After what Murasa considered, frankly, the dullest sea voyage in history, she and the Joestars had finally arrived at the land where the living had no place: Hakugyokurou. They all faced the countless stone steps, stalling having to climb them by watching the radiant cherry blossoms tumble and fall. They were mesmerizing, shifting and changing like little fireflies, drifting in the oddly cool breeze.
"Well, this is gorgeous and all, but don't we have some business here to take care of?" Joseph finally intervened.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. Be careful going up the steps. A tumble down those probably wouldn't be survivable." said Murasa.
They began a slow ascent, stopping every so often to catch their breath and marvel at the trees lining the path. They got about halfway up, when a kitsune with an odd hat and a huge, fluffy, golden tails barred their passage.
"None of you are sanctioned for entry. Not only that, but you also had the audacity to insult the dead by bringing MORE living." she said.
"Fair maiden, we mean you no harm. My relatives, myself, and Miss Minamitsu are simply requesting your blessing to investigate Lady Yukari's strange disappearance." said Jonathan.
"Ran, just let us pass, for God's sake. We're here to see Yuyuko, and to get down to the bottom of this whole Yukari situation. This lovely bunch has information, and I'm sure she would be glad to hear it." Murasa explained, her patience wearing thin.
"Hmph. I'll let Lady Yuyuko decide that for herself. Stay put." she replied.
Ran shortly returned, looking disgruntled.
"I am to escort you straight to Lady Yuyuko. Come quickly, for she urgently requires your presence."
They followed the shikigami up the rest of the stairs, slightly saddened at the thinning of the gorgeous trees. They came upon a huge settlement, bordered by water that shone just like the cherry blossom petals. Speckles of light dotted through the bridges they crossed, turning legs into tiny dance floors for only but a moment. Ran stood by a closed door, and gave a gesturing bow.
"Lady Yuyuko is in here. Try not to make fools of yourselves."
And with that, she slid open the door, and took her leave.
"All I'm saying, Reimu, is that- Oh, we have guests. Do come in, for this is an urgent matter." said Yuyuko, chipper as ever.
Murasa and her crew of 9 sat around a tiny table, facing the Hakurei shrine maiden and the governess of the dead. Reimu tented her fingers, trying to cover the bags under her eyes.
"Listen, I know this happens sometimes, the whole spiriting away thing, but this is seriously getting out of hand. You say you've got a way to fix it; so let's cut to the chase and get right to that." she said, clearly exhausted from damage control.
Murasa launched into an explanation, telling all: the Joestars, and how she met them; her encounter with Yukari; and the whole DIO situation. She left out their true abilities, however, as she had a hunch they wouldn't take too kindly to it.
"And so, that's the straight and narrow of it. Jonathan, why don't you tell her about your solution? It's quite ingenious, to say the least."
"Ah, well, it's nothing special, really." he said, humble as ever. "DIO is a formidable foe, so we have to have powerhouses on our side. So, if we 're-kidnap' the other powerful members of Gensokyo society, then perhaps we'll actually stand a chance?"
Reimu and Yuyuko glanced at eachother, clearly surprised that a human knew about the Gensokyo power hierarchy.
"Jonathan, your name was? It may work, however... How would you go about executing this?" questioned Yuyuko.
"That's actually why we're here. We had decided to go around and question all the residents of the main areas of Gensokyo, so we could gather more info about their whereabouts." interjected Murasa.
"I see, I see. I'll assume you came here to talk about Yukari, then?" Reimu said. "There's not much we can give you that you don't already know, but I'll let Yuyuko get into the nitty gritty."
"About 6 months ago, a bloodied and bruised Ran and a half dead Chen had made their way up here. Ran was speaking madness, at least, I had thought so at the time, things such as 'Lady Yakumo has been kidnapped' and 'They almost killed Chen, I don't know what happened'. I tried to calm her down, but she was in hysterics, and her injuries were making her extremely weak. According to her, Yukari had been taken from their home, and Ran was forced to tell the locations of certain others, or the individual in question would kill Chen." Yuyuko explained, pausing to regain her composure. "I let them rest here for a while, and after about 3 months of them living with me, 3 humans showed up. They were quite respectful, but a little lost, so I took them in too. And, the rest is history."
"More humans, you say? Are they still with you?" Murasa said, a mischievous glimmer in her eye.
"Yes, actually. Reimu, would you be a dear and go to fetch them?"
Reimu slowly stood and went off to go find them. She returned with a group of humans, who were all a little overdressed. One was a blonde girl with a periwinkle blue dress and a permanently worried expression on her face. One was a dirty blond haired man who looked kind of scruffy, but surprisingly friendly. The last was a tall, hook-nosed man with a thin, curly mustache and contrastingly fluffy looking hair, a hat precariously perched atop his head. Jonathan's face brightened almost immediately.
"I... I can't believe it! Erina, a-and Robert, and even you, Baron Zeppeli! You got whisked away to this place, as well?" he said, his eyes dotted with tears of joy.
The blonde girl, who Murasa presumed to be 'Erina', leaned in to throw her arms around him.
"Yes, somehow, we did. We were all so worried about you, Jonathan... Whatever happened to you, my love?"
"I couldn't describe it if I tried. I'm simply ecstatic that you all are safe, however! You must tell me, has your stay here been at least somewhat pleasant?"
"As pleasant as getting taken somewhere you're not familiar with can be." replied the brown-haired man, sourly.
"Don't say that, Baron," said the scruffy blonde. "While the circumstances were a little strange, you have to admit, it's quite nice! And Miss Yuyuko here has been nothing but kind."
Yuyuko beamed at this. Erina finally released Jonathan, and looked over at Murasa, a curious look on her face.
"Oh, and who's this? I don't believe we've met before."
"I'm Murasa Minamitsu. Very nice to meet you." she said with a gentle smile.
"What a nice name you have, miss! I am Erina Pendleton-Joestar, and these are my associates, Robert E. O. Speedwagon, and Baron William Zeppeli." she replied, pointing to the other blonde and the mustachioed man, respectively.
Speedwagon gave her a bright and humble smile, while the Baron coolly tipped his hat. They didn't really seem fit for ship work, but she could appreciate their adaptation skills, save for that Zeppeli character. Though, she didn't blame him. Familiarity breeds contempt, and he looked like a man that doesn't like staying in one place all that much, which resonated with her.
"So, I see you're acquainted with these people, Jonathan?" said Yuyuko.
"Oh, yes. Robert and William are two of my dearest friends, and Erina is my beautiful wife, a fact of which I am proud." he said, his face practically glowing with said pride.
"Perfect! They've been telling me all about you, and I see that they weren't leaving out a single detail. Perhaps it would be best if they accompanied you all? That is, if you don't mind?" she said, now addressing Murasa.
"Of course they can. Any extra help is much appreciated. By the sounds of things, we'll have to build up an army to stop those two." she replied. "I do want to ask Ran a few questions, as well, if she's okay with that?"
Yuyuko nodded solemnly and stood.
"I'll take you to her quarters. In the meantime, we should let the family catch up with their acquaintances." she said, practically pushing the ship ghost out of the door.
They silently walked along the maze of wooden floors, coming to stop in front of a door not unlike the one that her and Reimu were speaking in hushed tones behind.
"Try not to get too... In depth, with the questions. This is still a touchy subject for her, and I'd rather her not have to relive too much." Yuyuko whispered.
Murasa nodded in understanding, and slowly pushed open the door.