~Author's Note~

Today's drabble is not a drabble; there was no way I could condense everything I wanted to say down into 100 words. It's about Sumireko's journey of self-discovery.

~Dress to Express~

OR:

~This One Comes from the Heart~

On a sunny evening, Reimu found Sumireko spinning along the mountain road that led to her shrine. She was laughing gleefully, whirling around without a care, and the hem of her dress seemed to sparkle where it caught the light.

Reimu was amazed, right up until she saw how close Sumireko's feet were getting to a crumbling eight-foot drop. "Hey, mind the cliff!" she yelled.

Sumireko froze. "R-Reimu! Oh, Christ, I didn't think you were- I didn't think anyone was…" Her cheeks grew redder with every word. "I was coming up to visit you, actually… I brought some ramune. Um, how are you?"

"I'm fine. You know, I was only warning you about the cliff there, Sumi. I don't mind the… dancing," said Reimu.

"Oh… Well, thanks." Sumireko laughed nervously and smiled. "I've been in a good mood lately."

"Is that a new dress?" asked Reimu, bracing herself for a wave of enthusiasm.

"Oh, yes! This is the first time I've ever worn it. I put the sequins in myself," said Sumireko. Seeing Reimu's look of surprise, she continued. "My parents both think I'm a cosplayer now, so they've been getting me sewing things for my birthday. I wanted to try something sparkly, I suppose…"

"It is sparkly," said Reimu earnestly. "You've definitely accomplished some sparkliness right there."

"Does it look silly on me? No, don't answer that!" Sumireko cut Reimu off. "I shouldn't worry about looking silly, should I? It's just, I've never worn something like this before."

Reimu nodded. "Sequins are expensive in your world, aren't they?"

"Um?" Sumireko blinked. "Well, no… I was more worried about what people might think. I used to worry about that all the time. Then I started pushing people away…"

"Right…" Reimu could sense a long, difficult conversation stretching out ahead. "Anyway, I need to get some rice, so I won't keep you-"

"I think it was you." Sumireko grabbed Reimu's shoulders, her eyes wide and adoring. "You, Marisa, Mokou, Kasen, Rinnosuke, Mamizou… You all helped me!"

Reimu's heart sank. "We did? That's wonderful, but…"

"You showed me how to live! You showed me I didn't have to play the lonely smart girl or the normal daughter any more." Sumireko clasped her hands over her heart, allowing a relieved Reimu to step away. "You showed me I could be loud and strong and crazy and bright, be a Sumireko with all my heart, and that'd be enough! And if Dad thinks it's a big, hilarious joke when I put sequins in my dress, so what?! It's not his dress!"

"Great! Brilliant! Anyway, I must dash…"

"I just love all this! Don't you?!" squeaked Sumireko. She hardly seemed to realise she was spinning again, floating up into the air in a whirl of purple light. "I love spell-cards! I love fashion! I love girls, I love being a girl, and I won't apologise for any of it! Not any more! I love fighting and drinking and adventures and I LOVE GENSOKYO!"

Sumireko hovered for a few more seconds, a blissful smile upon her face, and then she fell in a heap on the path.

"Oof… I Didn't notice I was flying," groaned Sumireko. She staggered to her feet and brushed a little dust off her dress. "Don't worry, I'm fine… Um, Reimu? Reimu?"

As she looked around, Sumireko realised the mountainside was well and truly Reimuless. She was the only person there.

"Guess I'll leave her a bottle of ramune, then." Sumireko picked up her feet and headed back towards the shrine. After a few seconds she started spinning again.