Everybody hates the Chensaw pun. :(
But apparently it's in the Urban Dictionary. Chensaw: The Act of an Asian getting an insane melee kill with a Lancer in Gears of War, especially if their name is Chen.
You guys may or may not like this episode. It may feel like sequel-bait, but it wasn't my original intention to write a sequel until a few months after writing this. It was written as a stand-alone story. I'm also sorry in advance if this feels like an info-dump. This is the episode I've personally had problems with. I'm not entirely happy with it, but this is how it came out.
And now due to the popularity, this is going to continue.
5,000 views! Thank you all!
And speaking of thanks, I wish to express the deepest thanks to my Beta Readers. Especially the two who have stuck with me throughout the entire story. I could not have done this without them.
Special thanks to Serendipital and superstarultra for hanging in there when so many quit. You guys are awesome.
At first I wasn't sure if I would be up to the task of being Supperdude9's beta-reader. I did accept in the end, but even as I read over the first few chapters, I was worried that I wouldn't do a very good job or be unable to follow along with the story. But here we are after 13 chapters of Kyon's big adventure. While I do have some knowledge of the Touhou characters and their lore, thanks to two very good friends of mine, I'm not as much of a fanatic as them or have played any of the games. Part of me thought that I wouldn't be able to enjoy the story as much without having looked into more of the Touhou cast's background stories. But I DIDN'T get lost. Supperdude9 aimed to make a Haruhi story with Touhou elements that would be able to be read by veteran fans and newbies, and I think he really exceeded in it! I vastly enjoyed reading the story and having the honor of getting to look at each chapter before they were published. Each of the main Touhou characters really got a fair amount of time shared between them and it never felt like one was more important than the others. What really makes this a rewarding experience is that this great story finally got to be read by fans of Touhou and Haruhi fans alike. Thank you again for choosing me to be your beta, Supperdude9! I will never forget reading about the journey of Kyon, Sakuya, Reimu, and Marisa in the crazy land of Gensokyo.
-superstarultra
Thank you so, so much for letting me work on this. It really was a pleasure, and to see your passion shining through this fanfiction...well, it put some passion into me too. Your story has served its purpose. I guarantee that others will feel the same way. And as for my purpose...I can only hope I've helped a little bit. Be it a rule, a suggestion, or just a comment, I hope you took something away from my beta-reading. And if not-hey. Maybe I can improve.
If you'll have me, I'd very much like to work on the next installment of this series. And...you wanted a note to put at the end of the story, right? It's basically the above...my thoughts on working on this series.
This story was amazing to work on. Passion shone through every word, and some of that passion seeped into me, too. I can proudly say that I'm enchanted with the music in these games, and have started to play the games themselves. So, thank you so much for letting me work on this, Supperdude! It was an absolute pleasure. I hope I helped, even if just a little bit. To the readers, I just hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I have.
-Serendipital
Beta Read by:
Serendipital
superstarultra
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.
We walked outside, where the twilight sky acted as a backdrop to a woman standing there. She stood at the top of the staircase, in a pink and purple dress. Her long flowing blonde hair moving about a bit in the little wind that was blowing up here. She continued looking out onto Gensokyo, humming a little tune as she twirled a pink-laced parasol. My heart started to pound. This is it, isn't it? That's her. That has to be her. That demon woman.
Ran spoke. Not serious. Not entirely casual.
"Lady Yukari."
The tune stopped. The woman continued to look down, not saying anything for a minute. The silence was very unnerving, and in my opinion, overly dramatic.
"'If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of a hundred years, teach the people.'"
Her voice. I heard it before. Even though I thought it was a dream, it still stuck with me. Also, was that Confucius she just quoted?
The woman spoke again.
"It has been a while since I've spoken to a human, really spoken to a human, saying something other than 'Gensokyo will welcome you.'"
She turned around, letting us see her. The tension had built up in my chest.
It was her. The woman from what I thought was a dream right before I came to Gensokyo. The youkai Demon of Gaps and Boundaries. The so-called "Sage of Gensokyo".
"For those of you who haven't properly met me, I am Yukari Yakumo."
Yukari smiled as she gazed at all of us with her youkai-like purple eyes. She greeted me, calling me by my real name. Thank you. Someone actually knows my name!
"Yes, you'd like the theories and answers now, wouldn't you?"
Reimu took a few steps forward, bringing out an amulet. Is she nuts?
Imperfect Cherry Blossom Season Finale
Episode 13
["Purpose"]
=The Border between Youkai and Human=
"Phantasmagoria.
She was also living on the border of Gensokyo.
A mysterious occurence on the border of three countries."
- Touhou 7, Perfect Cherry Blossom - Phantasm Stage
I swallowed hard. Reimu was already in some sort of attack position with her amulets.
"Reimu, what are you doing?"
I saw her body tense, as if she was about to attack right then and there.
"She's behind the cooking teams, behind all the human deaths. I can't just-"
I was quick to interrupt her.
"Easy, Reimu. She was the one who helped us, giving me the notes on the Ayakashi. And you yourself said that you followed Ran, so the Yakumos have been helping us."
Dammit, why now? Why this Reimu? Why not the laid back Reimu I knew from a few days ago? At least hold off until that demon can get me out of here!
Although Reimu had a good point. This was a demon who spirits away humans to be food. So why was I defending the youkai? At that point, I think I just wanted to get home, so I didn't really put much thought into it. Even now though, I still don't want to. Too touchy of a subject.
Wow I'm self-serving if I'm willing to overlook the deaths of unwanted humans just so I can get back home, aren't I?
"Reimu, please. Don't do this."
Reimu glared at the demon for a good minute before she put back her weapons. Yukari's smile was unchanging. Remilia stepped forward.
"Okay, Miss Yukari. You apparently have all the answers," said Remilia as she brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "So, I need to know one thing. What exactly is the boy's 'blessing'?"
The demon sighed, as it seemed she would have to do a lot of explaining. I knew I was in for a long one. So bear with it, as I did.
"That, my little vampire, was a bit of an unknown factor, actually. You all know about Haruhi, correct? The girl who can cause rifts in time, create closed spaces, and created an explosion of data." Yukari got various nods in response. "There is a theory I have that explains why he reacted to the barrier the way he did. You see, there's no secret. The girl likes Kyon."
Marisa playfully elbowed me in the ribs over that, but I paid it no mind.
"And part of her likes him the way he is, just a normal boy who has some interest in her, and is there for her, essentially. However, the mind can be a fickle thing, especially when bored. It can create all sorts of thoughts, all sorts of 'what ifs'."
And all sorts of problems for me.
Yukari stepped towards us, locking eyes with mine.
"A part of her wants you to be more, wants you to be special, wants you to be grand. That created a little spark within you. And since you're in here, a product of hers, it blossomed, becoming enhanced with the mere act of being in Gensokyo, causing that 'taste' Remilia experienced." Yukari blinked her mesmeric purple eyes a few times, her eyes going thoughtful. "I wish I had more than that, but that is the best explanation I can offer. Haruhi is okay with you the way you are, but that part of her gave you an edge in here, and made the blossoms react to you in such a way. It appears to be a double-edged sword though, holding you in here as well, when the miko and the lesser devil attempted to get you out. That, I cannot explain, but I myself should be able to simply bypass it with my abilities."
Really? She wants me to be more than I am? Well, can I blame her, when even I recognize that I can be a useless loser at times? And I guess I should be grateful that the spice of my blood got Remilia to stop feeding on me. Another addition to the small list of things that actually make me grateful to know Haruhi.
The demon's eyes met with Yuyuko's. Yuyuko slowly floated towards Yukari, and she paused when they were close to each other. I realized what was going on. Human Yuyuko was about to reconnect with Yukari for the first time in a thousand years.
"I always wondered," said Yuyuko. "Out of nowhere, you showed up, and you...it was like you knew me. It was so confusing. You were able to become fast friends with me because you knew what I liked, my interests. We clicked too perfectly, and it always made me uncomfortable. But you proved to be a good friend in my current form, just like when I was human. I always wondered...I always wondered why you cried the first time we 'met'. But now that I can remember, I can't help but ask. Why didn't you ever tell me?"
I could hear the sadness in Yuyuko's voice. Yukari gave her ghost friend a little smile as she brought up her hand to run it through Yuyuko's hair.
"I did not know if you were ready to remember, old friend. Remembering those ugly men with their ugly hearts, your treatment, all of that. And the pain you had to go through, that I put you through when I tried to stop you."
"I don't know what else to say. I'm sorry for that, for making you cry back then."
"No, it's all right. It had to be done. I was selfish, really."
"No, Yukari, I was selfish. I didn't want to think too much about how it would have affected you, it-"
Yukari put her hand on Yuyuko's shoulder. It was obvious that Yukari was holding back tears.
"Like I said, it had to be done. You had to seal that tree. You don't have to apologize for anything. You never had to."
"But-"
Yukari embraced her ghostly friend. I heard Yuyuko sniffle. These two were friends, making a thousand-year reconnection. Human Yuyuko's memories are now in Ghost Yuyuko after a thousand years...I think.
Thinking about that, it's kind of complicated. Yuyuko has two memories of Yukari - as a Ghost, and as a Human...and they melded? Ugh. My head hurts even now when thinking about it. Can't even begin to think how it's affecting Yuyuko herself, the clash of two memories, essentially two people, coming into one mind. The ghost sniffled again.
"...I took spring away from Gensokyo just so I could get my memories back. All for my own selfish reasons."
"I want to know, old friend. Was it worth it?"
Yuyuko lowered her head a bit.
"Besides remembering you...no. No, not really."
"Thankfully, you should forget in time." Yukari smiled a forced smile. "You always forget things anyways."
"Yes...yes, you're right. I hope."
Yuyuko let out a little sob as Yukari embraced her tighter.
"Oh, don't cry."
"I...hurt a lot of people for my own selfish reasons. What did I become? This stupid ghost? I never wanted to kill, I always hated my ability to kill when I was alive, and I hurt so many people! It was the very thing I was fighting against!"
"It wasn't your fault."
It wasn't really her fault, was it? She just didn't have her memories. If she did, this whole mess could have been avoided.
Youmu stepped forward, eyes steeled.
"It was that Letty Whiterock!"
Yukari shook her head.
"No. It wasn't."
"What do you mean? I clearly saw her manipulate Lady Yuyuko!"
Yukari patted Yuyuko's head. They then let each other go, and Yuyuko floated back, a bit satisfied from her little cry. Yukari looked directly at me.
"It has to do with the boy, and his creator friend."
"What? Me?"
Yukari gave me a single nod.
"You see, there is a war going on out there. A war bigger than you can imagine. It caught my attention because one of the combatants of that war came into Gensokyo to alter events. What's happening right now was actually supposed to happen. Whiterock did initially convince Yuyuko to do what she did, yes, but Whiterock was altered, became a tool for destroying Gensokyo. She is no longer a threat though, as they have lost their control over her."
Great. Now I feel bad for watching her burn in front of me a week ago. She wasn't evil like I made her out to be.
"What are you saying?" I asked.
"I am saying that this world, our world, is indeed a creation of Haruhi, where all the paranormal entities flock to - fairies, youkai, ghosts, phantoms, vampires, and the more to come, are just results of her creation, her wishes."
Finally.
Someone had directly said it.
Gensokyo is a product of Haruhi Suzumiya.
I felt like some weight was lifted off of my shoulders. It was always a what-if for me, but right then and there, hearing it...was different. Gensokyo really is all because of Haruhi, according to another person. According to this demon, this sage. She began pacing during her explanation, twirling her parasol.
"I would like to say that it is a simple theory, but the evidence of the attack and interference on our events prove otherwise. There are those who seek to destroy the machinations of Kyon's friend, just because they are machinations of hers. That is the basis of what I believe here. That, and two other things. I've witnessed the 'birth' of the creator, and the Data Society along with the esper Organization officially recognizes Gensokyo as a product of Haruhi. It's their belief that during the data explosion, history was altered, giving all of us life, existence, and giving us our stories."
You gotta be kidding me. They knew? I wanted to ask, but she continued.
"The events that happened here were supposed to happen, but not this way. Not like this. More people died than they normally would have. Yuyuko would not have gone to her extremes, and would have accepted a normal Danmaku battle. Nor would she have regained her memories. This incident was supposed to happen last month, on the twenty-first. The interference pushed the date back, to the farthest it could go, causing the winter to build even more; back to the second of this month, seven days ago, the latest it could happen."
Marisa shifted a bit, before tilting her head.
"So in a way, we were behind schedule then, ze?"
"Yes. The things that happened here are due to said interference in our events." Yukari turned to the sunset. "But it was also dumb luck that things worked out like this. Whiterock was instructed to find someone for the cherry blossoms to attract to, to make sure that nobody could have found out about Hakugyokurou, nobody would have the spring necessary to bring the Ayakashi back to life, that an eternal winter would kill off Gensokyo. I couldn't interfere with Yuyuko's plans, not directly, out of respect for her, and the fact that she was altered to the point where she would have flat-out killed me if I did interfere."
Yuyuko had a slight ashamed look on her face. Yukari continued.
"But as long as that person stayed out of Gensokyo, nobody could track them."
Yukari turned and locked eyes with mine.
"Kyon, you were chosen completely at random by Whiterock." A smile crept on Yukari's face. "To tell the truth, Whiterock saved Gensokyo, in a way, by choosing you. I still can't get over it."
In my experience, there was no such thing as dumb luck...well, there was, but I never called it that. I just simply called it "Haruhi".
"But how did I get here?"
"I brought you here, my boy. Remember the first of this year? When you were in my realm?" Yukari winked. "Where you checked out my body?"
Ah, hell. I clenched my jaw, trying not to blush. Yukari just grinned.
"Oh, it's perfectly fine. You are a healthy boy after all."
And a weirdo, too, what with most of the thoughts I've been having lately. Then again, surrounded by pretty girls...Can you really blame a guy in my position? Marisa, Meiling, Yukari here... Very interesting place, Gensokyo, to say the least.
"So, why did you bring me here in the first place?"
"Just a whim, my boy. I wondered what was done to you, and didn't learn until after the fact what happened. I just saw that you were touched by Gensokyo. In fact, those who do get touched by Gensokyo I generally bring in. It worked out in the end, right?"
Well, to tell the truth, I didn't know what I was expecting to hear when I'd ask the question of "why was I brought into Gensokyo?", but that was possibly one of the last things I expected. A mere whim, just because I got involved.
Just like how I got involved with Haruhi.
Alice let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"So...barring his perversions-"
Ah, come on, Alice!
"-what does this mean then? Are more enemies of this Haruhi going to come into Gensokyo and cause more incidents? Are they going to interfere even more?"
Ran had given Yukari a teacup, which the demon finished before answering Alice. I guess she got thirsty, as the demon had been speaking alot.
"That, my little puppeteer, I don't know for sure. The events of the future are...difficult to discern right now." Yukari stepped up to Remilia. "What I do know is that the supposed 'intruder', Miss Scarlet, that your servant said she saw, was possibly one of them."
A flash of anger washed over Remilia's face. She pursed her lips, and closed her eyes, seemingly doing her best to keep calm.
"...So...brought down my mansion, did they?"
"I'm afraid so, Miss Scarlet."
Remilia shook, her fists clenching.
"...Okay...well, they just made the worst enemy they could ever make. So, what does this mean then?"
"I don't know. Every time I've checked out the future of the boy and his friends, it changes from a few possible outcomes. There is a major split coming up in this boy's life."
Checked the future? No way, she couldn't...unless- My mouth was a bit dry from this, but I managed to speak.
"How do you know this? Don't tell me...you can travel through time?"
"Yes, Kyon, because I acquired a time travelling device from older Asahina herself one month ago."
Older Asahina? She did that?
"I know all about you, more so than that Whiterock. With the device, I was able to go back and watch the events of your life from the start of your odyssey, four years ago. I watched as the Organization formed, as time travelers came to visit the past, and as the data entities sent their Human Interfaces to study their subject - I've even witnessed the birth of your friend Nagato," she said that as she stared up at the sky, as if she was remembering something amazing. "I was also able to go back to the point where no time travelers could go back, and witnessed the 'birth' of the child known as Haruhi Suzumiya, and the birth of her power. I saw the power emanating from her. Truly remarkable - it felt like I was there for the birth of the universe. Just plain amazing."
Yukari had another cup of tea before she kept going.
"And I've watched your exploits. You, the one chosen by the girl. You, the one who helped keep reality the way it is. You, the one who helped her, one who was feeling lost, helped her feel that she was a part of something. Everyone wrote her off as a weirdo, an anomaly. You took notice, let her be validated for anything other than an object, whether for sex or for her physical or mental capabilities. You gave her a meaning with the club. And I know the rest of you have no idea what I'm talking about, but the boy knows what I'm saying is true."
The demon took steps towards me, a small smile on her face.
"You welcomed her."
The way she said that struck a chord with me. I don't know why.
"All I did...was notice her hairstyles. All I did was talk to her. I just talked to her."
That was it. I got involved with Haruhi. Just randomly got me involved with her, because of my whim to strike up a conversation with her. And I was thrust into a world of the paranormal, where the world wasn't as I had thought it to be.
Yukari nodded.
"That's all it took. Without you, she would never have become friends with Nagato, Koizumi, Asahina or even Tsuruya. Not to mention everyone else who has become touched by her abilities."
There's still another thing I don't get here.
"How can you watch everything?"
"I create little rips in reality."
She waved her hand, and this "rip" appeared, like someone took a straight razor to a curtain and just cut down. The two ends of the rip were...huh. They were tied with red bows. I didn't know what to think about that, and I still don't. Anyways, the rip. It opened up in the middle a bit, revealing a purple world. Well, the purple world, with eyes. The eyes stared intently at me. Yukari continued.
"Those eyes are my eyes. I can see everything, my boy. Your friend's superiors don't give my rips much thought, since they just write them off as mere by-products of Suzumiya. Which, technically, they are. I have already accepted that I was created by a human's ideas."
You're taking it pretty well, it seems.
"After all, we youkai are born out of the fears of mankind. So why not a little girl? And the proof is right in front of me, that I am just the product of an imagination. Though I do not know if I am to be your slider companion that Haruhi wants, it is eerily convenient, isn't it?"
It's a little bit more than eerie. What's even more eerie is that she's been playing voyeur with my life! No, not eerie. Creepy.
"You've been watching me..."
Still can't get over that!
"Yes. I've seen everything you've experienced. It's made for an interesting time, my boy. Normally I sleep a lot, but your adventures and excursions make for interesting and captivating shows, I must say. You are truly special, because you are...truly normal."
Yeah, I get it, nothing special about me. Jeez, it's like the foundation of the Brigade all over again, when the other members first spoke to me about Haruhi! At least with them, I was sitting down, having tea with Koizumi and Nagato, or looking at a pretty girl with Asahina.
However, I noticed a slight hesitation in her voice. Yukari then had a serious look on her face.
"However, the major split will be coming up fairly soon, Kyon. It's up to you. Either you'll lead everyone to a happy ending...or..."
She closed her eyes again.
"I hope you can continue to make the right decisions in the future, for everyone's sakes, and that you don't betray them."
A pang of anger rose through me.
"I would never betray-"
She pointed a finger at me, her eyes going "youkai".
"You're human," Yukari said, almost with disdain. "After all, didn't St. Peter say the same thing you're saying? Humans can be broken, can be swayed, can be changed."
I gritted my teeth, not wanting to get into a shouting match with her. I mean, how dare she say that I would betray them! Asahina, Koizumi, Nagato. Before I could give it much thought, she continued, her eyes going back to normal.
"It's just that there are certain events that can make people do...unusual things, things that they promised themselves that they would never do."
Managing to keep calm, I spoke up, a slight edge in my voice.
"Okay then, what's going to happen?"
"It's all about trust, boy. Your friends can't truly trust you. They still don't truly trust each other, even after all this time, and that may or may not lead to everyone's downfall. They were trying to gain a bit of hold with you. Nagato said it herself - could you really trust her? Sure, she saves your life constantly, but can you really trust her? Or Koizumi? Or Asahina?"
Yukari closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
"In fact, tell you what, you ask Nagato if there is an afterlife one of these days. See if she'll give you a straight answer even though you already know for sure. Then you will know where her loyalties lie."
...That's...that's an interesting point. Would Nagato tell me if the afterlife exists?
Would she? I mean, she would, right? Nagato would tell me such a thing. Right?
Despite my musings, Yukari kept talking. Man, she's long-winded.
"But that's not just the case now, is it? Because you know you cannot trust their superiors, the ones who make the decisions for them. You are blackmailing Nagato's superiors, the Organization is actually trying to win your favor so they can in turn control Haruhi through you, and can you really trust the Time Travelers when they willingly put Asahina into harm's way?"
True. I don't really approve of them doing that.
"But there is one thing I do know, and it's that I cannot trust any of them. I've taken great pains to keep Gensokyo hidden from them since I found out about them, because humanity will always be humanity. They might try to exploit us."
Yukari sagged her shoulders, closing her eyes.
"Yet, I've failed. They've known longer than I thought, which is why I was surprised when I was approached by adult Asahina when I was out there and handed the device to see things for myself. She also told me to bring you back home. All three of the major players out there knew you were here. Your low-level friends, however, do not know. They are kept in the dark by their superiors. They are simply grunts after all."
I just stared at her, stunned. I wanted to forget that she said that. That they knew.
Ah, man. They knew.
I was left in there. Yeah, sure, I liked my time in Gensokyo, but they left me in there!
"The Organization, the Integrated Data Society, the Time Travelers, they knew you were here, and other than adult Asahina, they did nothing. They never told Koizumi, Nagato, or Asahina respectively. They did discuss what should be done, but they ultimately decided to sit on their hands, which made no sense, due to the chaos going on out there right now. Too many closed spaces, too many unusual changes caused by the girl. The Data Society predicts she'll become self-aware within the next twenty hours and have prepared for it, with Nagato's deletion scheduled in twenty-four hours."
"NO!" I shouted out. Everyone's eyes were on me, and I was shaking with rage. How dare they! How dare they go behind my back and actually think about deleting Nagato again!
Yukari kept at it, revealing things that just made me angrier and angrier.
"A power shift that happened within the Organization when you disappeared wants it to happen as well. The time travelers have withdrawn from your time, with only young Asahina remaining. Your three friends do not know what's about to occur, which is why we will need to go back, and I'll have you deal with the ones who caused this in the first place. I know for sure that one group just tried to destroy us."
They left me in there to die...to allow the world to change...even though I just kept it normal not too long ago when Nagato remade reality. They just sat on their hands? They could have gotten me out, but...but if they did, then where would Gensokyo be? I stared at this youkai, this demon.
I was, however, really mad at the Data Society for even thinking of deleting Nagato again.
"So, who were they, who were the ones who tried to destroy you?"
"The same ones that attacked your friend,Nagato right before you came here. That snow mansion was their product, their construction."
So something was up in that snow mansion! Koizumi was right! Someone did try to do something to Nagato!
"Who are they?"
"Time will show you, my boy. For me to tell you the future is indeed disastrous."
I hate this time traveling "Classified Information" stuff! But I've also seen enough movies to know such things can be troublesome if not taken seriously.
"My just seeing it is risky. But everything will be all right. I will get you out of this fantasy and into your world, making what I said will happen, what has happened, moot. When we get you back to when I took you into Gensokyo, all that will change. Nagato will no longer be under threat of deletion."
Yukari turned to the rest of her audience.
"As for the rest of you, you may have your doubts about everything I have said. But after I take the boy home, I will show you the proof. I will show you everything. Trust me. You are all created by Haruhi Suzumiya. I can prove it."
"Bullshit..."
That, that came from the shrine maiden. Reimu was standing there, shaking. Her hands were balled up into fists, and she was staring at the ground. I wasn't expecting her to curse out of nowhere.
"I...how can all this not be real?"
Ah, man. It's hitting her.
To live your life, to live for years, and to be told one day that you are a construct of someone's imagination, someone's beliefs...that would be heartbreaking, wouldn't it? I couldn't even comprehend what Reimu must have felt at that point.
Yukari let out a sigh.
"It is real. It's made up, but real. We are the creations of a little girl. Gensokyo is a product of hers, no doubt about it. I do have a task to do, and that is to protect and maintain Gensokyo."
"Hey," Reimu shouted, "youkai! That's my job! And what's with the damn 'part of someone's imagination' crap? I...I mean, I can accept..."
Reimu looked down, and then at me.
"...How...am I just...made up? I have memories of what happened before!"
"You don't want to believe it," said Yukari, "do you, human?
"I..."
Reimu lowered her head and closed her eyes. The youkai took some more steps toward the miko.
"Reimu, she's the reason why you're so strong. If I had to guess, you are a small part of her, trying to keep everything in place, all for her. Everything that's a part of the fantasy in her head, every little thing, comes here. And of course, we take on our own personalities, our own lives. Of course we aren't going to get along."
Yukari tilted her head and grinned at me.
"Young man, remember when Koizumi spoke of the chaos that would follow should everyone be turned into an Esper? Where physics would...oh, should I say it this way...where physics would go 'bye-bye'?" Yukari tilted her head the other way, an amused look in her eyes. "Think of Gensokyo to be that scenario in a way. It's already happened, the impossible is possible - a closed space for us supernatural beings, free from her common sense that is the outside world." She turned her head to Gensokyo, a sort of longing look in her eyes as she stared out there. Her tone was a bit somber. "But, I'm trying to pull everything into here to keep it all contained. That's another one of my purposes, it seems. I think...I think Haruhi has a side of her that you don't see. She also takes pity on things or people that are thrown away. That is another purpose of Gensokyo, to accept such things."
Reimu shook her head, her eyes closed.
"...And you spirit some of them away to be meals for you things. I doubt this Haruhi would appreciate knowing that some of the people that are thrown away from her world are eaten."
I don't think so either. Because that would be quite cruel of Haruhi. Well beyond cruel. The youkai chuckled, her eyes going inhuman.
"Heheh. Well, I am the one who does some of the spiriting away, and I do believe it's my choice as to what happens to them. I do spirit people into here, as well as some objects, but sometimes Gensokyo does it automatically. Very curious world we live in...as for the law of this place, as much law as it can get, that's where you come in, my dear little shrine maiden. Because there needs to be rules. Rules are what keep Haruhi grounded out there. We need them in here as well."
"So what then? What am I supposed to do? I'm just a made up character...I'm not real..."
"Yes, you are. You were given form, thought up, made real, just like the people Kyon has for friends. What's more, like them, you have a purpose."
"...Purpose..."
"While I do protect Gensokyo from the youkai end, you protect it from the human end. We are the Yin and the Yang. Light, and darkness." Yukari smiled devishly, as if she had an idea. "Though...perhaps we can determine who is the better protector."
Yukari brought up her fan, and a spell card.
"Perhaps...we can play a little game?"
"...Purpose..."
"Yes, a purpose to protect this magical land from itself."
"..."
"What do you say, human?"
"..."
Reimu still did not respond. The silence went on for a while, as everyone was waiting for Reimu to say something.
I don't know why I spoke up, but I did.
"Reimu...I've been told this, all of this." I stepped up to her, putting my hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she lifted her head up to go eye to eye. It looked like the miko wanted to cry, wanted to be angry, all of those various emotions. "All those theories. And I myself don't know what to make of it. I'll never personally know if the world was created a mere four years ago, or if it's just a time disruption or whatever. I don't know who created what, or what created whom, and I'm not going to pretend that I do. I mean, look at me." I gave her a small smile. "I gave up on believing all the fantasy stuff, of magic, of aliens, time travelers, espers, demons, and everything. And look where I am right now. It's been a wild ride for me, Reimu, and I'm just going along with what's in front of me, and dealing with these things as they come along."
"The normal boy has dealt with the challenges in front of him. How will you, an extraordinary girl," asked Yukari, "deal with the challenge in front of you? How will you deal with me?"
Reimu didn't turn to Yukari - she kept looking at me, silent. Her eyes searched mine, I guess for an answer. She blinked once, twice, and then nodded at me.
"Okay," she whispered. "Fine."
Reimu took a deep breath before taking out a spell card, finally turning to the demon.
"I guess...I'll have to go along with it. It's out of my hands, I suppose. I'm living in this world, a world created by something. Why not? I believe in the Gods, in creators."
"Too bad you can't remember the names of any of them, ze!"
A smile formed on Reimu's face at Marisa's quip, and I had to hold back my laughter.
"Yeah...yeah, Marisa. That, too. So I'm just a creation. Okay. I've had fun, I've been performing my purpose. I can keep doing it."
Reimu floated up into the air, her face getting serious, that same steeled look in her eyes returning that I saw many times during our excursion to find spring.
Youkai-extermination Reimu was here.
"Basically, youkai, what I'm saying is that I accept this challenge! If I'm the chosen one to protect this world, then I AM the chosen one!"
Yukari floated up into the air as well, a huge grin on her face.
"Fufufu. That's good to hear. And don't worry, I haven't used the time traveling device to scout what you're going to do tonight. I wanted to keep things interesting, Miss Hakurei! Now! Let's duel!"
As they floated up well above Mayohiga, I turned to my companions, still in a daze over the whole speech that just happened. It all made sense, didn't it? Why just stop at time travelers, espers, and aliens? Everyone's heard of fairies, vampires, ghosts and the like, right? What was keeping Haruhi from creating those entities? Gensokyo being her product, made sense, and if the youkai is to be believed, there is hard evidence to prove it. Koizumi was right - this is the world envisioned by Haruhi. This is her chaos. In a way, I'm trying to avoid this world...yet I find it so fascinating.
I finally looked up at everyone, and they were all silent. They were silent through the whole speech. Sakuya had her eyes to the floor, Marisa shaking her head, Alice just thoughtfully staring into the sky. Remilia...she had this unsure look on her face, but her eyes still had a lot of rage in them. Feel sorry for whoever pissed off Remilia. Poor bastards. I couldn't see the ghosts' faces from where I was though, so their reactions weren't notable. Ran and Chen looked like they already knew all this, and I suppose they would. They serve Yukari anyways.
I turned back to Yukari and Reimu. They floated there, above the red gate, I guess going over the rules of what was about to happen, but it looked like Reimu was feeling better about finding out she was a product of somebody's imagination. She had to be quite strong, actually. Because that's a big thing, no matter how you look at it. On the trail of that thought, what about Koizumi? How did he deal with the knowledge that his existence was made on a mere whim? And that applied to Nagato and Asahina as well. How do they deal with that? I had to respect them a little more, because I don't know if I could take it myself - knowing that I was just a figment if I were in their shoes.
And wouldn't you know it, someone else took that well, too.
Marisa moved forward and plopped down on a bench, me following suit.
"Kyon...I don't really know what to say. Except...well, I dunno." She chewed on her lower lip, rubbing her left arm. "I'm actually not surprised. I'm actually okay with being a figment of someone's imagination if that's the case, if I'm your friend's idea of a witch."
Marisa leaned back and stared up at the twilight sky. "And I'm living, enjoying my life. I get to go on adventures, hunt treasure, solve incidents like what just happened, and stare death in the face. I can't really have any complaints here, ze." She paused, and twirled her hair with her finger. She pursed her lips, and a small smirk crept on her face. "In actuality, I should thank her. And, in turn, thank you for keeping everything the way it is."
She kissed me. I was not ready for that.
Not that I minded. Even though I started to blush and stammer like an idiot.
"What...What was that...that for?"
Why was I reduced to this mess? Well, it was Marisa. A very, very pretty girl.
Thumbs up again.
Marisa gave me another smile as she stared at me with her golden eyes. "Like I said, I thanked you."
She kissed me again.
"And that?" I managed to say without stammering.
Marisa shrugged, grinning. I wondered if my red face matched her blushing.
"Just thanking you again."
She tasted like berries, honey, and mushrooms. A very wild taste. It was actually delicious. We stared into each other's eyes for a while. I felt like I wanted more, the warm feeling of her soft lips, the taste of her kiss. She grabbed my hand - I didn't mind it at all.
"I told you I'd hold you to it, ze."
Smiling, I shyly looked away, to see Remilia sitting down next to me, giving me a wink. She appeared to have calmed down.
"How sweet. How about I make it so that you two are destined to be with each other?"
I raised an eyebrow at the vampire, not answering. Remilia, that wouldn't be any of your business!
"Well," Remilia grinned, "after all, I can control fate unconsciously."
Inwardly I shook my head. Yet another connection to Haruhi. Before I could say anything about it, she let out a giggle.
"I know, I know. Like your friend." Remilia then motioned to Yukari and Reimu. "Now hush. I want to watch this. Let's see if that demon can actually bring down that miko, if someone can finally bring her down."
Reimu and Yukari circled each other in the air for the next few minutes, talking - I heard them.
"Yuyuko says you are in charge of the cooking teams."
"I am."
"How many people? How many lives?"
"I find something for them, one way or another. Every person I spirit away into here serves a purpose. The boy, the maid, various humans. They are to become either major players in our fantasy, or they serve another purpose for the youkai. Most if not all of them are thrown away by the outside world anyways."
"How can you calmly say that?"
"The world isn't as black and white as your demeanor suggests, as you act out, between being lazy and being an expert youkai exterminator. It's ugly, beautiful, and all in between. You as well as anyone know the shades of grey surrounding everything." Yukari smirked. "Earlier this year, you beat and robbed a youkai of her books, and then sold them. That's not really the actions a shrine maiden should take. After all, did you not take something from my village earlier, you little thief?"
"For my donation box!"
"Yes, donations. Why don't we talk about donations? Do you know what the youkai have to do in order to enjoy the delicacies that the cooking teams bring back? Would you like to know what I ask of them?"
When Reimu didn't answer, Yukari chuckled.
"Ah, my dear little miko. I ask them to give some of their power to your barrier to make it stronger."
Reimu's eyes widened, shocked.
"The...youkai..."
"The Hakurei border is extremely strong, stronger than I could ever make, than mere humans could ever make by themselves, because all the youkai pay tribute to the border your family made over a hundred years ago. In fact I helped them set it up. We youkai know that the outside world has no need for us, that we can't remain out there, that we shouldn't be seen anymore. So we pay tribute to you. Your life is bound by the border. If you fall, it falls, and if it gets stronger...well, we make you strong. Make donations for your border, for you, as opposed to the donations that you get from the humans."
Yukari smiled.
"Ah, yes, donations for youkai extermination. Because they hate youkai. They hate what they don't understand. What's different."
"Weren't you the one who slaughtered humans, so much so that they had to send Yuyuko against you?"
"Fufufu. Well, can you hold me to my rebellious age of 200 years old? Those were the interesting old days, where they slaughtered my kind just for being my kind. They killed my lover back then, so I did kind of go psychotic on the ones who hunted us. I've matured since then, gotten over it, my little miko, thanks to my friend Yuyuko. She actually defeated me, and showed me mercy. Me, a youkai, when I had planned to kill her so the Ayakashi's seal couldn't be placed, so it could consume all of humanity. Instead, I found a friend in her; I couldn't bring myself to kill her. That event changed me, Reimu. You should have seen her dance with the souls of the dead back then. It moved me, brought tears to my eyes, the beautiful soul she, a human, had. This was during the time I hated all of humanity. A single human changed that. A youkai accepting a human, and a human accepting a youkai. Your kind in here will follow suit, sort of."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I have seen the future. The human village will more openly accept youkai. And so will you."
Before Reimu could protest, Yukari continued.
"More players will be introduced. The village will become a bit more lax. Youkai will start to more openly deal with the village, and the village will accept their business, not just that Nightsparrow's stand or Rinnosouske's. My Ran will be accepted in the village to shop for me. As will Chen, eventually. Of course, there will be some attempts to kill the youkai that are there peacefully, since humanity will remain human. I won't allow the ones I see on Ran and Chen of course, but that's beside the point. You, you will receive a...rather unusual friend that will start living at your shrine, one of my friends, to tell the truth. Soon, actually, but I don't want to give that away just yet."
"I look into your eyes and I see that you're enjoying this too much."
"What's not to enjoy? What's not to find amusing? Thanks to the time traveling device, I can look into the future and see that everything is going according to plan, though now I won't be surprised when such events happen. I have a lot of parts to play, a lot of strings to pull in the future. I have to ensure what happens, happens, and that it doesn't deviate from its path due to interference. I actually have more work now. And so might you."
Reimu shook her head.
"You are enjoying this, and you're enjoying hearing yourself talk about it. It's funny though, how you, a youkai who kills humans is now telling herself she is tasked with maintaining a human's mere imagination."
"Fufufu. Exactly right. Like I said, I find this amusing."
"...What I don't find amusing is that I'm losing those donations you said they make because they hate youkai. I have to live on those donations...and me hanging around youkai isn't going to get me paid."
"Which is why it's beneficial if you and I become friends. I can get you anything you desire, Reimu."
"You mean you can steal anything I desire from the outside world."
"Fufu. Get, steal, same difference. Point is, being my ally is good for your health. The two of us have a lot to accomplish for Gensokyo, the dark and the light. Except we aren't 'Black and White' like a yin yang orb is. We are just shades of gray. We will do what we can to survive, as well as keep Gensokyo running from both of our ends. But we can't be selfish now. We now have an enemy that will stop at nothing to destroy this world, our world, so we both must be vigilant. This thing does not discriminate youkai from human. Just because we are the fabrications of the girl, we are targets. Gensokyo is supposed to be a paradise, where we can live our lives in relative peace. I will die protecting this world and its peace. You, you increased that peace with your game of Danmaku, Shrine Maiden of this Paradise. And speaking of Danmaku..."
They both brought up their spell cards.
"So, what shall we wager then, little human?"
"What do you offer?"
"Well, nothing like the offer Remilia made to her servant there. I already have Ran and Chen."
"What then?"
"...Pride. Enjoyment. To see who is the better protector of Gensokyo."
"..."
Yukari winked.
"After all, isn't this just a game?"
A smile formed on Reimu's face.
What transpired before us for the next several minutes was simply amazing. Reimu and Yukari literally lit up the evening sky with their attacks, each going for broke. And Reimu...was smiling. A genuine smile of enjoyment. She was out there, having fun.
In the end, Yukari came down like a sack of bricks, caught by Ran and Chen before she hit the ground. Reimu landed soon after and fell to her hands and knees when she reached earth as well, gasping for air. It was an awe-inspiring battle between the two, and Reimu won.
I couldn't believe that Reimu won. Yukari's patterns were so complex, so dense, so seemingly-impossible, that even to this day I still can't believe that Reimu found a way to survive those spell cards. Even Ran was "used" as a spell card, assisting Yukari in the battle. Yukari even resorted to Taboo Time-Out spell cards, but Reimu did it. Reimu beat her with the Fantasy Seal.
Marisa, Alice, and Sakuya were at Reimu's side, helping her up.
"That was exceptional, Reimu!"
"Blew me away, ze!"
Reimu nodded as Remilia got up and walked to her, lightly clapping.
"Very good, Miss Hakurei. Very good indeed. Impressive as always..." Remilia's voice lowered in volume, so it was a mutter. "...and still undefeated."
Remilia, you don't let things go easily, do you? Also, I was impressed to hear that - that Reimu was undefeated in Danmaku...But didn't she get hit up there in Hakugyokorou? Well, then again, that wasn't exactly a fair match. So I guess in a fair Danmaku fight, Reimu is undefeated?
Ran, Chen, and the ghosts were around Yukari, who was standing with help from her servants. It was a while before Yukari or Reimu spoke.
"Well...done, Miss Hakurei. You are indeed a worthy protector. I think we can build a very strong friendship out of this."
"You know...You know that I will always be called on to exterminate youkai, right?"
"You know that I will always spirit away humans, right? We both have our purposes to complete for Gensokyo. We just go about doing them differently. And speaking of purposes...the boy."
I stood from my seat as Yukari staggered towards me.
"As soon as I'm composed, I'll take you back home, back to the beginning of your year. Nobody will notice you've left. This should be interesting - all the other times you've time traveled, you've dealt with the reactions of what has already happened through time travel. Haruhi already knew 'John Smith' before she met you. What does that tell you?"
"That's easy. Another me had already lived through it."
I've seen enough movies to know that, at least. Ran handed Yukari a glass of water, which she downed quickly. The demon then slowly stood straight up, waving off everyone that was helping her to her feet, before she turned her attention to me.
"Correct. However, this appears to be the exception. This alteration of the events is fresh. You are the first one to experience it. The next Kyon -"
I have a name, you know, not that stupid nickname. My fault for bringing it in with me though.
"-in the timeline won't have Letty telling him that your friends are missing him, though considering that she was trying to keep you from going, she still might. No, this new altered timeline will have possible repercussions, consequences. I'll do my part to make sure they impact your story the least as possible. I can't have Gensokyo and the outside world cross paths more than it has to. I can't risk youkai making themselves known to Haruhi...or this place being known to her either. If you are brought in here again, those chances will increase."
She cleared her throat and gave me a serious look.
"In other words, what I'm saying is, I'll have to make sure you can never come back."
I had to let that sink in for a while. I couldn't come back.
Wait, why was I even thinking about this? The main reason why I pushed myself to go through danger seven days prior was so I could have a chance at going home. And yet there I was, having second thoughts.
This place is dangerous.
This place is beautiful.
This place is insane.
This place is everything I ever wanted as a kid.
Death around every corner.
Adventure under every rock.
Things want to eat me in here.
I have a very spiffy mansion to live in.
Those kinds of thoughts weren't helping. I had to clamp down and think, force a thought.
I don't belong here. People who don't belong in the outside world end up here, right? That's what Yukari said. Me, I'm needed out there, with the Brigade. Needed to help them keep Haruhi relatively normal. I need to go back. Nagato will be deleted if I don't go back, right? The world will be remade. Everything I have fought for will have been for nothing. Which means I got stabbed for nothing. I bled for nothing. I went through the end of the world for nothing.
I have to leave.
I.
Can't.
Stay.
Here.
It was decided...I hoped. Reimu, finally regaining her composure, walked up to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. She narrowed her eyes, her steel gaze coming back.
"Hey, Kyon. Promise me one thing."
"Anything, Reimu."
"You do your job out there, and I'll do mine in here."
"Of course."
And I guess that was my verbal confirmation that I would leave.
We were ready to go, when Remilia stepped forward.
"I'm going with you."
What?!
"Milady," Sakuya quickly said, "but-"
"No, Sakuya, and no, Yukari, I won't take no for an answer. I just want to see the girl for myself. That's all."
Sakuya stood there for a while, and just bowed. Yukari nodded.
"Very well."
Please don't get any funny ideas, Remilia. Last thing I want is for Haruhi to turn into a vampire. Although...maybe I would get to watch her feed on Asahina-Damn it! I shouldn't think of stuff like that!
Barring that fantasy, I let out a sigh, as I knew what was coming. Being in Gensokyo for eight days (awake anyways). Eight days that have been mind-blowing. Eight days with these people, and now...
It was over. It was time for goodbyes.
This was too cliché, wasn't it? Enter a whole new world, get involved in something with that world, end up finding something about yourself, and the like. And then you leave, saying your goodbyes to the people you've met.
It was actually happening to me.
I approached the ghosts. They both bowed.
"I really do want to apologize again for trying to take away the spring within you."
"It's okay, Youmu, you don't have to apologize again. But, but I want to say thank you again. Thank you, Youmu, for that thing with Letty."
Youmu simply bowed a little, not saying anything more. Myon moved forward, the ghost half of Youmu close to me.
"Uhm...goodbye, Myo-err..." I shot a glance at Youmu, who appeared annoyed that I was about to call her ghost half 'Myon'. "...I mean, other half of Youmu."
It twirled around me once and then returned to Youmu's side. I wondered if that half of Youmu showed Youmu's true emotions or whatnot when Youmu got serious like she was at that point. Yuyuko then floated towards me, smiling her trademark smile.
"Kyon, should you ever die, I'll ask the Judge of the Dead to allow your soul into my realm. I'd like for you to be my eternal guest."
"...I...uh...appreciate the gesture, Miss Saigyouji."
And what a morbid gesture.
"Please. Just call me Yuyuko."
Ran and Chen were next, and I didn't have much to say to them, though I did manage to make Chen purr again when I scratched her on the head. They both bowed. Alice walked up to me, on the verge of tears.
"Well, Kyon...what can you say to someone who kept you from dying?"
Ah, Alice...
She gave me a hug, trying not to cry even more.
"I can't thank you enough."
"You're a good person, Alice. You helped us solve this."
Then my three companions. The three girls who I shared an adventure with a week prior. They fought to keep me alive, and to save the world. A time-stopping former vampire hunter maid, a lazy but powerful miko whose life contains the youkai of this world, and a pretty, thieving, flirty witch. Such amazing girls.
I just stood there, unable to say anything. The same went for them. They all stared back at me, not saying a word.
Sakuya stepped forward, giving me a hug.
"I wish you luck."
"Thank you for everything, Sakuya."
Even though when we first met you wanted to kill me.
Reimu was next.
"Remember. Keep everything out there manageable."
"I'll do my best."
"I'm counting on you."
Just don't go around beating up youkai for no good reason, okay? I didn't like hearing that you robbed a youkai.
And Marisa...was crying?
"I don't...I don't know why I'm...so sad here, ze. I shouldn't be..."
She rushed forward, embracing me.
"When I was entranced by the tree, you kept calling out my name. It brought me back, Kyon. You brought me back."
Marisa...
She kissed me again.
She looked me in the eyes, and smiled.
Why did she do that? Why did she do that?
"I know you have your own world, and it would mean trouble if you ever came back, but..."
She took a few retreating steps.
Damn it, why did she do that.
"We can't stay in the same world, ze." She hung her head, lips pursed and tears in her eyes.
Why.
Yukari called out to me.
"We need to get going, Kyon. I got my energy just right to avoid detection from your friends. It'll be as if you never left your world."
I nodded, and walked to her and Remilia. Before I got to them, I turned and waved. They all waved back.
I did not want that, Marisa. Not like that. Not for the goodbye. Damn it. Why did she have to do that?
"Kyon, you know this is it, right? I'll be doing my best to make sure you can never cross paths with Gensokyo again. But I will be watching over you and Haruhi. That's all I will do. I do not want our worlds to interfere with each other. You do understand this, right?"
Why is this hurting so much? Why did she have to do that?
"I do."
Damn it damn it damn it damn it.
A rip in reality appeared, a rift full of eyes, each end of the rip tied with a bow. The three of us entered, and the rip closed within seconds.
Goodbye, Gensokyo.
...
...goodbye, Marisa.
I had to blink, my eyes stinging. Tears rolled down my cheeks. It wasn't fair to develop those feelings out of the blue like that. Damn it all, why did she do that? It's not fair.
"Now, I must warn you two," said Yukari as a weird sensation came over me, "this is going to be unsettling. The combination of the time traveling device and my boundary travels is very-"
I didn't hear what she said. I blacked out.
January 1st, 2004
I awoke with a start, sitting up in less than a second. The cat perked its head up in response to me. That was the first thing I clearly saw. I was disoriented until I realized where I was. Back in my bedroom of Tsuruya's vacation house. I was in the same clothes I had on when I went to bed. I rubbed my eyes, trying to get my breathing to a normal level. Looking over at the clock, I found it was well past two in the morning.
Well. Wonder what Sigmund Freud would have to say about that.
I hated this, this position I was in before. I didn't know if it was all just a dream or what. Shamisen let out a meow as I laid back down, closing my eyes, trying to think. I mean, there was no denying what happened. Gensokyo was real, right? I had experienced a grand adventure, lived out a childhood dream. So why was I filled with such a...negative feeling? Should I have stayed?
Or was it really all just a dream? If it was, then it was one fast dream. I've only been asleep for about an hour!
Reality was, the negative feeling was due to leaving Marisa, I think. It was weird. I mean, I liked her, yeah, but for a feeling that strong after she kissed me? Taking the time to think about it, it was unusual.
Maybe it was a combination of things. After all, I'd never see her again, so maybe that's why it hurt more. She showed an interest in me, so that's a plus for any guy. She was smart, funny, boisterous, and all that. To let that go...no matter how you look at it, it would hurt.
Dream or not, Marisa will be on my mind for a long while.
The door creaked open.
"Hey, Kyon?"
It was Haruhi. She stepped in, her eyes bleary, tired.
"Hey, you awake?"
I slowly sat up in my bed.
"What do you want, Haruhi? It's two in the morning."
Despite my almost violent wake up, I myself was a bit tired. I may have said that with more than the usual annoyance. I don't think Haruhi paid it any mind.
"I just...I heard something. Did you hear something?"
Shamisen mewed again as I laid back down and closed my eyes.
"It's probably just the cat. Go back to bed, Haruhi."
"No, what I heard wasn't any cat. I thought I heard, I dunno, wings."
I opened my eyes. No way, right?
"Wings? You crazy?"
Well, she is. Haruhi lightly shook her head, brushing her bangs out of her eyes.
"...You know what, forget it. I just dreamt it."
"Ugh. Go back to bed."
She began to close the door, but then she just kind of stood there. Really? Once again I sat up.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know...something feels...different."
She kept her place there, blinking, unsure. I shook my head, feeling even more annoyed.
"Look, Haruhi..."
I paused as I stared at her for a bit. All of my annoyance had washed away as I stared at Haruhi Suzumiya.
Her.
It's all her.
All of them, due to her.
Even though some of them wanted me dead or for a snack. But that's beside the point.
Yet, it's not just Gensokyo. Nagato, Asahina, Koizumi. Everyone who is associated with them. All of them, made to fill her wishes, her need to have paranormal entities around, to bring it all to life. To make the world interesting, and to have fun with them.
That's the purpose of the S.O.S. Brigade.
And I'm chosen to be a part of all this.
I will never trade this for anything else.
I lightly cleared my throat. I kept my gaze on Haruhi. Even in the low light afforded by the moonlight that shone off the snow outside, she looked so beautiful.
Marisa was fun, but she's not a part of my world. She's out of my reach. Haruhi...Haruhi is right in front of me. She is a part of my world. And not only that, apparently Marisa is a creation of Haruhi's.
So...Marisa is a part of Haruhi? So, wait, are all the girls a part of Haruhi then? Sakuya, Reimu, and all of them?
I didn't like that line of thought, because then the youkai would be a part of Haruhi too. My mind went to Rumia. For the next while, I went over why I didn't like such a theory. Maybe because I was distracting myself from the torn feeling I was having. I didn't expect such pain to happen over that, dream or not.
Thing is, again, dream or not, I'll never see Marisa again. I guess this is one of those situations where it's best that I let go, right?
Also, despite all my gripes about Haruhi, I do find myself caring for her. Despite everything, how she treats everyone, how she acts, how she...belittles me sometimes...I still find myself caring about her.
I had to stop thinking that over, as time was passing. Haruhi was still standing in the doorway, her hed bobbing slightly. She was obviously waiting for me to say something. I took a few seconds, searching for the right thing to say to Haruhi.
It wasn't like I was "settling" for Haruhi. No. I do care about her. I care about her enough that I changed the world to get back with her. I care about her that I want to spend time with her.
Isn't that just dandy? I think I've fallen for two girls - and one I can't see again. I know I'll be happy with Haruhi, but that pain over Marisa will take a while to go away.
I wasn't in a no-win situation, thankfully. Still, the pain stung, and would sting for a while.
"...Everything's fine. Just...everything is fine. It probably was just the cat, or a dream, or both. Everything's okay. This year will be a good year, I know it. There's nothing to worry about. Now, get some rest...good night, Haruhi Suzumiya. And Happy New Year."
Haruhi gave me a sleepy smile that actually melted my heart, as she slowly nodded before closing the door. I heard her walk down the hall, and her door close.
Which was good, that she left and all. Because while I was saying that, I had noticed that we weren't' alone in the room. Haruhi didn't notice the other person in there. I let out a big sigh, seeing the shadow in the corner move. I knew who it was, by the outline. I was not surprised when she spoke.
"You know, she really is incredible."
Well, it wasn't a dream after all.
"I saw you in the corner of my eye, Remilia. Should I ask why you're still here?"
The vampire stepped out of the shadows, grinning, mostly because I couldn't help but place my hand on my neck, checking.
Well, I didn't want to have to explain vampire bite marks to everyone at breakfast. Thankfully I wasn't bitten.
"Well, I did have to see her for myself. Amazing girl. Such power emanating from her, kind of like mine, though of course way more powerful. I mean, if the two of us were able to ever consciously use and abuse our powers, we'd be unstoppable. It's just mind-blowing really, that I appear to be her dark half."
I couldn't help but raise my eyebrow as she sat on the bed next to me.
"Dark half?"
She winked as she pet Shamisen. Interesting that the cat was allowing a vampire to pet it. I guess Shamisen didn't care.
"When I think about it, it makes sense, that is if you want to look at it that way. I have her personality, I live my life exactly how and when I want...I'm her, without any inhibitions. I'm who she wants to be. I have servants do my bidding, my mere whims - they are faithful to me, unyielding. And I take care of them. I'm her fantasy trip, Kyon. I'm the part of her that lives out her pure id."
"Except for when Reimu and Marisa come knocking on your door to put a stop to you. At least Haruhi hasn't done anything as drastic as blocking out the sun. And besides, the whole 'you girls may just be parts of her' thing doesn't sit well with me. I don't mean to be insulting, but you girls have some issues."
Then again, so does Haruhi.
"Hmph. Normally I wouldn't let a human insult me like that," Remilia said, obviously a little offended. "You're lucky I like you Kyon, and that you did me a service. Otherwise-"
"My head would roll, right?"
She chuckled. And I couldn't help but smile, too. Those similarities again. Her face softened as she let out a little sigh.
"Oh, oh, I'm going to miss you."
My grin went full-blown.
"You're going to miss the free meals you got from me. I'm never going to get over that as long as I live. But yeah, I'll miss you, too."
She grinned, showing me her fangs.
"Heheh. You know, maybe I'll think about finding a way to directly control your fate...so maybe...maybe you could come back?"
"Yeah, thanks, but no thanks."
"You enjoyed yourself, didn't you?"
It took me a while to respond. I no longer smiled. Please don't make this any harder, Remilia.
"That's...not what I said."
Remilia lost the emotion on her face. I guess she knew what I was thinking. She stopped petting the cat, and stood up.
"I get it. Okay. But if the chance comes up where I can drag you back in, I'll take it."
"I'm sure you will."
I wouldn't have it any other way when it came to her. She looked up.
"Yukari."
As if on command, a rip opened against the wall and Remilia stepped over to it. I blinked my eyes, not wanting the tears to fall.
"Goodbye, Mistress Remilia. And thank you. For everything."
Why is this so difficult? Why am I like this? I mean, she drank my blood. Got all scary when I questioned her. Then again, why am I thinking like that? Do I really not want to feel like this? Am I questioning my own feelings? I'm actually sad over this. I just might never see her again. I'll probably never see any of them again.
She paused. Her head was lowered, and she didn't turn to me.
"Goodbye, Kyon. And remember, you are my servant. I have your blood within me. You are forever bound to the Scarlet Devil. Should you ever come back, I will always take care of you."
And with that, she left my world.
That's it. I'm out of Gensokyo. Yukari said that she would do her best to never let me come back.
I sat there, letting out another sigh, not knowing how I would go to sleep. Due to all the emotions I had experienced, I was fully awake. Two in the morning, huh? The past me is having fun with Rumia by now.
Getting up and going to the window, I spent the next hour watching the New Year's snow drift to the ground in the moonlight. It was soothing, really, and a little jarring. I had experienced a week of spring, and there I was, back at winter again.
As I got up to go back to sleep, it was then that I noticed the trinket on the nightstand next to my bed. One of the tiny trinkets I saw back in Mayohiga. A little obsidian cat figure with two tails. A nekomata.
I would carry that thing for the rest of my life.
At breakfast, everything was back to normal, and I don't think anybody noticed anything. Neither Koizumi, Nagato, nor Asahina took me aside and asked me if something, anything happened. Well, for the time being anyways. For the next twenty four hours, Nagato would stare at me. Finally, she simply said one sentence.
"You aged."
She did not elaborate or go into any other detail on that, but I think she had some idea that something did happen. Weird thing is, she would never bring that up again.
I would say that I never saw anyone from Gensokyo again, but that wouldn't be true. Right after Asahina's kidnapping, after that whole mess, there was one Saturday excursion that made me think I saw someone. Nagato and I were going to the Library after another one of those lot draws, and we went through an exceptionally busy intersection. I had bumped into a girl, I didn't get a look at her face, but I saw she had two accessories in her green hair, a frog and a snake. I turned around to say I was sorry, but she didn't turn around, kept on going through the crowd.
That wasn't the weird part. The weird part is that I could swear that I saw Yukari. It was brief, like in those shows, where people seem to disappear when other people walk in front of them. Yukari was watching that girl, smiling.
When I didn't see Yukari anymore, I turned towards Nagato. She was staring at the girl.
"Is something wrong, Nagato?"
"..."
She kept her stare, a small unsure look on her face. My mind went back to what Yukari told me about trust as Nagato spoke.
"...It's nothing. I thought there was something, but there wasn't."
"'Something'?"
She shook her head and continued walking to the library. It wasn't like Nagato to go in a round-about way like that. Though what did Yukari say? My friends in the Brigade are just simply low-level members of their organizations. They have to follow orders from the higher ups. As powerful as Nagato is, she's still essentially a mere soldier in this "war", a mere "grunt".
"It's nothing. Let's go."
I shot one last look at the girl whom the Youkai of Gaps and Boundaries was smiling at before rejoining Nagato.
I wonder. Is that girl welcomed?
-begin-
New threat has emerged.
Entity YUKARI YAKUMO has shown hostilities and disruptions to all operations regarding GENSOKYO.
Requesting resources to combat.
-Kuyou Suou
-end-
-update-
REQUEST DENIED.
Closing all GENSOKYO operations.
-end-
-private entry detected-
-locked-
-enter password-
-password accepted-
-displaying file-
-private entry-
-April 10th, 2004-
I will not accept being defeated and scared away by such a being.
If the superiors won't do anything, then I will have to do it myself.
I will deal with Gensokyo directly, not through unreliable tools.
-Kuyou Suou
-end-
-make new entry? y/n-
-y-
-begin-
I'd like to see you try to take us on again.
After all, it appears that your kind and your powers are weak against Danmaku.
-Love, Yukari.
-end-
-save-
-saving...-
-save successful-
-quit-
When I was in college, I made the trip to find the outside world's, well, my world's Hakurei shrine. The shrine that Remilia spoke of during our first dinner together was indeed the Hakurei shrine - one in Gensokyo, one in my world. It was the only thing besides the general terrain that both worlds shared. Koakuma had told me that the area Gensokyo was in was near Lake Suwa and in between the Nagano Prefecture and the Yamanashi Prefecture. Which, when I looked it up first chance I got after getting out of Gensokyo, put it in the Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park - smack-dab in the middle of Japan.
It took me a whole day of hiking around, but I found it. It was hidden, tucked away in heavy foliage and overgrown trees. If it wasn't for the red gate, I would have missed it. A run down, abandoned, decrepit old shrine. But it was easily recognizable to me. There was no doubt - this was the Hakurei Shrine, the shrine where I spent an afternoon lazing around with Marisa Kirisame and Reimu Hakurei before they tried to get me out of Gensokyo. Seeing it brought a flood of memories back as I brought out my nekomata figure as if in automated response.
I felt like crying. My fist tightly held onto the figure as I fought the tears.
Exploring it after recovering from that, I found that nobody had been there in decades, possibly well over a century. Dust was piled everywhere, the roof was collapsed at some parts, and it was just dark, with all the trees giving shade. I spent an hour there, just looking at the shrine. The only object there was a lone donation box.
I put a 1,000 yen note in it.
Hope you get that, Reimu. It's not much, but it's something, right? Besides, the cost of traveling here really put a dent in my wallet. And maybe you won't have to beat up some poor random youkai to make ends meet.
I tried not to think of Marisa, but I knew I smelled her scent as I turned to leave. It was unmistakable. The thought that she possibly just passed my position in Gensokyo in relative to my world...
She must be visiting Reimu right now. Right now, a few feet from me, in Gensokyo, they are talking to each other.
Damn it, I can still taste her kiss.
It's still not fair.
Thank you all for reading.
There is one last thing I would like to say though. Remember when I mentioned a NakaTeleeli? He put up a video...well, a lot of videos. A "Let's Play". It was my crash course into the world of Touhou. It was a crossover, actually, a fan-made game. Touhou, with "Mother", which is better known in the states as "Earthbound".
Yes, the game where Meiling slept through everything. The game where Yuka got...well...yeah.
Touhou Mother.
There is so much out there for you to enjoy about this world. It was not my original intention for this to become such a Touhou-Centric Crossover with Haruhi. It just ended up like this when I started writing. I did have goals, I did drive it where I wanted it. It just ended up like this. It ended up like a love letter to Touhou. I found myself wanting to do this series justice, and to bring it to new blood. If it's through Haruhi Suzumiya fans, so be it.
When you think about it, they really are a perfect fit, aren't they? The Hakurei Border and the Closed Spaces. Paranormal entities keeping themselves hidden. Maids taking part in incidents.
I'm just rambling now.
It's time to close the book on this.
If you have taken something from this story...becoming a fan of the series, the music, or what not, if you have taken even just a mere feeling from reading this story...then I may have...done...something. What, I don't know.
But I hope it meant something for at least one person out there.
Because then the purpose of this story would be complete.
-SD9
See you next Phantasm, kid.
Bring your friends, ze.
Because Gensokyo will welcome the S.O.S. Brigade.
Imperishable Eight? Endless Night?