Welcome to the first sub-arc of Gensokyo Tenshi.
A Shadow over Gensokyo part 1
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The Tenshi pulled out their phones immediately, and were surprised to find their mail already waiting open on the screens, which was flashing red and black with words.
Strange darkness has appeared in the slums. Dangerous Youkai detected. Investigate immediately. Do Not Engage.
-Ran
"A DNE?" Youmu hummed, "It isn't very often that a fresh team like ours is told to investigate something like this, it must be quite important," The girl explained.
Reimu was slightly confused, "But, if there are other, more powerful Tenshi in the area, why are we being told to investigate this?" The Shrine maiden was quick to ask.
"It's hard to say for sure," Youmu admitted, "But Yukari-Sama must have a reason for choosing us specifically, so we had better head out now."
"Hai!" Reimu echoed, and both girls were quick to transform and depart, hurrying across the rooftops towards the slums.
Many years ago, an earthquake devastated the city, and claimed many lives. It was only thanks to several wealthy investors that the city managed to recover, and rebuild, but some parts of the city had to be ignored for more important areas, thus leading to the creation of the slums, where the crumbling remains of the old city stood, and most of the homeless lived. It was an understandably dreary place.
The two made very good progress to the slums, and caught sight of their target quickly, what looked to be a large dome of pure shadows, which obstructed their view into the slums, and even blotted out the moon.
"This darkness is incredibly unnatural, it has to be a Youkai," Reimu muttered, and Youmu nodded her agreement, "What do you think we should do?"
"Just as we were told to Reimu-Sempai, investigate," The silver-haired girl replied, and made a jump for the dome of black. She was surprised that on contact she felt an incredible force collide with her, sending the girl flying backwards. Reimu was quick to react, and jumped to catch the girl, the older girl landing hard on her bottom with a quiet groan.
"Strange...that dome appears to be more like a shield," Youmu noted, "Even though it looks like simple darkness."
"That's great Youmu-Chan, but could you please get off of me?" Reimu grumbled, and the younger girl squeaked as she remembered who she was half-sitting on, her cheeks going bright red in embarrassment.
"Sorry Reimu-Sempai!" The girl bowed low to her partner, her long hair falling over her shoulder, and Reimu noted with some amusement that her companion spirit mimicked it's master.
Reimu patter her Kouhai's head in what she hoped was a placating gesture, and quickly eased her worries, "Relax Youmu-Chan, I'm more worried about how you are, and about breaking this darkness."
"Yes, this is troubling to say the least," Youmu said, turning to once more regard the dome of shadows, which they now noticed was gently pulsing with purple waves of energy, adding to it's appearance as a shield, "something does not want us to investigate."
"Wait a second, I think that I can see something moving inside," Reimu suddenly announced, and Youmu strained her eyes to try and see through the darkness. Both girls were startled when a small figure cloaked in shadows came barrelling out of the darkness, flying straight between the two, and disappearing once more into the night.
This also seemed to trigger the dome of shadows to begin dissipating, and slowly the darkness returning to a natural night around them, as the moon shone down from above.
"That was...odd," Reimu blinked, before turning to her partner, "Do you think that was the Youkai that made that dome?"
"Most likely," Youmu replied, "But it moved so quickly I did not even get the chance to see what it looked like, did you have any more luck Reimu-Sempai?"
"Afraid not, looks like we won't have much to report to Yukari-Sama about for tonight," Reimu said.
"Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that girls," A teasing voice echoed in the darkness, causing both girls to jump.
appearing between the two was what appeared to be a familiar blonde woman, whose body was half-hanging out of a gap torn through reality, with a smirk. Youmu was the first to recognize the woman, and bowed in greeting, "Yukari-Sama, good evening."
"W-wait, what the hell?" Reimu cried in shock, as she got her first look at her Principal's strange powers, "are you hanging out of a gap?"
"Yes, it's kind of one of my powers Reimu-dear, but enough about that," Yukari said, clearing her throat, "We need to talk shop for now."
"Hai!" both girls said, suddenly standing at attention and waiting for the woman to go on.
"From what it appears to me, a very powerful Youkai has either come out of hibernation, or has just awakened to their powers, and has seen fit to go on a murderous rampage," Yukari explained, "This is quite troubling, since it would seem her powers are relatively ancient, which translates to a very strong Youkai."
"It doesn't matter how powerful they are, our job is to determine if it's a threat, and if we need to exterminate it, correct?" Reimu stated, but Yukari shook her head.
"That is the problem Reimu-Chan," Yukari started, "Because as soon as that Youkai was out of sight, all of our trackers turned off."
"You mean it can turn off it's powers at will?" Youmu asked, and Reimu noticed the way the girl's hands were shaking at her side. Reaching out, she interlocked her fingers with the other girl in an attempt to calm her down, which Youmu seemed to appreciate.
"That is what it appears, which means that for now the trail has gone cold," Yukari stated, "In which case, you both ought to head home and get some sleep. This mission has been assigned to the two of you, but without a target to track, it's better for you both to focus on school," She ordered.
"Hai Yukari-Sama," The girls mirrored, and gave the woman a nod.
"I will have Ran-Chan keep you posted, and if we regain the trail of our wayward Youkai target, I want you to both to be ready to move out as soon as possible. This needs to be cleared up as quickly and painlessly as we can manage, since this Youkai is obviously dangerous."
"Yes Ma'am."
"Also, good night girls," Yukari said with a wink, before she slipped back into her gap and it winked out of existence.
The minute the woman was out of sight Reimu breathed a sigh of relief, "Okay, if anything, that woman has only become creepier."
"Yukari-Sama has that effect on everyone, don't feel singled out," Youmu comforted, "But she is right, we should call it a night, otherwise we will be wiped out for classes tomorrow."
"Yeah. Good night Youmu-Chan," Reimu waved, receiving a muted wave from her partner before she bolted off in the direction of her house.
Youmu's cheeks flared as she walked home that night, her mind abuzz with Reimu's smiling face, and kind gestures.
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"What's up with you? You seem like a total zombie this morning Reimu," Marisa commented as the four girls made the walk to school that morning.
Her mind still abuzz with all of the information she had received from Youmu the previous night, and with questions about the mysterious Youkai that seemed able to control the darkness at will, Reimu found herself unable to fall asleep until quite late, and had ended up passing out while reading from the book of urban legends.
It seemed like one page was stuck on her mind though, a small tale of a Youkai that could control darkness, who had nearly pitched the world into an eternal night, before being defeated by an ancient Youkai sage, and was sealed away for 10,000 years. Reimu had a feeling the story was connected to their new mysterious target.
"Reimu-Chan, I know that you take your shrine maiden duties very seriously," Letty began, "But don't you think that pulling an all-nighter studying from those scrolls is going a little bit far?"
"I'm fine you two, stop worrying so much," Reimu grumbled, having to stop and cover a loud yawn that came unbidden, and trying to ignore her friends.
Meanwhile Cirno had run ahead, and was already at the school gates, waiting impatiently as only a child could for the three girls to catch up, while shouting at them, "C'mon you slowpokes, go faster!"
"The more ya say it, the slower I'm gonna go Bozu!" Marisa teased, making the blue-haired girl fume.
"You know we wouldn't worry if you kept your health in mind, right Reimu-Chan?" Letty asked.
"I am just fine Letty-Sempai, now drop it," Reimu hissed, but was startled by the gentle hand that found it's way into her hair, and began to ruffle it.
"Whatever you say dear," the older girl replied, continuing to run her fingers through the girl's hair.
Cirno had bolted off the minute the girls arrived at the front gate, and was now chatting animatedly with her friends, who Reimu was pleased to see looked no worse for wear after the Youkai attack the other night, though something did catch her eye.
Rumia seemed a little more pale than usual, and far less animated than normal, but was still giving her friends that easy-going smile Reimu never saw the young blonde without, though it now looked strained.
"Looks like Reimu ain't the only one pulling an all-nighter," Marisa commented, "Maybe it's every girl with R-names or something that are just too stubborn to sleep at normal times."
"Now Marisa, that's rude," Letty replied, though Reimu thought she saw the flash of something in the older girl's eye, but it was gone too fast for her to confirm, "Shall we get inside and collect our things then?"
"Hai," both girls replied, leaving Cirno to chat with her friends.
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"With the ability to bend and weave shadows at will, and even blot out the moon with ease, the Shadow Youkai was a threat to the entire world, and could have engulfed the entire world in an eternal night if she had not been sealed by the Youkai Sage," Reimu repeated for what felt like the umpteenth time, her mind always looping back to that story she had read the previous night.
"It may have a connection to the Youkai we saw last night, but that still leaves us the problem of finding and confronting her, and how we would be able to defeat such a powerful Youkai by ourselves," Youmu commented, sitting with her back against the fence that surrounded the perimeter of the roof, her kendo blade sitting innocently beside her.
"Well it's like you said, if Yukari-Sama didn't think we could do it, she wouldn't have assigned the mission to us," Reimu tried to remain positive, "Besides, maybe after being sealed away for so long, the Shadow Youkai's powers have weakened considerably, and now we may be a match for it."
"I am hoping you are right Reimu-Sempai," Youmu replied meekly.
"Oh you girls shouldn't be so worried about a little Youkai like that," Yuuka said as she suddenly came up the stairs, carrying what appeared to be a parasol over her shoulder.
"What do you mean Yuuka-Sensei?" both girls asked, causing the doctor and gardener to chuckle.
"Our little shrine maiden here has a lot more power than she's letting on, and when it comes right down to it, I think you two are more than a match for a Youkai whose been sealed away for the last 10,000 years," Yuuka explained as she put her hand on top of the brunette's head.
"For now we have to be able to find the Shadow Youkai, before we can wear her down and exterminate her," Reimu grumbled, but the gardener laughed again, "Oh don't worry girls, these things just have a way to work out."
"Hai Sensei," The two said, packing up as the bell for fifth period sounded through the school. It was just as Youmu reached the door that the woman spoke up again, "Oh and I'd suggest checking out a little shop in town this weekend, a place called Kourindou, I'm sure he'll have some knowledge about your little target."
"Arigatou Yuuka-Sensei," Youmu said.
"Don't be a stranger dears," The woman waved.
Once the two were out of sight and hearing the green-haired woman began to laugh, "The seeds of fate have begun to be sewn, but has Yukari-Baka chosen right in placing all of her hopes of a good harvest in those two sprouts, or will they wither under the downpour we are going to be facing?" The rather creepy woman's laughter continued to echo out for miles as she turned and disappeared in a flourish of flower petals.
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Chapter 8 complete
After deliberating on the matter for a bit, I decided that two updates a week would be better, considering my effectiveness in writing new chapters. Thus updates will now happen on Mondays and Thursdays, with maybe a bonus chapter released every so often. Ja Ne!
Stay tuned for Chapter 9