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?

27. Veering Eastern Wind - Calm and Trouble

A/N: The next chapter is here, and it took a while as adding music and pictures is time consuming but still it is worth it. I've added new background music to play with the scenes like daily life, gag, suspense, and many more themes. You may choose to listen with it while reading as it has different variants. Anyway, this chapter covers more of Rain's past slowly catching up to her. Many thanks for reading and keeping up with the fic!

---

The warm light of the afternoon sun filtered through the paper screens of the Hakurei Shrine as Rain sat cross-legged at the table, her war scythe propped against the wall beside her, while Reimu, Marisa, and Alice sat around her, each processing the details of the recent events.

Reimu leaned back, her expression thoughtful yet serious. "So, that celestial brat actually apologized in the end?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rain nodded, brushing a strand of her long silver hair out of her face. "Yeah, she did. Turns out she can swallow her pride after all."

Marisa snorted, folding her arms. "More like she had no choice. You had her beat the moment we walked into that room."

Alice chimed in, her gaze lingering on Rain. "And her father? He just let you leave after everything?"

Rain gave a wry smile. "Pretty much. Though I don't think he was thrilled about it. I guess my charming personality won him over."

Marisa rolled her eyes. "Sure, let's call it that, after that greeting and all."

Reimu sighed, rubbing her temple. "I still can't believe you managed to resolve it without anyone getting seriously hurt… this time."

Alice nodded, her tone more cautious. "Still, are you really okay? These abilities you're regaining… they don't exactly sound easy to control."

Marisa leaned forward, grinning. "Oh, come on! If she's got all these crazy powers, maybe she can finally use them for something fun. Like a good old battle of bullets, huh?"

Reimu's gaze hardened. "Marisa, absolutely not. She can barely control them as it is."

Rain tilted her head, her expression amused. "You're not wrong, Reimu. But don't worry, I'm not about to go tossing my scythe around in a danmaku duel. Though, maybe that could work."

As the conversation continued, a strange sensation began to creep over Rain. Her arms felt lighter, and the constant weight of the chains seemed to waver. She froze for a moment, her gaze dropping to her wrists. The manacles that had bound her since Kasen's medicine healed her arm were fading, the chains dissipating into wisps of smoke before disappearing entirely.

"What the…" Rain murmured, holding up her now unbound arms.

The others quickly noticed, their eyes widening.

Reimu leaned forward. "The chains… they're gone?"

Rain flexed her fingers experimentally, her expression a mixture of surprise and relief. "Looks like it."

Marisa grinned, pointing at her. "Does that mean no more oni temper? And no more tossing me around like a sack of potatoes?"

Rain raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You sure you want to test that theory, Marisa? I'm still plenty strong." She turned toward the door, pointing to a nearby tree. "You remember what happened to that tree, right?"

Marisa huffed, crossing her arms. "Alright, alright. I get it. No more bets."

Alice observed Rain quietly, her gaze thoughtful. "The chains were part of the medicine's side effects. If they're gone, does that mean…"

As if on cue, Rain's entire body began to glow faintly. Her long silver-white hair shimmered as it began to shrink back to its original length, the dark and tattered cloak morphing into something far more refined. Her scythe vanished into the air, replaced by a pair of beautifully sheathed katanas at her side.

Rain's attire shifted completely, revealing a familiar outfit that made Reimu and Alice exchange surprised glances. The black and green samurai-style armor, the crimson ribbons adorning her skirt, and the butterfly-shaped black half-wings on her headband all returned, transforming her back into the form they had first seen her in.

Rain glanced down at herself, taking in the changes. A faint smile crossed her lips as she reached for one of the katanas at her side. Drawing it with a smooth motion, the blade gleamed brightly in the sunlight, its edge razor-sharp. She turned it in her hand, admiring the craftsmanship. "Well, would you look at that," she murmured.

Marisa blinked. "You're back?"

Rain nodded, gripping the sword tightly. "Feels good to be back. I missed this." She gave the blade a few experimental swings, the sound of the air parting with each motion filling the room. "This is great, at least, Hecatia didn't lie about it being temporary."

Alice watched her carefully. "You seem more comfortable like this. Does this mean your strength is back to normal too?"

Rain sheathed the blade with a soft click, her gaze shifting to the others. "I think so. No more oni temper, no more chains, and no more ridiculous boosts. Just me."

Reimu crossed her arms, her tone skeptical but softer than before. "That's good to hear. Just don't start wrecking things again, okay?"

Rain smirked. "No promises."

As the group settled into a lighter mood, the weight of the past few days began to lift. They had faced challenges and revelations, but for now, there was a sense of peace in the air. Rain's transformation marked a turning point—not just in her abilities, but in her journey to reclaim herself.

And as they sat together in the shrine, the afternoon sun casting warm light over them, it felt like a moment worth holding onto.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and pink, the air around the shrine grew cooler. Inside, Marisa stretched her arms, letting out a yawn.

"Alright, I guess it's time for me to head back before it gets too late," she said, picking up her broom.

Alice stood, brushing off her skirt. "I should go too. Dolls won't make themselves and besides, I left Alicia back in my home to clean her up." She turned to Rain, her expression calm but with a hint of playfulness. "Try not to cause any more trouble, alright? We'd rather not have to clean up another mess."

Marisa grinned, wagging a finger at Rain. "Yeah, seriously! Keep that quirk of yours in check, or next time, Reimu might actually charge you for repairs."

Rain rolled her eyes but smirked. "What can I say? Trouble tends to find me whether I want it or not."

The two witches said their goodbyes, and the shrine grew quieter as the sound of Marisa's broom disappeared into the distance.

---

With Reimu now preoccupied with her duties, Rain decided to stretch her legs. She strolled outside, her eyes catching the soft glow of the setting sun. As she rounded a corner of the shrine, she noticed a familiar figure sitting near one of the stone lanterns—a lion-dog guardian with a teal mane and tail tipped with white fur.

"Aunn!" Rain called out, her voice warm.

The komainu's ears perked up, and her tail wagged energetically as she turned to face Rain. "Oh! You're back to your usual self!" Aunn bounded over with excitement, circling Rain as if inspecting her. "You look great! I was starting to think that other look was permanent."

Rain crouched down and placed a hand on Aunn's head, patting her gently. The komainu leaned into the touch, her tail wagging even faster.

"You're still as cute as ever, you know that?" Rain said softly, her expression softening. Internally, she was squealing, 'She's really just a big dog. A big, fluffy, adorable dog.'

Aunn tilted her head, her curious eyes sparkling. "You're… staring at me kind of funny. Are you okay?"

Rain chuckled nervously, giving her a few more pats. "Just happy to see you, that's all."

Before she could lose herself in Aunn's overwhelming cuteness, a familiar voice broke through her reverie.

"Rain! Stop playing with Aunn and come help me with the chores!" Reimu's voice carried across the shrine grounds.

Rain stood up, a sheepish grin on her face. "Coming!"

As she walked toward the main building, Reimu crossed her arms, giving Rain a pointed look. "And don't destroy anything this time, alright? Just because you're back to your old self doesn't mean I want a repeat of that door and table incident."

Rain raised her hands in mock surrender. "I'll be careful. Promise."

Reimu narrowed her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "You'd better."

The two of them disappeared into the shrine as the day's light gave way to the soft glow of evening, leaving behind a sense of peace that lingered in the crisp air.

---

The night was slowly settling in, the deep hues of twilight stretching across the sky as Rain finished the last of her chores. The shrine was peaceful, the sound of crickets filling the air and the soft rustle of wind through the trees. She moved slowly, almost absentmindedly, her gaze lifting toward the heavens as she took a deep breath. The air was cool, the sky now dotted with the first stars twinkling faintly, but her mind was far from calm.

Rain's thoughts were a swirling mess of everything that had happened, from the recent chaos to the gradual return of her old self. The changes felt so drastic, the shift from what she'd been to what she had become, and now, the faint return to her old appearance. It wasn't just her physical form that was different — her very essence had been altered, and now, with the chains slowly fading from her arms, her oni side receding, she found herself at a crossroads. She had no clear memory of what had happened or why she had worked with Hecatia, only a vague recollection of the forbidden magic and darker sides of her powers. There was so much left unknown, and the feeling of uncertainty gnawed at her. What would the future hold for her now?

Her mind raced with the worry of what she might become and what she could lose. The little moments of peace she'd found here, with Reimu and the others, felt fragile, like a delicate glass that might shatter at any moment. The future was looming, and she feared that the darkness in her might return, that she would lose control again.

As Rain stared at the night sky, the weight of her thoughts felt unbearable. The stars were bright, but they didn't bring her comfort tonight. She gave a long deep sigh as she looks on.

The soft rustle of movement behind her brought her out of her thoughts. She turned slightly to see Reimu approaching, her footsteps light on the gravel path.

"Long day, huh?" Reimu said, her voice gentle. She stopped beside Rain, glancing at the sky as well.

Rain hesitated for a moment, then spoke quietly. "Yeah, you could say that... I've been thinking a lot… about everything. About the future." Her voice trailed off, and she didn't look at Reimu, afraid that if she did, her emotions would spill over.

Reimu was silent for a while, sensing Rain's unease. After a few moments, she asked, "Wanna talk about it?"

Rain looked over at her, her expression guarded at first, but the weight in her chest made the words slip out before she could stop them. "I just… I worry. About who I am, who I'll be. And everything that's happened. The things I've done, and the things I might still do. It's a lot to carry." Her hands clenched slightly, the familiar sense of loss and fear rising in her chest once again.

Reimu didn't say anything at first, but she stepped closer, offering her silent presence as comfort. When she spoke, her voice was soft, but it carried warmth. "You don't have to carry it all alone, you know."

Rain let out a quiet sigh. "I know… but it's just… hard to know who to trust anymore. To know if I can even trust myself." She turned her head to the side, looking at Reimu, her gaze vulnerable. "You've been so kind to me. Letting me stay, treating me like a friend when I don't even remember who I really am. You didn't have to do that."

Reimu raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt. She listened, her eyes steady and understanding.

"I... I don't know how I could've gotten through everything without you," Rain continued, her voice thickening with emotion. "You've done so much for me, and I—" She paused, her throat tightening, and she looked away again, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

Reimu's face softened as she stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Rain's shoulder. "Hey," she said, her voice quiet but firm, "You don't have to thank me for that. You're my friend, Rain. And friends help each other. That's all."

Rain felt her heart twist at the simplicity of Reimu's words. She had been given so much, and she hadn't even realized just how deeply she'd come to rely on Reimu's presence, her steadiness. The tears she had been holding back finally started to fall, one by one, as Rain leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Reimu. She wasn't sure where the sudden surge of emotion had come from, but it felt like everything she'd been holding inside for so long had finally broken free.

"I'm sorry," Rain whispered, her voice shaky. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm just so… lost."

Reimu froze for a moment, clearly surprised, but then she immediately wrapped her arms around Rain, pulling her into a comforting embrace. She didn't say anything at first, simply holding her as Rain's tears soaked her clothes. The embrace felt warm, safe, like she could truly let go, even if just for a moment.

Reimu's voice was soft as she spoke. "There's nothing wrong with you, Rain. You've been through a lot. You're allowed to feel lost. But you don't have to face it alone anymore. We're all here for you."

Rain squeezed her eyes shut, pressing her face into Reimu's shoulder. "I'm just so scared, I admit. What if I mess up again? What if I hurt someone, hurt you?" The words tumbled out, desperate and raw.

"You won't," Reimu said quietly, reassuringly. "You've already come so far. You're stronger than you think."

Rain let out a shaky breath, trying to calm herself, but the emotions were still overwhelming. After a few moments, she pulled away slightly, wiping her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm acting like this… I'm supposed to be an adult, but here I am…" She laughed weakly, the sound bitter in her throat.

Reimu smiled gently. "It's okay to let your guard down. It doesn't make you any less strong. You've been through a lot, and it's normal to need someone to lean on."

Rain took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, but she still felt vulnerable. "I just… I don't know what I would've done without you and the others. You've all given me so much. I can't even begin to thank you enough."

Reimu's expression softened even more. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad you're here."

Rain looked at Reimu, her eyes filled with gratitude, and then, in a moment of overwhelming emotion, she hugged Reimu again. This time, it was quieter, calmer, but the connection was just as deep. She rested her head on Reimu's shoulder, the tears fading away as she just allowed herself to feel the comfort of the embrace.

Reimu stayed silent for a moment, simply letting Rain calm down, her hand resting on Rain's back in a comforting gesture.

When Rain finally pulled away, she gave a small laugh, though it was tinged with sadness. "Please… don't tell Marisa or Alice about this. They'll never let me live it down."

Reimu chuckled softly, wiping away the last remnants of Rain's tears. "I won't tell them. It'll be our little secret."

Rain smiled faintly, feeling a little lighter than before. "Thank you, Reimu. For everything."

Reimu gave her a gentle smile. "Anytime, Rain. Anytime."

As the night deepened around them, the air still and peaceful, Rain felt a little less burdened. The future was still uncertain, and she knew there would be challenges ahead, but for now, she was grateful. Grateful for the friends she had made, for the safety of this place, and for Reimu — who had given her so much without asking anything in return.

They stood together for a while, watching the stars twinkle in the dark sky, both lost in their own thoughts, but content in each other's company.

---

Marisa stepped into her house and let out a long sigh, kicking her boots off near the door and flopping into the nearest chair. Her home was its usual chaotic mess, with piles of books, magical artifacts, and various oddities scattered everywhere. A half-finished potion bubbled faintly on a nearby desk, and the faint smell of herbs and burnt wood filled the air. She leaned back, letting her broom clatter to the floor, and stared at the ceiling for a moment.

"What a day," she muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair. Her mind wandered back to Rain — the chaos she had caused earlier, the surprise of seeing her old self back, and… that moment.

Marisa felt her cheeks heat up as she recalled how Rain had carried her bridal style without a hint of hesitation. The memory made her huff in frustration, the redness spreading across her face. "What was that about?" she grumbled, sitting up and glaring at nothing in particular. "Who does she think she is, carrying me like that? And why did I—" She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought.

Her gaze drifted to the scattered books and trinkets on her shelves. Rain was different from anyone she'd ever met. Most people couldn't keep her attention for long, but Rain… there was something about her. Something that had made Marisa curious, then fascinated, and now… now she didn't even know what to think.

"She's interesting," Marisa admitted aloud, her voice softer now. "I've met other weirdos but she takes the cake..." Her cheeks flared red again as she realized what she was saying. "What's wrong with me?!" she groaned, burying her face in her hands.

After a moment, she took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. She couldn't let herself get distracted like this. Her eyes scanned the cluttered room and settled on the object sitting near her worktable — a cube-like crystal, glowing faintly with an inner light.

Marisa stood and approached the crystal, her expression growing more serious. She picked it up carefully, turning it in her hands as she studied it. "Now that Rain's back to herself," she murmured, "maybe I can finally ask her to come by for this."

She frowned, guilt flickering in her eyes. She'd stolen the crystal from Reimu, after overhearing her and Yukari discussing what to do with it. Destroying it had been one option, leaving the decision to Reimu in the end. But Marisa couldn't stand the idea of the crystal — containing Rain's memories — being lost forever. Rain deserved to know, to decide for herself what to do with those memories, good or bad.

"Reimu's gonna kill me if she finds out I took it," Marisa muttered, placing the crystal back on the table. Her fingers lingered on it, the weight of her guilt heavy in her chest. Yukari had already caught her once, showing her some of Rain's memories within the crystal. Since then, Marisa's determination to help Rain had only grown stronger. She owed her this much.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, chilling sensation. She froze, her senses on high alert as she felt a presence behind her. Slowly, she turned her head, and there, leaning casually against the wall, was Yukari Yakumo.

Marisa jumped, nearly knocking over the crystal in her shock. "Old hag scheming yokai!" she shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Yukari. "Don't sneak up on people like that!"

Yukari smirked, unfazed by the insult. "My, my, such a warm welcome as always, Marisa. You really should learn to control that tongue of yours. Careful with that crystal, it might break from your carelessness."

Marisa crossed her arms, ignoring what she lastly said, glared at her. "What do you want, Yukari? Here to lecture me again? Or maybe scheme some more?"

Yukari chuckled, stepping closer. "No lecturing today. I'm here because I need you to do something for me."

"Not interested," Marisa said quickly, turning her back to Yukari and picking up the crystal again. "Find someone else to play your games with."

"It's for Rain," Yukari said, her tone calm but deliberate.

Marisa hesitated, her grip on the crystal tightening. She turned her head slightly, her curiosity piqued despite herself. "…For Rain?"

"Indeed," Yukari said, her smirk widening. She produced a small vial filled with a glowing green liquid and placed it on the table beside Marisa. "I need you to give this to her."

Marisa eyed the vial suspiciously, not touching it. "What is it? And why should I?"

"It's a potion," Yukari explained cryptically, her voice light but laced with an undertone of seriousness. "One that will make her more… human."

"More human?" Marisa frowned, turning fully to face Yukari. "What are you talking about? She's fine now, isn't she? Back to her old self."

"For now," Yukari said, her tone growing more enigmatic. "But the spell that binds her humanity is wearing off. If she doesn't drink this soon… well, let's just say you wouldn't like what you'd see."

Marisa's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean? Stop talking in riddles and just tell me!"

Yukari smiled faintly but didn't answer directly. "Just make sure she drinks it. Quickly. That's all you need to know."

Before Marisa could press her further, Yukari turned and began to vanish into one of her signature gaps.

"Hey! Don't just leave after dropping something like this!" Marisa shouted, stepping forward, but it was too late. Yukari was gone, leaving only the faint ripple of her gap behind.

Marisa scowled, her frustration bubbling over. "Old hag scheming yokai," she muttered under her breath, looking down at the vial Yukari had left. She picked it up, holding it up to the light. The green liquid swirled faintly, almost glowing in the dim room.

She sighed, placing the vial on the table next to the crystal. "Guess I don't have a choice," she said to herself. "If it's for Rain… I'll do it. But you'd better not be lying, Yukari."

Marisa sat back down, staring at the crystal and the potion, her mind racing. Rain had already been through so much. If this potion was supposed to help her, then Marisa would do whatever it took to make sure she got it. But something about Yukari's words unsettled her, a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she couldn't shake.

---

As the night continues, Nitori Kawashiro sat in her workshop, her usually cheerful demeanor subdued as her fingers absently traced the edge of her worktable. Tools and parts were strewn across the space, a scene of chaos that mirrored the jumble of thoughts in her head. Her mind wandered back to her recent encounter with Yuiran and Ruiran, the enigmatic moon rabbit twins who had been her elusive clients for so long. Meeting them face-to-face had been an experience unlike any other, and it left her grappling with unease.

"They're no ordinary moon rabbits," she muttered to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. Despite their polite interactions and the transactional nature of their relationship, there was an unmistakable tension in the air during their meeting. Their base of operations wasn't a ruin as they had claimed but something far more astonishing—a crashed ship. The Hyperion Prototype Vessel, they called it.

Her memories shifted, drawing her back to that fateful encounter.

---

The vast metal doors of the supposed ruins hissed open with a mechanical groan, revealing an interior bathed in dim, cold light. Nitori had barely stepped through when the air changed, carrying with it a sterile, metallic tang. Her sharp kappa eyes darted around, noting the seamless walls and advanced design.

"This isn't a ruin," she murmured under her breath, her unease growing.

Yuiran strode confidently ahead, her towering form a stark contrast to the smaller kappa. Her warhammer rested across her shoulder, a casual display of strength. Ruiran followed silently, her sniper rifle slung across her back, eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced vigilance.

Yuiran's voice cut through the silence. "You're sharp as ever, Kawashiro. You're right. This isn't a ruin. It's a ship—a relic of the first Lunar War. The Hyperion Prototype Vessel."

Nitori's steps faltered, her mind racing. "A ship? But how—?"

Yuiran waved her off, a sly grin spreading across her face. "It's a long story, but let's just say it crashed here because we 'borrowed' it. We were done being cannon fodder for the Lunarians, and we rebelled, we took this ship with us."

As they walked, Yuiran's tone shifted, tinged with bitterness. "None of this would have been possible without our great leader. She gave us a second chance, a reason to fight for something other than the whims of those Lunarian overlords. To be free! Choose our own ways."

Ruiran nodded in silent agreement, her expression momentarily betraying a flicker of disdain.

The corridor widened into a grand hall, and Nitori's gaze was drawn to a massive framed portrait adorning one of the walls. The figure depicted exuded an aura of authority, even from the still image. Short silver-white hair framed her face, her heterochromatic eyes—one red, one green—piercing through the canvas. She wore a sleek black military uniform with gold accents, and a cape. Her composed posture, seated on what appeared to be a throne, radiated an elegance that demanded respect.

"Who is that?" Nitori asked, her voice betraying a mix of awe and trepidation.

Yuiran's face lit up with pride. "That's our leader. XXI The Aeon."

Ruiran's normally stoic demeanor softened, her eyes reflecting a rare warmth as she gazed at the portrait.

Nitori felt a strange chill as she stared at the image. "She… feels intimidating, even in a picture." but she felt this inexplicable sense of familiarity tugging at her.

Good," Yuiran quipped, her smile widening. "You should fear her. Without her, we'd still be cannon fodder for those Lunarian bastards and not be free in the truest sense."

Ruiran's expression darkened in agreement, her distaste for their former oppressors evident.

Yuiran gestured for her to follow.

They reached another set of massive doors, their metallic surfaces polished to a mirror shine. Faint sounds echoed beyond them—marching footsteps in perfect unison.

Nitori caught a glimpse of the source as the doors slid open. Rows of figures moved with mechanical precision, their bodies clad in armor-like suits bristling with advanced technology. Their movements were almost too synchronized, too perfect, and the faint hum of machinery accompanied each step.

"Training," Yuiran said nonchalantly. "Keeps them sharp and out of trouble."

The sound of their boots echoed as they entered a sprawling workshop. The space was alive with activity, tools clinking, machines humming. In the center, a figure hunched over a workbench, sparks flying as she welded something unrecognizable. A protective helmet obscured her face, but her long rabbit ears were unmistakable.

Yuiran's lips curled into a mischievous grin. "I've got an idea," she whispered to Ruiran, nudging her sister.

Ruiran leaned in, her expression unreadable.

"Got that round loaded?"

A single nod, her sister gave.

"Good. Don't use MP—it's too messy. Just a regular one. AP should do."

Nitori blinked in confusion. "What are you—"

Her words died in her throat as Ruiran raised her rifle, aiming directly at the unsuspecting rabbit at the workbench.

"What are you doing?!" Nitori hissed, panic lacing her voice.

"Relax," Yuiran said, her tone almost teasing. "Just a little wake-up call. Aim for the head, Ru. Don't damage the tools."

Ruiran remained silent, her focus unbroken.

The shot rang out, a deafening crack that echoed through the workshop. The projectile whistled past Nitori, narrowly missing her, before striking its target with a sickening thud.

Blood splattered across the floor as the figure slumped forward.

"What the hell is wrong with you two?!" Nitori shouted, her voice trembling.

Yuiran merely chuckled, patting her sister on the back. "Nice shot, Ru."

Moments later, the figure stirred, groaning as she pushed herself up. Blood dripped from her head wound, but instead of collapsing, she muttered irritably, "Couldn't wait until I was done?"

Nitori's jaw dropped. "She's alive?!"

"Of course," Yuiran said smugly. "Meet XIV, The Sun. Or, as we call her in her real name, Tsuire."

Tsuire [XIV The Sun]

The mechanic of the Arcana Magia, she is also a moon rabbit as Yuiran had said, she enjoys tinkering and learning, a hobby that emerged after they left the Lunarian Defense Corps and started living in Earth. She may not have knack in fighting but she is very well verse in explosives and techs. Her attire mostly consist of a working attire, the one she wears right now and a similar to the twins a military attire but more focused on explosive parts. She is always carrying different kinds of explosives with her that is either experimental or for combat reasons. She also dislikes the Lunarians within a reason that she saw herself during the first lunar war.

Tsuire scowled, wiping at her forehead. "Eugh! You're cleaning this up, Yui."

"Not a chance," Yuiran said, smirking.

Turning her attention to Nitori, Tsuire adjusted her helmet with now a hole. "So, you're the genius mechanic. About time. I've got some questions for you."

Nitori hesitated. "How... how are you alive after that?"

Tsuire rolled her eyes. "It's the gift of the Aeon. Didn't Yuiran told you? We're undead. Can't die because we're already dead. Perks of serving The Aeon."

The explanation left Nitori reeling, but Tsuire had already moved on, gesturing to the device she'd been working on. "This? Just an Anti-Psychic Beacon. Jams telepathic networks— it was used well during the war. We can't communicate well when it is active. Truly, Her Majesty outdid herself in making such a tech. Hm, I was thinking of turning this into an Psychic Beacon. Humans around this thing would be reduced into mind slaves, hah!" She laughs before continuing. "Though, am only half-joking. Maybe just amplify the effect of the jamming for future use? What do you think?" She eyes Nitori who was already looking around at the said tech.

Despite her shock, Nitori couldn't help but be intrigued. The two quickly fell into a discussion about wavelengths and frequency modulation, their shared love of mechanics momentarily overshadowing the strangeness of the situation.

---

Back in her workshop, Nitori exhaled deeply, the memories still vivid. "Undead moon rabbits," she murmured. Her gaze lingered on her desk, where a half-finished project lay waiting. "And their leader... why does she seem so familiar?"

Shaking her head, she forced herself to focus. While she was gone, Genbu Ravine had been damaged and she had repairs to complete. Still, the thought lingered. She couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was only the beginning and that woman in the painting, she knows she had seen that face before.

---

The evening passed in a blur of swirling thoughts for Marisa. After Yukari's sudden and unannounced visit, the witch couldn't help but feel a nagging sense of unease. Yukari had appeared in her typical enigmatic fashion, stepping through a gap as casually as if she were walking through a front door. She'd handed Marisa a small green vial with a cryptic warning that made her stomach churn.

"Make sure Rain drinks this tomorrow morning. A certain spell is nearing its limit, and if it expires... well, let's just say you'll regret being late."

The cryptic tone made Marisa's skin crawl, but questioning Yukari was like trying to lecture a storm. The witch had pocketed the vial reluctantly, the weight of its significance growing heavier by the second. Yukari had vanished soon after, leaving only her teasing smirk and the faint scent of cherry blossoms behind.

Now, the sky outside Marisa's window was painted in the deep hues of twilight, giving way to the gentle glow of moonlight. Marisa sighed, pushing away her worry as best as she could. Yukari's meddling always came with layers of hidden meanings, but there was no use unraveling them now.

---

When the first rays of dawn crept through her window, Marisa was already stirring. She groggily rubbed her eyes, the faint green glow of the potion vial catching her attention from her bedside table. The events of the night before came rushing back, and she groaned, flopping onto her back.

"Great… more weird errands," she muttered, staring at the ceiling.

After a few more minutes of indulging her laziness, she finally sat up. She stretched, her signature black witch's hat askew on the corner of her bed. Marisa grabbed it with a yawn, placing it firmly on her head before shuffling toward her dresser.

---

Marisa's morning routine was quick and efficient, a mixture of practiced chaos. Her house—a cozy yet cluttered mess of books, potion bottles, and magical tools—reflected her personality perfectly. She brewed a strong cup of tea, scrawled some quick notes for a new magical experiment, and slipped on her usual black-and-white outfit, complete with her oversized broom leaning against the wall.

The potion vial found its way into the small pouch on her belt, nestled securely next to other trinkets. As much as she disliked being a pawn in Yukari's games, she had to admit that the warning lingered in her mind.

Not bringing the Sealing Crystal felt like the right call, though. Marisa wasn't keen on risking Reimu's wrath just yet. And dragging Rain back to her house later would be easy enough—probably.

Grinning at the thought of some playful coercion, Marisa kicked open the door to her house and mounted her broom. The crisp morning air greeted her with a cool breeze, and the skies above Gensokyo were clear and inviting.

"Alright, Rain," she muttered to herself, "you better not make this more complicated than it needs to be."

With a quick push off the ground, Marisa soared into the sky, her destination set: the Hakurei Shrine. The green vial, safely tucked away, seemed to pulse faintly in the morning light—a reminder of the urgency behind her task.

---

The morning was still young when Marisa flew through the skies of Gensokyo, her broom slicing through the crisp air. The faint golden hues of dawn stretched lazily across the horizon, casting long shadows over the treetops below. The tranquility of the scene was lost on Marisa, whose mind buzzed with a mixture of determination and lingering unease. The green potion vial in her pouch seemed heavier than its size should allow, a constant reminder of Yukari's cryptic words.

Her flight path wove over the familiar terrain, the sights of Gensokyo slowly waking beneath the soft light. A flock of birds scattered as her broom zipped past, their startled cries echoing faintly. Marisa chuckled under her breath, finding amusement in their reaction. Despite the gravity of her task, she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. After all, visiting the Hakurei Shrine always promised some form of entertainment—or chaos.

As she neared the shrine, the structure came into view, its humble yet sacred design standing quietly against the morning glow. Landing with a soft thud, Marisa dismounted her broom and dusted off her hat. She strode up to the shrine doors, her usual grin plastered across her face.

"OI! REIMU! RISE AND SHINE!" she bellowed, her voice breaking the serene silence of the early hour.

From within the shrine, a muffled groan answered her, followed quickly by the sound of something—whack!—flying through the air. A shoe struck Marisa square in the head, and she stumbled back, more surprised than hurt.

"Marisa!" Reimu's irritated voice followed. "Do you have to be so loud? It's too early for this!"

Rubbing her head with a sheepish grin, Marisa quipped, "Aww, don't tell me you kept Rain up all night, ze?"

Reimu appeared at the door, her hair slightly disheveled and her expression halfway between a frown and an exasperated glare. Without missing a beat, she hurled her other shoe at Marisa, who barely dodged it this time.

"You're going to make me grumpy before breakfast," Reimu muttered, crossing her arms. "But here I am, already grouchy because of you."

Marisa laughed, shrugging off the priestess's irritation. "Guess I've got a knack for timing. But seriously, what's got you up this early? Couldn't resist seeing me, huh?"

Reimu rolled her eyes and smirked. "You're projecting. Let me guess—you couldn't resist seeing Rain. What's the matter? Want her to carry you around again? Maybe pamper you while she's at it?"

A faint blush crept up Marisa's cheeks, but she quickly hid it behind her usual bravado. "Oh, ha-ha. I'm here on serious business, Reimu. Unlike you, I've got stuff to do."

"Yeah, sure," Reimu shot back, leaning against the doorframe. "Well, if it's Rain you're after, don't bother. She's still sleeping like a log. Leave her be."

"Can't do that," Marisa said with a determined grin, brushing past Reimu. "I'm waking her up."

Reimu sighed, closing the door behind her. "Fine, but don't come crying to me when she throws something at you."

---

Inside the shrine, the quiet was palpable, broken only by the soft creak of the floorboards as Marisa made her way toward Rain's futon. The room was dimly lit, with rays of morning sunlight filtering through the shoji screens. Rain lay peacefully, draped in a white kimono that had shifted slightly in her sleep. The fabric parted just enough to reveal a hint of her collarbone and cleavage, her silver-white hair cascading across the pillow like moonlight.

Marisa froze for a moment, her gaze lingering despite herself. A faint warmth rose to her cheeks, and she scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

'What am I doing?' she thought, trying to shake off the moment.

Before she could make another move, a sharp thwack landed on her head. She winced, spinning around to find Reimu standing there, her gohei in hand and a smirk on her face.

"Where exactly are you looking, Marisa?" Reimu teased, her tone playful but sharp enough to cut.

Marisa flinched, rubbing the spot where she'd been hit. "Oi! I wasn't looking at anything! You just caught me off guard!"

"Yeah, sure," Reimu said with a roll of her eyes, clearly unconvinced.

Shaking off her embarrassment, Marisa crouched beside Rain, her mischievous grin returning. She extended a finger, ready to poke Rain awake—or maybe tickle her for good measure.

Just as her hand drew near, Rain's eyes snapped wide open, startling Marisa enough to make her stumble back. Rain's gaze was sharp, her voice calm but laced with a warning.

"Do that, and you'll be going home with black marks," she said, her tone carrying just enough menace to make Marisa think twice.

Marisa blinked, her grin faltering into a nervous chuckle. "Good morning to you too, Rain."

---

Rain stretched lazily, her silver-white hair catching the faint light filtering through the room. Her crimson and green eyes opened fully, meeting Marisa's sheepish grin with a raised brow. Without a word, she rolled onto her side and sat up, adjusting her kimono to cover her collarbone and straightening the sash around her waist.

"You were too loud," she said flatly, her tone carrying the grogginess of someone reluctantly awake. "I'm up, so what's the rush?"

Before Marisa could answer, Reimu chimed in from behind. "Marisa's just worried about you. Maybe she couldn't resist missing you already."

Marisa's face turned a shade of pink that wasn't easy to hide, and she spun around to glare at Reimu. "Oi! Don't put words in my mouth, Reimu!" she snapped, her voice a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.

Rain, still adjusting her kimono, let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, is that it? Didn't know you were so concerned about me, Marisa. I'm touched."

Marisa groaned, her hand instinctively reaching to adjust her hat in a futile attempt to recover her composure. "That's not—! Ugh, whatever. Just hurry up. I'll explain over breakfast."

Rain stretched her arms with a playful grin and stood. "Fine by me. Let's get some food going. Reimu wanted to let me cook anyway."

Reimu gave a mock pout. "Hey, I could cook if I wanted to."

Rain shot her a knowing look. "Sure you could. You just don't want to."

Marisa burst into laughter at that, and even Reimu couldn't hold back a chuckle as the three moved toward the kitchen area.

---

Rain worked deftly, her hands a blur as she prepared breakfast. The smells of freshly cooked rice, grilled fish, and miso soup filled the air, and both Marisa and Reimu couldn't help but hover near her like children waiting for a treat.

Seated at the low table, the three began their meal in comfortable silence at first, the clinking of chopsticks and soft hums of satisfaction filling the shrine's morning stillness. Reimu was the first to break the silence, leaning back with a satisfied sigh.

"You know, Rain, if you ever wanted to settle down, you'd make a great wife," she teased, her tone light but carrying a mischievous edge.

Rain chuckled as she picked up her cup of tea. "I'll take that as a compliment, but settling down isn't really on my list right now. Not while my memories are scrambled like an omelet."

Marisa raised a brow, chewing thoughtfully. "Still can't remember much, huh?"

Rain shook her head. "Bits and pieces, maybe. Sometimes I wonder if I've got a family somewhere—or if Reimu's right and I am married already." She paused, tilting her head thoughtfully. "I'm not even sure how old I am. Judging by how much more mature I seem compared to you two, maybe I'm older."

That earned immediate reactions. Marisa nearly spat out her tea. "Whoa, whoa, wait a second. Married? You?" She leaned forward, her expression incredulous. "I don't buy it. You don't exactly scream 'married life,' y'know?"

Reimu smirked, clearly enjoying the turn of the conversation. "What's wrong, Marisa? Jealous?"

Marisa flailed her arms. "Jealous? Of what? I'm just saying, I don't see it!"

Rain laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "Relax, Marisa. I don't see it either. But with my memories a mess, who knows? Maybe I've got a husband—or a wife—out there somewhere."

Reimu raised a teasing brow. "So you are open to the idea, huh?"

Marisa groaned, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. Next thing you'll tell me is she's an old hag in a young-looking body."

Rain leaned her chin on her hand with a sly grin. "I do look young and all, but maybe I should start calling you two kids now. You know, to match."

Both girls bristled at that.

Reimu pouted. "I'm not a kid."

Marisa jabbed her chopsticks in Rain's direction. "Oi! You're asking for it now."

Rain laughed, her voice warm and genuine. Moments like this, surrounded by people who felt like family, made her feel at ease despite the gaps in her past. Reimu, meanwhile, watched the interaction with a rare softness in her gaze, mentally noting how Rain's knack for attracting trouble was balanced by her incredible cooking skills. At least with Rain around, the food was as good as anything you'd find at the fanciest stall in the Human Village.

When the plates were cleared, Reimu stood and stretched, her hands above her head. "Well, I've got chores to do. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone, okay?"

Rain waved her off. "Don't worry, I'll keep Marisa in check."

Marisa crossed her arms with mock indignation. "Oi, I'm not the one ya need to babysit."

Reimu chuckled as she left the room, leaving Rain and Marisa alone.

---

Marisa tapped her fingers on the table, searching for the right words. She couldn't exactly say Yukari had given her the potion or explain the cryptic warning outright. Instead, she leaned on her improvisational skills.

"So, uh…" Marisa began, her voice a little hesitant. "I brought something for you. Thought it might… help."

Rain tilted her head curiously. "Help with what?"

Marisa pulled out the green vial, holding it up. "It's, uh, a tonic! Yeah, I found it in Kourindou the other day. Figured it might be good for… I dunno, keeping you in top shape or something."

Rain narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't press. "Huh. And you thought to bring it here so early?"

Marisa scratched the back of her head, grinning. "Hey, I'm just looking out for you. Besides, with the way you attract trouble, can't hurt to be prepared, right?"

Rain laughed softly, shaking her head. "Fair enough. Let's see what you've got, then."Rain stretched and sighed. "Before anything else, I should probably change into something more comfortable," she said, gesturing to her white kimono. "Can't exactly start my day in this."

She stood, smoothing the wrinkles in the fabric, and paused to glance at the vial Marisa held. With a playful smirk, she added, "You know, that thing might turn me into a toad or something. You are a witch, after all."

Marisa shot her a mock glare. "Oi, I'm not that kind of witch!"

Rain laughed softly and walked toward the dressing room. Sliding the door shut behind her, she let out a quiet breath. The laughter lingered, but only faintly now as she prepared to change.

---

Inside the dressing room, the morning light filtered gently through the paper windows, casting soft shadows over Rain's figure. She untied the sash of her kimono, letting it fall open and slide from her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Her silver-white hair framed her face as she stretched, her movements deliberate and calm.

She reached for her daily attire: her green outfit, softened by the absence of its usual armor plating. She began with the blouse, pulling it over her torso and adjusting the light brown shoulders. Her fingers lingered momentarily on the black ribbon near the neckline, tying it loosely in place. Next came the skirt, its flowing green fabric settling comfortably around her hips.

As she dressed, a strange feeling began to creep into her awareness. It was subtle at first, like the faintest whisper at the back of her mind. She paused, her hands stilling as she smoothed her skirt. Something felt… off.

Her crimson and green eyes darted around the small room, scanning the corners. The air seemed heavier, and her skin prickled with an inexplicable sense of wrongness.

"What is this?" she murmured, her voice low.

Then she felt it—an odd sensation, as though something had detached from her. Her gaze dropped to the floor, and her breath caught. Her green eye widened in disbelief.

There, lying on the wooden planks, was her crimson eye.

She stumbled back a step, her body rigid with shock. It didn't hurt. There was no pain. But the sight was deeply unsettling.

Her fingers brushed against her right cheek, and she froze. The skin there felt loose, as though it were slipping away. Slowly, horrifyingly, it began to peel off, like a mask being removed. It came away cleanly, revealing not flesh but something skeletal beneath.

Rain's breathing grew shallow as she reached for the small hand mirror resting on a nearby shelf. Her fingers trembled as she raised it to her face.

Her reflection stared back at her—or what was left of it. The right side of her face was now bare bone, the hollow socket where her crimson eye once rested now glowed with an eerie red light. Her jawbone was stark against the pale green of her remaining skin.

The mirror nearly slipped from her grasp as she shook, a mix of calm determination and sheer disbelief settling over her.

"This… isn't possible," she whispered, her voice shaking.

Before she could process further, the dressing room's sliding door rattled and opened abruptly.

"Oi, Rain! You're taking forever in here. What're you—" Marisa's words died in her throat as her eyes locked onto Rain's face.

The two women froze, their gazes meeting. Rain's glowing red socket stared back at Marisa, unblinking, burning with an unnatural intensity.

Marisa's breath hitched, her mind reeling. For a split second, her dream surged forward in vivid clarity. She saw Rain again—not as she was, but as she appeared now. Her face half-skeletal, her eye socket glowing red, and her expression tinged with both calm and something deeply unsettling.

"No…" Marisa whispered, her voice barely audible. Her legs felt weak, and her hand tightened against the doorframe for support.

Rain remained still, though her trembling hands betrayed her inner turmoil. Her exposed jaw moved slightly, as if she were about to speak, but the words wouldn't come.

The remnants of her skin and fallen eye had melted into nothingness, leaving no trace.

"Rain…" Marisa finally managed, her voice breaking. "What—what is this? What's happening to you?"

Rain swallowed hard, lowering the mirror. Her voice was calm, but her words carried a chilling weight. "Marisa… don't panic. I don't know what's happening either, but…"

Marisa took a step back, her mind screaming to reconcile the nightmare she had seen with the horrifying reality before her. Rain's skeletal face, the glowing socket—it was all too familiar. Too real.

Her dream had shown that time how it was a nightmare for her and because it had ended in Rain's death.

Panic surged in Marisa's chest, but she clenched her fists, forcing herself to focus. "Rain… you're not gonna die on me, right? Tell me you're not gonna—"

Rain's remaining eye softened, a faint attempt at reassurance. "I don't plan to. But we need to figure this out. Fast."

The room felt colder, heavier, as the unsettling reality lingered between them.

Before Rain could respond further, the sound of Reimu's footsteps approached from the shrine's corridor. The faint creak of the wooden floor announced her arrival.

"Hey, you two!" Reimu called, her tone light but edged with curiosity. "You've been holed up in there for too long. Did Marisa blow something up, or—" Reimu stepped in with her typical no-nonsense expression. But the moment her eyes landed on Rain, her composure shattered.

Her breath hitched sharply, and she staggered back a step, one hand flying to her mouth. Her wide eyes darted from Rain's half-skeletal face to Marisa's pale, shaken expression.

"What the—" Reimu stammered, her voice trembling. Her instincts screamed danger, and for a split second, she almost reached for her gohei, expecting a fight. "What happened to you?!"

Rain turned toward Reimu slowly, the glow in her exposed eye socket flaring faintly in the dim light. She raised her hands in a placating gesture, though her own unease was evident. "Reimu, it's… I don't know. I just—"

"You don't know?!" Reimu's voice cracked as her gaze darted to the faint, melting remnants on the floor, which seemed to evaporate entirely as she watched. "Your face! Rain, this isn't normal! This isn't—"

Marisa stepped forward, her hands raised as if to calm Reimu. "Reimu, wait! It's—okay, it's not okay, but she's still herself, alright? Don't freak out too much!"

"Don't freak out?!" Reimu snapped, pointing a trembling finger at Rain. "Look at her! Half her face is gone, and her eye's glowing like something out of a nightmare!"

Rain sighed, closing her remaining eye briefly before opening it again, the tension in her skeletal jaw visible. "Reimu, I know how it looks. I'm as unsettled as you are, believe me. But panicking isn't going to help."

Reimu's hands balled into fists at her sides. She opened her mouth to retort but stopped, taking in the measured tone of Rain's voice. Slowly, she exhaled, though her body remained tense. "You… You're really okay? This isn't… permanent, is it?"

"I don't know," Rain admitted quietly. Her voice, though steady, carried a weight of uncertainty that only deepened Reimu's unease. "But I don't think I'm dying, if that's what you're worried about."

Reimu's shoulders relaxed marginally, though her face remained pale. "You'd better not be. I've had enough death-related drama for a lifetime." She hesitated, then added, "And what the hell were you doing that made this happen?"

Marisa scratched the back of her head, her gaze flickering to the melted remnants on the floor. "We… uh, haven't figured that out yet."

Rain turned her attention to the mirror still clutched in her hand. "It just… happened. I was getting dressed, and suddenly…" Her skeletal fingers twitched as she gestured faintly at her face. "This."

Reimu's lips pressed into a thin line. Her sharp intuition told her there was more to this than Rain or Marisa had revealed, but now wasn't the time to interrogate them. "Fine. But we're figuring this out. Fast."

Rain nodded, the red glow in her eye socket dimming slightly. "Agreed."

Reimu sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm going to need tea. A lot of tea. And maybe some sake if this gets worse."

Marisa tried to chuckle, but it came out strained. "Yeah, no kidding."

The three stood in tense silence for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on them. The morning light that had once seemed warm and inviting now felt cold and unforgiving, casting sharp shadows across the room and their uneasy expressions.

---

Marisa swallowed hard, her hand gripping the vial tightly as she glanced nervously between Rain's skeletal features and Reimu's still-tense form. She could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, and Yukari's cryptic words echoed in her mind:

"You wouldn't like what you'll see if you delay, Marisa. Not even by a minute."

She had already been late—just a minute or two—but the sight before her was enough to make her stomach twist. She hesitated no longer.

"Rain," Marisa said firmly, holding the green vial out to her. "Drink this. Now."

Rain's remaining eye narrowed slightly, her calm demeanor fraying just enough to reveal suspicion. "You still haven't told me what this is."

Marisa avoided her gaze, her voice uncharacteristically serious. "It'll stop… whatever's happening to you. Trust me, alright? You have to drink it."

Reimu frowned, watching the exchange. Her sharp instincts told her Marisa knew more than she was letting on, but she held her tongue for now, sensing the urgency in her friend's voice.

Rain glanced down at her skeletal hand and flexed her fingers experimentally. The movement felt disturbingly natural, as though her body had already accepted the change. But when her gaze shifted to her other arm, her breath caught.

The transformation was spreading. Her right arm, once covered in pale, unmarred skin, was now revealing bone as if the flesh were peeling away like thin sheets of paper. The skeletal structure gleamed faintly, unnervingly pristine.

Rain's remaining eye flicked up to meet Marisa's, a glimmer of understanding and urgency replacing her initial hesitation. Without another word, she grabbed the vial, uncorked it, and downed the potion in one swift motion.

The liquid was bitter, burning faintly as it slid down her throat. For a brief, agonizing moment, nothing happened. Then, a strange sensation coursed through her body—like ice and fire mingling in her veins.

Rain exhaled sharply, clutching her chest as the creeping skeletal transformation abruptly stopped. Her half-revealed arm halted mid-change, the remaining skin now safe from peeling further. The red glow in her exposed eye socket flickered but didn't extinguish.

The room was silent save for the sound of her breathing. Marisa and Reimu watched her closely, their expressions tense.

"It stopped," Rain murmured, flexing her skeletal fingers again. Her voice was steady, but there was an edge of relief beneath it. "It worked."

Marisa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Thank the stars…" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Rain turned to face her fully, her exposed bone and glowing eye giving her a hauntingly surreal appearance. "But…" she began, running her fingers over her skeletal cheek. "It didn't reverse anything. This—" She gestured to her face. "This is still here."

Marisa winced, guilt gnawing at her. She recalled Yukari's smirking face, the cryptic tone of her words.

"A minute's delay, and she'll lose something irreversible."

Rain was staring at her now, her sharp gaze piercing through the tension. "Marisa. What aren't you telling me?"

Marisa shook her head quickly, masking her guilt with a weak grin. "Nothing! I mean, it's a witch's job to save her friends from weird magical disasters, right? You'll be fine. Probably. Just give it time."

Reimu crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing at Marisa's evasiveness. "Marisa, you're terrible at lying. Spill it."

But Marisa only avoided Reimu's accusing stare, her mind whirling. 'If I tell her Yukari was involved, it'll just make things worse. She'll ask questions, and I don't have answers…'

Rain let out a slow, measured breath, dropping the issue for now. She flexed her skeletal hand again, the unsettling sight a constant reminder of what had nearly happened.

"Well," she said at last, her tone almost light, though there was a tremor beneath it. "Whatever that was, thanks, Marisa. I'd rather not find out what happens if it spreads further."

Reimu sighed, rubbing her temple. "I swear, you're a walking disaster magnet, Rain. But if this is what you call 'fine,' I'm not sure I want to see 'bad.'"

Marisa forced a laugh, though it came out shaky. "Yeah, Rain. Maybe next time, you can keep the whole creepy skeleton thing to a minimum, daze."

Rain chuckled softly, though her gaze lingered on her reflection in the nearby mirror. She didn't voice her thoughts, but a cold dread had settled deep within her. Whatever was happening to her—it wasn't over. And she had a feeling it was only going to get worse.

Rain sighed, leaning back against the wall as she stared at her skeletal hand and the hollow socket where her eye once was. "Well," she said with a half-hearted laugh, "there goes my plan of going out today. I doubt anyone in the village is ready for this look."

Reimu groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "You think? You'd scare the entire village into a panic. I'd have to deal with that mess too." She turned her sharp gaze to Marisa. "Speaking of messes, Marisa, come here."

Marisa blinked, trying to play innocent. "Wha—why me? I didn't do anything!"

"Exactly," Reimu said flatly, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her toward the shrine's porch. "That's the problem. You knew something was going on, and you didn't say a word. Now spill it."

Rain stayed behind, still inspecting her skeletal features with a mix of unease and reluctant acceptance. Meanwhile, Reimu dragged Marisa far enough from earshot and pinned her with a glare.

"Talk. What aren't you telling me?"

Marisa squirmed under her intense gaze, scratching the back of her head nervously. "Okay, okay, fine! But it's not my fault!"

Reimu raised an eyebrow. "It never is with you. Get to the point."

Marisa exhaled heavily, then began explaining. "Last night, Yukari showed up out of nowhere—uninvited, obviously—and dropped this whole mess on me. She handed me the potion and said it had to be given to Rain by this morning or… well…" She gestured vaguely. "Or this would happen. She didn't explain anything else. Just left after throwing her usual cryptic nonsense at me."

Reimu's frown deepened, and she crossed her arms. "Yukari, huh? That figures. But why didn't you tell us this sooner? You could've at least given Rain a heads-up before she started turning into…" She waved a hand, searching for the right word. "Whatever this is!"

Marisa winced. "I was gonna! But then Rain was all cheerful and stuff, and I didn't wanna ruin the mood, ya know? Plus, you know how Yukari is—if I mentioned her name, Rain would've started asking questions, and then you'd start asking questions, and suddenly I'm in the middle of an interrogation!"

Reimu stared at her, unimpressed. "You are in the middle of an interrogation, you idiot."

Marisa grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, well… I didn't think it'd get this bad. Yukari didn't exactly give me a timeline." She hesitated, her grin fading. "But I guess I was already late. Just a minute or so, and… well, you saw what happened."

Reimu's expression softened slightly, but she still sighed in frustration. "Unbelievable. Next time, maybe don't procrastinate when it comes to life-and-death situations, Marisa."

Marisa held up her hands defensively. "Hey, I got the job done, didn't I? She drank the potion, and the whole skeletal apocalypse thing stopped. We're good now."

Reimu pinched the bridge of her nose again, muttering under her breath. "Barely." She looked back toward the shrine, her brow furrowing in concern. "Still… if Yukari's involved, this can't be the end of it. Something bigger's going on. She's been cryptic on this whole ordeal"

Marisa hesitated but nodded. "Yeah. I've got that same feeling too."

Reimu sighed heavily, motioning toward the shrine. "Let's go back inside. Rain's probably wondering what we're plotting out here."

Marisa smirked, though it lacked her usual energy. "Oh, you know. Just scheming how to make her day even weirder."

"Shut up, Marisa," Reimu muttered, already walking back inside.

---

Rain remained seated in the quiet of the shrine's dressing room, staring down at her skeletal hand. She flexed her bony fingers, the motion feeling disturbingly natural. Her remaining green eye shifted to the mirror on the nearby shelf. The face staring back at her was a patchwork of life and death: the left side human, the right side bone, with her glowing red socket casting an eerie light.

She ran her skeletal hand over the exposed side of her face, feeling the smooth, cold texture. Despite the grotesque nature of her appearance, there was an unsettling familiarity to it.

Her thoughts churned as the silence around her deepened.

'Was this always here? This form... was it lingering beneath the surface all along?'

The question was sharp and unyielding, refusing to be ignored. Rain's brows furrowed—well, the one brow she still had—as she examined herself once more. This wasn't some mere magical mishap. It felt deeper, more intrinsic.

With a deep breath, she rose to her feet and slid open the door, stepping into the main room where Marisa and Reimu had just returned. Both women turned toward her, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and worry.

Rain broke the silence, her voice steady but carrying a faint edge of solemnity. "This thing is something," she began, holding up her skeletal hand for emphasis. "I think it's always been part of me."

Marisa blinked, her face shifting from concern to confusion. "What do you mean, 'part of you'? Like this has been inside you the whole time?"

Rain nodded slowly, her expression grim. "I can feel it now. It's not gone. Even with the potion, it's still there—just… contained." She glanced at the red glow in her eye socket, her voice dropping slightly. "This time, I'm sure. I'm not a normal human. I don't think I ever was."

Reimu's brow furrowed as she took a step closer, her arms crossing. Her voice was cautious but probing. "If you're not human, then what are you?"

Rain met her gaze, the glow in her eye socket flickering faintly. "I don't know. But this isn't something that just happens to humans, is it?" She gestured to her skeletal arm and face. "Whatever I am… I'm not like the two of you."

Marisa's jaw tightened as she absorbed Rain's words. Her own thoughts flashed back to the nightmare she'd had, the dream of Rain dying in this horrifying form. Her chest tightened, and she forced herself to push the memory aside. "You're still you, though, right?" she said, her voice tinged with an unusual seriousness. "I mean… you're not gonna start sprouting more bones and turning into some kind of spooky monster, are you?"

Rain let out a soft chuckle, though it lacked her usual warmth. "No promises," she quipped, though her tone was hollow. "But I think I can keep myself together—for now."

Reimu sighed, her gaze softening slightly. "Whether you're human or not, it doesn't really change anything. You're still Rain. And you're still a magnet for trouble."

Rain smirked faintly, her skeletal jaw tilting as though mimicking a smile. "That's the nicest way you've ever insulted me, Reimu."

The tension in the room eased slightly, though the weight of Rain's revelation lingered heavily over them all.

Rain fell into a thoughtful silence, staring at her skeletal hand as if willing it to reveal its secrets. She turned her gaze to Reimu and Marisa, the so-called experts in dealing with Gensokyo's myriad supernatural oddities.

"Have you two ever dealt with anything like this?" she asked, holding up her skeletal arm. "A yokai or being that's… close to what I'm going through? Maybe share some knowledge?"

Reimu and Marisa exchanged glances. Reimu's expression shifted into one of contemplation, her hand tapping lightly against her gohei. Marisa scratched her chin, her brow furrowing as she rummaged through her extensive mental catalog of encounters.

"Well," Marisa started, "there's a few yokai that come to mind. Kinda undead-y. Like gashadokuro—the giant skeletons. But they're, uh… way bigger than you. And usually, they're just angry spirits that turned into monsters after starving to death. Not exactly a match, but it's a start."

Reimu shook her head. "Rain's not a spirit, though. She's still… alive, as far as we can tell. A gashadokuro wouldn't fit."

Marisa shrugged. "Fair enough. What about rokurokubi, then? You know, the ones whose necks stretch super long at night?"

Rain arched an eyebrow—or at least, her remaining brow—at Marisa. "I'm missing half a face, not a neck that can stretch across the room."

Marisa raised her hands defensively. "Okay, okay, bad example! Jeez."

Reimu sighed, crossing her arms. "If we're going with undead-adjacent yokai, what about mujina? Those faceless ghosts that can shapeshift?"

Marisa shook her head. "Nah, they're more illusion-based. Besides, Rain's not trying to trick us—unless she's doing a terrible job at it."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Rain muttered dryly.

Reimu tapped her chin, thinking harder. "Then there's the yurei—restless spirits. But they don't have bodies at all. And then there's the hone-onna, skeleton women who disguise themselves as beautiful to lure men to their deaths…" She trailed off, giving Rain a pointed look.

Rain smirked faintly. "Flattering. But I'm not luring anyone anywhere."

Marisa snapped her fingers suddenly. "Oh! What about the shikabane-hime? They're technically undead princesses or something, right? But… they're usually bound by someone—like a master."

Rain's face fell slightly. "I don't have a master, at least none that I remember. I doubt that's it."

Reimu's expression darkened as a thought clicked into place. "Then there's Yoshika Miyako," she said quietly, the name carrying an ominous weight.

Rain tilted her head. "Yoshika?"

Marisa's face twisted into a grimace. "Oh, yeah. Her. She's a jiangshi—a hopping zombie. Undead, strong as heck, and dumb as a brick. She's controlled by Seiga Kaku, a wicked hermit who likes meddling with corpses and dark magic."

Rain's eye narrowed. "A jiangshi… a reanimated corpse?"

"Yeah," Reimu said, her tone uneasy. "Yoshika was one of the toughest things we've fought—not because she was smart, but because she wouldn't stay down. She's undead, but not like you. You're still… conscious. You're still you."

Marisa nodded. "Right. Yoshika was more like a puppet. You're not hopping around with a charm stuck to your face, so I'd say you're safe there."

Despite the dismissals, the word "undead" lingered in the air like a bad omen. Rain mulled it over, the term settling uneasily in her thoughts.

"Undead," Reimu echoed, the word clicking for her in a way that made her frown. "You might not be a jiangshi, but you're definitely not normal, either. Whatever you are, you're either undead, part-undead, or…" She hesitated before saying it. "...cursed."

Rain blinked, her lips pressing into a thin line. She wasn't sure which option sounded worse.

As the room fell silent, Rain glanced down at her skeletal arm again—and paused. There was something new, something subtle but undeniable. Her skeletal fingers, bare moments ago, were now faintly covered by the thinnest layer of translucent skin. It was barely noticeable, but the gradual regeneration was there.

"Wait…" Rain muttered, holding her arm up for them to see. "Look at this."

Reimu and Marisa leaned closer, squinting.

"What the heck…?" Marisa muttered. "Is it… growing back?"

Reimu's eyes narrowed. "Slowly. Too slowly. But it's something."

Rain flexed her fingers, watching as the faint skin glistened under the light. "It's like… whatever's happening to me isn't permanent. At least, not entirely." She let out a shaky breath. "But it's going to take time. A lot of time."

Marisa leaned back, crossing her arms. "Well, that's good news, I guess. But if it's gonna take this long to fix one arm, what about the rest of you?"

Rain shrugged, her voice laced with a wry humor. "Guess I'll just have to stick to wearing long sleeves for a while."

Reimu frowned but didn't say anything, her mind still racing with the implications of what they'd just witnessed. If Rain's body was repairing itself, then perhaps her condition wasn't entirely hopeless. But the lingering question of what—exactly—Rain had become loomed over them all.

As the faint regeneration continued, Marisa's mind raced. She couldn't quite shake the tension in her chest—the anxiety of having been just on the edge of revealing too much. The last thing she needed was for Rain to know Yukari's involvement, especially if she was to stay calm. There were too many risks in letting it slip, far more than just the potion itself.

'Yukari did say this potion would keep her humanity intact,' Marisa thought to herself, her gaze flickering to Rain. The way her skeletal arm was slowly regrowing was evidence enough. 'It's working, at least for now. Her body's regenerating, but it's still far from normal. Still…'

She couldn't bring herself to mention Yukari's name. The more she thought about it, the more it gnawed at her—what if mentioning Yukari triggered something bad in Rain? She'd already seen hints of the darker side of Rain's transformation, something that hinted at not just an unknown past, but one filled with potentially dangerous secrets.

She couldn't take that risk. Not yet.

"Maybe…" Marisa cleared her throat and looked at the two of them, shaking off her thoughts. "Rain did mention before that she dabbled in dark magic at some point. It could be something her past self did that's… affecting her now. Like a curse or something."

Rain's eyes flicked to Marisa at the mention of dark magic, her expression unreadable. But the mention of curses seemed to strike a chord with her. She nodded slowly, as though recalling something deeper, something more painful.

"I think you're onto something," she muttered, her voice soft but steady. "Maybe it is a curse. I can't remember much, but it's possible. I don't know… maybe it's my own fault." She paused, her gaze dropping to her regenerating arm, eyes narrowed in thought. "Maybe I made a deal, or... I don't know. I'm not sure what happened."

Reimu looked at Rain, her face furrowing. "If you've dabbled in dark magic, it could've triggered something long buried. And now it's coming back to haunt you in ways you didn't expect."

Rain's mind began to wander back to something else—a memory that had surfaced, dim but clear. A flash of pain. Thunder. Lightning. And a fight she didn't fully understand but was desperate to survive.

The image came in a quick, fragmented wave. A storm—a battle with someone, maybe. And then—lightning. Her body was thrown back by the sheer force of it, the blast of energy searing through her, ripping apart her lower face.

'I remember… she thought, her breath catching. It was during my fight with Tenshi.'

She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing the memory to surface in fragments, piecing the details together. The storm had been fierce, and so had the combat. She had been pushed to her limits, struggling against Tenshi and Iku. The blast of lightning had ripped through her, searing her flesh and revealing what lay underneath.

Her lower face had been blown away. The burn had been intense—agonizing. But the worst part hadn't been the pain. It had been the revelation.

Her skeletal face had been exposed. The remnants of flesh that clung to her had been scorched away, leaving only the raw bone.

The memory hung in the air, heavy and unsettling, like the scent of burnt flesh. Her hand involuntarily clenched into a fist, the bones creaking under the pressure.

"During my fight with Tenshi…" Rain began, her voice trembling slightly. "I remember part of my face being blown off by lightning. I… I had to keep fighting, but I could feel it. I saw it in the reflection of the water. My face—my real face—was skeletal. It was like nothing was left. Just bones."

Marisa and Reimu stared at her, silence falling in the room like a heavy weight. Reimu shifted uncomfortably, her fingers gripping the gohei tightly, her mind thinking about what Rain had said back then.

Marisa, meanwhile, felt a shiver run down her spine. It wasn't the story itself that chilled her—though it was gruesome—it was the thought that Rain's body could revert to that skeletal form, even if only for a brief moment. It reminded her that Rain wasn't just caught in some strange affliction; she was living through something far worse—something dark and dangerous. Something that, even with the potion, might come for her at any moment.

"I don't know why it happened," Rain continued, her voice soft but clear. "I couldn't control it. It just happened. I can't explain it but I have feeling sooner or later, I will know."

Reimu's expression softened. She stepped closer to Rain, offering a gentle, reassuring pat on her shoulder. "Whatever this is, we're going to figure this out, together."

Marisa let out a quiet sigh of relief, though she still couldn't shake the unease that gripped her chest. She didn't have all the answers, and neither did Reimu. But she knew one thing for certain: whatever this was—this curse or affliction—it wasn't something they could ignore.

"Yeah," Marisa added, her voice quiet but resolute. "We'll get you through this. We'll figure out what's going on, piece by piece. Just don't give up, okay?"

Rain nodded, a small but grateful smile tugging at her lips. "I won't."

But inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that something darker, deeper, was lurking just beneath the surface. Something she has to face in the future.

---

Rain broke the silence, her voice carrying a faint note of irony. "You know, I've been trying to wrap my head around something. How am I still seeing perfectly fine with just one eye? And speaking, for that matter? Half my face is missing—shouldn't that make it, I don't know, a little harder to talk?" She raised an eyebrow, her lone green eye glinting with dry humor.

"And while we're at it, why can't the world just let me have one peaceful day without some bizarre disaster hanging over my head?" She sighed dramatically, though a playful smirk tugged at her lips. "I mean, come on, throw me a bone here—no pun intended."

Marisa snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "You're askin' for common sense in Gensokyo? That's rich, Rain. Real rich." She grinned, leaning slightly against the table. "If there's one thing you'll never find here, it's that. Trust me, I've been lookin' for years."

Rain chuckled softly, despite herself. "Fair enough. But seriously, what kind of weird rules is my body following? I've lost parts of it before, but this… this feels like it's pushing the limit. It's almost like I'm some kind of—"

"Don't finish that sentence," Reimu interjected, a faint frown crossing her face. "We've had enough undead talk for one morning. If you start thinking about it too much, it'll just mess with your head. Focus on what you can do, not what's missing."

Rain hummed thoughtfully, tilting her head. "Fair point. Still, it's weird. I can feel that something's different, but… not in a bad way. Like, I'm not breaking apart. At least, not anymore."

Marisa glanced at the potion vial Rain had left on the table. She didn't let her gaze linger long before she spoke again. "Well, maybe that's the magic workin'. You said you dabbled in it, right? Maybe you've still got a spark in you that's keeping things from falling apart. Or… keeping whatever this is from takin' over completely."

Rain let out a small, sardonic laugh. "A spark, huh? If that's true, I hope it's the good kind and not the kind that explodes in my face."

"Hey," Marisa quipped, "sometimes explosions solve problems, you know?"

Reimu groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Don't encourage her, Marisa."

Rain leaned back slightly, her hand brushing against her slowly regenerating arm. Her gaze softened, though the playful gleam in her eye remained. "Guess you're right, Marisa. Common sense doesn't seem to have a place here. And you know what? Maybe that's fine. Normal days sound boring anyway."

Marisa smirked. "That's the spirit. Besides, you'd probably find a way to get into trouble even if the world decided to leave you alone for a day."

Rain's laugh was light, but it carried a weight of truth she couldn't deny. "Can't argue with that one."

Rain then flexed her skeletal fingers again, watching the faint regeneration as if willing it to move faster. But the slow process wasn't enough to distract her from the thoughts swirling in her mind. With a deep breath, she turned her focus inward, drawing on a power she hadn't fully understood yet but instinctively knew was there.

"Alright," she murmured to herself. "Let's try this."

Her skeletal hand extended forward, and with a flick of her wrist, a dark flame erupted from the exposed bone. The fire danced unnaturally, its black and violet hues casting eerie shadows on the walls. The flame flickered, burning steadily, its edges shimmering like smoke curling against the air.

Marisa's eyes widened slightly, though she kept her grin. "Well, that's… something, alright. You sure you know what you're doing with that, Rain?"

Rain gave a wry smile, her green eye glinting in the flame's glow. "Not entirely, but I think I've got the basics down." With a soft exhale, she clenched her skeletal fist, extinguishing the flame as suddenly as it had appeared. "See? No harm done."

Reimu frowned, her gaze sharp and watchful. "You're getting better at controlling it. But I'm not sure how I feel about you playing with fire—literally."

Rain stared at her hand, her expression thoughtful. "It's strange," she said softly. "The more I remember about my magic, the more unsure I am of the path I took before I came here. Using something like this—it doesn't exactly scream 'hero,' does it?" She glanced at the two of them, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "What if I wasn't one? What if I… strayed too far into the dark?"

Marisa tilted her head, her grin softening into something more reassuring. "Oi, don't go getting all philosophical on us, Rain. Dark magic doesn't make you bad by default. It's what you do with it that matters. You're still fighting for good now, right? That's what counts."

Reimu nodded, though her arms remained crossed as she leaned against the wall. "Marisa's right. Besides, don't forget who you are—or rather, who you were. You're tied to Gensokyo, Rain. People still talk about you."

Rain arched a skeptical brow. "They do?"

"Not in detail," Reimu admitted, her gaze unwavering. "But the title's still there: The Legendary Yokai Exterminator. That name means something here. You were known for fighting yokai and protecting people. That doesn't sound like someone who 'treaded the path to darkness,' does it?"

Marisa nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, what she said! A legendary yokai exterminator doesn't exactly sound like some evil overlord, ze. People don't slap the word 'legendary' on someone unless they've done some seriously good stuff."

Rain's lips quirked into a faint smile, though her thoughts were still clouded. "I guess you're right. But it doesn't explain why I'm like this now—or why I had these powers in the first place." She stared at her hand again, the memory of the dark flame vivid in her mind. "Something doesn't add up. If I was this 'legendary yokai exterminator,' then why does my magic feel… wrong?"

Reimu straightened, her tone calm but firm. "Maybe it's not wrong. Maybe you've just been looking at it from the wrong angle. Magic isn't inherently good or bad—it's all about how you use it. If you used this power to fight for Gensokyo in the past, then maybe you're meant to do the same now."

Marisa grinned. "Exactly! You're just a little rusty, that's all. Once you figure out the full story, it'll all make sense."

Rain chuckled softly, though her eye still flickered with uncertainty. "I hope so. Because right now, it feels like I'm caught between two extremes—something great and something… terrible."

Reimu's gaze softened, her usual sharpness tempered by rare understanding. "Then focus on what you can do now. Who you were doesn't matter as much as who you are. And right now, you're still someone who's fighting to protect Gensokyo. That hasn't changed."

Rain nodded slowly, the weight in her chest easing slightly. "Thanks. Both of you. I'll try to keep that in mind."

Still, as she glanced at her hand again, she couldn't shake the feeling that the fire—cold, dark, and relentless—wasn't just a tool. It was a part of her, tied to her past and whatever choices had led her here. Whether that was a blessing or a curse remained to be seen.

She leaned back slightly, her skeletal hand flexing idly as she processed the conversation. A faint smirk played on her lips as she glanced at Marisa and Reimu. "You know," she began, her tone light but carrying an edge of dry humor, "I can still change back to that form. The one you two love to joke about—Certain Death."

Marisa's eyebrows shot up, her mouth twisting into a playful grin. "Oh, you mean the one where you look like you stepped out of a gothic nightmare? Long hair, scary black cape, armor, and that giant war scythe? Yeah, that look really screams 'I'm here to reap souls.'"

Reimu raised an eyebrow but smirked slightly. "It's a little over the top, don't you think? You've got a good thing going with the samurai look, Rain. Why lean so hard into the death aesthetic?"

Rain shrugged nonchalantly. "It's not like I want to. It just… happens. But yeah, I remember explaining it to you before. That was from my time as a part-time shinigami. Hecatia was my boss back then." She tapped her chin, her green eye distant. "It was some kind of deal between us, but I still don't remember the details as I said. Convenient, huh?"

Marisa chuckled. "Part-time shinigami, Hakaishin, legendary yokai exterminator, and now this. You've got quite the résumé, Rain. Makes the rest of us look boring in comparison. I wonder what else ya got?"

Rain laughed, though it didn't quite reach her eye. "You're welcome to take the job off my hands if Hecatia ever asks me to come back. But honestly…" She glanced at her skeletal hand again. "I'm not even sure if this would still be part of me if I transformed now. Maybe the skeletal thing stays. Maybe it doesn't." She stretched her arms and sighed dramatically. "But I'm not testing it out right now. Feeling too lazy for that."

Marisa snorted. "Of course you are. Convenient excuse."

Rain smirked and folded her arms. "Speaking of which, I should mention something else. I remembered how to fly with magic. So, no need to hitch a ride with you anymore, Marisa."

Marisa's grin faltered, and she placed her hands on her hips, mock-offended. "What? No more riding on my broom? You're telling me I went through all that trouble perfecting my broom skills for nothing?"

Reimu chuckled and gave Marisa a sidelong glance. "Oh, don't act so noble, Marisa. You just liked having Rain hug you for dear life while you flew like a maniac."

Marisa's face turned a shade pinker, and she waved her hands in defense. "I did not! I'm just saying it was… convenient!"

Rain smirked, recalling the experience vividly. "Convenient? Let's talk about that time you tried to show off how good you were on that broom. You spun us upside down, looped around trees, and nearly gave me a heart attack. I almost puked. And I was dizzy for hours."

Marisa grinned sheepishly. "Okay, maybe I went a little overboard. But come on, you had to admit it was fun!"

Rain arched an eyebrow. "No, it wasn't. But…" She softened, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "There were times I enjoyed it. The scenery up high is nice, I'll give you that."

Marisa crossed her arms and smirked. "See? I knew you liked it!"

Reimu shook her head, clearly amused. "She liked the view, not the crazy stunts. There's a difference, Marisa. Besides, you're reckless. It's no wonder she wants to fly on her own now."

Rain nodded, her grin widening. "Exactly. Sorry, Marisa, but I'd rather not have another near-death experience. No offense."

Marisa feigned a dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine. Fly on your own. But you'll miss the charm of my broom-riding adventures, I guarantee it."

Reimu chuckled. "Oh, the charm of reckless flying. Truly irreplaceable."

Rain rolled her eyes, her mood lightened by the banter. "Seriously, you two." But inwardly, she felt a little lighter knowing she didn't have to hide her abilities anymore—even if it meant enduring more teasing from these two.

Rain crossed her arms as she mulled over another memory that had surfaced during her recent studies. "You know," she began casually, her voice tinged with curiosity, "there's another ability I've been reading about. Something my past self apparently wrote about in the scrolls I left behind."

Reimu raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of ability?"

Rain smirked faintly. "The ability to disguise myself. Not just in appearance, but as someone else entirely—or even as a whole new person. It's a bit of a mystery to me right now, though. I'm still trying to figure it out. Definitely not something I can demonstrate right now, especially with…" She gestured to her skeletal hand and face. "This whole situation going on."

Marisa tilted her head, intrigued. "Disguising yourself, huh? Like shapeshifting? That sounds handy. Bet that came in real useful when you were Certain Death."

Rain nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, I think it must have. My guess is that it was a way to blend in, gather information, or maybe even get close to a target without drawing attention. But…" She paused, tapping her chin. "It's not perfect. According to my notes, the ability has some flaws. For one, it doesn't automatically copy the person's mannerisms or way of speaking. That's something I'd have to learn on my own."

Reimu chuckled. "So, what? You'd have to study someone to pull it off? Sounds like a lot of work for a disguise."

Rain shrugged. "That's exactly it. My past self wrote that it requires observation and practice. If I don't take the time to study the person I'm imitating, it's pretty easy for someone to notice something's off. I mean, imagine me trying to copy someone like… I don't know, Aya. I'd probably end up tripping over her energy and nonstop talking within five minutes."

Marisa laughed. "Oh, I'd pay to see that. You trying to keep up with Aya's chatter? Yeah, good luck with that one."

Rain smirked, shaking her head. "Not gonna happen. But the more I think about it, the more I realize my past self must have been a very serious type. Keen, observant, willing to put in the effort to learn about people and study every little detail. It's not the kind of thing you can just wing."

Reimu's expression softened slightly, her tone more reflective. "If that's the case, then your past self probably had a reason for using it. If you were that detail-oriented, it wasn't just for fun. It was probably tied to something important—like your role as Certain Death."

Rain nodded. "Makes sense. But for now, it's just something to keep in mind. Until I figure out this skeletal issue, I'm not exactly in the best shape to start experimenting with disguises." She glanced down at her hand again, her tone lightening with a hint of humor. "I doubt anyone would buy a disguise if this kept peeking through."

Marisa grinned. "Well, if you ever get the hang of it, let me know. I've got a few ideas for who you could imitate for fun."

Reimu rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. I'm guessing most of them involve playing pranks on people."

Rain laughed softly. "No promises, Marisa. But I'll let you know if I manage to pull it off."

Even as she joked, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity about the ability. What kind of person had she been to develop such a skill? And what had she used it for in the past? For now, the answers remained elusive, but she was certain they were waiting for her, just out of reach.

Reimu sighs and just shifted her bow, watching Rain with an expression that was calm on the surface but hiding a storm of emotions beneath. Rain's words had always carried weight, but hearing her talk so casually about her magic and abilities—abilities that leaned so dangerously close to the darkness—left Reimu uneasy. She had seen enough in Gensokyo to know that power wasn't inherently evil, but Rain's close brush with undeath and her recollection of Certain Death left a bitter taste in Reimu's mouth.

Rain's casual mention of her ability to disguise herself had brought an added layer of complexity to Reimu's thoughts. She didn't doubt Rain's sincerity when she said she wasn't fully sure of her past, but the potential of such a skill felt dangerous. Someone with Rain's power—and now the ability to change her form—was a force few in Gensokyo could match. That thought alone sent a chill down Reimu's spine.

The memory of Rain's skeletal features earlier lingered in her mind, as vivid as if she were still staring at them. Half-human, half-what? Reimu couldn't shake the nagging thought that Rain's transformation was just the surface of something deeper and more terrifying.

She sighed internally, her fingers tightening around her gohei. 'If she ever went to the dark side… could I stop her? Could I even bring myself to do it?'

That question haunted Reimu more than she wanted to admit. Rain had promised them all—Marisa, Alice, herself—that if she ever lost control, they would have to stop her. Rain had made them swear it, her voice calm but resolute, like she already knew what would happen if the worst came to pass.

Reimu's chest tightened at the memory of the battle in the Forest of Magic. She remembered the devastation Rain had nearly caused—not just to Tenshi, but to everything around her. And the worst part wasn't that Rain had lost control; it was that Reimu herself had hesitated.

Rain's words from back then rang in her ears even now: 'If it happens again, Reimu, you know what to do.' But instead of acting, she had made a promise instead:

"I won't do it, Rain. Not unless it's the only way. I swear to you I'll try everything else first."

At the time, it had felt like the right choice—Rain's humanity still intact, her will still strong. But now, seeing her struggle with powers she barely understood and a past that seemed to tug her closer to the edge, Reimu wasn't so sure. If it happened again, if Rain lost control… could she really keep that promise?

Her gaze shifted to Rain, who was now casually bantering with Marisa. The deathly aura of Certain Death felt so distant in moments like this, but Reimu knew better than to let her guard down. Rain wasn't just another ally; she was a force. One that could protect Gensokyo—or destroy it.

Marisa on the other hand sat cross-legged on the floor, leaning on her broom as she listened to Rain talk about her magical abilities. Normally, she'd be excited—Rain rediscovering her old tricks was interesting stuff. Magic like hers was rare, even in Gensokyo, and Marisa couldn't help but feel a spark of admiration for the sheer skill Rain must have had in her prime.

But this time, the excitement was dulled by something heavier. The magic Rain described wasn't just powerful—it was dangerous. Dark flames, disguises, shinigami abilities… Rain was practically a walking grimoire of forbidden magic. She has seen some of her memories but to actually know she can do things like this?

Marisa scratched the back of her head, glancing at Rain's skeletal hand. 'And then there's this, she thought. Skeletal limbs? A glowing eye? You're looking more and more like something out of one of those stories about vengeful spirits, Rain. And the weird part is, you're still you. For now, anyway.'

She remembered the promise they'd made, the one Rain had insisted on. Marisa had tried to laugh it off at the time, but Rain's seriousness had stopped her cold.

"If I lose control again, you need to stop me. Whether I'm in control or not, you have to stop me."

Marisa had agreed, of course. What else could she do? But the memory of that fight with Tenshi—the destruction, the sheer force of Rain's power in her Certain Death form—made her doubt herself.

'Could I really do it? she wondered. Sure, I'm strong, but Rain's on another level when she goes all-out. And if it came down to it, could I actually… kill her? Or even seal her?'

Marisa had faced countless yokai and even some gods in her time, but this felt different. Rain wasn't just another foe; she was a friend. And while Marisa's confidence in her own abilities was as unshakable as ever, the thought of turning them against Rain made her stomach churn.

'Then again,' Marisa thought, glancing at Rain, 'you're not the type to make empty promises. If you wanted us to swear to stop you, you probably meant it. You'd hate yourself if we hesitated. But that doesn't make it easier.'

Reimu's gaze flicked to Marisa, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. No words were exchanged, but the weight of their shared promise hung heavily between them.

Both of them knew that if Rain ever went to the dark side—whether by choice or by losing control—they were the ones who would have to stop her. Not because they wanted to, but because no one else could.

Reimu, as the shrine maiden and protector of Gensokyo, carried the burden of balance. She had faced countless threats before, yokai and gods alike, but Rain was different. Rain wasn't just a threat; she was a friend, someone Reimu had fought beside and laughed with.

Marisa, for all her bravado and confidence, felt the same. Rain was more than just another powerful figure in Gensokyo; she was part of their circle, someone who mattered. But if it came down to it, they knew what they had to do.

The real question wasn't whether they could stop Rain. It was whether they could bring themselves to do it.

And for now, neither of them was sure of the answer.

---

Rain tilted her head, her lone green eye narrowing slightly as she noticed the uneasy looks exchanged between Reimu and Marisa. She couldn't read their minds, but the tension in their body language was hard to miss. With a small smirk, she crossed her arms and quipped, "What? Too flashy for you? Come on, you've both seen me in my Certain Death form. A little dark flame and skeletal vibes shouldn't be that shocking."

Reimu blinked, snapped out of her thoughts by Rain's sudden remark. She huffed and crossed her arms, though her gaze softened slightly. "It's not about being flashy. We're just… thinking, that's all."

"Right," Rain replied, raising an eyebrow skeptically before her smirk grew. "If you're worried about me turning into some skeleton chef, don't. I can still cook normally, you know. Not like losing half my face will stop me from whipping up a decent meal."

Reimu's lips twitched into a faint smile despite herself. "Well, at least we won't go hungry. I'd rather have you in the kitchen than try to force Marisa to cook."

"Hey!" Marisa protested, pretending to be offended. "I can cook if I want to! I just don't see the point when Rain's food is, like, five-star level."

Rain laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Exactly. Why settle for mediocre when you've got the best around?" She shot Reimu a pointed look, her smirk widening. "And besides, we all know you could cook too, Reimu. You're just lazy."

Reimu flushed slightly and looked away. "That's not true… entirely."

"Oh, please," Rain said, waving her skeletal hand for emphasis. "If I didn't step in, you'd be living off rice balls and tea every day. Admit it."

Marisa snorted. "She's not wrong, Reimu. Even you said Rain's cooking is better than anything at the village stalls."

Reimu sighed in mock defeat. "Fine, fine. You win. But if you're going to keep rubbing it in, you'd better keep cooking for us. I'm not going to take over if you suddenly decide to stop."

Rain grinned, pleased to see the mood lighten. "Deal. Just don't expect me to pull out some fancy skeleton chef gimmick. I'd hate to scare the food away."

The three of them chuckled, and for a moment, the weight of their earlier thoughts was pushed aside. Rain's wit and sass had done their job, defusing the tension and reminding them all that even in the shadow of uncertainty, there was still room for levity.

---

The midday sun filtered gently through the shrine's sliding doors as the trio gathered around the low wooden table for lunch. Rain absentmindedly rubbed her skeletal right hand, noting a subtle but undeniable change. The bone now had a faint layer of pale flesh creeping over it—slow, deliberate regeneration.

She flexed her fingers experimentally, feeling the movement smooth out slightly. "Well, looks like it's working," she said, more to herself than the others. "Slow, but hey, progress is progress."

Reimu glanced over as she picked at her food. "Guess that potion's doing its job. That arm's still got a long way to go, though."

"Yeah," Rain replied, resting her chin on her other hand. "Bad timing, though. I was planning to visit Alice today."

Marisa immediately perked up, pausing mid-bite. "Alice? Why're you visiting her?"

Rain raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smirk. "Because she's a friend, Marisa. And I haven't spent much time with her lately. She's probably buried herself in her workshop again, and someone has to check on her."

Marisa huffed, trying to sound nonchalant. "She's fine. That doll freak can handle herself. You don't have to go running over there every time you think she's lonely."

Reimu's eyes flicked between the two, a sly smile forming. "You sound awfully invested in Rain's schedule, Marisa. Jealous much?"

Marisa's cheeks flushed faintly as she waved her hand dismissively. "What? No way! I'm just saying, we're right here, and Alice can be kind of… y'know, weird sometimes."

Rain chuckled, leaning back against the wall. "Oh, I see how it is. Don't worry, Marisa, you're still my number one broom-riding maniac."

"That's not what I meant!" Marisa protested, though her pout betrayed her frustration.

Reimu laughed softly, clearly enjoying the exchange. "Alice does seem to get under your skin, though. Admit it."

Rain decided to steer the conversation back on track. "Anyway, it's not just about checking on her. She went out of her way to make me a doll, you know. One styled to look like me."

Marisa blinked, her curiosity momentarily overriding her faux indifference. "Oh yeah, Alicia, right? You told us about her before. She still staying with Alice?"

"Yeah," Rain confirmed. "I nicknamed her after Alice—well, kind of. I thought 'Alicia' was a cute spin. But she's better off staying with Alice since I can't maintain her properly. That kind of responsibility...er, well, and let's be honest, I've got my hands full with my… current situation." She gestured vaguely at her regenerating arm.

Reimu smirked. "Rain's got priorities, Marisa. Maybe Alice just ranks higher than you right now."

"Hey!" Marisa squawked, crossing her arms indignantly. "I don't care about ranks or whatever. Rain can visit whoever she wants. Not like I'm keeping tabs or anything."

Rain stifled a laugh, amused by Marisa's obvious discomfort. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, Marisa."

Reimu leaned her chin on her hand, her sly grin widening. "Maybe you should go with her, then. That way you can make sure Alice doesn't 'steal' her or something."

Marisa groaned, burying her face in her hands. "UGH!."

Rain chuckled warmly, taking another bite of her food. Despite the teasing, she appreciated moments like this—lighthearted and full of camaraderie, even in the face of her ongoing troubles.

The comfortable chatter around the table was suddenly interrupted by the sound of an all-too-familiar voice drifting in from the shrine's entrance.

"Rain? Are you in there?"

Rain froze mid-bite, her good eye widening as her heart sank. She knew that voice—Alice Margatroid.

"Oh, no," Rain muttered under her breath.

Reimu tilted her head curiously, while Marisa perked up again, an impish grin creeping across her face. "Well, speak of the devil. Alice's here!"

Rain shot a desperate look at both of them, gesturing to her skeletal right arm and partially exposed bone on her face. "Do you guys have a mask or anything? I can't let her see me like this!"

Reimu shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Nope, nothing like that here."

"Why don't you just tell her?" Marisa suggested with a smirk, leaning back with her arms crossed.

Rain glared at her. "Because I don't want her to worry even more! Ugh, fine—" She grabbed the nearest object big enough to hide her face—Marisa's oversized witch hat.

"Hey!" Marisa yelped, trying to grab it back, but Rain was already jamming it onto her head. The hat was slightly too big and drooped dramatically, but it managed to obscure most of her face.

"Perfect," Rain said, adjusting the brim.

"Not perfect! That's my hat!" Marisa protested, her voice growing louder.

"Shh!" Rain hissed, waving her skeletal hand at her to quiet down. "You'll blow my cover!"

Just then, the sliding door creaked open, and Alice stepped in. True to form, she was accompanied by her ever-loyal Shanghai doll, floating dutifully at her side, and a smaller doll—Alicia—perched neatly on her shoulder.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," Alice began, stepping into the room with a graceful poise. She had clearly made an effort to visit, her outfit crisp and immaculate as always. Her blue eyes scanned the room, lingering on Rain. "I came to check on you, Rain. After the whole incident with Tenshi… well, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Rain stiffened, adjusting the brim of Marisa's hat lower. "Oh, I'm fine! Just fine! As you can see!"

Alice's gaze narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "What's with the hat?"

"Oh, this?" Rain flailed slightly, trying to sound casual. "Just thought I'd try it on! You know, see if it suits me. Maybe I'll make it a regular thing." She grinned nervously, then added in a mock impression of Marisa, "Daze!"

Marisa groaned. "Oh, come on! I don't even talk like that all the time!"

Reimu snorted, clearly entertained by the exchange, but Alice remained unconvinced, folding her arms. "Rain, you're a terrible liar. You know that, right?"

Rain sighed heavily. "I was afraid of that." Slowly, she removed the hat, revealing her skeletal right face and the faintly regenerating right arm.

Alice's expression froze, her usual composure faltering. She had heard Rain mention this during the fight with Tenshi, but seeing it now, up close and unfiltered, was something else entirely.

Rain avoided Alice's gaze, her single green eye focused on the floor. "Yeah… it's not exactly pretty, huh?"

To her surprise, Alice didn't recoil. Instead, she stepped closer, her expression softening with concern. She crouched down in front of Rain, her eyes carefully examining the exposed bone. "Rain, why didn't you tell me it was this bad?"

Rain tried to lean back, but Alice closed the gap easily. "It's not that bad," Rain muttered half-heartedly.

Marisa fidgeted in her seat, visibly uncomfortable with how close Alice was to Rain. "Uh, don't get too handsy there, Alice."

Reimu smirked, nudging Marisa playfully. "Jealous much? You're just mad Alice has no sense of personal space with Rain."

"Shut up!" Marisa shot back, her face reddening.

Rain sighed, her skeletal hand coming up to rub her temple. "You're both making this awkward. Anyway—Alice, do you mind not poking at my face? It's weird enough as it is."

Alice finally leaned back, though her concern didn't waver. "I just… I didn't realize how serious this was. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Well," Rain said, glancing at her arm, "I'm regenerating—just really, really slowly. So yeah, I'll live. Probably." She gave a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Alice frowned, clearly unconvinced, but Rain seized the opportunity to change the subject. "Anyway, since you're here, why not join us for lunch? We've got extra food, and it's already cooked."

Alice hesitated, then nodded. "Alright. But you're explaining everything, Rain. No holding back this time."

"Fine," Rain replied, standing and moving to prepare Alice a plate. She was already resigned to the fact that Alice wouldn't leave until she knew the full story.

As Rain served her food, Alice glanced at her doll, Alicia, perched quietly on her shoulder. "Alicia's been missing you, you know."

Rain chuckled, the tension easing just slightly. "That bad, huh? Well, she can rest easy now. I'm not going anywhere."

For now, at least, Rain thought to herself, hoping the faint progress in her regeneration would keep the lingering worries at bay.

Marisa knows that is just Alice controlling Alicia and her saying the doll misses her is equivalent to Alice herself saying it. She speaks up, seeing this as opportunity "Hey, that doll is not exactly-" Her words gets interrupted by Reimu who gave her an elbow at her waist.

"OW!"

Rain just laughs at this familiar scenario, keeping the darker thoughts about the future in check for now.

---

The sun dipped low behind the jagged peaks surrounding the hidden mountain enclave. The Hyperion, a once-magnificent Lunarian vessel, lay embedded in the rock, its hull scorched and weathered from its fiery descent centuries ago. The exterior gave off the illusion of ancient ruins, blending seamlessly with the mountain, but within its metallic shell, faint hums of dormant machinery spoke of advanced technology yearning to be revived.

Inside a dimly lit chamber, Tsuire, the resident mechanic, adjusted her goggles and wiped the sweat from her brow. Tools clinked against the steel as she meticulously examined a console filled with alien scripts and runic symbols, pausing now and then to jot notes in her logbook.

"I've made a breakthrough, finally," she said, breaking the silence as she turned toward the two moon rabbit twins, Yuiran and Ruiran, who stood nearby with their usual reserved composure. "Talking with that kappa is proving more useful than I thought. If we play this right, repairs on the Hyperion could start sooner than we imagined."

Yuiran adjusted the strap of her giant warhammer, letting out a sly chuckle. "What did I tell ya? Nitori's reliable—especially with enough incentive."

Ruiran, leaning against her anti-material rifle, gave a short nod. "You work miracles with machines, but I never doubted the boss's luck rubbed off on you. That kappa just made it easier."

"Luck or not, it's about time we gave this ship a chance to shine again," Tsuire replied, pulling off her gloves and straightening. "It's not just for us; it's for Her Majesty. If she were here... she'd expect no less."

The atmosphere shifted, and the trio's expressions darkened at the mention of their absent leader, the Aeon, whom they sometimes called the Herrscherin. Yuiran rested her warhammer against the wall, her tone softening. "Boss… the Aeon, she was the reason we fought so hard back then. Even after all these years, here we are, still waiting, still trying."

"It's been centuries, Yuiran," Ruiran murmured. "She gave us the freedom to choose our path, yet we chose to remain. Why? Because loyalty doesn't fade, not for someone like her."

From the corner of the room, a shadow twisted unnaturally, pooling at Yuiran's feet before a figure emerged. Silent and seamless, the form of Kato Danzo, known as Tobi Kato, materialized. Her violet hair, tied back neatly, and her ninja attire glinted faintly under the dim light. Lowering her scarf to reveal a serene face, she spoke, her voice calm and measured, accompanied by a peace sign from her hand.

"A kappa was here? Curious. Tell me, why are we bothering to repair this relic? Did the Herrscherin not explicitly say there was no need for such trivialities?"

The trio turned toward her, unfazed by her sudden appearance. They had long grown accustomed to the ninja's shadowy entrances. Tsuire crossed her arms, standing firm. "Because it's not trivial to me. This ship carried us to Earth when we needed it. If we're to honor her legacy, I think it deserves more than rusting away in a mountain."

Yuiran smirked. "Tobi's still as blunt as ever. But Tsuire's right. The boss would've appreciated someone as stubborn as her."

"Stubbornness isn't the same as wisdom," Kato replied, arching an eyebrow. "But I digress. You're an earnest one, I'll give you that."

For a moment, her gaze softened, betraying the weight of her centuries-old memories. Kato Danzo, a master ninja from Japan's Sengoku period, had joined the Aeon during her time as a wandering strategist. Renowned as Flying Kato, she had been an unparalleled tactician and warrior. Her voice carried the formal cadence of her era, adding an air of antiquity to her words.

"Tsuire, you are a persistent one, much like those in my own time who sought honor in their craft. But do you not think it unwise to pour yourself into what may no longer serve its purpose? The Herrscherin's instructions were clear. She cared more for us than for this vessel."

Before Tsuire could reply, a taller figure entered the room. Miyamoto Musashi, known as Temperance XVI, stepped forward, her samurai attire slightly worn from training. Her twin blades rested at her sides, and her piercing gaze was tempered by a faint smile.

"Tobi, Tobi... still waxing philosophical, are we?" Musashi teased, her tone light yet commanding. "Leave the mechanic be. She's not wrong to want to make Her Majesty proud. You know as well as I do, loyalty isn't about practicality."

Tsuire grinned. "Thank you, Musashi. At least someone understands."

Musashi crossed her arms, nodding. "Of course I do. I've spent centuries perfecting my art, even though no one may ever see it. Isn't that the essence of dedication?"

"You're all hopeless romantics," Kato muttered, though a faint smirk betrayed her amusement.

As the conversation shifted, the air grew lighter, but Tsuire's resolve remained unwavering. "Call it romanticism if you want, but this is something I want to see through myself. For her."

Musashi placed a reassuring hand on Tsuire's shoulder. "Then do it. Just don't blow us all up in the process."

The group chuckled, and the faint tension in the room eased, though the shadow of their missing leader still loomed large in their hearts.

Kato's gaze then softened briefly at the sentiment before turning sharp again. "And what if I told you the Herrscherin has returned?"

Silence gripped the room, thick and heavy with disbelief.

"What?" Yuiran's voice cracked the stillness, her usual composure shaken.

"You're not joking, are you?" Ruiran added, her red eyes wide.

Kato inclined her head solemnly. "I've been watching the events outside, following the trail closely. I'm certain—it's her. The Aeon, our Herrscherin. She is back."

For a moment, the room was silent again, then erupted in a mix of shock and joy.

"As expected of her!" Yuiran exclaimed, gripping her warhammer with excitement. "She's not one to be taken down easily."

"Our leader…" Ruiran whispered, a rare, soft smile on her face. "I knew she'd come back."

Tsuire's hands trembled slightly as she rested them on the console. "Her Majesty is really alive?" Her voice carried a mix of relief and determination. "We have to bring her back. She belongs here, with us."

Kato raised a hand, silencing their enthusiasm. "No. Not yet."

"What?!" Yuiran's shout of protest echoed in the chamber. "Why not?"

"She has no memories," Kato explained. "And she's surrounded by people—particularly the shrine maiden. If we make our presence known too soon, we risk revealing the ship and everything we've built here. The shrine maiden would start poking around, and the last thing we need is her attention on this place."

Tsuire gritted her teeth. "But we can't just leave her out there. If she doesn't remember us, how will she find her way back?"

Kato's expression remained calm, almost impassive. "We wait. I'll find an opportunity to speak to her. I'll consider bringing Musashi along, but not you two." She glanced at the twins. "You're far too trigger-happy. One wrong move, and the entire balance would crumble."

The twins looked away, mildly chastised but still visibly restless.

Tsuire sighed deeply. "Fine. But I'll keep working on this ship, for her. I want Her Majesty to see it fully operational, proof that we haven't wasted these centuries."

Kato nodded approvingly, her gaze shifting toward the center of the chamber, where an ornate empty throne stood. It was a relic of their past, a symbol of their unity under one leader.

Kato stepped forward, her voice resonating with reverence. "Raiden Rain Nanase-sama… The Shadow Shogun."

Musashi, having entered the room in silence, stood beside her. Her samurai attire bore the signs of rigorous training, but her posture was proud, her expression filled with unwavering loyalty.

"The Shogun has returned," Musashi declared, her voice filled with an almost holy fervor. "Her will, her strength—it remains unmatched."

Kato lowered her head deeply, and the others followed suit, bowing toward the empty throne. "For the one who unified Japan, the one who brought nations to their knees—her name will forever command respect."

The trio of Yuiran, Ruiran, and Tsuire bows before the throne, their expressions solemn. Musashi and Kato lower themselves as well, bowing deeply. The group spoke in unison, their voices reverberating through the chamber.

"影将軍様に栄光を！万歳！万歳！万歳！"

(Kage Shōgun-sama ni eikō o! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!)

("Glory to the Shadow Shogun! Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!")

Even as their heads remained bowed, Kato and Musashi exchanged glances. The weight of their shared history was palpable, a bond forged in blood and steel centuries ago.

The weight of their proclamation lingers in the air as they rise. The empty throne, though unoccupied, seems to emanate a presence, as though awaiting the return of its rightful ruler.

"If the Shogun desires to reclaim Japan… or even the world," Musashi said softly, her tone filled with awe, "we will follow her without question."

Kato nodded solemnly. "She is the one who made the unification of Japan possible. She is our leader, now and forever."

The empty throne seemed to loom larger as they swore their allegiance once more, their hearts bound by loyalty to the one they called the Shadow Shogun.

Musashi glances at Kato. "When the time comes, we will remind her who she is."

"And when she takes her place on that throne again," Kato adds, "her reign will be unchallenged. For she is Eternal."

Their eyes meet, a silent agreement passing between them.

For the Shadow Shogun, their loyalty is eternal.

---

Rain stood by the table, clearing away the remnants of lunch when a sudden tickle invaded her nose. Before she could process it, an unexpectedly soft and delicate sneeze escaped her.

"Ah-choo!"

It was an utterly disarming sound—one that seemed almost out of place for someone currently halfway between human and skeletal features.

Reimu paused mid-sip from her teacup, blinking. "...Was that you, Rain?"

Marisa, meanwhile, burst out laughing, nearly tipping over her chair in the process. "That was—pfft—so cute, daze!"

"Shut it!" Rain snapped, her tone halfway between annoyed and embarrassed, her voice taking on an unintentional sharpness.

"Sorry, sorry!" Marisa said, though her laughter made it clear she wasn't sorry in the slightest. "I didn't think you could sound like that."

Reimu's lips twitched upward in a rare smile. "It was...unexpected," she admitted, though her tone carried a warmth that only fueled Rain's embarrassment.

Alice tilted her head thoughtfully, cradling Alicia in her arms. "It's unusual for someone with skeletal...features to still sneeze," she commented mildly, though her eyes held a teasing glint. "Doesn't that require a nose?"

Rain shot her a glare, her crimson socket faintly glowing as she grumbled, "I do have a nose, thank you very much!"

"Oh, of course," Alice replied smoothly, though the corner of her mouth twitched as if fighting a smirk.

Rain's attention shifted sharply to Marisa, who was still grinning like a cat who'd caught a canary. Her expression darkened—or at least tried to, given her condition—. The glow in her crimson socket intensified as she fixed a piercing look at the magician.

Marisa immediately straightened, her grin faltering. "Whoa—hey! Don't look at me like that, ze! That's cool and all, but it's also kinda creepy!"

"Agreed," Reimu said flatly, her eyes narrowing slightly at the unnatural flare of red. "Stop it, Rain."

Rain let out an exaggerated sigh and waved them off. "Relax, it's not like I'm trying to intimidate anyone. That's just how it is for now." She turned her back on them, muttering under her breath, "Can't even sneeze in peace without becoming a sideshow attraction..."

Reimu's teasing tone cut in. "Oh, come on. It's not every day we hear something like that from you."

Rain's shoulders tensed before she turned slightly, her voice laced with mock indignation. "I swear, if this keeps up, I'll make you all cook for yourselves."

Marisa paled dramatically. "Not Reimu! She's not on the same level as ya, ze!"

"Hey!" Reimu frowned, though she didn't deny the accusation. "I can cook just fine if I feel like it."

"And when do you feel like it?" Rain challenged, raising an eyebrow—or so to say her remaining half eyebrow from her other eye—.

Alice, diplomatically ignoring the brewing argument, set Alicia carefully on the table. The small doll mimicked her creator's inquisitive stance, seemingly observing the exchange. "Rain, are you sure it's nothing?" Alice asked gently. "That sneeze might have been your body reacting to something unusual."

Rain hesitated for a moment before waving a hand dismissively. "It's nothing, really. Probably just someone talking about me or something like that."

"More like gossiping about you, I bet," Marisa teased, but the moment her grin reappeared, Rain shot her another glare, red socket glowing brightly once more.

Marisa held up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! No more teasing, ze! Geez, you're scary when you look at me like that."

"Good," Rain replied curtly, though the faintest hint of a smile tugged at her lips. She turned to Reimu, her tone still light but carrying a hint of warning. "Don't encourage her."

Reimu gave a noncommittal shrug, her expression calm but faintly amused. "I didn't say anything."

Rain sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Sure you are," she muttered, but there was a warmth in her voice that betrayed her fondness for the group.

As the laughter and teasing died down, Rain sat back in her spot, her gaze lingering on the remnants of her skeletal arm. She flexed her fingers absentmindedly, the faint glimmer of the potion's magic keeping the bones stable. The sight tugged at her emotions—a mix of frustration and resignation flickered in her heterochromatic eyes.

"This is taking so long," she muttered to herself, barely loud enough for the others to hear. She ran her fingers across the table's surface, her crimson eye dimming slightly in thought. "I feel like I've been stuck in this...half-finished state forever."

Alice looked up from where she was adjusting Alicia. "Rain, it hasn't been that long," she offered in a calm tone. "These things take time. You know that."

Rain didn't respond immediately. Instead, she slowly rose to her feet, her movements deliberate. The chair creaked slightly as she pushed it back, drawing the attention of Reimu and Marisa.

"And where are you going?" Reimu asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"To find something useful," Rain replied, brushing off her skirt and straightening her posture. "I can't just sit around waiting for this to fix itself. There has to be something in those scrolls—some clue, spell, or forgotten note—that might speed this up."

Marisa tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand. "The scrolls? You mean the ones from your past? Those things are full of weird stuff, ze. You sure that's a good idea?"

Rain shot her a sharp look. "Do you have a better one?"

Marisa smirked, shrugging. "Not really. But don't come crying to me if you accidentally set the shrine on fire or something."

Reimu frowned. "You better not. I'm not putting out another magic fire."

Rain ignored them both, her focus already shifting to the bundle of scrolls tucked away in the corner of the shrine's main room. She approached them with a mix of hesitation and determination, her boots clicking softly against the floor. Carefully, she untied the bindings that held them together, her slender fingers brushing against the ancient parchment.

Alice watched her with a critical eye. "Rain, those scrolls aren't exactly light reading material. Do you even know where to start?"

"I'll figure it out," Rain replied, unrolling one of the scrolls with care. The symbols and intricate diagrams stared back at her, faintly familiar yet frustratingly elusive. "These are my memories, or at least pieces of them. If anyone's going to make sense of this mess, it's me."

Reimu crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "Just don't push yourself too hard. We can't exactly help if you accidentally curse yourself or something."

Rain let out a soft snort. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You'll be fine!" Marisa chimed in, her grin wide. "If anything blows up, just call me over. I'm great at fixing magical disasters—after causing them, that is."

Rain shot her a deadpan look. "Not comforting."

Despite the banter, she turned her full attention back to the scroll in her hands. The faded ink and cryptic characters seemed to whisper secrets of her past, drawing her deeper into their intricate lines. Determination sparked in her mismatched eyes as she muttered under her breath, "I'll figure this out. No matter how long it takes."

Rain sat cross-legged on the floor, the unrolled scroll stretched out before her. She ran her fingers gently over the aged parchment, her mismatched eyes scanning line after line of magical text. Symbols and diagrams shimmered faintly under the shrine's dim lighting, their meaning unlocking in her mind like long-forgotten memories.

"Offensive spells..." she murmured, her tone thoughtful. "Lightning Surge, Fireball, Combustion Rune..." She shook her head slightly, clicking her tongue. "Not what I'm looking for."

Marisa leaned over her shoulder with a grin, her curiosity piqued. "Fireball, huh? Now that's classic! But what's a Combustion Rune? Never heard of that one."

Rain turned her crimson and green gaze to the witch, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "It's a glyph that triggers a fiery explosion when stepped on. Useful for traps, but not exactly subtle."

Marisa whistled, clearly impressed. "Dang, ze! You sure you weren't some kinda battle mage in the past?"

Alice, seated nearby with Alicia resting on her lap, adjusted her glasses and leaned forward. "Keep reading. If that's the kind of magic you had stored away, there's bound to be more we haven't seen."

Rain nodded, continuing to sift through the scroll. The words "The End of Flesh" caught her eye, the text underneath detailed in meticulous script. She paused, her brow furrowing as she read aloud. "A spell that slowly destroys the flesh of the affected, layer by agonizing layer, until nothing remains."

The room fell silent. Even Marisa, known for her boisterous demeanor, stared at Rain with a mixture of awe and unease. Reimu's expression hardened slightly, her fingers tightening around her gohei.

"That's...dark," Alice finally said, her voice measured. "Very dark. It sounds like something out of Seiga Kaku's repertoire."

Rain looked up at them, a shadow of guilt passing across her face. "It's not what I'm looking for," she said quietly, rolling the scroll further. "And I'm not interested in using it."

"Good," Reimu said flatly, her stern tone making it clear she wouldn't tolerate otherwise.

Rain continued, her fingers brushing over the next lines of text. "Heal?" she said aloud, her tone shifting from serious to curious. The spell's description unfolded before her eyes. "A magic that restores health completely, heals diseases, and removes all abnormal conditions..."

Marisa blinked. "Wait, healing magic? Like actual healing? Not a potion or a charm?"

Alice tilted her head. "Healing magic is practically unheard of here. Patchouli might know something, but even she doesn't casually cast spells like that. They're more...elemental."

Rain's lips pursed as she re-read the description, her heart sinking slightly. "If I'd found this earlier... I wouldn't have needed that medicine from Kasen. I could've avoided all the side effects, the fight with Tenshi."

Marisa clapped her hands together. "Well, no time like the present! Give it a shot, ze!"

Rain hesitated. The idea of regaining her body fully was tempting, but doubt crept into her mind. What if it didn't work? What if it backfired? She glanced down at her skeletal arm, the bones glinting faintly in the light. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and began chanting the spell.

A soft golden glow surrounded her arm, spreading upward like a warm tide. The light intensified, bathing the shrine room in brilliance. Rain's skeletal arm shimmered as flesh began knitting itself back together. Her pale skin returned, smooth and unblemished, and the exposed bones of her face mended, her features restoring entirely.

When the glow faded, Rain gasped softly, staring at her hands. Her arm, her face—everything was whole again.

Marisa was the first to break the silence. "Holy crap, it worked!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Rain, you're, like, good as new!"

Alice's voice was calmer but no less awed. "That's remarkable. I've never seen healing magic on that level."

Reimu, however, eyed Rain cautiously. "Why did it work so perfectly? If you were undead, healing magic should've hurt you."

Rain's lips parted to respond, but she faltered. She didn't know why. Unbeknownst to her, the potion Yukari had given her suppressed her undead nature, allowing her to fully benefit from the healing spell. Her confusion showed in her expression, but she simply shook her head. "I...don't know. But it did."

Marisa nudged her. "Keep going! Let's see what else you've got in that library of yours."

Rain sighed but couldn't suppress her own curiosity. She continued reading aloud. "Ray of Negative Energy," she murmured. "A spell that harms the living but heals the undead."

Alice's eyes narrowed slightly. "Healing undead? That's...disturbing."

Rain rolled her eyes. "There's more. Animate Dead. Requires a corpse to create low-level undead like zombies."

Reimu's frown deepened. "That sounds way too close to Seiga's magic for comfort."

"Undeath Army," Rain continued. "Summons a horde of skeletal warriors."

Marisa's jaw dropped. "A horde? Like, an actual army? That's terrifying!"

Rain skimmed further, her brow arching. "Electrosphere, Grand Fireball, Dragon Lightning... Control Weather?"

Alice sat straighter. "Control Weather? That's... incredibly advanced. Even Patchouli would struggle with something like that."

"Tenshi manipulates weather with her sword," Reimu mused. "But for a spell to do it? That's something else entirely."

Rain paused, her gaze landing on a final entry. Her eyes softened as she read the title: Resurrection Magic. Notes and scribbles surrounded it, written in a frantic, almost desperate hand. "'Save them,'" Rain murmured. "'Return them to life, no matter the cost. Rewrite their ending.'"

Her voice grew quieter as she read the final note. "'This spell is almost complete...but it is no longer needed. They have moved on, and so should you.'"

Rain stared at the words, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar sadness. "Who...are they?" she whispered, her amnesia denying her the answer.

Marisa's gaze flicked away. She knew. Rain's adventuring companions, the ones she'd seen in Rain's fragmented memories—they were the ones the spell had been meant for. But she said nothing, choosing to let the moment pass.

Rain rolled the scroll back up, a deep sigh escaping her lips. "There's more here, but...I think that's enough for now."

The others exchanged glances, their reactions ranging from awe to wariness. Rain's magical records were extraordinary, maybe even rivaling Patchouli's vast knowledge. But the darker spells—the ones hinting at necromancy and destruction—cast a shadow over the discoveries.

"She's like a walking magic encyclopedia," Marisa finally said, her voice tinged with both admiration and unease. "If this is what she's like with amnesia, imagine what she'd be like if she remembered everything."

Rain smiled faintly, her mismatched eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "Let's hope I remember the right things."

---

Rain stood in the shrine, rolling her newly restored arm experimentally, marveling at how effortlessly the healing magic had worked. She flexed her fingers, then grinned. "Looks like I'm back to full strength. Guess that means I can head out again."

Reimu's expression immediately darkened. "Out? Where exactly do you think you're going?"

Rain grinned, knowing exactly where Reimu was headed with this. "I still have a lot of promises to fulfill," she said with a playful glint in her eye, before adding, "Including the one with Sanae at the Moriya Shrine. I did promise her a tour, after all."

Reimu groaned. "You didn't forget that, huh? Alright, I'm not letting you go alone this time. Marisa, you're coming with her."

Marisa's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what? Me again?"

"Yes, you," Reimu emphasized. "Last time, you were supposed to be babysitting her, and look how that turned out. Tenshi happened. Do a better job this time."

Marisa held up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I got it, ze."

Alice, sitting quietly on the sidelines, raised her hand. "I'll go, too. It's been a while since I visited Moriya Shrine."

Rain sighed dramatically. "Looks like I'm getting an entourage. Fine, fine. Let's just get moving."

She walked toward the shrine gate, patting Aunn Komano on the head as she passed. The komainu yawned and wagged her stone-like tail. Rain paused at the top of the shrine's infamous staircase, looking down with a mix of dread and relief. "Good riddance to these cursed stairs. No more walking up or down ever again."

Marisa smirked, stepping up beside her. "Careful there. The edges are slippery after the rain this morning."

"Please," Rain scoffed. "I'm fine. I can fl—"

Before she could finish, her foot slipped, and she toppled forward.

"Whoa, whoa—ahhh!"

What followed was a series of loud, exaggerated grunts and cries as Rain tumbled down the long staircase. "Guh! Oof! Ack! Not the ribs—OW! Who puts this many steps in one place—AGH!" Her body flipped and rolled in increasingly comical fashion, bouncing off the stone steps like a ragdoll.

Alice, Reimu, and Marisa ran to the edge, peering down at the descending chaos.

The three at the top exchanged glances.

"I'm starting to see why trouble follows her," Alice remarked dryly.

Reimu pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering, "I'm going to need so much tea after this."

"She's still going," Marisa noted, pointing as Rain's figure became smaller and smaller.

"Those stairs really are long," Alice murmured, raising a hand to her mouth in concern.

"She's going to be fine," Reimu said, more annoyed than worried. "Her body's tough, remember?"

At last, Rain reached the bottom of the stairs, landing in a heap. She groaned loudly, her limbs splayed out in all directions. "I'm okay!" she called up, only for a loud crack to echo as she shifted her shoulder. "Mostly!" Rain groaned as she laid there for a moment, looking up at her accidental landing spot.

Her landing was not without consequence. She had landed at the feet of a very short but very composed individual—a woman with green hair and a dignified air about her. The woman's eyes, a deep blue, regarded her with mild amusement.

"Well, well," the woman said, a soft smile curling on her lips. "I didn't know Certain Death took such a... graceful approach in her free time."

Rain blinked up at her in confusion, her attire immediately caught Rain's attention: a dark blue, sleeveless apothecary robe adorned with gold decorations, a black skirt, and a white shirt. The embroidered ribbon on the sleeves added an intricate touch, while her hat—blue and white with a balanced red and white bow on the back—stood out as a symbol of her position. She carried the Rod of Remorse, her signature weapon, and her calm, yet stern blue eyes gave the impression of someone with great authority.

"Certain Death? You know me?" She slowly sat up, her hand grazing the ground. "How'd you know?"

The woman chuckled softly. "I'm Eiki Shiki, a Yama in charge of judging the souls of the dead in Gensokyo." She raised an eyebrow at the state of Rain, clearly intrigued by the situation.

Behind her, Marisa, Alice, and Reimu caught up, with Marisa pulling a face at Rain. "Well, that didn't take long..." she muttered under her breath.

Reimu, too, was not thrilled. "Great... Now Rain's got the attention of one of the Yamas. That's just what we need."

Alice, ever the curious one, looked at Eiki with interest, but her eyes shifted quickly to Rain, pondering the interaction. "She's... never been one for falling. Something's off here."

Rain stood up fully, dusting herself off and standing straight. "Well, guess trouble does follow me everywhere."

Eiki tilted her head, her expression gentle but knowing. "I expected something... different, I suppose. But I've come to speak with you, Rain."

"About what?" Rain asked, her gaze flicking between the others. There was no mistaking the serious undertone in Eiki's voice.

Marisa, Alice, and Reimu exchanged looks of unease. "What's she here for, Rain?" Reimu asked, her voice low. She had no clue why Eiki would be looking for Rain, and it worried her.

Eiki, for her part, seemed unfazed by the trio's wary gazes. "I simply have matters to discuss with her," she replied, her tone calm and professional.

Rain glanced back at her group. "I suppose I should hear her out, right?"

Everyone left wondering just what exactly Eiki Shiki had in mind for Rain. Could it have something to do with her mysterious past? Or was there something darker at play?

Reimu and the others would have to wait for the answers, but they could all sense that trouble was never far from Rain, no matter how hard they tried to avoid it.