>You are Maribel Hearn, and the world is wrong. Or rather, you're in the wrong world!
>Having woken up in a strange room, you've discovered you are in the middle of a world called Gensokyo, and you've finally discovered another world that you've always knew existed.
>You grew up in Japan, living a fairly normal life. Still, you always had a strong instinct that there was more to the world than you could see. You studied psychology in college, and met your best friend there, a woman named Renko. The two of you shared a passion for the supernatural (extranormal, Renko called it, to make it sound more legitimate). In pursuing that passion, the two of you followed your instincts and moved to small island nation called Gensokyo. From there, then memories of the past half year fuzzy. You remember running a modestly successful detective agency and numerous attempts to find supernatural activity. You remember a woman named Utsuho being a prominent influence on your life in the last few days before you woke up here, but you can't remember a lot about it. You remember, though, that she helped you prove the supernatural exists beyond the shadow of a doubt!
>You have been wandering throughout Gensokyo! You've learned some of the basics of flight, danmaku, time-stopping and barrier magic, and you're on cloud nine! Reimu is very concerned you may easily end up a Youkai; Patchouli and Mystia seem to be all for it. Utsuho and Yuugi are in a doomed rivalry for Parsee's love, you have nudged them toward polyamory, and into a kind of peace. You visited Komachi and got her back to work on Reimu's behalf! You have assisted Murasa at the underground clinic on Byakuren's behalf, which involved cleaning up vomit buckets and dealing with a racist old oni. Byakuren has agreed to consider enhancing your natural magical abilities if you gather the necessary ingredients. You have planted flowers for Yuka! You have discovered where all the maids at Scarlet Devil Mansion have gone! You've been chased by a mob of faeries! You have befriend Tokiko, and helped her get used to society and not eating animals raw. You have engaged in a few fact finding missions on Utsuho's behalf. You have found, bickered with, worried over, and slept with Renko. You have earned the enmity of Alice Margatroid. You are stuck between your loyalties to Renko and your debts to Scarlet Devil Mansion. You have begun trying to fulfill Sanae's dream, and healing the rift between Utsuho and Kanako. You are now technically a homeowner!
>You are presently discussing the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a youkai with Byakuren.
> "Hmm...that's definitely a lot to think about...how precisely does the weight of karma manifest itself?"
>"There are many ways it can manifest," says Byakuren. "Generally, it starts to as foul luck within this life. What is left goes into affect how you are born in the next life. Some things may continue to affect you there and further on, as well."
>"I... do not think I seek being a youkai for it's own sake, although I admit that I'm curious what it would be like to experience that. But there's so much about magic that I want to learn, and understand and be able to do. And if such a change would be inevitable if I were to continue to practice, anyway... Gensokyo feels like a place where having that sort of power can help do actual good."
>"Were you to follow what I did," says Byakuren, "It would be the same as seeking it for its own sake. The choice is yours. You will take on a heavy burden, but it is not beyond you power to cleanse yourself of it. And yes, that is one way to look at it. But understand power itself can make it more difficult to do good. Please do not let my words frighten you from the choices you wish to make."
>_
