Present Gensokyo
"Meiling, what are you doing?"
The shout turned Meiling's chin moments before Hoshiguma's fist violently helped it along its rotation and sent its owner sprawling. It took her a few moments to orient herself. She turned from the laughing oni, knowing she had heard her mistress's voice... She saw Patchouli standing there, who offered her a subtly sympathetic look as she held a parasol aloft for their mistress. Remilia stood in its shade, fists balled, a smile pinned across her face.
"I asked you to receive and direct the guests, not rough-house them."
Meiling began to smile, on the verge of making jokes about her own forgetfulness, when she caught the aura radiating off of Remilia. Her face fell, bowing her head severely. "I apologise deeply, Mistress! It shan't happen again!"
Yuugi Hoshiguma herself slid out of her fighting stance when she took in Meiling's appalled reaction, slowly raising her hand that wasn't occupied with her sake dish. "Yo, uh… I insisted on the rough-housing there, Remilia. That was my bad."
"Miss Remilia," Meiling sternly corrected the oni's form.
"Oh— My bad, Missus Remilia," Yuugi tacked on.
Remilia was quiet for a moment, her hesitance only caught by her companions as she made a show of raising her open hands. "Do not feel at fault, Miss Hoshiguma! It's Meiling's responsibility to deny you. Though I suppose I should take heart from the fact that it'll be some hours yet before the party," Remilia said brightly. "I can't imagine the ten minutes the two of you have spent sparring have set our preparations back by much."
Patchouli smiled secretly, knowing that was exactly what Remilia was dreading as the undead princess went on. "We have a tournament planned for the middle of the evening. Would you reserve your spirits for then, O' strong one? I have not revisited the pleasure of duelling an oni—or drinking with one—for some time, and to see Meiling fight with you… that is a spectacle all our guests could enjoy!"
Yuugi nodded, pleased enough at the prospects that Remilia's double-speak promised. "Now you're talking. Oh! Lady Komeiji told me to tell you that she and the gang are on the way, just delayed in finding her sister."
"Splendid! Meiling, if you can lead Miss Hoshiguma through to the gardens?" Remilia asked. As Meiling walked Yuugi around the house, Remilia and Patchouli approached the gate to meet the familiar faces coming up the brick path.
"If it isn't the shrine maiden! Welcome, welcome!" Remilia beamed.
Reimu said something, waving her hand before a blonde-haired girl clad in a tuxedo waded in front of her.
"And her sharply dressed magician friend! What ho, peasants!" Marisa declared alongside her.
Reimu, Remilia and Patchouli exchanged glances before Remilia finally broke the silence. "Sorry, Reimu, what was it you said?"
Remilia was gratified to see Reimu's still mouth curl into something of a smile as she played along. "Hi. Yeah, thanks for having me."
"I don't see your plus one. There was me assuming you'd be bringing Suika, or little Shinmy, perhaps," Remilia said, all whilst Marisa made a puzzled frown.
"I wasn't aware that it was just plus one. They're both coming, though they took Aunn into the woods to 'scare something up', apparently?" Reimu managed with a look of weariness and concern.
"Standing riiiight here," Marisa said loudly.
"Well, not 'just' plus one. All are welcome, so long as they are vouched for," Remilia said as she continued to ignore Marisa.
"Is this your way of punishing Marisa?" Patchouli came to her fellow witch's aid with a sigh.
"Well, we don't want to encourage her, do we?" Reimu asked.
"'What ho, peasants'? Call me a peasant, will she?" Remilia snarled playfully, her steely expression melting into a smile as she addressed Marisa, "You're quite welcome as well, Marisa, so long as you keep yourself where we can see you."
Marisa made an attempt at looking puzzled. "I don't follow. Are you suggesting I might be prone to misbehaviour?"
"Trespassing, breaking and entering, thieving, resisting a citizen's arrest, having a rotten attitude—your scroll is just charged with misdemeanours."
Marisa pouted in mock-upset. "I'll have you know I'm reformed! What need have I to play the thief, when Miss Keine and Kosuzu AND Patchouli here," the smallest of stars plinked off of Marisa's finger as she pointed at Patchouli, "have allowed me to read their collections at will?! Rest assured, Remilia, such days are behind me."
"Yes," Patchouli said darkly. "Right behind you, given that Koakuma told me not an hour ago that you'd—"
"Peace, Patchy." Remilia returned her gaze to the two incident resolvers in front of her. "I'll choose to believe you, Marisa, as this is a special day, and I imagine Flandre and the celebrant both would like to see you."
"Ahh, the celebrant, yes!" Marisa declared with a suspicious nod.
"Sakuya asked for us?" Reimu asked, acknowledging Meiling's grateful glance with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, yes! You were her earliest fri— foes that she found familiar here in Gensokyo!" Remilia hastily said.
"Wait," Reimu blurted out, giving no indication she had noticed Remilia's slip-up, "Marisa, you tried to break in on the same day as Sakuya's birthday party?"
"I was only going to allow myself into the library to see Patchouli! I wasn't going to go into the main house; that'd be stupid."
Reimu's trademark weary glare was pinned on Marisa now, and both of the mansion's present residents knew some incendiary language was on the way if they did nothing.
Remilia barked out a laugh. "Well said, Marisa! Why, sleuthing unannounced into a mansion filled with dragons, devils and mages, that would be the behaviour of a moontouched rube! Ahh… Say, Patchouli? Would you take Marisa round the back?"
Marisa and Patchouli looked at her strangely before Patchouli made the shape of a gun with her hand, idly lifting it so her pointer finger was aimed at Marisa's head. Marisa's ensuing horror got a snort out of Reimu.
"No, no, no." Remilia chuckled. "Back gardens, Yuugi should be there, where we… where we left the drinks. Hmm. Please go and keep her from drinking it all, but not before you leave me with the parasol, thank you—and send Meiling back to her post. That layabout!
Right…" Remilia sighed, returning her attention to Reimu with a relieved smile. "Shall I take you on a little tour?"
Reimu told her that she was good, but Remilia gave no indication that she had listened, leading her by the arm into the mansion.
"This room again." Reimu said as they entered the gallery.
"Yes, the 'depressing room'." Remilia remarked, noting the pause before Reimu replied.
"Did I upset you when I said that last time?" Reimu asked. It was Remilia's turn to be slow in the replying.
"More than it should've." Remilia sighed.
Reimu's eyelids lifted ever so slightly. "Oh. Well, I'm sorry."
"Oh, don't apologise." Remilia groaned. "You're fine. I mean… something as light as that shouldn't have bothered me. It is rather your way to speak as you find."
Reimu smiled a guileless smile. "Well, I'm sorry. These paintings must be of some sentimental value, and I could've not been so rude."
Remilia folded her arms, her arms taut and her mouth a thin line, clearly uncomfortable being in her own skin. She simply counted herself lucky it was Reimu—the unflappable, reliable shrine maiden—she was suffering through this with. "Well, I'm sorry, too, for letting it linger. Though as for sentiment… this room's… not one we like very much."
Reimu blinked before turning her attention to the paintings. Some were of Remilia, some were of Flandre, some together, almost all the gazes of their iterations tranquil at best.
"You look very guarded in this one," Reimu pointed out, her fingers tapping the gold frame of Remilia's oldest portrait. Remilia registered the girl in the painting, the jet-black silks and dark fabrics worn at the Impaler's court, the unassailable, weary expression on the princess's face.
Remilia told herself to relax as she tore her gaze from her old self. "I used to live in a place where it was hard to tell who one's friends were."
Reimu nodded, glancing Remilia's way before focusing on the painting. "Sounds like an exciting time."
Remilia made an amused noise. "Oh, you've no idea."
"I'd hear the story," Reimu said, "if you ever feel like telling it."
Remilia blinked, a peculiar smile pulling at her mouth. "I… May take you up on that offer, shrine maiden, one of these days. Thank you."
Reimu gave her an easy smile. "What're friends for?"
Remilia envied how easily Reimu could do that. Just say things like that. Reimu went back to looking at the painting as Remilia mustered her response.
"I would welcome ideas on reimagining this room."
Reimu gave her a confused look. "Come again?"
"Well, it's tired, it's dusty—filled with these old paintings made in… 'interesting' times. I could use a shrine maiden's perspective when it comes to replacing them and brightening the place up." Maybe remove a few old ghosts as well, Remilia thought.
Reimu nodded along as she walked down the gallery, the hands at her side lifting a little, as though her fingers could touch on the aura and the history of this place.
"You wouldn't be throwing these away, would you?" Reimu asked, indicating the picture of the treaty struck during the first vampire incident.
Remilia answered with a shrug.
"I wouldn't," Reimu said as she gave the scene her full attention, folding her arms. "Maybe put them in an alcove or some out-of-the-way corner, but I'd hold onto them, if I were you."
"For what reason?" Remilia asked, curious for the shrine maiden's perspective.
"You were something, back then…" Reimu murmured, her attention drifting back to Remilia as she recalled the question put to her. "It's important to know where you've come from, right?"
Remilia felt herself smile as her gaze listed from portrait to portrait. "Right. Thank you, Reimu."
The shrine maiden smiled in reply. "We could start tonight," Reimu said.
"Hmm?" Remilia sounded as Reimu turned on her.
"You don't have any recent pictures of your lot, nor do you have any group photos. You invited all of Sakuya's friends?" At Remilia's nod, Reimu spread her arms to encompass the gallery. "So let's start with that."
Remilia rested her hand on her mouth, clearly favouring the idea before she visibly straightened. "D'you know I've still got preparations to make? Can you make it back to the garden by yourself, Reimu? Splendid! Mind the salamanders, and stay out of the crypts!"
She was yelling that last warning as she hurried out of the gallery, leaving Reimu standing there, asking at a shout where the hell she was going.
For Remilia, there was still work to be done.
Like grilling the "elite" fairies.
"Seating arrangementsI?" Remilia asked, chopping her hand through the air so quickly it startled the maid responsible.
"Ah! Yes." Megane bowed her dark-haired head sharply, her thumb pushing her slipping glasses back onto the bridge of her nose. "Two plans devised depending on y-your priorities!"
Remilia folded her arms as she waited. Megane's cohorts, Sandee and Penny, shifted uncomfortably as their friend fumbled her papers in her haste to present them. The three of them had behaved in exemplary fashion during the London incident, and so had been appointed as Remilia's "lady's maids"—assuming Sakuya, Patchouli, Koakuma and Meiling were all incapacitated or otherwise indisposed.
"So we have plan A," Megane began, hitting her stride as she unrolled the first seating plan for Remilia's perusal. "If we wish to keep all the various power blocs separate, allowing us to notice any fraternising occur, and plan B." Megane produced a more open plan right after the more segregated arrangement. "If we wish to encourage movement between the various powers. If you do not mind the liberty, I thought to seat the incident resolvers close together, on account of them being her oldest friends."
"Liberty has been marked and promptly forgiven! Plan B, if you'd please—and, if you don't mind my saying, you've come leaps and bounds, Maid Megane. In regards to your stammer." Remilia said, breezing past Megane once she saw the blushing smile and heard the murmured "thank you, Mistress". She pointed to the next fairy.
"Signage, Sandee! Where are we on that?" Remilia demanded. Sandee hesitated before she raised a fist, the gesture bringing a smile to her mistress' face.
"We're ready! The gardens are white and red with banners, all spell checked and securely… secured, yeah!" Sandee declared.
Remilia fought down a chuckle at that. "I'm glad the spelling is on point for once. I won't have another celebration of a "brithday". Now, what of the invitations, Penny?!"
Penny looked strangely sombre as she clutched a clipboard to her apron. "We have sent a dozen maids to the Garden of the Sun, the Hakurei Shrine, Eientei, the Underground, the Human Village, the Mountain, the Forest of Magic, the Underworld, and many others."
"Fantastic! Word of mouth should do what any of our couriers fail to do," Remilia said with a nod.
"But at what cost?" Penny added bleakly, "We've been taking casualties, between mishaps on the road and the tempers of the various hosts. Miss Yuuka is the worst offender… I have the numbers here, if you wish…"
Penny shoved Remilia a clipboard of casualties her way. Remilia blinked at the numbers before she grew bored, tossing the clipboard. "They've been popping up around the Mansion? No-one's unaccounted for?"
Penny held her forlorn demeanour before shrugging it off. "No, everyone's fine." She sighed. Remilia lofted a brow at the fairy's evident disappointment before a squeaking from behind galvanised her.
"Very good. I'm enjoying the 'Patchy energy' you're exuding. Good work, you three. Now, manage your peers!" She declared, dismissing them as something trundled closer behind her.
"What was that about 'Patchy energy'?" Koakuma asked with a strained voice.
"Ahhhh! It's big sis!" Flandre squealed.
Remilia turned to see Koakuma pulling a wagon behind her that was laden with presents, dressed in many colours and wrapped with scarlet ribbons.
Flandre was on the wagon as well, throwing a wobble into it as she hurried onto her feet. She had the back of a canvas held low against her leg.
"It's my little sister! Hello, Koakuma!" Remilia replied, offering Koakuma a wave before focusing on Flandre.
Koakuma sighed and smiled, whilst Flandre beamed.
"Is the cake ready?" Remilia addressed Koakuma, though she was heartily amused at how Flandre audibly inhaled at the question.
"Cakes, plural," Koakuma said, powering through Flandre's subsequent glee. "We made blonde chocolate cake, since it's the birthday girl's favourite, though Patchouli took the precaution in making Mistress Remilia and Miss Flandre's favourite as well, red velvet!"
"Wha— I like strawberry more," Flandre chimed in, her contribution making Koakuma visibly deflate. It made Remilia laugh.
"Since when?!" Koakuma groaned.
"Since always!" Flandre contested hotly.
"Flan, hey, we're getting two cakes, whoa!" Remilia asked, making wide eyes and waving her arms to catch her attention.
"Mmm," Flandre hummed agreeably, though a determined frown affected her now. "We'll have to share with the guests, of course."
"Right you are, Flan. We shall have to be gracious hosts." Remilia nodded firmly, her easy smile returning as she looked past Flandre's legs to the prizes surrounding her. "And these are all from us?"
"Mhm! And this one," Flandre picked up the frame of the canvas at her side, "is from me!"
"Show me?" Remilia asked even as Flandre presented the picture.
Her drawings had improved, and it was clear her style had adopted the bold, clean lines that could be found in their mansion's new comic book collection. She had drawn Sakuya, front and centre, smiling demurely as the rest of the family crowded her. Meiling was resting an elbow on her shoulder, Patchouli stood next to her with a sleepy smile (with Koakuma there, cheekily presenting bunny ears behind the witch's head), Flandre had drawn herself welcoming the viewer with open arms—lastly, she had drawn Remilia, leaning back on Sakuya's other shoulder, a serene happiness shining from her pale face.
"Oh, Flan, this is incredible," Remilia managed.
She looked up from it to Flandre's ecstatic grin. "I'd consider wrapping this, Flan, Sakuya will love it. When that's done, would you take these presents and put them within walking distance of the garden? Thank you, sister, thank you. Koa', will you help her?"
Remilia watched them trundle away. For a time, she listened to her little sister speak excitedly to the library assistant about how her work would be received.
Then she clapped her hands, and returned to the preparations.
The hours passed quickly as the mansion's inhabitants worked to make the evening worthy of their chief maid. Remilia confused the Prismriver Ensemble (featuring Kyouko and Raiko) by asking for 'pensive but peppy' music, at last clarifying the issue by telling them to play what they normally play for birthdays. Mystia was instructed on the layout of the Scarlet Devil Kitchens and left to supplement their catering, Whiterock and her pet gremlin Cirno were employed to make glistening ice sculptures, Yuugi and Suika (and a begrudging Kasen) volunteered to provide the bulk of the drink, and offered to act out parts in Hata no Kokoro's play, right after Alice's puppet shows, and it was apparent that the kappa Nitori—along with Marisa and Mokou—were going to be providing pyrotechnics.
Then the party gradually began, the skittering and muted fussing of the fairy maids now barely heard over the growing conversations coming from the garden. As more girls arrived and the alcohol began to flow, the talk grew more boisterous, with Remilia darting from place to place, determined to act the welcoming host and address every guest.
"Ah, what is a party without the Secret God? Welcome, Okina! And your two helpers, a pleasure, I'm sure! I initially assumed you would prefer to be seated with your sagacious associates, though do let me know if you'd rather a place at my table; I should like to hear all about the land of the Back Door! Alright… Daiyousei, welcome. Here to keep your less prudent friends in check, hmm? Cirno and Mystia are already here, follow the path, do not stray, or they'll get you. Oh, I'm joking—or am I? Junko, hello. It's lovely to see you. Your seat won't be far from Clownpiece's, that's a promise. Hecatia is en route? Splendid… Youmu Konpaku! Wielder of—"
Remilia paused, the sight of the watchtower sword stopping her whirlwind of activity.
"A-ah, is it alright?" Youmu fretted, clad in a green-and-white kimono, her swords strapped to her back and her waist.
Remilia smiled with a shake of her head. "Of course it is. Like revisiting an old friend."
Youmu frowned in clear perplexion, but Remilia breezed past it. "Follow the path to your left, you'll see Reimu and hopefully Marisa at your table."
"Hiiiiii," chirped the next girl in line, the familiar voice making Remilia chuckle.
"Rumia," Remilia sighed, ushering Youmu past her, "your timing is something."
"Is that so?" Rumia asked with a smile.
Soon enough, Remilia was standing at the fountain in the mansion's front garden, staring into the waters as Rumia quietly chewed on a slice of fat from the cellar's larders.
"You love the taste of them, but you don't catch them anymore," Remilia said quietly.
"Can't catch them anymore. I'm not very good at it," Rumia said with a grin before she returned to gumming the morsel that Remilia had prepared for her.
"Is that so?" Remilia asked, returning her attention to Rumia, who was looking back at her.
It was evident that Rumia liked what she saw, tacking on, "And they're nice to me."
That satisfied Remilia. Enough for now, at least. "Eat your scraps, then we can go back and enjoy Mystia's yakitori," she said, turning at the presence she felt behind her.
Her discovery didn't break Yukari's stride, the gap youkai still working that mysterious smile of hers as she walked out from behind the mansion's doors. "Why do you look at me so?" Yukari asked.
Remilia frowned at the callback. "You trying to be funny?"
Yukari shrugged her shoulders. "A little."
Remilia's nose wrinkled as she achieved a little smile of her own. "You find your place okay?"
"Had to." Yukari sighed. "Ran wished to be given leave to speak to one of yours."
Remilia gently steered Rumia away from the fountain and pointed her towards the western path that led round the house. "Cirno's waiting, I do believe. Finish that… and march!"
Rumia obediently stuffed the morsel into her mouth, chewing noisily as she walked on the path set for her. For a moment, she dithered when she reached the doors. Then she heard the sounds of clinking drinks and laughing girls, and that was enough to send her towards the mansion's back garden.
"One day, I should like to ask Rumia what she recalls of those old days," Remilia admitted.
"On a day unlike this one, I take it?" Yukari asked, her gait slowing. Remilia simply nodded, watching Rumia totter behind the grass-sculpture of a pelican before she safely made it into the house.
"Do you have my present for Sakuya ready?" Remilia asked.
"I do indeed," Yukari said quietly. "They wait in the hedge maze. I shall go on ahead and see to any last-minute adjustments."
"Wonderful," Remilia purred, watching the ripples in the water as she heard Yukari turn and walk. "My thanks." As she watched the ripples grow, she heard Yukari's gait slow and stop, then heard the gap youkai speak up.
"Are you coming along for the opening of presents?" Yukari asked.
Remilia grinned as she looked back at the expectant gap youkai. "Of course, though I'll give you a head start."
Yukari's smile broadened. "Of course. Otherwise, people might think we're friends."
Remilia chuckled at that as Yukari bowed her head. "My people will be in touch with your people," the gap youkai said fondly before she turned and left Remilia at the fountain.
Remilia returned to the garden in time to see Sakuya emerge from the house. Marisa and the livelier guests quietened down when they saw her. For this one special evening, Sakuya had allowed Remilia and her companions to select her attire. The dress—spun from a bolt of moonsilver silk and created by Alice Margatroid—glittered on Sakuya's elegant frame, her skin seeming to glow with the fabric. Once compliments had been paid to the blushing maid, she sat herself down as she was crowded by her friends. Not all of them had presents for her, but she didn't care, it was a joy to see them.
Her fellow incident resolvers came together, and Marisa started with a jar of transplanted oyster mushrooms that were ready to find a home somewhere on their grounds. Reisen gave her a pair of lacquered chopsticks decorated with white floral patterns. Reimu had brought cheap sake (as had many of the other girls) and cooking wine, along with an easy smile and kind words. "Thanks, Sakuya, not just for helping us out, but for being our friend."
At that, Youmu Konpaku stepped forward with practised grace. On top of her hands was a shimmering red scarf embroidered with little white knives and tiny black bats.
Sakuya took the scarf gratefully, a "d'aww" coming from the more matronly figures in the crowd as she daubed her eyes with it.
Suika gave her a sake cup set that was made of dark, polished stone said to be hewn from the slopes of Mt. Ooe, offering to drink with her as soon as this leg of the party was over. Little Sukuna—the inchling princess with her black bowl covering her head—dragged a bag of sweets across the table and excitedly offered to make them bigger. The sleepy Satori Komeiji gave Sakuya a box tied in a black ribbon, and within it was a grey shogi-board, with black and white pieces bundled neatly together. She suggested that they might play together when she came to visit, which Sakuya agreed to happily. Tenshi gave her a calligraphy set. The slender pen was tipped with feathers that shone a jade green, along with a silver holder, a stoppered inkwell and replacement nibs, all set into a blue velvet case. "For you, maid of the devil, that you might attain mastery of the brush and convey your master's words with elegance!"
Soon, it was Yukari's turn. The gap youkai stepped in, a letter emerging in her gloved hand. Sakuya neatly opened it with her fingers, finding a card with some money in it.
"Thank you, Mistress Yukari," she said.
Yukari's smile eased into something more genuine. "You're welcome, Miss Sakuya."
"Can't be more than two thousand yen there. Why's she so happy about it?" Marisa whispered at Reimu.
Reimu gave her oldest friend an amused frown. "You think it's about the money?"
It was Marisa's turn to frown. "It… could be? Though, I dunno what she makes. Does Remilia even pay her?"
"Oh, look. Yuyuko's turn." Reimu sighed, non too subtly signalling Marisa to pay attention. Yuyuko gave the birthday girl a box of multicoloured mochi, ribboned and capped with a card. On the white square was a haiku that Sakuya read aloud.
'Silver dressed maiden,
your aloof grace distracts from
the world inside you.'
She looked back up at Yuyuko as if seeing her for the first time. Meanwhile, Yuyuko was looking longingly at the box of mochi until a gale of laughter went up from the onlookers. She feigned embarrassment, laughing along—though Sakuya watched her carefully enough to see her mouth "you're welcome" to her.
The rest of the girls came and went, providing meaningful mementos, adequate fuel for the celebratory drinking or even just their company. Last but not least came presents from her family. Flandre's family portrait of her brought tears to the maid's eyes and earnt the devil's little sister a place on Sakuya's knee as they opened the rest together. Meiling had knitted her a pink woollen sweater, the collar embroidered with blooming flowers. "Figured you'd want something warm to wear when off-duty," Meiling said, beginning to chuckle as Sakuya immediately set to pulling the sweater over her head before Koakuma presented her with Patchouli's gift. It was a box that contained bamboo spoons, whisks and scoops, chalk-white tea pots and cups covered with fine cloth.
"My, my, a Matcha set of your own." Reimu was the first to speak.
Sakuya threw Patchouli a perplexed look, who promptly explained herself. "I've heard it's a meditative art, and the green tea involved combines the energy of caffeine with anxiety soothing compounds. I thought maybe it might be fun for us to pursue."
Sakuya smiled, but before she could reply, it was Kaguya—the princess of Eientei—who spoke up: "Then you will need someone to instruct you in the procedure. I will volunteer, as I am the best qualified."
"Huh?" Marisa sounded, the irked monotone noise making Cirno and her gang of misfits laugh out loud.
"Your pardon?" Kaguya asked.
"Marisa, don't," Reimu murmured.
"I ain't seen you perform any tea ceremonies!" Marisa pointed out.
"Well, no. You haven't been invited to any of mine." Kaguya replied warmly.
Marisa ignored Kaguya's slight and Reimu's protests as she turned to Sakuya. "Sakuya, you want Reimu teaching you guys! She drinks the stuff daily, so she's gotta know how to enjoy it, and she's a shrine maiden to boot! If that doesn't lend an air of purity to the ceremony, I don't know what does!"
Kaguya shook her head, her black hair flowing past her face. "Oh, I don't doubt the authenticity of Miss Reimu's performance. Only the environs in which it will take place," she said, side-eyeing Reimu, expecting a reaction. Reimu only gave off an air of calm indifference, though her cheeks were reddened by imbibing. Kaguya carried on. "I believe that Miss Remilia—Miss Remilia?" She stopped momentarily, her gaze searching the crowd as she looked for the hostess.
Reimu swished the sake in her cup, her brain telling her not to rise to it even as she spoke, "Marisa's not wrong. My green tea would kick your green tea's ass."
"Oooo!" Suika and Yuugi resounded.
"You'd have to be 'moon-touched' to think otherwise! Ahh? Ahh?" Marisa asked, eliciting a disapproving look from Alice Margatroid and groans from everyone else.
Kaguya grinned at Reimu. "What is it the expression they say out in the untamed west, Sakuya? 'Them's fightin' words?' Sakuya?"
She turned, discovering that Sakuya was gone as well.
In the distance, Sakuya could hear the merrymaking grow louder. "Mistress, may I ask where we are going?"
Remilia stopped at the crossroads in the hedge maze, turning to face Sakuya with a guarded expression. "I would like you to meet someone."
Sakuya looked on, bemused. "Someone apart from our guests?"
"He's someone who only wishes to see you." There was something in Remilia's hesitant smile and the uncertain nod that told Sakuya just who it was, that sent the maid's hands up to her mouth. "No."
"No? You don't want to—"
"No, I do." Sakuya choked out a laugh, tears shining brightly. "Oh, God, he's here? How?"
Remilia didn't answer, instead stepping to one side to let Yuyuko Saigyouji and her serene smile drift into view. "I have my ways, Miss Sakuya."
"Thank you," Sakuya managed to say, thrusting tears out of an eye with a palm. "Oh, God, I look a mess!"
"No, no, you don't," Remilia soothed, her cool fingers taking Sakuya's. "You look wonderful, and he wouldn't care if you didn't. It's okay. It's okay. One, two, three, two, two, three…"
It had been so, so long since Remilia had seen Sakuya so incomposed, so messy, and so aglow with feeling. The maid seemed to read the vampire's mind and laughed.
"Shall we meet him?" Yuyuko asked, her voice giving no hint that his time here was limited. She had briefed Remilia beforehand, and so the vampire prompted Sakuya for an answer with a questioning knit of her eyebrows.
"Yes. yes! Of course." Sakuya managed, beaming.
The maid and the devil followed Yuyuko the few paces that led to the centre of the maze, seeing Yukari Yakumo sitting at the table, chuckling unreservedly as their special guest told his story.
"...And I went 'wham'!" Jared Osbourne shouted, smashing his fist into his palm for emphasis. "Right into the sandbank! I won the race by default, though I looked a right coot in front of the men, choking on sand, legs flailing in the air! They were howling with laughter!"
"A truly inspiring sight, I daresay!" Yukari noted, her golden eyes lighting up as she saw the approaching party. None the wiser, Jared shrugged in mild embarrassment.
"Oh. Well, I'll admit, it wasn't my proudest—" Mister Osbourne glanced to follow Yukari's gaze, his voice trailing off when he saw them both. Yuyuko was there, but he only had eyes for his daughters.
"Hello, you. Now, don't cry," he whispered, opening his arms as Sakuya trotted over and almost knocked him off his chair. He smiled beneath his downturning moustache as he uttered a staggered shush and held Sakuya close, looking past her shoulder to Remilia. He beckoned her over with his fingers.
"You come here, too, young lady," he said, struggling to keep a straight face as the warning tone in his voice wavered.
Remilia felt tears sting her own eyes as she went to join them.
Author's Note: I'm sorry it took me so long to upload this last chapter of 'Emergence (of Scarlet Devil). But if you're reading this, I'm grateful and I hope you enjoyed this story. It's about time I added the final chapter, so even if I don't get around to fixing this story's issues, there's at least closure. In particular, I'd like to thank BottomKek, who helped proof my story. His investment, careful eye and feedback helped keep me going.
