A long staircase loomed ahead, cracked and crumbling from the strains of battle. Each step was like a memory to the destruction of Gensokyo.

"… Reimu… I don't … think…"

Sanae struggled to hold her head up. Despair and hopelessness began to take hold in her heart.

Reimu held her strongly and began to lead, one step at a time. "C'mon Sanae, we can make it. We can make it," urged Reimu repeatedly as she slowly ascended each step.

"Ugh… it… hurts…"

"Sanae, don't give up. We're almost at the shrine… just hold on."

She nodded weakly and gritted her teeth, slowly lifting each foot.

"That's it… come on now…"

Halfway up, they stopped to rest. A cold breeze began to blow and carried ashes through the air. The sky was beginning to cloud over, showing signs of rain. Everything was quiet, and only Sanae's slow breathing broke the silence. The day wasted away.

"… Hey… Reimu…"

"Yes?"

Sanae was sitting on a step, her eyes closed with one hand clutching her abdomen. A little bit of red could be seen under her hand.

"… Reimu… what do you think… will happen to Gensokyo… when we…"

"… I don't know Sanae."

"Do you think that magic… will ever return?"

Reimu was silent. She answered honestly and felt a twinge of pain in her chest. "Sanae, I don't think so. I don't know why the magic in Gensokyo disappeared. Something happened during the battle with Her, and now…"

Silence. A crumbling piece of the stair rolled down in between them.

"… I guess… it'll just… disappear…"

Reimu got up and took hold of Sanae, helping her get to her feet. Sanae clutched her wound tightly.

"Are you alright?"

A nod.

"Okay, let's keep going then. We're almost at the top."

As they continued a step at a time, the red spot under Sanae's hand grew deeper and darker. She was panting and sweat began to trickle down her face. Each step was sluggish and weak.

Reimu quickly grabbed Sanae as she collapsed on the stairs and held her tightly. Sanae was breathing heavily and she grimaced in pain.

"Sanae! Sanae! Hold on, we're almost there! Just a few more steps! Sanae!..."

"Sanae, will you give this to Suwako when she gets back?"

The green miko was sweeping the front of the shrine when Kanako handed her a small package.

"What's this?"

"The tengu dropped it off just now. I don't know what it is, but don't open it."

Taking the package, Sanae nodded and watched as Kanako began walking down the steps. "Where are you going?"

"I need to go check on that Remilia girl. You know. After "that" happened…"

"Okay."

Kanako smiled and left, leaving Sanae to finish her sweeping. Putting her broom down and with the package in hand, she wondered where Suwako could be and began walking back towards the house. As she got closer, she could hear a chorus of frogs from the backyard.

Turning the corner, a barrage of bubbles blasted her in the face.

"Ah! What the-?"

Suwako was standing in front of a long row of frogs, leading them in musical reverie. She continually blew bubbles as she taught them songs.

"Okay everyone! Let's try that part again…" She stopped short as she noticed Sanae. "Sanae! What's up?

"Here, a box for you Lady Suwako."

"Oh, thanks! Let's see… Ah! It's finally here!"

Sanae tried to look over Suwako's shoulder to see what was in the boox.

Quickly hopping away, Suwako hid the box behind her back. "It's nothing~!"

"Eh… My lady…"

"Aaaanyways, everyone's going over the Scarlet Mansion today. If this arrived, then Kanako is already on her way there. Right?"

"Erm, yes. She handed this to me and said to give it to you."

"You're such a good girl Sanae!"

Suwako hugged Sanae tightly and giggled.

Sanae felt happy, but managed to get a glance at what was in the box. She didn't look long before Suwako pulled away, but there appeared to be what looked like…

Stakes? What are those for?

"Okay everyone, today's session is over. Be sure to practice hard, okay?"

The frogs all ribbitted in acknowledgment and hopped away. They all disappeared within seconds.

"Now Sanae, shall we go as well? Everyone is going to be there, so we need to go as well."

"Um, lady Suwako, are we going because of… you know…"

Suwako silently nodded. Her usually cheerful face had an expression of pain and sadness, as if remembering a lost friend from long ago.

"…Yes. Today we're all going to pay our respects… to the dead."

"To the one who passed… right. I'm ready."

Suwako began hopping to the front gate and Sanae followed behind her.

"Um… Lady Suwako… I hope I'm not being a bother, but what's the box for?"

She answered without looking back. "It's a gift for the departed."

"Huh…"

Sanae didn't bother worrying about it anymore. It wasn't something that concerned her anyway.

They silently walked to the mansion. No one else was on the road.

"Is everyone already there?" Wondered Sanae out loud.

"Probably."

As the front gate came into view, Meiling was nowhere to be seen.

Suwako opened the guard's entrance and went in. Sanae didn't question the morality of it and followed.

Everyone was waiting in the front hall. Reimu, Yukari, Youmu and Yuyuko, the people from Eientei, and a large number of the citizens of Gensokyo quietly stood there.

No one looked or said anything as Sanae and Suwako walked in.

"Stay here with everyone else, okay?"

Sanae nodded and watched as Suwako disappeared into the crowd of people.

Within a few minutes, a figure appeared on the top balcony.

"Thank you for coming today, everyone. It's been a difficult time for all of us since… since this is the first time a death has truly occurred here in Gensokyo."

Remilia was not her usual commanding self, but still maintained composure and elegance befitting that of a vampire lord.

"Please feel free to come forward and give a last word to her…"

With that, she disappeared from her place on the balcony.

A shuffling sound could be heard as people went up and made a final peace between themselves and the deceased that lay in an open coffin, cold and unmoving.

There were so many people here that Sanae couldn't imagine getting to pay her respects before the day was over.

At that moment, a large explosion came from where the coffin sat.

People started screaming and cries rang out.

"Tend to the wounded!"

"C'mon, get away from there!"

"Hey… Hey! Say something, dammit!"

It was mass confusion. Sanae stepped aside as youkai were carried past her outside. They were…

Sanae nearly vomited. She quickly turned away, unable to bear the horrific sight.

Why is this happening? Was it a trap? Did someone setup a bomb or something?

Someone yelled out in bewilderment. "Huh? She-She's alive! What the…?"

Murmurs of confusion began to spread as the wounded were finished being taken outside.

A low growl came from inside the coffin.

"… you… all…"

Someone stepped forward and offered their hand. "Hey… are you oka-"

A deafening feral roar shook the entire hall. Sanae covered her ears and grimaced in pain. As her hearing quickly came back, something wet plopped down behind her and she turned to look.

A severed hand lay there twitching in a growing pool of blood.

Sanae was about to scream when more cries came from the front, but this time, they were desperate.

"Gaaah! My hand!"

"Run! Oh no- guh!"

A voice like that of a demon from hell shook the hall. "You… will all… DIE! I shall devour your FLESH!"

"Nooo-AHHH!"

Screams filled the air as panicked youkai shoved Sanae aside, clamoring for the exit.

"Hey! What's going on?!" Yelled Sanae, but no one listened.

She decided to fly up to get a better look.

A demon was holding a youkai man in the air with razor sharp, bloodied claws. It looked like…

No… It can't be! How could-

"Please help me! AHHHH!"

The man's scream was cut short as he was torn in half, blood gushing and drenching the floor in scarlet red. His intestines dangled loosely and the demon began to feast on them, pulling them out viciously and tearing the flesh with loud rending noises.

Sanae couldn't take it anymore, the sight sickened her and she felt like she was going to faint. However, the shock froze her body, and she couldn't move or turn away.

…That… that dress… Only one person would wear that uniform…

Reimilia emerged from behind the demon. "So… It's come to this then?"

Dropping the half-eaten man, it turned to face her. "You abandoned me… left me imprisoned in this tomb. The pain I felt as the infection spread further and the promises broken… You said you would help me… no matter what. But that quest with the red miko and the witch… you still didn't save me. You imprisoned me anyway… I can't forgive you… To repay for the suffering I have felt… you… will need… to DIE!"

Remilia sighed and sadness came over her face. "I'm sorry it has to end this way…"

"SHUT UP! I SHALL DEVOUR YOUR FLESH, AND THEN TAKE YOUR POWER! NOW DIE!"

The demon lunged forward towards Remilia. The two met with such incredible force that the shockwaves knocked Sanae back against a wall. She gasped and fell unconscious as the force overwhelmed her.