Chapter 6: Love, Truth and Despair
Several days later…
As the Prismrivers played their signature song, Richard and Reisen were watching from the back-seats, as they had a fairly clear sight of the concert stage itself.
"So, how's this for starting off our little outing?" Richard smiled back. "A Prismriver concert to help set you into the mood. I heard that you actually have a liking for it, from what Tewi says from me eavesdropping on her that one time. Now that you have a chance to go to one of their concerts, it's something great, isn't it?"
"I guess. To be right before it…" Reisen remarked, as her eyes shone slightly. "I'm truly dazzled. It's as if I'm under my own illusions, with how beautiful it sounds."
"I suppose that the Prismriver sisters have talent that good." Richard chuckled. "One could say that they could literally change one's mood with their music. It's so magical that it could make people sad, happy or calm. Doesn't matter what kind of being you are, if you are affected by music, the emotional tone will affect you."
"So, it's auditory manipulation of the mind?" Reisen asked.
"No, it's more spirit and soul than mind." Richard shook his head. "Yours however does. But don't be disheartened, mind and soul each have their advantages in terms of how it affects the entire being when either one is being manipulated."
"Oh… Um, can we just focus on the music?" Reisen asked.
"Of course, of course. That's what we're here for." Richard responded back.
After the concert…
With some time left in the daylight, the two of them immediately went for a early dinner, as they found themselves right at Mystia Lorelei's food stand, as the sparrow youkai was donned in her trademark apron and head-dress, as she watched as Reisen and Richard guzzled down several of her dishes, Richard especially.
"Uourp…" Richard burped slightly, before covering his mouth. "...Wow, I really ate a lot, haven't I? I must really be so hungry after all of the work and training, that I could eat a oni's fill in meat and flour."
"I think your burping is quite cute." Reisen remarked, causing Richard to turn away slightly, trying to hide the embarrassment on his face. "Speaking of which, why did you pick this place You could have chosen more fancier places."
"You do know that I can hear you, right?" Mystia remarked with creased eye-brows.
"Ah, forgive her, Lorelei, she's just curious." Richard waved at Mystia to try and calm her. "Well, money can't buy your happiness so easily. I much rather go to a restaurant that makes the real good stuff in a way for the common folk to enjoy. You can say that Youmu prepares them well, and the chefs in the Human Village know what they're doing… but I think Mystia's cooking has the most heart put into it, and that's what makes it just as delicious as the rest, especially being a fair lot cheaper. Sure, you can't get every dish from her… but the dishes she has all matter the most."
"Aw, you warming up to me?" Mystia remarked, touched by Richard's compliment.
"Of course. So long as you're doing your best… at least on everything except… you know what…" Richard remarked. "...That's all fine for me. I'm glad that you're happy to have me as your customer despite my reputation."
"Bah, you're not as bad as one would think. I should know." Mystia assured Richard.
"Well, I'm as happy as I can be." Richard remarked with a glad expression, before patting his stuffed belly slightly. "Got a buddy to eat and drink with, and to watch a beautiful concert. And we're going to watch the sunset together soon."
"Oh? And where would that be?" Mystia asked.
"That's a secret." Richard winked, as Reisen could only smile slightly at Richard's attempt to be mysterious.
As soon as Reisen finished the rest of her meal, Richard paid for the bill, and even left a sizable tip that Mystia was extremely grateful for, as Richard led Reisen to the rooftop of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, as the residents were all inside, having their own dinner.
"Richard, are you sure we should be here?" Reisen asked with concern. "The mistress here and her staff don't take well to trespassers."
"Don't worry about it." Richard assured Reisen, before sitting on the ledge of the roof, and patting beside him as a gesture for Reisen to sit beside him. "I already asked permission from Lady Scarlet, and Sakuya as well. They're okay with it, so long as I don't scuff their roofing in the process. But that won't be happening at all. So just sit down, relax, and enjoy the sunset."
Reisen looked at Richard for a moment, before sighing gently with a faint smile, as she sat beside Richard.
The two of them watched as the orange setting sun shone upon the Misty Lake, as its foggy surface only added to its natural beauty, with the rim of the sun slowly disappearing over the horizon.
"Say, Reisen, have you ever seen a sunset like this before?" Richard asked.
"No. But I think that I'm glad that you took me to see one like this." Reisen answered back, as her smile was warm.
"You're welcome." Richard answered back, as they waited for the sun to finish setting.
After the sun finally disappeared, as the night began to slowly settle in, they decided to take a walk through one of the side paths leading into the Bamboo Forest, as they stopped at the entrance of it.
"So, I suppose that this was a great day." Richard declared, before placing a hand on the back of his head. "...You know, Reisen, I want to confess something. This was the first time… for a long, long time, that I ever felt like I was having fun as just some simple citizen. I'm truly glad that you accepted all of this. I only hope that this made you as happy as it made me. After all, you make me happy in this place, despite everything that hurts here. It's as you say: Gensokyo tends to bring good memories. You look back on these times… and it makes everything worth it."
"To hear those words returned to me…" Reisen remarked. "I'm truly glad to know someone like you. But…"
"But?" Richard asked, as his smile twitched slightly.
"Richard. You're one of the nicest people to me." Reisen declared. "You were always looking out for my interests, and trying to help me find friendship and comfort in your own outings with me. But despite the fact that you're honest with me, and never told me a lie… I just can't help that you're trying to hide something about yourself."
"I…." Richard started.
"I know that you're not trying to be impenetrable to me. You tell me about what your life was like, about the good things you have seen, and the friends you have made in your life. But you never want to talk about what's been hurting you." Reisen responded back. "I have told you what has made me become someone who doesn't have much confidence in herself in daily matters. In fact, I begin to wonder sometimes… What exactly do you really want from me? Do you want me to help validate your own."
"I would never-" Richard snapped, before he then stopped himself. "...Reisen, let's just take this slowly. I swear, I don't have any ill intentions regarding you. I just… I really just want a friend."
"I know, but you have to let me into your heart, if you want me to truly understand you, to be able to be your friend at the very least." Reisen told Richard, in a gentle tone, to avoid setting off Richard.
"I can't. My secrets… if I told you them, people could end up hating me, regardless of the context." Richard stated. "...You'll be no different. I don't want to alienate you, telling you how terrible of a person I once was, and how the scars of that linger in me. I don't have the courage to tell you, please, just leave it be."
Reisen opened her mouth for a moment, before she then closed it, as she looked at Richard for a moment, as her stare revealed that she was pondering about something regarding Richard himself, before she finished her line of thought, and spoke again.
"Richard. I'm a deserter. A deserter who had no clear reason, other than being scarred by war." Reisen told Richard firmly. "People like me deserve to be lined up against the wall and have their heads blown out for leaving her own people to die. But you know why I live? Because of the good things that exist here. I'm sure you're no worse than what I could be. If you're a criminal, that's fine. A murderer, I've been a soldier, and killed countless more. I even killed non-combatants and innocents before. Richard, for the sake of our relationship, and for the sake of your own mental health… just say it. I promise you, I won't look at you any differently. You're a good person, Richard. And nothing in your past will change that."
Richard looked at Reisen, with a sunken expression, before he then looked towards one of the benches nearby.
"...If you sit down with me... I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything." Richard said, as his voice sounded so tired, that it made Reisen weary.
Reisen did so, as Richard sat down beside her, before he clasped his hands together.
"Do... Do you really want to know why I'm like this?" Richard asked.
"I promised that I'd listen. I won't hate you, no matter what." Reisen stated.
Richard took a deep shuddering breath, before he then admitted.
"Reisen, I'm not the kind of criminal that is thrown into jail." Richard declared. "I'm the kind of criminal that deserves to be locked in death row, several times over, if my crimes were cumulative."
"Did you..." Reisen asked, as she let her question open, to let Richard fill the blanks.
"Yes. Yes, I killed a lot of people." Richard responded back. "And the reason I have done it is out of cold-blooded desire to take their money. I did not care if they had a family. I did not care if they had dreams or hope. To me, they are merely just stepping stones to my revenge. Their money would be my key to gaining revenge."
"Revenge...?" Reisen asked, as her expression paled.
"I never told you... did I?" Richard smiled bitterly, turning to Reisen. "The reason why I was a criminal in the first place, is because the world molded me as one. I had everything that one could have, and I never was greedy about it. But then it was all taken from me, because some jealous fuck thought that my parents didn't deserve their fame. And they decided to ruin my life so that I would never rise again."
He then turned away, as his expression worsened. "I should have died that day. I should have just lied down and accepted my fate like a good little boy." Richard muttered. "...At least that way, I would have died pure. I would have been sinless."
"Richard..." Reisen remarked, as her voice shook.
"But I didn't. How could I?" Richard growled, his voice hardened with anger. "That day, I thought: Why should I die? Why should I suffer? Why should they get away with it, while I lie there miserable and dying? Those thoughts were the only thing driving me forward. I couldn't think of anything else. Like a dark pump pressing on my chest, it forced me to live on, it forced me to seek vengeance, because my own treacherous heart refuses to let me due until I avenge myself."
Richard then looked over the dark horizon, as his expression mellowed into one of acceptance.
"And so I did. I was a smart child for my age." Richard declared. "I was a wunderkind. My parents made me learn a lot of things when I was young, and I was happy to learn, because my curiosity was a good thing. And that day turned that knowledge into an edge that made me a dangerous criminal, which I sharpened by learning from the streets itself. I know how people's minds work by inference. I knew ways to hack into the bank system and redirect any traces to other criminals. I was a man of many talents, and I used them to swindle money, and manipulate others into killing each other so that I profit in the end. I was a mastermind, Reisen, a very bad kind. In fact, no-one suspected me, because when I was at my peak, I was 15, 3 years after that incident. Society refuses to accept that someone like me is capable of doing such things, and I played on that."
"It wasn't all smooth sailing." Richard answered back. "I got into a lot of scrapes, and near-misses that could have ended me. But I was trained enough to know where not to poke, and I knew how to defend myself, and shoot a gun straight and true. I was untouchable as long as I did not rile the big fishes."
Richard then took a deep breath, before turning towards Reisen, as his eyes were filled with grief.
"And that's the truth of who I am, Reisen." Richard answered back. "Do you still care for me now, knowing that I was one of the worst criminals that you had the displeasure of knowing?"
Reisen couldn't answer it directly.
How could she? She saw Richard's kinder side, and never once had to face Richard's darker nature. To hear Richard admit it, she was half-tempted to say that Richard was lying, if it wasn't for the fact that his tone sold the point very clearly: He wasn't lying.
"Then why did you become like this, if it hurts to be otherwise?" Reisen asked, softly phrasing the question.
"Because you're the only one that I can genuinely trust." Richard answered back, lowering his head. "Marisa said that you were gullible and naïve, and I believed that because of that, you were the only one I could truly trust. No-one else could fit me like this, because I can't trust them, due to the fact that they are never open with me."
Richard then snorted. "...Look at me, all these years, and I still have to act like I trust others, even though I can't." He stated with a weak and dry tone. "I have to manipulate someone like you into liking me through all of this. God, how fucked up am I still?"
"Oh, Richard..." Reisen remarked, as pity crawled into her voice, as she watched Richard press his hands around his face.
"I can't help it. I can't help it at all." Richard remarked, as his voice became more and more unstable. "Everywhere I look, everyone I see, they always have something hidden behind their faces. I can't help but look, I can't help but feel like I can't trust them, no matter what they say. Even though you hid things, you were flimsy on it, and you were naive! I could only trust you because you only know how to be nice! Out of everyone, the only person I could truly connect with is someone like you!"
Richard then smashed a hand onto the back of the bench, which startled Reisen, as his fist banged against it hard enough to make the wood creak.
"And you know what's the saddest thing!?" Richard raged, as his words were filled with self-hatred. "I haven't changed! I still can't help but feel nothing when I kill someone! In their dying moments, I feel no anger, nor remorse, or even glee! Just emptiness! When I killed those youkai, I cared nothing about them. I let their leader rot away, rather than putting him out of his misery! After everything, the change only taught me how to hide my own sick mind away from others!"
Richard then began to wrap his arms around his legs, as he began to tear up.
"I don't deserve you... I don't deserve anyone...!" Richard softly sobbed. "How could I... Because of what I am... I end up ruining everything good in my life... I send good people to die... and I still feel nothing inside... I'm sorry... I'm sorry that you had to deal with someone like me... If you hate me, I-"
Reisen decided to slap Richard then and there, as the young man was shocked to be slapped, although Reisen did not slap Richard because he hated him. In fact, she slapped him because of the opposite: She cared for him so much that she couldn't bear to hear him throw himself down, as his words made her cry as well.
"Stop that. Please..." Reisen remarked. "I don't hate you. How could I? If that was the case, that just means that you just need a reason to believe in people once more. I can help you, just as you promised to help me be more confident, be more brave. I like you exactly as you are, because you showing me that your grief is due to trauma, is proof that you were a good person before the world made you bad. And you became good again, and I'm sure that it will stick. You have your flaws, so accept them! Not everyone has to be perfect for the other person. You can still be cautious and wary of others. But you mustn't be afraid of letting others into your heart, because that is a terrible life that I wouldn't want you to live in. So please, trust in me, as I trust in you."
Richard felt the cheek that Reisen slapped him on, looking at his bare hand, before he then began to laugh softly, as he then covered his eyes, as a new round of tears flowed down his cheeks.
"Gods, I can't believe that I'm being comforted by you, Reisen, when it should be the other way around." Richard remarked with a bitter tone, before taking a few deep breaths. "...I know that this might come out wrong... but thank you, Reisen Inaba... thank you for making me see the light again."
"Well, I'm happy that I could do something for you." Reisen smiled, as she was genuinely happy that she made Richard come to terms with himself. "And now, there is just one more thing to do."
"And that is?" Richard asked, before Reisen smashed her lips against his, as she went for a long and passionate kiss.
Richard, at first, was shocked by the kiss, before he then eased into it, gently resting back, as the kiss itself gave him a warmth in his heart that soothed his own sadness.
After a while, the kiss broke apart, as Reisen was panting gently from holding her breath in the kiss, while Richard was left huffing as well.
"Gods, you really went for it, didn't you?" Richard asked back. "To kiss me directly… I guess Eirin is going to be shocked to hear that we went this far."
"I don't care." Reisen stated. "I just want to know that you'll always be with me."
"I promise." Richard nodded back. "No matter what, I won't abandon you. You and I will fight against the unfair world, and we will find our own happiness… together."
Reisen then got up, as Richard did so shortly after, as the two of them looked at each other.
"So… let's do this again sometime?" Richard asked, as he sounded fairly nervous. "I mean… if all outings can go as beautifully like this… ignoring that fuck-up on my own fault at the very end… I think that we'll be able to…"
"...Find love?" Reisen asked. "...Of course. So long as you stay true to yourself… I'm sure that the time will come."
Richard smiled back, as Reisen walked into the Bamboo Forest, before placing a hand over his chest, as he could feel that his heart was beating heavily from the act of love committed on him.
"I wonder… What would my Kaguya say about this…?" Richard remarked, before he then sighed. "...Well, I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I'm sure that I can negotiate between both her and Reisen… so that they can both share love with me. Hopefully nothing terrible happens until then."
Richard then walked back to his house, as he crashed onto his bed, as the events of the night repeated over and over in his head, until he fell asleep.
Several more weeks later…
"It's a fine day when I can enjoy tea in your house." Richard remarked, before he then took a sip from his cup of fresh tea, as one of Alice's dolls poured some more into his cup, gently floating with teapot in both hands. "Thank you, Alice."
"You're most welcome." Alice smiled. "...You really have changed, Richard. At first, I thought that you were going to end up being reserved to yourself. But I've seen that you've been making a few visits to some residents that have caught your eye. Yuyuko… Byakuren… Kaguya… Reimu… Sanae, and many more. It's as if you've improved for the better."
"Well, let's just say that a little rabbit helped me process through my own feelings." Richard smiled back, as Marisa chuckled lightly, as she tried not to spill her own cup of tea on herself while she was drinking it. "So, life's pretty good so far. Nitori's been helpful in replenishing my own arsenal of knives, Reimu's training has been helping me reach newer heights of power… as well as higher levels of insight into my own sense of self. And the Human Village actually welcomes me properly as part of its society. I could ask for no more perfect life here."
"Well, just as long as you be a bit daring." Marisa answered back. "You gotta be ready for when an incident happens, right?"
"Oh, believe me. I won't be caught lacking." Richard smirked.
"Huh." Marisa stated with intrigue. "So this is how it feels like for something to actually go right for once."
"I swear, everything will be fine." Richard assured back. "I don't have any more reason to seek more power. I just need to properly consolidate myself, so that I can be well prepared for when danger rears its head."
"About that…" Marisa remarked, as she frowned. "Hey, Rich. Mind if I ask if you know something?"
"Shoot." Richard nodded back.
"You did hear the stuff about the fact that the stronger the hero is, the stronger the villain you'll need to beat them, right?" Marisa asked.
"Ah yes, the theory of morality strength equivalence." Richard nodded back. "I understand where you're getting at. Escalation of power tends to end poorly for the surrounding environment, when the two sides go at each other with no intention to back down. It happens in the Outside World too, you know? In their terms, it's called the arms race: Make bigger weapons to beat each other, and make sure that the opponent gets hurt more and more from each attack. Eventually, it theoretically ends in Mutually Assured Destruction."
"Then I ask that you remember that." Marisa firmly stated.
"...Why's that?" Richard asked with concern.
"...Look, Richard. You're nothing super dangerous right now… but take a look from an outside perspective." Marisa stated. "...You're literally me and Patchouli combined neatly. Maybe as strong as a student between the both of us, but that's still nothing to sneeze at. The fact that you managed to hold against no-limits Rumia back then, is proof that people see you as someone formidable. You don't show your hands that much… but the fact that you know how to make people listen… that's what worries me. You act like you're stronger than you look. And unlike that ice fairy… you're not bluffing at all. Eventually, someone's going to find a way to challenge that. And when that happens… I think that you might accidentally escalate things."
"...If that happens, do I have your word that you'll help?' Richard asked gently.
"...You have my word… so long as you don't try anything stupid." Marisa responded back.
"That's enough." Richard nodded back, before he then set down his cup of tea. "...Well, I guess I should be off. Take care, Margatroid and Kirisame."
"Take care too, Richard." Alice nodded, as Richard departed from the house.
The following day…
"Your interviewee is right in here." Tewi remarked with a cheeky smile, as she was leading Aya to where Richard was, as she was accompanied by a pair of Earth Bunnies that had a boom mic, and a high quality video camera in their hands.
"Miss Tewi, why is there a camera crew here?" Aya asked.
"Oh, we wanted to record your reaction to meeting the legendary magic swordsman!" Tewi lied easily. "As well as his reaction to meeting Gensokyo's most tenacious reporter."
"This is obviously another prank, but I've probably seen worse." Aya remarked with a dead-pan tone.
"Right this way then, Aya." Tewi remarked, moving aside with a bow, gesturing at the doors.
Aya then slid the door open, before she was surprised to see that Richard and Reisen were sharing a bed together, as they were sleeping soundly, as she was astonished at how serene the scene was.
"Uh… should we still record this?" One of the Earth Rabbits asked Tewi.
"No, continue. This is still rich blackmail material…" Tewi remarked, with a cruel smile, rubbing both of her hands together.
As if the sound of the door opening was some signal, Richard let out a few gentle groans before he then slowly rose up, as his entire upper body was exposed, revealing his fairly lithe but well-maintained physique, which caused Aya to blush slightly.
"Mmmrrmmmm…" Richard groaned. "Is that you, Eirin? Just give us five more minutes, we're still exposed-"
Richard then froze, before seeing Aya, who was covering her face, while Tewi did a kissy-kissy face at Richard, as he was left trying to formulate words, when all that left is his mouth was unintelligible sounds.
"Richard, what's wrong, is Tewi trying to prank us-" Reisen remarked, as she snapped awake almost immediately, and rose up, revealing that she was covered in nothing but a pink bunny-bra, before seeing what was going on, as her face froze as well.
What ensued was Reisen screaming bloody murder, covering her chest, while Richard quickly used his blanket to cover their bodies, while Tewi howled with laughter, as did her Earth Rabbit cronies, while Aya took a few steps outside.
"OUT!" Richard roared, before he then used wind magic to shut the doors forcibly, preventing them from getting inside.
"Okay… I feel like I should have taken a scoop of that… but I also feel like I really shouldn't pry on that…" Aya remarked.
"Oh come on, live a little, won't you-" Tewi remarked, before Eirin came, hearing the commotion.
"What just happened? I hear Udonge screaming, and Richard slamming the doors shut." Eirin remarked, before looking towards Tewi. "Did you prank them, Tewi?"
"Noooo…?" Tewi remarked, trying to look innocent, although Eirin was not convinced in the slightest.
"So what are you here for, Shameimaru?" Eirin asked the crow tengu.
"I just like to interview Richard, regarding his own personal experiences, and some details about him." Aya answered back, just as Richard and Reisen came out, both fully dressed, as the former looked fairly displeased, while the latter was covering her face in shame. "Ah, just the man of the hour right before me."
"Well, if you want to ask how he met with Reisen… Let's just say the two of them clicked, and leave it there." Eirin stated. "He ain't one of Yukari's pupils, with how much disdain he holds for her, and he's a real good friend to her."
"And with a body like that, I doubt that she can't be thirsty for some of that-" Tewi remarked, only to get a laser from Richard's finger that grazed by her ear.
"One more word, Tewi, and I will fry you where you stand." Richard remarked, with a threatening tone. "Of all of the pranks that you could play on us, you chose the one that's gone too far. I swear, if this gets us implicated as an item… I will make sure that you end up exactly how your tale ends, except there won't be a deus ex machina to save you."
Tewi shivered greatly, as Eirin merely sighed and shook her head towards the Earth Rabbit, while Aya bowed gently to Richard.
"I'm really sorry about that. I'm mainly here to learn a bit about you." Aya stated. "The public want to know you as one of the notable residents here?"
"This soon?" Richard asked with a tilt of his head. "Did I really rocket to such fame already? Damn, that's really shocking to hear. And you're forgiven, it's Tewi's fault you caught that scene for your eyes. I hope that you won't make a scandal out of this, right? It's not what you would think."
"Of course not." Aya nodded. "The Bunbunmaru Press would like to inform the other denizens of Gensokyo of what kind of person you expect yourself to be for our lively community."
"Of course. Lead me wherever you like to conduct our interview." Richard smiled, before he then glared at Tewi. "...And make sure that a certain rabbit doesn't end up ruining this moment."
"With pleasure." Reisen remarked, as she rolled up her sleeves, before grabbing Tewi by the ear, causing her to flail around.
"Hey, Udonge, you wouldn't really dare to go that far, right? Right!?" Tewi exclaimed, as she was being dragged away in the opposite direction, while Eirin followed after them both.
Aya and Richard then found a fairly solitary table on one of the alcoves in Eientei, as they both took their seats, starting their interview.
"So, let's start with the basics." Aya remarked, before pointing her pen in Richard's direction. "Richard Liu. That's your full name, right?"
"Absolutely." Richard nodded back.
"Could you tell me a little about yourself?" Aya stated, hoping to let Richard make his own response, rather than narrow things down.
"Well, let's speak from a general perspective." Richard remarked, before rolling his wrists around. "I'm basically a human with a lot of talent in magic. I grew up in a fairly nice household, had a few troubles, and met some people who helped me up to my feet. I'm exactly as you see me. I help people, I try to make friends, and I want to be a part of society, rather than causing any harm to it."
"Hm." Aya smiled, as if approving of Richard's answer. "Care you explain a bit about your past?"
"Well, I was actually born under very famous researchers. They gave me the genes to have a smart mind, you see…" Richard bragged, tapping the side of his own head. "And I had a good mentor that made quite good use of those talents. As for the community itself, well, I met my love there, I met several good friends, and recently, I even made a whole swath of friends from all kinds of places. Youkai, humans, demons, you name it, and I can tell you that I made a friend of that kind before."
"Very interesting…" Aya stated with a nod. "...Would you like to tell me about your bad events?"
"I… I rather abstain from doing so. It's a touchy spot for me." Richard declined. "Please understand, I only share such things with people that I am truly comfortable with. I understand your need to understand my character from inside out. But I don't want to tear open old wounds."
"Understandable." Aya remarked. "So, got any likings? Other than rabbits?"
"Reisen is a rarity, not the norm." Richard answered back firmly. "But still, I'm a bit of a sucker for animals, believe it or not, especially of the domestic kind. I own a pet bunny that I got as a gift from my friend. I also enjoy the sensation of meeting up with friends. It's always fun to have friends whenever you do most activities. And I also have a guilty pleasure of enjoying the taste of ramen. That's why I'm one of the Human Village izakaya's star customers, you know?"
"Oh, that explains a lot." Aya agreed. "Any dislikes?"
"Anyone who tries to maliciously disrupt the lives of others for selfish gain." Richard scowled. "Especially if it's just for the 'evulz'. I detest such beings that exist, when they can ruin lives as if they own them. And I don't enjoy the feeling of seeing people suffer. It's… it's linked to a certain trauma related to the events that I refuse to digress on. And I just hate the winter. Nothing personal, the long cold is just taxing on my body. I don't mind the cool weather in any other season, but winter is too much for me."
"Wow." Aya remarked. "The magician who's got real good fire magic, can't handle the cold. That will be something that people would like to read. And speaking of which… how DO your powers work? I only remember a few times that you actually used it. And that's only when you sparred with Reimu, or used it for subtle uses in your life."
"Well, it's as simple as it looks." Richard remarked, before he spread his hand out, creating several orbs of singular elements. "I have Week Magic, which is a learned talent, as opposed to my own Star Magic, which is my innate skill. If you were to simplify these two abilities as one, like all the other residents, I would call it 'adept understanding of elemental magic'. Not mastery like Patchouli can declare, or Marisa herself."
"Well, I would expect that you would have been questioned a fair lot by Patchouli regarding this, no?" Aya questioned further.
"A bit. But she is the master, and I am but a student before her." Richard humbly declared. "She knows that I can only broaden my boundaries through self-education, due to her and my forms of summoning forth this magic having notable differences. But she is still willing to give me tips on the similarities. Of course, I don't ask for lessons from her. It's just something to pass the time while I meet with Flandre here and then."
"Flandre Scarlet?" Aya asked, curious about the story. "You've met her, and you haven't been blown to pieces?"
"I despise such slander." Richard frowned deeply. "Flandre may be childish, and she may be impulsive, but she is no monster. She is in good control of her abilities, and she takes after her sister's own refined attitude, with a hint of playfulness."
"I kid, I kid." Aya quickly apologized, with hands raised. "Still, going back to the matter of your magic… Why would you only use it for mundane magics? I mean, you literally blew Ran Yakumo out of the water, with the same spell you managed to stall full-power Rumia with. I know that you would be able to do a lot of power with that."
"But then, would that not trivialize the point of the Spell Card System?" Richard responded back, before showing his knives and the container storing them. "...There's a reason I have a back-up in the form of a good old one-handed short-sword, and a mass of throwing knives."
"Ah, that's right. You're ex-military, aren't you?" Aya questioned.
"Classified information, birdie." Richard remarked with a hardened tone, trying to sound like a grizzled veteran, as Aya could only stifle a giggle. "You are correct on that, but I was an officer. You won't know what wars I have fought in, but believe me, I know war back to front. Been to all kinds of theaters, against so many foes."
"Alright then, tough guy…" Aya remarked, pressing her hands under her chin with a sly smirk."Tell me what you think is your own weakness?"
"This bod?" Richard answered back, before gesturing at his own body. "It's not exactly the strongest thing. I may be a soldier, and I may be a distinguished leader of men, but flexing your brain muscles tends to mean that you have less time and effort to flex your body muscles. I may be top of the crop when it comes to your standard Gensokyo human… but compared to the rest of you, you may as well say I'm a glass cannon when it comes to getting smacked."
"Figures." Aya stated. "Magicians tend to be on the weaker side of physical traits."
"Amen to that." Richard nodded back. "So, any more questions? Or interview's over?"
"Alright, then let me say something off the record." Aya stated. "The official interview's over. Nothing past this gets written, journalist's word."
"I trust you. Say what you will." Richard accepted, with a hint of trust in his words.
"Richard Liu…" Aya remarked, before she went silent for a moment, closing her eyes, and then speaking. "...I think I understand what those events you don't want to talk about are…. You've lost a lot, haven't you?"
"...Pardon?" Richard asked, as his mood deflated.
"From your dislikes alone, and how you seemed to be fairly adamant on it, and how you reacted when I asked you more about the past… I may not be fully correct, but I got the gist of it." Aya continued. "You lost family, you lost comrades, both of which left scars in your heart."
"Well, I really tried my best to hide that." Richard chuckled, before it then turned bitter. "...Guess I didn't do enough in that regard, did I?"
"You're almost a perfect resident for Gensokyo, from how you answered everything earlier." Aya confessed. "...But you care too much… and it will end as your downfall one way or another."
"But I am not naive in it-" Richard argued.
"You don't have to." Aya shook her head. "Your caution only delays it. As you sacrifice yourself for others, you begin to lose sight of yourself. Trying to conform to others… you'll lose what is unique about yourself, and eventually, you'll just be seen as a shadow of others. And when that happens, people will never be able to understand your own feelings. And your enemies will seek to use that, and your bleeding heart to destroy you."
"That's…" Richard answered back.
"I hope you consider my words seriously." Aya said with genuine consideration. "I'm not saying that you should turn cold on the drop of a hat, but you could stand to close your heart a little… or at least remember when discretion is the better part of valor. And I know that you learned that a long time ago, in your wars."
"...I'll take it to heart." Richard nodded back.
"Thank you." Aya stated, before she then took flight.
Richard then sighed, before he then got out of his seat, before going to look for Reisen, hoping that he would be able to find her, and help comfort her through the current mess that Tewi put her through.
Several hours later…
"...And it's done." Aya declared, before she then saved the final draft of her own newspaper article, which was titled 'A New Rising Star For Gensokyo? The Gappy Gensokyo Wished For'. "If only I could just say that this article would be good for him, rather than bad."
"The hell are you doing, Shameimaru?" Momiji declared dryly, as Aya saw that Momiji was right behind her. "Are you really going to be posting that article, when you know that it never ends well when a Gappy is brought to the spotlight?"
"Why do you care about Richard that much?" Aya asked. "If it were any other one, you would have chided me for giving attention to them as attention whores. But you seem more concerned about what the article means for Richard. Why?"
"Because after what transpired in the Tengu Village, and his attempts to try and break the prejudice I had for him, through a good talk and some gifts, I decided that he doesn't deserve to be dragged into the mess of other people in Gensokyo." Momiji declared.
"But the article exists for a reason." Aya declared. "The tradition does not change. The Gappies will always be too arrogant to realize that their weaknesses were being recorded and analyzed, or I pry that from their mouths through proper charisma and persuasion. Richard may have admitted to his weaknesses openly, but those weaknesses are the only thing that prevent people from thinking of him as some looming threat. He's not too powerful, but he's no weakling. The articles cement him as an independent entity. No-one will cause problems for him."
"Only because of how many people he has dragged into an alliance or ceasefire, through proper diplomacy and interaction." Momiji stated. "If I knew better, if he was threatened… a war will spark with him at the crux of it, whether he likes it or not, with how many people would stand on his side, rather than their own."
"Hopefully, the people will not poke the wedge." Aya responded back.
"...You have not a single care of what repercussions this article could bring. It could very well mean the end of Gensokyo… if we're truly unlucky." Momiji declared with an accusing tone.
"The truth needs to be free, Momiji. It's better for me to be the one spinning the truth, rather than it being found in its ugly raw form. And that's why I keep that photo of the Hakurei Shrine since that incident with Tenshi." Aya declared, glancing over at it, as the photo also had Reimu Hakurei standing before it. "As much as Reimu berated me and attacked me, I was right, and that photo saved her shrine twice. The truth will allow people to see Richard in a better light… and them knowing the truth means that Richard can finally find a place, having to no longer conform to others' expectations."
"And if the truth ends up hurting everyone?" Momiji declared.
"Then you will be disavowed, Recon Officer Shameimaru." Lord Tenma declared, striding into the room, with her mask off her face. "That article will not lead to an unneeded incident, or the punishment will be severe."
"Lord Tenma, you nearly scared the tokin off me." Aya declared.
"So, I take it that the article is nearing completion, or done already?" Lord Tenma declared, drawing her own strictness back to speak more warmly.
"It's done. I just need to do a small check over it." Aya declared. "In the meantime, try to talk to Momiji, she's nervous about the article."
"As always." Lord Tenma sighed, before walking over. "Come with me, Momiji, we need to discuss our friend."
"Hai, Lord Tenma." Momiji responded back, as the two of them disappeared.
"Alright, just need to do one final check…" Aya declared, before she then finished fixing the article with a final check. "...And there we go. With the automatic system, it should be saved, and printed by the dawn of the next day. Hope this goes well."
Aya then closed the laptop, as she turned in for the day.
However, while the entire room was unoccupied, a pair of hands came out of a familiar gap, before it then reactivated the laptop, accessing it, and inserting a USB that seemed to be filled with something that caused the article to change.
Just as soon as it came, the hands withdrew the USB, and also returned the laptop exactly to where it was before.
In the late night, several days later…
Richard was lounging in one of the large benches in the Kappa Village, as he was truly tired after hefting a large load of metal scraps for the Kappas, in order to help bolster their production of defensive units for themselves.
"Hah… What a night… what a night…" Richard sighed, as he lazily lounged against the bench, as no-one was around to chastise him on it. "I actually feel sore enough to be resting like this. Maybe this slow lifestyle is doing more to me than I think…?"
"Hey, Richard!" Nitori called out, as Richard immediately righted his posture, before looking towards the kappa inventor, who was walking over. "How come you're staying out here so late? I thought that you would have gone after dropping the stuff in my workshop?"
"I just simply need to take a rest. Been fairly tired lately, with everything that I've been doing." Richard smiled, before then looking into the night sky. "...Hey, Nitori. Isn't the night stars beautiful tonight?"
"...Yeah." Nitori nodded, before she then sat herself on the other end of the bench, gazing at the stars as well. "Does all of this not remind you of how it was back at home…?"
"My home? You think I'm homesick?" Richard asked back with curiosity.
"Are you?" Nitori asked, with equal curiosity, even raising her eyebrow.
"Not my type of thing. Believe it or not… I'm more comfortable around here, than you might think." Richard answered back. "I don't have much to worry about, merely things that shouldn't matter to someone like you."
"Oh, but what would someone this strong and independent worry about?" Nitori teased, with both hands under her chin.
"...Being a burden to you." Richard sighed after a moment's pause, as his smile faded into a frown.
"...Why's that?" Nitori asked back.
"I… I just can't help but have the nagging feeling that all that I have done for you all… it's not for the best. I know I'm not taking advantage of you all… but I can't help but feel otherwise." Richard answered back. "...It almost feels too good to be true, considering that you're all too amicable towards me. I'm not saying that all of you are trying to hide your true feelings from me, but you aren't all truthful to me as open people. I do have a few people I can trust fully, but…"
Richard then shook his head. "...Like I said, it's not important for you." He stated. "I'm sorry for nagging you with all of that."
"Richard… I have something to confess." Nitori responded back, before her expression became slightly remorseful. "I… I haven't been thinking of you in the brightest light. I only saw you as a mere bodyguard to my work, that I could buy with favors and inventions, and that I could take advantage of your kindness to bolster my own work. As long as I pretended to be nice… you would be eating out of my palms."
"And why tell me this?" Richard asked.
"Because I feel guilty for acting that way to you." Nitori declared. "...I really do. You're the first person I actually like as a person. You actually care about my own well-being, as well as that of Kappa Valley. You're a great hero, and very little can change that about you. Now, I actually see you as a true friend of the kappas around here. The people around here are actually warming up to you, believe it or not. So please, just don't change. As long as you stay respectful and good towards others, I'm sure that Gensokyo itself will warm up to you, no matter how much bad blood it has with your kind."
"Nitori…" Richard muttered, with a sincerely touched expression.
"...I want to give you this." Nitori remarked, before she pulled out a shiny keyring chain that was shaped like a chibi Nitori's head, with a winking expression. "I made this from several of the most dazzling materials from your recent hauls, and I wanted to give you this, as proof of our friendship, our true one."
Richard took the key-chain into both of his hands, before he then hugged Nitori firmly, causing her to lock up, as a red blush ran across her face.
"Thank you, that's more than I could ask." Richard declared. "...And don't be shy to let your true feelings out to me. I won't judge you. It's fine to be a bit greedy from here and then. So long as you stay as my helpful friend, I will not do anything to hurt you."
"You're welcome." Nitori answered back, before hugging Richard back.
After a while, they released their hugs, as Richard got off the bench.
"Well, I guess that's my quota for sappy moments for today." Richard quipped, making Nitori smile widely at his statement. "I'll see you around soon."
Nitori nodded, before Richard took off into the night sky, as Richard began to think about what would come next.
Several days later, in Heaven…
"You bake a good cake." Richard remarked, before eating a slice of pink cake, while he and Tenshi were having a noon-time picnic, on a red rug. "Or is it Nagae who made it?"
"Pft, I don't suck that much at cooking." Tenshi scoffed. "And speaking of sucking… no, actually, do you know what sickens me the most right now?"
"Go on." Richard answered back.
"The fact that people are paranoid about all of these Gappies, especially when they haven't even used their powers blatantly." Tenshi scoffed. "The way that people treat Gappies in-general utterly disgusts me, and yet, not only do people do nothing, but they're often worse!"
"True, but there are some cases where the opposite is true, no?" Richard remarked, implying Arturo as one such case.
"Yeah, but still, my point stands." Tenshi stated. "See, most people give Gappies everything they want, and then wonder why they go mad with power. But I believe most Gappies are good at heart, they just get into bad circumstances."
"Oh, and what leads you to believe that?" Richard asked. "Not that I'm denying it, I'm just curious to hear your reasons."
"Well, you know that there were some Gappies that tried to be heroes, and managed to get some good fame, before they either fuck up, or they end up dead for biting more than what they can chew…" Tenshi listed off. "And I also personally saw some 'dark turns' for myself. So believe me, I know what I'm saying. And that's why I've developed a plan to ensure that nobody aids a Gappy again, so that they learn the damaging effects of their actions."
"Oh, and what is that?" Richard questioned.
"You see, when a corrupted Gappy dies, it's a reason to celebrate: They deserved it, yet everyone gets away with corrupting him or her." Tenshi declared. "But if a good Gappy dies a tragic death thanks to those who aided him, and they all received punishments, and all those who tried to stop them were rewarded… The tragedy could end the never-ending cycle of blindly aiding Gappies and restore the balance for good!"
"Excuse me, what?" Richard asked, as his mirth evaporated upon hearing that.
"I mean, think about it, such a tragic and despairing ending ought to snap people to reality, right?" Tenshi remarked. "In fact, the last guy who came before you, was good enough for the plan to have worked, if he didn't just up and leave."
"Oh? Who is that? I doubt that you're speaking of a certain 'Majcher'." Richard asked.
"Vic Chaos." Tenshi declared. "When he left, you were the next to come. So let me tell you the story about him: He was the most noble Gappy in the history of Gappies. In fact, he and you might have been great friends, since you both have morals. Yukari lures children based on their wishes, and Vic's was that he wanted to make a difference in the world. A simple desire, really."
"An understandable desire." Richard responded back. "But I fail to see-"
"But you don't understand: He wasn't called here to go through the same process of acclimating to the land, as you and the others do… No, he was called here in response to Arturo Majcher." Tenshi declared, as a unsettling smile crossed her face. "A menace to Gensokyo, destructive, impulsive, and amoral, he must be killed, and Yukari brought him in, to kill him, since the only person who could even hope to stand a chance against him with all of his power… is another Gappy, especially one who knows him. At first, Vic didn't want to do it, since he's asked to kill his best friend that he knew for eight years, but Yukari turned him to the idea quite quickly. But let's diverge from Vic for a moment, and focus on dear Arturo. Tell me, Richard? Do you know what he did?"
"Murder a large populace of the Human Village's children?" Richard answered.
"Try every child that he could find." Tenshi answered back. "When he bragged that to Yuuka, Yuuka tried to kill him for trying to have her framed for the murder of said children, on the promise of sex. But you know how that story goes: Arturo shrugs it off with his unbelievable powers, guilt-trips Yuuka into getting raped,"
"Heh, called it." Richard dryly chuckled. "I knew that Yuuka was no bitch to just let Arturo fuck her. But to hear that she was forced into it… I feel bad for her."
"Looks like you're well aware of a great rule that I keep in mind: Never believe a story until you know the canon facts." Tenshi declared. "Everyone thinks I'm a masochist because I created an incident for the fun of it, just so I could fight everyone in Gensokyo. But would a masochist really defend herself against the entirety of Gensokyo and then win?"
"No, unless you're a combat masochist, but I digress." Richard answered back. "What happened then?"
"Vic killed Arturo." Tenshi declared simply. "Blade through the throat while his guard was down. And Mokou finishes the job, seeking revenge for Keine's tragedy. You know, I bet that you would have done the same in his shoes. You both had your sense of justice, and he could have done so many great things… Too bad, he still has obsessions like all the other Gappies, and you know what they say… Justice is a blind mistress."
"Did he…" Richard remarked, before then shaking his head. "...No, I'm sorry, continue."
"With Mokou, he burned a massive part of the Garden of the Sun to the ground." Tenshi narrated. "The two of them clashed with Yuuka, who was merely trying to defend herself, and explain the truth, although Vic was too blinded with vengeance for Arturo, and the people who died because of him. Yuuka is defeated, as she weeps at the fact that 'they' are all gone, unable to save any of them. Mokou mocked Yuuka, saying that these flowers will grow back in time. But that's not what Yuuka meant… because she hid those who survived Arturo's massacre in her garden, and you know what Mokou burned along with them? All of those children. Dead with the nastiest of burns. Vic goes mad at the revelation, while Mokou? Do I even need to say how she feels about it?"
Richard was left silent with horror at what he heard, as Tenshi took that as a sign to continue.
"And so, Vic was hailed as a hero for defeating both Arturo and the 'Ultimate Sadistic Creature', Yuuka, who was 'responsible for wiping out the Human Village's children'. Mokou, who aided Vic, went unpunished. She wouldn't care. She's immortal, everything passes as a mere flicker for an immortal. And Yuuka? No-one stood for her, or aided her. Arturo was too dangerous, and to reveal Vic's actions would ruin the Human Village's morale. The truth will make them riot and ruin the balance of Gensokyo. And it disgusted me. Innocent people were framed, and those responsible were getting away with it! And this cycle of aiding Gappies and watching them mentally implode has repeated over and over… But since people liked Vic, I decided I would use him as a lesson to show that this world does not belong to the Outsiders! His death would ensure no Gappy would ever be corrupted again, nor will anyone give an Outsider undue aid, they will struggle like the rest of us!"
"...And then…?" Richard asked, as the dread of his face was indescribable, as his voice was strained.
"Unfortunately, Vic realized that problem about himself, and begged Yukari to leave. She tried to convince him otherwise… but this time, it didn't work. He left, just like that." Tenshi declared. "Even when Yukari told them what I'd do, everyone believed that Vic would save them. How ironic that is, considering that his actions caused the entire mess to begin with. But that doesn't matter. One day, the perfect chance to enact this will come… and when it does, the balance of Gensokyo will change forever."
Richard didn't respond for a moment, as his eyes slowly turned towards Tenshi's eyes, as they were filled with a mix of emotions consisting of disgust, horror, betrayal and disbelief, as he was breathing heavily.
"Hey, you don't look okay, Richard." Tenshi declared, returning to her carefree tone, as if she didn't drop something that heavy on Richard's shoulders. "Would you like to-"
"That's not funny." Richard declared. "That kind of dark joke… it's so morbid that there is nothing funny about it. You really should learn to know that a dark joke like that is meant to have more humor than actual horror in it, Tenshi."
"Richard…" Tenshi stated firmly.
"It has to be a joke." Richard declared, with firm denial in his voice, as his hands were trembling. "I mean… seriously, are you trying to justify causing a massive incident in Gensokyo that could permanently scar it, just to deal with the Gappy issue? I mean, seriously, that's not like you. That's really not like you. Come on, who gave you that stupid idea? I mean, seriously, what kind of stupid idea is that? Isn't everything going fine, right?"
Tenshi didn't respond back to Richard's words, before he then closed his eyes, as resignation crossed his face.
"...So that's how it is. All of this… you never had a single thread of consideration for me, from the beginning, didn't you?" Richard remarked, as his voice was empty of any sense of warmth. "...All along, I was just a pawn on your chessboard to enact this… this plan of yours. I cannot accept this. I will not accept this."
Richard then rose to his feet.
"Tenshi… I truly thought that you would have been at least someone who had rationality on your mind, despite your childish nature… but now I understand that you lack even that." Richard stated, as his voice grew a edge to it. "I mean, you're seriously saying that you're willing to cause the suffering and deaths of thousands of people, just to end this Gappy Cycle. That is not justifiable. No cause that ends with that much suffering should ever be reasonably committed to! You seek to turn Gensokyo into an opportunistic hell of bloodshed, for the sake of it all! Destroy the last remnants of coexistence in all of Gensokyo, by wearing all bonds of trust until they fray! Yes, we Outsiders have done terrible things, and so have the people in here, but that does not excuse dragging them into this horrible world that you seek to create!"
Richard then took a sharp breath, as he forced himself to calm down.
"...You're the kind of person I hate, Tenshi. The kind who would not care for the suffering of others, so long as it suits your needs. Marisa and Patchouli are right. You Celestials have no sense of conscience within your souls." Richard bitterly stated. "And I was right to believe that you would have been the crux of the next incident to happen here…. I wish I could end you here and now, I wish I could. But that would be proving you right, or something worse. I won't stoop to your level. I will not allow someone who would use a person as tragic as Vic, made a pariah by the manipulations of others, to be the instigator of something this terrible, to which I believe he would regret to this very day with vivid emotion… to ever cause any harm to Gensokyo's peaceful nature."
Richard then turned to leave. "...Tenshi Hinanawi… for our best interests… may we never meet again." He declared with finality. "...Because the next time we meet… I will show you no mercy."
Richard then took off, as Tenshi looked at the picnic mat, before Momoi came over, holding a newspaper from the Bunbunmaru Newspaper.
"Tenshi, the newspaper is here. It's all about Richard, and his-" Momoi remarked, before seeing that Tenshi was alone… yet there were two plates with cake-crumbs on it. "...Was Richard here before?"
"Yeah, he was." Tenshi declared, before she then took her cup of lemon tea and drank it. "...Well, he's on our game right now. And just in time, the plan's going as it should have been. The fact that he cares about Gensokyo means that he won't be running off like Vic. This time, I can finally carry through with my plan."
"Tenshi…" Momoi stated. "...Are you sure that this is the only way to go through with this?"
"What, having sentimental thoughts about him?" Tenshi remarked.
"...Yes. I admit it." Momoi responded back, as she gazed away for a moment.
Tenshi looked at Momoi with pitying eyes for a moment, as if she wanted to comfort Momoi, before she then closed her eyes, as she regained her composure.
"Either way, it seems that we'll have to be playing the long game." Tenshi declared. "It's so hard to turn people against him, when he's so damn good at making people genuinely like him. And he's too complacent with everything to be able to rock the boat, and let paranoia take his actions."
"I don't think so." Momoi answered back, before showing Tenshi the newspaper. "Take a read."
Tenshi did so, as she immediately began to read through it, before she then smirked.
"...On second thoughts, I think that we just have the right thing to make him crack." Tenshi stated. "I wonder how he'll handle having his dark secrets aired out for everyone to hear. And the fact that it was Aya who did it… well, that's going to sting a lot for him, whether she was responsible or not."
"Do you think that what's written on it, is true?" Momoi questioned Tenshi.
"The people won't care. As long as it's from Aya, they'll take it with a grain of salt. A good amount of people aren't convinced enough to be able to have his word over Aya's own, and that'll turn a lot of backs towards him." Tenshi declared. "Eventually, his friends will have to choose whether they abandon him, or they cling to his side. And when the time comes, they'll be the ones against Gensokyo with him, when the people will bay for his blood."
"Tenshi…" Momoi stated, as she noticed that there were tears running down Tenshi's eyes, despite her confident attitude. "...You're crying."
"...Strange. I don't have any attachment to him. And yet, the thought of hurting him makes me weep." Tenshi remarked, as her tone became far more melancholic. "I feel like that I want to truly help him, that I truly care for him. That he's the person that I've been waiting for all of this time to appear, and makes me feel like everything is going to get better. And I'm going to make him die for Gensokyo… And I can't even feel like that it's wrong."
"Tenshi…" Momoi remarked, as sympathy crossed her face.
"Some part of me wishes that I didn't have to do this, that there was a better way." Tenshi continued, before her expression became determined. "But I have seen enough Gappies to know that if I do not take the chance… Gensokyo will end up suffering for it. Let me be the villain once again. Better me than anyone else, because I'm so good at playing the villain, as everyone says. Let them hate me if they like… but they'll know that I did the right thing… even if a number of people must suffer heartbreak and loss for it to come true."
"...Then I have no choice but to help you." Momoi declared sadly. "...I swore that I would help you, Tenshi, no matter how terrible things may be. If Richard's death can make Gensokyo change for the better… then we'll make sure that his death has some meaning. All of this pain and misery… and much more that will come… it cannot be for nothing."
"It won't!" Tenshi declared, before her confidence wavered, as she looked towards the direction that Richard left. "...It won't… It… It can't."