Guarding the gates to the temple wasn't an exceptionally exciting job, especially to one who has done many exciting things in her lifetime, but Murasa remained at the gates, ready to greet visitors as they visited the temple at Byakuren's request. If anyone else had asked her to perform such a boring and thankless task, she would have replied with a simple, "Screw that." But she couldn't refuse Byakuren, not after all that the monk had done for her in the past. So there she remained, bored out of her skull.
"Oi…What a boring day…" Murasa muttered to herself as she glanced at the sky for a moment. There was hardly any visitors at the temple, all of the ones from earlier had left and gone home. The once sunny day had also turned into a dark and cloudy one, which may have contributed to the temple's lack of visitors at the moment. "At least Shou and Nazirin got visitors to actually greet…it's as quiet as a grave round' here."
Murasa turned her attention back to the temple's path, and to her surprise she actually saw some visitors. She squinted and found not one but three visitors walking towards the temple. As they came near, Murasa could make out their features more clearly.
One of the visitors had long black hair and wore a pink long sleeved shirt with a long red skirt that covered her legs completely. Another had long grey hair that was tied into one large braid and wore a medic's cap. The third visitor had a pair of white rabbit ears coming out of her head, and wore a black business suit. She looked like she was worried about something. Something about these visitors was fishy…
Despite the voice in her head that was telling Murasa that these visitors were bad news, she ignored it and did her job. "Welcome to Myouren temple, enjoy your stay." She said nonchalantly as they approached her. Murasa waited for the three to pass by without a response, but they surprisingly stopped in their tracks by the ghost.
"You need somethin' or what? I'm busy here." which was an obvious lie, one glance at the nearly empty temple grounds would be enough to tell.
The one with the long flowing black hair didn't seem to take kindly to Murasa's manners, "What did you say!? How dare you address me like that! I ought to-!"
"Princess, please let me handle this…" the one with the grey hair interrupted, the way she said it made it sound like she had to 'handle' a lot of things for her companion.
The black haired woman conceded and became silent, but that didn't stop her from glaring at the spirit with great anger in her eyes. Murasa didn't pay her any mind, it wasn't the first time she had angered someone with her manners, and it wouldn't be the last.
"Excuse me Miss…?" the grey haired woman said, waiting for Murasa to give her name.
"That's captain to you, Captain Minamitsu Murasa." She said.
"Very well then…'captain…'" the grey haired woman said impatiently, "We're looking for someone, she's a young looking youkai girl, wearing a red dress, blonde hair, and an unusual pair of wings, have you seen anyone matching this description? We were told that she is at this temple."
Murasa immediately recognized the lady's description as that Flandre-what's-her-name-girl. She hasn't spoken or seen much of the girl since she arrived at the temple. As far as she was concerned, the girl was just another one of Byakuren's charity cases.
"Yeah, there's some Flandre girl staying here if that's who you're looking for."
"Excellent, would you happen to know where she is right now?" the woman asked calmly.
"Aye saw her go into the cemetery out back not too long ago. She should still be-"
"Ah, the cemetery, let's hurry before she escapes from our grasps again. Come Udonge!" The grey haired woman interrupted, she began to run towards the temple with haste.
"Yes! Finally! This hunt has been wearing down my patience!" the long black –haired girl cheered as she ran after her grey-haired cohort.
"Hey! No one interrupts Captain Minamitsu Murasa mid-sentence! You hear me!? No one!" Murasa yelled at the grey-haired woman, but it was no use as she had already disappeared along with her black-haired friend.
Murasa groaned to herself, "Bitch is lucky that there isn't any water nearby, or I'd drown her sorry ass…" after a few moments of muttering curses under her breath Murasa noticed that the rabbit-girl was still there.
She looked indecisive about following after her companions or not. She finally seemed to decide to go after the pair as she ran after them in silence. "Hmph…What was up with those guys anyways? Dumb bitch's no better than Toyosatomimi…"
"What're you so flustered about Minamitsu?" a cheeky response came.
Murasa looked up towards the voice, she found Nue sitting on top of the temple's gates, with a smug grin planted on her face. "Oh, it's just you." Murasa replied nonchalantly, "Stop calling me that Nue, its Captain Murasa, you got that?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Nue replied uncaringly. "So having fun playing greeting girl?" Nue snickered.
"Not today, Houjuu." Murasa growled, "Go bother someone else."
"Oh come on Murasa…It's so boring around here…at least play along a little…"
"No Houjuu, now get out my sight before I shove an anchor up your-Hey you! Kid!" Murasa shouted once she noticed the pair of Flandre and Koishi walking by. The two of them seemed to be enjoying some sweets together as walked by without a care in the world until they noticed the ghost captain yelling at them.
"Oh hey Cap'n Murasa…Did you want some sweets too?" Flandre asked the ghost as she tossed another piece of candy in her mouth, licking her lips in enjoyment.
"Wha-? No! I don't want your candy! I wanted to talk to you about your friends from earlier!" Murasa yelled in frustration.
"Who me?" Koishi asked curiously, as she swallowed another sweet with evident pleasure.
"No! Gah…I'm talkin' about that grey-haired crone and her two buddies!" Murasa yelled impatiently, "That snob was asking about you, she a friend of yours or somethin'? If she is, talk some damn sense into her before I beat it into her!"
"Grey-haired lady?" Flandre asked, "I don't have any friends with grey hair besides Koi-Koi."
"Then what in the blazes did they want with you? They were definitely looking for ya…I think her black-haired friend called it a hunt maybe…all I know is that something besides their lack of respect doesn't agree with me." Murasa asked as she began to think about the three mysterious individuals from before.
"Hunt?" Flandre asked in surprise, "Where'd they go?"
"Huh? The graveyard, probably lookin' for you if I had to guess…"
"Hmmmm…Let's go check these guys out Koishi." Flandre said.
Koishi frowned and shook her head, "Nuh-uh! I don't wanna go back there! That umbrella girl is a big bully!"
"C'mon, please Koishi? With lots of sugar on top?" Flandre asked politely.
Koishi's frown faltered a bit, she sighed to herself lightly before replying, "Oh fine…Only cuz Flan-chan asked nicely…but don't expect me to be nice to umbrella girl if we see her!"
"Alright, alright…I get it, thanks Koishi." Flandre said gratefully as she hugged the satori in thanks. The satori seemed slightly taken aback by the act of affection from Flandre, but she eventually returned the hug.
"Oh, and don't expect me to share any sweets with umbrella girl either! I'm keeping them allllllllllllll to myself! Alright Flanny?" Koishi said as the two then set off towards the temple's cemetery in search of these odd visitors.
"Hmmmm…Energetic pair of girls…somehow I think they're going to get themselves in a lot of binds together…" Murasa mumbled to herself before remembering she still wasn't alone quite yet. "Hey Nue, you still alive up there or what?" she asked her friend, who had remained silent the entire time Flandre and Koishi were there. She seemed to be in a hypnotic of some sort.
Nue seemed to snap out of her trance, as she looked around her surroundings quickly. "Huh? Oh sorry…I was…thinking about…something." Nue replied as she watched the pair of Flandre and Koishi enter the cemetery, and disappear from her line of sight.
"About what?"
"…Nothing, just forget about it." Nue replied.
"Hmph…Who did those two think they were? Poking their noses where they don't belong…" Kogasa grumbled to herself, "I don't see why Kyouko likes them so much…"
Kogasa looked up from her perch on the grave and saw a pair of travelers coming towards her. She squinted to make out the two figures, "Oh not them again…Why won't they leave me alone…" Kogasa muttered, "Wait…Those two aren't the ones from before…" she noted as the pair came close enough to distinguish their features.
"Oh where are they!?" one of them cried, "That ghost said they were out here!"
"Calm yourself princess, they must be nearby. We just need to remain patient…" her partner said in a calm and collected manner.
Despite the lack of aggression in her voice, Kogasa found this woman to be much more intimidating than her black haired cohort. It may have had something to do with the large bow she gripped in one hand, and the arrow she held in the other.
"Huh? Hey you! Umbrella girl!" the black haired woman shouted at her, making Kogasa jump in surprise. She had been spotted.
"Wh-Who me?" Kogasa stuttered.
"Yes, you! Have you seen a young looking youkai girl? About your age and height, wearing red, bizarre pair of wings? Ring any bells?" the black-haired woman asked.
The description matched that blonde-headed girl that visited Kogasa earlier that day. Kogasa didn't really like her all that much, much less her yellow-garbed friend, yet she didn't hate either of them. They hadn't done anything to harm her at all, and she couldn't help but feel that whatever this pair wanted with the blonde-haired girl wasn't going to be anything good.
"Well? Do you or do you not? Answer me!" the black-haired woman shouted impatiently at the karakasa.
"Ummm…I…I can't tell you…" Kogasa said in an almost inaudible voice.
Despite the volume of Kogasa's voice, the black-haired woman seemed to hear each word Kogasa had said perfectly. She frowned at the karakasa, "What…did you say? I thought I heard you say 'I can't tell you.' Am I hearing things little youkai, or is that what you truly said?"
Kogasa took a deep breath and mustered every ounce of courage she possessed and said, "Yes, that's what I said! Now leave me alone! I'm not telling you anything!"
"Excuse me? Do you know who you're addressing? You are graced by the presence of Princess Kaguya Houraisan! Now tell me where that damned girl ran off to, along with that red-headed fool before I beat the answers out of you!" the black-haired woman demanded.
Kaguya began to approach the karakasa, not looking at all pleased with Kogasa's act of defiance. Kogasa flinched in fear, looking away from the enraged princess. Whatever reason Kaguya wanted that girl in red for; she must have been desperate to go to such lengths like beating leads out of innocents. Kogasa had not been so terrified of a human since her last run in with that mountain shrine-maiden.
Just as Kaguya finished trampling towards the frightened girl, her grey-haired companion stepped between the two. Suddenly, this grey-haired stranger didn't seem to be so frightening.
The grey-haired woman said to her friend calmly, "Princess…I realize that you have tired of this witch-hunt of a bounty, so have I. But we must remain calm…We cannot beat the answers out of anyone who refuses to aid us…"
Kaguya took a deep breath and exhaled, "Right…Sorry Eirin…It's just that I want to crush that insignificant red-haired wench! No one makes a fool out of me and not suffer the consequences!"
Eirin put a hand on Kaguya's shoulder, "In due time princess, you can exact your revenge soon. Just let me do the talking and we'll find them in no time." Eirin turned her attention away from Kaguya and to Kogasa. "Now, little youkai, on behalf of my companion, I apologize. We seemed to have gotten off on the wrong foot. I am Doctor Eirin Yagokoro." Eirin said as she held a hand out to the still frightened umbrella.
Kogasa, regardless of her fear took Eirin's hand and shook it timidly. "K-Kogasa Tatara…" she said, not feeling any safer than she was moments before.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Tatara, now as the Princess had said earlier, we are searching for a blonde-haired girl in a red dress who has an unusual pair of wings. Now could you please tell us of her current whereabouts?" Eirin asked in a businesslike manner. She wore a warm, almost motherly smile on her face.
She had seen Byakuren with a similar smile on her face during the few times she had pleaded with Kogasa to live at the temple. But the smile on this woman's face…Kogasa didn't sense any feelings of warmth or kindness in her expression.
"I-I can't…" Kogasa struggled to say from her overwhelming fear.
Eirin didn't seem to be satisfied by Kogasa's reply, with her smile fading and forming into a frown. "Are you sure you won't consider telling us what you know? If you assist us you'll be rewarded handsomely…Princess Kaguya and I are quite influential in the some circles of Gensokyo, I'm sure we could get anything a youkai like you could desire…we will also run into quite a bit of spending money if we find this girl, we would be more than happy to give you a portion of it…"
Despite Eirin's attempts at bribery, Kogasa's resolve remained strong. "No…Sorry, I can't help you…N-Now please leave…"
Eirin remained silent as she glared at the small youkai with obvious contempt. "I'm sorry to hear that, Miss Tatara. I hoped we would have been able to settle this like civilized people. But if you won't tell us what we want to know…We'll simply have to convince you to loosen that tongue of yours in a much less civilized manner."
"Wh-What do you mean?" Kogasa asked timidly as she began to tremble from her fear.
Before Kogasa could receive a response to her question, the wind was knocked out of her lungs from a powerful blow to the stomach from Eirin. She followed up with an uppercut to the stunned karakasa's jaw, knocking her off from her perch on the grave she sat upon.
Kogasa landed on her back with a loud thud. Her vision became distorted from the sudden strike to her head, causing her to see doubles. Before she could recover from her dizziness, Kaguya decided to join in on Eirin's assault and deliver a powerful punch into her gut. Kogasa yelped in pain from Kaguya's ferocious attack, holding the spot she had been struck in with her open hand, using her other to hold her umbrella.
Kaguya seemed to want to continue her attack, as she slowly approached the karakasa with an annoyed scowl on her face. But to Kogasa's surprise, she was stopped by Eirin.
"So Miss Tatara…have you come to your senses? I take no pleasure in your pain. If you just tell us where the vampire is you wouldn't need to suffer any longer…"
"I-I said I can't…" Kogasa said weakly as she clumsily got back to her feet, using her umbrella to support herself in her weakened state.
Eirin shook her head in disapproval, letting out a deep sigh. "Miss Tatara, let me ask you something. Do you enjoy suffering? You could make things so much easier on not only yourself, but us as well…it's a pity really."
Kaguya seemed to take that as a sign to continue her onslaught on the youkai girl. She approached her with long strides and an almost eager expression on her face. This time she picked up Kogasa by the collar of her dress, lifting her up from the ground. Kaguya then proceeded to knock the living daylights out of her, pounding her in the face with several powerful punches with strength she had developed over centuries of battling her arch-rival.
Eventually Kaguya became bored with venting her frustration on Kogasa's face and tossed her aside dismissively like a young child who had grown bored with playing with a toy. Kogasa landed face first at the foot of the grave she had been sitting on peacefully just moments ago. She found just enough strength to raise her head and wipe the blood that was now flowing out from her mouth and nose with her sleeve, staining them red.
Kaguya, with a bored expression on her face made an odd pose, with her hands starting to glow with a blue aura. Eventually a blue orb of energy formed in her hands, it began to hum with energy. "Hadouken!" Kaguya shouted, sending the ball of energy soaring right towards the downed youaki.
Kaguya was expecting there to be an explosion of some sort from her efforts, but much to her surprise and disappointment, there wasn't anything resembling an explosion. Kaguya's went wide with surprise as something unexpected had happened, she didn't even have a second to react as the very attack she had sent at the downed youkai was volleyed right back to her. Kaguya began to open her mouth as if to say something, but her words were inaudible over the loud explosion that ensued.
The explosion caused a cloud of dust to rise from its impact, obscuring the one being unfortunate enough to be hit by the impact with a veil of dirt and dust. Eirin looked at Kogasa with mild interest as she stood on two shaky legs. Her breath was labored as she struggled to stand upright; the karakasa looked absolutely exhausted from the struggle.
"Hmmmm…Well that was…an unexpected turn of events to say the least." Eirin said with an even tone, not sounding one bit concerned over the misfortune that had befallen Kaguya.
The dust in the air began to settle as Kaguya rose up from the blow she had just received courtesy of Kogasa. She didn't appear to be in a good condition, her face looked like it took on a few minor burns and her hair was an absolute mess. Her clothes weren't in a much better condition, as they were torn in several places and covered with dirt. Kaguya's face was warped with shear anger, as her face slowly recovered from the damage Kogasa had caused to it, with her skin turning back to the flawless condition it had been in before.
"How dare you…" Kaguya growled, "You…You pathetic little youkai…you ruined one of my finest robes! You insignificant little nothing, I'll beat you to a bloody pulp for what you've done!"
Despite Kaguya's enraged state, Kogasa didn't seem to fear her, or show any sort of reaction what so ever. She just continued to pant for air as she glared at her attackers.
Kaguya seemed to take Kogasa's lack of reaction as another insult as her growling grew louder before she let out a loud battle cry, flying at the karakasa with murderous intent. Kaguya swiped at her target with a downward punch aimed for her head, but miraculously Kogasa had managed to side-step out of the way. Kaguya followed up on her unsuccessful attack with a round-house kick, which Kogasa blocked with the shaft of her umbrella, successfully avoiding another attack.
Kogasa's luck wouldn't last though, as Kaguya quickly threw a punch right in her gut, knocking her into the very grave-stone that she was always seen using as a seat. Kogasa quickly recovered from the blow in time to see Kaguya charging at her once again to continue her merciless attack.
Before Kaguya could land a blow on her though, she was unexpectedly smacked in the side of the head with Kogasa's umbrella, causing her to reel back in pain. Kogasa took this small opening and gave Kaguya a powerful jab to the stomach, sending her flying back from the karakasa's surprising amount of strength.
Kaguya landed head first onto the hard ground right next to Eirin, who was just idly watching the fight with interest. "Damn it all! How can this insignificant piece of trash not be dead by now!? Dang it Eirin, help me!" Kaguya shouted.
Eirin didn't appear to notice Kaguya's shouting, as her eyes remained fixed on Kogasa, who still seemed to be struggling against her injuries to put up a fight against her assailant. Eirin's eyes slowly drifted to the grave-stone that stood behind Kogasa, she stared it for a moment before directing her attention to Kaguya, who was still screaming at her to lend her assistance.
"Princess, focus your attacks on that gravestone that karakasa is standing by." Eirin said in a monotone, not even taking an eye off the youkai girl as she spoke.
Kaguya was perplexed by Eirin's command, raising an eye-brow. "Huh? What good'll that do? I want to pound her face in, not some grave!" Kaguya protested.
"Just do it Princess." Eirin insisted, "Trust me."
"Oh fine…If anything it'll help me relieve some of my anger…" Kaguya mumbled quietly as she leapt into the air once again, this time with a new target in mind.
Kogasa's tired eyes turned wide with shock once she saw that Kaguya was approaching the grave at great speeds, with her right fist glowing with a colorful aura. "N-No!" Kogasa cried, as she chased after Kaguya in an attempt to stop her, ignoring the searing amount of pain she felt with each step she took.
Kaguya pulled her fist back and swung with all the might she could muster, causing a resounding crunching noise once her fist made contact with her target. Much to Kaguya's continued annoyance; she found that instead of striking the tombstone, she had instead landed a nasty punch right into Kogasa's stomach instead.
The force of Kaguya's punch sent the karakasa flying, knocking right into the gravestone she had taken Kaguya's punch for. This time Kogasa didn't get back up, she remained lying on the hard and cold ground of the cemetery lifelessly. The only indication that she was still alive was the small breaths of air she took in, with her face wincing in pain with each breath she took.
Kogasa no longer had the strength to stand, the only thing she could do is watch as Kaguya approached her with a smug grin on her face. "Is that all you have little youkai? I must admit, I had thought you would have had a little more fight in you after that little trick you pulled…what a pity."
Kogasa gave a weak moan of pain, as Kaguya picked her up from the ground by her hair. "Now tell me little youkai, where is that pesky little vampire?" Kaguya asked. She received no response, just a blank stare from Kogasa.
"Damn it! Speak you pathetic little youkai!" Kaguya roared as she raised her other fist, ready to send it into the karakasa's face again. But Eirin slowly lowered her fist for her; Kaguya gave Eirin a look of puzzlement, but didn't argue against her.
"I don't believe we can beat the answers out of this one, princess. Quite odd, most young youkai never have such strong resolves…Though I believe I have found her breaking point…" Eirin said as she took a meaningful look at the gravestone that Kogasa had desperately struggled to defend against Kaguya.
"M-Master!" a familiar voice called out.
Eirin turned her attention away from the tombstone and found her apprentice, staring at both her and Kaguya with shock, or more specifically, the bloody mess that Kaguya held by the hair. Reisen turned ill from what she was looking at, with her skin turning pale as she continued to stare at the youkai Kaguya had brutally beaten.
"Oh hello Reisen, I was wondering where you had run off to." Eirin greeted.
"Wh-What did you do!?" Reisen cried as she pointed to the lifeless body of Kogasa, who swayed back and forth gently in the wind.
"Never mind that now Udonge, we have more important matters to worry about at the moment. Now assist us in loosening this one's tongue and destroy that gravestone." Eirin commanded as she pointed towards the tomb she spoke of.
"Wh-What? But master that's-"
"Enough Udonge, do as I say." Eirin interrupted, glowering at the moon rabbit.
Reisen remained silent for a few moments, looking back and forth between her two masters. Eirin crossed her arms impatiently, scowling at her as she waited for her to stop gawking at her and carry out her order. Kaguya on the other hand didn't even seem to notice she had arrived, as she just looked at her victim with an uninterested look on her face.
Finally Reisen sighed sadly in defeat, "…Yes master…" she mumbled as she reluctantly made her way to the gravestone Eirin had directed her to.
Reisen took her right arm and with a lone finger, she pointed to it. Her finger slowly charged up with magical energies. It glowed lightly with a red aura as it began to fill with power.
As Reisen charged up for one large blast on the grave, Kogasa seemed to come to with her eyes slowly struggling to open. Her vision was momentarily blurred before slowly becoming clear. She saw a third person along with her two attackers; she had her finger pointed right at the grave she had been protecting. Kogasa's eyes widened with fear and dread as she realized what this new stranger was doing.
"N-No! Stop! Please!" she cried as tears began to well up in her eyes.
Reisen gave her a sorrowful look and mouthed a few words that she couldn't make out before releasing her attack. There was a loud explosion, causing several birds to fly away in reaction to the sudden noise.
The explosion caused debris and dust to go flying everywhere, once it cleared; the grave Kogasa had given her all to protect was gone. The only trace that it had ever been there in the first place being the small pile of rubble that remained.
Kogasa stared at her precious grave's remains, as tears began to drip from her eyes. "No…no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO!" Kogasa cried in despair. She quickly freed her herself from Kaguya's grip, running over to what was left of the grave. "Th-This can't be…M-Master…" she cried as tears dripped from her face.
Kogasa was quickly knocked out again with a powerful punch to the head from Kaguya, who had an annoyed look on her face. "Goodness what an annoying youkai…Thought I would have gone crazy from her blubbering…" Kaguya said irritably.
"Princess…I realize that she was an annoyance, but you knocked her out again. How are we supposed to question someone who is unconscious?" Eirin asked, trying to hide the anger in her voice while massaging her temples in frustration.
"Oh…whoops…My bad!" Kaguya said with a sheepish grin, "It's just that she was beginning to give me a headache with that insufferable crying…"
The two continued on with their exchange as if this were an everyday occurrence. Reisen remained silent as she looked at the two of them in disbelief. Reisen felt sick to her stomach as she looked at her hands in disgust for what she had done.
But what was she supposed to do? Disobey the ones who had sheltered her when she had no home? Fed her when she was on the brink of starvation? Despite their questionable actions, she could never find it in herself to disobey them; she owed them too much to betray them.
Reisen looked at the unconscious body that lied before what was left of the tombstone with remorse. "Please forgive me…"
"I suppose all we can do now is search elsewhere for our prize…She and her companion should still be in the temple grounds somewhere…" said Eirin as she and Kaguya walked past the girl they had ferociously beaten just minutes before without even a twinge of guilt on their faces.
"I guess…Man, what a complete waste of time…" Kaguya muttered as she walked beside Eirin.
"Come Udonge, there's no point in remaining here any longer." Eirin commanded.
Reisen took one last remorseful look at the heavily wounded girl before replying with her usual response, "Y-Yes master…" she quickly trotted after them, trying to ignore the deep sense of guilt she felt.
"Man Flanny, I'm starting to think that ghost lady was pulling our legs…I don't see anyone around here…" a childish voice commented, causing both Eirin and Kaguya to stop in their tracks.
"China says that patience is a virtue! I'll bet we'll find who cap'n Murasa was talking about eventually!" another, familiar voice replied happily.
The disappointment on Kaguya and Eirin's faces quickly faded away and turned into large grins. "Huh, maybe this wasn't a waste of time after all!" Kaguya said cheerfully.
"I believe you are correct princess." Eirin replied, looking equally as happy as Kaguya.
Reisen however didn't share their happiness, "Please turn back…" she mumbled quietly, with her masters not seeming to notice her quiet plead.
Much to Reisen's sadness and her master's pleasure, the one they were seeking came into view. But strangely enough, Flandre was not accompanied by her red-headed guardian, rather she was accompanied by a girl that looked to be about her age. She had a carefree look to her as she skipped about through the graveyard.
This carefree look vanished from her face as she noticed their presences; she cocked her head to the side as she looked at them curiously. "Hey Flanny, are these the friends the cap'n was talking about?" she asked, turning to Flandre for an answer.
Flandre also noticed the trio; she was surprised at their presence at the cemetery. "Moon-lady? What're you doing here?" she pouted at the pair of Kaguya and Eirin, who seemed to find amusement in her reaction. She then noticed Reisen behind them, who avoided eye-contact with the vampire from guilt. "Miss Bunny-Rabbit…?"
Before any reply could come from Reisen, Eirin spoke up. "Hello again Miss Scarlet, I trust you've been doing well?" she said casually, "I see that red-headed guardian of yours is missing, quite a shame…and the Princess was so anxious to see her again."
"You big meanies, why can't you just leave me alone!?" Flandre yelled, stomping her foot into the ground forcefully, causing the ground to crack a bit from her strength.
"Huh? These aren't Flan-Chan's friends?" Koishi asked, looking baffled by the turn of events. Flandre nodded in response, while not once taking her eyes off the pair of Lunarians. "Oh…I see…Well I'll make these bullies go away!" she shouted, shooting the trio an accusing finger. "Leave Flanny alone, or I'll punish you!"
"Oh really? You'll punish us? That's laughable!" Kaguya giggled, "Just come along nice and easy now or you'll end up like that stupid umbrella girl…"
"Kogasa?" Flandre asked.
"Oh yeah…I guess that's what she said her name was…Stupid girl, she should have known better than to oppose me…" Kaguya muttered.
"What did you do to her!?" Flandre shouted at the moon princess.
Kaguya snickered in amusement, "See for yourself." She said as she turned around and picked something up. Being held by the hair of her head was Kogasa, who was unconscious. Her face was covered with her blood, her body covered with scratches and her dress was tattered and ripped in several places. Her umbrella was abandoned by a small pile of debris.
Kaguya then tossed her uncaringly towards the pair, landing with a small thud. Flandre's eyes began to well up with tears at the sight of the badly beaten karakasa. She clenched her fists in anger and glared at the moon princess with contempt.
"I'll…I'll break you…" Flandre growled.
Flandre held out one of her hands, where a black rod materialized in a flame-like aura. The rod had a spade-like head at its end, and looked like it was crooked in the middle, making one bizarre looking weapon. Koishi seemed to look at Flandre with a sense of awe and admiration for a moment before taking a fighting stance along with her.
Kaguya just laughed at the display, "The hard way then? How foolish of you! That red-head isn't here to save you, and Mokou sure isn't going to show up and play the hero either. That new little friend of yours won't help you one bit kid. You'll both just end up as a bloody mess just like that piece of trash before you!"
"Just remember Princess, we can't rough the vampire up too much. Remilia wants her alive." Eirin said as she took out her bow, "However…she said nothing about this friend of hers…" she said as she aimed her bow at Koishi.
"Yeah, yeah…Let's just get this show over with! I want my money!" Kaguya said impatiently as she prepared to put this hunt to an end.
A/N: Hey, thanks for reading the latest chapter of this story! I got this one done a lot faster than usual, and it's still just as long as the other chapters. Thank you five day weekend. :P I admittedly enjoyed writing this chapter for some reason...Hopefully I don't turn out to be some psychopath, eh? Originally this chapter and the next was going to be one chapter, but I didn't want it to get too long, so I split it into two.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention this before, but I recently reworked the first two chapters, so they're you know...less crappy. So give them a read sometime! I actually plan to do the same for chapter 3 soon.
Next chapter will hopefully wrap up the Myouren temple arc and progress somewhere else. Hope you look forward to it!