A: Got a double chappy for you today! But first, I'll answer Questions!
...
Soupboi: Very funny, we got a comedian over here! JK, there will be one. I hope you won't be disappointed.
SpriteBlazer: It would be hilarious if I did that, but that would weaken the whole Frisk and Reimu rumor. I'm not some one-trick pony!
speedytank878: Hah, I am on fire, aren't I? Wait... Why is everything on fire!? AAAAHHH!
thegoofyreader: Wow, thanks for that. Genuinely. I also want to finish this story, but that is a loooong way down the road. As for your question, there are crazier things that happened in Gensokyo. when the bar is set high, not much would faze Reimu. But don't worry, there will be moments of questioning.
You Know Joe: This will be Frisk-centric. Their tale in the underground is over, but they still have some things to learn. As for the other characters, that would play a part later. Just not in the way you expect :)
...
A: Now let's get down to business! May fate be on your side!
*Today is the day.
*You woke up a bit later in the morning, Sunny, Luna, and Star are gone. You are alone on the Kotatsu, a blanket over your shoulders and a pillow under your head, Reimu must have put them there while you slept. While you hear the birds sing outside, the Shrine Maiden walks out of the bedroom and passes by you.
"I'll get breakfast ready. Just make yourself comfortable."
*She walks into the kitchen and you get up to do stretches on the back porch despite her suggestion. You go through the movements fluidly with no fatigue or strain, a sign that the medicine given by Eirin has done its job well. You breathe in the crisp air, the autumn warmth is fading as Gensokyo prepares for winter rest. You walk inside, fold the blanket, and place it beside the pillow, away from the table. Reimu walks in with two plates, one for you and herself, and places them on the table.
*You sit down to see a simple meal before you. A plate of rice, vegetables, a grilled fish, and a bowl of miso. It's not elaborate or unique, but you pick up the chopsticks with the same anticipation. The meal was enjoyed silently, and not a single word was exchanged between you and Reimu. There was no awkwardness or shame, just the gentle contentment of being in the other's presence.
*Your plate has been picked clean and you exhale, satisfied. As Reimu picks up the plates, you go into the kitchen to brew some tea. After it is done, you pass a cup to the Shrine Maiden and sit down. She looks down, admiring the Golden Flower tea, and takes a sip. Reimu breathed sharply, the tea was scaldingly hot. You smile and drink your cup while she cools her own. She takes another sip, enjoying the fragrance now that it's not burning her throat. You try to prolong the inevitable, but Reimu speaks candidly.
"Thanks for the tea, it was good… I need to get ready for the ritual. Pack up any of your belongings and get your shoes on. Be prepared in an hour, others will come to see you off."
*You silently nod and get up to head into the bedroom. You dig through the chest and find your shoes, placing them aside to find any missing objects to put in your dimensional storage. After collecting all your belongings, you stare at the futon that you used to sleep in during your stay. You look around the spartan room once more, taking it in before you see the bronze mirror. The mirror hangs on the wall, your reflection only at half the height of the polished surface, perfect for Reimu if she needs to check her clothing.
*You stare closely at the bandage on your head and realize you no longer need it. You carefully untie the white gauze and stare at a familiar image.
*It's you!
*The scar above your left temple is no longer swollen and your hair covers the stitching. You are slightly disappointed that it's not above your eyebrow, as you could have roleplayed as a pirate captain. But alas, the seven seas have to wait.
*You put on your socks and shoes. After tying your laces, you open the sliding door and look back to see that no sign of your presence has been left behind. You close the door and start walking toward the entrance of The Hakurei Shrine. You see Marisa speaking to Reimu and she turns toward you.
"Hey, kid! Are you ready to go through this?"
[Yes] [Wait!]
[Yes]
*You nod in confirmation, prepared for the next step ahead. Marisa smiles proudly at your answer.
"The resolve of a true mage! Reimu needs a few more minutes. Let's wait for a bit, Ze."
*You stand by Marisa as Reimu sits and meditates in the middle of the stone pathway. The soles of her shoes press together in front of her, her back is straight, her shoulders relaxed, and her arms resting on her legs. The Shrine Maiden has her Gohei in her lap as her eyes are closed, breathing slowly. You ask Marisa what Reimu was doing.
"She's trying to gather her thoughts. I don't know the specifics, but I do know that a spell needs concentration and intent to work. With timing and fortune, a spell of this magnitude must be taken seriously."
*As you think about her explanation, you see the Three Fairies of Light: Sunny, Luna, and Star. They fly from behind the shrine and Sunny joins you.
"Just in time! This will be the first time I see someone cross the barrier. What does it look like?"
"Rei Rei says it depends on the individual. The person would probably walk into an obscuring fog, enter the shrine and leave through the other side, or just vanish when no one was looking. Since we are on The Barrier's edge, it could just happen naturally. But for Frisk, we are opening the expressway out."
"Huh, neat! I wonder what Frisk's exit would be, then!"
*Sunny converses with Marisa to lift the slight tension in the air. Luna and Star stay quiet, waiting for the ritual to start. Soon enough, Reimu opens her eyes and grabs her Gohei. She stands up and calmly talks to you.
"It's time. Frisk, please stand before me."
*You look at your friends and nod to excuse yourself. Your steps lightly tap the stone ground as you walk towards the Hakurei Maiden. You stand before the girl in red as she looks at you with an unreadable expression.
"If you're ready, then we will begin."
[Continue] [Stay]
*…
*You give your answer.
"I'm ready."
"...Very well."
*Reimu raises her Gohei and the paper streamers dance in the fall winds. She waves the purification rod in gentle sways. Under her breath, she mutters a quiet prayer to the gods, a prayer of safety, safe passage, and a brighter future. Talisman shifts into view beside the Shrine Maiden, circling and dancing around their master as the girl's eyes become vacant as she focuses.
*You got lost in the moment, mesmerized by Reimu's flowing movements. The others hold their breath, not daring to interrupt her spell. A circle appears beneath you, spinning slowly as it glows with spiritual energy. The air ripples around you, like a stone thrown into a pond. The wind dances along with the talisman, the currents going faster and faster. The movements increase dramatically until Reimu comes to a stop.
*As she ends her ritual, the wind dies in an instant. The talisman disappears and the circle stills. After a second, the circle also vanishes. From behind, you feel a breeze. You turn around to see the Torri gate, once an open archway into the wilderness past the shrine grounds, is now a grand, red frame to a black abyss.
*A wind howls in the air as if the gate was breathing, a white light pushes from the edge of the red frame into an invisible corridor past the gate. You are instantly hit with deja vu.
*It's the barrier.
"Woah. That's your exit? It looks so awesome!"
*Sunny broke the silence and the other fairies also commented about the gate. Reimu wipes some sweat from her brow and walks up to you.
"This is it. This is where we part ways. It has been a pleasure meeting you, Frisk. I hope where you end up, you will find your way home."
*You look at your guardian. Your caretaker. Your friend. You don't speak as you look around at those who gathered to see you off: Sunny Milk, Luna Child, Star Sapphire, and Marisa Kirisame. Then you think about the others you met: Aunn, Cirno, Suika, Rinnosuke, Kagerou, Keine, Kosuzu, Reisen, Tewi, Eirin, Fujiwara, Kaguya, and many other individuals who choose to stay in Gensokyo to live their fulfilling lives.
*Then you go back to Reimu Hakurei, the Maiden of the Hakurei Shrine and the one who nursed you back to health. You remembered something. You pulled out the folded red and white hakama that Reimu first gave you and stretched your arms out to her, no longer needing the clothes.
*Reimu looks at the clothing in your arms and a smile graces her face. The girl lifts a hand and pushes it back to you, shaking her head.
"Keep them. Think of it as a last gift from me to you."
*Your grasp on the hakama tightens. You can't hold back anymore.
[Act]
Hug: Reimu
*You wrap your arms around the maiden, squeezing her. She knew that was going to happen, so she didn't resist it. She makes a small laugh while gently stroking your hair. You hear a sniffle from the onlookers and Luna turns to her friend.
"Hey, are you crying, Sunny?"
"Eh? Crying!? I'm not crying! I just got some dust in my eye, that is all."
*You loosen your grip and Reimu crouches down to your height. She brings her forehead to your own and whispers one more thing.
"Please...promise me you will be safe. Will you?"
*You put out your pinky and she links it with hers, the promise made. You walk towards the gate, the shifting corridor goes on for an eternity, but it's only a single step into the Outside. You turn around and wave at everyone. The fairies say their goodbyes.
"Goodbye Frisk! It's been lots of fun!"
"Keep up those dodging skills! You represent our team!"
"Remember to brush your teeth and eat three meals a day!"
*After Star, Marisa adds her voice.
"Study hard! No teacher wants to know that their student slacked off, you hear me!?"
*You give a thumbs-up and Marisa beamed at you. Waving towards Reimu, you finally turn back and face the barrier. You breathe in and out.
*It seems like your journey is at its end. You will return here, later down the line. But, right now, you walk through the barrier with DETERMINATION.
…Whump!…
*...
*You attempt to walk through the barrier with Determination… (and a headache.)
…Bump!...
*... ... ...
*You attempt AGAIN to walk through the barrier with Determination.
"Hey, uh… You okay, Frisk?"
…Thump!...
*YOU RUN THROUGH THE BARRIER WITH BURNING DETERMINA-
-Boing!
*(Oh, for the love of-!) The invisible wall launches you away from the gate and you fall on your rump. The exit that the Hakurei worked hard to summon has disappeared. As you rub your backside, Reimu is frozen, stunned at the barrier's rejection. Marisa sidles up to her friend to get an answer.
"(Was that… normal? What is happening?)"
"(No, that was not normal. It's…) Frisk, stay here and wait. I need to find a scroll."
*Reimu runs off towards the Hakurei Shrine. You sit there, wondering why the barrier won't let you through. Then, like a bolt of electricity, the answer hits you.
'If you want to go home… You'll have to take his soul… You have to-'
*The barrier needs a Monster and a Human SOUL. You're starting to feel ill. Your heart beats in your ears.
"-ey.. FRISK!"
*You jolt from your daze, Marisa looks you in the eye. She seems to be trying to get your attention.
"Frisk. Just breathe. What happened was not your fault. We WILL figure this out, so just relax, Ze."
*You nod and slow your breathing. You relax your heart and you stop clenching your hands. Marisa must have noticed you were panicking and tried to ease your nerves. After a moment of respite, you thanked Marisa and she held her hand out. She slowly pulls you up and speaks.
"Anytime, kid! I have to go, Rei Rei can't be the only one trying to find answers."
*The mage goes over to the shrine to pick up her broom. Before she leaves, Marisa tells the three fairies to keep you busy. When she flies off towards her home, Sunny, the leader, gets your attention.
"Since you're still here, let's play a game!"
*You smile at Sunny's enthusiasm. She and her group were saying farewells a moment ago, but now they agree with their leader to play with you even more when they know you are staying a bit longer. It shows they value your friendship, and that cherished bond lightens your mood. The gate has dissipated, why not have a little fun? Luna flies up and makes her suggestion.
"Oh! Let's play hide and seek, again!"
*You were about to agree, but a mild voice cuts through the air.
"Hide and seek? How coincidental, I've been seeking someone as well."
*You turn your head to see… a maid? She is in a navy blue dress with white trimming, covered with a spotless white apron and a maid's bonnet sits on her head. She walks under the Torri gate and stands before you. She gazes at you with a neutral expression, her hands over her apron like she is about to serve a lord. The fairies stare in fright at this unassuming servant, but she bows courteously and speaks to you.
"Frisk Dreemurr, you are formally invited by Mistress to her estate. Please come with me."
"S-Sakuya… Frisk, run."
*You were surprised by Sunny's words. But sensing the weight behind it, you ready yourself for confrontation. As you're trying to decide if you should flee or not, Luna turns around to yell towards the shrine.
"Ah! Rei-"
*Before she could finish, her voice cut out. She falls to the ground, a dagger stabbed in her back. Her body stills as she disappears into motes of light. You watch in horror as a life was taken so quickly. Luna, the booksmart. Luna, the clutz.
*Gone.
"Luna! Get away-"
*Star also tries to warn you but also falls to the ground. A similar dagger was lodged in her side, you didn't know where it came from. She turns into light, leaving no trace behind. You are frozen in shock, the maid was just standing at the gate a second ago. The woman moved so fast that your eyes couldn't track her.
*Sunny didn't fare any better, she tried to fight her off. She launched three projectiles and they didn't even reach Sakuya. She just stood there and the bullets just vanished in front of her. The maid tilted her head in curiosity. She blurred and Sunny fell last, the fairy turning into energy.
*You finally snapped out of shock and tried to run, but you felt something hit you in the back of your head.
*-5 HP
"I apologize, but that was not a request."
*You hear Sakuya's voice as your vision fades to black.
Reimu curses a certain yokai under her breath as she tries to read through the scroll for the third time. This scroll was given to her just in case she needed to send any Outworlder out of Gensokyo, but there is nothing on what happened with Frisk. "Did I mess up the spell? The barrier was open, why did it reject Frisk?"
She gritted her teeth and then just sighed in frustration. The Hakurei threw the scroll to the ground, showing her lack of respect for something that didn't help her. "Is there any wisecrack you want to add, Yukari?" Reimu said to the room. After a few seconds of silence, she thinks 'Of course not. That lazy hag is probably asleep, again.' and lies on the floor, stumped on this dilemma.
"At least Frisk is having fun," Reimu states from the tatami flooring. She could find solace that the child would stay a little longer before she figured out what was wrong with the barrier. The maiden could imagine what game they would play with the Three Fairies of Light. Probably throwing leaves at each other or something similar.
Looking towards The Shrine's entrance, Reimu noticed it was quiet outside. 'Strange. Are they doing hide and seek, then?' If that were the case, she would at least have heard the seeker looking around as they found the hiders. Reimu gets up and walks towards the front steps. After opening the door, she sees only an empty courtyard. Eyebrows pushed together in confusion, the Shrine Maiden gazes around her domain and finds no child or fey playing about the stone path.
'Where did they go? Something's off.' Reimu thought, sensing the atmosphere. She walks down the steps and towards one of the auxiliary buildings. The bathhouse had no occupants and the warehouse was similarly unattended. She even checked the small Moriya Shrine and the pond in the back, finding no soul. Reimu went from concerned to worried. The maiden started to call out, "Frisk? Sunny? Where are you? I'll be very upset if you all are trying to pull a prank." It's been over twenty minutes since she heard anything from the group and even now, she still finds no trace of them.
Reimu tries to rationalize it, 'Did Marisa take them to her place? Is Frisk continuing their lessons?' She shook her head and thought, 'No. Marisa would have told me beforehand. What happened to Frisk and the Fairies?'
As she starts to walk into the outer edges of The Shrine, a voice calls out from the forest. "REIMU!" The Hakurei turns and sees the familiar Temple Yokai running towards her. "Aunn? I'm busy right now-" Reimu tries to clarify, but is interrupted by a frightened Aunn. "Frisk was taken!"
Reimu stands there, silent. She sprints and places her hands on the yokai's shoulders. "EXPLAIN. IMMEDIATELY." Aunn nods quickly as her eyes water. "I was running to the shrine, worried I was late to the ceremony. Then I saw something run past me very quickly. I didn't see who it was, but they wore blue and had white hair. I smelled Frisk's scent on them and they were heading away from the shrine!"
The Komainu started to sob and apologize profusely for her incompetence as a guardian. Reimu only stared forward, a scowl manifested as she bit out, "Scarlet."
She resolutely turns around and walks into The Hakurei Shrine. She opens the door and marches into her room. Grabbing the Gohei, she opens a box on her dresser and sees her most potent weapon. The Yin-Yang Orb sits in the cushioned confines of the box and Reimu connects her mind to it. It answers her call and the Go-Shintai flies out to her side, it shifts and the single weapon splits into two. She turns back towards the front door and walks past a concerned Aunn.
"Where are you going?" The Temple Yokai asks. Reimu answers plainly, "I'm going to find Frisk, I'll do what I do best," referencing what Marisa said about her being a 'hammer.' Whoever took Frisk will get a hammer, alright. "I'm going to strike them down for daring to stick out," Reimu proclaims with single-minded wrath. The Ying-Yang Orbs float beside her, drawing in spiritual energy for Extermination. Aunn nods seriously, "Then I'll come with you!" Reimu didn't respond, as she didn't care if the yokai stayed or joined in her mission.
'I will get you back, no matter what.' The Hakurei promises to herself as she floats up and flies through the gate. Aunn follows behind, leaving the shrine to head west. They head towards the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
A streak of blue passes by the trees and over the hills, the leaves that fell were left undisturbed by its passing. Sakuya walked as she looked at the child slung over her shoulder. The maid tries to note any damage to the package as she delivers it to her Mistress. Other than the small bruise behind the neck (made by her), the child was intact. Sakuya nods satisfactorily.
Her ability to affect her own time comes in handy crossing long distances while minimizing time loss. Her zone of time dilation can affect objects and subjects around her, so the child is untouched by the effects of sound-breaking speed. If anything, it is like a leisurely stroll through the woods, but for anyone else outside her influence, it would look like she was speeding across Gensokyo like the hounds of hell are nipping at her heels.
'I could see why anyone would come to that line of thinking.' Sakuya thought. She knew when the Hakurei Maiden figured out that her charge was captured, she would be on the warpath. But Sakuya made sure that the child would be under the Mansion's custody before Reimu could even think something was amiss. The maid felt pity for the shrine maiden, cultivating something back to health for it to be taken away must be aggravating, but she has her orders from Mistress.
Sakuya hardens her resolve as she walks up to the front entrance of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. As she reaches the worn front gate, she sees a guard leaning against the support bar for one of the gate doors, focusing more on the pages of a manga rather than the outer perimeter. This guard is Hong Meiling, a yokai who tends to slack when no one is looking. Sakuya huffs at her coworker, even if there is little activity in the morning there are more productive things to occupy one's time.
As Meiling is reading the confrontation between The Demon Prince and The Chosen Hero, a smile widens across her face. "That demon looks very intimidating! The hero has to go all out in this fight! I love this line art, it looks so realistic!" She says to herself, not expecting to get a response.
Meiling hears a flat-toned, "What looks realistic?" Her gaze slips off the pages and at a horrifying situation. Sakuya stares directly at the gate guard, causing her to jump in fright, shouting "Eek! Demon!" Sakuya pauses at her compatriot's reaction. "Demon? Did Mistress contract another familiar?"
Coughing into her fist, Meiling acted like she wasn't surprised by her very intimidating coworker. "Ah, I saw Koakuma doing some gardening recently. I confuse you for her, my mistake." She reasoned as if the small imp could make her jump, not the devil looking at her with judging eyes. Sakuya reaches out and takes the manga book with one hand. She looks at the cover and states "I see. If you have extra time on your hands, I have some work you can do. Come with me."
The gate guard nodded solemnly as if taking her 'suggestion' as punishment for reading on the job. Meiling opened the gate and followed behind, finally noticing the sleeping form of a small kid with brown hair. "Eh? Who is this, Izayoi-san?"
While walking up towards the mansion's front door, Sakuya speaks, "This is an important guest Mistress personally invited. Your new job is to make sure they don't leave the guest room before they meet Mistress." Meiling hears what her job entails and frowns. 'Watching a human child? Why is a child so special that the Mistress brought them here?' she questions inwardly.
Sakuya feels the child stirring, it seems like they are about to come back into consciousness. She picks up the pace as she walks down the lavish halls of the mansion, Meiling sees she is being left behind and runs to catch up. The march ends at one of the many doors of the mansion. The maid opens the door to a guest chamber with a large bed and a vanity table. As she walks in, the child moves. The small form squirms and presses their shoes into her shoulder. After gaining purchase, the child slips from her hold and jumps towards the door, right into an unexpected Meiling.
*You crash into the girl following Sakuya. After your last attempt to escape the maid failed at the mansion's entrance, you waited for another to show itself. Your patience was rewarded as Sakuya opened the door to your prison. She had her guard down as she walked into the room and you seized the moment to scramble out of her grasp and jump toward the surprised girl blocking the entrance.
*As you slide off the shocked woman, you run around her and through the doorway. She snaps out of shock to turn around and chase after you.
"Hey! Stop right there, you little-"
*You take the door and slam it shut on the two girls inside. You hear a thump as the door is closed, the girl in green had her head at the doorway and you assumed she fell after getting a face full of intricate carpentry.
*No time to feel bad as you run down the hallway, retracing the directions the maid took to get here from the mansion's entrance. But after you are a couple of meters from the door, you see two gleaming objects heading toward you at the other end of the hall. You reflexly dodge out of the way as two daggers pass by you.
*An arm grasps the back of your collar before you gain your footing. You are lifted from the ground and you flail ineffectually in the air. You spin in place to see the girl you ran past holding you aloft like a kitten being held by the scruff. She wipes blood trailing down from her red nose, not looking amused by your stunt.
"Nice try, kid. But I won't let you go after that. Hey, Izayoi-san, I got them."
*You watch as the maid suddenly appears. If you were to blink, you would assume she was teleporting. The door leading into the room was busted off its hinges, and Sakuya didn't look pleased.
"Good work, Hong Meiling. But can you keep the destruction of Mistress' property to a minimum?"
"Oh. Whoops?"
*You try to flail again and Meiling puts you into a bear hug, locking your arms to your side and ignoring your ineffective kicks. You are carried into a new room. The lavish bedroom was not as big as the last one you were in, probably as a subtle retribution from Sakuya for your attempted takeoff. Meiling tosses you into the room and the downy bed breaks your fall. You almost sink into the heavy comforter and soft mattress before you sit up to look at the two captors at the doorway.
*Meiling looked proud of herself for lobbing you into your new gilded cage while Sakuya kept her cool demeanor. The maid looked at her own shoulder and narrowed her eyes at the dirt marks left by your shoes.
"I can't report to Mistress like this. Hong Meiling, watch them in case they try to leave again."
"Yeah, yeah. They won't get past me that easily. I'm The Great Wall of the Scarlet Devil Mansion!"
*The gatekeeper crosses her arms and stands heroically. Sakuya didn't react to her proclamation, so she nodded and went back through the doorway. She stares at you and says one last thing before she leaves.
"Mistress has ordered me to show you our hospitality. You will wait here until Mistress calls for your presence. Until then, it would be wise not to test her benevolence and patience."
*Sakuya closes the door and Meiling walks up to the vanity table. The guard flips around the chair and sits on it, leaning against the table while watching you like a hawk. You stare back at her at the edge of the bed. She stares harder. You stare back in turn… This lasts for about a minute. When she blinks you jump off the bed and bolt for the door.
*When you reach for the door handle, you notice Meiling is still on her chair, unworried by your getaway. You turn the handle and it doesn't budge.
*The door is locked.
*You hear metal jingling and turn your head towards Meiling, who twists a silver ring with multiple keys on her index finger. A smug smile crosses her face, mocking your effort. She places the keyring behind her on the mirrored desk, as if daring you to try and take them. You ignore her provocation and stomp back towards the bed to sit on the edge again. You cross your arms and pout, making your irritation known. She gets comfortable, leaning back and placing her hands behind her head.
"You know, you are quite the wily brat for Mistress to go out of her way to get you. What did you do to get her attention?"
*You shrug in response. The room grows silent and Meiling wipes blood from her nose again. Your guilt overpowers your distaste for the situation. You apologize for slamming the door on her face. The redhead weighs your apology and figures out it is genuine. Her intense gaze loses a bit of its heat. Meiling shrugs back.
"No hard feelings here, kid. I'm just doing my job."
*You think about her words and nod. You don't blame her for following orders. You tell her your name. She raises her eyebrow but calmly answers.
"Frisk? That's a weird name. I'm Meiling. The Great Gate Guard of the Scarlet Devil Mansion, don't you *yawn* forget about it.
*You notice that she yawned in the middle of the sentence. Her languid gesture gives you an idea. You flop on the mattress to indicate that you gave up on escaping. You lay on the very comfortable bed and stay still. You follow Napstablook's tradition of 'feeling like garbage,' silent and unmoving. After twenty seconds, Meiling yawns again and her posture becomes more relaxed. You slowly start to hum, a soft tune rises from your throat. The guard's eyelids become heavy but she is still vigilant. The hum slowly turns into singing, it's the same melody you sang back at Reimu's place. Meiling yawns and her eyes become heavier. After enough singing, she finally couldn't resist.
"That is pretty good, Frisk. I'll just listen… from… here…. *Zzz.*"
*She is sawing logs as you lay on the bed. You stay still for a few seconds to see if she is pretending. You look at her and she is still asleep. You get up, slide off the bed, and silently collect the keyring. As you walk away, you stop and look at the blood dripping down Meiling's face. Turning back, you wipe the blood off her face with a makeup towel and then place a bandaid on the bridge of her nose (It has a small heart on it.)
*When satisfied with your handiwork, you think about why you're here. You have been taken here to meet this enigmatic 'Mistress.' Back at the shrine, you promised to stay safe. Back at the shrine, your friends were… You shake your head. You need to get out of this place, you need to find Reimu. Your promise to her fills you with the Determination to keep going.
*... Suddenly, something resonates with your will. A glowing star appears near the door of the bedroom. You walk up to it, and this beacon of light calls you to use your power. You hesitate as the SAVE FILE appears. Memories start to come back and you don't know how to feel about them. You mentally shove it aside and SAVE. The glowing mote intensifies and your HP maxes out. You touch your scar, noting that it is still there.
*You unlock the door and open it, closing it softly behind you to not disturb Meiling. You look around the hallway you are currently in, its red carpet stretches down the corridor. Marble pillars hold strange pottery and suits of armor stand guard. This gaudy decor doesn't fit the large and tidy hallway, it's like they were placed as an afterthought to fill the space. You walk down the red carpet, noting that the lighting is dim, the shadows fended off by candle flame, and the uncommon window with its drapes closed.
*As you walk down the very long corridors that can't possibly fit into any reasonable infrastructure, you come across some doorways, checking them to see what's is on the other side. You find broom closets, empty bedrooms, a lounge area, and a clean kitchen. Once in a while, you run into fairies in maid attire, cleaning and dusting the rooms and hallways. You tried to interact with a few of them, but they either ignored you or didn't have anything useful to say.
"Huh? The exit? It's around here, somewhere. There are so many rooms, it's easy to get lost."
*You thank the smaller fairy and keep moving. The human maid hasn't shown up yet, but you are on the lookout in case you need to run or hide. Walking down the next corridor, you see a large set of double doors. They looked important enough, so you open one door and slip inside. What you stare at is chaos. You are in a large room with a banquet table, and fairies, both big and small, hovering around in noticeable panic. They push in chairs haphazardly and have trouble arranging the silverware. Even the tablecloth is not aligned properly.
"Ah! What are you doing here!? Only staff is allowed!"
*A fairy maid about Reimu's height flies up to you. She looked utterly disheveled, waving at you in blind panic. You calmly look around at the sorry state of this dining area and ask if they need extra help. She was confused for a second, but suddenly turned into relief.
"You're a new hire? Oh, thank the heavens! Where's your uniform? You know what, never mind. We need you to set up the silverware!"
*You nod and go up to the table. You see the absolute travesty of the silverware placement, the forks are switched up, the knives are pointing outward, the napkins are not properly folded, and even the wrong plate types are mixed in. You correct these mistakes made in haste, putting the cutlery back into position, refolding the napkins, and placing the wrong plates aside to be replaced. As you nod in satisfaction, your gaze wanders towards the chairs that were not pushed in well. It was a simple fix, so you push the chairs in enough for someone to slip past between the seat and the table.
*You remember something important as you are busy realigning the tablecloth. You need to leave. As you try to make yourself absent, one of the fairies waves you over.
"Hey! I need you to set up the plates!"
"Hey, new guy! I want some help with the decorations, please. Thank you!"
"Hey! Those drapes need a dusting, I can't do it alone!"
*More fairies start to request your assistance. It seems like your organization has been noticed and the maids look at you with an opportunistic glint in their eyes. Looks like you are not getting out of this one.
Sakuya looked over her clothing to check for any dirt she missed from her previous five inspections. Looking at her reflection from one of the windows of the elaborate hallway, the maid examines her white sleeve, the one where the child placed their filthy shoes on. Before meeting Mistress, she must look her best and anything less than that is an insult.
Knowing that she looks acceptable, Sakuya opens the door to Remilia Scarlet's personal dwelling. The Mistress of the house was sleeping in her bed, which was composed of an elaborate coffin on top of a double-sized bed. Despite changing her room around, she never got rid of her coffin, finding comfort in what's familiar, even if she denies that she does sleep in one. Remilia sleeps in the open casket, as she is usually active at night, and Sakuya walks up to the bedside.
"Mistress, I have acquired the child like you asked." The maid announces but only gets a "five more minutes," Remilia rolling to her side in response. She would be obligated to let her rest, but the maid knew this matter was important to her superior.
She speaks again, "Mistress, I know you sleep at this hour, but what are we to do with our new guest?" Remilia grumbles under her breath but sits up from her confines and says, "Couldn't let me have a nap, Sakuya? I thought you would be here sooner and I dozed out of boredom, so much for being on time."
Remilia saw Sakuya pause for a second. She knows how to press the maid's buttons and delights in the act. "I was delayed by an unexpected event, I took care of it and now I'm here," Sakuya stated assuredly and her Mistress saw right through it. "Like cleaning your shirt? I know you want to look presentable, but you could have changed clothes, instead." Remilia reasoned, and the maid paused again.
'Silly Sakuya way too fixated on the small things.' The Mistress thought and then moved on to the more important subject. "As for our guest, I already have preparations on the way. All I need you to do is bring them directly to me." Remilia declared and the maid bowed and turned towards the door to exit.
Remilia speaks again, "Sakuya, this is an urgent matter. I don't care about their condition, as long I get to examine them. Bring them to me, alive or otherwise. Do you understand?"
Sakuya stops. The maid thinks about her orders and nods to herself. "Very well," she responds and leaves the room. Remilia gets out of bed and stretches, smiling about the current situation. 'Now, what are you going to do? Show me even a fraction of who you are, child unchained by fate.' She walks to her dresser and sees Tupai sleeping in its cage, she then changes out of her nightgown into her usual attire. After looking less like she rolled out of bed, Remilia left her room and looked out the hallway window facing towards the East. Ignoring the irritation of the sunlight on her skin, she thought about the Hakurei Maiden and her friends. She knows the girl is on her way, ready to crash the party immediately.
"The more, the merrier!" Remilia says, continuing to walk down the hallway. It's been a while since the maiden's last visit, she wondered how much stronger she got after that. She can't wait for the action to start. 'This is going to be so much fun!'
…
Sakuya walked down the corridor with hurried steps. Mistress wanted the child brought to her with expediency, so she headed to the guest bedroom without distraction. When the maid was at the door, she placed her hand on the doorknob and noticed that it was unlocked. Confused, she remembered that the door was locked when she left.
Pushing the door open, Sakuya looked straight at the bed and saw that the child was gone. She looked around until she locked onto an unwelcome sight. "*Zzzzz..*" Meiling sleeping away, leaning a chair against the vanity table. The maid saw this and pieced together a scene in her head. Sakuya walks up and states loudly, "Hong. Meiling."
Meiling snorts and wakes up from her nap, her danger sense kicking her to consciousness. She looked around and noticed the Head Maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion was focusing on her with a cold gaze. "Good morning- eh? EH!? Izayoi- Ack!" She falls off the chair in surprise and onto the carpeted floor.
The guard got up quickly, stating, "H-hey, Izayoi-san! How's your day?"
Sakuya responds curtly, "The child, Miss Hong. Where are they?" Meiling looked confused and answered, "What? They are lying on the bed… right… there…" She trailed off as she looked around the room and saw no blue sweater-wearing minor anywhere in the immediate area. Meiling looked over to the table and noticed that something was also absent. She pats down on her pockets, coming up empty. The guard's keys have been stolen and the waiting gaze of her coworker made her sweat.
"Oh, I remember Frisk needed to use the bathroom! You know, kids and their unpredictable bladders! We should find them so they won't get lost in the winding hallways, hahaha…" Meiling lied, and the maid didn't look entirely convinced. Sakuya stared at their coworker with vexation, but she had a more important matter to attend to instead of punishing the slothful guard.
"Yes. Let's go find them, Now." Sakuya stated and Meiling took it as a cue to bolt out the door to search for Frisk.
The maid looked at the room while slowing down time, her frustration turned inward as the guest that Mistress wanted here might have already escaped from right under their noses. She couldn't understand why the child wanted to test her patience.
Recollecting on the Mistress' orders, she walked out of the room and saw that Meiling was heading in the opposite direction of the mansion entrance. Sakuya shook her head and started heading down the correct path. Checking every door on the way, she went from a walk to a run. She even uses her quantum double to look through the rooms as she runs down the hall. She is starting to think that the child has left the mansion and is currently passing Misty Lake, but her doubts are paused when she notices the fairy maids crowding around the dining room.
When Sakuya entered the dining room, she witnessed an interesting image. The child that escaped their room was surrounded by fairy maids and cheered on instead of being captured. The human child was arranging a flower vase while balancing a large stack of plates on their head. One of the fairies would fly up and toss a plate over the child. They would react and shift their head, the flying saucer landing on top of the increasing tower of fragile porcelain.
The head maid paused at the unique display and a mixture of emotions shuffled within her mind. Relief the child was still here, confusion as to why they hadn't escaped yet, disappointment over the reckless use of plates for childish games, and irritation that her subordinates would even throw around plates in the first place. She expected the fairies to be not very effective as maids, but to treat the mansion's property as projectiles is inexcusable.
The child hands over the vase to one of the fairies to be placed on the dining table as a decoration. They walk over to one of the candelabras to wipe it with a cleaning rag, the tower of plates still balanced on their head. The maid stares at one of the silverware sets and they are neatly placed in their correct spots. If it's the child's work, it is a passable effort even with slight errors.
Sakuya walked up to one of the taller fairies and spoke out loud. "Rose. What is going on, here?"
The fairy heard her name being called and turned around to speak excitedly. That jubilation dies within her throat when she sees not another fairy maid, but her boss. "Izayoi-sama… We were setting up the table as Mistress had ordered."
As the fairy spoke to Sakuya, the other fairies noticed who joined them and started to quiet down, one of them even hid the plate, which they were going to throw, behind their back. A mixture of embarrassment and fear crosses every fey's face.
The only person unaware of her presence was the kid still balancing the plates on their head. Sakuya walked up to them and waited for them to finish cleaning the brass candle holder. They nodded to themself at the reflective surface and turned to see Sakuya watching them closely. Admirably, the child didn't jump and the plates flew off their head, but they did subtly step back in surprise, causing the tower to shift awkwardly and making the child reorientate their balance to keep them from falling.
Before a catastrophe happened, she blurred and the plates were put into their designated areas or put away. The child stood in place and watched her, clearly alert to her movements. Sakuya spoke to the room, "You had your fun, now get back to work. Frisk Dreemurr, please accompany me."
*You tail the maid out of the dining room, the fairies continuing their cleaning out of obedience. As you reach the hallway, Sakuya continues to walk back to where you escaped your quarters. You don't want to go back to the guest room and stop in your tracks. You eye the maid as she continues to walk as if she didn't notice your absence.
*As you turn around to go in the opposite direction, you bump into something. You look up and then jump back reflexively.
"Frisk Dreemurr, please don't try to make this difficult for both of us."
*Sakuya stood in the middle of the hallway as if she hadn't been walking away in the opposite direction a moment ago. You turn your head slightly to look behind to see a vacant corridor. In a split second, you felt the air displace and reactively slapped away the hand reaching you. The maid looked at her marked hand while you backed up again. She gazes at you and asks a question.
"Why? Why do you choose to act so defiant? Last I recalled, you had no difficulty following instructions."
*...
"Is it because I harmed those fairies? Were you that attached to them?"
*...
"Did you know that they didn't die? They are nature spirits and will reform back in a day. Miss Hakurei and Miss Kirisame do the same thing I did, but more often."
*...
"If you just follow me, then I can assure your safety. Mistress is very curious about you and wishes to know more. It won't take long if you do what she asks."
"No."
*You don't care about this Mistress or what she wants, you have a promise to keep and a shrine to return to. The maid pauses at your answer and then slowly breathes in.
"I'm trying to be reasonable, to give you as many chances as possible to choose the wisest course of action. I don't want to drag you by force, but you are leaving me no choice."
*Sakuya stands straight, her left hand stretches out to her side and, with a deft flick, a triad of silver knives is held between the knuckles. The maid's right hand moves to a side pocket and then rests the arm against her apron, clutching the iron chain of a stopwatch that ticks audibly.
*The air becomes still and you get ready for the incoming battle of wills. Hope against Obligation. Promise against Commandment. The ticking watch echoes in the large, opulent hallway as you and Sakuya refuse to back down. She makes the first move to speak, her icy silver eyes briefly glowing blood red.
"Good children stay in their room. Naughty children leave behind a tragedy."
[!]
*The air stills unnaturally around the maid.
[Fight] [Item] [Act] [Mercy]
HP 20/20
Marisa sighed as she flew over the Forest of Magic to get back home. She has been thinking about what happened with the barrier and Frisk, over and over. The mage could not come up with an explanation and neither could Reimu, who cast the spell in the first place.
The one who was affected the most was Frisk. What thoughts were going through their head must have not been good, as they were on the verge of hyperventilating. Marisa had never seen the child so horrified before. A yokai threatened to kill and eat them and the kid didn't even flinch, but the gate's rejection really got them spooked. She helped out the best she could to keep Frisk calm before she headed home to do her own investigation.
Landing back at her house, she scours through her grimoires to find anything to explain the anomaly back at The Shrine. "No, that's not it. How about this one? Oh, this one has my notes on barriers and seals. Let's just carefully…" As she was pulling a tome from a pile of objects, a sudden and loud banging came from her front door. This caused her to jolt and pull out the notebook too fast, causing the objects on top of it to fall off the shelf and onto Marisa.
From the ground, the witch pushes off the many tomes, notes, and trinkets. She grimaced at the cleanup she had to do. To add insult to injury, a fist-sized purple sphere rolls off the shelf and lands squarely on her head. "Ow." She hissed as she glared at the violet orb rolling around on the floor as if to taunt her.
Another set of rushed knocking and a muffled voice came from her door. Marisa grabs the damned orb and gets up to throw it into one of her gathering baskets. "Yeah, yeah. HANG ON!" She yelled as the mage stomped towards the door. Marisa swung it open to tell whoever was knocking to screw off. When she got a look at the perpetrator, she paused. What stared at her from the entrance was a familiar tengu.
Aya breathed like she was exhausted. "Hah, hah… Kirisame-san, I… I need to speak… Hah, (How did you humans use those legs for so long!?) I need to speak to you about an emergency!" She declared, her red eyes pleading. Marisa reacted accordingly and slowly closed the door while answering, "I'm not doing an interview for your third-rate newspaper."
Before the door could close, an arm blocks the way. Marisa growled at the persistent crow, trying to push her limb out from the door. Aya begged, "Please, Marisa! It's about the child! Remilia is going to kidnap Frisk!" Marisa froze and pushed the door open to stare at the tengu. After getting a better look, Aya was battered. Her black hair was disheveled, her wings cut short, and her geta was held in her hand. 'Did she run here barefoot?' the witch thought as she noticed one of Aya's ankles had a tied cloth dyed red.
Marisa speaks, "Tell me Everything." Aya nodded and gave everything she learned.
After sitting down on her couch and drinking one of Marisa's blood recovery elixirs, the bandaged tengu watched as the mage prepared for confrontation. She stuffs potions into her bag and holds onto her signature weapon in her dominant hand. "Remilia Scarlet. Of course, it had to be Remilia. She always has to be a thorn in my side." Marisa stated in indignation, grabbing a few more volatile concoctions to sling onto her belt.
When she was done, Marisa grabbed her broom and started to head out. Aya stumbled after the witch that went outside, speaking to her as she mounted her broom. "Hey, take me with you!" The crow asks.
Marisa questions, "Why should I? You're just chasing the next crummy headline." Aya huffs at the accusation. "I may be interested to know Frisk, but morality comes first for a news reporter! I just want to help. With or without my wings, I can still fight!" She states with certainty.
The witch kept her eyes on the tengu for a few seconds and sighed. "Let's go. Hop on, Ze." Marisa gestured behind her and Aya looked at the broom and smiled.
"Right! Let's get us that headline!" the reporter declared as she sat behind Mairsa. 'Please, don't make me regret this.' the mage thought as she lifted off the ground to head over to their dreaded destination.
…
Reimu throws another handful of ofuda, causing one of the many fairies to become spiritual energy. Aunn launched Danmaku and another fairy falls into the forest below. "One down! Why do they keep coming!? The fairies are usually very calm!" The temple guardian complained.
Reimu didn't answer and just kept flying. The shrine maiden knows the Yin-Yang Orbs are to blame for the relentless fairy attacks. Even if they are the most powerful weapon in her arsenal, the constant drawing of spiritual energy is like a lighthouse to these nature spirits. It lures them out and gets them excited, and in that excitement, they attack with great enthusiasm. This will cause a delay as both Reimu and Aunn fight their way to the Scarlet Devil Mansion.
"Please, hang on for a little longer." The Hakurei said as she stared ahead, her promise to protect driving her forward. She sees Misty Lake in the distance as she continues, "I'm almost there, just a little more."
A: Wait, don't kill me yet! There is still the second chapter! Hit [Next] for the fight!
As for my confidence in who would win? Well, I think it's- *Arc has fled the room.