Chapter 2
Next morning Marisa as usual decided to pay a sudden visit to Patchouli and more importantly to her enormous library. As she flew closer to the Mansion being prepared for a small fight with Meiling for going in without obstacles, she suddenly saw that the gatekeeper was busy with some other stuff for the moment. The Chinese girl and Sakuya were at the garden sawing a thick block of wood. Nearby there were seen several piles of logs on the snow with a big axe lying on them, which meant Meiling was chopping completed blocks from time to time. The Black-White Witch decided to take advantage of the situation and reach the Mansion itself before getting caught by the busy girls, that's why she wasn't going to drop her speed. But one thing somehow made her slow down abruptly and fly a circle around them unsurely.
– That thief again.. – China grumbled stopping her work.
– Ok, let's have a short rest then. Go and tell Lady Remilia she's here, please. Hey, Marisa! – Sakuya called, being fully aware about Marisa's presence since the time the witch had appeared on the horizon. – It seems today Lady Patchouli will have to drive you out herself – we have too many things to do since this old tree fell yesterday because of that damn wind. That's why Ladies allowed us to let you inside this time.. But don't get too full of yourself and try to be respectable at least a bit.
– Ha-ha, ok, I got it. So this time I'll be able to borrow double amount of books, ze! – Marisa smirked coming down nonchalantly. – Er.. More importantly, Sakuya, isn't it Alice's scarf?
The maid glanced at the blonde sharply. – Well, it was hers. She gave it to me as a present.
– Oh.. Yep, I saw you there yesterday. I never knew she was so close to anyone, ze! – The magician scratched her head embarrassed.
– Well, we are not as close as I would want yet, but I'm going to fix it soon. – The girl replied with dignity, putting a lock of her hair behind her ear gracefully.
– Ya what, ze? What is that supposed to mean?
Sakuya watched her calmly:
– That just means that even though all Gensokyo knows that Alice is in love with you, I'm going to take her away. She is too nice to spend her days thinking about someone who doesn't need her at all.
– W-what? Hey, it's not like that! Ahh.. Wait a minute, I thought you and Remilia were dating!
– Yes, we are. – The familiar voice said and Remilia Scarlet herself appeared unexpectedly from the Mansion. The blue-haired young lady in an elegant fur coat embraced Sakuya confidently and looked deeply into her eyes. Their lips almost touched. That sudden attack and their closeness made Sakuya gasp blushing heavily. Then the vampire moved her small wings and turned her face to Marisa with a bit haughty smile:
– But I would be a bad mistress if I didn't let my maid to have a little fun. We are inseparable, Sakuya and I, we are connected to each other with the Fate itself. There couldn't ever be a bond stronger than we have. So her relations with that Margatroid person or anybody else around this place won't be an obstacle for our love even a bit! That's why I let her have it. Got it, Marisa?
Meiling, who returned with her mistress, observed all the three with clear interest and surprise completely forgetting about her work.
As for the witch, she stood in a complete shock – that was a rare condition for the always cheerful and over-confident girl. When the blonde was able to acquire speech again, the rage appeared in her golden eyes. She clenched her fists telling through her teeth:
– Hey, you! What do you think ya're saying, huh? I don't care about you being a pair – why, I'd rather like you as a couple, ze – but like hell I'll let you have Alice! She will never be a toy to anyone who doesn't love her with their whole heart! Damn ya, I thought better of you, Sakuya! Do you think it will ever save her from being sad and lonely, ze? This girl deserves more – so much more. I'm definitely not the kindest person in this world, ze, but I'll protect her at least from this perspective. You'd better remember my words!
With that outburst the witch hopped on her broom and flew away totally forgetting about the primal goal of her visit.
Suddenly Sakuya appeared right next to Marisa's broom, holding her Luna Dial:
– We haven't finished our talk yet. Meet me tomorrow at 2 PM at that glade not far from Alice's house. – With those words the maid disappeared leaving the perplexed magician on her way and at the same moment came in sight of the vampire again. The latter turned to her and squeezed Sakuya's hands gently interlacing their fingers.
– So what do you think about it, my sweet human? – She murmured with a smile.
– I suppose it goes even better than we could imagine, my Lady. – Both the voice and the gaze of the blue-eyed girl became extremely soft and warm showing all the love and gratitude she felt for her most precious person.
Remilia chuckled leaning her head against Sakuya's chest fondly.
– Hmm.. I hope you're right. I don't actually care much about anyone in Gensokyo, but that puppeteer made dolls for Flan several times – she still values them as her favorite toys.. And, more importantly, Alice didn't let you catch a cold yesterday being all that nice as you say. So.. I'd be glad if what we planned could help her.
– Thank you so much for being so sweet, – Sakuya whispered reaching the vampire's cheek slightly.
Now that was time for Remilia's face to redden strongly as she was enjoying the girl's touch:
– Ah.. Wh..what are you saying? I'm not like that at all, ha-ha!.. Well, let's go home then. It's tea-time!