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Enjoy.

"No…"

The world seemed to move in slow motion.

Every step seemed to require more effort to keep her going as an ever-growing fear told her to turn back.

"No…"

Orin was there, trying to get answers from her surely, but both her words and thoughts came out muffled and indistinct.

She turned the corner and saw Okuu standing there, hands to her mouth, looking through the doorway before her in horror.

"Please no…"

Again she uttered the word, over and over, begging and pleading to whoever might be listening, that her fears would not be realized.

She reached the door, grabbing the frame to support herself least her legs give out under her, and looked into the room with dread.

It was empty.

…

…

…

Satori woke with a start, sounds of a loud rumble echoing through the forest. The last vestiges of her dreams hung briefly in her mind, but before she could dwell upon it, it slipped through her fingers, forgotten. This didn't bother her, it had happened many times before, but what did bother her that it left her with a deep sense that something was wrong, but she couldn't recall what.

Still though, there was nothing she could do about it now, so Satori ignored it, and instead expanded her mind to take in the thoughts around her.

What was that?!

Something's happening in the mountains!

It was an oni, I saw it, it was enormous!

No, it was the sun! It fell!

But the sun is still up!

Satori furrowed her brow. What were these animals babbling on about? A giant oni and the sun falling from the sky? Oni stayed underground, and she could see the beams of sunlight filtering through the cover of her little hallow. Satori shook her head, shaking off the last bit of drowsiness as she did so.

Animals could make no sense sometimes.

Doing a quick scan to make sure no humans were nearby, Satori uncurled herself and crawled out from her hiding place, her muscles aching from being tensed up for so long, even in her sleep. But she never felt rested from sleeping anymore, so she ignored it.

Truth be told she would like nothing better than to stay in her hole, hidden away from all that might harm her, but she knew from experience that sooner or later the humans would come looking for her. Looking to the sky suggested that only a few hours had passed, still within the timeframe where they might come hunting for her. So instead, the small youkai stumbled to her feet, hands clutching her stomach as it gave a deep rumble.

When did she last eat, the palace? Has she really been going off nothing but a bowl of rice and a few gulps of sake up to this point? Oh well, it didn't matter to her. All that mattered was finding her friends, everything else could wait, food included.

Satori set off through the forest, but at a far slower pace than she would have liked. Hunger from lack of food, exhaustion from inadequate rest, and a lingering soreness from her duel with Yuugi compounded to make even the simple act of walking far more challenging than it ought to be.

This was no simple stroll through the woods. Satori found herself knocking into bushes, tripping on roots, and stumbling into trees, at one point even falling flat on her face. With a groan she rose to her hands and knees, cursing her luck that it was only now that all her problems decided to cripple her progress.

Here, on the surface, in the middle of the woods, all by herself.

Or so she thought.

A rustling sounded from somewhere behind her, but it was the squirrels and songbirds that tipped her off.

You hear that?

It sounded like a human.

But I don't see one.

Neither do I.

Satori didn't wait to see if the animals were right or not, she just got up and started running. She wasn't especially fast, had she been like this in the village then the humans certainly would've caught her, but it was the best option she had right now. So she pushed herself, spurred on by her own fear and the thoughts of the forest.

There it is again!

Sounds like they're running.

But I still don't see them!

Think they're after that youkai?

Maybe, but she better watch out for that slope.

That last thought puzzled Satori. Slope? What slope-

"Ahh!"

Just as she was questioning the thought Satori found the slope in question, letting out a cry of alarm as her foot landed on nothing but air, sending her tumbling head over heel down a hillside. With a hard flop she came to a rest at the bottom of the incline, new pain coursing all throughout her body.

"Ow…"

She laid there, body aching and mind disoriented, for a minute before finally remembering why she was running and forcing herself up once again. She pushed herself up with her arms, pausing to gather her remaining strength, what little there was left, before sitting back on her knees.

Satori raised her head, and honestly thought she felt her heart stop.

Wide purple eyes met empty green ones.

Her own slack jawed expression mirrored by a simple, cheerful smile.

It can't be.

It just can't be.

Not after all this time.

Was she dreaming? No, the pain she felt was too real.

Hallucinating? Maybe, she couldn't feel her mind, but there was only one way to tell.

With a trembling voice Satori spoke.

"Ko… Koishi?"

"Satori!"

The other girl lunged fourth, throwing her arms around her sister in a massive hug, but Satori didn't react. She was too stunned. The warmth of her skin, the weight of her body leaning on her own, the sound of her voice…

It was really her…

When she didn't move Koishi pulled back, tilting her head while still maintain her simple, blank smile.

"What's wrong, Satori? Why do you look so shocked? And why are you so dirty? Here!"

She raised her arm and began wiping the dirt and tearstains from her older sister's face with her sleeve. But as she did so Satori raised her hand, taking Koishi's in her own and holding it to her cheek. New tears traced the path of old ones as she gazed upon her sister.

"Koishi…" she said, voice quiet. "It's really you…"

The younger satori closed her eyes and gave a bright, beaming smile. A sob escaped Satori's lips and she pulled her closer, wrapping her tightly in her arms. Koishi readily returned the hug, nuzzling into her sister's form. Satori felt Koishi wrap her third eye around her back and did the same with her own, the two satori sharing in a deep embrace.

Satori felt she could remain here forever, and Koishi didn't seem to object at all. After so long, she's found her again. She ran her hand through Koishi's green locks, reveling in the familiar feeling as tears continued to run down her face. Only this time, they were tears of joy, and for the first time in many, many long years, Satori found herself feeling truly, and earnestly, happy, if only for a moment.

They stayed like that for a long time, holding one another for the first time in decades. Even the denizens of the forest seemed to understand the weight of the scene, as not a single stray thought reached Satori's mind. Eventually, however, their touching reunion did come to an end, not from any conscious effort, but from another low rumble from Satori's stomach.

Koishi pulled back first.

"Hungry?" she asked.

Satori blushed a little and looked at the ground, embarrassed for having unintentionally ruined the moment.

"Um, yes. I… haven't been eating very much as of late…"

"Here!"

Koishi reached in her pocket and pulled out an apple. It looked a little battered and bruised, leaving Satori wondering how long she's had it, but she was not one to object. She took the offered fruit and took a large bite, not even bothering to savor the taste as she set to work devouring it.

Truth be told, between her ravenous hunger and elation at reuniting with her dear sister, Koishi could have offered her a pinecone and Satori probably would have eaten it.

Koishi didn't say or do anything as she ate, and instead just sat there, smiling at her sister blankly. Satori glanced at her sister, hesitantly reaching out with her mind only to be met with nothing. Her heart sank, but only a little. Even if Koishi's mind was still gone, having her here with her again dispelled whatever sorrow Satori might have felt at her heart remaining closed.

When she finally finished Satori looked to her sister and smiled.

"Koishi, I'm so happy to see you again…"

"Me too!" Koishi beamed. "It's been so long since I've had someone to talk to! I play with kids and fairies all the time, but I don't talk to adult humans or youkai much."

The mention of humans made Satori frown as memories of her own recent experiences ran through her head.

"Have you been keeping safe? The humans, I ran into them a while ago and, well, some things never change…"

"Don't worry Satori, they never notice me unless I let them!"

The older youkai laughed a little at that.

"Really? When did you get so good at stealth?"

"When I closed my third eye!"

She brought the appendage in question around to her front for emphasis.

"Ah…"

Satori didn't know what to say to that. For Koishi to be so casual about such a thing, when to her it was anything but. She examined the blue orb before her, and after a second of thought held out her hands, palms up, silently asking her sister to take a closer look. She consented with no hesitation, plopping her eye into her sister's hands.

Tenderly Satori moved her hand across its surface. Just like with her own eye it was smooth and warm, and she was pleased to note a lack of scaring across its surface. Seems she was staying safe after all. She gently pressed the palm of her hand against the eyelid. She thought that she could feel a slight twitch beneath the surface, but given the pain she still felt in her own body, Satori couldn't tell if she imagined it or not.

"Satori?"

The girl in question looked up, seeing a little frown on her sister's face.

"Yes Koishi?"

"Why do you look so sad?"

Satori released her eye and pulled back. But she didn't say anything. She didn't want to bring up old wounds, not when they just reunited. She looked up. Koishi's eyes remained blank, but she still held that little frown.

There was no way she could say no to that little frown.

"It's just that… seeing your third eye closed, it brings back a lot of unpleasant memories."

"About what?"

Satori took a breath. They were really going there, weren't they?

"About… the day you closed your eye…"

"Really? But I love that day!"

The words cut through Satori like a knife straight through her heart.

"You… love…"

"That day, yes! It's because of that day that I can walk around the surface world! And it's the reason people don't fear me anymore! Oh, and also…"

Each word seemed to twist the knife in more and more. Silently she hung her head, Koishi not noticing as she continued talking about the surface. To her mind the words just confirmed that which Satori always thought, that Koishi was happier without her sister in her life. Tears escaped her eyes, falling silently upon her dress, staining it even more.

"And this one time… Satori? Why are you crying?"

Satori didn't look up. There was no way she could look her sister in the eyes right now. She heard a shuffling noise, and then Koishi was beside her, pressed up to her side an hugging her arm.

"Satori, tell me what's wrong. Please…"

Damn it! Hearing her pleading felt like another knife in her back. She had to answer her. And besides, perhaps now she can say things that she should have said, so long ago. She took a shaky breath.

"Koishi, how well do you remember that day? When you closed your heart?"

"Not very well. I don't remember anything very well anymore."

Ah, so she likely doesn't remember all the crying, all the begging and pleading she did to reopen her eye. Hearing that helped lessen the pain and made it a tad easier to continue.

"Koishi, ever since you were born, we've spent our whole lives inside each other's head. Everything we did, all the decisions we made, were made together, as one. Even if you were somewhere else in the palace I could still feel your presence within me. So when you… when you closed your third eye, and you disappeared from my mind…"

She had to pause, nearly losing her composure. She took a few breaths to continue.

"I knew how unhappy you were with that the world hated us, that we could never again see the flowers of the surface you so loved. I thought that you decided to end it all. But when I found you, and saw what you had done, I realized something."

Satori pulled away from her sister, looking her in the eyes.

"I failed you, Koishi. I tried to do my best to ensure a happy life for us. Traveling to Gensokyo, to the Underworld, claiming the Palace of the Earth Spirits as our home. As the years went by and I came to be happy with our new life, I assumed you were too. I never stopped to think that you were wanted something more than just a simple life with me and our pets. And it was because of my negligence that I drove you to do something so horrible."

She cupped Koishi's head in her hands.

"I'm sorry Koishi. I failed you. I failed as your sister. I'm so sorry…"

She hung her head and sobbed. Where? Where had she gone so wrong, to have messed up so badly back then, to have caused such a thing?

"Don't worry, Satori, I'll make you happy again."

What?

Satori looked up to see Koishi standing up, looking down at her while holding her third eye over her right.

"I'll make you forget all about me. Then, you won't have to be sad anymore!"

What?!

"No!"

Satori jumped to her feet, grabbing her arms and pulling them, and her eye, away from her face.

"Why? If I'm the reason you're so sad, won't you feel better if you forget all about me?"

"No Koishi! I never want to forget about you! You're my sister, I love you!"

"But everyone forgets about me at some point. I can just make it quicker."

"No! It doesn't matter how much it hurts to remember, I will never forget… forget about… you…"

But that's exactly what was happening.

She was forgetting.

All her memories of the past couple days flashed through her mind, and in each one where Koishi should have been, she was gone.

Who was there beside her when they found Orin and Okuu, stroking Orin's back while Satori cleaned Okuu's wings?

Who was she curled up on the couch with, reading their favorite book, back when the palace still rang with laughter and happiness?

Whose hand did she hold every time she was chased away by angry mobs, long before Gensokyo?

Her dream from earlier suddenly came back to her, and she knew what was wrong with it. It was the day Koishi closed her eye, but Koishi was gone.

Forgotten.

But how? How could she possibly forget her dear little sister?

Unless…

"Koishi, when you closed your eye, what happened to your powers?"

"Oh, I can manipulate the unconscious mind now! Like being able to pull subconscious fear to the surface, make people see illusions, and make it so I can't be seen!"

Satori processed all this, fixating on that last point.

"I see, so that's what it is."

"What's that?"

"Your ability to not be seen. If you alter people's unconscious mind to do it, then you're keeping them from perceiving you. And from how you described it, I'd guess that you're always doing this unless you purposefully allow them to see you. Which would explain me…"

"You?"

"Yes, me. I… I've been starting to forget about you without knowing it for quite a while. When you first closed your eye, but before you left, you must've unknowingly affected me with your perception ability. But given how well I know you, it's taken years to take hold of me."

"Oh! I see! Want me to finish the job?"

She raised her eye again, only for Satori to push it away.

"No! Koishi…" she took a breath. In a gentler voice she continued. "I never want to forget you, Koishi."

"Okay!"

Before Satori could react Koishi held her third eye over her right and entered her mind. But rather than wipe her mind as she feared, Satori suddenly felt all her memories clear and solidify, showing Koishi right there beside her where she belonged, right up until she left.

Koishi lowered her eye.

"There! Now you're immune to my perception powers!"

She smiled brightly, and Satori found herself at a loss for words, unable to think of a proper way to thank her.

"You said before that I wasn't happy with you and our pets?"

"Uh, yes…"

"You're wrong. I love you! All of you!"

Koishi suddenly hugged her again, nearly knocking her sister over. Satori, stunned, slowly wrapped her arms around her.

"Koishi, I'm happy, no, overjoyed to hear that, by why did you never come back?"

She leaned back in her arms.

"I forgot!" she exclaimed.

Well, at least she was honest.

Despite the whirlwind of emotions going through her Satori couldn't help but laugh a little at her reply.

"Heh, okay then. Can I ask you something then?"

"Sure!"

Satori took a deep steady breath, bracing herself in anticipation of her response.

"Koishi, come home with me, please. We all miss you and-"

"Okay!"

…

"…Really? Just like that?"

"Yep! I've seen a lot up here, but I'm ready to come home now! Are we going now?"

And with that Satori suddenly remembered the reason she was even on the surface in the first place, having completely forgotten from the shock of seeing Koishi again.

"No, not yet. I need to find Orin and Okuu. They left, I… drove them away."

"Aww, so they won't be there anymore?"

"I don't know. I'm going to find them and apologize, beg them to come back, but if not…"

"If not…?"

Satori smiled a sad smile.

"If not, then I'll have to accept it."

"Well, I'll still be with you even if they aren't!"

And again she hugged Satori. Koishi was certainly far more affectionate than she remembered, but after a lifetime's worth of separation, Satori will never complain about it. After a few moments of enjoying the embrace Satori leaned back to address her sister.

"So, Koishi, have you seen them?"

"Yeah! I saw them heading toward Youkai Mountain the other day!"

"Really? That's great news!"

"Oh, but we should be careful! Earlier I heard something in the mountains, and when I flew above the trees, I saw a giant oni fighting a sun!"

…

…

…

"What!?"

Hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave a review, otherwise thank you for reading and stay turned for more!