Imperfect Metamorphosis

by TakerFoxx

It's the first day of spring, and Cirno and her friends are once again up to no good! But after stealing a strange box from Marisa's house, they soon find themselves over their heads as they discover some things are meant to remain locked up.

27. Wheels Within Wheels

Wheels Within Wheels

Deep Within

As far as hiding places went, Rumia had seen a lot worse. In fact, she had seen few better. As much as she hated to admit it, Rin had really come through.

Of course, most of that had been pure dumb luck. Ironic, given the streak of bad fortune that had been plaguing them. But Rumia wasn't complaining. So long as it kept them off of Yukari's radar, she would take whatever they could find.

And what they had found was a small cavern, buried deep under Gensokyo. One could say they had literally fallen into it, as Rin's frenzied fleeing had led to them crashing through one of the walls. Rin had nearly gone straight through the other side before Rumia had screamed in her ear to stop.

The cave itself was a far cry from Rumia's (hopefully not yet former) home under the Youkai Mountain. For one thing, it was shaped liked a very awkward egg tilted on its side. For another, the number of stalagmites resulted in a lack of flat ground.

And then there were the glowing mushrooms that were growing everywhere, ranging from only a few inches to several feet tall. Not even Rin could identify their species. Not that it really mattered, as scientific discovery was not their intention. Staying out of sight was.

And to that end, the first thing Rumia had Rin do was seek out and destroy every exit, no matter how small. Rin at least had the presence of mind to have collapsed her tunnel behind her, so all that was left was find the little outlets that presumably connected to some larger network.

Now that the fungi-filled cavern was completely independent, Rin's physical form was clinging to one wall, surrounded by once luminescent mushrooms that were now blackened and wilted dead things. Rumia had to admit, she felt a lot better now that they were actively hiding instead of running headfirst into ridiculously dangerous situations.

Still, it did come with its disadvantages. All those times she had been forced to take cover when she and her friends had screwed up at least had her stuck with people she wanted to be with. And at least then they only had to wait for a few hours. But now that she had been forced underground for the foreseeable future with nothing to do but talk to the crazy Kirin, it wouldn't be long before she started to flirt with madness herself. It wasn't enough to drive her to make them resurface, but it was still a significant drawback.

Of course, she could always just make Rin send her back into the Dream World, but the very thought of it made her stomach squirm.

At least Rin was listening to her now. She still had her vague periods and the occasional weird breakdown, but she was at least making an effort. And when they were discussing a subject that had her interest, she could be surprisingly lucid.

Currently, the subject of the hour was more-or-less the same one that Rin had been obsessing over for the last few days, that of Rumia's mysterious origins. Granted, they had failed to infiltrate Hakurei Shrine, but Reimu Hakurei had filled in some of the holes for them. Time would tell if the new information would benefit them or not, but despite her previous protests about not wanting to know where she came from, Rumia found her interest being ignited, all thanks to two words.

"Fallen Angel," Rin mused. The Kirin girl was pacing back and forth, her hands on her hips as she thought. "Never heard that term before. But then again, my life at Eientei was kinda…I dunno, isolated? Sheltered? Take your pick, they all apply."

Rumia had recently discovered that Rin's screen had actual mass (or whatever the closest equivalent was in that place) and made for a convenient thing to lean against. "I don't really know a whole lot about them," she said. "But I've picked up a little here and there. I think Angels are some kind of…good spirit. They look like humans and they got wings. I think they're on the same side as the Saint that was Crucified."

Rin stopped and looked at her blankly. "Who's that?"

"A saint. Who got himself crucified."

"Oh. What he go and do that for?"

"Hey, I told you, I don't know a whole lot about that stuff."

"Oh." Rin frowned. "So, a Fallen Angel would be…"

"When an Angel goes bad, yeah."

"And your Evil Side was one."

Rumia shrugged. "I don't know. I guess. Miss Reimu seemed pretty sure that she was." She smiled. "Though it's kind of cool if you think about it. I mean, I'm pretty sure Fallen Angels are heavyweights in the bad guy league. Makes me kinda wonder what kind of evil badass I used to be."

Rin hesitated. "Uh, try cruel, sadistic, manipulative and just plain evil. Not the cool evil, the bad, bad evil. I've met her. Trust me, you don't want to be her."

"Right," Rumia winced. "Sorry. But still, if it took Miss Yukari, Miss Mima and Miss Reimu's mom to stop me, then I must've been pretty crazy powerful."

"Why do you always do that?" Rin asked. "That 'Miss' thing."

"Huh?"

"Why do you call almost everyone 'Miss' or 'Mister', and then go use their first names? I mean, no offense, but you're not really the most respectful person in the world. What's up with the honorifics?"

Rumia scowled. She stopped leaning against the screen and stood up straight. "Does it matter?"

"No, but it's kinda weird."

Rumia was tempted to snap at her about relative weirdness levels but decided that it wasn't worth it. "It's just how I talk. I've always done it, never saw a reason to stop."

"Huh." Rin shrugged. "Okay, moving on, do you know where we can find more out about fallen Angels?"

"This again?" Rumia rolled her eyes. "No, I don't. And I thought we agreed that there weren't going to be any more information hunting missions for awhile."

"Well, you know. For future reference. And while we're at it, we probably should look into the Yagami family. Maybe something from the Human Village."

Rumia stared at her blankly. "The what family? Oh! Right, Rumia Yagami." She shrugged again. "Hey, just having a surname doesn't mean I was Human. I mean, Wriggle and Mystia both have surnames, and I've met tons of other youkai that do too. Heck, there're a few fairies that have them."

"Still, it might be worth looking into." Rin smiled. "And even if there's nothing, don't you think it's kinda cool? I mean, you've found a name that you didn't even know you had! Kinda like digging under your house and finding a treasure that you forgot you buried."

Rumia scowled. "You're not gonna start going all crazy-cheerful on me again, are you?"

"Why, does it bother you that much?"

"I'm trying to decide if you have any moods that don't bother me, and it's…just not coming." She glanced at the screen and the cavern beyond. "Well, okay. So long as we're here, we might as well work on another problem."

Rin blinked in confusion and cocked her head.

Rumia pointed at the dead mushrooms that surrounded them. "That whole kill-every-plant-you-meet thing. You have gotta do something about that. Is there any way to turn it off?"

Rin frowned. "Well, I could repress the powers I got from you, but…"

"Is that possible?"

Rin nodded. "Uh-huh. Only problem is that it's wicked hard even when I've only got one person inside me-"

Rumia choked back a laugh.

"What?" Rin said in puzzlement.

Rumia waved off her question. "Never mind, never mind. You were saying?"

Rin stared at her. Then she shrugged and said, "Well, it gets harder-"

Rumia let out another snort.

"Okay, what's up with you?" Rin demanded. "What's so funny?"

"Seriously, it's nothing," Rumia laughed. "Just remembered something someone said."

"And you say I'm weird," Rin muttered. "And for your big fat information, no. I can't just hold back your Shadow Youkai powers all the time. It might work for a little while, but it's sorta like a fat person sucking their stomach in. Sooner or later, it's gonna fall apart. Not to mention the part about how it can damage my body's cells if I do it too long."

"Oh," Rumia said. Then she frowned. "Uh, not trying to sound like an idiot here, but what are 'cells'?"

"I'll…" Rin closed her eyes and sighed. "Tell you later. But the bottom line, it hurts like heck." She frowned and looked down at her hands. "Maybe there's a way to turn them off. I'll see what I can do about that."

"You do that," Rumia agreed. She sat down and leaned back against the screen while she thought. The situation was still screwed up beyond belief, but on the bright side it seemed that they had finally caught a break. There was no telling how long it would last, but it would be best to take advantage of the time they had to come up with some kind of long-term strategy.

Then she remembered the sort of people she was competing with. She sighed.

Rumia slid down so that she was lying flat on her back with only her head resting against the screen. She folded her hands over her stomach and stared upward. Now that things had slowed down a bit, she was starting to miss her friends. She was glad that her killing of their incredibly annoying doubles in her dream hadn't done any damage to her perceptions of them. She wondered where they were and what they were doing. Odds were, it wasn't anything fun.

…

"BANZAI!" Cirno cried as she wrapped her arms around her legs and let herself plummet from twenty feet up. She hit the water, causing a small but vicious wave to spring up in her wake.

In her seat at the water's side, Mystia shielded herself with her arm as she was pelted with bitter cold water and tiny fragments of ice. "Hey, watch it!" she yelled.

Cirno's grinning face popped up above the water. "Wimp!" she shouted. "Come on, jump in already!"

Mystia eyed the water where Cirno and Daiyousei were swimming. Thanks to the combined influence of two fairies, it was well on its way to developing its own icebergs. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."

The four guests of Yuuka Kazami were gathered around their host's sizeable swimming pool. Cirno and Daiyousei had changed into their swimsuits and were splashing and playing in the water, though most of the splashing was supplied by Cirno, as Daiyousei seemed to be too nervous about doing anything especially energetic. Given that low temperatures did not appeal to Wriggle and Mystia disliked getting wet period, they had settled for reclining in two of the many umbrella-covered lawn-chairs that sat along the pool's side. Mystia couldn't help but wonder why Yuuka had so many, seeing how there was no one living at the mansion save for herself and her little serving girl Elly.

The day was like every other day at the Garden of the Sun: sunny and pleasantly warm. Mystia wondered if it ever rained and, if not, how Yuuka managed to keep the thousands of plants she owned watered. Perhaps there was some sort of underground irrigation system at play. Perhaps water vapor collected and soaked the ground in the early morning. Heck, at this point, Mystia wouldn't be surprised if the plants pitched in and watered themselves. She was struck by the bizarre image of several buckets of water being filled at a stream and passed around via vines, branches and stalks.

Mystia glanced over to Wriggle, who was sitting in the shade of her umbrella with her knees pulled up under her chin and her eyes glaring out at the pool. The firefly didn't seem to be appreciative of the perfect climate. In fact, she hadn't stopped sulking the moment Yuuka had become involved. Mystia didn't really blame her. She didn't know the full history between her and Yuuka, but what bits she had been able to glean made her surprised that Wriggle had agreed to involve the flower-youkai at all. It had also made her question the wisdom of involving Yuuka at all, and the last few days had done little to allay those fears. True, Yuuka was pleasant enough, but still…

Mystia sighed as she leaned back and stared up at the umbrella's underside. Well, it was too late to turn back now. And when it came down to it, having a heavyweight like Yuuka in their corner was all kinds of useful, especially since they had managed to make Yukari Yakumo's Bad List. According to what she had heard, the number of names on that list never stayed there for long. Then again, neither did the names on Yuuka's List of People I Am Paying Any Kind of Significant Attention To…

"I'm going back inside," Wriggle suddenly announced.

"Huh?" Mystia said.

Wriggle didn't answer. She just got up and walked back to the mansion. Mystia stared after her, wondering if she should follow.

"You'll have to forgive her," said a voice behind her. "She's just so hard to get along with when she's in one of her moods. Though it's all part of the charm if you ask me."

Mystia stiffened. She watched warily as Yuuka walked around and lay back in the lawn-chair Wriggle had occupied, her folded-up umbrella set on the ground beside her. The flower-youkai had traded in her red plaid skirt and vest and pink blouse for a pair of tan pants that ended partway down her calves and a pale green shirt. She was also wearing a straw hat with a blue band, which was probably the first time Mystia had seen her wear any kind of head covering.

"Ah, you really have to appreciate days like this," Yuuka muttered as she stretched out her limbs to their full length. "It really makes one grateful to be alive. Hello girls!" She waved toward Daiyousei and Cirno. "How's the water?"

The two fairies turned toward Yuuka. Daiyousei winced and tried to hide behind Cirno. But for her part, Cirno just grinned and shot Yuuka two thumbs'-up. "Perfect!" she shouted back. "Thanks!"

"That's wonderful!" Yuuka said. She turned to Mystia. "I really do love to watch young girls enjoying themselves. Such a pleasant sight. Will you be going in, then?"

Mystia gripped the armrests and mentally forced her fingers to stop trembling. "Uh, no. No thanks. I'm…not really…one for getting wet."

"Hmmm, pity. Not much of a waterfowl, then? Well, I can't blame you. Wet feathers must be such a pain to dry. And no doubt you would be risking hypothermia." Yuuka flopped over onto her back. "Well, I suppose it's just as well that Wriggle left. She was in my favorite spot, and I am unfortunately a creature of habit. Once I take to a place it lie back and relax I find it hard to change."

Mystia found herself immensely relieved that she had not sat there. "Oh, uh. That's...your favorite lawnchair then?"

"Mmmm-hmmm! Well, admittedly it's not so much the chair but the company." She reached out with one hand and stroked the wooden shaft of the umbrella that sat next to her. The spread of it was a deep purple, and for some reason there was a towel wrapped around its base. "Of course, there had to be a few...modifications before she was presentable. Wouldn't do to have her leering at you from across the pool. And being drooled on would just ruin your day! But I'm glad I did. I've grown quite fond of this one."

Mystia wondered what in the hell Yuuka was talking about. Aside from the towel, it looked like any other umbrella.

Then she squinted at it. Was it her imagination, or was the umbrella actually trembling?

Mystia decided right there and then that she didn't want to know.

"So tell me something, Mystia," Yuuka said suddenly as she gave the umbrella one final pat. "It is Mystia, right? I am making an effort to keep your names straight. But anyway, how did you come to keep such charming company?"

"Huh?"

"How did you meet?" Yuuka pressed. "You and your friends?"

"Oh, uh…" Mystia struggled to work past the block fear was putting on her mind. "It's…nothing big, really. Cirno, Daiyousei and Rumia started coming around my eel stand pretty regularly, and I'd listen to them while they'd talk about all the capers they've pulled off. After awhile they started inviting me along. And then we met Wriggle and…" She shrugged. "The…rest is history, I guess."

"Fascinating! And what eel stand would this be?"

"Oh. I, uh," Mystia anxiously ran her fingers through her hair. Why wasn't she leaving? "I used to run this food stand. Cart. Thing. Lamprey eel was kind of my specialty."

"Lamprey?" Yuuka made a face. "Those horrid things with the sucker mouths."

Mystia flinched. "I-I know they look gross and all, but you just need to know how to…cook them, to prepare them. They're really quite tasty!" She let out a nervous laugh.

"Interesting!" Yuuka said. For some reason, she seemed to be legitimately fascinated. "Well, I never knew. You'll have to make that for me sometime. Perhaps even let Elly in on the recipe. She's always looking for new dishes, and seafood isn't one she's had much opportunity to try!"

"Oh. Uh, sure. Of course."

Yuuka smiled. "Well, at any rate, I recently received some news that should interest you girls."

Damn it, she still wasn't leaving. "O-oh?" Mystia said.

"Indeed." Yuuka held up a white envelope. Sticking partway out of it was a letter. "It would seem that our friend Yukari Yakumo has finally sent me an official acceptance of my challenge. Oh, this is so exciting! We meet in two days' time."

"Oh," Mystia said. "Uh, congratulations?"

"Why, thank you! I'm so glad that she's taking me seriously." Yuuka chuckled. "Though I suppose my catogram is mostly responsible. It's amazing what a little…personal motivation will accomplish."

Mystia blinked. "Catogram?"

"Oh yes. I had little Chen deliver her a message for me." Yuuka held up a hand. Sitting in it was an ash-grey seed. "Via Blackgrass. Lovely plant, with so many uses."

"Chen?" Mystia sat up straighter. "Huh?"

"Mmmm-hmmm! Oh, don't worry. She's fine. She doesn't even remember that little incident. Despite what you may have heard, I would never have permanently wasted such a toothsome morsel, at least not over a childish prank, amusing as it might have been."

Horrified, Mystia stared at her. She didn't know what Yuuka had done to Chen, but she was not finding her claims of goodwill to be in the least bit reassuring.

"Still, perhaps I did tip my hand too soon," Yuuka said. She frowned. Her index finger tapped against her lower lip. "I would not put it past Yukari to try something sneaky and underhanded. To that end, it would have been useful to have a plant in her house." She giggled. "Pun intended."

"Plant? What?"

Yuuka smiled. She reached over to stroke Mystia's hair. The night-sparrow let out a small squeak of terror, and not just because of the unwanted touch. Yuuka's lawn-chair was a good eight feet away. When exactly had her arm gotten so long?

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about anything," Yuuka murmured. Her hand dipped down to lightly brush over the soft down of Mystia's ear. "It's just politics. Nothing you need to be concerned about."

Mystia closed her eyes and tried not to scream.

Suddenly the touch of Yuuka's fingers disappeared. Mystia heard a sharp intake of breath. She opened her eyes to see Yuuka sitting up with an odd expression on her face.

"No," the flower-youkai was muttering, seemingly to herself. "Her? Here? It can't be. But…why? Is this Yukari's doing?"

"Uh…" Mystia said. "What is…"

Yuuka abruptly stood up. She snatched up her umbrella from the ground and started to march off toward the gardens. Mystia stared after her but she didn't try to stop her. Anything that made Yuuka leave couldn't be a bad thing.

Unfortunately Cirno wasn't in agreement. "Huh?" the ice-fairy said as she watched Yuuka from the pool. "What's wrong?"

Yuuka paused. "It would seem that there are a couple intruders on the premises. Nothing to worry about. I just need to go chase them off." She waved at them and started walking again. "Toodles!"

Once she was sure that Yuuka was gone, Mystia hopped to her feet. That was it, she was going back to their room and not coming out. Things were way too dangerous outside, what with someone that Yuuka Kazami considered to be large enough of a threat that she had to see to it personally. Plus, there was Yuuka Kazami herself. It was their second day there and already there was more than enough evidence that all the rumors were true.

Then someone grabbed her by the wrist.

Mystia yelped and whirled around. To her relief, it was only Cirno and Daiyousei.

"Come on!" Cirno said. "Let's go see who it is!"

So much for relief.

"Huh?" Mystia said. "Why? Why can't we just stay inside where it's…safer and let her handle this?"

"Because it might be the blob monster!"

Mystia gaped at her. "All the more reason not to follow her!"

"Uh, Cirno?" Daiyousei said. "I think Mystia might be right. We really shouldn't-"

Cirno got behind them both and started pushing them forward. "Move it! If Yuuka kills the blob monster, then Rumia might get hurt too!"

"But what if it's not the blob monster?" Mystia protested as she staggered forward.

"We'll figure that out later! Heck, it might be one of the bounty hunters with the blob monster in a bag. And if that happens, we need to pay them before Yuuka blows them up!"

…

Though the Garden of the sun was primarily known for its sunflowers, the truth was that it was home to a nearly overwhelming collection of plants, herbs, trees, etc. Especially notable were the groves of fruit trees along the eastern border. Here one could find just about any kind of fruit, regardless of native climate. Apples, oranges, pears, avocados, kumquats, peaches, and so on. And seeing how the Garden's climate was perfectly content to ignore whether or not a certain kind of tree was in bloom, producing fruit or bore nothing but leaves depending entirely on the whim of Yuuka Kazami herself.

Of course, no one in their right mind would dare pick any of the fruit. Even Yuuka herself waited until they fell of their own accord to gather them together. Of course, her fruit was always lush and fresh as opposed to overripe, and most of the gathering was done by the plants themselves, so she could afford to wait. But woe be to anyone who would be so foolish to not only enter Yuuka's orchards without permission but actually have to audacity to harm the trees she so fiercely guarded, even in such a small way…

A pale, slender hand moved through the leaves until it caught hold of a full-bodied peach. The peach was then pulled off the stem and brought to a pair of rose lips, which parted to reveal two rows of perfect teeth. These teeth opened and closed around the peach's succulent flesh. A full third of the fruit was bitten away, spilling juice all over the intruder's hand. Two more chomps and it was gone entirely, pit and all.

The intruder licked the juice from her fingers. Then she turned to her companion and said, "Now, Youmu."

"Yes, my lady?"

"It would seem that we have discovered a paradox, Youmu."

"How is that, my lady?"

"Here we find ourselves in a garden. A large garden. A well-tended garden. Is this not true, Youmu?"

"It is, my lady."

"And yet, though it be early spring, the peaches have already grown large. This is not a time for peaches to grow large, it is much too early. And though the sun be obstructed by clouds everywhere else, here it is shining freely. This puzzles me, Youmu."

"We are in a closed space, my lady."

"A closed space, Youmu?"

"A closed space, my lady."

"How so, Youmu?"

"A very powerful person has laid claim to this land and thus exercises absolute control within its bounds. This includes the climate, my lady."

"A very powerful person, Youmu?"

"A very powerful person, my lady."

"Which very powerful person, Youmu?"

"That. Would. Be. Me."

The two trespassers turned to see a very tall woman with green hair and flashing red eyes striding toward them. She was clutching a pale pink umbrella in a vice-like grip and, judging by the bulging veins on her forehead, was absolutely furious.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the woman said. "A couple of ghosts out for a walk. Enjoying the weather, ladies? I truly hope so, I work hard to make it this perfect. And look! They've decided to stop and have a picnic! How very charming."

The first intruder blinked. She turned to the second.

"She appears to be upset, Youmu."

"So it would appear, my lady."

"Why is this, Youmu?"

"I believe it is because we're trespassing, my lady."

"Trespassing?" the angry woman snarled. "Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. I'm afraid this goes beyond trivial trespassing. For it would seem that you have decided to pick fruit before its time. From my trees. Trees under my protection. I suppose such audacity should be admired, but I must confess, I am finding it difficult to finding anything admirable about your actions." The woman thrust the umbrella out like a duelist's rapier.

"You mutilate my friends and still have the cheek to be surprised at my anger?" she cried. "How dare you?"

The intruder stared at the outstretched umbrella. She blinked in confusion and turned to her companion. "What a strange person. Do you know her, Youmu?"

"No, my lady. We have never met."

…

Cirno slowly poked her head out of the sunflowers she and her friends had taken cover in. She squinted and shielded her eyes with her hand. She could see Yuuka threatening someone standing in the shadow of the peach trees, but unfortunately she was blocking her view of the intruders.

"Ugh, Yuuka's in the way," she groaned. "Can't make them out."

"She sure looks angry though," Daiyousei said. The other ice-fairy was crouched at Cirno's side. "I wonder if she knows those people."

Behind them, Mystia was nervously looking up at the sunflowers that surrounded them at all sides. Most of them had turned their dials toward Yuuka and the two intruders, as if they were also watching. But those closest to the hiding girls had decided to watch them instead.

"Uh, g-g-guys?" she said. "I really think we should go back. These things don't look friendly."

"Hang on," Cirno said. "I still wanna know who these guys are."

"What in the infernal hells are you idiots doing?" Wriggle said in a furious whisper.

Her sudden appearance made everyone jump. They whirled around to see the firefly crawling up to them with an expression that was equal parts exasperation and horrification.

"Are you trying to get yourselves blown up?" she hissed. "Elly told me that there were a couple of trespassers eating the fruit and Yuuka had gone to deal with them. Then I look out the window and see you morons doing the stupidest thing imaginable. Following her! My gods, have you guys ever heard of collateral damage? Do you know the meaning of the words 'Ground Zero'? Let's get out of here before we're reduced to free-floating pieces."

"Like I'd let that happen," Cirno grumbled as they started to follow Wriggle back. "Come on, have a little faith in me. I just wanted to see who…" she glanced over her shoulder "…oh hey, Yuuka moved. I can see them now!"

One was a small young woman with a slender frame. Her straight silver hair was cut short and tied with a black bow. She wore a simple green dress over a green blouse. A black hilted sword was sheathed at both sides, a long katana on her left and a wakizashi at her right. Nothing terribly noteworthy, but for some reason there appeared to be a…smoky…white…bubble…thing floating patiently at her side. Cirno had no idea what to make of that. It looked like a tadpole-shaped cloud of vapor had come alive and decided to hover at the woman's side and keep her company.

In sharp contrast to the slender girl, the other was almost as tall as Yuuka, with a full, curvy body that her billowing pale blue robes absolutely failed to hide. Her unruly hair was pinkish in color and fell to a point just past her shoulders. On her head was a puffy blue mop cap, not too dissimilar to a night cap, with a white triangle on the front decorated with a red spiral design. There was a strange vagueness around her, but not so much that of someone who had no idea where she was and what was going on but of someone who couldn't be bothered to find out. More of those strange wispy smoke bubbles were circling around her, though they were only a third of the size of that belonging to the smaller of the two women. Designs of the bubble things adorned her robes.

"Huh," Cirno said. "Weird. Who the hellsicles are-"

Mystia reflexively glanced at the two newcomers. Then she let out a short gasp and froze in place. A slow trembling spread over her body, starting with her taloned fingers and sweeping upward. Her eyes opened wider and wider and wider.

Wriggle took notice. "Mystia?" she said. She placed a hand on the night-sparrow's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Mystia answered by opening her mouth and screaming.

…

"Oh dear," said Yuyuko Saigyouji. "Is this really Yuuka Kazami, Youmu?"

"So it would seem, my lady. I fear we made a mistake in coming here."

"Oh, you did," Yuuka growled. "You most certainly did. Harming my friends is always a huge mistake, and…"

A shrill shriek of utter terror exploded from the nearby sunflower patch. Youmu stared at it in surprise while Yuyuko merely tilted her head and blinked. Yuuka only gave it the briefest of glances.

"…and it would seem that your presence is upsetting my guests as well. And to top it off, I cannot bring myself to believe that your presence here is an accident."

"Who is that screaming? And why is Yuuka so suspicious, Youmu?"

"Please address me directly," Yuuka said. "It's only good manners. And though I admit I'm not usually up to date on the who's who list, I have at least heard of you. Yuyuko Sai…Sai…"

"Saigyouji," Youmu supplied.

"Yes, thank you. The ruler of the netherworld, correct? Queen of the Dead?"

"She seems bothered by my position, Youmu."

"Speak to me directly, please," Yuuka said evenly. "And I must inform you, death has no place in my domain. That alone would be enough for me to refuse you entry, but as I've heard, you are also close friends with one Yukari Yakumo. Is this correct?"

"She knows Yukari? I was not aware of this, Youmu."

"I said, speak to me directly! I will not have this conversation filtered through an inferior, you braindead waste of ectoplasm."

Youmu's spine stiffened. Then she bared her teeth and started marching forward. Her swords were drawn from their sheaths in one smooth motion.

"Insult me if you must," she said. "But no one insults my la-"

Yuuka looked at her in disdain. "You're annoying and unnecessary. Go away."

Green vines shot from the ground to wrap around Youmu's ankles, bringing her to a sudden stop. She looked down in surprise but recovered quickly and slashed them away. That seemed to be the plan at least. The truth is that she never got past the looking down part before she was suddenly yanked beneath the earth. Her cry of surprise was cut off when her head disappeared. This seemed to throw her spectral half, Myon, into a sudden panic. It frantically swirled around where Youmu had disappeared, shaking and throwing itself at the ground, as if that could bring its fleshy self back. So great was its panic that it did not notice the thick green stem slowly looming overhead, topped by a huge purple bud with petals lined with teeth. The bud opened wide and snapped forward. Myon was swallowed up just as smoothly as its counterpart had.

Yuyuko tilted her head in confusion. "Youmu?" she said. "Where did you go?"

"Away," Yuuka growled. "And as for you, you don't expect me to believe that you have come here without Yukari's direction? First that…admittedly lovely nine-tailed woman she has a servitor, and now her best friend. Even my incredulity is stretched."

Yuyuko is confused. "What is she talking about?" she murmured to herself. "What does Ran have to do with anything?"

"That's it, had enough," Yuuka hissed. She pressed forward, grabbing Yuyuko by the neck and shoving her against the peach tree's trunk. The tip of her umbrella was shoved under the ghost-girl's chin.

"I told her," Yuuka said in a dangerously low murmur. "I told her that if she sent anyone else after me, I would break them. Now, breaking a ghost seems to be an oxymoron, but I am willing to experiment."

Yuyuko still didn't look like she knew what was going on, but her attention had finally been grabbed. "You know, I don't believe I like you," she said. "Not at all."

She reached out to touch Yuuka's cheek. Yuuka froze as she felt what could only be described as the cold trickle of death seep into her. Sweat broke out on her forehead. She swallowed noisily.

"E-enough of that," she said breathlessly. She quickly seized Yuyuko by the collar and swung her over onto her back, where she landed with a surprised squeak.

Yuuka closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She slowly exhaled, letting it flow through her teeth. When she opened her eyes again, they were once again stone-cold and steady.

"Well, that was unpleasant," she murmured. To the astonished ghost-girl, she said, "As for you, you just fly back to Yukari and tell-"

She stopped talking. A thought had just occurred to her. She glanced to the patch of ground that had swallowed up that annoying sword-girl. Her lips parted in a smile.

"-tell her that while I am glad that she has finally answered me, I am quite upset that she has allowed yet another one of her associates wander into my grasp. This is bordering on carelessness." She bent down and offered Yuyuko her hand. "You will tell her this, won't you?"

Confused, Yuyuko automatically allowed Yuuka to help her to her feet. "I don't understand," she said.

"No, I doubt that you understand anything that is not high in calories," Yuuka said as she brushed off Yuyuko's robes. "But that shouldn't matter. Just go to Yukari and give her the message. She'll explain everything."

Yuyuko still looked unsure. "But what of Youmu?" she said. "Where is Youmu?"

"Oh, her. Here you go."

Yuuka flicked her wrist toward the ground. It heaved upward. Youmu suddenly burst out with a desperate gasp. Coughing, she shakily pulled herself fully from the dirt. At the same time, the carnivorous flower spat out Myon, which immediately darted to Youmu in panic and hid behind her back.

"You…you…" Youmu choked out. She snatched up her swords and forced herself unsteadily to her feet. "I will…I will…"

"You'll do nothing but leave," Yuuka answered her. "Both of you. Leave now."

Youmu shot her a look of pure hatred. She took a shaky but threatening step forward, only to be stopped when Yuyuko laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I believe we should do as she says, Youmu. This situation has quickly become undesirable."

"But…but my lady…"

"Youmu…"

Youmu's shoulder's sagged. "Yes, my lady."

Yuyuko turned and rose into the air. With one more venomous look toward her aggressor, Youmu followed her. Soon the pair were well out of the Garden of the Sun's borders.

Yuuka shook her head as she watched them go. "Well now," she said. "That was most unpleasant. Still, it might work out in my favor." She glanced over to the sunflowers. Within, little Mystia was screaming still.

"I suppose I better go to see to that," she mused. "But goodness, that girl has an impressive set of lungs."

…

"That was them!" Mystia screamed. "That was them! Right there! They were the ones who did it!"

Cirno, Daiyousei and Wriggle had all surrounded her and were doing their best to calm her down. Their efforts were seeing little success, however, and all three of them were now sporting shallow but painful slashes, courtesy of Mystia's talons.

"Mystia, please," Wriggle begged her. "Stop screaming."

Mystia just shook her head. She had curled up into a small ball and covered her head with her hands. She kept screaming.

"Stop it, you idiot!" Cirno cried as she tugged at Mystia's sleeve. "You're gonna get us blown up!"

"Seriously," Wriggle said. "Come on! They can't get you if we leave. So stop announcing our presence to everything and everyone!"

"It's a little too late for that, I'm afraid," Yuuka said as she stepped into view. "I wouldn't be surprised if they can hear her all the way in the Human Village."

Cirno, Daiyousei and Wriggle immediately scrambled away from her. "We weren't doing anything!" Cirno cried. "I mean, we were! But it wasn't anything bad! We just wanted to see-"

"Calm down, child. I'm not angry with you. A little…irritated perhaps. For heaven's sake, girls. I brought you hear to keep you safe. So when I go off to chase off a potential danger, it would make things so much smoother if you didn't follow me! But then…" The side of Yuuka's lips quirked up in a wry smile. "I suppose I should just come to expect this sort of behavior from you. You are a mischievous bunch, aren't you? Now then, let's see to this problem here."

She knelt down in front of Mystia, who was still huddled in a ball and openly weeping. She gently placed the tips of her fingers under the night-sparrow's chin and lifted her tear-streaked face up so that their eyes were meeting.

"Come, come, what's this all about?" Yuuka said. "Goodness, one would think that you've seen a ghost."

If Mystia had caught the joke she certainly didn't find it funny. "That was them," she sobbed as she jerked her head away. "They're the ones that…ate. Me."

Cirno's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, really? That was them?"

Daiyousei sat down, very quickly. "Oh, wow. Oh my gods."

"Oh man, are you serious?" Wriggle said, staring. "Wow. That's just…wow. No wonder she…"

For her part, Yuuka just looked confused. "Excuse me?" she said. "Those two ghosts…ate her? I'm sorry, but I do not see how that is possible. The body of a youkai disappears upon suffering a mortal wound, allowing for regeneration and resurrection. Unless of course she was swallowed whole, but unless they can unhinge their jaws…" She mused over that for a moment. "Actually, that would be a rather nifty trick to have."

"No. They, uh, put a spell on her that kept her body from recognizing mortal wounds," Wriggle quickly explained. "That way, it didn't vanish while they…yeah."

Yuuka's head jerked up. Despite who she was and her well-earned reputation, the flower-youkai seemed to be honestly shocked by this bit of information. "They…did what?" she said. "But…youkai do not die of natural causes. And to have such an anchor in place, that means she would have been alive during the whole ordeal."

Wriggle swallowed. "Um, yeah. She was…kind of a mess afterward."

"In more ways than one," Cirno supplied.

"Cirno!" Daiyousei said, aghast.

Cirno winced. "Sorry, sorry! Just sorta slipped out."

Wriggle shot her a nasty look. To Yuuka, she said, "It took awhile for the spell to wear off and for her body to regenerate. We…don't bring it up much." She looked over to the peach trees, where the two ghosts had stood. "I can't believe that was them though. I mean…what are the odds? Seriously, that's just sick."

"I do not rush to disagree," Yuuka muttered. "Sick indeed." She looked down at Mystia. "Oh my dear, I'm so sorry you had to endure that. No wonder you're so frightened."

With that, she scooped the shaking Mystia into her arms and held her tightly. "There, there, little one," she murmured. "Don't worry. They can't hurt you anymore, not here. You have my promise."

Cirno, Daiyousei and Wriggle all exchanged a look of surprise. It was hard to tell which was the more bizarre; that Yuuka seemed to be genuinely trying to comfort Mystia or that Mystia wasn't rejecting the gesture. Quite the contrary, she was clinging to Yuuka for dear life.

"I won't be eaten," she sobbed into Yuuka's shoulder. "I won't be eaten, I won't be eaten…"

"Shhh, it's all right," Yuuka said as she ran her fingers through Mystia's hair. "Those horrid people and their ilk will never bother you again." A small twinge of her usual smile appeared. "I'll seen to that personally."

…

The flight from the perpetually sunny garden of Yuuka Kazami was a strange one. Youmu Konpaku literally didn't know what to think. A couple weeks back her lady Yuyuko Saigyouji had decided to take a walking (well, walking with some flying, some floating, some apparitioning and a whole lot of eating) tour of Gensokyo to enjoy the early spring, and Youmu had gone along with her to provide protection. It was a normal enough occurrence, one that should have been as uneventful as its numerous predecessors.

But then they had wandered into the garden of a certifiable monster. And then things had become…unfortunate. Youmu's normally thin lips tightened even thinner, as did her grasp on her swords' hilts. It was only by her lady's word that that abominable wretch of a woman was not now reduced to an indeterminable number of smaller bits. One of these days…

"Now, Youmu," Yuyuko said suddenly.

Youmu perked up. At that moment they were flying high over the grey clouds that were covering the skies. The sun was shining brightly overhead. Normally this would be a blessed relief, but now Youmu was not feeling kindly toward sunny areas. "Yes, my lady?"

"That was a rather surprising experience. I did not much care for it, Youmu."

"Neither did I, my lady."

"It would seem that we've wandered into some bad business. This is troublesome, Youmu."

"I agree, my lady."

"Of course you do, Youmu" Yuyuko murmured. Youmu eyed her lady, wondering what was going on. Yuyuko lived so deeply within her own mind that when she was bothered enough to take full noticed of the going-on's of the world around her, it tended to be a time of great significance.

"I do not believe that this was a simple issue of someone chasing someone else of her lawn, Youmu," Yuyuko continued. "I do believe that there is something else at play. There seems to be layers beneath the surface that we were previously unaware of." She paused meaningfully. "Youmu, I do believe we have stumbled upon an incident."

"I got the same feeling as well, my lady."

"Good. And as we are currently without reliable information beyond what was shouted at us by that horrible person, it falls to us to fill in the gaps, Youmu."

"We are to see Yukari Yakumo, my lady?"

"Yes. Those angry words seemed to indicate that there is ongoing conflict between those two. And even if she has nothing to tell us, she will at least treat us to cake. Yes, I do believe we must see her now, Youmu."

"Very good, my lady."

It was a solid enough plan. Yukari was usually involved in these incidents in one way or another, and even when she wasn't she knew who was.

Youmu frowned. She cast a glance over to Myon, which was floating in its place at her side. Perhaps Yukari could also help her with that. Ever since it had been swallowed by that flower, Myon felt…wrong. Uncomfortable. Itchy, somehow. Perhaps it had something to do with being doused in nectar.

Then she looked down at the clouds passing by below. In some places, she could almost make out the country below it. She couldn't help but wonder at the nature of the incident, and how long it had been active. She hoped it wasn't too long. Such thing, when left unchecked, tended to become worse and worse over time. She found herself hoping that things hadn't become too problematic for those already involved.

…

Yukari stares as the corpse slides limply to the floor, blood blackened by the taint running from the gaping wound in its breast. Its confused eyes are wide open with absolute shock, and its mouth hangs open without ever having the opportunity to ask "Why?"

The murderer glances at it with an expression that was equal parts amusement and contempt. "Poor idiot. She never so much as suspected. I doubt her brain had time to register the shock. Just as well, the realization would have broken her." Then the murderer looks up and smiles at Yukari. Its features warp and flow over itself, reforming into the Shadow Youkai. "Hello Yukari. Welcome back. I've been waiting."

Swallowing, Yukari straightens. She holds out her hand and summons her power, but at the back of her mind she wonders if it is enough. Because if it isn't, than this truly is endgame. There would be no second-

Yukari snorted and jerked awake. Someone was roughly shaking her by the shoulder with enough force to pound through concrete. Of course, nothing less would awaken her.

Glaring through bleary eyes, she looked up to see Ran standing next to her bed. "Ran," she grumbled in a voice still heavy with sleep. "I've already been woken up once before today, and that was no fun. So give me one good reason why I shouldn't cover you with bacon grease and hang you out the window for the crows."

Ran bowed. "I'm so sorry, Master. But there's someone here to see you and-"

"Couldn't they wait?" Yukari snapped. "I haven't had a decent day's sleep since before the Ringleader meeting…"

Then her voice trailed off as she realized that the list of people actually capable of visiting her house was diminutively small, and every name on that list would only show up if they had a damned good reason.

"All right, all right," she yawned. She kicked away the covers and sat up on the edge of the mattress. "So, who is it? Reimu's come back to yell at me about that alarm? If so, you can tell her to just suck it up."

"No, Master," Ran said. Then she told her who it was.

Yukari blinked. She asked Ran to repeat that name. Ran did so.

A moment later Yukari was on her feet and tearing through her dresser. "Where's my dress," she mumbled. "Where's my damn dress? Ran, where did my dress go? I know I had it just a few…"

"Uh, Master?" Ran said. "You're…wearing it."

Yukari glanced down at the pink nightgown she was wearing. Her shoulder sagged. "Oh, right," she said. "Must be the sleep deprivation."

She flicked herself in the shoulder. The nightgown immediately began to shift and change shape and color. Beginning where she had touched it, the pink gave way to purple, white and red, while the frills flattened out and rearranged themselves. She ran her fingers through her hair, straightening out its disheveled appearance into something more suitable for company.

"Right," she said as she walked toward the door. "And I really hope she has a good explanation for why she didn't show at the meeting."

"Master!"

Yukari looked over her shoulder. "What?"

Ran pointed meaningfully at her head.

Yukari's eyes rolled upward. "Oh, right." She flicked her nightcap. Like her nightgown, it also changed shaped and color, becoming her everyday cap.

Now fully dressed, Yukari walked out of the room and headed toward the living room. A relieved smile grew on her mouth when she saw the two figures standing there, waiting for her.

"Yuyuko!" she cried. She strode forward to throw her arms around the ghost princess. "Gods, I can't tell you how glad I am that you're here!"

Yuyuko enthusiastically returned the embrace, lifting Yukari right off the floor. "Yukari," she said. "You're happy to see me!"

"Put me down, you oaf!" Yukari laughed. She regained her footing and pulled away. "And glad to see your grasp of the obvious is as keen as ever. I am happy to see you." Then her happy smile faded away, to be replaced by a furious scowl. "Especially since you disappeared without a word and skipped out on the most important Ringleader meeting in centuries! Right when I needed you the most, too! Where the hell where you?"

Yuyuko blinked. She turned to Youmu. "Was there a meeting called while we were out, Youmu?"

"I do not know, my lady. But it does seem so."

"Yes there was!" Yukari shouted. "I even went to your house in person to find you! And there was your little summoning pyramid, blinking on and off all by itself! I told you to bring that with you whenever you go out!"

"Oh," Yuyuko said. "I'm sorry. We went out to take in the sights-"

"And tastes?" Yukari said snidely.

"And tastes," Yuyuko nodded, seemingly obvious to Yukari's sarcasm. "I suppose I had forgotten it. It is so rare that we are actually summoned, you know."

Yukari sighed. It was difficult to stay mad at Yuyuko. Being what she was, the concerns of the physical world so easily slipped her notice. It was unfair to blame her for being true to her nature, even in situations such as this.

"All right," Yukari sighed. "I suppose it's useless to yell at you again. Well, come in. I suppose I should bring you up to speed as well." This was starting to get repetitive. She found herself suddenly jealous of the Outside World and their information networks. Having something like that would make these sorts of things so much easier.

"That would be why we came, lady Yukari," Youmu said suddenly as she and her lady stepped inside.

"Oh?" Yukari said. "So you've heard the news?"

"Encountered it, actually."

"Yes, we ran into someone who doesn't seem to like you very much," Yuyuko said. "Not at all, to be honest."

Yukari quirked an eyebrow. "You're…really going to have to be a little more specific."

"It was that flower-youkai, the one who migrated here a few years back."

Yukari stiffened. This wasn't good. "Wait, you ran into Yuuka Kazami?"

"Yes. Well, to be accurate, it seems that in our travels, we accidentally stumbled upon her garden…"

Yukari's jaw dropped. "You're kidding."

"…and discovered that she takes extreme offense to anyone eating her peaches…"

"Did she touch you?" Yukari demanded.

Yuyuko blinked. "Beg pardon?"

"Did she touch you in any way? At all?"

"Well…" Yuyuko exchanged a look with Youmu. Youmu just sighed and looked down at her dirt-covered clothes. "Yes. Quite a lot, actually. She was quite upset."

Growling, Yukari closed her eyes and held out her hand. She squeezed it into a fist and let loose a small measure of her will.

Youmu suddenly stiffened while Yuyuko jumped back in surprise. "What was that?" she asked.

"That was me killing all plant life in the room. Sorry, she's snuck in here once already using other people to carry her little tricks. I'm not one for giving her a second chance."

Yuyuko looked positively bewildered. "I…feel I've been missing out on numerous important events."

"Yes, you could say that." Yukari sighed. "Well, no time like the present. Ran!"

Her Shikigami appeared at the doorway. "Yes?"

"Would you mind putting down a tea for us?" Yukari glanced at Yuyuko. "With the guest-appropriate trappings, of course. I fear this is going to be a long conversation."

"Of course. I'll get started-Oh my gods, what happened to the plants?"

Yukari glanced at the potted plants that were displayed here and there throughout the room. "Oh. Those. Sorry, overzealous but necessary precaution on my part. It seems these two ran into Yuuka earlier today, and I didn't want another…um…Blackgrass incident."

Ran shuddered. "Oh. Yes, I…take your meaning."

Yuyuko stared. She turned to her ever-patient but still filthy servitor. "Now, Youmu."

"Yes, my lady?"

"It would seem that we've been missing out on a great deal more than originally suspected."

"Yes, my lady."

Yukari closed her eyes. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Again, an excellent handle on what is obvious. Well, come on. It's going to be a long conversation, so we'd best get started."

…

Some time and an innumerable amount of cakes later, Yukari had finally finished catching Yuyuko up on everything that had happened, from the battle at Eientei to the Ringleader meeting to Yuuka's challenge to the discovery of the sword and the current plans to deal with all the problems. She wasn't entirely sure how much Yuyuko actually understood. Again, the ghost girl's view of physical matters tended to be a bit warped. But she seemed to be following without too much difficulty.

"It is amazing that so much trouble could occur in such a short time," Yuyuko muttered around three consecutive mouthfuls of pastry. "After all, it took Youmu nearly all winter to fully kick off the thing with that cherry tree."

Youmu, who had been assisting Ran in the creation and transportation of the numerous snackfoods, paused as she set down a tray of freshly baked cookies. "My lady, that whole thing was your idea."

"So it was. Still, I'm surprised at you, Yukari. Why didn't you come to me for help?"

Yukari repressed the eye-roll she felt coming. "I did. I told you, I called you and went to your house in person when you didn't respond."

"Did you? Oh yes, I forgot. I'm sorry, we were-"

"Out and about, I know. Don't worry about it. Still, you're right that things are a bit crazy at the moment." Yukari rolled her eyes. "I've got Yuuka harassing me for laughs, and after I'm done smashing her face in and stuffed her in a box I still need to hunt down and capture Satsuki. Then I need to flush out the Shadow Youkai, find a way to force Satsuki to give up her captives, eliminate her totally, and…Oh gods, I completely forgot that I still need to talk to the Kirin!" Yukari groaned as she sagged in her chair. "Wonderful. Yet another headache. I guess they can wait until this business with Yuuka is finished."

Yuyuko's brow furrowed. "The Kirin? What do they have to do with anything?"

Yukari flicked her wrist in a vague manner. "Satsuki is a Kirin child, remember? If they find out that we're hunting one of their young behind their backs, then we'll have yet another problem to deal with. Heh, first time I've ever had to ask permission to kill someone. Should be interesting." She sighed. "Well, I guess chalk that one up along with dealing with three ridiculously overpowered monster."

"Four," Yuyuko said.

"Excuse me?"

Yuyuko refilled her teacup. "You forgot Mima. She is still at large and holding a grudge, correct? Given what she is capable of, wouldn't she count as yet another overpowered villain in this piece?"

Yukari stared. Despite their centuries of friendship, Yuyuko still surprised her with how perceptive she could be. "You're right. Mima would be an issue. But…" Yukari smiled. "I'm not overly worried about her. In fact, I'm counting on her help with the Yuuka situation."

"Really?" Yuyuko said. "How do you figure?"

"Simply a matter of persuasion. You see, Mima's a different sort of monster than the other three. As best I can tell, Satsuki is driven by a simple desire to survive. Desperation. The Shadow Youkai is driven by a desire to kill, and most likely revenge. Maliciousness. And Yuuka just wants to drive things further and further into chaos for her own personal amusement. So, boredom. But Mima?" Yukari's smile returned. "She wants keep Marisa Kirisame safe. Her concerns in this matter begin and end with the witch. Thus, she is driven by love, as paradoxical it may be to attribute her with the emotion. And out of all the above motives, love is the easiest to manipulate. So her cooperation will be simple to acquire."

"Is that so? And how do you plan on pulling that off? Threatening Marisa's life?"

Yukari leaned back. She lifted her teacup and saucer off the table. "A simple matter of placing people in the right places and letting their natures do the work for me. As a matter of fact, it's already been taken care of."

…

Usually, the journey from Hakurei Shrine top Marisa's home in the Forest of Magic took roughly around twenty to thirty minutes. Far too long to make it in time to prevent Mima from doing anything drastic.

Usually, however, this estimate took into account things such as headwinds, fairy and youkai attacks, stopping to take in the sights and a general lack of motivation to hurry. Given the situation at hand, many of these factors had ceased to matter.

Reimu and Alice made the journey in just over seven minutes. They were still too late.

From the look of things, they had arrived right after some sort of battle. The area around Marisa's home had apparently been sealed off with yellow tape and GPF officers patrolling the area. Now the officers were lying lifeless on the ground, against trees or slung over bushes. Others were hanging head-down from the branches, tied in place by the same yellow tape that they had used to mark off the area. Three of them were floating in a slow circle around the perimeter, rotating and bobbing like puppets on strings.

Reimu slowed to a stop as she approached. "Wow," she said as she surveyed the scene. "That was fast."

Alice didn't answer. She simply landed and walked over to the nearest fallen officer, an older man with a streak of silver cutting through his otherwise dark hair. She nudged him with the toe of her boot.

"Alive," she pronounced. "But he's not going anywhere for awhile."

Reimu felt relieved. At least Mima hadn't gone wholly back to her old habits. Though her mercy was more likely to be motivated by being pressed for time than concern for human life. "Okay, so we know she was here. Where is she now? And Marisa, for that matter."

Alice tapped her lip as she looked around. Her eyes fell upon Marisa's T-shaped house. The front door was open.

"Inside there, most likely," she said. "It is, after all, the center of this display of-"

"Okay, seriously Master," Marisa's voice suddenly said from inside the house. "You're gonna want to put her down. Come on, put breakable human down, ze."

Alice quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose further evidence gathering would be unnecessary."

"Smartass," Reimu muttered. She ran past the puppeteer. "Come on."

The interior of Marisa's house was surprising in a number of ways. To begin, most of her junk was gone, leaving large patches of something that Reimu had thought she would never see in that place: bare floor. But over the floor were sprawled more bodies in black uniforms. And in the center of it all was Mima herself.

The ghost's demeanor was almost eerily calm. She was floating a little ways off the ground, with one hand hanging at her side and the other holding someone aloft by the neck. Her head was cocked to one side as she stared at her victim with an emotionless expression. Reimu's eyes widened when she recognized the person in Mima's grasp as Kotohime herself. The former madwoman was futilely grabbing at Mima's fingers, trying to pry them away from her throat. Her legs were kicking at air and her face was starting to turn purple.

Standing behind Mima was Marisa herself. The witch didn't seem to be overly enthused about her sudden rescue. Instead, she was pulling at Mima's free hand and was trying to talk her down.

"Seriously, you really don't want to do this," Marisa said. "I'm in enough trouble as it is. So come on, I know she's a pain in the ass, but put her down, okay? Let's…just put the police-girl down."

"Oh, but I find that do want to do this," Mima murmured. Her eyes never left Kotohime's choking face. "I want to do this very much. This was the one that dogged you, took you down and handed you off to Yukari, is it not? If so, then this is only the beginning of the things I want to do to her."

She lifted her other arm into the air, easily removing it from Marisa's grasp. Green sparks started to crackle around her fingertips. "How shall we begin, little princess?" she asked. "Perhaps I should just burn off all your limbs and see how well you do your job as an amputee? Perhaps I should pull out your eyesballs and stuff them down your throat? Or shall I boil the blood in your veins? Freeze the water in your eyes? Make it so your heart only beats once every ten seconds? Oh, here's an idea. Perhaps I should see if I can undo whatever it was Yukari did to your mind? I'll probably fail and end up doing irreversible damage, but seeing how returning you to madness would be my intention anyway, it still counts as a success."

"No, bad idea, bad idea!" Marisa yelped. She jumped up and tried pulling on Mima's shoulders. "Put her down already-Oh, hi guys. Wish I knew you were coming. Would've put the kettle on, ze."

Reimu ignored her. She rushed up to Mima and flew up high enough to get in her face.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" she screamed. "Let her go!"

Mima looked at her with emotionless eyes. "But of course."

The hand gripping Kotohime's neck started to glow. Kotohime's already wide eyes bulged out even further as her frenzied squeaking took on a new degree of urgency.

"Alive, I meant alive!" Reimu screamed. "Mima, stop it before-"

There was the sound of something thin and flexible whipping through the air. Reimu thought she caught a brief glance of movement, and suddenly the arm that held Kotohime in the air separated at the elbow. Kotohime fell to the ground as the now severed forearm and attached hand dissolved into vapor. She lay there, shaking and trying to pull in a full breath through her damaged throat.

Everyone else, Mima included, went completely still. Then all eyes, save for Kotohime's, swept around to stare at Alice, who was standing framed by the doorway, Shanghai hovering behind her like a small humanoid familiar.

The blue-eyed magician tilted her chin. "As satisfying as it was to watch that pretender to authority dance around like one of my puppets, this was starting to go too far." She held up her right hand. On each finger was a small gold band. Hanging from each band was a long and incredibly thin wire of some sort of silvery metal, visible only through the brief flashes of light as they flicked through the sunlight. There was a whistling sound as the wires retracted and wrapped themselves neatly around their bands of origin.

"Murders tend to make things…messy," Alice continued as she let her hand fall. "I think this house has seen messes enough."

Mima cocked her head. "Angel-hair. Interesting weapon of choice. Extremely rare, of course. But I suppose it was easy to access, given your…upbringing."

"A gift from my aunt/uncle, before my mother and I parted ways," Alice said. "For use in my work. Sariel probably intended for me to put it toward a more mystical purpose, but one must never overlook something's practical applications."

"Well spoken," Mima said. She held up what was left of her right arm. Green electricity surged around the stump, and it became whole once more. She flexed her fingers experimentally, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Of course, you do realize that you've just made yourself into an obstacle," Mima told Alice. She held out both her hands, palms up. A humming ball of yellow energy formed over each, growing as she slowly floated closer to the puppeteer. "Now, let me show you what I do to obstacles."

Marisa leapt in her way. "No!" she yelled. Her yellow eyes were wide with panic. "Master, stop! Kotohime was one thing, but leave Alice alone!"

"Get out the way, Marisa," Mima said.

"Hell no! Look, I love you and everything, but no one messes with Alice!"

Alice blinked. "What?"

"Well, except for me of course," Marisa amended. "Gotta protect the trademark, you know?"

"That's…not what I meant."

"'Fraid I'm gonna have to go with Marisa on this one," Reimu said. She floated over to Marisa's side. As she did so, the orbs hovering around her waist start to spin faster and faster. "I mean, weren't you the one chewing me out for being all stupid and reckless? Because right now I think you've way over that line."

Mima looked from one determined face to the other. "Marisa, are you serious here? You would truly stand against me to protect her?"

Marisa flicked up the brim of her hat and grinned. "You bet your incorporeal ass I would! Come on, I need to have someone to annoy within walking distance!"

"I'm touched, I really am," Alice muttered.

Mima stared at her former apprentice. The spheres of light snuffed out and she lowered her hands. Reimu tensed up, unsure of what the ghost was planning.

And then Mima smiled. "Good for you. I'd disinherit you if you didn't." She looked around the room. "I suppose I did get a little carried away. My apologies."

"You think?" Reimu said. "I mean, look at this place!"

"Yes, not my best work, I'll admit. But I've been under a bit of stress as of late. Excuse me for a moment." Mima turned and leaned over Kotohime. The policewoman was just starting to gain some control over her coughing. She held her throat as she shakily tried to push herself up.

Mima waved a hand over her head and muttered a word. Kotohime's eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed.

Reimu stiffened. "Whoa, what the hell-"

"Calm down, she's just asleep." Mima said. "See? I am occasionally capable of mercy, once I've regained my senses."

Reimu glowered at her suspiciously. Perhaps it was past memories at work, but she for one wasn't willing to accept Mima's turnabout as genuine. She glanced down at Kotohime's prone form. She was breathing, though shallowly.

"Okay," she said. "But there's still the big problem of you trying to commit murder."

"We can discuss that later," Mima said. "But for now, I suggest we modify their memories and vacate the premises as soon as-"

Marisa cleared her throat. "Um, yeah. About that. Itsy-bitsy problem with that, Master."

"Is there?" Mima said. "And what would that be?"

"See, I appreciate you guys storming in to rescue me, I really do, but…I kinda don't need to be rescued. And running away's also out."

"Eh?" Reimu said. "What are you talking about? I mean, I know a jailbreak would probably be a bad idea, but I didn't expect to hear that from you."

"I agree," Alice said as she stepped fully inside. "Please, do explain."

"Unnecessary," Mima said. She floated up to Marisa and grabbed the witch's face by the cheeks.

"Hwey!" Marisa half-slurred, half-shouted. "Fwat are you dwoing?"

"Shush," Mima said. She brought Marisa's face in closer and stared into her eyes. "This won't take long. I just need to see where Yukari rewired your brain so I can fix it."

"Okway, get woff!" Marisa yelled as she pushed herself out of Mima's grasp. "She didn't mess with my brain, I made a deal with her!"

"Uh, what?" Alice said. "Would…would you mind repeating that last part?"

"What, are you deaf? I cut a deal with Yukari to get out of jail time, and going all violent on these guys will just screw it up!"

Reimu cleared her throat. "Uh, Marisa? Sorry to be such a downer, but doesn't making deals with a certifiable and ruthless liar strike you as kind of…dumb?"

"I concur," Mima said. "And seeing how it's coming from Reimu, it only makes your poor decisions all the more stark?"

"Uh, what?"

"Well, you're not exactly having the most intelligent day yourself, are you?"

Marisa stared at them. "Uh, okay. I have no idea what you two are talking about, but seriously, it's cool. Yukari's got this big fight with Yuuka Kazami coming up, and she wants me to help her win."

"What?" Alice yelped. "Huh? Kazami? What?"

Reimu and Mima exchanged a look. Mima's lips tightened and she rolled her eyes, almost as if to say, See? I told you so.

"Wait, are you serious?" Alice continued. "You two, did you know about this…madness? Is she being serious?"

Mima cleared her throat. "Ah, yes. Marisa, may I speak to you for a moment. Privately?"

Marisa frowned. "Uh…"

"I promise that I'm not going to knock you out and whisk you away, or anything down those lines. I just believe we need to have a discussion."

"Um, okay." Marisa looked over to Alice and Reimu. She shrugged. "Sure, I guess. Just try not to get me into any more trouble."

"I truly believe that is impossible. Follow me."

Mima floated past the three girls to exit the house. After a moment's hesitation, Marisa ran after her.

When they were gone, Alice turned to Reimu. "Reimu, what was she talking about?" she said. "What does Yuuka Kazami have to do with anything?"

Reimu groaned. Yet another explanation session. She was starting to wish that they had some way of simply posing the information somewhere where everyone could see it. It would save her a considerable amount of breath.

"Give me a hand here," she said as she put her arms under Kotohime's shoulders. "This'll take awhile, so we might as well work while we talk."

…

Marisa followed Mima of the house and into the clearing. She winced when she saw the lifeless bodies of the GPF officers lying on the ground, hanging from the trees or flopping limply through the air (though she did make a mental note to learn that spell). She really hoped that no one had died. Being a thief was one thing, a noble career with centuries of tradition. But while the same could be said for murderer, it still wasn't a title she was eager to attain. And being an accomplice to a murderer was even worse. All of the guilt and shame with none of the badass points. Plus, deal or no deal, Kotohime would hound her until the end of time.

Mima, predictably enough, didn't seem to be the least bit concerned about the potential carnage she had wrought. She simply led Marisa out of the clearing and into the woods. Once the daylight, muted as it was, had been replaced by shadow, she turned and said, "Now, Marisa. I am aware that your relationship with sanity is a tenuous one at best. Now I've never really minded. I'm sure there are many that would say the same about me, and to tell the truth, I tend to find that characteristic to be endearing. But in this case I really must ask." She took a deep breath (most likely for effect) and shouted, "Have you completely divorced yourself from what little sense you claim to have left?"

Marisa scratched her head. She around at the twisted, fungi covered trees that surrounded them. She toed the carpet of moist and rotted leaves that covered the ground. Then she said, "No, not really."

"Oh!" Mima arched a single eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, that's good to hear. But again, I have to ask: what else would you call your so-called deal with Yukari?"

Marisa grinned. "A mutually beneficial arrangement, ze!"

Mima stared. "Mutually beneficial?"

"Well, sure."

"Marisa, do you even know the meaning of that phrase?"

"Of course! I get what I want, and by sheer coincidence someone else gets happy too!"

"Oh, Marisa, Marisa, Marisa," Mima sighed. "Don't you get it? When Yukari has your balls in a vice, it doesn't matter what sort of deals she makes with you."

Marisa looked down. "I haven't got-"

"Doesn't matter! In these sorts of situations, the only person that ends up 'getting happy' is Yukari herself!"

"Hey, it gets me out of jail!" Marisa said as she stuck a thumb against her chest.

"Which my actions here would have achieved anyway," Mima pointed out.

"I get to take part in a big kick-ass battle," Marisa continued.

"Plenty of those in the future."

"And I get to ransack Yuuka's mansion afterward!"

Mima blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Hey, the last time I was there, I found the coolest spell of all freaking time, ze!" Marisa said with a grin. "Think of what I could find if I wasn't worried about seeing Yuuka's creepy smile around every corner."

"Marisa, are you serious? Are you even thinking? Do you think that Yukari will let you, a convicted felon with a record, just go off and loot the home of one of the most dangerous persons alive?"

"Eh," Marisa said with a shrug. "Wasn't really planning on asking for permission, ze. 'Sides, I figure afterward she's gonna be too busy cleaning up and chasing the all-devouring lump of goo to care what I'm doing."

"Is that what you think?" Mima said icily. "Good heavens. As much as it pains me to say, I'm starting to think that you're not the bright young pupil I thought you were."

Marisa's head jerked back. "N-now, hold on! What are you saying? Just because-"

"Marisa, one of the things I've always admired about you is your independence. Your love of freedom. Your absolute refusal to take guff from anyone. Even when you were in servitude to me, I could still see that spark in you. And after you struck out on your own, I was so pleased to see that spark ignite into a raging fire. So pleased…" Mima shook her head. "But now, you are not only taking Yukari's shit, you are shoveling it down your throat! What sort of hold has that bitch gotten over you?"

Marisa's jaw was hanging slack. "You…you seriously think that of me? You think I'm…"

"What else am I to think, Marisa? That this is all some grand scheme that you cooked up? That you are somehow manipulating her to do what you want? Please. You've put her collar around your neck. And take it from someone who's seen others make that same mistake: such collars are not easily removed. More often than not, they end up as slaves. Or dead. Is that what you want? Because you certainly have taken that path with full enthusiasm."

A lump formed in Marisa's throat. She felt like she was nine years old again, and Mima was chewing her out for botching a spell. She stared down at the decomposing mulch beneath her feet.

Was Mima right? Was she playing right into Yukari's hands? Well, that was pretty much a given, but she had been convinced that the potential gain made the temporary inconvenience worth it. But what if she didn't regain her freedom afterward? Yukari held absolute power in this situation. She could easily just ignore the deal and toss Marisa back into Kotohime's cell to rot forever.

She shook her head. Everything was so confusing now. True, Mima being disappointed in her did have that effect, but…

Wait.

Mima.

Marisa started to laugh. It started as a quiet giggle, but it grew, gained strength, and blossomed into full on crazy cackling. She threw her head back and let the hysterics run their course.

Mystified, Mima stared at her prodigy. "Well, that wasn't expected. And honestly, don't you think you're overplaying the laughing witch cliché just a bit?"

Still laughing, Marisa wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes. "Ah, sorry Ma…Mima. It's…You remember those secret tests? When you'd send me to do something that you had already sabotaged, or had me try to duplicate a spell that was impossible, or do something that would get me in trouble and yell at me, even though you knew it wasn't my fault, ze? Just to see how'd I react?"

"That was years ago, Marisa. What of them?"

"This is another one, isn't it?"

"What?" Mima gaped. "Are you serious? Is that what you believe, that I'd use something like this for a silly test?"

"Nah, not you. I was thinking life itself."

"Marisa?" Mima's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"See, you were just going on and on about how I need to do my own thing, how I need to make my own decisions, to keep my freedom, despite what other people want or expect from me."

"Well, yes, I thought I had made that-"

"Well, wouldn't that include you too?"

Mima fell silent. Her sapphire eyes were open wide with shock.

"Thing is, Mima, I'm not a little girl anymore. I've graduated. Grown up. I can't keep being your apprentice. Sooner or later, I gotta do what's right for me, even if you don't like it."

"And this is how you decide to express your independence from me?" Mima demanded. "By plunging headfirst into something so suicidal-"

Marisa leaned back against a gnarled old oak. She stuck her hands in her pockets and her cocky grin reappeared on her face. "Come on, Mima. Think about it. What would happen if Yukari showed up and saw all those wannabe-cops lying unconscious and me gone? It wouldn't be hard to figure out who busted me out, either. After that, Satsuki ain't gonna be the only fugitive on Yukari's list."

Mima's eyes darkened. "Marisa, are you doubting my ability to protect us?"

"Mima, she gave you the finger without a second thought. And this was when she was already dealing with Satsuki and Yuuka. No offense, but I don't think she's scared of you."

Mima's hands clenched into fists. She bared her teeth. "She should be."

"Yeah, well, she isn't. And if we make ourselves out to be yet another problem…" Marisa shrugged. "She ain't gonna think twice about squishing both of us. You might be able to put up a fight, but me? I kinda squish easy."

"Oh, is that it? You're scared of Yukari, so you just blindly take her orders and hope she doesn't hurt you?"

Marisa folded her arms. She shrugged. "Don't have to be scared of her to know that she's still the strongest person around. And it ain't cowardice to want to stay off her Bad List."

"Marisa, think this through! You're right, she does have godlike powers. She's centuries old, and looking to live centuries more. You think some little human matter to her? You think she'll think twice about-"

"Exactly. I'm nothing to her, ze. So all I gotta do is go along with her plan, make a good showing, and she'll have no reason to go after me anymore. I'll be on her Good List, we'll part ways, and as far as she's concerned, I'm gonna die in a few years anyway. That's what a Human life span is like to you immortal types, right? So there'll be no harm in ignoring someone who's gonna expire soon enough anyway. Besides…" Marisa snickered. "Killing me would make Reimu mad, and Yukari's got a thing for Armpits. So, she's not real likely to whack me for no reason or set me up to die, is she?"

Mima stiffened. She slowly unclenched her hands. "Very well," she said coldly. "You've obviously made up your mind on the matter. Who am I to try to change it?" She inclined her head in a mocking bow. "I apologize for disturbing you. I'll show myself out. Farewell, Miss Kirisame."

She started to fade away, but then Marisa said, "Hey, wait a minute!"

Mima regained solidity. "Yes?"

"Come with me!"

"What?"

"Hey, I get it. You're concerned for me. And don't get me wrong, I really appreciate it, but if you're so worried about Yukari double-crossing me or Yuuka pounding my face to paste, then why not come along and watch my back?"

Mima looked at Marisa as if she had suddenly grown several ears on her forehead. "Marisa, did you seriously just suggest that I…" Her face contorted, as if the very words were fighting against her.

"Ally myself with Yukari?" she finally spat out. "Is that what you're saying?"

"Hey, you've done it before."

"Yes, but I didn't hate her then."

"Hey, no one's saying you gotta get matching BFF bracelets or anything. Just help me kick Yuuka's ass and make sure Yukari don't try anything, ze. Then as soon as I get those dumb charges cleared, you and I can go off and strip Yuuka's place bare! Come on, it'll be like old times."

"Marisa," Mima said. "We've never fought Yuuka together before."

Marisa shrugged. "Yeah, but I have, and we've worked together plenty of times, so add those together. And besides, it's just Yuuka. Sure, she's scary when you're on your own, but all of us together? It'll be a massacre! With…us doing the massacring, so don't use that sentence against me."

Mima looked troubled. "Even if I were to agree to this, even if we were all to pool our resources against Yuuka, I am not as optimistic as you about our chances for success."

"Huh? But she's just a youkai! Sure, she's a strong one, but-"

"No, she's not."

Marisa twisted her face up in a frown of confusion. "Eh?"

"Yuuka. She's not a youkai, at least not how we judge the term. That's just a skin she wears. A mask." At Marisa's astonished look, Mima said, "I've had encounters with her in the past, during which I got a measure of her essence."

Now Marisa was even more confused. "Then what is she?"

"I don't know," Mima said. She shook her head. "Something alien. Personally, I'm surprised Yukari herself hasn't noticed. But whatever she is, it is not…something we're familiar with."

Marisa threw her hands up. "Well then, all the more reason to have you along! Keep this from becoming a complete disaster! Besides, we'll have plenty of backup. Yukari's got this whole team she's throwing together."

"I know that already," Mima said crossly. "And to be honest, working with the likes of Flandre Scarlet and Utsuho Reiuji does not fill me with optimism, especially when they've got Remilia Scarlet and Satori Komejii holding their leashes."

Marisa blinked. "You know about them already? Damn, news travels fast. And what's wrong with Satori?"

"You mean besides the fact that I am growing more and more convinced that this was all her idea to begin with? There are so many layers to these plots that it's a miracle that anyone can keep this straight."

"Eh, plots, plans, schemes, whatever." Marisa shrugged. "Too much work, if you ask me. They just end up making things confusing, ze. But either way, I'm still going. You can come with me if you want. Or don't. But I'm going."

Mima stared at the girl she had practically raised, the only Human in centuries that she had felt any kind of genuine attachment toward. And now this girl, who didn't even have a percent of a fraction of Mima's age, power or experience, was point-blank challenging her motives and her pride and demanding that she become involved in a mess that she wanted no part of. It was insane, it was inconceivable, it went against all logic…

And it was working. The gods help her, it was working.

Now Mima was the one laughing. "Ah…hahahaha," she chuckled as she shook her head in disbelief. "Well, I'll be forever damned. I don't know if what you said is true, about this being some sort of secret test life is throwing at you. But if it is…"

Marisa cocked her head. "Yeah?"

"If it is, then I'd say you passed."

…

Reimu frowned as she looked at Kotohime's swollen face. The GPF captain had been moved to Marisa's bed, where she continued to breathe in a steady but raspy manner. She wished she could do something for the other officers lying around, but there was only one bed.

"Is she okay?" Reimu asked Alice. "I mean, how long is she going to be out?"

Alice, who was fretfully pacing back and forth, looked at her in contempt. "It's an enchanted sleep. She'll awaken when Mima decides she should."

"Oh. Well, that's gonna be a while, isn't it?"

"At this moment, I think we have more important things to worry about than a pretentious badge-holder," Alice snapped. "Marisa and Mima have been gone far too long. Who knows what that ghost is up to? For all we know, she could have whisked Marisa away and left us here to take the fall when Yukari finally decides to check up on these fools."

Reimu opened her mouth to respond, but a moment later her answer was rendered unnecessary when she glanced out the open door.

"Hey, check it out," she said as she got up and ran toward the door. "There they are!"

Reimu didn't know how the conversation had gone, but the results were interesting. Marisa had a wide grin on her face, the same sort she usually wore after purloining a particularly valuable book from Patchouli Knowledge's library. The look on Mima's face was one of complete bemusement, as if she were experiencing several conflicting emotions and once and didn't know which one she should be feeling.

"Marisa!" Alice cried as she pushed her way past Reimu. "There you are! What in the world have you two been discussing? Don't you realize that it's only a matter of time before Yukari decides to check on her little puppets here?"

"Nah, no worries," Marisa said as she walked right past the puppeteer. "We've got everything worked out, ze. It's all been…Hey, why the hell is she in my bed? That's just not right!"

"What?" Reimu said. She and Alice exchanged a confused look. "What's going on?"

"It's all right," Mima said wearily. "We've come to an agreement. I'll be assisting Marisa in her…current path."

"What?" Alice exploded. "Are you insane? You came here to rescue her, and now you're just going to let her twist in that bitch's clutches? This is madness, this is-"

"Calm yourself," Mima said. "As I said, I will be looking after her wellbeing from now on. There is nothing you two need to be concerned with. In fact, I think it would be best if you left now."

"But…I…This is…" Alice's eyes darted from Mima, to Marisa, to Reimu, to Marisa again.

"Fine!" she shouted. "You obviously don't want me interfering with your business. Just don't come crying to me when it all blows up in your idiotic faces!"

With that, she stormed out of the house, Shanghai following close behind. As soon as she was in the open air, Alice leapt up and flew off in a huff.

All eyes turned to Marisa, who just shrugged. "Eh, she gets like that sometimes. She'll get over it."

"It's all the same to me," Mima said. "But you should follow her example, Reimu. This is not the place for you anymore. I'll take care of my mess here and treat the wounded. There is nothing you need to worry about."

"I…uh…okay." Reimu still had no idea what was going on, but there was a note in Mima's voice that told her that she should obey. She reluctantly turned and headed toward the door.

Then she paused. "Hey, Mima?"

"Yes?"

"Look after this idiot, all right? Make sure she doesn't do anything really stupid?"

"Why, Reddie," Marisa grinned. "You really do care! I'm touched."

"Shut up, Marisa," Reimu snapped. "And I mean it. Don't make this incident any more fucked up than it is."

With that, Reimu took to the air, quickly putting distance between herself and the disaster area that was Marisa's house. She adjusted her course for the shrine. She hoped Genji was still talking to her, because she had a lot she needed someone to talk to about.

"And to think," she muttered as she cleared the clouds. "I thought today was going to be a peaceful day."

…

"It is amazing, the sort of things people will do for love," Yukari murmured. She brought the teacup to her lips and slowly sipped the steaming liquid. "Even the proudest, the most uncontrollable, the most erratic of creatures can be swayed by its power. Mima is no different."

Yuyuko nodded, though it was difficult to tell if she truly understood or not. Youmu, however, was a bit more in tune with the physical world than her lady. She took that moment to break into the conversation.

"But…I'm sorry, lady Yukari. But I don't understand. What if Mima had refused? What if she had just snatched Marisa away without listening to her arguments? Or what if she had killed those men and women instead of just knocking them out? Forgive me, there just seems to be too many things left to chance!"

"Now, Youmu," Yuyuko murmured. "Let's not get overly upset. Yukari knows what she's doing."

Yukari placed the teacup back on the table. She leaned back and crossed her legs. "No, no. She's quite right. And to answer your question, Mima cares enough about Marisa to want her to go with her willingly, rather than simply kidnap her. So she would want to convince Marisa to see things her way. Furthermore, she still has her pride, and to simply snatch up Marisa against her will would seem like a failure on her part." She shrugged. "It was a risk, yes, but in the very worst case scenario, all I would lose is the witch, and her only part in this battle would be as backup. But to bring Mima back on board? Definitely worth the trouble."

"As for the GPF," Yukari continued. "That was another risk. However, even if Mima had decided to go for the kill, I was still watching that whole encounter." She smiled. "Sometimes it pays to be able to manipulate the borders of life and death. Or, say, the border of wholeness and disintegration. Shiki's most likely going to cut me more slack than usual due to the emergency situation. And what Kotohime doesn't know doesn't hurt her. All in the line of duty."

Youmu still looked troubled. "But…surely it would have been easier just to ask the two of them at the beginning? Without resorting to arrests or mind games?"

"Youmu, weren't you paying attention?" Yuyuko said. "She didn't find out about Yuuka until after she had announced her intention to arrest Marisa. By the time this plan had been formulated, Mima had already snuck Marisa out."

Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you really are surprisingly perceptive today. Has there been a change of diet?"

Then she smiled and idly stirred her tea with her forefinger. "But yes, I did have to…improvise. But now that the pieces are finally falling into place..." She picked up a chocolate covered strawberry from its nearly empty tray and held it between her forefinger and thumb.

"Yuuka will never know what hit her," she murmured. With that, she crushed the strawberry.

…

And the Xanatos Roulette wheel keeps going round and round and round! I don't know why I enjoy adding all these overly convoluted plots, but it's just so much fun. I'm starting to think of writing this story as being like navigating a mirrored maze with a map in one hand and a hammer in the other, and making frequent use of both!

Anyway, as you may have noticed, this chapter came up considerably quicker than past updates. In only ten days to be exact. Why is this, you might ask? Well, the reason is simple: exactly one month ago we celebrated Imperfect Metamorphosis' first birthday, at twenty-five chapters.

And today we celebrate mine, at twenty-five years! :D

Okay, that's pretty much the whole reason. I just thought it would be cool to update on my birthday. Wasn't easy. Ended up consuming an ungodly amount of caffeine, and was fortunately blessed with a week free from schoolwork. Still was fun though. I think I'm addicted to over-complicating plots. But I've already talked about that, so let's move on to the chapter itself!

So anyway, Yuyuko and Youmu finally show up. To be honest, I've been wanting to bring them into the story for awhile now, but the problem was that I honestly couldn't think of anything they could do. All I really had in mind was that one scene where Mystia sees them and freaks out, and maybe a couple appearances at the very, very end of the story, but in the middle? No idea. Glad they did show up, as their almost-but-not-quite Boke and Tsukkomi routine was a real hoot. Though I do apologize if Yuyuko's portrayal during her more serious moments felt a little inconsistent, as it did to me. I'm still trying to get a handle on her character, and am finding that I'm having the same trouble that I did with Patchouli. Should get the rough parts smoothed out soon.

Speaking of Yuyuko and Youmu, I have another problem with them. In that, despite that it was time for them to finally show up…I still have no idea what to do with them. I want them to be in this story. They're hugely important characters in the games and the fandom, and excluding them would be just plain wrong (especially after they got this big introduction). But inventing an entirely new plotline just to keep them around would feel forced and make things even more convoluted, while keeping them in their present role would just make them into Yukari's sidekicks, and they deserve more than that.

So I think I'll leave it up to you guys! What do you think? If you have a good idea for a role they can play, let me hear it!

Also, Yuyuko and Yukari's conversation takes place a few hours after Mima and Marisa's, and Rin and Rumia's, though it comes first, occurs some time after that. I was rereading the chapter and realized that's the only way it makes sense. Bit out of order, I know. Also, yes, I am deliberately ignoring the potential meetings from PoFV. So…yeah.

Oh, and one last story-related thing. The next few chapters are going to be another mini-arc, similar to the Deep Within trilogy. The title? "The Storm". The content? Yukari and Yuuka finally throw down. Place your bets now!

Anyway, moving on to other news, as most of you are probably aware, the demo for Ten Desires was released a few days ago. We've got a few returning faces, as well as a few new ones! Byakuren's group has a new member (who is abso-freaking-lutely adorable!) and…ZOMBIE GIRL! Hell yeah! Still working on how I'm going to work Ten Desires and its characters into the IM continuity. I'll decide once I've played the full game. In the meantime, Kyouko's been retconned into Byakuren and Reimu's conversation in chapter 21. Time will tell how the rest of that game will work out. But until then, I am curious as hell to see who the Big Bad of this one is. And given the clues we've seen so far…Mima? Please?

Ha, it's probably just Myouren. I'd like to see Kasen show up as Ex-Boss though.

Oh, and I forgot to mention this last chapter (felt like an idiot when I realized it), but thank you so much to everyone who's contributed to IM's TV Tropes page! Yes, I have it bookmarked. Yes, I obsessively check the history, and yes, I get all happy every time a new trope's been added. DON'T JUDGE ME!

Just one request though: I noticed that most of the tropes have to do with its status as a dark fic (It Got Worse, Break the Cutie, etc.). While these are all certainly correct, there is a lot more than just depressing stuff! So maybe some of the lighter elements should be mentioned as well? Just a thought.

And finally, to address a couple points/questions left in the reviews.

lolcanon: I haven't forgotten about Fantasy Heaven. But while its invincibility would have come in handy, it is still an incredibly complicated spell to pull off, and Reimu wasn't really focused at that time. Besides, she needs the Ying-Yang Orb to activate it, which had been left behind.

ThisTroperFromGensokyo: It's true. So far, no one important has died, and casualties from unnamed OC's have been kept to a minimum. But just remember that one of my principle influences is Joss Whedon…

Hehehehehehe…

Also, Genji had more reasons than the Rule of Drama keeping him from becoming personally involved. Let's just say, the landscape wouldn't be able to handle him in all his badass turtlely fury.

Because he's fucking Genji.

Until next time, everyone!