Choice A
"I'll try to negotiate a compromise with Reimu," Kenzaki answered, much to everyone's shock.
"Kenzaki, are you sure this is going to work?" Hiroko asked, surprised at the Outsider's decision. "Because I doubt Reimu is going to agree to this."
"Hiroko, just hear me out," the blonde replied. "Reimu cares about me and can't image a life without my presence, which is among the reasons why she treated me well within her shrine, despite being clingy at times. So, I will have to appease her good side alongside not getting on Yukari's bad side while making a solution that everyone can agree on."
"Even if that was the case, that still means you can't return to your hometown at the Outside World," Keine reminded him. "Aren't you worried that you'll never see your friends and family from the Outside World ever again?"
"If I want to be honest, I am going to miss them. But to prevent Reimu and/or Yukari from endangering the whole planet, I must stay," Kenzaki answered, feeling bitter over his decision. "If possible, I must let my friends and family know first about this before staying with Reimu for the foreseeable future. My friends and family won't be happy about my decision, but at least they won't lose their lives in the process.
"Plus," Kenzaki had to chuckle. "They might see who my future wife could look like as well, since it's likely Reimu wanted to marry me and start a family together as well."
A moment of silence starts to emerge among the group, deep within their thoughts, each of them having their own take on what the Outsider had decided.
Kotohime felt unsure about this as she's worried that Reimu might act hostile towards Kenzaki even if he tries to be nice to her, knowing all too well regarding cases of domestic violence that erupts within the Human Village
Keine, while knowing personally that the Outsider was genuine over his decision to stay within Gensokyo alongside trying to make a compromise with Reimu overstaying within this world, could not help but feel sorry that he has to leave his old life behind to keep the world safe from the Hakurei Shrine Maiden's wrath, provided Yukari doesn't do it first.
Naoki, despite knowing Kenzaki for the past couple of days, still felt bad for coworker even though he could see him again back at Timber Designs, since he knows full well that the blonde could deal with homesickness for not returning home within the Outside World. But regardless, he will try to be there for him regardless.
Akemi's group all have mixed feelings over this decision, but even if they debate whether Kenzaki's choice was justified or not, they wouldn't even have an answer they could agree on, with Akemi wanting to respect the blonde's decision, Hiroko feeling that Reimu(and by extension, Yukari) winning through this horrible scheme to trap the Outsider within Gensokyo, and Daisuke felt conflicted whether if this was a good move or not for the blonde to make.
Even for the Sasaki brothers, they already know that Eirin, Reisen Udongein Inaba, and even Princess Kaguya was formerly from the Moon and resided there for their own reasons, even though there were Lunarian refugees that now reside in Eientei ever since the destruction of the Lunar Capital, with plans to possibly build a new home around the Bamboo Forest until things settle down back at the moon.
But Haruto and Akihiro noted that adapting to Gensokyo will not be an easy task for Kenzaki, but at least they should at least provide support to him whenever possible.
After a moment of silence, Akemi got onto her feet. "If this is what you wanted, I'll accept your decision. Just don't hurt yourself providing emotional support to Reimu, okay?"
"Plus, we'll do whatever we can to help you out adapting to Gensokyo," Naoki added. "We know that living in Gensokyo is not easy given all the chaos that goes on constantly, but at least you'll have some friends that can make your life a little less lone around here. Plus,"
The coworker from Timber Designs gives a knowing smirk. "Maybe you could end up resolving the Incident to end Reimu's emotional strife she has over the Stained Torture Incident."
"Not only that," the schoolteacher got onto her feet, her face giving a determined look. "We'll do whatever we can to give as much support while to you while staying in Gensokyo, so don't hurt yourself over your decision to stay with Reimu or if the compromise fails, Kenzaki Hayashi. Remember that."
"She gets a point, y'know," Hiroko nodded on Keine's statement.
"Not only that, but we might help you be strong enough to adapt to combat as well, especially when dealing with hostile Youkai and others," Kotohime added. "Especially once Incidents start popping up again, so at least you can improve your chances of survival as well."
"Alongside getting medical treatment for your injuries," Haruto noted. "Doesn't hurt getting check ups as well, especially with more chaotic stuff as well."
"Alongside some comedic moments as well," Akihiro chirped.
With his eyes start to widen, Kenzaki, for the first time in his entire life while being stuck in Gensokyo, knows he was alone, trying to survive in a land he doesn't even understand, even after being taken in by a shrine maiden who played a major role with bringing him to this land in the first place.
But seeing the people within the Sasaki house being this willing to help him out when he decides to stay and tend to a mentally-scarred young woman, knowing full well that he may have to leave his friends, family, and old life behind, the blonde couldn't help but gave a small smile in response, doing his best not to shed bittersweet tears over what had just happened for the past couple of days.
"Of course," Feeling both satisfied and happy that he now gained friends and allies to help make his stay more bearable to handle, Kenzaki nodded before heading out the door.
But before he can close the door, the Outsider gave them a knowing smile. "Thanks for everything, guys. I appreciate it."
"Of course," Naoki nodded. "Doesn't hurt to help each other out whenever possible."
And with that, young blonde closes the door behind him, leaving everyone to feel both concerned and worried at the same time after what they have to witness.
"Do you think this could work?" Hiroko asked, waiting for a response.
"Only Kenzaki could find that out himself," Keine replied. "We have to get ready if things don't go well for him."
"I'll let Eirin and the others know what's going in case things turn for the worse," Haruto said. "Anything can happen, and we can't let things occur by chance."
"I can vouch for that," Daisuke nodded.
"Same here," Akihiro chimed.
Kotohime, however, felt concerned over this. "I'm just not sure how things could out though, especially since we're dealing with the Hakurei shrine maiden."
"I don't blame you, Kotohime," Keine place a gentle hand over the female police officer. "I don't blame you at all."
88
Something back at the Hakurei Shrine a few hours later, both the Outsider and the Shrine Maiden were both finishing up on making food for dinner as the snow begins to fall once again.
But as they were about to eat their homemade food, the raven-haired young woman looked at the blonde that was sitting on the opposite side of the table, noticing that he wasn't even touching the food at all.
"Kenzaki, is something the matter?" Reimu broke the silence as she saw the blonde staring at the food in silence.
Said blonde looked at her as he began to sigh in reluctance. 'Here goes nothing.'
"Reimu," Kenzaki looked at the young woman, his face looking quiet mixed with concern "There's something I need to tell you about,"
"What is it, Kenzaki?"
"Remember yesterday when Naoki, Akemi, and the others went into the Hakurei Shrine, and you going out to resolve a possible incident, leaving me behind with them?"
"Yes, why?"
"They told me about the Stained Torture Incident," Kenzaki answered, causing Reimu to pale over these simple words. "And how you reacted poorly over what had happened to Marisa, alongside possibly having Yukari Yakumo gapping me to Gensokyo against my will. But more importantly . . . "
Kenzaki's blue eyes stare into Reimu's frightful yet glossy red. ". . . why did you do it Reimu? Just why?"
The Hakurei Shrine maiden could have ignored, lie, or even retaliate against the Outsider that's under her care for the past couple of days.
Instead, she tilted her head down in shame, tears emerging out of her eyes as they about drip onto the table. "You finally knew, isn't it?"
"Yes, I know." The blonde nodded. "But why though?"
"I don't want to be lonely anymore," Reimu confessed, not even wanting to look straight at the Outsider's own face. "After everything I gone through."
"If you're willing, feel free to let me know." The blonde reassured her, not wanting to make things worse than before.
"No, I must tell you everything about my past, and why I became a Hakurei Shrine Maiden," Reimu gave a blank yet somber look on her face as she willed her face towards him. "Something that felt more like a tragedy than anything else."
"Just tell me, if you want."
"Of course."
Reimu told Kenzaki everything about her past, her terrible relationship with her biological family despite being renown Youkai Hunters, how she snapped during a particular mission and slaughtered everyone in that group, her time as a rogue Youkai Hunter, and accepting Yukari's offer to become a Hakurei Shrine Maiden after protecting the Mayohiga Village from bandits alongside changing her name to 'Reimu' to respect a purple hair woman named Reimu of the Hakurei clan, who went missing during an investigation sometime after the Hakurei Civil war that erupted some time ago.
Not only that, but Yukari also trained Reimu how to use danmaku and Spell Cards to better handle her duties as a Shrine Maiden (especially when dealing with Incidents), though the Gap Youkai wanted her to handle them without her help (though there were cases where she must get involve).
Even still, the newly minted Hakurei shrine maiden did not mind letting Marisa come into her life (especially when resolving Incidents), and she felt heartbroken over her friend in critical condition, forcing her to use the bell Yukari gave her for help some time ago when they chatting to each other about their day so far.
"And that ends my story," the young woman said, fully ready to bear the brunt of her actions.
"Reimu, why didn't you let me leave Gensokyo earlier?" the blonde asked.
"I don't want to lose you, that's it," the raven-haired young woman admitted.
A growing silence began to emerge as the blonde began to process the information that the shrine maiden told him, even if she tried to compose herself during the more . . . painful segments of her past.
But the Outsider did note that the young woman appeared guilty over her actions, even if it's to keep herself from suffering from what appeared to be an emotional breakdown over the Stained Torture Incident.
"Reimu, while I'm disappointed over your actions, I don't blame you due to what had happened in your life before Yukari recruited you as a Hakurei Shrine Maiden," Kenzaki replied.
"Why?"
"Nobody deserves to have parents forcing their kids to become powerful fighters at the cost of losing their childhoods," The young man answered. "Especially when becoming Youkai Hunters."
"How did know?"
"While I gained multiple skills back in the Outside World, that's because my parents are willing to let me learn these skills alongside the rest of my siblings," The blonde added. "Sure, we have our fair share of arguments every now and then, but we are also willing to resolve them in ways that everyone can agree on.
"So, while I'm not happy over what you and Yukari bringing me to Gensokyo against my will, I don't blame you for having to deal with the trauma affecting your life, Reimu." Kenzaki stated. "And while it's likely that I might have to stay in Gensokyo for the foreseeable future, if it meant getting you back on your feet, then at least I can do that."
Kenzaki's statement, alongside acknowledging that Reimu was still a troubled young woman despite being recruited into a Hakurei shrine maiden by Yukari Yakumo, caused the raven-hair young woman to look at him with surprise yet worry all over her face.
"After all this, even having Yukari taking you away from your friends, family, and your old life," Reimu felt conflicted, both to the Outsider and to herself. "It's just that . . . Kenzaki . . . do you love me?"
"I do."
"Are you sure."
"Of course."
"You're not going to abandon me?"
"I won't abandon you."
"Can I kill you if you abandoned me?"
"I . . . don't think I'll appreciate that."
In response, the raven-haired young woman hug-tackled the blonde tightly after moving around the table, tears starting to swell on her emotionally torn face as she tries to keep her composure together. "Kenzaki, ever since the Stained Torture Incident nearly took Marisa away from me, and the trauma forcing me to relive my troubled past, I was slipping closer and closer to complete insanity. But ever since you arrived, I'm starting to realize that I shouldn't be alone anymore, nor to deal with the responsibilities with maintain Gensokyo on my own. It's just that . . . "
"I know you want to continue your duties as a Shrine Maiden, Reimu Hakurei, and I don't want to abandon you regardless," Kenzaki reassured her as he hugged her back, one of his hands patting her weary back. "And while I do want to return home alongside making a compromise with Yukari over a way to see my loved ones again while staying in Gensokyo, I need to make sure you are emotionally stable first. Upsetting, yes. Necessary, of course. Though I do am going to miss my loved ones back home."
"I can negotiate with Yukari to let you see your family again," The young woman offered. "But it must fit well with everyone regardless."
"I can deal with that." Kenzaki nodded. "And . . . thank you."
"Of course."
88
"So that's what you're proposing to me," Yukari said as she leaned forward on the couch. "That's a pretty big offer you're giving me, Kenzaki Hayashi."
Said young man sighed as he glances over the Gap Woman, sitting at the ground while Reimu was hugging him tightly, and occasionally nuzzling his arm.
To begin, Reimu agreed to let him see Yukari back at the Mayohiga village in his ancient Japanese attirebefore using a bell to bring Yukari's attention, all the while snow continue to fall as usual, until the Gap woman opened one of her gaps to see them again.
But prior to discussing the offer, the Youkai Sage offered them inside to her house within her gap to keep them away from the snow and cold air, which they both accepted.
Inside the house, Kenzaki saw that Yukari's house was a lot more modern than he expected, alongside seeing two of her associates within the household, a nine-tailed kitsune named Ran Yakumo and a nekomata named Chen(who is stilled considered a part of the Yakumo household regardless), though Yukari ushered them out of the living room due to an important meeting with the two humans, something the blonde kitsune reluctantly nodded, while the brown-haired nekomata looked at Kenzaki like a cat before following the fox youkai, leaving the three to themselves as he discusses his offer.
"While I know that I have to stay with Reimu to keep her emotional stable, I don't want to neglect my normal life back in the Outside World, which includes my studies," the young man explained. "After I graduate from high school however, I'll stay with Reimu back at Gensokyo full time, with the occasional visits to see my friends and family in the Outside World."
"Also," Kenzaki knew Reimu's not going to like this, but this needed to be necessary for them, especially once they start a family after getting married. "I would want Akemi's group to assist with resolving Incidents as well, since Reimu and I needed extra help to better handle the situations that pops up in the event that the situations get too tough for both of us to handle."
This peaked the Gap Youkai's interest. "You're willing to help resolve Incidents? That's not something that should be taken lightly over."
"I know," Kenzaki could not help but sigh. "But I may need to help Reimu out if Incidents gets too tough for her to handle. Plus, it could help out with my training to learn danmaku as well."
"I see then," Yukari nodded. "I'll let you aid Reimu in resolving Incidents, alongside including Akemi's group as well."
While the idea of having to work with Akemi and her friends upsets the Hakurei young woman, the blonde's offer to help aid in resolving Incidents did help mitigate this, thankfully.
"I'm surprised you're willing to make a deal with me over this, Kenzaki," Yukari place the cup on the table. "I thought you're going to have Akemi's group and/or Keine to get you out of Gensokyo."
The Outsider had to turn his head down. "If I did, I doubt things could go smoothly for everyone. Which includes dealing with someone like you as well, Yukari."
Said Youkai cannot help but chuckle. "I'm grateful you made a decision to stay with Reimu, Kenzaki Hayashi, so I'll accept the offer you proposed. But I will have to let you return to your hometown only for school and to visiting your family until 5PM. Not only that, but you must contact me, Ran, and/or Reimu what's going on as well to keep us informed before visiting your hometown, but that can be manageable using your smartphone you have, with some 'modifications', of course. Because not doing so . . . could cause some huge problems for us, don't you agree?"
"Yeah, I know what you meant," the Outsider groaned, knowing full well what the consequences could look like.
"Not only that, you will have to marry Reimu to continue the Hakurei line, but I already know your response," Yukari gave a knowing smirk.
"Yeah, of course I'll marry Reimu," Kenzaki sighed, knowing full well what's going to happen given the circumstances.
"Even still, having a wedding would be pretty boring without letting your loved ones be invited as well, provided they don't cause any trouble in the process." The Gap youkai suggested. "But knowing you, your loved ones won't cause too many problems over there."
"Yeah, I know."
88
A man with Japanese features was sitting in a comfy couch reading a book within a well-lit living room, though that contrasted to his troubled expression within his body.
"Takuto, I already brought the kids to sleep, but they're still worried over Kenzaki's disappearance," a woman with American features emerged into the living room, her gentle features marred with concern on it as she spoke Japanese. "I'm scared that something bad happened to Kenzaki, Takuto darling."
Glancing at the woman's blonde hair and gentle eyes, the man couldn't help but massage his head while putting down the book on the coffee table. "Can't blame you, Reilly. I can't blame you at all."
Letting the blonde woman sit next to him, the Japanese man started to glance at the blue-eyed woman as she rubbed her long straight hair tied in loose ponytail. "I already contacted the police over Kenzaki's disappearance, Reilly, and they still don't know what happened to him."
The blonde woman, appearing to be named 'Reilly' gave a bitter frown. "Even if they could trace the signal to Kenzaki's whereabouts, it felt that Kenzaki disappeared off the face of the earth. Maybe literally, if possible, Takuto, dear."
"Even still, everyone's worried about what had happened to Kenzaki," the man named Takuto rubbed his short yet neat black hair as he replied in Japanese. "Even his friend Melanie was worried that Kenzaki ran away from home due to her 'Third Wheel' joke over him not getting a girlfriend, which I keep telling her that it wasn't her fault and that Kenzaki wouldn't disappear over something like that."
"Even still, Melanie and her boyfriend Wade are stilled in pain over Kenzaki's disappearance," Reilly said. "And that's not getting into detail over a number of people thinking he used his survival skills to run away from home."
"These people clearly don't understand how survival actually works," the Japanese man groaned in frustration. "Even we have to take some survival classes together back in the States to properly handle hiking trips alongside the rest of the kids, and I can tell you that survivalists have to be prepared to travel in the woods regardless."
"With or without that, we're not even sure what really happened to Kenzaki," Reilly stated, her gentle features. "It's not like he could just come into the door all the sudden."
Before long, a door around the hallway near the living room opens all the sudden before closing gently, causing the two to look up in shock until they hear a familiar voice.
"Hey mom, hey dad, I'm back." Kenzaki waved his hand as he went to the door with his normal clothes as he spoke Japanese to them, wearing his normal winter outfit. "Sorry I went missing for the past several days."
"Kenzaki!" Takuto and Reilly hugged their eldest son tightly for a bit before getting off the hug.
"What happened to you, Kenzaki," Reilly stared at her son with worry on her face. "Your friends, your siblings, even we were trying to contact and find you."
"Especially since we have to keep reassuring Melanie that you didn't run away because of her joke of you being in the 'third wheel' as she calls it." Takuto added as he massages his head.
"I wouldn't want to leave Mel like that," their son replied. "While she's annoying at times, I don't think abandoning her is a good response to something like this."
Kenzaki sighed as he glances at his parents. "What I am about to tell you might sound strange and you guys won't believe me, but . . . "
"Kenzaki, I married your mother when she was studying abroad in Japan," Takuto reminded him. "We got married after college back at the States. We were able to have you and the rest of your nine siblings together, with you as the oldest. Your mother chose to become a stay-at-home wife while working part time as a comic book artist. And we speak Japanese at home while speaking English whenever we go outside the house.
"So why do you think we won't believe you over this, Kenzaki Hayashi." The Japanese man look at his son, not wanting to hear any excuses coming from him.
"Okay, though before I can begin, I want to introduce you two to two very special people you're going to meet." Kenzaki felt a headache is going to erupt anytime soon.
Reilly blinked her eyes for a moment with curiosity. "And they are?"
Kenzaki opened the door, bringing in a young woman with raven black hair, red eyes, and a modified winter shrine maiden outfit with detached sleeves.
Before his parents could respond, a gap that have opened in front of them, emerging to be a blonde woman with purple eyes and wore a whitish pink dress, a purple tabard, brown boots, and a white mop hat while carrying a closed, pink-laced umbrella in her hands.
The gap itself, however, is a black-purple void full of countless eyes that seemed to stare at them with no emotion whatsoever.
"Ufufufufu," The blonde woman gave an inquisitive look to the shocked parents as the gap closes behind her like it was silly joke. "You should believe him, Takuto and Reilly Hayashi."
The shock of seeing a woman doing that causes the young man's mother to barely faint, while his dad stared at the purple-eyed woman in shock.
Especially since, unlike the young man's parents who wear modern clothing (a long sleeve green shirt with blue sleeves, black socks, and brown lounge pants for Takuto and a yellow loose sweater with orange lounge pants along with pink socks for Reilly).
"Kenzaki," Takuto stared at his son before back at the blonde-haired, purple-eyed Youkai. "IS THAT A GAP WOMAN!"
"Sadly, yes," the young man nodded. "Just sit down; it's a long story."
Once he tells his parents what had happened, with the raven-haired young woman named Reimu Hakurei and the Gap Youkai named Yukari Yakumo adding bits of the story as well.
When feeling certain he told them everything, Kenzaki stared his parents. "Do you believe me now?"
"After all this, yes," Takuto nodded.
"So, Kenzaki?" Reilly asked as Reimu hugs her son tightly around him on another couch that is on the left side to them as Yukari casuall sat on the living room chair on the opposite side. "What did you do to get back here?"
"If It agree to marry Reimu and not leave outside Gensokyo too long, aside from help continue the Hakurei family line, I can visit you guys and continue going to school until I graduate, though I can visit you guys occasionally after that."
"THIS YOUNG!" both parents barely screamed at the same time.
Yukari, however, can't help but giggle at this precadment. "And agreed to start a wedding sometime soon. Oh, and all you are invited to the wedding, including Kenzaki's friends, aside from letting Reimu visit with Kenzaki whenever she isn't too busy tending the shrine and/or resolving Incidents."
"What else do we know about?" The Japanese guy asked. "Especially since you got a job at Timber Designs back at Gensokyo?"
"I made some friends back at Gensokyo, including my coworker from Timber Designs." The young man added. "And Reimu did agree to teach me danmaku as well to defend myself."
To prove his point, Kenzaki's hands start to glow a bluish color before fading away. "I'm still learning, but I'm making some progress."
While both Takuto and Reilly felt grateful to see Kenzaki again after days of disappearing without warning during his walk, they were also shocked by what was going on during his time in a land full of mythological creatures and beings that roam the land.
Combined with him having to marry a shrine maiden with a troubled past and having to stay in this land called Gensokyo things have got a lot even more crazy for the Hayashi parents. If the rest of the young man siblings woke up to see this, things could get a lot more chaotic than usual, especially with lots of questions that the younger siblings are going to ask.
For Reilly, she cracked a smile on her otherwise shocked face. "I can't wait to see the wedding, Kenzaki. What about you, Takuto?"
The woman's said husband slumped to the couch, shock still over his face. "Kenzaki is getting married this young. What has our lives coming to right now."
"To be honest, I don't blame you right now, dad," Kenzaki nodded. "I don't blame you at all."
"Are you still staying back home, Kenzaki?" Reilly asked. "Alongside letting your friends know what's going on?"
"I can let my friends know about that." The young man reassured her. "But for the first one . . . "