Phantom of Dream
Disclaimer :
Touhou Project © Zun
Phantom of Dream © darkro90
Genre :
Fantasy, Supernatural, Spiritual, Adventure
Rated :
T
This story is based on the Touhou project, and all its canon characters, locations and events are a property of Team Shanghai Alice, ergo ZUN.
All characters and events in this story are entirely fictional and any possible similarities between them and real people and events are purely coincidental and not intentional.
Chapter 3
Memory of Forgathering Dream
First, there was a man
Bewildered and lost in search of an answer.
And then, there were none.
"And… we're done."
The doctor said it as he sewn the last string into my skin. Although it did hurt a little bit, it was nothing compared to the pain I've been through last night. This and that was completely different as day and night, in terms of pain level.
"So, what did exactly happen?"
Before I tell him what exactly I've told him before, I try to remember what event that just transpired in this morning.
Crap, crap, crap!
I frantically opened my bathroom mirror in search of bandages and disinfectants to treat my wound before it got worse. The sounds of my blood dripping from both my cheek and arms didn't help much either, instead it amplifies further my sudden panic attack.
Found it!
After two minutes of frantic search, I finally managed to find right medicine to my wounds. Although the bandage was in perfect condition for use, the disinfectant tells me otherwise. The bottle that was supposedly to contain it was completely devoid of any liquid that was supposed to be the disinfectant for treating open wounds.
Who's the perfect genius that puts an empty medicine in here?
Right. Me.
After two more minutes of skimming through medicines that was lined up in front of me, I found something that made me feel relieved, and at the same time, worried.
Alcohol…?
Well, even if it's going to be more painful than getting your saved games deleted, I'll do whatever it takes to treat the wound before I get some nasty infection at my wounds.
Before I apply the alcohol to my wound, I've prepared to bite towel that I used daily to clean my hands after washing my hands. Although there was a painkiller pills lying in front of me, using it would only makes me a coward for not embracing the pain like real man do, or a real hardcore Touhou player do when they faced with a ridiculous amount of bullets while playing in Lunatic difficulty.
Slowly, I pour the alcohol into both of my wounds at my arms, starting with my left arm as it looks like the worst one. When the cold liquid touched the open parts of my wound, the sensation quickly changes into a burning one like I've being burned alive, only at that part where I pour the alcohol in. Although it was god-awful hurt, it was nothing compared to last night, where I was forced to run for a minute with both of my arms and cheek wounded pretty bad. The pain I suffered last night was very excruciating that I almost felt numbness in both of my arm, especially the left one.
T…this will suffice for the moment.
After the alcohol covered most of my wound at my left arm, I proceed to pour it next at my right arm's wound. Even though the wound isn't as worse as my left arm, I could still feel the piercing pain from it.
Hurriedly, I wrapped my arms with bandages I found earlier, and applied band-aid to the wound in my cheek. I know that this would not last long, so I braced myself for a five minute walk to a hospital near my apartment.
When I cross the lobby of my apartment, I could feel the stare of people around me. They probably either too dazed or confused on why and how a young man like me walks around the lobby with bloodied bandage wrapped around his arms, complete with his shirt covered with grasses and dirt. The guard of my apartment asked on how can he be of any assistance, but as I felt that could let to a very complex situation which really isn't needed at the moment, I politely decline it.
"…Like I've told you before"
I paused for a moment before continuing my answer.
"It was a hiking accident."
Well, at least I included some truth in it.
My excuse is perfectly justified as there was a hill near here, which is a popular place for hikers to go. Although, I was about to made excuses how I fell from the stair into shards of glasses, but then I realized how stupid it sounds.
"And as I've told you before too, too many people hiked to their death in that hill. They should've closed that hill from public before any more accident occurs." The doctor says with a frowned face. It is true that the hill was dangerous, but only on rainy season or something like that. And so, I can only conclude that he's exaggerating things.
"Uh… about the stitches, so when I can come back to remove it?"
"You don't have to." Says the doctor while he sorts out his stitching equipment.
"What?"
"It was absorbable one that I used for your wounds. Besides, it was only a small cut, so it wouldn't leave any scar."
"So it was only a small cut? What about the bleeding?"
"That was because of your late treatment. Although you're fast at applying the alcohol to disinfect it, you should've come here as soon as you got that wound."
Looks like jokes on me now.
After I sorted out all the payment and paperwork on the hospital, I decide to ask for a break from the college for one week to rest and recover from the wound I suffered while I was "hiking". With the doctor's note, they can't refuse my request and I got my break easily without any hitch.
The truth is, I'm planning to use this precious one week to research and prepare for my next arrival at Gensokyo. This one week should not be wasted on things like idling at chan or MewTubing, as I have the ticket to Gensokyo itself. It would be a waste, and I would feel bad myself for not using the gift Yukari given me.
After I got home at my apartment, I packed my bed cover laundry it. It wouldn't be too wise to leave it to the cleaning services, as there would be too much questioning about the origin of the blood, and I don't want to waste any precious time for it. But before I do my trip to the laundry, I decided to try visiting Gensokyo again, only this time on midday.
I hold the magical talisman tightly, and mutter again the incantation needed for my trip to the long awaited fantasy land.
"Yume no tobira!"
As I closed my eyes, I waited for something happen like portal opening up or a gap appeared out of nowhere. But instead, I was greeted by the silence of my gloomy room with dark lightning, caused by my strict 'no-light allowed' rule inside my room.
Why this doesn't work at all? Last time I did it, it worked perfec-
Wait, last time?
Last time I did it, I was…
I suddenly come into realization, that last time I did it; I did it before I go to sleep. Also, taking Yukari's hint with it and the meaning of the words etched on the talisman, it works by spiriting away my body when I go to sleep, provided that I read the incantation first before going to sleep.
It was still midday, and I didn't have any intention or the sleepiness to goes for a daytime nap. I decide to use whatever time I got left before night sets in to research Gensokyo a little bit further, and if it was possible,
To contact ZUN himself.
ZUN himself should've known all about things related to Gensokyo.
And I suspect that he was invited there in the same manner as I am by Yukari. Only this time, he decides to spread words with games, novels and manga as his medium.
I wonder what reaction he would make if he knows there are other people that entered Gensokyo too.
I breathed deeply, turned on my computer and start to do exactly what I've planned before. Research more on Gensokyo, while staying true to its canon materials only while I try to contact ZUN in the meantime too.
muttered a long sigh while I glanced at the clock. Although it felts like only an hour was elapsed, it was already 7:24 PM, and it seems I subconsciously eat my lunch while I vigorously research all things that were related to Gensokyo. Although, the rumbles in my stomach indicates that I haven't eat any dinner yet.
While I eat the cup ramen I brought earlier for dinner because I've felt lazy to cook any dishes, I came upon realization that I was taking all of this too lightly.
My life was on the line the whole time yesterday. And yet…
I took this entire affair lightly without even considering the worst outcome for me.
Should I continue?
Or not?
Living in Gensokyo was always my deepest fantasy this entire time, but is it really worth it to put my life on the line?
I should think about all of this first before I do another trip to Gensokyo.
I dispose the already empty plastic cup of ramen to the nearest trash bin, and open up the window at the balcony to gets some fresh air while I oversee the streets below.
The traffic wasn't too jammed, but not so empty either. Vehicles moving smoothly on the street while some pedestrians walked casually in the catwalk. Gust of winds move the leaves on the trees that was located beside the streets. The atmosphere was enough for me to calm down a little while thinking the best choice for this.
This world wasn't too rotten to the core either.
Although, compared to Gensokyo, this was too pathetic in terms of beauty.
Maybe, other Touhou diehard fan wouldn't think twice of moving to Gensokyo permanently if they got this same opportunity like I get.
But, I, unlike them those rabbles that were willing to sacrifice their lives for the fantasy land, still have some things I would like to do in here, in this godforsaken city.
Surely though, I could do those things in Gensokyo.
Still...
I need more time before I could decide what side of coin I should pick.
After a minute standing there while feeling the cold breezes and enjoying the sight below, I entered my room again and close the window to checks how things are doing in the computer again.
When I opened the tab for my mail, a pop-up window startled me a little because I honestly didn't expect any mail tonight, aside from ZUN.
"You have one new e-mail.
From: ZUN
Subject: RE: I need your help
Read now?
[YES] [NO]"
After I gulped a little bit of my excessive saliva, I anxiously pressed the [YES] button.
"Dear Imaginoru-san,
I honestly think that you have played too much of Touhou Project.
All of those words you've said really made little sense to me, as the works I made was completely based of my imagination, without any of real "Gensokyo" references as you mentioned on your mail.
Maybe a little break from Touhou Project is all you need now.
With love and respect,
ZUN."
Figured as much. That mail I sent you was too incoherent either for me.
Although I closed the e-mail with a little bitter feeling, I still have hopes that when I got the solid proof to back my claim, he could help me on traversing this whole turns of event. After browsing a little more bit, I took a quick glance at the clock again, to find that it was already 10:11 PM already. I decided to continue the research tomorrow and heads to the bed.
Before I turned off the bed lamp, something caught my eyes. Something that lies on the bed desk.
The talisman.
Should I… try it again tonight?
But considering the outcome of previous night…
This could be a perfect chance to prove my research, or my stupidity.
Wait, since when going into Gensokyo was a stupid thing to do?
Well, I think it was since many starving youkai was wandering there for human flesh, silly me.
Before I could decide what to do with the talisman, I remembered that earlier this afternoon I've already read the incantation aloud.
Damn! I shouldn't do that earlier in the afternoon.
I hope the effect only last an hour before sleep or something, because if it last until my next sleep, I'm really doomed.
After I resigned to whatever my fate would do to me tonight, I hit the hay as I was too sleepy to stay awake either, and staying awake wouldn't help too much as I would bound to get asleep sooner or later.
Whatever happens, I hope it didn't turns out like last night…
And if I really do get transported to Gensokyo tonight…
I hope I met someone that wasn't a starving youkai.
My consciousness slowly drifted apart, like water flows freely in the river. And like the flow of water itself, I drift to sleep.
"…Hngh"
Before I knew it, I woke up in a seemingly same forest I was in night before, only that I was located near a lake this time. It's the same sensation that gives away my current location. The same grasses and dirt couldn't possibly be another forest.
Gensokyo again, eh…
This time, I proceeded with lot more caution and treaded lightly to make sure not even a stray rabbit could hear my footstep.
After two minutes of walking along the shore between the forest and the lake, I saw a glimpse of shadow that moves deep in the forest. I quickly hide myself behind a tree, and peeked carefully at the spot where I saw the shadow before.
The shadow walks pretty slows, and occasionally, it looks below to the ground, like it was looking for something. From the shadow, I could tell that it was a human, or at least looks like one. Slowly, I take another step forward to get a closer and better look at the shadow.
After some steps toward a bush, I finally get to see the shadow with a better view. From the looks of the flowing long hair, it was a girl. Also, when the moonlight shines on her, I got a whole lot better view. She has a long blonde hair, wears a black witch hat and a, from the looks of it, traditional western witch outfit with a faint pink shirt under it.
Blonde hair, witch outfits…
Obviously, it was Marisa.
Should I run toward her to seek refuge from youkais in here?
Or…
Should I simply sit and observe her?
I decide to simply observe and follow her without letting her know with my presence. As she began to moves again, this time deeper to the forest, I silently follow her slowly and carefully without making any noises.
*CRACK*
As I move forward to follow her, I fail to notice again that there was a branch lying in the ground, and when the impact was heard around the forest, she instantly looks back. As it was reflexes or something, she is also looking directly at the bush where I hid. It was pretty impressive for her to track the source of the sound quickly.
"Who's there?!"
Again, I've just heard another real sound of Touhou characters. It sounds very commanding, yet was alluring to the extent I was tempted to stand up and introduce myself to her, complete with my relationship status and living address. And she sounds cute.
Damned branch.
What to do now? Should I greet her, acting like one of those confused outsider that is, once in a while, stumbled here?
Or should I run across the lake, hoping that I would escape her wrath by any chance?
Her footstep can be heard loudly, and intimidating. I know that one big fluke could earn me a Master Spark straight to the face, but the prize of making the right choice could be even bigger than finding a pot of gold.
After another round of heavy debate in my thoughts, I've managed to pick one of the choices I've been presented for this situation. I took a deep breath, and waits for the right time to do exactly what I've planned in my mind.
I hope this would work.
Otherwise…
This would be the end for me, at the hand of the ordinary magician.
Chapter 3 Ends.
-To be Continue-
Link Forum: ht*tp:/*/oniichan*.us*/threads/fan-fic-phantom-of-dream.878/
