"Ah, so he's awake." Reimu said, as she placed the broom she was holding aside near the sliding door. She then bowed and said. "Good morning. I am Reimu Hakurei, shrine maiden of the Hakurei shrine and welcome to Gensokyo."
"Uh, Gensokyo?" Gray asked.
Didn't you tell him?" Reimu asked, as she looked at Anna with her arms crossed.
"Sorry, but I figured it would be best if you explain, Hakurei san." Anna said, as she bowed gently.
Reimu sighed and said "Just Reimu is fine. Well, where to begin?"
"Maybe you can start with where the hell are we?" Gray asked.
Reimu sighed heavily.
Anna nudged Gray on the shoulder, scowled and said. "…Be nice."
"It's ok." Reimu said. She then took a deep breath and said. "Gensokyo is a world far different from where you came from. Unlike your world where youkai are regarded as myths or legends, they exist here.
"Youkai?" Gray asked.
"Youkai are similar to monsters, Gray" Anna said. "They are like the Japanese equivalent of them."
"Not all of them are dangerous." Reimu said. "Youkai coexist with humans here."
"Then why did those 'youkai' attack us, when all we wanted was to look for food and shelter?" Gray asked.
"As I said, not all of them are dangerous. That doesn't mean every youkai you meet will greet you with open arms." Reimu said.
"Then why won't you exterminate all the dangerous ones?" Gray asked.
"My duty is to maintain the balance of Gensokyo-." Reimu said.
"-So, why aren't you? Gray exclaimed.
"Gray! She saved you." Anna said.
"If she exterminated all of them, then our friends would still be alive." Gray said
Reimu was about to lose her temper, but after she heard what Gray said, started to calm down.
"The important thing now is that both of you are safe." Reimu said.
"At least be grateful to her." Anna said.
Gray paused for a moment, but he could not bring himself to apologize to the shrine maiden.
"How did you get here?" Gray asked trying to change the subject. "Weren't you suppose to be with Layla and the others."
Reimu wasn't pleased with Gray's attitude, but tried to ignore it said. "She found her way to the shrine shortly after I saved you. I then offered her a place to stay in the shrine for the night."
"I then told Reimu what happened." Anna said.
"I was surprised when she told me how she lured the youkai away from the others." Reimu said. "It was very brave of you to risk your life like that for your friends."
"…Thank you." Anna said, as she lowered her head trying to hide her blush red face. "I had to do something."
As the shrine maiden praised Anna for her bravery, Gray sat silently with his head down.
Coward. Gray thought. He started to breathe and sweat heavily as the thought continuously insults him.
"Hey, you alright?" Reimu asked, She had noticed Gray acting weird. "That youkai didn't scratch you or anything did it?
"Gray, you alright?" Anna concerned for Gray's well being asked. "Please tell me you don't have a fever."
"I'm fine!" he exclaimed. "I'm just tired that's all."
"I guess eight hours of sleep isn't enough then." Reimu said.
"Do you think I can sleep well after seeing that little girl bite off my classmate's arm and tear off another's throat?!" Gray exclaimed.
"Gray…" Anna said, as she placed arm on Gray's shoulder.
"Ah, I see." Reimu said, as she folds her arms. "That was Rumia. She's a man eating youkai of darkness."
"So that's why it suddenly became dark before we met her. She can manipulate the dark." Anna said.
"Correct. She usually roams around Gensokyo looking for humans to eat." Reimu said, She looked to Gray and asked "Not many outsiders could outrun her, so how did you manage to escape?"
"I just ran." Gray quickly said.
"That's not much of an answer." Reimu said, as her brows furrowed down.
"Gray, weren't Peter and Jack with you when we left?" Anna asked.
"…I." Gray stuttered.
Just before he could say anything, a loud crash was heard from outside the room, at the back of the shrine. A girl's voice was heard shortly after.
"oof! That was fast ze!" The girl's voice exclaimed. Her footsteps could be heard as she hastily walks up to the sliding door.
"It's her again." Reimu muttered to herself.
"Whatssup Reimu!" The girl said, as she forcefully slid open the sliding door. She was a spunky girl who had blonde hair, wore black and white clothes and a witch's hat.
"Hi Marisa, could you try not crashing into the shrine next time?" Reimu said, as she gave Marisa a dull stare.
"Sorry." Marisa said, giggling. She took of her hat and brushed the back side of her head. "I wanted to get here as fast as I could to tellya something."
"Tell me what?" Reimu asked.
"A bunch of outsiders are in Gensokyo." Marisa said.
"Oh." Reimu said, she looked back to Gray and Anna then turned to face the witch and said. "You don't say?"
"What?" The witch exclaimed. She then looked over to see the two outsiders sitting in the room and said. "Hey! Their clothes look just like the ones that I met yesterday!"
"Those are our friends!" Gray and Anna said in unison when they heard what Marisa said.
"I thought as much." Marisa said, as she walked inside the room she gave the two a good look, smiled and said. "They were pretty roughed up when I found them. One of them was bleeding very badly with his arm missing and all, but I managed to patch it up with some of ma magic. The names Marisa Kirisame, nice to meet ya."
"It's a pleasure." Anna said as she bowed gently.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too." Gray said.
"So those blokes, were your friends right?" Marisa asked.
"Yes, are they still there in your house?" Anna asked.
"Nope. Said they needed to find the village. So, I gave them some directions and left looking for their classmates still in the forest." Marisa said.
"You what?" Reimu exclaimed. "You didn't even think about taking them to the shrine?"
"Hey my broom can't carry more than three people!" Marisa said, as she picked up to show off her broom to the two outsiders.
"You can really fly?" Anna asked.
"Yups! Check this baby out." Marisa said, as she pulled a small reactor like device. "Cool isn't it ze?"
While Marisa was showing off her equipment to the two, Reimu smacked herself on the face with her palm.
"How far is the human village?" Gray asked.
"It's a good distance away, would probably take ya half an hour to get there on foot. I could take ya'll there if you like." Marisa said.
Just as Reimu was about to reprimand Marisa she had a thought.
"Alright." Reimu said.
"'Alright' what?" Marisa asked?
"Take them to the village to meet with their friends. While I look around the forest for the cave they used to get here." Reimu said
"To seal it?" Anna asked
"After I send you all back home, then I'll seal it." Reimu said. "In the meantime, you and your friends can probably find a place to stay in the village until it's time to go."
"Sounds like a good idea, but aren't there anymore man eating youkai in Gensokyo?" Gray asked.
"The village is protected. The youkai there are harmless." Reimu said.
"But wander too far from the village then yer bound to become youkai meat." Marisa said.
"Gray, we can finally see if our friends are ok." Anna said.
"Yeah…" Gray said. He's face looked grim as he thought. iHow can I explain it to them, that I abandoned Peter?/i
They went out of the room and into the shrine's backyard where the witch, Marisa hovered slightly above the ground with her broom.
"Yow! Hop in." Marisa said.
Anna and Gray saddled carefully aboard the witch's broom.
"Come back to the shrine later when you're all ready to go home." Reimu said.
"Yes, Reimu san." Anna said.
"You sure this can carry three people?" Gray asked.
"You bet it will ze." Marisa said.
"Be sure to hold on tight." Reimu chuckled.
Marisa then gave Reimu a wink as they chuckled together.
"By the way, Marisa, you got anything to donate?" Reimu said, as she reached out her hand.
Marisa hummed as she reached for something inside her pocket. She found a mushroom and immediately threw the mushroom at the shrine maiden's face and laughed. She then roared as she took off into the open air, the two outsiders along with her.
The sudden burst of speed surprised the two outsiders as Anna and Gray struggled to keep themselves on the broom. They flew high up into the open sky. The witch unfazed by the strong winds tried to push them back started to steer the broom in an erratic manner.
"Fun isn't it ze?" She said after having a good laugh.
"It feels like a rollercoaster. Right, Gray?" Anna asked, as she firmly held on to Gray's waist.
"Y…Yeah" Gray said, as he hid his embarrassed face from Anna.
"What's wrong, you afraid of heights, kid?" Marisa asked.
"No, I just don't want to fall." Gray said. Unable to find a comfy position on the broom he struggled to lessen the pain on his groin.
After they ascended high up in the sky, the witch started to fly steadily, giving the two outsiders a good view of Gensokyo.
"Wow! It's so beautiful." Anna said, as she admired the lush green land.
"It is ain't it ze?" Marisa asked. "Can ya see the cave where ya'll used to get here?"
"No, sorry. I think it's somewhere in that forest there" Anna said.
"That's the forest of magic. It's probably somewhere near those mountains." Marisa said.
"Are there any more witches in Gensokyo?" Anna asked.
"Hmm, just a few." Marisa said.
As Anna and Marisa continued to talk about the places and landmarks in Gensokyo, Gray kept his eyes closed and began to think about what he should say when he meets the others.
Moments pass as the three near the vicinity of the human village.
"Alrighty, we're here!" Marisa shouted as they slowly hovered towards the village square.
Above the village square the three slowly descended near the center of the square. The noise of a busy market rang throughout the square, as youkai and humans alike, engaged in a number of activities that range from grocery shopping, goods, and a number of food vendors.
"Here's the drop point." Marisa said, as the broom hovered a few meters above ground.
Anna and Gray got out of the broom and headed down to ground level. Anna landed safely with her two feet firmly on the ground, but Gray still groggy from nearly falling asleep fell down after he failed to balance himself as he landed on the ground.
Anna immediately helped him back up and said. "You alright, Gray?"
"Yeah. Thanks." He said, as he tried to walk the pain out.
Marisa giggled for a moment and said. "Probably should have said watch your step then?"
Gray embarrassed, tried to ignore her and took a moment to look at his surroundings.
Irritated, Marisa said. "Jeez, wouldn't hurt ya to laugh for a minute."
"Thank you for the ride Kirisame san." Anna said as she waved her hands to her.
Marisa waved goodbye as she flew back into the sky.
Moments after Gray looked at Anna and asked "What's with the honorifics?"
"They're Japanese, It's only polite to address them that way. Follow me." Anna said.
"You know the way?" Gray asked as Anna walked past him.
"Yes, along the way, Marisa told me to look for a large wooden house north of the village square. That's where our friends are staying she said." Anna said as she looked around her surroundings.
"So, we're looking for a wooden house in a place full of wooden buildings?" Gray asked.
"Look Gray, so many youkai, let's go there for while." Anna said, her eyes sparkled with joy as she ran into the crowd of people that gathered on one side of the square.
"Hey wait." Gray said as he ran after her.
He tried to catch up to Anna but soon found himself lost inside the crowd as Anna was nowhere to be seen.
As He wandered aimlessly inside the crowd, he bumped into a girl with short white hair carrying a bag full of fruits and vegetables.
The pale girl didn't' say a word instead she just glared at Gray with her cold blue eyes.
Gray felt a chill curl up his spine when he saw the sheathed katana and wakizashi she carried with her.
He hastily bowed and said. "I, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
The pale girl was surprised then bowed back and went on her way.
iShe looks like she could've killed me if she wanted to./i Gray thought as he broke into a cold sweat.
After she had walked a considerable distance, the pale girl looked around as if she had forgotten something.
She then turn around and said. "Myon, come on."
iMyon, is she she talking to me?i Gray thought.
He then felt a chill scurry down his stomach. He look down and to his surprise saw something phasing through from his stomach.
He let out a shriek as the ball like apparition phased out of his stomach and flew towards the pale girl.
The pale girl caressed the apparition and then they went on their way.
What was that, a ghost? Gray thought, he's senses become numb as he clutched his chest.
Anna appeared soon after.
"Gray, I saw what happened. Are you alright? What did Youmu san say?" Anna asked.
"Who's Youmu?" Gray said.
"You don't know her? But didn't you bowed like you were greeting her?" Anna said.
"All I know is that she saw was carrying a sword and she didn't look like she was in the mood to talk. Gray said.
Anna chuckled and said. "Well, anyway, we should get going."
"Yeah, Let's go." Gray said.
The two then walked up north of the village square.
"So, how will we know we found the right house?" Gray asked.
"It will have a sign written in kanji saying Ryokan." Anna said. Then looked at Gray's confused face and said. "That means inn or a Japanese inn."
"I know that. I'm just confused why they write in Japanese but that witch and that shrine maiden could still speak in English." Gray said.
"Yes, it's weird isn't it. At least that makes it easier for you and the others to understand them." Anna said as they continue to walk down the path.
Meanwhile back in the hakurei shrine, Reimu after she had finished eating the mushroom Marisa gave her. She sat down and thought about where was the cave the outsiders used to get into Gensokyo and why.
iHmm, the forest of magic is the only one near the shrine. I should check that out first./i Reimu thought.
Then a horned little girl came up to Reimu and said. "Oi Reimu, Anything new happening?"
The horned little girl then drank from the gourd she carried with her.
"Ah, Suika. Did you notice anything strange happening in the forests or mountains?" Reimu asked.
"Nope, ah." She said after she took another drink from her gourd.
"Ah well, I'm going to go check the forest of magic." Reimu said as she stood up and prepared herself for flight.
"check for what?" Suika asked.
"Some magical cave." Reimu said.
"Magical cave eh? Try checking the near the road of reconsideration after." Suika said.
"Ok thanks, Suika." Reimu said, She then pointed towards the building next to the shrine and said. "The stuff is at the storage room there."
Suika belched and said. "I know. I haven't forgotten."
Reimu chuckled and then flew off into the air and headed towards the forest of magic.
As she flew across the sky Reimu was caught up in thought. iFind the cave, wait for the outsiders to come back to the shrine then send them home. Simple."/i
She then became puzzled as she thought. iHow did that cave lead them into Gensokyo? Was there a hole in the barrier or hmm, what are you planning Yukari?/i
With nothing but questions left unanswered, she quickened her flight speed as she made haste towards the forest of magic.
Meanwhile back in the human village. Gray and Anna stood in front of large and modest wooden house with a small garden beside it.
Anna let out a sigh of relief and said. "This is the place."
"Doesn't look that big, it doesn't even stand out from the rest of the building here." Gray said as he looked around his surroundings.
Anna giggled and said. "Well, let's just go inside. They're probably waiting for us."
"Yeah, let's go." Gray said.
They then proceeded inside the inn.
"Wow!" Anna said as they went inside.
On the outside, the inn looked like an ordinary wooden house, but on the inside, the interior of the building was polished from top to bottom and the furniture resembled that of modest hotel back in their world.
"Hello, good noon. I am the Receptionist, can I help you?" The girl said, she then noticed the uniform Gray and Anna wore and said. "Ah, your clothes, you two must be one of the guest's friends, correct?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Anna asked.
"The owner of this establishment told me. She told me that more of the guest's friends would arrive soon." The girl said.
"The owner, is she here?" Gray asked.
"No, I'm sorry. She rarely comes to oversee the establishment." The girl said as she gently bowed her head. She then gestured them to follow her and said. "Your friends are already having lunch. Please, come."
Anna followed the girl, but noticed Gray stayed behind.
"Gray, is everything alright? You've been acting strange ever since you woke up." Anna said, much to Gray's dismay.
Gray forced a fake laugh, smile and said "Ah, it's nothing. My legs just hurt from all the walking. Go on without me, they're probably waiting."
"Alright." Anna said as she continued to follow the receptionist. But before she went around the corner of the hall, she said. "Gray, it's alright."
"What?" Gray said as he turned to look at Anna, but she was no longer there.
He then sat down as he let out a resigned sigh and said to himself. "What am I going to do?"
He then fell to the floor, as he felt a blunt force stroked him on the face.
As He tried to get himself back up, he was hit by another stroke followed by another and another.
He then felt a strong force that knocked him to the wall.
He felt the searing pain of the strikes as his back laid next to the wall.
He could hear the sound of footsteps as it approached him, a voice was heard.
"Get up!" The voice said.
iThat voice./i Gray thought as he slowly looked up to find a familiar face.
Gray coughed and said "Peter?"
And there Peter was. His body covered in bandages, stood in front of Gray as he looked at him with hateful eyes
Peter then prepared to strike another blow and said. "Get up, you damn coward."