Entry 2: Bookstore of Alexandria

When Marisa finally drew close to the village, she recognised immediately that the smoke was coming from Suzunaan. Her immediate thought was that it was another case of that smoke youkai getting out, but then she remembered that that youkai didn't let of a smell, only the sight of smoke.

This very much smelled of a house fire.

As she drew closer, Marisa could see that, at the very least, the fire had already been put out, for the most part. It hadn't even been ten hours since Marisa was here last; what the hell could have happened.

Marisa touched down, and stuck her head through the doorway, where she spotted a familiar head of green hair. "Sanae? That you?" she called out.

Kochiya Sanae, the Shrine Maiden of Moriya Shrine, turned around and spotted her. "Marisa-san?" she asked. "I'd say 'good morning', but as you can see," she gestured at the storefront, "it's far from that."

"No kidding," Marisa replied. "What the hell happened here? And, more importantly, what about Kosuzu?"

"Kanako-sama has taken her to the Hieda estate," Sanae explained. "She was quite shaken when she woke up, about three minutes after we got here."

Marisa let out a sigh of relief. "That's good to know," she muttered. "Any idea what the hell happened? I was here a little before midnight yesterday, and it all looked fine."

"You were here last night?" Sanae questioned. "When you say 'here a little before midnight', do you mean arriving or leaving?"

"Kinda... both?" Marisa hesitated, not really liking where this line of questioning was going. "I stopped by a short while to get out of the rain, and left for home soon after."

Sanae took out a small notebooks, and began flipping through the pages. "Okay... puts her outside the time of the crime," she muttered to herself. "But what about the possibility that..."

"Um, you alright there, Sanae?" Marisa asked. "You're... kinda freaking me out here."

The sound of footsteps echoes briefly. "Don't mind her too much, Kirisame-san," a deep, authoritative voice said. "She rarely gets to play the role of detective these days."

Marisa turned, to see a tall, purple haired woman standing at the doorway, dressed in red. She cut an imposing, familiar figure. "Yasaka Kanako?" Marisa recognised. "What does that mean?"

Kanako let out a small sigh. "I've gotten a testimony from Motoori-san about events from her perspective," she answered. "She has claimed that the culprit was someone dressed as a witch, hat and all." She fixed Marisa with a gaze that was equal parts steel and compassion. "Kirisame Marisa, I'm afraid that makes you our primary suspect, whether we like it or not."

Marisa's jaw dropped. "What?!"

Marisa sat at one end of a table, with Kanako and Sanae at the other. Interrogations were certainly intimidating, now that she was seeing it from the other side.

"All in all," Kanako began to surmise, "it checks out. No motive, and matches with the first half of Motoori-san's testimony."

"Then what the heck's the point of all this?" Marisa asked. "Ain't got any damn reason to burn books; that shit just ain't right."

"But we can't rule out the possibility of you returning," Kanako explained, "even with a lack of motive. We can't deny that potential, no matter how small it is."

"Kosuzu-chan was still attacked by 'someone who looks like Kirisame Marisa'," Sanae elaborated. "It's important we cover all bases in a case like this."

"So, you wouldn't happen to have an evil twin, would you?" Kanako asked.

"I think I'd be the first to know," Marisa snarked. "Same for 'younger sister my dad had after I moved out', just so ya know."

"So that leaves 'disguise', 'lying', and 'evil clone'," Kanako said. "And I'd honestly rule 'lying' out, personally."

"Then why are we still here?" Marisa asked. "Shouldn't we be tracking down this crook?"

"Now, it's only a matter of what you plan to do now," Kanako answered. "Will you try to investigate with us, or on your own?"

"Curious how you don't even consider me just going home and doing nothing," Marisa commented.

"Well, let's face it," Kanako added, "you weren't going to let this sit, were you?"

"'Course I wasn't," Marisa admitted. "Alright, I'll work with ya on this."

"And we'll be glad to have you on board," Kanako said. "Now, as for our next course of action..."

"If I might, Kanako-sama," Sanae interjected. "Perhaps we should check in with Alice-san?"

"Alice? Why her?" Marisa asked, concerned. "What's she got to do with this?"

"You think her ability to manipulate dolls has something to do with this?" Kanako questioned. "It sounds a little bit of a stretch to me."

"I understand that, Kanako-sama," Sanae responded, "but I want to cover all our bases. Just to be absolutely certain."

Marisa grimaced slightly. If she herself had a serious lack of motive behind this, then she hated the mere idea of humouring the possibility that Alice Margatroid had anything to do with this.

"Very well, then," Kanako stated. "You and Kirisame-san will inquire on Margatroid-san. I'll head for the Hakurei Shrine and inform the Shrine Maiden about these events."

As the Shrine Maiden and witch flew over the Forest of Magic, Marisa couldn't help but comment on something. "I'm kinda surprised that Kanako's so willing to get Reimu in on this so early," she said. "Woulda thought she'd try to keep the glory of solving the mystery to herself."

"I think Kanako-sama's accepted that this is a bit too serious to be about glory," Sanae responded. "In a situation like this, where who know who else might get hurt, it's important to get as many on board as we can."

"Sound, sound," Marisa admitted. "Still, suspecting Alice is a bit of a stretch, wouldn't ya say?"

"I completely agree," Sanae admitted. "But, I'd rather be 100% certain about it. I'd rather be wrong about something this obvious, than have us get blind-sided."

"Yeah, I get that," Marisa said, "but I still don't like it. Alice is..." For whatever reason, Marisa hesitated. By all accounts, there was nothing stopping her from calling Alice Margatroid a 'friend', yet that nagging, ever present shadow in her heart seemed to force the idea back down. 'Don't kid yourself,' it said. 'Are you really her friend?'

Fortunately for Marisa, this inner musing went unnoticed by Sanae. "I understand what you mean, Marisa-san," she said. "Alice-san's easily the least likely to do something like arson, both personality-wise and occupation-wise. But using a doll to commit the crime would make for the perfect alibi, you must admit."

Marisa suppressed a grimace. Even on a good day, logic wasn't the best friend to anyone in Gensokyo.

Before long, the familiar shape of Alice's western-style house came into view. Sanae made a casual comment on the fact, which Marisa ignored as they landed. Sanae walked up to the door, and knocked.

The sound of casual footsteps could be heard behind the door, before it opened, and Alice Margatroid stepped out.

Now, Marisa would be the first to admit that she might seriously have it in for the blonde haired magician youkai, but she made a damn good effort in hiding that fact, especially when she was the closest to her she had ever been in years, especially with that annoying voice in the back of her mind that was still freaking going.

Maybe Marisa should schedule an appointment with Eirin soon.

"Well, you two are an odd duo," Alice commented casually. "Can I help you with something, or is this just a courtesy call?"

"There's been an incident in the village," Sanae explained. "Someone who looked like Marisa-san injured Kosuzu-chan, and attempted to burn down Suzunaan."

Alice's eyes widened, in the way that ones eyes would upon hearing that a friend had just been hurt without their knowing. "Is she alright?"

"She's currently with the Hieda's right now," Sanae answered. "Kanako-sama and I have already cleared Marisa-san' story, and we'd just like to make sure you're clear as well."

"Because me being a doll user makes remote crimes a possibility, I get it," Alice surmised. "It would also explain why Marisa's with you, too. Well, you might as well come in, make yourselves at home."

As Alice beckoned them in, Marisa found herself hesitating at the door. In the corner of her vision, Marisa would swear she could see the ghostly figure of a girl in blue glaring at her. "You don't belong here!" the girl seemed to say. "Leave!"

"Marisa?" Alice called out. "You coming?"

Marisa snapped from her daze, and a quick, subtle glace around showed that the ghost, if it could be called that, was gone. "Y... yeah," Marisa replied. "I'm coming."

If the name 'Alice Margatroid' didn't instil a sense of western style, then Alice's house most certainly had you covered. Western-style couches, tea sets, lighting fixtures, curtains. Everything about it basically said 'you're not in Tokyo anymore'.

"Well, welcome to my home, I guess," Alice said. "Feel free to have a look around if you need to, Sanae-san. The only thing that's not presently here right now is Hourai, and that's because she's been spending a lot of time at the Hakurei Shrine. Heaven knows why."

"Think it has something to do with that one party a while back," Marisa commented. "That one where just about all of us drank that brew Suika made?"

Sanae covered her mouth instinctively. "Please don't remind me," she muttered. "I can still feel the hangover from that time."

"Probably for the best that we can't remember the lion's share of it," Alice said. "Well, aside from Hourai, and Shanghai being in the kitchen right now," the aforementioned Shanghai briefly hovered through the kitchen doorway, waved, and hovered back, "the rest of the dolls are upstairs, second door on the left. There should be 82 of them in there."

Sanae let out a small sigh. "Guess I've got my work cut out for me, then," she surmised. "I'll be back in... I don't know, a few minutes?"

As Sanae walked up the stairs, Alice cast Marisa a side glance. "It'll take longer than 'a few minutes'," she whispered. "Many of those shelves are double stacked."

Marisa snickered. "Oh yeah, that's gonna take a while."

The two laughed quietly, especially when they heard Sanae make an exasperated sound in the distance. "You know, it's been a long time," Alice said. "Since you were last over, I mean. Sure, I appreciate not having you stealing my books, but it gets a bit too boring without your 'unique' sense of humour."

Marisa felt her breath hitch slightly. "Wh... what's all this, then?" she stammered. "You saying you've been missing me?"

"What, am I not allowed to?" Alice asked. "These days, we only really meet during parties, and even then, you tend to keep your distance."

Marisa wasn't sure what to think right now. These days, she always had the impression that most people just sort of tolerated her antics, and Alice most of all.

"It's a lie!" a voice shouted. "You're a liar! A thief! A murderer!"

"Marisa?" Alice spoke, not hearing the voice. "Are you alright?"

Marisa had no idea what was going on inside her own mind. It made no sense. Here Alice was, making a statement, yet something in the back of Marisa's mind seemed to reject the idea with impunity.

"You killed them, Kirisame Marisa!" the voice continued. "You killed them all! I hate you!"

"Marisa?!" Alice called out. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Marisa found it hard to breath. What was going on? It felt as if someone was tightly gripping her neck, while simultaneously forcing the air from her lungs like an untied balloon. Marisa fell to her knees, struggling to regain air as Alice rushed to her side.

"Sanae-san!" Alice called. "Get down here! Marisa needs help!"

As her vision became blurry, Marisa was barely able to register Sanae rushing down the stairs, before the world turned black.

Alice was at a loss of what to do. In her eyes, Marisa had always been this sort of indomitable, light-hearted person. Now, here she was, looking like an absolute wreck.

Sanae rushed down the stairs, and to their side. Almost instantly, Sanae seemed to realise what was going on. "This is..." she muttered under her breath. "Alice-san! Help me get her onto the couch!"

"R-right!" Alice stuttered out. With a sense of haste, while still being as gentle as they could, the two ushered the quivering Marisa towards the couch, where they laid her down. "Sanae-san, what's happening to her?" Alice asked.

"I think... she's having a panic attack," Sanae guessed. "Marisa-san! If you can hear me, find something to focus on! My voice, the cushion, anything."

Alice was passingly familiar with the concept of a panic attack, in the same way a fish would be to the night sky. In particular, she knew that it was a touchy subject that had as many number of causes as there were stars in the sky. She knew enough to know that it was a subject she was way out of her depth in.

Marisa clutched the side of the couch, her nails digging through the fibres, yet it seemed to help somewhat, as her breathing began to steady. "Alice-san, what happened?" Sanae asked. "Can you think of anything that might have triggered this?"

"I... I don't know," Alice said. "We were talking, and I mentioned how long it'd been since we last talked."

It was easy for Sanae to conclude that that particular subject was what caused it. "Can you think of anything that has happened between then and now?" she asked. "Anything that might cause some kind of trauma?"

Alice thought long and hard about it, before shaking her head. "No. Nothing," she answered. "It was literally just a 'one day' change."

As Sanae mused over the information, or rather, the lack there-of, the two noticed that, on top of her breathing reaching a slow, steady pace that was synonymous with sleep, Marisa was muttering something under her breath.

"No... sto..." she seemed to say. "Stay... the Scarl... evil Ma... Pa..."

"Nightmares on top of all this?" Sanae muttered. "Something more is going on, I can tell."

"I think... she's talking about the Scarlet Devil Mansion," Alice noted. "But why?"

Sanae thought for a moment, before she recalled Marisa's testimony from earlier that morning. "It couldn't be... a premonition?" she muttered. "She mentioned having a dream about Suzunaan before it was attacked, so could that mean..." The conclusion Sanae drew caused her face to shift into one of fear, as she quickly ran out the door. "Alice-san, look after Marisa-san!" she shouted. "I think something's going to happen at the Mansion!"

"Wait, weren't you..." Alice started, before realising that Sanae was already too far away. "And she's gone. Wasn't she here to investigate me?" Alice turned her attention back to Marisa, who seemed to continue to turn in her sleep. "Something between then and now, huh?" she muttered. "I don't know why, but... it feels like something more than that. But... why can't I remember it?"

Alice sat down, and racked her brain. The more she tried to think about it, the more she realised that there was a large gap in her memories. A gap placed squarely before the Scarlet Mist Incident, curiously enough.

As Alice thought hard about it, she felt a slight tap on her shoulder. She looked over, to see Shanghai, holding a pair of letters. "Now, where'd you get that?" she asked. Shanghai, obviously, did not voice a response. Rather, she handed one of them, with Alice's name written on it, over to her master. Glancing briefly as she took the letter handed to her, Alice noticed that the other one had Reimu's name written on it. As if she didn't have enough questions right now.

Taking the letter that had her name, Alice turned it over, and looked at the back. It had a wax seal on it, but the stamp that was used to press it was one she didn't completely recognise. Yet, at the same time, it filled her with a sense of nostalgia.

Breaking the seal, Alice opened the letter and viewed its contents.

"Dear Alice Margatroid," she read. "I would like to say 'I hope this letter finds you well', but if you are reading this, then obviously, whatever situation you are presently in wouldn't be defined as 'well'." Alice had to keep herself from muttering 'no shit'. "Odds are, you do not remember me. As sad as that makes me, it was something that had to be done. Had we not agreed to be sealed as we are now (assuming that said seal hasn't been broken, and thus the entire reason you're reading this), then both yourself and Marisa-chan would have been put in grave danger." Alice's eyes widened. The gap in her memories was to protect her? And Marisa too? She continued on. "In the event that something has happened to either of you, I have left a fail-safe spell inside Shanghai to deliver this message. Please, deliver this second letter to Hakurei Reimu. Tell her it's a Code-05. Hopefully, she'll know what that means. Who knows; if things go a certain way, we might get too see each-other again. Stay safe, my dear, sweet Alice."

Alice slowly lowered the letter, and rubbed her eyes. So many questions, and so little answers. She looked over to Marisa, who slept still, and placed a hand gently on her cheek. What had happened in the past, that had traumatised Marisa so much, and robbed Alice of her memories?

Magic surged through the tips of her fingers, forming into translucent wires that shot upstairs, and connected with every doll in the house. "Shanghai," she addressed the doll in question, "keep hold of that letter, please. We'll need it for later." The army of dolls began to take formation outside, as Alice gently picked Marisa up. She was, quite possibly, the furthest thing from heavy Alice had ever lifted.

Alice stepped outside, Marisa in her arms, Shanghai on her shoulder, and a small army of dolls in front of her. "Let's move," she instructed. "We need to see Reimu-san as fast as we can."

And with that, they took off, looking like a swarm of bees as they disappeared into the distance.

A/N:

Possibly not my best work, but then again, I'm only so experienced at writing mystery.

For now, though, the main cast is either set or alluded to, and the main conflict, the mystery of the past, is (hopefully) spelled out.

So, Merry Christmas, and time to press onwards.