A: "Kept you waiting, huh?" Okay, I'll get to the chase. You all have been starving and as an apology, you get an extra long chapter. I don't know why, but I write as if I want to fit all the details I want to present and then I keep going and going. Has anyone had that happen? Either way, the chapter is done and I both hate and love it at the same time. (Seriously this took so goddamn long.)
Next chapter, I will answer some questions. But right now, let's get this show on the road!
*Breathe in, breathe out.
*You sit cross-legged outside Marisa's house for about five minutes. You are getting the hang of the meditation exercise Marisa has taught you. One book has been placed on your head, and you have been tasked to balance it while focusing on your breathing.
*Another book is added, joining the first and volunteering its weight. Marisa speaks, the lesson continuing.
"Good. Seems like you're getting the hang of it. Now, I want you to take deep breaths. Keep them timed, you don't want to rush. This is crucial to any spell casting."
*A third book is placed on your head. Marisa seems too amused by the lesson at hand. Reimu raised an eyebrow but didn't speak out, not wanting to interrupt.
"Magic doesn't come from nowhere. It's in the ground beneath, it's in the water that gives life, it's in the air we breathe."
*Book four joins the fray. You feel the extra weight applying its pressure.
"Take in that air and follow it. Feel it enter your throat and down into your lungs. Let it sit there for a second and release. That magic gets imparted into you, and now you have to collect it and let it flow through your body."
*The fifth book joins the rest, it's getting pretty heavy now. Reimu looked lost in the instructions and unfamiliar with this technique. Marisa continues unabated.
"Feel it gather in your lungs, then push it into your stomach, let it settle there and accumulate. Do you feel it?"
*You feel… Something? There may be magic there, but you barely feel anything. A sixth book interrupts that introspection, making you focus back on breathing. Marisa coughs, hiding her smile, as she tries to lecture seriously.
"A-Alright. Now the most important part. As the magic condenses, it needs to be released. You will feel pressure in your gut. Push that pressure into your lower intestine. N-now…"
*Reimu looks at the mage with a perplexed expression. Then it turned into realization, but it was too late.
"To complete the cycle, you must let it exit through the intestine. Let it roil and then release it through the other end, loud and domineering! Let it shake Heaven and Earth!"
*You choke and the dam broke. You guffaw with laughter as the books fall over with you. Marisa laughs as well for holding onto the bit until now. Reimu deadpans at the joke.
"Really? You are so childish, Marisa. Am I the only adult here?"
"Haaa.. Okay, okay. Enough jokes, here's some real advice."
*Marisa sat down as you stack the books beside you. She stares at you with her yellow eyes as she starts to teach you for real.
"There is some truth to what I said. Not that last part, but what I said in the beginning. Here comes the first question. When you think Magic, where do you think it comes from?"
*You ponder this question and consider the definition spread throughout The Underground.
"Love, Hope, and Compassion?"
"Uh… Sure! That is a unique way to look at it."
"Unique? Who's Spell Card is Love Colored, again?"
*Reimu snuck in a jab at Marisa. She rolled her eyes in response.
"If you want a reminder, Rei Rei, we could always do a Spell Card Dual. Where was I? Ah, right. What magic is, or where it comes from. Magic is the manifestation of all things unexplainable. It does not have a solid definition due to the nature of it. It just IS because it's magic. I asked you the first question because everyone has a perspective of what magic means to them. It could be 'Love, Hope, and Compassion,' because you believe you need heart and emotion to make magic happen."
*Marisa pokes you in the chest and you giggle. She continues.
"Now the second question. What now? How do you even start? Well, there are a couple of ways to go about it. There is learning from others on what they learned. Be it from being taught by The Most Beautiful and Intelligent Sorceress in Gensokyo, or getting 'inspiration' from other mages and yokai."
*Reimu scoffs at the blatant self-praising and adds her thoughts.
"There is also spiritual arts. The teaching of a certain faith can allow you to use magic from that belief. Using powerful artifacts can also be an effective method in a pinch."
"That is also true! Now for the final option. Well… You could turn into a yokai. Let me be clear: Do Not. If you turn into one, you can't leave The Hakurei Barrier and many yokai will target you. There are so few humans as is, and the yokai don't like the extra competition. Reimu and I will be very, VERY upset if you do that. Understand?"
*You bob your head frantically, sensing the gravity of her words. She sees your earnest response and smiles.
"Good. Now to start on your foundation. We'll discuss how to use magical ingredients and where to find and harvest them, Ze."
*You listen closely to get every single detail. Regarding the study of Alchemy, Marisa's enthusiasm for the subject is infectious, and time passes in a flash. When it was late afternoon, Marisa had to stop and fly you back to the Hakurei Shrine. As you land at the gate, you see four familiar fairies playing around the Shrine Grounds. Sunny, Luna, Star, and surprisingly Cirno are playing in the piles of leaves. As you dismount the broom, Luna spots you and hollers for you to join them.
"Oh, hey Frisk! We are trying to make the biggest leaf pile possible! Come help!"
"Dark Lord! The Ice Warrior Empress still has a score to settle! Let's see who will contribute the most to the hill of leaves!"
*Cirno challenged you while lifting her nose, the crown you gave her was now reinforced with a band of ice and decorated with more icicles and snowflakes. You wanted to join but you stared back at Marisa and Reimu. The mage waves you off.
"Go ahead, kid. I need to talk to Rei Rei about something."
*Reimu nods in agreement and you run off to add your hands to the growing pile. Sunny notices you are not wearing the borrowed hakama and comments about your old attire. Cirno haughtily tells Sunny to hurry up as the lesser Queen is beholden to their Empress. Both get into an argument over the fictitious hierarchy.
*You breathe in the Autumn air and grab another handful of leaves, filling you with Determination.
"Seems like they are doing better. But you know we need an expert's opinion on the matter." Marisa says to Reimu, who nods at her reasoning. They did their best to help Frisk, but it would be unwise to let them out of the barrier without checking for any unknown ailments the child might have. "That is true. Who do you suggest to visit?"
Marisa paused at her question as if trying to find an answer instead of the obvious choice. "W-well. I know of a medic back in the village. Maybe we could ask her." Reimu looks at Marisa, who is clearly avoiding something. "What about Eientei?" She brought up, and the mage mumbled in response, "There could be other experts than her…"
Reimu squints and orders, "Marisa. We are going to Eientei." Marisa growls out, "Okay, fine! We'll ask Eirin, then!" The Shrine Maiden is puzzled at the mage's hostility toward the pharmacist, even when she brings up the idea of taking Frisk to a medical professional. Reimu guessed it had to do with Marisa raiding Eirin's storage, but she could not care less about any potential squabbling between the two, because the Witch had to taxi Frisk and their overall health was more important.
After they agree on the day of the visit, Reimu notices that the small hill of leaves has grown to its namesake. Luna exclaims "That is over five meters! Who knew there were so many leaves at the shrine." Sunny and Star shout "Cannon Ball!" as they crash into the pile of orange foliage, causing a cascade of colorful leaves. Frisk also joins in and scales the hill to meet with the rambunctious fairies. Reimu sighed, as the eventual cleanup would be a pain.
"I'm the queen of the hill! This is my domain, and all shall know it!" Sunny laughed as she stood at the top, a new leaf crown adorned her head. Frisk looks down from their ruddy seat below the Queen to wave at Reimu.
Marisa snorts beside the Shrine Maiden, saying, "Pretty small territory to declare sovereignty on." Sunny narrowed her eyes and declared, "As Queen, my word is law! Show respect or face thine wrath!"
The mage didn't take the threat seriously and laughed, "Like what? Are you going to-" Marisa didn't get to finish as a trailing ball of leaves pelts her in the face. Reimu saw the projectile being formed in Star's hands but chose to stay silent. Marisa wiped leaves from her hat as the fairies giggled at her irritation.
"That was a cheap shot! I'll- ack! Hey! Quit it!" Marisa tried admonishing the fairies but they kept throwing more leaves at her. Even Cirno threw a few handfuls at the mage as well. Reimu passively says to the winter fey, "I thought you would be opposed to helping." Cirno grins nastily as she states, "An Empress protects her subjects." She tosses the leaf clump in the air, adding some frost to the projectile so it has more cohesion when thrown. It seems like the fairies ganged together to mess with Marisa.
As they kept throwing more leaves from their large reservoir, Marisa's patience was slowly ground down until Frisk managed to headshot the mage as well. She snapped, "That does it! I'm going to commit regicide! COME HERE!" and Marisa ran forward with fire burning in her eyes.
Reimu shook her head as the fairies screamed in horror while being chased around the leaf hill. Frisk smiled even when deftly evading Marisa's grasping arms and any retaliatory leaf shots. 'It's never a dull moment with them.' Reimu thought humorously. The universe answered with a joke of its own, The Hakurei gets pelted in the face.
"WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU'LL BE BEGGING FOR MERCY!" Reimu roared as she joined the pursuit.
…
As the afternoon turns into dusk, clearing of the leaves is done, as the dusk turns to night, food is made and friends are fed, and as the night is clear, everyone rests for what is to come in the dawn.
As the dawn light reached the shrine, Marisa stretched while sitting at the kotatsu. She heard a door sliding open and the mage turned her attention to a small form exiting the bedroom. 'Interesting. They got up earlier than Reimu?' Marisa thought as the child entered the kitchen, waving towards the mage. If it were the previous Reimu, sleeping in during the morning would have been a common occurrence, so waking up before her is not difficult. But after caring for Frisk, the Shrine Maiden would get up earlier than usual and not stay up late at night. It's like the responsibility is slowly changing her to fit the situation. 'When Frisk leaves, it's inevitable that she will turn back into the old sleepy Reimu!' Marisa chuckled at the image of the Shrine Maiden lying on the floor, snoring away the days to catch up on her quota.
A few minutes later, a small hand places a cup before Marisa. She looks up to see Frisk holding a tray of tea cups. "Thanks a bunch!" Marisa says casually. She picks up the drink and then pauses to gaze into the tea. 'Huh, never seen tea have foam in it.' the mage thought, noting the white foam floating on the top of a liquid full of glowing, blue motes. She shrugs and carefully takes a sip. 'Not bad.' she admitted. It tasted savory, a bit salty, with an earthy aftertaste, similar to a roasted green tea.
After placing a few cups before the rousing fey, Frisk sits beside Marisa. "Mmhhmgh. Morning…" Star yawned sleepily, stretching and straightening out her hair. Sunny woke with an annoyed mumble, pushing away limbs from the other fairies that shuffle in their sleep. "Get your legs off of my side, Cirno! Too cold!" She exclaimed, throwing off the invasive ice fey. Marisa ignored the morning rousing and picked out her book to read with Frisk, who got their new batch of medicine from the mage with reluctance.
She was a few pages into her paper-making book until Reimu joined them, getting a cup of tea before breakfast. "What is this?" the maiden asked while looking into the drink skeptically. Marisa answers her question. "It's something Frisk brought out. Right kid?"
Frisk nodded and nursed their cup. Cirno grabbed one and, after drinking, concluded. "It tastes like river moss."
The others look at the self-proclaimed Empress and Reimu asks "You know the taste of river moss?" Cirno looked self-conscious for a second and pouted. "There is not much to eat at Misty Lake. There are berries, mushrooms, and moss. There is also fishing, but I don't eat much lake fish because Wakasagihime would get upset!" she claims indignantly, her local diet an obvious sore point.
Questionable diets aside, Reimu prepared an actual meal. Now that she has some funds and extra hands, breakfast was made for the group. After the meal, the fairies say their goodbyes and vacate the shrine while Reimu cleans dishes with Frisk.
As the dishes were put on the drying rack, Reimu said "Frisk, we have to take a trip somewhere. We're getting you a health check-up. Medicine and shoes, as usual. Head to the gate." Frisk saluted like a soldier and ran off to the bedroom.
Marisa gets up and states, "Alright, let's get this over with."
Both wait near the Torri gate for Frisk to join them after their prayer. The mage jokes, "Looks like they have some pocket change left! Have you been shilling for donations from them, Rei Rei?" The Shrine Maiden smirks in amusement, her friend still doesn't know about the 'pocket change' Frisk throws around casually. Reimu decided to keep that fact to herself for a little longer to make Marisa's reaction all the more entertaining.
Frisk joins the two and takes their place on Marisa's broom, ready for another trip into the sky. The flight is uneventful other than the child pointing out certain landmarks in curiosity. Marisa answered their questions until they pointed out a large bamboo field near the human village. "That's the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. The land is flat, and the bamboo here grows fast. There is no visible landmark to use as a reference while traveling, making you lose your way, hence the name."
The Witch circles and heads to the bamboo forest, opposite direction of the huge mountain from the human village. Due to Marisa's visits, she knows the way to Eientei without guidance.
As she flies over the tall stalks of oversized grass, the mage sees a glimmer at the corner of her eye. It was brief and came from under the canopy of bamboo leaves, but she realized in time that it was a projectile heading towards her.
"WOAH!" She swerved off course to dodge the magic bullet, Frisk wobbled on the broom uncertainly. Marisa yelled but was interrupted, "Hey, are you ok-" More Danmaku was shot out, and the perpetrator jumped from out of the canopy. Two rugged rabbit ears were on the lip of a brass megaphone that matched the ears of the one firing it.
Reisen's eyes were wide with frustration and desperate anger. "Kirisame! You will give back what's ours and leave at once!"
Marisa weaved through projectiles and Frisk tried to hold on. Reimu took action and a spell circle was quickly formed as a barrage of Danmaku was on its way.
Spirit Sign "Dream Seal"
Glowing sigils of divine power formed around the Hakurei and a Ying-Yang was launched out towards the majority of projectiles. The Ying-Yang grew in size, catching the Danmaku and collapsing them into inert energy. It was a grand display of power, but some Danmaku still managed to slip by. Marisa bobbed and weaved the leftover bullets but Frisk was showing signs of fatigue, they couldn't hold on for much longer. Reimu cursed under her breath for leaving her Ying-Yang Orbs and Gohei behind, not anticipating a Danmaku Battle to break out when heading into the forest. She has become complacent due to the lack of confrontation.
Reisen sees Reimu protect Marisa and makes an assumption. "Are you her accomplice, Hakurei? One is already too many! I'll stop you both here! You will not go near Eientei!" She proclaimed, preparing a Spell Card of her own. Marisa exclaims, "Stop it, we have business with Eirin! We want a doctor's exam!" The mage tried to de-escalate but Reisen wasn't having it. "You're lying! I knew you would come back to steal from us! I won't fail Yagokoro-sama again!" Reisen shouted as the Spell Card activated.
Lunatic Gaze "Illusion Seeker"
Reisen points their index and pointer finger out like a gun, a wall of bullets manifested and launched. Jagged waves of Danmaku phase in and out of perception as they cascade towards the group. Reimu activates her Dream Seal but can only do this much without her items. Marisa wanted to bring out Mini-Hakkero, but she needed to rummage through her bag, dodge incoming projectiles, and keep Frisk from falling off.
Marisa is not used to multi-tasking like this under so much pressure, so it was inevitable for a mistake to appear. A bullet phased in from the lunatic spell, landing a shot not on Marisa, but on Frisk. The force was enough to launch them off the broom and plummet towards the Bamboo Forest.
"FRISK!" The mage yelled out as she tried to catch up to the falling child. A wave of Danmaku blocked her path, but she powered through it, uncaring of the bruises and scrapes or the rips in her clothes.
She hugged the broom to cut through the air, shortening the distance between herself and the kid. Marisa stretched out her arm towards Frisk and they reached out in response. Her fingers barely brushed against theirs when they passed the canopy and the ground became visible.
Through the panic, Marisa locks on her objective and enters into focus. With one breath, her hand finally clasps with Frisk. With two breaths, she pulls them into an embrace. After three breaths, she pulls the broom to level with the ground. The fourth, inertia pushes down on her as she shifts her momentum. After five, Marisa's legs miss grazing the ground by a hair as she shoots forward, successfully catching the child in time. The mage didn't have time to check Frisk's condition, not when an entire forest of bamboo was in the way. She weaves through the stalks while trying desperately to slow her acceleration.
Marisa finds a straightaway between the bamboo and takes it. She pushes her feet down on the ground, her teeth gritting as the soles of her shoes burn due to friction. The bamboo stalk in front of her gets closer and closer until the broom slows to a stop. The end of the haft only knocks against it lightly to leech off the rest of the momentum. No longer feeling her legs, Marisa collapses onto the ground, back first. She holds the child who looks at her blearily. "Karma is a cruel bitch, huh?" Marisa cursed, looking up towards the canopy.
…
Reimu looked down into the forest, her face was expressionless as she saw Marisa try to catch Frisk and vanish past the bamboo leaves. Reisen was confused about why Marisa went into the forest, not spotting the small child as her attention was on the Shrine Maiden. "Is she trying to escape? I'll take care of you first, Reimu. Then I will confront Marisa after."
As the rabbit prepares for her next attack, an ominous wind blows. Reimu looks over to Reisen with a cold stare. "They will be okay. You have to worry about yourself." She states and the rabbit seems puzzled.
"Was that last part for me or you?" Reisen asked. Reimu only answers with one word.
"Guess."
A massive spell circle formed above The Hakurei, her cold eyes gleaming with unrestrained fury. Reisen has the creeping feeling that she screwed up.
Divine Arts "Omnidirectional Oni-Binding Circle"
*You cough into your sleeve as you check your stats.
[CHARA]
LV 1
HP 7/12
AT 0 (0) EXP:0
DF 0 (15) NEXT:10
WEAPON: None
ARMOR: Heart Locket
GOLD: 6473
"Hey, take it easy, Frisk. You got hit pretty hard. If you need me to carry you, ask. Don't try to act tough around me."
*You look up to Marisa, who was walking beside you a moment ago. She stopped in her tracks when you had a coughing fit. You feel your chest sting. The magic bullet did more damage than you expected. You smile, thanking her for the offer but say you are fine to walk. She stares at you for a second.
"...If you're sure about it."
*You told a white lie and Marisa knew it, you can tell by her hesitant answer. There is something else, guilt. She blames herself for what happened. You thank her for saving you and say she and Reimu were very heroic. Marisa huffs at your comment.
"Yeah, 'Heroic.' I'm an Exterminator. A hero doesn't try to pick fights or take stuff without asking. I even failed to protect you when it counted."
*You hum as you digest her words. You say that even heroes have flaws, they are people like everyone else. Simply wanting to protect those they care about and those they don't, that's what makes a True Hero. Marisa snorts and rustles your hair.
"That is a very romantic view of heroism, you know someone like that?
*You nod and say they are a true friend. You place your hand on your chest. You slow your breath, you clench your hand as the wind howls around you. An explosion rumbles beyond the canopy.
"Ha! That's probably Reimu. She must have gotten mad after seeing you fall. You better be on your best behavior, Frisk."
*You nod as you look around to focus on something else. You see a white rabbit hop out from behind a bush. It sits on its hind legs to look at you. You casually wave at it and, to your surprise, it waves back. You pause as it turns around and rushes back through the bushes. As you and Marisa walk, the sound of the wind sweeps through the tall stalks of bamboo as you explore this vast forest. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, there is something off.
*You get the feeling of being observed, but when you look around, you only see bamboo and small foliage. You remember something from your past and decided to look up. You see a pair of eyes looking down from the branches of the bamboo. The girl in red pants and a white button-up cocked her head in slight amusement.
"Huh, good observation. You should take notes, Kirisame."
*The girl jumped down and landed before both of you. Marisa was not surprised by her appearance, so she asked a question.
"How did you know we were here?"
"How does anyone within a two-kilometer radius not know you're here? The Danmaku fight wasn't subtle."
*Marisa shrugs and the girl looks down towards you.
"Who's kid is this?"
"This is Frisk, the reason I'm heading to Eientei. We need to see Eirin for a health check-up."
*You say hi to the stranger, and all you get is a grunt of confirmation. She turns around and beckons for you to follow. Marisa makes some light conversation.
"I thought you would try to stop me from entering Eientei."
"Pfft. Why on Earth would I do that? This has been the most entertaining thing this month. Kaguya is pulling her hair out, trying to catch you, and it's hilarious! So much for being the Eternal Princess."
*You were surprised that a princess was far from others in this place. Maybe she likes to be left alone? It occurs to you that the girl didn't introduce herself so you ask for her name. Her head shifts to look at you, the white and red ribbons in her long hair swaying in the motion.
"I'm no one special, only a health maniac who runs a yakitori stand."
*You snort and say that you are friends with a hotdog stand owner, she reminds you of him. The girl didn't respond but sported a small smile. It seems like it won't be easy to get her name, you mentally shrug, deciding to let her keep her secrets for now. You instead ask about this Kaguya, her friend. Her face twitched, and the floodgates started to open.
"She is not my 'friend!' We're sworn enemies. There is no way in any hell that I will befriend a stuck-up, pig-headed, back-stabbing, poor excuse of a princess! Her nagging like she sees me as an unruly child is getting on my nerves. All because she-"
*Her mouth moved faster and faster about how 'annoying' Kaguya was. You look at Marisa in concern, but she keeps walking with an unworried expression. It seems like her rant about her rival is a common occurrence. As you hear about burned laundry and an animal pen incident, you notice more rabbits around the area. Hopping around bushes and sometimes carrying hammers, these rabbits seem to be working on something. Sensing your curiosity, Marisa explains.
"Those are Rabbit Yokai. They are similar to rabbits but are more intelligent and can use magic. Some can gain a human-like form with enough time."
*You nod at her explanation as you see something other than bamboo and foliage. Between the stalks of tall grass is a large building in an older traditional style, walled off from the rest of the forest. The gate is closed, barring entry.
"Looks like we really caused a commotion. Are we going to break in?"
*Marisa brought up a point, but you think breaking and entering might be too much for a doctor's appointment. Unless it's an extreme doctor's appointment, nothing has yet to explode to justify calling it that. Undyne was very specific about the conditions. Your guide has other plans and decides to knock loudly at the door. She takes a breath to yell past the gate.
"HEY! I caught Kirisame! Open the door so we can get this over with!"
*The culprit in question stares at the tour guide in shock. Marisa was about to start demanding why when the white-haired girl made a shushing motion to stop her.
"You wanted in. This is the quickest way in. Play along."
*She winks at both of you, but it doesn't fill Marisa with Confidence. It fills her with the power of Dissociating from a Potentially Insane Person. Before Marisa could voice her complaints, the doors opened and the guide put an arm around Marisa and started pushing her forward. You are left unaccosted, so you take the moment to look around and take in the inner courtyard.
*Inside the walls is a simple courtyard of kept grass and a small pond with an equally small waterfall filling a bamboo container. It fills enough until the weight of the added water shifts the weight of the bamboo, turning on its axle until it spills out into the pond and returns to its original position with an audible thunk. You turn your eyes toward the building in the center of the compound. It is a large building in an older style, but shows little wear unlike the Hakurei Shrine, its exterior is maintained like it was built recently. Many rabbits hop around the grass and the paths, carrying bags full of rice or tending to a few herb gardens.
*You walk in behind the other two girls, one willingly and the other unwillingly, and see that the one who opened it was a person with rabbit ears, similar to Reisen. There are other rabbit people as well, looking wearily at you and the women quietly arguing.
"(This is not what I signed up for! I'm here to get an appointment, not a jail cell!)"
"(Calm down, do you want to meet Eirin? If you tell her that you want to help the kid, she could look past your actions… Maybe.)"
*You see a person sitting under the veranda of the building, enjoying a cup of tea while watching the Rabbit Yokai move about. She has straight, pitch-black hair that cascades down her back, chocolate-brown eyes similar to you and Reimu, and unmarked pearlescent skin. Along with her attire, she is the textbook definition of a fairytale princess. You can guess this is Kaguya if her features turning into a baneful glower towards your guide didn't tip you off.
"Fujiwara. What is the meaning of this?"
"Eh? What does it look like to you? I caught the burglar you have been chasing off. Can you get Eirin now?"
*The Princess narrowed her eyes and stood up from where she was sitting. A rabbit near Kaguya wisely ran into the building, away from the conflict. As she walked out from the shaded porch, you noticed a subtle wince as her eyes were exposed to the morning light. Kaguya refuted the claim.
"A likely story. But why did you decide to help now, after a week of no action? Last I remember that you said it was not any of your business?"
"Because I thought showing you up would be more entertaining."
*You could see the imaginary sparks between them and wish you had popcorn. Marisa tries to add herself to the conversation.
"It's not like I took anything special. Those ingredients would have gone stale if I had not used them."
"No, they would not. My power would have kept them untouched by decay. No matter how small, you stole something from my home. Fujiwara, hand over Kirisame."
*Your guide, Fujiwara, rolled her eyes at the command.
"And let you take all the credit? Nah, I'll wait for Eirin to hand over to her. It is her medicine."
"Are you really this unreasonable? This is my home as much as Yagokoro-san, and I say that Marisa comes with me."
*You look at the back and forth between both girls, noticing that both forgot that you were there as well. Fujiwara lets go of Marisa and steps up to Kaguya with fiery defiance. Literally in this case, as her clothes are alight with embers.
"When in any reality do you get the idea that I'm at your beck and call? Someone needs to get their head beaten straight."
"I could not have agreed more. It has been a while since we partook in battle."
*An array of colorful lights manifested beside Kaguya while Fujiwara was engulfed in a small inferno. Marisa walks up to block you from the fight that is about to go down.
"Stay behind this time. There is no talking down these two."
*You nod and focus on breathing, a habit gained from Marisa's lessons. You breathe in and focus on your core. You have never seen a battle this close that doesn't involve you and wonder if they also get a battle map like you.
*You stare intensely, wondering if you could check them outside of battle. You wish to [ACT] and your SOUL responds.
[Act]
Check: Fujiwara?
*A girl of a mysterious background, claims that she owns a yakitori stand. Her SOUL burns to PERSEVERE.
Check: Kaguya?
*The Princess of Eientei, you have to ask what's her haircare routine. Her SOUL is an undisturbed pond of PATIENCE.
*If your eyes were visible, they would have widened in shock. This is the first time you have seen the SOULS of other humans not inside glass containers. Kaguya visibly winces as she places a hand over her head. She looks around until her gaze lands on you. It's like she is trying to see through you and her eyebrows push together in heavy thought.
"Wait. Who are y-"
*The gates slam open and everyone pauses to hear footsteps and something being dragged. You turn around curiously and smile when you see who it is. Reimu walked into the inner compound with a bamboo pole in one hand and a shirt collar of a dazed rabbit in the other. Reisen was covered in talismans and had a few welts on her head, conscious but dared not to move for fear of being punished.
*Marisa sighed in relief at her friend being okay, and Reimu looked around at everyone staring at her.
"What? I knocked first."
*The Shrine Maiden looks over to the Witch.
"Are you both okay?"
"Yeah, Frisk took a fall but I managed to catch them in time. Only some bruises."
*Reimu stares as she processes the information and her shoulders relax. She tosses Reisen aside and points the bamboo staff to Fujiwara and Kaguya.
"Where is Eirin? I want to make a doctor's appointment."
"If that was the case, then I'm available now."
*From the building was a woman in a red and blue dress and a nurse's cap. Her gray eyes took in the surroundings and landed on Kaguya and Fujiwara.
"Lady Houraisan. Miss Fujiwara. Could you both do your bout at another time? There is a child in your midst, and I don't want them to get accidentally harmed."
*Both stopped projecting their power and Kaguya politely bowed.
"That can be arranged. I apologize for my uncouth behavior, an annoying fowl was crowing at me."
"I apologize as well. I heard a swine and it brought up dreadful memories."
*Both stared daggers at each other as you walked up to Eirin. You say hello to the doctor while Reimu and Marisa join you.
"Greetings young one. I can surmise that you are the Outworlder the villagers have been talking about. Am I correct?"
*You nod and Eirin turns to Marisa. The mage sweats under her gaze.
"Miss Kirisame. To think you would return here after the many ingredients you took from me. I don't know if you are bold or foolish."
"I have my reasons, one of them is to help Frisk. I needed to make medicine for them."
"I see. Do you have the medicine with you?"
*You take out one of the undrunk potions and walk over to Eirin to hand the vial over. The pharmacist nodded and gently took the vial to stare at its orange contents. She releases the stopper to smell the concoction and her brows furrowed.
"Blood reproduction. My ingredients are in there, under that iron oxidation. Amateurish work. You all arrived here so I can give a general health examination on the child."
*Reimu responds to Eirin while you try to comfort a fuming Marisa. Her carefully crafted potions being called 'amateurish' upsets her.
"Yes, I wanted this done before they left the barrier… And after Reisen almost killed them."
"Ah. I did not know that. Is it true, Udongein?"
*Reisen perked at Eirin's question, lifting her head from the grass and turning white at the implication. She scrambled quickly on all fours towards Eirin, not having the courage to stand and walk, and bowed her head to the ground.
"It is the truth, Yagokoro-Sama! Reimu told me that Marisa was carrying a child and my attack struck them, causing the child to fall into the forest. What I've done is inexcusable and I sullied your good name as a sage!"
*Reisen presses her head to the wooden boards of the veranda. You stand aside and watch as her master keeps a neutral face.
"Udongein, that is not up to me to cast down judgment. The child is right here, they will tell you of your fate."
*The Rabbit Yokai swiveled her head towards you and then her body shook under your placid gaze. She threw herself down at your feet and did not look up from the ground.
"This Reisen has caused you great harm! My actions were reckless and I'm willing to give my recompense! Say the word and I will pound mochi for a hundred, no, a thousand nights for my transgressions! Yuru-shite-kuda-sai!"
*She repeatedly smacks her head to the ground to emphasize the last sentence. You feel really bad and quickly put your hand on her head. You pat her between her long ears in small, soothing circles like when Reimu calmed your spirit. Her shaking slowed and she looked up in confusion. You smile and say it's okay, you have survived worse falls. She could introduce you to the other rabbits to make it up to you.
"R-really? Is that all you ask of me? I can do that! You will know of every rabbit and Inaba in this forest, I guarantee it!"
*Reimu looked at you and sighed, but nodded at your decision. Marisa was staring at Eirin, who sent Reisen in the first place but nodded as well. The Sage watches your actions, unbothered by your choice to forgive Reisen. She turns around and asks you to follow behind.
"Come with me, young one. I will see to your examination. Kirisame, I still have some things to say to you, don't try to run this time. Udongein, see to our guests while I'm preoccupied."
*You follow behind Eirin while waving to Reimu and Marisa. The Shrine Maiden has an apprehensive expression, worried about not coming with you but is pushed by Marisa to head to a guest area. You continue down the neat corridor flanked by paper walls, hoping it won't take too long.
"Now, breathe in."
The child took in a deep, almost practiced, breath of air. "Then out." The child followed and the exhale was not rushed, keeping time with her orders.
Eirin Yagokoro, the previous sage of the lunar capital now nameless apothecary, was taking the pulse of the child before them. She gently held the left hand while placing two fingers under the wrist to count the heartbeat. The child sat still on the table, not even shifting their legs that dangled off the edge. They are too small for one of her stools, making the examination process awkward for both of them, so sitting on the table would simplify the process, keeping both her items and the patient at arm's length.
'Heartbeat is higher than usual. A response to low blood pressure.' Eirin mentally noted as she wrote down the patient's resting BPM on her clipboard. She has gone through the tests for blood pressure and asked questions about diet, activity, and living conditions. These tests are trivial to a neophyte, let alone someone with as much experience as her, but she dutifully recorded everything to assess the child's condition accurately. Eirin will not let her previous title make her complacent as all her current knowledge of the Earthling is brushed in ink.
She gazes at the name written down. 'Frisk Dreemurr, an odd name even in English.' another odd thing is despite being fluent in Japanese, they can only read and write in English. She figured that out when asking for a full name for pharmaceutical records. After Frisk told Eirin, she had the child spell it due to its pronunciation.
'Never mind such things. Onto the last test.' She takes out a clean needle, similar to the throwing needles of the child's guardian in red. She displays the needle in the palm of her hand, being forthcoming about her next set of actions. "The next thing I will ask of you can be refused if it makes you uncomfortable. I want only a drop of blood to study so you can get proper treatment. Do you want to do this?" Frisk looked at the needle with trepidation, but the child reached their hand towards the medical expert instead of declining.
"Thank you, Dreemurr-san. You are a brave soul." Eirin said, thinking the child would react positively to her platitude.
Frisk shook their head and responded, "Just call me Frisk." The Sage raises an eyebrow to the rebuttal, but an amused smile forms as she says. "As you wish, Frisk-san."
The child, despite their show of will, still looked away as their finger was pricked, the blood sample was collected, and the pinprick was covered with a bandaid. After the collection, she checked the head bandage and the stitching in case of infection. Eirin found nothing of note and nodded to herself at Reimu's diligence. 'Despite lacking grace, at least the girl has the dexterity to stitch cleanly.' She admitted to herself as she placed the blood drop onto a sample tray.
Eirin placed the sample under a microscope to view it while the child hummed to pass the time. She wrote down the blood cell count and paused at the number. The Sage stares briefly, as if her mind is going through some calculations. "Intriguing." She concluded while starting on the next preparations.
Eirin goes over to a wall of cabinets containing medicine and ingredients, all cleanly organized and labeled for her personal use. She retrieves a few items and starts to work quickly and efficiently, grinding away some reagents and preparing the medication the child would need. After a few minutes, she placed the medicine in an envelope and handed it to Frisk. "You will be taking this from now on. One pill a day. You don't need to swallow it, chew it and take it with water. Focus on rest and eating healthily. No more falling off of brooms or challenging yokai to Danmaku battles."
The kid nodded slowly and took the medicine to put into their pocket. Eirin turned around and withdrew something from a clay jar above the cabinets. She gestures for Frisk's hand and the kid complies. "I need to speak with Kirisame and Hakurei, you can run along and interact with the rabbits. Don't bother them if they are preoccupied." She placed the small object in their palm and the child looked down to see a honey candy, a reward for good behavior.
Frisk shrugged and popped the sweet into their mouth, hopping off the table to follow Eirin. 'For a child that recently got hit in the abdomen by a spell, they are quite spry.' She thought passively as she opened the door for both of them. She didn't know that the sweet alone regained the child's vitality back to before the attack.
"Frisk," Reimu stated as the child ran up to her. Kaguya hears her and she turns to stare at the child explaining what happened during their health exam to the Hakurei, who was nodding to show she was listening. 'Where did I see them before? Why does that child look so familiar?' Kaguya, due to her ability, has a near photographic memory, every instant is remembered in a long line of eternity. But the Princess can't recall a previous time she met the kid and it's bothering her.
When she was about to have a battle with Mokou, that child's stare was… Unsettling. 'Like being observed by that Witch that caused the Imperishable Night.' A mortal child being compared to something like her is laughable. But she didn't laugh as she felt like a spike was slowly being driven into her skull.
'There's that headache, again.' Kaguya lamented as she had been having these migraines more often. The Sage claims it's from overdrinking, never mind that she hadn't had a drop of alcohol in days! Speaking of the Sage, Eirin walks into the room to talk to Reimu and Marisa. "Good, you hadn't tried to escape. That would have made things a lot more difficult."
Marisa sat in one of the chairs in the guest lounge while being watched closely by a staring Reisen. "If I were to run, you would have captured Frisk in my place. I don't know what you think of me, but I don't leave my friends behind."
Eirin nodded and looked over to Reisen. "Thank you, Udongein. I'll take over from here. Distract our younger patient for a bit, would you?" The Inaba bowed and asked Frisk to come with them. The child and rabbit leave the room, leaving the four women to talk.
"Now, please sit. We have some things to discuss." The three join Marisa at the table and she huffs in response. "Like what? Which room should I throw myself in after you take everything I have?"
Kaguya narrowed her eyes at Marisa and was about to speak, but to her surprise, Eirin responded first. "That's unnecessary. We can arrange a few things if we need to discuss repayment for the stolen ingredients. But right now I have a job to fulfill; Giving a full report on the patient's health to their guardians." The Princess was surprised that she was talked over by her subordinate, let alone setting up a payment plan with Marisa after what she had taken from Eientei. 'It seems so…'
"This seems way too reasonable, Eirin. What's your game?" Reimu spoke what everyone was thinking. Eirin clarified, "There is no game. As a medical expert, my duty is to the health of those who walk into Eientei. Speaking of health, the examination report."
She looks through the paper on her clipboard and gives the report. "The child, 'Frisk Dreemurr,' has symptoms of minor blood loss: heavy breathing, weakness, pale skin, and low blood pressure. They should stay in bed and constantly near a source of hydration. I prescribed a medication that would expedite the cell division process. The scar has been checked and disinfected, it will fade away over time. Other than that, there is nothing to note other than the recent injury. If there is no sudden deviation, the patient will fully recover in three days."
Eirin listed off everything of note and Reimu sighed in relief that her worries were for naught. Marisa nodded in satisfaction at her efforts paying off. Eirin saw this complacency and decided to burst their bubble. "However, it has come to my attention that the patient was under your care for over a week. If you had brought them to me earlier, recovering and mitigating any potentially harmful effects would have taken less time."
Eirin places the clipboard on the table and Kaguya sits back to watch, knowing where this is going. Marisa rolls her eyes at the comment. "We tried our best, this is the first time we had this happen."
The Sage stared at the Witch, and Marisa slowly wilted under her intense gaze. "Tried your best? Trying your best is finding a medical professional and taking the child into emergency care. What both of you did was foolish, reckless, so out of your depth you could drown in the incompetence, and detrimental to the patient. All because you both thought you knew better about how to treat a life-threatening debilitation more than me and everyone else in Gensokyo." Her words are like arrows as they land on Marisa and Reimu, both flinching under the bombardment. Kaguya enjoyed this verbal thrashing, as Eirin never gets irate easily. But when she does, her tongue is like a bow, striking anyone with precision and brutal efficiency.
As both guardians let their actions sink in, Eirin adds one more to the lecture. "You both did act for the child's wellbeing. Because of your actions, Frisk wouldn't be here, it would be unfair not to commend that. Let this be a lesson for the next time this happens again. Please seek me out for any emergencies. I will always put the patient's life first above anything else."
Eirin would leave them with this thought on the table. Mortals learn the lesson quickly when punishment or chastisement is a consequence of not doing so. However, these two require the carrot-and-stick approach, as the stick alone would not deter the Yokai Exterminators from doing something unfavorable.
'They are taking the lesson well. Good, no need to ruin their mood with what I discovered.' After collecting and observing the blood sample, she was surprised by the distribution of new hemoglobin compared to the older carriers. By recalling what Frisk told her and using some estimations, she deduced that the child was missing one-third of their blood after being found.
One-Third. That is in acute blood-loss territory and needs immediate medical intervention. 'That child should have gotten a blood transfusion, not walk around after a single day of bed rest.' If the hypoxia and organ failure didn't claim the child's life, then the heart attacks would, if they tried dodging projectiles with the pitiful blood pressure they had.
'And yet, here they are. Against all odds. Is this the luck of the Hakurei Shrine, or was the kid too stubborn to let go of their mortal coil?' The second is more illogical than the first, one can't simply ignore injury through willpower alone. 'No matter, I could study the Outworlder's blood sample to uncover its secrets.'
After a few minutes of listing necessary dietary needs, Marisa thought she was out of the tiger's den until a clean hand was placed on her shoulder. "Now, we can talk about payment options. Do you have an extra few minutes to discuss the details?" Marisa thought she saw a predator's gaze in Eirin and she turned her head towards Reimu for assistance.
The Hakurei fled while she was looking away, leaving Marisa all on her own with the two Lunarians. 'You damned traitor!' The Witch cursed her friend's entire lineage while she was sat back down to discuss reimbursements.
"Aha, there you are… You seemed to have your hands full."
*You stare at Reimu as she walks out of the building, clearly watching you pet a rabbit on your lap.
*After scratching the lagomorph from behind the ears, the rabbit hopped off your lap and left to get back to work. Another bounced towards you to receive some pets… There is still a line of 20 rabbits waiting their turn. If an opportunistic skeleton was present, they would have set up a ticket booth by now. Reisen stands by to watch you with her friend, another human-like rabbit with coal-black hair and two flop ears.
"Heehee, I didn't know the rabbits would be this eager to meet you! Do you have a magic touch or something?"
*You turn your head towards Tewi Inaba (Pronounced as Te'i) and say that you love animals, so you are experienced with petting.
"Huh. No wonder Cottontail was so receptive toward you, even though you smell like a puppy!"
*Tewi brings up the rabbit you waved at previously, your kindhearted first impression of the white rabbit made some headway into befriending the normally cautious Rabbit Yokai. With Reisen's help, you gained the attention of Tewi to introduce yourself. After hearing that you wanted to pet the rabbits, she allowed it, if only at the expense of laughing about Eirin ordering Reisen 'to play babysitter.' Now you are in a fluffy heaven, enjoying it immensely.
*Reimu caught on to what Tewi said at the end and asked a question.
"Frisk has the scent of a dog? I don't smell anything. Why is that a negative?"
"That's because it's faint, even for a rabbit's nose. The Rabbit Yokai are afraid of the Werewolf skulking around the forest, so anything Canine puts them on edge. But this kid is good (for a dog lover.)"
*You nod at the conversation, but you feel like the only creature here that the rabbits should be concerned about is the Shrine Maiden. Reimu seems to eye the rabbits while patting her stomach, muttering something about stew. After a few more rabbits had their turn, Marisa stumbled out of the veranda. She looked spiritually drained, looking through a coin purse only to find lint occupying it. Marisa was holding back tears while speaking.
"Can we go now? I don't want to be here any longer."
"Okay. Let's leave, Frisk."
*You look over to Reimu and pout at her declaration. The want to pet fluffy animals conflicted with the need to head back to The Shrine. Maybe one more rabbit, or two… possibly three. Reimu saw the lack of response and walked up towards you. She grabbed you from under your arms and hoisted you over her shoulder. The rabbit escaped and stomped his foot in frustration. You inwardly curse your lack of weight, able to be picked up and held like a sack of flour.
"Thanks for watching them."
"It's no hassle! Frisk was a nice distraction from the lunar preparation and the rabbits needed a break."
*The Inaba waved her hand and dispersed the rabbits, the ones waiting for their turn looked slightly morose but listened to Tewi. You see Reisen over Reimu's shoulder, her red eyes trying to avoid your gaze, still ashamed of your unfortunate run-in with her. You smile and wave at the rabbit, causing her to freeze. At first, Reisen didn't know how to take your kind gesture, but she slowly waved back while Reimu started to walk away. Tewi also waved back with child-like enthusiasm, unlike her more serious superior. She then tugged Reisen's left ear and bolted. Yelling angrily, Reisen chased after the smaller Inaba, momentarily forgetting her regret. You giggled at the stunt as your group left Eientei.
*You see your guide, Fujiwara, lean against the outer wall of the compound, chewing on a bamboo skewer. She noticed your exit and nodded in your direction. You say goodbye to her, calling by her name. Fujiwara's lips twitched up to a half-smirk.
"Don't die out there, kid. And forget that name, it's useless information."
*After that, all three of you keep walking until the numerous bamboo shoots obscure Eientei. Marisa goes through the motions and lets you on the broom. This time, she instinctively sidles closer to you to protect you from further accidents. As you're set in, she takes off and Reimu follows closely behind. The flight was silent and you look behind to see a frown on Marisa's face. You ask if she's okay and get a tired smile in response.
"Yeah, it's nothing bad, kid. I owe a debt to someone, but I'll pay it back in time. It's all worth it in the end."
*Marisa pats your head, she presses down a bit harder while ruffling your hair. You get the feeling that she is still sour about it, but you don't voice that thought out loud. Your group returned to The Hakurei Shrine, landing at the Torii gate to be let down before passing it. You wonder why you and others tend to enter the Shrine Grounds through this innocuous red archway and decide to ask Reimu about it.
"It's considered a good omen to enter a place of spiritual importance through a Torri gate. I don't care how you enter, but it's a tradition I've been taught."
*You can feel the disregard from the Shrine Maiden as she explains an aspect of her supposed duty. You remembered the slight irritation emanating from the donation box and thought her lackadaisical attitude might have played a part in it. It's the first time you learned something from Reimu's past, so you wonder who taught her when she was the only shrine keeper here. Marisa, still on her broom, floats up and speaks.
"I'm going home, I have to experiment with something. Sorry, Frisk. I'll pick you up in the morning to teach you more about magic, okay?"
*The Witch flies up and away, heading back towards the forest to continue her pursuit of knowledge. You follow behind Reimu to get started on lunch. Heading back to a familiar place and eating a home-cooked meal fills you with Determination.
*A few days passed after your doctor's appointment. You braced yourself when taking the new medication and are surprised that it is only slightly bitter. You were relieved that it was more palatable than the last concoction, even though you feel sad that it wasn't made by Marisa. When meeting with Marisa for new lessons on magic, she grumbled about Eirin but admitted that the apothecary's medicine would be more beneficial to you than what she could make.
*The pursuit of magic hasn't borne fruit yet, even though you feel like your head was crammed with as much knowledge as Marisa can throw at you. She tries to make the lessons with understandable terminology and practical examples. It's like a mix of Toriel's gentle guidance with Papyrus' bombastic enthusiasm for the subject. Even with this teaching style and your pure Determination to bend the spiritual energies of this place, not even a puff of embers came from your fingers, let alone a single star. But you didn't let that fact keep you down. You continue learning while participating in Marisa's alchemical endeavors. At least the accidental cauldron explosions were entertaining.
*You visited the village once again to collect groceries with Reimu and turn in the book she rented from Suzunaan. The storybook was read through in a few days, which was expected when there was nothing much to do at The Shrine. Kosuzu took in the book with a polite thank you and returned to reading her novel, hiding her slightly rosy face behind the pages. You thought of trying the Flirt option on her again, to see her reaction, but decided to let it go when Reimu told you it was time to head back. You pass by the Dragon Statue, noticing the eyes of the deity are red. Almost everyone walking by is looking at the statue with visible concern. You asked Reimu about it and she said it is probably broken. Taking her word at face value, you move past the dragon, its eyes gazing into your back as you leave the crossroads with Reimu.
…
"Hey Frisk, can you get your shoes on? I need you outside."
*You head into the bedroom like it's second nature, wondering what assistance she needs so late in the afternoon. As you walk out the entrance of The Shrine, the Hakurei Maiden stands under the awning with a familiar face.
"Heya, Fris-chan~! You got into any trouble as of late, yeah?"
*Suika waves as she sways in place, her jovial smile a welcoming fixture. Reimu stares at the Oni with annoyance, as if she didn't expect her to be here. But the Shrine Maiden seems undeterred by Suika's sudden visit and leads you past the gate. You keep walking, the question of why she needs you outside the shrine in your mind while Suika follows closely, trying to strike up a conversation with you. As you describe your casual near-death experience by gravity (Seriously, you need to carry a parachute with you at this point.) your guardian leads you towards a hill in a clearing.
*On this hill is a picnic blanket, with two cups of tea and a tray of snack food. Reimu walks up to it and sits down, gesturing for you to join.
"Your recovery is almost complete. To celebrate, I wanted to watch the sunset with you."
*You nod and sit beside Reimu while Suika sits on the grass to drink from her gourd. The view from the elevated hill is clear of the treeline and you could sparsely make out familiar locations you saw from Marisa's broom. Now this mountainous terrain and clear valley is bathed in the warm orange light of the sun, the wind present enough to cause the trees to sway their red leaves, but not intense enough to be uncomfortable at this hour. You watch the sun lower past the horizon, eating snacks, drinking tea, and being in each other's presence. A conversation would start occasionally and you would partake with the banter.
"Wait, you're telling me that the first time you ever cooked, you burned your friend's house down?"
*You nod and Suika bursts out laughing. Reimu looked at you with concern but you said you got better at cooking over time. Truth be told, you only know how to make a few dishes pretty well because the rest of Monster food is quite… unique. You decide to keep the recipe for spider donuts to yourself.
"Well, you were better off than me. The last time I cooked was a few hundred years ago for a crush I had… They were found dead the next day."
*After hearing that harrowing tale from Suika, you watch the sunset until the last sliver of the burning orb passes the horizon, leaving the vestiges of twilight as Reimu muttered something about someone being late. As you wonder what she's talking about, a light appears in the distance.
*A single orb of light flew into the air from the trees, leaving a streak of colorful smoke behind it. After it hits the apex, it detonates with a loud boom. A massive flower of yellow sparks form as it lights up the night sky, you see more orbs joining the fray, ready to release their payload. The entire western sky is a canvas of dazzling colors and expanding shapes. You see flowers of many types, stars and planets, circles and squares, potion flasks, a Torri gate, and even cute illustrated heads of Reimu, Sunny, Luna, Star, and Marisa with a message written next to her. You hear Reimu groan and she speaks out.
"Seriously, an advertisement? Such an opportunist."
*You know who is launching the fireworks by how Reimu reacted to that particular display. Speaking of Witch (heh,) she appears in the air near the exploding lights. Her form is like a distant shadow in the backdrop of the twilight sky, riding on her broom amongst the fireworks to launch spells of her own. Sparkling stars and intricate spell circles fly around the air making beautiful patterns. All of it is capped off with a massive swarm of thousands of stars in a spiraling galaxy, leaving you in awe as a beam of light shoots out the center like a beacon into space.
*You watch the lights slow down as the sky clears, leaving only the natural stars beginning to dot the sky. As you take time to reflect on the spectacle that you witnessed, a glowing lantern heads over toward your location. You see Marisa flying on her broom, with the Three Fairies of Light on her tail. She lands close while your fey friends fly up towards the picnic.
"Did you see that? That was cool, wasn't it!?"
*You agree with an excited Sunny. It was very cool.
"We helped with shooting the lights. Marisa had these tubes of bamboo that we light at the end and it fires out these orbs."
"Yep! Not as awesome as a Spell Card, but still fun!"
*As you nod with Luna and Star, Marisa walks up to the rest of the group. She waves her hands, her dress covered in soot.'
"Tada! Surprise! This is what I've been working on the past couple of days! What do you think?"
"Well, it's something you would come up with. It is certainly ostentatious."
"Hey."
*Reimu joked at Marisa's expense, but the maiden looked very satisfied by the light show. You ask why she decided to make fireworks and the mage smiles brightly.
"There was this one time Reimu had the idea to host a firework festival in Gensokyo, but we didn't know how to make any, so we used Danmaku instead! It was fun and all, but it also inspired me to try to make my own so I could sell them to others for a decent price. Ze."
*She pinched two fingers together with the rest separated on her right hand. Reimu rolled her eyes at her friend, but she continued.
"And… To celebrate your recovery, Frisk. I wanted something for you to remember before you leave Gensokyo. I wanted something with a bit of finality."
*...
"Aw, why am I getting all sappy? Let's use these instead! Let's head back to Reimu's place, Ze!"
*Marisa takes out a few sticks covered in some orange powder. She lights one and hands it to you, the tip now a fountain of sparks. You realize she gave you a sparkler, and you pass it to Sunny to light the other sticks. The fairies and you have fun running down the road with the crackling rods as you head back to play at the shrine, one last time.
Reimu watches the sleeping forms of the fairies and Frisk with them at the kotatsu, their breaths in sync as the pile rises and falls in rhythm. One last night together before the child leaves the shrine. Leave Gensokyo and never return. She takes a sip from her sake and walks out towards the awning. She joins Suika and Marisa on the front steps, watching the stars and the moon overhead. The lunar orb is almost complete, in a few nights it will be whole.
It reflected her situation, the journey almost at an end. With the spell Yukari has entrusted her, she will open the barrier and the child will wake from the long dream of the world of fantasy. "Hey, what got you so glum?" Suika asked casually, her usual carefree attitude replaced with slight curiosity.
"It's nothing. Just… reminiscing about how we got here." Reimu relented and Marisa added her thoughts. "It definitely got interesting the past week and a half. Funny, I was starting to get used to being a teacher, Ze." The mage stops and the two humans and an oni continue to watch the stars.
"I'm going to miss them." Reimu finally admits and Marisa pats her on the shoulder. "Don't worry, we all will." She said comfortingly. Suika gets up from the stairs and walks over to the donation box.
"Yeah, we'll miss our little piggy bank~" The Oni declared as she made a show to open the grate and reveal a huge mound of gold coins that glittered in the moonlight. Marisa's jaw drops with her sake, the bottle clattering down the steps. The sound of stunned silence was like a melody in Reimu's ears. She listens a bit more as her friend stammers to get an answer.
"W-what? Is that… gold? The kid was donating… GOLD!? THEY HAD GOLD ALL THIS TIME!? You knew they had gold!?" Marisa yelled at Reimu, hoping her friend wouldn't be holding out on her. A smile starts to form on Reimu's face.
"I'm going to miss them." The Hakurei repeated, her voice betraying the sedimental mood that was there a moment ago. Suika shifts the pile of coins with her hand and lets them drop between her fingers. "Maybe the real treasure is the friends we made along the way." She says with foe-philosophical wit.
"Bull crap, I'm in debt! How long did you wait to tell me, Reimu!? Why didn't you say anything!? REIMUUUUUUU!" Marisa shook the Shrine Maiden's shoulders in despair. Reimu Hakurei only smiled. She took in a deep, satisfying breath.
"I'm really going to miss them."
The morning rays of the sun cascade past the treeline as the birds sing out in chorus. Between those trees is a mansion. Its extravagant exterior is in contrast to the forest that surrounds it. Despite the growing vines and cared hedges, the Scarlet Devil Mansion always felt out of place. That sense of uneasiness cuts through any tranquility it hopes to present.
Aya Shameimaru definitely feels uneasy. And tired, very tired. The tengu couldn't get a wink of sleep the entire night as she always felt like she was on a blade's edge around this place. Her drive to find the next story tends to lead her to very dangerous places, and the Mansion is no different. The only thing that gives Aya any semblance of confidence is her speed. If anything threatens her, she can always outfly it with her wings. With her escape assured, she staked out the Mansion in hopes that she could see anything of note or snoop on any conversation. But after a week of sleepless nights (Did she remember that she's tired? Because she is VERY tired,) watching the exterior from different trees, keeping on the move to leave little trace of her presence, the Mansion showed no signs of activity. The only way she could be sure of what's happening there is by entering the Scarlet Devil Mansion. But she is not stupid or has a death wish.
Aya sighed in defeat. Rumors in the wind suggest that the child in the Hakurei Shrine was preparing to leave Gensokyo very soon. 'Maybe… I was wrong. Damn it.' All this time she spent could have been used to make two or three articles about the Hakurei Child and their misadventures. All this potential coverage is wasted on a hunch.
As she prepares to leave, she sees something in the corner of her eye. On the main balcony is an umbrella being held up by someone. Aya slowly gets to an angle that doesn't reveal herself. On top of a tree, she sees who is holding the umbrella and a person sitting by a small table. 'Sakuya Izayoi and Remilia Scarlet. Why are they on the balcony so early in the morning?' The Reporter tries to make sense of the situation, coming up with nothing. They seem to be speaking to each other, but she's too far away to understand their words. 'Nothing but a little wind magic could help. Aaaannd, there.'
Aya commanded the wind to bring their whispers to her ear and after a second of tuning, it's like she is standing beside them. "...And I never get the chance to have breakfast like this, it's truly novel at this point," Remilia explained to her handmaid.
The tengu thought she hit another dead end until Sakuya said, "Very true, Mistress. Cooping yourself in your quarters is not good for your skin complexion." The dry wit of the maid caused Remilia to quietly laugh. "Oh, how so! I'll be insipid like that child. Ah, that reminds me of something. Have you figured out the child's secret?"
Aya started to write down quickly as the maid answered after a second. "No. And I can't find anything to note other than they are from the Outside World." Remilia took the lack of information in stride. She finally responds with, "Hmh, I see. Looks like we might need a closer examination. Bring them here."
The declaration was like a wine glass falling on the pavement. Aya looked over in surprise while Sakuya was silent. After a bit, the maid answers, "As you wish, Mistress. What do we do with the Hakurei?"
The Mistress nodded at the drive from her compatriot. There is a reason Sakuya is the head maid. "You don't have to worry about our friend in red, I get the feeling that she would be preoccupied with something. Your opportunity will show itself then," she said with assurance.
Aya has a sinking feeling in her gut. 'Is it true? Something will happen at the shrine?' Knowing of Remilia's abilities, it's almost a guarantee that she is correct. The tengu looked down on her filled pages and disregarded them. A child is about to be kidnapped, she has to warn Reimu as soon as possible.
Before she had a chance to head out, Remilia gently takes the umbrella from Sakuya's hands. "Oh, a little crow has been flying around our windows. I'm afraid it would start squawking at any moment. Take care of it, would you?" She asked. Aya abandoned stealth and started flying like the wind.
She has a head start if she can outfly them. 'Ayaya! Are you trying to catch me? Nothing is faster than I am! You can eat tail-' *Swoosh!* 'Feathers?' Aya sees black feathers fall beside her as she starts losing altitude. She falls to the ground and she tries to get up. Pain shoots up her leg as she stands, staring at her wings. "My flight feathers! They're gone!"
That is not the only thing that has been cut, her left Achilles tendon also had a shallow cut as well. Sakuya appeared beside Aya, making a show of picking up the dagger that cut through her wings. The tengu knew that the maid's ability to manipulate time was terrifyingly strong, but to catch up to her instantly was even more terrifying! Sakuya stared at her, gauging the yokai she grounded.
Aya gets into a defensive stance. If she can't flee, then she can fight. But the maid didn't pay any heed to her defiance, as she turned towards the East and disappeared in a blur. Aya looked around to find any blade aiming towards her and found nothing. The tengu looks back up at the balcony and sees Remilia watching her, smiling. The vampire turns and heads indoors. 'This is a game to her. She's goading me to chase Sakuya after taking away my mobility.'
Aya gritted her teeth at her devious trick. She needs to reach the Shrine first and Remilia knows it. 'Do I have to play by her rules? This is so frustrating!' A sense of powerlessness fills her heart. By the time she reached the edge of the Forest of Magic, Sakuya would run laps around her.
"Wait. Forest of Magic!" She said to herself and started to hobble to one destination in mind. Hopefully, someone will be there when she arrives.
A: Ha! You fool! You fell for another cliffhanger! Things are about to go down and the next chapter is where ideals collide. Frisk has been Very Lucky not to die up to this point, I wonder what would happen if they did? I can't wait to churn out the next one!
Also, Suprise Omake!
Fun Omake 2:
Reimu smacks the rabbit on the head with a bamboo staff she found. It's not her Gohei, but it will have to do to dispense discipline.
"Ow! Okay, I get it! But understand that Marisa stole something from us! Why are you protecting her so fervently!?"
Looks like Reisen doesn't get it, she gets bonked on the head for being blind.
"I don't care what happens to Marisa! It's what she's carrying is important, you spazz! She has a child!"
Reisen blanched at the maiden's words.
'Wait. She was carrying a child!? When did... Oh no.'
The lunar rabbit now understands why Marisa was taking their medicine. But, with the phrasing of Reimu's words, she came to a very different conclusion.
"Marisa is Pregnant!?"
"..."
Reisen gets bonked on the head for being an idiot.