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.

53. Sleight of Hand

Sleight of Hand

"Eirin?" Reimu gulped. "Er, are you sure that's a good idea?"

"At this point, any idea that's purported as a good one is automatically suspect," Yukari said. "However, that doesn't change the fact that we will need her input. Scientific genius aside, she also knows more about what happened to Rin Satsuki than anyone."

"Which is still next to nil," Reimu felt compelled to point out. "And, uh, there's still the little problem with me harboring someone who kinda attacked her..."

"I know," Yukari sighed. "Which is why I'm letting you know now instead of making it a surprise."

"Oh, goody," Reimu said dryly. "That'll come as such a comfort when she crushes my throat with her bare hands. At least it wasn't a surprise."

"She won't," Yukari said confidently.

"And you know this how?"

"Because there's not a chance in hell that I'd let her anywhere near you without my direct supervision," Yukari answered. "And she knows that I can gap her right back to the Moon should she misbehave. And that not need be one of the places with atmosphere."

Despite their long association and Reimu's constant exposure to beings in possession with more power than ought to be possible, sometimes Yukari was just plain scary. "Oh," she said. What else was there to say?

Yukari smiled in a manner she must have thought to be reassuring. "Don't worry. She won't come here. You and the rabbit are safe enough."

Reimu was far from. She hadn't actually fought against the Lunarian doctor before, but she remembered very well how close she had come to defeating Marisa, Alice Margatroid, Yuyuko Saigyouji, and Youmu Konpakuall on her own when they had stormed Eientei some years ago, and while Reimu didn't really expect Eirin to choke the life out of her in a fit of rage, she still made a point to double-check everything for ate from now one for subtle poisons. Maybe it was time to bring Mima back to the shrine. As treacherous as the ghost might be, she was admittedly handy when it came to staving off assassination attempts.

"In the meantime though, I still need to need to talk to Shinki and Sariel, as we'll need them as consultants for the Shadow Youkai problem," Yukari continued, not sounding at all enthused by the prospect. "That promises to be fun."

Reimu frowned. "Uh, I thought you wanted me to go talk to them."

"I did. But I was also blindingly angry at the time. Upon reflection, it's better that I do it. While I trust those two not to do anything stupid…well, for the most part…I'd really rather not have you wandering around Makai." Yukari shrugged. "Plus, and please don't take offense at this, but you're not really known for your eloquence."

While that was true, Reimu still felt a little affronted. "Hey, I did okay with you."

"You did, but despite recent disagreements, I'd say our relationship is a bit more casual than the one you have with the two exiled Archangels of Death."

To this, Reimu found herself conceding the point.

"At any rate, once that's done, we will have to get everyone together to discuss the problem," Yukari said.

Reimu help but notice how quickly Yukari had seized control of the operation. She wasn't sure if this was a cause for worry or celebration. On the one hand, she definitely did relish being in charge of anything that involved organizing and directing several toward a single goal, especially with the personalities and egos at play. On the other, she was aware that her motivations and Yukari's weren't quite in line with each other, and Yukari's ruthless nature when it came to Gensokyo's safety might lead to problems. "Ah," she said. "And…which problem is that, exactly? Because that's something you really gotta be specific about."

"Touché," Yukari said, her lips quirking into a small smile. "Well, everything to do with Rin Satsuki. And by extension, Yuuka Kazami and Flandre Scarlet. Should make for a lively discussion."

"Yeah, no kidding." Despite Yukari's surprisingly jovial attitude, Reimu had a feeling that a fair amount of that meeting would be spent discussing the possibility of a "final solution." Rin was safe enough in that regard, given her nigh invulnerability, but despite her power, Flandre was distressingly fragile. "What about the rest of the people from the experiment?" Reimu asked. "Eirin's, I mean. Should we bring them in too?"

Yukari pursed her lips. "Yes to those part of Remilia Scarlet's entourage, as they at least contributed something essential to the elixir itself, but no to the Asakura sisters. As I understand it, they merely provided the necessary equipment, and there is nothing they can tell us that Eirin cannot." She shrugged. "Besides, they're still sitting in a Tengu cell. Master Sonozika is negotiating with Kanako for their release, but…"

"Oh," Reimu said. "So, stuck there forever, huh?"

"I think they're likely to die from old age before an agreement is successfully brokered," Yukari said cheerfully. "Kanako's not one to back down when she's suffered a slight, and Sonozika's a complete ass."She shrugged again. "I suppose I'll be called in to mediate sooner or later, but in the meantime, it should keep that bonehead occupied and ensure those two nimrods don't driver any more giant arachnids through sensitive situations again." Yukari tilted her head to one side. "Now, before I rush off to ruin Eirin's day, is there anything of note that you might need help with?"

Though her tone was casual, Reimu got the feeling that she was being subtly warned against hiding stuff from Yukari again. "Um, no," she said quickly. "Everything's good." Realizing that she would probably need to offer more than that, she added, "Well, I mean Reisen's not happy about Remilia, and she and Sakuya got into an argument last night, but we all expected that, and everything's under control now. No major problems."

"Excellent. Well, I'm off to kick another hornet's nest. I'll keep you updated."

Yukari's image winked out.

Reimu stared at the inert Ying-Yang Orb, as if unbroken eye contact would gift her with the wisdom to handle this situation. And it should, damn it. It was a holy relic, and she was its keeper. Why didn't she receive any special knowledge from it? When she was a kid, she used to have dreams that it would take the shape of a fairy or a cat and talk to her, but while the actual article always responded readily to her commands, it had never so much as whispered in her ear.

Further to the point, why in the hell did she have a holy relic but no patron deity to go along with it? Life would be so much simpler if someone else was around to share these responsibilities.

But there wasn't, and the Ying-Yang Orb was as silent as ever. Sighing, Reimu turned from it and left the shrine.

Reisen was still transporting the buckets of money down into the cellar, Genji now helping her. Despite how long she had known him, Reimu was still amazed at the turtle's sense of balance. He could (and had) move several pails of water around on his back from one end of the shrine grounds and not spill a drop.

As Reimu approached, the rabbit and the turtle stopped and looked to her in expectation. Reisen's eyes were wide with worry, and Reimu doubted that what she had to tell her would help at all.

"Well?" Genji said.

Clearing her throat, Reimu said in as chipper of a tone as she could manage, "So! Reisen. Er, I've got good news and…scary news."

…

The upside of having to ensure that Rumia's Welcome Home Party (or to be more accurate, Welcome to Your New Safe House That You've Never Been To Before But You'll Probably Get Arrested And/Or Killed If You Leave, But At Least All Your Friends Are Here Party, but there was only so much room on the banner) never ran out of treats was that it kept Elly too busy to think. And if she wasn't thinking, she wasn't focusing on the monster now getting very chummy with Yuuka's guests. And she wasn't fretting over Yuuka's increasingly strange behavior.

However, her worries still lurked in the back of her mind, and when she finally got around to bringing Yuuka her supper, they seized upon the opportunity to come rushing back to the forefront.

At the moment, Yuuka was holed up in the mansion's library, for what Elly didn't know. She had just said that there was something she needed to look into, and told Elly to keep an eye on things. And that was that.

Clearly, something of great importance had drawn her away. Yuuka took her duties as a hostess very seriously, and even under the pretense of giving her guests their space and not wanting to intrude on their joyful reunion, this was odd behavior for her. And given how many other odd behaviors Yuuka had picked up recently, Elly's fears were further magnified.

I'll ask her about it, Elly resolved as she pushed the cart along. Surely there's no harm in asking a question.

Mugenkan's library was a rectangular room that stretched up through all three stories, with a wide open space. Yuuka sat in a plush armchair near the elegantly carved fireplace at the far end of the room, an open book in her lap. Leafy vines extended from the ceiling, helpfully holding other open books, unfurled scrolls, and even a stone tablet for her. Clearly, whatever it was that she was researching required a great deal of cross-referencing.

Taking a deep breath, Elly removed the covered tray from the cart and carried it across the room. "Master? I brought you your supper."

Yuuka didn't look up. It didn't appear that she had heard her.

Clearing her throat, Elly said, "Master."

Yuuka turned a page.

"Master."

One of the vines twisted around to tap Yuuka on the shoulder. Startled, she jerked up. "Oh, yes?" Then, finally noticing that Elly was awkwardly standing nearby, her countenance brightened. "Elly, darling! I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in. And you've brought me supper? Wonderful!" She looked back down to her book. "Just leave it on the table and I'll get to it in time. There's a dear."

Elly hesitated for a moment, and then set the tray down on a nearby table. She grabbed the cart's handles, started to push it back toward the door, but paused, hovering halfway there. Finally she turned back around and ventured, "Master?"

"Hmmm?"

"What are…Do you mind if I ask what you're researching?"

Sighing, Yuuka place the book's satin placeholder between the pages she was reading and shut it. "Oh, of course, of course. I'm simply looking up Celestials, that's all."

Out of all the answers Elly had envisioned, that one had not appeared on the list. "Celestials?"

"Mmmm-hmmm." Yuuka handed the book to a waiting vine and straightened up in her chair. Wincing, she rubbed the back of her neck, massaging the stiff vertebrae. "Celestials. Humans that have transcended mortality and ascended to Heaven, or at least the local knock-off version anyway."

"Oh." Elly struggled to come up with the best way to phrase her next question. "And…And why are you looking up Celestials, Master?"

"As a precaution." Yuuka rolled her head around on her shoulders, easing the cricks out of her neck. "You see, while the removal of the Shadow Youkai has greatly reduced the threat that Rin Satsuki poses, she is still a dangerous little critter, and I for one would rather not be caught with my pants down." She glanced down at her skirt and amended, "Metaphorically speaking, of course."

Elly was immediately cheered. While she still had no idea what Celestials had to do with anything, this was still sounding more like the old Yuuka. No, wait, scratch that. Her master had always been a little on the rash side. This was noticeably more cautious than the old Yuuka had been. If Yuuka's trials had to foist some sort of change upon her, then this was one was gladly accepted. "And the Celestials are the key?"

"Oh yes." With a groan, Yuuka eased herself out of her chair. Elly rushed over to help her, which was gratefully accepted. Affectionately ruffling Elly's hair, she made her way to the table and sat down. Then she lifted the lid off her plate and set to.

"You see, my pumpkin tart, back during that…unfortunate little debacle at the Youkai Mountain, one of the would-be bounty hunters was a certain Celestial brat," Yuuka said as she cut her ham slices into dainty bits. "The girl was a complete fool through and through, but she also caused more problems for young mistress Rin than all of the others put together." She speared a piece of ham with her fork, held it up, and turned it around, as if contemplating it. "Excepting, of course, for myself." With that, she stuck it into her mouth and started chewing.

Elly was confused. "Problems? Wh-what do you mean?"

Yuuka swallowed. "Oh, the arrogant little twit at least had the foresight to bring along a full arsenal of Celestial weaponry. Normally that shouldn't matter to someone like Rin, but surprise, surprise, her vaunted powers of adaptation were unable to stand against the might of Celestial craftsmanship. She could neither adapt nor absorb anything of Celestial make while shrugging of everything else. I mean to find out why."

Well, that made a great deal of sense, and Elly was exceedingly relieved to finally see the method to Yuuka's madness. "And when you find the reason?" she eagerly asked, her mind filled with charming image of vengeance wreaked upon that rude little strumpet.

"Then?" Well, that depends wholly upon Rin." Finishing her supper, Yuuka pushed her plate away and dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "For now, Rin remains a guest in our house, and ought to be treated as such. However, should she start acting up again…" Yuuka left the sentence unfinished, the threat lingering.

Elly nodded enthusiastically. "I'll watch her like a hawk, Master!"

"I know you will, dear. In the meantime though-" Yuuka suddenly cut herself off. Blinking, she pulled out her pocketwatch and examined it. "Bless my soul, what time is it? Seven forty-three? My goodness!"

Elly tilted her head to one side. "Master?"

"The is night upon us, and the creatures of darkness rise from their slumber. I'm sorry Angelcakes, but Flandre will be rising soon, and she isn't quite ready to be unsupervised." Yuuka planted a kiss on Elly's forehead and bustled for the door.

Elly stared after her. "Ah, Master?"

Yuuka paused. "Hmmm?"

"When…If you're going to be looking after Flandre, when will you sleep?"

The question seemed to take Yuuka off guard. "Sleep?"

"Well, you were up all last night and today, and watching over Flandre will take all night, so…"

Surprised laughter burst from Yuuka's lips. "Oh, you're so sweet! Don't worry yourself, dearie-o. Sleep is an enjoyable local pastime, but I don't actually need it. So long as I get plenty of sun, I'll be fine."

"Yes Master," Elly said dutifully, though she was less than convinced.

Yuuka favored her with a warm smile. "Oh, Elly. Where would I be without you?" With that, she was gone, leaving Elly to muse on the riddle of vampires and Celestials.

…

Time passed slowly, and did so in a haze of burning agony and fevered dreams. She didn't know where she was, she didn't know what was happening to her, she wasn't even fully certain of her own identity. Her world was one of pain and sickness.

As she floated through the fog, she would often hear voices whispering to her, voices she was quite certain that she knew but couldn't put names to. They spoke to her in scornful, condescending tones, telling her of her inadequacy. They called her a failure, a wash-out, a spoiled good-for-nothing. They told her that she was doomed to never rise up on her own two feet, that she would never make a real name for herself and would forever languish in the shadows of others. In her dazed state, she didn't understand what they were talking about, but their words angered her nevertheless. She tried to argue with them, to tell them that they were wrong, but her thoughts refused to collect, and her rambling protests went ignored.

Sometimes, when she emerged enough from the haze to gain some miniscule awareness of her surroundings, she heard voices of a different sort. These never spoke to her, but they spoke of her. These voices always confused her, as they seemed to want to help her, to "repair" her and heal her of her "condition." And yet, they never were exactly clear about exactly what her condition was. Apparently she had been hurt, though that much was already obvious. She wanted to ask them exactly what had happened to her, where she was, and what they were doing to her, but those moments of fleeting lucidity rarely lasted longer than a few seconds, and then she would sink back into the burning darkness.

And then finally, she opened her eyes.

She lay still, noting that for once the pain was gone. Her head still felt muddled, her body stank of sweat, and her throat was a raging inferno, but otherwise she was all right. Lucidity was returning, bringing with it awareness.

She was lying in an unfamiliar bed with thin sheets. Something soft and sticky was covering her face, but she could still hear a clock ticking. Frowning slightly, she tried to mover her arm, was pleased when it obeyed her command, and reached up to touch her face. It was covered with bandages.

"Well, look who's finally coming around," remarked a cheery voice, one that was very familiar. "How yah doing, kid?"

There was a small slit for her mouth, but with her throat being obstructed by an arid desert, there was no way she would be able to respond. Instead, she tapped insistently at her cloth mask and made an imploring sound.

"You want that off? Sure, you should be fine by now. Hang on, I'll get it off in a jiffy. "

There was a ripping sound, and the mask of bandages was slowly peeled away. She blinked and squinted as light assaulted her vision, hammering into her head in a throbbing blur.

"Take it easy, you've been through a rough time," said the voice. A cool, damp cloth dabbed gently at her face, cleaning away the residue. "Your face was a right mess before this, but they managed to put you back together okay."

Her face? A mess? Bits and pieces of memory started to come loose and gather together. Frowning, she tried to speak, but only got as far as a strangled-sounding "Wha-" before she started coughing.

Something small, long, and round poked between her lips. Recognizing it as a plastic straw, she gave it a small suck. Cool, blessed water entered her mouth and trickled down her throat, soothing it.

Her visitor held the cup steady while helping her drink, making sure that she took her time and didn't inhale it too quickly. Once it was empty, the cup was refilled two more times before she felt well enough to sit up on her own and speak.

The first words out of her mouth were, "What are you doing here, Iku?"

Iku Nagae laughed. "Really? That's your opening line. Come on, Tenshi. Surely there's something of greater importance that you should be asking about."

Tenshi had known Iku for a long time, and despite their long association Tenshi wouldn't call the oarfish youkai a friend. Iku was the Dragon King's official emissary, though given how apathetic the Dragons were to the rest of Gensokyo, the large amount of downtime that left her with meant that she often did freelance work for Tenshi's parents, as they were the closest thing the Dragons had to neighbors. And more often than not, that work consisted of keeping an eye on their "beloved" daughter. There were a great many things that Tenshi hated, and being treated like a child was at the top of that very long list. Assigning her a babysitter was an unforgiveable insult, especially one as smug as Iku.

Still, given that Iku was the only constant in Tenshi's life that wasn't her bumbling parents or some lowborn nobody, that did sort of make her the closest thing she had to a companion. As such, Iku was possibly the only person Tenshi could interact with as an equal. Not that they were equals, mind you. Despite her high station, Iku was not the heir to the throne of anything, much less Heaven. But that never seemed to bother her, to Tenshi's constant irritation.

"Fine," Tenshi groaned. "Then what I should be asking about?"

"What, you want me to do your thinking for you? Figure it out yourself."

Scowling, Tenshi turned away from her to look about the room she had woken up in. To her complete lack of surprise, it was small and dismal, not at all adequate for someone of her station. The wooden walls were stained mahogany, there was a framed picture of a flock of ravens flying in front of the sun, a plain nightstand, and a couple of chairs. There was little else, save for the irritatingly perky oarfish.

"Fine," Tenshi said again. "Where am I?"

"In a Tengu hospice," Iku answered.

Tenshi boggled. "A hospice? Hospices are for old people!"

"Yeah, but as it turns out, they don't have or even need a hospital. But when you're part of a species that's the next best thing to immortal while still aging, you're going to be stuck as one of the elderly for a very long time. Hence, hospice. Closest thing they had when they needed to patch you up."

Tenshi's hand involuntarily went to her face. It felt normal, but… "A mirror," she demanded.

Iku produced a small vanity mirror, which Tenshi all but snatched from her hands. She took one look and nearly screamed.

"My hair!" she shrieked, her hand going to the top of her head. It was sickeningly smooth. "What happened to my hair?"

"Most of it got burned off, and they had to shave the rest away."

"WHAT? Those fools!" Tenshi hurled the mirror aside, where it shattered against the wall. "I'll have their wings torn right off their shoulders for this! My father-"

"Isn't going to do diddly-squat about your hair," Iku interrupted. "And hey, chill out, okay? It's just hair, it'll grow back."

"It's…just…hair?" Tenshi all but shook with disbelief. "Do you have any inkling as to how much I've been violated? This cannot and will not stand!" She started to rise up. "I will not rest until I've-"

"Oh, get down," Iku said irritably. She grabbed Tenshi by the shoulder and shoved her back down into the bed. To Tenshi's chagrin, her time spent unconscious had withered her strength, and she was unable to resist.

"Stop fussing about your hair," Iku continued. "You should be thankful that they managed to fix the rest of you. After all, when you came in here, your face was melted and your body looked like an oni had used you as a drumstick."

Tenshi paled. "I…what?"

"Yeah, they showed me pictures. You were a pretty mangled little mess." Iku shook her head and let out a low whistle. "Damn, I know people say you like getting beat up and all, but I think you might have overdone it there."

Normally Tenshi would have reacted with fury toward the mention of those slanderous rumors, but at the moment she was more concerned with more pressing matters. "Overdone it?" she said, cowering into the bed and pulling the covers up almost to her chin. "What are you talking about? What happened to me?"

"How should I know? You were there, you tell me."

Tenshi struggled to remember. The haze she had wallowed in seemed so long, and everything before that was muddled. She remembered a flash of light and searing heat, as well as a lot of screaming. But beyond that, she couldn't recall much…

Save for the voice.

The voice she remembered quite well. Soft, grandmotherly, and kind, it had nonetheless been filled with power and authority. It had seemed to filled the entirety of Tenshi's being and pushed her forward when all she had wanted to do was lie down and give up.

But give up on what exactly? She had been driven to do something, something important. What was it though? It was niggling at the back of her mind, just out of reach. Tenshi concentrated as hard as she could, trying to grasp it, to bring it to the forefront-

She got it. "The bounty!" she gasped.

Iku nodded."Yeah, your dad said you went out to-"

"I need to go," Tenshi interrupted. She threw the covers off."Now."

She tried to rise again, but Iku still wasn't letter her get that far."Whoa, wait," the oarfish said, holding her in place."Where do you think you're going?"

"Away!" Tenshi snapped, slapping her hand away."Before someone else-"

"What, claims the bounty?" Shaking her head, Iku sat back into her chair."You're still worried about that? Well, you can stop. It's too late."

"What?"

"The bounty's been claimed. It's over."

Tenshi stared at her."What? Claimed? By whom?"

"Remilia Scarlet, of all people," Iku answered with a shrug."Not sure how that worked, but it seems legit."

"Who?"

"Uh, Remilia Scarlet?" Iku frowned."The vampire?"

Tenshi kept staring at her.

"Never mind," Iku said at last."Point is, there's no more bounty. So calm down and relax. You're going to be here for a while."

Relax? Iku expected her to relax? Tenshi had been harmed and humiliated beyond belief only to learn that all of her efforts had been for nothing, that she had beaten by some common-blodded animal and…Hold up, what had Iku just say? "What?"

Iku grimaced."Yeah, that's sort of the reason why I'm here. See, I don't know how much you remember, but you and a bunch of other bounty hunters…well, you guys made a mess. And they've sort of determined that most of it was your fault."

"Mine?" Tenshi squeaked.

"The ground outside of the Youkai Mountain got all torn up, and from the look of things, it was done by a keystone." Iku's gaze bore into the Celestials eyes."A keystone wielded by you. Which you weren't supposed to have in the first place."

"So?"

"So?" Iku gaped at her."You're really not…Argh." The oarfish leaned back and squeezed her eyes shut, a common enough reaction whenever she tried to lecture the Celestial princess. Massaging her forehead, she said,"Look Tenshi, I hate to break this to you, but you're in a lot of trouble. Kanako Yasaka is mighty pissed about that mess, and since you crossed a quarantine line and did a ton of groundbreaking on her turf, she's demanding that your parents offer reparations."

Tenshi scowled. That had to be the stupidest thing she had ever heard. "That idiot. My parents will never stoop so low to-" Iku opened her eyes to gaze silently at her, and Tenshi's heart skipped a beat. "Wait, they're not really going to do it, are they?"

"They kind of have to, especially since she's not giving you or those ancestral weapons you filched back until they do."

Tenshi's jaw dropped. "She's holding me hostage?"

"In so many words, sort of."

"She'll never get away with this!" Tenshi all but shrieked. Again, she tried to leap from the bed."This is a complete outrage! She can't-"

Iku shoved her back. "Yukari Yakumo's backing her claim. So, she can and she is. That's actually kind of why I'm here. See, your mum and dad can't come see you until that matter's settled, but since I don't actually work for them on any official basis, they said I could come by and make sure you're being treated well."

"Is that right?" Tenshi spat."Well then, make sure you inform everyone of how deplorably they've treated a princess of Heaven."

"Uh-huh," Iku said in a tone that made it clear that she would do no such thing."Sure."

"I'm serious! You march right back to my father and mother and tell them that…"

A door opened, and several wolf Tengu walked in. They brandished wickedly sharp polearms and round, painted shields. At their head was a woman with short white hair and a scimitar sheathed at her waist.

"…uh, wait, who are they?"

The Tengu's leader shot the startled Celestial an openly contemptuous glance and then turned to Iku. "I see she is awake."

"Awake and hollering," Iku told her.

Tenshi's face turned red with indignation. "Excuse me! Who are you? Who gave you leave to enter my room unannounced?"

Infuriatingly, the Tengu chose to ignore her. "Can she be moved?"

"I'd say so, yeah. But be careful. She bites."

"Excuse ME!" Tenshi shrieked as she slammed her fists down against the mattress. "Look at me, you plebian! What gives you the right to-"

"Kid, shut up," Iku said testily.

Tenshi's heart leapt into her throat. "What? How dare you? I'm the-"

"What you are," said the wolf woman, speaking directly to her for the first time, "is the lawful prisoner of the people of the Youkai Mountain. I have been authorized to escort you to your…prepared accommodations."

Sputtering, Tenshi tried to wrestle herself away from Iku's grasp to tear at the impudent fool's throat. "You…you absolute trash! You can't talk to me like that! What gives you the right to…My father will have you chained to his throne like the dogs you are, and once he's done whipping you in full view of everyone, you will beg for my forgiveness, you-"

The wolf woman laid a hand on her scimitar's handle and pulled it a few centimeters from its sheathe, just enough to show the steel of the blade. The air filled with a distinct metallic ring, and Tenshi shut up immediately.

"Your…station as a princess of Heaven is not forgotten, and you will be treated accordingly," the wolf woman said, her voice as hard as the steel of her blade. "However, should you prove…difficult, and try to impede my duties in any way, I have been authorized to respond in whatever matter I deem appropriate." Her eyes narrowed to slits, and her lip curled away from her pointed canines in a snarl. "You attacked my home, child. So please. Please try."

…

Arms folded behind her back and shoulders slumping forward, Kanako moved through the streets of the Ancient City. Admittedly there was little more reason for her to be there. The radiation had been swiftly cleared away by her Kappa, the market was once again bustling, and the destroyed apartment building was already being rebuilt. The aid she had offered had been gratefully received, yes, but it was no longer needed. The locals now had things well in hand.

Or at least that was how it was supposed to appear. She still had one last job to do, possibly the most important. While the city was nearly healed from its wounds, the unrest was getting worse. Everywhere Kanako went, she heard grumblings, saw dark looks, and could feel the discontent rising, polluting the city's energy.

None of it was aimed at her of course. The grumblings always stopped and faces lit up when people saw her, and she was greeted warmly. However, Kanako was not at all comfortable with how friendly everyone was being, especially since she knew the true reason. Satori had always been disliked by her people, and her absence after Rin Satsuki's attack coupled with Utsuho Reiju's mishap had only made things worse. And when Kanako, a high-profile community leader with good reputation, had shown up to lend her subterranean neighbors her support, people were latching onto her as a preferable alternative, one that was acting as their leader should. Which was exactly what Yukari was counting on.

To tell the truth, it made Kanako feel a little ill. She was no stranger to supplanting leaders and taking their people from them, but it was always done openly: formerly by the sword, and these days through active campaigning. And all right, she had used deception and subterfuge to further her ends on many occasions. But despite her serpent motifs, this was just a little too dishonest for her tastes. She had already made a mess of this place when she had given the Hellraven her power, an incident that might have done lasting damage to her reputation had Satori Komejii decided to publicize it. Kanako still had a strong sense of personal responsibility, and was all too aware that Rin Satsuki or no, she was still indirectly to blame for the destruction that she was being thanked for cleaning away. And personal opinions concerning Satori's leadership abilities aside, she had still done the woman a wrong, and did not enjoy pulling a con of this magnitude on her people, even if its purpose was to ensure that Satori did not end up ousted before she could even be rescued.

However, sometimes you just had to go with the lesser of two evils, and if Kanako had contributed to Satori losing even more face among her people, then it was up to her to try to fix it. And so she swallowed her scruples and played her part.

She found her partner in this charade at the steps of the town hall. Byakuren was engaged in conversation with Sunshu, the mayor. Per Yukari's instructions, Byakuren had joined the relief efforts, though she probably would have anyway. Sunshu was smiling and laughing heartily, so it seemed that Byakuren's assistance was as welcome as Kanako's, even if it was unnecessary. However, though Byakuren also smiled and spoke politely, Kanako could see how strained her face looked.

She hates this more than I do, Kanako thought. Deception went against Byakuren's religion and her nature, and having to supply the most essential element to make Yukari's plan work had to rankle. Though based on what Byakuren had told her, this wasn't the first time she had to work against her conscience for the greater good. Being a major player during the Magicians' War had practically demanded it. Which probably was making this worse for her, given the unpleasant associations.

As Kanako made her way up the steps, Sunshu turned and saw her. "Ah, Lady Kanako Yasaka!" she exclaimed. The bearded oni woman clasped Kanako's hand in her own. "May your name be praised and your miracles celebrated! I was just telling Priestess Hijiri here how greatly we appreciate all you two have done for us."

Kanako fought the urge to correct her concerning Byakuren's title, though the Buddhist didn't react to the incorrect label. "Think nothing of it," she said graciously.

Sunshu beamed. "You know, there has been talk of erecting a shrine in your name here in the city," she said. Turning to Byakuren, she added, "And if you wish to spread the word of your prophet here, his words would be welcome. We have gods aplenty, but there's always room for more."

"That's very kind of you," Kanako said, though Byakuren remained silent. "Though I fear that as my demesne has already been established, I would be unable to inhabit your shrine."

"Oh, posh," Sunshu said dismissively. "That is no matter. I have seen dozens of shrines to the Dragon God, but have yet to find him in a single one. A god need not need be present to receive offerings of faith and prayer, yes? And your blessings will not be diluted by distance. And after seeing what you've done for the birds and the turtles, perhaps a little religious awakening is exactly what we need around here." Then she glanced up at the clock tower that crowned the town hall and sighed. "Well, it seems the time is nigh. Shall we?"

"Of course," Kanako said. "I only hope this can be resolve peacefully and to everyone's satisfaction."

Sunshu snorted. "Not likely. Let us be off."

Sunshu made her way down the steps and into the street, where several people were waiting for her. Kanako and Byakuren hesitated for a moment, exchanged glances, and followed.

News had recently broken out that the reason for Satori Komejii's absence was that she had been away, acting in an advisory role to Yukari and other leaders during Gensokyo's time of crisis, but had now returned after hearing of her city's plight. The general reaction among the Underworld had been mostly to the tune of, "Oh, so now she shows up," and, "She never should have left in the first place," with a mixture of, "Of course she comes running when her precious bird is involved."

But she was back, or so people were led to believe. And given the increasing dissatisfaction, Sunshu was on her way to speak with Satori in person concerning certain shortcomings. Kanako and Byakuren had agreed to accompany her so as to provide advice and diplomatic support. And for whatever reason, a substantial amount of cityfolk were coming along as well, carrying with them their grievances.

All of this was of course Yukari's plan, transmitted through Kanako to Sunshu during one of their conversations. "A leader is servant of the people," she had said. "She is responsible for their wellbeing. So if you feel that yours is failing to do her job, perhaps you should inform her?"

This suggestion had been met with a dismissive snort. "She's been told plenty of times. Why should she listen now?"

"Because she cannot afford not to," Kanako had pointed out. "Her pet had done the most damage, and her people are angry."

This had earned her an odd look. "Lady Yasaka, are you suggesting that we…do something about it?"

"If you are thinking involving force, of course not. But Satori needs to be shown that when her people suffer, she must actively work to alleviate it." When Sunshu had hesitated, Kanako had thrown in, "If need be, Byakuren and I will go to help convince her. We're of equal status to her, and she won't find it easy to ignore us, especially after all we've done for her."

The plan was for "Satori" to meet them at the gate of the Palace of Earth Spirits. Kanako and Byakuren would stand with the people and, after Sunshu had finished voicing their complaints in typical oni fashion (of the non-physical sort, anyway), the two of them would step in as the voice of reason, imploring her to heed their warnings and change her ways. "Satori" would then crumble and admit that she was wrong, apologize publically, praise Kanako and Byakuren to the heavens, and finally thank them for the help they had given and entreat them to help her mend her ways. The two of them would then be seen working with a humbler Satori Komejii and guiding her in being a better leader.

Insofar as PR stunts went, Kanako had heard better, and disliked the risks they were taking. The obvious problem was that, in the event of Satori's rescue, she would return home to find a very different set of expectations waiting for her.

"In all honesty, I expect she will step down once we get her back," Yukari had responded. "She had never really liked her job, and her…ordeal will make active duty somewhat undesirable. If that is the case, then the Ancient City can appoint a successor on their own."

"And if she doesn't?" Kanako had wanted to know.

This had made Yukari sigh. "Her shoddy image is her own fault. If she wants to keep the good publicity we're giving her, she can bloody well step up and start earning it."

Kanako had refrained from pointing out Yukari's own popularity. At any rate, they were now committed. Earlier that day, Koishi Komejii had undergone another set of treatments. Her mind had been stabilized enough to allow her to play her role, and a glamour had been cast over her appearance. Nothing could be done about her lack of mind reading abilities without reopening her Third Eye, but that wasn't much of a problem so long as she followed her script and restricted most of her public interactions to those in on the scheme.

If.

As the procession moved toward the Palace of Earth Spirits, Byakuren sidled closer to Kanako. She made a discreet gesture, and the sounds around them took on a strange echo, signaling the presence a privacy spell. "I do not like this one bit," she murmured to the goddess.

"I know," Kanako responded. "You've told me."

"This isn't right."

Kanako glanced to the crowd around them. The only happy faces she saw were of those anticipating seeing their "beloved" leader take a fall. "I'm not arguing with you, but our options do not form a long line."

"This is dangerous," Byakuren pressed. "In more ways than one. You know what this could do to Koishi."

Kanako's mouth set in a straight line, but she said nothing.

The procession only grew more unruly as it progressed. Despite disagreements concerning her methods on how to deal with it, Yukari had been right about the threat of riot. This place is a powder keg, Kanako thought. One thrown match, and that's it.

Fortunately, violence didn't break out along the way. Perhaps the presence of the goddess and the monk prevented that, or perhaps everyone was saving their aggression for the palace. It made little sense to tear down the city they had just finished repairing, though in Kanako's experience that often meant very little to an enraged mob. Either way, soon they were on the bridge to the Palace of Earth Spirits. Sunshu stood in the bridge's center, with her esteemed guests at either side and a bit behind her. The crowd huddled far behind them, just outside of the palace gates. Kanako could feel their eyes on her back. For now, they saw her as an ally and an advocate. But one wrong move could change that in an instant.

Sunshu stepped forward, arms bare and gleaming in the light of the molten magma beneath the bridge, accentuating her impressive figure. Kanako had to admit, between her physique, height, confidence, and the four horns curving out of her head, the oni woman was an intimidating presence. Even her beard seemed didn't look out of place.

"Satori Komejii," Sunshu said. She didn't shout, and yet her voice had no trouble filling the place."Your people are here to speak to you, and yet your doors are closed." She spread her hands."I'd offer disappointment, but this has always been the case, now hasn't it?"

Byakuren cleared her throat and said in a low tone, "Lady Sunshu, it might be prudent not to provoke her before-"

There was low, vibrant sound of a gong, and the heavy gates of the palace started open, gears creaking and chains clanking. And there, waiting for her guests to arrive, was Satori.

Or at least that was what everyone save for Kanako and Byakuren were to believe. Kanako had to admit, the glamour now cast over Koishi Komejii was a very convincing one, and whatever it was that had been done to her mind to stabilize her seemed to have done the trick. She stood with her hands clasped over her lap, her face an expressionless mask, eyes tired and lids heavy as if from a lack of sleep. If she didn't know better, Kanako would have no trouble believing that she was beholding the actual Satori Komejii.

As soon as they saw her, an angry murmur rose up from the gathered onlookers, which quickly started to increase in volume. Sunshu allowed it to run its course for a few seconds before lifting a hand to shoulder height, calling for silence. She got it. Then, with an obvious smirk, she said, "Ah, there you are. My lady Komejii. Welcome back."

Koishi bowed her head gracefully."Lady Mayor. You are, of course, expected," she said in a perfect imitation of Satori's voice and weary inflection. She nodded to the goddess and the monk accompanying the oni."My ladies Hijiri and Yasaka. Word has reached me of the aid you have rendered us. You have my thanks, but also my bewilderment. I had not anticipated your presence here today." She craned her neck to look directly at the crowd. "Nor…theirs."

"They are your people," Sunshu told her. "Why wouldn't they come? After all, you have not been heard from for quite some time. You have been…missed."

"The level of sarcasm in that co-comment indicates otherwise," Koishi remarked. Kanako blinked. Was it her imagination, or had there been a catch in her voice?

"Sarcasm?" Sunshu took a step forward. "Why Satori, you wound me. Can you not read the sincerity in my mind?"

Sensing the need for redirection, Kanako cleared her throat. "My lady Satori Komejii, as you have correctly divined, our purpose for being here is not quite friendly, but perhaps necessary. During our work here, Byakuren and I have noticed several areas in which your execution of your duties can be considered lacking. For the sake of your people's wellbeing, we thought it prudent to bring them to your attention in the interest of improving matters."

"Be that-" Koishi's voice faltered, and she started again. "Be that as it m-may, I fail to see…to see…"

Uh-oh. Now Kanako knew she hadn't been imagining it. Koishi was talking too quickly, her voice rising a few decibels too high, and her fingers were staring to shake. Something was wrong, and in a few moments, everyone else was going to notice as well.

…

From a high tower in the palace, Yukari watched the proceedings with all the intensity of a hawk. Her senses were extended, and she could literally feel the volatile energy stirring below her, like a melting pot over a lit fire. To suppress it would be far too great a strain, so she let it simmer, all the while waiting for the charade to do its part.

Behind her, Ran watched with her. The kitsune wasn't as uncomfortable with the situation as those involved, but she was still quite concerned. "Master, if you don't mind me saying so-"

Yukari sighed. "Ran, please. Not now. Whatever it is, I've heard it already from at least two people."

"I know, but are you sure you should be putting Kanako and Byakuren at risk like this? I mean, you chewed out Reimu for doing the same thing."

"Yes, the irony is not lost on me, I assure you. But I'll gladly wear the title of hypocrite if it allows to remove this ridiculous distraction." Yukari focused on the hinge pin of their plan, who, despite her disabilities, was doing an admirable job of portraying her sister. "Besides, just so long as Koishi sticks to her script there should be no-"

And then Koishi faltered. She looked around at all the staring eyes and swallowed. Her mask of cool neutrality broke, and she fell to her knees with a whimper. "I can't do this," she said in her normal voice.

"-and that's not the script."

…

Okay, so something was very wrong. Koishi was slumped over her knees, arms wrapped around her body as tears streamed from her eyes. It was everything Kanako had feared. Yukari's adjustments had failed, and Koishi was having a complete breakdown right in front of everyone.

Kanako shot a look to Byakuren. Unsurprisingly, the monk looked distraught. In fact, she seemed like she was about to rush to the damaged youkai girl's side, image be damned. While Kanako certainly sympathized, doing so now would be nothing short of disastrous. The façade was already breaking, and if it became known that Byakuren and Kanako had been in on it, there was no way they would leave the city alive, immortal or not.

Waving her fingers, Kanako focused her will on Byakuren, essentially casting the deity version of a holding spell. Byakuren found herself glued in place. Bewilderment washed over her face, but the monk wasn't an idiot. Putting two and two together, she looked up at her Kanako, her eyes pleading.

"Don't," Kanako told her in a voice only the monk could hear.

"But-"

"I know. But don't. It'll be worse if you do."

Indeed, things were already bad. The crowd had been taken fully off guard by their disliked leader's collapse, and seemed divided by those befuddled by her strange behavior and those angered by it. Most were muttering uncertainly to one another, while a handful had started to shout accusations. Sunshu especially seemed to be completely beside herself. Her confrontational persona had cracked, and she was as lost as everyone else. And she wanted answers.

"What is this?" she demanded, working to be heard over the rising tumult of the crowd."Can't do what? What are you talking about?"

And then Koishi dropped the glamour.

Kanako was honestly more surprised that she could rather than she did. Yukari herself had put that illusion in place, and while breaking someone else's enchantment was far from impossible, breaking one of Yukari's spells was, to put it mildly, no easy task, especially for an unstable girl in the midst of a complete mental and emotional breakdown.

That was Kanako's first clue that all wasn't as it appeared to be. Something was up, and judging from the look on Byakuren's face, the monk had come to the same conclusion. While she knew that Koishi's breakdown was definitely not part of the plan (Yukari would have told them well in advance if it was), she was becoming less sure that Yukari's plan was the only one at play.

As for the crowd, they had no idea that Yukari had been responsible for the glamour, or even that there had been on in place until now. They reacted with almost tangible shock, and as Koishi's questionable grasp on sanity had been the source of more than one troubling rumor, there was more than one cry of fear. But none seemed more stunned than Sunshu. The oni woman actually took several steps back, as if she were suddenly in danger of being attacked. "Koishi Komejii?" she gaped."Wh-what's going on? What are you doing back? Where is your sister?"

Koishi, for her part, didn't look all that threatening. Truth be told, she looked more pathetic than anything."I'm sorry, I never intended for it to go this far," she sobbed, her cheeks wet with tears. "I'm so sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Sunshu demanded. "What have you done?"

Behind them, the startled buzz had started to become angry again. Kanako glanced over her shoulder and saw several fists being waved in the air. While nobody had the slightest clue as to what was going on, they had started to get the inkling that they had been taken for fools. Which, to be honest, was exactly what had happened.

This isn't good, Kanako thought.

…

"What is she doing?" Ran asked, her hair standing on end. "Master, what's happening?"

Yukari didn't answer. She didn't have one. Damn it all, what was Koishi doing? The girl was sane, or at least she was supposed to be. And even with her instable nature, one thing she never possessed was stage fright. This sort of breakdown shouldn't be happening.

Either way, she needed to shut things down before they got worse. Koishi was not much loved either, and Kanako and Byakuren were exposed. If need be, she could quarantine the whole place and-

And then something exploded right in her face, filling the room with white.

…

Things were spiraling out of control. The crowd was growing all the more unruly, Koishi was progressively becoming more and more hysterical, and Sunshu did not seem inclined to do anything about it. In fact, she looked like she was about to set off a riot herself if one did not happen of its own accord, though another minute and she wouldn't need to.

I need to do something, Kanako thought. The tension and anger was almost palpable. Why Yukari had not already stepped in, she couldn't say. Her mind racing to come up with something to say that, she opened her mouth to start speaking and at least draw everyone's to herself, but as it turned out, Byakuren had the same idea, and was just a little quicker.

Sticking two fingers into her mouth, Byakuren let out a shrill whistle. It echoed throughout the stone cavern, rising above the tumult and squelching it. Stunned, everyone turned to stare at the monk.

Stepping forward to place herself directly between the crowd and Koishi, Byakuren called out, "People, please listen to me! Like you, I am astonished and befuddled by this strange turn of events. But while your anger is understandable, the fact remains that we are still confronted with a mystery, one that requires an explanation! Perhaps we should hear it?"

There was some grumbling at this, but Byakuren's reputation was not undeserved. The mob quieted down and waited.

For her part, Koishi was still a wreck. She was hunched over and clutching at her head as she sobbed, "I'm sorry, I tried. I just couldn't…"

"Couldn't what?" Sunshu demanded."What have you done? Where is Satori?"

"G-Gone," Koishi choked out.

"Gone?" Sunshu stared at her, uncomprehending."Gone where?"

Koishi shuddered. "Taken. She was taken."

The murmurs rose up again, but now the confusion had increased and the anger cooled. This was not a development anyone had expected. Realizing that she would have to say something lest people get suspicious, Kanako stepped forward and said, "Wait a minute, taken? As if in, against her will?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't want anyone to know," Koishi sniffled."I thought I could hide it, I-"

"What are you babbling about, you stupid girl?" Sunshu demanded, her voice rising nearly to a full-throated roar."Who took Satori?"

"Yuuka Kazami."

The cavern fell to dead silence. Putting on an appropriately shocked expression, Kanako took the opportunity to scan the nearby faces. The reactions the name was getting were much the same as they would have been aboveground. Even here, Yuuka's name seemed to be spoken only in whispers. In fact, given how alien flowers were to these people, she might be even more frightening.

Even Sunshu looked afraid. "Yuuka," she repeated, mostly to herself."Yuuka Kazami."

Where was Yukari? This was the exact opposite of what she had wanted to happen. Having no choice but to hold the present course, Kanako said, "When?"

"Last month," Koishi said. Trembling, she pushed herself to her feet."Satori tried to meet with her, after she started attacking people.. To reason with her. Instead, Yuuka…took her away. She kept her."

A low gasp rose up from those gathered. Her eyes wide with shock, Sunshu said, "Kept her? For what…"

And then realization struck. Horror swept over the oni woman's face. Her mouth moved voicelessly for a time, and then she spun around to address her people. "My friends," she said, her voice booming."It seems that there is more to this than we have been led to believe. I must ask that you all return to your homes until we have answers." She turned to look meaningfully at Koishi."And this I promise you: we will have answers."

Still whispering among themselves, the mob that had once been one step away from erupting into violence quietly dispersed. It was apparent that while they had no problems in voicing their displeasure about their leader's unsatisfactory performance, getting involved with anything that involved a legendary terror was reason to hesitate.

Once they were gone, Sunshu glanced to Kanako and Byakuren before turning to Koishi.

"Perhaps we should go inside," she suggested in a low tone.

…

Hands on her hips, head leaning to one side, and eyebrow askew, Marisa again critically examined the catastrophe of a rune on Alice's floor. Her face twisted up and her brow furrowed, making it clear that even after learning its purpose, she still found it just as perplexing as she had two days ago.

Though she had been the one to invite the witch over, Alice still found herself cringing. Marisa was talented in all forms of magic, but runes were something of her specialty. And while there was no one more qualified to sort out where Alice had gone wrong, showing her what an absolute mess she had made was somewhat embarrassing.

"So," Marisa said. "Explain this thing to me again?"

Grimacing, Alice said, "Well, I had hoped it would imbue some level of spontaneous autonomy and cause her to react to outside stimuli with something more than simple mimicry, so-"

"Nah, I get that. I mean, the hell do you have a paralysis element in here for? Kinda counterproductive, ze."

"Oh. That." Alice pointed at a symbol in the top-right corner. "Well, this friction element kept interfering with the fear element I had over here, this euphoria element, and this acceleration element. I needed something to ground it out."

"Uh-huh. And you put in a friction element why?"

Alice's shoulders slumped. "So the buoyancy element would stop clashing with the-"

"Yeah, I get the picture." Shaking her head, Marisa went over to Alice's shelves and pulled down a grounding rod and a claw of silence. "There's your problem right there. You've got too many godsdamned elements, and they're all cancelling each other out. The whole thing's a wreck. We need to scrub it out and start over from scratch."

Alice had suspected as much, though it galled her to admit it. "All right," she said, squishing the impulse to defend her work. Grabbing another claw of silence, the two magicians set to work, carefully scratching out each individual element and using the grounding rod to absorb the released energies.

"So," Alice said as they worked. "How are things?"

Marisa shot her a surprised look. "Eh?"

"We haven't really spoken for weeks." Alice favored her with a sidelong smirk."Surely you must've occupied your time with more than pining after yours truly."

She meant the comment as a joke, but while Marisa normally had no reservations about jumping all over the chance to flirt shamelessly with one of her friends, today she seemed to be embarrassed by the implication, maybe even a little annoyed. "I, uh, okay I guess," she mumbled as she scrubbed her claw of silence over another defective element.

Alice frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No."

A lie, of course. That Marisa had picked up that bad habit from her mentor nobody would deny. She was usually better at it though. "Well, if you say so," Alice said with a nonchalant shrug. Sooner or later, the desire to complain would override her prideful stubbornness. There was no sense in pushing it.

She didn't have to wait long. "It's just so damned frustrating," Marisa growled at last.

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

With a sigh, Marisa set aside her claw and sat back onto her haunches. "You know how after I got my ass arrested, all my junk got carted off?"

"You mean your horde of stolen goods that needed to be returned to its rightful owners?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Point is, they didn't really leave me with much, so I had to start over rebuilding my stock from scratch, ze."

Alice shrugged. "That doesn't sound so bad. If anything, I'd think you would appreciate returning to fundamentals."

"Nah, that part's actually okay," Marisa said, gesturing with her claw. "The annoying part is where, even though she said she'd be happy to give me hand with that, Mima threw a hissy fit yesterday and took off, I know not where. Haven't seen her since." Her face darkened into a scowl.

"Oh," Alice said. Given their argument they had the day before concerning Marisa's troubling relationship with the ghost, she knew that she'd better choose her words carefully. "That sounds…harsh."

"I know, right? All I asked was for her to-" Marisa blinked, and quickly cut herself off. Sulking, she returned to scrubbing. "Oh, never mind."

Alice wondered if she should inquire further into the part that Marisa was obviously leaving out, but decided against it. Marisa's stubbornness only increased when prodded, and she could make a few guesses on her own. Marisa had asked Mima to tone down her usual behavior, and the ghost had taken offense. "I…see."

"Yeah, it's a bitch." Marisa shot Alice a quick glare out of the corner of her eye. "And say one word about how it's probably all for the best, and I'm outta here."

"I wasn't going to," Alice said honestly.

"Yeah, but you were thinking it." Marisa sighed. "I dunno. Why do people gotta be so freaking complicated? I mean, it's not like I give a damn how people live their lives, so why'd they gotta give me grief when I hang out with someone they don't like, ze?"

Well, that at least confirmed that Marisa's problems with Mima were directly related to Alice. "Well, speaking as one of those people who recently gave you grief…"

"Then you tell me. I'm trying to understand here. Why's it such a big deal? Yeah, I know. Bad influences and whatnot. But why's Mima also gotta get on my case?"

Sighing, Alice set her own claw of silence aside. "Well, I can't claim to understand anything she does, but may I point something out?" When Marisa nodded, Alice said, "Marisa, you were raised by Madam Mima but befriended the Hakurei shrine maiden. You've gained notoriety as a one of Gensokyo's most active criminals but are also one of its stalwart protectors. You've made friends and gained enemies from just about every side imaginable. You can't expect to walk that line without running into some sort of clash here and there."

Marisa frowned. "But that's stupid! Everyone knows I don't care about sides. So why do they care?"

At first, Alice was a bit perplexed by Marisa's naiveté. Normally, the young witch was a bit more savvy when it came to human nature. But then she figured that Marisa was just upset and was acting disingenuous as an excuse to rant. "That's just the way people are, Marisa. People don't like each other. And they don't like it when the people they like spend time with the people they don't like."

"Yeah? Well, that sucks," Marisa groused. Picking up her tools again, she went back to work.

Alice did the same. "Maybe. People are complicated creatures. But remember that just because two people might disagree and argue, that doesn't mean…" Then she realized what she was doing and sighed.

Marisa noticed. "What?"

Shrugging, Alice said, "I just realized that I was sort of defending Mima."

The look Marisa shot her then could be described a number of ways, none of them positive. Alice returned the look. "I already explained my feelings on that subject. I'm not going to apologize for them."

"Yeah, if you wanna be a dick about it," Marisa growled. "Forget it. Let's just work on straightening out this clusterfuck you've made."

All in all, Marisa's triumphant return to the Margatroid home was far more uncomfortable than either one would have cared for.

…

Inside turned out to be a small room in one of the Palace of Earth Spirits' towers, bare save for a plain, wooden table and a few chairs. Far from the most appropriate meeting place for persons of such distinction, but it was secluded and not easily eavesdropped upon. The castle's opulent banquet hall would be more fitting, yet, but there were far too many places for unseen eyes to hide.

The four women each took a place around the table, with Koishi and Sunshu facing one another. Or rather, Sunshu was facing Koishi, while the damaged Satori was slumped over the tabletop, her face buried in her arms. The oni across from her was frowning, though it was now less from anger and more from trepidation and uneasiness. In sharp contrast to her bold, confrontational manner from before, she now seemed to be at a loss of how to proceed.

Well, someone had to open things up. "You are the younger sister," Kanako said. It was a disingenuous question of course, but she still had to pretend that she and Koishi had never met, lest Sunshu realize that she had been conned. The fact that Koishi had led them straight to this room only raised her suspicion that something else was going on, as did the fact that they had yet to encounter any of the many animal youkai that lived in the palace.

For her part, if Koishi was up to something, she certainly didn't show it. She just sniffled and stammered out, "Y-yes."

Shifting in her seat, Sunshu rumbled, "I thought that you had crippled your mind, or whatever it is that happens when you Satori close that damned thing."

"Yes, for a while," Koishi said, straightening up. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. "But I've been…mending. Getting help."

Exchanging a glance with Byakuren, Kanako quickly redirected the conversation. "Can you tell us what happened to your sister?"

Taking in a shuddering breath, Koishi said, "I got back in contact with her last winter, once I could…think again. We've been exchanging letters, and would even meet at times. There's this…this little path in the Autumnal Forest we liked to visit. It had this really good seafood stand that-" Sunshu cleared her impatiently cleared her throat. Koishi blinked, shook her head, and started over. "But anyway, after…after all those monsters started turning up and scaring people, she got real worried that they would come here, to the Underworld. 'Satori,' I said. 'The Underworld's real deep. They would have to dig real far to get there.' 'Koishi,' she says. 'That's never stopped anyone.' 'Satori,' I told her. 'Our people are real tough. If any of those monsters showed up, we would just drive them off!'"

"Well," Sunshu allowed."That's…not wrong."

"Right! But that's why she was worried! She, she said that one of them apparently eats people and takes their powers! So if she snuck into the Underworld all stealthy-like and ate some people, she'd get so strong that no one would be able to stop her!"

Despite the severity of the subject matter, Sunshu looked flattered. "Well, that is an understandable fear…"

"Right!" Koishi agreed."But I thought it was okay! 'Satori,' I said. 'Everyone's out looking for this thing! They'll find it soon!' 'Koishi,' she said. 'There still is-'"

Kanako cut in."No need for a script. Just tell us what happened."

"Er, right," Koishi said, wilting a bit. She looked back and forth to the three staring faces, and seemed to lose her train of thought. "Okay. Uh. What part?"

"Yuuka Kazami," Byakuren said.

Koishi brightened. "Right! So yeah, she showed up and started hurting people for fun, we got scared that people would start focusing on her instead of the other monster, letting it sneak around and eat whoever it wanted!"

"And?" Sunshu pressed.

"It was…a mistake," Koishi said, her voice falling to a near-whisper. She swallowed."First Yuuka smiled at her. Then she laughed at her. Then…" A small sob broke in. Grimacing, she closed her eyes and forced the rest out. "She took her. I barely escaped."

Silence fell. Sunshu sat as still as a slab of stone, staring at the distraught Satori. Kanako exchanged glances with Byakuren, enough to confirm that the magician was as bewildered by this fervently recited and yet blatantly false account. "When was this?" she said at last.

"About five weeks ago," Koishi whispered.

Sunshu finally moved. Leaning over the table, she clasped her hands on the tabletop and said, "Who else knew of this?"

Koishi shook her head."I didn't tell anyone. I thought if people found out, it would make Satori look weak. I couldn't take that chance. So I…"

"Took on her role?" Kanako said.

Koishi nodded. "I bought every glamour I could get my hands on. I forged letters in her name. I thought I knew her well enough to impersonate her long enough to rescue her."

"Rescue her?" Sunshu said, her right eyebrow rising.

Tears formed anew in Koishi's already wet eyes."I tried, but I couldn't get in! So I said to myself, 'Koishi, her pets can help! They'll be able to get in!' But when I came here, everything was such a mess! I didn't know what to do! I thought I could say some words to get everyone to back off, but…but…" She covered her face again and started weeping.

Sunshu leaned back, one hand still on the table. "You've been hiding this the whole time."

"She's my sister," Koishi said. "I had to do something."

"Yes," Sunshu said gravely."Yes, she is." She looked from youkai to monk to goddess. Then she took a deep breath. "So. Yuuka Kazami has her. That's the reason for her absence. Satori Komejii is imprisoned."

Byakuren spoke. "It does seem to-"

Then Sunshu slammed her fist into the table that it broke in half.

"No!" The oni roared."This will not stand! An attack on one of us is an attack on us all! That outsider…" She glanced to Kanako. "She is, what, a…flower youkai?"

Though still a little rattled by the sudden change in pace, Kanako managed to find her tongue and say, "So it seems."

Sunshu looked disgusted. "A filthy, disgusting Sun Lover…" Then, realizing whose company she was in, she cleared her throat and quickly amended, "No offense, ladies. Force of habit…But she has taken our beloved leader! And during a parlay no less! She has broken every rule of hospitality with this! No, I cannot allow this to stand." Sunshu leapt to her feet and swatted the chair against the wall, where it shattered into splinters. "She will face the full wrath of-"

Kanako rose up as well."Lady Mayor, while your outrage is well-earned, I must ask that you stay your wrath for the time being."

Sunshu stared at Kanako as if she had suddenly grown a new head."What?"

"As you said, an attack on one of us is an attack on us all," Kanako said solemnly."And Yuuka Kazami has done considerable damage to my territories and even my person. You would not wish to rob the rest of us of our vengeance as well, would you?"

Sunshu frowned. "No, I suppose not…"

"So give us time to prepare our strength and gather others who thirst for vengeance as well, for they must be numerous. After all, she had insulted and profaned the very country that gave her sanctuary. This cannot go answered, nor should one voice stand alone against her." Clenching her fingers into a fist, she held it high."We must stand united, and show her the penalty for her actions."

"Yes…yes…" Sunshu said, nodding. "All of us together. Against a common foe."

"In the meantime though, your people must be told of your brave leader's plight," Kanako continued. "Satori languishes in this monster's clutches for trying to defend her home, and her bloodkin have suffered greatly. Her people need to know."

"And know they shall!" Sunshu declared."Word shall spread far and deep through the Underworld, and with one voice we shall condemn this act of treachery and make ready to right this great wrong. In blood!"

With that, Sunshu spun around and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her. The hinges shattered and it fell from its frame to land flat on the ground.

Byakuren, who had not so much as moved ever since the situation had started to deteriorate, took that moment to clear her throat and ask, "Would someone please tell me what exactly just happened?"

In answer, Kanako pointed at Koishi. In contrast to how she was before, the Satori's eyes were now dry and she was no longer crying. In fact, her mouth was now stretched in a wide grin. An unsettlingly wide grin. Her shoulder shook as she snickered.

"You…planned this?" Kanako asked.

"Wait, weren't you in on this?" Byakuren asked, sounding even more confused.

"Of course not. I'm just quick to adapt." Her eyes narrowed, as did her pupils, becoming distinctly serpent-like. "So, mind explaining to me exactly what I just adapted to? Because that wasn't at all what was supposed to happen."

Slouching back with one arm flung over the back her chair in a rather celebratory manner, Koishi said, "It worked."

"Worked what?" Byakuren wanted to know. "That wasn't the plan."

Koishi shrugged. "Eh, old plan was dumb. Wouldn't have worked. I came up with a new one."

"When?" Kanako pressed.

"About an hour after Yukari came to my room and told me what she wanted me to do," Koishi answered. She shrugged again."Like I said, it was dumb. Too many dumb lies."

Byakuren blinked."Koishi, I'm not arguing with that, but what you offered was hardly better!"

"Well," Koishi said, looking meaningfully at the monk."I wasn't trying to convince you."

Kanako got it then. "You were trying to convince an oni."

"Yeah, oni are funny," Koishi said with a light giggle."They get mad at people easily and would club their own mothers over the head if they were in a bad mood. But if someone from up above hurts one of their neighbors…Well, they don't look at it too closely. Plus, they're kind of obsessed with things like strength and honor and not looking bad, so it's pathetically easy to screw with them."

"And the rest?"

Koishi flicked her fingers in a dismissive gesture. "Eh, same deal. Underworlders don't really like being messed with by you guys. Give it a day, two at most, and I guarantee that everyone will be toasting Satori's name and-"

At that moment, a tear rent itself through the air that filled the doorframe, and Yukari Yakumo finally made her entrance.

The elder youkai was irate, though one could be forgiven for not noticing. In Yukari's case, extreme anger tended to increase her composure, preciseness, and politeness while rendering her capable of doing absolutely anything. Kanako hadn't known her as long as Byakuren or even Reimu, but even she could feel the cold rage emitting from Gensokyo's founder, and found it to be rather terrifying. However, the face that Yukari's face, hair, and shoulders were now covered with some kind of white powder, making her look like an especially peeved ghost, was equally noticeable, and quite a bit baffling.

"And describing the horrible terrors they will be visit upon Yuuka Kazami vivid detail," Yukari finished for Koishi."Each trying to one-up the other, until by the end the whole city will have armed themselves with their sharpest of tools and hottest of fires and be marching on the Garden of the Sun with a song on their lips and wrath in their hearts." Her golden eyes narrowed."But of course, that was the whole point of that bit of theater, wasn't it, Koishi?"

For her part, Koishi didn't seem at all bothered by the elder youkai's ire. Rather than back down, she grinned widenly and responded with a cheery, "Yup!"

Yukari reached up and wiped a good portion of the white powder from her face. "And I suppose I have you to thank for that sedative-loaded flour bomb?"

"Yup!

"Sedative-loaded flour bomb?" Kanako asked. She almost regretted repeating the phrase, but it was honestly not one she had ever expected to encounter that she had to have some sort of clarification.

Koishi shrugged."I knew she was probably going to bring everything crashing down once I started doing things right, so…"

"I see," Yukari said. Her voice was eerily calm."You…do recall that the purpose of this was to repair Satori's damaged reputation and allow her to quietly resume her role or retire upon her rescue, depending on her preference, yes?"

Byakuren touched her shoulder. "Yukari, I think that-"

Koishi's jovialness suddenly vanished, to be replaced with an icy demeanor to rival Yukari's own. "Your way would've made her look weak and pathetic. Underworlders accept friendly help when offered." Her own eyes narrowed to slits."We don't beg for it."

"You might have discussed that with me," Yukari pointed out. She pulled her shoulder away from Byakuren's hand. "We could have made alterations to accommodate these people's temperaments."

"Yeah."

"Instead, you decided to turn Satori into a martyr. A martyr for what is indisputably the single most passionate and hotheaded society in all of Gensokyo. One known possessing great confidence in their strength and love for battle." Yukari's left hand developed a slight twitch, the only outward indication of the rage surging through her. "And you went and pointed them at Yuuka Kazami."

Instead of answer Yukari's accusation, Koishi instead went for the offensive. "Why is she still alive?" she demanded.

Yukari's hand squeezed into a fist. "That has nothing to do-"

"She hurt my sister. Why is she still alive? Is she just too tough for you, or did she buy you off?"

All expression left Yukari's face, and her body went completely still. Kanako sucked in a sharp breath. This wasn't good. She knew that Yukari was capable of quite a lot when pushed too far, and did not want to see how far that went.

She was about to move to intervene, but in the time it had taken her to reach the decision to act, Byakuren was already moving. She placed her directly between Yukari and Koishi, spread her arms, locked eyes with Yukari, and said, "No."

Yukari returned the gaze, unblinking. She said nothing.

"Don't do it, Yukari," Byakuren said. "It'll just make things worse."

Kanako cleared her throat. "I have to agree. Killing Koishi will just-"

Koishi suddenly jerked up, her face gone white. "What? Kill?"

Yukari lifted a hand, index finger outstretched.

"Yukari, no!" Byakuren seized Yukari's hand and wrestled it down. There was a loud bang, and a small crater appeared in the floor directly where Yukari's finger was now pointing.

Her heart leaping into her throat, Kanako rushed over to the dumbfounded Satori and grabbed her by the arm. "Meeting's over, we're going," she said, practically hauling Koishi out of her chair.

Taking her through the door would require going past Yukari, so instead she pointed a hand at the stained-glass window that had sat behind Koishi's chair. There was a flash of light, and the window crumbled into dust. A thought, and the glass grains fused themselves to the floor. Kanako had long learned how dangerous glass dust could be.

"Kill me?" Koishi said, sounding like she was in a daze. Behind them, Byakuren continued to try to back Yukari down, both through physical effort and persuasion. "For real? She's trying to kill me?"

"She won't, but we need to go," Kanako said reassuringly as she maneuvered her toward the hole. It wasn't a complete truth. The odds of Koishi living through the next few minutes were extremely slight, but Kanako was going to at least try.

Then the melted glass suddenly detached from the ground. Flying up, the fragments reassembled themselves, forming a new window. Kanako and Koishi froze in their tracks.

"Sit down," Yukari intoned, her voice colder than the Shadow Youkai's touch. She turned her head toward Byakuren, who was still holding tightly to her hand. "You can let go of me now."

Nobody moved.

Closing her eyes, Yukari inhaled deeply through her nose. When she exhaled, some of the tension seemed to leave her. At least, her shoulders relaxed a little. "Everyone. Sit down please."

Byakuren and Kanako exchanged uncertain glances, but they did as they were told. Koishi still seemed stunned, but she allowed herself to be led back to her seat. Yukari stayed standing.

Oddly enough, it was Koishi who spoke first. "You tried to kill me." The way she said it didn't sound like an accusation. Rather, she sounded like a scared child, asking to know why her mother had struck her.

Yukari, it should be noted, was not moved. "Drop the act," she said. "You're not fooling anyone."

Koishi stared up at her, eyes wide with fear. And then her mouth twitched, and she relaxed into her chair. "Worth a shot," she said with a shrug.

"Perhaps." Steepling her fingers, Yukari tapped her fingertips against her lower lip. "Though I'm curious: now that your bluff has been called, what exactly is going to stop me from killing you now?"

Koishi let out a small laugh that sent chills down Kanako's spine. "Go ahead," the Satori said. "But you gotta kill Yuuka first. Them's the rules."

"Is that right?" Yukari snapped her fingers. From around the room, the splintered fragments of the chair Sunshu had destroyed first twitched, and then leapt together to form their original shape, just as the window had. Sitting down, Yukari said, "You seem to be laboring a few false impressions, the first being that your death is a goal of mine and the second is that even if it was, that I would need your permission to carry it out." Her eyes narrowed. "Yes, I was about to kill you, and if it weren't for the realization that doing so could cause greater long-term harm, you would be a pile of ash right now. You just mobilized an entire city and tried to send them into Yuuka Kazami's jaws. If it weren't for Kanako's quick thinking, they would be marching on the Garden of the Sun this minute, so I trust you'd understand why I now consider you a dangerous liability."

"Yuuka's more dangerous. Kill her, no one to send the mob after. Problem solved."

"Koishi," Byakuren started to say, but Yukari cut her off.

"You stupid, stupid girl," the elder youkai hissed. "Yuuka has Rin Satsuki! Rin Satsuki possesses the power of the Shadow Youkai! If Yuuka is successful in turning her, which I should point out is one of her specialties, then she will slaughter everyone that sets foot in the Garden! You just tried to send your own people into a charnel house! What is more, you may have succeeded!"

Koishi matched her glare for glare. "She should be dead. It's been weeks, and she's not dead."

"She has hostages, you imbecile," Yukari responded. The volume of her voice remained steady, but the venom was there."Your sister included. Do you really think that she will not hesitate to hurt your sister as leverage? Or end her life? Because I assure you, she is as capable of killing a youkai as I am."

"Then kill her first."

"I…" Yukari's eyes closed, and her lips curled back from her teeth. Her right hand started shaking, forcing her to squeeze it into a tight fist. The air pressure in the room grew, and for a second, Kanako was afraid that she was going to try to end Koishi's life again. Only this time, she had no idea how she was to prevent it, save for attacking Yukari herself. And Kanako had dim views on suicide.

And then Yukari huffed out a small sigh. Normally this would be an unimportant reaction, one barely noticeable at all, but at the same time the breath escaped her lips, a wave of cracks suddenly shot outward across the ground outward from her chair to crawl halfway up the walls. Kanako's head jerked back in surprise, and she opened her mouth to comment on the unexpected energy release, but then she saw Byakuren emphatically shaking her head at the goddess and slashing her hand in front of her throat. Deciding to defer to the one with greater experience, Kanako kept her mouth shut.

When Yukari spoke, much of the anger had gone from her voice. Instead, she just sounded tired. "We'll…discuss this…at a later time. Kanako?

Startled at being addressed, Kanako jerked up. "Yes?"

"Thank you for buying us some time. I'll touch base again with you by the end of the day. Koishi?"

Koishi perked up."Yup?"

"Might it be too much to ask that you refrain from indulging in your revenge-fueled bloodlust until a time in which a workable solution to your sister's predicament can be found?"

"I gave you a workable solution," Koishi said cheerfully."Kill Yuuka."

…

Letting the door slam shut behind her, Marisa shuffled into the main room of her small house. With a weary sigh, she removed her hat and tossed it onto a nearby table.

"Freaking Alice," she mumbled as she collapsed back into a chair. Massaging her brow, she claimed, "Seriously, how the hell did she expected that damned thing to work? Girl's gotta overcomplicate everything."

"Too sure," Mima solemnly agreed. "Unnecessary complication has been the bane of many a magician. It's such a shame that the value of simplicity is so often overlooked."

Letting out a yelp, Marisa jolted upright, her hand clutching at her chest. "Godsdamnit, Mima! You about fucking gave me a heart attack, ze!"

"No, I didn't," Mima retorted. The ghost was hovering in the corner near the bed, just out of the sight of anyone entering the house. "Your heartrate increase is nowhere near in danger of causing cardiac arrest."

"Quit it, you know what I mean." Eyeing her mentor suspiciously, Marisa sat back into her chair. "When did you get here?"

"Oh, a while ago. Be waiting for you."

"Bullshit, I woulda sensed you."

Mima's lips lifted in a smirk. "Touché. All right, I arrived just after you did, but in time to overhear your lamentations."

"Uh-huh. You were watching my house then?"

"If I say 'no,' would you believe me?"

"Fuck no."

"Then why bother asking? Though if it comes at comfort, I was simply keeping half-an-eye on the place while I went about my day. Obsessively watching any one place cuts into time that can be spent on more productive matters." With that said, Mima floated over to the busy herself at Marisa's workstation. Marisa's eyes tracked her warily.

"You left in kind of a hurry yesterday," the young witch remarked.

"It was you that made it clear that my presence was unwelcome," Mima responded without looking at her.

"Only while Alice was around. You didn't show up at all after."

This time, Mima did turn enough to shoot her former apprentice a somewhat annoyed glance. "Marisa, to you I am many things: I am your teacher, I am your ally, I am something of a parental figure, but above all, I am your friend." She turned back to the table. "What I am not is your genie in a bottle. As it was abundantly clear that you were going to spend the rest of the day preoccupied with your lover's spat, I felt that my time would be better spent elsewhere."

Heat blossomed all over Marisa's face. Even after all these years, Mima remained one of the very few people that could bruise her ego. "I…uh…hey…Godsdamnit, she's not my lover already!"

"Mmmm-hmmm," was Mima's only reply.

"I'm serious! She's just my friend, okay? I'm allowed to have them!"

"Mmmm…hmmm…"

"Knock it off! Hell, Alice doesn't even like girls!"

"Perhaps," Mima said calmly. "But that doesn't change the fact that you want to get under her skirt."

"No!" Marisa shouted. "No, I…Well, maybe a little, but damn it, it's me! I want to get into everyone's skirts or pants or whatever! That doesn't mean I'm gonna make an issue about it!"

"Oh?" Mima favored her with a knowing smirk. "And yet, you do make an issue about it with virtually everyone you're friendly with. Except Alice. You constantly drop flirtatious remarks and sexual innuendos into just about every casual conversation you have. Unless it is with Alice. And let's not forget the fact that you also have some sort of cute, if slightly condescending, nickname for just about everyone you're even aware of. Except for Alice. Now, what does that tell you?"

Marisa's face was now bright pink with equal measures of chagrin and anger. "Th-that doesn't mean any…Gods-fucking-damn, that is literally none of your fucking business, Mima!"

"Oh, I know," Mima replied, unfazed by her protégé's unusually disrespectful outburst. "Simply making an observation." Marisa opened her mouth to start yelling again, but Mima didn't let her get a word in edgewise. "Anyway, if you're so curious about my comings and goings, yesterday I was visiting one of my suppliers."

Marisa's resentfulness suddenly found itself overpowered by a sudden burst of curiosity, not to mention no small amount of relief at the change of subject. "Supplier? Which, uh, which one?"

"One that you've never met, and will not for a long time to come," Mima answered primly. "Thought there's no harm in showing you what they managed to procure for me. In fact, I think you will find it to be of use."

From her sleeve, she extracted a brick of transparent crystal. Interested, Marisa got out of her chair and moved closer to see. "What is it?" she asked, peering inside.

"Can't you tell?"

Irritated, Marisa rolled her wrist in an impatient manner. "Parisdium, duh. I mean what's inside it, ze?"

Parisdium was a substance used by magicians primarily for containing hazardous materials. It functioned much the same way lead shielding did to radiation, only far more effectively. Normally only a paper-thin coating was needed. If something required an entire brick's worth to be crafted over it, then the toxic energies it gave off must border on the wacky side of ridiculous.

In other words, one of Mima's standard tools.

The problem was that Marisa couldn't see anything inside. As far as she could tell, it was an empty block. Not that she believed for a second that it contained nothing. Parisdiumwas a very common material, so there would be no reason for Mima to go to great lengths to procure any, nor would she need to show it off. That meant whatever was inside was either invisible or very small. Marisa was banking on the latter.

"As, that's the thing," Mima beamed. "Take another look."

She titled the brick from side to side. Frowning, Marisa leaned in closer. Come to think of it, she could just make out a tiny black dot contained in the brick's center.

"Okay," she said. "Looks like you got a speck of dust in there."

"I do."

Marisa nodded. In their profession, size mattered not at all. "Okay. Of what?"

"You can't tell?" Mima sounded disappointed.

Sighing, Marisa straightened up. "Mima, it's in a whole freaking brick of parisdium. Of course I can't tell!"

"Good point," Mima admitted. "But I assure you, an entire brick was necessary. This is mordite."

Marisa's legs almost gave way out from under her, and she had to grab onto the edge of the workstation to keep from falling over. "M-M-Mordite?" she choked out. "You went and bought some mordite?"

"Yes."

No wonder so much parisium had been used. Mordite, otherwise (and appropriately) known as deathstone, was a mineral that did not come from Gensokyo. Nor was it to be found in the Outside World. In fact, it was completely alien to the whole of the mortal realm. Hailing from a different dimension entirely, it did exactly as its name suggested and killed. Even that tiny speck would end a mortal's life at a touch and, if uncontained, simply being in the same room as it would literally drain away someone's life, bit by bit. Despite all the dark, dangerous and sometimes outright evil materials Marisa had worked with, mordite was not one she had been tempted to touch. It was just too risky. Plus, it was incredibly expensive, but that argument didn't exactly sound noble.

"I, uh, what?" Marisa stammered. "Mas…Mima, what did'ja go and get mordite for?"

"For you," Mima said. "I believe you will find it…indispensable. You know, considering."

Marisa stared at her. "Uh, Mima? I appreciate the thought and all, but if keeping me alive is your goal, then bringing a piece of deathstone is kinda counter-productive, you know what I'm saying?"

That made Mima laugh. "Oh, I am aware of the risks. But given the circumstance, not having something as lethal as deathstone at hand might prove even more fatal."

"Explain."

Mima sighed. "Marisa, I hate to distract your mind such pressing matters as your rocky social life, but you do remember that Yuuka Kazami is still very much alive, and still bears a sizeable grudge against you, correct?"

Well, that much was true. She had after all taken away a fourth of the lunatic's soul, and the way the Strutter had kept focusing its attention on her indicated that Yuuka wasn't one to forgive and forget. "Yeah, okay. So, what, you're thinking we need to assassinate her or something?"

"Oh, it will probably come to that," Mima said cheerfully, as she always did when the subject covertly ending someone's life came up. "But assassinating an Outer God, no matter how reduced she might be, in her own demesne is no mean task, and the execution of such would no doubt prove to be quite lengthy. In the meantime, taking vengeance upon a single mortal girl, no matter how skilled she might be, is…considerably less complicated."

Ouch. That was a blow to the old ego. But it didn't make it any less true. "So, you want me to have a speck of mordite on hand if she shows up? Er, that's nice and all, but how the hell am I supposed to use it? I mean, does it come with a slingshot or something?"

"Goodness, no. I'm not suggesting that you keep it around in its raw form; that would be suicidal. But with a piece this small, it is possible to use it as a means of augmentation, to use it to enhance one of your weapons while dilating the nasty side effects."

Marisa frowned. "Wait, there are ways to work with mordite? I never read anything about that."

"Well, it isn't something you'd find in your standard tome," Mima admitted. "Or…any tome, actually. At least none that hasn't been destroyed or locked away some place very hard to get to." Then she grinned, showing her perfect teeth. "But that's one of the many wonderful things about being me, in that I've had the opportunity to read many of those sorts of texts before they were rendered unavailable, as well as learn a thing or two that has never been committed to paper."

Marisa considered. It was true, Yuuka still had a score to settle with her, and while flattering, it was not a predicament to be taken lightly. The last time, it had taken her, Mima, Yuyuko, and Youmu all working together at the height of their abilities to bring her down, and they had only been dealing with a fourth of her. The next time, she might be against the other three, with no guarantee of backup and no advance preparation time. If that happened, having a mordite infused failsafe might be the edge she needed to survive.

On the other hand, she had just spent the last few days trying to convince Alice that she wasn't a black sorceress in the making, and mordite was about as dark as one could get. Okay, so the Receptacle was pretty bad, but at least it was of the mortal world, and the whole reasons Marisa was working on it was to break down its nefarious nature. She would have no such luck with mordite. Even diluting its effects was a risk, and doing so required her to work directly with it. Even setting aside the danger of accidental sudden death, playing with something that alien and malicious ran the risk of scarring her soul. Studying and dissecting was one thing. Still dangerous, but it wasn't the same as actually using it. That sort of thing left its mark.

Marisa had the feeling that she was being tested. She knew that Mima was annoyed about how Marisa had backpedaled from her darker projects to accommodate Alice's feelings. Now she was presenting Marisa with a project as dark as any she had ever worked on, but one that just might be necessary for her survival.

But if she accepted, then what? She was dancing pretty close to the edge as it was. What if the next time she was in danger, she would need to use something even worse? Black magic had a price, and using too much could leave someone irreversibly corrupted. Marisa had always told herself that she would never go so far as to actually hurt someone else to get her magic to work, but then again, she had never thought she would willingly end up working with mordite either.

"Well?" Mima said, giving the block an impatient jiggle.

Marisa hesitated. Then, with lingering reluctance, she took the mordite.

…

Byakuren found her world's creator in her private solar.

Yukari was lying on Byakuren's table, hands folded on her stomach, eyes staring unblinking at the ceiling. No lights were on, and if it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest as she took in and exhaled slow, steady breaths, she might have had a ghastly resemblance to a corpse on a mortician's autopsy table. Her gaze barely flickered as Byakuren entered the room.

The monk paused for a moment by the door, and then with a resigned sigh, went over to sit down in her chair. "You know, it's considered polite to announce one's self before entering another's home."

Yukari said nothing in reply. She didn't even move.

"You didn't bring any alcohol with you, did you?"

This time, she got a response. Yukari let out a hissing laugh, only for it to dissolve into a fit of wheezing. "Plenty," she choked out between coughs. "Only it's all internal."

Byakuren had no trouble believing that. She could smell it on Yukari's breath. "Koishi is-"

"I know," Yukari groaned as she got her breathing under control. "The little sociopath nearly wipes out an entire city by proxy, and gets to stay in her sister's snug little castle." She lifted a hand to her forehead and left it there, palm upward. "Gods above and below, we should've at least fitted her with a muzzle."

Byakuren closed her eyes. "Removing Koishi-"

"I know! Gods, why do you think she's still alive?" She waved a finger in the air, as if indicating written points on the ceiling. "Removing her would kick those damned pets into revolt, necessitating having to silence them. And as having them and the harebrained girl disappear so suddenly after Satori's plight was brought to light will either send them all rushing towards the Garden of the Sun immediately or blow our little conspiracy right open, to say nothing of the godsdamned nuclear reactor sitting in the middle of the whole thing. I know! I get it! That doesn't mean I don't want to rip the little creep's face off and wear it as a hat." With a sigh, she let her hand flop back down. "Okay, go ahead."

Byakuren frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Using Koishi was a tremendous mistake. You told me that. Say 'I told you so.' I know you want to. Hell, I would."

"I…" That was one of the most difficult parts of dealing with Yukari, in that she was often so right and yet so completely wrong as well. "What exactly would that help?"

"Absolutely nothing, except maybe it's something I need to hear." Yukari waited, but when Byakuren didn't take the bait, she shot the monk an amused sidelong look and chuckled. "Well, you told me so. There. I said it. And now things are worse."

Byakuren hesitated for a moment, and then said, "She…she is a mentally and emotionally damaged-"

"Oh, please," Yukari snorted. "That wasn't the action of a raving lunatic. That was a carefully planned and cunningly executed play for revenge. If I didn't know better, I'd say it came right out of Mima's handbook."

Well, that wasn't untrue, but still… "She was still mentally and emotionally damaged when you came to her and told that her sister had been kidnapped and was probably being tortured," Byakuren pointed out. "Even a perfectly sane person would want to take revenge."

Yukari's nose wrinkled. "So what, you're saying my restoration of her reasoning facilities merely enabled the unsound whims of a traumatized mind?"

"In so many words, yes."

"Hurm." Shaking her head, Yukari maneuvered herself off the table and all but collapsed in the chair across from Byakuren. "Well, you may have a point there. A pity. I just thought…" With yet another sigh, she slumped back, her thought unfinished.

Byakuren, who had known Yukari for a very long time, finished it for her. "You thought that she would trust you."

"Yes," Yukari admitted.

Byakuren had known Yukari for a long, long time, longer than many families lasted. And while they disagreed on a great many subjects, they were consistently on the same side, and enough respect had grown between the two women that Byakuren was among the elder youkai's very few confidantes. This was not the first crisis to drive Yukari to show up drunk and upset on Byakuren's doorstep in search of an attentive ear and a steady mind. As such, Byakuren was one of the even fewer number of people that Yukari accepted criticism from. A dubious honor to be sure, and it meant that whenever the monk found herself needing to offer her counsel, she had to choose her words with care.

"Yukari," she said, speaking slowly and with precision. "Might I suggest that, in light of…recent events, Koishi is not the only person to have her decisions influenced by heavy traumas?"

Yukari's face went cold. "You're suggesting that the spiritual mauling I received while battling Yuuka has negatively impacted my objectivity and reasoning facilities."

"Your soul was maimed, Yukari. And you have yet to fully recover. That sort of thing has consequences."

"If I were as erratic as you suggest, both Koishi and Remilia Scarlet would be dead now. And you, Reimu, and Kanako would be sharing a very small cell."

Byakuren took a deep breath. These were dangerous waters. "I know that," she said, holding up a hand. "I'm not suggesting that you've divorced yourself from logic and reasoned thought, simply that…perhaps you're taking too much on yourself. Considering the circumstances, even you cannot be expected to handle so much on your own without making mistakes."

Yukari frowned.

Seeing that she was getting through to her, Byakuren pressed on. "Yukari, we've been friends for a long time. I know how difficult it is for you to trust others, but if you possess a fraction of the respect you claim to have for my opinion, then please listen to me now. This is too much for you to take on your own, and we would be infinitely more useful as allies than game pieces. Please allows us to help."

Grimacing, Yukari looked away. "You…might have a point. It's just, you know, ever since the Magician's War…"

Byakuren refrained from adding And Minerva. It seemed the courteous thing to do.

They sat in silence for a time, with Yukari scowling down at the table and Byakuren waiting for her answer. The monk could practically see the wheels turning inside Yukari's head, even with the considerable amount of alcohol greasing up the works.

Then, at last, Yukari stirred. "Fuck it," she said. "You're right. I put this off for far too long."

Frowning, Byakuren quizzically tilted her head to one side. "Put what off?"

"Calling in the others."

"Others? You mean the other Ringleaders?"

Yukari smirked mirthlessly. "Some of them. The competent ones at least. Your little conspiracy, plus a few others."

Byakuren nodded. "Concerning the Rin Satsuki situation then?"

"Yes, that. And the Shadow Youkai situation. And the Flandre Scarlet situation." Yukari's smile thinned out. Byakuren didn't much care for the look of it. "But mostly the Yuuka Kazami situation. She is the lynchpin, after all."

"Ah." Byakuren, who had seen that smile before, wasn't sure if she cared for where this conversation was going. "I…take it you have a proposal to bring to the table?"

"You could say that," Yukari said as she stood up. "Like it or not, Koishi's just accelerated our timetable, and we need to get Yuuka's hostages away from her." She sighed. "And in all likelihood, we may have to cave in to Koishi's demands."

Byakuren grimaced. That was what she had been afraid of. "Yukari…that would be war."

Yukari held up a hand. "Don't worry, I'm not jumping straight to assassination. But Koishi may be right about needing to expel Yuuka from Gensokyo, one way or another." With a bitter laugh, she turned from the table and started for the door. "Well, we'll talk about it at least. I just hope someone comes up with some kind of brilliant idea, because I don't think this country will withstand any more of mine."

…

Night had fallen, and Rin had no idea what to do with herself.

She was with Rumia and her friends (it was still too early to consider herself accepted as one of their own) in the room Yuuka had provided for their use. She had to admit, was a very pretty place: fancy furniture, a cool fountain, and lots of flowers. Apparently bedtimes were early in Yuuka's house, as the lights were extinguished and all five members of Cirno's newly reunited gang were tucked away in those reclining couches that Rin couldn't remember the name of.

As for Rin herself, she didn't sleep, so she was left fidgeting in a chair and looking around at the darkened room. She wished she had something to do. Granted, she had spent nine years with nothing save for her own thoughts for company, but lately she had gotten used to having someone to talk to. She had tried reading one of the books that sat on a nearby table, but it turned out to be written in a language that Rin had never even heard of.

It would be easier if she had the freedom to explore the mansion. Despite everything, she still didn't fully trust Yuuka Kazami. She couldn't forget the horrific glimpse she had gotten of their hostess's true self, and would be surprised some sort of terrible secret hidden behind a locked door.

Unfortunately, Yuuka had forbidden them to leave the room until the doors opened in the morning. And while Rin's stolen abilities would make moving about undetected pathetically easy, transitioning into an invisible state was a bit of a problem. According to Rumia's friends, all the plants in the Garden of the Sun were sentient, and reported directly to Yuuka. And they were everywhere. If Rin tried anything, they would tell on her. And so she was stuck.

Sighing, Rin glanced over to the mostly still forms of her companions. None of them were asleep yet, which was understandable, given the day's excitement. Thanks to her augmented hearing, she could make some educated guesses as to their individual emotional states. Mystia was still scared of her, despite the progress they had made. She was on the couch farthest from Rin, her back to the Kirin, with her eyes squeezed shut and her body trembling. That was another hard part about being stuck in this room: being constantly reminded of how much she had hurt these people. She had already tried to come up with something she could say to the night-sparrow to allay her fears, but so far she had come up with absolutely nothing.

Wriggle was restless. The firefly was the most suspiciously minded of the bunch, and was now tossing and turning as she wrestled with dark thoughts of her own, most likely centered around doubts about Rin's intentions. Again, Rin wished that there was something she could say to her, but nothing had come to mind.

Cirno was also restless, but hers was born from excitement. Even in the dark, Rin could see that the fairy wore a huge grin on her face. She was hugging herself and snickering quietly, delighted by her private thoughts. Well, at least one of them wasn't completely put off by Rin's presence.

Out of them all, Daiyousei was the one closest to sleep. She lay on her side, eyes openbut lids starting to droop, a troubled look on her face that was starting to soften. Like Mystia and Wriggle, she was scared and nervous, thought not to the extent of the other two. All the sudden turns of events had left her confused and exhausted, but she was more trusting than most of her friends, so Rin had at least a decent chance of winning her over. She also seemed to be the most grateful by Rumia's return, given that she had been shooting her friend quick glances all evening, as if to reassure herself that Rumia was really there. And as for Rumia…

She wasn't sleeping. In fact, she didn't look like she was even trying. She lay flat on her back, arms extended to either side and hanging over the couch's sides, and eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling. She looked more than a little exasperated.

Glancing quickly at the others, Rin slipped from her chair and stoles as quietly as she could over to Rumia's side. "Hey," she whispered. "You okay?"

Sighing, Rumia rolled over to face her. "Can't sleep," she mumbled. "Weird, huh? I mean, I haven't slept for weeks, so you'd I'd just conk out, right?" She sighed again. "But damn it, I can't even get drowsy."

That worried Rin. "Er, m-maybe you're just still excited," she suggested, hoping that was the reason.

Rumia rubbed her eyes. "Nope. Pretty exhausted here, which is also something I've got to get used to all over again. Like, everything just gets heavier, you know? But that doesn't seem to matter any." With a groan, she scratched at her nose, and then at the back of her neck. "Plus, no matter what, there's always at least one body part that's itching."

"Oh," Rin said. "Well. That sounds…unpleasant."

"Yeah." Rumia shrugged. "I dunno, maybe I'd better call Miss Yuuka. She probably has some kind of plant medicine that can help."

Rin felt very uneasy about that idea. Though she really wasn't one to throw stones when it came to accepting help from Yuuka, she still wanted Rumia to have as little to do with those creepy plants as possible. "Maybe not. She really doesn't like people hurting her plants. I don't think she'd turn them into medicine."

"Oh." Rumia's face fell. Rolling back onto her back, she sighed, "Well, hey, at least when it finally catches to me, I'll have plenty of grass to pass out on."

"Yeah." Rin fidgeted for a bit. She considered just going back to her chair. There really didn't seem to be anything she could do for Rumia.

Then, with a suddenness that surprised her, she found herself blurting out, "Uh, do you want me to sing for you?"

As soon as she realized what she had just said, Rin wincedand slowly covered her embarrassed face with one hand. Where in the world had that come from? Sing for her? Why was it that every time she tried to help anyone, she always ended up doing something incredibly stupid.

Well, at least nobody laughed at her, not even Rumia, though the darkness youkai's reactions was not exactly positive. Rumia lay still, staring up at the ceiling as if Rin hadn't said anything. Then she rolled back onto her side to look at Rin with incredulous eyes. "I'm sorry, you're gonna have to repeat that. Sing for me?"

Time travel. That's the superpower Rin wished she had been born with. Not the ability to adapt, but the ability to go back in time and stop herself every time she had a dumb idea, such as right now. Probably end up using it more than she used her adaptation. "I, er, well, it's just…it's just whenever I couldn't sleep, Reisen would sing a song for me, and I…" Flushing bright pink, Rin looked away. "Never mind. Forget I said anything."

Rumia continued to stare at her. Then the tiniest of smiles tugged and her lips and she shrugged. "Okay."

Rin wasn't sure if she had heard her correctly. "What?"

"You got me curious. Go ahead."

"I…" Now what? Rin had just gotten herself trapped. She didn't really want to sing, but the offer had been made, Rumia had accepted, so she didn't have much of a choice.

Well, might as well get it over with. She didn't remember most of the songs she had learned in Eientei, but there were a couple that had somehow become lodged in her memory. Choosing her favorite, she cleared her throat and started singing.

"Bunny, little bunny, running beneath the moon.

Run little bunny, run.

Wolf, big bad wolf, gonna find you soon.

Run little bunny, run.

Run fast, run quick, stick to shadow.

Keep on going until tomorrow.

Run little bunny-"

Eyes widening, Rin cut herself off. "Oh," she said. Rumia, still smiling, said, "What? Where's the rest?"

"Uh…" Rin averted her gaze. "I kinda just figured out what that song's about…"

Rumia burst out laughing. "Seriously? You didn't know?"

"I thought they were playing hide-and-seek!" Rin protested as Rumia kept laughing. "C'mon, I was a kid!"

"Well, I liked it," Rumia snickered. "And hey, you're actually pretty good at singing. Know any other ones?"

Momentarily floored by the sudden compliment, Rin froze up for a moment. Then she immediately wracked her brain for any song she still knew the words to.

Finding one, she sang,

"Like a diamond shining in the sky,

Lovely star, dancing in the night-"

That was when Cirno suddenly sat straight up. "Holy crap, you know My Lovely Little Tomboy?" she exclaimed.

Rin blinked at her. "Uh, yeah? Why, you do too?"

Grinning, Cirno turned to Daiyousei. "Dai, get your snowglobe."

"Huh?" The other ice fairy looked confused for a second. Then her face lit up. "Oh, right."

Mystified, Rin watched as Daiyousei slipped off her couch and scampered over to one of the tables. On it was a large and very pretty snowglobe, one that had a miniature model of the Youkai Mountain inside. Turning it over, the green-haired girl wound up the tiny golden key set into a small hole on its underside. Soon, a familiar tinkling melody started playing.

Rin had to laugh. "Well, I guess you really do know it."

"Are you kidding?" Rumia said. "That's her favorite song."

A small chuckle came from the other end of the room. "Well, it is a pretty old folk song," Wriggle said as she leaned up on her elbows.

"Darn straight, it is!" Cirno declared. With that, she picked up where Rin had left off.

"You'll run, you'll laugh, you'll fly and play,

And smile at the morning light, go go!"

From there, Wriggle picked up the next verse.

"My daughter's so small, but has so much energy,

I can't keep track, she's dancing every night.

Drives me mad, but I love her so much.

I just don't know where she goes."

And then Daiyousei and Rumia joined in,

"She runs so far, always wants to see,

Every rock, every river, every flower in sight.

Can't stop, can't stop, can't stop,

Running all over Gensokyo!"

Then, to Rin's surprise, she heard Mystia's voice add itself to the others.

"Now she's gone off, I can't keep up.

Never slows down, never gives up.

So much energy, so full of life.

Now let's go with ONE! TWO! THREE!"

And with that, they all sang together.

"The hours are ticking by.

My head is spinning round and round.

You'll run, you'll laugh, you'll fly and play,

And dance all night, go go!"

Finally they had gotten to everyone's favorite part of the song. It wasn't complicated. In fact, it was incredibly simple. But boy, was it incredibly fun to all shout the famous refrain, over and over again in unison.

"TOMBOY, TOMBOY!

TOMBOY, TOMBOY!

TOMBOY, TOMBOY!

TOMBOY, TOMBOY!"

The room filled with laughter and cheers as the song ended. Any suspicion and resentment was gone now, washed away by pure and simple joy. And Rin stood in the middle of it, eagerly soaking it in. She knew that the grin on her face was big and stupid-looking, but she simply did not care. In fact, she was now searching her mind for another song and hoping that they would know that one too.

Then, from above, a stern, yet oddly motherly, voice said, "The time is now nine thirty-eight. Bedtimes are at eight on the dot."

Rin started, as did Rumia. "What's that?" the darkness youkai said, her eyes darting back and forth.

Looking annoyed, Cirno said, "Aw, her. Probably one of the flowers. She always scolds us when we talk after bedtime."

"A…flower?"

"It's Yuuka's house, okay? You gotta get used to these things."

"That's enough of that," said the voice. "Spit-spot. Off to bed with you all." Grumbling amongst themselves, the various members of Cirno's gang returned to their couches, all of them looking disappointed that the sing-a-long was over.

As they did so, Rin found her gaze wandering over to Mystia. It was a brief thing, nothing more than a quick glance, but the night-sparrow so happened to turn in her direction and catch her looking at her.

For a moment, Rin was afraid that the fear would return to the other girl's face, thereby negating any good feelings that might have been gained.

But then Mystia smiled at her. It wasn't a big one, but it was there. She nodded to Rin and went to bed.

Well. That was something.

As Rumia settled back down, she whispered, "Okay, credit where it's due: that was pretty cool."

"Thanks," Rin said. "I, uh, hoped it helped."

"Oh, hell no it didn't," Rumia said cheerfully. "But it was still pretty cool." Then she frowned. "Wait a minute. Why are you…"

Rin blinked. "What?"

Eyes squinted, Rumia continued to stare at her, to the point where Rin started to feel uncomfortable. She was about to ask Rumia again what was bothering her, but then Rumia shrugged. "Oh, never mind. Mind's playing tricks."

Well, that didn't sound encouraging. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah," Rumia yawned. She pulled the blanket up and rolled over. "Good night."

Rin watched her for a bit. Then she shrugged. "Good night."

Rin returned to her chair, feeling rather satisfied. Okay, so maybe her plan to help Rumia fall asleep had been a miserable failure, but that had been a rather nice little moment. And hey, even Wriggle and Mystia seemed to like her now! Maybe Rin would be able to win them over after all. And considering the circumstances she was working against, being able to get any sort of friendly reaction from them at all was pretty cool.

It was kind of funny. That morning, she had planned on being dead by evening. The way she had planned it out, once she had released everyone, she would just force herself to retake her old form and refuse to change back. That would probably have done the trick. The last (and only) time she had tried that, it had taken fewer than five minutes before she had started vomiting up blood. The rest of her body would've probably broken apart pretty quickly, and at least she could have died as herself.

Ironically, it had been Yuuka's forced trip through her memories that had given her the idea. She had thought of that moment a lot during her first few years of captivity. It had been one of her very few threads of hope. After all, if she could force that kind of change, there had to be some way of doing it without killing herself in the process, right? And with Eirin on the job (and she had to be working on that cure, right?), all she had to do was wait.

But the cure never came, and in time Rin had stopped hoping. She rarely thought of that moment since her escape. There just seemed to be little point, and other things had taken precedence. But Yuuka had brought it all back, and again it presented to her the possibility of release, though of a different sort. So Yuuka would have killed her after all, just not in the way she would have expected.

And yet, here she was, a guest in Yuuka's house and having a sing-a-long with Rumia's friends. Okay, so it sounded a little silly when put like that, but it was still more than she would have dared to hope for.

Maybe… she found herself thinking. Maybe this time…

Then memories of all the other times she had indulged in that same line of thought surfaced, and Rin immediately squelched it in its tracks. Nothing good ever came of it. She would start to hope, something would go wrong, and people got hurt, usually herself among them. Maybe it was time to start picking out the patterns.

Still, there was nothing wrong with enjoying it while it lasted, right? Though according to that logic, the people most likely to get hurt were Rumia and her friends.

Her mood soured, Rin leaned back into her chair and sighed. Now she was back to where she had started, with her sitting around feeling conflicted and worried and everyone else unsuccessfully trying to sleep. If she was going to get into the habit of learning from her mistakes, then she could also try not thinking so much.

Then she frowned. The room itself was quiet, with the only sound being the others' soft breathing. And yet, something was tugging at her ears. It was faint, very faint, and yet it was definitely there.

Now, wasn't that odd? According to Rin's count, the only other people in the mansion ought to be Yuuka and Elly, and both had left the mansion some time ago and had yet to return. But if that were the case, why was she hearing the sound of someone crying?

…

"Once upon a time," Yuuka read aloud from the book in her lap. "There two sisters who lived together in a little house."

Once again, the House of Orchids was a wreck. Deciding that it was proper ladylike behavior and table etiquette was probably a little too advanced for the little vampire, Yuuka had instead opted for a different activity: playing with her. After all, the poor child had known nothing but neglect at the hands of her horrible sister. She must be starving for some sort of affection. A friend, a playmate, a teacher, anything. And Yuuka meant to provide whatever she needed.

Half-an-hour, fifteen broken bones, and one smashed house later, Yuuka again had to rethink her strategy. Flandre was proving to be an even greater handful than predicted. The girl really didn't know her own strength at all, and was not in possession of an iota of self-control. It was really quite aggravating, to be honest. And while Yuuka felt that she was up to the task, it was clear that Flandre's rehabilitation was going to come at great personal cost, specifically that of her person.

So out came Plan C: telling Flandre a story. If there was one thing guaranteed to calm a rambunctious child, it was a story, and Yuuka had several to pull from. And indeed, it was working. Flandre was listening with rapt fascination, remaining uncharacteristically still as Yuuka read to her. Of course, the fact that immobilizing vines had literally made her a captive audience definitely had something to do with it, but she wasn't even thrashing against her restraints. In fact, she didn't seem to notice them at all, such was the power the story had over her.

"Now, though the two sisters were the sweetest little angels you might ever meet, they were all alone. You see, their father was a good-for-nothing deadbeat who, when the younger sister was but a wee babe, ran away with the miller's wife."

"What's a deadbeat?" Flandre asked.

"A deadbeat, my dear, is a useless person," Yuuka explained.

"Oh." Flandre frowned. "I thought it meant someone who got dead 'cause they got beat."

"No, but they certainly would deserve it." Yuuka looked back to her book. "And their mother was an uncouth slattern who, a mere year later, ran away with the miller."

"What's a slattern?" Flandre wanted to know.

"A slattern is someone who is committed to a lifestyle of irresponsible sexual behavior," Yuuka told her.

"Oh." Flandre considered this for a moment. Then she asked, "What's 'irresponsible'?"

"Not being careful with important things."

"Oh. Okay."

Nodding, Yuuka continued. "Now, these two sisters loved each other very much, and though they had been abandoned by their worthless excuses for parents to fend for themselves against a cruel and heartless world, they resolved to remain strong and survive. What was more, they promised to always be together and look after one another. Unfortunately, the older sister took after their horrible mother than should be considered healthy, and as she grew up, she started to exhibit downright atrocious behavior."

"She what?" Flandre asked.

"She became very naughty."

"Oh." Flandre didn't seem to like the sound of that. "Why?"

Yuuka shrugged. "Because some people are just bad people. It gets into their blood, and they can't help themselves."

"But didn't the other sister have the same-"

"No, sweetie. Since the older sister was born first, she took all the bad blood, while the younger sister was sweet and kind because she liked flowers."

This chain of logic seemed to bewilder the young vampire, but as there were no more questions forthcoming, Yuuka took that opportunity to return to her story.

"She took to visiting the boys in the town, and started bringing them back to the house. The younger sister found this to be perplexing. After all, the older sister had her, so what would she want with all those nasty boys? But then the older sister started taking the boys into the small garden they kept together, and did naughty things with them among the flowers."

Flandre blinked. "Naughty things?"

"Yes, very naughty."

"What sort of-"

"This was bad, the younger sister knew," Yuuka pressed on, her voice rising a few notches. "The garden was supposed to be their special place. They had worked very hard to make the plants strong and beautiful, and now the older sister's debaucheries were hurting the flowers. But when the younger sister quite reasonably brought this up, the older sister hit her and told her to be quiet."

"No!" Flandre gasped.

"I'm afraid so," Yuuka said, solemnly nodding her head. "Now, one day, a very smart and very kind woman was going for a walk when she saw the younger sister sitting by the side of the road, crying.

'Now, that's a sorrowful sight,' said the woman. 'Who would dare hurt such a sweet girl?' Resolving to find out, the woman went up to the younger sister and said, 'Hello, my dear. Why do you look so sad?'

'Oh,' said the younger sister. 'I am sad because my sister, whom I love so dearly and treated so well, has become a cruel and horrible person. She yells at me and hits me, and I don't know what to do.'

This of course made the kind woman feel sad too, so she said, 'That is the most terrible thing I've ever heard. Why don't you come and live at my house? I promise I'll take good care of you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated.'

When she heard this, the younger sister looked up and saw that the kind woman was very pretty, as pretty as the sweetest flower.' And her heart rose up with joy. But then she remembered something, and became sad again. 'Oh, I cannot,' she said. 'For my sister and I made a promise to always be together.'

Hearing this, the woman nodded. Because promises are very weighty affairs, and good little girls ought to always keep their promises. So she said, 'I am sorry to hear that, but you are right. If you made a promise, then you should keep it.'"

This pronouncement took Flandre by surprise. "But her big sister was being mean to her!"

"Yes, Flandre, she was," Yuuka nodded. "But you see, she had made a promise. And good people always keep their promises."

"But she didn't know her sister was going to be mean!" the little vampire protested.

Yuuka was pleased by the reaction she was getting. Despite her handicaps, Flandre was displaying at least some level of critical thinking, as childish as it might be. "True. But when that happens, you just need to be smart and find a way to make things better while still keeping your promise."

Flandre tilted her head to one side. "How?"

"Listen, and I'll explain it to you." Clearing her throat, Yuuka read, "And then the kind woman smiled, and the Sun smiled with her. 'But I have a idea.'

That night, the younger sister waited for the older sister to fall asleep. And, taking a large axe in her hand, she cut the older sister into many, many tiny pieces. Then she and the kind woman buried those pieces in the garden, where their blood nourished the soil. And when the flowers bloomed, they were the prettiest flowers in all the land, with a rich shade of red never before seen. And the kind woman moved into the house with the younger sister and took good care of her, while the older sister kept her promise through the flowers, and they all lived happily ever after. The end."

Flandre stared. "So…it was a happy ending?"

"Very happy," Yuuka said, closing the book. "Why, didn't you think so?"

The little blonde vampire's brow furrowed. "I dunno."

Well, that was disappointing. Yuuka had hoped that Flandre would catch on to the metaphor. Still, at least she was thinking on it. And uncertainty wasn't an outright rejection. "Maybe when you're older, you'll understand," Yuuka suggested. She indicated the stack of books she had brought along. "Would you like to hear another one?"

Flandre's frown deepened. "No. Go away."

Yuuka blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"That story ended all nasty. I don't wanna hear another one. Go away."

"But-"

"Go AWAY!" Flandre shrieked. She lunged forward, yanking at her bonds as she snarled and hissed, fingers outstretched and grasping. Taken by surprise, Yuuka could only sit and stare as the mad vampire struggled against the vines' strength in her frantic desire to tear out her hostess's throat.

Then one of the vines snapped.

Shaken from her stupor, Yuuka rose up, her fingers curling into fists. Hot anger rushed through her veins, focusing thrashing little monster. How dare she treat Yuuka in such a manner? Yuuka had just been trying to be kind, and this was how she repaid her? Well, a lesson in manners was called for, and Yuuka was more than willing to deliver-

Taking a deep breath, Yuuka took control of her anger and drove it out. No, this wasn't helping. It wasn't Flandre's fault that she was the way she way. It wasn't her fault she was insane. The girl was damaged, the poor thing. Healing her was going to take time. Until then, Yuuka was going to have to be patient.

"GO AWAY!" Flandre screamed.

Seeing that she would make no further progress that night, Yuuka took her book and made a hasty exit. Once she was out in the open air, she stood still for a moment, slowly breathing in the scent of the wildflowers and letting it calm her down.

Goodness, that had fallen apart quickly. And things had been going so well too! Yuuka had to admit, even with the knowledge of Flandre's instability, her reaction to the story's ending was a bit hurtful. Yuuka had written it herself, and she thought it had come out rather well.

Then she shrugged. Oh well. Baby steps, baby steps. Yuuka had sworn to do whatever was necessary to heal that poor child, and like all of her vows, she intended to keep her word. In time, Flandre would come to appreciate her efforts. Cheered by the thought, Yuuka started to make her way back to her mansion.

But then she paused as a troubling thought struck her. Reaching into her breast pocket and withdrew a silver ring set with a large, round crystal that glowed with a deep violet light. Holding the piece of jewelry up, Yuuka slowly turned it in her hands, watching the way the moonlight reflected off its facets. Despite the soul that was contained within, her thoughts were not centered on Satori Komejii, but on a different face entirely, one with hair and eyes of gold.

Despite its reception, the story had been right. Promises must be kept, and Yuuka had made a promise that she had not kept. It hadn't been for a lack of trying, mind you, but while a failed attempt might be forgiven if one had given her all, to not at least give it another shot afterward was not, and Yuuka had had plenty of opportunities.

Of course, it could be argued that her lengthy recover and sudden responsibilities as the caretaker for so many unpredictable monsters pardoned her laxness in following it up, but it wasn't as if it would take long to carry out. In fact, if planned correctly, Yuuka would be able to check it off her bucket list and be back in the Garden within a couple of hours.

Tapping the crystal against her lower lip, Yuuka stood a while in thought. Behind her, Flandre was still screeching and tearing away at the House of Orchids' interior, but Yuuka didn't even notice. Finally, she made her decision. Putting the ring away, Yuuka took to the air. She had put this off for far too long. It was time to pay the piper.

…

Oh God, it feels so cleansing to finally get this out.

See, one of the main (or rather, the main) reasons why the pace has really slowed over the last few chapters is because of that unrest in the underground sideplot. Given the frame of the story, it was something that had to be taken care and it was necessary to set up other things, but…well, let's just say I'm glad it's finally concluded. Very, very glad. I'll go more into detail on my tumblr.

Though Marisa's comments about Alice's rune have sort of become ironically meta, come to think of it.

And is it just me, or have I been releasing a lot of chapters that include scenes of people groggily waking up from long recoveries and being really thirsty lately?

Ah well. Until next time, everyone!