" Koakuma nodded, as Remilia let the poor assistant go and ran to Meiling.
When the chief guard caught a glimpse of her master, she shouted out to her. "Milady! We think Lady Patch is under here! I can't get this damn thing to budge though!"
Remilia joined her and pushed as well, her heart racing. She could sense her friend's heartbeat somewhere under that thing. The debris started to move, but not by much, the magical seals shining as they pushed, activating. Even the combined might of Remilia and Meiling couldn't do much against it. "Damn house, why can't you-"
"Lady Flan?" Meiling blurted out.
Remilia looked up, shocked. Flandre was outside.
The sister of the Scarlet Devil stood there, staring at all the carnage. She noticed Remilia, and walked towards her.
"Look out!" One of the maids screamed, as a part of the mansion was coming down, right on top of-
"Flandre!"
It came down in a disappearance of dust and snow. Remilia screamed out to her sister. "Flaaaaaan!"
When the dust cleared, Flandre stood there unscathed, a single fist in the air, the debris in pieces. Flandre stepped over it, and made her way to her sister and Meiling. She looked at the two of them, her expression blank. Her gaze went to the wreck they were trying to lift. The sister of the Scarlet Devil spoke - her voice was flat, unemotional. "Patchi's down there. Alive. But she'll bleed out in a few minutes." Without saying another word, Flandre pushed the two away, grabbed the part of the mansion with one hand, and effortlessly lifted it up, the seals shattering. Flandre turned her head to the guard. "Meiling. Go. Now."
The chief guard, still finding ways to be amazed by the power of Flandre, nodded and ducked inside.
"Lady Patch? Lady Patch!" Meiling saw her after a little ways down a broken hallway, the Librarian/Tutor giving off a little light from the palm of her hand. She was still alive!
It wasn't until Meiling saw the scene that her heart sank.
Two fairies, one a maid, the other a juvenile, were forming a protective shell over Patchouli, debris on their shoulders. A piece of debris piercing through the head of the kid, while another piercing through the mother's heart, which in turn pierced into Patchouli's side. The Librarian laid still, blood coming from her mouth. She was doing her best not to show the pain she was in, but couldn't really. She blinked a few times when she saw Meiling.
"Hey...hey Lady Patch." Meiling gulped. "Looking good there..."
"...Liar.. Meiling gave another look at the two fairies as Patchouli roughly coughed. "They...they tried to protect me."
"Yeah... That they did."
"I tried to...protect them. My seals...didn't last…" Patchouli coughed again, blood coming out. She clenched her teeth, clearly straining to not show how much pain she was in.
I gotta move fast. Those fairies' bodies will disappear soon.
It was troublesome, really. When youkai died, they didn't leave a body behind. They quickly became dust. Meiling began to move some of the debris that were between her and the magician.
"I've been hearing them...the shots...trying to clear...the rubble..."
"Hey, don't speak." Meiling heard the weakness in Patchouli's voice, knew that this was going to cut it close.
"My magical seals...I've...tried to dispel them...can't...not strong enough..."
"They saved more people. The mansion didn't collapse right away." Don't do this. Don't be thinking you should blame yourself because you think you're going to die.
"...How...how many...are stuck...how man...many can't be saved...because of me..."
"No, it's okay. It's okay. You saved a lot of servants."
Meiling sized up the situation. If she simply took that piece of debris sticking out of Patchouli, the librarian would bleed out even quicker. So if Meiling was going to move her, it would have to be quick, and with the debris still in Patchouli. The guard would have to break off the piece, possibly through the mother. She'd have to hurry up - the kid was turning to dust already, and the rubble was shifting. "Okay, Imma get you out of this. Just...don't worry, okay?"
"Yeah...yeah."
Remilia stood there, watching the hole where Meiling had disappeared into. If Patchi died like this-
No! Patchi can't die! She's always getting sick, always weak, but she still survives! She had, for the past hundred years.
A hundred years. A fraction of the vampire's life. But Patchouli had been a friend of Remilia's for that fraction, longer than any other.
Remilia could control fate. Unconsciously, but she could control it. So why did this happen? Why was her best friend bleeding out? Why was this happening to her friend, her servants, her mansion? Why was this happening to her? How did she lose control?
She was so used to knowing the fate of others. She… but why? Why didn't she see this happening? What changed? The chains of fate surrounding someone should have been easy to read, especially on the day of events.
"I got her!"
All the doubts she was having, all those thoughts, were wiped away as the vampire heard her chief guard. Remilia's eyes teared up as Meiling came from the shadows carrying Patchouli in her arms. Blood was coming from Patchi's mouth, and she had a piece of broken wood sticking out from her side, but she was alive. Meiling ran back with the librarian to the mansion, where Koakuma awaited. Flandre dropped the wreck, and started to walk back to the house, her face still blank.
"Flan?"
The little sister turned to Remilia. "Nobody else is alive. Call them off."
"But where are you going?"
"To my room."
Remilia stared into Flandre's eyes, and was a bit unnerved by Flandre's unusual moment of absolute clarity, of when she got like this.
I haven't seen her this focused in ages. Even in that broken mind of hers, she knew what was going on.
She gave her a hug. Remilia felt a tear run down her cheek. "Thank you so much."
Flandre slowly returned the hug, patting her sister. "Hey...Patchi's my friend, too, Remi."
Remilia stood out there for a while longer, embracing Flandre, feeling emotionally exhausted, eventually staring up into the uncaring snowstorm that continued to pound away at the mansion. The structure kept moaning, more and more weight added to the roof.
"Sakuya, Kyon. Hurry up. That's an order."
The Yuki-onna passed by the home of the puppeteer, just to make sure, and was surprised when she was still alive. The puppeteer still had a measure of body heat, of life. Whiterock went down, and grabbed her by the throat. It wasn't until then that she stared into her eyes that she saw it - the puppeteer wasn't human; she was a youkai. Part of Letty wondered - why didn't she see it before? No...she knew she was a youkai. Wait. What's wrong? She knew, but forgot.
Letty shook her head, trying to clear up again. Her memory was cloudy - too much haze. The puppeteer coughed, causing Letty to squeeze, the puppeteer's eyes rolling in the back of her head, making a choking sound as she weakly struggled against the Yuki-onna-
Killtheboykilltheboykilltheb oykilltheboykilltheboykillth eboykilltheboykilltheboykill theboykilltheboykilltheboyki lltheboykilltheboykilltheboy killtheboykilltheboykilltheb oykilltheboy
Still holding onto the girl, Letty continued on her way.
Killtheboykilltheboykilltheb oykilltheboyWAKEUPTHISISN'TRIGHTTHISISN'TMEWAKEUPkilltheboykilltheboykilltheb oykilltheboyI'MNOTLIKETHISSOMEONEPLEASEWAK EMEUPkilltheboy
Letty felt a tear being shed, but she did nothing to wipe it away.
In the back of my mind, I registered that it had begun to rain there in the afterlife. I'd ask questions about it raining in the realm of the dead, but, yet again, it never is the time to ask such questions when something much bigger and more pressing is happening, is it?
The miko, the witch, and the maid huddled around me, nearly out of breath. They had just managed to somehow survive a near-nonstop barrage from Yuyuko. That spell card she used had a standard spread shot from her, among some ghosts that were homing in on the three. The ghosts would go to a location, fragment into an explosion of danmaku, contract, and repeat. My three companions were grazed multiple times by trying to dodge those as well as the flurry of the spread shots, and it took a lot out of their stamina. Yuyuko kept simply blocking their shots as she attacked, nothing hitting her at all, not even a graze.
"Damn it all. Can't even build up enough power to seal her up," Reimu tiredly said. "Every time I do, I feel a pain in my heart. We can't...we can't beat her."
Marisa gulped down the last of the coffee that was in the thermos in-between gasps for air. "Okay...so when...did we...lose...control of...this game, ze."
Interesting that when Marisa is tired, she still finds the energy to add a "ze" to the end of some of her sentences. Marisa gave me another handful of blossoms, getting another barrier going, and giving themselves a little extra boost of energy. I swallowed hard, seeing how tired they all were. I can't believe it's going to end like this. The only ones who can protect me are going to lose...and I'm gonna die here.
Damn it. Can't think like that.
Reimu clenched her fists, frustrated. "We lost control of it because she's no longer playing the game fairly. This is why I instigated the rules of Danmaku, and why everyone needs to oblige by them! Otherwise over-powered people could just stand there, and spam cheap attacks like this, or call down the Gods to do their work or whatever! It would be no real skill on their part, they wouldn't have any honor what so ever! Danmaku is supposed to even the playing field!"
The rules are not doing us any good right now!
She glared at Sakuya and I especially. "Which is why I don't feel sorry for Alice."
Now you have to talk to us about that? "This isn't the time, Reimu!" For a moment I felt pure rage towards her. It really wasn't the place.
"Oh, it's a perfect time," she blurted out, jabbing a finger in my chest. "I saw you two looking at me like that, especially you, Kyon! I'm not a bully! Alice just hasn't refined her skill enough! She's too emotional in a battle, despite that front she puts up!"
Reimu you are seriously pushing me. Please don't.
"Please, ze!" Marisa said as she grabbed Reimu's jabbing finger, getting between me and the miko. "Let's worry about the ghost trying to do us in!"
We can't be fighting each other right now! It isn't the time!
Sakuya shook her head as she viewed her remaining spell cards. I could see a flash of hopelessness in her eyes. "She's wearing us out...we're going to lose... I don't even think I have enough strength to dodge another few waves." The maid looked up at me, steeling her gaze. "But I'm not going to stop. Mistress Remilia ordered me to protect you, Kyon."
"Why?" Even though I said that, I knew the answer.
Sakuya had a little grin. "Kind of a compensation, you know, for being her meal for a quarter of a year. Her way of thanking you. The Scarlet Devil always rewards those who serve her."
In my case, I was served to her. Yeah, it makes me feel so much better Sakuya, thanks for telling me that. I would have told her that, but since she was putting herself out there, fighting for me, I couldn't. And like I said, I knew that answer, or at least I felt like I did. A small part of me had the feeling that maybe the people in the Scarlet Devil Mansion took a liking to me. I mean, I could hope, right?Reimu looked as if she was going to say something, but instead shook her head.
"Shall we continue our battle, humans?" we heard Yuyuko say. "Or have you been discussing to forfeit the boy?"
Oh, screw you. I've already had it with your carefree attitude in this battle! We all turned to Yuyuko, who had that same carefree smile.
The girls staggered to a line in front of me as Reimu let out a forced chuckle. "Battle? This isn't a battle. It's a farce."
"I told you. I shall play with you, but I need the boy."
Reimu huffed out an angry response. "You aren't playing fairly!"
"The boy is too important to me to wager, Red-White. I am indeed sorry, but I will have him, and I will regain my memories. Now, let's resume." She extended her arms, the symbol materializing behind her again. The mass of glowing butterflies returned, this time in even greater number. The girls each held out a spell card, but they didn't get a chance to use them. "Time for the game to end," Yuyuko said ever-so-cheerfully. "And time for me to regain my memories!"
[SPELL CARD: CHERRY BLOSSOM SIGN "PERFECT CHERRY BLOSSOM OF SUMIZOME -BLOOM-"]
Everything hit their targets, who didn't have a chance. Reimu, Sakuya, and Marisa, thrown into the air by the first wave, were juggled by the danmaku fired by Yuyuko. They landed behind me without even trying to break their fall. Marisa landed awkwardly, some of her items spilling out all over the place.
All I could do was yell "No!" when I saw the girls laying there, still breathing, but essentially motionless. My blood turned to ice as I witnessed that. They were my only line of defense. These girls who I had been spending the day with, getting to know them. They looked so cool in the fights they had, so awesome. And just like that, they were taken down. It made my heart sank to levels I've never experienced before. The girls down, I backed up, as Yuyuko floated towards me.
She still smiled, extending her hand. "It's over. Now, young man, please give yourself to me."
Oh, God, now what the hell do I do?!
"There is no need to worry. This isn't going to hurt."
That's the least of my worries!
To say that fear overtook me would be right on the button. I didn't know what to do with myself, my hands nervously moving around, wondering how to defend myself against this powerful woman. My hands went over the pocket that had...wait. Cold? What's cold? I pulled out the spell card I had.
Yuyuko stopped when she saw it. "Oh, the little boy wants to battle?" She raised her right arm, so her sleeve covered her mouth as she giggled behind it. "Fufufu. Very well. I shall give you the chance."
As the ghost continued to smile at me, I looked over the blue card, which was icy to the touch, the inscriptions somewhat sloppily written, as expected from the-
The ice fairy. Cirno. It's the spell card we captured this morning.
...The Icicle Fall.
My mind started to work, everything becoming clearer, the events from the day passing through my eyes, but in a certain order, showing me what had to be the solution. I knew what to do. Spring. Stealing spring, collecting it all.
And the Icicle Fall.
It hit me. I just shook my head at it, unable to believe it.
This is going to work. This has to work. Otherwise I'm dead. I held it up, saying the incantation. Please let me be able to use this!
Nothing happened. My barriers never gave me any sort of magical powers. So much for Patchouli's theory!
"Poor boy." Yuyuko tilted her head, still holding her sleeve over her mouth. "Not able to defend yourself."
I kept backing up, trying to think of something else, almost tripping on...Marisa's flask?
Mushroom vodka. Mushrooms. Mushrooms from the Forest of Magic. Great for potions, and...
Granting magical power. Holy crap this is going to work.
I picked it up, almost bewildered. It was always like this, wasn't it? I'm useless, but when it came down to it, everything aligns perfectly, and I could shake even existence to its core. All I had to do was take into account of everything that had been presented to me, and make my choices accordingly.
I wasn't looking forward to that choice though. Memories of Sakuya's reaction to the drink was still fresh in my mind. I opened the flask, and brought it to my mouth. My stomach was going to be mad at me for this!
I drank the Mushroom Vodka, and didn't stop until it was empty. It burned, the vapor going into my nostrils and stinging. My eyes were watering! Gulping it all down, I immediately gagged.
And I won't even get into the horrible taste.
"Son of a bitch, how does Marisa think this is good?!" Yuyuko didn't respond to my cursing, she just appeared amused by it.
Dropping the flask, and shaking my head in an attempt to get rid of the effects of the alcohol, I held up the spell card again, reading it. The lettering began to glow as I went through the incantation, the air around me lowering in temperature.
By the way, temperature lowering while it was raining? Not fun.
In the corner of my eye, I saw that Reimu had crawled to Marisa, grabbing the pouch of cherry blossoms, readying another handful. Amazing she was still conscious! A handful of blossoms in her possession, she gave me a half-awake gaze - it was obvious she was having trouble just doing this. She glanced at Yuyuko, and the card I had, nodding. She knew what to do. This is going to be tight timing...
[SPELL CARD: ICE SIGN "ICICLE FALL ~ EASY"]
A mist formed around me, which in turn were forming into icicles. I'm doing it! This is actually happening! I'm casting magic!
I was casting magic. At that point, I had a newfound respect for mushrooms, of all things.
Yuyuko smiled at the icicles. "Oh? Is that it?" She held out her hand to shield herself as the icicles began to move to the sides, changing directions. They then quickly shot forward.
Yuyuko didn't have to shield herself. She was too close, and they missed her. "Hmmm? Little boy, are-"
I couldn't help but smile at her. I wasn't aiming for you, you know.
A flash of confusion went through her eyes, her smile disappearing in response. She knew something was up. "Just what..."
Yuyuko trailed off as she heard it behind her. Her eyes narrowing, she slowly turned, Reimu taking that as the cue to throw the handful. I ran to the blossoms, gathering them as the ghost was distracted, and began to bring the girls to their feet. I heard the ghost gasp. "Ah."
Just like that morning, when the Ice Fairy used that spell card against Sakuya and I, it missed its target. And just like that morning, the icicles were hitting the flora, well, the Saigyou Ayakashi - cutting off branches, freezing it, damaging it.
Killing it, I hoped. Even though it was supposed to be knockout magic, the icicles still froze the target. And freezing a tree is not so good for said tree.
"...Wha...Wha...What are you doing?!" Yuyuko shouted, losing her collected demeanor. "You'll ruin everything!"
If it was your intention to kill me, then it was my intention to ruin whatever you were planning.
Yuyuko flew up to where the icicles were hitting the tree, at least, that's what I saw in the corner of my eye as I went about activating the barriers around the girls. Wow, I took a chance there. I was afraid Yuyuko was simply going to kill me to stop the spell card, but it seemed she deemed saving the tree from the immediate damage more important.
There was something different about the barriers surrounding the four of us, though. They were a bevy of colors, with additional symbols, as if it was more powerful.
"What in the world is this?" asked Reimu as I helped her up.
"Feeling good, ze!"
The girls were fully revived, no longer tired.
"What happened to Kyon?" Sakuya said as she slowly got up. "What's with the barrier?"
Marisa held up the empty flask, grinning from ear-to-ear. "You tried the Mushroom Vodka, didn't you? Gotta be the barriers reaction to the magic power in ya! I told ya you got to trust the fungus, ze!"
"Marisa," I said, "that Mushroom Vodka was just nasty."
She raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. "Kyon, c'mon! Give it a chance! It's an acquired taste!"
How the heck could that be tasty for anyone? Especially since its slimey going down! It's still in my throat! Even at that point, I clearly felt the texture in me. I could feel it slowly going down my esophagus, and burn in my stomach. Seriously how the hell can you stand this crap?!
Reimu scoffed and shook her head at the barriers surrounding us. "Magic, cherry blossoms from the realm of the dead, and the blessings of a God. Amazing that everything aligned the way it did."
I didn't want to knock it. Whatever was happening with me was working just fine. Not going to look a gift horse in the mouth there. However, I spent the next few seconds trying to spit out that horrible taste. Sadly, it wouldn't go away for another minute or so.
Yuyuko was flustered, torn apart about what to do. She kept trying to hold off the icicles, but she would move to one side, only to have the other side open up. It was as if she had completely forgotten about us as she was trying to save the tree. I couldn't help but stare in disbelief at that enemy who had seconds before seemed unstoppable. She was able to handle the girls, yet she was so easily distracted.
Sakuya twirled knives in both her hands. I knew she wanted a piece of Yuyuko for what she did earlier. "Well, ladies, this corpse wanted to play a game, so let's finish it!"
"You don't have to tell me twice, maid," said Reimu as she readied a spell card. "Time to end this and bring spring back to Gensokyo!"
"Let's put this ghost down!" shouted Marisa as she brought up a spell card.
Awesome. The girls used their homing attacks at the same time.
[SPELL CARD: SPIRIT SIGN "FANTASY SEAL ~ CONCENTRATE"]
[SPELL CARD: ILLUSION SIGN "KILLING DOLL"]
[SPELL CARD: MAGIC SIGN "MILKY WAY"]
Yuyuko never saw it coming; she was still too busy trying to save the tree. The three homing attacks slammed her against the trunk and pinned her there, so she was getting hit by my icicles as well. All four of our spell cards were on her. Yuyuko didn't even make a sound as the danmaku pounded into her body.
When they were done, she laid there up against the trunk, her eyes closed. It was over - we knocked her out.
Marisa pumped her fist. "Woo! Got her! We got her!"
Reimu sagged her shoulders, hands on her knees, and let out a sigh. Still, she smiled, staring back up at the ghost. "When she wakes back up, I'm going to get her to personally give us back the spring, and then maybe seal her up for good."
"Not before I get my knives under her fingernails," said Sakuya. "That heart attack hurt. But that's one thing that I don't understand, Reimu. We've been looking for 'spring', but how-"
Kazami opened her eyes, a feeling of dread coming over her.
By the Gods. It's happening.
She felt it. She knew that one of the triggers happened. Either enough spring had been given, or the one under the tree was stirred. The one underneath that was mentioned by the tree.
Either scenario only meant one thing.
Reblooming.
The ground trembled a bit, the vibrations barely noticeable, but noticeable for Sakuya to not finish what she was going to say.
Reimu looked up, eyes narrowing. She did appear more than concerned. "You feel that?"
Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, the ground shook."
"No..." Reimu spoke, almost at a whisper. She took a few steps forward, towards the tree. "Not that...something...else."
Besides the rain getting heavier, it did feel like something was different. Something was very, very wrong there - the sky was getting darker, or was that just the area we were in? Either way, the hairs on my neck were standing up, as my own gut instinct was telling me that I was in a bad situation. I also felt the wind of this place picking up. The ground trembled again, even stronger. For a second, a scenario played through my head of what might be happening.
Oh, please don't do this to us. That's too cliché for a final boss fight. Then again, nothing is cliché when it's happening to you, right?
For some reason, each of us turned to the tree, as if we knew. I think we knew what was going on. What was that saying again? The worst thing that can happen, will happen? Something like that. Oh, wait, that's right - Murphy's law. "What can go wrong, will go wrong."
The branches of the tree started to sway, slowly at first, but it started to gain speed.
Why is there a light coming from the tree where it's making contact with Yuyuko?
What the f-
A force came from the tree, knocking us off our feet. Yuyuko was sent flying over us, and she landed on the walkway (wow, she was launched far), still out. The four of us quickly got back up, facing the tree, all of us wide-eyed.
It couldn't have...no...dammit no. Don't tell me it's actually going to happen.
"Girls?"
There's no way.
The tree itself was starting to move. In front of it, dirt was being displaced, turned over, until a mass of roots came up, tangled around-
You have to be kidding.
A body. A perfectly preserved body that showed no signs of decay, despite being a thousand years old and having her throat slashed open. Her pink hair was caked in dirt, which was being washed out by the rain. Her dried blood still stained her light blue kimono, but it didn't cover her face.
Her face. It was easy to identify who she was. I stared in disbelief, wishing it wasn't that easy. I felt myself start to slowly back away from this, and at the edge of my vision, I saw Sakuya and Marisa do the same.
Well, I didn't expect this to be the case.
And how could I? How could I expect it? I didn't even give much thought to whoever was buried beneath the Ayakashi, whomever it was who sacrificed themselves to seal the tree away. But there she was before me. A full bodied Japanese woman in a light blue kimono with dark trim and wavy pink hair.
This woman whom I just met that day.
Oh, the irony. You couldn't write it any better for a story.
Yuyuko Saigyouji.
We looked back at the body...no, the ghostly...wait, this is confusing! The ghost Yuyuko was knocked out behind us, and the body of Yuyuko was being dangled in front of us by the roots of the tree. I don't know how I brought myself to speak, but I did. "She was the one! The one in that story! She sacrificed herself to seal away the tree!"
Everything aligned together perfectly. A sacrifice, a threat that needed to be kept down. All a thousand years ago. That gave way to my next thought, the reality and seriousness of our situation.
She just undid what she did long ago! We are so screwed!
The eyes of the body of Yuyuko opened, staring at us with its dead eyes. "...sssstop...it...it's...waaakinnnggg...up...please...sssstop it...iiiiit wantssss your sssssoulssssss..."
Oh, man we are so freaking screwed!
Her weak plea brought unimaginable fear to my body, as life began to return to the tree, the frost falling off, reversing the withering effect the ice did to it earlier. Little buds started to form on the branches. The roots of the tree shivered, curled, moved. Burrowing under us.
I'll be surprised if I make it out of Gensokyo and not have any nightmares.
Sakuya let out a curse, the fear in her voice almost overwhelming. "It's reviving! Why is it reviving?"
It's time for the Final Boss's second form, isn't it?
Reimu shouted to all of us as she brought out a few amulets. "Run! All of you! Get out of here!"
"Reimu! But-"
She turned to us, the fear in her eyes apparent. I couldn't blame her - especially since the body of Yuyuko was still making weak pleas for us to reseal the tree. I am going to have so many nightmares if I survive. "Get out of here! Now! I'll take care of this!"
Marisa shook her head. "No! I'll just get Kyon somewhere safe, then I'm coming right back!" Marisa motioned for me to go with her. "C'mon! Let's go!"
Don't call me a coward, but that situation really wasn't my place. It was highly doubtful that this thing would play a magical card game with us. I went with the witch. Marisa and I ran to the edge of the field, towards ghost Yuyuko, who was still laying on the walkway, still out cold. We felt a rumbling beneath us, causing me to lose my footing.
Marisa rushed over to pick me up. "Get up, dammit!"
Roots shot up in front of us, blocking - no, not merely blocking. The roots shot up all around the edge of the field, flying into the air, curving.
"You got to be kidding me!" Wow, was I saying/thinking that a lot.
"Come on!" Marisa shoved the broom between my legs, and we went up. "No!"
That was Marisa. You see, the roots reached above, forming a perfect dome of the field around the tree, way faster than we could have flown. We were out of the rain, at least, but I'd rather be soaked than in that situation. For a brief moment, we were in complete darkness. I brought out my flashlight, but the tree radiated light.
Oh for crying out loud!
We were stuck in there, stuck being the first people who would have to watch the re-blooming of the Saigyou Ayakashi. And from the looks of things, it would be soon. The buds were moving, growing.
Marisa stared at the tree, visibly shaking. "This thing is gonna kill us if it starts blooming!"
Somebody do something! This can't end like this!
We watched as Reimu threw some amulets at the tree, but they caught on fire and burned out before they reached it. Sakuya's knives were cutting off some of the blossoms, but some of those danmaku knives were also shattering in midair.
My grip on Marisa tightened as I spoke. "Well, what now?"
Marisa brought out Cirno's pack of spell cards. "Kyon! You got any magic left? Freeze the stupid thing!"
I couldn't truthfully say if I had any magic left, but I couldn't argue with her plan. Ice did seem to have an effect on it the first time.
Before I could grab them, the tree screamed. I'll say that again. The tree screamed. A shock wave of sound came from the tree, and the two of us dropped out of flight when it washed over us. The spell cards fell to the ground, lost somewhere in the upturned dirt. All I had was the Icicle Fall. We were somewhat high up, and we hit the field pretty hard, but the loose, wet dirt made for a softer landing. Slowly getting back up, I could see the buds getting even bigger.
Marisa quickly hopped up. "Ah, to hell with it! Blast the tree!"
The girls prepared to open fire-
Another shock wave, and no shots came from my companions.
"What the hell is it doing?" shouted Sakuya.
"I think those shock waves disrupt magic for a bit, ze!"
Sakuya's eyes glowed red. "Then I won't give it the time to stop me!"
A flurry of knife danmaku appeared before Sakuya, and they all flew right at the buds, cutting them off some of the branches. It didn't do the job completely, because the tree swayed the remaining branches, getting the knives to miss, and another shock wave shattered the rest of the knives in the air. Marisa raised her octagon thing, and fired her laser at it, making sweeping motions, which burned the branches it made contact with. Again, the tree swayed the branches to save the buds. Reimu tried using her amulets - some of which stuck to the branches, and for that branch, all the buds were set on fire. More branches were burned, buds destroyed, but it wouldn't be enough, it wouldn't be. The tree was too big. The girls only destroyed half of the buds.
The rest of the buds were opening. The damn buds were opening.
Oh, my God, it's happening.
"They're blooming!"
"Don't look!"
Another shock wave, and I saw the light intensify, the buds twisting open. Reimu and Sakuya both threw their arms in front of their eyes, and I followed suit. I held up my arm, trying to shield my eyes, looking at the ground.
Truth be told, that was one of the scariest moments in my life. If I laid eyes on the blooming tree, I would lose myself, allow myself to be consumed, and have my soul stolen by it. I knew this. Nothing would have gotten me to turn towards it.
...Is what I want to say. But I saw a pair of shoes starting to slowly walk towards the tree. A broom fell into my vision.
Oh, no.
I reacted. Normally, I think I would have acted in self-preservation, but I reacted. I reached for her, grabbing onto her dress, trying to stop her. I was dragged off my feet. On the ground, I grabbed her again, still trying not to look up.
"Marisa!"
The woman awoke. Something was wrong. She couldn't tell what it was, but something was wrong. She got up and out, noticing Chen passed out in the entryway. The woman grabbed her parasol out of pure habit and went outside. It was snowing heavier than she would have liked. She called it, the calm before the storm, and there it was in full force. But what about that feeling?
The feeling she hadn't felt since...
A thousand years ago.
No. It can't be. By the Gods. It's awake.
She started to berate herself. She knew her plan was a long shot, they all were. Always had too many variables, but she did kind of like it like that, throwing in a bit of chaos. Her way of doing things through agents and giving them the freedom to perform their tasks had rarely failed her. Because let's face it - what enemy plans for chaos?
But for something like this? No, she took into account what would happen if it woke up, but for it to wake up and send an energy signal like this?
What happened? What was different? It was the interference by the Sky Canopy Domain, wasn't it? It added an unknown variable to the plan.
Damn it, no. The Sky Canopy Domain are doing their own thing...the ones up there will be consumed. It'll get back down here...and it'll consume the world. And if it consumes Suzumiya...
She stood there, staring up at the sky, where Hakugyokurou was, hoping for it not to be true, that it wouldn't come to pass.
"Lady Yukari?"
Her shikigami came back, the fox woman a bit harried from flying in this storm. Yukari Yakumo composed herself before asking her servant. "Ran, do you feel it, too?"
Ran couldn't help but sag her shoulders, the look of defeat apparent. "I don't know what I could have done. I've helped them along, watched over them until they got there, but I couldn't follow them in. And it's getting even worse. I'm sorry, but, I think we lost."
Yukari felt the dread, and had to swallow hard. It broke her heart to be there in that situation. For her to lose her best friend Yuyuko twice in one lifetime was eating Yukari up.
"It's okay. We couldn't have known this would have happened. It's altered somehow. Something is wrong. Whatever is going on up there is new - it's not supposed to fully bloom. It was only supposed to go to 80%, but it's fully bloomed right now. The timeline's been changed, and now everything might end. That damn Sky Canopy Domain. What have they done..."
Yukari almost didn't hear herself speak, as the wind roared, the snowstorm building up even stronger.
Lyrica shook her head in disappointment with herself. Her favorite keyboard was smashed. Served her right for bringing it though - Lunasa and Merlin were smart enough to bring instruments that were a bit worn in, and weren't their favorites into a battle. Lyrica would have to settle for her own backups until she could find a new favorite-
Something shot right past her. The sisters looked up, a white streak going into the rift, ice covering the opening right after it went in.
They let something else in. Maybe they weren't cut out for the door guard type. The Prismrivers flew up to the solidified rift, banging on it, trying to get it open. Without their instruments to attack, they couldn't do much against this ice. Instruments...Lyrica had an idea.
"Merlin! Your broken trumpet! Let's use the pieces to chip it away!"
The snowstorm had to be howling. Cirno gazed out the window in awe of nature's sheer power with the cold. Or was it Letty's? She couldn't really tell anymore. She'd known about Letty for years, and while she was able to manipulate the cold...this year was completely different. She had gotten stronger somehow. Able to increase the potency of winter, making it last longer. She mentioned the myth of the spring fairy once, but Cirno couldn't remember what she said.
Just the way Wriggle said that earlier...about her hanging out with Letty. Well, why not? Cirno liked the cold, and Letty was a snow ghost.
Yet, wasn't it Letty who asked Cirno to deal with those two, the boy and the maid? And then there was that rage, that increase in power. What was that all about? But it disappeared when Cirno got hit by that laser.
Cirno was about to kill those three during that time. It was still weird, looking back at it. What happened to her to make her want to kill them? I mean, yeah, they kicked her butt.
Cirno scratched her head. What was she thinking about earlier? Oh, right. Wriggle and her tone when talking about Letty. Cirno didn't like it, but...no. She didn't want to think about it. Letty couldn't be involved. I mean, yeah, having extra winter was awesome, but- no, can't think like that. No more "but"s. She refused to believe that Letty had anything to do with this.
But then again, what happened last year?
Letty took Cirno aside last year, last year when Letty really started to talk to Cirno. Cirno always would see the Yuki-onna each winter, and thought her to be so cool. The way she would get the snowflakes to dance in the air for her own amusement was just so awesome, so worthwhile to see, even from afar.
But yeah, what she said last year, last year when she finally got to play with Letty. At the end of winter, Letty took her aside. Cirno was sad that Letty would be going away until the next winter. Where she went, Cirno didn't know. But Letty told her that each of the seasons were important, that it would be selfish to keep the seasons going longer than they should. Cirno protested, of course, saying how neat it would be to have winter going just a little while longer...
Cirno continued to be lost in her thoughts as the snowstorm pounded away at Gensokyo.
-begin-
DANGER.
Unknown Entity SAIGYOU AYAKASHI revived.
Preparing team should it attempt to consume our world instead of GENSOKYO.
-Kuyou Suou
-end-
-URGENT UPDATE-
REVIEWING TOOL LETTY WHITEROCK'S ACTIONS HAVE GIVEN US INSIGHT ON WHAT HAPPENED.
TOOL LETTY WHITEROCK MADE CONTACT WITH UNKNOWN ENTITY SAIGYOU AYAKASHI IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE DATA ALTERATION OF DIRECTING THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS AND THE SPRING NEEDED FOR REVIVAL ELSEWHERE.
UNKNOWN ENTITY SAIGYOU AYAKASHI LEECHED [REDACTED] FROM TOOL LETTY WHITEROCK.
UNKNOWN ENTITY SAIGYOU AYAKASHI HAS [REDACTED] REACTION TO [REDACTED].
UNKNOWN ENTITY NOW EXHIBITS [REDACTED], SIMILAR TO [REDACTED].
REQUESTING MORE TEAMS TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT, AS IT NOW JEOPARDIZES OUR OWN TARGET AS WELL AS ENEMY TARGET HARUHI SUZUMIYA.
-Kuyou Suou
-end-
-update-
Projections made.
Teams will not be ready in time.
Unknown Entity SAIGYOU AYAKASHI will [DATA CORRUPTED].
Preparing to extract our own target and assets to a safer location in the universe.
-end-
Among some of the players of Touhou, they admit that the resurrection of Human Yuyuko was one of the best gaming moments of all time, especially when they didn't know it was going to happen. I mean, you just took her on in an epic battle...and then you think you defeated her. For a few seconds, nothing happens.
Until you realize that she still has a health bar.
And then she comes back. In that part, you can NOT hurt Yuyuko. All you can do is try to survive for 66 seconds for the final attack to time out. AND WHAT AN ATTACK.