Yuugi and I headed down the road from where we met and went around the Human Village to avoid any unnecessary panic, seeing that our party consists of one Oni and one "criminal" outsider. Soon, though, I won't have to hide from anybody. Soon I can clear my reputation and the people of Gensokyo will accept me for who I am, the same way Alice and Yuugi accepted me. Suddenly, in the middle of the road in between the village and the SDM, Yuugi stopped me to tell me something.

Yuugi: "Reinhardt, something just occurred to me. How in Hakugyokurou will you be able to protect yourself if we ever get separated or if Yukari gaps one of us away somewhere? And what exactly does that wierd staff thing of yours do?" She must've been referring to my Mosin Nagant rifle.
Reinhardt: "Well first off, it's not a staff. It's what outside world people call a rifle. These complicated tools were made to kill people, not fight them. Also, I have a knife but I only know how to either kill people with it or severely injure them. Severely injuring someone will only make them rather ill-willed toward me and I don't want any of that to happen. That will only make people want to kill me for a real reason."
Yuugi: "Hmm... yeah, I guess that would be bad."
Reinhardt: "You guess? It is bad without a doubt!"
Yuugi: "Hey, calm down there. I'm the one that's going to be your main source of protection here, remember? Anyways, lemme think a bit... Ah! I got an idea. I know of a kappa that has all sorts of useful gadgets! I remember when I made a bet with her some time ago. Long story short, I won and she owes me so I'm figuring whatever she has can help you out."
Reinhardt: "I hope it's not anything magic-related. I have certain beliefs in place that completely forbids magic."
Yuugi: "Well maybe you should've rethought your idea of a Utopia when discovering about this place. But it's too late for that. I think she has some kind of technology that you can get familiar with. She specializes in that kind of stuff. Lots of people except for the kappa still don't understand some of it, but I'm sure with your Outside World Intuition you can quickly understand everything about it."
Reinhardt: "Well it's true that I love technology, especially electronics. And another thing, many modern-day Assassins, if there are still any out there, are mostly computer hackers including the current well-known hacker group, Anonymous. They'd be lucky to have someone with real weapons as an assassin, but nobody even knows for sure if they truly exist anymore. That's why the world has fallen into darkness morally and spiritually."
Yuugi: "Well we have plenty of time for story-telling when we clear your name. C'mon, we're burning daylight, not vampires. Not yet, at least."

I followed Yuugi down the road and into a thick forest seemingly full of Youkai running and flying around. Many of them tried to challenge us, but Yuugi told them to step aside since we had little time to spare before sunset. Perhaps since my companion is a powerful Oni that explains why many of the Youkai stepped aside. Any who were stubborn and foolish enough to ignore the demand were simply punched in the face and sent flying. I would like to remind myself not to argue with Yuugi too much. We soon approached a river with some sort of shack built next to it. From the looks of it, this must've been the kappa's living quarters because not only did I see several knick-knacks and pieces of familiar modern technology, but I also saw a working homemade waterwheel connected to some kind of generator. We approached the shack's front door with an installed homemade doorbell that I decided to ring. I heard chimes ring from inside as well as many other technical sounds from the electronics the kappa must've had in the shack, including a radio, apparently. To my surprise, a girl with a cyan blue dress, blue hair, and green hat opened the door. She couldn't have been anyone else other than...

Nitori: "Welcome to Nitori Kawashiro's hardware stall, how may I help you? Oh, Yuugi! How nice to see you up here on the surface! Did you need something? Can I offer you some exercise weights? I can't seem to get rid of th-"
Yuugi: "I'm not interested in any of your wares today, Nitori. Remember when you lost that bet with me about a month back?"
Nitori: "Darn, I hoped you would forget... well yes, I remember." Yuugi gave her a cold glare.
Yuugi: "Well now I'm calling it in and now a friend of mine needs some kind of weapon that doesn't involve magic or the potential to kill." Nitori had a nervous look on her.
Nitori: "Um... well something like that would be hard to come by, but I'm sure I have the parts capable of making such a weapon. Come on in, I can show you what I have."

We slowly entered Nitori's home cluttered with a mess of different things that include many things from where I come from, including a semi-functional lightbulb hanging above on the slightly low ceiling. Inside, I saw all sorts of electronics and machine parts that lit my eyes up immediately. I even saw a few parts and knick-knacks that I wasn't familiar with that I was already curious about. I was entirely tempted to get my hands on all of them and examine them to find out what they're capable of. The only problem was to find somewhere to step in this entire mess.

Nitori: "I can tell that you like the technology of the outside world. So what's your name?"
Reinhardt: "I'm Reinhardt David Torres. Call me Reinhardt. And yes, I absolutely love technology. I was basically born with it."
Nitori: "Wow, so you must be from the outside world, right uh, Reinhardt is it? Neat! You should tell me all about the cool stuff you have there!"
Yuugi: "But first, you need to craft him a weapon to protect himself with."
Reinhardt: "No magic or anything deadly please. I'm already in 'trouble' with the higher-ups as is. Also, try not to tell everyone about that. I'm actually an innocent man."
Nitori: "No problem. Let me just dig around for a few parts that might work. I was actually working on something that fits the description pretty well. Maybe you can help me."

Nitori and I scavenged for the necessary crafting materials inside her home as Yuugi stepped outside to watch for anyone coming by. It took a bit of digging through to find some things that seemed to work perfectly together. As we were searching, Nitori talked about all sorts of things about the kappa and Gensokyo relating to her life. In return, I told her all about my world. It gave off a more bleak atmosphere than her stories, but she understood me somehow and we quickly got along as we shared many things to each other about technology. She got out a roll of duct tape from her backpack that she set down next to a sheet-metal wall. The ultimate redneck tool and aid helped put together what was coming together as some sort of crossbow crossed with a tazer with an attached grappling hook. Don't ask how the heck it would work, but she took me outside to test it out. We did a bit of target practice around the forest surrounding us, shooting several things in sight. It worked! I loved it so much, I decided to give Nitori a hug, but she seemed rather uncomfortable with it, so I decided to back off a bit. She is very shy, so I'd understand why, but she also seemed to be blushing.

Yuugi: "Alright, I think that's been enough time we've wasted. The sun's already heading west, it seems. Ready, Reinhardt?"
Reinhardt: "Yeah. I got everything set. Thanks, Nitori. You're really nice for helping me like this."
Nitori: "Well it was part of a bet, but you're welcome here anytime. It's just that this is a place for Youkai, so you might want to be careful. I might visit you instead, given the danger level here."
Yuugi: "Well, we should get going. We have a vampire and a certain old Youkai to talk to. I guess this makes us even now. Take care."
Nitori: "You too."

I've always enjoyed being around nice people like her it seems, but who wouldn't besides the spiteful type of people? We hiked through the forest along the river and ended up at a large lake. Across from the lake was the ever-so-dreadful windowless red estate that everyone calls the Scarlet Devil Mansion. It was only a matter of time before I could set things straight once and for all while finding my first and kindest friend I've had since I entered Gensokyo. My favorite doll maker, Alice Margatroid. I started to worry about her, but Yuugi assured me that I would reunite with her. As we walked around the lake with the afternoon sun shining down on us, I asked God to give me all the strength I would need to make it through what was about to come once I stepped inside that mansion. I also asked Him to protect Alice whatever situation she may be in, for I have faith that nothing shall move against me as long as I had Jesus on my side.