Author's Note: It's been a while since last chapter, so here's another one! I have written a lot of stories since then, so I hope that my experience gained from them, managed to make this chapter better than previous ones. Without further ado, please enjoy the chapter!
Sakuya and Reimu left the mansion and headed back into the city.
The road was overall quiet, so the shrine maiden decided to strike up a conversation, perhaps even learn something more from the maid.
-So what are we exactly getting from there? Flandre didn't mention what it was.
-You'll see. Since you're new to this world, it would be hard for me to explain it with words. All I can say is that it's a weapon.
Sakuya replied, keeping her eyes on the road.
The conversation went quiet again. I guess that was to be expected, Sakuya isn't exactly a social person. She was the kind of person to keep her feelings, emotions and thoughts locked away inside her, or perhaps Reimu just wasn't the right person to talk to her.
The shrine maiden noted that this time, nobody paid any attention to them. Everybody just went about with their business.
After quite a bit of walking around, they finally arrived at the place.
For a doctor's office, this just pretty much looked like a regular house.
Reimu thought to herself.
She noticed a sign on the building that had "Yagokoro's Office" written on it.
Yagokoro? The name did ring some bells, but the shrine maiden couldn't put a name to the face.
Her train of thought was broken by Sakuya pressing some button near the door. It buzzed for a second, then after a while it buzzed again, and she heard a door unlocking.
Sakuya opened the door and motioned for Reimu to get inside.
The shrine maiden did so, and took a quick glance around the interior.
It wasn't anything fancy, walls were blue-colored, there were a few chairs on both sides, presumably for waiting, next to the chairs were tables and there were magazines on them. In front of the room was a counter, behind it was sitting a woman.
She had dark gray eyes, short silver hair, and was wearing a white doctor's coat, under it, she had a red/blue dress.
Yes, Reimu recalled her now. Eirin Yagokoro, The Genius Doctor of Gensokyo. She was without doubt the most intelligent person living in Gensokyo. The creator of Hourai Elixir that granted immortality to anyone that drank it. The shrine maiden was glad that she was on good terms with her, since god knows what would happen, if she would be enemies with her.
She was engrossed in writing something, but after a moment she stopped and looked at the duo.
-Ah, welcome Miss Sakuya and... Reimu Hakurei, I believe. I'm surprised to see you after your lengthy absence. I suppose you're here to do something about our circumstances?
Reimu nodded.
-That being said, what brings you here? I presume you're here to ask about medicine supplies?
-Indeed, however, we are also here for the other 'services'.
The maid replied.
-I see, just a moment.
Eirin pressed a button on some device.
-Udonge, there are some customers for you.
Udonge? Now that she mentions it, wasn't Reisen called Udongein Inaba?
-She should be here in a moment. Now as for this medicine, I believe it's for the magician of yours?
Sakuya nodded.
-As usual, doc.
Eirin took a pen from her coat pocket.
-Unfortunately, I have run out of them recently, however, I can write you a prescription, so you can buy it at the pharmacy nearby. Would that be acceptable?
-Yes, that works too.
Sakuya replied.
The doctor wrote the prescription and gave it to the maid.
Then a door to the left of them opened, and a woman walked in.
She had red eyes, long light-purple hair. She was wearing a long-sleeved black business suit over a white shirt, along with a beige skirt, white stockings and red shoes. Her left lapel was decorated with a crescent moon-shaped insignia, and a pocket square in her left shirt pocket.
She had a surprised look on her face as she saw the shrine maiden.
-Reimu? Is that really you? I haven't seen you in a like year! It's good to see you again.
Reisen Udongein Inaba. She was a fugitive moon rabbit from the moon. Reimu and her were on friendly relations, however they weren't really close friends. She could drive anybody insane by manipulating brain waves from eye contact, so Reimu was glad that they weren't enemies.
There was something missing though...
-Where are your ears?
Reisen was bewildered at this and quickly clutched her head. She patted her head a few times and then breathed a sigh of relief and laughed nervously.
-Ahaha, silly me. I forgot that I manipulate by instinct almost everybody's brain waves, so they can't see my rabbit ears. It's easier than hiding them behind a hat or something. Give me a second, let me fix it quickly.
Reimu felt disorientated for a second, but then she could see again the ears of the rabbit.
She had long rumpled rabbit ears. Her ears stood up straight and were decorated with two accoutrement-like buttons.
-Anyway, what brings you to me?
Sakuya answered her.
-We are here to buy a little something for Reimu here, I'm sure you understand what exactly.
Reisen nodded.
-Sure. Follow me then.
The duo followed the rabbit to some kind of basement door.
She opened it and turned around.
-Watch your step, lights are turned off, so take steps one at a time, so you don't slip by accident.
They followed Reisen's instructions and descended.
The rabbit then flipped the light switch and lights sparked to life, lightning the basement.
Reimu wasn't really sure how to describe it, she certainly never seen such kind of room before.
There were a lot of metal lockers, tables covered in black cloth, and there were some kind of booths, where were, some kind of cutouts of human upper body outlines hanging from the ceiling. The room felt both well organized and messy for her.
Sakuya then patted Reimu on the shoulder and leaned to whisper something to her.
-I'm going buy this medicine, and then I'll return. Reisen will guide you through it. So don't worry.
She leaned back.
-I'll be out to take care of one thing, can you take care of Reimu here, while I'm gone?
The moon rabbit nodded.
-No problem. I'll help her choose something.
The maid quietly thanked the rabbit and ascended the stairs back to the office.
The moon rabbit and the shrine maiden were left alone.
Reisen walked over to the table and removed the cloth, revealing a huge amount of various firearms.
She then looked over at Reimu.
-So, have you fired a gun before?
The shrine maiden shook her head.
The moon rabbit clutched her chin in thought.
-Hmm, then I guess we have to start with something easy.
She then reached for some kind of small firearm and presented it to Reimu.
-It's a pistol. Colt 1911, classic. It's a very reliable handgun because of its solid .45 ACP caliber and low weight, so the recoil is manageable. It has only seven bullets in magazine though, so it's a bit of a disadvantage, but the caliber stopping power makes up for it. Go on, take it.
Reimu grabbed it, she wasn't really sure how to hold it, so she awkwardly held it by the barrel.
-Alright, let me show you how to hold it and how to fire it effectively. Move over to the booth here.
Reisen pointed over to the nearby booth where cutouts were hanging.
The shrine maiden moved over there.
The moon rabbit moved to her and started positioning her body, so she could learn proper shooting posture.
Reimu blushed at all the touching the rabbit was making.
After a moment, she was done.
-That's how proper posture for shooting looks like, you mostly won't be really able to use it in gunfight, but take it as some kind of reference, so you know how to manage your recoil.
She then pointed at thing at the top of the pistol.
-See this? This is called "iron sight", you look through it to aim at something. Mostly, you should look to aim at the weak spot of the target to fire. A headshot is for the most part fatal if the head isn't protected, but it's a harder target to hit, so you should aim at the center mass. Center mass is chest and stomach. It's the largest target, so it's easiest to hit, you also have good chance to hit vital organ. There's also a technique called "Failure Drill" where you shoot two bullets at the chest, then one at the head. It's a good technique to have in mind, if the target doesn't drop down after the first shots.
Reimu was a bit disorientated at the amount of information, but she thinks she got most of it, so she nodded.
-Now there should be a gun safety to the left side of the pistol next to your thumb, turn it up using your thumb. As a side note, you should always have the safety on, if you're not looking to fire your gun.
The shrine maiden did so.
-Now, to fire the pistol, you have to squeeze the trigger that's here.
She pointed at the trigger at the bottom of the barrel.
-Try also to remember the "trigger discipline." Always keep your finger off the trigger, if you're not absolutely ready to fire, you don't want to shoot your ally by accident.
Reimu nodded.
-Aim at the target, following the instructions that I gave you. If you're ready to fire, then fire all seven rounds. One tip, I can give is that, you should hold your breath before you fire, it helps with swaying, so you can aim more accurately.
Reimu nodded.
She aimed at the target. She felt somebody cover her ears.
-It's going to be a bit loud, so I'm covering your ears, so you don't get perturbed by the noise.
The shrine maiden nodded once again.
Reimu fired the pistol at the target.
Reisen wasn't really kidding, the gunfire was really loud, so she was thankful that the rabbit shielded her ears from it a bit.
-Keep firing, I'll check your accuracy after you're done with the whole magazine.
The shrine maiden nodded and continued firing until her pistol ran out of ammo.
Reisen then looked at the target.
Two shots missed, three shots hit the chest, and two hit bullseye.
-Pretty good, you're not half-bad for a beginner. With some practice, you might be a good sharpshooter.
-Indeed. I'm surprised that she learned it that fast.
The duo was bewildered at the sudden voice, they looked behind them and saw Sakuya leaning on the wall near the stairs.
-Oh. My apologies, I should have knocked before entering.
Reisen was exasperated.
-You shouldn't really scare people in the shooting range of all places, you know.
-It's a good practice for reflexes, besides it's not like I can't dodge bullet with my powers anyway.
Reisen sighed and nodded.
-You're done with your task?
-Yes, and I assume that you're also done with training her how to shoot?
She nodded.
-Mostly yes. I taught her most of the basics, the rest should come with practice.
-How much do I owe you for the gun, then?
Reisen waved her hand dismissively.
-Nothing. Consider it a "returning" gift. Just don't make it a "farewell" one as well. I'll throw in a pistol holster and few magazines too.
-How generous of you. Are you sure?
The moon rabbit nodded.
-Yeah. Reimu helped us back in the day with the moon invasion incident, so it's the least I can do.
Sakuya nodded.
Reisen moved to the metal locker, opened it and procured the pistol holster from it. She then moved to the table and grabbed a few .45 ACP magazines and handed it to the shrine maiden. She showed her, how to wear the holster.
-Now, don't go waving that thing everywhere, though. You're not legally permitted to use the firearm, so use it only in emergency, and definitely don't go telling around whom you got this gun from.
Reimu nodded.
-I know, I asked you this before, but why don't you join us, Reisen? We could use somebody as skilled as you in our group.
Reisen shook her head.
-Sorry, Sakuya, but my place is at the Master and Princess's side. I'm sure you understand my loyalty better than anybody else.
The maid nodded, she did indeed.
-Actually, I think that you should join them, Udonge.
The sudden voice came from the stairs. Eirin was in the middle of descending them.
-Master? What do you mean?
The doctor finally descended the stairs, she faced the trio.
-The return of the shrine maiden surely means that they are planning to return Gensokyo back to normal. The Princess dearly misses the peaceful nature of Gensokyo and all her meetings with Mokou, this world also restricts her freedom, which she was seeking when she got exiled from the moon. I feel the same as the Princess. That's why, I want you to join them in their mission to restore back Gensokyo to its former glory.
Reisen was surprised at this, but she nodded.
-If that's what you want, Master, then it looks like I will be accepting your offer, Sakuya.
The moon rabbit offered her hand. The maid accepted it and shook it.
-Welcome to the team, Reisen.
The doctor smiled and addressed the trio again.
-If you need any assistance, then my office is always open to you. Please take good care of Udonge.
Sakuya nodded.
-Will do, doc.