Rumia took Yukari's hand, and the gap youkai pulled her through the gap, into Alice's house. Alice had used her two dolls; Arctic and Antarctic; to open a portal to Makai, one doll at the top; the other at the bottom; akin to the ribbons of Yukari's gaps.

"So; you're going too; Yukari?" Alice asked.

"I have to. I'd much rather not go to Makai personally; but there is no-one else who could keep this fool sane." Yukari said; indicating to Rumia; before she opened a gap in the ceiling; and Rika fell through; landing on her head.

"Damnit Yukari! I'll kill you some day!" Rika screeched. Rumia couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed everyone reacted that way to being gapped. Except the death threats.

"Now now Rika; if you don't come with us and help Rumia is sure to go and try and save Makai herself. And then she'll probobly go mad and have to be killed by Shinki. So you won't get to kill her. Remember?" Yukari said.

Rika huffed and looked at Rumia.

"Can't you stop doing things that might get you killed? If you wanna die just let me kill you so I stop having to bail your hide out; imbecile!"

At that point; Yukari just pushed Rika through the portal to Makai; before she followed; and Rumia followed suit.

The three emerged in Shinki's throne room; although it was in it's 'room' state, and not the magnificent 'infinite corridor of blue' state it could be in if Shinki wanted. Yumeko stood next to Shinki; who was sitting down.

The Goddess was sleeping.

"Shinki..." Rumia said.

Yumeko poked Shinki's cheek. "Lady Shinki... wake up... they're here."

Shinki turned her face to the other side, and groaned. "I don't wanna get up Mummy..."

Yumeko looked irritated, and poked Shinki a few more times; before she yelled "Get up you idiot!" and punched her over the head.

That did the trick; and Shinki's eyes shot open; before she righted herself.

"Oh; sorry. I must have dozed off. I've been an insomniac for so long because of my own excess energy. But now I'm borderline narcoleptic." Shinki said.

Rumia was holding in laughter.

"Anyway; Yumemi arrived into this dimension by locking onto the largest area of power; which is the very core of Makai. You see; at the core of Makai is a special item I..." Shinki paused for a few seconds, before continueing; "Found... which I used as a catalyst to amplify my incredible power to create Makai; and ascend to godhood. Even to this day it is still a catalyst for my power. To expand Makai my excess power flows through the item, growing ever larger, added to the existing power."

"So; you're saying down there will be a massive amount of your energy, amplified?" Rika said. "I may not have met you; but I've sure heard of you... that can't possibly be safe. That amount of power would rip even someone such as Yukari limb from limb."

"Except you are a machine; Rika. You should be able to withstand that energy for a time. Rumia comes from that swirling mass; so would be unharmed." Shinki said.

"And Yukari?" Rumia asked.

"Yukari will not be there in physical form. You see; Rumia; the core is sentient. It wants nothing more than to destroy all I have created. Thus; it saved your previous self; and corrupted it into... you. It is certain that if you went down there; you would be consumed by evil once again; likely more powerful than before."

"As such; I will use my boundary manipulation to enter your mind, Rumia." Yukari said. "I will battle your inner self; hold her back from consuming you. Meanwhile, you must do what you can to limit the energy being used against Rika, else she may not survive long enough to disable the extractor."

"I would go there myself; but if the large amount of energy that I hold comes into contact with the polar opposite energy surrounding the core; Makai would collapse, and everyone within would die; including me." Shinki said.

Rumia looked at Yukari.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to go into my head?"

"I beat her once to seal her. Besides; are you doubting me? I can easily manipulate the boundary of doubt and trust." Yukari said, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Damnit Yukari..." Rumia said. "Go on then."

Yukari vanished into a gap, and, a few moments later; Rumia felt another presence in her head.

"Sure is dark in here. Although I guess your inner self being dark makes sense. Darkness Daemon and all. Still; would have expected some cherry-red..." Yukari's voice said in Rumia's head.

"Can it Yukari; keep your guard up. Who knows what she could do." Rumia thought back, feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh you're no fun~"

"Is she in?" Shinki asked.

"Yeah." Rumia said.

"Very well." Shinki replied; before she opened a portal. Unlike the usual portals linked to Makai; which swirled with red energy; this one was unmistakably black; with only little bits of red.

"I cannot leave this open long due to the hazard this enerfy poses; go through. I'll know when it is done and re-open the portal." Shinki said, seriously.

Rumia grabbed Rika's wrist, and pulled her through the portal before she could protest.

The instant Rumia passed through; her head started screaming at her; throbbing like mad. Waves of black energy washed around her; the enemy getting thicker the deeper in she went. Rika was glowing with a faint; blue outline.

"I think my shielding can withstand this for about five minutes. Maybe six. After that I'l run out of power and probobly be ripped apart." Rika said, before she pointed to a silver and white sphere floating near the center of the area. "That's it!"

The two flew towards the device; and Rika went to work; before Rumia felt compelled to turn; to look directly at the core.

At the core; the swirling mass of energy was almost pitch black; except for some specks of red. Occasionally; Rumia could see what looked like a large, spherical gem, greenish-blue, although she never got a good look.

However; within the energy was a daemonic face. The specs of red formed a clear outline; and there wre glowing red areas; which took the form of glowing eyes, and a mouth with jagged teeth.

"Daughter..." the core rumbled. The voice was loud; and shook the very air. It gave the impression of pure evil.

"I am no daughter of yours!" Rumia shouted back.

"Silence; fake!" the core roared; even louder; so loud Rumia felt her eardrums burst; before they healed. Her head was in agony for a moment; before it cleared.

"Found her!" Yukari said.

"Less talking more evil-me beating-up!" Rumia responded.

"I feared I had lost my only weapon against Shinki forever; after she sent you to other dimensions... you must be exhausted... away from my energy; and the energy of Makai; for so long..."

Rumia felt tendrils of darkness wrap around her limbs. She felt vile energy being pumped into her body. She screamed in pain, before gritting her teeth and focusing. She began to use her control of her inner chi to repel the energy being forced into her.

"I will eliminate this false being; and make you even stronger; daughter... use what strength you have left to aid me in pushing out this fake."

"Ahahahaha! Die; Gap-Hag; Father's calling~" Rumia's evil self echoed.

"I'm still doing OK; worry about yourself Rumia!" Yukari's voice responded.

"H-how much longer Rika?" Rumia gasped. "This is kinda painful..."

"Not long; this one seems less advanced than the one in Gensokyo!" Rika responded. "Even a Kappa could probobly figure this out!"

About a minuite passed; before the core laughed.

"Your inner strength cannot hold me back forever!"

"It... doesn't need to..." Rumia grunted. "I won't become that monster again!"

"You don't have a choice! Daughter; I'm sorry that when you get your body back it won't be in a good condition; but I'm sure you want freedom..."

A large snake-like tendril of the vile energy formed; and lashed from the core's red maw; like a snake's tongue, before it rushed at Rumia;and pierced her through the chest, narrowly avoiding her heart. It was absolute agony; not just where Rumia was impaled; but also with the energy forcibly flooding her body.

"Yes; father!" the inner Rumia cried.

Rumia heard a scream inside her head.

"...Yu...ka..." she groaned; vision fading.

"I did it!" Rika shouted, before Rumia blacked out.

Rumia awoke in a place that was clearly not Makai. She was bandaged heavily, and her body felt like it was on fire; but she was herself.

She struggled to sit up, and saw Wriggle; Kogasa; Mystia; Daiyousei and Cirno all by her bedside.

"She's awake!" Kogasa shouted. "Eirin she's awake!"

"You had us worried! You had a huge hole through your chest that was seeping some dark goo..." Wriggle said.

"Long... story." Rumia said weakly, "What happened... how long?"

Eirin entered the room, and looked serious.

"OK; you five; leave; now. That was the agreement. You could stay until she woke up. I need you out of my way now." Eirin said. She looked like she had been working hard, and wore a face of worry.

The others left, and Rumia heard Reisen shooing them from some other room; saying they couldn't enter.

Only when everything became quiet did Rumia speak.

"What... happened?"

"When Rika stopped the device in Makai; Shinki's power flooded back to her. She pulled you out of the core, using her magic to pull you through a portal. She then pulled the worst of the energy out of you; as much as she could without endangering Makai, before she brought you here."

"How long?" Rumia rasped.

"A day."

"Too long." Rumia said; struggling up, despite Eirin trying to stop her. Standing was agony; but she had to.

She knew why the others were not allowed to enter the room next door.

"Yukari..." she rasped. "I heard... her scream when it overwhelmed me... that energy; it sounded like it would make my evil self stronger..."

"Yukari is next door; but she is in no state to..."

"I have to see her!" Rumia said.

"She is right; Eirin. She must see Yukari." Ran said; standing in the doorway. It was clear she had been crying. "Yukari wishes it. I shall help her stand."

Ran walked over to Rumia; and lent her a shoulder to lean on.

Rumia was almost afraid to take it, but knew she had to. She slowly walked to the room next door, and when she entered; to took all she had to not scream.

Yukari was lying on the bed. She was in a horrible state. Her right arm was gone; her torso had deep wounds, and her breath was weak.

"I did all I could... but she's already dead. She's only alive with her power... she's manipulating the Border of Life and Death, but even that is starting to fail her." Eirin said.

"She can't be... that's not possible. It wasn't even ten seconds after I was pierced..."

Yukari glowed a bit, and spoke clearly.

"I knew what was going to happen; Rumia. None of this is anyone's fault. This is all part of my plan; and for my plan; I have to die. I went to Makai having accepted my fate years ago." Yukari said. "And besides; in a world of darkness; she kind of had the home field advantage."

A tear rolled down Rumia's face.

"What are you saying?! How can it be best for Gensokyo for you to die?! You literally hold this place together!"

"Because there is another like me." Yukari said. "The time has come for her to take my place; and learn her own way. I cannot stand in her way, and she easily has the potential to far surpass even me. If I stayed; I would feel the urge to mentor her; but that would just limit her potential; if she thought like I did; and not in her own way."

"Another... like you?" Rumia asked.

"You think someone who has lived as long as I have would not have a family tree?" Yukari said weakly. "I have descendants, and one of them is coming soon. I ask you watch over her; protect her. You'll know her when you see her; Rumia. You'll know who it is."

Yukari mentioned Ran over. Ran was on the brink of tears.

"Ran; I shall give you what remains of my power. Look after Gensokyo until she is ready, this is goodbye." Yukari said; reaching her hand out; which Ran took, sobbing.

The two hands glowed purple; Yukari's brighter at first; but the light transferred to Ran's hand.

When the light was almost goe from Yukari's hand; the light started to fade from her eyes; and her breath became shallower.

"I'll be there soon.. Yu...yu...ko..." she said, as the light vanished.

Yukari was still, with a smile on her face.

Everyone in Gensokyo felt something at that moment. A pang inside them; that told them that something major had happened. Even the fairies and normal animals felt it.

But only a few knew what it meant.

Only a few knew what could make such a large impact that they would feel it.

Only a few; at that precise moment; realized the great youkai sage; Yukari Yakumo; was dead.

Author Notes:

OK that ended up shorter than expected. I guess I over-estimated the length of this segment.