First time writing anything let alone a fan fiction so criticism is welcomed. Hopefully nothing looks too bad and that I'll get better at writing with each chapter.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their respective owners.
"Fuck it's cold." Max said with his arms wrapped around him as he tried to warm himself up. "I wonder if I can find that store again and get me another shirt…" Max sighed as he looked around at the endless number of trees. "Doubt I'd be that lucky. I should just fly since I've gotten better at it thanks to that fight with that vampire girl, but I don't need to draw any more attention to myself than I already have." He continued to walk through the cold forest with no sense of direction when he suddenly sneezed. "Damn it. I'm fucking lost again." He said as he shivered. "I need to get me a shirt then find out what is causing those nightmares. I've been a little worried ever since the vampire told me that my power wasn't the cause. If they haven't been able to find the source and it isn't me then it's possible that what is causing them might not actually be a resident of this place. It's a small chance, but with me being around and using more power than I wanted, one of those things might have manifested here since I arrived." Max let out a drawn out sigh. "But where the hell do I even begin to look?" Max's ear twitched to the sound of one of the bushes rustling. "Hmm…" He held out his hands toward the sound, grabbing something with his telekinetic power. "Gotcha." He then lifted a black cat with two tails out of the bush. The cat squirmed in the air as it tried to free itself. Max's tense expression quickly softened up at the sight of the cat. "Oh I'm sorry kitty!" He exclaimed as he brought the cat into his arms. "You scared me there." He began to pet the cat as it continued to try and get away. "Wait a minute… You're that cat Mokou set on fire. Sorry about that. Well your tail… tails look alright." Max's face suddenly tensed up again as he slowly stopped petting the cat. "Wait a damn minute here..." He then grabbed a hold of the cat's neck and with that the cat began to meow wildly. "Alright fucker, you had me there. Who and what are you? Some kind of shape shifter?"
Max and the cat were then suddenly surrounded by smoke. The smoke quickly faded away, revealing a girl in front of Max. The girl had red hair that was styled into twin braids and with black ribbons. She had dark red eyes and black cat ears. She wore a black and green decorated dress.
The girl was rubbing her neck and coughing. "H-How did you know?" The girl said.
"Very easily. Now answer me or you won't live long enough to answer any more questions." Max commanded as he glared at the girl.
"O-Orin. I'm a Kasha." Orin said nervously as she took a step back.
"Okay. Now why were you following me?"
"I wasn't! I was just… um…" Orin trailed her words as she looked away from Max.
"Bullshit. Did that vampire send you to track me or something?" Max said as he crossed his arms.
"No. My master sent me up here to-" Orin covered her mouth as she grew more nervous.
"Who is your master and where is he? Speak!" Max said as he heightened the volume of his voice.
"She's not a he! Her name is Satori Komeiji and she lives in the Palace of the Earth Spirits. Umph!" Orin said, covering her mouth again as she finished her sentence.
"Palace of what? Err… never mind…" Max said as he started to rub his forehead. "Now why did she send you up here if not to follow me?"
"She wanted me to find out what I could about the nightmares plaguing Gensokyo." Orin said as she tried to not show her fear. "Not exactly, but I can't tell him that…"
"Uh huh… So you are having nightmares where you live as well?"
"Yup! The underground youkai have started having nightmares a couple days ago." Orin said then cringed. "Damn it! Didn't want to say that. He's so scary…"
Max looked at her with surprise. "Wait a minute. Underground? And just a couple days ago?"
"Yup."
"Just a couple days ago? Meaning if it is a horror causing the nightmares, it may night be a powerful one if its range of causing nightmares is small. Plus it may mean that it is now located underground, or where ever." Max thought as he rubbed his chin. "Best lead I have so far."
"Um… Can I go now?" Orin asked as she kicked at the ground.
"Take me to where you live." Max commanded.
"Eh?"
"I said take me to the underground or where ever this palace is."
"B-But why?"
"Because I want to investigate the cause of these nightmares. Now take me there."
"Huh? Why would you want to do that?" Orin said as she raised an eyebrow.
"Why ask why? I'm sure you want the nightmares to end right? Well I want to find out the source of the nightmares. It's a win win situation. So stop asking questions and let's go."
"Alright. Alright… Just follow me. We'll get there faster if we fly."
"We're walking. Now move it." Max commanded.
Orin sighed then nodded as she began to walk with Max following close behind her. "I'm sorry Lady Satori… I didn't mean to bring such a dangerous person home, but then again…" Orin slightly glanced to her side to look at Max who was walking behind her. "Maybe Satori will know what to do with this guy. He might even be able to help us with the nightmare incident. I need to get him to her without troubles so I can tell her what I heard from the vampire and gap youkai." She crossed her arms then shivered. "Must he have such a fearful atmosphere around him?"
After about an hour, Orin and Max were underground, making their way towards the Palace of the Earth Spirits.
"Holy hell! I guess I didn't need a shirt after all…" Max said as sweat poured down his body.
"Hm? Oh, yes. It's only going to get hotter as we get deeper into Hell." Orin said as she walked casually even in the heat.
"Wait… Hell?" Max said, clearly not buying what Orin told him.
"Yup. We're in Hell right now. Well the former Hell. Soon we will pass by the Ancient City and soon be at the palace. It sits below the Blazing Fires so don't expect it to get any colder." Orin said.
Max shook his head in disbelief. "So… I've finally gone straight to Hell… I need to stop using the common sense of the outside world here, it's just going to make things more confusing then they have to be…"
After some more walking, Max turned his head to see a large wall with lights coming from buildings behind it in the distance.
Max pointed in the direction of the lights. "Is that-"
"The Ancient City. Yup, we'll be at the palace shortly." Orin said.
Max nodded. His nose then caught wind of something in the air. "Is it me or do you smell alcohol?" He said as he continued to sniff the air.
"Yup I do." Orin said as she also started to sniff the air.
"You should know well enough that that could only mean one thing, little Orin." A woman said as she made her presence known. She had long, straight blonde hair, red eyes, and a single red horn coming out of her forehead. She wore a white, short sleeved shirt with a red trim at the cuffs, neck, and bottom and a dark blue translucent skirt with red highlights and trim. She had manacles with broken chains on her wrists and ankles.
"Oh, Yuugi!" Orin exclaimed as she spotted the woman. "Yup, I should have known you would be around here at this time." She said as she lightly bonked her head with her fist.
"My… you sure have made one hell of a catch there, Orin. Mind introducing him to me?" Yuugi said as she looked Max over.
"Oh, him. Yes, well…"
"Max." Max said as he held out his hand. "She's taller than me and she has a frikin horn sticking out of her forehead…"
"Yuugi." Yuugi said as she grabbed Max's hand and gave him a firm, hard handshake. "So my Orin here has caught her a man from the outside world. How did you manage to find him before any of the above ground youkai got him?" She said as she put an arm around Orin's shoulders.
"Um… no that's not it. Actually, I need to get him to Satori. It is extremely important, Yuugi." Orin said while glaring at Yuugi with a serious expression.
Yuugi looked surprised at first from Orin's glare, but she quickly caught on. "Ah I see." She said as she let go of Orin. "Why don't we all go see Satori together? I've been meaning to speak to her. It has been a while since I've talked with that girl over some good o' sake."
"Okay!" Orin said, seemingly happy to have Yuugi along. Max simply nodded.
"Well isn't this a surprise. It seems like this human isn't just a normal guy. Maybe he's connected with that big incident that's been going on up there?" Yuugi thought as she walked beside Orin and with Max close behind the two. Yuugi then grinned. "Things sure are going to get exciting."
After a while of walking, the group came to a large palace with many stained glass windows all around it. Max stopped to gaze in awe at the magnificent building.
"Nice place, eh?" Yuugi said as she nudged Max's shoulder. "This would be the Palace of the Earth Spirits."
"Hmm… yeah. Nice." Max said as he was flabbergasted from the sight.
Orin lead the way as they entered the palace. Max was further amazed at the fantastic architecture of the inside of the building.
"Damn this place is nice. You don't see shit like this in the outside world." Max thought as he observed all around him.
"I am glad my home meets your standards, young man." A girl said as she entered the large hall from one of the many rooms of the palace. The girl had short, purple hair with a black hairband and purple eyes. She wore a blue shirt with a pink collar, a pink skirt with faint flowery pattern and pink slippers. She also had a red third eye that was positioned over her heart, with cords running to her head and wrists. "You are right, Orin. He is an attractive human." Orin blushed as Max raised an eyebrow and Yuugi smirked. "I am glad you brought him here. It is rare that we have a human from the outside world come here to visit." She said as she walked up to Max. "I am Satori Komeiji and I am Orin's master and the owner of this palace. It is nice to meet you, Max."
"You know my name?" Max said.
"I know quite a bit about you, but do not worry. I wish you no harm and hope you enjoy your stay here in my home."
"Uh huh…" Max said as he grew suspicious.
Satori chuckled. "I see that I have raised a bad flag with you." She turned to face Orin. "Orin. Take Max here to the main living room and get him something cold to drink. I will join you shortly once I have had a word with Yuugi." She said. "So it seems that this young man was the cause of the mass insanity above ground and it appears that the gap youkai and vampire have two different views on what to do with him. They say that a huge threat is coming our way. The vampire thinks we need this human to help fight against it and the gap youkai thinks he is the cause of it and needs to be destroyed. Interesting… I think I'll have to keep him here for the time being in till I can get some more information. His mind is much too scarred for me to read deeper and find out what exactly his plans are. I'll just have to resort to more conventional means." Satori thought as she and Yuugi left into another room, leaving Orin and Max alone.
"Um… Right this way please." Orin said. Max shrugged his shoulders and followed her.
Max was sitting on a luxuries couch observing the room as Orin returned with some cold water.
"Here you go." Orin said as she handed Max a glass. Max took it and let her pour water into it.
"Who else lives here?" Max asked.
Orin jumped slightly from the sudden question. "Oh, um… Lady Satori's other pets." She said.
"Pets? Hmm… never mind." Max said.
Satori and Yuugi entered to room after a while. Satori glanced over at Max who was lost in his thoughts, staring at the table in front of him.
"His thoughts are chaotic. Makes it difficult to read them." Satori thought.
"Orin! That man needs some sake! Not water!" Yuugi exclaimed.
"But it's a tad too early for sake." Orin said.
"You're crazy. It's never too early for sake." Yuugi said as she wrapped her arm around Orin's shoulders and dragging her down into the other sofa across from where Max sat.
Satori sat in an armchair then began to speak. "I see that you are here to find the source behind the nightmares. I must say I am pleased to hear that."
"And how do you know that?" Max asked.
"I'll be frank. I am able to read other beings' minds which of course include yours." Satori said. Max began to tense up even more than he already was. "That is correct. That means I know a lot more about you than you think." Max quickly got up from his seat with Yuugi and Orin following suit as they stood their grounds. "Now, now. Please do settle down. I may know about that power of yours and just how dangerous it is, but I have no intentions of fighting you. I would much rather you continue on with your investigation and find out what is causing these nightmares. I see those as the problem, not you." Max slowly sat back down as did Yuugi and Orin.
"Damn. I know Satori told me that we need to keep him from fighting no matter what, but god damn it I would love to fight with this guy and see what he is made of. He be a great sparring partner I'm sure." Yuugi thought.
"You say you know about my powers yet you-"
"Are not afraid?" Satori said, finishing Max's sentence. "No I am not. Don't be surprised. I know how it is like to be hated and feared because of your power. Others may not see it, but I can tell that the harm you cause isn't done out of malice or spite. You came here to Gensokyo because the barrier around it keeps you hidden from certain beings. You want to become powerful so you can confront those beings so you use our world as your little hidden lab to test your powers and perfect them."
"That's right." Max said.
"In short, you do not care what happens to us, but you do worry about the outside world. The only reason why you want to investigate the nightmares is because you think that a… horror might be causing them. Though you are looking into the incident for your own self-interest, I still thank you." Satori said.
"A horror? What's that?" Yuugi asked.
"Something we don't want to know apparently." Satori said.
"Exactly." Max said as he stood up with Satori, Yuugi and Orin getting up as well. "Thanks for the water, but I think I'll be going now." He said as he went to leave.
"Wait." Satori said, causing Max to stop. "Why don't you stay a while? You can cleanse yourself in our spa and I'll have a meal ready for you for when you get out."
"Yeah that sounds like a great idea. I haven't been in your spa for a while. We're going to need some sake. Come on Orin, you too." Yuugi said.
"A-Alright." Orin said.
"A spa? You've got a spa?" Max said as his mood seemed to lighten up a little.
"Of course I do. Now these two will show you where the changing room is. I will also have a change of clothe ready for you when you get out. Now go. I will not take no for an answer." Satori said.
"Um, uh… whatever." Max said as Yuugi threw her arm around his shoulders. "Never been in a spa before. Could be nice…" He thought.
"You're going to love it. It's one of the biggest spas here in The Underground." Yuugi said as she squeezed Max. "I'll get you some of the best sake around as well. This will be great!"
"Fantastic…" Max said in an unenthusiastic tone.
Max, Yuugi and Orin disappeared into the hall way, leaving Satori in the large room.
"Okay, you three can come down now." Satori said.
Three other girls then came walking down the stairs from the second floor of the palace. One of the girls wore a dress that was brown, blue, purple and black. She had curly blond hair and green eyes. The shorter girl wore a black and brown dress that was puffy under the waist and had a yellow ribbon tied around her lower body. She had brown eyes and blonde hair that was tied up in a bun with a ribbon. The smaller girl was in a bucket that was being carried by one of the other girls. She wore a white robe and had dark teal hair tied up in pigtails by white hair beads.
"Sorry for eavesdropping." The girl in the black and brown dress said as she held the bucket.
"That's alright, Yamame." Satori said.
"We were too scared to come down." The girl in the bucket said.
"I think it was just you who was scared, Kisume." The tallest girl said.
"I see you came here to see Yuugi, Parsee." Satori said as she smiled.
"No of course not!" Parsee exclaimed as her face reddened. "We came here to see who that guy with no shirt is."
"I know this." Satori said. Her expression turned serious as she walked up to the three girls. "I am going to need you three's help. It involves that man."
"Eh?" The three girls said.
Max took off his chain belt then undid the button and zipper to his pants. He threw his ragged pants off to the side then grabbed himself a towel and threw it over his shoulder. He walked out of the changing room and into the spa then stopped to glance around the glamorous spa.
"Wow… This is nice." Max said as he nodded in satisfaction. He threw his towel to the ground near the edge of the water then got into the spa, moaning in pleasure as the heated water touched his sore body. "Fuckin a' this is nice." He said as he leaned up against the edge of the spa and stretched his arms out to his sides. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "I needed this. I can relax in here in peace and figure out how I'm going to find that horror. Really don't want to, but I can't risk it causing a horror infestation and damaging the veil between realities. I guess I could just let my power leak out and try to lure the thing out, but then those bitches above ground might sense me." Max thought. He then let out a big sigh. "Oh well. I'll think about it later."
"Think about what?" A woman's voice said.
Max opened his eyes and turned his head to see who the voice came from. He saw Yuugi standing behind him, naked. She held some cups and a bunch of bottles while a towel laid over one of her shoulders. Max quickly turned his head and looked forward, his face red from both the hot water and from seeing Yuugi's nude body.
"I assume I am on the wrong side of the spa…" Max said.
"Wrong side?" Yuugi said as she tossed her towel to the side and got into the water next to Max. "Oh, nope." She laughed. "This is a mixed spa. Here, have some sake. It makes relaxing in the spa that much better. Well actually sake makes everything better." She then poured some sake into a cup and offered it to Max.
"Um… No. I'm not in the mood to drink right now." Max said as he made sure to keep staring straight ahead, not even looking at the cup being handed to him.
"Oh come on now." Yuugi said as she forced the cup into Max's hand. "This is your first time here in The Underground so I'm going to make sure you have loads of fun. Fun always begins with some sake. It also ends with sake." She said as she poured herself a cup of sake.
"I take it that you like to drink?" Max said as he stared into the sake filled cup.
Yuugi let out a loud laugh. "You don't know much about oni now do you?" She said before taking a sip of her sake. "Sake is our blood."
"An oni…?" Max said under his breath.
"Where the hell is Orin? We need to get this little party started already." Yuugi said as she looked behind her. "Hey! Orin! Get your ass out here!" She yelled out.
Orin slowly made her way out of the changing room. Her face was red and she held a towel that was wrapped around her, keeping her body concealed. "I-I'm coming…" Orin said while stuttering her words. "I thought we were going to wait in till he got out."
"I didn't say that. You must of misunderstood me." Yuugi said before downing a cup full of sake. She exhaled heavily before continuing to speak. "The spa is the best place to start a party. Shouldn't that weird hell raven be back from her duties? We could use more company."
"Okuu? Yeah she should have been now that you've mentioned it." Orin said as she got into the spa, keeping a good distance between her and the other two.
"You can't drink the sake just by looking at it." Yuugi said to Max. She then sat her arm around his shoulders. "First time drinking?"
"No. I'll drink it when I feel like it." Max said as he continued to stare at his cup.
"Come on now. You never know when the world might end so you gotta drink while you still can." Yuugi said as she grabbed a hold of Max's cup then forced it to his mouth then tilted it.
The sake went right down Max's throat causing him to cough wildly. "D-Damn it! I said I'll drink it when I want to!" Max said as he continued to cough.
"There we go. We just broke the ice." Yuugi said as she patted Max's back. She then turned to Orin. "And what the hell are you doing all the way over there? I can't reach you to hand you your sake."
"I'm, I'm fine." Orin said
"Now don't you start." Yuugi said as she got up and walked over to Orin. She sat down next to her and wrapped her arm around her neck. "Satori told me what you found out about this guy." Yuugi whispered. "She wants us to keep him in the Underground as long as we can. So a good way to do that is to get him so trashed tonight that he'll have such a big hangover tomorrow he won't want to go anywhere. That's a good amount of time for Satori to do whatever she's going to do."
"I don't see why that requires us to bathe with him." Orin whispered.
"The spa is a great place for bonding. We need to get this guy to not be so tense. Less chance of him going off or something." Yuugi whispered.
"I think he's getting more tensed."
"Nah. He's just being shy. Makes me wonder if he's ever been with a woman. Now get over there and show him your charm."
"Eh? Are you nuts?" Orin exclaimed.
"Shh! We need to get him drinking, but he needs a little motivation. A guy like him will give in to having two attractive women offering him sake in a spa. Remember that Satori asked this of us." Yuugi then smirked. "And maybe you'll be able to have your way with him before the night is out."
"Of course not!" Orin yelled as her face got redder.
Yuugi grabbed Orin's hand and stood up. She walked back over to where Max was, dragging Orin with her. Yuugi sat on one side of Max while Orin reluctantly sat on the other side.
"Sorry for the wait. Just had to have a little one on one chat with Orin. Now let's get this welcoming party started!" Yuugi said.
"I'll be getting out now." Max said as he reached behind him for his towel.
"Eh? Wait what? Why so soon? The party is about to get started." Yuugi said as she faked a laugh.
Max wrapped his towel around him before standing up. "Because I don't like taking long baths. I got other things I need to do." Max said. Orin suddenly grabbed his arm then forced him to sit back down into the spa. Max and Yuugi looked at her with shocked expressions. "W-What the hell?"
Orin had her eyes closed and looked upset, but her tense expression faded as she slowly opened her eyes to reveal her stunning, cat-like eyes. Max blushed as he was caught in her alluring gaze. She leaned closer to Max as he turned his face away from hers. Orin got close enough that Max could feel her breathing into his ear.
"You aren't going anywhere in till you have some more drinks with me." Orin whispered into Max's ear, making him shake a little.
Yuugi grabbed a cup and placed it in Max's hand then helped him lift it. Orin grabbed a bottle then began to pour sake into the cup as she purred seductively in Max's ear. Blood rushed to his face and down to his groin. Orin took the filled cup then placed it to Max's lips, making him chug it. He let out a heavy breath of air after he finished the cup of sake.
"There we go, champ!" Yuugi yelled as she smacked Max's back a few times. "Damn, Orin… I knew you had it in you."
"Alright, fine. I'll drink with you girls a little then I'm outa here." Max said as he let Orin pour him some more sake.
"That's the spirit!" Yuugi yelled as she became more excited.
After a long night of drinking, Max ended up passing out in one of the large beds in one of the rooms of the large palace and was now wearing a stylish red robe. He groaned as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Oh, fuck me. Hangovers suck… big time…" Max thought. "Fucked up night that was… Fun though…" He rubbed the left side of his face that had a red imprint of a hand on it. "Damn cat girl didn't need to smack me so hard just for grabbing her tits. She was the one leading me on..." His tired expression disappeared after he fully opened his eyes to see a girl with a pair of black feathered wings and long black hair with a green hair ribbon sitting on top of him. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt and a short green skirt. She also had a large red eye in the center of her shirt. Max smiled slightly as his face turned slightly red. "Damn… Well… not that I don't mind doing this now, but any way we can hold this off in till a little later? Kinda have a big hangover here." The girl said nothing as she gazed at him. His content expression faded as he began to feel a burning sensation all over his skin. "What the hell? Why does it feel like I'm burning?" Max thought.
The girl placed her hands on Max's abs then slowly slid them up to his chest then finally to his neck. Max cringed as the burning sensation began to turn into a burning pain.
"What the fuck is going on? Fuck… Would have totally done this chick if it wasn't for the risk of getting my balls burned up." Max thought. "Alright. I need to go. Got shit to do. You understand I'm sure." He said as he placed his hands on the girl's wrists and tried to push her hands away. Suddenly, the girl grabbed a hold of his neck and began to choke him. Her nails dug right into his skin, making him bleed. "What the fuck did I do?"
Small, glowing yellow orbs began to orbit the girl. The eye in the center of her chest was suddenly filled with what looked like a fiery explosion.
"Damn it! My entire body feels like it's on fire!" Max thought.
Max struggled desperately to break the girl's grip as his body began to blister. Tears of blood ran down the girl's face from her horribly bloodshot eyes as her lips curled into a sadistic grin.