Touhou Ankoku - Rise of the Eternal Dread

by Lei Yun

An amnesiac newcomer arrives in Gensokyo and she's not here by coincidence. Convinced that she could find help there, she embarks on a quest to find them and return her lost memories. But it's not an easy journey as this means she'll be entering a seemingly otherworld in which gods, magic, and yokai exist. Will she be able to attain her goal? What awaits her in the Land of Fantasy?

17. A Blast From The Past: Fire Rekindled

Bamboo Forest of The Lost

The reason why it is named like that was because of its nature where it is easy to get lost. There are no clearings, the ground is mostly flat and indistiguishable. The bamboos grow quickly resulting in a constant change of scenery. Not to mention, some yokais can be seen lurking here, making it a dangerous place for a human to get lost especially at night. The most notable beings that can be frequently seen here are rabbits. There's a typical type of earth rabbit that lives here that likes to play around.

"Hopefully, that Tewi won't pull anything today..." Reisen sighed as she said the name of a troublemaker.

Currently they are on their way to the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. Rain agreed to go with her due to what she said about her master Eirin that can somehow help her in her memory problem. Hence, why she is here with Reisen.

"Who?" She could not help but ask as they walk while looking at her surroundings, it was calm and peaceful probably because there is only the wild and nature here with the addition of the chance of encountering a yokai which would quite ruin such atmosphere if it were to seek a fight.

"Tewi Inaba, a earth yokai rabbit..." Reisen gave yet another exhausted sigh just by mentioning this name. "She's quite a handful especially when I really needed her. Not only that she also likes to lie and trick others, so a trickster to be exact. Oh, and she likes to play pranks too..." As she said that, something crosses to her mind and looks at Rain for a second before walking again. This time she is trying to distance herself from Rain for the reason would be to avoid their supposed guest to be involved in a prank by Tewi for Reisen. Just thinking about it sends Reisen to a state of dread.

This mission assigned to her by her superiors is considered to be very important. Reisen herself didn't voice out any objections nor questions even if she knew who exactly is the one she is supposed to fetch. After all, she is once a soldier from the moon. It is natural that she knows or at least have heard the very same person that her former masters have a business with for attempting to taint them with such filth called "Impurity". For all of moon rabbits have heard of it. The first Genso-Lunar war, an event that unfolded more than a thousand years ago.

Though the Lunarians were victorious, there are things that are keep hidden and a mere soldier would not have access to such information even if they were to get a hold of it, they'll be properly dealt with for obtaining such classified information. That is how things work in the Lunar Defense Corps. They have very advance weaponry and one of these are the Shimenawa Ropes which they claim to have created, it is used to bind and imprison the impure and even gods. It was used to many gods and even impure people that would be very much a threat to the Lunarians. This however has failed once when it was needed the most by being destroyed in the process of use.

Reisen is quite alarmed at first when she was told that she is fetching their supposed enemy but she's no longer a part of the moon army. What she worries about is if she reveals that she is a moon rabbit it might land her in a bad position. Hence, she did not removed her disguise though she forgot the part that Rain does not have her memories.

Seeing how Reisen acted, Rain narrowed her eyes in confusion as to why her supposed escort and guide is distancing herself away. As Reisen moves away from her, she pursued her to ask her why. "H-hey! Don't leave me behind!"

Just as she catches up to Reisen, she saw another person with ankle-length white hair decorated with red and white paper charms ribbons. This person's face seems surprised from seeing her. There was a moment of silence and after that she finally spoke while her voice seems to be trembling.

"N-no way...it can't be... master?" She fumbles on her words as she said that. There's a hint of disbelief and surprise from her tone.

Rain looking at Mokou with a confused face, pointed at herself while saying. "Eh? M-me? What?"

Rain's voice even further proved to Mokou that she is indeed the person she is talking about. Along with that she studied her looks and even to the point of physically touching her.

"Hey! Stop touching me on the face or anywhere else!" Rain complained and reacted to what she is doing.

"I have so many questions! Like h-how are you still alive? A-and your face... the burn is no longer there..." She tried to touch it but Rain avoided her.

"Like I said! Who are you?! Why are you calling me like that?"

Reisen on the other hand tries to intervene by saying. "Please Mokou, I have to bring her back to Eintei. You could come with us but please don't bother her while on the way as I can see that she is getting uncomfortable."

Mokou seems to didn't listen to her for a moment as she replied. "Don't butt in... I remember that Kaguya is related to master... fine, I'll follow but I will still talk to her." She then turns to Rain and said. "I'm pretty sure you are her... your voice, your clothing, everything screams that you are indeed my master...Rain."

Mokou herself hasn't read the newspapers yet from the tengu or she just actually didn't bothered to. So she is clueless to what is actually happening recently. If she were to know about this then she would have probably rushed in to seek her. She also seems to be telling the truth, after all she managed to name her. But what kind of things did Rain taught to Mokou? As swordmanship is not the only thing she is good at.

Yet another revelation to Rain which she didn't take with surprise. After all, many things have happened today that has already burnt her out mentally. So she calmly replied. "What kind of things did I taught to you? I'd have you know that I currently do not have my memories hence I cannot remember anything from the past." Rain's way of speaking remains casual so as to not establish a hostile mood.

She thought of things that she may have taught to the girl in front of her. Like hand-to-hand combat and possibly swordmanship too but Mokou is not carrying any weapon at all. Which could mean that she taught her how to fight with her barehands.

This proved to be true as Mokou takes a fighting stance that is familiar to Rain. But that does not end there along with that stance, Mokou ignited both of her fist in flames and said. "You taught me many things... these two are just a part of them... that's right... magic and physical training. I may have been incomplete in your teachings but I have your notes with me back then... too bad they got burned from me being careless. I'm sorry for that." She gave a small chuckle as she goes back to her standing position.

"Magic? Do I know such a thing? C-cool, I guess... also I don't mind about that er...I think I can't really react properly so let's set aside that for now. Though, Patchouli did say something concerning about magic..." Rain puts a finger on her chin as she tries ro recall the magician's words.

Reisen listening to them reminded that they could talk while walking to save time. The two agreed and they move on. They entered the Bamboo Forest and continued their talk as they walk. Mokou learns about her amnesia and introduced herself to ease Rain.

Rain trailed along behind Reisen who still keeps her distance from her. While Mokou is walking by her side, speaking non-stop if others would have saw her they would tilt their head over this as Mokou tends to be the quiet type but right now, she's the opposite of that. Smiling and talking loudly.

"-I thought it was a reincarnation at first but this is even better! Another person that-" She stops and her smiling face dropped as she realized that the next thing she is about to say is selfish.

'What am I saying?! Seeing master alive and well...makes me happy but to wish another one to be in my state is selfish. This...immortality thing really messes with my head that I can't think like a normal human anymore... well, I'm far from normal now... maybe I shouldn't be happy to see her alive? Urgh! What kind of thinking is this?!' She cursed herself as she erases this thought from her own head.

"Not really... I wonder why too, but I guess I'm quite happy to be alive. If not then, I wouldn't have met such people and reunite with people like you..." She stops for a second to think. "No matter... what counts is that I'm enjoying this life of my mine even with problems." Rain said with a smile as the gentle winds passed by.

Mokou hearing this remembers that part of her master that she looks up to and that would be her positive thinking and believing that life is not that bad no matter the problems that one encounters. It would seem like she still has not changed after all. This made Mokou smile a little as she agreed with her.

"Life is worth living... that's what you are saying right?"

Rain nods as her response while thinking about her current state. Many things have happened ever since her arrival. It was clearly something out of normal but regardless she feels that she has been doing the right decisions and the right path. But she herself could not help but add to her thought about how her life was from the past. She has the feeling that such memories contains both happy and sad moments but nevertheless she must push on to know the truth about herself, about everything.

As they walk on the bamboo forest, Rain is somehow feeling something and it is unsettling. Seeing this place somehow reminds her about something, it is slowly rising from the back of her mind but it won't emerge perhaps it still needs a trigger to fully go out. She feels uneasy about it but tries not to show it to the others.

For her opinion about this girl who somehow can control fire. She seems convinced that Mokou is telling the truth and there's no denying the fact that she managed to recognize and name her. There's also this close familiarity that she is feeling, maybe Mokou is someone in the past that she is quite fond off. Rain also thought about the dream she had back then. The one about the silver haired guy that she agreed to teach. The two seems unconnected with each other but that doesn't mean that she didn't took in students.

'Magic...hmph...I have no idea about it. Oh, maybe I did but don't remember. It must be cool to do so... but I'm still feeling unease about something. I can't wrap my head around it but if I continue forward maybe I'll know...' She thought to herself as they trudged forward.

Sooner or later, she'll come to relive her past that actually sets her to the path that came to be the present.

---

The Tale of Princess Kaguya – The Lost Version –

This is version of the story that is believed to be the true and accurate but it is only known by a few. Hence the lost version name.

In this version there are major changes in the story, such as the Princess Kaguya not really returning to the moon and many more untold events. The most notable part of it are the addition of new characters.

The bamboo cutter and his wife remains as her foster parents and calls her a "Princess". Though this time they are accompanied by a mysterious swordsman that served as Princess Kaguya's bodyguard. The two are in good relationship despite their constant bickering. There are also the monsters that plagued and roamed the land of the rising sun known as the "Yokai".

This is what it says based from the lost excerpt recovered but even so this remains as nothing but a fiction to the people who read it. There are words at the end of this excerpt and it reads.

"Hmph! No matter what happens, never I will call her a royalty not even as I stand here holding my ground. See? I avoided that word! Eat that! Kaguya! ...Come at me, moon people! I'll kick your butts right back to the moon! My blade shall render all of ye asunder!".

The next pages were torn apart and besmirched but there is one thing that is still quite readable and it says. "Dance of the moon rabbits".

---

"Are we there yet? Sorry, I've been walking like the whole day." Rain ask to her supposed guide which is quite far from her.

"Just a few more minutes and we're there." Reisen replied as she takes a feel to the ground with her feet. Seems like she is checking for something.

Hearing that Rain turns to Mokou and asks her. "Do you live around here?"

Mokou quickly replied. "Yes, I do. I'm more of the one who helps lost people in here get back. I guess, it is more or less my job?" She seems to be questioning her own words but regardless it is what she do.

As Mokou said that she could not help but remember the times she was with Rain.

"What do we have here? Kid, you're sulking again?...Tell you what? Come with me for walk or would you rather just sit here and sulk at the corner? No? Well, get up and follow me."

Mokou smiles at that moment of reminiscence but it quickly faded away as she remembers that scene play through her mind.

"Just...take my hand, Mokou... you're not a monster... I can tell that you are still you. So come with me and...argh!"

The of sound a flesh being seared can be heard. She can hear her own mentor's cry of pain as a part of her face is being burned.

"...I..I- can take it... let out your rage and sorrow... Mokou... Don't...run! D- damn! My left eye...I can't see..."

Those are the last words she heard before fleeing. Mokou herself runs away from what she has done and this is the last time she ever saw her. To this very day, she feels guilty about it and now seeing her again made her feel like she is back at that time.

Tears began to fall from her eyes, though she herself is not yet aware that she is tearing up.

Seeing this Rain quickly reacted. "H-hey!? Why are you suddenly crying?"

Mokou looks at her in confusion and then she realized what she meant. She puts a hand on her face and she felt the watery tears that her eyes produced. She chuckled at this while still tearing up.

"I'm still human... after all... thank you, master..." She uttered to herself as she slowly wipes her tears away.

For once, she feels like she is back to being a normal human, even it is but for a mere moment to Mokou it felt very long her. To feel such emotions is the mark that she still possesses the heart and soul of a human. Even if she is no longer a normal human but an immortal one.

"I'm alright, just had a dust on my eyes." She gave a sweet smile to Rain.

Rain blinked for a few seconds and then replied. "Well, if you say so..."

Things went silent for a while and then they heard a loud yelp coming in from the direction of Reisen with a loud crash. They quickly run towards her and saw a somehow pitfall where Reisen is stuck.

"Gaaahh! That little twerp! Not again!" Reisen said annoyingly as her whole clothing got dirtied by the dirt from the hole she got trapped in.

The hole she was in echoes with her grumbling as Rain helps her get out from the trap.

"You know... this prank is getting old. Why do you always get caught in it?" Mokou said as she passes by the hole to look for the one responsible to it. She sighed as she slowly shakes her head. "Honestly, if it were me I would have already avoided such a measly prank. Maybe you should start- ?! Ugyaa!" Her words were cut off as she too falls down to another pitfall trap.

"You were saying?" Reisen said with a scoff as she takes Rain's hand.

Embarassed, Mokou replied. "S-shut it! I was just not looking!" She gave an excuse but it clear as day that she has fallen to the prank too.

"Take not one but two or more extra steps... This fellow is a master of their own craft it seems." Rain said as she does not take a step any further.

Mokou herself just use her own strength to boost herself up from the pit. After that she dusted herself off some of the dirt.

Rain herself analyzed the surrounding ground and then said. "It would seems like it would be hard to pinpoint on how many pitfalls are here. But it is safe to assume that there's a ton of them. Probably only in this area. I'll tap ahead while you guys clean up." Rain said as she begins to move forward.

Somehow this is quite similar to trudging a minefield but instead it is the pitfalls that they need to avoid. Flying is the best ideal course of action but Rain can't so she didn't raised this suggestion. After all, no one seems to have thought of this yet and she won't be having that she'll be the only one to walk.

So far she managed to walk a few distance without falling to a pitfall trap. This is because she noticed something. As there seems to be a pattern and judging from the size of the pitfalls. Seems like she is quite correct on her analysis.

With that she made a final diagonal hop and landed safely on the ground. Then she breathes a sigh of relief before hearing a loud clap just near her. She turns her attention to it and saw a small person at the size of a child with bunny ears, clapping with a smirk on her face.

"Wow! Congratulations! You figured out on how my trap works! Whoo! Consider yourself to be lucky!" Her way of speaking is very childish.

She has dark red eyes and black shoulder-length hair. She also has a fluffy rabbit ears and is barefoot while wearing a frilly pink-white dress with a carrot necklace.

"I'm Tewi Inaba! Nice to meet you! Clever human! Here have some mochi! My treat!" She handed out a single mochi to her.

Seeing how this Tewi person appeared out of nowhere. Rain is reluctant to accept it. Reisen did say that Tewi is a prankster.

"Come on, do I look like a rabbit that would trick you?" She said as she tries to erase the wide grin on her face and acts cute.

'From the way you just acted, I'd say yes.' Rain mentally replied.

"Hopefully not, those two people would like to have a word with you so I'd suggest you skedaddle before they know that you're here." Rain said as she jutted a thumb behind her back.

In the distance, Mokou and Reisen are still cleaning themselves up from the dirt.

"Oh, sure! Just take this mochi! I still have another one for me!" Tewi still insisted.

"Fine..." Rain takes the mochi from her hands and eats it.

"Hmm..." She tries to feel for anything wrong. Maybe it really is just normal mochi but after she tried to swallow it. There, she felt something is wrong.

"...urk...the mochi...I can't breathe! ...it's stuck!" Rain said with an alarmed voice while she grabs her own throat.

"Yahoo! Got you there! This mochi is thicker than you think!" Tewi smiles at her while celebrating at the success of her prank.

Rain tries to stay calm by saying. "...Y-You knew? D-damn rabbit... I knew it..." She coughs many times to try and spit out the stuck mochi on her throat but to no avail.

"Hehe, no worries you won't die from that!" Just as she said that, Rain collapses in front of her. Making her panic for a moment as she approaches her.

"O-oh... maybe I made an oopsie?" She said while trying to help her out. Can't have the guest of honor die now can she?

Then suddenly, a hand grabs her by her foot. Startling her.

"Eeek!"

"Heheh! Gotcha!" Rain said with a smile on her face when she lifted her own head up. Before Tewi knows it, Rain hits herself hard in her own stomach as she quickly stood up while still holding onto her. Causing the stuck mochi she ate to be spewed out.

"Phah! There we go!" She looms in close to Tewi's face and then said. "Now you're gonna get it, rabbit..." Rain then grabs her face squishing both of her cheek.

"...uh-oh... can't we talk about this?" She can feel that she is not joking. She could struggle but that would be quite useless. So the only thing left for her to do now was to negotiate. Though, this would be quite useless too.

"Hmm... do you still have that other mochi with you? I'd like to have it..."

Now why would Rain want it? Perhaps there is a reason but regardless Tewi has to comply or she's for sure a rabbit stew if she refuses. So she hands the mochi to her, which was on her pocket the whole time.

Rain examines the mochi and then nods. "Yeah, this will do. Now...open wide, rabbit. You're going to eat this too!"

Tewi then finally gets why she asks for that mochi and that was to feed her with it too. She could only gulped at this realization.

The two who got left behind finally catches up to her and Reisen is the first to say something.

"Hey! You left us behind! Be careful, as the pitfalls are Tewi's doing. Who knows what else she has in...store?" She trails off as she sees the one she is talking about lying on the ground, grasping her own throat.

"H-help...a mochi... mochi is stuck on my throat!"

"You mean this rabbit?" Rain said as she looks at Tewi still trying to spit out that stuck mochi. "She won't die from that, she said so herself."

Mokou also sees this and made an expression that seems to be confused.

"You pranked the wrong person. I can hit harder when it comes to that. Guess I really am lucky just like you said, eh?" Rain gave a small chuckle.

"Hey...shouldn't we like help her? She's choking to death. Hopefully, she seems to have learned her lesson now." Mokou said as she seems to be put off from the noises that Tewi is making.

Yokai typically can't die from things like this but to leave someone in this state would be too cruel. So Rain said.

"Ah, well...hey, rabbit... nod once if you're dead. Twice if you are sorry."

Of course the first option is a joke and seeing how lively Tewi is then no doubt she'll pick the second option.

So Tewi nodded two times and Rain looks at Reisen and said.

"Reisen, you're up. You know how to remove a stuck mochi, right? I could do what I did to myself earlier but it will be painful." She lifts off Tewi ease and then handed the rabbit to her.

"Eh? Eh!? Um... yes..." She replied and saw Rain winked at her.

"You had to hurry though... she seems to be on the verge of passing out."

Mokou then remembers this part of Rain's personality. That is to never make her angry. She has seen this many times and what Tewi did was just light enough. Imagine if it is something more? She smiled and gave a short laugh as she thinks about it.

Reisen did and goes behind the choking Tewi. She wraps around her arms and makes a fist on her one hand while the other one is clasping onto it. Her hands are now positioned in Tewi's chest and began thrusting her hands into the abdomen.

This is repeated several times until Tewi finally spits out the mochi. Of course, the poor rabbit passed out after this. What Reisen did was actually called a "Heimlich maneuver" a very effective move for someone who is choking on their food.

"Oh, she's out cold... how'd that feel Reisen?" Rain asks her.

Since Reisen is always the one getting pranked and being annoyed by Tewi. Seeing Tewi get the receiving end of her prank back actually makes for a change. So Reisen replied.

"It felt great!" She smiled to them. "I'll carry her back. Master did say to get her when I meet her. Ah, kindly wait a moment, my clothes got dirtied so I need to change. Good thing I brought my usual clothes."

They waited for her and when she returns in her usual clothes. Rain saw her and was quite surprised to see and know that she is a rabbit too but something tells her that she is quite different to Tewi. She recalled the two dango salesgirls that both have long rabbit ears and red eyes.

"Huh? You're a yokai rabbit too?" Rain said as she looks at her but Reisen quickly avoided her gaze.

"Please don't look directly into my red eyes... it is quite dangerous for a human to do so." She warned her in a sincere way.

Rain did not question this any further and they continued their walk.

This time, she is mentally connecting the new information she found.

'So, Mokou claims to be my student...and she's an immortal human. Like wow, immortality... people always believed that it was just a fiction and legend...' She takes a quick glance at Mokou. 'She said that I'm not one... but that doesn't exactly answer the question on why I am still alive if I lived at the past? This is not enough to answer that question and thinking more about it only makes me more inclined to have an answer.'

This time she moves her gaze to Reisen who is carrying the still out cold Tewi on her back. 'Something about her is making me feel uneasy... why can't I look into her eyes? Perhaps I should have asked but I felt that it would be rude to suddenly asking, especially after what I did to the other rabbit.'

While she is having these thoughts and questions on her head. Reisen herself is thinking about what just happened earlier.

'She managed to avoid all of Tewi's pitfall traps and not only that...' She looks at the still passed out Tewi. '...my tail can only shiver from what she can actually do when it comes to fighting...' She thought and even was surprised earlier to the sudden reveal of Mokou's relationship to Rain.

Indeed, to see the supposed rival of her superior to have a mentor, even more so that it is the legendary figure herself. Reisen thinks that she has to prove that despite her own position she is still useful to her superiors by fulfilling this task effectively. Though, there is really no reason to.

Perhaps due to her own musings that she's not paying attention to what's in front of her that she stepped on something. Indeed, it was yet another one of Tewi's supposed pitfall traps.

Her eyes widen as she slowly falls from the pit. She won't be able to react that fast especially since she's carrying another person with her.

"?!" She could here the sudden gust of wind and felt something touch her while also feeling her shoulder lighten.

What really happened was Rain managed to move her away from falling as well taking away Tewi from her. Such agile movement and precise action impressed her.

"Close one or else you'll get dirtied again." Rain said as Reisen looks at her. "Let me put this rabbit down, she's quite light so I don't mind." She did and then looks back at her. "Hmm? Is there something...w-wrong?"

Both of them got careless as Rain looked at Reisen's red eyes. It is said that looking directly at her eyes could induce madness, hence why it is advised to not look at her eyes directly.

"Oh no..." Reisen realized it and quickly averted her eyes.

Rain looks at herself and takes a feel. Nothing happened.

"Huh? I guess am safe?" Rain said as Mokou approached her.

"Master...are you alright?" She had this worried look on her face.

"Yeah? I guess? Maybe? I don't know yet." Rain said and Reisen sighed with relief but then she felt something, the same thing that she felt earlier but this time something is altered.

"Is it just me...or did it get dark all of the sudden?" Rain asked Mokou who was then looking at her with confusion.

"What do you mean? Uh... the sun is still high up."

Rain looks up and saw the full moon. It was beautiful and seemed very close as it appears big.

"Full...moon...ow!" Rain felt a sharp pain. Not on her head but from her left shoulder. She quickly touched it and looked under her supposed shoulder armor. To her surprise, it is bleeding and then came the surging pain.

"Aaahhh! Damn!!! What the heck?!" Rain shouted as she took a step back and quickly removes her shoulder armor.

Mokou and Reisen who saw this was staring at her with a surprise look on their face. Mokou quickly asked her. "M-master! You're arm! It's bleeding! What happened?!" She could see the blood dripping from Rain's arm.

It would seem like they could see it too then it is not a hallucination. Rain tried to shrug off the pain and slowly removed her hand covering the wound. When Mokou saw it, she recognized what it is and turned her attention to Reisen.

"What did you do?"

"Huh? Me?!"

Mokou's face turned serious and replied.

"Don't play dumb, that wound... her shoulder has a hole in it... only the likes of you can inflict such a wound." What she is talking about is a gun shot wound. When looked upon closely, Rain's upper shoulder has been pierced by something in a somehow round shape, yes, it would be a bullet that fills that description. Though on what kind of a bullet is still a question.

Reisen violently shakes her head and replied. "No! I didn't do it!"

Just before things could heat up, Rain spoke. "Take the rabbit and get the hell away from me..." Rain is now breathing heavily as she said this. "Including you, Mokou... I don't think she has anything to do with this... what are you staring for?! DO IT!" Rain yelled at them as she unsheathed her swords.

They quickly did what she said. Mokou picks Tewi up and distanced herself away.

Then they saw Rain fall to one knee as another bleeding wound came up to her right leg. They can only helplessly watch as things unfold.

"Gruh!" She grunted while still seeing the full moon and the night time area around her. Now she's even seeing people... the ones responsible for her wounds. They have rabbit like ears just like Reisen and on their hand are some sort of gun that resembles a musket or sort. There are at least two of them.

She could hear one them utter "Nobody said that a powerful impure being like this dwells in Earth!"

"She took down almost all of us... it is just you and me, now... she's injured but still standing. We shot her many times! I-I didn't sign up for this !" The scared and trembling rabbit who is pointing the gun at her shouted. "Just what are you?!"

From that point, Rain's mind and body moved on its own. Her lips pursed into a smiling one and she replied. "Didn't I already told you? I'm a human... and again, you won't lay a finger on Kaguya."

Despite her situation about being shot, she's still able to move and fight. In that instant, a single slash came from her as she closed their distance in an instant. What happened next was that the rabbit was perfectly cleaved in half who said that to her. After that, blood sprayed out from its now lifeless body before it hits the ground like a sack of flesh straight out from a butchery. The way the blood sprayed was like that of a fountain that rained down on them. The death was instant as the other soldier rabbit wasn't able to react nor realized it.

"Ayeeeeeiiiii!" The other rabbit shouted as blood also covers her and she started firing non-stop while retreating.

-Cling!-, -Bang!-

The sound of the bullets firing off and then bouncing from being parried resounded. Only one managed to hit her target and that was the upper chest area. It was a lucky shot or rather her opponent is already injured and slow to react or block all of the bullets. Besides the fountain of blood also blinded both of them.

"Blaugh!" Rain began to cough blood as it would seem like she is hit on a vital part. She's been taking care to not get hit on those parts earlier on during the battle. If a single bullet would have done so, then she's already dead due to their sheer number.

She was forced to knelt as her she used her sword to support herself. Panting and breathing heavily, she said. "You're the last one... why still fight? I could turn a blind eye and let you flee... it doesn't have to end this way... well I did said this before the battle. So am asking it again..."

When the blood fountain subsided, she could see the soldier rabbit has already distanced itself away from her and it said.

"We can't... that's all... we're the soldiers of the moon... to flee in battle is worse than death..." She replied still trembling as she said that. It is clear that she is afraid of death even with that statement.

"...so you have chosen death... then so be it. Die like a soldier carrying its honor." Rain then fully stood up and points her sword. With blood on her running down her mouth she declared. "For you I shall use one of my experimental technique that grants a swift death."

She breathes in and then the air around her simply went quiet or to be specific, it died. In this distance, a gun would win against the sword but for Rain who could close in such a distance it was all but a naught effort.

The soldier rabbit just blinked once and the next thing she knew was Rain was already in front of her. One of her hands is reaching out to her chest. She could feel it... the feeling of the moment that one would die. As if time has slowed down, she made one final struggle. With her gun in hand, she aimed it at the human, she can't aim it at the head as it would be far too late. The only choice was to fire at the same spot she had hit earlier.

As she pulls the trigger, she could also feel something in her chest. Something went in and then out along with something that belonged to her.

And then time returned to normal. The soldier rabbit smiled as slowly blood begins to show on her mouth.

'This is T#r£n speaking from the Emissary Squad... today I'll die with honor and is now relieved of my duties... The emissaries sent for the extraction of the exiled princess has been wiped out... we have failed... information sent... ... ... ...'

---

Mokou and Reisen's Point of View

They can hear Rain mumbling and then suddenly they saw her moved in a flash just near Reisen and slashed at nothing but the air. But her slash was so full of force that a powerful gust of wind was created and a few bamboo trees in front of her were cut in half.

"Hngh!" They both reacted as the wind swept at them.

Reisen herself has her eyes widened as she the look on Rain's eyes. It was so serious and deadly. The red eye seemed to have flickered just right before she makes the slash.

"Those eyes... it's the eyes of death... ready to kill and ready to die..." Reisen uttered as she was fazed by this as Rain takes a look at her and she heard her say.

"I'm a human...and again you won't lay a finger on Kaguya..." This words made Reisen realized that Rain might be in a trance. Along with that is the feeling of lingering fear itself as this is the person that actually killed off an entire squad of armed moon rabbits who were trained to be emissaries.

Reisen broke free from being fazed as it came over her that she is in danger. She quickly sprinted away from Rain. She cannot return fire or fight back as because there is no reason to and doing so would just make things worse. So she is forced to just avoid and be on guard.

Even after getting a distance from her, she returned her look to her only to hear.

"I'll end you without making you suffer... that's my way of showing respect to you."

As Rain said this the air around her completely froze as she emits an intense killing intent.

In that instant Reisen blinked. She saw Rain who is already coming at her. Reaching for her chest. Her eyes widen at this and could feel that once it reaches her, it would be all over. Reisen compels her own body to move but it won't move not even an inch. She is stuck to the ground like glued to it. Her sweat dropped as she realized this. Several thoughts race through her head as her own heart started trembling.

"Move!" Mokou shouted as she pushes Reisen away just in time.

They both rolled to the other side and they quickly recovered to see what happened next. Reisen panted as she grasped her own chest.

"Wha-what just happened?"

"You almost died...idiot." Mokou replied as she turned her attention to her master who is now looking up in the sky with her other hand risen, supposedly it is as if that hand is holding something. Then Rain slowly closed that hand, the way she did it presents that she just crushed something.

After that there was silence as the air begins to move again. Rain coughs a few times with blood as she slowly limped towards a near bamboo tree before slumping over it. Her eyes locked on the the sky, possibly on her own vision she is looking at the full moon.

She cough again before uttering. "Looks like...this is it for me... at least she's safe now..." She smiles a little before continuing. "Sorry, Mokou...I guess I won't be coming to our next lesson you darn but brave brat..." She seems to be struggling to cough out more words and her eyes are getting heavy.

"..." Mokou and Reisen hears what she just said and Mokou quickly rushes to her side. While Reisen remained in her position.

Mokou quickly examined her mentor's state and from the looks of her wounds and her current state. She is without a doubt dying. They need to bring her to Eirin fast or it would be all too late.

"Master! No... I'm here! Hold on! We'll get you to the doctor!"

Rain gave a small chuckle as to her vision this Mokou is all but the one with the dark short hair girl who always follows her around nagging. She reaches to her cheek and said. "...Kid? W-what are you doing here? Ah, no, t-this is just a hallucination one experiences before dying..."

"No, master... I'm right here..." Mokou's tears begun to flow to her eyes once again. After all, she didn't get to see this that time. Realizing that this is what truly happened among the rumors she heard back then. She didn't know what really happened. All she knew is that it was all because of Kaguya. Now, she remembers that anger... first her father and now her teacher. This is what have driven her to revenge back at that time. To have it be re-experienced is like turning back time itself.

Rain wipes her tears away with her hand. "What did I say about crying? Kid..." She's about to say something but she didn't continue and retained that smile while still wiping the tears of her student. But that didn't last long as she closes her eyes and her hand slowly retracted away from Mokou's face.

Rain could hear Mokou's continued call but everything went black and silent.

---

???

"..."

"Hmm? Oh? Oh! Why if it isn't my frequent visitor! Eh? You're sleeping even when you are here? No can do! Wake up!"

A voice said through the darkness. Then she could feel someone shaking her up. She tries to open her eyes slowly.

"Hngh...? Wha- What? Ugh..." Rain now full opens her eyes and what she saw was a place filled with the night sky and stars. The clouds are slowly moving. She still hasn't stood up so what she is seeing is just what is above her.

Just as she is about to move a face appeared on her vision. She has dark blue eyes and hair and is wearing a red nightcap.

"Hehee! You're finally awake! It's been a long time since you visited! Hmm? What's with that look on your face?" She said while wearing a smile.

"W-Where am I? Is this a dream?" Rain asked as she slowly gets up.

Now that she's up and about. She saw the girl who woke her up wearing an outfit that consists of a black and white dress, which is covered in black and white orbs of various sizes. She's also wearing a matching white socks. In her hand is a blue book with the letter D printed on the cover. To top it off, she has a white tail with a black tulf of fur on the tip.

"Well yeah it is! This is after all the domain I rule. The Dream World! Did you hit your head or something?" She titled her head and then as if a lightbulb appeared on her head as she jerked her body upwards "Ooh! Wait... wait! I remember now!"

As soon as she remembers something, her way of speaking also changed but the playful part is still there. "Ahem! My name is Doremy Sweet! And you are here at the Dream World! Which of course is about dreams! So yes, you are dreaming! Also, no need to introduce yourself, I know who you are."

Dream World —The Strange Helper —

"I guess so... everything is still vague... what just happened?" She asks again.

Doremy gave a shrug and replied. "I dunno! But most people enter their dreams if they are asleep right? So you must be sleeping or in a similar way."

Rain tries to remember on what just happened but she just remembers looking at a Reisen and that's it.

"So... do I have to wait till I wake up? That sounds a bit too much for me... what do I do here?"

"Ouch! There are tons of things to do here! Clearly you could talk to me but it seems like you want a more engaging one." Right as she said this she flicks her finger and the whole place around them was filled with cloud like mist for a second and then emerged an amusement part. With all the rides like ferris wheel, roller coasters, many more.

"Huh?! What the? Those are?" Rain said as she looks at the amusement park on a distance away from them.

"An amusement park! Hey, there are no fees on the rides and even the food. What? Too much for you?" She asked her.

"N-no, not really just not feeling it. I think I'd rather have a sit with you and talk." Rain said.

Doremy smiled at her and replied. "Ooh? Your're asking me to have dinner with you? What a weird suggestion. Nevertheless! I like it!" Her expression turned into a smug one as she acted quite a little embarassed.

"N-No... I didn't mean it like that! Argh! You're messing with me are you?" Rain seems a little flustered by her own words.

Doremy laughs as she floats in the air and flicks her finger again. The same mist like clouds covered the area again. This time what emerged is a cafe and its name is "D's Nuts".

For a moment when Rain read that in her mind. She felt flabbergasted as to why is that the name of this establishment and she also has no idea to why she wanted to laugh on it. Of course, she held in that laugh but not the question.

"Erm... you said this is a place where one can drink? Then why does it have the nuts word on its name?"

"Tut! My dear dating partner! It's because of not only they serve coffee and drinks but also-"

"Hey! Don't call me that!" Rain interrupted her.

"But this is a dream! Anything you want could happen! ANYTHING." She stressed that last part.

Whatever that means, Rain doesn't want to know it nor try it.

"L-Let's just go in..." Rain said as she tries to not let that thought sink in.

What she needs to do now was get information before waking up from this said dream. She has that feeling that Doremy knows something.

They entered the cafe and the door made a ding sound as there is a bell that makes a sound when it is opened. What she saw was this cafe is designed to be cute as there are pink colors almost everywhere and even the designs such as the chairs and table they resemble a shape of an animal, a cat. It might be a girls' cafe?

"?!" Rain was very surprised when she saw the staff for they are very familiar to her. "Marisa?! What are you doing here?!"

"Ey! Don't ya yell! What do ya think? I'm working here!" Marisa said while wearing a uniform that is quite unique to her. Just like the name of this cafe, her employee name is printed just beside her chest and it reads. "Mari." Though below it is the name of the said cafe.

Rain could not help but read it too. "Mari, D's nuts." She quietly uttered it and after that she gave a frown that she herself is not sure why. But reading that makes her feel like she got baited or something.

Rain looks back at Doremy who is still smiling. She could swear that smile means something.

"Let's take a seat and order first. I'll explain while we wait." She said as she gestured to the seats.

Of course, this is starting to make Rain feel weird as why would Marisa would work here? Now that she mentioned it. How about Reimu? This question quickly pops up to Rain's mind. They seated first and Marisa goes to their table to hand in the menu.

"Hey, Marisa...where's Reimu?" She asked to which the magician girl quickly answered.

"Reimu? She's at the counter. Don't make fun of her though or she'll crack up her fake smile. Don't tell her that I said this." She gives a wink and a smile to them as she hands in the menu before leaving them.

Rain first examined the area of the cafe and it seems like they are the only customers. Then she takes a look at the menu. Her eyes quickly widen as she read through it and slowly pinches her nose.

"The heck... what's up with these names?"

What made her react like this was because of the names of the things she read in the menu. For instance, the most ordered coffee is named "D's Nuts' Special Brew" and the all new "Suk Mai Flavored-". She stops reading it.

"..."

'I'm not even gonna ask on what the heck is Suk Mai?!'

She just angrily taps the table while she continues to read. That said, the more she reads it the more she is getting annoyed. As there are too many nuts in the names. She finally puts down the menu and Doremy seems amused on her reactions and she asked.

"Are you ready to order?"

"Just to get this over with? Yes." Rain quickly answered as it looks like she is already fed up with reading the menu.

Marisa comes in to take their order. "Sup! So what are you guys having?" She puts up a pen and paper.

Doremy is the first to say her order. "I'll have the E10 set. That's all for me."

"Good choice! It comes with a free Stun Seed for you to plant in your garden! Pretty sweet freebie, right?" Marisa said as she writes it down.

'Stun Seed? What even... wait a minute...' After a brief moment of realization she lets out a deep sigh.

"I swear...if I hear more of these nuts words... I'm about to go nuts..." She whispered to herself.

"How about you, Rain?" Marisa asked as she turns to her.

"Eurgh...just get me the special chocolate milk and the number eight."

"I get the first part but the second one is not complete, please say the full name of yer order to avoid getting a different order."

"Fine...I'll have the Eight D's Nuts Dessert Set." She lets out a low growl.

"Ah! A fine choice! With the chocolate milk, it will help melt the dessert in yo mouth." Marisa said before going to the counter, leaving them behind.

Rain then turns her look to Doremy and then said. "Care to explain as to why they are here?"

"I knew you'd ask that, well, it is quite simple. They are what we call a dream version of the originals. But what's more intriguing than them is you my dear." She paused for a bit while making a smirk on her face. "You are here but at the same time you don't have your dream world self. In other words, the one I'm talking to right now is your consciousness or maybe not... I'm quite puzzled myself. The answer might be revealed in the future when everything is all but unfolded."

Rain herself doesn't know how to answer this. What does that mean? She thought to herself.

"...Then I'll ask if you know something about me. I heard you said I'm a regular visitor here. What does that mean?"

"Hmm... I'm not supposed to say anything but oh well, maybe I can give vague answers. You usually visit to ask me to lead you to someone else's dream. I got to say, I'm quite touch on your effort that even if you're far away you can ease that person. Sorry, can't tell you the name nor why. Part of me keeping my promise. You understand that, right?" As she said that their order arrives.

"Sup! Here's yer order! No need to pay as boss here has it covered!" Marisa said as she gestured to Doremy.

"Huh? You mean she's the boss of this cafe?" She blinks a few times.

"Yep, ooh, its my break time already. See ya! Enjoy the food!" Marisa said as she walks away from them.

Rain gave a quick sigh and said. "Of course, it has to be you... the letter D says it all. I should have seen it coming."

"Hmm? I thought you knew already?"

"You suck at naming." Rain said directly to her with a straightface.

"Waah, how mean! Well at least the food is good!" She puffs her cheeks out as she said this. "Let's eat first before you ask more questions."

Rain agreed and they started eating. Even if this is a dream. She can still taste the food with such rich flavors. It didn't take long for them to finish everything. Doremy is quite satisfied while Rain is the same.

"Ah, that was great! Told you that the food here is good." She exclaimed as takes a final sip of her drink.

"Mmh... now back to my question. How long will I stay here?"

"Leaving so soon? Ah, I can force you to wake up but why the hurry? Also, there is no need to as you are almost up." She said as she puts both of her hands in her chin.

Rain then looks at her own body and then she saw that she is slowly turning transparent which means she is about to leave this dream world for she is waking up.

"Wait... I... I still have a lot of questions!" She said.

"No worries, we'll meet again. Though, I need to tell you this." Doremy stood up and moves to her before touching her forehead. "The Child of Miare, seek her and she'll be able to tell you a portion of your past. This is from me, when you wake up you'll remember a single part of your crucial memory. After all, this is what you imparted and told me. Oh, and I think I already found a way to solve your other problem but that will have to wait for some other time. Goodbye for now!"

Those are Doremy's words before everything went to black again.

---

Hakurei Shrine

Reimu is sitting on the porch, drinking her green tea. It would seem like she has returned safely from her trip to the Animal Realm as well as solving the incident.

"Haah... what a day... and Rain is not yet here... I have that bad feeling that I can't shake off." She takes a sip from her tea while glancing at her front which is the stairs that leads down. She is worried without a doubt but she needs to trust Rain.

Perhaps she was in deep thought that she haven't noticed a gap from just beside appear.

"My, seems like your trip is finally finished?"

"Gaah! Yukari! Don't suddenly talk behind my ears! You creepy yokai!" Reimu exclaimed as she was startled by her.

Yukari scooted over to her and takes a seat. "Have you got any news for me?"

"It's done. The beast spirits should be going back to their rightful realm now. You can leave now if that's what you only want and sleep, you lazy, hibernating old yokai." Reimu said to her.

"Aw, what a mean thing to say! And here I was going to tell you something very important... oh well, I guess-." Just before she could open a gap to leave, Reimu tugs her clothes.

"Say it or I won't let you have your beauty sleep."

"Hmm, let's take this inside and I'd like some tea too." She smiled to her.

"Fine, you better not be lying..." She stood up and went inside with Yukari.

After a few tea time with her. She quickly cuts to the chase and said.

"You had your tea, now what is it that you want to tell me?" Reimu said as she puts down her now empty cup of tea.

Yukari did so too and a gap appeared just beside her. What emerged was her own hand holding a white handkerchief which she used to wipe her own lips dry from the tea.

"Ah, better. Your tea is delicious as always." Reimu just nodded her head to the complement.

"That compliment seems to be getting old... oh well, onto the main topic. I came here as to give you this..." She rummages to the gap she created.

After a short moment, in her hand now lies a shimmering crystal cube at the size of a palm.

"This is called a sealing crystal. They come in different shapes and sizes. It is used to store magic and spells. But this one is quite unique. Do you want to know why?" The shape of her mouth turns into a grin.

"Just get to the point, I'm not in the mood since I'm still tired from saving the day." Reimu brushes off the yokai's tempt for playing.

"You're no fun..." Yukari pouted at her but nevertheless continued to explain "...I did say earlier that these things can store right? Well, this one stores some of Rain's memories. Intriguing right?"

"What?! How long has this been with you?"

"A very long time ago... I'd figured you know what to do with this. So I came to you!"

Reimu frowned at her and replied. "Then why haven't you used it to return some of her memories?! She's like searching the whole Gensokyo but it turns out what she is looking for is just right here! Ah, just give me that-" Her hand reaches out to the crystal but it disappeared into the gap.

"Tsk, tsk... Reimu. Why do you think I haven't given it to her yet?" Yukari raises her fan.

"Because you're evil?" Reimu quickly answers without skipping a beat.

"Oh my, a straight and quick answer but unfortunately wrong. The reason is that I can't. Because it would leave to the outcome of many dire consequences." She said as she puts the crystal at the table even though Reimu tried to snatch it away earlier.

This time Reimu just looks at it and then replied. "Then, why bring it here?"

That's when Yukari smiled at her when asked that question.

"Simple! As a yokai, I cannot make a decision for I need another human to take on this and that would be you! An added fact is that you already made her as your friend. So which choice will you make, Reimu? Destroy it or give it to her?"

Such a choice was suddenly dropped to her. Making her silent for many moments.

"Hmm... seems like I need to give you a demonstration... then, how about this. I'll show you a random memory of Rain. Maybe, you'll answer with a clear mind then. Though keep in mind that it is random so I could avoid leaning in to those sides." As Yukari said that she pointed at the sealing crystal. "All you need to do is close your eyes and put your hand at the cube. I'll handle the rest. Though, a little warning... anything that it will show you, maybe something you can't handle but as I said it is random. So are you ready?"

Reimu is quite confused and surprised on how things are moving so fast. "Argh! Slow down with the sudden request!"

It took a while for Reimu to process everything that Yukari has said. Eventually, she calmed down and gave a reply. "I'll do it. Hopefully, I'll see something that would really help me understand her." Truth be told, Reimu is quite curious about Rain's past and to be offered to take a glimpse of it, no way she won't let it pass.

"Good, now just close your eyes and when you are ready, slowly put your hands at the cube."

Reimu did so and slowly she reached for sealing crystal. When she touched it, she felt it was smooth and a little cold. With her eyes still close she said. "What's next?"

However, Yukari did not reply and in her now dark vision, she opted to open her eyes again, slowly she did and what greeted her next was the sight of a what seemed to be a a big and wide tunnel.

"Huh?" She is wondering on what just happened.

She looks around and saw nothing but torches that lights up the tunnel. Beside her are minecarts that seems to be quite old due to how they appear. Of course, there are minecart tracks.

"Where am I?" She said to herself.

Then a voice coming from inside her head said.

'You're now in Rain's memory... I can see that you're in the mine. This is actually a mine for rich ores but it has long been abandoned. Oh my, looks like this will be a bumpy ride. Brace yourself, Reimu as you are acting as "Red". One of Rain's supposed companions. Notice how shorter you are than usual? Hehe.'

This voice belonged to none other than Yukari herself who seems to be talking to her telepathically and this is the last time she heard of Yukari speaking.

"What?!" She exclaimed and noticed how her voice is different and her view is shorter than usual.

Just as she's about to rebuke Yukari. She felt as if the ground is shaking slowly but it is getting more frequent. Meaning something big is coming in and it is getting close.

Then a familiar voice called out and it was none other than Rain who is still wearing the same armor attire. Running towards her with great speed. She seems to be in such a hurry.

Event Memory Trigger: Extreme Tunnel Pursuit

"Red! Quickly hop on to that minecart! It's coming!" She yelled out to where Red (Reimu) is supposed to be looking.

Warning! Warning! Large Tremors Detected! Encounter Imminent!

As she said that, the ground begins to shake violently than before. When Rain is close to her, then there emerged from behind her a gigantic worm with razor sharp teeth, it bulldozed through the thick walls with ease. Its body is thick as expected of a giant worm and has spikes around it. This is the one responsible for the abandonment of this mine.

It is as if time have slowed down as Reimu gets to see how that giant worm entered the frey. She could imagine getting close to that thing would result into a horrible death as it either crushes you or eats you.

The Wriggler – Menace of The Mine –

"Holy crap! What's that?!" Red reacted as she hops on the minecart. Rain is just behind and she quickly kicks off the minecarts to move.

"Time to hightail! We don't want to get buried in here nor do we want to be a worm food!" Rain shouted as the minecarts started to move and it made a screeching sound.

The chase begins. The gigantic worm is moving violently as it wriggled side to side. Scraping the walls of the tunnel. From the looks of it, the giant worm is hell bent on trying to get its mouth to them.

They could hear its loud noise, apart from the noise of the minecarts.

"Crap... Red! You take the front view while I keep an eye on this big boy!" Rain said to her.

As for Reimu this is kind of too much for her as being plunged suddenly to an adrenaline rush action is something that happens so rarely.

"I-I'm on it!"

They moved to the tracks as the sound of the giant worm crashing to the walls, resounded throughout the tunnel.

Red can see so little of the direction of the minecart is heading as it is dark and how fast they are moving. Slowing down is not an option.

Rain sees that the monster is closing in their gap which means they are losing speed. They need to do something about this.

"Red!" She shouted to her.

"WHAT?!"

"We need to move to the front. We'll ditch these extra minecarts but before that..." She points at the back, to the worm who is now doing something.

On its mouth something is forming as it is getting bigger and brighter. It looks like a particle getting concentrated into the center.

"Ah shit, don't tell it's concentrating magic to form a magically charged laser?!" Rain uttered out loud.

"A what now?!"

She heard her crystal clear but she cannot believe that such a giant worm is capable of magic.

"Tch! I have a plan! Cast Poison Mist! Now!" Rain said to her.

Much to Reimu's shock as she doesn't know how but it seems like her own body or the body she is supposed to be in, moved by itself.

"「Poison Mist」!" A puff of noxious gas emits from her hands. Spreading inside and outside of the minecart they are currently in.

Rain while holding her breath gestured to Red to move and climb to the front minecart. She quickly did and Rain followed. As they got on the first minecart. Red can see some of the poison mist are still inside some of minecarts. The first and second one are not affected as they are moving onwards.

Rain unsheathed her sword and slashed at the second cart's part that connects it to the first. It dislodged and slowly goes to the direction of the one chasing them who is about to fully charge its magical laser attack.

"Now, Red! Cast fireball!" Rain ordered her.

Without wasting more time she did. "「Fireball」!"

There a streak of flame emerged from her hand and launches at the direction she is pointing at. To time it right the minecart with the poison mist is just right at the mouth of the monster.

"Chew on these! You one ugly mother-"

Then at that moment, a bright light and loud boom followed. The reason was that there was an explosion was because of the reaction of fire and poison. When these two elements meet the result is always an explosion.

"Hngh! Hold on tight as we gained momentum from that explosion." The minecart was greatly pushed forward to the rails, so much that they could have been thrown out by it.

To add a bonus that explosion also disrupted the charging of the Wriggler's magic laser as it backfired to it as it exploded in its face.

But even though they gained such speed and stopped a deadly attack. They could still hear that its still after them. As it's making a loud screeching sound. Looks like its very angry.

After the minecart tracks are now straight on the track again, they quickly looked back to see only that they are right.

"This thing is very persistent..."

The tunnel is getting narrower as they move, so much that they could touch the wall but for the Wriggler that is chasing them it will just bust right through it. To make things more worse, Red saw that there are two routes.

"Ah! Two routes! LEFT OR RIGHT?!" Red exclaimed as she shifts her attention back to the front.

"Right!"

Red tried to pull the control but it suddenly broke making her panic.

"Ahhh! The control broke!!!" She cried out in panic.

"Damn it! Lean to the right!" Rain said as she took out her sword again and then used it to push to the left wall to make the cart move to the right. In this effort she drops her own sword behind as moving too fast and gripping on it for just a second will cause her to be left behind too.

"Good thing I'm not using my main swords! Otherwise I would have dove in to get it back."

It is still to early to celebrate because as long as they are in this tunnel, the Wriggler won't stop unless they kill it or escape.

The ground is still shaking and very violently due to the giant worm forcing its way as it digs through.

"Why don't you just get yourself eaten and kill it from the inside?" Red suggested as they move through the narrow section of the mine.

"What? Are you an idiot? I'll get grinded into a tender meat before I could do that! At least you're not firing your ice popsicles into it." Rain scoffs at that statement.

"Huh?! Are you telling me that my ice shards are just popsicles to it?!"

"Duh! It won't get hurt from that! Its skin is hard and tough. Why do you think its able to plow through solid rocks so easily?"

To think they could quarrel at such a time. But this was all interrupted by the Wriggler appearing again just behind them.

"Gaah! This stupid worm is so annoying! Want me to taunt you?! Well then, here!" Rain said as she gestured with both of her hands to it and did the universal sign of disrespect.

As soon as she did that, the Wriggler lets out a loud roaring screeching sound. Looks like her taunt is super effective, so much that it becames enraged and started hurling out some of its contents from its stomach as its projectile to shoot them down.

"Ah, great! Now you've done and make it mad. If we die, I'm making sure you go to hell with me." Red makes a facepalm as she said this.

"Says the one who's already dead. I already secured the ores and yet you're- Whoa!" She just dodged a huge chunk of rock that flew just right above her. "...making this hard by complaining! You shitty little vampire!"

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry..."

Rain then conjures a map out of thin air. Surpringly able to read it even though they are moving so fast.

"Got it... we should be out soon... listen, we'll lure it outside and kill it there. For now we need to slow it down as it's gaining on us. We'll collapse the mine by doing so but its the only way. Be ready, Red."

Red agrees to her as there is nothing that she could actually do about it. But, she was once again awed by Rain's thinking and how she handles such situations. Things really haven't changed ever since that fateful encounter.

After that, Reimu is ejected back to reality. Shaking herself awake as she quickly looks behind her, frantically.

"Ooh... I'm back... crap... that was quite a ride!" She then looks back to the front and saw Yukari smiling at her.

"What are you smiling at?!"

"You should have seen how you yelled back here. Quite a sight, I say."

"Wait, really?! Nevermind, so what was that?"

Yukari simply answers her back. "Didn't I told you? It's her memory."

However, Reimu shakes her head and said. "No, what I mean was... what kind of a memory is that! Being chased by a hungry enraged magical spewing huge worm is not a normal memory!" She said as she clasp her own hands together.

"Oh, that. That's just a normal day for her. Trust me on this Reimu as I have seen it myself." Yukari said while still having that smile on her face.

"I can't believe it... and here I thought we're gonna die." She looks at the sealed crystal cube again. This time she saw a glimpse of the memory she saw.

The red person she is acting as earlier is wearing a red cloak and has a blonde hair. Her eyes too are crimson red and as Rain has said earlier, a vampire.

"So what do you say, Reimu? Remember, there's no need to end her. This is the peaceful way but it will come with a price if you so choose it. As for he other option, well... can't say I didn't offer the first one." Yukari asks her the question again.

"I...I need more time to think about it." Reimu is still undecided to which Yukari understands.

Yukari then opens a gap behind her, it would seem like she is leaving. "Well, I'll leave this to you. Oh, and you can touch it freely. You need me to be able experience that again."

"I'd rather not..." Reimu said which earned a quick soft chuckle from Yukari.

"Besides, I won't be able to destroy it but you can. All you need to do is place a special ofuda enchanted by you of course and then smash it. Poof, all done and gone. Easy to do but hard to decide. Well, I'm off, what an entertainment I have today."

There goes the cryptic and scheming yokai.

Reimu just stood still and looks at the sealing crystal cube. She's still contemplating and under deep thought. Like how different is Rain from that memory, she is more expressive and is very much herself.

She saw this experience as exhilarating even if at first she said she doesn't want to do it again. Though what strike her the most are the actions of Yukari. What is she planning? Certainly, there's more to it. But Reimu is unaware that someone has been eavesdropping to them from the start.

---

Dire as the situation,

Escape is not an option,

Efficient plan is in motion,

Zeal is the correct emotion.

None shall disrupt plan,

Until it is time for that human,

To seal the deal,

Saving her from her own ordeals.

---

Everything is black but she can hear faint voices calling out to her. Telling her to not give up and get up.

"What are you fighting for?" This question suddenly echoed throughout the darkness that surrounds her.

"..."

She cannot answer that...not yet... but she knows that to reach that answer she must not give up and keep on moving forward.

Slowly she opens her eyes and what greeted her was the ceiling of a house.

"Mmm...ow..." She titled her head and saw a girl with long black hair just sitting beside her who's still hasn't noticed that she woke up, she also has this forlorn expression on her face. She knows who this as she uttered her name.

"K-Kaguya? W-what..." She tries to fully speak but falters.

"Rain! You're awake! Thank goodness!" Her sad face turned into a smile as she quickly gives her a hug.

"O-Ow!" Rain reacted as she noticed again

that she's not wearing any of her clothes again as only her undergarments remains.

"Ahhh! Not again..." She could only sigh in grimace and then said. "Get off me, Kaguya...why are you here? Where are we?...Don't tell me you came back? Wait don't tell me I'm dead and I'm just seeing things?" Seems like Rain is quite confused as she is asking a different question.

"...No silly, you succeeded. Thank you for protecting me. We're at Eintei." She said still hugging her.

Kaguya slowly releases Rain and then Rain sits at the bed she is resting. Now, they look at each other eye to eye.

"Can you really remember me? Then... what would you do if I call you a peasant?" She softly smiled after that.

Rain gave another sigh and frowned.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me that? I'll give you a hard knock on the head to shut down your haughty self."

Hearing this Kaguya is now quite sure that she remembers her. Making her smile brightly at her.

"Oh, now your smiling?"

"No, I'm just happy."

"Where's miss Eirin?" She looks around and figured this is not the home of the two elderly people that took her in.

"She's kind of busy for now. Reisen and Mokou brought you here... you're all banged up. If it weren't for her then..." She stops and shifted the topic. "Ah, speaking of Mokou. She's just outside... I'd call her in. Please wait." Kaguya stood up and went outside the room.

Rain looks back at the ceiling again. "Mokou? Hngh!" Her head is aching, there's no explanation but it probably has something to do with her memories.

'Fuhito...' She mentally recalled the man who entrusted Mokou to her.

As she returns her sight to back to the door. Kaguya returned with Mokou who was hesitant to come in.

At first Rain didn't recognized her but looking at her face, made her see that is indeed her. Then the name Reisen pops up to her head and this confuses her. Everything is a mess, she needs to straighten things out.

"Mokou, come here." Rain asks for her.

She walks slowly to her and eventually sits besides her.

Rain could see that her eyes are puffy, meaning she just recently cried. Without, wasting more time. She pulled her in to hug and comfort her.

"I'm okay. I'm sorry for making you worry and about our quarrel."

Mokou was quite surprised she did this but she's now assured that her teacher's memories about her is back, this made her smile.

Rain pulls away and then smiles back to her. "I'm tough as heck. A beast yokai failed to end me, then those moon scumbags are no good either!"

Though this was all but a facade, in truth she's all but done for. But something or someone helped her.

Mokou on the other hand knows what Rain means about their quarrel. It is still clear to her and it was about the death of her father.

"Master, I'm sorry too. That time, I... wasn't thinking."

Kaguya seeing this went in beside them to disrupt them.

"Hey! You're hogging her to yourself! You had your turn and now let me have my time with her. Its been like a thousand years or so and I'd still believed that we'll meet again!"

Mokou scoffs at her and said. "No, you go away! I'm her student!"

"No, you..."

"Want me to blast your head away?"

"That won't work! It only works once and I won't let you do it again."

The two then begins to bicker like two kids.

"Enough, you two." Rain said as she slightly gave both each of them a chop to the head. "No one will be fighting nor hurting each other while I'm here. Wait... what do you mean by that part?" She asked the two of them.

The two stopped fighting and gave Rain a look. Telling her the truth or what is actually happening would make her mad but it is better than not telling and finding out about it later.

So they did, and Rain's reaction was what they expected. Rain pinches the bridge of her nose and sighed. "So, you've been killing each other all these years? Forget it, I'm not asking the total count nor anything else related about it."

Just as she is lecturing the two. Three people came in to the door and it was Eirin, Reisen, and Tewi.

"I see, that you're catching up with each other. Glad to see you back, Rain." Eirin said as she hands in a tea to her.

"Thanks, my memories about you guys are back... but its making my head ache a little." Rain said as she takes a sip.

"Ah, that would be because your past and present memories are colliding with each other. No worries, it will be gone in a while. What I need to explain to you now is how you got back this particular memory." She looks at Reisen and gestured to her. "Though Reisen here has something to tell you before I continue. You can look at her in the eye with no repercussions now."

Reisen walks forward and then performed a dogeza, (Kneeling directly to the ground and bowing to prostrate oneself while touching one's head on the floor) to show her deep apologies to Rain.

"I'm very sorry! I'd put you in that situation! Please punish me as you like!"

Rain was surprised by this and quickly said.

"H-Hey! No need to do that! Get up! A simple sorry is all you need and I don't need to punish you or something!"

Reisen while still in that position answered. "B-But!"

"No buts! Get up!" Rain ordered her and Reisen obliged.

"I don't need such a thing... what's done is done. If you still think that you need to atone then use that experience to avoid repeating the same mistake. Do you understand?" Rain's voice became hard and serious.

This made Reisen agree with her with a nod but she thought to herself about how forgiving and compassionate she is. This earned her, Reisen's respect and many more.

"Now that we're done. I'd like to say sorry to the little rabbit there. I went a little overboard but you kind of deserve it to be honest..." She said as she slightly bows her head to Tewi to show her apology. Though everyone did chuckled at her statement.

"Mmh, I'm sorry for pranking you. Won't happen again." Tewi said but she didn't gave a promise so who knows if she'll do it again.

"Alright, seems like that's all. Then, let me tell you about the consequences of what happened and how it happened. So to save time, what actually happened to you was that your past memory got triggered by looking at Reisen's eyes but that itself does not account to the outcome. Basically, you're at the right place and the people accompanying you. That's the chain trigger. Now for the injuries you sustained. This one is a bit tricky but the answer to that is your body and mind kind of went back and relived the same experience. How it did that, I have no answer yet but the risk it posed is great to your body..."

Eirin stops for moment as she gestures to Mokou. "Anytime now, the wound you gave to your mentor will come back as soon as she remembers it. I already have the tools and equipment to treat it. But as I said, her body recovers fast and any wound or even the burn would heal back completely though it would take some time."

Mokou frowns upon hearing that even if Eirin said that it will heal and she wanted to say something but opted not to.

"Rain, I don't know how you survived that time but either something happened or it was a miracle that you managed to live. I've noticed how fast you recover but that is not enough for those wounds so I gave you a boost that helped you."

As Eirin continues to explain Rain herself is kind of gets it but at the same time she don't. Instead she looks back to Mokou and wondered why she looks like that and then a flash of memory comes forth.

Her grudge against Kaguya pushed her to steal the gift for the Emperor when it was meant to be destroyed. Tempted by the desire she drank the elixir when she discovered what it is actually. But, she came to regret that decision as it changed her. For many years, she thought herself to be a monster and lost her way. Until she meets her master again. Alive and well. How did Rain know? It's because Mokou told her before facing off with her. It was not a battle but a talk that resulted in Mokou running away after her failed attempt to persuade her.

Slowly, Rain can feel the intense heat touching her her face.

"...It burns..." She quickly turns away to Mokou as she uttered that but everyone was quite aware of what is now happening.

The smell of the flesh being seared is in the air. Mokou could only curl her hands into a fist as her body slowly trembles of seeing that again. She wants to run away, that's the thought that her mind is saying. Run away, to avoid her sin. But this time, she won't as she stopped herself from trembling and by saying to herself that she's different now.

"...Arghh..." As the pained voice of Rain trying to keep it to herself escapes from her mouth. Everyone was silent and not moving. For Rain gestured to not interfere and let her be.

As she has her back turned to them, under the bandages on her back. They saw a huge scar which resembles a claw mark from something big. Kaguya, herself knows where it came from. After all, she was there when she received that wound. It looks like it reappeared too.

After a moment, Rain called to Eirin to help her out. Eirin complies and moves to her. Blood stains can be seen on the tissues that Eirin damped on her face and with each damp she can feel Rain flinching and can tell that she's in pain. Only Eirin for now can see how bad her burn is from the left of her face and eye. There's no need to actually see it as it is a horrible burn that left her left eye blind.

Though they are still not yet done. As Eirin calls to her assisstant Reisen to hand and assist her the final thing needed to finish the job.

Reisen did and slowly moves to their side. She then saw the burn, she looks away from the second she saw it but turns back as she is needed. From the way she looks at it, almost all the skin in that area has melted There's no need to describe to what happened to the eye nor the rest anymore as she focused on assisting her master.

In a few minutes, they are now finally done and made Rain look back to the rest of everyone. What they saw was that the burn part of her face is now gone or rather was hidden by a somewhat plastic that blends in to the skin color. To remedy the damaged eye. It was hidden by a black eye patch.

"Uh..so how do I look?" Rain said as she eye all of them.

"..." Mokou was speechless and looks at her with a sad face.

"Hey, you look cool in that!" Tewi reacted but this is just to lift at the mood.

Rain gave a smile to them as she puts a thumb up. She notices the look on Mokou's face and gets up and approaches her.

"I know you feel guilty but don't be. Didn't I say to you that you need to learn from your past mistakes?"

"But..." Mokou bites her lips in frustration.

Rain however, gives her a light flick of on her forehead. "What? Are you just going to sulk then? Come, let's all take some fresh air outside!" She said as she extends her hand to Mokou.

That hand, the one she didn't get to grasped back then is reaching out to her once more. Mokou's hands reached out to it slowly. She was hesitant again... but this time that hand suddenly grabs her forth. Breaking all of her sadness and regret as she saw her mentor smiling at her genuinely. This smile eased, her and then she remembers that time when she first met her.

"I'm going to be just like you master!"

"Haha, Mokou, you are fine just the way you are. Be yourself as there's nothing more better than being you."

At last, such a long but deserved reunion have happened. Mokou's wish has been fulfilled. Realizing this, she gave a big and warm smile to her beloved mentor as she holds her hand, never letting it go again.

With her memory about her certain point in the past returned. She's able to spend time with them especially Mokou and Kaguya who puts aside their feud for her and everyone was happy.

Eirin personally thanks her for her help back then and told her that she this would happen but didn't expected it to be severe and that she does not need to worry about her wounds as they are already healing but for her burn on her face, it would take time. Nevertheless, she did help her on her memory as she remembers them and their past interactions.

Kaguya has been cheerful and became happy ever since she came to her life. It changed the princess's perspective on Earth and was one of the sole reason of her refusing to go back to the moon.

Mokou in times of being alone, lends a hand for her. Not only that but she helped her improve and uncover that her father really cares and loves her.

But Rain has to return to the shrine as it is already dark. Spending the night here might worry Reimu. So, she decided to go back.

She bid goodbye to Kaguya and the others as Mokou and Reisen guides her out of the Bamboo Forest.

"Thanks for escorting me out." Rain thanks the two as they stopped at the entrance of the Bamboo Forest.

"Will you come back and visit?" Mokou asked, clearly she still wants her to stay.

"Ahaha, miss me already? You can visit me at the Hakurei Shrine if you want." She takes her gaze to Reisen. "You too, Reisen. Thanks for bringing me here. If it aren't for you then this all wouldn't happen."

"Thank you! Are you sure you don't want to be escorted back at the shrine?"

"No, I'd rather do it myself." She replied and then adds. "If you need me. Then you know where to find me." She begins to walk away from them with her hand raised before vanishing from their sight.

"Today has been an interesting and unique day..." Mokou uttered and then remembers her crying. "...Hey, uh...I don't wanna hear anything about me crying. You're toast if you try to tease me with it. Capiche?" Seems like she went back to her usual self as she threatened Reisen.

Before Reisen could answer however, Mokou walks away back with her hands in her pockets.

---

As Rain is walking back, it was kind of dark to the path is is walking so anyone who might passed by to her. They'll see a glowing red eye in the dark. Which is kind of scary. Not that Rain is aware of that.

Though Rain stopped as she realized something.

"Oh, what will I tell Reimu and the others about this? Knowing her, she'll probably freak out...no, she'll will. I'm so in trouble for this... I'll just walk a little more and then run for it as it would take like a lot of time to go back." She sighed as she continues to walk down the road back to the shrine.

---

A/N: Sorry this one took quite a bit as I've been busy. But hey! I managed to finish this one before the year ends and is quite long! As always, thanks for reading! Oh, and you better study the poem especially the starting words. Ehe!