The sound of laughter awoke Reimu from her sleep.
Three fairies were dancing and holding hands in a circle outside.
"Hey! What are you doing?!"
They stopped. The Blue one stepped forward and pointed to herself in defiance, "We are the strongest in Gensokyo! We are… Team 9!"
"Get out of here Cirno."
"Make me."
Later on, Reimu was still finding bits of dust and broken ice on the ground.
Quickly patting her dress down, she returned back inside and began cleaning the dishes. Small rays of light filtered through holes in the paper windows, spotting the floor.
"If only this could last forever…" thought Reimu to herself. She busily scrubbed the grime off plates and bowls while humming a soft melody. A knock at the door snapped her back to reality.
"Coming."
Marisa was standing on the other side holding a bag. She grinned childishly. "Check it out Reimu! I got some new sweets that the shop down in the Human Village just made. They're pretty tasty! Wanna have some together?"
"Sure, let's go to the hill."
"Yeah!"
It was the end of winter and spring was beginning to blossom on all the trees and flowers. The smell of fragrance was just beginning to crisp the air.
The top of the hill looked right out over the human village.
"See? They're really busy down there today, but they were kind enough to share the sweets. I guess a festival is going on or something."
Marisa held her hand out to shield her eyes and took in the view with a deep breath. "Just like Spring! Here, have some," she said while handing Reimu a few candies in red wrapping. They each had a small insignia on them that looked like a cross.
"Thanks Marisa."
She nodded and sat down, gazing proudly over Gensokyo. The sun glistened in her eyes and a grin broke out over her face. "It's… It's just so beautiful! Right, Reimu?" Marisa turned to Reimu.
However, Reimu was lost in thought and didn't hear anything. She sat there with the candy in one hand, rolling it around and picking at the wrapping.
"Reimu."
"Huh?"
Marisa leaned over and put her face next to Reimu's.
"Marisa! Wha-What are you-?"
Reimu could feel the heat from Marisa's body as her face came closer. "Marisa, I-"
"Smile!" grinned Marisa as she pulled Reimu's cheeks back.
"Huh…?"
"Man Reimu, what were you thinking of?"
Reimu blushed and stammered, "Ah-It was nothing! I was just-"
"I mean, you were just sitting there staring at the candy. Look – it's only unwrapped halfway."
"Oh…" Reimu looked in her hand at the yellow candy that was partially covered by the red wrapping.
"The villagers called that one Catseye. Kinda neat, huh?"
"Yeah…"
Marisa and Reimu continued to sit on the hill and watch as Gensokyo became active with the daily activities of its inhabitants. The smell of flowers wafted through the air and carried Reimu's heart far over the land, and she watched everything with happiness and pride.
"You know Marisa… I feel like I'm forgetting something…"
Marisa looked over and sadness dampened her face. "I think we all are Reimu."
"What do you think it is?"
"You've really forgotten? We haven't seen Her in a few months now, don't you realize that? Ever since that day…"
Reimu nodded as the memories came back. "Yeah… Ever since that encounter in the mansion, she's disappeared. I thought she died… didn't she?"
"No, she didn't. I saw all of it, Reimu. You passed out before She… well…"
A small tear began to gather in Reimu's eye. She wiped it away and looked up. "Yeah, I haven't seen Remilia out since that day. She's still really hurt about what happened I guess… but why wouldn't she be? She lost Her, of all people…"
A silence fell over the two. The smells of spring lost their fragrance, a cold breeze began to blow, and clouds began to dampen the light.
"Reimu, I think it's time," said Marisa as she stood up.
A confused look came over Reimu as she rose with Marisa. "What do you mean?"
Marisa turned around and began to walk away. A heavy fog rolled in and began to obscure her. The light grew dimmer, and the air grew colder.
"Wait! Marisa!" Reimu couldn't move thought. No matter what she did, her legs would not move forward. "Where are you going?! Marisa!"
Without turning around, Marisa's voice carried out into the wind. "Reimu, it's time to wake up. Don't you remember? Time to go!"
"Marisa!"
As the witch disappeared into the deep fog, her hat blew off and landed at Reimu's feet. Tears began to trickle down the red miko's cheeks as she looked at the tattered hat at her feet. "I won't forget you! I won't forget anyone! Marisa!"
"Marisa!" Reimu awoke with a jolt, and realized she had been sleeping against a tree. She looked over at Sanae who had been awoken by her outburst.
"Sorry Sana. I didn't mean to."
A small murmur of understanding.
It was the desolation all over again. Just remembering the days past put a knot in Reimu's heart. While fighting back the tears and pain, she realized she was holding something.
"Huh? What's this…?"
Reimu opened her right hand to reveal a small candy in red wrapping. A single tear made a dark spot on the paper.
"I won't forget Marisa. Thank you, and goodbye my dear friend…" She put the candy back into her pocket while fighting back tears and got up. Patting herself off, she then helped Sanae up.
"Are you ready? We haven't got much further to go."
A murmur.
"Alright, let's go. Easy now…"
As the two continued walking, Moriya shrine being only half a day away, a cold breeze blew. A black witch's hat was blown through the air and traveled far over Gensokyo. It flew over the destruction, the remains of Eientei, Hakurei Shrine, Myouren Temple, the Scarlet Mansion, and the Magic Forest, to land softly on the top of a hill. It sat there for a moment, seeming to watch over Gensokyo, before flying off again and disappearing forever.