The Scarlet Devil 2: Scarlet Devil Rhapsody
by Cyberchao X

Final Chapter

…

OBJECTION!

Yes, it's true. The plan was for us to be heading into the final chapter, and then I thought, 'Maybe I shouldn't have a happy ending this time, just because that's what I always do and I need to vary things up a bit.' But I remembered something I'd previously forgotten, that I said in the beginning that this would be used to develop another relationship. So, potential answers. Disclaimer us up!

Kogasa and Kisume: Disclaimered! All locations and most characters are property of ZUN. Remaining characters are property of the author. Yasora, if she ends up getting referenced in this chapter, is the creation of KimikoMuffin.

"Make me a way to overcome my weakness to the sun." This wasn't a question, it was a demand. From someone who could easily blow my head off.

"I'll do everything I can. Not sure if I can pull something like that off, though. You might have better luck at the Hakurei Shrine."

"You think Reimu-san can help me?"

"I was thinking more about the fact that Sanae-san's ability involves working miracles. Why do you suddenly want this, anyway? You and your sister have ways of getting about in daylight already."

"Because it's not about the sun itself. Rather, it's about a certain special someone with sun-based powers…right?"

"Kami-chan?"

"Yeah, exactly," Flandre replied. "How did you know, um…I'm sorry, I don't think I know you."

"No, we've never met, but based on your conversation, it's obvious that you're one of the vampires who live in the mansion at the foot of the mountain. I'm Kannazuki Michiru."

"Pleased to meet you, Michiru-san. I'm Flandre Scarlet."

My name is Nitori Kawashiro. I'm a kappa, skilled in creating new technology…and horribly unskilled in social situations. Somehow I've gotten involved in a situation far above my head…and I'm powerless to say no.

"I'm still not sure how you figured out her problem," I said.

"When you were giving me the tour of Gensokyo, we saw that hell raven headed down the mountain, and learned that she was probably headed to that Scarlet Devil Mansion, which confused you because her sun powers would be dangerous to its residents. And then there was that thing recently where the sun got super-bright at a time it shouldn't have been out at all, and now here's a vampire who wants to be able to withstand sunlight. Seems like these events should be related, and I suspect that love is involved."

"You're really smart, Michiru-san. Yeah, Okuu-chan was re—was closely involved with that. And even though she didn't mean to, she—well, not really, but it was controlling her body—ended up hurting me. And even though it wasn't her fault, she's afraid that she might end up hurting me again, so…she broke up with me."

"It'll be okay, Flandre-san." The rumors that had been going around about Flandre for the longest time suggested that she was downright psychotic and mentally unstable, and there was little evidence to contradict this, but lately it's starting to come out that this may have been inaccurate and that it would be more accurate to call her "childish"—which with her level of power would be just as destructive, given that young children often throw temper tantrums when they don't get their way. "You'll find someone else."

"Nitori-chan! You can be so insensitive!"

"What did I do wrong?" I asked.

"Can't you see that they both still love each other? That's what makes this so painful. Reiuji-san dumped her not because she didn't love her, but rather because she did. So I think you should do everything you can to help her."

"That's easier said than done."

"Yes, well, I thought you should understand her plight."

"…What do you mean by that?"

"I seem to remember you trying to push me away when you thought I'd dump you if I found out you weren't human, that we were from two separate worlds."

Damnit. She had me there. It would be hard enough to say no when Michiru clearly wanted me to say yes, but by invoking my hesitance to reveal my true nature to her, I really was bound to try to help Flandre. "I…did do that, didn't I?" I moved a little closer to her and pretended to tear up.

"It's okay. It's not like I loved you any less once you told me the truth." As expected, she was quick to try to "comfort" me.

"Okay, thanks…it is still daytime, so I'll just head home now and you can just stop by the mansion when it's done; I'll tell both gatekeepers that it's okay to let you in."

Flandre left, and Michiru slapped me in the back of the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

"…Seriously, Nitori, as much as I love you, you seriously need to work on your social graces. I can't believe I let you trick me into making out with you in front of a heartbroken girl like that."

"…So you saw through it."

"Yeah, but you were so inviting, and so cute." I blushed. "Yeah, like that." She engaged me again.

"I thought…"

"It was rude to start something when there were other people around, especially those who are having relationship problems. But we're alone now." I had to hand it to Kami-chan; she worked quickly.

CCX: In her chapter, Michiru makes a comment regarding the "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" trope, saying that Nitori didn't fit the usual archetype of the fantastic magical girlfriend; in fact, she is probably a lot closer to fulfilling this role for Nitori.

"So what exactly are you doing here?" Reimu asked.

"Trying to work on my latest project," I replied.

"I can see that. Why are you doing it here?"

"Because I suspect it will take a miracle to actually succeed."

"…You can't just ask for a miracle. They never happen that way."

"Ease up on her, Reimu-san," Michiru protested on my behalf.

"Don't tell me what to do."

"You have been in a bad mood lately, Rei-chan," Sanae said. "Ever since Kaguya-sama and Mokou-san's wedding."

"…I thought after all the incidents I've resolved, I had this whole Hakurei miko thing down. But I was completely lost there… Normally I have to fight my way through to the source of an incident, and this one developed right before my eyes, yet ultimately I had to rely on so many others to help get it resolved."

"An incident…would this be the thing with the bright sun at night?"

"Yeah…I guess Reimu's been taking it a bit hard."

"Well, then, that's all the more reason for her to help Nitori-chan. This project and that incident are related."

"But the incident's been solved," Sanae said.

"Maybe so, but there are still lingering aftereffects for some of the key figures."

"How do you mean?"

"She's been asked to create something that will allow a vampire to overcome her weakness to the sun."

"…Sounds like Remilia-san's involvement."

"The way Flandre-san told it, Utsuho-san broke up with her of her own volition."

"…Still sounds like Remi-san's work. Well, I'll see if I can help, but I'm not as powerful as Remilia, so if she's working against this, I might not be able to change anything. So anyway, how are you adjusting to Gensokyo?"

"I love it here. Every day is a new adventure. I suppose the novelty's starting to wear off a little, but that's not really a bad thing, is it?"

"Not at all, though that wasn't exactly what I meant."

"Oh. Well, I haven't quite managed to fly under my own power yet—Nitori-chan told me that most natives can, but I was surprised when I learned that you could, too."

"It's…not exactly consistent," Reimu said. "I couldn't for the longest time, and I'm native to Gensokyo."

"Really? I never knew that you couldn't always fly," Sanae said.

"It's true. Genjii-san used to have to carry me."

"Well, anyway, give it some time. The changes aren't immediate."

CCX: And again, I'm not really sure how to continue this and I'm feeling totally suffocated by the first-person format. This chapter doesn't really feel complete, but there's not really much to write about; this would probably be time for a montage in a more visual medium. Ja ne!