Nicolas Notes: Hiyas~! This is an omake chapter that has nothing to do with the main story *He's lying*
So I hope you guys enjoy it~!
Disclaimer: I do not own Touhou, blah blah blah, and yes the Rook is mine and I would appreciate it if you'd give it back
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CHAPTER 5: Past the Forest and through the Shop
Year 2000
8:33 Post-meridian
Unnamed Forest, North West of the Hakurei Shrine, Gensokyo
Rook crashed down against a tree and sat with his back on it, his face contorted in pain as he clutched his stomach in a futile attempt to lessen the white hot fire that was burning within him. He completely forgot that during his fight earlier with Reimu, he had to activate that ability of his to postpone the pain he was supposed to feel which meant right now, he was feeling the "Price" for activating the stupid ability. Why… why does it always have to be the stomach? Thought Rook in his tormented mind.
"Argh!" he grunted as a piercing pain shot through his spine making him think that he just broke his spinal cord when he has not.
Arcing his back, he placed his left hand on his right shoulder while closing his eyes and gritting his teeth as the pain increased by the second. The boy began to squeeze his shoulder harder as the pain rose and grew, it was as if he were being crushed into gravel only to be crushed again, the repetitive thoughts of being smashed against the wall and shattering like an ice pack kept swirling within Rook's mind.
Rook looked up just in time to see a tall black hooded man skewered him with a trident square on the chest. The pain was too real and almost had him convinced by the illusion, causing his heart to skip five beats and for him to cough out blood. Rook blinked twice just so that he can get rid of the haunting illusion that the "Price" had set upon him.
"Darn it… DARN IT ALL!" he roared, pointing his palm towards another tree and shot a bolt of lightning, making the trunk explode. However, the effort of doing so drained him of his power, causing him to breathe heavily so much that his lungs hurt.
Damn it! Why did this crap have to happen now? Why now? Why, why, why, WHY! Roared Rook within his mind, grabbing a chunk of the grass from the ground and throwing it away vigorously in order to vent out his frustration. How? Five years, FIVE YEARS! They'll be arriving in five years! How would I be able to face them with this pathetic state of mine! I could hardly fight a damn fairy!
Rook slammed his right hand against the large stone beside him, ignoring the explosion of pain that erupted from his knuckles, he continued to pound his fist against the rock repeatedly until it began to bleed and utter loud cracking noises. The boy raised his hand one last time and rammed the stone with all the might he could muster in his hand.
"Why does this always have to happen to me, damn it!" he shouted out loud, causing the sleeping birds to suddenly take to the sky.
Rook slumped back into his tree gasping at the pain he had inflicted on himself as his memories chose the bad time to appear.
"He's the murderer here, Reimu, he's no better than the youkai, I told him that Miss Mima was on our side, yet he killed her anyway! He's a monster, Reimu! And monsters are supposed to be killed!"
"Shut up! SHUT UP, LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!" yelled Rook, forcing his hands on his ears to block out the echoing voice of Marisa from entering. Without really thinking about it, he began to see Patchouli standing before him within a memory. Her expression was a cold stare piercing him. He can still remember that night…. The night he left… The Magician's words…
"This is all your fault, if only you hadn't poisoned her mind she wouldn't have to be reduced to this state… You will walk the lands alone with the knowledge of what you have done ever present within your mind. No matter what you do, no matter where you go, this knowledge will remain, NOW BEAR MY CURSE!"
"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" shouted the boy, preparing his left arm to strike but only to find no one before him.
"Monster…. That's what you are…"
"I am… no monster…. And… I will never be one…. Ever…" said Rook as he tried to catch his breath. What the hell is with these illusions? Is my brain finally fighting against me? Damn it, I need to see a doctor… I just lost my powers and I can't have myself going insane now…
Suddenly, a vague image of Flandre whispering to the mutilated corpses of the 'toys' she has broken came into Rook's mind.
No.
He cannot lose it now, especially when he had another insane person to cure. It would be no help at all by losing his mind now. Rook raised his injured hand and began to examine the wound he has inflicted on it like it was a lollipop he was about to taste. The entire hand felt numb yet some stinging sensations shot through his bloody knuckles in which his cartilages were exposed. Some of his fingers were dislocated and now are pointed at weird angles. A few of them had deep cuts exposing the white of their fragile bones. When Rook touched his right index finger with his left, his injured hand gave an involuntary twitch which caused him to wince as pain began to travel through his arm. Shattered…. Some of his fingers were shattered upon impact on the stone.
The boy made his left palm hover over the back of his right hand and whispered. "Heal…"
A faint shade of blue began to glow from the boy's left palm and began to close the cuts and heal the bruises that were present on the injured hand. Rook could feel his crushed bones reattach themselves into one another like strings being woven, however, the wounds did heal yet the pain is still present. The stinging sensation remains long after the wounds have been healed. Usually, a faint warm feeling was left behind every time the healing process finishes. This seems to be an obvious sign that his power has indeed weakened.
"Oh my, what happened?" said a feminine voice that rung out of nowhere. A gap ripped through the very fabric of reality from which Yukari stepped out casually with her pink parasol leaning on her shoulder. She came to a halt a few paces away from the boy on the tree, before setting her parasol in front of her and say, "Got a rough night?"
Without hesitation, Rook jumped to his feet and charged the Youkai of Borders bare handed. Surprisingly enough, Yukari made no attempt of fleeing as the boy grabbed her by the collar and shake her like there was no tomorrow in his rage.
"What kind of sick joke are you trying to pull now?" roared Rook as he continued to shake Yukari back and forth. "Aren't you effing content with your sick pranks already? Where the hells were you when we needed you? WE WAITED FOR YOU, THINKING THAT WE'RE BUYING YOU ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY APPEAR, BUT YOU DIDN'T! INSTEAD, YOU LEFT IT TO THE FOUR OF US TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, TO FIGHT YOUR STUPID BATTLES! Why is it that you always push your problem to us? Can't you take your goddamned job seriously—"
Rook was cut off as he was blasted five feet into the air before crashing back down on the ground, only to be swallowed by a gap which led him into crashing straight into the trunk of the tree he sat on earlier. The boy turned his glare back at Border Youkai only to realize that Yukari seemed a bit….. Tired?
"What… the hell is it with you… and your damn empty promises?" growled Rook, ignoring the sight of Yukari's tired eyes as she merely stared at him. "How many more lives do you have to risk until you're content? Tell me, do you actually care about this world of yours? Are you really that careless leaving it to a teenage girl who barely has any experience on anything in the field of battle, and has no idea the risks she's taking when making choices?"
"What are you trying to imply?" replied Yukari as she finally spoke. "That you'll do a better job in handling this world's problem than Reimu? Than me? Know this Rook, you too can make mistakes as I do… No matter how old we are or how long we have existed, we will always make mistakes… None of us are perfect, not even I, the one who has the ability to manipulate everything at will…."
"No…. But still why didn't you come sooner! We could've used your help for all we knew, yet you didn't even show up! If only you arrived earlier, Mima wouldn't have to fade and Marisa wouldn't be hating me now! The shrine didn't have to be destroyed and we could have saved Reimu faster!" growled Rook, getting worked up again with every word filling him with rage. The Border Youkai's incompetence has crossed the line for the final time.
"Hold your tongue, Wayward Chess Piece!" snapped Yukari as a dark shadow crept along her skin while her eyes burned with bright purple light. The right side of her beautiful face became warped and demonic, which caused Rook to freeze in place at the nightmarish sight. Yukari uttered a threatening snarl before willing her face back to normal once more.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Yukari released a heavy sigh as she fought to keep her composure intact. "Rook, allow me to explain my absence during your fight with Reimu a few hours ago…"
The boy had no choice to listen for he was bound to the ground by two small gaps that held both of his feet in place. Gritting his teeth, Rook had no choice but to hear her out, wondering what silly excuse she made up again for not showing up as expected.
"The moment you and your witch friend, and before Ran could even warn me again of the situation, I was already working my hardest in keeping the Great Barrier intact as you fly through the sky heading towards the shrine. Yes, while you were cruising through the air at a more or less leisurely pace, I was sealing up major cracks that appeared upon our precious sky, however I might as well be holding back a flood with a wooden door for it was no use. Indeed, not even with my powers I could seal and repair all of those damages at once, Rook, like you, I too have my own limits, and due to my peaceful lifestyle it seems like that I have lost my edge quite a bit… All I can do at that time was to slow down the Barrier's collapse, so you see here my boy, I was buying you time not the other way around. I really wanted to help, cross my heart, I am not lying for now. I had my hands full at the time and I cannot risk of sending Ran or Chen to you since I needed much of their strength after seeing your progress bar not progressing. You did well by offering and risking your power for Reimu back there, however…."
Yukari began to walk towards Rook, and knelt down beside him, placing her hand beneath his chin and forcing him to look at her eyes. "I saw you hesitate…. Now why would that be..?"
Rook jerked his head to the side, avoiding eye contact with the Youkai before him. "None of your business. Just be merry that your shrine maiden is safe…"
"You're hiding something again," muttered Yukari, and then she shook her head and stood up. "Never mind, I won't bother you if you're uncomfortable with it, all of us have those split decision moments in our lives once in awhile"
Silence reigned the clearing for a good seven minutes. The crickets chirped and the owls hooted, while the day animals slept peacefully as if the events that occurred the past six hours never happened. Gensokyo was quiet with the absence of the falling sky and that of the exploding geysers; all evidences of the event seemed to have disappeared magically. Once the seven minutes have passed overhead without much disturbance, Rook began to speak.
"Can't you bring it back?" blurted out the boy without thinking.
"Bring what back?" asked Yukari, raising an eyebrow as she looked at Rook questioningly.
"My powers, can't you just manipulate my borders so that I would attain the skills that I had from before?" said Rook with a hint of desperation in his tone.
Yukari tilted her head to the side and looked at the boy with sad, pitying eyes. "I'm afraid…. I cannot help you in that matter…"
Anger flashed upon Rook's features, yet he composes himself with a sigh to keep his cool as he says "Why not?"
"As I have said earlier, I have my limits; there will be always that one Boundary that even I have forbidden myself to cross. Tell me Rook, are you brave enough to go against fate's wishes?" asked Yukari, keeping her eyes on Rook's reaction.
The first thing that popped into his mind at the word 'fate' was Remilia for she was one person who could bend the strings of fate to her will on random times. And—
Rook's jaw gaped a bit as the realization hit him out of nowhere. "It's her… She did this, that damn Magician…"
Yukari turned her gaze away from the boy and placed its focus on a small cluster of bright violet flowers that bloomed at the side of a large tree. "There are some things that I wouldn't be able to manipulate. For example, you were fated to lose your power due to a freak accident; I cannot reverse the effects of that future for it is protected by fate's strings. It blocks out my power, rendering it useless. It also seems that you were fated to reclaim your powers on your own, which means I won't be able to help you and neither can the Oarfish above can… However, I probably return some of it back to you yet there's no knowing what could happen, that is why I'm going to try and avoid from straying that far for it could prove risky even for you…"
"Try? Why are you going to try?" asked Rook.
"There will be times that I will help you, occasionally giving you a little nudge by activating your power, yet even then it is still risky. You can still fire lightning bolts, no? Yet they drain you much of your strength? That just proves that your body almost returned to its original state the day you first received your abilities. Your memories say that you know how to activate those skills you lost, however, your body simply doesn't have that amount of power to accommodate all of those abilities that you've harness for the past eight centuries. In a nutshell: you're back to level one, unless you train yourself to become as powerful as you were a few hours ago, maybe even more powerful…"
"So powerful… it could create a monster…" she whispered in a very mellow voice that only the breeze could hear. Rook's face told her to repeat what she said but she never responded and instead, looked at him as it was his turn to speak.
Rook did not mind what Yukari had mumbled to herself and continued his talk.
"It took me eight hundred years to acquire all of those skills, are you sure that I would be able to gain them all back if I train?"
"I never said that, although…. Maybe, just maybe… Your memories are the key here since they already know how to activate some of your most powerful strikes, it's only your body you have to work on for it to accommodate all of the energy it requires to fully gain control on your powers, give it a few years and you'll be back in no time…"
"You're a youkai, sometimes your definition of 'a few years' could extend to 'millennia', so it's not really reliable if you say that…"
"But still, at least it will be… umm, easy-ish for you to reclaim all of your powers back to its former glory. With that knowledge in mind you should be able to go through this with little difficulty"
Except for the fact that I'm now under time limit… thought Rook menacingly, yet aloud he said. "I'm still angry at you and your incompetence. And also, regaining all of those skills I've learned is easier said than done and another thing is I'm not you, I'm just a… what you call… extraordinary human…"
"You're rather special than extraordinary, Rook. Your purple haired Magician friend knows this too. Maybe a little too special. It seems to me that she has countered your move with this dilemma she has placed before you even if it were an indirect attack, uf fu fu fu. I'm infinitely curious on how you would retaliate with you in this state. This blow you've just received is no laughing matter; it may greatly affect your future progress in your silly game, Hehehe…"
Rook lowered his gaze to his right hand. I was playing into her turn without even knowing it… With Remilia at her side… No, the vampire could only bend fate once certain conditions are met. She won't be able to strike me with 'Fate' again for a very long time. Still, that was cheap shot from her; I have to be more careful next time since she's manipulating my actions from afar…
Yukari willed the gaps that bounded Rook's feet to disappear, startling the boy out of his thoughts. "Hmph, seems like I gave you a lot to think about, didn't I? Your opponent seems to be playing her pieces well, provided her very funny strategy, but the question is, Will you be able keep up with the battle you've just started or will you just sit there and wait for the other youkai to consume you?"
To the Border Youkai's surprise, Rook began to snigger until he was laughing softly at her words. "As. If. I'll let that happen," said the boy, with a wide grin plastered on his bright face, removing all the bitter expressions he made just a while ago.
"New plan formed within that thick skull of yours?" asked Yukari staring at him suspiciously.
"Yeah, and I'm telling you… It's going to be fun, I'll let her savor this win for now… Besides, Patchouli is too far away in order for me to strike her. But just you wait, once she steps into this little world that'll be the time I'll be turning the chessboard… A deadly chessboard,"
You wouldn't know… The checkered grounds of your chessboard could blind you somehow… Chess piece. These were the words that popped into the youkai's mind after hearing the last phrase of the boy. And with her thought, she quietly chuckled, careful not to show the boy what she was thinking. Are you sure that the game's favor will forever be to your side, naïve boy?
"I-I see" said Yukari, as she wondered if Rook had finally lost his marbles. "Can you tell me of your plan?"
"It's. A. secret~!" chuckled the boy as he stood up unsteadily back on his feet.
"That's my line!" snapped Yukari, pointing an accusing finger at Rook.
"I'm only pulling a leaf out of your book Yukari, I'm gonna teach that girl a lesson…" said Rook as he dusted off dirt from his pants.
"Fine, don't tell me, I'll find it out sooner or later, and don't come home to me crying that you lost…" the Border Youkai tried to sound offended, however the gesture failed by the sight of her amused eyes. "I'll be watching this little play of yours…"
"Whatever." said Rook with uncertainty in his tone.
Yukari raised her right hand above her head, causing a gap to open and a small black box to fall down the grass from the purple void. "I have a present for you, seeing that casting a single bolt would drain you of your much needed strength, I brought this plaything for you to use until you adjusted your power to your current state…"
Rook walked towards the box and kneeled before it, undoing the locks placed on its lid and opening it. "It's…. a gun? Does it work on youkai though?"
On the boy's hands was a well balanced, steel plated, Outside world made Mk.22 Sleeper gun, a pistol usually used to neutralize enemies by knocking them out with a bullet filled with a strong sleep inducing drug. It's—
"None lethal, and the drug within the bullets is strong enough to keep an enraged Oni asleep for three days, although if you even try and shoot me I think I'll be knocked out for a couple of weeks" mused Yukari as she watched the boy examine the pistol on every angle.
"It's fairly light, the grip and trigger have been customized so it's very comfortable for hands that are not used to these things," Rook glanced at the black box and took out the bullet rounds. "These are usually used in hunting wild animals in Africa… It's very fatal to humans in high doses, because if you cross the line, you sleep forever. A green tipped 9mm parabellum bullet, huh... Still," he placed the firearm back in its case along with its bullets and stared at the Border Youkai before him. "Why would you go this far into aiding me? You know how I am when it comes to weapons and the reasons why I never use them,"
"Beggars can't be choosers, Rook. Unlike last time, you won't be able to tear apart youkai with only your electricity, so for now you'll have to improvise and find other alternative ways to fight, it should be fun for you…" replied Yukari. "The box contains unlimited magazines, courtesy of my gaps, however it seems like you still need to reload and replace your magazines with new ones that come from the box. Make sure you bring enough ammo and magazines before you head out to somewhere. Remember it can only be fired once before reloading so time your shots well, and don't miss!"
"You stole this, didn't you?" asked Rook shrewdly, cracking a smile on his lips.
"Back in the Cold War, somewhere in a forest while I was taking a peaceful stroll, and I did not steal it I merely salvaged it so that I could give it to you as a present!" argued Yukari crossing her arms under her chest.
"And it took you ten years to finally give it? Why not last Christmas, that time when you gave Ran that weird underwear… with laces…"
"Chen was present and she had enough for that night!" snapped the Youkai of Borders and her nose lifted high in the air.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever onee-chan," muttered Rook in an undertone, however, it was still heard by Yukari for her eyes began to sparkle for a moment.
"Wha-what did you say?" she stuttered in disbelief.
Rook raised an eyebrow and says "Did I say something? What's with that face, bah, never mind. I'm not going back to Mayohiga tonight so you can go now, thanks for the gift by the way."
Yukari spread her fan across her face and uttered her trademark chuckle. "uf fu fu, very well I'll see you around then, Rook…"
A loud pop indicated a gap opening behind Yukari, however when she was about step inside, she slowly turned her head around to face Rook once more. "Oh and I almost forgot, you're probably wondering why the 'Price' as you call it, suddenly came to a grinding halt when I arrived, I merely postponed its effects until I left so it would probably back in let's say…. Thirty seconds?"
Rook's eyes widened at her words, quickly kneeling down to the box and pulling out his Mk.22, aiming it towards Yukari's head. "Damn it Yukari!"
The tranquilizer gun barked as the boy pulled the trigger; however, before the bullet even left the cylinder, Yukari had already disappeared into her gap. The bullet collided with the thick tree bark at the other end of the clearing.
Rook's right hand began to tremble as his own heart beats began to drum against his ears. The pain was now creeping back into his body, squeezing his spine and twisting his muscles, crushing his mind while piercing his eyes. His knees gave way, forcing him to kneel. His breathing began to quicken while his blood began to feel like they were on fire.
The boy held his head with his hands as he cringes in pain, as if his stomach was being pumped with air and was about to explode any moment now. His heart's deep beating sounded louder in his ears now as he placed a hand before him to keep himself from falling face first into the ground.
Stupid… Gap hag… I'll get her for this… he thought as his vision began to blur. Somehow the cool gentle breeze made him very sleepy. The soft touch of the grass and its comfortable leaf blades, dark patches of black began to dance at the end of his vision. The pain was getting to his head again, draining him once more of the little strength he had recovered. I give up…
Rook's hands collapsed prompting him to fall face first into the soft grass in the middle of the clearing and began to snore.
Little did the boy know that someone was watching him as he spoke to the Gap Youkai a few minutes ago. From behind a large oak, a small figure peered through the side of the tree's trunk. A small girl about the age of nine to twelve cautiously observed the fair-haired person that lay asleep on the forest floor, completely oblivious of the dangers that surround him.
Not knowing what to do, the girl steeled her will and began to take tentative steps towards the sleeping boy. As she came out of the dark shade of the towering tree behind her, the girl proved to have the same blonde hair as Rook, however her eyes were golden, though unlike Marisa, her hair was short and had a blue head band with matching ribbon at the side. It was obvious that the girl had a rough day for her blue apron was in tatters while her white shirt sported ripped sleeve on her left.
The girl had streak of dirt on her right cheek while her short legs were splattered in dry mud and had the look that they were travelling for weeks without rest. One of the girl's shoes were missing leaving her with her bare sock that used to be white though now it seemed like it has lost its color.
The girl crouched down next to Rook, placing that thick black leather bound book she carried to her side, and began to poke him on his shoulder. The boy gave no response except for a very loud snore. Seeing that she will acquire no useful information from the sleeping Rook, she stood up and began to pace around.
Now, what do I do…? It was miracle that I even managed to get pass Sara and exit that world, however I have no plans on what step should I make next. Ugh, maybe I should've planned this out a little longer, thought the girl while still carrying the heavy leather bound book at her side. It's been two weeks, has Yumeko found out about my trick? Mother must be going out of her mind of worry… I wonder if they're searching for me now… Well please forgive me, mother, sisters, but if none of you are going to do about our current situation then I will… I just need to find the shrine maiden again and that witch and beat them to a bloody pulp once more…
The girl ceased her pacing and threw a disgusted look at the sleeping Rook who muttered. "Damn you Yukari…. I'm gonna throw you off a cliff…. *mumble* *mumble*"
The girl eyed him with contempt as she thought in her mind. Filthy human, they're nothing but disgusting, barbaric slobs… I should probably just kill him now, but sadly I can't… Aside from that strange woman in purple, he's the first person I have encountered in this world aside from the fairies. My first source of information will be him, and once I have the information I seek, I'll dispose of him by then.
Rook, who was oblivious to what the seemingly harmless girl's thoughts were planning, continued to mumble in his sleep. The girl tried to ignore his mutterings for most of them were incomprehensible and difficult to understand, until she caught a word that seemed all too familiar to her ears.
"Got any food to spare…. Hakurei?" muttered the boy as a large clump of grass found their way into his mouth, causing him to chew without knowing what he was eating. Meanwhile, the girl in the ruined clothes stared at him wide eyed and once again, began to think deeply to herself. Hakurei? That name…. that was the name that circulated around Makai the moment Sara was defeated. The name of the person that beat me, along with three others… Could this boy know who that red white is?
The girl ran up to Rook and began to shake him vigorously in an attempt to wake him. "Hey you, Wake up! How do you know of the Hakurei? Are you an accomplice of hers? Hey speak to me you somnolent fool! Awaken!"
Receiving no response from the surprisingly heavy pain drunk sleeper, the girl plopped herself on his back causing Rook to grunt at the sudden weight that was placed on his back, however he was still asleep and made no attempt on getting the child off of him. And as if to insult the frustrated little girl behind him, the idiot began to speak once more in his sleep. "Chen, behave yourself or I'll call Ran to punish you for being a bad…. Kitty, zzzzzzz"
The girl crossed her arms and pouted adorably at his words, when a sudden inspiration struck her. She climbed off Rook's back, took with her the large book she carried and stand before the boy's head with an angry look upon her face. "Let's see who's getting punished here, disgusting human," she hissed as she gripped her black book tight. "And for future reference, my name is not Chen, IT IS ALICE!"
Rook began to stir at the girl's loud voice, but too late. He had enough time to see the girl lift the heavy black book over her head before slamming it down the boy's head with all her might.
Everything went black…. Again…
SAVE GAME?
{Y}/N
The bonfire crackled merrily in the middle of a small clear patch in the forest where the crickets chirped happily and the owls hooted contently within their homes. Rook threw dried wood and sticks into the fire while rubbing the new bump he had on his head, courtesy of the girl in blue and white who named herself as Alice. The girl sat huddled at the other side of the fire as she hugged her black book against her stomach while staring at the depths of the flames as if she were hypnotized by its beauty.
Rook glanced at the girl for a fraction of a second before releasing a heavy sigh as he sat back down on the grass, staring at the tiny spot not covered by the leaves in which the sky was visible. It was funny how a few hours earlier the sky was falling.
The girl 'Alice' had just finished her fifteen minute apologizing session when she realized the damage and unnecessary pain she had caused Rook by hitting him with a four kilogram and three inched leather bound book of doom right on his skull. It was a miracle that he had managed to survive the assault with only a large bump on his head. Ever since he offered to keep her company for awhile due to the fact of having a young child wander about the forest, looking as though she were running from death itself was dangerous; she has been relatively quiet and has not spoken since.
Rook has observed that by the tatters of her clothes and that of the complicated expression she has adopted, he could tell that she was very troubled and was being chased by someone. Although, even if he did knew this in his mind he did not speak it out loud for in startling the girl with barrages of questions that she seems to be uncomfortable in answering at the moment. The book she was holding, the clever calculating glint in her eyes, and an aura that radiated determination, this girl was up to something and it was not a mere coincidence for her to appear right after the incident a few hours ago. He would have to stay alert since looks can be deceiving at times.
Rook uttered a fake cough while placing a hand before his mouth, which somehow startled the little girl by the fire, her attention now focused on him. He smiled once he had caught her and began to speak. "Now, would you care to tell me that why a young lady like you is out in the middle of a dark forest all alone? Your parents must be worried sick, are you lost? I could take you back to the village if you want,"
Alice glanced at him for a moment before turning her gaze back into the fire and remains silent.
The quiet game, huh? Well now… he thought to himself as he produced a large sweat drop near his brow. "Say… Are you foreign? You don't seem to be from these parts,"
Alice flickered her eyes toward him nervously, only to turn away as she met his gaze. "Ye-yes… I strayed off from our group and suddenly found myself lost in these woods. There were many monsters and… I'm scared" The girl tightened her hug around that black book of hers and lowers her face into it.
She's lying… thought Rook, however, aloud he replied. "You got separated, huh? Well I'm sorry to hear that. Do you need help?"
Alice did not reply, but continued to stare into the fire however, the look on her eyes only raised Rook's suspicions. His eyes eventually trailed to the book she was holding.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that a grimoire?" he asked pointing his gloved finger at the black book.
A spark of alarm flashed through the girl's eyes as she looked at Rook. "I- um, well it's…" she started, only to falter mid-way and look very uncomfortable.
"Well, if you don't want to talk about it, I can always leave it hanging. I just need to be on alert in case something suddenly pounces out of nowhere and attack me, especially after what just happened," said Rook as he tore his gaze away from the girl and back place it back to the sky.
"The lights and bangs from earlier, were you involved in it?" asked Alice as she finally found her voice. "The sky was breaking and earth was shaking, are those things really that common here?"
"We call them incidents. They happen once in awhile, usually caused by a youkai that's bored and has a lot of free time, but the one that happened earlier was…. Different, dangerous even… Not that the previous incidents were any safer, but it was probably one of the most catastrophic incidents we had in a long, long time,"
"Incidents?" asked Alice. The Hakurei Maiden mentioned something about the chaos in Makai being caused by an incident. Was mother the one responsible for that? No, she couldn't have…
"Yeah, incidents. I could name a few if you'd like," offered Rook while holding up his hands and stare at them as if he were counting off his fingers. "The Eastern Wonderland incident where the youkais and vengeful ghosts went amok and trashed the place, the phantasmagoria of a Dim Dream incident where this woman from another realm tricked the people of the tournament she held and almost killed them with those advanced machines of hers, the Lotus Land Story where that horrible sadist…. Actually I'll leave that one out… Now this one happened just recently, the Mystic Square incident, probably second most troublesome incident next to the one that happened a few hours ago. Lots of innocent people got killed and the demon folk were out and about, doing whatever they wanted… but not to worry, it's already resolved,"
"A-a-are you sure of that? There are no more demons roaming around?" said the girl in a frightened tone.
"Nope, none left. If I ever do find one, I'll ask nicely for them to go back to wherever they came from" said Rook with a warm smile.
"I see…" muttered Alice.
She seemed to be eager to end the conversation, however Rook was not about to let her and kept on speaking. "Anyway, from what I've heard one would be able to strengthen their magic if they had a grimoire with them, no? The artifact is commonly used by magician all over Gensokyo and most of those on the Outside,"
He seems to be the chatty type of person; can't he just shut up already? Wait, the Outside? What does he mean by the Outside? There's another world beyond Makai and Gensokyo? Thought the little girl as Rook went on.
"A child like you wouldn't' be able to survive unarmed within this forest for a long period of time, unless…." He placed his eyes back to the girl and smiled. "Unless, you're someone a very special ability or profession. A magician, perhaps? Or was it just your luck that you've managed to survive this far? I get the feeling that the book you have isn't just for show, hm?"
Alice gripped her black book tightly on her chest, ready to utter the first spell that comes into her mind. "What are you saying, sir? I don't really understand,"
"The magic incased in that book is seeping out, which basically means that you're either letting it so voluntarily or that you can barely contain it in that book with your current level. I can tell that you're running from something which probably means that someone or something is after you. It's possible that you stole that grimoire, hm? Or was it just recently you got it?"
"It's a gift from my….. Late mother," said Alice, telling more or less the truth.
A smile curled upon Rook's lips as he heard her. "You're a bad liar, you know that?"
"Wha-What are you saying?" said Alice, looking flustered at his words. Ha-ha-have I been found out? It's impossible he only glanced at my Grimoire and…. Just, just how did he know?
Rook chuckled after seeing the obvious look on the girl's face before standing up and prepared his tranquilizer gun for firing, causing the girl to cower in fear. The boy raised the weapon above his head and pulled the trigger while staring at the thick clump of bushes at the end of the clearing. The warning shot echoed throughout the forest startling the sleeping bird out of their nests as they took flight.
"Go away, we're exhausted and all we want is to rest for the night. If you don't want me punish you again then go away!" yelled Rook in a stern voice as he addressed no one in particular.
Within the pitch black forest a single childish voice hissed at his call. "Is that so~?"
The soft rustling of the plants' leaves indicated the predator of the darkness' quick retreat. Alice stared at Rook in shock as she wondered why she not sensed the presence before the boy did. After all she was not human, unlike him.
Rook raised his weapon at the general direction of the hiss earlier and pulls the trigger once more, causing the gun to utter a loud bang. From within the darkness a faint yelp was heard before everything went to silence once more.
"Di-did you really have to do that?" asked Alice as she eyed the boy's weapon cautiously, afraid that he will aim it at her. Rook gave her a weak smile after he examined the gun in his hands after he fired.
"I'm sorry but I had to make sure, you can't trust most youkais at these times especially now right after a major event just took place," explained the boy as he placed the gun back in its container. "Look, we can't stay here for much long, other than the youkai that I just neutralized now there's bound to be more hanging around, waiting for the chance to kill us. Would you like to come with me? I can take you to the village and they may be able to help you,"
Alice hesitated; she stared at the hand Rook was offering to her and the weak smile on his face. She guessed that he was thinking that she would refuse him just by looking at that fake smile. He doesn't know… He merely suspects…
Not wanting to prove that she was a hostile individual, Alice took his hand reluctantly and stood up on both of her feet. Alice winced as she placed much of her weight on her left foot. The boy seems to have noticed this for in a worried tone he asks "Hey, you're not hurt are you?"
"No, I'm fine…" replied Alice as she experimentally stomped her foot on the grassy forest floor. What is wrong with me? Why isn't this stupid pain soothing already?
Rook blinked twice before saying, "Ah, okay then," He then turned his gaze towards west. "Keep close, who knows what we'll find in the forest, even I don't walk around these parts, especially after nightfall unless I'm in a good mood. It's pretty obvious that I ain't in one right now,"
Alice shot him a venomous glare while he was not looking. Tactless idiot, at least check what's really hurting me you tactless fool! I swear I'll crush him for not even offering to carry me, wait, what on Makai am I saying?
The little girl shook her head just so she can snap herself out of her trance, only to see Rook kneeling on the ground as he loaded his weapon with a few ammunitions for the trip. He closed the black box on his feet and stood up, pulling the gun's cylinder as he did causing it to sound a loud click. "Next stop, Kourindou,"
Year 2000
12:00 Anti-meridian
Heart of the Forest of Magic, Mushroom Trail, Gensokyo
The trip itself was a quiet one, however as Rook and his little companion travelled through the forest, he noticed a few changes in the landscape since the battle a few hours ago. Streams of glowing blue green water snaked through the ground out of nowhere while they occasionally passed by a tiny pool of bubbling orange liquid in which mushrooms seemed to flourish magnificently.
The trees seemed a bit taller and thicker than usual… Sure the forest was spirited away from a very ancient part of equally old woods; however they did not grow that thick or tall. The trees themselves looked intimidating and the eerie atmosphere was nerve wrecking. Rook maintained a bored expression with an alert mind, while little Alice glanced around nervously as if something horrible would pounce out all of a sudden.
Rook glanced to the girl at his side and says, "Don't worry; it's all in your head. Try ignoring the fear you have right now, I know you're scared."
Alice furrowed her eyebrows and said. "I-I'm not scared!"
"Heh, whatever you say young lady," muttered Rook, releasing a light chuckle as he did, causing the girl to glare at him menacingly.
Silence enveloped the entire trip from then on. The duo came across a wide hole on the ground where the glowing blue green water seems to be flowing from it. Alice proved to be a smart child by telling Rook what interested her at the sight of the strange liquid by telling him of its various magical components.
"Healing water, the earth's blood." murmured the little girl as she dipped the tip of her finger into the liquid.
"The Earth's blood? As in the planet's?" asked Rook as he knelt beside the little girl, placing his box at his side while Alice busied herself in feeling the water's cold touch on her finger.
"Yes," huffed Alice the moment she finally took noticed the elder boy's question. "Though I wouldn't expect a human like you to understand considering your short life!"
"You speak as though you weren't human," said Rook, pointed out what he noticed in the girl's words.
The color on the girl's face drained at the slip she had just said. "I-ah-What I meant was, err…"
"Heh, Anyway, these stuff, they carry healing properties as stated by its name, right?" asked Rook, diverting the topic so as to calm the girl's nerves.
"Ye-yes, they're produced by nature's magic itself, made from the very same magic that creates gods. It could also mean that it's divine, in a way" said Alice, regaining her composure and straightening her face back to normal as she tried to keep her panicked expression back.
"The Earth's Blood, huh?" muttered Rook, "Well, if you ask me these things don't usually just come out of nowhere all of a sudden. The geysers in which these waters came from just burst from the ground a few hours ago, so it could mean that the incident earlier was the one responsible for this" Rook took off the glove on his right hand and placed it within the water. "The blood of the planet, blood doesn't seep out like this unless… The planet, or Gensokyo rather is wounded"
The boy lifted his hand and flicked it around to get the water off of it, before wiping it on his pants as he stood up, taking his box with him. Alice seemed to be deep in thought for she gazed the shallow waters with a solemn expression. Rook noticed this and began to speak once more.
"If you have anything to say, it's best to say it now" he says while tightening his glove around his right hand.
Alice kept her eyes on the pool before her as she replied. "It reminds me of home…"
"How long have you been wandering around?" asked Rook while placing his right hand deep into his pocket.
"A few weeks…" muttered Alice in return, before glaring at Rook's direction with angry eyes. "You will not speak to anyone about what I am about to tell you, understood?"
The boy raised his eyebrows at the girl's sudden motion, yet he nodded anyway. "Sure…"
Alice turned her gaze back into the pool and began to speak. "I have no intention of continuing this charade any longer; I have wasted my time long enough already, so…" The girl stood up and pointed her index finger towards Rook while holding her Grimoire at her side. "I'll tell you my tale through pain!"
The girl undid the lock of the black book and opened its pages as she held it by her left palm. Three orbs of blue energy began to hover behind Alice as she started to cast her spell. Rook took five steps backwards as he eyed the growing spheres warily.
"So she was planning to fight me from the start…" he muttered, "And here I thought I was getting to her good side, oh well"
"I'll show you the true power of Makai, human!" yelled Alice as she summoned more power into her spheres. "I'll teach you not to mess with us demons!"
The three orbs of blue energy uttered a loud boom as they were released at the peak of their power, and quickly made their way towards Rook.
The boy dodged the first one by diving to his side, however was hit by the second and third orbs at the same time as he was about to recover. The boy was tossed into the air, eventually crashing right into a tree trunk. He unsteadily got back to his feet, breathing hard as he struggled to recollect his senses. I'm… slower… Damn this going to be hard…
His gaze trailed to his fallen box a few meters away from where he stood. He was about lunge for it when a thought crossed his mind; I'm going to shoot a little girl with a gun, what man in their right mind would do that? Okay, the youkai of darkness may have that kind of form but she and the other youkais are an exception, I've seen her in action so she's not safe, this little girl however….
He looked at Alice with a scowl on his face. …Is not what she thinks she is… She's a human…
Two large magic circles began to form behind Alice as she chanted another spell from her Grimoire, releasing large amounts of magic as she did. Rook coughed four times before dashing towards Alice with his bare hands so as not to harm her completely. The girl had finished her spell, prompting the magic circles to release two narrow red lasers, which Rook barely grazed. The lasers began to move in a circular pattern while maintaining their steady straight line, forcing Rook to duck and leap over them as he ran. The boy lowered his head as the narrow bar of red energy passed above him, picking up a stone from the ground as he did before hurling it towards the flying girl.
For some odd reason or was it by fate's whims, the rock hit Alice right on the forehead with enough force to knock her out but with little enough to prevent serious harm. The lights ceased to shine, the magic circles began to disappear and the sudden battle has come to a halt.
Ignoring his body's protests, Rook dashed once more below Alice just as she was about to hit the ground, catching her right on time. The boy placed Alice gently on the ground and began to check her for wounds. Red… thought Rook as he had a look at the slight bleeding his stone caused on the girl's forehead. Just who the heck is telling her that she's not human? Makai… Just what is it with that place? Brainwashing kids into battle freaks… They could give Mima a run for her money, but still…
He tore his gaze away from the child and back into his arms, which were still smoking a bit after getting hit by the blue spheres. "Let's see if those waters can really heal…" he growled as he made his way towards the pool. Just as he was about to kneel down and cup a bit of water into his hands to wash Alice's wounds, the earth began to tremble.
Rook released a heavy sigh before saying, "What is it with these pointless battles? Can't I rest for at least five minutes without having to be subjected to near death experiences?"
The ground began to tremble harder, until a sudden explosion erupted marking the geyser's return to life causing Rook to be tossed back a few feet, only to crash flat on his back on the floor. A horrible shriek forced Rook's eyes open and gaze back into the pillar of water, or at least where the pillar of water should be.
On the geyser's place protruded a thick column of blue green scales with the head of a large serpent. The young leviathan serpent uttered another ear piercing shriek, almost causing Rook to go deaf if he had not clamped his palms on his ears.
What the hell? Thought Rook as he kept his ears shut from the serpent's horrible wail.
Steel yourself… came a girl's soft gentle voice.
Young Lady? Thought Rook in surprise, his eyes darting immediately towards the young girl that lay unconscious some paces away from him. Telepathy? That's pretty advanced…
Enough of this you dolt! Get me out of here now! Screamed the girl within his mind urging him to hurry.
This is your fault… he thought as he dashed towards the girl while avoiding getting snapped in half by the serpent's powerful jaw. How are those things capable of existing here in the first place? No, scratch that… How did that thing get into that location in the first place?
The geysers must've been connected to the underground rivers in which these beasts may have dwelled, replied Alice through her mind, while her limp body was picked up by Rook who had finally reached her, the recent events may have flushed it out from its home and forced it to reside here temporarily.
No, this is your fault! Insisted Rook as he began to sprint as far away as possible from the serpent, which released a thick liquid like substance that ate away everything it touched. Rook had to make an unexpected leap so as to avoid the spray of acid from the serpent's maw, while still directing his thoughts on the seemingly unconscious child he was carrying, If only you hadn't released that much energy, you wouldn't have lured it out here! What the hell you were thinking! You have no idea how beasts and youkai love people with strong power, they're practically attracted to them like an Oni to sake!
I-I never knew… thought Alice softly for a moment, before warming herself to get angry again. You're not supposed to speak to that way, human! I have lived far longer than you!
Of course you do, Rook thought back sarcastically, ever wondered why your wounds never heal? Ever wondered why you easily got hurt by a stone? Do you have any idea on what you currently are now, huh kid?
I am not a child!
You're human! Snapped Rook out of frustration as he leapt over log after log, dashing through the trees in search of Kourindou despite his battered body's complaints. His last remark seemed to have robbed the girl of her voice within her own mind, for she has gone silent.
After a few moments, Rook began to slow his pace as he had reached a familiar sight which told him that he was nearing Kourindou. He glanced down unto the girl on his arms and on the book she kept tightly on her chest. Power… An artifact that will be able to strengthen one's power…
Rook shook himself out of his thoughts and finally had himself to come to a halt right before a shop with a sign written in Japanese characters, which Rook somehow understood after a great period of time; Kourindou.
Nicolas Note:
The Mk.22 belongs to Hideo and his magnificent works
It was a more or less beautiful week. Passed the school with flying colors, and strangled my editor once more, same same hehehe.
I think I may have dropped a reference here somewhere (or maybe it's on the next chapter) but I forgot... Mind finding it for me? Thanks.
I still don't think that I did my best... Probably because I got disappointed too many times in one day...
So see ya next time~! Oh and I almost forgot, I'm four years closer into becoming an adult! Someone give me the Hourai Elixir!