Author's Note: I'm sure that many of you were waiting for update this whole time, I would like to apologize and explain why it took such long time to write this chapter. After I have written the Chapter 3, I was hit with the biggest writer's block, that I'm still suffering from. I felt guilty about not updating this story for so long that I actually had to force myself to write this chapter, so the quality might be worse compared to other chapters, but I hope that it's actually readable and still does it's job of building up suspense and advancing the story. I'm really not sure when I will write another one, but rest assured that I'm not going to abandon/cancel this story even if it takes me a bit to finish it. Thank you for reading my ramblings and hope you will enjoy this chapter.
Reimu opened her eyes. Was it morning already?
She looked at the window and sure enough, sunshine was creeping through the closed off curtains.
The shrine maiden sat at the edge of the bed and looked around. She was still inside the mansion.
Reimu would wish that when she woke up, she would end up back at Gensokyo and that everything so far was just a bad nightmare. But the fate wasn't really merciful to her.
She heard the door opening and looked in the direction of it. On the other side was standing Sakuya carrying a stack of clothes.
-Ah, so you're awake already.
The maid stated.
Reimu nodded.
She walked over to the bed and put clothes on the nightstand.
-These are your replacement clothes, you will have to wear them to fit in. Sorry to say that, Reimu, but you stick like a sore thumb with your shrine maiden uniform. Don't worry, they should be a perfect fit for you.
Miko nodded.
-Yeah, I understand. After all, the only thing I can do is adapt.
Sakuya lightly patted Reimu on the arm.
-Cheer up, it's unlike you to be so depressed. I mean, I can still remember you being so confident of yourself during the incidents. Spouting things like "Can't you be quiet and go run some errands?" to me.
Sakuya lightly chuckled.
Reimu does remember these things, however during these times she actually had power to be confident like that. Here? She had nothing. She was just a regular human.
-Well, I will leave you to it, I still have some errands to run. Lady Flandre has also requested your presence at the library in one hour. I believe you remember the way to it?
Reimu nodded.
-Good. Put your old clothes on the bed, I'll pick them up later to wash them, I shall be off for now.
The maid suddenly disappeared. Reimu knew that Sakuya stopped time and just left.
She looked at the clothes on the nightstand. They weren't woman clothes, that is certain, they more fit a man. There was red hoodie, white shirt and blue jeans.
Reimu quickly changed her clothes and put her old miko uniform on the bed. The clothes were indeed a perfect fit, as Sakuya said.
Shrine maiden decided to also take a quick bath in the bathroom before heading to the library. She did after all spend some time in the sewers, where it was extremely smelly and filthy.
After she was done with the bath, she checked the clock on the wall. She still had 25 minutes left.
Reimu didn't have anything else to do, so she decided to just head for the library straight away.
She left her room and walked through the corridors of the mansion.
Finding the library wasn't hard for her, she was, after all, a common guest here.
Reimu lightly knocked on the double door and entered.
The library was just like Reimu remembered it.
Enormous room with very tall bookshelves on the sides. It was just as exquisitely decorated like the rest of the mansion.
In the center of the room was a medium-sized table, where two persons were seated.
Reimu could overhear, a very awkward conversation, from a distance.
-Paaaaaaaaaatchy. Why are you avoiding me?
That was Flandre, she was talking to the other girl that was sitting next to her. The vampire didn't look very pleased.
The girl had purple eyes and purple hair, she also had many ribbons tied to her hair. She was wearing pink pajama-like clothing.
She quietly sipped her coffee while reading a book, unfazed by the vampire's staring.
Patchouli Knowledge, Reimu recalled.
She first met her during Scarlet Mist Incident, right here in this library. At first, she did mistake her for the mistress of this mansion, but quickly realized her mistake. In terms of prowess in danmaku, she was an extremely dangerous opponent, Reimu probably could call her the greatest magician in whole Gensokyo if not for her poor health weakness.
Patchouli put her cup on the table and looked at the vampire.
-I'm not. I have told you that, I will be busy during my research. I'll eat with everyone, after I'm done with it.
Flandre pouted.
-You said same thing during your last research, then you decided to start new one immediately.
Patchouli sighed.
-I apologize, this time will be different, I promise. I just needed something to take my mind off things.
Vampire gently put her hand on magician's shoulder.
-You know that you can talk to me about it, right? We are like family, after all.
Patchouli smiled.
-Yeah, I know, perhaps later when a certain pesky shrine maiden isn't eavesdropping on us.
Reimu sheepishly scratched her head and approached the duo.
Flandre looked at the Reimu, then glanced at her watch on her wrist.
-You're early, and looks like you already changed your image. Who would have guessed that you would actually look good in something else than your shrine maiden uniform. Wouldn't you agree, Patchy?
Patchouli sipped her coffee, her gaze not leaving the book in front of her.
-I don't care, could we get to the issue at hand already? I'd like to study in peace and quiet.
Vampire rolled her eyes.
-Always businesslike, but I guess that's Patchy for you. Sit down, Reimu, we have much to discuss.
Shrine maiden sat down at the table next to the magician and vampire.
-As you remember from yesterday, we have established that we will discuss our plan of action today.
Reimu nodded.
-From information that you have given us yesterday, it's obvious that our first priority is to get your powers back. That means that we should track down the gap youkai which is the key for you to get them back.
-What about your sister? Shouldn't we look for her too?
Flandre appeared to be visibly annoyed by that question, but she wasn't actually annoyed at the shrine maiden, but somebody else.
-Oh, trust me. I KNOW she's well and alive, besides I also know that we won't be able to find her. If she doesn't want us to find her, then we definitely won't find her. She after all has that ability going for her.
Reimu knew what was the vampire talking about.
The ability to manipulate the fate. An extremely powerful and dangerous ability to possess. One could shape the world, how he or she likes it, using it.
The question was, however, if she has such ability, then what is she doing right now?
The shrine maiden's train of thought was cut short by Flandre continuing her speech.
-Going back to the gap youkai, we unfortunately don't have any clues, where we would even start looking for her.
-As a matter of fact, we actually do.
Patchouli spoke up after staying silent for the whole conversation.
Flandre raised her eyebrow.
-Oh? That's a new one for me. Could you enlighten us?
Patchouli closed her book and faced them.
-Some time ago, I sent Koakuma on an errand. When she was done and was returning to the mansion, she noticed two girls leaving the university in the downtown part of the city, one of them had strikingly resemblance to the Yukari Yakumo, but younger.
Vampire hummed in thought.
-I think, I know which university you're talking about. In any case, it's worth the try, since it's the only clue we have thus far.
-However, if I will find out that this is actually the gap youkai and all she was doing is play around as a schoolgirl, then I will personally visit her and rend her skin from the flesh and the flesh from the bone.
Flandre's eyes glowed red, and she had a slight grin on her face as she said this.
Reimu was unnerved by this, however, vampire quickly caught on and calmed the shrine maiden.
-My apologies. I'm just not a big fan of people that play around in these situations.
Suddenly Sakuya appeared standing next to the vampire's seat, she bowed to her.
-I have finished all the tasks you have given me, Milady.
Flandre was unfazed by the sudden appearance of her maid.
-Good work, Sakuya. Actually good timing too, Is that doctor's office open today?
Sakuya hummed in thought.
-I believe so, My lady. Is there something you require from her?
-Take Reimu there and get her one of these things, since she can't protect herself with her powers anymore, she might as well use something different. Also buy the regular medicine for Patchy's illness.
Flandre looked at the magician.
-At least that's the one advantage of this world, we can actually do something to treat that illness of yours with the advanced medicine here.
Patchouli sipped her coffee.
-I suppose, that's true. I'm still not a big fan of the technology here, though. I always preferred to solve problems using magic, not the tools.
Flandre glanced back at her maid.
-That will be all, Sakuya. You and Reimu can go now. After you get back, we can discuss, how we will approach that university girl that could be the gap youkai.
Sakuya bowed.
-As you wish, My lady.
The maid walked towards the shrine maiden.
-Are you ready to head out?
Reimu nodded.
-Then let us take our leave.