" Renko ? I'm going to be all right, aren't I ?"

Evening had started to fall, and the last few golden rays of the sun were pouring through the windows into the almost empty train we were riding home in. Maribel was leaning against my shoulder, her beautiful eyes full of worry, as she asked me questions I didn't know the answer to. It had been a long day.

"I'm not going mad, am I ?"

...

Was she ? It was difficult for me to answer with any degree of certainty. Maribel had, for as long as I had known her, seen visions of other worlds in her dreams; despite bringing back items from them, she was still convinced that she was just visiting some kind of dream world. Parallel universes were my explanation, though. Since the visions, until now, remained part of her dreams, I considered them to be fairly harmless; that's why today had been a shock for both of us.

We had decided to visit an old, disused shrine far up in the mountains, hidden in a bamboo forest : according to her, it was the kind of place where spiritual energy was known to gather, so her bet was that we'd be able to find something interesting there for a trip as the Sealing Club. Turns out she was right.

The look of wonder in her eyes when we reached the top of the long flight of stairs up to the shrine was unforgettable : all I could see was a decrepit old building, yet the way she stared at it, it was the most amazing thing she had seen in ages. "Renko, what is this place ?", she asked me, her voice rising with excitement; her eyes were darting from spot to spot, yet when I followed her eyes, all I could see were generic bamboo shoots and patches of soil. Whatever she could see, I couldn't.

"Merry ? What's... um... What's so interesting about this shrine ?" Her smile froze on her face, still present, but the sparkle had left her eyes.

"Shrine ? Renko, you can hardly call this a shrine, just look at it !" Well, she was right about that : the floorboards had begun to rot, and it was visibly falling to pieces. "Why, I'd call this a veritable mansion ! Who'd have thought they'd be one here, so deep in a bamboo forest like this ? And look at all the rabbits ! Over there, see, they're pounding mochi, just like the rabbit in the moon !" She pointed to a small rock. It wasn't rabbit shaped in the slightest. Concern was creeping into her expression; as she saw that I still wasn't impressed, she finally stopped smiling.

"Can't you see it, Renko ?"

I wanted to say that I could. I really did. How long had I wanted to visit Maribel's world ? But the truth was that, to me, it was simply a broken down shrine; no rabbits, no mansion.

"I'm... sorry, Merry. I can't." Seeing how devastated she looked, I quickly added, "but hey, that's nothing to worry about ! I can't see your dreams either, but that doesn't mean I don't believe you ! This is just like when you see places in your dreams, right ?" I smiled nervously, hoping she wouldn't take this badly. It didn't work.

"But Renko, it's not the same ! I'm... I'm not dreaming. If I start seeing things even though I'm awake now, how will I know... how will I know what's real or not ?"

Seeing that she was on the verge of tears, I stepped forwards, pulling her into an embrace. After she had calmed down, I managed to convince her that it must be something to do with the energy of the shrine, that somehow it was allowing her to have visions even though she wasn't awake, or some other excuse like that : I was lying to her, and didn't really believe a word of what I was saying, but I knew that I couldn't have her think that she was losing her grip on reality. It worked, though, temporarily, at least. To cheer her up, I asked her to give me a tour of the "mansion" : we walked around for over an hour, my hand in hers "so that I won't accidentally walk into a wall or step on a rabbit, you know ?", as she described all the fascinating details that I was deprived of. In that moment, I was jealous of those visions; I wanted to experience what she could see, so that we could share her world together. I didn't want anything to be between us.

For now, the guided tour of the invisible world would have to do, though.

She had been cheerful throughout her explanations of what she could see; when we noticed the time, though, I suggested that we head home, since there was a long walk down the mountain ahead of us. The further we got from the shrine, the more sullen she seemed to grow; by the time we arrived at the station near the foot of the mountain, she had gone back to how she was before I had convinced her with my shoddy explanation.

"It doesn't feel real any more. No more than a regular dream. How can even tell any more, Renko ?"

I didn't know what to say; all I wanted to do was comfort her, but I couldn't find the words.

The train journey felt like it went on for an eternity.

...

"I'm not going mad, am I ?"

I had made up my mind. I didn't care if her visions were real or not, or what it might mean that she had seen something like that without even dreaming. What I was sure was that, if she managed to convince herself that it was the beginning of some kind of insanity, and therefore that she started to doubt everything, not being able to tell what is or isn't real, I would eventually lose her to these visions. They would overtake her, and the whole world would seem just as ephemeral as her dreams. I, too, might end up seeming like a simple figment of her imagination, and I wasn't having that.

"No, you're not. Listen, Merry, we both know you have some kind of power. People don't just bring things back from their dreams. I'm certain you're actually visiting another world, like I've told you many times. Well you see, this is no different. That place must have just been... linked to your world, somehow. Maybe it's on some kind of border. You sometimes talk about being able to see borders between things, right ? I'm sure this is linked somehow." I was doing my best to sound enthusiastic, encouraging her with a smile. Had I accidentally stumbled on the truth behind the matter ? I had no idea. I was of little importance right then. "Why, this is even a breakthrough for the Sealing Club ! Just think, if we can find other places like this, maybe you'll even be able to bring me along with you soon !"

It seemed to work. I was rewarded by her glowing, brilliant smile : the thought of finally being able to bring me along with her was the nail in her worry's coffin.

"Yes... If we could go together, that would be nice...", she said to herself, staring into the distance. Maybe she was even staring into her world. I ended up daydreaming about exploring the world of her dreams with her, too, as the train clattered through the sunset, bringing us back home.

If I had known what this increase in her powers would lead to, maybe I would just have simply told her it was all not real.

...

Memories of that day accompanied me as we walked in silence towards the village : Maribel had said it was a human village, so we didn't have to worry about being captured again; I wasn't convinced, but there was nowhere else left for us to go, anyway. Back then, I was worried she'd lose sight of the distinction between dreams and reality. I promised to myself that I wouldn't let her lose herself in her dreams. Now the game has changed. Now, it's her dreams that are actively trying to take over her. Was it mind control ? Or was Yukari an exceptionally convincing speaker ? Whichever it was, she is now my enemy, and I have to stop her from taking Maribel from me. The spring in her step from this morning was nowhere to be seen, and she didn't have the aura of energy around her that I liked so much. It was as if her golden glow had become duller, almost grey; everything about her suggested distress, but whenever I tried to talk to her, she'd just say that she was fine, and that if we hurry, we'd be at the village early enough to be able to find some food. After what we'd been through, I just didn't have the energy to fight her reluctance to share her woes. I didn't stop me from worrying, though. Once again, I'm in danger of losing her. Her dreams, unknown viruses... Everything seems like it's after her. When I first saw her, I thought she seemed so strong, like she could take on everything, but the more I get to know her, the more fragile I realise she is.

Well, that's why I'm here.

As much as I wanted to protect her, against our hunger, I couldn't do much : she insisted that we share the loaf of bread I had been saving for her, saying that she had been fed well enough, but she was clearly weak with hunger : by the way she dragged her feet, often clutching at her stomach when it growled horribly loud, I didn't believe her for a second. I was still holding up to the hunger, being used to lighter meals, but she was used to having quite large foreign dishes, so I could only imagine that this would be harder on her.

We don't even have any usable money. I hope someone takes pity on us, otherwise I won't have a choice...

A young thief girl, stealing bread for the person she loves. What a romantic image. I smiled bitterly at the thought. I'd better be stealthy. It's not like I'll have the energy to run away if I'm noticed.

...

Time gradually crawled on, slowed by the pain in our stomachs and the worry in our hearts. By mid afternoon, we arrived at the edge of a small hill : as we reached the top, we had a view the whole landscape around us, a flat plain expanding in all directions until it got swallowed up in the forests or mountains; most importantly, we could see our destination. The village was now in sight.

And... it's still so hopelessly far away !

I heard a groan followed by a thud from behind me : Maribel had collapsed on the ground.

"Merry ! Hold on, the end is in sight !"

It was precisely that which had proved too much for her, I assumed. To be honest, it was a crushing blow to me too; from the top of the mountain, the village hadn't seemed too far away from the mansion, but now, walking there on an empty stomach under the hot sun proved to be an incredible challenge, and seeing that, even after all this time, it was still so far away...

Now is no time to be giving up, though. "Merry, grab hold, I'll help you walk there." I extended my arm out for her, hoping she'd grab hold so that I could help her to her feet : it was then I noticed she was actually unconscious. Damn it, had they fed her at all ?

There was only one thing for it : lifting her onto my back, I started to stagger forwards. I was already having trouble standing with just my own weight, but with hers, I wasn't going to last long.

But I can't stop here ! I can't... The village is in sight...

Darkness started creeping into my vision, as I stumbled along the road, barely even upright any more.

Can't... let her down...

The darkness covered my vision. I felt like dozens of cold hands were pulling me into it, further down into the darkness, clutching at my arms, my legs, dragging me deeper and deeper, until... Eyes. Millions of eyes, all around me, floating in the darkness, all staring at me, extending infinitely in this void, staring, staring...

...

I woke with a start : I was lying in a small, straw bed in what appeared to be an inn; looking around with growing panic, I was only reassured when I saw Maribel to my right, still asleep in a similar bed. My thoughts were too foggy to even begin wondering how we'd gotten here.

"Ah, you're awake. I was getting worried."

I jumped, startled by the voice coming from the doorway to my left : standing there was a tall stranger carrying a large backpack, and wearing a bamboo hat which completely covered her eyes.

"You've both been out cold for a long time. I was worried it might have been too late by the time I found you."

The stranger introduced herself as a medicine woman, who often travelled to the village to sell her wares. Apparently, we had been "lucky" enough to have collapsed right on the crossroad of the path she regularly took. Taking pity on us, she had carried us both to the village, leaving us here to rest after giving us some kind of medicine. Crossroad ? Were we really on a crossroad ? I had more pressing things to worry about, though.

"Medicine ? I don't think we were ill, it's just that-"

"You haven't eaten for day. I can tell. I gave you something that wards off hunger and its effects on someone. It'll last another day or two at most, so do try to find something proper to eat, ok ?"

It was true : I didn't feel hungry at all, and the heaviness in my limbs had vanished along with it. Finding real food would still be a problem, though, what with our lack of money. Wait, is she expecting me to pay for the medicine, too ? Nervously, I explained my situation to her.

"Ah, no money at all ? You must have a relative that will share a meal with you, no ?" I shook my head; she gasped, finally grasping the situation. "Wait, you don't mean, you're not from this village ? You're from... the outside world ?"

The outside world... Yes, to them, this world was their reality, and mine was the "outside" world. Again, I nodded, but the confirmation only seemed to shock her more.

"Humans from the outside, collapsed out of the village limits like that... you weren't even protected ! Why, you're both incredibly lucky to have not been eaten ! If night had fallen and you were still there, you'd never have survived..." Realising that she wasn't helping, she trailed off, apologising. So once again, I was right to be cautious of everything in this world. Eaten... I shuddered. If it wasn't for the kind stranger, I would have let Maribel get eaten. I just can't seem to do anything to protect her.

"You must both be terribly confused. After all, you were likely spirited away, to end up in Gensokyo like this... Ah, but the more I'd explain, the more you'd be confused." She seemed to ponder something for a while, before her face lit up with an idea. "Ah, I know : ask around for someone named Keine. She's the teacher around here, but she also knows all about the history of this place. I'm sure that if you find her, she'll be able to answer any questions you may have. The school is at the end of the road to the right of this inn, so you should try there first." Seeming satisfied with herself, she nodded, before making her way out of our room. "Oh, and don't worry about having to pay for the inn, it's taken care of already !", she added, halfway down the corridor already.

...

I lay back down in the bed, soaking up all the information she had bombarded me with. Eaten. Protected. Outside world. Gensokyo. Yes, I'll be glad if I can find this Keine person. I need all the knowledge about this place possible if I want to stop it from taking Maribel.

I glanced over at her : she was still lying there, fast asleep, but she didn't seem as sullen as when we had been trying to get to the village : it was a serene, restful sleep.

Once again, against the odds, it seems like we've survived an ordeal that we probably shouldn't have. Maybe she has some kind of guardian angel looking out for her ?

Well, that guardian definitely isn't me. I can't do shit, I thought bitterly, curling up into a ball under the bedcovers as I felt the sting of tears welling up in my eyes.