Two months.

Two months.

Louise has been stuck here for two months. Stuck doing household chores. Stuck running around performing whatever arsenine odd jobs the village needs her to do.

And no closer to getting a familiar. She still has no idea how.

She was tired, sore, and grumpy. But she wasn't going to complain.

They might send her back if she did.

"Good work today." Keine said, passing Louise a cup of tea. "You've been working hard recently."

Louise just nodded, and sipped her tea.

"I need to prepare my lesson plan for the following week, but feel free to take the rest of the day off." Keine said, standing up.

Louise nodded again, stewing in her thoughts.

Keine sighed. "I'll be in my study if you need me. Although I might suggest taking a walk, to clear your thoughts."

Louise considered this, before saying, quietly. "I think I will, thank you."

Louise gets up, and walks away, Keines worried eyes following her out.

Louise quietly walks through the human village, some people walking past tip their heads respectively, and wish her a good day. A pair of children run past laughing. Louise barely noticed, so lost in thought.

Two months, and no progress, she doesn't even have any idea where to begin, what questions to ask. How does a failure like her have any chance of impressing a monster, even if it was one in human shape?

If she keeps going like this, will she ever go home?

Louise made a decision.

She needed to see Reimu.


Travelling up to the shrine was a quiet, lonely experience. No wonder so few people in the village make the trip.

Louise leaned on the Torii gate to catch her breath. The climb alone was quite exhausting too.

Finally calming her breathing, she walked toward the shrine proper. Now that she was here, and less was going on, she noticed how lonely the small shrine looked in the large clearing surrounding it. She wondered what it was like living here alone.

She saw Reimu sitting on the front steps, with a tray next to her, with a small tea set on it, four cups and a teapot, and a plate of some sort of biscuit. She hadn't really acknowledged Louise approaching, rather, she was looking out over the valley, it seems from up here, you got a rather good view.

"Hey." Reimu spoke softly. She looked different today, she didn't seem to be as irritable, in fact she looked downright serene as she watched the slowly sinking sun. "I thought I'd see you sooner or later. Tea?"

"Yes, thank you." Louise said, accepting the proffered cup, and sitting down next to Reimu. Her throat was parched from the walk, and she had gotten used to the taste.

They sat there in silence for a while, just drinking tea. Louise had come up here for a reason, but she didn't really feel like breaking the atmosphere, after the hectic two months she has had.

Thankfully Reimu decided to speak. "So Louise, ready to go home yet?"

Lousie shook her head. "No, not yet." There was a pause, before Louise asked. "Reimu, are you strong?"

"Yeah, pretty strong. For a human anyway." Reimu said. It wasn't a boast, just a fact, like someone talking about the weather.

"Is it possible for you to teach me?" Louise asked.

"No, at least not in the way you are thinking." Reimu said. "I'm not a magician, I'm a priestess, my powers are spiritual, and require my god's blessings to harness. I can't help you unless you are willing to spend years training as a miko, and even then, I can't guarantee you'd be as strong as I am. I was born powerful, my bloodline has a special connection to my god, and I'm rubbish at teaching."

Louise nodded. She supposed it was too much to hope for.

Reimu stood up. "but I think I have another way to help you. Come on."

Reimu started walking away, and Louise stared dumbly, before scrambling to her feet, and following.

Reimu led her past the shrine, and into the forest beyond it, before immerging in another clearing.

This one looked like a fierce battle had raged here long ago. Felled trees half rotten, half a dozen rough stumps, craters and divots that the grass had reclaimed, cracked boulders, and rubble covered in moss. Louise wondered what happened here. And as a second thought, she wondered why Reimu took her here, as Reimu had stopped, seemingly taking a moment to survey the space.

But before Lousie could voice any of these questions out loud, Reimu pointed out a nearby stump. "Hey, can you blow that up?"

Louise looked at the offending stump, before shooting a questioning glance at Reimu.

"Just humour me." Reimu said. "It will make sense in a minute."

Louise looked at the stump, then back at Reimu, before pulling her wand. "Fireball."

In an instant, the half rotten stump was reduced to mulch, distributed evenly around the neat new hole in the ground.

Reimu nodded. "Alright, good, now do it again with… that log." Reimu said, pointing out a large piece of fallen timber.

Louise looked hard at Reimu, who only raised her eyebrow. Louise sighed and blew it in half.

"Alright, now, bare with me here, I want you to think about something that's been bugging you recently. Like really been irritating you."

Louise had no idea what Reimu was up to. But did as instructed. Focusing on the odd local clothes she now had to wear, as her academy uniforms skirt had torn while ferrying tools for some builders last saturday.

"You got it?" Reimu said, and Louise nodded. "Great, now blow up that tree."

Louise didn't even bother to question Reimu this time and soon another fallen tree graced the clearing.

"Good, now that one. But this time Imagine the face of someone you really hate is there."

Louise thought really hard, while a lot of people had been bothering her, that one drunk old carpenter who called her some unrepeatable things was the one that came the most readily.

There wasn't much left of the tree that time, just the canopy coming down with a crash.

"Now what is this all about?" Louise asked, finally having enough.

Reimu didn't answer directly. But instead, "First, how do you feel? Any better?"

"Any better?" Louise asked. Before realisation dawned, and she suddenly realised what this clearing was for.

And it seemed to have worked, at least a little bit. It wasn't much, but she felt her frustration had receded, just a little.

"Yeah… a bit." Louise finally said.

Reimu nodded. "Good, now I'm gonna give you some privacy. Just come back to the shrine when you are finished." Reimu said, before walking back through the trees.

Louise watched her go. Before looking around the clearing. With her new knowledge, it suddenly looked different, even somewhat familiar. A small part of her wondered if she should be doing something like this, if it would be proper.

She looked down at a nearby stump. And for a moment, she could have sworn she saw a smug blonde woman smirking at her. The stump exploded.

She looked to the left, that tree reminded her of a mocking classmate, it soon followed the stump. A pair of rocks suddenly resembled an annoying Germanians insufferably large tits, and she felt no amount of satisfaction in watching them reduced to rubble.

From there it only escalated, trees fell one after another, boulders crushed, logs detonated, and when she started running low on willpower, she resorted to her fists and feet, tearing up grass, kicking up dirt and rocks, until she was sore all over, and then she just lay down sobbing. She didn't really know when she started crying, but cry she did. She cried about how unfair this was, why did she have to work so much, try so hard, and yet never get anything in return? Why did she alone have to go on a quest to prove she is worthy of a familiar? Why did everything always happen to her? Did the founder despise her? Did she displease him in some way? To heap so much misery onto a single girl seemed to imply so.

The sky was orange by the time she ran out of tears, she lay on her back panting. She left tired and sore, even more so than before she started, but this time it felt good. A strange sort of contentment spread through her.

She struggled to her feet. And clutching the stitch in her gut, she limped back to the Shrine.

Reimu was back on the steps again, and passed Louise a fresh cup as she sat down.

Reimu let Louise just sit there drinking for a few minutes, just staring into the setting sun, before speaking. "I figured you needed that, it felt like you had a lot bottled up."

"Do you do that a lot?" Louise asked.

"Used to." Reimu said. "I went there whenever it got too much."

"When what got too much?"

"Everything." Reimu said. "Whenever I got sick of being the Shrine maiden, sick of the ungrateful villagers, sick of being poor, sick of being alone, getting no help, no respect, and most of all, just sick of living up to everyone's expectations. I wasn't really a happy girl growing up."

"What changed?" Louise said.

"I did." Reimu said. "One day, I just decided to stop living to please others. And I went and found some friends who cared more about who I am rather than what I am." Reimu then turned her attention to Louise. "So who are you living for? Why are you trying so hard?"

Louise was taken aback by the question. Even more so when she realised she couldn't figure out how to answer.

Reimu sighed. "I feel I should apologise. I think I misjudged you when you first arrived. I honestly thought you were just some stuck up brat that Yukari had dropped on me for the sole purpose of irritating me, this wouldn't be the first time she has done something like that. I figured you'd give up within a week."

Louise didn't know what to think of this, so she let Reimu continue.

"I still think you are a bit of a brat." Reimu said, making Louise scowl a bit, but not much. "But I didn't figure you to be such a hard worker, you took everything Keine dished at you with a stiff upper lip, without a word of complaint, for a whole two months. If that ain't admirable, I don't know what is." This turned Louise's scowl into an embarrassed pout.

"If you were trying to prove something, you almost certainly did. But maybe it's time to consider just going home." Reimu said. "I know most of the small fry around here, I can help you pick out an easygoing fairy or a weak youkai so you don't have to go back empty handed, but…"

"Reimu." Louise said, surprising the Shrine maiden by cutting her off. "Thank You, I really mean it. But I don't want to just settle for something, and I don't really want pity. I'm not ready to go home yet."

Reimu's brow creased, a little bit of her irratility surfacing. "I'd hardly call a Fairy 'settling'. They are still pretty tough by human standards. You don't have to prove anything to anyone here, least of all me."

"This isn't about proving it to anyone else." Lousie said. "This is about proving something to myself, I… I think I want this all to be worth something. I don't just want a familiar, I want to be strong. I want to wear my family name without feeling like I'm embarrassing it. I want to be more than just a 'zero'. I want to be proud of myself, even just a little. Yukari says I have all the time in the world… and I think maybe I should use it."

The words had come so easy, as if something small and stubborn in her had died, or at least had been temporarily silenced by the companionable atmosphere of the shrine. 'Maybe I had needed that outburst more than I thought.'

"I know I'm being selfish. I'm taking advantage of your kindness, and Keines." Louise continued. "But… Can't I be selfish? Just this once, about this little thing?"

Reimu looked at Louise, as if she had seen her for the first time. Before chuckling softly. "You know, I just keep being wrong about you. If you keep this up, you might start impressing me. But I see what you mean, and I'm the last one who has any right to call someone selfish, so just do what you want. I guess I'll just have to catch you when you stumble."

"Thank you-" Louise began, but Reimu wasn't finished.

"But tell me… How exactly do you plan on becoming strong?"

"Errrr…" Louise hadn't really thought that far ahead.

At Louise's embarrassed expression, Reimu laughs. "Well, I'll tell you what. I might not be able to help you, at least not directly. But I know someone who can." She said, immediately getting Louise's undivided attention.

"I have a friend, a real good friend, a magician who specialises in hopeless, selfish girls like you..." Reimu said, making Louise pout again. "...on account of being one herself. She's currently busy with some sort of weird project or other. But when she's done, I can introduce you."

"Reimu… Thanks." Louise said. 'Maybe Reimu isn't the only one who has misjudged someone.'

Reimu looks out to the sunset again. "It's getting pretty late. You should be getting back. Spellcard rules or no. Gensokyo isn't the kind of place you want to wander around after dark."

"Right." Said Louise, trying to stand up, only for her body to remind her how sore she is.

"...Are you gonna need a hand?" Reimu asked, as Lousie struggled to her feet.

"...Maybe." Louise said, her cheeks colouring with further embarrassment.

Without so much as a warning, and with an indignant squark, Louise was picked up Bridal style.

"Hold on." Reimu said, before flying off with a terrified Louise in hand.


Louise returned to Kiene preparing dinner.

"Ah, you're back." Keine said, turning to face Louise. "I take it you had a long walk-Dear Kami what happened to you?!"

Louise looked down at herself, and only then realised what a mess she was. Her slightly ascue Yukata was covered in Dirt and grass stains, her hair was tangled and frizzy (although without her usual hair care products, it had already been below her usual standards), and she was very unsteady on her feet, both due to her exhaustion, and her impromptu flight down.

"Oh, nothing, I just went to visit Reimu and I ended up letting off some steam. But yes, The walk was good, I… managed to get some things off my chest."

Kiene looked confused for a moment, before realisation dawned. "Ahh, I see… Well go and wash up, and put on a fresh Yukata, I will probably have dinner finished by the time you are ready.

Louise nodded, and made her way deeper into the house.

A few minutes later, Louise was considerably cleaner, and had joined Keine at the table where they ate dinner in companionable silence.

"Louise." Keien said. "If you don't mind me asking, how much longer do you intend to stay?"

Louise swallowed her mouthful. "I… I think I will be staying for quite a while longer, I've decided not to leave until I am strong enough to earn a familiar of my own. I'd hate to impose on your hospitality…"

"No need to be so reserved." keine said, "I decided to lodge you, and you've been very tolerant for someone of your upbringing. I know this hasn't been easy for you." Keine thought for a moment, before asking. "How do you feel about having a place of your own?"

"I- wait, what?" Louise said, nearly dropping her chopsticks (she has nearly got the hang of the fiddly things).

"You see, there is an empty house in the village outskirts. It belonged to an old woman who died with no immediate family, and willed it to me. It's been abandoned for about a year, so it needs a bit of fixing up, but not a lot. If you are willing to help with repairs, I see nothing wrong with letting you use it for the remainder of your stay." Keine explained.

"I… don't know what to Say." Louise said. "But… why?"

"To be honest, I probably would have suggested this sooner, but considering you lacked life skills, I wasn't comfortable with you living alone until now. Which is why I was so insistent on having you take part in chores." Keine said. "Now I know you have the skills to live alone, and some work experience, I feel like now would be a good time."

"While I won't force you, if you are truly more comfortable staying here. But considering the nature of your quest, having a place of your own means you will have a lot more freedom. The home is also remote enough, so you can work at your own pace, and have dealings with youkai without worrying the villagers, while still being close enough that I don't have to worry about your safety."

"You will have to do all your own chores, and you will have to work for spending money rather than room and board. But apart from that, you will be free to attempt your quest without worry or interruption." Keine finished her rather lengthy explanation. "Of course I'll probably check in periodically to make sure you are taking care of yourself, but I'm just a worrywort like that."

'You know, maybe I misjudged you too, Keine.' Louise thinks. "Thank you. Keine… I mean, for everything."


Chapter Notes:

Yeah, a part of me still thinks there should be a chapter, or at least an extra section before this one to detail Louise's time in the village, but honestly I felt it would be too boring to read, and more importantly too boring to write, so I just decided to time skip it. Is it a little awkward? Probably, but this is fanfiction, and fanfiction is supposed to be fun.

Also, got a chance to write some chill Reimu, rather than Grumpy Reimu.

And as what some of you might be wondering after that little heart to Heart, no Reimu is not going to be one of the love interests. Reimu is probably going to have a more mentor-esque role in the story, not for magic, but more for just general life advice and learning not to give so much of a damn. They will probably also become friends at some point down the line when Louise starts to loosen up more and go a bit more native.

But yeah, this chapter is basically Where that process starts, her pride has been battered down by manual labour, she is now more receptive to the world she finds it in, and she can start to build herself up in a new interesting way as she acclimatised to Gensokyian living.

We have like one or two more chapters of establishing narrative (which I have yet to actually write), before we can get into the more episodic slice of life stuff.