A few hours had passed since Reimu fell in her coma state. Marisa had to go grab Sanae from the Youkai Mountain to do a thorough examination as to what was ailing Reimu. However even she seemed baffled by it. No matter what Sanae tried it was not stirring Reimu awake. After a defeated sigh she looked to Marisa for answers.
"Whatever is keeping her asleep, it's definitely not in this area. Do you know who did this?" Sanae asked while trying to shoo away the very concerned Nighthare that Reimu kept around. Desperate to sit upon Reimu's stomach for some reason.
"Not exactly. It kind of looked like it was Nahumar but he wouldn't..." her voice faded. Realizing it could have been his brother instead. Though how many were aware of his presence? She shook the feeling aside and had a different idea to go with.
"Listen Sanae, I need to go find Nahumar. Think you can watch Reimu for me?"
"What could he do to fix this?" Sanae asked while placing down some charms to ward off certain spirits around Reimu. This also preventing the Nighthare from getting closer to Reimu as it squeaked in defiance from being close to his savior. Sanae had to give the Nighthare a pet. "Sorry little guy. Can't risk you injuring her."
"...I just have a hunch he can get her out of this state." Marisa eased her hat upon her head and covering her face. Purposely not showing a hint of frustration from the incident. With her broom ready she hurried off to The Mare. Nahumar's home. Marisa landed on the field and found Alice sitting on the steps with the Nighthares all around and feasting on carrots like a mass of purple fluff. The wind blew gently when Marisa halted a few steps before Alice.
"I'm looking for Nahumar." The stance and tone alone let Alice know something was wrong. She didn't bother to ask and instead told Marisa-
"He isn't home right now. Nahumar went to see Rinnosuke about a Yukata...but i've not seen him return yet."
"I...See." Marisa nodded, tilting her hit with a determined look on her face. Once she turned around she heard Alice once more.
"Whenever you get like this, I'm quite concerned for you. Don't get too reckless."
Marisa smirked under her hat. "Thanks."
Darting through the sky as fast as she could Marisa landed at the steps of Kourindou and opened the door without a knock. Loudly asking "Rinnosuke! Where is Nahumar?" and thus catching the silver haired man working on a Yukata for a male along with Nahumar's jacket left behind on another mannequin. Perhaps to let him model after it. With the stary night sky theme still there except now patching a moon with smaller Nighthares circling it. Still far from complete.
"You just missed him. Nahumar went to the village. Why?"
"Reimu is in a pickle. Thank you!" And hurried back out making a dash to the human village.
"Wait what about-Nevermind. I'm never going to see those books again anyways..."
Reimu in the meantime sat there at the table. Keeping her mind soothed with meditation. The last time she remembered this feeling was so far from her. Back in the day when she was still young...
Reimu was but a child when she took on the task of being the new Hakurei Priestess. There she would sit all alone at the shrine. Occasionally people came and went when Youkai and incidents started to crop up but nothing really moved her expression. Lifeless but stoic as she was seen by everyone...
Then one day, she came. A young witch about her age came to the shrine with broom in hand and eyes like stars.
"Yo."
"Marisa was so stubborn to leave, she couldn't take no for an answer." Reimu thought to herself as her resolved was refreshed. Knowing her friends would get rid of this somehow. The white void of nothingness and empty sounds would drive people mad. However in her thoughts she imagined the fun times she had with her friend. It was all she could do for now...
Marisa had finally reached the human village, kicking up sand and dirt on a couple people in her rush before grinding to a halt. Her head whipped left and right looking for someone familiar. Past the local fishmonger she noticed the blue haired teacher.
"Ah! Keine." the witch hurried over to meet with Keine and asked "Have you seen a man with long black hair, black pupils, purple sclera?" Figuring Keine was not familiar with Nahumar's image just yet. The sudden appearance and abrupt approach caused her a bit of shock. "Marisa? Black Pupils? I think...I saw someone matching that description heading that way." She pointed to the south which let Marisa dash onward while shouting back.
"Thank you Keine!"
Riding her broom through the village was not wise and her feet are what took her to such speeds that dust kicked more and more trying to find the god of fear. Taking a left when she thought she saw him but the clothes were not distinguishable enough. Without his jacket, Nahumar could easily blend with humans no problem. Especially as a man.
"...Of all the times to not have your jacket..." Marisa grumbled along the way. Each moment she passed a man with long black hair it was met with an awkward glance for his eyes. No matter what it seemed like Nahumar was nowhere in the village. Did she just miss him?
-
"I'm hungry..." Reimu could feel the hunger pains breaking through her meditation. How long has she been in this state? Time was slipping past her mind. The tea before her was fake. Only there to occupy this place. Reimu reclined on the floor and looked up at the ceiling.
"Hope that rabbit isn't too lonely."
While Marisa was out finding Nahumar to help with the mess, Sanae was left to watch over Reimu and keep an eye on the Nighthare that kept trying to get close to Reimu for some odd reason. Each time it wanted to wander into the barrier, it was met with a light shock.
"Stop it please?" Sanae tried to reason with the rabbit by giving it a carrot to nibble on in the time they were waiting. "I know you are worried about Reimu...I am too."
Hours went by and when the sun was setting, Marisa finally gave up. As she slumped her stature walking out she caught the familiar black haired man standing before her with a bag of ingredients.
"Hey Marisa. What brings you-"
"I've been looking for you for hours you idiot!" Marisa blasted her voice, slamming her broom brushes upon the God's head. "Reimu is in danger! Come with me!"
With no time to explain the two would arrive at the shrine and see Sanae was now with another patron... Yukari. She was delicately petting the purple Nighthare but it was clear by the way it was shuddering, it was scared for it's life in Yukari's hands. Anytime she showed up in matters like this, you know it wasn't going to end well.
"Yukari." Nahumar announced.
The Gap Youkai replied. "Nahumar." Then pointed at Reimu's unconscious body. "I assume you are here to undo what your bother did to the priestess? Go ahead and do it, then after you are coming with me."
Nahumar said not another word. Marisa on the other hand wanted answers. "He did nothing wrong, I can assure you. But I'll talk later. Reimu needs his help." but looking down, Nahumar reached out for Marisa.
"Grab my hand. We're going in." Marisa was perplexed by his words. "Hold on, what are you exactly going to do?" she asked. Nahumar replied back in a rapid choice of words "We have no time! Do you want to save Reimu or not!?" prompting the witch to grab his hand without a second thought. Anything to save a friend...
After a moment of magic, the two would lose consciousness and enter the dream world just shy of the border of where they needed to be. Marisa found herself seeing into the sphere that contained Reimu. Like a snow globe. She cried out to her. "Reimu!" But before she could move, the glass like wall prevented her advancements. Nahumar now had time to explain better.
"Don't brute force it. Reimu is trapped in amplified terror. In order to save her, she has to be removed from the sphere safely." As he told Marisa this it was Doremy who spotted the two curiously from afar. When she warped over...the Baku instantly recognized Nahumar. She kept her distance and only watched him work...
"Okay so how do we do that?" As they float there, Nahumar told Marisa.
"Do you know Reimu's greatest fear?"
"Greatest Fear? Hell if I know. Maybe spiders or something..."
Nahumar shook his head. "No. Think harder. You're her best friend right? Surely you picked up on some sort of fear?" trying to jog the witch's memory.
"Umm...L-let me think..."
Marisa remembered a time she was passing by the Hakurei shrine many years ago and saw a lone priestess sitting on the steps of her shine. She looked zoned out. Flat. Lifeless. So the witch decided to cheer up the girl in red and white by stopping by...
She remembered...Reimu looking slightly sad when Marisa had to do yet jovial to see her return.
"Reimu feared being alone." then it clicked...Reimu saw Nahumar alone at his shrine when they discovered him. She saw someone in a similar position to herself. Alone...Forgotten...Now it made sense when those days ago, she asked Reimu-
"Was it smart to release that Fear God?"
"Maybe not. If he is a true problem I'll just get Yukari to help with disposing of him. But the way he looked at me, it was like he lost something. A friend. A close one at that."
"Mnn now that you mention it, Nahumar does seem like the kind of god who would be avoided. Fear and all..."
"Whatever it may be I hope he won't be causing problems."
"Now that you know her fear-" And upon Nahumar opening the dome he reached for Marisa's hand. "Break through it and drag her back. Only her best friend can free her!" Marisa tilted the brim of her hat to hide her expression. Grabbing Nahumar's hand, she took the dive and held on while reaching her other out. For inside the Void she would struggle to maintain her presence as the area was fighting back to push her away.
"R-Reimu!" Marisa cried out to the priestess meditating in the single room of a small shrine building. Just shy out of view.
"...Am I hearing voices now? This place might be pulling tricks on me..." Her will was fading. Her face showing the same level of pain when they were younger. Marisa only then broke from Nahumar's grip to run forward.
"Marisa! You idiot!" Nahumar had to follow after. Letting Marisa be exposed to the area might warp her senses. Without Nahumar close by, she could see dark black silhouettes of lanky men of all kinds slowly turning their heads. Their gaping mouths and eyes finding an intruder. The gurgling growls and clicks alerted the others.
Marisa had to stop in her path just to let Nahumar catch up. They were a few feet from Reimu but she still didn't see them. "Reimu!" Again Marisa cried out. "Look over here you dolt!" and before one shade could grab the black and white witch it was Nahumar with the save. A large circular shield about half his body size formed after bashing it in the face of the shade for Marisa.
"Come on. Stay close to me and keep calling!"
While all this went down, Yakyoshi- or rather Deimos was locked in a fight between Yuugi and Suika. The three of them brawling till the sun went down. Deimos on this two on one held fine but there was a problem...
"He's not even tired." Yuugi stated just as Suika had finished a barrage of blows upon the spear wielding god of fear.
"You said he was not that strong so what gives?"
The words Suika mentioned soon brought Yuugi back to a conversation they had days ago. The sudden realization over what is giving this odd god a constant power boost. He could see Yuugi's terror and even mentioned his ability to amplify it...
"Yakyosho's own ability is going haywire. Whatever happened between him and his brother shook him so much-"
"He's practically a self-powering machine!" Suika finished. "Damn. Where is Reimu?"
"Are you two done talking!?" Deimos screamed back, charging in with his spear thrust out at Yuugi who took it in the shoulder without flinching.
"An opponent who can perpetually get stronger overtime?" that toothy smile said it all. Removing the spear without a problem and breaking it in half, retaliating with a punch to Deimo's face to send him back.
"We're going to have A LOT of fun until Reimu gets here!"