Marisa feels the morning breeze. She breathes it in as she flies on her broom, her hair cascading through the currents. The air has a more biting feel as days go by, autumn slowly turning into winter. She enjoys winter, she could bundle up in her house and read a book while it snows outside. Reimu, on the other hand, does not enjoy winter at all. The Hakurei shrine is ancient and doesn't have any insulation to hold off the freezing temperatures.
Marisa looked at her pack and grinned. She has become more eager to visit the Shrine with each passing day. The child has shown significant improvement, more than she predicted. She was worried that Frisk would be bedridden for over a week even with the medicine's assistance. But, last she checked, the child was walking around after a single day of bed rest and showed no abnormalities other than feeling lethargic and hungry. The child was an intriguing distraction from Marisa's usual schedule and she got the bamboo she needed, so the sorceress decided to hang with Reimu for the day.
As she lands at the Torii gate, she picks up her broom and walks towards the Hakurei shrine. She sees Aunn sleeping under the awning. There was a trail of saliva as she murmured something unintelligible, before returning to snoring.
After walking past, she took off her shoes and entered the shrine. Marisa looks around to see that Reimu is muttering something to herself while in the kitchen, making breakfast.
"Hmm.. Maybe a gift would be good? What do kids like anyway? A doll? Kids like dolls. But I might have to talk to Alice... Never mind, something else. Ugh, how am I supposed to fix this?"
"To fix what?"
"EEP!"
Marisa ducked as a right hook went past her hat. Sneaking up to Reimu is easy, but the response to her surprise is the harder part, she remembers the bleeding nose when they were kids. Not a great first impression for both of them, but it was memorable.
"Marisa! Don't do that. Announce when you enter."
"That's true, but that wouldn't be true to myself."
Reimu didn't look amused at Marisa's statement. Wiping her hands on a cloth, she cracks two eggs into a bowl and uses chopsticks to stir.
"So, you just visited to mess with me?"
"Yup! Also, I got a new batch of medicine for the kid. Where's Frisk anyway?"
The answer came from a sliding door. Frisk walked in from the back porch and looked over to Marisa. A small, welcoming smile appeared on their face. Recognition plainly on the child's features. The kid was still wearing the hakama but looked a bit more comfortable in it. Also, they have a cute red ribbon now, like a tiny, bandaged Reimu.
"Hey, kid! Look who's up and at 'em."
"Are you done with your stretches?"
Frisk waved at Marisa to greet her but slightly faltered when Reimu's voice appeared, they looked over to the Hakurei and nodded. Their face turned impassive like a statue.
"Did you pull anything or feel lightheaded?"
Frisk shook their head. Marisa felt the air was a bit awkward.
"Okay. You can sit down at the table. Food will be ready soon."
Marisa saw the kid go to the Kotatsu and sit cross-legged. There was silence for a few seconds. Frisk looked occupied to find a comfortable position by the table, while Reimu was trying to cook. Marisa walked up to Frisk and sat beside them. She positions her skirt so it doesn't bunch up and kneels by the table, grinning at the kid beside her.
"So, how's your recovery? Been enjoying sleeping in?"
The child quietly snorted at that. It was a lax but reserved amusement, an unusual response for a child but fits Frisk well. Marisa looks over her bag to find something, Frisk glances curiously.
"Oh. Just a dusty old thing. Don't use it a lot, but it's useful to carry stuff like this."
Marisa picks out two vials. They have an orange medicine inside, ready to be used.
"Here, take this one first. One half in the morning, and the rest at night. It has a lot of things that are needed for blood development. You can drink it during breakfast, pretend it's like orange juice!"
Frisk tilted their head to the side questioningly. Marisa sees the blank expression and huffs at the child's obvious doubt. She relents.
"Okay, maybe it doesn't taste that good. But it's good for you, and better than a pill that you need to swallow."
Frisk nodded reluctantly, a grimace appeared due to a previous situation where they nearly spat out the medicine before. But they choked it down eventually. The poor kid tried to look unbothered but failed to hide the green tint on their cheeks. After a bit of one-sided conversation, Reimu walks to the table with three bowls of fried rice, tofu, and vegetables. The food is a bit greasy this early, but Marisa won't complain. Reimu's cooking is really good.
Once again, Frisk eats the food after a silent courtesy, not saying anything at all. Marisa looks over to Reimu to see her reaction, but the shrine maiden also eats silently. 'Something is not right,' is what Marisa thought. There is a thick atmosphere of anxiety and tension between the two like a taut bowstring. They would glance at the other when they thought the opposition wasn't looking. Marisa could feel they both wanted to say something. Frisk looks like they are working up the courage to speak, but would deflate in Reimu's gaze. While the other probably has an idea of what to say but can't find the right sentence structure.
It was painful to watch for Marisa. This tension has to give at some point, so she decides to burst the bubble before the awkwardness causes mental damage.
"So! What are the plans for the day?"
"We are going to reorganize the storage and count out the Omamori for the coming months. The new year is soon, so we must be prepared for visitors."
Marisa waited for anything else but noticed it was all on their schedule. She widened her eyes and looked at Frisk, who seemed unbothered by this declaration. 'Nope. Too boring. Come on, Reimu! You're more creative than that!' Marisa hardens her features and stands up from the table. Frisk looked up in a bit of surprise. Marisa looks over to Reimu.
"Rei. Can we go outside? We need to talk."
"Eh? Why?"
"Just follow. Here, Frisk. It's some trading cards to look at."
As she gives the child a minor distraction, Marisa grabs Reimu's arm. Politeness be damned, something happened between them while she was away, and she is going to figure out what it is. While the girl in red spluttered and yelled at Marisa, they went out the back slider, down the porch stairs, and onto the grass. As they walked down the old wooden steps, Reimu calmed a bit but still asked why the urgency was necessitated. After they stood in the grass that covered the back area, Marisa thought it was far enough away from the shrine and turned to Reimu.
"Okay, tell me what happened."
"What? Marisa, I-I don't know what you mean."
Marisa caught on to Reimu's slight stutter and she balls her fist a bit.
"You know damn well what I mean. I noticed Frisk wasn't talking at all around you. They look like they're walking on eggshells and you looked just as guilty about something. Tell me. I just want to help them as much as you do, and stressing over something would do no good for any of us."
At first, Reimu was defiant, but her face turned to shock, then guilt, dejection, and lastly, sadness. The hand that would hold the Gohei clenched a bit. She breathes and answers what is on her mind.
"I saw Frisk in a Danmaku Battle."
"WHAT!? With who!? Were they injured? I swear, I am going to find the one who did this and Mini-Hakkero is going to be the one to speak."
Marisa places her hands on her dress and looks at the ground like she is cursing it a thousand deaths. But that anger subsided quickly, she still needed answers, and she didn't get all of them from her friend. Reimu spoke again.
"It doesn't matter who fought Frisk, I ended it before anything else happened. They had a bruise on their arm from falling, but that's it."
"And why are they avoiding you? If you ended the fight, should they be grateful?"
Reimu flexed her hand again, and she looked like she wanted to say something that could lighten her guilt. But she decided to go with the truth. Reimu described the fight and how she intervened, how Frisk looked at her with trepidation, what happened to the fairies and how it escalated, how Frisk broke a promise they meant to keep, and how she overreacted.
A fight with no winners, where everyone lost a bit of something at the end. Marisa only listened, no banter or remarks, just a passive ear to Reimu's dilemma. After she was done, the blonde mage formed her thoughts and spoke.
"Wow. That's a shitty situation."
"You think? I'm trying to show that I don't despise them, but I don't know how."
"That's because you are a hammer, Rei Rei. When everything looks like a nail, you do what you do best."
Reimu fell even more into despair. She knows that she is not the introspective type, and has difficulty talking about her problems, let alone trying to understand others around her. They both know that Frisk is the opposite of Reimu. Empathetic, kind, patient, quiet, and nonconfrontational to a fault. But, comically, both are too stubborn in their ways. Uncompromising in both of their ideals. Marisa stared at Reimu's impression of a rock in the rolling fields and decided to help her hopeless friend.
"Look, Frisk probably feels just as bad about it as you do, and doesn't want to damage the bridge even more. So, talk to them! If you explain how you felt, the good and bad, then listen to how they felt, you both hug and move on. It's a give-and-take, like a transaction! Speaking of which, it's a good idea to find an item to give them and show how much you care."
Reimu had a thoughtful look from the ground. Her mind is going through possible scenarios, hoping to find a good conclusion. She became resolute, stood up from the grass, and spoke to Marisa.
"You're right. I should stop overthinking it. But I don't think Frisk is the hugging type."
"Oh, they are. I can absolutely see it. They don't talk much. That means they have a BIG heart to show their affection!"
Marisa gestured animatedly, showing her arms going farther apart from her left breast. Reimu chuckled at Marisa's antics and felt a little lighter. The shrine maiden now has a defined goal, but the real question is what's the path forward.
"Okay, Wise Magician. How do we get to that point?"
*You look over the wooden donation box, squinting suspiciously. The last donation box you interacted with back in the underground was unintuitive, so you had to place one gold coin at a time. You decided a bit of monetary charity would suffice to show your support of the shrine. You look at the multiple coins in your hand and slowly drop them into the wooden grate. Surprisingly, they don't bounce off due to the slots being painted on, and easily slip through.
*You breathe out, relieved that it's a normal box, and take out another handful of coins to place in the receptacle. You put your hands into prayer, thanking the deity of the Hakurei shrine for their protection. It… feels slightly irritated. But it begrudgingly thanks you for your faith… you think. You conclude that gods are strange. As you pray, you hear a snort as Aunn awakens.
"Hmmm.. Morning, Frisk. Are you here to give thanks again?"
*You nod at her question and Aunn's face lit up with excitement, she helps you go through the ritual to properly offer thanks. She explains that it is supposed to give good fortune and ward off evil spirits, even though admitting that she doubts the effectiveness of the latter. This Yokai is a wealth of information and is passionate about shrines and their culture.
"Oh, there you are. I already cleaned up. We are going to the village… Would you like to join us?"
*You look over to Reimu, stunned at her offer. The girl in front of the door patiently waits for your answer, rolling on their heels in anticipation. This is out of character for the usually strict and confident shrine maiden. After the Danmaku Battle, she has been more protective and made sure to (or make Aunn) watch you when you're outside so you won't leave the shrine grounds. It's been two days and you are feeling the wonder lust itch away at your soul. Now that there is a chance to explore?
*You say yes with a bit more enthusiasm than you wanted to show, but Reimu did not seem upset about it. She looked over you with critical eyes and nodded to herself.
"I see. Get your shoes on and drink your medicine, you are going to walk a bit more than you're used to. If you ever feel faint or tired, tell me or Marisa and we will carry you if needed."
*You nod and walk past, Reimu moving aside so you can head to the bedroom. As you open the slider, you look at the trunk and walk towards it. You unlatch the old chest and find a few clothing items, you search and find a used set of black shoes. It's your shoes, one of the few items that had the least amount of damage out of your previous clothes. After fishing out your socks like a scoundrel, you put them on and slip on your footwear. They look clean, cared for, and ready for another adventure!
"Hey! Are you done yet, kid? Don't keep us waiting~!"
*Marisa's voice sounds out, and you quickly take out the medicine, look at it nervously, and drink it. The smell of something acidic paired with the taste of iron made you want to gag, but half of the medicine had been conquered. You save the other half for later, exit the room, and excitedly leave the shrine. You see Reimu talking to Aunn and Marisa looking at you with a broom in hand.
"Come here! I have to be your ride today since you can't fly, Ze."
*You walk up and Marisa lowers the broom to ride it like a noble steed. It hovers in place when she lifts her legs, like the fairytales of witches and brooms, and beckons you to sit in front of her. You hum to yourself as you are helped up to saddle the cleaning implement, Marisa scoots up and puts her arms over you to grab the wooden staff. You are small enough for the mage to control the broom while holding you from accidentally falling off. Reimu looks over with a bit of worry but Marisa gives a reassuring gesture, calming the red maiden.
"Alright! It's going to be a bumpy ride going up. You better hang on tight, Frisk."
*You grab the broom tightly and both you and Marisa start ascending, the winds push against you as the sky no longer becomes an obstacle. It's not as majestic as a bird carrying you across a disproportionately small gap or as chaotic as riding a jetpack up a tower while a robot rains baking flour. It's just an efficient fight above the treeline with Reimu following behind. You hear Aunn call out her farewell while she protects the shrine in their absence.
*The broom slowly picks up speed as the wind becomes more aggressive as you go higher, pushing against the broom to no avail. You would have been worried about being knocked off if not for the body pressing up on your back, assuring you that someone with experience is keeping you safe as you enjoy the ride. At least your eyes are always closed, saving you from stray bugs or dust.
"Whew! This never gets old! Reimu's place has the best view!"
*As the wind starts to die down, an invisible cone forming to divert the currents, you look out to something breathtaking. Like the view of the underground kingdom under the false starlight, you see a great expanse before you.
*High mountains, a vast forest, winding rivers, and grassy plains under a blue sky and a rising sun. Despite Gensokyo's magical nature, it's always hard to remember that this is the surface, a privilege that the few monsters craved. A land of light, color, and adventure that many humans take for granted.
*You take time to enjoy it more and Marisa giggles behind you. You glance up to see an amused grin.
"Told ya so! Rei Rei wanted to walk, but I thought you would like this, Ze. I always do. I never got bored with it ever since I lifted off the ground the first time."
"Didn't you slam directly into a tree during your first flight?"
"Seriously Reimu!? Can't help but rain on my parade, would you?"
*As they argue, you silently agree with her sentiment. You hear the enthusiasm in her voice, the simple wonder and excitement of flight at this very moment. Humans, before they found their wings, only dreamed and imagined soaring through the air. Human Determination to touch the endless sky seems to permeate here as well. You think back. If humans and monsters have never had a war, would it be like this? The study of magic never being lost to time. Used to feed the hungry, cure wounds and disease, and fly where the heart desires. You ponder this thought a little longer, as the stunning vista fills you with Determination.
"-ey! Oi, Kid! Put a pause on daydreams, we're going to descend. We are taking a pit stop before the Village."
*You come to when a hand is placed on your shoulder. It seems your introspection took most of the trip. You notice that your breath is labored and your hands ache from holding the broom. You nod and Marisa slowly lowers altitude. The golden-haired witch extends her legs like landing gear, cushioning the landing with a slowing stride. Reimu lands behind and walks up to pick you up and place you off the broom, then the vehicle falls to the ground when no one is using it. Marisa casually picks it up and walks forward like she didn't just fly through the air on a broom as if it were a children's movie. Reimu softly places her hand on your back, noticing that your breathing has increased after being in an area with less oxygen. Your blood is still developing, and it will take some time to be at normal levels.
*You landed in a small gap in the trees on a road that leads out of the forest. You notice a building off to the tree line, a traditional oriental building consisting of a two-story house connected to a storefront by a corridor building. Many random objects are placed at the front of the building like a garage sale. Marisa walks like she is familiar with this place.
"This is our stop. Kourindou! I need some things here before we walk to the village, Ze."
"Do you want to take a look inside?"
*You nod and follow a confident Marisa. As Reimu walks at your side, you look up to a big sign above the shop door, written in calligraphic lettering. You can't understand the letters, but assume it means 'Kourindou.' The door opens and Marisa yells into the store.
"Hey, Kourin! Still figuring out that weird box?"
*You walk into a dump- I mean- a room with a large selection of random objects placed on top of each other, barely enough space to walk around and browse the many trinkets. The odd smell of mildew and an elderly home permeates this place, making you want to hear war stories and knit a scarf. You see a desk at the back with a man typing slowly at an old box computer. He has medium-length silver hair and gold eyes hidden behind glasses, his attire of a vibrant blue Kimono and pants with black and white highlights, and a red bag hangs on his abdomen. He looks up and smiles, but you notice his face is a mixture of business politeness and tired exasperation, but the brief cracks fade as he speaks.
"Marisa, Hakurei, and a new face. What brings you here?"
"I need to borrow some objects, the others just want to look around. We won't be here for long."
"Ah, then look around and see what you like."
*Marisa walks around to look for what she needs, and Reimu walks up to the man and speaks to him.
"Rinnosuke, I need some clothing repaired again."
"Really? I haven't heard of any incidents lately. What could have damaged your dress?"
"It's not for me."
*Reimu looks over to you and Rinnosuke follows her gaze. His eyes are analytical, trying to gauge who you are. You bow slightly and state your name, thinking casual politeness might leave a good impression. Instead of softening his gaze, his eyes squint in skepticism. It seems like he is trying to find anything under the surface, like if your kindness is some ruse or there is a catch to it. The man relented his inquisitive glare and spoke.
"Greetings Frisk, I'm Rinnosuke Morichika. The humble owner of this antique shop. Do you need some clothes repaired? Your Hakama seems to be in good shape."
"The clothes are not here, I'll bring them later in the day."
"I see… Why didn't you bring them earlier if that were the case?"
*You put up your hand and say you do have them. As Reimu asks how and Rinnosuke knits his brows, you turn to pull out your previous clothing to hand over to the shop owner. Reimu looked speechless and Rinnosuke looked vindicated of his suspicion.
"What? How? Where did you pull them from? Did you just use magic?"
*You look at Reimu and smile but don't answer, that's an obvious question if you heard it. Everyone has a personal Inventory, right? As the shrine maiden looked perplexed, the shop owner got their bearings first and examined the items you gave him. He places the folded clothes on the counter and picks up your sweater. There are many old cuts, some holes, and burn marks. The color is fading in some areas. It has been beaten to the underground and back, but you refused to throw away the clothing.
"This is fixable, but it requires some very rare materials. I apologize but it's not going to be cheap."
"Wait, you can't be serious, right? It's just clothes! Fix them like how you fix mine!"
"It's not that simple, Reimu. Your clothing is made of silk and wool, which is common to find. But this is made of a plant material called cotton. The dyes are also very hard to replicate because they are machine-made. I have some matching items left, but they are my last set."
*Reimu looks at you with shock, you shrug as she mutters about money problems. You look over to Rinnosuke as he sits in his chair to look at his computer, searching for something.
"Blasted thing, where are the dye selections?"
*You ask why he didn't use the find function. He stops and looks at you as if you were making fun of him or you're serious. You apologized and said you meant no ill will by your comment.
"No. Do you know what this is? The Personal Computer."
*You nod and walk up to the desk, Rinnosuke looks a bit curious at what you're doing and moves aside to let you have the seat. The old monitor has an ancient version of an engine but looks familiar enough. You press and hold the Ctrl key, then press the key where F was on the keyboard. A bar popped up on the document that held the shop owner's inventory. You gestured for him to type what he was looking for. He types some letters and, after some trial and error, he gets to the list of stored dyes. He was genuinely impressed but noticed you were watching him and coughed into his fist.
"O-of course I knew this. I was just surprised by your knowledge of outsider technology. Anyway, I got all the necessary details and the price is not a small sum."
"And that is?"
"Around 25,000 yen"
*Reimu looked like an arrow entered her gut, almost doubling over. You don't know what this yen is and ask for context. Rinnosuke raised an eyebrow and explained the currency system in Gensokyo.
"The physical coins of the Japanese Yen come from the outside. They are circulated and used to denote wealth on a person-by-person basis. Some see the coin as valuable, while others prefer barter and trade goods. Of course, rare gemstones and metals can be used as substitutes. But people use Yen for convenience and around 300-450 yen is the price of a 2.5kg bag of rice."
*You listened closely and started to do some mental math. That is around 55 to 83 bags of rice, a ridiculous amount for a set of clothes for normal people. But you remember that it doesn't matter to you at all. You ask if gold coins are acceptable. Rinnosuke looked very intrigued.
"Gold? Sure, I can trade for gold. Do you have some coins on you?"
*You take out 1G, a single golden coin with the Deltarune minted on one of the faces. Rinnosuke sharply breathed in as the coin, half the width of your palm, was placed on the counter. He checks the coin by touching it. After some staring, he realizes that it's real, unalloyed gold. Reimu quickly regained and looked at the coin with shock and back at you, making an interesting face.
"This is… if you have more, a handful should suffice."
*You take out a fistful without hesitation. 20G was placed on the counter with a gratifying clunk, and the shopkeeper almost let his mask slip. He looked over them and his eyebrow twitched to keep up his calm demeanor.
"This is enough, I'll take this for the total repair of your clothing. It will be done in a few days, if you need anything else, just ask."
"Uh.. Thanks. (Frisk! You were carrying gold all this time!?)"
*You nod and the poor girl stares vacantly, trying to parse out what happened. In hindsight, you should have told her sooner about your wealth to help with food costs. While Rinnosuke was counting the coins, he looked up to see Marisa walking up to the counter with an armful of items. Panic in his eyes, the shopkeeper slides his gains into one of his pockets. Marisa didn't notice as she walked up, oblivious to the situation.
"Got what I need! I'll borrow these for a bit, you know how it goes."
"…"
"What? Did I miss something?"
*You try to say you paid for the repairs, but Reimu interrupts, saying it's time to go. You wave at Rinnosuke as you leave the shop, knowing that your clothing is in capable hands. You walk the rest of the trip, the forest giving way to a grassy plain, in the distance are the signs of civilization.
*More people, many new sights, new experiences, and new places to explore. The anticipation fills you with Determination.
During the walk up to the front gate of the Human Village, Reimu is currently thinking about the situation up to this point and what may happen after. Reimu has to admit that despite knowing that the child between her and Marisa is a bit eccentric, she did not expect them to pull gold out of thin air to pay for clothes. If Frisk keeps putting her off balance, she might have to invest in crutches. But that raises a more prominent question for her to chew on.
Buildings of stacked planks and plaster topped with red shingles fill their vision after passing a red torii gate. Humans in villager's garb pass each other for the early work hours, getting preparations for the coming winter and speaking to each other about mundane topics. Frisk's head was constantly on a swivel, taking in all of the village with barely contained excitement. This is the most lively place the child has seen after entering Gensokyo so that enthusiasm was reasonable. Reimu knows Frisk wants to explore every nook and cranny of this village just for the experience, but her presence prevents them from committing, only enjoying the sight of it all.
'Do I even know what Frisk wants?' Reimu thought to herself, her questions drifting even more. 'Did I even think to ask? What do they like? What do they want to be? Who were they before we met? Frisk is going to leave this behind, anyway. But why am I so caught up on this? Is it because they won't talk to me?' The self-imposed silence in most situations is normal for Frisk, but the lack of conversation with Reimu for the past few days concerns her. She's beginning to think Frisk is afraid or even despises her.
From the child's perspective, she threatened to harm their new friends, struck out when they were at their most vulnerable point of time, and isolated them out of the reasoning of protecting them.
She was torn in two. A part of her states that everything she did was justified. It's the same part that thinks all Yokai are a threat to humans. The kid should have not tried to befriend them in the first place. These evils she did were relatively tame compared to being dead in a magic forest or eaten by a Yokai they foolishly trusted.
But another part spoke softly, the one who cares and soothes others around them. It says that what she did might not have left lasting physical wounds, but wounds of the heart. As a protector, she must care for what's behind her to fight whatever is in front of her. These wounds she inflicted out of fear might not mend if nothing is done.
There was a growl, and the child looked down at their stomach. Marisa laughs while Frisk looks betrayed by their bodily functions.
"Haha! Still hungry after eating? I know a place, it's cheap and the food is great. Come on, it's nearby."
Reimu followed the two into a tofu stand, an elderly woman took their order and her deft hands got to making the dish. Her age hasn't marred her skill honed through decades of practice as the older cook started to fry some cut tofu into an oiled wok. After cooking, chili oil and garnish were placed on the tofu, the bowl was given to a servant and then passed to Frisk. The child, using proper courtesy, put their hands together in thanks and started to eat.
As the child started to breathe quickly due to the food being hot off the wok, Reimu heard footsteps. A form wearing a hood entered the stall. It was a woman wearing a white dress with blood-red accents and a ruby brooch pinned to her cloak. She sniffs the air and looks directly at Marisa. With a calm voice that almost growled, the mystery girl spoke.
"You. Are you Marisa Kirisame?"
"Eh? Yeah, that's me. What's it to ya?"
Before she finished her question, a hand shot out to grab the witch. That was thwarted when a palm strike was made by Reimu that sent the woman out of the stall and onto the road. Frisk and the staff look on with shock. The girl lying on the road places their hands on the ground and pushes up to their feet. The hood fell off to reveal long, auburn hair and animal ears. They look into the shop with wild eyes, a clawed finger pointing into the shop.
"Don't get in the way, Hakurei. That witch stole something from me, I came to take it back."
"I have no idea what you're talking about! I haven't stolen anything!"
"Lies! Get out here and say to my face how you stole my bamboo shoot!"
Marisa stood up from her seat and walked out while other villagers watched in horror of the Yokai yelling in the middle of the village. She stood in the road and exclaimed in annoyance.
"This is ridiculous. It's the Bamboo Forest! It's growing everywhere! If you want bamboo, find more!"
"No! It's not just any bamboo. It's a young, violet-leaf bamboo! I waited for days for it to mature, and you dug it up!"
"Why would you care? I didn't see your name on it!"
"I marked it with my scent! It's mine and you took it!"
Reimu surmised that this back and forth won't be stopping anytime soon. Frisk looked on with curiosity, eating tofu with a contemplative look. She tries to remember the name of this yokai. Kagi, no, Kage-something? It doesn't matter to the shrine maiden. This yokai is causing a scene, and Reimu is going to end this before any villagers are put in danger.
But before she gets into motion, Frisk gets up from their seat and walks up to Marisa. Reimu put her hand on the child's shoulder.
"Not now, it's going to become a Danmaku Battle. I'll handle it-"
"Trust me."
This is the first time Frisk has spoken directly to Reimu since the Fairy Battle incident. She hesitated, wanting to deny and protect, that they will only get in the way. But she realized that the child wanted her to put faith in them. She internally fought against this until she relented.
"Alright. If you get into a fight, you will be grounded until you are fully healed, understand?"
The child nodded as Reimu, with reluctance, let go. Frisk walked up to the heating-up argument and stood between the two, Marisa looking down and pausing. The other woman followed her gaze until she saw the diminutive child between them. Her nose twitched as she sniffed the air. A cold tone came from her after a few seconds.
"A human child? Begone, I have no business with you. My anger is only at the witch."
"Frisk, listen to me. Walk away, and let me deal with this."
Frisk shook their head, going against their wishes. The red eyes of the yokai stared intensely, she began to walk towards the child at a steady pace, her eyes trying to pierce the child with their gaze. All of the villagers didn't dare to breathe as the child and yokai were only inches from each other. The beast looked down at the smaller human in front of her, the other was looking up without flinching once.
"Are you not afraid of me? Afraid that I might get angry? Afraid that I could eat you?"
A hand with sharp, long nails hovers around Frisk's neck. The nails were so close that they almost brushed against skin, so close that Reimu or Marisa wouldn't be fast enough to save them if she tried to end their life. The child did not react to the threat, only looking up without any emotion on their features. The yokai frowned at the lack of resistance or terror in the child. She wondered if they were frozen in shock when, suddenly, the child put a hand behind their back.
When she saw this, she jumped back, readying for a weapon to appear. But instead, a stick took its place in the child's right hand. The Yokai was silent, Marisa was silent, Reimu was silent, and the entire village was silent. Everyone wondered how to react to what unfolded before them.
"A… Stick? That's your answer? I'm the mighty and feared Werewolf. What's a stick-"
The child throws the stick past the girl, and as if possessed by some force, she chases after it, picks it up, and runs back to her previous spot before the child. She continued to speak like she didn't just pause to grab a small branch.
"-supposed to do against me? Wait… What just…"
Reimu looked at the situation with a flat expression, finally giving up on figuring out how this kid worked. Marisa was shaking, wanting to laugh but holding it in desperately. The werewolf Yokai just looked at the stick with bafflement. She throws the stick on the ground in barely contained rage, her features almost becoming feral.
"That doesn't mean anything! I don't know what magic you just pulled, but don't think you will-"
Frisk leaned down to grab the stick and tossed it past the yokai again, she moved without thinking and turned to chase the stick the second time. She grabbed it from the air with her teeth and ran back to the child's side, then lowered her head at Frisk's eye level as if presenting the stick in her mouth while still talking.
"-get away with this humiliation. Eh? EH!?"
Frisk nodded then took the stick from the wolf yokai while her brain was short-circuiting. The child patted the head of the overwhelmed yokai and took her hand to pull the woman toward the tofu stand. The yokai was still trying to process information and failing, not resisting being led to the food stand.
Reimu hears whispers from the gathering crowd, saying how the 'new maiden' has pacified a yokai. Due to the borrowed hakama that Frisk was wearing, she didn't think about the assumptions people would make. Marisa is on her knees, giggles escaping her until she can't hold back the flood of laughter that fills the entire street.
"You wanted to grow some bamboo so you can chew on it?"
"Yes. Is it that strange?"
*You drink the tea the old lady had made, listening to Reimu interrogate Kagerou Imaizumi, the wolf yokai. Marisa is sitting at the opposite side of the stall to avoid a conflict but would giggle occasionally, at the expense of frustration from Kagerou. The Yokai would sometimes glance at you until the shrine maiden would glare back at her.
"What are you, a panda? There are better ways to find food."
"It's not for sustenance, but for hygiene. With no bones around, it is a good substitute to sharpen fangs and clean gums."
"If you want clean teeth, then use a toothbrush like the rest of us. It still doesn't answer why you would walk into the village and attack Marisa."
*Kagerou looked down at her tofu bowl, her red eyes focused inward in contemplation, her sleeved arm that covered fur was placed on the table. A single, clawed digit tapped the wooden surface in a rhythmic tempo. The werewolf seems to take Reimu's question seriously and wonders why she acted so rashly in the first place.
"I… don't know. I like to fight, but this is the first time I have gone this far for something trivial. I felt very irritable the past few days, and there has been very little prey in the Bamboo Forest lately. The stolen violet bamboo added to that irritation, and I chased after the scent without thinking."
*Kagerou was very forthcoming and rational, unlike her previous self who yelled and stomped around. You see her breathing was leveled, her shoulders relaxed, and her eyes not shifting. She hasn't said a single lie. A voice added itself to the conversation.
"Well, you can correct your mistakes by leaving the village."
*A lady with a funny hat has walked in. Looks like you are meeting a lot of new friends today! The woman with long silver hair looked at Kagerou with a school teacher's scowl, you flinched indirectly due to the familiarity of such an ancient power. She stops glaring at the yokai and her demeanor softens when looking at you.
"Hakurei, Kirisame, Outsider. I apologize for the intrusion, I'll take it from here. Kagerou Imaizumi, we will discuss your punishment for causing unrest within the village. Come with me."
"Yes, Keine. I will comply. Farewell, and thanks for the meal."
*Both had left the stall and the empty bowl was picked up by the serving girl. Now left with your previous entourage, Marisa pays for the bill and you follow the others into the street. You hear whispers and murmuring from the people around you, but you focus on Marisa's statement instead.
"Well, that was something. If she just asked for the bamboo, I would have given it back."
"That would be great if that wasn't a big fat lie. What do you need the bamboo for, anyway?"
"Tsk Tsk! That's a secret! Come on! There are some shops we can visit. Then we head to the market!"
*You nod enthusiastically, the thrill of visiting new places fills you with Determination. Reimu seems to walk behind, staring ahead like a soldier heading into battle.
*The experience was wonderful, with numerous areas full of history, people, and customs. You enjoy your time with the two guardians who still converse and banter with each other as if they are close siblings or best friends. It reminds you of the times of hanging out with Sans and Papyrus. Heading into New New Home Town (No, you hadn't misread that.) after school, just being in each other's company. Reimu is still a bit rigid, and as you wonder why, she asks something.
"Frisk, there is a statue in the village I want to visit. Do you want to see it with me? It's not very far."
*You nod and Reimu briefly flicks her gaze to Marisa, and the other gives a subtle thumbs up. They both thought you wouldn't notice, but it seems like a team effort to get you alone with the shrine maiden. You went along with it, seeing that Reimu was trying hard to be accommodating. You exit the shop you were browsing and walk beside her, looking around at the various buildings parallel to the flat earthen road. Small market stands, workshops, and the less common shrine box or red archway pass by as you make an intersection.
*In the middle of the intersection was a large statue. The material is a smooth, light-gray stone that has worn over the years. But if you were to compare, it's not as old as the Hakurei Shrine. The statue's base is a four-sided obelisk that juts out from the ground, giving a sturdy and grand feeling while not taking away attention from the main set piece.
*The main piece was a creature with a serpentine form. It sits proudly on top of the obelisk, its tail curling up the pedestal as the obelisk's top was not wide enough to hold the monster's considerable size. There are distinct parts of the creature that stray from an average snake. A set of horns displayed up from its head, behind a pair of ears like a deer. A frill takes up the entire back of the body. Four-digit claws attached to arms that came from the upper mid-section of the body, poised to grab anything it sees. A row of sharp teeth gave a gator's grin at whoever viewed it at the front. The most standout thing was the eyes, its colorization contrasting from the dull gray into pure white orbs.
*Reimu stopped to look at the statue to give a quick prayer. You were surprised that she would pray to something different than the Hakurei God, but you look around to see that the other villagers walking by also stop to give brief reverence before moving on. You stare curiously until Reimu notices your confusion.
"This is The Dragon or the Dragon God. He is the supreme god of Gensokyo and is believed to be the creator of the five phases, making life as it is today. Everyone here, even Yokai, worship this being."
*You ask why the eyes of the statue are white. Reimu looked a bit bemused.
"It's nothing special. Its eyes change color depending on the coming weather. It's white, which means it will be clear skies in the coming hours. If it is gray, then it would be cloudy. If it's blue, then it will rain. It's not very accurate, but it's usually reliable."
*Reimu stopped talking after the explanation, the awkward silence returning as you gazed at the dragon statue. A few minutes passed until Reimu lightly slapped her cheeks and looked at you with Determined focus.
"Frisk. After all that happened, the cleaning of your wound, the days of bed rest, the huge progress in recovery, the promise made to keep you safe, and the breaking of that promise afterward. Just know this."
*The maiden in red kneels down to eye level with you, her hand reaching out to touch your face. You reflexively flinch as her hand grazes past the bandage on your left temple and slightly brushes your hair with delicate strokes. Her sleeved arm was inexpert in this, but her brown eyes stared into yours, continuing with her speech.
"Know that no matter what you do, I will always be there to protect you. I have failed once, and you got hurt. I am sorry for what I have done. I was afraid, and out of that fear, I struck and broke that trust between us even more. If you fear me, I understand. If you hate me, I don't blame you. The village would take care of you better than I can, and if you want, you can live here instead until you're healed-"
"No."
*Before she processed what you said, you moved forward to comfort. You hug the defenseless girl and her body seizes from the unexpected attack. Her arms were out like she didn't know how to respond to your surprise affection. Her mouth moved instead.
"F-Frisk!? Why? This is not the best place!"
*You hear the other few villagers talk amongst each other, you don't care even if there was a stadium full of viewers. You say softly that you also made mistakes, you took that trust and broke it first. You say that you should be the one to say sorry. You forgive what she has done, but you said you had never hated her for it. You were scared, but it never diminished your faith in her. Kindness is the only thing you could ask for from now on.
*Reimu relaxes and finally returns the hug, no longer caring about her self-image. A smile that was absent for the entire day finally graces her features.
"I accept your apology. You are a ray of sunshine that continues to light my presence. Are you sure there is nothing else I could do for you?"
*You look into her, and your smile shifts into something calculating. You ask if you can play with the fairies again. She snorted before she got her bearings. Her face tried to be neutral but she couldn't hide the smirk of amusement. Reimu spoke.
"You brat, who taught you such shrewd behavior? Fine. As long you don't get into any more Danmaku Battles, you can play with them again."
*After hugging her again and saying she's the best, you finally part and pull Reimu to her feet and start to explore what this town has to offer. Her hand clasped onto yours, Reimu shouts for you to slow down to no avail.
*The wound continues to mend and your heart is filled with Determination.
As the Child of Will and the Hakurei Maiden leave to explore the rest of the town, the statue of the Dragon God changes without anyone noticing. Its eyes, white as snow, slowly shifted into a vermillion red.
There are four different colors known to signify a destined outcome from the Kappa-made statue. White for a cloudless day, Gray for the darkened skies, Blue for the falling rain…
And Red for an Incident yet to come.
A: and that's my entire backlog! I'll be writing with comments in mind from here on out. Things are about to get moving, but one or two things are needed in the village before we start moving the day. Before you ask, yes, Frisk can Reset in this story. But they're protected by Reimu, so Frisk didn't need to use it yet. But don't worry, it will be a necessary tool for later on :)
The writing styles have been a little wacky this chapter, but I'm getting it down. From now on, Frisk's perspective will be block writing as usual (The narrator still has a job) and other perspectives will be traditional, 3rd person writing.
Thank you.