This is the Cirno News Network with a technical update! Recently, we've upgraded our broadcasting gear, allowing the message to transcend even further and farther than before! With this, we shall be able to broadcast to any and all of the realms that may crisscross through the land that is Gensokyo! Not to mention that we've updated the power source, so we no longer need our workwolf to run on the treads in the even of an emergency! …What's that? Oh, do not worry, listeners. We are keeping her on hand in case we ever need have an emergency while having an emergency!

This is in no way related to our previous broadcast, and the rampage that our beloved workwolf conducted in the studios. On that note, it is recommended to not disturb her at the moment, as she is liable to snap without warning.

Thank you, and enjoy the show. This has been THE STRONGEST! Now back to your irregularly scheduled fic.

Sheep Lost Without its Herd

What a mess… Would have been a huge fight inside. What happened? What could have gone on? No one came by me… Good thing, I suppose. But what would it have been? Perhaps Patchouli finally had enough of Remilia's antics? Did she finally say that enough was enough, and take her to task? Or did the little devil…

No, have to hope for the best. Still, I've got to sort through the rubble. Wish the sun would stay up. Damn light is finally going away. Not like I can do anything about it. Would need a three legged crow to change the position of that orb, and I'm not to go and find one to eat, either. Orange might have been able to… I miss them.

No time to be reminiscing, Hong Meiling. We've got a job to do. Even if it's one we don't want to. One giant oaken timber taken up, and tossed away. Heh. I wonder if I should mess up the precious fountains of hers? Those statues of Remilia are priceless… Mostly because anyone in their right mind wouldn't even think of purchasing them. Vain vampire. In the sun, they even sparkle. Who ever heard of a vampire sparkling? Sheesh… This one certainly doesn't. The only thing she'll do is rip out your intestines as she feasts on you alive.

Good thing I've never been one to fit her taste, hrm? Even if veal is similar to human, the blood just isn't good enough to actually have a good taste. At least, according to them. Since I've not spotted either of them… Oops. One giant timber into the fountain. My bad. After all, I was doing my best to dig them out of this mess they're in.

Wait a second. This is… was the grand hall, and I've still seen no sight of them. That is too odd. They would have shown up by now, if only to berate me for taking so long to fix this all. Something more is afoot than simply… Oh. Well, isn't this the kicker. The murderer's dog, lying in a ditch. That's… rather creative, to be honest. Oh well, no need to check on her. It isn't as if anyone could have survived that.

Remilia would not have allowed her to be killed though, if she were still alive. Which means… Must get the little mistress out. If she is incapacitated, even for a little while. Now where is the- Flandre? Is that you? You're out! Out of the cage… Did you bust out again? Or were you finally able to…

She's dead. Truly? Well and duly, absolutely, dead? That's… that's wonderful! We're free. Finally free of her. Finally free to move on… But how did it happen, young mistress? Do you know how?

Oh, the spirit here is the one who helped you? That's interesting… How did something as simple as that happen? Well, you are right. Perhaps I should ask the spirit instead of talking to you instead. Pardon me, I'm just so excited. Please, tell me what caused the damage to the house that killed my former master?

That is… intriguing. The old goddess from one of the shrines near the village? The one of the Hakurei. I… I think I see. But why, indeed, would she? Why would she go to such lengths. That seems rather… sketchy. Although, I suppose one should not look a gift horse in the mouth. Knowing the horse we're speaking of, she'd probably… Well, never mind. You can imagine.

I still hardly can believe it though. After so many years, centuries of being reduced to a gate guard for that monster disguised as a girl, and I am free. Finally free to move on in my life. Could I even go back to what I was before, though? Could they still exist, with but eleven to take the duties of the twelve? I don't know if it is possible. I truly do not know.

Still, could they? I know the dragon would accept back the sheep. The horse is prideful, but there is still some good in her heart. The ox was stalwart, and isn't likely to have an opinion one way or the other. What of the others, though…

Ah! I am sorry. Am I confusing you? Yes, that seems to be the case. Here I am babbling off, and making such a big mess of everything. This isn't like me, you know. Then again, it's been so many centuries since I've been allowed to be me.

Yes, I know. It's crazy. Everyone here, they've all been so scared. Not that they could ever show it. What do you think would happen if we showed even the slightest trace of fear? It wouldn't be good, I tell you. Not in the slightest.

Such a terrible thing to be fated in such a manner. All of us. The only one who was even somewhat immune to it was Patchouli. Then again, she knew her when she was much younger, not this harsh. Not to mention having the shield of family knowledge within her, along with being contained to her library.

Well, now isn't that quite shocking. So she was the one to summon the goddess? Funny thing, isn't it? Working against the old mistress from within her sanctuary… I hadn't thought it possible. Not ever. Would have been harder for me, though. Having to guard the gate all of the time.

When I say all the time, I mean all the time. The old mistress thought herself rather humorous at times. What could be more ironic, than to have a great beast of the Zodiac serve as something so simple and lowly. Not that I mind the work itself.

Huh, surprised? I suppose you would be. You're still young, I can tell. Centuries younger than I am. Still full of life. Hrm? Oh, you're dead? Hrm, I couldn't barely tell. Your chi doesn't… bah, maybe I'm getting rusty. Never mind about that.

But about not minding the work? It's simple. I have to keep stuff from getting inside. It's not that hard, as most aren't dumb or brave enough to try and enter. Yes, I know that you were successful, but that still makes it dumb for you to try and do that all by yourself. Because if you were wrong, or that goddess didn't decide to come, it would have been lights out for you.

Just telling it how I see it. That's how I prefer it. I hate having to twist my words just to get something done. But I do have to, from time to time. Or perhaps it would be better to say that I did. Oh, it's so wonderful to actually use past tense, now. You have no idea.

It's just what I am, though. What it is that guides me. I'm not some proud creature, like the others. Not a slippery one who won't be controlled. I am but a sheep, remember? My first instinct is just to follow the herd.

An instinct that I should start trying my hardest to ignore. But will that even be possible? I'm not too sure… Honestly, I'm not. What could I do? Strike out on my own? Looking for what?

Yes, I could look for them. What are the odds that I'll find them here, though? Or that they even still exist. Magic has died in so many places. If they separated after I was taken, they could be anywhere in this world. Or they could be dead.

Well, I do have all the time in the world now, don't I? It should be possible for me to just waltz on out of here. It might be slightly harder for me to actually leave Gensokyo proper, but I feel like it could be done. I wonder how much the outside world has changed in the intervening times. I wonder how much my homeland has changed.

That is technically correct. We were in the outside until quite recently, at least by my standards. However, just because we were in the outside, doesn't mean that we kept up with all of the latest developments. Well, perhaps we have. Have you seen Patchouli's library? Yes, it is almost like the ancient tower itself, is it not? Give her a few more centuries, and perhaps it will surpass it in its splendor.

No, I've not seen it myself. I am just relating the old tales that I have heard. Imagine the repository of information such a thing would be, though. Not for the sake of knowledge itself, but for the experiences. What a better world this would be, if everyone could know what has happened, and we could do better the next time. If they could know those that have suffered, so as to avoid it happening in the future.

Am I treading on something that you know, spirit?

Heh, never mind. That's not what matters. What matters is how I proceed from here. Is there anything I should know before I venture out? Where best to look? Have the foci shifted? Is the chi any different? Oh. Perhaps I shouldn't be asking you. You don't have any idea, right? I suppose you've a point.

Peace is what I want, friend. I've been so long here, watching this girl's depredations. Watching what she's done to her own sister. Oh, dear. I've completely forgotten about… Young Mistress, are you ok?

I realize that I shouldn't be calling you that, but it is still my habit. Trust me, I'd much rather be calling you that than refer to our old mistress by her title that she gave to herself. I suppose I could stop, Flandre, but it just seems wrong

It's just another of those stupid things, spirit. I automatically want to fall back into my old position. To have someone lead the herd for me. At least then, I wouldn't have to make the hard decision, whether if I should stay or should I go. You're right. It doesn't make it right for me to put such a burden onto her. Onto anyone right now.

Still, I am here. At the very least, I can attend to the girl that tried her best to save me. Now, young Flandre, is there anything that you need? Any injuries that need to be attended to?

Ah, right. You are still the same species, even if you are so different from the lovely lady that you could call a sister. It about makes you wish that the ones in your family that you don't like are the ones least related to you.

If there was anything you'd know… Right. Blood is just blood. All it does is keep you alive, and it feeds you. It doesn't make you what you are. Odd way to look at it. Not that I'd want to look at it the other way, knowing how… well, let's not rehash that, shall we?

In all seriousness, though, why do you not simply feed on the body that the one with the green hair is carrying? It certainly looks dead. Nothing can be done for it now. Wait, it's the body of that spirit that is coming with you? Was it killed during the confrontation, but remained behind?

Right. You killed that human the first time. That human managed to come back, but was killed again, and Izayoi took the body? Makes as much sense as anything else. It certainly does explain the absolutely look of glee that was on her face when she came back with it. I had wondered why she didn't simply step through time until she returned to the mansion. They certainly loved their melodrama, didn't they?

At least they're dead, and we both no longer have to deal with it, correct?

Alright, I'll go find something. There's probably something stored near the kitchens. After all, that's where she kept the donors. Wait. We've still to free them. They're still on tenterhooks, I imagine. Hopefully she wasn't too literally in her choice of words. Knowing their imagination, though…

Well, I suppose that's really up to the spirit. Ask it, if you want. I wouldn't know that, Flandre. I wouldn't know how to make a dead body whole again. After all, I'm just a youkai. Perhaps a strong one, but still just a glorified sheep that can walk on two legs.

If you want to find anything, go find Patchouli. She might know what to do. Or else you'd better just wander around randomly. Already been doing that? Well, that certainly explains the shape you're in now, spirit. A human, doing such a thing? That's asking for a death warrant right there.

Eheh, yeah. I suppose you do know that, don't you? At least you've got some strong beings to keep you from rolling over and dying, hrm? Dammit, I know, I know! You know how hard it is to use colloquialisms when you're talking to someone that is dead? Yes, it is that hard.

Especially when the dead person knows it, and is going to take you to task on it.

Anyways, I should be heading on. I've got so much to do… young mist- Flandre, I'll find you at the library, once I've found anything, alright? Just a little bit of blood, to keep you from succumbing to the bloodlust. I understand.

Spirit? Just take good care of her. And good luck with whatever it is that you are seeking. I'll see you again, maybe. Maybe.

…Oh, what am I going to do? Meiling, you stupid idiot. I should go, and find the others. But I've gotten used to this life much too easily. Plus, I do owe her for attempting to save my life. What is it that I should do?

We'll wait it out, I suppose. The others will have to wait. There's much more rubble to be cleared, other prisoners that will need to be saved. Oh, the human village will flip that she's taken so many. Not that they should be surprised… At least they're mostly outsiders, for all that I know.

That, and they'll complain. More mouths to feed that don't know how to work for them. It'll take quite a while for them to get up to speed as well. Much less back on their feet. Could we keep them here? Once it's rebuilt? Would they even be able to stand the sight? It isn't as if they've seen the halls before…

That's something that the young mistress needs to answer. I'll wait and see what it is that she's doing. Help her some. Take my time making a decision for myself. If I truly can overcome my nature. But if a vampire can overcome the urge to suck blood, then I suppose I can do the same for my own.

Still, no dawdling Hong Meiling! The sooner I am done, the sooner I can decide!