This is the Cirno News Network with a breaking news story! More reports from the forest of magic as this strange creature we have recently reported on has been spotted again! Local storeowner Morichika of Kourindou reported that the beast had purloined several items of his own without paying for them. We attempted to personally interview the storeowner, but we were rebuffed after showing us a bill reportedly showing tabs that we owe. Such an idea is preposterous, as we here always strive to pay our debts! Once our workwolf is done snickering, we will dispatch her to hopefully clear up this problem.
Thank you, and enjoy the show. This has been THE STRONGEST! Now back to your irregularly scheduled fic.
Skeptical Symbol of the Beginning
Now, who could that be knocking on my door at this time of day? Don't people know that I do not take house calls near midnight unless it is truly an emergency? Dratted, and here I was about nearly half-asleep. If it is my sister, I'm going to have to give her one heck of a lecture, just to remind her that most people carry more normal hours than she does.
Bother. At least she has been getting better recently. Although I still wonder as to why that is. I'll just have to ask her the next time I see her. I'll admit that I keep forgetting, even if it's not becoming for a goddess to admit such a thing. At least there's no one here that can hear me.
Wait a moment; I recognize that form. Cursed latch, why won't you open? There we go! Now, who do we have- Sister! What do you think you're doing, up at this hour? Never mind that. Come in; come in out of the cold. Let me get a good look at you.
…What's wrong, Shizuha? Why is it that you look like you're about to-
Fine, I'll shut up. But what is it that you're doing here at this time of night? It doesn't look like you're making a friendly visit. So what else are you here to do? Ah, others? Well, why did you make them wait outside? It's not like we are lacking in space, if they need shelter for the night.
The last thing that they need? Hrm. Very well, we'll go see them outside ourselves. Let me grab a coat first, though. Would not want to catch a cold from the chills. I'd tell you to get one yourself, but something tells me you'd simply ignore what I'd say, sister.
Even this late in spring, the ground is so chilly. But what do we have here? Wait, I know that one youkai. An underground youkai, out here? What in the world could she be doing up here? They're not allowed to leave the underground at all. It's much too dangerous. Don't you remember the bridge princess that used to live near here, sister? They are too dangerous to be allowed out.
Well, I suppose if she doesn't care, that would explain it. But I do care. It is not proper of me to let this one remain above ground, especially that I know that she doesn't care about the laws or the reason to stay underground! What if she injures someone? What if she kills a human?
By the silence, I take it that she already has. Bah. Whatever is the point in arguing before I try to take you down there myself? I may not be strong enough, but I'm sure I could put you over my knee just as easily as any of the other youkai.
Thank you for taking the initiative, maid. I would have hated to remain out here in the cold all night, waiting for the quibbling to end. Goodness knows that I've had to do it plenty of times with my sister, even though she has gotten better. Yes, I am quite capable of complimenting you when you've earned it, Shizuha, so quit it with that smirk of yours.
Hrm. Now that I think of it, you're not alive either. I wonder what that is. Is that something that the kappa would end up inventing in their spare time? Close enough for horseshoes makes it close enough for me, then. Now, let me see what package that you're having me look at.
A body? What is this? Shizuha, why have you brought them here?
Curse it, sister! You wish for me to bring it back? Such a thing isn't that easy to just up and do. Not to mention the soul is already gone. Whomever this human may have been, there is nothing left of the mind. It's just a cold, stiff corpse.
Well, I'll grant you that much, sister. But why hasn't this spirit appeared before us? I do not see neither hide nor hair, assuming the spirit is strong enough to even be seen out of a ghostly form. So, might as well come out, now. I wouldn't want to think there was a great dirty practical joke being played on me.
Hrmpf. If you had the assistance of some fairies, I would not be that easily fooled. But at least you deigned me worthy enough to show your visage to me. I'll take comfort in the small things.
That being said, what is it that you desire? Would it not be easier to simply go on to the other side, and await your judgment? If my sister has taken a liking to you, you should either be reincarnated, or you'll move on toe Heaven. Truly, that is where the worthy should go. …I see. So, that is your sin.
Sister, please go ahead and light the fireplace, and put a pot of tea on. I am going to have a talk with this spirit. No, I have not decided what I am going to do. I wish to have a discussion first. Oof, now, here we go. This body is much lighter than I expected it to be. I wonder why that may be the case. …Ah, yes, the gaping hole would do the trick, would it not?
No, no, the rest of you should go with my sister. She will keep you company. I wish to have this discussion with the illusion of privacy. No telling which of you might have powers that allow hearing through these walls, or to slip behind me undetected. Do not fear, though, as there is no way that your human will be coming back in any worse of a state than the body is now.
Thank you, spirit. I was quite sure that a few of them were going to have a conniption over the idea of letting you out of their sight. Perhaps you need to speak with them about the values of personal space. After all, if you're going to be alive relatively soon, you're going to have to get used to the regular bodily functions.
Please, you'll learn it soon enough. But for my benefit, use a bush, if that comes to pass? Or at least make sure that you aim correctly. I'd hate to clean up splatter. And make sure to wipe afterwards; you don't want to get infected.
That is incorrect. I have not quite decided what it is that I am going to be doing with your stiff. Or for that matter, you. As for now, though, I need to try and reach the latch. Bloody useless iron handles. At least they keep the fairies out of the obvious entryways. But I think this mat will do, don't you think? Besides, if you do come back, you'll be hurting quite enough as it is. No need to get one of my good mats messy if you'll be in agony all the same.
Amusing. No, I do not get off on pain. I am quite practical. I've had to be, with the way sister is at times. I take it you know her well? I don't know of anyone else she'd ask me to bring back. Not to say that I knew of you, for that matter. Although, I should have suspected something had occurred. Shizuha has been acting quite different than her normal self recently.
I'm going out on a limb here, and say that she met you at one point in time. Am I not right, spirit? Hrm. Even if it was a long time ago for you, perhaps it was not nearly as long a time for her. Has the memory faded from your mind, or are you just attempting to bypass the elephant in the room? No, not the little trinket on the counter. You know quite well what I mean.
Perhaps I should tell you what she has been doing? Thank you for your permission, spirit, but I was going to speak either way. Let me just make myself comfortable before I begin. Even if I have a mat to keep my feet comfortable, I would rather my knees take the brunt of my weight.
Good of you to avoid the obvious remark.
Now, where to begin… It has been a rather subtle thing, if we were talking about those that are normal. For my sister, it was rather blunt and obvious that something had bothered her. She had gotten her thoughts into one, seemingly driven to do something once more. Even though she still left me at times, she bothered to assist me. Whether it is in the blessing of crops, or just busywork moving seeds and seedlings to where they were needed.
As for where she went to once she disappeared, I have no clue. You might have a better idea of what she has done compared to I, if you managed to stumble across her not once, but twice. Most are not even lucky enough to have met her that first time. Usually, it is a youkai that would greet them, before devouring and digesting.
I'm not here to mince words, spirit; I'm here to speak. Besides, I have my own suspicions as to what she has been doing. One can only hide the smell of sweat, even if it is divine, so well. Not to mention that she has been scarfing down slightly more than her normal share of food. She is training for something, isn't she? Preparing for something.
Tell me, spirit, is it about this grudge she has against one of the new mountain gods? Not going to say? Well, what is it then? Can you tell, or have you sworn yourself to secrecy? No matter. Your hesitation tells me everything that I wish to know.
Curse it, sister. Why do you have to go so far? Even if we were both once strong in that regard, does she believe she can take on a goddess of war in her area of expertise? She should desist from such tomfoolery before she is injured terribly.
Why? The why is simple, spirit. What do you believe will happen once that cursed goddess defeats her? She will be taken like the other one has, and she will be forced into bondage. We have no realistic hope of meeting her head-on so soon. Maybe we'd never have that hope. So, why throw her life away for such a thing?
We can just keep our heads down. Ignore Yasaka's treatises. We're too valuable to the human village, not to mention the others that bother to grow their food instead of hunting for it. Shizuha should know this. And so will Yasaka. They'll never march down the mountain and try to force us into their shrine. The repercussions would be too severe. Even they know that we're too important to take.
…Is that so? She's only doing it because I've spoken about joining? True, I have mentioned it idly, but it's obvious that nothing good could come from it now. You're right, of course. That is one thing I should speak to my sister about. To make sure we're on the same page. But Shizuha… To even think I'd do such a thing. Do you trust me that little, or have I been so obtuse of a sister, to not even make sure that she understands.
Thank you for bringing that much to my attention. And at least you admitted that you have spoken to her, if not in so many words. It's good to know that my sister has such concern for me, even if she does no0t show it to my face.
Now, though, comes the important question. What to do with you. Should I go forth an honor my sister's wishes? The repercussions for us would be severe if I did. Not to mention the good I could do with the amount of faith it would take to bring that body back to life.
The injuries are not the problem. I could do this even if I had naught but a strand of hair from your head. Not that I would work with any other hairs that you could possibly grow. The power it would take to restore your body from that is only marginally greater than that required to bring this one back to life.
After all, the hard part is not managing to heal and animate the flesh. There have been being, both divine and demonic, mortal and not, that could accomplish such a feat. Having the muscles that are now stiff to become loose and powerful. The bones that are shattered knit together and become whole. The veins empty of blood to have the torrent loosed through them once more.
It is just the same as encouraging the crop. It is one thing to plant the seed and to have it grow. It is another to coax it to become more, to become completely healthy. To not suffer from any disease or sickness of the body or spirit. Any crop that I bless is not only full in being, but it is also of full soul, for better lack of a term that you would understand.
Aha, no. Plants do not have souls. But that was not what I wished to have implied. Rather, that there is something else besides the automatic reactions of the flesh. For without the body, the spirit is still aware. But without the spirit, can you say anything similar about the body?
Technicalities, I suppose. But realize that I must breathe new life into this shattered shell of yours. That is the only way you can possibly merge with it, and not be as a shambling corpse, even if that corpse is a healthy one.
The biggest question for myself, though, is why. Why should I go out of my way to bring you back to life? Because you are Shizuha's friend? That might almost be enough for me, but I do not see the benefits of entering that arena once again. Nothing good will come out of it for you, for me, or for my sister.
Simple. The Yama is not one to let those who should be under her judgment slip away. Be thankful that she has so much to manage, or she might have personally come for you. Instead, she allowed you to live, which is a small blessing in and of itself. It would have been terrible if you had already lost your life, previously.
…Curses, don't you dare say…
How many times has it been? Once, twice, or thrice? The latter? Just wonderful. Did you tell Shizuha this? …And she still brought you here, expecting for me to… That must have been some impression you made on my sister. And I can't say that I am happy about it, either. Of all the irresponsible things…
Listen, and listen close. Even if I bring you back, it would be your last chance. Oh, don't ask why, just listen. Tell me, what land are we located in? That's right. We are in Gensokyo, a land of magic, a fantasy illusion. But with enough strength, any illusion can become true. Even fanciful, if simple, beliefs can become true here.
The rules are different depending on your species, but humans are the same as most. You don't get more than one death. But if you do come back, the Yama becomes cross. Still, she knows that you'll be coming back soon enough, if you were that lucky, so she doesn't pursue. Escape the second death? Some frustration, but she doesn't care too bad. She'll just chuck you in hell without a second thought, due to your sin.
To escape the third, though… You shall earn her personal ire. She still will not hunt you down, but the moment you slip loose of the mortal coil, she is there, waiting for you.
There is no escaping the fourth death, spirit. This is Gensokyo. Four is death.
Lovely sentiment, isn't it? You've run out of extra lives, and the judge herself is sitting on the other side, waiting for you to make an appearance. Not to mention that I haven't seen her in years, and would preferably put off a personal meeting for as long as possible.
Oh, yes, if we did help you, we would have to own up to it. We gave up the greater mantles long ago. We're just a goddess of dead leaves and a goddess of the harvest. For us to branch out means that we take up old names. Whether we are strong enough to defend that name is the biggest question.
Now, do you understand my reluctance? I am quite satisfied with my life as it is. I have no desire to push the boundaries, chasing after old glories as an old hound dog might chase after a tanuki. Not to mention I would wish that girl onto you, either.
If it were up to me, I'd tell you to go out and be free. In that form, you are virtually immortal as is. Go out and live, if you do not wish to face your judgment. Even if you'll never grow up, nor change, unlike should surely be greeter than returning to the flesh once more.
Not that I ever expected you to accept such a compromise. Stubborn as my sister, you are. No wonder why she likes you. If I am to agree with this, though, there is one thing I want from you. I want you to make a deal with me. Is that acceptable to you, spirit? In exchange for returning you to life, you will owe me.
Oh, you're not some simple human. I can tell that much. You've done way too much to be just a human. Besides, you are aware what returning you to life will do to my sister. You will owe her after this, no matter what. Not that she'd ask it of you. So, instead, I will be the practical one.
Your response?
Very well, then. We have a pact. Now, as to the matters of your body… Let life begin anew once more. The energies once elder become young. The flesh now stiff and rotting becomes supple and whole. And may the spirit of this human be entwined with it as it was once before.
Now, do not panic. You are simply reuniting with your vessel. Not that the dramatics are necessary, as the visuals do the transformation plenty of justice. As to your deal, we will discuss it upon the morrow, when you wake.
Sleep well, human. And remember to be cognizant of your debts. I will.
A/N Well, finally got Minoriko done here, after that short chapter that was Shizuha. So, hello again everyone! Hope that you enjoyed the last, as I felt it inappropriate to sully that chapter with author's notes.
Now, this chapter will hopefully spell out what weight is on the shoulders of the three, now. Much less on the party. The MC is going to have to be a lot more careful now, as there aren't any more lives to waste. Shikieiki is not going to be allowing any more chances to escape.
Not to mention that by actually resurrecting the human, we've shaken up the status quo on the mountain. At this point, it's only a matter of when, not if, we're going to be having a war zone erupt on the mountain. Think of it as a miniature Touhou 13.5 that's going to be occurring. The Aki sisters on one side, Moriya on the other, with Hina Kagiyama picking off stragglers wherever they may be.
…Or maybe I'm pulling all of your legs, and it'll be a tea party, because Gensokyo. We'll just have to come back someday to see, won't we? Just wait about... say twenty chapters.
We'll just have to hope that Shizuha pulls herself out of that funk she's in. Otherwise, things will not go so well for them. Oh, and Mr. Muss? Wrong goddess, but right idea. For future note, all chapters that involve repeats will not be necessarily as long as a new chapter. Instead, they shall be as long as necessary. No more, no less.
Anywho, enough yapping. Next time… Well, she has wings, but you'll be seeing soon enough. Please read and review as always, and until then!